28: Battle in the Light Grid - Dragon vs Unicorn

The dismembered dragon dispersed into pinpoints of light, as if its very molecules had separated. Like a cloud of fireflies they swarmed through the grid and gathered around the head of the larger dragon. The creature roared, snapping at the lights and bringing its foot back into the grid. As the perimeter repaired itself, the dots of light left the dragon, swarmed to the other end of the grid and took form.

The dragon looked down at the unicorn. It paused, assessing its new opponent, then reared up. Thrusting its head forward, it opened its jaws wide and flames spewed forth.

The unicorn backed away as the flames hit the ground where it had stood. It pawed at the ground and bucked, shaking its head from side to side, its sparkly white mane and forelock fluttering majestically.

‘Oh, yes.’ The dragon spoke in guttural tones, barely distinguishable from a roar. ‘Bring it on!’

Again, the dragon reared back and released an onslaught of flames. The unicorn dodged to one side with a movement that seemed both impossible and extremely un-equine. It steadied itself, planting all fours firmly, looking up at its opponent with crystal-clear, ice-blue eyes. It bent its right front leg and lowered its head, as if kneeling. Still on its hind legs, the dragon laughed and roared in triumph as it charged.

But the unicorn was not submitting. Its spiralling horn glowed with a pearlescence that began at the base and extended to the point. The dragon ceased its roar as a blaze of light surged from the unicorn’s horn. The light encompassed the dragon. It lashed out with its claws, but to no effect. The light had substance, and it constricted the creature’s movement. The dragon’s forelegs were pushed in against its body. Its head began to bear down - the neck squashing into the torso. The light formed into a sphere, forcing the static to lose the dragon shape completely. The light sphere got smaller and smaller, compressing the static.

The static spun within the sphere of light, around and around with giddying speed, like a whirlpool. The sphere wavered, bending towards the whirling mass. With increasing speed, it was sucked into the depths of the static, like galaxies into a black hole.

The spinning ball undulated, its surface like astormy sea, anguished faces occasionally bobbing to the surface. Expanding, it began to morph again.

Not waiting to see what form it would take, the unicorn pawed at the ground like an enraged bull and attacked the static. Its glowing horn plunged into the depths of its adversary. As the unicorn tried to back up for another assault, it found that it could not retract its horn, no matter how hard it pulled.

The enlarging mass of static rose up into the air, taking the unicorn with it, legs flailing helplessly.

Shooting up to the top of the light grid in a sudden, violent motion, the static rammed the unicorn into the edge of the grid. Green sparks engulfed the animal, crackles of energy coursing over the white surface of its body. As the static lowered a little, the light abated and the unicorn went limp, its mane singed, its hooves smouldering. The now dull horn cracked and split apart at the base, as the unicorn’s body fell.

The moment it hit the ground, it fragmented intomyriad pinpoints of light.