Zinnia was not doing okay. She kept missing one air attack after another. The small spaces of the street was making things too difficult for her. She had several bite marks on her wings and every attack was making her weak. She was a tough monster. A powerful bird creature that Molly raised with Rex when they were just little kids. All that hard work made her feel like it was wasted losing to this bully.

“Well this was fun but I have much better things to do” the giant rat said cracking its knuckles once more. Zinnia fired a dark pulse at the rat. He leaped out of the way and began charging right at her. She held the beam of energy and flung it left and right at the rat and kept missing. Soon the rat rolled into a ball and used it’s energy to make a break for her neck.

Zinnia braced for the attack, but he missed. She opened her eyes and saw the rat was pushed away from her by a spinning green and orange ball. She smiled with great delight and took a step out of the way.

“Rex!” she shouted happily. “I was getting worried!” Rex leaped in front of her and turned his head back. He gave he a little wink and thumbs up with a claw. She nodded and stretched out her wings and crick crack in her long neck.

“I got the stuff back Zinnia” he said looking over his side. Whiskers and his little sister were there holding a large white bag of many more stuff they stole for the fat rat. He stomped and fumed and rage.

“You dirty betraying little-” Rex let out a massive claw attack in mid sentence sending it into the street. He stood up and glowed his teeth.

“Ugh not this again” growled Zinnia. Rex looked at the giant pair of teeth on it’s face.

“So what? He bites a little harder right” Zinnia shook her head and raised a bruised wing.

“One bite will half your strength. I’m lucky to be standing after so long” Rex gasped and saw how deep they go. He looked back and stretched out his arms.

“Right. Got it” he replied. The rat charged at the little dragon teeth aiming right at his snout. Rex lowered his head and ran straight at him. Whiskers gasped at what was happening.

“What are you doin?! He’s gonna tear your nose right off!” he said running towards the dragon. Rex at the last moment caught the white of the rats eyes and made a swift dash into the air. The rat took a bite and just nicked the dragon’s spike of the tail. Zinnia’s eyes widened.

“He got him!” she said worryingly. The rat turned and saw the little dragon with a mouthful of black smoke. Rex quickly felt the effect and fell on one knee from the attack.

“It’s like half of my strength was sucked out of me. But he barely touched my tail” the rat laughed at him and unleashed several glowing claws. He made a dash towards the dragon. Zinnia stood up and chased after the rat flapping her wings to help maker her even a little faster.

“Hope you like a taste of my quick claw!” Rex held out a fist and soon felt a powerful force of the rat’s claw hit his pushing him back. He stood up and both were pushing against each other staring down one another. Rex snorted a large black ball of smoke. This was his best chance. With a desperate inhale he let out a fireball big enough to send the rat into the air. He took one good bounce and tackled the stomach of the rat. He fell to the ground and shook the earth.

Dust was blown everywhere. Rex awkwardly landed near the rat shielding his eyes from the air. There with all the dust settled was the rat slowly standing trying to fight back. In a few moments the rat’s tooth tried to light up. Rex gasped as he took a step back and clenched his claws. The rat took aim at the little dragon but immediately stopped. His eyes cringed and went cross eyed. He fell forward with a big goofy grin and passed out. Right behind him was Whiskers with a glowing tail.

“A little metal tail attack for my friends” he said smacking the dirt off some of his paws. Rex smiled in relief and sat down.

They had returned to Molly and Taffy with his belongings. Molly’s gasped and ran over to Zinnia holding her head and rubbing her horns in comfort. Whiskers handed the backpack to Taffy who happily opened it and split an apple with the two. They apologized but the little monster boy waved it off and offered another apple instead.

Dusk settled in. Molly, who healed most of Zinnia and Rex, safely landed near the Brimstone home. Rex and Whiskers got off and smiled at the human and the bird.

“It was great battling with you Rex” Said Zinnia with a big smile. She nuzzled the small dragon’s chin. Molly leaned over and hugged the little dragon by the head and smiled as well.

“You know I still owe you a battle someday. Maybe tomorrow?” she asked. Rex with a determined look smiled and nodded.

“I’m looking forward to that!” he replied. Zinnia winked at the two and flapped her massive wings and took off with Molly into the sky. They slowly watched them disappear as they walked to the door.

“How long have ya known em?” asked Whiskers. Rex sighed and opened the door.

“Almost my whole life. I feel like we both share the same dream” he said taking the gardening items out of his satchel. Whiskers cocked his head a little. His ears twitched.

“And what’s that Rex?”

“I don’t know yet. Something that as has to do battling. Maybe. I don’t know. Ah well. Now you’re going to help me by helping out my Mom with the garden” he gave him the tools and seed packets.

“Beats digging through trash”