Teal is original text from Anonymous.
Indigo is original text from IndigoPulsar.
Black is new text added by IndigoPulsar.
Triple asterisks (***) represent changing to a different perspective.

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Today was an important event in the calendar for Tudor, and especially for his dragon, Luna. Every two years, Guardian Beasts sparred with one another as part of their training, and today was one such event. The objective was to see how each measured up to the other, keep skills honed in, and perhaps even learn new techniques.

Tudor was walking with Luna to the ring (one of the largest owned by the GBO) where she would be competing against another Guardian protector while he rooted for her from the sidelines.

"Hope your feeling up for this, girl, you have done really well in the last two years," Tudor complimented.

***

"I'm as ready as I can be," Luna responded nervously, throat almost too clenched to speak. Her green eyes flitted anxiously between the various mythological beings, and averted their gaze from the ones that looked back. She didn't do well with crowds in general, and having to pass by the smaller weight classes to get to the larger ones had made her feel even more out of place.

Still, Luna wanted to keep a brave exterior for her friend's sake, and she tightened her resolve as they emerged through the arena's entrance. Tudor slid off her back, making for the sidelines, and Luna snuck in a little kiss on top of his head, both to settle his nerves and her own.

The dragoness flinched a little when she heard her name mentioned by the announcer, followed by her opponent's.

***

Lief the T. Rex strode excitedly towards the open arena. The traveling circus that'd captured him a little over two years ago had finally been arrested, meaning he no longer needed to train with the Organization in secret. This would be his first time truly out in the open, and his first time competing in something official. The prospect made him almost giddy.

He looked over his shoulder at the human who rode on his back. The one who'd helped him get this far. "Ready for this, Tudore? I know I am."

***

Tudore smiled and patted his scales. "It'll be interesting to be part of the Guardianship and see how you measure up. Nothing fancy, no chains holding you back, just brawn against another beast," Tudore replied as the T. Rex excitedly entered.

"Oh, you're taking on a dragon! She looks impressive," the young man noted, looking up at the display screen.

***

On the other side, Tudor saw Lief confidently step into the arena with his human. He smiled a bit at the youthful duo, but he wanted Luna to win.

"Big opponent, but you got this, girl. You've conquered harder than this big guy!" Tudor assured his dragon, giving her a pat as he saw Tudore slide off his own reptilian steed and head for the sidelines.

***

The verbal support made Luna feel a little better. "Thank you, Tudor. Wish me luck." She took a breath and trudged forward as confidently as she could, seeing Lief do the same with visibly more enthusiasm.

The two rivals met in the center of the arena and faced each other. This was Luna's first time seeing a T. Rex in person, but she was too scared to express excitement, or even know what to do or say. Dragons and dinosaurs shared a common genetic ancestor, and she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of a distant brother.

When Lief bowed his head in respect, Luna awkwardly mimicked the gesture with a slight delay, but maintained her silence. The myriad eyes and voices from the stands made her feel like a tiny mortified dot, ever shrinking smaller.

'I'm abashing my lineage. Dragons are supposed to be brave! Not timid mice like this!' She worried incessantly in her mind.

"Are you all right?" The deep voice cut through her thoughts and startled her. Luna looked up to see the dinosaur giving her a concerned expression. It caught her off guard, and the dragon didn't know wether to feel more or less tense in response.

"I, uh..." Luna's voice came out shaky. She swallowed and stuttered, "I-I'm just not used to b-being watched by this many people. A-And I'm worried about humiliating myself... all dragons... in front of them. Or you."

Lief smiled disarmingly. "Ahh, I thought it might be something like that." He took a step forward and laid his diminutive hand on her shoulder. "Well, I can't speak for the audience, but know that, win or lose, you won't face any judgement from me. People often forget competition's true purpose: learning and entertainment. I say, if someone looks down on you for what happens here, they're taking it too seriously. So don't worry."

Luna felt herself gradually relaxing with each consecutive word. Suddenly her situation didn't seem so intimidating, and she returned his grin.

"That's... good advice. Thank you."

Another announcement signaled that the match was about to begin, and both combatants took their stances. The rules were simple: One had to push the other outside the painted ring encircling the arena's edge using natural strength alone. No tools, magic, or drawing blood. As these guidelines were reiterated for the entire stadium, Tudor and Tudore looked on from the sidelines.

***

"You got this girl, you can do it!" Tudor shouted heartily and gave her a thumbs up. Even from here, he could tell whatever Lief had said had put the dragoness more at ease, something that already filled him with respect for the tyrannosaur.

***

Tudore felt pleased that Lief was excited to compete, but also respectful towards the dragoness.

"Give it your best, big guy!" He emboldened his rex as the two Guardian creatures prepared to compete.

Both humans were tense, but had faith in their friend's abilities. Either way, this would be a good match up.

***

The audience above roared as Lief and Luna were counted off to begin.

"3…" The reverb of the announcer's voice shook both their chests.

"2…" Lief squinted and sunk lower.

"1…" Luna's heart raced.

"Clash!"

(MUSIC: Tears of the Kingdom, Dungeon 5 Boss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQii_TgawT0)

Luna recoiled as Lief weaved to the side and swung his head into her left flank. She almost fell over before repositioning her two right legs and leaning to push back against him. Cheers rose in volume as the two stalemated; Luna had a traction advantage with four paws, but it seemed like Lief's two legs were much stronger. They both grunted, their feet skidding on the soft, earthen floor.

The rex suddenly ducked nimbly underneath Luna and kicked her opposite side, causing her to stumble a ways from the center. She righted herself just in time to see Lief charging head on.

The dragoness dashed to catch him, but he slid beneath her again, using his head to actually lift her front paws off the ground. His hands gripped her sides tightly, holding her in a bipedal stance as he began using his strong legs to push her further towards the line.

Luna had to admit he was fast to adapt. He now had the advantage in this position, and she could feel herself slipping back, her dug-in claws doing little to arrest the movement.

***

Even knowing him well, Tudore was impressed by how quick and adaptable Lief was for an animal his size, using his powerful two legs to push the dragoness. "Good work, big guy!" He hurrahed as Lief had Luna under pressure, further invigorating the T. Rex.

***

Tudor had cringed at the initial impact, and was concerned as this T. Rex used his strength to push his dragoness back.

'She needs to get back on all fours to combat this beast,'  he thought. The man could only clap and encourage the blue dragoness, confident in her to fight back.

***

Lief huffed and groaned as he shoved; the dragon was surprisingly heavy, and close observers would notice sweat forming on his snout, but he didn't want to let that on. He had her... on the ropes...!

***

Seeing she still had room to do so, Luna tried to back out of Lief's grasp, yet his unexpectedly strong arms held her tight, their invasive claws triggering her ticklishness and making it hard to focus. In a stroke of cleverness, she coiled her tail behind her like a spring and braced herself, but that was her weakest appendage and Luna knew it wouldn't hold forever.

Wait, what if she...?

***

Lief grit his teeth, talons gouging long furrows in the soil. He couldn't figure out why he wasn't making any more progress.

Suddenly he saw Luna's hind legs kick off the ground and felt her weight drape across his back. He stumbled forward, stopping a dozen or so meters shy of the line. Lief cursed, realizing he'd fallen for the same trap he'd used moments before. The rex preemptively braced for a shove from behind, but instead, he felt himself lightening.

No, not lightening… rising!

***

Luna grunted loudly as she flapped her wings, trying to pick up the mighty T. Rex. His legs were powerless in the air, but she couldn't quite get her arms around his stocky frame. And he was heavy! She could feel her hold on him rapidly loosening, but the boundary was right there!

Sweat beaded on her forehead. "Rrrgh! C'mon..." She growled through fangs bared with strain. "Out... you... go!"

***

Lief was shocked at her crazy strategy. His body's lack of flexibility gave him no real way to combat it, and his proximity to the out-zone had him nervous.

"Nnff! Let go!" He hollered, squirming and thwacking his rock hard skull against her arms in a frantic bid to break free.

***

"Gah!" Luna was able to take a couple blows before a bony ridge on Lief's head struck her right in an elbow nerve, making her cry out and drop him. He grabbed her tail and dragged her down with him, making them collapse in a pile. The crowd collectively gasped and quieted.

"By the way…" Luna heard Lief groan, "I'm pretty sure flight isn't allowed either."

"Oh well... huff... wouldn't have been much fun to win that way anyway..." she chuckled.

"That's the... SPIRIT!" He grunted loudly. Luna yelped as she was suddenly lifted from beneath and tossed off his back.

She got back on all fours, crouched and growling. Lief imitated her, their pupils narrowing at each other. Things were getting serious now.

***

"You can do it Lief, keep at it, you got this!" Tudore cheered, seeing how well Lief had done. It was close, but the T. Rex was being more than a match for the dragoness.

***

Tudor had been worried a little, but was relieved Luna found her way back. He'd been surprised to see her try and lift the heavy T. Rex, but he couldn't fault her determination or resolve.

"That's my girl, dig deep and front up, you can outmuscle him!" Tudor spurred her on.

***

Lief and Luna rushed forward at the same time, temporal perception slowing and keen predatory eyes scanning the other's movements for ways to feint. In the end, both went the same way at the same time, catching each other's arms. Luna had come in lower this time, giving herself much more leverage to match Lief's strength with. They wrestled and pushed against each other, hind limbs straining for every inch of purchase.

The two huge reptiles snarled at each other, leg muscles bulging under their scales. They trembled and swayed back and forth, but neither could take a step.

***

"Come on Lief, you got this! Push! Use your strength!" Tudore yelled as the two struggled in the middle of the ring.

***

"That's it girl, heave!" Tudor heartened, seeing Luna holding firm and pushing. Both creatures struggled hard as their partners watched their Guardians battle.

***

Luna could feel the battle awakening something in her: Ancestral Link. The dragon felt surprised at how quickly and easily it had opened for her, considering the trouble she'd had with it in the past. She wondered if it had something to do with fighting a distant relative.

***

Lief was more experienced with channeling his Link, but even he noticed how swiftly it unlocked for him. He smirked, coming to the same theory as Luna.

'Guess you're all fired up to prove yourselves too,' he commented internally, as if speaking to his progenitors.

***

Both combatants noticed what was happening to them, a silent understanding but refusal to yield passing between their slitted pupils. Their output increased dramatically as energy flooded their muscles, veins standing out on their legs until the ground itself began to crack beneath them.

***

"That's it Lief, push hard and strong!" Tudore ordered, seeing Lief digging deep. He knew the dinosaur would fight hard and battle to win.

***

'This is getting intense,' Tudor thought, seeing the ground crack under their legs and veins appear under their scales. He could feel the heat coming from them both.

***

As the two leaned closer to each other's faces, Lief noticed Luna was grinning.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," he gritted out.

"Oh yes. Because I just remembered my secret weapon."

"You'd better not be about to use fire."

"It's got to give."

"Huh?"

"HEAVE!"

Lief's eyes widened as he felt himself start to tilt backward. "W-What the??" He cried out loud, completely baffled.

"It's got to give! HEAVE!" This time his feet slipped half a meter.

"How are you... DOING that?" He rasped.

"It's got to give! HEAVE!" Lief dug in hard on the third call, fighting the push. "Urf! I don't... know what kind of mind games you're trying to pull... but they won't work on me!" He panted.

"It's got to—"

"Don't."

"...giveHEAVE!!" Lief's talons slid six inches. "URRRNGG!!" He strained, clenching his teeth and tightening every fiber in his body. 'There's no way I'm seriously losing to this!'

Luna struggled, but managed to take a step forward. "It's... got to give! HEAVE!!" Only a tiny bit of distance, but Lief sweated profusely with the effort of resisting. He tried to escape, but her grip on him was like iron.

"You can't... move me!" He cried defiantly.

"Yes... I... can! HEAVE!!" Lief skidded again. How was this possible? His legs were practically vibrating at their full power, and still he couldn't stop himself. He looked over his shoulder to see if Tudore had any kind of feedback, and that's when he noticed something with horror.

'What the hell? When did I get so close??'

"You've got to give! HEAVE!!" This time Luna did one long continuous push. Lief's claws kicked up sparks as they scraped the ground, finally catching on a particularly deep crack right at the edge. But even that they were failing to grip!

And slipping... and slipping... Lief grimaced desperately. 'I can't... hold her!'

***

Tudore looked shocked at Lief being overpowered and out-muscled. The young man saw the T. Rex sweating, claws scraping the ground. He was amazed at the strength of this dragoness as she pushed him.

"Don't give up Lief, you can do this, hold her!" Tudore shouted in encouragement as Lief strained and roared.

***

"Keep at it girl, make him give!" Tudor called, seeing that strength and power ignite in her. He heard her chant, and knew not a lot could halt that summoned strength.

***

Lief's claws inched closer to the edge, centimeter by centimeter.

"Just... go over! HEAVE!!" Luna hissed.

"No! I... won't... GIVE!!" Lief growled back, sweat cascading down his scales. But he was bluffing. This dragon's strength was absurd, and he couldn't withstand it for much longer.

Slipping...

There was one more trick up his sleeve, but using it risked breaking Rule #3.

Unless...

"Tudore! You know what to do! Start talking to me and don't stop!" He commanded as his eyes squeezed shut.

***

Luna was confused at first. 'Tudor? Why's he talking to...' Then the boy behind her opponent started speaking. 'Wait, do our bond partners have the same name?'

The dragoness barely had time to process before Lief's eyes shot open again. Luna felt a flash of fear as she saw they were blood red.

"What are you—?"

"ROOOAAAAARR!!" Lief bellowed, becoming at once like a pillar of tungsten. Twisting his arms, he grabbed her wrists and started pulling her hard to the side.

Luna gasped and leaned away, her hind paws skidding in the dust. 'He's trying to throw me out!' She realized, backpedaling furiously. 'And the angle isn't right to push him back! Where did this come from?!'

The blue dragon fought hard to correct her position, getting a shove in every few steps, but he was completely immovable. It was like he'd gone...

'...Carnal! But if he gets too violent, he'll be disqualified! He must have known that, right?'

Luna "uffed" again, catching a glance at the second Tudore's moving lips. 'Is that boy acting as some kind of anchor for his higher senses?'

If that was the case, Luna had to admit she was impressed. A bond of that level...

But she had a strong bond too, and her Tudor's words of support reached her, even over the deafening acclaim. With a surge of strength, Luna regained her position in front of the dinosaur, widening her back legs so he couldn't move her, and resumed her push. Now he couldn't pull her without knocking himself back first. Or at least, that's what she hoped as sweat began to glisten on her own scales.

The two had forgone words by now, pouring every ounce of remaining energy into straining as hard as they could. It was going to be close.

***

The two men watched along with the excited crowd as the their creatures pushed hard. The ground had cracked, and both opponents were straining.

Tudore kept chanting to give the T. Rex a boon, and Tudor kept up his chanting to give Luna some stability.

Lief was on the edge, and despite his boost, progress was not happening as both beasts struggled against one another.

***

Lief viewed Luna's determined glare through a scarlet filter, Tudore's chatter the only thing reminding him of where he was and what he was doing. With this, his strength had far exceeded its normal peak, but he still couldn't budge the dragon. In fact, it was taking this much just to hold his ground. He tried to wrench free and force his body under her again, hoping to throw her over his shoulder, but she had him locked in a death grip.

'I can't... keep this up...!' Lief's half-buried personality strained. 'She's... too... strong!!'

***

Luna felt annoyance rear its head at his tenacity, but she suppressed it. She figured he wanted to scare or anger her so she'd get hasty and make a mistake. 'Patient and steady' was the way to go.

'I've got him now. I can do this!'

Yet Lief was putting up a monster of a fight; while she still had the upper hand, she could feel her arms tiring.

'I can do this!' Her mind repeated.

***

Tudor was immensely proud of Luna. She had come a long way since their initial bonding, and now she was showing her strength and power. He felt excited as the azure dragoness had Lief on the edge. One big push would finish the match.

"That's it, blue, he will give to you! Heave!" He shouted to her over the cheers from the crowd.

***

Tudore had never seen Lief strain and struggle so much, but the young man kept faith that he could hold out. He had to hold her, a T. Rex was strong enough.

"You got this big guy, hold strong, push hard!" He supplicated, not losing his enthusiasm for the T. Rex.

***

This was the final moment. Cameras zoomed in on Lief's contorted expression, then on his paws as they slipped. His tail and raised digitigrade heels had long passed over the line, leaving his metacarpal pads to rest right on the paint. Luna only had to push him two more inches, but his talons were dug in like hooks.

They panned over to the dragoness, lenses reflecting her desperate face and trembling arms. "Just... give... in already! HEAVE!!" She grunted, shoving the dinosaur again. He skidded another three centimeters, leaving prominent claw marks. "N-no! I'm not... giving... up!" Perspiring heavily, he made another valiant attempt to throw her, and Luna swore she felt her own weakening hindpaws slip.

"C'mooon... HEAVE!!" Another shove, but Lief still didn't cross the line. The stadium blurred out around them, the crowd and even their partners' cries fading. In this precise second, they were all that existed to each other.

***

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ENDING A
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Luna'd had enough. Her forelimbs burned against Lief's repeated attempts to break free, and one of these times he was going to succeed. Even if it backfired, she had to go for broke and risk countering his anger with her own.

"You have to EARN your victory!" Lief snarled.

"You want me to earn it? Fine! Let me show you what YOU'VE earned!"

The dragoness growled and focused all her remaining strength into her core. Her pupils narrowed to almost one-dimensional lines, and she roared as she exploded forward like a tsunami.

***

Lief shook and began to tilt backward, a tree being uprooted by her flood. He squeezed his eyes shut, digging in his claws in and resisting with everything he had.

But his energy was finally depleted.

'Can't... hold her... no, no, NO!'

"I'LL MAKE YOU GIVE!! HEAVE!!!"

Lief gasped as she let go of his hands, only to ram her shoulder meteorically into his chest. His talons shrieked against the ground as he went flying back over the line, smashing into the barrier and collapsing to the floor with a dull thud.

Once again the crowd silenced, making sure Lief was all right. Then they erupted into adulation.

***

The match was over and Tudor was over the moon! After such a physically demanding test, Luna had proven her worth against this T. Rex.

"Well done, blue!" Tudor clapped.

***

Tudore was impressed, and his smile did not drop. He was so proud of Lief that he did not care about the result.
He had worked so hard and fought so well, and the young man appreciated his efforts.

***

Under the excited voices of the announcer and crowd, Luna jogged over to her fallen opponent and helped him up. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.

Lief groaned and then laughed. "Better than okay. I haven't had a fight like that since my days in the plains!"

Luna smiled as they walked back to the center, and the two bowed respectfully to another round of applause. Lief placed his hand on her shoulder again. "It was an honor to spar with you, dragon," he commended genuinely. Then, with a cheeky grin, he added, "Don't think that chant will work next time, though."

Luna returned the gesture, making it into a one-armed hug. "I guess that means we're staying in contact after this."

"Ha ha, yes! Perhaps we were destined to meet. Our bond partners even have the same name!" He guffawed jovially.

"Ahh, you noticed too!" She chuckled back.

***

—————
ENDING B
—————

Lief knew it was now or never. If he didn't risk one last desperate play, he was going to lose for sure. He'd show this dragon not to underestimate their oft' overlooked cousins.

"This match is DONE!" Luna snarled.

"You're right. Let me show you WHY!"

He lowered his head and widened his arms, letting Luna engulf him in an impromptu bear hug. His legs bowed as she weighed on him, but he focused every bit of primal wrath into his muscles and strained against gravity.

***

Luna yelped as she felt her paws leaving the ground. She squeezed her eyes shut, digging in her claws in and resisting with everything she had.

But her energy was finally depleted.

"Wait! Hold on! Ah, ah, AAAHH!"

"YOU'LL NEVER BREAK ME!! GET LOST!!!"

Luna cried out as Lief heaved backward and hurled her over the line. She sailed through the air and smashed into the barrier, collapsing to the floor with a dull thud.

Once again the crowd silenced, making sure Luna was all right. Then they erupted into adulation.

***

The match was over and Tudore was over the moon! After such a physically demanding test, his rex had proven his worth against the dragon.

"Well done, Lief!" Tudore clapped.

***

Tudor was impressed, and his smile did not drop. He was so proud of Luna that he did not care about the result.
She had worked so hard and fought so well, and the young man appreciated her efforts.

***

Under the excited voices of the announcer and crowd, Lief jogged over to his fallen opponent and helped her up. "Are you all right?" He asked worriedly, mirroring their exchange from mere moments before.

Luna groaned and then laughed. "Better than all right. I've never had so much fun!"

Lief smiled as they walked back to the center, and the two bowed respectfully to another round of applause. Luna placed her forepaw on his shoulder. "It was an honor to spar with you, tyrannosaur," she commended genuinely. Then, with a cheeky grin, she added, "Don't think your fake-out throws will work next time, though."

Lief returned the gesture, making it into a one-armed hug. "I suppose that means we're staying in contact after this?"

"Of course! Honestly, it feels like we were destined to meet. Heck, our bond partners even have the same name!" She giggled.

"They do?"

"Only off by one letter. Didn't you notice the scoreboard?"

Lief looked up at the screen to see the smaller names displayed under theirs. "Ha! No way! That's hilarious!" He guffawed jovially.