As the Gauntlet of Fire contenders began to assemble, Garble eyed the other competing dragons with contempt and disdain. There were ten Dragons total, and only one could win.

And, Garble thought, that will be me.

With a roar from Torch, the Contenders began their challenge through the gauntlet.

====

Torch watched Garble make his way through the various traps set to deter the contenders with a sigh. Earlier, the former Dragon Lord had made arrangements to let Cross and Princess Twilight recover the real Bloodstone Scepter, and free his daughter and Spike.

There was still one problem, that being the many spies Garble had skulking about the mountain. They were not known, and though they could not communicate with Garble indirectly, all were still a threat to Torch.

He slowly made his way to the cave where he had hidden the real Scepter, where Cross and Twilight were waiting.

====

"Has it begun?" Cross asked as Torch approached.

"It has commenced." Torch said. "I have also figured out where Garble is keeping my daughter and Spike. Inside the magma chamber of the mountain, where only the Dragon Lord can access."

"That's a problem." Twilight said. Cross then strode forward and put on his helmet.

"Yet there is always a solution." the Lawbringer said, taking the Scepter. "I have a plan."

"Enlighten me." Torch said, pleased.

"With pleasure." Cross said. "Here is what we shall do…"
====
As Garble approached the summit of the mountain, he eyed the Bloodstone Scepter with greed clear in his eyes. As he took hold of it, a bell sounded.

"I am Dragon Lord!" Garble proclaimed as he descended to the base of the mountain. "Bow before me!"

Channeling the Scepter's power, he assumed its power would force the Dragons to do as he said.

Except it did not. Garble stood aghast as the Bloodstone cracked and fell apart. Whispers spread through the crowd, and Garble realized he had been tricked.

"WHO!?" he roared, spitting a gout of flame. "Who dared do this?"

There were footsteps, and Torch walked forward.

"I did." he said. "Garble, your time has come at last. Your reign is over."

"You cannot take me, old one!" Garble yelled.

"True." Torch siad. "I will not take you. But my allies will."

Cross strode forward, and tossed the real Scepter onto the ground.

"May I present Holden Cross…Envoy of the Iron Legion." Torch said. "As he is my second, I challenge you for the right of Dragon Lord."

Garble roared with fury.

"TRAITOR!" he screamed. "You betrayed your Dragon Lord!"

"I was never on your side." Torch said. "And you are not Dragon Lord, and you never will be again. Trial by combat, right now."

Garble scoffed and strode forward to face Cross, who readied his Polearm. Torch slammed the ground, and the duel began.

====

As Garble's claws raked across Holden's armor, the Lawbringer countered with several hits to his chest before a heavy, upwards blow to his chin. The dragons murmured in awe as Garble was sent sprawling to the ground.

It was not long, however, before Garble spat a stream of flame towards Cross, intending to incinerate him. The fire would've consumed a normal man.

But Holden Cross was no normal man.

Garble watched in fury as the fire harmlessly drained off of Cross's armor, as it the fire was a light shower of water.

"Impossible!" Garble screamed. "You should be in ashes! Burnt alive!"

"I should be, yes." Cross said. "But I am not."

With that, Cross stomped on Garble's left foot and smashed the bones inside, before landing a heavy blow to his right side. Garble was sent sprawling to the ground, moaning from his broken foot.

Cross then picked up the Dragon by the throat and hurled him to the ground, before placing him at Cross's mercy.

"I win." Cross said. "Yield."

"Never!" Garble roared, hurling the last of his flame reserves straight into Cross's face. The heat would've burned stone to ash and molten rock.

Except Legion-forged, battle-honed steel is not stone. Especially when enchanted to resist all forms of flame and heat.

The fire was repelled by the magical aura, and Cross decided to finish his opponent. He swung his halberd down and hooked Garble's neck, pulling him up. Cross then released his grip, and as Garble flew past him, he slammed his polearm into the back of his skull.

Dragon Scale is extremely sturdy, able to resist not only flame, but blunt-force injuries as well. However, no matter how strong a Dragon is, his scales never grow stronger than steel.

That was proven as Cross's polearm nearly decapitated the former Dragon Lord. As he kicked the corpse off of his his axe, Torch bowed before him.

And every dragon did suit. Cross was handed the Bloodstone scepter, and he raised it into the air.

"Show me to Spike and Ember!" he commanded. As if on cue, a rock face shattered, revealing the magma chamber. Cross entered, and soon found the two Dragons nearly dead from heat. As he broke their chains, Spike looked up at the Lawbringer.

"Thank you…" he said before he finally passed out. Ember and Cross helped the little dragon out of the heat, and into the safety of Twilight's arms.

====

"You'll be fine, won't you, Ember?" Twilight asked. "Are you okay with being Dragon Lord?"

"I'll be fine." she replied, accepting the Scepter from Cross. "Twilight, Holden Cross, the Dragons of Equis are at your service."

"We will find glory together." Cross said, shaking her hand. "I hope to fight alongside you in battle one day."

"I do so as well." Ember said. "If you need anything, you'll have it."

As Twilight, Spike, and Cross teleported home, a Griffon, perched behind a cloud, spied on them through a telescope. He folded the telescope and put it away, before flying full speed to Equestria and Canterlot.

Author's Notes:

Next time-The Chosen attack a supply depot, and the Warborn head to the Crystal Empire.

Also, sorry this took so long.