He hissed at her. "Don't call me deer,or I'll take less time to rip you apart just like one." He slurred,but his voice wavered faintly and he tried to hide it. He let anger take over but it was weak,he wasn't able to use it this time and it wasn't able to take over this time. He let out a wavering growl,deep and coated in that dark dragon tone but it was only to try and force away the fact that it hurt to see Ash.

Ash regarded Jason blankly, no glint of recognition in his silver eyes: no anger, sorrow, nothing. "All of you," he said in a quiet voice, "will die."

That reminded Jason of how Ash had said he would kill him if he saw him again,and that was able to fuel his anger and he used it. He repeated it in his mind and it made his anger well up and he turned a brunt of his glare to him,hurting that nothing where in those beautiful silver eyes of the prince. He let his frills burst out and it made his features sharper and he spread them so that he looked more threatening as his wings spread fully.

Virus giggled her hateful, buzzing laugh. "It's no use," she taunted. "He hears you, he even recognizes you, but he remembers nothing of his old life. Hes been completely reprogrammed, thanks to my bug. And now, he listens only to me."

In the shadows of the room, the prince's face was ashen, the skin pulled so tight across his bones it had split in places, showing open wounds beneath. His cheeks were hollow, and his eyes, though blank and empty, were bright with unspoken pain. It was the same look Edgebriar had turned on them in the cave, teetering on the edge of madness.

He glared at Virus,hate and rage making blood red fill his freckles underwings and frills. " I want a deal.With you." He said,raising his chin.

"Jason!" Puck snapped, and Ironhorse stared at him in horror. Virus chuckled. "Such devotion," she murmured, rising from the chair. "I'm terribly moved. Come here, Ash." Ash immediately stepped up beside her, and Virus laid a hand on his chest. "You should congratulate me," Virus continued, regarding the prince like a student with a winning science project. "I've finally discovered a way to implant my bugs in the fey system without killing them outright, or driving them mad within the first few hours. Instead of rewriting his brain--", she stroked Ash's hair, "--I had it take over his cervical nervous system, here." Her fingers dropped to the base of his skull, caressing it. "You're welcome to try to carve it out, I suppose, but I'm afraid that will be quite fatal for him. Only I can order my bugs to willingly release their hosts. As for your offer..." She threw him an indulgent smile. "You have only one thing I want, and I will take that from you momentarily. No, I find that I prefer my bodyguard as he is, for however long he has left."

He glared at her full on,still daring to challenge her however he could. He wasn't trying to do this for Ash,he was trying to end this at least at this leg of the race. He was hoping to try and take Virus herself down. "I didn't want to free him,I want to duel with you. One on one. Dragon to faey."

"Well." Virus took a step back. "This has grown tiresome. I think its time I took what I want from you, my dear. Ash." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Kill the dragon. Kill them all."

With a flash of blue light, Ash drew his sword and slashed it across the table. Puck lunged in front of Jason and caught the blade with his own, deflecting it with a screech and a flurry of sparks. "Retreat!" he yelled as the Thornguards leaped across the tables with a roar. Ash jumped gracefully onto the table, his terrible blank gaze fastened on Jason. "Ironhorse, fall back, there are too many of them!"

Jason jumped back,wishing Puck hadn't done that. He would have been able to dodge just fine but he agreed with Puck. This wasn't something they could fight out. He tugged on Puck to run and spread his wings as a shield so to speak, lava welling up in his jaws. He flicked a hand and white tendrils shot out from the floor and grabbed a good amount of Thornguards as he let his markings pulse strongly. "I'll try and keep them back."

With a bellow and a blast of flame, Ironhorse reared up into his true form, breathing fire and lashing out with his hooves. What was left of the guards fell back in shock and Ironhorse charged, knocking several aside and clearing a path to the door. As the huge Iron fey thundered past, Puck shoved Jason toward the exit. "Go!" he shouted, and whirled to block Ash's sword, slicing down at his back.