"How'd it go?" "Perfectly according to plan." "Any mishaps?" "Dealt with." "Discreetly?" "Of the utmost." "Thank you." "You're welcome." "Is there anything el...." "Shadow!!" "Wolf. Got to go. So, how'd it go?" "She wasn't there." "Surprised?" "Slightly." "What did you expect? Brute force doesn't always make an entrance. We need a plan, little brother." "I had a plan. Attack. But now let's not linger on the past." "There is one aspect you forgot?" "Who?" "Darius." "Scrawny little kid I asked to be part of Deadroses but he turned me down out of fear, Darius?" "Yes, that Darius." "Fine, we'll do it your way. So, where does one find this so called Darius?" "Find Apple, find him." "You never make it easy." "Wasn't my game to make, and before you ask; I got the kids." "Thanks." "Kids? As in kid, kids?" "I told you to be careful." "That means, how many other Deadroses does Wolf not realize he has?" "Shall I count?" "No need. Just another thing to add to the list of things. When's meeting with the president?" "In a few hours, and Elwin; word of advice. Don't tell them you found the real Dragons." "I won't lie." "It's not lying if he doesn't ask. This is supposed to be a celebration day after all. A merging of two worlds...not three. A day to have fun and show we are not a threat, after all we've been through to get here." "Huuuu.....whooooo. You're right. Today is a day. Today is a day that we....a day that we declare peace." "Well said. Will that be your speech tonight?" "Will you come for the kickoff?" "I.....wouldn't miss it for the world." "Thank you." "I'll hold down the fort here, tidy up, and make sure everyone's on their best behavior." "Wish me luck." "You never needed it before, but good luck." "Where is she? She's never...." "Late? I'm not late. I...." "Save it. Ready to open?" "Ready as I'll ever be." "Citizens of Main Island. I know many of you have traveled far and wide to see for yourself if we are real. I am here to assure you, we are in fact real. Everything you see here is not a figment of your imagination but the real thing. Each Island you wonder too and awestruck display you witness will be seen nowhere else. So, sit back, take pictures, and please.....enjoy yourself. Twenty Six is now...open!!!" "YEAAAAAAAHHHH." "YEAAAAAAAAAHHHHH." "Parents, keep you kids close and personal belongings tethered. I can speak on behalf of me but." "Elwin, this is an Island not a prison. Folks, please enjoy yourself just....use your heads." "That's, what I meant to say." "Then why didn't you say that? Say what you mean and mean what you say, or else no one will get through the day." ".......Well then, this is a party after all. Explore, play; fireworks at six, history at five, booths and vendors are open all day so don't forget to grab a souvenir or plushie on your way out. Oh, and tell your friends." "If you're ever lost, seek out a plant, or even Dragonfrog; they'll be more then glad to give you directions and if you're nice enough they may even offer you a ride. Trust me, the experience will be something you won't want to forget." As the party festivities kicked off in full bloom and fashion from games to carnival rides, something deeper was lurking just beneath the surface. A hooded figure was secretly making his rounds and having a party of his own. "Darius?" "Who's asking?" "Friend." "Name." "Apple, be happy I ate before coming here or..." "Ok, ok. Darius should be in school, third period rn. Upfront Academy." "Thanks." "Shall I, mention to him that you are coming?" "Sir? Sir? ...And.....he's gone. Strange friend. Strange friend indeed. Must be a surprise. Huh. Wish I got drop ins." "Can anyone tell me how the Isles were first found?" "Oo.....Oooo." "Yes, Darius?" "The Isles were founded as a safe space from Purebloods. For those who didn't quit fit in. Imperfections so to speak. The Wolf visited all pigs houses but no one would let him in." "Meanies." "....So, he found a cave to hide in under the storm passed. Once the storm passed, what he saw took his breath away. It was beautiful. It was..." *DING...DONGGGGGGG!!* "Someone's at the front door. It looks like....a wolf!!!" "Little pigs little pigs let me in." "Not by the hair of our chiny chin chins." "Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I will.." *Click* "Be right there, Wolf. .....Kids." "Sorry." "I'll be right back. Macy, you're in charge." "Why does she?" "Macies....in charge." "Yes, Ma'am." "Thank you. Now, I will only be gone a minute. Back as fast as I can. ...Be good." "May I come in?" "Right this way, Sir." "Thank you." "So, to what do I owe this visit? I am sure you have better things you could be doing. After this days over I am looking to enjoy in the festivities outside. Why don't you stay?" "I would if I could but that's why I am here." "To.....party?" "To make sure the party doesn't die. Is Darius in?" "Here for assessments?" "I'll wait." "Then why are you..." "Just to have a friendly chat. You're not in trouble, don't worry." "Phew. Is he? Cause if so I have a very nice girl named Macy that has been helping calm him down." "It's ok. Just a chat, thank you." "I should go check in on my kids, but how have you been?" "I saw my home world. That was nice." "And Shadow?" "He's proved a great protector." "How's the fam?" "It's just....." "Oh. Sorry, I didn't mean to." "It's ok. Now we are taking care of each other best we can." "If you need anything, anything at all don't hesitate to ask. Our home is your home too." "Thanks. You know, the word home means so many different things to so many different people." "What does it mean for you?" "I guess that's my mission to find out." CHAPTER THREE "Where are the others?" "There were no others. Only us." "Dragonfrog, I mean Hopper; didn't you say you set out with ten?" "We set out with more then ten, but most fell off." "Then why are you here?" "Preservation. We've been moved to final defense now that the real dragons have been secured." "Just like that? You help out and as a thanks they abandon you?" "They did not. We're still revered." "You're knockoffs...only setup to take the fall and keep the image." "I am not. I....." "Boys, boys; you're both pretty. Now please stop fighting. The threat isn't here but there." "Princess Jasmine, humblest offerings." "That's Queen Jasmine, to you." "How shall we do it? Attack and parry? Hail Mary, go all out and spray like..." "Neither," Jasmine said holding up a hand." "Ooo, something more devilish perhaps? Resistance." "Neither." "I....you lost me." "Haven't you heard; we have merged. The fight is over. Theirs's no more hiding." "Then why are we?" "Just wait.." "I need a countdown, ya'all. Five....four.." "THREE, TWO...ONE!!!!!!!!!!" "Drop the curtain." "Circus freaks?" "Shut up and play your part." "Twenty six and friends started as a humble beginning just like nie. Before the land was tamed their had to be a tamer. A Wolf fell from the sky and landed hear bliss. Alone, young and afraid he sought companionship. Honor. Loyalty. A sense to belong. Atlas when he found none he made it. A deal with the dragons was formed. On Pureblood he was king but here he was a servant, so a servant he shall be. He tamed the babies and freed the minds of the....yes?" "So, he was a babysitter?" "Iii....yes, he was a babysitter, best ever around." "Haahaahaaaaa....the great protector was no more then a babysitter to a pack of Dragon spawn. Let me guess, parents to tired to take care of their own kids so they trusted a stranger. How original. Learn to parent yourself you loads of halftone..... *BOOM* Beast?" "Dragonfrog, any word?" "Still rampant my queen.I did manage to track down something." "Who?" "...ME!!!!!!!!!!!" *Dundun...dunnnnnnnnn* "Whyyyy, Rosa...whyyyyyyy?" "I....I....I didn't do anything." "Don't tow with me," Wolf said as he said shed his skin and turned into a ferocious huge flying wolf. "If not you then who?" *BOOM* "WOLF, I don't play games...I beat them." "You're not one of my dragonkids." "No, I am much.....much....worse," Elwin said as she shrunk from her dragon form back to her human form then walked down the aisle." "Ooo, this is getting good, Ma. Better then any movie back home." "Wolf, please; if I knew I'd...." Elwin tries to step up the platform but it's too big so Wolf extends his tail for her to hang on and climb. "If I knew they were your dragons, I'd.....forget it. THEY'RE NOT YOURS.....and never were. Don't you see. Look around," she says as dragons one by one descend and plop next to tourists in their chairs. "You were a great protector. A great teacher, friend, and abode; but even you must know when to let go. You can't keep kids young forever,' She says kneeling before him. 'Believe me, I know. For fear of losing me, dad made fakes to take my place,' she says scratching the dragonfrogs snout that Wolf rode. 'But you have to face the music one day. Someone once told me, you can't outrun your past. It's a part of you. Like a dog to his tail. What do you say?" "Darius, that wasn't in the script; she's going to kill it; if he doesn't first." "Ruby, your sister is not you. She has her own ways." "But..." "And we have to respect that." "I....you...you're definitely not your sister. She would've kicked me around." "You've been asleep too long, Wolf. Times are changed." "That I have. Where's your sister?" "...Here." The Crowd turns their head and looks back and forth from platform to Ruby and Darius. "What do you want, Wolf?" "Peerigen, is that no way to treat your best friend." Perrigens hands clench. "Colleague?" They clench again. "Mate? ...Oh pal." "So, you're pals now, a dark cloud says; surrounding Ruby; then it materializes into Shadow. "If you're such pals then why did you leave?" "I didn't leave. As I recall, I was chasing you in a storm." "YOU LEFT ME IN THE CAR!!!!" "Ruby, Shadow was trying to kill you. You saw the pictures. I had to draw him away." "I wasn't trying to kill you, you dork. If I wanted to kill you you'd be dead." "Then.....who was?" "Someone else." "Then, why were you there?" "Ruby's pencil. She....dropped it at my place. It was all that made it out; the book...gone, but maybe she could've...." "Then why didn't you say anything?" "You're not the sofest puppy dog. You are more bark then tummy rubs. Guard dog." He's right,' the crowd said, nodding their heads. You...stay out of this. A hush flew over the crowd. "Kids, don't get mad at him... I'm sure he knows more about a Dragons favorite diet then he does changing diapers." "But he's the great babysitter." "BABYSITTER? Him...he...baby....oh, this is too rich,' Shadow laughed, slapping Ruby on the back. I wouldn't call a junkyard much of a house. While he was off fighting bad guys, Ruby and I...we were the ones changing diapers. YOU'RE WELCOME!!!!!!!! "I'll remind myself to give you a postcard." "Give her one too." "For what?" "So, I can keep your skateboard then?" "My baby, you found it. Pieces made from my own homeworld." "Glad to see where we know your attention goes." "Fine. I'll let you have the Dragons." "Hurray. Mommy, does this mean we get to ride them all day? Best island ever." "But theirs going to be some ground rules. Rule one..." "Take your board, kid. You were never good at rules. And...sleeep. Whoooooo," Shadow said as he blew a potent spell over the crowd, causing them all to slumber where they lied....even Darius." "What just happened, Queen Rosa finally managed to say." "Ruby's boyfriend here was being a dick but we straightened it out." "Hey!!!" "Your Dragons have returned and I....king Shadow of the realms beyond and Underworld deep..." "Hey..." "Oh, and Queen Elwin of the Fire Isles; have restored your promise and reputation. I happily announce the merge of our two worlds and would love to attend the feast." "What?" "They get to merge,' he said pointing to the crowd. "Why can't I?" "I.....I mean by conquest I....here you go," Rosa says; handing over crown and scepter to Ruby." "No,no...Elwin, for your bravery I..." "Not here. She needs a coronation." "Yea, and I just woke up. Can't you?" "I've done my mission. Besides, 'People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care. .....Dragons!!!!! ....Fly off." "Ruby hopped on Shadows back as he turned into a Dragon and took to the skys with the other dragons following in close pursuit."
