A Surprising Reunion

Even from a distance, the red dome looked ominous. The group landed on a mountain a few miles away to see if they could figure out what was happening. For the first time since entering the Dragon Realm, Billy saw plants that weren’t peach trees. A dense forest of purple and black plant life surrounded the red dome.

‘Why have those plants around the red dome survived?’ asked Dylan. ‘Is that what all of the Dragon Realm used to look like?’

Spark shook her head. ‘Those horrific plants must be the by-products of the dark magic being used by the Noxious. Whatever they are doing beneath that dome, it is draining the rest of the Dragon Realm of its life and leaving bare what was once lush.’ She looked at the other dragons. ‘This is worse than what I have seen in my visions, and worse than what we suspected might have happened. This desolation, it is the work of dark magic, the work of the Dragon of Death acting somehow from the time in which she is imprisoned. I do not know how this is happening, but it must be stopped.’

‘I fear our clan is dead, or worse, having their life force sucked out of them to fuel this rampant dark magic,’ said Buttons.

For a moment, Billy again let himself imagine what it would be like to have his life force taken away, and was filled with the same empty, cold feeling.

Do not allow those thoughts, Spark told him. They will weaken you, and you must be strong. Stronger than you’ve ever had to be. We need your strength, Billy.

‘With this much dark magic, the Noxious could bring the Dragon of Death back,’ said Xing. ‘We cannot let that happen.’

Buttons turned to the children. ‘We thought we were asking you to join a war where we had an army, but it appears we are only four.’

‘Eight,’ said Charlotte in a loud, clear voice. ‘There are eight of us in this, not four.’

‘Charlotte’s right,’ Billy said, buoyed by Charlotte’s determination. ‘With us, you’re stronger, aren’t you? And we have powers too. We’re still with you.’

He felt Spark’s pride within him like a gentle glow.

‘We need a new plan,’ thundered Tank. ‘We do not have the time nor the luxury to mourn our lost friends. If anything, we owe it to them to do what they could not – to stop the dark magic that has poisoned our realm.’

‘We are greatly outnumbered,’ said Buttons. ‘And the nox-wings who did this are strong with dark magic.’

‘At least you – I mean, we – have the element of surprise, don’t we?’ said Dylan.

‘That is true,’ said Xing. ‘I propose we go straight to that wretched red dome and attack. They will not be expecting us. They won’t know we are strengthened by human bonds, and that our humans have powers.’

‘We can be your secret weapons!’ said Ling-Fei.

‘I had forgotten how hopeful humans could be,’ said Tank. ‘A stealth attack is a good start, but before we go to the red dome we need more information.’

‘Silence,’ said Xing. ‘Someone is approaching.’

A large dark shape emerged from behind a boulder. It was a new dragon, almost as large as Tank. It had dark orange scales and a monstrous head with huge horns sprouting out of it.

Billy tensed and gripped tighter to Spark. But, when he felt her relax, he relaxed with her. She must know this dragon. ‘Dimitrius! Old friend, you are alive!’ Buttons said, moving closer to the orange dragon. ‘I hope my human tongue approximation of your name suits? For our humans.’

‘I am indeed alive,’ said the orange dragon. ‘And yes, that is fine. Always so considerate of the humans. I must say I am surprised to see you four. And you have new names – Buttons, Spark, Xing, Tank.’

Dylan leaned in near Buttons’s ear and whispered loudly, ‘How does Dimitrius already know your names?’

‘Names are a core part of a dragon’s identity,’ replied Buttons. ‘We can always tell the name of a dragon who has bonded with a human. Our bonded names give off a strength that other dragons can sense as clear as the colours of the sky.’

‘Why, that is a cute human you have there, Buttons,’ said Dimitrius, a wry grin touching his lips. ‘A bit weak, if I had to judge. But you’ve always had a soft spot for humans.’

Billy felt Spark shift below him and sensed her growing wariness. Maybe Dimitrius wouldn’t be so eager to help in the way they’d hoped. ‘We’re sorry it took so long for us to get here,’ said Spark. ‘The Dragon of Death locked us in the mountain between the realms.’

‘Yes, I know about that,’ said Dimitrius.

‘And you did not… try to rescue us?’ said Buttons.

‘I am sure he did,’ said Tank. ‘But remember, four human hearts were needed to open the mountain to the realms.’

‘Yes,’ said Dimitrius. ‘And you are back now.’

Billy began to worry that maybe the dragons had been wrong to put so much faith in Dimitrius. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there was something off about him, something he didn’t like. He could sense Spark felt similarly.

‘We are, but I fear it is too late,’ said Spark. ‘Dimitrius, what has happened? We saw the cave and the horror that was left behind. Did any of the clan survive the nox-wing attack?’

Dimitrius stared at Spark for a long moment. And then he let out a sound so horrifying that it took Billy a moment to realize it was a laugh. ‘A lot has changed since you left, Spark.’ Dimitrius spat on the ground as if saying the name left a bad taste in his mouth. ‘My priorities have… changed.’

Electricity buzzed in the air around Spark. ‘What are you saying, Dimitrius? I saw a vision – the Dragon of Death is returning. The Noxious are growing in power. We must act quickly.’

Dimitrius stepped closer. ‘You are right. The Great One, or “the Dragon of Death”, as you call her, is returning. I realized after you left how wrong we had been. The Great One had offered us power, and like fools we rejected it. I knew we had to bring her back. And that she would reward the nox-wings who could prove their loyalty.’ He turned a sharp eye on Spark and the other dragons. ‘I hope, of course, that you will join us.’

‘You’ve become a nox-wing!’ Buttons exclaimed, horrified.

‘We will never join the Dragon of Death,’ said Spark vehemently.

‘I thought you might say that,’ said Dimitrius. He stood on his hind legs, extending his body to its full length. He looked skywards, holding out a paw and turning it to the sky. He seemed to be concentrating intensely and his entire body quivered. Billy followed Dimitrius’s gaze and gasped. One of the stars in the sky was hurtling towards them.

‘Look out!’ Billy shouted as the star shot into Dimitrius’s open claws. Dimitrius lowered himself back to the ground, the star hovering above his right paw. ‘Serving the Great One has its… benefits,’ he said with a devilish smile.

The air hummed with tension. Spark and the other dragons shifted into protective stances.

‘Now, I am going to give you and your group one last chance. A choice. There will be a reckoning for those who have crossed the Great One. But for you, Spark, I think concessions can be made, given our unique history. Your group, the humans included, can join the Noxious. We grow in strength every day, while the rest of the realm weakens and loses its power. Once the Great One has returned, we will fulfil her vision and rule both the Dragon Realm and the Human Realm. The choice is simple. Choose wisely. But know that you will help me whether you want to or not. I think you would rather be on my side.’

This was not the battle that Billy had agreed to. Were they strong enough to face an entire army of evil dragons on their own? Could they win? Or had he joined the losing side in this war?

But he knew, no matter what, he would never fight alongside the Dragon of Death. He’d seen Spark’s vision on the ice wall. He would do everything he could to stop that from happening.

‘How could you do this to us, Dimitrius? We were friends,’ said Buttons. ‘We discovered all of the realm together. I helped you collect your first hoard of limestones. We took our first flight together.’

‘Don’t be foolish, Buttons,’ said Dimitrius with a sneer. He flicked his tongue out and narrowed his eyes. ‘Although you always were the foolish one. Too soft. You would never have accomplished anything if it wasn’t for me and those around you, helping you along.’

‘That is enough, Dimitrius,’ spat Spark, electricity still buzzing all around her. ‘We will never join the Dragon of Death and the Noxious. She is like a black hole, feasting on the power of others and the life force of all until there is nothing left. I am surprised you are so foolish to believe whatever she has promised. Your heart has been poisoned.’

Dimitrius shifted his gaze to Spark. ‘It appears that you are the foolish one,’ he said. ‘You may have sent her back in time, but nothing can hold the Great One for long. She will return. And she will reward those loyal to her. Even from her distant time, she has already granted the nox-wings more power than you can comprehend. You think you are so strong with your human bonds, but you are no match for me.’ In one fluid motion Dimitrius tossed the star into the air, snatched it in his mouth with his powerful jaws and swallowed. The glowing star sat in the centre of his chest and his body convulsed. Boils appeared all over his limbs, and his body distorted so that he barely looked like a dragon at all. Then Dimitrius began to grow. Everyone in the group retreated several steps as he grew taller and taller, his outstretched wings large enough to encompass the entire group. When he finally stopped growing, his body resumed its dragon shape and his eyes glowed a dark purple. ‘You are all fools,’ he said. With a roar, he stomped on the ground, shaking everything in sight and sending peaches tumbling off the trees. In the distance seven new dragons approached. Billy realized with growing horror that they must be other nox-wings.

Dimitrius opened his mouth and shot an avalanche of purple fire at the group.

The children screamed. Billy clutched Spark, hoping that their bond would bring him strength, but he only felt his own fear amplified.

Buttons shot out a protective dome above them, just in time to shield the group from the blast, though it wasn’t enough to block all the flames. Great ropes of fire burst through the shield, hitting Xing. She gave an ear-piercing roar and reared sideways, almost sending Ling-Fei tumbling off.

‘Xing!’ Ling-Fei cried out.

‘I am all right,’ panted Xing. ‘Hold on!’

‘This is terrible!’ yelled Dylan, burying his face behind Buttons.

More fire burst through the protective dome with every passing second.

‘Dylan!’ Buttons shouted. ‘I need your help to keep the shield up! Focus on the bond.’

Dylan nodded and looked towards the shield, his face contorting with effort. Billy saw that the shield was strengthening, and holes began to close. He had never seen so much chaos. It was evident that their dragons really did need them – Dylan’s efforts were helping Buttons maintain the shield. Billy hoped he’d be able to help Spark when she needed him.

‘You’re doing it, Dylan! Keep it up!’ Billy shouted. He looked back towards the horizon and saw that the nox-wings were almost upon them.

‘What are we going to do?’ cried Billy. ‘We’re outnumbered!’

‘Spark!’ yelled Tank. ‘We are counting on you!’

Spark nodded and closed her eyes.

Billy, we do not have much time, said Spark inside his head. I need you to help me stun the nox-wings so we can make our escape. Focus on our bond.

This was it. This was his chance. Billy closed his eyes and concentrated. He felt the inner heat that Spark was channelling, and he tried with all his might to help her.

‘Everyone, close your eyes!’ shouted Spark. Her wings crackled, and she released a flash so bright and powerful that even behind closed eyes Billy’s vision went white. ‘Now!’ shouted Spark. ‘Retreat!’ He felt Spark lift into the air.

‘Ling-Fei! Dylan! Charlotte! Are you all right?’ Billy shouted, eyes still shut.

‘I’m fine!’ said Ling-Fei. ‘But I can’t see.’

‘I can’t see anything either!’ said Dylan.

‘Give it a second,’ said Charlotte. ‘My vision is just coming back.’

‘Well, what’s happening?’ yelled Dylan.

‘We’re getting away, but those nox-wings are close behind,’ said Charlotte.

‘Not if we can help it!’ shouted Xing and, with a burst of speed, the four kids and their dragons shot through the night sky.