General Creed roared madly. He swung his war hammer and beheaded three Demi-Gods in a single motion. The nine hundred- and eighty-metre-tall Dragon vanished and appeared behind another group of giants. He ripped their head offs and tore their bodies in half with his bare hands.

  “Do the Dragons have their own War Gods? They said we were stronger, were those lies? Such speed and ferocity, for one so large as well. No one here can best this behemoth. We must retreat or we will die here.” A giant whispered frantically to her comrade.

  “Then flee, coward. I will slay this beast and take one step closer to supremacy.” A colossal Demi-God replied, with a wicked grin. The Demi-Goddess grimaced at his filed teeth and flew away. She had just turned around, when a searing breeze scorched her back. The Demi-Goddess glanced over her shoulder, and the sharp toothed giant had lost his head.

  General Creed blinked and saw a bright light emanating from the sky island to his right. His eyes darted to the treeline and a hailstorm of glittery white projectiles rained on his location. The Colossal Moose Dragon raised his shields and twirled his hammer with his fingertips. The heavy polearm vanished and sped up instantly. It reappeared and a violent gust of Mana infused winds blew the projectiles away.

  *

  Ensign Mokoena strolled between two rectangular stone beds. The blood flowed over the edges and the flowers at their bases bloomed. Bright white portals opened above the stone beds and two more Dragons were lowered onto them.

  “Now, let’s see what happened to you two.” Mei said enthusiastically. She walked over to the first patient, scanned him and noted the issues. “Another one with zero medical knowledge. It is absolutely appalling to see how little you can do for yourselves. Can you not feel the bone shards in your joints or the mangled muscles attached to your bones? What a disappointing waste of others’ time.” The Penguin Dragon scolded and the two Dragons clenched their teeth. “Sorry.” They muttered quietly.

  “What of my people? They were stricken-”“-my people will see to that. Just, focus on your own recovery and try not to get so battered next time. I can see you favour your right side.” Ensign Mokoena noted as she poured over the monitors and dozens of mechanical arms descended from the portals.

  “By the Universe, why are there so many blades and needles? Are you a healer or a butcher?” the Rooster Dragon asked frantically and Mei giggled. “A bit of both honestly, how else am I to breech such tough hides.” She replied innocently.

  “Lady Mei. Dr. Mpukane requests your assistance.” An exhausted doctor reported. “Oh.” Mei replied without looking up at the face on the monitor. “Is that all?” Ensign Mokoena asked with a smile. “Dr. Wagner fell ill. He contracted a strange disease, while running tests on the cells that were harvested.” the woman on the holo-monitor added worryingly.

  “If only it could have been you.” Mei said with a delighted smile and the two Dragons exchanged worried expressions. “Lady-” the Penguin Dragon ended the call with the wave of her hand. “That was rather harsh.” The Rooster Dragon muttered. “He deserves much worse. He should have been captured by the enemy and experimented on. Dissected and bottled up for study. Useless clown.” Ensign Mokoena rumbled apathetically.

  “Oef! You wound me, but be honest. How did you know it was me?” A Rat Dragon asked as he appeared beside the stone beds with a big smile. “The stench.” The Penguin Dragon replied bluntly. “How rude, Ensign Mokoena. You know, technically, I am still your superior officer.” First Lieutenant Magnuson rumbled coyly.

  “Oh? Is that true?” Mei asked with a sinister smile. “Of co-”“-I was not speaking to you. Who is more valuable to you, me or the army rat?” the Penguin Dragon asked, and she stepped away from the operating tables. The mechanical arms stopped and the two Dragons winced. “Have you lost your mind?” the Rooster Dragon asked and First Lieutenant Magnuson’s smile grew wider.

  “Have I? I am not the one foolish enough to anger their best healer. I do not mind transferring you to the rat’s ship, if that is what you wish.” Mei rumbled happily. “Well? Which will it be?” a Snow Leopard Dragon asked with her arms crossed. “We wish to stay in the navy’s care. Your care.” The Rooster Dragon replied quickly and the mechanical limbs descended again. The Dragon bone scalpels made tiny incisions before the brittle needles pierced the soft tissue. The sharp hollow tubes secreted droplets of Mana that repaired any damaged cells and sucked up the bone shards in the patient’s right shoulder.

  “Captain Tully! What a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?” First Lieutenant Magnuson asked innocently. “I could ask you the same question, Saul. Have you not received the lab results?” Captain Tully asked shortly. “I have, but I wish to discuss your findings. Have I come at a bad time? Ensign Mokoena’s sanctuary is just so inviting I could not help myself. My apologies for appearing without an invitation.” The Rat Dragon replied playfully as he turned around on the spot and scanned the tree line around the clearing.

  Saul glanced at his pearlescent Dragon boots and the dark green grass beneath them. He scanned the strange flowers and accidentally fell into a trance. The Rat Dragon broke out of the trance and blinked erratically. He searched for the scan results in his memories, but there weren’t any.

  “How do you know the sickness is metaphysical? You failed to include that part of the experiment in your papers. In fact, there is much you have failed to reveal.” First Lieutenant Magnuson said, before he looked up and smiled at the Penguin Dragon. “I am not obligated to share my methods, only my findings. I have also already begun testing, and it appears my hypothesis is correct. Now we must wait and see if there are any negative long-term effects of the cleansing ritual.” Mei said as she sealed the primary incisions and made new ones.

  “What of the illnesses and diseases spread by this so-called spiritual affliction?” Saul asked curiously. “Isolate and cure them, or are you incapable of that much? Is that all? I am very busy, after all.” Ensign Mokoena asked quickly. “For now. Ensign Mokoena. Captain Tully.” The Rat Dragon replied, before he vanished.

  “Ugh. I cannot stand that rat.” The Penguin Dragon muttered. “And yet you were adamant about turning this island into a sanctuary for friend and foe alike.” The Snow Leopard Dragon replied with a chuckle. “To be honest, I was hoping to come across a Demi-God on my operating table.” Mei replied nonchalantly and Captain Tully laughed uncontrollably at the Rooster Dragon’s expression.

  “Do not be fooled by her appearance. Mei is as terrifying as she is adorable.” The Snow Leopard Dragon said affectionately and she hugged the Penguin Dragon from behind. Captain Tully squeezed her subordinate with a delighted smile. She let go, stepped back, and cleared her throat.

  “My apologies.” The Snow Leopard Dragon said and the Rooster Dragon rolled his eyes. “Would you two like some privacy?” he asked and Mei lowered a mechanical arm deeper into his chest cavity. “My apologies.” The Rooster Dragon groaned.

  “I survived The Island, a trial more demanding than any other before it, I fought alongside The Prince, the greatest Dragon amongst us. Some respect has been earned.” The Penguin Dragon rumbled threateningly and the three Dragons in her theatre swooned. The mechanical arms thrashed around violently and they stopped immediately.

  *

  “Do we have enough Mana to complete the procedure?” Dr. Mpukane asked cautiously. “No, but Lady Mei has sent a doppelg?nger. They will supply the energy necessary to do so. What you really wanted to ask is if we possess the skill to complete it, am I correct?” Dr. Valdez replied in a quiet whisper. The short man stopped dead in his tracks. He sighed and looked down at the tiled floor.

  “Why risk good healers to help the enemy, when they would not do the same for us?” Dr Mpukane asked softly. “Lady Mei has faith in us. I want to have faith in her as well, and her naivete is infectious. It makes me want to see the best in this wretched world.” Dr Valdez replied with a weak smile. Pumzi sighed. “I am afraid I do not know how to believe in what I cannot imagine. This world is chaotic with very few islands of peace and even then, that peace is only temporary. Like this war, and the peace it disturbed, perhaps Lady Mei helps them out of guilt.” he wondered and Miranda scoffed.

  “Why? Lady Mei has done nothing wrong. In fact, she is the only one considerate enough to forego the fee for admission.” Dr Valdez replied and Dr Mpukane rolled his eyes. “That is my point. Why is there an admission fee to a medical camp during a time of war? I doubt that the most resourceful people across the galaxies are short of supplies. So why demand payment?” he asked and Miranda walked further down the passage, before she stopped.

  “You don’t think very highly of Dragons, do you?” Dr Valdez asked quietly. “I don’t think highly of anyone that doesn’t warrant a second thought.” Pumzi replied honestly. “Well, I hold them in the highest regard and I do not take kindly to those that speak ill of our Lady and her people.” Miranda replied sternly.

  “Then I suppose Lady Mei’s demeanour has had the opposite effect on me.” Dr Mpukane said and he hurried after his colleague. “You are too young to be a cynical old man, Pumzi. I regret sharing my thoughts with you.” Dr Valdez replied and Pumzi chuckled. “Don’t. I enjoy challenging your beliefs. I may not be able to believe in what I can’t imagine, but you clearly can. I am curious to see if the day will ever come when I can see it too.” he replied as they approach a magical circle embedded in the tiled walls.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  The eight nodes shone and the strange circuitry in each bracket lit up. The crystal casings sparkled and the seams, between the tiles, glowed. The white squares pushed through the wall and a tiled path, beneath a pitch-black night sky, was paved before the two doctors. They traversed the glowing tiled road in complete silence, while nebula burst into existence and constellations were born. Asteroids collided and planets formed, as comets streaked across the sky. The duo reached the end of the road and the glittery ring of light generated a sparkly white sphere in the very centre.

  “How is the patient doing?” Dr Mpukane asked as he emerged from the Warp Gate. “The patient has a name.” a little girl replied and she folded her arms. “How are you, Pixie?” Dr Valdez asked caringly. “Bored and tired of being poked and prodded.” Pixie replied and her feet pitter pattered as she ran around the laboratory at two hundred kilometres an hour.

  “Impressive.” Mei said and Pixie beamed at her. “Right? Oh, and watch this. I know how to control the black butterflies now.” she said excitedly. The little girl spread her arms and looked up at the sky. Her heart sank when she felt a warm hand around her wrist and her energy output dropped drastically. “What did I tell you?” Mei scolded.

  “Sorry.” Pixie muttered, before she hurried back to her room. The door slammed shut and the six-metre-tall crimson skinned woman sighed. She stood upright and her lab coat rippled and fluttered mysteriously. “Never let her dwell on the darkness within her. It will only bring ruin.” Mei instructed.

  “M’lady, her condition holds the key to ensuring the cleansing ritual’s success. We need to study Pixie’s Mana, which means activating the strange cells we grafted to her body.” Pumzi argued tentatively. “Absolutely not.” Mei replied. “M’lady-”“-I forbid it! Pixie is an exception, not the rule. The cleansing ritual was a failure. Its complexities are too much for healers of your level. Or at least this iteration of the ritual is. We need to find another vessel for the curse before we eradicate it. The Void Cells are no longer an option. Poor child. Death would have been a kinder fate.” she rumbled guiltily.

  *

  The Moose Dragon landed on the tallest peak of an eastern sky island. He scanned the fluffy white sea of clouds all around him, while hundreds of headless giant bodies fell to the ocean far below. General Creed inhaled deeply and his hammer de-materialised. He leaned forward and swallowed his head, while his back and arms grew longer.

  The Moose Dragon leapt off the mountain and spread his wings. He galloped across the sky, vanished and appeared on the edge of the island. General Creed exhaled sharply and a powerful gust of wind blew the clouds away. A gaping blue hole appeared in the white sea, hundreds of kilometres below the sky island.

  The Moose Dragon squinted. His brow furrowed and he clenched his teeth. General Creed looked up slowly at the islands in the distance. He scanned the land masses for life forms and a colossal Whale Ship appeared above him.

  *

  “What makes this prince of yours so amazing?” the Hippo Dragon asked with disdain. “His demeanor, his words and his actions. How else would you judge a being?” Ensign Mokoena rumbled reverently. “What was it like to fight beside Him?” General Creed asked curiously and everyone on his observation tower turned to face the Penguin Dragon.

  “He did not keep to himself in the beginning. I thought it was his curiosity or perhaps even boredom that made him restless, but now I wonder if he was assessing us. Gathering information on our morale and strength, before he, Jane and I left the safety of our ships to slay a monster.” Mei said with a giggle and some Dragons scoffed or laughed in disbelief until she shared her memories of that day.

  “From then on, everything He did was done so decisively. He chose to believe in a band of vagabonds, the very same band that would one day slip through our enemy’s defences. His people saved my sisters’ and many others. In doing so the thread of fate was woven into a powerful bond between us and mortals. A powerful bond to The Universe and all life.” Ensign Mokoena rumbled piously.

  “In the end He accepted his destiny and unleashed an ancient power...but for a moment, I felt it. I felt Him. The Dragon King was working through The Prince. Of all the Dragons that had participated in that mission, only One was worthy.” Mei rumbled in awe and they all stared at the deep darkness and the even darker silhouette of a child at its centre.

  *

  “It would be easier to simply destroy everything in my path. However, I doubt we were sent to reclaim a wasteland. Surrounded and yet your eyes were on a distant horizon.” the Moose Dragon thought as he sat in the audience and watched the last Candidates to undergo the Ascension Trials.

  Kagiso moved swiftly and decisively, as he killed everyone that charged at him. The Black Dragon stood alone amongst a field of tombstones. General Creed watched him place his hands together and pray, before he closed his eyes and saw the tree of light in the distance. The Moose Dragon blinked and his Mother Ship blew her horn. The deep sound shook the Demi-Gods’ lungs and rattled their teeth.

  General Creed leapt off the edge of the island, flapped and vanished. He reappeared on top of his Mother Ship and roared, just as tens of thousands of warheads, golden spears and arrows rained on his location once again.

  The colossal blue whale’s eyes shone and a powerful barrier inflated instantly. The glittery projectiles crashed into the Mana infused shields and shattered on impact. The warheads detonated and the skies were illuminated by the radioactive light.

  “See? It cannot evade an attack from every direction. We cannot let them gain momentum! Prepare another-” and another deep horn interrupted the horned Demi-God. The giant horses panicked and bucked their riders off. “Whoa. Whoa, Sleipnir! I know.” a young Demi-God assured his steed with a gentle pat and the giant beast calmed down.

  “Retreat! This battlefield is lost! Heimdall!” Odin called out and a Warp Gate opened behind the giant horsemen. “Coward! The others will hear of this!” the horned Demi-God shouted. “I doubt that.” the young Norse God muttered with a smile. He held the rear while his forces rode through the centre of the multi-coloured magical circle and the Astral tunnel beyond it.

  “Charge-” the horned giant was interrupted by a bone shattering headbutt. The Moose Dragon trampled, gored and kicked wildly. He opened his mouth and bathed anyone out of his reach in Dragon fire. Shields shattered before the bodies that powered them exploded in a shower of gore and entrails.

  “What a marvelous display of violence.” Odin commented before he turned around and rode through the Bifrost Gate. General Creed looked up and breathed a glittery fireball. However, the strange Warp Gate shattered before his shot reached its target.

  *

  “Everyone fit for combat duty is to report to the front line immediately. We force the enemy to retreat and carve out a large territory for ourselves. In the meantime, I want everyone else, including anyone still in recovery, to begin work on the pyramid. I want our formation to be set long before our defensive installations have been built along the defensive line.” General Creed ordered after Mei’s retelling.

  “Yes, General.” the Dragons responded in unison. “Mokoena. You and your siblings have earned the titles of Sage, correct?” the Moose Dragon asked and the other Dragons stopped for a moment. Captain Tully smiled. She scanned the room and was shocked to see the disgust on the Rat Dragon’s face.

  First Lieutenant Magnuson turned his head quickly and he locked eyes with the Snow Leopard Dragon. Saul’s expression changed eerily. He smiled immediately and his Astral body turned to face the Penguin Dragon.

  “If you know that much, General. Permission to move my camp closer to the front line?” Mei asked confidently. “Granted.” the Moose Dragon replied without hesitation and Saul scowled at them, before he left the observation tower.

  “Are you certain of this?” Captain Tully whispered to her. “It is too late to think about it now, I am already on the move. I need to get there before the mortal forces engage in their ground assaults.” Mei replied nervously. “Good luck.” The Snow Leopard Dragon whispered, before she left.

  *

  “General, you called?” The Penguin Dragon asked as she appeared on the Moose Dragon’s colossal tower. “The rooftop platform is massive, or is it because it is empty? I suppose it is difficult to see much with hundreds of Astral bodies lined up side by…side.” Mei froze immediate when she saw the highly decorated Astral bodies along the furthest edge of the observation tower.

  “At ease, Specialist Mokoena. This is an informal meeting.” Admiral Granger assured her with a gentle smile. “Is it? I would consider it a catastrophe.” General Illumoon rumbled worryingly and the Terrier Dragon chuckled. “That is because you have never been in such a predicament. No, this is not by any means my first war. This is one of many pivotal moments that will determine our victory or defeat.” he rumbled calmly.

  “Come child, some of us do not have the luxury to lounge around and we must confirm many things before we continue our discussions. You are our last witness to the events on the Island. The Dragon Guard and The Council had their debriefing. It is high time we all learned this truth as well.” General Knox said shortly and General Illumoon rolled her eyes.

  “There are two more witnesses.” General Creed reminded them. “He has not awoken yet and Raymond cannot be reached for his account. Please, Mei.” Admiral Granger replied, before he turned to the nervous Penguin Dragon. She nodded and closed her eyes. Mei retold her account of the events on the island and she shared her memories with the five Astral bodies.

  “All accounts sound nothing like the boy that caused so much trouble everywhere he went.” General IronHide said and the Penguin Dragon giggled. “My apologies, but I believe you are asking the wrong question then. What makes you think he always a troublemaker in his youth?” she asked and the Terrier Dragon chuckled.

  “More riddles.” the Tortoise Dragon growled with an irritated expression. “No, a simple truth. The boy I remember had moments where a glimmer of something extraordinary shone through the facade. This was never about his character, was it uncle?” the Crystal Swan Dragon asked and Admiral Granger stroked his chin hairs.

  “Kagiso is a contradictory existence. A being blessed by many gifts and cursed with others. Some were granted to him by The Council and the others by his Clan.” Robert rumbled regretfully. “He was experimented on? Have the Drakk’N lost their minds?” General Knox rumbled frightfully.

  “Aye. Aye.” Admiral Granger rumbled sorrowfully and they all felt the honesty in his words. “You mean his eyes? He always hated them, which is why He hid them for him.” Mei recalled with a smile. “Who did?” the Bull Dragon asked with a frown.

  “The Dragon King. He hid Kagiso’s eyes when we were children. Then the next time I saw him his eyes were as blue as a dwarf star and he claimed to possess the Knowledge of All Things.” The Penguin Dragon rumbled fondly. They all saw the two shadows convening beneath a full moon, then Kagiso’s purple eyes stopped glowing. Days passed by and the red skinned boy turned around slowly. He locked eyes with Mei and his eyes glowed blue.

  “Then this makes things even more confusing. Why would the Dragon King return his eyes to him now? Has he sided with the Drakk’N Clan or only the Chosen Heir?” General IronHide rumbled warily. “The Dragon King cannot choose sides. That would spell the end of The Council and all of Dragon society. My family has forgotten it’s duty to our people. But some of us still remember the true significance of Moonglow Meadows.” Admiral Granger rumbled reverently and they all saw the dense glittery translucent orb of inter-dimensional energy.

  “The Jewel of Moonglow Meadows.” the Terrier Dragon whispered and the other Astral bodies turned to him, before they stared at the glittery bauble. “And the Key to every Warp Gate we have ever commissioned.” Robert added proudly. “It is so...small and yet so beautiful.” Hilda said in awe.

  “It is also our key to victory, but one obstacle stands in our way. Come, nephew. This matter concerns you as well.” Admiral Granger rumbled with a red glare in his eye. Duke’s Astral body strolled across the tower. He stood beside Mei and locked eyes with his uncle.

  “Your brother will be waking up soon. We need you to carry The Jewel and ferry it to the north in secret. After which you will conduct your investigation and report back to us. This must all be done before the summer solstice.” The Terrier Dragon instructed. “What of Raymond?” the Four-Armed Dragon asked stoically.

  “We have yet to determine his involvement in Victor’s plans. Proceed with caution, but I trust your judgement.” Admiral Granger replied. Mei looked around, before a thought occurred to her. “Why is my father not in attendance?” she asked and the five Astral bodies stared at her.

  “We do not know.” General Creed replied after a lengthy silence.

  *

  Gloria spread her colourful wings and circled the skies above a temple on top of a hill. She blinked, saw tiny lights to the north and scanned the horizon.

  “I see you. I see you.” the Parrot Dragon rumbled playfully. The vibration washed over the purple eyed child and he missed his step. “Whoa!” Lucas exclaimed before he fell into the river. He swam towards the western bank and emerged soaking wet.

  “I almost snuck past you that time!” the little boy called out, before he raced to the temple excitedly. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Gloria asked curiously. “I saw it! I saw it! He’s about to wake up!” Lucas replied quickly and the Parrot Dragon swooped. She vanished, appeared near the entrance and rushed inside.

  The Black Dragon opened his eyes slowly. He sat up stretched and looked around.

  “And so, the end begins.” Kagiso muttered with a smile.