So, this will be the last preseries chapter and the next one will take place in season 1. Before we got into the actual show LadySonbrid16 and I wanted to establish Lloyd and Nyx's relationship since Lloyd having a friend is the starting point of this story. Enjoy!

Preseries: Part III

Three, years, that is how long it has been since Lloyd and Nyx had been talking and meeting with each other through dreams. Lloyd still could not believe it sometimes. He had a friend, a friend he could only see at the night after he fell asleep of course, but still, it meant a lot to him. Even after all three years being under Brad's wing at Darkley's he would not exactly call Brad a friend. Nyx was there for him; she listened to him when he had a problem and let him complain about school. He, in turn, would allow her to tell him about her lessons in etiquette and her daily duties as Duchess of the Ancient Hallows. She even taught him how to dance a little. At first Lloyd did not see the point until Nyx pointed out how dancing could be similar to some forms of martial arts and if he learned the basics he would have a better foundation for when he learned martial arts for real. After that he was much more eager for those lessons.

As he walked about the dream realm waiting for a sight of Nyx, he remembered how grateful he was that she had figured out how to alter the appearance of the dream realm and it was no longer an empty dark black void of nothing. Now it was a bright green forest filled with the sound of birds and other forest animals; both of them agreed the absolute silence that filled the realm when they weren't conversing was unsettling.

He stopped walking when he noticed Nyx sitting by a tree as if she was waiting for him to show up. He couldn't really tell why but she seemed to have an air of sadness around her.

"Nyx," he called.

It must have caught her attention because she turned her head in his direction and smiled at him. It did not reach her eyes.

"Hi, Lloyd," she greeted.

"How come you were sitting there?" Lloyd questioned.

"I was taking a minute to stop and think about things," Nyx replied. "I knew you would show up eventually anyway. It is your dreams that I appear in after all."

"Did you have a long day today?" Lloyd questioned.

"You could say that," Nyx replied. "A lot of lessons."

"Academic ones?" Lloyd asked.

"Those and a lot of combat lessons too," Nyx said.

"They wore you out that much today?" Lloyd questioned.

"Well, there's a particular reason why" Nyx declared. "You know how I'm a half-breed?"

"Yes," Lloyd said. "You said your dad was a dragon demon. I also know that's why you have the green scales."

"Well," Nyx began. "Since I have a demon's blood I have a demon form that I can unlock."

"A demon form?" Lloyd questioned. "What would that look like?"

"Well, you know how I get slit-eyed whenever I get angry?" Nyx asked.

"Yes," Lloyd said. "I remember the first time I saw that. I scared me a little at first. It's kind of cool though."

"Well in my demon from I would have the slit-eyes permanently," Nyx declared. "My scales would also cover more of my skin, and my nails would grow into claws."

"Cool," Lloyd replied. "Would you be able to fly too?"
"No Lloyd," Nyx replied. "Not all dragons have wings and can fly. My father did not even have wings from what Edmund told me, and even he cannot fly."

"Are there any other features you would get with the demon form?" Lloyd questioned.

"I will probably have a tail," Nyx said. "And Edmund has horns growing from his head so I might have those too."

"Have you been able to unlock it yet?" Lloyd asked.

"No," Nyx said. "I've been trying for years now. I've researched how to, but I haven't had any luck yet. Half-breeds are not exactly common so while we know they can have demon forms, we don't know how they are accessed. Edmond thought if my physical training was intensified I might react to the increased danger, but it didn't work."

"And they tried seeing if you could do it today?" Lloyd questioned.

"Yes," Nyx replied. "I thought since I'm officially a teenager now that I can finally access my demon form, but nothing happened yet."

"When you're finally able to will you show it to me?" Lloyd asked.

"Of course I will Lloyd," Nyx replied. "So tell me, how was your day today?"

"Well," Lloyd began. "I did some more pranking with Brad today."

"How do you not get in trouble for all of this pranking Lloyd?"
"I go to a school for bad boys," Lloyd confirmed. "I think they expect me to pull pranks. In fact, I'm pretty sure I still have to teach you some ways to prank people."

"Lloyd you're going to end up getting me in trouble," Nyx said.

"You're still a kid Nyx," Lloyd reminded her. "I don't think you're going to get into too much trouble. You deserve to have some fun. Besides it's not like you have to actually use any of the skills I teach you."

"I suppose it doesn't hurt," Nyx began to think. "Did anything else interesting happen today?"

Lloyd considered asking her what was wrong since she still seemed kinda sad, but decided not to yet. She wasn't a very open kind of person in general, but that might close her off more. Maybe if he opened up a little she would be inclined to do the same. Besides he did have something he wanted to talk to someone about and Nyx was the person he trusted most.

"Well.." Lloyd began. "There is something that I was able to find out, about my dad."
"Oh?" Nyx said. "Do you want to talk about it? You don't have to if it makes you uncomfortable."

The subject of his family was always an iffy subject with Lloyd. It was more difficult when his mother came up, but there were still issues where his father was conserned.

"Well," Lloyd began. "You know how I told you three years ago that my father is an evil warlord?"

"Yes," Nyx replied. "You did mention that."

"Well," Lloyd said. "I found out that the evil inside of him was contained for a time, but after some time the evil spread so much that it consumed with entirely, and once that happened he was banished to the Underworld, one of the sixteen realms."

"So that's why you haven't seen him since you were small," Nyx stated.

"Yeah," Lloyd said sadly.

Nyx reached out and placed a hand on Lloyd's shoulder.

"I'm sure you'll be able to see him again someday Lloyd," she stated. "I don't know how or when, but I'm sure you'll get the chance. At least now you know he did not leave you because he wanted to."

Lloyd gave her a small smile, but then decided this would be a good time to ask her what was makeing her sad.

"Is something else bothering you besides boring and tiring lessons Nyx?" Lloyd questioned. At her confused look he contineued,"You've looked kinda sad about something since I got here."

"Well…" Nyx began. "There is something that I found out recently that shook me up. I didn't really want to say anything considering the topic makes me uncomfortable and you have your own family issues."

"What is it?" Lloyd questioned.

"Remember how I told you long ago that I had another brother?" Nyx asked.

"Yes," Lloyd replied. "His name was Theron. Right?"

"Yes," Nyx said. "I found out what happened that day I almost fell off the cliff. You know why he left and stuff."

Lloyd paused for a moment.

"What happened?" He finally asked.

"When I was little, and Theron was watching me while I was playing by the cliff…" Nyx began. "He…it wasn't an accident. Theron made me fall."

"So that's why Edmund was yelling at him after?" Lloyd questioned.

"Yes," Nyx said. "They argued for a bit, I don't really remember what it was they were saying, but afterwards he just ran away. No one has seen him since, but he's apperently been exiled so that's not so suprising."

"Why would he try to do that to you though?" Lloyd questioned. "You're his sister and why did it take you so long to find out about this."

"I'm not really happy about it myself, but in Edmund's defense, when is it a good time to tell your little sister that your brother tried to kill her. I might not remember much about that day, but what I do remember is very… unpleasant to say the least. About the half-breed part though, remember how I told you that half-breeds are rare in my dimension?" Nyx said.

"Yes," Lloyd replied.

"Well," Nyx said. "We're rare mainly because there are demons and humans alike in my dimension that think the idea of crossbreeding is something shameful that should not be done at all…and unfortunately for me Theron was one of those people. If I remember corretly when we first met I told you that my scales were not very liked."

"Why though?" Lloyd asked.

"I honestly don't know," Nyx replied. "Edmund could never figure out why himself. He said Theron never gave a reason as to why he feels that way about half-breeds. I do have an educated guess as to why he would feel that way though."

"Okay," Lloyd said. "I'm listening."

"It all comes down to abilites," Nyx began. "Only humans can dream walk, which is the reason why we are here right now and if used properally, or impropperly as the case may be, the abilty can be used to casue great harm to others. Demons have the edge over humans though because they have body features that give them an edge strength and stamina wise. Something that I think Theron must have believed in strongly. A half-breed could potentially have all the abilites of both species, making us potentially very dangerous. Not to mention on a personal level, Theron was supposed to be our father's heir since Edmund was already married to the queen. From what I was told though, once I was born my father decided that I would be his heir instead of Theron."

"Just like that?" Lloyd asked.

"So I've been told," Nyx said sadly. "The thing that bothers me though is, that I seriously don't blame Theron for freaking out about it. He may not have been my father's first born, but he was the elder child, and Theron had every right to be my father's heir; regardless of how he saw humans. My father passed him over him for it though…and, and, both he and my mother paid with their lives for it."

"What do you mean," Lloyd asked looking bewildered.

"Well, it's just a guess but given everything he probably had something to do with their assassination. He was so angry and it really wasn't that long before he tried to get rid of me. I don't have proof, but it adds up." Nyx replied while looking away.

"I'm sorry Nyx," Lloyd said. "I can't imagine how overwhelming, how devastating that must be to find out."

"Thanks, Lloyd," Nyx said. "You don't have to be though; it has nothing to do with you."

"Yeah, I know," Lloyd said. "That doesn't mean I'm not allowed to sympathize with you though."

"Sympathize," Nyx said. "That's a big word for an 8-year-old to be using."

"Well, what can I say?" Lloyd replied. "I did learn it from your reading lessons."

"I guess they paid off then," Nyx declared.

"How about I show you how to do a new prank," Lloyd said. "I think we both need a distraction from the sad discoveries we both had today. Besides we're together, I want to do something fun."

"Alright," Nyx said with a small smile. "I think I'm up for it. Please don't show me anything that will get me into too much trouble. I still have to maintain a certain level of dignity and courtesy as a duchess."

"I think your brother will let some things slide considering your still young," Lloyd said.

Nyx couldn't help but laugh at this.

"Oh, you don't know Edmund," she declared.


See you next time in Rise of the Snakes. If you have the time please leave a review or send one of us a PM.