Prologue
The Mountains of Inferdus, many years ago...
Elenar made her way across the many passageways of Mount Erebus, the tallest mountain in all the Dragon Realms.
The many upturns and downturns were kept illuminated by the countless clusters of Multi-colored Gems, as well as the numerous torches that brimmed with never-extinguishing Green fire. The walls and floors of every hall and chamber were carved out of the very rock of the mountain, but many doorways were made of wood, and sometimes metal. and In the center of the mountain, the Great Chasm was illuminated by hundreds of torches, filling a vast majority of the network of corridors around it with a great swath of Green light. Hundreds of Dark dragons, their dully shaded scales glowling lowly in the light, traveled across their way along the interior of the mountainside, heading on their way towards countless jobs and duties. Far below, the massive crevice in the earth, the Pit of the Fallen, was heavilly guarded, preventing anyone from abusing the Pit's power.
In her haste, Elenar nearly knocked over many other Pain dragons, and the occasional Wind dragon, as they traversed the mountain's corridors, some of them swearing at the Princess as she ran past.
"Watch where you're going!" An older female roared as she lost her balance.
"Sorry, Ma'am!" The younger dragoness shouted behind herself without stopping. "I've got to see my mother!"
Elenar was in her early twenties. Despite being an adult, she was years away from achieving her true height: Other, older adults towered over hear by at least a head and a half. She wore a soft, red silk dress over her hindquarters, and had four golden bands around her ankles. A small, silver Tiara sat atop her Dark Grey mane, and was held in place by her two back-curling horns. The tiara was emblazoned with a large Red Glyph in the shape of a pair of crossed Infinity Signs, and a pair of Diamonds were embedded into the sides of it as well.
The Princess ran as fast as her legs could carry, panic and alarm in her being. She was carrying a large, Golden satchel around her neck, which contained a vital message for mother, Queen Eliza.
Just recently, a scroll arrived from several of the Aries royal family's allies in Clan Aquarius, the Clan of Wind.
For the longest time, the two Clans had shared a sort of symbiotic relationship: they would often help each other with supplies when times of hardship came, and they also provided each other with shelter when one had to go without due to climate problems. Even though Aries was nuetral during the Twilight War, they still aided Aquarius by supplying them with the Gems needed to sustain their own lives, especially after Clan Virgo, the clan that controlled most of the Mountians of Kilon, went out of their way to prevent a single Gem from falling into the Wind dragons' forepaws.
When Elenar recieved the scroll, she read it out of curiosity. Upon seeing its contents, the dragoness's heart nearly leapt from her chest, and she simply HAD to give it to her mother as soon as possible. As she ran, she happened to bump into a young Wind dragoness: Elza, her best friend and personal assistant.
Elza was close to Elenar's age, but the differences between them were obvious. For starters, because of her Element, Elza had a Dark Green hide. The Wind dragoness's Grey skirt fell down to her elbows and knees, and her mane was kept short and neat. Her Silver horns bent backwards like Lightning bolts just above her Emerald eyes. Lastly, though bost dragonesses were slim in figure, Elza was significantly more slender.
Both dragonesses hit the floor upon impact.
"What's the rush, Elly?" The Wind dragoness groaned, getting up onto her feet.
"I just recently recieved a scroll via Dragonflymail!" Elenar declared, climbing upright as well. "It's from Clan Aquarius!"
"My clan?" Elza asked. "What's it say?"
The Pain dragoness looked away from her friend, her face brimming with dread.
"Is something wrong?" The Wind dragoness queried, concernd.
"I... I can't repeat it." She said solemnly. "Not here."
"Why not, Elenar?"
"I need Mother to see it first." Elenar turned to continue running. "Come on."
Elza shrugged, and then continued on after her friend.
A few minutes later, the Princess burst into the one place she knew where her mother and father would be: The Throne Room.
The room was a massive chamber on one of the Upper sections of the Mountain. It was the only chamber of the network of tunnels that didn't have a large chunk of the floor or ceiling cut open to connect it to the Great Chasm. The walls were decorated with massive clusters of Green, Red and Blue Crystals. Just beneath these clusters, two long lines of soldiers stood on guard on either side of the chamber. Over on the far end of the room, two middle-aged dragons sat upon two Silver thrones.
They were Eliza and Alexander, the Queen and King of the Clan of Pain.
Alexander, despite being in his early fifties, was a surprisingly short dragon, barely able to look into his daughter's eyes from atop his throne. He had two Dark Grey, broad horns, which grew from his neck like tusks. He had a Midnight Black mane, which was neatly trimmed short and pulled back into a Rat's tail. The King was dressed in a set of Black robes, which partially hid the pair of Glyphs that were on his sides: A set of crossed Infinity Symbols.
Eliza stood tall and majestic, towering over her short husband. She had four Bronze horns: two broader ones curling backwards from just above her Topaz eyes, and two slightly smaller ones curling backwards from below and behind the others. Her Silver mane was woven into thick braids, and a silver medallion emblazoned with a pair of crossed Infinity Signs hung around her neck. Various metal bands were wrapped around her tail and parts of her forelegs.
Both monarchs were wearing matching Crowns upon their heads: The Silver metal had a total of eight images of the Aries clan symbol embedded on it: One on each of eight sides. Each crown had eight spikes of teeth jutting upwards just between each symbol, and all eight teeth had a large Diamond embedded into its side. The only true difference was that Eliza's crown was slightly wider and larger than her husband's.
Although Alexander was the descendant of the Aries Ruling bloodline, it was his mate Eliza who took direct command of the dragons of Aries. For hundreds of years, most of the heirs who were directly next in line for the throne have been female. Therefore, it was the Queen who always took primary rule over the Mountians of Inferdus. When it came time for Alexander to marry and pass on his rulership, he sought out the dragoness he could trust the most to rule wisely. From that day on, he became a dragon Elder despite his "young" age, and would often provide his wife Eliza with advice from time to time.
Elenar ran forwards towards her parents at first, but gradually slowed her pace to walk up to them. Elza was following close behind.
"G-Good morning, Mother." Elenar said, bowing.
"Greeings, dear." Eliza replied, smiling slightly. "What brings you up here in such haste? Is something the matter?"
The Princess's feelings of dread and distress reached their zenith.
"Yes." She replied. She immediately opened her satchel and dug into it. Elenar pulled out the scroll and presented it to her mother.
"Not a few moments ago, I received this scroll from a Dragonfly who arrived from the Raunn Jungle. I took the liberty of reading it myself, and... well..."
The Princess sighed defeatedly.
"What is wrong?" Alexander queried.
"It's too much for me to bear." Elenar stated. "You'll have to read it for yourself."
Eliza took the scroll from her daughter, opened it, and proceeded to read it. During this, the Princess looked down at the floor as if ashamed by the contents, while Elza looked on, concerned.
When the Queen finished reading the scroll, she rolled it back up and sighed.
"What does it say, Eliza?" Alexander asked.
"King Boreas is no more." Eliza declared grimly.
"What?" Elza shouted, surprised.
"Not a fortnight ago," The Queen stated, "during the battle in the Raunn Jungle, the Wind King's life was taken from him, by none other than the combined efforts of King Oceanus and King Gaius."
The Wind dragoness gasped in horror.
"That is not all." Eliza added. "In a fit of rage, a gang of Wind dragons turned and swarmed at the two Light dragon Kings. They all lost their lives, but in that sacrifice, they slew Oceanus and left Gaius gravely wounded. Before the Earth King could be slain, however, a large number of his soldiers came to his rescue and fled the jungle with him. Several of the remaining Wind dragons tried to give pursuit, but the Water dragons overcame them, and slew them to avenge their fallen Lord."
"I see..." Alexander stated.
"Are..." Elza asked worriedly. "Are there any surivors among Clan Aquarius?"
"The scroll does not say." The Queen answered. "I am sorry, Elza."
An air of silence fell about the room.
The Pain dragons in the room held their heads low, as did the soldiers on standby, while the Wind dragoness started crying in sorrow. Elenar draped a wing over her friend's back to comfort her.
Her clan of Aquarius was no more. Almost the entirety of her once proud clan of Wind dragons was wiped from the earth in less than a day. Even if there were survivors, even if there were still remnants of Boreas' family, the Wind dragons were doomed to fade into extinction.
This was not the first time a Clan of Dark dragons was doomed to this fate.
Several years ago, the Dark dragons suffered their first great loss in the form of the deaths of King Orpheus, the King of Clan Leo, and his family of Sound dragons. They were slain by Oceanus's forces, and the Water King proceeded to claim the Sound King's land, the Aechos Valley, as his own, killing all of the Sound dragons too foolish to flee with their lives. Several years later, King Darzun, the Fauna King, lost his life to Gaius, who proceeded to take the Raunn Jungle as his own, forcing the Fauna dragons to flee to the East. Since then, Boreas and his forces had been trying to liberate the Jungle of Light dragon control. And now, it seemed that the Wind King's efforts resulted in a poisoned victory: he and his people lost their lives while taking the life of Oceanus.
Now, only three Dark dragon clans remained unfragmented: Aries, Scorpio and Capricorn.
As the Princess did her best to calm Elza down, another Pain dragoness walked into the Throne room.
"Excuse me." The dragoness stated. "There is another scroll that needs attending to, your Majesty."
It was a woman named Nerona.
Nerona was a few years older than Elenar, but was also significantly shorter, and had a thicker hindquarters. She had three horns of a Dark Amethyst, which bent backwards on the top of her head in almost exactly the same way as the Princess. She was dressed in a small set of brown robes, which hid her wings and sides from view. A short, brown satchel shifted to and fro and she walked.
The shorts Crimson eyes momentarilly darted across the room as she approached the Queen. Elenar watched the whole while from where she stood, eyeing the other Pain dragoness in confusion.
"Another scroll, Nerona?" Alexander queried. "Is it from the same source as the first?"
"Not quite, your Highness." The Red-headed dragoness replied, rifling through her satchel. "Moments after Elenar ran off to give you that scroll, another dragonfly arrived from the city of Aeroshard, bearing this scroll."
Nerona produced a small, Silver scroll with the image of a set of scales emblazoned on the side; The sign of Clan Libra.
"A scroll from Kronos?" Eliza asked as she took the scroll from the young dragoness. "Why, neither Alexander nor I have heard from him since this bloody war began."
"What could he be wanting to send us word about?" The King wondered out loud.
"Read and find out, your Highness." Nerona replied.
Eliza opened the scroll and took a moment to read its contents. During this time, Nerona stood a short distance away from Elenar and Elza.
"Why didn't you let me know before I ran off, Nerona?" The Princess whispered.
"Perhaps if you learned to be patient," The other dragoness stated coldly, "You would've learned sooner."
Once the Queen finished reading her scroll, she shook her head in disdain.
"Yet another death to worsen the mood..." She stated.
"What do you mean, your Majesty?" Elza asked, having finally calmed down some.
"Quite recently, King Kronos of Clan Libra has passed on to the Underworld." Eliza proclaimed. "He died of a terrible disease that rendered his ability to heal from injuries all but nonexistant. The Time King's son, Prince Bergan, has made a request for us to attend the Golden dragon's funeral in Aeroshard."
"Bergan?" Elenar queried.
Alexander snorted.
"What makes that boy think we'd wish to leave the safety of our home to attend his father's death party?" The King questioned.
"Well," Eliza replied, "According to a small section near the end of the scroll, Bergan claims that while mine and your presence is optional, only Elenar's presence is absolutely necessary. He also says that he wishes to 'apologize', but he doesn't say what about."
The Pain King rolled his eyes.
"How does he expect us to reach Aeroshard?" He spat. "Our world is torn by a seemingly never-ending war. Getting to a city on the Southern continent from our home in Mount Erebus will take ages."
"We can travel if we stick to Dark Dragon territory, father." Elenar replied. "To be honest, I'm deathly curious as to what Bergan seeks to apologize for."
"I want you to stay away from that boy, Elenar." The King scolded.
"Come now, Alexander." The Queen stated. "There is no harm in letting our daughter visit Prince Bergan in his time of grief. And to be honest, I seek to find out what he wants to apologize for myself."
Alexander sighed.
"Fine." He stated. "You and Elenar may go if you wish, but I shall stay behind. We cannot leave the Mountains of Inferdus without a Ruler, even for a short while."
"Could you not have someone rule in your stead, sire?" Nerona asked.
"No." The King snapped. The short Pain dragoness frowned.
"As you wish, your Highness."
Elenar turned towards Elza.
"Would you like to come, Elza?" She asked.
"What for?" The Dark Green dragoness replied sadly. "I have lost my clan, and possibly my family along with them. Why would you want me to travel to a place where another has suffered a similar tragedy?"
The Princess frowned.
"I was just thinking you'd like to get out of this stuffy Mountain for once, Elza." She reassured. "I didn't mean to..."
"It's alright." Elza interjected."I know what you probably meant. But still, I couldn't bear to be near another place where death hangs in the air."
Nerona rolled her eyes.
"It's just as well." She sneered. "I can't imagine you'd be able to comfort Bergan in that sorry state."
The Wind dragoness glared at the short dragoness.
"I didn't ask your opinion, Nerona." She spat.
"Still, 'my opinion' is valid enough to be considered fact." The Pain dragoness stated. "You'd only serve to remind the Prince of the loss of his own father by going on about your own lost family."
"Why you decrepid louse!" Elza snarled.
"That's ENGOUH!" Eliza bellowed, causing the younger dragoness to jump in surprise.
"That constant squabbling will get you nowhere!" The Queen sneered. "Elza, whether you wish to stay here, or leave for Aeroshard, your choice is fine by me. But with all do respect, do not go on about your pain and suffering within Bergan's earshot should you attend. "
"Yes, Ma'am." The Wind dragoness stated quietly.
"And as for you, Nerona... You had best learn to watch your tongue around me and Alexander. Your're on constant thin ice as it is."
"My apologies, your grace." The short dragoness stated solemnly, bowing her head.
"Good. Now then..." Eliza turned her gaze to Elenar. "Pack what personal belongings you deem fit for travel. We shall leave for Aeroshard on the morrow."
"As you wish, mother." Elenar responded, also bowing.
The Princess turned to leave the throne room, Elza following close behind. As they left, the Wind dragoness flashed Nerona a glare. The short dragoness glared right back.
...
Six days had passed since they left the Mountains of Inferdus.
Queen Eliza, Princess Elenar, Elza, and a large entourage of Pain dragons had left Mount Erebus and traveled East to the Tarune Forest. They then stopped in Faeshrine for a brief time, and then continued traveling south and partially to the west. After traveling carefully outside the islands in that section of the Ocean, which was still Water dragon territory, they finally arrived at the section of the Arcus desert that formed a massive gap between the Easeternmost edge of the Fractured Hills, and the Northernmost edge of the Mountians of Kilon.
Once they were on the southern continent, the Dark dragons carefully traveled through the desert sands for a little over a day. And then, when it was almost a full week since they left their home, Eliza and her group finally arrived at their destination: Aeroshard.
A massive Metal and stone wall surrounded the perimeter of the city of Power, and was lined with twelce gates on each side, each one marked with a number in a clocklike arrangement. All around the wall, massive turrets were being installed, as a future precaution against any attack. Just within the wall, the city blocks were designed so that the smallest buildings were by the city wall, and the tallest ones were in the center of the city, surrounding the massive Temple which overcame them all.
On various spots of the city were several small, wooden buildings. Each of them was a small chapel: A shrine, built by Wind dragons of olden times, to honor the Greatest dragoness of them all: The Great Shadow.
Many Dragons and Nondragons walked about the city, heading about a multitude of tasks. During this, Eliza and her group carefully approached the Aeroshard Temple. Even if the city of Power was a neutral territory, it was still home to many Light dragons, only some of whom were the neutral Time drakes.
As Eliza walked at the front of her entourage, Elza and Elenar were on either side of her. The Wind dragoness felt uneasy as several of the Light dragons eyed her.
"Do not fret." The Queen reassured. "No dragons in this city are our enemies."
"I'm not so sure..." Elza stated quietly.
Eventually, Eliza and the others came before the Aeroshard Temple.
Aeroshard's temple was the largest building in the whole city. Its front walls were wide enough to overtake an entire city block, and was surrounded by a mutlitude of Stone pillars on all sides. The temple itself stood large enough to overcome even the highest of the buildings around it, and had four massive towers at the Northerwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest corners, which rose high enough to appear as if they touched the sky.
Eliza and the other Dark dragons closest to her came to a stop before the Temple gates, where a group of soldiers stood at the ready.
"Who goes there?" One of the guards, a Tigeress, asked.
"I am Queen Eliza." The middle-aged dragoness began. "I have recieved a summons from Prince Bergan, who asked for me and my daughter to arrive to attend the funeral of the late King Kronos."
Elenar presented the Silver scroll to the guards, who looked it over to see if it was genuine.
"We shall summon Lord Bergan immediately." Another soldier, a Cheetah, proclaimed.
A few of the soldiers turned and entered the Temple. A few minutes later, a Purple dragon in his early twenties stepped out of the front gates. Even though Elenar hadn't seen him in years, she knew who it was almost as soon as she layed eyes on him.
Bergan.
The Libra prince had a muscular figure, but wasn't as thickly built as an Earth or Fauna dragon. His three Silver horns, two like those of a ram's and one bending down the backside of his head, were decorated in various gold rings. He had a small, Golden beard upon his chin, and his mane was tied back in silver bonds. He wore a short black cape over his torso, and a pair of Gold stockings over his forepaws. A large pendant studded with a large Sapphire hung around his neck.
As the Purple dragon approached the Pain Queen, he eyed her and her group with his Blood Red eyes.
"Ah, Queen Eliza." He stated warmly. "How wonderful to see you!"
"Greetings, Bergan." The middle-aged dragoness replied.
The Prince turned to face Elenar.
"Why, if it isn't my dearest friend Elenar." He said happily.
"It's been too long, Bergan." The Princess replied, smiling. "I see you've finally gotten bulkier than when you were a teenager."
"Oh, you flatterer." The Purple dragon turned to face the Wind dragoness. "Who might this be?"
"My name is Elza." She stated. "I'm the Princess's personal assistant."
"She's also my best friend." Elenar added.
"And quite a lovely friend she is." Bergan commented.
The Prince kissed the Wind dragoness on the forepaw, causing her to blush.
"You haven't lost a bit of your charm in the last seven years, Bergan." Elenar stated, smiling.
"Why, thank you very much, my dear." The Purple dragon responded. "But these good tidings are slowing us down: Why don't we all step inside: There is much to be done, especially the things involving my beloved father's death."
The Prince turned and lead the Dark dragonesses and their entourage into the Temple.
...
A few days later.
It was the later half of the afternoon. The time had come to conduct the Time King's funeral, which was held in the courtyard behind the Temple.
The sky was darkened by a massive swath of Greyish-black clouds: The sure sign of an approaching thunderstorm. The Wind blew harshly across the city, dragging sand from the desert along with it and pelting a few beings and with small bits of earth as they walked towards the center of the city.
The Temple's courtyard was composed of a massive, well-groomed plot of grass, with a large garden growing on the Eastern and Western sides of the yard, along the walls. Two massive rows of wooden benches were set up between the back of the Temple and the far side of the Northern wall. Many dragons and nondragons filled the benches, most of them filled with grief at the loss of their former Lord and Master.
At the far end of the courtyard, just between the two rows, stood a large, wood-and-metal coffin, studded with various Sapphires and large red glyphs in the form of Sets of Scales. Within that coffin, lying on its back, was the body of a large dragon: Kronos.
The coffin was left partially open, so that all could see the upper half of the Time King's body. A spell had been cast over him to prevent his flesh and organs from decaying into nothing, so that he may stay as grand in appearance til the end of time. Despite this, his once-shining scales had been left pale and sickly from the illenss that plagued him prior to his death. His thick Grey mane was tied tightly in a series if gold bands, and his seven thick horns were decorated in the finest of rings. The King's torso was covered in the same thick, Golden coat and sashes that he had worn during his time a ruler of Aeroshard. His forepaws were clasped together on his chest, hiding his royal birthmark, a red Scales glyph on his right forepaw, from view.
Once the sun had started to set in the sky, the mass started.
An aged, Brown-hided dragon in Elder's robes approached the front of the mass, standing just behind a stone Podium that had been placed a short distance in front of the Time King's coffin.
"My people, we are gathered here on this evening to mourn the passing of Kronos, the King of this fine city. He was taken, before his time, by a terrible disease, which robbed him of the ability to heal from injury. Now, a great number of people, who have known our King very well, shall approach the podium, and share with us a few words they wish to say about our fallen Lord..."
After this, a large portion of time was spent as several people, Nobles and commoners, man and woman, stepped up to the podium and spoke about good times they had shared with the Golden King. At one point, even Queen Eliza got up to pay Kronos' respects.
During this time, Elza and Elenar sat in the front row of the left side of the benches, looking on at the body of the fallen king.
The Wind dragoness sighed softly, struggling not to allow tears to fall from her eyes. Nerona was correct: This air of death and sadness only served to remind Elza of the loss of her own clan. However, she had chosen to come here, if only to be with her friend Elenar. And she promised not to show her pain around the Libra Prince.
"Are you alright, Elza?" The Princess asked, concerned.
"I'm fine, Elly." The Wind dragoness replied.
Ever since Elza was sent by her parents, alongside several other Wind dragon children, to live in the Mountains of Inferdus at the start of the Twilight War, she and Elenar had been the best of friends; almost like sisters, in fact. If the Princess was going to go somewhere, Elza would go along with her.
Eventually, one last person approached the podium: Bergan.
The Purple Prince looked behind himself at his father, a mournful gaze in his eyes. After a brief, yet deep, sigh, Bergan turned back around and approached the crowd.
"My people..." He began, "I... I cannot say that I am able to bear this loss easilly. At every moment, I struggle to keep myself from bursting into tears before you all. My father was a good man, a better king, and the best of fathers a young dragon could ask for. After my dear mother Atropos passed away a few years ago, my father was the only family I had left, and there was much I had hoped to learn from him for many years. But alas, fate has taken him away, and I find myself forced into an umcomfortable position."
"Uncomfortable position?" Elza whispered, confused. Bergan continued.
"My people, as law dictates, since I am the sole remaining heir of the Libra bloodline, I must stand up and take my father's place as King of the city of Aeroshard. It would be a great lie to tell you that I am ready for this. I am years away from reaching the proper age to take up the Monarchy: I am not even a fully grown man. However, it would be selfish of me to step away, and leave my city and its people without a ruler to keep them from slaughtering each other in a mass chaos."
The crowd started murmuring amongst themselves.
"So, it is with a very heavy soul that I hereby declare that I shall be taking over as King of the city of Power. I pray that Lord Spyro blesses my time as ruler, and prevents me from making grave mistakes."
The Prince turned around to face the body of the Golden dragon, sorrow visible on his face.
"And I also pray that you watch over me, father." He said sadly.
With those things finally said, Bergan turned and proceeded to walk down the aisle between the rows. As he did this, he stopped to speak to Elenar.
"Would please you do me the kindess of following me, Elenar?" He asked with a mournful gaze. "I am in pain, and need an old friend to confide in."
"Of course, Bergan." The Princess replied. "I wouldn't leave a friend to mourn on their own."
Elenar quicky turned to look at Elza and Eliza.
"You two don't mind me leaving for a while, do you?"
"Do as you wish, dear." The Queen stated.
"Go ahead." Elza added. "I'll see you later, Elly."
"Alright, then." The young Pain dragoness turned towards the Prince. "Lead the way, Bergan."
"As you wish."
The Purple dragon proceeded to lead Elenar towards the back doors of the Temple. All the while, the neither the dragoness, nor the crowd of people around her, noticed the grin that briefly appeared on Bergan's face whenever he glanced back at her.
...
Bergan and Elenar walked through the now barren hallways of Aeroshard Temple.
The floor was made entirely of marble tiles, and the walls were constructed of metal and wood. Every hallway and corridor was kept illuminated by a multitude of torches, which glowed with a magical green fire. Some of the walls had great glass windows, which allowed one to view the courtyard beyond.
As the two Royals walked along, Bergan began speaking.
"I must give you my most sincerest apologies, Elenar." He said solemnly.
"For what?" The princess asked.
"For causing your friend, as well as your allies, so much grief these past seven years."
"I do not understand what you mean, Bergan."
The Purple dragon sighed.
"Your companion Elza, the Wind dragoness, has just recently lost what little family she had in the battle for the Raunn Jungle, correct?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"Their suffering is because of me." The Prince stated. "Once upon a time, when we were teenagers during the last Council of the Monarchs, I made the suggestion for Clan Pisces and Clan Aquarius to go to war. Do you recall this?"
Elenar thought for a moment.
"Yes..." She stated.
"It was a grave and foolish mistake." Bergan responded, frowning. "Back then, I had assumed that only those two clans would take up arms against each other. Instead, almost each and every one of the clans fought in the war, causing a great and terrible timespan of hatred and bloodshed."
The Purple dragon stopped to look at Elenar with sorroful eyes.
"I didn't expect your father to come here. I can imagine he must hold me with great disdain for bringing such a swift end to the Peace he worked so hard to reestablish after his father Runileon brought about such chaos all those years ago. Perhaps I am no better than the Wicked One himself."
"Don't say that, Bergan." The Pain dragoness replied. "You may have made mistakes in the past, but you didn't mean for the Dark dragons to be wiped out like my Grandfather did."
"Still, with the way things are now, it's only a matter of time before Runileon the Wicked's ultimate plans are brought about indirectly."
Elenar was taken aback by this.
"What are you saying?" She demanded.
Bergan sighed, and then continued walking.
"So far, most of the dragons of Clans Leo, Taurus and Aquarius have been slain in mass quantities by the Light side of the war." He began again. "The Light dragons are no doubt pleased with their progress, but I fear that their bloodlust will not stop there."
"What do you mean?" Elenar asked worriedly.
"The only Dark dragon clan that still wishes to fight is Clan Scorpio, the Flora dragons. They are currently outnumbered four to one: If the clans of Sagittarius, Pisces, Gemini and Virgo all strike at once, Scorpio's defeat will be absolute. Furthermore, Scorpio's land, the Tarune forest, lies just between the Mountains of Inferdus and the Floating Plains: The lands belonging to Clans Aries and Capricorn, respectively. With all of their enemies placed close together, the Light dragon clans will seek to wipe them all out at once."
The Pain dragoness gasped.
"That can't be true!" She snapped. "Aries and Capricorn are neutral: They haven't lifted a talon to fight in the war!"
"Ah, but the two clans have had close relationships with Aquarius and Scorpio, respectively." Bergan replied. "Aries offers Aquarius food and shelter from time to time, as does Capricorn for Scorpio. With that friendship in mind, the two Dark clans will be seen as more enemies. But even if that is not the case, the Light dragons of Clans Virgo and Pisces have been especially estatic in the destruction of the Dark dragons: since Aries and Capricorn are Dark dragon clans, they will still be percieved as targets. And all the more vulnerable ones at that, since the two clans, as you say, 'haven't lifted a talon to fight'."
Purple dragon looked down at the floor.
"Because of my foolishness, I have condemned the Dark dragon race to genocide. I am just as Wicked as Runileon."
Elenar was taken aback.
"This..." She stated. "..This is unacceptable. How could such a thing be true?"
"I don't wish it to be," The Purple dragon stated, "But with the way things are at the moment, it is true."
"Can't something be done to prevent this?" The dragoness asked. "Can't the clans of Cancer and Libra step in to defend the Dark dragons?"
"You would have them take up arms against their Light dragon brethren?" Bergan stated. "If those two clans take up arms, which is next to impossible in Cancer's case, the other Light dragons would percieve them as traitors, and attack with great prejudice, thus extending the war even further, and leaving the Dragon race even more divided. And even IF Cancer and Libra step in, their homelands are several hundred miles away from the territories of Aries, Capricorn and Scorpio: It would be a great burden for them to send. And what's worse: My land is sandwiched between Gemini and Virgo territory: Clan Libra would be brought to its knees on two sides."
"Than what can be done, defeatedly?" Elenar asked defeatedly. "Are the Dark dragons doomed?"
"I have thought of an answer, Elenar." Bergan answered. "The Dark dragon race will have to... disappear."
"What?" The dragoness queried, taken aback.
"Allow me to explain." The Prince stated. "Quite recently, I have had the fortune of speaking to Queen Persephone, ruler of Clan Scorpio and the Tarune forest. We are currently arranging for my forces to 'eliminate' the citizens of the city of Faeshrine."
"Excuse me?"
"On the surface, it will appear as though I have wiped out the Flora dragons. But in reality, all of those Flora dragons will instead be coming here, to live in Aeroshard."
"They will?" Elenar asked.
"Oh yes. And hopefully, not just the Flora dragons: I wish for all Dark dragons to come to Aeroshard."
"Why is that, Bergan?"
"Since I have caused this great disaster for the Dark dragon race, it is only fitting that I allow them to live here in my city, as Penance for my deeds. They will be provided with food, shelter, and anything else they need, at little to no cost on their part. And that is not all: They shall all live here in secret, so that no Light dragon, whether of Libra of any other clan, will know thay they still exist, and therefore will no longer hunt after the Dark dragons."
"That... seems like a good plan." Elenar stated. "But why don't you tell this to my mother, the Queen of Aries?"
"Because, in a short time, it will be you who is Queen." The Purple dragon answered. "I plan to speak with Bane on this matter as well, since he is no doubt the next King of Clan Capricorn. I have tried to seek out the remaining monarchs of the other Dark clans to tell them the same, but I have been too late in that regard."
"I see..." The dragoness responded, frowning.
"There is another reason that I come to you and not your mother, Elenar." Bergan added. "Although, I fear that you may think ill of me for it."
"What is it, Bergan?"
The Purple dragon came to a stop again, this time before a large, Metal door marked with the symbol of Clan Libra. His bedchamber.
"As a sign of my good will, and as proof that Clan Libra shall forever remain friendly towards the Dark dragon race, I believe that it is only fitting that I marry a dragoness who is set to become the next Monarch of a Dark clan, thus showing physical proof of Unity amongst our races. Unfortunately, upon searching for the other Dark dragon Monarchs, I have discovered that most of the still-surviving heirs have all been male... save for one."
The two dragons were silent for a moment.
"... Me." The Princess stated.
"Yes, Elenar." Bergan responded. "By becoming mates, we could show both my clan, and your race, that we can all still stand as one. And that would be increasingly reinforced by the sight of our children... if you would honor me by having me as your husband and mate, that is."
Elenar sighed.
"I am unsure of this, Bergan." She stated. "Do not misunderstand me: You are a fine young man in your own right. However, I don't believe that my parents, especially my father Alexander, would allow such a marriage to take place..."
Bergan's features changed from sadness, to irritation.
"Surely, as a grown woman, you are able to make your own decisions." He suggested.
"Yes, but still, I want the approval of my Parents first: I merely wish to stay on good terms with them."
"Do you not wish to do the right thing for your people?" The Purple dragon demanded. "All I am trying to do is right the wrongs I have commited in the past. Becoming my bride is a small price to pay for a lifetime of protection and provision! Do you wish for Clan Aries to stand alone and unprotected? Do you wish to suffer the blind wrath of the Light dragon race, and be wiped clean from the land?"
"No!" Elenar shouted defensively. "Of course not!"
"Then why do you deny me?" Bergan exclaimed.
The dragoness looked down at the floor, sadness in her eyes.
"I..." She stated, unsure of what to say. She looked up at Bergan, who glared at her, waiting for an answer.
"When would the mass exodus begin?" She asked.
"In a few months, if all goes well." The Purple dragon answered.
"I see..." Elenar responded.
The dragoness sighed.
"Bergan, when exactly do you wish to have children?"
The Prince grinned. He reached for the knob of the metal doorway, turned it, and slowly opened the door, letting it go so it could slide open on its own the rest of the way.
"The sooner, the better." He answered. "It would all be for a good cause, I'm sure you understand."
"Yes, I understand." The Princess stated solemnly. "I'm... more than happy to have you as my mate, Bergan."
"I'm sure you are."
The Purple dragon motioned with a forepaw for Elenar to step inside his room.
"Go and lie down on my bed, Elenar. I trust you will find the experience quite... rewarding."
Without another word, the dragoness walked past Bergan and entered the room, her head held low the whole way. After this, the Prince stepped inside, turned around, and grabbed hold of the two doorknobs. With a triumphant grin upon his face, he shut the two doors swiftly, locking them shut.
For better or worse, Elenar would never forget this night: The night when her firstborn child was conceived.