Pyrrhia was going to change.

It was inevitable.

As all change is, I guess.

Destiny, here I come.

So the Kingdom of the Sea wasn't home after all. I wonder if anywhere will be.

"…I'm sorry. I think he's gone…"

Into darkness as black as a Nightwing's scales.

"We can make that happen."

No more hiding.

This dragon could change everything.

"It felt like someone slithering over my grave."

The future was in her talons now…

He had to cling to the thin hope that they could, because if they couldn't… there was no one else.

"Hope."

Thank you.

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

-Robert Frost

. . .

"Are you certain?" Lucifer asked Ipos, who was next to him on the balcony as a bird. "Yes." She said straight-forwardly. "He is the one who will bring us to freedom."

. . .

Swordfish didn't struggle. He let Vine take him outside, away from Rainfall's scrolls, away from his father's earring, away from the maps of the world past and present and let her bring him outside to the pond. Many students were outside already as the sun set on the warm summer day. Classes had stopped. The school was closing, after all.

After all the horrible things that had happened, the murders Sora carried out, the Tragedy of Prince Winter, the murders Cedar carried out, and then the Adnachiel attack, the school was losing nearly all of its students, who were being pulled out at the request of their families and governments. Some were staying for certain, namely Sandwings and Icewings, who were being kept safe from the turmoil back home. But except for those who would be in danger, everyone was to be sent home.

It had been two and a half months since the letters containing the truth had been sent out all over Pyrrhia. The Icewings were having a full on revolution against it's hierarchies, with the poorer Icewings joining together and attempting to overthrow the entire government. The army was suppressing it with force. Many had died, and the queen had gone into hiding. There was a case of Sandwing bandits managing to get in somehow past the Great Ice Cliff and ransack a border town, but the Icewings were dealing with much bigger problems. The rebels believed in a system Old Monarchy spoke of that distributes wealth amongst all citizens and puts everyone on the same rank.

The Sandwings were also having trouble. Blaze was not a good queen, and everybody knew that Glacier was the one Blaze would always come back to for help, but when the Icewings started to revolt, the Sand Kingdom was weak and alone. Blaze had rejected Old Monarchy at the advice of Glacier, something the Sandwings were not happy with. The Mudwings were building trains and the Skywings were making weapons. Even the Rainwings and Nightwings were benefitting. It was only a matter of time before the Sandwings were helplessly disadvantaged. Many anticipated a second war of Sandwing Succession, this time to fully annex the desert and to gain control of Old Monarchy's technology.

Currently, two groups seemed likely to take control. The Talons of Power and the Outclaws. Skirmishes between these two factions and the Sand military raged throughout the desert. The Seawings were becoming more closed off and spending more time underwater. A group of extremists called the Golden Army was gaining ground in the Sky Kingdom, calling for Ruby's removal and to strike first before the war began. They were incredibly racist against Nightwings especially, who they felt were responsible for everything in the first war, which they kind of were. Glory had managed to work well with the Nightwings to keep them loyal, but some had disappeared, and were suspected to have joined the Darkists, who still had not been found.

The armies of the continent had raided the Old Night City, only to find it deserted. Nobody knew where they had gone, and paranoia of who was and who wasn't one of them plagued the continent. The Talons of Peace, led by Riptide, had formed an alliance with Old Monarchy and helped protect them while they brought technology to the humans of Pyrrhia.

The Queens had come together before and had sent out a small team of dragons to find Midhalm, the Anibian island near Pyrrhia. None had returned. Maps of the world had been spread and copied throughout Pyrrhia. Some believed that Pyrrhia shouldn't fight itself but should instead come together and prepare for war with the rest of the world.

And of course, the Demons, their plans, Visitors, and the multiverse had terrified and confused everyone. Pyrrhia was a mess to put it simply.

So, on one of the school's last days, Swordfish decided to take a break from his worrying and relentless studying of Rainfall's scrolls to go out to the pond. Besides, this was one of the last days with his friends before he had to return to Urchin and Starfish. Queen Coral had ordered all Seawings be returned. Including her daughter. Swordfish knew it would mean marrying Typhoon, something the two of them had both expressed their dislike for. All of this would have been for nothing, because Swordfish would have to live in that rich town with Typhoon, restoring honor to the family name, until the Demons come to kill him or the Darkists come to do the same or Pyrrhia gets invaded or the Demons complete Liberation Project and the whole multiverse ceases to exist.

But today, the sun was glimmering across the small lake outside the school. Swordfish met up with Vine, Rattlesnake, Vulture, Darkseer, and Delta. Typhoon and Frigid were out there too. Frigid always had to be watched, after Swordfish told them about the Darkists targeting the Icewing. There was still no reason why they wanted him, or why Moon had foreseen that he was important, that they could find. They had deduced that Frigid's mother had come from Thessalstia, but nothing beyond that seemed important. Frigid seemed as braindead as ever. Typhoon was just floating beneath the water.

The Amber Winglet wasn't talking. Swordfish was so consumed with Rainfall's scrolls that he had started to become separated from them. He didn't want to be, but he felt like he didn't have much time, and this was what he had worked so hard for. He sat and watched Vine, Vulture, Delta, and Darkseer splash around in the shallow part of the lake, splashing each other with the drops of sunlight-filled water. Rattlesnake sat next to him, looking out over the water with him.

"Why aren't you out with them?" She asked. Swordfish turned to her. "Why aren't you?" He asked back. She looked away. "Because… I think I need some time to be alone. I was waiting for you to leave, because I still want to be here, but I need to think." She sounded sad. Swordfish stopped studying a complicated mess that used to be a spider web and nodded understandingly and left her alone next to the large rock they were sitting next to.

Swordfish watched a raven fly overhead and dive towards the water as he walked down to meet his friends. Vine wasn't there, and he looked around for her. "Where's Vine?" Swordfish asked, and was met with a smile from Darkseer. Swordfish reeled back as he was suddenly hit with a blast of water droplets from his left as Vine appeared, changing her scales to match the glowing orange sky. Rattlesnake had leant her the Earring of Sola to heal her eye, which was better now. She laughed a laugh of happiness that Swordfish couldn't help but smile at.

He and Vine had gone through so much together and shared a special bond together. It wasn't romantic, but they were two world jumpers, two dragonets who had seen other worlds and were connected to the Demons and the hellish experiment Cassriel had performed on them. They were the target of Frost's endless hunting. They had seen the horrors of the Camaelists together. They were the two black sheep of the world. They didn't belong here. It made Swordfish happy that despite not even knowing where she came from, her earliest memory being of that horrible blackness that was the Void, she had found happiness here regardless.

She had positive views of the world, even when it seemed the world was just too cruel. She brought everyone together when needed. When Swordfish thought about her all bloody in the Void, it reminded him of himself floating through the ocean after "training" with Starfish. Vine was like the younger sibling he had always wished he had.

Vulture leapt forward and tried to splash Delta, but she used her large Mudwing tail to drench him first. He fell from the air into the water and poked his head back up. He had refused to use the Earring of Sola to repair his eye, which still had a now soaked eye patch from Old Monarchy. He claimed he didn't want it healed by the same magic he had seen turn Nikita Petrov into a dragon.

One of the things that wasn't included in the letter, including the Travelers, the story of Frost, and some things about the other worlds, was the fact that humans were dragons. Those who had seen it were still plagued with various nightmares and feelings like they were human. Vulture had woken up once and truly believed he was human until something snapped him back to reality. Why the people of Jeoul were turned into dragons and how was still something they all wondered about.

Swordfish turned and looked around at the sunset. It was beautiful.

In the distance, he could see more birds. More ravens?

Swordfish turned back around to try and find the raven. It was gone.

The Seawings knew a lot about seabirds and were taught all about them at school. Ravens didn't dive for fish.

A sudden, piercing scream echoed through the small lake and made Swordfish whirl around. Darkseer had nearly collapsed into the water. Vulture had caught him and was trying to keep his head above water as Delta flew over to help him. Darkseer kept yelling. His eyes were closed, and he looked like he was in great pain. Swordfish flew over to him as Rattlesnake and Vine did the same. Everyone outside turned to look at the Nightwing. The shadow of the mountain over them was suddenly looming.

"AAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!" Darkseer cried out. It was a cry of pure pain. He threw his claws up to his head. He was shaking. "He's having a vision." Vulture said. "An intense one." "NOT JUST ONE… IT'S LIKE A MILLION!" He still didn't open his eyes. "What do you see?" Tsunami asked. Peril was behind her, staying out of the water but looking on in curiosity. Mightyclaws flew over and looked at the Nightwing in awe. "You… you have powers?"

They all dragged Darkseer to shore, where he collapsed on the ground into the sand. "It's coming… I couldn't see it before… But now it's like whatever was blocking my visions has lifted… and now it's too late." "What's coming?" Tsunami asked. "Is the school in danger?" Darkseer opened his eyes. He looked at Tsunami with terror. "Everyone is." He whispered. "The school… The Icewings… The Darkists… Possibility… The Rainforest. Everyone is…" He couldn't stop shaking. "I am. I might. I don't know."

"What's going to happen?!" Rattlesnake asked Darkseer. He gripped her arm with force. She winced.

"It's the end." He said with pure terror. Swordfish had never seen someone so scared.

"Get everyone out of the mountain as fast as you can." Darkseer ordered. "And be ready to fight. Defend the entrance. They're coming." The dragons outside were all looking at Darkseer with horror and apprehension.

"Caw…" Darkseer whimpered before passing out.

The dragons began talking and frantically asking Tsunami what to do, who looked at Darkseer with panic in her eyes. She had seen what the Demons could do.

Swordfish whipped around and began looking for the raven again. "THE RAVEN!" He screamed as he saw it perched on a branch overlooking the water. Swordfish remembered the attack on the Traveler's hideout.

"CAW!"

The raven crowed, and the sound of it was echoed for as far as the dragons could hear. Multiple ravens making the same noise all throughout the forest and beyond. Vulture let out a cry as he made the same connection Swordfish had. "Stygal." He said. "It has begun." Darkseer said in his unconsciousness. He had opened his eyes and his eyes were white. "Eden and Hel call forth all Children of God to their gates."

A sudden sound made all the dragons turn their heads to the mountainside. A rift had opened in the sky, and a figure walked out, floating in the air. They could see just his silhouette as he walked towards the mountain, and then a massive sound filled the air.

It was the high pitched tone of a Demon's transformation. It was incredibly loud. Some bent down and covered their ears to protect themselves from the sound. Swordfish just looked as that dark light filled the sky, and the form of Lucifer, King of the Demons, eclipsed the rising moons. It was a dragon, fittingly enough, but not of a dragon Swordfish knew. Not one that anyone knew. It was black scaled, with red beneath the black armored scales. The eyes were a deep purple that held regal power, authority, nobility, punishment, and sadness. He merely glanced at the lake, and then turned his attention to the mountain. Dragons were pouring out of the entrance, Sunny flew right to Tsunami's side.

"In those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it's light. The stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken." Darkseer said, his eyes still white.

Lucifer turned towards Jade Mountain, lifted his arm, and punched right through.

Rocks began cascading down the mountain side as the hole was punched into the mountain. As Lucifer pulled his arm out of the hole he had ripped into the mountain slowly, and checked inside the hole he had made. "My father!" Sunny shrieked over the yelling of the dragons nearby. "That was his cave!" Swordfish watched as Lucifer opened his palm and out fell rocks slightly tinted red. Sunny screamed. The hole began to collapse, and dust began to come out of the windows of the academy.

"WE NEED TO GET EVERYONE OUTSIDE NOW!" Tsunami yelled at the dragons in front of her. Someone screamed and the dragons turned their attention to the woods nearby. There were dragons walking towards them, slowly but surely. They were covered in the remnants of a black-green webbing, and they looked like new flesh had been stitched to old flesh and bones. Their eyes were black. "THE DEAD!" Vulture yelled. Swordfish had been right. The raven was Stygal. He had made more puppets out of dead dragons. "Three Moons…" Someone said as more and more dead dragons began to walk towards them out of the woods.

"RETREAT TO THE DOOR! WE NEED TO PRIORITZE RESCUING DRAGONS OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN!" Tsunami barked, and the dragons took flight, flying towards the entrance of the academy. "DO NOT LET ANY OF THEM IN! HOLD THAT DOOR!" She continued yelling. Swordfish was shaking. He looked back up at Lucifer, who was now just standing there, observing the dragons. He was scanning the flying dragons, passed over Swordfish, and started focusing on the front of the escaping dragons. He picked up some of the rocks from the collapsing mountain and threw them at the front near Tsunami.

Swordfish watched the rocks come sailing towards them. They would kill most of the dragons for sure, tearing them to shreds. A massive, shrieking sound was coming from the front of the students as they scattered.

And then, the rocks stopped in midair. They went flying in the opposite direction, flying back into the mountain and making a sound like an avalanche. "Darkseer." Vine said next to Swordfish. Swordfish turned to see the shape of Darkseer hiding behind Rattlesnake. He was watching the rocks with intensity.

The dragons arrived at the entrance to the academy and Tsunami ordered them to start building defenses. Swordfish and Vine grabbed a nearby log and placed it in front of the mountain. "We don't have much time until they get here." Someone said. "Darkseer and Peril will be our best weapons here." Tsunami said to Sunny as they pass by. Sunny turned to Rattlesnake nearby. "Use that earring." She said. Tears were in her eyes and she looked terrified. "Use it to the best of your ability to save as many as you can." Rattlesnake nodded and took it off her ear.

The moons were rising now, and the dead were coming. Swordfish stood back as Peril began lighting their defenses on fire, barricading them off. "Luna, Sola, Eclis… if you're there… please help us."

. . .

"Fatespeaker?" Starflight called out. He had been blown back by something while taking scrolls out of the library shelves for closing. He had felt himself smack against the wall as a loud noise and shaking filled the room. He smelled rocky dust. Starflight pulled himself up on a shelf and began feeling his way back to the corner Fatespeaker had been in.

He was stopped when his nose smacked into something large and rocky. "Fatespeaker?" He called out again. No response. "Fatespeaker!" He kept feeling around the large rock, but it seemed to have fallen right through the ceiling. He stepped around a broken and toppled shelf. He could feel more shaking and hear distant screams. What was going on!? "FATESPEAKER!" He kept walking around the rock, until he tripped on something. He fell down and could feel that he had tripped on scales.

"Fatespeaker?" Swordfish asked, grabbing on to what he realized was her tail. He began going up from there, eventually reaching the stomach, and then…

The door to the library burst open. Starflight heard the large talons of Clay rush over to him, healed by the Earring of Sola. They stopped across from Fatespeaker. "Oh… oh no…" Said the voice of Clay, breaking. "…Fatespeaker…"

"Clay… what's going on?" Starflight asked, fearing the worst. He hadn't taken his claw off of Fatespeaker. "I… don't know… but you have to come with me." Clay said sadly. "I think the mountain's collapsing. "What… what happened to Fatespeaker?" Starflight asked, beginning to cry silently.

Clay said nothing.

"I'm sorry Starflight."

. . .

Frost stood on top of the building, firing an explosive arrow at the top of the building. The sandstone exploded and wooden shrapnel began raining down on the streets below. This kind of thing had happened before, she knew it. She had been here.

She, Miczariel, and Surgat were attacking the Traveler's hideout in this world, which was in Possibility, but in a different location. An abandoned building once used for cheap living. It was smaller than the underground Frost remembered being a part of. The Travelers were a threat, but the real mission here was to assassinate Jerboa so that she couldn't stop Pyrrhia from being purged.

Because Swordfish and them had found out and revealed the truth, Lucifer and the Council had ordered the entire continent be Purged to simply kill off such a problem. I warned him. I tried to stop them. Frost had thought. But Swordfish just didn't understand. His push to know the truth had left no option but war.

Some dragons attacked her, panicking at the sight of three things they now knew were Demons, but she had left them incapacitated. She didn't want to kill anyone she didn't have to. She knew Stygal's puppets would do most of that work. Stygal had begun to raise the dead all over Pyrrhia with new and improved puppets, that were a lot better than the slow, dumb ones Frost had fought with Rainfall. They were faster, could fly, and could even remember some of their past, making them smarter.

This whole situation was exactly what Frost wanted to stop from happening. If Swordfish had just given up chasing after Rainfall's stupid plan to tell him everything, none of this would have had to happened. If he had just let her take the scroll and burn it, it all would have been fine. The incident at the academy wouldn't have had to happen. Maybe she could have pretended to be Blizzard forever, and no fighting, no death, no hunt would have happened. Or better yet, he could shoot her and despite not having a soul, it would put her out of her damn misery.

But here we are. The world is ending.

As the Travelers began to fly out of the hole she had made, Miczariel and Surgat began to attack first, surprising escaping white-robed dragons and humans with traps and bombs. Frost waited and watched for her target to appear.

And then she saw her. Jerboa flew up and over the battle, surveying it rapidly. Frost shot a grappling arrow at the Sandwing. It missed, but Frost had planned in case that happened. Adnachiel rarely missed but Jerboa was a hard one to kill. The arrow sunk into the top of the building and propelled Frost forward. She summoned her blade and spun towards the midair Jerboa and sliced towards her in an arc. Jerboa dodged it closely, her eyes widening as she saw the Demon.

Frost made eye contact with the leader of the Travelers as the Sandwing flickered and disappeared. Jerboa was actually Jerboa II. Her mother was the first one, who had enchanted her daughter to be protected from all harm, making her immortal. It also saved her from situations like this. But was she immune to the attacks of a Demon?

She'll be back soon. Frost thought. She wouldn't leave her Travelers to die.

. . .

The students had made a circle of flames around the door to block the dead from attacking escaping students. Peril had been especially useful by lighting piled trees and brush around them to protect the students. The plan was to file everyone out of the school, and then take off before the whole mountain began to collapse. Stygal's dead had to be held back as they got everyone to safety. Luckily, Swordfish remembered that the dead couldn't fly very well, which meant most of the attack would probably come from the ground. Swordfish had informed Tsunami and Sunny of what he knew as more students came out of the school and were greeted with fire and panic.

Lucifer still hadn't moved from his spot after killing Stonemover. He waited and watched what was playing out in front of him with intent. He's looking for someone. Swordfish realized. Vine and I. We're who the Demons have wanted since the beginning. Is this whole attack to try and get us?

Vine needs to be out of his sight. Swordfish thought. Clay came out of the place holding a shaking Starflight up. He looked like he had seen something. "Fatespeaker is dead." Clay said like he was in shock. Sunny began weeping harder as Tsunami looked at the dragons in front of her with panic. "Is… this everyone? How… how many more have we lost?" Clay shook his head. "There has to be more in there." He said. "All those on the other side of the school are probably still trapped in there."

"We need volunteers to go in and locate missing students." Tsunami announced to the dragons of Jade Mountain. The fear in her voice was clear. Delta instantly volunteered, no surprise there. Swordfish lightly pushed Rattlesnake out of the way to lean in towards Vine. "Go. You're small, fast, and aren't the strongest." He whispered to her. She was terrified, Swordfish could see it in her scales. "Yeah. You're right." She said, and volunteered to go in. A couple other students said they'd go in, and Clay led them back into the mountain past the hiding Darkseer.

She'll be safer in there than out here. Swordfish thought. She needed to be protected from Lucifer. But as for him… Swordfish ran over to Vulture. The dead were coming, and they had limited time to figure out what to do. "Do you think he's looking for me and Vine?" He asked the Skywing. "I'm not sure… He won't make a move. He's just watching." Vulture said, and Swordfish looked back up at the terrifying black and red dragon. The deep purple eyes had not moved from where they were looking. He seemed focused on studying the dragons as Stygal's raised dragons began to circle the flames. Swordfish didn't take his eyes off Lucifer either. "He's seen me though. Why won't he attack? Wouldn't I be a good enough reason to fling rocks again, or just come over here and start smashing?" "Maybe he's not looking for you and Vine." Vulture hypothesized. "The Demons have spent so much time relentlessly hunting me and her." Swordfish said doubtfully. "I doubt they'll just ignore us two." "Maybe he's already sent someone after you and Vine, and feels you're just a waste of his time." "Someone like Blizzard." Swordfish said, and the two began to look to the sky.

Swordfish felt angry just thinking about facing her again. All that time, she had been working against him while pretending to be his friend. She really was a demon.

The two dragons' view of the sky was suddenly blocked by one of the dead soldiers making the short fly over the fire. Someone screamed and took flight to challenge it. It was Mightyclaws. He was soon joined by the other students who attacked the slow moving Seawing with everything they had. It didn't stand a chance, being slow and surrounded by dragonets. It was an Icewing named Alba who dealt the killing blow to the thing, which fell down into the flames.

"Remember, they only die from damage to the head! Be on the lookout for any more trying to cross the flames!" Tsunami cried, flying over the situation they were in. She was suddenly startled by a raven flying up above her, letting out a screech. The dead soldiers began to all take flight, and began meeting the dragonets head on. Swordfish watched Mightyclaws get his throat bitten by a large Rainwing from behind almost instantly, who took a large chunk of scaled flesh out of the Nightwing's neck. Mightyclaws fell into the fires as well. Rattlesnake flew down to him with the earring as the dragonets engaged with the small group of dead soldiers head on in fear.

Swordfish flew down to Rattlesnake, who had dragged the body of Mightyclaws out of the flames. He was burned all over, and his neck wound looked terrible. "I think he's too far gone." Rattlesnake said in fear, taking the earring out of the Nightwing's ear. "He's dead." She said to Arid and Garnet, two students from Mightyclaws' winglet, much to their distress.

Swordfish turned away from the Nightwing dragonet when he saw him move. "Wait! I think he's still alive!" He cried, to which Rattlesnake turned around with earring still in claw.

But the hopes of the watching dragonets were squashed when black and white webbing began to wrap Mightyclaws up into a cocoon-like structure. "Oh…" Rattlesnake said softly, backing up. Garnet began to let out a cry. "Mightyclaws! It's me, Garnet!" Mightyclaws didn't seem to hear her as the cocoon wrapped him up fully. "We need to get out of here!" Swordfish cried, to which Arid picked up burning branch he had lit and held it to the Nightwings neck, burning him again. "ARID!" Garnet cried, but Swordfish followed suit and asked Rattlesnake to light his branch. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Garnet screamed. "The Demon who is doing this, Stygal, is the Demon of Death. These are dead dragons who he has risen back up as his own personal army." Swordfish said. "And it seems that whoever dies now, will join their ranks." He and Arid continued this until it seemed the webbing was going away and Mightyclaws was truly dead.

"So… whoever dies tonight, will then become our enemy as a mindless puppet of the Demons." Rattlesnake said with horror.

. . .

Lynx stood on the balcony of the tower she had been living in since the revolution had begun. She looked out over the crowds facing off against the army. She already had a plan if they got in, she would claim her parents forced her in here, and switch sides if needed.

A group of Icewings appeared nearby, flying up to the riot. "EVERYONE!" One of them cried. "THE WALL OF ICE ISN'T WORKING! SOMETHING'S GOING DOWN!" The confrontation stopped as they all knew what that meant. They were open to attack.

. . .

Queen Coral sat in the council room, surrounded by her most trusted dragons. There had been reports of something happening all across Pyrrhia, and everyone on shore and in the Summer Palace had retreated underwater. "Perhaps war has finally broken out because of those humans." Commander Shark flashed to the council. "You made the right call to stay out of it all, your majesty." Coral nodded. "We will be safe down here." She had young Auklet held close, something she hadn't done in a while. Something still felt wrong. Everyone was underwater, where nobody could get them. So why did it feel like they weren't safe?

. . .

Anthony ran out of the house he had been living in to see the dragons bearing down on them. He spotted the green and black webbing encasing some of dragons and remembered what had been read from Rainfall's scroll. The dead. He thought with panic. Old Monarchy was already starting to take them on, some from dragonback, some from artillery they had built on the ground. They were in the middle of attempting to modernize the scavenger dens they were living in, while also making money by doing business with the kingdoms of Pyrrhia.

Some Talons of Peace dragons who had been protecting the dens this week were already engaging in combat with the dead Stygal had raised. Anthony equipped his mobile rifles and ran to Marie, who was already outside, witnessing the destruction. "Are these…" She began to ask. "The same dead Rainfall wrote about. Puppets." Anthony said. Dufort rode up to them on a horse. "Is this the Demons?" He asked, to which both Anthony and Marie nodded. "Merde." The commander cursed. "Can we kill them?" "Yes. These are just dead raised from the ground and forced to do what they've been told." Anthony said, watching one of the puppets breathe fire just beyond the city limits. "It's like a damn myth monster." Dufort said.

The commander turned towards the people and dragons of the town. "ENGAGE COMBAT!" He screamed and rode towards the battle.

. . .

Vine crept along the hallways, followed by Delta, Fearless, and Sepia. They entered the library first, knowing it would be a good large place to hide in, and to barricade off with all the shelves. It was empty, except for one of the corners of the room by the windows, where part of the mountain had come loose. The four dragonets looked at what had happened.

The entire top half of Fatespeaker's body had been crushed by the rock. The red blotch on the stone and floor made a design like a flower's bloom. It looked like the webbing Stygal wrapped the dead up in had attempted to use her, but decided she would be a useless soldier, being in half and everything. Delta turned them all away from the gruesome scene, all in too much of a state of shock to do everything, even cry.

Delta hurried them along, all silent, as they searched for anything. They passed the cavern where Clay kept weapons and silently grabbed the mobile rifles and their ammunition Vine and the others had gotten from Old Monarchy. Vine spotted her old cloak folded up on a rock. She grabbed it and tossed it over herself, letting the flag of Old Monarchy drape over her back again. The other dragonets looked at her with curiosity but didn't break the silence. She saw the cloaks of Rattlesnake, Vulture, and Blizzard. She grabbed the first two as well and put them on over herself as well.

The next room they checked was the music room. The drums and various instruments had been tipped over and were encircling two dragons in the middle. A Rainwing and a Seawing. Kinkajou, a mess of pale green and red, and Turtle, who looked at the dragonets with relief. "You need to leave." Said Sepia. "The whole mountain is collapsing." "What is happening?" Turtle asked shakily. "Lucifer has appeared and punched a hole through the mountain." Vine said. "Stygal has also raised the dead all over Pyrrhia and they're trying to kill us all." Vine looked at their horrified faces. "But… this place is going to collapse. They're protecting the entrance right now and stopping the dead from getting in so that we can leave safely."

"There's a group of students hiding in the history cave." Kinkajou said. "We were near there but made a run for it before stopping and hiding here." "Wait… you're an animus, right?" Sepia asked the talonless Turtle. He nodded. "You should get to a safe location fast. Get out of here but find Darkseer." The others looked at her with curiosity, but Turtle nodded. "Doesn't it seem obvious that Lucifer is targeting animus dragons?" Sepia asked. "He hit Stonemover first for a reason."

When Turtle and Kinkajou had left, the group started making their way to the history cave. They were stopped when they saw a dead Seawing who had been mutilated beyond recognition banging on the door of a sleeping cave. He looked older and was covered in the webbing. He seemed dirty, like he had been buried somewhere wet. He turned his head towards the four dragonets and let out a gargled snarl that sounded like "Viiine." Vine stepped back in shock before Fearless took one of the rifles and shot the thing in the head. It collapsed to the floor with a sickening wet sound.

"That kind of looks like…" Fearless started, examining the body, before stopping and going back to investigating the cave. Inside was Tamarin, who had locked herself in the room and turned invisible, shaking in the corner. "Oh… phew… I thought you were…" She started, obviously scared out of her mind. "Go catch up with Kinkajou and Turtle. They went down towards the entrance. They'll fill you in." Delta said. Tamarin got up and began shakily feeling her way through the hallway, turning invisible as she walked away.

As they continued through the sleeping caves, Vine recognized the one Swordfish used to share with Cedar. She quickly opened the door and found his satchel of things, with Rainfall's two scrolls sitting on Cedar's bed. She quickly rolled them up and stuck them into the bag and left. She was already carrying three cloaks and so she gave it to Delta, who understood what importance the bag held.

Vine knew what it all meant to Swordfish. The thing he had been working towards since before Vine even knew him.

. . .

Rattlesnake sat down with Alba as she clipped the earring onto the Icewing's ear. She had been injured fighting the dead. Her wing had been torn up and she was unconscious, but she wasn't going to die. They were right in the entrance, sitting next to the hiding Darkseer. "Why haven't you done anything?" Rattlesnake asked urgently. "You and Turtle are our only chance at defeating Lucifer!" "I've already seen those odds." Darkseer said miserably. "We have very low chances of beating him. What we're doing right now, getting everyone to safety and then escaping, has the best possible outcomes." Rattlesnake turned and looked up at the sad Darkseer. "So then why aren't you doing anything to help that?" "Because I'm his target! He already forced me to reveal myself with the rocks!" Darkseer cried. "He's trying to draw out the animus dragons to kill them!"

Rattlesnake watched Peril and Tsunami fighting together, killing two of the dead soldiers with ease. Dragons like Peril were like living weapons. Although not of any concern to Lucifer without a soul.

Rattlesnake looked up at Darkseer with realization. "Oh… you're…" Darkseer looked down at his talons. "Scared of what I will become? Yeah." He finished for her.

Alba began to move, and Rattlesnake tried to get her awake. "Alba wake up. The Earring is helping you." She said urgently. "But we need it off you as soon as possible in case someone else gets hurt." Alba got up and felt her wing. "Wow…" She said in amazement. "That thing is… I thought I was dead."

Rattlesnake took the earring off Alba's ear as Sunny came up to her, a shaking mess of golden scales. Her eyes looked empty. "How's the healing going?" She asked. "Good… Are you… okay?" Rattlesnake asked, concerned for the small Sandwing. She looked… like she was losing her mind. "Yes. Yes. I'm fine." Sunny said unconvincingly. "He's just… standing there." She said, referring to Lucifer. "We almost can't even handle what's going on right now, never mind if he makes a move!" Her attention turned to Darkseer. The teachers knew about him after the Adnachiel attack. "Darkseer! Why don't you do something?" He looked at her with a dark look in his eyes, and she physically stepped back. Of her own accord, of course.

. . .

Glory stood back in horror as Deathbringer cut off another Rainwing's head. This was the third one, as two more lay crumpled in the corner. Her subjects were being slaughtered and turned into monsters. "Oh three moons." Grandeur said from nearby, looking out the window. "They're burning the whole forest down! I see flames in the distance!" Glory looked out the window too with a new punch of sadness and panic added to the medley of horror she already felt. She could see the Rainwings struggling to fly up to safe heights from the dead soldiers that had seemed to have been led right to the village. Like a coordinated attack to try and kill as many as possible. Some Nightwings had made it to the village center and were in the palace, but many were not. It seemed like they had been hit first.

"Glory! I'm sorry!" Deathbringer cried from the entrance where the dead had broken a window and were trying to seep in. "I think I see your brother!" Glory felt a deep surge of guilt, sorrow, and anger as she zoomed to the window to see the once pink Jambu now a pure white monster, wrapped in the remains of those terrible cocoons. "Your majesty! Get back!" A Rainwing cried, pulling her away. "Mangrove has a plan." Said Orchid, approaching her once she returned to the center of the room.

"He told me that we should follow those maps of the world and escape to Thessalstia. "They'll kill us." Deathbringer said, cleaning his blood-covered blades. "We won't make it past the Midhalm patrols. We can't combat those guns." "But it's better than sitting here and waiting to join them." Glory said. "Let's get everyone we can and we'll flee the entire continent." Grandeur turned and looked out the window again. "I for one, would rather die by dragon or human, than by these things."

. . .

"The forest is burning down." Said the Mudwing patrol from under his black hood, which had been covered in camouflage. The Darkists had quickly gathered to the Nightwing Island as chaos began to destroy Pyrrhia. Their numbers had grown since the letters containing the truth had hit Pyrrhia, and here they all were, gathered in place Farseer didn't think she would ever see again. The meeting room, still intact, with the lake of lava still as it had been. The Grandmaster sat where Princess Greatness once stood as the Nightwings conversed, and the four patrolmen who were reporting were standing on the platform in the middle of the lava. It reminded Farseer so much of how things used to be, but better. But also somehow worse.

The Speaker stood behind the Grandmaster and his metal mask, showing no emotion on what could be seen of his Sandwing face. "It seems that soon, Pyrrhia will fall into the claws of the Demons. These dragons match that of the description Rainfall gave of Stygal's Puppets. Luckily, I believe we are safe here." Said a new member, a Rainwing.

In the corner of the room, a small group of Nightwings who had escaped here on their own were being closely guarded. Farseer knew what would happen to them. Join, or die.

A Darkist near the front of the group held out his fist in a salute, but also to pose a question. "Grandmaster, many of us fear that we may not be safe here for long. It is proposed that we leave Pyrrhia and get out through the tunnel while we still can. We can escape into Anibia unnoticed along with other refugees who will have this same idea for sure."

The Grandmaster's metal plating was illuminated only by the lava beneath him. But he took some parchment and wrote on it with one metal encased claw dipped in poor ink, and then handed it back to the Speaker. "The Grandmaster orders that we hold the island for now, for we do not know how this will play out. If Pyrrhia is thrown into chaos and disarray, it would be easy for us to assume control of all that remains when this is over. Meet anything that comes this way with force."

Finally fighting. Something Farseer was good at. She knew she could impress the Grandmaster and the higher-ups if she could fight well and protect the stronghold. It was the same dream she had always had. Fighting for glory. A chance to prove herself.

. . .

Swordfish watched Lucifer stand there. He almost felt as if he was being watched back.

"Everyone, this is the fight of our lives!" Tsunami announced. "This night will determine everything. It seems obvious that their intent is to kill everyone! We either win or die!" The dragonets tensed up. There had been a break in the dead's attack, and everyone was already exhausted and injured. Rattlesnake was working as fast as she could along with others. Vine and Delta still hadn't come out yet. "Will we succumb to the Demons? Or will we escape death?!"

Here we go. The beginning of the end.

As another author once said, the next chapters are going to "rip out your heart and stomp on it." And I think you know this story well enough now to know that I MEAN THAT.

God be with you.