Wildwing and his team practiced in the Pond's rink while the other ducks were off doing their own thing.
"Why are we practicing again?", Nosedive asked, "It's not like we have hockey teams to compete with anymore."
Canard passed him the puck before he almost got checked by Grin.
"It helps with our combat training.", Wildwing answered from his post at the goal.
While they were doing that, Adam was levitating in the air deep in meditation before Thrash and Mookie came up.
"Adam?", Thrash asked.
Adam opened an eye and looked their way.
"Yeah?"
"Did you and your sister ever get along before she went rogue?", Thrash asked him.
Adam sighed.
"We did once. We always looked out for each other after our parents passed away. At the orphanage Lucretia always had my back when the bigger kids picked on me and I thought she was trying to help me toughen up. It was okay, but that all changed when Dragaunus came. Entranced by the power he offered, Lucretia threw me under a bus just so she could get favor for the "wining side" as she called it."
Mookie looked a bit surprised.
"Man, the way you talk about what she did makes her sound more than just bad. It makes her sound pure evil."
Thrash however didn't look so sure.
"Did you at least try to reason with her?"
Adam's forlorn expression didn't falter.
"I did, but she refused to listen. Dragaunus' corruption went too deep. I can't just wave my hand and undo what was done."
Nearby, Benny happened to overhear and before he turned around, he was met with his siblings.
"Benny, what are you doing?", Timmy asked.
Benny hurried them to fall back so the adults wouldn't see them.
"Listen, I got a great idea."
"No it's a terrible idea."
The kids turned to see Klegghorn standing nearby.
"What is?", Snowdrop asked.
"I just want to head back in time and prevent Dragaunus' influence on Lucretia.", Benny answered, "That way-"
"Changing the past can result in dire consequences.", Klegghorn warned, "A change doesn't just effect you, but everyone else as well. I have mistakes in my past too, but I don't try and fix them for my own gain."
He left, but Snowdrop could see the expression on her brother's face broaden.
"You try your idea, and I tell our parents.", she said with a cold look, "Believe me.
That got Benny to heel.
/
Back on Sauria, Draco packed the last of the supplies that Rubyx's subjects had provided.
"Thank you your highness for your hospitality.", Harzep said giving the queen a bow.
Rubyx nodded back.
"The pleasure is mine. Just follow the road to the west and over the hill and in five days you'll find the base of the next kingdom on your journey."
Gerazi and Darcel were tying down the supplies allowing Draco to have a talk with the queen.
"So what have you learned from this part of your journey?", she asked him.
Draco thought for a moment.
"Most other saurians believed you were cold and uncaring, but after seeing it myself, I found out they were wrong."
Rubyx smiled.
"Wisdom gained from experience is better than believing in what rumors fall on the wind."
Darco looked stumped.
"What's that mean?"
Rubyx gave a slight laugh.
"It just means you learned from actually seeing something than basing your thoughts on what others say."
Draco looked a bit embarrassed, but regained his posture as he touched the gem Kira gave him.
"The ocean will be close.", he said as if to assure himself.
Rubyx looked thoughtful.
"You know Draco, I think the next kingdom can help you with that saying. The mages of the Tower of Drux were known for their practice of the magic arts. Maybe they can shed some light on your doubt."
Draco thanked her and by now his guardians were set to head out. After a brief good-bye and thanks, Draco and his group headed off once more.
"So where's the next destination?", Harzep asked.
"The kingdom of Drux.", Draco said.
Darcel looked alarmed.
"Drux?", he asked.
Harzep and Gerazi noticed his expression.
"Is that a bad thing?", Gerazi asked.
Darcel slapped on a straight face.
"No, it's just that...the ruler there is really mean and-"
"Zip it.", Harzep said firmly, "We're going over there. You can go back to Frazzak if you choose."
They headed off, but Darcel held back a bit before sighing heavily and looking like he was trying not to overreact. Looks like they were going to Drux and he wasn't going to change their mind.
/
After practice, Wildwing got his team off and the other team took their place on the ice. Adam kept his wings out as he skated across the ice with great skill.
"You're not using magic are you?", Julia asked as she stole the puck from him.
Danielle managed to steal back and pass to Clyde who got to Brawn who was playing goalie.
"Puck intercepted.", he reported as he deflected it to Derek.
In the stands, Wildwing and the rest came over to Benny, Snowdrop and Timmy who were with Foxy, but Benny looked a bit miffed.
"Whoa, what's with you?", Nosedive asked.
Benny looked up and turned back.
"When will we get to go on an adventure?", he asked impatiently, "I want some action, some excitement-
"All of which here could kill you.", Canard said firmly, "Careful what you wish for cause you might just get it."
Benny clearly had enough cause he huffed, got up and ran off. Snowdrop looked a bit worried.
"Was it something we said?", Nosedive asked.
"Don't worry, he'll cool off.", Timmy assured them, "He's just..a little..."
"Steamed?", Wildwing guessed.
"His inner peace needs to be restored less he fall into despair and defeat.", Grin said sagely.
Snowdrop got up.
"Well, I think we better go find him."
Benny meanwhile had fled towards the back of the Pond and tears rolled down his eyes.
"Why is it they always say I have to wait?", he asked bitterly, "It just isn't fair."
As he fell to the floor, he almost cried a little before a creepy feeling came into the air.
"I can help child."
Benny looked up to see Lucretia materialize nearby with a devilish smile on her face.
"You?", he asked.
Lucretia's smile didn't flinch.
"You thought I'd fall that easily?", she purred, "Slipping out of Abyssal was harder than it looked, but I have my ways and I couldn't help but notice that you're feeling a little left out?"
Benny felt hope swell in his chest.
"You can do something about that?"
Lucretia folded her black flaming wings and seated in front of him looking sympathetic.
"My dear sweet child, I can do that and more. I just have one tiny little favor to ask on your part and I'll deliver mine."
Benny looked a bit unsure.
"What kind of favor?", he asked.
Lucretia then looked up and frowned before turning to Benny again.
"Gotta go. Remember though, it's our little secret."
She vanished away just as Snowdrop and Timmy showed up.
"You okay Benny?", Snowdrop asked.
Benny slapped on a straight face.
"Yeah.", he said trying to sound like nothing happened, "Just..needed to cool off."
He made his way past, but Snowdrop frowned. Something was off here, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
/
Darcel looked a bit uneasy and something was up with him as the group made it further west.
"Darcel, what's bothering you?", Gerazi asked.
Darcel tried looking relaxed.
"Nothing. Just a bit uneasy about the Drux kingdom welcoming us."
Harzep raised an eyebrow.
"Then it will be an honor. Nobody's visited Drux in twenty years."
Draco looked interested.
"But if nobody visits, why do they have ways of coming to Frazzak when he summons them? Sounds suspicious to me."
"They visit us. We don't visit them.", Darcel said looking a bit annoyed.
By now the frozen landscape had parted to reveal grassy fields and sunny skies that warmed up as they went further inward. They removed the magic rubies they had which warded off the chill and let the sun's rays warm their chilly scales. Draco however looked a bit surprised.
"How did the weather warm up so fast?", he asked as the group made it's way through the melting snow and ice and on to solid earth.
"Servain maintains this area for the moment.", Gerazi explained.
Draco rolled his eyes comically. How could he forget the all father of the pantheon and the guardian of the earth and it's natural resources?
"How come nobody visits Drux?", Draco asked changing the subject.
Darcel looked thoughtful for a second.
"The ruler dabbled with dark magic and unfortunately it got out of hand giving rise to a living nightmare before the mages of the local tower of wisdom united and undid the magic at the seams. Since then, the land is cursed and the tower stands within the mists that surround the land imprisoning the horrors the nightmare left behind."
Draco shivered cause it creeped him out. Gerazi didn't look worried.
"Well I can't wait til we get there. It'll give me an opportunity to test my enchanted blade."
Darcel's expression darkened.
"Weapons are useless there.", he said, "I should know."
Draco looked surprised.
"You lived in Drux before the king brought evil there?"
Darcel looked a bit surprised, but then covered it up with an embarrassed expression.
"Well..I..I heard rumors."
"And it would explain your patron.", Harzep said as if it were obvious.
Darcel gave a cold look and gripped his blade symbolizing that he didn't take the comment too well. Draco got a bit worried. Darcel's patron wasn't one to take lightly and the others knew it. He then noticed around Darcel's waist was what looked like a belt made of flayed scales. Darcel saw his expression and put his other hand upon the belt.
"A token from Cerox.", he said in a calming voice, "For control."
"The patron of Valor gave it to you?", Draco asked, "For control of what?"
Darcel gave him an assuring look.
"All in good time."
Before long, the landscape started looking withered and dark which got Draco a little worried.
"Why is the ground void of life?", he asked.
"It means we're getting close.", Darcel answered, "It's just beyond those mountains and we're at the Drux kingdom gates."
/
Back at the Pond, not much went on, but Adam looked a bit concerned.
"You okay there?", Duke asked him.
"Thought I felt something.", Adam answered.
Thrash looked interested.
"What kind of something?"
Canard looked thoughtful.
"You know, a little while after Benny ran off, I felt something too."
"Like what?", Wildwing asked.
"A presence of someone who felt kind of familiar.", Canard answered, "Like someone we know."
Nosedive rolled his eyes.
"Oh great, don't tell me Lucretia's going to be back for another episode arc again.", he stated(breaking the fourth wall as usual).
Then Drake 1's alarm rang out. The ducks gathered and the screen went static for a bit, but then it steadied to reveal Borg.
"My friends, are you there?"
"Borg?!", Wildwing asked in surprise, "What are you calling us for?"
Borg looked a bit worried.
"Things have gotten rather out of hand since the Lexicon vanished away."
Derek looked confused.
"Lexicon?", he asked.
"A saurian's book of spells.", Adam informed, "And not just anyone's. It's Charyus'."
Derek looked a bit unnerved and Danielle could see he needed some encouragement so she stepped in.
"Not to worry Derek, I'm sure it's nothing that big."
Borg looked surprised.
"Whoa, you guys have been busy cause you're team has grown much since last I saw you."
"Yeah, you've only been absent for the whole season up til now.", Nosedive said with a shrug(breaking the fourth wall as usual).
Borg quickly got his mood together.
"We got trouble. A few of the kingdoms of magic from my reality are floating in Dimensional Limbo and Atlantis is still reeling with El Dorado after our last encounter."
Thrash and Mookie looked excited.
"We're going to see lost cities?!", Thrash asked, "Awesome!"
Borg looked amused.
"Well it looks like the team is all on board."
Wildwing smiled.
"Not to worry Borg, we're on the case."
/
Not long after, outside the Pond, Benny nervously walked out. Even though the Pond was on a large piece of land, the area around it still got him a bit scared.
"So, you came."
Benny turned and saw Lucretia floating nearby still smiling.
"What was it you want?", Benny asked.
Lucretia chuckled.
"Not much, just a little thing and nobody else has to know. I just want a pair of eyes."
Benny looked confused.
"A pair of eyes? What are you playing at?"
"Just someone to keep an eye on things around here and report to me every now and then. Besides, those lost kingdoms from Magical Anaheim are sure to give you quite an adventure."
Benny looked firm.
"So I just inform you about what's going on and I get to go with the team?", he asked.
Lucretia nodded.
"It's a bargain.", she purred before the area around her shifted while she broke into song, "Come on, you poor unfortunate soul. Go ahead, make your choice. I'm a very busy woman and I haven't got all day. Just decide now and rejoice. You poor unfortunate soul. It's sad, but true."
Benny buckled as Lucretia conjured a contract out of thin air in front of him with a glowing blood red feathered quill pen.
I hereby grant onto Lucretia, the witch of Dimensional Limbo
one favor in exchange for one service magical or ordinary
and will follow to the best of my ability for eternity.
Benny gulped, but he took the quill and held it over the signature line.
"I am just so good at what I do.", she chuckled to herself so Benny wouldn't hear her.
Benny then scribbled his name on the line and the contract rolled up into Lucretia's hand and the quill vanished to reappear next to her and she scribbled her own name on the line beneath Benny's before the quill vanished and she placed the contract on her belt.
"Pleasure doing business with you.", she said slyly before taking Benny's hand.
Right then, black markings formed on Benny's hand and arm before Lucretia released her grip and vanished away cackling like a witch and leaving Benny alone where he stood.
"Benny?"
He turned to see his sister and brother come out.
"You coming?", Timmy asked.
Benny nodded as he saw his arm and hand had returned to normal and followed them back inside.
