After I recomposed myself, the Council was brought back. Flying Fox and Splendor eyed us as they took their seats, trying to gauge how we were all feeling.

I was feeling emotionally exhausted, but I'd collected myself enough that I could turn my attention to the situation at hand. I had squeezed blood from a stone when I came to the jungle and remade the Kingdom, turning a joke of a Tribe into a lean, mean fighting machine. I could pull off a similar miracle fighting the Nightwings. They believed in me, the least I could do was believe in them. But I had to look at this objectively. Compartmentalize my fears and emotions, look at the problem as I would for Burn or Oasis. Focus on numbers, logic and deduction, and work out the most efficient and effective solution.

"Alright," I sighed, "Now, let's look at the facts. What do we know?"

"Queen Battlewinner's pissed off at you," Flying Fox summarized, "And she's sending her Nightwing soldiers to kick our butts?" Grandeur glared at him, swatting his side with her tail.

"Yes, we know that part," I acknowledged, waving away the panic that threatened to return, "But HOW is the question? With what forces? Has the Nightwing Army made any move outside the Sandwing Palace?"

"It doesn't look like they are." Splendor said. "The last report came in yesterday, saying they were still holding up there and the Coalition forces are still in Hawkstone."

"Hawkstone's not too far away from the Palace." I mused. "If they left to come here, Coral and Hallowglide would know. They wouldn't hang Nightshade out to dry, not when they're so close to winning. If Battlewinner's going to fight us, it's not going to be with her primary army."

"That would leave her Royal Guard, right?" Maggy asked. "They don't have anyone else, do they?"

"Not that we're aware of." I said, thinking aloud. "Guards are small, rarely ever more than a hundred. But they're also the toughest and most well-trained fighters any kingdom has. If we're going to fight them, we'll need to boost our numbers - quantity has a quality all its own. Batty, you said we could field a thousand soldiers in an emergency?" She nodded affirmatively. "I think this qualifies as one."

I continued, "Fox, Splendor, let's put a halt on all shipments of crossbows and RFCs for now. Everything is to be given to our new hires. Grandeur, we need to recruit and train an additional six hundred dragons as fast as we can. They don't need the full course, just how to follow orders and fire the 'bows. We're fighting a defensive war now, and everyone has to do their part." They nodded in agreement and understanding.

"Between our new weapons, our larger numbers, and all the booby traps we have set up across the jungle, our best bet is to engage in a battle of attrition. Draw them out with a series of hit-and-run attacks, whittle away at their numbers until we can just swarm and overwhelm them. Prepare defenses around the Village all the same, they might attempt to sneak past our force and hit the capital directly. A contingent will have to be kept here to work the ballistae and protect the civilians. In the meantime, Grandeur, I want teams of scouts patrolling the border day and night. We need to know when and where they're coming from, and keep an eye out for anything remotely suspicious."

"'Suspicious'?" Fox asked. "Like what?"

"I dunno," I said exasperatedly, "Something that doesn't belong? Dragons acting weird? Reports of monsters or weird shadows? Whatever could be a cover or sign that the Nightwings are coming, if not already here."

His scales turned a darker blue, his expression one of realization. "Ohhhhh," He said, "I think I might know something!" Everyone turned to face him, eager for him to continue.

"See," He explained, "You know Luster and Pelter, the new gardeners you hired? Well, they were out in the jungle, looking to find more coca leaves for experimenting, right? They tell me they found this clearing in the forest that had these two really weird holes, or caves. One was next to a pond, and the other was way up high in a tree, and both were big enough for both of them to fit in."

"What's so special about them?" Fruit Bat asked.

"Well, the one by the pond had a hot, dry wind coming out of it, and there was sand scattered about the entrance. The one in the tree stank like high tide and rotten eggs. But both of them felt cold and weird and spooky."

"You sure they didn't just help themselves to some magic mushrooms?" She challenged. "Those sound like hallucinations."

"Wait, I think I know what he's talking about." Maggy said. "I remember seeing a weird tunnel by a pond a few weeks ago. I hadn't noticed it before, but I didn't think anything of it then. Maybe it's the same one?"

An idea started to form. No one knew how the Nightwings were able to move so quickly from kingdom to kingdom without notice. One tunnel had hot winds and sand, like the desert and the City of Night. The Nightwings supposedly had an Animus dragon, long ago, and if an Animus was capable of doing anything...

"They're portals." I blurted out, realization striking me like a lightning bolt. "It's how the Nightwings have been getting into the Sand Kingdom so quickly without detection."

"But how's that even possible?" Grandeur asked. "The Sand Kingdom's is several days' flight away!"

"Not if they have an Animus." I pointed out. "Supposedly they had one in the past, so it's possible that they have a descendant with that kind of power. And I know that Animus magic can do essentially whatever the enchanter wants. Creating a shortcut between distant locations doesn't sound impossible. Or at least, not beyond what they can do."

"So if one of them leads to the Sand Kingdom," Maggy considered, "That would mean the other one leads to the Night Kingdom, right? And the Rainforest is a waystation between them and the rest of Phyrria."

"Exactly." I agreed. "Any kind of movement between our kingdoms, and long-term plans of conquest, would depend on whoever controls the portals. If we take control of our ends of the portals-"

"We have Battlewinner by the tail," Fox declared, "And we can force her to negotiate! Awesome!"

"Alright then," I concluded, "So we're in agreement. The Guard shall move to scout out these portals and set a perimeter. Once confirmed, and our new troops are trained, Grandeur and Majestic will lead our forces over and set up an ambush for any Nightwings that attempt to travel through our lands. Should things not go as planned, you are to pull our forces back in a controlled retreat and whittle away their numbers however you can. Fruit Bat and I will oversee final defenses for the Village in case we come under siege. Understood?"

"Yes, King Xero!" The Council said in unison.

I risked a smile. "Alright then, let's get to work..."

The Village was unnaturally quiet, as the sun dipped behind the trees, and the sky turned from orange to red to purple. Almost the entire town had been emptied out: they received basic training with crossbows and dart guns, given over to "General" Grandeur, and marched out to surround the portal. The goal, the overall plan, was to try and bottleneck the Nightwings at the portal to stop them, or failing that, whittle away at their numbers with hit-and-run attacks the countless traps we set throughout the jungle. If worse came to worst, and the Nightwings reached us in the capital, defense had been relegated to myself, a dozen Royal Guards, and the remaining several hundred dragonets, elderly and civilian Rainwings.

It's a curious thing about History, about what moments the world emphasizes and remembers, and what moments you yourself remember. Legends and hatchling tales like to depict me on the ramparts, decked out in golden armor, stoic and commanding as brave males and females man the ballistae and ready ourselves for a climactic battle. Oh how brave I was, ready to fight and die alongside the dragons who accepted me!

I remember feeling so nervous that my gut felt like I swallowed my own fire. I remember having hastily crafted a suit of armor for myself, giving it a crappy camo paintjob of green and brown and black to elude Nightwing assassins, trying not to sound like my bag of tools as I moved and failing miserably. I remember my mind racing and running in circles, considering every possibility and contingency, terrified yet certain that Grandeur and Flying Fox and Majestic were dead or dying out there.

But what I remember the most that evening was going to the hatchery, where the noncombatants were being held up. Eggs, hatchlings and dragonets, the elderly and infirm were all gathered together in the most secure location in the Village, and were guarded by the Queens. The bulky ex-queens Exquisite and Dazzling were given spears and manned the perimeter, nervous but ready. Magnificent was getting covered by playful hatchlings, and there was a brief moment where our eyes met and she just glared back at me. Whether it was because she was indignant at having to actually work or she was jealous I'd chosen Maggy and Batty over her, I didn't know and I didn't care.

In the middle of all this commotion stood Batty, giving directions, calming scared dragons and dragonets, her standard pink and green scales refusing to change or show fear. She tried to hold herself as a true Queen, a pillar of calm in a sea of chaos. Seeing the little Rainwing taking command, all that nervousness and fear faded away, the knot in my stomach unwinding as my heart fluttered. She noticed my staring, and I motioned for her to come outside so we could talk.

"You looked very Queenly in there, you know." I told her as we walked a short distance away. "You've really grown into the role, I think."

"Thank you." She replied, flashing yellow as she looked me up and down. "You look rather dashing yourself. A true King in the Jungle."

I chuckled, adjusting the chainmail beneath the plates. "I'm starting to think the mail was a bad choice. What's the point in blending into my surroundings when everyone can hear me?"

"Better still to have it," She pointed out, "In case some of them have crossbows too, you know?"

"Yeah, yeah." I sighed. "You ready for whatever happens?"

"I think so." She said, trying to sound confident. "I may not look it, but I can be fierce when I want to be. Any Nightwings think they can hurt some innocent dragonets, they're going to get a nasty surprise." She bared her venom-spitting fangs, briefly turning an intimidating red hue to look extra tough.

I smiled, feeling no small amount of pride in her. For all their happy-go-lucky, easygoing nature, Rainwings were perfectly capable of defending themselves or others if threatened. I could count on her leading the others in protecting the young and noncombatants.

We just stood there then, listening to the sounds of rainforest ambience and soldiers making final preparations. The air was thick enough to cut with a knife, and it wasn't just the humidity. There was an attraction between us, something neither of us had ever experienced. The afternoons walks and talks, the flirting, sun-time naps together, it was all building to something. The threat of invasion was a catalyst - the final ingredient needed to bring us to this moment, and address the elephant in the room.

"Batty..." I sighed, trying to find the words that needed to be said, "If things don't work out-"

"Don't say that!" She snapped, looking around quickly to see if anyone heard. "Grandeur and Majestic can hold them back, I know it!"

"Batty, please listen!" I stepped closer, taking her paw in mine. "If things don't work out, I just want to tell you that... That this month has been the greatest in my life. Helping the Rainwings, making so many friends and... and spending time with you... I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

Not exactly an over-the-top declaration of love, I know, but it was the closest I'd ever said "I love you" to anyone up to that point. Batty at least knew what I was trying to say, her scales turning a surprised emerald, before settling on rose-pink. "I... I'm really happy," She said shyly, barely above a whisper, "That I got to know you, too."

The world fell away from us, then, and everything shrank down to just me and her. We stared into each other's eyes, and I found myself falling into those pools of amber-gold, the only sounds being our loud, insistent heartbeats. I don't remember if I made the first move or Batty, but the next thing I knew, our lips connected in our first kiss. The feeling was electric, the moment lasting an eternity and yet gone too quickly. We both pulled back and breathed, utterly surprised, unsure if what happened, well, happened.

"Bat-" I started to say, before Rainwing lips cut me. She made the move this time - quite enthusiastically, in fact - and I couldn't help but reciprocate. She propped herself up on my shoulders, putting us on an equal level. My free paw caressed her cheek frill, pulling her close. I felt her stroke my back fin lovingly, a delightful thrill running up my spine. Space and time meant nothing as we kissed, losing ourselves in each other's touch, each other's scent, each other's taste...

I don't know how long we stood there, making out like horny teenagers, and I don't know if we would've gone any further or just held each other like that all night. But at some point, the moment was broken by the sound of flapping wings.

"Your Highness!" A lime-green Rainwing flew down and landed a few dragon-lengths away. "Your Highness, there's... Oh, sorry, am I interrupting?"

We broke off our kiss, and I half-stepped in front of her with an extended wing to cover her. I hadn't even noticed that she'd already turned invisible, gone save for her weight against my side. Angry over the interruption but still riding the high of our kiss, I turned to the messenger with an annoyed, "Yes, what is it?! What do you want?!"

The messenger stepped back, turning a nervous green. "Oh, uh, Generals Grandeur and Majestic sent me." He explained. "They wanted me to tell you that they've captured the Nightwings."

I stared at the little dragon for a whole five seconds, certain I misheard. "...What?"

"Naga," Batty asked, visible again as she brushed aside my wing, "What exactly did they say?"

"Uhh..." The Rainwing closed his eyes and shook his paw as one does when they try really hard to remember, "Grandeur said that 'the ambush worked perfectly, and we captured every single Spirit-damned Nightwing that came out of that hidey-hole'. Majestic also said that 'this is a flawless victory', and that she was dedicating it 'in the sacred honor of the Animus King'."

I stared at the messenger incredulously. I looked for any sign of deception on his face, and found none. "What about casualties?" I pressed. "How many dead, injured?"

"Not many," He replied. "I think I saw a couple of Nightwings getting treated for all the arrows they got hit with. Didn't see any Rainwings, though."

"Wait," Batty asked, "So not only did we capture all of the Nightwing Guard, but we didn't lose a single dragon?"

"I think so, yeah." Naga agreed.

I was too dumbfounded taking all this in to react. Fortunately, Batty did all the reacting for me. She hopped around me and cheered, her scales now a happy yellow. She held onto my neck and kissed me again, albeit on my cheek. "We did it, Xero!" She cheered. "We won! We're going to be okay!"

"We're going to be okay?" I repeated like an idiot, feeling a smile creep on my face. Behind me, word had spread to the hatchery, and suddenly dozens of dragons and hatchlings popped out and started asking all kinds of questions.

But none of that stuck with me. At that moment, only two things registered in my mind:

1) I had just kissed Batty, and that was awesome, and;

2) We weren't going to die tonight, and that was also awesome.

Oh, but if only I knew what that night really meant. How my Legend truly began that fateful night...

I couldn't believe it. Even as they started filing into the Village, I couldn't believe it. Even as I saw the Nightwings - their black shapes blending into nighttime shadows, marked only by the vines that bound them - I couldn't believe it. Even as Rainwing soldiers - my soldiers - kneeled and bowed as Batty and I passed, I couldn't believe it. It was only as we approached Grandeur and Majestic - adorned in my armor, their scales a lustrous gold as they beamed with pride, kneeling and bowing their heads as I approached - that I accepted the truth.

Holy shit, they weren't kidding. We actually won.

"Congratulations and Praise are in order, Great Spirit Xero." Grandeur said, as they removed their helmets. There was no hint of sarcasm or bitterness in her voice as she continued, "I was skeptical of you before, I admit it. All this talk about being an Animus or Spirit-touched sounded like so much hype. But now, after a victory like this? I think they might be right."

"Grandeur, Majestic, please." I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Let's tone down the theatrics for now. What happened tonight?"

"We went north to the portals, as we agreed." Maggy explained. "We found no forward scouts, and formed a perimeter around them without incident. We held our positions until sundown, setting up many traps above and around the clearing to keep them confined. As soon as the sun dipped below the canopy, we hid ourselves and waited. As they started coming out of the tree portal, we held firm to the strategy to wait for all of them to come out and put some distance between them and it before attacking. After the last dragon got several dragon-lengths away, a team of RFC shooters hopped onto the branches behind them, cutting them off from escape. At Grandeur's signal, we attacked from above, unleashing a torrent of arrows and darts upon them."

"The fighting," Grandeur added, "If you can call it that, lasted less than a minute. The first volley downed a third of the Nightwings within seconds, struck with sleeper drugs. An additional third ran and flew off the path, getting stuck in the many, many traps we built for them. The rest panicked and retreated right into our RFCs, and were either darted or surrendered."

"It's kind of a shame, really." Maggy gave an almost pouty sigh, "There wasn't really much of an opportunity to really test our skills. They were so packed together that even our worst shots managed to strike a few hits. I personally took out at least ten with my RFC. For the supposed 'mightiest dragons in all of Phyrria', they went down like overripe oranges." Several Nightwings shot her angry glares, but wisely said nothing.

"Anyways," Grandeur jumped in, "Once we knocked them out we went about binding them. We didn't have enough rope for all of them, so we had to grab some vines to tie up the rest."

"Any injuries?" I asked. "Fatalities?"

"Three dead Nightwings." She told me, "Got hit by too many RFC bolts. They died before we could save them. Our only casualty was Flying Fox. He-"

"Fox got hit?!" I demanded, immediately on edge. "What happened?! Where is he?! Is he alright?!"

"Oh, don't worry," Grandeur said, mellowing to a bemused yellow, "He's perfectly fine. He got spooked when a Nightwing shot fire right underneath him. He fell out of the tree and landed on them, spraining their ankle in the process. Almost took a horn to the flank too, if you can believe it. We have him 'recovering' in the medical tent. I'm sure his spirits would be lifted if you paid him a visit."

"...Oh." Was all I could say. I didn't know if I had to be disappointed that the Rainwings considered a sprained ankle bad enough to be a serious injury, or impressed that my friend's boo-boo was the only such injury we suffered.

"The Army wants to celebrate the victory you've blessed us with," Maggy declared, smiling proudly, "For they're convinced now that you're a Spirit among dragons. Everything transpired exactly as you needed it to, and your weapons have helped us defeat the mightiest of foes. We believed in you, and we were rewarded with your divine guidance. May it never end!" She turned the last sentence into a shout, hoisting her helmet into the air. The other Rainwing soldiers held up their bows and returned the cry, cheering and hollering like monkeys in victory.

But I couldn't accept that glory, not entirely. I raised my paw for them to stop. "No," I said, once they quieted down, "No, this isn't my victory. It's yours, all of you. No plan, no matter how brilliant or perfect, can come to fruition without those willing and able to make it work. Tonight, the Rainwings of the Rainforest demonstrated that they have the courage, discipline and ingenuity to match and beat even the greatest fighting force in all of Phyrria. Tonight, you proved to the world that you deserve the same respect as every other Kingdom and Tribe!" The troops cheered again.

I looked back at my commanders. "Grandeur, Majestic," I declared, "None of this would've been possible without your leadership, discipline and ingenuity. You two, more than anyone else, are responsible for saving your homeland. If there's anything you want or desire, be it within my power, ask and it shall be yours." I felt like that was the proper thing a king like myself should say, but I might've laid it on a little thick in the name of theatrics. Grandeur merely nodded, accepting the favor for what it was. Maggy, however, had this moment when she looked at me with a seductive, hungry look. She tried to hide it, but I saw her bite her lip, and the edges of her frill flash magenta for a half-second.

"Thank you, Your Grace," She said, looking down and away to compose herself, "I will have to... think about it. But come, let us show you some of the fruits of our victory."

"We've determined at least three prisoners ought to be of significant interest to you, my King." Grandeur led us along, ushering us to a large tree, where over a dozen Rainwings with RFCs watched over three dragons (two male Nightwings and a female Sandwing) almost double their size, bound in the thickest rope we had. These dragons were massive - even sitting down, they were easily a head above me, and gave of an intimidating presence that made the guards give them plenty of space.

"First," She began, gesturing to the larger of the Nightwings, "Allow me to introduce you to Marshal Slaughter, Commander of the Nightwing Guard. Evidently it was his idea to come rushing into our territory without sending scouts or doing reconnaissance."

"I'm almost tempted to let him 'escape'," Maggy whispered, "Just because he's such an easily playable hothead."

I covered my muzzle to hide my smile. I highly doubted that Battlewinner would treat him any better than us, not after such a colossal failure. The large Nightwing glared at us all, smoke rising from his nostrils impotently. We moved on to the second Nightwing, an even larger one that refused to even look at us.

"This one here," Grandeur continued, "Is called Morrowseer by the other prisoners. We've learned that he's something of an agent for the Queen, and more than likely a spy. What's most curious, however, is that he was guarding our third guest over here."

She gestured to the Sandwing dragoness, a large and rather strange-looking one at that. She seemed rather androgynous and masculine for a female, with a larger back fin, spear-like stinger and longer horns. Some of the scales on her wings were reflective like pyrite, twinkling in torchlight. Weirdest of all was her bright blue eyes, staring right into our souls. Pureblooded Sandwings don't have blue eyes; maybe she had some Icewing or Nightwing heritage? But what drew my attention was the jewelry wrapped around her left forelimb. At first I thought it was a bracelet, but as I got closer, I realized it was a necklace. Worse, I recognized the shape instantly.

The yelping string of expletives I let out was far from royal or dignified. Wings stretched out, I reared up and backed away, pushing Batty, Maggy and Grandeur back with my frame. "Stay back!" I shouted, on the edge of panic, "Don't touch it!"

"Xero, what is it?!" Batty demanded. "What's wrong?"

"I know what that is!" I hissed, my eyes narrowing at the Sandwing, "And I know who you are. That thing is the Eye of Onyx, and that means you must be Nightshade. You're the bastard who sent those thugs to mug me at the Palace!"

"Guilty as charged." The Sandwing admitted, in a deep, androgynous voice that made every Rainwing do a double-take.

"What are you doing here?" Grandeur demanded, "Shouldn't you be back in the Sand Kingdom?"

"That's what I've been telling these fools all day," The transformed Nightwing griped, nodding to their fellow prisoners, "But they don't seem to trust me anymore."

"Trusting you to begin with was a mistake!" The one called Slaughter growled. "I have no idea what our Queen ever saw in you, damned criminal!"

"Is that why tall and grumpy here tied me up and brought me here?" Nightshade asked, "You planning on having me killed off while conquering another kingdom?"

"You were going to betray us!" The general shouted, "You were going to leave our army to fight the Coalition while you and your lackeys mop up the scraps!"

"And you just wanted me as a useful puppet," The warlord countered. "And a breeder for our Queen. My usefulness went out for you the moment I grew a stinger and started making my own decisions. But I am nobody's puppet, not while I have this." She shook the necklace on her arm for emphasis.

In between them, the agent Morrowseer remained silent, though his annoyance was becoming evident to all. The prisoners looked ready to continue arguing, when tree branches were disturbed by flapping wings. We all looked up to see a team of four Sandwings carrying a very large bag between two poles, following a smaller, notably brown, Rainwing. Several troops flew up, crossbows at the ready, and forced the Sandwings to hover in place as the Rainwing flew down and landed in front of us.

"Sparkling?" I demanded, "What the hell are you doing here? Are those guys with you?"

"I apologize for arriving like this, My King." The assassin said, bowing deeply, "Words cannot express the regret I feel for killing your friend, King Smolder. Nothing I say or do can make up for what I did, but I can only hope that my gift can earn some of your mercy." He motioned to the dragons above, and they landed next to us, the guards still ready to fire. The bag squirmed, making tired grunting sounds. They opened the bag and rolled it over, and out tumbled an irritated Sandwing dragoness. Her wings were bound, a coconut stuck to her stinger, her snout muzzled. Even so, I recognized her earrings, and I recognized her eyes. The last time I saw them, they regarded me as nothing. Now, there was recognition, surprise.

"Tanwen?" I gasped.

"Zzrrfrrsh?" She said through her muzzle, which I took to mean Xerophilous?

I looked at Sparkling, utterly confused. "How did you... just, how?"

"I can tell you everything another time, if you wish," Sparkling explained, "But Hallowglide has moved to make himself a 'Lord Protector' of the Sand Kingdom, essentially becoming the head of the Coalition. I was able to capture Tanwen before his assassins got to her first, and I had her smuggled back here alive, as you requested. She is yours to do as you will, Your Grace."

I looked at Tanwen, then Nightshade and the prisoners, and then back to Tanwen. My two greatest rivals, those that had wronged me in my old life, were now at the mercy of me and my followers. I had struck dual blows against the Rebels and Coalition alike. In the span of a single night, I had gone from being the ruler of a puny backwater to winning a war I wasn't even officially a part of.

To me, the Night of the Battle of the Portal truly marked the transition between Xerophilous: Inventor, and Xerophilous: King of the Rainwings...