Chapter 12

"WHAT?!" Hunter said, perplexed. Summon our creators? he thought. How is that even possible?

"Oh, I can see from your thoughts that you are wondering how I would do that?" Queen Ash said.

Hunter nodded his head in agreement, not knowing what else to say.

"Good," Queen Ash said. "Then follow me inside the lab and I'll explain everything to you."

So Hunter followed Queen Ash to the doors of the building and as she opened them, the first thing Hunter saw was a massive amount of armor and weapons being built in forges.

"Being this close to the volcano allows us to make the best armor, spears, and anything else for our tribe," Queen Ash said and took a piece of metal and gave it to Hunter. "This metal is tougher than any other metal out there on any other continent. It can withstand fire, lava, and even the poison spit from the Rainwings."

"Why would you need to make all this if you wanted every dragon to be happy?" Hunter asked.

"Well where there are good dragons, there are a few bad ones," Queen Ash said. "This is to just be ready to get rid of the traitors from the group."

"But dragons should be allowed to have their own opinions," Hunter said.

"I guess you're right," Queen Ash said. "But then again, some dragons have terrible ideas that would destroy what I am trying to accomplish."

"Fine, but what does this have to do with your master plan?" Hunter asked.

"Oh this has nothing to do with it, this is just for safety," Queen Ash said.

"Then where is it that your master plan will take place?" Hunter asked.

"Follow me and find out," Queen Ash said and led Hunter down the hallway and opened the doors at the end. Hunter looked into the room and saw that it was all made from diamonds and crystals.

"Wow, I'll admit, this is at least cool," Hunter said.

"Why thank you, it was a brilliant idea from my husband," Queen Ash said.

"Husband?" Hunter said and then an excited Lavawing landed in front of him and Queen Ash.

"An hun, you're back!" the Lavawing said. "I've been waiting for so long for you to come back!"

"Calm down Kai," Queen Ash said. "I've only been gone for a few days."

"But those days felt like they were so long!" Kai said. "So, how did your expedition go? Did you find any new materials, new plant species for the Earthwings, anything?"

"Uh, what is going on?" Hunter asked.

Kai looked past Queen Ash and Hunter saw the look on his face when he saw him. A face full of joy and Hunter knew what was coming next.

"AHHHHH, YOU BROUGHT A FRIEND FROM ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE TRIBES!" Kai screamed and threw Hunter into a hug.

"Augh, can't breathe," Hunter said.

Queen Ash laughed in her maniacal laugh before telling Kai to release Hunter.

"Alright, give him some room to breathe," Queen Ash said. "He is my guest after all."

"Ok, but isn't this amazing?" Kai said while releasing Hunter. "I've always wanted to go meet a dragon from another tribe but I've been too busy here. Oh this is so exciting! So dragon, what tribe are you from? Cavewings, Rainwings, Silkwings?"

"Uh, Webwings," Hunter said.

"Oh, the spider dragons!" Kai said. "One of my favorites from what my wife has told me about you guys. So what is your favorite food? Favorite activity to do? Favorite social event to go to? What do you do in your free time? Oh tell me all!"

Queen Ash laughed. "Ok husband, I think you are getting too excited again," she said. "He is only one dragon after all, he can only answer so fast."

"Oh yeah," Kai said. "Sorry, I'm just very excited."

"It's okay," Queen Ash said and rubbed Kai's chin with her tail. "Here, I need to go get something, how about you show our guest around here and tell him about my master plan? And while you're at it, he can tell you what you want to know."

"Oh, I would love that very much!" Kai said.

"Um, hang on, don't I get a say in…" Hunter said but then Queen Ash shut his mouth closed with her magic.

"Don't worry, you will get to know about my plan," Queen Ash said. "See you soon," and she disappeared in front of Hunter.

"Oh isn't this exciting!" Kai said. "I'm going to be able to learn so much from you! Ok, calm down Kai, take it one step at a time. But this is so exciting, I feel like I'm about to explode with excitement!"

"Um, okay," Hunter said. "So, uh Kai was it?"

"Yep," Kai said.

"Ok, so um Kai, uh, well what is this lab for?" Hunter asked.

"Oh, I'm glad you asked!" Kai said. "Follow me around and I'll show you everything!"

"Ok," Hunter said skeptically and followed Kai around as he showed him the vast items and stations at the lab. It was unlike anything Hunter had ever seen, lava going through clear pipes and mixing into huge forges.

"Wow, this is interesting," Hunter said.

"I know!" Kai said. "It was my idea to make a lab like this but I never had the resources to make it. But once I met Ash then I knew I would be able to make my dreams come true!"

"Ok," Hunter said. "Um, Kai?"

"Yes?" Kai said and put down a device that he was fiddling with. "What is it, Webwing?"

"My name is Hunter," Hunter said. "And I was wondering if you could help me understand something."

"Oh yes, I would be glad to help out my new friend!" Kai said. "So what do you want to know? How to make potions? How to make armor? How about what benefits lava has with everyday life?"

"Uh no, I have something else to ask," Hunter said.

"Oh and what's that?" Kai said.

"Well uh, this may be personal to you, but how did you meet Ash? And how do you view her?"

"View her?" Kai asked.

"Like how good is she when you're with her?" Hunter asked.

"Oh well it all started twenty years ago when I went to a party held at the Lavawing castle," Kai said.

"And what was the celebration?" Hunter asked.

"Oh it was for the reveal of our new queen, Queen Ash!" Kai said.

Hunter went wide-eyed when he heard this.

"Wait, what did you just say?" Hunter asked.

"That the party was for the inauguration for our new queen?" Kai said.

"But that doesn't make sense!" Hunter said. "Queen Ash has been the queen over all four tribes since the beginning of time!"

"Huh, what are you talking about?" Kai said. "Queen Ash has only recently ruled over the four tribes, the last queen was called Queen Smoke."

"And uh, what happened to this Queen Smoke?" Hunter asked.

"Oh, no one knows," Kai said. "She just disappeared one day and Queen Ash took her place as queen. But let me tell you, when I saw her, I knew in my heart that was the dragon for me, and luckily, she accepted my offer and we got married."

"Um, how many queens have you had?" Hunter asked. "And what's happened with all of them?"

"Well we've had a bunch," Kai said. "From Queen Cinder, to Queen Dust, to Queen Charcoal, we've had a bunch. But what happened to them… I guess we don't know. They disappear randomly and then another dragon appears to take their place. But that doesn't matter as long as we have someone to rule us all."

"I can't believe what I'm hearing," Hunter said. "You don't get it, do you?"

"What?" Kai asked. "What am I not getting? It seems crystal clear to me."

"You wife, Ash," Hunter said. "She has been all those other dragons as well."

"What? No, all those dragons were different," Kai said.

"Because Queen Ash used her animus magic to change her appearance!" Hunter said. "She must have done this to give you all a false sense of freedom that you were being ruled by a different queen but it was just her all along!"

"I don't understand," Kai said. "All those other queens didn't have animus magic, Queen Ash has been the first one who has had animus magic."

"Probably because she didn't use her magic in front of her tribe when she was all those other dragons!" Hunter said and stepped closer to Kai. "Listen to me Kai, your queen/wife is not who she seems."

"Huh?" Kai said. "I'm not getting this. How could Queen Ash do all this and why would she do all this?"

"It's because," Hunter said and then felt his mouth zipper up and he turned around to see Queen Ash with a smirk on her face. Hunter saw Kai have a relieved face as he ran over to Queen Ash and hugged her.

"Aw, that's enough of that love," Queen Ash said before turning to Hunter. "Hunter, you wouldn't mind keeping some dragonets busy while I go have a chat with my husband, would you?"

Hunter was fuming because of how close he was to get Queen Ash exposed to her husband and maybe all other dragons here and it was all wiped away from her magic.

"Fine," Hunter said. "Who are these dragonets?"

"Oh, you've already met them before," Queen Ash said and then Hunter saw two Lavawings on either side of Queen Ash. "They are my children. Now say hi kids."

"Hi," Phoenix said.

"Ugh hi," Ember said. "Mom, I wanted to do something special today with you rather than hang out with a dragon from a different tribe."

"It's okay sugar," Queen Ash said. "I promise we will hang out later, but for now the grown ups need to have a talk."

"Fine," Ember said.

"Good," Queen Ash said. "Now go and hang out with your new friend, mommy and daddy will be right back."

Queen Ash walked with Kai past Hunter and she leaned down and whispered in Hunter's ear.

"I'm watching you," Queen Ash whispered before standing back up and catching up with Kai. They left the room and before the door closed, Queen Ash turned around and smiled at Hunter before the doors slammed shut, leaving Hunter alone.