"Rarrgh…!"

A painful cry rang out from the dragon knight's mouth as his body smashed through the temple's outermost walls. His sight became flooded with streaks of red blood and black magic, and the air was pulled from his lungs. Time slowed to a crawl as he stretched a paw outward, clawing at empty space.

Entire minutes flew by in his mind before he felt his body slam down on the soil below, with the momentum dragging him down the dirty pathway. Pieces of his heavily damaged armour flew from his body and he lost grip of his longsword, the weapon falling aimlessly into the forest below.

Finally, it all came to a stop.

The young drake laid on his back and slowly opened his eyes, his gaze pointed to the skies above as tears trickled down the side of his face. The sound of sword strikes could be heard throughout the whole forest, accented by roars of both pain and fear. On rare occasions, he saw the night sky ignite with flashes of elemental magic, but they were few and far between.

They were fighting a losing battle...

Suddenly, a black figure leapt out of the tower and landed a few paces behind him with a large two-handed sword in its grip. His attacker hadn't been satisfied with simply knocking him out, and was coming to deliver the final blow.

The sound of footsteps drew close, though slower than expected. These strange creatures, while he had assumed them to be common apes at first, the main force of the Dark Army, their behaviour was strikingly different. Apes, by nature, were all barbaric brutes who always charged into a battle without any semblance of strategy. These fighters, however, were taking their time with a slow and calculated assault. All without giving off any emotion from behind those ridiculous coloured masks.

From the corner of his eye, the dark blue dragon saw the shine of a blade being raised, ready to take his life.

"No... Not yet!"

Quickly reaching behind him, the dragon drew the only other weapon he had. An ornate steel glaive that glowed with magical energy.

The two weapons clashed together, forcing the two fighters into a power struggle, with the primate having a slight advantage. The dragon's unusual weapon did little to even the odds. The weapon wasn't forged from the same durable metals as his issued armaments, and the blade's edges were dull to the touch. He never intended to use the glaive in a fight; it fulfilled a completely different purpose, outside of combat.

The knight gradually lifted himself onto one foot, the additional purchase letting him apply more strength, and the other leg followed behind moments later. A deep grumble escaped his throat as he summoned powerful mana from within his body, and the weapon in his paws began to shine even brighter. The difference in their physical strength was negligible, so he had to try a different approach.

Before he could put his plan into motion, the ape inexplicably seemed to vanish in a plume of vile black smoke.

"W-What was-!?"

Before the drake could fully process what he just saw, the dark cloud suddenly burst forward and passed through his body, causing an intense wave of agony to overtake him.

Every instinct in his body demanded that he move out of the way as the smoke resolidified behind him. A follow-up attack from the ape was inevitable! But whether it be due to fear or from the vile energy now coursing through him, the young dragon stood still. Paralyzed and unable to dodge.

The colossal black blade struck his back, shattering his remaining armour like paper, piercing the scales on his back, and drawing large amounts of blood. The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It took every bit of his control to not cry out in pain. His knees gave in, and he collapsed to the ground once again.

"You're still young, but you were able to give me this much trouble." He heard the intruder speak in a calm, yet distorted voice that almost sounded respectful. Reaching behind his back, the ape produced a small cluster of Spirit Gems. But unlike the brilliant red, green or blue crystals that dragonkind used to strengthen and evolve their bodies, these crystals were a hideous shade of purple.

"I'll admit, you were probably harder to kill than some of your superiors even. However…" The Spirit Gem began to glow a malignant shade of black. "It's too late for you now."

A wave of exhaustion befell the dragon, akin to the feeling he would have when using his element for long periods without rest. While he was physically unharmed, he could feel the mana in his body being drained as it flowed out of him and into the crystal.

For a dragon, being completely deprived of mana was as good as a death sentence. Without the boon the great Ancestors bestowed upon their race, they would be as defenceless as any other species in the Realms.

The ape then placed a foot on his chest, pressing down painfully. Like before, the dragon refused to give his tormenter the satisfaction of hearing him cry out in pain. Looking up, he could almost sense the smirk appearing on the primate's face, even if he couldn't see beneath the mask. His heartbeat began to slow down, each pulse being the only sound his brain could focus on.

This was his end… One more strike from that sword, and he would die.

.

.

.

He WASN'T going to let that happen!

Acting on pure instinct, he brought both of his arms up and caught the weapon during its descent, stopping it mere centimetres from his throat.

"You still have the strength to spare…?" the ape muttered irritably. Somehow, the knight had not only survived having been stripped of his mana but was still healthy enough to fight back. Were the gems ineffective on him or were his mana reserves that impossibly deep? The ape doubted even the Dragon Guardians, the symbols of power and order for dragonkind, and who bore blessings from the Ancestors themselves, boasted an ability such as that... But even then, this lizard would still die, regardless of its tenacity.

The dark creature began to add more force to the downward stab, ready to end the drake's life…

But the killing blow never came. Nothing did.

The ape's body hadn't moved at all, as if his brain had shut down. He could only stand in place and stare down at his target, unable to move a muscle.

Desperate to find out the cause of his petrification, he shifted his gaze down toward his arm and found something unexpected. In the time he had spent pitying his opponent, vibrant chains of multiple colours had coiled around his body, each one inflicting a different curse on him. The moment they became taut, he lost his physical and magical strength, and his body was rendered completely immobile.

While the curses took hold of him, the dark blue dragon beneath his foot had become enshrouded in a similarly brilliant golden-white light. Only instead of weakening him, it was mending his wounds and returning some strength to his body. In addition, the glaive that had slipped from his hand earlier had lost its lustre… As if it wasn't needed anymore.

With a quick swipe, the drake knocked the demonic sword out of his foe's hands, leaving the primate truly defenceless for what was to come.

The ape could only stare in fear as the last image he would ever see was ingrained into his mind. A young adult male dragon with obsidian black scales and massive azure wings, cloaked in a majestic icy-blue aura, roaring into the night sky with a newfound drive. Prepared and ready to give everything to protect the sacred temple.

A scaled hand reached out and grabbed the primate by the face. A cold chill ran down its spine, growing colder by the second. Recognizing the imminent danger he was in, the ape attempted to claw his way out, only for the glow of the ethereal chains wrapped around him to remind him of his current state. While he might have been able to pry off the dragon's hand before, there was nothing he could do now until the curse wore off. And now he would not live long enough for that to happen.

Thick layers of ice began to coat the ape's armour, and his skin dried out, turning a morbid white in the process. The dragon then moved in close and growled in his ear.

"Return to Unconscious, you monkey!"

He then launched the encased ape against the temple wall. The icy prison shattered upon impact, extinguishing the life inside in an instant.

Satisfied that the threat had passed, the dragon breathed a sigh of relief and sat down. His frosty breaths crystallized the second they left his mouth.

"I'm still alive," he panted. Even if his wounds had healed, the adrenaline was still coursing through his system. Despite his intensive training, it was impossible to shrug off nearly being sliced in half, and he desperately wanted to savour a few moments of peace before anything else.

He instinctively brought a paw up to run it through his silver mane, briefly forgetting about the helmet still covering his dome. His scaled hand rested against the cool metal as he reflected on his current situation.

It was a calm but eventful day, the same as any other. He and the other apprentice knights his age were undergoing training at the Emerald Falls Temple, testing their survival and combat skills in an environment they were unused to, and far away from the dragon city. It wasn't long after this that the entire world was made aware of the Dark Army's unusual movement, and appropriate measures were taken to fortify all the important dragon strongholds throughout the Realms. Three of the six Guardians even left Warfang to help protect this temple, but as they would soon learn, not even their efforts would be enough.

None of them expected a swarm of supernatural monsters to appear at the temple walls and completely overwhelmed their defences. Within a few hours, countless knights and civilians had already perished in the conflict.

Growling with frustration, the young dragon removed his helmet, the last piece of armour he was wearing, and threw it aside; it was worthless against these demons anyway.

He was broken from his thoughts when he heard a voice calling his name.

"Seiryuu!"

Turning to face the skies, the drake saw several adult dragons flying above the temple. Most wore armour not dissimilar to his own, while others wore clothing representative of a different culture. The defenders of the entire Dragon Realms, as well as his brothers in arms, the Peace Keepers. And judging from the variety in their gear, reinforcements were coming in from across many lands.

From within the flight, two younger dragons not of the main group had broken off and were headed in his direction. Two dragons he knew very well. As they landed on the walkway next to him, a weak smile crept up his face.

"Luna… Kulbrin… You're the last people I expected to see right now... I'm so grateful you came for me."

The taller of the two, the female named Luna, cautiously went over to him and helped him to his feet, wrapping an arm across his shoulders.

"I know. I... I can hardly believe I'm in a position where I need to say this but… I'm so glad you're still alive, Seiryuu."

Luna was a tall dragoness with rich white and golden scales, a pair of large navy blue wings with numerous constellations inscribed onto their membranes, and two curved golden horns on the back of her head. She wore layered white robes that were accented with gold. If not for the look of panic on her face, her presence would give off a very graceful and calming aura.

"It's a bit of an understatement when she says that. That filth almost dimidiated you!" The younger male dragon picked up the depowered glaive resting a few paces away from the group. "He even forced you to remove your inhibitor!"

Kulbrin was an earth dragon who, unlike his friends, was slightly small for his age. He had forest green scales, and a brown-coloured underbelly and wings. Jagged black spines ran down his back and four, crooked brown horns adorned his head. He was dressed more conservatively than his female companion, only wearing a torn red bandana, a leather belt and sachel, and wrist and ankle wrappings. While appearing more composed than Luna at first glance, he too was showing signs of unease.

"I had no other option. These monsters… They have the ability to siphon mana from other living beings. If I hadn't pulled out my glaive, I would have died…"

"An ape was able to push you that far!?" Luna whimpered in shock.

The young knight didn't respond. By now, he had gotten back on his feet but he still hadn't fully recovered. Luna's spell earlier had only healed his physical wounds.

Noticing that the ice dragon wasn't answering the question, Kulbrin opted to investigate the situation himself, and moved over to where the dark creature was lying to inspect its body. Right away, he noticed many peculiarities.

'Is this thing really an ape? Its legs are too long and its snout is so short… And it isn't bleeding at all!' Just as he had noted, none of the wounds Seiryuu had inflicted were stained red. Instead, a dark, wispy shadow was leaking out of his body, as if he was nothing more than a ghost.

'And what even is this armour!? All of his vital organs are completely exposed! Are they that confident in their strength that they can ignore basic defence?'

There was one additional aspect of its armour that caught Kulbrin's attention, beyond the lack of protection it gave. There were multiple engravings of skulls across its surface. But rather than it being the skull of an ape or even a dragon, it more closely resembled that of a well-respected species that has been extinct for countless millennia, a human.

"...And that confirms it." the young Beast Tamer dragon muttered in disgust. "The apes are the only ones in the Realms that would use the image of the Predecessors so disrespectfully."

His musings were interrupted when he heard Luna's voice call out. By now, Seiryuu had regained his balance and was slowly ambling back to the temple, though strangely, he was headed towards one of the service entrances meant for smaller beings instead of flying back to the tower he had just come from.

"What are you doing? You'll burn yourself out if you keep fighting!" The white dragoness said while desperately trying to hold him back. But the urgency in his voice made it clear he didn't intend on resting just yet.

"There's more going on than you two realize…!" the blue dragon ducked his head through the doorway, barely giving his friends any time to keep up as he hurried down the narrow corridors. "You feel it, don't you? This never-ending feeling of nausea and fatigue?"

Neither of them was aware of it until Seiryuu brought it to their attention, but both Luna and Kulbrin were also staggering in place just as he had moments ago. Beyond that one instance, they both hadn't used any magical abilities since arriving at the temple, yet it felt as if they had been fighting for weeks on end.

"This feeling… Have you and the other Peace Keepers been fighting under these conditions for all this time?" Luna asked as the weight of this calamity started to dawn on her.

The Ice Dragon grimly nodded in response. "It's even worse than you may think. Whatever magic they're using, it's making them immune to anything that isn't draconic magic. Combine that with the dark gems they carry that absorb our powers, and even a lowly grunt can slay an experienced knight."

The group finally came to a stop at a smaller room isolated from the rest of the temple. The inside was full of old boxes overflowing with used tools that had no discernable use and had been shoved inside without a care, and every corner of the room was covered in dust and cobwebs.

"This is…?" Kulbrin asked while fighting off the urge to sneeze.

"Currently, the moles around the temple are using this room to offload their defective equipment," Seiryuu explained as he hurriedly began shuffling the crates around, clearing up space. "But it was originally meant for the smaller, flightless species to gain access to the underground before the main entryway was complete."

"The catacombs? What does that have to do with anything right now?"

"We thought Dark Army's forces would only attack from above. Their goal this whole time is to lay waste to the nursery and kill off the next generation. But there was another layer to their plan we couldn't anticipate." As soon as he finished talking, Seiryuu had cleared out most of the boxes in the room, revealing a large golden plate in the centre of the floor. He let out a deep sigh before doing anything more.

"Brace yourselves," he warned.

Once he was certain his friends were mentally and physically prepared, Seiryuu lifted the plate from the ground.

Instantly, any existing discomfort the Light and Earth Dragons had was made even worse, as the sudden surge of dark energy that erupted from the floor overwhelmed their bodies. Seiryuu himself faired slightly better, his icy blue aura shattering into nothingness the moment the cover was raised, but he was otherwise unaffected.

"This is why I was so concerned…" he began to explain hurriedly, "Whatever is causing this anomaly, it's down there. And not many dragons have the fortitude to survive being that close to it.

"The Guardians all agreed that one of them would eliminate the threat, as their greater power would allow them to endure the pressure better than any of us. Master Polaris disappeared down below a long time ago, and nobody has heard from him since. I don't want to assume anything dire, but it's been hours now…" The dragon's arms were beginning to shake. "I'm going after him, and I'm using this entrance to avoid detection for as long as I can."

"And you plan to do this alone?" Luna asked, "We really should come with you…"

The comment caused Seiryuu's heart to fall. While he knew Luna and Kulbrin would at the very least be able to hold their own for short time, they wouldn't survive for long. They could barely stand up as it was! He didn't want them to die…

But she was right about one thing. He would not survive down there on his own. The Light Guardian himself had also gone into the catacombs, and his current fate remained unknown. His chances of survival weren't any better.

Seiryuu let out a sigh before eventually relenting. He slowly wrapped his arms around the dragoness, giving her a warm embrace.

"Luna… My instincts are telling me to reject your help. But… can I be greedy this one time, and ask you two to navigate for me?" Luna looked up at him in surprise. Having grown up with the drake, she knew he would have sooner demanded that he handle this on his own.

He continued talking as she was lost in thought.

"The three of us have been through a lot over the decades, and if I'm going to come out of this alive, I need someone I trust. I'd… feel safe if you both were there for me."

"Tsk… Okay fine." Kulbrin spoke up from across the room. "Look, I'm honestly still hesitant about having you fly into that hellscape at all, but this is probably the only option that's going to satisfy us all… Well, mostly."

"Thank you. Both of you." Not waiting for Luna's response, Seiryuu went over to the open passageway and climbed onto the narrow ladder that led down. He gave them a firm look before making his final preparations. "Kulbrin, pass me my glaive."

The green dragon yelped in shock.

"Wait… This thing!? You know this won't do anything to those devils." He flicked two of his fingers across the blade's edge repeatedly. Not a single bruise formed on his scales. "Shouldn't you bring something more… I don't know, practical?"

The ice drake shook his head. "I don't plan to fight up close. Their weaponry tore through ours like old parchment! Beyond that, I don't have the luxury of being selective at the moment. And I don't want to use one of those demons' weapons!

"Besides…" He ran a hand along the flat side of the glaive. Even while deactivated, the glaive still carried a large amount of his own mana within its metal exterior. "I have a feeling it will be useful down there."

"...Useful?"

"Never mind." He quickly fastened the blade behind his back before giving both of his friends one final look. The urgency in his voice from before having returned. "The moment you start to feel overwhelmed, forget about me, and head to safety along with the other civilians. Understood?"

Without saying a word, the two dragons agreed to his request.

"All right… It's time to finish this." With that, Seiryuu lept off the ladder, letting gravity carry him into the depths below.

An unnerving silence filled the room as both dragons waited for the signal to establish the telepathic link with their friend.

"What's plaguing you, Luna?" Kulbrin suddenly asked, noticing that she hadn't said anything to Seiryuu before he left. "It's not like you to be this quiet."

The white dragoness was staring out a window from a room on the opposite side of the hallway. She had a clear view of the night sky and could see both of the celestial moons shining down on them. But there was something about the green and red bodies that made her uneasy.

"Zella… Why-How is it larger than Adrano tonight?"


Seiryuu's vision grew dark as he sailed deeper underground and away from any light. It didn't take long for him to hit solid ground.

The catacombs were a large and expansive maze. Long bridges coated in dew were erected above a dark void cloaked by a thick mist, with the sound of flowing water running in the distance. Very little light made it this far underground, making it hard for the average being to see clearly. But for a dragon with superior eyesight, it was only a minor inconvenience.

"Kulbrin, Luna can you hear me?"

The female dragon's voice responded a few moments later, her voice being projected directly into the knight's head, but not as coherently as he would have hoped.

"Yes. There's a bit of magical interference, but we can still get a view of your surroundings. We'll do our best to navigate from here."

"Understood. I'm going on ahead."

Not wanting to waste any time, Seiryuu leaped off of the main bridge, opened his wings, and began flying further in, taking the most direct path possible. The gentle breeze coming from below was just enough for him to maintain his altitude.

As he predicted, none of the Dark Army's fighters noticed his presence at first, and he was met with little to no resistance; a welcome change after everything that he had endured thus far. As he moved deeper in, however, he could feel that same overwhelming dark energy growing stronger, and he knew it was only a matter of time before he had to fight again.

"You're not alone down here," Kulbrin's voice cut in, "There are some ape grunts ahead of you. Do you need me to give a profile of their physical attributes?"

Far ahead, Seiryuu could see a formation of rocks peaking out through the fog. Several of those same apes were perched on small perches, gazing off into the distance, looking for any stray dragons that may have wandered in. From the air, he could make out two small fries wielding bows and one larger ape with a massive two-handed battle axe

The young knight nodded.

"I won't flare my wings to a Beast Tamer's advice. What are their weaknesses, if any?" One of the archers saw him closing in, taking away any hope for a surprise attack, and began aiming for his head. The shadowy arrow barely missed the dragon, sailing off into the distance and striking the rock ceiling. Only, it didn't audibly clank off of the stone, and instead pierced straight through it. "Also, keep in mind that I'd rather fight at a distance if I can help it."

"Well, I'd say you're in luck. The imps are weak to ice. Try your Bufu skills on the small ones."

'Weak to ice… That's very convenient!'

Drawing the smallest of drops of mana from his body, Seiryuu willed a block of ice over the closer of the two apes. It attempted to dodge out of the way, but the ice still hit its shoulder, freezing on contact. The ape fell off his perch and began crying from the pain.

"Ahh! My arm…! I'm dying!"

The instant the attack landed, time seemed to slow down around the dragon. Invigorated by the successful attack, he switched his attention to the other grunt. Another blast of ice killed the ape before it could retaliate.

'A single Bufu attack and they fall? If only they were all this weak…'

The surge of adrenaline came again, this time he chose to launch himself at the larger ape with his glaive. The attack landed, but it was not enough. The ape leader, unharmed, swung his own weapon at the knight who leapt out of the way just in time.

Falling back, Seiryuu took to the air once more, and listened to his navigators' advice.

"This one's tough to pin down… I don't know if anything you have will so much as stagger him."

"What about Darkness? Is he immune to–"

"No, but keep in mind you'd have to strike up close for that."

The large ape saw the hesitation in his movements and pulled out a small cluster of the dark crystals, daring him to come forward. Seiryuu growled in frustration at the taunt.

'There's no time to waste worrying over every little inconvenience. I have to take those odds.'

The dragon rose high into the air before plunging back down as his body became intangible, disappearing into the floor beneath the primate as he used he second element. A shadow was cast on the ground as dark runes began to form, preparing to annihilate the ape in a single hit.

The glow beneath its feet turned purple…

…And its life was snuffed out.

The dragon re-immerged from the floor moments later. His gamble had paid off, but not entirely without consequence. Seiryuu gritted his teeth together as the same draining sensation from before hit his body, only made worse by the magical anomaly present in the catacombs.

"No, not yet…!"

Out of desperation, he kicked the now lifeless corpse off the adjacent ledge and into the pit below, along with the gem that was still clutched in its hands. (He was really beginning to hate those things!)

"Are there any more nearby?"

"Yes… They're approaching from behind," It was Luna who answered this time, her voice calm but unsettled. "You can avoid another fight if you leave now."

"All right. And just to be sure…" He then took a deep breath and unleashed a massive wave of ice all around him, freezing over the ground and sealing off any passages the apes could enter from. "That should give me a little more time…"

Clenching his wrist tightly, Seiryuu channelled his energy throughout his body, letting his mana re-stabilize itself. He did not want to be left completely drained before he reached his destination.

With each encounter he faced from that point onward, Seiryuu made sure to end quickly and decisively, using his elements as liberally as he could without overtaxing his body. Eventually, he reached the source of the disturbance. The way forward was barricaded by two large wooden doors, and the knight could already feel the evil magic leaking out from the other side. The sensation was dominating his senses now!

Placing a paw over one of the doors, he watched them both glow pale blue in response to his body's latent magic, before slowly drawing open. Seiryuu didn't know what to expect on the other side, but he gripped his glaive in anticipation of the worst.

Whoever was here before him had apparently caused a lot of damage to this section of the underground. There was no pathway beyond the doors, with most of the footing grumbling away into the abyss. Individual platforms were erected all over the area in seemingly random locations, making it nearly impossible for a flightless being to navigate across to the other side.

At the other end of the chasm, he saw what he was looking for, a massive purple crystal embedded into the ground, with a hideous purple aura emitting off of it. But as foreboding as the evil construct was, his attention was focused on what was standing at its base.

Standing several metres tall and wearing thick black armour that kept the human-inspired skull motif and a flowing black cape, was the most intimidating ape commander he had seen yet. Unlike his underlings, his armour actually covered most of his body, safe for his head which bore a white skull mask with an engraved numeral XIII on its temple. On his back was a colossal black scimitar that looked like it weighed a ton at least.

Taken all together, Seiryuu felt as if he was staring at Death itself.

"The Guardian of Light could not stop me, and what do they do in response? They send a poorly armed child…" The voice that rang out was loud and dominating. The young knight had never heard anything so malicious in his entire life.

Suddenly the demon's words registered in his brain. "...Guardian of Light!?"

Turning his gaze further downward, he could see another figure lying unconscious on the floor. An Elder Dragon with white and gold scales.

"Master Polaris!"

Overcome by emotion, Seiryuu leaped across the small footholds without a second thought. In the blink of an eye, he had crossed over to the other side, but he was cut short when a large blade found itself centimetres away from his neck.

"It's over, Dragon. Drop your weapon and surrender. There is nothing more you can do."

Dread burned through his whole being. He knew death was an ever-present threat the moment he set foot into the catacombs, and he doubted he could defeat this foe even under better circumstances. But there was too much at stake to back down… On his honour as a Peace Keeper, he would see this through to his last breath! He didn't need any advice to know that he had only one course of action.

Seiryuu took a deep breath.

"I won't hesitate anymore…!"

He let his mana flow freely, the space around him warping in a union of ice and darkness. With his own weapon at the ready, the glaive glowing in response to his mana, Seiryuu took a mighty leap into the air and aimed for the devil's head.

The two began a savage dance with their blades. Each strike was delivered with the intent to kill, and every movement was so impossibly fast, that they would have appeared invisible to any bystanders. As the two duelled, deep cuts appeared all over the dragon's body, while conversely, the ape was barely injured.

The clash finally ended when the Ape Commander delivered a powerful kick into the knight's torso, sending a shockwave throughout the entire room and launching him back. Seiryuu landed on one of the stone platforms in a heavy heap, barely holding onto his only weapon.

"Little dragon," the deep voice called out to him, "At any point did you stop to consider why the Guardian of the Light element couldn't defeat me, let alone injure me?"

In truth, the thought had never crossed his mind. But thinking about it now, it didn't make sense why Master Polaris couldn't defeat this devil. Both the Light and Darkness elements were very lethal when used effectively. An Elder Dragon with centuries of experience wielding either of them wouldn't go down so easily.

"Allow me to show you…" the ape chuckled cruelly, "The result of my kind's evolution!"

Seiryuu didn't know what to expect... Was he about to unleash a powerful explosion? Drain away his life aura instead of his mana? An infinite amount of possibilities flew through his head all at once.

To his shock and horror, the demon sank into the ground beneath him in a shadowy veil. It was the same Darkness spell he himself had been using frequently this entire night.

"No… the Dark Army can use draconic magic!?"

A cold chill ran down his spine. Even if this specific element flowed throughout his body naturally, it did not mean he was immune to its effects. He could still die to this attack, just like anyone else.

Acting fast, Seiryuu leaped into the air as high as he could to escape the runes' effects, soaring high enough to almost touch the cavern's ceiling. As if he knew this would happen, however, the dark ape re-emerged from the floor, ending the spell pre-maturely, and leapt after him.

Seeing what the ape was capable of firsthand, he didn't know what options he had left. Was it even worth using his own elements anymore? From what he knew, it was the one thing that was effective against them to any meaningful extent, but this Ape Commander could not only match anything an adult dragon's might, but likely surpass it. Right now, he had to make a decision. Every second he spent contemplating what to do next, the more his foe drew close.

The thing he had left to use was his glaive…

A cruel-sounding voice suddenly resonated within his mind, mocking him. "You plan to defend yourself with a blunt stick!?"

"It's not a matter of how powerful it is… only how I use it."

Seiryuu, knowing he only had one last attempt to pull it off, focused on one thing. As the two combatants intersected each other, he made sure to angle the glaive in his paws carefully. And with bated breath… He watched it sink into the white mask. The dull steel pierced through the primate's face, ripping through to the other side.

It was over…!?

The world around him faded away, and his mind grew quiet. The two of them slowly drifted down into the pit below.

He had defeated the ape, he tried to reason with himself. He expected to hear a loud painful cry or even a dry retort that it hadn't been enough. Yet as gravity carried them further into the void, the ape did nothing.

His sight had completely fallen black before he regained his senses enough to let go. At some point, he had subconsciously opened his wings, and he was now rising out of the abyss. Or rather, he was being pulled out. A familiar green aura had wrapped around his body and created a strong but gentle wind current that carried him back to safety. He had completely forgotten that his friends were watching him throughout the fight. It was likely that Luna had also healed him again at some point, explaining why he hadn't died yet.

The airborne Earth magic carried him back onto the edge of the cliff. But just as Seiryuu's feet were about to touch the ground, the magic dissipated, knocking him forwards, off balance.

"Kulbrin… What happened?" he tried calling out, but the Beast Tamer did not answer. It was only then that Seiryuu realized that neither of them had said a word during the entire encounter.

"So, they both had to flee… It's all right. You two get to safety." He unfurled his wings and pointed his gaze to the last remaining threat to take care of. The dark Spirit Gem. "I'll take care of the rest!"

With a thunderous roar, he began casting potent ice spells repeatedly on the vile construct. At first, his attacks all dissipated the instant they materialized into reality. But gradually, the crystal began to crumble under the pressure of the continuous strikes, breaking into large fragments that vanished into thin air, harmlessly. Eventually, there was only a single cluster remaining.

"This… will… FINISH IT!"

Reaching out with his claws spread, Seiryuu crushed the remains of the gem in his hand.

With the singularity finally eliminated, his sights began to grow clear… Clean air filled his lungs once… And his muscles could relax once again.

Finally giving in to his exhaustion, Seiryuu sat down on the stony floor and breathed a sigh of relief. His final efforts had been successful. Even if there was nothing left he could physically do anymore, there was no doubt that the two remaining Guardians could finish the fight, now that the biggest source of chaos had been taken care of.

.

.

.

Could they?

A single ape commander was able to defeat Master Polaris. What guarantee was there that Masters Ignitus and Volteer would fair any better? What if there were more apes up there just as deadly as this one!? …Sol's warmth! Luna and Kulbrin had retreated moments ago. The situation at the surface was still dire!

But… it would take too long for him to leave the catacombs now. Everyone would be dead before he returned. This was where his- no, their air current ended…

"Damn! …Why does it have to end like this!?" Tears began to fall down the side of Seiryuu's muzzle. Even without anyone present to see him at his weakest, he couldn't help but give in to his despair. "I… I don't want this to be it!"

...As if the universe itself was responding in pity, the ground beneath him began to rumble. Seiryuu panned his gaze around the cavern in anticipation of an earthquake. Several loose stones began levitating into place and formed a small archway as a gold script adorned the top, displaying the words "EMERALD FALLS". In addition, more Spirit Gems, this time being of a more comforting red and green, began to form from the dirt below. The Ancestors had felt his pain and were encouraging him to keep going.

Seiryuu did nothing at first, only staring ahead in disbelief. What made him worthy of these gifts? Contrary to all the admiration and grandeur thrown at him from a young age. He was just another dragon with an above-average upbringing. There were countless others just like him.

"Is it because I'm actually the only one left?" He posed the question to the coloured gems by his feet, as if the Ancestors themselves would answer him. Their surfaces gently shimmered in the dim light of the underground. The nervous feeling was still pounding away at his heart, but his fear had now been controlled, even if only slightly.

"All right, I understand."

Seiryuu tore one of the crystals from the ground as if plucking a fruit from a tree. With a quick clenching of his fist, he shattered it to pieces and let the spiritual energy flow into his body.

"Using a Spirit Gem to recover my mana… I don't think I've ever done this before." His body greedily accepted the power from the gem. He had to admit, the feeling was very refreshing. It was comparable to refilling a glass of his favourite beverage to enjoy properly after consuming one solely to quench an overwhelming thirst.

Rising up, he then walked over to the portal and looked into the watery display to see what was on the other side. He could see that the outside of the temple has calmed down significantly. He couldn't see any Dark Army soldiers or Peace Keepers, but he could still detect signs of movement. Whatever awaited him on the other side of that portal would likely not be friendly.

'This isn't over yet…'

Finding his resolve, he leapt through the portal and hurried to the egg chambers. The one location that mattered to him now.

As he left, an Elder Dragon lying on the ground slowly opened his eyes.

"Where… am I?" His voice was tired and ragged, and his body refused to move beyond a few basic gestures. But from his prone position, he was able to spot something from the corner of his eye.

A small pile of partially consumed Spirit Gems, still rooted in the ground.


To Seiryuu's immense surprise and relief, nothing slowed him down as he traversed the temple hallways. On occasion, he would pass by the corpse of either a dragon or an ape, but the place was otherwise deserted. Eventually, he reached his destination, an egg chamber hidden away from all the others. The entrance was unguarded, but also undisturbed. Either the Dark Army hadn't found its location yet, or he was too late. The knight prayed it was the former.

Walking into the chamber, he was relieved to see no signs of anyone entering. Every egg looked to be safe and accounted for. But what he was really concerned about, was a specific egg that rested further in.

In the heart of the nest, he saw a magnificent golden statue depicting an unusual reptilian species. It bore many physical similarities to a dragon but it also stood on four legs, had no wings on its back, and its eyes didn't carry a sense of intelligence, as if it were a feral being. The statue's expression was that of a fierce glare, only made more frightening by its scarred right eye.

Not much was known about the mysterious species who walked the Realms before even the humans, but all of dragonkind knew of their fearless leader, whose heroic actions lead to his ascension into godhood.

Zenith, leader of the saurian race, and the mortal who became an Ancestor.

At the base of his statue, cradled underneath his legs and wrapped in warm blankets, was a single, large purple egg. Its shell was hard and smooth, and it bore a mark that resembled a series of claw marks that collectively formed a dragon's wing.

Were it anyone else, would have been too intimidated to approach the egg that had been branded by the Zenith himself. Seiryuu, however, had long since gotten accustomed to the statue's intense presence, and he calmly walked over to its platform without fear.

"Hello… it's me again," he said faintly, as he affectionately ran a paw over the egg's surface. "How many times have I abandoned my studies or other obligations to come down here and visit you? Too many to count… Even when I know you aren't going to respond…

"The chaos has subsided for now. You don't have to worry anymore. I'm here for you."

As much as he knew it wasn't the case, in his mind, Seiryuu wished that this could be like any other day when he was visiting the Purple Dragon's egg.

His musings were cut short, as he felt another being enter the room. Turning around, Seiryuu saw a large figure cloaked in a veil of flames so intense, only their eyes were visible. Another powerful opponent! But... they weren't attacking. The two of them stood on opposite ends of the room, looking into each other's eyes. Eventually, the taller of the two lowered their guard. Their expression softening as they spoke.

"Seiryuu, you're still alive?"

That voice… could it be!?

The inferno slowly died down as the flames withdrew into the intruder's body, revealing an Elder Dragon with red scales, golden armour, and a prominent mark on his shoulder that resembled a burning star. The Guadian of Fire, Ignitus, had returned.

"...Yes, I am." young drake replied, "But I can't say it was due to my own skills." He gestured to his back, showing that he wasn't carrying his glaive, his power inhibitor, anymore. "If it weren't for my 'ability', I would have fallen a long time ago."

The Guardian gave him a warm smile, one that he was very well-known for.

"Throughout your entire life, we have always told you that your latent power was no curse... Your mother and father will both be proud of your achievements tonight, young dragon." The mere mention of his parents brought a warm feeling to Seiryuu's heart and tears to his eyes.

Igintus' tone grew serious. "But do not overestimate yourself. While it is true that your ability has gotten you this far, you are still showing signs of fatigue."

"And you, Ignitus? How are you fairing?"

The Fire Guardian looked over himself. Physically, he was in better health than Seiryuu, having endured more fights with minimal injuries, but the signs of exhaustion were still evident. The younger dragon didn't wait for a response, as the point he was making was clear.

"Master Ignitus… What happened while I was underground? The entire Temple feels deserted."

"Yes… I wish it meant that the worst of it was behind us, but that is not the case." He paused to let out a sigh. "I'm afraid the temple is lost. Evacuation is now our highest priority. Every dragon is to return to their home kingdom. This extends to civilians as well as…" he then picked up the purple egg from beneath the statue, "Any of the unborn we can protect."

Seiryuu knew from the sombre tone in his voice what the implication of that statement was. He knew that it was their reality now. He had just been lying to himself under the illusion of hope.

"I see. So are we returning to Warfang?"

"That was the intent should the Guardians and I fail to protect the temple. However, I have received word that the dragon city is currently also under siege. The Dark Armies anticipated our plans to relocate the eggs, and launched a second attack while we were preoccupied."

"But that's…! Then, what about the Purple Dragon?" he asked, gesturing to the egg being cradled in the Fire Guardian's arms. "We can't let them perish. Not like this!'

"For all my wisdom, I do not know. The Dark Master has eyes everywhere; he was able to see through our movements this entire time. I doubt there is any place in the Realms that would be truly safe."

"Nowhere in the Realms…?"

Another tremor hit the temple, this one much closer than before. Both dragons momentarily lost their balance as the ground beneath them shook.

"Prepare yourself, young dragon! The real threat is about to make itself known."

Seconds after Ignitus gave the warning, the ceiling of the chamber gave in. Large stones rained down all over the nursery as thick clouds of dust blocked their vision. A sole figure slowly emerged from the rubble. Someone the ice dragon was very familiar with, and who had a certain blade still firmly embedded into his forehead. It was the same ape that he had just fought in the catacombs.

"...You!? How are you still alive!?" the dragon yelled in disbelief.

The ape reached out and pulled the glaive from his face, not caring for the pain it brought him. As he did, the skull mask on his head seemingly repaired itself, morphing its shape until no damage was visible, his face and internals underneath also healing in the process.

"I will only say this once," the demon growled, now with both weapons drawn and ready to strike, "Hand over the egg!"

A wave of fear swept through Seiryuu's body, and it was becoming increasingly hard to not let it show.

"Ignitus…" he began speaking to the Guardian telepathically, "I'll hold him back to the best of my ability. You escape from the rear. No matter what, make sure that egg is safe!"

"Seiryuu! Do you realize what you're about to do?" Ignitus screamed back, "You're willingly turning around to face your own death."

"Ignitus, I don't care anymore," he said cooly, "I've accomplished everything I wanted to tonight and more. All I want now is for the next Purple Dragon to survive."

The Fire Dragon stopped at his words. While it was uncommon for Seiryuu to speak out against his superiors, he did have a stubborn side that would manifest on occasion. Something he picked up from his father. Whether or not Ignitus could have convinced him to change his mind at this moment was something he would never find out.

Summoning his own power, the Fire Guardian blanketed the room in a wave of flames, granting the two of them some added distance, as well as opening a secret passage at the back end of the room. A thick forest full of large trees could be seen at the end of the corridor.

Turning around one last time, he offered a final farewell.

"May the Ancestors watch over you, young dragon."

"Same to you, Master Ignitus."

Without speaking another word, Ignitus left the Temple with Zenith's chosen one tucked securely in his arms.

All that remained now was the demon in the room.

"We've been through this once already, lizard!" The ape growled, "You can't defeat me. Especially now when you're unarmed."

"I don't need to defeat you…" Seiryuu spread his wings open and gave the ape an intense glare. "I just need to distract you!"

The dragon lunged forward, wrapping his arms around the ape and soaring out of the temple through the open ceiling.


Elsewhere in the temple, and away from the ensuing battle, a third Elder Dragon, was engaged in his own conflict. Like his fellow Guardians, Moster Volteer fought valiantly against the agents of the Dark Army to the best of his abilities, his otherworldly mastery over Electricity being more than the apes could handle. But just as soon as victory felt guaranteed, two more of the demons materialized before him, and he was hopeless to stop their combined assault.

Now, as he lay on the floor, gripping his aching chest and praying to the Ancestors that this would not be his time to go, he stared up at his potential executioner in horror. A tall female wearing a large cloak over belted, black body armour and a skull mask, wielding an unusual but deadly weapon in each of her hands and currently aimed at his torso. Embers of dark magic billowed out from the two steel cylinders. He hadn't even seen the projectiles before they struck him in the heart.

"Inconceivable…"

The cloaked figure said nothing, only putting her weapons away before turning around to address her companion

"Did you find it?"

A smaller ape sat on the floor in front of her, with a laid-back demeanour as he approached the female while holding onto a bundle of soft blankets. The young male was dressed in simple dark clothes with a flowing red scarf. He was unarmed safe for a small dagger and some scrolls he had fastened around his chest.

"Hm, you mean this little guy? …Girl? …Whatever! Yes, I found it." The male opened the bundle in his arms to reveal a dark-coloured egg. "Still young, and no traces of its element within its core yet. Did you know how rare pure Darkness Dragons are? I think there was only one in the entire clutch!" The female brought a clawed hand to her temple in frustration.

"Of course, I know! Were you not paying attention to the king when he gave us our orders?"

"Gaul's monologues put me to sleep. I have better ways to use my time that to listen to him preaching about his ambitions or our superiority all day." The female let out another groan as the two turned to leave the chambers. "Hey, should we go back and help Sideon? The Convexity Crystal got taken out from the looks of things. This place will be swarmed by knights soon."

"Even if the crystal was destroyed, our mission here is over." She paused to kick the unconscious Electricity Dragon at her feet. "Not even the Guardians with their Ancestor-given powers were enough to stand against us.

"We will return to the mountain for now. Sideon will return on his own time."

"Ha! True enough!" The younger ape pulled out one of his scrolls and let the magic contained within slowly envelope the pair. The two began to dissipate into the surrounding atmosphere, teleporting out of the temple.

"There isn't a dragon alive that can handle him..."


By now, the dragon knight had carried the ape so high into the atmosphere, that the air was beginning to grow thin. Once they had reached what he considered to be an optimal height, Seiryuu released his grip, sending the ape plummeting into the forest below, and far enough away from the temple that he could fight without restrictions.

'Well, I can't imagine a better time to use this…!'

Taking a deep breath, the dual Ice and Darkness Dragon began channelling his elements one last time. His body was slowly enshrouded in an ethereal blue mist as he carefully spread his mana throughout the entire forest.

"Frigid Blossom!"

Everything ranging from the large plant life to an individual spec of dirt fell under the effect of the freezing magic. The surrounding temperature instantly dropped below freezing, and every surface became coated in thick layers of ice, and it only continued to grow colder.

Meanwhile, the giant ape had landed on the ground below, his fall being broken by a stray tree branch. His field of view was blinded by a wave of radiant blue, and he could feel his own body crying out in agony as his organs began to shut down. The cold was too much for even him to ignore.

"This is… the Ice Guardian's technique?" He gripped his scimitar in anticipation. "Very well. I welcome the challenge!"

The dragon suddenly disappeared. His body evaporated into the air like a shadow. The ape forgot that, unlike Master Cyril, this dragon had more than one element at his disposal. It would not be the same attack he had to avoid.

Looking up, Sideon saw a massive beam of pale blue mana descending from the heavens in his direction. Reacting quickly, he jumped away just as the large glacier manifested around him.

Another beam rained down, and another… a seemingly endless flurry of ice encompassed the forest with the dragon behind them completely out of sight. Each attack barely missed Sideon as he kept leaping between the frozen structures, but the intervals between them were beginning to shorten, and he was rapidly running out of room.

"This… is nothing–!"

He didn't get to finish his cry before one last ice beam, larger than all the others rained down. Unable to dodge, the ape commander was frozen within the massive glacier.

Seeing that his opponent was trapped, Seiryuu, under the haze of the Darkness element, drove in for the final strike.

'It's over now! He's trapped, and can't fight back–'

*CRASH*

The ice shattered to pieces, revealing a massive primate, bleeding that same black ether as the rest of his kind. The skull mask had fallen off of his face, revealing a pair of yellow eyes that looked ready to kill anything, or any dragon, that stood in his way.

'No! I still haven't mastered it…!'

Despite his heavy injuries, Sideon lept into the air, ready to meet the knight for one last clash.

Out of nowhere, the ape's body was encased in a glowing white aura, as a powerful binding magic enveloped him.

'This technique… Kulbrin!?'

Up in the airwaves, a certain green drake was flying back towards the temple, his arm reaching out as he tried to hold the ape back. However, against such a powerful foe, only one of the ethereal chains managed to ensnare the target this time. And it did nothing to slow him down.

Darkness-enshrouded claws met with cursed metal… and the momentum carried one of them to its target. A state of euphoria overcame the dragon, his vision turned white and his ears couldn't pick up the sounds of the many voices calling his name.

"Father… I'm sorry…"


A/N

Finally… Years of attempts, and I finally posted a chapter of a story of my own to this site. Granted, it's not the same fandom I had initially attempted to write for, and it's a crossover, but this is a great feeling for me!

To all the Persona and/or Spyro the Dragon fans who have read this far, I welcome you. I will warn you that I am not an experienced writer yet, and still have a lot to learn, but this story is something I am very passionate about and have put a lot of time into, and I hope you all stay and enjoy the journey.

Also, to anyone wondering how much of either series you should be familiar with to enjoy More Than One Heart... by the third or fourth chapter, you should at least be familiar with Persona 3's story, including the epilogue, The Answer. However, I am mainly going off of the movie adaptations, so I would recommend being decently familiar with them. I will be using Makoto Yuki for this story, after all. Not Minato Arisato, SEES Boy, or any other version of the character. Knowledge of Persona 4 and 5 might also be useful, but isn't as mandatory.

As for Spyro the Dragon, while it doesn't hurt to already know The Legend of Spyro, this story is not a 1-to-1 translation of that with the Persona 3 protagonist added in. I will be changing A LOT, from the world, characters, and everything in between. You could read this story knowing next to nothing about Spyro, but it doesn't hurt if you do.

Anyway, I won't have this A/N go on much longer. I hope you all enjoy More Than One Heart.

Special thanks to The Silent Insomniac and Strykeruk for helping me develop my ideas and giving feedback. You two are the best!


In another part of Dragon Realms, there existed a kingdom encompassed on all sides by emerald green water, where thick vegetation could be seen in every direction. While many assumed this kingdom was nothing but a filthy swamp, unsustainable for life, this was far from the truth. One look at the inhabitants of the land, the gnorcs, was always enough to convince someone of the contrary.

Despite their portly and imposing appearance, the gnorcs were a species that thrived on their ingenuity and tenacity. This, combined with their mechanical knowledge and their physical might, made them able to adapt to even the most dangerous of environments.

Within a small village of the kingdom, a small gang of gnorcs were engaging in their usual late-night antics. From behind an alleyway, they exchanged crude stories, gorged themselves on snack foods, and listened to loud music blaring from one of their portable machines.

One member of the group, a purple gnorc named Flash, was currently leaning against a stone wall a small distance from the rest, enjoying the atmosphere and letting out the occasional guttural laugh.

Like the others, Flash wore clothing that many would associate with a rebellious punk. He had a torn leather jacket on over his exposed torso, a pair of crudely patched black pants, as well as thick black fingerless gloves and metal-tipped boots. A pair of triangular sunglasses completed the look, complimented by his signature red mohawk.

The gang of gnorcs had already been out partying for several hours by this point, and Sol, the daylight's star, was beginning to set. Noticing this, Flash pulled himself up and announced his intention to head back.

"It's been great guys, but 'm turnin' in for the day."

"Already?" One of his friends asked, "Just like that?"

"Hey, next week's gonna be something, all right?" He then pointed to the evening sky. "Plus, I did tell Nina I'd be back before either of the moons were awake."

That was all the explanation he needed to give. Of their group, Flash was the only one who had had someone special in his life, a younger female gnorc named Nina. Their relationship was known by everyone in the village, especially due to how often Flash embarrassed himself around her when the two were younger, so nobody had any objections to him wanting to be with his girl. Even if they did tease him about it, as always.

"All right, dudes. Later!" he said cooly, before giving a backhanded wave and heading out.

Even knowing that Nina was waiting for him, Flash decided to walk home using a slower, more scenic route by the waterfront. After a long night of reckless fun, the fresh air was exactly what he needed at the moment.

His stroll went on for a few minutes before he stopped to let out a loud yawn.

"Argh… It can't be that late already!"

Looking up, he was met with the sight of both celestial moons full in the night sky. In fact, both of them appeared to be shining brighter than usual, casting an ethereal glow over the shoreline.

As if the moonlight was trying to point him in that direction, his eyes caught sight of something floating in the water. An overturned mushroom top, with something strange resting in its cavity.

"What in the…?"

Thoroughly confused, Flash ran over to the shore's edge and pulled the fungus out of the water to get a better look. He was able to identify the mysterious object to be an egg. A purple egg with a strange mark on its shell. Something about that mark was familiar to him. World history was never one of his stronger subjects growing up, but it reminded him of the stories he read about the ancient world. More specifically, it looked like one of the marks of the Ancestors that dragonkind worshi–

"AHHHhhh…!"

Flash yelled out in shock the moment he made the connection. He was barely able to react in time, and shoved both hands over his mouth to reduce the noise.

"Hey! Y'all right back there, Flash?" Apparently, he didn't react fast enough. One of his friends was still in the same general area as him and had heard him scream. And they were now walking over to him to check on him.

"Y-Yeah, dude! Just bit my tongue. D'worry about it!" He replied in a hasty panic. Thinking quickly, he bit down on said organ, forcing a painful expression to appear on his face.

"You yell that loud over a nip on the tongue!? Damn!" The excuse seemed to work, as the fellow gnorcs all tuned around without asking any more questions, after sharing a loud laugh from him wincing in discomfort.

Once again left to his thoughts, Flash turned his attention back to the egg. His sunglasses were hanging low on his face, revealing his equally dark eyes as he stared at it in shock.

"I can't believe it. This is the Purple Dragon's egg!"

"What is it– How'd it get here!? None of us have seen a dragon in years, let alone a few days. And I would know! A dragon sighting would be the talk of tha town!" The gnorc tried his best to come up with a reasonable explanation, but nothing seemed made sense in his head. "It couldn't have dropped the egg off. The nearest dragon settlement is halfway across the realm! How long of a ride has this egg been on!?"

He reached out and carefully touched the dragon egg, checking if the being inside was alive. As expected, the egg was cold to the touch. The dragon inside was still alive, but if it didn't get continuous care for the next few days, it would not survive.

The fate of the Purple Dragon depended entirely on his actions in this moment!

Flash did the only thing he could think of, and took off his jacket, wrapping it around the egg to give it some warmth.

Deep down, he knew that if he asked anyone for advice, the response would be the same every time. They'd all be insistent that he raise the dragon himself, claiming he's the most responsible gnorc in the village.

'Responsible!?'

Sure, growing up, many people tended to look up to him, and he admittedly used to have a reputation as a den mother, putting everyone's needs before his own. But he was still a gnorc. He was as loud and reckless as any of them, and far from a good role model for a dragon. A responsibility like this was better suited to the cheetah tribes of Avalar, or even the wolves of Lycanus.

…Yet the more he thought about the idea, the less scared he grew. To him, the fact that he was worrying this much seemed to prove that he cared enough about the egg.

"But is that enough…?"

Peeking under the makeshift blanket, he saw the smooth purple eggshell stare back at him. An identical colour to his own skin. Removing the jacket completely, he exposed the mark of Zenith once again. Flash almost expected a great force to be exerted on his body as if the great Ancestor would curse him for daring to touch his, still vulnerable, chosen one. Fortunately, the only unpleasant feeling to rack his body was a cool autumn breeze.

The gnorc let out a loud sigh, running a gloved hand through his hair. Swallowing the last bit of self-doubt, he slowly wrapped the egg back in the jacket again.

"I'm really about ta do this, aren't I?"

With that, he slowly began walking back to his home deep within the village.

"Hoo boy, Nina's gonna love this," he rudded his temple in vexation as he pictured his girlfriend's reaction, "I don't think she was expectin' to be a mom just yet…"