The light of the sun shined through the cracks of the catacombs upon the sleeping form of Alicia. She let out a big yawn as she stretched her arms, and legs in the bed before climbing onto the floor to stretch out more. She looked towards the door to see it is slightly opened.

"Hmm.. I wonder what the others are..." She was cut off by the aroma of a freshly made breakfast. "Mm.. never mind." She thought to herself as she giggled lightly. She carefully walked over to the mirror to brush her hair before going downstairs.

Beardsley was in the kitchen preparing pancakes with some blueberries mixed in with the batter. He looked to see Alicia descending the stairs. "Good morning Princess. Just take a seat at the table, and your breakfast shall be served shortly." Smiling proudly, and giving her a wink.

Alicia smiled, and giggled at the minister. "Well, thank you Beardsley. It smells good as always." She sat down on a chair, and waited for Beardsley to bring the food.

Beardsley came in with a few plates. One had the blueberry pancakes on them with toast, and the rest of the Warriors had regular pancakes on them, and toast, and he served both glasses of milk. "Bon appetite Princess." He gave Alicia her plate, and he sat down on the other chair that was available.

Alicia took a whiff of the freshly made pancakes, and used her knife and fork to cut them. She brought the fork toward her mouth and took a bite. "Mm.. mm.. mm.. that is delicious Beardsley. You did a great job adding the blueberries." Giving the minister a blushing smile.

Beardsley smirked, and acted like he was dusting off his shoulder with a hand. "Something new I wanted to make up. Glad that it was a success." He smiled at her as he took a bite of his pancakes. "Mm.. these are the best pancakes though Princess." He smiled, chuckling.

"Well, you can keep them when you have the toppings all you want Beardsley." She giggled as they continued to enjoy their breakfast.

After finishing up their morning meals, Beardsley took Alicia's empty dishes, and his into the kitchen to wash them, while he saved the rest of the Warriors' pancakes. While he was washing them, he heard a flapping noise, he turned and spotted a Terror holding a scroll in his mouth. He stopped washing the dishes, and went to Alicia. "Princess, I got a letter from Celestine."

Alicia gave a curious look. "Hmm.. I wonder why Celestine would be sending a letter on such a beautiful day like today. I guess she just wants to check up on how East Liverpool is going." She gave Beardsley a soft smile. "You can ready it Beardsley." She sat down on the chair crossing her legs as she listened closely to the minister.

Beardsley cleared his throat. "Hm, hm, hm, alright Princess. Here I go." He unfolded the scroll, and started to read.

"Dear Princess Alicia,

An urgent matter has arisen and myself along with Kin required the presence of all of you who have become the family, and friends of the young child Toby. Two nights ago Kin heard the mind of the little one's father, and what he told me shocked me to the core. So I asked Kin to bring Toby's father here to East Liverpool to see his son, but another tragic bit of news has fallen upon mine, and Kin's hearts.

Kin was willing to collect the memories of the small child's father, and it brought tears to our eyes when watching them. It hurts me to speak of it in this letter, but please come to New Rad. I have discovered that Toby have become friends with the little girls Layla Burnside, and Scarlett Henry, and also the spa staff of the East Liverpool spa, Rarity, and Trixie.

I ask for all of you to come, because the little one is going to need all of you with him when he finds out the dark secret his father has been keeping from him. We will be waiting for your arrival, and to make sure young Toby's father cannot harm anybody or Toby, we have him locked up in the New Rad dungeons.

Sincerely your fellow Shield Alliance member,

Celestine Lucullus."

Beardsley felt tears stinging his eyes. "Goodness Princess, what do you think that beast of a father has hidden the poor child?" Giving Alicia a saddened look.

Alicia frowned deeply. "I don't know Beardsley. Whatever it is, we need to be there for Toby." Giving the minister a tear-filled smile. Beardsley nodded in agreement. There was a knock at the door, and Alicia opened it to reveal her friends, the Dragon Girls, Scarlett, Layla, Rarity, and Trixie.

Prim carried the small child sleeping peacefully wrapped up in a couple of blankets. "Um.. I didn't have the heart to wake him up, so I gently tucked the blankets around him, and carried him back here." She looked at Alicia with a saddened expression. "Alicia, I am scared for Toby knowing that his father is here." She turned her head down at the sleeping child with a frown. She carefully walked in along with the others into the catacombs.

"I know Prim. I don't know what this dark truth is, but whatever it is I promise we will all be there for Toby." Alicia gave Prim a soft, and reassuring smile looking back at the little boy.

"That jerk!" Luu Luu yelled. Everybody shushed her so not to wake Toby up. Luu Luu smiled awkwardly. "Sorry." She pounded her fists together. "Oh, I hope Celestine will let me give him one real good punch to the face."

"Calm down Luu Luu." Maia spoke up. "I agree with you, the bastard deserves a good pounding or two, but we got to consider the little boy's feelings. I mean he is still Toby's father." The others nodded in unison.

"I would have to agree with Maia dear." Claudia looked at Maia. "Although the ruffian does deserve a good thrashing, I wouldn't want to frighten the poor little boy with us hurting his father." She carefully walked close to Prim, and nuzzled at the sleeping child carefully, so not to wake him. "I believe it will be best when we do go see the young one's father, that we let him speak to him first before we get our turn."

"Claudia is right everybody. It would be best for Toby to talk to his father first, and maybe we can all have a word with him." Crystal gave a light smile as she looked at the little boy.

"Yeah, that asshole will be sorry that he ever laid a hand on our sweet little buddy." Luu Luu stated proudly with her brows furrowed.

"Yeah, that's right. If you mess with one member of the Dragon Kids, you mess with all of us." Kelly raised her hand in the air.

Vault chuckled. "Haha.. you learned from the best kid." She wiped at her shoulder with a hand.

Maia looked at the small child with a frown. "I knew my instincts were trying to tell me something, but I just didn't know what. I could sense somebody was sad, and it was Kin." She lowered her head sadly.

Claudia, Grave, and Prim all looked at each other awkwardly.

Grave was the first of the three to speak. "I sure am sorry Maia. I told you that it was probably because of the storm that your instincts acted like the way it did. I shouldn't have judged you for overreacting like I did. Can you ever forgive me Maia?"

"Yes dear, I also thought you were overreacting yesterday when I saw you sitting underneath that tree." Claudia gave Maia a sad smile. "Can a lady ask for your forgiveness as well?"

Prim was the last to speak. "Um.. yes Maia I was wrong in thinking you were kind of jumping to conclusions with something was wrong with my precious little Toby." She lowered her head to nuzzle at the sleeping boy, then turned back to Maia. "Can you please forgive me too?"

Maia laughed softly. "Of course you guys, Sometimes I know my instincts can get the better of me, so I understood where you three were coming from." Giving them a big bright smile. "Now I am just worried what this dark secret is that little Toby's father is keeping from him." She gave a frown as she looked at the little boy.

Layla who was standing in the back carefully walked up to Prim as Scarlett followed behind her. She looked up at her with a saddened expression. "Miss Fiore, I am Layla Burnside, and I was the girl who was mean to Toby on his first day of school, and continued to be mean to him." She lowered her head as she felt tears sting her eyes. "I just wanted to apologize to you Miss Fiore for treating your nephew rudely, and saying that he didn't belong here."

Prim gave a warm, yet sad smile at the girl, and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. "Layla sweetie, please look at me." Layla lifted her head with a tearful look. "I admit, I was disappointed, and mad at you for hurting my precious little Toby's feelings on his first day of school." She took her had, and carefully wiped away Layla's tears. "But Toby told me that he forgave you, and I forgive you too. Now dry those tears, okay?" Layla nodded sadly as she looked at the sleeping child being carried by Prim.

Prim looked at her, Scarlett, then all around at her friends. "Thank you all for being here for Toby. Whatever this dark secret may be, we need to let this precious child know that he is not alone, and that he is truly loved, and cared for." Everybody nodded in agreement as they smiled warmly at the sleeping boy.

Alicia wiped away a stray tear, and sighed deeply. "Well, everybody, I have the order from Celestine. Shall we get ready to leave for New Rad?" They all nodded. "Okay then. Let's be strong for out precious little Toby." Alicia opened the door to, and everybody exited one at a time. Alicia shut the door, and locked it as the group headed toward to East Liverpool.

After they arrived at the city and waited for the carriage to arrive, Prim smiled warmly at the sleeping child. She sighed deeply knowing that she had to wake him up. She leaned her head close to his, and nuzzled at his cheek. "Sweetheart, it is time to wake up."

He let out a soft yawn blinking his eyes open to discover he already had his glasses on, and that he was outside. He carefully stretched as he noticed he was in Prim's arms, and that everybody watching him as he woke up. "Good morning Auntie Prim, and good morning everyone." He spoke softly giving them a light smile.

"Good morning Toby." They all replied in unison as they returned a warm smile of their own.

"Good morning my precious little one. We are all going to go visit your Uncle Charles, and Auntie Celestine, okay sweetie?" Prim smiled softly as she gave him a kiss on the forehead.

He smiled, and rubbed at his eyes. "Okay Auntie Prim."

The carriage landing as Alicia walked up in front. The knight jumped off onto the street. "Princess." He bowed.

Alicia nodded. "Sir. There is a total of sixteen in all."

The knight gasped a little. "Sixteen?" He looked behind her, and saw all the other people. "Oh, I see now. Well, please come aboard one, and all." He stepped aside to let everybody and Toby onto the carriage.

With everybody aboard, Prim leaned down and placed Toby on the ground. She gave him a warm smile. "Toby sweetie, how about you go join the other young ones, okay? Auntie Prim, and the others will all be a few seats behind you if you need me." He nodded as he gave her a big smile then turned to walk over to the girls.

Prim gave a sad smile, and thought to herself. 'C'mon Prim, you have to be strong for him.' She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, and walked over to the other Warriors.

The carriage started to move to start it's trek to New Rad.

Underneath New Rad

James was slowly stirring from a deep intoxicated sleep. "Aw.. my head. I've got to lay off the whiskey from now on, and just drink plain beer." He thought to himself as he reached a hand to rub at his forehead, and eyes. He slowly blinked his eyes open. With his vision blurry, he clenched his eyes shut tight, and rubbed them with his forefinger and thumb.

He shook his head as his vision became clear now. He looked to find himself in a dark caver, and his face reflecting off crystals that made up most of the cave for the ground. He blinked harder thinking it was a dream to realize it wasn't. "Where the hell am I?" He asked himself aloud.

He shook his head harder, and felt something cold and metal around his right ankle. He looked down to see there was like a metal cuff around his ankle, and he traced his gaze down a chain to see then end wrapped around a metal stake that was placed deeply into the ground. He reached down to pull at the chain to see if he can break it loose, but was unable to. He frantically looked around the cave which gave off a royal purple hue due to the crystals.

"What the hell is this place, and why am I shackled like a common criminal?" He thought as he could hear footsteps approaching. He looked up to see a shadow. "Hey, whose there? Get me out of here."

"Calm yourself Mr. Mason, we are not here to harm you, but just to talk." Celestine spoke first as she, Charles, Kin, and William came into view of James.

His face contorted in confusion, and shock. "How the hell do you know my name, and how are you here?" He demanded as he stood up. He stood tall coming just above Celestine's crown.

Kin stomped his foot. "You shall not talk to the High Elf Goddess in that manner you foul beast!"

"Shh.. calm yourself Kin." Celestine spoke softly to the sorcerer, then turned back to James. "First Sir, you are in the city of East Liverpool, home of humans, and dragons alike. For the reason we are here is simple, we came to this world to fight an evil Dark Elf." She sighed deeply. "For me know your name Mr. Mason is because your young son, Toby lives with us now."

James looked at the otherworldly people with his mouth agape. "Wait, my son is here? Where is that little brat at, did he put you up to this in taking me hostage, and putting me here?" He yanked at the chain tied to his ankle.

Celestine took a deep breath. "No Sir, I promise you, that precious child haven't had anything to do with you being locked up here under Charles' castle. In fact, your sone doesn't even know you are here, but he is on his way to see you."

James just chuckled.

"What is so funny you sorry excuse of a father?" Kin furrowed his brows in anger lighting up his hands, but William laid an arm over to calm him.

"It is just I would have guessed that weakling would want to be friends with a bunch of freaks. I mean it isn't like he can't get real friends." Shaking his head as he looked at the two.

Celestine lowered, and shook her head. "How can you say something so horrid about your own child like that Mr. Mason? Especially about such one as caring, and sweet as Toby?"

She looked at him intently. "Is it because you blamed him for the loss of your wife, and his mother instead of yourself?"

James' face suddenly went pale. "Wait, how.." He was cut off by a guard at the entrance of the cave.

"Your highnesses, your guests have arrived."

Celestine bowed her head at the guard. "Thank you." She turned back toward James. "Mr. Mason, I suggest you prepare yourself, because I will send my guard back down to retrieve you, and you will have to face your son, and tell him the truth." She, Kin, Charles, and William turned to leave the cavern.

James sat down on his rear shaking his head in disbelief. 'How do they know?' He thought to himself.

Celestine, Kin, Charles, and William walked into the main hall of the palace to see everybody at the bottom of the staircase. "Greetings my friends, and young Toby." Celestine greeted the group which everybody bowed respectfully. The royals descended the stairs.

Kin looked at the small child with a little smile. "Hello Toby, how are you doing this morning?"

He smiled up softly. "I am doing good Kin, William, Uncle Charles, and Auntie Celestine."

Celestine gave the same small smile to the little boy. "That is good to hear little one." She sighed deeply.

"Toby, my friend and I would like to tell you something." Charles looked at Kin with a saddened expression as all the others did the same.

Toby noticed the sad looks on everybody's face and swallowed deeply. "What's wrong Auntie Celestine? Why is everyone sad?"

Kin took a deep breath. "Two nights ago young Toby, I heard the mind of your father."

Toby suddenly looked up at Kin with a concerned look. "My daddy? Is he okay?"

Kin gave him a light smile. "Yes Toby he is okay, but it is his thought that was bad." He sighed deeply, and looked at Prim. "My kind friend Prim, would it be okay if Toby comes to me for a little bit?"

Prim nodded. "Um.. of course Kin." She leaned down to let Toby down. He carefully walked to Kin.

"Now my friends please take a seat, and Toby you just stand, okay?" He nodded as all the others first sat down on the floor.

Toby started to become nervous, and looked up into Kin's eyes. "Kin did something bad happen to my daddy?"

Kin sighed deeply. "Young one, I want to show you something. I was able to collect your father's memories." He took a deep breath, and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Toby, just know that we are all here for you, okay? I am going to show you what I saw in your father's mind. Just close your eyes young one, and relax." He nodded, and closed his eyes. He looked at everybody, and they nodded as they closed their eyes as well.

His warm blue glow enveloped them all, and they were suddenly in a black void which rippled into another environment.

James Memories: April 12, 2018

"Alright everybody, open your eyes." They did as they found themselves in a living room area.

Toby gently spoke. "This is my home, and that is my Mommy." He smiled brightly as he watched a blonde woman kneeling down on one knee on the porch of the house they were in.

"Okay my baby boy, you have a good day at school, and I will be there to pick you up after work, okay?"

"Okay Mommy, I love you." He gave her a big warm hug around her neck as Ashley gave him a kiss on the forehead.

"Mommy loves you too sweetheart." She waved at him as he ran down the steps, and got onto the school bus that just pulled up in front of the house.

Ashley walked back in the house, and carefully shut the door. James was sitting on the living room sofa watching television drinking a bottle of beer. "You know, that is why he is weak like he is, because you coddle him, so much." He took a sip of the beer bottle. "I wish you would show me the half the love you show him."

Ashley crossed her arms, and shook her head. "You know what James, I will not let you talk about my son like that. He is not weak." She walked over to him, and grabbed the beer bottle. "And you know one thing, if you would quit drinking this for one damn day, then I would show you some love!" She threw the beer bottle against the wall.

James stood up from the sofa, and smacked her across the face. "Listen to me you tramp. Maybe I wouldn't have to drink, so much if you would quit babying that brat of a son, and gave me a little attention." He walked by to go into the kitchen.

Ashley had tears pouring out of her eyes at the slap, but she had a mix of anger, and sadness in them. She stomped into the kitchen standing at the counter across James. "Don't you ever dare call my son a brat, or anything like that ever again you bastard! You know what James, this past year has been hell for me, but you know what, everyday of hell was made up with everyday of peace with Toby in my life."

"Well, isn't that precious." He took another beer out of the refrigerator, and took a drink of it.

Ashley just shook her head. "What happened to you James? When Toby was first born you were happy to be his father. I remember you calling him your little man when he said "Dada". What happened to you?"

He slammed the beer bottle on the counter, and looked at her with disgust. "I will tell you what happened to me. Yea, I was, and still am proud to be his father, but ever since he was born you have been paying more attention to him, and less attention to me." He took a swallow of the beer looking down at the counter.

Ashley threw her arms up in the air. "So that's it, you are jealous of that precious child, aren't you? Well, you know what James, you can take your jealousy, and take that beer, and make your own life with all your verbal venom." She stomped out of the kitchen which James followed behind her.

"What are you talking about Ashley?"

She came back out carrying her purse brushing right past him. "What I am saying you no good lousy drunk is that after I leave work, and go pick up MY SON, and then we are going to my mother's house, until you learn to give up drinking. If you don't, then I promise you James, you won't see Toby or me ever again!" She walked out of the house slamming the door hard.

James took a drink of his beer, and out of anger, threw it against the wall. "We will see about that you tramp. If I can't have you, neither will that little brat."

Toby looked on as the environment slowly started to blacken. The others all had a mix of angry, and saddened expressions on their faces, and turned to look at the small child. He was on his knees with his head lowered, and tears pouring out of his eyes.

Prim walked up next to him, and laid an warm over him bringing him close to her. She felt him trembling against her, and she lowered her head down to lay it on top of his to comfort him.

Kin looked at the small child with a frown. "Toby, would you like for me to stop?"

Toby tried to calm his shaking, and his tears as he looked up at Kin as he felt Prim warmth against her. "N-no Kin. P-please show me more, so I can se what happened." Asking between sobs.

Kin nodded sadly as the environment rippled once again.

On a desolate road

The group find themselves in the air above an empty one lane road that was surrounded by trees on both sides. Suddenly they saw a pearl white Volkswagen traveling along the desolate strip of asphalt. "Th-that is my Mommy's car." Toby said still shaken up from the previous memory.

Then they looked to see a police cruiser stopped in front of Ashley's car. Toby shook his head frantically. "No, no, no. That is my daddy's police car." Toby looked down in terror to see Ashley stopping her car and getting out of it, as she was about to yell at James again. In one swift move James took out his gun and shot her and she fell down lifeless.

Toby's lower lip quivered, and he couldn't hold back his tears as he watched James stepping closer to the body to check to see if Ashley was moving. "You should have shown me some attention Ashley." Toby could hear as James out away his gun and got back into his car, and drove off.

The environment changed back to black, and the group found themselves back in the castle. Toby shook with sobs, and cried heavily unable to speak. Everybody looked on sadly at the small child, and they all gathered around to give him a hug to try and comfort him.

"Oh, my precious little Toby." Prim said as she hugged him close to her.

Celestine lowered her head in sadness allowing tears of her won to fall. Kin and the others did the same. Celestine raised her head toward the door she, and the others came in from. "Guards being him in."

The others turned to see who Celestine spoke of, and they immediately gave glares of anger. Toby sobbed as he turned his head from laying against Prim's chest. Choking back his sobs at the person Celestin asked for, and said weakly. "Daddy?"