Hello readers and writers to the final book in the 4th arc of my Wings Of Fire. I appreciate all of you sticking with me through these months and reading each and every chapter that I post. Don't worry though, this is only the end for the 4th arc, I still will have more books being written and posted here for your enjoyment. I hope you all enjoy your day and have a good time reading.

Synopsis:

Being ordinary isn't always good

Throughout his life Hunter has only wanted one thing. To not be seen as being a dragon of royalty. Ever since Hunter saw how cruel and unfair his family was as royal's, he's only wanted one thing. To be an ordinary dragon like everyone else, especially his best friend Prancer. But even Prancer wasn't as ordinary as he thought as he was swooped into this adventure of hope, life, death, and lies.

Throughout it, he has met new friends from different tribes, who themselves have had quite interesting lives. But all of them had the one thing that Hunter didn't have. Being able to live an ordinary life and not have watchful eyes always looking at his next moves. Hunter would do anything, no matter what, if it meant that he would be an ordinary dragon with his friends.

Now with a new player on the battlefield, Hunter and his friends have to find a way to find the lost artifact and stop Queen Ash's plan. But can five dragonets do anything against the most powerful dragon in history? And will Hunter be able to embrace his royalty to save everyone or are they already too late?

The

Lost Artifact

Prophecy

Turn your bodies away from the sky

To the caves that run underground

To a war that has lasted centuries

Where peace can never be found

Within their tribes lies a secret

Within their war lies a secret

Within their caves lies a secret

That may save everyone in time

Watch out for a great power buried below

To dangerous to leave

Help the tribes to unite together

Before everything will die

PROLOGUE

Three days ago…

It was a beautiful day in the Rainwing village. The sun was shining through the trees, Nightwings and Rainwings were waking up for the day, and Hope was teaching Peacemaker how to fish.

"No, no silly," Hope said to Peacemaker. "You have to wait for the fish to come up before you swipe down to grab them."

"Oh, thank you mommy!" Peacemaker said and went back to watching the water. It made Hope happy that Peacemaker was able to have this life.

Better than what he initially was like, she thought in her mind and thought back to when Peacemaker was formally Darkstalker.

Darkstalker, who was the child of Arctic and her, Foeslayer, before she changed her name to Hope. She had hoped that Darkstalker would be a great Nightwing but was always worried about his animus magic. Her worries then came to life when Darkstalker used his powers to kill his father and became an evil dragon. Clearsight and Fathom were the ones to trap Darkstalker beneath Agete Mountain with an enchanted bracelet that put him into a deep sleep before he could destroy Pyrrhia. Of course during this time, Foeslayer herself was captured by Diamond and for the next two thousands years imprisoned in the ice caves where the Icewings diamond trials took place.

Throughout those two thousand years, Foeslayer saw no chance of escaping, the animus spell on her chains made it so that she couldn't break them or escape. And so she waited and only ever woke up from her slumber in the ice when a Nightwing would touch her with the enchanted spears that were in the cave with her, making her awake and do her usual deed of attacking the Icewings there. Eventually one of them would stab her with the spear again and freeze her in ice again, for her to wait however much longer it would be until another pair of Icewings came down into the cave and the whole process would be repeated.

But she was then freed by Winter, an interesting Icewing, who seemed to realize that he shouldn't be worrying about a name on the wall and should be living his own life.

So she was free and following Winter back when they ran into a Skywing who seemed to have firescales. Wow, it's been a long time since I've seen a dragon with firescales, Foeslayer thought. Foeslayer then watched as the Skywing accidently set Winter on fire and told Foeslayer to go get help which is when she flew away to go get help. But then she saw from a distance that Winter was alright after a Seawing rubbed a rock on his burnt scales.

Huh, interesting, Foeslayer thought and decided to go check out Pyrrhia and what it looked like two thousand years later. It was later on when she felt it. The presence of her son, Darkstalker. There was no way to explain it, only that as a mother, she knew that her son was still alive and had awoken from his slumber from the enchanted ring. She also felt that he must have escaped from the mountain he was buried under. At that point she felt that Pyrrhia was doomed and was trying to figure out what to do.

After a few days she then had Winter's friends come to her for help, which is when they gave her the plan to defeat Darkstalker and make it a way for them to start over. So Foeslayer went with the plan, Darkstalker fell for it and ate the strawberry, which changed him into Peacemaker and with no memories of his former self. And so Foeslayer changed her name to Hope and went to the Nightwing village in the Rainforest to raise up Peacemaker and to give each of them a second chance. It was going to be alright, Moon said that her vision showed Peacemaker growing up fine and being a good dragon, who would marry the town's blacksmith and they would have dragonets.

I'm glad that everything is going to be alright, Hope thought as she watched Peacemaker finally grab a fish out of the water.

"Mommy, mommy, I got it!" Peacemaker said.

"Good job son!" Hope said. "Now that can be your breakfast for today. Let's get back to the house so that we can cook it."

"Yay!" Peacemaker said and started hopping beside Hope while they walked back to their home. She waved to other Nightwings who were waking up and they waved right back. She sometimes almost felt bad for them, they don't know who she originally was, they just know her as Hope the Nightwing with her son Peacemaker, not Foeslayer the mother of Darkstalker who's son almost destroyed the entire continent.

It's kind of better that they don't know that about us, Hope thought and rounded the corner to where their house came into view.

"Are you ready to eat?" Hope asked Peacemaker.

"Why, yes, yes!" Peacemaker said and ran into the house. Hope giggled and was about to follow after him but something caught her eye. A Nightwing was sitting across from her house and was looking at Peacemaker who went into the house. It wouldn't be weird but the fact was that she didn't seem to know this Nightwing. His face didn't seem familiar but then again, there must have been a bunch of Nightwings that she hasn't met yet. She saw the Nightwing turn around and walk into the forest.

Weird, Hope thought and went into her house and cooked up the fish for Peacemaker to eat. He happily dug into it and she looked on happily, but had the edge of her nerves on high alert. She didn't know why, but something felt off about that Nightwing that she just saw.

Well maybe I'm just being paranoid, she thought. I guess I'm just hoping that no Nightwing recognizes me and puts two and two together about where Darkstalker went.

Only her, Moon, Qibli, Peril, Turtle, Kinkajou, and Winter knew what truly happened to Darkstalker. Everyone else just thinks that he must have gone back into his eternal sleep and won't be a bother anymore.

It was later in the day after Peacemaker woke up from his nap that she took him down by the stream to play with the other dragonets there. They got there and she put him down to go play with the dragonets. She watched him happily playing with the dragonets but something caught her eye. That same Nightwing that she saw earlier was at the other side of the water and looking at Peacemaker again.

Ok, now this is getting strange, Hope thought. Sure Nightwings knew her but no one watched Peacemaker as this Nightwing was doing. She decided that she was going to figure out what was going on. She walked over to the other side of the stream and up to the Nightwing who didn't even notice her approaching him.

"Um, hello?" she said when she approached the Nightwing and tapped him on his shoulder.

"Woah, hello!" the Nightwing said, turning around to face her quickly. "Sorry, I didn't see you there!"

I walked right in front of you, she thought and noticed him wince a little bit. "Well it's okay," Hope said. "Sometimes I don't notice dragons approaching me."

"Oh good," the Nightwing said and breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought it was just me."

"Mhm," Hope said. "Anyway I have a question for you."

"Oh yeah?" the Nightwing said. "What is it?"

"Why were you watching my kid?" Hope asked.

"I… I was?" the Nightwing said.

"Don't play dumb with me," Hope said. "I saw you earlier in the day looking at my kid and I saw you now looking at him again."

"Oh well… I just… thought that he looked very pretty," the Nightwing said. "He must be lucky to have a mom like you!"

"What is your name?" Hope asked. "I don't seem to recognize you."

"Oh my name?" the Nightwing said. "It's… Edge."

"Really?" Hope said. "No name that means something else? Like Morrowseer, or Mightyclaws, nothing like that?"

"Uh, no?" Edge said. "My parents wanted my name to be something… different?"

"Is there something you're hiding?" Hope asked. "You know we don't have to be secretive anymore."

"Oh no, there's nothing at all!" Edge said. He then looked at the sky. "Oh would you look at that, I have to go! See you!" He then took off into the forest, leaving Hope there confused.

"Hey, excuse me?" Hope asked a Nightwing beside her.

"Uh yes?" the Nightwing said.

"I'm sorry, but did you know the Nightwing beside you?" Hope asked. "The one named Edge?"

"Um, nope sorry," the Nightwing said. "I don't know a Nightwing named Edge. Maybe go to the town hall to see if you can find his name."

"That's a good idea," Hope said. "Thanks."

"No problem," the Nightwing said and went back to looking at his kid in the water. Hope walked back over to Peacemaker who was rolling around with a dragonet.

"Ok come on Peacemaker," Hope said. "I have to go somewhere and you're coming along."

"Aw, do I have too?" Peacemaker asked. "Why can't I just stay here and play?"

"Well because I won't be able to watch you if I'm over by the town hall," Hope said.

"Hey I could watch him," the Nightwing said next to her. "He seems to enjoy playing with my kid so I can watch both of them while you go off to the town hall."

"Oh you would?" Hope asked. "That would be nice."

"Yeah, don't worry about it," the Nightwing said. "Just go get what you need to get done and I'll watch over your son."

"Oh thank you…"

"Airshifter," he said.

"Thank you Airshifter," Hope said and flew off to the town hall, unaware that a certain Nightwing was watching her leave from the trees. She landed in front of the town hall and went inside to the dragon who knew every Nightwing in the village.

"Hello Dawnwatcher," Hope said.

"Why hello Hope," Dawnwatcher said. "What brings you here today?"

"I need to know something about a dragon named Edge," Hope said.

"Edge?" Dawnwatcher said.

"Yes," Hope said. "You… you do know a dragon with that name… right?"

"No," Dawnwatcher said. "I've never heard of a Nightwing called that. Why?"

Hope was about to answer but then a scream went through the air and she heard a bunch of yelling going on at the stream. She ran outside and saw Airshifter chasing after a Nightwing.

Wait that Nightwing is Edge, Hope thought. And he is holding onto something. Hope looked closer and panicked. He was holding onto Peacemaker.

"What's going on out here?" Dawnwatcher asked, stepping outside and next to Hope.

"That Nightwing is taking my son!" Hope screamed and ran after Edge. She caught up to Airshifter who was also chasing after him.

"What happened?" Hope asked Airshifter as they were chasing after Edge through the village.

"I don't know!" Airshifter said. "Everything was fine one second then that dragon appears out of nowhere and grabs your child!"

"That dragon has been eying my child for a while," Hope said. "Something isn't right."

They ran after Edge into the middle of the village and by that point the other Nightwings saw what was going on and blocked off Edge's escape routes. Hope saw him try to take off and fly but venom came flying above him and he flew back to the ground. Hope then saw Rainwings appear from the trees and one of them came down and landed right in front of Hope.

"Now what is going on here?" Kinkajou asked.

"That Nightwing took my son!" Hope said, pointing to Edge. Hope watched as Kinkajou looked over to the Nightwing and saw Peacemaker in his talons. Hope knew what Kinkajou was thinking since she was the one to trick Darkstalker into eating the strawberry.

"You Nightwing!" Kinkajou said. "You better put that dragonet down right now!"

"Oh and who put you in charge?" Edge asked.

"I am to keep things in check until Queen Glory gets back from her trip!" Kinkajou said and Hope saw her scales turning red. "Now drop that dragonet before you regret it!"

"How about no," Edge said and spun his tail around in a circle, kicking up a bunch of dust. It went everywhere and Hope couldn't see Edge in the dust. The dust eventually subsided and Hope was shocked by what stood in front of them. A Nightwing no longer was holding onto Peacemaker but a different dragon entirely.

"What?" Hope said. "Who are you?"

"Oh you formally knew me as Edge but now I am my true self, Dredge."

"Dredge?" Hope said.

"Yes, that's who I am," Dredge said. "Dredge, savior of the Webwing tribe of Petonix."

Petonix. Petonix! Two thousand years ago, Darkstalker mentioned Petonix to her but she thought that he was imagining things.

That must have been where Queen Glory went! Her secret mission, as Kinkajou said.

"Why yes that's correct, Queen Glory did go to Petonix," Dredge said.

Hope gasped. "Did you just…"

"Read your mind?" Dredge asked. "Yes I did."

Nightwings all around watching gasped in disbelief.

"But how?" Kinkajou asked, in disbelief.

"Simple," Dredge said. "I can show you."

"Oh that's enough!" Airshifter said. "Give Hope's child back!" and he lashed out at Dredge.

"Of course," Dredge said and Hope heard him whisper a few words and Airshifter froze in midair.

"Wh… What?" Airshifter said.

"Ah animus magic," Dredge said. "Isn't it great?"

"You have… animus magic?" Hope asked, perplexed.

That can't be right! Animus magic was supposed to be gone! She heard it from Moon who heard it from Queen Snowfall's mind. Jerboa destroyed animus magic, no one should have anymore of it!

"Except me," Dredge said and launched Airshifter towards them. Hope grabbed Airshifter before his head smacked into the ground and rolled along the ground with him.

"Huh, thanks," Airshifter said after they stopped rolling.

"No problem," Hope said and got up to see Kinkajou approaching Dredge.

"Kinkajou don't!" Hope said.

"You aren't getting away with that dragonet!" Kinkajou said and spit her venom at Dredge. It traveled fast towards Dredge and Hope was waiting to see it hit him but it then phased right through him.

Dredge started laughing at Kinkajou. "Ahh as if you could ever hurt an animus dragon!"

"What are you doing this for?" Hope asked.

"Ahh you should know," Dredge said. "You should know what this little one can cause."

No! Hope thought. He knew! But how did he know about Darkstalker?

"Ah, this is getting boring," Dredge said. "I think I'm going to go, I do have a master plan to fulfill," and a swirling circle appeared behind him.

"No, don't let him get away!" Kinkajou said and charged after him.

Dredge laughed and put up his claw and Kinkajou was thrown backwards to Hope.

"Argh," Kinkajou said as she landed in front of Hope.

"Please, why are you doing this?" Hope asked Dredge. "Don't you know what you are going to cause?" Hope was crying now. "Please, please don't take my child away from me."

Dredge didn't answer her but she thought she saw something flash through his eyes. A hint of… regret? Whatever it was, he shook his head out of it and stepped through the portal, having it close behind him.

"ARGH!" Kinkajou yelled. "I am not allowing him to get away!"

"But what can we do?" Hope asked. "We have no way to follow him to Petonix."

"Hmm," Kinkajou said. "I think I have a way actually."

"Really?" Hope asked. "How?"

"Well I know someone who went to Petonix and knows the way there," Kinkajou said.

"You know someone?" Hope asked, skeptically.

"Okay, I overheard Glory talking to Queen Snowfall," Kinkajou said. "But get this, Queen Snowfall has been to Petonix! We just need to have her tell us how to get there."

"And what makes you think she'll listen to us?" Hope asked.

"Oh don't worry," Kinkajou said. "I know something that will get her to listen."

"YOU SAID WHAT!?" Queen Snowfall screamed at Kinkajou and Hope outside the Icewing Palace.

"That Darkstalker is technically still alive?" Kinkajou said.

"I knew it!" Queen Snowfall said. "And you all told me he was gone!"

"Well he was," Hope said. "He was changed into Peacemaker and didn't know anything about his past self. Everything was fine until Dredge came along."

"Argh Dredge," Queen Snowfall said. "I heard that name when I was on Petonix. Sounds like a terrible dragon, like yourself, Foeslayer."

"Argh, did that empathy ring do nothing to you?" Kinkajou asked.

"Oh no it did," Queen Snowfall said. "It's just that I'm mad that I was lied to that our biggest enemy was gone forever."

"Well maybe if you help us out then that enemy won't come back!" Kinkajou said. "He's still Peacemaker, if we get to him in time then we are good."

"Argh you know you all are sometimes super annoying," Queen Snowfall said. "Follow me."

Kinkajou leaned over to Hope. "I think that's a yes," Kinkajou said.

"I think it is too," Hope said.

"Get your tails moving before I leave you both!" Queen Snowfall said.

"We're coming!" Hope said and started following Snowfall with Kinkajou by her side.

Don't worry Peacemaker, we're coming for you, Hope thought. You won't become an evil dragon again, I promise.