Fearless Four
By Mardrena
"Rowwr." Mr. Yamano folded down the upper half of the newspaper abruptly and glanced to the side, peering over the edge of the table. He wrinkled his brow in confusion.
"What?" he demanded. The young tigress Whisker sat on the floor with her tail wrapped around her hind legs and her forepaws shifting slightly. She gazed up with her icy blue eyes, looking almost expectantly at the man. "…What?" Whisker washed her lips with her tongue and kept glancing from his face to the sushi plate infront of him. "No. No. This is people food. This is people food. It's not for you, it's mine. This is mine," he said sternly and resumed eating.
"Rowrr…" Whisker began kneading her paws on the floor and her hindquarters bunched.
"No! If you're hungry you just have to wait till my wife gets home. No!" Despite his scolding, Whisker began tensing as if to spring atop the table. "Okay fine, here," Mr. Yamano tweaked a roll with the chopsticks and tossed it to the side. Whisker lunged backwards in time to catch the roll in her mouth neatly and began chewing, smacking her mouth and licking her teeth. Mr. Yamano rolled his eyes and went back to eating and reading the paper.
"Rowwr." He threw an incredulous glare at the tigress.
"No! There's no more, okay? It's all finished. Look, see? No more. All gone," he lowered the plate for her to see. Whisker leaned forward and began licking the plate all over, scraping up any particles and residue left while Mr. Yamano sighed in exasperation and hung his head. Whisker leaned back, having thoroughly cleaned the plate and padded behind the chair. She stuck her head under the tablecloth and began rubbing her head against Mr. Yamano's leg.
Mr. Yamano tossed the plate onto the table half-heartedly and frowned at the tigress. Much to his surprise, Whisker slid onto her side and began rolling back and forth on her back, rubbing her head on Mr. Yamano's shoes. She raised both ears then grabbed his left shoe in her forepaws and tugged it off his foot. All the while Mr. Yamano watched, blinking in confusion. Whisker gnawed on the shoe and kicked at it with her hind paws.
"…yeah…you show that loafer who's boss…" Mr. Yamano muttered dryly.
White Wind stirred from his nap when the garage doors opened and he glanced out the corner of his eye to see the family car nudging inside. He waited until it came to a stop and the door slid back shut before stepping to the side considerately to give Mrs. Yamano enough space to exit the car. She hummed idly as she retrieved grocery bags from the back seat and set them on the floor. She glanced around the garage apparently looking for something. She walked around the car and stooped over, checking under a table. White Wind closed his eyes to resume his nap.
"…where are the cans I was saving to donate?" she asked and turned around.
Donate? Wind raised his head and tilted one ear to the side. Mrs. Yamano looked from side to side again before glancing at Wind.
"I could've sworn they were right here…I had a plastic bag full of old cans for recycling…" She caught the slight widening of Wind's eye lenses out the corner of her eye. "Did you eat them? You ate them!?" Wind recoiled and backed up a step, flattening his ears against his neck and twitching his head from side to side. "I can't believe it! You ate them! Why would you eat them!?" Wind lowered his head and averted his gaze, his metal face looking quite ashamed. He glanced at her occasionally, his eye lenses flickering dimly.
Mrs. Yamano stood there tapping her foot on the floor and had both knuckles on her hips. She looked very cross but her expression softened and she shook her head. "Ohh…how can I stay mad at a face like that…I'll just have to do a better job of labeling them next time. Oh, you're such a growing boy." She walked over and rubbed the Pegasi's neck. White Wind burbled and bobbed his head slightly. Mrs. Yamano stooped down and retrieved the grocery bags.
"I'm back, dear!" she called as she entered the household proper. Whisker peeled away from harassing Mr. Yamano for more food and padded over to Mrs. Yamano as she entered the kitchen. Her ears moved forward and she waited anxiously while Mrs. Yamano unloaded groceries. "I bet you're hungry. Well I brought something just for you…" The tigress followed her on the way to the food bowl and kept her gaze on the woman as she unwrapped something covered in paper. "Here's some fiiiish…" Mrs. Yamano set a fillet of white fish meat in the bowl. Whisker leaned down to feast but paused and leaned back when Mrs. Yamano stooped down again. "And here's some juice…" "Juice" turned out to be whatever fluids remaining in the pouch. She sprinkled it over the fillet then stepped away to let Whisker eat.
Meanwhile Mr. Yamano watched as Whisker hunkered over the bowl and began eating noisily, lapping up the meat fluids and picking apart the fish with her teeth. He glanced down at his emptied sushi tray and then back at Whisker sourly.
Sometimes it seemed like the cat ate better than him most times…
"Mom, Pop! I'm home!" the front door swung open and Yulie stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and set his book bag on the floor before slipping off his shoes and shrugging off his coat to hang on a wall hook. Whisker, who'd gone to sleep on a mat after eating, perked up right away and rose to her feet. She padded out into the hall to greet Yulie; her head almost reached up to his hips. "Heya girl! Miss me?" Yulie knelt down and combed his fingers through the white fur while Whisker rubbed his knee with her head.
"Dinner's almost ready," Mrs. Yamano called from the kitchen.
"Okay. I'll go wash up," Yulie stated and retrieved his book bag. Whisker followed him to his room and watched absently as he peeled off his school uniform and changed into household wear. While he dressed, she nosed inside his bag lying on the bed and thrust her entire head inside, dragging it from side to side as she inspected the contents. "No, don't. My teachers would never believe me if I told them a tiger ate my homework," Yulie chided and pulled the bag away. Whisker swatted at the strap, catching it with her claws until Yulie reached down and gently peeled it away. Whisker washed her paw and proceeded to clean herself. Yulie walked out of the bedroom and headed for the bathroom, but Whisker headed for the kitchen.
Mrs. Yamano arranged plates on the table and walked back to the stove to check the state of the family meal currently cooking. She grabbed one pot and carried it to the table to spoon out servings. She glanced up abruptly when she saw movement and saw Whisker standing up on her hind paws with her forepaws wrinkling the table cloth. "No! No, paws: Off the table!"
Whisker glanced at Mrs. Yamano and twitched her ears. She leaned down again and sniffed at an empty plate, the furry spikes on her nose brushing the plate.
"Off the table! Paws off the table! No, off the table! Off the table!" Mrs. Yamano pointed at her. Whisker glanced at her again, looking almost incredulous. "Get-you-" Mrs. Yamano put the pot back on the counter and opened a cabinet to retrieve something. Whisker extended her neck up slightly, peering at the steaming pot and glancing at Mrs. Yamano.
Mrs. Yamano returned with a spray bottle and gave Whisker a blast right in the face. Whisker recoiled and flattened her ears, pupils dilating and lips curling in a snarl. She still refused to remove her paws from the table, so Mrs. Yamano sprayed her again. Whisker promptly ran away and into the living room, where Mr. Yamano currently sat on a recliner finishing the paper.
"OOOF!" Mr. Yamano cried out in protest when the tigress jumped into his lap, almost knocking the recliner back with her weight.
Yulie scrawled in the last answer on the worksheet then closed the book and tucked it safely inside his bag. He leaned back in his chair and yawned. The past couple months had seen quite a lot of strange incidents: new enemies, new allies, staving off a alien invasion, finding out about a new team of Ronin Warriors comprised of children… Despite all that the Yamano household remained normal…as normal as could be expected with a resident Pegasi and a white tiger.
Whisker had already gone to sleep atop her bed made from a laundry basket stuffed with old clothes Mrs. Yamano had dredged up from storage. Her nose twitched when Yulie switched off the desk lamp and shuffled over to his bed. He plopped down and pulled the covers over his shoulders, settling in to sleep off the day's exhaustion and be renewed for another day of school.
Whisker's ears twitched occasionally and she splayed her claws in a stretch. Yulie stirred from his peaceful snooze when he heard a faint tapping at the window from outside. He tossed about under the covers and groaned. He murmured in protest, wanting to sleep a few more minutes.
"Yulie, wake up! Yulie! We need you! It's urgent!" the voice of a young girl whispered.
"Hnnnhhhghh…" Yulie grumbled and buried his cheek against the pillow.
"Yulie, wake up now," a deep musical voice rumbled sternly. Whisker roused from her basket and bared her teeth in warning, a low growl emitting from her throat. From outside, a deep rumbling growl caused small objects inside the room to rattle and skitter in place.
Whisker sat up in her basket and tucked her paws together. Her ears remained flattened, but she closed her mouth and licked her lips meekly. Yulie peeled himself up from the covers and glanced at the window. He pulled the curtain back but only saw accumulated frost from the cold outside. He blinked sleep from his eyes and squinted when he thought he saw movement.
A small narrow palm pressed against the window and wiped frost away. A girl with dark orange hair and blue eyes peered through the glass. She waved energetically and gestured for Yulie to come outside. A small green paw with three fingers rubbed another opening in the frost and bulbous red eyes peered out from behind a trumpet-shaped snout. Breath exited the nose and fogged the window up again briefly. Behind the two, Yulie caught glimpse of an immense soft wide nose and menacing-looking eyes. The huge head moved closer to the window and one of the eyes came within inches of the glass, peering into the room at the boy and the tiger.
Yulie sprang out of bed and ran over to the window. He shoved it open and leaned over the sill. "Dragon Master? Drega! You're back!" Yulie quickly snatched a blanket from his bed and draped it over his shoulders then clambered outside to hug his friend from Thorolk, Wing-Haven.
"I wish it were just a visit, but we need you in Thorolk. Get your things and hurry!" Drega urged. Razzunshagigknoph-otherwise known as Razzie- nodded in agreement. Yulie ran back into his room and rummaged through his closet for what he dubbed his 'emergency adventure' pack; an old backpack filled with extra clothes, sealed snacks, first-aid items, and a blanket. He opened the top dresser drawer and fished out his dragon pearl. He pocketed the artifact and walked over to Whisker's basket where the tigress had resumed her nap.
"Come on, Whisker. Get up, we gotta go." Whisker growled in complaint and unsheathed her claws in warning. Another low growl from Dragon Master caused her to flatten her ears and she slunk out of bed meekly, glancing up at Yulie. "They need us," Yulie gestured to Drega and the lung. Whisker twitched her bushy muzzle in a sort of pout and she padded over to the window and sprang outside. Yulie moved to follow but paused and glanced at the door to his room.
Not wanting to upset his parents again after the last time, he fished out a piece of paper from his notebook and scrawled a message in black marker: "DEAR MOM AND POP, GOING ON AN ADVENTURE. BE BACK BEFORE SCHOOL". He put it on his desk where they could see it if they entered his room. He quickly donned a jacket and slipped into proper shoes then climbed out the window. Oddly enough, Dragon Master stood in the street with his coils held above the pavement and his paws resting on the ground.
The enormous lung blinked and looked under himself when he heard the furious blaring of a car horn. "Hey! Move it buddy! Quit hogging the entire street!" Dragon Master raised an eyebrow at the sight of a car nudged up against his rear left paw. He carefully raised it and the car moved forward. He set his paw back down then raised his left forepaw until the car passed. Thankfully the driver's age and incredibly poor eyesight kept him ignorant to the two children, Paradise drake, white tigress, and Chinese lung standing in the middle of the neighborhood.
White Wind grunted in protest when he heard the rattle of the garage door being pushed open. "Wind, wake up! We gotta go! Look who's here!" Yulie walked over to the Pegasi and patted him on the neck. White Wind blinked and tilted his head up, spotting Drega and Razzie. The wiry Paradise drake stood on her coiled tail and waved a paw in greeting. Wind raised both ears and whinnied a reply, but Yulie clamped a hand over his muzzle, urging him to be quiet. Wind walked forward, creeping through the narrow space between the wall and the car.
Whisker stared up wide-eyed at the immense lung, keeping her ears flattened in surprise. White Wind looked similarly awed to see Dragon Master in person again. Razzie had never seen Whisker before and slithered over to inspect the tigress. She scooped Whisker up with both arms and snuffled all over Whisker's head with her nose and squeaked in approval.
"So whatcha want me for anyway?" Yulie asked, having gathered everything he needed.
"A dark dragon has emerged to trouble the land. He's already laid waste to many villages and plundered several small kingdoms. Dragons in Thorolk have spent millennia cultivating a benevolent image, and to have an upstart causing wanton damage strains our tenuous understanding with men. Even Arthragor practiced some civility…" Dragon Master explained.
"Wait, you want me and Drega to take on a dragon? By ourselves?! Ogre warlords are one thing, but a dragon? If he's as big as you-" Yulie sputtered in protest.
"He isn't, but you are correct; you cannot do this alone. I would implore your friends, the Ronin Warriors to aid, but such a delicate situation requires a smaller, elite force." Yulie blinked, surprised to be considered better than the Ronin. "A proper dragon hunter squad consists of four warriors. Do you have friends you can call upon?" Yulie rubbed his chin in thought.
"I know!" he exclaimed, snapping his fingers. "I can call Ph'li and Ko'li from Thanged! It's another planet, so I'll need the crystal buoy to call them. Ryo keeps it in his room."
"Excellent. I have a spell you can use to retrieve this buoy and replace it without your friend noticing. Lead the way," Dragon Master said and crouched, bringing his belly so close to the street, he almost squashed cars, but before that happened he launched into the air. Drega hopped onto Razzie's back and Razzie set Whisker down before taking flight. Whisker scampered over to Wind and hopped atop the Pegasi, taking her customary seat on his metallic rump. Yulie hopped into the saddle and grabbed the rein cord. The rest of the neighborhood continued to sleep, unaware of the giant lung, Paradise drake, and Pegasi flying high above their homes.
A window slid open quietly, pushed open by a black-gloved hand. A figure clad in black carefully climbed onto the sill but slipped and stumbled onto the floor. Yulie sprang into the shadows of the bedroom and remained still. Neither Ryo nor Mia stirred. Yulie heaved a sigh of relief. Dragon Master's silence spell did indeed muffle any sound he made or caused. Yulie glanced around the room and spotted the double dresser. He stuck to the shadows and crawled along the floor until he reached it. He reached up and grabbed a knob, pulling a drawer open.
He quickly shut it when he spotted nothing but women's underwear. Yulie blushed bright red under his mask and moved onto the next drawer. He assumed Ryo kept the buoy with his things. The second drawer had women's blouses while the third had socks. The fourth, however, had folded shirts more suited to a man. A blue-white crystal poked up from between a stack of folded clothes. Yulie grabbed it and tiptoed to the window with exaggerated care.
Dragon Master held his paw up for Yulie to climb into and lowered the boy to the ground. Yulie pulled off the mask to his makeshift ninja outfit and knelt down, setting the buoy on the ground. Dragon Master made a gesture with his fingers and temporarily suspended the silence spell as Yulie tapped the buoy three times. A blue beam shot into the night sky.
"Ph'li, Ko'li, we need you here on Earth. Come right away, but don't let anyone else find out." The signal sped through the atmosphere and through the distant Transgalactic Gate.
"How soon until they arrive?" Dragon Master queried, keeping his voice to a soft rumble.
"A few minutes probably. They can travel really fast through the Transgalactic Gate."
"Very well. Now just to replace that where you found it before your friend awakens." Yulie nodded and picked up the crystal buoy. Dragon Master reapplied the silence spell and lifted Yulie up to the window. Yulie crept back into the room and placed the buoy back in Ryo's drawer and slid it shut carefully. All the while the Ronin Leader remained sound asleep. Yulie climbed out the window and slid the pane shut. Ryo opened one eye and glanced at the window.
"Yulie! Look!" Drega whispered and pointed at the sky when she identified two winged shapes moving infront of the stars. Two Pegasi swooped down and landed on the ground. Ru Ru Tiki, Ph'li and Ru Ru Tiki, Ko'li dismounted and ran over to Yulie. He recognized the two Pegasi as the same ones the twins had ridden during the Pairing on Thanged. The red Pegasi colt with gold and silver trim followed Ph'li and the blue colt with silver and white followed Ko'li.
"Thelektukak YuliTakin! What is the problem?" Ko'li asked.
"Ph'li, Ko'li, I'd like you to meet Dragon Master, Drega, and Razzunshagigknoph," Yulie introduced the Thangien boys to the lung, Dragongirl, and Paradise drake. Ko'li's jaw dropped and Ph'li's ears folded back at the sight of such a huge creature. Drega looked equally surprised upon seeing the unicorn-like Native child. "They come from another world. Dragon Master says there's an evil dragon terrorizing people and he needs us to stop him."
"Really? Slian yador!" Ko'li exclaimed only to be shushed by Drega and Yulie.
"This will make a tale that will honor Grandfather!" Ph'li grinned.
"Come. I will open the portal to Thorolk," Dragon Master stated and launched into the air. Ph'li and Ko'li mounted their Pegasi and Yulie and Drega prepared to take flight as well. Whisker draped her arms over Yulie's shoulders and clung to him without having to use her claws. The Pegasi ascended using only their wings and Razzie swooped into the sky gracefully. Dragon Master led the way, his great body twisting and turning, coiling and uncoiling constantly.
"Yulie, I have never seen a titanodracoasaur like that before. How can he fly with no wings?" Ph'li brought his mount alongside Yulie and pointed at the lung.
"Well…Dragon Master isn't like Raurgoth. He's a Chinese dragon, what we call a lung. They have the belly of a clam, the body of a snake, the paws of a tiger, the claws of an eagle, the eyes of a demon, the head of a camel, and the ears of a cow. Only, Chinese dragons don't hear out of their ears. They have deer horns they use instead of ears. Anubis says they have over a hundred fish scales on their body and that most of them have good energy but some have bad energy. It's because Chinese dragons represent the balance of power and wisdom.
"Anubis says they use a special organ on the top of their head to fly, but Rowen says they use a combination of gasses to keep them in the air. Like hydrogen and stuff. He also says their bones are hollow and super strong and light, so they're not as heavy as they look. They store gas in huge chambers in their bellies and use it to breathe fire," Yulie explained.
"So…he is full of hot air?" Ko'li asked and began giggling. Ph'li covered his muzzle with a hand but shuddered with mirth. Even Drega broke out laughing.
"I heard that," Dragon Master growled, his voice ringing with a metallic tone. The boys fell quiet right away. They arrived in the bay and Dragon Master swerved and began circling above the colossal whirlpool. "Prepare yourselves! I will keep the gateway open for us to pass." The lung's great coils twisted through the air as he circled, and the froth below churned and began glowing. Dragon Master surged upwards before plunging down through the portal. Yulie spurred White Wind ahead and Drega and Razzie followed close behind with the twins entering last.
Two figures alighted on the top of one of the support towers of the bridge. Leathery white wings with silvery undersides folded over the back of one figure. Blue feathered wings folded over the back of the other. Blue eyes watched the portal, at once intrigued and angered.
Instead of arriving at Dragon Master's temple they arrived over a hilly desert dotted with groves of trees and oases. "Where are we going?" Yulie asked, concerned.
"To the site of the most recent attack, where we might find a clue to Deryrdikus' lair."
"You said he's a dark dragon. What's the deal with them?"
"Long ago, dragons ruled the world. We have long lives and great strength, but we were not meant to rule forever. Men would inherit the world, as the One intended. Dragons by nature are solitary, hoarding either knowledge or treasure, and while some are benevolent towards men, others relish in destruction. As man flourished and grew in strength and cunning, they began hunting hostile dragons. Those of us who remained fled to this world, Thorolk: Wing-Haven, where we would be allowed to dwell so long as we kept peace with man.
"Dark dragons are those who feel cheated of their birthright. They believe they should rule men because of their superior might. Over the years many have attempted to rally other dragons and enslave man, but each time brave heroes emerge to thwart their ambitions. I originally thought Grytha had slain the last dark dragon, Arthragor. It seems, however, that Deryrdikus seeks to continue the legacy of his terrible forebears, ever in defiance of the One."
"When you say 'One'…do…do you mean God?" Yulie raised an eyebrow.
"Hrmm…there are many names, many beliefs, but all share a common thread: there is One Who Is Above All. As the One guided us in our infancy, so too should we guide man. It is the way of things, a cycle Deryrdikus refuses to perpetuate out of sheer greed and arrogance." Before Yulie could pry further, Dragon master dove down suddenly and landed on a dune with a thump. The three Pegasi riders landed nearby and Razzie coiled her tail neatly before alighting. Whisker sprang down from her seat and sniffed the ground before rubbing her chin and cheek in the sand. She began to roll and rub about playfully, giving herself a refreshing sand bath. The twins inspected their gear and Drega drew her dragon wing dagger. Yulie took out his pearl and summoned his White Ryder armor. Dragon Master tilted his head and sniffed the air.
"Confound it! The sand has covered the ruins!"
"Ruins?" Yulie asked and turned around, seeing nothing but rolling dunes.
"Yes. This used to be the Kingdom of Gallis. Deryrdikus utterly destroyed it and slew all the inhabitants," Dragon Master replied grimly and raked his claws through the sand, hoping to uncover some trace of their foe. Ph'li clasped his arms behind his back and paced about. He squealed when he stubbed his hoof on something and fell forward, landing face-first in the sand.
"Ow! Nasurin pesochet!" he swore and clambered to his feet. Dragon Master trudged over.
"What's all the commotion? I heard a shout."
"Ph'li tripped on something," Yulie said and pointed to what looked like carved stone. Razzie slithered over and began snuffling over the surface. She shoved sand away with her arms and revealed part of a ruined wall. Ko'li and Drega came over to observe.
"Stand back, all of you," Dragon Master ordered and reared his head back, inhaling deeply. His coiled body inflated slightly before he swung forward and expelled jets of hot air from his nostrils. The four warriors shielded their faces from the resulting dust cloud and the Pegasi and Razzie used their wings to cover their heads. Whisker ducked her head and flattened her ears. Dragon Master raised a forepaw and splayed two fingers in a gesture. The dust settled abruptly, exposing the remains of a lavish courtroom and tapestry-strewn walls.
"Look!" Ko'li scampered into the ruin and stooped down to pick something up off the floor. It looked like a shimmering green plate. "What is this?" he asked and held it up for all to see.
"That is a scale from Deryrdikus. It may lead us to his lair," Dragon Master stated.
"Whisker can track him down no sweat! She's the best!" Yulie proudly proclaimed.
"Razzie can scout from the air," Drega added. Razzie puffed her chest slightly and nodded.
"Good, good! And you lads? Are you prepared for battle?" Dragon Master asked the twins.
"Our father is Weapons-Master T'plaureth!" Ko'li stated and drew a thin sword. Ph'li took out what looked like a spiked mallet on a long shaft.
"We'll make that dark dragon cry uncle and wish he never messed with anyone," Yulie declared and drew his sword, intending to hold it high dramatically.
"Yulie! Your sword!" Drega exclaimed. Yulie gasped at the sight of his shattered blade.
"My word, how did you manage to do that?" Dragon Master blinked, startled.
"He broke it during his duel with Prince Torehj," Ph'li explained.
"B-b-but, that was weeks ago! Shouldn't it have fixed itself by now?" Yulie argued.
"I'm afraid the pearl doesn't work that way. You remember that it was broken, and so it is broken. Your foe must've been truly powerful to cause such damage," Dragon Master remarked.
"Wait, the pearl uses my imagination, right? Can't I just imagine up a new sword?"
"The pearl has its limits, as you are well aware. This is the image you created for yourself; your identity as the White Ryder. It is who you are, and you cannot change this. The only way to repair your sword would be to replace it with a new one, linking it with your identity."
"I have a b'drasitsi you can borrow," Ph'li offered and removed a segmented mace from his belt. Yulie shook his head in dismay and replaced the broken sword in its scabbard.
I will be your sword. White Wind burbled and walked up behind Yulie, nuzzling him in the shoulder gently. Yulie smiled and turned around to hug his friend.
"I'll be okay…Sage always taught me that a weapon is more than just a sword."
"You'll have us too," Drega reminded passionately. Suddenly, Dragon Master turned his head sideways and his coils tensed. "Dragon Master? What's wrong?"
"I just received word on the Mage Wave; I am called to join a coalition of dragons defending the Kingdom of Altik. Deryrdikus has traveled in a specific path since his reign of destruction began, and it is next. They hope to attempt to reason with him, and if all else fails; kill him."
"'Mage Wave'?" Yulie whispered.
"It's a mental link magic users can tap into to share information," Drega explained.
"Ohh…sorta like a telepathic news radio," Yulie remarked.
"I must go, but I will share what I know. Deryrdikus used much of his plunder to purchase the services of a magison; a sorcerer skilled in shaping stone and metal into structures. He had the magison build him an opulent temple glorifying dragons, but as is the nature of dark dragons, he betrayed the sorcerer and devoured him, stealing his power crystal for himself. The secret of its location died with the magison, but it is most likely shielded with cloaking magic.
"I have the utmost faith in your abilities, Drega and Yulie, and I have seen the strength of the metal Pegasi. You two speak of mighty deeds and great heritage, and so I know you in turn are mighty," Dragon Master glanced at Ph'li and Ko'li, and White Wind and the red and blue Pegasi nodded at the praise. "Be constantly alert. Deryrdikus does not match the stature of myself or Ruinhuriangoth, but he wields the powers of a sorcerer, making him all the more dangerous. To kill him, aim for the eyes or throat, and the soft skin under the arms," Dragon Master lifted one forepaw up and gestured to his fleshy armpit. "Let's hope his destructive reign ends with Gallis. I wish you all luck!" Dragon Master vaulted into the air and soared towards the horizon.
"Luktikuk!" Ph'li called after the lung. Yulie glanced at the scale Ko'li held.
"Allright you two, sniff out the bad guy." Razzie and Whisker leaned close to the scale. Whisker's ears perked and she lashed her tail. Razzie coiled her tail for takeoff and spread her wings. Drega saddled up and Yulie, Ph'li, and Ko'li mounted their respective Pegasi. "Lead the way, Whisker!" Yulie cheered and swept his hand forward. Whisker bounded ahead with the Pegasi trotting behind leisurely and Razzie gliding overhead.
"What will we do once we find this temple?" Ph'li asked.
"Kill the dragon, of course," Yulie replied confidently.
"I've never fought a dark dragon before, but I've heard enough of the old stories to know they're very strong. You're not worried at all?" Drega asked.
"Not really. I've been in way tougher situations in the Dynasty Wars. It doesn't bother me so much because…well…I know I've been through worse," Yulie shrugged.
"But why just the four of us? Why not enlist an entire army to stop this beast?" Ko'li argued.
"Armies don't work for everything. They didn't work in the Dynasty Wars. In the end it only took a few to beat Talpa. Wow, I remember in the First War…the military tried going all out on Talpa's castle, and they got shredded. Only the Ronin Warriors could fight the Dynasty army, and even though they had a lot of close calls, they still beat Talpa."
"What war are you talking about?" Drega leaned to the side slightly and glanced at Yulie.
"Ouagli's Assault. Ko'li and I watch that llaudaun every chance we get. What role did you play?" Ph'li swished his stringy tail eagerly. Yulie frowned and gazed at the ground.
"When the Dynasty first attacked, they captured everyone in the city, including my parents. I got separated and couldn't find them. I met the Ronin Warriors and got to tag along with them."
"Do you ever regret being involved?" Drega asked softly.
"I regretted not knowing where to find my parents, and I regretted not being able to really fight. I knew I couldn't do anything by myself, but as long as I stuck by the Ronin Warriors, I knew I could help save my parents and everyone else Talpa captured. I actually almost bought the farm lots of times. Bad guys kinda like going after women and kids," Yulie reminisced about his many exploits; getting captured by that first soldier, being held hostage by the Dark Warlords, even the daring rescue in the Dark Shrines.
Ko'li and Drega pressed Yulie for more of his personal experiences, and Ph'li listened attentively. He is as old as I, and he has done so much without fear or doubt. He is as much a hero as Grandfather or Father… Ph'li's ears perked and he grinned broadly, reminding himself of the heroism of Ander Vai Stel Vethu and T'plaureth. If they can be great, so can I!
Yulie felt certain few hours had passed, and sure enough, glancing at the sports timer clipped to his backpack confirmed that. The group paused to drink water from a spring and munch on snacks Yulie provided from his personal store. The trail remained fresh enough for Razzie and Whisker to continue following after they'd rested a few minutes.
"Oh yes we are the fearless four, fighters brave to our very core…"
"Ph'li, what is that nonsense you are singing?" Ko'li scolded.
"You sing, Ph'li?" Yulie asked.
"Yes! Ko'li and I watch Khanphe's troupe practice often. He takes more interest in battle scenes, but I focus on ballad and verse. I can think of a song for anything!"
"Cool! Let's hear it," Yulie encouraged. Ph'li blushed and laid back his ears before straightening up in the saddle and taking a deep breath.
"Oh yes we are the fearless four
Fighters bravest to our core
We fight all day beyond the night
Battle wrongs and doing right
On we ride we are but four
Surrender now or fight us more
Because we are the fearless four
Together we warriors four
In battle shall know no bore
Deliver hope and end the strife
Through thick and thin on we thrive
Come ahead we lead with four
Banish dark and light will soar
For we are the Fearless Four!" Ph'li sang with a rapid pace and bobbed his head from side to side. He glanced at the others expectantly as he repeated the refrain. Ko'li seemed to be thinking and Drega looked confused. Yulie grinned and took a deep breath.
"Oh yes we are the fearless four," he began singing.
"Fighters bravest to our core," Ko'li joined in.
"We fight all day beyond the night," Ph'li chimed.
"Battle wrongs and doing right, on we ride we are but four," the boys sang in unison. Drega and Razzie blinked in surprise as the three continued with the song. Whisker's ears went up and she glanced over her shoulder, cocking her head to one side.
"Cower fiend behind the door
Villain fear us fighting four
Steady hand and draw the sword
Standing four against the horde
Wicked fall against us four
You will regret making war
If you cross the Fearless Four" Drega had heard similar songs sung in ports on the rare occasion she and Razzie visited coastal regions, and imagined in a few more years the boys would sing their song while brawling and enjoying several pints. They sang the refrain again.
"Boys…" Drega muttered and shook her head. Razzie looked similarly exasperated. "Hey, skald, what happens if we ever recruit a new member to our little team?" she called down, causing the boys to pause and consider. Ph'li's ears twitched and he wrinkled his muzzle.
"We call ourselves the Fearless Five!" he suggested and immediately began testing revisions to his song with Yulie and Ko'li contributing new verses. Drega sighed and rolled her eyes.
Razzie shot forward abruptly at the same time Whisker let out a high-pitched roar and scampered far ahead of the Pegasi. "Hey! I think they found something!" Yulie stiffened in alarm and the Pegasi galloped after the tigress. Whisker stopped and began sniffing the air while Razzie circled above her. Yulie thought he saw the fur on Whisker's nose wrinkle slightly.
"I see nothing here," Ko'li scratched the back of his head. Whisker seemed to press her nose against something then reared up on her hind paws and braced a forepaw against an invisible solid surface. Razzie alighted on something and coiled her tail around an invisible cylinder.
"This is it. This is the dragon temple! It is hidden, just like Dragon Master said," Ph'li whispered. Whisker flattened her ears when loud booming laughter echoed from the air.
"AH HAH HAH HAAAA! I never expected the Council of Dragons to send the legendary White Ryder. I never had the pleasure of fighting a White Ryder before. Most of the recent ones seem to perish at a young age. Perhaps you will continue the trend. Bwa hah hah haaa!"
"Show yourself nichratho!" Ko'li shouted and drew his sword, reigning his steed about.
"I know you have come to kill me. Many dragon hunter squads have tried, and all have failed. I consume, I conquer, I destroy, I dominate. You will not take that from me!" The air rippled and Whisker scrambled away from the newly exposed gilded wall. Razzie back-winged away from the pillar as it slowly faded into view. A pair of yellow-green eyes with black slits appeared in the air. A snout with two curved horns and a maw full of dagger-length teeth followed. The air shimmered like the surface of a lake as Deryrdikys' dragon temple appeared.
"Not nearly as big as Dragon Master or Raurgoth" ended up being as big as a house. A pair of black horns curved out from the back of the head. A crest of spikes ran from the shoulders to the base of the tail. Bony black spikes jutted out of the arms from the elbows, heels, and knees. Iridescent dark green scales covered the body and broad jet black scales covered the belly. A jagged scaly plate shaped light a lightning bolt tipped the long whip-like tail. Jewel-encrusted gold bracers covered the wrists and ankles. Gold chains led from each onto a gold vest that covered the chest. A single large emerald the size of a bowling ball adorned the armor.
"Fight me, children! Know me as your doom!" Deryrdikus spread his black wings, spanning the temple and displaying his dreadful glory.
"We will fight you! We are the Fearless Four!" Yulie declared and White Wind and the two other Pegasi steadied themselves to fire their horn cannons. Deryrdikus reared up on his hind paws and watched amazed as light clustered around the gilded horns. A three-pronged surge of energy struck the dark dragon square in the chest, but the emerald absorbed all three beams.
"Impressive. A shame that dragon imposter has turned you against me. Ahh, I see fear in your eyes. I smell it like a fine perfume," the dark dragon grinned and tilted its muzzle up. "I could crush you all, but where would the fun be in that? RISE! I summon you, my slaves!" Deryrdikus held one hand forward and splayed his claws. Brick shattered and sand erupted in geysers as humanoid forms burst out of the ground beneath and around the temple. Rotting flesh clung to bones caked with dried blood. Clouded or withered eyes fixed upon the four warriors. Decaying hands tightened their bony grips on rusted weapons.
"Auugh! It's the dead of Gallis!" Drega wailed. Yulie gasped and the twins recoiled in disgust. "When the first kingdoms fell, Gallis dispatched a great army hoping to corner and slay Deryrdikus. He used his power to disguise himself as a knight in their ranks and killed them all before they had a chance to use their weapons. Now they serve him!"
"A shame really…I would have preferred living acolytes. Mindless obedience is admirable, but the smell displeases me," Deryrdikus chuckled then scooted to the rear of the courtyard. Yulie could read his actions; the dark dragon planned on letting the undead wear the warriors down before moving in for the kill. He and the twins dismounted their Pegasi.
"Ph'li, Ko'li, Whisker, keep them at bay. Wind, I want you and the Pegasi to use your missiles on Deryrdikus. Razzie, go after his face. Drega, come with me. We can sneak behind him while he's distracted," Yulie ordered. The twins nodded eagerly and the three Pegasi swiveled their missile launchers forward. Drega dismounted Razzie and the Paradise drake ascended higher.
Deryrdikus looked puzzled at the actions of the Pegasi but turned his attention to Razzie when she inhaled deeply then swung her head forward. Fireballs erupted from her mouth, striking the dark dragon's scaly eye ridges. Deryrdikus reeled from the impact and growled.
"Trouble me no more, hatchling!" Deryrdikus hissed, backslapping Razzunshagigknoph savagely into a pillar, breaking it in half and sending the top collapsing sideways.
"Razzie! Why you…hyaahh!" Drega hurled her dagger, aiming for the dark dragon's left eye. Deryrdikus reached up and batted it away before it connected.
"Dragon Girl, I will end you as Arthragor ended Grytha-aagh!" A volley of missiles from the three Pegasi sent the dark dragon staggering. He brought his wings up to shield his power crystal. "Learn your place, accursed metal horses!" Deryrdikus whipped his tail around and drug the jagged tail spike through the courtyard, peeling up brick and sending the twins' Pegasi skidding and knocking White Wind into a wall. Yulie and Drega used the opportunity to dart into a colonnade and ascend up a flight of stairs to the next level.
Back on the ground, Ph'li and Ko'li sent the enslaved soldiers of Gallis to their final rest, sending arms, legs, and heads flying in all directions. Deryrdikus seemed impressed at their ability to hold their own despite their age but frowned when he noticed Yulie and Drega's absence. He glanced to the side when he spotted movement in the shadows.
"Dragon Girl and White Ryder…such lofty titles you take upon yourselves at such a young age," Deryrdikus taunted and lumbered over to the second level colonnade. Drega and Yulie hid themselves behind pillars, keeping quiet as the dark dragon searched for them. "That false-dragon tries to force his edict upon our mighty breed. Mankind has no right to rule!" Deryrdikus raised one arm and smashed his fist through the colonnade, cracking the floor in half.
Yulie and Drega covered their mouths from the debris cloud and Drega risked a jump through the wreckage to the other side of the floor. Deryrdikus failed to notice her and kept snuffling through the pillars in Yulie's area. "Men are feeble, men are petty, men are fleeting. Dragons are mighty, dragons are cunning, dragons are enduring! Mankind should serve us, not vice-versa!
"You think me a tyrant, greedy and blind? I know all too well the tainted logic of men." As the dark dragon peered into the colonnade, Yulie kept scooting to new hiding spots, avoiding the dark dragon's line of sight. "When the King of Man needed a steed to ride upon, he gathered representatives of each species to choose one among them. The lowly mole offered him the secrets of the deep earth. The lion argued that the King of Beasts should convey the King of Man. My ancestor, the dragon said to him 'Choose me, and I shall spread fire and magic before you!' Who did the so-called 'king' choose as his mount?
"A DONKEY?" Deryrdikus thrashed his tail into the area where Drega hid. She narrowly avoided being pinned under a shattered pillar. "A DONKEY! A DONKEY?! Only my contempt for men burns hotter than my fire. They swarmed the earth like ants, stealing and feeding, usurping and polluting. How many of my kin died to satisfy their ambition? How many of us survivors were branded evil and corrupt?" Deryrdikus snorted and glanced from side to side. His lips peeled back in a savage grin and he opened his mouth.
Yulie peeked out from around a pillar and saw the telltale rippling of gas. He scrambled for the edge of the floor and sprang into the air just as Deryrdikus belched fire into the colonnade. Drega watched in horror as dragonfire bathed the entire section, melting off gold-leaf from the pillars and scorching intricate reliefs. She spotted her fallen dagger further away and dashed to retrieve it. Yulie landed back on the courtyard and Deryrdikus turned to face him.
"You call yourself White Ryder…I have picked crumbs out of my teeth bigger than you!" Yulie stepped back, trying to fight down fear at standing alone against the powerful dark dragon. He backed up a couple steps but gasped when he heard the grinding of stone and saw sections of brick sliding down into the floor. A hissing form shot out and Yulie brought his arm up just in time to block the bite of a snake. The fangs caught on the metal plate beneath the gauntlet and he growled and grabbed the snake by its neck and yanked it off with such force to snap the fangs. He flung the snake to the side but another lunged at his face.
A flash of metal passed within inches of his face and the severed head of the snake bounced off his shoulder, leaving a small bloodstain on the white leather. Drega had retrieved her dragon dagger and flung it in time to save Yulie. Unfortunately her expert precision alerted Deryrdikus to her presence and he lumbered after her, swiping with his claws.
Ko'li cried out when an undead knight he thought he'd slain earlier had crawled over to him and sank its rotted teeth into his calf, tearing through his cloth armor. He slashed and chopped the knight's head off but faltered from the wound. More dead closed in and grasped at his arms, loose-hanging jaws opening wide to deliver fatal bites. Ph'li let out an equine scream and swung his war mallet in a wide arc, sending the dead flying. The three Pegasi fell back and resorted to using their arsenal to protect the twins. Razzie took to the air and spat fireballs at Deryrdikus when she saw him pursuing Drega. Deryrdikus ignored the blasts and leered hungrily at Drega.
Yulie saw a flash of white and watched in shock as Whisker landed on the dark dragon's head, tearing and biting at his eyelids and hooking her hind claws into the scaly ridges. Deryrdikus howled in rage and shook his head, reaching up to rake the tigress off of his face. He tossed his head to the side sharply and sent Whisker crashing into a wall. Her impact knocked over a rack of shining weapons, sending some spilling to the courtyard below near Yulie.
"That charlatan's arrogance knows no bounds; leaving children to do his dirty work. While my illusions keep the Council of Dragons occupied in Altik, he leaves you four to die." Deryrdikus dropped to all fours, causing the floor to shudder and knocking Yulie off balance. He crawled towards Yulie slowly, chuckling deeply. Yulie tried scooting away but had to roll sideways as Deryrdikus brought his armored belly down in an attempt to crush him.
The dragon laughed wickedly and curved his neck, peering under his body as he aimed again and again. Yulie gasped when he saw the dragon's belly descending towards him and he desperately brought his legs up and braced his feet against the golden armor. "Bend knee to me, or I will break them for you!" Deryrdikus hissed and pressed down slightly. Yulie struggled, hoping against hope he could withstand the dark dragon's strength. "SO BE IT!" Deryrdikus gave a sudden heave and Yulie screamed in agony as his legs snapped.
The dark dragon brought a hand over and nudged Yulie's left shoulder with a claw then moved the claw to the opposite side and nudged the right. "I could kill you quickly a dozen different ways, but I think I will crush you. I will crush you into a bloody smear and lap up the residue with eager relish," Deryrdikus taunted, toying with Yulie like the proverbial cat.
Half out of his mind with pain, Yulie reached back with his arms and tried grabbing cracks in the brick and pulling himself away, only managing to scoot back a few inches. Deryrdikus raised his chest and followed, chuckling with horrid glee. Yulie tilted his head back and spotted a sword nearby; one of the ones knocked loose by Whisker earlier. He crept his fingers towards the hilt and tried to grasp it with his fingers. Another volley of missiles briefly drew the dark dragon's attention forward and he breathed fire at the three Pegasi. The flames washed over them, not hot enough to melt dererium but hot enough to force them to use their air shields.
Tears ran down Yulie's cheeks. His legs past the knee felt numb and his thighs burned with horrible pain. Only now did he feel death truly imminent. He had no last-second savior. He had no miraculous escape. His thoughts flickered to his parents. He promised he'd come home! He set his jaw in resolve and finally closed his hand around the hilt of the sword. Deryrdikus flicked a glance at him before moving his belly overhead and bearing down for the final blow. Yulie tilted the sword up and gripped it with both hands, holding it over his stomach. The tip came in contact with the green power gem and the force pushed the pommel into his gut painfully.
Instead of the shattering, the curved blade pierced the emerald, sending cracks radiating from the middle before breaking up through the stone. Deryrdikus cried out when he felt the tiniest of pricks and recoiled violently. He gazed in horror upon the shattered power gem and clawed at the gilded armor plate, peeling it off to expose his scaly chest. A pinprick of glowing blue light shone from where the tip of the curved sword had pierced his hide ever so slightly.
Deryrdikus scratched the area with his claws but the scale began to crumble and peel away. He flayed again and again, but the blue glow seemed to spread across his chest and onto his hands. The dark dragon screamed in horror when the glowing patches on his body began crumbling as well. Light seeped out from under his scales and they flaked off, exposing the skin. The veins began glowing as the light spread all over the dragon's body.
Yulie scooted further and further away using his elbows. Deryrdikus let out an almighty shriek and spread his wings, but the edges began crumbling. He glanced down and spotted Yulie, still alive and trying to escape. He took a step forward, but his legs disintegrated and he fell onto his belly, barely missing Yulie. He propped himself up with his hands and raised his head, baring his teeth. Fire flickered briefly in his throat before his neck began radiating blue light. Yulie gulped and took heavy breaths, trying to move away from the dark dragon. Deryrdikus's eyes shone with pure hate and agony, and he lunged with jaws gaping. Yulie brought his arms up to shield himself as the crumbling snout struck the floor. It exploded into light that erupted throughout the temple courtyard.
He opened his eyes to the sight of Whisker's muzzle brushing against his face. He moaned when she began licking his cheeks and tilted his head to the side.
"He's awake!" he heard Drega shout. He heard a piping cheep of joy from Razzie and a concerned burble from White Wind. He blinked dust from his eyes and wiped dirt off his face.
"Uhhgh…I need to stop doing that…" Yulie mumbled.
"Doing what?" Ko'li blinked in confusion.
"Passing out at the end of an important battle."
"You need to stop suffering near-fatal injuries," a melodious voice rumbled and Yulie spotted the immense snaking bulk of Dragon Master leaning over him.
"Oh. Hey. Hi." Yulie propped himself up with his elbows and sat up, still woozy. He twitched his legs cautiously and found he could bend them without any pain. "Thanks for healing me."
"Oh, no need to thank me. All credit goes to your friend here," Dragon Master glanced to the side and Yulie followed his gaze to where Ph'li sat beside him.
"It is our gift," Ph'li smiled and tapped his golden horn. Ko'li nodded in agreement and showed Yulie the leg that had been bitten during the battle, fully healed with no scar. Drega sat on the opposite side of him and the three Pegasi stood nearby, exhausted from the fight but no worse for wear. One of Razzie's eyes purpled slightly around the lid and she favored her right wing but she seemed to take her injuries in stride.
"We are victorious! The Fearless Four are triumphant!" Ph'li crowed and rose to his feet, dancing and spinning on his golden hooves. He paused abruptly and glanced skyward. His ears drooped and his tail went limp, his eyes widening in shock. "uh oh…" he muttered weakly.
Yulie and Ko'li looked behind them and gasped when they saw a flash of white and silver swoop overhead before alighting in the courtyard nearby. Yulie scrambled to his feet and tried to run, but a white armored hand reached out and grabbed him by the arm. "Who do you think you are running off on your own-Where do you think you're going?" The white dragon tail lashed out, tripping the twins as they tried to flee and causing them to land flat on their faces.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do!" Blue armored hands grabbed the twins by their collars and lifted them off the ground. Their legs flailed futilely as they squirmed in the grip of Rowen of the Strata wearing Eagle AnimArmor. "Norin's furious with you two!"
"No! He will shave my tail!" Ph'li squealed and clutched his tail in panic.
"Yah? Well I don't blame him considering you took two Pegasi without permission!"
"What are you doing here in the first place?" Ryo of the Wildfire jerked Yulie about to face him, looking imposing in the White Dragon AnimArmor.
"Ahh, you must be the current Ronin Leader," Dragon Master spoke and moved closer. "I never had the privilege of meeting Hai-Ryo in person before I departed your world…I imagine you are of similar temperament." Ryo glanced up at the lung, surprise flickering through his angry scowl. While Dragon Master lacked wings like Raurgoth's, his body looked considerably bulkier, and his head looked easily as big as an 18-wheeler. Ryo released Yulie and narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?" Ryo demanded. Dragon Master's ears wiggled and his whiskers twitched.
"I am called Dragon Master. Yulie came at my behest to aid in the slaying of a rogue dragon. He and his friends accomplished a rare feat today, and they are to be commended, not punished. If there is any objection-he who wears the guise of Ruinhuriangoth-you are more than welcome to take it up with me," Dragon Master purred. Ryo folded his arms over his chest. "Hmmm? Dragon Master growled softly and brought his head down, moving his nose close to Ryo.
Ryo glared at the lung and tapped the claws of his gauntlets against his arms a few seconds. Then he glanced to the side at Yulie. "You have any idea how upset your mom is?"
"I left a note!" Yulie argued and shrugged. Ryo's dragon wings unfurled slightly.
"You've been gone for two days!" he snapped angrily.
"…I have?!" Yulie blinked, startled. It didn't feel like more than a day had passed. Indeed, only now did the sun begin sinking towards the horizon.
"Ah, that is partly my fault. I neglected to mention that time passes slightly differently in Thorolk than it does your world," Dragon Master apologized and reared his head up above them. Yulie felt dread in his gut. He glanced at Drega briefly, his mind wondering if he would eventually out-age the Dragon Girl. Drega noticed his gaze but didn't understand his concern.
"Well then if everyone's done here, we're going to take Yulie and the twins home," Ryo stated sternly. Rowen set the twins down but didn't let go of their collars.
"Ah ah ah," Dragon Master raised a paw and waggled a finger. "Yulie and his friends earned the coveted status of dragonslayers this day. Deryrdikus amassed a sizeable hoard from the kingdoms he ravaged, and it is tradition for dragonslayers to share in the hoard. We dragons pride ourselves on tradition among other things, and so to the victors," Dragon Master shifted his bulk to the side and gestured to a shattered section of the wall where mounds upon mounds of glittering treasure could be seen through the gaping hole. "Go the spoils."
"…whoa…" Yulie whispered in awe.
"Slian yador!" Ko'li cheered, his eyes widening in excitement.
"What, you gonna try bribin' Norin and your parents?" Rowen snorted.
"It will prove to them our victory!"
"And they will not shave my tail!" Ph'li added.
"Ugh…fine…but only what you can carry yourselves," Ryo huffed and turned around, flicking the dragon tail. Rowen let go of the twins and they ran cheering into the treasure room.
The children carefully selected what interested them most. Dragon Master graciously conjured some sacks for them to secure their treasures. Ph'li took an assortment of gilded items like chalices and plates, hoping to please his mother, Aurora. Ko'li gathered several fine weapons and ingots of precious metal. Drega chose a set of ornate steel spears and scroll cases, planning on delivering such knowledge to the monks at Dragon Master's sanctuary. Yulie filled a sack each with gold coins and precious gems, considering them smaller and easier to carry. He tied the sacks together at the mouth and hauled them over to White Wind. The Pegasi complained about having to carry him and Whisker and treasure…
"Oh hush," Yulie scolded and grabbed a handful of coins and stuffed them into White Wind's mouth. The Pegasi grumbled softly then began munching contentedly. Yulie glanced over his shoulder and spotted Whisker sniffing at a few objects. "Whatcha looking at, Whisker?" He walked over and knelt down beside her. He picked up an elaborate jeweled necklace. "Wanna wear this?" Yulie clipped the necklace around Whisker's neck. The tigress tried to crane her head down to look at her reflection in the large square-cut emeralds mounted in settings. She shrugged her shoulders to settle the weight and purred. Yulie smiled and patted her on the head. He turned and walked back towards White Wind and Whisker followed at his side.
He heard the clatter of metal and glanced down when he felt his boot brush against something. He knelt down and picked up a scimitar. Flashbacks of his mortal struggle came to him and he recognized it as the weapon he'd used to destroy Deryrdikus' power gem. Strips of leather bound the grip and ivory comprised not only the vine-shaped hilt but the striking pommel ornament; a helmeted tiger's head. Gold decorated the helmet and brilliant rubies formed the eyes. The jaws of the tiger hung wide open, displaying fangs of silver.
Yulie liked this sword. He really liked it. It looked awesome! He glanced at his belt and noticed his old sword and the scabbard had fallen loose during the fight. He studied the sword some more and wondered if he could slip it into his belt. He heard a muffled growl and glanced down to see Whisker holding something in her mouth she'd retrieved from the hoard. It looked like a wooden scabbard covered with white leather and accented with brass and diamonds, and happened to be just the right shape to fit the scimitar. Yulie tentatively inserted the blade into the scabbard and sure enough it fit perfectly. A leather strap hung off of two clasps on the scabbard and Yulie unbuckled it and strung it through his belt loops then reattached it.
He closed his hand around the grip and drew it, admiring the brilliant polished blade. He twirled it about in his hand to test the balance and squeezed the grip tightly. A ball of fire shot out of the mouth of the tiger ornament, narrowly missing Rowen. "The heck was that?!" Rowen squawked angrily, recoiling in surprise.
"Woops! Sorry!" Yulie winced and sheathed the sword. He lifted the scabbard up for closer study and spotted gold embossed script decorating one side. "Dragon Master…what's this?"
"Hmm…the name of the sword; 'Tiger Tooth'. Such craftsmanship is rare even in Thorolk. The edge is made of adamant, which explains how it withstood Deryrdikus' attack. Breaking the power gem unleashed a spell designed by the magison to destroy whoever betrayed him. He could scarcely be considered guiltless, indeed he accepted gold from a dark dragon, but as they say 'one ill turn deserves another'. It looks like you've found a splendid complement to your armor."
"You got that right. Whatcha think, Whisker?" Yulie held the pommel close. Whisker flattened her ears and bared her teeth, mimicking the snarl of the ornament. Yulie laughed and sheathed the sword before walking over to White Wind.
"I will see to it that the remainder of the hoard is distributed among the survivors of the shattered kingdoms. I thank you all once again, Yulie, Ph'li and Ko'li. Fortune upon you all," Dragon Master nodded then launched into the air and soared off across the desert. Drega mounted Razzie, who sprang into the air effortlessly despite her load of treasure. Drega waved at Yulie and Yulie waved back energetically. He smiled at first but frowned, his thoughts going back to what Dragon Master said about the passage of time in Thorolk. He remembered his first ordeal and how his parents had commented about him being gone so long after his return home.
"Allright, 'dragonslayers'," Rowen rolled his eyes and spread the eagle wings. "Let's head on home. The Mystics are keepin' that portal open for us."
"Ryo…I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to make anyone mad," Yulie flinched when he saw Ryo turn his back to him. Ryo said nothing for a few moments then looked over his shoulder.
"It's allright Yulie. You don't have to apologize. You're not a little kid anymore." Ryo turned to face him, grinning broadly, his eyes sparkling with admiration. "You're a warrior."
The door to Yulie's room burst open. "That does it, boy! You are grounded, grounded until you're a legal adult! No more adventuring, no more derring-do, no more questing, no more heroics, no more taking off at a moments notice! I have had it! This is the last straw! I am putting my foot down, young man! You are in serious trouble, you-" Mr. Yamano paused in his angry rant and stopped lashing his arms angrily. Mrs. Yamano stood behind him and peeked around his shoulder, spotting what had her husband speechless.
What could only be described as a large mound of treasure sat in the middle of the floor in Yulie's room. Yulie himself sat at his desk with an open gemology book. He held a magnifying glass in one hand and a ruby the size of a golf ball in the other. Whisker-who wore a gem-studded necklace- lay on her back on the mound, rolling from side to side, rubbing her shoulders against coins and gems. She flipped to one side and raised both ears when a coin popped loose and rolled away. She clamped one paw over it then glanced to the side when another coin clattered out from under her. She swatted at it too and her tail curled and lashed with excitement.
Yulie calmly set the ruby and magnifying glass down and turned to face them. "Hi Mom. Pop. Umm…so…Pop? Didn't you say you had some vacation time coming up soon?" Yulie placed both hands on the back of his head and leaned back in the chair slightly.