Anne felt warm, almost too warm. She slowly opened her eyes to see Sasha's face. Anne had rolled into Sasha's chest during the night. The dragon was still asleep. Anne thought she looked peaceful. Anne turned her head to see Sprig still asleep in the bed. Anne slowly attempted to get up. She felt a weight on her waist and saw Sasha had slung her arm around Anne.

"Where are you going?" Sasha asked groggily. She lifted her head up. Sasha's hair was loose and was a complete mess. Anne chuckled at her. "Whatcha you laughing at?"

"Sorry. I was laughing at you. Your hair is a mess." Sasha grumbled a bit as she got up and was running her fingers through her hair to untangle the knots. Anne noticed the bandages around her arm. "You were injured. Was it because you were protecting us?"

Sasha looked down at her arm. "Nah. This was before you. I got cornered by them. Their arm blades managed to nick my arm and leg up. Only the Core Soldiers can harm or kill a dragon."

Just then, a loud roar shook the castle walls. Anne jumped nearly out of her skin. Sprig jumped out of the bed in a panic and run over to Anne's side.

"Anne, we are under attack."

"It's okay Sprig. We are safe." I think.

Anne hugged him tight to soothe his fears.

"Grime must have an important announcement to make if he is doing the morning call."

"That was Grime? He has a strong set of lungs." Sprig was shaking. Anne ruffled his dirty blonde hair to calm him.

"Old Grimesy is our leader. Of course he needs to powerful to protect us." Sasha got up to stretch. "Now let's get moving. Don't want to be late."

Sprig moved to help Anne out of bed but Sasha beat him to it. She easily slide her hands under Anne's legs and her lower back and picked up her up. Anne squeaked and wrapped her arms around Sasha's neck. Sasha chuckled as she started to walk. Anne looked behind her to see Sprig following behind. His head was down.

Once they entered the mess hall, Anne was amazed. There was were so many dragons in one place. Sasha's clan was huge. Sasha used her foot to pull a chair out and set Anne down. Sprig was forced to get his own chair. Sasha sat down in between Anne and Sprig.

Soon, all the dragons started to stomp their foots in unison. Grime began walking through the center of room to reach a set of stairs that lead up a throne with a large hammer sticking from the table. Grime dramatically turned around and held his beefy arms up high.

"Fellow dragons! I have several announcements to make." Grime smiled a big toothy grin. His voiced boomed over the crowd. Anne definitely knew that Sasha got her smirk from him. "First thing. We have humans among us. So, we will play gracious hosts to these lost humans. They will stay here for the time being till they are able to safely travel again. So be kind to them. We don't want to ruin our already tarnished reputation with them. Secondly, my Sasha will fight in the coliseum in two days time. I will pick her opponent. If she wins, then she will finally join us in missions outside of our home and further. If she loses then she will be forced to remain in the Tower for five years then she may try again to prove her worth."

Anne gulped at the last part. Sasha had never mentioned that last night to her. She looked over at Sasha and could tell that the dragon's face had paled. Anne gently touched Sasha's hand, which was violently shaking. After all the cheering, Grime sat down on the throne.

"He never told me that. He never told me that. I can't lose. I have to win no matter what."

Sasha quickly got up from her seat. She made her way to the throne. Sasha and Grime talked in hush tones with each other but Anne couldn't hear anything. She felt bad for Sasha and could see the dragon was getting upset. A red head with twin ponytails sat down in front of Anne.

"So you are the human that Sasha saved. You are pretty cute." She smiled. Was all dragons teeth normally that sharp in human form? "What's your name cutie?"

"Anne. This is my brother Sprig." She looked over to see Sprig had taken Sasha's seat. He had his slingshot out.

"So Anne, where you come from? I don't recognize you from Ribbitvale and I go there all the time."

"We aren't from Ribbitvale. We are from Wartwood."

"Never heard of that town. What brings all the way out here?"

"We were on our way to Newtopia when we were stalled. We were attacked and I twisted my ankle."

"I can always take you back to your village myself. It would be safer."

"Hard pass on that Maggie." Sprig interpreted. "We need to find our family so we will be staying here till my sister is better then we are heading to Ribbitvale. Right Anne?"

Anne had never seen Sprig so determined before. "Yeah. We will wait and we are going to wait for Sasha to take us." Sprig groaned in response to Sasha's name.

"I wouldn't bet on that Anne. I heard that Sasha would have to fight Grime himself. He has never lost a battle before. My money is on Sasha losing."

"Jokes on you Maggie. I will win," Sasha had slapped Maggie on the back.

"I doubt that Waybright. Especially if you go up against Grime or Beatrix. You'll lose. I will be the one who takes the human home."

"I'll beat their ass any day. Hell, I've beat you a few times. I promised Anne I would get reunited with her family. So out of my way Maggie or I will make you regret everything." Sasha snarled out. She looked pissed.

"Bring it Waybright."

Maggie had gotten up from her spot to face Sasha. Maggie pressed her nose close to Sasha's. Sasha growled in response. They both circled each other, like wolves, growling and snarling. Anne thought that they would duke it out right there. Sasha's hands clutched into a fist. She was getting ready to hit Maggie till someone interpreted them from ripping each other apart.

"Sasha, stop. Save your strength. You will need it for your eventually fight." A large woman with wild, black hair pushed the two apart. Sasha scoffed.

"She started it."

"And I would of ended it too." Maggie shot back. Sasha would of leaped over at Maggie if the woman had grabbed Sasha by her cape and held her back. Anne was scared of the strength of this woman.

"Maggie! You will be Bufo for the rest of the day. He will see to it that you are whipped into shape." Sasha snickered and snuck her tongue out at the seething Maggie. The woman turned to Sasha and stared her down. "And you, young lady, nearly started another fight with Maggie. This would be what? Your fifth this week?"

"She started it Aunt Beatrix."

"And I don't care who started it. Grime and I taught you better. Know when to pick your fights and analyze your opponent's movements. You will eventually get your ass beat. If I wasn't rooting for you to win in the coliseum so I could officially take you out on missions, I would like to see you get kicked down just to wipe that smug look off your face." Sasha looked like a kicked puppy. "Now, you have two humans to care for. I think they may be hungry. Get them some food."

The woman pointed and Sasha started walking, head hung down. She watched the dragon go before taking a seat across from Anne. Anne observed the woman. She had a long scar running down her left eye with the iris a milky white, similar to Grime. She even had the same toothy grin.

"Welcome humans to our humble little tower. I am Beatrix, Grime's sister and his second hand. Sorry about the hostility but that's our Sasha for you. Especially when it concerns Maggie. Those two have been at it since they were little hatchlings. Always fighting and bickering especially when it came to boys or girls. But enough about my niece, tell me more about you. I am very curious how a little human is in our territory."

"We were attacked by a Core Soldier," Sprig answered before Anne. "And my sister killed it. But we got separated from our family. We just need to know where the nearest town is and get there soon. They may be waiting for us."

"Not on that girlie's ankle, you ain't. It's better you stay. You don't look like you fight much boy and you ain't even old enough to learn how to even use a sword. You and your sis are safer to stay with us and have one of us escort you out when the ankle is better. Speaking of which, has Sasha given you some healing cream?"

"What's that?" Anne asked. Beatrix blinked her one good eye before letting out blusterous laugh.

"That's my Sash. An idiot. Have her take you to see Braddock. She will give it to you. It will help your ankle healing faster. I would take you myself but Sasha needs to learn some responsibility."

As soon as Beatrix left, Sasha had come back with plates of food. She shot another glared at Maggie before sitting. Sprig poked at his plate of eggs and toast.

"I hope this isn't dragon eggs." He had whispered.

"They aren't. We aren't cannibals. Those are chicken eggs. We have a little farm where we keep livestock." Sasha grumbled out. She too was poking at her food.

"So you forgot to give Anne some healing cream. We need to see Braddock." Sasha's lips turned up into a snarl. "Hey it ain't my fault you forgot."

Sprig smiled. Sasha got up and stomped away from the table.

"Sprig! That is enough. What would mother say if she heard you say that? Sasha has graciously opened her home to us. The least we can is be nice."

Anne hoped that Sprig caught on to her words. She had never seen him act like this before. This was new behavior. He just went back to eating slowly. Anne hoped that Sasha would come back.

Anne was slowly making her way through the castle. She had found a stick large enough for her to use as a crane. She had sent Sprig to the room. She was hoping to find Sasha by herself. She decided to sit down and give her ankle a rest. She had stopped outside a huge door. Anne got curious and opened the door. It was a large room with a bed in the center. Near the bed was a painting of a beautiful blonde woman. Anne limped to the painting and stared at it. She had no clue how long she stared at the painting. She was memorialized by it.

"Grime wouldn't like you in here." Anne shrieked and turned her head. Sasha was leaning against the doorway, arms crossed. "But he is too busy to notice. I've been looking all over for you. I have some healing cream for you. Sorry about forgetting."

Sasha walked over to Anne and held a tube of red cream in her hand. She tapped the table for Anne to sit down. Anne continued to look at the painting. She decided to ask the question that was on her mind as she sat down on the chair.

"Who is that?" Sasha turned to look at the painting.

"Grime's mate. I guess he was so madly in love with her."

"What happen to her?"

"Killed by a Core Soldier. She died long before I came along. I never got to meet her. Grime tells me stories though. She was his first and only love. He says that I look a lot like her."

"But you weren't related to Grime right? He found you?"

"Yeah. He adopted me. According to my aunt, he had heard word of a clan of dragons wiped out by a demon looking for something. When he arrived, they already perished except for one small egg hidden away."

Sasha had bent down and set Anne's foot onto her thigh. She slowly rubbed the cream onto Anne's swollen ankle. Sasha remained silent as she continued.

"You were that egg?"

"Yeah. He took me in and raised me as his own. There. That should work. Your ankle should be feeling better. Then we can leave after I win in the coliseum. I am going to wipe the smug look off Grime's face when I win."

"Be careful out there." Sasha looked up at her with wide eyes. She blinked a few times.

"I will. If I have you cheering me on then I will kick ass. Now, let's get you out of here before Grime finds out we were in his room. He considers this his sanctuary."

Sasha allowed Anne to use her as a crutch as they walked away from the room. Sasha took a hard right and took Anne to large farm area. Sheep, cows, and chickens roamed around. Sasha helped set Anne down onto the grass and Sasha sat down next to her. All the animals flocked to the girl.

"They like you."

"I guess I always have a thing with animals. We use to have this horse that listened to no one but me."

"I can tell. You have this calming aura about you." Sasha flopped down onto her back. Anne noticed some pink flowers next to her and began to pluck them. She started making a flower crown. Sasha watched her as she worked.

"Whatcha yah making?"

"A flower crown. Polly use to love to make this despite her desire to act tough. You would like her. She fought a few of the older boys because they were bad mouthing our family. Mom was so mad at her though but she was proud."

"She sounds like she would be my favorite."

"Done"

Anne held her work out. Sasha whistled at it.

"It looks nice."

"A gift for you." Anne handed it Sasha. The dragon stared at it in disbelief. "Have you never been given a gift?"

"Never from someone like you."

"Then it's a gift from a friend."

Sasha took the crown and set it on her head. She laughed.

"I love it. I want to make one for you. Show me."

Anne helped Sasha make her a flower crown made out of blue flowers. Sasha had made a comment about how blue suits her. They laid side by side as Sasha pointed out clouds in interesting formations. Anne couldn't remember when she had done something like this with anyone.

"This is nice. You are nice. I've…never had anyone treat me like this." Sasha said. "I've never really had a friend before. Sure, I'm popular among some of the other dragons my age but I won't say I am their best friend. Really think we could be friends?"

"I think so. But you have to win so you can leave the Tower. I need a guide around these parts. I have never been past my village before a week ago. Now I'm kind of alone."

"That is a promise."

Anne clasped Sasha's hand in her own. For the first time since Anne had met Sasha, the dragon softly smiled at her. Anne liked it and she felt a kinship with Sasha.


Sasha paced back and forth in the center of the coliseum. Anne watched from a balcony seat, high above the coliseum arena. Braddock and Percy had sat behind Anne and Sprig. Maggie had decided to come up and sit next to Anne. The dragon heads sat in a next them. Grime sat in the bigger throne and Beatrix to his left. Another bulky man, with his black hair slicked back with a knot on the top of his head, sat on Grime's right. Behind them on a platform was an older man with a long, white beard. Sprig sat next to Anne, clearly uncomfortable with all of this. His feet swung as they waited. Grime got up and held his arms up high. All the dragons down below hollered and roared in response. Once they settled down, Grime spoke.

"My clan! We are to see our own Sasha prepare to fight for her right to join us in our expeditions. That day has come and we will see the results of her training. Sasha, your opponent will be Bog."

Sasha gasped as she turned around. A bald man with bulging arms came out from the other side and rolled his arms, ready for a fight. Anne pushed forward in her seat. Braddock gasped.

"Oh this isn't good. Bog is strong. He is up there with the heads in brute strength. What was Grime thinking? He could kill Sasha?" Anne panicked.

"Haha. Sasha deserves this beat down. Hey Anne, you single?" Maggie winked. Anne backed away into her seat.

"The rules are simple. Dragon and human forms are allowed. Biting, clawing, tails, and your magic are also allowed. Three rounds with a five minutes in between. Whoever can pin their opponent in that time frame will be deemed a winner. Best two out of three will win."

A gong rang out, signaling the beginning of the first round. Sasha circled around Bog. Sasha had opted for just her red armor without her cape and boots. Anne hung onto the balcony wall as she watched the two dragons. For a minute, they just circled. Then suddenly, a wall of flames burst as they transformed. Sasha rushed out at Bog. They reared up on their hind legs as they clawed at each other. Anne could hear the scraping of claws against scales. Their jaws snapped at each other as they tried to get the other's throat.

Anne was on the edge of the seat as she watched. Sasha backed up and circled Bog again. Bog was much larger then Sasha. Sasha clearly was outmatched from the swamp colored dragon. They growled at each other. Bog stretched his neck out and tried to snap at Sasha's exposed neck. Sasha realized too late when Bog chomped on her neck. She stumbled to the ground as Bog slammed his hand on Sasha's cheek. He held her down as the timer ticked by. Sasha struggled to get up till a gong signaled the end of the first round. Bog backed away in triumph in human form as he grinned.

"Bog wins round one."

Sasha leaned against the wall as she breathed heavily after reverting back to human. Anne noticed the blood tickling down Sasha's neck from Bog's bite. Anne sucked air before cupping her hands around her mouth.

"Come on Sasha. You got this. You will win. I believe in you. You made me a promise."

Sasha glanced at Anne. The dragon watched the human for a bit before smiling. Sasha nodded her head and closed her eyes. The second gong went off signaling round two. Bog circled around Sasha as she continued to stand in the middle. Bog had transformed in his dragon form but Sasha remained human.

"Come on Sasha. What's the standing around for? You scared?"

"Nope. I got my cheer squad."

Bog roared before charging at Sasha. In the last second, Sasha jumped into Bog's snout and run up and kicked his right eye before launching herself onto his back. She grabbed his horns and hung on as Bog started to violently shake his head. He charged into the wall, raining debris down on their heads. Bog continued to run into the walls. Sasha hung tight till she jumped up in the air and transformed. She used her body and slammed him into the ground. She used her body to hold him down as the gong rang out again.

"Sasha wins round two. One more round and we figure out the winner."

Anne heard Grime belly laugh. Braddock was chattering on her fingernails before grabbing Percy's hand. Anne took Sprig's hand and clenched it. Sasha stopped and gave Anne two big thumbs up at her. She seemed she had confidence. The last round started with the ring at the gong.

Sasha and Bog circled around each other. He snarled at her, blood dripping from his forehead. He charged at Sasha in his human form. He rammed into her body, knocking her into the wall. Bog transformed into his dragon form and slammed his hands into the wall and began to tear bricks out. One fell and hit Sasha in the head as the rest fell around her. Sasha raised her arms to cover her head. Bog whipped his tail and smacked Sasha in the side and sent her flying. Sasha's body rolled a few times before stilling. Anne jumped from her seat and leaned over. Sasha wasn't moving and the minutes were ticking down. If she didn't move, she would lose her chance.

"Sasha! Get up. Sasha!"

Sasha's shoulders twitched. Bog walked over to her and placed his hand over her human body. He pressed down on her. No one moved or made a sound. Bog smiled. He would have declared victory till he roared in pain as Sasha breathed fire into his face in her human form. She wiggled out of his hand and circled around him. She jumped and transformed into her dragon form and used her tail to smacked him in the face, slicing his jaw. Blood dripped from his wound as he roared. He raised his paw and swatted at Sasha to the wall. He grabbed her face and slammed the back of her head into the wall repeatedly. Several bricks fell which allowed Sasha rod grabbed one and smash it into Bog's right eyes. He roared in pain. Sasha used that moment to slash his face.

It was a fury of talons and fangs as they both fight to pin each other down. Bog finally started to breath fire around the arena. Sasha jumped down and was engulfed in a circle of flames. She looked scared as she scanned her surroundings. Her eyes widen when Bog came out of a wall of flames and pushed her into the wall of fire. Anne gasped as she couldn't see the dragon. Bog chuckled.

"Looks like I win. Give it up. You will never defeat anyone with your strength. You are weak."

Grime leaned forward in his seat, setting his chin on his knuckles. Anne prayed that Sasha was alright. The flames disappeared as Sasha reappeared from them. She raised out of the flames like a phoenix and roared. Sasha threw her head back and spewed flames from her mouth directly into Bog's direction. The older dragon roared in pain as the flames licked at his scales. In his daze and the smoke, Sasha tackled him and forced him onto his back. She slammed his head with one hand and wrapped the other around his throat. He raised his paw and grabbed her snout to try and push her away. The gong rang out. The fight was over. Sasha rolled off his body and reverted back to human. Everyone leaned over the ledges to observe. Grime got up from his seat. He glared down at the two dragons heaving.

"The final round goes to Sasha. Therefore, Sasha wins." He shouted. It came with a celebrated roar from the clan. Grime threw his head back and laughed. "Congrats Sasha. You have proven your strength. Now we celebrate tonight as one clan!"

Anne sighed in relief. Sasha looked up at her and made a weak thumbs up before her hand dropped to the ground. Braddock and Percy began to sob loudly. Someone came out and helped Sasha up. They began to take the two dragons away for medical treatment.

"Damn. Was not expecting her to win. That was impressive." Maggie whispered.

"Yeah. That was pretty cool." Sprig hopped out of the chair. He looked up at his sister. "We should go see how she is doing."

"Yeah. I would like that."


"Dragons! Humans! We are gathered here today to celebrate our own." Grime stood by the throne in the mess hall. Everyone raised their mugs up high. Sasha had the honor of a seat next to the dragon heads along with Anne and Sprig. "Today, Sasha has proven her strength as a dragon and part of the Tower dragons. This celebration is for her. Drink up for soon she will journey with these humans to reunite them with their own clan."

Grime chugged his mug down. Every dragon followed suit and did the same. Anne even did the same. Sasha was beaming with pride despite having her head wrapped in white bandages. Even Bog was joining in the celebration. Sasha turned her head to make eye contact with Anne. Her pupils were expanding with excitement. Anne thought she looked like an excitable cat.

Every dragon talked among themselves as the room buzzed with excitement. Sprig poked at his food with his fingers. Anne began to realize that none of the dragons used utensils to eat. They dug into their food with their fingers. Anne attempted to eat the giant piece of meat in front of her.

"Forgive me Miss Planter. I had forgot humans eat with utensils." Grime pulled a dagger out of his belt and angled it to cut into Anne and Sprig's meat. She let a small thank you. "That should be manageable. So Anne, how is your ankle feeling?"

"Better. Your cream is working wonders."

"Good. The sooner you are better, the sooner Sasha can stop pestering me about leaving with you."

"Dad." Sasha covered her face with her hands in embarrassment.

"You were on your way to Newtopia correct?"

"Yes. That was our destination."

"Good. Sasha will accompany you till you reach Newtopia." Sasha looked up as if this was news to her. "It would do her some good to be around humans for a bit. It would allow her to get accustomed to your life. That way she isn't a bumbling dragons in a world that scorns her."

Anne had forgotten about humans hate for dragons. She never understood why. Her time with the dragons had told her a different story. That they were misunderstood.

"Captain Grime!" Someone entered into a mess hall. They looked disheveled.

"What's the matter soldier?"

"We find more humans near the castle. They had a carriage with them."

"Do they look like warriors?"

"No. They are just two girls. One is small and the other is from the East by her looks. She has the symbol of Newtopia on her."

Grime turned to face Anne. "Anne, do these descriptions mean anything to you?"

Anne couldn't believe it. Was it possible? It had to be.

"Sir, I think they may be my sister and someone who was traveling with my party."

"Bring them in. If they are part of Anne's party then we will house them."

"Sir!"

"I hope they are Anne." Sasha whispered to Anne. She set her hand on top of Anne's. She squeezed it.

When they brought the two humans in, everyone eyed them with caution but Anne sighed in relief. Sprig came running out and hugged his little sister.

"Polly. You're okay."

"Sprig! Anne! You are okay. I was so worried." Anne limped over to Polly and pulled her into a hug. "Anne, where's Hop Pop?" Anne bit her lip. "He's not with you?"

"No. We haven't found him yet. But we think that they may be in Ribbitvale." Polly pressed her head into Anne's body.

"Anne!" Anne looked up to see Marcy. Anne stumbled up to hug Marcy. "Oh Anne. You are safe. I was so worried about you."

"What happen to you two?"

"When we got separated, Polly and I hid out in a nearby cave once we lost the soldiers. I was glad I grabbed my crossbow before hand. Managed to get a few headshots. I soon realized we were lost and needed to get back to the road. Polly and I wondered around till we found a river. We started to follow the river when this guy found us."

"Hey Anne, who is this?" Sasha had came up behind Anne. She walked around Marcy a few times.

"This is Marcy. She was in my party and my…friend." Marcy looked at her with a big smile. "And the smaller blonde is my sister. The one I was telling you about."

Sasha's eyes narrowed before her entire personality shifted. "Well, any friend of Anne's is a friend of mine. Welcome Marcy to the Tower clan. You are welcome to stay with us. I was planning on joining Anne to Ribbitvale to look for her missing family."

Marcy grabbed Anne's hands. "I'm so glad to have found you again. I promise we will look for your grandfather together."

"And we will find your mother."

"And I promise to help you out." Sasha clapped her hands on their shoulders and pulled them close to her.

"Polly, guess what? We were taken in by a group of dragons."

Marcy let out a slow gasped. "No way. Oh my stars. This is…the best day ever."