"Ribbitvale is just a day trip away. We will give you a cart to take out there along with supplies and food. It should be big enough." Grime pointed at the large map he had had laid out. "Think you can handle so many people with you?"

"Won't be that hard. Anne is pretty good with horse. I've also learned from the best in how to fight."

Grime chuckled. "That's my girl but I will never stop worrying about you. I have.. a gift for you actually. To remember me by when you are out there."

Grime turned and grabbed a burlap sack and handed it Sasha. Sasha unwrapped it to see two swords with the handles in the design of dragons. Sasha felt like crying.

"Father, thank you. These are amazing."

Sasha hugged her father tight. He may be tough, stubborn but she wouldn't have him any other way. This man raised her as his own. He could of easily tossed her away but no. He took her in.

"Now, there is one more thing I need you to do. The main reason why you are going to Newtopia." Now Sasha was curious. "The king has been asking for special gems for a long time."

"You mean like the one I have?" Sasha fished her old faithful out. It was a pink gem no bigger then her palm. It lit up at her touch. It was her one sole friend. She could vent her frustrations out to it and it would respond to her. It was her light when she was caught outside the Tower and dragged back in.

"The very same. They are known as Calamity Gems. Old gems that are older then us dragons. The king has been asking for people to find this gems and deliver them to him. What he wants with them or even knows about them is beyond me. But, I want you to go to Newtopia under the guise of protecting those humans. If possible, find the other two gems. Then bring them back to us."

"Why do we want them?"

"They contain unfathomable power. The likes of which no human should have possession of. We need to rid the humans of this power. Only us dragons should have magic. No human should have that kind of power."

"So we want to make sure that the gems are out of the hands of humans. Simple enough. What are we going to do with them?"

"We rid the world of King Andrias. We make the world a better place for us dragons. No more having to hide. No more people attempting to hunt us. We could live in peace."

Sasha stared at Grime. Did she not realize how harsh the world actually was? Maybe but that's why she wanted to see for herself. "Fine. I will do that. I'll keep an eye on the king and find the other gems. Then we will destroy the king."

"That's my girl. I will see you soon."

Sasha hugged her father tight. After she parted from him, she slipped her swords around her belt. She thumbed the handle of the swords. She was excited to try this out on a Core Soldier.


The carriage rolled down the dirt path. Anne had taken the reins after the horse seemed spooked by Sasha's presence. Marcy was firing questions to Sasha as Anne listened. She was even curious about the some of the dragons abilities.

"Can you see in the dark?" Marcy was jotting her responses in her journal.

"See these eyes?" Sasha pointed to her yellow, cat-like eyes. "They allow us to."

""So cool. I love the yellow eyes." Sasha chuckled a little bit and looked away.

"How fast can you fly?"

"I don't actually know. I've never raced anyone before."

"Can you breathe fire? Do all dragons have fire abilities or does everyone have separate elements?"

"I'm a fire dragon. Of course I can breath fire. And no. Every dragon has different elements they specialize in. It depends on the dragon though. Most of the Tower dragons are fire based."

"So fascinating. I think I'm the first person to ever have talked to a dragon before."

"Most humans don't like us so it makes sense." Sasha stared ahead to the road. She got silent.

Anne knew about the history of dragons and humans. It wasn't pretty. Even what she could remember from her old home, it was a bloody conflict. Dragons from the East where nearly extinct. Sounds like the West had dragons that had to hide themselves.

"Well, I think I can speak for Anne and I that we like you." Marcy patted her shoulders.

"Yeah. We like you."

"I don't." Anne turned her head to glare at Sprig in the back. He huffed as he crossed his arms. "We are going to talk about your behavior later." Polly snickered.

"So Sasha, can you fight?" Polly leaned over the edge of the cart close to Sasha.

"Hell yeah I can. I learned from old Grime. He's the one with the scar running down his right eye. He taught me everything. Especially the old art of sword fighting. I did pressure Grime in teaching me how to."

"Think you can teach me?" Sasha grinned at Polly. Polly's eyes widen at the smile. It was her first time seeing Sasha's teeth. "Oh so cool You have fangs. I bet you could scare away people."

"I've never actually tried to scare people. Haven't interacted much with them."

"I bet we could use those teeth to scare away anyone who messes with us. Or even scare away people who try to hit on Anne." Polly whispered in Anne's ears. Anne felt her face heat up at that. She set a glare at Polly who was snickering. She prayed that Sasha didn't have super hearing.

"Quick question Sasha. Are your senses stronger then us humans?" Marcy pipped up.

"Oh yeah. Improved smell. Improved hearing." Anne cursed the gods. "Improved strength."

"That is so cool. I'm learning so much about dragons."

Anne focused her attention back to the road. The horse was a large black and white Clydesdale horse.

Sprig remained silent as he had his back against the boards and still had his arms crossed. He was mad.

The group remained silent till midday. They stopped to eat some of the provisions provided to them. Sasha chewed slowly as Marcy continued to write in her journal. Sprig would continue to steal glares at Sasha which was returned by the dragon. They continued to move again after the small break. Sasha told Anne on where to drive such she was the one who had the map. Dusk fell and with it, the group steered the cart to an open area. Everyone got off to stretch before staring at each other awkwardly. They all glanced at each other.

"So. Does anyone actually know how to set up camp?" Polly was the one who asked the question.

"The last tent we set up didn't go so well." Sprig kicked the rock.

"Yunan always made me sit by and not work. I was more liable to tear the camp down then set it up." Marcy said.

"I remember some things on how to set up a tent. But how do we start a fire?" Sasha smiled.

"That I can definitely do. Leave that to me. You girls help set up camp. You kids grab some wood for the fire. Im going to get us some food. I'll be back. You two cuties hang tight." Sasha walked away. As soon as she was gone, both Anne and Marcy both giggled at the names.

"Sasha seems nice. How did she find you?" Marcy asked as she handed Anne the poles to set the tent up.

"She found me and Sprig when we got separated from you. She saved us from a couple of Core Soldiers."

"That's so cool. I bet that cool to see a dragon fight."

"She mostly smacked them around with her claws and tail. She was pretty cool."

"Not as cool as you Anne. You beat a Core Soldier by yourself. Even your eyes turned blue." Anne paused.

"My eyes did want?"

"They turned blue." Sprig stared at her like she should know this. Anne did not know this piece of information. "Like bright blue."

"Sprig, maybe you were imagining it." Anne took his shoulders.

"But I wasn't."

"You were imagining it Sprig." She leaned closer to his face. "We will talk about this later Sprig." She whispered to him. "Now go find some wood like Sasha said."

The trees soon rustled as the group finished up setting the tent up. Anne stood up and grabbed her sword. She pulled the sword out of the sheathe and got ready. Sasha came out of the forest line in her dragon form, holding a deer in her mouth. She dropped it onto the ground.

"I found some food for us. I know how to skin this things." Sasha pointed to herself. Marcy gasped. "What's the matter Marcy?"

"You are amazing."

Sasha chuckled before reverting into her human form. She grabbed the deer and took one of her swords to began to cut it up. As Sasha worked, Sprig and Polly set the wood into a pile.

"So how do we start a fire?" Sprig looked at the pile.

"Move aside twerps. I've got this." Sasha stood the wood before inhaling before spewing fire onto the fire. It caught fire and caused both Sprig and Polly to jump back in surprise.

"That is cool Sasha. You breath fire?" Marcy had come up and stared at the fire. She oohed at it before her cape caught fire again. She panicked and started to run around.

"Wait Marcy. Get back here. Let me put it out." Anne chased after her.

"Marcy, calm down. Let us put that out." Sasha made a grab for Marcy.

The camp was quiet. Anne and Sprig sat by the campfire. Marcy and Polly were sound asleep in the tent. Sasha had curled outside in dragon form. She said that no predators would touch them if she was around. Anne poked at the fire with a stick.

"So my eyes turned blue?" Anne whispered.

"Yeah. It was crazy. It was only for a moment but they glowed."

Anne thought to her little gem in her pocket. She reached in there and ran her thumb against it. She wondered if it caused her eyes. She shook her head. No. There was no way this little gem did that. Did it? She knew nothing about the gem or what it was compatible of.

"Sprig, why are you so antagonizing towards Sasha?"

"I don't trust her. She rubs me the wrong way."

"You have been rubbing her the wrong way. Come on dude. Stop it. I trust her."

"Anne, I just don't want you to get hurt." Sprig leaned into her body. "I just don't want to lose my sister."

"You won't lose me. You'll never lose me. Spranne against the world. Remember?" Anne held her hand for Sprig to slap it.

"Spranne against the world." He returned the slap.

"You are stuck with me dude. I love you and Polly. I'll never go away to far."

Sprig soon fell asleep in Anne's side. Anne didn't have the heart to move him away. Sasha stretched her body and yawned, jaws snapping together.

"You still here? Go to the tent. It's probably more comfortable then sitting out here."

"I didn't want to leave you alone out here." Sasha moved her body over to Anne. She flapped down near her.

"Then I guess you can curl up against me. I'll keep you warm." Anne chuckled. She leaned against Sasha's belly, feeling the warm from the dragon. She leaned her head against Sasha's cheek. "Night Anne."


Ribbitvale was filled with homes several stories high and seemed to be filled with riches. Sasha had called it the richest village nearby and it wasn't a lie. Everyone had items that showed their wealth off, as if it was a competition on who was the richest. Sasha flipped her hood up to cover her face. Sprig looked at her suspiciously again. She hoped he wouldn't say anything stupid.

"You said you haven't been here before right Sasha?"

"Yeah. I've never been here before. Never really been far from the Tower."

"Then why the hood?"

"What's the most identifying feature on me?"

"Your teeth." Sasha growled.

"My eyes you twerp. My eyes. I have yellow eyes. All dragons have them. It's the one thing that alerts people to us."

"Sprig. Lay off of Sasha." Anne warned him. She stared him down. He pulled his hat down to hide his face.

"Maybe we should go see the inn and see if anyone matching our family's description stayed there." Marcy suggested.

She was already walking towards the inn. Sasha stayed by the cart. She said she didn't want anyone to see her. Anne took Sprig and Polly's hands and crossed the road to the inn. It was a large building that looked like it was painted in gold. They walked inside the inn. It was filled to the brim with various rich people.

"This must be rich central. Look at all this people." Anne said.

"I bet we stick out like a thumb. We aren't exactly dressed the best." Both girls looked their clothing. While they had changed, it was simple. Nothing compared to the fancy outfits that everyone else was wearing. "I don't think mom would like to be around all these snobs, as she puts them."

"Your mom must deal with them on a daily basis considering she is general."

"Yeah. All the time."

"Let's check the front desk though and see if they had checked in at all."

They walked up to a front counter. There was an older man at the counter. When he looked up, he eyed the group. His eye traveled up and down. Anne didn't like that he was basing them off of their appearance.

"What can I do for you two…simpletons?"

"We were wondering if two people checked into the inn or are staying here. They are an older gentleman and a woman with an armor set. Names should be Yunan Wu and Hopediah Planter."

"Let me check my book." He flipped through the book. "Nope. No one with that name is here. We wouldn't be host to people who…don't meet our standards."

"Did they ever pass through here?"

"We wouldn't have remembered anyone like that."

"Look, we are searching for our family. Have you seen them?" Anne begged.

"Young lady, I will ask you to leave."

"Please."

"Leave now."

Anne huffed before grabbing Marcy's hand and walked out. She was mad. She plopped against the cart and sighed.

"What's the matter?" Sasha asked.

"We were kicked out of the hotel. They called us simpletons. If they treated us that badly, then I bet Hop Pop didn't stay here."

"Yeah. I bet mom would of threaten to beat them up if that was the case. They have to be nearby. I don't think mom would of traveled to Newtopia without me." Marcy sighed. "I think."

"No Marmar. She wouldn't have. She would of searched all over for you." Anne grabbed her shoulders.

"You called me Marmar."

"Yeah I did."

"Why?"

"Because we are friends. Friends give each other nicknames. Right?"

"I love it."

"Let's explore the town. Maybe we could pick up a lead. I could attempt to sniff out your mom or Hop Pop."

"How?" Marcy asked Sasha.

"Because you humans have similar scents when you are related. I can sniff them out pretty easy."

"It's probably best to try Hop Pop's scent instead of my mom's." Marcy rubbed her arm.

"How come Marmar?" Sasha looked at Marcy with an eyebrow raised.

"Yunan isn't my birth mother. I'm adopted. Like you Anne." Anne had thought that they were related with how much they acted alike.

"Looks like we all have something in common." Sasha slung her arms across Anne and Marcy's shoulders. "I'm adopted too. Now, let's get you reunited with your family."

Sasha began to sniff the air. She circled around a few times trying to pick up a scent. Soon, she began to walk towards the edge of the village. Everyone followed Sasha.

"Hey Sash, think you found something?"

"I think so. I smell something similar to the twerps. They are close."

They continued till they reached the end of the village. Anne hoped Hop Pop was okay. She prayed to the gods to keep him safe. Sasha kept walking further into the forest, stopping every now and then to sniff the air. They soon reached a small clearing away from the village. Anne yelled at the appearance of the big shire horse.

"Bessie!" Anne ran to the horse. She threw her arms around the horse in excitement. It neighed in response.

"Bessie. It's you." Sprig and Polly hugged the horse's legs. "You are okay."

"Who goes there?" Anne sobbed in relief.

There standing with his spear in hand, was her grandfather. When he saw Anne, he dropping his spear. Anne ran to hug him. She cried into his shoulder as he rubbed her back. Sprig and Polly hugged their grandfather tight.

"Hop Pop, I'm so glad you are okay. I was so worried about you." Anne asked in between sobs.

"Anne my girl, I was so worried about you. Where have you been? What happen to you, Sprig and Polly? Where's Marcy."

"It's kind of a long story. Where's Yunan?"

At that moment, Yunan jumped down from the trees, twirling in the air before landing. She held her sword out, pointing it at them.

"Who goes dares…. Marcy! Marcy, there you are. I've been so worried about you. Your mother would of killed me if anything happen to you. Heck, I probably would of helped her."

Yunan hugged Marcy and spun her around a few times. Marcy cried in her mother's arms.

"Mom. You are okay. You are safe."

"Nothing can take your old mom out. I'm just glad you are safe. Where have you been?"

"We will explain here soon."

Hop Pop looked over and noticed Sasha hanging away from the others. She had hood concealing her face.

"Who are they?"

"She saved me and Sprig. Her name is Sasha Waybright." Sasha looked up, her eyes glowing yellow. She weakly waved to them.

"Hey."

"It's a dragon. How did you four meet a dragon and live to see another day?" Hop Pop stared at Sasha.

"She saved us from Core Soldiers and gave us a place to stay while we were rested. She's our friend."

Sasha looked up at Anne with a slight coloring on her cheeks. Sasha wandered over to the group and was pulled into a hug by Hop Pop.

"Thank you for protecting my grandkids. I appreciate it. I don't know what I would of done if anything happen to them. Now, let's eat. I bet you kids are starving."

Everyone gathered around the fire and told their stories as they ate.

"So Polly and I got trapped in a cave for about a day. Once the coast was clear, we left the cave and found the river. We followed that for a couple of days till this big huge dragon found us. He took us back to the Tower where Anne and Sprig were." Marcy animated the story with her hands. "Take it away Anne Banana."

Anne couldn't help but giggle at the nickname as Marcy pointed at her.

"Well, Sprig and I got separated from Marcy and Polly. We got chased by one that wouldn't let up. Finally, I managed to kill him with my sword. However, more soon appeared but then Sasha came in and batted them around like flies. It was amazing. I twisted my ankle so Sasha took us to the Tower to heal up."

"I appreciate you taking in my Anne and Sprig when they needed a place to stay, Miss Sasha. Did your clan have a problem with humans staying there?"

"My father is the clan leader. He actually suggested we let them stay at our home till they healed enough to move and reunite with you. He even asked me to watch over them till we could get them to Newtopia."

"If I ever see your father, I would like to thank him myself. He has shown the Planter family kindness."

"And he has shown dragons aren't mindless creatures." Yunan added in.

"At least we are together again Hop Pop."

"Right. We should probably think of moving here soon. We have already been delayed enough."

"Let's give the kids the rest of the day. Then we will leave early tomorrow. We need to rekindle our supplies as well Yunan."

"Agreed. We should go hunting as well. We can leave the kids here with the dragon to protect them."

"I couldn't agree more Yunan. Let's get going."


Anne watched the fire burn. It was night time and she had decided to keep Sasha company as she volunteered for the night watch. Marcy and Anne were tucked into Sasha's side as they talked to the dragon.

"Your grandfather seems nice Anne." Sasha turned her head to Anne.

"Yeah. He is nice." Marcy said. "He is really protective of you and your siblings."

"Yeah. He has always been that way. I do appreciate him for taking me in."

"That's right. You are adopted." Sasha wrapped her arms around both of their shoulders. "Do you remember much of your home before becoming a Planter? What even happen to your family?"

"If you want to tell us that story. I totally understand if you don't want to that is." Marcy reassured her.

"I'll tell you. What I can remember that is. We are friends."

Anne felt Sasha slip her hand into her own and squeezed it. Anne looked at both girls and smiled. She felt calm around them.

"So I was about six."