Prologue: A Powerful Villain Emerges…

Cyrus the Slinky Serpent wandered through the caverns beneath Dragonland's environment.

How did he get here? Well, he was wandering through the Forest of Darkness early that morning, and the sun hadn't even risen yet. Therefore, the place was even darker than before, so it was hard to see anything. He stumbled through the brushes, looking for something, anything, to eat. And looking worse for wear; his red bowtie was tattered, and his olive-green body was covered in mud splotches.

It was nearly three weeks since the incident with that annoying human brat Emmy's detective kit, three weeks since he failed to obtain the dragon-gull eggs, and he has been scrounging for scraps ever since. Oh, how he hated those two children and their fire-breathing dragon friends. He wanted nothing better than to take revenge on them for constantly foiling his 'egg-hunts.' Too bad Dragonland's code of rules prevented him from so much as even hitting those pests (The first rule of the realm was that you cannot hit anyone).

Wretched children, wretched dragons, Cyrus thought to himself, always getting in my way. If it wasn't for Dragonland's way of life, I'd gladly teach those brats a lesson. If only someone changed the rules and gave me a chance...

He was fuming so hard that he didn't notice the large knuckerhole in the ground ahead...until he tripped into it and tumbled down to the cave below.

THUD!

He hit the floor hard and lay disoriented for a few minutes. He slowly got back up to his feet, and let his eyes adjust to the darkness of the cavern. There was clearly a pathway ahead of him, so it at least gave him a way to go. So, he slithered onwards, hoping to find his way out...and maybe pluck a few swallow eggs from their underground nests.

And thus, we come to right now.

After a while of spelunking, he was still no closer to getting out of there. The caverns were twisty and windy, Cyrus could tell that much. And so far, there hasn't been any sign of an exit.

Eventually, however, there was a crack of light up ahead. Cyrus crept up to it, hoping it was the way out...and at that moment, he found himself a massive underground chamber.

It certainly wasn't the Dragonland Treasure Vault (otherwise he would've first found the magic door guarding it), but it sure looked like it was meant to hold something. In fact, it looked like a giant burial dungeon. Torches lit every wall, the floor was a stone terrace, and at the other end of the room, there was a giant sculpture of a viper's head emblazoned on the wall (Ooh! That looks like me! Cyrus vainly thought). And beneath that, a large crystal coffin.

"Ooh, fascinating," Cyrus said to himself. It was a human-sized casket, carved entirely of emerald. There was also a strange glow pulsating within it, but the slinky serpent didn't notice this at first. He approached the coffin, hoping there were valuable items inside. Then he picked the lock with his tail and opened it wide...

Then there was an explosion.

It rocked the chamber with such force that it blew Cyrus back several feet. When he came to his senses, he could see a bright magic aura swirling around the opened coffin, which shone with a green light. He couldn't tell at first, but when he squinted his eyes, Cyrus could make out the silhouette of an elderly woman within the light.

Stretching her body as if waking from a long sleep, she spoke in a bold, commanding voice. "At long last, I am free! Free from that cursed casket!" That's when she opened her red eyes and locked their gaze upon Cyrus.

"You there," she spoke again, pointing at the slinky serpent, "are you the one?"

Cyrus quivered, "Am I... what?"

"Are you the one who opened the coffin?" she clarified.

"Y-yes, I am..."

"Then approach," she ordered, stepping into the single ray of light that shined into the chamber.

If Cyrus had known what a vampire was, he would've thought this woman was one of them. Garbed in a royal purple gown and a slightly torn dark pink cloak, she had deathly pale skin and pointed ears. She was tall, gaunt and hunched over a magical cane like an elderly human would do. She also had a necklace very similar to a dragon badge but had the same viper symbol as the one above her coffin. And with long black hair tied in a ponytail that floated and rippled behind her head like billowing smoke, she gave off the 'villain' vibe quite well.

Reluctantly, the serpent approached the woman shakily until he was close enough to kiss her hand if she wanted him to.

"Kneel," she commanded. Cyrus got on one knee and lowered his head.

"I can sense your...rather conniving personality simply by looking in your eyes" the woman stated, "I have use for creatures like you."

"But I'm just a slinky serpent down on his luck! Wouldn't you rather- "

"SILENCE!" she thundered, "Do NOT speak back when you address Maligna!"

Maligna? Cyrus heard the name before. It was from the legend of an evil sorceress who attempted to take over Dragonland but was defeated and sealed away over a hundred years ago. This was her? For real, her? Had he just set loose a character he thought was a myth? Cyrus decided to play along. Maybe this is the chance I've been looking for, he thought.

He lowered his head obediently, "Apologies, madam-"

"Mistress, if you please."

"O-oh, why yes, mistress," Cyrus corrected himself.

"Judging by the recognition in your eyes at the mention of my name, it's good to know I haven't been forgotten," said she, "tell me, slinky serpent. What exactly are you doing here and how did you find this place?"

Cyrus answered. "I was wondering the forest of darkness with nowhere to go or anything to find to eat, especially dragon eggs."

Cyrus then felt anger build inside him. "Oh, I just wanted a nice little egg meal but two wretched human kiddies and their wretched fire breathing lizard friends stopped me every time!

"All I wanted was nicccce eggsssss for sssssupper! But they never let me! I want to get them back! But the "rules" of dragon land won't let me!"

Maligna grinned evilly at Cyrus' rant. He clearly wanted revenge on his enemies for all the times they foiled him, just like how she was defeated by children and their friends thousands of years ago and was locked in that coffin ever since.

"I wondered the forest of darkness for something, ANYTHING! Then I found you." Cyrus finished his explanation.

"Interesting" Maligna was interested. "It would seem we have something in common."

"Really?" Cyrus asked.

"Indeed serpent." Maligna answered. "I was defeated a long time ago by the same type of enemies. We both had something we want. I want to be Dragonland's TRUE QUEEN who would rule the land and make it a more disciplined realm so everyone would learn to grow up like how you want your dragon egg supper."

Cyrus was listening carefully. "But like you, I was defeated and locked away in that coffin for thousands of years just because I wanted Dragonland a more honest and disciplined land how I would like it."

"I understand your pain and vengeance." Maligna held out her hand. "So, I want you to join me."

Cyrus was a bit hesitant, but Maligna continued. "If you join me and help me to take over all Dragonland and be my servant by my side in my conquest, I will give you a chance for revenge against your enemies and a lifetime supply of eggs that you can eat to your hearts content!"

Cyrus was mind-blown and excited! This may be his chance at long last to get his egg meals without anyone interfering! But he was worried about one thing.

"But what about the rules of dragon land not to hit or get back at anyone?"

Maligna chuckled evilly. "Those rules do not concern me! As you have heard what I have done in the past and how much power I had and still have, I can take over all of Dragonland by FORCE! And turn entire kingdoms to DUST if they dare to defy me!" Cyrus was both shocked but intrigued about Maligna and what she did in the past and what she can do now, now that she is free once again.

"Once we take over dragon land those rules will no longer apply. All you must do is obey all my orders and help me take over this miserable and wretched land," Maligna said. "And once the land is ours, you can have all the eggs and revenge you want. Just like I plan to do now, now that I am free!"

Cyrus was beyond intrigued and amazed now. He truly believed Maligna, with all her power, can truly help him get revenge on Max, Emmy and their dragon friends and get all the eggs he can eat!

Cyrus bowed his head again. "Yes, Mistress Maligna! I will join you! I want it all!"

"Excellent." Maligna smirked evilly. "Come serpent, we have much work to do. Let us begin our conquest!"

With that, Maligna, the evil and powerful sorceress, raised the cane in her hand and a vortex of sickly green sparks erupted from its tip. Then there was a whooshing sound, which began to grow in volume.

The sorceress cackled madly, while Cyrus looked on in awe...

A/N: This story is now officially a collaborative project between me and gman1127, so I'd like to give a special shout-out to them for their interest in my work and helping me to make the full story a reality!