(In the past…)

After the previous day, the young dragons and guardian dragons of the second group of future generation eggs continued their flight. When they had enough of traveling (we must not forget that they carried unborn beings and that cost delicacy and security), Cynthia accompanied Nina to fish. The young dragon made use of her abilities with her element to fish even without any drop of water on her body.

"You are very talented…" Cynthia told her, "I don't remember seeing anyone as skilled as me… Who teaches you?"

"My mom…" Nina replied without revealing anything about names, "she is my best teacher if I need to gain confidence with my powers"

"She must be proud of the daughter she has. I'm sure I'd be just as proud with my daughter."

"You have no idea…"

"Hey?"

"I mean, you sure have no idea how proud you could be," Nina corrected herself.

(Besides…)

Drago and Ash continued to keep the eggs at a constant temperature. Flint and Rayla helped them with the campfires.

"Feels weird…" Ash mentioned.

"What's going on?" Rayla asked.

"The fact that Nina and I are seeing and spending time with our grandmother Sybilla and not being able to say so much"

"It's something that you have to travel to the past," Flint reminded him, "You cannot and should not say anything because knowing can make history not happen as it is known"

"I feel the same way too" commented Drago, "Our grandmother Eira passed away long before our parents met, I also like seeing her at last, but not saying much is a bit... oppressive"

"Guys, you must not forget that we have a mission" Rayla told them, "I know it may be feelings for the family, but remember that, in our time, ours are fighting a war"

"Sam seems to be the quick option," Ash commented, "But he doesn't progress much, don't you think…?"

"Don't think about leaving him and looking for someone else" Drago told him, "It's not that I like to bother my sister now, but... you see, when my father met my mother, he was still a rookie, but then she and her friends gave him the strength to be better, don't you think we should do the same?"

The others thought a bit, it was a valid opinion that no one wanted to contradict. On the other hand, Drago only added in his mind:

"I just hope he can do it fast…"

(Meanwhile…)

Aurora was talking to Eira, since neither she nor Drago had ever met her.

"I think your mother cares a lot about your appearance…" Eira told her, "Is she as beautiful as her daughter?"

"Well, my dad always tells me that…" Aurora replied.

"There…" Eira sighed, "Love is as interesting as it acts… and I think I see a twinkle in your eye from a certain little light over there…"

Aurora blushed as she looked in the other direction.

(For his part…)

Sam continued to train with Sybilla. The goal was to destroy a rock using the light mana. Not far from there, Aurora continued to watch him from a distance.

"Come on, try again" Sybilla repeated to the young dragon.

Sam tried to concentrate as best he could; his mana was so gentle being of light, but when he closed his eyes, he remembered her mother and the last time he had seen her.

(Flashback)

"Don't go out, take care. You must survive, promise?"

"But mom..."

"I know that one day this war will end, but I don't want anything to happen to you, you are a beacon of hope, do you understand?"

Sam nodded his head as he cried. Then, the mother kissed her son and left.

(end of flashback)

"Sam, wake up!" he heard Aurora's voice.

Sam woke up: a large amount of light mana was being released, but it was so unstable that it seemed to stick out in all directions. Giving up, Sam just stamped his paw on the ground as he said:

"I can't…"

"Sam..." Aurora tried to calm him down, "Give yourself time, I know you can do it..."

"I know you want me to do it… but Aurora… when will I be able to do it just like you? I mean, I really want to help you, but you guys can't wait for a long time… I think you'd better find someone else…"

Sam was about to give up and walk away, but Aurora stopped him.

"No, it wouldn't be the same…" she told him, "It's more than just the feelings. It was not by chance that we found you in the woods. My parents taught me that there is a very fine line between chance and destiny, but also that each one is written by us and our decisions. You decided to help us, you have already taken the first step to write your destiny"

Sam kept his words when hearing Aurora's. When she found the strength to continue talking, there was something in the air: an essence of darkness in the nearby forest. It wasn't as powerful as the Dark Ones, but it was somewhat creepy. Everyone went on high alert.

"An enemy is coming through the forest..." Flint perceived feeling the ground under his claws, "No... there are two..."

"What do we do, Sybilla?" asked Cynthia somewhat worried.

"Don't worry Cynthia. We'll take care of it" replied Nina, "right guys?"

"Yes, but just in case…" Drago mentioned, "Aurora, can you and Sam help the guardians to take care of the eggs? We need to secure them."

"Okay," she told them, "we're staying."

Nina, Drago, Ash, Drago, Rayla and Flint flew towards the forest. Passing through a few trees, the group came to a fairly clear clearing... or merely felled.

"Whatever made this…" Flint said, looking at a clean cut, without any protruding bits, "It had a powerful edge… Watch out!"

They all backed away when they saw the trees in front moving. Two whirlpools erupted from the edge of the forest, knocking over everything that stood in their way…a sharp attack. Then they stopped and out of them came two huge apes with scythes. The young dragons became alert.

"We have come for the eggs" one of them told them, "Give them to us and we will spare your lives…"

"Never!" Nina yelled at them.

"Well, if that's what you want, you'll answer our scythes," replied the other, "Ready, brother?"

The other ape nodded with a merciless laugh. Then both of them waved their scythes sending out large cutting waves. Reacting instinctively, they all dove to the ground, dodging the attack. Several trees, including a rock, were cut down very easily.

"Woah..." Ash exclaimed upon seeing that power, "One more inch and we would have turned into mincemeat."

"We'll see about that," Rayla said, emanating mana and dashing forward, "Lightning Fang!"

Rayla transformed into a powerful tornado of electricity and launched herself towards the apes, but they were already prepared: joining backs to backs, they too began to spin.

"Whirlwind of Twin Scythes!"

The twin apes turned into a powerful tornado of slashing wind. Just by feeling the air, one could feel that anyone's breath was cut off. When the two eddies collided, the eddy took Rayla flying. Luckily, Ash rescued her when the cutting whirlpool nearly killed her.

The others also dodged the impact of the attack on the ground, and

"Rayla!" Ash asked as he helped her steady, "Are you alright?"

"A little... thanks Ash" she replied panting, "Those guys are as strong as a Dark One"

"Earth Impact!" flint attacked.

But the apes brought both scythes together and spun them in the air, blocking Flint's ground missile attack.

"I'll go below and try to attack them from behind" Nina whispered to her companions, "I need cover"

"Ash" Drago told him, "How about a combination of fire?"

"Very good idea" he replied preparing to attack, "Dragon Comet!"

Ash launched like a comet of fire, at the same time as Nina hid under the ground with her shadow power. The apes returned to repeat the attack of the twin scythes.

"Blazing Dragon!"

Ash's dragon comet was covered by the fire dragon, so the young dragon appeared in its mouth. Both attacks collided and there was a loud explosion.

(On the other side…)

The sound of the big explosion from a few minutes ago was not lost on Aurora, Sam, Cynthia, Eira and Rayla. The eggs remained safe.

"They'll be fine?" Cynthia asked, somewhat concerned for Nina.

"We have seen their powers in the city" Sybilla replied, "I think that was only part of it, they can do it"

Sam just felt a little sorry that he couldn't help.

"Calm down, very soon you will be able to go to battle" Aurora tried to console him.

Sam tried to speak to her, but behind her another slashing attack was coming. The young dragon of light only pushed her aside while he yelled:

"Watch out!"

The next second, the blow hit him squarely, hurting half his body and knocking him unconscious.

"Sam!" Aurora yelled as she came closer to him. Then, she turned to the attacker.

A giant ape came out of the bushes, wearing armor and carrying a huge axe. In the engraving of the weapon, you could see three snakes. Sybilla, Eira, and Cynthia moved in front of him to stop him.

"Who are you?" Eira asked.

"I'm the ape general, Astherius" the ape replied, "And I've come for those eggs..."

Astherious raised the axe. Instantly, the snakes sprang to life and lunged at the dragons' necks before they could react. They transformed into snake necklaces and instantly immobilized them.

"No…" Cynthia yelled feeling weak, "I can't move…"

"Do you like that?" Asther sneered, "You won't be able to move or use your powers. Now you are helpless."

A gust of icy wind rushed towards the enemy. Astherious saw it and protected himself with his huge axe. Aurora was not yet defeated.

"I'm still here! I won't forgive you for hurting my friends!" the young dragoness yelled.

"Aurora… run away!" Eira told her.

"I doubt that this little dragon wants to do that" Asther said, brandishing his ax towards Aurora, "Too bad there are no more snakes... it doesn't matter, my ax has other functions..."