A/N: Sorry this took so long, you guys.

This isn't usually like me but things have gotten so busy it wasn't funny.

I promise to be a little more timely with my updates from now on.

Sorry it's a little short but I finally got my groove back after a month of just hell on earth

I really hope you're all still with me. Please leave reviews.

;-)

Victoria toughed it through rinsing off her face and hands in the frigid subterranean pool. The foul stench on her body was definitely more downplayed than before. She cupped her hands and collected some cold water for a drink. It was enough to refresh her and this rekindling of her alertness brought some foreboding.

Something was approaching. She could sense it.

Slowly grabbing her blade, Victoria anticipated another close call on the rise. In a flash she whipped around and raised her sword, only to freeze in place. What she was staring at was the last thing she had thought she would ever see with her own eyes.

It stood as tall as her; perhaps 15 feet in length from snout to tail. The beast was covered in emerald-colored scales with much darker green embellishments here and there. Large honey-colored eyes made it seem benign while six inch long teeth and talons longer than that made it seem menacing.

But what struck Victoria the most about this dragon was how docile it was, regarding the human with curiosity rather than simply attacking. Something inside Victoria convinced her to gradually lower her blade, keeping close watch on the animal's movements. From having the weapon raised high to kill to now having it all the way down to her side, Victoria did not see the dragon's demeanor change dramatically.

"It appears to trust me," she mused to herself. "Or perhaps it has no survival instincts whatsoever. Good grief; it must be a hatchling."

Victoria outstretched her hand to attempt to touch the beast. She could feel the coarse scales when her hand made contact. The dragon recoiled slightly at first but quickly warmed up to her touch. Victoria shrugged and petted the dragon like anyone would a dog.

"Well, at least I am not stuck down here by myself" she said aloud as if the dragon understood her.

She looked up and could see a circle of sunlight overhead at least a hundred meters away. Her eyes scanned the cavern walls and they looked very solid, with no outlet whatsoever except for where she had just came.

"Damn it," Victoria kicked a stalagmite into bits in frustration. She began to pace with her arms folded. Unbeknownst to her, the dragon was faithfully following her. "How in heaven's name I am I to get out of here?"

The dragon made a gurgling noise that snapped Victoria out of her train of thought. Looking at the reptilian-like creature; she started to notice something of its back. Slowly, wings unfurled from being stuck to the dragon's body since birth. They made noticeable strands of gooey post-hatchling muck. It took a few minutes for the baby to fully stretch its new wings but once it did, the span was impressive.

The woman shook her head, "Victoria, you have just had your most ridiculous idea yet."

The sun rose over the valley of Rosym. There was no wind; not a bird singing. The deathly quiet was humbling to Andre. It was as if the land was aware of the urgency of this campaign. He looked at the sky, hoping his father and grandmother were both watching out for him.

"This is the day," he told himself.

When Beckett and his men joined Andre's faction, the prince felt for the first time confident that this could actually work.

The plan was for the rebel army to march toward the castle and they would fight against the king's men. The spectacle would certainly get Noxymis' attention. What the dark lord did not know was the insurrection is actually a put on.

After betraying his brother, Demian had gained the king's trust and was placed as captain of the guard. Clios survived the double cross, which was all part of the plan. The fight in front of Noxymis must have been convincing enough; Clios taught his younger brother well to stab in just the right places and at just the right depth to not inflict terrible harm.

Clios, who was Andre's confidant, would be the general of his own underground army against the would-be king.

The two armies would meet and fight, then spontaneously both would charge at the castle. The diversion would be more than enough to occupy Noxymis. Unknown to him, two clusters of allies would sneak into the castle. Andre and his newest ally, Jadelyn, would be the first group. And the daring travelers Trina, Catherine and Rob would make up the second group. With this mixture of might and a little magic; they can hopefully disarm and subjugate Noxymis.

Because of the discretion of the mission; the ones charged with penetrating the castle walls were kept separate from the larger group. That meant Beckett had no concept that Jadelyn, the very young lady he had been searching for, was not inside the castle but was outside.

Andre smiled as he shook Clios' hand.

"It is an honor to invade your own castle, Your Highness."

The prince had to chuckle at the irony of staging an insurrection. "Think you can say a few words to the guys. They look...a little nervous."

"It would be my pleasure," he smiled.

The statuesque Clios stood up before the dozens of armed men who were talking amongst themselves. Beckett was the first to notice the general was about to speak, so he cleared his throat loudly which alerted many of those near him and it began to ripple for everyone to be silent.

"Allies and servants to the Crown of Rosym," he held out his hands. "And..." he nodded to acknowledge Beckett who returned the nod. "And new friends of the Crown. We go forth on this day to remove the man who sits upon the throne and calls himself king. He is king of nothing. Andre, son of King Harris IV, is the rightful heir to rule Rosym. The usurper is nothing more than a liar, a thief and a murderer. He murdered our own king in cold blood. Our benevolent King Harris was kind and just; he deserved better than what he had gotten." Clios then unsheathed his sword, holding it high. "The Fates have given us the chance to avenge him and bring prosperity back to these lands. Are you with me?"

The crowd erupted in thunderous compliance and inconsequential hollers.

Surely they would follow Clios to hell and back.

Victoria was sore in her back from being thrown at least twenty times from trying to mount the dragon. Despite its affinity toward her, it was understandably nervous being a baby and all. She desperately hoped that dragons learned to fly at a faster pace than a bird. Time was not on her side.

If too much time passes; the infant would eventually get hungry and Victoria knew there was little else down here to eat.