Note: This one may seem a little shorter than some of the previous chapters, but didn't want to make it any worse by adding stuff. Plus, I kinda like how this chapter ended.

Chapter 5: Old Dragon

Previously on Earth's Magic:

Admiral Kang got a thoughtful look and then asked, "I assume you [Steve Marshall] are going to ask the council for permission and support to go to this Eternia?"

[Althea's voice] "I need to find someone to teach me at least the basics of magic. That Sorceress could have been the perfect teacher, but now…I think we burned that bridge."

(Skies of Eternia)

"You sure you don't want to ride, "said He-Man from the Wind Raider.

Dovahzii laughed as she flew over, under and around the vehicle. Then said, "If you suddenly had your own set of wings…would you?"

"I guess not, "He-man replied with laugh.

"You certain this Granamyr will be able to help me out?" she asked a little more seriously, "He's a dragon and I need to learn how to use magic as a human would."

"Granamyr has forgotten more about magic that most wizards ever learn in a lifetime, "answered He-Man, "His knowledge is not limited to that only of dragons but from many races. The question is will he help."

(A little later at Darksmoke)

"Drem yol lok, jul Dovah, "said the ancient dragon, Granamyr, seated in his chambers, "Hio drun zin wah daar brod."

"Drem kruziik gein, "Dovahzii replied with a small bow, "Faal zin losmaar."

The old dragon brought his head down to take a closer look at the woman and said, "It's been ages since I've spoken with one the Dovah." A few sniffs and he continued, "I smell the dust of Earth, the last home of the Dovah, upon you and the smell of human magic within you. Mageborn Dovah was rare, even then. What brings you so far away from your home skies, young Dovah?"

Dovahzii glanced towards He-Man, who nodded in encouragement. "Earth's skies are endangered, "she said, "The Horde has attacked my world. They were driven off but they are still observing us, looking for weakness. Their attacks have also awakened Earth's slumbering magic, including the Spirit of the Dovah."

Granamyr rose up and said, "So the curse that the Darkness cast upon Earth has been broken and by none other than its most vehement followers, ironic. I do understand part of your problem. The magic has returned but there is no one left that has the knowledge or the skill to use or contain it."

"Can you help, "asked He-Man, "We attempted to locate a human mentor for her, but each one we approached had concerns about teaching Eternian methods to control Earth magics. At first we weren't even aware that there was much difference."

"Perhaps, "Granamyr mused.

(Time passes, a hour later)

"Your studies in the ancient ways...this archeology…will actually prove as if not more useful as your mage-sight, "mused Granamyr, "The ability to already bring up a shields, even with the help of the Dovah spirit, shows you have great potential. However, you lack the time to truly master what you are missing, focusing you mind for example. You are or soon will be needed on Earth."

"So what do I do, "asked Dovahzii.

"I am willing and able to teach you, but it would require that you remain here for a few days as your true self, not as the Dovahzii, "said the ancient dragon, "I am aware that you wish to keep your identity secret, but in this there is no debate. The human mage needs the training and testing, not the Dovahzii."

Dovahzii frowned as she considered Granamyr's words.

(Later that day)

Althea waved as He-Man flew off, the communicator he gave her visible on her wrist. She turned and limped back into the old dragon's lair. She saw a large, old looking desk that wasn't there before, with three books on it. One book had a red cover, the other white and the last one black. "Please make yourself comfortable, "said Granamyr pointing towards the desk, "Then please read aloud any page in the white book."

Althea sat down at the desk and did as her new teacher requested. She was surprised that even if handwritten, it was in modern English and easy to read. "Lei or dragon lines are rivers of mystical energy that only those who have trained their inborn ability are able see and/or use. These rivers can range in size of a small stream barely an inch wide to a raging river with width rivaling the Egyptian Nile at high flood. Where two or more lines meet…"Althea stopped reading when Granamyr, said, "That is enough. Please read a page from the red book."

The girl shrugged as she placed the first book down and then opened up the next one. This one was more of what she expected; old languages and the writing difficult to read due to poor penmanship on the part of the writer. Flipping through the pages, she tried to find readable page in a language she was familiar with. Finding one, she read, "Vocate venti fortunate ex rege Oberonis et hic navis…"

"Are you able to translate or understand what you are reading?" asked the dragon.

"Come, winds safely from the kingdom, "said Althea who hesitated on one word, "or shores of Oberon guide this ship…"

"Impressive, "the dragon said with a grin, "Now try the last book."

Althea wondered if Oberon, Titania and other mythical beings were once real as she picked up the third book. Then the question of how the heck was Earth languages so prevalent on Eternia came to mind. She opened the book and after just one glance at it she had to slam it shut as she looked away. The writing, if it could be called that, was completely unreadable and moved in a way that caused a very serious case of vertigo.

The dragon nodded as if expecting her reaction. "As I thought, "said the old dragon, "You already have the skills needed for well trained apprentice." The dragon took a deep breath, "You are just missing the focus and spells that these beginning magic users are taught. Fortunately, the books prove you can already be trusted with these spells. Keep the books, they are now yours. Copy and study the white, until the red becomes easier to read and understand. The black one you are not attempt to study until the red one is mastered."

"So the books are somehow enchanted, "said Althea, "To only allow a student to be able to read or study what he or she is ready for. Nice."

"That is correct. The books also contain some of the more commonly used spells. Additional spells are best learned from the works of your world for that is where your magics will be called upon the most. Use your archeology to seek out old texts, old writings even old tales of magic. There you will find the arts that once were thought lost to the Darkness."

Althea nodded as she listened and then asked, "What is this 'Darkness'? The Dovah spirit has mentioned it, claiming it was the Darkness that killed off the Dovah."

"You will find the answer to that question in the black book's last few pages, "said Granamyr sounding as if the question brought back old sad memories. He shook his head and then lowered his head and said, "Now to work on your focus. If I'm not mistaken, this will take some time."

(A few days later on Earth, Montreal Launch Station)

An air-car flew pass the check point and landed close to a grounded space ship. White and dark blue in color, it was roughly shaped like the much smaller Rainbow Explo but had two sets of mobile wings on each side. Each wing swept back and had its own thruster that added to the ones on the back. Longer and narrower in appearance, it looked much faster than the smaller ships. The name of the ship, Cu Chulainn, could be seen in large bold letters on its side.

From inside the ship, a whistle was heard as Captain Steve Marshall boarded. The crew of ten all stood in attention and saluted. "At ease, "the captain said, "As you all know, this is mission is to locate Eternia and determine if the government or governments of that world would be willing to assist us against the Horde. What you may not know, is that we may already have someone there and the Eternians may already be aware of the situation on Earth. Hopefully, this will make things easier for us especially since I don't have much of a reputation for diplomacy. Now report to you stations and prepare for lift off."

As the crew left for their stations, Marshall's communicator went off. Seeing who was calling, he answered it with a sigh, "No you can't go, Susan."

"Come on, Stevie, "whined the girl, "You could put me on communications or even engineering."

"I already have engineers and an experienced person on comm, "said Marshall walking towards the command station, "I need you where you are and performing those little projects I left for you."

At her desk, Susan spun her chair once and then said, "Why me? The whole Alliance is keeping an eye out for the Horde and going over the records of other unexplained attacks is boring."

Marshall's voice came over the computer's speaker, "You haven't checked the last page, have you?"

Rolling her eyes, Susan flipped the memo to the last page. Reading over it, her eyes widened as she started to jump a little in her seat. "You mean I get to design the Bat Cave!?"

Marshall sat down in his command chair and said, "Not the Bat Cave, just a place where the more dangerous artifacts can be stored away safely and where we can fall back to if the worse should happen. The location, and even its existence, is to be secret except for the few people needed to run and guard the place. I need you to start researching what is needed to safely store away items that may include magical versions of unstable hydrogen bombs and start looking into what equipment might be needed."

"You even got me a budget!" squealed Susan.

(Cloaked Horde Warship)

An avian looking horde officer sat in a Horde warship's command chair. Similar in appearance to a seagull, minus the beak, he would have looked completely out of place on a Horde vessel if it wasn't for the mechanical eye patch and the cruel look in his remaining eye.

Quietly tapping a talon on the armrest he held his written orders loosely in the other hand. The orders were simple, but there were complications. Lord Devon wanted him to follow the Earth ship, Cu Chulainn, and if it appeared that it would actually reached Eternia then destroy it. No prisoners. If this ship did not reach Eternia, it was to be allowed to return back to Earth unharmed.

He did not like the orders one bit. Horde High Command had placed a rather large bounty for the capture of Captain Steve Marshall and they would be most unhappy if he was killed needlessly. Plus if he followed Devon's orders, there would be no slaves, no savage…no profit.

"Commander Aerallo, "said a Horde soldier at the helm, "The Cu Chulain has been sighted."

"Follow it quietly and at a distance, "ordered Aerallo, who then thought, 'Screw Devon. With the capture of Steve Marshal, I'll be in High Command's good graces and richer for it. Just need to make sure we're far enough away so that Devon can't find out until it's too late."

(Next day on the Cu Chulainn)

Captain Steve Marshall gently scratched the scar on the side of his face as he double checked the long range scanners. Everything seemed to be running smoothly and nothing was being picked up…but his scar was itching. It always itched when there was Horde close by.

"Sir, "said the navigator, "We are nearing the reported space anomaly's last documented coordinates."

Marshal returned to his chair and ordered, "Everyone strap in. According to the reports this will be a bumpy ride. Helmsman, continue on course."

Silence filled the bridge and as everyone's attention seemed to be on the main monitor. For some time, the main monitor was filled with stars. When some of the younger crew members started to fidget, the monitor lit up with a bright, color-filled light.

Beeping noises filled the air and one crewmember said, "All sensors are going haywire!"

"Controls not responding, "added the helmsman.

Marshall remained calm. Since this was in the astronauts' report, they all expected this to happen and he actually considered it proof that the story given by the two astronauts was accurate. "Steady, "he said, "It should all clear up in a few moments, but prepare for a possible meteor shower."

As the captain predicted, the rainbow colored light eventually cleared and meteors took its place. Alarms went off as Cu Chulain shook with each meteor hit. "Controls back online, "announced the helmsman.

"Then get us out of here, "ordered the captain.

Eventually the ship cleared the meteor shower and the alarms were cut off. Steve pressed a button on his chair's armrest and said, "Engineering, damage re.."

Alarms went off again and the crewman watching the sensor said, "Horde warship detected! Stern, port side."

A choice word followed by "Battle stations! Artillery load all cannons and have the lance charged. Helm…"

(Horde Warship)

"They sighted us commander, "said the Horde soldier.

Commander Aerallo grinned as he ordered, "Prepare for battle!"

The sounds of the first two blasts being sent could be heard.

(Eternia, Man at Arm's workshop)

A small alarm brought Man at Arms attention to a monitor. Pressing a few buttons brought up an image of a Horde warship firing on another ship of a type he never seen before but looked vaguely familiar.

"By the Ancients, "he said and then turned to leave his lab. Racing down the hall, he passed Adam and Cringe without word. The Prince knowing something must be seriously wrong, followed his mentor.

Man at Arm walked hurriedly into the throne room. Ignoring the insulted looks that the nobles sent him, he bowed before the thrones and said, "Your Majesties, please pardon my interruption but there is an emergency in the making."

Concerned, King Randor said, "Go on."

"A Horde warship has been detected by the warning sensors we launched last year, "said Man at Arms, "The warship is currently attacking another spacecraft of unknown origins but it has looks very similar to the two Earth vessels we have previous seen."

Shocked, the Queen asked, "How far away are they? Is there any way we can lend assistance?"

"They have barely reached the sensors, but if they continue in the same direction they will soon reach Eternia."

The king stood up and announced, "Court is now closed! Unless you are directly involved in the Guard, the Masters or Rescue you are to leave now."

The Queen stood and said to her husband, "I'll go make sure that the doctors are prepared and then join you in the war room."

As the Queen walked off, Man at Arms added, "Sire, Adam needs to go get Althea. If they are from Earth, she may prove useful in calming them down."

"Of course, "the king said, "Adam…"

"Already on my way, Father, "the prince said, "Come on, Cringer."

(Cu Chulainn)

"Sir, "said the navigator over the alarms, "We are approaching what appears to be Eternia!"

A blast shook the ship. "Artillery, ready the lance. Helm, move us so we get a clear shot of the Horde but keep Eternia out of the line of fire."

Moments later, a beam of bright yellow light shot from the Cu Chulainn and ripped through the Horde ship's starboard side.

Inside the Horde ship, the commander roared. "Grapples! If we are going down, we're taking them with us!"

As the Horde ship turned on its side and a row of chained hooks flew out to slam into the Cu Chulainn. The chains tightened as the Horde ship continued to turn forcing the Earth ship closer.

"Comm! Send out a message on all frequencies, "ordered the Captain Marshal, "Try to warn the Eternians! Engineering, try to get those hooks off of us! Everyone else, prepare for impact."

(Snake Mountain)

Skeletor sat on his throne watching the fight through his crystal dome as he considered his options. Evil-Lyn, Tri-Clops and his other minion sat or stood silently around the table, waiting for his orders.

"Eternia, this is the Earth Alliance Vessel Cu Chulainn. We are currently under attack by the Horde and both ships on a collision course with Eternia. Repeat: We are on a collision course with.."

To be continued….