Breathe Part Two

It was close to sunset and everyone was packing up again. Ezran, meanwhile, was staring out into the sunset, thinking about things. Raylan and Carol were packing up their bags.

"Great. Everything's packed and ready and now we can enter Xadia," said Raylan.

"Woah! Woah!" Gren waved his hands. "We are not letting you take our king and his sisters into that land,"

"Sorry Gren but we have to do this. We need to take the Dragon Prince back to his mother," Raylan said.

Before either Gren or Corvus could put up an argument, Carol spoke first. "We need to do this. It was what Dad's final wish for us,"

"And my sisters and Raylan will do it," Ezran announced. His sisters and Raylan turned to him in surprise.

"Ez, what are you saying?" asked Carol. Felix and Zym chirped.

Ezran turned to them with a decisive but upset expression. "Carol, when you told us assassins were coming for Dad, I wanted to run away and hide. And when we found out Dad was gone, we ran away again. I've been running away from things my whole, but I can't run away from growing up," he took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "When you grow up, you have to face things you're not ready for. I'm not coming with you back to Xadia,"

"What?" said his sisters together.

"Now that I'm King, I have to go home. Maybe I can help the world better from a throne,"

"Ezran, returning Zym to his mother is the world's best hope," Raylan said, not wanting to part ways.

"I know and you guys will do it,"

Willow absorbed his words and then stepped forward to give her announcement. "If you're going back home, so am I,"

"No Willow, you should help Raylan and Carol bring Zym to his home,"

"Ezran, you're gonna need all the help you can get. And besides my gift could help you solve any issues and prevent threats to Katolis and the war from getting worse,". The men exchanged confused glances. "I'll explain later,"

Ezran didn't want her to waste her opportunity to see Xadia just to go with him. "Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

"Then I'm coming back with you two as well," said Carol.

"No Carol," objected Ezran. "You have to help Raylan return Zym and bring peace to the world,"

"But I promised Dad I would take care of you two,"

"And you have," said Willow proudly. "And now you need to take care of Zym. He'll need now more than ever. We'll be okay,"

Raylan was upset to say goodbye to the kids; he was going to miss them deeply.

"Gonna miss you Raylan," Willow hugged the elf and he hugged her back. "Please take care of Carol,"

"I will," he promised. "I won't let anything happen to her,"

"I know we'll meet again," said Ezran, embracing him.

"Of course, we will. I know where you both live, your majesty," Raylan ruffed his hair making him laugh.

"As soon as Zym is home, I'll come back home to you both," promised Carol, already crying with having to say goodbye. She embraced them both and they hugged her back. "I love you both. So much,"

"And we love you too sis," Willow sniffled.

"Be safe," begged Ezran.

After they each received a peck on the head from their sister, Felix purred sadly, not wanting to say goodbye. "We'll see you soon," promised Willow. She stroked his head and he licked her face. He licked Ezran's face too receiving a lick.

Zym whimpered. "We're so proud of you little guy," cooed Willow. "I would have given anything to see you fly. But I hope someday we will,"

"You're gonna grow up so strong and mighty. And one day you'll make an exceptional king of the dragons," said Ezran proudly. They gave the baby dragon a big group hug making Carol shed a tear. Raylan clasped her shoulder to comfort her.

"Perhaps I should go with you," said Gren to Carol.

"No. You need to help Corvus protect my family," she declined gently.

"I cannot allow you to wander into Xadia unprotected like this,"

"She's not alone. She has me," said Raylan. "And she can do magic now. Much more powerful than any of those mages can with their primal stones," As he spoke, he looked at Carol proudly, confident that she could do exceptional things with her newfound sky powers, compared to the men whose magics only came from magic stones.

"When you see my aunt again, tell her about Viren, Soren and Claudia. And let her know that I'm safe,"

Gren was uncertain. Nevertheless, he chose to trust the princess; he nodded. Ezran then picked up Bait and Willow clasped his hand. Zym tried to follow but Felix gently grabbed his tail. They had to let them go. Carol sniffled. She didn't want to say goodbye to them. But as long as they were safe in Katolis, it was what would motivate her to complete the quest and make it back home safe and sound.

The two men lifted the children onto Pyrrah before mounting themselves. Gren closed his eyes doing it; he hoped he wouldn't be sick again.

Travel safely and bring the dragon prince back to his home. Roared the red dragon. And with a mighty flap of her wings, she carried the four humans and the glow toad into the sky.

At the front, Ezran and Willow took tearful glances down at their sister. But down below, Carol offered a simple smile and waved. And so did Raylan. Felix barked and Zym roared. They would all see each other again.

Castor searched the forest for any sign of his enemies. He saw nothing. Knowing the risks, he came back into town, hooded, and looked around a corner. He heard footprints and ducked behind a corner. He heard voices. He peered out from his hiding spot. He looked down and saw Soren, all healed and walking again, leaning against Claudia.

"So, what do we do Claudia? Just go back home and tell Dad we've failed?"

"We're alive. And that's what matters," she said. "And we're not coming back empty-handed," she pulled out a horn from the bag. "It's the horn you cut from the dragon,"

Soren still didn't feel any better. "Failed missions, mad dad," he tried to lighten up a bit. "But dragon horn means no mad dad,"

"Yah!" Claudia cheered, accidentally dropping him. "Oops sorry,"

"Where did you get that magic to help me?"

Claudia helped him up. "Castor gave it to me,"

"What happened to him and the other brothers?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him,"

"Do you still trust him?"

"I don't know,"

"Can we please just go home? I can't take it anymore out here,"

Castor watched as the pair disappeared out of the town and scratched his chin.

Time had passed and the sky had become dark. Carol followed Raylan for hours through the mountains, carrying Zym around her shoulders, Felix scurrying beside her. She was sad. They walked through a tunnel that would take them to the border.

"You okay?" Raylan asked. She didn't answer. "We'll see Ezran and Willow again soon,"

"We've come all this way. And now that we're nearly here…it won't feel the same without them," she sniffled.

It'll be okay. Zym licked her cheeks.

"I know," Raylan consulted. "But they're doing what they think is right. And so are we,". He still noticed something else was off about her. "What are you thinking about?"

"When I was in that dream-like state, I saw my dad. And it felt so real…seeing him there again. And then I was back on Villad's ship and he fell into the sea. I tried to save him but then I felt like I was drowning. And then I saw her…" her voice dropped.

"Who?"

"My mother,"

"She was just like I had remembered her," she wiped her eyes. "All my life I always dreamed of seeing her again, but I didn't realise how painful it would be to see her again. And that's not all. I saw myself…consumed by dark magic. And the fact is…I wanted to accept the offer of dark magic again. I wanted to do magic again so badly. If it wasn't for my father's words, I would have been tempted,"

Raylan stopped her. "But you didn't. Because you realised what made you special is what you already are. That's because you're amazing just the way you are," he comforted.

She smiled. And then she hugged him, much to his surprise. He hugged back. Zym wrapped his wings around their heads. Felix nuzzled against their legs.

Caldor walked through the forest, carrying a sphere of swirling pink. He still hadn't found any sign of Castor. He couldn't rest until he was found. He came into a clearing but as he did, a huge shadow loomed over his head. He looked up and saw a mighty red dragon. He prepared to defend himself. But it didn't attack.

Pyrrah landed gently in front of him. And astride her back, he saw the two youngest members of the royal family, his two comrades and a grumpy glow toad who smiling at him. He smiled back.

"Need a lift?" offered Ezran.

Raylan, Carol and their companions finally made it to the border; it had taken longer than they thought but they had made it safely. They had stopped for some rest and then decided to continue on their way again. They had no idea if the mages who had tried to capture them were still out there or not and they needed to keep ahead of them if they were still looking for them. They arrived at the bank of a wide stream of lava with rocks scattered everyone on the boiling surface. Ahead of that border lay a canyon with a path that led into the magical eastern side of the continent.

"This looks easy," said Carol. She attempted to walk.

"No," Raylan stopped her. "Wait," he picked up a small pebble and threw it onto the floating stone slabs. Instantly they sank under into the lava. It was certain doom.

"How do we walk across?"

"Not all the rocks sink that quickly. There are some that will stay afloat long enough for us to cross,"

"But how will we know which ones?"

"You'll see," Rayla turned around and looked up to the moon. Carol looked up and they saw a crescent moon shining brightly over their heads. As the powerful beams of pure moonlight expanded over the stream of lava, the pair saw moon ruins appear on the rocks, forming a trail all the way to the other side. "Behold the moonstone path,"

"Amazing," breathed Carol.

"Quickly. We need to hurry. If the moon gets covered, we won't be able to see the path. Let's go," with courage, he stepped onto the moon ruin stones and to his friends' relief didn't sink into the lava. "Come on,"

Together the human and the two companions stepped onto the stones and they followed Raylan across the pathway, hearing the rocks sink slowly behind them. They had made it to the centre of the river when they suddenly noticed the sun was rising on the other side.

"Oh no. The sun's rising. Hurry or we won't make it to the other side!" Raylan shouted. He scooped up Zym. Carol scooped up Felix. They ran across the path hearing the steps behind them sinking fast but they had almost made it when the ruins of the last few metres disappeared. They were trapped.

"What do we do now?" Carol panicked.

"I don't know," Raylan freaked out.

Carol looked around. So did Felix. The fox spotted something. An archway with two rocks leaning against each other with a gap underneath it; the sun was piercing through. Look. He barked pointing his snout at it. Carol saw what he saw and beamed. "Buddy, you're a genius. Zym you're going to need to fly,"

"What?" he chirped.

"But I can't do it.

Yes, you can. I know you can. You just have to believe in yourself. Because I believe in you.

Zym still wasn't sure. But Felix's hopeful eyes gave him courage. Okay. I'll try. He climbed onto Raylan's head.

"I'll give you a boost. Okay on my three. Three,"

Zym held out his wings.

"Two,"

"What are you guys doing?" asked Raylan.

"One. Fly!"

Zym leapt off the elf's head and flapped his wings. Quickly Carol drew the ruin and recited: "Aspiro!" she blew a gust of wind and he elevated into the air. He flapped his wings and to the joy of the two teens and his best animal friend he was flying. He was actually flying.

I'm flying. He couldn't believe it. I'm actually flying! HE roared.

"Way to go Zym!" Raylan cheered.

Land in front of that gap on the arch and hold out your wings. Carol said to him telepathically.

Zym landed on the arch on the other side, stood in front of the gap where the sunlight pierced through spreading its rays over the pathway and opened out his wings. His large shadow towered over the rocks, making the moonbeams from the other side relight the pathway.

"We can see the pathway again!" cheered Raylan, overjoyed they weren't gonna be barbequed to death. Quickly he pulled Carol to the other side and they made it just in time. "We made it!"

"We did it!" Carol was engulfed in a big hug again. They shared overjoyed smiles before Felix between them still her arms barked for joy licking their faces and making them laugh. "Good spotting buddy,"

It was nothing. The appreciated fox shrugged.

Raylan stroked his head and he purred. Then Zym flew in front of them and licked their faces as he flapped his wings.

"You were incredible Zym," Raylan complimented.

It feels so great to fly. He purred, landing back on Raylan's shoulders again.

"Come on," Raylan said. "We've still a long journey ahead of us if we want to get you back home to your mother Zym," He walked off but he noticed Carol and Felix hadn't moved at all.

Carol was still looking back at the other side of the border, the west side she was born to. Felix whimpered. He was extremely scared as much as she was going into a land where they didn't come from. As bad as it was facing dangers from crazy mages and dragon-hating humans, it was prone to be worse facing elves who might only see the worst in humans and not believe in any chances of peace being brought to the world.

Raylan could see how going even further would make her feel more homesick. "You don't have to come with me. I won't force you to,"

"No. We've come too far to stop now," Carol turned back to him. "There's no turning back. We finish this together,"

Zym hugged her, happy that she wasn't saying goodbye yet. "I wouldn't leave for one moment Zymmie," she purred. She placed both the little dragon and her fox pal down and they dashed off ahead of them to have fun. The teens walked past the rock's arches and as the sun rose high and the night turned to day, they found themselves in a grand canyon of brown rocks and sandy land.

"We made it," breathed Raylan. "All we have to do is walk along this canyon and then we're pretty much not far from my home,"

"I can't wait to see the place you grew up in. And I would really love to meet Ethari,"

"I bet you'll really love him," Raylan stopped for a second. "And Cary, if there's any chance Runaan may be here in Xadia…I want you to know that I won't let him try to kill you again,"

Carol's heart clenched remembering the elf who killed her father. Before she could say anything, they heard whimpering and they turned their heads to see Zym and Felix rushing forward to them, scared. Felix jumped into her arms and Zym flapped his wings and hid behind Raylan's back.

"What's wrong guys?" asked Carol.

Just then they heard loud roaring, ahead of them.

"Oh no," Raylan breathed. "It's him,"

In the distance, they saw a mighty but elderly dragon, six horns encircling its head like a sun, the top half of its face, completely red with no eyes; it perched on some rock platforms like a mighty guard dog.

"Sol Regem,"

And that's it. Season 2 is done. Just Season 3 to go and it's the end of this story until the next story with the next three seasons. I hope you all enjoyed it. See you all soon for Season 3. And thank you Gedwhachon for the OC Character idea for Season 4, I would love to use it. Until the next chapter, adue for now everyone.