"You just said you'd like to eat a sock." Nelson managed to look extremely condescending for a (sort of) eleven year old. "Maybe we should just stick with the alphabet."

Nya stifled a snort. She pushed her hair back out of her face, an intricate updo that matched the lavish clothes she and Cade now wore as they rode alongside Atlas on a stallion.

Though Atlas probably could have fit all four of them semi-comfortably, Nelson pointed out that if Kai actually was an Elemental Lord, he wouldn't be squished amongst so many others. Even if Kai wanted to keep his siblings close, Nelson had a point. Didn't mean he liked it.

His eyes moved from Cade and Nya to the not-exactly-sentient entourage Nelson conjured spread out behind them. Half a dozen men in armor with banners bearing Fire's emblem rode behind them. Their numbers were only a few stronger than soldiers who'd accompanied the Trerian prince only a couple weeks ago, but their bearing was much more impressive. However, the Trerian soldiers had the benefit of being real. Kai had no idea what the illusions were supposed to do when - if - Kai made it beyond the palace gate.

"-would mean only I could communicate with you since these two-" Nya's voice broke Kai out of his thoughts. He looked over in time to see his sister gesture to himself and Cade- "can't spell worth a lick."

"Hey!" Cade protested.

Kai didn't try to argue. She wasn't wrong. "Can you go through the alphabet again?" If nothing else they'd have something to fall back on.

Nelson huffed but obliged. They practiced in silence, occasionally broken by Nelson's corrections. The heat made it too uncomfortable for much of a conversation anyway. Gradually even the effort to sign was baked out of them by the relentless sun.

Kai had no idea how Clouse managed to teleport them so far from Ouroboros. Without Atlas, and the horse Nelson conjured for Nya and Cade, there would have been no way they'd survived the miles of desert- at least not without using another wish. Something Kai found himself extremely hesitant to do, even as his ribs and head throbbed in rhythm with Atlas' steps.

"You need a new name."

Kai started as Nya's words pierced him back to the present. "What?"

"You might look different thanks to Nelson's glamor, but the guards, princess, advisor and king know the name Kai. It's not common enough to be used at the palace."

Kai frowned in thought. "Any suggestions?"

Cade leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"No." Kai cut him off before he could start. A pout covered Cade's face that Kai reflexively ignored.

"Mishal." Three sets of eyes turned to Nelson, who shrunk under the scrutiny. "It, uh, it means torch bringer."

"Torch bringer, huh?" Kai rolled the name around in his head. Not the worst alias he'd used, and on the nose for Fire without sounding silly like Blaze or something. "Nya you should probably also use another name, especially if your connection to Jay is known. And no Cade-" Kai started as Cade's mouth opened. "You should be below the radar enough that no one knows your name." Never mind the fact he got that name only a couple years ago. Cade shot him a stink eye.

"Mira." Nelson offered. He didn't add the meaning, but unspoken weight came in his tone.

After a few seconds Nya gave a nod. "I like it."

"Still don't see why I can't get a code name." Cade grumbled.

Kai felt Nelson's eyes boring into him, but the djin didn't offer up an alternative name for Cade. If Cade weren't in ear shot Kai would have thanked Nelson for not spurring Cade on.

Instead Kai turned his attention back to Atlas. The dragon had been surprisingly compliant with everything Nelson (and Cade) had asked of him. Yet Kai admitted he had no knowledge on how to actually take care of him.

"Do you happen to know what Atlas eats?" Kai's question was met with silence until Nelson seemed to realize the question had been meant for him.

"Anything really. Though he's partial towards fish."

That could be a problem in the desert. A problem though Kai couldn't do anything about at the moment. So he went for something else that had been niggling his thoughts.

The dragon had been chained when Kai first saw him, and Nelson hadn't appeared until the lamp was disturbed. A lamp that Nelson had loathingly instructed Kai to bring with them. Add in the comments the kid had dropped... the result wasn't a picture that boded well. And if the dragon was chained, yet still alive, did that mean there was a master of the cave that Kai- or even Clouse- didn't know about? Kai had too many questions and not enough answers. Maybe he could try to pick at them.

"How did you and Atlas meet?" That seemed a relatively safe place to start.

"It was a long time ago." Nelson's voice came out stilted.

Kai waited but Nelson didn't elaborate.

"Do you have a favorite color?" Everyone shot Cade a glance. He shrugged. "Mine is green."

A color rarely seen in the desert. Kai snorted internally but stayed silent.

"No."

"What? Come on! You gotta like some color."

"I just don't." A bitter note filled Nelson's voice.

The conversation petered off again after that.

Time trickled away, each crest of the sand dune leading to nothing but more desert. Kai had just begun to toy with the idea of one of them wishing for a bottomless waterskin when a smudge appeared on the horizon. Slowly but steadily the smudge grew and took shape until half of Ouroboros lay sprawled before them.

Kai's heart thundered in his chest. He glanced at his siblings' faces. Nya had taken on a pinched look, her thoughts most definitely with a missing inventor even if she wouldn't voice it. Kai knew she and Jay cared for each other, but somehow he hadn't really realized the depths of their affection. Maybe he hadn't wanted to.

Despite his own worry for Jay, an unexpected ache hit Kai at the thought of his sister possibly striking out with Jay one day. 'You know, if you all survive this.' A little voice in his head added helpfully.

Kai told it to jump off a sand dune.

A quiet, but sharp, intake of air came from behind Kai. He turned in time to see Nelson's eyes bugging out of his face before quickly smoothing it behind a mask of indifference. Who knew what the city looked like three hundred some years ago or even if the kid had seen much of it.

"Ouroboros can be a jewel when she wants to be." Kai tried to keep his tone casual. From the way Nelson glanced at him but didn't respond, he wasn't sure he succeeded.

The cold feeling creeped back into Kai's gut. Honestly, Nelson had no reason to trust him, and from the few tidbits the djin had let slip, he had some pretty good reasons for keeping his guard up. Still, three thousand years old or not, the kid definitely deserved to still have child-like wonder at whatever he wanted.

An image of Cade's early days with Kai and Nya flashed in Kai's mind. He compared that picture with the current Nelson. Both held fractured looks in their eyes, distrust toward a world that had been anything but friendly. However, Cade had started to grow past that. Maybe there could be hope for this kid too.

"We're gonna start attracting a lot of attention if we haven't already." Nya called.

Kai grimaced. For so long their survival depended on remaining invisible to the vast majority of Ouroboroans. Becoming the center of attention... that thought sent adrenaline shooting through Kai's veins. But his siblings were worth it. Jay too. Probably.

The city gates loomed closer. People the size of ants moved in and out the city's gates. Kai let Atlas lumber on for a couple more minutes before turning to face the others.

"Alright. Show time. Nelson, ah, you should probably..." Kai trailed off, not quite sure how to put into words 'can you please deafen yourself so wishes don't spontaneously appear because of people talking casually around us.' Nelson's mouth twitched and he gave a jerky nod. That didn't stop the curl of guilt in Kai's gut as he could hear the shakiness in Nelson's breathing when he shoved the plugs into his ears.

'It's not forever. Just until this whole mess is sorted out.' But what when it ended? Everything within Kai rebelled at the idea of stowing Nelson back in some cave for literal eons until someone stumbled onto him again. Kai took a deep breath. 'Later. I can figure it out later.'

The silence surrounding the four grew thicker. Kai didn't bother trying to break it. He also didn't want to admit to himself to the butterflies taking flight in his stomach. People started to turn and freeze in place. There were a couple screams that cut off when the wind caught the red flags. Sunlight gleamed on the golden emblem of the Flame.

Hushed whispers followed Kai and the others but otherwise the streets were eerily silent and still. There'd been more noise when Prince Cole came through. Though, Kai supposed, Cole hadn't been riding a dragon... or confirming he was a Primary Elemental. Knowing all too well what thoughts were crossing the crowds' minds, Kai didn't try to make any eye contact with them.

Instead he shifted his focus to the palace rising high in front of them. Towers loomed over the pointed tips of the gates, casting shadows in the late morning light. Kai's heart rate picked up and he bit back a gulp. He wouldn't make it far inside with that mentality.

On the streets Kai had learned how to blend in. He could do this. Warmth exploded in his middle, pushing toward his fingers and toes, pulsing in time with his heart rate. 'It might not be easy to walk away from this one.' That sent a new spiral of questions wondering if Fire would stick with Kai after... after whatever this was, ended.

Kai shook his head to clear his thoughts. With only one hundred yards left before the castle, he couldn't get lost in his head. Atlas stopped a few yards away from the entrance.

Nelson's breathing echoed harshly in Kai's ears. The doors of the palace towered high above even Atlas's head. A contingent of soldiers stood across the battlements, bows knocked but not drawn. Behind the soldiers a second balcony held King Chen, Clouse, and (no Kai's heart did not catch when he saw her) Princess Skylor.

"Who are you and what is your business here?" King Chen's voice carried from the battlements- likely with assistance from Clouse as it sounded like Chen stood directly in front of them.

Kai took a miniscule breath, then squared his shoulders. "I am Mishal. I have heard that Ouroboros is the birthplace of the Elemental wielders and wished to see for myself if this was true."

"You bear an old insignia. Are you able to back it with actions?"

Heart hammering in his chest, Kai lifted his hand and let a flame dance along his palm. Wordless exclamations rose from the crowds. Chen sent a glance to Clouse who stared flatly at Kai. After several long seconds Clouse gave a curt nod of his head.

"Well then Mishal-" Kai didn't like the emphasis put on the name but kept his features calm- "It seems we have much to discuss." Chen had a cold, calculating look in his eye that Kai could see even from his perch far below. Kai didn't remember hearing Prince Cole receiving such a cold reception at the gate. Then again, Cole was a known dignitary compared to Kai's anonymity.

"Your beast will behave itself?"

There was also the fact Kai currently sat on a monstrosity of legend.

Atlas growled, too low to carry where the royals stood, but Kai felt the vibration. Behind him Nelson tensed. Doing his best to ignore the pounding in his ears, Kai gently rested a hand on Atlas's neck. The dragon quieted- after flicking an ear at Kai's arm. Kai withdrew his stinging hand and Atlas remained silent.

"He won't cause trouble." Kai sincerely hoped that would be true. With Nelson (and some reason Cade) around Atlas at least didn't appear like he'd go feral. For now.

Rumbling came from in front of them. Seconds later the palace gates swung open.

'Here goes nothing.'

.

A/n- *Peeks out from behind several chaotic months of life* This will get done even if it kills me.