I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS NOT PART OF RDK AS THIS WAS SOMETHING I MADE UP TO HONOR THE 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SINCE IT WAS PUBLISHED. SHOULD MEDRICK WISH TO USE THIS THEN HE IS FREE TO DO SO!


Character's & Demons:

Ak-Baba: Ak-Baba is a species of enormous, monstrous vulture-like birds. They are known to be ferocious and violent creatures, eating dead flesh and living for a thousand years and were created by Savitar with his magic and the flesh of an identically named bird, which is smaller yet still huge and native to distant lands lying overseas from Ishgar (Status/Classification: Enemy, Demon)

Igneel: Igneel is the Fire Dragon King and great ally of Dragnof. His flames are so powerful that they match his sclaes from the sheer intensity. He is also the biological father to the now proclaimed Fire Dragon God Ignia and foster father to a Fire Dragon Slayer by the name of Natsu Dragneel who is in reality a Etherious dubbed E.N.D (Etherious Natsu Dragneel) with the sole purpose of Killing the Black Wizard Zeref Dragneel who is his elder brother. (Status/Classification: Ally, Dragon)

Rayquaza: The Dragon of the Heavens and Storms. He is a generally neutral party unless something bothers him enough to take action-usually his egg siblings (born 1 of 3 hatchlings from a single egg which is incredibly rare) Kyogre and Groudon who constantly get into fights (Status/Classification: Ally, Dragon)

Thoron: The Black Dragon of Energy and Dragon King before Naruto inherited the title of King of Dragons during the Dragon King Festival. He is the adoptive father and mentor to the Etherion (self proclaimed attribute) Dragon Slayer; Naruto D. Marvell along with his mate Saphira who is his intended mate that taught Naruto the incredible ability of Soul Dragon Slayer Magic. (Status/Classification: Ally, Dragon)

Saphira: The Former Queen of the Dragon's and mate to Thorn the Energy Dragon. Adoptive mother to Naruto D. Marvell and his mentor in the use of Soul Dragon Slayer Magic. (Status/Classification: Ally, Dragon)

Belserion: The Sage Dragon and mentor to Irene Belserion, former advisor to Irene as well as Queen during her time as Queen of Dragnof during the era of Dragons and the Dragon King Festival. (Status/Classification: Ally, Dragon)

Aldoron: A dragon of peace and coexistence. Aldoron is one of the strongest dragons to have been born aside from Thoron the Dragon King. His ability to absorb raw Ethernano and enhance his own abilities makes him a great ally to have on the winning side. (Status/Classification: Ally, Dragon)

Metalicana: A dragon who loves to joke and have fun by picking on his friends. When it comes down to a fight, he is a strong warrior with strong ambition to see it through to the end. Mentor to the Iron Dragon Slayer Gajeel as well as his Foster Father. (Status/Classification: Ally, Dragon)

Naruto: Foster son to Thoron the Dragon King and his mate Saphira and general to the Dragnof Kingdom before retiring to live with his wife (at the time) Anna Heartfilia and newborn Daughter Wendy Marvell. He took up the profession of a doctor so that others wouldn't have to experience pain or suffering before being brought back to Dragnof when the Dragon King Festival broke out. Now he reigns as the new Dragon King and is trying to atone for his mistakes made centuries ago. (Status/Classification: Ally/Human)

Anna: The wife and mother to Naruto's sons and daughters, and considered the most powerful Celestial Spirit Wizard in history, she fights to protect her friends and loved ones from the forces of evil. (Status/Classification: Ally/Human)

Irene: Wife, Lover and mother of their single child Erza to Naruto Marvell and former Queen of Dragnof and inventor of the fabled Dragon Slayer Magic, she entered the Dragon Civil War to help preserve the peace that she had been born into where dragons coexisted with humans when her great grandmother helped save Belserion from certain death when he was poisoned by Acidis the Poison Dragon which prompted him to spread his message of peace and allowed dozens of cities much like Dragnof to be created before the Dragon King Festival broke out in the year x366. (Status/Classification: Ally/Human)


Panic and fear permeated the air as people ran or flew off on the backs of mighty dragons of various sizes and forms and color. Naruto directed women and children to a dragon and several men would follow before the mighty animal took flight. Anna handed her baby girl off to her fellow lover, Hibiki and watched as Weisslogia took to the skies and fled the upcoming carnage, "Naruto, there isn't enough time to flee, the curse is upon us, we need to do something. There are too many civilians here to get them all out and not enough horses or dragons to help them escape, what are we gonna do?" she asked.

It was at this time a large black dragon with what appeared to be a large emerald necklace landed in the central plaza of the castle, "My son, we found it, the source of this curse!" he called to the blond.

"Father!" Naruto said turning to the dragon as he pushed Anna and Irene towards the large dragon, "Take Anna and Irene and get them to safety, I'll remain here to help with the evacuation for as long as I can." he told Thoron.

"Stupid boy, you need to come with, if my hunch is correct, then there won't be a need to flee this land." he told him, "Savitar has cursed a city that was doomed from the beginning, but there has never been anything that could ever stop a dragon's wrath. Now come, I have already sent out a few messengers to retrieve some help, they should be on their way as we speak. For now, the humans here can leave with the others on their own, you have to hurry!" he urged Naruto as he leaned down for him to jump on, "Stop thinking and hurry, there is not enough time for this boy!" he snarled.

With a grunt, Naruto jumped onto his foster fathers wing and into the crook of his neck where the Dragon King quickly flapped his wings and took off into the sky and soared east to the Desolated lands where the next stage of battle would commence.

XxX

Thoron flew faster than anything he had ever soared before, his ebony scales glittering in the light of the huge, rising moon. The land slipped by beneath his magnificent form. The first small lights were showing in villages and towns where people sat by their firesides, bathed their children or prepared their frugal meals, in ignorance of what was happening beyond the safety of their walls. Flattened against the dragon's neck, Naruto, Anna, and Irene thought of nothing but holding on. The cold became more intense as they moved inland, the freezing wind buffeting them mercilessly as Thoron soared across the heavens.

"We are nearly there. I can smell the cursed magic's that are cast upon this land. Enemies are sure to arise to protect this wicked magic." he said telepathically.

"If they come, we can hold them off for as long as we can together." Naruto replied, Thoron snorting in grim amusement. The land below them was flatter now, and more desolate than before. There were no more towns. No more Villages. And in the distance, water gleamed. It was the Great Bay of Subdician-the Third Dragon King and Sea Dragon of Infinity.

They were nearly there.

Naruto's teeth had begun chattering, the hair rose on the back of his neck as slowly he became aware of a sound rising beneath the rushing of the wind - a deep, ominous rumbling.

The next moment, Anna screamed, and Thoron's scaled hide twitched beneath Naruto's hands, "What do you see?" he shouted, "Anna-?" and then he saw it for himself, and the breath caught in his throat.

Beyond the gleam of the water, something huge was rising - a vast, rounded thing like a hideous reflection of the golden moon.

"By the god's, what is it?" Irene shouted hoarsely.

Thoron growled deep in his throat. He flew faster and faster. Now sweeping the bend in the river he saw what was directly in front of them. They could see, enclosed within the bend, the gigantic, poisonous yellow bubble pushing upward through the ruins of the former city that was once called Eldanor- a city of dwarves, pushing the damaged buildings aside as if they were children's building bricks. A few rats were scattering from the ruins, squeaking shrilly as they ran. Naruto watched in terrified fascination as the bubble swelled and grew.

Darkness was rising, and there was nothing to stop it nor holding it down. In a dream of horror, Naruto saw the water beneath him. They were crossing the Bay. And the thing rising from the ruins of the city was still growing. Swelling from the earth like a hideous boil. Thoron's voice growled in their minds, "How are we going to stop this, I cannot do this on my own without the others to help stall this destruction." he stated as he scanned the land around them.

Naruto cut the rope holding him to Thoron's neck and crawled onto his knee's to look around only to groan aloud. The bubble had swelled even more. It's hideous bulk now completely covered the ruined city and rose as high as the palace in Dragnof. He looked on in horror filled fascination. At the bottom it was the same poisonous yellow a it had been before. But at the top, it was paler - paler, tighter and shinier. As if... as if...

With a ghastly tearing sound, the top of the bubble split open. A fountain of vile, dull grey liquid, thick as a heavy cream, gushed up into the air. Naruto covered his ears as Thoron gave a thunderous roar, heard as Anna and Irene cried out in revulsion at the sight. And, he wasn't sure if he imagined it or not, but he would swear he had heard the sound of distant, wicked laughter. The spouting liquid began flowing to the ground, spreading outward in a thick grey flood, "What is it?!" Anna shrieked, her eyes wide in horror.

A red-eyed rat, more daring than the others, darted at the grey liquid, perhaps hoping it was something good to eat. However, the moment it touched the liquid, the rat stiffened and fell, it's legs jerking convulsively . The group of four watched, horrified, as the liquid covered the rat's twitching body and flowed on, moving very fast.

"It's poisonous!" Thoron hissed out.

"And it's alive..." Naruto said to himself, "and it's growing." he said swallowing hard.

The thick fluid was making more of itself, and more, feeding on the earth and the air.

There was a blaze of fire, a large dragon that was covered in black and golden scales swooped in from the heavens, roaring at the spreading circle of grey. Ebony flames mixed with red and gold seared a great patch at the edge of the flood. The patch stiffened and hardened. The mass of liquid on either side of it closed in and flowed on, covering the burned place swiftly, as the rat had been covered. The dragon wheeled and roared again. Again flame seared the moving ground, and again the burned place was smothered in an instant as the circle of grey grew larger.

"We need to stop this, two of us will not be enough." Thoron spoke loudly as he beat his wings roughly, claps of thunder resounding through the air as he soared higher into the air, "As long as this poison spreads, the earth will not be safe nor will it remain long." he spoke loudly.

Thoron was of course right, the mass flood was swallowing everything in its path and everything that it touched was destroyed. Thoron roared as he crossed the river and turned in the air to hover, "It's fortunate we didn't delay." Anna spoke. In silence, the group watched as the ground they had once flown over was swallowed up to become a sea of grey. The whole of the land enclosed by the river bend was now almost covered. Driven to the riverbank, hundreds of rats had begun leaping for the water, squealing in terror. Other rats were running for their lives across the plain to the to the north, just keeping ahead of the sweeping tide of death.

The second dragon was wheeling over the grey sea, blasting it with ebony colored flames. But the mass was still increasing, and every moment it seemed to be moving faster. Anna inhaled sharply, "Nothing will stop it." she said in horror.

"The river will stop it." Irene disclaimed her thoughts, "The city is bounded by water on all sides. The plains itself is no real loss. There is no drearier place in all of Ishgar." she stated.

"While this is true, would you not feel the same if it were to be Dragnof?" Thoron bellowed.

The grey reached the river and began pouring over the banks into the water. And if anything, the water seemed to strengthen it. The grey circle seemed to double size almost instantly. The rippling water of the bay flattened and thickened, the squealing swimming rats were overtaken and swallowed up. Naruto cursed in disbelief, Anna cried out and Irene gasped. Thoron gave a loud roar and arched his neck, and suddenly green flame-like energy poured from his mouth, searing the grey stream spilling over the riverbank below.

Naruto remained silent as Irene and Anna cried out as Thoron unleashed a powerful raging attack, looking back to the center of the circle. The collapsed yellow bubble was now hidden beneath a lumpy blanket of grey, the shapes of the ruins of the city easily visible around it-but only the shapes. Every ravaged building , every fallen tower, brick and stone was covered in a thick grey shroud. And here the grey no longer moved, and no longer shone in the moonlight. It was setting hard. The nightmarish vision was pushed to the back of Naruto's mind as his blood ran cold.

Grey barren land. Skeletons of trees. A river of grey, sluggish water thick as mud, with huge grey fish lying dead in the wrinkled surface... Monstrous creatures shrieking in the skies...

This wasn't a vision of the Makai coming to take over just a meager kingdom like Dragnof, but the entirety of Earthland; he understood now. This wasn't a simple curse created by a monster to allow mere mortals combat, the tide would continue to violently spread, swallowing the low rivers, forests and the plains. It would cover towns and villages and farms. It would fill valleys and smooth out hills. Nothing in its path would be spared. Death would come equally to the ferocious monsters and gentle dogs; flesh eating dragons and to the forests that were thriving with life.

Some of the grey would age and set hard, turning rivers to sludge, encasing house, beasts, crops, trees, and people alike in a shell of stone. The rest would move on. The people who could outrun it would be driven to the coasts, to fight over ships and dragons that were willing to help, the others would mill about helplessly at the waters edge very much like the rats on the riverbank. Or they would climb mountains and wait, freezing at the peaks as they mass of grey climbed, climbed, climbed...

And soon, all of Ishgar, all of Earhtland and all its variety and strangeness would be lost forever as it turned into one great, cold, grey plain. This, was Savitar's plan; his unending malice decree be done. Savitar never truly had a single plan-plans within plans that had plans within them on top of many other plans to the point it was all one big tangled mess that left you unsure of where you needed to turn and soon lost ones self to the madness of trying to figure out the bigger picture only for the answer to literally be staring you right in the eye but never be seen due to the fact you would be worrying over the small finite details and unsure if the counter plan would work.

In fact, Savitar knew that the masses would most certainly attempt to destroy his last link to the Makai. He knew that, aided by the dragons, the humans would be powerful enough to oppose him if only for a few moments. This, was the ace in the hole that Savitar planned out just perfectly. Those that defied his potential rule over all creation would learn why the world would perish by his hand. He would not be merciful, he would not spare anyone or anything from his cruelty; he would destroy everything and everyone.

Naruto gritted his teeth as one by one the pieces of Savitar's plan fell into place. He had taken the bait offered to him without a second thought, his enemy had set a trap for him, then dared him-forced him, to walk into it. Years later when he would look back on this, Naruto would hardly believe he had been so easily tricked like a child. Anger rose in him- white hot anger. It has been the enemies pleasure to make us choose unknowingly which way the land would die." he muttered, "If we failed, the land would die slowly. If we succeeded, death would come swiftly. Either way, evil would win." he shuddered out.

And as the last words left his lips, the first dead fish floated to the wrinkled surface of the dying water of the river. With howling cries, seven demonic creatures that looked like Akbaba vultures-a fitting name if their features were to go by, came swooping in from the north.

XxX

Rage dissolved into numb horror, Naruto saw the second ebony dragon swing to face the beasts shrieking as they came hurtling over the horizon. Naruto felt as Thoron's muscles jerked violently beneath him. Thoron's neck twisted, and his head turned. Naruto was caught and held by the fathomless gaze of his father's emerald glowing eye, "Savitar has sensed our attacks on the grey tide, no doubt." he hissed, "He has sent his killing creatures to protect it. He must be using powerful sorcery to indeed defy the power of the Genesis Crystal." he looked down to the scorched section of river and snorted, "There is little enough damage. But the enemy fears dragons, it seems. Even two are too many for him. I must set you down, Naruto. When this pack of demons finishes Rayquaza, they will come for me next to claim the jewel."

"No!" Naruto exclaimed, "There is still time for you to get away from here. Turn and-" Naruto started to plea only for Thoron's eye to flicker angrily, "I would rather die fighting for my family and my race than flee." the dragon said, "And I am sick of hiding away from battle."

"As this tide spreads, there will be nowhere to hide in any case!" Anna shouted to the dragon as he wheeled in the sky, "We need to stay with you, Thoron! The Genesis Crystal will protect you, and we can fight!"

"Indeed we can!" Irene said drawing her sword.

"No!" Naruto cried out, "Anna, Irene-" he felt as Anna's hand enclosed his and saw the gleam of Irene's excited grin.

"We know full well that you will not leave Thoron behind to die, Naruto!" Anna shouted, "And we will not leave you. We were together at the beginning of this, and we will be so at the end." she told him.

"And if you take this advice, you will not be attacked," Irene called out, "You will go forward and fight beside Rayquaza, fight with your brother!"

"Rayquaza is no brother of mine!" Thoron snarled at her.

"He is more your brother than the seven Ak-Baba demons heading this way!" Anna screamed furiously, "Will you leave him to be torn apart, while you wait your turn? Will the era of dragons end in your reign or will it continue for another generation more?"

Thoron bared his terrible fangs, his black tongue flickered as his eyes began to glow, "Very well." he growled, "Together we will fight beside Rayquaza,and together we will battle, this will be our last stand. But while we live, we will do to the enemy what damage we can, for the sake of our doomed land, and for our ancestors, for our young who now will never come to be." and with that, Thoron flung himself forward, streaking over the sea of grey towards the approaching pack of hunters.

As Naruto drew his sword and screwed his stinging eyes shut,he saw behind his lids; words from the tablet of Savitar-words that had always filled him with dread and now had a new and terrible meaning for him: The Enemy is clever and sly... to its anger and envy a thousand years is like the blink of an eye...

Savitar's enchantment had called his enemy 'it' and had understood something that Naruto himself had never quite accepted until this moment. However, he had begun, Savitar was now far more - or perhaps far less - than a cruel tyrant who was a master of sorcery. Long ago, perhaps,he had been merely a sorcerer, with a cloak of shadows and a boat with with a grey sail marked in red. He had felt fear, suffered a bitter defeat, and sailed across the sea to find new lands to conquer. But if he was a human then, he now no longer was. Envy, hatred, malice had consumed his humanity long ago, turned it away and made it dust in the wind. All that remained were memories.

'He' had become 'It' - a force for evil that fed on power, that destroyed and corrupted everything it had touched. A force that would never die.

'I have many plans... Plans within plans...'

'How did I ever think that I alone could defeat Savitar?' Naruto thought bitterly, 'For a thousand years he has worked towards his we - we have struggled in his web, blindly, stupidly, repeating mistakes of our ancestors. In his time Irene's great grandfather had been called mad for befriending a dragon. In our time, Anna was insulted and avoided for marrying a peasant-me. Despair is the enemy, do not let it defeat you...'

The roar from the dragons was like thunder. The bloodcurdling shrieks of the Ak-Baba split the air. Anna and Irene were shouting. They were battered by wind thick with smoke and the bitter smell of burning hair, dust, and rotting flesh that was the odor of the seven Ak-Baba. But Naruto had ceased to hear, to smell, to feel. His mind was turned inward and his skin was prickling as Thoron's voice filled his head, "...the enemy fears dragons, it seems. Even two are too many for him..."

Savitar had thought of everything...

But he had not planned on dragons.

He opened his eyes. The Ak-Baba had almost reached them. He could see their eyes, like burning pools of madness. He could see their talons, flexing and ready to tear them apart. He could see their beaks gaping, their needle sharp teeth glinting with saliva.

He closed his eyes and focused on the power emanating from the Genesis Crystal and called silently, but with all his strength, "Igneel!"

And as he thought the name, more followed into his mind and suddenly had a idea, "Igneel! Rayquaza! Saphira! Belserion! Aldoron! Metalicana! Come to our aid, I pray you! In the name of Doran the Founder and Dragonfriend! For the land! For Ishgar!"

For Thoron, he was surprised to feel the pulsating power of the Dragon Matrix around his neck heed a call, a cry for help from a voice he was intimately familiar with. He couldn't help but jerk beneath his riders, and he turned and saw as Rayquaza turns abruptly, his ebony and gold eyes blazing.

The king had risen.

And then, the Ak-Baba were upon them, howling like savage wolves, snarling and snapping , claws and teeth ripping and tearing. They worked as a pack, attacking from all sides, from above and from below. Three or four would distract their enemies by ferocious charges while the others moved in swiftly under the cover of their wings. They were vicious, fearless, and tireless. They bore the scars of countless battles and were filled with ancient cunning granted to them by their creator. But rarely had they faced two dragons at one time, and never had they faced a dragon aided by swords and magic nor the Dragon King and his all powerful Crystal.

They screeched with rage as the dragons clawed at them and blasted them with their magic. They howled as Naruto, Irene and Anna slashed at them, preventing them from closing in. Diving at them from above, as fearless as they were, slashing their blades into their necks, their heads, distracting them and enraging them the more. Then one fell - one fell as its throat was torn open by a single slash of Thoron's taloned feet. Screeching and twisting as it plunged to the earth to be engulfed by the grey tide almost instantly as the Dragon's roared in triumph.

Naruto, Anna, and Irene cheered, but the remaining Ak-Baba charged, shrieking ferociously, and Rayquaza's roar became a bellow of agony as the oft underside of his neck as pierced by teeth like needles and claws like sharpened iron. An Ak-Baba with a speckled head was clinging to his body upside down, almost like a giant bat. Blood flowed from the sides of its gaping beak, dripped over its clawed feet. Howling at the smell of blood, the others closed in. In seconds, Rayquaza was lurching in the air, his body almost hidden beneath a shrieking mass of twisting, snake-like necks and vast flapping wings.

"Help him!" Irene cried, "Hurry, make haste!" she screamed.

"He is finished." Thoron growled, "This is how they end it!" he called out in rage.

"No!" Naruto told him with a roar, "Get below him!"

Thoron wheeled and soared beneath the struggling mass of bodies. Now the speckled Ak-Baba was directly above them, its ragged winged wrapped around Rayquaza's neck, its body flattened against the dragon's hide. Naruto and Irene hesitated, suddenly fearful that if they slashed with their swords, they'd hit Rayquaza and fatally wound him with the enchanted swords as well as the beast attacking it. However, Anna hopped right up, balancing on Thoron's neck as lightly and as easily as a cat on a wire. Her sword flashed as she reached up and plunged it into the back of the demons neck, just below the head.

The vast bird stiffened, and then made a hideous gurgling sound.

"GO!" Irene roared.

Anna tore her blade free as Naruto caught her by the waist and held her fast, pulling her down as Thoron sped away. Behind them, the monster dropped like a stone. There was no moment of triumph this time. Freed from its clinging tormentor, Rayquaza was twisting in the air, slashing and roaring ebony flames at the other beasts tearing at his body. But his movements were clumsy.

He was weakening.

Thoron was weakening as well. The mighty dragon's strength had been drained by the terrible struggle with the two faced beast, drained further by his swift flight to the resting place of the Third Dragon King. All over his body, wounds had begun oozing blood. The Ak-Baba knew it. They could see the uneven wing beats of the two dragons. They could smell the blood. Shrieking, they abandoned the floundering body of Rayquaza and sped in for the kill. There were only five remaining, but those five were as fresh, ferocious, and ravenous for blood as they had been at the beginning of the struggle.

They flew, screeching, through the ebony and emerald flames and hit Thoron full on the side. Thoron lurched, tilted, lost altitude, his huge wings beating desperately, his spiked tail lashing. The Ak-Baba pursued him, surrounding him before readying themselves to hit the mighty creature once again, "This time we are are lost I fear." the dragon king growled thickly, "But if we are to die here, let us take another one of them with us!" he roared in preparation for his death.

A good death was its own reward after all.

And at that moment, there was a roar form above them, and the sky seemed to explode in a burning mass of shooting stars. The Ak-Baba scattered, howling in shock. Naruto, Anna and Irene cowered against Thoron's scales, coughing in a haze of smoke that stank of singed hair and scorched cloth. And out of the heavens soared Metalicana, wings spread with glittering steel and iron blazing from his snarling jaws. The Ak-Baba wheeled in the air, turning to face the Iron Dragon, snake-like necks stretching, beaks gaping wide as they howled in fury.

Then suddenly, one was gone, snatched from the air and suddenly there was a sickening crunch as its neck broke between vast red jaws.

And as its lifeless body was tossed aside, as the Fire Dragon King roared in his triumph and the remaining Ak-Baba shrieked and howled defiance, a ball of sapphire blue flame roared through the smoke haze. Three of the shrieking beasts dived. The fourth was to slow. The fireball struck. The feathers of its wings ignited and it plummeted to the ground, trailing a plume of fire.

Now only three remained. Through the smoke and fire, they could see five vast, glittering shapes. Five sets of snarling fangs. Five lashing tails. They shrieked defiantly as they hovered in the air before another was ripped away from behind with a cry of panic which died out just as quickly as it was torn in two causing the other two to immediately forget fighting the larger pack and flee away from the battle. There was yet another roar and a gush of golden flame lit the sky in the west, the Ak-Baba crying out as they dodged and soared off into the distance back to their master in defeat.

And the dragons did not follow. For by the light of the great, golden moon they could see the grey tide below. They could see it spreading before their eyes. They could feel its deadening chill.

And they knew what they had to do.

XxX

Speechless, Naruto, Anna, and Irene clung to Thoron as he flew to take his place in the circle of dragons surrounding the great sea of expanding grey. They watched in wonder as the dragons dropped lower and begun to hover.

Then, without a word nor signal, the dragons all roared.

Flames and magical energies gushed from their jaws. Ebony and emerald, gold, sapphire blue. Flames of crimson and white, flames of all color.

...the enemy fears dragons, it seems. Even two are too many for him...

"And what of six?" Naruto thought, before he changed that number to seven as he took notice of the now recovered Rayquaza gravely hovering beside Aldoron, adding his own incredible magic to the fire. The edges of the tide scorched and blackened, and when the circle was bounded by a broad black band, the dragons began moving slowly, patiently inward. Whenever they breathed; they breathed pure energy and flame, and wherever their power fell, the grey burned and died. And no dragon moved on while any patch of grey remained.

On and on the dragons moved, their circle tightening, as the great moon rose and paled, and stars filled the blackness of the sky.

Gradually the grey inside the circle grew less, and the black band outside it grew broader. By now hundreds of dragons surrounded the bay of the Dragon King, refugee's from all over sitting upon their backs. The people on the ground could only stare in wonder and saw more black than grey. At last, the dragons were so close together that the tips of their wings were touching. Together they roared, and a rainbow of colors from their magics mingled in a great blaze. And when that last great fire had died, nothing remained of Savitar's terror but a vast circle of blackened ash.

In the center of the circle, the seven dragons and their king, hovered as if unwilling to end the moment. The dragons joined to relish their triumph, grieve for what had been lost, and look to the future. And all who looked upon that scene were swept by a great wave of joy and wonder. For they saw that the shining wings of the dragons were like the fabled gems of the Primordial Dragons; blazing in the sky.

In years to come; the story would become legend, the night called Dragon's Night would be Ishgar's greatest festival of the year, celebrated with feasts, dancing, games, and circles of fireworks from across the continent. Children dressed as Naruto, Anna or Irene and would ride dragons made of carved wood painted in the likeliness of one of the great dragons from that fabled tale. And at midnight, a great bonfire would be lit in every town and village in the land, and Ishgar would ring in cheers.

But those who had witnessed that first Dragon Night would be to awestruck to cheer. For nothing would have been able to compare to the spectacle and participating in the grand legend.