Here is chapter three of this story. Don't worry the next Wish chapter and hopefully how to Unite Two Worlds will come this weekend. And next week Encanto 2 will come as well and Wish will finally be finished. I apologise for not updating a bit earlier. I've been enjoying the Olympics and dealing with the heat.

Departs and Broken Hearts Part One:

(Two Years Ago)

Team Zym with the exception of the Dragon Prince but the addition of Soren and Ethari had arrived at the Moon Nexus. It was decided that Ethari would stay there until it was safe to return to the Silvergrove again. Raylan and Caroline had promised to visit him as much as possible. As he settled into his room, Ethari held his beloved Runaan's lotus and placed it inside a bowl of water. It sunk to the bottom, though the gemstone glowed dimly. "Oh Runaan, I will find you," he prayed. "I will get you back,"

The door creaking made him turn and he saw the couple entering inside. "Are you okay, Dad?" his adoptive son asked. Ethari nodded.

"I know it's not the Silvergrove but you'll be safe here," Carol promised. "Lujanne promised to grant you sanctuary here. And we'll come and visit as soon as possible,". She saw the lotus flower inside the bowl and felt her muscles tense. She pushed that hatred deep inside her heart and walked over to take Ethari's hand. "I'm going to keep my promise Ethari. I will find out what happened to your husband and get him back,"

"You still have told them, have you," the former blacksmith asked.

Carol sighed. "No. I haven't,"

"Carol, you have to," Raylan begged. "You can't carry this secret like a burden,"

"If I tell them, they will try and stop me. Even though Viren was the one who killed Avizandum and framed our dad, they will not see reason. None of Katolis will see reason. I will tell them one day but only once I find out what happened to Runaan and find a way to bring him back to you both,"

"I couldn't do that to you," Ethari said with guilt.

"It's my choice, Ethari. I owe you a debt," Caroline spoke wholeheartedly. "And I will not break my promise,". The elf was touched by her kindness; he hoped once she reunited him with his husband, Runaan could feel the same way too.

"It's time we went to bed," Raylan suggested. "After our long journey, we need sleep," he hugged Ethari goodnight and left with his girlfriend, his adoptive father smiling after them. As they walked to their shared room, he groaned softly as he scratched his neck.

"Moonray?" his concerned girlfriend asked.

"It's nothing,"

"It's not nothing," she stopped his walking. "It's the bite, isn't it. Please let me see,"

Raylan pulled his hair back and pulled his jacket down a bit. The bite was purple. "I thought it would have disappeared by now but it stings every single day,"

"We should get you checked on,"

"No, Caroline. It can't be as bad as it seems. It's just a temporary thing,"

"Be careful what you assume," Lujanne approached them with her boyfriend: the hefty, bearded Allen from the Caldera village. "If the stinging doesn't go away, it could get worse," she advised cautiously. "How is your dear Ethari?"

"He likes his new room. Thank you so much for allowing him to stay here," Raylan said gratefully.

"I will keep him safe here for as long as he needs. But he cannot stay here forever. Lord Moono has known about this place for quite some time. He may come here,"

"He wouldn't dare cross the Border," Carol pointed out. "Not with his hatred of humans and the Dragon queen already seeking him out to punish him for drugging her son,"

"That is right but don't be so certain," Lujanne warned again. "Come along Allen. It's been a long day and I could use some sleep,"

"But as a Moonshadow elf, aren't you supposed to be more active at night, Janey-Lu?" his boyfriend flirted.

The guardian laughed in a flirty manner. "Oh, don't you start Allen,"

"Okay. Please keep that to a minimum," Raylan begged. He was not used to grown-ups flirting with each other.

"Excuse me but don't you and Carol do the same thing in front of everyone," Lujanne teased back.

Carol sniggered. "She got you there Moonray. Come on. I'm really tired and I could do with a good sleep. Good night Lujanne and Allen,"

The teens walked off to their own room and entered whilst the flirty couple decided to walk up to the balcony to enjoy the crescent moon for a while longer.

In the middle of the night, in his bed, Raylan was tossing and turning in his sleep.

The Moonshadow warrior climbed out from a lake of water. But when he opened his eyes, he found himself inside the Dragon Queen's Lair surrounded by four chunks of ice. He walked over and touched the freezing cold surface, feeling melted ice rubbing on his fingers. He wiped the surface but to his horror saw a face. And not just any face. Runaan's. he gasped. He staggered back. "No," he bumped into another chunk. He turned around and saw his mother. Then his father in the other. "No!" he screamed.

Cruel cackling and loud footsteps approached from the shadows. He spun around bearing his butterfly blades. It was Lord Viren, grey-skinned with dark eyes wielding his staff. "No! You're dead!"

Viren's eyes glowed purple. "You thought you could defeat me, puny elf. But I have returned. I am back now,"

"What have you done to my family?"

"I see you've looked at my collection. Well guess what I've added another person," he stepped towards the fourth iceberg and rubbed it revealing a beautiful girl with dark hair and frozen-shut eyes.

Raylan's heart froze like ice. "Get away from her!"

"She's mine now!"

"You're going to pay for everything you've done!"

"It's too late Raylan!" Viren raised his staff. Red energy filled the room. "But don't worry, you'll be joining them soon!".

Inside the ice, Carol's eyes opened; they met Raylan's violet ones. "Raylan!"

"Raylan!" Carol shook him. "Wake up!". But the elf kept shaking in his sleep.

Carol! Felix barked. Use this! He held up a feather of moon-blue. Quickly she ticked it under his nose and Achoo! Felix and the Adoraburrs fell off the bed in shock. Raylan rubbed his eyes and nose, inhaling deeply. "Wait…what?"

"Don't you scare me like that," his girlfriend threatened. Their eyes met. Tears rained from Raylan's chin and he embraced her, heartbroken with joy. "It's alright," she rubbed his back. "I'm here,"

"I thought I lost you," as he pulled back, he saw Felix and the Adoraburrs climbing onto his lap. He smiled, finding comfort in the fox's warm fur. The blue Adoraburr hopped onto his shoulder, tickling his neck.

"Tell me what happened," Carol begged.

"I saw him,"

"Who?"

"Viren,"

The Adoraburrs squeaked and hid behind Felix afraid of that name. "No," Carol shook her head. "That's impossible. He's dead,"

"I know it sounds like that but I saw him. He had Runaan and my parents imprisoned in ice, in a fate worse than death. And…" his voice broke. "You were imprisoned too. You looked dead like…there was no life left in you,". Carol embraced him again and he hugged her tightly. "It felt so real,"

"You're not going to lose me. Not now. Not ever,"

Nothing she said could make him feel better. He had never been more scared of anything in his entire life.

(Present Day)

Raylan's hair had grown longer to down to mid-back. He wore it tied back in a long ponytail; the top part was braided with silver ringlets whilst shorter side strands swung against both sides of his face. He wore a navy undershirt with a black vest and a sleeveless, hooded navy coat with embroidered moon symbols that reached just past his waist. A dark brown belt with a moon-symbol buckle, black belt pouches and slots for his butterfly blades behind his back was fastened above dark green pants, and knee-high brown boots with navy soles. For armour, he donned leather pauldrons, and leather black, brown and green gloves with matching armguards and knee pads. And for the final touch, he wore a black neck bandana and his mother's pendant.

He stretched his arms to the rising of the next sun. Stella, a cute cuddlemonkey connected to the stars, stretched her four arms and then her prehensile tail. "Good morning girl,". He stood up and pulled off his navy coat. He did some press-ups and then a split to calm his mind. Once he had finished his regular exercise which Runaan had taught him, he went to the river and wiped his face clean of facial sweat. But then splash!

Thasian, the moon dragon next to him, laughed and so did Stella. He growled, spitting out a long line of the fresh liquid. "Oh ha, ha. Very funny. Come on guys. We need to find some food,". He went back to his supplies and shrouded himself in his navy coat. Thasian sat still as his rider and rescuer attached the saddle to his back and tightened it carefully. The supplies were strapped to the back and Raylan mounted him. Stella chose to ride on his head between his two crescent horns. "Remember Stella…" her cuddle-papa warned. "No swinging on his horns in mid-flight,"

That's right. Thasian warned. Stella huffed. Feeling a pat on his scaly neck, the medium-sized dragon who was just a bit smaller in comparison to Pyrrah took off to the sky. The elf rider pulled out a map etched with hundreds of crosses. "I say we head back to the mountains just near the ruined city. We might have our luck there again,". He folded the map away and just sat still silently, feeling the wind in his hair. "I always dreamed of having wings of my own, never letting gravity pull me to the earth and stop me from feeling the wonders of the air,". He gazed at the clouds, admiring their shapes and sizes and for a short moment, he thought he could see a mage with wings instead of arms soaring above him. "Carol?" he rubbed his eyes and looked up. Only plain sky. He sighed.

Stella purred sadly and hopped into his arms. "Thanks, girl," he hugged her tightly. "I miss her. More than I can express. I know she will love you two,"

Oh, Raylan. Thasian roared sadly.

"I know Thasian. It's been two years since I left her now. But I didn't have a choice. I couldn't bear the thought of losing her too,"

(Two Years Earlier, after their adventure in the Moon Nexus Lake)

Raylan and Caroline were sitting on a large rock near the Moon Nexus lake. Carol was concerned for her boyfriend as he was silent unable to face him. "Moonray, please tell me what happened in there,"

"The first people I saw were the Moonshadow Assassins. They looked angry, wanting to kill me for failing my duty to kill your siblings. Even though my bands were gone, they said I was a traitor nonetheless for defending you,". He rubbed his arm wound. "But what I saw next was much worse. I saw Viren. And the Sun Mage Janai and your aunt killed and the Earth mage we faced. Inside some kind of chrysalis. Their eyes were open and he said that he would return,"

"That can't be true. Viren couldn't have survived that fall off the Spire,"

"We didn't find his body. And at some point after the battle, we didn't find the others' bodies too. Castor their leader fell during the battle. But we didn't find a dead body. And he wasn't in a chrysalis either,".

Fear started brewing in Carol's heart. She was shaking with terror.

"I think…I think he's still out there somewhere. And Claudia could be with him. I know you don't want it to be real Carol but…"

"Raylan, I believe you," she took his hand. "Whatever it is you saw it meant something. We need to find out what really happened to Viren and we have to find Claudia and Castor too. As long as they're out there, the entire world is in danger. We'll go together. And maybe we'll able to find out what happened to Runaan and I can bring him back. I can keep my promise to you and Ethari,"

"No," Raylan shook his head. "I've already lost Runaan and my family. I can't lose you too,"

"Raylan, you cannot do this by yourself. We're stronger together. Two for one remember?"

Raylan thought for a moment, remembering their vows to one another atop the Spire after she saved him with her wings. 'Two for one'. "Okay," he took her hands and pulled her up to stand and face him. "We'll go together. We'll leave first thing in the morning. I love you Carily. More than I can express,"

"I love you too, Moonray," Carol kissed his lips. He cradled her head as they embraced one another.

That night in their shared guest room, Raylan could not sleep well again. He tossed and turned in his bed again.

A vicious daemon warrior chasing down Caroline. It had eyes the colour of blood and flesh the shade of pitch blade with green glowing blood veins. She tripped. Then the last thing she did was scream as blades pierced her flesh. Blood was split.

"No," Raylan sat up, breathing heavily. Across the room, in a deep trance, Caroline was sleeping peacefully. Felix however was awake, his ears flicking. He saw Raylan. "I'm okay, Felix," he whispered. "Just got a bit jittery. Go back to sleep,". With a disapproving frown, the fox laid down again on the pillow with the Adoraburrs all covered under his warm tail. His eyes shut at once, too tried to keep them open.

Moments later, Raylan was dressed in a long green coat carrying his knapsack stacked with supplies. He walked to the sleeping Caroline, taking gentle steps not to wake the heavily tried Felix and Adoraburrs. "I'm sorry but I can't lose you too Carily," he whispered. "I love you too much,". On the bedside table, he placed a rolled-up scroll with Caroline's name etched down in ink with beautiful calligraphy. With a tear falling from his eye, he kissed her forehead. Then he retreated slowly towards the door taking one last look at the girl he loved with all his heart. Scrunching his eyes he turned away and closed the door carefully. Then he disappeared into the dark of the night, taking one last look back at the Moon Nexus disappearing behind him. "Farewell Father. Farewell my friends. Farwell my Carily,"

A giant elf stood tall and mighty with evil eyes.

Carol was falling from the sky with a blindfold covering her eyes.

Fire rained from the sky from the mouth of a blind six-horned dragon, upon an army led by Janai and Amaya.

Raylan was all black-skinned with red-glowing eyes.

"Raylan!" Willow woke up breathing heavily. She struggled to breathe. "Willow?" Ezran rushed to her bed with Bait. "Are you okay?" she hugged her. "What did you see?"

She was silent. She couldn't breathe for a while. But as she pulled back, her brother held her hands tenderly letting her know he was there for her. "I saw horrible things. This giant purple elf, our sister falling from the sky, a dragon breathing fire upon Janai and Amaya and Raylan…"

"What about Raylan?" Ezran asked.

"He was…dark. Like he wasn't the elf we knew, the elf Carol loves,"

Bait didn't want to hear anymore and hid behind the boy king. "We must tell them at once," he insisted.

"Not now. Today is someone's special birthday. Remember?"

"Absolutely," Ezran smiled. "And I can't believe today is her first official special day with her boyfriend. Yay!" Bang! Bang! Bait jumped and hid under the bed.

"Relax Bait, it's just Raylan and Carol," Willow said. Bait came out and hopped into her arms.

Her brother pulled the door open. No one was outside. Woof. He looked down and saw it was Felix. "What is it, Felix?"

Willow watched the fox woof sadly at the brother's hands flung to his mouth. "What is it?" she asked.

Ezran picked up the fox and turned to her with swollen eyes. "Raylan's gone,". Bait's jaw dropped

"Gone? What do you mean gone?"

Abruptly they rushed outside, following Felix to a beach near the lake. The Adoraburrs were on her shoulders, chirping. Her eyes fell onto the letter Raylan had written.

"Carol?" Ezran asked, coming towards her. She didn't answer him.

"Hey! What's going on?!" Soren appeared from the forest. "What happened? Why is Carol crying?"

Willow looked at him with sad eyes. "Raylan's gone,"

Soren's jaw dropped. "What?"

"He left last night,"

"Oh my," Soren sat down. Willow slouched beside her, cuddling Bait. "How could he just take off like this?"

"Sis, it's going to be okay," Ezran tried to touch her shoulder but she stood up abruptly. "He promised we would go together. But he broke it. He broke his promise,". The letter fell from her fingers and she sprinted into the forest, Felix bounding behind her.

Ezran wiped his tears away and picked up the fallen letter. "What does it say?" Willow asked.

"I don't think it's for us to read," Ezran shook his head.

"We should," Soren insisted. "We need to know what he's up to. It's the only way we might find him again,". The siblings exchanged glances and came to a decision. Sitting between them, Ezran stared at each word written in stylish calligraphy.

My dearest Carily,

By the time you're reading this, I will be miles away from the Nexus. I'm sorry but for the last few nights, the fear of losing you has become too agonising. This is why I have made the most difficult decision of my life to break my promise to you because I die out there rather than lose you. After all we have been through together, after all that has happened, it has made me realise one thing. Nothing is more important to me than keeping you safe.

And how could I put you in danger like that when Ezran, Willow and Katolis need you? What I dreamed that night before felt real, what I saw in the Nexus lake felt real. It's a sign that you are in grave danger and I must do everything I can to protect you as I promised your father.

My other greatest regret is that I had to leave on your birthday of all days. I was so looking forward to spending this special day with you. I've left a note for Lujanne to make you a special treat, out of proper food, not grubs. The gift I leave to you is this letter in the hopes it will tell you how much I love you, how much I love how talented, how pure-hearted you are.

You may have no reason to read this request but all I ask is that every night look at the moon. I hope that with its bright gaze, you can feel the love I hold for you, for it is always with you even when I am not. And I will do that same, hoping it will shine brighter every time you gaze upon it.

I will think of you every day until I return. Just don't forget me no matter how you may feel. When I return, I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you. And I hope that over time you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

I love you now

I love you always

Love Raylan.

Folded in the rolled peace of scroll parchment was a small picture, a drawing of Caroline. It was captivating. "How could he be so stupid?!" Soren yelled. "My father is dead! He plunged to his death!"

"We didn't find his body, Soren," Willow reminded him. "Nor did we find your…Claudia and Castor as well. They're still out there. And no matter how hard we've tried, we can't find them anywhere,"

"There must be a way to track Raylan down," Ezran said. "We could fly on Pyrrah and probably catch up to him,"

"He left in the middle of the night," his sister reminded again. "He's long gone by now,"

"We can't just sit by and do nothing,"

"We won't. We can send Skywing elves to search for him. Maybe they can keep a lookout,"

"Uh, in case you're forgetting Raylan is a Moonshadow elf. He's good at hiding, being invisible to people's senses…he can disappear without a trace," Soren blew through his lips. "Like magic. Course he has magic but...you know what I mean,"

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Ezran asked. "Just sit by and do nothing whilst he risks his life out there for us. What about Caroline? What about Ethari? What are we supposed to do,"

No words were exchanged.

Caroline sat in the woods on the same rock she and Raylan did all those weeks ago. Felix tried to purr under her hand but no warmth could heal her broken heart. The Adoraburrs decided to leave her shoulder and mount Felix who walked off deciding space was all she wanted.

She stared at the rising sun, wishing it was a moon instead. She heard silent footprints and twisted her head. She saw Ethari, tear-stricken holding a letter in his hands. "Oh Carol…" he sat beside her. "I am so sorry,"

"How could he leave? Two for one. That's what makes us stronger. What am I supposed to do now? How am I supposed to feel?"

"Feel his love. It's always with you, even when he is not," Ethari comforted. "Just like Runaan's love is always with me," he touched her pendant. "I promise Raylan will return to us, to you safe and well,".

Carol could say no words. Ethari pulled her into his arms and she cried against his chest. He held her tightly, shedding his own tears too.

On a campsite, far, far north Raylan wrapped himself in his cloak in front of a fire. He clutched his mother's pendant, holding her and his fathers in his heart. He was going to need all the strength his memories of them could master to push him on to continue his quest. A fallen tear made the fire sizzle. "I'm sorry Carily,". Suddenly he felt a painful sting from his neck. "Ahh!". He pressed his hand over his wound; the pain was agonising. But even worse something was growing underneath his skin. Like living poison.

"You are wounded, young warrior," he turned around and saw an angelic woman with long golden hair, wearing white. A silver ring shimmered on her finger. "You need help,". Ignoring the pain, Raylan brought out his blades. "Do not be afraid, Raylan, son of Lain and Tiadrin, adoptive son of Runaan and Ethari. I am a friend,"

Shaken by her words, Raylan lowered his blades. "Who are you?"

"I am the Lady Galadriel, ruler with my husband Celeborn of the golden forest of Lothlorien, bearer of Nenya, the Ring of Adamant and Water. Please rise young one and tell me how you gained this wound so that I may help you,"

Raylan still didn't trust her. But as he saw pointy ears behind her hair, his heart dropped. He felt speechless.

And that's the third chapter done. What did you all think? I know someone suggested I write down a moon dragon companion to Raylan but I can't remember what the name was so I named it Apollo. If whoever did it would like to say the name they suggested, I'll rewrite it. Anyway, I hope you all loved it. Thank you for all the ideas for this story and the others. I promise you all, I will get the next How to Unite Worlds chapter up. See you all soon.