Here is the start of the next episode. I have tried to use some ideas as best as I can but I can't promise I can use everything. I hope you all enjoy it.
The Drakeword Part One:
Soren, Raylan and Stella were surrounded by the vicious riders. "I told you this would happen," Raylan hissed.
"Hey. You didn't do anything but abandon an innocent dragon behind," Soren defended. "Like you left...".
Don't you start! Stella screeched aggressively in his face.
"Call your dragon,". Soren hissed.
"No, we call them, we put the whole village in danger,". Raylan retorted.
The Drakewood leader glared at them. "Apprehend them,".
"We're not going anywhere with you,". Soren pointed his sword at them.
"Anyone who trespasses into our territory and attacks us has to be punished,". Warlon answered back.
"Serves you right for attacking that poor dragon," Soren answered back.
"Arrest them!".
The elves obeyed their leader and marched on the two warriors and the little monkey. Raylan flipped over one who tried to launch at him. He tripped another two over with his sword.
"That is still not a thing!" Soren shouted over his personal fighting with some other ones.
"Shut up, Soren!" Raylan ranted.
Warlon growled and clicked his fingers. A soldier passed him a bola. He threw it towards Raylan.
Stella screeched. Her alert sent Raylan somersaulting backwards in the air. Soren, unfortunately, wasn't so lucky. The elf pushed back some more elves to save him, but they would be overwhelmed in seconds.
"Run Stella. Get help,". Raylan begged, pushing another one back.
No. Stella hugged his face.
"It's our only chance. You have to get help. Go!" he begged.
Forgive me. Stella hugged his face again, opened a portal and disappeared into thin air before she could be swiped. Warlon had enough and sent his fist flying towards Raylan's face when he was distracted.
"Raylan!" Soren watched the elf fall to the ground; his face battered by such a blow.
"Take 'em away! We'll deal with them in the morning,". They restrained the beaten elf and defeated human and confiscated their weapons and items before dragging them deep into the forest.
Hiding on a branch, Stella could do nothing but watch the Drakeriders take her person and his rival away. She couldn't leave them. She couldn't help them, could she? Even with her teleporting powers, she was just one small monkey.
Besides, if Raylan was in danger, Carol would come for him. She had to. But they would be ready for them. Still, it was their only chance. She opened the portal and went through it again. She was back above the village. She saw Thaisan sleeping. She was about to go to him when she saw berries a few trees away. Her tummy rumbled. No, I have to get back. But Stella was too drawn to them. Just a quick midnight snack.
She teleported to the tree and tried to take a berry. She nibbled on it. But instantly, she spat it out. It was disgusting. Suddenly, a pair of white eyes appeared in front of her. And she fell into a trance.
To the young human born.
To wield the magic of six
To save the world, she'll fix.
Born of the moon.
Trained a warrior too soon.
A darkness will grow.
But his heart of love will show.
A giant chessboard with dragon chess pieces made of stone and crystals.
An empty cavern of no light but full of screeching noises.
A layer covered in webs
A maze full of moving vines and echoing with monstrous snorts.
A crystal cavern with no way out.
A room full of lava
Carol is surrounded by the power of the six primal sources. And a seventh source of powerful magic ….
Carol falling from the sky.
The Star Archdragon was speaking to the rider who saved Carol. 'If she learns what she must do, she will fail. '
Willow woke up, shuddering heavily.
"Willow, are you okay?".
She turned her head and saw his brother, wide awake. He moved over to her, holding her steady as her breathing took hold over her. "What happened? What did you see?".
"I dreamed of the tasks we're going to face,".
Ezran was overjoyed. "Then that's great news. Right? It means we'll be prepared for what's to come,".
"Not completely, but we know what to expect at least,".
"Let's go tell the others,". He was about to move when he noticed Willow was still looking too pale. "What is it?".
"I saw our sister surrounded by all the primal sources, another powerful magic and ….," she paused.
"And what?".
Willow couldn't speak, but Ezran's wet eyes begged her to. "I saw her falling from the sky. To her death. And that's not all,".
Benji woke up early. Pliph's head was above him. The dragon licked his face; he giggled. "Good morning, Pliph,". He sat up and stretched his arms, observing Carol asleep peacefully with Ghost and Felix in her arms and the Adoraburrs nestled in her hair.
"Isn't she the sweetest person in the world, Pliph?" he cuddled his dragon.
She is. He purred.
They went to the window and looked carefully out at the radiant sunlight. "What a beautiful morning. Think we should wake up Carol?".
"I'm already awake." Carol was already up, Ghost and Felix stretching out their legs.
"Oh, I'm sorry if we woke up,".
"Don't apologise, Benji. Did you sleep well?".
"I did. Best night in a long while. For Earthblood elves, they have cosy tree rooms,".
"They sure do. And it's my first time staying here,". The Adoraburrs chirped as she held out her palm, and they hopped on. She offered them to Benji, who cooed at their cuteness. He stroked their heads, and they hopped onto his shoulders. "They like you, Benji. Now let's head outside,".
They walked into the open air, Benji sticking close to the teen girl at all times. She offered her hand, and he took it.
"Carol, you're awake,". Tua walked up to them.
"Morning, Tua,".
"Did you both sleep well?".
"We sure did," said Benji.
"Benji, why don't you go and play with the dragons? Carol and I need to talk about something. If that's okay with you, Carol?".
"Of course. I'll see you later, Benji,".
Benji saw Tua's dragon friends ahead and ecstatically ran off to play with them. Pliph, carrying the Adoraburrs on his back, flew after him. Felix and Ghost whined. "You go and join in the fun," their person encouraged. The fox and the dragon chased after them. She giggled, imagining herself when she was Benji's age, skipping off to have fun with animals like Felix back when he was a cub.
"You must like this kid a lot,".
"He reminds me so much of myself. Now what is it you want to talk about, Tua?".
Tua led the mage through the village. Around the dead fireplace, Carol saw her siblings eating some fruit with Pyrrah, Serena and Bait. They waved, and she waved back. To her surprise, there was no sign of Soren or Raylan. "So, what is it you want to talk to me about?".
"Carol, have you ever considered learning the Earth Arcanum?". Tua's question sent Carol into a state of deep thinking.
"To answer your question, partly yes. After I graduated from Sky Magic School, I felt this uncanny premonition that learning the Moon and Sun Arcanum was something I could do. That it was my destiny or something,".
"How did you learn the other two?".
"Learning the Moon Arcanum meant accepting the dark parts of myself like a secret I've been keeping from my siblings and understanding that other people have dark parts like Raylan leaving me behind and Caldor concealing his true identity from Katolis for years. It was all about accepting the truth is true reality,".
"And the Sun?".
"That it's powered by all emotions, not just positive ones. I had to accept that even though I seemed happy on the outside, I was angry and heartbroken deep inside because this war cost me my family. I had to accept that strength comes from not just one emotion but many,".
"And you managed to figure it all out yourself. You are much wiser than you give yourself credit for,".
In a nearby glade surrounded by trees, Benji and Pliph pressed their eyes against a tree. "Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven,". As he counted down, all the dragons, along with Ghost, Felix and the Adoraburrs, hid under trunks or up in the branches. "Six. Five,". Pliph turned around a little. "No cheating, Pliph. Four. Three. Two. One. Coming ready or not!". They walked around, searching for their friends. They searched under and over giant trunks, but the dragons were so difficult to find. "You'd better not be cheating anyone. Wanna look in the trees, Pliph?".
The berry dragon flew around the branches. Benji next heard the giggles of a little girl. He turned around and saw a Startouch elf child with a single horn sprouting out of her forehead. "Hello there. Where did you come from?".
The child didn't speak. She flicked her hand. "Oh, I … I can't follow you. I have to find my …" She dashed off. "Hey! Wait!". He chased after her. Pliph saw him flying away and roared, but he didn't hear him. She flew after him. Felix and Ghost peered out from their shared hiding spot in the trees and saw them running away.
Where are they going? Ghost wondered.
Benji was talking to someone invisible. Felix barked. Someone who we couldn't see. We have to tell Carol.
The teen girls were sitting down. "No, Tua. I shouldn't wield another Arcanum,".
"You have already mastered the Moon, Sky and Sun Arcanums. I believe that this is a sign you have to master all six. You're the first human in centuries to have wielded primal magic,".
"Yes, but what if I'm not meant to have this power?".
"It's your destiny, Carol. It is what fate wrote out for them,".
"How can you know for sure?".
"I may not be able to see the future like Startouch elves. But out there during my adventures around Xadia, I have seen that when signs show, we must always assume that the people they represent are destined for something greater than they could have ever comprehended,".
"I don't want to become greedy or obsessed with power. And the mission has to come first,".
Before Tua could argue more, the chief came walking up to them. "Chief?".
"I must speak with you all immediately,". He whistled, and some elves brought Willow, Ezran and their animals to him.
"I am sorry to report to you all, but Soren and the Moonshadow elf did not come back last night,".
"What?" Carol asked, standing up abruptly.
"Why did you not wake us?". Ezran asked.
"We thought we'd let you all sleep. We sent out elves to find them, but they found no sign of them,".
Willow turned pale. "What if they …?".
"They didn't," Tua growled.
"We don't know that for sure," Carol said. "But we need to find them. I'm gonna go and find Benji whilst you all get ready,". Before she could even dash off, Felix came running up to her, the Adoraburrs on his back and Ghost flying into her arms. "Hey guys,".
Benji's gone. Felix pawed at her legs.
"What is it, boy?" she stroked his head.
"What's he saying?" asked Willow.
"He's saying: 'We were playing hide-and-seek when we saw Benji rushing into the forest like he was chasing someone. Someone who we couldn't see but he could' ". Ezran translated.
"Benji," Carol breathed. "The forest will be dangerous. We have to go after him,".
Ethari and Warveth approached the royal tent. "I dread to think of how this will all turn out after last night,". The former said.
"Queen Janai will be expected to hold a trial,". The Sun Mage said. "And Karim will strongly discourage her from thinking otherwise,". The guards saw them and opened them wide to let them in. And to Warveth's expectation, Karim was inside, talking to his sister.
"Our people were frustrated even before that human extinguished Sunus and Yonnis's soul candle. It was like a flame to dry leaves,".
"Dry leaves burn out quickly." The queen placed down her crown.
Karim sat on a comfy cushion. "Sister, when Khessa died, we lit a candle for her. What would you have done if someone had snuffed it out?". His words made Janai close her eyes. They had grieved deeply for their beloved sister.
Even the mention of her made Warveth shut his eyes too. Ethari clasped his shoulder to comfort her. "We lit hundreds of candles burned after Lux Area, the only light on that dark night,". Warveth's sad prayer made their presence known. "The candles of my parents burned that night,".
"We have already lost so much," Karim lamented. "So many of our brothers and sisters. Our queen. Our home. Now, those who live fear we will lose our way of life, too. You must show them that you understand their pain," he demanded of the current queen.
"Karim, the queen does not need you pushing into doing what you want. She feels their pain." Warveth defended her.
"The human must face justice,".
Before either Warveth or Ethari could intervene, Amaya stepped in. " 'Am I interrupting something? '" she signed.
Benji and Pliph followed the floating Startouch child deep into the forest. "Wait! Who are you?!" the kid cried out. But the child didn't stop. He just kept following and following her, and then poof. She disappeared into thin air. He found himself in the middle of a forest plain. And he had completely run too far away from the glade and the village to find his way back.
"Look behind your Benji,". A sweet voice echoed in his ears. Was it the girl again? Benji didn't touch. He cuddled Pliph, afraid of moving. "Don't be afraid, young child. It's perfectly safe,".
Holding back his fear, Benji turned around and saw a dazzling sight. He saw a giant temple built entirely of marble, adorned with crystals. And the sky wasn't light anymore. It was dark with sparkling constellations and radiant aurora borealis. "I must be dreaming,".
"No, you are not dreaming,". The girl appeared before him again.
"Who are you?".
"I am Leola. And what you see before you is the place you must travel to. To find the Sanctuary Sominare, you follow my last wish,".
"What are you talking about? Why are you telling this to me? Caroline, the High Mage of Katolis is the person who should be doing this,".
"Her role is already set in motion,".
"Then send her siblings. They've got gifts. I have nothing. I'm no one,".
"No. You're not. This is the very reason you have felt like you were meant to come on this quest. I sent you that premonition because this is what you need to do. Because your heart, like hers, is pure and true. You are important in what's to come. Remember, follow my last wish and you'll find the Sanctuary Somniare,". She raised her hand, and Benji's eyes were touched by magic.
He screamed out, "OW!" and rubbed them hard. The pain dissolved. But when he opened his eyes again, the image of the Sanctuary and the Startouch child were no longer there. They were alone again in the forest.
"Come on, Pliph. We'd better get back before Carol finds out we're missing. She'll be so mad,".
He was about to walk off when his dragon flew out of his hands. "Woah, buddy. Where are you going?". Like a dog, his dragon was sniffing around the grass, catching a trail. Snap! He growled. "What is it, boy?".
Kneeling on the grass, Benji crawled forward and pushed back some bushes. It was a small Bluebrow Gecko with blue tendrils above their eyes and a blue-coloured fin at the tip of its tail. It was wounded.
"Hey, little guy," Benji cooed. The Gecko chirped angrily. "I mean girl,". He reached a hand forward, but it snarled. "It's alright. I'm not gonna hurt you,".
Pliph chirped. Trust him. he's taken care of me, so he'll take care of you.
The little gecko slowly snaked into Benji's palm, and he held her up. "Don't worry. We'll take care of you,". He held the little reptile to his face and her little head touched his warm cheeks. Pliph's ears flickered. He looked up and saw a looming shadow. He barked.
"What is it, boy?". Benji asked. A twig fell on his head. He saw the leaves above rustling. "Run!". They tried to flee, but a large dragon blocked their way, raising its giant head. It was a pure white with grey curvy horns sprouting out of its furry mane. The gecko was scared. She slipped into Benji's shirt. Pliph hid behind his back. "I don't usually hunt in the day, but with all that noise you made in my sleep, I'm gonna have to have you as a snack,". Her blue eyes turned white, and Benji fell into a deep trance. Pliph tried to do something, but the dragon imprisoned him in her claws. She leaned her head forward to the unresponsible boy, opening her jaws.
"You leave that boy alone!" shouted a voice.
The dragon turned and saw a winged mage dive-bomb from the sky, kicking it in the face. In the form of a green bear, Tua charged out of the bushes and leapt on the dragon's head, pinning it down and giving Carol a chance to land and carry Benji away. The hypnotic dragon threw Tua off her, rolling her across the ground and turning her into her elven form again. Carol shot a lightning bolt at the dragon, freeing little Pliph, who flew into her arms, scared to death. With that chance, Tua sent out an echoing whistle. All her dragons shot from the trees and fired upon the white dragon, forcing it to flee.
"Chase it down!" Tua ordered. Her companions flew after them.
Benji was still in his hypnotic state. "Benji!" Ezran and Willow rushed up to him.
"Is he okay?". The king asked.
"That white dragon was hypnotising him. We'll have to snap him out of it,". Carol clapped her hands. Nothing.
"Together!" Willow joined in. Then their brother and Tua. Still nothing. Serena had an idea. She honked right into the kid's ear. Benji woke up and screamed.
"Benji, it's okay! It's okay! You're with us now!". Ezran soothed.
He hyperventilated. Carol hugged him. "You're with us now. You're with us,".
Benji hugged her back. "You're not mad at me?".
"I'm too relieved to be. Just don't run off like that again. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you,".
"I can explain,". Before Benji could explain, he started giggling a little. The little Gecko climbed out of his top.
"Cute little friend you have there," Ezran cooed. Bait licked his lips. "Bait, that little guy is not food,".
"It's a girl actually. I found her all alone. She looks so scared. I think that dragon ate her family,".
"Oh, you poor little thing," Carol sympathised. Felix and Ghost purred.
"Can I keep her?".
"Of course you can. You don't have to ask at all,".
"You see, girl. We'll take care of you." Benji stroked the little happy gecko and held it in front of Pliph to lick. They nuzzled.
"What will you call her?".
"Flona,".
"That's a perfect name," Carol stroked her little head. "Welcome to your new family, Flona,".
"Uh, hate to ruin this, but we must get back on track on finding out what happened to the boys,". Tua reminded. Before they could leave, they heard loud squeaking up in the trees. Serena and Ghost flapped their wings and flew up. And to their shock, they saw hundreds of little animals wrapped in strong moon webbing.
Those poor things. Serena honked. We have to help them.
Already Ghost was chewing them apart, setting numbers of birds, mammals and reptiles free. But he froze when he saw a primate screeching out to him.
Serena saw her, too. Hey, isn't that …
Stella! Ghost teleported to where Stella was and bit her free. But she slipped out of the webbing. She fell through the leaves, and Ezran caught her. All the animals flew away free.
"Looks like Benji wasn't the only one that dragon was manipulating," said Tua.
"Excellent work, you two," Willow said, holding her
"Oh, you poor little thing," Ezran stroked Stella's furry head. "You were mesmerised by the dragon, weren't you?".
I was. I was gonna be its food, too. The monkey was petrified with fear.
"Stella, where are Raylan and Soren?". Willow asked.
Stella chittered. "Oh no!" Ezran gasped. "They got into trouble with the Drakeriders last night and got captured,".
The girls were shocked. Benji turned pale.
Tua growled. "I knew it! Aspen gave one simple order, and they completely disobeyed it. I should have known then to let them go out there, especially that Moonshadow who trespassed into our lands".
That's not fair. Stella screeched angrily. It was Soren's fault. He jumped into danger, and Raylan had to rescue him.
"She says it's Soren's fault and Raylan was trying to save him," Ezran translated.
"It doesn't matter whose fault it was. What matters is how are we going to find where the Drakeriders took them," Carol vented.
"Their village will be deep in the Drakewood, but sneaking in will be quite tricky in broad daylight,". Tua said grimly.
"There must be some way to rescue them,".
Suddenly, Carol shook about like she had been tickled by a bug. "What is Carol?" Tua asked.
"I can feel…".
Right after she spoke, a blue sparky dragon dropped from the trees and pinned her down, licking her face.
"Zym?!" his friends cried out in shock.
"I'm so glad I found you guys." After licking Carol, Zym licked the others' faces while Tua helped Carol up. Felix and Ghost playfully pawed at his face, and he nuzzled them.
"Zymmie!" Benji hugged his head.
"Good to see you, Benji,". But when Zym looked again at the siblings, they were frowning. He chuckled nervously.
Things became very tense between Karim and Amaya. " 'What do you mean face justice'? All Lucia has done is put out a candle. She was burned and her husband was wounded badly,".
"Amaya, what she and her husband did was very offensive towards Yonnis and his brother Sunus," Warveth said gently, trying to stay on both sides. "And her husband Tom attacked Sunus. Their dragon attacked him to defend them,".
"You see, Janai, even your Sun Mage is beginning to see sense. Those humans profaned a sacred rite and harmed one of our own. What would the punishment be in the human kingdoms?".
" 'For blowing out a candle? Usually, some clapping followed by a slice of birthday cakes'". Amaya remembered all the parties she had attended for her nephew and nieces.
Karim was outraged. "You see? This is the problem, Janai. Even your bride-to-be thinks this is a joke,".
"How dare you disrespect the queen's future bride," Warveth defended Amaya.
"Whose side are you on?" Karim dared, driving his head into his. "You cannot choose both,".
"Enough, both of you!" Janai ordered. "Back away,". They stood back, but her brother got back to lecturing her.
"If you let this go, your people will believe you see it as a joke too. You know what must be done. You must call a tribunal of the Six Horns,".
Amaya became afraid. " 'A tribunal? And what happens if she is found guilty?' "
Warveth closed his eyes. "The punishment will be death,".
"This only makes things worse," Ethari implored. "I am sorry for what happened to Sunus and his brother …".
"You have no voice in this," Karim warned.
" 'Leave him be.' " Amaya signed, glad that Ethari was seeing things from her perspective. " 'Janai, you can't go through with this,' " she begged her love.
"If you turn a blind eye now, the people will believe you have lost sight of who we are,".
Janai turned away and went to her crown. "We will call a tribunal," she walked away. Karim smirked at everyone and left too.
Amaya sighed. "What can you expect, Amaya?" Warveth asked.
"I'm sure Queen Janai will do what is right," Ethari said.
"When it starts, you can speak up for the humans,". Warveth clasped Amaya's shoulder. She looked into his serious eyes. "But do not forget what they did was wrong as well. Sunnis told me he was getting his dragon to conceal the flames of the Soul Candle so it could still burn without destroying the camp. If Lucia and Tom had been a little patient and considerate of their pain, this all could have been avoided. Nothing you say will justify their cruelty,".
And that's the first part of the Drakewood done. I hope you all enjoyed it. See you all soon.