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Aloura

Book one: A Royals Beginning

Chapter Three

"EMRON! Emron where are you!" The voice was Desperate and full of despair cutting deep into the chaos of the smoke covered night. A lone young Ice Dragoness sprinted through the dark towards the burning remains of a village, great dark fires engulphed everything in sight, great smoke plumes covered the landscape making breathing difficult. Despite the destruction, the village was still in the throes of battle.

Creatures of darkness flooded the area with terrifying screeches that promised death to all who dared challenged them, in response many villagers fought for their home and their lives, struggling valiantly against a never tiring enemy: Lizards and Dragons united to fend of the invaders who seemed endless. What seemed like thousands of different elements zipped through the night each one accompanied by the screech of dying Rymnocks. The villagers fought bravely as they awaited the arrival of the royal forces from the capital.

But they were losing.

The Dragoness tripped as she heard the dying cries of her kind the tears blurring her vision she scrambled back up and made for cover in a still intact wall on the edge of the village away from the fighting. Collapsing into the damp mud she wept for her lost brother. "Emroooooon!" She cried into the night.

Emron woke with a soft gasp, his dark red scales shivering. Flashes of his dream still resonating within his mind. Quickly he tried to grasp even a sliver of what it was, to understand even a fraction of it's meaning. But as it was every night it never sticks, and like magic it disappears completely from his mind. With a soft grunt he tried harder to bring even a glimpse of the dream back. But only received a soft head ache for his troubles. Every night he dreams of what exactly? He has no idea. But he knows it is the same dream every night and every time he opens his eyes, he forgets all about it.

"I wonder why it's so important?" He muttered softly. There has to be a reason he keeps having this dream he simply cannot remember.

With a soft yawn he lifted his head off of his bed and looked around. His room was quite large even for a dragon. Great obsidian stones laced with pure marble ran from floor to ceiling. His bed was a large blue stone fitted with various pillows and bedding underneath of which was heated by an internal fire which could be ignited anytime by yours truly. Two large magic braziers lighted the room during the night and snuffed out at the first light. Another amazing invention of the kingdom. Many parchments lined the walls containing various writings and diagrams of dragon combat. Emron smiled inwardly at the diagrams. 'At least the captain can't say I don't listen.' He could think of many times the captain had complained, always saying he doesn't listen. In all honesty he tries hard to listen to his training more and take it seriously. But there was always the feeling lingering in his being that he could be doing something greater and he was destined for bigger things.

Being a Homeless dragon with no idea of his origins he never expected much for his life, but when the king recommended, he was given a room in the royal's guest quarters on the condition that he trained to become a royal elite guard, he was thrilled.

His life was going to be more than a simple street urchin. He would have meaning and purpose.

So, for the first two cycles of his seven cycles long training. (The training of a royal guard is extremely important) he worked hard to be the best trainee in the academy (even if he was the only student.)

But merely four cycles later he found little purpose in his training, all that excitement and passion faded like a candle at the end of its life, slowly snuffed out of existence. Now he isn't so sure this is what he wanted, of course he is eternally grateful for how the king has given him a better life, how could he not?

But as his training continues on, he now realises this isn't what he wants to do for the rest his life. A guardian perhaps but more than some random guard for the castle. Emron looked upon himself in the mirror as he walked towards the chest that holds his armour. A fire dragon looked reflected back at him. Close to his twentieth Cycle and his life was the same as it was when he first arrived in to the castle six cycles earlier. Sure, he has grown much since then. His once long and scrawny body has transformed into the tall and well-muscled dragon he sees now. His light red scales darkening into a blood red he desires much more, His underbelly an almost volcanic black his well-proportioned back fins run from his backwards sitting silver horns to the tip of his tail that was in the shape of a double pronged spear, large orange wing membranes sit neatly on his back, his eyes he noticed change colour randomly. Every day he looks in this mirror just to see what colour they are each day.

They were light orange almost bordering on yellow.

He must admit despite his resentment of his ever-going training, he has sculpted a body worthy of praise, many of the cities Dragonesses looking upon his form more than once, even a few courting attempts for which he always politely declines. Not that he doesn't fancy some of the pretty girls he has attracted. But he has never had time to be distracted by girls.

The life of an elite soldier in training is simple in its complicated structure. Days are spent on combat tactics, combat training, learning how to survive in harsh conditions, how to infiltrate a military strong hold and even assassination classes! All these things he will need in his duty to defend the royal family and nothing more. This means there is never time for the simple things that so many other dragons his age do.

He sighed as he opened the chest just as he did every day and pulled out the square just like every other day. This square was an ingenious invention of the Dragon and Feline kingdoms. A device that once placed on the chest of the owner (and the owner only) It will use a combination of magic and science to form a complete and lightweight armour around the user. Though dragon scale is an armour of its own, the armour is more of a show of force than an actual protective layer for the dragons. A white head piece traced with gold will appear first, covering the space between his eyes and wrap around each of his horns at the bottom, the same metal then flows onto the back of the wearers neck and onto the back where it will form sectioned plates that allow absolutely no resistance to the wearers movement . The device will cover every vulnerable part of a warrior no matter the size or age, covering the dragon head to tail in the liquid type metal that does not burn but rather feels like warm water flowing across the body. Once the Dragon is fully covered save for the snout, the armour hardens and shapes itself to whatever form it was designed to form. Due to this technological marvel, the Dragon commanders use its abilities to rank the dragons under their command. If you are a mere private in the armada, your armour will form a rather dull steel, whilst a general's armour will view an extravagant and glorious display for all to know of his or her value in the army, royal armour even more so. On the other hand, all elite and royal soldiers armour is the same make no matter the rank. Instead the use emblems with various types of insignia scribed into it, the emblem is then worn by that Dragon for all to know that they are a warrior not to be trifled with. No matter the position or type of force the dragon resides in, all armour is graced with the Drakunian crest. The crest depicts a Dragoness standing proudly on a large rock. The dragon represents Eldner, the founder of Drakunia and ancient hero of all dragon kind. She was a warrior, a true protector of her people, she let non stand in her way, giving their kind hope for generations to come.

"She was a protector of all dragons, that is a role in life I desire more than protecting any old castle." Emron muttered as his standard white (with no ranking insignia) armour flowed across his body covering him from head to toe in the still liquid form, when it reached the joining of his tail to his tail blade it formed the light weight and non-restricting metal into a solid and protective shell.

Emron cringed and whined softly as the process came to an end, he has never liked the way the armour sits on his body it always made him squirm as it ran over his rather sensitive to light touching scales. "Oh, by the ancients I'll never get used to that." He grumbled as he shook his body in revulsion. "Why do we have to wear armour anyway? We're dragons! Our scales protect us well enough!"

"Do they?"

Emron jumped as he heard the intruder speak. With a defensive stance readied, he whipped around to meet his invader.

An old Dragoness stood at his door. She was a water dragon with aged emerald scales and withered tattered Teal wings, paws clicked as she walked across the room on cracked dark brown claws, her smile while still a brilliant white was missing parts here and there across her maw. Though while her body showed an age well into the thousands of cycles. Her brilliant light green eyes shone with vibrant youth as if she was a child merely the day before, and held a powerful emittance of unquestionable intelligence. She smiled brightly as the Young Dragon relaxed his stance and sat himself down upon the marble floor.

"Because I am pretty sure there was more than once I have had you in my healing chambers due to an injury you had received while Not wearing armour." She mentioned Quizzically.

"You know one day Sarariss I may accidently kill you if you keep sneaking up on me." Emron grumbled as he sat upon the floor and faced the Ancient Dragoness walking towards him.

"And on that day the Ancients will finally judge my soul and I will forever soar the skies of the Estini'erty with my lover in my arms." She breathed placing a paw upon her chest and closing her eyes." She spoke in a tone that was aged though quite pleasant to hear, like a mother to her young hatchling.

"Emron merely sighed as he pulled himself off of the floor and walked back towards the mirror and the chest. "You can be so strange. You know that?"

Sarariss chuckled slightly as she opened her eyes and glanced towards Emron with a glint of amusement. "And you are always grouchy and jumpy and uptight, not to mention uneducated on how to present yourself to elderly dragons who visit them out each morning out of the goodness of their heart only to be abruptly halted by a gruff cold-hearted young dragon." She said with a rather theatrical huff of an old mistress who was just thoroughly insulted.

Emron sighed inwardly as he turned himself around and presented himself more openly towards the elderly Dragoness. Though he knew she really wasn't at all insulted by his actions he knew better to question her on the matter. "Of course, Sarariss you are truly a gift in my home in these early hours how can I repay you for a visit so pristine as this." His voice though honeyed and properly situated, reeked slightly of sarcasm.

Sarariss smiled warmly at the boy who upon seeing this melted his rather cold approach towards her. "Well at least your silver tongue works even now in the early hours of the day." Sarariss sat in front of Emron and craned her neck down towards him giving him a quick peck on the cheek for his troubles.

Emron blushed, though she did the same thing every day. "You know I always wonder why you do visit me every morning, surely your duties in the hospital far outweigh seeing me every morning."

The Dragonesses smile broadened as she brought her gaze to meet his.

"Do you remember the first time we met? Do you remember that night when you were brought to me?"

Emron shivered hard as he remembered that night seven cycles ago. He was brought to the royal medical ward as a young boy cold and wet from the storm from which he was found semi-conscious in a field apparently though for the life of him he could never remember before that night or why he was there to begin with. "Vaguely." He muttered.

"When you were brought to me as a shivering ball of barely conscious scales that were soo blue that at first, we had troubles figuring out what type of dragon you really were we had low expectations of your survival. Even with all our magic and healing crystals you were so weak that we had prayed to the Ancients all that night and three after it that you would be well."

"I know." Emron shuddered.

"After you fell into a coma, our hopes were grim."

"Sarariss?"

"even the king and his young daughters came to see you. The mysterious dragon who had been found on a random patrol through the fields. He gave you a royal blessing. A thing rarely ever done by any king! So of course, it was the talk of the hospital that day."

"You have told me this Sarariss." Emron whined shuffling on his paws awkwardly.

And as if the Dragons of old heard our prayers and blessings, you woke up the very next day alive and well.... well mostly."

"Sarariss please."

"Because despite our medical prowess."

"Don't."

"All our magic and abilities."

"Say, it!"

"You never were able to use your magic."

"Sarariss why? You know how I feel about that subject." He stamped his paw indignantly. It was true, Emron since as long as he could remember did not have any powers, not even a single flame. This was his greatest shame and secret to all except those that have known him since he arrived here. For so long he tried to find the power, tried to make even smoke but to no avail. He can heal quickly like all dragons, use crystals like all dragons. But for some reason he is not like any other dragon.

And that hurts him the most.

Sarariss laid a paw upon Emron's left shoulder comfortingly. "Peace Emron, my point being is on the day you woke I vowed that I would help you no matter if you had an injury or not, to watch over you as much as I can. And that is why I come to see you each morning. Despite how grumpy and cold you can be. She playfully nudged him as she said the last few words.

Emron looked down at his armoured chest as he sighed a breath of deep remembrance. She was right. Sarariss always looked out for him no matter her duties and no matter how much of a total dick he is being, she never had too, he isn't her child, he wasn't even sure if she has children he never asks just grumbles until she leaves.

That needs to change, she has to the closest thing to family he has and he won't let her feel unwanted by him ever again.

"Your right Sarariss I can be soo cold and heartless sometimes, and I am sorry for that, I don't know why I treat you so unfairly." He spoke sadly pain lacing his words.

Sarariss noticed his tone immediately and instantly regretted her words. She shouldn't have made him think he is a burden she has to carry. She stepped forward and hugged the young boy like the day he woke up from his coma all those years ago. Emron squeaked in surprise as she showed impressive strength for her age and slightly crushed him through the armour. Before he passed out, she let him go and placed her fore paws back on the ground. "You are never heartless and cold Emron, you have a heart so full of mysteries and unopened paths that your very soul has a journey all of its own. But know this one thing. Your heart is a treasure worthy of the gods themselves, a heart so pure that it almost shines brightly through your chest. You will meet a girl one day That holds within her a heart as bright as yours. She will love the treasure of your heart as if it was her own and the day you gaze upon her you will know within your soul that you can never part. Your hearts will forever meld as one. Holding your souls together in a bond stronger than death itself.

Emron looked upon the Dragoness with eyes full of aww and slight embarrassment of having such words spoken about him. He was blushing so hard that his dark scales went almost maroon around his cheek bones. "Sarariss." He breathed "Where did you learn such a aww inspiring poem?"

Sarariss chuckled slightly "No need for rehearsed words when you speak from your heart young one." She leant forward and kissed him on the top of the head this time. "Remember that." She stood up after these words and headed for the door as her claws touched the doors handle Emron called out.

"Wait! Sarariss!" With a surprised jerk she turned around to face Emron who had jumped across the room towards her and was now looking nervously at the floor holding his right forearm with his left paw.

The sight made her giggle inwardly.

"I just wanted to say thank you for... everything." He nervously chuckled.

Sarariss brought her tail to his chin and lifted his eyes to meet hers. "Anytime." She whispered. "Just promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

She brought her tail down and slightly rubbed the armour chest plate that encased the young Dragons heart. A heart truly worth protecting. "Promise me you will protect this heart at all costs. People will want the treasure for themselves." She brought her tail back up and caressed his chin lovingly. "Never let those who are unworthy take it." She breathed pulling her tail away and opening the door.

Emron placed his armoured paw to his chest plate, curling his claws slightly as if trying to protect what lay within.

"I will." He promised bringing his paw back to the stone floor and slapping it slightly, emphasizing his promise by doing so. "I will."

"That's all I ask." Sarariss said with a wink.

With that she left the room softly closing it behind her. With a soft content smile she looked down the hall towards a window that had been opened to let fresh air through the castle's walls, the sun shone gloriously through the window lighting every piece of stone and tapestry in its wake.

"What a day she breathed happily as she strode back towards the medical ward.

She only made it halfway across the hall when a young grey dragoness ran around the corner almost tipping a brazier over as she slipped and collided with it. With a hurried screech she stopped in front of the elderly Dragoness and grabbed her arm impatiently. "Sarariss hurry. We got to get back to the ward."

Sarariss placed a paw on the girls arm to steady herself as the girl grabbed her. "Itheanor? What's the matter? Are you ok?"

The young ice dragoness nodded hurriedly. "Yes yes of course I am. Though I did eat little for breakfast and I'm kinda hungry not to mention my paws are sore from running here and not to mention my shoulder! That torch that I hit hurt a bit though I think I should be............"

"Itheanor! Focus!" Sarariss scolded the excitable girl. "What is the matter?"

"Oh yeah right I forgot!" She exclaimed. "Master Tamatsu came running into the ward looking for you saying that Princess Aloura Collapsed in training."

"Oh, my goodness. Is she alright? What happened?" She gasped as she hurriedly made her way towards the end of the hall.

"No idea." Itheanor said as she caught up with Sarariss. "But Mistress Hilda is carrying her to the hospital now and said to meet her there."

"Then let's not waste any time we need to make sure she is fine." She said hurriedly as she half ran to the medical ward.

Emron watched as the door closed behind Sarariss and the room was silent once more, the door was no longer the bleak obsidian it was before Sarariss arrived. In fact, his whole room seemed different, his mirror, his bed, the chest. All of it seemed a tad different than before Sarariss arrived. "I never knew she thought so highly of me." Emron looked upon his armour which seemed to shine more brightly and vibrantly than ever before. He looked upon the mirror once more. Even his scales seemed to light up and shine a truly spectacular red in the sunshine. "No matter how long training takes today, I will make sure I give Sarariss something to say thank you." Emron smiled as he thought about what he could give to her as a thank you. "There is a market near the hall, I can find her a gift before my training begins."

With that final thought, he closed his armour chest and left the room to find Sarariss a gift.

*

The city was well into its daily businesses by the time Hydia had rushed Aloura out of the Grand Hall and into the gates of the city.

So, it made sense that having an unconscious Princess on your back while running cautiously (as to not drop the girl from her back) through the streets of the city, brought some prying eyes upon the two unfortunate Dragonesses.

And prying eyes always brought nosy citizens who won't mind their own business and let them through without asking questions.

"I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS. MOVE!!!" Hydia roared making the third group of people to stop them scatter quickly. Slight whimpering could be heard as they sprinted away from the enraged Dragon.

"Can't we fly her to the castle instead?" Zenr asked as they once again made their way to the gates that lead to the royal gardens. Once there they can use the guards posted at the entrance as an escort to take Aloura to the Castles medical wing without any more interruptions. "Heh, don't tell Aloura this but she is way too heavy for me to carry her while flying. I was shocked that Tamatsu actually managed to pick her up... Um? Don't tell Him I said that... Ok?"

They rounded a corner. And ran through a series of back alleys that Hydia knew would help them avoid any unwanted eyes, though no street or alleyway in the entire city could be called distasteful or uninviting, each and every one of the paths on this level is at least wide enough to let two fully grown dragons walk side by side unhindered. The Dragoness simply knew that smaller streets would attract lesser public in the day as many residents leave their homes for work or recreation.

They ran to the end of one alley and turned left into another particularly long stretch. This was the last stretch of the residential area before they reach the Royal gardens defensive wall.

As they ran past some startled hatchlings. Zenr thought about Hydia's words and how she has been treating Tamatsu recently.

As long as she could remember Tamatsu and Hydia have been the best of friends, one of the few people Hydia shows her true self to. But for some reason they have been distant of late, never around each other like they use to be. Not to mention Hydia's hostile nature towards Tamatsu has pushed the Lizard away even further. What has happened to the two that has dragged their friendship down to such a level? Was it Tamatsu's feelings for her which both Aloura and herself know he has? Or something that she does not know? She has to find out.

Zenr looked upon her sister's unconscious snout as they pressed onwards towards the royal gardens, the sight of her unresponsive image sending a slight tremor down her spine. 'When I am certain you are fine, I will get to the bottom of this'. She thought.

Thanks to Hydia's Knowledge of the city, they made it out of the alleyways and found themselves looking upon the essence of what Draconic defence is. A Massive thirty-foot-high wall of sheer Granite. The gardens wall was eighteen feet thick and stretched around the entire castle premises, the wall was a presence that made all of the Capitals citizens feel safe. More walls like it were situated on each level and an even larger wall surrounded the cities border. But right now, the wall was the most annoying thing in the world to Zenr, due to the fact that although taking a less obvious route to the wall was the best option, it made them appear almost a quarter of a league away from the main gate.

And of course, the main street was full of people and all it takes is one to notice who they carry and they will be stopped once more.

"We need to move quickly." Hydia urged as they rushed towards the direction of the gates.

The got half way before the most unwanted words in all the kingdom at that moment were heard.

"My Majesties!" A Dragon who was talking casually in the pathway spotted them and immediately begun pointing towards Zenr, making the entire group of his companions turn and gasp and shout surprised incomprehensible words of excitement.

And of course, the masses will follow anything that is the extraordinary no matter how small.

Hydia growled silently as multiple people looked in their direction. promises of death to the dragon who spotted them were spoken softly, definitely silenced by the noise of the crowds of people making their way towards them. Zenr merely gulped as she took a slight step back, terrified the mass of bodies would not stop and crush them under scale, fur and feather.

In an instant they were swamped by people who were talking excitedly amongst themselves and asking questions.

So many questions.

"How is the king?"

"What is it like to be a royal guard?"

"Is that princess Aloura?"

"She is hurt! What happened?"

"ENOUGH!!!" Hydia roared making some of the masses jump back in fright. Only to be replaced by more, there was simply too many to get through and at this rate they will never get Aloura to a healer.

Hydia wasn't waiting anymore.

"Zenr get underneath me." She yelled as the crowd pressed closer.

"What." Zenr screamed back, the crowd growing ever louder. It sounded like Hydia asked her to crawl under her.

"Crawl under my belly!" Hydia shouted again as she had to push a citizen back from touching Aloura. "NOW!"

"OK!" Zenr did as she was told and laid flat on her belly. She then quickly rolled under her friends under scales.

Hydia softy unfolded her wings and opened them. She them brought them above her head, covering her back and Aloura in its leathery skin.

Hydia took a breath, channelled her powers in the instance her great lungs were full. She brought her head up to the sky and unleashed a torrent of flame. A Flame so large it reached well above the walls of the gardens and seemed to pierce the sky itself, the fire was so hot that all the citizens around the Dragoness yelped, jumping back sharply as their fur and scales were slightly singed from the crackling heat.

Panic ensued.

Those closest to Hydia screamed in horror as the flame begun, falling over each other and themselves as they attempted to flee. Most of them were the smaller citizens of the city like the lizards and the felines who managed to get past the Dragons by squeezing through, the dragons who crowded around the group were smart enough to jump into the air. Using their wings to avoid the flame and the masses. One Electric dragon got so scared he fired a small bolt of electricity, which hit a rather unfortunate eagle who had taken to the air as well. Not enough to kill or harm chronically, but just enough to burn a large number of feathers from the bird's tail.

The crowd bolted away from the still flowing flame. Many shouting cursed words and threats as they fled. As she ended it, Hydia braced herself for what happens next.

The one problem with flame breath is when fired it produces a rather large number of sparks. Sparks hot enough to melt steel and flesh, it wasn't a problem when the flame was fired towards an enemy or some type of object, but when it's fired directly above its user what comes up must come down and Hydia made sure that all that came up, came down on herself.

And those she protected.

All the blindingly hot sparks came raining onto her scales causing many to crack and sizzle. Her wings made of tougher less vulnerable hide withstood the sparks with ease. Hydia was thankful her wings were basically a shield from harm. She hissed and groaned as she withstood the burning pain that covered the top of her scales.

Zenr watched horrified as Hydia had let out the massive flame, not because of the people who were nearby, they would get away without a scratch. But because of what she knew was coming she watched as white sparks fell around her protected self and listened to the sizzling tortured scales of her friend.

She was glad Hydia told her to get under her.

Hydia was in great pain as the last of the sparks fell, luckily the pieces of magical fire quickly lost their heat and Hydia took a deep pained breath, groaning loudly, she unfurled her wings from above her head carefully and flung them sideways, casting all remaining sparks away from her protective charge. Revealing Aloura completely unharmed and still unconscious. "You... You can come out now." She hissed painfully.

"Zenr quickly rolled out from the slightly trembling dragoness and jumped onto her paws, she immediately checked that Aloura was fine.

As expected, she was but Hydia was her main focus now.

"Hydia what were you thinking!" Zenr growled as she looked upon the Dragonesses flanks and tail. Many of her scales were badly burnt along her sides and tail, many of them cracking slightly under the heat and melting slightly, her back was relatively unscathed thanks to her wings but it was her neck and snout that made her gasp.

In her need to protect Aloura, she had no place to hide her snout from the devastating assault she brought down upon herself. A dragonesses neck has the ability to allow them to bring their head well past their fore paws. But because Hydia's underside was protecting her at the time so all the dragoness could do was sit there and take it. Her neck was burnt so badly some scale simply corroded leaving burnt flesh behind, the flesh pulsed with boiled blood, much of her once beautiful red scales turned black. Her back fins still smouldered and stank of burnt skin. The scales adorning the top of her head suffered the same fate, her horns thankfully were fine. Same could not be said for Hydia's snout, of which had received many burns along the top half of facial features. Luckily a Dragons eyes were protected from the same leathery membrane that make up their wings and she suffered no damage to them.

But her snouts end had received the worst fate as part of it had been eaten away by the heat and now looked as if someone had hit her with a large mace. Bloodied and smashed.

Zenr hoped her snout will regenerate.

"Hydia why did you do that. We could have tried anything else but that!" She screeched as she looked upon Hydia's slightly deformed face.

"No time for anything else and I needed to draw attention from the guards." Hydia muttered slightly as she shook off the shock from the pain.

Much of the crowd had ran away completely. But some, mostly dragons had stayed and were now closing in on the dragoness with anger clouding their minds. Intending to show the Dragoness what they think of her.

"You fucking bitch." One growled

"You better hope you hadn't hurt the princesses, otherwise we will make sure you pay." Screeched another.

"Royal guard or not nobody flames me. And gets away with it." Muttered a particularly large Earth dragon, his claws outstretched and ready to grab the throat of the whore who dared attack him.

But before he could reach Hydia's throat a blast of water hit him from the front blowing him off his paws and onto his back. The same torrent blasting away the other Dragons who followed him. Spluttering and heaving the large earth dragon stopped sliding along the ground and rolled onto his feet. In a rage he turned around to face his attacker. And came face to face with Zenr's snout.

Zenr was standing defiantly in front of the group of male dragons, standing in a defensive posture she made sure she was in front of the still recovering Dragoness.

"Listen here sir. Nobody will be harming my friend today; you feel threatened I understand but you are unharmed relatively and you should be thankful." Her eyes narrowed into two slits of hateful threatening glares. "Because If you dare move against my family, you will regret it." The last part was spoken in a low and threatening voice, Zenr maw glowed with water energy as she growled murderously.

Her resolve was so absolute and her words so assured that in made the Dragons in the back of the group back off slightly even made the earth Dragon flinch under her murderous glare. But no one, not even a princess was going to stop him from getting revenge.

"Fuck off you spoilt brat! You think your pathetic little show of aggression worked?"

"Um Rynoz?" One of the Dragons who was now nervously backing away. "I don't think you should be threatening a royal. Especially a princess."

"You are a bunch of fucking pussies." Rynoz growled as he stepped towards Zenr as she backed away still in a defensive stance. "This little girl is no threat. Neither is her freak of a sister."

"Maybe not but I am."

Before Rynoz truly figured out what was happening a rather strong slightly burned tail whipped him from the side of the snout and sent him into the floor completely unconscious. The other members of the group cowered in fear as the Dragon stood tall and fierce baring her bloodied fangs and growling murderously, the mere sight of her burnt face and fierce glowing eyes caused one member of the group to run away in terror. The rest merely stepped backwards and cowered.

"Anyone else want to test me!" She yelled "If so, come here now. Otherwise fuck off back to your weak excuse of a life and be done with it!"

"The group screeched and ran away with their tails between their legs. Leaving the still unconscious Rynoz behind.

Zenr looked up into Hydia's enraged eyes as she stood ready to fight off anything she comes across. A hatred soo pronounced sent shivers up her spine. "Are you ok?" Zenr asked meekly, taking a step back. She almost yelped when the fire dragonesses damaged snout whipped downwards to meet hers. Though the move was aggressive, Hydia's eyes showed no hatred, but instead a kind warmness that promised Zenr that all was ok.

Not even the burns, blood and missing scales could stop Hydia's warm smile from showing through.

"I am fine Zenr." She chuckled. Smile slightly gave out when she realised her body didn't like her movements. "We need to get to the gate."

Before they could move. Two large dragons wearing white armour dropped from the sky and landed with an assertive thud. Both were Ore Dragons and had rather odd-looking contraptions on the end of their tails. Their dark scales stood out against the white armour they wore, giving their elemental origins away immediately.

"What is going on here?" The Dragon on the left spoke in a rough and seasoned voice. Obviously, an experienced veteran of war. "We saw flames and preceded to investigate. Can you please explain why you are firing flame in my city and potentially attacking my citizens?"

"Otherwise we may need to take you both in for questioning." The Dragon on the right spoke this time, his voice much younger and less experienced.

Hydia looked at the two Dragons as if they were poor lost souls ready to be casted off to the afterlife. "Are you fucking kidding me!" She growled. "Here I am asking for the help of two of the cities supposedly finest, and you can't even recognise your own commanding officer and Ancestors forbid, our princesses?

Both of the soldiers stood shocked as if they were just hit with lightning. Jaws slightly open as they took their first proper look at what they had thought were trouble makers.

There stood Princess Zenr looking rather annoyed by the whole situation. And worse, their own commander who very well could discharge both of them right now for their stupidity.

"Oh, my goodness please forgive our stupidity." Both dragons bowed respectively upon their royal majesty who chuckled under her breath.

Hydia was not amused in the slightest and was ready to give them both a proper beating for their stupidity.

But this was not the time and they had wasted enough of it already.

"Shut up and give us an escort to the castle." She growled moving past the two males as they got back on their paws. "Princess Aloura requires aid."

"Should we take her to the castle for you? Commander?" Spoke the older Soldier as he looked the Dragoness over. So many burns and her snout looked terrible.

'How can she even stand?' He wondered

"Hydia growled more menacingly as she shut the Dragon up with her stare. "If I wanted you to do so I would have said so but I did not and now you have wasted precious time. Now shut up and move!"

No more words were spoken as the group now unhindered by Citizens made it to the gates which were open to the public during the day. "Come on Sarariss will be there to aid us when we arrive." Hydia stated as the ran up the gardens stairs towards the castle grounds.

Looks like Hydia is a little too hot headed for her own good. and seems like she is taking Aloura passing out a little too seriously. Or is she? we will have to find out in the next chapter I suppose. Sorry to have been away for so long but the master had me do a review of our glorious library and of course that had taken millennia to accomplish. I will return to read more of Aloura's tale soon I swear.

Let your spirit guide you.