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[color:"#00bfff"]Ascolan and I circled around the castle while Jvb looked for the best place to land on the castle without being noticed. His eyes had improved remarkably over the last few days, they were much better than mine - maybe that was characteristic of a fire dragon? He finally pointed at the left most tower and he communicated with me through our mindlink, which had also grown stronger as we moved closer to our dragon selves, that it was unmanned - no guards. If we went in at night perhaps they wouldn't see us.

He must have told Kiya and Ascolan the same thing because Kiya was pointing to a small clearing and motioning me down. This was my first landing and it turned out to be a little rough, how I'd managed to catch Jvb in mid-air was nothing short of a miracle considering the grace involved when I landed. First I thought if I glided in that I would stop easily, instead my right claw caught on a boulder that I didn't see because I thought I was way past it and I turned into a regular dragon bowling ball - knocking down over a dozen trees in the process.

Kiy and Jvb were laughing so hard they were hugging each other trying not to fall over from laughter. Ascolan, being the gentleman that he was, looked at everything but me ... the sky, the bushes, the ... well, you get the picture.

I scowled at my laughing companions, stood up and shook myself off and closed my eyes seeing my human shape in my mind. I heard Jvb shriek, opened my eyes ready to do battle and saw him turn completely red and swing around to face the other direction. What was the matter ... I glanced down, oops, no clothes! Kiya ran over and started to throw her cloak around me, but I held up my hand. "Let me try something first..." I concentrated and sure enoungh my scales came back, covering me like a very fine scale mail. "Uhm, Jvb, I'm decently clad now. You can look." He turned around pretty slowly as if he wasn't sure if he could trust me or not. Ummm, he'd turned pretty red for a few minutes there. Jvb of the ever changing skin tones - I giggled to myself.

One thing that I hadn't thought of when I had changed into a dragon was all my weapons, luckily they had stayed (transformed??) with me, including my backpack and the mirror Meetheka had given me. Was that because they were magical? This would definitely require more research when we had the time. I had more important things to take care of right now though, Ascolan for one.

"Ascolan," He raised his majestic head. "Don't I need to heal you?" He just looked at me solemnly and answered in his beautiful deep voice. "At your discretion, my queen," and bowed his head. Geez, more of this queen stuff, and from Ascolan too I just shook my head and went over to seek the healing trance. My dragon walked and met a truly majestic Ascolan - if you thought he was beautiful before he was healed ... I just shook my head. I could see them together, healing his wounds and making him whole. [/color]

[color:"#00bfff"]I giggled - the SilverDragon had turned into a helpless albatros...her snout flat on the ground, DQueene ploughed a pretty path through the earth, until she decided to play ball. She came to a rest - sadly enough a few trees and bushes, too - RIP <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />.

And then? Forgetting her nudeness, she nearly gave poor little Jvb a fit. I wanted to give her the torn suit or my cloak - but her scales grew and formed a beautiful silver shimmering armour... I tucked the torn clothes back into my satchel - her scales were better!

"Jvb," I whispered, "ever thought of taking up a career as a chameleon? you'd have chances, believe me."

He glared at me and I saw his eyes growing larger and changing to orange - I retreated hastily Fire dragons are fierce - note to myself: Probably lacking humour, too...

And Ascolan? With his claws and talons back he seemed to be even more beautiful - his feathers glowed in pure gold, his eyes had changed to dark amber... I was lost in his sight. Sigh, I wish, I were a griffin and could fly.... And Wolfy?I felt a twinge of guilt and shook my head - no, I should better stay human.

"Jvb, we need to get to the castle - you're not fit for public - just look at your rags!"

He took off his jacket, turned it and saw how damaged it was:

"Thanks for help, Kiya! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/memad.gif" alt="" /> Who needs fiends if he has friends like you."

I retreated again, gave him an apologising look and asked DQueene and Ascolan if they would join us - we needed to get Nero's heart pretty quickly.

[color:"#00bfff"]Seeing Jvb struggling with his temper I walked over and grabbed his hand and started tugging him away so that we could walk by ourselves. I sent calming thoughts to him which seemed to work because he took a really deep breath and his eyes returned to normal.

He shook his head and spoke with a slight shake in his voice, "I don't know why I can't control my temper! It's only clothes and it was just as much my fault as it was anybody elses." Stopping to take a deep breath he looked at me, "What am I going to do if I lose my temper really bad? What if I hurt someone?"

I looked deep into his eyes, "Whenever you fear you are about to lose your control think of something peaceful. You can do this Jvb, I know you can. You're special or you wouldn't be here with us." I walked a few more steps and then grinned up at him, "Do you want to hear how to make the scales?" I laughed and said, "You go through clothes as fast as I do, so I think you need too."

He grinned and nodded eagerly, "I wanted to ask you but I wasn't sure you'd want to tell me or even if you could tell me."

I told him to close his eyes and do exactly as I told him. He was the perfect student ...

I woke up for the first time in days feeling happy and content. It is amazing what a good night sleep could do...
That and having Jolie by my side...

We were all taking a trip to a lake.
I was looking forward to slipping into the water...

With those thoughts in my mind, we started back on the journey.

[color:"#00cccc"]We all headed off in the same direction as we had come
only a few days earlier...
It was a glorious day for a trip...Jolie and Willow decided
to take one of the horses and have a horseback ride together, it was a delightful sight to
see....hair blowing in the wind......carefree smiles on their faces.......
if i didn't know any better.......
Before setting off Jurak checked one side, and Womble checked the other,
of the wagon to be sure their belongings, and "stash of beverage" was secure,

[color:"orange"]GooD HeRe, JuRaK, all secure! [/color]
Womble shouted!,lifting "meat" into the back of the sled along with "Fe",
because the two of them had made "pigs" of themselves!
Jurak made sure the other horse was tied to the wagon, which was being led
along, by a tow-rope to a hitch, on the rear of the sled, they were beginning to
acquire quite the "wagon train" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />
Viper had said he had a couple of matters to attend to, so we should start out

and he would be along shortly after.....

Womble came around the other side to get in the "Aimer's seat", so Jurak could
give directions and tell stories....looking back at the castle Jurak noticed
clear skies and bright sunshine, there were no more flashes of lightning!, or
claps of thunder!!......as if... all had been silenced by the death of Aganeth!

[color:"orange"]GiDDyaP!![/color]... mocked the excitable dwarf,
pretending to lash the reins of his... sled !! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> [color:"orange"]
"Just as well the horses, takes up the rear, cuz... i can't stand the stench
of those smelly stallions!"[/color]

And they were off like a herd of turtles....Womble "steering, Jurak giving directions,
the rat and the pig, with their heads in the breeze,
the wagon and it's contents,.. the horse pulling that wagon, who was in turn,
being led by the sled, quite a sight i must say!

They travelled for a few hours and eventually reached the bridge at the river,
Willow and Jolie , being on the other horse, came up to the wagon and grabbed
a bucket, so the horse and animals could get a drink, they headed ...down
the side of the bank by the waters edge...

Jurak and Womble got out to stretch their legs,
and comment on what a nice day
it was, and how hot it was getting,
a little warm, annnd making womb thirsty...just as Willow and Jolie
came back with a bucket full of nice fresh, cold, river water,...

hearing Womble's comment on being thirsty......
the two "horsemen" couldn't resist throwing the contents of the bucket
all over the poor traumatized fella, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />
but womble just "shook it off"
and said <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

[color:"orange"]"thanks for the quick
shower.....it was most refreshing!"[/color] <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

After their short stop at the bridge they carried onward......
over the dusty road, they could not remember it raining at all...come to think of it.

Jurak was mentioning his stories he'd heard from the "elders" in his
village...about a lost "legend or myth", of the lake with the
"Azure Mountians" as they were known, at least by the OrC race anyway!

There was talk of a hidden passageway through the mountians, that would exit
near the southwest side of Beregrost, where it joined with two roads,
one splits off and heads to the northwest, towards the town of "SeaVilla"
where Faile and her chums were,... the other to Beregrost,Jurak also
mentioned a secret entrance to the peaks, but would have to think harder to
remember the rest of that!

Jolie's ears perked up when Jurak mentioned about the hidden passages, and
confirmed the story is also well known in his town, but the trail from his side
of town, exited somewhere on the side of the mountian, and had a roughly hewn
narrow stairway down to the valley..... this was news to Jurak....he could only
remember so much you know.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/stupid.gif" alt="" />

[color:"#33cc33"]Should we make a short stop at the magiK town
for some much needed bread,
and some fruit,
maybe a few hunks of meat...
it would only be short and we'd be back on the road in a jiffy!......[/color]



......and i have to go to the bathroom!......
they heard Willow say,

and laughed......... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

[color:"#00bfff"]

"Jvb, close your eyes and listen closely." Dqueene said, and i did.
She explained to me that, since my dragon self and I are the same person, we could also share characteristics.
Just like my changed eyes, improved sight and hearing and my increased strenght in human form.
"But all those things happened automaticly.. i didn't have anything to say about it.." I added.

"Thats what you think, your subconscience did all of these things.
But now i think that you are old, wise and powerfull enough to control it yourself, besides, you have your bracelet."

Thas right, my bracelet! It should allow me to control my dragon form, so this shouldn't be a problem now.

Again, i saw the dragon in my mind.
I looked directly into his eyes, i saw my own reflection in them.. But my reflection started changing, my body was changing..
I was starting to get scales!! This would take some getting used to.
"Looks like it worked." I heard dqueene say.
And so i opened my eyes, noticing that i really had changed.

My skin has become harder too. I thought, feeling it.

"OK, now we should wait for nightfall to enter the castle, that shouldn't take to long anymore." I said, watching the sun go down.

We waited and waited, checking if the guards still hadn't arrived..
Checked if nothing at all had changed..

It all looked safe.
So when the night had finally come, we entered without being worried at all.
We just walked in trough the small exit i spotted earlier that day.

This shurerly had been a stupid mistake.
One should never drop his guard.. never lose attention.. Or bad things will happen.

And they did.

It was very dark inside, but I, and i guess dqueene too, was perfectly able to see.
DEMONS, thats what they were, and a lot of them.. Lurking at us, as if we were dinner.

And with them was a very familiar one.. one who had been our companion for a long time.. NERO!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />
[/color]

[color:"#00bfff"] NERO! I couldn't believe it - what had happened to him? Without even regarding the danger we were in I stepped closer... His eyes were still the same, but everything else has grown out of shape - he was a brutal, ugly distorted image of his former self. Still, I tried to reach out my hand and touch him - he growled and backed off. I saw a faint glinter of recognition in his flickering eyes.

"Nero, it's me, Kiya - we've come to take you home... come!"

I saw aggression and fear fighting in his body - part of him wanted to attack, the other one to flee. I tried again:

"Nero - come with us, we'll find a way to help you..."

Then I made a mistake, I touched his hand - with a severe blow he struck it away, screamed and growled - then he turned back and fled. This was a signal for the other demons to charge - a whole bulk leapt towards us...

[color:"#00bfff"]

The moment nero jumped away, the other demons charged at us.
It shure were a lot of them, to much if you ask me.
And very strong to.
I wonder how long its gonna take before i will be forced to use my dragon powers.

one of them jumped at me and aimed for my face, which i was able to dodge.
But another one tackled me down.. I hit the ground with my face.. OUCH!

My bracelet started to shine brightly.
A green light, it changed me... I felt stronger now.
My six senses all had improved even more.
I could feel someone trying to attack me from behind, but i was faster.
With fury in my eyes i threw a punsh at his face, smashing it against the wall.

[color:"#00bfff"]I didn't care ....I just didn't care!!!... I saw them charging at us - no claw could hurt me more than Nero's reaction - no blow could send me down harder than his rejection... I turned into a whirlwind...

The Hymn of Hatred grew in my body - my muscles turned harder... I was on the hunt... for every growl a scream... for every hit a stronger blow.... for every fury of hell a larger demon of the Voids...

A bloodred rage took over... I kicked.. I swirled... dug my fingers into gleaming eyes... crushed chins... rammed elbows into noses... fists into chests... snapped necks like twigs... No matter how they hit me, I hit harder... no matter how strongly I bled, they bled even stronger... I lost my balance, slipped and caught myself.. I ducked and thrust... I was the axe, chopping arms... the screaming bolt, thudding into chests... thunderclap of explosion... no control at all... RAAAGGGEEE

I barely noticed Ascalon next to me using his talons and claws as fiercely as did - barely registered DQueene sending out her deadly frost breath... I was in the midst, turning my inner rage out, inflicting inner pain unto foes...no mercy... no remorse... they didn't spare me... I didn't spare them... blood was streaming on both sides now...I didn't care!... I just didn't care... not for my friends... not for my foes... and specially not for Nero...

[color:"#00CCCC"]
Jolie and i took one of the horses, and rode ahead of the others.
I had my arms around the middle of Jolie. The horse was responsive to our every thought, went were i willed him to go. It was so nice to be able to deal with another creature.
When we arrived at the edge of the water, i let the horse graze by the edge of the river. Jolie and i dipped our feet in the water and let them dangle...
We were sitting there, enjoying the day, the sun, and each other's company.

With all the animals, and Jurak and Womble in the slad, we heard them coming miles away, mind you, i do have better ears than most... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

We went to greet them.

There was a secret passage way that we had to go through to get to Beregrost.
It was a rush again to leave.

We packed up once more, Jolie got on the horse, and held his hand out to me.
He lifted me up onto the horse, and we started off once again.

[color:"#00bfff"]

I saw kiya, fighting in her furious rage.
Seeying this also made me angry, and i decided not to hold back anymore..

I realised that this would mean changing into a dragon again.
Should i really?

Yeah i have to...
"Oh great dragon, could you please help me in-"
thats right, that dragon is me, how could i forget?? stupid <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

There i was again.. in full glory, in my uttermost strenght..
i inhaled deeply and..

[color:"#00bfff"]I was blinded by an orange-red flash and snapped out of my hatred-trance - Jvb, or what he had changed to, blasted a deep red fireball at a group of demons, I fell flat on the ground, the wave pressed me nearly into the ground - I heard frantic shrieks, cries and then tapping of fleeing claws - I looked up - the room was empty, scorched bodies, blood - a picture of devastation. I gazed at Jvb - again the red shadow with fangs, wings and claws hovering over, behind, in front of him - I saw the boy - I saw the dragon. Just with a little difference this time: Jvb was controlling it.

"Thumbs up, Mate," I laughed - but a tiny streak of fear was in it, too.

"Do you think he can control it now, DQueene?" I whispered - she nodded and shrugged her shoulders at the same time.

[color:"#00bfff"]

it worked.. My fireball had greatly affected the demons, but had left my companions unharmed.
Kiya looked at me and nodded, and I changed back to human form.

"Now lets see where nero has gone."

[color:"#00cccc"]
We crossed the bridge the same way we did before: one by one and pulling the sled over with Vipers help. There was just one difference: the horses. Now how are we going to do that??
We tried on foot. Miracalously it worked, the horses reached the otherside safe.

We were off again. I mounted the horse and putted my hand out to Willow.
She pulled herself on the horse and off we went.
Willow held her hands tied around my middle, her head on my back. I smilled.. It really felt good! Love is a nice feeling.
[/color]

[color:"#00bfff"]"Now let's see where Nero has gone."

I looked grimly at Jvb:

"You bet, we'll see where he's gone - and we'll find him..."

All four of us hasted up the first stairs we could find - I felt he was still here, my cystal shard gave it away - listening to the faint Hum of Companionship, we entered a small room, full of books - one table in the middle, a globe and a few tapestries on the grey stone walls. I searched the room with my heart, eyes and ears - THERE! A short reflection in the mirror and a shadow darted across the room - Nero!

"NERO! DON'T!"

Too late, he had already jumped on the window ledge, growled back at me with dangerous flashing eyes - darted into the air and .... was gone! I rushed to the window and searched - nothing. I looked down - nothing, same was for up and down. DRAT! Curse him!
Then I remembered Nightwing's words:Finding him is not freeing him...

[color:"#00bfff"]

and nero jumped away again, this time over some stairs, to a higher floor.

"We should follow him." I said, running up the stairs.
While running, i 'scanned' the area around me.

I stopped.. 2 rooms, which should i choose??
I went for the left, which appeared to be empty.
Though i felt a weird presence there, which i could not see.

Nothing special about this room... So i turned around..
I was in the middle of my movement when i froze.
"What is that?"
"What is what?" Kiya, who by now had cought up with me, asked.

"That thing over htere in the corner, a sort of black box, encrypted with runes."

"Lets take a closer look at it." kiya said.
"My thoughts exactly." That was dqueene, one of the few who could really understand where i was going trough.

Kiya went for the box.
"It's heavy."
"Need help then?"
"No i will be fine, young dragon, dont go showing yourself off. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" /> "

"I didn't intend to kiya <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> "
"Lets open it up."

[color:"#00bfff"]I had no clue, how to open it - ouch - my crystal amulet was burning like hell. I took a closer look - the tiny claw in there was opening and closing, clenching and unclenching its little fists. I took it off, held it dangling in my hand - then the tiny claw left its crystal prison for a second, tugged at the box and disappeared into it.

Jvb, DQueene and I stared at each other flabbergasted. I had enough of these puzzles, ripping out my knife...

"There, did you hear it? Keep quiet all." DQueene tiptoed to the door, held her ear against it - Jvb took position at the other side. The door opened slowly and both pounced on what came in, wrestling it to the ground.I was on top of it, dropping the box.

After a few seconds of jostling, punching, ouches and groans all was settled. The fearful face of an old man looked at us:

"Don't kill me, I didn't do anything..."

Ascolan the griffin, keeper of truth and justice, stared at the old man silently and sternly... after a few minutes we were informed about everything: How to open the box (touching the runes in a certain order, here and there) - who and where his master was (Rabaer had fled to his ally Doom Wizard Veneficus)- and... what interested me the most:

"The demon you're looking for is there, too. Rabaer has gathered all demons in his castle and then escorted them to meet their master Venificus, they will march towards Beregost as soon as the army is complete. Venificus doesn't really like them cluttering his palace, they stink, tend to tear curtains, rip up the furniture, drink, belch and don't behave very well."

I chuckled - allies can be a bother - specially belching ones <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> - DQueene and I changed a short glance and decided to let the old man go - he jumped up and fled. The rest was easy - I touched the runes, opened the box and saw.... the tiny claw out of my amulet had wrapped itself around a rubyformed pyramid: Nero's heart!. I could only take a very short glance, as I reached out to pick it up, the claw dodged my hand and emerged back into the crystal amulet, I had wrapped around my wrist on its leatherband, so it would cool off. Strangely enough the amulet was cool and calm now - so I could hang it around my neck.

"Ok, that's it, let's go back as fast as we can to the others and fetch them! We have to warn Beregost and try to reach that damn wizard. We're really running out of time!"

[color:"#00bfff"]

"We need to get there as fast as possible." Kiya said, and we ran outside.
"We cant all sit on ascolan.. we would go to slow.. And i cant fly.." Kiya said, thereby looking at me.
glug, she doesn't want me to fly does she?

i saw dqueene taking of into the air.

i hesistated.. "Do i really have to?"
"Do you want to save nero??" Kiya asked, still being on the ground.
"Why.. yes.."
"Then hurry up and take off!!"

I realised i had to.. To save my friends.

I changed into dragon form, and looked at my wings.
All my life i had been training my muscles.
The ones i had that is, but i cant recall to ever have had wings before.

they must be weak..

How can i move them??
I tried all possible things.
Finally!! i saw one of my wings moving up!!
this must be the one.
Nice they both do it, and down too <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

"Hurry!!" I heard kiya yelling, she had already taken off.

I jumped into the air as high as i could and started flapping those things as hard as i could.

it worked.. wel sort off <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />
it must have looked rediculous but at least i was able to move ahead.
not af fast as the rest though, but i was learning.

[color:"#00bfff"]I couldn't help laughing, Jvb flew like a bumble-bee - flapping his wings wildly...
Ascolan escorted him and I cried:
"Hey, Jvb, care for a dance in the air?"

DQueene had taken over his other side - we were going to help...

With a nod we were off, I lead the way, doing a slow waltz from side to side. I looked back over my shoulder, Jvb could keep up - then the griffin slowly went higher, bouncing up and down in long air waves - QDueene still kept at Jvb's side... and now the Dance of Freedom began again...

[color:"#00bfff"]

i saw kiya's face, she looked very happy.
She started flying higher.
Dqueene was still by my side, i though about letting her carry me for a while, but at the moment i stopped flapping my wings, she let me go.

I fell down <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

dont die now JVB, you can do this, FOCUS!!

My 'engine' started working again.
the speed with which i was attracted to the earth was decreasing.
I was able to generate enough power to make a turn upwards, so i came back flying next to dqueene.

"You scared the hell out of me boy."
"I did too."