Chapter 19 The Past

“Sam, we heard the news of a black lion with a fiery mane fighting a dragon.”

A skeleton relayed the news to a woman with black wings and cool black hair. She wore a scar on her right eye with pride, the left eye was silver and the other was blue.

In a hypnotic tone, “I knew he was still alive.”

She sat on her black throne with her legs crossed sipping an unholy drink, “You will be mine again Ash, my king.”

Sam swings her arm in a supercilious way, “Get a squad ready, I will join them on this mission.”

She sat on her throne waiting patiently for his return. 

#

Astrid springs up from the bed, a shockwave from a battle woke her up. In an unfamiliar place she got her clothes on while on guard, her clothes were tattered and battered. She put her hair in a ponytail, it showed her long pointy ears, she moved them up and down basically stretching them.

The doorknob twisted and turned, Astrid had her sword in both hands ready to strike. The door opened slowly, a head peeked in.

“Oh you are awake,” Sophia opened the door all the way.

Astrid relaxes, “You scared me,”

she sheathes her blade, “Do you know where we are.”

Sophia is all dirty from her training, her armor has multiple cracks in it, her obsidian armor’s glossiness has faded to a rough black. Just with Sophia standing there Astrid can feel her aura coming off of her, it was almost different from her aura before like she is a new person.

“We are at Rich’s house, they let us stay after your battle, Rose seems impressed by your skills Astrid, you should be proud!”

Sophia praises Astrid in a vibrant voice, Astrid takes the bait making her feel powerful, “I know I'm awesome,” Astrid says in a joking way.

She couldn’t help it, “Sophia, you seem different, how long have I been asleep?”

Sophia with a carefree attitude, “You slept for a whole month,”

the look Astrid gave was priceless, her ears looked like exclamation marks.

Sophia snorted, “You should have seen your face!” Sophia used the wall as support.

“It's not funny, you jerk,” Astrid slugged Sophia in the arm but it still didn’t stop her from laughing.

After the two settled, they left the room,

“Hey, Rose you’re up early,” Sophia’s silvery voice putting her in a good mood.

“Yeah, today I thought to get the jump on things and pack up for our adventure.” She was laying on the couch with her leg hanging off the armrest.

“Aren’t you supposed to be, you know, packing,” Astrid’s remark goes unchecked because of an interruption.

Rich gently opens the door, “Round two is about to start, do you want to join Sophia.”

Sophia races down the stairs, “You betcha, catch you later Astrid,” slamming the door behind her leaving the two hotheads alone in the same room.

“Hello Astrid, how was your nap,” Rose with her sarcastic tone already went under Astrid’s skin.

Astrid’s ear twitched in frustration, “It was nice until the racket woke me up.”

Astrid uses the handrailing to support her while leisurely going down the steps.

“Did Ash ever explain to you how long he lived in this stupid world,” Rose twirls her index finger summoning a little crew of soldiers.

Astrid sits down on a couch across Rose, her posture is straight-up not even slouching for a second, “Thank you.”

Rose takes the glass of wine from the little soldiers.

She finally sits upright, “I love that saying, what was it, oh yeah the past is in the past, what a load of crap.”

She immediately downs her whole glass of wine, “What about you, what do you think about that saying.”

As she moves her fingers in a ‘bring it here’ gesture. The room was quiet for a moment, the only thing that could be heard was the crackling of the fire in the fireplace.

“Yeah but it is never actually in the past is it, the past will always catch up to you, eventually.”

Rose receives the wine bottle from the little soldiers, she sighs, “You need to give up, the pain is not worth it.”

Rose slouches back down on the couch, playing with the tip of the bottle, “You aren’t the first girlfriend you know that right.” 

Rose’s statement sparked curiosity in Astrid, “How did his last relationship end.”

 Rose lifted her finger telling Astrid to wait while she chugged the whole entire bottle of wine in one go, “She and Ash always played when they were younger, Ash would escape to spend time with her. She would sneak out of Mount Olympus to meet him in a forest to play. One day they decided to rebel against their parents, Ash left the underworld and Sam became a fallen angel, leaving Mount Olympus. After that, they explored the world together and lived a happy life but it ended when Hades came to retrieve his favorite experiment. Once Creed and Grim came to the rescue his actions changed, his new eyes drove him crazy, their life was never the same. He wanted to do bad things to anyone and everyone, he kept losing control of his power.” 

Rose got the hiccups, “I hick* will tell you the hick* rest of the story hick*,”

 Astrid was bummed out over the story but glad she got to talk to Rose without threats.

 “I will leave you to your dreams then,”

 Rose waved her off and turned on her side going to sleep, Astrid walked outside hoping to get fresh air, instead she got dirt. 

“Oh hey Astrid, do you want to spar with me,” Sophia had her sword holstered, only using her hands against Creed. 

She was having a two on two, Grim was on her side while Creed and Rich were on the opposing side. Astrid gets a reminder from just looking at Creed, “Oh the traitors, wait aren’t we missing one.”

The group takes a little break, Creed’s facial expression shows he wasn't ashamed of what he did, “You can call me whatever you want but Ash is a monster.”

Gets up in her face, “You think you know that monster, go on, tell me how many families he turned to cinders for the sheer fun of it,” He bumped past her with his shoulder. 

Astrid denied his wrongdoing in her mind, “That was all in the past,” but her recent conversation was giving her thoughts. 

It was silent for a little bit but Grim walked up to Astrid, “I know my brother is a prick right now but he is only thinking about everyone living in this world, I am sorry for not telling you about the plan from the gecko.” 

She tilts her head back, tired of forgiving the two, “Yeah yeah whatever I forgive you.”

 He walks past her to the house, “Thank you for being so forgiving, I will keep an eye on him.” 

Sophia stretches, “Astrid you Will fight me, I am not giving you an option,” she cracks her neck waiting for her response. 

“Fine by me, let's do this,”

 Astrid takes off her high heels and her black stockings, now barefoot she puts her fists up, “Rich can you watch this battle."

 He grunts in agreement, backing up they are now in position to start with one word the spar begins, 

“Start!” 

The two race towards each other winding up a punch, their fists connect with each other making a powerful gust of wind. Sophia pushes her fist further, pushing Astrid back.

 “Well that is not going to work,” Astrid goes on the offensive using her speed, she strikes with a front kick.

Sophia catches it but Astrid spins hitting Sophia in the temple with her other leg. The kick wobbles Sophia letting Astrid go, Astrid follows up with a flying superman punch, Sophia dodges left, Astrid whiffs past her, it doesn't faze Astrid. 

She immediately does a spinning backhand, Sophia blocks it with her arms, her block causes pain to Astrid, she put force into that spinning backhand. Astrid aims for Sophia’s legs with a kick to the hamstring, Sophia checks it, hurting Astrid more than Sophia.

Sophia kicks Astrid’s knee making her straighten her leg. The kick made Astrid bow down which led to a knee to the face, the knee sent Astrid flying back. 

“Okay that is enough,” Rich ends it before it gets ugly.

 The two were breathing hard, “Sophia, you really pack a punch, my face really hurts,” Astrid massaged her face easing the pain. 

Sophia rubs her temple, “Your kicks are as deadly as ever Astrid.” 

Astrid walks to a soft patch of grass and lays down to put on her stockings and high heels, Sophia sits down beside her. 

“Where is King,” 

Astrid took in a deep breath of fresh air. Sophia lays down all the way, “He-,”

a voice came from the woods, “He went to go find Ash and Isabel, to bring them back. Sophia’s orders of course,” he winked at Sophia. 

Sarah tossed a deer into the open, “I got us food, could you be my hero and cook it for us Rich,” Sarah gave Rich puppy dog eyes. 

Rich couldn't help but smile, “Anything for the apex predator,” he lifted the deer over his shoulder with one arm and went around the house.

 Sophia gave Jax a disappointed look, “What, lying to each other got us here in the first place.”

 Sarah plop down next to Astrid, “You should have seen Sophia, she took charge and ordered everyone around like a true leader.”

 Sophia got embarrassed, “No I was just, um, following in your footsteps Astrid.”

 Astrid felt pride, she felt happy, she felt hatred for leaving her with a heavy task. 

Before the crew could catch up a shockwave moved the earth, shaking it to its core. Rose kicks the door open, “It’s Ash, we need to move NOW,” she barks at everyone.

The ground was still shaking, “Rich, stay, rest of you let's go!”

 Jax called down Daygon from the sky, “Everyone let's go,” the earth began to settle. 

Everyone rushed on board but Creed stopped at the wing of the dragon, “I am going to stay, you go without me.”

 Rose rushed everyone, not giving anyone a chance to ask why. Sarah sat next to Grim, “You coming too Sarah,”

she playfully socked him in the arm, “Duh, who is going to watch over you while you make stupid decisions, right girl,” her little fox wraps around Grim's neck slowly warming up his neck. 

They launched into the air, Jax was by Daygon’s ear asking if he knew where the shake came from. Astrid, Rose, and Sophia sat in the middle beside each other.

 Astrid had to shout her words out for Rose to hear them, “Hey Rose, how do you know that it’s Ash!” 

Jax shouts to the back, “Hold your question until we are above the clouds! Everyone hold on,” the group prepares, Jax pats Daygon’s head giving him the signal to go up.

 The dragon soars up, the clouds brush past everyone’s face, in seconds they reach over the clouds, all of a sudden it is calm, tranquil, and pleasantly balmy. 

The sun was setting, turning the clouds orange, “Wow,” Sophia was awestruck.

 Everyone was at a loss for words, the clouds looked like cotton balls bundled up together. 

The sun shone as bright as a pearl around a woman’s neck. Astrid finally asks again, “Can you tell me how you know it was Ash that caused the shockwave.”

 Everyone wanted to hear her reason why, Rose was reluctant to answer, “Fine, if you really must know, this was before you were born Astrid, it was after a few years dealing with the pain in his eyes. He lost it, he couldn’t hold on and so his emotions were lost. Ash started terrorizing the world, causing the world to crack and shake. I had to stop him or the world would be destroyed. I managed to find him at his kingdom hidden away in the mountains, his undead was no match for me, King was with me. We blast open the doors after King took care of two metal golems, he sat there on his throne of fire.”

Rose reached into her pocket and pulled out a flask, she took a swig from it, she resumed after putting it back in her pocket, “Ash had his blindfold on so I thought he was just doing what he wanted to do, I tried reasoning with him but he only talked down to me saying I was useless. He tried to use King against me telling him to be his loyal dog but he refused which just made him shrug it off. Without warning Ash pointed his finger at King, a spear made of dark blue ice burst through the wall, King couldn’t dodge in time, the ice spear was level five, it would have killed King but his medallion saved him. His medallion sent a powerful force field blocking the spear. Ash blew open the wall behind him revealing ten ice spears aiming at both of them.”

 Everyone was quiet, “I had to use my true form and King summoned Vain and transformed into his rage mode but Ash had no expression when fighting. We finally hurt him badly, his back was dripping blood from multiple slashes in the back but he was standing tall, his blindfold came off showing his grey eyes. My true form tired me out so I reverted back and King was laying on the floor unable to stand up. Ash raised his right hand and said ‘Fireball level six’, I never heard a spell that can go higher than five. I said he was bluffing but it started forming in his hand, a grey ball with black lines going in all directions. I was out of options, King managed to slide a dagger towards me, I lined up the shot hitting his hand, the ball hit a forest, there was nothing for a few seconds then a high pitch noise started ringing in my ears. I look back at the forest and all there was, was grey covering up the sky, the sun, and the ground. The spell took everything out of Ash, reverting him back to his calm state. I had a hole in my gut that was bleeding nonstop, that sixth tier spell was burned into my mind, I could not forget it. That one blast moved the surrounding area, tipping over trees, splitting open mountains.”

Astrid deep in thought, “How would we stop a man who can do that hundreds of years ago.” 

No one had anything to say about the experience, everyone talked among themselves.

 Sophia scooted towards Jax, she looked down below seeing the clouds, “Do you fly often.”

 Jax sat up letting the wind brush against his face, “Not as much as I used to, back then when I first got my familiar he was a tiny guy full of spirit, but he grew up and became this monster, we would fly for days on end. Enjoying the sky and the peace that came with it, was the best but I much enjoyed the ride with others.”

 Sophia didn’t say anything after, just smiled and enjoyed the chats behind her.

“Hey Astrid, do you have a familiar,” Sarah asked, holding her firefox in her arms.

“Well no I don’t, I was always busy with the kingdom and all that.” 

An idea popped into Grim's head, “I have a spell Astrid, that will let you communicate with Cass.” 

Astrid was eccentric. "What really, please teach me!” Grim spent the duration of the flight teaching everyone.

#

Ash sleeps under the night stars with Vex laying on his chest, “Where do I go from here, sigh* Maybe I should build a city for demigods to live peacefully. So many options, I don’t even want to kill the gods anymore, I just want a peaceful life.”

Ash looked into his past thinking of all the fighting he had gone through, he clenched his fist tightly making his hand bleed then let out a sigh, “I should return to Isabel.”

He felt drowsy, his eyelids got heavy, “I guess a little nap wouldn’t hurt,” Ash closed his eyes for a second. 

“Hey darling, did you miss me,” Ash’s head was elevated on someone’s lap. His hair was getting brushed with small delicate hands.

 Vex sat beside her, “Do you know this person master.” 

Ash opened his eyes a little, squinting because the sunlight was in his eyes, “Is this better,” she moved her head to block the sun. 

Her darkly tanned, sun-kissed face complemented her black hair which was swaying in the wind. “Sam is that you?” 

Sam smiled, “I knew you would remember your wife’s face.” 

Ash sprang up with panic in his voice, “How did you get,” he barely notices all of his old underlings surrounding him and Sam.

 She remains seated, “Calm down everyone, remember he is our lost king after all.” 

Some underlings detested the idea, “But mam why should you give up your crown to this man,” the high-ranking demon’s question upset Sam.

 “Water bubble level five,” a water bubble formed around the demon’s head drowning him, it only took a few seconds for the demon to stop struggling and pass away.

 The bubble vanished leaving the demon on the floor lifeless, “Anyone else objects, no, okay it’s settled.”

 Her wings fluttered with joy, my darling I was waiting for you to come back to me,” her wings lifted her up to her feet, and Sam embraced Ash.

 Her big bosom overtook Ash’s body. He had nothing, no idea whatsoever on how to get out of this predicament. 

The angel wore a dress that says purity, the dirt she sat on didn’t even dirty the white dress. Ash had only one idea, a bad one at best, “Do I know you?” 

His comment shocked her, “What do you mean, I am Sam, you know my name already.” 

Ash kept the lies going, “No You looked like someone named Sam in my dreams.” 

Sam came up with a solution, “You must've lost your memories, that's it, don’t worry darling we can always make new ones!”

 Her wings flapped once again, Ash can only go with the flow, all of his thoughts were, “Crap, this is bad.”

 Vex hopped on Ash’s shoulders, “Listen here lady, my master is mine and mine alone so you best beat it or else,” fire balled up in her mouth.

 Sam shot a little ball of water into Vex’s mouth putting out the flames, “Who is this little one darling, what happened to Vex, his best friend wants to play too.”

On cue her white lioness emerges from the ground, “Hex misses you too, right Hex,” the lioness blows a cloud of smoke in Ash’s face. 

She smothered him, “Now let’s go home our baby is waiting for you,”

 “What”

she tugged him along, “Our baby, she got your eyes.”

Red flags were blaring in his mind, “I need to go now,” he got out of her vice grip and used the spell gate as quickly as he could.

 “Honey wait,” it was too late, he was gone.

 “DAMNIT, FIND HIM NOW!” Her innocent look vanished, “Why did you leave darling, do you not love me anymore, no that can’t be it. Is there someone else in your life that is controlling you?”

The wheels started turning in her head, “You are mine, no one is going to take you from me.”

Ash was huffing, “Phew, glad I made it through in one piece,” the portal put him in the castle ruins of the red dragon tribe. 

The city was already looking hopeful, “Ash your back,” Isabel rushed to him in new clothing, her armor consisting of dragon scales and leather. 

Ash had to get his bearing before dealing with another super happy person, Sam’s words wouldn’t leave his head, “Our baby is waiting for you.”

 Isabel makes it to Ash, her hoodie goes over her head, it is decorated like a dragon head, “So how did it go Ash.”

He couldn’t help but be sad, “I managed to stop Longwei for good but Vex sacrificed himself for me.”

 He had this feeling, it made him feel weak and worthless, unable to save his partner even when he's been saved by him countless times. Isabel didn’t say anything, she just let him get his stress out, “I hate this world, all there is pain and despair. When is it my turn for happiness,” Vex hopped on top of his head reminding him of his partner's words. 

Ash scratches Vex behind the ears, “Sorry Isabel I slipped up, I shouldn’t have unleashed my anger on you. It is because of you, I got to go on this adventure.” 

Isabel in high spirits, “It’s okay, your emotions are what makes you human in the first place, if you lost them then your humanity would disappear too.”

 Ash crouches down letting Vex get on eye level with Isabel, “Who is this funny-looking girl master,” Vex tapped Isabel’s nose with her paw.

“Vex say hi to Isabel.” 

Isabel smiles warmly, “Hi Vex, glad to meet you.”

 The two walk around the city helping with repairs and restoring life to the forest below. 

Ash spent his free time teaching Isabel spells, all the dragons watch behind them as she learns from Ash.

 “Okay Isabel get the image in your head, alright, now that you got it, say the spell.” 

Isabel has her eyes closed with one hand raised in the air, “Color blast level one.”

 A ball of white shoots up into the air then explodes with multiple colors, the sound was delayed after the explosion. “Great job Isabel, you can use it for entertainment or a signal.” 

All the dragons stare at the sky watching the beautiful colors dancing in the sky. Isabel didn’t hear a word Ash said, she was too busy looking at the bright night sky. 

“Ha watch this, color blast level five,” one big ball slowly elevated into the sky, everyone prepared their ears for the explosion. 

The ball disappeared into the night leaving everyone disappointed.

 “Boom.”

It cracked open the sky, every type of color was in the sky making shapes and faces. The bright colors made it seem like it was day, visibility wasn’t a problem. Everyone’s attention was on the sky.

It gave Ash the chance to leave, “Gate,” Vex asked, “Where are we going, master?”

 “We are going to say goodbye to a friend one last time,” they walked through the portal.

He makes it through leaving the portal open so he can return, “What the,” a tombstone sitting where Vex’s ashes were. 

“Here lies Vex, the best protector anyone could have,” Ash, confused as to who knew that was Vex’s ashes.

“Is this where he passed away,” Ash turned sharply, “Oh, Isabel, yeah, this is it.”

She walks up to it putting her hand on the top, “I hope you rest in peace.”

 They sit in silence for a minute, “Thank you for coming, it means a lot to me,” grateful for Isabel he launches one more spell for Vex, “Color blast level two.” 

They walk back to the portal, “I knew you would be back,” the words freeze Ash, “Isabel get in the portal.” 

Sam was lying on a branch waiting for Ash, “Oh no you don’t, Lock,”

“Ash what is going on,” Isabel showed fear in her eyes. He couldn’t explain, Ash pushed her into the portal with Vex right behind her as it closed. Isabel was unable to get anything out except, “Ash,” as she went through the portal. 

“Aw I wanted to have a chat with her, oh well it was probably better this way. I wouldn’t want to get blood on the dress I made for you,” her twisted smile said everything, she was a yandere, a person who kills anyone who gets in between them and their lover.

“You look well Sam, how long did you wait for me.” Ash felt in a better mood knowing Isabel is safe from his ex, Ash felt much happier, his pain was gone, he rubbed his eyes and nothing, he felt nothing, “Do you like my gift.” 

He unveiled his eyes under the moonlight, his yellow eyes faded to his original dark brown eyes, “This feels, amazing!” 

Sam got closer, “It is my own spell, I've been working on it for years, perfecting it just for you. Now I want my gift, a kiss,” Ash was compelled to, he managed to stop himself before kissing her.

The rejection didn’t sit well with Sam, she grabbed him by the shoulders, her tears were a deep blue, “I gave you a gift of happiness and you still don’t accept me!”

Her crying turned to anger, “Fine, I will take you back and make you love me.”

Sam put her hand against Ash’s chest, “Water pulse level five.” A blue wave of water blasted Ash, the seer force sliced open Ash’s chest. 

His armor was completely useless against a point-blank blast, a tree caught Ash, his lungs were shot, “I never wanted us to end this way Sam, it was my fault you are like this, let me right my wrongs.” 

She slowly walked blasting him with another spell, “Water cannon, level three,” a purple water projectile was steaming towards Ash.

 “Grass wall level three,” Ash’s spell didn’t activate, he took the blast head-on using the cape to repel the water away. 

He was on his feet with his back against the wall, she was relentless with her spells.

 “WHY DON’T YOU LOVE ME ANYMORE!”

(her special trait let's her use spells without saying the incantation.)

Her last big spell hit Ash, his cape was useless, “Poseidon's wrath level four,” a rumble began, shaking the trees behind them.

 A wave of blood-red water came rushing forward, towards both of them, the wave bounced over Sam smashing Ash. 

The wave-tossed Ash around, swinging his body against trees and stones. A spark in Ash’s eye started, it flickered yellow, blue, red, then back to yellow.

His eyes finally decided on the color, deep blue, on the left, fiery red on the right, the wave collapsed. 

The earth soaked up the water, as Ash laid on the ground he laid his right hand against his open wound, “Dragon healing,” once the spell finished he slowly picked himself up. 

He popped his neck making a grunting noise with it, “You want to fight honey, then let's fight.” 

His emotions were fighting each other, his anger for being beat up, his sadness for having this escalated so far, “I am sorry for this,” he burst forward, she tried using her spells to no avail, it left her wide open.

 Ash landed a haymaker, Sam only got one arm up to take the blow, she stumbled back tripping on her legs, landing on her butt, “Stay down Sam, I don’t want to fight you,” his right eye turned back to yellow.

 “If you don’t want to fight then come with me and have us become a family.”

 The decision of his life sat on his choice, come with his wife and maybe try to change her to the beautiful angel she once was or reject her offer which will lead to her death, someone else's death, or his death.

 Sam was slow to get up but looked rejuvenated in the few seconds of resting. “Why do you hesitate darling, I thought you said we would be together forever,” Ash’s vision was blinded by his memories of her, the innocent angel he had such lovely memories of has morphed into a twisted, psychopath who murders on a whim.

 A storm closed in, it was a thunderstorm, in a flash a thunderbolt hit between Ash and Sam. Astrid stood there, “Sorry honey but he is mine.”

#

“Are we close,” King asked.

 “Almost, what do you think Ash would say if you told him you are still a part of the tyrants.” 

The question killed King, “Uhh, well I hope he can still forgive me in that big heart of his, and that is only if  I tell him.” 

Vain slithered at incredible speeds, “King, the spell is a level five color blast, it is still active but the duration is about to run out,” the two were a few more miles away from the mountain. 

King finally reaches the mountain top, King and Vain stand at the towering gate.

 “You should probably knock, I will return to the ground,” Vain slowly tries escaping from what is behind the door.

“Oh no you don’t,” he grabs her by the mouth and drags her to the door. With one big slam the door tips over, “Oops,” a gas of dust covered the entrance. 

The dust cleared leaving King staring down fifteen red dragons of all sizes. 

The king of the red dragons in a joyful mode, “We got a visitor everyone, greet him with open arms.” 

The color blast spell wore off, having the night sky lose its beautiful colors, the lights faded, leaving a red-haired man with his overgrown snake. 

“How should we handle this King,” Vain had a worry in her voice, “Retreat is the best option.” 

Someone caught King’s eye, a girl pacing back and forth, “Hey, Isabel, is that you?”

 His call for her got her attention, the small girl grew the biggest smile possible. He walked to her while Isabel zoomed through the crowd of dragons, dodging past them while still making eye contact like if she blinked once he would disappear.

 She gets past the dragons reaching him, Isabel puts the brakes on before bulldozing him. King looked down at her with a grin, she couldn’t hold in her enjoyment to see him, King raised his arms, waiting for a hug. 

She happily accepted, hugging him tightly, “I missed your energy,” the happiness he felt choked him up.

 “I want a hug too,” the enormous snake wrapped her body slowly squeezing them, “Vain, please, you are killing us.” Vain let her vice grip go.

 “I miss you too Vain,” Isabel hugs Vain, “Wow Vain your scales feel so soft, did you use some sort of ointment.” 

Isabel feels Vain’s scales, the big snake blushes at the compliment, “Thank you for noticing, I just wish I had you as my master instead of this dummy here.”

 King shoves Vain’s head down, “Shut it you big scarf!” 

"Hey, why were you pacing just now, does it have anything to do with Ash’s absence.”

 Isabel frantically grips King’s clothes and shakes him back and forth, “King we have to go help Ash, he is in trouble!”

 He restrained her, “Calm down Isabel, tell me what happened.” 

She took a deep breath, her countenance changed from on the verge of having a panic attack to calm and collected, “Ash was tasked with taking down a legendary dragon goes by the name Longwei, he completed it of course but the time he was gone an earthquake happened.” 

“Yeah I felt it too,”

 “Ash returned through a portal. He told me he managed to defeat Longwei but sadly Vex died protecting him.” 

Gloom came over King, “Um wow, how could Vex die, he took on waves of monsters in his normal size.” 

He wanted to move past it, “Can you continue or is it too hard.” 

“No, it’s not, Ash had a little grey lion named Vex, maybe a child of Vex.” 

She sighed, Isabel held her right arm, “After a day of helping and training, Ash used the color blast spell at the highest level, making the night turn day but while everyone was focused on the light show, he slipped away in a portal.”

All of the dragons headed inside their houses leaving the three in the dead of night, Vain dug into the ground, “Call me if you need anything.” She slithers down the hole leaving the two.

 “I followed him and visited Vex’s grave but a lady was waiting for him. Ash froze, the lady had black wings and sounded like she knew him from somewhere.” 

Isabel shivered, “She had the eyes of a killer.”

The main house of the dragons open, letting a little lion out, she hops to Isabel, “Do you know where the master is.”

The little lion turned to King, looking up at the smiling crazy person, “Who is spooky over here.”

He laughs, King picks up Vex, holding her in the palm of his hand, “So you are my brother’s familiar, how cute.”

 Vex goes on the offensive, “So, you are my master’s brother, he is the better looking one.” 

King burst out laughing, “Wow you got a mouth on you, hey Vex, could you tell me where your master is.” 

The little cub scratches her ear, “I don’t know, I guess I can give it a try.”

 Despite being so little, Vex had a variety of skills just waiting to be unleashed. 

She closed her bright hazel eyes, “Hold on,” King’s and Isabel’s hair began to float up, “My master was fighting, I may be able to copy his move.”

 A purple hole formed in front of them, a small gate spell has been activated by Vex, it grew slowly but big enough for them to squeeze through. 

King handed Vex to Isabel, “I will go first,” he pushed through the portal falling through the other side. 

The portal was behind Astrid and Ash, “Hey guys, it’s been a while.” King sees someone in front of Astrid, he looks around her, “Well I will be damned is that you Sam,” talking while laying on the floor on his stomach. 

Isabel hops through the portal as well, landing on King,

 “Astrid,”

 Isabel uses King’s head as a stepping stone to reach Astrid, she gives her a heartfelt hug. 

King lifts himself off the ground, “So brother, women problems,” he nods.

 “I will go say hi.” He walks past the restrained Astrid, “Hey girl how have you been.”

She was in shock, he lifts her off the floor with a hug, “Come on you can talk to me.”

 Her feet go back down to the ground, she talks to King like she wasn’t about to try to kill Astrid, “Guess what, I am a mother and Ash is the father!”

 Everyone’s mouth dropped, all Ash could do was cover his eyes with his blindfold, the two girls, Astrid and Isabel turned around, “What did she say!” 

King had his arm around Sam, “Oh boy, you really don’t hold nothing back do you.”

 The look on Sam’s face almost showed her pure self but was quickly closed off, “Now how am I going to deal with the unwelcome guests.”

 Daygon lands, slamming into the ground, Rose immediately gets off, “Hey Sam how about you just relax before doing anything stupid.” 

Sam was surrounded by all sides, “Please Sam, calm down, let’s talk this out.”

 The rowdy Sam barks, “Maybe I don’t want to talk, fighting is always better anyway.” 

Everyone readied their weapons, waiting for her to strike first, King and Ash were the only ones to be in the middle of this standoff and protect Sam, “Please guys calm down.” 

The group was once again torn between two sides with a decision that could end in someone dying.