The Dragon and the Fox

Kira stepped through the vortex, watching the white sparkles orbit around her. They made her dizzy, and soon nostalgia overtook her. She stumbled, the portal spinning around her and her eyes swirling. It was like a dance, both of them swirling and turning together as one.

Then, the feeling of nausea ended, and Kira found herself standing in a grand hall of an obsidian palace.

It was breathtaking. Slender archways leading to ornate rooms of black glass and sparkling onyx dominated her view. Along the walls were silver markings that seemed to show a story—one Kira knew well. It was the story of the Moon Dragons, and how they moved the Moon every night, and blessed Cyalia with sleep and rest. She saw images of Dragons perched above animals, watching over them like guardians.

“Welcome!” a voice greeted them, coming from the archway in front of Kira. She and Deya made their way through, and Kira realized they were in a throne room. Doors closed shut behind them, and Kira was startled—she hadn’t even realized they were there.

There weren’t very many decorations here, which kind of surprised Kira. A giant, silver Dragon dominated the room, sitting on top of a throne of lapis lazuli. She was extremely elegant, from the curve of her wings to the spiraling of her horns. She sat erected regally, with a silver and diamond crown on top of her head. Her mouth was curved upwards slightly, as if amused at something. Around her eyes were white markings that looked exactly like Deya’s, just without the gold surrounding them.

“Deya?” the Dragon gasped. “Is that really you?”

“Aunt Eclipse!” Deya cried. “It’s so good to see you!”

Queen Eclipse opened her wings, and Deya ran to her in an embrace.

“Wait, wh-what?” Kira asked, puzzled. “Um, what’s going on? Can someone please explain this to me?”

“Eclipse is my aunt,” Deya said. “She had nothing to do with my banishment.”

“That was my stupid brother,” Eclipse said, gritting her teeth. “Terxan. Out of all of us, he was the last I expected to crack. I thought it would be Vex.”

“Vex is the King of the Dragons of the Sun,” Deya explained. “Aunt Eclipse’s twin brother.”

“So you’re all related?” Kira asked.

“All of the royals,” Queen Eclipse sighed. “Most of us don’t get along very well. Especially Tempest, Vex’s puppet, leader of the Dragons of the Clouds. They’re basically Vex’s elite assassin team.”

“What about the Dragons of the Sea?”

“Ah.” Queen Eclipse looked pleased. “They are led by my son, Riley. I’m glad to see that he made a name for himself.”

“How is Cousin Riley doing?” Deya asked.

“He is well, as far as I know,” Queen Eclipse responded. “But we are straying from an important topic: why are you here? If your father found out, Deya…”

Deya sighed. “I know. We’re here for something more urgent than my banishment.”

“There’s a Dragon flying around and killing everybody,” Kira deadpanned.

Queen Eclipse’s jaw dropped. “A Dragon is killing everybody?”

“Yep,” Kira said. “A black Dragon.”

If possible, Queen Eclipse looked even more shocked. “Black?”

“I saw him with my own eyes.” Kira flicked her ears. Would Queen Eclipse believe her?

“He was also commandeering the forces of the Myth Continent,” Deya added.

“The Myth Continent, you say?” Queen Eclipse looked thoughtful. “I knew we should have destroyed those untrustworthy animals.”

“Those stories are true, also?” Kira asked.

“Most of them,” Queen Eclipse responded. “Vex exaggerated a lot of them, so it’s hard to tell.”

“That was him?” Kira growled.

Queen Eclipse nodded. “He was convinced that Dragons were better than the other beasts, and deserved more glory. He came up with many of the stories, or altered others, and soon they became known as fact in Cyalia.”

“The other Dragons didn’t object?” Deya asked. Kira looked over at her, and saw that she was genuinely angry.

“No.” The queen shook her crowned head. “In fact, I am sorry to say this, but your father was right by his side, Deya.”

“I knew it,” the white Dragon growled. “He always had a knack for manipulating other creatures.”

Queen Eclipse looked mournful. “I fear you are correct.”

“So are Dragons immortal?” Kira asked, curious.

Queen Eclipse tilted her head. “Immortal is a strong word. I think we remain in this world for as long as our powers and kingdoms are needed. Every Dragon has a purpose in life. We live until that purpose is filled, and then we die.”

“How do you know what that purpose is?” Kira interrogated. She wanted as many answers as possible.

“Our purpose is whatever we are pulled to the most. If your purpose is to help others, you will be very outgoing and kind. If you purpose is to, say, grant others joy, you might be a jokester and a great companion with a sense of humor. It all depends on the Dragon. Some of them have great destinies, others have small missions.”

“What’s your purpose?”

“To govern my kingdom,” the queen answered. “Which is, in part, why I have lived for so long.”

“But what about Dragons like Deya’s father?”

“Conversation aside,” Queen Eclipse redirected abruptly, “what do you plan to do about this Dragon?”

“We need to rally the other Dragons,” Deya said, glad for the subject change. Kira felt indignant. She still had so many questions! But this was more serious, so she didn’t raise any protests. “We also need to congregate the kingdoms of Cyalia as well. Then we attack.”

Queen Eclipse sighed. “Deya, do you suppose you can unite all of the Dragons against this ally? We aren’t known for our cooperation with one another.”

“I know,” Deya said. “But we have to try.”

“What about—” Kira began.

Suddenly, the doors to the throne room burst open. A Dragon guard—bigger than Deya but smaller than Queen Eclipse—staggered in, out of breath and looking very ruffled.

“I thought I delivered strict orders to be left alone,” Queen Eclipse snapped.

“I’m s-s-sorry, Your M-m-majesty,” the guard stammered. “But we’re under attack.”

Queen Eclipse’s eyes narrowed. “By whom?”

“A bunch of weird animals, Your Majesty,” the guard said. “Like these weird white bears, and a bunch of different predatory birds. I’ve never seen anything like them before.”

Queen Eclipse cursed. “The Myth tribes.”

“He must have followed me,” Kira realized. “I’m so stupid! He has followers everywhere. He could have been spying on us at any moment.”

“No matter.” The silver dragon arose from her throne. “Deya, Kira, you both must leave. Warn everyone you can. I will do my best on the Dragons’ part, but I can’t do it all.”

“No, Auntie!” Deya protested. “What if he kills you?”

Queen Eclipse smiled grimly. “You forget a few facts, dearest Deya. He’s only one Dragon. We have an army.”

And with that, she turned and flew out of the archway, leaving a very sad Dragon and an angry fox.