They found themselves surrounded by Darkness. Not the Darkness of a moonless night, but a complete Darkness, utterly void of any light. They stood still for a moment trying to get their bearings on where they had arrived. The cool damp air had a musty quality in it that carried a faint smell of a campfire after it had had water poured on it. It was a smell that George recognized immediately as dragon fire.
“I think this is the cave. I can smell the remnants of my fire bolts” George said in a hushed voice. They all instinctively crouched down low on the ground to try and find cover. Just because they could not see in the dark did not mean that there was not something else in the cave with them that could.
“Why can’t we see anything?” Janney whispered.
“Maybe we are in a different part of the cave.” Jonathan suggested. “Can you tell where the Eye is?”
George closed his eyes and concentrated trying to see if he could locate the Eye of Light using his magic. “It’s not here. It’s gone.” George said breathlessly.
“What do you mean it’s gone? Gone where?” Janney said in a panic.
“I can tell it was here but someone has moved it.” George told her.
“Wait a minute forgot I had my pack.” Jonathan said as began to fumble around in the dark. Suddenly his face was glowing a green glow as he pulled out a glow stick from his pack. “Here use these.” he said handing them the rest of the glow sticks. “I know it is not much but at least we can see something here.”
“Thanks Jon.” George said as he ignited the glow sticks.
“Can you tell where the Eye was taken?” Jonathan asked.
“I think it is outside the cave. I can tell it is moving. Come on it is this way.” George pointed behind them as he started leading them along in the cave. The passages were not the same ones that they walked before. George realized that there must be another entrance to the cave system and he wondered where in the park they were headed to. The air began to change the more they walked, becoming warmer and with the smell of sulfur. Suddenly they heard a thunderous explosion.
“What was that?” Janney asked. She was answered by a series of smaller explosions and a faint flash of red and white could be seen ahead of them. “Don’t tell me, that is the way we need to go isn’t it?” she asked George.
“I am afraid so.” George replied.
“Well, whoever it is they don’t know we are here. We can use that to our advantage.” Jonathan reassured them.
They continued to move slowly towards what they thought was the exit and the sound of explosions grew louder along with the smell and Jonathan began to laugh. “I don’t believe it!” Jonathan exclaimed.
“What is wrong?” Janney asked with her voice shaky from the fear she felt.
“Janney you are amazing! Don’t you realize what you did?” Jonathan said exited as the opening to the cave became alive with flashes of red and white explosions. “Those are fireworks! It is the Fourth of July! Janney, you brought us back to the same day we left!”
“How is that possible? We have been gone for months.” George asked.
“It is the need, the magic works based off of the need. Janney knew we needed to get back to stop the Ich before it was able to destroy the Eye.” Jonathan explained.
“But it is dark outside. It was the middle of the day when we left. Mom is going to give it to us for being gone all day.” George said to himself.
“Don’t be silly George. This is better than if we arrived long after we left.” Janney said smiling. “Jon, I understand how but where is the Eye?”
George looked out of the cave mouth as the sky lit up with the next round of fireworks and he felt his skin crawl with what he saw. “It’s there.” he as he pointed.
His sister and cousin looked where he was pointing. During the fireworks explosions, the night sky enabled them to see where they were. They were at the entrance to a cave that opened up on the side of a mountain directly across from the largest falls in the park. The minerals in the rock had caused the water to turn colors of orange and red and over the years the area had become stained making the basin in the ground the water dropped down into look like a large eye, more precisely exactly like a large dragon’s eye. Halfway up the cliff wall of the falls they could see the Ich. It was clutching to the Eye in one clawed hand as it slowly scaled its ascent up the rocks.
A deafening roar was heard and they could see the dark shape of a dragon swoop down the valley towards the Ich. At first, George thought it was the same shadowing form that he saw in the cave before that was protecting the Eye. Then he realized that this was not a shape made out of magic but was a real dragon. It was his grandfather.
Dark flames poured forth from the mouth of the dragon in an awesome display of liquid fire that splashed around the side of the falls. The Ich screamed in frustration and rage but only slowed its climb rather than stopping completely as it now watched the sky for its ancient enemy.
The children stood outside of the cave and watched in awe as they saw Virago circle around for another pass to attack the Ich. This time the creature was ready and struck back with a bolt of dark magic of its own. Virago tried to evade the attack but a portion of his right wing was struck causing him to break off his attack and retreat to a safer distance. It was one thing to hear stories and descriptions of the prime dragon it was another thing entirely to see him for one’s self. Virago was truly magnificent in his true form. He was larger than Adir by a full neck length and Adir was the largest dragon in all the land of the Eye. His midnight color scales shimmered with a black so deep that they danced between purple and black when the light reflected off of them. No one could question why he was the first prime when they saw him.
“Is that your grandfather?” Jonathan asked in disbelief.
“Yeah, I think it is.” Janney said breathlessly.
“He needs our help.” George said breaking the tension and bringing them back to the present reality.
“But how?” Janney asked.
“I don’t know, but he can’t take the Ich on alone. He has not flown in years and he is not strong enough. I am open to suggestions.” George admitted.
“We need to get closer.” Jonathan explained. “George, they don’t know about us yet which means your first attack will not be defended against. It is also likely to be the only chance you will get.” George nodded his head in agreement with his cousin’s assessment. He knew the best chance they had was if he could get close enough without being detected and timed his attack with that of Virago’s.
“How about you Janney?” Jonathan asked. “How close do you need to be to the Eye for your magic to have any effect on it?”
“I am not sure. I imagine about the same as George. But, I am not even sure what I should do. Janney admitted.
“The Light chose you for a reason Janney. Tonight, right now at this moment may be the reason. Trust in that. When the time is right you will know what needs to be done.” Jonathan said to Janney.
George looked around and moved ahead of them “This ledge looks like it leads around to the falls. At least it heads in the right direction. Keep your heads down and let's get moving.” George said taking charge.
They moved slowly along the ledge stopping when the fireworks would illuminate the area so they would not bring attention to themselves. The Ich continued to make its way up the cliff wall slowly as Virago circled above staying out of range of the creature’s attacks. George could tell his grandfather was waiting for an opening in the creature’s movements that would allow him to attack without as much risk. He didn’t have to wait long. moments later Virago plunged down in a lightning-fast dive. His dragon’s fire ripped into the Ich causing the creature to howl in pain and rage. The night’s sky exploded into the sounds of the magical beasts fighting along with the thunderous fireworks echoing throughout the valley. George knew they were not close enough yet for his attack to do much good. He was pretty sure he could reach him from where they were but he wanted to do damage to the Ich so he kept moving forward along the ledge.
George stopped moving when he felt Jonathan tap his shoulder. “How about now?” Jonathan mouthed the words quietly not wanting to give away that they were there.
They had closed the distance to the falls and George looked at Janney as if to ask what she thought. Janney was afraid if they moved any closer the creature might be able to detect them. She indicated that this was close enough and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. She replayed her cousin’s words over and over again in her head, trust in the Light. Trust you have been chosen for a reason. She thought back to all that she had learned over the last few weeks. She remembered the friendships she had formed with the fey and drew strength from that. A calmness like the eye of a hurricane came over her and she knew exactly what she needed to do.
George watched the sky for Virago. He could not see him at the moment as the fireworks died down to let some of the smoke clear, but he could feel him. George knew his grandfather was circling overhead. He closed his eyes and opened up a part of himself to the hunter. He reached out to the sky and found what he was searching for and if he was right, his grandfather knew he was there as well. He sat back on his heels and waited with his eyes closed.
Jonathon watched and waited. He knew his part in the battle was not over yet, he needed to be there for his cousins once their magic was spent. He knew just how much it took out of them so he watched and waited. Time seemed to stand still. The seconds lasted like hours. Then as if scripted Virago appeared before them as the fireworks started up again with the grand finale.
The sky became ablaze with explosions and Virago’s attack pierced the night and slammed into the Ich. The ferociousness of the attack shook the air. Jonathan did not even notice at first that it was not just Virago’s fire but that George attacked simultaneously. The full combined power of two prime dragons exploded into the Ich with a devastating impact. The beast stopped and clung to the rock wall and the fire tore across it. This time instead of pulling away and coming back for another attack as before, Virago continued diving towards his foe with his flames strengthened by George. Closer and closer he came to the Ich until all the flames stopped as the dragon pulled up and grabbed the Ich in his hind claws.
Virago roared in rage as he flew up into the sky ripping into the Ich. The sky became a blaze with fire and Jonathan could not at first tell if it was from the fireworks or the magic. Virago cried out and the Ich could be seen falling to the ground and an intense red explosive wave of red pulsated out from his claws where he clutched the Eye and a magical explosion overtook and shredded the Ich.
Jonathan fell backward to the ground as a hot wave of magic rushed over him. Both Janney and George were on the ground beside him as he struggled to his feet and tried to see what happened. He could not believe what he saw. The Eye of light has exploded. He knew that is what happened. The Ich was destroyed in the fight but at what cost? All of his friends were gone just like that. Jonathan wanted to scream and cry but first had to check on George and Janney. George was a bit groggy but otherwise was fine. Janney on the other hand was unconscious.
Pix appeared out of the bushes and rushed to Janney. He hovered over her head pouring out his healing magic trying to revive her.
Jonathan cradled her head in his lap and called out to her. “Janney. Janney wake up.”
George crawled over to help. “Did we win?” George asked.
“Janney.” Jonathan called as she began to come to.
The air around them swirled around kicking up the dirt and Virago descended nearby. “What have you done?” Virago said in disbelief.
Janney slowly sat up and answered in a shaky voice. “What needed to be done.”
“But, how could you?” Jonathan asked. “All of our friends, how could you?”
“Did it work?” she asked her grandfather.
“What has been done cannot be undone.” Virago said sadly. “The Ich has been defeated.”
“But did it work?” Janney asked this time her voice was stronger as she was beginning to recover.
Before anyone could answer a deep howl echoed through the valley. Then another strange howl came and soon the night was alive with what sounded like a pack of wolves howling except whatever was making the sound was much larger than a wolf. Virago’s eyes went wide with disbelief as he looked up into the sky. “My child what have you done?” he said with a slight bit of awe.
“Look!” called Pix as he pointed to the sky.
Through the smoke and moonlight, they could see a white dragon flying towards them. Then, they could see a gold and a green dragon. Soon the sky was filled with dragons of all colors. Virago rushed into the air and let out a howl that was of pure joy.
“I don’t believe it.” Pix said to himself with tears in his eyes. “I just don’t believe it.”
Virago continued flying up in the night sky rushing to meet them. He swooped around playfully greeting each and every one of his kin until finally he returned accompanied by Aldara. The elder white dragon bowed low to the ground as she approached. “Well met guardians. Well met indeed.” she smiled.
“It is good to see you again.” Janney told her.
“I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for us.” Aldara replied in sincerity.
“No more than I for you. You took us in when you had every reason to mistrust us. You became family. I am just glad I was able to repay the favor.” Janney answered.
Pix flew up to look Janney in the eye, “Who all did you bring back?”
“If it worked, everyone.” she informed him.
“What! Where are you planning to put everyone?” Pix asked in shock.
“I’m sure we can work that out in due time.” said Virago.
“Great, dragons in the mountain of east Tennessee. I am sure no one will notice.” the pixie complained.
“You have not changed one bit have you Pix.” Aldara laughed.
“Well, I am just saying, there was a reason Virago had not brought you back yet. The world is not the same as you remember.” Pix said defending himself.
“So our new friends have been telling us over the last few months.” Aldara told him.
“Months? What are you ….” Pix left off completing his sentence. He knew better than anyone else how magic worked and he thought better than to question Aldara. She was still the second prime after all.
“I can tell you are going to have to fill me in on a few things.” Virago smiled as he looked at Janney and George and they shared a grin before agreeing. The prime dragon’s gaze moved past his granddaughter and focused on Jonathan who was still kneeling on the ground looking around in wonder. “You must be Jonathan.” Virago said gently.
“Yes sir. It is an honor to meet you. My cousins have told me so much about you.” Jonathan replied.
“The honor is mine. You have my heartfelt gratitude for keeping watch over my family. A human guardian. It seems this is the dawn of a new age indeed.”
