The children all slept straight through the night with no problems at all. It was no surprise that after the day they had, they were mentally and physically exhausted when they went to sleep. They woke the following morning to the kind of day that you only found once a year. The perfect warm spring day that was not too warm and not too cold either. They all felt completely refreshed as if there was magic in the air that restored them.

Being a morning person by nature, Jonathan was the first to venture forth from the sleeping chambers that were arranged for them. He discovered a table outside the cave had been set up with all kinds of fruits and nuts laid out on it. There were several stone cups and a basin of fresh water on the table as well. He stood there for a moment, wondering how on earth dragons could have prepared such a breakfast feast. Their size alone would have made the task all but impossible.

“Good morning.” came the voice of Shai. Jonathan looked around and found her standing near a basket of eggs.

“Good Morning Shai.” he replied.

“Did you sleep well?” she asked.

“I can’t remember the last time I slept so well.” Jonathan told her.

Shai giggled in response.

“I suppose I have you to thank for all of this?” Jonathan asked as he looked over the breakfast table.

“Well, I helped, but it was Aldara who told me what humans like to eat. I have never met one before, so I wasn’t sure.” Shai admitted.

“Well, it looks wonderful. Thank you, Shai.” Jonathan said appreciatively, which caused the pixie to giggle some more.

“I owe you an apology.” Shai said slowly.

“Whatever for?” Jonathan asked confused by her statement.

“I did not believe you yesterday. I should not have jumped to the conclusion that a human cannot be a guardian. It was wrong of me. I have always been told that humans are not to be trusted and that they hunt down our kind. Please forgive me.” Shai said with a very contrite tone in her voice, causing Jonathan to immediately believe her sincerity in the apology.

“There is nothing to forgive.” Jonathan said cheerfully. “I think we were both just as surprised to find each other.”

Shai smiled as she jumped down from the basket to fly over to Jonathan. “Aldara told me that you know my father.” Shai said, looking at him intently.

“Yes, I have met Pix. Although I don’t know him very well. Janney and George know him much better than I do.” Jonathan said.

“What is he like?” she asked.

“He is very much like you are.” Jonathan said, which immediately brought a smile to Shai’s small face. “Very sure of himself, but not without reason. He is very loyal to his friends, I can tell you that. You really should ask my cousins.”

“Ask us what?” Janney said as she approached, along with George.

“What is my father like?” Shai repeated.

“Pix is very serious about his work. He is a wonderful teacher, gardener…” Janney said

“Grumpy too.” George interjected.

“Only because you don’t like to take direction from him and you do things on your own.” Janney shot back at her brother. “Pix is focused on his service to the Light as well as to Mr. Virago.”

Aldara emerged from the nearby tree line. “It sounds like he has not changed much over the years.” she commented. “Except for the teacher part. I have always found him to be a bit impulsive and short-tempered at times.

“That’s what I said, grumpy.” George declared, satisfied that he was not alone in his assessment of the pixie.

Aldara then did something completely out of character for her. She laughed. One of the strangest sounds is the sound of a dragon laughing. Their large lung capacity makes for an increase in volume from a normal laugh, which makes it sound as if they were yelling and laughing at the same time. It was especially strange for Aldara as she was one of the oldest of the creatures in the Eye. The pressure of being responsible for everyone in the D`uhmora gave her a reputation for being strict. When she laughed, it was a true belly laugh of the kind that makes one bend over at the waist and need to catch your breath. No one had heard her laugh in centuries, not since before the barrier. All at once the tension, pain, and sorrow that had built up over the years suddenly let loose with the enormous sound of the second prime laughing.

“Oh, I am so glad the Light brought you to us.” Aldara said once she recovered. “I am sorry Shai, but the boy is right.”

At that moment, Shai looked like the child that she was, albeit in pixie years. Confused by the second prime’s reaction, she wanted to ask for clarification but feared to do so. Janney could see the conflict of emotions on the pixie’s face.

“I have come to love him despite his moods. His friendship means the world to me, and I know that I can always trust him to protect me.” Janney told Shai.

“Really?” Shai asked hesitantly.

“Most definitely.” Janney confirmed much to Shai’s delight.

“Janney,” Aladara said in a more serious tone. “I have been thinking. After breakfast, it would be good if you spent time with Pisteuo. He is a green, and his magic is probably the closest to yours than anyone else here. I think you could learn a great deal from him, and maybe between the two of you can discover how exactly you were able to come here.”

“Do you really think he can help find a way for us to go home?” Janney asked.

“You have to understand how you got here to be able to return. I can’t promise anything, of course. But then again, I never foresaw a human guardian, and yet here you all are. If anyone could help you, it is Pisteuo.” the white dragon told Janney.

“Then of course I welcome his help.” Janney replied.

“George, I think it may do you good to spend time with Adir. He was very impressed by you, and Adir is not one that is easily impressed.” Aldara said. “As a gold, he is incredibly strong, but he is also headstrong. Much like I imagine are you. You could benefit much from him on how to harness your strength and focus your anger so that it is not so much a reaction from your environment as much as it is a controlled decision from you.”

George could see the wisdom in what Aldara was saying. He knew that his temper and fear were the source of the dragon’s fire within him. He knew it would be better if he could learn to control it rather than it control him. “Are there any midnights here?” he asked Aldara.

“It is not the color that matters as much as it is the heart. We do indeed have other midnights here, but Adir is a warrior at heart. He is the protector of this place, like you are the protector of your sister, yes. A warrior needs another warrior to teach him. The color of his scales or the type of magic he wields does not determine his value to another. It is the heart of the individual that is important. The soul of a being that makes you who you are creates the value we find in each other.” Aldara told George.

“I guess I never thought about it that way before.” George admitted. “I like Adir. Besides, I don’t know very many people here, so I guess that will be fine.”

“Good, then it is settled.” The second prime said with a ring of authority in her voice. She then turned and looked at Jonathan. “Don’t think I have forgotten about you, my young guardian who does not believe it so.”

“What about me?” Jonathan asked of the white dragon.

“You have been given a great honor indeed. Keris has asked to spend time with you. Believe me, she does not take an interest in others lightly or often.” Aldara informed Jonathan.

“But why me? I don’t have any magic. What can I learn?” Jonathan asked wearily.

“Why not?” Aldara said in reply. “Did you not just hear me say it is not the magic that makes any difference, but the person?”

“Yes, but it does seem to make a difference in the order of importance around here.” Jonathan said.

“My dear boy, Keris doesn’t have any magic and yet she is one of the most revered souls on any side of the barrier.” Aldara responded.

“What do you mean she doesn’t have any magic? She is a unicorn. Everyone knows that a unicorn is the definition of magical.” Jonathan said incredulously.

“Who says? Humans? No offense, but what do humans know about magic? Keris is the last unicorn alive. Do you know why? Because they were hunted down, and they don’t have magic to defend themselves. Their very life is magic. All life is magic. It is a gift from the Light, which is what makes your life magical, the same as Keris.”

“I am sorry, I meant no offense.” Jonathan said ashamed of himself.

Aldara looked at Jonathan with a vacant look as if she were deep in thought before she replied. “Apology accepted. You are very special, Jonathan Vargas. One of a kind. The same as Keris. You could learn much in the presence of one as graceful as her.”

“I will try to learn all that I can.” Jonathan told her.

“Enough of this now.” Aldara said, changing the subject. “It is time to eat. It will be a long day, and you need your strength.

Janney spent most of the day with Pisteuo. He was only a few centuries old, which made him much younger than the other dragons she had seen so far. As a green, his talent lay in the healing arts. He took her up into the mountains and away from where most everyone was for training. He wanted her to be able to focus without as many distractions. Plus, the forest in the mountains presented itself as an ideal training ground for their purposes.

Pisteuo decided to start with the basic principles of magic. “I know your magic is very powerful, but you are also new to it, correct?” he asked Janney.

“Yes.” Janney replied. “Both grandfather and Pix have me working in the garden, weeding out rot.”

“Excellent. A good place to start. But I suspect they have not had the time to teach you the actual mechanics behind it, have they? On how the magic works?” Pisteuo responded.

“They told me to feel the connection of the Light with all living things. It is that connection that determines the order of things.” Janney answered.

“That is true in a general sense of things. What you need to understand is that the foundation of all magic comes down to balance. This is especially true when it comes to healing magic like yours. Order and balance make up everything.” Pisteuo told her. He looked over at a small pine tree and focused his concentration on it. “Look at that sapling. Look carefully, and see the interactions within it. Tell me what do you see?”

Janney looked as Pisteuo instructed her to. She could see the connection to the Light as well as the slightly gray hue that all living things were made up of. “I see a healthy tree. There is no sign of rot or Darkness.”

“Tell me, if you did see it, what could you do to help it?” the green healer asked.

“Remove some of the rot, gently so as not to disturb the order within it. Maybe strengthen the order that was there.” she told him.

Pisteuo focused and began with strengthening the order within the tree. “How much can you strengthen it?”

“Enough to help it fight off the Darkness on its own. Pix said not to try and ever do so to a living being.” Janney said, recalling her lessons.

“Good, but did he say why not?” Pisteuo asked.

“No, just that I must never do so.” said Janney.

“Then how do you heal someone? Is it not the same as what you are doing when you tend your garden?” Pisteuo asked rhetorically.

Janney had been wondering the same thing, but she was always afraid to try it until the other day in the cave. She told her new teacher about what she did and how. She was fearing a rebuke from him, but instead, he just nodded his head in agreement and listened.

“You have been lucky so far, Janney. You have been doing magic by instinct and not by discipline. Your training has been more general than it should be for someone with your abilities. Don’t misunderstand me. I would not dare to question the decision of the First. I am sure he never foresaw the possibility of the current situation. But it is what it is, and you are here now. We can only use what we have been given when we have been given it.” Pisteuo said gently. “Look closer at the tree. Think back to what you told me about your brother. Imagine the tree is George. He is injured, and tired, and you need to heal and strengthen him. Without discipline, your emotions can take control. Your fear and concern for your brother tell you to heal him. In the heat of battle, how can you know when you should stop? What will happen if you attempt to reorder a person and make them stronger than they should be?”

“I am not sure.” Janney admitted.

Pisteuo closed his eyes and focused on the tree. Janney could see the connections to the Light that he was strengthening. Pisteuo continued to strengthen the bonds, and soon the tree grew rigid and a loud SNAP could be heard as the thin trunk shattered.

“What happened?” Janney asked confused.

“Life is about balance, choice, and motion. Too much order, and that choice is removed. The same as not enough order allows for the Darkness to come in and destroy, so too can too much order. You are lucky that this did not happen to George. I am lucky this did not happen to the Eye.”

“But why didn’t the Eye shatter when I tried to heal it?”

“I don’t know. It is very powerful magic, and the magic may let you in rather than let you shatter itself.”

Janney thought about this new possibility before she answered. “You mean bringing us here was an act of self-defense?”

“Very likely.” Pisteuo agreed.

“There is so much I don’t know.” Janney said despairingly. How will I ever learn it all?”

“The same as we all do, time and practice.” Pisteuo told her.

George’s time with Adir was not as much fun as he thought it was going to be. He was looking forward to spending more time with the large gold dragon. He loved the flight with him the day before and was hoping they could do that some more. Adir was pleasant and polite as always, but much sterner today than he was before. Of course, yesterday Adir was not his instructor like he was today. The golden-scaled teacher talked part of the day about discipline and inner strength being more important than physical strength. He wanted to see the power of George’s magic and to show him how to control it so that it would not control him. Since the only time George had ever been able to use dragon fire was when he was attacking the Ich, Adir decided to test George’s temper and see if he could get him mad enough to produce the fire. His attempts were only successful in frustrating both of them.

“It’s no use, Adir. I don’t think I can call on the fire unless I am trying to protect Janney.” George said in frustration. He was losing patience. Adir just kept demanding that he try again and again, as if each time would be different from the last.

“I don’t want to hear excuses, young guardian. I expect to see results.” Adir said curtly.

“I thought you were to show respect to guardians?” George shot back.

“Guardians are to protect others from the Darkness. How do you suppose you can do that? Obviously not from your size or strength. Maybe you will bore the Inch with your endless complaining?” Adir mocked, which surprised and hurt George. “Tell me, little one, what are you going to do when the agents of the Darkness come for your precious helpless sister? Oh wait, that’s right, there is nothing you can do apparently.”

George wanted to cry in frustration, but his pride refused to let him do so before Adir. His fist clenched tightly, and he felt the frustration and rage build up as Adir kept on berating and belittling him. He didn’t understand how he could be so mean, which only made George even more upset.

“That’s it!” George screamed.

“Or what?” Adrir said roughly. “Your sister is going to be taken by the Darkness. She will be brought before the Ich because you, George Cannon, are not able to protect her!”

George felt the world stop. He could suddenly see everything all at once, every bird, insect, every breath taken around him. It all became clear as the world stopped. He realized he could hear a great roar and then further grasped that the roar was coming from him. He was screaming a sound of almost primal rage. He suddenly wondered why the world took on a dark violet tone to it. The next thing he noticed was the terrible smell. It smelled like an old campfire mixed with sulfur. Then he realized both the smell and the color were coming from him. More correctly, it was coming from the dragon’s fire that was flowing out from his fists straight down into the ground around him. Then George realized he didn’t know how to stop it, and a brief moment of panic began to set in.

Before the panic took complete control, George heard what sounded like laughter coming from above him. He looked up and saw Adir circling above laughing and crying out in joy. His large golden face was wide with a smile as he cried out. “You are amazing! Truly amazing!”

George was so startled that he lost all concentration on his anger and the flames engulfing him soon dissipated. He was left standing in a smoking crater of what looked like black glass. The heat from the dragon’s fire had melted the ground down to a brittle smooth glass-like substance. George was fairly certain that nothing would ever grow again in the area his fire had consumed.

“That was truly amazing George!” a joyous Adir said as he drifted back down to the ground once the flames were gone. “I am sorry my friend but there was no other way. Please forgive my insolence.”

“I don’t understand.” George answered.

“Your gift only comes in response to a great need. I was at a loss and needed to put you in a true emotional crisis for you to be able to manifest it. I needed to see your gift in order to help you harness and control it. And what a gift indeed! You have the fire from a midnight! I have not seen such a display of power before except from your grandfather. No wonder you have not been able to control it, that is the raw power of a prime.” Adir said in wonder.

George did not know what to think. He had believed Adir’s deception in the gold dragon’s displeasure with him. Now he finds out it was a trick to trigger his magic and he did not know if he should be happy that Adir was impressed with George or should he be upset with him for the way he treated him.

“I truly am sorry George.” Adir apologized again.

“That’s alright I guess. Are you able to help me control the magic?” George asked.

“For the most part, yes I believe so. It will take some time. We have done enough for today. Give me some time to think about the best approach and we can start tomorrow.” Adir told George.

“Tomorrow? But we need to get back home. Mom will be so worried.” worried George.

“Maybe your sister has learned the secret of how she came to bring you here. But then most likely she has not. The best we can do is continue to help you train and develop your gifts for when you do return.”

Jonathan’s day was not like that of the Cannon children. He was not taken away from others in order to train and learn more about their magic. Rather he was provided with a rare honor indeed of spending the afternoon with Keris. Shai escorted Jonathan down the bluff and across the field to where the last of the unicorns lived. Her home was in the middle of a beautiful meadow that was an idyllic setting where one would expect to find a creature of such grace as a unicorn to live.

“Welcome guardian, I am honored by your visit.” Keris greeted Jonathan with true sincerity.

“It is me that am honored. Thank you for asking me to your home. But I am not sure why I am here?” Jonathan admitted which earned him a swift kick in his shin from Shai.

Keris gave a soft laugh before she rebuked the young pixie’s actions. “I will not have my guests mistreated Shai. His honesty is welcome here.”

Shai looked flush with embarrassment from Keris’ reprimand and looked away.

“It is alright. I suppose I was being rude.” Jonathan said trying to make Shai feel at ease.

“And that is why you are a guardian Jonathan Vargas.” Keris said with a smile. “You care for others and speak the truth in the Light.” Keris noticed Jonathan’s hesitancy to argue against her the way he did the day before and smiled more. “The willingness to listen to truth is another sign that points to who you are.”

Jonathan still did not know if he believed he was a guardian as Keris thought he was. Then again after the events of the past week he had started to realize that that what he once thought he knew was not necessarily the truth. The only thing he was certain of was just how much he didn’t know.

“Why don’t we take a walk? I think we have much to discuss today.” Keris asked in a tone that was more of a command than a question. “Thank you, Shai.” She said dismissing the pixie so that she could be alone with Jonathan as they talked.

Keris led him down a path to a small stream that eventually ran into the river at the base of the bluff. Jonathan found the area one of the most peaceful places he had ever seen. Never before has he felt so safe and comfortable. Keris pointed out the differing plants and flowers that lived in her meadow in an effort to make small talk and help Jonathan feel more at ease. She understood that his life had just been turned upside down and while she did want to discuss things of importance with him, she did not think it best to jump right into them. A true guardian could not help but pursue the truth. Keris knew that if she gave him time he would more than likely ask the right questions. As it turns out she was right. After they had walked the entire meadow Keris took them back to the stream to rest.

“Keris, what is the D`uhmora?” Jonathan asked.

“We are.” The unicorn said softly. “It is from the old tongue and refers to those that are in exile. More specifically, those who have been exiled from the Light because of their actions. You see Jonathan, we were the stewards of the Light. We were entrusted to look out over the land and keep it but we took our position for granted. We grew lazy and complacent. We allowed the Darkness to take root and by the time we realized our mistake it was too late. The Darkness was stronger than we realized. Virago did save us, but the only way he could accomplish it was to exile us from the rest of the world and away from the Light.” Keris said with sadness and longing.

“Tell me about the Light.” Jonathan asked.

“That is no small subject.” Keris said in surprise. “What would you like to know?”

“Where does it come from? What is it exactly?”

“The Light is the source of all life. It is all that is perfect goodness, beautiful, and truth. It just is. The Light shines its love and goodness on all things and in return, we are called to reflect that.” Keris told Jonathan.

“How are we to do that exactly, reflect the Light back?” he asked.

“By being who you are. Acting in a manner true to yourself. Standing up against the Darkness.” the unicorn responded to his question.

Jonathan sat quietly thinking on Keris’ words for a moment. “Lots of people do good, do what is right. That doesn’t make them a guardian. Why do you say I am one? What is different about me?”

“The need.” Keris said simply as if her answer explained everything.

“What does that mean?” Jonathan said confused.

“Just what I said. The need is what makes you different. Do others do good? Yes. Why do they do good? Because that is how they are raised, because that is what decent people do because they feel fulfilled or get a good feeling from it? But why do you do good Jonathan Vargas? What makes you follow the rules?” Keris challenged him.

“Because it is right. It is the right thing to do.” he answered.

“But you see another in trouble, or an injustice being down and what do you do? Do you try and correct it? To help the oppressed? Or do you look the other way and tell someone else hoping they will step in and help.”

“Normally I try and help.”

“Because why? Aren’t there others in society that are there to help? Why do you step in and help?” Keris let the silence after she finished speaking hang in the air as Jonathan wrestled with her questions. “The need, that is why. Because you need to act. It is a part of who you are. You need to take care of those in need. To protect the precious gift of life.”

Jonathan could not argue against her words and he realized that she was right. “I guess I never thought about it like that. I just assumed it was because of how I was taught by my parents what was right and wrong.”

“Oh that is a factor in your decisions to be sure, but deep down you know, you feel it, a gnawing deep in your soul that you need to act.” Keris said. “That is what makes you a guardian. A guardian can’t help but be a defender for the Light. It is who they are. They have a special connection with the Light that allows them to reflect the Light back more clearly than others.”

“Are you a guardian?” Jonathan asked Keris.

“No, I am not.” She admitted.

“But how can you know about them if you are not one of them?” questioned Jonathan.

“I am a servant of the Light. I have dedicated my entire existence to helping the Light and the guardians. I don’t have to be one to study and understand them.” Keris explained.

“How am I to help, really help, if I don’t have any magic like my cousins?” Jonathan asked.

“By being there for them. Being the focus they need to keep them grounded. Looking out for them and help keep them on the right path.” Keris explained. She could see that Jonathan was still not fulling understanding and was hung up on needing magic to fight the Darkness.

“It is not the ability to have magic that makes one useful or powerful. It is understanding and strength of heart. The ability to control magic is the same source of what makes you a guardian. The need. Their magic only manifests itself by their need. They need to learn to control the need, or perceived need and then they will be able to control their abilities.” Keris explained.

“So by what you are saying, Janney was able to bring us here because we needed to be here?” Jonathan asked struggling to understand.

“Yes and no.” Keris shook her head. “The need for safety, the need to protect the eye from danger is what triggered your move here, true. But the Light also protects those who serve it. You being here is allowing for all of you to learn, and develop your gifts in a much more robust way than Virago could have. When the time is right, and the need is sufficient, Janney will find the way for you to go home.”