Back in the Argent's cave...

The four travellers materialise slowly in the middle of the room, and are faced by the fiery crackling point of a Firedoom Staff, held shakily by a very frightened young boy, who is shielding the couch with an older-looking Dragon on it.

"Go away and leave us alone!" Amthet screams at them.

\Be at peace, young one,\ says a voice out of nowhere. \These are the ones who are to protect me.\

"So the legends -were- true!" Altheus exclaimed with a gasp, and continued, "when in peril the Dragon Orb sometimes lowers its defenses enough for its chosen defenders to find it.."

"I don't care!" the boy exclaimed, pointing the deadly staff in the quartet's direction. "We found it first, and we're protecting it. So VAMOOSE!" A ball of fire was shot from the staff and hit the roof of the Weyr!

/We come in peace and we are more than what we seem,/ Jacrose smiled at the boy.

"Listen to him, Amethyst," the dragon told him, "and remember the prophecy." Utterly exhausted, the elder dragon collapsed on the sofa, and falls into a deep sleep.

"Now look what you did!" Amthet accused as he ran towards the dragon. "Daddy, are you ok?"

Nothing but snores.

"Where are we, anyway?" Jostanos asked, but all he got was a Firedoom Staff pointed in his face.

/Definitely not Casthellea,/ the Spirit replied. /Maybe we should go outside and regroup?/

/Where is Ramjen?/ Jacrose asked, looking peripherally to his cousin Daria.

"Oh no," gasps Daria, vainly trying to find Ramjen's thread, "we seem to have lost him! What happened?"

"I think this leap between the worlds was too much for our valiant guard," says Altheus. "Ramjen's magical gift is impressive for someone who never really had a chance to flex and develop it, but it seems like it wasn't powerful enough for this trip."

"I hope he's alright..." says Jacrose sadly.

***

Meanwhile, on the strange and distant world far, far across the multiverse...

With a loud groan, Ramjen picks himself up from the ground and looks around. The sight is not pretty. There is nothing around him but a barren wasteland stretching for miles in every direction, with nothing to break the monotony except for a small speck in the eastern direction that looks vaguely like some sort of a building.

"Daria? Altheus? Anyone??" Ramjen says hoarsely, not really expecting a reply. Waiting some more, he shakes his head and starts to walk towards the building, cursing all Dragons under his breath.

***

"So what is this prophecy about?" asked Jostanos, seeing that Amthet, who is still clutching at the Firedoom Staff, has nevertheless calmed down a bit.

They all listen carefully to the boy's story of how he found the Dragon Orb, the luckless hunters that tried to snatch it, and the foretelling of the four protectors that would come. (/So, obviously the stupid Prophecy didn't count -me- in,/ grumbled the Spirit.) Altheus' face darkens as they learn also of the evil Dark Lord and his Queen.

"My dear fiancee, no doubt," he mutters under his breath. "We know of who the prophesy speaks about," he says to Amthet. "They are an enemy of all Dragonkind and will stop at nothing to reach their ultimate goal. Their minions might be onto the Orb's trail at this very moment, and your father will need help to defend your home. If you will not trust us, trust the Orb and the words of your father. Let us help you."

Searching his feelings, Amethyst put the Firedoom staff away and said, "If you are what you say you are, I'll show you my true self too."

Watching in awe, Amthet saw the Cousins transform into their dragon selves.

"Now you," he said to Altheus, who replied, "Were I to return to my original form, my boy, our enemies would arrive here all quicker."

"Play me you idiot!" shouted a voice.

"Who said that?" the boy asked, looking in all directions.

"If you want this brat to pay attention to the facts of the matter, play me, Coldmist!"

"Alright, Mr. Fipple," Coldmist laughed, as he drew the Fipple Flute from his back. "What shall we play?"

"Whatever come to mind! JUST PLAY!"

Coldmist then began to play a wonderful melody. The name of it has been forgotten by everyone except the orb, but it remains silent, listening to the tune, as if re-energizing its reserves for whatever may lie ahead.

***

On the other world...

Ramjen continued his trek across the wasteland towards the building, every now and then sending out a thought-wave hoping to reach any of his companions.

/Daria?/ /Jacrose?/ /Altheus?/ /Jostanos?/

/Will none of them find me?/ he asks no-one in particular. /Where am I anyway?/

Then he hits his answer square on the nose-guard! A SIGN! A sign that says "Bomb Test Site & Weapon Proving Grounds."

"A little early for the Renaissance Fair, isn't it fella?" asks a voice.

"Wha?"

"Never mind. Do you need a lift someplace?" the stranger in an even stranger vehicle asks him.

"S-s-sure," Ramjen answers. "Back to Casthellea, please."

"Oh, a Spanish gent," the stranger laughs as they head on their way. "I should have known!"

/Spanish?/ Ramjen thinks to himself, /What is that?/

"Say, how did you end up walking the desert in this costume of yours?" says the driver as he hands Ramjen a bottle with a drink that crackles on Ramjen's tongue and nearly makes him choke.

"I don't really know," he says finally, "I was travelling through the Void with my companions when suddenly, it seems, I was left behind."

"Ah," nods the driver understandingly, "dumped you in the middle of nowhere with nothing but the clothes you're wearing, eh? No decency left in the wor... Shiiiiiiiiiiiit!" he screams suddenly and squeezes the pedal as hard as he possibly can. The strip of hard cloth that the kind stranger had insisted Ramjen put across his chest nearly knocks the air out of the former guard as he's thrown towards the glass.

Sitting in the middle of the road is a huge black cat, who looks with interest at the strange vehicle that came to a screeching halt a few inches away from its whiskers.

***

In the Weyr of Argent...

Coldmist suddenly stopped playing and morphed into a Great Black Cat!

"Pet," he began, "your human companion has been found on a most peculiar planet."

"Is he safe, Blackthorn?" Daria asked with worry.

"At the moment he is with a stranger in an even stranger looking device, but safe." he replied with a purr.

As if in the distance they hear a voice say, "What is a panther doing here?!" And another replying, "That is no panther, sir. That is Blackthorn! Daria! Jacrose! Altheus! Jostanos! Where are you?"

\Your destiny is where you are, Guard of the Cousin,.\ said an unexpected voice, \to prepare their way and to help protect them when it is time to help with that world's defenses.\

"Was that the..?"

"Yes," Altheus replied, "it was the Dragon Orb that spoke to you, Ramjen."

Just then, another transformation took place. The cat in front of the car morphed into a human male dressed as a bard, whilst the cat in the Weyr shifted to normal size and walked over to Daria.

\T-t-t-temporary placement for your cousin, Daria,\ the Orb explained. \His training continues there.\

***

On the other world...

"Where am I?" Jacrose asked as he tried to get up.

"W-w-welcome to Earth, sir," said the stranger as he and Ramjen helped Jacrose to his feet.

***

"I wish I could speak cat language to ask Blackie where he's been all this time," mutters Daria as Blackthorne walks around the cave with lazy curiousity.

"Tell her I've been here and there," purrs Blackthorne to Altheus. "None of your business anyway. I saw your fight with that human woman, very impressive. Tell that Orb of yours that no one orders Blackthorne what to do or where to go, so it better not jerk me around anymore."

With a malevolent hiss directed towards the Dragon Stone, Blackthorne weaves his way to the kitchen is search of something edible, brushing his tail against Amthet, whose mouth has been hanging open for the last few minutes.

"Not to say anything against it, but I do hope that the Stone knows what it's doing," whispers Jostanos to Daria. "Saihve's minions might be here any moment, we lost two of our fighters, and that cat of yours is obviously of no use."

"Oh, Blackie is an unreliable selfish bastard, what else can you expect from a cat?" chuckles Daria. "But useful to have around anyway. You're right though, it's probably not a good idea to linger."

She turns to Argent, who by this time has been brought back to his senses by the magic of the flute. "If I may suggest, it's probably not safe for you and your son to stay here as well, sir."

***

On Earth...

The trio drove towards a set of buildings, not too far from where the companions landed.

"Earth?" Jacrose wondered out loud. "Ramjen, this is where the Avatar comes from!"

"The who, sir?" asked the driver. "There is no such person outside of the Ultima game series."

/Uh oh!/ The former guard thought to himself, /now he's done it.../

"My home is in Britannia, SIR!" Jacrose roared, leaping from the jeep. "And if you still think that dragons and mages are just game material... FEAST YOUR EYES ON ME NOW!"

Coldmist was livid and didn't realize the danger he put himself in by draco-morphing.

The driver, stunned and afraid for his life quickly pulled the jeep over and brandished his pistol.

"I wouldn't if I were you, friend," the former guard said to the cowering driver. "Besides, we have no idea if your weapon would have any effect on him."

***

At the buildings...

"Sir, we have an unidentified flying object about 2 miles east of us. Your orders?"

"Send out our Top Guns and see what its intetions are, then blow it sky high."

"Yes, sir! SCRAMBLE! SCRAMBLE! SCRAMBLE!"

Four fighters took off heading towards Coldmist.

***

Back in Argent's cave...

"Normally I'd say that I can protect my ancestral home from anything and anyone," says Argent glumly, "but I fear that my enemies this time around cannot to be defeated with might alone. And I can't let the Dragon Stone fall into the wrong hands if I can help it."

He sighs and turns to Amthet. "Help me pack some necessities, son, we're leaving."

"Father!" gasps Amthet, who now truly realises the gravity of the situation. "How can you do this? Why do we have to leave our home and flee like cowards just because some stupid rock decided to drop by?" He gives Dragon Stone a baleful glance, completely forgetting that only a few minutes ago he was ready to fireblast the travellers just to keep it.

"Why don't they just take it and be off?"

"Quiet, boy," says Argent firmly. "There are things in this world that no Dragon can watch idly from the sideline if he still wants to be called a Dragon. There's a reason why we got involved into all of this and I have to see it through. Now why don't you stop sulking and lend a hand?"

"Where do you propose to go, kind sir?" asks Daria.

"Call me Argent, miss," replies the Dragon. "When my mind was open to the Orb, one particular image stayed in my mind: a face I can't put a name to, a house I know not of, a city that I left some years back. I think that the Dragon Stone wants you to come to Harmeyn."

"What is Harmeyn?" asks Altheus.

"The biggest, richest, most glorious city on the face of Tiemirion," replies Argent. "The jewel of the north, or at least it was when I still lived there... many, many years ago," he adds softly. Daria can sense that Argent's last words hide a pit of sorrows from the older Dragon's past.

/So that's where we are!/ Jostanos thought to his companions. /It would have been nice if the squirt with the staff didn't ram it in my snout when I asked though./

/I heard that,/ said a voice in Jostanos' head. /And that same staff may be up your nose again if you don't behave yourself around my dad!/

"Now Amthet, I warned you about using your telepathy overmuch," Argent scolded with a smile.

"Well, he started it!" the youngster pointed at the remaining male GSC. Jostanos scoffed at the idea and said "Did not!"

"The lad does have a point, Jostanos," Altheus warned. "Like your cousins, and Ramjen before you, you also have to learn when to and not to use telepathy."

All was ready by then and the journey to Harmeyn began!

***

Meanwhile...

Cousin Coldmist was getting harried by a squadron of fighter jets. Ramjen and the driver watched as the dragon tried to do all sorts of tricks to get out of the way, and to fry the jets.

"I just knew this would happen sooner or later," the former guard murmured, "but why now?"

/JEEZ, these things are a pain in the tail!/ Coldmist thought to himself, dodging another attack.

"I come in peace! Stop firing already, will ya?"

"Did you hear something Ace?" one pilot asked another.

"Not a thing, Maverick," was the response.

"Then lets shoot the sucker down boys! YEAH HOO!"

The dog/dragon fights began anew, and this time Coldmist had had enough. *SHATTER STONE* was cast by the dragon, and thousands of stone fragments hit each of the four jets, causing some damage, but not enough to make them quit harassing him.

"What the?!" asks another of the 4 pilots, "What did that thing just do to our jets?"

"I don't know, Bubbac," replied the fourth, "but I don't think he likes us bothering him anymore. Let's scoot."

"Negative, Ward," Maverick answered, "we have orders to shoot this overgrown turkey down, and that's exactly what we are going to do!"

/That's what he thinks,/ Coldmist thought to himself, and cast *SHATTER STONE* again. This time it did more damage to three of the jets and the pilots bailed.

/Care to face me one-on-one, Maverick?/ Coldmist thought to the lone pilot, /or are you going to go back to base and tell your superiors that you lost to a mythical creature known as a Dragon?/

"Base, the Unknown is a Dragon, and it just wiped us out." Maverick radioed, and laughter was part of the response.

"Do you expect us to believe that?"

"Yes, sir," the lone pilot gulped, "I do."

"Sir, the bogey matches something that was noticed in our airspace two weeks ago," another voice chimes in.

"And?"

"It is a match, although not an exact match, Sir."

"Well?"

"It -is- a Dragon, Sir."

"Told ya so," Maverick said as he landed outside with the driver, Ramjen, the 3 pilots, and Coldmist following behind him.

***

Back at Argent's cave...

Firesting and his four silent companions cautiously approach the entrance to Argent's cave. Increasingly nervous, Firesting mutters an Invisibility spell under his breath and earns a look of derision from the dark creatures.

/An Invisibility spell?/ snorts one of them to another in their own language. /What next, a bloody umbrella?/

/The Masters show us nothing but contempt by putting this pathetic creature in charge,/ replies another demon resentfully. /I think it would be to everyone's benefit if this human weakling has an... unfortunate accident. The Dragons were obviously too powerful for him to handle./

/Agreed./

They glide noiselessly along the corridor until they come to the large hall, lit brightly by a few glowing orbs floating near the ceiling. There're remains of a late dinner on the table, traces of hurried packing scattered across the floor, and a huge black cat sleeping on an old couch with his paws up in the air. No one else is to be seen.

"Damnation!" mutters Firesting. "Who could have warn...."

He is interrupted by a blinding surge of energy that seems to come from nowhere and makes him feel as if his body is being dipped into molten metal. The power of the blast hurls him flying through the walls of the cavern and far into the woods, where he slumps unconscious onto the ground.

Back in the hall, Blackthorne the Cat watches curiously as the four dark shapes crumble into dust with hideous shrieking and howling. As completely unaffected by the blast as the rest of the hall, Blackthorne yawns and goes back to sleep.

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