On Earth the pilots were fighting a force that they had never seen before, but Ramjen and Jacrose had...

"Son, your morphing abilities are an asset now because we got trouble the likes we have never seen," the commander told the GSC.

"What is it, sir?"

"Dragons, Jacrose. Black Dragons," the commander replied.

/Shadow Dragons here?/ Jacrose broadcast to Ramjen.

/The Dragon Orb -did- mention something about a battle here,/ the former guard replied as his friend morphed into the dragon. /Could that battle be going on now?/

"May I be part of the jam session, boys?" the Commander asked.

"Sorry, Sir," the companions apologised as one, then Ramjen reiterated everything to the CO verbatim, "and that's about the size of it, Commander." The CO considered the matter for a while, then said, "Ramjen, help your friend out there and the guys down here when they need it with supplies and information." Ramjen saluted and headed towards his post.

"Coldmist, help out our flyboys with the menace up there, and please give us any information you may have about our common enemy."

"Will do, Commander," Saluted the GSC, then he flew out of the hanger/recovery room to join the fight above.

In the Skies above..

"Bubbac, you have a bandit on your six!"

"Can you get him off of me, Maverick?"

"I have my own problems, amigo," came the pained reply, "but here comes some -real- support!"

Coldmist flew past the enemy, strafing it with *Shatterstone* as he went by. Several of the Dark Dragons saw the new arrival and decided that Coldmist was the -real- threat, not the fighters, and started their attack run. The GSC saw his target fall, and paid little attention to the attackers coming at him. /Cousin look out!/ Bubbac warned, but it was too late, Coldmist was hit, and hit hard.

Bubbac growled in anger at the Shadow Dragons for what they did to his cousin and fired everything at the enemy squadron, dropping two of them.

/Keep your cool, Bubbac,/ suggested Ramjen, /Coldmist is pulling out of his dive.../ "I think," he muttered. But Coldmist was still falling.

*Shrill Trill*

/GEEEZ! THAT SMARTS!/ the GSC broadcast.

"Get to flapping your wings or we'll be food for the fauna of this planet!" scolded a familiar voice.

The GS Dragon known as Coldmist reopened his wings and landed safely on the ground next to Ramjen.

"What the heck was that loud sound a moment ago?" the CO asked the companions.

"Mr. Fipple, the Fipple Flute, at Jacrose's service, Sir," announced the flute shortly after Coldmist morphed.

"Magic?" The companions nodded.

"Jack," the commander began, "you are worse for wear, at the moment..." After a brief moment of thought he continued, "I don't care for magic myself, but if it is only way to get rid of these guys then..."

"Yes, sir!" Bubbac's cousin saluted, sat down on a nearby barrel, and started playing a climax when he saw his cousin's plane head into the remaining Dragons in the Squadron.

/NOOOOO!/ Ramjen and Jacrose broadcast together... and Mr. Fipple was dropped...

As it so happened... Bubbac Survived! He ejected in time, morphed into his Dracoform, and immediately began to fight the Squadron as a Dragon himself! He had no time to tell his cousin that he was ok, but -did- take down a few more enemy dragons before heading for the base.

***

At the base...

"Will one of you pick me up?" the Spirit of the Flute asked angrily, "I can't see, and he isn't dead."

Startled by this revelation, Jacrose asked, "how do you do this, Mr. Fipple?" as he dusted the Fipple Flute off.

"You would have seen him eject too, if your mind eyes were any clearer."

Both the cousin and the guard looked at the flute, stunned.

"He -broadcast- it before he made the move, but your minds were too busy with other thoughts and ideas." Mr. Fipple explained. Feeling chastened, the twosome welcomed Bubbac back into the fold when he landed. "The enemy is retreating, Cousin," he reported, "and I am sorry that I didn't let you know I was ok."

Not only did the remaining Dark Dragons retreat, they disappeared! All around the base soldiers and fly-boys alike cheered at the victory; however there were losses.

A soldier with a com unit ran over to Bubbac and said, "message for you from Maverick, Bubbac, Sir."

"Go ahead, Maverick," Bubbac began, after receiving the phone.

"We lost Ward and Brickwall, Bubbac," came the response, "and my jet was hit hard too."

"Will you be able to land, Andy?"

"To tell the truth, Jon," he sighed, "if I do land I'll be lucky she doesn't blow up with me in it."

"Can you eject?"

"Already tried, buddy."

"Play me," said a surly voice.

"What?" Jonathan asked, putting a hand over the receiver.

"Play a tune on me to save your friend," the voice continued, "the Flute in your cousin's hands, nitwit, play!"

Bubbac gave the receiver back to the Com man, and walked over to Jacrose. "Are you a ventriloquist or something? 'Cause I thought I just heard that flute tell me to play it."

"I -DID- tell you to play me, Stupid!" the flute shouted, "so don't blame Jacrose for your mistakes!"

Taken aback, Jonathan warily received Mr. Fipple from his cousin and began to play. Discordant notes came out at first, but after a while, a melody played that Jacrose never heard before.

***

Back at Marion's house, the tension rises to an unbearable level as both parties try to figure out what their imediate-future actions should be. Mercifully it doesn't last for long: without any warning, "Amthet's" shape suddenly shifts and morphs into a short, blond, plumpish woman whose facial features bear an eerie familiarity that makes Daria, Jostanos and Altheus shudder.

"That's -her-!" gasps Andreus fearfully from behind. "That's the woman who wrecked my tavern the other night!"

"You bloody fool," hisses "Marion", her lovely features contorted hideously into a mask of rage. "You lost your nerve too soon!"

"This masquerade clearly isn't fooling anyone here, dear sister," replies Sarwe coldly while shooting a look of pure hatred towards Daria. "How about we lay our cards on the table, now?"

"Very well," "Marion" says icily, then shifts her attention to Altheus. "You know what I want, fiancee, so I'll get straight to what we've got to offer in return. We have had the pleasure of meeting your friend's son," she points at Argent, "and we gave him a parting gift... a drop of exquisite poison of my own making that has no cure by either magic or any substances known to you. I alone have got the antidote, and as a bonus I might even tell you where your precious Marion is kept... so what do you say?"

"We get the antidote and the location of Marion?" Argent asked skeptically.

"I'll give you a free clue," Sarwe cackled. "She's not in -this- world!"

"No trying to feel her out, Daria!" warned Saihve, sensing her ability, "or Amthet dies and Marion stays hidden forever!"

Jostanos tosses over the Stone, and both Saihve and Sarwe cackle with insane glee: "FOOLS! THE DRAGON STONE IS NOW OURS AND THOU AIN'T GETTING NOTHING FROM US!"

Both disappear in a puff of smoke.

"Now I know that you can't be trusted, Jostanos!" shouted Daria.

/It was a fake,/ quipped the Spirit.

/WHAT?!/ broadcast Argent, Daria and Andreus to the Spirit.

/It was a fake that the real Dragon Orb created while we were on our way here,/ the Spirit explained. /With the help of Altheus and Jostanos, that is./

/How long will it fool them for, then?/

/As far as I've seen, it was a -very- good piece of forgery. It should buy us some time... hopefully./

"Well, you saved your precious Orb," says Argent bitterly, "but what will now happen to my son and Marion?"

***

After a short search, Daria's webweaving leads them into the dark room Amthet had stumbled upon so unfortunately. Pale-faced and distraught, Argent rushes to the motionless body lying on the floor and tries to wake the boy up. Amthet's breathing is normal and even, his face is serene and glowing with health, and he'd look as if he was having a fine and peaceful nap if not for the sinister black-blue spot on his skin where the needle had stabbed him. Quietly, Altheus kneels down next to Argent and inspects the mark, his brow furrowed.

/The witch was lying,/ he says to the rest, tactfully barring Argent. /I recognise this poison and it has NO known antidote; that's why it is Saihve's favourite. He's got perhaps an hour or two... no more./

"Is he going to die?" says Argent aloud in a strangely calm voice.

Altheus hesitates, then replies: "The Dragon Orb might be able to heal him, if it was restored back to its powers. But until then, all I can offer your son is what I've done for Jacrose all those years ago, when I put a hibernation spell on him to keep his body and mind indestructible."

"Neither alive nor dead..." mutters Argent. "Stranded in timeless limbo, without a thought or even dreams..." He sighs with resignation. "I suppose we have no choice. Do it."

"What about my sister?" asks Andreus after Altheus finished with the incantation. "How shall we find her now that her abductors fled?" He turns to Daria. "Can you work your web-weaving magic to trace her, miss?"

"You don't understand, it's not that easy," says the girl, shaking her head. "I cannot simply locate any person on a whim. I need to have had a contact with someone, to have learnt the..." she searches for an appropriate word, "-feeling- of their individual thread. All these threads I have at my fingertips... they speak to me of places and people, but without knowing what to look for I'm sifting through the tons of sand for a grain of salt with my eyes closed."

/Ah, Daria, but there's another side to your gift that I don't think you've explored before,/ says Altheus. /See, your thread magic can lead you to the place where someone -is-... but also to the place where someone -was-.../

** Sometime later, in Argent's former nemesis's home...

"AAARGH! WE'VE BEEN HAD!" shrieks a furious female voice, after discovering the truth about the Orb.

"I told you that we played our hand too soon, sister," shouted the other, "but you didn't listen."

***

Meanwhile... On Earth...

The companions there are seeing to the pilot of the Dragon damaged jet.

"Are you badly hurt, Andy?" one asks.

"Not too badly, Jon," the pilot replies, "I will survive to fight again some other day." He faints.

"The best place for Maverick is my bunk, for the moment, cousin," Jacrose suggested. "At least until we may move him to a medic tent." Bubbac nods, and does as his cousin suggested.

***

/If I could make a suggestion, I don't think we should stay in this house any longer,/ says Spirit to everyone.

"I agree, we shouldn't push our luck," nods Altheus. "But first we must take care of Amthet. Wherever our search leads us, we cannot carry him with us. He needs a safe place to stay." He looks questioningly at Andreus and Argent.

"The Head Priestess of the Itryth Healing Order is a good friend of mine," says Andreus slowly, "and will help us, I'm sure."

"But would the walls of Priesthood be enough to protect my son from Saihve?" asks Argent.

"Oh, be sure of that, dear brother-in-law," laughs Andreus. "The Healing Order may not command armies or boast any political power, but the power they wield is one of the greatest in this world. No evil may pass the steps of their temples."

"In that case, we mustn't linger any longer," says Argent decisively as he gently picks up Amthet off the floor.

As the companions were heading out of Marion's home, Daria recieved a transmission from her cousin Jacrose who was stationed on Earth...

/Daria, Cousin Bubbac has suffered a major blow./

/What happened, Jacrose?/ asked with concern.

/A whole lot of his flying companions didn't make it during a Shadow Dragon Raid earlier today and Maverick just passed on not too long ago,/ her cousin replied, then Ramjen took over:

/I don't know if our time here is over or not, Daria.../ he began. /But we are definitely ready to rejoin you now/, Bubbac included./

From the pocket of Altheus, a voice said: "Their time to come here is yet to be. When hybrid's son rests safe, you will see."

"Cryptic," was all the Guide said, but after he noticed the others looking at him he explained, "The Orb's prophecies often are."

The group of travellers make their way along the streets of the city, largely ignored by the indifferent crowds minding their own business. As they pass through yet another busy square, Andreus points to an unremarkable-looking temple stuck between the two opulent buildings on the other side.

"This is the place," he says with an unmistakable relief in his voice. "We're almost there..." he stops mid-sentence.

"What's wrong, Andy?" asks Jostanos, then his face turns pale as well as they see a couple of familiar faces pushing their way grimly through the crowd.

"Thought you fooled us, you pathetic little lizards?" hisses Sarwe, shaking with rage.

"Run!" screams Altheus, and rushes towards the temple, the others following suit. The company practically busts through the heavy copper doors into the inner courtyard, and Daria catches a brief glimpse of a round face gasping in surprise before she crashes to the floor with the unfortunate passer-by caught under. Breathing heavily, Argent and Altheus bold the door behind them and slump to the floor.

"Forgive me for interrupting," says an icy female voice behind them, "but who do you think you are, behaving like masters in this place?"

"We seek sanctuary, Madame High Priestess," Andreus bowed.

"Indeed," came the icy reply.

"LET US IN THERE THIS INSTANT OR SUFFER THE WRATH OF SARWE!" screeched an angry woman's voice.

"We are protecting a valuable artifact from Sarwe and her sister," Andy continued, and Altheus produced the Dragon's Orb as he said, "the Dragon's Orb of Casthellea."

"And my son needs a place to rest until a cure maybe found for the poison that is within him," Argent sobbed.

"Sarwe and Saihve can not enter here in any case," the High Priestess announced. "You may have your sanctuary, Andreus, but be carefull when you leave."

The companions were shown to a room where they may place Amthet temporarily. Then, to everyone's suprise...

"Their duty has been done. Now is their time to come home. Though it is too far to run... they will no longer have to roam." A portal, green in hue, appeared and Ramjen, Jacrose, and Jonathan stepped out, then closed again.

"What now, Altheus?" says Ramjen after Jonathan is introduced briefly to everyone. (/My, our travelling circus will soon require a cook and a maid at the rate it's been growing!/ jeers the Spirit.)

"Well, it's up to Daria now," says the Guide, nodding at the girl, who looks rather unsure. "In a strange way, we've been lucky that the sisters followed us. You'll find it easier to search for the places they've been to with their thread so close by."

With a nervous crooked smile, Daria closes her eyes and concentrates. Saihve's thread streams through her fingers, with Sarwe's dimmer one trailing behind, and the brief glimpses of the temple doors flash in front of her inner vision. With all her strength, Daria tries to follow the thread further, disappearing into the mists of time, until the tension is such that tears are flowing down her cheeks. As if by a miracle, the tension eases and Daria feels herself hurled across a silver pathway, myriads of images bombarding her head... a dark castle... a house that she recognises as Marion's... their own group standing in the hall... then... She screams and releases the thread, clutching her head.

"Cousin, are you alright?" gasps Jacrose.

"What did you see?" asks Andreus anxiously. "Did you see Marion?"

Daria says hesitantly, "I have seen her, yes."

"Where is she?" Then, picking up on Daria's expression, he adds, "is she... alive?"

Daria looks away, seemingly unwilling to answer. "She... exists, although I'm not sure if she's alive. I saw a castle, somewhere up in the western mountains, and a large hall... and inside, a pillar of light. There was a human shape inside... that was her."

"Can you 'thread' us there?" asks Jostanos.

"No," replies Daria. "I can trace places back in time but I cannot transport us there."

"There is a tune that I can help Jonathan play if Jacky accompanies in song," Mr. Fipple The Fipple Flute mused, "but it is tricky and requires all that wish to travel to the location to stand with the players."

"We just can't leave Amthet here alone like this. Can we?" Argent asked with fatherly concern. "Can't one of us stay with him while the others go on the journey?"

"That may not be an option." Altheus replied, "Let us rest for now and decide on our actions later."

"May we stay here for the night, my lady?" asks Daria. "We are more than happy to pay for our beds and whatever meal you could spare."

"Our temple is no common inn," says the High Priestess coldly, "but for the sake of our friendship, Andreus, I shall let you stay." She gives him a look that clearly says, you would be wise not to abuse that friendship again, then waves to the lesser Priestesses to accompany the travellers to their quarters.

***

Outside the temple, several hours later, two figures still hide in the shadows of the night... "We might as well give up, sister," says Sarwe. "This accursed place will not let us in. They cannot hide in there forever, let us try our luck once they hit the road." "And I suppose you have a way to track them wherever that damned webweaver might take them?" snaps Saihve. "No, there must be a way in..." She smiles fiendishly as a sudden idea occurs to her. "If we may not break in, let one of them helps us out... My dear former Shadow Dragon, you shall learn that no one can escape Saihve's will once she brings them to the heel..." Inside the temple, Jostanos tosses and turns in his sleep which is rapidly turning into a nightmare...

Shardspray's nightmares began that very night, and they were not pretty...

"Come back to me, Shadow," commanded an eerily familiar voice, "come back to me, and help me regain the Dragon Orb."

***

It was almost a week now that they left the House of the Itryth Healing Order and made their way north-west towards the mountains. After many arguments and a near-screaming row between Argent and Andreus, it was agreed that the latter would stay back in Harmeyn and look after Amthet, whose condition remained the same. To the acute embarrassment of Mr. Fipple Flute, the tune that was supposed to transport them to the mysterious castle with no sweat refused to work steadily, as did all of Daria's attempts at web-weaving travel.

"I don't understand it, Altheus," Jonathan said after an umpteenth attempt. "Jacrose and I have learned the bloody tune - no offence Mr. Flute - so well we could recite it in our sleep, so why does it fail?"

"I'm sure there's nothing wrong with our magic," replied the Guide, while helping himself to a generous slice of journeybread, courtesy of Andreus. "No, I suspect that there's something about our destination that repels all transportation spells."

"Which means we'll have to travel by foot all the way," says Ramjen glumly, "and risk another attack by Saihve and her sister."

"Don't worry, they won't take us by surprise again," interrupts Daria, "Spirit and I are on a constant lookout - they may shapeshift until they turn blue, but they can't mask their threads from me."

/You know it's not Saihve's physical attack I'm worried about,/ says Spirit to Daria. The girl, who was now attuned to the moods and inflections of her "guest", stole a look at Shardspray who looked like he was in a world of his own...

***

Not very far from the Companions...

"They are getting close," said Sarwe darkly to her sister. "Don't you think it's time to think of a back-up plan in case the dragon's mind proves too powerful for you?"

"Too powerful for me? For me? How dare you!" hissed Saihve, her eyes flashing. "I brought him to the heel once, and I'll do it again! He will not resist for long. And why do you worry anyway? They will never be able to get inside the castle. Even their precious flute won't be much help."

"That may be true, but they have been strangely fortunate in the past," replies Sarwe. "Sister, I do not doubt your powers. But I think that in your desire to lure back your most powerful servant, you forgot about our ultimate goal. There will be other servants to acquire once we get back the Dragon Stone. And I believe there are other ways to go around the problem."

"Meaning?" says Saihve, who notes "we" with distaste.

"Meaning that there is another former servant of yours amongst our enemies. One whose mind is so much weaker."

"The guard Ramjen?" says Saihve, startled. "But of course. How could I forget him!"

"We were as blind as our enemies are hopefully still are," continues Sarwe triumphantly. "The webweaver suspects that we're trying to regain control over Shadow, no doubt. Let her suspect him.You may suceed and bring forth darkness in Shadow again. But when the right moment comes," she adds quickly, seeing Saihve's rage mounting again, "you must strike at Ramjen. Not like with Shadow, but fast and hard. It's one shot, but it's a shot nobody expects."

***

The Cousins and their companions were nearly at their destination when the unthinkable happens...

"We have it now, my Queen! MUAHAHAHA!"

Both Ramjen and Shardspray turn back to their dark selves, steal the Dragon Orb from their former friends, and immediately teleport to the Dark Queens lair!

***

"Both of you have done well and will be rewarded..." the Witch Queen told them upon arrival. /As if!/ she thought to herself.

"So you have forgiven us, my Lady Saihve?" asks Ramjen anxiously. "Forgive you, my dear Ramjen?" says Saihve brightly as she lovingly puts away the Dragon Stone. "Why, there's nothing to forgive..." she turns away and gives Sarwe a barely noticeable nod.

The mage grins, and before Ramjen and Shadow can react, they are lifted into the air off their feet, paralysed.

"Do not worry, I have no intention to kill you," Saihve sniffs as she looks at the helpless shapes. "But I'm not taking any chances - you've been wrestled from me before and thus proved to be undependable. Think of it as a long restful holiday, if you'd like. When I've taken care of your former associates, I shall awake you... maybe."

She turns to Sarwe. "Put them into the pillars, next to their precious Marion. Speaking of which, it's time for our sleeping beauty to wake up..."

***

Back outside the castle... The company stands in shock, staring at where Ramjen and Shardspray were just a moment ago, as Saihve's mortal blow sinks into their minds. Daria breaks the silence by screaming, "damn, damn, damn!"

"What do we do now?" says Jonathan, ashen-faced.

"There's nothing we can do!" snarls Daria. "Saihve won! She has got the Stone, she has Marion, she is hiding safely in a place we are powerless to get into! What -is- there to do? We should have let that son of a... Shardspray take a hike a long time ago!"

"Even if we had, noone thought of Saihve getting through to Ramjen, too," says Argent in a hollow voice. "It is too late now."

"Never too late, friend Argent, never too late," says a voice that noone but Argent recognise. The cousins turn around to face a cowled figure that steps out towards them from behind a large tree.

"Firesting??" croaks Argent in disbelief.

"Argent," replies the figure coldly. "Long time no see. Tell you friends to put their weapons away. I believe that for once you and me can help each other out."

"You have some nerve, you!" Argent hisses. "Go back to your mistress before I rip your face off?"

"Oh, but you already have ripped my face off, dear Argent," says Firesting, throwing back his cowl. "Remember the fire trap in your lair? Ingenious! In fact the only thing that stops -me- from ripping -your- face off is, I need a favour from that former paramour of yours, Marion. She is the only healer strong enough to give me back my face," he raises his hand and traces the hideous burns than had transformed his face into a grotesque purple-black mask.

"So how about it? I could get you into the castle, and you could put a word for me to your ex-girlfriend..."

Argent was shocked, but Tigre blurted, "I'm ok with that."

/COUSIN!/ Daria and Jonathan shouted to him telepathically, making him wince. Obviously they wished he talked it over with them first. Altheus only smiled and muttered, "Everyone is nearly in place and ready for their part.."

"Healer?" says Daria with a frown. /Girlfriend?/ adds the Spirit.

"Hah, he hasn't told you?" says Firesting. "Not just -a- healer, -the- healer! The most powerful one on the face of this world, and probably multi-verse, too."

"Powerful enough to mend the Dragon St..." blurts Jacrose, before stopping himself and looking guiltily at his cousins again. But Firesting nods, "quite probably. Saihve seems sure of it, at least." He turns to Argent again. "So you see, you don't exactly have much time left."

"He comes with us," Altheus announced to the group, and as the companions gazed at him in wonderment, and Firesting staring at him with glee, he advanced towards Saihve's Fortress.

After about ten steps he stops and asks "Well, aren't you coming?" Tigre and the crew were stunned yet again, "Marion and the Dragon Stone aren't goin to save themselves you know."

***

"Hurray! Hurray! They're on their way!" Sarwe announced to her sister when she looked out the window. "Excellent!" the Witch Queen replied, "There are even more suprises for those meddling Siberian Cousins than the last time we met!" Cackling in insane glee Saihve and Sarwe set the traps for the Companions arrival..

***

Altheus doesn't advance any further before he hears a cough behind his back. "Er.... friend?" says Firesting, "I'm afraid you're walking in the wrong direction. The way into the castle is the exact opposite of where you're heading." Seeing the puzzled faces all around him, he adds wearily, "what I'm saying is, there's a secret entrance into the castle not terribly far from here. By a happy coincidence, it is also well away from Saihve's field of vision, so she won't see us entering."

"And you're saying she doesn't know about it?" asks Argent incredulously.

"You see, this castle did not always belong to her," says Firesting. "And as far as I understand it, it's only a temporary lair she used on very few occasions, so she doesn't know it as well as she should. And the entrance is so well masked that I only stumbled upon it by sheer chance. It saved my life, too," he adds darkly.

"Very well," says Altheus, who has the decency to look at least a little bit embarrassed, "lead the way, Firesting."

***

"Saihve!" gasps Sarwe as she looks at the distant figures down below retreat. "They're leaving!"

"What??"

"Look for yourself!" Sarwe is pushed away unceremoniously as the Witch Queen peers at the snowy landscape.

"No, I can't believe they've given up," she mutters under her breath, "they're planning something, that's for sure. Oh, nevermind. Even if they do manage to get in, our traps will take care of them. Still, I think one of us must stay vigilant. There's important work to do that cannot be disturbed by those pesky Cousins." "When you say "one of us" you mean me, of course," says Sarwe sourly, but doesn't argue further.

***

Inside the secret passage... "Are you sure this will lead us to Marion?" Argent asked his nemesis. "As sure as you and the fools with you have a better chance of defeating Saihve and Sarwe before they use Marion to bring Dark Lord Gargos."

There's a sharp intake of breath as Altheus stops abruptly, and even in the half-lit of the passage Daria can see colour drained from his face.

"What's wrong? Who is this Gargos?"

"Is he by any chance the Dark Lord the Orb has spoken to me about?" asks Argent sharply.

"Afraid so," says Argent grimly. "And I forgot all about it! Saihve has tried to bring him back a few times before, but never succeeded, even with the power of the Dragon Orb. She must be desperate now to try it again." He picks up the pace. "Our haste must be even greater!"

***

Whilst the companions outside were shushing Jacrose, Saihve and Sarwe were having problems of their own...

"YOU TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE OUT OF HERE BEFORE NOW!"

"Patience, my liege. Patience."

"PATIENCE MY FOOT! Saihve, darling, I need to have that gem in my hand to rule this world and I also need to be out of this frame!"

The quarreling couple don't notice a cowering figure sidling through the doorway, in a manner of someone who'd rather be several multiverses away.

"My Queen..." he stammers, interrupting Lord Gargos mid-word, "I've been brought the news from the world "Earth"..."

"Ah, marvellous, just in time," Saihve beams, then takes in the expression on the face of the messenger and says sharply, "the Dark Dragons were victorious, weren't they Elminio?"

"Alas nn-n-no my Lady," says Elminio, trembling like a leaf, "Something went wrong... they had two dragons assisting them, two silver dragons the survivor said, and the machines of war those humans had! They've seen nothing like them!"

"So my servants have failed me once again and the Shard remains on Earth..." says Saihve, her voice cold with fury. Abruptly, she raises her hand, and a bolt of energy strikes the unfortunate messenger square in the chest and engulfs him in brilliant blue flames. "Blast those Cousins!" she screams.

***

Back in the passage... "Gargos goes back to the old days of magic wars that tore the multiverse," says Altheus. "He was said to possess such power that had he recovered his strength now he would be unstoppable. And so enduring is his lifeforce that even when he was finally brought down by his enemies they could not destroy him completely. Instead, they split his essence into several fragments, and scattered them across the dimensions. No one remembers anymore how many of them there were or what shape they were put into or how powerful each one is. I myself only know of one - but if the rumours are correct it is the one that holds the most power."

"The Dragon Stone," says Jacrose.

"Precisely," nods Altheus.

"The Dragons of old told me of its true nature, a long time ago. I don't know how or when Saihve learned about Gargos and his connection to Dragon Orb, but it was the start of her downfall into darkness. She used the Dragon Orb to achieve her own ascent, but her true aim was always to revive Gargos and rule by his side as a Queen."

"Do you think then she might have learned the whereabouts of another shard?" gasps Daria. "You've said that she never succeeded before - so obviously the Dragon Orb on itself is not strong enough!"

"That's what I'm afraid of, Daria," replies Altheus. He wants to add something else when Firesting suddenly stops in his tracks and says, "there's something ahead of us!"

A few metres ahead, the dark tunnel ends abruptly with a doorway. Though the door is shut, brilliant rays of light escape through the cracks around it. "This is Saihve's crystal room!" gasps Firesting. "I never knew the secret passage went that far!" "Hush you!" hisses Argent. "I think there's someone in there..."

***

In the other part of the castle...

The pillar of light that until now has housed the body of Marion is gone. The healer stands listlessly in front of Saihve, her green eyes as dead as that of a zombie.

"What are your orders, my Queen?" she says dully.

The Queen beams and claps her hands together, delighted by her work. /Sarwe?/ she says. /Go to the crystal room and bring the Orb here. It's time to begin./

In the Crystal Room...

"Sarwe do this... Sarwe do that..." Saihve's sister rants quietly. "Since we've started this quest to find the Orb and Master Gargos she has sent me to do things."

The Orb listened quietly as the witch began to pick it up...

***

Outside the Crystal Room...

"Shall we enter now?" asked an impatient Jacrose.

"I say we do!" says an equally impatient Jonathan and reaches to push the door open. Instead, the young dragon's arm sinks into the door with a loud sucking sound, and before his astonished companions can do anything he disappears from view as the portal trap swallows him whole.

"Jonath..." gasps Jacrose before the Guide clasps his hand over her mouth.

"Quiet!" he says, listening intently, but there seems to be no sign of commotion in the Crystal Room on the other side. "I think this portal doesn't lead into the room behind it! It's a trap."

"Where did it teleport Jonathan to then?" says Daria, pale-faced. "Should we go after him?"

"Let's calm down first so we may think this through." Altheus suggests, tugging at his beard.

***

In the other part of the castle... Jonathan crashes onto the damp floor with a loud yelp. Behind him, the portal closes and disappears, leaving him in the centre of a pitch-black room.

***

Before anyone can answer, the companions are suddenly aware of the terrible noise coming from the tunnel behind them. Daria turns around, her heart full of dread.

Two Shadow Dragons and a squad of Dark Knights were blocking the way ahead of the Cousins. "Lord Gargos sent us this way fools!" a Shadow Dragon roared, "Queen Saihve isn't the only one who can see in this castle! MWAHAHAHA!"

The Cousins, now trapped between the advancing foes and the treacherous portal leading into unknown, groan in despair.

"Well, we have little choice now," gasps Argent. "We must try our luck with this damned door!"

He disappears through the portal trap, followed almost instantly by the rest of his companions.

"Where are we now?" Argent asks.

After a quick look around Jacrose exclaims, "NOT ANOTHER RED ROOM!"

"*Moan* Will ya quiet down some, Jacrose? I'm trying to sleep over here," said a sleepy voice in a corner of the room.

***

In Saihve's lab...

"Time to heal the Dragon Orb, Marion," croons a seductive woman's voice.

"Time to heal... Time to heal..." Marion chants as she approaches, and takes the orb from the Witch Queen's hands. The Dragon Orb remains silent and dark as it gets healed, awaiting the cousins to arrive...

***

"Jonathan?" says Jacrose anxiously. "Is that you?"

"No, it's Lord British, you dolt," came an ungracious reply. "Now could you please shut up and let me sleep?"

"Now that I think about it," says Argent with a wide yawn, "I'm up for a little nap myself. Can anyone please wake me up when it's time?"

"Not me," replies Altheus, settling comfortably down on the floor and tucking his backpack under his head. "Dragonlords, I feel like I haven't slept in ages!"

/What on earth is wrong with you all!/ screams the Spirit to Daria, who is ready to drift off herself. /Can't you see this is a trap! WAKE UP!/

*SHRILL TRILL*

"-That- should wake those sleeping beauties, Dearie." Mr. Fipple announced cheerfully to the spirit in GSD's head.

/If it doesn't,/ the Spirit began, /we're going to be in a whole mess of trouble./

***

In Saihve's lab...

"Time to heal... Time to heal..." Marion continues to chant as she caresses the Dragon Orb.

"Soon, Sister, our master will be free and we'll be able to conquer both this world and Britannia!" the Witch Queen cackles. Sarwe joins in the laughter, briefly, then heads towards the two pillars where Shadow and Ramjen are captured.

Back in the Red Room...

"WHAT THE FRELL JUST HAPPENED?" Jonathan asked angrily.

"Mr. Fipple broke the 'sleep spell' that was cast on us, cuz," Jacrose replies with a yawn. "Chill."

"Chill?" Jonathan asks as he morphs into Bubbac. "CHILL!? HOW ABOUT *CONE OF COLD*!"

Bubbac's *Cone of Cold* not only hits its target (Jacrose), but also Argent, and GSD.

***

In the Lab (again)...

"WHEN WILL IT BE HEALED!?" bellowed a voice from a mirror nearby, "'cause I want out of here."

"Soon, Lord Gargos, soon," Saihve promised. "Soon we shall be standing side-by-side conquering this world and Britannia!"

Sarwe wasn't too suprised at being left out of their schemes beyond getting Lord Gargos back into this dimension. However, she had some plans of her own concerning the two pillared prisoners.

***

"Stop this bickering -now-!" says Altheus impatiently, glaring at Jonathan. "We must get out of here as soon as possible, no doubt Saihve's servants are on their way to pick up their sleeping victims."

"Too late!" groans Firesting, as they all hear the distant sounds of clinking armour getting closer to the room. "We'll be caught anyway!"

"Not if we have the advantage of surprise," says Argent firmly. "No doubt they expect us to be asleep and helpless."

He looks at Jonathan. "So hold your horses and keep your cold magic for the -real- enemies, you hothead!"

Everyone falls silent as one of the room's walls suddenly reveals a white rectangle of a door... which bursts open to reveal... Sarwe with Ramjen and Shadow...

"Quickly, before my sister realizes what is going on."

"What are you playing at, witch?" Argent asks critically. "Why are you switching sides?"

With the rest of Argent's party staring at her, waiting for an answer, she replies: "Lord Gargos and Saihve have no more need of me."

/Yeah right!/ the spirit inside Daria humphed. /Quiet, and let her finish./ Altheus warned it. "Please go on."

"The Orb is almost ready for Saihve to bring her Lord back from the Prison Dimension," Sarwe continued. "To stop her from doing so you need these two in your party, and..."

/Oh why don't we give her a knock on the head already?/ says the Spirit vehemently, causing Daria to startle. /Are you seriously going to trust her?/

"...and you will also need to know how to get to the Great Hall where my darling sister is getting closer to her goal as we speak," continues Sarwe coldly. "So you see, you have no choice but to trust me."

"What is wrong with Ramjen and Shadow?" says Jacrose worriedly. Indeed, the pair's eyes look glazed over and everyone realises they haven't said a word ever since they walked into the room with Sarwe.

Sighing, Sarwe explains that the twosome were in a couple of Saihve's 'Stasis Columns' and that they had just been freed to help regain the orb before Lord Gargos could be freed.

"And we don't have all that much time to waste bickering here about it!" Saihve's sister continues. "She and Lord Gargos could be onto me, and you, any moment now!"

"Very well," says Altheus. "How do we get to the Great Hall?"

"Not so easy," says Sarwe. "There is only one passage that leads into the Hall and it is well watched, by magical eyes as well as human. We shall need disguise."

With these words, she pulls up the right sleeve of her robe, exposing her forearm. Gripping her right arm tightly around the elbow with her left, Sarwe then does something that makes everyone in the room gasp in surprise and horror. With one swift movement, the skin just below the elbow comes off her arm as if she was taking a glove off. But there is no blood or exposed flesh underneath - just strange metallic-looking surface that gleams dark blue. Looking at the astonished faces, Sarwe smiles and flexes the fingers for a dramatic effect.

"You cannot use magic to transform yourselves, because the defensive mechanisms will detect it. However, if you would shake hands with me, I could share my natural gift for shapechanging with you all, for a short while, of course."

"You mean... we could borrow your ability just by touching your hand?" enquires Jacrose.

"Yes!" smiles Sarwe. "As easy as that, drake. If you're brave enough, of course."

"Oh I'm brave enough!" boasted Jacrose. "Just you watch!"

And with that statement, the young dragon walked proudly over to the Witch Queen's sister and shook her hand. He suddenly shakes like he has been shocked by an electric eel and falls to the ground. As his companions crowd around Sarwe, to give her a piece of their minds, they fail to notice the change in Tigre's appearance.

He stands up and yells "Can't you take a joke? Goodness!" As his cousins, and his companions turn towards him, they notice that he too has the same metallic hue as Sarwe's arm.

"Jacrose, you look... scary..." says Daria, clearly unnerved by her cousin's new appearance. "Is -that- supposed to be our disguise?"

"Of course not," sniffs Sarwe contemptuously, then turns to Jacrose. "You need to concentrate now and think really hard about what appearance you wish to take on. My suggestion is that you mask yourselves as my dear sister's guards. I'm sure you've had an opportunity to observe them at some point."

Tigre tsks, "Tcha, the first day we entered Firesting's Fortress, she threw us into the dungeon with them surrounding us!"

Ramjen, as if waking from a dream, hears this and replies, "You broke that witch's spell over me then, when I was one of them, Jacrose." The former guard shook the young, transformed, dragon's hand. "And you have done so again, my friend. Thanks!" Ramjen, from the contact with Tigre, started to morph into a modified version of his former "Guard" self.

Firesting, who had been silent for awhile now, was a tad miffed. "It wasn't -MY FAULT- that you got captured then," and he turned his back on the lot of them.

After everybody had their turn adopting the guise, Daria, who was at the back of the queue, reluctantly approaches Sarwe with her hand extended for handshake. The witch, however, gives the girl a penetrating look and clicks her tongue.

"You, my dear, are going to be a problem," she says, casually pulling her "skin glove" back over her metallic hand.

"W-what?" says Daria, startled.

"Well, not you precisely, but rather the pest you're carrying around with you," replies Sarwe.

/What??/ The Spirit barks indignantly as Daria says coldly, "I'd appreciate it if you did not insult my friend, sorceress."

"Begging your pardon, I didn't realise you were so attached to it," says Sarwe."Of course you don't really have much choice about that, do you..."

/-It-? -It-???/ fumes the Spirit, but Sarwe continues: "You see, the forces that guide the passage into the Hall will sense two souls sharing your body... which is not a common trait amongst my sister's servants. It will raise their suspicions."

"Well, what if I go without disguise?" says Daria. "You can pretend to have captured me."

"That could work, I suppose," replies Sarwe. "I'm almost sure that my sister won't wish to do something unpleasant to you... at least not at once."

***

Saihve claps her hands in delight as she watches Marion finally take her palms off the Dragon Stone. The healer's eyes look as glazed as they did before, and she stands perfectly still, but there are signs of great exhaustion on her grey face.

"Marvellous," Saihve breathes out, looking at the newly repaired Dragon Stone. "At last, my love, the time has come."

She mutters a brief spell under her breath. Ten narrow pillars of light erupt from the floor to form a perfect circle around the witch, six of them trapping various objects inside each: a golden cup, a jewelled dagger, two orbs that look simillar to Dragon Stone although not as magnificent, a book and a locket. The other four remain empty.

"Seven shards out of ten," says Lord Gargos. "Are you sure these will be enough?"

"I know I promised you eight, my love," says Saihve. "But my servants failed me once again... the shard hidden in the world called Earth was too well protected for them. No matter. We have recovered the most important piece and we have one more shard than the last time I tried to revive you. We -shall- succeed."

"What do you wish us to do with the healer, my lady?" asks one of the guards.

"What? Oh." Saihve looks briefly at Marion's impassive face. "Take her outside and throw her in the snow. I have no more need of the wretch."

A few minutes later..

In a nearby hallway... "Where are you going with her?" asks a cruel voice.

"As my queen ordered me to do: Throw her into the snow," the guard replies.

"Hand her over to me. I have a better use for her," the voice cackles, and her supposed minions laugh with her.

After a few tense moments...

/Is that Marion?/ Altheus asks GSD.

/She is, but she is very weak,/ the GSC replies. /She needs to be healed quickly, but will my cousin's magic be detected?/

"Unknown are the ways of the magic of the void..." Sarwe sings in response.

"What are you suggesting then, witch?" says Argent angrily. "We cannot leave Marion to die!"

"Temper, temper," replies Sarwe mildly. She gestures at the nearby door and mutters a brief incantation.

"We are passing through the cellblock right now," she explains, pointing inside a small, bare room with two pillars of light stretching from the floor up to the ceiling. "No harm will come to your healer friend if she's put inside one of these. She can remain here, safe and sound, until you have time to aid her properly."

"And how are we to do that, Sarwe?" Ramjen asked suddenly, for he had been silent for the longest time now, "How are we to heal the healer without being detected?"

"By letting Jacky play me here, of course," a mysterious, forgotten voice replied.

"Who said that?" the Witch Queen's sister asked, and was suprised when she got her answer. Jacrose unsheathed his friend "Mr. Fipple" from the case on his back, and he, Mr. Fipple, replied, "I did, witchy." Sarwe looked stunned. "And if you have any doubts of this lad's abilities, ask his family here... and me! We know better."

After a few minutes a stunned silence from the entire party, Mr. Fipple continued, "if you have any better ideas you had better bring them out into the open for you don't have much time to dilly-dally here if you are going to stop your sister from making the biggest mistake of her life!"

Sarwe was even further stunned when she heard that from the enchanted instrument.

"Amazing things are happening these days, under our very noses and we haven't time to lose as our musical friend advised," the Guide quipped. "Now let's get moving and allow Coldmist to do waht he may for Marion!"

Sarwe, obviously annoyed by someone else other than her taking charge, gives Altheus a nasty look and then turns to leave. With her back to the others, she doesn't see Firesting look at her, and then at the pillar of light in the cell, in a calculating manner.

Without a warning, he darts forward and grabs the witch by the shoulder. Before Sarwe can react, Firesting shoves her straight into the nearest pillar. The shining surface swallows the woman and she stays frozen inside like a life-like mannequinn, her eyes widened and mouth opened in scream.

"I don't know about you, but she really started to get on my nerves," says Firesting to his shocked companions.

"What... what on earth have you done?" cries Argent.

"You should thank me, you know," bristles Firesting. " Do you really think she's your ally, that she's helping you out of goodness of her heart, maybe? Rubbish! She intended to use you all for her own gain!"

"Just like yourself?" hisses Argent, but Altheus stops him. "Enough... the heart of the matter is, how are we supposed to get to the Great Hall now?"

"I know the way," says Firesting. "We've got our disguise thanks to the witch, we don't need her anymore, let's go."

"But what about my dear Marion?" Argent asked. "We can't bring her with us and we can't just leave her here!" Jacrose clears his throat for attention, then replies, "Mr. Fipple and I could stay behind and keep watch over her while you continue." The companions were again stunned at the very idea, but there was little time to waste...

***

In the lab...

"My Dear," croons a wonderfully evil voice, "you have done very well to get me out of that prison with only sevenof the shards..."

The witch queen began to look a little worried.

"...But next time, get them all so I wouldn't look like the 'Phantom of the Opera!'"

Saihve visibly cringed.

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