Author's Note: This chapter and the few that immediately follow were created by me, so most everything here, except for Orko and Vivi of course, also belong to me. Naturally, since I know more about Talsdia than either Eternia or Gaia, these chapters will be a bit longer and more detailed, but that can't be helped.

Chapter 30: My Brother's Enemy

Natar dove at the demons, roaring out a challenge. Once the defenders realized this to be an ally that flew overhead, they cheered and renewed their efforts. Peering around to see how to best fit in, the Bretheren Arcanum noticed three figures that stood out, even from their eagle-eyed view and amidst the mayhem of the battlefield. All three were on horseback, two wearing full plate armor, helmets and all, one blue and gold, and the other red and gold. They rode on horses with gold and deep brown hides, respectively. The third wore no armor that they could see, but his orange clothes, most noticeably a cloak, were easy to spot, and he rode a white steed. Each horse appeared well trained, performing amazing battle tricks like rearing to strike with their forelegs, jumping to kick out with the hind, biting and attacking almost on their own accord, all the while not unseating their riders. These three fighters led the charge, and many soldiers rallied around them.

"The king and his brother," Zentarou explained of the first two, though of the third he would say nothing. Dregan did note, however, that this one, in orange, had either gray hair, or gray fur. "Unleash your breath, Natar, but avoid harming the defenders," commanded Zentarou as the other three let loose their first spells in this fray, all four choosing an aerial position rather than joining the ground forces so as to not hinder the defenders in any way.

: No fear of that: reassured the dragon as he pulled in the required breath. : My breath only hurts my foes.: And with that he incinerated a portion of the demon forces. Zentarou began casting himself, using every spell they'd ever seen him use with fury.

Suddenly an area towards the side began to waver. A huge beast, a demonic thing with forward-jutting horns, a snarling mouth full of teeth, and massive claws appeared, covered in black hide and wearing a chain collar. Several demons held chains connected to the collar, as if they were trying to control the beast. And the defenders, occupied with the current threat, seemed not to notice it.

"It’ll annihilate them!" Vivi cried.

"Not if I have a say," growled Zentarou. He pointed a finger at the monster, and shouted loudly, "Become my brother's enemy!" The mages felt a pulse of magic as if he'd casted a spell, and Dregan saw the orange-clad one look over abruptly, as if he heard the cry, and rally the nearest soldiers to him to meet the new threat. But the cat mage wasn't done yet, oh no. Even as the mages felt a spike of power within their friend, he folded his hands, left over right, flat over his heart, eyes closed, fully in a spell. A single tear tracked down his cheek, and as the spell neared completion he shouted, "This is for my mother!" and spread his hands, arms fully extended, towards the beast. A flurry of rose pink rose petals appeared seemingly out of his chest - indeed, were lined with red as if wet with his heart's blood - to whirl between his hands and unerringly to his target. They struck like throwing stars, only more so, doing incredible damage and making it roar in pain and flail about, shaking the chains out of the restraining demon's grasps. Before it could charge, Natar loosed his breath again, as the mages did their spells. The monster snapped at them as they passed overhead, but fell very short.

"Don't let it near the others!" Zentarou ordered, as much to the other mages as to Natar. Magical breath and powerful spells continued to pound into it, until at last it fell over, dead, and vanished. The remaining demons fell soon after. Few on the defender's sides were injured by all appearances as they made a sweeping pass, hearing as they did so a voice, shouting up at them.

"Brother!" It was the one in orange. He was waving both arms at them. The ones in red and blue joined him, and as they banked back closer they figured one of the armored pair must've said something to him, for they heard his reply: "He's on the dragon! I know it! I feel his presence!" Zentarou wiped away a tear before waving in response.

"Zantar! Brother!" Natar landed as the soldiers made room, and the four mages slid to the ground. The three on horseback galloped over, the one in orange getting there first and leaping off of his horse before it even fully stopped to catch Zentarou in a fierce embrace.

"Wow!" Vivi exclaimed softly, now that they were able to distinguish details. "They are really identical twins!"

"I'll say," agreed Dregan. "If it wasn't for their clothes, I wouldn't be able to tell them apart." The ones Zentarou had named the king and his brother joined them. Much to their surprise, the armored pair dismounted, ripped off their helmets and dropped them to the ground, and also hugged the wayward mage; double shock, they were gray cats, just like Zentarou, with the same markings.

"Zentarou," the one in blue wept. "My son, thank the Lioness you're safe!" None of the three mages could contain a gasp of surprise.

Had the king just called Zentarou...

Son?