Chapter 5: The Dragon's Tale

"Natarstreyk'iklarya," Vivi called in an authoritative tone, trying to sound as if he's done this before and was more confident than he felt, "we need your help." For a few long minutes, nothing happened. Vivi began to feel a bit embarrassed. He opened his mouth to apologize when Orko suddenly gasped.

"Trolly-molly!" Inside the gold dragon image had 'awakened' and had begun to fly in a tight loop. Faster and faster it spun, until it was a gold blur. Then, with a bright flash that temporarily blinded them, the gold dragon vanished.

About a yard away, a dust cloud of yellow sparkles bloomed out of nowhere. it grew larger and larger, until it formed the outline of a huge dragon. Then the 'space' between the 'lines' filled in with a pale blue translucence. The dragon sat there calmly, wings folded over it's back and eyes closed, for many moments. Then, abruptly, his eyes snapped open to lock right on Vivi, startling orbs of fiery lights and disillusive hues, like stars and nebula. Dregan shifted slightly to the side, so he was more between Vivi and the dragon, a bit protectively. But the dragon didn't twitch a scale.

: You called little mage, and I have answered.: His mouth didn't move, but all heard Natarstreyk'iklarya's voice in their minds. : I will serve as best I can. What do you want of me: Vivi hesitated, so Dregan spoke up.

"We only require some information, about where we are and how we came to be here." The dragon turned its stellar gaze to the elf.

: I know your voice. You are also one of my new masters, therefore I will answer you.: Natar lay down, and motioned that the mages should get comfortable as well. Once they were settled, he began to tell them a story. : This is a planet that has no name, in a lonely plot of a void dimension. It was used as the place of exile for the one who called herself Queen Tsar'kris. She was imprisoned here for some hideous crime that was never revealed to me, along with her most loyal followers, forbidden from ever returning to her home. This place had been used by her people, a race of planar travelers, for ages because it is impossible to leave, although entry is relatively easy. Most just die, but not her. She devised a way to escape, using the drained magical essence of mages.

: First the enslaved the natives, those lizard beasts, to act as her army. Since there were no casters among them, it was there only use to her. Then she lured planar travelers here by promised of power and treasure. The first few who fell for her ploy she forced to build the machine. They were also its first victims.

: Then, after capturing one mage, she found me.

: I am what's called a Twilight Dragon. We live in a special plane that exists outside all other planes in all other dimensions and universes, able to visit them at will via paths of what non-dragon travelers tend to refer to as Stardust. My former master managed to find e while I was on his home world - we have to store treasure somewhere, after all - and we struck a bargain: A bit of my essence for his spell, which made the emerald in return for two-thirds of any treasure and riches we found for ourselves on our travels together. I agreed, feeling rather adventurous, and besides I liked the man. It sounded like a perfect partnership.

: Little did I foresee her.

: She discovered my powers, soon after destroying my friend, and used me to fulfill a new scheme: to capture mages and drain them, to grant her ever-growing power. It was all she wanted now, I assume to eventually wreck revenge on whoever banished her. She held my emerald, and knew my true name, having forced it from my friend. So I was helpless to resist her commands:

"And eventually you found us," Dregan interjected.

: Yes, amongst others. But now you four are my masters. Whoever holds my emerald commands me in battle, bit I will answer any of your questions and follow directions outside of battle, and not even imitations of your voices will fool me.:

"Can you get us home?" Zentarou asked, causing all to hold their breaths.

: Yes. They couldn't help but to burst out cheering, Vivi and Orko even hopping up to dance in a circle together. : But - : They fell silent. : I don't exactly recall how to get to your homes.:

"W - What?" Dregan gasped.

: I visited many worlds, and from my home dimension all world markers appear nearly identical. I cannot recall the exact paths I took to find you, as I was guided by your magical signatures.: Unbidden tears welled in the four mages' eyes, as feelings of despair washed over them. Blearily Vivi saw Dregan pull a chain, like a bracelet, out of the embroidered pouch on his hip, a diamond-shaped amethyst attached to it. He stared at it, his hand trembling as he enclosed it in his fist.

Natar looked at them for a few moments, his presence there also a shadow in their minds, then they heard him gasp.

: You are all thinking of friends and family, aren't you:

"Yes," Zentarou responded.

: That might just improve my chances of re-finding your homes.:

"What do you mean?" Vivi asked, trying to suppress the leap of hope within.

: When someone is being thought of, it creates an echo of that person's spirit, especially if the thoughts are fond ones. And if enough people are thinking about the same person at the same time, it creates a wave of sorts that I can detect from my home realm, as long as I am actively searching for it.:

"So... since our families are thinking of us...?" Orko sounded hesitant to say it, but they all needed to hear it from the dragon.

: I might be able to pick up on it. But it would take quite a long time. As I don't know exactly where to search, I'll have to try all the sectors I know of.:

"But it's possible?" Vivi asked, just to be sure.

: If you are willing to take that much time, then yes, eventually I should be able to find your homes.:

"I am," Dregan said without a moment's hesitation. The others nodded.

: Very well. Decide amongst yourselves who's energies I will need to tap into first, and have him summon me next. I will need a night of rest before I can break into my home dimension with you all.:

"We'll do that," Dregan said with a nod. The dragon regally bowed his head to them all, then returned to his starry form and vanished. The gold dragon reappeared within the emerald, and settled again into 'sleep.'

"Okay," Dregan turned to face them all, taking a leadership role that the rest seemed to accept instinctively, without question, "who goes first?"

"As we find our homes," Vivi commented, "there will be less and less of us. The last person would be all alone."

"I'll go last then," the elf decided before anything else could be said. "I won't let anyone go alone until all have found their homes."

"You took the words right out of my mouth," commented Zentarou.

"I was alone so long that I would never want anyone else to be alone," added Vivi.

"Trolly-molly," Orko laughed, "we can't all go last. Someone has to be first. But don't think I'm staying behind, not knowing if the last person for home okay."

"Seems we've got ourselves a problem. None of us are willing to let the others go alone." Dregan grabbed fur stalks of grass, snapping them into different lengths and holding them in his fist so all looked the same size. "We'll draw for it; shortest goes first." They all agreed that was fair, and one by one drew a blade of grass. Then they compared. "Orko, you for the shortest," Vivi handed over the emerald, "then Zentarou, Vivi, and me." Orko cleared his throat.

"Um... I'm not going to get you go alone, Dregan. It could take decades for you, if not longer." Dregan smiled.

"I'll be fine."

"No. I'm not going to let you. So... after the dragon finds Eternia... I'm still going with you all. Think about it," he added against their incredulous stares, "when he finds one home, shouldn't he be able to find it again quickly?"

"Yeah," Vivi agreed. "So the only time anyone would go alone is after we all know each other has found their homes."

"You do realize," interjected Dregan, trying to make sure they all understood, "that doing it this way means you'll have to say goodbye to your friends, not knowing how long it will take to return."

"Yes," answered Vivi, seemingly for them all. "And knowing my friends as I do, they'd do the same thing in my place." Dregan slowly nodded.

"If you're sure, then very well."

"I guess we're here for the night, then," Zentarou commented. He looked around, then grinned playfully. "I've slept on worse. Once my brother slit open my mattress at home and put rocks in it. I didn't even notice." They all chuckled. Then, as it was getting dark, they gathered a little brush and wood, and Vivi lit a fire for them. All settled down for sleep. Orko levitated himself up into the air and folded his hands over his chest as if lying on a hammock, tipping his hat over his face. Zentarou settled on his side, his head pillowed on his arms, and curled his legs nearly to his chest with his tail draping over his legs, almost cat-like. Dregan laid flat on his back, one arm under his head, the other over his stomach. Vivi too lay down, but couldn't find sleep quite as easily. Soon the soft breathing of the others echoed in the still air.

Vivi sat up, tucking his knees to his chest and folding his arms over them. The little mage sighed softly.

"Something wrong?" came Dregan's whisper. Vivi, startled, barely suppressed a gasp and looked over to see the elf still lying on his back with his head turned towards the black mage.

"Did I wake you?"

"No. Sometimes it takes me a while to fall asleep." The elf sat up. "You seem troubled. Anything I can help with?" Vivi sighed again.

"I don't know." He looked at Dregan. "What did you do back there? That power -!" Dregan turned his gaze to the sky, darkly gray with clouds.

"They were going to kill us. I was desperate." Vivi felt that Dregan was hiding something, but let it drop. Dregan suddenly smiled. "That dragon was impressive, wasn't he?" Vivi smiled too.

"Yeah. I've never seen anything so big before... well, except for other eidolons."

"Other what?"

"Summons. Two of my friends, Eiko and Queen Garnet, can call them."

"Sounds like powerful friends. Can you imagine anything bigger?"

"No way." Dregan's smile turned into a wry grin.

"I personally know of a dragon who's much, much bigger. Natar isn't even as big as his head, when he's in full form."

"Really?"

"His name is Adynaeus. He's literally as old as dirt..." And Vivi dozed off listening to Dregan's story.