Author’s Note: I just realized that I’ve been forgetting a disclaimer every chapter thus far. Oopsie. Well, here it is:

Much to my dismay, I do not own anything relating to FFIX or He-Man (though I wish I did. How cool would that be?) and anything that does relate to them belongs to their respective creators/owners/whatever. However, I do own Dregan, Zentarou, and anything else not related to FFIX and He-Man, so please don’t copy, or at least ask first.

Chapter 7: Paths of Stardust

"Natarstreyk'iklarya," Orko called, holding out the emerald that would summon the dragon. "We're ready if you are." The gold dragon within awoke, whirled, and vanished, and Natar appeared.

: You are to be the first: he inquired of the red robed mage when he fully appeared.

"Yes, but one question first. Once you find our home worlds, can you easily find them again?"

: Of course! My memory is better than that: He might have sounded insulted... were he not chuckling. : I simply didn't care enough to remember before. But now I will take note of each path and location.:

"Good. Then we're ready to go." Natar lay down on his belly, and Orko floated up. Zentarou also easily climbed aboard, but Vivi was a bit perplexed.

"Um... I'm not sure how to get up there." Dregan interlaced his fingers and bent slightly.

"I'll give you a boost." Vivi stepped into Dregan's hands and the dunedi elf lifted him up. Zentarou reached down and pulled him up behind himself, and Dregan soon followed, easily climbing up. "Never thought all those times Adynaeus had given me a lift would ever come in handy," he joked as he got settled behind Vivi.

: Hold on.: Natar leapt into the air, snapping his tail and wings downward for an added thrust. After a few powerful wing beats they had gained significant altitude. Once the pressure had eased up, the four mages were able to straighten and look around.

"There's even less here than we thought!" Zentarou exclaimed. The desolation stretched out as far as their eyes could see, punctuated by deep rifts scattered about.

:Those are the lairs of the lizard men.: Natar thought to them. :Those who survived the tower's collapse have most likely already fled to their homes.: Their path eventually led past the ruined tower. It was utterly destroyed.

"Do you think anyone got out?" Vivi asked softly.

"I don't know," Dregan replied, each seeming equally affected by the destruction and death. "It's possible. After all, we got out, and we released many others before doing so, and some much have been on lower levels than we were." All doubted it a little, but it was nice to hope.

:I'm going to break into my home realms now. Keep a tight grip.: Once assured that they were ready, Natar performed a series of three sharp wing beats, each time rocketing higher skyward. On the third beat, they, for one breathless moment, went so high that the air was nil. Then a rip-like opening appeared before them, and Natar flew through.

As the 'gate' closed behind them, all their eyes were forward. Sky, ground, all were the same void black, seeming to go on in all directions forever. Yet the plane was not void, as here and there were sparkling lights, like stars. Looking behind they saw a rather close one, appearing the same size as Dregan and shaped like a diamond. But despite the close proximity, and the light that seemed to shine from each diamond, their eyes weren't in any way pained. All was quiet.

"Trolly-molly, look at that!" Orko gasped, and in the still his voice sounded loud indeed, as he pointed downward. All looked to see a pathway made up of something that sparkled and glittered, perhaps an inch below the dragon.

"What is it?" Zentarou breathed, as if unwanting to speak any louder.

"It's beautiful," Dregan complimented. "More so that diamond dust."

"It's like stars," Vivi whispered.

:It's the Paths of Stardust, as my former mage master would have said: Natar told them. :Look beyond.: Indeed, many other such paths flowed through the blackness, and upon them other translucent forms flickered. :Those are my kindred, other Twilight Dragons. But unless one happens to cross out path, or something of urgency occurs, they won't speak to us.:

"Why?" whispered the red robed mage.

:Because I am carrying passengers. It indicated I am on a mission.:

"Oh." For a long while, perhaps several hours, none of them spoke. This place seemed to have a mystical ambiance that demanded silence. They just watched as Natar gracefully glided along the sparkling paths. Occasionally they even flipped so they were sideways, and once upside-down - Orko later would say that he wondered how none of them fell off - but mostly they were right side-up, and they came close to several of the markers. But as they were along side or different paths, and apparently not their homes, Natar ignored them. And thus they traveled, each lost in their own thoughts.

: We need to land: Natar informed them suddenly.

"What's wrong?" Vivi asked.

:I need to rest some before continuing. And you four will need to eat. While you are here, you won't feel any physical needs, but as soon as we leave here, you will.: Dregan chuckled.

"Than by all means, let’s find a place to rest. Preferably one that's a bit more hospitable than the last." That got chuckles from the three other mages as Natar banked towards a nearby diamond. Another tear appeared before them, and they passed through.

The Twilight Dragon swiftly descended towards a beautiful, verdant place criss-crossed with rivers. A few large cities could be seen from their height, soaring in the late afternoon sky.

: This place should be safe: Natar informed them. :This is the home world of the planar traveler who crafted my emerald. He lived in that town.: Natar cleared his throat a bit. :If... you should happen upon any of his family...:

"We'll let them know what happened," assured Dregan. "After how I suffered, when I didn't know if my sister was alive, I'd never want another to go through the same hell."

: Thank you. I will be able to return after nine hours or so, though in cases of emergency you can speak to me via the emerald.:

"Okay, rest well." Natar slowly vanished.

: My mage friend's name was Mirakris.: and the gold dragon image returned to the emerald. Zentarou chuckled to himself, rubbing his belly.

"Natar wasn't kidding. I'm starving!"

"Well, the town isn't too far away," Orko commented. "There's got to be a place to eat there."

"Then let’s go." The four mages began to walk towards the town.