Gizzy stared at the lunchbox as Nicole and Willow waited patiently.

“You have your magic arrows, Willow.” Gizzy sighed. “You don’t have to be here.”

“And miss more conjuring? I would never dream of missing it.” she replied.

“It might be broken, we don’t know what this will do. Even if it summons intact, it’s gonna be a mess inside." Whispered Nicole.

“Well, here goes nothing.” Gizzy said turning the dial and running back in case the timer was damaged. The thunderous rush echoed as usual, and there stood in front of them…the top floor. And only the top floor.

“A very small house for 5 people.” Willow pondered.

“It’s bigger on the inside…I hope.” Gizzy said checking her phone scanner

“Holy shit…did most of the house get yeeted and deleted?” Nicole asked.

“Uh, good news is no. looks like the entire house is there, it’s just underground. The Y axis is way off. So it’s there, it’s just hiding under the surface like a fat guy’s penis.”

“It cost you literally zero dollars...” Nicole sighed “To describe it in any other way than that. So we just go in through the bedroom windows? Double basement, two short doors?”

“We’re gonna have to break in, through an armored window designed to not be broken into, and according to the scanner…all the air gap below ground is…still dirt. VINN! NATHAN! Get some shovels, we’re diggin to the front door so we can shrink it down again later. We’re gonna need longer leg poles.

Vinn wiped his forehead. Noticing the sweat and dirt on his hand.

“Man being part human kinds sucks. I’m salt-watering like a motherfluffer and it’s like mid-fall.” He sighed as Silverback gave him a weird look.

“You think you’re sweating…try being 3 centuries old, running on 2 hours of sleep and 4 hours of sex with two cyborgs alien bioweapons. I haven’t felt my legs since yesterday.” He huffed.

“It cost you literally nothing to never tell me that.” Vinn scolded.

“Yea but I needed to brag about it, and it just never came up naturally in conversation.”

“I mean, if it won’t come up naturally…they got pills.”

“…HA!… I miss having you on a construction crew.” He chuckled.

“And this is why women will rule the Earth one day.” Gizzy Muttered, stopping and looking worried. “Guys pipe down.”

“Oh we’re just having fun.”

“No you’re impeding my hearing, that sounds like wings flapping.” She said, as they dropped their shovels and ran for weapons. Nicole and Willow took shelter in the ground floor attic as the men passed around crossbows and Dee readied her magic bow. Gizzy unlatched her sword and waited for the black and purple smudge to dive below cloud layer. Vinn, Gizzy and Silverback almost in unison, flipped out switchbow limbs and shouldered the bows, passing the new arrows around for a top-off in the rotary mag.

“Willow. Good time for a demonstration.” Gizzy said as they all fired a round, silverback and Gizzy missing and throwing up mushroom clouds on the ground far behind it, Vinn’s arrow nearing his mark as the dragon turned and popped it mid-flight with a fireball puff, as if to taunt them. “Okay, admittedly that wasn’t the best shooting, I’m more of a sword bitch, and Vinn does better with a 30mm autocannon. Dee. Little help.”

“I can barely see it, I’ve never shot a bow before!”

“Yea you did…once. You killed a dragon with it.”

“It was 12 feet away!” She yelled.

“Okay well, aim higher this time…any time.” Dee drew the empty bow, an arrow of light appearing as she reached full draw, releasing a beam of energy roaring through the sky, nowhere near the dragon. Gizzy grabbed the bow and drew it. Nothing happened. She handed it back. “Swear to gods we got the wrong weapons.” She said, considering her sword.

“No, the bow just got the wrong archer.” She said as the beast circled around.

“Willow, is there any technical loophole where we can un-bind the bow from Dee without killing her? If she stops her heart and doesn’t die, does that count or no?”

“It’s bound to her life.”

“Shit…of course it is. Vinn, help. She said, darting into the field to distract the beast. Vinn dropped to his knee and pressed Dee against his chest. Holding her hands and guiding her draw and aim.

“Sorry if this is weird.” He apologized, firing a shot and barely missing, as the dragon rolled left. It dropped low, lining up and breathing a strange purple flame. Nicole darted into the way, shielding them with her staff as the fire deflected and kissed the side of the roofing, curling it into blackened ash.

“What the hell?” Gizzy pondered. “That roofing is heat-resistant. How hot is that fire?” she yelled.

“It’s not fire!” yelled Willow. Ahndra is a tortured soul. She breathes flames of decay. It rots and withers all it touches, like the curse of time and neglect. It’s flesh rusts arrows to dust on contact. It cannot be killed.”

“Shit… Glad you gave me that warning. Okay there goes my plan. Anyone got any ideas?”

“Guy on top made of magic shit?” muttered Silverback.

Vinn raised his eyebrows, using Dee like a puppet for another shot, aiming at the rider on top. He released the beam, clipping something and sending it spiraling to the dirt. The beast dropped Faeryn and the broken saddle as it shook it’s chains loose and went for Gizzy, the closest target. She drew her sword, glowing blue and leaving a mirage of heat behind the tip. The decay breath rolled her way as she cringed and blocked, the sword bending the purple flame and singing the grass to sand as it curled up.

“Oh this sword is fantastic, I’m never taking this thing off.” She said rushing at it, as the beast galloped for Faeryn. He stood, ready to remount as an arrow struck his chest and he staggered back. He drew his sword, taking one step forward, and falling flat. The dragon roared in rage, taking flight and heading upward, out of range in the clouds.

“Nice shot” Gizzy nodded.

“I suck with a sword.” Silverback sighed, “but a crossbow is basically a pump rifle with a shitty scope.” He smirked.

“There’s no scope, Nathan. Just iron sights.”

“I know. Shittiest kind of scope you can have.” He said as Nicole checked everyone for injuries.

“I don’t understand.” Willow puzzled. “The dragon should be linked to the king, if the dragon dies, the king becomes weak and mortal, if the king dies, the dragon should die. Why did Ahndra remain alive?”

“Maybe this asshole wasn’t the king.” Vinn suggested.

“No, this is wrong! He wears the royal crest, he rides Ahndra. Dragons are never fully tame without magic controlling them, and one fueled by hate and evil even more wild than the others. When the dragons were given the bones of the god, the kings partook of their blood, binding the beast to their control. The dragons became larger than natural ones, stronger, magical, fierce, and the Kings became nearly immortal. This IS King Faeryn, I swear it. I've seen him before. Ahndra should fall dead.” Willow frantically rambled.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Well, maybe King Faerie is still alive.” Gizzy sighed, casually taking his head off with her sword. “Nope, dragon’s still going. He’s deader than disco. This guy's not the king, or your lore is broken.”

“My lore is sound.” Willow growled. “My knowledge is impeccable, and my eyes are fine. There is one dragon like that in all the land, and it belongs to the king dead before you. Only one of royal Elvin blood can drink the blood of a dragon and not fall to it’s poison, that IS King Faeryn…”

“You see why I’m questioning your logic here?” Gizzy huffed. "If that is the right dragon, and that very headless dead guy is the king…and your lore is perfect…help me out. What’s broken?”

Queen Sophia came barreling out from behind gold cladded doors into her blackened gilded hallways, eyes white and trailing a mist of purple as she roared quite literally, in pure hatred, grabbing a shield from the statue to her right and hurling it at the wall, falling to her knees and gripping her hair. She let out a scream, nearly deafening the guards now hunkering in confusion and fear.

“YOU!” she yelled, pointing at them. “Fetch my armor and my horse, I want 50 men fitted and ready to fight by sundown.”

“My queen…we were ordered by the King to stand guard here until his return.”

“The King is dead…” she barked with tears streaming down her face. “I am the king now, and we are at war.”

“With which kingdom?”

“The white witch of the north, and everything man or beast that follows her.” She said, stomping into her spell room and grabbing a piece of parchment with a drawing that vaguely resembled Gizzy. A woman with white hair and blue eyes. She slammed it to his chestplate and stared into his eyes with boiling hate.

“Kill everything she loves. She is mine.” King Sophia growled. Stomping down the hall and letting out another piercing scream of pain and rage as she went. A gathering of men jumped up and bowed as she unexpectedly entered the courtyard, followed by servants carrying armor and gear.

“My queen…what is your bidding?” asked the leader of the group, clad in the blue robes of Ulferling, the edge trim slightly differing as if well counterfeited but imperfect.

“The King is dead. Our plans have changed.” she huffed.

“This cannot be. The prophecy said: the King of black and gold, will fall the lands of sand and cold, shed the blood of favored and old, as one true king a crown shall hold.”

“The prophecy was misunderstood, I am your king now, and I will avenge my brother and fall the others. When Azure arrives, do as you were told, take the tunnels into Dravenguard and find the Queen with child. We are changing the plan from that point. Kill them both where they stand. Drink these, and fight your way back out. They will give you strength long enough to get home. Burn everything in your way. Take no prisoners.”

“This will start a war, my Quee- my King. I will do as you wish, but I must speak my mind. This is a call of war.”

“The war has started already. Prepare every fighting man of the city to defend or ride! Half of you will guard Gravestead, and half of you will March to The north, whichever colored robes remain, turn them blood red. We are at war with the world, and we WILL, fulfill the prophecy. The nightmare has begun, and none shall sleep soundly tonight!"

Nicole stretched and yawned, waking from her sound sleep as Vinn stared lovingly into her dark bronze eyes.

“Hey…” He smiled.

“Hey dork.” She replied.

“I had a nice dream.” He yawned, stroking her hair softly.

“Yea, I could tell. Sexy dream?” she smirked.

“Obviously. It was about you. Meeting you for the first time except on a… starship. 1980’s themed. You were on roller skates. Apparently we hit it off quickly because you ended up bringing me back to your room. I woke up right before things got sexy.”

“You…dream out me? But you have me. I’m right here. You could dream about anyone.” She whispered.

“I don’t wanna dream about anyone else. Honestly, I’m just glad it wasn’t a nightmare, this is the first good dream I’ve had in a while.”

“Because you found me?” she said tearing up slightly. “Well…this is unacceptable, you woke up before the good part so we can’t have that spoiled. Let’s finish it.” she whispered, rolling on top and giving him a kiss.

“I could get used to this life, you know. Maybe even this body.”

“I still like the old one more, but any you is still you. I never wanna leave this bed. I never wanna leave you. Just stay on top of you forever, no alarm clock to wake us u-” she said as a knocking on the door interrupted the idea.

“Wake up, we gotta pack the house.” Hollered Gizzy from the sub-basement entrance “You two dinguses overslept, and we got a dead King to take somewhere.”

Willow and Thaddeus stood holding a switchbow and a quiver of explosive arrows, both looking sad and overwhelmed.

“We killed a King." Willow sighed. “We’re as good as dead ourselves, and war is about to rise.”

“No, WE killed a King, far from here, where we’re taking the body. That’s why you two are staying here. This is your home, you have something to defend it. Thaddeus, take Nathan’s sword. It’s fancy and impressive, borderline magical looking, and a fine weapon that he lacks all ability to use properly. Tell everyone it’s the magic one. If they don’t believe it…” she said, twisting the pommel and extending it to full claymore size, clicking on the LED lighting she added for effect, in almost magical blue. “Then do this and cut something really hard to cut. Willow. This bedazzled Switchbow is yours, wear this bracelet, or it will shock the shit out of you when you open it, anyone else that touches it will get the same shock. Loads 7 arrows from the front, here's 2 pre-loaded speed mags, keep one in it. Doesn’t seem to work great on dragons, but it will put the fear of the gods in an army, and blow a carriage to pieces, so that’s a solid message. Tracer arrows glow when fired. We didn’t have blue, so you got red. Make some shit up for that. I dunno.

Thaddeus before we go…I’m giving you this communication stone. This will allow us to track and talk to you, please, for the love of god, remember to turn it off when to take a fat shit or crank your hog, and then remember to turn it back on after that. It’s one button on and off, press and hold for like 3 seconds, if it glows it’s on. Keep us informed of the warfront. We still need eyes and pointy ears on our side. Defend the town if necessary, I have an impossible task ahead of me to conquer.”

“Fighting a god?” he asked.

“No, teaching Dee how to shoot a bow. She is incredibly bad at it and our heaviest hitting archer…ironically. Absolute shit, real shit sandwich of a tactical fubar if you ask me, but it’s what we got. We really should have brought guns in retrospect. Hindsight…what a bitch. Well, good luck, and thanks for the help, the hospitality and Nathan’s free hooker and beer binge.”

“They weren’t free.” Willow said dryly.

“Okay then here’s some money and otherwise the same thing I said applies. Adios! We’re out of here before the shit magnet that is this group, pulls the big brown wave of war into Thievenbridge.”

“We appreciate that.” Willow sighed. “You should head north and follow the plains. Everyone seems to be heading north. Everyone looking for war. You will find friends in Direcove.”

“North it is.” Gizzy smiled. Making her leave.

A dark figure sat on a throne of gold and green, emeralds on his crown and a single ruby in the center matching the burnt copper color in his eyes. His shaved face expressing a stern and chiseled glare like a fired terra cotta statue, covered in dark green dyed leather and gold inlay. More gold than even the other kings would dare wear. He sighed as the reports finished, his ebony bride awaiting his orders.

“Good.” He nodded slightly.

“Good?” she asked “Your brothers prepare for war and the Quake is dead. Hafth’s army waits for something, Ulferling preps to march, and your unstable brother Faeryn is seen riding his dragon all over the land and all you can say is... GOOD?!” she barked.

“Be still, all is as it should be.” King Uldor said, as she looked angry and worried but hesitant to say anything. He turned to one of the two gilded seats beside him, both adorned for a queen but one empty as she paced in frustration, the one drawing his attention occupied by a pale woman in scantly clad black. A pair of black rams horns coiled out of her icy white hair, dark eye shadow and black lipstick curled slightly up to one side as she smiled through milky white eyes and a hollow gaze.

“My king, she merely lacks faith, and worries. She does not doubt you.” Smiled the strange sorceress.

“Silence your rantings. No king should be led by a blind magician.”

“ENOUGH!” Uldor roared, standing up. “Ioa, do not speak down to her because you disagree. You are both queens of this land, act like it.”

“She will get us killed. Listening to her prophesy lost you your dragon. Listening to her will lose you your kingdom.” Ioa said, angrily leaving the room. Uldor slammed his fist to stop her, and she kept going. He plopped down angrily as a hand with long icy pale blue nails lightly raked across his shoulders, the sorceress seductively leaning on his arm.

“Let her express her concerns. She is strong-willed. It takes a very wise ear to hear the words that seem dangerous, and trust them regardless.”

“Your words do disturb me as well. I have faith in your premonitions, but I risk everything following them. You are the mother of my two strongest boys, and for that she is jealous, and she does not love you or understand your magic like I do. Of course, she would have doubts and concerns, but I cannot let her insult you like that. She must learn to speak respectfully, as you do when you disagree with her. Comfort me, Tell me again why we wait.”

“Because our enemies cannot touch our borders. Your brothers will fall, their kingdoms will burn and we will remain. I have seen you standing at the walls, watching your brothers destroy each other beyond our lands, and I have felt the markings on the stones that gives us power. I have decoded their words: A light of green that pierces sky, a brave 600 men will die. As gods arise and man will kneel, a sword of power they shall steal, a broken King in cove of Dyre, sacrifice of blood and fire, brothers pure they shall conspire, but he who waits, his heart’s desire. A witch with locks as white as snow, to her true love will hold the bow, with sword in hand on final hour, Elvin blood releases power. Elvin kings will turn to dust, as one of blended blood and lust, shall watch the ruin of the pure, for only one king can endure.” she whispered hauntingly. “Have I not been right?” she asked with a devilish grin. Massaging his neck.

“I too saw the green light in the sky that night, hearing that the sword was stolen, I sacrificed my dragon of blood and fire, 600 men died in the attack on Thalebrook, and now King Krade of Direcrest begs me for soldiers to defend his town as my brothers rise up for war. A witch of locks as white as snow, to her true love will hold the bow? Tell me Diaz, am I still your one true love?”

“You always have been, my king. So the bow shall be yours and the sword shall be mine. Our sons, a blend of Elf and man, and Satyr, shall inherit all that is. The gods will it, Only one king shall remain, you must only wait. The days of Elvin pureblood rule are over. Be patient, my king.” She whispered, climbing on top of his lap.