Chapter 4

Emperor Dragon and his two disciples happened upon a quiet forest, traveling across a remote continent. Indeed, there were no people or villages in this distant corner of the Starry Sea. It was truly a land ruled by nature. The Emperor and his disciples were merely passing through, having no business in the region.

However, it was so idyllic and calm that the group found it impossible to leave without stopping for a moment to appreciate the majesty of the land. So, they paused for the afternoon in a clearing at the edge of a cliff overlooking rolling waves of beautiful forest. The sounds of nature around them soothed the group into a comfortable afternoon nap. Though, it took some words of wisdom to convince King Lion that rest was a necessary part of one's life.

Emperor Dragon argued that not taking a moment to rest and appreciate the beauty in the world could cause one to forget just how wonderful the world could be. Somewhat reluctantly, King Lion followed his master's teachings. He was the last one to lay his head down on the soft grass. Though it should be noted that he was the first to fall asleep.

They were awoken by the sound of trees being ripped up by the roots. A crackling, grinding, ripping, pulling sound that shattered the peaceful atmosphere. The trio immediately returned to full alertness, searching for the source of the horrible sound. It was not hard to find. The source was loud, and near. Looking over the cliff, Emperor Dragon and the two King Beasts could see an army of insectile monsters scouring the land. They were deforesting miles and miles of trees in a crawling, writhing blanket of death.

"O-Oh my," King Turtle wrung his hands. "H-How a-awful. Just a-awful."

King Lion snarled. "We must stop this at once. Master, allow us to destroy this scourge."

"Indeed." The Emperor nodded in agreement. "We must protect this land from such devastation."

"O-Oh my. Oh d-dear." King Turtle fretted. "They s-seem rather s-strong."

They leaped from the cliff, King Turtle protesting along the way, though he followed just the same. They met the wave immediately. The monsters proved a difficult opponent. King Lion's sword could only slay a dozen at a time instead of the hundreds arrayed before them. King Turtle crushed bugs beneath his shield, but it was not a weapon in truth. Worst of all, Emperor Dragon could not use his dragonbreath for fear of starting a fire that would destroy the forest even faster than the monsters.

Despite these limitations, they fought on. But in the end, the insects, mindless monsters that they were, mostly ignored the trio. Three arrayed against thousands, even if they were Kings Beasts and Emperor Dragon, could not hold back the tide. They could only stop as many monsters as they could as the peaceful and idyllic forest disappeared in front of them.

Looking out over the devastated landscape, the barren stumps of once-mighty trees, and the scattered remains of what used to be its inhabitants, Emperor Dragon grew angry. Such destruction could not go unanswered. He was duty-bound to slay all monsters along his path. But more than that, he desired to punish the ones that could destroy such a wonderful place with neither thought nor remorse.

It was at this moment, with the sound of the forest gone and dead, that the trio heard something unexpected. Something almost impossible in this scene of devastation. A loud snore rang out across the empty ground. A snore that came from a cave set into the hill upon which they had slept.

Entering the cave, they came across a bear of immense size, sleeping the day away. Somehow, it had managed to remain asleep throughout the ravaging of the forest outside. It was King Turtle who recognized the massive axe leaning against the wall.

"Master! This i-is K-King Bear! My father t-told stories of h-his axe!" The mighty weapon was inscribed with images of the surrounding landscape as it had been moments ago. Lush forests filled with life and tranquility.

Emperor Dragon's rage boiled. He reached out and proceeded to slap the King Beast awake. Coming out of a deep slumber, the bear was suitably unhappy. "Whuh? Who's that? I was having a beary good nap."

"King Bear, account for your neglect of your Guardianship." Emperor Dragon called him to task. "The land has been ravaged during your sleep."

"Dragon Emperor?!" King Bear couldn't have been more surprised to find the Emperor and two other King Beasts in his cave. "It's an honor, sir." He rose up, grabbing all three in a bear hug. "What brings you to my cave?"

"Your forest has been destroyed by monsters." Emperor Dragon repeated. Though he felt some of his anger fade. It was hard to be mad at someone who gives such honest and warm hugs.

"Oh, the bugs again." King Bear sighed. "I know it's my burden to bear, but they keep coming around whenever I go to sleep! I try to stay up and catch them, but my cave is so comfy, and this forest is so peaceful." He looked genuinely remorseful. "The bugs are the only thing that threaten this forest. Otherwise, my job is only the bear bones of what other Guardians have to do."

"Have you thought of going after the bugs? Hunting them down. You could stop the problem before it started." Emperor Dragon suggested.

King Bear was stunned. He had never had such a thought. He cast himself into a bow, recognizing his wrong. "Emperor Dragon, bear witness. I confess I've been beary lazy and neglected my duties. Please, help me stop the bug horde and restore my peaceful forest. If it wouldn't be too unbearable, please take me on as your disciple as well. I have much to learn."

Emperor Dragon nodded in approval. "I shall assist you, as will your fellow King Beasts. To slay monsters is my charge and purpose. And guiding a wayward Guardian is a noble calling. I shall teach you all I can."

And so King Bear joined Emperor Dragon.

Chapter 5

Emperor Dragon and his four disciples traveled through a long, winding cavern. It was the best path from the City of a Thousand Sands and the mountain halls of Forgehome, the ancient city where ethersmithing was created. They took up this path to repair King Lion's sword, which had shattered on the back of a Sand Hydra as they defended the desert city.

But the path was long and arduous. Many monsters harried them along the path, so the going was slow, even for a group of such powerful and mighty King Beasts. Eventually, they entered a strange gorge. The sand of the desert mixed with the mountains, forming twisting and winding pathways. Many led nowhere, and the path toward Forgehome was unclear. Even more confusing were the holes bored into the rocks all along the rocky walls.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Master," King Lion spoke up after many hours of travel, unable to contain his concerns. "It might not be my place to say this, but I find those holes to be…foreboding. I worry we have walked into a place of much evil."

King Turtle and King Bear looked to their master as well, having noticed the same ill omen coming from the countless holes. Emperor Dragon nodded his scaly head in response, speaking with endless calm. "Indeed. The reason you find the holes so ominous is because we are being watched from them. It would be strange for Beasts of your caliber to not sense such an avaricious gaze. What you have not noticed is that our food and money have vanished."

Each of the King Beasts could not contain their surprise. Indeed, their precious supplies had disappeared without their notice. King Bear nearly broke down into tears upon seeing that his desert honey, so hard-won and delicious, had also been taken.

"Master, this is unbearable! What should we do?" King Bear cried, lamenting his lost treat.

"Do not worry, my disciples. For while our watcher thinks we have been wandering aimlessly, lost in this gorge as many others have before, I have actually been taking us to his lair this entire time." Emperor Dragon smiled serenely. The King Beasts calmed at their master's words. Instead, the thought of confronting the thief had stirred their hearts. King Bear looked ready to cleave the sneak-thief in half with his mighty axe, and even King Turtle was rather upset. The thief had stolen his shell brush. King Turtle couldn't imagine such a lowly creature that would steal even something so basic.

It was only minutes later before the King Beasts and their master turned a corner, only to be confronted by a long figure draped in desert robes. The Beasts were on guard, as they had not noticed the figure's presence until they saw him not ten feet away. None of them doubted that this must be the thief.

"How did you know where my basssse isssss?" The figure hissed

The Dragon Emperor simply smiled. "I did not. But I knew you were listening and that you would rather confront us than risk your base, King Snake."

The other King Beasts recoiled in surprise at their master's words. Both that he had lied, and that the one who stole from them was a fellow King Beast. Emperor Dragon, having known the whole time, was simply amused.

"Well, it sssseems there issss no ussse hiding from you." The figure threw back his hood, revealing the serpentine features of King Snake. In the same motion, a spear appeared within his grasp as if by magic. "But do not think you can come to my hideout or that I will return what I took. I will fight even you, Emperor Dragon!" He brandished his spear.

Emperor Dragon nodded solemnly. "I know this, King Snake. You have suffered alone for too long. I have come to help. Take us to your hideout."

"You've come to help?" King Snake laughed, though he did not sound amused. "No one will help. I cannot rely on ssssome outssssiders to ssssave them."

King Lion stepped forward, sword drawn. "Do not doubt my master's words! He is noble and virtuous. He would never betray a promise of aid, and he helps all those he can!"

King Turtle stepped forward, clutching his shield nervously. "K-King Lion is r-right. Our m-master is of the f-finest character. He s-saved me from myself and p-protected my people when I could not!" King Turtle spoke with more firmness and conviction than he ever had before, enough to surprise King Lion.

King Bear was not to be left out. "You should trust him, fellow king. My master saved my home from a grizzly fate and helped me bear the weight of my responsibilities. He is good, and true."

King Snake seemed taken aback at the King Beast's words of praise. He gazed at them all suspiciously. "It sssseems your followersss sssspeak for you."

"They are free to say what they will." Emperor Dragon cast aside his suspicions. "King Snake, you face a force which you cannot stop on your own. Your suspicion will not accomplish your goals. Sometimes, it is necessary to rely on others to succeed."

King Snake shook his head as if to deny Emperor Dragon's words. An internal battle seemed to form within him. In the end, he sighed. "Very well. I am desssperate, and there are no optionssss left. I require your help."

"I know." Emperor Dragon nodded, "Lead us where we need to go."

They followed King Snake through the winding pathways and convoluted turns of the gorge's many branches. Finally, their path spilled out into a wide-open area filled with dead trees and brown shrubbery. In the center of the valley was a divot dozens of feet deep and a hundred feet wide. Around it were homes. A small village existed here in this maze-like passage.

Entering the town, the King Beasts were quick to notice that it was nearly as dead as the plants around it. The people were thin and sickly, with a listless look in their eyes. Most disturbingly, there were far more children here than such a town should ever have. For every adult, there were at least ten kids.

The King Beasts also saw that this was where their missing supplies had gone. They saw families eating their food, trading their money. King Bear saw several children gathered around the pot containing his precious desert honey. He could not bring himself to take it back after seeing the joy on their sticky faces. King Turtle saw a little girl brushing her dirty hair with his shell brush. Much like King Bear, he did not have it in him to ask for it back.

"What has happened here?" King Lion looked over the desolate valley. "Who would build in such a place?"

"You sssay that now, but you sssshould have sssseen thissss town in yearsss passst." King Snake looked about with both love and sadness. "It usssed to be beautiful here. An oasssisss. But then a monster of water and ssssand came. It sssstole every drop of water from the land, leaving a dessssolate husk. The people here are outcasssts. Orphansss from dessssert tribesss. They had nowhere to go before, even lesss now. I have kept them alive, but no more. They are sssslowly dying. And I can do nothing."

"This is why we are here, my disciples." Emperor Dragon spoke with compassion and a will forged of the hardest diamond. "Go, bring life to this place."

"Yes, master!" His disciples responded to his call.

King Turtle looked upon the empty basin that used to be a lake. He opened wide his jaws, and a flood poured out, filling it to the brim with clear and clean water, much like that of his home. King Bear clawed at the sand, tearing great rents in the surface. Wherever he left scars in the land, it turned over, and verdant soil formed in place of the dead sand. King Lion went last, stomping his paws into the ground. From every stomp, a tree sprouted, and every step produced a myriad of plants and insects.

Soon, the valley was more vibrant and alive than it had ever been. The once desolate people rejoiced, pulling fat fruits from the trees and taking up long-forgotten fishing poles to pull giant fish from the lake. Soon, music began to resound as the cheers turned into singing and dancing, and an impromptu festival was formed from sheer joy.

Through it all, King Snake looked on, stunned and amazed. His own powers brought sand and death. Useful in their own way but unable to save those he protected. His amazement lasted only so long as the joyful villagers pulled him into their merriment. For none of them had forgotten his every effort to save and protect them.

The party continued on late into the night, with the King Beasts performing great acts of skill and strength to entertain the people. Even Emperor Dragon would breathe fire and light to form images of battles gone by for the amusement of the children that crowded the oasis town.

Afterward, King Snake found the Emperor. "I mussst apologize. You were right. I did not trust othersss to help my people as I might help them. I did not believe othersss could care asss I do. Pleasssse, would you teach me how to lead them better, for my skillssss are found wanting."

Emperor Dragon merely grinned. "Of course. After all, you must pay us back for the things you stole!" They laughed, before Emperor Dragon grew serious. "Your dedication to your people, even in the worst of circumstances, is commendable, but you must learn to see beyond yourself. For example. We have not solved anything yet. The monster that took your people's livelihoods continues to roam this desert. It could do it all over again."

Once again, King Snake was struck by his own inadequacies. "Indeed, I have much to learn from you, massster. What ssshould we do?"

"Why, what I have always done." Emperor Dragon frowned, and his visage contained all the fury of the Starry Sea. "We kill the monster."