Chapter 14

The Dragonmaster stood atop the tower, gazing pensively out toward the horizon. His lieutenant and his spy stood by his side.

"Gentlemen, it is as I feared. A great and terrible power has been awakened."

"What?" Trudge cried. "Sir, what are you talking about?"

"The Mastery Orb has been activated," Goodwin replied. "I can feel its power from here."

"What should we do about it, Master?" Blister asked.

Goodwin paused, then turned and put a hand on each man's shoulder. "Prepare for battle, my friends."

Kalin charged an automaton and struck it at the neck, severing the enchanted pendant and making the walking suit of armor fall apart. As an inanimate helmet fell at his feet, another automaton approached from behind and readied a blow to his skull. Kalin heard the construct's footsteps and turned around to see a sword come speeding toward his face. Kalin tightly closed his eyes ."This is it," he thought. He braced himself for pain and death, but it didn't come. He opened his eyes and the automaton lay dismantled on the ground, much like the other one. "What?"

Eve landed next to Kalin and Misty and Toby dismounted. All around them, they saw the automatons all fall apart into the inanimate suits of armor they once were. "What just happened?" Misty asked.

"Did we win?" Toby asked.

"I guess so," said Kalin, "but that felt a little too convenient. Toby, you're the magic expert here. What just happened?"

"Uh, well..." Toby stammered. Suddenly, his eyes caught a glimpse of something on the ground. "Hang on," he said. He knelt down to pick up one of the pendants that controlled the automatons. "This thing is drained of its power. All of these pendants have a psychic link with Sayer. That's how he controls them."

"But if the magic is gone," Misty began.

"Then that means Yusei and Akiza got that bastard!" exclaimed Kalin.

As the words left his mouth, Kalin felt the ground start to shake. He looked toward the castle and saw a great column of pale green light, swirling in a great vortex. When the light subsided, the riders beheld a great green, serpent-like monster with wings, giant claws, and blood red eyes. "What the hell is that thing!?" Kalin yelled.

A roar erupted from the maw of the monster, releasing a shockwave and knocking the dragon riders over. "Ow..." Toby groaned as he stood back up.

"That was weird," Misty said. "That barely hurt."

It is as if that blast was not meant to harm us, Eve said.

Kalin's eyes shifted as he saw the dismantled armored plates on the ground begin to stir. The armor parts raised themselves in the air and then fell down to the ground again. "Okay, this is way too weird. We need to find Yusei and Akiza now!" he said. He called Seeker to him while Misty and Toby remounted Eve. Seeker dove from the sky and Kalin leaped onto his back.

For a minute, that monster reanimated those things! Seeker claimed.

But that means... Eve said.

"That monster is Sayer," Toby said. "What has he done?"

How are you feeling now? Stardust asked.

Better, Rose replied. The pain is all but gone.

Do you think you can fly?

I don't have the energy yet.

So I guess I'm going to have to carry you, hm?

Don't be silly! I'm not exactly what you'd call a 'light load'. You can't fly with me on your back.

I assure you, Rose. I am much stronger than I look. With that, Stardust thrust his wing underneath Rose's violet plumage and tried to lift her onto his back.

Hey! Watch where you're touching! Rose reacted.

Sorry. This is a little more difficult than I imagined. Stardust strained trying to lift her but she was too heavy for him to fly. He put her back down gently. Damn! I'm sorry. I'm really trying here. Stardust then felt a sensation in his heart. Yusei was calling him. But he couldn't leave Rose. She needed his help.

Rose recognized the conflicted look in Stardust's eyes. Stardust, don't worry. You don't need to lift me to safety. Right now, Yusei needs your help to rescue my rider. You need to go help him.

But you're hurt! I can't leave you.

I am not a fledgling. I just need a little more time to get my strength back. You go and help your rider. He needs you.

Very well, but for the record, I need you too. So promise you'll stay put and rest? Stardust pleaded.

Come here, you silly dragon, Rose beckoned. Stardust lowered his head down next to hers. She nuzzled her snout with his and said I will tell you what a sweet dragon you are after you rescue my rider. Now go.

Without another word, Stardust gathered air beneath his wings and took off.

Yusei stood atop the battlements of the castle as Stardust careened through the air toward him. He leaped from the rooftop and landed right on the dragon's back. "How's Rose?"

She'll be okay.

"Yusei!" a voice yelled. Yusei turned to see Seeker and Eve carrying Kalin, Misty, and Toby.

"What's going on?" Yusei asked. "Is the city safe?"

"Pretty much," Kalin replied. "The automatons we fought just fell apart in the middle of the battle. Suddenly that huge green thing popped out of the castle and breathed life back into them! Then they fell back apart after that thing flew away."

"That thing is Sayer," Yusei said, "and he's got Akiza! I've already lost his trail and I don't know where to go next! Damn!"

"Calm down, Yusei!" Kalin said reassuringly. "We'll find her. Seeker! What do you smell?"

An abominable stench. A stench of pure evil. I know where he is headed.

"And people wonder why I call you Seeker," Kalin smiled. "Lead the way, my friend!"

Sayer placed Akiza down on a ledge jutting out from a cliff face. DO YOU KNOW WHY I HAVE BROUGHT YOU HERE, PRINCESS?

"Why? Is this a magical cliff that makes you appear less ugly to me?"

YOUR BRAVADO IS WASTED ON ME, PRINCESS. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE?

Akiza looked around. She saw a series of large, glittering stones stood up in the canyon below. They looked very much like very large dragon eggs. "No. What is this place? Why have you brought me here?"

I HAVE BROUGHT YOU HERE TO WITNESS THE SCOURGE OF DRAGONS. I HAVE LONG THOUGHT THAT THE ONLY GOOD DRAGON IS A DEAD ONE. NOW I WILL SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHAT USE THEY CAN BE.

"You still haven't answered me!" she yelled. "What is this place?"

IT IS CUSTOMARY, WHEN A DRAGON DIES, TO ENTOMB THE BEAST IN AN EGG OF STONE, PRESERVING IT WITHIN. THIS, MY DEAR PRINCESS, IS A DRAGON GRAVEYARD.

"A g-graveyard?"

YOUR FRIENDS WILL NO DOUBT FOLLOW ME TO RESCUE YOU. WHEN THEY DO, I WILL KILL THEM. THEN I SHALL MAKE THEM SERVE ME. IF I COULD ANIMATE SUITS OF ARMOR TO SERVE AS MY FOOTSOLDIERS, IMAGINE WHAT I COULD DO WITH AN ARMY OF UNDEAD DRAGONS!

"You can't!" Akiza screamed at the monster. "It's vile! It's blasphemous against the Crimson Dragon!"

YOUR PRECIOUS CRIMSON DRAGON HOLDS NO SWAY OVER MY HEART! I DEFY YOUR GOD TO STOP ME TURNING HIS PRECIOUS CHILDREN AGAINST EACH OTHER UNTIL EVERY SINGLE ONE LIES DEAD! AND KNOWING YOU ARE POWERLESS TO STOP ME MAKES THIS VICTORY ALL THE SWEETER!

"She may be powerless, but we're not!" came a loud voice from above. Akiza looked up to see a large red dragon descend into the canyon. Jack and Archie arrived just in time.