Epilogue
Free Minds

21029 J.C. (5011 A.S.)

The walls surrounding him look the same as he is led down the corridor by four SpaceWing guards, two alpine and two plateau variants, studying every detail for anything that might stand out for him to follow if he ever manages to get free. His wings bound. His shackles tight. His abilities grounded. The guards' weapons locked in place against the animus power-blocking titanium bands at his vitals. How does he intend to escape from this? His snout is chained tight. He cannot use any enchantments. He has no way of suppressing his suppressors. But as they continue forcing him to the prison ship, which Darkmatter suspects only exists because of earlier animi or maybe technology he does not understand, he goes into thought about the current scene and why he was brought here.

Hm. They really think they can keep me here. Think again. I have my followers waiting in the perfect place for my escape. This is their initiation. To prove their loyalty to me. These petty guards won't know what hit them. The EDHO didn't stand a chance. Those bastards got what they deserved for what they did to me. I enjoyed breaking their worthless bodies. I destroyed them all! I felt no remorse in killing them where they stood. But my plan to assassinate the planetary rulers failed. I was apprehended the moment I was a claw's breadth from slitting their confounded throats! That damned Messier is the problem! If I eliminate him first, then King Kiviuq and Queen Lysithea will be no match for my power. There is the issue of the other rulers though. If they don't bow before me, then I'll just kill them.

He is pushed and pulled further ahead by the strength of his captors, causing him agonising pain down his hind and reminding him just how badly these guards beat and tortured him during their so called interrogation. Not that they cared about the mental torment he suffered. The torment that still haunts him to this day, and the reason why he decimated the entire EDHO without hesitation. He still remembers exactly where all the scars are on his body, that they inflicted on him everyday for a week just to get answers.

They all deserve to be torn to pieces for how they treated me! I can't STAND not being able to destroy them! If I wasn't like this, I'd have their body parts scattered about down this corridor. It'd be very gory, and will only get me executed, but I'm not yet done here. The planetary rulers still live! I can only be finished once I rule this planet!

He is forced to turn the corner in unison with the guards, where the prison ship slowly comes into view inside the hangar. Darkmatter studies the dragons that wait by it armed with huge spears and claymores, all the form of Terra SpaceWings. Darkmatter once heard of a terra variant able to crumble a boulder with the sheer strength of his tail, but he has never witnessed that. But among the ones waiting outside the ship is another that glances his way and smirks while still keeping to an erect stance to avoid any suspicions. He is holding a sword and shield with professional altruism the way Darkmatter taught him, despite how much he cares for his freedom.

As they get closer, the stellar variant salutes to the four guards before grabbing Darkmatter by his horns to help pull him inside.

"You're on a one way ticket to Rozar. Execution is far too good for you. You deserve to be humiliated until you beg for death, and that's when you'll finally be executed."

Then one of the Alpine SpaceWings speaks. "All four of us, plus the four guarding outside the ship are coming too. No sudden moves or any plans Darkmatter. You will not escape." They all enter with him as a Pyre SpaceWing calls out from inside the ship to the others sitting in place at the bridge.

"Close the doors! Ready the thrusters! Set coordinates to Planet Rozar!"

"Yes, Captain Caloris sir!" the other three reply in unison before getting the ship ready for take off.

Darkmatter sits on his haunches simply letting two others strap him down at the back of the ship so that he cannot freely explore. Only he knows that these two Desert SpaceWings are also his followers, along with the captain and the other four stellar variants like him. Altogether he has seven, each here for their initiation where anything can change. He knows that any one of them could be killed here, for he understands the guards that apprehended him would be skilled enough to kill if necessary, especially the four brutes. The ship lifts off after everything secures while Darkmatter goes into thought once more, this time about the impending scene that will be taking place as the guards sit around him at their posts with him glaring at them all.

Anytime now, this place will become a massacre that won't even dirty my claws. I do hope none of you guards figure out just what it is you all walked into. Shame the previous fools in this ship are nowhere in sight. Oh. I forgot. They were killed in here, just like you will be. You're all trapped in a confined place with no escape. Let's see just how long you survive your untimely fates.

"So. Execution's too good for you eh, Darkmatter?" Alpinae says, turning to face Darkmatter. "How long will you last on Rozar? I heard the last criminal we sent with even more power than yourself, recently opened up a position for you days later, with his death. Heh. You won't last five seconds on Rozar. I wonder how long those devils there'll take to tear you to pieces."

"I bet 20-1 they tear him to pieces in seconds," Diastrophic wagers, snickering.

"I'll hold you to that, Diastrophic." Alpinae shakes his talon, before turning back to Darkmatter. "Heh. Diastro here says you won't last five…" His words drown out into choking as a spear impales his throat in the grip of Binary's talons, against the wall of the ship while Darkmatter simply smirks at his struggles.

"What?!" Montes unsheathes his blade and strikes, the clash of swords resonating through the ship's hold as another stellar variant blocks the attack.

"Nice one Blackhole."

"How many?!" Montes asks hatefully.

"All of us," Binary answers. "But you won't live to tell the tale."

"Guards! To arms! Kill them! Don't let them free...!" He is silenced with a throwing blade between his eyes, a skilled kill from Caloris.

"Auto pilot on! Let's go everyone! Time to kill these pesky guards!"

Darkmatter simply watches the body cave amidst a dying grunt with the blade still in its mark, as the terra variants release their claymores and charge into battle with the remaining two. Amidst all the chaos and sounds of metal upon metal, the ship soon goes into a satisfied silence after the last body falls to the ship's floor with blood spilling from his corpse. Darkmatter laughs at the dead bodies despite his shackled snout.

What did I tell you? I'm very disappointed you couldn't survive even a minute in battle with all my followers. He is untied again by the two desert variants, who both have bleeding cuts on their forearms, then walks to the bridge of the ship.

"Set course for the Frozen Kalusian Wastes, Toroflux and Nebula," Caloris orders. "These titanium shackles, chains and bands won't shatter otherwise."

"Yes, Captain Caloris," they both reply.

"It was a pity they all died so quickly. I need some more entertainment," one desert variant states with boredom.

"I know the best thing for that, Mars."

"What do you have in mind, Olympus?" Mars asks.

"A very intriguing game of gambling." Olympus looks around. "Who's up for Blackjack? Winner takes all." He sets up a table and pulls out a deck of cards along with coin counters by the hundreds, as Darkmatter settles himself down on his front while most of his followers surround the gaming area.

"We'll get there in moments Darkmatter sir, I assure you," Caloris assures, returning to his post.

It only takes a short while before the ship comes to an absolute stand still as it lands far away from where Darkmatter was first brought to, and now he walks out into the frozen wastelands with Caloris there by his side. The sudden chill clinging to his scales like sharp claws and coating the titanium metal in fresh layers of ice amidst an accompanying cracking. He remains out there until his whole body is dressed in snow, before pulling apart the chains, tearing off the shackles and shattering the magic-suppressing bands into pieces. He rips off what binds his snout, and slams the tail band against a large outcropping rock. He takes a deep, relieving breath of fresh air, opening his jaws for a much needed stretch.

"Much better."

"It is very pleasing to hear you speak again master."

"And I'm pleased to be free from those irritating binds." Darkmatter shakes off all the snow and starts collecting as many pieces of the titanium metal as possible.

"Might I ask as to why you are collecting what used to bind you?"

"For a surprise they won't soon forget on Rozar. Collect as much titanium as possible, and rig a bomb that will explode at the ship's final destination."

"You plan to breach the base on Rozar, don't you?"

"Precisely. An explosion to interest the many beasts there, and kill as many guards as possible. They'll think twice about angering me after that. They won't know what hit them until too late."

"And what about us on the ship?"

"You've all passed my initiation, so you can go home. I heard that a comet will be passing by our planet. Only us stellar variants can survive the vacuum of Space, so Binary, Toroflux, Blackhole, Nebula and myself will hitch a ride on it and leave the Vesirion System. That planet Messier visits seems very interesting, and I want to make it seem like we vanished. That planet seems suitable for my new rule. Very primitive. And I'll need others like myself that can survive the journey there."

"Then we better get started," Caloris says. "I'll drop myself, Mars and Olympus back at your base. Good luck master."

With as much titanium collected as possible, they head back on the ship, ready to set the trap as they take off again.

"This is crazy master!" Nebula blurts. Darkmatter had a feeling one of them would react like this after he told them his plan, but this is the only way for them to get as far from Visirion as possible; the only way Darkmatter can be free. He puts on the SpaceWing suit that will help protect them in Space, where they are now, in the same ship set for Rozar.

"We don't have a choice, Nebula. You wanted to follow me. This is necessary for our continued survival. We go back, we die!"

"I'd rather take my chances than ride a comet that may end up anywhere."

"Nebby!"

"What, Binary?!" She glares at him. "My point still stands! How do we know the comet's safe? Where will it go? Will we even make it on there, or burn up on the tail? Doesn't anyone consider these possibilities?"

"She does have a point, Master."

"We're Stellar SpaceWings! We can survive out here! We have the build, the speed and the abilities! I know it's dangerous, but what choice do we have?" Blackhole opens up the brig door. "The Zalagos Comet will be passing under this ship any moment now! We need to jump at the right time to catch it, or we'll miss it! This is the moment we all choose! Life, or death!"

"Darkmatter!" a sudden shout occurs through their contactor devices. "You'll be taken to Rozar if I have to drag you there myself!"

"Messier!" he growls. "You're too late! I'm already free!"

"Then I'll have to stop you by force!"

Darkmatter glances out into the distance, his planet not far away, noticing a speeding dragon flying towards them. He then hears the crackling of fire nearing, and readies himself to jump with the others.

"Now's the time to choose, Nebula! Either jump, or die!"

"I'll do it! I'll jump! I'm not letting you out of my sight!"

"Then jump!"

In that moment, all five of them jump out the ship as the brig door closes.

"STOP!" Messier bellows. "I ORDER YOU TO STOP!"

"Catch us if you can, fool!" He tilts himself into a steep dive with the others following, straight onto the burning rock where he latches on for dear life the same time as his followers. Clambering up the side towards a large deep crater, he only just dodges Messier's magnesium fireball before spitting back one of his own intent on contact. Messier dodges it before diving at Darkmatter, knocking him off the comet.

Darkmatter redirects himself to latch onto the comet once more, shouting, "GET INSIDE THE CRATER!"

He spits another fireball at Messier, before continuing to climb watching his followers enter the crater in question.

Messier dives for Darkmatter again.

"As long as I keep you away from them, they won't survive the ride!"

"Fool! Your trick won't work a second time!" He spits a third magnesium fireball, watching it strike Messier in a way that dazzles him.

"GAH!"

"That'll hold him back long enough!" He continues climbing towards the crater, then climbs inside.

"I enchant…!"

"DARKMATTER! DO NOT USE THAT SPELL!"

"Too late, Messier." Darkmatter continues with his spell, "I enchant this comet to teleport to the far away planet of Pyusairrhynthala, with all of us on board as a whole!"

"NO!" Messier bellows as he disappears behind the comet in a desperate act to catch it.

Everything suddenly goes silent as all they knew around them vanishes.

Moments go by, and unfamiliar space suddenly appears around Darkmatter and his troop. A new planetary system including its Sun can be seen in the distance, but a dissatisfying gasp suddenly fills his ears from his most hated enemy, Messier.

"You will… never get… away!" Messier breathlessly replies. "King Kiviuk and… Queen Lysithea will… hear news of, this."

"Then I'll just have to kill you!" Darkmatter clambers back out again in search of Messier. "Don't think I don't know why you visit this primitive planet!"

"It may be primitive, but it's my second, home! I won't let you destroy it!"

"Destroy it? I was gonna rule it!"

"Over my dead body!"

"Then it'll just have to be true, Messier."

Darkmatter is then pinned by Messier, who readies a flame.

"I'll kill you before you have a chance!"

"Freeze!" Darkmatter shouts, causing Messier to be trapped in a very powerful mind hold. "It feels so nice to have my powers back!" He pushes Messier back, rising to his feet. "And no one, not even you, can stop me!" He turns so that he is facing the destination planet. "Now die!" Before Messier could even speak, Darkmatter throws him powerfully towards the planet, watching the gravity latch onto his pitiful body and drag him down through the atmosphere. "Pity! I was so looking forward to a proper battle." He looks to his followers just poking their heads out from inside the crater. "Time to jump! That planet's out destination! It'll be a rough ride! We'll be separated upon entry to the planet! Find me again!"

"Understood, Master!"

They all dive off the comet and enter the planet's atmosphere. Darkmatter goes into a state of calm as he continues to fall at an alarming speed, opening out his arm wings after the burning sensation ceases to slow himself down and avoid a most imminent death. He is knocked off balance after a stray gale throws itself into him, where he crashes on the rocky ground, losing consciousness upon the collision.

Four years later…

Darkmatter does not understand why the four animi he sent to Pyrrhia have not yet returned. That is beginning to get on his last nerve. The four of them should be more than a match for anyone in Pyrrhia, especially a weakling like Silverlight, so why is it taking them so long? Darkmatter is about to take flight and head there himself to find out what is delaying them, seeing as they are not back within the hour that was agreed would be enough time for Silverlight's capture.

"What is taking them so long?!" he impatiently asks, readying himself to take flight and find them. "I'll find and drag them by their tails myself, if they don't get back here now!"

"Master, wait!" Binary cries.

"What?! They've taken too long! You know I'm not patient, Binary!"

"So just relax. I'm sure they're on their way back right now, with that hybrid in their grasp."

"If I went instead, this would have been done in minutes!"

"You can't rely on your abilities all the time, Master. Besides, they wanted to prove to you that they could complete a task."

"I'm beginning to have my doubts!"

"Messier's spies could be searching for you. It is wiser that you remain hidden in Jaws Gorge, where we know you'll be safe."

"You mean 'where we know we will be safe', Binary," Toroflux corrects. "Master Darkmatter isn't the only fugitive after his escape. Us four, Caloris, Olympus and Mars are also fugitives."

"Don't interrupt in what isn't your concern Toroflux!"

"Master, this is my concern. Your safety and our safety is my concern. We're all in danger because we helped you to escape, and killed all of those guards. We're the reason Messier hasn't left this planet. We're all fugitives and sentenced to Rozar. Caloris, Mars and Olympus might have already been taken there. They might even be dead by now. All because you had us kill those soldiers!"

Darkmatter storms up towards her with a raised talon, ready to strike her.

"Master! Wait!" Binary cries. Why is Master suddenly angry?

"I won't stand for this disrespect!"

"What disrespect?!" Toroflux pauses, a little frightened. "I'm only telling the truth!"

"You can't react with violence Master. She didn't mean it!"

"Enough! All three of you!" a large WoodWing shouts, landing between all three of them in a way that keeps them from physical contact unless he gets hit first.

"Lumber!" Darkmatter orders. "Out of my way!"

"Master please. This is no way to treat those who have followed you since your escape! Toroflux has been through thick and thin with you. I understand everyone's on edge, what with the uncertainty of the hybrid's fate right now. And no way of getting back to your home planet."

"I can't wait any longer! I want news NOW! And if anyone gives me disrespect at all, then they get punished for it!"

"I'm sorry Master! I never meant to cause disrespect! I miss it back home. I can't stand it here sometimes! But Zalagos won't pass by this planet for another hundred years. None of us can go back!"

Darkmatter retrieves his talon from striking Toroflux. "When we rule this backwater planet, we won't have a need to go back ever!"

"I know but, the only SpaceWings here are you, me, Binary, Nebula and Blackhole." Blackhole's so dreamy. "We know your feelings about hybrids, so we can't ever mate with dragons on this planet. Not even our dragonets." Not that I intended to mate with anyone other than Blackie. I want loads of dragonets.

"Oh please. Take it to a cave, Toroflux. I'm not interested in your sentimentality." Darkmatter walks off again. "All I want is Silverlight's head on a spear for all hybrids to see just how much I don't tolerate their rotten existences!"

"Master Darkmatter!" a distant voice shouts.

A moment later, an IceWing with fresh bleeding wounds appears shining in the moonlight. It is Icefall.

"Icefall?" Darkmatter says, concerned. "What happened? Why are you injured?! Where are the others?!" He pauses, expecting news. "What happened? Tell me now!"

"They took us all by surprise. We couldn't…"

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Nightblade roars.

Icefall desperately dodges her charge as she storms passed, knocking trees down in her wake.

"Nightblade?"

"Nightblade, you petulant brat!" Ripcrest shouts, rushing after Nightblade and holding his face. "Did you not care at all just how close you nearly cleaved me in bloody two?!"

"I'LL CLEAVE YOU INTO PIECES IF YOU MOVE EVEN ONE MORE CLAW TOWARDS ME RIPCREST! STAY AWAY!"

"I'LL SLICE YOU UP BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN BREATHE!"

"I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU TWO!"

A huge boulder is thrown at them from within the trees, followed by Brack roaring at them. Ripcrest hisses a threat, while Nightblade roars as loud as thunder when the boulder simply passes through Ripcrest and into her, where it crumbles on contact.

"BRACK! YOU HAIRBRAINED PRICK!" Nightblade screams. She stabs her blade through his chest, where it just sits with no blood spill.

"If YOU weren't so rash we could've HAD HIM!" Brack shouts.

"RASH!" Nightblade roars. "LIKE THE DUMBASS MUDWING WHO COULDN'T EVEN FIGHT MESSIER!"

"COMING FROM THE DUMB BRAT WHO LOST TO A STUPID DRAGONET!" Ripcrest bellows, still wanting the last word.

"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!"

"ALL OF YOU SILENCE!" Darkmatter orders. He snares all three with his mind control, causing them to float in the air against their will, like three mindless dragonets being held on the scruff of their necks by their mothers. But then he realises Silverlight is not with them. "Where, is the hybrid?!" He tightens his grip on their minds, close to causing agonising screams. "WHERE'S THE DAMN HYBRID?!"

"I was just about to tell you Master," Icefall says. "We… we lost him."

"You LOST HIM!" He throws Brack, Nightblade and Ripcrest towards Icefall, who disappears into a snowstorm to avoid being harmed. "How could you LOSE HIM?!"

"His damn ability to dodge my every strike!" Nightblade complains, rising up from being atop Ripcrest and Brack. At least Darkie made these two my cushions.

"Ugh. Oh please. Spare me your petty affection." Darkmatter walks off, but turns around again after realising all of them were injured. "What exactly happened to you four?"

"He was protected more than we anticipated," Brack says. He stands to his feet, pulling out Nightblade's blade and throwing it back at her. "Just be glad I can rewrite my DNA into mud!"

"Can you get OFF ME?!" Ripcrest groans.

"Whatever."

Brack storms off, after striking him across the head.

"Someone needs discipline," Ripcrest growls. He rises to his feet, then bows before Darkmatter. "We're sorry Master. But like Brack said. He was more protected than we expected. We had him, but then a blind fool I couldn't kill helps him escape and then seems to see again. Before we knew it, ten dragons came after us."

Icefall reappears beside Darkmatter, also bowing.

"We managed to keep them from the hybrid, but then Nightblade goes mad."

"Excuse me! That blind freak got on my last nerve! I sure showed him! He won't live after that wound I inflicted!"

"What blind freak?!"

"They call him Starflight," Brack says, bowing before Darkmatter. "He cares for the hybrid, like his own son."

"Well. If what Nightblade says is true about not surviving what she did, that's one obstacle out of my way."

"It better be true. I left coaxing the hybrid to follow, and then he did this to me!" Nightblade lays on her back to show off her underscales. Recently made scars could be seen clear as day. What Darkmatter does not understand is why Nightblade made sure he saw everything she wants him to. Her midnight blue underscales shimmer in the moonlight, revealing the tooth and claw marks from a dragonet on her belly.

"What?! I made those animus-cancelling fangs for that stupid MudWing in case any animus dragon tried to protect my targets!"

"He wasn't wearing them Master! He figured out that my underscales weren't enchanted there like the rest of them!" I'm stupid. I wanted something for Darkie to touch. Now they all know my weak point. I'm gonna have to enchant my whole body now.

"And cover yourself up Nightblade! I don't want any dragons seeing you… exposing yourself like this!"

Now why can't he talk to me like that when I wanna be romantic with him?

Nightblade's face becomes dreamy after this thought.

"I'll never feel romantic with you, so don't even try it," Darkmatter snaps. "You know why I hate hybrids. I'd kill our dragonet then I'd kill you." So why am I seeing futures where we have a daughter called Bladewings together? That can't be real!

"Three moons, I get so horny every time you talk like that."

"You're so disturbingly naive. I do like that about you."

Nightblade grins. He likes something about me?! Yes!

"It's a terrible trait to have," Darkmatter says, intent on offending her.

But Darkmatter could never have expected how Nightblade acts next, as she soon imagines her head between his hinds.

Ooh, yes. The perfect future for me. Give my mouth what I so crave from you.

"Ugh! Disgusting!"

Darkmatter walks off back towards his cave, blocking off her imagination before it gets too sexualised for his liking.

"What? Was it something I said?" she calls after him. "There's nothing wrong with a little pleasure every now and then!"

"The others know not to get involved in my affairs, Nightblade! You on the other talon, I can't even fathom why you'd ever love someone like me!"

Darkmatter enters his cave and remains there in the dark, blocking out the minds of all his followers so that they do not disturb him anymore.

Nightblade soon enters his cave after him.

"Because you're the only other dragon who has ever accepted me. I was considered a freak for being an animus growing up. It drove me to killing anyone who said that about me, even my whole family besides my brother. He was the only one who accepted me for who I was then. Everything I loved before you is gone, except him. But you're all I have now and I'll never leave you. I'll always be loyal to you and will always love you no matter how much you toss me aside."

"I must admit. You're very persistent, but I'll never mate with any dragon other than my own kind." Darkmatter turns his back to her. "Now please leave my cave. I have to make new plans after this failure you four displayed."

"I'm helping you. Whatever you're planning to do next, I want to be involved to the very end. No matter what happens, even if it kills me, I'll be there for you. You're my one and only, Darkmatter, no matter what happens. I won't stop thinking about you even when I'm dying."

Why do I always feel complete with Nightblade around me? This goes against all I stand for. All these feelings I have for her I just can't act upon them. No hybrid deserves to live after what they did to me! My hate for them is too great!

Darkmatter feels Nightblade going to gently touch his shoulder with her wing, but she stops herself. That is when he realizes he can hear her thoughts again.

I just wish I could, touch you, but I don't want to hurt you with my scales. I could easily enchant my scales to be normal again, but I can't. There's this constant feeling of danger around every corner. My scales keep me safe. I can't enchant them back to normal. Never! Not after what that hybrid did to me. I was stupid for not enchanting all my underscales the same way.

Don't think you have to change just to try and comfort me. I'd rather no one cared.

"There's somebody you need to know about," Nightblade says, much to Darkmatter's annoyance. "The one he called Sundew. She gave Icefall all his scars and fought differently than the others."

"Sundew? Hmm?" That's an intriguing update. I'm seeing her past out there on that third continent here. More queens for me to pluck out of existence. I'll have this planet under my rule if it's the last thing I ever achieve.

"One last thing, Master. Actually, two things."

Darkmatter glances towards her, but stays at the back of his cave.

"Go ahead."

"I believe the hybrid's SpaceWing abilities have matured, or are only just manifesting. He fought me as though he could see every attack I made before I made them. And you know I'll always care about you, no matter how many times you shoot me down. Just think about it, Master. You're the only dragon I've ever wanted in my life."

Before Darkmatter could speak again, he hears Nightblade walk out. But after what she said, he remembers how she cared about him when he first arrived here. The only time he accepted her touch when he fell again due to his weakness, before he knew what her future intentions with him were. Thankfully he wore the SpaceWing suit at the time, for he knows what her touch is capable of now.

But despite all his thoughts and memories, he closes his eyes amidst the loneliness he prefers.

It is dark, but Sundew feels warmth all around, causing her to open her eyes in alarm. She is neck-deep in mud, her hinds sprawled out in front of her underneath the surface. Her right talon is resting between them.

What'd I do last night? I remember sitting in the mud, and that's about it.

The conclusion she reaches makes her blush at the thought of somebody witnessing whatever she possibly did.

That's great. I might've done something else here and I don't even remember or if anyone saw.

She quickly moves her talon away from her groin, unsure if there is somebody else here.

She looks around to make sure her vest is still sitting where she remembers leaving it, apparently last night. The sound of her wasps' buzzing tells her they are none too pleased about being forgotten.

Looking the other way, Sundew is surprised to see Clay sitting beside her, looking concerned. She strikes him, thinking he did things to her while she was asleep. She soon realises that is not why he is here.

"Sorry, Mr. Clay." Sundew slides further away, a little distressed. "But er… Why are you, here?"

"I understand your reaction, so I apologise for not letting you know I was here. But you've been in this mud all night. Is everything alright?"

"I've been asleep in the mud all night?"

"Yes. I'm afraid so. Do you feel alright? I was concerned for Silver two years ago when he fell asleep in the mud too."

"Was I not supposed to stay in it all night?"

"There's nothing bad about it, but your species shouldn't be in mud long term. Only MudWings should."

"I guess I should get out then." Sundew sits up, swims to the edge, and clambers out. Looking at Clay, mud drips from her scales. "Sorry."

"It's fine, Sundew. You're not in trouble. Any of these pools can be used by everyone here. Tsunami enjoys the mud a lot, too. She stays in it for lengthy periods as well, so don't feel like you're the only one." He chuckles. "Shaula gets annoyed with Tsunami for taking cucumber slices to place over her eyes every evening, though."

"What time is it?" Sundew asks.

"Not long after dawn. Your friends are waiting in the Prey Centre. Cricket and Blue are worried after you weren't in your winglet's tunnel last night."

"I knew I shouldn't have come here last night. But I needed to relax after what happened."

"I understand. We all needed to relax, especially Silver." Shouting suddenly echoes through the corridors from the Prey Centre. "Oh, what is it now?!" He rushes off towards the noise.

Sundew showers the mud off using the waterfall outside before collecting her vest and putting it on. She plans to head to her friends so she can explain where she was last night.

Upon her entering the Prey Centre, Highrise storms passed, looking livid.

Hawker charges after him, his tail raised with its stinger ready.

"Highrise!" Hawker shouts, disappearing down the corridor. "Get back here! You're on a one way ticket to Misbehaver's Chamber!"

Sundew continues into the Prey Centre, wondering what happened as she heads to her friends.

"Erm. What exactly happened?"

"Sundew? Hey!" Cricket blurts. She hugs Sundew.

Blue follows soon after. "We've been worried about you Sundew. Where've you been?"

"I fell asleep in the mud pool last night. You don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself." They must've been really worried about me. They never hug me like that. Without another thought, she heads to Shaula to order breakfast.

"What can I get you this morning, Sundew?"

"Can I have your breakfast special please?" she asks. "Dippy eggs please."

Shaula turns to the back of the kitchen. "Sandy! A Shaula Special please!

"Later. We're working."

"No, no. Not a special on me, the breakfast special. Dippy eggs!"

"Oops. Shaula's Special coming right up!"

Shaula turns back to Sundew.

"Dear oh dear. The things he thinks I mean is beyond me."

I can only imagine what he was gonna do on you.

"Well you do say things with double meanings sometimes, Ms. Shaula. Mr. Sandsea just sees one of those meanings it seems."

"Yes. Always the lewd meanings." Shaula laughs. "But he's still the one for me, despite his traits."

"I better… wait for my food."

"I'll bring it to you when it's ready, Sundew."

"Thanks." Sundew heads to Silver. If anyone saw what Highrise did, it would be him. "Silver?"

"What is it, Sundew?"

"What happened here just now?"

"Oh nothing. Only Fearless pushing in front of me and Highrise because I was taking too long to decide."

"So why's Highrise being chased by Mr. Hawker?"

"He started a shouting battle because of it, so I shouted back tenfold. All I said to him was 'It's fine', but no, he raises his voice at me for no reason. He knows I hate that, but I reminded him."

"Well. It wasn't fair that Fearless pushed in front of you. I'm glad I wasn't there. She'd have been beaten to a pulp if I was."

"I don't bother causing an issue. There's no point. I just ignore it most of the time. Sure, I should've told Fearless I was there before her, and understand why Highrise said what he did. But I just avoid most dragons, like I used to. I'm not very extroverted. I'd rather stay out of the way."

"Silver!" Oasis calls. She promptly hops up onto Silver's back, bouncing up-and-down. "Giddy up, Silver!"

"Oh. So now I'm a new ride for little Oasis. Very well." Silver soon begins running around in a circle with Oasis nestled between his shoulders. "Now Oasis is a little bird! Open your wings out. You'll love it, Oasis."

Oasis spreads her wings, joyously bellowing, "I'M A LITTLE BIRD!"

By now, Shaula is just arriving carrying breakfast on a tray.

"What happened? First he was all 'I'm big-and-bad, so don't mess with me', and now he's all 'I'm happy and downright playful.' Why're you so unpredictable Silver?"

"Maybe it's a hidden trait of mine. Is that my burrito?"

"Yes, Silver."

"Thanks Ms. Shaula." He continues running around with Oasis on his back. "Whee! Let's go faster Oasis!"

"FASTER!"

Sundew starts sniffing and wiping tears away, watching Silver speeding round.

"No, I'm not crying because of this!" she lies, noticing the way everyone is looking at her. "Somebody's hidden onions in this chamber, I just know it!"

Sandsea looks out from the kitchen, somehow hearing Sundew.

"No onions here. We used the last of 'em yesterday."

"Don't bring my onions into this!" Shaula shouts, still carrying the burrito.

"Lies!" Sundew snaps. "I don't cry unless onions are involved." She wipes her eyes again. "Please get the damn onion out of here." They probably know why I'm crying, but I can't tell them.

"It's called emotion Sundew," Blue says.

"I don't cry because of emotions!" Why am I getting so worked up?

"But you're clearly crying, which is an emotion," Cricket says. "It's the emotion of sadness, Sundew."

"It's a damn hidden onion, I'm telling you! Not because of Oasis!"

"It's because Silver's playing with a dragonet younger than him," Blue says. "Something that never happened to you, Sundew. It's understandable that you feel upset due to your dark memories."

"Just what are you saying? I don't have any snivelling dragonets!" What's wrong with me? Bumblebee isn't a snivelling dragonet. She's my adopted daughter!

"He didn't say that. He means your dragonethood."

"I had no dragonethood, Cricket! I lived in fear of Queen Wasp my whole life until Peril killed her."

"Then that's why you're crying," Blue says, still sounding heartfelt. "Because they both are reminding you of what you never had, Sundew. Something you wished you had."

Sundew pulls Blue under one wing and Cricket under the other before hugging them tightly.

"Okay, fine. I admit it. You two figured me out." She sobs, before burying her face in Cricket's chest. "I … there are friends I lost because of Wasp, after a spying mission went bad. They never came back! You two were the first new friends for two years. I still had friends left. But all of my friends who treated me like a sibling were … killed when I was four. I refused to make more until I met you both two years later." My friends, they … they were like brothers and sisters to me. They cared for me when my parents were on missions. I still have my best friends, but I never saw them after the war came to us again. I'm worried they didn't make it.

"That's why you're here Sundew," Silverlight intervenes, stopping his running around. Sundew can tell he feels her sorrow. "To make new friends. You just have a funny way of showing it."

"But, I miss my friends who died." Sundew wipes away tears. "Everytime I try to make new friends, I think of my friends who died and break down into tears, or get angry and scare those possible new friends away. That's why I'm so aggressive. I struggle to bond with other dragons." I wish we'd asked Bryony, Willow, Grayling, and Morpho to come with us too… and Bumblebee.

Silverlight lets Oasis jump down and heads to Sundew. She releases Blue and Cricket.

"I know how you feel. I lost almost everyone I knew in one night, including my uncle. I lost Starflight until he came back to us. But I still moved on despite my clashing emotions. I made new friends." Silver hugs her. "I'm sure you'll make many more friends too, if you just try, Sundew."

Oasis gently tugs on Sundew's wing.

"Don't cry, Sundew. I can be your friend."

"Y-you, will?" Sundew folds her wings in and picks up Oasis in her arms, holding her against her chest. You remind me so much of Bumblebee. I wish she could be here with me, then maybe I'd be able to stay cheerful.

Silver nuzzles her as a best friend would. "We all will Sundew."

"But … I … how … you…" Three moons, I can't think of what to say! Sundew looks down at Oasis, seeing her rubbing her head against her chest. "So this is what it feels like to have someone you'd consider a daughter." Three moons, I've only been away from Bumblee for a few weeks, and I've already forgotten what it feels like to be a mother.

Silver lets Sundew go. "I believe so. I wouldn't know. I'm not an adult yet."

Sundew laughs weakly. "You can say that again." Three moons, I made a joke. A bad joke, but a joke's still a joke when you're me.

"You're getting closer to being a part of the Jade Mountain Academy family," Silver says. "That's the first I've seen you laugh since you've been here."

"It's the first I've seen her laugh ever since she pounded Swordtail three years ago," Blue reminisces.

"Hey now, Blue." She softly cuffs his shoulder, but is still smiling. "I wasn't that cold three years ago. I warmed up to Cricket fast even if I hated all HiveWings when we first met."

Cricket seems confused. "That's… a smile. You never smile."

Oasis squirms in Sundew's arms and giggles. "Sundew! Haha!"

"Oh. So my name's funny now." Without question, she gives her a noogie. "Well. There will be more where that came from!" She noogies her a second time.

Oasis laughs and squirms even more as though she is ticklish. "Hey!"

I've never been this accepted in my life. It feels … I can't even describe it. I just feel so different inside all of a sudden.

"You'll be accepted in this family before you even know it Sundew."

Sundew looks up from Oasis to Silverlight. "Silver…" She does not understand why she is hesitating; apologising is not even hard to do. She finally racks up enough courage to apologise. "I'm sorry for anything I've done to you, from beating on you to using my wasps for training. I regret it all so much I can't even tell you. I just know if I could take it all back, I would."

"I'm not bothered. I took it as love for me deep down. I always knew you had a heart in there. It just needed the right coaxing to be free."

Sundew laughs quietly. "Yeah, a black heart. Well … until now."

"I never saw it as a black heart. I just saw it as a misunderstood one. I do regret the things I said though." Silver lowers his head in guilt, clearly remembering the bad things he apparently said to her.

"I deserved all the things you said. But I've let it all go anyway." She sighs and changes the subject. "But I still burn old posters of Wasp during every evening flight before curfew. I've burned one every night for five years, so I don't think I've let go what she did yet." I don't think I ever will, honestly. The looks she then receives from Silver, Blue, Cricket and Oasis confuse her. "Em. Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"Sundew, your scales! They're changing colors. Are you sick? Should I get Ms. Bluebell or Mr. Clay? I've never seen scales change like yours are right now," Cricket states a little worried.

Sundew looks at her scales. What she sees clarifies everything. She has finally acknowledged herself as she is and accepted all her friends. She can relax, so her scales can finally change colour. Everyone here has welcomed her differences, and that makes Sundew happy. But she knows why her scales are changing now.

"No. I'm not sick. The autumn season is almost upon us. My scales change into these colours every autumn. It's in my genes. All the blues, purples, golds, browns and reds you'll see across my body in a few days, is like how the trees will soon change into their intricate shows, ready for when they sleep over the winter."

"Does that mean you'll hibernate when winter comes?" Silver questions.

"No, no. LeafWings don't hibernate. My scales will change again come winter. I'll look more and more like an IceWing until spring arrives the next year where my original summer colours will be much more prominent in shades and hues. It's how we choose our mates, by how intricate our designs are." Oh Willow. I miss you. Morpho, Bryony, and Bumblebee too. Silver seems distressed again, looking like he is listening to something Sundew cannot hear. He rushes to where Shaula placed his burrito, takes it, and charges into the Prey Centre. "Silver? What is it?"

"Sundew!" Shaula shouts from the kitchen. "Your breakfast special's ready!"

"Thanks Ms. Shaula! I'll collect it in a moment."

Sundew heads to where Silver went, now sitting on his rump, tearing into his breakfast burrito.

Goodness Silver. You eat anything, don't you?

"A dragon's gotta eat, Sundew," he replies with a mouthful. Sundew does not mind having her mind read. He clearly has been doing that all this time. But she does find it strange that he did not question the names she thought about, like Moon would. "But who was that dragon I saw? She was carrying something around her chest, clearly looking for something or someone."

"What did she look like?"

"Em. Like you." Silver tears another bite out and chews it. "Three moons. This burrito is amazing!"

"Like, me?"

Is it true? Can it really be? Is Willow actually here?!

"She's gone now. Didn't even look this way. But I swear that was a dragonet she was carrying; a little younger than Oasis."

Bumblebee? Has Willow come here looking for me? Is Bumblebee missing me?!

Sundew heads to the kitchen, collects her breakfast, then charges towards the entrance of the academy without even looking back. She hopes to see Willow flying by with Bumblebee. Despite her breakfast, finding Willow is more important than her hunger, but sadly she does not show.

Willow. Where are you? Can't you find the way inside? Poor Bumblebee needs me.

She wants to find her but also needs to eat, and now she cannot decide, unless…

I'm finding them first! She places her food down to the side and flaps her wings. Sorry, Shaula. Willow and Bumblebee are more important than food.

Flying to the back of Jade Mountain, she looks around but sees no one. Glancing down to Silver, he points in the direction Willow flew, prompting Sundew to head that way as fast as she can. She catches up to Willow, who is still frantically searching the mountain range.

"Willow!" Sundew calls. "Willow! Over here!"

Willow turns around and opens her mouth in a gasp.

"MUMMY SUNDEW!" Bumblebee squeals. She wriggles her way out of the carrying pouch straight into Sundew's embrace, crying, "Mummy! I've missed you so much! Please don't leave me again!"

"I never left you, Bumblebee. I wanted to come back." Sundew licks and nuzzles Bumblebee's snout. "I've… missed you, too. I thought about you every day I was here."

"Then why didn't you come back?!" Bumblebee cries, not letting go.

"This place's an academy. I'm not supposed to leave the grounds until the holidays. But I swore I'd come straight back to you whenever I could. There's this, very nice dragonet here called Silverlight who's why I stayed. I wanted to help him. He's suffered, just like me. Sure. It's been hard and we struggled to accept our differences, but Ms. Tsunami entrusted me to keep him safe. All of us need to. He's in constant danger right now."

"Danger?" Willow repeats. "Is he alright?"

"With all of his friends including me and the teachers protecting him, he's more than alright. Come! Let me introduce you."

"Sundew?"

Sundew waits for Willow to fly up beside her. "Yes, Willow?"

"Sorry about, you know, not finding you. I'm supposed to be able to. But poor Bumblebee was crying herself to sleep every night, because she missed you. I managed to calm her down, but it got worse. I had to get her to you. Even Morpho had struggled without you."

"Morpho struggled, without me?"

"Mummy!" Bumblebee cries again.

"Aww. Bumblebee." Sundew nuzzles her lovingly. "You don't need to worry so much. Nothing's gonna happen to me. I promise." Not as long as all my friends keep me safe. And now I have another reason to stay alive. Bumblebee needs me right now. She casually hugs Willow. "Thank you, Willow, for bringing her to me. I knew you'd make it."

"I wanted to come sooner, but another strong storm hit our coast. I couldn't leave Pantala for a week. It just had to hit when I was about to fly over the ocean to Pyrrhia with Bumblebee safely in this pouch."

"You're here now, so all's well. Come on. Let me introduce you to all my new friends."

"New, friends? Sundew? You have new friends?"

"Yeah. They're really good friends too."

"This is… this is great. I knew you'd make new friends. I knew you could."

"Come on. They're gonna worry about me." She licks Bumblebee's cheek again. "Care for another ride Bumblebee?"

And that way I also get to eat, now that I've found them. I'm rather starved now.

Bumblebee clambers onto Sundew's back. "Yeay! I get to ride on mummy!"

Sundew flies back to Jade Mountain with Willow by her side, talking about all the sights and wonderful places here.

One month later...

Sundew blurts, "'Tourny'?! Is that an orgy in the tournament?!", much to Tera's disapproval, causing Tsunami to glare at Sundew.

How could she have the gall to say that with so many other dragons in the same chamber?

Even her own adoptive daughter Bumblebee is alongside her with Willow.

Tsunami had everyone gather in the Recreation Chamber so she could explain about the battle tournament happening later today. Everything has been organised in advanced, and as the talk commences, many dragons young and old have been taking their places in the stands that surround the arena. Tera would rather study than listen to this explanation of the four day event though.

Why do we have to listen to this? I'd rather study.

"But you can't Tera. The school's closed until the tournament's over," Silverlight says, much to Tera's annoyance, knowing he read her mind.

Tera still remembers dating him last year, but is joyous to see Silver dating Yucca. She was at first jealous of them, but has accepted he and Yucca are a perfect pair, better than he and her. She only really dated because she wanted to forget all her nightmares and past. She liked how close she was to Serac, despite the horrors she could not forget that made her one of the most hated dragonets in her winglet. But recently she has noticed how Serac treats Penitente, so considering to date him was soon disregarded.

She only recently had been so close to him that it would seem like they were dating. That crossed her mind once or twice despite her hate for him before what Serac willingly did for her, that she still cannot easily forget. So Tera is back to being on her own again; well, she does have her eyes on another dragon in the academy. But she has not gone to ask him yet.

"Silver! Can you not read my mind please?" Tera complains after directing her attention back to him.

"Sorry, Tera. Habit."

"Quiet Silver and Tera," says Sunny. "This is important. And Sundew. No more prurient remarks. There are dragonets here."

"Sorry miss, but 'tourny' makes me horny."

"Sundew!" Tsunami shouts. "That's enough!"

"What's wrong with you, Sundew? Stop thinking everything's sexual."

"Coming from the flame princess who can't get enough of Mr. Clay."

"I should burn your sorry ass!" Peril roars.

"Hey!" Bumblebee shouts. She rises to her feet, acting brave and defensive. "Don't be bad-mouthing Mummy Sundew, Fiery!"

Tera notices Shadowrain dreamily looking Bumblebee's way.

Oh dear. Not again, Shadowrain. You give her this look every time she stands firm.

Sundew grins. "That's my girl, Bumblebee."

Peril looks away, clearly done with this argument. "Oh please."

"Quiet! I'm trying to speak! This is bad for our guests! I'll have no more of this rabble!" Tsunami glances at Sundew. "It's even your idea Sundew."

"Then get on with it miss."

Tsunami sighs, continuing regardless.

"This tournament's for those aged five and above as you all know. Make us all proud and do your very best. The rules are simple. Battle your opponent until you can pin them. Hold them down for five seconds in order to win the round. And don't act rash and out of control. There will be injuries, which is why we have Mr. Clay and Ms. Bluebell on talon in case any wounds become a problem. But don't seriously injure your opponent, or you will be disqualified. A K.O., or knock out, however, is technically allowed. You'll be assessed by the adjudicators — myself, Mr. Flare, and a guest.

"The contest's an elimination tournament in this order: Preliminaries, round one, round two, round three, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. It will take place over the four days, starting within the next hour. So any last moment battle practice and preparation is necessary before you start. Now then. Any questions?" The chamber is silent except for talonsteps and voices of more dragons filling up the stands. "Very well. May the best dragon, dragoness or dragonet win. You may disperse and ready yourselves for the next hour. Please be on time if you do head elsewhere. Ms. Fatespeaker will hit the gong to remind you of the time."

After Tsunami's last words, the student body disperses, going their separate ways, except the Diamond Winglet and a few others. Tera heads to Silver first and nuzzles him, much to Yucca's dismay. Tera hears her growling.

"Will you wish me luck, Silver?"

"Of course. I'll wish everyone good luck, even my opponents. Isn't that what good sportsmanship is?"

"I'll wish all my friends good luck." She heads to Yucca. "And relax Yucca. Us MudWings greet our best male friends always with a nuzzle. I know you and him are together now. I'm proud for the pair of you." I've had a few weeks to understand this. But Serac's another matter. I don't think I've completely accepted him and Penitente yet. I'm still kinda jealous. We were very close, before she intervened and started taking him away from me. I've told myself I'd never get romantically involved with an IceWing, but Serac's different.

"Right. Sorry, for the growl."

"No worries, I…"

Before Tera could finish, Highrise's cry interrupts her. Everyone in her winglet, plus Shadowrain, turn their heads to see what is happening.

Sundew is standing triumphantly over Highrise, watching a black wasp stinging his forearm.

"NO FAIR!" Highrise screams. "I wasn't ready! You used your bug!"

"That's rule number one of a fight: Be prepared at all times! Bangaa. You proved your point. This PussyWing can't handle you."

Bangaa flies up onto her shoulder, but Sundew remains over Highrise.

"Rule number two: Cheating is for cowards!" Highrise complains.

"Smartass!" Sundew snaps. She slams her tail across his head, making him yelp following a WHACK! resonating through the cave.

Highrise slowly loses consciousness. "At least she, didn't… use her bug…"

Sundew returns Bangaa to her jar, screws on the lid, then shouts, "Who's next?!"

Valiant approaches the ring, slithering between the ropes. He is one of the visitors taking part in the tournament so there are sixty-four total competitors.

"I am!"

Sundew tackles Valiant the moment he enters the ring, pinning him.

"One! Two! Three-"

"Just what I waited for." Valiant tears off her vest and kicks Sundew backwards. "Oh dear. You've lost your bug. Shouldn't have put it back in the jar."

"Who says I put them all back in their jars?"

Sundew whistles a call that clearly confuses Valiant.

A moment later, a different, shiny wasp dive bombs him from above, driving its stinger into his neck.

"Stop CHEATING!" Valiant screams. The RainWing drops, holding his neck as the wasp flies away. "THIS ISN'T HOW A REAL FIGHT GOES! GAAAAH! ITS VENOM'S BURNING THROUGH MY VEINS!"

Cricket winces. "Ouch! Getting stung by a Synoeca is a terrible way to start this tournament."

Sundew stands up, retrieving her vest.

"So who's next? I haven't even broke a sweat."

Tsunami crawls into the ring, walks up to Sundew, and holds out a talon.

"Your vest, please. And all your insects too. Now!"

Sundew passes her vest to Tsunami. "Fine. Now who's next?"

"That also includes Slayer and Eritrea, who you just let out of their jars as you gave me your vest."

"Damn it! You noticed."

Sundew whistles and two wasps return to their jars.

"I always notice," Tsunami growls. "This battle tournament's your idea, but that doesn't mean you can be the only one allowed to break rules." She screws the lids on the jars.

"Fine, fine. So who's next?"

"The two you had stung. Valiant fainted from the pain, and you KO'd Highrise. You'll wait for them to recover and have their muscles massaged and relaxed before they practice with you again."

"But I want to fight again NOW!"

Tsunami hands the vest to Riptide outside the ring.

"Very well. Then fight me. The right way."

"She's so much cooler when she's calmer," Riptide says absentmindedly. "I'm glad we did it last night."

Huh? 'Did it'?

"Tsunami actually took my advice from last month?" Sunny gasps, standing beside Riptide. "I didn't think she actually would!"

Tsunami glances over her shoulder at Sunny.

"It was a fun night in Winding Tail River for us." She goes to look at Sundew again, but stops. "And we'll do it again tonight." She then looks back to Sundew. "Now then. Let's fight."

"Pfft! Please, I was hoping for a challenge. I won't need my insects to defeat you." Sundew cracks her neck in preparation. "You'll be too distracted by your thoughts of riding 'Rippy' over there tonight!"

Tsunami slams her tail, watching Sundew's every move. "Fight!"

Sundew jumps at Tsunami, slashing at her face with her claws.

"Pity. You didn't see that coming!"

"Oh. Didn't I?"

Tera realizes Tsunami had ducked under Sundew's claws the moment she struck at her. Tsunami then spins around, whacking Sundew in the side with her tail using enough force to send her over the top rope, crashing into the wall.

"You… forgot about… Dezra…"

Sundew whistles faintly before losing consciousness.

"Mummy!" Bumblebee cries from the sidelines.

"I was a general. I never forget anything." She catches the hornet in a jar the moment it divebombs her stinger-first, then screws on the lid. "Pity. I was so looking forward to a good fight." Tsunami heads to Riptide and licks his face, giving him bedroom eyes. "Humour me, Rippy. I need to relax." She turns her head. "Clay!"

Clay heads to Tsunami. "Yes Tsunami?"

"Take Valiant and Highrise to the infirmary please. Sundew used her bugs on them."

"With less than an hour before the tournament starts!?"

"Yes. Don't worry. She won't be using her bugs in the competition. Riptide's keeping a close eye on them."

"Understood."

Tsunami then grins slyly, saying, "We'll be back soon."

"Are you going to…? Wait! Don't forget to freshen your breath afterwards!" Sunny calls after Tsunami, but she already left with Riptide. "Oh, I hope she heard me…"

Clay approaches Valiant and Highrise, lifting them onto his back before heading towards the infirmary.

Tera watches Clay go before her attention is drawn to Kuppengebirge, who is still coaxing her to fight with him.

"Come on, Tera. Let's practice!"

"You want to practice fighting me?" That's sudden. Is he up to something? He's been getting close to me these past few weeks. I hope he's not gonna mount me if he wins.

"Of course. We don't have a lot of time before we actually battle for real. It'll be valuable experience for the real thing Tera. Please fight me."

"Alright. But I won't go easy on you." He doesn't know I battled during the war. The day I lost everything. So I'm not going easy on him.

She heads into the ring, knowing Kuppengebirge will follow her in. Setting herself up inside one of the six star points, she waits for Kuppengebirge to face her at the opposite side.

Lowering herself into battle prominent position the same time Kuppen does, Tera charges, ready to strike.