High in the air the two powers clashed. The talons from the Ice Dragon ran across the Fire Dragon's face. He roared in pain and quickly hit the Ice Dragon with his tail sending her to the ground. He laughed harshly and commanded the wizard to use the Staff of Ziner to transform the Ice Dragon into a human. As the wizard casted the spell, the Ice Dragon interupted.
"Whatever spell casted upon me will affect the one who wishes it to be!" she cried.
As the spell hit the Ice Dragon, she began to morph into a human, but at the same time the Fire Dragon did the same. When the transformation was complete, the female human ran off quickly before her rival could attack.
"Curse you Saybel Mason! I shall have my revenge!" the now human Fire Dragon screamed.
"My Lord the spell only tranforms the body, but not your powers. Besides there is a cure," the wizard told the Fire Dragon.
"Tell me wizard," the Fire Dragon demanded.
"It is the Crystal of Koren. The Staff of Ziner will lead you to it but be warned...." the wizard started.
"Good," the dragon interupted. "Now that you have served your purpose, you are no longer needed!"
"But Lord Kaben...." the wizard stammered.
Kaben's eyes lit up with fire as he shot out a blaze from his mouth, "That is what you get for failing,"
Kaben picked up the Staff of Ziner and grasped it firmly. He looked up to the sky and roared loudly. He would make the Ice Dragon known as Saybel Mason pay for what she had done to him.
Saybel walked along a dark path but she was not alone. A small pink dragon rested on her shoulder. The dragon had befriended Saybel after Saybel had saved her from certain death. The two had become inseperatable since.
"Saybel when will we be able to rest?"
"Soon Ci'ndrell, very soon. The village of Blare lies just past these woods," she responded.
"Good I'm exhausted! I can't wait for a nice warm meal and a cozy bed!" Ci'ndrell replied happily.
"Ci'ndrell you cannot fit into a bed!" Saybel laughed.
"No," Ci'ndrell sighed. "But I can curl up on the pillow!"
"Oh Ci'ndrell!" Saybel chuckled.
As the two walked along the path a strange sound entered their ears. Saybel stopped and listened carefully. Ci'ndrell cocked her head and then flew up into the air. She landed on the tip of a tree and looked out into the forest. She then flew back to Saybel and reported what she had seen.
"There are a band of orcs just north of here. It seems they have caught themselves a prisoner," Ci'ndrell told her.
"Well then Ci'ndrell," Saybel grinned. "We must help their prisoner."
"I don't know if that's such a good idea," Ci'ndrell replied.
"Why not?" Saybel aksed.
"Because...." Ci'ndrell hesitated.
"Why Ci'n?" Saybe questioned again.
"I don't think it's a good idea because Kaben is with them," Ci'ndrell meakly replied.
"Even better reason," Saybe grinned evilly.
Saybel dashed off into the woods and headed for the area Ci'ndrell told her about. Ci'ndrell held on tightly as Saybel ran with her incedible speed. There was only one thing on Saybel's mind and that was meeting Kaben once again.
The prisoner laid on the ground, his hands and feet bound together by ropes. The evil man had casted a spell which repressed his magic. The prisoner tried to sturgggle but it was no use. There were orcs all around and the evil man hovered above him.
"Now tell me Dujo," Kaben started. "What do you know about the Crystal of Koren?"
"I have little knowledge," Dujo replied. "But it will never be revealed to the evil that stands before me."
"You are a great fool Dujo," Kaben sneered. "You do not know who you are speaking with nor do you know the power I wield!"
Kaben lifted the Staff of Ziner high into the air. Kaben's eyes began to glow a deep red. The ruby centered in the middle of the staff began to glow as well. Kaben laughed harshly as he saw the certain fear in the man's eyes. Suddenly a blast of ice covered the staff and forced it to the ground. Kaben turned sharply and glared at his rival as she stood before him.
"If it isn't my long time rival," Saybel began with a smirk on her face.
The orcs began to move closer to her, "Now, now Kaben let's show each other what we can really do!"
"You are a fool to challenge me!" Kaben hissed. "My powers are much stronger than yours shall ever be!"
"Then lets test them!" Saybel yelled.
Kaben quickly opened his mouth and a flame shot out towards Sayubel. She quickly ducked and shot out a blast of ice towards Kaben. And as it was about to hit him, Kaben met the blast of ice with a flame. He leaped into the air and thrashed out at Saybel. She was caught off guard and knocked to the ground. With all her might, she quickly kicked him off of her and attacked witha quick punch to the gut. She then shot another blast of ice and covered Kaben's feet.
"I see you have become stronger," he replied. "But it will not do you any good!"
Kaben began to dethaw his feet and prepare for an attack. Saybel stood still watching and waiting for Kaben's next attack. The rest of was up to Ci'ndrell. Luckily the little dragon saw her chance and quickly made her way over to Dujo. She chewed through the ropes and freed him.
"Thank you very much little one," Dujo told her.
"Do not thank me," Ci'ndrell replied. "It is Saybel that you must thank."
"Saybel? Saybel Mason?" Dujo inquired.
"Yes," Ci'ndrell replied in a surprised tone.
Dujo picked up the Staf of Ziner and held it high,"Staff of Ziner I as your rightful wielder command you to break the spell placed upon me!"
The staff glowed red and covered Dujo in red light. Dujo held the staff firmly in his hand and uickly waved it around. There was a brillant light and Saybel, Ci'ndrell, and Dujo found themselves in the Village of Blare.
"How did we end up here?" Ci'ndrell asked.
"I teleported us here using the Staff of Ziner," Dujo told them.
"You must be Dujo of the Clan Ziner," Saybel replied.
"Yes that is I," Dujo smiled. "And you are Saybel Mason."
"Am I that well known?" she inquired.
"You are the only person, or should I say dragon, that has ever been able to cause the Staff of Ziner to malfunction," Dujo replied. "Now we do not have much time. You must get to the Temple of Koren and retrieve the crystal."
Saybel nodded and let Dujo lead the way. They walked past the different building and to the back of the village. There hidden under brush was a trail. Dujo removed the brush and they entered the trail, not knowning that they were being followed. Saybel watched as they walked but seen no signs of any type of temple near. She wondered if Dujo knew the way.
"Do you know the legend behind the staff and crystal?" Dujo asked.
"No," Saybel replied.
"Will you tell us?" Ci'ndrell asked eagerly.
"My pleasure," Dujo smiled. "Long ago there was a brother and sister, Ziner and Koren, who had very powerful magic. Ziner would use his power friveously and selfishly. He used his power once and it backfired on him causing him to loose all of his magic powers. Koren flet badly for her brother and used her power to restore his. For security Koren confined his powers to the staff and her own to the crystal. She warned him that to use her power to heal he must be in true form for he could use his powers to change forms."
"True of form?" Ci'ndrell questioned.
Dujo nodded and then stopped. Beofr ethem stood a large stone building in the shape of a dragon. There was a large door that blocked entrance to the temple. Dujo raised the staff and the ruby began to glow. A beam shot out and hit teh door, the door then began to open slowly. Soon the three were able to enter the temple. They came to two paths and Dujo lead them downt eh blue lighted path. Kaben, who had been following them, saw a chance and ran down the red lighted path to beat them to the crystal.
Dujo, Saybel, and Ci'ndrell entered the final room and saw the crystal glowing brightly. It laid in the chest of a small stone dragon. Saybel approached it but suddenly stopped. She called to Ci'ndrell and the small dragon landed on her shoulder. Before Saybel could speak, Kaben laughed out loud and blocked the path.
"You shall not have the crystal Saybel Mason!" he sneered. "You shall perish by my claws once I am returned to my normal form!"
"Kaben do not touch the crystal!" Saybel warned.
"Foolish girl! I will not listen to your pathetic attempts to stop me!" Kaben laughed.
Saybel tried once more but Kaben ignored her. He reached out and grabbed ahold of the crytal. Suddenly a bright blue light enterd his body. He began to convulse and scream out in pain. Smoke began to rise from his body. Then the crystal shot Kaben across the room where he lay motionless on the ground.
"Ci'ndrell go get the crystal," Saybel commanded.
"But why?" Ci'ndrell asked.
"I will explain later," Saybe said sternly.
The small dragon flew over the crystal and picked it up with no problem. She then flew back over to Saybel and watched as Saybel turned to leave. Dujo and Ci'ndrell exchanged a look and follwed her. When they reached the exit of the temple they walked outside into the woods. Saybel then turned to face them.
"I am not in true form," Saybel sighed. "I am an Ice Dragon and that is my true form."
"So you needed me to get the crytsal!" Ci'ndrell exclaimed.
"You are so very bright," Dujo replied sarcastically to Ci'ndrell.
"Please Ci'ndrell use the crystal to return me to my true form," Saybel asked.
Ci'ndrell nodded and raised the Crystal of Koren high abover her head, "Crystal of Koren please restore the true form to Saybel Mason!"
The crystal glowed a light blue and then cascaded down upon Saybel. Saybel felt her body begin to change. She grew back to her normal height, her hands became claws again, and a tail suddenly preturded out of her back. She felt herself restored to teh Ice Dragon she was. She raised her head and roared with pure delight. She then bent down to speak to Dujo and Ci'ndrell.
"Thank you both for helping me," she told them.
"You are most welcome Saybel Mason. I must take leave now and replace the crystal. Maybe someday we will meet again," Dujo smiled and carefully took the crystal from Ci'ndrell, and walked back into the temple.
"What about you Ci'ndrell," Saybel asked.
"Must we part our ways Saybel? I would love to join you," Ci'ndrell replied.
"Then come along Ci'ndrell," she smiled at her friend.
The two dragons flew up into the air. Ci'ndrell quickly landed on Saybel's back. She then raced up to her head and sat perched there overlooking the land as it felw by.
"Where shall we go?" Ci'ndrell asked.
"To the Valley of Dragons," Saybel replied. "A friend of mine awaits us."
The End
