"Okay?" Irzen asked Lazheros, "Now, where do we stand with you? Hopefully in a better position than THAT guy!"

The bronze dragon peered down at the swordsman breathing in deeply, "You and your friends are cleared and all did as one would expect in aiding allies. Loyalty, friendship, trust, and belief in each other allowed all of you to do what was right. All are welcome here in Asylum. You may come and go as you please."

"Thank you!" Irzen nodded as the Willow, Neven and Serna verbally expressed their gratitude as well.

Sergeant Talos turned around to face the party and bowed, "Well done. Especially you, Serna. You did it. Perhaps someday, you could make a fine knight or paladin of Bahamut. For the platinum dragon awards those who truly believe in themselves and in each other."

Serna smiled, "Thank you, Sergeant Talos. And thank you for your kind words as well. Though I might make a Knight or Paladin one day, I think I'll just stay with my friends and work on being the best possible Shield Maiden that I can be for now."

The relic now hovered above the shield maiden. Flashing bright blue before returning to the plaque of which it was originally placed.

High above the dragon the sound of the ceiling opened up being drawn down by four massive chains linked each to winch with three individuals turning them. The Bronze dragon looked at the elementalist silently, -Now I will take you into the clouds, Alysiane.-

Alyson immediately walked towards the dragon and climbed on his back. She firmly took hold of the sail spine on his lower neck and readied herself for flying on dragon skies. "We'll be back in awhile. Enjoy the rest of Asylum."

Lazheros, the Bronze Dragon jumped up through the ceiling of the temple like a cat with the utmost grace for a creature of his size. His wings unfurled and spread to allow the winds to carry him and his guest high in the sky.

"Well, I guess that raps that!" War Scribe slammed her book shut as she turned her attention to Madeous, "However, I have some good news for you, Platinum Knight, and some bad news. The good news is that Alyson has got a new boyfriend. The bad news is that he's older than dirt, he's got scales for skin and he's self-righteous to the point of stupidity. How does that make you feel, UNCLE Madeous? Do you think Alyson traded up or traded down this time in selecting her newest mate? Muwha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"Only you would have the gall to be a pest out of the nest, Scribe!" Quake had been watching the whole scene unfold and stepped out from behind her. "Sheesh! We would show respect if we were in the presence of Validor or at least in one of the libraries of the Realm. You want to speak your mind do it elsewhere but here! That's your majesty to you, Scribe, or my lord. By no means are you or would you be considered family."

"Fair enough!" The Drowling shot back icily before she turned to Madeous and performed a courtly bow, "Your Majesty, please forgive my lack of decorum and allow me to repeat my question. Lord Madeous, Platinum Knight, Scion of Bahamut, Defender of the Faith, do you think Alyson traded up or traded down this time in selecting her newest mate? Yes or no, your lordship!"

The platinum knight rubbed his chin thoughtfully and seemed totally oblivious to the chronicler's blatant question. Then gave a reply to War Scribe, "You're half right. But only half. You see, Alyson spent a couple of summers here when school was out. She was seven when she asked to stay here in Asylum and it lasted for three years. She learned a lot from the Bronze Man and made other friends too. It also allowed me to conduct business within my own kingdom when we returned to the Realm. They also share a powerful bond, one that can be felt anywhere in the Realm. A bond formed when she was born. A Bond of Companionship."

Madeous turned to the ranger, "Willow of the House of Bark. I know of your father and of his vast kingdom. Did you know there are emissaries here from your homeland?"

"No, I did not know that," Willow replied simply and without much interest.

When she was done with Madeous, the Drowling turned her full attention to the Stone Elemental, "Incidentally, there is no way in The Nine Hells I would want to be a member of this freak show you call a family. I mean, just look at you clowns! You have Madeous, Grand Muckety-Muck of Bahamut who puts in guest appearances that would make Dungeon Master cringe. You have Alyson, the Elementalist, who not only leaves a trail of dejected boyfriends everywhere she goes but also creates screw-ups like you who can't do ANYTHING right!"

Quake crossed her arms in utter silence and contempt at War Scribe.

War Scribe squarely pointed her finger right at Quake's nose, "And then there's you Quake, the Stone Elemental, who is such a hot mess that no one in their right mind would even take you seriously for a minute. You're a joke, a jest, a punchline that absolutely NOBODY gets! And you're going to stay that way until you die! And when you die, only the Rock Mites will mourn you! Muwha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

One of the clerics walked over to the chronicler's area, "Take your arguments outside if you will. Do what ever you wish but not in here. Please leave."

"I'm more than happy to do it!" War Scribe replied to the cleric, "I'm beginning to find the smell of self-righteousness to be quite overwhelming in this place."

Quake's ear twitched as she heard Alyson call her from the lagoon. Without saying a word to War Scribe or anyone else, she left the temple and simply walked down into the ground. Earth meld was such a wonderful ability.

************

High in the sky above Asylum, Lazheros soared through the clouds banking occasionally to avoid too much wind sheer. He flew higher still until the clouds were beneath him, the early night sky produced the aurora of blue, green, purple, and various colors against the stars that soon followed.

Alyson was in complete awe once more bearing witness to such a spectacular sight. -This is amazing! I mean, even I've never been this high myself. Except back on Earth in a mechanical plane.-

-The aurora is always here before the night sky settles in for the evening. I've waited for a long time to show you this and nearly did all those years ago but your uncle forbade it. "Not old enough" he said but perhaps there was wisdom in his words.- The dragon started to slowly descend back down through the clouds as the night air was turning cold and neither he or the elementalist cared for the cold temperatures of the night.

Alyson held on tightly and lost her stomach when the bronze dragon dipped downward too fast. -Gah! Still takes me awhile to get used going down too fast. Like on a ride at the fair whipping around to and fro! Whoaaaaaaaaaa!-

-Hahaha!- The dragon chuckled to himself. He was amused by her child-like whims that he missed when she visited him all those years back. He glided ever lower to just above the city limits, gliding past the floating embassy tower to their left and finally down towards the ocean. Banking hard left just past the cliffs, he circled around into a lagoon. The waters were crystal clear. One could see the reefs with all the sea life swimming about. The water here in the lagoon was always the temperature of eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Bath water. He slowed down even more as his wings buffetted his water landing.

****WHOOSH!!****

"I," Alyson looked around the alcove and started to remember the place, "went swimming here a lot with the other children of Asylum at the time. It..it was a daily thing. Going to the lagoon and have fun and cooling off. And....whoa--"

Settling in the warm waters of the lagoon, Lazheros rolled back and forth just enough to jettison the elementalist off of his back and into the water.

***SPLOOOSH!***

"Hahaha!" The Bronze Dragon laughed aloud this time. His laughter on that scale caused all the water to vibrate and churn about him. He settled down into the depths of the lagoon and for a dragon of his size on half of him was above the surface.

Alyson swam up to the surface clearing her hair out of her face and spat water back at him. "Very funny." Treading water in the same spot where she was dumped in.

"Indeed, child. It was rather amusing, hahahaha!" He lowered a wing in the water and lifted her out just above the surface. "Indeed."

Alyson was soaked through and through. The sea water did nothing but weigh her down even sitting on the wing of the dragon. "If you don't mind, I'd like to go to the shore, take off my robes and my now totally soaked and water logged boots."

"Hehe! Of course, Alysiane," Lazheros chuckled still at the sight of the elementalist's situation to which he was guilty of. "Would you like a push?"

Alyson smacked the water with both hands at his sarcastic remark, "If you wanted me to swim with you, you could of let me in on this prior to dumping me into the water." She stopped realizing that this was planned a long time ago. "Ha ha ha! It's payback from when I pranked you isn't it?"

The dragon dipped her back down in the water up to her waist then back up. He chuckled again, "Do you honestly think that I would forget that you of all the children I've met in my long life bested me in a game of wits? Oh, I waited for the perfect time to get even. I believe this is just as good as any." With a gentle shove of his wing he pushed the elementalist through the water and towards the shore.

Alyson made quick time in swimming back to the shore. With her boots so heavily water logged it made for great entertainment to Lazheros who was still laughing at her clumsiness. She muttered under her breath trying hard not to stumble and drink sea water. "Quake, I need your assistance. Come to me with my old robe."

Right on que, the elemental phased out of the cliff side near the shore and gasped at the sight of Alyson, "Lady? Wha, what happened to you?" She looked over the elementalist's shoulder to see the bronze dragon laughing, "you got pranked? By him? Uh, maybe you'll tell me later, okay."

Alyson peeled her current robe off of her body, ringing it out as best she could along the way leaving a gold halter top and shorts on. Her leather boots were saturated with sea water. "Can you take these to Madame Mabel in the Commons on the far side of Asylum. She heads the washer women there and will know how to properly clean my gear."

At the same time Quake appeared, another Kurori elf popped up in the dragon's line of sight, "Teehehee!"

"Seama, what are doing here at this hour?" The dragon's laughter died down a bit while still watching Alyson.

"I heard laughter. Your laughter. You haven't laughed this hard in a looooooooong time!" Seama's bright neon green hair glowed intensely. "Oh! Is that Alyson?"

"Yes, Seama."

"She grew up! Oh-no! I didn't want her to grow up! We had so much fun! Awww!" Seama's form sparkled in the dim light of the evening.

She flew over to Alyson and Quake giggling. "Alyson! I've missed you!" She gave the elementalist a hug and danced around her. Then stopped and looked at Quake, "Who are you? Are you a friend of Alyson?"

"You mean the lady? Yeah, something like that."

"Hello Seama. It's good to see you again. Say, would you show Quake where the Commons are?" Alyson smiled warmly.

"Of course!" Seama beamed from ear to ear, "Meet me at the city fountain, Quake." Then she was gone.

"Better get going, Quake, and thanks for sticking up for me and my uncle." Alyson handed Quake the rest of her items.

Quake melded with the earth once more and left the elementalist and the bronze dragon alone together. Alyson reached into a pocket of her old robe and found a hair tie to which she fastened on after braiding her hair back out of her face.

**********

Caliaphy took notice of the chronicler arguing with Quake and walked up to Serna, "Want to see something funny?"

"Sure, what do you have in mind?" Serna asked with a mischievous grin.

Caliaphy brought her finger to her lips and whistled loud enough for all the children in Asylum to hear it and come to her location. That is one third of the population.

As War Scribe was beginning to depart, the Drwoling noticed a small army of children heading towards the temple, "What in the Realm is going on here? This is a temple not a playground."

Irzen, Serna, Neven and Willow took notice of the onrush of children as well.