Alyson reappeared back down within the lighthouse interior and stood in the doorway of the dining hall. She looked directly across to the Bronze Man for confirmation from her challenge.

The Bronze Man walked around the large table and up to her, "I accept your challenge, Alyson. Either way I will win."

"We shall see, Lazheros," Alyson smiled at him, "Starting point?"

"The cliffs above the lagoon in one hour." He said quietly. ~ Are you?~

She sighed and back up to the rooftop again. ~ I need to clear my head.~

War Scribe reappeared and returned to her meal, "Stubborn, head-strong and obstinate times ten is your niece, Madeous, she knows not the consequences of what she might ask of Validor."

The platinum knight got up from his chair at the head of the table as he heard part of the conversation between Alyson and Lazheros. "Then you accepted her challenge?"

The Bronze Man nodded confidently. "I have. She did tell me once during a summer visit that she wanted to fly with me but I didn't realize that she actually was going to follow through with it. I am curious to see what kind of a gold dragon she polymorphs into. I suspect, it may be one of elder breed of gold dragons."

"Hmm, I wonder. Has anyone here seen what Alyson's dragon form looks like?" Madeous asked Irzen and company.

All of them shook their head 'no' until Irzen spoke, "To be honest with you, Madeous, until fairly recently, I didn't even think Alyson had a dragon form."

"And I thought her creations like Dragolem, Mermidon and Quake were her draconic aspects," Willow added, "I never knew she could change into an actual dragon."

"I want to see it!" Neven chimed in eagerly.

"Me too!" Serna added, "I think it would be pretty cool to see. What do you think, Caliaphy?"

Caliaphy giggled, skipping around and in between everyone, "Alyson has been waiting to do this for a loooooooooong time. It's a surprise! I know what she's gonna look like. Lalalala! Oh I can't wait to watch the looks on all your faces! Teeheehee!"

The Bronze Man placed both hands on his hips, "So, that's what you and Alyson were up to that one day."

"Yup! Yup! Yup!" The kurori was skipping throughout the lighthouse lobby.

Quake nonchalantly bypassed everyone as she walked towards the exit in the hopes that they were too busy trying to figure out what the lady's dragon form was.

Lazheros turned slightly, "Quake? Where are you going?"

"Who me?" The elemental thumbed herself.

"Yeah you, Rocks For Brains," War Scribe responded, "Our host asked you a question."

"Hmm. You know something, don't you?" The bronze man motioned Quake to stop.

"If this is about the lady, you will have to just wait and see. I'm not saying a word. Tick, tock. Tic, toc. Time is coming up fast now. The flyby race is what you all want to see. Now, departing for the cliffs above the lagoon. Last call!" Quake outfit changed to a train conductor's outfit. "I can take Madame Mabel, Seri, and Neven with me. The rest will have to find their own way up top."

War Scribe shook her head in pure disbelief, "Quake, how lame can you be? A train conductor's uniform? REALLY?!"

Caliaphy laughed even louder at seeing Quake's costume change, "AHAHAHAHA!"

"I'll stay here," Irzen smiled as he sat back at the table and continued eating, "Because we Drow are creatures of the Underdark heights ill favor us. Besides I have the best seat in the house with a table full of food to match. What more can I ask for?"

"Me?" War Scribe cooed affectionately.

"Only if I were blind, deaf, dumb and mute!" Irzen retorted as he bit into a piece of mutton.

Quake burst out laughing at both Irzen and War Scribe."HAHAHHAHAHA!"

"I will join you, Madeous," Willow offered, "By the way, how do you intend to get up there?"

The Bronze Man looked at Caliaphy, "Go and spread the word of the race to the citizens of Asylum, please. We don't need a mass panic with them wondering who the other dragon is."

"Okay! Be back in five minutes!" The kurori blinked in a flash of light.

"I can teleport us there, however, I will drop you and the ranger off at mid point. I wish to speak to Alyson for a few minutes before the race." Lazheros said.

"That's fine. It's a short walk up a steep incline and I need to exercise some before I leave at noon." Madeous replied.

Just then the kurori blinked back into the lighthouse once more, "Okay! Done. Everyone is ready to watch the race, Bronze Man! Serna, you can come with me."

The Bronze Man tapped the over excited kurori on the shoulder, "I would ask that you wait ten minutes before you take Serna up there. I need a few minutes with Alyson."

"Ooooo! Can I watch?" Caliaphy grinned mischievously. "Okay, we'll be there in ten."

Lazheros and Madeous simultaneously shook their heads, "NO!"

The elemental asked the bronze man, "Would like us to wait as well?"

"I would appreciate it." Lazheros said to her. He then motioned to the platinum knight and the ranger to join him. The there vanished in a flash of blue light and reappeared at the mid point to drop off Madeous and Willow. Lazheros then vanished again and appeared not more than ten feet behind the elementalist.

***********

High up at the cliffs that loomed over the lagoon below, stood the elementalist soaking in the morning rays of the suns. She stood at the very edge waiting for the rest to arrive.

Lazheros approached her carefully as he clearly saw her standing at the very edge of the cliff. "Alysiane, I will win this challenge. You know this."

Without turning, she raised her arms up and let the wind moved around her body, "Then I shall do my best to make it very challenging for you." Then lowered them and turned slightly to face him, her eyes met his in the rays of the suns.

The bronze man walked right up to her, his arms wrapped around her gently as he kissed her passionately. He released her slowly from the kiss and released her slowly.

Alyson smiled, "Do you trust me?" As she let herself fall backwards over the cliff.

~ I do.~ Lazheros watched as her form changed from human to a gold dragon of the elder breed as he concluded earlier. Each dragon type evolved differently through the centuries. The gold dragons of this age were a mix of the Western and Eastern dragons of the Orient.