Suddenly the sound of clapping echoed from the balcony where Tarendil's estranged brother stood there. "The gall of drow making their presence here, even moreso with the platinum knight who ruined my plans many years ago. Did anyone tell you, human, that you're a royal pain?!"

"Zarathan!" Tarendil rose up from her chain, hands on daggers.

"You never learn do you!" Zesstra drew her sword and took up a defensive position between Tarendil and her psycho brother.

"The throne was always mine! I was first born and you dear sister, are left overs." The prince sneered bringing up both hands, "Time for all of you to depart! GOOD BYE!"

Alyson went to counterspell and was countered herself before vanishing with Lazheros.

**BLINK!**

Madeous stood up reaching back for his weapon only to have the floor disappear beneath him to the open sky below.

**SHHOOOSHH!!***

Tarendil and Zesstra were blocked by a wall of force, while the swordsman also vanished.

"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!" Zarathan snapped his fingers, "Arathorn, you will have to do better than that!"

Tarendil's long time childhood friend suddenly found himself polymorphed against his will into a bird, however, he was able to counter and break the prince's spell on the queen. With a high pitched shrill cry, Arathorn slashed the prince across the face.

With a quick nod to the paladin, the queen rushed her brother with utmost speed and a flurry of blows.

***THWACK! THWACK! THWUDDD!!!***

Most hit until he through up a shield to deflect the last of them.

******

The platinum knight's free fall was accelerating very quickly until the claws of a immortal oriental dragon caught him. Master Shinrin opened a portal, "Go to your kin, dragon warrior and face your greatest enemy once again. The swordsman and the others await you."

********

"Divide and conquer."

"Oh...what?!" Caliaphy dodged suddenly as one on each side collided with each other. "Whew!"

Serna not only was able to dive out of the way when Caliaphy moved but also shoulder checked one of the kids to the ground before she moved to protect Serverus' flank. The advantage of being a Human kid taking on Elven kids was that Serna was physically stronger and stouter than they were. "I got your back, Serverus, now what?"

"Follow me and stay close!" The avariel jumped over an incoming opponent only to get clipped by a teammate.

Serna reached out and grabbed Serverus to steady him so he could keep his feet. When another one of the opposition came towards them, Serna clotheslined the kid to the ground but still clung to Serverus flank in order to protect him.

"GO! GO! GO!" Yelled the boy on the opposite team motioning to his friends. He turned his attention back to the human girl, "You're not bad but my team is better, hah!"

"Your team maybe better but they're not proving it!" Serna smiled back with a vicious grin, "I already dropped two of your friends, pal, if you want to be the third step right up and come get some!"

"Did you now?" The boy sneered back at her as his teammates rolled over and got back up.

"What?" Serna looked at them in pure shock. "But I downed you both--how?"

"Oh no you don't!" Caliaphy stood with her wings flowing in the wind like Supergirl, "No one lays a hand on my friend!"

The kurori's suddenly heroic pose made all them pause effectively distracting both team members. "Now, Serna. Serverus. GO!"

"Right!" Serna resumed her flanking position next to Serverus as he charged forward.

During the game the sounds of magical explosions immediately caused both groups to stop and look to see what was going on. Flashes of light and the colossal form an oriental dragon wove its way up and around the aerie.

Caliaphy gasped, "Look at the size of that dragon!"

"WOW! It's bigger than Lazheros and Tiamat combined!" Serna cried out, "I didn't know they could get THAT big!"

"LADY!!!" Quake was standing up on her hind legs roaring loudly.

Serverus and the others looked at each other nervously.

"Quake!" Serna turned to the Elemental Dragon, "What's going on?"

The elemental dragon roared again, "LADY!!!....I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!"

Caliaphy flutter over to Quake and then back to Serna, "Magic happened. Bad magic. We need to get to the palace and help the queen!"

"Consider it done!" Serna looked around for her shield before she said to the others, "Game over, guys, we've got some hero work to do."

Serverus looked at his friends, "We'll spread out and get help from the neighboring towns. The great dragon appearing is both a boon and an omen. If the palace is laced with magic then we should find out why. I don't know if we will be able to enter it anyway. Serna, what do you think?"

The Shield Maiden replied, "Do what you can, Serverus, get as much help as you can as fast as you can and meet us at the palace." Serna turned towards the others, "Caliaphy, Quake, have either of you seen my shield? Before we storm the palace and protect the queen, I need my shield if we are going to do this right."