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.

Zesstra followed up with her sword and did the same nailing Zarathan in a well coordinated attack with that of her mate.

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

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

Zarathan merely brought up his hand and flicked his sister across the forehead in a mocking gesture sending her flailing backwards but her monk like reflexes kicked in preventing a total wipeout. "You, dear sister are a pain and your pathetic excuse for a consort is deplorable!"

"Try this for deplorable!" Zesstra cast Darkness on Zarathan effectively blinding him in a shroud of darkness, "You cannot fight what you cannot see!"

Tarendil balled her fists tightly before she parkoured up and over the table and the wall with ease.

When Tarendil was about to descend upon Zarathan, Zesstra dismissed Darkness so Zarathan could see all too late the attack that was coming his way.

******

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."

********

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."

Quake turned to Serna and Caliaphy, "We need to get to the palace, asap!"

Caliaphy stood once more, her wings flowing the breeze like Supergirl, "You're right! We must go!"

"There it is!" Serna recovered her shield and turned towards Quake, "Since you move faster than I do, can I catch a ride?"