A soft wind breathed over calm water and passed by emerald-green trees. Leaves waved in greeting and grass rippled at its presence. The sun stood proud in the sky, sending shimmers of light through the greenery and over the occasional wrinkle in the lake. Fish danced beneath the lake's surface, swimming up to small sandstone cliffs guarding the eastern edge.

A single cave lay carved into the cliff's side. The cave's floor and walls were smooth and warn. It only went back a couple of dragon lengths before coming to a rounded end. There was a nest of browning leaves and twigs set further to the back of the cave, and the entrance was marred with dried red blood. Laying, with a wing hanging lazily over the edge, basking in the noonday sun, was a lightning yellow drake.

His eyes were lidded and half asleep. His scales shone with flawless brilliance, near gold in their perfection. The tip of his tail twitched idly back and forth in the response to some half-awake dream. His large bat-like wings lay relaxed and outstretched. A ridge of small, curled spikes ran from his neck down to the end of his tail, and two slightly curved horns were attached to the back of his head. A picture of perfect content.

A cloud passed through the sky, blocking out the sunlight. The drake let out a huff, his eyes flickering open to glare at the offending construct. A groan escaped him as he pulled in his wings and stood up on four wobbly legs. He yawned, sharp white teeth lining his mouth. He gave a short warming flap of his wings before falling back on his haunches and staring out at the lake before him.

His body felt warm, his stomach full. The grassy plain littered with trees made a beautiful view. The lake was deep enough to swim in, and fish were plentiful. But as he looked back into his cave he couldn't help but feel a pang of... something. A wish that there was something else there. Maybe a dragoness curled around a clutch of eggs. Or a friend who wanted to goad him into a spar, or a hunt. He shook his head, looking out over his cove once again.

Sometimes, he regretted leaving. He regretted the decision to abandon his life and position. To run from a toxic and dangerous world. He had been frightened. He admitted that to himself. Terrified of what the change could mean, and when he found out the dangerous resources being governed he had to leave. He could have fought, of course, but he would have died.

A growl escaped him at the thought as he scratched his talons at the surface of the cave. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the obsession that had driven him to this position in the first place. No one had wanted to come with him. No one cared, or even if they did, didn't find the actions as despicable and worrying as he did. He had no choice but to leave.

He huffed out a sigh, before taking a step forward and dropping from the cave into the air. He didn't bother flapping his wings as he glided over the top of the lake. He dropped onto the sandy, stony black shoreline of the lake, enjoying the dampness of the ground under his feet. He took several steps to the lapping ripples in the water and bent down to take a drink, allowing the water to rush through his throat as he took several heartful gulps.

Several flaps of a wing above him startled him. He took several steps back with a growl as he looked to the sky with narrowed eyes. A pair of dragons were descending down toward him. One with the clear blue colour of the sky. The other a lighter, icy blue. They landed on the lake shoreline several metres away from him, sparing him a slight glance, before the sky-blue female lent down to take her own drink.

The drake felt his suspicion rise when he realised that the dragoness was a mind dragon. The other was an ice drake, a strange species to see in these parts. The fact that the two were together was of something of a curiosity in and of itself. Maybe they were interspecies mates running from judgement, or perhaps diplomats that had decided to travel together. He didn't know, and frankly, he didn't care, as long as they didn't bother him. Still, he didn't like the idea that the mind dragon was likely at this very moment reading his mind.

It was then he noticed something else very strange. There was an odd aura attached to the dragons. The ice radiated the impression of a wild blizzard, while the aura of the mind dragoness made his soul shift with terrified abandon. He knew this power, for he radiated it as well. Though his was more like the feeling of being near a lightning storm. He narrowed his eyes. They were both dragons of equilibrium. Dangerous and powerful, and definitely not the types of dragons to go too far from their nations. Not without good reason.

The dragoness glanced over at him and said something far too quiet for the lightning drake to hear. The ice drake laughed, shaking his head, and responded back. It was then the lightning drake noticed something else that made his blood freeze in his chest. On the ice dragon's head, frozen in place, was a single white stone.

The lightning drake gripped the ground with his talons as he stared at the stone for several moments, unmoving. Fear and anger gripping him. Images flashed through his head of a time long ago, as he watched one of those very same stones detonate in front of his hatchling eyes, taking away his closest friend. He snarled.

The mind dragon was watching him closely now. She had raised her head, wings lightly spread as if she was prepared to either flee or protect herself from whatever he was about to do.

'Calm drake, we mean you no harm.'

Her mental voice washed through his head, followed by a see of calm, one that forced his body to relax and his aggression to fade. But it immediately rose again as he realised that the cause of this foreign calmness was the mind dragoness.

"Get out of my head!" he roared out, taking several steps toward them as golden lighting sparkled over his body and wings.

The pair glanced at each other. The ice drake took several steps forward of his own with a warning growl, "We want no trouble, drake."

"Maybe not, but on your head you hold an illegal and dangerous weapon."

"We... it is for research purposes. We are allowed to have it."

"Oh, that is a load of crap," hissed the lightning drake.

"What are you going to do about it?" The dragoness piped up, "You do not seriously think you can defeat both of us do you?"

"No, but I can destroy that element stone."

He opened his mouth and a bolt of lightning shot out toward the two other dragons. As it hit them, however, the bolt passed harmlessly through the ice drake, and careened into the green grass on the other side, sending up soil and grass into the sky. He growled angrily as he looked around desperately, realising that what he had been talking to was merely an illusion.

He felt as his limbs began to grow stiff, like a foreign presence beginning to crowd his mind. He snarled, lightning running off his body and into the ground while he struggled against mind control. It pierced into his head, freezing his entire body. He couldn't move, and even the lightning he was conducting was beginning to fade.

'Look, Aegis, right? We don't want any trouble,' said the mind dragoness, 'The reason we have an element stone is so we can study it and perhaps even use them against your Queen, who is using stones herself by the way.'

'She is no queen of mine,' growled Aegis mentally, seeing as his jaw was refusing to work.

There was silence for a moment, before the mind dragoness began to speak again, 'You want to fight against Athaer?'

'Of course. She is an evil beast, going after power like that. She is going to doom us all.'

More silence, before the dragoness suddenly appeared right in front of Aegis's nose. She looked him in the eye, her yellow eyes boring into his own.

'You know things about the stones?'

'You're already in my head. Why don't you just take that information for yourself?'

Aegis spotted the ice dragon from the corner of his vision, sitting on the grass and watching the two of them rather closely.

'Because I am polite. I haven't delved into your memories... yet. Now, what do you know about the stones?'

'I know they are evil. They are dangerous. They can't be controlled. Anyone that tries will kill everyone around them.'

'Much like what you tried to do with us.'

'Anyone that uses those things deserves to die.'

The dragoness sighed, taking a step back and speaking out loud, "Look, we don't want to hurt you. But I can see that the moment I release you, you are just going to attack us again."

Aegis only growled.

"Aegis, we are not enemies here. We know your qu... Queen Athaer is mining the stones. They are also responsible for the rise of those mountains to the east. Whether you like it or not dragons are using these stones for whatever purpose. Powerful dragons. We seek to understand them... so we can stop dragons like them."

'Is that right?' growled the lightning drake, 'What, you aren't looking to get this power for your own?'

"Of course not," snorted the dragoness easily.

A strange feeling washed over Aegis as she said that. One that convinced him that she was telling the truth. Despite how suspicious she sounded. He shrugged it off, forcing himself to calm down. The dragoness watched him for several moments, and suddenly he could move again.

Aegis shook himself out with an annoyed rumble, "I hate you mind dragons sometimes."

"You attacked us first."

"I suppose I did," muttered the lightning drake, shaking himself, "I apologise. When I see those stones... I assume the worst."

"Apology accepted."

Aegis looked at the ground, feeling rather embarrassed for several moments, "May I ask your names?"

The mind dragoness chuckled, "I'm Wyneta, and the ice drake is Vigon."

"Well, if there is anything I can do to make up for my aggression, please let me know. You may have my cave for the night if you wish. I'm sure you have been traveling for a while. There is a life dragon village not far from here as well if you are looking for a good meal."

"Thank you for the offer, but..." Vigon began, his voice gruff and direct.

"Actually, we will gracefully accept your offer," Wyneta glanced at the ice drake with a tilted head, "My wings are rather tired."

Vigon snorted but seemed to accept the dragoness's decision.

"I can sleep somewhere else if you two want some... privacy," Aegis offered.

"No, no. We won't kick you out of your cave. Besides, we are not mates," Wyneta gave a short chuckle, taking several steps toward the lake and looking around, "Got yourself quite a paradise here. Though you are a fair way from Lightning City. I'm pretty sure this is within the light nation actually."

"It is," Aegis replied, "I left the Fire nation shortly after if learned Athaer was using element stones."

"Aah, of course. Many of her subjects have yet to know that. But I guess as a dragon of equilibrium you are... or were rather high up in the hierarchy."

The lightning drake hesitated a moment before replying, wondering if he was really about to reveal his entire life story to this dragoness. She seemed so trusting, however, and there was nothing wrong with having someone to talk to.

"My sister is the lightning representative."

"Joy'el?"

"That's the one."

"Oh wow, no wonder you found out about Athaer pretty early one then."

"Athaer told us flat out that she was mining for the stones, and if there were any good places she should look. I didn't want anything to do with her after that. My sister didn't feel quite the same though."

"Unfortunate. She would have quite a lot of influence."

"Yes..."

"Anyway," Aegis shook his head, "My cave is up there. Feel free to rest your wings before you head on your journey... wherever you are going. I will go for a quick hunt. You like fish?"

"Thank you," Wyneta gave a genuine smile, "And fish is fine. Right Vigon?"

The ice drake grunted, and nodded his head, "It's not the same as ocean fish though."

Aegis ignored him. Vigon seemed a little less open than the mind dragoness. He now felt genuinely bad for getting angry at them. They seemed like such nice dragons. He watched as they flew up to his cave, landing easily on the edge before he turned toward the lake. All it took were a couple of strings of electricity to be run through the water before he had a pawful of fish to take up to the cave. It was slightly exciting to have visitors again.

He landed at the edge of the cave, offering the dragons inside the fish. He didn't bother to take any himself as he had already eaten that day. Vigon, despite being withdrawn, instantly opened up as he began to gorge himself on what could be considered little more than a snack. Wyneta was more withdrawn as she ate, taking in one fish at a time while conversing frivolously with Aegis.

He felt lulled into the conversation, as though he were nearly hypnotized. It had been so long since he had spoken to anyone. He told her about his life back in the fire nation, how he was of great importance to the old fire king, Theleon. He complained about how Athaer was trying to change far too much... from what he had heard through rumours. How she was a danger and needed to be put down. He warned them again of the dangers of the element stones, and recommended they get rid of the one they had with them. It all came so easily. Eventually, even Vigon was able to join the conversation, if a little more withdrawn than Wyneta's eagerly asked questions.

"You really are against the queen that much huh?" Vigon grunted.

"Yes," growled Aegis, "She will destroy us all... if we're not careful. You've heard the stories of the Ashen wars."

"Yes," rumbled Wyneta, "It worries me as well. Unfortunately, even if we are dragons of equilibrium, we are no match for her forces or even her herself I'm afraid."

"I know."

"Did you see her fight King Theleon?" asked Vigon.

Aegis shook his head, "I thought it would be an easy victory for him. No one had even heard of her before that battle. Now though... well everyone knows."

"Is there anything you can give us about her past?"

The lightning drake thought for a moment, before shaking his head, "She was pretty quiet about where she came from, or how she became so strong, but I believe it has something to do with the element stones."

"Quite possibly," agreed Wyneta, seeming to be thinking for a moment, "I just had a thought though. Aegis, why don't you join us?"

"What?" the lightning drake looked at her in surprise.

"Yes, what?" Vigon rumbled.

"We have been looking for ways to... defend against element stones for a while. We thought we would find answers in the fire nation but haven't been able to. You are the closest we've had to discovering anything really. You want to stop the fire queen, so do we. There might be another dragon out there that's like her as well. We need all the allies we can gather."

Aegis stared at her for a moment, surprised at the offer. Sure, she seemed trustworthy, but to just leave his home like that with a couple of strangers seemed rather ill-advised.

"I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to," Wyneta said with a shrug of her wings, "But... well... you do seem rather lonely out here. You want to get back at Athaer right? A new purpose might help you with that."

"Hold on... no offense Aegis... but we barely know him Wyneta. I'm not sure we should just trust him," growled Vigon.

"You forget Vigon, I am a mind dragon. We are pretty good at reading others. Also, we decided to set off on our journey after knowing each other for a very short amount of time."

"Yes, but that was different."

"How so?"

Vigon went silent, with a rumble. Aegis was still rather shocked at her offer. He glanced at the ice drake, and back at her. It was an inviting offer. It certainly beat wallowing away in some alienated paradise in the middle of nowhere. But as he looked around, he caught the white stone still on Vigon's head.

"Look..." he said, "I appreciate the offer. And I really think what you are doing is a good thing... but..."

"You can't stand being near one of the stones. I understand," Wyneta sighed, thinking for a moment, "What if we get rid of it?"

"No," growled Vigon, "This is... I mean we need the stone."

"We haven't gotten any use out of it so far, besides drawing unwanted attention. It might be safer as well if we just got rid of it," Wyneta reasoned, "And we need all the allies we can get. We have a dangerous mission ahead."

"Yes but..." the ice dragon hesitated.

"Come on Vigon. We've been traveling together for over a year now. Surely you trust me by now," Wyneta gave him an innocent smile.

The ice drake struggled for several moments, before letting out a sigh, "Very well. Just... no looking in my head without my permission."

"Agreed," she smiled.

The ice holding the stone retracted from Vigon's head, letting it fall from its place onto the dragon's icy snout, then into his paw. For several moments the drake looked at the stone as though wrestling with himself, before grunting.

"Alright, Aegis, what's the safest way to dispose of this thing. In my experience, it just tends to absorb any abilities that are directed at it."

"Let me show you," Aegis said, gripping the stone with his teeth, being as careful as he could be.

He turned and leaped out of the cave, flying to the top of the cliff. The two other dragons followed. He landed at the top, gently placing the stone on another stone. He took several running leaps back, beckoning the others to get behind him. Wyneta and Vigon watched with avid fascination as the lightning drake opened his mouth. A stream of electricity shot forth toward the stone.

Aegis directed the energy so that it hit the stone head-on. The stone seemed to eagerly accept the offering of power, and with a hungry white pulse absorbed the lightning. Aegis could feel his power building within the stone as he continued to flood it with energy until eventually, it grew too much. The stone cracked, and Aegis yelled at them to get back. The three dragons backed away as cracks flooded the stone's surface... before it exploded. White energy lit the afternoon sky as the ground rumbled at its power. Aegis and his new friends were forced to back away even further in fear of getting caught by the deadly explosion. But as quickly as it had exploded, the energy faded, and the stone was gone.

"Wow... that was like an equilibrium. Kinda," Vigon said, rather startled.

"Yes," Aegis nodded.

Wyneta was silent for the first time since they had met. She only stared at the place the stone had exploded, a small smile crossing her maw. 

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Hello everyone! It has been a long time since I last posted, so I apologise. I was finally able to complete this, and I hope it turned out well. A bit of a calm one for the reintroduction of the chronicles, but nonetheless an interesting one to write. Please comment, vote, tell me what you think. The line up for the next five is going to be rather fun. For those waiting for their stories to be put in, I will be introducing those in the next set of five. These ones however I have been looking forward to writing for a while.

Mind's Final Stand: Vanilier, Mind dragoness, and Laywil, Mind drake - 5Yrs BTA

The Dragonslayer and the Fire Queen Pt3 (Threats): The Dragonslayer, Human man - 3Yrs BTa

The Weight of Tears: Vitto, Spirit drake - 7Yrs BTA

The Wrong Scales: Rennock, Earth drake - 32YRs BTA

A Lost Species: Shade, Shadow drake - 8 Months BTA

See Ya!

Pennator^^