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Agon sat on his perch atop a building made of white marble. His golden scales glimmered in the rising sun. His tail lashed back and forward with uneasy trepidation. The voices of hundreds of thousands of dragons surrounded him, each expressing their excitement or fear in different ways. Millions of golden scales dragons occupied the usually white streets and covered the white buildings. Many still glided and hovered in the air above him, looking for a place to land in the crowd below. Hisses and growls were shared as tails were stepped on and horns accidentally interlocked.

"Glad we got out here early," the drake to Agon's side said, looking at the commotion below.

"Definitely," Agon agreed, feeling the thump of his heartbeat rise as he looked out over the city to the palace standing gloriously in the distance.

"So... you excited? We finally get to teach those shadow dragons a lesson," the drake continued with savage glee.

Agon glanced at him, "Teach 'em a lesson ha?"

"Yes! I'm looking forward to tearing some scales out and cooking them alive."

"They'll be fighting back you know."

"Ah, with our alliance, they won't stand a chance."

"We're fighting the mental nation as well."

"I'm not. I'm heading to shadow front."

"Same."

"Well, then we get to kill some shadow dragons together!"

Agon let out a snort, looking at the rising sun again. Soon, it would be time. Part of him struggled to believe that nearly the entirety of the light nation had been mobilized. Over a hundred million dragons sent to attack two different fronts. An army large enough to blot out the sky with golden brilliance. But despite their numbers, Agon felt despair in his heart. The enemies they were facing were just as strong, just as numerous. He wasn't a fighter, and he didn't hate the dragons they were battling against. He didn't want this war. But he was in the minority, and he had a duty to his nation to fight when ordered to do so.

He clenched his talons against his perch, watching the horizon as the dragons near the castle suddenly launched into the air, following the large light drake that was their king. As their ruler passed over them more dragons leaped into the sky with a flap of their wings. A cacophony that was only matched by Agon's pulsing heart. With a rumble he launched into the air, feeling the finality of the situation shroud him as he did.

* * *

"There is an awful lot of them," Archyal said, watching from the safety of his forest, relying on the shadows to hide his black scales.

In the distance he could see what looked like a plane of red and yellow. Fires had burned away much of the forest on that side, giving room for the countless number of dragons to gather. It was like a sea of dragons, each curled up in groups of eight with fires smoldering in the middle. Fire, lightning, and chaos. It had been centuries since an army of this size had been able to mobilize. This wasn't even the entire army.

"I'd have thought they were sent more to the mental nation," Archyal's partner said, flicking her tail back and forth anxiously.

"Same. Though maybe they are putting more attention here, so they are able to take over our kingdom quickly, before putting more pressure up north," the shadow drake said thoughtfully.

"It's a possibility," the dragoness replied anxiously, "Wait... are those life dragons?"

Archyal narrowed his eyes, seeing a group of light green dragons situated near the fire. They were like an island in the red and seemed to hold rather close together. It was common knowledge that life dragons didn't have loyalty to any one nation, but it seemed that meant that a group of them had decided to help fight the battle. Archyal knew that several had joined in with the shadow dragons as well in an effort to help.

The drake tore at the ground with his talons, growling his frustration, "Why? Why are they doing this? I thought they were only angry at the mental nation."

"You know why. It's the light dragons. It's always them," snarled the dragoness with deep-seated anger, "They finally found a way to destroy us, and they are going to take it. And the fire nation doesn't care. They are just using the light dragons to strengthen their war effort against the rest of the world. If that means they have to destroy us to get that alliance, that's what they are gonna do."

Archyal was silent for several moments before replying, "Do you think we even stand a chance?"

The dragoness didn't answer. She let out a grunt, before turning to walk back into the forest, "We should report back. Xerva is probably wondering where we are."

Her lack of answer caused Archyal's doubt to grow, "Yeah. Okay."

* * *

Syvel paced along the outskirts of the living mountains, looking up at the peaks with both fear and curiosity. The sky above was a nice clear blue, with barely a cloud in sight, revealing the sharp tips of the gigantic pieces of stone. They stretched as far as the eye could see, leaving an impressive fortification to any attack from the south. Unfortunately, it also blocked off any chance of fleeing from the war about to erupt on the other side.

The wind dragoness sighed as she sat on her haunches, her large creamy brown wings held loosely at her side. There was an ache in her heart, one shrouded by fear and rage. As she looked upon the mountains she couldn't get over the helplessness she felt at their presence. Going over them had always been difficult. While a skilled wind dragon could manage it, they were far too high for most dragons to even have a chance. They could always go around, but to do that required far too long for a sustainable entry and retreat. They were stuck by the unknown force.

Still, Syvel couldn't help but feel desperate. Before the living mountains, she had often crossed between the borders of the sky nation and the shadow nation, visiting the secretive dragons on the outskirts of their borders. She had made connections, formed friendships, and more. Ever since the living mountains, she had been forced to stop, the trip to the other side and back becoming far too difficult and dangerous without going far over the ocean to the east.

But now the shadow nation was in danger. They were certainly not the strongest nation and had a rather small population compared to many of the other kingdoms. Now they were against arguably the strongest nation in existence, accompanied by another.

She let out a frustrated cry, slashing at the ground with her claws and beating her wings, wishing she could summon the power needed to tear the earthen walls in front of her down. Then, maybe then, she could convince the queen of the sky to send forces to help. As it stood, however, the danger of being thrown into another war and the difficulty in sending help had convinced Queen Polliar that joining in the war effort wasn't worth it. 'It was a dispute that had been coming for a long time' was her reasoning 'We shouldn't get in the way'. It infuriated the dragoness. There were dragons on the other side of the mountains that needed their help. Dragons that they definitely had the power to assist. But because it wasn't in their interest, Polliar had decided not to help.

"Aargh!" cried Syvel, a blast of wind lashing from her mouth, causing several looser stones to roll along the ground for several metres.

She wanted to help. She needed to. And she needed to convince Polliar that it was necessary to do so.

* * *

Cavell watched the two mind dragons with wary eyes. They sat in the middle of a large chamber of carved limestone, surrounded by a court of water and acid dragons. There were several dozen of each species, the water dragons lining up with their shifting colours of blue creating abstract flickers of light throughout the chamber, and the acid dragons and their mottled green were less glorious, but the colours under their legs definitely gave some light to the room. It made the lighter creamy blue of the two mind dragons feel rather dull.

Sitting at the head of the chamber, atop a small, raised platform was the biggest water drake in the kingdom. An elder dragon with deep blue scales and a piercing gaze that seemed to bore into any he looked at. The king, Siedon, and Cavell's father. His expression gave no response, and his tail idly twitched along with the words of the two mental diplomats as they made their case.

"So, you see, your majesty, with your help the fire nation will quickly fall under our combined might. Despite the apparent strength of their armies, if the rest of the nations all came and fought this threat then the war would quickly end, limiting the loss of life drastically and putting the fire queen back in her place," a mind drake said.

The dragoness at his side added, "None of us want another Ashen war, your majesty."

Siedon nodded his head thoughtfully, though his eyes gave nothing away about his decision, "You are definitely correct in that. None of us want another Ashen war."

Cavell was unsure of what his father would decide. On one side, what the two mind dragons were saying made sense. With the combined might of the rest of the nations of the world, Cavell doubted that the fire nation would last long. But at the same time, he doubted that it would decrease the loss of life. The more dragons that entered the fight, the greater number with the potential to die. He was quite sure the war would be decided through draconic equilibriums, and that meant that numbers didn't matter as much as the appropriate use of power. A single equilibrium could be the difference between the loss or victory of a battle. In a war like that, many would die.

"Let me ask you something... ah... remind me of your names again?" Siedon began after several moments of agonizing silence.

"My name is Yivian, your highness," the drake said, "And this is my mate Adrella."

"Yivian, Adrella, am I right in saying that neither of you fought in the Ashen wars?" Siedon said, his deep voice powerful and unshakeable.

"You are correct your highness, though we have seen many of the experiences through the memories of those still living from that time," Adrella responded.

"It was horrible," Siedon continued, "Millions were killed, as I'm sure you know. Families were torn apart. The world was forever changed. And it started in us believing that joining with what seemed like the stronger side would save lives in the long run. We were wrong. That war lasted five years. Fiver years of slaughter and pain. I was lucky. Many weren't, and I would be a poor king if I were to throw my subjects into that hell."

"This is not going to be another Ashen war. The fire nation does not have the support and power it had four and a half centuries ago. We can crush them to the ground with your help," Yivian replied.

"Is that so? Then I offer you this, why should I not help the fire nation crush you?"

Cavell found himself rather amused at the panicked flash that crossed Yivian's face.

"They are the aggressors," the dragoness took a step forward at her mate's abasement, "We never wanted this war. We never asked for it. We are only trying to defend ourselves from the bloodthirsty nation at our south."

Siedon laughed, a deep echoing sound that curled through the entire chamber, "You really expect me to believe that? Did you not know why Athaer declared this war? She told us that she was only after the spirit dragons in their secret conclave. Whoever gets in her way she will burn. That is what she threatened. My advice to the mental king and queen, if they truly want to avoid another ashen war, give her what she wants. If what she claimed is true then she has every right to want her revenge."

Adrella bared her teeth, "A threat against one part of the mental nation is a threat against us all."

"You may believe that dragoness, but you are wrong. So, go back, tell Vanilier and Laywil that we will not be helping them, and that if they have any sense they will give Athaer what she wants. She is not a dragon to be trifled with," the water drake snarled back.

"But...!"

"LEAVE!" he roared at the two of them.

Cavell could see the anger in Yivian's eyes. The two mind dragons looked at each other, sharing their silent communication, before bowing their heads to the king of the water nation, and leaving through the large entrance at the other side of the chamber. Siedon visibly relaxed with a sigh. There was silence within the chamber as everyone reminisced over what had just happened.

Seeming to sense the unease in his subjects, Siedon spoke, "Avoiding a war with the fire nation is our top priority, but if it comes down to it... Cavell, I want you to prepare the armies. Mobilize our water forces and Zagen I want you to gather troops from the surface villages. I will not be caught unaware like my predecessor."

Cavell bowed his head to his father, "As you wish."

Zagen, the acid drake who represented the species, nodded in agreement.

* * *

"Elder Garner, what do you think?"

The earth drake allowed himself a moment to think before a response. This discussion had been going for hours, with all the significant members of leadership within the earthen nation present. Yet still, they talked, trying to not only make the right decision for their kingdom, but also for their allies, the mind nation.

Still, what they were faced with was not a decision to be made lightly. A war was something they wanted to avoid at all costs, but it seemed that war was unavoidable. Now it was only a matter of whether they were willing to join in. As the largest nation on the planet, their involvement could very easily decide the victor. But the fire nation had the second-largest, and arguably the stronger army.

The earth drake looked over the other dragons in the meeting chamber. There were several dozen, a mixture of earth, crystal, and metal, each with their own opinions on the matter that they had made very clear during this meeting. The most important dragon however was King Strager, the metal drake that ruled the entire nation. Sure, they could advise him, but in the end, it was his decision, and Garner knew that they would all follow him to the end if he willed it.

"I... think we should help," Garner said, knowing that Strager valued his opinion strongly in these matters, "The mind nation has been a close friend of ours since the Ashen wars, and now that they find themselves in trouble I believe we should honour that friendship."

"But they started it all!" Opallio, a crystal dragoness who represented her species in the higher council growled, "You heard Athaer's claim as much as we did."

"She's just using it as an excuse," growled back the drake, "Yes, her son was assassinated by the mental nation, but to drag her subjects into the conflict is selfish and ill-advised. If it was truly only about revenge she would have demanded recompense, as is the way of her species. Laywil and Vanilier would have respected that. Instead, she demanded war as her first option. That is not a dragon after revenge. She is after power. And as the strongest nation on this earth, we have a responsibility to stop it."

"I agree," an older grizzled earth dragon by the name of Doran spoke up, "Revenge for the death of a loved one is something we can all respect I imagine. But this is much more than that. She is wanting utter destruction of the central nation."

Opallio went silent, "We should at least try and dissuade her. Send out diplomats first saying we will support the mental nation should she attack."

"I don't know if that will help," grunted Garner.

"It might," the dragoness snarled back.

"I agree Opallio," the king finally spoke up, shifting on his ledge, his silver shell reflecting the sunlight leaking into the cave, "But I also believe that Garner is correct. The mind nation, if nothing else, are our allies. We owe them our allegiance much more than the fire nation. Should it come to war, we will support our allies. But we should try our best to dissuade war. Opallio, I want you to get your best Diplomats and go to meet with Athaer. Try your best to convince her. Garner, send out the word. Mobilize our entire army. If words won't dissuade our young fire queen, perhaps a show of force will."

"Your majesty," the two dragons bowed to their king, while the others in the council chamber roared their approval.

* * *

Kayhara sat on the precipice of a mountain, trying to ignore the many glances and stares being sent her way. Her white scales stood out like a patch of snow in the forest. Mattered blue and green weather dragons milled around her, perching on their own ledges, or flying down to land on the ground below and looking out over the large plain between them and the enemy. It felt strange for the spirit dragoness to be in her natural form so publicly. She felt small, vulnerable, and itched to be in a form that more naturally balanced with the world around her.

She knew that not many other dragons had gotten good glimpses of her species before, so naturally many dragons looked at her with curiosity, and she even caught some glances of muted anger. She didn't blame them. It was her species fault this war started after all. At least, it was according to many of the species' representatives. The thought enraged her, and her talons scratched at the stone ledge she found herself on, finding it difficult to focus on the sea of red and yellow setting up on the horizon. Her spear-tipped tail flicked back and forth as her rage grew deeper.

It was all Vitto's fault. The traitor had turned the fire nation against them, and now millions would die because of his oversight. It didn't matter if he was gone now. The damage had already been done. Why he had betrayed them she didn't know. He had always been seen as a rather adept spirit dragon, one that she had been quite fond of for a long time. But now he was the worst dragon alive.

The flap of wings near her caused her to look over as a weather dragon landed precariously on her ledge. Kayhara shifted over a little to give the other dragoness room but didn't give much more indication that she had realised the other had landed. Still, Kayhara could feel the other dragoness's curious gaze on her, and it caused her to huff in annoyance.

"What do you want?"

"Just wanted to say hello. I haven't met a spirit dragon before," the weather dragoness responded carefully.

Kayhara looked at the other dragoness with slightly suspicious eyes, "Well now you have."

"I guess so... though frankly, you haven't made a very good first impression," she rumbled back.

Kayhara sighed, shaking her head and turning her thoughts to more friendly conversation, "Sorry, I'm rather stressed. My name's Kayhara, what's yours?"

"It's alright. Many of us are. I'm Dorial. What brings you to the front lines?"

"I've been sent to show support, whatever that means, and bring back updates to my superiors," the spirit dragoness huffed, seeing no reason to be dishonest with one of the friendlier faces she had met so far.

"Ah, of course. The scout," Dorial chuckled, shifting her wings slightly, "It all doesn't feel quite real, does it?"

Kayhara nodded her head, looking at the red line in the distance representing their enemy, "I never wanted war. I don't think anyone did."

"Many are blaming this on your species," said Dorial rather passively.

Kayhara snorted, "Blame the fire dragons if anything. Yes, one of ours killed their prince, but it was only in self-defence. They were the aggressors. They always were."

The lie slipped easily from her tongue, well-rehearsed and well-thought-out. It was the official version that was spread from Eledior, one that hopefully reduced the amount of distrust they had been given from the other species and nations. Not everyone believed them, especially since the fire dragons had also spread the true version of events, and no one really knew which side to trust. As long as the spirit dragons were protected, Kayhara found she didn't really care.

"I've been told that. Is it true?"

"Undoubtedly."

"Then I guess I believe you," Dorial replied, turning her gaze to look at the approaching fire nation, "I just hope that we are able to live with the consequences."

"Me too," Kayhara responded.

* * *

Ivian sat on his haunches looking at the fire queen sitting atop a hill. His red wings were tightly folded against his body as he made himself as small as possible to allow room for his fellow soldiers. They were at the very edge of the fire nation, sitting at the beginning of the plains leading into the mental nation. Now that he was finally here, he felt his heart thumping with excitement and his tail twitch rapidly with eagerness and nervousness. It was happening. Finally. After years of waiting, they were going to be making their move.

He looked at the lightning dragon to his left, her yellow scales sparkling with her inner element as she gave him a fierce grin. The chaos dragon to his right tore at the ground with his claws, the red tinge of chaos energy occasionally glowing from his deep ruby scales. Ivian felt the fire in his own blood and taste it in his breath. Though he didn't know if that was only because of his queen's presence.

Athaer sat atop her hill, looking down upon her army, and Ivian could almost imagine her looking at him with a fierce and confident grin. Her power radiated across the battlefield, leaving those before her overcome by awe. The fire drake could just close his eyes and bask in her presence. She would bring them to victory. He knew she would, and the other nations that dared face her would burn in his fire.

He looked down at the small stone he held in his paw. Its white glow thrummed with the power of his queen. It was like holding a small part of her with him. When she had given him the stone, telling him to look after it with his life, he had never felt such great honour. That she had picked above all others. Sure, there were other dragons looking after similar stones throughout the army, but she had picked him to look after this one. She had believed in him, giving him the responsibility of holding one of the most powerful weapons known to dragon kind, and look after it he would, until he wasn't needed anymore.

"My fellow dragons!" Athaer's voice suddenly echoed across the battlefield, causing voices to fall silent and heads to rise to their queen once more as she spoke through the large golden trumpet, "Long have we waited for this moment! Long have we suffered, and planned, and plotted, waiting to strike out against those that dare think they control us. Me more than anyone. But here now we are, on the precipice of glorious battle, of glorious victory, ready to show the world that we are not to be controlled! Not to be underestimated! And not be treated with contempt. Today we start something that history will define as the greatest moment in our lives. For too long have we allowed the mental nation to control everything from behind the scenes. Today that stops! Today we summon our fire, our lightning, our chaos, and our light, as we show the world that we are not to be put down! That we are not to be made the fool! And we will not stop until those that dared stand against us bow their heads in reverence!"

Roars of agreement and excitement followed her words. Ivian knew that much of the army would not hear this speech. But he was glad that he had found a place to listen and receive her words with glory.

"We are the strongest nation of this world, and we will no longer be manipulated by those that believe we are not," Athaer continued, spreading her wings.

Ivian let out a yelp as the stone in his paw suddenly heated up. Red flames flickered on its surface, burning his palm. He staggered back, dropping the stone. But instead of falling to the ground, it began to float, fire swirling around it in a ball of red and gold. The dragons around him saw what was happening and stared with awe as the stone began to rise into the air.

"The mental nation thinks it can get away with its villainy, sending spies and assassins into our midst to kill and rape. They think that they are above us all and will do anything in their power to keep it that way!" Athaer continued, more balls of fire rising from the crowd with glowing stones in the middle, "But we will stand against it! We will show them that they can't do whatever they want! That they don't control everything! And they will taste the suffering they have caused."

Ivian watched with wide eyes as the fire around the stone warped and twisted, quickly forming the shape of a flaming dragon. The white stone glowed in the middle, the dragon's heart. More flaming dragons grew out of the thousands of stones across the length of the army. With a flap of their wings, they ascended toward the sky.

"And any that stand against us, any that dared defend the evil of the mental nation... they... will... BURN!"

The sky above them exploded into flames. A storm that originated from the flaming dragons. A storm greater than any natural phenomenon.

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Thank you all for reading this chronicle! It was an interesting one to write and one I was looking forward to doing so. It's a bit different from the other ones, and hopefully, me jumping around so much wasn't confusing for you all. I tried to get every main perspective of the beginning of the war, in terms of the nation's different reactions. So I hope you enjoyed. If you can, guess how many characters within this chronicle appeared in others. I would be curious to see if anyone can actually remember them all.  As always comment on what you thought of the story, and vote on which one you would like to see next.

The Blood Dragon: Parrella, Acid Dragoness - 41Yrs BTA

A Last Hope: Strager, Metal drake - 5Yrs BTA

The Passive Flame: Sakary, Fire dragoness - 20Yrs BTA

See Ya next week!

Pennator^^