Dominique stared, stunned. Not sure if he was more speechless over the great white dragon that stood before him, or the fact that he had just heard him speak to him. Either way, he was staring at the living proof that Akira was after all, far from crazy. She had been telling him the truth the entire time, she was not just Akira, she was Akira THE rider of legend, and he had doubted her every step of the way when she had been telling him nothing but the truth. And in return, he had done nothing but dashed her hopes and led her to believe that she was a liar. 

The white dragon walked forward, the ground shuddering somewhat as he approached Dominique. Upon reaching him he put his head down so that they were eye to eye and the dragon narrowed his eyes as his gaze bored into Dominique, "Since your thinking of the little devil, I assume you have an idea of where my rider may have disappeared to?" 

Dominique continued to stare at the dragon before him, for he seemed unable to do anything else. His body had somehow frozen, his mouth gone dry and his mind blank. 

The dragon before him let out a sigh. "Maybe I can help jog your memory. Her name is Akira, she's a little shorter than you, has long black hair, blue eyes, always carries around this shinny sword, oh yeah, and she screams like crazy when you throw her from high heights....sound familiar to you?" 

As the dragon spoke Dominique seemed to wake up of his trance. Everything suddenly came back to him, the reason he was here. He stared at the dragon, he knew could be none other than Redemption, with wide eyes. 

"Akira!" he shouted. 

"Yes, yes," Redemption bobbed his head. "That's her name, but I've already told you that, what I want to know is where..." he stared at Dominique, his yellow eyes widening. "What on earth..." as he spoke Dominique felt a strange presence in his mind. It took him a moment to figure out that somehow Redemption was sorting through his thoughts, picking out key pieces that would tell him what he wanted to know. 

"The council is planning to WHAT?" Redemption thought so loudly Dominique thought his brain would explode. Dominique didn't even have to explain for Redemption was already a step ahead of him, "When?" was his one and only question. 

"At dawn," Dominique replied softly, knowing what Redemption meant. 

"Then what on earth are we standing around here for?" Redemption growled. 

It struck Dominique that even though Redemption would know everything from reading his memory, that none of it, not the fact that he was in the future or that the council had completely taken over, seemed to bother him except for one thing, the fact that his rider was in danger. 

"Come on pretty boy," Redemption spoke sternly. "Get your dragon. You're going to take me to my rider, and then I'm going to give the council a piece of my mind. No one plans to execute my rider."

Akira stared at the sun as it peaked out of the horizon. It was here, the day she was going to die. She listened, waiting, and soon enough the sound of marching feet was audible, getting louder every moment as they came towards her cell. They were coming for her and in the next few moments she would find out her fate. Up to now, she still had no idea what Nemis had planned for her. She was still in the dark about how her death was to be carried out. And yet somehow, it all didn't seem to bother her as much anymore. Why? She had no idea. 

When they opened her cell door she stood, waiting for them. She didn't bother to struggle when they clamped her wrists in irons and lead her from the cell. As they walked her down an abandoned dirt path she couldn't help but wonder for the first time where they were headed. Definitely this wasn't in the same direction as the gallows were, so hanging was probably out of the question. 

They continued down the abandoned path until they reached a large stone building which had an unusual round shape. Akira stared at its curving walls, wondering why anyone would build walls in that shape. The Watcher in front of her opened a door in the wall and as he passed through it Akira followed. 

No sooner had she passed through it than she found herself in a small room. The Watcher behind her came up to her and undid the iron clamps around her wrists. Surprised she waited, wondering why they would free her. As though to answer her the next Watcher shoved a object into her hands. 

Slowly Akira looked down, disbelief filling her as she saw what she was holding. An old, slightly rusted sword, yet still in good enough shape to do some serious damage and kill if used right. She shot a look up at the Watcher's to see that they had pulled out their shockers and were pointing them at her, fully charged. Yet they didn't shoot and Akira understood that it was just a precaution in case she were to try and use the weapon in her hands against them. Still, she stood confused, not sure what was going on. Why had they given her a weapon? 

"Move," the Watcher behind her demanded, nodding towards a door ahead that he obviously wanted Akira to go to. 

She did as she was told, walking towards the door in a daze, her mind going through all the possibilities of what could be going on. As she reached the door it suddenly opened and light flooded through. As she was momentarily blinded Akira paused, shielding her eyes. The Watcher behind her growled and gave her a shove, sending her stumbling forward, through the door and outside. 

Regaining her balance Akira stood straight and blinked as her eyes got used to the bright light. Awe filled her as she saw where she was standing. Around her, yet a good distance away, walls surrounded the area she stood in a large, oval shape. The ground was filled with soft sand, looking smooth and undisturbed, with not a footprint in it. Akira couldn't not help but wonder how much sand there was. Yet it was what was above the walls that caught her attention. Rows and rows of benches set in neat lines, going further and further back, rising in height, all the way to a point when there was suddenly another wall. These benches were all around, and they were all empty giving the entire place an abandoned feel to it. 

There was a loud bang and Akira whirled around to find that the door she had come through had slammed shut. Panic began to fill her as she suddenly realized there was no way out. She looked up only to see clear sky, there was no roof on this building and yet if you did not have a dragon it was of no use, if one wanted to get out they needed to do it by flying. 

"Welcome!" a voice boomed. 

Startled Akira jumped and whirled back around, her eyes darting back and forth as she searched for the source of the noise. It didn't take her long to spot the big box with comfortable couches that was to her right. In the couches sat the three men she had seen before at her attempted hanging, beside them stood a few Watchers, yet it was the man that stood at the edge of the box, gazing at her with a look of triumph in his eyes that caught her attention, Nemis. 

"Welcome to the arena," Nemis grinned, "Unfortunately Strider could not be here with us, I was so looking forward to his company." 

Akira stared at him, not sure what was going on, yet the fact that he and the other council members were here meant that whatever was going to happen next, it wasn't good. 

"You look somewhat lost," Nemis continued, "Did you expect another hanging?" He asked. 

Akira did not reply but her grip on the rust sword tightened somewhat. 

"You see, I wouldn't have minded another hanging," Nemis said casually, as though carrying out a normal conversation, "Or even the quarries. But I must say, after seeing you fight during your last escape, well I have to admit I was impressed." 

Akira's eyes narrowed in suspicion, was he going to make her fight? 

"Ah, I see your beginning to figure it out," Nemis chuckled. "You see, such talent of yours would be a waste in the quarries and my friends and I love to see a good fight," he grinned. "So, we had this place built, the arena," he waved an arm at the entire area. "Unfortunately, as you can see, we don't have anyone else in the audience at the moment, but mark my words, that will soon change. Once the public becomes more...agreeable, this place of entertainment will be opened for all!" 

Akira stared at Nemis in disbelief. What was he trying to say? That watching people fight was going to be a public source of entertainment? 

"This is crazy," Akira spoke, "Its madness!" 

"No my dear," Nemis replied, "This, is the new era." He turned to a Watcher beside him, "Release the dragon," he told him. 

Nodding the Watcher raised his hand, paused for a second and then suddenly dropped it. No sooner had it gone down than a rumbling began and Akira turned her eyes to the far end of the arena to see that a large section of the wall seemed to suddenly be moving to the side. It came to a grating halt and there was a moments silence before there was suddenly a low growl that came from within the large gap that the wall had left behind. 

Akira's eyes widened, she could not see into the dark gap but that growl was unmistakably the growl of a dragon. Was Nemis serious? Did he really expect her to fight a dragon and survive? Her eyes widened even further as it hit her. Of course! She wasn't supposed to survive, this was the way she was supposed to die. 

As her thoughts raced the ground began to shudder and a large, bay, female dragon came into view, her yellow eyes ablaze, filled with a crazed pain. Scars covered her body, scars that told stories of any battles fought before, battles taken place within this very arena. Her wings were strapped down, making her unable to fly, forcing her to stay on the ground. She maneuvered her large body out of the small gap and the wall slid back into place almost immediately, sealing the dragon in the arena with Akira. 

The dragon's eyes scanned the arena and as they caught sight of Akira she seemed to freeze, her entire body tensing. Akira could see the pain in the dragon's eyes, the hatred, hatred for what had been done to her, hatred against the human race, and Akira was currently a human being within her reach that she could take out her anger upon, and human she could easily tear to shreds. 

As the dragon's tail began to swish back and forth, a sure sign that she was going to attack, Akira felt her mouth going dry. This wasn't good. She didn't want to harm the poor dragon, and yet if she did not fight then she would surely be killed. Swallowing what little spit was left in her mouth she licked her dry lips as her eye stayed glued on the light bay dragon before her. As their eyes met Akira couldn't help but feel that there was something familiar about this particular dragon, yet before she could muse any further, the dragon charged.

Redemption stretched his neck as far forward as possible, as though this would give him more speed. He needed to hurry. The sun had already risen and he had still not reached Akira. A little way behind Breeze tried to keep up with Dominique urging him on, yet without a rider Redemption was the faster of the two. In the distance he heard cries of both dragons and human in pain and guessed that it had to come from the quarries that he had seen in Dominique's mind when going through his memories, yet he felt nothing for them, he didn't even shoot them a glance. No, until his rider was safe nothing else mattered. 

As he caught sight of the city Redemption felt as though something were wrong. In reaction he reached out with his mind, searching for Akira's. For a moment he found nothing and then suddenly he felt her presence wash over him, sending calmness through him. She was still alright, and yet he could sense that she was in distress. 

"Akira?" he asked, connecting with her mind. He felt her surprise, felt her seem to pause, and then her rejection, her disbelief as she seemed to tell herself that she was hearings. With a sinking feeling he realized that she had lost hope, she did not believe that he was coming. He was about to try again, to let her know that he was on his way when he felt her panic and sudden rush of adrenaline, the one she only ever got when in battle, and that was when he realized that something was wrong. 

"I'm coming kiddo," he promised, "Hold on, I'm on my way." 

Using his link with hers he began to track her down, flying with assurance that he was heading right to his rider and that once he got to her, nothing would harm her.

Akira sprang to the side, rolling away just in time as the dragons teeth snapped in the space she had been standing just moments before. Still gripping the sword Akira jumped to her feet, her eyes still on the dragon as she tried to calculate its next move. Yet it was hard for her to move in the sand and everything she wanted to do took twice as much energy and twice as long. Yet the female dragon did not seem to be bothered by the sand in the least and her movements were as quick as if she were on solid ground. 

As Akira saw the dragon's tail whip towards her she dodged again, this time by ducking. Yet as she straightened she realized that she wouldn't be able to keep this game up for long. She was already tiring from only having dodged two blows and her breathing had already become more ragged. It wouldn't be long when the dragon would hit her. 

"Akira," the voice in her head was so loud it almost made her drop the sword in her hands. Surprise filled as she froze. She knew that voice, she had longed for the voice almost every night she had been with the Resistance. Yet then suddenly she remembered that that voice didn't exist, it wasn't real. Her mind was probably just playing tricks on her and she couldn't deal with that right now, if she wanted to stay alive she had to concentrate. 

Her eyes widened as the bay dragon whirled around to face her. Akira's eyes darted around, searching for a way of escape, finding none they wondered down to the sword in her hand. Seeing where he gaze had gone the dragon growled warningly. Looking up Akira met the dragon's eyes one more time. 

"I don't want to harm you," she pleaded with her, hoping that the dragon would understand. The dragon watched, her eyes seeming to size Akira up. It was then that Akira recognized her. "It can't be," she whispered, and yet she knew it was. The very dragon she was staring at was the one and same little draglin she had seen on the day she had come across the dragon market, the same draglin that had stared at her with pleading eyes. 

"What have they done to you?" Akira whispered in disbelief. 

The dragon just stared at her with her large yellow eyes. 

"Why is it pausing?" Nemis' angry voice rung over the arena, "What is it doing?" 

Akira dropped the sword that she held. "You see," she spoke gently, "I'm not going to harm you." 

The dragon's eyes filled with suspicion, yet she made no move but continued to watch Akira, as though trying to figure her out. The suddenly she began to walk forward. Akira stood, frozen, as the dragon approached her, not making any moves. Upon reaching her the dragon lowered her head, growling somewhat as she showed her teeth. Akira stood, not reacting. She closed her eyes, knowing that if the dragon chose to kill her she would be gone in the next few seconds. 

Yet when nothing happened she let slowly opened her eyes once again to find that the dragon's face was right in front of her and she was staring at her with the same pleading look she had had in her eyes as a draglin, and Akira knew she was asking for help. 

"You assured me this was a born killer!" Nemis yelled and both Akira and the dragon turned to look his way only to see that he was glaring at the Watcher beside him that looked at loss. 

"But she is," the Watcher stuttered, "She has defeated four dragons and..." 

"I don't care how many dragons she has defeated!" Nemis yelled, his face going red. "What I do care is why she's standing there like a lamb when she should be tearing that girl to shreds!" 

The Watcher winced. 

"Luckily for you, I have a backup plan," Nemis growled as he regained his composure somewhat and his face turned back to its normal shade, "Take that dragon out of there and lock her up where I can't see her." The Watcher nodded and made a hand motion. 

At once the door Akira had come through opened and Watchers spilled through, each with charged shockers in their hands. 

"No," Akira shook her head, she couldn't let them hurt this dragon anymore. She bent over to pick up the sword when she felt something slam into her. A familiar searing pain went through her as Akira stumbled backward, her mind in a muddle as a loud ringing voice filled her ears. 

"Akira!" a voice yelled in her mind. That familiar voice, it was back. 

As her mind began to clear and the ringing began to disappear Akira became aware of the shouting and a dragon roaring in pain. She caught sight of the light bay dragon, standing on her hind legs and shaking her head in protest as Watcher's drove her back with their shockers, hitting her with a charged one every time she paused. 

They were driving her back, back into the large gap she had come out of, and Akira could do nothing but watch helplessly, for two Watchers stood, ready to shock her again if she made a move to help. Gritting her teeth Akira felt outraged at this injustice that was being done and at her own helplessness. 

"Bring out Hector and his dragon Serbias," Nemis' voice boomed. He turned to the Watchers that had almost driven the female dragon all the way back, his eyes lighting up with a sudden idea. "Once Hector is done with the girl it's the dragons turn, keep her chained until then, I don't want any interferences." 

The Watchers obeyed and while three of them held the female dragon back four ran around and pulled a large chain forth, attaching it to a metal ring that was around the bay dragon's back leg. Bringing another chain they did the same to her other back leg and only when they were sure that she could not break out they left her, going back to the door they had come in from. The Watchers beside Akira did the same, leaving as fast as possible. 

"Now," Nemis smirked, "For some real entertainment." As he spoke Akira saw another section of the wall suddenly sliding open. Even the bay dragon froze and stopped struggling, watching as out of the new gap an unusually large, dark orange, make dragon, walked, a rider dressed in flaming orange clothes, seated cockily on his back, a mace in his hands. 

"Hector," Nemis smiled in greeting, "It has been a while." 

The man named Hector nodded in reply, "What is your command?" 

"It's a simple matter this time," Nemis replied, "Kill the girl before you." 

Hector shot Akira a disbelieving look before a sneer crossed his face. "Surely you insult me and my dragon," he told Nemis. 

"Oh no," Nemis replied, "It's no insult, it's just that this particular girl doesn't seem to want to die, and frankly, after so many have failed I decided to turn to someone who could get the job done." 

Hector's chest seemed to puff up at the compliment. "Of course," he spoke, his voice full of pride. He looked at Akira again and with a smirk tossed aside his mace. Akira watched it fall into the sand beside him, landing with a dull thud. Nemis raised an eyebrow but did not comment. 

"Serbias, she's all yours," Hector told his dragon. 

His dragon replied by gluing his eyes on Akira, a wicked gleam going through them as he slowly pawed one leg against the ground, a sign that he was going to charge. Instinct kicked in and Akira bent down and had just enough time to snatch up the sword before Serbias let out a growl and charged at her. The ground shook yet Akira ignored it, her eyes glued on the charging dragon as she calculated the time it would take for him to reach her. Seconds before he would have made impact she sprang to the side, moving out of the way of his feet just in time. Yet as she was about to let out a sigh of relief at dodging the attack something slammed into her chest, knocking the wind from her lungs and sent her flying backwards. 

He back collided with the wall and Akira let out a groan as pain ripped through her and she slip helplessly into the sand, her grasp on the sword in her hand disappearing and the blade falling into the sand beside her. Her head was ringing, her vision was blurred and she felt as though a thousand needles had been stuck into her back. Somehow through the pain she realized that the dragon had anticipated her move and had whipped around his tail in time to catch her before she was out of his reach. 

The ground shook and Akira was dimly aware of laughter somewhere in the background. She felt a shadow fall over her. "Too easy," a voice snorted, a voice she recognized as Hector's. 

Akira felt despair take over. It was over. Nemis would have what he wanted all along. She would be dead in a few seconds and then nothing would matter anymore. 

"Akira," the familiar voice urged in her mind. 

"Stupid voice," Akira thought. Why couldn't it just leave her alone? Why bother her and not just let her die in peace? 

"Dam it! Get up kiddo, fight! I'm almost there, you have to stay alive!" the voice was louder, stronger. 

"Ree?" Akira thought through her dizziness. 

"No, it's Haiden....duh it's me, who else is it supposed to be?" the voice snorted in her head. "Now get up!" 

Akira blinked, the shock of hearing her dragon seeming to work like a bucket of ice water. Her eyes shot open. "You don't exist," she thought. 

"Seriously? Who was it that saved you on the mountain then? If I remember correctly it wasn't the pretty boy that's lagging behind but a certain white dragon." 

Akira's eyes widened. 

"Now move!" 

She followed the voice instinctively, rolling to the side just as she felt something slam into the sand where she had just been lying. 

"What the...?" Hector's voice swore, obviously he had expected this to be over. 

Akira scrambled to her feet, not bothering to look at the dragon and rider behind her she began to run, to run as far away as she could. She could hear Nemis laugh in glee and few other chuckles she didn't recognize sounded from the box, yet she didn't care. Her heart was beating fast as she ran, not with fear but with an unexpected joy, with a feeling bubbling energy she hadn't felt in ages. And with it all came the will to live, Redemption was here, he was coming for her, if she could just hang on, everything would be alright. 

As she ran she felt the ground behind her began to shake and instantly she knew that Serbias was already following. Increasing her pace she ran, her lungs straining, and then she reached the other end of the arena, a towering wall blocking her escape. 

Whirling around Akira turned to face the dragon and rider that were following her. Serbias had slowed down to a walk, his yellow eyes gleaming as he stared at his prey, he had Akira trapped, and he knew it. Hector to had a smirk on his face. 

"It's over little girl, there's no where left to run," Hector said. 

"Who said anything about running?" Redemption's voice asked as a showdow swooped overhead and then suddenly the great white dragon landed in front of Akira. Taking up a protective stance he showed his teeth at Serbias and Hector who had frozen, confusion in both their faces. 

"Stay away from my rider," Redemption growled. 

The surprise on both Hector and Serbia's faces showed that they had heard him. 

"Ree," Akira whispered, relief, joy, confusion, exhaustion, it all flooded through her at once as she stared at the back of the white dragon her, her dragon. 

Redemption turned his head, seeming oblivious to the dragon and rider that stood before him as he stared at his rider. "What's wrong kiddo?" he asked, peering into Akira's eyes, "You look like you've seen a ghost!" 

"You're here!" Akira breathed. 

"Of course I'm here. You need me, don't you? Where else am I supposed to be, drinking tea with Brandon?" he snorted. 

Suddenly Serbias let out a growl. 

"Redemption!" Akira though in warning as Serbias sprang into the air. 

Redemption's head whipped around and he sidestepped, neatly moving out of the way of Serbias. As the orange dragon landed in an empty space Redemption whipped his tail about band smack him, sending him flying backwards and tumbling in the dirt with his rider. 

"I've taken out way worse than you so don't try to embarrass yourself by even considering you're an even match," Redemption growled angrily. 

"Who is this!" Nemis yelled. 

Akira and Redemption looked over in his direction to see that he was standing at the end of the box, his hands clenched as he stared at Redemption, fear and yet defiance in his eyes. 

"Who am I?" Redemption snorted, "Are you serious? The question here is who are you?" 

Nemis' eyes widened. "How...? No, it's not possible, this is some kind of trick," he muttered, as though trying to reassure himself. 

"Actually, it's not," Dominique's voice suddenly spoke. Breeze appeared in the air and landed beside Redemption. "You're looking at the Dragon of Legend in the flesh," Dominique continued, a satisfied grin on his face, "And the girl you wanted to kill just so happens to be his rider." 

Nemis' mouth dropped and the council members behind him looked terrified as they stared at Redemption. The Watchers beside them had frozen as well. Not sure what to make of this incident they looked at Nemis for his next command. 

"That is not possible!" Nemis yelled. "Both the dragon and rider of legend died hundreds of years ago, there is now way these two," he waved at Akira and Redemption, "Could be them." 

"Or so you wish," Dominique muttered, her turned and shot Akira a grin. 

"Guards!" Nemis yelled. Once again the door to the arena opened and Watchers spilled out, yet upon seeing Redemption they seemed to all freeze, staring in disbelief. Serbias lay still where he was, Hector did the same, if they were unconscious or had decided that it was better to play dead Akira didn't know. The bay dragon however, was staring at Redemption with new hope in her eyes. 

"Kill them!" Nemis commanded the Watchers, pointing a finger at Akira and Redemption. The Watchers stood where they were seeming unsure of what to do. 

"They are imposters you idiots!" Nemis screeched. "A dragon's color can be changed, this is no white dragon, he and his rider are fakes, it's just another escape plan of theirs!" Nemis yelled. 

The Watcher's stood still for a moment before they began to advance towards Akira and Redemption, shockers pointed at them, all charged up and ready to fire. 

"Fakes?" Redemption thought as he slowly back up. "Does he really think anyone else could pull of this look but me?" His back foot hit the wall of the arena and he glanced back to see that he was trapped, turning around her growled warningly at the advancing Watcher's while Akira stood to his side looking far from worried at the approaching forces. For why should she be? She had Redemption, with him back she was whole again. 

She turned her eyes to look at Dominique who looked somewhat worried at the approaching Watchers, his eyes on their chargers. He seemed to debate with himself for a moment before he pulled forth his tube and turned it into a pole, showing that he was ready to fight. 

"Want to charge them?" Redemption thought, his eyes scanning over the Watchers. 

"No Ree," Akira replied calmly watching as the Watcher's came closer. 

"How about a barbecue?" 

"We're not setting anyone on fire." 

"Party popper," Redemption sulked. 

"I advise you," Akira told Nemis softly, her eyes warning him, "To call off your men." 

Nemis chuckled, as though he found her threat amusing. "Shoot them," was his reply. 

Akira heard the charges crackle, she saw the Watcher's press down their fingers, saw the blue light advancing. 

"Akira," Redemption warned as the blue balls of electricity flew towards them. 

"I've got this," was her reply. She thrust her hands out and a familiar tingling feeling took over before flames suddenly shot out of her hands, rushing forth and colliding with the balls of electricity half way. There was a sizzle and then nothing. 

The council, the Watchers, Dominique, and all the dragons except Redemption, stared at Akira as though she had grown horns. 

"I think," Akira said softly, looking up to meet Nemis' terrified eyes, "That we need to have a little talk."