I can say with much certainty that this- this probably won't be the last time I'm sent through a window, I just know me enough by now not to cross it out of the cards. But I will say, I'm 

surprised it took fourteen years for it to happen.

How is one supposed to react to being flung out a window and falling off a cliff towards your doom?

Can I say I've come full circle because this is a little déja vu with the falling toward the treetops like what happened when I first arrived.

The shock of it all prevents me from screaming as I shoot down like a rocket. It also delays my thought process because all that's running through my head as I drop is that I hope I don't piss my pants.

I guess after failing twice to choke me, Tymos decided to let gravity do his dirty work, and he's clever.

But...

Unfortunately for him, he still doesn't know who I am. I am Joan Domshov, the quickest girl in Cauldron, Oregon. The girl who acts first thinks second. The girl who knows the right buttons to push and which ones to avoid. The girl who just snatched a magical reed right off his neck without him noticing.

Oh yeah, I'm a sneaky one.

I was actually surprised when I snapped it off his neck, and so I clung onto it throughout the entire smashing-through-the-window ordeal like it was my lifeline. And to be frank, right now it is.

Continuing to free fall, I fumble with the reed, trying to get it to my mouth while keeping a tight grip on it. I deserve a freakin' award for the effort it takes to blow the damn thing while falling off a cliff.

The sound that hisses from it is the same high-pitch, concise squeal that resulted from it before.

As seconds fly by with the tops of the jungle canopy becoming uncomfortable close uncomfortably fast, I frantically blow the reed again. But again, I'm left to the mercy of gravity. I gave it all I got, didn't I? I went through a humidity stricken jungle, battling all sorts of hellish creatures to save my brother. I think that at least disqualifies me from hell- whether it's enough to get me past the pearly gates is still debatable. This isn't the fate I wanted, but it seems I'll have to settle for the fastest girl in Cauldron rather than the fastest in the world.

I don't know what to think anymore- I just don't want to feel any pain from the impact- and so I squeeze my eyes shut and pray harder than I ever have in my life.

Abruptly, I'm yanked up by a sudden force. As my eyes snap open, I look up at the godsend my guardian angel sent me, and my eyes just about fall out of my head.

Carrying me up by the back of my shirt is the same hellish bird creature I fought off at the start of this adventure. My mind is reeling from this revelation as I try to piece together how this could be.

Firstly, how is it still alive? I could have sworn it was dead after that rough impact it endured- speaking of which...secondly, how is it flying after I saw its wing all busted up? I guess there's some magical healing rain in this jungle or something. Thirdly, this is my salvation? After trying to literally eat me the first time, now it's saving my ass? What gives? For now, I'm not gonna jinx it, I'll just roll with it.

As we put distance between the canopy below, heading back up the cliff, I count my lucky stars that I have a guardian angel who, although is severely underpaid and appreciated, is able to save my ass, even last minute.

"You're a bird creature thing or whatever," I begin, squinting against the sun as I look up at it. "And so you probably can't understand me, but thanks. Also, sorry about the ass whooping I gave you earlier- I just didn't want to end up as bird food."

I'm not expecting a response, but I'm definitely not prepared to be tossed up into the air like a salad.

As I flay around midway in the air above its head, I start to worry that I spoke too soon about not ending up as bird food. But as I drop, I don't wind up back in its slimy, smelly throat, instead, it manages to stop its ascent upward, hovering place long enough for me to drop onto its rough, feathery back.

Relieved to be alive a second time, I let out a brief chuckle.

"Okay, so you're not as bad as I thought."

I thought to be on Kaos' shoulder was awesome, but nothing compares to riding a monster bird creature. I don't worry about slipping off since the feathers, unlike regular birds, aren't soft or slick, instead they're more scaly- like if a snake and bird had a love child, this would be the texture of it.

"Okay," I stroke it- I dunno, maybe it likes being stroked like a horse. "I know you've already helped me a ton so far, but if you could get me back up there then that would be awesome."

Again, don't know if this thing can understand me or whatever, but it starts to fly back up to the stained glass window where I was chucked through only moments ago.

Not sure what to expect, I urge the creature to slow down as we approach the shattered window. Tymos probably thinks that he's won, and from the sound of it, it appears I'm right on the money with my assumptions.

Tuning into the conversation as I near the opening, I hear his complacent, triumphant voice resounding.

"-a shame, isn't it? When the sins of the father result in all this madness. Such a pity. If it wasn't for her family lineage, I almost would have admired her- perhaps even found a place in my heart for her, but such is fate."

Jesus. Someone gag me, please.

I hear Nimu's sharp voice lash back at him like a whip. "You are twisted. She did nothing to you!"

"And that is where you are wrong- where you are all wrong."

I can hear the ting of bitterness to his voice and the ugly snarl that's probably accompanied with it.

"The respect you fostered for that bloody tyrant's offspring is despicable- almost worth me ending your lives right now-"

"Then why don't you!"

That's Brent's voice. I know that tone of his from miles away- he's upset, like really upset, I can't begin to imagine how he's feeling.

"Why don't you just kill us all!" He cries.

Hearing Tymos chuckle in amusement at my brother's pain just about does me in.

"Well, since you asked so politely," He mocks. "You shall be the first."

The others make a commotion, but he must've somehow prevented them from interfering because they do nothing but call out for him to stop.

"You are an excellent brother- so eager to join your sister in her grave."

"Well, actually," I interject, my arms crossed and a subdued smirk on my face. "You still clearly don't know me because if you did then you should'va known the only way to ax me off is to burn me at the stake." I feign disappointment. "I thought you knew me better than that."

Dramatic as fuck entrance, yes, I know, but to witness the priceless looks all around- especially Tymos'- is worth it.

The scene I'm looking at, though, gets my blood boiling again. Menacingly looming over my brother, Tymos looks ready to act on his word of making Brent join me in my alleged fate. Tymos is absolutely gobsmacked, I mean he looks hoodwinked- as if he can't comprehend how his plan of throwing me off a cliff to my death didn't work. Brent, on the other hand, with his noticeable tear-stained face, looks like he's just seen Jesus rise from the grave. The others don't look too far off that stunned reaction either. If this wasn't such a serious scene, I might have lost it with laughter.

Collecting himself and attempting- and failing- to mask his lurking rage and disbelief, Tymos faces me with a fixed and painfully forced smile.

"You always find a way to amaze, don't you?"

Shrugging to that rhetorical question, I pull out my sword. "Hey, what can I say, I'm one-of-a-kind. But really. You didn't think I could just passively die before beating your ass, now did you?"

He straightens up, his stormy eyes glinting maliciously. "Oh, so you expect war?"

"No, you invited war by starting this whole mess, I'm just here to finish it."

For a brief moment, he looks off to the side and chuckles to himself. As he quiets down, slowly backing away from Brent, he trains his eyes on me.

"Whatever you wish. I believe that it is time to finish this."

Yes, Jesus! This is what I've been trying to do this entire fucking time!

But in my relief and eagerness to finish this, I fail to notice the pair of eyes gleaming dimly in the shadows of the background behind the throne. It's not until Tymos stops just short of the platform that I take a hard, dry swallow as the creature emerges from the shadows.

"And since this is a matter between you and I," Tymos says, starting to regain confidence with his dragon at his back. "I think it is best reserved for the skies, don't you?"

This bird creature I've been cruising on is pretty big in terms of a normal sized bird and what I'm used to creatures being, but it pales in comparison to the Behemoth in Tymos' corner which surprisingly appears to have grown a bit since the last time I saw it.

I'm starting to sweat, but I'll be damned if I show it.

"I'd say bring it," I gesture for him to come out.

Briefly grinning wickedly, all he has to do is snap his fingers and the Goliath dragon steps forth and lowers its massive wing to allow Tymos to board. It's a wonder he can even breathe up there he's so high up. With its master mounted, the beast stands there, looming over the others who gawk in amazement and uncertainty, as it waits for its next command.

There were never any rules for this so...head start!

Plopping back down on the back of the bird, who's starting to become skittish around such a dragon, I nudge it in the side like a horse to get it going again. Without delay, the thing darts off with me clinging on for dear life as we zip through the sky.

Behind me, I hear the deafening roar of the dragon- it's as powerful and shit-your-pants worthy as I expected. Glancing back, I see it emerge from the window, knocking out even more of the stained glass as it begins gunning for us. For a dragon that size, I'm amazed at how fast it can fly.

Okay, so, here's some surprising news: I didn't really have a plan going into this. Yes, yes, shocker coming from me, but of all times to formulate even some BS of a plan, this would be it. I have the passion to nail Tymos' ass to the wall, I just don't have a clue on how to do it with us so high in the sky.

So my plan right now is to keep the distance between us while my brain scrambles to create an actual, working plan (kinda like I do with school work).

A sudden blast of energy from behind sends us spiraling.

As we recover, I glance back just in time to see another orb of energy gathering in the open mouth of the dragon, ready to blast us again. My heart somersaults and I pound the back of the bird as the huge orb whizzes straight at us.

Although I pounded on its back in an effort to do something, I wasn't expecting it to do such a jarring dip, but it's a good thing because any longer we would have ended up demolished. The orb hits nearby, destroying a chunk of a cliff.

Nice to know the magical asshole has a magical dragon. Fun.

Speaking of cliffs, though...we're headed straight towards one. My reactions are knee-jerk, so I don't have time to override them if wrong. Thankfully, my instincts allow me to live another day. Slapping the right side of the bird's back, the creature swerves right, avoiding the cliff wall.

While we go around the little cliff island, Tymos decides to go through it, obliterating it with his dragon's energy blast.

Have I mentioned how I have no plan? 'Cuz I still don't have one of those.

While I'm trying to buy some more time, Tymos is starting to get too close for comfort- I dunno if it's because we're getting slower or they're getting faster or both. With him getting closer, Tymos feels the need to taunt me, clearly see I have no plan.

"Is this the same girl who boasted that she would 'finish' this war? Is this the same one who is now fleeing like a coward."

I bite my tongue. He's trying to get under my skin, and oh boy does he know how to rub that sand in my buttcrack. Coward is one of those no-no words for me, it just sets me off whenever someone calls me that. Call me lazy, inconsiderate, a prick, stupid, but don't call me a coward.

I fully intend on serving his ass to him, but I need to be cautious- one wrong move and I'm screwed.

Wait! What the hell am I doing!?

It's a valid question to ask myself as I glance down at the reed I still have on me. I'm over here fleeing, scrambling to create this plan of attack, and I'm sitting on a gold mine.

Putting the whistle to my mouth, I give it a good, long blow, praying for something useful to happen. Waiting for something- anything- to happen, I want to secretly curse this reed, but I know from experience that I have to keep an open mind. And sure enough, I get the answer to my prayers.

Tymos abruptly slows down and stops, his dragon merely stalling as he looks around. Wanting to know why he's stopped, I attempt to get my bird to pause by slapping its back once and telling it to hold up. Thankfully, it's enough and the creatures stops, allowing me the chance to see what's up with Tymos.

He seems utterly lost and frustrated, glancing around wildly as if he can't see us just several feet ahead watching him. Judging from his reaction, I'm assuming the magic the reed used is making us appear invisible, a nice defense and breather.

"Ah, so you have tricks yourself," He yells out, looking around for me still. "Well do not grow too complacent for I have my ways as well."

Not sure what that means, but as long as I have this advantage I should use it. With this pause, an idea finally pops into my head.

Disclaimer: It's going to be an out there, haywire scheme- the ones I'm practically known for.

"Okay," I whisper to the bird creature. "This might seem crazy, but just trust me on this, okay. You're gonna have to be quick."

I'm fairly certain it didn't understand a word of that, but I didn't expect it to. I can't afford Tymos moving on or my invisibility shield wearing off, and so I act.

Needing to swing around to the left of the massive dragon, I steer the bird in the direction, making sure I'm close but not too close where I can be detected.

Just as I'm ready to fly over him, Tymos quietly mutters to himself.

"Now where are you hiding?"

As I steer the bird upward, though, I- like the rookie I am- miscalculate how long this thing's wingspan is and as we're flying above to be on top, the dragon's wing just grazes us, but it's enough to alert them to our presence.

Before Tymos even has time to collect himself, I'm acting faster- which is usually synonymous with sloppier- so I finish executing my risky plan by flying over the top of the dragon and dropping onto the back with Tymos.

On the bright side, I do manage to get on board, taking him back surprise. On the not so bright side, my element of surprise only lasts for a second, as well as me staying on board. As a result of my sloppy execution, I fall on too close to the right side of the dragon, and with my balance off-kilt, I begin falling off.

Thank God this dragon is as big as it is because I don't just fall off, I have to tumble a bit toward its wing. My sudden and unusual entrance definitely startled Tymos, but when I lose my balance and begin falling, he's able to recover. He would probably say something smart about my fail, but I'm too far and preoccupied to hear what he has to say.

In an effort to stop myself, I try to dig my feet into the scaly sides of this thing, but I'm having no such luck. That is until I stumble onto the wing. This thing's wings are massive, but they're also moving still, and so as I finally latch onto the wing to keep from falling off, I start to get vertigo from being tossed up and down- still, I keep a death grip.

With me latched on like a leech, it begins flapping harder, trying to get me off.

Fan-fucking-tastic. I have not a clue what my next move should be, but I know I can't hang on forever. Just as my breakfast is starting to leap around in my stomach, I hear Tymos nearby. Staring down at me, he wears a darkly amused expression, already bringing on an eye roll from me.

"You are quite the ambitious one, aren't you?" He jeers down at me. "Unfortunately, it seems you are a little too ambitious."

"Why don't you fight me like a real man?" I yell back, my words coming out a little funny due to the movement.

"What fun is there in that?"

Seething, I try to formulate another plan, but even before the brainstorming begins, it hits me once again that I have a get-out-of-jail-free whistle on me. I have to be extra careful pulling it out, making sure it doesn't bounce out my hand, though it is a feat considering I'm trembling like I have palsy.

Tymos hadn't realized I had it on me until now as he sees me pull something out and proceed to try and blow on it. I watch the smug, complacent look on his face change instantly the moment he realizes what I have- and damn if it isn't the most satisfying feeling in the world. He does a frantic, brief search of himself before glaring down at me as I blow on the whistle.

After I blow it, the flapping stops. In fact, everything has stopped.

The dragon doesn't bob up and down, the slight breeze is gone, I even glance around and notice the bird which I flew in on has dipped below us and is frozen in place. It's like someone used a stopwatch and paused the whole world- I guess that someone would be me. Everything's so surreally still, like being in a photograph.

As I study the scene, getting to my feet, a zap of energy to my hand causes me to recoil, the reed dropping from my hand down below- I only have time to gasp as it disappears.

"Quite the unfair advantage, isn't it?" Tymos bellows at me.

I guess not everything was frozen in time.

"So now will you grow some balls and fight me?" I challenge again, waving my sword. There's a part of me that's proud of finally being able to get under his skin, but another part that realizes that this might not work in my favor.

Now, though, is not the time to hesitate- everything is riding on this- so gripping my sword, steadying my breath, and remembering to center myself like my anger management coach taught me, I start in a run off the wing and back up to where Tymos stands.

He has that usual wicked gleam in his memorizing eyes, but I keep my focus on his chest where I hope to sink my blade in. With a flick of his wrist, I lose my footing but manage to nick him at his ankles as I fall down.

Hissing out a curse, he suddenly laser focuses his eyes at me, his hazel ones boring into mine. I try to look away, but it's too late- I'm already getting sucked under his spell.

Like the first time he did this on me, my mind and soul protest, but my body refuses to cooperate. Pinned on my back, he takes the advantage back, picking up the sword from my hand which has mindlessly loosened its grip on the hilt. As I struggle, in vain, against the invisible force that holds me down, his shadow blocks the sun as he looms over me.

"Ah, Joan," He breathes, taking his time to inspect the sword. "You have the soul of a warrior, I will grant you that, you are valiant, but...the game had been played, the sticks drawn, and unfortunately for you, it seems you are not the victor."

As he angles the sword, I realize with a new heightened sense of panic that he's going to end me with my own sword- the ultimate act of revenge.

Contrary to popular belief, the final moments are not in slow motion, in fact, everything happens so fast that my brain can't even process it until it's over.

The sword is raised, glinting dangerously in the light, my eyes squeeze shut, my head turns, the sound of the sword being brought down cuts the air, my brain screams a command, my feet surprisingly kick into gear, and without opening my eyes or turning my head, I lift my feet and kick forward rather than back, a brief cold pinch bits my cheek, I hear a gasp followed by the cry of surprise, and I finally open my eyes.

Before I even realize what's happened, I glance behind and see Tymos tumbling down the side of the beast. He tries to get a grip on the way down, but the scales offer no friction and he manages to miss the wing by a centimeter. With no way to stop himself, I watch him fall off the dragon. For the briefest second, my eyes meet his and I can see the shock and terror in them as he falls to his death, speeding toward the canopy top. I watch him until he disappears below, a shrinking dot shallowed by the lush green below.

Suddenly, something zips through the sky in a blur of dark color before nosediving down where he fell. It takes me a second before realizing that it was the bird creature that I had flown in on. 

At first, I'm worried it's changed its mind about helping me and has gone to save Tymos. Pulling back from peering over the side, I brace myself for round two of this match, accidentally brushing my face where I feel the slight sting of the cut he managed to give me before I kicked him over.

Hearing the creature return, I quickly get to my feet, ready for another fight when it drops something before me. When I see the object gleaming in the sunlight, all the fight leaves my body.

Picking up my sword that Tymos had taken with him on his journey down, I breathe an audible "Thank God".

I almost don't want to jinx myself by saying it's finally over, but as the sky continues to be tinged a dark red, I know that the game is over, I won.

I might be right not to have a premature celebration as I feel myself shift. Though Tymos is history, his dragon isn't and is starting to break out of its spell.

As it starts to emit a low growling noise, I decide to fix this situation before it gets bad. Climbing up to its head, I get as close to its eye as I can, craning my head to stare into its massive pupils. 

Don't know how well this tactic will work, but I'm going for it anyway.

"Hey, hey, just calm down," I slowly begin rubbing its scaly sides. "Relax. I know you're probably wondering where Tymos is, just know that he left me in charge, 'kay?"

It bucks and riles a bit, but as I continue stroking it, acting calm- despite being as shitlessly scared as I am- it starts to calm down and listening.

"Okay, so I don't have a use for you," I tell it. "Even though you're an awesome looking dragon. 

Still, I'm letting you go."

Not sure if it got all that, but as I board the bird creature again, I hope it doesn't decide to charge us.

"You're free now," I call down to it as we begin to pull away. "Go have fun and do dragony things."

I continue to hold my breath, even as we begin to pull away. My heart freezes, though, when it suddenly lets out a massive roar. As I count down the seconds of possible escape, the behemoth begins to fly off in the opposite direction, letting out another cry.

Watching it flying off into the fiery sky, I can't help but wonder what it might go off to do. Whatever it does, I'm not responsible, but it feels nice knowing that I freed something.

Once it disappears out of sight, I pat the bird's head.

"Alright, let's do a victory lap," I grin.

As if responding victoriously, the bird screeches then takes off back to the palace.