It was no use, I couldn't sleep. I rolled onto my back with a sigh. I missed Seto. Next to me I heard Derp's quiet breathing. Least someone round here can get some sleep. It had been several weeks since Seto left SkyArmy, and I still missed the sound of his voice. My stomach was twisted into knots with nerves. It made me feel sick and exhausted at the same time. I was getting used to these sleepless nights. I had rolled over to face Derp, who was snoring quietly next to me. I felt the familiar jolt of shock as I once again realised how similar we looked. With both our eyes closed we were identical. Suddenly his crooked eyes snapped open. "I thought you were asleep." "Why aren't you?" I sighed. "I'm scared Derp..." He furrowed his eyebrows and pulled me in for a warm hug. "It's ok Ssundee. We'll be fine." "You don't know that Derp." I whispered hoarsely. He pulled away and studied my face. "I do know that. I know that as long as we're fighting side-by-side we'll be able to protect each other." "What if I lose you?" "You'll never lose me. I'm a part of you remember? I'll always be with you." I blinked tears from my eyes and snuggled into him. I felt safe as long as I was with Derp. It was silent for a while, then I heard it. The signal. We were ready to leave. "C'mon Derp. Let's get going." I silently swung my legs out of bed and padded across to the door, my iron sword in hand. As I turned the handle on the door I had a flashback to the night I'd snuck out after midnight and discovered that I could communicate with Derp in my head. Hard to believe he's the same person standing next to me now. There was a scary moment when we walked past the kitchen and he got distracted by a cake, but I managed to get him going again. Eventually we were out into the fresh air. Derp shut the door behind us as I squinted through the gloom, trying to pick out where Lancey and Diamond were. "Guys. You there?" "Over here!" I heard Lancey's voice and moved towards it. Suddenly there was bright light on my face and I heard Derp growl. "It's just us guys." "Thank god, I thought you were squids." "Like my disguise then?" I realised Derp and I had forgotten to bring ours with us. "Dammit." "S'k Ssundee, I thought you'd forget." "Thanks Diamond." We took ours and put them on. "I don't like being a squid." "Neither do I." I couldn't help but laugh at Derp's face as he glared at the fake tentacles draped on his costume. "Let's go, time to find the lake." I took one last look at SkyBase before turning and following my friends into the jungle. We followed Lancey through it as he was the only one who know his way round. Finally we came through the other side and found ourselves on a beach. "I've never been HERE before." "You sure dood?" "Yeah, I know the entire jungle inside and out...but this...this is new to me." Suddenly I tensed. Derp snarled. A dragon swooped overhead, it's harsh screech ripping through the atmosphere. We backed away into the shelter of the jungle canopy as it landed on the ground. My bones rattled with every step it took; out of the corner of my eye I could see Derp was barely containing himself. "If that dragon hurts any of you-" "Don't." He glared at me, but dipped his head in recognition. The dragon's glowing red eyes surveyed the night before it gave a great roar and whipped round to face us. "Uh oh." "We're screwed." I heard Lancey and Diamond muttering. My heart sped up faster and faster as the dragon slowly stalked towards us. There was silence as it's gaze bore holes through us, then it leapt forward. I didn't have time to move out of the way and it's claws unsheathed as it's paw swiped through the air. I cried out as they struck my face. I fell to the ground as Diamond and Lancey ran to my side, dragging me into the shelter of the bushes.

I whimpered slightly as a thick stream of blood slowly trickled down my face. My sunglasses were scratched badly; I could barely see out of the left lens. Squinting through the maze of cracks I gasped in horror as I realised what was happening. Derp was growling as the dragon turned towards him, seeking a weak spot. I gingerly touched my face, wincing as my fingers found the deep gouge marks on it. The dragon was circling Derp now. Man, I'd never seen him so angry. He looked like something out of a horror movie, his crooked eyes burning with ferocity and hate; lips drawn back in a snarl. Even the dragon seemed to think twice before it finally attacked. It was then, that under the cold staring eyes of the heavens, that a ferocious battle ensued in the moonlight. I could barely recognise my alter ego as he fought back, iron sword in hand, desperate to protect me. A flicker of fear shone in his eyes as he came face to face with the dragon's burning maw, alight with amber flames flickering along its teeth, forked tongue flicking burning spittle out. Then it was gone and replaced with a fierce light of bravery and determination. "YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME?! WELL COME AND GET IT!" All I could do was watch helplessly as Derp rushed forward and met the dragon in combat. The beast reared back, roaring so loud I swear one of my eardrums popped. A column of fire spiralled out towards Derp, who leapt out of the way just in time, rolling up and on to his feet again. "Is that the best you can do?!" Then I felt something stir inside of me. I remember when Mitch and I and tried to defend ourselves against a dragon. Derp had saved me then. I shut my eyes and everything came rushing back. Suddenly I found myself in Derp's mind, running towards the fire breathing beast. A slight red haze was filtered around me and my thoughts had gone all mushy. Only one thing was clear. I had to defend Ssundee. "Wait, what?!" My eyes snapped open and I found myself back in the bushes. "DERP!" I staggered to my feet despite my friends' intentions to keep me down and sprinted towards him. His head snapped round. "SSUNDEE! STAY BACK! I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET HURT!" His crooked eyes were burning with desperation and fear for me. "NO WAIT!" My eyes widened in panic as the dragons' tail came round and hit him in the chest. I cried out as an intense pain winded me in the chest. Then it dawned on me. "We're connected..." I whispered hoarsely. I heard Lancey and Diamond skid past me on the loose sand as the dragon turned and roared. I gritted my teeth and stumbled over to where Derp lay. "Derp...please wake up..." He coughed weakly and blinked. I tensed. His crooked eyes were glazed over. I waved my hand over his face. "Can you see me?!" Suddenly he sat bolt upright and pinned me to the ground. I cried out again as my injured head hit the ground. "Derp!" His eyes cleared. "S-S-Ssundee?! Oh my god...I'm so sorry." He helped me up. "Why were you trying to kill me." "I was in killing mode. My brain interpreted you as a threat." "K-killing mode?!" Then I heard a scream and saw Lancey collapse. "LANCEY?!" The dragon wheeled back and let loose a screech so loud it penetrated my skin. "GAH!" I hit the ground as it trembled beneath me. Derp was instantly at my side. "Ssundee!" "I-" Then I blacked out. It was only for a couple of seconds though. When I opened my eyes Derp was staring at me with a strange expression on his face. "Derp?" He shook his head. "Oh, you're ok." I was about to ask when I heard another scream. I was up on my feet and running before my brain had time to catch up. "Ssundee! Wait!" My limbs shook as I ran to where Lancey lay unconscious on the ground, Diamond beside him. Anger and fury filled my entire being till it felt like I was radiating pure hate. "Ssundee." Derp caught up with me. "Where is that stupid dragon?! I'll tear its wings off!" I whipped round just in time to see a column of white hot flame coming toward us. "Oh. Thats where it is." "MOVE!" I pushed Derp aside as the flames consumed me. I threw myself over my friends' bodies as my vision went red. "Derp..." Then I smelt the foul stench of blood before blackness consumed me...