Okay, really quickly! I am making a separate book...but it's just going to be my one shots. Still debating it though so for right now, we're staying here!

So, let's jump to the next episode. Aphmau, feeling better, thrusts herself to work, helping Levin and Malachi. We could do a lighthearted montage, where the audience slowly starts to see Levin and Malachi getting annoyed. Totally giving off teenager annoyed with their parents vibes. Then, a few days after the last episode, Cadenza receives word from Garroth. But basically, from the letter it says that as much as he trusts Cadenza's word and values his relationship with her, he just can't part from O'Khasis at this moment for the potential of these individuals being his friends. So they are all pretty disappointed but, hopeful as he insteads invites them to come with either Cadenza or Nicole to O'Khasis. But what also throws them off is that it's not signed off by Garroth but, his advisor, Vylad.

Vylad --> So, Vylad is still the best Ro'Meave-I mean, uh the smartest Ro'Meave. Basically, the backstory for him is that we know who his father is, it being Garte and Zianna's close friend, which only added to Garte going insane. But, he nonetheless allows him to be a Ro'Meave as a way to alleviate any scandal. I like to think of him as like Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones. Instead of letting the lack of love from his adoptive father get to him, he throws himself into his studies, dreaming of travel as a child. Unfortunately, he dies of an illness in his teenage years, being resurrected as a Shadow Knight. He's definitely more level-headed compared to his brothers, being more strategic. But that doesn't mean he isn't afraid to be confrontational when needed. That's all you need to know for now.

Seeing who signed the paper, they're all majorly confused, Cadenza saying that she didn't tell them as it was something that she thought they should explain. But that's not the main issue. What is the group going to do? Well, Levin seeing this as a opportunity to get Aphmau to focus on something else than Phoenix Drop, and encourages her to go to O'Khasis.
The others all agree, asking Cadenza if they would join her. Unfortunately, Cadenza does have some business to attend to in Meteli but she encourages them to go to Nicole in Scaleswind. If Nicole is unavailable then they'll have to figure out something else. Cadenza promises to send word to Nicole to inform them of their arrival.
She then leaves shortly after, asking Laurance if he would like to return with her. Aphmau and Dante especially let him know it's okay for him to go to spend time with family but, he puts his foot down and says he wants to stay with them. He also is able to pull Vincent aside and ask if it's okay to ask more about Shadow Knight magic/culture. Vincent is more than willing to and gives him a book filled with notes of his'. There's also some empty pages that he encourages Laurance to fill himself as a way to journal. He also gives him a pendant to communicate with him on their journey to O'Khasis. 

So this will be the first "quest" of the season. There will be two storylines, the characters going to O'Khasis and the characters who are staying in Phoenix Drop. I want Laurance, Aphmau, Dante, and Katelyn to go on the quest to O'Khasis as they were the closest to Garroth before the time jump. This will leave Aaron, Lucinda, Nana, Zoey, Levin, and Malachi in Phoenix Drop with Zane. The group decides that maybe it's not the best idea to travel with Zane as he could at any point bolt off if they weren't paying attention. Once they meet up with Garroth, they will let him make the decision of whether or not to retrieve him. 
The group goes off, Aphmau sad to leave her family so soon but, knows they will be there when she returns. As there aren't many horses available, they will be going on foot, at least until they reach Scaleswind. There aren't many scenes I have in mind besides just building each of these characters' feelings towards the situation they've been thrusted into. But, I do want one scene where they are probably camping out for the night, a couple days into their journey and they are all pretty tense after a couple of things going wrong. Dante accidently spills a lot of their water supply, Katelyn couldn't catch a meal for them that morning, Laurance has a migraine, you name it. Aphmau though is trying to remain positive but, one thing makes her snap. Dante complains, mumbling about how it was rude of Garroth not to trust Cadenza, forcing them to travel all across the country. 

Aphmau almost kind of loses it, expressing to the young guard that Garroth is now a Lord and with that a lot of responsibilities. He can't just pick up and leave his city. Dante just stands there stunned that she raised her voice, immediately apologizing but, let's just say the mood shifts for a while. 

Cutting back to Phoenix Drop, the group are still working on plans for the new village as always, Levin and Malachi a bit relieved that they don't have to guide their mother through every task. I want a scene where the two of them have a private conversation where Malachi jokes about how he is technically older than her by a couple of centuries, Levin adding on that he was old enough to be her younger brother rather than her son. This leads them to have a more serious conversation about Aphmau, showing the audience how they really feel about her. Yes, they see her as their mother, and they love her like one but, they admit how the dynamic is strange. Levin goes off about how it's annoying that she's treating him like a child when he's been able to handle the Lord position on his own for almost a year at this point. He even says how he feels that he doesn't have those mother-son memories that most people have since she was gone. Malachi assures him that he feels that way as well, even though he does have a couple more memories with her that he recollects due to his age. The two of them basically at the end of the conversation agree to sit her down when she returned and tell her how they felt. That they still want to have a mother-son relationship but, more like an adult aspect of it. 
Another scene before we cut back to the other group is showing that the base to hold Zane is complete, them locking him in a cell held together by magic. Since he's behind bars and not in a shed, he's able to get a good look at Aaron, realizing who it was. Instead of fear or sympathy, he finds it funny to see that a once highly regarded Lord is now doing charity work. Aaron though claps back and says that now a once powerful man, politically and magic wise, is now behind bars with no one out to look for him to free him. So he suggests that he examine their situation more closely before making fun of him in the future. Let's just say that shut him up. 

Back to the four-traveling group, they're on their last leg of their journey to Scaleswind. On the trail though, they run into a group of travelers who have stopped to rest. Three to be exact. Yet, they don't seem to be friendly as their faces are masked over. Laurance tells Aphmau and the other two to just keep going, not wanting to get into trouble but something about their eyes seemed familiar to them. Especially Dante and Aphmau. As they pass by them, one of them called out, asking if they are travelling to Scaleswind. Laurance whispers to them to ignore them, which they listen to at first but, another voice called out, saying that they were just trying to strike up a conversation. This makes Dante freeze, whipping his head around. Once the man who assumingly has the voice registers Dante's face, he also freezes for a moment as well before glaring daggers at Dante, drawing his sword, demanding how he was still alive. Who is this man?

Gene --> So, I gotta say, Jess popped off with Gene and Dante's backstory. It really made get emotional watching that episode so, the backstory is the same. I also really want to highlight that Gene hates that he's a Shadow Knight, even if he gets a lot of perks out of it, and blames Dante for it. He's still very witty and a manipulative. I also want to make him a higher-up in Shad's army as he has done a lot for him during these past fifteen years. He's also very powerful due to the anger he has towards Dante and how he ended up in this situation. 

Sasha --> keeping her the same. 

So the travelers are Sasha, Zenix, and Gene. Gene is furious to see Dante alive and well, as well as demanding why he still looks so young after so many years. But Zenix and Sasha are in the same boat, recognizing the others, drawing their swords as well. Basically this whole confrontation occurs where Zenix sees Aphmau, Laurance recognizes Sasha as one of the Shadow Knights who turned him, and Gene is just outraged to see that Dante is having a more fulfilling life than him. They basically have a huge fight and I want to by like midway through the fight, they are all struggling, Dante though facing the worst as he's forced to the ground by Gene, about to be killed, the others freaking out. Laurance basically snaps seeing the equivalent of his brother about to be killed, turning full Shadow mode. He quickly pushes down Sasha and rushes over to Dante, blocking Gene who just laughs at Laurance saying that he isn't powerful enough to stop the three of them. Especially since they are all immortal due to past experiences. Zenix though is immortal since he basically harmed, almost killed tbh, Garroth, one of the last people he protected. Just a little tidbit. 
But Gene knowing that Laurance's connection to these people could later fuel his anger, improving his power to eventually create another strong knight for Shad's army, he decides to back down and retreat with Zenix and Sasha. Aphmau though as they are running off, calls out to Zenix, demanding answers for why he betrayed Garroth and her so long ago and Zenix just shakes his head. Basically setting up a potential foreshadowing that not all Shadow Knights are loyal to Shad, one of them being Zenix. 

Once they're gone, Laurance is struggling to calm himself, Dante trying his best to assure him that he was fine and they were safe. After all three of them come together to tell him this, Laurance is able to detransform. He immediately apologizes if he scared any of them but they were more concerned that he was hurt or something. They decide that just setting up camp was the best option as they were all a bit shaken. 
We cut to a scene where they are all around the fire in silence. Aphmau though takes the initiative to ask Dante gently who that was. Dante, knowing that they were his family and deserves to know his story, tells them about Gene and his past life in his small village. How he snitched on Gene for trying to force the Lord's daughter to love him and he was executed because of it. How his family forgot about him due to Gene and the whole village was burnt to the ground due to his ambush for revenge. He was meant to die there but, somehow was able to survive. He apologizes for not telling them sooner but, he didn't want them to think less of him. Laurance assures him that he had nothing to be ashamed of and that he did was best, also that his brother did not define him or his actions. He was granted just more pissed at this Gene dude for essentially trying to kill his young brother for doing the right thing. The girls also tell him that, the group all deciding that their petty arguments were just vents and that they needed each other during this difficult time. Especially since they were the only family they had. 

Aphmau though asks to pull Laurance aside and he agrees. She just gently asks him if he was alright and if his powers were bothering him. Laurance tells Aphmau begrudgingly what is going on but tells her that Vincent was going to help him. That she doesn't need to worry about it. She though tells him that since she cares about him, that she is going to worry about it and that if he needed anything to come to her. He smiles and says that he appreciates it. They hug and its cute or whatever. 

Back in Phoenix Drop, Zane is cooped up in his cell and he's getting frustrated that he's not getting any updates on their situation. Aaron is, at this point, since it's been a few days of just him guarding Zane, fed up with his attitude and snaps. He goes off about how it's been fifteen years and he need to get it through his thick skull that nothing is the same as he left it. How his brother is now the Lord of O'Khasis because of him. How his father is dead and his mother's condition is unknown. How actually his dead brother is alive and well and that Zane had no part in helping him. And now he's stuck in a cell, not achieving any of his goals to get his brothers back, potentially making their relationship worse. This basically shuts Zane up. 
I want this scene to show the audience that Aaron is this temperamental guy but only when he's pushed to his absolute limit. These scenes also set up a more sympathetic Zane while also creating backstory and more of a personality to Aaron then just him being Aph's love interest. I said it okay. I hated Aaron in the original MCD because I'm just so sick of brooding, shut off characters. He had abs...that's it. But throughout this season we'll have scenes setting him up, showing different parts of his personality so stay tuned for that. 

 Back to the four, they finally reach Scaleswind. They are immediately brough to none other than Nicole. Cue another emotional reunion but since they weren't that close before the time jump, it's more of a tearful, sarcastic back and forth. Especially between Aph and her. Under her rule, Scaleswind has become this absolute powerhouse. They have become truly O'Khasis' equal. Especially since of her and Garroth's alliance. She shows them around and the others are absolutely impressed by her as well. Katelyn especially, as she sees that in the time span of fifteen years, she basically has allowed women to be guards, making more troops to allow Scaleswind to have the biggest army in Ru'an. Maybe a sweet scene where Laurance pats Katelyn on the back as she tears up in joy to see young girls being trained with the boys. 
After the tour, she sits them down for dinner, sharing stories of the past fifteen years. But, once she stumbles a bit, reaching Garroth, she gets down to business. She is more than happy to accompany them to O'Khasis, saying they made their return with great timing. She actually is due for a visit to discuss trading matters or whatever Lords do. The others gently explain what they know, asking if she is willing to give any more information on Garroth. 

They are surprised to hear a chuckle from her, saying that she's shocked that Cadenza made them so worried, suggesting that it could've been a prank on her part. She tells them that there is nothing to worry about. Garroth, yes has become this intimidating leader in Ru'an but, he's still this caring individual that they remember him as. But she does put in that even she doesn't know his past very well and that he has become more...rougher because of it.
She lastly puts in that everything else should be Garroth's story and says that they'll start their week long journey in the morning. The group may be a bit more reassured but they are still worried to meet the man they once called their family. 

So...let's meet Garroth, shall we? 

I want the audience to meet him first to hopefully make it more exciting for the eventual reunion that will be happening very soon. Since I don't think we need more traveling scenes. And boy do I have this scene played out in my head. 

I imagine as Nicole finishes her speech, we see a golden wyren flying in the sky with a green and silver one flying besides it. As Nicoles words play, we see a flyer on the golden one's back, enjoying the ride as he guides them through twists and turns. We see in them approaching a large city, O'Khasis, him flying over buildings and churches, the people on the ground taking a moment to gaze up in wonder, even though it's become a normal occurrence in the city. They eventually land in a large courtyard of sorts, statues of previous Lords standing around, quickly showing one of Garte. Maybe make it not as appealing as the others as he wasn't very well liked by the time he passed. The rider gets off his wyren, immediately going to work to take off the saddle, helmet on. But we can see that he has golden blond hair, streaks of grey being intermixed. A guard with bright red hair and heterochrome eyes approaches him (yes, it's Blaze), saying; "M'Lord, we have received word from Lord Nicole that she will be arriving in a week's time."

"Great, tell Vylad to-"

"But she's bringing company."

The rider/lord freezes, looking at Blaze for more an explanation. "Why should I care about company? We have the space-"

"It's them, M'Lord. The people that Lord Cadenza informed us about." 

The Lord takes a deep sigh, patting his wyren, signaling that it's free to go. It happily roars and flies away with it's friends, leaving just the two of them in the courtyard. Blaze asks gently; "Sire, should we be prepared for imposters once again?" 

"No Blaze, it's alright," He speaks, turning to unbuckle his helmet, taking it off. He then turns to face him, showing an older, more battle ridden Garroth. His hair is grayer and a new large scar dawns his neck and face. As he holds his helmet, you can see that one hand is gloved while the other isn't. (oooo what can it mean????) He just speaks, a half-hearted smile on his face as he says; "Maybe...maybe it's time to finally allow myself to hope." 

AND THATS WHERE I'M GOING TO STOP FOR NOW! Hope you all enjoyed!