With the sun dipping below the horizon, a short Hive-SeaWing hybrid crawled out onto the roof of the Vinegaroon Hive. He blinked the two glowing scales on his shoulders in a short sequence, and minutes later an IceWing swooped down next to him, soon followed by a JawFin.

The JawFin bowed to the Hive-SeaWing hybrid. After a moment they nudged the IceWing, motioning for them to do the same.

"Not a chance!" The IceWing hissed, "He may be your leader, but he's not mine!"

The JawFin snarled at the IceWing. "You will bow to him-"

"That's enough Wobbegong."

The JawFin nodded submissively, but shot a rude look at the IceWing.

"So you're Waterbug," the IceWing said, "I honestly expected something more threatening."

"I am known as Erebus," the Hive-SeaWing Hybrid corrected, "But that is true, I am not all that threatening in appearance. However," Erebus held out his talons and gripped the IceWing's shoulder, "I can still cause you harm."

The IceWing shuddered, her eyes turning white, and she fell to the ground. She twitched, throwing her arms and legs in the air as though she were having a seizure. The she stopped, laying still.

Erebus clicked his tongue. "Perhaps I went a bit overboard..." he turned to Wobbegong, "Alert me when she awakens."

He then turned and leapt into the skies, off to meet with other dragons somewhere on Pantala.

-- -- --

Des, Splendid, and the Jade Winglet sat inside the Jade Winglet sleeping cave.

"So, first order of business, I think we need to find the 'eleven'," Dashie said, "and to do that we need Des. Alive," she added, casting a glance at the empty area between where Splendid and Ace were sitting.

"I already tried using animus magic to bring him back. It didn't work," Ace said.

"No, duh," Thor said with an eye-roll.

"Des, have you tried re-possessing your body?" Dashie asked.

"I'm buried under six tail-lengths of dirt and stone. Even if I could I'd suffocate immediately."

Splendid snickered before remembering that no one else could hear him. She shared what he'd said and Dashie collapsed to the floor with a sigh. "Any other ideas?" She asked.

The group sat in silence for a moment, deep in thought.

"What if we dug up Des's body and Ace cast an animus spell that kept his spirit trapped inside it?" Sunburn suggested.

Thor tapped his tail on the ground. "His body is probably already decomposing, so any ideas involving digging up his grave aren't going to help."

Sunburn growled. "And when did you get all science-smart, huh Señor Inteligente?"

Thor smirked. "Since I took science lessons back home that's when." At the confused looks from his friends he continued with, "My parents are scientists."

"Scientists?" Sunburn said, "I thought you'd have come from the Scorpion Den. You know, 'cause you don't seem very polite."

Thor stood up and firmly planted his talons on the ground. "First off, A joke isn't funny if you have to explain it. Second, that wasn't funny in the first place. And third..." Thor growled before launching himself at Sunburn, talons outstretched, "Don't you ever DARE insult my parents!"

Sunburn just barely skidded out of the way before Thor slammed into him. The SkyWing lashed out, claws raking the air where Sunburn had been moments before. Sunburn opened his mouth as if to shoot fire, but Irre had quickly come between them.

"Break it up, break it up," The SeaWing admonished, "we have more pressing concerns such as, you know, reviving Des and fulfilling a prophecy, and for that to happen you have to get along. Or at least not kill each other," he added after a moment's consideration.

"He started it!" Sunburn cried.

"I did not!" Thor growled back.

"Guys!" Irre intercepted, "Focus!"

Thor grumbled and curled up on the opposite side of the room, glaring intensely at Sunburn. Sunburn, for his part, seemed largely unbothered by what had just occurred, though he did glance over at Thor every few minutes as if nervous the SkyWing was going to attack.

"Hey, I have an idea," Venge said. The group pulled their attention to the MudWing as he said, "We could ask the author what to do. Also, they seem to be able to change things on our plane of reality, so why can't they just bring him back?"

The others stared blankly at Venge. Even the author was impressed by Venge's idea.

"Really? So you'll help?" Des asked excitedly.

I never said that... Pardon, I mean, the author never said that.

"Oh, come on author, pretty please?" Dashie said, "Help us please, just this once?"

I can't do that!

"Pretty please... With a cherry on top?"

With a cherry?

Dashie nodded.

The author contemplated the idea.

Fine, I'll bend the rules a bit. Ace you can revive Des with your animus magic. But just this once, got that!?

Dashie nodded with a wide smile on her face. "Oh thank you thank you thank you SOOOOOO MUCH!"

You are very welcome... (I could lose my job over this.)

After being told the plan, Ace turned to the empty space where Des's ghost stood. "You ready?" He asked the faint apparition.

"Never better," the ghost said with a fierce smile.

After Splendid shared what Des had said, Ace said, "I enchant the spirit of Prince Handsome 'Des' Edge Lord GlitterPerfect of the GlitterPerfectWings to be revived."

As soon as Ace uttered those words Des felt a wind rushing around him. A chill swept through him, but he began to see his scales forming. The orange-red of his talons began to show itself and the white form that was his legs became the sunset orange he remembered.

Des squeaked gleefully and bounced in a circle, happy to be alive again. "Thank you!" He squealed, moving to throw his arms around Ace.

But Ace wasn't there.

Neither was anyone else for that matter. Glancing around, Des realized he wasn't in the Jade Winglet's sleeping cave.

"Author," Des said tentatively, "I don't think we're in Jade Mountain anymore."