The earth shuddered from the impact, sending deep reverberations for miles around. And then, all went still.

Melva jolted awake. She leaped to her feet, crossing the ruby floor to her window made of liquid diamond in order to peer outside. But all was well. The grass looked bright and luscious, like it always did. Water fairies leaped with glee in a sparkling river. None of the archaic trees from the Whispering Forest were disturbed. Yes, everything was in order. Melva reasoned that the rumbling ground had merely been a dreadful dream.

She resolved to get ready for the day. There was so much that needed to be done in the land of Tasfyna. Melva glanced at her checklist on the stone wall for the day. First, she needed to pay a visit to the wood elves. One of the elves had just given birth, and Melva needed to congratulate her. Then, she needed to visit Mama Oak, the oldest oak in the forest. Because the Oak was so old, its roots could no longer reach as far down in the ground, so Melva brought her water twice a week. Finally, Melva needed to visit the lilies in the fields to make sure there were no itterbugs pestering them.

Melva strolled over to her wardrobe. Inside, she found her collection of regal dresses. She selected a rich, emerald green gown to complement her red complexion. After brushing her scales, she completed the look with her gold crown, which rested daintily on her head. She smiled at her reflection.

I look hotter than the fire I breathe, Melva thought vainly. She flashed a grin, her long white fangs sparkling brilliantly in the light from the rising sun. There truly was no dragon to compare with Melva in all of Tasfyna.

Melva strutted to the door.... except there was no door. Wait, where's my door? Melva wondered, extremely perplexed. She used this door everyday when she left her tower to survey her kingdom. How could it just be gone?

Melva pressed firmly where the exit should have been, but there was no door to be found. Finally, she raced over to her window and stared out. And then.... she saw it. A wall had sprung up, connecting the line of towers that her fore-dragons had lived in. Melva desperately scanned the landscape in front of her. Her eyes rested on a hazy figure, who ran swiftly away, his blue cape flowing in the wind.

Noli had returned. Melva gritted her teeth. She should have known he would return to seek vengeance on the dragons for foiling his plan to capture the gem of immortality. He was up to something. He must have caused the earthquake she felt earlier, and sealed her inside the tower so that she couldn't stop him from carrying out his evil scheme.

Melva had a feeling that this was not the last that she would see of Nilo, for she possessed the gem of immortality.