Therony sat back in his cave in a solid oak chair, returning home that day he discovered about himself. It was the early morning of day of the Territorial meeting. He sipped slowly a mug of his own lifeblood, normally known as pepsi. As the moment drew closer, the bard's mood turned to silent reflection. It was a very big risk the Shadow took by trusting him, not out of betrayal. After what he felt and saw, the white did not hold any inkling to not help them in their harrowing time.

The gamble came from association and futility. He might hold a positive air among the royal family but also endured a highly negatively one among the dragon clans. The outcast among the Silver Rose was also the destroyer to them all. Interjecting himself on their behalf might ultimately condemn the Shadow to death. Although all the roads before them held that same result. Both chieftains, his sire and
Stiaiak in his temporary post, believed they could convince the rest what was really going on. How much better could he do?

No, this problem he figured needed a more dynamic approach in its solving. Therony's eye glanced to the exit, his mug held close to the gut. There was an inwardly appreciation that they trusted a dragon who once hated them venomously. They accepted him and when he did not return the courtesy, they still acknowledged his being. Not because he was Xianvor's son or a half shadow. That in itself was amazing. Because he was simply a Shadow.

What he suggested was vile in its own way, but again the ivory youngling saw no other recourse. They trusted him fully. Now they sat in a different light in his mind. Not monsters that the other Silver Rose told him in his earlier days. But wrongly maligned Kin and... Family.

His thoughts made him blind to his surroundings. Iniad, always the early riser started her own days schedule. She gasped silently at the sight of her foot tall creator sitting in one of the chairs by himself in no light except the creeping rays from the cave's entrance.

"Therony?" He did not speak of what he saw or heard since he left for his homeworld. But this was how they saw him mostly upon his return. Iniad was able to make her way right beside the chair, draping her hand on his head before he even made a move.
"Oh Iniad... Sorry about that." Giving a good smile, he sat the mug down on the nearby table. Anyone that knew him, knew he tried his best to smile and laugh off any situation. But sometimes those smiles did not hold his heart behind them. Iniad felt that easily in this case.

She showed no concern over this. This was so much for him to absorb, including what they did not know, time was needed to adjust. Nadia endured this just the same. "It is okay. Are you waiting for the sunrise?"

"No... No. Just lost in my thoughts as usual."  Therony's eyes gazed down at his arm, more importantly the aura around it. He could see glimmers of it now. Slithers of red, gold and black acting like sparks trying to erupt into flame. "Today means a lot, Iniad."

"Every day does."

He could only laugh honestly at that. "Too true. I just hope its for the right folks..." The air in the valley was thicker than usual, ladened with more magic than usual. That gave him pause for a brief moment, remembering the last time Mist Valley acted as such. "Everything loves to tie itself in a nice bow." The white gulped down the rest of his morning "coffee" before standing on his two small feet. "You guys still get to relax. Lucky you." There was one place he had to go before heading off as a mediator.

Turuchan was already bustling. The last minute preparations for the Territorial Meeting finish under the eye of Lady Vaughnen. However the process was going slow because of the heavy rains that fell over the magic realm's capital. The dragons didn't care about the downpour much, that she was certain of. She on the other hand did not wish to sit there in the rain. The small canopy situated toward the back end of the meeting circle. Hundreds of meetings occurred on that pristine patch of land. She attended a few, but not in the high role as she did now. There were many other things the half-vampress wished to do on this day.

"God I wish Rina was here..." She sighed, flicking back black hair from her soulless green eyes.

"Hey Rina." Therony frowned, standing in front of the marker he created for her. "Hasn't been long right? I figure wherever you're watching at, you can see the better picture of what's going on here." His horned head glanced upward. "I hope to show that picture today." A deep sigh left his muzzle, "I lost track how many times I've jumped right into danger and yet I still do it knowing what could happen to me or to anyone else."

With a shrug, he turned back to the slightly worn tombstone. "You gave me another chance at life a century ago. Everyone said you should of just killed me off. But you put one life in front of many. I never stood why you did." His flute felt heavier around his neck. It was his mother's own emotions radiating from it. She did return. "But you... hopefully see I am trying to give that chance back to others. Not just here but anywhere I can go."

His runed ladened body plopped down on the red earth. There was no body underneath to desecrate by doing so. "Hey, did you know about my father? Yeah. I do have one. It sounds so strange to me still. But between the three of us..." Therony patted his flute. "I'm glad to know him."

Bleu Rider heard his words and actually wanted to cry. She materialized behind her son, her great head lowered down. She lightly nudged her small child. "What changed your perception about Xianvor?"

"What I saw... what I felt. He could of acted out taking that arrow just to convince me to help them. But the whole time, I saw one thing only past the anger for that white. Concern for the others. Even when he was dying, I knew he could take those already slain to help himself. But he did not..." He grimaced a bit,  "In the end I saw myself... Now it is my turn." He did want to know where Bleu went that he could not reach her, but he kept his focus on the task ahead.
"Who was the dragon that did it?" Bleu questioned beforehand. Therony nodded. "I'm not sure, I believe he was a young adult before we were banished. I think he was called Obsid."

The mention drew a growl from the younger white. "I couldn't read him at all. That aura... or those emotions."

His response confused her, even with his empathy enhanced? The spirit dragoness shook it off. "They were from the Silver Rose. The attack was against the accords. Premeditated in every way."

"That's good to know. More ammunition." He stood and looked to the sky, clouds like the first day the Shadow Dragons reentered his life started to roll. Normal clouds, but the terrible edge he felt from them only gave the puffs reason to thunder. "I wonder what do those portend to?" He shrugged. "Mother. I think I should go. Rina, I'll come back to talk."

Vaughnen sat under the canopy as the dragon chieftains of the clans arrived. The established guardians would follow soon. In the ceremonial green wear for this occasion the oversized sleeves concealed her pale arms, its tips just as long as she could extend. Water gathered about forming various streams and aqueducts with each draconic contingent to arrive. Their sharp talons cutting into the lush ground. Similar to the ancient roman senate they took places in a semi-circle around the canopy, leaving the other half behind the stand for the Guardians. With each one, big or small, muscular, lean or anything in between, Rina's cousin felt an unusual amount of dread in the air.

Obsid landed at the front of the semi-circle, his followers remained at the back, just like any of the warriors accompanying the Chieftains. A small idle worry that Star Warrior did not join them would show as weakness. But, he could not break up the sisters. Star's mind would not let her leave Mystic Moon's side his orders or not. So he accepted it. Around his neck and down a good portion of his underbelly, the ornate Chieftain's armor of old sat. It already caught the eyes of other chieftains. They also noticed the absence of the Shadow Chieftain. Rumblings other than the thunder overhead started to flow through the ranks.

Vaughnen stood up and with a wave of her arm spoke. Her voice nearly lost to the colliding storms. "Venerable Dragons. Let us begin."

Therony stood before Xianvor's nearly motionless body. The healers among others carefully brought the leader to one of the outer islands. The weakened fatal blow upon his body still left him dangerously close. His healing could only work on the body. His aura had to recover on its own; from such a loss... even he could not guess if his sire would recover ever.

"Well here we are." He whispered, draping his tiny claw against the red-gold dragon's maw. His scales larger than the bard himself. "If anyone told me two weeks ago, I would find my father and like Shadow Dragons... I would of told them to go to the crazy house." He smirked slightly. "If another said I would find the Shadow in me and my curse were two different entities... meh who knows what I would of done there." The bard's eyes closed, no emotion or feeling came from the adult, common for those in this state.

"But it is where my path goes right now. You did not judge me, just as Rina did not for what I've done. You treated me as an equal not your offspring. If I did nothing to return that, I'd boot myself forever."

Therony shrugged, "I'll do my best, its all I can do. It's what you must do now. They admire you. Plus my sisters, they would like you also... but I figure Star would be all snobby, high and mighty." He laughed, shaking his head all the while.
"Oh do something about Stiaiak. He's just a pest. How could you put up with him?!" Knowing good and well the temporary chieftain stood at the entrance to the cave, he slipped in the comment to get the whole red to snarl.

"Okay, I must know where I get my stubbornness from...so you need to wake up alright? I'll take my leave now..." He couldn't just say the word; giving a quick pat he hurried out to face Stiaiak.

The sun warmed a ravaged land, and a certain bard. Mist Valley had a stormy day ahead of them. Water still dripped off his snout. But his mind turned ahead to the greater storm lying in wait. "...Remember when the portal opens. You'll be safe as long I'm on the other end. Show restraint, I know the Silver Rose will be there but if you attack them out of anger it dooms all of you." He took a deep breath, and casted his dimensional magic to Turuchan. It wouldn't take long to find Lady Vaughnen.

The portal's walk held a twinge of nervousness. So much so, he paused in the colorful infinite space between the two places. Therony paused, glancing in both directions. Could he really do this?

"I cannot know by standing here." His voice distorted by the natural magical distortion the dimensional sorcery was.

We all miss Queen Lassarina; she was truly a fine leader of our world. For her compassion, strength and grace. Those aspects helped us through some trying times.

The Guardians, all of them of the high level, arrived as these words left the mouth of the female half-vampire.

I know of my impurity can act as a deterrent to the safety of the realm. The populace of the ground however accepts me to take her role. Populace of the Water, Fire and Sky do you accept me to take over the Queen's title?

The answer fell upon the voice of the chieftains. Obsid. Before the meeting, the chieftains already agreed to their decision.

We, the Populace of Water, Fire and Sky accept you.

Vaughnen turned to the Guardians. While she could not see them past the canopy. She knew they watched her movements.

Populace of Light and Dark, Do you accept me to take over the Queen's title?

The Guardians covered the whole spectrum of the elements, not just light and dark. The title was for ancient protocols. Like the chieftains, they already came to a decision before their arrival, given to them by the Exalted Ones.  

We accept you, second blood of the royal line. The dragon that spoke was not that much taller than her, with a burning mane of red around their sloped head.

Very well, from this day onward until my service is no longer needed I shall assume the title. Vaughnen sat down in the dais. The storm did not let up; the dragons used magic to augment their already good hearing.

"Is there any business that needs to be addressed outside of my position?" The meeting was over as far as she figured. That was the only item on the agenda.
Obsid took a step forward away from the group of chieftains. "Honorable kin and queen..."

Therony rushed out onto the muddy street leading up to the palace itself. Not many people moved about on this day. Even the small patrol remained inside of doorways or in the buildings. Their presence was not really required with the meeting going on. The gathered crowd just outside the palace could handle any threat.

"...Thank you." At least he would not be stopped by his appearance. His scaly head was imprinted on the older soldiers. But he could not run haphazardly, time stood against the white. The dragons were gathered in one spot. He sought out the concentration of kin. Crafting another portal, he continued to run.

"...Therefore, the Shadow Dragons must be dealt with before they strike another of the clans." Obsid's voice went silent.

The dragons resonated louder, with varied assortments of emotions. Vaughnen mused in more of silent reflection. Xianvor was not here. It fell among what the Silver Rose Chieftain spoke. He could not speak against the action either...

Something fierce tore at his gut; Therony practically leapt the rest of the distance. The appearance of his portal started the half vampire. The bard panted, that pain only grew again. "Lady Vaughnen!!!" He tried to ignore the growing snarls, stunned gasps and remarks. The clan destroyer, evil kin, the white rogue, every venomous word struck and bounced off his lurched body. He had to refocus. He felt his eye drift back to the open portal at his back, not at Turuchan's gates but to the Shadow Lands, to the trace connection from there.

The Shadow Dragons only sought to rebuild the unmoving losses. Their kin and their human settlers could never be replaced. The day was great for such a task, but in the distance, their enemies four times their low number of less than a hundred moved once again to finish what was started days ago.

Lady Vaughnen stared at the cursed white, his eyes dripping water hidden with the rain. "What are you doing here?" Her eye drifted downward at his underbelly. "The seal!"

If every other dragon there did not want to attack or cast out the tiny white, those words spurred it more. They all turned their various magical aptitudes to him; Rina's seal left an indelible trace upon his being. But with the seal gone, the trace was all but non-existent.

"NO! Forget that M'lady!" Therony stood up, slowly, the strict glare in his eyes defeated by the tears that would not stop. "I've come to speak for the Shadow clan!"

Obsid was irate, but hid it under the mask of shock of the bard's arrival. "If they wished to be represented their chieftain should attend. He chose not to. We must get rid of this rogue, he defiles these sacred events."

Vaughnen was not there during all of Therony's sealing process, only when the last trace of it fell behind her cousin's protection. Vampire or not, she held potent magic of her own and she felt that surge in the smallest dragon here. That last trace, those inhuman eyes bloody as all the scarlet liquid he spilled in those times. Those eyes greeted her gaze when Obsid spoke.

"LIES! ALL LIES! YOU nearly killed him days ago!" Therony's voice echoed, bellowed louder than every storm hovering over Turuchan. It took him everything he had not to wheel around and assault the larger chieftain. "The Silver Rose have tried to eradicate the Shadow for some time now!"

Now the dragons paused, such an act defied the accords set by all their forebearers. Those of the Guardians however, acted as stern judges in their own right.

"But Obsid here says they attacked the Silver Rose only a week ago and that you were there among that invasion." Vaughnen quietly spoke. She like Rina befriended the youngling those moments after the sealing. However, the situation forced that relationship to the side. If everything Obsid spoke was true and the bard's false, by those same archaic laws Therony could die.

"I was there. True." He hissed. "But I did not attack anyone. The Shadow Chieftain gave me that armor!" He pointed to Obsid. "I returned it to my sister Star Warrior... I even told her to go outside their main lands so I wouldn't violate the banishment they placed on me."

Star lied to him?! Obsid's front claws sunk into the ground, pressing with enough force to splinter an uprooted tree.

"Do you have proof of this?" Asked the just sworn in Queen, Vaughnen did not feel him waver nor did his anger lower.

"Only Star could completely verify this. I'll admit that but I sent a letter through Baron to her." Therony crossed his arms. "Her reply came days after. That was when I found out my younger sister was nearly killed. In it she claimed that the reason was the Shadow did it. They couldn't though. They were too busy recouping their losses by the sneak attacks!"

"Do you have that letter?" The red maned dragon Guardian walked up to the side of the canopy. He had decided to take a greater interest in this. There was good reason for that too,  one none of them knew of.

"Give me a moment... Lady Vaughnen, can you come with me?" Therony was no fool, if he went home and brought it back, any of them could claim he forged the thing. They could still claim it but not if his way worked. But at least one mind gave him a chance to prove his side. "And you too, sir?" The white did not know what to calm him. Elder? He didn't have that distinct feel like Amabai or his friend's Ebony or a few of those watching him now. But he still remained respectful.

"Go where?" The Guardian asked. His yellow eyes watched the small one carefully.

"My magic will take us to my home in a few seconds." The words carefully chosen on his part. It was to further prove he did not forge his sister's writing. "And we will return here in a few minutes."

Vaughnen thought deeply on this. "Do you object to this Rama?" She turned to the Fire High Guardian.
"No, if it shall reveal the truth. Then it must be done."

Therony nodded and opened the portal, Cyrasis awaiting on the other end. "Step through here."

Obsid seethed even more, he could not openly object to this. It would only help the urchin's case. But, even if he did succeed...it would be too late.