Fireball

Warning The Prince

Drake, Fausto and Kaida went back to the dragons and Ashneel left to summon an army of wizards and creatures for reinforcement. Amos and Fireball returned to the prince. Amos's dragon was at the beach waiting for them, but Amos knew he would slow Fireball down. The dragon watched as Amos disappeared into smoke. Then a ring of smoke encircled the dragon, and it was gone. Fireball took this as his cue to leave.

Fireball soared skyward and was above the clouds and bad weather in no time, winging his way to the castle. With no distractions, Fireball cruised at top speed to his destination. He smiled as he reflected briefly on what had just happened on the island. It wasn't so much that he enjoyed battling wizards, but that he had made a new friend that made Fireball happy. And a wizard friend at that. The little dragon was amazed at how well the two had worked together.

Fireball was back to Prince Simian's castle in no time, but even he was surprised at how short the flying time was. He had shaved 30 minutes off the trip. As he approached the island, he became worried. He knew something was wrong. The island did not look right.

More than a dozen wizards were scattered around the patio area. Their lifeless bodies were strewn among the broken pieces of statues and stone benches. As Fireball landed, smoke billowed over his body from every direction, then spiraled into a ball from which Amos appeared.

"We are too late." said Amos. "They have already been here. Though I don't see Prince Simian or Marcello."

The two went inside, finding more chaos. More wizards' lifeless bodies and rubble littered the floor. Amos ran to the great room and over to the large fireplace. On the mantel was a box. Amos opened it gingerly. A greenish blue mist sprayed out. A hologram of Prince Simian's head floated before them.

"Amos, old friend," the holograph called out. "We've been attacked. We stopped these wizards, but I fear they were a diversion. I am off to Elderbush. Come as soon as you can and bring Fireball. I'm afraid the townspeople, the students and my family are in danger. Marcello must be stopped, and we will have to do it. It is my fault he desires so much power, but I believe neither he nor I am worthy of our power. If you don't see me again, protect the journal. It will provide the answers you seek. And remember: I will always be close by."

Amos looked at Fireball. "We need to go to Elderbush. I will have to direct you. It is where I trained. The prince was the headmaster there. "

Amos summoned a dragon and the three took off toward the town. Fireball could not fly at his full speed, but they moved quickly. It was farther to the town than the dragon's island home and more northerly, but Amos assured them they would arrive before nightfall. Finally, Amos motioned to Fireball that they were close, but Fireball was quick to notice the puzzled look on Amos' face. Fireball surveyed the scene but saw nothing out of the ordinary. There was no debris, no dead wizards and no fire or smoke.