The Assassin Prince

Chapter 3

"This changes everything," breathed Raven as the three of them stared at the glowing egg. She couldn't believe it... All magical creatures had been disheartened at the thought of losing the Dragon Prince, only to find it here! In the humans' domain!

Damian leaned closer to it. "So, this is it," he stated, trying to hide his awe. It was beautiful! And if the egg was alive, maybe his family didn't have to die. "The egg of the Dragon Prince."

"I can't believe it," she continued as if she hadn't heard him. "If the egg lives..."

"Maybe it could end this war," suggested Damian.

Raven's eyes narrowed in thought. He did have a point. The Azarathians wanted revenge for the murder of the only heir to the Dragon Prince. But if that never happened, then what was this war for?

She knelt down to the egg's level, inspecting it. She had to make sure this wasn't another human trick.

Celeste smiled at her. "He's okay in there," she assured her, a hand laid on the egg.  "I can feel it."

Raven's gazed softened as the corners of her mouth turned up. The Princess of Themyscira really was a sweet, innocent girl. Merely a child. She had never wanted to kill her in the first place. And now that she had uncovered their sacred Dragon Prince, there was no point.

"But this doesn't make sense," Damian spoke up. "Why was it not destroyed?"

"Because Slade saved it."

"Zatara," he realized as the woman walked down the stairs. In front of him, Raven took a fighting stance. This couldn't be good. How were they going to explain the Azarathian?

"Damian, Celeste, get behind me," instructed Zatanna, glaring viciously at the assassin. Her eyes glowed subtly. "I can protect you from the Azarathian."

"He didn't save it," insisted Raven. "He stole it!"

"That's a lie!" retorted the magician.

"Then why is it here, Zatara?" Damian asked, daring to move in front of Raven. He always knew that Slade was hiding a few dark secrets, but now he was starting to wonder if he really had the kingdom's best interest at heart.

"He took it to protect the kingdom, Damian," she told him. "So that the Azarathians and dragons couldn't use it."

"What in the name of Azarath are you talking about?" asked Raven incredulously. Seriously, was this woman delusional? "How could we use an egg?"

"Don't play dumb!" snapped Zatanna. "The Dragon Prince is the most powerful weapon in all the seven kingdoms!"

Now, she was starting to get fed up. "It's not a weapon!" she hissed. "It's an egg!"

Zatanna's face softened as she turned towards the princess. "Celeste, don't be afraid," she coaxed gently. "Walk towards me and if she moves even an inch-" She cut herself off by conjuring a fireball in her palm.

"You want to bring magic into this?" Raven grounded out, summoning her own powers. "Fine. We'll settle this like sorceresses."

The magician ignored her. "Celeste, bring it here," she commanded.

"The egg is a living being, not an 'it,'" fumed Raven. "He has a mother! And he needs to go back to her."

"She's right," agreed Celeste softly. "He wants his mom."

"Celeste, be careful," warned Zatanna. 

Celeste looked between the two, indecisive. Zatanna's face had always been kind and while she hadn't known Raven for more than a mere few hours, she knew that she was a good person. Slade and, by extension, Zatanna, couldn't be trusted. But could Raven? She had been sent to kill her and her parents, after all.