Kingdoms Falling

Epilogue

A lone dragon rose from the depths of the sea.

Dark kelp shrouded dull blue eyes and black scales of the deepest ravine. A dragon of pure hatred, done wrong by his kin and his realm. In his claws he held the most powerful weapon that Dragnaple had ever seen. A weapon, if used correctly, of mass destruction to a world he so fervently despised.

But it was not for him. It was for the dragon waiting on the shore, shrouded by a veil, her body covered in a thin layer of darkness.

It occurred to Sturgeon, somewhere deep under the water, that perhaps handing such a powerful weapon over to the talons of another world was not such a good choice. He knew nothing about her plans, or what she might do with such a devastating weapon. Then again, so long as it didn't effect his life, or his home, he didn't really care.

The dragoness was waiting for him when he surfaced, her cold calculating eyes following his every movement as he pulled himself from the water, clutching the small bag against his chest tightly. 

"It's about time."

"My apologies for being late," Sturgeon gasped, shaking the excess water from his wings and tail. "The current was just not in my favor today, I'm afraid. And the fish aren't biting nearly as well off of the southern coast, which means--"

"I couldn't care less about your currents or your fish," the dragoness growled. "Did you bring what I asked for?"

"Right here," he said with a grin, upending his satchel and letting the single golden object clatter into the sand. "One overly powerful amulet, as requested. Now, about my payment?"

She growled, ripping a pouch from under her cloak and chucking it at him. He caught it in one swift motion and immediately began to sift through it to make sure it was all there. Meanwhile, the dragoness stalked over to the amulet, watching it glint and shimmer in the noonday sun. It was just as the legends had made it out to be. The Key of Purity. The ultimate defense, and in the right talons, the perfect weapon. 

"Everything seems to be in order," she said slowly, picking it up and dropping it around her neck, eyeing the sea dragon suspiciously. "I trust you find your funding satisfactory?"

"Yes, very much so." His eyes glinted. "So, tell me, who are you that you keep your face hidden behind that hood?"

"In my business, it's better to keep your nose out of things that don't concern you, or it might get...violently removed," she responded coldly. 

"Ouch." He grimaced. "But, if we're going to be partners, don't you think I should at least know who it is I am helping conquer the universe?"

"No," was her sharp growl. "And not the universe. Just one Realm. Mine."

"Interesting. You seem to have the evil-dragoness part down pat. Maybe I can eventually get you to broaden your horizons a little. Think bigger, you know."

"Unlikely." She snorted out a burst of flame, causing Sturgeon to leap back with a hiss. "But very well, if you insist. There is this...rival...I must defeat. And this rival stands between me and my destiny. But she will not prevail. Not while I have this." She played with the locket absentmindedly. "All of Raynbowfalles will crumble," she growled, her eyes turning back to face the overly eager sea-dweller.

"And there's no one in the universe who could stop me."