Rejuvenation

Chapter 18

Earlier that same day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xola was slowly drifting in the sky trying to figure out how she could somehow prank Atlas but so far she hadn't come up with anything. Just then she felt a gust of wind go by her left side and she smiled toothily, "Malcolm I know it's you", she said as he zipped into view in front of her causing her to go off balance. Xola looked over her long time pet and friend and still couldnt believe how much of a change he had really gone through. Before, he was short not even past her knee but now he is her height and can look her in the eyes-his are yellow, hers are mostly gray with some faint hints of blue in them- and they just dazzle her. "So where do you think we should go? Back home or somewhere else?" She asked. Malcolm turned and looked east then back to Xola and she knew where he wanted to go, "Alright then lets go check in on my family then, lets go home."

They both flew through the clouds over the vast forests that separated Xolas home village from the main city, Olinth. They both eventually touched down because Xola got tired and wanted to hop on Malcolms back, "Oh quit complaining, you can fly faster like this anyway." He huffed and let her get on then zipped through the air and touched down just outside the village, "Still looks the same as ever." Xola sighed as she walked on,past people that she used to pass daily on her way to school and each one she passed, they stopped and looked at her and Malcolm. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, Malcolm" she squeaked as she started to slow down as there was now a crowd all around her. "Um,are you guys alright", they responded with kneeling to her and one man in the front spoke, "Lady Xola we werent expecting you im sor-" she cut him off immediately by blowing him over, "Stop doing that! Just because I am like this now doesn't mean that I forgive anything you people ever did to me or my family. Now get out of my way, I'm going home." Xola stated as she pushed through the crowd and flew past the main street toward her home at the far edge of the village and landed in the yard, "Looks like

Dad finally got enough wood put up the new fences", she noted as she walked up the grassy path toward the front of her home and knocked lightly on the wooden door. She heard her brothers hop up and start knocling over furniture,you guys are still idiots, as she heard her dad yell at them,"Get up i'll get the door pick up the table guys." He said laughing as he opened the door to see Xola standing there. He immediately smiled even brighter at the sight of his daughter, "What almost two moths without so much as a letter and now you decide to come back? Get in here kid", He said beaming happily as he pulled her into a hug. They pulled away and he began again, "I heard that you won and I was so proud when I figured it out but I assume you saw how the others are now treating all of us?" She nodded quickly, "They all bowed to me in the street when I got here but I told them that just because they treat us with respect now that they arent forgiven." Her Father looked at her, "If your now one of the rulers over this land then you will eventually have to accept the fact that you have to forgive them because you need to protect and reside over them." She sighed and looked down at her feet, "Fine Dad, just not yet ok".Then her brothers got up and walked over to their sister, first was her younger brother by a year, Sylen looked at her questioningly, "Well I dont see anything different about you at all" he giggled as Xola pinched him in the arm as her twin walked up next to him, "Well thats what you get for messing with our sister baby brother" All of the kids shared similar traits such as their hair being curly and blonde and eyes being a light grey, "Oh shut up Xira you know you guys ae my favotire idiots," She said as she hugged them tightly and pulled away beaming,"You guys wanna see Malcolm now! Follow me!" She exclaimed as she rushed out the door followed by her family. The moment he caught sight of the once tiny dragon her father stopped dead in his tracks as her brothers ran to his side as he nuzzled them, "How did he grow so fast, he looks so different now"

Xola looked at him and smiled, "I'll tell you everything later but I wanted to ask you something?" He turned his dark, gentle eyes toward her and smiled showing his brilliant smile, "Sure what is it?" She looked at her feet again, "How do you know if you like someone? Like really like them?" He turned to her with his hands in his pockets and sighed, "Boy or Girl?" She was stunned by his reaction and he laughed at hers, "Dont look at me like that, I raised you if I didnt know then I couldnt call myself your father" She smiled at him and continued, "Girl, her name is Atlas and surprisingly I didn't like her at first because we were competing for the same things, but now that all of that is over we have been hanging out alot and-" Xola was stopped by her him placing his hand on top of her head, "Look it sounds to me like you really like her and she likes you so when your ready just let her know alright?" She nodded thankfully, "Good then, I look forward to meeting her at some point then." Xola blushed and pushed him, "Dad come on!" she pleaded as her brothers walked back with Malcolm behind them as Sylen spoke, "So what can you do now or is he the only big change?", gesturing toward Malcolm while Xol smirked, "Well that depends do you think flying is a big enough improvement?" She said as she began floating and flipping around above their heads while they stared in awe, "So you have wind magic now?" asked Xira as Xola nodded, "Ah no fair I totally should've gone with you" he said. "Only one of us would have won so it wouldn't have mattered. Anyway I came back to

chck on you guys and see if you wanted to come back with me. I have been thinking about building my own home and was gonna tell Lilith after I got back today so what do you say guys?" They all looked at each other and back to her, "Well duh we will go with you sis let us pack our stuff and we'll be on our way" stated Xira as he placed his hand on her shoulder and bent down to whisper in her ear as he was almost a foot taller, "Go tell that girl that she better be ready for some chaos with us around", he said as she jokingly pushed him away, "I'll be back later on, bye guys!" She said happily as she jumped into the air as she heard her brothers wooping back on the ground.

She flew straight back to Town and landed in the street near a flowers shop and walked inside, "Ah hello Lady Xola are you looking for anything specific today?" Xola turned to the girl behind the counter, "Yes, actually do you have any moon flowers?" she nodded and went toward the far back left of the store as Xola followed, "As I am sure you know these flowers require darkness in order to bloom and luckily I have some!" She said as she grabbed a few and wrapped them in a bouquet and handed them to Xola, "How much?" Xola asked. The Lady just raised her hand, "No need, your the only one who has come in recently aand wanted that beautiful flower so its fine" She said smiling. "What is your name?" Xola asked her as she lit up with joy, "Kyla, my lady" she said bowing her head. "Well Kyla you dont have to call me lady just call me Xola, ok?" She said as she walked out of th store to find Atlas not yet realizing that things had taken a turn for the worst, and she was going to have to fix everything.