Evan's eyes were glued to the sparring match with fascination. Now that it was over, he looked over Jaden's injuries and Brawn's exhaustion. Two monumental titans just clashed... Skill and strength, equally important, but if strength is lacking skill can make up the difference, or am I missing something else here?

Evan locked his eyes on Jaden. He looked worse for wear, but his relaxed attitude suggested he didn't lose as badly as the beating suggested. He passed his gaze to Brawn.

The tall, stocky, and muscular rat's short fur glistened with sweat as he sat focused to even out his breathing; he appeared to be meditating. Reflecting on the spar, looking for faults and things to improve. He felt a kindred spirit. His eyes popped open and locked on Evan. His mouth hooked upward into a smile. He rose to his feet and approached.

"That look on your face doesn't suit you very well," Brawn stated as he slowly looked down over Evan. "That's a look Brains gets when he has a difficult problem to solve."

"You saying I'm stupid?" Evan got angry.

"Not stupid, no. Just you don't have the skill or the talent for thinking like Brains." Brawn stated, "It's sleeping now, but you harbor a warrior's spirit."

Evan's interest was piqued as Brawn continued looking him over. "You've fought with King? Hmm..."

"What of it?" Evan crossed his arms over his chest.

"Oh, I'm just trying to understand how he's changed so much. You have the telltale marks on your body of impact from a quarterstaff, but they are from a much shorter and slimmer staff than King wields now. He still had tremendous control in that smaller body, if he'd meant to seriously injure you at that time, you'd be a living cripple the rest of your life." Brawn walked around Evan's body scrutinizingly.

"He didn't hit me as hard as he could back then?" Evan paled recalling how much it hurt.

"I'd say he barely put any effort in at all. Are you the reason he fights defensively?" Brawn scratched his chin, "He takes the first blow... gets a feel for his opponent in that exchange, and knows at that point just where he stands?"

Brawn laughed heavily, drawing many eyes in his direction. "I get it now. In our spar, he matched my strength, drawing the match out as long as possible. How arrogant I've been... I thought I was teaching him a lesson, but it was I who needed to learn."

Brawn turned and started to walk away. He paused after a few steps, twisted his body turning back to Evan, "King was the victor today. He could have ended that spar whenever he wished, instead he used me as a training partner until my body was too tired to continue." Brawn flexed his muscles, "I'm going to be sore at least the rest of the day now."

Brawn continued walking away while laughing merrily even as all his muscles ached in complaint, "A king among warriors. Yes, I look forward to sparring again, King."

Unfair to compare a mortal to a god. Evan's memory echoed with Jaden's voice. He shuddered and turned to look over at Jaden. Smiling, laughing, and talking. Jaden was just enjoying life, trying to be as peaceful an existence as he could be. Evan felt pity for him. That is truly an unfair comparison. I misunderstood before, it's unfair both ways... isn't it Jaden?

Evan followed Brawn's trail, tearing into a run to catch up to him.

Anya watched over Vivian as she bathed in the morning sun. Please wake soon, Mother. For everyone's sake.

Anya's long ethereal grass-like hair draped over her shoulders, shimmering in the sunlight. She tapped frustratingly at the ground, for all her efforts some barrier prevented her from taking root in this area. I miss home. My fertile land. Anya swept her gaze around the area. She didn't feel outright revulsion from the surroundings, as when she was originally forced here. She turned her arms into vines and stretched to feel the architecture of the failing foundation and the additions the rats had made. The stone was rough and jagged, but also smooth and rounded in places. She touched the stonework the rats added, it felt grainy, like a mixture of compounds not evenly blended. Lastly, she touched something she could relate to. The woodwork. New plant knowledge... ugh. Pain assaulted her when she tried to assimilate it; the barrier she'd encountered repeatedly finally issued a warning.

Anya withdrew her vines, absorbing the extra mass back within as her arms returned to normal. One day... one day the world will be my fertile land. All its secrets will belong to me.

Brother. Can we go home soon? Anya asked anxiously.

Liralau looked anxiously at Jaden as he interacted with Queen. He had a twinkle in his eye that hadn't been there yesterday. He'd become more lively almost overnight. Even beat up as he was after his recent defeat, he'd been assisting the rats cleaning up the marketplace, getting everything back how it was before the celebration. They were grateful for his help in the absence of their strongest Brawn.

Very soon, Anya, I'm just pitching in since I put some of their muscle out of commission. Jaden replied, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Thirsty?" Queen and Liralau asked simultaneously, each holding bottled water.

"I am," Jaden stated, taking the water from Queen. She glanced victoriously at the feline. Jaden turned a blind eye and drained the water. What are the odds she gives up after that 'loss' I wonder?

The Liralau just shrugged and drank the water, unphased.

Right. Slim-to-none. Jaden sighed. He took a quick look around, the remainder of the cleanup would take most of the day, but at least all the heavy lifting was complete. "I'll go round up my clan and we'll be on our way. Thanks for having us at the party, though the invitation was a bit over the top."

"I apologize for my methods, but I am glad you enjoyed yourselves despite everything." Queen looked at the ground, regretting that rash decision.

"I suppose it was justified, looking back we wouldn't have come otherwise," Jaden stated honestly as he gazed at her. Her face has gentle contours like the rest of her race. Eyes pale blue like the sky, why am I so drawn into them? He reached out and touched her furless cheek.

"Even so...mph?!" Queen found her body constricted, her lips sealed as Jaden kissed her; his free hand slid slowly through her short white hair, holding her head in place. Her line of thought lost; her mind blank she simply returned his affection. He parted from her.

"Huh?" she looked at him, her mind still on the electric shock that just took over her senses. She subconsciously touched her fingers to her lips. The Liralau clenched her fist in frustration, she regretted more and more her decision last night. Patience. My opportunity will come. She told herself.

Jaden made the rounds to collect Lulu, Molli, Bayne, and Daryl.

Lulu had spent some time with a woodworker, hoping to improve the quality of her wooden products. She hadn't made as much progress as she would have liked, but that was mostly the teaching ineptitude of the apprentice that could spare the time for her.

Molli had found her way to the Alchemist that had been treating Vivian and had made some valuable improvements in her skills by separating raw ingredients into their useful parts. He'd even parted with one of his older tools, which she was grateful for since it was better than using a mortar and pestle for everything.

Bayne spent some time on the training grounds with the peons. He was hoping to spar with a trainer, but they had no need of one; their training regime involved shouting "For the Horde!" and either stabbing or slashing their target. He was rather shocked at how efficient and in sync they were.

Daryl had looked around for the rat's prophet. He was sent around in circles until he finally found Brains sitting in a courtyard softly blowing into a blade of grass. He had trimmed the fur on his face While prophets are never too keen to speak about their respective oracles, their two races had been entwined pretty tightly.

"Time to collect Emily and Evan, then back to Anya, and Mother. And we can go home." Jaden stated, "I'd thought they'd be with you."

"Emily's been in hiding, she developed quite a following as the Dancing Queen. She left quite the impression on those rat boys." Molli chuckled, "I am a little surprised they haven't idolized you."

"Me? Why?" asked Jaden.

"You tamed the Dancing Queen, and you didn't pass out exhausted, you danced even more after that," Molli stated.

"I already am a celebrity though, I am King in their eyes, regardless of how I feel about it." Jaden replied, "What about Evan?"

"He was at the training ground briefly with Brawn, but the two left when he wasn't strong enough to lift any of the training weapons. My guess, he's somewhere training to get stronger." Bayne stated.

"Heavy training weapons?" Jaden asked.

"I had a hell of a time picking one up too... they produce their training weapons from heavy materials. They're combining weight training with weapon drills. I had to switch to a dagger just to be able to swing it a couple of times. I imagine in combat the reduction in weight makes them faster."

"Interesting idea," Jaden replied as he led them through the tunnels resembling swiss cheese.

"Wait you're not thinking we should do that too?" Bayne asked.

"It does have its benefits," Jaden stated pushing open a door. "Emily, ready to go home?"

"Very ready." she breathed a sigh of relief, "I thought they found me again."

"Are they good at hide and seek then?"

"Not ash good ash you, but they've proven better than Evan sho far."

"Speaking of..." Jaden turned around to see Evan running through the catacombs, coming towards them.

"Evan?"

"I'm staying here." Evan stated, "I've asked Brawn for training."

"You decided this without talking with us first?" Daryl looked at his son.

Lulu simply nodded in approval.

"I'll be looking forward to seeing your results." Jaden encouraged.

Evan nodded and resumed his training regime. Jaden led his clan back towards Anya and Vivian. While he didn't approve of her methods, he was indebted to Queen.

"Okay before we set out, two very important questions." Jaden began, "Which direction is our city in now, and Anya, which direction is your territory in?"

Molli looked around to get her bearings, then pointed one direction. Anya pointed in the opposite. Jaden frowned, "That complicates things a bit."

The city isn't necessary. Anya offered.

"Good going Isa," her eyes blinked open and she lifted her head, chains clinked around her neck as she moved into a sitting position. She berated herself, "I doubt you could have screwed that up any more, even if you actually tried to."

She wrapped her wing around the cuff on her neck and gave it an experimental tug. She let go with a sigh, So much for wishful thinking. Isa looked around, the prison was barely large enough to fit her full size. Either they ran out of smaller rooms, or they know I'm a mirage dragon. I'll just play ignorant and see where that goes.

"She's in here, your Grace."

"It's been a long time, what name do you go by now, Sherisa?" An elegantly dressed Liralau walked into her line of sight.

"Hemloc. So the traitor still lives." Isa scoffed, "I've got nothing to say to you."

"It's true, we have nothing to discuss, I'm merely here to complete an obligation."

"Just try it, my claws are as sharp as ever." Isa hissed.

"It was a long time ago, have you forgotten the deed is already done?" Hemloc laughed, "I'm just here checking on the progress of the child."

Isa gagged and vomited. Hemloc frowned, "Once upon a time you loved me, do you remember?"

"Unfortunately."

"Your disgust for me runs deep, hm?" Hemloc frowned, "Regardless, don't get any cruel ideas of starving yourself or anything like that, you bear an innocent child after all."

Isa glared menacingly, "Just wait till I get my fangs in your throat."

Hemloc smirked and spoke to her as he departed, "Whatever thoughts you need to stay alive, at least till our child is born."

Isa watched his figure disappear and heard the door slam and lock shut behind him. She slammed her wing against the floor. "Damn it all!"

She sat in silence, memories unbidden from an age long gone filled her thoughts. A single tear formed in her eye; she blinked and it splashed upon the dry floor, scattering to nothing. She broke the silence, "You'll get yours but I wonder if it will be soon enough for my liking."

Isa sat with the sun glaring in her face, hoping for nothing but to rewind events from when she was simply a maiden dragon blinded by love. She wrapped her wing around her waist as she looked down, "What to do about you, hm? He is right about one thing, you are innocent in everything that's happened."

"Mirage Dragons have never had an easy life, and considering just your origins..." Isa sighed as she dropped her phoenix illusion, "I'll be honest with you little one, I had pushed you far from my mind to forget you; I nearly had. I spent so much time disguised as a Phoenix just to prevent your birth it became my natural state. Forgive me, I was young and didn't know any better."

Isa craned her neck, stretched her back, extended, and flapped her dragon wings. Exercising muscles she hadn't used in far too long. She straightened her neck, extended her arms, legs, and tail. Her curved horns grazed the low ceiling. She cast her gaze over her prison, not much space remained. "Does he expect me to be grateful for this? Even one half my age couldn't stretch properly in here."

Ignoring her confines, she stretched herself fully, knocking down the four walls surrounding her and the ceiling above. She scratched the chain around her neck with a claw, "If only this obstacle was that easy."

She laughed. She caused quite the commotion in the middle of a city, guards came from all over to find out what could cause a building collapse entirely. They looked at the dragon in the center of the wreckage with confusion and wariness.

Isa ignored them and instead griped over anything and everything she could think of as she coiled around herself, making them all tense with what she could do with all these complaints. She sighed heavily as she laid under the sun, feeling the warmth on her scales. I missed my purple and black scales though. Phoenix colors are too bright for my liking.