One by one, the group passed through the archway, their nerves buzzing with anticipation. Curious, Aldra followed behind. As the last of them crossed the threshold, the mist dissolved entirely, revealing a vast chamber bathed in a golden light.
At its center stood the elder Blue Fire dragon, his massive form radiating an aura of wisdom and power. Coral placed the Dragon’s Heart on a pedestal before him, its once-brilliant glow now dulled and tainted with darkness.
“Welcome, young ones,” the elder said, his voice deep and resonant. He paused, his eyes landing on Tiny Wings. The elder hummed. "You look just like her little one."
"What do you mean?" Tiny Wings asked.
The elder Blue Fire dragon lowered his head slightly, his glowing sapphire eyes softening as he regarded Tiny Wings. His massive claws rested on the stone pedestal, the tainted Dragon’s Heart casting faint shadows across his scales.
“You bear her light,” the elder said gently. “The fire in your soul is a mirror of hers—bright, fierce, and unyielding."
"But what about my mother a-a-and my uncle? They were her dragonets were they not?" Tiny Wings asked. "They've battled for the throne long before I was born!"
"Read the archives often?" Aldra said sarcastically with a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
The elder dragon’s expression shifted to one of sorrowful understanding. “Yes,” he said slowly, his voice resonating like a distant storm. “Solara and Lumis are the dragonets of the Eclipse Queen. Their battle has scarred this land for far too long, as I am sure you’ve already seen.”
Tiny Wings blinked, her bright eyes wide. “But why? Why would they let everything fall apart?”
The elder’s gaze softened further. “Grief is a powerful force, little one. It blinds even the brightest hearts and clouds even the clearest minds. Your mother and uncle were once united, as day and night should be, but the Queen’s death left a void they could not fill—one they sought to claim for themselves.”
Coral stepped forward, his tone steady but laced with frustration. “And the Dragon’s Heart? It was supposed to bring peace, wasn’t it?”
The elder nodded gravely. “Indeed. The Dragon’s Heart was a relic of unity, forged by the Queen herself to bind the realms together. But in the wrong talons, its power has been twisted, its light corrupted.”
Aurora tilted her head, her eyes flickering with curiosity. “If Tiny Wings has the Queen’s fire, does that mean she’s... important?”
“Important is an understatement,” Aldra muttered, though her tone lacked its usual sharpness.
The elder straightened, his towering form casting a shadow over the group. “She is not just important,” he declared, his voice firm. “She is the key.”
“What?!” Tiny Wings squeaked, her wings buzzing frantically. “I-I’m just a dragonet! I can’t even fly properly!”
Sable huffed, his wings twitching. “And what exactly does being ‘the key’ mean?”
The elder gestured to the Dragon’s Heart, his claws tracing the edge of the pedestal. “The relic can be purified,” he explained. “Its light can be restored, but only by a flame strong enough to burn away the corruption and pure enough to reignite its purpose. That flame resides in her.”
All eyes turned to Tiny Wings, who froze, her small frame trembling. “M-Me? But what if I mess it up?”
“You won’t,” Shadow said quietly. “You’ve got us.”
Reef stepped forward, his usual humor softening into genuine encouragement. “Yeah, kid. You’ve got fire in you—literally. If anyone can do this, it’s you.”
Tiny Wings looked to Coral, her wide eyes searching his face for reassurance. Her father crouched slightly, placing a claw on her back. “You’re stronger than you know, Tiny,” he said, his voice steady. “And we’ll be with you every step of the way.”
The elder inclined his head, his glowing eyes locked on Tiny Wings. “Do not fear, little one. The Queen’s fire flows through you. Trust in it, and it will guide you.”
Taking a deep breath, Tiny Wings stepped closer to the pedestal, her small frame dwarfed by the massive relic. The dark energy swirling within the Dragon’s Heart seemed to pulse in response, as if recognizing her presence.
“I’ll try,” she said softly, her voice trembling but resolute. “I’ll do my best.”
As she summoned her fire, the chamber grew still, the golden light intensifying around her. The group watched in awe as Tiny Wings’ flames ignited, bright and fierce, starting to cast away the shadows that clung to the Dragon’s Heart.
"Hand over the Dragon's Heart to me this once!" A cold voice demanded.
The group turned around. It was Solara and Lumis.
"Why should they give it to you? Clearly I'm the most powerful!" Solara hissed.
The elder lifted his head and growled.
Tiny Wings froze, her flame flickering out as the presence of her mother Solara and her uncle Lumis filled the chamber. The two towering dragons stood at the entrance, their forms imposing and radiant with energy. Solara’s fiery aura flared around her golden scales, while Lumis glowed with a cool, celestial light, his midnight-blue wings shimmering like starlight.
The siblings glared at each other, then turned their piercing gazes to the group.
"Hand over the Dragon's Heart," Solara demanded, her voice sharp and commanding. “It belongs to me!”
“You?” Lumis scoffed, stepping forward with an air of calculated arrogance. “Don’t make me laugh, Solara. You’ve already proven you’re unfit to rule. The Dragon’s Heart belongs with me.”
The elder Blue Fire dragon let out a low growl, his sapphire eyes narrowing. “Enough of this! Neither of you has the wisdom or purity to wield the Dragon’s Heart. Your greed has only brought chaos and division to Draconia.”
The siblings ignored him, their attention locked on the relic now glowing faintly on the pedestal.
Solara’s gaze flicked to Tiny Wings, who instinctively took a step back, her wings buzzing nervously. “Tiny Wings! Didn't I command you to stay back at the temple?” Solara sneered, her fiery eyes narrowing.
Tiny Wings froze, the weight of her mother's cold gaze pressing down on her like an unshakable boulder. Her heart raced in her chest, her wings flickering nervously, unsure of what to do. She wanted to flee, but something in her—something from within the fire that burned brightly in her soul—kept her rooted in place.
Solara's voice rose again, sharp as a whip. “I told you, Tiny Wings. You were never meant to bear the Dragon’s Heart. It was always supposed to be mine. Now hand it over, or you’ll regret it.”
Lumis stepped forward, his voice as cold and unyielding as the night. “Solara is right. You are nothing more than a child playing with fire. You’ll destroy Draconia, just like she did.” He gave Tiny Wings a scornful glance, then turned back to the elder. “You know what must be done. The heart is mine by right.”
The elder’s growl deepened, his massive form looming protectively over the group. “You two have been blinded by your own egos for far too long. The heart does not belong to any one of you. It belongs to the dragonets of Draconia as a whole.”
But Solara was not to be swayed. Her fiery aura flared brighter, flames licking at the air. “You don’t get it, do you?” she spat, her tail slashing the ground. “The Dragon’s Heart is a symbol of power, of control. You’ve wasted your time trying to preserve balance when all that’s needed is dominance.”
Lumis smirked, his celestial light growing more intense. “Solara speaks the truth, Elder. Power is what the dragons need. Power is what I can give them. The Heart should be mine so I can lead Draconia into a new era, one where weakness has no place.”
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