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Xenorosth woke up in the middle of an underwater cavern. His vision was a bit blurry, but he could tell there were two dragons staring at him. One was small and green-blue. He was about seven feet tall. The other was dark blue and about 20 feet tall. Xenorosth tried to get up quickly to get out of this place. However the dark blue put a claw on Xenorosth's shoulder.

As Xenorosth's vision came into focus, he recognized the two dragons as Crailo and Aquarius.

"Easy. You fought hard. I don't want you to hurt yourself. That attack does have after effects." The dark blue dragon informed. Xenorosth hesitated, but then laid back down.

"Is he going to be okay?" Crailo asked

"Yes, he should recover. My attack was only strong enough to knock unconscious. It couldn't impair anyone but a newborn." Aquarius replied.

"Yeah... What was that anyway?" Xenorosth asked. "I've never seen anything like that."

"It is very complicated, and only experts can do such an attack without being completely drained of their energy. You still have much to learn, Dark Guardian." Aquarius replied slowly. He was obviously choosing his words carefully around the hatchling. He obviously didn't want to cause another fight. Xenorosth tried to get up, but once more Aquarius stopped him. Xenorosth glared at him. He felt like he was a captive.

"Why are you so eager to keep me here? Why do you want to help me so much?" Xenorosth interrogated. "I really need to leave. I can't spend my time here. I would only be endangering you."

Crailo answered this one. "Isn't helping others what's right? That is what I was taught. That's why I was trying to be friendly."

"That's nice, but I really can't be messing around. I need to find a home so I can think of a plan." Xenorosth said quickly.

"We can help with that." Aquarius retorted.

Xenorosth hesitated for a moment. He didn't want anything to happen to them like Flare. He already had to think of a way to rescue him. He knew that they would win in a fight and were determined to keep him here. He snorted, and then nodded. Screw it... If they wouldn't listen to his warning, then that's their damn fault.

"We should help you come up with a game plan. First, Xenorosth, what is your goal?"

Xenorosth thought for a second. "Well, my friend Flare, a fire dragon, was captured. I couldn't save him then. Still I want to rescue him. I have no idea where to start. I know nothing of where he is being kept. I only had one dream. I can't rely on it. It was only a dream."

Aquarius smiled. "How noble. I knew somewhere there was a reason for your short-temperedness. Now, we should all give in our input here. That means you too Crailo."

Crailo nodded, becoming serious for the first time since he met Xenorosth. "Well... in my opinion..."

Crailo started explain his idea everyone listened intently.

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"Now, I don't want to hurt you. So I don't see why you answer me truthfully. Where is Xenorosth?" Yamizephyr interrogated. Flare growled angrily. He had been refusing to give any information about Xenorosth. He knew that if Xenorosth were captured, he would never give any information about himself. He bet that he was trying to think of a way to bust him out of here. But that would be stupid on Xenorosth's part. He hoped that Xenorosth would know.

"I told you for the last time. I know nothing of Xenorosth's location. He was fighting your damned minions when one of their shadows overtook me and separated me from him. And besides, even if I did, I never would tell you" Flare snarled under his breath.

The shadows around Flare's claws were weakening him. He could hardly move. He was in a room that had just a single torch in the center of the room. The room was completely closed up. The door, disguised as a rock surface somewhere only Yamizephyr. He couldn't explore his surroundings because the shadows chained him to the wall.

Flare had endured many mental tortures already. From mental attacks, to interrogations had taken a tool. He was even kissed once. When Yamizephyr did, it was as if his strength abandoned him, and something went deep inside him. He couldn't think straight anymore. Soon he would mentally snap. But he wouldn't give up without a fight.

"Yes, but you probably know his plans. What were they?" Yamizephyr was speaking in calm conversational tones, but Flare interpreted this to be a feint to make him think he was a decent dragon. Lies, deception, and trickery were what this charlatan was about. He thought that quite obvious from his reputation. He wouldn't be lulled into that false sense of security.

"I don't know! Even if I did I wouldn't tell. You would have to tear it out of my mind, which no one has ever broken into. Not any one in the fire realms could succeed, and neither will you!" Flare rumbled.

"Oh... I won't need too." Yamizephyr sneered. He held his claw up, the stamped it down to the ground. Flare yelped as he felt something take him over. All the sudden his mind went fuzzy, shadows started seeping out of his scales. He vaguely noticed that the shadows were lifting him off the ground. Flare started to struggle, but with his energy drained it didn't last long.

"You remember that kiss yes? That was really a shadow transfer. Part of my shadow has been running through your veins. It is inevitable that now you will submit to me! You will do as my shadows command! With a flicker of my thoughts I could make your will... Nay! Your only purpose in life to fulfill my demands! Do you understand now? Until I am done with you, you are my servant!" Yamizephyr roared.

Flares eyes widened. He started to panic, but knew it was inevitable. Soon he gave into the shadows and with one last look into Xenorosth's father's steely eyes, he went under.

"So what is my son planning, servant?" Yamizephyr asked, going into his polite tones again.

"He is planning to make his own lair. He probably teleported somewhere along the coast of the midnight dragons' territory, sir."

"Please go and search for him and bring him back. I will give your fellow red dragons and yourself freedom when your task is complete."

"I shall see to it." Flare proclaimed without emotion. The shadows overtook him all of the sudden, then he vanished into thin air.

Yamizephyr sighed. He pounded a fist into the ground. When would he be able to see his care for his son? Sure he may make him a pet, but not a slave. He was once cruel, but ever since he thought about caring for his son that changed. Perhaps he was the key to a new reputation. Then again, Xenorosth would never stay willingly. Who would ever be willing?

Yamizephyr walked out and opened a secret shadow-locked door. He took a left turn down the hall and went into his private waterfall. In the room, there was his private pool about 200 feet deep at the farthest end open to the moonlight. There was also a simple way for the water to escape down at one end where it would flow out making a path a 20 foot deep river in which could be used as a waterslide for ones own amusement

The black dragon father looked into the shallow part of the pool and saw his own reflection. His intimidating features along with those burning eyes looked back at him. In frustration, Yamizephyr clawed his own reflection, making the water ripple violently.

"In time Xenorosth, you will see that I am not the monster you think I am." He mumbled to himself. "Then I will be able to release everyone. The things I do just to get to you..."

Yamizephyr waded in his lake and laid down in it, head on the shore. He could only hope.