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A World of Dragons

The journey of the fleet that would save the whole universe continued on without any problems. They did not need to be fast, as beyond sector Z25 was uncharted territory. Yet, they also needed to be firm, knowing very well that they could not relax when everything was at risk of falling apart.

On St. Vincent, everyone was working hard to chart a course in an uncharted space. Everyone on that journey had never gone that far before, as it was close to the center of the galaxy and almost no space-faring civilization came out from there. Their directive was clear: they could not make a contact with a planet that had not even started space travel. If they did so, it would be a problem on many levels, as it was many years ago on Terra, giving rise to unneeded conspiracy, especially when the incident, an Aldoon space saucer crashing and killing the whole crew, was covered up and was only opened to public a hundred years later in 2047 Terran year, after proper 'first contact' with the Aldoon was established.

That did not deter past Saurians, though, as their crashed spaceship turned out to birth the lizard people civilization and gave rise to stories of 'ancient aliens', which was clearly not told much. They did not want any complications to happen from those, and they generally tried to avoid these planets.

Dairyu and Pritchard were plotting the course in Pritchard's personal office when Atho, using his mental call, called both of them to his office, in front of Pritchard's own. They walked there and said, "Something's wrong?"

"Selis is calling you, Dairyu. He says it's important."

"Did he find something worth noting?"

Atho gave the draconian the call, so Dairyu told Selis what happened.

"Yes. There is a crack in the space some distance from us. Should we..."

"Don't do anything to it, Selis," said Dairyu. "Just leave it be. Nothing good comes from that..."

On Selis's ship, an alert rang out, heard by both the Sha'kren and the St. Vincent. They simultaneously tried to assess the situation on the Culax.

"Culax! What is happening?!"

"The tear! It has a gravity well or sorts. We are being pulled in!" said Selis. "The attraction is not that strong, but we need to find a way to close that thing before everyone's sucked in!"

"We can't risk anyone getting in there! The last time we did that, we got stranded in the 21st century!"

There was a small silence, before Dairyu realized that the tear needed to be closed from the other side, just like when he needed to close it in the time travel fiasco. Of course, there was a risk of being stranded forever, and their knowledge on those dimensional tears were minimal.

That was when Atho was contacted by the fifth dimensional being again.

"You simplistic beings, always so scared of trying something new," said the being. "I thought your people are full of thinkers, but alas, they cannot fathom what they perceived as fantasy. Oh, well. I suppose everyone needs a little tip. See you at the bridge, Atho."

"Wait!"

"Sir, you must come and see this," said an urgent call.

"One problem after another," said Dairyu.

They all walked to the bridge and was surprised by the appearance of a humanoid being who seemed different from the other, given that he wasn't wearing any uniforms of St. Vincent. Instead, he wore a white suit.

"Who are you?" asked Dairyu.

"Not having the time to be surprised, are we? I guess that, given the amount of troubles you have endured, you are prepared for what comes next. Now, let me properly introduce myself. I am a fifth-dimensional being, essentially the cause of this...return of the dead."

"You're the problem, huh? This is why I hate celestial beings," said Dairyu.

"Now, now, don't get mad at me. It is unfounded. I am not the reason of your predicament, but...let's say I am the fixer."

"So, you fix things? Then why aren't you fixing all these problems and let people rest peacefully?"

"Like your Federation's directive, I cannot be directly involved in contacting you, as you are still a primitive, lesser being," said the being. "But, of course, on certain circumstances, such as this one, I will lend a hand, discreetly, such as telling you on how to do that one."

"That one?"

"The tear. Like your decision, the tear can only be closed from the other side, but how is what you will find yourself. I can only tell you what is meeting on the other side, however. It's the World of Dragons, one that comes from your past, yet dragons rule the land."

"Just tell us the exact answer!"

"I don't want to. It's more amusing to see your surprised reaction of what's waiting on the other side. Oh, and take a small crew. Maybe...your small ship?"

"The Wind of Change?" said Dairyu. "Oh, no. I'm not gonna risk my ship on a suicide mission."

The being sighed. "It's not a suicide mission, and the worst thing you can get might be culture shock. Just...get on with it if you want everyone in this fleet safe."

He then disappeared, leaving more unanswered questions.

"That being is trying to confuse us," said Pritchard when they returned to his quarters. "I mean, what else does a celestial being is trying to do?"

"Have you ever met a celestial being before?" said Dairyu.

"No, and I don't think anyone has, either. Except Atho, of course, given how that being is communicating directly to him. I mean, that's the reason why we reached this point, but what if this one is a different being? What if this is a trap?"

"He's the same being that has been telling us things," said Atho in their minds. "I suggest we go and investigate that tear and try to find a way to close it."

"Yeah, and getting killed in the process." Pritchard then paced around nervously, with his hand on his forehead. "This is so fucked up. All this bullshit is so fucked up."

"I agree," said Lunera. "But then...we don't have a choice in this matter. Whatever we do next is what we chose. We die or we live. It's as simple as that."

"So, what you are saying is, we go in, unprepared, with an expendable crew, and hope for the best?"

"Like I said, we have..."

"No choice in the matter. Yes, I heard that once already."

Pritchard sighed. "Alright. I guess it's decided, then. Now, to determine the away team..."

"The _Wind of Change_will do it," said Dairyu. "Me and my crew is enough for an away team."

"Hmm.... Then, it's settled, then. Do what you must do, and come back alive. You need it. I'll relay this decision to the Aqura and the Saurians."

They all nodded and walked out of the room. Before Dairyu left, however, Atho said, "Dairyu..."

"I know you want to go, Atho, but you're no longer our crew," said Dairyu, with a hint of sadness. "You're their ambassador, and it's your duty to let the Rendloks thrive."

"I don't need to be an ambassador, Dairyu. I have others who are also qualified to take my place."

"And right now, you are their moral compass. No one's going to trust someone other than the hero that stopped the Black Creatures, and the crew of the Azure. You are the crew of Azure, not the Wind of Change, and it is no longer your responsibility."

Atho made clicking sounds, apparently a way to express his disappointment and sadness. Dairyu took on this and smiled.

"Don't worry. I'll find a souvenir for you when we get back," said Dairyu, patting the Rendlok's head. "Thank you."

***

_ _

The crew of the Wind of Change got ready for another travel. Everyone knew what they were going to do, and no one objected to it. Rose was the readiest, given her status as a scientist, and to know things and find new discoveries. Even Xsatuki, who had no obligation to be in, wanted to go, too. Dairyu noticed him talking with Dajar more than the others, and he seemed comfortable with it. This, however, was not exclusive to the Black Orient. The other Black Orient also knew about this, and he snickered.

"Well, well. Those two are in it deep, huh?" said Seiryu. "Do you think they'll be together?"

"Unless they are willing to be fugitives, it's fine by me. Saurian laws are such a hassle."

"Oh, that matter with him being...you know."

"Yeah. Even more than that, they are two completely different spectrums. One's a snake, and the other a fish. They don't mix well."

"At least both have scales, right?"

"Sharks don't have scales."

"And sharks don't have feathers on top of their heads. I hope that kind of relationship is relatable to your relationship with mom."

"How their relationship has something to do with me and Natsu's evades me."

"Mom lost dad, Xsatuki lost his lover. Both you and Dajar are single most of your lives and this is your first time having a stint on romantic relationship. I sense a pattern here, Ryu."

"That's not your business, okay?"

"Yeah, because I'm dead. It's the problem of the living, not mine."

"Hey, don't get too sensitive about it."

"Yeah, I'll try. So, we're approaching the tear?"

"It's right in front of us. Is everyone ready?"

Everyone nodded.

"Alright. Here we go."

The Wind of Change then thrusted forward into the tear. It then emitted a ray of blinding light that literally blinded the crew to the point they closed their eyes and hoped for the best.

Outside, the St. Vincent, the Sha'kren, and the Culax waited anxiously for the Wind of change approach, and everyone was surprised when the ship was gone, with its presence gone. They frantically tried to reestablish connection, to no avail. Pritchard hoped that things went well for everyone involved.

The crew continued to get in the tear blindly, until the point where the blinding light was replaced by silence, before it changed into a bustling city of the early 21st century, along with the population. But then, when Dairyu opened his eyes, he quickly realized that it was not another time travel incident.

The city area looked clean, but then he knew it was strange when he realized that there were all draconians. Everyone, both wingless and winged, were all draconians of all races. Dairyu could even see some wyverns conversing with others.

"Oh, man...what the fuck was that?"

Dairyu turned to find Seiryu, who looked the same, holding his hurting head. Dairyu went to his old friend, and told him of the situation.

"I don't think we're in our space anymore," said Seiryu. He then looked around and noticed the anomaly. "And this whole city is full of dragons."

"Not full. Everyone," said Dairyu. "I never thought there is one, but...wait, where's the other..."

"By Leviathan!"

Capisa's voice came from a sea-dragon model draconian, who looked at his webbed hands. The shocked draconian also felt fins and his tail, with shark tail end, yet clearly reptilian. He then noticed Dairyu and Seiryu, and said, "What the Abyss happened? I-I...feel weird."

"Is that you, Capisa?" said Dairyu, surprised.

"Of course, this is me! What happened?"

"You're...a draconian?"

"Draconian? You mean like you? What are you talking about?"

"See for yourself. Find a mirror or something."

Capisa quickly did so as he walked to a nearby monument made of reflective surface. He looked at his reflection, astonished with his new form. He touched his face, his eyes (which somehow retained the iconic cross-shaped pupil Aquros had), and his tail. He gasped.

"Is this...me? I'm a Terran? I mean, it's nice and all, but..."

Just then, they were approached by a brown-furred draconian with similarly furred wings. This one, however, was instantly recognizable with her having mammalian visage, and the only mammalian in the crew.

"So...I suppose you're Rose?" said Dairyu. "I've never seen a furred dragon before, let alone one who looks like you."

"This is weird. So, no one in this place, or let alone this reality, is from another race? What bloody shit is this?"

"Wait. Where's Xsatuki and Dajar? Or Calventis for that matter?" asked Capisa.

"We're here...and yes, don't ask. I looked miserable."

They all turned and was surprised by everyone there, clearly draconian. Dajar looked like Capisa except he had a different scale color and fins different from him. Xsatuki looked entirely different, except his scale color, which was his own. His serpentine visage was still seen, giving him a hybrid look between a snake and a dragon, except it didn't look weird and no one seemed to see him weird. Calventis did not look as different except that his Scyllan physique was still there, along with full five-finger hand, giving him an appearance of a bodybuilding, hornless draconian.

"How miserable is that?" said Dairyu to Calventis.

"The fact that I'm no different?"

"It's good, right?"

"Not if I look like a fucking hunk who just came out of a gym! Wait, what?"

"Cal...did you just swear...in common language?"

"That's new."

"And 'hunk'? What the hell is that?"

"Whoa, dudes. Cool cosplay!"

They all turned to a draconian, who clearly wore costume, given how uncanny it looked. It looked space age, but very science fiction inspired and not practical at all. Dairyu could even see a rod at the size of a flashlight that looked like his own sword, except without the 'sword' part.

"What are you cosplaying, huh? Those look very realistic," said the red scaled draconian. "Mind if I take a picture?"

Seiryu wanted to protest, but Dairyu said, "We don't mind. Any specific pose?"

"Anything's fine."

They all converged into a group, with Dairyu asking the others to assume a freestyle pose. They all smiled towards the camera phone, along with the cosplayer.

"Thanks, dude! Appreciate it!"

He waved them as he left, going towards a building that looked like a convention center of sorts.

"I totally forgot that we are still wearing our armor," said Dairyu. "The whole shock seems to make us forget."

"Now what? We don't know what we are here for, and we are in the middle of an event."

"I guess we have no choice. Given how we are wearing these clothes, we might as well blend in."

"Or we ditch the armor and find something to blend in better, appropriate for this age and time," said Seiryu. "And from that giant banner over there, it's the year 2014."

"Okay, I think you're right. But how? We are not even on Wind of Change, and our ship is nowhere to be found. We don't even have age-appropriate money!"

"So, we're basically aliens with zero research before landing on a planet?" said Capisa. "Talk about an anti-cliché."

"Just...stay calm and stay around this area. These people might not get suspicious if we stay around the convention center. From there, we slowly try to blend in and learn the culture around this era and place. Does anyone here know anything about 2014 of our own Terra?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"No one? Damn," said Dairyu. "But don't lose hope just yet. If this is it, we might as well try our best to enjoy our lives in this...world of dragons. Let those guys move forward on their own. They still have their whole crew."

"But Dairyu," said Rose. "We can't stay here!"

"I know, Rose. Amhyr and the kids, right?"

Rose wanted to add something and tell Dairyu about the wolf spirit's hints, but she hesitated, and just nodded. Dairyu smiled to her and said, "Don't worry. It's just a possibility. We will get out from this place."

"Yes...yes, we will," said Rose.

"And damn you're beautiful," said Dairyu, smiling. "Now that you're not a werewolf, you look pretty."

"Pretty? How?"

"You know how furred draconians are practically non-existent, right...well, except Orients, of course. Do you want me to send a picture to you loving husband in this form?"

"Well...," said Rose, blushing. "If you want to.... Just...don't keep it for yourself. Amhyr might have ideas if you're caught having one of those."

"Yeah, I know. An Imperial agent type like him might have a lot of ideas. Anyway...we cannot do anything at the moment. All we can do now is lay low, find a way to blend in, then investigate this occurrence. Everyone agree?"

Everyone nodded.

"Alright...let's go, then."

They all walked together, to an unknown place...in the Draconian World.