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One Last Gift

Those upon the Isle of Draconis partied into the night, getting drunk on ales of the finest age and dining upon delectable just as exquisite. The beaches seemed to rock with the delightful chirping songs of gryphons, joined by dragons with their heads tossed back, unleashing warbles to the heavens. Dwarves, humans, elves and wolven not wishing to be outdone, added their voices into the ever-growing symphony of peace, joy, and acceptance. Their melody radiated out to the waves, across the hills and breaking the very sky itself.

Looking upon them you'd know not they were different peoples, the look of delight painted across snout, beak, and face. They, however, failed to notice in their merriment the dragoness of teal scales that slipped away from the party.

Keeping close to the shadows, Fremra moved like she belonged, despite her size. Teal scales and orange membranes added their majesty to the tapestry of multicolored greens and vibrant flowers that doted the island. She could have flown that much was certain, but she was trying to avoid curious eyes and even more so anyone following and putting an end to a secret she held deep within her scales.

She peered back every so often among the trees that dwarfed even her frame. Her tail would flick as vigilant eyes traversed every stray rock, flower, or bit of movement, growling deep in her throat as to scare any too curious for their own good. She'd not kill them of course, she was beyond that, but it was wise to not follow upon the hinds of a dragoness in such emotional turmoil as she. With every breath, she could feel the storm in her gut churn, weigh down her paws and whisper for her to cease her journey. There was always tomorrow, that tune of procrastination had been sung far too many times before; putting off the final ache that would grip her so, she shook her head, no, it had to end today.

Forest eventually faded away, replaced with the firm certainty of rock. The scents of the tree, flower and branch soon were intermingled with the salty spray of the ocean beyond. The orange membraned frills of her snout trembled as she felt herself drifting away at the sound of waves lapping on the shore, of days now long since passed, when it was not hard to spy a day with a smile upon her snout. She drooped her head, thinking of the currents of her home, far out to sea where she'd always been happy. Even there she trembled, unable to hide from the cold that seeped through flesh and bone, stabbing right into her soul.

It tinted the lovely day that she had borne witness, had been a shadow throughout every joyous moment. As she warbled and kept a brave face it had been there, a predator waiting to strike when she was not looking. Her next few steps came sluggish, thoughts drifting not to the smiling faces of her pupils and the lovely future they might hold, but to the long-gone snout of her mate Ramakox.

The path she walked was littered with memories, bright flowers that she had cultivated and enjoyed over the years. She recalled pressing up against him as they would traverse this path, choosing to stop and smell the flowers instead of flying about. He would press against her, wrap her tight in wings, his touch was delightful to the point of song. It was in these moments that the hard demeanor of the blue dragon would melt away, years turning back till he acted like a youthful dragon, flirting with his first love.

How excited he had been the day he revealed this path to her, bouncing on his paws as he boasted of a great gift for her. She could have pressed him that day, poked at his scales till he gave her the answer, she was good at that; however, she let him keep the secret. Each pawstep she'd questioned him, teasingly so, trying to guess what _marvelous_gift that the great and powerful Swirling Storm gave her.

It wasn't long before she was snapped out of her pleasing memories, ones to bring tears to her eyes. The dragoness stood at the true start of the path, a divide in one of the hills, heralded by twin onyx rocks. Her paw rested upon a weathered rock placed before it, a marker they would only know. She trembled, eyes locked upon the draconic runes that spelled out both their names, a symbol of love. A whimper escaped her, his silver eyes bright upon the day he carved it with a swaying tail. She'd never known him to sing, and yet tried he did. The dragoness had tried to shy away from the gesture, it was foolish, childish, done by human whelps to their loves, and yet, she had been pleased all the same. Of course, she'd tackled him with a warble at the declaration, nuzzling him as she pinned the dragon to the ground.

The dragoness shrunk her size to fit between two claw covered rocks, always something Storm had to do another way. Into the dark passageway she went, scales rubbing against stone. She'd done this hundreds of times before, could navigate through the winding pathways with her eyes closed, not to mention she could do so while chomping down on a certain blue dragon's tail.

When she emerged to the dwindling sun, she was on the edge of a rocky cliff, a sharp incline that led to the depths below. Above her she spied the large nests of the island birds. Her claws dug into the stone to stop her from falling, where she spied a section of stone where Storm had run off, accidentally plummeting. The dragon had latched on, claws digging into the surface to stop himself.

She had jumped down after him then, turning what should have been an embarrassing moment into a romantic swim. It had warmed her soul, letting him know it mattered now, he would always be her proud, brave, all powerful, delightful Ramakox.

He'd growl and playfully bat at her; she'd kiss him on the snout. She was the spirit that bound them, the spirit that held them together. He was the rock which she could cling to in the storm of life, shielded and ever protects. Fremra yelped as she padded along, nearly losing her grip. For a moment or too she took deep, composing breaths, contemplating if the journey was even worth the time. She didn't have to go this way; she could have flown. It wasn't like it was just for them anymore.

"No." she told herself with a growling, pressing on. She needed to do this, had to do this, even if it was going to hurt. In the perilous climb she maneuvered herself up a rockface, climbing and grunting as she clung to the jagged rocks. It came to a twisted outcrop of roots that swished and seemed to hiss at her presence like a den of snakes. These were the nefarious roots of the Mystic Tricarna, a magical tree that proceeded to batter anyone who dared encroach upon its space. Ramakox had chuckled at the choice of guardian, luckily however, she knew the precise spot to quell its fury.

Her song slowed it down, the tree always loving her pleasant melody. Through its maze she crept, untouched by the thing's thorny appendages as she touched a barky bulb at its center. In but a moment it ceased its writhing, falling limp all around her.

With its submission, the path was made clear, allowing her to slip through another tight rock. Her scales scraped as she popped out the other side, into the cavern that she'd held most dear.

Dwindling light reached upon the cave mouth of this domain, glistening ever softly in the moisture rich air. Weathered stone sprawled out before her, worn down by draconic bodies and claws from numerous romantic nights. Where she would spend up close to him, nuzzling as he sang her poetry, or read her a story, or insisted upon that she was the most beautiful creature he had ever lain eyes upon.

From ceiling to wall it was covered in bioluminescent mushrooms, each the size of a person and glowing with a low, turquoise light. As night would take them, they would grow ever brighter until the entire cavern became enshrouded by their touch. Walls that were not covered in these fungi held the remains of a life with storm. Of poetry he had carved into the walls, lines that he wished to never forget. She'd of course added her own artistic visions, of summoning harps from the stone to serenade him. When she wasn't doing that, she drew pictures of him, although these were closer to caricatures rather than portraits. She found herself giggling at the oversized heads or tails, remembering how he had punished her for each one.

As she strode, she was surrounded by the past, ghosts that appeared with each step. There he was, beautiful as always, standing proud and enchanting her with his spirit. She could feel the weight upon her bones as she reached the caverns end, a sharp cliff that led to the shores below. A dragon could leap off from here or two, warbling with delight before crashing to the waters below.

It brought her to pause to be standing here, cold gripping her soul. Around her the usual place filled with life and spirit instead was hallow and bittersweet. Its why she'd stayed away.

Around the others she had been strong, resolute, just like he'd always done. She had been the bulwark of scales others looked upon, paid heed, lent a kind ear to hear her wisdom. Whimpering, she let the tribulations of the day fade away, run down her cheeks as she began to break. The pain, the wretched emptiness that his absence brought clawed its way back to the surface.

She was supposed to be at peace, accept his passing like she told the others, but here, alone, she could not help but imagine his face and picture it right beside him. How she would give anything to have him there, warming her scales. Her snout lowered with a tear in her eyes, picturing him before here, the one shed adored to tease, if only he were here to tease right now, to experience the flash of playful anger, the fight, then the nuzzling and tenderness.

"My sweet Ramakox, my wonderful Rammy." She spoke the words softly and slowly, letting the pure weight of his life rest on her. She drifted to the fading sun, knowing this part of her life was at its end. She was here to say goodbye to the greatest dragon she'd ever known. "You were the greatest, you took after me, made my life better with your presence. I thank you I have a home, loving children..." She trembled, unable to block the tempest of emotion, tears soon flowed to trickle to the cavern floor, "I know it's selfish of me, but id want you here, but you have my thanks, Rammy." She smiled, "I know we said it enough, but I'll never tiring of saying the words." Her eyes closed, imagining his embrace, to ward away the sadness that gripped her.

"That was beautiful. I always liked him, excellent choice on a mate."

The voice came like a spear, clearing through her misery and sadness. Fremra snapped around, eyes aflame as her snarl filled the cavern. "And who are you, and what are you doing here?"

He was a simple looking man, hardly anything noteworthy. His robes were simple blue, patches and stitches covering the brass stitched surface. His grey beard was untamed and to his chest, a stark contrast to the powerful eyes looking back at her, silver and without fear. They glimmered in the passing sun, "Have they not told you of me? I am Florimel fair Fremra, nice to finally meet you."

She had, the ancient story tellers that crafted this entire plane, brought the gods here and oversaw the entirety of time. This one had allowed Asterion the minotaur cleric to bring back an entire city to live, subverting even the gods will that dragons be unable to be resurrected.

Gazing upon him now, one could be convinced he was a simple old man, lying for attention. No wonder was lost upon this moment as she lowered herself to the floor to gaze out to the distant sea. There was little she could do to him if what he said was true. "What brings you here? It can't be to see me, unless you're telling me that I garner favors from the beings that created the gods?"

Florimel sighed, padding to her side to gaze out at the sun speckled sea below. He looked tired, bags below his ancient eyes, soaking in the gentle brush of the waves. "I can see why you and Ramakox chose this spot, the view is rather breathtaking." His shoulders bounced as he took a deep breath, "Dozens of worlds I've created and seen the rise and fall, this is my favorite. I'd like to think such gems are courtesy of me."

"This was our place to hide away, enjoy one another's company without interruption. Here we sang, danced, recited poetry among many other things. We were inseparable, him and I. I know, looking at us and how differently we acted, him so stern and hard as the mountains, myself as wild as the rivers." She sighed, drifting off to days long since passed, "But together, we played a song that left me breathless."

"It was like magic?" His brow rose.

She gave a sad sigh, recounting far too many times. "And for a dragon, far too short of a time." A labored breath passed through her, bringing with it a paw quivering chill, "Now are you to tell me the real reason why you're here?"

"I can't enjoy the view?" His brow rose, 'Unless you think such things are below me? Fremra, you must stop and enjoy the smell the roses, walk like them, live in the moment." He chuckled, "Suppose that's what separates me from the others."

"That you have a heart?" Her snout wrinkled, knowing to him, she was just a plaything, a life that he created to poke and prod, observe to his own twisted ends.

He recoiled from that comment, "I suppose that is the word for it, a fondness for our creations that they lacked. I mainly came here for a final look before I go and face my judgement now that the story is done."

Her frills flared in alarm. The story, done? Blood turned to ice as she side eyed the rather calm man, her heart starting to race, "You don't mean..."

"That your world will end? Heavens no." Florimel sighed, turning away, "But the experiment we set forth eons ago has ended. Good won in the end, a little unpredictability sticking to the ability of future sight."

"Good, long as it doesn't end." She huffed, laying her head down to calm herself, "So what does this mean now? Are we to be reworked into a new form of entertainment?"

"Yes and no." Florimel said bluntly, crossing the cavern with his arms folded behind him, "Now their stories are untouched by ours. This plane will grow and evolve on its own accord. Stories will flourish, people will live, I'm rather giddy to see how things unfold myself."

"Not going to meddle again?" She mumbled.

The wizard looked troubled for the first time, taking a labored breath, "It depends on what my fellow storytellers say. They're quite cross with my actions in the end, though I _calmly_explained the particulars, they believe I violated the spirit of it all."

"How upset?" She mused, "Not too fond of breaking rules, are they?"

He rolled his eyes, "I was undone by my fondness, the attachment, and a pair of big kobold eyes."

"Have to watch out for them." Her tail flicked at the thought, a great being such as he being done in by a pair of cute eyes.

"But one was so distraught with my actions that they could not hide their ire. I saved one city, but one city was supposed to be claimed." Florimel took a deep breath, peering off as if to some unknown realm, "In his fury he claimed Zarcana."

Her frills pinned, until now everyone had believed it was an experiment gone wrong, a freak of nature, an unlucky event that had claimed the life of every man woman or child within those walls. "That was you? All those people?" Her eyes widened, relieved when she caught his gaze that it shared her unease.

"Indeed." He shook his head, "When I protested that it was Asterion that did it, he retaliated, claimed I had cheated them out of the natural outcome. He then went on to be concerned with how the mortals of this world would perceive such an act. The fool never considering how destroying an entire city might look."

The dragoness' snout wrinkled, the idea of all those lives as nothing but entertainment to some grand experiment never sat well with her. The fact that one of their kind could snuff out life like that in such a matter was terrifying, especially in what amounted to a petty tantrum. Her growl swiftly filled the cavern, terrifying to any creature that wasn't the thing before her. "Do you expect my sympathy? Empathy? Your kind has sat back as though we are bugs in a jar since the beginning. You have my thanks for restoring me to life Storyteller, but little else."

"No, but I wanted you to know. Someone needed to know."

"So, you wanted to get it off your chest." She rolled her eyes with a harsh snort, "Imagine the others knowing I played mental cleric to a Storyteller."

The mage bit his lip and traversed around her, holding his head high, his steps carrying him off the cliff, but gravity had no sway of him. "I know you have suffered, lost much in your years of life."

"As has everyone." She sighed, starting to grow weary of his presence.

"And I thought to impart a final gift before I depart."

"A gift?" Her interest perked as her heart quickened, what sort of thing would a god even give? "Why?" Her brow narrowed.

"As I said, I grew far too attached to this world and its people, far more than my associates liked." He peered up, his gaze one of kindness, "And I'd like do one last thing before whatever fate is in store for me."

"Would they really kill you?" She thumped her tail, scoffing at the magic required to kill one such as he.

"It's possible. I have always angered them, but never to this degree. Such disagreements and our meddling were ever restrained to prevent the calamity that happened before this world's time. I represent a sickness to them that can't be left to grow, it makes sense."

He had sacrificed himself for them. That made what chastising words she had fall silent. A moment passed in silence before she tilted her head, looking him up and down, "Do you regret it?"

Florimel paused, the old man stroking his beard when he replied with a soft, but convicted, "Never."

She smirked at that, _perhaps_he wasn't as bad as she'd judged him. "So why not run instead of facing your doom? If this is suicide, it seems dumb to walk into it."

"No. I must convince them, face what I've done. Besides." He smirked, "There is little that I can do to hide from them."

Of course, it would be something of that nature. The dragoness began to lick her paws to play off her casual nature, hiding the fact her heart was starting to race. "So, what of this gift? I don't desire power, I have enough riches, I don't value my pride like other dragons, I have a loving family, I don't think you could give me anything that could- "She paused, knowing in the back of her mind what it could be. Her voice cracked, "I want you to restore my Ramakox to me."

The words lingered in the air as a heavy fog, her focus squarely on how he would react. Inside her stomach churned, she'd gone against all of what she'd taught, that to be accepting and knowing of one's lost loved ones. Yet here, with the opportunity right before her paws, she had to take it. She could live with the hypocrisy if it meant holding her beloved Rammy one more time. "Please."

In the face of such a heartfelt plea, Florimel turned away with a mournful sigh. "Sadly, that I cannot do. It would be a lie to say we have not the ability to manipulate souls. However, Ramakox never made it to the afterlife."

Never made it? She grimaced as the hope she clutched dear sank into the murky depths of her soul. Of course, that was it, if he were outside their world when he perished, his spirit would have never made it home. Fremra turned away, shaking, that meant should she perish, their souls would never be reunited in the afterlife. "Then there is nothing I want."

His hand came to rest on her shivering side, carrying with it a comforting weight that could even soothe the towering dragoness before him. "I am sorry that it took so long to notice Fremra, things were so hectic when Arcturus and the others found me that it slipped the mind. Then, after the battle, my associates had a squabble over my actions for years. Upon my return I took notice, a little mote of energy trying to get home."

"Speak plainly." She hissed, snapping to him, "What do you mean?"

"It means." Florimel stroked her cheek with a fond smile, "That someone has been waiting long enough to come home. Fremra, one of my favorite dragons. I wish you well, to have a good life."

As he spoke the final words her world began to fade. The color darkened and vanished, the sound of the waves muted and soon ended. She hardly felt the ground on her scales when she collapsed to the ground. The last thought that passed through her horns was her beloved Ramakox and the possibility he might be waiting for her.

** * * * * * *

Her head throbbed, feeling like tiny fingers trying to peel back her scales and sink within. Fremra groaned, trying to get a sense of her bearings. Had she fallen asleep? She was still within the darkened cavern on her side, the mushroom's light was touching upon every weathered bit of stone. Gone was the sunlight, transforming the sky into a cascading tapestry of black, purple, and lavender hues that fluttered about the thousands of shining stars. She looked away from such a sight, which would typically leave her in awe. She had been sleeping.

The dragoness blinked away at the dullness of her senses, righting herself with a great yawn. She must have been overcome with sadness and drifted off. She had been talking to _someone_in that dream but who? Snout wrinkled as she tried to picture them, but the image refused to take shape, it nothing but sand escaping her clutches. When it would not come, she thumped her tail, running claws along the stone. In the end it did not matter, she was here, saying her goodbyes to her love. So, she stood, icy daggers stabbing across her spine, sank her head, focusing back upon the open wound of her grief.

This was it, the final goodbye. She doubted she'd return to this place; it would be far too sad. Tears flowed down her snout as grief took her. It was a pain she had not felt since losing her last family. Eventually gathering the strength to leave she looked up at the stars one last time, "Goodbye, my Swirling Storm."

Already she could feel her body start to tremble another tear not long as she turned, but as she did she stopped in surprise to find a scaled form laying on their side deeper in the cave. At first, she thought it was a mirage because the form she was looking at was none other than Ramakox laying on his side, dominating the cavern. Even in the dwindling light, she knew his scaled form anywhere.

No. She must have been sleeping. The dragoness blinked, rubbed her eyes, even shook her head to rid herself of this cruel visage, nothing worked. She knew this was a dream, that she would wake and be crying over the fantasy that he would return to her. Yet, no matter how hard she shook her head or snarled, the image of her love refused to depart, continuing to torment her. Here he was, eyes closed, his chest raising and falling, alive.

"No." she said softly, her voice cracking, it couldn't be real. If not a dream, then someone was playing a trick, a vile and cruel trick, an illusion, trying to hurt her. "I don't know who you are or what you aim to do." She hissed, scanning the hall, trying to spy any answer to this trick, "But you'll regret playing a trick so cruel."

Nothing, not even a hint of a different scent when she flared her nostrils, getting nothing but his scent and powerful magic about him. Detecting magic revealed it not to be an illusion, but his scales seemed to glow with a crimson light. Her heart nearly stopped, the case for it truly being him was growing stronger.

She tried to keep an upper chin, keep the strength that she'd carried on these many years, but his presence drew her in, made her weak. She crept closer, waiting for this trick to be undone for her hopes to dash, but it never came. Her heart stretched, burst even further as the predicament was made ever clear.

This was no trick, this was him, somehow, she'd gotten him back. For the first time in many a year she let herself be weak, break down and cry as she sniffed at his form. He had burns and twisted flesh across him, like he'd been in the center of some great fire. Nothing magic couldn't heal, but he seemed to be alright. "Rammy?" she asked softly, nudging his side, he didn't fade, he wasn't an illusion. For a moment she broke, nuzzling on his cheek.

There was warmth, substance, the familiar sensations that were him came back to her. This was no illusion, he was here.

"Fremra?" He spoke softly, his voice fraught with pain. "How...Where...What?"

With that she could hold it back any longer. Fremra collapsed, nuzzling at him like her life depended on it. She shook, rubbed against him, tail tossing back and forth as she seemed destined to meld them together. The air filled with her warbles, her trills, sound of untold joy. Her loves' grunts and groans were the only thing that caused her to retreat, returning with magical healing passing through her lips. At her touch, his wounds sealed, life returning to his drained form, before her eyes color returned to his scales, strength to his eyes, and more importantly, when he next spoke, it was more tired than pain.

"Fremra what's wrong, where is the Vault? What happened to Nigel?" Ramakox questioned, unable to stop the storm of scales bearing down on him. He was forced to endure her affection, press back into her touch with growly purrs. It was only when he pressed firm and put an end to his writhing nature that he could look the dragoness right in the eye. "And why must you be so wiggly?"

She nuzzled at him with tears in her eyes, the sensation of his paws against her scales was a dream made flesh. Barging forward she tilted her snout, kissing the great blue oaf right on the lips. When his snout parted their tongues met, passion swiftly filling the air as she whined and let forth all the pain and misery that had plagued her these many years. When they parted, she was crying, salty rivers running down her cheeks as she got lost in the kind, warm seas of silver that were his eyes. "Oh, my Ramakox, My wonderful Ramakox! The greatest, sweetest, most powerful, thunderous, delightful, most beautiful, legendary, awe inspiring, dragoness wining, lich defeating, heart winning Swirling storm."

"That doesn't necessarily answer my question dearest." The blue dragon said with affection as his mate pressed her neck to him, paws holding him tight and shivering in his grasp. Ramakox licked upon her scales with tender care, trying to cast away the whimpers filling the air, "If I knew this would be the effect of being gone a few hours my love, I would have told you."

"Hours?" She blinked as the blue dragon's snout swiveled to soak in the cavern.

"Fremra...Why are we in our secret place?" He turned to her with a cocked head, reading her expression. Ramakox gave a heavy sigh, his voice flat, "It hasn't been a few hours, has it?"

Of course, to him, not a moment had passed since that night! Fremra nestled up against him, making sure that his wings were wrapped round her tight. With a shaky voice from the excitement, she told him all about the siege, the battle for Struport that had pushed them all to their limits.

"You would have been proud of them, even defeating two lords of hell, summoned by Dreadflame."

"Course they did." Ramakox chuckled with pride, only for him to then take a mournful deep breath, nuzzling into her cheek, "I'm sorry that I was not there to help."

"I know it wasn't your fault." She pressed her head to his with a weak whimper, "You would have fought talon and fang to protect us."

With detail she described how it was resolved, how Arcturus and Veledar had put an end to Dreadflame and with him, any chance the emperor had of being reformed. Struport had been saved. She spoke until her voice grew tired, half expecting her to wake up from this lovely dream. It never did.

Ramakox remained patient, on the edge of his paws at every new story that came his way. "I can't believe it's been close to five years." He finally spoke softly, as she nuzzled him. "And you kept them all together."

"For you." She replied.

"I'm sorry." He grunted, nuzzling into her embrace, "For not being there when you needed me. Nigel had to be stopped, finally put down. That monster caused my greatest regrets..."

She placed a paw on him to silence his excuse, "I never blamed you. I knew, you were ever loyal and brave, your friends and their little one Infinity could not have picked a better guardian."

Ramakox huffed, "You mean...did you find..."

"Of course, we did." Fremra licked at his jaw, summoning his growl, "And we united Axton and her, you should have seen the jumping, the leaping, the songs she sung."

The blue dragon sighed, a weight seemingly taken off his scales as she recounted the heartwarming meeting between lost mother and son.

"And I think they'll be more than happy to see you back."

"But how am I here?" he asked after an extended pause, his gaze drifting out to the horizon. "The last thing I remember is the vault exploding around me, I was all set to meet my end. I recall hearing a voice...then..." His brow furrowed, "I woke up here."

She didn't have an answer, at least not at first. There was only one being she could conceivably think of for this apparent miracle. What she did to deserve such a gift from Florimel she didn't know, but she was grateful all the same.

He rose with a playful growl, stretching his wings wide, "I suppose we should get off, meet the kids, they I expect will be just as jubilant as you."

"Can we wait a tad bit longer?" Fremra rolled to her back, padding at the blue dragon's belly, "I know it's selfish of me, but I don't want to share for a time."

"I suppose I can rest here for a little bit longer."

Delight coursed through her scales as he laid back down, taking his place firmly behind her. She nuzzled into his touch, let her soul sing through her warbles, she was crying as she taunted and teased at his scales. He poked her snout, she snapped, he growled so did she. The pair collapsed, rubbing noses with one another as they relished the intimate moment. They were left, staring into each other's eyes, lost to everything else.

Trapped with his affectionate gaze that twinkled in the moonlight, she savored every second. Just as she was about to kiss him, her eyes shot open, he didn't know about the wrymlings! A playful smile found its way to her snout, she was going to savoir that look of surprise and wonderment that would come to her mate's snout. With a deep warble, she tapped his nose with her talons, "I have a surprise for you my Stormy Cloud."

"And what might that be my Sea Lilly?" He licked her nose, only for her to bat his face.

As if on cue, to ruin her words, Jandar and Achaaz called from the mouth of the cavern. They were landing upon the stone with the ruffling of leathery wings, eyes fraught with concern.

"Mother, are you alright? You left the party, and no one saw you. Good thing I knew of..." He pinned his wings, and immediately blushed, seeing the other dragon in shadow, "Oh, I didn't know you'd met someone! I should have known, Achaaz, look away!"

But his sister didn't, her eyes were wide as her nostrils flared. "Dad?" Her frills flared, voice cracked, "Mom, what's going on?"

"Wait...Dad?" Jandar shook his head with a grunt, blinking his eyes one after the other to confirm he was not dreaming.

"How...is this possible? Dad, you died!"

"I got better, obviously." Ramakox chuckled to break the tension, gesturing to his baby girl. He caught her when she galloped into his paws, wrapping them tight around her form as she whimpered and sobbed into his scales.

"I should have done something more to help...I should have..."

"There was nothing you could have done." The blue dragon let her vent, seemingly trying to combine their scales together. He gestured to Jandar, who'd only taken a few steps forward.

"You're... real." Jandar stated, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Last time I checked."

"How?" He pulled up his snout, years of suspicion waging a war with relief.

"A miracle." Fremra said warmly, "One I imagine Florimel had a paw in."

At this, Jandar's resistance was worn away. The dragon galloped into his father's embrace, nuzzling along his neck. The dragon sobbed, shook, trembled like a child once more. Ramakox simply held both his children, letting them get it all out over his scales.

"But that is not the only surprise." Fremra mused, eyes gleaming as she caught sight the four sets of tired snouts raising from Jandar's back.

The wrymlings yawned, stretched their wings and tails as they tried to shrug off their slumber. Each found the larger blue dragon before them, eyes going wide at this new dragon in their lives. Tails twitched with curiosity, snouts rose to sniff, silence fell as Ramakox watched over them all. It was Voltus that spoke first to break the silence.

"Momma, who this?" The little wrymling steeled his gaze as his siblings murmured among themselves, trying to guess the identity of the blue.

"This is your father." Fremra said softly, watching the utter delight that was now building in Ramakox's eye, increasing the swelling of his chest in pride, "The one I told you all about."

Aurora gasped, flaring her wings, and nearly falling off her brother, "From the stories? No way!"

Ramakox chuffed as he drew close, his tail flicking in amusement, "I do hope they were good stories?"

Fremra nuzzled up along side him, patting the blue dragon's side, "I might have embellished at times to spare your pride." When he grinned, she bumped his haunches with hers, "Now that you're here, I can stop lying to them and tell the truth."

He gulped, laughing nervously over her playful expression. "So, what might I call all you little ones? It would appear I have much to catch up on."

The wrymlings then took turns, hopping on top of one another as they shouted their names with excitement. Each wanted their father's attention, rearing up to touch his snout when it was offered to them. Though the warmth and delight were palpable in the air, it was Voltus that was the sternest among them. When it was his turn to press his paws to his father's nose, the young dragon gave him a threatening growl, "Don't think you can come in here and go stealing mumma! She's mine!"

"All of ours!" piped in Ilvirur, joined by her siblings.

"Yea! And we're not giving her up without a fight!"

Storm chuckled as they all made their threats, flaring wings to appear bigger than they were. "Of course, not my little ones, but I can't steal what is already mine." To that he grinned, rumbling deep in his throat, and nuzzling against his mate, paying no mind how the wrymlings protested and growled.

"Calm down my children, he'll start to grow on you in time." Fremra nuzzled back, "He might not look it, but he's one of the greatest dragon's I've ever known."

With her family reunited, the healing could begin. The motherly teal watched on with a smirk on her snout as Ramakox proceeded to lay on his side and let his children play around him, his body soon turning into a playground in which they could explore. His snout became something to bat, his tail something to chew, his paws fun instruments to avoid, all the while he had to snap and fend off the playful wrestling of his elder children. Ramakox soon found himself under attack by all sides, pinned beneath his progeny.

Fremra couldn't look away, her tail curling over her paws. She knew not why Florimel had sought to bring him back to her, but she would cherish it all the same. The elder teal warbled as her mate called for her assistance to ward away these persistent whelps. Little did her love know that she came to help them instead. She pinned the blue dragon beneath her form, paws planted firmly on his chest. She could see the warmth on his scales, a reflection of herself. With a soft warble she kissed him once more, knowing in the depths of her soul, everything was going to be alright from this day forward.

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If you enjoy this, don't forget to fav and comment, vote it up so others can see! For the time ahead, I'm going to be switching from rewriting book 3 for publication and doing Gilded Cage. For the books, I think I'll be doing a non lewd version of the story (with fades to black) alongside special versions you can get that have all the lewd scenes intact.

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