Jia, the blue dragon of Althena, rested on the ledge in her chamber, looking down into the water. She leaned her head close to the water's edge and breathed softly, deeply, against its surface. The crystal water rippled, forming minute waves that would travel steadily until they reached the coral rocks at the other end of the pond. The waves marred the perfect reflection of the porous ceiling above, but Jia knew that in minutes, the pond would again be calm.
She raised her gaze to look at the limestone walls over her lair. The chamber was already a pleasing sight to the eyes, with a vibrant aqua color that seemed to spring from the rocks themselves, but no one ever found it quite as enchanting as Jia herself. The pond beside her sleeping ledge was filled with clear water, pure runoff from the mountain streams and equally refreshing just to look at. Several small waterfalls trickled down the outer walls, seeing to it that Jia's pool would never run dry. Adding color and a pleasant scent, were hundreds of water lilies, floating serenely on the water's surface near the shallows. Ebony had helped her gather the flowers and bring them here. She hadn't really needed his help, but he had wanted to. He seemed to do a lot with and for her.
As attractive as the chamber itself was, it paled in comparison to the one who dwelled there. Her forelegs crossed, Jia looked down into the water at her reflection. She was a modest creature, but she possessed a beauty that could be wrought only by the goddess herself, and her connection with the element of water lent her a grace unparalleled by any mortal being. A light-blue fur covered most of Jia's body, save the membrane of her wings, which was covered by a shimmering pattern in the colors of the rainbow. She had small horns, but they were not as pronounced or as curled as Ebony's.
Seeing that the pond reflected every hair of her form without exception, Jia lowered a claw and lightly stirred the water with it. Her previous ripples had vanished. The water undulated from her touch, and she focused her will upon it. Circles began to press up from the surface, shaping into the beginnings of bubbles. She raised her head, causing the water to surge upward as she did. She gestured with a handlike paw and formed four figures within the water spout; they were only family she had ever known. There was Nall and Ruby, and as her mind drifted over them, the water images took life of their own. The two water-dragons looked towards each other... and began to silently argue.
Jia smiled and laughed quietly to herself. She hadn't meant for that to happen, but it was the most prevalent image she had of them. She then turned to the other two images. There was Ebony, and a young woman who stood beside him; Miko. Those two had been the ones to be there for her since the beginning of her life. She distinctly remembered Ebony's fuzzy face as the first thing she saw when she cracked open her egg. Miko was kneeling beside him. He had been extremely protective of Jia, showing her how to use her magic, and making sure no threats came nearby. Miko had offered Ebony some much needed relief from caring for a vivacious young dragon; at least in the beginning. Jia lamented the fate that bestowed humans with such shorter life spans than dragons. She missed Miko's cheerfulness, her constant hope and optimism. Miko had been a wonderful person to call "friend".
The blue dragon turned her head slightly, a tufted ear twitching as she caught a sound in the skybound passage leading from her chamber. Hardly anyone ever landed on the ledge at the tunnel's end. Suspecting who it was, she dismissed the water sculptures with a thought, and turned to meet the visitor. Her expectations proved true when a larger dragon stepped into the chamber.
Ebony looked much the same as he had always been these past few centuries. His dark fur blended handsomely with the shadows, and he smiled when he saw her, letting his teeth give away his position more than anything else. Yet, as always, Jia could see a hint of sadness in his green eyes. She knew when he looked at her, he still saw Azura, her predecessor.
Before she had been born, a great evil threatened the land of Lunar. This power was more dangerous than Magic Emperor Ghaleon had been and possibly more deadly than Zophar would be. Alex, the Dragonmaster of the time, had been put out of commission. A young group of individuals, including Miko and Ebony, had risen to the challenge of saving the world. During the course of their journey, they had met the young blue dragon named Azura. Ebony and Azura had only been together a short while before she gave her life to save that of her friends. Azura's death had driven Ebony to insanity for a short while. He never told Jia how he snapped out of it, but she knew he still missed her, even now. A thousand years could cure many wounds, but even a millennia may not be enough to ease a dragon whose memory could last ten times that.
However, lately he seemed a little less sad when she saw him. He carried his own sense of humor a little brighter and his expression less worriedly. She hoped this was an improvement, but had to wonder what was causing it after all this time.
Jia pushed herself to her feet and moved over to him. They nuzzled each other lightly in greeting.
She then pulled her head back to peer intently at him with her sapphire eyes. "Ebony, it's wonderful to see you. What brings you to my sanctuary? Same reason as always?"
The older dragon smiled at her, his green eyes meeting hers. "And what reason would that be?"
"None."
Ebony laughed, stretching out on the ledge and looking over her pool. She scooted next to him, not touching, but close. Jia curled her neck into a comfortable position where she could watch him.
The black dragon chuckled. "I do pester you a lot, don't I."
"You never pester, Ebony. A dragon's life is so solitary. I welcome your company every time I see you. There's only four of us, and you know--Nall and Ruby's attention spans are all for each other; though that's a bad thing nearly as often as it is good."
Jia paused, uncertain if she had said the right thing. She did not want to upset him while he seemed on the road to recovery. Ebony wasn't the kind of dragon to just lay in his cave and sleep. He liked to be out, doing things, and he hated being alone. That's why he enjoyed his time spent with his humans friends while they fought to save Lunar.
She noticed something familiar about his mood and decided to risk broaching a question. Jia lifted her head towards him and looked Ebony in the eye. "You just came from there, didn't you!"
Ebony blinked. "Where!" He glanced around him in sudden shock.
"The memorial," she sighed, lowering the tone of her voice.
Ebony looked down slightly, giving her all the answer she needed. He had built a stone memorial to mark the place where Miko rests, and even after a thousand years, he still visited it. Jia wanted to tell him that maybe it was time to let go, but he spoke before she could put her thoughts into words.
"Actually, I do have a reason for my visit this time. I made you something."
Jia smiled, deciding to let the subject drop for now. As long as Ebony was in a good mood it could wait until he really needed the talk. She looked at him curiously. "What is it?"
Ebony met her gaze with a half-grin. "Close your eyes."
The two of them had played this game since she was little more than a flying cat. Though almost a full grown dragon she felt no harm in humoring him. He needed the cheering so much these days, and she enjoyed the game besides. She chuckled to herself as she closed her eyes, trying to imagine what sort of surprise he had in mind. Jia heard his form shifting, then the sound of stone scraping against stone. She couldn't help grinning.
"Okay, you can look now," said Ebony.
Jia gasped when she opened her eyes. Wonder reflected deeply in her sapphire irises. Set before her was a large fountain. It was made from a marbled blue stone which nearly matched the color of her fur. Around the base was a floral pattern, covered in tracks of ivy and orchids. The centerpiece was the exact likenesses of the four dragons, their backs touching and their mouths open, presumably through which water would run.
The black dragon settled himself back on all fours as he looked for her approval. "I thought it might go well with your lilies."
Jia nodded graciously. "Ebony, its lovely... How long did it take you to make it?"
"That would be telling."
She laughed, looking it over as he put a wing over her and her a little hug.
"Shall we set it up?" he asked.
"You bet!"
The two set about getting the fountain into the pond. Ebony waded into the water, using his power over earth to create a stable base on which it could rest. Jia then helped him grasp the fountain and lift it over the pool. From there she used her connection with water to cause the liquid itself help him support the heavy structure. Before too long, water was flowing through it as it was designed to do. They both stood together back on her ledge, looking it over and Ebony looking a little skinnier from getting his fur wet. Jia smiled again, turning towards him to speak, when they were interrupted by a angry and frustrated shout.
The white dragon dove in through Jia's aerial entrance and hovered in the vaulted chamber, pumping his wings furiously. "There you are Ebony, why weren't you in your cave!" he demanded.
Ebony's mouth bordered on a frown as he craned his head to look up. "Nice to see you too, Nall."
"Hello Na-" Jia began.
"No time for pleasantries!" snapped the white. Nall glared accusingly at them.
"What's got your tail in a knot?" said Ebony.
"Someone stole my crest!"
Both the blue and black dragons started at the announcement. Jia shook her head in denial. Ebony started to form a sarcastic comment about the "all-mighty tetrarch" but figured this wasn't the time.
Jia took a step towards Nall. "Who was it?"
"I don't know," growled the white, finally landing on a ledge further up along the outer rim of her chamber. "But she apparently wants to replace us all, every single one of us dragons. And that means she'll be after the rest of our crests."
Ebony moved towards him quickly, pacing himself closer to the aerial exit. "Mine is in my cave... but my cave's guardians..."
"Do you think mine helped any?" Nall snorted. "Get back there and make sure it's still there. And if it is, bring it back with you!"
Ebony usually protested at taking orders from what he considered to be a less mature and weaker person, but he knew the wisdom of his statement. He nodded. "I'll grab my crest and meet back here with the rest of you." The black dragon hurried from the chamber, glancing back at Jia before being lost to sight.
Nall glanced around and said absently, "Nice fountain, you got Ruby just right; running off at the mouth."
He turned towards Jia, apparently ready to give more orders. Suddenly he wavered, seeming to become weak. His legs gave out and he collapsed.
"Nall! What's wrong!" Jia bounded across her sanctuary and spread her wings as she leapt up to his ledge. There was barely enough room for her to alight on two legs with Nall sprawled over most of it.
The white dragon growled quietly, shaking his head as he struggled to get a hold of himself. "That bitch must be tapping into my powers!" Nall hissed slightly in pain. "I suddenly feel weaker, a bit dizzy... I'll be all right though. Just give me a few minutes."
Jia looked over him for something she could do to help, but before she could think of anything he slowly pushed himself back to his feet. She prayed the immediate danger had passed. Jia then realized something.
"Nall, does Ruby know yet? She has to be prepared to defend her crest."
Nall looked a little embarrassed and ashamed, an unusual feat for draconic features. "I was... saving her for last."
Jia realized his implication immediately. She shook her head, fearfully. "You're afraid she's going to make fun of you for losing your crest." His subsequent look of guilt only confirmed it. "This isn't the time for that! You have to go warn Ruby. I'll stay here and defend my own crest. Someone has to wait for Ebony, and since this is my lair, I'm best suited to guard it."
Nall recovered his composure and jerked his head in confirmation. "I was just going to say that. Carry on."
He turned and headed for the exit to the cave, walking a little stiffly. Jia watched him leave, and sincerely hoped he could manage the flight to Ruby's. She then looked down into the pond. The crest simply rested on the bottom, not very secure. She needed a safer place to put it, and she began looking around.