~ two

As they laugh off that post battle adrenaline through the woods, a team of blue skinned giants abruptly steps forth as if from another world and into their path.

Leader - "A dragon has been torn from the sky."  He looks their number over.  "What do you know of it."

Chef - "It would be Bal, cousin."

Leader - "Bal does not have the power for this."  He looks the machine over, "Nor this."  Looks to the three, "But you I know.  Do you vouch for these vagabonds in our woods ?"

Eve - "Except the big guy yes."

Adam - "I vouch for myself.  We pass through your woods following this machine.  It seems friendly enough and has fought by our side, and by its own will.  But it does not speak to us.  All we know is Bal wants it."

Leader - "And what's inside.  Did you not think I could peer into it to recognize ... life ...?  It appears you would keep this from me."

Adam - "Only because I don't know you.  My name is Adam."

...

Leader - Stifling a laugh ... "Adam."  He looks to the three and back to him.  "This quest must be important indeed."

Adam - "We are sworn to its end, and I think if you join us, you will find your dragon."

Leader - "You say he has the power to take one, from the wind and storm, to name and ride it ?"

Adam - "If you say there is one, I would say so."

Leader - "Then perhaps, he is the true king.  After all."

Adam - "It matters not to me."

Leader - "Yes ... exiled."  He smiles.  "As once were we all.  But we have crossed the veil, into where to exile, is our privilege."

Adam - "The beauty of your kingdom is legendary."

Leader - "You are ... welcome guests for one night.  By morn his soldiers will have recollected themselves.  They seem to believe these walkers head to river, a wall has been built there ... they prepare ...

"Tomorrow you go to war, it is certain.  And so tonight, you shall feast."  He turns and that kingdom is revealed.

The trees begin pulling root and moving into each other, near violently pulling into single structures and cracking to reveal a doorway.  Branches twist to the nearest but where among the Erie these walkways were used by small humans, here it is the Fae and their many variations.

The buildings are dark stone and spired, archways over a citizenry dressed for dramatic.  Warriors but noble, relaxed in a world their own and evolved.  Beasts roam here next to any or all, and yet still the same wizards poking, the merchants mongering while trying to keep from underfoot.

Leader - As the walk through one world becoming the next, "The food we prepare for you comes from outside our land, you will not be doomed to stay by the taking of it.  Truth of it told we'd rather you did not."

He nods to a fluttering fairy, who looks them all over and darts off.

Adam - "We appreciate your hospitality, and will leave at your say or dawn, whichever comes first."

Leader - "Dawn it is.  This Bal ... he wishes this land to be his only world.  But you know ... it is only because he fears his own."  He turns as the Xenofix opens.

Ari - "Hey !  What's your name ?"

Leader - "Mother of mermaids and daughter of bliss."  He bows.  "My name is Leun-Drau pa-Drek, prince, of the The-na-Sidhe."

He looks between them, "She who will split worlds into other worlds ... and bring them all back together again, he who will command the green as though one of our own, and he ... "  A smile.  "He who may, one day, actually manage to teach something, to humankind."

"Gabby"

"Sam"

...

"Mike ?"

He looks to the chef ~

"I am Berntoff."  Spins blades between his fingers.  "I am a chef, with an interest ... in foreign cuisine."

Leader - "You are welcome to join our preparation poison tester."

Maid - "Busted."  A curtsy, "My name is Cerillian Vertruvius Pipsicatto Novella Tambourine Orange Slice the Marmalade Maid."

Leader - An incredulous pause and a laugh, "Among the most powerful beings any world has ever known.  And yet chooses to serve, in this one."

Maid - Blushes while digging a foot, "Yeah ... none of that pays bills though."
____

The Invisible king looks around ... sad.  "I have no ice cream."  Consoled by his guard.
______

Bal roars laughing through sky air on Calypso, catching up with Cybal.

Cybal - "My lord.  A dragon forged of the winds."

Bal - "Torn from the sky, by my will alone."

Cybal - "Truly, you have become."

The distance ahead, the walls reinforcing with nightmares and contracted beasts.  Demons for hire and ghosts for summon, elder gods holding their chains.  As they fly over it's noticeable that the walker tracks all end.

Cybal - "They cross the Sidhe lands now."

Bal - "We burn it down in the morn."  Calypso agrees with a snort of fire, "Their twisting trees and ways ... To ashes.  And without them to return, banished once again.  We burn it ALL !"

With a blast of fire the rage into the night.

As they're led into the dining hall, the table stretches far, seating many children unknown, all the other riders with their many heroes snacking behind them at buffets.  The Cook and Maid to the back behind the high chair at table's end, where sits the king. 

Leader - "I present, Lord Utread, King of the Sidhe, ruler, of the Standing Treeline."

As they sit and the meal begins, the view goes out to the many more Xenofix units approaching the castle, and out with the parting of trees into a forest again  Bal flies over it with Cybal and their mounts.  

~ To the credits which close as they opened, as if it were his show alone.

The nightmares complete their reinforcement at the wall, the hunters sniff their walker trails.  He flies over feeling victory and health, to final credits in black.

~ after the credits and at the end of the river ~

Completed construction of a fine heavy wall, they sit in the abandoned fortress at the mouth of the river, drinking smoking brews, feet up on a parapet ~

One - "Do you think he'll let us keep the castle.  I think I rather like it 'ere."

Two - "Well ... he has to I think.  It's abandoned."

One - "Well it may be evil to take it from us I think.  I feel suspicious inside."

Two - "But we are evil.  So if he were to take an abandoned castle from evil people ... what would that make him ?"

One - "Ohooo ... that's good ... "

Two - "And whatever is good ... "

One - "Must be evil."

They clink and drink, the view over the long wall, now gathered with nightmares settled into dark knightly forms, the things that terrified a crusader in the field.