The group flew the ship through the skies of Neopia peacefully for two days, Terror Mountain coming ever closer. Silver continued teaching the way of the sword to both Jing and Bast, all three improving with the practice. Leria usually just watched from some vantage point, at the wheel or in the crow’s nest, where Kinu accompanied her some times.

The third day dawned crisp and chilly, the air much colder now that they were so far north. It was delicious for the silver dragon, who had actually grown and was now taller than Rena, much to her disappointment. Leria laughed, explaining that Kinu would grow quite fast until she was large enough for Jing to ride her.

Jing was sitting on one of the crates up on deck, looking over towards the mountains. She didn’t mind the cold too much, now wearing her new jacket, and her very fluffy tail curled around her. She was glad to be getting closer to their destination and was loving the peaceful time on the ship.

Kinu and Rena were playing as they mopped the floor of the deck, giggling and throwing water and soap suds at each other, not cleaning much but still having fun. Leria chuckled, looking out towards the mountain now looming ahead of them. “Not much farther now.” She said, watching as Bast steered the ship. He nodded, “We’ve had favorable winds.” He said in satisfaction.

Jing looked over towards Kinu and Rena, smiling happily as she watched the two children play. It felt great to see the small dragon so happy now and enjoying herself! It also felt great to her to travel like this with so many friends. “When do you think we will land?” She asked, looking over at Leria and Bast.

“Bout nother day.” Bast said, “P’raps tonight if we keep up tha speed.” He said with a nod. Leria was looking towards the mountain, eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to make out something in the distance.

Jing grinned as she heard that, stretching. “Thats great! Means we are getting a lot closer” She said before looking back at the mountains happily, tail uncurling from around her and swinging back and forth.

Leria frowned. “This… no… it can’t be…” She muttered, walking off towards the forward reaches of the ship to peer at the speck in the distance.

Jing looked over at Leria, blinking confused and jumping off the crate she was on and walking over to her “Is something wrong?” She asked, looking in the direction her friend was.

“Not sure… but I have a feeling there is.” She said, pointing at a small white speck in the distance. “Can you make out what that is?” She asked.

Jing looked towards the speck, squinting her eyes and trying to make it out. “Not… sure….”

Leria sighed, “Maybe I’m just paranoid.” She mumbled, but kept an eye on it. “We’ll have to wait and see.

Jing nodded a little, leaning against the side of the ship and looking down at the water below them for a moment before looking back at the mountains happily.

The ship flew on through the skies, and the speck slowly grew larger. It was midday when they finally made out what it was, and it brought a snarl to Leria’s lips. “A White Dragon.” She hissed.

Jing blinked in surprise as she heard Leria, looking at her before out towards the white speck she had seen before “A white dragon…?”

Leria nodded, turning back towards Bast, “Get your armor on.” She said grimly. He frowned, but nodded, dashing off to the captain’s cabin, taking off his pirate hat as he went. Leria turned back to Jing. “There are five types of good and evil dragons, each a mirror of each other. For each Metallic Dragon of good, there is a counterpart in the Chromatic Dragons of Evil.” She explained. “The white dragons are the Dark counterparts of the Silver.” She said, turning back to the growing dragon. “That dragon lives in the cold, and has ice as a breath weapon, like Kinu does.”

Jing bit her lip hard as she heard that and nodded a little. “Why is there one here though?”

“I’m not sure, but it seems more evil is afoot than we’d thought. It’s not just those two dragons we’ve already faced.” Leria sighed, still eying the dragon that came closer.

Jing bit her lip and nodded a little “I’m going to go warn Grisfam, Silver and Iris alright…? And take Rena down below deck.”

Leria nodded, “Good idea, I’ll try and fight him away from the ship but you should be prepared to fight.”

Jing nodded “I will be Leria.” She said before quickly heading over to where Kinu and Rena were both playing. “Come on you two. Lets head down below deck.”

Kinu looked up and pouted. “Awwww why?” She asked with a whine.

Jing looked at Kinu and sighed. “Please just come? I’ll explain it all at once to everyone.” She insisted.

Kinu nodded, getting up as Rena followed obediently down into the hold, where the old magician slept peacefully.

Jing sighed as she looked at Grisfam, then the two kids. “Please stay here. I just need to bring Iris and Silver over, she said before going to find the two.

She found the two in the kitchen, discussing their next meal. Silver smiled as he saw Jing, “Hey Jing! Have you practiced those sword swings today?” He asked cheerfully.

Jing smiled nervously at Silver. “Not yet… but we have bigger problems right now… Can you both come for a minute so I can explain?”

They nodded, exchanging questioning glances, and following her out.

Once everyone was together Jing sighed quietly, looking up for a moment. “Leria spotted a White Dragon.” She said finally. “Leria is going to try and go out and fight him away from the ship but we should all be ready.”

Silver jumped up from his seat. “A dragon!? An evil one?” He asked excitedly. Iris frowned, “Will she be able to fight him on her own?”

Jing nodded a little at Silver’s question before looking at Iris. “Not sure. Between her and Bast they might, but she said to be ready in case the fight comes here.”

Iris nodded, “I hope everything goes okay, I don’t want more of you hurt…”

Jing sighed quietly “I hope so too Iris… I’m going to head back up on deck, wanted to make sure you all knew what was coming first though.”

They nodded, and Silver ran up on deck to catch a glimpse of the white dragon, quickly hopping up the stairs. Kinu dashed after him, also wanting to see this other dragon, the jerboa’s excitement contagious.

Jing watched the two run off, sighing again before quickly following up onto the deck.

Leria was where she had been before, keeping an eye on the dragon, and Silver had climbed up onto the bowsprit, balanced precariously on the thin wooden spike.

Jing went over beside Leria, looking out towards the white dragon. “Is it still coming towards us…?”

Leria nodded, “I don’t know what he’s up to, I hadn’t thought there were more dragons afoot.” She sighed, “We’ll see what he’s up to soon enough.” She turned, looking for Bast impatiently, just as he came out of the captain’s cabin dressed in the dragon armor, his helm under his arm. “Are ye sure we can do this?” He asked.

Jing looked over at Bast before back out towards the still far away dragon nervously “Be careful you two… alright?”

Leria smiled, nodding, “Of course.” She said, and looked to Bast, “I think this will be excellent practice.” She smiled at him, “Come on, let’s go.” She jumped up on the railing, then with a salute to Silver and Jing, jumped off into the open sky.

Jing watched Leria jump off, tail twitching from how nervous she was over this dragon showing up.

Bast gave a wry smile, and put a hand on Jing’s shoulder. “Time ter see if I’ve got it in me not ter die, eh?” He said, then moved to the edge of the ship, clambering up onto the railing and looking below, then fell back in surprise as Leria flew into view in her dragon form. He smirked, then jumped off the railing to land on her back, and the two soared off to meet the white dragon.

Jing smiled a little at Bast and Leria as they flew off, hands hanging onto the railing tightly. “Please be safe…” She said quietly.

Silver waved them off, tail curled around the bowsprit as his only security on the precarious ledge. The bronze dragon raced off towards the white, who put on a burst of speed as he spotted Leria.

Jing bit her lip hard, tail twitching from nerves. This had been the first time in quite a while that she had seen another dragon besides Leria and Kinu and hoped that things wouldn’t get as bad as they had before.

As the two came closer to each other, Jing could see that the white dragon was smaller than Leria. Both dragons roared in defiance, and ice and electricity danced through the skies as the battle began.

Jing watched in surprise as the attacks began, not moving from where she stood and watching in worry.

Kinu was perched on the railing beside Jing, and her wings twitched as she too watched. “isn’t this amazing!?” Silver said excitedly. “I wish I had a dragon to ride to battle!”

Jing looked over at Silver, blinking confused. Why was he so excited like this?! “Don’t you realize the danger?!”

“Of course!” He replied, “That’s what makes it exciting!”

Jing sighed quietly, shaking her head. “I don’t see how something that could end in friends getting hurt is exciting…” She muttered before looking back to the fight.

Silver shrugged, “I’m sure they’ll be fine. And Iris can heal them too!”

Jing said nothing else towards Silver, really hoping he was right at least and those two would be fine. Why couldn’t things just stay peaceful for more then a couple days with them?

The battle was fierce, but not too long. Finally, the white dragon roared in pain, and fell back, spiraling to the ground. Leria flapped in place once, watching, then plunged down in a dive after him.

Jing leaned over the railing a little as she saw the white dragon fall and Leria follow, heart pounding in her chest. Had Leria and Bast won then?!

“See! Told you so!” Silver leaned over to look down, and his footing slipped, with a yelp of surprise he fell over, dangling by his tail from the bowsprit. “Well now!” He commented, heart racing. “How exciting!”

Jing turned in horror as she saw Silver fall and she moved quickly to get over beside him, leaning over the side and bringing a hand towards him. “Are you crazy?! Here grab on.”

He laughed faintly, short hands unable to reach up to her own. “Maybe?” He said. Kinu flapped as she jumped off the side, diving to catch Silver and helped him up towards Jing, until he was able to grasp her hand.

Jing sighed as she was able to get Silver’s hand and pull him up. “Thanks Kinu.” She told the dragon with a smile then looking at Silver again. “And you should be more careful!”

Silver laughed, “That was fun! Let’s do it again!” Kinu was once more perched on the railing, looking below. “Where are they?” She asked.

Jing shook her head quickly. “No way Silver!” She insisted before looking around and down where she had last seen the fighting dragons. “That’s weird….. I don’t see them…”

Kinu frowned, scanning the waters below them, looking for signs of Leria and Bast. “They shouldn…” She thought she caught a bit of movement in the water, then peered closer, and frowned. “I’m gonna go look for them!” She declared, jumping off the railing once more and plunging downwards.

Jing watched in shock as Kinu went down towards the waters. “What are you doing Kinu?!” She called out in panic.

Kinu was by then far below the ship, ‘I’ll go look for them!’ Came the telepathic reply.

Jing bit her lip as she heard Kinu, nodding a little. ‘Please be careful! Keep contact at all times!’ She pleaded to the dragon, worried about Leria and Bast, but also about Kinu.

The silver dragon was hard to keep in view, though the glint of sun on her shining scales indicated where she was. Jing leaned far over the railing, looking down at the water, tail twitching nervously behind her as she struggled to keep the little dragon in sight.

Silver watched as well, “Wish I had wings.” He said wistfully.

Jing nodded in agreement. “So do I…” She said quietly. If something happened she did have an idea how she could get down to the water without getting hurt, but she wasn’t sure how much of a use she could be anyways.

As Kinu was reaching the water, Leria and Bast suddenly appeared behind Jing on the deck, and Leria collapsed to the deck with a sigh. Bast was at her side, crouching. “You okay?” He asked, worried. She nodded, looking over her bleeding wounds. “Yeah.” She said faintly.

Jing turned to look at Leria in surprise. “Are you alright?!” She asked before looking down towards Kinu. ‘Kinu! Come back up here! Leria and Bast are back!!!’

Bast moved Leria to sit against the fore mast, and dashed off to the hold for Iris. Leria smiled to Jing. “I’ll be fine.” She assured her, blinking in confusion as Jing turned back to the rail. “Kinu?”

The small silver dragon’s wings flared open, and she flew in a wide circle as she looked up wings pumping to begin rising again.

“She is down there, she went to go check on you both.” Jing explained, but didn’t let her eyes leave the silver dragon. “What happened to that white dragon Leria?”

Leria frowned in worry as she struggled to her feet, moving to Jing’s side, “The idiot!” She hissed. “Her wings aren’t ready to fly that much!”

“Will she be able to get back up?!” Jing asked in worry and slight panic now, looking down at Kinu still.

“No.” Leria said grimly. She moved to jump over the side, flinching in pain as more blood oozed from her wounds.

Jing looked over at Leria worried as she saw the wounds. “I’ll go get her.” She finally said with a nod.

Leria blinked, “What!?” She stared at Jing, “You can’t fly!”

Jing nodded “I can’t fly, but if I get to Kinu I can make it so we fall up towards the ship.”

Leria hesitated, biting her lip. “Are you sure…?”

Jing nodded “Your hurt Leria… And I’ve done stuff like that a couple times.” She said, getting ready to jump off the ship.

Leria sighed, “Alright, but be careful.” She said, sinking to the side of the ship, Silver now at her side, fussing over her wounds.

Jing nodded “I will be.” She said before jumping off the ship and falling down towards Kinu.

Kinu was halfway towards the ship, but was weakening, and she began falling back down towards the sea.

Jing looked towards Kinu in shock, continuing to fall down towards her and trying to catch up quickly and grab onto the dragon.

Kinu’s fall was softened by her outstretched, but twitching, wings. Finally though, she gave way, and began plummeting to the sea below faster. ‘JING!’ She cried out.

Jing watched in shock, bringing her hands down towards Kinu and altering the pull of gravity around her so instead the dragon would fall up to her, and ready to alter it so they both fell up when the moment was right.

Kinu eeped in surprise as the pull changed, jerking her upwards, then rising upwards to Jing.

Jing brought out her one hand towards Kinu, and once she was able to touch the dragon, the pull upward effected her as well to bring them back up towards the ship.

Kinu clung to Jing, trembling slightly. ‘I… I couldn’t…’

Jing held onto Kinu tightly as they fell up to the ship, and once they were up to it the rakune brought her one hand up to grab the railing and bring herself and Kinu back onto the deck before the gravity went back to normal.

Iris was healing Leria and the others were crowding around. Bast had been watching the two, and helped them up on deck as they arrived. “You two ok?” He asked, looking the two trembling girls over.

Jing nodded a little, hugging Kinu tightly and body trembling a little. “Y…Ya. What about you… Kinu are you alright?” She asked, looking at the little dragon in worry.

Kinu nodded shakily. ‘J…Just tired.’ She said. Bast sighed, but smiled, “Well, that’s good.” He looked to Leria, who was standing. The dragon sighed faintly as she walked over, “Kinu you should know better than that! Your wings aren’t powerful enough to fly well!”

Kinu whined, ‘I… thought I’d find you and Bast and you’d take me back up…”

Jing looked at Leria before down at Kinu, still hugging her. “Next time… we should all trust our friends a little more and wait for them to come back.” She said quietly. “Alright Kinu? Please don’t try something like that again until you are stronger ok?”

Kinu nodded meekly, and Leria chuckled, “We dove down to see if we could catch him for questioning, but he was dead after he hit the water.” She sighed, “So much for that.” She stretched, as Bast went to sit on a box, tired. “At least it was a good practice battle.” She smiled widely.

Jing smiled at Kinu, holding the dragon close. “Its alright now ok? Everyone makes mistakes, but you were really brave to fly down like that.” She told her before looking at Leria. “Are you alright now?”

Leria nodded, “Yeah, Iris healed my wounds.” She chuckled, “Bast did pretty good for his first Dragon battle.”

Jing looked over at Bast and smiled. “I’m glad.” She muttered before closing her eyes, suddenly feeling really tired. After using her powers like that, once she relaxed she remembered how draining it was.

Leria noticed both Jing and Kinu were tired, and smiled faintly, “Why don’t you two go take a nap? I think Bast’s already doing that…” She glanced at the kankiru, asleep in his dragon armor on top of a crate, back to the cabin wall.

Jing chuckled quietly as she opened her eyes, looking at the sleeping kankiru. “I think so…” She said, trying to stand with Kinu.

Kinu wriggled easily out of Jing’s grasp, the dragon wasn’t so tiny anymore and was about to be as tall as Jing, and quite a bit more heavy. ‘I can walk.’ She said with a smile.

Jing looked at Kinu amd smiled a little. It was so weird to see her getting so tall but amazing at the same time. “Alright Kinu.” She said with a nod, heading towards the dorms.

Kinu padded down with her, and soon was asleep on the bed she shared with Jing.

Jing curled up close to Kinu, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.