Leila landed near the rock as Ignis and Bishop hopped off. She changed into her human form.

"I can sense an opening to my realm, it’s close." Leila said with a frown.

"Don’t worry, we’ll find it. Maybe it will give us some answers." Ignis said while hugging her.

Bishop simply stroked his mane and walked slowly away from the group.

"Bishop! Wait up!" they called and sprinted toward him.

Bishop stayed quiet as he sniffed the air, rubble, and the ground around them. He sent out 9 clones, and they helped scour the area until one of them yelled, "Over here! I’ve found it!"

The three ran over to the clone as it disappeared.

"The portal is under this rubble, about 50 feet underground. Back up please." Bishop said calmly.

Ignis and Leila backed up 100 feet and Leila explained how Bishop’s clones worked.

Bishop unleashed a seismic punch, shattering Solstice’s floor. As the ground opened, a small, white portal with dragon wings laid flat on the surface.

"What the hell?" Ignis said. "Is that a portal to the dragon realm?"

Leila didn’t hesitate and jumped through.

"Leila!" Ignis shouted as he jumped through.

Bishop stayed put. "I’d better stay back in case anything funny happens."

*****

The masked god shook his head in disdain. "Well, hopefully she can’t regain her memories and hopefully Ignis’ parents kept their fucking mouths shut like they were supposed to. The only reason that flame still burns is because they’ve kept their word. Unfortunately, my side of the bargain was that even if it was discovered, as long as they weren’t the reason, I can’t destroy the planet or dragon realm."

Hades returned. "You made the best deal you could. Two less headaches for a stupid planet and a memory block. I mean one of them is a phoenix and the other one is a hybrid who can barely turn into a phoenix. We got rid of invincible ones at the expense of mortal dragons. I’d say you made a good deal. Stop beating yourself up."

"I’ll get over it."

"Sounds good! Let me know if you want me to send someone to kill the fuckers." Hades laughed. "See ya!"

"He really wants them dead doesn’t he?" the masked god laughed. "Now isn’t the time. We can’t piss Sora off. That’s a fight I don’t want. I prefer lurking in the shadows."

******

Leila looked around frantically, panicking as she failed to recognize anything

"Leila, calm down. It’s going to be ok. What’s going on in that beautiful brain of yours?" Ignis asked emphatically.

"We’re in my realm but I don’t know anything about it? What’s going on Ignis?"

"I’m not entirely sure. My parents never mentioned or hinted that dragons existed."

"Lox!" Leila yelled. "Lox! Are you here?!?!"

Lox heard his name as he watched his kids, happily playing with other dragons.

’They’re almost young adult dragons now. I hate this. If I answer her call, my kids will be taken from me...’

"I don’t think he’s coming, my love. This might not be the best time, but it might be the only time we can get married in your realm."

Leila smiled. "I need to remember this part of the realm first. Where is Sora when you need him?"

*****

"Huh? Did someone say my name?" Sora looked confused as he approached Athena with Brie and Xander.

Sora, what’s wrong?" Athena asked politely. "I wanted to meet with you to go over your first year in Paradise. You’ve grown quite a bit! I’m proud of the three of you."

"Thank you! I feel like we’ve grown exponentially. Anyway, I just heard someone say my name is all. I’ve only experienced that once with Ignis on Exteria."

"Oh, whenever someone on any planet in any Universe thinks your name, you’ll hear it. It takes a bit to get used to. If they pray to you, you’ll hear the full prayer. Brie, Xander the same applies to both of you."

"We’ve been here for a year, why is someone only now thinking of me? " Sora asked with a frown.

"Remember Sora, on Exteria, only one day has passed. I know this is quite an adjustment."

"You’re right about that..." Brie said cheerfully as she smiled at Xander. "15 more years to go!"

*****

"Yes, they would be very helpful right now. Unfortunately, it’s just the two of us, so what do you want to do?"

"Let’s look around. Maybe something will jog my memory."

"Any particular direction you want to walk?"

Leila started walking north silently. She struggled trying to remember anything about this area. She could see nests in trees, bones of dragons laid with flowers and grass growing around them. ’Dragons lived here. Why can’t I remember?’

After about 30 minutes of walking, she heard a twig snap.

"Over there!" Leila said as she turned into her dragon form, flying as fast as she could.

She reached a tree where a baby wyvern hid.

’My mommy and daddy will be really mad if they found out someone saw me.’ the baby wyvern thought.

Leila turned back into her human form. "Sorry, I know something is around here, I can just sense it. It’s not a dragon but it’s definitely something close to a mythical creature."

Ignis expanded his wings and launched into the air, which caused the wyvern to jump slightly.

Leila snuck up behind the tree and grabbed the baby from the branch.

"Why hello! You are a pretty little wyvern. I’m Leila, I’m the Queen of the dragons!"

The wyvern cried loudly.

Ignis spotted an adult wyvern flying towards him at an intense speed.

"Greetings friend!" Ignis shouted.

The wyvern tackled Ignis, thrashing wing after wing into him.

"What the hell? Do you want to die?" Ignis said as he kicked the wyvern off him and grabbed its throat. "Give me a reason not to kill you. I know you can hear me."

"IGNIS STOP!" Leila yelled. "There’s a baby over here who won’t speak to me either."

"Wait, what?" Ignis said as he let the wyvern go and floated slowly to the ground. "Why are you so aggressive towards me? We’ve never met."

The wyvern snapped its beak and flew down to Leila.

"Hello sir, I believe this is your child." Leila said as she let the baby fly to her father.

"Aren’t you the dragon Queen? Why are you here?" the adult wyvern asked.

"Where exactly am I? It feels like the dragon realm but I don’t know anything about this area?"

"What do you mean? You visited all the time. Why are you with the filthy bird?"

"What do you mean filthy bird? That’s my fiancee and the King of Solstice."

The wyvern hissed at Ignis in disgust. "You know phoenix and dragons hate each other. You lived it."

"WHAT?!" Leila gasped. "Why don’t I know this!?"

Ignis went to hug Leila but the wyvern darted down. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Woah buddy. I’m not going to hurt her, I’m trying to console her."

The wyvern paused and allowed Ignis to hug Leila.

"Talk to me sweetie. What’s going on?"

"Brie Lockheart, I pray that you hear me and help me in this time of need. I can’t remember anything about my own home and it’s very confusing. Please send Lox or come to me if you can. I need help!"

*********

Brie stopped walking to their home in Paradise. "Sora, Leila is upset. What do we do?"

"Let’s ask Athena?" Sora suggested.

Athena appeared. Sora and Brie laughed. "You’re always so quick! It’s amazing."

"When Leila falls asleep, that’s when you can visit. I will aid you when it’s time."

"Mama will help Auntie Leila when it’s time. Let’s see if I can focus on another planet today!"

"That’s a great idea buddy. How does it feel to be a year older? You’re already 3!"

"About the same, just stronger. Never getting tired using magic is nice. I wish I got that from you, dada."

"It’s not out of the realm of possibilities that one day you develop such an affinity toward magic. You’re only 3 Xander," Athena reminded him.

"Let’s just focus on what we can control now. What planet do you want to try and see today?"

"Eerth!"