Friends and Harmony

Chapter 8

Beginning The Quest

When everyone arrived at the library, locked all of the doors, and covered up the windows, the five friends turned to Henry and Astrid.

"Okay, guys." Tobias said after he bolted the doors. "Someone better tell us what the heck just happened?"

"Take it easy, Tobias." Felix said. "I'm pretty sure that there's a simple explanation. Right, guys?"

"There's an explanation, yes." Astrid said. "But simple, I'm not so sure."

Henry sat down at a table and pulled out the book about the Guardian Dragons from his book bag. He then began to explain everything as he began flipping through the pages.

"Alvin was that royal adviser that betrayed the royals all those years."

"So, they were true? Those rumors that people would sometimes say in dark alleys?" Ritchie asked.

"Similar, but yes." Henry said. "It was said that he would return to Berk and exact revenge on the royal family." He looked at Stephen and Valerie with a worried glance.

Stephen sighed. "We did banish him from Berk after the incident, but we didn't know how dangerous he truly was until the guards couldn't find our son."

"The Lost Prince?" Cosette asked.

"Yes." Valerie confirmed, looking down at her hands. "But, we still believe he would come back to us."

Astrid cleared her throat. "Before the sentimentality increases, Henry, is there any way to stop him from taking over Berk?" But, she already knew the answer.

Henry nodded, and showed everyone the page he found, depicting the symbols of the Guardian Dragons. "Only the magic of the Guardian Dragons could stop that kind of dark magic that has possessed Alvin."

"But, didn't they pass away over a thousand years ago?" Violet asked.

"Yes, but their spirits still remain." Henry explained. "According to this book, only five of the magics they practiced are known: Trust, Mercy, Courage, Selflessness, and Honor. The sixth one is a complete mystery."

"Those sound like personality traits, not magic." Tobias said.

"Yes, but those traits are just what make that magic powerful." Astrid said. "But, there's something else." She took the book from Henry, and flipped a couple of more pages. "It is said in here that a group of individuals will chosen to each wield a piece of that magic, one aspect for each person." She then closed the book and took a deep breath. "That group is you guys."

"WHAT?!" The six other kids exclaimed.

"Astrid, tell me you're joking." Henry said. But, she shook her head. Henry then noticed that she was looking down. As he remembered the day's events, it hit him. "You were trying to prevent this. You didn't want it to be us."

She nodded. "All the signs were there; how you so easily connected with all of them, and they with you. I didn't want you to face him."

Henry gently placed a hand on Astrid's arm. "I'm glad that you care, but now, it seems you know what needs to be done."

Stephen and Valerie looked at each other, then at the group of kids. "Astrid's right." The king said. "Only you six can find the spirits and use them to defeat Alvin."

"But, how will we know how to use them?" Henry asked.

"We don't know." Valerie replied. "That is for you to discover, if you decide to take the journey."

Ritchie sighed. "Well, looks like we don't have much of a choice, do we, y'all?" He turned to look at the friends he grew up with.

Tobias grinned. "I had never backed down from a fight. I'm not gonna start now."

"So, where do we need to go?" Felix asked.

Henry took the book from Astrid and opened it again. "It says that the last known place where the Guardian Dragons had been seen was the Outcast Woods, just outside of town to the east."

"The Outcast Woods?" Violet asked. "But, that dreadful, murky place is full of monsters and dangerous criminals who mostly keep to themselves. But, they will most likely attack wanderers for the sheer fun of it!"

"However," Cosette began, "it is a good hunting ground. Plenty of game."

"You know the area?" Ritchie asked. Henry and Astrid noticed that there was something protective about his tone.

"Most of it." Cosette replied with a shrug. "The real dangers start when you go up and past the mountain."

"Odds are, that's where the Guardian Dragons should be." Henry said.

"Well, you now know where you need to go." King Stephen said. "You all must prepare for your journey."

"I'll stay here." Astrid spoke up. "And protect the king and queen, in case Alvin is looking for them."

Henry nodded in agreement, and headed up to his bedroom, and packed some food, the book, and a dagger that the king and queen insisted he carry with him at all times.

But the strange thing about it was that he always had it with him, ever since he could remember. It was with him ever since he was found and taken in by the orphanage. The dagger had an imprint of a black dragon coiled around the handle with his name woven in it, and the blade was silvery and sharp.

Once his book bag was packed, and his dagger hanging from his belt, Henry went back down and saw that everyone was ready.

Ritchie coiled up a lasso and hung it from his waist, along with a green saddle bag over his left shoulder. Cosette swung her bow over her right shoulder and double checked the number of arrows in her sheath. Tobias had a flashlight and a pistol strapped on his side. Felix packed some fireworks and matches in a beige duffel bag over his right shoulder. And Violet had packed some food and a pair of sewing scissors into a lavender knapsack.

"Everyone ready?" Henry asked. They nodded, and then started towards the doors. But before Henry could follow, a hand stopped him. It was Astrid.

"Be careful, okay?" She asked. Henry never thought that he would see fear in her eyes before. Still, he gave a small, reassuring smile.

"We will." He said, and then followed everyone else outside, closing the door behind them.

Author's Note

A/N: A lot of reveals in this chapter. But, that's all for now. In the next chapter, our heroes will journey into the Outcast Woods to find the Guardian Dragons.

I'll see y'all then! Please let me know about what you guys think!

Got to fly! ;)