***
Zhen looked over the map laid out in front of her. She had spent all twenty-one years of her life waiting for this moment. The moment they would triumph over the Dragon Lord. The other Shinobi Shamans were gathered around the table as well, including her mother and father.
"Our numbers are too small," a short man yelled.
"Their defenses are weak," a woman argued. "Now is the perfect time."
Ji held up his hand. "Please, bickering amongst ourselves is not going to help us defeat the Dragon Lord."
Zhen gave her father a relieved smile and pointed to a narrow valley where a red line was drawn. "This is the path they will be taking here. Here is the most vulnerable spot. The cliffs are high and there is a cave there we can use. It can be easily blocked."
Lien nodded. "The first group, led by myself, will create a rock slide here," she pointed to a spot along the red line, "just ahead of the cave."
"Then," Zhen said, "my group will corner them into the cave where we can force them into the portal."
"They'll resist," the short man spoke up again.
"What choice do we have?" Lien spoke calmly. "Do you wish to return to your home and watch the dragons ravage our country?"
The small man took his seat and said no more.
***
"Hitoshi, I have a bad feeling about this."
Hitoshi shushed his brother without breaking pace. "I've had enough of your bad feelings."
"But the Shinobi are going to attack," Jiro hissed.
"Father knows what he's doing. He hasn't kept the crown for twenty seven years just to lose it now."
***
"Stand your ground!" Dragon Lord commanded his soldiers.
His Rank had the advantage of numbers, but the Shinobi had a better point of attack. Their magick seemed to be pushing them back into a cave.
"Now!"
He looked at the one who had shouted. An older woman he recognized. "Lien!" he shouted. "You will join your father in death!"
"And you will join your mate!"
Dragon Lord watched in horror as his soldiers began disappearing. "Stay away for the wall!"
His soldiers kept disappearing as the Shinobi forced them back. Now there was only a handful with the Dragon Lord, including his son Hitoshi.
Zhen stood before the Dragon Lord. "You killed my grandfather."
"He murdered my mate!"
"And countless other humans," she continued. "Therefore, you are banished from this world."
Dragon Lord refused to bow to this girl. "I will return and have my revenge on your families."
"And we will banish you again if need be," Zhen hissed.
"We will not fall to you!" Hitoshi rushed forward and was thrown back into his fellow soldiers, pushing them into the wall-portal. Now the Dragon Lord was alone. He glared at the mystics before stepping into the portal.
Lien pressed her hand against the rock face and it changed into a mirror. Two large men threw a sheet over it and carried it from the cave.
"What do we do with it?" Zhen asked.
"My brother will take it to his temple," her mother answered. "He will watch over it, and will pass the task to future generations."
Ji sighed. "I only wish this would end it all. Unfortunately, the effects of the Dragon Lord's actions cannot be so easily abolished."
***
Ji carried his aging wife in his arms as he and his family fled from their home. Zhen glanced over her shoulder. "They're not following us."
Ji stopped. "Damn Dragon Lord. How can one dragon cause so much damage ever after he is gone?"
Zhen wiped the tears from her eyes. "Where can we go? We can't take mother to the astral realms and Atlantis has been sunk."
Ji shook his head. "We must keep moving west. They were not as effected by the Dragon Lord's actions so we may be able to hide."
***