1 00:00:04,639 --> 00:00:07,719 Speaker 1: He Hello friends from across the nation and around the world, 2 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:12,880 by Martin and you are listening to Dad's Bedtime Stories. Tonight, 3 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:17,640 we're jumping back into the Dragon Knight's universe because well 4 00:00:17,679 --> 00:00:20,320 because I eventually want to finish the Dragon Knight's arc 5 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,879 and honestly turned it into a novel of some kind. 6 00:00:25,519 --> 00:00:29,600 Today's episode will continue the story ideas brought to us 7 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:35,479 by Grayson and Millie. Grayson originally suggested that we sort 8 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:39,200 of take on the Fire Dragon generals one at a time, 9 00:00:39,719 --> 00:00:46,399 and Milly suggested the story of Splash the Water Dragon General, 10 00:00:46,759 --> 00:00:50,280 and we're kind of continuing with that today. Now, if 11 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:52,280 you like the series and you really want to get 12 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:56,079 a suggestion or a voice clip on Dad's Bedtime Stories, 13 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:58,280 I'm going to give you a couple of hints of 14 00:00:58,359 --> 00:01:01,000 the kind of stories I'm looking for right now, so 15 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:06,000 get ready to take notes. One, I am actively seeking 16 00:01:06,079 --> 00:01:09,200 ideas on the rest of the generals, you know, the 17 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:14,959 Rock or Earth one, the Air one we would need, 18 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,560 and of course the Nature one, because I want to 19 00:01:17,599 --> 00:01:19,640 do a backstory for all of them, just like I 20 00:01:19,719 --> 00:01:24,079 did for the Fire Dragon General and the Water Dragon General. 21 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,400 So making a suggestion along those lines gives you, you know, 22 00:01:28,519 --> 00:01:32,920 a better chance of getting your suggestion, accept it. And 23 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,439 if you're looking for other things to suggest from the 24 00:01:35,599 --> 00:01:38,959 Cards of Power, for example, I still really need a 25 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:44,560 bunch of suggestions for opponents, opponents and their magical creatures 26 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,120 for the Deity Level tournament, So I'm looking for both 27 00:01:47,159 --> 00:01:50,560 of those more than anything else right now, as I 28 00:01:50,599 --> 00:01:52,920 still have quite a few ideas in most other series. 29 00:01:53,599 --> 00:01:55,280 Before we get started, I just want to give a 30 00:01:55,319 --> 00:01:58,480 couple big shout outs. First of all, thank you to 31 00:01:58,719 --> 00:02:02,959 the comment club on Spotify. A bunch of people have 32 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,280 decided to become part of a comment club on Spotify, 33 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,159 and I said that they had to follow some specific rules. 34 00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:15,879 Number one, no giving out personal identifiable information. If you 35 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,759 are commenting on the show or commenting anywhere on the Internet, 36 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,639 please remember that you do not know who the other 37 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,400 people are who are reading those comments, so don't tell 38 00:02:25,439 --> 00:02:29,439 them anything about yourself that should be private, like your 39 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:33,360 name or address that should never go on there. And 40 00:02:33,439 --> 00:02:36,280 if you have any questions, you should ask your adults, 41 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,360 which is number two. Your parents should always know you're 42 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,000 commenting on things, so parents, you might want to check 43 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:45,800 your Spotify comments just to make sure you know that 44 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:50,560 you or your account has been commenting on things. And three, 45 00:02:51,199 --> 00:02:54,400 be nice to everyone. I really love the comments that 46 00:02:54,439 --> 00:02:57,840 I get on Spotify. I really really appreciate them. But 47 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,479 I just think everybody needs to remember those important rules. 48 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,159 So I'd really appreciate it if you keep those in mind, 49 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:09,120 and thank you again for commenting. Last, I just want 50 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,639 to shout out Will. Will has sent me a few 51 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,560 comments about ads. She's been hearing and giving me some 52 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:16,719 advice on those ads, and I want everyone to know 53 00:03:17,039 --> 00:03:20,199 I take that advice really seriously. I'm not even really 54 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,599 a big fan of ads, to be honest with you, 55 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,120 but there's two ways to fund the podcast. One is 56 00:03:26,199 --> 00:03:29,120 by joining Patreon and you get ad for your stuff there, 57 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:31,439 and the other is to put up with a few 58 00:03:31,479 --> 00:03:35,439 ads because they pay us. And the other thing is 59 00:03:35,479 --> 00:03:38,120 that these ads that you get are kind of different 60 00:03:38,159 --> 00:03:40,599 depending on where you live. So these are not ads 61 00:03:40,599 --> 00:03:43,360 that I pick specifically to put in the podcast. They're 62 00:03:43,439 --> 00:03:48,360 kind of automatically inserted ads by my hosting company. I've 63 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,639 done a lot of work to block certain types of 64 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,319 ads and things like that, especially based on some comments 65 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,520 I've gotten. Thank you for those, by the way, but 66 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,680 I can't really control the individual ads, so I'm not 67 00:04:00,719 --> 00:04:03,560 getting the same as you get when I listen. Sort 68 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:09,520 of strange that way. Anyways, it's that time again. Time 69 00:04:09,599 --> 00:04:11,759 to get as comfy as you can in that bed, 70 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:16,759 close your eyes, and imagine yourself doing what the kid 71 00:04:17,319 --> 00:04:21,920 in the story does. Now, since I only do one 72 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,040 of these episodes every few weeks or so, I think 73 00:04:25,079 --> 00:04:30,240 a little recap is maybe necessary. At this point in 74 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:34,959 the story, you, the main character and the writer of 75 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:40,000 Ellie the Elemental Dragon, have met a bunch of new 76 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:48,959 dragon writer friends, including August, the Dragon King's daughter, who 77 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:55,199 not only rides an elemental dragon herself, but also taught 78 00:04:55,319 --> 00:05:00,639 you the power to reverse the control spell, the very 79 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:04,480 spell that the Dragon King used to take over all 80 00:05:04,519 --> 00:05:08,160 of the dragons in the first place, and now you're 81 00:05:08,199 --> 00:05:12,720 on a mission to free them all. You started by 82 00:05:12,759 --> 00:05:18,759 taking over the Fire Dragon Kingdom, and now it's time 83 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:22,680 to move on. In the last episode, we learned about 84 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:28,959 Splash and her dragon Ice Thorn, the Water Dragon General, 85 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:33,680 and how she came to be in power amongst the 86 00:05:33,759 --> 00:05:39,079 water Dragons, which will come into play today too. But 87 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:46,079 today we start things off in the fire Dragon zone, 88 00:05:46,319 --> 00:05:52,800 surrounded by volcanoes and ash and in fact the birthplace 89 00:05:52,959 --> 00:05:58,839 of Ash and Cinder. Your companion and his fire dragon 90 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:06,000 find yourself surrounded by the other dragon knights along with 91 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:10,879 their dragons, in the middle of a conversation on exactly 92 00:06:10,959 --> 00:06:15,240 what you should do next. When my father took over 93 00:06:15,319 --> 00:06:19,680 the kingdom, the next place he went after was the 94 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:25,519 water dragons, August explains, I think that's the next place 95 00:06:25,639 --> 00:06:30,680 we should go too. Yeah, that's probably a good idea. 96 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:38,079 Do you think we can take them? Well, yeah, August says, 97 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,439 with all of the dragons we've freed now from the 98 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:47,519 Fire Nation and the others we've freed over the past days, 99 00:06:48,399 --> 00:06:50,800 we should be able to take them in a battle. 100 00:06:50,959 --> 00:06:58,639 Only well, it'll probably be a pretty bad one, huh. 101 00:06:59,079 --> 00:07:02,959 I wonder if they're anything we can do to lower 102 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:07,199 the risks or slow things down at all. You respond, 103 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:12,639 maybe there's like a weakness or something, or you know, 104 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,480 like when we took over the fire Dragon area, maybe 105 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:21,879 there's some dragons we can sneak in and free. That's 106 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:26,639 probably a good idea. Maybe you and I should go 107 00:07:26,759 --> 00:07:32,279 in first, using our invisibility, check the place out and 108 00:07:32,839 --> 00:07:37,160 see if there's anything we can do. At the same time, 109 00:07:37,319 --> 00:07:43,040 the others can wait nearby just in case. And with 110 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:48,680 that the plan is settled. And after a short ride 111 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:54,000 under the cover of darkness, of course, you find yourself 112 00:07:54,120 --> 00:08:00,160 staring from a distance at the water Dragon Stronghold, rising 113 00:08:00,199 --> 00:08:04,639 out of the cliffs like a frozen crown. Even from 114 00:08:04,639 --> 00:08:09,959 a distance, it looks powerful and well cold. Honestly, it 115 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,759 looks very very cold. You croach with the others inside 116 00:08:14,839 --> 00:08:20,279 a little shelter of stone, ice, moss and roots that Bennett, Bethy, 117 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:24,959 Jewels and the dragons helped make, and the cliffs overlooking 118 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,600 the fortress. You spend some time going over the plan 119 00:08:28,759 --> 00:08:32,919 once again, just to make sure everyone's on the same page. 120 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:37,559 You and August, under the cover of invisibility, will sneak 121 00:08:37,639 --> 00:08:44,240 into the stronghold. Ellie and Eliara, your elemental dragons, also 122 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:49,200 under the cover of invisibility, will wait outside, watching and 123 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:53,679 ready to help. The rest of the dragon Knights will 124 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:59,240 stay behind. Bethy and Luna, Jewels and Vine, Bennett and Granted, 125 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:04,559 James and Whisper, Connor and bolt, Ash and Cinder, Curtis 126 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:09,720 and Phoenix, and even many of the newly freed fired 127 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:15,360 Dragons and their new true riders along with some of 128 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,480 the other types of dragons you freed along the way. 129 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,320 Some fire dragons were left, of course, to protect the 130 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:29,360 fire Dragon stronghold, but you brought a veritable army with you, 131 00:09:30,399 --> 00:09:34,440 and right now they were all tucked away as quietly 132 00:09:34,519 --> 00:09:39,279 as possible, making as little noise as possible. On a 133 00:09:39,399 --> 00:09:45,159 mountain not too far from the water stronghold, you climb 134 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:50,759 onto Ellie's back, while August climbs onto Eliarus. The two 135 00:09:50,919 --> 00:09:58,799 elemental dragons shimmer, and soon you both disappear, becoming completely invisible. 136 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:03,399 The two dragons leap from the cliff and glide through 137 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,559 the dark, icy air. You on top of one of them. 138 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:14,080 You sweep over the sea, past the outer patrols, between 139 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:19,799 two towers of pale blue ice. Up close, the stronghold 140 00:10:19,879 --> 00:10:24,879 is even more impressive and even more cold looking. The 141 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,320 walls are made not just of ice, but of layers 142 00:10:28,399 --> 00:10:32,440 of frozen waves, as if the sea itself was told 143 00:10:32,519 --> 00:10:38,559 to well create part of the fortress. Eventually, Ellie and 144 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:43,879 Eliara land softly on a high outer ledge just below 145 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:50,279 the topmost tower. All right, you two wait here, August 146 00:10:50,399 --> 00:10:56,080 whispers to the dragons. Eliara dips her head. We will 147 00:10:56,200 --> 00:11:00,799 be ready. You and August coat yourself in your own 148 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:05,320 invisibility magic and slip through an opening in the wall 149 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:11,840 and into the fortress. Inside, everything gleams, The floors shine 150 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:16,759 like polished glass. The walls are cold blue ice veined 151 00:11:16,799 --> 00:11:21,840 with white, and torches with pale fire in some sort 152 00:11:21,879 --> 00:11:27,759 of scances glow in the hallways. You move carefully through 153 00:11:27,759 --> 00:11:33,080 the halls, being careful not to even make any footsteps sounds. 154 00:11:33,799 --> 00:11:39,799 You decide it's probably better to sort of float and glide. 155 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:44,360 You take a deep breath, focus on the power of 156 00:11:44,519 --> 00:11:50,039 wind within you, and lift yourself gently off of the ground. 157 00:11:51,399 --> 00:11:56,720 You glide through the halls like a breeze, and you listen. 158 00:11:57,919 --> 00:12:01,759 I heard the fire region when quiet, one of the 159 00:12:01,799 --> 00:12:08,639 guards mutters, keep your voice down, says the other. I'm serious. 160 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:15,440 Something's wrong, everything's wrong lately. You and August exchange a 161 00:12:15,519 --> 00:12:19,879 glance that well, only two people with elemental powers can 162 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:26,960 actually see. The higher you climb, the quieter the fortress becomes, 163 00:12:27,759 --> 00:12:34,399 fewer guards, larger rooms, until at last August stops beside 164 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:38,960 a set of massive doors made of ice and carved 165 00:12:39,039 --> 00:12:43,960 with curling waves, or perhaps frozen in that shape in 166 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:49,000 the first place. This should be it, she whispers. The 167 00:12:49,519 --> 00:12:54,919 water Dragon General's room. If there's any secrets, this is 168 00:12:55,000 --> 00:13:01,639 where we'll find them. The room is absolutely massive, and 169 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,480 at the center of the chamber stands a huge water 170 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:11,080 dragon covered in pale blue scales and long icy spines, 171 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:20,840 ice Thorn, and beside him stands the water Dragon General Splash. 172 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:25,039 She's not wearing a helmet. She stands with one hand 173 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:30,000 resting against ice Thorn's neck, looking out towards the sea below. 174 00:13:31,279 --> 00:13:39,399 You simply watch, and eventually, very quietly, she begins to speak. 175 00:13:41,159 --> 00:13:46,240 I heard the rumors today, she says. They say the 176 00:13:46,399 --> 00:13:52,159 true dragon Knight's a back Thorn. Ice Thorn, of course, 177 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:58,360 does not answer. Splash gives a sad little laugh. Oh, 178 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:02,039 probably the worst in the world to tell rumors to. 179 00:14:03,799 --> 00:14:06,960 I don't even know if I believe it, she says, 180 00:14:08,039 --> 00:14:12,559 but I want to. I wish we had a real 181 00:14:12,759 --> 00:14:17,600 bond ice Thorn. I know what this is. I know 182 00:14:17,919 --> 00:14:22,200 what I did. I never would have accepted the control 183 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:27,440 spell if I'd seen any other way, she swallows. I 184 00:14:27,679 --> 00:14:31,120 just couldn't let them hand you to someone else. I 185 00:14:31,159 --> 00:14:34,759 couldn't let some stranger sit on your back and pretend 186 00:14:34,799 --> 00:14:41,120 they knew you pretend they understood you. I've done bad 187 00:14:41,159 --> 00:14:47,240 things in this fortress. I know that, maybe too many. 188 00:14:48,759 --> 00:14:52,000 But if there's a way to put even one thing right, 189 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:58,080 I would do it. You look at August, and August 190 00:14:58,159 --> 00:15:01,840 looks at you again, and in only a way that 191 00:15:02,039 --> 00:15:09,600 two elemental powered people could both of you nod understanding 192 00:15:09,879 --> 00:15:16,919 without well even speaking. There is a way, you say. 193 00:15:17,919 --> 00:15:23,799 Splash spins instantly, drawing or blade. Who's there. August appears 194 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:33,080 beside you, easy, Splash stars the Princess. August winces a little. 195 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:38,440 I don't barely use that title anymore. Splash his eyes narrow. 196 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:45,759 If you're here, then this is already over, not unless 197 00:15:45,919 --> 00:15:52,440 you help us. You say, help you do what? August 198 00:15:52,440 --> 00:16:04,080 steps forward? Free him? Splash freezes you. You can free him, yes, 199 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:09,399 August says, But once I begin, there's no pretending after that, 200 00:16:10,679 --> 00:16:16,000 there's no hiding from what side you're on. And to 201 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,200 be honest, I don't know how he's gonna feel about you, 202 00:16:19,919 --> 00:16:23,679 someone who kept him under a control spell for so long. 203 00:16:24,639 --> 00:16:28,879 Splash looks at ice Thorn and then back at August. 204 00:16:30,279 --> 00:16:34,240 Then I suppose it's time. If you can free him, 205 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:40,919 I'm ready to suffer the consequences. All right, August says, 206 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:47,200 this may feel a little strange, And with that, August's 207 00:16:47,279 --> 00:16:51,279 eyes change as she reaches out with her mind for 208 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:57,159 the control spell and snaps it into Immediately, the look 209 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:03,679 in ice Thorne's eyes change. Sh Splash takes a step forward, trembling. 210 00:17:04,799 --> 00:17:10,839 Ice Thorn the dragon lifts its head slowly. When he speaks, 211 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:15,920 his voice is deep and gentle and well tired, all 212 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:23,000 at the same time. Hello, little one, I am so sorry, 213 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:27,559 she blurts out. I never would have done this. Ice 214 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:29,720 Thorn simply lowers his head. 215 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:31,559 Speaker 2: I know. 216 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 1: I should have found another way. I know, Ice Thorn 217 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:46,359 says again. I could not answer, I could not stop it, 218 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:54,200 but I saw everything. Splash puts a shaking hand against 219 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,839 his snout. I only took the false Bawn, so no 220 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:04,319 one else would. I know why you did it, is 221 00:18:04,599 --> 00:18:11,559 Thorn says, and I thank you for it. He lifts 222 00:18:11,559 --> 00:18:16,839 his head, looking to you, in August. Now it is 223 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:21,359 time to do what we can to bring back true order. 224 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:29,759 I feel my brethren near by. Splash wipes her eyes. 225 00:18:31,079 --> 00:18:36,119 Then tell me, tell me what to do. Is Thorn's 226 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:44,640 gaze softens. First, we do things properly, He turns fully 227 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:53,559 to order Splash, if you still wish it, I choose you, 228 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:59,799 and with that light bursts between the two of them. 229 00:19:00,519 --> 00:19:05,799 Blue white energy surges from ice Thorn's chest and into splashes. 230 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:11,440 The whole room glows with it. Water rises from the 231 00:19:11,519 --> 00:19:15,680 bowls and channels and little decorative streams in the chamber, 232 00:19:16,519 --> 00:19:24,519 and energy appears around Splash, forming itself into gleaming armor 233 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:31,400 water dragon knight armour. A sword forms at her side, 234 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:37,960 A shield unfolds along her arm like flowing ice. Splash 235 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:45,079 gasps this. This is what it's supposed to feel like. Yes, 236 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:50,799 says ice Thorn. He nudges her gently with his great head. 237 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:58,880 It's time to make your mother proud. You take a breath, okay, 238 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:03,640 h saying, very emotional. We probably need to get on 239 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:10,200 with things, though. Splash nods, composing herself right. You quickly 240 00:20:10,279 --> 00:20:14,039 explain the plan that the others are waiting, That your 241 00:20:14,079 --> 00:20:17,000 goal is to weaken things from the inside as much 242 00:20:17,039 --> 00:20:21,559 as possible in order to make the battle as less 243 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:28,000 destructive as possible. Well, if our goal is to free 244 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:33,640 as many dragons as we can before, well before we 245 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:38,400 have to attack, then I believe I should start by 246 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:44,799 calling my five top commanders here, you too can wait 247 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:49,480 in the shadows and hell break the bond. Once they're 248 00:20:49,519 --> 00:20:54,640 in here, then we can freeze their riders in place. 249 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:58,799 And well, if there's time, I can call more of 250 00:20:58,839 --> 00:21:04,200 the soldiers. The more we can free before the battle starts, 251 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:11,400 the better. That is a wise plan, ice Thorn says, 252 00:21:12,799 --> 00:21:17,839 call them. You look at August, and at once you 253 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:25,759 both disappear again. Well, Splash heads outside to find the commanders, 254 00:21:25,839 --> 00:21:30,200 and ice Thorn takes on his best I'm totally a 255 00:21:30,319 --> 00:21:36,079 controlled dragon look that he possibly can. It doesn't take long. 256 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:41,759 One by one, each of the five commanders arrives in 257 00:21:41,839 --> 00:21:48,839 the large chamber, along with their very own dragon. General. 258 00:21:49,319 --> 00:21:55,279 One says, what is this about rumors, Splash says, coldly, 259 00:21:56,200 --> 00:22:00,799 weakness in the fire region, strange movement in the sky. 260 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:09,119 I want readiness at this hour. Another asks at every hour, 261 00:22:09,519 --> 00:22:14,759 Splash says, glancing over at you in August, though, of 262 00:22:14,839 --> 00:22:18,960 course unable to see you. They break into a bit 263 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:23,880 of an argument, and well they do. You reach out 264 00:22:24,079 --> 00:22:27,720 one by one to each of their minds, each of 265 00:22:27,759 --> 00:22:32,839 their dragons minds. Well, August does the same, and one 266 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:38,319 by one you cut the strings pulling them free of 267 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:45,559 the control curse. The dragons begin blinking, looking around in confusion, 268 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:51,119 and just as August snips the last of the command spells. 269 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:58,359 One of the commander's frowns, why is my dragon not responding? 270 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:04,680 Ice Thorn and steps forward into the doorway because he 271 00:23:04,839 --> 00:23:10,200 no longer belongs to your will. He slams a claw 272 00:23:10,279 --> 00:23:14,480 against the floor. Water bursts upward out of the ice, 273 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:20,920 surrounds the commanders and freezes them in place. What have 274 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:25,799 you done, one of the masks. What I should have 275 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:33,240 done long ago? Splash answers, and then a soldier appears 276 00:23:33,319 --> 00:23:38,279 in the doorway behind the commanders. He sees the trapped officers, 277 00:23:38,599 --> 00:23:45,319 the confused dragons splash wearing dragon knight armor, and his 278 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:50,720 eyes go wide. The general has betrayed us, he yells 279 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:56,960 and runs. We're under attack. For a split second, the 280 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:03,039 newly freed dragons look uncertain. Ice Thorn strides forward into 281 00:24:03,039 --> 00:24:11,160 the balcony. What a dragon's hear me? The chains are breaking. 282 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:16,000 For too long, we have been used as weapons by 283 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:20,400 those who do not know us, do not love us, 284 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:28,039 and do not deserve us. Below, alarms begin sounding through 285 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:34,559 the fortress, and soldiers begin running to their dragons to 286 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:40,880 day that ends. Ice Thorn continues fight with us. Now, 287 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:45,720 and when this fortress is free, we will do what 288 00:24:45,839 --> 00:24:50,680 should have been done long ago. We will find our 289 00:24:50,839 --> 00:24:56,559 true bonds. We will bring back the glory of the 290 00:24:56,759 --> 00:25:02,920 true dragon knights. One of the newly freed dragons lowers 291 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:08,160 his head, staring at the commander who had ridden him. Then, 292 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:14,400 to everyone's surprise, he says, I believe I have already 293 00:25:14,599 --> 00:25:23,000 found mine. You blink, Wait him, you say, realizing that 294 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:27,240 you have in fact remained invisible the entire time, you 295 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:32,359 allow yourself to appear again. And while the dragons look 296 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:37,759 slightly shocked, they've seen the powers of elementals before and 297 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:45,200 recognize your armor. Yes him. The rider stares back in disbelief, 298 00:25:45,599 --> 00:25:50,200 his lower body still completely frozen in ice. While I 299 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:55,839 was chained, he still treated me with kindness whenever he could. 300 00:25:56,799 --> 00:26:02,640 He fed me before himself, He cooled my wounds. He 301 00:26:02,799 --> 00:26:07,799 never struck me when others would have, and he did 302 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:13,519 what he could to save others. The rider swallows hard. 303 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:20,279 I never wanted any of this, I know, says the dragon, 304 00:26:21,079 --> 00:26:26,079 and a beam of blue light shoots between them. Dragon 305 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:31,039 armor surges into being around the rider, almost immediately, as 306 00:26:31,079 --> 00:26:35,000 the ice melts around him. He looks down at his 307 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:41,839 armored hands and shock, what's happening. The dragon steps beside 308 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:47,400 him proudly. What should have happened from the beginning. You 309 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:53,000 are a dragon knight. You've served the dragon king, but 310 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:58,720 your heart is pure. Now it is time you stood 311 00:26:58,839 --> 00:27:03,519 on the right side things. It is time we both did. 312 00:27:04,799 --> 00:27:10,559 Climb on my back, young one. The dragon orders and 313 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:16,799 the soldier obeys, climbing on top. You reach through your 314 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:21,960 bond to Ellie, Now, you say in your head. The 315 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:26,240 outer walls shimmers. Ellie and Eli Yara appear out of 316 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:31,519 nowhere and smash into the first wave of rising dragons. 317 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:36,559 The battle begins all at once. At the same time, 318 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,880 you and August take to the air and fly out 319 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:47,519 of the water dragon General's chambers, followed by ace Thorn Splash, 320 00:27:47,599 --> 00:27:51,720 and the newly freed dragons, one of which is already 321 00:27:51,799 --> 00:27:56,480 found a new rider. Of course, the battle begins all 322 00:27:56,519 --> 00:28:00,200 at once. Water tears out of the channels and the 323 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:07,279 wall ice bridges crack towers throw frozen shards into the sky. Splash. 324 00:28:07,319 --> 00:28:10,519 An ice Thorn command the fortress better than any of 325 00:28:10,559 --> 00:28:15,000 the enemy riders could sending walls of water upward and 326 00:28:15,079 --> 00:28:21,200 freezing them into shields, then ice, spikes, and spears. You 327 00:28:21,279 --> 00:28:24,240 fly on to Ellie's back as she dives through the 328 00:28:24,319 --> 00:28:30,480 chaos above the stronghold. The rest of your dragon army 329 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:35,599 finally arrives. Bethy and Luna sweep in on a surge 330 00:28:35,599 --> 00:28:39,799 of water and ice. James and Whisper blast across the 331 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:44,200 sky with a sonic boom that rattles the towers. Conner 332 00:28:44,319 --> 00:28:48,799 and Bold crackle with lightning. Bennett and Granite rise from 333 00:28:48,799 --> 00:28:54,160 the cliffs below on spinning disks of stone, Jewels and vines, 334 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:57,759 send vines erupting through the cracks and the frozen walls. 335 00:28:58,559 --> 00:29:04,079 Ash and Cinder arrive with the freed fire dragons behind them, 336 00:29:04,319 --> 00:29:10,519 and suddenly red orange flame rains across the fortress, melting 337 00:29:10,599 --> 00:29:15,400 great sections of enemy defenses into clouds of steam. The 338 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:22,160 whole sky becomes water, fire, stone, lightning, wind, and ice. 339 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:27,039 You and Elly cut through the middle of it. A 340 00:29:27,119 --> 00:29:32,400 controlled dragon blasts ice toward you. You twist sees the 341 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:36,240 frozen stream with your mind and whip it around at 342 00:29:36,279 --> 00:29:41,119 another rider. Connors lightning blasts a second rider clean off 343 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:46,119 his saddle. Bennett wraps a third in rock. Bethy yanks 344 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:49,799 one from the sky with a ribbon of water. August 345 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:55,519 and Eliara move through the battle, freeing dragons one by one, 346 00:29:56,119 --> 00:30:01,599 and each newly freed dragon turns on the fire immediately. 347 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:07,079 It probably helps that none of the water dragons have 348 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,799 a commander to give orders, and they all attack in 349 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:17,400 well a fairly chaotic and unplanned manner. It doesn't take 350 00:30:17,519 --> 00:30:21,960 long for the fortress to start falling apart, but still 351 00:30:22,799 --> 00:30:27,839 you see one rider break free. You spot them below, 352 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:32,359 racing from the fortress on a water dragon, the same 353 00:30:32,519 --> 00:30:39,240 soldier who raised the alarm, perhaps attempting to warn others 354 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:46,680 that's not gonna happen. You say, oh, wonderful, Ellie replies, 355 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:51,000 I was sort of getting bored. She tucks in her wings. 356 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:56,799 The wind howls around you as she accelerates faster and faster, 357 00:30:57,559 --> 00:31:01,039 so fast the air itself explodes around you with a 358 00:31:01,119 --> 00:31:05,640 thunderous crack. Moving with the speed of an air dragon, 359 00:31:06,039 --> 00:31:10,319 you catch up in no time. You leap off the dragon, 360 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:15,279 taking to the air. The fleeing rider glances back just 361 00:31:15,359 --> 00:31:18,640 in time to see you flying through the air without 362 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:23,759 a dragon beneath you. He panics and points his dragon 363 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:28,759 turns and unleashes a blast of ice breaths straight at you. 364 00:31:28,759 --> 00:31:33,039 You grab it with your mind. The frozen stream whips 365 00:31:33,079 --> 00:31:37,720 around your body in a spinning spiral. Then you snap 366 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:42,880 both hands forward and send it right back. The rider 367 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,960 is struck full in the chest, frozen solid, and hurled 368 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:51,720 off the dragon's back. Ellie dives below him and snatches 369 00:31:51,799 --> 00:31:55,319 him out of the air with her talons. Very nice, 370 00:31:55,960 --> 00:32:01,440 she says. You fly over to the newly freed water Dragon, 371 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:07,480 who is now mindlessly gliding toward the ground. You sit 372 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:11,039 on his back and grab a hold of the connection 373 00:32:11,359 --> 00:32:16,759 using your mind, and with a thought, you snap it apart. 374 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:25,680 The dragon shutters, what what happened? It asks? You're free? 375 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:31,559 You say, that's the important bit. Now follow us back 376 00:32:31,640 --> 00:32:35,880 to the stronghold. You jump off of the dragon's back, 377 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:41,400 taking to the air once again. Ellie follows behind, and 378 00:32:41,559 --> 00:32:46,559 the newly freed water Dragon decides to go along with things. 379 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:51,559 By the time you return, the battle is already over. 380 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:56,000 The last loyal soldiers of the Dragon King are being 381 00:32:56,119 --> 00:33:02,119 locked up and reinforced chambers of ice, stone or even vines, 382 00:33:03,039 --> 00:33:06,759 but not all of the fortress's people are treated the 383 00:33:06,799 --> 00:33:11,960 same splash, stands on a high balcony beside ace Thorn 384 00:33:12,039 --> 00:33:17,279 and addresses the survivors below. Those still loyal to the 385 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:22,240 dragon king will be locked up. She says, I have 386 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:25,799 lived among you for long enough to know who those 387 00:33:26,039 --> 00:33:31,279 probably are. But those willing to lay down their weapons 388 00:33:31,799 --> 00:33:36,160 will be given a choice. This fortress will not be 389 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:42,720 ruled by fear again. I have chosen another path, and 390 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:48,720 you are all free to choose with me. All across 391 00:33:48,759 --> 00:33:54,799 the stronghold, the people cheer, not the soldiers so much, 392 00:33:54,920 --> 00:34:00,319 but the others, the servants, the workers, the helpers, the 393 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:05,119 people who really made the fortress go but didn't ride 394 00:34:05,119 --> 00:34:12,719 atop dragons, And all across the stronghold freed water dragons 395 00:34:13,079 --> 00:34:20,000 begin to find their new true riders. Some choose servants, 396 00:34:20,039 --> 00:34:24,320 Some choose fishermen and workers from the water village below. 397 00:34:25,079 --> 00:34:30,840 Some choose children of the fortress. Some even choose soldiers 398 00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:35,800 that well apparently actually had good hearts, the ones who 399 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:39,599 had done what little kindness they could well trapped in 400 00:34:39,679 --> 00:34:46,480 the wrong world. Beside you, Bethy smiles, look at them, 401 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:51,639 August nods. They're finding who they were always meant to be. 402 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:56,960 You look over at the fortress over at the sea, 403 00:34:57,199 --> 00:35:02,360 over the dragons landing on tower and bridges, now with 404 00:35:02,519 --> 00:35:08,599 clear eyes, and in many cases brand new dragon riders 405 00:35:10,079 --> 00:35:14,480 with fire and water now on your side. The dragon 406 00:35:14,639 --> 00:35:18,960 King's world suddenly seems a lot smaller than it used 407 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:25,559 to be, and for once, defeating him starts to feel very, 408 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:35,800 very possible. But for now you are feeling very very tired. 409 00:35:37,599 --> 00:35:41,679 H Splash, is there anywhere we could, you know, have 410 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:46,960 a little sleep in this place? You ask? Why? Of course, 411 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:50,519 I will lead you to some chambers that would be 412 00:35:50,639 --> 00:35:55,559 perfect for that. You follow Splash to a section of 413 00:35:55,599 --> 00:36:00,719 the fortress that has not yet been destroyed, with a 414 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:05,679 whole bunch of rooms and large balconies outside for well 415 00:36:06,039 --> 00:36:11,800 presumably dragons to wait at while their soldiers sleep. These 416 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:18,239 are the soldiers' rooms. They're not very big, but I 417 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:23,480 believe they will suffice. You enter one of the frozen 418 00:36:23,599 --> 00:36:28,039 bedrooms and climb into a bed in the center of it, 419 00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:33,840 and surprisingly comfortable and warm for a fortress surrounded by ice. 420 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:40,360 You pull the warm covers up to your chin, look 421 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:45,079 over at all who curls up outside the door, and 422 00:36:45,199 --> 00:36:52,480 allow your eyes to close. With each breath, your muscles 423 00:36:52,559 --> 00:36:57,119 begin to relax, you let go of all of the 424 00:36:57,239 --> 00:37:03,800 tension in your arms, your legs, your shoulders, your back, 425 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:10,199 and you even let your face sort of relax into 426 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:15,880 a kind of half smile. With each breath, you sink 427 00:37:16,079 --> 00:37:21,679 down deeper and deeper into the mattress, and the more 428 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:26,519 you breathe, the better you feel, and the better you feel, 429 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:33,639 the more relaxed you become, until your mind finally begins 430 00:37:33,679 --> 00:37:40,199 to wander off to thoughts of new dreams, new adventures, 431 00:37:41,440 --> 00:38:33,599 and well new battles to come. Good night, everyone in. 432 00:39:25,039 --> 00:44:28,360 Speaker 2: New York. M no more union, no no thing, no more. 433 00:44:35,079 --> 00:46:40,079 Speaker 1: Never mo M M. 434 00:48:00,760 --> 00:48:03,039 Speaker 2: One one man 435 00:50:00,280 --> 00:50:00,559 Speaker 1: At