Two years ago

“Come on!” Rainbow said. “We’ll just explore the city a bit.”

“Oh, fine,” Kryptonite said.

“Yes!” Rainbow said. “Follow me!” She ran off into the numerous buildings, leaving the rest of the mission behind. Kryptonite followed in a mad dash through the crowded streets of the Iron Fort. They ran past vendors selling many things like roasted pigs and potted cacti.

Bam! Rainbow crashed right into another dragon. She fell back and landed on her tail. Kryptonite stopped and helped her up.

“Watch where you’re going!” the dragon said angrily.

“Sorry,” Rainbow said. “We’re looking for someone important.”

“Shush!” Kryptonite hissed, kicking Rainbow.

“Someone important?” the dragon asked. “Well, you’ve found exactly who you’re looking for.”

“And you are?” Rainbow asked.

“My name is Hardwire,” Hardwire said. “I am the prince of the Iron Fort.”

“Nice to meet you, Hardwire,” Kryptonite said. “My name is Kryptonite, and my companion and cousin’s name is Rainbow.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance,” Hardwire said. “Do you need somewhere private to talk?”

“Yes, actually,” Kryptonite said.

“Follow me,” Hardwire said. He turned around and walked through a back street. Kryptonite and Rainbow followed him until they reached a blank wall.

“Here we are,” Hardwire said.

“This is just a wall,” Rainbow said.

“Not just a wall,” Hardwire corrected. “A secret door.” He brought his tail around to the door. With a small click, the end of his tail split apart and what looked like a small blade popped out. The blade then spread out to form a circular saw. It glowed red-hot on the edges as it started to spin. Hardwire brought his tail to the wall and sawed through the wall. When he was done, the cut glowed white-hot and sparked. Hardwire kicked the wall and it fell inward. The three dragons walked inside, and Hardwire picked up the metal piece. He fit it back into the opening, which sealed itself up until it was perfect.

“There we go,” Hardwire said. “Now we can talk in peace.” Suddenly, the entire room shook violently. The sound of an explosion combined with bending metal filled the air.

“What is happening!” Rainbow yelled.

“Let’s go find out,” Hardwire said. He walked over to the wall that was also a door and placed his palm on a random spot. With a hiss, the entire wall slid sideways, creating a way out. “Let’s go,” he said.

The three dragons ran outside and towards the sound of the explosion. When they got closer, they noticed the roads were buckled. The closer they got, the more destruction they saw. Metal buildings were warped and bent in odd ways. The ground itself was gouged out as if a giant dragon had raked their claws through it.

Soon they came upon it. A massive crater was where the vault had been. It was steaming in many places, and it was coated with a dark, purply goo. And rising above it all was a glorious sight.

A black dragon with purple highlights throughout their body was hovering in the air. Wisps of black smoke rolled off their legs as they slowly beat their wings. In one talon they held a glorious purple armband.

“The Armband of the Demon,” Hardwire whispered. The black dragon stabbed it with their claw. Purple smoke burst from the armband and swirled around the dragon. It seeped into their scales, turning them a dark purple and filling in the wings with dark pink. Then, leaving nothing of themself behind except for the few wisps of smoke, they disappeared without a trace.

Present Day

“And so, we could definitely use your help,” Rainbow said to the magical hologram of Hardwire. “We could definitely use someone like you.”

“You mean you could use some Horinizonics on your side?” Hardwire asked.

“Or that,” Rainbow said. “And any help you bring with you would also be appreciated.

“Okay, I’ll be there soon,” Hardwire said. “For sure.”

“Bye,” Kryptonite said.

“Bye,” Hardwire said. Rainbow ended the magical spell that was producing the hologram.

“So, now we have even more help for this,” Rainbow said.

“I still feel like it’s not enough,” Kryptonite said.

“You’ll be fine!” Stryker shouted. “For goodness sake, have you realized how much might is on your side? The last titan, at least one Horinizonic, possibly more, At least one of each Reptilik and Avis, and also me, the only Mantilis dragon alive today.”

“Well, when you put it like that…” Kryptonite said.

“Exactly,” Stryker said. “Wait, what’s that?”

“What’s what?” Rainbow asked.

“That noise,” Stryker said.

“I don’t hear anything,” Kryptonite said. All three dragons listened intently. “Wait a minute!” she said after several seconds.

“You hear it?” Stryker asked.

“Yep!” Kryptonite said. “And I recognize it! It’s Hardwire’s plane form!”

“Oh yeah!” Rainbow said. “Wow, that was quick!”

Then, out of nowhere, an insanely fast silver blur shot through the air and stopped, hovering a few feet above the forest floor. It looked like a plane and a dragon at the same time. Then, it landed on the ground while at the same time transforming itself into a dragon.

“Hello,” Hardwire said.

“Hello,” Rainbow said. “You got here fast.”

“Well, I didn’t have anything else to do,” Hardwire said.

“I’d like you to meet Stryker and Spinner,” Kryptonite said.

“The Mantilis and Titan?” Hardwire asked. “Well, hello,” he said, turning to face the two. “Pleased to meet you.”

“And the same to you,” Stryker said, her diplomatic personality surprising Rainbow and Kryptonite, who had only ever met her upbeat and active personality.

“Now, I’ll get to scanning this mountain,” Hardwire said. “Although it may take a while.”

“How long?” Kryptonite asked.

“Oh, about twenty minutes or so,” Hardwire said. Rainbow sighed.

“Welp,” She said. “We’d better make ourselves comfortable.”