Hina leapt through the bushes and into the clearing, hands outstretched, ready to cast whatever spell she deemed fit. Dead opposite her, a tall man catapulted himself through a thick wall of ferns, his blond and red hair swaying about his head, and landed firmly on his feet, clawed hands splayed at the ready; for a moment, they both stared at each other in shock, each deeming the other not quite the foe they’d expected.

Hina’s eyes searched the man and his features - he was nearing seven feet tall, well built and carried the characteristic features of a Nimian - catlike eyes, clawed feet and hands, pale skin and pointed teeth.

He, in turn, studied her, his vivid ruby eyes tracing the contours of her body, watching her auburn hair sway in the breeze; her eyes were pale blue and her countenance could only be described as beautiful.

Neither moved for a moment, until Hina - finally blinking to life - threw her hand out toward him, closed her eyes and shouted; “Tsunami!”

The Nimian braced himself, his claws digging into the soil, and folded his arms across his chest as a huge wave crashed into him; he shook his head once the spell had past, water running down his body, his clothes and hair both now sodden.

Hina opened her eyes and took a few steps back in disbelief - the spell had barely tickled him!

The lofty Nimian threw her a charming grin, then thrust his palm out toward her, “Thunder!”

Hina screamed as a lightning bolt careened down from the heavens and slammed into her body; she threw her head back, screaming as electrical charges coursed all over the outside of her body until her limbs fell weak and she fell to her knees.

The Nimian drew back his hand as his spell ebbed, pacing toward her as she writhed on the forest floor; “You are strong,” he mused, “But not strong enough.”

Hina breathed heavily, finding the resolve to glare up at him and look properly into his eyes as he lowered himself to his haunches directly before her - they were demonic eyes, eyes filled with various red and orange hues, but alluring eyes, nevertheless.

“You are also beautiful,” he added, running his clawed fingers through her hair.

She recoiled; “Don’t touch me,” she hissed before she thrust herself up into a surprise uppercut, catching him under the chin with her hand, before spinning into a tornado kick and knocking him to the floor with a smash to the stomach.

He groaned, winded, and it took him a moment to regain his senses, dazed by both the kick and the shock of being waylaid. Hina backed away a little once he found his feet again, a dark thunder now seeming to cross his brow; “Impressive,” he smirked, teeth showing from beneath his lips, “It’s not often I’m knocked off my feet by my opponents…”

“Or by a woman,” she retorted, fists held up before her.

He nodded, “And that, I grant you,” he assented, “Though we are all equals here on Nim. I expect no less in combat from a woman or a man…” He flexed his hand out toward her and, suddenly, his claws drew full length from out of his fingers; she watched them, wide-eyed.

“You know who I am, don’t you?” he asked her lightly as he stepped toward her, claws held in front.

She nodded, “Of course I know who you are…” she mused, “The aura your presence gives off couldn’t come from any other man, woman or beast.”

“Yes… enter the Dragon,” he sniggered as he continued to approach her; she began to step away, backing through the woodland, passing through trees, ferns and vines. “And you know what these claws are famous for?” he went on as he pursued her.

“The death of your father,” she said.

Suddenly, she gasped as her back hit a tree trunk, and her heart popped with panic. Before she could even think of moving, he had pounced in front of her and trapped her there.

“But they shan’t be your death,” he whispered as he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her passionately.

Hina did nothing at first, too startled to react - she closed her eyes, feeling the tips of his sharp teeth against her lips and the heat of his tongue in her mouth before she finally gathered her resolve and pushed him off of her.

“Take your pleasures elsewhere, Lord of Nim,” she snarled.

“I would, if they wanted to go elsewhere,” he rejoined, running a hand down the side of her face, “But never before have I been so enchanted…”

/An Emperor of Darkness

And a Sorceress of Light/

“Lest I remind you, we are enemies.”

“Then why aren’t you struggling?”

/Combine the two Forces

Of the Ultimate Might/

“I -”

“You feel the same.”

“No… for the Gods’ sake, you’ve only just met me!”

“First impressions mean a lot to me… I can read most people like books, and I know instantaneously whether I like them or not.”

“You’re so arrogant.”

“I know,” he shrugged, “You can equal me in battle… I like that, for one thing.”

“What you really like is that I’m a woman,” she sneered.

“You should be flattered,” he smiled, “I rarely court women. There are thousands who would die to be in your position.”

“What position?”

He just watched her, captivated by her very essence and her resolve; “I think you know,” he whispered as he stroked her face once more, “I shall not kill you, not like your friend.”

Hina’s eyes widened - then one of them was dead?

“Just tell me I’ll see you again,” he went on.

She looked down, confused, before she reminded herself of who he was and what it was she was supposed to be doing; “No, you shall not see me again,” she replied, before she closed her eyes and teleported away.

He watched the space where she had been before he allowed himself a smile and sprang back off into the woods.

* * * *

“Oh, Silvar!” Zedd cried as he bounded back into his throne room and caught sight of his chief advisor, “I have found her! The one!”

Silvar arched his eyebrows, “Have you, my lord?”

Zedd flopped out across his marble throne; “As soon as I saw her,” he blathered, “I knew - I just knew -”

“My lord,” Silvar interrupted, “Where have you been?”

“Hunting Sorcerers!” he laughed, “I killed one as easy as that!” He sliced the air with his claws, making a demonstration, “The others bolted…”

“You’ve been to battle?”

“Yes!” he said, hyperactive and soon back on his feet, “And that’s where I met her!”

“Zedd, calm down,” Silvar insisted drably, “You sound like a love struck imbecile.”

Zedd glared at him, “I love how blunt you are, Silvar.”

“I need to be, your grace, or you’ll lose self-control. I have seen your father go that way, please don‘t walk the same path yourself.”

“I won’t, Silvar,” he replied a little more quietly, “You should have more faith in me.”

Silvar nodded, “Yes, your grace.“

Silvar was as close to a surrogate father as Zedd had, and was on many occasions more than just his advisor. He was a Titanian warrior, a battle scarred soldier and also sire of Goldar, as well as being one of the few people Zedd actually found worth listening to; the fiery Nimian Emperor actually took heed of his advice on many occasions, and trusted him with his life.

“So, who is this ‘enchantress‘?” the Titanian asked.

Zedd stared at the ceiling, “I don’t actually know… some ‘Sorceress of Light‘…”

/An Emperor of Darkness and a Sorceress of Light/

Silvar’s ears pricked up and his eye widened; “A Sorceress?”

“Ironic, isn’t it?” he smirked, “My court always moans about how I seem to have no intention of settling down and marrying, but when I finally find a woman I want to wed, it’s a damn Sorceress of Light!” He laughed, folding his hands behind his head, “My father would be -”

“Disgusted,” Silvar nodded, “If he wasn’t already dead, your grace, he’d probably have a heart attack hearing that.”

“It’s not as if I want to change!” he went on, “It’s just her…”

Silvar tried not to laugh, “By the Dragon, Zedd, my boy… I’d never have thought I’d hear you talk like this.”

“I want her, Silvar.”

“No you don’t, young one - not a Sorceress of Light. This may be a phase of yours…”

“No!” Zedd snapped, glaring at his subordinate, “It’s not!”

Silvar held the gaze of the Emperor until the rage seemed to pass.

Zedd glanced away with a snarl, shaking his head and gesticulating wildly with his hands; “If it is the Dragon’s will, then it will be done. I will have her some day, you just see - I‘m not so easily swayed by phases and leaps of the heart. I know what I want in life! And I know without a God-damned doubt that I want her!”

Silvar sighed, shaking his head as the Emperor left the throne room and went on his way.

* * * *

Hina walked a little numbly back to the rest of her group.

“Hina,” Lexion said as soon as he saw her coming through the foliage. He rushed to her and grasped her in his arms, seeing how shaken she was, “Are you all right? What happened?”

The rest of the group were all sat on logs around a makeshift fire, and Shiva quickly moved to accommodate for Hina whilst Lexion sat her down.

“I’m fine,” the sorceress said, still a little breathless, “I just -”

“Oh heavens, did you find the Dragon, too?” Shiva asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Hina nodded, “Well, we found each other…”

Lexion’s brow furrowed, “What do you mean?”

Hina shrugged, not sure how to put things, “Well, we just bumped into each other.”

“Well, you had better luck than the others… and myself,” Lexion said, looking her over, “But are you okay? He didn’t hurt you at all?”

“No…” Hina sighed, “Well, not apart from a Thunder attack…”

“So what happened? Did he just take flight?” Lexion continued.

Hina swallowed, “No… We had a short battle, but he… well, he wants me.”

Lexion looked over each of his comrades in turn, reading their expressions of equal uncertainty, before he turned back to Hina again; “He wants you?”

She nodded once more.

“You mean as a consort?” Shiva queried.

Hina’s eyes shifted uneasily, “I guess…”

“No, he can’t…” Lexion said, shaking his head firmly, “He must be mad! What is he thinking?”

“Only the Gods know,” Ninjor resolved.

“He just came out with this shit?” Lexion asked, “How did you respond?”

“I just tried to get away, to get him to see sense.”

“Good,” Lexion replied, “He mustn’t have you.”

“Well, at least he spared her and didn’t kill her,” Shiva stated, rubbing Hina’s shoulder supportively, “We should be thankful for that.”

“But now we have something - nay, someone - that he, that bloodthirsty bastard, wants,” Lexion shouted, “You’ve seen how far his rage can push him, his lust and greed!” The Edenite looked back to Hina, “Couldn’t you have killed him?”

Shiva gaped at Lexion a little, “Give her a break, Lex - it’s not the first thing you expect your enemy to do to you!”

“Because of your failure to focus, Hina, we might all be in worse trouble than before,” he ranted on.

“Lex!” Shiva protested, getting to her feet.

He wafted his hand at her, walking away into a dark corner of the camp.

Ninjor sighed, shaking his head and staring at Hina pitifully; “We should never have come here.”

Shiva sighed, giving Ninjor the ‘be quiet‘ look; “Lex’s just stressed, Hina,” she said to her friend, “Ignore him.”

Hina sighed, running a hand through her hair, “Yeah…”

* * * *

Zedd took three steps at a time as he rushed up the spiralling, stone staircase of the tallest tower of the fort. He emerged onto the roof with a terrific yell, venting his frustration up toward the heavens; his eyes seemed to become livid and he clouted the wall with his fist in rage. He let the cool breeze brush him gently and soon, his heated ire began to ebb. He sighed, reaching into his robes and drawing out a golden object - a coin. He thumbed it over in his palm, watching its exterior gleam in the hazy Nimian light - it was his Power Coin. He was the first Emperor for several generations to have been born one, but, more significantly, his Coin was embodied by the spirit of the Green Dragon.

Zedd looked up across the horizon - he was honoured to have been born a Power Coin at all, and even more honoured because it was a Dragon Coin, for the Dragon was such a sacred creature on his home world; the Dragon was their primary deity, a great beast that legend told created the universe and their planet, ordaining one as Emperor over all the others. That one was currently him, and with him having his Coin embodied by that which was so sacred, he was treated more like a God than an Emperor; many called him The Dragon as it was. However, all this placed him under a lot of pressure; a lot was expected of a prince gifted with such.

“Show me the way, oh mighty Dragon,” he muttered, clutching the Coin in his palm tightly and gazing across the skies, “Guide your protégé through these treacherous mists…”