"Rucipher!" called Scar, running up behind the lone wizard.

The two resided atop a tall complex of residencies in a large urban center. The night air was calm and clear; the night air only echoed with the occasional distance sound due to the late hour.

"Sc-Scar? What're-what are you doing here?" stuttered Rucipher, jumping from his trance-like state.

"You've been gone longer than we expected," replied Scar with a grin, "What's up?"

"Oh, just trying to prefect a new technique I've been working on," answered Rucipher shyly.

"Really!? Can I see?" pushed Scar.

"It isn't really... I haven't fully mastered it yet so it's rather pointless to show you," explained Rucipher, "Also; you also broke my concentration, which is key to the whole process."

"Oh, my bad," apologized Scar humbly, "Didn't realize that's what you were doing."

"What did you think I was doing?" inquired Rucipher.

"Well, honestly I thought you fell asleep sanding up," laughed Scar nervously, "It's late and you've been out here for hours. Aren't you cold?"

"It's not that cold," retorted Rucipher, "Plus the night air helps me focus."

"So, what's ya workin' on anyway?" asked Scar, looking to his staff.

"Summoning," responded Rucipher, "It's a lot harder than it looks."

"I guess so," shrugged Scar, "Want me to leave you alone?"

"It doesn't really matter," Rucipher sighed, "As you can see, I've yet to summon anything."

"Need another pep-talk?" deviously grinned Scar, "You know I'm always here for ya!"

"Yes I do, and thanks but I doubt that any pep-talk will help me right now," relented Rucipher, "Guess I should just call it a night."

"Hey, why not give it another try?" encouraged Scar, "Just one more shot. Can't hurt. I'll stand back and let you do your thing."

"Alright," agreed Rucipher after a moment.

Closing his eyes and placing his staff in both hands, the wizard began to focus. Scar stood back and watched him concentrate. In short order, his long robes begin to flutter and soon danced as if by a strong breeze, though no natural wind blew. Points of light, with a soft blue hue, increasingly appeared in greater numbers about him. They centered on the crown of his staff, which glowed bright red by the stone centerpiece of the same color. As her wonder grew, Scar heard strange words spoken by the entranced wizard, of a tongue foreign to her. Rucipher called out ten words, or so she could deduce, before raising his staff up and slamming its end upon the roof. Instantly, the lights vanished and magical wind ceased. Scar searched the rooftop but found nothing of interest. Holding her tongue, she waited until the wizard opened his eyes.

"Nice light show... but no finale?" observed Scar, disappointed.

Rucipher sighed.

"Well, at least you accomplished more than before," assured Scar, "Sure was pretty."

Rucipher shrugged, "So close... and just how long were watching me, anyway?"

"About an hour," grinned Scar, slightly red, "Come on, don't worry. It will come in time. I know it will; because I believe in you."

"If only it were that easy..." lamented Rucipher, before staring wide-eyed into the sky.

Scar cocked her head, confused by the wizard's bewildered gawk. Taking cue from his eyes, she turned and gazed skyward. Instantly, her jaw dropped. Before them hovered an enormous form, dark and foreboding. Demonic in its appearance and commanding in its size, the creature was without equal; everything about it was fearsome and mythical. Its wings were expansive and flapped slowly while its head, devoid of eyes and replaced by large protruding golden horns that curved back, scanned the metropolis around them. From its jagged maw growled a low sustained roar like the bellows of a large furnace; its nostrils were lit by exhaled flames; its skin was dark and armored with silver highlights; its hands, feet, were tipped with large claws.

"Ho-holy shit," gawked Scar, unsure whether or not to believer her own eyes, "That's-that's-did you just summoned the gatekeeper to Hell!?"

"I-I umm, well, this was..." stuttered Rucipher, "Wow; that-that is big. N-not what I had in mind."

"Oh really?" asked Scar fearfully, "Well then, you-you wanna get rid of this thing?"

"Stand back, comrades!" yelled a female voice behind them.

Rucipher and Scar looked back to see Isballah arcing over their heads with staff and axe drawn. She landed before them and took up a defensive position.

"Back, beast! Or your days end here," she growled before turning to the pair, "Strange; I have never seen such a Yupalkai before. Friends, are you injured?"

"N-no; and that's no Yupalkai," explained Rucipher, "That's uh... a dra-"

"Ssanthíssimo Ssenpai Sshlange!" exclaimed Isballah after realizing who hovered above her.

Quickly, she bowed reverently before the creature, "Forgive us, master, for we did not recognize your coming or your appearance. We are honored and deeply humbled by your presence, my Lord."

"What is she doing?" whispered Scar to Rucipher.

"If memory serves, this is a Dragon Lord; specifically, one sacred to the Naga," informed Rucipher.

"All the more reason to send it back home before it gets mad!" implored Scar softly.

"Umm, yes... well, le-let's see here," Rucipher stumbled before summoning the courage to chant again.

Snorting loudly as if in protest the figure vanished in a fiery ball that rose from its feet and consumed its body as he finished he chant. The two onlookers breathed a long sigh of relief. Isballah folded her hands and bowed once more while Rucipher took a moment and sat down.

"That... was... awesome!" squealed Scar with pinned up delight, "Did you see the size of that thing!? Wow, I've never seen anything like that! No one should ever be messin' with this wizard, right here! Can you summon that again? He would be great to have in battle! Seriously, that was totally out of this world! We so gotta tell the others! They're gonna flip!"

Rucipher said nothing and let his overly excited friend rave on while he collected his thoughts.

"Strange that such a visitation would occur now and here," thought Isballah aloud, "What do you know of this event, wizard?"

"It was a summoning," Rucipher explained, "Though such a powerful being was not my intended call."

"You must be very powerful to summon a Dragon Lord," remarked Isballah, "I see I've underestimated you again."

"Hey, just what the hell is going on up here?" asked Spike as she, Emantion, Max, and Jack came running out of the rooftop stairwell, weapons drawn.

"You guys saw that, too!?" asked Scar with excitement, "Wasn't it awesome!?"

"Yes, and you gave us all a heart attack!" exclaimed Jack, slightly out of breath, "Just what was that thing? It looked like a demon!"

"Dragon Lord, actually," explained Rucipher, standing back up, "More specifically, one of the most powerful summons known to magic. Apparently, I tried a little too hard."

"I'll say," remarked Max as Rucipher walked over, "So that's what you've been up to?"

"You never cease to impress me," complimented Emantion while she and the others sheathed their guns, "And that does explain why Kibbles bolted into the living room and hid under the couch. Poor Jay is still down there trying to get her out."

"My apologies for all the confusion and uproar," regretted Rucipher, "It was not my intent."

"So wait a minute," Jack objected, "Dragon Lord to whom?"

"Kolossh is a revered Lord to us Naga," informed Isballah, "While his rank is low, all dragons are to be respected and feared with the utmost reverence. Feel honored you have seen one and survived."

"Okay... so, what's with the Naga and Yupalkai?" pressed Jack, "Aren't they dragons, too?"

Most of the group moaned in frustration and shook their heads.

"Yupalkai are abominations to the Dragon Lords!" scowled Isballah, "They strived to be gods when they were nothing but mongrel filth. They should have known their place and not tried their hand. Now they are condemned to be a testament of folly and shame; one you should always remember."

"Then why did you choose to help us?" asked Spike daringly, "If Yupalkai are so worthless?"

"Just because mortals error in their logic and lose their way does not ban them from redemption," explained Isballah, "However, until now Yupalkai have only wallowed in their delusions of grandeur. If they can prove themselves worthy of the dragon title, then we Naga will accept them as equals. Until then, we must be cautious not to let Yupalkai become full of themselves. This Kibbles, a supposed princess, has shown me more valor and merit than all her species before her. Therefore, I must allow her to prove her race. It is only fair that the Yupalkai demonstrate to us their true colors."

"Wow," remarked a stunned Emantion, "Maybe there's hope for peace after all."

"Hey, I wonder what else this thing can summon," Scar grinned, swiping the staff from Rucipher and slamming its base on the roof.

Before anyone could react, a large plume of smoke exploded nearby. Everyone froze with trepidation. From the haze came two figures. The first was tall and covered with black fur with golden-green eyes. Wearing purple, green and gold garments and jewelry of royal Egyptian fashion with a white and gold headpiece and wide jeweled collar, the figure resembled a bipedal feline. A crook and flail adorned its back. The second was shorter and wore a purple sari. Her hair was black, eyes glowing red, and skin tan. The young girl, human in appearance, looked to the feline with trepidation while her companion scanned the rooftop. He did not hide his displeasure of the situation. The group just stared back.

"Miw, what just happened?" asked the girl in Egyptian.

"I'm not too sure," replied the feline, "Though my guess is we were summoned."

"Summoned?" asked the girl.

"I'll explain it to you another time," assured the feline, "For the moment, just stay near me."

"Scar, this is exactly why you're never to touch Rucipher's stuff," sighed Max, "Now what do we do?"

"Send them back," answered Rucipher, taking his staff back, "And hope they're not offended."

"Oops?" shrugged Scar, "How was I to know that would work? Rucipher had to chant some strange spell and focus really hard the first time!"

Unimpressed, Spike gave a swift and precise whack to Scar's head.

"The spell is designed to allow for multiple attacks," Rucipher explained, "Which I can implant into the staff for ease of use while I focus my efforts on other things. Besides, didn't we discuss this before about not touching my things?"

"Oh-my-gosh, it's a kitty!" squealed Kibbles from the far side of the roof.

"Oh boy..." sighed Spike, rubbing her temples.

Kibbles ran over to the pair before leaping and sniffing them over-enthusiastically. The now startled young girl jumped into the feline's arms as Kibbles bounded ever closer to them.

"Kibbles!" yelled Jay, running to catch up, "That's no way to treat our guests; and you're scaring the poor lass. Now where are your manners?"

"Aw, but they smell so interesting!" protested Kibbles as she slowly backed away, "I just wanted to say hi. You're no fun!"

"Your greetings are acknowledged and glad tidings welcomed," spoke the feline in their tongue, "But as we were not expecting such an encounter, you'll understand our caution."

"My apologies," bowed Rucipher, "It was not our intent to ask you here."

"Yeah, that was my bad," waved Scar, rubbing the back of her neck, "Sorry 'bout that."

"It is of no concern, provided you can return us," nodded the feline, his eyes glowing in the moonlight.

"I can easily do so," bowed Rucipher before preparing to return the pair to their rightful realm, "Please accept my apology for the brash nature of my friend."

"Save your strength," smiled the feline, "It is enough to know that you can."

"How was I supposed to know what would happen!?" defended Scar while Rucipher cocked his head.

Spike dealt another whack to Scar, "Exactly; you're so done…"

The feline chuckled at this.

"Miw, are we going to stay here for a while?" asked the girl in her tongue.

"No," smiled the feline in kind, "Unless you wish to remain here for a time."

"I think it would be best if we returned," advised the girl, "I don't trust the girl with red hair."

"Agreed," nodded the feline.

"What do you think they're saying?" whispered Emantion to Spike.

"Probably something about how dumb we all look," replied Jack as Spike shrugged.

"You mean how they look," remarked Max, motioning towards Rucipher and Scar.

"Though unexpected, our brief stent was… informative," the feline spoke in kind, "Peace be with you and may your gods shine upon you eternally; ado."

With that, the feline snapped his fingers and in another plume of smoke, the pair vanished. Everyone looked on with a little embarrassment, except for Kibbles.

"Hope to see ya soon!" she smiled with a bounce.

"Sadly, I doubt Rucipher will be asking them to," reminded Jay, "Can't say I'd be too happy returning either on that note."

"Aw, that's no fun!" pouted Kibbles, "Why make friends if you can't see them again?"

Jay just shrugged.

"Well, now that..." Rucipher began before passing out and falling to the rooftop.

"There he goes again," Emantion sighed, "Poor kid."

"You cupcakes mind explainin' just what type of hell-fire you've been cookin' up here?" asked Sheaver, standing by the stairwell next to Jed, "Doesn't seem like I can keep you out of my sights anymore."

Everyone immediately pointed to Scar.

"What?" Scar protested with innocent grin.