Minglings - Book 3 chapter 16: Shadowverse

Jake looked at the massive door in the distance, barely able to comprehend the scope of the area he was in.

"When we enter, you will meet the others," Libuxeria said. "With some luck, a few will be sleeping, making it less stressful for you."

"Stressful?" Jake asked, slightly worried as he stared up at the enormous dragon.

"Ga'ulinder and Gaugurim have a hard time curbing the pressure they excuse… you will see. But don't worry too much," Libuxeria said.

As they reached the door, Libuxera put her hands against them, letting out a soft grunt as she shoved them open. As they swayed away, a dense wave of warm watery air rolled out, filled with a massive amount of blue mana-lits.

Following Libuxeria, Jake gazed around the massive caverns with paths and areas leading further away into the dark depths. Steam rose from large, almost lake-sized pools of water, and half a dozen enormous dragon heads were raised out of different ones, eyes staring straight at him.

As he stepped forward, it felt like the gravity was increasing, or his body was weighing more, and two steps from the nearest pool, Jake's legs were starting to almost buckle. The pressure continued to increase, and Jake grunted as he felt his muscles bulge to resist. It took him all his concentration to draw in enough mana-lits to turn it into ice to keep his panic at bay.

What the hell is going on?

"Ga'ulinder, that's enough," a soft feminine voice called, and looking up, Jake saw a female dragon with dark blue, nearly purple scales and tiny green scales dotting her face glare at the furthest pool. Following her gaze, he saw that the largest of the dragons, an indigo-blue one with many scars across his scales, was glaring back at him.

"Ga'ulinder," another deep and grumpy voice snapped. "Let off before the young one crumbles! Is this how you greet the first Frost Dragon?"

"Not a real dragon," the indigo dragon snapped. His voice was old but held a power that made Jake shiver.

"You've heard what he said. They are not even from this world, Gaugurim!"

"They are dragons," the purple female dragon said loudly. "Now stop it, or I won't discuss strategy with you for the next ten years!"

Jake blinked, and he saw the indigo dragon's eyes narrow. He sniffed before leaning back. Instantly the pressure that had been trying to drill Jake into the ground almost completely vanished. The tiny bit that remained was enough for him to ignore, and he rose back up, realizing he'd been shoved to his knees.

"Not bad, young one! You managed to remain on your feet," the older voice came, and this time Jake noticed him: an ancient-looking dragon with dull eyes and pale blue scales with colorful patches of darker ones and a few gray.

"Sorry, Jake," Libuxeria said as she moved to one of the empty pools. "Come, you will enjoy the pool."

Yeah, Jake thought as he looked around before moving to the edge of the steaming pool. He carefully put a scaled claw in, but the water wasn't exceedingly hot, more like a warm bath. Following Libuxeria, he felt water mana-lits wash through him, and he quickly turned some more into ice.

"So there aren't ice-lits then," the dark and nearly purple-scaled female dragon said, sounding intrigued. "I had always thought it would simply be another type of mana…"

Jake looked up, noticing the others staring at him quickly.

"It's just water mana, but I can somehow convert it," he answered.

"Water-lits," the angry, scarred Ga'ulinder grunted.

"Mana, lits, what does it matter," the pale blue dragon said. "You are Jake? I am Gaugurim!"

Despite his seemingly blinded eyes, the ancient dragon was staring straight at him, and Jake grinned.

"Nice to meet you, Gaugurim."

"I bet! The angry one is Ga'ulinder, and the beautiful one is Merinde," Gaugurim grunted as he pointed a toothy smile at the almost purple dragon.

"Gaugurim, it's a shame you aren't a thousand years younger," Merinde said as she smiled at him.

"Enough, stop acting like hatchlings," Ga'ulinder grunted.

The massive indigo dragon moved to the edge and climbed out of his pool.

So many scars, Jake thought as he watched the heavily muscled dragon move towards them. He wondered why that one was down here with the old ones. Though he looked old, he also seemed more than capable…

"Let's go and bring him to Lauruna," Ga'ulinder said as he slid into the pool that Jake and Libuxeria were in.

Jake saw the swirling eyes stare at him as the dragon swam by.

He's way bigger than Libuxeria, Jake thought. He felt like a newly born kitten beside a giant tiger.

"Don't worry," Libuxuria said as she swam forward, throwing him a smile. "He won't harm you."

As she turned and swam after the larger dragon, Jake shook his head.

I hope you're sure about that, he thought. A look around showed the other dragons were silent, watching him, showing no indication of coming along.

With a swipe of his tail, Jake followed after them.

–

As the two ancient dragons and the Frost Dragon left, Gaugurim grunted.

"Did you notice?"

"Our eyes work! Of course," Merinde said, sounding almost youthful in her exuberance.

"He isn't exactly like us… something about him is more like the Wanderer," Gaugurim said as if he hadn't heard her. "That means he is more like the old dragons than we are!"

"I didn't spot anything…" a soft voice that had been quiet since then said sadly.

Gaugurim sighed softly. "Aye, Andazul, perhaps you should go and sleep for a while?" As he spoke, a deep sadness was apparent in Gaugurim's voice.

"Yes… yes, perhaps that would be for the best," the voice muttered, sounding confused.

A moment later, one of the only two dragons that had remained silent till now lowered its teal and green head back into the water.

The others were quiet for a while.

"He will not be awake much longer," Merinde said, sounding profoundly sad.

"It should not be like this," Gaugurim grunted before letting out a loud hiss and turning to the only dragon that had yet to speak.

"Aegeana, did you notice anything we might have missed?"

The narrow, thin, and ancient head rose, two blind, entirely milky white eyes staring at seemingly nothing.

"He smells like her, yet not," a cracky voice spoke, making those of the others sound young. "And he draws mana-lits as easily as he breathes. Also… he seems a caring youngling. Did you sense how he spoke with his friend?"

The others shared a quick look before Gaugurim shook his head.

"Aegeana, remember. We don't sense what you do," he said softly and with great affection.

Thin eyelids blinked slowly before the head bobbed twice. "Ah. Yes… how foolish of me to forget. The young one loves his friend and treats her kindly. I sense a pure heart in him."

There was a moment of silence as she blinked again before slowly lowering herself into the water.

"I shall rest…" she whispered.

After she was gone, there was quiet in the cavern for a few moments, then Gaugurim let out a dull, angry growl.

"There will be two fewer of us soon," Merinde said as she looked at the ancient dragon. "You must prepare yourself…"

"It is not how it should be," Gaugurim growled again, his misty eyes looking around.

"Gaugurim, we do not all age the same. We know this, you know this… it hurts, I know-"

"Know?" Gaugurim said sharply. "I'm only a hundred years older than her, yet look at her! I will live for another six or seven after she is dead. If this continues, I'll outlive all but that angry one."

Merinde rose from the water, slowly and carefully moving her well-proportioned body over the wet stones towards Gaugugurim's. As she walked, her gate was slow and halting, and at some points, she had to stop and take a breath.

As she moved, she didn't notice the older dragon's horrified look. Reaching his pond, she slowly lowered herself in and swam to him.

"Old grumpy dragon," she said, casting him a beautiful smile as her eyes glistened brightly.

"Bah, don't call me that," Gaugurim said as he curved his long neck around hers.

"You are not allowed to leave me alone with those young ones," he whispered.

"Time takes all," Merinde replied.

Neither spoke as they closed their eyes.

–

Jake felt the pressure increase as he followed behind the much larger dragons. The paths had increased in dimension until he could barely see the edges of cracked stone.

It's almost like a tube with holes in it, he thought as he stared down. They had been swimming for over twenty minutes now, and if not for the constantly increasing density of mana, he'd have long since been unable to continue. As it were, he felt his body shudder and crack dangerously.

"Don't worry, youngling, we are nearly there," Libuxeria said. "Remember, the pressure is not real. If you can't absorb fast enough, I'll simply carry you back up.

Yeah… that's a great comfort, Jake thought as he shivered at the sense of being squeezed by a giant hand.

Peering deeper down, Jake finally noticed an end to the massive tube.

A few minutes later, he followed them out, drifting in the water as he gasped at the sight below.

An enormous azure dragon lay curled up on a beautiful white surface. As Ga'ulinder swam forward, hovering a little above and beyond her, he was only half her size.

It's like I'm a mouse, Jake thought as he stared at the enormous leviathan below.

"Come, Jake. This is Lauruna, progenitor of all blue dragons," Libuxeria called, sounding more youthful than an ancient dragon had any right to be in Jake's eyes.

Still, it jolted him from his quiet reverie as he swam down. By now, the pressure was so immense he was afraid that if the mana would let up for even a moment, he would be squished like a grape. No matter that they said it wasn't true pressure and it wouldn't kill him outright, he didn't enjoy it one bit.

As he swam towards Lauruna's head, he realized her scales weren't completely blue. Tiny patches of silver were suffused around her jaw and eye ridges, almost like tiny wrinkles. Her proportions were also slightly different from his and the others. Her hind legs looked smaller and less made for grabbing, while her hands seemed more delicate.

Almost like a different sub-species, he thought, vaguely remembering a biology lesson back in school. Something about mister Jakoby telling-

Jake shivered as he realized he felt odd. His mind was clear- No that was the wrong word. Not clear… it was as if his memories from before were not held back by anything. As if-

A swell in the water pushed him up slightly, and a surprised cry came from the two ancient dragons.

"She stirs!"

"She senses the young one."

"Jake, touch her!"

Jake looked up, noticing the massive dragons, their enormous heads with wide crocodilian jaws and somehow doglike. Why did they look so… different from moments ago? He shook his head, and stared at Lauruna.

What is going on?

With a shiver, Jake swam forward, images and memories he'd not thought about even in the years before he became a kobold passing through his mind.

She is doing something. It has to be, he thought as he stared at the massive dragon. Was she somehow removing the influence of his kobold and dragon changes? Causing him to be more like the human he once was?

As he gazed at the scale the size of his hand, Jake hesitated. What if he touched her, and he'd stay like this? He didn't want to be a real human stuck in a dragon's body! Looking at his hands now already made him slightly uncomfortable.

Calm down! Its probably just...

What? He couldn't come up with anything that made it make sense.

"Touch her, brat!"

Jake started from Ga'ulinder's shout, swallowed, and slowly pressed the tip of his claw to the beautiful scale.

–

Ga'ulinder scowled as he saw the young one hesitate. What was he afraid of? Hurting her? Foolishingnes. Laurana's scales were tougher than his, and those puny claws would hardly leave a scratch.

"Touch her, brat!" he shouted.

He sniggered as he saw the frightened jolt. How can she call that a dragon?

As he saw the silvery and blue claw finally touch Laurana, he shook his head. As if anything-

The well-proportioned silver and blue dragon contorted, his body drawing in around his claw which seemed to hang unmoving in the same spot.

"What's he doing?" Ga'ulinder growled as he shot forward.

"Leave him, Ga'ulinder," Libuxeria said as she swam to block his path.

"Are you crazy?"

"Calm down. I've heard about this before," Libuxeria said soothingly. "And if you'd read more than just books on battles, you would too! Lauruna is speaking with him!"

"Speaking?" Ga'ulinder grunted, his scared, battle-worn body slowly uncoiling.

"Yes… Ga'ulinder! She is waking up!"

"Good… that is good…" the grim dragon said a wide smile on his face.

They hovered side by side, staring at the much smaller dragon who hadn't moved after the first massive set of convulsions.

–

Jake grunted as he stretched him. His thoughts felt muddled, as if he wasn't fully awake yet.

Had he been out drinking with Mason again? He couldn't recall and sighed. As he took a deep breath, he smelled the sheets he cinched. He really needed to take them to his mother to get them cleaned.

The sounds of the first cards rushing through the streets were muffled.

"Ugh, forgot to open the window again," he thought as he pushed himself up. His voice sounded odd and dull.

What is going on? This is the weirdest hangover I've ever had.

He stared around his room, wondering why everything felt so odd. Pushing himself up and to his feet, he swayed and had to grab the wall.

"What is going on?"

Walking to the wall felt odd like something was wrong with his body.

Some fresh air…

It took him a few moments to reach the window, and as he pulled away the curtains, the light pouring in hurt his eyes, which seemed odd. A few old cars passed by below and as he pulled the window open, a wave of cool, stinky air came in.

"What are those?" a beautiful, soft, and feminine voice asked.

Jake spun around, losing his balance, as he saw a female kobold with beautiful pale blue scales and silver eyes look at him. Her head was covered in smooth tendril-like growths that gave the impression of hair.

As if a block was removed from his mind, memories flooded back, and Jake slid down on the ground drawing in large gulps of air.

"Where am I?" he asked, instinctively drawing for mana-lits and finding none.

"A temporary soulscape that I created inside your mind from your memories so we can interact like this."

Jake stared at her, trying to grasp what was going on. If only he could draw in some mana.

"Are you Laurana?"

The kobold rose with smooth, graceful motions and smiled at him.

"Yes," she said before saying a long string of words that vaguely sounded like dragon speak mixed with fireworks. The only thing Jake caught was the final bit, which sounded like La'aurna, which he softly repeated.

Laurana's smile widened. "Ah, that was not bad for someone who's never spoken the true language! But, just call me Laurana. After all these years, I've gotten used to it."

Jake nodded stupidly, then pushed himself up, looking down at his body. Mostly athletic, slightly pale due to never being outside, and completely human. He felt… wrong.

"Can I have my kobold body?" he asked, wondering why he felt guilty at the question.

"Are you sure?" Laurana asked. "Isn't this your real form?"

Jake stared at her, then shrugged. She was right, of course, but somehow… somehow it didn't feel like that.

"Alright," she said, smiling brightly.

Jake felt his body morph, his weight increase as power suffused him. As he raised his hand, he was surprised at how glad he was to see the familiar blue and silver scaled skin.

"So… what are those things?" Laurana said, interrupting his happy feelings.

Jake looked up. "Cars… but can't you just read my mind?"

Laurana blinked, then giggled.

She doesn't act like an ancient dragon, Jake thought as he looked at her.

"I can't read your mind. That's something only," another weird sound came from her throat, "can do."

"Youldrich?" Jake tried, stumbling over his tongue

Laurana repeated it again, but more slowly.

"Youlindarig?"

Laurana giggled again, and Jake couldn't help but snort.

"You probably know them as purple dragons," Laurana said. "Don't bother trying. Until you learn-"

There was another word that sounded like someone strangling a toad.

"-your mind won't be able to learn it."

"Some of the dragons I've seen had purple scales," Jake said thoughtfully as he remembered that even one of those ancients had some.

"Yes, but they are over ninety percent related to me," Laurana said with a smile. "None will have enough of her blood, and with how little blood of her I was able to add...  No, unless some aberration occurs, we won't see any true Y-... purple dragons ever again," Laurana said, seeming lost in thought.

Jake felt her sadness spread from her like a swelling tide, and he shivered.

It lasted for a few moments before receding, leaving Jake slightly muddleheaded.

I wonder why she brought me here… he thought.

With a shrug, he walked around the familiar room, a lot easier now he had his taloned feet again. A glimpse at the heavy-metal posters made him realize he hadn't heard any music since having left Earth. Seeing his old cassette player, vintage and a gift from his grandfather before the old man passed, he walked up to it.

There's probably not even power here, he thought as he examined it, noting the cord was actually plugged in.

There was an old tape in, probably Iron Maiden, and hesitating slightly, he pressed the button. There was a soft click, then a crackling followed by a loud voice blaring midsong from where he'd paused what felt like ages ago.

A surprised yelp came from behind him, and Jake lowered the volume as he listened to the rough voice singing, 'We won't live to fight another day.'

That's not ominous at all, he thought as he looked around.

Laurana was standing behind him, staring in wonder at the radio.

"Your world was a mysterious place."

Jake lowered the volume even more and moved back towards the window staring outside at the increasing traffic outside.

"Is it really destroyed?" he asked as he felt a tightness in his chest.

"Yes. It wasn't a Trueverse, just a simple shadow of this one, created so long ago not even I know by whom."

Laurana shook her head as if saddened by that.

"Although they can exist for many billions of years, most only last for a fraction of that. When the mana that created them is entirely dispersed across the life that grows inside, they fold back into the Trueverse from which they were created."

Dozens of questions rushed through Jake's mind as he looked at her. How could someone create an entire universe like that? Had dragons done it? Why would someone create those things?

With a deep sigh, he asked the two that he wanted to know first.

"How old was the one I was born in? So the folding happened because there was too much life?"

Laurana giggled softly. "The universe you were in was a few million years old."

"What? That can't be…" Jake said as he shook his head, thinking about some of the things he'd learned in school. "We've found things, evidence, that says it should be much older. There are even bones that are older than that."

Laurana looked around and shrugged. "When a shadow universe is created, elements of the Trueverse are warped and created there. You likely found something like that."

Wait. So dinosaurs might have been something else? Like monsters or dragons? Jake thought.