The Evil Emperor's Fragile Heart

Azar decided that he wanted his Grandpapa King Jaren, Grandmother Queen Carolina, Uncle Jules, Auntie Bella, Mommy and Daddy – everyone to accompany him to his island.

Of course, none of the humans had any objections, and besides, they were all used to indulging their precious little dragon anyway. Except, of course, when it came to taboo things like drinking wine.

Raven, whose magic had progressed by now to include immense control over spatial changes – helpfully (and happily) expanded the interiors of the propulsion machine that Fox had built. Mana took the driver's seat and Raven took the navigator's seat, while everyone else piled into the back, which was comfortably expanded by Raven so that everyone could fit in quite easily and prepare themselves to sit down and travel in comfort.

King Jaren, Jules and Raven had been in the propulsion machine before, so they were quite familiar with it – but for Queen Carolina and Bella, this was a novel experience.

Jules explained the design and mechanics of Fox's cool work on the propulsion machine while Mana started the engine and drove off. The Sapphire Kingdom lay to the north of the Emerald Kingdom, and thus, was much farther than the Emerald Kingdom from the secret island that was now owned by little Azar. It took them a few minutes longer to travel than their usual journey from the imperial palace of the Emerald Kingdom – but only a few minutes, which, given the distance, was quite miraculous by itself.

Queen Carolina and Bella were very impressed with the propulsion machine – Bella had heard about it before from Jules, of course, but there was a difference between hearing about these things and then experiencing it on your own. As for Queen Carolina, she was completely new to the whole concept, and she was very impressed by Fox's genius. She decided that she would pay a visit to Fox's village in the Sapphire Kingdom and see what the situation there was. Bella had told her earlier that Fox was rather different from his peers because his intellect was rather different from the normal masses, and that had caused him quite a bit of trouble when he was younger. In fact, he had been deemed as a waste until Mana and Raven happened to meet him in the Emerald Kingdom where Fox's mother had set up a temporary shop, since both his parents were merchants. Mana and Raven had been very impressed with Fox's work and realised that he was far from being a waste – in fact, he was a genius inventor! And then Mana and Raven and Jules had become close friends with Fox, and later on, Bella had joined their little group. And thus they had become this super powered team of youngsters who were the talk of the town wherever they went.

And this made Queen Carolina realise that perhaps it was time to look into their education system and perhaps give it a makeover. Fox was lucky because he happened to meet Mana and Raven – but there would definitely be other talented children like Fox who were being called a waste because their intelligence was different from the others, because they were not what others called 'normal' – and if so, wasn't the Sapphire Kingdom losing out on these bright and talented people? How many potential genius inventors were being hidden away by their parents because they weren't considered 'good enough'?

"We're here," Mana declared, powering down the propulsion machine.

Queen Carolina and Bella were startled. "Already?" Queen Carolina asked. "But we just started…"

"It actually took us longer than it takes us from home," Jules said. "But then, the distance is quite a bit more, so that's understandable."

Queen Carolina and Bella stepped out of the propulsion machine along with the others and admired the vehicle for quite some time.

"Fox really is a genius," Queen Carolina murmured.

"Yes, he is," Bella said. "In fact, Mother, that was something Jules and I wanted to discuss with you as well at some point – actually, sooner rather than later. We wanted to make some changes in our education system, so that talented people like Fox, who are a bit different from the traditionally intelligent people, but perhaps far superior in other ways, have a fair chance to showcase their talents. Fox was actually considered a waste in his village and his parents used to hide him away to save him from being bullied by other people – until he went to the Emerald Kingdom with his mother on a whim one day, and happened to chance upon Mana and Raven. And look at him now – from being considered a waste of a person in a small village in our Sapphire Kingdom, he has now been internationally recognised as a genius, and he has even earned himself a noble title in the Emerald Kingdom! We want to nurture other talents like Fox, who may be lacking in social skills, but are far superior when it comes to other things."

Queen Carolina smiled at her only daughter and her soon to be son in law. "You took the words right out of my mouth, my dear," she said cheerfully. "I was just thinking the same thing. If you and Jules already have a plan, I would be all too happy to hand over this project to you. Perhaps you could involve Fox in the matter as well – if he wants to, of course."

Bella beamed at her mother. "Thank you, Mother," she said. "We would love to."

"Absolutely," Jules said, taking Bella's hand. "Bella is the resident genius of IMARI, after all – and who can possibly be better than her to oversee an education revamping project?" he praised.

King Jaren smiled proudly at the young couple. Until Azar pulled at his hair.

"Grandpapa!" the little dragon said impatiently. "Let's go! Azar's fiancée is waiting!"

"Is it the same place where we found you, Azar?" Mana asked curiously.

The little dragon nodded, and then flapped his wings and flew off on his own – his excitement and impatience finally reaching its peak.

Mana, Raven, Jules and Bella ran after the little dragon, and King Jaren and Queen Carolina followed at a more leisurely pace.

"This is a very mysterious island," Queen Carolina murmured, looking around curiously.

King Jaren smiled. "It is," he replied. "It has been in the family for generations as the monarch's personal property – but until Mana and Raven came here and found Azar's egg, which had probably been dormant for many, many years – we didn't realise what it was for. Now this island officially belongs to Azar."

Queen Carolina blinked. "You gave the island to Azar?" she asked, surprised.

"Well, our baby dragon was born here – isn't it fair that this island be his?" King Jaren said with a laugh.

Queen Carolina smiled as well. "Fair enough," she said.

The two adults finally reached where the four human youngsters and one baby dragon were standing around a sparkling white stone.

The shape of the stone was very similar to Azar's egg and gave off a very similar feeling.

"Uncle Jules! Auntie Bella! My fiancée wants to be your daughter!" Azar chirped happily. "You have to pick up her egg together and pour your magic into it for her to be born properly!"

Jules and Bella looked at Mana and Raven quizzically.

Mana and Raven quickly explained what they had done when they had found Azar's egg – although most of it had been involuntary at the time, but later on, they were able to figure out what had happened and how it had happened – with help from Azar, of course.

Jules and Bella approached the sparkling white egg while Mana and Raven stepped back. Azar hovered excitedly above the heads of Jules and Bella.

Then, Jules and Bella picked up the white egg together and poured their magic into it at the same time. There was a blinding flash of light and then the egg glowed brightly. Tiny cracks started appearing on the smooth surface of the egg, and then those cracks started getting bigger and bigger until the egg shell broke apart in several places. This continued for quite some time – and the six humans watched patiently, while the little dragon flew around impatiently, waiting for the new baby dragon to come out.

Finally, after ten minutes or so, the egg shell broke apart completely and disappeared, and a little dragon, about the size of the palms of Jules and Bella, appeared in the air.

Jules and Bella immediately put their joined hands under the little dragon and the small creature landed on their joined palms.

The new dragon was a sparkling silver, the scales shining in the sunlight. The baby opened her eyes slowly and blinked at Jules and Bella. One of her eyes was a brilliant emerald green like one of Jules's or King Jaren's, and her other eye was a royal sapphire blue like Bella's or Queen Carolina's.

"Mama? Dad?" the new baby dragon said sweetly. "You are Alya's human parents?"

"Yes, my dear," Jules and Bella said at the same time, and everyone could see the hearts and bubbles around them.