“Behold,” Ambrosia cried dramatically, “The terror of the youth, the destroyer of energy, the dreaded Underworld-”

“We’re going to die,’’ her best friend Frank interrupted. He had a habit of doing that during her magnificent speeches.

“Middle school,” she finished with a sigh. “I was feeling good, but your reminder of Professor Mungo’s test has ruined any chance of that.”

“Sorry.”

She sighed quietly to herself. Frank and her were entering 6th grade, and dealing with a new school on top of the “Other stuff” was a pain in the butt. “Other stuff” was the name Frank had created for all the drama. Besides, “Other stuff” perfectly encompassed everything she shouldn't have to deal with going to middle school. It was a perfect lift-off. So what had gone wrong?

“Earth to Ambro?” Frank said waving his hand in her face. Crap.

“I did it again didn’t I?” I responded. He was silent. For the last several years Ambrosia’s mother, Sally Azure, had been working on a special project while working part-time at the children’s hospital. Then one day, she tested it. Ambrosia was coming home from school, when the house just… lifted off. Out ot the great beyond, never to return. Ambrosia hadn’t been really able to focus since; she’d spend every waking moment trying to locate her mother. She snapped back to attention as she tripped over a rock and entered the school.

50 minutes of torture by Mungo later, she was in the halls thinking, Maybe if I checked the mailbox, she thought, I could find some clues? It was a desperate thought, but that was all she had to work with. “Mrs. Azure?”

Oh no, she she thought. Mungo. “Yes?” She replied innocently.

“I realize your… situation isn’t ideal, but would you consider joining my geology group. It’s fascinating, really very…” he droned.

“I’d rather not,” she replied, the unspoken part being: if ever in my life study the most boring thing in the universe with the most boring person in the universe.

“A shame,” he replied “That the offspring of the most brilliant people make the most terrible choices. It would have provided a wonderful opportunity to keep an eye on you.”

Wait, WHAT? But the professor continued walking like he’d said nothing out of the ordinary. Hmmmm… I may have a lead.

*********************************************************************

“And that,” she finished “Is how we sneak into Professor Mungo’s house, search for clues, and discover where my mother went.”

“Sounds kinda risky Ambro…” Frank replied.

“Come on, Frank,” Ambrosia declared as she opened the mailbox and stuck her hand in. “How else are we going to find my mother?”

“Alright,” he sighed. “I give in.”

“FRANK!!!!”

“What?” He asked “I said okay!”

“No, not that! Look!” she cried, waving around a small sheet of paper. “A note! From my mother!”

It was indeed a note. It read:

Ambrosia-

Please forgive me for getting carried away. I have something to tell you; your Professor is not who he seems. Don’t argue. He sabotaged the house rockets. How’d he even GET missiles?! Anyway, you need to find me. Bring the map on his table. It’ll help with the transport. Climb onto one on his missiles. He’s probably already targeted#######

Here it looked like the message had been scratched out, maybe by something with claws. Ambrosia was suddenly aware of Frank’s silence.

“We’ll do it tonight.”

********************************************************************************** After few hours of planning, packing and panicking, Frank and Ambrosia were prepared(ish) for whatever Professor Mungo could throw at them(or so they thought...😼). They successfully snuck into the house while Mungo was at his “geology group”. Ambrosia inhaled sharply.

“Frank,” Ambrosia whispered shakily, pointing at a map on Mungo’s dining room table. “You should see this…”

Spread out in front of her, Ambrosia ogled the places on the map- wait, a Secret Island! , The Isle of Lasbrotia. This must be where my mother went! She realized. Where Mungo sent her. She felt something stir in her gut. She felt a burning hatred for Mungo.

I’ve been wondering whether she’s alive or dead for MONTHS. And all because of HIM?! But before she had time to amplify her rage any longer, she felt something collide with the back of her head and the world went dark.

*******************************************************************************

When she awoke, the first thing she noticed was the fact she was strapped to a large cylinder. The second was that Frank was too. Then she saw the figure in the shadows. It was the same figure she’d seen from her desk, the one she’d wanted to shut up for so long. Now she would like nothing more than to make him talk. Preferably with extreme force.

“What do you want?!” she yelled

“Why,” he said in that voice that always made her want to punch him, “I want the legend of course.”

“MRRrrrfllhurrg” Frank groaned.

“And what is that… friend you’ve seen fit to bring along for the ride? Nevermind, I don’t care. Send them to Lasbrotia.”

There it is again. Lasbrotia. I wonder- But she didn’t get to finish her thought because the cylinder sprouted rockets and became a missile. She shot up into the air, shooting into the starry night sky. “AAAAAAHHHHHHHH” Frank and Ambrosia screamed.

“WE’RE GONNA DIE!!” Frank yelled, and this time Ambrosia didn’t argue. This next part happened so fast that she barely had time to process what had happened. Only later had Frank told her what happened. Something swooped out of the rainforest below. A woman, still in her 30’s by the looks of it flew into their path -sorry, collision course- on dragon wings. She used her claws to slice the bonds and grabbed them. “FLUFFY,” she yelled at the forest “GET OUT HERE!” What looked like a massive brightly colored cannonball shot out of the forest and hit the missile into the ocean. When they landed, Ambrosia was stunned that they were still alive. Then, as crazy as this already was, she noticed the creature called “Fluffy”

It appeared to be a massive lime green cat with dragon wings and the back half of a squid. Frank looked shell-shocked and fairly intimidated; with good reason for both. It was as big as a large horse for goodness sake! Still feeling like she had been whacked upside the head with a baseball bat, Ambrosia decided to take the diplomatic route.

“You named your monster Fluffy?!” she asked.

“You got a problem with that?” The woman replied.

“Of course not! Not at all!” Frank responded, looking determined not to get eaten.

“And he’s not a monster. He’s a Fuzzysquid Dragon. They can turn their coats any color they want, and you don’t want to mess with them. Especially Fluffy.”

With that she turned on her heel, glaring, and walked into the rainforest. With no better ideas, Frank and Ambrosia looked at each other, shrugged, and followed. They came to an area of forest, unlike anything a sane person could imagine. There was an entire city packed in the treetops, perfectly camouflaged in the leaves. It had were little huts in the branches,

with more women with wings and Fuzzysquid dragons flying between the structures. “Welcome to Kronohaven.” Their escorter said, with a smug smile.

“ Ooooohhhhh…” Frank gasped.

Ambrosia nudged him (which basically meant to shut up) and told him to let her do the talking. With a deep breath in, she started the questions.

“WhatisthisplacewhyareweherewhatthekeckisgoingonandwillsomebodypleaseexplainwhotriedtoKILLUS!” she rushed.

“No no,you need to do it more urgently,” Frank corrected. “Like this- WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!”

“Not bad. Try to rush it a little more-”

“I will explain.” A figure emerged from the biggest hut. It was decorated with berries and flowers of all kinds. Her dress was decorated in much the same manner as the other woman’s; long, thin vines draping from the sleeves and pale purple flowers around the neck line.

The dress itself was green tinted white. The woman's hair was like midnight, with tiny flowers sitting it like stars, and she held a regal bearing about her, with her huge purple wings held high and her posture straight.

“I brought guests, my queen.” Their escorter stated, with obvious respect.

“Thank you Lillikanar,” The queen replied.”You’ve been very helpful.”

“The attacks are getting more frequent. The teens came on another Skowron. We can no longer hide. The threat will be satisfied only when we are destroyed.”

The queen sighed and signaled for her to go.

“Not you two,” she called after Ambrosia and Frank as they turned to leave. “We have business to discuss.

********************************************************************************“... so that’s why we need to find my mother and get out of here.” Ambrosia finished.

“This sounds like an impossible task for 2 young children such as yourselves.” The woman,

apparently the queen, replied.

“For the last time, we’re in MIDDLE SCHOOL!” Frank groaned.

“Queen Lorna-,” she started.

“Lornao,” she corrected.

“Oh sorry. This is a huge deal for me.” Ambrosia reasoned. “We uncovered evidence that led us here. We have reason to believe that my mother, who’s been missing for nearly 6 months now, is still alive! I need to find her.”

Lorano sighed. “Well, if you are dead set on finding your mother, at least allow me to help. I do however, need something in return…”

“What exactly do you need us to do?” Ambrosia asked skeptically, figuring that she was doing all the negotiating by now. She was suspicious, but also desperate.

“I feel awful doing this, but I need you to look for the Twin Dragon’s Eye Talismans.”

“The what’s what?” Frank butted in.

“The Dragon's Eye Talismans. They protect us, shelter and seclude us, if you will. They are the most important part of our everyday lives. And now they are gone.” she sighed. “Do you not see? We need the talismans to defend ourselves from outsiders. We are a warrior nation, but humans have developed tech and magic that we have no way to counter. They have been missing for nearly 4 Kronolog, or 6 months, as you say.”

“Then that means that whoever sabotaged the rocket-house probably stole the Eyes too!” Frank yelled, with an oh-I-just-realized-that-wow-I’m-brilliant expression on his face.

“Duh!” Ambrosia scolded while smacking him upside the head.

“Since you do not know the jungle well, I will give two you a gift. Come.” She began walking across one of the bridges that ran from the huts for those who had injured wings. She reached a hut that seemed to be glowing, which was not a usual thing for a hut to do. Magic, Ambrosia thought. As they entered the hut, it became apparent that the glow was definitely coming from a rock in the center of the room. It was perfectly round, with a glassy surface

and a greenish-blue glow. Queen Lorano whispered to it, and it seemed like the glow was spreading towards Frank and her. She gasped as the cold mist solidified onto her back. “HOLY FRIG,” she screamed ”I have WINGS!!!!”

“A result of the magic of the egg,” Lorano smiled, though she looked a bit confused as to why they were freaking out. “It will help you travel faster. I will also give you 2 guides.” She moved aside to reveal Lilikanar and a young girl with black hair over half her face. She wore a scarf around her shoulders and a knee length dress with leggings(all made out of plant material. These guys were craftsy!)

“They will be teaching you how to fly, and will be assisting in your search,” Lorano declared. “And one more thing-” she added as they started to leave “Don’t fail me.”

********************************************************************************

Nearly a day later, they were resting in a tree at least 10 miles away from the village. The group had spent a day searching while learning how to fly. While Ambrosia had caught on