Chapter 5

The Expanse, The Gullington, Scotland, United Kingdom

Gen's heart ached when she and Emperor entered through the Barrier of the Gullington, seeing the Expanse and Castle for the first time since leaving. For a fleeting moment, weeks ago when she entered the 21st century, Gen thought that this would be her home. The old charm and rustic feel of Scotland were much more comfortable to Gen than the shiny, modern world of Beverly Hills. Alas, that dream was pulled out from under her when she was sent to work with the Rogue Riders.

"We were never meant for this place," Emperor said, looking down at her with his burning gold eyes full of wisdom.

Gen sighed, knowing that he was right. But still, it was like saying, "Everything happens for a reason." That might be true and Mother Nature might be setting them up for something more fitting for their greatness. But in the interim, it was difficult to adjust. When one can't see the reason that they are in a hard situation that doesn't feel natural, it's tough to be optimistic.

For Gen, this whole twist was like being lost in a city. It was frustrating and confusing, but maybe the adventure would lead to a serendipitous fortune. She liked that Sully often spoke about happy accidents. He'd said that his Great Aunt, Estella Fairhaven, often said the phrase and found the best in things.

Sully was good about seeing the silver lining in situations. Gen wanted to believe that her ending up at the Rogue Riders was all for the best, even though she was overwhelmed by the world, had the worst boss and almost all the others there loathed her.

As Gen and Emperor emerged onto the Expanse they were enveloped by the rolling hills, adorned with a patchwork of heather and wildflowers. They stood in stark contrast to the manicured lawns and precise topiary of the Beverly Hills mansion they'd left behind. The air, tinged with the earthy scent of moss and the crisp, clean aroma of the nearby Pond, filled Gen's lungs with a sense of welcome and belonging that the artificial perfumes of the modern world could never replicate.

Emperor's purple scales glistened in the sunlight, his presence a comforting anchor in this timeless landscape that seemed to exist outside the boundaries of both the past and the present. The Castle, with its weathered stone walls and ancient tapestries, stood as a testament to the enduring strength of the Dragon Elite. It was a stark contrast to the sleek, glass-and-chrome fa?ade of the Rogue Rider mansion.

The mix of disappointment and confusion dissipated when Gen caught sight of the blue dragon and his rider in the distance. Behind Lunis and Sophia Beaufont were two other dragonriders who Gen recognized—Wilder and Mahkah. They all waved to Gen and Emperor as they approached, even the oversized blue dragon who often looked more like a big dog than a dragon with his easy nature. However, Gen suspected that in battle, Lunis was a terror whom none would want to face down.

When Sophia rushed over, Gen gave her a hug, grateful to see the dragonrider. "Hi! Thanks for arranging the meeting. I really need Wilder's help with Bellumferrum."

"Of course," Sophia said when she released Gen. "I'm sure the Assistant to the Protector of Weapons can help you. You definitely need a working weapon to manage crime."

"Speaking of which," Lunis began, a sneaky look on the blue dragon's face. "Did you hear about the cement mixer in Los Angeles that collided with a prison truck?"

"Don't…" Sophia said, groaning slightly.

"Motorists are asked to look out for fifteen hardened criminals." Lunis howled with laughter, throwing back his head.

Emperor turned his head away, as if looking at the other dragon was repulsive to him.

However, Gen glanced up at Lunis in confusion. "What's a cement mixer?"

He huffed, issuing smoke from his nostrils. "My jokes aren't going to work unless you can follow the references." Lunis turned to Sophia. "Can you teach her about the last one hundred years of modern culture and references real quickly? I can't have her not laughing at my jokes."

"Then try telling better ones," Sophia suggested. "Because the rest of us get the references and we're still not laughing."

"Oh, fine," Lunis sighed, waving at Emperor. "Do you want to go play video games in my Pad? My cave is decked out with all the coolest stuff and is separate from the Cave where the others live, because they are all lame and talk about the days of yore. It's a real snooze where the other dragons hang out."

"I'll have to pass," Emperor said in a diplomatic voice, nodding at the pair as they approached on the Expanse. "I have promised to meet with Mahkah. He requested to examine me."

Lunis nodded. "Oh, because you have that stubborn foot fungus."

The purple dragon growled, lowering his chin. "I don't have a foot fungus. I'm the ruler of dragons and Mahkah, as an expert on our species, wants to take some measurements."

Lunis held up his clawed hands, as if in surrender. "Hey, I get it. I'm sure foot fungus is just like the rest of us and waiting to grow on you."

Sophia and Gen both stifled laughs as Wilder and Mahkah joined them, thankfully at the perfect time to deflect the ruler of dragon's wrath. However, Gen knew that secretly Emperor had a great respect for Lunis. He was the new generation of dragons and responsible for moving the last one-thousand spawned eggs into the twenty-first century, evolving them to greater heights. However, his comedic style was a bit out of Emperor's comfort zone, for sure.

Gen completely understood since everything in this world pushed her out of her comfort zone. However, that's what she and Emperor needed, and they both knew that deep down inside. They weren't meant for the Gullington or the Dragon Elite. Their role was in the modern world and their job was much more complex than fighting for justice. They were meant for something unique—but what, they still didn't know.