Ha! Missed me! she roared, spinning into the air.
All around her, chaos erupted.
Amber’s Spider Blaster 5000 whined to life—tiny arachnoids flinging themselves at the enemy, webbing down crew members mid-step as the first of the ships nearly collided with the Sea Wasp.
Dapier was tossing the SBMk2 towards the boarding monsters. There was a brief explosion before the sounds of screams as the black pepper powder coated the invading forces, sending them into sneezing, burning agony.
She grinned as sea monkeys erupted from the waves, lured by the sweet, buttery scent from the Sticky Popcorn cannon. The mischievous sea creatures scurried up the side of the evil pirate ship and pounced on the unsuspecting pirates trying to slough the kernels off their bodies.
In the center of it all, Jade circled and swooped, her Bubble Binder releasing bursts of glowing orbs that snared enemy dragons and Elementals in mid-air.
A flying goblin screamed in rage, then promptly fell victim to one of her bubbles, banging helplessly on the inside like a disgruntled bee as it dropped to the ocean below where it floated away on the surface of the water.
“Jade! Right flank!” Amber shouted from the crow’s nest, releasing a volley of crackling lightning that blinded a trio of flying monsters.
“I see them!” Jade veered hard, twisted midair, and fired.
The cannon thumped.
A massive blue bubble burst outward—then caught two Elementals mid-transformation. They froze, suspended mid-smoke shift, trapped like snow globes.
“Look! There’s Zohar and Bálint!” Amber shouted with glee. “Roam! Woah! He’s-he’s growing! Spring doesn’t look too happy with him.”
“I think I see Alice and Adaline on one of the bad pirate ships! Oh! There’s Phoenix!” Jade called out, swerving. “The gang’s all here.”
“I don’t see Jabir!” Amber hollered back.
Jade didn’t see him either, but if the others were here, Jabir was sure to be somewhere. Her gaze followed Phoenix and the other Dragonlings as they joined forces with Ashure’s crew, who were fighting like—well, like pirates!
She laughed, her heart soaring as she weaved her way through the madness.
They’re here.
The Dragonlings are together again!
There was no way anyone—not Blackheart, not Saldusa, not even the threat of being grounded for eternity—could stop the Dragonlings now.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Valdier home world:
Palace
* * *
“Move it, move it, move it—what did I miss?” Zoran asked, shoving his way between Ha’ven and Adalard on the couch he had set up in the planning room and narrowly avoiding a bowl of caramel-glazed, crispy root chips.
“Shhh!” Creon hissed, waving a hand at the massive screen attached to the far wall. His eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, his fingers flexing. “Phoenix just shifted!”
Zoran’s heart clenched. “What’s she doing this time?!”
“Dragon, but she is magnificent in her new form,” Mandra murmured. “She’s about to scorch the big bone ship.”
“Phoenix definitely has flair,” Creon said, his voice thick with pride and terror. “That’s an awfully big ship—and she’s taking it head-on.”
“Ho-ho! Roam’s still got a dose of that magic mushroom,” Vox piped up, his eyes glued to the swirling battle. “Use your tail! Use your tail! YES! THAT’S MY BOY! Damn, I hope he brings some of that fungi home.”
Trelon, casually reclining in an oversized chair off to the side like he was watching the playoffs, popped a piece of popcorn into his mouth and pointed at the chaos on screen. “Amber just let loose the Spider Blaster 5000. James must have modified it. I didn’t know they could connect to make one massive spider.” He squinted, then grinned. “Ooooh! Jade’s got the Bubble Binder commando-move going. Look at how she is holding it and focusing as she shoots! Cara is not getting her hands on that for the amusement park.”
