“We're lucky to have a few dips in our village that catch rain," a three-foot-tall male chihuahua told me. “There are plenty of other clans out there that see next to no water."

"Is that so?" I knelt down to meet his gaze. Hearing from the locals had given me a better understanding of the demon realm's happenings, even if it wasn't the whole picture. "Are there any major cities?"

He shook his head. "Most demons keep to their own, except for the demon queen's army."

I stroked my chin, noting the similarities to how animals on Earth operated. "Thank you for the information." I patted his head.

“No trouble for our best friend!" He wagged his tail before returning to his business.

I stood up, taking it all in. If I were honest, I would have loved to make this place my home and call it a day. Since arriving, I felt the most comfortable with the canines. Even if Azure didn't continue to follow my plan, I would ensure that the canine demons flourished in a worst-case scenario.

Approaching a little wooden stand where a black and white Husky female was selling grilled meats, I noticed that many shops were like these stalls rather than traditional stores, proving the point that land scarcity was a real issue. I reached into my back pocket and pulled out a gold coin.

“One please."

Her eyes widened as she shook her head. "No, no, no! I cannot let our best friend pay!" She picked up a kabab and offered it to me. "It's on the house!"

I smiled and took the kabab but still left the coin on the counter. "I would be insulted if I didn't pay for your hard work."

There was a twinkle in her eyes as she smiled back. "Thank you for your patronage!"

Walking down the street while eating my delicious kabab, I note that it's seasoned well and cooked perfectly... I stop mid-stride. Cooked perfectly? I backpedaled to the Husky who sold me the food. She was still smiling brightly as I stopped in front of her stand. It had only occurred to me now that all the food I had been given was not only cooked but also seasoned.

"Sorry to bother you again, but I have a question about this meat," I said.

Her ears pinned back in worry. "D-did I do it wrong? It's an old tradition, and I never thought our best friend would actually taste it!"

“No, it's amazing... But, don't demons eat their meat plain and raw?"

Recognition dawns on her. “Oh, right... Yes. Most demons do, but we canines like to indulge in the gifts of our best friend from time to time."

As the realization hit me, I had to stifle a laugh. It was like table scraps, but I couldn't help but find it endearing that the canine demons enjoyed something so foreign to their usual diet. The Husky had done a great job making the meat taste like human cooking, even though they had never experienced it before.

"Ah, that makes sense now. Keep up the good work," I commended her.

“I will!"

As I walk away, I notice the Husky's tail wagging intensely. It's heartwarming to see how much they appreciate even the smallest gesture of kindness. The thought of cooking for them crosses my mind, and I realize that I have plenty of meat and spices that I brought with me just in case I needed to negotiate with Azure. Since they threw me a party upon my arrival, it would be nice to repay their kindness with a home-cooked meal. However, I'll have to save that for when I'm closer to departing.

As I gaze up at the sky, I notice that the sun is midway through the sky. Seems I've been busy, and I can't help but think about Princess. I long to see her again and hopefully, we can catch up on everything I have in mind.

As I step into Princess' cave, I see her sitting in her rocking chair, engrossed in knitting. Without lifting her gaze, she greets me, "I've been expecting you. How's your stay been so far?"

"This place has exceeded all my expectations," I reply, though my thoughts soon turn to the troubling issue of breed discrimination. "However, I am not blind to the division breeds has caused."

“Yes, it's regrettable but not an issue that can easily be solved." Princess nods in agreement while still knitting. "We didn't have much time to talk during our walk, but there's something I'd like to ask you." I walk over to her and sit down, and she smiles at me warmly. "How is Azure doing?"

I was taken aback by her unexpected question. "Uh, she's doing fine?"

"I understand your confusion. You see, I used to look after her when she was a child," she explained.

"Really?" I asked, surprised by this revelation.

Princess nodded. "Her mother and I were good friends," she continued. Her smile faded, and a sense of sadness filled the air. "When the time came, I knew I had to take her in."

Her sudden change in demeanor caught my attention, and I couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean?"

Princess took a deep breath before responding, "Forgive me; I forgot that our history is still unknown to you." She set aside her knitting materials and stood up, going over to a carved-out shelf on the cave wall. She retrieved a book and brought it back to her rocking chair. "Long ago, when I was much younger, the demon realms were ruled by five major clans: the canine, feline, equine, reptile, and the dragons, which was the most prominent of them all."

As Princess mentions the dragon clan, I realize that I can't recall encountering any other dragons like Azure. I had come across some lizard-like creatures in the past, but none that were anywhere near her size or possessed her feral strength. I furrow my brow, trying to recall if I had ever come across any information about dragons in my travels.

Noticing my confusion, Princess speaks up. "Don't dwell on it too much. They existed many years ago, long before the portal was even opened," she says, trying to ease my mind.

"Existed many years ago? What do you mean by that?" I ask, my disbelief apparent in my voice.

Princess meets my gaze for a moment before looking off into the distance. "They were killed," she answers, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Killed by what?" I press, unable to comprehend the thought of a whole clan being wiped out.

Princess lets out a shakey breath before answering, "By Azure."

Princess stands atop a large hill, overlooking the once-great home of the dragon clan. In the center, a massive feral dragon, its scales a deep blood-red, spews flames that engulf the buildings and dragonoids alike. The creatures' flesh burns away as they scream, collapsing into piles of ash. How could this have happened? Princess had known that Azure was the only feral to be born since the ascension, but she never could have predicted that the dragon would lose her sapience.

"All is lost, Princess," a second-generation mastiff says, his voice heavy with despair. "We cannot defeat a creature that powerful. Soon, everything will return to dust."

Princess shakes her head. "It's not over yet, Bruce. Azure is just a child, lost and confused." She turns to face her friend. "I made a promise to Opal that I would take care of her if anything happened."

"Take care of her?" Bruce looks at the monstrous creature still wreaking havoc below. "She's a lost cause! All we can hope for is a merciful death in the future!"

Princess's laughter is barely contained. "If you're not brave enough to face the challenge, then scurry back home with your tail between your legs," she says, her voice filled with determination. "But I will not back down so easily. Anyone who wants my position is welcome to it." She glares at him. "But when I return, I will tear apart those who ran for their lack of loyalty."

Without another word, Princess charges at Azure with all her might. She can't help but smile, even as her life flashes before her eyes. Memories of her mother and the familiar scent of her sweater fill her mind. She remembers the emptiness she could never quite fill, a void left by their dear friend.

She regrets never having the chance to see the creature that held this spot in her soul, but that doesn't matter now. Even if she dies trying, she must do everything in her power to calm Azure and save her pups. Leaping up, Princess latches onto Azure's hind leg and begins to climb. A thunderous roar shakes her to the core, but she instinctively jumps higher as Azure's jaws snap shut where she had just been.

Princess's voice echoes through the chaos. "Azure! It's me, Princess!"

With all her might, she continues to climb, clinging onto Azure's scales as the feral dragon tries to shake her off. Princess reaches Azure's back and runs to her neck, grabbing on tight. Finally, she is out of Azure's reach.

"Can you hear me?" Princess shouts, but her voice is drowned out by the deafening roar.

For a moment, Princess braces herself, knowing what must be done. With grim determination, she climbs higher, fighting through the turbulence as Azure bucks and roars. Finally, Princess reaches the top of Azure's head.

"Stop this now, Azure!" Princess pleads, her voice filled with desperation. "Please, don't make me do this!"

As chaos rages around her, Princess locks eyes with Azure and sees tears streaming down the dragon's face. Despite the destruction wrought by Azure's body, her eyes are clear, filled with a desperate plea for help. A shock of pain coursed through Princess at this moment. If Azure is aware and unable to control her body, then that only leaves Princess with one option.

“Don't worry, Sweetheart. Aunty Princess is going to fix this. Just close your eyes; it'll all be over soon."

A sense of relief washes over Azure as she closes her eyes. Princess trembles as tears flow down her cheeks, and an immense amount of mana surges through her body. It's so dense that Azure becomes frozen in place. Lightning flickers around Princess as she channels all the mana she can gather, even from the corpses of those who have fallen, plant life, and atmosphere itself. Her body is so saturated that the mana itself becomes visible as black flames billow into the sky.

This technique she made was based on a story Princess's mother once told her about their best friend who harnessed a great power that could vaporize anything it touched. Princess never imagined using it, let alone on a child she cares for, but anything less wouldn't faze Azure. The world falls silent as a zone around Princess encompasses the entire dragon clan's domain. Not a sound or speck of light can escape, except for the radiating aura from Princess herself.

“Please forgive me, Opal." Princess reels her fist back, looking at Azure one last time before accepting her fate. “Armageddon."

The clan leaders who were watching this from afar would never be able to find the words for what they saw that day. Princess had ascended to the top of the skyscraper that was Azure, unleashing a power that was beyond their comprehension. Then, an eerie silence fell upon the scene. 

In a blink of an eye, the massive dragon vanished, leaving behind an enormous crater where none had existed before. Time stretched on as they prepared for an impending shockwave or any sign of activity, but there was only silence. No sound, flash of light, or disturbance of any kind. It was as though time had leaped forward, leaving behind only devastation.

In the midst of the colossal crater, Princess stood on top of Azure's motionless body, which was now a shattered heap. Overwhelmed by grief, she fell to her knees and gently caressed the remains of the pup she had once cared for. The seemingly endless silence broke with the pitter-patter of rain. 

"Goodnight, Azure," she whispered through trembling lips. "You're with your mother now."

As she closed her eyes, memories of Azure's birth flooded her mind, and she remembered how Opal had loved Azure unconditionally despite everyone's fear of her feral form. Azure had been a curious child, without any prejudice or fear. She had always greeted Princess with a smile and a warm embrace, even though she was a canine. 

Opal had confided in Princess about her worries for Azure's future, and made Princess promise to keep her safe. But here they are, a fate she could've never guessed. She couldn't bear to think of a world without Azure's smiling face, her curious eyes, and her unwavering love. As the rain mixed with her tears, Princess mourned for Azure, the pain of loss heavy on her heart. 

She couldn't bear to watch Azure suffer, and so she had made the difficult choice to let her go. But now she was left with a sense of regret, wondering if she had done the right thing. Princess whispered one final farewell to Azure, knowing that she would carry the weight of her guilt forever.

The ground below shifts. Azure's half-opened eye catches Princess's attention, and she sees her mouth moving, but no sound comes out.

"Princess, what's happening?" Bruce's voice echoes down from the top of the crater.

Princess ignores him and looks up to the sky, speaking to Opal. "Please, if this is a sign, keep Azure alive. I can't lose her, not like this."

Turning her gaze back to Bruce, Princess commands, "Gather the dogs! We need to get her back to our clan now!"

Without hesitation, Bruce howls, and the second generation leaps into action, helping to carry Azure back to their domain. Princess follows closely behind, her heart heavy with worry. She can sense the danger that lurks around them, knowing that not all clans trust the dragons. Princess can only hope that they will make it back to their clan in time to save Azure's life.

Princess sets her book aside, her gaze distant as she speaks. "The attack I unleashed on Azure would have vaporized any other mortal, but it was nothing short of a miracle that she survived, albeit not unscathed. Wracked with guilt, I took it upon myself to aid in her recovery." She pauses for a moment before continuing, recounting the extensive injuries Azure sustained. "Her bones shattered on impact, her muscles torn, her organs ruptured. It took years for her to heal. And due to the brain damage, she would enter frenzies but would eventually calm."

Princess gazes off towards a section of the cave leading further in. "I held her deep within this cave. She was too dangerous to allow freedom, but she was never alone as I stayed with her the entire time. After her physical wounds healed, we worked on controlling her feral side and reteaching her how to walk and fly." Princess's expression darkens. "But the worst part was that she had buried what she had done. It took her decades to even begin to understand the gravity of her actions and try to move past them."

Shaking her head she sighs. “Deep down I know she's still hurting. I may take life one day at a time but I worry about her. I just want her to be happy and above all else, forgive herself."

I am left speechless, unsure of what to say. This revelation changes everything I thought I knew about Azure. While my plan remains unchanged, I realize I may have been going about things the wrong way. I have a lot to think about.

“I had no idea," I say.

Princess looks at me, her expression softening. "It's understandable that you didn't know," she says, her voice gentle. "After what happened, Azure distanced herself from everyone, even me. Once she learned to control her feral form and cloaked herself in that shell, she left our clan, and not long after is when the portal opened."

My mind races as I try to process this new information. 

Princess's smile returns, but there's a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I had given up hope that I'd live long enough to see her come home, but now, with what you've given me, I'll go see her myself. She's spent too long running."

Even with everything fresh in my mind, seeing how joyous Princess is, I can't help but feel like I've done something right since coming to this world. Thing are complicated but I knew they would be. All I have to do is remain true to my overall goal, no matter how much of a burden I'll end up carrying. If it can end with Princess and the canines always smiling, I'll throw myself into hell itself if I have to.

“I won't turn down your company." I admit. “I have a lot to think about before our return to the castle but thank you for telling me this."

Princess gets up and kneels low to nuzzle me. “You will truly never know how happy I was to hear your plan. I love both you and Azure... Hopefully things will turn out as you have planned."

“I will try my best," I say petting her briefly before getting up. Despite how much is plaguing my mind right now, there is one thing I wished to bring up. “If it's alright with you, I'd like to host a celebration before we leave."

Princess raises a brow while her tail wags. “Is that so? What should we expect?"

“A tradition between man and dog. I'll be cooking for everyone."

Princess' eyes lighten up. “What do you require?"

I shake my finger. “Nothing. All you need to do is get excited."

She giggles. “Very well. You certainly know how to make an old dog feel young."

“Well, the divine magic." I point out jokingly.

She rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean." Her ears perk up. “Shadow is here. You still have a few more days left. Enjoy them, I must prepare for my brief departure to the castle as well."

I bow slightly. “Understood. I'll be sure to stop by."

“Until then."

I walk out of the cave and find Shadow standing in wait.

“How is Princess doing?" He asks.

“She's doing great." I put my arm over his shoulder and pull him close. “I still have a few days left until we head back. Got any recommendations?"

Since we got here, I see Shadow's eyes brighten considerably as his tail begins to wag. We haven't had time to hang out privately since we got here and it's high time I change that.

“Allow me to give you a tour then."

While I have a lot of things to consider in the future with Azure, for now, I'm going to enjoy myself. Shadow leads the way and I know that come hell or high water, things will work out.