Last book in the Stonevile series! 

                   Darkness will fall,

                 Dragon will face dragon,

                 and in a flicker of light and screech

                   and cry, the Final battle 

                  Will start and go, and only

                 One will survive.

        Chapter  1

Stonevile followed Solala into the depths of an ash-colored castle, and Stonevile knew he would be training as soon as he could blink. Stonevile liked Solala, and trusted her to be the good guy, with him, Monoo0, and Monooo's dead dragons. Although they were the bad dragons, Solala made Stonevile think they were the good dragons so he would join without question nor hesitation. Stonevile felt satisfaction glow in his wings, and they seemed darker than before. Solala's black shape went inside one of the sills where the window used to be. Stonevile followed her, and he felt good. His enemies, who used to be his allies, would be scared once they met in battle. And he, Stonevile, ruler of the seven stone deserts, would finally be feared...almost forever... 

Stonevile liked that feeling; be feared almost forever. But right now, he had to concentrate on his lessons, or else he wouldn't be feared. Never, if he didn't concentrate. Solala led the way to a narrow stairway, and folded her wings as she went down. Stonevile did the same, and Solala looked elegant as she did one careful claw-step after the other. 

Stonevile slithered his tail over the floor. Solala was pre-testing him, and right now he was using his favorite trick: "Snake Tail Slither". His tail began creeping closer to Solala, and when he was close enough, Stonevile did flip-face and clawed Solala's chest, claws sheathed. Solala nodded, and Stonevile felt pride. But he knew that he must be prepared for Solala's move.  Solala did "jumped kick", but Stonevile knew this one well. Solala would want her enemy to dodge, so she could land on it's back.

Stonevile covered his tail over his body, and used his wings to cover the rest. Stonevile didn't move as Solala leaped the air. He didn't even try to dodge. Solala turned and landed on the stone-hard floor. Stonevile leapt on top of Solala, and Solala let her body lay limp. "Stop." She instructed. "You have past your pre-test."

 Chapter 2

Stonevile went into the battlefield where fires still blazed. Flames came out of his nose as he saw a Fury Dragon dead. "Useless." He muttered under his breath. "Useless." Monooo crept out from behind, repeating Stonevile's words. "You know, Stonevile, you have evil in your name, so that means... you are evil. Solala and I tried to tell you." Monooo growled, shaking his head.

Stonevile's eyes turned wide. "B-but y-you told-ld m-me that we w-were the good guys!" Stammered Stonevile. "Good guys are weak, bad dragons are strong. Evil dragons prevail, and only the strong survive..." Monooo  replied  evenly. "Yes," Solala said. "fight me. Act like I'm a good dragon." Stonevile slithered his tail, but he didn't do Snake-slither-tail. He, almost when he started it, switched face and bit the air. Then crouched low; leapt on Solala, and bit her head. "Very good. " Stonevile felt warmed at Solala's praise. Solala did not give praise easily.

Solala gave a knowing nod to Monooo, and guilt swept over Stonevile. Solala saw him go into the Ash Castle without permission. "You'll be going in the dungeons for 20 nights.  Understand?" Solala growled, eyes glowing angrily. "Yes, Solala." Stonevile dipped his head. "You will not      fail me again, Stonevile." Solala hissed.

Stonevile growled lowly in the dungeons. He was angry, angry with himself. What were you thinking, going into the Ash Castle? He asked himself, scales blazing brown-black. Solala would let him out in five nights, he knew.  Stonevile yawned, suddenly realizing the first of light was starting to come. Started to feel sleepy, Stonevile let himself drift into an uncomfortable sleep. 

Red mist surrounded him, and he saw Safer crying for help. Grinning, Stonevile leaped at her, and she ran deeper into the mist. Calls echoed in his mind, but Stonevile shook his head, and roared his victory. Suddenly his eyes shot open, and he saw Safer. Her green bright scales were so light, Stonevile had to squint. "Are you Stonevile?" Safer asked, cocking her head. "What do you want, Safer?" Stonevile growled, revealing his teeth. " "I--- I want you, Stonevile, good you." Safer stammered.

Stonevile bared his fangs as Safer locked gazes with him. 

Finally, Stonevile found a way to cast his site from her eyes to her wings. It would enable her to fly away, and after, the dungeons were big enough for a small battle. Safer was in the dungeons, and she didn't think he would attack. He had an advantage. He growled, and did  "Snake-slither-tail", and whipped Safer with his mighty wing, causing her to lose her balance. Stonevile leaped, and he relished the feeling of  fighting. He glanced down, and Safer leaped at him. But Stonevile was too quick. He dashed out of Safer's reach. And once again, Safer leaped on Stonevile. This time, she got his wing, and he growled, trying the thrash her away. Pain bit him sharp as Safer dug deeper. Try to do "The Whitting Pain" he tugged and pulled, until some of his scales splintered into Safer's face. He smiled as Safer let go of his tail.

"Stonevile... please, don't do this!" Safer howled, but Stonevile  didn't care. He broke the window, and left Safer flapping to the ground. Stonevile curled back into the largest corner, and pulled his tail over his wing. 

Stonevile awoke to see Solala opening the dungeons. "Come. To the Ash Castle, Stonevile. It is time to battle train." Stonevil grinned as he heard the word 'Battle train'. A pulse of energy and strength filled him.

The Ash Castle was stone with dark walls now. Stonevile's claws scraped the ash underneath his feet. Then Solala charged, knocking Stonevile. "Be ready for any surprise attack1" She gave him a long cold stare. Stonevile leaped. Solala wasn't ready, and hit the ground, causing some of the ash-frames of the broken windows to fall. "Like you said." 

Stonevile grinned. "Be ready for any surprise attack." He repeated Solala. Suddenly Safer appeared. Solala was forgotten, and Stonevile raced as she began to fly. With a beat of his wings, Stonevile was up with her. Stonevile felt happier as Safer nodded. Safer was surprisingly fast, and Stonevile could already feel exhaustion creep into his body when they were half-way to the mountains. Safer didn't show any sign of exhaustion, not the slightest pant or a dip to the left or right. Safer shot a glance back, and Stonevile felt her gaze bare on him for a few moments. Stonevile tried to keep up with all his might, feeling determination to catch up to Safer like never before. With a grunt, he heaved himself next to Safer with great effort.

    Stonevile  collapsed on the ground. Every part of his body was sore. "Get up." A strange, new voice growled. Stonevile looked up to see a burly, green, shiny