2012 Holiday Special – Page 3

Howdy, fellow Draconiacs! RazorFox here.

It looks like the kids caught something, alright. It may not be Sandy Claws, but it’ll certainly make for a very lively holiday.

I hope you all have enjoyed this year’s holiday special, as I’ve had a blast writing and drawing it. Will we see more of Fiera, Mizu, Cree, Tyree, and Princess Lumina in their quest to find out Sandy Claws’ true identity? Find out next year.

The 2013 Draconia Chronicles Calendar is now available for ordering! This is your last chance to get your hands on the must-have item for every Draconiac, as orders will not be accepted beyond December 31. Celebrate 2013 with twelve months of tasty Tarot-inspired goodness, starring your favorite Dragons AND Tigers from The Draconia Chronicles, a couple of which might actually wear some clothing. Help support your favorite webcomic and order now!

A quick addendum on the calendar: Due to life in general being pretty busy, I’m actually farther behind where I’d like to be with the calendar production. While I’m still soldiering on in spite of the crush of holiday-related festivities and activities that pull me away from my drawing desk, there is the possibility that you all might not receive your calendars until a few days into the new year. I’ve never been this late on the calendar, and I’m deeply embarrassed, but I made a commitment to do this and I’m determined to see it to its completion. Thank you all, thus far, for your orders, and please don’t let this stop you if you were considering buying one but haven’t done so yet. All orders will be fulfilled as soon as I can get everything done. Thanks for your understanding.

I should also point out that I’ll be taking the week of December 31st off from the comic so as to finish up the calendar. The main comic will return on Monday, January 7, 2013, where Briella will show us just what she intends to do to Lady Red.

On my behalf, and I’m sure on behalf of all of us here at Katbox.net, have yourself a very merry Christmas and a happy holiday season! Regardless of the faith you profess, or the lack thereof, we can all agree that “peace on earth” and “good will toward men” are pretty nice ideas, and while I’d love to see those in practice all year round, one or two days out of the year are a good start. I love all of you, my fellow Draconiacs, for being such an awesome audience, and I look forward to delivering more Draconia Chronicles goodness in 2013. I hope you’ll join me.

And now, back to work on the calendar! Take care, my fellow Draconiacs, and thanks for reading!

=RazorFox.

Fluffy

No Coal plz.
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  Then make sure not to comment on Shaleigh’s outfit within earshot of her. Just pretend not to notice. ^__^;;
MaveriKat

HEY! Mabel got her coat back! No wonder she’d keep it. But… heh. Those poor kids! They’re gonna get tanned tails for Christmas!

Here’s wishing you a merry one, RazorFox! And a Happy New Year!
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  Good memory, my friend! Mabel might not realize that this is her old coat, and maybe the drycleaners actually were making good on their mix-up from two Christmases ago. ^__^
  - MaveriKat
    
    Nice. Merry Christmas, RazorFox!
    - http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
      
      And a merry Christmas to you, too! ^o^
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  Mabel’s not one to be trifled with. She may be old and slow but she can still kick ass. Merry Christmas to you, too, my friend! ^__^
Wolfheart811

Little does she know that many, many people will see her in it.

…now that I think about it, nobody but the kids knew what she looked like, so if anyone saw her in the “tent”, they wouldn’t know it was her. So, if would be unfair to give them coal.

However, whether or not the kids see her in it or not, they’re getting coal for what they did to Mabel.

AW GREAT! I HAD MY CHANCE TO GET FIRST COMMENT AND I TOOK TOO LONG TO TYPE THIS! Oh well, at least I can say I got here before there were comments. T_T
- Mr. E
  
  Yeah… By some strange coincidence Wolfheart, I mentioned Shaleigh’s tent replaces the Devil room in my BoI-to-CoL(Cleansing of Lumina)comments…
  - Mr. E
    
    And that was before this page…
    - http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
      
      And I would encourage folks wishing to check that out to visit the previous page. Sorry, Mr. E, but your post was pretty long, and since it already exists on the previous page, I deleted it from here. I can’t have the same manuscript on each page. Sorry. ^__^
      - Mr. E
        
        Ok, thanks for encouraging your fans about wanting to read my fanfic, and did you read it and enjoy it?
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  I think Shaleigh’s concern is being seen in such an ill-fitting outfit for someone so much larger than she is. Mabel doesn’t exactly have the body of supermodel these days. ^__^;
Mr. E

Well, *huh* I guess both plans would’ve caught “Sandy Claws” anyway…
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  It wasn’t a bad plan, actually. Mabel was just in the wrong place with the wrong craving at the wrong time. ^__^
http://Twitter.com/Draven_Long Draven

Kerfuffle is such a fun word.
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  It was either that or “ruckus.” And you’re right, it IS a fun word to say. Hence why I chose it. ^__^
Richard

lol “LET ME DOWN SO I CAN LAY A WHOOPIN ON YA!” laughed my ass off!!
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  Mabel has a certain way with words. ^__^
  - Richard
    
    thats why i love her, she’s the best granny ever!
    - http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
      
      She WILL reappear in the main story. I’ve got her and Raz on tap for 2013. ~__^
      - MaveriKat
        
        Yes… having Mabel on “tap” is always a nice thing.
http://www.facebook.com/jack.winberry Jack Winberry

trap backfired, caught the wrong person. isn’t this how all traps for santa, or sandy, end up? hopefully, the end of this christmas special isn’t the end of this little group’s stories, i like the concept of a world where scalies and furries live together.
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  Glad to hear it! These kids have become my de facto stars for the holiday season. They’ve carried the torch well for the third year in a row, and they’re so much fun to work with. I will most definitely have them back next year. ^__^
  - http://www.facebook.com/jack.winberry Jack Winberry
    
    cool, maybe they could come back sooner than christmas, like on new years or valentines day, it would be cute to see the younglings talking about love.
MrAMP

Yeah kids, run…run like the wind.
*Jokingly*
By goodness, that is one ugly tent XD
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  It’s seen better days. ^__^;
Kobra

Sorry Mabel but those are defiantly not the right words for you to use get out of there.
Dame as funny as this is I still wanted to see Obscura be in the net.
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  I’d thought of putting a Dragon in there, but the wings just would’ve gotten in the way.
  - Kobra
    
    But this means I lost the bet! Oh well not like I was going to pay anyway.
    - tjb123456
      
      by the way you owe me some internets.
- Mr. E
  
  Me too.
Kobra

Maybe Shaleigh can let Mabel be Sandy Claws next year. She now has the sute, and a belly like jelly to better fit the role. All Mabel needs to do is work on having a jollier personality.
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  Yeah, it’s that last part that might hold her back. ^__^;;
  - Mr. E
    
    Mmm-hm…
  - Kobra
    
    You saying she’s always a grump? We talking Scrooge or Grinch levels here?
Kobra

Though what does the “Pantheon,” have to do with anything?
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  “Pantheon” refers to all the gods in her world. She’s thanking them all at once. Easier than saying all their names. ^__^
  - Kobra
    
    Why not just say “by the gods,” then?
    - http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
      
      Because the Dragons already use that phrase. I wanted something different for Shaleigh.
      - Kobra
        
        Doesn’t everybody essentially worship the same gods? Can’t see much of a difference. Besides it confuses those that don’t know what a pantheon is.
      - http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
        
        I am not above asking my readers to look up a word now and then. And keep in mind that there are three different cultures at play here. The identity of some deities may overlap, others might not. Who you worship and how you do it, if you do at all, is often dictated by what culture you’re born into. Shaleigh’s from a different part of the world.
      - Kobra
        
        AHA! SO YOU ADMIT THAT THERE IS ANOTHER RACE OF FOXES OUT THERE! Shaleigh isn’t the only one!
      - http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
        
        Well, she didn’t just magically pop into existence. She had to have parents. ^__^;
      - EOTW
        
        I’d like it if you went in to what the Pantheon is for the different cultures in this world. The only ones I know of are Loessa(tigers) and the volcano(dragons). Oh, and Merry Christmas!
      - Mr. E
        
        Merry Christmas, and a happy new year to all of you!
      - http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
        
        And a merry Christmas and a happy new year to you, too! ^o^
      - Mr. E
        
        Hey RazorFox, quick question, in Itoi’s words, is the rest of chapter 5 gonna be Strange, Funny, and Heartrending?
      - Kobra
        
        Could have fooled me the way she pops in and out everywhere.
- Mr. E
  
  I have a feeling it’s something sinister…
Kobra

Well this is one way to put Mabel on a much needed diet.
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  But now Mizu’s beets will go to waste. o_O
  - Kobra
    
    But Mabel will not loose her “womanly figure.” You know how many calories are in Beets and eggs?
    - http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
      
      Does it looks like Mabel’s a calorie counter? ^__^;;
- Mr. E
  
  *snerk* so is tying her up… No wait, the safety raters would go nuts.
Kobra

You know if she works on it a bit Shaleigh can make that “tent,” into quite a nice elf outfit.
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  And with a little more work, she can add some rhinestones and become “Elfis.”
  
  Thankyaveramuch. ^__^
  - Kobra
    
    Nah, that and the jingly bells would give away her position and stealth. She’s a wanted woman now.
hamstap85

Wait, I think I already ordered the calendar via PayPal, any quick way to check?
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  You have. I’m still working on it. That’s why I’m taking the week off from the comic. It’s all calendar work from now through the new year or whenever I get it done. Sorry for the delay. v__v;;
Mr. E

Since no one seems to have read my fanfic, (I know it’s long but please read it, I sweat blood and tears crafting and creating it.) I’m bringing it to this page.

Lumina and her sister were cornered.

Her mother, fueled with rage at seeing her daughter next to Gaia’s illegitimate spawn, was bearing down on them both. “Lumina get the HELL away from that literal spawn of a dritch!” she yelled to the princess. “Move aside!”

The sisters could see their own panic reflected in Oscura’s big, white eyes. Strange how they shared the same eyes; the big, yellow eyes that all of them shared, including the pompadour of brown hair. (Though Lumina’s mother was sporting less curl and more messy bedhead at the moment.)

(Lumina’s POV)
….. Fight…

A voice in her head said.

…Fight…attack her……you idiot, FIGHT…

A hand reached out, vehemently shoving Lumina aside. “I SAID MOVE ASIDE!! That lousy imp can NOT be let out!” The little light dragon tumbled on the floor and landed on her side. Picking herself up, she glanced back, the orange-yellow dragonling let out panicked whimpering noises, eyes fixated on the queen before her, pupils nearly pinpricks as fear and adrenaline coursed through her veins.

The earthie was pinned between Oscura and the wall behind her, chest heaving with heavy gasps. Lumina’s hallucination-filled mind suddenly no longer made her see a loving parent, but a horrific, sadistic monster.

…Fight. “You …”

(Sister’s POV)
A hand slapped her cheek then grabbed her hair as her attacker uttered unintelligible noises (“You LITTLE BRAT! YOU should have NEVER been BORN!!), then threw her down and delivered a series of punches and kicks before finally grasping her throat with glowing hands, starving her of air.

(Lumina’s POV)
Attack! “…just get away, getawaygetaway…”

She was hyperventilating by now, as her biological mother choked the feeble dragonling. DO SOMETHING. And then an image formed in her mind. An image of a shining, sharp protector, making a beckoning gesture. The voice within her mind whispered to her like a seductive lover, sounding so wrong but so right at the same time.
K…i…l…l…h…e…r…
Lumina hesitated. Part of her wanted to scream. Another, to take her sister and run. But yet another, considered the request. …Kill her…..Before she kills your sibling… Her mind was a maelstrom of conflicting thoughts, the young girl felt sick to her stomach and weak in the knees with the beat of her own heart pounding within her head.
Make…the…we…a…po…n…
She thought the image. Her left hand slowly contorted into a claw, trembling as part of her still warred, still tried to reason.
Make the weapon… Make it… Make it…
Tears streamed down her face, as her left arm gathered light magick and formed it into a clawed gauntlet, as if the frayed strands of her sanity knew what was happening, knew that it was fighting a battle it was going to lose.

DO IT.

She weakly stood up into a battle stance near her mother with shaky arms, her eyelids stained with dry saline, hiccuping between sobs. “Just leave her alone…please, Memei…just *hic* leave my sister alone!”

But Oscura wouldn’t listen or look at her daughter as she continued assaulting the helpless young earth dragon, she just said, “Lumina my sweet, I know you have a kind heart and I am proud of you for that… But I will NOT HAVE YOU ACCEPTING THIS DRITCH’S SPAWN AS YOUR SISTER!!”

She didn’t think. Her body acted on its own.

(Oscura’s POV)
“AAaagh!”
Oscura looked thunderstruck as Lumina heaved, frozen in mid-strike, the phantasmal blades of the magick-gauntlet dripping with red ichor. She collapsed, dropping the young earth dragon who scuttled to a corner, clutching her stomach and dabbing at the wide cut, looking at her own blood stained palm.

(Lumina’s POV)
“Ma-Mai-see…wh-” “I told you *hic* to stay away from her… *gasp*…WHY COULDN’T YOU JUS’ STAY AWAY FROM US!? WHY COULDN’T YOU JUS’ LOVE US BOTH!?!?”
Kill her, Lumina…
“N-no, she’s my Memei…I c-can’t…I…I”
…KILL her…and the hurting, …the hurting, will stop…
“P-please…Memei…run…just run…oh gods Memei…*sob*, PLEASE don’t make me do this!”
Argh… KILL HER!!! KILL HER, KILL HER, KILL HER, KILL HER, KILL HER, KILL HER, KILL, KILL, KILL, KILL, KILL, KILL HER, KILL, KILL HER, KILL HER, KILL H-

“YAAAAAAAAGGHHHH!!!!

What happened next was a blur, the memories fuzzy in Lumina’s mind.

(Oscura’s POV)
As Oscura tried to make sense of the sudden attack by her daughter and her odd ramblings, The princess let out a chilling mix between a wail and a scream, catching the queen off-guard as the dragonling lunged forward, spearing through her shoulder, shedding blood as the black dragoness fell to the ground.

Shock and surprise registered on Oscura’s face as she yelled in agony, blood hemorrhaging from that wound, staining her black and purple scales with the red hue of her life essence. She looked up to her daughter’s face and was actually scared by what she saw, Lumina bore a huge scowl and her eyes were angry and colorless whites save for tiny yellow dots with prick-sized pupils, “L-Lumina! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? D-DON’T! NO!” she let out another swipe and cut her mother’s leg. Again and again that small silver bladed hand struck out, The white dragonling sobbing hysterically as she slashed at her highness again and again.

Through scale, through flesh, Oscura’s struggles slowly faded as her blood was spilt onto the floor of the Dungeon, pooling around her, splattering both the assailant and victim with that hot red fluid. “JUST LEAVE US ALONE!” Lumina screamed out through tears, fear turning to sorrow and rage. “YOU COULDN’T JUS’ GO AWAY, COULD YOU?! *swipe* YOU HAD TO KEEP COMING BACK, *cut* WHY DID’JA LOCK UP MY LITTLE SISTER, *swipe* WHY DID’JA TAKE ME AWAY FROM KILANI, *slash* WHY DID’JA ‘RASE MY MEM’RY *slash*, WHY DIDN’T'JA TELL ME ABOUT SIS’, *jab* WHY DID’JA BULLY HER, *slash* WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN!?!? *swipe* WHY!? *cut* WHY!? *jab* WHYYYYYY!?!?!?!?!?” Oscura tried to use magick to defend herself but her own daughter brought her foot down on her mother’s hand, sending a wave of pain coursing through her entire body, her eyes wide with terror as tears streamed down her face, visage frozen in a mix of fear, pain, and anguish.

Was her daughter right? Was really that horrible and heartless? Was she indeed a monster?

As her vision started to blur, she stared up at Lumina and saw the gauntlet dissipate into magick, but her daughter still acted like the weapon was still on her arm, her strikes grew slower and softer. Mustering some strength, Oscura spoke. “Lumina… PLEASE STOP! IT REALLY HURTS!” (Normally Oscura wouldn’t be the type to beg for mercy, but having her own daughter attack her to the point where she can’t fight back disturbed and horrified her greatly.) She then held up her hand. “Look at me… My body’s cut up badly, and my hand is broken… What should I do? My people are lost without me, they’re your people too, you can’t do this!” Lumina started to look less frightening and more solemn as her mother said the two words she never heard her say, “I’m Sorry… I’m Sorry! I’ll make it all up to you sweetie, I promise!…*whimper* Please Lumina, this isn’t you… I just want my sweet-girl back … Please… *sob* Please Mai-see… forgive me…”
She is lying… DOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITNOW!!!!!
Lumina then had an even scarier look on her face as she screamed “You’re lying… YOU’RE LYING! YOU JUS’ WANT TO TAKE CONTR’L OF MY HEAD AND TURN ME INTO A WEP’N OR A BEGITABL’!” Then with every strike, she said only one word. “*whack!* Die… *crack!* Die… *thud!* DIIIEE!!!”
The confused and scared child finally threw a jab that hit Oscura’s head, sending her into unconsciousness.

(Lumina’s POV)
Lumina heaved for breath, limbs shaking as her lucidity returned, making her fully conscious and gasped…

Blood stained her scales and wings, painting her a deep crimson, wearing the life force of her former mother like some macabre outfit. She sobbed, letting out a wail of anguish as she realized the gravity of what she had just done. Hands held her head, Lumina’s pupils became pinprick-sized. “Nooooo..nononoNONONOOO! I didn’t mean to…oh, no…what have I done?! WHAT DID I DO!?”

Lumina’s body shook as her chest heaved with each gut-wrenching cry of anguish, suddenly stumbling onto her knees, letting out a ear-piercing shriek of terror as the young dragon put her hands out in front of her and saw her palms.

Oscura’s blood and viscera coated them, dripping down through her person, a huge hole on her mother’s head laid before her eyes. She skittered backwards, slipping in the pool of blood of her own creation, slamming cheekfirst into the pile of gore before finally gaining purchase and dragging herself over to the corner from her ex-mother’s still form. She could see the red and feel the stickiness of the substance all over her body as her bladder mutinied on her, emptying its contents upon the floor next to her terrified sister. Her mind raced, thoughts running a mile a minute as she hiccuped, wide, terror filled eyes staring at the scene made by her own hand.

Murder.

She had committed murder. On one of her own mothers. She had killed Queen Oscura. The young princess then burst into tears… It was a living nightmare.

She grasped at her head, matting her brown, disheveled hair down with blood and ichor, the young princess curled into a fetal position on the floor as a frightened look spread across her face, whimpering disjointedly to herself. Voices within her mind clawed and whispered to her, as her fear and illusions reached their peak. Everything started to spin around her as time seemed to stand still for her, the last vestiges of her courage being plucked apart, one by one…until that final thread finally snapped.

Shadows started swirling wildly and everything shrunk and expanded repeatedly as the voices screamed in her head. She then imagined a swarm of arms grabbing her body and in places that made her feel worse as the voices got louder…
*”Sweet GIRL!” “CaALlLl… MEe… BaAaCK!!!” “SWEET girl!”
“You are NOT my sweet girl!” “LUmInA… WhY DiD yOU KiLl ME…?”
“MoNsteR!”* “Stop…!” *”You shouldn’t have done that…” “You’ve got no spine! “What have you done with my sweet girl!?” “MURDERER!”*
“I-I’m…not a murderer, it was an accident, I was scared, scared!” *”Sou-ka…?” “!DlEiMvOeNd!” “The tears won’t stop… the tears won’t stop…”YOU’RE A… CO…WA…RD!” “Eeeeeviiiillll!!!” “Why Lumina…? WhY LumINa? WHY LUMINA!? WHY LUMINA?! HWY ULNIMA?! YWH MILAUN?! LWMAIHYNU?! “DIE…, DIE…, DIIIEE!!!” “One of us, Lumina! Wrath! Envy! Gluttony! Greed! Sloth! Lust! Pride! One of us, Seven Sins! Seven Sins! Draconia’s Sins! Oscura’s Sins! LUMINA’S SINS! SINS! SINS! SIN! SIN! SIN! SINNER! SINNER! SINNER! HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!!!”*
This was too much for Lumina, as the tortured girl threw her head up high and screamed…
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! MEMEI! MEEEEMEEEEIIII, H-HELP ME! I’M SCARED! AAGH IT HURTS, IT HUURRRTS!! STOP, STOOOOOOOOP… *Sob* *wail* PLEEEEEEEAAASE!!! SHRIIIIIEEEEEEK, KILANIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!”

(Sister’s POV)
She was scared, this being who was kind to her had killed her tormentor, but started shaking and crying after she did that. Now her savior had curled up on her side, screaming in agony, for reasons she did not know. This frightened the child, now getting a feeling of fear, sympathy, and sadness, shuffled over to her new friend. Not knowing what to do, she suddenly got the familiar wetness in her vision, then nudged the white being while uttering a sound that surprised her. “…N-Ny-Nyuu…Nyuu? Nyuu… Nyuu…!”

(Lumina’s POV)
Just when she thought she was going to die of fright, Lumina felt a familiar warmth on her arm and heard a sound like the coo of a dove, “Nyuu…! Nyuuuu…!” she looked up and saw her sister looking at her with puffy, red, watery eyes, having a distressed look on her face. Lumina looked around, she noticed that the arms disappeared and the voices stopped, herself, her sister, and her mother’s “corpse” were the only ones in the dungeon. Unable to bear it any longer, she grabbed her sister and wept into her shoulder for what seemed like 5 minutes…

(Sister’s POV)
She was hurt, this being was tormented like herself all this time… She wanted to run when the white thing brusquely wrapped her arms around her, but a mysterious warmth and the same feeling and wetness flowed inside her very being. She buckled to her knees, emitting the same sound as the white being on her shoulder that had the power to break hearts… A lost baby’s cry… “Nyuuuaaa… Nyaaaa… Aahh…*hic* WAAAHHHH!! WAAAAHHH!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!”

Neither of them wanted to let go, but Lumina suddenly heard voices from deep within the dungeon corridors… “This must lead to the source of the noise!” “Perhaps her majesty and the Queen are there!” “I pray we’re not too late!” “Don’t worry Chiara, we’ll find her there!” “Hang on my liege! Help is on the way!” Fearful of what her mother’s friends might say and do to her when they see what happened, Lumina looked at her sister and agreed with her on one thing, they had to get out while they still could. Using her earth magick, Lumina broke a hole in the wall and saw she was on the other side of town, seeing mountains and trees as far as the eyes could see, and for the first time in what felt like a long time, embraced the outside air, feeling its comforting breeze and refreshing coolness. Making sure she still had her dolls with her, she lifted her sister into her arms using newfound strength and sprinted toward the opening, but before she was completely outside, she turned to her mother’s “lifeless” body with tears in her eyes, the sunlight shining behind her while she stood on the rubble. Her voice was barely louder than a whisper. “Goodbye Memei… I’ll miss you… *hic* I’m sorry…!” With that said, she ran faster than ever before despite the extra weight and never looked back, her tears glinting in the sunlight as she ran with her sister sleeping in her arms, heading into unknown lands…

Epilogue:
In reality, Oscura was knocked unconscious but Lumina’s hallucinations were so strong she thought she really killed her, Chiara and the other guards had managed to reach the deepest part of the dungeons and were standing next to the last door.
(Chiara): “Ok, it looks like this door leads to the last room, is everyone ready?”
(Kighan): “Chiara, this leads to the queen’s private dungeons! We aren’t allowed in there!”
(Red): “Well have YOU got any BETTER ideas!? We’ve searched everywhere!”
(Shaddig): “Red’s Right! This is the only place left we haven’t looked!”
(Cinder): “Screw the premises! Our majesties are on the line!”
(Kighan): “Sigh… OK. But don’t blame me if we get fired or worse!”
The team then entered the door and found that something was amiss.
(Shaddig): “Hey, It’s brighter in here than the rest of the dungeon, what gives?”
(Red): “Well we won’t find out standing here, come on!”
But when they eventually found the source, a terrible sight met their eyes…
(Shaddig): “GASP!! MY LEIGE!!!”
(Cinder): “OH GODS, WHERE’S LUMINA!?”
(Kighan): “Who DID this much damage!?”
(Red): “Eeeewwww! What did I just step in!?”
Chiara didn’t say anything, in fact she couldn’t speak. She rushed to the queen’s side to check if she was still alive. “She-She’s alive!” “Oh thank gods!” “But WHO DID this!?” “Where’s the princess!?” “I don’t know! (is this urine!?) Try reviving her! Maybe we can get some clues! (wait… it’s fresh!)” Chiara shook and yelled at Oscura to try and rouse her.

(Oscura’s POV)
Oscura awoke from a dreamless sleep. Her head was wracked with noise, pain coursed her body, and her vision was blurry. When she regained focus, she found she was still in the dungeon but her guards were by her side, looking at her with terrified but relieved expressions. “…Ch-Chiara… is that… you?”

(Chiara): “Oh thank gods, you’re awake! I thought you were dead!”
(Shaddig): “We heard a commotion and ran toward it as fast as we could!
(Kighan): “I don’t know who did this, but whoever did it shall PAY!”
(Cinder): “My Liege, can you tell us who did this to you?”
Oscura had a pained expression on her face as tears welled up in her eyes…
(Red): “Your majesty?”
Neither one of them could prepare for that moment, nor they would ever forget it…
(Oscura): “*sob* I-It was… *hic* L-*oh gods please let it be a nightmare…*
*gasp* IT WAS LUMINA!! *wail* MY OWN BABY!!! *SOOB-HOB-HOB-HOOOOOB!!!!*”

(WOW… THAT is some HEAVY dark stuff…)

(Thumbs up to anyone who gets the anime/manga references, video game references, fanfiction references, and movie reference.)
Chocothunda

Had a feeling it was Mabel. Woooo, is she gonna be PISSED!

Just remember kids; if ye trying to catch Sandy Claws, keep in mind that even adults get a lil bit restless tonight XD.

Pretty funny 3 parter here XD.

Also,

Happy holidays to all!!
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  Thanks, and a Merry Christmas to you, too! ^o^
William Cron

As I haven’t been reading the strip for very long, I’m not sure who Mabel is, but I’m still left giggling at the resolution to the story.

Merry Christmas!
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  I do need to use Mabel more, but in the meantime, I’m glad I got you to chuckle at this little holiday escapade. ^__^
- Richard
  
  Mabel is a really old tiger who’s clan lived on the border of tiger/dragon territory. Her and the other tiger, (forgot her name), were the only survivors of their clan after the volcano erupted. They quickly made it to the Princesses clan and the two of them are living with the princess and everyone else now… not comfortably, but there hasn’t been any blood shed so far luckily
Rukaisho

I had a feeling they had bagged the wrong one. Wasn’t expecting the fox girl (can’t remember her name) to be Sandy Claws though. =P

Nicely done. I must ask though. Do the people that helped contribute to the Draconia Chronicles annual back in June/July still get a complimentary calendar?
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  They do! I’m just still working on it, but I’ll soon be contacting contributors to get their addresses.
shredder163

so what do I do when I come back from my first tour in Iraq I turn on my laptop and catch up on what I missed
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  Yay! Thank you for your service, and thanks for checking back in! Hope you like what you’ve seen, and merry Christmas!
  - shredder163
    
    thank you that tour changed me and realized I need to appreciate things more I almost got hit by a sniper. Anyway I’m happy to be back in the US for Christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
    PS if you ask I’m in the Marines and it kinda sucks I’m being shipped out to Paris Island in a week
    - Mr. E
      
      Keep on marching Shredder! And a Happy New Year to you!
      - shredder163
        
        Interesting story Shredder is my call sign
http://www.digitalcharles.com/ Sinstarr

I loved every page of this holiday special Danny! I was looking forward to seeing Blue’s kids and the rest try to find out who Sandy Claws is ever since you talked about it in AWA. And it was a very funny special. ^_^ I’m also looking forward to seeing the kids in other holiday specials in the future. (And for Blue to make appearances in the main story. ^_^) On another note…..are Mabel and Shaleigh going to be wearing those outfits in the main story now i wonder? lol
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  Probably not. Mabel will be seen in her “tent,” as Shaleigh so eloquently described it, and Shaleigh’s got her own standard attire. I’ll confess that, while I’ve got a spot reserved for Mabel in the story, ever since inheriting the writing duties, I’ve been kinda clueless about what to do with Shaleigh. Looking back, she was used as a bit of a plot device. If and when I do use her again, I plan to make her much more than that. More fleshed out, which is what I’m trying to do with all of the cast.
  - http://www.digitalcharles.com/ Sinstarr
    
    lol, guess Shaleigh is too proud to be wearing a “tent” anyways. As always I’ll be looking forward to see what you have in store for your cast.
http://www.facebook.com/arthur.horinek Arthur Horinek

I’m dieing of laughter here! Splitsville!! XD
- http://draconia.katbox.net/ RazorFox
  
  I’ve been dying to use “Splitsville” as a sound effect! I saw it years ago in an issue of either “Ninja High School” or “Gold Digger.” So glad I finally got to use it. Glad you enjoyed it! ^o^
  - http://www.facebook.com/arthur.horinek Arthur Horinek
    
    I’m a Gold Digger fan myself. God it’s funny.
    XD
Poison-Stripes

Bwahahahahahaha!!!! *rofl*
shredder163

I’ve been dying to tell this story and it’s fine to tell it it wasn’t critical to stay silent about it but anyway so were marching out into this town in Iraq while a sand storm is going on. So my pants are like chaffing so bad I feel like there to be set on fire. So I look to my Lt. “sir I have a situation” I say to him “mission critical’? he asked to me “no” “yank up the chain private” “Sgt******” “yeah Pvt. what’s you’re problem”? “chaffed” “chaffed”? “yes a Taliban insurgency has entered the designated US zone known as my pants…sir” “shut up”
LIKE I SAID NOTHING I HAVE TO STAY SILENT ABOUT NOTHING IM GONNA GET THE FBI CALLING ME
MarcusV09

I didn’t get any coal, although I happened to have my helmet taken away. This is what I get as a punishment for keep on loosing it.
TheAngryOldFart

You know it’s serious whene u get a craving for fried eggs and beets.
- Mr. E
  
  Odd craving eh? I have a feeling that Mabel’s…
AnaBia99

Dragons and tigers together ^^ So cute
sulka

That was funny I was laughing my head off
Tech

I had the vixen all wrong…
Shakai

Well, well, well…
Guess that what’s-her-face vixen isn’t such a two timer after all.