As the sun rose. Polaris stood on the rooftop of the balcony enjoying a cup of water in the company of Fog who was busy reading a book from the library.
"So Fog..."
"Yes sir?"
"How is it that you are still alive?"
"I was working when a being appeared before me. Offered me a deal, if i wished to remain amongst the ruins of this once great force, all I need do is forfeit my life, not my soul."
"Fog..."
"Think nothing of it sir. You and the others were the only family I ever knew. Orphaned as a child, left for dead by a king... then brought to this fort and given a purpose master! YOU ALL ARE MY PURPOSE!"
Polaris was stunned, his eyes widened, flashed golden as he looked stunned at Fog.
"I would sacrifice my life it meant serving you for eternity! YOU ALL ARE MY FAMILY!"
Polaris clasped Fog's skeletal hand. "I swear to you Fog.... I will reclaim that which we have lost. Have faith in me."
The skeleton grinned as best he could, then stood up. "Today.... Today we reveal this place to the world."
"That it is. Why don't you and I get started?"
Polaris and Fog left the roof top and went to the front gate. The old staircase had crumbled to dust and none of the lanterns were even usable. Fog set to work cutting the overgrown vines and grasses. Polaris melted the old lanterns and created new ones with his bare hands. As they worked fairies danced in the wind. They laughed as the flew around the old skeleton. The gentle summer breeze was enough to make the old skeleton smile.
Inside, the other heroes had woken up and began to get ready for the day.
"Would you look at that!"
"Fog and Polaris must've been up early."
"Come on, both of those two don't exactly need sleep to function."
"Aye Powerdrive, since you don't exactly eat anything, why don't you go to the mountain peak and break off some of that old iron-granite shit the fort is made of."
"Will do."
The golem climbed the stairs to the roof and began making his way up the mountain. Outside, Polaris and Fog began ripping part the cracked and broken stone of the old fort. As they amassed plenty of the broken stone, Polaris began melting the stone, and remaking it. He coughed up soot as his did, but it was no matter for him. The stone, even if reforged would be too weak as walls so they would be repurposed to fix the stairs.
As Fog cracked another slab loose, Powerdrive's punches echoed down the mountain. Each blow dropped the raw stone down into the valley. As he cracked away at the mountain, Fog and Polaris began making the stair components. The fort had defenses that would pull the stairs behind a slopped surface, making any form of easy incursion impossible.
Back on the mountain top, Powerdrive cracked a large chunk of the mountain free. As it fell, the massive rock split in two, both headed for Polaris and Fog. Fog seeing the boulders began to run, but Polaris demonstrated the power of a star, slashing the boulders into manageable pieces with a burst of energy.
"We should have plenty of rock Powerdrive. Come on down. Rest if need, but then come help us get these in place."
"Affirmative. On my way." The Golem jumped off the edge, sliding down the side of the mountain. Once he'd made it down, he helped Polaris and the others, who'd finally joined them Polaris and Fog, get the finished stones into place. With the new stones in place, there was just one thing left.
"Shield your eyes and get back a safe distance. It's going to get very bright and very hot."
Polaris ascended into air. He took a deep breath and began super heating the air around him. Summoning his power he fired a beam of energy directly from his core at the new stone. The stone reacted by welding itself into place, mending the older stone as well. The heat cooked off any remaining vines or moss the fort had gathered over time. He did the same thing with the stairs he and Fog had laid. The stone stairs welded together and to the pistons Archimedes had repaired. As Polaris landed, the held out his hands and removed the heat from the stones allowing them to settle and harden into place.
"Look great!"
"Your majesty! Glad to see you like it!"
"That was one impressive display Polaris, but that's not why I am here."
"What's up?"
"A dragon is above the kingdom. We believe he means to attack us."
"Wilderness, gather close. I'll just us to the Capital with a spell."
"Fog... you want to help?"
"I'm your support. Now get close!"
The heroes huddle up and are teleported to the capital. A dragon's screech echoes above the kingdom.
"Plan Polaris?"
"I'll lure the dragon into the fields outside the walls. Fog, you and Hexxit get the civilians ready to bolt. I'm not sure, but I sense this thing has one hell of a mana count."
"I did too."
"Sir, wouldn't it be wiser if all of us helped?"
"It probably is. Have the knights get everyone away. WILDERNESS TO ACTION!"
Polaris rocketed into the sky right past the dragon getting its attention. Powerdrive, Veldspar, Fog and Kbar got ready in field. Hexxit and Arris readied on the wall of the castle to provide magical support.
"Fog, stay back. If this overgrown lizard gets too close...."
They were interrupted by Polaris tackling the dragon into the field. Their leaders heat could be felt around the kingdom.
"WHAT'S THE MATTER DRAGON? CAN'T HANDLE THE HEAT OF A STAR?"
Polaris unleashed another volley of power at the dragon. It roared at him and began to flap its wings.
"You're goin nowhere.... GRAVITY WELL."
The dragon was pulled back to the ground. "NOW! GROUND TEAM HIT IT!"
Kbar, Veldspar and Powerdrive rushed in only to be tossed aside by the dragon's tail.
"Bones, oh bones, here my call to fight. Come forth and help me take down the foe before us!" Chanted Fog. The ground broke around him and bones began to flock to him. He became a hulking skeleton to the amazement of the others, he stopped the dragon's tail with ease.
"Get up you three! I can't do this alone!"
Polaris hearing him call out to the others flashed gold in his eyes before rocketing towards the dragon.
"LIGHTSPEED IMPACT!"
Polaris slammed into the dragon's chest, not breaking it, but hitting it with enough force to plant it into a crater.
"Speak you beast. Who has sent you here!"
At first there was no response, then came a booming voice. "I am the Earth Dragon known as Terra Carne. I am of my own accord... The Great Iron Mountains are burning."
Polaris took a step back at the news. Fog trembled at the very thought.
"The iron mountains? Are you sure?"
"I came in search of heroes. The Elven Kingdom there is in great danger."
"As are the dwarves... Archimedes, Fog, cancel our trip back to everyone's homelands. This takes precedence."
"Yes sir."
"Take us to the Iron Mountains Dragon."
Polaris released the gravity well, and the dragon lowered it's head.
"Fog, we're gonna need you on this one. Up to the challenge?"
"I was born to serve sir!"
"Then climb on!"
As Terra Carne takes to the skies, Polaris drops a scroll to a knight.
"We have business away from here. Please look after the fort."
As Terra Carne flew into the distance, smoke made it's first appearance on the horizon. The Iron Mountains were indeed burning.