This is a little story I cooked up. Depending on comments on this Prologue, I may post more chapters.

The Dragon Conspiracy
A Knights of the Dragon Tale

Prologue

Earth 23. The 23 variation of a planet that gave birth to dozens upon dozens of new dimensions, each with alternate timelines and worlds. Human imagination created them and while each had a presence on the original Earth, they gained a separate existence, a different history, from their original creation. No one on Earth Prime, the original, would ever suspect that these other worlds, birthed by them, would surpass them.

And so Light and Darkness, two forces eternally present, gained new followers. From the Light, the Mage alliance was born. From the Darkness, the Eternal and other dark beings came into existence.

The Light, needing a counter to balance the Eternal, created the Three-Ring Light Seal, which would be given to one individual, and make them its servant to fight the Eternal. That individual would be reborn continually, until their time was up, and the burden would be passed on. At one point, born from the 78th Earth, a new Bearer came into existence, abandoning his own name and memory of it and replacing it with titles. His current one is the Dragon Mage. He became the Archmage of the Mage Alliance, and founded the order called the Knights of the Dragon.

With them at his side, he continued his battle with the Eternal. But his own power became so great, the Light and Dark agreed to limit him and the Eternal by placing rules upon them both. The Eternal could not bring all his power to bear in any world, would require others to do most of his work, while the Mage could not interfere directly unless he was going to confront the Eternal directly. And so he gave his Knights, drawn from different worlds and even different Earths, the gift of longevity, until they were to be returned to their worlds, whose times had been frozen or simply erased their existence from those worlds.

Thus the battle continued, growing and expanding across the universe and dimensions. The Mage Alliance grew, drawing one member from each world and Earth to represent them. All the while, the Darkness strove for dominance.
This tale follows the exploits of some of the Mage’s personal force, the Knights of the Dragon, as they strove to fight against the Eternal.

~

Below the surface of Earth 23, the Dragon Mage was overseeing the burial of the battle machines Rendroth, Phoenix, Bahamut, and Titan. The operation had been difficult to pull off, since they could not allow the inhabitants of this world to see them, until the time was right. Their pilots, with the exception of one, would undergo a rather unique change, to fit in here, until the time was right for their emergence.

He hated to do it, didn’t want to do it, but it was necessary. And they had volunteered for the task. He could not deny them, no matter his arguments. For it was possible that Chance would intervene and they might be killed, for his normal measures to prevent that were useless in this plan. But they were willing to accept that risk. They were willing to die for him.

So he did not object, and began to carry out his new plan.

A droid, one of the specialized ones meant for digging and burying, came up to him and spoke in a rather human voice. “Sir, we are almost finished. The machines will soon be buried.”

“Good. Alert me when it is done.” He said. The droid wheeled away.

“So, what about the others?” a dark robed figure next to him asked.

“They are nearly ready.” His voice was pained. “You will keep them safe, won’t you?”

“Naturally. At least until the proper time. Until then, I will be as a guardian and a father. They will be safe enough with me.”

“Good. Remember, this world has already reached the breaking point. Find someplace safe underground. Take them there. And when they awaken, bring them here. Do you have a cover story?”

“Yeah. I’ve got one. No worries there.”

“Good. I’ve also taken liberties to arrange a few other things. Bear in mind that they will have to rely mostly on what this world provides. That is one of the rules in this particular engagement. Both sides must abide by them, or this world will be destroyed.”

“Heavy rule, but we can manage. My own powers will be sealed until the right time. You’ve placed it inside, right?”

“Of course. When you return, your strength will be restored. As will hers.”

“Then she is here?”

“Yes. But like you, she will await the proper time.”

“Alright. I can deal with that.”

“Good. Remember, you only have a few powers, so try to keep yourself safe until the right time. Also, Aryan and the other two won’t actually appear until after the first Event. They will be here, in this particular dimension, but not on this world. When they appear, you must be ready.”

“I will be.”

“I know you will. Just remember, the world above can still sustain life. You must ensure that it can still do that, by the end of all this.”

“Is this alright? Enacting a plan requiring seventeen years of waiting?”

“Yes. All other conflicts between me and the Eternal are suspended, until we settle things here. And remember, I have also hidden a few other things as well, including my own flagship.”

“I will find them, when the time comes.”

“Good. Because I’d really like it back. I am only loaning it out to you.”

Laughter. “I will. Bring it back that is. So, have you decided what it is we need to do?”

“Yes. When the time is right, you must become the leader for these people. But find someone you know will be able to take your place, for you cannot hold such a position for long.”

“That, I can promise.”

“Good.”

At that moment, a droid wheeled up, pushing before it a single basket, quite large. “They are ready.”

The smaller of the two nodded. “Excellent. Now, all we need to do is get into position.”

The larger, dark clad figure bent over it. “They actually look rather cute, for once.”

“Of course. And I placed another seal inside them to keep their powers, and them, under control until the proper time. Now, there will no doubt be some questions as to how they came to be in your custody. Simply say you found them as you traveled. That will be accepted, as many infants tend to be abandoned.”

“Naturally. Human beings are the same, no matter what world, what dimension, what galaxy, they are born in. Or die in, in my case.”

“Yes. It is their powers, though, that enable them to become more than they were, for good or ill. I am living proof of that.”

“Speaking of which, aren’t you uncomfortable here?”

“Not really. This is an alternate version of my homeworld. Were we there, I would certainly be uncomfortable. But only you would know which world that is.”

“I also know you’re true form. You did, after all, assume that form when you recruited me.”

“That was before I learned to shape-shift. Thankfully, you’re the only left who knows.”

“And I will probably not be the last. You will show the others, won’t you?”

“Perhaps. They have done more than enough to deserve it.”

“Very well. I will take them now. Wish us luck, for we will need it this time.”

“I wish you all the luck in the universe. You will indeed need it.”

“Farewell, Mage.”

“Farewell, Keller. And remember, this conspiracy is ours alone.”