Arthur Penhaligon is supposed to die at a young age, but is saved by a key that is shaped like the minute hand of a clock. The key causes bizarre creatures to come from another realm, bringing with them a plague. A man named Mister Monday will stop at nothing to get the key back. Arthur goes to a mysterious house that only he can see, so that he can learn the truth about himself and the key.

Having taken the silver key, the evil wizard Maldred is after the gold key, which is protected by the Gold Dragon and her Dragon Master, Darma, but by the time Drake and Rori get there, Eko and her Thunder Dragon have seized the gold key--so together the three dragon masters, follow her through the portal to Maldred's tower, but without their dragons will they be able to stop Maldred and his deluded helper, or even save themselves?