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Deep within the mountains, in one of the few valleys in the rocky terrain, night covered everything like a blanket. The dying, bare trees twitched now and then as the chilling wind twisted through their withered branches. The tall grasses, most dead, created waves of tan gold. Mingled among the trees and grass were patches of green life, newness nothing in those parts had apparently seen before. Shadows danced along the ground and the mountain peaks that surrounded the relatively flat valley. The cloudless sky looked like a void, with only a few stars sprinkled through out. It seemed to compliment the gloominess of the valley. Aside from the occasional sound of the wind, there was a deathly silence. Nothing stirred. At least, nothing that was living. Suddenly, the thundering of hooves echoed through the silence, multiplied to intense volume. A sleek black horse leaped from a mountain path in to the valley, tearing through the tall grass in a frenzied manner. Covering it's head and body was black armor that glimmered in the small starlight. Jewels of red decorated the battle armor. Spikes jut out, curving upwards, while a red skirt flapped in the wind. On it's face, the battle mask gave the horse the appearance of a unicorn, with a horn of glimmering ruby curving upwards. Upon closer look, smaller cured horns could be seen lined up under the unicorn horn. The horse's eyes glowed red as it's hooves trampled the dry dirt of the valley. Upon the horse's back, holding on to the reigns and driving it on, was a rider wrapped in a tattered black cloak. Two hands covered in tough black leather grasped the horse's reigns while black leather boots rested in the stirrups. The horse and rider raced across the plain, mane and cloak flapping in the wind. An inhuman screech joined the sound of the horse's hooves. A monstrous beast swooped down at the horse and rider, clutching a jagged sword in it's claws. The beast looked to be almost reptilian, like a gargoyle, though it was slim. A tunic of orange danced in the updrafts caused by the beast's mighty wings. A coarse gray hide covered the creature's body and it's brown eyes glittered with an almost sinister delight. It screeched again and dove at the rider, it's sword outward in hopes of impaling it's target. The rider jerked on the horse's reigns and the horse leaped aside, dodging the beast. The beast's sword, instead of cutting in to the rider's back, sliced in to the dirt, harmlessly. The beast flapped it's wings and gained altitude, pulling it's sword out of the dirt. The beast roared in anger and took a swipe at the rider. The rider ducked and punched the beast in the face with a leathered fist. The beast hissed in pain and rage and fluttered back. The rider jerked roughly on the reigns of his steed, causing the horse to dash in to the bare trees. The beast veered off, unable to follow due to the tightly packed trees. It howled in rage and circled the trees. The rider and the horse didn't exit the trees. The beast roared again and, with mighty flaps of it's wings, took to the sky. It turned and headed back in the direction it had gone. The beast looked back a final time and uttered a growl of rage. Then, it dived off and disappeared in to the distance. Silence again took hold. A few minutes after the beast had left, the horse and rider slowly stepped out of the forest. The rider brought a leathered hand to it's face and peered after the beast, then grabbed the reigns again. The horse shook it's head and snorted. The rider tugged on the reigns. The horse snorted again and turned, stamping on the ground. Then, it reared and leaped, bursting in to a mighty run. Within moments, they too disappeared in to the shadows of the valley.
The sun glimmered brightly over the mountains, shining upon a small ruined city. The city was a bunch of ruins and ancient buildings mixed in with multicolored tents surrounded by a high brick wall. A giant hole in the ground was in the center of the city. The roads were stone and sand. In the back, a massive ancient building stood out most of all. Covering it were carvings of dragons and cracks where time had worn it down. The entrance to the building was sealed off by a huge pile of rocks. Opposite the sealed building, there was what could be considered a market place. People dressed in various colored tunics walked about, to and from stalls. There were fruit stalls, meat stalls, and clothes stalls. The town was not that large and there were no other cities about for miles so the small market was essential. Among the people ambled weird camel-like creatures carting heavy loads of goods. Surrounding the city was sand, much like a desert, but not quite as hot. There were patches of green life, as if the world was trying to fix the landscape, but it was not doing much good. It was still much a wasteland. Surrounding the wasteland was towering mountains that reached up to slice open the sky, like knives. From off a mountain path stepped a black hoof. A midnight black horse wearing black battle armor with ruby decorations wearily trotted off the mountains towards the town. The rider stared off at the town. The cowl of the cloak was pushed back, revealing a male human face. The rider stared at the town with shimmering green eyes, his jet black hair tied back in a pony tail. He was quite handsome yet his expression was as cold as ice. On his forehead was a tattoo of a black dragon with red glowing eyes. The horse tromped through the dirt, wearied, and approached the town gate. As soon as the horse came to a stop, all noise within the town ceased. The people turned and glared at the rider, who ignored the looks he received and slid off his horse. He grabbed hold of the reigns and lead his horse down the road. He slipped between the tents and made his way to the farthest corner of the city. In the farthest corner, a lonely gray tent was huddled under the shadows of the wall. The rider sighed and entered the tent. The floor of the tent was stone, surprisingly clean. There was a single bed with a tan colored blanket, a water pot in the corner, and a stool. There was also a highly polished wooden dresser. It was quite old. The rider looked upon it with great pride. At the other side of the tent was a tent flap that lead in to another tent that was attached to the first one. It was his 'stable'. Inside, it was dirt floor covered with dead grass. A water pot was in a corner, same as the main tent. The rider unsaddled the horse and removed the battle armor. Then, he led the horse in to it's stable. He brushed down the horse with a stiff bristled brush. He scooped up water from the water pot with a ladle, which the horse drank hungrily.
" Here you go, Thunderclap," the rider said. He fed the horse an apple and put a soft blanket on it's back. Then, he returned to his own tent. He sighed and took off his cloak, resting it on the stool. Underneath his cloak, he wore a black leather vest. His pants were black as well, matching his boots and gloves. Under the vest was a red shirt. His belt was of gold color, with a red jeweled buckle. He wore a gold wrist band with a red jewel on his right hand and on his left foot, on the hem of the boot. His hair was tied back with a red band. At his side, was a sleek sword with a black handle in the shape of a dragon. The sword was in a black and red hilt, the red making the design of fire. The rider undid his belt, sword and all, and placed it on the dresser. He slipped off his boots and gloves, also placing them on the dresser. He then took off his vest and placed it with the rest. He stretched and yawned.
" Kuromoui! Kuromoui!" a small voice called from outside the tent. The rider looked up, eyes narrowed. A small child ran in to the tent, grinning. The child had wild blue hair and matching blue eyes. He grinned lovingly up at the rider. He wore a pretty blue tunic and white slacks. He wore brown boots over his small feet. He looked to be dressed quite plainly compared to the rider. The child ran up to the rider. " You came back safely, Kuromoui!" the child said as he hugged the rider. A glimmer of kindness appeared on Kuromoui's face.
" Hi Shaihikari!" Kuromoui said, laughing. He ruffled the child's hair. " Miss me, Little Shai?" he asked. Shai giggled and swatted at Kuromoui's hands.
" Everyone thought you wouldn't come back!" Shai said. Kuromoui snorted.
" You mean, everyone WISHED I wouldn't come back," Kuromoui grumbled under his breath. Shai looked up at his friend.
" I wanted you to come back...," he said, sheepishly. Kuromoui smiled.
" Well, I know YOU did, Little Shai," he said, ruffling the child's hair again. He walked over to his bed and sat down. Shai looked at him, tilting his head.
" Is he still there, Kuromoui?" he asked. Kuromoui jerked and looked up. He sighed and nodded.
" Yes. That demon spawn is still out there," he replied. Shai recoiled in fear.
" Does he know...?" Shai began. Kuromoui shook his head.
" Not yet. I did not lead him to our town. But he's bound to find it eventually. It's hard to miss for very long," he said.
" But the Elder said that if he DID find it, he wouldn't suspect that...," Shai whispered. Kuromoui laughed.
" The demon isn't THAT stupid, Little Shai. All their little tricks won't fool him for ever," he said, scornfully. Shai tilted his head and nodded. Then, he smiled brightly.
" Let's go outside and play hide and seek!" he said. Kuromoui grinned and nodded.
" Allright. I'll be 'it'. Run and hide and let's see if I can find you again!" Kuromoui said. Little Shai nodded vigorously and ran out of the tent. Kuromoui shook his head. Such youth and innocence. He was once like that. He only hoped that Little Shai would STAY that way. Kuromoui sighed and put on his boots. Then, he headed out of the tent and peered around. Shai was no where in sight. Kuromoui grinned and headed out in to the main square of town. He glanced at pots and around walls. No sign of Shai. Kuromoui kneeled down and peered under a bench.
" What are you doing!??" someone growled. Kuromoui ignored the growl. He continued to look for Shai. " Answer me!" the person again growled. Kuromoui stood up and turned to face the speaker. He narrowed his eyes.
" If it was any of your business, I would have told you the first time," he snapped. The citizen grew red in the face. He raised his hand, as if to strike the young Kuromoui. Kuromoui growled and slammed his fist in to the citizen's gut. The citizen doubled over, gasping in pain. " Bah. You have grown soft. All of you. No wonder you went in to hiding and needed a young child to save you," Kuromoui sneered. He then turned and continued looking for Shai. He peered inside a tent away from the main square. Inside, the floor was made of stone. The room was empty except for a single statue of a dragon. A statue of the great Dragon God, Ladon. Hiding behind the statue was Shai. Shai giggled and hopped out.
" You found me again!" Shai laughed. Kuromoui grinned.
" I always do, Little Shai," he said. Shai nodded, then ran and hugged his friend tightly. Kuromoui smiled and picked up Shai. He then turned and walked out of the tent.
" You called?" a sleek white tiger asked as he walked towards a platform. He had crystal blue eyes and wore a blue vest. He flickered his tail and fiddled with the long wooden staff he called a weapon. He looked about the room. The walls and floor were of navy blue stone. Darkness surrounded the platform, hiding whatever dwelt outside the circle of light. Presently, a slithering sound echoed through the darkness. A beautiful woman slithered in to the light. Her hair and eyes was deep blue and she wore a cape of purple with a matching vest. She bore a golden staff with a crystal ball at the end. The most extraordinary thing about her, though, was that she didn't have legs. Instead, she had the lower half of a snake, green and yellow skin with her underbelly white. The snake woman smiled.
" Thank you for coming, friend Rik," she said. The tiger bowed.
" No thanks needed, Deis. Or are you again calling yourself Bleu? Always glad to help," Rik replied. Deis smiled, then slithered up the platform and set down her staff.
" Have you found anything yet?" she inquired.
" We have heard rumors, Deis, and we're checking them out," Rik replied. Deis sighed and nodded.
" Sometimes I wonder if I am doing the right thing....," Deis said. Rik smiled toothily.
" We all think you are," he said. Deis smiled.
" But do I have any right to seek out the next Ryu?" she asked. Rik flickered his tail and shrugged.
" Who's to say? It's never been done before," he replied. " Either way, you've got good intentions," he added. He leaned on his staff. " C'mon, Deis. Don't give up on us NOW," Rik said. Deis laughed.
" I am not giving up, Rik. It's too late for that. I'm just wondering what's going to happen because I have done what I have done," she replied. She tilted her head. " I should have died, Rik. All those years ago, I should have. I should have died. But I did not. For some reason, I did not die. Something protected me," she said. Rik blinked.
" That was out of the blue. Hehe... I made a pun. Err... nevermind. Anyway...," Rik rubbed his fuzzy chin. " Who could have saved you? Who WOULD have?" he inquired. Deis looked at Rik.
" Ladon," she replied. Rik blinked again.
" Ladon? The Great Dragon God? But why would... he's never...," Rik began. Deis waved her hand, silencing him.
" I myself wonder what purpose he would have had saving my hide. That's when I decided to find the next Ryu. He must want me to find his champion and train him, so I thought. Why else would he save me?" she inquired. " Oh, Rik, what if I misunderstood Ladon's will? What if it WASN'T Ladon?" Deis mumbled. Rik shrugged his shoulders again.
" What's the point in that? We may never know. So why worry?" he asked. Deis smiled again and nodded.
" I suppose you are right... allright, go. Continue the search and report back to me if you find anything," Deis said. Rik nodded. He then turned and ran out of the room. Deis stood still, silent and thoughtful. Then, she turned and slithered off of the platform.
Night came quicker than Kuromoui had hoped. The entire town was covered in a deep blanket of shadow. Lanterns were being lighted everywhere, bringing a soft glow to the streets. Kuromoui would have preferred utter darkness. He stood inside his tent door, looking at the main street through the alley. He snorted with disgust. He sighed and walked towards his bed and flopped down on it with a heavy sigh. He stretched and closed his eyes, intent on getting sleep. It was not to be. Thunderclap neighed loudly, panicked. Kuromoui jerked up, blinking. He rushed towards his horse's tent.
" Thunderclap? What is wrong with you?" he demanded. Thunderclap paced around the tent, bucking and jerking his head in a frenzied manner. Kuromoui scratched his head. Then he tensed. " Oh dear Ladon, no...," he hissed. He ran and grabbed his sword from off his desk and rushed out of his tent. Silence. It was as if the entire city was at peace. Kuromoui looked about, tense and uncertain. There seemed to be nothing wrong. Kuromoui felt a wave of embarrassment. Here he was standing at arms when it was probably a rat. Kuromoui shook his head. Suddenly, an earth shattering shriek echoed through the town. Kuromoui yelped out and drew his sword. It came from one of the tents. He recognized that tent. " SHAIHIKARI!!!" he yelled as he ran towards the tent. He threw open the tent and gasped in horror. Shai was huddled under his bed, trembling. He was covered in blood. Upon the floor, lay the two mangled forms of Shai's mother and father. They were senselessly rendered apart. Hovering over the bodies was the demon. A reptilian gargoyle with an orange tunic and a hide of gray. His wicked sword was covered in blood. The gargoyle laughed with evil delight and grabbed the edge of the bed, not noticing the intruder. Kuromoui let out a beastly roar and leaped at the beast, sending his sword deep in to the beast's shoulder. The monster roared out in utter pain and jerked. Kuromoui yanked his bloody sword out of the beast and slashed at it's face. The beast ducked and leaped out of the way. It hissed with rage and leaped at Kuromoui, who leaped back and lashed out with his blade, slicing the beast right below the eye. The monster shrieked and clasped a claw over it's face wound.
" You filthy little wretch!" the beast snarled. " How DARE you mar my face!"
" I DARE and will do it again, you murdering trash!" Kuromoui growled as he held his sword's handle, tightly. The beast spread his wings and hissed. Suddenly, he jerked. Cries of surprise and the sound of footprints could be heard. The village was awake.
" You will pay. But not yet. We SHALL meet again, young demon. And then YOU will be the one marred!" the beast hissed. Then, it leaped upwards and tore through the roof of the tent, taking to the sky. Cries of surprise echoed as villagers saw the beast leap upwards. Kuromoui hissed with rage. His eyes flashed red, as did the eyes of his dragon tattoo. But when his eyes focused upon the shivering child, Kuromoui regained control. He approached the terrified Shai, who scrambled out from under the bed and wrapped his arms around Kuromoui's neck. Shai buried his bloody head in Kuromoui's neck. Yet he made no sound. Kuromoui lifted up Shai, a feeling of despair creeping in him. Why? Why did this have to happen to Shai? He was so sweet and timid... who would want to hurt HIM? He stepped out of the tent and was confronted with a mob of angry villagers.
" YOU!" the Elder growled. " YOU caused this!"
" I did no such thing," Kuromoui replied as he hugged Shai tightly.
" Do not touch that child, you demon! Put him down!" a woman hissed. Kuromoui looked at Shai.
" Ask Little Shai if he wants me to put him down," he said, bluntly.
" Child, tell us what that horrible monster did to you!" the woman crooned as she tried to take Shai. Shai shied away and held Kuromoui tighter. He said nothing.
" Shaihikari, answer us. What did Kuromoui did," the Elder commanded. Shai said nothing. He looked at the Elder, then Kuromoui and buried his head in his friend's neck yet again.
"... Little Shai, can you speak?" Kuromoui inquired, a feeling of dread forming in his chest. Shai looked up at him and said nothing.
" He's gone in to shock!" a man cried.
" That demon caused the child to go in to shock!" another man growled.
" Stone 'im! Kill him! He caused the creature to come!" a woman yelled. All the villagers cried out in agreement and waved their torches. Suddenly, Shai reached up and grabbed Kuromoui's ear and whispered. Kuromoui blinked.
" He says to leave me alone," he said. Shai nodded and whispered again. Kuromoui's eyes filled with sadness. " He says I am a hero," he added. The people stared in disbelief. The Elder approached Kuromoui and Shai. He placed a hand on Shai, who tensed. Kuromoui narrowed his eyes.
" Will you talk to us, child?" the Elder asked. Shai shook his head and hugged Kuromoui tightly. Shai whispered in to Kuromoui's ear.
" He does not want to speak to anyone but me," Kuromoui translated. The Elder looked at Shai, then Kuromoui.
" You have cast a spell on the child," the Elder said.
" If you wish to believe that, then do. I cannot convince you otherwise," Kuromoui replied, coldly. He pulled Shai away from the Elder. " I will take care of him, since he trusts me enough to speak to me alone," he snapped. He turned and walked towards his tent. " We are leaving. That monster will try again," Kuromoui added, bluntly. " So don't worry your pretty little heads about it,"
" Go and leave the child. You have done enough," a woman said.
" No," Kuromoui replied, then entered his tent. A rumble of anger echoed through the villages.
" Let him go," the Elder said, eyes narrowed. The villagers turned to look at him. He shook his head. " And may the Great Ladon protect Shaihikari,"
Daybreak. Dawn inched over the foreboding mountains. Kuromoui was all packed and ready to set out. He had packed all of his belongings, as well as all of Shai's that he could salvage from his tent. Kuromoui thought of selling his tent but it was quite plain that none of the villagers wanted anything he had touched. They wouldn't even burn it, for fear of contaminating the village. So it was to be left in the far corner of the city. Left and to be forgotten like a bad memory. That suited Kuromoui just fine. He tied down the bundle to Thunderclap, who stood silently. He rocked back and forth, a tad anxious to go. Kuromoui turned to look at Shai, who stood behind him, wrapped in a massive white cloak. It was far too big for him. It looked like a massive robe. Shai looked up at him with sad eyes. Kuromoui sighed heavily. He scooped up the tiny child and hugged him, then set him upon Thunderclap. Shai held the reigns tightly. He never said a word. Kuromoui sighed. Shai hadn't spoken above a whisper ever since his parents.... Kuromoui shook his head. No, do not dwell. Not until they were safe. Kuromoui climbed up on to Thunderclap, right behind Shai. Shai snuggled up against him. Kuromoui gave the reigns a snap and Thunderclap leaped forward and raced through the gates. Neither Kuromoui nor Shai turned to look upon town. The town of Dragnier. They raced across the plains and in to the mountains. Kuromoui knew where they were to go. The mainland. The green land, as he called it. Across the sea. He already knew how to get there. He would go to the Colony and take the transporter there to the mainland. He couldn't use the one in Dragnier for it was sealed up for some unknown reason. Most likely due to stupid fear. Kuromoui sighed. It would be a long trip. He felt bad for taking Shai with him. But he also felt a strong desire to protect his only friend, a friend he was sure had been punished for not shunning him. And that desire was stronger than any excuse he could possibly think of to keep Shai from coming. Thunderclap leaped and bounded through the rocky path, heading for it's destination. The first of many. Kuromoui just hoped he was strong enough to protect Shai. And he hoped that the villagers were wrong about him.
Dawn had long since come and gone upon the mighty city of Wyndia. Noon approached, bringing warmth to dry the morning dew. The people of Wyndia scampered around to do their daily chores and work in their businesses. In the cafe upon the second level of the city, a white tiger reclined in a seat, drinking some coffee from a tan colored mug and reading the newspaper. His wooden staff was cropped up against his seat. He uttered a content growl and twitched his tail. A bird twittered upon the stone railing but the tiger felt himself too important to go chasing birds. Besides, it was too small. The tiger's ears pricked up as the sound of heavy footprints echoed against the stone floor but he didn't bother to look up from his newspaper.
" Hullo, Sledge. What's up with you?" the tiger inquired, calmly. A massive armadillo creature wearing a maroon tunic approached the tiger's table. He squinted his eyes to see the tiger and even bent over a little.
" Not much, Rik. I heard you were in town and decided to drop in," the armadillo replied. He cracked his neck and rubbed his shoulder. " Aye, work's been a bit rough at the armor shop.... but I love it," Sledge said, grinning. Rik looked up from his paper and grinned.
" I always said you were as strong as an ox," Rik teased. Sledge sniffed, indignant.
" ARMADILLO, Rik. Not ox," he said, bluntly. " I am not a hairy beast nor do I have massive horns and a thick skull," he snorted. Rik laughed.
" Aww, I'm just pulling yer tail!" he said.
" I don't have one of THEM either!" Sledge said, grinning. " You snotty old alley cat!" he added. The two shared a laugh. Rik gave Sledge a good-natured punch to the arm, then winced and rubbed his hand. " What brings you around here, Rik?" Sledge asked, grinning at his friend's discomfort.
" I'm searchin' for someone," Rik said, smiling. Sledge raised an eyebrow.
" Deis sent you?" he asked. Rik smiled and nodded, picking up his coffee mug.
" Yep," Rik said as he took a gulp of his coffee. Sledge eyed Rik.
" Who you lookin' for?" he asked. Rik glanced around, then waved to Sledge to come closer. The massive armadillo obliged.
" Th' next Ryu. You know all the legends. Each time darkness threatened the land, a guy with blue hair came 'long and saved the world. And each time his name was Ryu an' he was a light dragon," Rik said. Sledge laughed and slammed Rik on the back, causing him to choke on his coffee and almost fly across the cafe.
" It's about TIME you bloody realized it was more than coincidence! Gah! You're all fools fer taking so LONG. And STILL no one truly realizes it. Oh... and there's ANOTHER sign," Sledge said. Rik blinked.
" There is? What?" he asked. Sledge grinned.
" A princess named Nina is born. Ain't there ALWAYS a Princess Nina?" he asked. Rik blinked.
" You know... yer right. There IS always a Nina.... but I thought...," Rik began.
" Aye, Rik, you've been gone far to long. FAR too long," Sledge said, smiling sadly. Rik tilted his head.
" But...?" he began.
" The Queen gave birth to a Nina 14 years ago. YOU need to stop hanging around Deis so long and get out more," Sledge laughed. Rik blinked.
" She did? I didn't realize.... it has been a tad too long since I actually paid attention to the outside world....," Rik said as he itched his fuzzy chin. "... so you believe ALSO that the cycle begins anew?" he asked. Sledge nodded.
" Aye. Though I didn't expect a warrior of light so soon. Don't the forces of Darkness usually wait a few hundred years 'til they attack again? Hasn't been nearly that much time. In fact, one or two of the heroes are still around, though they's showing their age. Professor Momo.... that plant thing....," Sledge said.
" Peco," Rik interrupted as he sipped his coffee. " And don't forget my grandfather, Rei. He's still around," he added as he grinned.
" Aye, him too. Usually, the dark forces wait until the heroes are dead. Then try again. Oh well.... It's kinda obvious that dark forces are at work. Didn't ya notice the rise in the monster population?" Sledge said. Rik nodded.
" Yeah... now that you mention it... but I never really pay attention. I just hit 'em a few times and continue on my way," Rik admitted. " And as for the dark forces, they may be just trying to get a head start. Which is exactly what WE are going to do," he added. Sledge let out a snort and smiled.
" Enough of this. No more business talk!" he said. " If I wanted to talk work, I'd have stayed at the armor shop! Let's talk 'bout the old times,"
" Oh, knock it off, Sledge. You make it sound like we're a bunch of old men," Rik laughed. Sledge chuckled and sat down in a chair next to Rik. " Though with age, comes beauty," Rik added, grinning.
" In your dreams, tabby," Sledge retorted. The two shared a laugh. " Ya know, with your VIGILANCE, I'll bet your target has slipped right under your kitty litter nose," Sledge snickered.
Kuromoui stared in awe. He had NEVER seen such a large town before in his life. So this was Wyndia, home of the legendary bird men. It was a HUGE change to the town he came from. Kuromoui felt Shai snuggle up against him. Kuromoui glanced down. Shai was fast asleep. He was exhausted. Kuromoui sighed. He would have preferred to find somewhere that was NOT heavily populated. But, he must think about Shai. Not about himself. Thunderclap stomped a hoof, impatient. He gave the reigns a jerk and glanced back at his rider. Kuromoui sighed again and gave the reigns a snap. Thunderclap slowly trotted towards the gates to the massive town. Kuromoui tensed when he saw the armed guards, even though there was no reason for him to. They did not know him. They did not know who or what he was. Why should he be worried? Still, he tensed. Much to his surprise, the guards nodded happily towards him and even bid him a good afternoon. Kuromoui stopped Thunderclap and looked at the guards, astonished.
" What is it, young man?" one of the guards inquired. Realizing how stupid he must look, Kuromoui regained his dignity.
" Could you direct me to the safest Inn within this city? My friend needs sleep, as does my horse," he said, trying to sound more mature than he looked. The guards grinned at him.
" Sure, kiddo. There's an Inn just up the street a bit. Can't miss it," one said. Kuromoui nodded his thanks. He slid off of Thunderclap and laid Shai down on the horse's back. Then, he started leading Thunderclap down the road by the bridle. It was apparent that Thunderclap enjoyed the city as much as Kuromoui did. The last thing Kuromoui wanted was for Thunderclap to panic. So he decided to lead his horse. He headed towards the Inn. He glanced at the building. It was a lot different than the tent he was used to. For one, it was made of wood. Wood was rare where he came from. He would not call that place home. It had never been one. Merely a place he had been forced to remain for a period of time. Kuromoui tied his horse to a fence post and peered inside. A nicely dressed woman stood at the desk. She smiled up at Kuromoui.
" How may I help you, young man?" she asked. Kuromoui was shocked and suspicious of such kindness. Not even his father showed him this much. He raised an eyebrow and stepped inside. Shai yawned and opened his eyes. He glanced around. His eyes opened with utter awe as he saw the majestic beauty of the town. What particularly caught his eyes were the huge green trees and the grass. Shai smiled happily and slid off of Thunderclap's back. Thunderclap snorted and looked down at Shai, not moving an inch so as not to accidentally trample the child. Shai beamed and raced towards the trees. He placed a hand on the bark and stared, enthralled. He touched a leaf and a blade of grass. He let out a silent giggle. Then, his little eyes caught sight of a flower. It was blue and white. To Shai, it was the most beautiful thing in the entire world. He just HAD to show it to Kuromoui! Shai grinned and gently scooped up the flower, even taking the dirt and roots so as not to harm it. He then turned to run back to Kuromoui. He bumped in to something and let out a silent cry of surprise. He glanced up and blinked. Standing before him where three tall children. They were older than him and dressed differently. There was a chubby boy with greasy brown hair, brown eyes, and a blue tunic. There was also a scrawny girl with fluffy blonde hair, green eyes and wore a purple tunic. Finally, there was a slightly tall, muscular boy with red hair and blue eyes. He wore a red tunic. All three looked at Shai. They made him uncomfortable. He blinked.
" What are you doing?" the chubby boy asked. Shai blinked.
" Answer, kid," the girl said. Shai tilted his head. " ANSWER! What? You DEAF?"
" What do you think's wrong with the kid?" the chubby boy asked. The girl shrugged.
" I think the brat's stuck up," the tall boy said, a sneer growing on his face.
" Yeah! I beat you're right!" the chubby boy said, sharing the same sneer as the tall boy. The tall boy shoved Shai, slightly. Shai stepped back, blinking. They scared him.
" Answer, kid, or we'll beat an answer out of you!" the girl taunted. Shai said nothing. He stared in surprise. What did they want? The tall boy growled and grabbed Shai's cloak.
" What are you, stupid?" the tall boy hissed.
" No, he just doesn't want to talk to you," a voice growled.
" And WHO are YOU-" the tall boy growled as he whirled. His eyes bugged out. He was staring at knees. He glanced up higher, in hope of seeing a face. He came face to face with a demon. Kuromoui. Kuromoui's eyes were narrowed, practically glowing with rage. Kuromoui's tattoo WAS. The dragon eyes to his tattoo glowed blood red. The tall boy gulped. Was it just him or did that dragon tattoo just turn to look right at him? Kuromoui bared his teeth.
" Who am I?" he hissed, his voice deep and threatening. " Who am I, you ask? I'll tell you who *I* am. *I* am a demon with the name of a demon," he growled. The three children scampered back. Shai blinked and tilted his head. " Now hear this. If you EVER... EVER harass my little friend again... I swear, by whomever you hold holiest, NONE shall find bodies," Kuromoui snarled. " Now get out of my sight,"
" Y-Y-YESSIR!!" the tall boy croaked. The three children practically tore at each other as they tried to run. Kuromoui glared after them as Shai blinked. He then grabbed Kuromoui's pant leg and tugged. Kuromoui glanced down. Shai grinned and held up the flower. Kuromoui smiled.
" It's gorgeous, Shai! Do you wish to keep it?" he said. Shai shook his head and put the flower back in the ground where he found it. He patted the dirt down and kissed the flower petals. Then, he stood up and hugged Kuromoui. Kuromoui hefted up Shai. Shai grabbed Kuromoui's ear and tugged. He whispered. He was tired and hungry. Kuromoui smiled and nodded.
" How about a BIG meal, Little Shai?" he asked. Shai nodded vigorously. " How about this... I go to the cafe and get you some MMMM-MMMM food while you take a nap in the Inn?" he asked. Shai nodded again. Kuromoui smiled. " Allright! Now... FIRST we got to get you napping and Thunderclap taken care of," he said. He grabbed Thunderclap's reigns and took him around back, tying him to a post. After Kuromoui and Shai had finished feeding, watering, and brushing down Thunderclap, Kuromoui hefted up Shai once again and entered the Inn.
" What's all the commotion about?" Rik demanded as he glanced around. Sledge shrugged.
" Some kid took care of a couple of bullies. Nothing to worry your fuzzy head over," Sledge said. Rik raised an eyebrow.
" What did he look like?" he asked.
" NOTHING like the one you seek, so don't worry," Sledge said as he shrugged his massive shoulders. " I doubt your search will be THAT easy,"
" I guess you're right," Rik said. He took a final sip of his coffee. " Though it would have been nice if it was him,"
" You optimistic alley cat," Sledge teased. Rik laughed. Then, he tensed. His ears flicked back and he glanced back. A young man dressed in black leather with long black hair and glowing green eyes. A dragon tattoo was on his forehead. He carried a cold feeling about him, causing people to give him respectable distance. He approached the counter to the cafe. The cafe owner glanced at him.
" How may I help you?" he asked, smiling cheerily. The man seemed uncomfortable with the cheeriness and wrapped himself deeper within a cloak of gloom.
" What kinda food do you have?" he asked.
" Oh, let me show you our selection!" the cafe owner said, grinning. Rik tilted his head and watched the young man. He was quite out of the ordinary. And the tattoo was one in a million.
" It's not polite to stare, Rik," Sledge scolded. Rik jerked, then smiled.
" Yeah. Sorry 'bout that. The kid just struck me as odd," he said.
" And a white tiger man ISN'T?" Sledge inquired. Rik blinked, then laughed.
" Allright, allright! I get your point!" Rik said, waving his paws in surrender. He tried not to watch as the young man walked away from the cafe carrying food. It was none of his business. Besides, it wasn't the one he was seeking. Why should he care? Rik leaned back and stretched. Sledge snorted.
" HONESTY, Rik. How can you possibly find him if you aren't more alert?" Sledge scolded.
" I'll figure it out," Rik laughed.
" You are about as responsible as your GRANDFATHER!" Sledge said, chuckling.
" Why thank you," Rik grinned.
" What did you say he looked like again?" a lean young woman inquired. She had long blonde hair and hazel eyes. She wore gold colored armor decorated in green gems. Under it she wore a green tunic. She wore a cape of green and her boots and gloves were dirty brown leather. She had a sword in a golden sheath attached to her plain brown belt. He had a green headband around her forehead. She stood in a dark alley by the cafe, looking down upon a child with red hair.
" He looked like a demon, ma'am! And I SWEAR, that tattoo on his forehead LOOKED at me!" the child cried. He brushed the dirt from his red tunic and nodded. " An' he even admitted he was a demon!"
"... hear this, Pike?" the woman asked, turning to look over her shoulder. A young man leaned against the wall of the alley, polishing a deadly looking spear. He had shoulder length chestnut colored hair and brown eyes. He wore a plain outfit of green pants and shirt with brown leather boots and vest.
" Indeed I do, Cris," the man replied. " Sounds like demon to me,"
" As it does to me, Pike," Cris replied. She narrowed her eyes. " Thanks, kid. We can handle it," she said. The child nodded, a slight grin appearing on his face. Then, he turned and ran. " This is GREAT, Pike! Our chance!" Cris cried, rubbing her hands together. " A REAL LIVE demon!"
" How can you tell?" Pike asked.
" Come on, what kind of person has a tattoo that MOVES?" Cris asked, smiling. Pike nodded.
" Good point. So now what? We haven't killed a demon in months. Are we ready?" he asked. Cris laughed.
" Come now, Pike. Is that any way for a Dragon Slayer to talk?" she giggled. Pike grinned.
" You're right. So, when do we attack?" he said.
" Tonight," Cris said. She held out her hand. Pike grinned and grasped it.
" Tonight," he said.
Darkness filled every corner of Wyndia. Crickets chirped loudly within the grassy plain surrounding the city. A gentle breeze whipped about, tickling the shutters. Kuromoui snuggled against the warm blanket, unused to sleeping within such solid walls. There were two beds in the room. One for him and one for Shai. When Kuromoui and Shai had retired that night, they went to their separate beds. Then, to Kuromoui's surprise, some time during the period of uneasy sleep that followed, Shai had snuck in to Kuromoui's bed. Kuromoui had discovered this when he felt tiny pairs of feet planted right in to the middle of his back. Kuromoui retreated from his bed with dignity and allowed Shai to sleep in it while he himself slept in Shai's bed. But Shai would not have it. Again, Kuromoui felt tiny feet against his back. Kuromoui grew exasperated. He again changed beds and settled down. It was not to be. During Kuromoui's sleep, Shai changed beds and was snuggling up in Kuromoui's, sticking his feet in to his friend's back. Kuromoui gave up. He allowed Shai to have his way and did his best to sleep, ignoring the cold feet against his flesh. Now, he was partly awake and feeling the fury of Shai's kicks. He tried to ignore it but ever so often, Shai kicked with a tad too much force. Kuromoui sighed. He supposed it wasn't something to get upset over. The kid had gone through a lot. Let him have his comfort, even if it meant allowing the child to beat him black and blue in his sleep. Maybe he'd eventually start speaking to others again. Kuromoui closed his eyes and relaxed as best he could, considering how he had someone kicking his back. He listened to the crickets, hoping they could sing him to sleep. Instead, he heard a sound that greatly disturbed him. The sound of footsteps in the hall. Kuromoui jerked up. He tensed, listening. Yes. Footsteps. And they were heading for his room. His instincts told him this, CLEARLY. Kuromoui grabbed his sword and unsheathed it. He crawled out of bed. The only thing he wore were his pants. He let Shai snuggle up in the warm spot his body had caused to form on the sheets. Then, Kuromoui inched towards the door. He held his sword high over his head, in preparation to swing. Fatally. The footsteps stopped but Kuromoui did not relax. He trusted his senses too well to allow himself to rest. And he made the right choice. The door knob turned, slightly. Kuromoui tensed. A woman's head appeared in to view. She had long brown hair and wore armor with mostly green cloth. Kuromoui remained hidden in the shadows and glared. Woman or no, he would not hesitate to kill if need be. The woman turned slightly and looked at Shai, who was curled up in the bed. The woman grinned slightly. She inched in to the room. Kuromoui acted. With a roar, he slashed at the woman. The woman managed to leap back before the blade came down. The blade sliced open her arm. If she had waited a mere second, it would have been her head. The woman shrieked out and reached for her sword and dashed out of the room. Shai opened his eyes, saw the blood, and whimpered.
" Shhh... shhh, Little Shai... it's allright... I'm going to handle EVERYTHING...," Kuromoui whispered over to Shai as he inched out the door. The woman was no where to be seen. Kuromoui narrowed his eyes and slink down the hallway, his gaze darting around the hallway. Where was she? He neared the corner and peered down the stairs towards the main office. A shiver ran up his spine. Kuromoui whirled just in time to see a sword come crashing down upon his hands, causing him to jerk back and drop his blade upon the floor with a clatter. Kuromoui leaped back, growling out curses at his clumsiness. The woman grinned, delighted, and pointed her sword at Kuromoui.
" Your reign of terror ends NOW, demon!" the woman said.
" WHO are you?" Kuromoui hissed as his eyes narrowed.
" I am champion of the weak! I am Cris! I come to right wrongs and triumph over evil!" Cris cried out, as if reciting a speech. She began making all sorts of odd gestures. Kuromoui blinked in surprise. " I am avenger of the innocents! Warrior of the wronged! Defender of justice! Challenger for the incapable! Power for the powerless! Savior of the frail! Fighter of the flimsy! Hero of the aimless! Keeper of the peace!" Cris cried out as she grinned defiantly, making for ridiculous poses and gestures. Kuromoui raised an eyebrow and snorted.
" Oh for Ladon's sake.... where do these people come from? FROST!" Kuromoui groaned. A blast of chilling ice shot forth from Kuromoui's hand, slamming in to Cris. Cris stumbled back, crying out in pain and surprise. She scrambled back and leaped behind the corner as Kuromoui reached for his sword and swung at her head.
" HEY HEY HEY!" Cris cried. " You weren't supposed to do that!"
" Yeah, well I do a LOT of things I'm not SUPPOSED to do," Kuromoui hissed. Cris cried out again as Kuromoui leaped at her, his sword positioned to impale her. Cris seemed thoroughly distressed by Kuromoui's lack of fear towards her. She brought her sword up, it's blade meeting Kuromoui's in an attempt to fend off the slashing blade.
" AIEEEE! PIKE!!" Cris yelped out. Kuromoui didn't realize the full meaning of those words until he felt a searing pain within his side as a tall man dressed in green clothes leaped out of another room and slammed a sharp spear in to his side. Kuromoui uttered a hiss of pain and rage. He leaped back and clamped a hand over his bloodied side. With a grunt, he stepped back. The one called Pike stepped forward, holding out his spear, which oozed with blood. Cris regained her dignity and stood tall and defiant. " All outta tricks NOW, aren't you?" she taunted. Kuromoui snorted.
" Hardly," he snapped. " SLEEP!" he cried as he hurled a magic spell at the two. Cris cried out in surprise as the spell slammed in to her. She laid there for a bit, comatose. She heard footsteps but the sound did not register. Finally, slowly but surely, her senses returned and she again could think. Chris stumbled to her feet and turned to look at her companion. He was fast asleep upon the floor.
" Pike!" Cris cried. " Pike, wake up!" she demanded. Pike let out a content sigh and continued to sleep. " This is NO way for warriors of justice to act!" Cris scolded. Suddenly, a loud neigh echoed from outside. Cris ran to the window and peered out. The demon! The demon and the little child were riding towards the gates on a black horse in battle armor! " PIKE!" Cris cried. " They're getting away!!!" The only answer she got was a snore. " Dangit.... we were supposed to WIN!" Cris mumbled. " Don't worry, Pike. We'll get them next time," Cris said, flicking her hair. " And next time, I'll have his head!"
After what seemed like eternity, Thunderclap finally ceased his blazing ride and stopped to rest deep within a forest due east of Wyndia. A small pool glittered and Thunderclap approached it, thirstily. Kuromoui slid off of Thunderclap and set Shai upon the ground. Then he sat down and leaned against a rock. Placing his sword next to him, Kuromoui peeled off his shirt. He had put it on quite hastily in his mad dash from the Inn. Now, it was soaked in blood. An ugly gash ran down his side from where the spear had punctured him. Kuromoui grimaced and shook his head.
" CARELESS. That is what you are. Careless," he scolded himself. Shai blinked and approached Kuromoui. He kneeled beside Kuromoui and hugged him tightly. Kuromoui tensed as Shai touched his wound. Shai looked at it, then ran to the pool. Kuromoui blinked. Shai ripped off a chunk of his sleeve, dipped it in the water, then ran back over to Kuromoui and gently dabbed his wound with the cloth. Kuromoui hissed in pain as Shai tenderly cleaned the bloodied wound. Kuromoui smiled through his pain down at Shai. Shai smiled back at his friend. " Thank you, little Shai!" Kuromoui said, grinning. Shai let out a silent giggle and threw his arms around Kuromoui's neck. Then with a silent little yawn, Shai snuggled his head against Kuromoui's neck and drifted to sleep. Kuromoui blinked, then smiled and leaned back gently so as not to awake the tired little child. He relaxed by the pool, and looked upward through the tree tops, at the stars in the sky. The crickets sung loudly and, much to his dismay, he found himself beginning to doze off. The lose of blood and fatigue began to take a firm grip upon him. Within seconds, he had drifted in to a deep sleep. Silence reigned as the two slept, content to allow the world to pass them by. Apparently the world had no such plan.
" The dummy asleep?"
" Dunno,"
" Look, Dummy!"
" NOT A DUMMY! YOU'RE A DUMMY!"
From out of the bushes floated two odd little creatures. They had long flowing hair, glistening bug wings, and puffs of hair on their wrists and ankles. And both wore not one scrap of cloth on them. Fairies. One of the fairies had sparkling orange hair while another had forest green.
" They dead?" the orange haired one inquired.
" No, dummy!" the other one snarled.
" NOT A DUMMY!!!" the orange haired one growled.
" BOTH OF YOU! SHUT UP!" another voice barked. Both fairies stopped their talk and turned. From out of the bushes stepped another fairy. She wore a white tank top, tight tan colored shorts, hiking boots, white socks, and a tan colored vest. Her hair was purple with pink and blue stripes and her wings were purple and blue with pink spots. She planted her hands on her hips and glowered at Kuromoui and Shai. " What do we have here?" she mumbled.
" Dummies," the other two fairies answered.
" Humph. You're right about that. Dumb to fall asleep with THAT wound," the dressed fairy commented as she looked at Kuromoui's gash. " Oh well... don't you two dummies worry. Ol' Jiei will help ya. Take them back home!" she said. The other fairies looked at each other, than her.
" Dummy's home?" one asked.
" NO. OUR home," Jiei snapped. The fairies grinned and nodded. They floated over to the sleeping duo. Thunderclap neighed, angrily, and stomped his feet. Jiei grabbed the reigns. " Eeeaaasy, boy. Easy," she said, soothingly. The other fairies floated in to the bushes, carrying their cargo of the sleeping Kuromoui and Shai. Jiei smiled to herself and followed suit, guiding Thunderclap in to the bushes. A bright flash followed. Then, silence.
" Are you sure this is where you heard voices, Cris?" a voice asked. Scrambling through the trees came two familiar faces. Cris and Pike. They glanced around.
" I'm sure, Pike... Look! There's blood! Fresh too!" Cris said. Pike rubbed his chin.
" Well... where'd they go?" he asked.
" They couldn't have gotten far... let's look for them," Cris suggested. Pike nodded. He used his spear to poke at the bushes as Cris walked in to the woods a bit. From a top a tree, Jiei grinned broadly and leaned against a branch. Her blue eyes glittered mischievously.
" Hmmm..... it HAS been a while since I had a little bit of.... fun," Jiei giggled. With a laugh, she leaped down from the tree in to the bushes. Jiei's little head appeared just a few feet away from Pike. With an evil grin, Jiei pulled a sickly green and brown colored slime ball out of her pocket. The smell was HORRIBLE. Jiei held her nose and tossed the slime ball at Pike. Pike's nose twitched and he jerked. What was that RANCID smell?! He turned. His eyes focused on the slime ball as it oozed towards him. Pike's eyes opened wide.
" CRIS! A SLIME!" Pike yelped as he stumbled back, trying not to breath in the horrible odor.
" So? Warriors of justice are not worried about mere slimes," Cris retorted, disdainfully.
" But... but... the SMELL!!" Pike wailed as he scrambled back and tripped on a log. The smell was like rancid milk and manure combined. It was AWFUL. Pike started gagging and choking upon the smell. Jiei giggled from her hiding place. Pike dropped to all fours and started crawling away.
" Pike! WHAT are you doing?" Cris demanded. "..... And what is that SMELL?" she yelped. She held her nose and grimaced. " When was the last time YOU took a bath!?" she hissed. Pike shook his head vigorously.
" It's not me! The slime is...,"
" Honestly, Pike. You have GOT to learn to be more clean!" Cris scolded. Pike grew red in the face.
" I bathe!" he retorted.
" Once a month, yeah," Cris growled. Jiei cackled to herself. This was getting good. She grinned as the slime oozed over to the unsuspecting Cris. Without warning, the ooze clamped on to Cris's leg. Cris blinked and looked down at her leg. Then, the screaming began.
Comfort. For once, all he felt was comfort. Kuromoui woke with a start, thinking something was amiss. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised. Though he wasn't sure if he liked it. Kuromoui found himself in a big bed with massive, fluffy blankets and plump pillows. The room was otherwise bare, though the wall was oddly painted to look like the sky. Kuromoui blinked.
" Shai?" he whispered, looking about. Nothing. Panic rose from his gut. He leaped from the bed. He found a bandage covering his side wound and that all we wore were his pants. Kuromoui looked around, wildly. " SHAI!!!" he cried.
" Easy there, tiger," a female voice crooned. " The kid's eatin' breakfast,"
" Wha...?" Kuromoui gasped as he looked around. Standing in the doorway was a fairy wearing a tan vest, pants, hiking boots, and a white tank top. Her hair was purple with pink and blue stripes. Her wings were a shimmering purple and blue, with pink spots sprinkled here and there. She grinned up at Kuromoui, tossing her hair. " Who are you? What's going on?!" Kuromoui growled.
" Mmmm-mmm-mmm...," the fairy said as she examined Kuromoui. " Nice chunk a male, ain't ya?" she inquired. Kuromoui blinked. " What's yer name, tiger?" the fairy asked, grinning oddly at Kuromoui.
"... what's it to ya?!" Kuromoui hissed. The fairy shrugged.
" I'll just call ya Tiger," the fairy said. " I'm Jiei. But you can call me ANYTIME," she giggled. Kuromoui wrinkled his nose. " Hungry, tiger?" she asked. Kuromoui nodded. " Well, much as I hate ta say it... put yer clothes on," Jiei said, grinning. Kuromoui glanced around, looking for his clothes. Jiei pointed to a bundle in the corner. Kuromoui approached and picked it up. His clothes. Kuromoui glanced over at Jiei, who had every intention of watching.
" *ahem*...?" Kuromoui coughed. Jiei made a face.
" Oh, you're no fun," she pouted. She turned and closed her eyes. Kuromoui hurriedly put on his clothes. Adjusting his belt, he looked to see Jiei peeping over at him. She grinned. " Follow me," Jiei said, tossing her hair again. She walked out of the door. Kuromoui followed her and glanced around, in awe. He was in a HUGE house, though the floors were more arranged like a market's. Two stall-like rooms on the first level, separated by a massive hall with two stairs leading upward. Then, two more stall-like rooms, separated by stairs yet again that lead upwards. The entire building was arranging in a steep, climbing arrangement. In fact, the entire building looked kinda like stairs, with the first floor as step one and so on. Kuromoui followed Jiei out of the building. He blinked and rubbed his eyes. He was in the mountains! Though it was oddly arranged. Down some stairs to the west of the building was a beach that lead out to a huge sea. To the south, there was a small little shed. Farther south, down a winding path, was a ring of flowers. Kuromoui blinked again, unsure of what to think. It was like a small town made up of one massive building and a shed. But the oddest thing was that the only inhabitants were multi-colored fairies. Kuromoui rubbed his eyes. Was he dreaming? He suddenly felt a hard tug at his pants. He glanced down. Jiei grinned up at him. " Coming or not?" she asked.
" Where?" Kuromoui asked.
" To breakfast!" Jiei replied, laughing.
" Dummy," a nearby fairy giggled. Jiei glowered at her, causing the fairy to scamper away.
" Follow me," Jiei commanded. Kuromoui didn't feel like arguing. He followed Jiei towards the beach. Then, he noticed something odd. A rather hidden trail leading upwards. It looked fairly new compared to the other path. Jiei tromped up it. Kuromoui followed. After a little walk, the two arrived at a cute little tea house on a flat area of the mountain. There were little tables all around, surrounded with flowers and grass. In the middle stood a little building with a wrap-around porch. Smoke came from the chimney. Kuromoui blinked. He looked around, itching his head. " Lovely, ain't it? My idea," Jiei said, bursting with pride. " C'mon, Tiger. Lemme take you to yer friend," Jiei said as she walked. She took Kuromoui towards a table around back. Shai sat there, shoving cup cakes and dumplings in his mouth at an alarming rate. He looked up at Kuromoui and waved his arms vigorously. He ran to Kuromoui and offered him a dumpling.
" Thank you, little Shai...," Kuromoui said as he accepted the dumpling and took a bite. Shai grabbed Kuromoui's arm and dragged him over to the table, where they sat down. Jiei sniffed, disdainfully.
" What kind of breakfast is dumplings and cup cakes?" she demanded. The fairies about her shrugged. " *DUMMIES*!! Get GOOD food. Oatmeal. Bacons. Eggs!" she commanded. The fairies nodded vigorously and zipped off. Jiei sighed, shook her head, and sat by Kuromoui. Kuromoui tried to scoot away from Jiei but she scooted closer.
" Umm... I thought that...," Kuromoui began.
" That all fairies are stupid and need people to tell them what to do?" Jiei finished as she smiled. " They are. Except me," she said with a cocky grin. " See... since Ryu 'n the others stopped visiting, everything started going down the tube," Jiei explained. " Fairies started starving 'cause they weren't smart enough to look for food," Jiei said, seriously. Kuromoui tilted his head. Ryu? Who was that? " Atleast... until *I* was hatched," Jiei said, saucily, as she interrupted his thoughts. Kuromoui blinked again. He looked up and watched as a group of fairies brought in a tray full of food. They placed it on the ground, then stood there, staring at Jiei. As if waiting for her to say something. Or tell them to do something. Jiei grinned. " Allright.. you all can go and hunt," Jiei said.
" Already got all sorts of food," one fairy piped up. Jiei blinked.
" Then go and clear some more land," she said.
" Already cleared," another said. Jiei's eyes flashed.
" Go sweep the beach, then!" she snarled.
" Hokay!" the fairies said. They zipped off towards the beach, carrying brooms. Jiei shook her head, then turned and grinned at Kuromoui. Kuromoui blinked.
" Umm.. sooooo... why aren't there any males around here? I mean... the fairies all seem.... female. I mean... they lack... the.. um.... male.. characteristics," he said, quickly. Jiei shrugged.
" We don't need males. We grow from cocoons so we have no use for male counterparts," she said. Then she grinned wickedly. She snuggled in to Kuromoui's lap and grinned up. " But that don't mean WE can't have something special going on, tiger," she crooned. Kuromoui felt his stomach knot up. He did NOT like this turn of events.
" Actually.... me... and little Shai planned on heading out...," Kuromoui gulped. Jiei didn't seem to hear him. She was too busy touching his cheek.
" Mmmm-hmmmmm.....," she mumbled, grinning. Kuromoui grimaced.
" Ummm... Mrs. Jiei...," he began.
" Just call me Jiei, Tiger," Jiei giggled.
" Jiei... we really should be going," he said. Jiei's face fell.
" Why?" she asked, pouting.
" Well.. you see... there's this gargoyle-like creature...," Kuromoui began.
" Gargoyle-like...? Sounds like Guardian Garr," Jiei commented. Kuromoui's eyes instantly narrowed.
" Guardian... Garr?" he inquired.
" Oh, sure, tiger. He's this strong gargoyle-like beast who's Champion of the Arena," Jiei replied. Kuromoui's eyes shimmered with dark emotion. Garr? Gargoyle-like beast? Could it be... the one that attacked Shai's parents? He leaped to his feet. Jiei yelped out in surprise. " What are you doing?" Jiei cried.
" I'm going to MEET this Guardian Garr," Kuromoui hissed. He let out a piercing whistle. A thundering sound soon echoed from the path. Thunderclap leaped over to Kuromoui, bucking and neighing fiercely. " Where's Arena?" Kuromoui asked.
" Central Wyndia.... South of Wyndia the capital, past Maekyss Gorge...," Jiei said, surprised. " But...,"
" How do I get out?" Kuromoui asked as he hefted up Shai and placed him on Thunderclap's back.
" Through the flower circle to the south, tiger...," Jiei replied, blinking.
" Thank you! 'Til we meet again...," Kuromoui began.
" Wait! Tiger!" Jiei called. Kuromoui did not seem to hear her. He was down the path within moments, Thunderclap leaping and raced towards the ring of flowers. Before Jiei would say anything else, Kuromoui, Shai, and Thunderclap were gone. Jiei shook her head and sighed. "... but Garr's dead!" she whispered.
Kuromoui rode Thunderclap as hard as he dared along the road. The capital of Wyndia was in sight. With a determined grin, Kuromoui steered Thunderclap towards the turn to Maekyss Gorge. He was so intent on reaching Arena that he failed to notice a white tiger and an armadillo walking in the same direction, in the middle of the road. Thunderclap reared back, crying out, as he tried to avoid the two. Kuromoui yelped and pulled back on the reigns. Thunderclap reared back again and bounded aside. Then, he came to a stop. Kuromoui patted Thunderclap and mentally apologized to him for such a fright. Shai, on the other hand, had loved the ride. He was waving his little arms and laughing silently. The tiger and the armadillo were less than pleased.
" Why don't you watch what you're doing, you lunatic?!" the white tiger hissed. Kuromoui glared at the white tiger, defiantly.
" Why don't YOU go play in your litter box?!" he retorted. The white tiger's eyes narrowed.
" Trying to start something...?" the tiger growled.
" Only if YOU are," Kuromoui snapped. The tiger looked about ready to leap. Kuromoui's hand strayed to his sword.
" Calm yerself, Rik. He's just a smart mouth kid," the armadillo said, eying Kuromoui.
" Better get that cat neutered, mister," Kuromoui growled. " He might getcha in to trouble!" he added with a laugh. He then spurred Thunderclap on, who barreled past the tiger and the armadillo, who looked very angry. Kuromoui grinned to himself. Shai glanced up at him and smiled. Kuromoui felt a pang of guilt. He didn't need to have been so rude in front of Shai. He hugged Shai, who hugged back. He glanced back over his shoulder. The tiger and the armadillo were nowhere in sight. Kuromoui shrugged and set his attention on the road before him.
" Funky haired punk!" Rik roared after the retreating rider that had nearly run them over. He growled and kicked at the dirt. He looked at Sledge. " Did you see... why wouldn't you...," Rik began. Sledge shook his head.
" It was just some smart mouth kid, Rik. Just ignore him and continue on," Sledge said. Rik fumed.
" But he said...," Rik growled.
" I know what he said. Rik, would it have made you feel better to kill a child?" Sledge demanded, his voice stern. Rik blinked, then sighed.
" I guess yer right... but he was just so... so... arrogant!" Rik said, throwing his paws up in the air. Sledge smiled.
" That he was. But he was still a kid," Sledge said. ".. though I must say... that other child with him looked oddly familiar...," Sledge said. Rik blinked.
" You too?" Rik inquired. Sledge nodded. "... you don't suppose...?"
" Naaaww...," Sledge said, grinning. " I didn't get a good look, true... but he couldn't a been. Too soon in the search," he said. " Ladon never makes it that easy,"
" Yeah... I guess yer right," Rik said, shaking his head. " Let's hurry to the Arena. We don't want to keep Deis waiting,"
" Why IS she at the Arena?" Sledge inquired.
" 'cause Arena is holding another tournament," Rik replied. " She's hoping that the one we seek will show at the tournament. If anything, she'll atleast find some strong warriors to help us search," Rik said with a shrug.
" Ladon curse them to the darkest pit of the after world," Kuromoui spat out in anger. He glared at a large wooden bridge, the only bridge across the Gorge, which he had to cross to get to Arena. Unfortunately, he saw a familiar face. Cris was standing smack in the middle of the bridge and she was surrounded by Wyndian guards. Kuromoui spat out a growl and reared back Thunderclap. He could not go this way. Kuromoui scanned the horizons. Suddenly, something caught his eye. A lift! There was a lift in the mountains. It must be another way to Arena. It was a longer route, indeed, but it avoided unnecessary battle. Plus, he was sure the devil Garr would be warned if he attacked Cris and fought his way through. Kuromoui tugged on the reign and Thunderclap leaped back the way they had come. Shai peered up at Kuromoui and tugged his jacket. Kuromoui leaned down close. Shai grabbed his ear and whispered. Why did they want to find Garr? "... Well, Shai... remember that monster that... attacked your parents and... made them go to sleep?" Kuromoui inquired. Shai nodded, sadly. " Well, I think that monster was the one called Garr," Kuromoui said. Shai's eyes opened wide in fear. " Do not worry, Little Shai. I will defeat him. I'll make sure he'll never hurt you or anyone else ever again," Kuromoui growled as he tightened his grip on Thunderclap's reigns. " EVER,"
The city of Wyndia never looked so radiant than it did when the sun was shining upon it's neat roads and roof tops. Children giggled and rushed through the lanes, enjoying the gentle sun as it shimmered upon them. Suddenly, a growl of thunder echoed through the sky. All eyes darted upwards. From out of nowhere, a huge thunder cloud appeared within the sky, blocking out the sun's warm rays. People gasped in horror and scampered for cover as heavy drops of rain dropped down upon them. Thunder cracked loudly as lightning danced across the sky. Then, just as suddenly as it began, the cloud disappeared and the sun shown as bright as it ever had. Wyndians, old and young, stared in surprise and confusion. What they saw next changed their surprise to utter awe. Standing in the gates of Wyndia were two figures. One was a light pink, almost white, unicorn with a purple mane and tail. He stood upright on his hind legs and had hands instead of hooves on his forearms. He wore a light brown leather tunic with a black belt and black collar. His gold glittering eyes looked about the city. The companion of the unicorn was a man. He wore a deep red tunic and pants with gold and light red markings. His long hair was blonde with a single shimmering streak of crimson, tied in a pony tail with a red ribbon. Around his neck was a shimmering key tied to a red string. But what was most spectacular was that he had a pair of ruby red wings on his back. REAL wings. The feathers glittered in the sunlight. The man stretched them, grinning cockily. He was showing them off. Wyndians stared in awe. There had not been one with wings such as these in a long time. Ever since a Wyndian married one from another clan centuries before, they had lost their gorgeous bird wings and the ability to turn in to a mighty bird. Only their Royal Family ever stood a chance to grow wings. And those wings were a sad shadow of the true wings of old. More like butterfly wings than the majestic wings of birds. The man flicked his hair back and strolled up the stairs of the town, the unicorn following close behind. Towards the palace. People flocked out of their homes to stare in awe as the man strode by, his head held high. He walked with royal dignity and the Wyndians began to wonder. As he approached the guards who stood before the door leading in to the castle, they scampered out of the way and stared. The man opened the doors and strolled, grinning smugly, down the hall. Tapestries and statues of Wyndian warriors of old decorated the room, as well as red rugs with gold decorations. At the far end of the room sat three thrones. A massive gold throne, with two smaller thrones on either side. In two of the thrones sat Wyndians in royal garb. The king and queen. The third throne was empty. The Wyndians in the throne leaped to their feet upon seeing the man. The King growled.
" What are you going here?" he hissed.
" Such a greeting, daddy," the man snorted. " If I didn't know better, I'd think you didn't WANT me here,"
" Latinus, honey...," the queen whispered, her eyes warily locked on the man.
" It's allright, Melodyne. He is no threat to us NOW," Latinus growled. The man tilted his head back and laughed.
" I am every bit a threat as I ever was, daddy," he crooned. Latinus paled considerably.
" Do not call me that again. You are no son of mine," Latinus snapped.
" Oh yes... I forgot. You disowned me," the man said as he tapped his chin. He flapped his wings and smirked. He glanced over at his unicorn companion. " You see, Savage, I was thrown out of Wyndia in a rather disgraceful manner. ME, of all people. One of royal blood!" he said. He tossed his long hair over his shoulder and grinned even wider. The unicorn made no reply, though an evil smirk crossed his face. " Why DID you disown me? I forget," he said.
" YOU, of all people, should not have forgotten what you did," Melodyne said, her eyes sparkling with anger. " You tried to overthrow your own father and take over the kingdom. Or have you forgotten that?" she snapped.
" Oh yeeees... I remember. Though I STILL think I'd be a better king than daddy dearest. He just doesn't have the ambition," the man cackled. He again turned to his companion, Savage. " You see, daddy didn't have the guts to take over the Yraall Road, which would have given us a tighter control on trade in Wyndia. Tsk tsk... such a shame, eh Savage...," he said. Savage uttered a grinding chuckle. Latinus flushed bright red.
" How DARE you... how DARE you come here and say such things. You wanted to conquer ALL of Yraall to fuel YOUR hunger for more wealth and land! Get OUT, Faia! GET OUT! You AND your crony!" Latinus roared.
" The name is no longer just Faia, dear father. It's Kagerufaia," the man growled.
" What...?" Latinus mumbled. " Where did you get such a name like that!?"
" It was given to me, daddy," Kagerufaia said, grinning. He tossed his hair. "As well as this wonderful key..," he continued, his fingers straying to the key about his neck. "... AND my GORGEOUS wings," he added as he spread his shimmering wings. Latinus's eyes narrowed.
" By who!?" he demanded.
" That's none of your business, daddy," Kagerufaia said with a sneer. Latinus slammed his scepter down.
" OUT! OUT! GET OUT!" he demanded. Kagerufaia smirked.
" Only because you asked so NICELY, daddy. But I shall be back. And when I come, I'm the one that's going to be giving the orders. Not you. And most certainly not my little sister, who so rudely took my place as heir to the throne," he said. Melodyne flushed.
" Don't you dare touch-," she began. But Kagerufaia wasn't listening to her. He turned, grinning from ear to ear. Savage followed, his grin matching Kagerufaia's. Melodyne turned to her husband, her eyes wide with panic. " Oh dear... you don't think...?" she whispered.
" Don't even CONSIDER it, love... don't," Latinus whispered. " He wouldn't dare... he couldn't...," Kagerufaia strolled towards the door, grinning smugly. He turned and winked at his father.
" I can and WILL, Daddy dearest. Can and will," Kagerufaia called over his shoulder. With a flicker of his ruby wings, he and Savage were gone.
Thunderclap trotted down the road at a slow, steady pace. Upon his back, Kuromoui held the reigns, though he looked closer to falling asleep. Shai was already asleep, snuggling up against Kuromoui and curling in to a ball. The path was steady and quiet. Night was again upon them as they journeyed down the road towards the mountain lifts in the rocky terrain behind Arena. It was deathly quiet, as Kuromoui was used to in the land he had journeyed from. Shai sighed happily and snuggled deeper in to Kuromoui's jacket, seeking warmth to stifle the night cold. A smile creeped across Kuromoui's face. Suddenly, his face went cold and hard. He stiffened and glanced about with narrowed eyes. Thunderclap began to quicken his pace, apparently spooked. A chill ran up Kuromoui's spine and he jerked the reigns, forcing Thunderclap to leap aside. Just as he did, a volley of arrows buried themselves in the road where they had previously been. Kuromoui dig his heels in to Thunderclap, sending the horse barreling down the road. Shai awoke with a start and looked about in confusion. He held on to Kuromoui with his little arms, eyes opened wide with fear. Kuromoui mumbled out encouragement to Shai as he looked about, searching for his attacker. Another volley barely missed the horse and his riders. Kuromoui spurred Thunderclap on. Suddenly, from out of the shadows leapt men dressed in tattered clothes stained in blood. They ran and stood in the middle of the road, blocking passage. Thunderclap reared back, neighing loudly. Shai whimpered. Kuromoui hissed with rage.
" Stop, traveler, or we'll shoot you down," a voice called from within the shadows. Kuromoui's eyes flared up. He slowed down Thunderclap to a stop and glanced about. Out of the shadows stepped a deep sea blue female unicorn. The unicorn walked upright and had hands instead of hooves on her forearms. She had a tight black dress and a deep purple vest. Her mane and tail were deep green. Her gold eyes glittered as she looked upon Thunderclap and his riders. Kuromoui slipped off Thunderclap with great ease, his hand straying to his blade. The female unicorn let out a snort. " Are you so foolish, boy, as to continue this even though we have you trapped?" she inquired. Kuromoui's eyes narrowed in response. The female unicorn let out a high pitched neigh of laughter. " Do not under-estimate me just because I am a woman, traveler. I, Shimmer, am far your superior," she laughed. Kuromoui's face hardened and his grip tightened on his sword. " I must apologize. Our Master, one of the keepers of the Keys, sent us after someone. We thought you were them. But we still have to kill you. You've seen too much. So sorry," Shimmer crooned as her hand strayed to a dagger at her side. Kuromoui made no response. Shai ducked behind Thunderclap's mane, his big innocent eyes staring out. Shimmer grinned widely. " But think of it this way. You've had the honor of being slain by me," she laughed. Her laugh turned to a pained gasp as a blade slashed her deeply across the arm. She dropped her dagger and clutched her bloody wound as Kuromoui smirked. He tightened his grip upon the handle of his bloodied sword. Shimmer's face twisted with rage. She grabbed her dagger and lunged at Kuromoui, who leaped out of the way and slashed her across the back. Shimmer snarled and dug her dagger in to Kuromoui's side. Kuromoui winced in pain and brought his elbow down on Shimmer's back. Shimmer fell to the ground, hissing in pain. " SHOOT HIM, MORONS! SHOOT THEM ALL!" she shrieked. The men aimed their arrows and let them fly. Multiple things happened at that moment. An arrow whizzed by and embedded itself deep in Shai's shoulder. The child cried out silently in pain, his eyes wide. Thunderclap reared back and shrieked out his fury. Kuromoui's eyes flashed bright red, as did the eyes of his tattoo on his forehead. He dropped his sword and leaped at the man who had shot the arrow, intent on strangling him. Then........
It is said that the screams that issued that night echoed through the forests years later, when the happenings itself was but a faded memory.
Darkness surrounded him. He couldn't see anything, not even his own hands. So cold, he felt so utterly cold and exposed. A beautiful woman's voice echoed through the void.
The song, so familiar. Where had he heard it before? The voice, who was it? He knew, yet he did not know. It frightened him. The dark void about him suddenly began to change. It started growing red. Dark red. He cried out in horror. It was blood! A face appeared within the blood. Gargoyle features. A long slash was upon the gargoyle's face. A smirk crossed it's face. It opened it's mouth, rows of razor sharp teeth glittering. A flicker of dark flame appeared in it's mouth. With a mighty roar, it...
" WAKE UUUUP!" someone shrieked. Kuromoui sat up with a cry, sweating profoundly. Jiei grinned up at him. " Morning Tiger! Sleep well?" she asked. Kuromoui stared down at the fairy. " Thank goodness... I thought you'd never wake up!" she sighed with relief. " You were MAULED!" Jiei continued, shaking her head. " You were bleeding all over your body! And horrible wounds everywhere!" she said. Kuromoui blinked. He did not remember.
" And... and Shai...?" he whispered.
" Oh, he's allright. He's off at the cafe eating lunch," Jiei said, indifferent. Kuromoui sighed with relief. " Mind telling me what creeps beat you up so badly?" Jiei asked. Kuromoui shrugged. He couldn't. He did not remember. Jiei shook her head. " Dang... oh well.. you'll remember soon enough...," she mumbled. She blinked and looked up just as Kuromoui scrambled out of bed. He was covered in bloody bandages, though he ignored the pain. He grabbed the rest of his clothes, slipped them on, and stumbled out of the door. " Tig-," Jiei began. The door slammed. "-er?" she finished. She sighed and shook her head. " MEN," she mumbled. The sound of thundering hooves echoed. Jiei crossed her arms and glowered. " Impatient and arrogant...," she mumbled. " JUST what I like in a man!" she giggled, smiling dreamily.
Kagerufaia smirked and leaned back in his chair. He fingered a glittering key that hung on a golden chain around his neck. He was in a tan colored tent, pitched in the plains outside Wyndia. Inside the tent was a sleek, highly polished wooden table with two matching chairs. In one, sat Kagerufaia. Savage sat in the other one, opposite to Kagerufaia. Savage watched Kagerufaia and, more importantly, the key in awed silence.
" Is it not lovely, Savage?" Kagerufaia crooned, an evil smirk on his face.
" It's so pretty, Master," Savage whispered.
" It does shine, does it not? But it holds more power than JUST the ability to look fabulous on me. With this key, I can control the very heavens.... wind... rain... snow... BAH! Child's play!" Kagerufaia hissed, his eyes narrowing dangerously. " TRUE power.... not some stupid ability to throw fireballs or ice. But to command the HEAVENS!"
" It is indeed a power you deserve, Master," Savage said, obediently. Kagerufaia grinned, smugly.
" Too true... too true.... and with this power...," Kagerufaia began.
" MASTER!" a pained voice cried. Through the tent flap stumbled a sea blue unicorn. Shimmer. She collapsed to the ground at Kagerufaia's feet, bloodied and mangled. Long claw marks marred her body and her tattered dress.
" Shimmer! What in the name of...?!" Kagerufaia began.
" We... we tried to find her, Master.... b... but we mistook a boy on a black horse...," Shimmer wheezed.
" And let me guess. You were mauled," Kagerufaia growled.
" B... but Master... he... and then... we couldn't....," Shimmer began. Kagerufaia growled and slammed his fist down on the table, silencing her.
" I don't care to hear your excuses, Shimmer. I expected results. I had better see them," he hissed. Shimmer nodded, fearful. Kagerufaia stood up and growled.
" Master! Master!" a voice cried. Kagerufaia blinked and walked over to the tent flap. He opened it and peered outside. A thief, dressed in ragged brown clothes and a black bandana about his forehead ran up towards Kagerufaia and dropped to one knee before him.
" WHAT is it!?" Kagerufaia growled, ill-tempered.
" We've found her!" the thief panted. Kagerufaia's face brightened.
" MAGNIFICENT!" he crowed. Shimmer and Savage stared at him, silent. Kagerufaia whirled and grinned like a Cheshire cat. " Shimmer, Savage, go. Retrieve the little scamp and bring her here," he commanded. " NOW,"
" Yes, Master!" Shimmer and Savage cried, in union. They scampered out of the tent and disappeared from Kagerufaia's sight.
" As for me, I'm rather curious to meet this 'boy' who managed to defeat one of my scouting parties all by himself....," he growled. His eyes flared and the key about his neck pulsated with energy. The clouds in the sky, white and fluffy, turned in to hideous thunderclouds. Dark, foreboding, and angry. He stepped outside of the tent and uttered a high-pitched shriek. An aura of flame appeared about him. His hair stood up on end and his wings glistened like blood, fresh and thick on a new dagger. With another cry, Kagerufaia's form blurred out in to the fire and was replaced by a massive ruby bird. The bird shrieked, then leaped in to the threatening sky and disappeared in to the unfriendly clouds just as they began spitting venomous rain upon the land.
A high shriek echoed through the tombs. A young girl with fluffy blonde hair scampered through the damp, dank caverns. Her dirtied pink tunic and boots were thick with water and sludge. Her blue eyes glanced about the tomb, searching. Behind her, the sound of heavy boots echoed eerily. The girl panted and leaped behind a tombstone and curled up in to a ball, willing her fluttering heart to slow. From the same entrance to the tomb the girl had used, entered two unicorns. One male and one blood coated female. The girl had no intention of allowing the two to find her. She held totally still and waited. The male unicorn stepped forward.
" Princess Nina, do not fear us... come out.... we are friends...," he called, trying to sound as friendly as he could. He glanced at his companion.
" She's not that stupid, Savage," the female unicorn hissed, quietly.
" Oh, shut UP, Shimmer. It's worth a try," Savage growled, his eyes narrowed. Shimmer snorted and glanced about. " Come out, come out, where ever you are, dear Nina!" Savage crooned. The girl curled up in to a tighter ball and held her breath.
" Your brother wishes to speak with you, Nina! He won't harm you and neither will we. He's your family, after all!" Shimmer added. Nina held back a growl of contempt. She did not and never would consider such a monster as Kagerufaia as HER brother.
" COME OUT, YOU STUPID-" Savage shrieked. Shimmer slapped him and hissed. Savage growled deeply but said nothing. Shimmer started to enter the tomb, her eyes on the massive tombstone right in the middle. She motioned for him to follow. Savage nodded and followed her, his eyes twinkling like a cat's who is about to pounce upon a mouse. Nina peered over her hiding spot at the two unicorns. Their backs were to her. She gathered her strength and guts, then leaped and dashed out of the tomb as fast as she could. She could hear Savage and Shimmer cry out in anger and rage but she dared not turn. She ran as fast as she could, not even daring to take the time to wipe the sweat and mud from her forehead. The rain splattered against her frail body as she raced down the path and in to the city of Wyndia. No one was out and thus, could not give her aid. She scampered through the forming puddles as the rain pounded the streets. She had no time to get to the palace and safety. She had no time. She knew it was too late, already. Even now, through the rain she could see thieves and warriors of her hated brother slipping in through the doors and windows. The thick, drowsy rain disguised their entrance from the weary guards, who discovered them too late to stop them. Nina felt her stomach churn with emotion. She glanced about, desperate to find some form of escape. She had to find help, for Wyndia was in desperate need. She heard a piercing whinny and whirled. Standing upon the roof top above her, was Savage and Shimmer. The blood from Shimmer's form stained the rain red as it dripped. Nina gasped and dashed away, heading towards the main gates. Shimmer and Savage leaped down from the roof and charged after Nina. Nina leaped through the gates and landed in a puddle of mud. With a cry and a gasp, she scrambled out of the mud and raced down the road.
" Where'd the brat go!?" Savage demanded.
" She couldn't have gotten far... come on!" Shimmer growled. They raced off in to the rain, searching. Shimmer ran towards the bridge leading towards the Arena. She stood on it and glanced about. " I don't see her... maybe she went towards Rhapala!" she yelled to Savage.
" Let's go then! We'd better not lose her or the Master will skin us!" Savage cried. He whirled and dashed down the road. Shimmer followed close behind. After a few minutes, Nina poked her head out from under the bridge, shivering. She was soaked, filthy, and terrified. She glanced about. No sign of the two unicorns. Nina sighed with relief and scrambled up the river bank to the road. Then, she started running down the path towards Arena.
" I've never thought I'd be so glad see mountains again," Kuromoui said, smiling, as Thunderclap rode towards the main gate leading up to the mountain lift. The gate was sealed shut, which didn't truly bother Kuromoui. With a jerk of the reigns, Thunderclap sped up and leaped over the gate, then raced up the path towards the lift. Shai clapped his hands with delight. Kuromoui grinned. He could see the lift, outlined in the dark clouds that seemed to be covering all of Wyndia. Rain poured upon the capital of Wyndia yet thunder was all the mountain had to offer the travelers. Kuromoui neither cared nor wanted to know why the weather was acting so oddly. It was none of his business, nor would he make it his. Soon enough, the three arrived at the lift. Kuromoui tied Thunderclap to the lift and slid off his back. Shai glanced about, still stationed on the mighty horse's back. Kuromoui looked at the odd machinery. It hadn't been used in some time. With an irritated snort, he slammed his fist down on the controls. Much to his surprise, the machine sparked and the lift began to move. Kuromoui leaped and landed upon the lift just as it pulled out of it's hanger and glided across the wire. Kuromoui grinned smugly and placed a comforting hand on Thunderclap's mighty shoulder. The horse stopped his hooves, impatient and not enjoying being so high above the ground. Suddenly, a loud, piercing shriek echoed through the mountains. Kuromoui jerked and glanced about. Without warning, a massive red bird swooped down, talons glittering. It dived at the lift. Kuromoui cried out in surprise and grasped on to Thunderclap and Shai as the bird swooped past, rocking the lift. Thunderclap neighed out while Shai wrapped his arms around Kuromoui's neck and buried his little face in Kuromoui's shirt. The bird screeched out and swooped upwards, gaining altitude. Kuromoui willed the lift to go faster. It was almost at the hanger but it wouldn't make it. Kuromoui glanced about, noticing that there was a ledge near-by. Kuromoui leaped up on Thunderclap's back and untied the reigns from the railing. Thunderclap reared back and leaped from the lift on to the mountain ledge below. Just as he did, the bird slammed in to the lift. The wire snapped and the lift plummeted as the bird swooped upwards, crying out with triumph. Shai snuggled against Kuromoui. Kuromoui hugged Shai, comfortingly, then slid off of Thunderclap and pulled out his blade. He winced in pain as the bandages about his hand stretched, along with his wounds. But he held the sword tight and glared up at the bird as it swooped down at him. Kuromoui braced himself for the on-coming attack. Surprisingly, instead of attacking, the bird landed before Kuromoui. A flash of a bright red aura nearly blinded Kuromoui. When he looked back, instead of a bird, there was a man dressed in red with massive red wings. A glittering key hung about his neck. Kuromoui blinked.
" So YOU'RE the little scamp that damaged my troops," the man said, eying Kuromoui with obvious disgust.
" Who are you?" Kuromoui growled, clenching his sword.
" I am Kagerufaia, Master of the Sky Key," the man said, bowing.
" Master of the what?" Kuromoui mumbled, an eyebrow raised. Kagerufaia grasped the key about his neck and held it up. A lightning blast zipped down and smote the ground before Kuromoui. Thunderclap reared but Kuromoui made no move.
" The Sky Key. One of the Goddess Keys of the dearly departed Myria," Kagerufaia crooned. Kuromoui tensed considerably and growled. " And who might you be?" Kagerufaia inquired. Kuromoui said nothing. He merely glared at Kagerufaia. "... I see... well, if you will not tell me willingly, I am afraid I must FORCE it out of you," he said, his tone growing serious and cold. Kuromoui glowered. Kagerufaia lifted up his key. Lightning again struck down at Kuromoui. He leaped out of the way and slashed at Kagerufaia, who leaped back and slammed the key in to Kuromoui's chest. Kuromoui winced and gasped in pain. Kagerufaia then leaped in to the air, his ruby wings glittering. Kuromoui growled and slashed out again. Kagerufaia cried out as the blade slashed his leg. Kagerufaia griped the key, tightly and fluttered back as blood dripped from his leg. A cold, icy blast sent Kuromoui sprawling. " Give it up. You cannot defeat the SKY!" Kagerufaia sneered. Suddenly, a rock struck him in the face. Kagerufaia winced and whirled. Shai glared up at him, holding another rock in his tiny hands. " YOU STUPID BRAT...," Kagerufaia hissed. " I'm going to kill YOU FIRST!" he cried as he held the key up. Lightning struck down at Shai, who scamped as fast as his little legs could carry him. Kuromoui groaned and stumbled to his feet.
" LEAVE SHAI ALONE!" he growled. Kagerufaia paid him no mind as the lightning crashed down at the child. Kuromoui narrowed his eyes. " CHISUJIO HIDAMA!!!" he shrieked. Suddenly, his eyes flared blood red. His bandages became soaked in blood. With a shriek, a flaming ball, much like a fireball, struck Kagerufaia. Except it splattered, drenching Kagerufaia with flaming liquid. Kagerufaia cried out in pain and tried desperately to shake the liquid from his body. With a wail, Kagerufaia clenched his key. Rain poured upon him, drenching him. A puddle of fiery liquid formed at his feet. Kagerufaia gasped with pain and sighed as the pain subdued. He then glared about, furious. Kuromoui, Shai, and Thunderclap were no-where to be seen. Kagerufaia hissed.
" I SWEAR... you'll die for this.....," he whispered, his eyes narrowed. " My face... will be the LAST THING... you'll see... as I rip out your HEART!!!!"
The Arena was nothing like Kuromoui had ever seen. Nor anything he had expected. He had expected a cold, hateful place. After all, such was what monsters usually called home. But Arena was cheerful, busy, and full of excitement. People scurried back and forth, gambling and betting. Some odd 'tournament' was going on. Kuromoui didn't care about any tournament. He wanted to find the demon, Garr. He glanced about and approached a massive statue in the middle of the Arena. It was of a gargoyle creature. Kuromoui assumed it must be Garr. But he was baffled. It was bulkier than the one that had attacked Shai's parents. It's shoulders were also more broad. Kuromoui began to doubt if it was the demon he sought. But he shrugged. If it wasn't, surely he'd know where the REAL one is. Suddenly, a loud voice reached his ears.
" Come one, come all, to Honest Itachi's used Horse and Rakda lot!" a slippery voice called. Kuromoui blinked and turned around. Standing in the far right corner of the Arena was a brown weasel. He stood upright on his hind legs and had a dark blue tunic and pants with purple trim. About his neck was a purple tie, giving him a rather odd appearance. Around his forehead was a purple and blue bandana. He wore dark blue gloves and boots. A bulky man in green tunic and pants waddled up to him.
" I want my money back!" the man complained.
" Why, whatever could you mean?" Itachi explained, feigning complete confusion.
" Remember that horse you sold me? It's sick!" the man snapped.
" I gave you a discount, didn't I?" Itachi declared, indignant.
" You sold me a sick horse and didn't even tell me!" the man snarled.
" Now that is not true! I told you that it was green under the collar!!" Itachi replied.
" That doesn't mean it's sick!!" the man cried.
" SURE it does!" Itachi explained. " When you're sick, you usually turn the color green! EVERYONE knows that!" The man threw up his arms in defeat and stormed away. Kuromoui stared in surprise. Itachi turned and noticed Kuromoui for the first time. He grinned at Kuromoui. " Why hello! That's a fine young horse you got there. Selling it?" he said.
" No," Kuromoui said as he gripped Thunderclap's reigns tighter.
" I can make you a right fair offer! 200 zenny!" the weasel continued, grinning widely. Kuromoui snorted.
" I said no. I wouldn't sell him for a million zenny," Kuromoui replied.
" I'll meet you half-way. 350 zenny!" Itachi said.
" No!!!!" Kuromoui snapped, his eyes flaring. Itachi recoiled, slightly, then his eyes opened wide. He glanced over Kuromoui, then seemed to calm down and return to his original, cool posture. He grinned smoothly though his eyes appeared calculating.
" Oh well... I suppose maybe next time," he said. Kuromoui blinked. " You're new in town, eh? Well, welcome to Arena!" Itachi continued. He smiled toothily at Kuromoui. " The name's Itachi. Honest Itachi," he added. " I'm called Honest Itachi because I'm honest," he added, then laughed. Kuromoui merely stared. He didn't get it. He glaced about at Itachi's Rakdas and horses. He was repulsed by the insanely high prices for the flea-bitten creatures. They looked half starved and older than he was. Yet they were priced in the thousands. He had the sinking suspicion that Honest Itachi wasn't exactly honest. Itachi continued to grin widely at him. It was so fake that it made Kuromoui shiver. A little child walked by, sucking on a lollipop. Itachi snatched the lollipop, bit off the candy, and handed back the empty stick. He smiled innocently when the child noticed it was gone and ran to mother, crying. Kuromoui narrowed his eyes and uttered a hiss. Itachi turned and looked over Kuromoui once again. " Hmmm... you look like a strong lad... here for the fights?" he inquired. Kuromoui shook his head.
" No. I am here to see Garr," he said. Itachi raised an eyebrow.
" Garr...? OH! Garr! Of course!" he said, smiling brightly. " Well, I'm afraid it's going to be HARD to see Garr... you see... you can only see Garr if you WIN the tournament," Itachi explained, a massive phony grin on his face. Kuromoui shrugged.
" Then I'll win it," he said. Itachi smiled sweetly.
" But you cannot join without a sponser!" he crooned.
" A sponser?" Kuromoui repeated.
" Why yes.... well, don't worry! Ol' Honest Itachi has it all figured out! I will sponser you!" Itachi declared. " No, no, no need to thank me. I'll do it from the kindness of my heart!"
".... I doubt that," Kuromoui snorted. But he didn't turn down the offer. If fighting the tournament was what must be done to see Garr, then he'd do it. Itachi grinned broadly.
" Leave EVERYTHING to me! I'll handle it!" he said with a sweeping bow. Kuromoui raised an eyebrow and stared at Itachi. Why did he have a feeling he was going to regret meeting Itachi?
" Are you sure he'll show?" Rik inquired. Deis turned to look at Rik, her green snake skin glittering in the torch light.
" I hope so," she replied. " I truly do. I came such a long way... it's not easy traveling in this form,"
" While on the subject... how DID you manage to retain your true form?" Rik asked. " Before... you were...,"
" Naked. Yes. I am aware of that. I myself am not sure HOW or why I was able to retain my true form. I suppose it's Ladon's doing. Though it puzzles me. He's not really the type to interfere so much," she replied. Rik shrugged.
" Who knows?" he replied. Deis shrugged.
" Whoever does sure isn't telling," she said. " Rik, I must ask you. Would you join the tournament? If we are to find warriors, I want them to be tested to the fulliest. I would not reply on merely what I see. Fights can and probably will be thrown," Deis said. " I want you to test them. I trust your sense," she said. Rik smiled brightly.
" Of course! It'd be a pleasure," he said with a flicker of his tail. Deis smiled.
" Thank you," she replied. Rik grinned broadly.
" Rik, ya best be careful. Don't wantcha killing someone. It's just a contest, after all," Sledge suddenly said, warningly. " Don't get too in to the fight. You might seriously wound or kill an innocent. You'd hafta live with it for the rest of your life,"
" Don't worry, Sledge," Rik said with a grin. " And if it looks like I'm getting too rough, throw something at me," he added, jokingly.
" I will. Indeed I will," Sledge said, his eyes narrowing. Rik stared at him for a minute, a tad confused and surprised. Then he grinned.
" Not TOO hard, me pal. Knock sense in to my head, not knock my head off!" he said, grinning. Sledge merely snorted. Rik sighed. " You're too serious, Sledge. Lighten up!" Rik said. Sledge shrugged his massive shoulders and said nothing. Rik turned to Deis who shrugged and turned to look down at the stadium from her seat. She was at the main hall, with consisted of a rectangular pit with a single strip of a platfrom running horizontal through it. There were two doors on either side, where the fighters would enter. Deis didn't go to the other halls. They were merely there to sort out the amateurs. The main hall, however, was where the real warriors fought. And the real warriors were the ones she was watching. Not the amateurs. Deis sighed.
" Why do I have the feeling I've overlooked something?" she mumbled.
" Oh Mr. Kuromoui!" a female voice called. Kuromoui looked up from the waiting room. He was in the Hall of Fire, awaiting his first match. Shai sat in his lap, kicking his feet. A pretty woman in a skimpy pink bunny suit walked in. " It's time for your match... oh! Where's the rest of your team?" she inquired. Koromoui set Shai down upon the bed and stood up.
" I don't have a team, nor do I need one," Kuromoui replied, his eyes narrowed. The bunny lady blinked.
" Oh, this is highly unusual!" she cried. Kuromoui glowered.
" What business is it of yours?" he snapped. " Get out of the way," he growled as he stormed past her and in to the arena. The arena was made of two platforms being held over a pit of fire, hence it's name. The platforms were being held by two rather large and burly men. Kuromoui figured they must have been shot full of vaccine for fire. Though he hardly cared. He listened as the announcer introduced the next fight, mentioning him and some other fighter. Kuromoui didn't pay attention to his name. Why should he care? He glanced over his opponent. It was a short man with a long brown beard and scraggily hair. He was dressed in a ridiculous outfit containing gold embroidered pink pants and tunic. He had gold colored boots and gold gloves. His gut hung out quite far and Kuromoui, for a moment, felt sorry for the man. But he soon forgot.
" Let's get ready to RUUUUMBLE!" the announcer cried. The man grinned and held his head up high, with pride.
" You're about to lose big time, little kid. Shoulda stayed home with yer mommy," he taunted. Kuromoui merely narrowed his eyes. " You should have left this fight for the big guys. The REAL men. 'Cause there's no momma's skirt to hide behind HERE!" he added. Kuromoui glared. " For you see, I, the great W-AAAACK!" the man didn't get a chance to finish his sentence before Kuromoui leaped at him and shoved his fist right in his face. The man went flying across the arena and through the entrance door, the wood splintering like a brittle twig. The crowd stood there, gaping, at Kuromoui. Kuromoui didn't think it was very spectacular. The guy had annoyed him. He turned, hopped back over to his platform, and dusted himself off. The announcer, in a rather surprised tone, announced Kuromoui as the winner. Kuromoui shrugged and headed for the door he had entered through. Up in the stands, a familiar head peeked over at him. Crys. Crys narrowed her eyes, slightly, then disappeared once again in to the sea of gawking bystanders. Kuromoui was none the wiser.
Sledge stared, surprised, as the young man they had met on the road coming to Arena exited the stage. He blinked and rubbed his eyes.
" That... was... AMAZING," he whispered.
" No, it was pure luck," Rik snorted, his arms crossed. " Anyone could have done that. He caught the man off-guard!"
" True... but what about how he flew across the room and smashed the door?" Sledge inquired.
" Bah. The door was old! I bet if you SNEEZED, it'd have exploded like that," Rik mumbled. Sledge eyed Rik and shook his massive head. " ANYway. He probably won't even make it to the finals," Rik added, looking rather annoyed.
" A thousand zenny says he will," Sledge said, his eyes upon Rik. Rik turned and looked at him with alarm. Then, he grinned.
" Yer on, Sledge," he said with a smirk. " I just hate ta see ya lose yer hard earned money,"
" I know what I am doing," Sledge said, grinning knowingly. Rik snorted,
" He's a dumb kid! He can't be all that strong," Rik growled, more to himself than to Sledge. "... can he?"
" He's here?" Pike asked in a hushed tone. He glanced about the Entrance Hall to the stadium. Crys nodded.
" Yes. He's fighting IN the tournament. He nearly killed his first competitor!" Crys whispered back. Pike whistled.
" Geez.... and no one suspects?" he mumbled. Crys shook her head.
" No one.... or else they'd have killed him right then," Crys replied. Pike leaned against his spear.
" What should we do? Enter the tournament?" Pike asked.
" No.... they're not accepting new entries," Crys mumbled as she rubbed her chin.
" I have it! We'll ambush him during his next fight!" Pike said as he slammed his fist in to his open palm.
" That doesn't sound like something true warriors of Justice would do," Crys said, doubtful.
" Sure they do!" Pike pressed. " Besides, it's a demon!"
" Oh.... well.... in that case.... I suppose it'd be allright...," Crys mumbled as she itched her chin again. " Allright. We'll do it!" she announced, grinning widely. Pike grinned and extended his hand.
" To justice?" Pike asked.
" To justice!" Crys said, grinning widely.
Kuromoui reclined as he awaited the next match in the Hall of Magic. He had no real worries. He hardly ever used magic so he didn't have to adjust his strategy to suit the Hall of Magic. He didn't need magic for the previous battle. He had no doubts he would win the up-coming battle just as easily as he had won the previous one. The so-called warriors apparently had no idea how to fight. Shai yawned and slept peacefully, his head against Kuromoui's thigh. Kuromoui waited as the crowds cheered on those who were fighting within the arena before him. He could hear the sounds of battle. Finally, a scream issued forth and the screeching of the crowds rose to a higher level as the battle ended. Kuromoui itched his chin. He didn't see why the crowds were so eager to watch people getting mauled. Then again, there were weirdos out in the world. The door to his room swung open and out stepped a pretty blonde in a pink bunny suit.
" Oh Mr. Kuromoui!" she giggled. " Your turn," Kuromoui shrugged, gently slid away from Shai, and walked through the door in to the Hall of Magic. The crowds greeted him with much vigor. He didn't know whether they were cheering because they knew of his earlier victory or because his arrival meant more bloodshed. He didn't really care, though, so he did not worry. Kuromoui glanced up to meet the eyes of his opponent. Across the arena was a tall middle aged man with hazel eyes and long gray hair that was tied in a blue pony tail. He bore no facial hair. About his forehead was a metal circlet with a green and blue gem in the middle of it. His clothing was in layers. The basic bottom layer was a blue shirt and pants combination. Over that was a blue-green robe with a large collar and millions of small gold runes etched in to the hems. A belt of two serpents twisting around each other rested about his waist. A pair of white gloves with gold runes upon the hems were on his hands and a pair of brown leather boots were on his feet. A brilliant symbol of a flame on his robe, right below the collar of his robe, finished off the second layer. Finally, a massive blue cloak covered the two layers. It was a basic cloak, minus a hood. The cloak was attached by two gold buttons and a long strand of blue cloth. Upon his shoulders were metal guards with little blue and green gems embedded in them. In his hand was a golden staff with a massive blue-green orb in the middle of it. Kuromoui blinked and stared at his contender. He had never seen anyone so dressed up. He wondered how the man would possibly stand the choking heat from so many layers of clothing. The man, however, seemed unfazed. Kuromoui shrugged. He doubted the man had much agility when he had clothes upon him that weighted more than he did. Kuromoui strolled up and adjusted his sword. He promised himself that he'd at least let this opponent get his weapon out before he creamed him. A chill ran up his spine. He jerked up and looked about. Kuromoui's eyes met the gaze of the man. The man was staring at him, his eyes wide with horror. Kuromoui blinked. Then he felt his blood go cold. Kuromoui forced himself to remain calm. He did not think that such a dressed up peacock would cause him trouble. Besides, the man was obviously a mage and magic was forbidden within the hall. Kuromoui scolded himself for such thoughts and emotions.
"...... YOU," the man hissed, cutting through Kuromoui's thoughts like a dagger. "... Chimonamidamonai!!!!!!" the man yelled. Kuromoui tensed and his hand drifted to his blade. " Koketsu haato!!!" the man added, his voice cold and hating. Kuromoui blinked.
" Who are YOU?" Kuromoui asked.
" I am Mahou. High Mage of the Highlander Clan!" the man cried. Kuromoui blinked and stared at the man. He tilted his head, disbelief upon his face.
"...... adopted?" he inquired. Mahou flushed bright.
" That is none of your business, Koketsu haato!" he screeched. He outstretched his hands and a green orb appeared within his hands.
" Hey hey hey! No magic!" the announcer cried, startled that Mahou had somehow broken the magic seal put upon him by the Hall. " The tournament...,"
" Silence!" Mahou shrieked. " The Tournament means nothing to me. The death of the Koketsu haato, however, means EVERYTHING!!!" A flicker of wind exploded from the orb, causing the mage's robes to flap within the wind. Within seconds, the flicker turned in to a hurricane gale. Kuromoui braced himself as the wind hissed about him. Bricks were torn up from the ground and the walls. People cried out in horror and ran for cover from the hideous winds. From among the crowd, Sledge dug his heels in to the ground and caught Rik before he could be swept away by the wind. Deis fended off the wind with her scepter, a stern expression on her face. Kuromoui watched as Mahou became surrounded by lightning. The stadium was filled with howling winds and flashing lightning. Screams issued from the terrified crowd. Mahou sneered down at Kuromoui, who looked back in stern silence. Mahou tilted his head back and laughed. A mistake. Mahou let out a gasp of pain and surprise as Kuromoui's knee slammed in to his exposed gut. Mahou doubled over, wheezing. The magic died with a whimper. Kuromoui brought his elbows down upon Mahou's back, sending him sprawling to the ground. Mahou wheezed and shivered. He glanced up, painfully. Kuromoui stood over him, his eyes cold and his expression serious. Mahou let out a shout before Kuromoui kicked him, sending him smashing through the door on the other side of the arena. Then, Kuromoui adjusted his gloves and left the stadium. A loud cheer and applause erupted from the crowd as Kuromoui left. Deis, Rik, and Sledge stared in surprise at Kuromoui. Sledge peered over at his white Woren comrade.
" STILL think it was just luck?" Sledge asked. Rik merely snorted. On the other side of the stadium, Crys and Pike stared with horror and surprise.
" Did... did you SEE what he did!?!" Pike hissed, harshly. Crys nodded.
" That... that demon... just... batted him away... that was so against justice!" Crys whispered.
" But Mahou was cheating," Pike said.
" No, he was merely bending things for the path of justice!" Crys replied.
" Oh," Pike said. He itched his head. " We can do that?"
" Of COURSE we can!" Crys said. " We're allies of justice!"
" Ah....What do we do now, then?" Pike asked.
" We do what any other justice loving warrior would do," Crys said.
"... what would any other justice warrior do?" Pike asked.
" I don't know yet," Crys replied.
Kuromoui sighed wearily as he laid back on the bed. Shai toodled over to him and sat on his stomach. Shai tilted his head and blinked. He whispered something.
" Oh, no. I didn't kill anyone. I wasn't hurt either. I just... I dunno. I'm just tired," Kuromoui said. Shai grinned and nodded. Kuromoui smiled. " I'm in the finals, though. So soon we'll be getting the answers we need," he continued. Shai yawned and laid his head down on Kuromoui's chest. Kuromoui blinked, then smiled. " Yeah... a nap does sound like a good idea," he admitted. With a laugh, he closed his eyes. He rested his weary mind and body, though not truly nodding off. Suddenly, the door slammed open. Kuromoui jumped up, his hand quickly drawing his blade. Shai toppled off of Kuromoui and hid behind a pillow. However, battle was not to come. Shai and Kuromoui blinked as Itachi walked in to the room, counting out money from a huge bag of zenny. What shocked Kuromoui worse was what Itachi was WEARING. On his shirt was a green shirt with Kuromoui's likeness on it! Kuromoui blinked. " WHAT is THAT?!" Kuromoui cried, pointing at the shirt. Itachi grinned.
" Merchandise!" Itachi said.
" Merchandise...?" Kuromoui repeated. Itachi nodded and waved a furry paw. Three strong men walked in, carrying racks and racks of items. ALL of which had Kuromoui's likeness. Tunics, mugs, scrolls, toys, bookmarks, even 'limited edition' sunglasses. Shai grinned brightly as he picked up a Kuromoui figure and squeezed it. It squeaked as it kicked out in a rather silly way. " What IS this crap!?" Kuromoui shouted.
" This is not 'crap'!" Itachi declared, defensively. " This is top of the line, quality goods!" Kuromoui fumed.
" THIS is CRAP!" he howled. Shai giggled and put some boxers on his head with little Kuromoui prints on them. Kuromoui snatched the boxers and threw them at Itachi.
" HEY HEY! These things are worth 500,000 zenny!" Itachi cried. Kuromoui gawked.
" WHAT?! WHO would buy THAT THING for THAT price!?" Kuromoui cried. Itachi grinned slyly
" Why, almost EVERYONE at the tournament, that's who," Itachi replied. Kuromoui's jaw dropped. " I've sold over 15,000 of these babies and I have ANOTHER 15,000 on BACKORDER," he grinned. Kuromoui's jaw dropped even farther.
" YOU SOLD UNDERWEAR WITH MY FACE ON IT TO 30,000 PEOPLE!?" he screeched. Itachi laughed.
" Don't be silly! Half of those people are buying extras," Itachi explained. Kuromoui shivered. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and another one of the bikini bunny girls of the arena stepped in. However, Kuromoui's eyes bugged out when he saw her. Or, more precisely, what she was wearing. She wore a white bikini with little Kuromoui prints on them. The girl giggled happily and winked.
" It's time for your final fight, Mr. Kuromoui!" she giggled. She then turned to Itachi. " Oh... sir! I wanted to know if you had any more of these bikinis in red?" she asked. " My friends all want one,"
" Oh of COURSE, my dear," Itachi crooned, grinning. " Just look at my stores!" he added as he waved at the racks. Kuromoui sighed heavily. He was no longer had a feeling that he'd regret meeting Itachi. He KNEW it.
" I'd hate to bother you, Ma'am Deis...," a man in armor whispered. " But there's a muddy little girl who's requesting permission to see you,"
"...? A muddy little girl?" Deis repeated. The man nodded.
" Some urchin, I wager. Shall I take care of her?" he asked, a hint of sinister delight in his voice. Deis narrowed her eyes at the man, who backed up a bit.
" No. Let her come in," Deis ordered. The man seemed disappointed but did as he was told. A few moments later, a dirty girl in muddy pink clothes and soaked blonde hair walked in. She had blue eyes, which at the moment were full of weariness. Deis caught her breath. " Princess Nina!!" she cried as she slithered over to Nina. Nina smiled weakly.
" Deis... oh thank goodness," she whispered.
" How did you get here?" Deis cried. " Please sit down! You look horrible!" she added. Nina nodded her thanks and practically collapsed on a nearby couch. She sighed wearily and brushed back her muddy hair from out of her face.
" I ran here as fast as I could...," Nina replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
" The whole way!?" Deis gasped. Nina nodded wearily.
" Yes...," she whispered. Deis slithered over to her and placed her hand on Nina's head. " I have to tell you...," Nina began. Deis shook her head.
" Sleep," Deis said, casting the spell of slumber upon Nina. Nina felt herself drift in to a comfortable sleep, her words silenced by the numbing spell. Deis glanced down at the slumbering princess and smiled. " We'll talk after you have rested. Nothing could be so serious as to risk your health," she said. She then turned and slithered out the door to allow Nina some privacy.
The big moment had finally arrived. The final round in the tournament. Kuromoui adjusted his armor and sharpened his sword. He was hoping for a good fight. It was the final round and it would be utterly disappointing if the round was as uneventful as the previous ones had been. Kuromoui tightened his gloves upon his hand. Shai watched him with child-like awe from a top a bed. He grinned broadly and clapped his hands together. Kuromoui glanced down at him and smiled. Shai opened his arms in an invitation. Kuromoui blinked.
" Yeah, Shai?" he asked, leaning close. Shai wrapped his arms around Kuromoui's neck and hugged him. Kuromoui laughed. " A good luck hug, huh?" he asked. Shai nodded and grinned. Kuromoui ruffled his hair. " Thanks, Shai," he said with a grin. Just then, the familiar form of the Arena's bunny-suited attendants appeared.
" It's your turn, Mr. Kuromoui!" she said with a grin. Kuromoui was thankful to note that she was not wearing one of Itachi's bikinis. The woman gestured her hand towards the door. Kuromoui nodded, grabbed his sword, and boldly strode through the door toward his next and final opponent in the tournament. Shai rubbed his nose with a tiny hand and blinked. He then grinned widely. He scrambled down from the bed and waddled out the door as well, unnoticed by the woman in the bunny suit, who was at the time trying to watch the tournament through the open door.
" Ladies and gentleman! It's time for... the ULTIMATE match! Who will win this match, thus winning the entire tournament and receiving the right to ask for anything their heart desires?" the announcer howled out. The crowd screamed with glee. The spot lights swirled about. A bright red one flashed and gleamed bright at the far end of the arena. " Introduuuuucing... the man of the hour.... the wonder of the wonders..... the man whom can take any challenge... KUROMOUI!!!!" the announcer cried. Kuromoui stepped out of the door in to the red spotlight. He tensed as the arena filled with cheers and screams of delight. He narrowed his eyes. The spotlights began circling again. A bright blue one flashed before the other door. " And his challenger... the winner of the wild.... the fighter of the furry.... the warrior of the Woren... RIK!!!" the announcer screamed. The crowd howled out as a white tiger dressed in a blue vest strolled in to the light. Kuromoui's eyes widened with recognition. It was the tiger from Wyndia! He narrowed his eyes again and smirked. This fight would prove to be the one he had hoped for. Rik sneered from his side of the arena. He flicked his tail and stretched, hands twirling his staff. He leaned on it and grinned at Kuromoui.
" So we meet again, punk," Rik said. Kuromoui snorted.
" And for the last time, kitty," he growled. Rik snapped his jaws together, his fangs glistening in the blue light.
" Are the opponents ready?" The announcer asked. Rik and Kuromoui nodded, eyes trained upon the other. " Then.... GO!!!!" the announcer howled. Rik uttered a wild cat snarl and leaped at Kuromoui. Kuromoui rolled out of the way, his hand drawing his sword with a hiss. Rik snarled again and swung his staff at Kuromoui, who blocked with his glittering sword. Rik jumped back and held his staff out to parry any of Kuromoui's attacks while he pondered his next move. Kuromoui dashed forward, maneuvering his sword under the staff and slicing Rik's side before the Woren could do anything about it. Rik screeched with animalistic rage and bit in to Kuromoui's shoulder. The fangs pierced and sunk deep in to flesh. Kuromoui grunted in pain and slammed his fist in to the Woren's stomach, forcing him to release his hold. Kuromoui then slammed the blunt side of his sword against Rik's face, causing him to stumble back in pain. Rik hissed and crouched, tail twitching, as he clutched his staff.
" Tiger.... EYE.... SLAAAASSSSHHHH!!!" Rik screeched. Kuromoui's eyes opened wide just as Rik's form blurred. Kuromoui felt the full force of the attack, a tiger slash running down his chest. An energy form of a tiger's eye appeared, multiplying the pain, before it disappeared. Rik reappeared in his original position. Kuromoui hissed out in pain and clutched his bloodied chest.
" You'll pay for that....," Kuromoui hissed.
" Looks like we don't have to do anything... that Rik fellow is handling the demon pretty well!" Pike exclaimed. Crys nodded, itching her chin. She and Pike reclined high on the rafters of the Arena.
" Yeah... looks like it," she said.
" Don't underestimate the Koketsu haato," a voice interrupted them. Pike and Crys whirled, eyes opened wide in confusion. Hovering behind them, scowling, was Mahou. Crys and Pike blinked, confused.
" How did you get up...?" Crys began. Mahou raised his hand, silencing her.
" That matters not. What does matter is killing the Koketsu haato," Mahou said. Crys and Pike stared at each other. v " Whatever floats your boat, mister," Pike said, shrugging.
" HOW do you propose we kill him?" Crys asked. Mahou's eyes scoured the room. " I mean... he won't let us close to him at all!" Crys added. She blinked. " Mahou...? Mahou, are you listening?" she asked as she turned to look at Mahou. Mahou was staring at something far below them. A tiny child with fluffy blue hair was scampering among the crowd. Crys peered downward. It was the kid that hung around with Kuromoui. Little Shai. Everyone knew he hung out with Kuromoui. Anyone who so much as got near the kid found Kuromoui at their throats. Crys blinked and looked up at Mahou, who had a horrible sneer on his face.
" Leave EVERYTHING... to... ME....," he hissed.
" Oh, am I really?" Rik sneered as he twirled his staff. " HOW so?" he sneered. Kuromoui's face darkened as he dropped his sword. It clattered on the ground, the sound echoing. Rik raised an eyebrow. Kuromoui smirked.
" I didn't think it'd have to come to this...," he whispered. His eyes flared red, as did his tattoo. " But you will DIE HERE," he roared. An aura of red flared up around him. Rik's eyes opened wide. The aura danced about Kuromoui's form, as if mocking him. Then, a blast of fire jutted upwards, slamming against the ceiling. Rik cried out and shielding his eyes. He blinked in horror as Kuromoui disappeared within the torrent of flame. A hideous roar issued forth from the fire. From within the fire leap a huge dragon. It's scales were a glimmering red, the scales of it's underbelly and under it's neck and tail were a glowing orange. About it's eyes were orange scales and it's neck ridges were orange as well. The delicate membrane between the wings was also orange. It's eyes were red and a single large white horn was nestled between it's snout, curving upwards. Rik stared in startled horror as the dragon took wing, hovering over him. The power that radiated from the dragon knocked all of the mages and priests backwards and some even fell unconscious. The dragon screeched and craned it's long neck to look down at Rik. It uttered an enraged cry and swooped down at the Woren, its jaws prepared to render Rik in to a thousand pieces. Rik pounced out of the way and the dragon swooped back upwards. Rik clutched his staff, keeping his eyes focused upon the dragon. The dragon screeched out and spit a blast of fire down at Rik. Rik hopped out of the way just as the fire smashed against the ground and scattered like napalm. Rik glared up at the dragon, then glanced over at Deis' balcony. What was he supposed to do?
Deis was dumbfounded. She had nearly leaped up from her seat the moment Kuromoui changed in to a dragon. Behind her, Nina and Sledge gasped in surprise and horror. Nina had awaken a bit earlier and had gotten cleaned up. She had changed from her dirty pink tunic in to a lovely white tunic with pink trim. Her boots matched the tunic perfectly. Nina's blonde hair took a golden hue when clean and her eyes sparkled blue. Sledge and Nina stared at each other, then back at the dragon. Deis grasped her staff, eyes open wide. The dragon's furious roar shook the foundation of the building.
" We've got to help Rik!" Nina gasped. Sledge nodded. Deis shook her head.
" We cannot. They will not allow us within ten feet of the battle arena," Deis whispered, sounding distant. Nina's face twisted with anger.
" We can't just LET that creature hurt Rik!!" she cried. " I'M going to do something about this, tournament or NOT!" she barked. She whirled and stormed out of the room. Sledge watched her go, then turned to Deis.
" Deis... is he...?" Sledge began. Deis shook her head.
" No... no, he's not who we want," she whispered. " He's our worst nightmare,"
Shai stared in awe as the dragon swooped down at the white tiger, barely missing. Shai clapped his hands and grinned. That was Kuromoui! He was positive of it. Shai blinked and itched his chin. He hoped Kuromoui wouldn't kill the kitty. They hardly knew each other. It would be wrong to kill him. And besides, the kitty was a nice and fluffy kitty. He liked fluffy kitties. Shai grinned and stood up. He approached the railing and waved to Kuromoui as he flew by. Kuromoui did not see him. Shai blinked then shrugged. He must have been too small for such a big dragon to see. Shai crossed his arms, then smiled and nodded. He'd get up on the railing so Kuromoui could see him! Shai turned and slammed in to someone's knees. Shai glanced up, confused. Glaring down, sinisterly, at him was a mage. It was that mean man who tried to hurt Kuromoui! Mahou. Behind him stood Crys and Pike. Shai's eyes opened wide as the trio sneered down at him. Shai's mouth opened in a silent squeal. He turned and ran as fast as his wee legs could carry him. It wasn't fast or far enough. Mahou easily over-took him in three steps and grabbed Shai by the collar. Shai uttered a silent yelp as Mahou hefted him up off the ground. Shai's legs kicked uselessly as the cloth grew tight about his neck, choking him.
" Where do you think YOU'RE going, brat?" Mahou hissed. Shai let out a silent cry as Mahou jerked him roughly. " You are MINE...,"
Deep within the dragon's mind, Kuromoui stirred. Something was wrong. He didn't know what, he didn't know why. He just knew that something was wrong. The dragon uttered a growl, dismissing the feeling, and dived at Rik again. Rik scampered out of the way. The dragon whirled and lashed out with it's claws, catching Rik in the leg. Rik let out a startled hiss as the claws slashed his leg, causing the blood to flow and stain his white fur. Rik retaliated with a slash, causing the dragon to reel back as it's blood flashed over it's eyes. The dragon tossed it's head, then hissed angrily and leaped at Rik. Rik cried out as the force of the dragon came upon him, pinning him to the cold stone. The dragon veered down, its jaws ready to bite the Woren's head off. Rik closed his eyes, preparing for the end. But it didn't come. Surprised, Rik opened his eyes. The crowd was deathly silent. The dragon uttered a strangled growl, it's eyes upon the railing above the battle arena. Rik glanced up and blinked. It was Mahou and two others he couldn't identify. In Mahou's hand was a small child with wild blue hair and wearing a long cloak that covered most of his tiny body. Rik's eyes opened wide. The child. The child sobbed silently, struggling against Mahou's hold. The dragon uttered an enraged growl. SHAI!!!
" Do you care for the boy, demon? What would you do if I sliced his throat right here?" Mahou sneered. He pulled out a dagger and pressed it against the child's neck. The dragon uttered an angered snarl, spreading it's wings dangerously. Mahou laughed. " If I killed the child, would that hurt you?" Mahou snarled. The dragon snapped it's jaws together.
" Mahou... we didn't come to hurt a kid...," the woman with him whispered.
" Crys is right....," the man whispered. Crys nodded.
" Pike and I are warriors of justice...," Crys began. Mahou glared at her so darkly that she instantly stopped. Mahou snickered and gently sliced the surface of Shai's skin, causing the child to scream in silent pain. Blood trickled down. The dragon reared on to it's hind legs and uttered a shriek of rage. Rik scampered back from the furious dragon, his eyes upon Mahou.
" You dislike that, demon? Well.. DISLIKE THIS!" Mahou roared as he posed his dagger, preparing to shove it through the child.
" NO YOU DON'T!" a girl in white and pink screamed as she leaped from behind Mahou, a board raised high. Mahou whirled, startled, as the girl slammed the board down upon Mahou's head. Shai went tumbling down to the arena, his eyes open wide. Just before he could smash against the pavement, the dragon caught him and swooped upwards. Shai sobbed and flung his arms around the dragon's neck as best he could. The dragon held him tight, then landed upon the ground of the arena and placed Shai down. Then, the dragon screeched and took to the air. Mahou slashed the girl with his dagger, slicing her arm. The girl cried out in pain.
" FROST!" she cried, hurling the small wave of ice at Mahou. Mahou easily blocked the magic and snarled.
" Stupid girl.. you will DIE for this!" he bellowed as he leaped for the girl, dagger posed to slice in to her heart. A horrible roar issued from behind him. Mahou's eyes opened wide with terror and pain as a claw slice through his stomach. The dragon grabbed Mahou and tossed him aside like a doll. Mahou tumbled and slammed against a wall, bloodied and clutching his stomach. Pike and Crys leaped forward at the dragon, their weapons glittering. The dragon roared and slammed them with his tail, sending them sprawling. The dragon glared at the girl, who stared up at him. The dragon whirled and leaped in to the air, roaring loudly.
" THUNDER CLAP!!!!" Mahou shrieked. The dragon did not have time to dodge before a blast of lightening sliced through the membrane of his right wing. The dragon uttered a pained cry and went tumbling, unable to maintain flight. The dragon crashed in to the wall and collapsed to the floor. The dragon uttered a low groan, his eyes going heavy. He felt tiny hands touch him. The dragon opened his eyes to see Shai cradling his huge snout in his tiny arms. Shai kissed his horn and laid his head down on his nose. The dragon let out an unsteady purr. The dragon smiled as best as he could. Then..... Blackness.
Kuromoui gasped for breath as he ran through the choking darkness, desperately trying to find a haven from what lurked about him. He wore his plain black tunic and pants but his armor was gone. He could feel his bare feet touch cold ground, yet he couldn't see it. He felt sharp rocks slice him, but he couldn't see them. He felt the wind blow his hair back, exposing his tattoo to it's fullest. He panted and glanced about wildly. Where could he go? A flash of light appeared before him. He stumbled to a stop and stared in surprise. Before him hovered Shai. Shai grinned lovingly at him. Kuromoui blinked, then smiled with relief. Shai stepped towards him, his arms outstretched as if to hug Kuromoui. Kuromoui reached out to the child. Suddenly, Shai was snatched from Kuromoui's grasp by a hideous looking creature. Kuromoui gasped in horror as he stared in to the eyes and bloodied maw of the creature he sought. The Guardian. He could see the cruel brown eyes laugh at him and the gray hide drip with blood. The tunic was covered in scratches and blood. Shai struggled against the beast, terrified. Kuromoui leaped at the beast, his horror turning to rage. The beast leaped back and Kuromoui found that he could not move his legs. The beast snickered and began disappearing in to the darkness, dragging Shai with him.
" SHAI!!!" Kuromoui wailed, desperately, as he struggled to move. Shai reached out to him, frantically, but the beast yanked him in to the void. " SHAIHIKARI!!!" he shrieked.
As if slapped across the face, Kuromoui sat up with a jerk. He glanced around wildly. He was in a bare bedroom. Light poured in through the flaps, glittering off the white and red fabric walls. The floor was dirt. He was laying on a mat of straw and green fabric. Kuromoui glanced down at himself to see that he was wearing only his tunic and pants. His armor was in the far corner, along with his sword. The room was otherwise bare. He glanced at himself. He was slightly bandaged. He shifted slightly, feeling soreness but no serious pain. He sighed with relief. He stood up and felt the warm sand touch his feet. He quickly dressed and walked out of the tent. The first thing he saw was his faithful horse, Thunderclap. Thunderclap nuzzled his cheek. Kuromoui smiled and patted Thunderclap on the nose. He glanced about, looking for Shai. He found him by the main gate to Arena. He was holding on to a pole for dear life. Kuromoui's eyes opened wide. A massive armadillo creature was trying to drag Shai out of Arena! With the armadillo was that tiger from the battle before, a young girl in a pink tunic, and a lady that was half snake. Kuromoui growled.
" Now young sir... let go...," Sledge said as he tried to pry Shai off of the pole. Shai shook his head vigorously. Sledge sighed.
" You listen to me! You're coming with us, whether you like it or not!" Rik barked. Nina glanced at him.
" Rik, that's no way to get a child to come with you," Nina scolded. Deis tapped her staff, irritated. They had tried reasoning with the child, scolding the child, threatening the child, and even force. But the child refused to come with them willingly. She closed her eyes. She pondered putting the child to sleep. Suddenly, Sledge let out a shriek of pain. Deis opened her eyes with a snap as Rik growled and Nina gasped in horror. Sledge was backing away from the child, gulping, as a sword point was held millimeters away from his throat. Holding the sword was none other than Kuromoui. Kuromoui let out a low growl as Shai latched on to his leg.
" Leave him alone," Kuromoui commanded, his voice dangerously low. Sledge backed away and touched his throat to make sure it wasn't cut. However, his arm was worse off. A long slash slipped down his arm, bleeding heavily. Rik crouched, growling, while Nina ran to Sledge's side. She gently touched his arm and a white light engulfed it, healing the would. Deis slithered forward.
" You do not understand," Deis commented. Kuromoui sneered.
" Correction. I don't CARE," he spat. " I said leave him alone and that's exactly what you are going to do," he snarled.
" Who are YOU to tell us to do anything?!!" Rik roared.
" Like it's any of YOUR business," Kuromoui growled. " He's under MY care and I'm taking care of him. And I'll take care of YOU if you don't turn around and walk away," Kuromoui added. Shai peeked his head out from behind Kuromoui's leg and stuck his tongue out at Rik. Deis grimaced, her face hardened.
" You have no business taking care of him," Deis said, calmly. Kuromoui narrowed his eyes.
" And you have no business telling me what I can and cannot do, serpent witch," he scoffed. " Go slither back to your rock," he snorted.
" You can't talk to her that way!" Nina exclaimed.
" I can talk to her any way I WANT TO, you flat chest little freak," Kuromoui snapped. Nina blushed brightly. She glanced down, unconsciously. So what if she was a little underdeveloped for her age? She crossed her arms over her chest and stepped back, looking very unhappy. Deis scowled.
" I am Deis," she announced. " And I have every right to take that child. Especially from YOU,"
" Go ahead and take him then....," Kuromoui hissed as his blade glimmered. " You'll be dead before you even realize it," Deis blinked. She had expected a different reaction.
" You don't understand.... you see.... we must train that child to become the next Ryu," Deis said. Kuromoui snorted.
" I don't care," he snarled. " You are NOT, I repeat, NOT taking Shai away!" he said. " AND THAT is THAT!" Deis narrowed her eyes. She saw no other options. She must put Kuromoui to sleep. She raised her hand and began chanting. Kuromoui felt himself growing dizzy. He reared back and growled. He knew what she was doing and he wasn't going to allow it. Kuromoui grabbed Shai and ran for all he was worth. Deis stopped her chanting and gasped.
" COME BACK!" she demanded. Kuromoui refused to stop. He ran blindly through the streets, his eyes hazed. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the sleep spell. He skidded to a stop behind the tent to the bar.
" HALT!" a female voice cried. Kuromoui sighed heavily.
" Oh great Ladon. Not THEM again," he groaned. Crys, Pike, and Mahou appeared, standing on the stone wall, pinning him between the tent and the wall.
" SURRENDER, demon!" Crys commanded. Kuromoui glared up at her.
" Don't you know when to GIVE UP!?" he demanded.
" No. Warriors of justice do not give up!" Crys announced.
" Then how about die?" Kuromoui growled. " CHISUJIO HIDAMA!" he roared. His eyes flared blood red. His bandages became soaked in blood. With a shriek, a flaming ball, much like a fireball, soared at the trio. Crys shrieked as they leaped away. by the time they scrambled to their feet, Kuromoui was running for the gate. Kuromoui let out a piercing whistle. Thunderclap tore down the path towards Kuromoui and Shai. He skidded to a stop and allowed Kuromoui and Shai to jump on his back. Then Kuromoui kicked Thunderclap in to action. Thunderclap leaped out of the gate and down the road to destinations unknown. Crys leaped to her feet and scowled.
" AFTER him!!!" she barked.
" How?" Pike asked. " We don't have any horses or Rakdas...,"
" I can help you with THAT, young sir," a voice said. The trio turned to be face to face with a weasel salesman. " I... am Itachi," he said, grinning. " I sell Rakdas and horses,"
" Great! We'll take your most sure-footed horse!!" Crys exclaimed. Itachi grinned and waved his hand towards his stock at a fine looking brown horse. He looked at Crys, blinking. " He's perfect! Here!" she said, tossing him her entire bag of zenny. She climbed on the horse, helping Pike and Mahou up, then kicked the horse in to action. The horse burst out running, out of the gates of Arena. About half a mile down the road, the horse suddenly keeled over. Crys and Pike went flying in to the brush, landing roughly. Mahou flew upwards and landed in a tree, his robes getting tangled in the branches. Crys stumbled forward and poked the horse, which remained perfectly still.
" HOLY!!! The horse is DEAD!!!!" Pike cried out, rubbing his head and staring in horror.
" N-No, it's just sleeping!" Crys stuttered.
" It's not BREATHING, Crys!"
" SO? Lots of creatures stop breathing when they sleep!" Crys cried.
" NO THEY DON'T! Animals only stop breathing when they DIE!!" Pike cried. " LOOK!" he added, kicking the horse in the side.
" DON'T wake up the horse! He must be exhausted to fall asleep while running!" Crys yelled, kicking Pike's shin.
" IT'S NOT ASLEEP! IT'S DEAD!!" Pike assured her.
" IS NOT!!!!"
" IS TOO!"
" IS NOT!!"
" Will you two shut up and get me down?" Mahou asked from the tree. Elsewhere, Itachi was quickly packing his bags and his wares. After he hitched his sneaky looking gray mare to his decorated cart, he hopped on and snuck out of town. He snickered and counted the money from Crys's pouch.
" That'll learn them for trying to harm MY star attraction," he snickered, delighted. He put the bag in his cash chest." Plus, I earned some extra cash,"
Kuromoui rode Thunderclap as fast as he dared on the muddy road. It was raining viciously in Wyndia, which was a surprise for everywhere else there was sunshine. Shai snuggled against Kuromoui, hidden under his cloak so as to not be touched by the drenching rain. Kuromoui glanced back, occasionally, for in case he was being followed. He was surprised that Crys and Deis had given up so soon. He shrugged and headed towards Wyndia. He planned on getting an Inn there to wait out the rain. As he arrived, he blinked in confusion. Wyndia was totally flooded. It looked as though it had been raining for days. Thunderclap snorted and shook his soaked mane, splattering water on the already soaked Kuromoui.
"... Thanks a lot, Thunderclap," Kuromoui grumbled. He snapped the reins and headed towards the gate to Wyndia. He blinked as he noticed two different guards at the gates. They wore entirely different uniforms. Instead of the Wyndia colors, they wore a rather creepy black armor with red marks on them, like blood dripping from an open wound. Kuromoui brought Thunderclap to a stop at the gates.
" Well well... look who's here," a voice whispered from in the blanket of rain. Kuromoui looked around, blinking. Out stepped two familiar unicorns. Shimmer and Savage. Kuromoui tighten his hold on the reins as Thunderclap reared back, neighing angrily.
" We've...,"
" Been...,"
" Waiting...,"
" KUROMOUI!!!!" the two roared as they raised their hands. Suddenly, Kuromoui, Thunderclap and Shai were engulfed in a bright flash of red light. The light engulfed them, blocking all vision. Kuromoui cried out in surprise. He grabbed Shai's hand from under his cloak, feeling Shai grasp him fearfully. Then, everything went dark.
A low hiss... the sounds of slithering... a snake?
Kuromoui glanced about, finding himself in a void. He could feel nothing, see nothing. It was like he was floating.
A deep chuckle issued deep from the farthest corner of the void. The sound itself seemed to be alive, snaking about Kuromoui and causing his skin to crawl.
" Who's there?" Kuromoui shouted, his eyes glancing around. " Where am I?"
What is it you seek? " What...?" Kuromoui asked, startled.
What is it you seek?
" What I seek?" Kuromoui repeated. "... I seek the one who killed Shai's parents. I seek the Guardian,"
Surely you seek more than that?
" What's that supposed to mean!?" Kuromoui demanded.
There must be more to your journey than that. Else, the journey is nothing,
" Who are you!?!" Kuromoui growled.
I am he who one seeks, but is never found. Only encountered,
".... that makes no sense!" Kuromoui barked.
Indeed...?
A low slithering issued forth. Kuromoui glanced around and caught a glimmer of a rainbow. A feather touched his cheek. Kuromoui whirled.
" WHO'S THERE!!!" Kuromoui cried.
A glimmer of a black tail, containing a purple gleam, appeared. It flashed, briefly, then disappeared. Another glitter of a rainbow appeared. Upon closer look, Kuromoui could see that the rainbow was, in fact, rainbow colored wings. The wings disappeared in to the darkness as two red and gold eyes appeared, glittering.
I am he who one seeks, but is never found. Only encountered,
" WHAT does that mean!?" Kuromoui asked.
Nothing... yet everything,
" DAMN YOU!! TELL ME!!!" Kuromoui shrieked. Suddenly, a massive shock ran through him. Kuromoui gasped and squirmed as he felt the air being sucked away from him. He gasped and clawed at his throat.
Now now... where would be the fun in that.....
Kuromoui felt a gentle drip of water upon his face. He groaned and opened his eyes, at first met by darkness. The darkness then gave way and Kuromoui saw wet walls of stone. Kuromoui sat up and blinked. He was in a prison cell. The stones were dripping water and there was atleast a foot of water on the floor. Shai snuggled against him, fast asleep. The cot was the only thing dry in the room, being elevated above the water. Kuromoui sighed and rubbed his forehead.
" Where are we...?" he whispered. He glanced about again, his eyes focusing intently on the cell door. Outside, he could see water covering the stony floors. Kuromoui raised an eyebrow, questioningly. " Why is there so much water...?" he asked, mumbling.
" Because the rain hasn't stopped in days. Even for a second," a voice snaked through the bars. A familiar face appeared. The face of Savage. Kuromoui's face hardened as he stiffened.
" You," he growled. " What do YOU want,"
" So see if you were allright," Savage said, calmly and slyly, his eyes sparkling.
" And if I was?" Kuromoui asked, harshly, as he rest the palm of his hand on Shai's shoulder to calm him, who was twitching in a nightmare frenzy.
" Hungry?" Savage asked, avoiding the question. Kuromoui narrowed his eyes.
" I am not going to eat ANY of your POISON!" he snarled. " And neither is Shai," he added. Savage grinned viciously.
" You don't have a choice, I'm afraid," Savage said. " His Royal Highness, Emperor of Wyndia, requests your presence at his feast,"
"... EMPEROR? Since when did Wyndia have an Emperor?" Kuromoui asked, narrowing his eyes. Savage smiled, attempting to feign innocence. He failed miserably. He shrugged and waved down the hall. Five guards, dressed in the same uniform that the guards by the gate had worn, stepped up to Savage.
" Take our guests to prepare for dinner! We can't have such muddy visitors in the presence of the Emperor of Wyndia!" Savage said, cheerfully. Kuromoui leaped up, waking Shai. Shai jerked awake and looked around, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He took one look at the guards and grabbed Kuromoui's shirt, tightly. Kuromoui uttered a deep throated growl while the guards closed in.
Candle light glittered off the glass of red wine as it was twirled about in someone's hand. Rain pitter patted against the elegant window glass. Aside from the sound of rain, everything was quiet. Kagerufaia smirked smugly, watching his reflection in the glittering glass. He leaned back and brushed back his long blonde hair.
" How does it feel to have everything you ever wanted?" he crooned, to himself. He laughed heartily. " The kingdom... this key...," he said as he held up the shining key about his neck with his spare hand. "... and that demon and his little brat," he added with a harsh laugh. He leaned back even more and glanced at the wine again. " Damn good, that's for sure," he snickered. The sound of footsteps broke the eerie silence. Kagerufaia looked up, sharply, as Savage walked in, quietly.
" M'lord?" Savage asked, bowing deeply.
" What is it, Savage," Kagerufaia snorted.
" The demon and the child were taken to the guest room to prepare for their audience with you," Savage said, still bowed. " Shall I bring them in as soon as you are ready or shall I wait until the feast begins?"
" The feast," Kagerufaia, replied, offhandedly. " I want to share my victory with everyone," he added with a sly grin.
" How are you so sure that THEY will arrive, M'lord?" Savage asked, looking up slightly. Kagerufaia cast him a disgusted look.
" You cannot be that dense," he hissed. " Idiot. Nina arrived at Arena. No doubt she talked with that old witch Deis and they're on their way to 'liberate' Wyndia," he snorted. Savage looked up slightly. " Even your small mind can comprehend THAT," Kagerufaia added with a sneer. Savage gulped and nodded.
" Hai, sir...," he whispered. " Do.. you want us to go and... hurry.. their arrival?" he asked. Kagerufaia tossed back his long blonde hair and uttered a snort.
" Only if preparations are ready for their arrival," he said. " I want no foul ups. If even so much as ONE of Nina's little heroes escape....," he hissed and leaned closer to Savage. "... then the guards will be having horse meat for dinner," he finished, his eyes narrowed. Savage's eyes opened wide as he paled.
" H-hai, sir!!!" Savage yelped. Kagerufaia leaned back and scowled, calculatingly. Savage shifted weight, uncomfortably.
" Get out of my sight," Kagerufaia commanded, quietly. Savage nearly tripped as he scrambled out of the room. Kagerufaia listened as Savage slammed the door shut. He smirked deeply and turned around to look out the window in to the pouring rain. As he watched the rain, his smile deepened dramatically until, finally, he burst out laughing. The candles within the room flickered, then stood tall, as Kagerufaia laughed.
" Damn it.. we lost them," Rik snarled as he glanced over the bridge leading to Wyndia. Water pitter patted down upon him, causing his sleek white fur to glisten silver. " I knew we should have hurried. We could have made it to the crossroads before they did,"
" Rik, no matter how confident you are, it is ridiculous for you to think that you could have outran a horse," Sledge sighed, wiping water away from his thick skin. The water trickled down his sleek hide, giving him the appearance that his skin had been freshly oiled. Rik mumbled something incoherent, then went silent. They glanced at the crossroads, which were extraordinarily muddy. The ditches were flooding badly and the river was near it's limit. The trees drooped under the weight of the rain, as if they were about to break. The grass was drowning in puddles of water, which only grew larger. A gentle padding of boots caught their attention. Rik turned around, his drooping ears pricked up, while Sledge glanced over his shoulder. Nina approached them, her blonde hair glistening gold in the pouring rain. Her clothing was soaked, just like the others' were. She looked up, her eyes shining.
" Something's wrong...," she whispered. " Wyndia's never gotten this much rain in just a couple days,"
" Do you know of anyone with reason to do this?" Deis asked as she slithered up. Her tail lashed, slightly, as it glistened oily.
" I'm... not sure," Nina admitted. " I'd suspect that... .. brother... of mine," she said, tilting her head. " But he doesn't have this kind of power. He dropped out of magic school,"
" SOMEONE'S doing it," Rik snorted, irritably. Nina glared at him.
" I know someone's doing it! I'm not denying that!" Nina snapped. " I just don't know of anyone strong enough to do this!" Rik looked flustered, then turned up his nose.
" You SHOULD. It's YOUR country, PRINCESS," he snorted. Nina narrowed her eyes.
" Oh, go snort some catnip," Nina barked. Rik glared at Nina, who returned the favor. Rik bristled.
" Go stuff your shirt, you no chest-," Rik began. Nina let out a shriek of rage and leaped at Rik. Rik squealed as he fell backwards and at the mercy of Nina. Seconds after he fell, Rik felt a sharp blow to his head as Nina pulled out her staff and slammed Rik on the head with it.
" RIK NO HENTAI!!!!!" Nina roared, her eyes wild with anger. Rik gurgled as his eyes rolled in to the back of his head, little winged angels floating around his head. Deis and Sledge looked at each other.
" What a crew," Sledge mumbled.
"... We've got a loooong journey ahead of us," Deis sighed.
Kuromoui scowled, deeply, as he walked down the fancy red carpeted hall, little Shai holding his hand and skipping. Kuromoui's eyes flashed as he glared at the guards who encircled them. The guards never came too close, fear evident on their eyes. Kuromoui allowed a smug grin to cross his face. The smile alone frightened the guards, who stepped back. Kuromoui snorted and dismissed them, having no desire to bother with such losers. He and Shai were being 'escorted' on a tour while they waited for some 'honored guests' to arrive. They hadn't yet, so Kuromoui had a feeling that there was plenty of time to spare. He glanced at the tapestries and paintings as he went. The paintings were highly interesting. Most were portraits of the family of Wyndia. Kuromoui stopped, shortly during his walk, and peered closely at one of the pictures. It was of a puffy haired blonde girl. It looked oddly like that girl he had seen at the Arena. Even the hair style. However, this girl had huge snowy white wings. Kuromoui's eyebrow raised. He heard the guards scuffle, uncomfortable. They wanted him to continue moving but didn't dare voice such a command. Kuromoui's grin widened. He felt Shai tug on his hand. Kuromoui glanced down at the child, who motioned to be picked up.
" You want to see better, Shai?" Kuromoui asked. Shai nodded, cutely. Kuromoui kneeled down and picked up the small child. Shai wrapped his arms around Kuromoui's neck and glanced at the painting with wide, curious eyes. Shai tugged on Kuromoui's ear and whispered in to it. " No, I don't know who she is... but she DOES look like that girl at the arena, doesn't she?" Kuromoui mumbled. Shai nodded.
" That's Princess Nina Winlan, this kingdom's most legendary figure," a 'know-it-all' voice relied, interrupting Kuromoui's thoughts. Kuromoui turned around to see a rather odd creature. Standing, straight and tall, was a 'rabbit' like creature. She looked mostly humanoid except for a rabbit nose, red eyes, and long rabbit like pink ears. The ears were long and frilled at the end, with the tips a deep purple. Her hair was long, so long it came to her ankles, and was incredibly orange. Though, streaks of gray were visible. She wore glasses, a blue and white scholar's robe and scholar's hat, as well as something that oddly resembled a bazooka strapped to her back. Kuromoui raised his eyebrows.
" WHO are you...?" he asked, angrily.
" Oh, hm? Whuh? Ohhh... I am Professor Momo, the director of the Board of Education of History, Language Arts, Arcane Arts, Supernatural Arts, Normal Arts, Literature, Chemistry, Economics, Mechanics, Sociology, Biology, Geology, Chysmology, Oceanology, Psychology, and Photography," she replied, adjusting her glances. " Which shortens down to the Director of BOE," she added. Kuromoui stared at her in surprise.
" That's a LONG title," he said, blinking.
" Hm? Oh, yeah. I suppose so. So, you can just call me Momo," she replied. She tossed a long orange and gray braid over her shoulder. " Anyway, that painting is a duplicate of a portrait of Princess Nina Winlan, who was of the royal blood over thousands of years ago, back when Wyndia was called Winlan," she said. " Back then, Wyndians had wings and could transform in to the form of a majestic bird. They've lost it over the years, however," she said as she rubbed her nose. Kuromoui raised an eyebrow.
"... whatever," he rumbled.
" It's all really quite interesting," Momo continued.
" Yah. Sure," Kuromoui snorted. " Look, I don't want a history lesson,"
" You NEED one. Did you know that the history test scores were insanely low this year? This entire continent's history knowledge is horrible!" Momo said as she waved her hand. Kuromoui rolled his eyes.
" Oh buzz off," he rumbled. Momo apparently didn't hear him.
" I tried to talk to the King of Wyndia to try and improve studies but then that spoiled brat of his took over. There is NO talking to HIM," Momo said, disdainfully, as she rubbed her nose. A scuffle came from the guards, who were uncomfortable with what Momo had said. Kuromoui raised an eyebrow.
" Don't you care, in the least, as to whether or not that 'brat' hears what ya say?" he asked, surprised. He was quite surprised to find someone who watched their words even less cautiously than himself.
" Oh, what of it?" Momo asked, absently. " Not even that hot heated brat would tangle with me. I am, after all, heroine of the world!" she said. Kuromoui blinked, slowly. " I can sense your doubt," Momo said as she took her glasses and cleaned them with a white handkerchief. " I and my departed comrades singlehandedly defeated the Goddess Myria. I have no fear of that child when I can take on a goddess," she said, with a smile. " So, I come and go as I please," she added as she placed her glasses back on and put the handkerchief in her pocket. Kuromoui stared in surprise. Myria? He knew the name, but couldn't place the face. Yet, deep inside, he felt a sudden hatred arise.
" Myria?" he whispered, quietly. " Tell me of Myria,"
" I'm not surprised that you do not know of Myria," Momo replied, shaking her head. " Myria is the goddess of the Guardians, these big old lizard organisms who hunted down the dragon race to near extinction," she said. Kuromoui's eyes lit up.
" The Satsujinsha?! And MYRIA is the goddess of them!?" he bellowed. Shai stared at Kuromoui in surprise, then ducked behind his leg. Momo looked at Kuromoui, her eyebrow raised.
" Satsujinsha? Why, that's of the Dragon Race language for 'Murderer'," Momo commented, surprised. " How do you know of the Dragon Race language?"
" How do YOU know it?" Kuromoui replied, heatedly.
" I studied ancient books found from the city Dragnier," Momo replied. " What's your excuse?"
"... I stayed at the city of Dragnier for most of my life thus far," Kuromoui replied, crossing his arms. Shai glanced up at Momo, who's eyes opened wide in surprise.
".... Interesting...," she rumbled. She tilted her head and crossed her arms. " Explain this 'Satsujinsha' term, would you? Why do you call them that?" she asked. Kuromoui snorted.
" I call them Satsujinsha because they ARE Satsujinsha. THE Satsujinsha," Kuromoui snorted. " They slaughtered most of the dragon race, you said so yourself. Even babies," he snorted. " They are Satsujinsha! Jealous of dragon beauty, dragon grace, and dragon strength. Which the dragons themselves didn't appreciate," Kuromoui snorted. Shai glanced up at Kuromoui, then snuggled his head against Kuromoui's leg.
" Is this name wide known or just used by yourself?" Momo asked. Kuromoui noticed that she was taking notes upon a notepad that appeared almost out of nowhere. Kuromoui raised an eyebrow, then snorted.
" It's widely known. But not used," he said. " The Light Dragons-," Kuromoui began. He opened his eyes, slightly, then scowled and crossed his arms. " It's widely known but not used," he repeated. Momo looked up at him.
" The Light Dragons...?" she asked, as if asking him to continue.
" It's widely known but not used," Kuromoui replied, tartly. He glared at Momo, then turned his back to her. Momo raised an eyebrow then put her notepad away.
" I see," she said. She tilted her head and smiled. " I'll look forward to seeing you again, so that we may speak more of this," she said. She glanced at the guards. " I suppose you must be going so I'll let you," she said. The guards nodded vigorously. Kuromoui snorted. He picked up Shai, turned his head, and stormed down the hall, away from Momo. Momo watched as the guards scurried after. She then tilted her head. " What a charming specimin!"
" Are we all present?" a deep voice rumbled. A rumble of voices, mixed in to one sound, answered the first voice. A gray haired, bearded old man dressed in rich white silk approached a podium. He was within a white temple room. The floor was white tile, along with white pillars. Standing before him was a crowd of people, each also richly dressed. The only true thing that set the room apart where that half the people in the room bore a different badge then the other half. The two badges remained close together, avoiding the other badge like the plague. The old man raised his hands, signalling silence. The crowd turned to look at him. " Allright. Then let the meeting begin," he said. A shrewd looking man wearing a white tunic and pants trimmed with light blue raised his hand. He had long silverish hair and blue eyes. His boots and belt were light blue in color.
" Elder!" the man called. The Elder turned to look at him.
" Yes, Sukai?" the Elder asked.
" Why have you called this meeting?" the man asked. " I do not know of the others but I haven't much time to spend here. I have to defend my village from the Satsujinsha and they are not going to relent just so I can socialize,"
" The Satsujinsha are the reason this meeting was called," The Elder explained.
" Oh?" a voice piped up. " Why?"
" Fellow Dragons, we are met with a serious perdicament here..... the choice of whether the dragon race will continue to live or disappear forever," the Elder announced. " We are given two choices and only two.... fight the Satsujinsha or surrender to the Satsujinsha," he finished. A loud rumble issued from the crowd.
" WHAT?" " Fight the Satsujinsha? Suicide!" " SURRENDER?! But they'll kill us mercilessly!" " They allready are!" " What do we do?!"
" Please, dragons! Please!" The Elder cried as he raised his hands. " Calm down. Now. Allow me to EXPLAIN," the Elder said. The crowd grew quiet. The Elder cleared his throat and glanced towards a gold gaired man, wearing rich and glowing clothes. His cold gold eyes glanced up at the Elder. " Kaiser, please lend me your words," The Elder requested. Kaiser walked up, slowly.
" Well, as you well know, the Satsujinsha are attacking dragons mercilessly," Kaiser said, coldly. " If we were to fight, then we would win without much hassle,"
" So what's the problem? Let's fight!" someone shouted.
" Let's not be too hasty...," another mumbled.
" What the hell is that supposed to mean!?"
" It would seem that the Satsujinsha consider themselves to be the HEROS in this," Kaiser said.
" That's ridiculous!"
" How could they think that!?"
" It seems they consider dragons to be evil," The Elder said, quietly. One side of the room instantly whirled and stared at the other side, who rumbled unhappily.
" Well, THEY are evil," one voice snidely commented.
" ENOUGH!!!!!" Kaiser snarled. " Just shut up and let me finish!!!!!!" he shouted. The crowd instantly went still. " NOW.... as you can see, the room is split over what to do. One side whats to fight... the other wishes to remain peaceful....,"
" Damn cowardly Light Dragons!"
" Brutish Dark Dragons!!"
" OH FOR LADON'S SAKE, SHUT UP!!!!" Kaiser bellowed. The room shook and everyone went still. " NOW... does anyone have any OTHER SOLUTIONS?"
" Peace talks!" one voice quipped.
" They want our race erraticated, they don't want PEACE!"
" There is obviously a misunderstanding that needs to be straightened out. If they are fighting for what is supposed to be the common good then it'd be wrong to kill them all off for it!" another voice said, sternly.
" WE do not fight! No matter what!"
" You sure as hell fought when we were taking over,"
" Only after you pushed us,"
" Well, they're DEFINITELY doing a lot of pushing! How can you ignore it!?"
" YOU were intentionally doing evil. THEY think they are doing good. Besides. Look at us now. We are at peace!"
" Hey, keep yer sappy Light Dragon views to yourself. We Dark Dragons are only here because of the Satsujinsha!"
" Stop. This argument has been seen before. And it still has no answer, even after hundreds of years," the Elder said, sighing.
" I have a proposal," Sukai spoke up. All eyes turned to him.
" What is it, Sukai?" the Elder asked.
" I propose that those who wish to negotiate or surrender, do so. But the others may go in to hiding to wait this out. But NO fighting back!" Sukai said. " Thus, the dragons will not bully the GUARDIANS," he said, glaring about.
" Don't you mean the Sa-,"
" If you want to avoid a war, do not call them that!" Sukai snapped. " They consider themselves Guardians, thus that is what we will call them!"
" I agree with Sukai's proposal!"
" I second it!"
Soon, the entire right side of the room was bursting with enthusiasm.
" How say you, Dark Dragons?" the Elder asked. The left side of the room grew quiet. " Do you wish to go with this proposal?"
".... we agree," one rumbled.
" FOOLS!!! You are an embarrassment to dragons!" a deep, demonic voice roared. All eyes whirled, gasping. The Elder looked up, scowling, while Kaiser stepped back, silently.
" So you speak, Chisujio," the Elder said. The crowd leaped aside as a young man wearing black leather trimmed with red fur stalked up to the podium. He had long flowing black hair, so black it caused the night to envy it. His eyes were blood red, as was the scar running from his ear to the bottom of his cheek.
" Don't get cheeky, old man," Chisujio snarled. " You are making a grave mistake and bringing shame to the dragon name,"
" WHAT would YOU know about shame!?"
" Of all the nerve-!"
" SILENCE!!!!" Chisujio barked, causing the room to go deathly still. Chisujio snarled. " You are BLIND if you cannot see what's ahead! The Satsujinsha do not want peace, they will not listen. They will slaughter you like sheep, marking your deaths down like so many trophies to add to their trophy room!"
" But we must atleast try," the Elder said, quietly.
" BAH!!! Try and get yourselves killed!!" Chisujio barked. " They'll sooner cut your throats then talk of peace. And you are idiots if you cannot see that,"
" Well, we are STILL going to try!"
" Kaiser," Chisujio said as he whirled to the gold one. " YOU see how senseless this is! Why don't you speak up?!"
" They have made up their minds, thus we must listen," Kaiser said, coldly. Chisujio threw his head back and laughed.
" WE must listen? NAY! YOU must listen," Chisujio snorted.
" Chisujio, please promise... promise that you won't attack the Guardians!' the Elder cried. A rumble of agreement issued forth. " Don't bring us down for your hot-headedness!"
" Do not associate myself with spineless lizards like yourself," Chisujio snorted. Tension arose as offense was taken. " I will fight if I chose to, which I do. And you can do nothing to stop me," he added. " I will kill every single Satsujinsha I come across,"
" Call them Guardians-,"
" I WILL CALL THEM WHAT THEY ARE! SATSUJINSHA!!!!" Chisujio shrieked. People went scampering in fear.
" Chisujio.... you are the cursed dragon, we know. But surely you will have sense to not do this," The Elder pleaded. Chisujio snorted, his face sneering.
" Oh, indeed, I am the cursed one. The feared one. The hated one, even among my own kind. But I don't care. I would rather be cursed than be shamed as a spineless Satsujinsha kissing lizard!" Chisujio sneered. " Go and shame your entire lineages. I care not! MY lineage will thrive on the pride that I refuse to give up, the pride you have allready surrendered to that wench Myria. This is where we part. Even you and I, Kaiser," he said as he glared at the golden one. With a snarl, he turned and stalked towards the exit.
" If you leave this place, Chisujio... then we won't forgive you!" the Elder cried. Chisujio sneered and continued outside, leaving the temple in stunned silence.
Kuromoui sat up with a gasp, his eyes wide. He quickly brought his hand to his forehead, touching the dragon tattoo. The tattoo glowed briefly, then went still. Kuromoui closed his eyes and let out a sigh. He glanced around, slowly, as if taking in his surroundings. He was in a soft bed with white sheets and red blankets. The rest of the room was bathed in darkness, though Kuromoui could see sillouettes of a chair, a desk, and a bookshelf. Snuggled against his side was Shai, who was still fast asleep and sucking on his thumb. Kuromoui glanced down at Shai and gently brushed a lock of Shai's hair out of his face. Shai snuggled deeper in to Kuromoui's sweaty shirt. Kuromoui smiled slightly, then leaned back and glanced to the cieling. He rubbed his tattoo again, broodingly.
" I am really tired of all these stupid dreams," Kuromoui snarled, quietly. He snorted. " It's so stupid! Sleeping only makes me more tired!" Kuromoui blinked and glanced at Shai, who twitched and pressed against Kuromoui. " You must be dreaming too," he mumbled. " I wonder who's bothering YOU?" he asked.
THWACK!!!!!!
Kuromoui winced as Shai kicked him in the side. Kuromoui gentely removed the small child's foot from his rib cage and chuckled. He shook his head. It was useless whining about the dreams that plagued him. It would make no difference. They dreams came when they wanted, and no amount of fussing would stop that. Kuromoui sighed and pulled the blankets back over his form.
" I guess I'll get back to sleep...,"
THWACK!!!
"... or atleast try to,"
" I tire of waiting. You know this, do you not," Kagerufaia snarled as he glared out the window to see the sheet of rain pour down upon the drenched city of Wyndia. Behind him, Savage and Shimmer gulped and nodded.
" H-hai...," Savage whimpered.
" Sire, we will go and s-seek them out, if you desire...," Shimmer whimpered. Kagerufaia turned around, slowly, and eyed the two cowering lackies. His eyes narrowed, ever so slightly.
" I would think that would be a wise choice," Kagerufaia said, carefully. Savage and Shimmer eased a bit, thinking that they had caught their master in a reasonable mood. Kagerufaia crossed his arms and turned to glare at the two. " You two will go to discover where my unruly guests have gone, then hurry them here. And if you fail me, then it would be better if you NEVER returned,"
" H-hai...," the two whispered, together.
They knew that it was not an idle threat.
" Geeeeeez," Kuromoui snorted, annoyed. He reclined upon the bed of the room he and Shai had been taken to when they first arrived.. " I'm getting tired of this stupid place! All we ever do is sit here and wait!" he added with a growl. Shai glanced up at Kuromoui and tilted his head. Kuromoui glanced at his little friend. " Aren't you even the slightest bit bored?" he asked. Shai hopped off the bed and ran over to Kuromoui, hugging him tightly. Kuromoui chuckled and hugged back. " Shai, let's get outta here," he said. Shai looked up at Kuromoui. He blinked, cutely, then smiled widely and grabbed Kuromoui's nose. Kuromoui chuckled, though a bit pained. " Dat my nose, kid!" he grinned. Shai giggled, silently, and tugged. Kuromoui chuckled, deeply. His small smile deepened in to a frown. He had to get Shai out of the castle. He had a bad feeling that something was going to happen if he didn't....
And his feelings were generally right.
Footsteps rang harshly along the wooden floor of the Rhapala Inn. The walls glittered with lanky shadows which reached out, threateningly. The shadows became more distinct as the candlelight glittered. Four forms shown brightly. One, massive in size and bulky. Another was small, chubby, and squat. A third was medium height, but slim. The fourth was also of medium height, muscular, and lean. The forms' footsteps grew louder.
A small gasped issued as a lean, but beautiful, woman looked up sharply from her desk. She stumbled back, tilting her head to hear the footsteps. Her long blonde hair flowed free. Her hazel eyes shown, nervously, like candlelight. She was fair skin and a picture of beauty. She wore a long white gown, decorated with gold designs. The gown reached to the floor. She was dainty, such was apparent, but her stance was that of quiet dignity and unspoken confidence. Her eyes widened slightly as her Inn room door slammed open. She caught her breath as four forms stepped in to the room.
The taller of the four was a massive ox. He wore a tunic of soft tan and carried a massive axe, which presently rested upon his sturdy shoulders. His soft brown eyes looked over the woman.
The smallest of the four was a little brown mole. He wore lime green and brown leather clothes as well as a lime green and brown leather cap. His gray claws glittered as they rested upon the floor. His little black eyes blinked, slowly.
The third was a pink fish. She was lean with gills sticking out of the sides of her neck. She wore a blue bikini as well as steel shoulder and thigh pads. Her eyes glittered blue as she filed her nails.
The fourth was the most dangerous. He was a human, with fluffy brownish black hair and icy blue eyes. A long black scar ran across his cheek, just under his eye. His clothes were brown in color, sporting brown tunic and pants with blue trim that resembled a cold winter breeze. He wore brown leather gloves and boots. Within a brown and icy blue leather hilt sat a glittering sword, curved in a deadly fashion, with a handle of brown and a single blue gem. His eyes narrowed, glittering, as the woman looked upon him.
".... Baine... Sand'ra.... Ordunn...," the woman said as she looked at each in turn. First, the ox. Then the fish, followed by the mole. Finally, she looked at the man. "... and you, Jaryd," she whispered, quietly. The man's eyes narrowed.
" Medley," Jaryd said, frowning. " You did not listen to me,"
" I had to go, Jaryd!" Medley whispered. " It is my solemn duty, bestowed upon me, to come to Rhapala and aid in the spread of my religion,"
" I TOLD you what I would do if you left the safety of the church. Didn't I?" Jaryd snarled, his eyes cold. Medley backed away, her face a mask of nervousment.
" Jaryd, you know perfectly well that I-," she began.
" DIDN'T I!?" Jaryd roared. Medley fell backwards upon her bed, gasping out in horror. " I told you that if you left the church... I'd come for you. And NO ONE could stop me," he whispered, eyes narrowing to mere slits.
" You don't scare me," Medley stated.
" I didn't intend to," Jaryd replied. He approached Medley, determined. Medley backed away even more.
" JARYD! DON'T!" she cried. " You can't do this!"
" I do what I want. And I dare anyone to stop me," Jaryd snapped. He grabbed Medley's arm, roughly, and yanked her to her feet. " Baine, go ahead and scout the road. I want no interference," Jaryd snarled. Baine nodded and, with quick movements surprising for an ox, slipped out the door. Medley hissed and beat her free hand on Jaryd's chest.
" LET ME GO! You CAN'T do this!!! LET ME GO!!!" she demanded. Jaryd jerked her off her feet, causing her to squeak.
" Shut up," Jaryd snarled. He turned and stormed out of the room, followed by Sand'ra and Ordunn.
" JARYD!!!! NO!!!!!!!"
A low hiss... much like laughter....
" Sweet Angel, what do you see?"
" See...?" Nina gasped, as her eyes opened wide. She had closed her eyes, for what seemed to her as only a second. See? See what? A deep chuckle issued from the void about her, where everything and nothing seemed to exist.
" Sweet Angel, what do you see?"
" Before me?" Nina asked, surprised. " I see nothing!"
" Sweet Angel, what do you see?"
" Why are you taunting me!?" Nina barked. Nina jumped as she felt something carress her leg. She glanced down, alarmed, to see a glimpse of a snake tail disappear in to the shadows. " Who are you!?"
" I am he who one seeks, but is never found. Only encountered,"
"... allright, be that way," Nina growled. " I don't see anything but a void. There is nothing to see!!!!"
" If you cannot see, then you must open your eyes,,"
" What is that supposed to mean!?" Nina cried.
" Nothing... yet everything,"
" YOU ARE NOT MAKING SENSE!!!"
" Sweet Angel, what do you see?"
" Sweet Angel, what do you see?"
" Sweet Angel, what do you see?"
" SHUT UP-!" Nina cried. A bright flash engulfed her, then her vision altered entirely. She was back under a soaked tree, near Wyndia. Nina glanced around, wildly. " Hello...?" she whispered. She blinked and listened, but the voice did not answer. Nina sighed with relief and wiped the sweat and rain from her forehead. A dream. A disturbing dream, but a dream none the less. Nina glanced about, her eyes falling upon Rik. She insantly forgot about her dream when she saw the Worren.
" Is there no end to this rain!?" Rik whined as he shook the water from his sleek white fur. He sulked under the protection of a tree, though the tree itself was about to give way under the water. He dried his whiskers, noticing a rather smug look on Nina's face. "... what?" he snapped.
" Is kitty all weeeet? Stinky stinky kitty?" Nina teased. Rik scowled.
" YES, kitty's all wet!" Rik snapped. " So's Miss Hyper Beeotch and SHE smells worse than me but you don't see ME complaining!"
" WHAT did you call me!?!" Nina shrieked, pulling out her staff. Rik yipped and brought his arms up to ward off the attack.
" Knock it OFF, you two!" Deis sighed, annoyed. Nina lowered her staff, giving Rik an ugly look. Rik stuck his tongue out at Nina, who turned red and fumed. Deis rolled her eyes, then looked to Sledge. Sledge glanced about, in the rain. He seemed mostly oblivious to the dripping water upon his skin. " Are we the only adults present?" Deis sighted, tapping her staff on the ground. Sledge grinned.
" You have to ask, Lady?" he said. Deis chuckled, softly.
" My fault," she admitted. Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently. The group whirled, eyes opened wide, as trio of horses and riders thundered down the soaked road. Behind them, in the distance, where ten other horses wearing Urkan Tapa colors. The trio of horses bore four riders. One was a fish, another a mole, and two humans. One male and female. The female human was incredibly beautiful, the image of an angel. The male was a rugged sort of handsome, though his face was cold. The male human had the female with him. She laid on her stomach on his horse, kicking and screaming as he ignored her pleas.
" JARYD!!! NO!!!!!" she screeched. " LET ME GO!!!!" she wailed. The man in question, Jaryd, ignored the girls' pleas. He and the other two horses tore by, splattering Nina and Rik with water.
" GAUCK!" Rik howled. Nina shook her wet hair, then glared after the trio.
" HALT!" she commanded. " RELEASE HER!" Nina added. The trio of horses sped along the road, as if Nina hadn't spoken. Seconds later, the Urkanian horses sped by, drenching Rik and Nina even farther. Rik scowled, shaking the mud from his fur, while Nina glared after. " We've got to help!" she cried.
" Help?" Rik asked, raising a furry eyebrow.
" We can't just let that horrible Jaryd or whoever he is kidnap that lady!" Nina snapped.
" Looks like he already did," Rik sneered.
" I am afraid that Rik is correct," Deis sighed. " Urkanian horses are not made for rain. They are desert horses. They are at a disadvantage,"
" So then WE'LL have to take things in to our own hands," Nina snorted.
" Why?!" Rik snapped.
" Because that guy was KIDNAPPING someone!" Nina cried. " A Urkanian priestess, I'd think. We can't let him get away with that! Who knows what'd be do to her!"
" Neh, we have other things to worry about...," Rik snorted as he brushed his tail.
" NAME ONE!" Nina cried.
" Saving the child from that demon," Deis said, calmly.
" And what of this weather?" Sledge asked. Nina shook her head.
" That can wait!" Nina cried. " That guy could do awful things to that priestess! Don't you care at all!? You're supposed to be heroes!!!"
" Well... I AM a hero," Rik said, his face turning smug. Sledge blinked and sweat dropped. Nina turned to look at Rik, then Deis. " Besides, I think the lady'd be very thankful for our help... hehe...," Rik snickered, a glint in his eyes. A second later, Nina slammed his head in to the ground with her staff. She growled at the spasming Rik, then turned to Deis.
" Deis, we've got to help!" she cried. Deis closed her eyes, then nodded.
" You are right... it is our solemn duty to protect the innocent from those who are wicked," she said. Rik continued to spasm. Sledge sweat dropped again.
" I have a bad feeling about this," he whispered.
Silence filled the richly decorated halls of the castle of Wyndia. Shadows filled every nook and cranny as night filled the land. Quiet as a mouse yet as deadly as a cat, Kuromoui slunk along the walls. He pressed up along the wall, holding Shai tightly to his chest. Shai looked up at Kuromoui with tired eyes. Kuromoui glanced, once, at Shai. Then he hugged him and continued to slink along in silence. His eyes narrowed as he glanced about. He had knocked out his guards with a single punch, which disgusted him. Some guards. Kuromoui smiled, smugly, as he inched along. He had no doubt that escape would be simple for him. With such confident thoughts in mind, Kuromoui inched past a red door. He tensed, suddenly, as the sound of footsteps issued. His eyes lit up as a squad of at least ten soldiers marched towards him. He pressed against the door while Shai shivered.
" Damn...," Kuromoui whispered. He pressed against the door. Suddenly, the red door opened behind him. Kuromoui fell backwards with a gasp. He fell backwards in to the darkness just as the door slammed shut. With a jarring slam, Kuromoui's head crashed against the cold tile of the floor. Stars filled his vision, along with pain and a splash of blood. Then, unconsciousness.
" Medley,"
" Go away, Jaryd,"
" Medley!" Jaryd snarled, glaring at the door of which Medley was imprisoned behind. " Medley, will you cease with this damn nonsense!?"
" Jaryd, you can't keep me here...," Medley whispered. She glanced around the room, which was richly decorated with expensive furniture. A polished dresser, with matching chair, sat on one side of the room. On the other was a soft bed with downy white blankets.
" I can, and I will, until you give in," Jaryd snarled.
" I... cannot... I will not!" Medley said, quietly.
" You can and you WILL," Jaryd hissed. " Even if I have to keep you here forever,"
" Jaryd, let me go!" Medley pleaded. " Please... please stop this...,"
" I WILL NOT!" Jaryd bellowed. Medley winced and slunk towards her bed. "... Medley... can't you atleast try to see things as I do...?" Jaryd asked, his voice softer and kinder. Medley shook her head.
" Jaryd... I... I just can't... please.....," Medley whispered.
" Medley....,"
" Jaryd...," she began. " Let me out...!"
" You WILL give in, Medley. You WILL," Jaryd snarled. Then, he turned his back to the wooden door and stormed down the hall.
" Jaryd!" Medley cried as she leaped to her feet. " Jaryd!!"
" How did it go?" Ordunn asked as he glanced up, his energetic eyes shining. He, Baine, and Sand'ra stood within a library. Books were scattered about, on shelves and on the red carpet. A single oak table sat in the middle of the room. At the table sat the trio. They glanced at Jaryd, who stormed in with a deep scowl and sat down at the chair on the end of the table. They, themselves, sat along the sides. Jaryd scowled, deeply, and leaned back in his chair.
" Badly," he admitted. " She still refuses,"
" Feh," Sand'ra snorted as she peered at herself, in a little hand mirror. " She'll come around, sooner or later," she added, disinterest evident.
" She'd better," Jaryd snarled. Baine looked at Jaryd, calmly, then continued to clean his axe Jaryd closed his eyes, then looked at his crew. Baine, the silent one. He hardly spoke, mostly because he never found need to say much. His expressions alone expressed much of his thoughts. Besides, his brute strength more than made up for his lack of communication. Jaryd looked at Ordunn. Ordunn, his energy seemed endless. Nothing could falter his optimistic attitude. He smiled constantly and seemed impossible to offend. However, that energy came handy in battle. His attacks were quick, fast, and hard. He didn't wear down and seemed eager to please his master, Jaryd, in battle. And that was all that mattered. Jaryd looked at Sand'ra. Sand'ra was a card. She didn't care much for morals or what was "right" or "wrong". Murder didn't phase her. Her only cares were herself and keeping Jaryd happy. Jaryd had a feeling that Sand'ra liked him. Loved him, to a small extent. But that didn't matter. So long as she served him.
" Oh! Boss!" Ordunn said, suddenly. Jared looked up, sharply.
" What?" he asked, annoyed.
" I almost forgot!" Ordunn grinned. " I saw a group of scraggily wanderers trying to get in our gate,"
" WHAT?!" Jaryd roared, leaping to his feet. Baine and Sand'ra turned to stare at Ordunn.
" Oh, they're nothing to worry about. Just a flat chested girl, a drenched Worren, a snake, and a rather stupid looking Armadillo!" Ordunn grinned. Jaryd narrowed his eyes.
" You mean those same idiots who 'ordered' me to release Medley?!" he hissed. Ordunn blinked.
" Wow! I guess they were!" he said, surprised. Jaryd narrowed his eyes even more.
".... Baine. Ordunn, go greet our guests, won't you?"
" Let's go hoooome," Rik whined. He glanced at Nina and Deis, who were examining an old stone fence. The fence wound around a massive mansion of red stone and brown tile. The grass about the mansion was waterlogged, a dark green. The path to the Mansion was muddy and disgusting as the rain continued to drench the land.
" RIK, we can't," Nina snarled. " We have to save that priestess,"
" We don't HAVE to," Rik snapped.
" YES WE DO!" Nina cried.
" It's NONE of our business," Rik snarled.
" That doesn't matter," Nina snorted. " We can't just sit by and do nothing,"
" Nina is correct. We are heroes of good. We cannot close our eyes to evil," Deis said, calmly, as she examined the stone.
" This feels wrong," Sledge whispered. He was, however, ignored.
" Look, Miss Fancy Pants, just because you wanna pretend to be a hero-," Rik snarled.
" I am not doing this to pretend to be a hero!" Nina snarled.
" THEN LET'S LEAVE!" Rik barked. " I'm wet, dirty, and tired!"
" You'd better listen to the cat," an enthusiastic voice cried. Nina, Rik, Sledge, and Deis looked about, sharply. Peering over the edge of the rock fence was a cute little mole with bright, energetic eyes.
" You! You were one of the riders!" Nina cried, pointing at the mole.
" Yup yup!" the mole grinned. " I am Ordunn!"
" Return the priestess!" Nina barked. " NOW!"
" Nup," Ordunn grinned. " She's visiting and it's rude to leave so soon!"
" I SAID NOW!" Nina roared.
" I said nup," Ordunn giggled. Nina growled and fumed while Rik snickered.
" Wassa matter, Pwincess?" Rik crooned. " Is da coot widdle mole not listening to yooooou?" he purred. Nina whirled and slammed him with her staff, which mysteriously appeared out of nowhere.
" Here they go again," Sledge groaned.
" They fight more than a married couple," Deis mumbled.
" STOP DOING THAT!!!" Rik howled as he pulled his head out of the mud.
" NO!!!" Nina howled.
" The boss says ya hafta leave," Ordunn spoke up. Nina, Rik, Deis, and Sledge turned to look up at Ordunn, surprised.
" The boss?" Deis inquired.
" That man who had the priestess?" Nina asked. Ordunn grinned.
" Thassa secret. Now shoo! Go away. You smell," Ordunn said, waving his paw. Nina glanced at Rik, who fumed. A smile cracked upon her face.
" We're not leaving until the priestess is safe," Nina said, crossing her arms.
" She's safe," Ordunn said. " So you can go now!" Ordunn smiled cutely. Nina scowled.
" Liar," she snapped. Rik shook the mud from his fur.
" Hey, if she's safe, we can leave," Rik laughed. " Let's go!"
" I motion with Rik...," Sledge rumbled, his face troubled. " I don't like being here... something doesn't feel right,"
" We can't leave," Nina said.
" Why!?" Rik barked.
" BECAUSE HE'S LYING!!!" Nina roared.
" KNOCK it OFF!!" Deis shouted. Nina and Rik fell over, in to the mud, at the force in Deis' voice. Deis coughed and straightened her cloak.
" One big happy family," Ordunn grinned.
" Look, Ordunn, we want the priestess returned to her temple," Deis said, calmly. She brushed back a lock of hair. " We are on an important mission and truly need to get back to it. However, we can't let such a crime occur and do nothing. So.... just free her,"
" Nup," Ordunn smiled. " Don't wanna,"
" Then we'll MAKE you," Nina snorted. Ordunn's smile never faltered.
" Oh, that's not a good idea! Baine wouldn't like it," he advised.
" Baine..?" Sledge asked. Ordunn grinned and pointed downward.
" Baine," he said. A low rumble issued as Ordunn mysteriously began floating towards the gate. The group stared at each other in surprise. However, the surprise turned to horror as the mole appeared through the gate.
On top of the head of the largest ox they ever saw, carrying the largest AXE they ever saw.
" Oh my-!" Nina gasped. Rik blinked, then rubbed his head.
" Well don't that just beat all," he mumbled. The ox glared, silently, at the group. Sledge crossed his arms, solemnly.
" Baine, I assume?" Sledge asked.
" Yup!" Ordunn giggled. " He's big, isn't he?"
" Very," Deis said, rubbing her staff. " So you are not going to let us have the priestess?"
" Nup," Ordunn said.
" So then we fight!" Nina barked, pulling out her staff. Rik grabbed Nina and yanked her back.
" Are you STUPID as well as lacking?!" he whispered, harshly. " That ox could kill us with his toe-ERK!" Rik yelped as Nina slammed him with her staff.
" JERK!" she snarled.
" You people are noisy," Ordunn whined. " Baine! Get rid of them!"
Baine uttered only a low growl as he raised his axe above his head. Nina gasped, horrified, and backed away.
" Oh crap...,"
" Kuromoui?"
A soft groan...
" Kuromoui!"
Go away......
" Kuromoui, WAKE UP! You're a healthy young specimen, such a bump can't do that much damage,"
Specimen?
Kuromoui opened his eyes, slowly, then winced as light flooded in. He blinked vigorously, trying to banish the feeling of pain from his eyes. As the pain vanished, his sight returned. Shai was huddling near him, tears pouring down his cheeks. Kuromoui jerked up in alarm and wrapped his arms around Shai, who snuggled against him tightly.
" Shai! What happened!? Who hurt you!?" Kuromoui barked, ignoring the dizziness and the sticky warmth of dried blood on his forehead.
" Shai is quite allright. He's also a healthy young specimen, though it's incredibly curious how much he resembles ANOTHER aquantance of mine," a familiar voice piped.
" Who...?" Kuromoui blinked, narrowing his eyes and turning his head. His eyes opened wide again at the sight of who was speaking.
Momo grinned down at Kuromoui, adjusting her glasses.
" I was quite surprised to see you stumble in," she said, brushing back a lock of hair. " I had thought it would take a goddess to get to examine you further,"
" Examine?" Kuromoui blinked, startled. He felt Shai snuggle against him even more, as if he had been deprived. Kuromoui glanced down at Shai, surprised, and hugged him tighter.
" Oh, don't worry about your little friend," Momo said, waving her hand. " He was just overly concerned. You were unconscious for a period of time. You had caused abrasions to your head, which were bleeding quite heavily. Thankfully, no brain tissue was permanently damaged," she continued, adjusting her glasses again. " After all, the brain tissue is the most important. Damaging the tissue would end in a halt of the development of the intelligence,"
" Intelligence? Bah," Kuromoui grumbled as he stroked Shai's hair, comfortingly.
" Don't 'bah' me," Momo sniffed. " How do you intend to get in to my research facility if you don't have intelligence?"
" Your what?" Kuromoui asked, surprised.
" My research facility," Momo sniffed. " Actually, it is a research facility and a learning center. We accept bright minds, developing them to their highest potential as well as experiment with chysm,"
".... look, I don't know what you are talking about. I just want to get out of here," Kuromoui snapped. Momo smiled.
" That may be difficult," she said. " Kagerufaia won't let you leave,"
" It's not HIS choice, now is it?" Kuromoui snapped.
" It is when he controls everything in this castle and the city outside," Momo pointed out. " Everything's sealed off now because of you sneaking out. People can't even leave their homes,"
" Everything...?" Kuromoui gasped. He hadn't intended for such a thing to occur. Though he disliked people, he didn't wish for them to become prisoners in their own homes.
" EVERYTHING," Momo said, rubbing her nose. " It's quite an unhealthy occurance,"
" And it's my fault," Kuromoui grumbled as he hugged Shai. Shai glanced up at him. " Since it IS my fault... then it's my responsibility to fix it,"
" GrrrRRaugh!" Rik snarled as he slammed, roughly, against the ground. Mud and water splattered about him as his shoulder snapped, striking the sticky wet ground. He spat out a blade of grass and scrambled to his feet, snarling violently. An axe blade slammed in to the ground, splattering the mud, just as Rik leaped aside. The blade glittered, muddy water trickling down it's smooth edge. Rik bared his fangs, snarling, as Baine smirked at him. With a grunt, Baine yanked the massive blade out of the mud and slashed, horizontally, at Rik's head. Rik leaped back, howling out, as the shimmering blade sliced a whisker.
" HAAAAA!!!" Nina shouted as she aimed her staff at Baine. The staff glowed white as blue electricity surged around the staff. A flicker of flame appeared, then grew in size. The flicker turned to an inferno and surged forward at Baine, evaporating the drizzling rain about it. Baine winced as the fire surged forward, engulfing him. Flames spat off at either side of him, scorching the grass about him. Baine panted heavily as his fur smoked. Nina twirled her staff, then leaped aside as Sledge lunged past her. He charged Baine, intending to shoulder-slam the titanic ox. However, he was rudely intercepted. The ground beneath him quivered and collapsed, tripping Sledge so that he fell in a giant sink hole. Ordunn's head appeared out of the ground, dripping with mud.
" Awwww... fall down go boom!" he giggled, cutely. Baine grinned widely at his small friend, who cackled childishly. Deis glared sternly at the two, then raised her staff.
" Blizzzaaaarrrd!" she shouted as she twirled her staff in the air. The rain about her solidified as a blast of freezing air shot forward. Snow sprinkled everywhere, as well as ice. The grass, or what was left of it, cracked under the freezing ice and shattered. Ordunn squeaked as Baine winced visibly. The freezing attack did not mix will with the rain, which was obvious. The spell was amplified by the abundance of water, causing the two much discomfort. Baine growled as Nina chanted quietly, aiming her staff at the duo. Ordunn let out a little growl and slammed his claws in to the ground. The ground trembled and began to crack. Nina squealed and fell over as the ground under her caved in. She cried out as she fell downwards, landing roughly in a huge puddle of mud and crushed boulders. She winced as mud splattered about her, coating her hair and clothes. She snarled and dug her fingers in to the edge of the pit, struggling to climb out. Her fingers ached as she clawed at the icy mud, her feet slipping when she tried to gain a foothold. She grabbed on to a boulder in the mud, the sounds of battle reaching her ears. She looked upward, trying to peer over the edge. She caught a glance of Rik charging at Baine, swinging his massive staff. Baine parried the swing with his axe, which clanged against Rik's weapon. Nina blinked, in surprise, as the axe failed to slice the staff in two. It appeared to be made of wood yet the axe didn't even scratch it. She bit her lower lip and decided to ask Rik about the staff after the ordeal was over.
If they lived that long.
Rik lunged at Baine again, swinging his staff in hopes of somehow slowing down the beast. He swing at Baine's kneecap, in hopes of shattering it with a strong blow. However, Baine would not have it. He swing his axe downwards at Rik, who yanked his staff up to meet the axe blade. He grunted as the axe blade slammed in to it. He smirked as the blade chipped, slightly, on the staff. Baine snarled and pressed down hard, trying to break through the staff and, afterwards, Rik's head. Rik held his staff firmly, trying to keep the axe away from his face. His muscles bulged and trembled as he planted his feet. Baine bore down harder. Rik closed his eyes and strained as hard as he could to keep the axe off of him. Ordunn cackled childishly and ran over to Rik, who was utterly helpless as he struggled to keep his life. Ordunn grinned cutely and lifted his claws. Rik's eyes widened in horror as Ordunn tickled Rik in the ribs. Rik howled out and moved his hips, trying to stop Ordunn. However, he could not do much else, for Baine pushed down harder. Rik squealed out in laughter as Ordunn tickled, feeling his knees grow weak.
" D-D-DEEIIIISSS!" Rik howled. " H-HEEEELP!!!" he whined, trying not to laugh. One good chuckle and he knew the axe would greet him. Deis raised her staff.
" BLIZZARD!" she cried. Baine looked up just in time to feel the icy breath of the spell slam in to his side, sending him flying in to a puddle of mud. Ordunn stared, his eyes going wide, as Baine went flying. He slowly looked up to see Rik sneering down at him. Ordunn blinked twice, his eyes wide.
" Ooops," he said, quietly. Rik quickly slammed his knee in to Ordunn's head, sending him flying in to Baine's stomach. Ordunn squealed as he bounced off the ox's chest, then landed upon the grass. He rubbed his head, tears in his eyes. " That HURT!" he whined. Rik glanced at Deis, smirking.
" Do it again! Finish 'im!" he cried. Deis nodded, raising her staff.
" No ya don't!" a feminine voice laughed. " TSUNAMI!"
As the voice shouted out, everyone whirled. Seconds after they turned about, a titanic blast of water slammed in to the group. Baine and Ordunn leaped out of the way as Rik, Nina, Deis, and Sledge were sent flying by the blast of water. Baine grunted while Ordunn looked skyward, eyes shimmering.
" Sand'ra!" he cried, gleefully. Hovering above the group, smirking smugly, was a slim pink fish. Her blue bikini hugged her body tightly as her gills flared out like spikes. She winked at Ordunn and Baine and floated downward to them, dispelling her wind spell. She laughed daintily and snapped her wrist.
" Looks like I joined in the battle just in time," she grinned.
" Sure did, Sand'ra!" Ordunn giggled. Baine merely scowled. Sand'ra grinned smugly and snapped her fingers, her nails glittering blue.
" Well, then! It's time for the party to begin!" she sneered.
" Who our enemy?"
" The Brood...,"
" Who destroys this enemy?"
" The Guardians...,"
" The Guardians have the holy right, do they not?"
"... ... y-yes...,"
" You waiver, why do you waiver?"
"... ...,"
" Answer me!"
"... ...,"
" Child, you WILL answer me,"
" Oh, leave her alone!"
Medley looked up quickly. She was kneeling at the base of the podium, upon the carpeted floor. Before her stood the high priest, dressed in long white robes. The room stood bare, the floor and walls made of thick clay. The priest scowled as Jaryd walked in to the room, his boots coated in mud. His jacket was slung over his shoulder, carelessly, and his hair was dirty. Jaryd didn't even flinch when the mud oozed on to the red and white carpet leading up to the podium. Jaryd glanced down at Medley, who remained upon her knees.
" You have some nerve coming in here, Jaryd," the priest growled. Jaryd shrugged, his leather armor creaking as he moved.
" Whatever," he grinned. " You need to lay off Medley. If she doesn't think murder's right, then she doesn't think murder's right,"
" The killing of Brood is NOT murder," the priest cried, his face turning red in anger. " How can one expect an outsider to realize that," the priest grumbled, to himself.
" Murder's murder, you old coot. Killing the Brood was murder," Jaryd grinned. " You're just too stupid to realize that," he laughed. The priest flushed crimson, his face wrinkling in to a vicious scowl. Medley covered her mouth and glanced at Jaryd, reproachingly. Jaryd shrugged. " Well, it's true,"
Medley closed her eyes as she sat upon the edge of the soft bed within her prison. It was more comfortable than a cell, but still a prison. Her fingers clenched as she pressed them against her knees. She had her head bowed and her eyes closed. Her beautiful hair fell about her, covering her eyes.
" Jaryd...," she whispered, quietly. She looked up, eyes moist and shimmering like gemstones.
" Jaryd...,"
" You realize how hasty you're being?" Momo said, as casual as if she were commenting upon the weather. Shai glanced up at Momo, blinking, then looked to Kuromoui. Kuromoui snorted and ran a clean rag along the edge of his sword blade. The blade glimmered as he polished it.
" I'm going to end this right now," he spat. Momo, unintimidated, sniffed.
" What? By fighting him and getting yourself killed?" she asked, sweetly.
" The only one that's going to die is him," Kuromoui snorted. " I'm not going to get defeated by some pretty boy,"
" Even if he has a goddess key?" Momo asked, her eyebrow raised.
" I don't care if he has an entire army in the room with him," Kuromoui growled.
" And what about Shai?" Momo said, her voice cold. " Are you going to endanger him because of some 'pretty boy' that managed to upset you?"
Kuromoui glared at Momo.
" Are you suggesting that I can't take care of him?" he asked, coldly. Momo shook her head.
" I'm not," she replied. " But I am advising that you think of Shai before you think of yourself,"
Kuromoui glared at Momo, then glanced at his blade. The blade shimmered as his reflection revealed the scowl upon his face. Kuromoui closed his eyes and shook his head.
" I won't endanger Shai," he said, quietly. " I'll have to think of another way, then,"
" To bad I won't allow that,"
Kuromoui leaped to his feet, his blade drawn, as Shai ducked behind Momo. Momo scowled, adjusting her glasses. Kuromoui glanced upwards, his face hardening to ice. Hovering above them, nearly touching the roof, was Kagerufaia. He was surrounded by an aura of fire. He smirked, viciously, and crossed his arms.
" I'm afraid-," Kagerufaia drawled. "-that I won't allow second thoughts,"
" HAH!" Sand'ra laughed as an icicle appeared in her hand with a flash of blue light and flew through the air. Nina yelped and rolled out of the way just as the icicle tore past her. The icicle sliced her clothing as it passed, as well as slicing her side. Nina clutched her side, feeling a trickle of blood touch her hand.
" Damn it...," she hissed. " What are we going to do? They're too strong together...," she whispered. Deis frowned as she used her staff to smack away another icicle. Her hair flew about her in the icy wind. The rain had frozen to snow due to the ice spells that both Deis and Sand'ra had been casting. However, the moment the snow touched flesh, it turned to water again. It was not a pleasant feeling but could not be helped. Deis glanced at Rik and Sledge. Both were covered in wounds, some bleeding rather heavily. It was obvious that Baine and Ordunn were too much for them to handle alone. Ordunn scrambled towards Rik, slashing his stomach before digging in to the ground. Rik hunched over, growling viciously as he found himself unable to retaliate as Baine slashed at Sledge and himself. Rik leaped back, barely dodging the slice. Sledge growled, his calm exterior quickly fading.
" Whatever we do...," Deis whispered. " We'd better do it fast,"
Nina stumbled up, hand gently tracing the icicle slash. She growled, then glared up at Sand'ra. Sand'ra laughed daintily, her eyes mocking.
" Awww, did I hurt the little girl?" she sneered. Nina' eyes narrowed.
" Shove a nail file up your nose," Nina growled. Sand'ra laughed viciously.
" Aw, what's the matter? Is the girl with the washboard chest UPSET?" she snickered. Rik, Sledge, and Deis, whirled, eyes wide, as the words slipped out.
Sand'ra had no idea what hit her.
Three seconds was all it took for Nina to charge at Sand'ra like a rampaging horse and slam her staff over Sand'ra's head. Sand'ra screamed as she fell, face forward, in to the mud. Nina huffed, violently, and stormed back over to Deis. Sand'ra sat up, her eyes wide, as mud dripped down her face. She lifted a hand and screamed, as if she had been stabbed through her heart.
A nail had been broken.
Sand'ra rose to her feet, her eyes narrowed to slits. She seethed with anger and the ground seemed to tremble about her.
" You little witch," Sand'ra hissed, through clenched teeth. " How DARE you... how DARE you ruin my beauty! I will make you suffer,"
Ordunn grinned widely as he stuck his head out of a mud hole.
" Now you're going to get it! You made Sand'ra maaaaad!" he scolded, cheerfully.
Nina blinked slowly as Deis brought up her staff. Rik and Sledge glared at Sand'ra, then Baine and little Ordunn. Ordunn grinned even wider. He waved a claw.
" You're all going to die now!"
The glory of battle was lost upon Nina, Deis, Sledge, and Rik. Sand'ra tossed spell after spell upon them, giving them but a couple seconds to scatter as she quickly chanted the words to her next spell. Rik leapt side to side, doing his best to dodge the spells, his graceful movements that of a dance. Deis held up her staff, arm trembling, as the spells bounced off a barely sufficient shield. Sledge stood as firm as stone, silently enduring the painful lashes of magic. Nina, however, was neither graceful, skillful, nor firm. She flailed around frantically as spells barely missed her frame. It was quite pathetic.
Ordunn and Baine watched, quietly, as Sand'ra cackled like a madwoman. She seemed obsessed with destroying the entire group, Nina in particular. They dared not get in the way as the wild woman had her temper tantrum.
The ground was burned, frozen, shaken up, and torn loose as Sand'ra tossed off one spell after the other. It seemed endless.
Sledge hissed in pain as an icicle nicked his shoulder. Blood oozed from his mouth as he glared, sternly, at Sand'ra. He knew he hadn't a chance to dodge, due to his massive weight. He also knew he hadn't any magic to repel the attacks. He figured it was useless to try, so he stood firmly in his place and hoped his thick skin would hold. Sand'ra seemed to notice this. She turned, slowly, to look at Sledge. She sneered slowly, her eyes bearing an almost demonic light. She lifted her hand, a massive icicle forming. Sledge's expression did not change as she aimed for his head.
" Here's to justice! Of beauty!" she mocked, hurling the icicle at Sledge. Sledge didn't even move, jaw firmly set, as the massive spear of ice flew towards his forehead.
" Sledge!" Rik cried, his voice frantic.
Time seemed to slow as the ice neared Sledge's stern face. Just as it came within a foot of his snout, the icicle shattered like glass as a fire blast slammed through it. Eyes widened in surprise, including Sledge's. Everyone glanced around, uncertain as to what to expect.
" How dare you mock justice's name with your vile self!" a familiar and haunty voice shouted. Nina blinked, once. She brushed back the muddy locks of blonde hair and creased her eyebrows. She had heard that voice before, but where? Then, it struck her.
At the Arena.
"... Crys?" Nina asked, uncertain and surprised.
" That's RIGHT!" the voice laughed. Crys, in all her forest green glory, stepped in to view upon the high branches of a tree. She leaped from the branches, sailing through the air. She landed with a " Ha ha!" right before Sand'ra.
Before, of course, her foot slipped on a puddle of mud and she landed, with an unearthly shriek, on the ground.
" Smooth move, Crys," Pike grinned as he walked out from behind the same tree Crys had leaped from, twirling his spear like a baton. Behind Pike, Mahou floated out. His face was an expression of humiliation. He pointed at Crys and shook his head, quietly mouthing the words ' I don't know her,'
Crys sputtered out mud and grass, then stumbled up to her feet. She scowled at Pike.
" Shut up," she growled. She then whirled and pointed, daringly, at Sand'ra. " Justice has seen the evil in your heart! Our might will crush you!"
Sand'ra blinked once, then shook her head. " With that entrance you performed, sugar, I have my doubts,"
Crys' eyes crossed and her face puffed up like a fish.
" Oh shush! Justice looks below the surface!" she howled.
" Even though you don't use that principle for Kuromoui?" Sledge interjected. Everyone ignored him, preparing for round two. Sledge sighed, wearily, and rubbed the back of his head. " Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me?" he grumbled.
" Kagerufaia," Kuromoui growled, crossing his arms. He scowled up, venomously, at the 'Emperor of Wyndia', who hovered over him. Momo growled, her ears twitching with aggitation.
" What a pleasant surprise," Momo snorted.
" Isn't it, though?" Kagerufaia grinned, floating down to the ground. He landed, softly, on the carpet and bowed, mockingly. " I am honored to see you, Professor Momo,"
" I can't say the same," Momo sniffed, crossing her arms.
" Owch. I'm hurt," Kagerufaia grinned. Momo said nothing, though her ears flipped back. Kagerufaia grinned and turned to look at Kuromoui.
" I surely hope you still intend to fight me?" he asked, politely. " I wouldn't want this great battle of good against evil to end on such a sour note?"
" Your definition of good is way off," Kuromoui snorted. " Anyway, the only sour note is the sound of YOUR voice,"
" Tsk, losing our temper?" Kagerufaia scolded. " And our courage too, I suspect,"
" I'm not afraid of you," Kuromoui snapped, bristling. Kagerufaia grinned and brushed back his hair.
" I will be waiting for you in the throne room, then," he crooned. " So that everyone can see your shredded remains after I teach you who's master of Wyndia," Kagerufaia smirked. " And to insure you visit...," he drawled, eyes narrowing.
Kuromoui raised an eyebrow but didn't realize the meaning of Kagerufaia's words until after the action. Kagerufaia lunged forward, shoving past Kuromoui with extreme viciousness. With a snarl, he grabbed Shai roughly by the hair. Shai squirmed and kicked at Kagerufaia, holding his hair in pain.
" SHAI!!!" Kuromoui cried. Momo twirled out her bazooka, yet with-held the attack for fear of hitting the small dragon child.
" I'll be taking your friend with me," Kagerufaia grinned. He lifted Shai up by the hair. " Come and get him. If you dare," he sneered. He laughed, cruelly, as he and Shai disappeared in a flash of smoke. Kuromoui stared, blankly, at the now vacated spot. Then, he let out an animalistic shout of rage.
" KAGERUFAIAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
" So peaceful," Medley sighed, brushing back her beautiful locks of hair. She quietly strolled down a white stone path, which winded through a small garden of flowers and shrubberies. Soft blue flowers lined the path, followed by well trimmed shrubs. Behind that, in a neat row, were cherry blossom trees in full bloom. The garden was the only one of it's kind, due to the preciousness of water within the area. She would have thought the water would be better off going to Urkanians, but she knew better than to complain. Medley smiled brightly, picked up the hem of her robes, and ran down the path. As she dashed, the path abruptly changed from a line to a circle, in the middle of which was a white and red stoned fountain spouting fresh water, the water supply for the entire temple. Medley stopped at the fountain, sitting daintily upon it's edge. She gently ran her fingers through the water, giggling.
" How unladylike," Jaryd teased as he walked up from behind some shrubberies. He tossed Medley a smirk, who smiled slightly.
" What would YOU know about what is proper?" she giggled. Jaryd crossed his arms and grinned wider.
" Just that you are far from it!" he scolded. Medley scooped up a handful of water and splashed Jaryd, giggling vigorously.
" You're so mean!" she scolded.
" You're still not proper," Jaryd winked. Medley waved her hand, dismissingly.
" Shoo! Shoo! Your horrible self has offended me!" she teased. Jaryd grinned wider and put his hands on his hips.
" Oh hoh! Getting uppity? Well! Then, I guess the little priestess needs a whippin'!" he jibed. Medley giggled and jumped to her feet, dashing around the fountain and away from Jaryd. Jaryd laughed and chased after, though his gait seemed to show he had no intention of catching her at the moment. " Just you wait until I get you!" he threatened, jokingly. Medley held up the hems of her robes and scampered away from Jaryd, her beautiful laughter filling the garden.
" Jaryd," Medley whispered, covering her eyes with her hands. " I... Jaryd, why can't you understand? Why can't you accept what I am destined to accept?" Medley sighed wearily and curled up upon her bed. " It's for you... you can't live like that... it's not fair to you..," She closed her eyes and sighed, trying desperately to ignore all her surroundings. Pulling her robes tight, Medley buried her face in to her pillow. " Jaryd...,"
" Damn..," Sand'ra hissed as she ducked a blast of fire intended for her head. She floated over the group, now larger and more powerful with the addition of three more warriors. She growled and ran a finger over her nails. Things were not going well, as they first had. What they lacked in skills were made up for in numbers. And, Sand'ra quietly mentally added, stupid speeches. She looked up sharply as a sound brought her out of her musing. Cruising at her was a giant ice blast. She leaped aside, the blast flying past with a hiss. Her hair fluttered as the spell zoomed past, then glared murderously at the group.
" Ready to surrender?" Nina asked, winking cutely. Sand'ra let out a deep hiss, eyes narrowing.
" Surrender... is not an option," Sand'ra growled. " I'm more than willing to die for Lord Jaryd,"
" Hai! Hai!" Ordunn agreed. Baine merely grunted his agreement.
" Death CAN be arranged," Mahou growled. Rik nodded, sneering. Sand'ra smirked, her eyes slitted. She wiped blood from the corner of her mouth.
" If you think so... then maybe you ought to try a little harder,"
Jaryd walked along the halls, broodingly, towards the main gate. The tapestries and stone walls passed him by, dictating ancient battles and heroic victories in the colors of the rainbow. The carpet, a continual red of velvet, guarded his boots from the cold floor of rock. Jaryd glanced at the ceiling, concerned. He hadn't heard from neither Baine nor Ordunn, and Sand'ra hadn't returned. He frowned. What could be taking them so long? Surely those fools weren't that much trouble? He shook his head. The idea that his comrades were inadequate compared to a band of misfits was not only ludicrous, it felt almost traitorous. He had faith in them and to doubt their abilities was kin to losing that faith.
Jaryd stopped before the massive iron door and peered at it, quietly. Perhaps he should step outside to see what was wrong...
" Standing amiss... eyes shielded by will,"
A soft hiss issued, followed by the sound of slithering. Darkness surrounds nearly everything except for ten glittering pools of light. Each one seems to show an image, as if it were a reflection on a beautiful sea. One pool displayed Kuromoui, his face twisted in rage and anger as he stormed up a flight of steps. Another pool displayed Kagerufaia, who looked smug as he reclined upon the throne of Wyndia, sipping red wine. The three pools around Kagerufaia were empty, as if it were not activated so to speak, as was one pool near Kuromoui. Another pool showed Medley, sleeping uncomfortably in her prison. Nightmares seemed to plague her. The eight pool showed Sand'ra, Baine, and Ordunn as they fought for their lives outside of their master's castle. The ninth pool displayed Nina, Deis, Sledge, Rik, and the others as they battled Jaryd's minions. The tenth pool glowed brightly, the face of Jaryd clear and vibrant as he debated upon opening the gate to search for his comrades.
" Heroism is evil... evil is justice,"
A glint shimmered through the darkness. From out of the shadows slipped a perfect, sleek hand. The hand gently caressed Jaryd's cheek, causing the pool to shimmer. Jaryd shivered and looked around, confused, then shrugged off the weird sensation. He looked at the massive gate.
" The tides have started... shall I incite?"
A soft chuckle issued from the darkness.
" What's done is done... but this is but a start...,"
The hand raised up and pointed, deftly, at the pool of Sand'Ra, Baine, and Ordunn.
" Teleport,"
The portal shimmered, then popped like a bubble.
" N-N-Nani!?" Sand'Ra cried as she began to glow softly. Ordunn and Baine looked at their hands and bodies, which glowed with a similar light. Nina and the others stopped and stared, water dripping down their faces, as the three began to levitate off the ground.
" What kind of magic is this..!?" Deis hissed.
" Wh-what's going on!?" Nina cried as she backed away, uncertain. Rik clenched his staff, hissing.
" Whatever it is, I don't like it," he growled. Sledge said nothing, his eyes narrowed.
" W-whatever it is... it is definitely not just!" Crys cried.
" A lot isn't just to you," Pike mumbled.
" A-AH!! W-WHAT'S THIS!?" Ordunn squealed, kicking his tiny legs. Suddenly, the gate slammed open and the young, rugged man stood there. He glanced about. His eyes fell upon the three. His face lit up in surprise and confusion.
" Sand'ra!? Ordunn!?! Baine!?" he gasped. He ran towards them, his wicked sword slapping against his thigh as he dashed. He reached out a hand for them, as if to snatch them from the air. Sand'ra squirmed and reached for his hand.
" L-Lord Jaryd... I am sorry... we failed-!" she cried, her voice growing transparent.
" W-Wait-!" Jaryd cried as he sloshed through the mud towards them. However, he was too late. When he was inches from them, all three disappeared with a startled cry. Jaryd stared in pure horror. " W-what... kind of witchcraft is this!?" he demanded. He glanced around, desperately, to find them. His eyes settled upon the bewildered expressions of Rik, Deis, Nina, and the others. His eyes widened, then narrowed. His surprise turned to rage. " YOU... what did you do..," he hissed.
" You! You're the one in charge!" Nina cried, stepping forward, bravely. " Return the priestess! Immediately!"
" You filthy little witch..," Jaryd spat. " I'll kill you... I'll kill you for what you did to Baine, Ordunn, and Sand'Ra!!!"
" W-What?" Nina gasped, surprised. Jaryd grabbed the hilt of his sword and yanked it out of the sheath. The sword, blade tinted black, glittered like obsidian. He pointed it at Nina, his face hard and terrible.
" I'll not forgive you... PREPARE YOURSELF!"
Kuromoui stalked down the hall, an aura of rage surrounding his lithe form. He seemed to seethe with fury, his steps heavy but quick. He slammed open doors in his path, ignoring the splinters they gave for such abuse. Behind him, Momo followed with quiet consternation. Kuromoui paid her no mind, nor mind to the fact that there seemed to be no guards about to stop him from reaching the throne room.
However, Professor Momo did notice such a fact.
" KAGERUFAIA!!" Kuromoui bellowed has he kicked open a massive oak door, polished until it shined. The door flung open, revealing the throne room. Though, it was beyond recognition. The old tapestries had been removed, replaced with silk curtains. The statues of winged Wyndians were defiled, their wings painted red. The paint dripped down, as if it were still fresh, like blood. Gold pedestals littered the entire room, red silk barriers attached to each. Momo brought her hand up to her mouth in surprise, giving a started gasp. Kuromoui, however, did not notice it. His eyes were fixed upon the throne. Reclining in it, disinterested in his visitor's seething fury, was Kagerufaia. He twirled a wine goblet among his fingers, eyes watching the wine as it swirled about. Kuromoui drew his sword and hissed. " Where the hell is Shai!?" Kuromoui demanded. Kagerufaia's eyes lifted, slowly, to look at Kuromoui. He remained silent, his piercing eyes looking over the infuriated Kuromoui. A small smile slipped across his face.
" You certainly seem excited about something," he grinned. Kuromoui held his sword tightly.
" WHERE... is Shai," he repeated.
" Oh! The child?" Kagerufaia asked, feigning innocence. " Why, he's right above you,"
" What-?!" Kuromoui gasped as he glanced upwards. His eyes widened in to pure horror. Hanging from the chandelier, attached by bonds around his wrists, was Shai. Shai looked down at Kuromoui, his eyes tearful. " Shai!!!" Kuromoui gasped. Momo twirled out her bazooka, eyes narrowing as her ears flicked outward. Shai sniffled, small tears trickling down his cheeks. "Little Shai... don't worry! Don't cry! I'll get you down!" Kuromoui cried.
" I'm afraid I won't allow that," Kagerufaia said, slowly rising from his seat. " He makes a charming decoration, don't you think? I think I'll keep him there," Kuromoui whirled to glare at him.
" Just try and stop me," he spat.
" I intend to,"
No one was prepared for the fury of Jaryd that they were soon greeted with. With a loud shout, he lunged forward and slashed with his sword. Nina screamed in pain as the blade sliced in to her flesh. However, Jaryd spared no time. The very second his blade finished it's slice, he whirled and slammed his foot in to Rik's face. Rik fell backwards with a cry, blood pouring from his nose. He landed roughly in the mud, his paw shooting up to hold his nose. Jaryd, however, didn't cease his attack. He leaped forward and slashed at Mahou, Pike, and Crys. Each let out a startled yelp of pain as Jaryd darted by them with his blade outstretched and shimmering with blood. It seemed as if he could move as fast as the wind itself. He dashed back and tensed, eyes narrowed with hatred.
" Justice isn't going to give up that easily!" Crys cried. Pike growled and lashed out with his pike. Jaryd's blade and Pike's weapon met in the middle, letting out a resounding clank. Pike tensed his muscles as he tried to break Jaryd's parry, but it seemed that Jaryd had no intention of giving in. However, his distraction gave the others time to maneuver in.
" Frost!" Crys cried, a freezing wind leaping from her hand towards Jaryd. Jaryd glanced up sharply and leaped back. Pike, surprised, fell forward and in to the frost spell. Pike cried out in surprise as the cold hit him. He stumbled forward, crashing against the mud in a stunned heap. Crys squeaked. " P-Pike!" she cried. Her momentary lapse did her as much good as Jaryd's had done. The second her head was turned, Jaryd lunged in and slammed his sword hilt against the side of her head. With a startled cry, Crys fell in to the mud, unconscious. Jaryd leaped away from the duo and glared at the others.
" Bring them back," he snarled, his voice rigid. Nina shivered and clutched her wounded shoulder, blood slipping through her fingers.
" We didn't... do anything," Nina whispered.
" LIAR!" Jaryd growled, lunging towards Nina with his sword outstretched.
Medley sat up straight, sweat upon her brows. She glanced about, questioningly, in a hurried manner.
" Jaryd?" she whispered. " What is happening, Jaryd?"
" It's not right! You have no right to do this to her! She's a person like everyone else!" Jaryd snapped.
Medley gasped sharply, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
Jaryd strode forward, his eyes flashing with anger. He pointed, accusingly, towards the elder. The elder glared at him, standing tall and proud in his white robes. Behind him, hidden in the doorway, Medley peered out at the two. They were oblivious to her presence. " You have no right to confine Medley like this!"
" I have every right," the elder snapped. " She is a priestess and will act as such. She will not dirty her reputation by being seen with the likes of you,"
" The likes of me?" Jaryd growled. " What's WRONG with me, might I ask?"
" You're a hooligan with radical ideas!" the elder sniffed. " Definitely unworthy of the priestess-" he began. He gasped sharply as Jaryd stepped forward, his jaw clenched firmly.
" I suggest you watch what you say," Jaryd growled. " You stuffy old charlatans have no right to judge me and I assure you, your false god will not protect you from MY wrath anymore than you can keep Medley locked away from me,"
Medley closed her eyes and bowed her head.
" You have no right," Jaryd spat. " No more right than you had to kill the Brood, children and all. And, unlike the Brood, I AM willing to fight back," Jaryd hissed, his fist coming within inches of the Elder's shocked face.
Medley choked and covered her face with her delicate hands.
" Jaryd..,"
Kagerufaia was not as easy as Kuromoui had credited him to be. He had an instant advantage over Kuromoui, who did not have large wings to carry him above reach. Which was exactly what Kagerufaia could do, and did. He fluttered over Kuromoui, his luscious red wings keeping him out of sword reach. He smirked, tauntingly, down at Kuromoui.
" What's the matter, Kuromoui? Do you not like this game?" he grinned. " Cat and mouse is so interesting,"
" Just shut up and fight, coward," Kuromoui hissed. Kagerufaia laughed aloud.
" I? A coward? Hardly," he sneered. " I am merely far too civilized to fight you in such a barbarian manner,"
" You're a coward and you know it," Kuromoui snarled as he reared back his hand. " CHISUJIO HIDAMA!" he roared. His eyes flared blood red and blood appeared in the corner of his lips. An odd flaming fireball flew from his hands towards Kagerufaia, who barely dodged it. Instead, the ball of burning liquid crashed against the throne and shattered it. Kagerufaia eyed the throne, then Kuromoui.
" You can't expect me to fall for that twice, did you?" he asked, scoffing.
" No, but I did," a female voice called. Kagerufaia hadn't so much as turned around when a bazooka shot hit him full in the back and sent him flying to the ground, landing roughly at the feet of a statue. Kagerufaia whirled, spitting blood, to glare at Momo. Momo adjusted her glasses and twirled her bazooka like a baton. " It looked as if you had forgotten my presence," she said with a smile.
" Indeed I had..," Kagerufaia growled. " But I will not make that mistake a second time,"
" You just did!" Kuromoui snarled as he lunged forward from behind the 'emperor'. Kagerufaia gasped in pain as Kuromoui's blade sliced in to his shoulder, blood splashing. Kagerufaia grunted, pained, and glared up at Kuromoui.
" Lucky shot," he breathed. Kuromoui narrowed his eyes. Kagerufaia smirked, uneasily, and winked. " But this isn't over yet," he growled. His hand darted up to grab the key about his neck. His eyes flashed red, as did the key. " KAZE!" he growled. The key flashed and an enormous blast of wind flung him back. Kuromoui crashed against the ground with a cry. He looked up sharply, eyes wide in surprise. Kagerufaia grunted and slowly stood up, his eyes narrowed. " I'm not going to lose to you, Kuromoui... I promise you that,"
" Have at you!" Jaryd barked as he slashed his sword viciously at Rik. Rik stumbled, attempting to parry the violent attacks with his staff. Rik sniffed, dried blood stuck to his nose, as he stepped back. His cat eyes darted around quickly, then back to Jaryd. He had to find some way of defeating Jaryd, who obviously had the superior fighting force. His rage most certainly did not help the matter, either. Rik leaped back again, jumping over a mud puddle. Jaryd charged through the mud and swung, his blade barely missing Rik's face. Rik yelped and struck out with his staff, striking Jaryd in the stomach. Jaryd hissed in pain and surprise, then kicked Rik in the knee. Rik stumbled back, then scampered away from the seething knight.
" Hah!" Mahou growled as he threw a ball of fire towards Jaryd, hoping to catch him off guard as he attacked the Woren. Jaryd's head snapped about to glare at the fireball. With quick movements, he easily dodged the magic and charged towards Mahou. Mahou, distressed that his attack had drawn the attention of Jaryd, whirled and attempted to escape the charge. Jaryd skidded to a stop after he noticed Mahou's flight and laughed.
" Cowards! You singe the lion's tail, then flee when the lion roars!" he sneered. " Are you truly so pathetic that you can't even take on a single man?! All seven of you!?" he cried. Deis clenched her staff.
" You merely have an advantage due to circumstance," she said. Her eyebrows narrowed and she wished, for half a moment, that she could risk casting a strong spell to wipe Jaryd's smug face off. If she did, however, her spell keeping the naga form would dissipate and she would become a human girl, devoid of clothing. The risk was dangerous and could only be used when all else seemed to fail. Nina grunted in pain and gingerly touched her arm.
" You? A lion? You are nothing like it!" Nina spat. " The symbol of the lion is dignified... the symbol of truth and justice. You have neither!" she cried. " You kidnap a priestess for some purpose. That is inexcusable! A priestess is a symbol of purity! They do no one harm, only good, and yet you do harm to one of them!" she continued, pointing angrily at Jaryd. " You are a monster!"
Nina was unprepared for the reaction she got. Jaryd, instead of denying or growing angry, laughed. He laughed out loud, throwing his head back. His mirth was deep, then settled down to snickers. He grinned at Nina, as if she were a erring child.
" You make such absurd claims, yet do you even know me? How can you possibly accuse me of such things when you haven't any clue what is going on?" he scolded. Then, his face grew cold and hateful. " You have no business here... and that was your mistake. Your fatal mistake was taking my comrades away from me. For that... I will show you no mercy," he growled. He raised his sword and pointed it at Nina. " I will hold nothing back..!"
Nina gasped in surprise as Jaryd lunged towards her, his blade glistening.
Medley winced, her face visibly pale. She could feel, deep in her bones, that something was happening. She glanced about, feeling a coldness within her gut.
What was going on?
Medley crawled out of the bed and paced the floor, crossing her arms to hug herself. She silently prayed that the feeling rushing through her veins did not bring ill tidings as she so feared. She walked over to the door and attempted to peer through it, in hopes of seeing what was farther down the hall.
" Something's wrong..," she breathed. " But what? What's going on?"
Jaryd slashed mercilessly at Nina, his blade slicing flesh with each hit. Nina cried out in pain and stumbled backwards, unable to do much else. Jaryd lunged forward, as if to slice open Nina's head. As he lunged, his wrists were snatched in a giant hand. Jaryd looked up, sharply, to find himself staring in to Sledge's eyes. Sledge looked at him, his expression blank.
" There's been enough suffering," Sledge said, quietly. Jaryd glared up at Sledge. " If we just-," he began.
" Attack!" Crys shouted, leaping up from behind. She had a massive welt on her face, which was the result of Jaryd's attack before. She lunged at Jaryd's back, her sword aimed at her foe's back. Sledge released Jaryd's wrists with a cry.
" STOP-!" he cried. As always, he was ignored. Jaryd whirled and brought up his sword to catch Crys' blade. The two clanged roughly, sparks flying. Jaryd growled and spat in Crys' face, who squealed and stumbled back, dropping her guard, to wipe her face vigorously. Jaryd took that moment to kick Crys in the stomach, sending her in to Pike, who had just started to recover from his serious wounds. Jaryd twirled his sword and lunged at Deis, who was in the process of chanting a spell. Rik leaped between the two to defend Deis, his chipped staff meeting the blade. Rik sweated, feeling his staff quiver as it was again severed. It would soon crack, he knew. He struggled to get the blade away from his throat, in case the staff collapsed. Jaryd sneered and pressed down. Rik gave a startled yelp. Nina suddenly rushed forward and slammed in to Jaryd's side, who went tumbling. He, however, quickly caught himself and rolled to his feet. With the reflexes of a cat, he lunged and backhanded Nina, sending her sprawling in to the mud. With a growl, he stepped over her and held his sword, as if about to plunge it in to her chest.
Medley doubled over, the feeling of nausea striking her like a blow. She trembled and touched her sweaty brow. Her breath came out to short gasps, as if the air itself was restricting.
" Something... something..," she hissed. " It's... it's going to happen... but... but what's going to happen?!" she cried. She stumbled to her feet, fighting the sickness inside of her. She stumbled to the door and banged. No reply came to her beacon, no matter how loud she knocked or how long she waited. Medley backed up and clutched at her collar, as if it was choking her. " Something... something..," she cried.
" Medley..," Jaryd whispered.
Medley reared back and fell against the wall, her eyes wide.
" Medley?" Jaryd asked as he leaned over to Medley, who looked skyward at the bright stars. " What are you thinking?
" The stars are so lovely tonight," she whispered. Jaryd leaned close to her.
" That they are," he agreed. Medley tensed, slightly, and looked up at him. " What is it? You're troubled," he commented.
" The priest... they want you to leave..," Medley whispered. " Jaryd... if you don't... they might hurt you,"
" Hah," Jaryd smiled. " They can't do anything. They're just words, Medley. No action," he said. Medley glanced skyward again. Jaryd leaned against her. " Besides, I don't care if I AM at risk. After all..,"
Medley covered her ears, as if to try to hide from the voice.
"... I love you,"
Medley shook her head violently, tears pouring from her beautiful eyes.
" Jaryd!!!"
Jaryd seemed to freeze, as if his name had been called by the wind. He glanced down at Nina. Nina stared up at Jaryd, his expression a mixture of fear and horror. Bloodied wounds littered her frail body and she seemed to quiver as the sword tip pointed towards her heart. Her curly blonde hair was plastered against her face, coating in blood and mud. Jaryd slowly blinked, stepping back. His rigid hold upon the sword softened as his vicious glare softened.
She was just a child...
He wouldn't do this... no matter what she's done...
Nina seemed to notice the sudden actions and her eyes shined with confusion. Jaryd smiled, softly and sadly. She sat up and blinked, slowly. She opened her mouth to speak.
Suddenly, Jaryd's body jerked and went taunt, his eyes wide in horror and pain. Icicles sliced through his body, skewering him like deadly lances of cold. Blood splattered and dripped down the chilling pikes, his body trembling in shock. His eyes glazed, the color replaced with deathly white. Blood splattered, then dripped from his open mouth. The blood splattered upon Nina, who stared at him in silent horror. With a cry, Jaryd stumbled back, then fell to the ground. A puddle of blood formed about him, oozing and mixing with the mud and grass to form a blanket of death. Jaryd twitched, his eyes wide and staring. He attempted to speak but no words seem to escape his gasping mouth. Nina screamed, her mind in shock as to what had just occurred.
" J-Jaryd-!!" she cried, horrified. She looked up, sharply, to see Mahou. Mahou sneered down at Jaryd, his hand outstretched and still glowing from the spell.
" It's over, now," Mahou quipped.
Jaryd slowly swallowed, feeling the copper taste of blood upon his mouth. His strength was leaving him and, he knew, so was his life. His eyes glanced skyward and he weakly clenched his hands, his sword inches from his fingers.
" M-Medley..," he weakly croaked, though no one seemed to hear him. His eyes tried hard to see the sky, but it came out as a blur. " Good... bye..," he whispered. His voice seemed to disappear. His eyes shimmered with emotion, faintly. " I love you..," he mouthed, using his last bit of strength. A tear rolled down his eye. It fell from his cheek and landed in the puddle of his life's blood, now turned cold upon the damp ground. The tear, his final testament of love, was forever lost within the blood which had been spilled. Spilled for his Medley. His lovely, beautiful Medley. He had no regrets. Except, save, that he could not have been with her before he died... ...
And then, his lifeless eyes rolled back to stare at nothing.
" Good... bye... I love you..,"
Medley went totally rigid, her eyes widening. She felt as if her very blood had turned to ice. Her heart twitched and churned, as if being shredded by a wild beast. She stumbled forward.
" Jaryd-!" her voice caught, the name sounding lifeless as it tumbled from her tongue. She gasped, almost hysterically.
Jaryd turned and smiled towards her, his eyes bright.
" Medley, you little imp!" he laughed.
" J-Jaryd!!" she squeaked. She stumbled forward, her hands touching the wall. She felt an emptiness inside of her, as if a piece of her soul had just been sliced away by a chilling lance. She sunk to her knees, her eyes staring at nothing.
She knew the piece... she knew what had been taken...
" As long as we're together..," Jaryd grinned. "... our future will be bright. I mean, I'll have you, won't I?" he winked.
" JARYD!!!" she screamed, her mind pleading for Jaryd to answer. Yet her heart seemed to know that his voice wouldn't respond.
Medley threw her head back, eyes wide as tears drenched her face.
Jaryd smiled at her, fondly, and reached up to touch her cheek.
" Remember... I'll always love you... even if you don't have the courage to tell me. I know, in your eyes, that you do,"
" JAAARRRRYYYYYDDDDDDDDDD!!!!" she screeched, her entire body thrown in to the scream of sorrow and pain. She felt as if her insides were burning in an inferno of despair.
Her body began to tremble, her breathing uneasy and sharp. Her eyes continued to stare at nothing, tears pouring from her cheeks. " JARYYYYYDDD!!! JAAAARRRRYYYYYYYYD!!!!" she wailed. She closed her eyes, her tears glittering. She clutched at her chest, as if to grab her very heart from her chest.
" JARYD!! NO-!! I LOVE YOU!!"