A/N: Yet another Taito fic! This one incorporates a couple of my OC's, Night and Shadow. It'll be alternating POV's with Matt and Tai, but I'll start off with Matt. Also, Matt and Tai are 13 when this starts. By the way, Kari and TK aren't in this. Enjoy~
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story & the dragons.
Dragon Spirit
Chapter 1
X*X(Matt's POV)X*X
"Whoa…" I murmured, watching the shooting stars during the meteor shower. They rarely ever happened, so it was something I didn't want to miss.
"Yamato! Go to bed! It's late!" my mom shouted up to my room from downstairs.
"But Mom! There's a meteor shower!" I protested.
"I don't care! Go to bed!" she snapped, and I was quick to comply, turning off my bedroom light and curling up under my blanket.
I wish I had a true friend to protect me… I thought as I went to sleep.
X*X*X*X*X*X*X
When I woke up the next morning, it was early, and I was fortunate to have woken before my parents. Eagerly, I ran outside to look around my home for any evidence of the meteor shower, and possibly my wish being granted, but I didn't see anything. Sullenly, I began to head back to the house when something caught my eye: a gleam of something shining by the creek. Curious, I made my way over to the source, and discovered there was a silver egg, about the size of a softball, sitting by the water's edge.
"An egg? What's it doing by the creek?" I wondered aloud, but when I realized what I was doing, I sighed. "Talking to yourself, Yamato. Real nice." I decided to pick up the egg for a closer look, but as soon as I touched it, it glowed brightly and began to shake. I stumbled back, falling on my ass with a gasp as the egg hatched, revealing a small silver dragon.
It was lizard-like in appearance and size, and had plated armor instead of scales. His tiny wings were slender, like thin branches, and he had completely pure silver eyes. He actually resembled a star-filled night sky, in my opinion. He looked up at me curiously, and I carefully bent down, scooping him up in my hands.
In all honesty, I was stunned; dragons are incredibly rare, and some are even thought to be a sign of good luck. I'm sure this little guy was a sign for me that things would perk up for me.
"Who…are you?" the little dragon asked me in a small voice. He sounded as though he was trying to test out his voice.
"My name is Yamato Ishida, but you can call me Matt," I told him without hesitation, smiling slightly. "Do you have a name?"
"No," he shook his head.
"Then I'll name you Night," I declared, and placed him on my shoulder, where his tiny claws gently dug into my skin without hurting me.
"It's nice to know I've finally met you, Matt," he told me, sighing in content.
"Wait, what?" I uttered, shocked. He'd been waiting for me?
"Yes, you're my chosen human," he smiled. "Before I hatched, I knew I was waiting for my human. I didn't know what you looked like, but I knew your name. I'm so happy to finally meet you, Matt!" I blinked in surprise for a moment before replying.
"I'm happy that we met, Night. Very happy," I replied, rubbing his small head with my finger. "Come on; let's go show you to my family."
"Okay," he nodded, and I walked back home, making my way to the kitchen, where my mom was cooking breakfast.
"Good morning, Mom," I greeted, and she turned to me, but gasped in horror when she spotted Night on my shoulder.
"Yamato! What is that on your shoulder?!" she demanded, shaking in fear.
"Oh, he's a dragon," I told her. "His name is Night."
"Get rid of it!" she spat. "Either get rid of it now, or I'll kick you out!"
"Wha? I don't get it. Aren't dragons supposed to be good luck?" I questioned, bewildered by my mom's behavior.
"Not silver dragons!" she snapped. "Now get rid of it!"
"No! He's been waiting for me!" I shouted, and then my father drowsily stumbled into the kitchen.
"What's with all the yelling?!" he demanded, glaring at us.
"Yamato found a silver dragon and refuses to get rid of it!" Mom told him, and he glared at me, seeing Night on my shoulder. The poor dragon was tensed up, fearful of my parents.
"Get rid of it, Matt," Dad ordered, but I shook my head.
"No. He's mine!" I argued.
"Then pack your shit and leave, 'cause I sure as hell refuse to allow a silver dragon in my house," Dad growled, and my eyes widened in response. I then narrowed them as Night began to quiver fearfully.
"Fine. I'll leave. But you'll never find us if you come looking," I snapped, and went up to my room to pack some of my things.
"Matt…I'm so sorry I got you kicked out…" Night mumbled sadly as I threw some clothes into my backpack, plus some snacks I had hidden in my room. I even threw in my wallet and some other things I knew would come in handy later, like my pocketknife.
"Don't worry about it, Night. I had a feeling I would end up leaving before I was 18, anyway, so it's okay," I assured him. "This day just came sooner than I thought, is all."
"Well, I can at least do my best to protect you and help us get through, I guess," he murmured, nuzzling me.
"The least I can ask is for you to be my friend, Night," I told him with a small smile, my blue eyes lighting up as I spoke.
"Of course, Yamato, I always will be," he promised. I finished packing my things, grabbed my dagger from my 8th birthday and slid it into its sheath, strapping it to one of my combat boots from my 13th birthday this past year.
"Okay, I'm ready. Let's go," I announced, and we left without a word to my parents. They said nothing either, so we didn't even pause on our way out. I had no idea we would be living as thieves for the next five years…
X*X(Tai's POV, The Same Night As The Meteor Shower)X*X
"Tai, come on! The meteor shower is starting!" my mom called to me from outside.
"Coming, Mom!" I shouted back from my bedroom. I quickly ran outside, gazing in awe at the shooting stars that flew through the sky. "Whoa…"
"Make a wish, Taichi," Dad advised. When I looked at him curiously, he added, "They say if you make a wish during a meteor shower, it'll come true." I nodded.
I wish I could always protect my friends and family… I wished.
My family and I watched them, amazed, as they darted through the inky night sky. Too soon, though, it ended, and I sighed.
"It'll be okay, Tai. As long as you made a wish, anyway," Mom smiled.
"Yeah, I did. But I can't tell you, or else it won't come true!" I replied quickly, and my parents laughed.
"No worries, we won't ask," Dad chuckled. "Now, let's go to bed. It's a busy day tomorrow, seeing as it'll be your birthday!"
"Yeah!" I crowed, and raced into the house and up to my room, getting changed quickly and into my bed. I can't wait for tomorrow… I thought as I fell asleep.
X*X*X*X*X*X*X
"Happy Birthday, Taichi!"
"WAAAH!" I wailed, falling out of bed with a thump in shock. I blinked up in surprise at my parents, who were laughing as they held a present for me. I pouted at being laughed at.
"We're sorry, Tai, that was too funny, though!" Dad chuckled. "Happy Birthday, kiddo."
"Here's your first present, honey," Mom told me, handing me the wrapped gift.
"Thanks Mom! Thanks Dad!" I chirped, and quickly opened it, revealing a dagger with a black diamond in the silver handle. "Holy… IT'S SO COOL!" I shrieked, and hugged my parents tightly. "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome, Tai," Mom smiled.
"I finally convinced your mother that you need a small weapon of your own for protecting yourself in case of emergencies," Dad smirked, and I laughed.
"Well, anyway, let's get some breakfast in you, and then you can go out for a bit," Mom said pointedly, and I followed my parents down to the dining room, where there was pancakes, bacon, and eggs out on the table. It was all steaming hot, fresh, and looked delicious.
"Damn, Mom, it looks great!" I grinned, and quickly sat down at the table, piling the delicious food onto my plate.
"Watch your language, Taichi," Mom chided, and I nodded with a mouthful of food, but rolled my eyes when her back was turned.
"So, what're your plans for today, Tai?" Dad asked.
"I'm gonna go swimming in the river, and then I'll practice my archery today," I replied after swallowing.
"Just don't drown," Mom warned, but I rolled my eyes again.
"I'll be fine, Mom!" I promised with a whiny tone in my voice that I didn't like.
"Don't worry about him, Yuuko," Dad advised. "He can swim, after all."
"Yeah, I'll be fine!" I chimed in.
"Okay, okay, I'll back off," Mom smiled softly, and Dad ruffled my hair. I swatted his hands away with an indignant noise.
After breakfast, I went out to the river, eager to cool off in the water, when I spotted a gleam from something in a hollow among some tree roots.
"What's that?" I wondered aloud. I set my stuff down on a rock and made my way over, curious. Imagine my surprise when I found a black egg about the size of a softball in the hollow. I reached for it so I could pull it out, but when I touched it, the egg glowed brightly and shook. I quickly retracted my hand, shocked by the action, and watched as the egg rolled out of the hollow to sit before me. It then hatched into a small black dragon, which blinked at me. I knew that dragons existed, but they were also incredibly rare and considered signs of good luck.
This one resembled a lizard, especially in size, but with plated armor instead of scales, and had a tiny pair of slender wings. His eyes were completely pitch black.
"Who are you?" he asked, and I blinked back in response.
"I'm…Taichi Yagami, but just call me Tai," I replied. It didn't say anything. "Don't you have a name?"
"No," he shook his head.
"Well, I'll call you Shadow," I smiled.
"I'm glad to finally meet you, Tai," Shadow grinned. At my confused face, he added, "I've been waiting for you to find me so we could be friends. I knew your name, but not what you looked like. I'm so happy!"
"As long as your happy, then I'm happy," I said, and carefully picked the little dragon up. "Come on, I'll take you back to my house! My parents will love this!"
I was right. When I brought Shadow home, both Mom and Dad were ecstatic. They told me that black dragons were rare, and were also incredibly lucky. When Shadow told them I was his chosen human, though, they looked at each other, and then us.
"Taichi, we think you may have something to do with an ancient prophecy," Dad told me.
"What prophecy?" I asked.
"It involves two humans and two dragons, and it speaks of them partnering together and conquering the darkness to restore the balance in the world," Mom answered. "And it seems like you and Shadow are one of those partnered pairs." I looked at Shadow, who was perched on my shoulder.
"Is that why you're here, Shadow?" I questioned.
"I honestly don't know. I just know that I was waiting for you so I could hatch," he replied with a small shrug.
"Well, if this prophecy is true, then I guess I need to start training so I can be ready for a journey," I said, mainly to myself.
"I don't know about this…" Mom murmured, her expression one of worry.
"He'll be fine, Yuuko," Dad assured her. "We'll let him leave for his journey when he's 17. That way he'll have time to prepare himself for it."
"WHAT?!" I shrieked. "I have to wait until I'm 17?! But that's in four years! I can't wait that long!"
"Taichi, I'll let you leave in three years, when you're 16, if you'd like," Mom smiled softly at me.
"Are you sure, Mom? I know you're worried about me, but I'll be okay!" I promised.
"Don't make me reconsider it, Taichi," she warned, and we hugged. Dad patted my back, and I grinned up at him.
"We'll make sure you're ready," he said, and then shook his head. "All right, enough of this. You have some more presents to open, Taichi." Mom giggled.
"Really?" I grinned. My parents nodded, and I raced to search for them, Shadow easily gripping my shoulder as we went.
"You're an eager human, Taichi, and I like it," he chuckled. I paused to rub his head lightly before going to my room since I hadn't found anything in the other rooms of the house. As soon as I opened my door and saw the inside, I gasped in amazement; there was a bunch of presents on my bed, all for me to open.
"Awesome!" I cried out, and began to open them. In the end, I had gotten a katana blade, a pair of leather boots, a compass that once belonged to my grandfather, a sheath for the katana, and my dad's old telescope.
Finally, I was surprised when my parents came and gave me one last present: a necklace with a pendant that resembled the sun. There was a second pendant in the box, though, and when I pulled it out, it looked like a yin-and-yang symbol, but without the circles inside and with two spikes sticking out of the sides, one on the left side and one on the right side, and they curved in opposite directions away from each other.
"What's the second one?" I asked, placing the sun pendant around my neck.
"Well, first off, the sun means courage, and as for the second one, it represents friendship," Dad explained. "It's to give to the other person with their dragon. Never lose it, Taichi. It's very important."
"I won't, Dad," I promised seriously. Glancing down at the pendant around my neck, I added, "Thank you."
"I know you won't," he smiled, and ruffled my hair affectionately. "All right, sport, let's get some dinner. We'll have some birthday cake afterwards, and then you're off to bed."
"Awww, Dad! Do I have to?" I whined, and Shadow chuckled by my ear.
"Yes, Taichi. You start training in combat tomorrow," he reminded me, and I nodded vigorously.
"All right," I agreed, and we went down to eat. After we had dinner, followed with cake, Shadow and I curled up in my bed. "I hope our adventure won't be too difficult…" I murmured as Shadow snuggled into my side.
"But, Tai, that's what makes an adventure so fun," he told me wisely. "If there's no difficulty to a journey, then you don't gain anything from it."
"How would you know?" I asked suspiciously.
"I don't know for certain, I just feel that way," he answered.
"Oh. Well, anyway, goodnight, Shadow," I murmured, and closed my eyes.
"Goodnight, Taichi," he sighed, and we went to sleep.
A/N: Okay, now I got a message from a good friend of mine, and she told me that this sounds a lot like Eragon, but trust me, I didn't have that in mind when I was thinking of this fic. I swear, it's not like Eragon. Anyway, I hope you guys like this fic, and I'll have the next update soon! R&R, peeps!
