The Mystic Riders

Chapter 1: The Black King Stallion Chooses

A/N: DON'T OWN NARUTO!! THEY BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS SADLY ENOUGH.

In a land full of legends there are none greater than the stories of the dragon and unicorn riders. Very few humans got the chance to become such a rider. Though Dragon and Unicorn riders were made enemies even if their humans weren't, for it was the law of nature that dragons and unicorns be enemies. How they became such is unknown. The only thing to anyone's knowledge is just legends and myths, but that is where the story begins with a single prophecy of hope that came from a legend of old. That would either lead to the end of the struggle between riders or bring upon them destruction.

A beautiful black unicorn stallion paced haughtily through the woods. His mane and tail unfurled as he moved gracefully. His name was Shadow Dancer and he was the King of the Black Unicorns, even thought there were so few of them. He was looking for his rider. More often than not unicorns chose female riders there were a few male unicorn riders, but they were few and far in-between. The stallion paused and scented the air. He could hear the laughter of children. Carefully he picked his way through the forest towards the sound. Before him were two teenage girls and one adult woman. Tossing his head he paced forward. All three women froze at the sight of his shining black coat and spiral black horn that sat between his brows. His eyes were centered upon the girl with pink hair. She looked to be thirteen years old at least. The blonde looked about ready to tackle him in a hug with the way she was bouncing up and down. He snorted. She must think he was going to choose her. Carefully he picked his way forward and stood before the pink haired girl. Hesitantly she came up to touch his muzzle, but the blonde girl shoved her out of the way and attempted to pet him. Shadow Dancer snorted angrily. The woman scooped the blonde up and backed away from the big stallion knowing he was there for the pink haired girl. The small girl moved closer to him again and reached up and brushed her fingers across his muzzle. He took in her scent and she smelled like flowers blooming underneath the light of the full moon. Gracefully he knelt before his soon-to-be rider. She grasped a handful of mane and hauled herself up on his broad back. Turning away from the two he dashed off into the woods.

He could tell the girl was a bit scared so the stallion sought to reassure his rider. He would bind them as unicorn and maiden later when they were alone, but at that point there was no need.

'What's your name?' he asked softly in her mind. 'How old are you?'

"Sakura, Sakura Haruno, and I'm thirteen."

'Sakura, that's a pretty name. My name is Shadow Dancer and we're going to be partners for a long time.'

She nodded knowing what his taking her meant. Her fingers shifted through his silky black mane thinking of the future that was surely to befall them.

Five Years Later

Sakura cursed as she and Shadow Dancer were running through the woods. They were being pursued by Hunters, not only did they have to worry about Dragon Riders, but Hunters were always trying to kill Unicorns and Dragons. She looked over her shoulder and noticed a white flash gaining on them. They thought they could outrun the King of the Black Unicorns. Shadow Dancer's pace picked up as his strides became longer but his strides were never rough as he ran allowing his rider to stay astride even at this fast pace. Her long black cloak billowed out behind her and her hair was a wavy mass of pink. She hadn't cut it in a long time so it almost reached her behind.

"What can we do?" she asked softly.

'We have to find shelter soon a storm is coming.'

"Great," she growled softly. "We're getting ready to cross into Fire territory."

'I know.'

Fire territory was mainly controlled by Dragon Riders. The Leader, the Hokage was a dragon rider or so they say. Sakura avoided Fire Territory as much as possible. She hated fighting even though she did it when provoked. More often than not dragon riders loved to pick on her when they found her. So she avoided countries that had a high rate of dragon riders around. Suddenly a lancing pain raced through her back. Breathing became harder. Shadow Dancer sensed his partner's pain and smelled her blood his strides became longer. He had to get her some help before she bled to death or something.

'Hang on Sakura.'

"Shadow…"

She fell forward against his neck. Her fingers were still tangled in his black mane. The stallion kept his pace ahead of the Hunters. It wouldn't be long before darkness would descend upon them and that's when Shadow Dance would be at his element. The only problem was he needed to find someone to help him get the arrow out of his partners back to be able to heal her. They were heading strait for Fire Country and knew the chances of a unicorn and his rider to get help was going to be hard. The Hunters must have known as they drove them forward. Cursing he veered off of the wooded deer path they were following and headed for the main road. His strides picked up as he ran down the dirt packed road. A shiver of energy ran through him as he realized that he'd passed into the realm of Fire. All he knew that he had to find help and quickly. A mansion loomed up over the distance making him lengthen his strides. Maybe he could plead with the people of the house to help his rider. Surely all the compassion in the world had dried up. He moved up to the door on the porch and much like a dog used his front hooves it signal a knock. A woman answered the door and gasped at what she saw. Her dark eyes widened as she stared at the pair.

'My rider please…'

The woman nodded and gestured him to come into the house, but he didn't budge from his spot. He was covered with dried and caked mud., and the blood that was dripping on his coat from his rider's wounds. Shadow Dancer may have been a unicorn and an animal to all others, but he had enough sense not to walk into a house covered in mud. Sakura needed help and needed it badly, but he wasn't going to risk her life just in case this woman would easily anger over dirty floors.

"Come in," she gestured.

'But I…'

"My sons bring in their dragons all the time covered in mud so a little bit of it isn't going to worry me."

'Dragons…'

"Don't worry I won't let them hurt you while you're in my care. I make that promise on the name of the Uchiha Clan."

He nodded his head as he followed the woman into the house. She led him to a room on the lower level of the house. It was big enough to fit a lot of people. To one side was a King sized bed. His small rider would get lost among the covers if she tried. The woman had him stand next to the bed and get down on his knees so the woman could slide Sakura off his back and on her side on the bed.

"I'll go get my supplies to heal her and after that I'll get that muck off your pretty black coat."

'I thank you.'

She nodded her head and went to get her supplies and quickly returned. The woman worked on getting Sakura's shirt off by tearing it. Figuring this girl wouldn't appreciate people staring at her naked form a sheet was drug up to cover the girl's breasts. She probed the wound with her fingers. Her tongue was sticking out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrated on what she was doing.

"Thankfully it went completely through and didn't leave much damage. I'm going to dull the pain before I yank it out."

She gave Sakura something to drink laced with pain medication. Once it started to take affect Sakura started to doze off. The scent of his rider's blood was making him nervous. Swiftly the woman broke off the feathered end of the arrow and then yanked the arrow from Sakura's shoulder from the exiting point of the arrow and set it aside. A strangled sleepy cry escaped his rider making him tense. The older woman murmured soothing nothings as she took the medicine and put a cloth on each end to help staunch the bleeding until she could get the proper bandaging on the wound. If he hadn't known this woman was a mother at first glance her actions taking care of his partner would have confirmed it, even though she was more than likely a mother of males instead of females.

"What brings the two of you to the Land of Fire?" she asked softly as she tended to Sakura.

'My rider and I were being chased by Hunters.'

"My sons have to deal with them as well. May I ask your names?"

'My name is Shadow Dancer and this is Sakura.'

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Mikoto Uchiha. The two of you need rest. I'll send someone in to wash her and brush down your coat."

The stallion nodded his head before turning his gaze to Sakura. She was sleeping deeply and for that he was thankful. His mind drifted to the fact that this woman took in a unicorn rider without question even though her son's apparently were dragon riders. It was a rare person indeed that would allow an enemy into their home willingly. He knew that not all people accepted the way things were and aided both races, apparently this Mikoto Uchiha was one of them. A woman walked in carrying a basin of warm water and began to wash down Sakura then bandaged the wounds tight enough to keep the bandages in place over the wounds, and then slipped a shirt on her. Sakura didn't even stir. A young boy came in. He looked into Shadow Dancer's eyes without any fear. He bowed before the stallion gracefully as if he were a human nobleman. Shadow's ear twitched a bit in confusion.

"Come with me my Lord," the boy softly spoke to the stallion.

Shadow Dancer nodded and allowed the boy to lead him out a door which led to a small courtyard. He began to carefully brush him down. Shadow Dance allowed the boy to work on making his coat shine again. Sighing softly he knew that if the dragon riders returned there might be trouble, but there was no choice for the two of them since Sakura was hurt. It would be a few days before he had the strength to heal Sakura to full strength. Sighing softly he waited for the boy to get done brushing him down. Once he was free of mud he returned to his partner's side and stood beside her bed. Sleep claimed him shortly after.

Sasuke cursed softly as he and his partner Fire Storm finally made it home. Itachi was stuck in the capital taking care of some business and then he'd return home later. His girlfriend had tried to get him to stay as long as Itachi was there, but the oldest Uchiha insisted that he return home. Sometimes he swore that his mother and his brother were plotting against him. They didn't want him to be with the girl he'd chosen for himself. Shaking that thought off he looked down at his home. They landed in front of the house. Sighing softly he brushed his hair back into its messy order. With grace and ease he slid down off the dragon's back. His hand rested on his partner's shoulder as he watched him. Fire Storm paused before he moved forward raising his nose up he scented the air. He noticed his partners' hesitation, that was never a good sign.

"What is it Fire Storm?"

"There is a unicorn here," the red dragon growled.

"Why would there…"

Then one thought came to mind and he growled softly. He knew his mother had a big heart but to bring a unicorn here was dangerous. All the unicorn riders he'd seen thus far were too naive to truly be what they should have been, warriors. There were few that he fought that were worth the small battle but none of them had ever proved to him that they were truly up to par with dragons and their riders.

"Sasuke you're home finally."

The door opened and his mother rushed out and enveloped the youngest Uchiha in a hug. Sasuke was a bit shocked at his mother's action but returned the hug hesitantly. His mother was definitely up to something there was no doubt about that, and half the time he never liked what she was doing.

"Mom, Fire Storm scented a unicorn near."

The dragon's eyes darted to the forest. Shadow Dancer was standing underneath the shade of a cherry tree. A few petals carried by the wind dropped on his back. The stallion shook himself bodily to get rid of the petals on his back. He continued eating the grass oblivious to the danger that was clearing waiting to coil and strike. Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the sight of the black unicorn.

"Sasuke while they're here you cannot attack them," Mikoto told her son and his partner sternly. "His rider was injured while they were running from Hunters. I've granted them safety in this household until his rider heals."

Sasuke in all of his travels had never seen a black unicorn before. He'd seen various colored unicorns the majority were white but a black one wasn't one of them. There were a few that had black in their coats but none were pure black. Then movement made the unicorn's head come up. A woman stumbled towards the stallion wrapped in a blanket. What made his eyes widen was the pink of her hair. She stumbled into the stallion and wrapped her arms around his neck. The two nuzzled each other. Mikoto watched her son watching Sakura and Shadow Dancer. Her matchmaking mind started to work. The two of them could stop the useless fighting between dragon and unicorn riders by marrying and concentrate on strife between Hunters and Riders. She approached her son standing beside him and watched the unicorn and rider interact. The big stallion stood there steady and strong and the girl leaned against his broad side. Her fingers were still tangled in his mane. The girl leaned down and rested her forehead against the stallion's neck.

"She's beautiful isn't she?" Mikoto asked her son softly.

"Mother I know what you're thinking and its not going to happen. I have a girlfriend already that's a dragon rider like myself."

"That girl isn't any good for you Sasuke."

He knew that Karin was only after him for his wealth and looks, but she was the only girl he could stand for more than five minutes at a time. She was his choice until he could find someone that he could stand a lot longer. Honestly in his mind she was just a way to release his sexual tension, but he wouldn't tell his mother that one.

"You've only met her once how could you possibly deduce that?"

"Because she doesn't seem right for you and it's a mother's instinct."

Sasuke snorted at his mother's words. His eyes turned back to the pair. Suddenly the stallion whinnied in distress as the girl fell to the ground with a loud thump. Sasuke didn't know what drove him to leap forward and knelt down beside Sakura and scooped her up in his arms. The stallion nickered at Sasuke. He saw the nervous twitching of the stallion's muscles. Sasuke snorted in disgust that this stallion thought he'd attack them while his rider was clearly not ready to take him on. He'd rather it be a fair fight. Rolling his eyes he carried her back to the room she'd obviously come from. He laid her down and stepped away from the bed. Shadow Dancer came up beside the dragon rider.

'Thank you dragon rider. I know that we aren't welcome here, but I am grateful for all of your family's help.'

"The name is Sasuke, and don't thank me, thank my mother."

'My name, Dragon Rider Sasuke, is Shadow Dancer.'

Sasuke looked the stallion up and down and contemplated what had been said. The way that the stallion spoke was a way a royal spoke, he knew because Fire Storm in his own right was a prince to the fire clan of dragons, that and the fact he'd been to court a couple of times with his brother. There were so many things that he didn't know that were not adding up. The stallion knew that he was heading closer to fire country and yet he plowed through the borders without even hesitating. What bothered him even more was he was willing to risk his rider's life by bringing her into a household that had not just one but two dragon riders. Even though he and Itachi would obey their mother's wishes and not touch the girl while she was here healing, but he wouldn't tell the stallion that.

"Are you a king stallion?"

'I am. My rider however doesn't know that. I'm a king to a fading kind. Black Unicorns are falling because of our power and when we take riders they are stronger than any others. In knowing this many riders never meet their unicorn partners.'

"Why are you telling me this since I'm a dragon rider?"

'I believe you can help my rider where others and myself have failed.'

"You're not playing match maker too are you?" Sasuke asked in disgust.

The stallion shook his head playfully. Sasuke could see the laughter in his eyes, for some reason that ticked him off. He didn't need this arrogant King Stallion laughing at him.

'No, my rider needs help but not from any unicorns. She needs help from a dragon rider.'

"You're asking a dragon rider to help your rider?"

'You're more than just a dragon rider Uchiha Sasuke you've always been more than just a dragon rider.'

The stallion turned his back on the boy and melted into the shadows of the forest. Sasuke was left standing there completely irritated at this creature that dared to enter their home. Shaking his head he turned to head to his room. This was just too much for him to take in at once. It set his mind awash with confusion. Flopping backwards on his bed he stared up at the ceiling until darkness swamped his vision.