Chapter 1: The Warning
Author's Note: Yay! Chapter one, I am so excited! I edited it a bit because I was unsatisfied with how it was before, so I added some description to make it fleshier! I hope you all like it, and would be pleased with reviews, but if it puts a smile on your face, then that is just as dandy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any Zatch Bell characters… none.
Brago and Sherry walked through the thick forest, twigs cracking beneath Sherry's heels and Brago's boots. A warm breeze ruffled the emerald leaves above the pair, casting a few loose ones downward. Sherry was a statuesque blonde, eyes a deep beautiful blue. Her chin was small and her mouth was set into a determined frown. Her fancy dress flared outward like an umbrella, often getting a teasing grunt from her companion.
Brago was almost her complete opposite, despite the similar scowls upon their faces. His dark hair was in random tangles above his head, a dark shadowy black. His crimson eyes were glaring and set ablaze by the bright sunlight. A black fur cape adorned his muscular shoulders, now tense and erect. His eyes seemed to be looking for something, or at least expecting something to come across him.
"Sherry," his deep voice grumbled.
"Yes." Sherry did not direct her gaze to his, but her fingers clutched upon an ebony book tightly.
They had been searching this forest for weak mamodo for two days and had burned about three two had recently burned a book in this area, not even a day ago… this forest was abundant in mamodo. All the better to eradicate the insects if they're all in one area, Brago thought. He shoved his clawed hands further into his pockets, feeling oddly anxious. There was a strange presence near, not different from a powerful force. He might actually have to fight in earnest. The scent of battle was all around the forest, the skittish creatures were hiding from the presence out of instinct to survive and it seemed almost like heavy cologne wafting through the trees.
A pointed teeth smirk adorned his face at the thought… a fight actually worth his time… perfect. Sherry eyed Brago curiously before a small smile stretched her pink lips upward.
"Excited?" the blonde woman asked, tilting her head back slightly as she appraised him.
Brago answered with a stiff nod, not really wanted to talk at the moment. His attention was focused upon a point ahead of the powerful team, waiting for the mamodo to appear.
What kind of ability would they have? How long could they hold out against him? Not long, Brago assumed, letting himself be conceited for a moment. He glanced at his partner, suddenly glad that he had grown at least her height in the past year. It had infuriated him to no end how much she had towered over him as if she had the authority. It also didn't help that she was at least a few years older than him, the seniority as Sherry had put it once when he had aggravated her. Brago scoffed quietly to himself at the memory, still irritated by it.
Sherry and Brago shared the same irritation about the battles lately not to mention the entire battle for king itself, which had been going on a little over a year now. It was late summer and warm, about two months after the time Brago had first come last summer. He was taller now, standing above Sherry's shoulder, though not yet past her head. Sherry would occasionally make snide comments about his growth spurts alongside snickers which made no sense to him at all. Another thing that made no sense to him at all was that this battle was taking so ridiculously long! These spineless mamodo were hiding out in thick forests and desolate areas, foolishly trying to avoid the inevitable. It was sickening and ridiculous. Brago and Sherry had decided that unless these cowardly mamodo were cut out, the battle would last much, much longer. Brago did not have time for that. He didn't want to waste his time and training on weaklings yet he needed this battle to go faster so he could get on with the significant battles. Sherry wanted the battles to hurry so she could fight Zophis and find her friend Koko. Brago supposed these weaker mamodo battles gave them more experience, Sherry especially, but regardless, they were a pain and both of them would rather not be bothered with it.
A sudden shuffle of leaves, twigs, and dirt pricked against Brago's sensitive hearing, catching his attention. He nodded at Sherry, who opened his book expectantly, cerulean eyes tight, bangs falling into them like yellow shards. Brago pulled his black clawed hands into the open air, clenching them into fists, not wanting to wait a moment longer for the battle. This meager wandering was boring and spent time better used otherwise.
A sudden figure thrust itself upon the path before them, quivering in fear, eyes wild and maniacal. Upon seeing Brago, the scrawny human thrust his hands in front of him, as if that would block any attack Brago cast at him. His red hair was plastered across his sweaty forehead and his mouth was gaping in a silent scream. Veins throbbed in his pimply temple, brown eyes wide in terror. His clothes were frayed and torn, not to mention covered in blood. He carried no book whatsoever, and Sherry felt a twinge of disappointment. Almost like taking a bite of a sweet only to find out it's bitter. It was a sour disappointment, not to mention a disgusting one.
Brago growled in annoyance. This wasn't the opponent he sensed… the power of the other unknown mamodo was so strong that it muddled all else, he hadn't even noticed this flimsy human!
"Please spare me!" the wheezy voice begged. "My book was just burned, I have nothing! Please let me be! Please!
"Save your sniveling!" Brago snapped, anger bubbling over. "Why would I waste any energy on a weakling like you?"
Sherry snapped the book shut with a sigh, not looking forward to spending the night in the forest with an angry Brago. The sooner he fought and defeated this strange mamodo the better, in her opinion. She began to walk forward and around the human who now lay sniffling and weeping on the floor. Brago was close behind her but the human's hands flashed out, clutching the fur on Brago's cloak. Sherry inhaled a sharp gasp, about to pry the human's hands off of her demon, attempting to save the human from the loss of body parts.
"You must be careful!" he cried out, quite deranged. "The mamodo, it's terribly strong! It… it has no mercy! None! The book… the book has a fierce, unforgiving light! And never! NEVER, let it touch your head!!!!" he cried out, tears and snot falling into his gaping mouth of crooked white teeth.
The man flung away Brago's cloak and sped as fast as he could in the opposite direction, limbs flailing in their haste to leave. Brago turned with raised eyebrows, in a manner of speaking seeing as he technically had no eyebrows, to look at Sherry. He shook his cloak, disgusted that it had even come in contact with the greasy skinned human, but he seemed amused. Sherry even seemed to be in a higher spirit with the battle looming before them.
"This mamodo, he will be very amusing," was all Brago said.
Sherry smirked, "About time we had some fun."
Brago chuckled darkly as he and Sherry began walking deeper into the forest, Sherry's hair shining gold in the now fading sun as it descended lower in the sky, casting the forest into a dark and ominous shadow.