Preface
Hello again! Once upon a time I wrote a fanfiction because my cousin challenged me to. Heart of the Oni was a really fun project, and after I finished it I realized I didn't really want to be done writing yet. So I wrote some short stories that delve deeper into the backgrounds of characters. The largest of these is the story of Echo and Antirock. I also went into Keyda's past. These stories will obviously make the most sense if you've already read Heart of the Oni. But I also wrote my own little head-canon background scenes for Cole, Jay, Zane, and Kai…and while there's a few HOTO tie-ins they are mainly based in the original series.
I hope that you enjoy my little collection of short stories, and I hope you'll let me know what you think!
Thank you for reading!
-NP
Echo and Antirock
1
Her breath came out in silent huffs as she pressed her back against the rock. It was a hot day; the rock burned against her bare shoulders and her grip on the spear was slippery with sweat. But she didn't worry too much about that. She checked the breeze once again to ensure that she was still downwind of the dragon; she was. Easing from her position behind the rock, she held her spear at the ready as she approached. Though she had proven herself in many tests of strategy and skill, the individual take down of a Dragon was the ultimate achievement among the Oni. Up ahead she could make out the swishing of a pale golden tail; this was unlike others she had seen over the years. This one would be quite the catch.
She realized how annoyed Kahzym would be if he knew she was hunting this big of prey on her own. She shook away the thought. She could handle it…she could hardly be on the council of war having never killed a dragon on her own. The tail pulled away, disappearing behind the larger rocks and boulders. She froze, wondering if the Dragon had somehow sensed her, but when no attack was launched she decided against it. She came closer, her body now pressed up against the large formation that was blocking her view of the whole dragon. The element of surprise would be on her side, but she would still have to move quickly…
There was a golden glow that suddenly began beaming from around the rock. She blinked in surprise. After a few moments, she risked a peek around the rock.
The Dragon had a very long body, and no wings. Despite that he seemed to be weaving his way through the air. Her heart lurched; this was one of the Elder race.
The golden glow continued to emanate off the Dragon's body as it created lazy circles in midair, and the ground below him glowed. After a few transfixing minutes, the glow radiating from the dirt became extremely bright before fading away, revealing a patch of bright red poppies. Echo lowered her spear in amazement. Dragons held the power of creation, which was evident in the elemental powers that many of them possessed. But this? This was the creation of life itself…
There was flicker of movement in the dragon, the barest hint that something wasn't quite right. She looked up suddenly and realized that it was staring straight at her. There was a second of silence, and then the Dragon attacked. She cursed as she dodged back behind the boulder, but its winding, wingless body was incredibly fast. It slammed in the rock where she had been standing, which exploded around her as she ran.
How could she have been so stupid? She had given up the element of surprise….no. She shook her head, irritated. Her true problem was continuing the hunt after knowing what kind of dragon it was. She squeezed into a slot canyon, and the Dragon lashed out with a large forearm. One of his claws raked her bare arm and she cried out as it drew blood. The gash wasn't too deep….she would live. She continued to run.
Antirock stared at the poppies with pride. This realm held so much potential…together he knew the dragons could make it so beautiful. But Jarule didn't really care about aesthetics…no, Antirock's brother was much more interested in destroying the Oni.
A glimmer of light flashed and Antirock glanced over to see sunlight glinting off a spear. His calm nature evaporated as he snarled. An Oni…staring at his poppies with the strangest look on her face.
She glanced up and met his eye, and Antirock knew it'd be a race for the kill. He wasn't too worried; this Oni had come alone, and he absolutely dwarfed her in size. He charged.
She managed to escape his initial charge and slipped into a small opening between two rock walls. He lashed out but barely managed to hit her at all. He opened his mouth and blasted golden power down the skinny canyon, but she had already thrown out a blast of her own that punched a hole into one of the walls, allowing her to escape. He turned his head, tracking her flight across the parched field. She had abandoned her spear…no doubt she had realized now that she was no match for him. Now she was just trying to escape with her life.
He whipped after her, and she turned briefly to unleash a large blast of hatred back at him. He skirted around the attack and fired another of his own. This one hit near where she was running, the impact throwing her sideways. She rolled as she landed, but another blast hit her in the back and threw her forward. His forearm came down before she had a chance to recover, pinning her face-down into the dirt with his clawed foot. He could feel her struggling, but there was nothing more she could do. She wasn't strong enough to escape, and it was impossible for her to throw an attack backwards. It would be an easy kill.
He hesitated, trying to decide how best to do it…he wasn't a fan of gruesome deaths. Suddenly, something caught his eye; something tied into the bottom of the Oni's long thick braid. He cocked his head as he moved closer for a better look. It looked like…a dried red poppy. He blinked in surprise. What on earth would an Oni want with a beautiful flower? He had been making patches all over the realm, but he assumed that any Oni that came across them would destroy them without a second thought.
"Just kill me already!" The Oni screamed from her down-facing position. "What are you waiting for?!"
For some reason, Antirock's desire to kill her had diminished, leaving him at a loss of what to do. He could just let her go…but he could only imagine the reactions if word got back to the other dragons. Especially his brother. He clamped his claws around the Oni's small form, pinning her arms to her side. He brought her up to look at him, and she glared with flaming purple eyes.
"What the heck do you want?!" she spat.
Where did you get that?
She blinked at the sound of his voice, her anger fading to confusion. He knew that few Oni had ever heard the sound of a dragon's voice, despite the hundreds they had silenced over the years. But as a member of the leading race, his language could be interpreted by all.
The poppy. In your hair.
She shook off her surprise and continued her glare.
"Why?"
He clenched his foot and she grunted as his grip became tighter, putting pressure on her injured arm.
"I found it." she finally said.
Why keep it?
She had looked away. At his question she smiled bitterly and scoffed.
"Because…it was beautiful."
He was almost angry at her reply. What would an Oni know of beauty? You know only destruction and Hatred…
"You dragons are all the same." she snapped back. "You think that just because you hold the power of creation, you hold some sort of monopoly over beauty, or affection?"
He shook his head, baffled. It was the first conversation he had ever had with an Oni, and he was realizing that besides being horrible monsters of destruction, the Oni were also quite insane.
"Our power derives from chaos, and yours from peace…but that doesn't mean that we can't appreciate the beauty in the world." she suddenly looked around the landscape. "Not that there is much beauty left in this one…"
She was confusing him, but he knew now he couldn't kill her. He couldn't quite let her go, either….but bringing her back home with him was also not an option. What to do?
"Are you just going to keep toying with me, or are you actually going to kill me?"
Her tone was still bitter, but she had relaxed somewhat, as if finally resigned to her fate. He just stared at her, trying to come up with a solution. As the silence stretched longer the Oni turned towards where she had first caught him using his powers.
"How did you do it?" she finally asked. He blinked in surprise.
Do what?
"The poppies. You… created life in a barren environment…"
Antirock was quiet, thinking.
The leading race can control the Golden Power…and the Golden power is made of the elements…and the elements create.
It sounded like he was reciting an age-old lesson…because he was. He didn't really know exactly how his powers worked, but he knew what others had told him about them. The Oni looked back at him, her eyes fading from their purple color into a deep maroon.
"Are you the one creating all the poppy fields, then?"
He didn't answer, and she pressed more.
"They weren't around a few weeks ago, but they are now. Why are you doing that?"
Antirock frowned, self-conscious. His own brother hadn't noticed his work, but this Oni had?
Because I wanted to.
Echo couldn't help but laugh at his defensive response. He was the one holding her a breath away from death; he had all the control, but he was going to get defensive about a question? What on earth did he have to be defensive about?
The Dragon looked confused at her laugh, as if he couldn't figure out what had initiated it. The more she looked at him, the more she realized that he wasn't all that old. As far as Dragons went, he was quite young.
She shook her head at his confused expression.
"Never heard a laugh before?" she taunted.
Not from an Oni.
She couldn't get over the fact that she was hearing a dragon speak. She had known Dragons had their own language, but she had never imagined their voices to sound like this. It was like he was speaking directly in her mind, but she could feel it rumbling within her as well. It was an almost golden sound…and she didn't hate it nearly as much as she probably ought to.
It was odd. She had never thought to get to know a Dragon…they were the enemy. They had killed thousands of her people over the years in this horrible war…a war she just wanted to be over. But as she stared at this strange beast who could actually talk with her, she felt an insatiable curiosity bubble up inside.
"You aren't going to kill me, then." she finally said, matter-of-factly. He glared a bit at her, but eventually shook his head no.
"Good. I have so many questions."
"What kind of name is Antirock?"
Anitrock lifted his head to give her a withering look. She was splayed out in one of his poppy fields, and he had wound himself around the field so that anyone passing by wouldn't notice that he was spending time with this Oni without killing her. She was looking back at him, eyebrows raised in an almost playful manner. Who was this strange creature?
It's an honorable name. He said stiffly. She snorted.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
It has deep meaning in the dragon tongue; basically, it means 'firm loyalty.'
"Alright, then, Mr. Loyalty." She said with a smirk. "Do all dragon's names have meaning in the common tongue?
He had never thought about it. He was silent for a few minutes, thinking.
Not all dragons even have names…but those of the Elder Race always do. My brother, Jarule, recently became the Elder dragon…
She frowned at the mention of his brother.
"What does his name mean?" she asked softly.
Righteousness.
She scoffed again, but this time it was more bitter than playful.
And what do they call you? Freak? Outcast?
She rolled her eyes. "Very funny. I'll have you know that I am quite accepted in my world; it's only you who thinks I'm a freak. In fact, I recently was accepted onto the war council."
She must have felt him stiffen, because she winced.
"I haven't even been to a single meeting, though." she said quickly, as if that changed everything. "As for what they call me, my name is Echo."
He wanted to make fun of it, as she had his name. But he found that he kind of liked it.
He shook his head, frustrated. He wasn't even supposed to be here! Let alone conversing with an Oni… who was part of the war council.
I have spent too long here. We should have never talked in the first place.
She looked over at him.
"Yes…I suppose you're right. Kahzym would have my head if he knew…" she took in his confused look. "Our leader. Kahzym Oerall the Third. As long as we're talking names, there's a pretentious one."
He couldn't help but smile. He stretched and shook himself off, weaving back into the air. She stood as well, but not before adding a fresh poppy to the end of her braid.
"So Mr. Loyalty, when are we meeting next? I still have more questions."
He glared down at her. Next? It was bad enough that this had happened once! But as he looked at her—horns, glowing maroon eyes, and poppied braid—he realized with a surprise that he wanted to.
Daylight is too risky he found himself saying. Meet here, next half moon….
She nodded and had run off before he could change his mind.
The camp moved every couple days; that coupled with the Oni-magic-meshed poles surrounding it made the Oni war camp a hard target for the Dragons to attack.
Echo hurried back into camp, using her own purple aura to allow her entry back into it. She was headed to her own tent when someone called out to her.
"Aren't you supposed to be in the meeting?"
She froze, realizing that the meeting must have been moved up…which meant she was late for her first council of war. She turned quickly and made her way to the council tent. The guards gave her a nod and opened the tent flap and she ducked in, slightly flushed.
Kahzym was with the other leaders, leaning over a large map on the table. His eyes flashed as he watched her come in. She slipped into an empty place, her face calm and unembarrassed. The leader stared at her for a moment longer, but then his gaze dropped back to the map as he continued.
"We are seeing more movement in the southern regions as well…" He turned to the man next to him. "Anything to report on our stance in those areas?
The man stroked a long beard. "We see most destruction aimed at those communities that don't have as much magic protection…such as farming villages. But we have also been able to locate a large Dragon camp. With the proper plan, we could take it out…"
"Why don't we just go in blasting?" Another leader yelled. He was from the eastern province and was well known for his "fight now, plan later" approaches.
"Too many dragons, Virgil." The southern leader protested. "We may be able to take out many of them, but we would suffer far too many losses on our end.
Echo listened intently, but even though she had been looking forward to these meetings and their thrilling strategy planning, she felt distant today. She didn't notice Kahzym's eyes on her as she fiddled with the poppy at the end of her braid.
After another hour of argument Kahzym finally put a hand to his temple and told them all to get out.
"We are getting nowhere…I will consult with my advisors and we will reconvene tomorrow."
The Leaders nodded their agreement; it was late and everyone was tired. The Oni cleared the tent and Echo went to follow.
"Not you, Echo."
She stopped dead, sighing internally before turning and walking back towards him. The Leader watched her approach, still leaning over the table in front of him. His long black hair was braided in dozens of tiny braids, all of which were held together at the nape of his neck by a silver band. He raised an eyebrow as she approached, his deep ebony eyes flashing.
"You've been hunting on your own."
She shrugged, not confirming or denying. She was wondering how he had known when he turned her arm to get a better look at the long, jagged gash. She realized that she had forgotten all about it…it had crusted over because she hadn't taken the time to clean and treat it. After a minute he dropped her arm, looking at her with the same serious expression he always wore.
"You hardly spoke a word this entire meeting. We could have used your input."
"I'm sorry, Kahzym." She said simply. She didn't feel like offering excuses.
"I wanted you on this council because of your ability to think of unorthodox answers. The war is getting increasingly volatile…we can't just use the same five strategies anymore." He glanced down at the red flower in her braid.
"I understand…I will think about what we can do about that dragon camp…" she replied, frowning as he eased the poppy from her hair.
"I expect you to have come up with a few possibilities by tomorrow." He examined the flower and then looked back at her, as if asking for an explanation. She didn't feel like giving one.
"I said I would think about it, Kahzym."
He searched her face for a few moments longer and then looked back down at his map.
"Do not be late again."
She took this to mean that she was allowed to leave. She bowed her head respectfully and then disappeared out into the night.
Echo waited in the poppies, looking up at the half-moon. It had been a week since she had met the dragon, and she found it incredibly hard to be patient as she waited for him to turn up. There was something thrilling about all of this…something she couldn't quite describe. She knew how the other Oni would react…but rather than frighten her the prospect made it all the more exhilarating.
She tried not to think about the war council that she would be expected to attend in the next few days. She had been making more of an effort in those she had attended in the past week, but none of them could come to agreement of what to do. She shook the arguments from her thoughts,
Where was he? She knew deep down that it was probably foolish to think the Dragon would show up. Realistically he would show up with an army and force her to let them into the Oni camp. Or perhaps he had already erased their conversation from his mind.
She heard a whisper of something and a watched a shadow flit across the half-moon. She smiled as she caught the pale-golden figure weaving his way towards the field. He looked almost white in the moonlight.
"I didn't think you would show." She said honestly as he landed. He looked irritated.
I almost didn't
She smirked, arms folded. "That would have been rude…it was your idea to meet here tonight."
She stood and stretched, and Antirock rolled his eyes.
"What have you been up to? Making more flower fields?"
My brother has kept me busy…I haven't had the time.
"Pity." She came closer. "They do make this horrible realm seem a little less awful. Flowers don't grow much on their own here, you know."
The Dragon seemed a little uncomfortable, as if he was arguing with himself silently. He finally turned to her.
You said you had more questions…
His tone made it clear he wanted to answer them so he could leave. She shrugged.
"I guess. Do you have any questions?"
He snorted. What questions would I have for an Oni?
She shook her head. "I don't know. Do you have many conversations with Oni? Already know everything about us?"
No…you'd be the first. He paused for a moment before continuing. And I already know everything I need to.
She rolled her eyes. "…I'm sure…"
Do you have questions or not?
She walked past him, staring up at the moon as she continued to stretch. He noticed that there was a long, jagged line on her arm; her wound from the week earlier was healing.
She didn't turn to him as she asked her question.
"What's it like to fly?"
He cocked his head.
What?
She turned, and it was hard to see her expression with the moonlight behind her.
"Since you know so much about us…I'm sure you're aware that Oni can't fly. But I've always wondered…what's it like?"
Antirock stared at her. Of course he knew that Oni couldn't fly…but it never occurred to him that they would wonder what it was like. He felt something like pity as he realized that the monsters had never experienced the rush and freedom that came from souring through the wind and stars.
It's brilliant
She laughed. "I figured as much. When I was younger, I'd dream of flight. It was just so…freeing."
Once again, the Dragon found himself wondering at this strange Oni in front of him. Did all Oni possess these sentiments? Or was she as different as he assumed? He had never thought that Oni could possess any feeling outside of Hatred and Manipulation….but here was this curious woman who cared about flowers and flight.
He didn't know what came over him, but he moved suddenly, whipping towards her. She fell backwards in surprise, but he had closed a clawed foot around her before she could hit the ground.
"What…"
Her words were whisked away as he bolted into the air.
Echo gasped as the wind whipped around her. For a moment, she thought that the dragon had finally decided to kill her. After a few minutes, however, Antirock slowed, weaving through the air miles from the landscape below. She looked down, eyes wide.
They flew around in silence. She couldn't believe how different everything looked from so high She reached out a hand and marveled at how the wind felt as it rushed through her fingers at the high speed they were traveling.
"It's beautiful." She finally said. Antirock smiled.
Jarule clicked his claws on the rock, impatiently. Over the past month, his younger brother had disappeared more and more, and no one seemed to know where he was going. He caught sight of something making its way towards the Elder rock and sighed angrily.
And what time do you call this? Jarule asked as his brother approached.
Antirock landed. Jarule. Well met…it feels like we haven't seen each other for a while…
Indeed. Where on earth have you been?
Antirock didn't seem bothered by his brother's tone.
I've just been checking the realm…seeing what's new, adding bits of beauty…
Jarule snorted. Yes…your little flower patches…
Do you not approve?
Jarule shook his head, facing his brother. They had always looked similar, though Antirock was a paler gold and much smaller than his brother.
It's a waste of power…considering how much we must fight for…
Antirock didn't answer and Jarule sighed.
It isn't that I don't approve…it's just that now is not the time. Your head is in the clouds and you aren't paying attention to the danger in the moment. The Oni have been converging, planning bigger attacks and uniting the corners of their nation… it isn't safe for any to travel alone anymore.
Antirock looked away. I am sorry Jarule. I didn't know this meant so much to you.
Jarule shook his head, annoyed. Of course it matters….you are my brother, Antirock. I don't want anything to happen to you.
Antirock smiled, putting his brother at ease.
What could happen?
