We asked for a hero.
The first was a man, strong and built. He was stopped at the second day.
The next was a man, smart and loyal. He died on the fourth.
No one arose for a very long time.
The last was a boy, with a hero heart.
He could have made it the whole way.
- Tale of Sympathy
Rin spun in tight circles on the puddle of water in her lair. Her eyes were closed as she let her body feel the beat and rhythm that hummed in her head. For a moment, it was just her and her mind set; she was anywhere she wanted to be. She was anyone she wanted to be. For a brief moment, her smile emerged, gracing her lips with the unfamiliar shape.
All at once, her peace was cut short.
She gasped and fell to her knees, doubling over in pain and clutching her head as a sharp ringing cut though her ears. A sound like a million snakes, hissing all at once in a horrid noise. Rin narrowed her eyes in slight confusion as she stared at the beast.
Not many had seen the creature of legend, not even in pictures. It was a sin and curse to try and replicate it. Out here, though, she could see it all the time. The beast took up most of the cave on one side, leather backed wings folded over themselves. It was full of scales and claws and fangs. Eyes of shining red watched her all the time, until she sung it to sleep.
"Wh…what?" Rin called in a quivering voice.
The creature cocked it head to one side a moment then opened it's mouth. She gasped again and held her head tighter. The beast had no real way of speech. Instead, it spoke through the minds of two. The Pythoness and the diva.
Sing it commanded harshly.
Rin whined, not one to object, "but…" She tried, giving the monster pleading eyes. "You asked me to just dance for you."
Sing! it hissed loudly.
She screamed that time, tears squeezing their way through her tightly shut eyes. "Okay!" She shouted back at it, "just…just stop it!" That time a different noise echoed through her mind and she hated that sound the most. The one that reminded her of broken wind chimes, shattering over glass. The creature shifted to get a better view of her. It was laughing.
Rin rubbed her eyes and stood back up when it stopped. She hated being there and hated being what she was. She looked up at it with pleading eyes again but when the creature didn't say anything, she went on. She rubbed at her throat, feeling the hoarseness already. The curse of the diva. After singing everyday for many hours, sometimes a day or two non-stop, you're voice took a beating until it was gone altogether, and the dragon had no use for her then.
She was reaching her peek. The last diva had been older than her when she met her fate. The creature must have pitied her enough. Rin wasn't nearly as lucky. She opened her mouth, singing only a few notes in a soft key before starting to dance and form words. A story of a girl trapped against her will waiting for her rescuer. The one she prayed for every single day of her dying life.
Len stopped quickly, jerking his head toward the sky. Eyes wide by the sound he'd just heard.
"What?" Kaito asked stopping also, looking over at the blond haired boy. He tilted his head then looked over at the sky. It had been a beautiful day. Clouds casting over them, making shadows dance on their path. Birds flew now and again, chirping a happy tune to them, wishing them good luck. Now the sun was setting and in the dying light it made things even more beautiful than before. "Did you see something?" He asked casually.
Len just stared a while then shook his head, turning back to the path ahead. The castle was in sight, it would only be a matter of time now. "He asked if you saw something," Gakupo urged, finding the boy somewhat rude for ignoring them as much as he did. They were traveling companions weren't they? Shouldn't they be helping one another?
"No," Len said with a weak smile, "I just thought I heard something." He was always hearing things. An invisible voice that called out to him. Maybe he was just losing his mind.
"There it is," Gakupo said when they reached the edge of the clear and looked out at the village. It wasn't much bigger than any other town in the kingdom. Trees wrapped around it like a barrier, a small river cut through on one side; a lot of the villages were like that. This one just happened to have the palace in the center. "Beautiful."
"Eh," Kaito shrugged, "see one overgrown building, see them all."
"We have to be careful," Gakupo said frowning deeply as they made their way down the patched hill and into the valley where the houses scattered. "No doubt their oracle already knows were coming."
"It's fine," Len said simply, "we mean them no harm. We're just passing by."
"Yes," Gakupo said, "but they might still find us a threat. Especially if they know of our quest."
"Why would it matter to them?" Kaito asked looking to the scholar. "You said so yourself. It's called an impossible journey. If it's impossible, why would they care to stop us?"
Gakupo shook his head, "you don't understand how things work in this castle. Their oracle, Megurine, is a very powerful one. She'll find out about us. About you Len," he said glancing back at the boy. "Believe it or not… The fire in your eyes…" He shook his head again, looking back at the castle, "we have a chance. If she knows that, she'll do whatever she can to stop us."
"Sounds like you know this place pretty well," Kaito said suspiciously.
"I use to live her," was all Gakupo said, suddenly stopping short. "Let's camp here."
Here, was a little grove of trees far too small to be called a forest. Plenty of places to set up their things and still be crowded. It was further off, hidden on the outskirts of the village where Gakupo was sure they wouldn't be seen easily.
"Now?" Kaito blinked confused. "We could probably find a hotel in town."
"Maybe," Gakupo said setting his pack down, "but I think we'll want to save our money. We've been traveling long enough for the day. Let's get something to eat, drink and just wait until tomorrow."
"You have a bad feeling," Len stated as he set his pack down too. "I'm getting hungry anyway." He wanted to keep going. He was hungry, but his stomach could deal with skipping a few meals. The more they wasted the light, even this moonlight, the further he stayed away from her. Looking at Gakupo and Kaito though… They needed it more than he did and since he was the one to drag them into this…
"Alright," Kaito shrugged, "if you two are sure." He said putting his pack off to the side also. "I think I'll go scouting though, unless either one of you has an objection." When no one said anything, he put his hood up and headed for the village.
Gakupo looked out at the village, studying it for a long time. "I think I'm going to go scouting also," he said glancing at the boy briefly. When he didn't say anything either, he shook his head and went off back toward the woods. He wanted to make sure they really were safe if only for a little while.
Len looked around for a while then slowly sat himself down. He tucked his knees up against his chest, looking up at the sky. It's all he could ever do to keep himself stable. He watched as the sky turned shades of pink and orange then faded into a purple. One star, then another, until the sky was starting to light.
"Where are you?" He asked no one, reaching in his shirt and pulling out the pendant. He twisted it all around, watching it spin in tight circles.
"Len, you have to be more careful," the woman said, holding the pendant back out to the little boy. He just stared up at her with curious eyes. "This is a very important necklace."
"Momma," Len said in a tiny voice as she slipped it over his head and around his neck. He couldn't have been any older than five or six summers. "I don't like wearing it. It's too girly," he said scrunching up his nose.
"I know you don't understand now," she said patting him on the head, "but someday, that little necklace will come in handy." The boy continued to pout but mother knew best. Most of the time.
Rin fell to her knees with exhaustion, legs shaking and voice raspy. The beast had finally fallen to sleep but for how long? She shook her head as she clutched her heart. She was in pain, a lot of it. Quickly she brought her hands up to her mouth and coughed violently. A splatter of blood colored her fingers and her eyes went wide.
She knew it was only a matter of time but now…?
Rin glanced back at the sleeping monster before stumbling up to her feet, walking to her 'room'. A cave inside the cave where she had clean water and where she kept the food the beast brought her. There was even a tattered blanket and pillow for a bed. She'd used them as a baby. The beast was kind enough to at least give her that.
She panted and gasped for air, reaching to her neck and feeling the necklace. The only identity she had, the only comfort she possessed. Rin had met with the Pythoness that brought her there only once before she was removed, and she had told her that it was all her parents could give.
The girl often thought about her parents, imagining they were a lot like her. Maybe siblings too. She smiled at the thought as she fell back against her pillow, looking up at the crack in the cave ceiling. Night shown through, with a million stars and a moon spotlight.
It was always night here. A spell cast upon the cave prison to ensure the dragon was always happy. The light hurt it's eyes but she didn't mind it, the moon was fun to dance in.
"Moonlight," she whispered and felt a smile tug her lips as he breathed against the musical note shaped trinket. "What do you wish upon the moon?" She sang softly to herself, "Do you wish it for the one you love? What do you fear most? Do you have courage to commit the crime…?"
"In… corner of… pitch dark forest… I picked… red fruit…"
Len froze, eyes going wide as he whipped his head back around. That voice! It was the one he'd listened to forever but now it was different. Close and clear and very much real. He stood up, stumbling a little as he looked around for an answer. It was haunting and yet beautiful. "Gakupo?" He called into the night but no answer arose. "Kaito?" He tried weakly.
Nothing.
He felt his muscles grow tense, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he tried to see the voice or its owner.
"…must be…godsend…presents…" It sang quietly once more before drifting off into the air, vanishing as suddenly as it had come. Len stayed alert for a moment or two then shook his head and sat back down. There had never been a voice, he assured himself. He really was losing his mind.
He was alone.