Chapter Three
A/N: We know, Friday isn't our usual updating day. But it's the end of the school semester (and exams), so we decide to celebrate by publishing this chapter just a little earlier than usual. Consider it an early Christmas present from SME (the one who wrote this chapter).
Also to note: we are still doing weekly updates. Chapter Four will be published next Friday, the 27th of December. Until further notice, every chapter will be posted on Friday from now on.
Enough boring you about updates. Enjoy the chapter, and don't forget to tell us what you thought!
Xander had faced some tough situations before, but this one was proving to be a challenge. He continued to pace about his room, thinking over what happened just hours before…
…
After the young Shadow Dragon had gone on her way, Xander trudged back to the capital. He thought about the accused girl while doing so.
She really was quite cute, but also a lethal attacker and an extremely clever thief. No wonder the people in all Borreania fear her. If the guard captain or Headmaster Saladin ever heard about Xander letting her go, they would think the sixteen year old was crazy, which he assumed was possible. But Xander couldn't hurt her! He understood why she was doing these kinds of deeds, even if that didn't make them right. She was only trying to get by! Just like him when he was younger. Plus his instincts told him she didn't make Prince Kazen kick the bucket, and after all these years, Xander had learned how to listen to them.
So here he was, dragging himself back into the castle close, while a dangerous criminal (whom Xander had aided in escaping) is on the loose. Strangely enough, today was one of his good days.
"Rexim!" Someone came barreling toward him. Xander recognized them as one of the guards, Fedac Kilm. When Kilm came close enough, he managed to huff out, "King Shoannem wants to see you in his throne room. It's urgent."
Hmm, what kind of things would his Majesty need him for?
Xander slowly nodded. "Alright, I'm coming."
"You'd best be hurrying along now. The king is not a patient man today." Kilm said as Xander quickened his pace toward the great fortress of a palace.
Once the teenager was inside, his breath was taken away immediately. Even though the young specialist had seen it before, the sight of the castle's inside could never fail to amaze him.
If you open the doors to the Borreania Royal Castle, you would be first greeted by the start of a white tiled path. On both sides of this room, a grand staircase spirals up to the ceiling, which is actually a second floor. Continue down towards the end of the hallway, and you'll be met by tall wooden doors that swing open. Along the way, you might find yourself admiring vividly colored tapestries under huge sunlit glass windows. The works of woven art reached down until the tips touched the ground. They usually depicted images of Borreanian folklore or historical moments. The pictures looked so real that it seemed like the artist had simply just captured them with one of those Earth inventions. What are they called again? Commas? Camels? No wait, cameras!
Until some time before, Xander used to think it was quite amazing that the inhabitants of planet Earth could be oblivious to magic even though it had been a part of their life a long time ago. Then, the young specialist heard the news that Earth so fruitless of it after all. Now the adolescent wondered how Earthlings are going to get used to enchantment once again.
But it was no time for Xander to let his mind dilly-dally, and the unusual chaos in the castle certainly proved it. Dozens of guards were bustling about, following the orders of the barking second in command, Hemo Rotisiv. A great number of powerful nobles and ladies were crammed in the hallways, complaining loudly about how much of an outrage the situation was.
It took the young specialist quite some time to get to the end of the hall, while earning some disapproving looks from the grouchy royals he bumped into. This happened quite a lot.
He pushed open the double-set doors. They swung outward and he quietly stepped in. There were only three people in the throne room, but they seemed too busy arguing among each another to give much notice. Xander, trying to be polite, shut the doors and waited patiently until he was needed.
A red carpet path upon the white marble floor led from the entrance to the chair in the middle of the very spacious area, raised from the rest of the floor, which no longer housed chairs. Behind the piece of furniture was an altar holding the royal jewels protected by a case of clarinvin, a rare material that's similar to glass, but virtually unbreakable. To get the precious stones out of its secure location, one must unlock it with a worn at all times by the king. The altar was a few meters in front of a wall where two large stained glass windows stood, depicting how the many planets came to be side by side. Now the one on the right was only colored, jagged shards as a result of the Shadow Dragon jumping out of it earlier.
Another sign of the thief's arrival was a broken piece of wood lying on the ground from one of the rafters supporting the ceiling above, which had yet to be cleaned up. Xander still couldn't figure out how she got up there without being noticed. Especially since there was a whole section of glass a few meters above the doors. This allowed anyone on the second floor to peer upon the room of the kings.
The adolescent finally looked over to recognize all the personas in the disagreement:
First off, there was a muscular man that you could easily tell held a great amount of military authority. He was General Zenin Sarez, a respected leader with some temper.
Next was Ulro Astan, the royal advisor who was always so cautious. He always twirled the ends of his slick black mustache when he's nervous about something. Which it appears is just about everything.
Finally, there was the ruler of Borreania himself, King Shoannem. With eyes the color of rain clouds and graying blonde hair, Xander heard that he was usually a friendly guy. But right now, the specialist only felt anger in the monarch's direction.
"Your Majesty," Astan twirled his mustache even faster than usual. "It would simply be better if you went into hiding temporarily."
"No," the king said firmly.
"But sire, this villain may think that it's the perfect time to take over the throne. You only have to do this until the whole thing blows over," Sarez pointed out.
"I said no and that's final!" the Borreanian leader responded loudly. "To go into hiding just like that? That's something I cannot do. We need to act strong for the sake of the kingdom, and hiding is not a method of showing strength!"
"But-" the royal advisor and the general both started together
"Don't," the aging ruler stopped them. "You have my word and I will keep it. I shall be staying inside this castle." At last, King Shoannem noticed Xander's presence inside the room. "You're Xander Rexim, yes?" His demeanor changed from impatience to politeness.
"I am, sir," the young specialist confirmed the question.
"Thank you for coming," the Borreanian King then turned toward his subjects. "Ulro and Zenin, you may leave now."
They started to protest, but stopped when they saw the look on the king's face that said it wasn't an option, even though he'd used the word may.
Xander stepped out of the twosome's way as they moved out, slamming the doors behind them.
"You may come closer," the ruler announced. The specialist promptly did so.
"What do you need me for, sir?" the teen asked.
"I want you to tell me what happened during that chase you had today," the elderly man settled himself in the throne.
"Alright," Xander cleared his throat. "Well sir, I, as well as the guards, was chasing the assassin into the forest. But we soon lost the murderer in the woods, so the whole party was ordered back. Then, General Sarez had this idea and told me to climb in the trees until I saw the culprit again. He said to follow them without being noticed and report back to the castle. He also mentioned that it'll just be me doing the stakeout because there'll be less of a chance to alarm him or her, assuming it's a person." It was the truth, so far.
King Shoannem nodded as he listened to Xander's story. "Hmm, continue," he gestured, "I've already heard this part from the general."
"Okay," Xander gulped. He had already planned on what to say next, but that was originally for his report to Sarez. This was King Shoannem, once a noble warrior, now ruler over all of Borreania. What would he do if the mighty leader chooses not to believe him?
"I did what I was told," the adolescent started, "but when I managed to catch up to the culprit, I accidentally broke a twig off the tree I was in. This must've alarmed the killer and he or she attacked me. I tried my best to defend myself, but the convict fought unlike anything else. It felt like sparring with a dragon."
"A dragon, you say?" the monarch raised an eyebrow quizzically.
Cripes, Xander mentally slapped himself for his word choice. But he kept a straight face and said quickly, "Yes, it was like a dragon." He went on, "I was sent flying into a tree when the malefactor kicked me in the chest. I must've blacked out; when I sat back up, they were gone."
"Gone?" King Shoannem asked. "Just like that?"
"Yeah, it was like they disappeared or something."
The sovereign was silent. It was only for a few moments, but it seemed like hours, until he muttered, "So, the Shadow Dragon it is."
Cripes. Cripes! CRIPES! Xander cursed himself silently. He had made it obvious enough for the king to put it together. He was so stupid! He should have said that he lost her when he had tried to follow her. Now what was he going to do? Stop it, his conscience commanded. Panicking will get you nowhere. He stopped. The teen realized that the voice in his head was right. It would do him no good if he reacted to the situation like this. He needed to make the best out of it.
"Excuse me, sir?" the young specialist tried to sound confused enough so the monarch wouldn't suspect that Xander knew of this from the moment he saw how the thief fought the guards. So powerful…
"The Shadow Dragon," the ruler stood from his chair. "That is who we're dealing with, from what I can glean out of your story. Tell me," he stared down the adolescent in front of him, "did that hood the assassin was wearing fall down far enough for you to see this person's face? Ever?"
"No sir," Xander shook his head. But in truth, the teen had watched the upper part of the cloak bounce off the running girl's head while he followed her silently.
"Hmm, that would have helped, but at least we know who we are up against," the king stated. "Just the more reason for you to join the mission."
Mission? "What mission, sir?" This time, the young specialist asked in actual curiosity and confusion.
"It has been said that you've traveled with the peddler Nuebon all over this planet enough times to know it very well. Is this true?"
"Yes," Xander nodded in confirmation. "I know the kingdom like the back of my hand." And so much more than you think. He shuddered.
"Good," the king responded, "because I need you to be a guide on an assignment to find the convict, whom we now know as the Shadow Dragon."
Oh no. "But why me, sir?" Xander asked with his street face back on.
"You, Xander Rexim, are something different than any other soldier I have here."
Is that a compliment or an insult? The teen thought to himself.
"You personally know how to deal with tough situations. You follow your instincts, not a rulebook. But best of all, you possess a good heart. I like that in a person. Which is why I want you to show the way for some high elite Red Fountain specialists and the Winx Club. I tru-"
"Wait sir, I'm going to guide who now?" the poor boy was desperately hoping he heard wrong.
"Don't you listen to me, boy? You are going to guide high elite Red Fountain specialists and the Winx Club that I contacted before you came here. Anyway, I trust the group of you to complete…" while King Shoannem went on with his speech, Xander, who was a student of Red Fountain himself, currently panicked on the inside even though his mind had already told him not to.
Now how's he going to get out of this? The planet's sovereign just assigned him to lead a mission to capture the accused girl when he knew she was innocent (of murder, anyway) with the help of experienced specialists and the renowned group of butt kicking fairies! Maybe when they searched for long enough, Xander could tell his king that the pretty girl was dead. Sure he had to keep his fingers crossed, hoping the convict actually followed his instructions, but it was an okay plan, nonetheless.
Unfortunately, the sixteen year old just had to find out his scheme was totally out of the question.
"Oh, and Xander," the monarch snapped him out of his plotting state.
"Yes, sir?"
"Do not stop searching until you find the body, whether it's still breathing or not. Bring it to me. Let me see it with my own eyes." His grey eyes were sparking a thunderstorm, signaling the Borreanian leader expected his orders to be obeyed.
…
Xander knew that he had to come up with a great plan soon, or else more than one innocent life would be wrongly taken. But still, who really took the first one
A/N (from both of us, typed by PTV): For this chapter, we decided to expand a little on the mysterious specialist, and give him a name. What do you all think?
So now the Winx are getting in on the action. We tagged them, did we not? Anyway, prepare yourselves! We hope our wonderful reviewers (To die upon a kiss, KyleeNovaStar, and Achieving Elysium) will tell us how we're doing in the near future. Enjoy, and if not, tell us why so we can be better!
Also, we'd like to say how amazed we are at all the attention this story has gotten. First one ever, and over 150 viewers from all around the world! Thank you so much!
Mini Poll: What is one thing you want to fix on these boards? We read fanfic here (have for a while now), and these are our answers:
PTV: Proper grammar! I am a self-professed Grammar Nazi (except for a writing effect or how a character talks, that actually benefits a story), and hate seeing a good (or possibly good) story ruined because no one can read it. Also, I believe improper grammar practically says the author doesn't care, and that's just sad…
SME: More creativity! Too much of one idea (or an uncreative plot in general) kills just about any story and this happens on the Winx (and many other) archives far too often!