Disclaimer: NO! I DON'T OWN DRAGON KNIGHTS OR ITS CHARACTERS! I'M ONLY BORROWING THEM FOR A LITLE WHILE UNTIL I'M READY TO GIVE THEM BACK UNHARMED! Well, mostly unharmed…relatively unharmed…IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU MEAN BY 'UNHARMED'!evil laugh BWAHAHAHA!
Ch.4. Why They Never Felt Guilty About Eating Chicken Again!
He should have seen it coming. Honestly, undoubtedly-it was true. Anytime Rath showed even the tiniest little bit of interest in something, you were safe to be sure that absolute chaos ensued. And the incident that had just happened recently had been no exception. Rune berated himself later on for what happened. It seemed he was berating himself for a lot of things lately. It all had started when the Dragon Lord had sent for an entertainment show to be put on in the Palace…
"An entertainment show? Here?" Rune questioned with surprise at finding out the news from Ruwalk..
"Yes," the Yellow Dragon Officer said, leaning against the railing of the balcony which the two were standing on, "Lykuleon thought it would be a nice change from everyone's usual grueling schedule-you know to give everyone a chance to relax." Then almost as an afterthought, as he viewed the white-covered grounds of the Dragon Castle, said, "And to distract Rath from plotting any more of his little schemes."
The elf grimaced at that last remark, but it was true. Since the moment he had been declared well, the young boy had wrought out prank after prank after prank upon poor unsuspecting victims almost as if he was making up for lost time when he had been sick. So far, the child had waited patiently behind several corridors until some poor soul came wandering along, whereupon as they rounded the corner they were immediately doused with a large bucketful of water, following an overcoat of powdered sugar. However, this little trick compared to all the rest of the boy's pranks was nothing. Rath had them all scared out of their skin when he pretended he had fallen out of a balcony and was found on the snow outside covered in a sticky red substance. Everyone had gone berserk, running around like a chicken with its head cut off, when the child had sat up suddenly, laughing at them all and the red substance turning out to be ketchup. Another time on a particularly cold, snowy day, when everyone was seated in the dining area for lunch eating Cernozurna's special chili, the meal was loudly interrupted by an enormous eruption down at the Dragon Officer's end of the table. Everyone had looked up from their bowls to see a wide-eyed, red-faced Alfeegi-his spoon half-way to his mouth-sitting rigidly while a large column of fire burned tall and intensely behind him. And to add salt to a very open wound, a strong, unpleasant odor began spreading itself through the air. Needless to say, while everyone was laughing, Rath and Fire made their escape before the White Dragon Officer could figure out the best way to kill them.
Thinking of that prank again made a small smile appear on Rune's lips, no matter how hard he tried not to let it.
Ruwlk grinned along with the elf, knowing what he was remembering, "Yeah," the Officer agreed chortling with glee, "That trick on Alfeegi-that was hilarious!"
"WAS IT NOW?"
Ruwalk choked on his laughter and stared in horror in front of him where Alfeegi had materialized, face purple, eyebrows twitching, and several veins popped out on his forehead. The Blue Dragon Officer's mind froze and he gulped back a large lump of terror in his throat.
Alfeegi stalked up to him until his face was a mere few inches away from Ruwalk's, then proceeded in unleashing his wrath:
"SO YOU FOUND IT FUNNY, NOW DID YOU? YOU THOUGHT IT QUITE AMUSING, DID YOU?"
"N-n-no!" the red-haired man stuttered, trying to prove his innocence, " W-w-well, yes, b-but…uh…er…" Ruwalk broke off realizing he was only infuriating Alfeegi further and laughed nervously, his face perspirating tiny beads of sweat.
Rune found the whole scene quite intriguing. In all his time since he had come to the Castle he had never seen Alfeegi this upset-not even Kai-stern's late arrivals and departures had made the man look as bad as this. The White Dragon Officer seemed a bit…unhinged. Insane would have been the right word to fit the occasion, but the elf was a bit hesitant to agree with that description lest Alfeegi could somehow read minds.
The strawberry-blond haired man now had his fellow Officer tight-pressed against the balcony's railing which poor Ruwalk was gripping for dear life. Alfeegi's hands were flexing themselves spontaneously as if he wanted to place then around the other man's neck and throttle him into oblivion. Rune spent a few seconds mulling over whether this was the man's real intention or if he was gettting ready to spring out a mallet and whack Ruwalk into next week as Rath proclaimed daily that he did. Unfortunately, the elf never found this out as the White Dragon Officer spotted Rune watching him with avid interest. Clearing his throat hurriedly, he folded his arms across his chest quickly as if to prevent his hands from doing anything unexpected. Obviously, he didn't want to create a scene in front of anyone.
Ruwalk seemed quite relieved at his fellow Officer's actions, but wasn't out of the boiling pot just yet, as Alfeegi bored his eyes straight into his furiously. The red-haired man could almost see flames blazing in them. He gulped-he was going to die.
And then he was saved. Miraculously, coincidentally, purposely-he did not know. But in the next instant, a small black-haired child had rushed past them and had hurled himself onto his elfin friend exclaiming breathlessly, "Rune! Rune! There's going to be an entertainment show here! Didcha know! Didcha know!"Rune smiled down at the flustered young boy in front of him, "Yes, Rath," he said laughing, "I knew."
Rath seemed to have been waiting for a confirmation such as this, for he let out a shriek of joy and began bouncing up and down wildly, unable to conceal his excitement. "Yaaaaay!" he cried, flinging his arms out into the air.
"WE'RE WHAT?"
Alfeegi's shocked, outraged voice was enough to halt the child in his tracks and for both Rune and Ruwalk's hearts to skip a beat. The strawberry-blond haired man was very dangerous about certain issues he didn't like-worrying about finances being one of them. The elf and Yellow Dragon Officer backed away from him hurriedly in case he started casting lightening bolts.
The White Dragon Officer strode over to where Rath stood and towering above the boy, asked menacingly, "What…are we planning to do?"
The child did not seem at all troubled or fearful of the fact that the man who was ominously close to going over the edge stood above him, and stated simply, "The Dragon Lord said we're gonna have an entertainment show here tomorrow!"
And Alfeegi promptly exploded.
"THE PALACE'S TREASURY IS ALREADY LOW ON THE BASIS OF WHICH HE-" Alfeegi pointed an accusing, violently-shaking finger at Ruwalk, "ALWAYS LOANS KAI-STERN A COUPLE OF HUNDRED EXTRA BUCKS AND NOW THE LORD HAS ORGANIZED AN ENTERTAINMENT SHOW AS WELL! IS HE DELIBERATELY TRYING TO PLACE US YEARS BEHIND IN DEBT? I SHALL GO AND PUT A STOP TO SUCH FOOLERY!"
And they all watched Afeegi stalk off in a smoldering rage of fury.
Rath was suddenly seized from behind, plucked off the floor and hugged fiercely by a much relieved Ruwalk. "Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" the man sobbed, squeezing the boy tighter to him, tears of gratitude flowing down his face.
He received a sharp kick to the shin in welcome.
"Owowowowow!" the Officer yelped, grabbing his leg and dropping the child.
Rune wandered over concerned but Rath merely picked himself off the ground and asked the elf with earnest seriousness, "Alfeegi won't be able to cancel the show will he?"
"No," the elf replied certain, "Remember, Lord Lykuleon's the ruler-not him. And the Dragon Lord wants to have a show."
The young boy nodded understandingly, then broke off into a wide, mischievous grin, "Well, I'd better go and get the rest of my pranks done today," he chirped, "I wanna enjoy the show tomorrow!"
And the boy skipped off merrily, humming an innocent-sounding tune and disappeared around the corner.
Rune glanced over to where Ruwalk was hopping madly about like some crazed pelican, clutching his injured leg. Perhaps at one point before, he would have sweatdropped, but this time he only shook his head and went on his way. He was getting used to the Dragon Tribe's random acts and oddness.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing? He wondered.
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It was NOT a good thing, Rune decided later the next day.
The entertainment show had arrived as planed on schedule-obviously Alfeegi had not been able to cancel it-and everyone in the palace had settled in the main audience chamber to watch it. Some people had been waiting for over an hour or more before the show was ready to begin. Many a person's nerves were tingling with excitement and anticipation for the show to start, so when the Dragon Lord and his Officers arrived and taken their seats, people began quivering with eagerness, knowing that the moment they had long been waiting for had finally come.
The beginning wasn't so bad-in fact Rune would've told you it was a great entrance. The other half of the large room which the audience wasn't accompanying had been draped out in long, blue curtains with shining silver stars where behind them the members of the performing troupe were getting ready. Perhaps the trouble had all really started before the show had begun.
Rune had been sitting in his chair hoping that the show wouldn't be boring. The elf had looked about him viewing the others. He saw Ruwalk trying to casually hide on the Dragon Lord's right side from a sulking Alfeegi on the Lord's left. He tried not to look behind him where the Dragon Fighters were sitting as well as the red-haired one who had unfortunately asked Rune out on a date. He still couldn't quite face the Dragon Fighters after that incident. Instead he focused on Rath who was squirming impatiently in his seat, straining his head upwards, as if doing that he might be able to get a glimpse of what was going on beyond the blue curtains.
"What's taking so long!" the black-haired boy demanded scowling.
"Well, they have to make sure all their gear is in order," the elf said, not really knowing the reason, "They have to do that to put on a good show."
"Yeah, well you think they would before they're about to perform," Rath muttered slumping down in his chair.
: What makes you think they're really performers: Fire inquired on his sign which held up to the two Dragon Knights.
Rune blinked confused, "What do you mean? Of course, they're performers. Why else would they be here?"
: Don't be too sure: the small dragon cautioned, waving his sign about : Things aren't always what they seem. A group gets invited into the Castle by the Dragon Lord himself. Just a little, harmless traveling group. We don't know them. Why should we believe who they say they are:
The elf was about to say that was the whole idea was ridiculous, when Rath broke in excitedly.
"YEAH!" he cried as if seeing the show in a whole new perspective, "YOU'RE RIGHT! I BET THEY'RE ALL REALLY," here the child paused dramatically then exclaimed, "DEMONS IN DISGUISE!"
Oh, Dusis, Rune thought sweatdropping, Not demons again! He had to discourage this newfound revelation before it grew into anything too big.
"Now, Rath," he tried calmly, "Don't over-exaggerate things. I'm sure that these people are really-"
"DEMONS!" the young boy squealed, his eyes shining in happiness.
"NO!" Rune yelled exasperated, his calm demure slipping. This kid had a one-track mind! But…it was no good loosing his temper. Getting a hold on himself, he took a deep breath and started again, "Rath…let's look at this logically. This group had high recommendations, they were checked for weapons when they came in here, and no demons are able to enter the palace grounds anyway. These people are only here to-"
: Lure us into a false sense of security : Fire stated.
"YEAH!" Rath shouted, his small hands balled up into fists excitedly.
"No," the elf tried again, feeling a small vein make its way to the surface of his forehead, "They're just going to-"
: Ambush us with a surprise attack when we're not expecting it :
"YEAH!""No. They're just ordinary people except for the fact they-"
"ARE DEMONS!"
: Who are waiting for the opportune moment to slice and dice us all open :
"YEAH!""NOOOOOO!" Rune screeched, feeling several more veins pop out on his forehead, "THEY ARE JUST A TRAVELING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP WHOSE JOB IS TO ENTERTAIN PEOPLE! THEY ARE JUST GOING TO PERFORM THEIR TECHNIQUES FOR US!"
: Your bad if 'performing their techniques' happen to be cutting people in half and ripping out their insides: Fire shrugged.
Rath gasped and looked positively delighted.
"YOU'RE NOT HELPING THINGS!" the elf screamed at the dragon. He was the one who had started this whole mess! He had to delude Rath away from the idea of disguised demons as performers. If he didn't the child might do something drastic and the whole show might be ruined!
Unfortunately, Rune never had time. The blue curtains parted and the crowd gasped in awe as a man with black bushy beard and hair stepped out. He was wearing a shimmering cloak that seemed to reflect all colors and a fine pointed hat with a peacock feather in it.
"Welcome-a, Ladees and Geentlemen! Welcome-a to Maichelli Marvolo's Traveleeng Entertainment Group and I-Marvolo-am the head-a!"
When the man spoke it was with a thick and strange foreign accent. As the audience was giving their greeting in wild applause, Rath and Fire voiced aloud their opinion of that particular trait of his.
"Sneakily suspicious," the black-haired boy stated.
: Definitely dodgy: the dragon agreed.
"STOP IT!" Rune hissed through clenched teeth. Curse Fire for putting stupid, wild ideas into the child's head! He hoped they weren't going to be like this during the whole show! But he had no more time to think-Marvolo was crossing the floor, heading their direction.
Rath gasped as he saw the man coming, "Fire! He's heading right towards us!"
: HE MUST KNOW WE SUSPECT HIM: the dragon exclaimed panicky on his sign, eyes wide :HE'S COMING TO SHUT US UP:
"OH, FOR DUSIS'S SAKE!" Rune roared, but could say no more as the man stopped right in front of them.
"Well, what's all-a thees?" Marvolo asked, staring at the odd trio which consisted of an elf who had his eyes shut fast and was rubbing his forehead irritably and a wide-eyed boy and dragon whose jaws were both hanging open.
"What's weeth all-a these faces,ah?" the man asked, placing his hands on hips, "You look like you half-dead-a!"
Even with his eyes closed, Rune could imagine the looks of horror which must have passed over both Rath's and Fire's faces at that innocent statement. As it was, a soft, frenzied whisper reached his ear, "Did you hear that? He just gave us an implied threat!"
The elf sighed, wishing a there was a wall nearby so he could bang his head against it. He was going to get gray hairs before his time.
He opened his eyes as Marvolo began to speak, "I know-a sometheeng that weell cheer you up-a,eh!" and the man backed up a few paces, then declared, "My leettle preseents always-a do the trick-a!"
: Watch out: Fire warned : He's getting ready to spring something:
Suddenly, with an eccentric sweep of his feathered hat, which he flung out towards the audience, he made numerous sugared sweets fall out, sprinkling down in a shower of candy. Squealing, people scrambled out of their seats, pushing and shoving each other, scrappling over who got which.
Rath picked up one, peeled the wrapper off, inspected it for awhile, then popped it in his mouth.
: DON'T EAT THAT: Fire waved his signs frantically in front of the young boy : IT COULD BE POISIONED:
The black-haired child merely shrugged and said, "It won't kill me-I have a special life force ya know!"
That caught Rune's attention, but he didn't find out anymore as the sound of loud sizzling sputters reached his ears. Curiously, he looked up with everyone else and spotted the source from which it came from-Marvolo's feathered hat-when abruptly what looked like several colored lightening bolts shot out at them. The audience gave an unanimous outcry of surprise.
Rune sat there frozen with only one thought flashing through his mind at that moment, Omigod, Rath was right. Then he was yanked out of his chair from behind and hurled to the floor. The elf was vaguely aware of someone's arms around him, shielding him, when he heard high-pitched squeals of delight about the room.
"Ooooooh! How pretty!"
"They're beautiful!"
Coming back to reality once more, Rune checked out his surroundings. He saw around him, people picking themselves cautiously off the floor, then gazing awe-struck at the ceiling, which now had shimmering, vibrant, different-colored lights dancing below it.
O.K., false alarm, the elf thought, feeling like a total ditz. The performer simply had created an illusion and had revealed himself as a magician. He really shouldn't hang around Rath as much as he did-it wasn't helping his character.
Suddenly, Rune became self-consciously aware of arms still encircled about him-the person had obviously been trying to "save" him from the "attack". The elf turned around to thank whomever it was-even though no harm had been made-and froze…staring straight into the face of the red-haired Dragon Fighter.
The Dragon Fighter stared back at him, made several feeble attempts to speak, then halted completely, flushing a tomato-color which clashed terribly with his hair. Finally, regaining the usage of speech, he opened his mouth and stated compulsively to the horror-stricken elf in front of him, "Ummm….nice hips?"
WHACK!
Rune wasn't aware of what he had done until it was all over. One moment he had been sitting on the ground with the Dragon Fighter-his left eyebrow going off into spasms of convulsions. The next, he was on his feet standing over the red-haired young man who lay knocked out on the floor, gripping his chair which he had cracked against his head and trembling in rage."Hey! Geez! What was that for!" the red-haired Dragon Fighter asked in indignation, holding his injured head from his sprawl-out on the floor. His friends, of course, were all laughing.
Rune was so mad he could hardly speak, "J-J…J-J," he sputtered-his head full of throbbing veins, "JUST LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!"
And the elf stomped off to sit on the other side of Rath who, of course, hadn't even noticed what had happened, being to busy discussing with Fire how the lightening bolts had been the "demons" way of toying with them like a game of cat and mouse and how they both wouldn't stand for intimidation.
Things calmed down pretty much after that. Everyone resumed their seats and the rest of the traveling troupe made their entrance. They put on several different acts and shows including a short romantic comedy which had all the maids sighing deeply at the end and staring hopefully at the Dragon Fighters. Rune had glanced over to where the Dragon Lord was sitting to see Lykuleon and Raseleane pressed against each other closely, hands clasped and gazing into the other's eyes expressing their love in gentle, silent looks.
Tintlett, the elf thought and his heart began to ache.
: Disgusting lovey-duvey mush: Fire stated.
The dragon was slammed down onto the ground by a well-aimed punched fist.
Rath, of course, had a hard time trying to not to go sleep-the only thing which stopped him was his concern that the "demons" might pick during the play as the opportune time to attack.
However, by the time the troupe performed their acrobatics show, Rune was in a better mood and was enjoying himself to the fullest along with the rest of the audience. And what an act that was! The performers tumbled, balanced, gyrated, and cavorted comically across the marble floor on their hands backwards and forwards. They finished off by forming a pyramid and doing a short dance routine without so much as a single miss-step to wild, enthusiastic applause.
Yes, Rune was in a very good mood by then and probably would've remained that way throughout the rest of the show-even with Fire and Rath annoying him to no end about the "demon" enemies-if not for one, simple little misunderstanding…
"And-a nooow," Marvolo proclaimed dramatically, issuing his arms widely, "I shall-a need an asseestant from-a the audeence to help-a me weeth the next-a act!"
There was excited murmurings from all about the crowd and people looked at the head-man of the troupe in hopeful anticipation.
"THIS IS IT!" proclaimed Rath boisterously, standing upright on his seat, his whole body tense, "THE DEMONS ARE PRETENDING TO NEED OUR HELP SO THEY CAN TAKE A HOSTAGE AND WORK ON OUR EMOTIONS!"
"Ra-a-ath," Rune sang out, sweatdropping from all the stares people were sending their direction, "Sit down." And the elf pushed him roughly back down into the chair. But it was to late-Marvolo was heading their way once again.
The man stopped in front of them and then proceeded to say the words which completely ruined the whole show and day for the elf, and made him toss and turn many a night later on wondering why he hadn't acted on impulse as he so wanted to.
"Ah, here's a lovely young lady-a! Would you-a like to be-a my asseestant, pretty one-a!"
The audience grew as still and silent as a graveyard at midnight and stared in horror at Marvolo, wondering what vengeful act would fall upon the man.
He had just called Rune a girl.
Marvolo obviously didn't notice how near to death he was, for he went on to ask, "Well-a? How about eet-a?"
The veins which were popped out on Rune's forehead throbbed madly in a rhythmic pulse as the elf stared past the man trying avidly to control his furiously raging temper.
Marvolo took the silence as an undetermined answer and doggedly pressed on, "Oh, come-a now, don't be-a shy, meess-a!"
Rune resisted the urge to jump up and whack the man's head with his chair as he had with the red-haired Dragon Fighter. As it was, he contained himself by repeating in his mind various times that it would not be good on his reference as a Dragon Knight here by killing the man in front of the Dragon Lord.
Maybe I should get a haircut, he mused half-hearted, but immediately quenched that thought. Rune was rather vain.
The elf was brought back to the painful present by Marvolo-who still was trying to get him to assist with his act-inquiring to Rath, "Why your-a friend no want to-a help weeth me-a, ah? She not like acteeng?"
And Rath took the moment to cheerfully share with the man that, "No! Rune wouldn't mind helping you, mister! It's just-he's sulking right now 'cause he's mad at you." Then because Marvolo looked so bewildered, the young boy went on to explain, "And Rune's not a miss, mister-he's a guy!"
Marvolo seemed staggered by this recent revelation and took several steps backwards, holding his hands out in front of him apologizing profoundly, "Oh, pleese forgeeve-a me! I'm-a so sorree, meess-a, er, I meen sur-a!" The man clamped a hand over his mouth before it would spout out any more mistakes, and scurried hurriedly away.
The Dragon Fighters behind Rune all burst out laughing gleefully. The elf whirled around and fixed them all an Alfeegi-murderous glare. They all shut up rather quickly and stared back at him, gulping nervously with wide eyes.
"Boy, Rune, that was a close call! That demon had the nerve to try and kidnap a Dragon Knight!" was all Rath had to say about the matter.
Unsurprisingly, Rune was in a foul mood for the rest of the show and sat scrunched down low in his chair brooding silently and imaging all sorts of horrible happenings for Marvolo.
The rest of the audience, however, loved the play and its performances. The act that got the most attention and applause was one where Marvolo would tap his peacock-feathered hat with a long, wooden stick, say two strange-sounding words-Abra Kadabra!-and then pull some large, exquisite object which people knew could never possibly fit in there, out of his hat. Sometimes if he would say, "Alakazam!" and the object would grow even larger than it was.
Then-close to the end of the show-the man had an assistant help him carry out props for the rest of his troupe for the crowd to see. There were several squeals from the maids of, "Oh, isn't that sweet!" and "How adorable!"about the magician's helper. The "adorable" assistant turned out to be a rather small, rather scrawny, rather arrogant-looking rooster. The rooster wasn't much to look at-several bald patched showed about its body, its legs were all hard-scaled and gnarled, its beak showed several dents in it like it had been smashed against something, and the feathers around its neck and tail looked ragged and frayed. To put it truthfully, it was one ugly chicken.
Perhaps, when the maids had said "sweet" and "adorable" they had meant it helping Marvolo. It wore a harness of some sort strapped on its back which props and things could be loaded onto. The roster strutted about proudly as if it was doing some great important task, and giving the audience a disapproving eye.
Rune sat bored, watching the scene, when beside him Rath sat up with a gasp staring at the rooster as if it had suddenly turned to gold.
"What?" the elf asked. Not really interested.
"The chicken!" came the child's excited hiss.
"It's a rooster," Rune corrected dully, "What about it?"
"It's a demon!" the young boy explained in estacsy.
The elf didn't bother trying to set the boy's mind straight, "I thought you already decided the whole troupe were demons."
"Yeah, but this is different!" Rath tried to explain, "The chicken is the strongest, baddest demon here! You can tell, 'cause the real dangerous ones always disguise themselves as the weakest! That chicken is the one who's probably gonna lead the attack!"
Rune was about to inform Rath that it was really a rooster and to stop the whole "demon" bit when he suddenly remembered Marvolo calling him a girl. The elf's blood pressure sky-rocketed and he turned to Rath and stated, "You're right. That chicken is in league with Marvolo and it's the baddest, most viscous chicken from hell. You should kill them both."
You could practically see stars reflecting in the child's wide, blissful eyes.
Rune regretted his words later on. He forgot about them for awhile, but something happened later on that day which made them stand out vividly in his mind and realize his fatal error.
Oh, yes, my friends, the elf was soon to learn not to toss his words about carelessly. Such a little saying-such a BIG meaning.
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After the show, the Dragon Lord and Queen insisted that the troupe stay for lunch and their decision was backed enthusiastically by the rest of the audience-except for Rune, of course, and Alfeegi who muttered something under his breath about "sinking deeper into debt". It was in the Dining Area as people around him tore vigorously into their food that the elf realized that Rath was not there…and neither was the rooster.
MAJOR UH-OH.
Rune excused himself hurriedly and dashed through the empty hallways and corridors, his mind racing furiously. Rath couldn't have taken that remark earlier for real, could he? A little voice in his head that sounded suspiciously like Alfeegi shouted, YES!
Oh, Dusis! the elf thought as he skidded around a corner, If Rath kills Marvolo's pet, there'll be hell to pay-from the magician and Alfeegi!
Rune grew more frantic by the minute as he sped along without a sign of anybody-walls and rooms flashing in a blur past him. What if-what if he didn't find them in time! He needn't have worried about finding them, though. In the end, they found him.
As he turned another corner, he nearly tripped over a frantically crowing bird who was flapping its wings in a maddened frenzy as it rushed past him. The elf had barely regained his balance, when a small, familiar, black-headed child flew past him tearing after the rooster in hot pursuit, waving a huge sword.
"COME BACK, EVIL DEMON!" the young boy cried, "COME BACK AND REVEAL YOUR TRUE SELF!"
Not far behind him, soared Fire who waved his sign at the bird warningly too: YEAH! TRY AND ATTACK US NOW, HUH! WHO'S THE HELPLESS ONE, NOW, EH :
"RATH!" Rune yelled, racing after the quickly disappearing trio, "RATH, DON'T! THAT'S NOT A DEMON! RATH, STOP!"
He was ignored, unsurprisingly and was then given leave to chase them down the hallway, around the corner and back into the main audience chamber where the traveling troupe's props and sets were still in there.
Upon entering it, the rooster paused for a moment to catch its breath, only to jump up and begin running again as Rath closed in behind him, eyes blazing with a battle-rage and brandishing his weapon threateningly.
Rune entered the room in time to see the boy pursue the rooster several times around the purple curtains still hanging, shouting to the bird, "VILE DEMON! I WILL PUT AN END TO YOUR FIENDISH PLOTS!"
In the air above him, Fire cheered his master on : THAT'S RIGHT! YOU SHOW HIM! YOU SHOW HIM:
The elf could only gape in horror as Rath finished playing Ring-Around-The-Rosies with the bird and chased the poor creature headlong into the empty seats which had not been cleared up yet.
Squalling in panic and fear, the rooster ducked in and out underneath the wooden chairs, as the black-haired child hurled and flung them heedlessly along behind him in his wake.
"RATH!" Rune tried again, darting forward trying to stop the boy's foolishness, but was halted by the blockade of thrown and fallen seats in his way, "RATH, LEAVE THE POOR BIRD ALONE!"
"IT'S NOT A BIRD!" Rath shouted over his shoulder as he kept on his avid chase, "IT'S A DEMON LIKE YOU SAID!"
"I WAS JUST JOKING!" the elf cried not knowing to be angry or fearful of the rooster's fate, "NOW STOP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT!"
"THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA!" the boy hollered back.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHH!" Rune screeched, gripping his hair.
: Well you DID say it was a demon: came Fire's comment on the subject as his sign fluttered to the floor.
"YOU!" the elf screamed angrily up at him, "YOU WERE THE ONE WHO PLANTED THE IDEA THAT ALL THE PERFORMERS WERE DEMONS INTO HIS HEAD! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?"
Staring with eyes wide and his mouth drooling slightly, the dragon stated on his sign : KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN:
"NO! THAT'S NOT IT!" Rune shrieked, his temperature rising steadily.
The elf turned to look at what was happening with the poor rooster when the unfortunate incident occurred.
The incident which made him berate himself for a long time afterwards.
The incident which made the entertainment show earlier look like a play put on by pre-schoolers.
The incident which made him look at chicken in a whole different light from that moment forward.
The incident which was far beyond anyone's possible imagination.
Rath had cornered the rooster into the table that held Marvolo's magic stuff on top. The bird squawked in terror, casting quick, furtive looks around, hoping to see an escape route somewhere. There was none.
"THAT'S RIGHT!" the child cried, triumphantly raising his sword into a high arc above his head, "END OF THE LINE, CHIKEN-BOY! TASTE THE STEEL OF MY BLADE!"
And Rath swung his sword down.
"RATH, NOOOOO!" Rune yelled, but it was too late.
The sword smashed into the table on it way down, creating a deep dent and causing it to fold and collapse in on itself, burying the rooster underneath it. There was complete silence and stillness for a second, then…the broken bits of the table began to stir slightly, then were pushed aside roughly as a bird's form rose up from the rubble.
And up.
And up.
And up.
And up.
It rose until its head very nearly touched the ceiling and a twenty foot-sized rooster gazed down distainfully at them.
Rune, Rath, and Fire gaped at it, jaws hanging, all at a loss for words until the little dragon held up a sign which read : WHOAH! CHICKEN-GRANDE:
"So, that's the demon's true form!" the young boy mused out loud, "A giant chicken!"
"IS THAT ALL YOU TWO CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW!" the elf screeched, "WE'VE GOT TO SET THIS SITUATION STRAIGHT BEFORE THE SHOW PEOPLE LEAVE!"
But the two weren't listening to him. Fire had tied a napkin around his neck and was ready with a fork and knife in each claw, staring at the huge bird in pure adoration and thankfullness. Rath was busy swinging his sword again, gazing up at the rooster with a happy grin on his face, "ALRIGHT!" he exclaimed, "THIS IS EVEN BETTER THAN BEFORE!"
Before Rune could burst an artery, though, a shrill, loud cry split through the air and vibrated painfully against their eardrums:
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWKK!"
All three looked up to see the giant rooster gazing down upon them with a malicious glint in its large, beady eyes.
: Ummm, question: Fire wrote, holding up his sign :Why is the grub staring at us like we're the main course:
Sweatdrops appeared on everyone's forehead.
The titan-sized bird opened its colossal beak and dove its head down towards them in one, swift sudden movement.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" came three panic-stricken screams as each person scattered.
The large beak left a gaping hole in the floor where they all had stood a split second ago.
"Hey, Rune, you know what!" Rath yelled across the room to where the elf stood, "I think its trying to EAT us!"
Rune didn't have time to give back a sarcastic retort as the bird took one giant-sized step forward and attempted to swallow him again. Sprinting madly away from the beak, he dashed towards Rath, seized the boy by the arm, and hauled him hurriedly from the room. The giant-sized rooster appeared right behind them immediately, shaking the floor with its tremendous weight as it chased after its prey.
Rath tried to struggle free from the elf's tight grip, "Wait, Rune! I gotta go back to the room and get my sword so I can defeat the demon!"
Rune clamped down on the child's wrist with an iron-force, "ARE YOU CRAZY!" he shrieked as he jerked them abruptly around a corner, "THAT THING'LL GULP YOU DOWN LIKE AN INSECT!"
Close behind them, the bird gave an enraged crow of anger.
: YOU KNOW WHAT: Fire stated, waving his signs frantically in front of the elf, as he flapped his wings as fast as they could go : I GET THE FEELING ITS REALLY MAD AT US:
"NO! YOU THINK?" Rune screeched at the dragon as they sped along the hallways.
"Rune! Rune!" Rath cried, stumbling as he tried to keep up with the elf's long strides, "I can't-"
The boy was literally lifted off the ground in mid-step and slung over the elf's shoulder like a sack of grain. Fear was giving Rune really strong power. From this viewpoint, the child was able to see how close the all were to becoming an appetizer for the monumental-sized bird. The gap between them was rapidly decreasing.
"Rune!" he shouted, "What'll happen if it catches us!"
"GAAAAHHH!" the elf screamed, rushing around a corridor, "DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT! JUST TRY NOT TO BE EATEN BY A GIANT CHICKEN!"
"I-thought-you-said-it-was-a-roost-er!" the boy cried as he was joustled up and down by the frenzied elf's movements.
Rune didn't have reply. He was too busy trying to save his breath and energy. Already he was aching everywhere and he hadn't even been running for that long! He made a memo to himself to get into shape after this. If there was an "after this".
The elf dashed along a hallway huffing heavily, and rounded another corner only to come smack into a whole league of Dragon Knights who were standing about, chatting gaily.
"OUT OF WAY! OUT MY WAY! MOVE!" Rune screeched, pushing past them and knocking some over in the process.
: RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES: Fire warned them, dropping cards over them like a deck freshly split.
"Hurry or the chicken will get you!" Rath yelled over the elf's shoulder, "The chicken will get you! The chicken will GET you!"
Alarmed and bewildered, the Dragon Fighters picked themselves off the ground and stared after the trio in confusion, only to start as their feet rose a little ways off the floor by a humongous THUMP! Behind them.
Turning slowly about, the Dragon Fighters' gaze landed upon the twenty-foot tall rooster towering above them and froze, gaping at it wordlessly.
The large chicken-er…rooster-leaned down towards them until they were face to face with each other and let out an ear-splitting:
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWKKKK!"
Their nerves leaping awake, the Dragon Fighters turned and ran, shouting as one:
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
Adrenalin spurring them on much faster than usual, they surpassed Rune who was hampered greatly by the weight of the child on his shoulders. Pressed in on all sides, shoved and pushed in all directions by the Dragon Fighters concerned only for their own skin, the elf tripped and was thrown forward onto the floor.
Trying to avoid being trampled by a mass-mob of cowardly Dragon Fighters was not easy. It was very hard trying to shield both Rath and himself at the same time. As a result of attempting to do so, the elf got stepped on and accidentally kicked several times. Finally his temper snapped as the last of the Dragon Fighters catapulted over him and raising his head up, he shouted at their rapidly receding forms:
"HEY! WHATEVER HAPPENED TO PROTECTING THE JUST AND DEFENDING THE INNOCENT! COME BACK AND HELP US, YOU SPINELESS JERKS!"
But the Dragon Fighters didn't even look back and their figures vanished around the doorway.
Veins sprang out all over the elf's forehead, "Why…you…you…" Rune couldn't think of a word good enough to call the Dragon Fighters.
Fortunately, he wouldn't have to feud over the recent incident for very long as the giant rooster stalked towards them, his heavy movements vibrating across the floor. The elf held the small boy to him tightly, knowing they wouldn't be able to escape the inevitable fate.
: WE'RE DOOMED: Fire wailed, stating the obvious on his signs : DOOMED:
Then came a sound of that filled their hearts with hopeful jubilation.
A sound that made them want to rejoice at Fate's kindness.
A sound of salvation.
A sound of a hero.
Yes, my friends, it was a dog's bark.
"HELP US, CREWGAR!" Rath cried to the white demon-dog who had appeared in the doorway to their right.
Growling, the demon-dog lowered his head and charged toward the huge bird, baring his sharp teeth. The rooster, distracted, turned its attention away from the three on the floor and towards its new, fast-approaching adversary.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY!" the trio cheered, getting to their feet.
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWKKKKK!" came the giant bird's mighty bellow.
Crewgar stopped dead in his tracks and suddenly seemed to realize exactly how big and tall the creature was.
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWKKK!" came another of the rooster's tremendous crows as it stalked towards the hesitant demon-dog.
Whimpering, Crewagr flattened his ears against his head and turning, fled, tail tucked between his legs, yelping like a wounded animal.
The elf, boy and dragon stood stock-still in shock as their "rescuer" rushed past them in a blur of white fur. Then seeing a giant chicken streaking steadily on huge, scaly legs towards them, the three made like a banana and split, catching up with the demon-dog on the way.
: THIS IT: Fire stated on his sign, eyes wide as he and his fellow companions fled down the hallway and around a corner : THE END IS HERE! WE'RE GONNA DIE:
Crewgar gave a pitiful whine.
"Rune," Rath asked as they raced along, "If we're doomed to be eaten, why isn't the chicken here?"
"WHAT!" the elf threw a wild glance behind him and then halted in confusion. The others stopped as well.
: HEY, WHAT HAPPENED: the little dragon exclaimed in startlement : WHERE'S THE FEATHERED BIRD-BRAIN GONE TO:
All four cast anxious eyes about, but no sign of the large rooster was seen.
This is not good, Rune thought.
They all stood in eerie silence, listening for the sounds of heavy footfalls, yet heard nothing. And suddenly without warning, in that space of time, the elf felt a weight land upon his shoulders.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!" he shrieked, instinctively lashing out behind him in self-defense.
A muffled cry of pain reached his ears, and spinning around Rune's gaze landed on a miserable-looking Ruwalk with both hands cupped around his nose.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" the elf apologized, "I thought you were…" he trailed off, not knowing how to explain himself without seeming insane, "somebody else," he finished lamely.
"Ackuze me, Wune," the Yellow Dragon Officer said through his swollen nostrils, "Ah wuz jess wunderin' ef 'oo 'now wuzt gwon on?"
Rune didn't understand what the man was asking at first, but them gradually realized the question was, "Do you know what's going on?"
"Er, what do you mean?" the elf inquired nervously.
"Wew, da Dwagun Fiterz came wunnin' an' scweabin' into da Dinin' Woom, yewwing abou' sume 'ikkin or unotter," Ruwalk explained with pained, watery eyes, "Ah wuz jess wunderin' ef 'oo 'new wuht dey wur dalkin' abou'."
"A-a…a chicken?" Rune repeated, breaking out in a sweat, "Nooo. We don't know anything about a chicken, do we guys?"
: Not a single thing: Fire said, backing him up.
Crewgar barked in agreement.
"But about the giant roost-" Rath began to say, before he was abruptly cut off by the elf's hand around his mouth.
"Ahaha!" Rune laughed nervously, "As I said-no chicken anywhere!"
Ironically but not surprisingly, the huge bird made its entrance at those precise words.
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWKK!" it cried, pounding towards them as fast as its big, scrawny legs could carry it.
"DA 'IKKIN! DA 'IKKIN!" Ruwalk cried, pointing at it in sudden comprehension.
"RUUUUUUUUNNN!" the elf yelled, grabbing the man's arm and pulling him away.
The group-now numbering five-rushed down the rest of the hallway in fear of their lives on terror-stricken legs.
: Is it just me: Fire asked, holding up his sign in front of Rune's face : Or is this whole charade getting REALLY old:
"WELL, IF YOU WANT TO QUIT, DON'T LET ME STOP YOU!" the elf shouted, batting the dragon's sign away from him.
"'OW DID A DIANT 'IKKIN GET IN DA PAWACE, INYWAY?" the Yellow Dragon Officer demanded as they kept up their mad dash all over the castle.
"IT'S A LONG STORY!" Rune yelled just as Rath proclaimed vehemently, "IT'S NOT A CHICKEN-IT'S A DEMON!"
"'OW DID A DEMUN GET INSIDE DA PAWACE?" the man screeched, even more bewildered.
Rune didn't bother trying to clear matters up as they all ran into a room which the elf immediately recognized as the main audience chamber. The elf was getting quite sick at seeing that room. The group halted in the middle of it, right in front of the purple curtains and looked around.
"DERE'S DO EGGZIT!" Ruwalk cried in horror, his nose the size of an egg itself and an awful black and blue color, "ID'S A DEAD IND!"
: And nooow the time is here for us to call the final curtain: Fire scribbled out the song on his signs :Goodbye to all that's dear! No more life, that's for certain:
The little dragon was whacked on the head with one of his own signs by Rune.
"WE DON'T NEED AN EULOGY RIGHT NOW!" the elf shrieked.
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWKK!"
The giant rooster had entered the room
"FINALLY!" Rath cried as he picked up his fallen sword from where he had dropped it earlier, "A FIGHT TO THE DEATH! I WILL DEFEAT YOU CHICKEN-DEMON!"
And the small boy charged towards the bird.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAATTTHHH!" Rune screamed in horror as the giant rooster rushed on humongous chubby legs to greet him.
Crewgar darted forward, seized the back of the child's clothes, and hauled the boy bodily away from the rampaging chicken-much to Rath's chagrin. The demon-dog pulled him across the length of the floor back to the others and deposited him at Rune's feet. The elf jerked him upright, shaking the child madly, "WHAT WERE TRYING TO DO? YOU COULD'VE GOTTEN DIGESTED!"
"LET GO!" Rath protested, scowling angrily, "I GOTTA TEACH THAT DEMON NOT TO MESS WITH A DRAGON KNIGHT!"
"FOR THE LAST TIME!" Rune screeched, veins popping out on his forehead, spit flying out from his mouth, and turning a deep crimson color, "IT-IS-NOT-A-DEMON!"
: Umm, pardon me: Fire broke in timidly between them with his sign :I really hate to break up this little love-fest, but…GIANT CHICKEN AT TWELVE O'CLOCK:
Everyone looked up in time to see the colossal-sized bird bearing down on them. Shrieking like banshees, they dove to the side at the last moment, and the rooster still in his mad rush for revenge, flew headlong into the purple curtains. Squawking and crowing, the bird flapped around in the material, attempting in vain to break itself free, but only managing to wrap itself up even tighter. Seeing this, everyone gave a huge sigh of relief, thinking that their horrible ordeal was over.
Well, it would've been…if it had not been for Rath determined to kill a "demon".
Racing forward with his sword in one hand, the boy leaped upon the trapped rooster's back declaring triumphantly, "AHA! I'VE GOT YOU NOW, DEMON-SCUM!"
"RATH! GET OFF OF THAT THING THIS INSTANT!" Rune screeched. This could not be good for his blood pressure! If all kids were this much trouble, then he never wanted any!
"I'LL BE DOWN AS SOON AS FINISH IT OFF, 'KAY!" Rath hollered to him.
"NOOOOO, IT IS NOT O.K!" the elf roared, "DON'T MAKE ME COME UP THERE AFTER YOU!"
Maybe the child wanted the elf to come up after him-in any case, he ignored the threat and proceeded to try and hack at the bird through the thick sheets. There was Rip! in which his sword must have sliced through the material and sunk into a part of the rooster, for it began squalling furiously and bucking about.
"HELP, RUNE!" Rath cried, his sword thrown from his hand, and trying not to fall off the maddened bird's back.
"HOLD ON, RATH! I'M COMING!" Rune yelled, his heart pounding with a sudden fear and the elf flung himself forward, and attempted to clamber up next to the child.
The giant rooster, feeling more weight added upon it, went stark-raving wild and began racing in circles and twisting this way in that, the curtains coming loser every second.
"AAAAAAHHH!" Rune shouted, gripping the material for dear life as the rest of his body dangled precariously high off the ground, "GUYS! I SURE COULD USE A HAND UP HERE!"
: But I don't have any hands:stated Fire who had flown up beside the elf :Just claws:
"GO AWAY BEFORE I KILL YOU!" Rune screeched, smoldering despite his dire predicament.
"DON'T WUWWY, WUNE! AH'B KUBBIN'!" came the voice of swollen-nosed Ruwalk as the man made his way slowly but surely up the riveting, roving curtains. The man managed to reach the elf despite the bird's best attempts to throw him off and grinned, "Wew, dat wuzint az hawd az Ah tot!"
Then the rooster's giant head broke through the material. Swiveling its large neck around, it glared at the unwelcome inhabitants on its back and tried to stab them with its beak as far as its reach would allow.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!" screamed Rune and Ruwalk as they grappled to shift their handholds to another part of the sheet which was out of reach of the treacherous beak, as quickly as possible. They had several near misses in the process.
"HEY, YOU DEMON!" Rath shouted to the rooster, plucking out several feathers to get its attention, "QUIT PICKING ON MY FRIENDS!"
"NO, RATH!" the elf yelled, but it was too late. Whereas he and Ruwalk were both out of reach-the child wasn't. He could only watch helplessly as the bird snaked out its head towards him, mouth gaping widely. Then…
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWKK!" the rooster's body stiffened upright as it bellowed in pain when sharp demon-dog teeth sank into its leg.
"WHOAH!" the young boy cried as he lost his grip and rolled backwards down the rigid back's slope.
Rune yelped as the Rath's body smacked into his face and flipped over his head. To keep from falling the rest of the way down, the child flung out his arms and threw them around the elf's neck.
"Aaaaaack!" Rune choked, his eyes bugging out slightly, "R-Rath! T-too…tight. A little t-too tight!"
But soon, they all had a new problem on their hands. As the giant bird turned its attention and now-furiously raging temper on the demon-dog-trying to pin the animal in place, it began to get off-balance and its occupants on it were joustled this way and that, trying to keep their hold in the curtain and also the contents in their stomaches.
"OOOOOOW!" the Yellow Dragon Officer moaned, his discomfort quite plain to see on his face as he was turned toward the elf and boy.
"RUWALK!" Rune yelled nervously, "PLEASE DON'T THROW UP!"
"IS IT TRUE THAT YOU CAN TELL WHAT PEOPLE ATE AFTER THROWING UP?" Rath inquired interestedly.
"I DID NOT NEED TO HEAR THAT RIGHT NOW!" the elf screeched, his stomach becoming queasy just at that thought.
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWKKK!" the titan-sized rooster crowed as it jabbed its head down towards the demon-dog in one mighty jerk which was so powerful, it split the purple sheet down into two parts.
"Uh-oh," Rune said as the material began slipping loosely away from the giant bird's body, "QUICK! GET ON ITS BACK!". The three Dragon Tribe members managed to clamber up the feathered slope before the curtains fell to the floor, giving the chicken free reign once again.
"BUCK-CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWW!" the huge rooster shrieked gleefully as it could move rather easily now.
Looking about for something to vent out its temper on and Crewgar being the only thing it could see, it attacked with one swift, viscous thrust of its beak downwards. Yelping, the demon-dog jumped up at the last minute and bounced off the top of the bird's head to its back where the other occupants were. The rooster, realizing that all its enemies were on top of him and quite out of reach went into absolute chaos.
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWKK!" it crowed in a furious rage and started to hop madly about trying to cast them off.
Ruwalk, Rune, and Crewgar smashed their bodies as low to the chicken as they could get, clinging desperately to the bird's long feathers, and Rath who still had his arms around the elf's neck, clung desperately to that.
"WUNE!" Ruwalk cried with his eyes closed as they rose up and down with the rooster's movements, "WUD ARE WE GWON TO DO?"
"YOU'RE ASKING ME?" the elf screamed-his hair billowing in the air rushing past them, "YOU'RE A DRAGON OFFICER AND THE LORD'S SECOND-IN-COMMAND, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!"
"BUD AH AM CWYIN' OUD WOUD! The man replied confusedly.
Rune would've screeched in frustration, but his throat had long since gone hoarse.
"AH DUN'D DINK WE KIN KIP DIS UP FOR MUCH WONGER!" Ruwalk stated as the rooster's hops got higher and made it more difficult for them to hold on.
: So, I take it you need a miracle: read a sign that had popped up out of in front of them.
"WELL IF WE DO, ITS CERTAINLY NOT GONNA COME FROM YOU!" the elf shouted at the little dragon.
: Now, now: Fire chided, waving his sign annoyingly back and forth in front of Rune :Remember, in times of need, help…comes from above:
Everyone looked up to where the dragon was pointing and their gazes landed on a huge, shining, golden chandelier which was hanging from the ceiling in the room. Where it would have been impossible to reach, standing on the ground, it was in grasping distance as they were all now on top of a twenty-foot chicken.
"Oh, I see," the elf said smiling at Fire in a strained sort of way, "You want us to get off this giant bird and climb onto the chandelier…JUST SO WE CAN DIE A MORE HARSHER DEATH THAN BEFORE BY FALLING OFF A HEIGHT WHICH IS EVEN HIGHER THAN THIS WALKING MEAL-TICKET?"
But there was no time for arguments in the end, as it finally dawned on the rooster that if it turned its head, it could easily pluck the irritating creatures on its back.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHH!" came everyone's terrified scream as they saw the dreaded beak coming their way, and they all shot up into the chandelier, without thought.
"BUCK-CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWW!" screeched the bird's vexed crow as its prey escaped it.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief which was soon halted as the chicken began tremendous leaps off the ground in attempt to reach them.
: MAN! THIS DRUMSTICK DOESN'T GIVE UP: Fire stated in awe.
"AH'D ZAY ID'S BORE UFF A DIGH!" commented Ruwalk. (Translation: I think it's more of a thigh).
"NO, IT'S A DEMON!" Rath declared agitatedly.
"YOU'RE ALL WRONG!" Rune screamed, "IT'S OUR INEVITABLE DESTINY WHICH FATE HAS SO CRUELY AND MALICIOUSLY WROUGHT OUT FOR US!"
Silence. All stare at elf blinking uncomprehendingly.
"THE CHICKEN IS SYMBOLIC OF OUR DEATH!" Rune roared at them.
:Oooooh: Fire wrote: Gotcha:
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWKKK!" the rooster cried as it clacked its ominous beak mere inches from Ruwalk's leg.
"WAAAAHHH!" the man yelled, gripping one of the chandelier's posts tighter, "UFF AH WIVE DRU DIS, AH ZWERE AH'WW NIVIR EED A BK'WUGGID AGID!". (Translation: If I live through this, I swear I'll never eat a MC' Nugget again!).
The bird hopped up once more, this time, clipping Crewgar's long bushy tail. The demon-dog whimpered and curled his body closer to the main pole of the ceiling decoration.
Rath gave a small squeak of fear and buried his head in the back of the elf's neck as he clung to him.
They all watched in horror as the giant rooster rose again, mouth gaping, then…
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF ALL DUSIS IS GOING ON HERE?" came a rather familiar shriek.
"SQUAWKY-A!" came a second, but also familiar voice, thickly accented.
The five in the chandelier looked down at the floor below them to see a usual scowling-faced Alfeegi and puzzled-faced Marvolo staring up at them. Behind them, entering the room, came Lord Lykuleon, Kai-stern, Tetheus, and the Dragon Fighters, who stared up at them in bewilderment as well.
"WYKUWEON, HEWP!" wailed a tear-faced, swollen-nosed Ruwalk, "ZAVE UZ FRUB DIS 'IKKIN! ID'S DWYIN' DO EED UZ!"
"KILL IT! KILL IT! IT'S A DEMON!" ordered Rath.
: WHO CARES WHAT IT IS: Fire held up his sign: KILL IT AND WE'LL HAVE A BUFFET:
"WHAT DEED YOU-A DO TO MY-A SQUAWKY-A?" came Marvolo's enraged shout.
"Your what?" the Dragon Lord asked.
"MY SQUAWKY-A!" the magician yelled, his face turning red, "MY ROOSTER-A! WHO TOLD-A YOU TO POUR-A POSHUN ON SQUAWKY-A WEETHOUT MY PERMEESSUN-A!"
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!" screeched Rune, "YOUR MEGA-MANIACAL CHICKEN HERE GREW BIG BY ITSELF! WE DIDN'T POUR ANYTHING ON IT!"
"OH, NO-A! THEEN-A WHAT YOU CALL-A THEES, EH!" cried the angry man as he picked up a bottle from the floor which had been lying in the midst of the rubble Rath had made earlier chasing the bird before it had grown. The bottle was dripping with a green liquid of some sort.
The five in the chandelier gazed at it without discernment.
: Um, O.K., whatever: Fire wrote :I know you all might be busy right now, but could you do us a little favor and GET THIS THING AWAY FROM US:
The little dragon pointed at the giant rooster who although it had stopped its attack upon the others' arrival, was still glaring at them in a dangerous sort of way.
Marvolo looked like he thought leaving them with the huge bird was a good punishment, but his concern for his pet won out in the end, "Squawky-a," he called to it, "Cume heere-a. I feex-a you up-a in a second!"
The giant rooster waddled over to him obediently and lowered its head at the man's motion. Marvolo held the bottle over it and carefully administered one small drop. There was a slight hissing noise then the bird began to diminish in size and slowly go down.
And down.
And down.
And down.
And down.
Until it was the size when they had first set eyes in it-a small, scrawny, arrogant-looking rooster.
The five Dragon members high in the air gave a humongous sigh of relief and relaxed…only to have their nerves tense up again as a small crack! sounded near them.
Looking up with sinking stomachs, they saw the crack in the ceiling above the chandelier grow bigger and spread out more and more as each second sped by.
"Uh-oh," Rath whispered as the chandelier gave one last shuddering jolt.
"Rath," Rune said.
"Yes?" the child replied.
"Hold on tight."
The chandelier broke loose and plummeted sharply to the ground.
There were probably alarmed shouts and panicked actions from the people below, but the five in the chandelier didn't really notice, each screaming out loud in terror.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!" howled Crewgar miserably.
"HIC-HIC! HIC! HIC-HIC! HIC! HIC-HIC! HIC! HIC-HIC! HIC! HIC-HIC!" Ruwalk hiccupped in a frenzied attack of terror.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHH!" screamed Rune, Rath and Fire as they fell swiftly earthbound.
The black-haired child's grip around the elf faltered slightly then was ripped completely away.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATH!" Rune cried, just as his own hold on the chandelier was torn away.
As did Ruwalk's, Crewgar's, and Fire's.
The chandelier hit the hard marble floor with a jarring impact, smashing the tiny crystals on it and sending the shards flying.
There was absolute silence in the room as everyone stared wide-eyed at mass of destruction loitering the ground.
Rune cracked one eye open and cautiously took in his surroundings. He wasn't dead after all! But how was it possible? Looking about the room, he realized that everyone losing their grip on the chandelier had been for the best. They would have all been seriously injured or worse if it had broken with them in it. As it was, they all had been caught before hitting the ground by a person on the floor.
Kai-stern could be seen on his knees ruffling the fur of a shaking demon-dog and trying to reassure him everything was alright.
A very irritated, displeased Alfeegi was getting to his feet, pushing an unconscious Ruwalk off of him. The Yellow Dragon Officer had either blacked out as he landed, or had fainted in mid-air-the latter being more realistic.
Fire, much to his chagrin and a blow to his pride had been snatched from the jaws of death by none other than the elf's dragon, Water, who was looking very smug about his good deed.
Rune cast anxious eyes around for Rath, panicking when he didn't see him. Then the elf spotted him…resting in the Dragon Lord's arms. If resting was the right word to use. While Lykuleon seemed immensely glad he wasn't harmed in any way, the young boy did not share his joy. The child looked tense-awkardly uncomfortable-and now that the elf thought about it, so did the Dragon Lord. Strange…
Then Rune realized that he himself was in somebody's arms and turned red. How embarrassing! The elf turned to see who his rescuer was…
And was on his own two feet the next instant, trembling and face purple now, glaring at the a certain red-haired Dragon Fighter who now had a red mark on his face to match his hair.
"WHY," the Dragon Fighter yelled, covering his bruised cheek, "DO YOU KEEP HITTING ME?"
"WHY," Rune screeched, veins popping out on his head again, "CAN'T YOU TAKE A HINT AND KEEP AWAY FROM ME?"
A probable cat-fight would have probably broken out if Marvolo hadn't gone off on another tangent of his again.
"SQUAWKY-A TELLS-A ME THAT YOU-A TRY TO-A KEELL HEEM-A!"
Everyone looked to where the man was pointing to-at Rath, whom the Dragon Lord had placed on the floor. The boy had gone over to where Kai-stern stood and had sidled around behind him, trying to stay out of sight of Lykuleon. The Dragon Lord looked rather sad, but started at those words.
"What?" Lykuleon asked.
"HE TRY-A TO KEEL-A HEEM-A,"(Rath), "HE TRY-A TO EAT-A HEEM," (Fire) , "AND-A HE LET-A THEEM DO EET!" (Rune).
"WHAT!" the elf shouted angrily, "THAT IS NOT TRUE! I TRIED TO STOP THEM, BUT IT WAS SORT OF HARD WITH THAT CHICKEN TRYING TO HAVE US AS APPETIZERS! AND I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW HE GOT SO BIG IN THE FIRST PLACE!"
"DON'T-A LIE-A!" roared Marvolo, "YOU POURED-A THEES POTION," once again the man held up the bottle of green liquid, "SO HE GROW-A!"
And suddenly Rune remembered Rath swinging his sword down and it catching on the table which had the magician's stuff. And he remembered how the man had made things grow larger in the show. He realized what had happened.
And evidently so did Rath.
"You mean," the child gasped, coming out from his hiding place behind Kai-stern, "That you used that earlier and that wasn't real magic? That means…none of you are demons and are frauds!"
"HOW-A DAAAAAAAAARE YOU-A!" Marvolo bellowed, swelling up like an enraged bullfrog. He looked scandalous-so did the rest of his troupe. Turning to Lykuleon, the man stated, "YOU, SUR-A, HAVE-A EENSOLEENT BRAT-A AND-A I WON'T-A BE EENSULTED ANYMORE! I NEEVER COME BACK-A AGAIN! I-A SPIT-A ON YOU-A!" and the promise was kept as a large wad of saliva landed at the Dragon Lord's feet.
"WHY YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU," Alfeegi started dangerously, eyes blazing with fire.
"Alfeegi," Lykuleon said sweatdropping, "It's alright. Let him go."
Everyone watched the performing gather up their things in a hurry and exit haughtily out, the rooster, Squawky, giving them one last farewell to remember him by:
"SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWKK!"
There was a long silence afterwards, as no one was sure what to do.
It was broken by Cernozurna saying timidly, "Well, it will be supper-time soon, but now I don't think you'll want it."
"What is it?" the Dragon Lord inquired curiously.
"Roast chicken."
There were several gagging noises as both Fire and Crewgar looked positively sick, Rune feeling quite nauseous at the thought, Rath angry, and Ruwalk-who was just getting to his feet-fainting for a second time.
And that, my friends, is why they never felt guilty about eating chicken again!
I CANNOT ASK YOUR FORGIVENESS ENOUGH! I HAD NO RIGHT TO LEAVE YOU WAITING FOR SO LONG-I DESERVED TO BE FLAMED FOR MY TRANSGRESSIONS! But I will be happier if you tell me you like it. I think this chapter is the craziest, silliest, pointless chapter I have ever written-but this is what I promised you and I hope you enjoyed it. I know I did-torturing the characters is so much fun!