You'd think I'm going on a writing spree but not really. I'm actually just trying to distract myself from the mind-numbing college class of History 205, what a total bore. So here's chapter 21 ready to read and ready to review. Let me know what you think and as always I am happy to adjust small things that will make the story work a little better. I can't really complain too much as my chapters have been getting longer. I've been trying my best to write at least 1,000 words for each chapter, that can be grueling. Trust me. Enjoy! Chapter 22 will be up sooner than later.

Chapter 21: Pretty Things

Ryu and Nina had started their way down the hill. They left the little cave behind. It was bright out in the open. The birds were singing as the passed the two. They had decided to leave the cave at once after their narrow escape from the snake beast. Ryu's wound still hurt but Applekin had taken care of that. He now had a boot-like cast made of slime. Applekin was very small and now traveled atop Nina's right shoulder. It seemed a lot happier than most slimes, then again he really didn't know all that many slimes, or in this case any slimes at all.

"This is nice. I just hope we don't run in to any more monsters while we are out here." Nina said and glanced up at the sky. Her wings were folded around her very nicely. Ryu wondered if she could fly with them or if they were more for show. Either way he thought they were fantastic. He was tempted to see what they felt like but didn't have the courage to reach out his hand.

"Ryu, do you ever wonder sometimes? About life and fate? I mean. Do you think we are bound to it?" Nina questioned.

He did not know what had brought this about but he wanted to be very careful when answering. It was not as if he did not trust her. No, it was quite the opposite. He felt as if he could tell her anything. He wondered about why Lady Bleu had said the things that she had said to him before they had split up. He thought for a moment and then he answered her honestly.

"I don't know."

"Oh, really?" She sounded a little disappointed and dropped her head.

"But I do know that my Aunt Sara told me that we make our own destiny. That we have choices and even if we pick the wrong ones, we still have that choice. She once told me that being afraid to make mistakes and live life, is foolish and that you aren't really living. Anyway, that's what she said and she's the smartest lady I know." Ryu finished.

"...I like your Aunt, Ryu. She's a very smart lady indeed. She kind of reminds me of my own mother. Although my mother does not like to tell me anything about her life before she became queen..." Nina started.

Just then a large shadow passed them. Ryu's hand reached for his sword. But couldn't touch it. The sword was burning. He didn't understand what was going on and then he tried to move. Why was he always getting stunned.

"Little dragon...lit...tle...dragggggggg...on." the voice was a bit sing song like.

"Ryu, what's going on? I can't move." Nina cried.

"Neither can he...pretty princess. I've cast a stun spell on both of you. Mwwhhaaa ha ha...ahh."

The figure appeared, she was astonishingly beautiful. Her long silver hair streaked with black spun around her slim body. Her face was quite pale but not fragile. But her most noticable feature was her dark red eyes that matched her dark red leathery like wings and she flew, she flew. She floated down to the pair. She stepped daintly towards them and then moved back again.

"What is this? You don't look dangerous to me...and yet my sisters said otherwise." She spoke with a slight accent. She looked them up and down and frowned. She looked utterly disappointed. She poked at Nina's wings and then touched her own. She looked a bit satisfied.

"Mine are much more pretty." She announced.

She pulled a interesting peice of wood from her pocket and played a strange tune. Suddenly two dog-like creatures leapt from under the ground. They were both large and furry. One was blue with creamy markings while the other was creamy with blue markings. Their eyes were both yellow and very keen to observation.

"I would like you to meet my pets and guardians. Their names are Won-qu and A-tur and...well they like to play games."

Ryu was struggling to break free of the hold on him. The fire inside had begun to spark and although he knew it would be bad to release, he also knew that he would not let Nina get hurt. This creature, whoever she was, had spoken to him before. Won-qu and A-tur sprinted forward to meet their new playthings. But stopped instantly. Won-qu peered back at his master and winced. Her eyes were flaming with anger.

"What? He's not even fully awakened. That won't due. We'll see about that." She said with her hands placed firmly on her curvacious hips. She paused and then smiled and stepped away even further.

"You won't listen to me anymore because she's here. Oh well. Nice to see you again, Deis." She spoke and with that Lady Bleu stepped forward calling the dogs to her side.

"Nice to see you again as well sister." She bent down and petted the creatures with kindness in her eyes. She obviously did not hate her sister.

"Still as good as ever, I see. Yuck." The young lady said and pointed at her open mouth with her finger. She pushed off the ground and floated about 2 feet off the ground.

"There's no reason for me to go around acting spoiled and such. I know a great dragon when I see one, Ma-reis. What was it you were planning to do with him."

"Ryu, you're okay!" Rei exclaimed as he launched an assault on the poor little dragon. Ignoring the two ladies for only a moment.

"Oh give it a rest already, like I'm going to tell you. He's not even released his full power. He's the last one of his kind and everyone is determined to destroy him once and for all. Dragons are so meddlesome."

"Shove it, you ugly brat!" Katt fired as she tried getting past to show her a thing or two. But Bleu put up her arms and caught Katt before she did anything.

"What? Ugly? I don't think so, kitten." Ma-reis replied pulling out a dainty black mirror and fixing her already perfect hair.

By this time, Katt was fuming and trying real hard to break free of Bleu's hold on her. But nothing seemed to get Bleu to let go. Katt even tried biting her, nothing.

"This is really unnecessary, don't you think." Ryu said before pushing Rei off of him.

"I don't have time for this, A-tur, Won-qu.." Ma-reis uttered and took out her whistle instrument, played a pretty yet dark tune and disappeared. A-tur followed close behind but Won-qu he stayed.