Chapter 21
A Meeting with the Thestrals
/Bakura, how do you know these thestral creatures?/ Bakura asked as his yami guided them through the forest to their meeting with the thestrals.
/My old master, the Thief King before me, was a great friend of the Elder Breed./ Yami Bakura replied /He took our Band around the world, stealing things. The Elder Breed would help us in return for favors and some of the profit. The Elder Breed were never good friends of mortal humans, and would do all they can to inconvenience them. So they would often befriend rouges and thieves./
/What are the Elder Breed?/
/They are the creatures neither animal nor Shadow Beast nor mortal human. Giants, dragons, thestrals, flying horses, merfolk, all and more are members of the Elder Breed./
/So…are those bowtrunkle things of the Elder Breed?/ Bakura asked.
/No, all members of the Elder Breed can talk. That is the main distinction. Whether or not they choose to talk…that is another thing all together. Also, most members of the Elder Breed are somehow resistant to all forms of magic, even Shadow Magic. There are even some animals, like snakes and cats, that have Elder Breed roots./ Yami Bakura explained. /The Elder Breed were building civilizations in this world while humans were still figuring out how to sharpen a branch into a spear./
/So, why are the thestrals acting like just animals?/
/That is what I am going to discover, Host./ Yami Bakura's eyes narrowed. /Now be quite I hear hoofbe-oh no!/
The things that rode out towards them from the darkness were not thestrals, but centaurs. And they looked pretty upset.
/Centaurs, Host. Always best to be polite to them./ the yami said.
"What are you doing here, human!" one of them aimed an arrow at Yami Bakura's chest. The real Bakura groaned.
"Greetings, Stargazer." Yami Bakura bowed to the centaur. His tone even lacked the usual arrogance that usually saturated it. "I am the former Thief King Bakura reborn in this mortal vessel. It is truly a pleasure to see your kind again."
"The last Thief King died ages ago! How dare you lie and dishonor his memory!" The centaur bellowed.
/I thought that centaurs did not attack hatchlings./ the same thestral that had spoken to that morning trotted through the trees. /I was expecting you, Thief King./
"You believe this foal?" the centaur asked.
/I do, and I come to take him to our elders. Stand down and let us pass please./
"Fine," the centaur lowered his bow "But know that our kind will not have anything more to do with humans." The centaurs turned and galloped off. One however, turned and gave Bakura a considering look before following his fellows.
/Follow me, Thief King./ the thestral said.
"Of course, may I ask your name?" Yami Bakura asked.
/Hagrid refers to me as Tenebrus./ the thestral said.
"I asked for your name, not what the wizards call you." Yami said.
/Darknight./ the thestral said.
"I am honored to meet you, warrior Darknight." Said Yami Bakura.
/I am not worthy of the title 'warrior'/ Darknight said /I have never gone to war, not even when Lord Voldemort was in power./
Yami Bakura was silent until they came to a clearing. Five elderly thestrals stood in a semicircle around them.
/Is this the one who claims to be Thief King Bakura?/ one of the elders asked.
/He is, great elder./ Darknight said.
/Come forward, human./ another elder, this one a female, said.
Yami Bakura stepped forwards. He bowed and said "I am indeed the spirit of the Thief King, though this body is not mine. It belongs to a boy named Ryo Bakura of Japan, and I reside in the legendary Millennium Ring that he wears."
/Is this possible?/ Another elder asked.
/I can see the Ring from here, and it is indeed the one told of in legends past./ the female elder said. /It is clearly the Millennium Ring, but I would ask of further proof from you, human./
Yami Bakura smiled. He extended his arms and revealed the Claws of the Thief King. The thestrals jerked back as one.
/The Claws…the Claws of the Thief King./ the female said /Only their original owner or one of his blood can use them…you are truly the Thief King Bakura./ the thestral bowed her front legs and dipped her wings in what was obviously a bow. /Welcome back, Thief King./
"Thank you, honorable elder." Yami Bakura said. " I do have a question for you. Why does your kind allow themselves to be treated as animals by the humans?"
/The Shadow Magic had fled, and with it the last source of the Elder Breed's power. We knew from experience that humans do not easily share their planet with other sentient beings. A few of us act as animals in order to protect ourselves, dragons, unicorns, other flying horses…there are many who use this defense in order to survive. It has worked, don't you see? They preserve our kind, while they try to exploit others such as goblins and elves…/ the elder bowed her head. /It is a shameful way to live, but it is the only way that we can live./
"It is intolerable, it is worse than it was years ago when I lived." Yami Bakura growled "There must be a way to change this!"
/Unless we find a way to regain the Shadow Powers we once had, or until the humans learn to live with other creatures…there is no other way, Thief King./ the elder said. /The actions and beliefs of the human Dumbledore gives us some hope, but with the return of the human Tom Riddle.../
"Tom Riddle?"
/The true name of Lord Voldemort is Tom Riddle./ said the thestral.
"Hmmm," Yami Bakura thought for a long time.
/Know, Thief King, that our kind still owes you a debt of great gratitude./ another elder said /Should you ever need any aid, ask us and we will help. Furthermore we will inform others of the Elder Breed of your return./
"Thank you honorable elder." Yami Bakura said "I look forward to fighting alongside you again in the future, great one."
/As do I, old friend./ the female thestral said.
/You knew that thestral?/ Bakura asked as they walked away /But that was-/
/Thestrals live long lives, my Host. I indeed knew Thorntooth from long ago when she was barely a hatchling. She liked playing with the edges of my cloak, as I recall./
Bakura laughed at the thought.
"And what were you doing out so late, Thief?" Yami asked as Bakura entered the room.
"None of you business." The spirit growled.
"Tell me!" the pharaoh stood up and glared "I want to know why you keep skulking around!"
"It is none of your business, you noisy little brat!" The spirit repeated.
"You are up to no good as usual, and I want to know what it is you are planning now!"
Yami Bakura glared at the other dark spirit and snarled "I have behaved myself so far, Pharaoh scum, but keep trying my patience and I won't be so nice for much longer."
"You've attacked me and my friends three times in the past-"
"Attack your friends! You stuck up brat! Listen to me, Pharaoh, I may have attacked them, but it is no more than you deserve you murderer!"
"What are you talking about?"
The former thief stared at the Pharaoh in disbelief. "You really don't remember? Then let me enlighten you! You murdered my brother, Gorneel. And then you executed my wife! You know what else, oh mighty Pharaoh? My wife was pregnant!! I never even got to know if we where to have a son or a daughter when you ripped all three of them from my life! That's why I hate you! That is why I want you dead! Not to mention the fact that your father destroyed my entire village when I was just a boy." Yami Bakura scowled "But hey, like father like son, right?" With that Yami Bakura stomped over to his bed and threw the curtain around it.
/No…it can't be true…he's lying…/ Yami thought /I could never have done that…/
Marik practically bounced to the Slytherin Quidditch practice, eager to see the looks on the wizard's faces when Kaiba brought out his new toy. Kaiba himself followed his fellow duelist with much less enthusiasm. The CEO had with him a large heavy looking briefcase.
"He doesn't even have a broom!" Jeremy stared at Marik "Is this a joke?"
"No." Kaiba growled "It's time to introduce you cavemen to something modern. I just finished fine tuning it." Actually it had been made at Kaibacorp, but Kaiba had added a few things to the design. He opened the case and emerged with something…very interesting.
It was long and basically shaped like a broom. Only instead of twigs at the end it had a pair of small rockets. In the front it had what looked like radar and a pair of bike handles sticking out from the sides. Lower down it had a pair of what looked strangely like wings where you could put your feet. All in all it looked like the spawn of a motorcycle and a broom.
It was also blue. And the front part looked suspiciously like the head of a Blue Eyes White Dragon.
"Meet the Hoverbroom 3000, my latest invention." Kaiba said with a smirk. "Just in time for Christmas as well…"
"I call it the Blue Eyes White Broom." Marik said.
"After I make sure there are no bugs I'll be ready to mass produce them." Kaiba continued.
"Wait…you plan on selling these to wizards?" Jeremy asked.
"No, I plan to sell them to anyone who will pay the pricetag for them, wizard or otherwise." Kaiba said.
"Yeah…but can you get the Snitch with that thing?" Jeremy said, not really caring about the selling points in favor of the thing's performance on the field.
Kaiba smirked again "Let's find out."