Chapter 75

Genji caught up with the dragons at the opposite beach, and loaded a bow as he ran. Without stopping, he aimed and fired at Don. The arrow sunk through his ear, and the dragon roared, stopping before jumping into the water. Po and Don had already jumped into the water to swim away, but they turned to go help their brother.

A whirlpool turned towards the shore, and Udine jumped out of it.

"There is no escape beneath my waves!" she yelled as she started to fall back down.

"No!" Sei yelled, struggling to get back on land.

"Don't kill us, Udine-sama!" Po cried in fear.

Udine's feet landed on the water, and ice spread from under her feet. The ice froze the shallow water around the island instantly, trapping Po and Sei in the frozen mass. Don backed further onto the beach in fear, completely blocking all reason and loyalty from his mind.

Udine turned her head to Don.

"Enough of this." She suggested. "What is it you want with this boy so badly as to want to kill him? What did he do to you?!"

Don backed away another step as Genji ran out to the open beach.

**He thought I was Cell!**

Udine bit her lip and looked up at Don.

"That better not be the case, cause you're the smart one, Don-san. You know better than to pull something like this because of a grudge."

"…" Don was petrified, unable to speak. He could hear his brothers calling for help, but he was too scared for his own life to answer.

Udine walked off the ice and to the beach, standing in front of Genji. He looked down at the small creature before him.

"Your name is Genji, right?" she asked. "I heard about you."

Genji blinked a few times.

**Heard of me? How?**

Don took the open opportunity, and made a break for it. He broke into a run and disappeared into the trees. Udine growled in frustration, then waved her hand at the coast of ice. The frozen water instantly thawed out, and the two brothers washed up on shore.

"They'll be fine, they're too cold to move." Udine assured. She quickly took Genji's hand and ran after Don. "C'mon! You can help!"

Don was chased back to the lake, and Udine looked to Genji.

"Fire an arrow at his neck!" she commanded. In a quick, flowing motion, Genji loaded his bow and fired an arrow at Don.

"MYSTICAL BINDING!" Udine called, flinging her hand at the arrow. A wisp of fog tied itself around the arrow, then steered the small shaft around the dragon's neck. Like a chain, the fog captured the dragon's neck, and Udine pulled the lizard down with a firm grip. Don fell into the lake with a loud, wet commotion.

Genji watched in amazement.

**Whoa. How'd you do that?**

"I am master of all that is water. That includes clouds, mists, and fog."

**Cool.**

Don was pulled out of the lake, where he grabbed the shore with his front claws and pushed his head out of the water.

"Spare me, Udine-sama! Spare me, please!"

"Oh, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that…" Udine shook her head, still holding onto the mist chain.

**…** Genji watched with a decisive look.

"Please!" Don begged with fear in his eyes. "I'll do anything!"

Udine sighed.

"Don-san, you and your brothers sunk ships, caused tidal waves, killed many innocent people, damaged many island settlements, and terrorized your fellow Gods and priests. Being a Mononoke, I punished you for your recent wrong doings, and forgave each old crime. All of those crimes combined are less severe than what you and your brothers were about to do to this boy. I will punish you accordingly, and you shall live with it the rest of your life."

**You've got to be kidding!** Genji blinked at Udine. **Don't punish him so harshly just because he was trying to kill a nobody like me!**

"A 'nobody,' you say?" Udine smiled. "So, you have no idea what you really are?"

**Huh?** Genji raised a confused eyebrow at her.

Meanwhile, Don madly struggled against his chains, fearful of death. Udine hardly strained herself as she conversed with Genji. She held the mist chain like she was flying a kite.

Genji was marveling her incredible strength when something moved out of the corner of his eye. He saw something moving in the water, and he recognized the movement and texture of that something.

**Mononoke crocodile…**

What happened next seemed to go by in a blink!

/|\

The crocodile lunged, snapped its jaws around Don's neck, and tried to drag him under. Don and the crock disappeared beneath the water, but Don quickly surfaced and bit down on the tail of his attacker. Udine pulled more forcefully on the chain, digging her heels into the mud. Genji grabbed the chain behind her and helped pull.

**This is a really hard punishment, Udine-sama!**

"Hey, don't look at me! I didn't call for a giant alligator to come attack!"

**Crocodile.**

"Whatever…"

Genji stared at the fight between the reptiles in the lake. Watching Don about to be mauled to death was a little satisfying, but…

Something feels wrong…Like I shouldn't be letting this happen…

Oh, let it go, Genji! He deserves it! He and his brothers tried to kill you…

But…But…

His good heart quickly ended the mental battle.

This is wrong! I won't let him die!

**Udine, tie this around my waist!**

"Huh?"

**Just do it!**

Udine nodded once, and quickly looped the chain around Genji's middle. He let go of his own grip on the chain, and planted his feet firmly on the ground to keep himself in one place.

With his hands free, he quickly loaded his bow and aimed at the struggle before him.

Hold on just a little longer, Don!

He fired…

/|\

Does Don live or die? Ask me what you think in your reviews! Also, to answer Jesscheaux… Udine is actually inspired from another "Udine" from a Japanese RPG called "Tales of Phantasia." She was a powerful water goddess that the heroes needed help from and they went through painstaking trouble to get it. So, that's where Udine came from. More of "The Silent Prince" is coming on Monday! See ya there! ~ Masquerade