Obsidian Fires
Part 12
By Mieren
Cye peeked at his friends between his arms where they lay folded over his head protectively. The blows had stopped suddenly a few seconds ago and he wanted to know what had happened. Upon seeing the others alternately cursing and stumbling around, he hesitantly regained his feet somewhat stiffly, pulling the elves upright as he stood.
"Dude, what happened to you?" Kento muttered as he steadied him slowly.
"You don't remember?"
"Oh, I remember what happened. I just wanna know how you did that. Since when were you a dragon?" Cye just shrugged, as baffled as anyone.
"You okay?" Ryo asked carefully as he staggered over, banishing his armor with a variety of creative phrases.
"I think so. But where are Rowen and Mieren?"
"Here," Rowen called out as he trotted over, limping heavily in his unresponsive armor. Without its help moving, the thing was heavy.
"Shit," Cale growled, poking him in the chest. "Your armor has problems."
Rowen made a point of not looking at his armor. He knew perfectly well what Cale was referring to. Black crystal streaked the sapphire parts of his armor, creating a vein-like appearance of almost translucent obsidian. He was afraid to check, but he had a sinking feeling that his left arm was similarly decorated with the black tendrils.
"Where is Mieren?" he asked quickly, desperate to change the subject.
"Over here," she spat out as she clawed her way free of the dark ground, which no longer moved to any demands now that its life essence had been killed. Kento made a face and forced it to open with his mind, grinning when the crystals obeyed him as any other patch of ground would.
Anubis staggered over to slump to the ground nearby to where Mieren was still brushing crystal shards off of herself, grumbling loudly as she did so.
"Can we go back now?" he murmured, eyes shining hopefully.
Mieren paused in knocking the loose fragments of obsidian out of her skin to look over at him with a fixed expression. She quickly gave in and nodded gently.
"I'll call our rides," she murmured, throwing her head back and closing her eyes wearily as she concentrated.
"Rides?" Sage asked slowly, peering around curiously.
She didn't have to respond. After a few moments, dark shapes began to congregate just within the concealing shadows of the trees at the edge of the crystal field. Rowen moved closer to wrap a thick cloak around Mieren as he gathered her in his arms tenderly, banishing his armor, careful to keep his arms well hidden in the folds of fabric. They had all had a rough enough time to last them for the rest of their lives. They didn't need to be worrying about his arm right now.
Mieren let out a soft, almost musical note, causing the shadows to detach themselves from the trees and wander forward hesitantly. Kento whistled appreciatively as nearly a dozen great cats wandered forth, eyes shining in the darkness.
"Man," he murmured, eyes bulging. "Those things are bigger than the one I saw."
No one bothered to comment as the great cats drew nearer, each ducking its head to Mieren respectfully when passing her. She only inclined her head slightly to acknowledge them before curling up in Rowen's arms wearily as he moved forward to pull himself onto one of the broad backs.
One of the larger cats plopped down in front of Kayura, rumbling loudly at her deep in its throat. Kayura paled and stepped back.
"Are these things safe?" she called out shakily. Mieren laughed softly.
"Yes. They are merely great cats who live on the mountains. The cycles here have given them their unnatural size, if that's what you were wondering," she called out loudly enough for everyone to hear, repeating what she had said in her native tongue for the two elves who looked like they were about to faint.
Neris and Siellon looked at her skeptically before boarding the same striped beast and nudging it gently to get it to wander over towards Mieren. Neris cleared his throat loudly.
"You have the thanks of the light elves, Lady Mieren. You are welcome in our communities from the mountain's peaks to the ocean's ends."
Mieren jumped slightly at the formal words directed at her. After having been shunned for over three thousand years, the words of gratitude and welcome were foreign to her. It took her a moment to remember the proper response.
"From the end of the ocean to the mountain's peak, may your lands be touched by the light. I thank you for your offer. Should I visit these lands again, I will come to your holds."
Unsure of what he was supposed to say, Rowen remained silent while the light elf ducked his head and placed one fist over his heart before guiding his great cat away.
"Is everyone mounted?" Mieren called out suddenly, raising her head imperiously to regard the others with commanding eyes. She sighed when she looked over to Kayura, trying not to laugh.
With Sage's help, Kayura had managed to shift back to a human form, but was now half naked. She was currently trying to hide in his cloak with him where he was similarly nude, oblivious to his crimson face as she tried to avoid Dais's lewd comments.
She nodded sharply when she saw that everyone was mounted, even if very unsteadily as was the case with Sage, for obvious reasons. Raising one hand, she gestured sharply, curling up again in Rowen's arms as the cats leapt forward and began their descent down the mountainside at an unfathomable speed. When Rowen began stroking her stomach worriedly, she leaned over to whisper in his ear, relaxing again when he grinned foolishly and turned a rather interesting shade of red.
* * *
During the ride down the mountainside, Mieren had taken it upon herself to verbally instruct the mentally deficient Warlords as to how they were supposed to transform back. Kayura spent most of the time gloating that it wasn't that hard to figure out, turning red and growling whenever either Dais or Sehkmet made some comment about her proximity with Sage. Cale was the first to catch on to the trick, grinning happily and shooting superior looks over to the two idiots who had started it all. A few minutes later, Dais had figured it out as well. With the other two's help, Sehkmet managed to shift back around an hour later.
Although everyone had noticed, no one commented on the piece of cloth that Rowen had wrapped around his left arm from wrist to just past his elbow. Mieren had looked at him curiously for a few moments, but hadn't said anything. Her silence was the only thing that kept anyone else from wondering. After all, if she wasn't concerned about what he was doing, there was nothing for them to worry about.
They had transported into Mia's front yard immediately after passing through the rolling wall of fog, a race for the shower ensuing instantly upon their arrival. Rowen was the only one not vying for the bathroom, instead all but knocking down the door to the house in a frantic attempt to merely get inside the house that the others didn't understand. Uproarious laughter and a barrage of jokes followed when Rowen unceremoniously plucked a blue-haired infant out of Mia's arms before plopping onto the couch with a rapt expression on his face. The Ronins and Warlords gave up trying to tease him about it upon realizing that he was completely oblivious to their presence. They immediately began placing bets as to how long he was going to sit there with a stupid expression on his face.
Ryo followed Mia and Cye into the kitchen, the entirety of the story of their time in Mieren's dimension slowly unfolding between them as the three cooked. It only took a few seconds before Cye and Mia chased him off to sit at the table, saying that he could only stay in the kitchen if he promised not to touch anything, grumbling loudly about his cooking skills degenerating to match Rowen's. After a little while, Kayura joined them, flipping wet hair over her shoulder as she moved over to the stoves to help. She reddened furiously when Dais and Sehkmet's comments, obviously directed at Sage, drifted through the house. Ryo snickered evilly.
Mia started telling the story of how she had gotten Rowen and Mieren's child when a massive leopard wandered into the kitchen followed by White Blaze. Mieren wandered in briefly with the blue-haired, silver-eyed infant clinging to her tightly, nursing contentedly, and Rowen hovering at her shoulder, much to her irritation. She only put up with him for a few minutes before chasing him off with a growl.
"Had to find somewhere to hide," she murmured ruefully, glancing in the direction of the living room. "Dais won't quit staring."
"What about Sage?" Ryo asked carefully, choking on poorly contained laughter at Kayura's answering scowl.
"He turned red and left to throw Kento out of the shower," she chortled softly.
Sighing, she rose to her feet slowly, so as not to disturb the infant in her arms, and proceeded to root through the fridge. She returned to the table happily with a variety of wrapped deli meats hanging from one hand. Not bothering to make a sandwich, she settled on bolting the selection of hams and turkeys. Cye placed an enormous glass of orange juice in front of her as she was finishing, smiling shyly when she grinned at him in gratitude. After another few minutes, the infant belched happily and cooed loudly enough to make Mia turn around to look at it. For her part, Mieren whistled loudly, as though calling a dog. Rowen instantly scrambled through the door to the kitchen, creating a round of snickers to which he was completely oblivious as he moved to take the baby from her arms. The words 'whipped' and 'henpecked' came up several times.
"I'm going to take a shower," Mieren murmured softly as she rose stiffly and turned to trot upstairs.
"I thought that Sage was in the shower," Mia called out over her shoulder.
"Not for long," Ryo snickered as Mieren disappeared from view.
Dais wandered into the kitchen a moment later nursing a bruised jaw and growling something about Sehkmet that Ryo would have given anything to have heard. He grinned widely when he heard Sage's startled yelp and retreating footsteps from upstairs.
"Lemme guess," he drawled sarcastically. "Mieren decided that she wanted the shower. Yes?" Ryo only snickered for an answer. Dais's grin grew slightly wider. "This is how it's done," he called out over his shoulder as he wandered from the room and headed upstairs.
Unable to resist, Ryo followed him as he headed for the shower, hooting quietly under his breath when Dais popped open the door to the bathroom and sauntered in, swinging the door shut behind him. Exactly three seconds later, the door crashed open and Mieren charged out wearing only a towel and a red face. Ryo's jaw dropped.
"That's a new one," he muttered, shaking his head and heading downstairs to pester Cye and Mia again, praying that the food was ready. Exactly two minutes and thirty five seconds later, he was chased out of the kitchen by a skillet-wielding Cye. Kento and Sehkmet were already waiting in the living room with chastised expressions.
Roughly twenty minutes later, Mia called for the guys. The word 'dinner' was barely out of her mouth before everyone was clustered around the table, Mieren holding her child. The first question to hit the table was predictably aimed at Rowen.
"So Rowen," Mia murmured, smiling gently. "What're going to name him?"
Rowen only blinked and looked down at the table, screwing up his face in concentration for a moment. Mieren was making faces in unison with him, clearly discussing acceptable names. After a few moments, he peeked up at the others.
"Touma," he said shyly, eyes glued to the blue-haired, silver-eyed infant in Mieren's arms. He only stared for a moment before she handed the baby off to him so she could attack her food more easily.
It didn't take too long for Cye to pry the infant out of his arms so he could hold him for a few minutes. The infant boy was quickly being passed around the table, everyone pausing in their meal to hold him. As he was shuffled around, Touma's eyes grew wider and more curious. By the time he was handed to Sehkmet, he was so excited that he wet the former Warlord, creating a round of snickers and one mortified expression. Sehkmet didn't waste any time handing him back to Rowen, who shrugged and wandered out of the kitchen, Mia following him in exasperation. Sehkmet darted out of the kitchen right behind her to change his clothes, poorly muffled giggling following his retreating form. Mia returned a few moments later with a curious expression on her face.
"Never would've pegged him as the type to know how to change a diaper," she murmured as she reclaimed her seat.
"He knows what he's doing?" Sage asked incredulously. Mia nodded slowly.
"He mentioned something about babysitting," she responded carefully, shrugging massively.
"Caring for infants is the best way to earn some cash while studying. When you're called in, they usually just sleep for the most part," Rowen mumbled as he reclaimed his seat and snagged a plate of food absently, all but shoveling it into his mouth. The others only gaped.
"Since when…" Anubis trailed off, not sure how to continue.
"No kidding," Kento grumped, glaring at his friend furiously. "Well?"
Rowen swallowed slowly and began eyeing his friends with a wry expression painting his features. For an answer, he popped open his mouth and presented them with a clear view of his absent fangs. Mieren's eyebrows shot towards her hairline and she began grumbling something in her native tongue that had Cye blushing instantly before rounding on Rowen.
"I… uh… figured it out?" he offered lamely, smiling at the answering groans and rolling eyes.
"We assumed as much," Sage said sweetly. "But when?"
Rowen flinched and studied his plate for a moment. "On the field when our armors came after us."
"That's hardly descriptive as to how," Ryo grumbled.
"Well…" he stammered, swallowing carefully. "I shut down my mind to keep my armor from winning. While in my subconscious, I came to terms with myself." He stopped his explanation there, not wanting to tell the others that he actually spoken with what used to be his other half. He barely suppressed a sigh of relief when the others left it at that.
"Your arm okay?" Sage asked suddenly, nearly scaring Rowen out of his seat. He nodded nervously, refusing to make eye contact.
"I heal quickly," he mumbled, turning his attention to his food again.
"Then why is it bandaged?" Cale asked carefully, seeing where Sage was headed with his questioning. Rowen had to struggle to keep from flinching.
He knew full well that they weren't going to leave him alone until they saw what he was trying to hide. Sighing loudly, he placed his hand just above his left elbow and shucked off the strip of cloth he had tied firmly in place, holding up his arm with his elbow resting on the edge of the table. A unified gasp rose around the table.
The veins running through the back of his hand were the purest black, the onyx tendrils moving around his wrist and running up his forearm almost to his elbow. The blackness itself wasn't quite opaque, the obsidian streaks shimmering in an almost translucent manner.
"It's like your armor," Ryo breathed, his eyes demanding.
"That's where she bit me," he said softly, eyes tightening as he regarded his ruined arm. He pulled free of Sage's grasp gently and set about wrapping his arm once again, looking up at the others with defeated eyes. "Don't bother worrying. There's nothing you can do about it," he murmured, not really sure how he knew, but knowing all the same.
"What will the markings do?" Mia asked Mieren slowly, clenching her teeth and swallowing nervously as she waited for a response. For her part, Mieren leaned forward and pushed the cloth back just far enough to poke one of the onyx lines with the tip of one finger, intrigued by the strange smoothness of the lines. She grunted almost in irritation.
"Nothing. With my double's death, this is no more than a weird looking tattoo," she announced softly, smiling comfortingly at Rowen's incredulous expression.
"And if she were still alive?" Dais prompted, his one eye narrowing.
Mieren thought for a moment before answering slowly. "The marks would act at a homing signal for her, crippling his mind and body, controlling him. It appears as though his armor took the majority of the blow before the darkness started attacking him. If my double were alive, the Armor of Strata, and eventually Rowen, would be under her complete control."
"Then how did she control our armor in the first place if that's how it works?" Ryo asked slowly.
"There are many spells that can so something like that. The original spell was focused on Anubis's armor. Once that one was shattered, my double cast another by calling forth the blood staining the crystals and using your link to your armors to turn them against you."
"Lot of fun that was, too," Kento growled, momentarily forgetting his food. Mieren didn't hesitate before depriving him of it while he was distracted. He blinked when his meal suddenly vanished, expression darkening immediately.
"You weren't eating it," she mumbled defensively around a largish mouthful.
Making a face, Kento snatched her unfinished plate of food. Silence greeted his move before muffled laughter began rising around the table. Mieren blinked in shock, eyes narrowing slowly.
"Is that a challenge, Hardrock?" she asked softly, dangerously. Kento blanched and slid her plate of food across the table to return it to her promptly, shaking his head forcefully in denial amid peals of laughter. Mieren had to struggle to keep her irritated expression, a grin inevitably tugging at her lips. Tormenting Kento was the best way to alleviate tension that she had found thus far, and she intended to keep using it.
At a soft cry from the next room, Mieren glanced at Rowen, sending him hopping out of his seat and running to check on Touma. The word 'whipped' began rising around the table again.
Ryo began looking in Dais's direction curiously. After squirming under his gaze for a few seconds, the confused Warlord arched his eyebrows questioningly.
"What?" he finally cried out.
Ryo grinned mischievously. "How exactly did you get Mieren out of the bathroom?" he asked loudly, catching the attention of everyone at the table.
For an answer, Dais only grinned.
"Come on," Sage all but pleaded. "How did you do that?"
When he opened his mouth to reply, Mieren sniffed loudly and threw a calculating look in his direction, causing Dais to click his teeth shut instantly and turn to study his lap. Rowen wandered back in with Touma in his arms and a grin on his face. An unspoken message passed between him and Mieren, causing him to chortle softly.
"Well?" Sehkmet asked quickly, eager to cause problems for Dais.
Dais shifted slightly so that he was still in his seat but could bolt out of the room at a moment's notice. He cleared his throat softly and glanced fearfully in Rowen's direction. "I hopped in the tub with her," he squeaked out, sprinting out of the room before anyone had a chance to respond.
Sage's eyebrows rose slowly as he turned to Mieren. "But that's the same thing you do to us," he murmured thoughtfully.
"You're not as scary-looking as he is," she muttered defensively.
"Hey!" Dais cried out indignantly, poking his head around the doorsill.
"Like I said, scary. You're four hundred and fifty. Nothing's in the right place," she growled while he spluttered furiously, spitting out denials.
"I look just like I did when I was twenty one!" he cried out angrily.
Mieren turned to look fully at him. "My condolences," she murmured apologetically, ducking her head slightly, seemingly oblivious to his twitching.
Fighting back the crimson rising in his cheeks, he rounding on the convulsing Warlords. "Like you have any room to talk," he growled, staring directly at Anubis and Sehkmet. "You're both seventeen by all physical standards. You're stuck in puberty permanently."
Anubis made a face and chose to ignore him. Sehkmet looked up at him curiously before standing up and jerking the front of his slacks forward so he could peer down them, making a considering face. He shrugged.
"I have nothing to complain about," he said smugly, reclaiming his seat. Kayura groaned and buried her face in her hands, shaking her head wearily. Sage grinned lecherously and slipped one arm around her shoulders comfortingly, blatantly ignoring the snickering from the others.
"Is that a challenge?" Dais asked Sehkmet carefully, grinning slowly as he began to finger his belt.
"Try it and see what it gets you," Mia said sweetly through clenched teeth. Dais paled slightly and vanished again with a hunted expression painting his features.
Ryo glanced over at Mia in askance. "Should I send White Blaze after him?"
"Please."
Ryo closed his eyes for a moment and made a face. He grinned triumphantly at the others and turned to face the living room expectantly. A loud cry followed by a sturdy thump echoed from the next room, creating a round of snickers.
"What should I have White Blaze and Chimera do with him?" he asked slowly.
Silence greeted him before Mia finally cleared her throat and asked what everyone but Mieren was wondering. "Chimera?"
"The leopard," he said happily. "Surely you've noticed her wandering around with White Blaze."
"Well, yea. But we didn't know her name," Cye grumped.
Ryo chuckled softly and leaned back in his chair, silently thanking White Blaze for helping him torment the Warlord. Things were finally getting somewhat back to normal. Rowen and Mieren seemed happy together. Their child, other than his shocking silver eyes, was a mirror image of Rowen. Ryo absently wondered about what the kid would look like when he was older.
The idea of the future sobered Ryo up immediately. He closed his eyes and forced himself to relax. The premonition hadn't been fulfilled. He numbly repeated it in his mind. Spawning of the shadow's past, elements shall follow the dragon's fires through the night airs as blue armor framed in white rises to his call. Looking to the midnight stars and shrieking fury into the night, shall he fight the world alone. Armors rise to fight again, falling to burning arts under a dragon's tears. Ancient fires shall rise again, breaking free as dimensions fall to fight the powers of past mistakes now broken into shards. Fires rise and fires die, falling to the dragon's cry.
Cye had revealed himself as a dragon in the dead of night when Mieren was fighting her double, but he hadn't really fought. He had just lain still on the ground and accepted their blows. He most definitely hadn't won. Rowen had. No ancient fires had risen and no elemental manipulation had been used, either.
Ryo blinked suddenly when he realized that everyone was looking at him curiously. He forced himself to smile, mumbling softly that he was just lost in thought, causing Rowen to make some crack about it being natural since it was 'unfamiliar territory' to him. He was grateful when they went back to poking fun at one another. They needed to relax and have fun for as long as they could. The chaos haunting their lives wasn't over yet.
End of Obsidian Fires
To be continued in Dragon Wars
You haven't seen the last of me! You cannot escape! Resistance is futile!
