Sorry about the delay. ' ^ ^
Here's Chapter 14 which is actually Chapter 13...I should probably start naming my chapters. It's less confusing that way..
This chapter is fairly short, and here's why:
Ok, I got a LOT of e-mails and people asking what the Fire is. I didn't realize I'd been so cryptic about it, so I'll try to explain it better:
Simply put, it's a rare condition, similar to changing into a werewolf, that's specific to this fanfic. It happens when a guy hasn't indulged the passionate side of himself for a very long time. It normally only affects boys, and usually disappears by the time their about 15.
Symptoms: A high fever, and usually irritability and violent possessiveness.
Only two ways to fix it: a special potion, or, the ugly solution, to find someone to satisfy his sudden lust. ( the second solution is the reason Peliopes is referring to, when she says she'd rather kill him than submit him to something so utterly revolting.)
Fortunately for Syaoran, he won't have to worry about either option...there's something fishy about his case...
******
Sakura shook her head.
" I don't care about destiny. I care about the journey, and without Syaoran there, that journey is going to be a lot harder!"
Peliopes listened without a word as Sakura argued. Finally, she spoke.
" Sakura, he's not going to be gone forever. Just a few weeks. He needs medical attention."
" And I know that. But, I want to be there for him. Even if he is a danger to me. I don't care."
The elf despite her calm outer demeanor, was in fact, flabbergasted at this show of loyalty. She'd never seen anything even close to it in all her years of existence. It was foolish...and yet in some ways endearing.
" Sakura, I don't think you understand. Syaoran is having a very difficult problem."
Sakura blinked.
" Is there a way to fix it without leaving?"
" Yes...but you wouldn't like it. Trust me."
" I'd do anything to help him."
" TRUST ME, Sakura. There are two methods that are available. One requires he move to the Apothecary's city, to get treatment. The second can be done here, but, I would sooner kill him than have him do anything so demeaning! So understand, you will not be of much help here."
" I will not stand by while he suffers! I WILL GO WITH YOU! And nothing you can do will stop me!"
******
They were packed and ready the next day, with Sakura. The Apothecary's city was across the sea, so the Diggers made new tunnels especially for them. Sakura was intrigued. They curled into great balls, then with a clatter, would roll towards a wall, claws extended forward. When they happened upon a stone buried deep beneath the earth, that's when their teeth were used. Using those huge incisors, they would break the rock with the force of their jaws, then continue on with their nails.
Sakura noticed that even the little ones (she learned all five of them were named after the first sound they spoke) Gruf, Nips, Qweqwe, and Flir, were helping. But, the smallest one, little Piap, was held restrained to one side. She recognized him as the little blue one she'd been playing with when they'd first arrived.
" Why won't they let Piap dig?" She asked Peliopes.
Peliopes spoke softly with the two guards that restrained the little blue Digger. They murmured in soft grunts and purrs. Peliopes returned gravely.
" Piap has a very serious problem with his teeth and claws. You'll noticed the others grow thick horn-like teeth. But, his, despite their size, aren't thick enough. The healers of the Digger community say it's a very rare disease, but one that could destroy the Royal Family."
" Why?"
" Piap is the only Blue heir. But, there are some in the kingdom who may question him when he tries to take the throne. They'll battle him. And as you can see, the primary weapon of this community is..."
" Their teeth and claws..."
" Supreme Blue Jerj is heartbroken." Peliopes looked at Sakura's sorrowful face, then continued," But he believes there is hope. His mate is pregnant again. He's hoping that this one, fates be merciful, will be blue."
Sakura looked at little Piap, watching how sorrowful his eyes were. She knew exactly how he felt, being unable to assist those you know and love. She knew all too well how he felt...
Sakura looked at the still figure of Syaoran on the litter carried by one of the Diggers. They'd given him a very strong herb that put him into a very deep sleep. But, even with it, he still tossed and turned, his face flushed with fever. She reached out slowly to push a lock of hair from his closed eyes. Beside him, the golden staff lay dully, as though it's glow drained away with him.
" Will he die?"
" It all depends on how quickly we get to Apothecary city."
******
The dark figure laughed.
" Wonderful. Everything is going accordingly...come children. The Scepter awaits thee."
******
" Peliopes, can I speak with you a moment?"
Gharen took Peliopes aside.
" What is it Gharen?"
" I've been watching that boy for some time now. There's something odd about the so-called 'Fire' he's suffering."
" What's that?"
" It's burning too long. Much too long...he shouldn't be suffering. The worst of it should have been over days ago."
" Perhaps..."
" And one other thing. The Fire doesn't drain energy, it cultivates it," Gharen preened himself in exasperation," He should be complaining about the lack of space and activity, not lying there like a dead man...it irritates me to see him so weak..."
Peliopes smiled, a new light shining in her eyes.
" You're fond of the boy."
" ...I am not..."
" ..."
" More of them both. And it angers me to see them pulled apart."
" There is nothing we can do, it's a fact of nature."
" No. There is no fact of nature that can explain this Fire. He may not have an even temperament, but there should be no reason for such a long stretch. I will soon discover the reason behind this mystery."
The Diggers waved solemn goodbye from the shores of the beach, as the group set sail across a darkening sea. Sakura smiled, thinking back to all the adventures they'd had since the start of this trip. Her grin grew wider as she realized that, despite the warning from the Prince, they'd gotten more help than imaginable. Her smile faded as her thoughts wandered to Syaoran, his smiling face, his soft eyes...
Suddenly, she let out a scream as something brushed by her legs. She backed up, only to be staring into the puzzled expression of little Piap!
" PIAP?"
It squealed happily, and clambered up her side, onto her head. She laughed, picking him up and tickling.
" Piap, what are you doing here," Sakura frowned," shouldn't you be at home with your parents?"
Here's Chapter 14 which is actually Chapter 13...I should probably start naming my chapters. It's less confusing that way..
This chapter is fairly short, and here's why:
Ok, I got a LOT of e-mails and people asking what the Fire is. I didn't realize I'd been so cryptic about it, so I'll try to explain it better:
Simply put, it's a rare condition, similar to changing into a werewolf, that's specific to this fanfic. It happens when a guy hasn't indulged the passionate side of himself for a very long time. It normally only affects boys, and usually disappears by the time their about 15.
Symptoms: A high fever, and usually irritability and violent possessiveness.
Only two ways to fix it: a special potion, or, the ugly solution, to find someone to satisfy his sudden lust. ( the second solution is the reason Peliopes is referring to, when she says she'd rather kill him than submit him to something so utterly revolting.)
Fortunately for Syaoran, he won't have to worry about either option...there's something fishy about his case...
******
Sakura shook her head.
" I don't care about destiny. I care about the journey, and without Syaoran there, that journey is going to be a lot harder!"
Peliopes listened without a word as Sakura argued. Finally, she spoke.
" Sakura, he's not going to be gone forever. Just a few weeks. He needs medical attention."
" And I know that. But, I want to be there for him. Even if he is a danger to me. I don't care."
The elf despite her calm outer demeanor, was in fact, flabbergasted at this show of loyalty. She'd never seen anything even close to it in all her years of existence. It was foolish...and yet in some ways endearing.
" Sakura, I don't think you understand. Syaoran is having a very difficult problem."
Sakura blinked.
" Is there a way to fix it without leaving?"
" Yes...but you wouldn't like it. Trust me."
" I'd do anything to help him."
" TRUST ME, Sakura. There are two methods that are available. One requires he move to the Apothecary's city, to get treatment. The second can be done here, but, I would sooner kill him than have him do anything so demeaning! So understand, you will not be of much help here."
" I will not stand by while he suffers! I WILL GO WITH YOU! And nothing you can do will stop me!"
******
They were packed and ready the next day, with Sakura. The Apothecary's city was across the sea, so the Diggers made new tunnels especially for them. Sakura was intrigued. They curled into great balls, then with a clatter, would roll towards a wall, claws extended forward. When they happened upon a stone buried deep beneath the earth, that's when their teeth were used. Using those huge incisors, they would break the rock with the force of their jaws, then continue on with their nails.
Sakura noticed that even the little ones (she learned all five of them were named after the first sound they spoke) Gruf, Nips, Qweqwe, and Flir, were helping. But, the smallest one, little Piap, was held restrained to one side. She recognized him as the little blue one she'd been playing with when they'd first arrived.
" Why won't they let Piap dig?" She asked Peliopes.
Peliopes spoke softly with the two guards that restrained the little blue Digger. They murmured in soft grunts and purrs. Peliopes returned gravely.
" Piap has a very serious problem with his teeth and claws. You'll noticed the others grow thick horn-like teeth. But, his, despite their size, aren't thick enough. The healers of the Digger community say it's a very rare disease, but one that could destroy the Royal Family."
" Why?"
" Piap is the only Blue heir. But, there are some in the kingdom who may question him when he tries to take the throne. They'll battle him. And as you can see, the primary weapon of this community is..."
" Their teeth and claws..."
" Supreme Blue Jerj is heartbroken." Peliopes looked at Sakura's sorrowful face, then continued," But he believes there is hope. His mate is pregnant again. He's hoping that this one, fates be merciful, will be blue."
Sakura looked at little Piap, watching how sorrowful his eyes were. She knew exactly how he felt, being unable to assist those you know and love. She knew all too well how he felt...
Sakura looked at the still figure of Syaoran on the litter carried by one of the Diggers. They'd given him a very strong herb that put him into a very deep sleep. But, even with it, he still tossed and turned, his face flushed with fever. She reached out slowly to push a lock of hair from his closed eyes. Beside him, the golden staff lay dully, as though it's glow drained away with him.
" Will he die?"
" It all depends on how quickly we get to Apothecary city."
******
The dark figure laughed.
" Wonderful. Everything is going accordingly...come children. The Scepter awaits thee."
******
" Peliopes, can I speak with you a moment?"
Gharen took Peliopes aside.
" What is it Gharen?"
" I've been watching that boy for some time now. There's something odd about the so-called 'Fire' he's suffering."
" What's that?"
" It's burning too long. Much too long...he shouldn't be suffering. The worst of it should have been over days ago."
" Perhaps..."
" And one other thing. The Fire doesn't drain energy, it cultivates it," Gharen preened himself in exasperation," He should be complaining about the lack of space and activity, not lying there like a dead man...it irritates me to see him so weak..."
Peliopes smiled, a new light shining in her eyes.
" You're fond of the boy."
" ...I am not..."
" ..."
" More of them both. And it angers me to see them pulled apart."
" There is nothing we can do, it's a fact of nature."
" No. There is no fact of nature that can explain this Fire. He may not have an even temperament, but there should be no reason for such a long stretch. I will soon discover the reason behind this mystery."
The Diggers waved solemn goodbye from the shores of the beach, as the group set sail across a darkening sea. Sakura smiled, thinking back to all the adventures they'd had since the start of this trip. Her grin grew wider as she realized that, despite the warning from the Prince, they'd gotten more help than imaginable. Her smile faded as her thoughts wandered to Syaoran, his smiling face, his soft eyes...
Suddenly, she let out a scream as something brushed by her legs. She backed up, only to be staring into the puzzled expression of little Piap!
" PIAP?"
It squealed happily, and clambered up her side, onto her head. She laughed, picking him up and tickling.
" Piap, what are you doing here," Sakura frowned," shouldn't you be at home with your parents?"