Chapter 6: Old Friends

Spwee, that last chapter had several revisions . Well lets keep on going…

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            Raseleane held Tintlet close to her. "Take her where?!"

            "To the Water Realm, where she will be protected," Cesia said blinking. "Don't you remember…?" They all just looked at her blankly. "Er, I guess not," she said sweatdropping and sighed. "Well the princess is seventeen, yet everyone hasn't remembered the truth…"

            "Remember what?" Tintlet asked.

            "The curse," Rath said, remembering what had been nagging him in the back of his mind since he first came back.

            "Rath!" Cesia glared at him. "You weren't supposed to—"

            "It's not going to matter whether they find out on their own or if told. The sooner the better, really," Rath said looking at her.

            "What are you two talking about?" Kai-stern asked.

            "NO!" Raseleane suddenly screamed as she clutched her daughter, making Tintlet blink and start gasping for air. "NOO!"

            "Raseleane!" Lykouleon yelled as he went to her. "What's wrong, Raseleane?!"
            "She remembers now," Rath said. "Of course she would, she was right there holding her daughter when—"

            "RATH!" Cesia yelled. "Stop it!"

            "Why?! They have a right to know now!!" he yelled right back.

            "What are you two not telling us?" Alfeegi yelled on top of their yelling.

            "Shyrendora…" Raseleane said in a hoarse voice and looked up, releasing Tintlet, much to the princess' relief. "It was…Shyrendora…"

            "Shyrendora?" Lykouleon repeated then blinked. "That's…that's right…"
            Tintlet looked at her parents confused. What was going on? She figured it had something to do with her, but she couldn't figure out exactly what. "Mother…? Father…?"

            "My Lord…we have to take her to the Water Realm," Cesia repeated softly. "There she will be safe and—"

            "Miyabi…what happened to her?" Raseleane asked, her voice now barely above a whisper as she remembered what happened on that fateful day.

            Cesia looked away. "…We don't know…"

            "What do you mean you don't know?!" Lykouleon yelled then regretted it immediately when he saw Cesia flinch. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to yell like that but…after the curse everything is foggy. All I remember is Miyabi saying something and then a bright flash of light…"
            "Yes…and she disappeared…along with all the other faeries…" Cesia looked at him. "Dragon Lord…will you allow me to take Princess Tintlet to the Water Realm? There she would be safe from any more attacks that Shyrendora might send out. Miyabi's spell did not affect her and she is trying to take Tintlet so that she could be sure to…" She couldn't continue and let her voice trail off.

            Ruwalk looked over at the distraught Dragon Queen and over to the Dragon Lord. "Lykouleon…I think we should…"

            "Apparently they can now breach the barrier," Tetheus said.

            "But we can handle anything that comes at us!" Alfeegi argued.

            "The Water Realm does not have any greater protection than us," Kai-stern agreed.

            "I'll go."

            Everyone blinked and looked at the princess who had just spoken. She had a determined face on and everyone could tell that she would not be swayed. After a few glances at his officers and his wife, Lykouleon nodded as Raseleane led Tintlet back to her room to help her pack some things. It was decided that Rath and Thatz would go along with the princess to guard her and report anything that happened while she was in the Water Realm. It was also decided that no one outside the palace would know of what had happened so as not to bring any more danger to the faerie realm.

            Raseleane hugged her daughter tightly as the group of four prepared to depart. Tintlet was dressed in plain riding clothing so as to not arouse suspicion, though it was hard not to disguise her natural beauty and grace that she already had. Lykouleon held the horse Tintlet would be riding and gave her a final hug before she mounted. Ruwalk comforted Cernozura as the attendant tried not to cry. It was almost as difficult for her as it was for the Dragon Queen, having raised the princess since she was a baby and being like a second mother to her.

            It was almost midnight when the group rode off, Cesia leading with the two Dragon Knights on either side of the princess. Tetheus joined them at the last minute to ensure the princess' safety and rode in the rear. He might not have shown it, but Lykouleon could tell that the Black Dragon Officer was worried about Tintlet as much as everyone else. Thatz also felt a lot safer with the Security Officer with them. Nothing would get past Tetheus.

            It had been two days and the going was smooth and uneventful. Tintlet was thoroughly enjoying herself, making Thatz wonder if she realized how grave the situation was. Oh well, he thought, at least she's happy…

            "How much farther, Cesia?" Tintlet asked as she rode up alongside her.

            Cesia blinked and looked up at the sky. "Um…I think a few more miles would do it…"

            "Great!! Lets have a race then!" she said as she shot off ahead. "Last one there's a rotten dragon egg!!"

            "Wait!!" Cesia yelled.

            "Princess!" the two Dragon Knights yelled as Tetheus galloped past them.

            Tintlet just laughed as she urged her horse faster, her long hair streaming behind her. It felt good to gallop freely on the empty road, the sun shining down on them. Even her horse felt relieved to finally stretch out and gallop, the ground being eaten away as he churned his powerful legs over the ground. She glanced back and saw the group catching up with her. She leaned forward to her horse's ears and whispered words of encouragement so that he would gallop faster. And her horse heeded them, now flying over the ground, leaving her friends behind.

            "Damn, what is she thinking?" Rath said as he urged his horse faster.

            "She had to take her own horse, didn't she?" Thatz sighed. "And he happens to be the fastest in the kingdom!!"

            "WHAT?!" Cesia yelled back at them and blinked when Tetheus shot past her like a bullet, steadily gaining on the princess. Whoa he's fast, too… "Go, Tetheus!!" she yelled.

            Both horse and rider sensed the Dragon Officer coming and her horse was about to take his second wind when a figure suddenly appeared on the road. Tintlet quickly reined her horse in, making him nearly sit down on his haunches as he tried to stop before running into the figure. When Tintlet opened her eyes, she saw that they had stopped inches before the cloaked figure, her horse heaving beneath her as he stood back up.

            Tetheus cantered up to Tintlet and stopped next to her. He looked down at the figure. "Who are you?" he asked then turned to Tintlet. "And walk your horse around. He needs to cool down after a run like that."

            "Er…yes, sir…" she mumbled as she turned her horse around and started to walk in circles until he could breath normally.

            The figure did not move until everyone had reached them, their horses breathing heavily. "It is reckless to run like that," the stranger said, his voice old and leathery. The hood moved to Tetheus and an old, wrinkled hand reached up and stroked his horse's head. "But yours…does not seem to be tired."

            "He can handle running hard for long distances," the dragon officer said without moving. "Answer my question."

            "It has been a long time…since we have met, Tetheus," the stranger chuckled as he removed his hood, revealing and old, gentle face with a long, white beard.

            Tetheus blinked. "Elder?"
            Cesia gasped. "Elder! What are you doing here?!"

            "To meet you all of course…" He blinked when two things shot past him from behind, making his long bear fly out in front of him.

            "PRINCESS!!"

            Tintlet blinked when two water lights, one with long blue hair and one with short, and wavy flaxen hair flew around her. "Er…yes?"

            "Don't you remember us?" the one with flaxen hair said.

            "Of course not! She was just a baby when we saw her last!" her friend snapped. She turned and bowed. "I'm Shian!"

            "And I'm Hana-Kusuku!" the other said bowing as well.

            "Welcome to the Faerie Water Realm!" they two energetic water lights greeted in unison.

            "We're…here?" Tintlet blinked.

            "Great! I'm starving!!" Thatz said as he hopped of his horse and started to lead her to the forest by the reins. The mare looked at her rider disapprovingly and tossed her head defiantly as she plodded along. "Right, right," he said grinning as he fed her some carrots, making her change her attitude instantly. "I spoil you too much," he said as he scratched behind her ears.

            Rath sat atop his horse and looked at the old elf. "So, you're the Elder. Dealte has told me a lot of stuff about you…" he said as he narrowed his eyes at him.

            "Eh? I wonder what she told you," he said laughing.

            "How about some things about taking a liking to females…?" Rath suggested, raising an eyebrow.

            The Elder laughed nervously. "Hahahaha…the little kidder!!" He turned around and coughed. "She's waiting inside, so lets go!" he said sweatdropping as he quickly walked into some tall bamboo.

            Rath smiled a bit as he dismounted and followed the others into the thicket while leading his horse. The beauty that greeted them awed all of them, including Tetheus. Several water lights flew around them, showering them with blue sparkles. Tintlet held out a hand and one of the braver water lights flew down and landed on it.

The water light looked up at her and waved. "Howdy, Princess!"

She giggled. "You're so cute! What's your name?"

The water light flushed as being called cute and cleared his throat. "I'm Ringleys!" He stared at her. "You look as if you could be a faerie…"

"A faerie?" she asked amused as she continued walking, the two Dragon Knights staring at the little water light, Thatz also leading her horse.

"She's not a faerie!" Shian yelled as she flew over and whapped Ringleys on the head.

"Hey! You two shouldn't fight!" Hana-Kusuku said, hovering over them as the two water lights started to fight each other.

"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!" they yelled and continued to their fighting match in the air.

"WAAHHHH!!" the poor little water light cried as she flew past them and into a faerie elf, who was standing in between the two giant oak trees that created the entrance to the faerie forest. Hana-Kusuku looked up to the faerie elf with big, teary eyes. "Dealte!! They're being mean again!!"

Dealte sweatdropped and gently patted her head. "There, there…" She looked up to Tintlet and smiled. "Welcome, young princess. I'm sure you don't remember me, but I'm Dealte."

Tintlet curtsied. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Dealte."

Dealte held a hand up to her mouth and giggled. "My, I've never had any one from a royal family bow to me before!"

Tintlet smiled. "Well, I'm sure not many people had faerie god mothers either."

Tetheus coughed. "If you are comfortable her, milady, I shall return to Draqueen to tell Lord Lykouleon of your safe arrival."

The princess looked at him. "Oh, Tetheus! Do you have to?"

A rare smile appeared on the dragon officer's face. "Yes, I do. I was sent to keep you safe and I have done just that." He blinked when she suddenly hugged him. "Er…"

"Go back safely, Tetheus," Tintlet said sadly. "Tell them I'll miss them all very much…and you should smile more," she said looking up at him.

He blinked then grinned. "We'll see." He remounted his horse and turned him back. "We'll meet again. HYAH!" he yelled as he kicked his horse into a gallop, disappearing through the thicket.

Thatz blinked. "Was it my imagination, or did that stern, old, Dragon Officer smile?!"

"Will wonders never cease…" Rath said grinning.

"Yeah…" Thatz blinked when he heard his stomach growled. He sweatdropped. "Hehe…I guess it's time to eat!"

Ringleys popped up next to him. "Food? I'm starving!"

Thatz smiled. "Well now, that's the kind of language I'm talking about!"

Tintlet stood there for a moment. "Um…I'm not really hungry…"

"Oh," the two said, their faces falling.

"No, no! You guys can go ahead and eat," she said sweatdropping.

"YAY!" they said, looking at her starry eyed, a sweat bead appearing on everyone's head.

The Elder coughed. "Right, come along this way," he said as he walked through a grove of trees. "And bring your horses. There is a place for them as well."

"I'll just stay here," Tintlet said smiling.

Dealte blinked. "You sure?"

She nodded. "If you don't mind, I would like to explore around a bit…"

"But…" Dealte started to say.

"Let her," Rath said. "She has to get to know her surroundings now. This is her new home…"

Dealte glanced at the princess then sighed. "As you wish…"

Tintlet waited until everyone walked past her and smiled to herself. "Teehee…thanks Rath!" she said to herself and walked to the side into a grove of trees, wondering what she would find.

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f00m. I've said that before somewhere…o.O; I forgot where though x.x Oh well, anyway what will Tintlet discover?! =O Another yokai? More naturey stuff? Or maybe…well you'll just have to find out yourself .