A/N: Yay! I'm back, after such a long time. Hope no one think I'm dead or something. And guess what?? Nari had drawn some of the Clydesdales and they're so fantastic!!! I feel like announcing it to the entire world!! EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE TO SEE IT AND ADMIRE IT!!!! *hugs Nari* You're the best!!!!
Anyhooz, just a lil not to peepz reading this chappie. I don't think I'll be posting this as usual as often, so yes. Ah… not like anyones gonna miss it anywayz… XD Enjoy!
-- sylver rain
The Clydesdales
Chapter 18: Daylight Hunting
"We have been living in the deserts for hundreds of years. Many generations have come and went. But there has always been a problem with food. It's not easy to find food around in the desert." The King related the Sand Kingdom's past to Remy and the Clydesdales as he and some men led the herd down to some chamber that kept Pyro – The Clydesdale of the Flames. Or like the sand people call it, the Fire god.
"My men had found the young fire stallion unconscious and dehydrated (A/N: Yes, dehydrated. XD), and they had brought him back to the Kingdom to take care of him. He has been taking care of our light problem, and as you will see, he is in a lot better condition now."
The King stopped outside a chamber, and turned in, followed by Remy and the herd.
"This is it."
The King stepped aside, his long cape flowing lightly after him, to reveal a Clydesdale resting and eating hay of some sort.
The Clydesdale's coat was as gold as Pietro's was silver. He had eyes with bright red pupils and hooves that seemed to be gold-plated. But what was most magnificent of all was his hair- a line of crackling flames running down his back, with a long firey tail.
"Pyro!" Quicksilver called out, appearing next to him in a second.
St John looked up in bewilderment, "What the?"
The King walked up smiling, "So you had the ability to talk all this while, huh?"
Pyro clamped his mouth shut, but common sense told him that the King obviously knew everything, so talking wasn't an issue anymore. "How the hell did you guys find me?"
"Long story and a lot of luck." Remy walked up.
After an introduction and narration of the past journey, Pyro sighed, "So we're gonna find this Kar guy and what, kill him?"
"Hoping it will turn everything back to normal, yah." Remy said.
"And you guys don't even know where he's situated?" Pyro asked them, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"No." Lance sighed. "But you're not backing out on us cuz of that, are ya?"
"No. Definitely not." Pyro said firmly, "But it's just gonna be… tough, ya know? We have no clue of where he is, how he looks like, and what kind of power he has. How are we suppose to succeed in this, mission?"
"Well, no harm trying, huh?" Todd spoke up.
"I guess." Pyro shrugged. Then suddenly he seemed to snap out of something, "Bobby! I know where he is!" All eyes turned to him and waited for him to continue.
But Pyro didn't continue. In fact, he seemed to be staring off at nothing.
"Umn, so?" Evan impatiently asked on behalf of everyone else, "Where is he?"
Pyro blinked and looked around, "Huh? Oh, sorry. Spaced out for a moment there. He's been transported to… the Arctic! Yes. Oh wait, or was it Antarctica?"
Everyone glared at him and St John could have sworn he was actually sweating- a great feat for a fire Clydesdale. "Ah… I'm not so sure now. Hey, don't lookit me like that! It's your fault for coming so late! I had remembered it at the start of the whole thing but you guys took so long to come and I forgot."
"Hey, we came here by guessing and sheer luck. And we almost died coming to get you! Where's the gratitude?" Lance yelled.
"Well THANK YOU." St John yelled back.
Todd blinked a few times, "Ya know, he says it, yet he doesn't say it, get it?"
The King interrupted before the earth and fire Clydesdales tore each other apart, "I think it's about time you all got some rest. I'm sure you'll be needing a lot of it for the rest of your journey, and you've had a long day."
"No kidding, yo."
"So you Clydesdales can stay here. There's plenty of hay and water for all. Gambit, Kanwa will lead you to a chamber for yourself. I hope you rest well for the night." The King went off with two other guards following.
Remy was left with Kanwa, who only glared at him and stalked off. Remy took it as he was to follow the man and so he did. It was obvious the leader of the guards didn't really take a liking to him.
Kanwa walked on forward at a such a pace that was meant to leave Gambit far behind and running after him, but Gambit had far longer legs compared to the shorter man, so he had no trouble keeping up. This only made Kanwa angrier.
Soon, the two reached an opening to another chamber, and Kanwa left Gambit there with a single grunt. Gambit shrugged and walked in, looking around at the room's décor.
It was just like every other chamber in the kingdom - plain and empty, with a single square block of hay to substitute for a bed. The underground wasn't exactly all that warm and cozy, so the thin blanket covering the hay block was definitely going to come in handy.
Remy flopped onto the bed, which was a little too short for him, and closed his eyes, sighing to himself, "It's gonna be a long night."
Remy woke up shivering the next morning. At least, he thought it was morning. It felt a little strange waking up to be greeted by what seemed like night, and unable to tell what the time was. He strolled out of his doorless chamber, and nearly bumped into a group of children hiding on the other side. They squealed and ran off, as if they had never been there. Remy shrugged and walked down the passage, not knowing where he was going, and not caring. He wandered aimlessly, passing chamber after chamber.
What time was it anyway? His subconscious kept looking around for a window of some sort, to see if it was day or night. But none was to be found, and he felt like he was suffering from some major dose of jetlag. The air seemed to be getting colder, and the only time he ever felt warmth was when he passed by a fire torch that stuck out every interval.
He thought he heard laughter, and spun around, but no one was there. He narrowed his eyes at the round corner, and turned back to continue walking. He suddenly turned around again, and he saw some children yelp and run back. He smiled. Tall people must seem very unusual to the folk here. He continued walking, ignoring the children, and he suddenly he came to the end of the tunnel, but an opening to a large chamber.
Memory told him this was the way out, the chamber he was taken to after leaving the last he had seen of daylight. He walked into the chamber and looked around.
Everything was the same as he could recall seeing. The stairway, the trapdoor-like-opening, the many gears, poles and other contraptions used to connect the door and the rope used to open it. His finger moved to pull the rope. Then his brain kicked in, telling him that he had no idea of how to keep it open in order for him to walk out, and that he couldn't leave the Clydesdales behind. And especially that it was extremely silly to walk out and not say a formal goodbye to the King. But sunlight was needed desperately and Remy was starting to feel very sick.
He turned around to walk back into passageway, only for his knees to bump into someone that was a lot shorter than him.
"Kanwa? Why, what are you doing here?"
Kanwa glared at him, "I was about to ask you the same question, stranger."
Remy shrugged, "Was just wandering around. Gambit going back now." He was about to walk pass Kanwa, but the pygmy guard moved so that he was in Gambit's way.
Remy raised a brow.
"I don't think you tell the truth, stranger." Kanwa said in his husky voice. "You lie. You were wanting to get out, no?"
"Yes, but Gambit realize that he can't, so you can go away now." Remy was starting to get a little annoyed at the guard, but he tried to make sure he was showing none of it.
"You can fool the King, but you cannot fool me. I know you're up to something. Just don't try anymore funny things, stranger. I'll be keeping an eye on you."
"Why, thank you Kanwa. Gambit feel so much better that someone is watching over me." He walked on through the long passage, until he finally came to what seemed to have been his room. It was very hard to tell which was his room, since they all looked the same. To his surprise, the King was there with his two guards behind.
"Your majesty. Gambit didn't know you came."
"Oh, I just wanted to wake you up. I had realized you have already waken. Did you get lost while exploring?"
"No. I just walked down, got to the entrance, and came back." Remy smiled.
"I see. Seeking daylight, if I'm not wrong." The King smiled back.
"Haha. Gambit not too sure myself."
"Ah, well, young man. Are you feeling hungry? There isn't much though."
An idea squeezed itself from Remy's brain and out through his mouth, "You eat vultures?"
End of Chapter 18
A/N: Yes, remember how Evan killed all them vultures? Haha… no, I didn't plan for Evan to have killed vultures and given them to the Sand dwarves. God is giving me random ideas! XD
Hmm… vultures are edible, aren't they? Oh well, let's just pretend that the sand folk eat vultures, huh?
God Bless.
