A/N: I've finally completed the Third chapter. ^_^ I'm so haaaappy. I'd like to personally thank my friends, Icy-chan, for depressing me into writing something somewhat serious, and to Cruzer-chan, your MeNtAlLy UnStAbLe HeNtAi SeNsE keeps me giggling fiendishly. ^_~ Oh, yes… I've finally decided to remove that… "first chapter" I hate so much. If you don't know what I'm talking about… good! You don't need to.
Disclaimer: I do not own yon characters! I merely use them as pawns in my evil fanfiction. Also, the riddles are MINE, and is the song! I made them up! All by my-freaking-self! If you want to use one, please ask me. Nicely, mind you.
Summary: As the War between knight and dragon rages on, the young knight's life takes a sharp and confusing turn. A riddle reveals his future, while an odd Mage finds amusement. Chapter 3, enjoy.
Additional Note:: Again, I stress that "Koi," also "the Alpha male," also "the blonde man," are all the same person—a Ginjika BlackWarGreymon. He was, basically, the only guy left without a part, so—viola!
Second Additional Note:: Sora's outburst, towards the end, is of another language, also mine. "Jiiraaka" meaning "Wolfsbane." Thanks, and good night/day/afternoon/whatever.
A Last Additional Note(This is the last one, I swear):: The chapters will be a little longer now, instead of my customary 6-pages. ^_^ Enjoy.
Alright, I Guess I Lied, One Last Note:: Any text in-between "~~ ~~" is an illusion as seen by whomever was stated. ^_^ Okay, now you may enjoy.
Dragon's War
Chapter 3: Lakeside Illusions, Riddles and Confusion – Riddle Me
~*~
Takato could never understand why Ruki acted the way she did. Even the tribe treated her as if she were something completely different from themselves. She was a dragon, wasn't she? He'd even seen it himself, but that still didn't explain why she hated everyone that tried to befriend her. The Alpha male seemed to especially despise her, Takato remembered last night's dinner conversation with ease.
~*~~*~
The blonde glanced across the campfire at the red-head, who ate in silence. Takato gulped down his food so fast, he nearly choked twice.
Ruki reprimanded him, "Hey, Goggle-head, even us dragons have manners."
The alpha glowered, "Demon…" then shoved a handful of roasted acorns into his mouth.
Mimi shook her head at him, "Be nice, Koi."
He snorted. "There's no point in being nice to a demon…"
~*~~*~
At first, Takato had thought the blonde had been talking to him, but as he sat looking up at the stars through the leafy boughs of the trees, he'd realized the demon comments had been directed at the one next to him—Ruki.
It was true, he thought, that she was a strange girl… but a demon?
Takato yelped as he stepped directly into the shallow lake. Blinking he removed his foot from the chilly waters and shook it, as if doing so would get rid of the water in his boot. He sighed and removed the boot from his foot and tossed it against a tree to dry. Sighing, he kicked off the other shoe and removed both of his wool socks. Takato sat himself on an overhang and dipped his worn feet into the cool lake. He wiggled his toes and chuckled, watching his deformed reflection bob up and down in the clear water.
He figured it was a fine temperature to swim in. The boy removed his shirt, and, gaining a curious expression, sniffed the clothing inquisitively, and immediately dropped it in the water, his face twisting into one of disgust. "God, do I really smell that bad?"
He fished out the shirt and dumped it in a wet pile next to him. He then stood and removed the rest of his clothes, and jumped into the water, laughing at nothing in particular.
~*~
The Dragon clan sat in separate trees: Ruki in an old oak, Miyako straddling a thick ash bough, Hikari lay stretched out along a tough mahogany branch, Sora sat in the crook of a maple tree, poking at a hole where syrup was leaking, and Mimi and the alpha male both shared a hefty-looking beech tree.
Hikari looked thoughtfully up through the thick leaves of the mahogany, simply stating, "I'm bored."
Sora nodded, removing a sticky finger from the tree, "How about a song to pass the time?"
Miyako jumped to the occasion, bursting out in a loud voice, "Heey, tell me what'cha want, what'cha really really want– yeah, tell me what'cha want—"
Thock!
She stopped instantly, turning and glaring at Ruki, who sat innocently in the oak tree, her knees partially curled to her chest, arms crossed in a brooding stance.
"Very funny, Ruki." she stated the other's name with distaste.
The redhead turned her head calmly, "What the hell are talking about, Inoue?"
The bespeckled one huffed, pointing an accusing finger at her, "Don't lie, you threw that acorn!"
Ruki snorted, "Hn, I did no such thing. You're imagining it."
Miyako glowered, "You did, too! No one else could've thrown an acorn at me! You're the one sitting in the oak!"
The lilac-eyed girl simply shook her head, "I didn't. I should have, but I didn't."
Miyako snapped a small branch off the ash she was sitting on and prepared to hurl it at the girl, "Don't lie! I know you did!!"
"Miyako! Put that down—!" Hikari snapped, she turned and gestured to the pink-haired girl, "Sora's right— Mimi, sing a song for us, please?"
Miyako dropped the branch instantly, "Yeah! Sing!"
Sora smiled, "Sing Fly!"
Mimi looked at the blonde man, who waved a hand in submission, she grinned and cleared her throat. She hummed a soft tune to begin, then took a deep breath:
"Breathe in, breath out,
Fly on the wings of dragons,
Re-member now,
An' soar all the way to the sun.
Fly high,
An' no one will dare shoot you down,
Hold tight,
An' so you may live to see da-awn.
I sa-ay,
My true love is the flight,
Do stay,
It is my passion for life." Mimi made a face, staring confusedly up at the sea of green and yellow leaves.
Hikari raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you going to finish it?"
Mimi giggled half-heartedly, unconsciously rubbing the back of her neck, "I.. forgot…"
The group laughed, and applauded anyway, even Ruki, but even then, she only clapped thrice. Miyako gave the alpha female a standing ovation, and nearly fell from the tree. She grasped the trunk fearfully, pulling herself back onto the branch and regaining balance. Once fully up, she sighed in relief.
The lavender-headed girl perked up, she could vaguely hear an odd flute's song. "Did you hear that?"
Hikari blinked, staring over at Miyako, "Hear what?"
"It sounded like a flute— there it is again!" she jumped and looked hurriedly around.
Sora shook her head, "I can't hear anything…"
"But I heard it! Really–!"
Ruki lazily opened a clear lilac eye, "You're mad."
"No-! I heard it, really!" she slapped the trunk of the ash tree, "there! There it is! Hear it?" A round of No's sounded simultaneously from everyone.
Miyako sat in an awkward silence; the flute was driving her crazy. Why couldn't anyone else hear it? It was getting louder as well, but where was it coming from? And why?
Silvery fog slowly circled the bespeckled dragon-girl. She did not notice, no one noticed— it was invisible to all but one person: a scruffy-haired mage with a silver flute. He grinned fiendishly, playing a soft, radiating tune, slightly peppy.
Miyako let a sigh escape, and put her back to the trunk, letting it support her weight.
~~ She saw Sora look up from poking the maple tree, "How about we go down to the lake for a swim?" ~~
Miyako sat strait up, "That's a great idea!"
Hikari looked at Miyako, "What's a great idea, Miyako?"
Miyako blinked, "Going down to the lake for a swim. Are you deaf?"
The little brunette shook her head, "No."
Sora smiled, "She's right, a good swim sounds nice."
The bespeckled one was confused, she pointed at the orange-haired elder, "Of course it's good! Weren't you the one that suggested it?"
Ruki opened both eyes, frowning, "Now I really think she's mad."
Sora sat up, "What? When did I suggest it?"
"Just a minute ago!"
"But I didn't say anything a minute ago."
"What?"
The mage had to hold in his laughter. He clapped a gloved hand to his mouth, face reddening with the hilarity of it all. Illusions were so fun…
Mimi broke up the two arguing girls, "Hey! Stoppit— look, I'll admit as well, a swim sounds good, let's just forget who first suggested it, and go down to the lake."
Miyako was silent for a moment, which was rare, but it didn't last long, "… okay, Mimi!" she practically leaped from the tree, landing on both feet, graceful as a cat. "I'll race you!" she then took off running in the direction of the lake.
Sora looked on from the maple as the hyper lavender-headed one raced through the trees at amazing speed, "… well, that isn't very fair. She got a head start!"
Hikari giggled quietly, "Oh, Sora, even if we had a five minute head start, she'd still beat us all three-fold. Of course it's not fair. She's twice as fast as all of us combined."
The orange-haired elder thought for a moment, then shrugged. "You're right." She then slid carefully out of the maple.
The rest followed their hyper friend as fast as they could.
Miyako was bouncing around, waiting for the others on the soft ground by the freshwater lake. The silver fog still surrounded her, clouding her vision, although she did not, and could not, see it.
She saw Mimi and the others emerge from the trees, and waved hyperly to them.
~~ Hikari waved back, and pointed to the tall, cliff-like rocks that towered over the lake's edge. "I dare you to dive from up there!" ~~
Hikari waved to Miyako, "Hi, Miyako!"
The bespeckled one cupped her hands around her mouth, yelling back, "You're on!!" she then turned and began to climb the limestone rocks that had formed by the water's edge.
Mimi turned, watching the girl climb, "What's she up to?"
The brunette shook her head, "I don't know, all she said was 'you're on.' What's that supposed to mean?"
The alpha male watched the girl balance precariously on the edge of the farthest-protruding rock. She waved to them, kicking off her torn pants and shirt. The man's gold-colored eyes widened, "She's going to dive!"
Mimi ran forward, shouting up at Miyako, "Get down from there! Are you listening to me-!? Get down now!!" The bespeckled girl stepped back several paces from the edge; thinking she had heard, Mimi sighed in relief.
Miyako broke into a run, leaping from the cliff, arching in a perfect swan dive, hurtling towards the water at a rapid speed.
Hikari screamed, "Miyako—!!"
The redhead stared in bewilderment, "What the hell is she doing!?"
The diving girl lost her balance in the air, and her lower half swung forward, and she hit the water on her back, throwing up gallons of water with the splash. When the water settled again, the group realized Miyako had sunk.
Takato stood strait up in the water upon hearing, and seeing, the giant wave of water thrown up in the center of the lake.
The girls all turned, staring at him with wide eyes. The alpha gazed, uninterested, at him for a second or two, then turned and looked at the shocked/disturbed/ecstatic faces of the rest of the clan. His expression was one of something close to dismay as he nudged a stunned Mimi.
The mage fell onto his back, laughing uproariously, kicking up leaves and dirt as he thrashed around. Finally calming, he stood quietly and let his indigo cloak drop carelessly from his shoulders. He removed his gloves, and slipped an odd pair of goggles over his eyes. He kicked off his thick leather boots, and broke into a sprint.
Now was the time to make his appearance!
A dark figure burst from the trees at a dash, snapping all of the clan from their shock. Takato, relieved, ducked back into the water for cover, blushing the brightest red anyone could imagine. The stranger dived head-long into the water with all the grace of a duck. He disappeared below the surface, and reemerged with the body of an unconscious Miyako.
The stranger wore long, purplish pants, and a sleeveless indigo shirt tucked into them. The most intriguing feature of him, oddly enough, were the goggles he wore. Two giant lenses on a stretchy piece of black rope is what they looked to be. They fit him quite well, though.
Upon seeing the goggles, Hikari jumped forward, pointing, "Hey! I recognize those!"
Mimi squinted to see, "You're right—they are kind of similar…"
Sora rushed forward and helped the foreigner to pull Miyako to shore. She tapped the girl's cheek softly, and smiled as the bespeckled girl winced and groaned as she coughed up intruding water from her lungs. The orange-haired elder looked up to thank the stranger, but he was gone.
Mimi glared at Miyako as she painfully sat up, her back bright red from impact with the water. The alpha female waited until she had the other's full attention, "… you're insane, you know that!? I told you not to dive, but did you listen!? No! And look what happened—you could've killed yourself!"
Miyako's bottom lip trembled, "I'm sorry, Mimi… Hikari dared me to! I couldn't—"
"What!?" Mimi's voice hit an unusually high octave, even for her. She whirled to face Hikari, "you what!?"
The brunette quickly shook her head, "I didn't, I didn't– I swear!!"
The mage shook his head violently, chuckling, as water sprayed out from his sopping reddish-brown hair. He flopped down in the soft moss, and picked up his flute, piping a quick note before starting a perky victory song to boost his already-mountain-high ego.
Dragons were so fun to play with!
Miyako sulked quietly between two jutting rocks that dipped into the lake. The flute was driving her crazy, but she could never mention it to them. They already thought she was insane, so why push it with imaginary flutes? She looked up, the others were talking, but not about her—well, partially about her. They'd mentioned something about a strange man dragging her from the water.
Hikari watched a leaf floating across the water's surface. "I still think I've seen those goggles somewhere before."
"And the man? Know him, too?" Ruki half-glared at the brunette. She leaned on a sloping ledge, a foot or so away from Sora. She took a deep breath, then exhaled loudly.
She shook her head, "No, I've never seen him before. Never in my whole life." Hikari sniffled, and rubbed her nose with the back of her hand. For some odd reason, she was becoming congested.
Sora sighed, and laid her head on the short, sloping ledge. She blinked, and watched a strange little plant wavering in the light breeze. It stood tall on its little green stem, its blue flower's largest petal was bent forward, like a hood. After a moment, Sora's auburn eyes widened, she gasped and jumped back into the water, yelling, "Jiiraaka! Jiiraaka!" she sniffed and sneezed violently, then sneezed again, and again, and again!
The tribe panicked briefly, quickly skirting away from the area, and pulling Sora out of range of the flower's scent. She calmed, coughed, and wiped her nose with the back of her hand.
Takato looked at the little flower, how could something so small cause such a fuss? "What's the problem? It's just a flower."
Ruki glared, "Not just any flower, moron, Wolfsbane. It's poisonous to dragons."
Even the alpha male was scared of going near it. He floated behind all the others, gold eyes fixated on the little flower in what seemed to be fear, his pupils contracting to pinpoints. Out of all the dragons, he seemed to be the one most effected. As he watched the blossom, he mumbled softly, incoherently at first, but it became louder as he began to tremble. His throat constricted, and his breaths came in sharp rasps. "The flower… the flower… the flower.. the flower.. the flower, the flower, the flower…"
Mimi looked over her shoulder. Her soft brown eyes widened, "Oh, no—"
Takato raised an inquisitive eyebrow, "What's happening, what's wrong with him?"
Ruki jabbed him sharply in the ribs, "Alpha's 'fraid of flowers."
Miyako nodded, watching their alpha as he shivered, eyes still riveted on the Wolfsbane. "But we don't know why. We've never known why. He just won't tell us…"
Hikari prodded Ruki softly, "Get rid of the flower, it doesn't affect you."
The redhead turned sharply, "And how do you know that?"
The brunette shrugged lightly, "You were sitting right next to it."
Ruki gave a quick glare, then stood and waded over to the sloping ledge, picking up a small flat rock and reached over to the flower. She brought the rock down and smashed the poisonous plant, grinding it into the ground with a few sharp twists.
As if snapping from a trance, the alpha shook his head, his eyes dilating back to their original diameter. He breathed deep, still shaken, and turned his back to the ledge.
Sora lightly tapped the blonde on his brawny shoulder, "Are you al—"
A surly hiss answered her. "Get away from me…" The elder backed away warily, taking shelter behind a brightly blushing Takato.
She leaned over, whispering into the boy's ear, "He's only like this around flowers."
Miyako disappeared beneath the water's surface, and popped up directly behind Sora, "I wanna join!" she then attached herself to the boy's arm. She smiled contentedly, "Not only cute, he's soft, too."
Had it been possible, Takato would have blushed brighter. But it was not; Takato merely whimpered quietly to himself.
Mimi floated a foot or so from Miyako, looking back at the blonde with a concerned expression. "Maybe it would be best if we returned to camp."
Sober agreements slowly circled through the group, and they returned to shore.
Takato slapped at a gnat that had bitten his arm as he trailed behind the leading clan of dragons. He then adjusted his shirt, which clung to his damp body. Damn this stupid shirt! He thought, and to hell with these freaking bugs!
Ruki looked over her shoulder, glaring, "Stop complaining, Goggle-head."
Sora looked back, nodding, "If the shirt bothers you so much, just take it off."
Miyako skipped lightly, grinning at the thought, "Yeah!"
"Oh, well, alri—" Takato stopped, "what did you just say?" he pointed to Sora.
She shrugged, "I said: if the shirt bothers you so much, take it off."
The boy gained a somewhat fearful expression, "How did you know? I never said anything—"
"Shut up, already, Matsuda, it's not as uncommon as you would think." Ruki jabbed Hikari with her fist, "you explain it to him."
Hikari winced, rubbed her arm where Ruki had hit, then smiled at the boy, "Ruki's right, its not so uncommon. You see, dragons can read the mind of others," upon seeing Takato's shocked reaction, she quickly added, "but not everything, just the surface things, nothing… personal." The boy nodded, gulped, and walked on in silence.
Ruki cursed loudly as she ran directly into Mimi, "Dammit, what the hell do you—" she stepped back from the girl, and stared at the giant lion-like creature before them, blocking their path back to the camp. "…Oh."
Sora softly gripped Hikari's shoulders, auburn eyes never leaving the monster's form, she hissed in a low tone, "This way, guys, let's just go around it…"
The creature snorted, stating in a clear voice. "I'm not an It." He had an enormous, well developed lion body, and the head of a man. An Egyptian head-cloth covered his short, crimson-red hair. His eyes were dark, black as coals.
The alpha stepped cautiously forward, growling, "Who are you?"
The cat-man smirked, "I am that is."
The blonde gave a fierce glare, "That isn't an answer."
Again, the beast smiled, answering in a sing-song voice, "I am the one who seeks of you,
The Keeper of Knowledge, it is true.
Don't run away, I will not bite,
Unless you do not get this right!"
Miyako tapped Mimi on the shoulder, "I think I've heard that one before—it's a riddle, the Sphinx, the Sphinx!"
The cat-man smiled again, nodding, "Very good."
The alpha spoke again, realizing this was something of a question-game. "From where do you come, and who sends you?"
The Sphinx closed his eyes, again chanting, "To the place where men fear to go,
To the land of none and always-snow,
Nest of gold, with claws of steel,
Where even the bravest man will kneel.
Sees all, knows all,
And upon you now he will call,
Nest of gold, claws of steel,
His brute strength will make you reel."
Hikari jumped up and down, "The griffin, the griffin! And his mountain!"
The Sphinx blinked in bewilderment at the girl, "My, so fast? Ah, well, very good." He then nodded to the alpha.
"So, you are the Griffin's messenger, but what does that have to do with us?"
The Sphinx nodded again, chanting another riddle, "Riddle me rye, riddle me roo,
This is what I have for you–
Take what you get after you eat,
It doesn't go, never complete.
Then take what happens as the years go by,
When strength ebbs like weasel sly.
Combine them together and what do you get?
Answer this, and you're set."
Hikari shrugged, "You get leftovers after you eat. They're not complete."
Sora sighed, blankly stating, "One big mess, is what."
Takato shuffled forward, "You age as the years go by."
Mimi looked at the sky through the sea of leaves as she tried to put two and two together, "Leftovers and aging? Lefaging? Over-aging?" she put her hands to her temples, "I'm confused, now…"
Miyako shrugged, "I dunno."
Ruki tapped her chin thoughtfully, "Maybe Sora had it right, a mess doesn't go until someone cleans it. And if you get a mess after you eat, it's not really complete, is it?"
"Mess-aging?" Mimi offered, blinking.
Miyako snapped her fingers, "Put the words together, but leave out –ing!"
The alpha female raised an eyebrow, "Mess-age?"
"Message!" Miyako hopped up and down hyperly, "Ruki, you're brilliant! It's a message the Sphinx has for us! Right? I'm right, aren't I? Admit it, I'm right!"
The beast took a step back from the lavender-haired oddity, slightly bewildered. "Yes, you're correct."
The alpha gave the clan the smallest of smiles, then returned his attention to the Sphinx, "What is your message?"
The cat-man took a deep breath, and began to chant, "Boy of Bronze has found his place,
Yet danger lurks so near.
He cannot help where he was raised,
But the dragon is not to be feared.
Mighty warrior wilt he become,
When blood of beast arises.
Stand your ground, turn not and run,
He is filled to the brim with surprises.
A treacherous friend will join the quest,
As will the Horse's Mace.
The Mages that know what is best,
And stag that likes to race.
The Pale Flame that rules the forest,
Shall never leave his side.
Blonde that did once detest,
Compassion of every kind.
So will you not go forward,
And save them an awful fate?
And will you not answer my riddle,
Before it is too late?" once finished, he gasped, trying to regain what breath had been lost while he'd recited. After giving his head a reassuring shake, he smiled lightly at the group, then turned and bounded off through the thick forest.
Miyako was the first to voice her confusion, "Boy of Bronze? Who's that? How can a boy be bronze?"
The alpha swatted at a fly, mumbling, "Not literally, Inoue, he means him, the demon-boy. A Knight was once called a Bronze Man."
Mimi shoved him lightly, "Stop making sport of him, it's not his fault. Not completely, anyway."
Hikari interrupted, "The second line! That's what it said, 'He cannot help where he was raised'!"
Ruki raised an eyebrow, overlooking the scrawny ex-knight. She snorted, the amusement clearly audible in her voice, "Mighty warrior? More like a mighty wimp." The boy immediately blushed.
Sora shook her head at the girl's behavior, "Well, it did say he would be one when the Blood of Beast arises, whatever that is."
Hikari cocked her head to the side, watching Takato, "It also said you'd find a treacherous friend—maybe a thief of some sort? Or an elf?" she then looked up at the sky, as most of the clan seemed prone to do. "but where have I heard Horse's Mace before? …somewhere, I know I have—ooh, I can't remember!" she bit her lip and scuffed the dirt with a bare foot.
Miyako smiled, "And a stag that likes to race? Hm, that could take some looking-for— I know of several stags that like to race."
Ruki unconsciously scratched her shoulder as she mumbled to herself, "Pale flame that rules the forest? What the hell is that supposed to mean? How can a flame rule a forest?"
The alpha had been watching them converse, at last, he decided to clear up the odd convictions of the clan. "It's the boy's future, so we'll see what it means in due time. A flame can rule the forest, the cat was probably just using a metaphor. The Pale Flame is probably a person."
"That rules the forest? No one rules the forest but beasts, no people."
The alpha glared, hissing, "Narrow-minded demon."
Ruki returned his glare with one of her own.
Mimi sighed, slowly shaking her head, "Not again…"
~*~
The Sphinx scrambled over the rocky ledge of Gryphon's Mount, the tallest mountain in the land. Digging his claws into the dirt, he slowly but surely pulled himself up.
Once up, he sat, looking down, panting with exertion. He sighed, and sat down, relieved for the duty to be over with. He lied down on the sun-warmed earth, and stretched out for a quick cat-nap. He rolled onto his back, letting the sun wash over his furry, lion's belly.
A shadow fell over his face, his eyes snapped open, trying to focus on the great human-like figure silhouetted against the sun. His voice sounded slightly strangled when he spoke, "Yes, sire?"
He was silent. It was the Griffin the sphinx spoke to, a tall, blonde boy with azure eyes of remarkable clarity. His blonde hair was scruffy and unkempt, his clothes seemed fairly new, though. His shirt was almost completely sleeveless, and a beautiful golden-yellow color, its collar lined with brown, scarlet, blue, and tawny colored feathers. His pants came to his calves, and were a simple gray-brown. On each of his wrists was a yellow band of linen, from which hung dangerous-looking talons, although they were shaped like an eagle's, they were big enough to be a lion's claw.
He seemed to be frowning, maybe he was angry, or was he content? One could never really tell the mood of a griffin by his face, he could frown when he was happy, and smile when he was frustrated. An odd beast, the griffin.
The griffin nodded to the sphinx, "A job properly done."
The sphinx turned over onto his stomach, blinking against the sun's light, "So glad you think so."
The blonde rolled his eyes, "You're horrible at lying, give it up, Koushirou."
The sphinx, Koushirou, sighed, "Yes, I know, but it was worth a try, wasn't it?"
The griffin shook his head slowly, "Not with me."
"Tch, you and your stupid know-it-all nature."
He pulled a shocked face, "Oh! And look who's talking, Mister Riddle-Me!"
Koushirou stood, "Bah, what do you know?"
"Everything."
The red-headed cat-man glared, pointing a claw in a disciplinary manner, "Don't you dare get cheeky with me."
The griffin chuckled, then laughed. Koushirou joined him, it was an inside joke betwixt the two of them. But what else could one do, being secluded on a lonely mountain with a smart-mouthed companion? And, in their case, both could be quite pert when it came down to it.
~*~
