Disclaimer: Don't own Dragon Knights. Do own dinky little original characters.

Rath: And when she says dinky....she really means dinky.
Rave: I heard that! *smack*
Fire: ::Ow::
Rune: *sigh* Here's chapter three.....

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The Crystal Prison

Book One

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chapter three

"Which one do you think has it?" Thatz asked, looking sideways at the raven-haired dragon knight. He was trying to start conversation. The silence was bothering him. Rath seemed so determined. Upset. Thatz wished he knew what was going on. Rune didn't appear to know either. It made the thief nervous.

"I'm not sure, but if I had to place a bet I would say the violet-haired one." Rath answered, making sure not to look at the thief. If he did then he would want to tell him what was going on. He couldn't do that, even though he yearned to get the truth off his chest. It was weighing him down with an unescapable heaviness. If they knew what he knew then there was a chance they- Rune more likely- would give him a lecture about him being so irresponsible, especially because he was aware of the importance of the mission. He didn't think he could handle that. At least not right now. He would wait until the crystal was safetly back in their possession.

"Errr... Rath," Thatz began uneasily, "what exactly is the crystal?"

"I can't tell you." Rath answered.

"Come on Rath," Thatz cried, stopping and grabbing Rath's arm. "Don't start with that. Tell me!"

"I can't." Rath said. "Not now."

"And why not?" Thatz demanded.

Rath had no answers.

"Just tell me something. Anything. You don't have to bring the sun, just hand me a candle. Okay?"

Rath closed his eyes. "I will say only one thing... it's full name is the Soul Crystal. It's really a prison."

"A prison!?" Thatz was about to ask about that when a scream came from down the path.

*~*

Fringe kicked a rock. Stupid Sa'an. He thought. He was always treating him like he was stupid. What made Sa'an so special anyway. It wasn't like he was the boss or anything. They were supposed to be partners. Fringe wasn't his lap dog and he didn't plan on becoming one. He'd stay away for a while, then go back. He couldn't really be by himself for very long. He didn't like to be alone.

He looked around. The forest suddenly seemed darker and more dense. It had to be in his mind. His mind was playing ticks on him because he was alone. Well, he wanted to believe that. Something was wrong, very wrong.

He was about to run when something flashed beside him. He spun to look, but it was gone. He turned back and nearly fell over. A face had materialized two inches from his. Crying out he took a few steps back. He clutched at his chest trying to steady his breathing. The figure before him only began laughing.

"Boo." The spectre joked. Spectre, perhaps not the right word. It continued to laugh. Suddenly, to Fringe's dismay he realized exactly what this was. A demon. Yokai!

"Wh-wha' do you wan'?" Fringe asked, voice shaking. He couldn't help but stare at the black eyes on the Yokai. They seemed to gleam all other colours, iridescent. The colours swirled, like two black holes locked in placed, cursed to loop forever in the same patterns.

The Yokai moved towards him, his movement as graceful and as quick, if not quicker, than a cat's. His voice was just as smooth.

"The Soul Crystal."

*~*

[and for the Rune fan, RuneofWater - - here's a bunch of Rune for you ^_^ ]

Rune followed the footprints. That's all he could do. He didn't know how far ahead the one he was following had gotten, nor did he know which one he was following. This situation could go good or bad in seconds. That depended on whether he surprised the thief or if the thief surprised him. The latter would not be too positive.

Damn. I wish I knew exactly what I was getting into. Rath, you never tell us anything. He sighed and contined on. Things just weren't going well lately. This wasn't the first bad thing. He had noticed Rath slipping futhur away from everyone, almost on purpose. Rune hadn't had too much time to really think about it until now. He was always busy doing some errand or on a mission. Sometimes he didn't even think about Rath at all. That made him feel guilty. The Fire Dragon Knight was his friend and he should care - - twenty -four seven if he had to.

He hadn't realized it until now, maybe it was because he didn't ever have time to think about it, but Rath seemed to be changing. It was slow, almost unnoticible if you weren't looking for it, but it was there. It worried Rune. He had known Rath for many years and had gotten used to his strange personaility. It fluctuated drastically yes, but he still had habits, little things he did. Those were disappearing. He also had stopped hanging around Rune and Thatz that much or the Dragon Officers. It wasn't odd for him to turn down an invitation, but now he was going to trouble to avoid being with others.

God, Rath. What's happening to you?

If it was anyone else Rune wouldn't have turned to such negative conclusions but Rath had so many secrets. Then what Delte had said. Rath was dying. Rath wanted to die. Rune hoped this didn't have anything to do with it. And this orb, that odd little spherical object meant something to him. Rune wished he knew.

He turned a bend in the forest path and stopped in his tracks. For a moment he thought he was seeing things, but after a few moments contemplation he realized he wasn't. In the middle of the path sat a young man, appearing not too much older than himself. Of course looks were almost always deceiving. That, however was not the important thing. The important thing was that this youthfully appearing man was one of the ones Rath had caught last night.

Ha! I finally found you! Rune thought happily despite his worry. He wasn't afraid of the thought of confronting this man. On the contrary.

He began to make his way towards him when something made him stop. He tilted his head in confusion as he realized . . . he was crying. The man was leaned over, face in his hands weeping audibly. Rune felt a strange sort of sympathy rise within him. He didn't know this man, and should have actually disliked this man very much due to the circumstances, but could only feel sorrow.

"Are you okay?" Rune asked, as he approached the man.

He jumped in surprise, quickly wiping away the tears in hopes that Rune had not seen. This made the elf smile gently. Then the man noticed who he was and climbed to his feet. "So, you found me. I guess you found out we took it. That crystal orb of yours." He ran a hand through his violet hair nervously.

"Yes, we found out. My friend Rath was escpecially worked up. It means something to him. Sentimental value I think." Rune said softly. He didn't want to scare the man off. He already looked like a wreck. "Do you still have it? Where's your friend?"

"Hn.... friend." The man scoffed. "You mean that idiot human Fringe. He's waltzed off somewhere." Almost as an afterthought he added, "I had it."

"Had?" Rune questioned. He didn't like words in the past tense. They mostly led to negetive things. "Where is it now?"

The man's dark eyes glazed over again. He breathed, "Avinir. He took it," as if Rune would know what he was talking about. "He came and took it from me." The man wrapped his arms around his thin frame. He was shaking.

"Who's Avinir?" Rune asked. He reached over and put a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder. He looked in shock. Well, perhaps not so far as to say shock. He just didn't care anymore.

"A Yokai thief, like I am." The man conceded, once again running his hands through his hair. "I couldn't stop him. I don't know what he wants with it. He said - -" He paused and glanced at Rune. For a minute the Water Dragon Knight thought he might change his mind and suddenly clam up, but instead he pushed on. "He said a man named Quiien hired him and his gang to steal it. Well, he got it." He looked at Rune's hand, which was still on his shoulder, and as if deceiding something profound he said, "I'll help you get it back. I know where they are."

*~*

The bloodcurdling screaming had stopped before Thatz and Rath reached the owner of the voice, and, so it seemed, the ones who had caused it; however the evidence of a fight were to be seen. Disturbed dust floated in the humid air, not yet settled from whatever skurmish had taken place. There were 'burn' marks made by magic, not neccessarily fire.

"Sweet Dusis!" Thatz cried. "What in hell did this!?"

"Thatz! Over here!" Rath called. He was kneeling beside a figure in the swirling dust. Thatz hurried over and kneeled on the other side. "It's one of the men from last night."

Suddenly he sputtered something. With Thatz's help he raised his head a little. "Fringe. My name's Fringe. Me an' my partner, Sa'an - - good ole Sa'an - - we split up. Had us a fight. Then they came. Yokai." The man began coughing again. This time a little blood came up.

"Hey, sssh. Don't work yourself up," Thatz said, "you'll kill yourself."

Fringe shook his head. "A lil late. I tried an' was able ta stay 'way from 'em an' their attacks fer a while. Not long nuff. They wan'ed that crystal thing. Soul Crystal they said." He coughed some more, followed by wheezed breathing, but held a hand out as Thatz tried to say something else. Probably more warnings. "But Sa'an has it. Sa'an kept it. Said he didn't trust me with it." Despair filled his eyes. "Guess he was right." His voice faded and he went limp.

Thatz released him and stood. He let off a chain of curses as Rath sat on the ground pondering. This was getting serious. It wasn't so bad when they thought that two thieving chumps had taken the orb. Piece of cake getting it back. But now there was someone else. Yokai. Rath stared at the dirt.

"Fuck!" Thatz shouted to the sky. "Give us a BREAK!" He turned to Rath, boots raising even more dust in the violent spin. Rath slowly raised his eyes, not saying a word. Thatz suddenly grabbed him by the collar and yanked him to his feet.

"Thatz, what-" Rath began, but his words were choked out as Thatz shoved him against it a tree. It wasn't the roughest thing ever, but it wasn't pillows and silk either. Thatz's eyes were wide, almost fierce.

"No more games, Rath. Not anymore. Fuckin tell me what that thing is. Prison, you said. Prison for what!?"

Rath bowed his head, shaking it gently. It was reminiscent of a child. Rath acted and sometimes even looked like a child. However that innocence, whether it was real or just a brilliant act, wouldn't get him very far with Thatz. Not today.

"G**DAMMIT RATH! PRISON FOR WHAT!?"

"A SOUL! A SOUL. SOMEONE IS TRAPPED IN THERE! Okay?" Rath whimpered. "Let me go."

Thatz did so. "Look, I'm sorry Rath. Did I hurt you?" Rath didn't answer, but turned away. "Rath?" Nothing. Finally Thatz understood what it was. "Listen, I'm sorry I made you tell me, I know how much you hate having to tell things, but this isn't a game anymore."

Rath spun around to him, eyes full of fury and despair. "I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS A GAME!" His eyes narrowed angrilly. "You don't have any idea. Just shutup."

"I didn't say you thought it was a game. Will you chill out." Thatz grabbed his arm, stopping him from running off. This was not the time to be splitting up. Speaking of... "Oh no. Rune."

Rath looked at him, as if realizing the same thing. "Let's go." Thatz nodded and they were off, arguement forgotten. At least for now.

*~*

Meanwhile, In Avinir and the Demon Thieves' Lair . . .

After a quick tongue-lashing from Avinir to the other fighters for killing Fringe, Avinir took the Crystal to Quiien. "Sir. We have what you wanted."

"Bring it to me." Quiien ordered, fingers tapping lightly on the edge of his chair. His crystalline blue eyes grew brighter as Avinir did so, gently placing it in the man's hands. "Aaah. The Soul Crystal. Good work, Avinir. You really are what everyone says. I think we might do business some other time."

"When shall I expect our payment then?" Avinir asked, unafraid of Quiien. He leaned against the wall.

"Soon. I have one more job for you. Extra payment, of course."

"One more job, Lord Quiien?" Avinir asked, raising an eyebrow at 'extra payment.'

"Yes. I want you to find the Dragon Knights. And kill them."

*~*

Eeep! Kill them! What are Quiien's sinister plans? Why does he want the Dragon Knights out of the way? Does it have anything to do with the imprisoned Soul? Who is it anyway? Why are they so important.?

Thatz: Oh my.
Rave: You're in deep.
Rune: Am I ok? *looks worried*
Rave: You're here aren't you?
Rune: Good point.
Rath: You had to do that to me, didn't you?
Rave: ^_^ *huggles plushies of Ruwalk and Tetheus* Maaaaaaybe.

( Two Chapters Completed: June 17, 2003. - - it's 12: 49 in the morning BTW - -*Breathes sigh of relief* Bout time. Been a month hasn't it. Well, me verrrry sorry and I promise I'll trrrrrrrrry and hurry my butt up next time.)

Read & Revew! *huggles*