By Nyassa Kaiba
A.N.: I know a ton of fencing. I mention planes during the fight scene. To figure out the direction of a plane, picture a clock face the number of the plane is in the direction of the number on the clock.
A beat is when you try to knock an opponant's sword out of their hand.
A lunge is a finishing move, the most deadly offensive move in foil fencing.
A disengage is when you swivel your blade around your opponents in a tight circle, you do this to get past an opponent's parry and keep going.
Chapter 11
Dragon Knight Of Forest Fair
Disappears with the moon
In dreams
See him standing there
With a warning for you
From "Ballad of the Green Dragon Knight"
The Titan's jet set down outside the gates to the Dragon Clan's compound. Several children came running out to greet them. Feralae was the first to jump out, dragging Raven along with her. "FERALAE!" The children cried, glomping the Dragonsinger.
"You're back!"
"What's up?"
"How ya been?"
"What brings you back?"
"Who're your friends!"
"You'll find out, go get Himiko for me okay?" Feralae replied.
The other Titans piled out. The kids were so happy to have visitors that they began firing questions at the others until Himiko and several elders came rushing out. Robin was looking around, taking in the look of the compound. "This isn't at all what I expected."
"What were you expecting?" Feralae asked as she watched the elders make their way up the hill.
"Something closer to True Master's Village." Robin replied.
The compound was big, encircled by a wall of plaster and wood. Inside were a series of two story buildings built in the traditional Japanese style. Some of them were larger than others, the small ones were probably houses or living quarters. One of them was marked with a torii, indicating a shrine within. There were other buildings, one looked like some kind of school or dojo. And there were gardens. Roses and Jasmine and other flowers could be smelled even from this distance. Feralae smiled. Home, or as close to it as a faithless orphan could get.
You don't need to be faithless. Raven said, picking up on her thoughts. You have me remember?
Old habits die hard love. Feralae muttered.
"Welcome home Dragonsinger!" Himiko replied. "And welcome Teen Titans." She gave a polite bow. "I am Himiko, leader of the Dragon Clan, my only regret that you could not come during better times. However, I have good news. We may have located your thief. One of the Shrine Miko went up to the Dragon's Mouth to meditate and sighted a camp put together by a pair of unknown travelers. They followed the description you gave us. Since then I have put up a notice that nobody is to go up to the Dragon's Mouth until they're gone."
"Let's get to work then." Beastboy spoke up.
"I think an introduction and some hospitality should be in order first." Himiko said firmly.
"I'm Robin, these are Beastboy, Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire, and you know Feralae." Robin replied. "Thank you for helping us."
"It is in our interests as much as it is in yours." Himiko replied as she motioned for the Titans to follow her down to the dining hall.
"If I may ask a question Himiko, what is this 'Dragon's Mouth?'" Starfire asked.
"The Dragon's Mouth is a cave system up in the mountains where we do rituals and go to train." Himiko explained. "The entrance is shaped like a dragon's head roaring, hence the term Dragon's Mouth. The only way out is through a tunnel to a plateau a few hundred feet up the mountain. And that goes nowhere except further up the mountain. The tunnel is the only way up or down."
"So they're camping in this series of tunnels?" Cyborg asked. "Man, it could take forever to search each one. They could be anywhere!"
"I know my way through them though." Feralae offered. "That helps."
"They're in the main chamber." Himiko replied.
By that time they were entering the dining hall. Himiko led them over to a small series of burners on a nearby stone table. A pair of soup pots, a loaf of homemade Italian bread as well as a pot of coffee were being kept warm on them. "Lentil or Chicken soup, bread and coffee. We always keep some food warm in case somebody comes to visit and is hungry."
"YUM!" Cyborg went straight for the chicken soup. The other Titans were right behind them, (although Beastboy went for the lentil instead of the chicken.)
"Good stuff!" Terra commented. "Nice and hearty, have some Beastboy."
"I'm a vegetarian Terra, I'm content with the lentils." Beastboy replied.
"This chicken soup is very good." Starfire commented. "But why is the inside of the bread yellow?"
"It's made with semolina flour, that's why." Feralae replied. "The cook, Chira likes to use it when she bakes."
"Ah." Starfire took another bite. "Yum!"
Feralae laughed. Raven took a deep breath next to her and let out a sigh. "What is it Raven?"
"I just have this horrible feeling that we're walking into a trap set by our thief. That they might have let the Miko see them so that she'd tell us." Raven shuddered. "And I have the feeling that this is going to turn ugly. I mean, a villain so powerful that he can control Slade? Slade is one of the hardest to beat villains we know aside from Trigon. How powerful is this guy?"
"I don't know, but I do agree, this could get rough." Feralae commented. "So let's get it over with okay? And then I'll take you to the Teens Club over in Kyoto okay?"
"Okay, it's a date." Raven said with one of her almost smiles.
"Meantime." Robin finished the last of his soup and stood. "I think we'd better get going. Himiko, where do you want us to put the dishes?"
"There's a basin near the table. Put them there. I shall accompany you to the entrance to the Dragon's Mouth." Himiko stood, picking up her staff from where she'd set it down. "It's down the hill. Come on."
The Titans obediently put their dishes in the basin and followed her through the village. Raven had the chance to notice the outfits and uniforms. The younger children and some of the people were dressed in ordinary human clothing. However, all the mages wore robes similar to the ones that Feralae had worn when she first came. Rank seemed to be marked by the color of their belt buckles. Gold was a full master, and only a few of the mages wore them. Silver marked intermediate and bronze marked apprentice. In addition some of the masters and intermediates wore a miko's uniform. Considering that it was late spring, they might be a lot less hot than the outfit that the others were wearing. But always it was tied with that dragon belt and buckle.
Yes, some of them have been trained as Miko. Feralae told her lover. But only a few of us ever train in the Miko's Way.
Raven gasped, realizing one of the disadvantages of having a link with one's lover. The link will save your life. Repeated her Deva.
They left the village in silence until they came to a huge natural landform. It did indeed look like a dragon's mouth. In the center was an entrance about six feet tall. "Ready everybody?" Robin asked softly. "Right, stay quiet until we find them okay? We don't need to tell them we're here."
The others nodded agreement.
"Good luck." Whispered Himiko.
Robin indicated that Feralae should lead the way. Feralae did, pulling out a flashlight and sweeping the beam along the floor looking for obstacles. Every so often she'd flash the beam against the wall, showing cave paintings.
The paintings were intricate, depicting the rise of the Dragon Clan, the triumphs of the Dragon Knights, and the modern glory of the clan. Feralae paused at one of them, as she realized that it depicted her parent's death, even down to her mother telling her to jump from the car and being caught by Batman. Even Raven was drawn there, coming to say goodbye to Feralae on the train platform. Raven smiled and placed an arm on her koi's shoulder, before running a hand gently over the place where she had been drawn.
Soon enough a glow was visible in the main cavern. Feralae knew it was firelight and beckoned for the others to follow her. She peeked around the carved edge of the door and found the pair, sitting in front of the fire. "There they are." She whispered, pulling back to face the other Titans. "They're sitting around a campfire of some kind, just sitting."
"Alright, we'll confront them on the count of three." Robin told the others.
Feralae got into position next to Raven. "Ready… one… two… three!" They walked out of the tunnel into the main room.
The intruders turned to confront the Teen Titans. The older of them was a man with pure black skin and a white mark on his forehead. He had no hair and slanted black eyes that looked like black holes. He wore a mage's robes with a master's rank on his belt. He was tall and powerfully built, even taller than Cyborg. "Hello there Teen Titans. I knew you would find me here." His smile was like ice as he held out two artifacts, a spyglass and a mirror. "I believe you're looking for these?"
The woman beside him, hooded and masked, stood without a word, the robes falling open to reveal traditional Tamaranean dress. She also held up an artifact, a sword.
"Give them back!" Feralae shouted. "Or you won't like what I do to you! How dare you violate my family's shrine! Those artifacts were entrusted to us by the Kami!"
"Little child, the Kami betrayed me six hundred years ago, do you REALLY think that I give a damn about what the Kami think of my actions?" The man asked.
"The Kami are out hurting innocent people in an effort to get those artifacts back, because they can't locate you." Replied Robin. "We can't let them continue, and the only way we can get them to stop is to return all the artifacts to Seiryuu's shrine."
"Again, like I care? I must have revenge on the Kami. And little girl, you cannot kill me, I know Dragon Magic as well as any master. I trained with your people, and when I finished I left. And now I am going to destroy the Dragon Clan and everybody in it! You unnatural folk disgrace the REAL human race."
"What are you talking about? We're as human as any other human!"
The man smirked maliciously. "Oh you only think you are. But tell me, after six hundred years ago where does your pedigree go?"
"Grandma said the scrolls that had that information were destroyed!" Feralae froze.
"Sorry to bust your chops, but grandmama lied. The reason why there's no records of your Clan's origins on Earth is because your clan came from Azarath!" The man replied. "So did I, ages ago. And I shall show you the power of a full blood demon warrior! I am Fudo-Myo, the Japanese Kami of Vengeance! Patron of Thieves and Assasins and Killers of all kinds!" The man began to glow black. "You shall die with your friends Dragon Mage! And you shall be the first of your clan to die!"
"It's not true!" Feralae cried. "We ARE human! I AM human!"
"She's only a demon Feralae, so are you, and we tend to lie." The man replied. "Prepare yourself for combat. I'm not the only one who's here to fight. If you can get under her defenses and crack her mask, then I will fight you. If you cannot, then I will leave right now, and wait in San Francisco for you to get stronger."
Fudo Myo began to transform, becoming a creature of shadow with iron claws, iron fangs six inches long, and a silver jewel on his forehead. The creature had glowing red eyes. "Robin, that's the creature I saw at the HIVE fire!" Feralae gasped.
"That's right. I was looking for somebody strong enough to brave the flames of Hell." Fudo Myo replied. "Sadly, nobody there was strong enough. With Citrine at their helm HIVE has become spineless." That last word was spat with contempt.
"I'll make you pay for both deeds!" Feralae unsheathed her sword. "I'll see you in Hell!" She focused, drawing Earth energy into her from the cave, as well as the powers of Chaos that had never steered her wrong before. Then she fell into a fencing crouch and charged.
Instantly the sword that the minion carried changed from a saber into a rapier. Feralae's opponent fell into a crouch as well and parried Feralae's charge along the four plane. Feralae was ready for this however, and disengaged, the blade twisting neatly around that of her opponent's. This was her mother's sword, and it had neverfailed Feralaebefore.
Before Feralae could turn the disengage into a thrust or lunge, the mysterious Tamaranean fired a beat along the two plane. Feralae managed to hang onto her sword and shoved back with all her strength, but this fighter was stronger than her physically. Feralae barely dodged the blow.
Robin was moving forward to help, but Feralae shook her head. "Robin let me handle her! This is a matter of Clan pride!"
"Are you sure you can handle her?" Robin asked worriedly as Feralae fell into a lunge. Her opponent ducked back and parried. Feralae pulled back in time to avoid a nasty thrust to the chest.
"Friend Feralae, I do not think you should be fighting her alone. She is stronger than you physically."
"Ah but Starfire, she's not faster, I have the advantage there." Feralae replied. "Let me take her on. I won't disappoint you!"
"Be careful." Robin said, making the final decision.
Feralae was moving backward now, retreating and parrying each thrust or lunge. Finally, Feralae's heel met wall. She grinned and focused. "Knight of Chaos, Knight of Change, Come to me oh darkness knight, help me make this problem right!" Feralae chanted and fired a lunge directly at the forehead of her opponent's mask. The darkness energy shattered her helmet.
From this angle, all the Titans could see the minion's identity. But it was Starfire who cried, "BLACKFIRE!"
With a malicious, insane smile Blackfire cast off her robes, standing there in traditional Tamaranean dress, sword sheath belted at her side. Her eyes were glowing a deep, malicious black from the mind control that Fudo Myo had put her under.
"That's right, I searched the galaxy for a pawn with a vendetta. Blackfire's thirst for vengeance on you Titans made her vulnerable to my mind control. I took her with ease from the prison she had been put in and I made her MINE!" Fudo Myo replied. "And now Titans, prepare yourselves for combat. I will show you no mercy!"
"Right, Starfire, Raven and Feralae take on Blackfire. Cyborg, Beastboy, Terra, you're with me!" Robin told them. "Titans GO!"
Feralae focused on the battle with the deadly focus of a Dragon Mage. She began to glow with the chaos energy that she'd been channeling. "Darkness vs. Darkness, this ought to be interesting."
Blackfire, even in her state, recognized Starfire and went for her first. Her fists glowed deep red with deadly energy as she tossed blasts at her sister. Starfire dodged. "Blackfire! You must fight it! He's controlling you! Please! I don't want to hurt… ach… I don't want to hurt you!"
Feralae resheathed her sword and turned to Raven. "Team attack time?"
"Definitely." Raven said with a nod.
The two of them charged Blackfire. Then together they chanted. "Azarath Metrion Zanthos!"
The blasts merged into one enormous creature, half dragon, half phoenix, incredibly powerful.
Blackfire dodged, coming at them, in her confused state, she wasn't sure which of the three to attack. Raven fired blast after blast and she dodged them all.
Feralae fired a right hook to the side of Blackfire's head, hitting her head on, then fell back as Blackfire came after her. A malicious purple blast began to form around Blackfire's fist. "FERALAE NO!" Raven cried and shoved Feralae aside. The blast hit Raven right on the power mark on her forehead. Raven screamed in pain and fell, unconscious to the ground. In her pain, unable to sense anything, Feralae thought that her koi might actually be dead. She was overcome with pain, anguish, remorse, and most of all, a deep, all-consuming rage.
"That's enough for both of you!" Feralae told both Fudo Myo and Blackfire. "I will… I will kill you!" Her eyes were glowing red as Feralae began to chant. "In your cavernous fire-filled hall, echoes the name that I now call, FAF-NIR!" She stomped her right foot for each syllable. Feralae had no idea what had come over her. But she was going to get them back for what they'd done to Raven.
The spirit entered her body through her back and Feralae began to change. Her skin turned red and gold, and her eyes continued to glow. Suddenly the dragon form burst from her body. Feralae was a dragon, a fire dragon.
"Can I just say that I don't have a very good feeling about this?" Beast Boy asked.
The dragon leapt on Fudo Myo and attempted, with no luck, to bite his head off. Fudo Myo knocked the dragoness aside with one blow. The dragon roared her vengeance and swiped at him. The two of them grappled. Fudo Myo growled. "Man you're strong when you're angry! I'm getting out of here. Enjoy the victory while you can Titans. I'll be waiting for you in San Francisco!" Fudo Myo said with a growl as he disappeared.
As soon as he disappeared Blackfire collapsed. Starfire caught her. "Sister, be easy, wake up Blackfire!" Starfire shook her sister gently.
Blackfire didn't wake up, and the Dragon ROARED with rage at being denied her vengeance. "Yow, Feralae calm down." Said Beastboy. "We'll go back to San Francisco and beat him when we're stronger, that's all."
Feralae snarled at him and whacked him into the wall with one wing. "OW! Ooooooh…" Beastboy moaned before blacking out.
"Hey, that wasn't necessary!" Cyborg growled, moving in to try and restrain her. "Starfire, Robin, help me!" He growled grabbing Feralae by the forepaws.
Starfire managed to get a grip on Feralae, but the dragoness flamed and Robin had to duck. His costume caught on fire and he had to stomp on his cape to put it out. Feralae whipped him with her tail and sent him flying into the wall next to Beastboy.
The two remaining Titans attempted to restrain Feralae, and she thrashed and struggled, keening woefully as she tried to get to Raven. "Rrrr…. Rrrrrr…." Feralae keened. In her state she couldn't speak. "Raaaaa….. Raaaaa….."
"I think she is trying to get to Raven!" Starfire replied.
"So what do we do? She's dangerous in this state." Cyborg asked.
That was when Feralae growled, headbutting Cyborg out of the way and slamming Starfire down with a wing. "Feralae!" Starfire groaned… "Why…." And then she blacked out.
Feralae slowly began to change back, keening woefully. Once her mouth appeared she groaned. "Gotta… get to… Raven…" She gasped before falling over. She stretched, trying to get her hand in Raven's and fell short by about six inches.
Then a pair of black boots stopped a few inches from her head. The owner of these boots crouched down by Feralae, but she couldn't see that owner's face. "You helped me." Blackfire said gently. "So I shall help you." And then Feralae blacked out.