Chapter 2:

The young prince Lee's and Gary's thoughts and worries were concentrated on meanwhile silently moved through the forest behind his home, on a purposeful journey up to the snow-covered mountains. He was on his way to the large cave right underneath the peek of the highest mountain, where he would hopefully get the answers to his alarming visions.

The being whose advise he wanted to seek was widely known among his people and deeply respected. A being of great wisdom and age. An adviser to the Highland tribes who had always done it's best to help them.

Hours later the young warrior had reached the bottom of the mountains and started to climb up the path which was only known to the Royal family. Only they were allowed to go to their people's guardian and adviser, because this being was so highly respected that nobody else dared to disturb it's peace.

As the sun began to rise for a new day and lightened the sky with beams of golden and reddish light, the prince finally reached his destination. In front of the huge cave he suddenly hesitated for some minutes and debated the wisdom of his acting. How did he dare to bother his people's guardian with his problems?

Struggling with his emotions the warrior looked over the scenery which stretched out under him – in the far west he could distinctly make out the castle his family lived in. It was a beautiful sight and soothed his feelings of alarm. Therefore he suddenly jumped, because a low growl sounded through the air and broke the reverence which had settled over the young man.

"Come in, son of my people…I was waiting for you", a deep voice reverbrated from the walls of the cave.

The prince blinked shortly, but then shrugged off his irritation that the guardian knew of his arrival. Stepping gracefully into the dark cave he followed the twists and turns until he reached the middle of the cave – a really huge cavern.

Inmidst of it a mighty shadow was looming and a huge skull moved to look at the prince. Steelcolored eyes locked their gaze on the young man and he felt awed at the power the majestic creature in front of him exuded. He had seen the guardian of his family and his people only thrice in his life until now, but the prince immediately dropped down to his knees in reverence.

"I'm very sorry to disturb your peace, my Lord", he spoke mentally.

A rumbling sound could be heard, which the warrior identified as laughter. Deep, powerful and sounding like thunder in a raging storm…but at the same time with a definite lightness and gentle compassion which soothed the prince's mind even further. He felt safe with the mighty creature in front of him.

"There's no need to apologize, my kin", he heard the deep voice answering. "And there's no need to kneel before me either…I know you detest it, too. Am I right?" A touch of humour lay in this questioning words and the prince blushed slightly.

"You are right…I don't like others to kneel in front of me. I am no one special. But you, Mylord…"

"Who is special or not is a matter of opinion", the creature intervened.
"Every being is special in it's own way. So you are definitely someone special… more so than you believe. But you did not come the whole way up my mountains to discuss that now…you seek my advice in a matter of great importance. But before you tell me of your problem, light a fire and take a more comfortable seat, Takao."

It was the first time the being in front of him used his name in their conversation and the price smiled in silent delight at being known to his family's guardian. He straightened in a fluid motion and waved his hands in an elegant motion.

Little blue flames appeared around his hands and separated one by one to float up to the ceiling, lightening the cavern. In the warm shine of the blue fire the prince's counterpart could be seen more closely and Takao's eyes lit up once more with awe and a definite love for the kind of being he saw in front of him.

A long, sineous body curled comfortably in the middle of the cavern, silver and darkblue coils glittering beautifully in the light of Takao's magical fire. Blue wings were pressed against the mighty body, betraying their real span. The prince had once seen the wise dragon weaving seemingly weightless through the air…it had been an awe-inspiring sight. The dragons his Clan lived and bonded with were beautiful creatures – but the one in front of him was a legendary storm dragon. Probably the last of his kind.

Lowering his head once more in respect, Takao then settled down comfortably on the stone floor and waited for the sign to begin his narrative. He didn't have to wait long, because the dragon only regarded him with his wise steelblue eyes for some moments, until he seemed to have found what he had been looking for.

But as he spoke it was about something the prince hadn't expected.

"I see that your voice didn't come back until now, son of my people", the dragon rumbled, partly in a soothing manner. But he didn't sound surprised.

Takao lowered his head as sadness flooded him at remembering the reason why he had lost his voice. The sudden death of his beloved mother and older brother six months ago had hit him deep down to the core…and since then he couldn't speak anymore. But his telepathy – a talent his family was known for – helped a lot because he could communicate in this way with his family and friends.

"No, it didn't, my Lord Dragoon", he mentally responded.

"Don't be sad, young one", the dragon rumbled. "It will come back eventually. There's a reason to everything which happens to us, Takao – even if you don't understand it now. Be patient."

Takao looked up into the wise eyes of Dragoon and nodded before replying: "I'll try to be, my Lord. But it's hard, because I can feel my family's worrying over me because of my continous muteness. After Hiro's…', the prince's mental voice wavered dangerously at the mentioning of his deceased brother, '…death I will become one day my father's successor. Right now there is so much to worry about…the threat of a war with the Lowland people is only one of them. I should help my father and my grandfather, but instead I am only an added burden…'

"You are not a burden, Takao", Dragoon interjected sternly. "Your family loves you very much and therefore it is quite understandable that they worry about you, young warrior. You do the same for them…your muteness is a sign for the depth of feelings you had for your mother and older brother.
Don't deny yourself the time to grieve for what you have lost, but on the other hand don't forget to go on living either. Your ability to feel so much for the ones you care for is a gift, Takao. Love and compassion are gifts, full of power. Remember my words, young one – never fight love, even if this love will be for an unexpected source.
But now tell me why you came the whole way up to my cave in the middle of the night, Takao."

The young prince needed a minute to sort through the advice Dragoon had given him, before he mentally called up the images of his dreams to explain to his people's guardian why he sought advice.

'I came to you, my Lord, to seek advice. I have been having dreams over the last weeks…dreams which trouble me greatly. I remember having them some years ago, since the day Taron came to live with us. But then they came less and less…and finally ceased totally. But now they reocurred.'

The blue-white dragon had listened with great attention, and now wanted to know: "What happens in this dreams, Takao?"

'At first I can see nothing in the dark, but then a shape takes form. It glows brightly in red and gold, fire spreading along it's shape. After some time I realize it's a phoenix, and a really beautiful one. The phoenix emanates a great power and fiery passion, but then…then his fire diminishes more and more.

When the scenery changes the phoenix is hovering over a huge town and suddenly ice encases him. He struggles desperatly to free himself, but after some time his attempts lessens and it feels as if he simply resigns – and the ice he is encased in becomes thicker and thicker, burying his real fiery personality.

The bright glow of fire around him – his spirit – gets lost…'

Takao sighed inaudibly, his midnight-blue eyes echoing the sadness he felt at the images of the beautiful creature of fire seemingly loosing against the opposite element.

'It saddens me to see that spirit resigning, because I can feel that the phoenix is meant to be free of that ice. He should be burning with the passion I could feel him emanating at the beginning of the dreams…with power and gentle fire. But he resigns himself…why?

I see the ice around the phoenix becoming almost unbreakable, but then a huge dragon comes flying nearer. He circles the ice-cube with the imprisoned phoenix and the firebird cries out to him. It's such a desperate, lonely sound…

The dragon lands with an answering growl and tries to shatter the icy shell, using his claws and his tail. After some time he is able to free the head of the phoenix and nudges him, speaking to the firebird. I think he is encouraging him to use his own power to free himself, because suddenly the fiery glow around the phoenix, which had almost been extinguished, bursts into a bright shine.
The ice begins to melt and both creatures step up their pace to get rid of the encasing around the phoenix.

In the meantime the dragon curls himself around the firebird as if to guard him…and that's the point when I notice that the protecting act of him will be necessary, because suddenly it gets impossibly dark around.

The darkness approaches both creatures and I can feel it's threatening power… it has come to harm the phoenix. The blue dragon changes to a defensive position. He wants to protect the phoenix who is now almost free of the ice around him and therefore can't defend himself properly.

But then the darkness lashes out…and that's the point I always wake up, trembling with fright because I know the person the phoenix stands for is in desperate need of help.'

Having finished his tale, Takao looked up once more into the wise steelblue eyes of Dragoon, who had followed the whole story with great interest and without interrupting once. The mighty dragon remained silent for a long time and the young prince waited patiently. He didn't dare to interrupt the musing of his family's guardian, even if he desperately wanted to know what his vision of the phoenix stood for.

"I see", Dragoon's voice shook Takao eventually out of his own thinking. "It was right that you came to me, young one. Your dreams have great importance, not only for you. Your mother sometimes had equally important dreams, Takao – and you obviously inherit her abilitly of seeing.
What you saw in your vision defins a possible future…your thinking that the phoenix stands for a real person is correct. This person is endangered by two threats – the ice and the darkness.

The dragon – which stands for you, my prince – wants to help this person. That's why you have this visions of the possible future, Takao…because it's your destiny to help the person the phoenix represents. You have to find that person and guard him or her against the danger. And the timing is right, because you will reach adulthood in half a season…you have to search for your spirit-guardian, too.

Now listen and remember my words, Kinomiya Takao, crown prince of the Highland Clans : I send you on a quest for your true spirit-form and to find the person your visions told you needs your help. You have to leave the Highlands, alone and with only the knowledge and abilities you inherit.

You have to rely solely on yourself, face and overcome the obstacles destiny will throw in your way. But even in walking that path without your family and friends, be always sure that you will never be truly alone. In spirit the Dragon Clans will walk with you."

Stunned Takao blinked some times, before he slowly exhaled. Thoughts were tumbling inside his head and warring emotions played over his features while the young prince tried to sort through the task Dragoon had given him.

It wasn't that he feared the duty his dreams told him of – he would gladly protect a being whose spirit-form was as beautiful as the phoenix he had seen in his dreams. Takao knew deep inside, that the person the firebird represented had a soul worth his protection. He had felt it from the first reoccurrence of the vision…it was why these dreams troubled him so much. His own soul was desperate to help the phoenix.

And now Dragoon had explained why his need to know the meaning of his dreams was so profound – it was his destiny to guard the owner of the phoenix-spirit.

Determination lightened midnight-blue eyes as the young prince came to this conclusion and a sparkle of the usual stormy, but nonetheless gentle temper of the wind-magician reappeared. After the death of his mother and older brother, Takao's eyes had been almost dull and lacked his spirit, but now he had been given a task worth living for. He would strive to fulfill the task destiny – and Dragoon – had presented him with. Takao wouldn't disappoint his family or the wise guardian of the Clans.

"I see you have come to a conclusion, young warrior", Dragoon's voice once more sounded, echoing like far away thunder from the walls of the cavern.

The prince stood up and straightened to his full height, his face determined. He bowed in deep respect to the mighty creature whose words had helped him to solve the problem of his dreams.

'Thank you, my Lord, for your wise words. I will follow my destiny and go on this quest to find the person who needs my help. Perhaps then I will be able to make my family and my people proud – and gain the right to be one day a worthy successor of my forefathers as the King of the Highland Clans.'

"Humble words, Takao. I am sure you will succeed in reaching your goals…I'm proud to call you one of my kin. My spirit will be with you on your path, prince of the Highlands. Use the gifts you have been given and battle evil to protect the innocent and those weaker than you are."

Takao nodded in acceptance and relaxed his stance a bit. A small smile graced his features and he started to bow in a silent good-bye. But the huge dragon in front of him suddenly spread his left wing in invitation and rumbled: "Now that you know of the meaning of your dreams, rest for a while, young one. Your sleep will be peaceful here and believe me, you will need it. Come and rest with me, Takao. I will wake you when the time is right."

The young prince blinked in open astonishment, awed by the invitation. But he followed without resistance, because the aura of the blue-white dragon was soothing and warm. He walked up to Dragoon and sat down next to the mighty body of the storm dragon. Gently stroking the shimmering coils, he smiled in delight as Dragoon purred at the gesture.

Leaning carefully against the dragon and burrowing his head into the curve of Dragoon's neck, Takao resumed his petting. The rumbling purr of contentment which escaped his family's guardian steadily, let him relax more and more and his thoughts came to a rest in the safety the closeness to Dragoon created.

Ten minutes later the young warrior slept peacefully and the storm dragon curled protectivly around his charge and watched over him. Folding his wing over Takao and therefore enclosing him in absolute safety and warmth Dragoon pondered what the prince had told him.

The wise storm dragon hadn't explained the whole meaning of Takao's dreams to him, only the details the prince had to know to fulfill his task. But Dragoon knew now why this young warrior was so special – not only for the Dragon Clans.

He was the one Dragoon had been waiting for.

That was Chapter 2! Hopefully you liked it! Please review!

Feelin Glayish: Sorry, I confused you – I wanted to tryand write the first chapter a little bit mysteriously. But I dropped some hints about the personality of the prince…like the blue lights and the winds… Seems I am no good at mysterious, but at confusing my readers (sighs). Sorry again. But now you know who the prince is. Do you like this chapter? (puppy-dog eyes)

FireieGurl: Thanks! Now that the name of the prince is known, could you find the hints I dropped about him in the first chapter?

serena429: Thanks! Next Update will be next year!

Thanks for your reviews! Happy Christmas & an equally Happy New Year!

CU, gemini