::::::LEGACY DRAGONS::::::
By Atruyai (Atry)
Full Brief Summary: A prince rescued from being killed along with his family. A young princess who was chosen to wait for her destined soul mate. Could they be the ones bearing the spirits of the mythical Rainbow Dragons? Could they be the ones destined for each other? Surely they are not... right? AU fic, S/S, E/T
Disclaimer: I don't own the CCS and Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE cast.
Atry's List of Friends
Tomoyo Kitty - Thanks xD Keep reading and keep me happy with your reviews! -wink-
Kella4 - I know! -squeals- I think it sucks with my typing and all... :(
sweet-little-girl - Yes, I did, but I re-posted it again because there were some... minor changes to be made xD -ducks flying saucers from outer space-
Kei - Score! Two people called my story cool! COOL!
Kari Hiiragizawa - Eheh... -sweatdrops and backs away slowly- CHOCOLATE? WHERE?! -rummages- Nice day? I had P.E today, and you're saying that it's a NICE DAY? Ehh... sorry, I'm really mad about my school timetable right now --;;;;
Anime-angel45 - Can you believe it? I actually updated in less than a WEEK! I'm getting worst at this! Hurrah!
Dranzen - Ooooh... hullo Dranzen-chan! -glomp- So cool? SCORE! -scribbles the number 3 on a notepad- Hehehehehe... D: Sad? I know... it's quite depressing actually... -sigh-
sakura-star2 - Yay! Go me! -puffpuff- Is it that good? I thought it was kinda common! O.o;;;;;; Yeah... so sad... the reason Xian Long didn't call the White Zen Clan for help is that he doesn't want to change the prophecy. If Fujitaka came to the rescue, Syaoran would still be in the Li Kingdom and there won't be any S.S, then Syaoran won't -censored for huge spoilers-! Want to know his reaction? Read on! It won't be that good though. I'm not good in making surprises. Eheh. Gomen. I know, you need those things to ponder about, eh? -ponders-
Atry: -drags ZouziTwozi in- Another Draik from N e o p e t s . c o m ! My fourth muse! Meep .-.;;;;;; Anyway! This chapter is like the 'connecting' chapter, where you would... -censored for more extreme spoilers- In the last chapter, I said Nadeshiko was the Queen of the Kinomoto Kingdom, right? Well, I correct that. She is the Queen of the Dragonyte Kingdom. Sorry, I got confused.
The website is going nowhere, so I'm moving to a new server. Stay tuned... I guess.
::Legacy Dragons::
Chapter 2: Breathing New Air
By Atry-chan
-ERIOL-
I grinned and nodded. I'd suspected that we were in the Dragonyte Kingdom. I mean, is there any other kingdoms with dragons?
"Ah! Such an honour it is to meet the mythical White Zen Clan!" I declared.
-NORMAL POV-
Fujitaka smiled broadly. "Now, I need everyone to take a rest. We will take care of everything else tomorrow morning. Eriol-kun, you could follow Yukito-kun and Touya-kun. Sakura-chan, Kero-chan, both of you would have to sleep somewhere else, because Li-kun would need the bed to fully recover. Is that okay?" He ordered. Everyone nodded.
Tegrel, Lelias, Rizurel, Artemis, Touya, Yukito and Eriol left for their designated chambers.
Fujitaka, Kero and Sakura held back.
"Sakura. You can use 'Create' to make a bed for yourself, Kero and Mayii." Sakura nodded and grabbed Syaoran's bag and the mysterious scroll.
"Otou-san... What's this?" Sakura held the scroll up in the air. Fujitaka took it from her and sighed.
"It's a Connection Letter. You might've learnt about it in your lessons." Fujitaka informed and started to enter the palace. Sakura followed him with her head down, nodding quietly. Kero patted her shoulders and she tried desperately to smile.
[Li-san...] She recalled the memories of her and Xian Long.
No... she would stay tough... for them all.
-THE FOLLOWING MORNING-
Sakura sat up in her 'created' bed and yawned. She looked over to the snoring Kero, and searched for Mayii.
She sighed.
"Mayii, I give up on finding you." She said in a sad tone. This happens every morning. Mayii would hide somewhere in the palace and Sakura would have to find her. She could just leave her to starve, but she's too damn nice to let that happen. After all... the little critter was her personal guardian, other than Kero.
Usually, if she has high spirits, she would seek for Mayii, but today... she even needed some encouragement to open her eyelids!
Hearing Sakura's unusual sad tone, Mayii popped her head out from under the wardrobe.
She squeezed out of the small space and flew to her human friend.
"Mistress? Is there something wrong?"
Mayii was a small creature, no bigger than Kero. She has long, floppy ears and a plump, round body. She has a pink spherical gem on her forehead. If you have a good imagination, you could see that she closely resembles a stout rabbit.
Sakura looked up and smiled faintly. She weakly pointed to Syaoran's limp body in her original bed, and sobbed.
Mayii sat on Sakura's left shoulder, her round eyes observing the sleeping orphaned Prince.
"The Li Kingdom..." Mayii started, and let out a small sigh. She used her ears to wipe away Sakura's continuous tear spill. Sakura hiccoughed and thanked her silently.
"ONEE-CHAN!!!" Two small golden dragons ran into the bedroom, 'hrr'ing happily. They halted immediately seeing Sakura's small form trembling. Kero sighed and motioned the two baby dragons to come up to him. They obeyed, but their eyes are still fixed on their human 'sister'.
Kero told them about the Li Kingdom, occasionally pointing towards Syaoran. They 'hrr'ed in shock and sympathy. Kero smiled faintly. Even if the two are baby dragons, they know those times when such deep feelings are needed.
The older of the two, the male one, made his way to Sakura. He placed his paw on Sakura's thigh, his golden eyes shining with sadness. Soon, the smaller one, the female of the two, nuzzled Sakura's legs affectionately. Sakura giggled faintly. They always try to make her laugh... they've been her family since... forever.
Sakura lifted herself off the bed, and sat on a chair to the right of Syaoran. She looked at him and brushed a stray strand of brown hair from his closed eyes. She frowned remorsefully.
"It must be hard for you, ne, Li-kun... To lose your whole family in such a young age... I pity you very much..." For a second there, Sakura thought she saw Syaoran's mouth twitching upwards.
He had smiled. Just briefly, but it was a smile nonetheless.
Sakura grinned and stopped sobbing. She had heard from her father that Syaoran Li had never smiled since Yelan and his sisters died.
This was an achievement for her, and she was determined to make the old Syaoran - who was buried in there somewhere - appear once again. She had to admit, his smiles were cute, unconscious or not, small or big.
Sakura noticed that his green aura is flaring like a normal aura would, a sign that he had recovered fully.
[Not from the emotional wounds, though...] Sakura thought, and once again she frowned unhappily.
The baby dragons looked at each other, and jumped onto Sakura's lap. The princess laughed, and patted their heads.
"Chibi, Xiao, it's hard to not smile around you two. Now get down, you're heavy!" Chibi, the little female dragon 'hrr'ed and rolled off Sakura, joined by Xiao.
Sakura laughed again. Kero and Mayii are stuffing their face with biscuits that Mayii created.
Unnoticed to Sakura, Syaoran was stirring, and slowly waking up.
-SYAORAN-
I smiled unconsciously, and then mentally fought myself to death.
THAT WAS THE FIRST SMILE I'VE LET OUT SINCE THAT... THAT... day...
I groaned inwardly. My head throbbed, and I winced. I managed to open my eyes a bit, turning them into slits, and I gasped quietly.
Beside me, a girl around my age was playing with... dragons!
They're small, but still!
My mind is playing tricks on me!
I took a deep breath and looked around the room I'm in.
It was very lavish, decorated with a mixture of white and pink furniture. I was lying on a soft pink four-poster bed, blanketed by several of the silkiest comforters I've ever had the fortune to touch. Even my bed was a little harder than this, and it was made by the best!
"Chibi, Xiao, it's hard to not smile around you two. Now get down, you're heavy!" The girl shouted, laughing at the same time.
My eyes roamed the place, not bothering to move my head. I couldn't risk for this stranger to know that I am awake. Who knows, she might be an assassin.
[But how does an assassin have... such an expensive property? And... was my mind really playing with me when I see the dragons?!]
I quickly scanned the place again. To the left of the bed I was in, a sliding door led to a balcony, overlooking some sort of lake. I couldn't see very well. A small door was beside the bathroom, maybe leading to the vanity desks and the closets, as I can't see them in the open.
I looked at the girl beside me again, making the mistake of moving my head. But it was so slight that I barely noticed it...
Until now. How could she notice such small amount of movement?
The girl looked at me with dancing jade eyes.
"Oh, you're awake..." She smiled faintly at me and turned towards the dragons on her feet. Yes... dragons.
I think I'm starting to hallucinate.
"Chibi, Xiao, could you go and alert Otou-san, yours and mine?" She asked. The two small dragons bounced on their paws and nodded enthusiastically, before running out of the room, creating small earthquakes at the same time.
"They seriously need to learn to fly soon." A small, yellow bear-thingie shook his small head. A strange rabbit sitting beside him nodded.
The mysterious stranger beside me laughed again. She turned to me. "Please wait, Li-kun." She stood up, bowed slightly and looked at the door, adopting a respectful look.
A while later, several more earthquakes broke out, though louder that the previous ones created by the small dragons. I raised my eyebrows. Where am I? I thought the Li Kingdom never had earthq-
Wait.
If father's dead... then...
"T-T-The kingdom...!"
I screeched and sat up quickly. I panted, as if I've just awoken from a nightmare.
The stranger looked at me sadly before sobbing. I immediately felt guilty. But my pride was too great and I just crossed my arms over my chest.
How could an assassin be such a crybaby?!
But... my home is gone...
I could feel the tears rushing through my body, heading for my eyes, but I blinked them back. I couldn't break down now... I just couldn't.
"Yes, Your Highness, the Li Kingdom... is no more..." A deep voice rumbled across the room.
I looked up and instantly glued myself to the headboard, shock carved onto my face.
-NORMAL POV-
"Yes Your Highness, the Li Kingdom... is no more..." Xartamus said sadly, although his voice sounded like a crackle of thunder.
Syaoran was keen to be the headboard behind him, seeing Xartamus.
Nadeshiko stepped into the room and dashed towards Sakura.
"Darling! Are you alright? What happened?" She asked hysterically, taking a crying Sakura into her arms.
Chibi and Xiao entered with another golden dragon, smaller than Xartamus. She seemed to be from the female kind.
The new dragon saw Sakura and approached.
"Sweetie?" She snorted a little fire and wrapped her tail around Sakura's shaking body.
"I-I-I'm alright, mother, Fortia..." Sakura responded, flashing an almost cheery smile, trying hard to stop the waterfalls from flowing from her eyes.
Fortia 'hrr'ed sympathetically before sniffing on Syaoran, who has that 'I-want-to-be-anywhere-but-here' look planted on his face.
"You are surely the Li Prince. Welcome." Fortia smiled to him and to Sakura before walking over to rest beside Xartamus.
Fujitaka sat beside Syaoran and patted his shoulders. "Son, are you alright?" Syaoran glared at him, but nodded hesitantly.
"Your aura is flaring normally again." Syaoran raised his eyebrows in confusion. Does this man have magic? Only people with magic could sense auras...
"Ah! You must be shocked to see such magnificent creatures like Xartamus here," Fujitaka pointed to Xartamus, "And being around strangers like us. I assume you've never even met me."
Syaoran immediately started to recognize Fujitaka's voice.
[That voice... I've heard it before...] He thought.
"Remember the King from the 'Tyroguan' Kingdom?" Fujitaka reminded. A sudden look of realization glimmered in Syaoran's bark-brown eyes.
"Yes... I'm 'King Futijaka'." Everyone in the room smiled, laughter in their eyes, but Syaoran just frowned.
"If you are up to it... we, as in my wife and I, are arranging a special gathering for you to familiarize yourself with us." At this Syaoran's frown deepened.
Fujitaka laughed. "No, son, it's not one of those formal stuffs where you have to wear formal attire and dance around. It's one of... show-and-tell." The king laughed harder, joined by everyone else. Syaoran looked at the girl with emerald eyes who was not laughing at Fujitaka, but at the two wrestling baby golden dragons on the floor.
Amidst the booming giggles and chuckles from the crowd around him, Syaoran thought that the girl's giggles were the most soft and soothing. He sighed subconsciously and closed his eyes.
He tuned out everyone else's voices and listened to hers, and hers only.
This small figure two metres away from him clearly is worth studying and thinking about...
Whoah!
When did his mind took a stroll down Mushy Lane?
"Chibi, use fire! No, no! It's not like that! Use the fireball technique I taught you yesterday! Yes! You make me proud, Chibi!" The auburn-haired young woman giggled again as the little female dragon sprouted puny fireballs at her brother. The male baby dragon just 'hrr'ed boredly.
Syaoran smiled mentally. He nearly allowed that one to slip out. Again.
He glanced at Xartamus and Fortia, who was licking each other's noses lovingly.
Weird. Definitely weird...
Dragons!
Goodness!
What next?
Flying horses?!
Syaoran growled at Eriol's waving hand.
"Feisty now, eh?" The blue-haired man smirked. Syaoran just gritted his teeth visibly.
"Now, now, Syaoran. Be a good boy and change, we need to be in the Hydralic Gardens soon." Eriol chuckled and left with the others, leaving a scowling Syaoran, a smiling Sakura and two giggling baby dragons behind him.
Kero and Mayii had followed Xartamus out of the room, curious of this 'party' they are going to hold.
"I shall leave you now. Your bag is on the bedside cupboard." Sakura pointed politely to Syaoran green travel sack. Then she herded Chibi and Xiao out of the room, but before she walked through the huge doorway, she released her pink aura happily.
Her aura attacked Syaoran's, like a swarm of bees over a small, tiny flower. Syaoran gaped at the amount of power she released.
Sakura saw Syaoran's open mouth and smirked. "Interesting... definitely." With that, she left.
-HYDRALIC PALACE GARDENS-
Syaoran observed as a medium-sized group of people and dragons pilled out of the Palace gateway, and into the gardens.
He turned his sword into a pendant again, and played with the chains. Sakura was standing beside him, attending to Chibi, Xiao, Kero and Mayii. After a quick tour around the huge gardens, he had practiced a simple fighting sequence, and Sakura didn't seem fazed.
"Feeling better, Syaoran?" Eriol grinned at his scowling friend and bowed to Sakura.
"Princess." He played one of his charming smiles. Sakura just smiled back, and blinked when Syaoran looked over her carefully.
"Princess?" He repeated, his tone cold and intimidating. Sakura just snarled at him quietly.
"You must be the Prince. Name's Touya Kinomoto." Touya said, offering his hand. Behind him, Farziilus snapped his jaws.
Touya's wearing a dark red robe, with a black cloak. His hair was spiked up.
Syaoran glowered at Touya's outstretched arm, expecting it to die and go to hell.
"It's alright, plagues don't exist here." Touya smirked. Syaoran turned his killer gaze from the stuck-out arm to the First Prince's face.
"Nice to meet you too, kid." Touya waved his hands over his shoulder as he and Farziilus walked towards Yukito, who was feeding Bulan with pork buns.
"Today must've been one of his good days." Sakura explained, not turning to look at the teenager with brown eyes beside her.
"He could be worst? Humph." Syaoran crossed his arms over his chest and shifted his weight onto his right leg, his left feet sticking out in front of him, his face decorated with frowns and glares galore. It had always been his favourite pose.
He wondered why he had even bothered to reply to this... this... pathetic girl.
He growled when a man with a woman in his arms came up to him.
The man has strange greenish hair and Eriol-blue eyes, his face bearing a slight similarity to Touya's. His hair was spiked up as well. He was wearing a midnight blue robe and a black cape with the Kingdom's emblem over his shoulders. It was the same cape to Touya's, but it had a small logo picturing a lighting bolt hitting a small burst of fire. Touya's logo was a pile of gems and other precious stones.
The woman had blackish-copper, semi-wild shoulder-length hair and blackish-brown eyes. She had a small frame of glasses on her nose. She wore a pale yellow dress with a rounded neckline, revealing a white collar. On the middle of the bodice of the dress a picture of a vine wrapping a droplet of water was seen.
"Hello. I believe you've met my little sister and my older brother." The man smiled slightly. "I'm Akira Kinomoto. This is my betrothed, Kaoru Hotori." Syaoran had a slight trust towards this man and nodded. "I better get going, there'll be guests arriving soon." Kaoru hugged Sakura and left with her betrothed.
"What's your name?" Syaoran asked Sakura sternly as he watched Akira and Kaoru walking away. Actually, the sentence shot out of his mouth like an uncontrollable bullet.
Sakura turned to him.
She was wearing a lime green dress, bringing out her shining emerald eyes. It was scattered with real Sakura petals preserved and sewed onto the dress. Her black shawl hung by her shoulders, showing the Kingdom's emblem proudly. Unlike Touya's or Akira's, her cape/shawl didn't have a logo. Sakura had her hair up by a high ponytail.
"Thought you'd never ask." Sakura giggled. Kero, Mayii, Chibi and Xiao went to play with Tegrel, Lelias, Xartamus, Fortia, Farziilus and Bulan.
Syaoran just scowled, staring at the glistening body of Farziilus.
"Look, if you don't want to-"
"Sakura Kinomoto." Sakura said softly.
"That's my name. Happy?" She grinned as Syaoran glared holes into her brain.
"Sakura-chan!" Two voices called.
Sakura peeked over Syaoran's shoulder and waved excitedly.
"Tomoyo-chan! Zerule-kun!" She called and held Tomoyo's hand delicately.
Syaoran stared at the pale doll in front of him. She had moist amethyst-coloured eyes and grayish-black hair. She was wearing a dark blue dress, her long hair tied into a higher ponytail than Sakura's.
Syaoran grunted at the smiling boy standing beside him.
He has jet black hair and pine-brown eyes. He was wearing a simple white tunic and brown trousers. A faded orange cape draped off his shoulders, capturing the logo of two crossed trumpets.
[The Mekkuno Kingdom...] Syaoran thought, remembering his lesson on the cultures of other Kingdoms. The Mekkuno Kingdom was renowned for its lively atmosphere and excellent attractions; monthly festivals and music inviting to the ears.
"Hey, Zerule-kun!" Sakura smiled and poked the orange-caped teenager in his chest.
Zerule Mekkuno laughed. "G'day ladies. Oh, and gentlemen." He bowed. Sakura smiled widely and Tomoyo giggled.
"Stop being so formal, Zerule-kun." Sakura smacked Zerule's arm lightly. The black-haired prince groaned playfully. "Owwies." He said, mock-pouting babyishly. Sakura laughed heartily. "Zerule-kun, where's Rikmen?" Tomoyo asked, her mauve eyes scanning the area.
"Hmm?" Zerule asked subconsciously, raising his eyebrows, although his eyes never left his hand, which is rubbing the place Sakura smacked him.
"Rikmen. Rikmen Gaire." Tomoyo said in a sing-song voice. Sakura hid a laugh behind a smile. Zerule frowned.
"How should I kn-"
"ZIZI-CHAN!!!!" A high-pitched shrill of voice rang across the huge field, knocking into the ears of the small group of teenagers.
"Damn! Hide me!" Zerule jumped onto the lowest branch in a nearby mango tree. From there he leapt higher, branch after branch.
Sakura and Tomoyo dragged Syaoran far from the tree.
"Li-kun, could you please play along? Just pretend that we're talking about the weather!" Tomoyo realized that the person in front of her is Syaoran Li, and immediately her thoughts flicked over to the Li Kingdom.
Sakura saw the nervous look Tomoyo had. It's surely not because of Rikmen approaching figure, but because of Syaoran.
"Explain later, pretend now!" Sakura said hastily.
One of Syaoran's eyebrows domed upwards.
"Nice sunny day it is, ne, Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo started, looking up into the sky. Sakura nodded. "I heard it's gonna snow this winter!"
"Really?!" Tomoyo shrieked.
"Have you seen Zerule?!" Rikmen asked angrily, ignoring the fact that the group was talking.
"I thoug-" Rikmen saw Syaoran and gaped at his muscled body.
"Well, well... ain't that purdy..." Rikmen purred seductively. Sakura and Tomoyo backed away, sweatdropping.
Syaoran rolled his eyes annoyingly.
Rikmen is the proud owner of beautiful golden hair and baby blue eyes. She wore a baby pink dress with dainty glass high-heels. Her dark red gloves reached just before her elbows. Her hair was braided in short French curls, framing her babyish face.
At the back of her dress, a heart in a sun was imprinted, the insignia of the Gaire Kingdom, the kingdom of love and peace.
"So... you're available, hun?" Rikmen swayed her hips. Syaoran just coughed. "Biao(1)." He cursed in Chinese. Sakura gasped. She glared at Syaoran, her fists clenched beside her. "Take that back!" She roared, making everyone else in the garden clamp their mouth shut.
Syaoran looked into her emerald pools and instantly saw the anger and hurt flowing in them. He frowned. How could her eyes calm his nerves (even if they were glaring) in a single stare?
Shrugging, he said, "Du bu qi.(2)" and looked away. Rikmen blinked her eyes confusedly. Apparently she hadn't paid too much attention in her Languages class.
Sakura, however, had aced all of her lessons... except Calculations, that is. In that, she's not much a knowledgeable expert.
She huffed at Syaoran's apology.
Fujitaka and Nadeshiko raised an inquisitive eyebrow. They had heard and understood everything. Yelan had once told them, from the Connection Letter, that Syaoran never apologizes to anyone... and no-one could make him do so.
They smiled at each other, a theory playing in their minds.
Rikmen cleared her throat and went to another section of the gardens to find Zerule.
The said teenager jumped out of the tree, did a somersault in the air and landed silently on his feet. He hugged Sakura from behind and she yelped. Syaoran allowed a frown to surface on his lips.
"Zerule-kun!" She laughed and pinched the Mekkuno prince on his sides. "No, Sakura-chan! Ouch!" He groaned again. Sakura laughed some more. Tomoyo was still stunned by the simple interaction between Sakura and Syaoran, but then she saw Eriol talking to Rizurel and Artemis.
She did the weirdest thing!
She blushed!
Eriol caught her gaze and smiled charmingly. He excused himself from the two Dragonyte Magicians and came over to the group.
He smiled again to Tomoyo, and she blushed again, suddenly finding the blades of green grass trampled under her feet interesting.
"Great day for a gathering, ne?" He said, bowing to everyone except Syaoran. To him he just clicked his tongue.
"It's not good to swear, my dear Syaoran." He waved his index finger, following his shaking head.
"That's what she is anyways." Syaoran said coolly, ignoring Sakura's angry stare. He couldn't look into her eyes, there's something in them that can hypnotize him easily.
"Gather round, please." Fujitaka shouted, and everyone walked to him.
"I arranged this special meeting to welcome the Prince of the Li Kingdom here. I wanted to introduce him to everyone, including the dragons. We shall start now."
Fujitaka saw the surprised faces of his acquaintances and frowned.
"I have declared the Li Kingdom... physically no more." Gasps filled the place. Even Rikmen was holding her hand to her mouth.
"Please, we need to stay strong. We still have hope, since the Prince is still here, you see." Fujitaka pointed at Syaoran, who had his head low.
"You poor child!"
"That is depressing!"
"I am so sorry!"
Everyone sent him apologetic comments, and Syaoran has had enough. He ran into a nearby forest, his tears flying behind him.
[I've never cried since that day! No!] He thought angrily as he attempted to stop the tears from coming... but they couldn't leave him alone... for now.
Sakura called after him. "Li-kun!" She shook her head and ran after him.
Fujitaka chanted something under his breath, squeezing Nadeshiko's hands at the same time.
"Let the proclamation begin."
-THE KEEPER'S FOREST-
Syaoran leaned against the trunk of a cherry blossom tree and slid down. His hand flew to his eyes, shaking his head sadly.
"First it was them... then it was father..." He sobbed into his hands. He knew he shouldn't be feeling weak like this, but he couldn't stop himself.
"There's no use fretting, man." A laid-back voice said, and Syaoran could feel a small earthquake.
A second later, he saw a pair of clawed paws in front of him, and he looked up.
Another dragon.
But he's... stranger than the others...
This dragon has two pairs of wings, one smaller than the other. His head has three pointy spouts coming out behind it, and was decorated with markings. His eyes were long and crocodile-like, with a strange green colour. He was wearing a red cloak without a hood, but with a sort of swallow tail flowing behind him. Inside the cloak, a green criss-crossy sweater was seen, and he is wearing a pair of white trousers. He had three claws on his hands and feet, though his hand has a small thumb. The pair of bigger wings were adorned with exotic markings on their tips. A small picture of a lotus was stamped on his right arm.
"You're Li. Syaoran Li. Cool." The dragon smirked. "Sorry for your family, dude." His sneer turned into a small smile.
Syaoran raised his eyebrows. Somehow, he didn't find this dragon a threat.
"Oh! Sorry, man, didn't tell ya my name." The dragon stuck his hand out.
"Encyllis. Keeper of the Kingdom, and the Pack." He introduced himself. Surprisingly, Syaoran shook it.
"What Kingdom is thi-" Syaoran asked, but he got cut in the end.
"She's coming." Encyllis crossed his arms and stood up straight.
Sure enough, there was a strong pink aura searching for Syaoran. He coughed.
Sakura appeared from behind a pine tree and grinned.
"There you are. Been talking to Encyl?" Sakura gave a high-five to Encyllis.
"No duh." Encyllis replied for Syaoran. Sakura laughed.
"Come, Li-kun, you're going to meet everyone else and that's final." Sakura grabbed Syaoran's hands and dragged him out of the forest.
Now it's Encyllis's turn to laugh.
-SAKURA AND SYAORAN-
Sakura suddenly stopped. She had felt something.
"What?" Syaoran snapped coldly.
Sakura ignored him and concentrated.
Her eyes snapped open and she gasped.
It's... it's the awakening of a dragon spirit!
She had felt it before, when she realized the dragon evident in her. That's when she received the small sign of the five-petal rainbow flower carved on her neck. It hurts.
To Sakura's amusement, Syaoran winced.
"What's with you?" She asked. The feeling is getting stronger by the second!
Syaoran suddenly fell on his knees. The pain on his neck was unbearable!
Sakura gasped. She crouched beside Syaoran and lifted his hair away from his neck.
She nearly fainted.
There, unfolding in front of her very eyes, was the outline of the five-petal rainbow flower!
This... this means... that... that...
Unbelievable!
When the outline started coloring itself, Syaoran howled.
Sakura instinctively hugged him and rocked him back and forth. The magic of the awakening is so... raw! If the two teenagers weren't so strong, they would've fainted by now...
Syaoran felt a quick stab in his chest and he screamed.
"LI-KUN! IT WILL BE OVER SOON! HANG ON!" Sakura yelled.
A sudden burst of green shot out of Syaoran, before absorbing itself in him again.
And with that, Syaoran stopped screaming and panted.
"Li-kun..." Sakura started, and she lifted the hair from his neck again. She smiled faintly.
"It's complete..." She sighed.
"Wha... what's... comp... complete...?" Syaoran stuttered. Sakura wrapped her aura around him, and instantly his spirits were soaring again.
"The awakening." Sakura grinned at Syaoran's confused expression.
"Father will explain it to you..." Sakura stood up and offered her hand to Syaoran. He took it warily.
They left the forest, with Encyllis grinning behind their backs.
"Bummer." He sighed disappointedly.
-HYDRALIC PALACE GARDENS-
"I apologize, Li-kun." Fujitaka hung his head low. Syaoran sighed. "It's alright, Kinomoto-san." He replied monotonously.
"Thank you. I must request for Soul Partners to stand in front of Li here, and introduce themselves and their dragons. Li-kun, have a seat." Fujitaka smiled and waved his hand. A magnificent chair lined with diamonds, pearls and gems appeared.
"If you don't remember, Li-kun, we're in the Dragonyte Kingdom, still in Wedromone. I'm sure you've read about this kingdom in books."
Syaoran cleared his throat as a hidden 'thank you' and sat down. The chair was comfortable.
He remembered that one time where his father told him about the Dragonyte Kingdom. He was never such a firm believer of those myths, but because his father told about the kingdom to him himself, his words stern and sure, he had always wanted to see it for himself. Now here he was... and all Xian Long's words were true. Dragons, rare flowers, chirping birds from an undefined paradise, happy faces...
The amber-eyed prince sighed.
Fujitaka patted Xartamus's neck. Nadeshiko hugged her husband and Fortia covered her offspring, Chibi and Xiao, with her wings.
"I am the King of the Dragonyte Kingdom, Fujitaka Kinomoto. I prefer to be called Fujitaka by everyone," Fujitaka smiled at everyone attending the party, "So please, do just that. My soul partner is Nadeshiko, my wife. Our dragons, Xartamus and Fortia, has two adorable baby dragons, Chibi and Xiao." With that, Fujitaka, Nadeshiko, Xartamus, Fortia, Chibi and Xiao retreated to the sidelines.
Syaoran blinked. [Is this where they tell me who they are? Wo-hoo.] He cheered sarcastically in his mind.
Touya and Yukito smiled at Syaoran.
Farziilus breathed blue fire and slapped Bulan's moon rock playfully with his tail. The moon dragon grunted, annoyed.
"I am the First Prince to the Dragonyte Kingdom, Touya Kinomoto. This is my dragon, Farziilus. He is the dragon of natural minerals, and he keeps the kingdom treasuries in check. In other words, Farziilus could create gems, gold, silver and other metals and stones. We use the gold to buy much needed resources for the Kingdom, and the precious stones to make jewelry. Usually, Yukito and I would venture out to the other kingdoms and sell our produce, with the disguise name of the Kinomoto Kingdom." Touya informed. Farziilus roared and licked Touya's face.
"Ei, Farziilus, knock it off!" He scolded. Farziilus curled into a ball and rolled into Xartamus. "Clumsy." Touya shook his head and walked away to the glimmering dragon.
Yukito took Syaoran's hand and shook it delightedly. "Hello, hello! My name is Yukito Tsukishiro and I'm the Royal Healer! Sakura-chan told me that I have another personality, but I'm not so sure about it! My dragon, Bulan, is a moon dragon. He's so weird!" Then Yukito when to join Touya with Bulan floating behind him.
Syaoran sweatdropped.
Akira held Kaoru's hands as they stood before Syaoran.
"Fymora Rilluei Safire!" A spark of fire swirled in the air between Syaoran and Akira, then suddenly and a fiery blur shot into the sky. It formed a large blob, and slowly formed into a dragon.
His body was covered with fire, and his red eyes were hidden amongst the red flames. His wings were made of blue fire, and his tail constantly changes colour, from red, to yellow, to blue, to orange and lastly to green.
"Li-kun, I'm the Second Prince of the Kingdom. My name is Akira Kinomoto and my soul partner is Kaoru Hotori." Akira drew Kaoru closer to him.
"We are the holders of the four elementals, the fire, the water, the lightning and the nature dragons. I have two of them, the fire and the lightning. Safire is the fire dragon. Kaoru carries the other pair, but now I need to show you Cascullus, the lightning dragon." Akira raised his hand and immediately the sky went black. Safire landed beside Akira and rested.
"Dwen Searu Cascullus!" A strange, swirling lightning bolt descended from a black cloud and changed into a dragon.
Cascullus, the dragon of lightning, had some similarity to Thunder. Electric sparks came off his body and he had blue eyes. His wings were black puffs of cloud, and his tail a jagged bolt.
"This," Akira motioned for Cascullus to come to him, "... Is Cascullus, Your Highness." Cascullus held his high up proudly. Safire stared at Syaoran and ducked his neck lowly, getting on the same eye level as the brown-haired prince.
"Youuuuuuuuuu... haaaaave theeee Fiiiiiire Hoooooooorn Peeeeendaaaant..." He droned with a haunting voice, before returning to Akira's side.
Syaoran raised his eyebrows, holding the arms of the 'throne' in a death grip for support. He also held his Fire Horn Pendant protectively. It was warmer than usual.
He could still feel Safire hot body burning him. Even Furrion wasn't that hot...
Kaoru smiled and squeezed Akira's hand gently. She slowly walked up to Syaoran, and held her palm out, facing the now clear-blue sky.
"I carry the spirits of the other two elementals, the water and the nature dragons."
"Mainum Ruea Fontania." Syaoran took a deep breath when a bubble formed in Kaoru's palm. It stretched upwards in a tornado-like appearance, and suddenly bloomed into a crystal clear, water flower.
The petals of the flower expanded, and Kaoru released her palm. The flower hung in mid-air, when the huge petals (which had expanded considerably) encased the small bud in the middle. When fully clamped together, the flower spun slowly, gaining speed by the second.
The flower was spinning so fast that all Syaoran could see was a blur of blue. Then there was a blinding blue white, and a dragon materialized out of the flower.
She (yes, it's a she) wasn't exactly a true dragon. Under her water-built wings, flippers slapped against the ground excitedly. Her tail was long and fish-like. Her head was a normal dragon's, though, with the exception of the shell-like ears. Along her neck, a blue fin wavered. Her body was a strange soft turquoise colour.
"Li-san..." Kaoru called in a strained voice. "Meet Fontania, the water dragon." She pointed her hand towards Fontania. The dragon 'hrr'ed.
"Isn't there another?" Syaoran asked curiously. He's starting to like this... showcase, maybe? It was better than those boring musical entertainment he had at home.
Home...
Gosh, he can't stop thinking about it, can he?! It's so frustrating!
Syaoran clenched his fists.
"Yes, Your Majesty, there is." Kaoru inhaled sharply.
Sakura (apparently bored) unconsciously hummed a soothing tune lowly. It calmed Syaoran a lot.
[What a nice tune...] Syaoran eased and leaned in his chair.
Kaoru smiled at the relaxed look Syaoran had on while he listened to Sakura's humming. [I wonder if something's up...?] She thought, as she tapped her foot on the ground.
"Kigran Derus Pineas!" She shouted, and the ground shook violently.
Out of the ground, a cluster of vines popped out. When it stopped moving, the earthquakes halted.
Slowly, colourful flowers sprouted out of random vines and blossomed.
It was a marvelous sight, a rainbow of colours immersed together in a wall of green vines.
Eventually, a single flower plucked itself from the vine it resided on and dropped onto the ground.
At the very second it made contact with soil, another short earthquake broke out. After that, the small flower exploded and formed the superb nature dragon, Pineas.
Pineas had a leafy, plushy body, and a swishing brown tail, that closely resembled a piece of bendable log, with all those small branches sticking out of it. Her claws were sharp triangle rocks. Her ears were clumps of pink flower with a white middle. Her eyes were a cool shade of green. A huge Rafflesia sat on her back, but what's different about it is that it actually smelled... nice.
"Pineas, the nature guardian." Kaoru stroked Pineas's Rafflesia, and the dragon breathed air. Suddenly the yellowing grass under Pineas changed colours, now a lush green.
[There's something magical in her breath...] Syaoran figured. Kaoru saw the thoughtful look he had on his face and explained.
"Pineas has the ability to revive dying plants." She said, adjusting her glasses for a better view of the Prince in front of her. Syaoran nodded in awe.
Sakura raised her eyebrows when Fujitaka pointed at her.
"What? I don't have a dragon yet." She said. Fujitaka shook his head and pushed her towards Syaoran. He came up beside her after that.
"Li-kun? I believe you have something to show us?" Fujitaka asked, smiling. Syaoran blinked. There was five minutes of silence, blinking and smiling until Sakura caught on, and she blushed.
"Li-kun... s-show them." Sakura hung her head low, blushing red like a beet root. Syaoran had that 'show-what?' look on his face. Sakura sighed and blushed more.
She walked up to him and bent down. Syaoran flinched in his seat.
"What are you doing?" He snapped icily. Sakura growled and lifted the hair on his neck.
Feeling her fingers brush against his skin, Syaoran flinched more and more. Every time Sakura neared him, he backed away, meaning that he flattened himself against the chair.
Now he can't lean anymore, he panicked. He had never been touched by other women than his family in his whole lifetime.
Sakura huffed silently and removed his hair one last time. She sighed and showed the five-petal rainbow flower tattoo to her father, blushing like a madwoman.
Everyone gasped.
"Well, well... so you are Sakura-chan soul partner, eh?"
(1) - Chinese for 'whore'. I don't know whether this is right or not.
(2) - Chinese for 'sorry'.
Atry: I love Fontania... she's the most unique so far! Anyway! What's with Safire and the Fire Horn Pendant? What are soul partners? Find out... SOON! (thought I'm gonna release the answer now, didn't ya? :D)
WHAT'S UP, DOC? NO, THAT'S WRONG... REVIEW FOLKS!!