Chapter Twenty-Nine: Stone of the Shadows
Chihiro woke fully rested the next morning. She found Kai and Kasumi talking to each other, their voices low so that no one would be able to hear what they were talking about. Wonder what they're talking about. She thought to herself as she broke off a small portion of some of the bread that she found her in bag and ate it.
Kasumi said something to Kai and they stopped talking. They turned around and acted as though nothing had happened. Hikari woke a few minutes later and ate her breakfast. Silence settled over the four like a shadowy cloak as everyone changed into their other forms and flew away, bags clenched in their talons.
They flew low and unhurriedly across the grassy plain. The tall beige blades swayed gently as a breeze passed over it. Upon the grass were cast their shadows, and within these swiftly passing shadows were hidden a lone dark dragon. His blazing maroon eyes intent upon the four of them, in particular the one who was called Chihiro. She is the one that milord seeks. He thought smugly to himself as his eyes focused on the light blue dragon. She is the one who is causing all this trouble, and she is the one with whom the powers of nature were granted. Fire, earth, wind, water all bow before her. Yet little does she know of to what extent her own powers tend to reach, and therefore will be unable to master the greatest of the energies that flow within her. The phoenixes can do little to aid her in the control of her powers, and of course her own kind have almost no knowledge of the powers that she wields. Ah she would make a fine target indeed.
Chihiro, unaware of her mysterious stalker, flew on with her friends searching for her beloved in the tall swaying grasses below. Behind her Hikari began to hover in the air, she had sensed something and like before growled to warn her friends. Not again! Chihiro cried.
Well remember we are closing in onto the dungeon, Kasumi reminded her, we could try to follow this particular creature though. If he was sent here to protect it from us, he might try to go back there in order to warn others that we're coming. Of course we wouldn't want to be seen if that were to happen.
You have a point… Chihiro looked at the grass below where Hikari was hovering and spotted a shadowy figure writhing in the grass. She was just about to summon a fiery ball with which to blast it, but was stopped by Hikari.
Not yet, let's see what it tries to do first. Hikari advised her. Chihiro considered it for a moment and decided to follow her friend's suggestion. The dark dragon didn't do anything at first as Hikari and the others gathered in a tight circle around Chihiro so that they would be able to shield her from any attacks that might be sent hurdling towards her.
Nothing's happening, Hikari realized after a few minutes, do you suppose that they mean Chihiro no harm?
It's not likely…wait he just might be taking his time…or he's trying to tire us out before he attacks. Kai muttered wryly.
In the grasses the dark dragon stared up at the circle of phoenixes and one dragon. Just a few more minutes, until they reach this place, he thought to himself. He waited until he was sure that his friends had reached the area were he was stationed. Grinning to himself he sent ball of dark flame spiraling into the azure sky.
Finally! Hikari thought to herself eagerly as she summoned a wall of water with which to defend themselves. The dark flames, drenched by the watery barrier, dissipated into a small cloud of smoke rising ever higher into the heavens.
Well that was easy, Chihiro commented as she summoned more water to strengthen the barrier, fearing that more dark dragons may arrive and attack them. Kai and Kasumi parted so that she would spray the clear sparkling bluish liquid over them as she helped maintain the barrier.
Her fears were well reasoned as the barrier was pelted with many more fiery spheres. Portions of it weakening as the water turned into steam whenever it was hit by fire. Chihiro, maybe you should use that trick with the wind like last time so that we won't have to keep on summoning water to defend ourselves and therefore just weaken ourselves even more. Hikari observed grumpily.
You're right I should, Chihiro replied apologetically, why don't you let one part of the barrier completely disintegrate so that I will have room to summon the wind without destroying the barrier? Hikari complied without comment and Chihiro did as she was told. She watched as the wind slammed the fiery spheres into the earth, setting fire onto the grassy plain as it did so. The fires spread quickly and hungrily devoured the grass. It also killed some of the dark dragons lying within the grass, the creatures yelped with agony as the fires smote them.
Although it did not kill all, those who didn't die were left with blackened burns and were crippled or grievously wounded sometimes even both. Realizing that the fires would destroy the entire plain, Hikari and Chihiro summoned a magical barrier of water that surrounded the fires or at least until the fires wasted themselves away.
They flew away continuing their journey to find Haku. Thoughts of the fire and how it had left the once tall grass emerged undaunted into Chihiro's mind. The grass will be replaced, Kasumi answered grimly to Chihiro's questions, it always does in situations like these. You shouldn't worry about such things.
I know, but I can't help it. Chihiro whined precariously.
I understand Chihiro. Their conversation ended at that as they flew over the grassy plains. A new thought occurred to Chihiro as she flew. Though rare, there were creatures that lived in the grass. What about them? Kasumi's right, I really shouldn't worry about things such as this. Surely there are others who would be able to replace the creatures that die and they are rare. I'm sure they fled from the fire as soon as it was set, and besides they are miniscule in number so it is possible that no living creatures were harmed by the fire. The thought helped calm her.
Hikari flew next to Kai, neither talking to the other. What was there to discuss anyway? Next to Kai flew Kasumi and behind Hikari flew Chihiro, there wouldn't have been any privacy either. Their conversation would have been heard by the others.
Her emerald eyes scanned intently the grassy ground below her. I'm tired of seeing grass, she thought bitterly to herself, then again this is a plain, and there isn't anything else besides grass in plains. Though it would help if I saw some flowers or other variety of plants, which I'm sure grows amongst the grass.
The Emerald pendent that always hung around her neck began to glow, the same happened to both Kasumi and Kai with their Rubies. They stopped, hovering in midair as they glanced fearfully at the glowing stones. You know what this means, Kasumi said apprehensively.
The Evil One's present somewhere, Hikari growled bitterly. The sky began to grow darker as storm clouds gathered above them.
Maybe we should land and seek shelter in case it rains, Chihiro suggested.
That sounds like a good idea, for us anyway; you and Hikari remain here while Kai and I will seek shelter among the grass when it rains. We'll remain with you two until it does, Kasumi agreed. You could help us, Chihiro, by summoning wind to prevent the water from reaching us.
Okay then, Chihiro silently summoned two bubbles of air with which she partially surrounded Kai and Kasumi. She recognized their need to attack if needed and planned to completely surround the two once it began to rain.
Hikari's pendent grew brighter and hotter as the sky darkened, giving the sense of night. The grass below them swayed with a crazed frenzy as the wind speeds rose and in great waves flattened or dispersed whatever lay in its way. The four struggled to maintain their positions in the sky in a desperate attempt to not be blown away and separated.
Thunder and lightning rippled across in a menacing dance. At times streaks of light leapt onto the grassy plain, leaving behind a trail of bright flashing light that disappeared within seconds of the impact. Miniature fires started wherever the lightning had successfully touched the grass, many were put out as the wind flowed over it. A few remained, unable to spread because of the wind.
Chihiro looked into the sky; her dark brown eyes the perfect depiction of rage. Show yourself you big coward! She roared. Your little storm does not scare us! A bolt of lightning flashed towards her, Chihiro nimbly dodged it as she did to the five others that followed within seconds of the first. The tiny fires below her upon the grass was a reminder of how close she came to being struck.
"So you are not afraid of storms," the voice of the Evil One boomed around them with amusement, "no it was not to scare you, rather designed to end your pitiful lives." Rain fell onto the earth in heavy sheets, Chihiro closing the gap in the phoenix's bubbles seconds before the rain hit it.
That was cutting it close Chihiro, Kasumi told her wryly.
Yeah I know, sorry for not doing it sooner. I was a bit… preoccupied with my surroundings. Chihiro told her simply.
I know…you do realize that you and Hikari are going to have to fight the Evil One alone right? The rain prohibits our attacks though we may be able to summon magic using the Ruby outside of our little air bubble. I can't guarantee that it'll work though.
Try and I'm not that afraid, remember that Hikari has the Emerald.
True and she had been trained in how to use it while she was at the colony… okay then I'll try to not worry too much about you two. Chihiro nodded.
Hope you aren't afraid Chihiro, Hikari told her friend somberly.
Of course not! What you are? Chihiro teased her friend.
No, and stop joking about it! This is serious you know! Chihiro snorted in reply. Hikari ignored her friend as a lightning bolt struck the area where she had previously occupied. Kai and Kasumi did the same, to their disgust, and flew off in search of a place where they could safely watch the battle and be within attacking distance.
Take care Hikari, Kai said before flying off.
Don't worry about me Kai; you have much more important things to be thinking about. Hikari told him softly as he left. Using the energy within the Emerald, she aimed a beam of brilliant emerald light into the sky. At the same spot where the lightning bolt had emerged from. As another bolt crackled as it came towards her she used the Emerald to redirect it to where it had emerged from within the cloud.
Chihiro though was using a different tactic, always aiming her attacks in one spot within the cloud. Whenever a lightning bolt came towards her, she summoned the wind around her to redirect it if possible. If it wasn't she dodged it or tried to shield herself using fire, which didn't always work because of the rain.
I have to end this, she thought to herself after witnessing Hikari nearly being hit by a lightning bolt the flash of light almost igniting the tip of her tail. Neither Kai nor Kasumi could be faring too well in weather like this either. Remembering what her tutor at the palace of dragons had told her, she quickly fished the black stone out of her sack (Kasumi had put a spell on all of their sacks once she realized that it might rain), and unwrapped it.
Hikari snorted a warning when she saw the black stone. Though she knew little of what effect it would have she was sure that it wouldn't be of any help to them. Using the energy within the stone, Chihiro tried to aim an attack at the storm cloud where the Evil One is hiding. It backfired.
A trail of light hit the wielder of the stone squarely within her chest. She roared with pain and nearly dropped it, but something within her told her to hold on. Kasumi, seeing what had happened from afar, managed to fly next to Hikari along with Kai despite the numerous bolts that blocked their way illuminating the air in a bright glowing blanket.
Images flashed through her mind: of a dying Haku; of dragons mercilessly slaughtered; and of a group comprised of a human, four dragons, and two phoenixes brutally tortured. No, this can't be happening, Chihiro thought to herself as she felt her energy being drained. She felt weak against the torrent of images and evil thoughts battering her mind. They combined with her own until she found it difficult to tell the difference between her own thoughts and those that were being forced into her mind.
Someone help me! She screamed. Suddenly she felt as though her energy was returning back to her and that she was plummeting towards the earth. She felt dizzy as if she was spinning. Hands reached up to catch her and could hear someone frantically calling her name before falling unconscious.
Kai gently scooped up the small black stone in the silky golden cloth he had found in Chihiro's sack. Why didn't you tell us that you had it with you? He thought to himself bitterly. You could have saved yourself a lot of trouble and avoided this entire incident. At least something good came out of it though… He glanced at an unconscious girl with brown hair lying on the ground a few feet away from him.
Chihiro's eyes fluttered open, she was aware of a dull throbbing pain in her head and within her entire body as if she had been dropped. Where am I? She thought to herself. Then she remembered, the stone…the horrifying images… falling…hands reaching up to catch her. Hands? Chihiro opened her eyes.
"Chihiro you're awake!" someone shouted.
It sounded familiar, the voice of a girl thought it wasn't Hikari's… "Keiko!" Chihiro sat up; she winced at the pain she felt in her muscles.
"Don't hurt yourself," Keiko murmured, "you fell from a height of about fifty or so feet in the air, in addition to transforming back into a girl while in midair so don't be surprised if it hurts for a while."
Chihiro winced as she lightly touched her arm, "No wonder it hurts so badly…are the others with you?"
"Yes, including one very special dragon who wants to see you."
Chihiro looked at Keiko who smiled, "he's over in that direction a few yards." She pointed to the left of him, at a boy who was sitting in the grass his emerald eyes intent on her and Keiko. Chihiro stood up and faltered for a second before regaining her balance. She took one step and then another, it wasn't until she had taken fifteen steps that she was able to begin to walk smoothly without hindrance.
Haku smiled when he saw his beloved, "how are you feeling?"
Chihiro thought for a moment before replying, "I'm feeling better." She sat down next to him.
"It's been a while since we last saw each other hasn't it."
"Too long in my opinion…"
"Chihiro I need to speak with you," Kai interrupted suddenly. He stopped when he noticed who was sitting next to her. "Uh sorry about that…"
"That was interesting," Hikari said, walking from behind Kai whom she had been trailing.
"Don't do that," he told her angrily, "you really scared me you know. Anyways we'd better leave; Chihiro and Kohaku have some things they want to discuss…privately."
"Fine I'll leave," Hikari pecked him on the check and walked away. Kai reacted by blushing madly while Chihiro and Haku snickered.
"Tell me that didn't happen," he sighed turning to walk away.
Chihiro stood up and walked over to him, "wait you said that you had something to tell me."
He held out the small black stone that Chihiro had used before the lightning bolt struck her, "I wanted to know if you knew what this is."
"I don't," Chihiro said confused, "why?"
"Because it's a very powerful stone that people use to gain access to your powers and your mind, it was what the Evil One used to weaken you. I want to know who gave it to you, because whoever did probably was working for him." Chihiro stared at the stone and gulped. She had never trusted her tutor, neither did Hikari. Both friends had the feeling that there was something about him that wasn't to be trusted. Chihiro remembered what he had told her before leaving, "then take this it'll help protect you in the battle against the Evil One."
"My tutor at the palace of the Dragon King gave it to me," Chihiro muttered uncomfortably her mind awhirl with thoughts. Meanwhile in a palace that was miles away from where they were situated, a amber-eyed tutor laughed in fiendish delight. Delight that his master had successfully gained entry into the thoughts of a young girl and delight that his evil trick had worked.