Merry Christmas everyone! I am back with the next chapter, which has some interesting turns and twists, as well as facts and such. With a typical Shitza style... I can probably never write a fic without throwing in some kind of prophecy. (shakes head)

Oh well, I don't think you will be saddened.

Yet, the horror will be. This chapter contains very little romance. It's a weird chapter, yet pretty useful. Involves a new entry, but who I will not speak of.

Fun Facts: Episode 47, when Chocomon(baby form of Cherubimon) and Nyaramon(baby form of Orphanimon) hatch the first shots show Nyaramon (to the left) and Chocomon (to the right) in a white glow, before they become rookies. However it is Chocomon who evolves into Salamon and Nyaramon who evolves into Lopmon. Yet in the evolution line Ophanimon evolves from Nyaramon-Salamon-Gatomon-Angewomon-Ophanimon. And Cherubimon evolves from Chocomon-Lopmon-Antylamon-Cherubimon.

Chapter 8
Destiny Unfolded

Legend of the Demon

taken from Epistula Ignis- Kouichi's copy
written about a hundred years after the actual war.

It was the start of a new Era, it was the victory over darkness. Or the evil darkness, because darkness could also mean the balance of light and therefrom be one simple good thing. Darkness can also as well be the destruction of light, therefor creatures born in Chuisa are rare. Chuisa, being the month of darkness is a sad episode in these strange lands. It can also be called the most dangerous one as the lands are weakened by the throttling darkness and children born now rarely survive. You would think that in a world with millions maybe billions of creatures births would be rather common. Don't fool yourselves. In a world with all this magic many creatures are born of magic, never said to be born by any specific element. They are also incredible stupid or too weak to survive for long. (The best example to put on that you would know of is the pumpkin lady Takuya encountered coming to this world. She is one of a kind and works as a servant for her lords, not really knowing exactly what she does. You would say it is sad, but she doesn't mind. She has nothing more then a body of earth and that pumpkin. However both twins have always cared for her in their way.) Not to count many creatures are already dead, or immortal. Which means the need to reincarnate isn't prioritized.

Now with this war gone, with this world cleared from all demons, life slowly went back to normal. Or so everyone believed, really something more was around the bend. For darkness had more to store. And during the next Chuisa, the year after the victory of Light, it managed to infiltrate a woman with its seed. A black thorn of hate and darkness. Little did this creature know what was happening, and the father didn't care being happy as it was. This soon-to-be-father, one of the creatures who had helped defeating this darkness, never noticed what was growing under his nose. For this father had grown famous due to his hard work together with Lobo, the werewolf that possessed the secret of Light, Lowe, the lion-man that protected the pure Darkness, Zephyr and her little sister Kaze, the sisters of Wind fairies and Aquilas that traveled with wind, Kuma and Chak, two MistHimi twins that lived in the cold ice, Bolg and Blitz, two of the most magnificent Raikis this world had spotted, Grumble, the troll who in the end of the war sacrificed his life to save the Earth, Rana, the mermaid of the sea that cleansed the waters and also drowned in darkness, Arbor, the guardian of Wood who was kill a month later by his own favorite tree and lastly Mercury,a wizard that used his last strength to give this world something to live for. The ten elements combined had been the key to make sure those vile creatures wouldn't escape for centuries to come.

Darkness once more grew to this world, and when finally the little dragon boy was born, to his fathers horror Aguni could see the signs from the start. His child was as dark as the darkness he had fought. His own son had become one of the corrupted ones. He was one of the unfortunate. But with his warm and brave heart the Fire Dragon who possessed the deepest secrets of them all, not let his son die. The same night he was born the fire Dragon flew into the night, carrying his son to another world. He came to the only place he knew no one would go and search for him, the human Earth. The dragon, having taken his dragon form, landed in a wood, there transformed into a human body, yet he could never hie the wings on his back. He shielded them with a thick cloak and raised his son far from prying eyes. When his son was able to walk he was taken to the world to see it. Father and son became known as the wandering Gray, for gray was the color of their cloaks. For humans they were nothing else then wanderers who sometimes stopped to sometimes beg for some food or money. People most often helped them since he had a son to take care of, and people who saw them saw that most of everything went to the young boy. The man was a word of honor.

Yet as the boy grew older, and the search soon ended in Nemorisa as they had presumed that the demon and dragon were dead, life seemed to become peaceful. But one day, when the boy, now a young man around fifteen, wandered around, he saw something soar up to the sky. It was a dragon, a fire dragon like his father. The boy grew curious and having wings of his own he followed. The other dragon stopped when it reached a gate to another world and walked in to it. The young boy tried to follow, yet with all the darkness within his body he could not. He was thrown out.

Being unfortunate doesn't have to mean you are evil to start with, yet darkness more easily can penetrate you. Yes, those who are unfortunate are called demons being as close to a shadow-like demon as you could possible get. Malice and hunger grew within his soul and penetrated every single thought. He wanted to see what was on the other side, but every time he found a gate, which was not often and took a lot of work, he was tossed out at once. Hate grew in him and he started to hate these creatures that could travel between the worlds.

The two worlds would have received peace and this demon could probably have killed himself over his own despair. If only not his father had told him about which world he truly came from. In anger and in the name of a new world the demon swore to make, he ripped his father and fled. He was never seen again, only said: "I will be back, and when I am back you will regret this! The two worlds belong to me, and solely me!"

Close top death, desperate to warn everyone,Aguni managed to open a gate home to Nemorisa. He was in luck as he appeared close to his old friend (and once lover) Lobo. He died in the arms of the wolf he had always loved. The two of them swore to be together, which is also why Lobo probably followed his love a few years later, being killed in war. The last chapters of this story can be summered with the fact that the remaining four warriors of Wind, Darkness, Ice and Thunder combined their powers for a cause unknown. This caused them to drain themselves to a peaceful sleep... of eternity.

"Hail you Takuya, oh Mighty Dragon Lord!" Daisuke said smiling. The dragon got down to his knees and bowed. Takuya was shocked and didn't know what to do really. Daisuke laughed softly, noticing the confusedness in the human-dragon's eyes. Indeed Takuya could not understand anything about this. He couldn't be a dragon, like Daisuke here claimed him to be. Why and how could he be a dragon? He couldn't see how? He couldn't see why? Yet an annoying little voice in the back of his head, the same voice that had spoken to him only a minute ago, told him. It was all in order and no matter if he liked it or not.

Probably was that the last straw for Takuya. The brunette, the newfound dragon-lord sank down to his knees in a sort of beautiful defeat. Even if his life upon Earth had not been so joyful, he still could not deny that he greatly missed to have somewhere to call home. Now he wondered what his home was, where his home should be. Knowing now what he was he could not know where he should go, now that he had a reason to belong to Nemorisa. A part of him was indeed happy though, even if the thought scared him greatly, yet a small part couldn't help but to miss home.

Daisuke seemed to understand him. The scroll that Takuya had been given had burnt down to a small pile of ash that now lay forgotten on the ground. Carefully Daisuke wrapped his arm around the other brunette and hugged him soothingly. Takuya, not so sure of himself and confused, silently wept into Daisuke's shoulder. Daisuke quietly hushed him. The dragon started to sing a lullaby, which worked. Takuya's eyelids grew heavy and slowly the young human dowsed into sleep. Daisuke took a thin red cloak from his pocket and lay it over the sleeping brunette. Then he left to find the vampire, who he knew shared something special with this human, and to send some instructions over to the other dragons.

This is what he wrote to his cousin...

Taichi

Sorry I am for not writing for long, my heart has found peace and happiness.
Yet, to keep duties of leadership I will and am. Bravery fight darkness.

You will not believe, what I have to say.
It came as a shock to discover.
The laws of old, broken they were.
Yet not without yet another cover.
One of the mortal, fragile and plain
A human entered this world.
Yet he turned out to be more then pain
He turns out to be one of us.
The scroll of ancients responded to his touch
It burned yet did not hurt him.
Ancient magic awoke to his hand.
Curse the darkness is returning to this land.
I'll try to bring him as soon as I can.

Daisuke

It was a silent group that left the ruined magical town a day later. Before they left Daisuke gave them instructions to follow the trail to his home land, the Dragon Mountain, and a map over Nemorisa and the five holy continents. Both Kouji and Kouichi had reluctantly once been there, and the dragon reassured him that more people would be able to help him, only if they said Takuya wasn't entirely a human. The dragon laughed imagined his own cousin's expression if he would meet a human. Taichi was brave and yes, he would probably have the courage to confront one. But with everything Takuya had done with him once they had crossed paths his cousin took the old legends even more seriously.

Daisuke had to stay to rearrange things for Ken's freedom. He however was pretty sure they wouldn't have an impossible task ahead thinking of what kind of group they traveled as. All five carried ancient magic, however Takuya hadn't started to use his yet. But still, having four creatures who all could use powerful magic was more than enough for protection. At least... it was really what he hoped.

Izumi flew ahead, happy to once again stretch her wings. The Aquila would scout ahead, making sure nothing serious would get in their way. She was highly suspicious about their surroundings. They had also been given horses, Takuya. Kouichi had shaken his head saying he did not want to explore the inside of a horse once he fell down, all though he knew he would not be able to see anything at all without light. Junpei was running and being such a strange and enormous creature that he was, he didn't even sweat. And who in the whole wide world would dare to give a vampire, a pure blood sucker, a horse? When Kouji wasn't walking he joined Izumi in flying. It was easier that way.

An extra horse was brought to carry most of the food and it became Kouichi's job to keep an eye on it. Even if the ghost did not eat, Izumi in particular made it clear that if he did not, then he would find himself in the closest cyclone within seconds. A roller-coaster he knew he could do well without.

The five of them entered one of the probably gloomiest places they had ever seen. According to the map Daisuke had given them this place was called Urei Forest, a sole dark forest that would give them a five days shorter travel to the MistHimi nest. According to Kouichi, he had some friends he wanted to join as well, now that they had found five of the wielders of ancient magic, Kouichi knew the sixth and last one. He had heard rumors about one during their stay at the Magical place. Even though rumors never told half the truth, it was worth to check. With all the strange and mysterious things going on, having placed two and two together the ghost had received a fairly good point at everything that was going on, all though he could not prove his theories.

"Don't worry, we will be there in no time!" Junpei said happily. The Raiki was very optimistic about these matters. Izumi shook her head walking beside everyone else. The girls seemed furious about the leaves and twigs in her hair. Kouji was leading Takuya's horse, trying to ignore the feelings about biting it. It was an animal after all, and how horses had ended up in Nemorisa hardly anyone knew? They suspected some witches must have brought some with them when they returned from Earth.

Their first day didn't turn out too bad. Their moods were pretty bright, even though the whole place was covered in darkness. Kouichi, who seemed to enjoy himself being in the pure darkness, was humming songs and telling jokes. However as the hours tickled pass, the hours grew longer and longer, their moods fell. After just three days they stopped talking with each other. Pictures and illusions formed before their eyes. Izumi for example found herself back at her home and as soon as the picture disappeared she was crying loudly. Junpei received flashes of his mountain and tears streamed down his cheeks thinking about home. Takuya received flashes and heard voices from the time his father used to beat him. Even Kouji suffered. The vampire had to relive some of the darker aspects of his life, something he buried deep within his heart.

Kouichi tried to lighten the mood, with little success. People snapped, jeered and told him to shut up. He was happy to be a ghost for once, as pieces of rocks and branches was thrown at him whenever he opened his mouth to speak. To his horror he realized there had to be some dormant magic on these lands changing his friends. Why would he be unaffected? Maybe because once the blood of Lowe had run through his veins, at least by the time he had had a body. Unusual as it may seem, when the two twins had been born the blood between their ancestors Lobo and Lowe had never been mixed. Clear signs from the stars and the sun told that his brother had inherited Lobo's blood while he received Lowe's. It was very unusual for blood to split this equally, but apparently it had. Maybe because they inherited so strong magic, it could never clash together. Yet, it created another bond. Not simply just a twin-twin bond. This was the Yin Yang, the perfect balance.

The fourth night during their walk they set camp close to a black river. With this strange darkness even the moon looked gloomy. Takuya sighed making the fire with two sticks together. However after several attempts he was close upon giving up when suddenly a small blaze shot from his finger lighting the dry leaves. Yet however, his new ability seemed to grow within him. Ever since the first fire had started to burn from him, his powers had escaped and were growing. They still only came whenever he was scared or angry. If not then he looked like any human being.

The brunette lay down beside Kouji and gently fell asleep. The vampire eyed his love for a moment before shifting closer, laying one arm around the brunette's waist and fell asleep as well. Kouichi smiled. It was a cute scenery he hoped would last forever. His brother had been so cold before the two of them had gotten together. Kouichi hoped this would last forever.

The lonesome ghost floated around checking so that everything was Okay. Izumi hung upside down in one of the trees, almost like a bat, with her wings folded close to her. Junpei seemed to have disappeared, until Kouichi discovered a weird looking rock, which explained the matters. Raiki's slept like rocks, literally their stone bodies became rocks in their sleep. The ghost was yet again alone.

Little did the ghost except something would indeed happen. The wind gently rustled the leaves and the dust blew from the ground. Nothing seemed strange at first, until he saw the trees moving. The ghost was about to awake everyone else when suddenly someone came from behind, muffling his hand with one of those anti ghost spells he truly hated. Instead the poor ghost froze in air. Something dragged him away. All that was left, was a trail of flower petals. Pink petals.

Kouji woke up with a start, trembling terribly. It was as if he had been drowned in complete darkness, killing his light. Perhaps it was just the influence from this gloomy place, but he feared the worst. He looked around quickly and yes indeed something had happened.

"Kouichi!" he said loudly. "KOUICIIII!" he tried screaming. His voice woke Takuya, who was slowly waking up.

Izumi and Junpei woke up as well. Izumi eyed the vampire, her gold blond hair almost touching the ground. Junpei was shaking his body to function again.

"Kouji, what are you yelling for?" Takuya asked rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The vampire was pale, paler then usual. You could almost see the blood beneath his skin. The very scene scared hell out of Takuya.

"Kouichi, he is gone!" Kouji said silently. Takuya now shook wide awake. "WHAT!"

Izumi was also shocked and dropped down from the branch she hung on, with a loud thud. Junpei went to examine the place around, and indeed it was easy to follow. A trail of fresh pink petals lying as a small trail away from their camp. The Raiki signed for them all to follow him. Takuya took the horses and they set of, to find a ghost that was indeed in trouble. But not the kind of trouble they all believed in. No, it was far more worse then that...

It was...

TBC

perhaps after Christmas, if not this will continue after New Year. If I don't see you till then, then Happy New Year as well.