A/n

OKAY! Finally an update for this story that I love and care about so much! Pardon me for saying it, but for me, the characters I create and those lent to me… they feel like real people to me. I know they're not, but to me they could be. Now, this chapter has info that I have been implicating, but not stating. I know this chapter is a bit shorter than previous ones, but that's how it goes for this chapter. Well, no more will I do that with this stuff! Enjoy the chapter and immerse yourself back into this story!

Chapter 21: Return to the Archives

I believe I've said before now, the more that I learn about the ancient enemy, the less I wish I knew about them. The statement is very true and for a few very important reasons! Yes, I've found out that those of the ancient enemy thus far, can kick and whip my butt dang cleanly, put it on a silver platter and serve at a high class party with it, and none there complaining about it. Acura is the only one that I was doing okay against, the other two… Well, mitigating circumstances were my saving graces in those time! The facts I was soon to learn, however, put me to a real test of just how strong and firm my sanity is, among other things. But, enough with my ranting and complaining, let me just continue where I left off and you can be the judge of the situation.

So, things as I left off on… Chizuru and I were running away from two that are hell bent on killing me… Yes, that sounds about right. We were setting a pace somewhere between a hard sprint and hauling a** through the forest of trees. The fight had been going okay against Acura… That's until Darkhar showed up and my chances of winning and survival went from marginal, to I'll be unquestionably dead if I don't get away from this fight. If it hadn't been for Chizuru's timely intervention, I would be dressed up and ready to be buried six-feet under already!

That being said, Chizuru and I were weaving through the trees, not looking back to see if we were being followed, because there was no doubt that we were. The real important question that's the standing one currently, is there a way out of this, and if so, what is that method?! Moving within this ocean of trees wasn't easy to put it mildly. It required me at least, to do some serious yoga movements/posing to keep going forward without slowing down. Were I to slow down, then I would be risking being caught and killed by our pursuers and I would really, REALLY, like to avoid that! It was Chizuru's voice that drew my attention, "Saber, any idea of how we can stop being chase by those things?" She asked me.

Um well… I got nothing for answering that question. I was going to say as much, when a thought came to my mind. The thought was the memory of something I had talked to Koren, during one of the 'dreams' that were more like a lucid dream that I was in the Ethereal Archive, but not physically being there. Anyways, in that conversation with my friend, he had mentioned that the 'entrance' to the Archives doesn't have a set location exactly, just need a flat wall or that's how it was put to me. Maybe, if we could get to a place that Chizuru and I could get the door to show up, then we could get away for long enough to get Darkhar and Acura to give up hunting me.

Chizuru and I suddenly were forced to slid to a halt, as we had come to a cliff and neither of us wanted to do a dive from where we were. Now let me pause for just a moment, to set the scene up so that you listening to my tale can understand the whole picture. I said that Chizuru and I were on the edge of a 'cliff'… and that's technically true, but when I say cliff, I mean an extremely high precipice. It was so high that it gave me serious vertigo and made my sight have a hard time focusing on just how far down the ground below this cliff. I estimated the distance to be over two-hundred yards down to the bottom of the precipice… In other words, a long freaking way down. The rock face of this cliff, was not vertical, but it was pretty freaking close to being so… You wouldn't likely hit rock wall all that many times along the way of your fall. So, either Chizuru and I jump off this cliff or we wait for those hunting me to catch up and turn her and me into bloody corpses… What a choice for the two of us!

I mean, for me I've the benefit of possessing wings that allow me to fly, Chizuru doesn't. I could carry her, but then that makes us a single target to attack, so it's a risk. Yet, what other choice does either of us have in this situation?! I glanced over at Chizuru, who was looking down over the edge of the cliff, "Chizuru, hop on my back, now!" I commanded.

With the serious expression that I had on my face, Chizuru didn't argue with me and did what I had told her. After climbing onto my back, my friend circled her arms around the base of my neck, and I moved over to the very edge of the precipice, spreading my wings out to the fullest expanse, which was a smidgen more than fifteen feet. I took one final look downward at the ground a long way below, then I jumped out over the expanse and began gliding downward. The speed of the drop that Chizuru and I were in, wasn't slow, but it was so fast that it came with the risk of us hurting ourselves upon landing. However, as we're pressed for time with us being actively hunted, we don't have the luxury of time to kill or waste!

It took around ninety seconds for me to sink into the cover of the trees beneath the cliff and I got to the ground. Chizuru slid off my back to land on her feet, looking around at our new, yet similar surroundings. Nevertheless, we needed to keep moving while we have the distance gained from our leap and glide. Scanning around, to hopefully find some space that would fit the qualifications that I needed for getting a way into the Ethereal Archives. By what I figure, if we can get into the Archive, then we should be okay and safe for a time. I happened to catch sight of a hole in the rock wall through the trees and I hoped that would do for what I needed.

Wrapped the last foot and a half of my tail around Chizuru's right arm and tugged her along as I made my way to the hole in the rock wall that I spotted. It didn't take very long to for the two of us to enter the cave, which was rather dark inside. The cavern stretched ahead far enough so that no light reached wherever the back wall was. Yet… That was the case only for a minute, before crystals and gems inlayed to the cave walls began glowing and gave me enough light for me to see the inside of this cavern. The weird thing though, Chizuru didn't seem to be able to see the gems or crystals so, I don't think she had any light to see by.

Walked forward a ways, still had the last bit of length of my tail out with my tail blade pointed down, which Chizuru was holding on to. Once we got the back of the cavern, I stared at the flat back wall and imagined the door and moments later, the door to the Archives appeared on the wall. I turned to Chizuru, "Okay, forward we go through the door and we should be good for a time." I said to my friend.

Chizuru looked in my direction with a confused expression, "Door, what are you talking about? I'm quite impressed that you've not hit a wall, it's pitch black in this cavern." She replied.

So then… Chizuru doesn't see the door, or anything else in this cave apparently. Wonder if that will still be the case inside the Ethereal Archives themselves, or if my Kitsune friend will see and comprehend the Archives. "Well then Chizuru, just keep holding onto my tail and I'll guide you forward either until you can see, or well… We'll see how things go." I commented nicely.

I stared forward again and went through the doorway, and kept putting on paw in front of the other. As before, at first, there was no surrounding scenery or background, but as Chizuru and I kept going, it started to appear like it was being painted or drawn in. The surrounding background was no different than what had come the last time I had come this way. Colors began to just be and shifted into recognizable shapes, the sand colored columns began sharpening on both sides of us. Chizuru gasped behind me, which makes me believe she is seeing the scenery being 'put in'. As the lighting from the ceiling suddenly came on, bathing the now seeable corridor in light.

The two of us shortly came out into the foyer or front desk/office that was the room just before the Archives. The desk hadn't changed in any way and the double doors behind the desk were still there. The simple bell on the desk held my attention momentarily, the urge to ring it surged up in me. Yet, I quelled the childish desire to ring the bell and focused on the double doors behind the desk. We didn't stop in the room, just went through it and went to the doors and didn't hesitate in opened the doors.

Once we had entered the actual Archives, I took a moment to look at Chizuru. I smirked at seeing her mouth opened in shock at the sight of the Archives that she was taking in. In fact, it was so amusing, that I couldn't help myself in giving a line in response to her reaction, "Impressed, are you Chizuru?" I mused.

Chizuru shook her head and composed herself somewhat, "Perhaps I am a little. When you described this place, this isn't what I exactly imagined." She answered curtly.

I snickered, "Yeah, this place is something else, I won't deny that in any way." I returned.

Admittedly, no matter how many times I see the Ethereal Archives, the sheer size is nothing short of astounding! The number of books, or rather, the inability of being able to count them, just is unreal. Even as Chizuru and I descended from the balcony that the double doors come out on, we had a view of the bottomless pits, upward and downward. Lifts were zooming up and down those spaces, sometimes stopping at a level to let some here off, before continuing moving on their way. However, I believe Chizuru didn't look at the Archives themselves for long, when she clearly began focusing on the 'inhabitance' here instead. The variance of those here were still as unexpected as it would be unusual. Yes, there were, as I said, dragons and Cheetahs, but there were others here that you don't find in the dragon realm; such as elves… Youkai, now that I've come to know that Chizuru is one and have spent time around her, I can recognize them. Still were some beings here that I really don't know what they are, for I've never seen them before.

Glancing over to my female friend as she was looking around, taking in all the stimulus here, I noticed that Chizuru's fox ears and three tails were out and visible. Still say that the white fox ears and tails are somehow very fitting for Chizuru, can't say exactly why that is, but that's how it is.

We hadn't been walking along for very long… I think, before we bumped into someone that I'm familiar with. The dragon that I had walked into, completely on accident, since I had been paying attention to the reactions of my friend next to me, backed up a few steps and then focused on me. His eyes widened and the dragon smiled, "Saber! I did not know you had come here, though it is always good to see you." The dragon said.

I smiled halfheartedly, "Hey… Koren, it is nice to see you. I did not plan to be here at this time, just happened due to circumstance and an expected event that played out in an unexpected way." I replied to Koren.

It's not that I'm not interested or happy to see my… Dragonethood friend, but since I'm here… It wouldn't be a bad thing per say to see if the old man knows more about the ancient enemy that he hasn't told me. It wouldn't surprise me if he hasn't told me things; with the old man's mindset of 'protecting me from war' mentality. Yet, that spells out an internal issue I have, do I want to spend time around the old man or can I avoid doing that, the answer to that, is no, I don't want to be around that white dragon that looks like me. That is weighed against the benefit of the information that I could get from the dragon if I do tolerate spending time around the old man. However, my normally well-refined self-control I have around almost everyone, goes to ranging from not working much to getting blown to hell around the old man. … So, in a nutshell, do I go see… Bahamut and get info from him while risking blowing up at him due to the failing of my self-control, or just not go around him and do without the information from the dragon.

Koren was staring at me, waiting for me to speak, which I did, but I let out a heavy sigh before I did. "Say Koren, would you uh… do something for me?" I asked in a slightly disparaging tone.

Koren nodded, "Sure, what is it you need?" he returned to me.

Were it not a serious matter of life and death, I wouldn't care anywhere near as much to even want to do what I'm about to. Yet, this is what it is, and I need to know as much as I can to survive the ancient enemy and… Bahamut, by what he's said in the… 'talks' before now that I've been force to participate in, he has experience against them. I don't like Bahamut, have made that feeling clear to him, though I don't hate him either as I wouldn't exist if not for him per say. So, I say it again, if this wasn't a serious matter of life and death, I wouldn't care anywhere near as much to do this'. "Koren, would you mind taking my companion and I to see… Bahamut… please." I got out, though I said my… male sire's name in an emotionless tone.

Koren merely kept nodding his head and gestured for Chizuru and I to follow him as he started forward. Chizuru seemed to come out of the trance she had been in and came with me as I fell into step behind Koren. The three of us went off deeper into the Archives, assumedly to wherever the white dragon that looks very much like I will, given enough time.

-Scene Change-

After we walked for a short time, we arrived in the study room where I had met Bahamut for the first time. My gaze quickly focused on the larger white dragon in this room and instantly, my mood took a heavy dive. I jerked on the reigns of my emotions and reeled them in hard, keeping in control while I was in the same room as the Old Man. Bahamut turned around at hearing our group enter the study. He smiled for a moment, but at seeing the clear glower on my face, Bahamut's smile lessened. "I am here by choice old man, does not mean that I like or wish to be here in the same room with you. However, I choose to tolerate what I feel when I am around you, for good reason." I nearly growled at Bahamut.

"I see, before we get to whatever that reason might be, perhaps your companion can introduce herself as I have not met her, yet I have seen some that are similar to her." Replied the old man evenly.

Chizuru came to stand by me and bowed, "My name is Chizuru, and I am what is known as a Youkai." She introduced herself.

The Old Man appeared to be interested in Chizuru's introduction, "A Youkai you say, fascinating… I have seen a few like you around the archives, but have never spoken with one of them." He said.

I cleared my throat loudly to regain the attention of those in the room, "As interesting as the idea might be to you Old Man, there is other things which we should discuss." I said evenly.

Bahamut refocused on me, "And what subject did you wish to speak on?" My… sire inquired.

Managed to keep my emotions in check, though there was a flare up at the question the Old Man asked. However, it wasn't an easy task to not blow up at this white dragon! It took me a moment to calm down and speak again in an even voice, "Oh, I don't know Old Man… how about the fact that you have been withholding important and valuable information from me concerning the Ancient Enemy. That ringing any BELLS!" I said, managing to keep my voice even until the last word, which I bellowed.

Bahamut looked surprised, "The Ancient Enemy? How do you know about them Saber?" he asked a little apprehension.

I clenched my jaw shut to bite back the harsh retort that I was about to give out. There were so many different ways that I could answer the Old Man… most mean and a few outright vicious and spiteful. I believe being around Lara for the time I have been, my inclination to be blunt and sarcastic just out of principle… has waned to a degree. That by no means, implies that I've given up use of Sarcasm, I'll never do that! Went through a breathing exercise, to help me stay in control and not pounce and manhandle Bahamut. "How do I know about them you ask? Hmm, kind of hard for me not to know them, when they have tried to kill me five separate times, three of which were done by one of them personally. Is that enough experience to judge by?" I asked in a sarcastic tone.

"It was not the intent for you to have to know of them at all, I had hoped that you would be able to live a peaceful life." The Old Man replied.

Couldn't and didn't hold back the retort this time around, "Peaceful life? Is that what you just said Bahamut? I am surprised that you know what that even is daddy dearest! Your wish for me to have a peaceful life, has done most but give that kind of result. However, that is not the reason why I came here, I am here for information that can help me in the circumstances that I keep finding myself in frequently as of late. Those being forced to fight for my life in a battle where I am out matched in… and I hate to lose and really cannot afford to in this sort of thing!" I growled.

The control on my emotions kept sliding down a slippery slope, "Honestly, I do not know which one of them I have met is the worst of them all! Darkhar tried to trick me the first time by impersonating someone that had been close to me. It was in that experience that I learned what it is like to almost have your rear end served up on a freaking silver platter." I continued the volume of my voice rising.

Yet, I stopped seeing Bahamut's expression to be one of bafflement, I glanced around and saw Koren was just as confused. Did a mental rewind, and after doing so, my shoulders slumped and a sigh escaped me. … I've said it before and I'll say it again, not for the last time; I miss human inference so DANG MUCH! It was Chizuru's voice that helped my sanity and answered for me the unasked question, "The phrase of 'having your rear end served up on a silver platter' or really any part of your body, means to be beaten or have a task done at a level of efficiency that is close to perfect." She said before turning to me. "So then, how did you get out of that?"

I smiled and chuckled a tad nervously, "Oh… Darkhar learned the mistake of underestimating the power of my rear bomb bay… he he he."

Chizuru's head fell and she shook it from side to side, "You and your dangerous bodily functions… dare I ask what came next? Or did you somehow add a spark and light the foul and toxic gas that comes from your back end or something like that?" she inquired nonchalantly.

My female companion's tone said she was joking, but in actuality… Chizuru had hit the nail on the head by stating what had happened. My gaze didn't meet Chizuru's as she waited for me to give my reply, "You… didn't actually do something so clearly stupid… did you?" she asked out loud in a serious tone.

The silence went on for a minute, then I could stand it any longer, "Lighting the gas didn't seem like that stupid of an idea back at the time… was downright desperate, thank you." I replied in my defense.

I could see the expression on my friend's face, it said I was about to get one of the harsher chewing outs that I've had to listen to, for my reckless decision making, when one of the voices that irks me was heard. "So then, you have met Darkhar specifically?" Asked Bahamut.

Turning to the Old Man, I stared at him for a half a minute, "Yeah… and I ask you the same question." I returned.

Bahamut nodded sadly, "Yes I have met the one of whom you speak… and have fought him a number of times. Much damage Darkhar is responsible for during the Great War and beyond that time as well." He said.

Oh… so many things I want to say, or rather bellow at the old man! They ranged from phrases that said 'fess up' or something similar, to 'why in the hell didn't you say anything, you want me dead that badly?!'. So then… which end of the spectrum do I lean towards? With the feelings of resentment and pain, I was in a tug-o-war match between wishing to attack and strangle Bahamut while I screamed about how bad my life had been due to his decision, and just shouting for the old man to get on with telling me what he knew about Darkhar.

Then it was like I heard Lara's voice as if she was right beside me, telling me to give this a chance in the way she does that I have such a hard time saying no to. In fact, it felt so real that I turned my head to my right to check if Lara was there… of course she wasn't, but that's how real it had felt to me! Took a few minutes to clear my mind and calm down the emotional storm that had been raging within me. Once I had come into a much calmer state, I focused my attention back on Bahamut, "Perhaps I should rephrase my inquiry, is there information that would assist me in going against the Ancient Enemy that you know?" I asked.

Bahamut smiled a bit, "For that, it would be more helpful for you to look within."

… Within he says, what the freaking heck does he mean with that?! It was after the old man said that, when he… started doing… something, magic of some sort maybe? I haven't the faintest idea, he was spouting gibberish to me. Out of nowhere a glow appeared to my right and after a minute it died down and there… stood a punk I hadn't seen for a while and wasn't more fond of than the last time I had to unfortunately see him. The one to whom I was referring was the 'other me' Asreyel. I glared back at Bahamut, "This is not, what I call or consider helpful in any way dang it!" I growled.

"Ah, now is that any way to talk about the original one of us?"

Swung my head around and gave Asreyel a gaze full of loathing, "I did not ask for your opinion, I do not want your opinion, and if you're the original, no wonder things vastly improved when I came around and you were not in the open." I returned.

The next moment, Asreyel disappeared and I refocused back on the adult white dragon, who was looking at where the other 'me' had been, "Unusual, I was trying to bring out a reflection of your true-self, though it does not seem that was what came out." Bahamut said.

I hesitated, but then sighed, "I have… issues, that I still deal with so, I am not like others who can face themselves. What you see, is what you get." I replied begrudgingly.

Bahamut, again did the 'weird magic', however, there wasn't a glow exactly, more like a space where light was being forced out of. Cold trickles of fear went through me as the shape of the shadow shaped and sharpened into a form that I see in some of my nightmares that aren't from the memories. My eyes went a little wider when the one I call Shae appeared to my right in a physical form, which he hadn't at any time before. There were odd differences that I would have never imagined, his scales for instance, weren't black, more a very dirty grey with some random off white spots here and there. Shae's irises were still the crimson red color and the pupils were slits as he glanced around the room.

I swallowed my fear and looked at the one that I don't listen to anymore. Once Shae's gaze met mine, his eyes widened, "What is this?" He said, his eyes flicking around before coming back to mine, "I demand to know how this can be!"

My jaw clenched, and I breathed in and out before I answered, "Yeah, I would like to know that too, because I am not interested in seeing you and could have done without." I returned.

Both Shae and I turned to the one responsible for this happening, Bahamut was staring at both of us with his maw open in surprise and shock. "But how can this be, how can you be here," uttered the old man while looking at Shae.

Shae on the other paw, well… let's just say that were I to get a glare like he was giving, I would shift into a defensive stance, expecting an attack that could possibly kill me. So… the old man knows Shae and vice versa? Do I really want to know how that is and what kind of relationship exists between them… if it still does? My curiosity got the better of me and so I asked, "Okay, clearly by what you say old man, you know him, and by the… close to murderous glare he is giving you, he knows who you are, though it is not in the same way you feel Bahamut. Care to fill the rest of us in?" I said to break the tense silence that had settled over the room since Bahamut had spoken.

Yet, it was if Bahamut hadn't heard me, he just continued to stare at Shae, "You survived Shadon, it is good to see the truth of this." The old man said in a kind of happy tone.

Shadon? I swear I know that name from somewhere… but I can't recall at the moment how I knew the name. However, I didn't search the recesses of my mind at this time, since the response to Bahamut's last statement from the recipient, wasn't in the same feeling the line from the old man gave his piece. Shae, um well… to say that he was feeling irked as I do when I hear the old man's voice, would be an understatement. As I said, I dislike Bahamut, would say Shae… put simply, hated Bahamut so much that he loathed to be anywhere near him. Not that I can't understand that feeling, but it was more than that, Shadon as the old man called Shae, hated the adult white dragon in ways that I couldn't read from his body language.

Shae let out a low growl that told of pain difficult to imagine, "I survived? Is that all you can think to say to me after everything that you and the elders did to me?!" screeched Shadon.

Bahamut became crestfallen, "There was no other choice Shadon at the time, I wish there had been, but there was none. We wanted to help you…" Replied the old man.

… This is fascinating, can't wait to turn the page and find out what happens next! Bahamut's answer wasn't well-received at all by Shadon, "HELP ME?! LOOK AT WHAT I HAVE BECOME BECAUSE OF YOUR HELP BAHAMUT!" roared Shadon, letting lose a blood curdling roar after screaming his response.

I tensed up at hearing that roar… for I had heard it one other time before now, and it clicked in me. Shae or Shadon here, he was that monster that I had seen in… that… vision or whatever the hell it was that I had seen. That black monstrosity that had the form of a dragon, he stood on my right now. How Shadon became like this, haven't the faintest clue, but I don't doubt there is a story to it. Yet, once the roar had died down, Shadon kept going, though the volume lessened a bit, "Where were you when my brother was captured? What did you and the elders do? You left him to die! You all gave up on him before even trying to save him! Then you left me to the same fate!"

Those line helped me to finish connecting the dots and now I knew where I had heard the name Shadon. In one of the memories… likely his brother now that I think about it, where he had tried to save his brother… from the torture of Darkhar. Apparently, that didn't end well for Shadon, though how it had come to this, I don't know. Shadon then, began to paint a picture with words, and that picture was beyond gruesome, let me tell you! He had been tortured in ways that words can only palely describe, miracle that he survived would be what I would say. Yet, I get the impression that it was no miracle that death had never found this dragon, but the work of the ancient enemy. Through this telling, it left no doubt in my mind… Shadon… he was the traitor that Bahamut had implied. He had been forced to do things that… were horrid, made into the puppet of the ancient enemy.

Now, if you think listen to this sob story has gotten me to forget the things that Shae has pulled with me, then you don't know me very well at all. Granted, my life has sucked to varying degrees throughout, however, the times that Shae had stuck his snout in, were so much worse than the other times! I will make him account for the crap that he was responsible for that I usually got blamed for instead! "Hey!" I interjected loudly.

Everyone in the room turned to face me, whereas I focused on Shadon, "Your sob story is interesting and everything, but answer me this; why should I have to pay for your negative feelings? Why should I be blamed for things you cause to vent your problems?!" I roared at Shadon.

"What are you referring to, oh boring one?" Shadon replied.

Boring one?! Oh, he'll pay for that comment! "What you ask, oh violent idiot, there are a number of examples to go with Shae, how about the most recent time you tried to tell me what to do. You had me choking a friend for something really small and blew it out of proportion." I snapped back, I turned to Bahamut and glared, "What I want to know, is what brought around the two of us being together, for it is very much not appreciate."

"Of all of those it was possible for him to end out imprisoned in, I would have never thought it would be you Saber," said Bahamut.

… When I believe the old man can't possibly screw my life over more than he has already, I find out Bahamut has done so already. And this screw over is a doozy, close to the same level as trying to save me from knowing war… and that ended badly, as my life attests to. I exhaled heavily, "Dare I ask how and why I am stuck with this psyco in me, so I know just how you were able to make my life just that much harder than you did without me knowing about it." I asked tiredly.

I thought when I asked the question to know about how this started, it was a simple, one of the times I was wrong and have to pay for it. How might you ask… let me put it to you like this, I didn't think there was anyone that could talk and have me want to be out cold faster than what I had to endure with Volteer's 'what every dragon should know' lecture. … After having to listen to the talkative dragon, I literally wanted to bash my head on a medium sized rock over and over to forget what I had heard. Lara had found me before I could do that and kept me in her sight to make sure I didn't do said head bashing.

A summary of the 'explanation', once Shadon had reappeared in a… changed stated, or rather the corrupt form he has now, he wreaked havoc far and wide to put it mildly. The havoc was devastating to be sure and so of course he had to be stopped as he couldn't stop himself being the puppet I assume. So, according to Bahamut, Shadon was captured and… well, his essence, psyche or soul, whichever you want to call the idea, was ripped out of his body. I wouldn't think it would be possible to do that, but apparently it is and then 'sealed' it away. Then somehow his soul ended out in me, don't ask how that worked, I don't know and really don't care at the moment. The conversation didn't end there, oh no, Shadon joined in at that point, blaming the old man for a couple of things. The first, Shadon couldn't die, yet, nor could he be truly considered alive as he was now either. The other point of note in that blaming was that Shadon said he was completely alone forever.

I feel a bit sorry for what Shadon has gone through, but like before, Shadon is still in my bad books and his name is written in permanent ink! That and I was getting sick and tired of having to listen to these two going on, and decided to make my view known. "As nice as it is to see the old man get chewed out, enough is enough! As far as I am concerned, you are both idiot that have issues to deal with on your own time!" I snapped. Turning to Bahamut I continued, "You Bahamut claim to wish the best for me, yet all you give me is problems to have to deal with, so stop doing so Pops! It is freaking annoying and stressful and I have enough of that to get through without you adding to it!"

"Forever complaining, boring dragonet," said Shadon.

Anger flashed through me at hearing that line, swung around to face the grey idiot, "As for you Shae, I have had more than enough from you," I replied harshly, and then my voice rose to a shout, "Be gone!"

Shadon did exactly what I said and vanished in an eerily glow and melting into smoke, but he was gone and it felt nice that something was finally going the way I wanted it to.

"Curious, it appears that you can use Arcane Alchemy as well," remarked Bahamut.

I turned to the old man, "What was that?" I asked, not sure what Bahamut meant by what he said.

"Indeed, I have never heard of this Arcane Alchemy that you mentioned," added Chizuru.

Had almost forgotten that my female companion was here with us, been rather involved in this. We both waited for the answer from the old man. He took a moment to think, and then gave us an 'explanation', a good portion of which didn't make logical sense, yet that's not new with Bahamut. Simply put, Arcane Alchemy is an ancient kind of magic that can do crazy things that don't really make sense to me.

Neither I or Chizuru stayed long after that, for me, I have had enough of tolerating Bahamut myself and wanted to get time away from him. As we were heading towards the exit of the Ethereal Archives, I could tell that Chizuru was attempting to help me, much like Koren had done the last time I was physically here. And as before, it didn't help that much, but the thought is appreciated.

Said farewell to Koren, who had walked with Chizuru and I to the front entry, and the both of us kept going to the exit. Came out into the cave that was pitch black to Chizuru, yet was not to me. I was looking forward to getting out of the cave and flying back to Warfang and being done with this trek that had ended out so different than it was planned.

… However, that thought process came to a halt when Chizuru and I did get to the entrance and we both just stood and stared. The scenery outside the 'cave' wasn't what we saw when we entered the cave. There was still green of trees that made up a forest, and there were cliff faces were on either side of the forest, like before. Yet, the cliffs weren't vertical and they didn't have flat ground on top of them, they were more mountains than anything else. At the end of the 'valley' was what looked like a river or lake, a body of water at least to be sure.

"Okay… this certainly isn't the scenery that I was expecting to see when we came out." I commented.

I looked over at Chizuru and noticed that her tails and ears were hidden now and she was just gaping like I still kind of was. Both of us stared at the valley for a little while longer, I wouldn't doubt both of us were wonder what we do now. It was Chizuru who spoke up and broke the silence, "Well, standing here won't do us much, so then shall we get moving?" she asked.

I nodded and dropped to my haunches to allow my female companion to climb onto my back. As a gentleman, I didn't think it would be right to have her walk while I fly… I've had to experience that already and it doesn't feel nice at all. Once Chizuru was on my back and had a hold around my neck, I spread my wings and took off over the valley. Admittedly, the valley below was quite breathtaking and the body of water was more a river than a lake, but it became large and wide as we kept going forward.

After ten minutes of flying, we came out of the valley onto a plain, I came to a stop and just hovered and flapped my wings enough to keep in the air. In front of us at the other end of the plain, was a city… and a huge one at that, which I think is bigger than Warfang. The city kind of reminded me of Carona as it had water filled canals within the city, dividing it into sections. There was an outer wall surrounding the city itself. The buildings varied in height and size, the ones closer to the canals, were lower than the ones behind them. Bridges stretched over the canals, allowing travel between the sections of this city. At the far end of the place, was a high vertical rock face, in the center of the rock wall was a castle like structure, built into the wall and stone masonry and construction sticking out of the rock. On either side of the 'castle', waterfalls fell at seemingly random intervals and by what I could see, fed the canals in the city itself.

The place was unlike most cities I've seen… other than maybe those ruins in Mistborne, but those were weird in their own way. "So Chizuru, what do you make of that city ahead of us?" I asked.

"Can't say I've seen anything like it myself," she replied to me.

Well… there is only one way to find out more in this, and that's to go to the city and look around. Who knows? Maybe someone there can direct us to the direction that Warfang is in and Chizuru and I can head that way. With how the two of us had disappeared, no doubt my friends were worried about the disappearance. Lara alone would be in a panic about me not coming back with the rest of the group. … I don't really want to know what she's doing because of me being gone, any more than what she will likely do to me when I get back. But guess I should focus on the situation at paw before I look ahead to what could come.

Chapter end.

A/n

That's where I'll end this chapter. Now the reason that it took so long for me to write this chapter, was for two reasons. First, my writing muse was in and out on a frequent basis. Second, I was mulling over whether to have Saber and Chizuru head back to Warfang or have them going somewhere else. As you've read, they'll be going to elsewhere for the time being and there is a reason for that. I will not be saying that reason… just yet, that is! Rest assured that it will be worth the wait and you will like what I have in mind for the future! Please some of you, take the time to write a review and tell me what you think, or PM me with your thoughts. Peace out all!

Merecor

Thank you

Edmonton58

Yes, you're right, but a key point, the effect is dependent on whether it's expected.

Sandshrew Master

Glad you laughed at what I write, as for office time, don't know right now.

KeyBlader Zen

I hope I answered your questions, if not PM me and tell me. As for your comment/guess… I'm not telling yet, sorry, but that's a surprise for later and relishing the planning for it.

Rayrudan

Indeed, those are possibilities, but that will be answered later since there has been a turn in the story.

HolyCross9

So Lucrecia, I kind of imagine her as one of Gaul's inner circle, like and advisor, before Malefor came and changed things. Having to see what corruption that occurred, would think she wouldn't want to see that kind of thing again.

Cptslapem

I try to keep the humor as much as I can, how I get the writing magic to flow the best.

ArcticDragon Rider

I hope that you like this chapter as much as the last.