A/n

ALL RIGHTY THEN! Chapter 23, it is shorter than I normal write them, but that's how this one worked out and will lead into the next chapter and keep the flow of the story as I want it to be. I would like to say, in this chapter, Saber is going to seem… kind of idiotic and whiny… please don't hold it against him, he's under a lot of stress. Anyways, as always, I don't own nothing but my characters, ideas and musing, the rest belong to their respective owners that aren't me.

Chapter 23: Admittance

-Saber's pov-

Can you recall a time when you've been caught saying something you never meant to utter out loud, and would give nearly anything to take back what you said? It's an extremely rare thing for me, but the current experience certainly fits that and takes the top spot in things I didn't want to happen to me right now. Why might that be you ask? Well… I find myself in turmoil at the current moment and I put myself into this, which makes it for some reason worse, all by one fact I dislike and try not to mention or talk about! I would compare this to the feeling that a child gets when their caught in an act they know isn't something they should do, and red handed at that… and that's still doesn't quite say how I feel at this point in time. To add to my dilemma, not that I needed to add anything to it, the fact to whom I just spouted information I don't want to say or admit to, that they happened to be the dragon and dragoness before me are my 'step father' and biological 'mother'.

I attempted to get my body to move so that I could leave before further inquiries could be made of me, but it was like my body was frozen on the spot I stood. However, I couldn't bring myself to look at the two standing close to me. So, I looked down at the ground to avoid having to look at the dragoness that was my biological mother specifically. Oddly to me, I couldn't really care less what my 'male sire' thought of me, could let rip ammo from my rear bomb bay and have no regrets. Yet, for some reason I couldn't explain logically, I did care somewhat what my 'mom' thought of me.

"Bahamut… is your father?" asked Lana in a somewhat quiet voice.

Clenched my jaw shut, still didn't look at the dragon or dragoness, but I nodded slightly. As much as I dislike the fact, even more to have him referred to as my 'father', even I can't deny it with the resemblance we bare towards each other. At least without looking like a complete idiot and I avoid doing that when I can, personal credo.

Back to the subject I was being force to confront, had no idea what to expect from either of these dragons. My reaction when I met Bahamut… well, it hadn't been my best and I wasn't my non-nice self and that's putting it nicely… am ashamed at how I blew up. Then again… my attitude hadn't improved much if at all really since then, which I will not openly admit that I still dislike Bahamut. That's mostly due to the things he did to make my life the hell it has been, even if he didn't intend for it to be.

I registered Lana closing the distance between her and me, and she began sniffing the air around me. Can't say why she was doing what she was, but I stood still and let the dragoness do what she was, for I didn't want to react badly as I had to my other 'sire'. That would give a really bad impression and I do that more than enough myself. Yet, in this for a reason I couldn't explain logically, I feel the urge or wish to present a good or pleasing impression to Lana. Maybe it has something to do with a child's wish to please or make proud of their parent… I don't know. I wouldn't think so, since I feel nothing of this sort with or around the old man, but that's something entirely different. After a few minutes, I raised my head and found Lana was looking me over, before her eyes met mine. I saw that the dragoness's eyes began tearing up, "It… it is you…" Lana whispered.

Silran came forward, looking worried about Lana, he touched her with his head… a gesture of comfort maybe? Lara has done something similar, but anyways, after checking and reassuring Lana, Silran focused on me, "You speak as if you have met Bahamut, yet that is impossible, he had to have died some time ago. So, how could you know of him?" He asked.

Impossible he says, Silran has no idea that impossible doesn't mean the same to me that it does for everyone else. Things that are considered and called impossible find me and laugh manically as they come at me, or I do whatever it takes to survive and I defy odds and do the 'impossible'. So, 'how could I' Silran asks, I learned some time ago, it's not worth asking that kind of thing any more.

Hadn't said anything after I had blabbed about the relation I've to Bahamut, however, that hadn't helped the feelings of anger and fury I feel towards Bahamut go away. The subject of how I know and met Bahamut… is such a complicated one I don't know where to even begin. I mean, how do you explain to another that you have met someone, who isn't only one of your… parents, but is dead, yet seems alive? Hell, I have a hard time understanding how it works for those in the Ethereal Archives, and haven't fully wrapped my mind around the idea. Then… something in my brain tells me, that my 'mom' won't be happy I have such strong issues that involve 'dad'. So… I'm doomed if I say anything about the old man and I'm very likely doomed if I don't. I have the greatest luck with this kind of thing, don't I?!

Nevertheless, with the question of how I knew the old man being put out here, my emotions boiled over and got the better of me. My self-control slipped and that caused my mouth to run without instructions from my brain. "Oh I am well aware the old man is not 'alive', one of the conundrums I have with him, being dead and yet seeming alive… confusing as hell if you ask me." I grumbled to myself, audibly.

Did I worry that what my mouth spouted would come back to bite me in the butt? Not really no, what I had just said wouldn't make sense to most if any, which works out well for me. Plus, most dragons and dragonesses I come across don't listen or believe me anyways, helps me on occasions like this. Hopefully, these two like most before now, will wave off what I said as nothing more than me talking to myself or just saying random crap. Then I could wait until these two left or I could go and choose a different spot and continued venting and release the pent up emotions I have.

However, the next thing I knew, I felt someone embrace me and instantly the sick feeling that comes from this gesture when given by adults for me, began flowing through me. Glimpsed white scales that weren't mine and the heard the voice of Lana, "You hatched and are alive! Thank the Ancients, I thought you lost forever my dragonet!" she cried as she hugged me and sobbed.

Much like what occurred with my adopted mom 'Umbra', when Lana hugged me, the tremors quickly started and gained momentum. Cursed the adults who are responsible for this reaction, Uncle Douchebag chief among them. For what happens when I'm hugged by an adult isn't pleasant or fun at all! Not for me or the reaction of those who actually come close enough and make contact with me. I put forth great effort to get away from Lana, but to no avail as she kept ahold of me and wouldn't release me.

To save the all of you listening from having to listen to me being a complete idiot as well as embarrassing myself thoroughly… And I really don't want to do that. I'll save us all the time and make a long story short, Chiaia happened to come along and managed to convince Lana to let me go. It took me around a half an hour to get my body under control, with great effort on my part as Lara wasn't here to do… whatever it is she does to get my body to calm down. Still… I feel that I haven't seen or heard the end of this… which doesn't comfort me.

So, after the debacle, I managed to get back to house and then to bed, only got to stay in it for a couple of hours… laid there and didn't drop off to sleep with how busy my mind was. The problem was that I had forgotten that Chizuru and I had asked to have a chat with Chiaia in the morning. That being said, I don't think it should be held against me that I was irritable and grouchy, was running on little sleep and the work of an interrupted venting session. However, I did manage to roll and haul myself out of bed given a bit of time, though my mood didn't improve much. Although, I didn't let my non-nice mood be known to those around me, don't doubt Chizuru noticed the foul air around me, for those who knew me better than average, it isn't that hard to tell.

Chizuru and I went to the castle like structure built into the cliff face, where we would have our meeting with Chiaia. Came into the same room as we had met the dragoness the previous day. Now… not saying that talking to the purple dragoness is bad or tiresome… exactly, but the subject matter which the conversation settled on, well, wasn't the most interesting. At least it wasn't to me with the mood I was in, would likely be fascinating to others.

The subject started on Chizuru, what she was and details about youkai as well as myself and my journeying. Once that tedious stuff was dropped, then the conversation shifted to what we had been through recently. After a summary, the question of how Ladius was out in the middle of nowhere came up. The answer to the inquiry, though a bit intriguing due to the oddity of a place the size of Ladius and its inhabitance, I wasn't really paying attention that closely. That's not to say that I didn't take information that was being given, but didn't actively think about the facts I was hearing.

By what Chiaia said, Ladius was put here by a spell of some sort, magic seems to be the answer to a lot of weird things. Or maybe, it's just that I notice that 'magic' is a frequently used explanation. When we mentioned what we had seen of the surrounding landscape, it interested the dragoness, at least I did note that the dragoness's reaction to what we said. The landscape wasn't what she expected it would be outside the view you can get from the city. That could also mean that exploration outside didn't go all that far or in the direction Chizuru and I came from.

Okay so, when you combining the information Chiaia had given and what I know, it's… well, pardon the crazy idea, but it sounded like Ladius had appeared here… somehow through time from the past. But then, the same could be said of me, my egg somehow got here by some method that the old man performed. Who's to say something similar or the same kind of idea happened in this case too? It wouldn't be a shock if that's what happened… I'm getting a little too accepting of weird crap as of late, now that I look back on recent events.

Anyways, if that's true, my question would be not how it was done, but where the energy or power for such a thing came from. A feat like bringing a city of Ladius's size with its inhabitance here unaffected and the population none the wiser… that's no simple task in any way. That's one thing I've learned from the times I've been forced to listen to Bahamut's lectures that could be considered explanations. The point is this, magic, whatever form it takes, still requires energy of some sort for fuel to be active or do the task it's intended to do. Knowing that, magic scales linearly, which means the bigger the task for the spell, the more fuel it consumes to accomplish the work. The issue that is presented, magic uses what it needs and NO less than that! Should you not have enough energy that a spell requires, it has a habit of finding and/or taking what's required to make up the deficient. The problem is that you almost never get to choose where that power will come from.

Even after the conversation with the older purple dragoness, there are still so many unanswered questions. But at the moment, I really don't care enough to put forth the effort to find out the answers. By the end of the day, I felt that it had been a bit of a wasted day with the whole explanation with Chiaia. Yet, that's probably my bad mood having its influence on me, I normally have my emotions in line and issues dealt with on a regular basis. But that's been harder since arriving in the Dragon Realm, and I've been reminded of the problem time and time again.

-Scene Change-

Time, as it inevitably does, kept moving forward, I estimate that it's been… over a week, likely two since the conference. Chizuru and I were still here at Ladius and I can say without reservation that I was getting beyond restless and really wish and want to get a move on and head back to Warfang. Okay, I admit, I have the tendency to become restless when I have little if nothing to do with my time. The venting I had tried to do recently hadn't help as much as it would have once, unfortunately, it had been interrupted and so hadn't helped as such normally did. However… there was more to my growing restlessness than there was regularly in the times before now that I've had these feelings. Lately there had been a growing difference in the restlessness that gripped me and it's kind of hard to explain.

Ever since Lara and I became mates, I've been getting feelings that I haven't had before things became that way with Lara. The reason I've noticed, is whenever I've not been around Lara, I get restless a lot faster, a great deal more irritable, which makes me hard to be around in general… more than what I normally am like. … Okay, maybe I should just say that I'm… missing Lara… a small margin. Oh who am I kidding other than myself, I miss Lara horrendously! … This is such a strange feeling for me to miss someone else! Sadly, I've been alone for so long that I've never really learned what it's like to wish to be around another. Lara changed that for me… she's one of those few that have accepted me completely as I am.

Unfortunately, like I've said, I'm more accustom to having those around me want to get away from me or beat me up if they can. Perhaps not literally want to get distance between me every time, but not wish to be around me for very long, because of me being me… absolutely! Lara hasn't been affected by my… repelling personality, or maybe she cares enough to hold it against me. Whichever the case, I've been growing accustom to her affections that she showed me and I missed it. Now that I take the time to think about it, this is the longest period time that we've been away from one another since becoming mates. … Oh fiddlesticks! Clear to me, looking at my actions as of late that I'm pining for Lara the most among other things, though staying alive has been making it somewhat easier to ignore the feeling. The best way to take care of all of this crap, would be to go back to Warfang and be done with this.

Went looking for Chizuru as it would be very rude and mean of me to leave my friend here and I go to Carona and then to Warfang. It took me around an hour to find the girl, we had separated this morning. Once I had found my friend, I began a short discussion about the reasons why we should be on our way back to Warfang. Chizuru did agree with me, but she did say one line that did force me to pause… let me just tell you about that part of our conversation.

"You say that it is time to head back to Warfang, to which I agree. But, are you sure there isn't something more to your insistence that we leave other than we've been gone for a good amount of time? Seems more to me that there is something else that you're not saying out loud Saber." She had said.

I was taken aback at that line from Chizuru, I knew exactly why I wanted to go back to Warfang, but I don't want to say it out loud! So, I did something stupid, "Wha…? Another reason to go back to Warfang… I… I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about Chizuru." I lied.

Like I said, I did something stupid, namely lie and I was well aware that I was lying. Still, I don't want to admit what Chizuru apparently noticed. My reluctance worked against me however, for Chizuru glared at me and I turned my head, not meeting her gaze. "Don't know what I'm talking about huh? That's a huge load of crap, you're lying and you know it as much as I do, now, what is it that you're not saying?" She snapped at me.

Started stepping back away from the young woman, yet, she moved forward, not letting me escape her. Ended out shifting into my human for the attempt I was making to get out of telling Chizuru that I missed Lara more than words could ever say. Was still in the cotton shirt and leather pants that Alya had made for me, even had the trench like coat on. So… I ran away and Chizuru took up chasing after me, and so began a game of hide-n-seek between the two of us. I managed to keep out of sight fairly well, heck, if my opponent was someone other than Chizuru, I could have probably lost them and won the game with relative ease. However, with Chizuru, likely from her being a Youkai and the senses they supposedly have, finding my hiding spots was something she did just fine and the chase would resume after she did track me down.

Our hiding and seeking took us out of Ladius to an area of tall grass, and that's where Chizuru was able to catch me and pin me down. "Okay Saber, you've been caught and now you'll tell me what it is that makes you want to get back to Warfang so much." She stated.

I could see that there was nothing I could do further to get out of this, other than telling Chizuru what she wanted to know. Plus, the longer I was apart from Lara the worse the feelings of pining for her became, I've no idea why that is! "Don't ask me why, but I'm pining for Lara, okay!" I spouted.

Chizuru blinked at my answer, "Pining for Lara?" she questioned.

"Yes, you heard me, I can't explain it. But, I miss Lara and am pining to be with her, that's why I want to get moving back towards Warfang. You happy that I said the reason now?!" I returned.

My friend got off me and I sat up, "That's surprising to hear from you Saber," said Chizuru.

I stared at Chizuru, "Care to elaborate on what you mean by that?" I remarked.

She smiled, "You missing another, or rather you caring enough about another to actually miss someone else's company. You haven't really gotten close enough before now that I can recall, a personal flaw of yours that I ignore. I mean, it took me almost two years to get you to talk to me seriously, you were rather distant with those around you." Chizuru replied.

… Suppose that Chizuru does have a point, even if it is a hard one to accept for me, I have a hard time opening up to others much at all. I've been alone for most of my life, whether I was in a crowd or by myself, was always so different than others, it's how I always ended out being. That had changed tremendously when I got to the Dragon Realm! Between meeting Spyro and the adventure that I got involved in, life had improved, I had to admit that. Then when I had met Lara… I started remembering things I had, apparently forgotten. The relationship that had developed with Lara and me… well, we somehow completed each other, I couldn't really come up with a better way to say it. I nodded slowly, begrudgingly admitting the fault which I possessed, "Okay fine, you have a point Chizuru, I'll give you that. So, give me a break, cut me some slack would you? I don't have the experience in the people skills department like most do, sue me if you wish to waste the time." I answered.

Well, after the… discussion, we agreed that it was time that Chizuru and I set out on the journey back to Warfang. It would be a lengthy one, probably take multiple days to complete and then we would deal with the questions and the explanations that would follow with friends and others. Wasn't looking forward to some of the talks that I would have to have upon returning to friends that Chizuru and I had left. I shifted back into my draconic form before we arrived back at Ladius, and began our preparation for the trek. We left at around lunch time, heading north. Chizuru rode on my back for the time being as the journey would go a tad faster with her riding me at the start.

As I flew, memories came back of escaping from the apes and bumping into Lara, Tarra and Fredrick for the first time. Could be the 'sea of trees' below us, for its thick and I have the urge to have a huge barbeque and watch the forest burn. However, I contained myself, and didn't do as I felt inclined to do at the sight below.

For the whole afternoon, I kept flying, my stamina proving itself once again in just how much endurance it gives me. Yet, as the sun began started to sinking into the horizon, I landed on the ground in an area where the trees were thinning. Chizuru and I explored the general area and located a suitable spot to camp for the night. The two of us began looking for dinner, keeping within hearing distance of each other, as danger could strike either of us at any time. What was nagging at me, was that I had been getting the feeling that we were being watched and followed for the majority of the flight thus far. And my intuition is very rarely wrong, so I kept my guard up and senses scanning and returning their findings.

My stomach though, was making sure I kept attention on searching for food, as I was getting hungry after flying the distance I had and carrying another on my back. I came upon what appeared to be a number of rabbit like creatures, they were a little cute… but most of all, they fit the bill for dinner! And I had to admit, the longer I looked at them combined with how hungry I was, they were looking mighty tasty. Chizuru and I would cook them of course, but where some would shy away because these animals look 'cute', I wave their reasoning off. I'm an omnivore, so I require and like to eat meat, those critters are meat with legs and they're going to be dinner tonight!

Made quick work of the creatures, used electricity to paralyze them and then moved forward fast and used my paws to snap their necks one by one. Once the critters were dead, I gathered them up and slung them over my back and started to head back in the direction I had come in. However, hadn't gone more than a couple of steps when I head the snapping of a twig, signaling that I wasn't alone. I sniffed the air, attempting to identify who it was hiding from my sight. It wasn't the ancient enemy, can sense them coming from a decent distance away from me and that feeling is unmistakable. Felt and smelt something behind me, and I flicked my tail sharply in the direction and hit something as a voice cried out when my tail smacked them.

I turned around and faced… a young white dragoness, who happened to be, by what I now understand, my younger half-sister, Nadlea. "What the?!" I exclaimed.

Nadlea shook her head and glared at me, "Ow, what did you hit me with your tail for?! That hurt!" she snapped back at me.

Gave her a deadpanned expression, "That's what you get for sneaking up on me from behind. The last few who have tried that, attempted to kill me, so wisdom says to assume hostility and defend myself. Announce yourself next time and you will be less likely to be hit." I replied to the young dragoness.

Two others came out of the shades of the trees, and I found myself staring at Silran and… Lana. I held in the sigh that tried to escape me, Nadlea went over to Lana, "Mom, he hit me with his tail!" she claimed while pointing a talon at me.

So… this is what it feels like to have a younger sibling 'tattle tale' on you… what an unpleasant feeling this is, combined with an urge to smack the one doing this on the back of her head. Feeling this, I don't appreciate having a younger sister right now… makes me wonder how Spyro has been able to tolerate Sparx and his antics, it's beyond me. "Nadlea dear, sneaking up on another is not nice to do, and you were trying to scare him which is also very rude." Remarked Lana.

I was getting more than a tad frustrated, I had left these three behind, or so I thought, I let out a sigh, "What are you three doing around here and why are you following me?" I asked flatly.

It was Silran that answered me, "You are a part of the family Saber, whatever the reason for your journey, we wish to support you." He said.

… well, they'll have to pardon my lack of enthusiasm as to their reasoning that has them following me. Family is something I don't have much experience with, since I've been denied such for most of my life. Taking in the expressions on the dragon and one of the two dragonesses, seeing they wouldn't leave or stop following me any time soon. I exhaled, "If you say so, you might as well join us from dinner then." I said as I resumed trotting back towards the camp Chizuru and I picked.

The three followed me, and after five minutes I came into a clearing, saw that Chizuru was back, had built a fire and was tending it. "I'm back Chizuru, and I found dinner… plus, I was right that someone was following us, or rather a few someones." I announced.

Chizuru glanced over at me and saw the three dragons walking up behind me, "So you are, what did you pick up for dinner?" She asked me.

My reply was to turn and show off the rabbit like creatures, we cooked up the 'rabbits' I caught and ate them. Afterward, the five of us chose our spots to sleep for the night. I staked out a place by a tree trunk, which had a blanket of soft feeling grass that was decently thick and plopped down. Chizuru sat down against the neighboring tree trunk and I began wondering how long it would be before we reached Carona. However, the feeling of a warm surface rubbing the crest of my head registered along with a shiver going down my spine. When I looked up, I saw that the warm surface was the jaw of Lana… put forth a great effort to calm down the bad reaction I was having and managed to do so.

I believe the dragoness that was my mother by birth or hatching was showing affection to me, but I have a hard time with adult on being sure. But the group which had started as a pair had increased to Quintet lay around the clearing and dropped off to sleep. Saw random memories that weren't mine as I slept, the reason I noticed this, was because I hadn't been seeing them for the last week or so. For the few times that I did wake up, I just rolled over and went back to sleep as I was tired. When morning came, we foraged for breakfast, before starting off once again, now with a bigger group, with Chizuru riding on my back.

Towards the end of the second day after leaving Ladius, the site of Carona was a very welcome one to my eyes. This meant that tomorrow, Chizuru and I could get back to Warfang and the trek we've been one can finally end. Hopefully then, I could get some peace and quiet for a while, haven't gotten any for a time. Plus, the fact that Lara had mention before I had gone off… was coming back to my mind, her being gravid. Still don't think I'm ready or qualified to be a parent for a dragonet or child. Then, there's my new 'family' I didn't know I had, and I have no a clue what to do with them or how to deal with them! It's frustrating, I finally get some problems solved or on their way to being dealt with, but then I get new ones shoved on me in place of those I have nearly solved.

Chapter end

A/n

And that's where I will leave off for this chapter. The next one, Saber and Chizuru will finally get back to their friends in Warfang, but will it be so easy? By this point I doubt I need to say the answer to that question! Any who, please take the time to write a review or PM me, whichever you prefer. Reviews help me in ways that words can't say and I do so appreciate them. Peace out until next time!

Dasius

Yes, have that reaction sometimes too.

PrinceSpyro

That will come back in later, likely part 3 if I were to say at this point.

HolyCross9

I hope that my 'explanation' help in understanding the relationship between Lana and Bahamut.

KeyBlader Zen

I think I answered your questions except the third, and that one is one that I would have to unanswered for the time being.

ArcticDragon Rider

Take comfort that they will be in the next chapter.