Chapter 3

Moku

Ankle still twinging, I remained speechless until we reached the golden temple. There was another dragon engraving above the door. This one, however, was in gold.

"Touch the egg before we enter the cave. The current Dragon is irritable, and you'll need the marking to slow, and maybe even stop, him from killing you on the spot. Most Dragons don't allow you to get to their resting place as I did."

"You mean that hole in the wall of your cave is where you sleep?"

"Yeah."

I rubbed my backside, imagining how uncomfortable that would be.

I dug deep into my pouch, and pulled out the leather bag containing

the blue egg. However, before I could open the bag, Ky took it from my hand.

"You may want to sit down."

I nodded, and sat down quickly, rubbing my aching ankle. When my ankle stopped throbbing, I reached for the bag. Ky placed it in my outstretched right palm, and sat down beside me, his hand on my back. I dug into the bag, and the instant my hand touched the icy surface of the egg, there was a slight burning on my leg. The pain wasn't unbearable, but my leg went numb, and had I been standing, I would have fallen. No doubt that would have helped my ankle.

"My teacher didn't tell me to sit, so I learned the hard way."

I laughed and stood up, slowly regaining feeling in my leg. Fortunately, Ky still had his hand on my back, or I would have toppled to the ground. Once I was firmly up, I turned to him. "You can let me go now. I should be okay for a while."

He blushed. "Sorry about scaring you like that. I didn't know you were a dragon. We were taught caution. You came late at night, and that's how the other Blue Dragon's were killed. I thought I was next."

"No problem. If I couldn't handle a little bit of pain, you really think I would go to the high school?"

He laughed and the now familiar shiver racked my body. Trying to distract myself from the wonderful feeling and the questions it ensued, I looked around the temple. I was standing in a beautiful golden dojo with statues of the Dragon and Goddess on marble pedestals.

When I finally felt ready to walk, we continued down the path to the cave and navigated our way to the back, where I saw a familiar hole where I had met Ky, though this one was rimmed in gold. This time, I was prepared for the tap on my shoulder, and already had my dagger out and in my right hand before I even turned around. Ky must have seen me spin, as he transformed back into the Dragon that I knew and feared. He stood in front of me, and nearly sheared me in half as he swung his tail in front of me to keep me from moving.

"Ky?" The Golden Dragon said with a twinge of amazement.

"Moku?"

They both returned to human shape, and I was amazed to see exactly how close they looked. The Golden Dragon (Moku?) hugged Ky, and they wrestled around a bit. I felt totally invisible for the first time in my life, and I leaned against the back wall before I could fall over.

"Since when are you the Green Dragon?"

"Since two weeks after you left to become the Golden One."

I must have moved suddenly or something, as I finally caught Moku's eye. "Who's the wench?" He nodded his head at me.

I just looked at him indignantly as Ky blushed even deeper than he had earlier.

"I am Alya, and I'm no wench. Pleased to meet you, even if you are an ass."

"So, Ky. You finally got yourself a girl, huh? Couldn't you have gotten one with a little less of a mouth? Nice choice though, she's beautiful."

This time, it was my turn to blush, and for Ky to speak up. "Alya is my traveling companion, and the Blue Dragon, the savior of the race of Dragons. You owe her at least a little respect."

Moku's eyes widened and flashed as he ran a hand through his black hair, so similar to Ky's. "I'm sorry. I had no idea. By the way of the dragon, you may now take my life."

I waved my hand at him, and dismissed the idea. "I have a better idea. Someone want to tell me how you two know each other?" I looked from Moku to Ky, and back again.

"You mean he didn't tell you?" Moku asked.

"Tell me what?"

"Wait, Moku. Let me do it. Alya, this is Moku, the Golden Dragon, the Protector of the Eastern Edge of Arelyshia, and my brother."

My mouth fell open, and I just stared. I was still piecing together the puzzle when Moku turned to Ky. "How do we know for sure that she is the Blue Dragon? Or that you're telling the truth for that matter? We could be killed for showing our human forms to a mortal!"

"She possesses the stolen egg, is Goddess marked on naval, and is properly branded on the ankle, however swollen it is."

"Let me see."

I lifted my shirt just enough to show the circle of blue ink surrounding my belly button, and turned my leg slightly, my skirt shifting to the side. Upon my leg, just above my ankle, was the Arelyshian symbol for water.

"So the water dragon has finally been found." Moku muttered as I sat down.

"Indeed. How's Arishka?"

"She's fine, but a little irritable."

"What else is new?"

"Well, this time it's because she is about to lay her second egg."

Ky inhaled loudly. "Sucks to be her."

"Yep."

I figured Arishka was a Dragon, but which one? Obviously not Green, Gold or Blue, since we were standing here. That leaves Orange and Red. Black is male, though noone knows his true identity. My guess is Red.

"So are you coming with us?" Ky asked.

"Who are you going to next?"

"Well, the egg should hatch soon, and Arishka would kill her unless she

transformed, especially if she is even more irritable than ever."

Yep, she's the Red Dragon.

"So, Menoly?"

"We'll save Arishka for last. She doesn't like walking, and we'll be doing a lot of that until the egg hatches and Alya can fly." Ky told him.

"Why make her walk? It's obvious we'll be carrying her most of the way anyway. Let her ride on your back."

"I don't know if you've ever tried to fly with someone on your back, but..."

There was a crackling from my backpack, and a flash of blue light flew from the seams. Since it was obvious I wouldn't be included in this conversation, I had to interrupt to find out what was going on.

"Uh, boys?"

"...it's tough to even get off of the ground."

"Boys?"

"I happen to know that it's possible, even if it's tough. I..."

"BOYS!"

"What?" They said in unison.

"Look!" I pointed to the backpack and took out the egg. I held it out, and a dragon head popped out of the top of the egg. She yawned and looked at me. She chirped and nipped my wrist.

"What do I do?"

"She shouldn't have hatched yet! It hasn't been an hour!" Ky looked

worried.

"Well she did!" I snapped back at Ky.

He stepped back and looked startled. Realizing my mistake, I

squeezed his hand and apologized. I shouldn't have snapped at him. I was just so frustrated that noone was telling me what to do, when there were two fully recognized dragons in the room.

"How can you tell it's a girl?" Moku asked.

"It has two spikes on her neck, instead of the five that males have.

You should know that, Moku. Didn't your Dragon Master teach you anything?"

"Don't insult my Master, Ky. I'll kick your ass just as I always did."

"Stop fighting and tell me what the hell I'm supposed to do!" I screamed at them. This time, I didn't apologize, as it was the second time I had said something.

"Kiss it on the nose." Moku stated.

I complied, but nothing happened. I looked at the little girl dragon,

and she chirped again.

"Why did I just kiss the slimy dragon?"

"No reason. I just wanted to see if you would do it." Ky and I both

punched him on either arm. He stepped back, rubbing his arms and scowling.

"Sit in the lotus position, but be careful of your ankle. Place the dragon on your feet and breathe deeply. Then, touch the center of her head." Ky instructed patiently, sitting beside me as he had at the temple, his hand again on my back.

More cautiously this time, I complied, my ankle throbbing at the

motion. As my finger connected with her tiny head, I felt a shock run through my body, an unfamiliar presence in my head, and a slight burning on my leg a little bit above the water symbol. The dragon disappeared and there was a flash of light near my ankle.

"Congratulations, Alya, you are now a fully realized Blue Dragon. You

don't have an easy job ahead of you, but we'll all be there to help you. Of course, now you'll have to lay about ten eggs to make up for the last six hundred years." Moku, no longer scowling, gave me a hug and smiled.

I sighed hard, and blushed. "H-how do I change?"

"Picture the Dragon inside you and believe that you can. Then ask...wait, lift your skirt a little again, to above the water symbol." I did, and there was now a neat cursive handwriting above the symbol. Ultimatra was written.

"That's appropriate, considering she's the final dragon." Moku chuckled.

"You mean that's her name?" I asked.

"Yeah." Moku lifted his light denim jeans and showed the symbol for

life above his ankle and the name Briend. Ky repeated the action, and his Dragon's name, Tartea, was above the symbol for friend.

I thought of a blue Ky in Dragon form, and pleaded to Ultimatra to

help me change. She nodded and I felt my fingernails elongate, my teeth grow out and curve in, and scales the color of sapphires come out of my skin.

I looked to the boys and was surprised to see them staring open-

mouthed.

"What? Do I really look that bad?"

"You're..." Moku started and stopped.

"I'm what?"

"Beautiful." Ky finished.

I pictured my human self, and thanked Ultimatra for her help. Moku

handed me a mirror. My image in the mirror showed that my teeth were as curved in as the boys' now.

"Thanks, guys. You don't need to say that though."

"No, we do. If we don't, then someone else will, and you'll hate us forever." Moku began laughing and I joined in. Ky was still speechless and on the floor.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, offering him my hand to help him up.

He shook his head, said nothing, and walked to the entrance of the cave. I felt pained to see him walk away.

"He's okay. Don't worry about him."

"I do, though. He's worried about me since I met him. He's the closest I've ever had to a real friend."

"Didn't you have friends before you became an outlaw?"

"Yeah, but they didn't know or like the real me. I never felt it necessary to show them, since they were using me. I felt like Ky would understand me, and I never had to put on an act around him."

"You really love him, don't you?"

"I don't know. I'm confused, Moku. I think I do. That's what scares

me. I haven't even known him for twenty-four hours, and I have this connection with him that took years to develop with my mother. I feel like I can tell him anything."

"Yeah, kid. That's love."

I sighed. "I know. Please don't tell him. I want to do it when I'm ready."

"I don't have to, and neither do you."

"Yeah." I began walking in the direction Ky had gone. Before I could

get out of earshot, I heard him mutter to himself. "I don't have to tell him because he knows. He knows, and he feels the same. I'm willing to bet that it scares the hell out of him, too."

I finally caught up with him at the mouth of the cave. "Now that you

can change, we can visit Arishka." Ky said, after about two minutes of standing in silence.

"Maybe she's already laid her egg." I stated, although I hope that she

didn't. I had a few questions that I wanted to ask her.

"I hope so." Moku replied.

"Okay then, boys. Let's go."

"Just flap your wings, Alya, and follow us." Ky instructed.

"Whatever you say."

Moku snickered as all three of us changed into the terrors of the sky and took off. "Let's go, Lizards. It's about time I saw my darling wife."

"Wife?" Ky and I both asked at the same time.

Much thanks to all of you that decided to review! Cuppycakes for all!!!! Okay, so dragons' have advanced a bit, and are now printing their names on their humans. It will be a prob later on, though, so watch out for that!

Sora's Kairi