Our Beginning
Chapter 9 Ports and Plans
The rest of their long journey passed uneventfully. The cubs were fairly well-behaved considering they were cubs. By the end of the week thanks to good winds and no other storms to hinder them, they were reaching their destination.
"Well, I guess this is it, I hope." Bear stated as she and Horse helped the cubs down off the gangplank. "I wonder where we go from here?"
Horse shrugged. "I don't know Bear, neither of use have had any of those odd dreams since we set sail."
One of the bear cubs, the pale pink one looked up excitedly at the sky. "Ooo ooo!" she cried, pointing up. "Pitty!"
Bear and Horse followed the cub's finger. A rainbow was forming directly above them. Their eyes widened with awe as the rainbow shot off like a frightened doe leaving a trail. They looked at each other, understanding the instruction. Together all of them, even the cubs, ran in the direction of the rainbow, being careful never to lose sight of it. They followed the rainbow into a small glen, just barely big enough for all of them to fit. They were surrounded by tall trees and could go no further.
Bear and Horse looked around still in wonder of what they'd just seen. But they were confused.
"What is this place? Why are we here?" Horse asked, seemingly to the air.
Gasps of what must have been hundreds made them jump and look around them. Upon their close, frantic scrutiny, they saw hundreds, no thousands of tiny people, no higher than maybe an inch, wearing green tunics, green knickers, white tights, and small black shoes with buckles upon them. They were literally pouring from knotholes in the trees around them, and pooling at their feet.
Bear smiled. "Why, they're leprechauns!"
One of the little people jumped on the closest, highest branch. "Correct, lass, we be the leprechauns of the Emerald Isle. Well, some of them, anyway. I am Arlen O'Connor, at ye service."
Horse put a paw to his chin, while the cubs took to playing with the small people. "But what service, we don't even know why we were brought here."
Arlen nodded. "Aye, sir, but we do. Bring in the wee lad!" Arlen's order rang through the multitudes and shortly thereafter a small green cub was carried into the center of the circle carried on the backs of many of the leprechauns.
Meanwhile…
Dark Heart took a deep savoring breath as he appeared in the middle of the forests of Etheria. It was time to fulfill his greatest plan. He slipped his fingers into the left side pocket of his robes to ensure his gifts were there. He smirked, nothing would stop him now. Soon, all of this, would be his and he would have his revenge.
"How did I know you'd come?" came a voice dripping with sarcasm from behind him.
Dark Heart turned to face his former teacher. "Shishō, you simply know me too well. And I know you just as well. You have no intention of stopping me."
Earth crossed his arms. "There will be nothing to stop. You and I both know that. You are simply here to instigate what was already destined to be, and naturally, to profit from it."
"Naturally," Dark Heart agreed. "With or without me, this place will disappear as we know it. I do not even HAVE to hurry it along. The final war is coming, Shisho, I will soon have my revenge and the priestess, she and I can be together. They will all pay for deceiving and using me, and I will avenge my friend's death…"
END CHAPTER
AN: Sorry for the wait. I'm not gonna do all of the bears and cousins individually, probably just a couple more, like the pandas and Brave Heart. We're actually nearing the end of this. Can you believe it? I'd say we won't go past twenty chapters, not counting the interlude and the prologue and epilogue. If there are any who are experienced with doujinshi, please let me know. I think this would make a good one but I can't draw.
SHISHOMASTER, Earth is Japanese and he taught Dark Heart much of what he knows, so he is called either Sensei or Shisho