Stop all dragon violence! Dragons have feelings too!
Disclaimer: I don't own Mai Hime or Otome
Chapter 3
'In her emerald eyes all time had stopped
Nothing needed a sense or reason
The shadow of her soul had entered my heart
And burnt deep within like a scalding flame'
The Duchess had just felt something she had never known in her 20 years of life, yet she herself was not sure of it. A bewildering and haunting feeling that she had only heard of in fairy tales. An angel had just wandered into her life, and she just had to touch her, treasure her, and take her out of this world of savage, lusty eyes. But how could this have happened? How could one feel so strongly about another after just one look? What was this feeling? Could it be……
The dragon snarled ferociously, removing Shizuru from her thoughts. It snapped at the very vulnerable blue rider as it attempted to devour her. Suddenly it caught hold of her leg with its dagger-like teeth and shook the girl around violently. The blue rider began to cringe.
Shizuru lost all composure and stood up, staring Takeda right in the eye.
"This is no place for a girl of her talents""Uh-huh…." it seemed the blue rider's porcelain face also entranced Takeda, as he was completely ignoring the Duchess.
The Duchess saw his lack of attention and was about to say more when she heard the moan of her enchanter. The dragon's teeth were sinking further into her leg. Blood began to spurt from her ankle. Some medics as well as the yellow rider starting rushing to the scene but the girl quietly rebuked them.
"Stay the hell away from me."
Her voice was deep, like a growl and it was obvious that she was in pain.
"RRAAARRR!"She moaned again as the teeth went in further. The medics proceeded to come closer but she growled at them and pulled out a small knife from her belt. She shook it at them in warning with a face that froze their souls. Needless to say they went back to their station.
With one swing of her knife the blue rider stabbed the beast in the side of the head. As it pulled away she stuck it in deeper, not letting go. It brought it's head as high up as it could, with the blue rider hanging on to her knife for dear life. Looking down, she saw there was no choice but to jump on the dragon's head. Letting go of her knife she swung herself onto the creature's skull and crouched down. It shook frantically but the girl held on tight to its large horns. It started to bang its head on the ground in attempt to dismount the rider but she was one step ahead of him. She slide off his head until she was clutching onto his neck. Quickly she began to unbuckle her leather belt and wrap it around the dragon's thin neck. With the belt across it's neck and held by each of the young girl's hand she had essentially made herself into a human choke chain. She tightened her grip and the beast began to cough. As it coughed the rider tightened her grip on the belt even more, slowly moving her hands down the belt until both meet. The dragon tried again to throw her but her grip was wrapped too tightly around his neck. Soon the beast stopped coughing and stood weakly as though accepting its death. It's color changed as the suffocating animal's eyes started to close. Its legs dropped and it pathetically fell onto its side. As the crowd jeered the suffocating monster lowered its neck and closed its large eyes. After 2 minutes in this position the rider felt great beast's pulse fade away. The battle was over. The blue rider had choked the dragon to death.
The crowd went mad, throwing everything they had in the air and repeating "Blue," over and over again. Shizuru and Takeda could only stare at the blue beauty as she slumped exhausted in the dirt. Her expression was still fierce and she seemed unaffected by the crowd's spirited praise. The medics finally worked up their courage and approached the girl who, somewhat reluctantly, got on the stretcher and was carried off.
The Duchess still did not know the name or color of her feelings but she did know one thing, she wanted, no, needed to take this girl away from this vile place. She could not go on with her life knowing such a priceless flower grew among these weeds. Shizuru rose from her seat. She was now on a mission.
"Masashi-San I think I have found my Senshi."
Takeda smiled in agreement.
Mai had been in the desert for 3 hours now. The sun was beginning to rise, meaning it was ether find a way into Xeres within the next hour or spend the day in the desert and die of dehydration. She liked the first choice better.
Not long ago she meet up with a large group of wanderers, also trying to sneak into Xeres illegally. Though none of them spoke a word of her language, Mai instinctually knew that they too were refugees and had no other choice but to brave the desert and try to enter the very country that had destroyed their homelands. Xeres had large walls but it was also said that there were sewage pipes and other openings that would take them into the city.
Mai studied her companions. A man with a large scar that ran down his face walked ahead of the rest. His expression was bitter and brooding. It was obvious to Mai that he had lost everything dear to him, as she had. In the middle were people of all ages and nationalities, men and women. Each one hoping to make more of themselves in the new country, with dreams of stability and success. A man, his pregnant wife and young son were at the rear. The woman seemed to pause a lot, occasionally tripping into the sand with her very swollen belly. When this happened her husband would start encouraging her to stand in his foreign tongue. Though they were clearly in a bad situation, Mai deeply envied them. They were able to support one another and pick each other up when they fell. Mai was alone now, that support did not exist to her.
The sun's first light now hit the desert. As people gradually began to gain the ability of sight, the distance became much more visible.
"Dagi! Dagi! Xeres apagia!" screamed an excited, foreign boy.
He was right, just in the distance stood the glorious walled city of Xeres. Mai could hardly believe that she had made it this far. Her excitement got the better of her and she ran toward the city, dropping her empty canteen. Many people did the same, as the crowd of refugees became a blind stampede. Laughing in joy it seemed that all souls would get their happy ending today. Or so they thought.
Getting close to the city an enormous blinding light made all runners freeze. The light also froze on the crowd as a loud, mechanic voice started to speak.
"Attention all illegal immigrants please turn back now. Attention all illegal immigrants please turn back now. If you have already crossed the red line our homeland protection agency will now proceed to attack. Please turn back now." Most did not understand it as it was only in Mai's language. Everyone simply stood were they were, confused and suspicious.
Mai looked down, then behind her and noticed that she had passed a narrow red line in the sand. Fearing the mentioned attack Mai ran over to the crowd. Remembering her companions had no clue as to what would happen, Mai began to frantically scream at them and point at the line.
"Hurry! Hurry! Run! They're going to kill us! Quick over the line! Now!" Mai had never been so loud in all her life. It made no difference though as the refugees still had no idea as to what this girl was saying. They looked at her perplexed, and did not budge.
The mechanical voice returned.
"Now entering fencing mode"'What the heck does that mean?!' Mai thought while still in a panic.
Out of nowhere tall chain-linked fences shot out of the ground were the line was. Now in panic themselves, the refugees were split from their families, as many had been outside the line. Mothers were cut from their children as the fencing rose higher. Brothers screamed for each other and spouses were split as it sliced the desert in two. Many tried breaking down the fence with their fists. Other tried to climb over it, but nothing worked. It seemed all they could do was do was cry for each other in the terrible chaos. With many loved ones on the other side of the fence and torn apart, they were distracted from the faint lights in the distance.
Mai was inside of the fence, trapped with the panicked refugees. She too was hysterical and violently pulled at the fence, fearing the attack. She persisted in pulling at the links and didn't stop until she heard a slight buzzing sound. Many others seemed to hear the sound as well and abruptly stopped their attempts to get to the other side. Soon all were quiet as the eerie buzzing noise came closer.
"Oh God, it's coming. It's coming." Mai whimpered to herself.
"Tirae vo!" A young man yelled while pointing at a light coming near them.
The crowd gasped. A flickering light was approaching them from the city. It's buzzing became the hum of an engine as it came closer. The pregnant lady held her frightened young son tightly as her husband stood in front of them defensively. Many others, including the fortunate ones on the other side of the fence stood in silence and bewilderment. Mai's eyes grew wide with indescribable fear. Her body was now drenched with sweat.
Suddenly the approaching lights and humming disappeared. It had vanished into thin air. The even more confused crowd began to murmur amongst themselves. Like a nightmare, the mystery object was gone.
Mai took a deep breath and dropped to the ground.
"Guess it was nothing" she sighed.
"Oh I wouldn't say that." Cackled an unknown and near voice.
The refugees wildly looked around the area.
"Over heeereee," the voice mocked.
Everyone looked up. Above them on a black hover board stood a young girl of about 16. Her hair was flaming red and her eyes were the color of moss. She wore a tight fitting jumpsuit as well as a sinister smirk that told all the people that no mercy was to be given. Mai knew right away that she was a Senshi. The girl began to speak.
"Well I see many naughty people this morning. Trying to breach my lovely city and take over all our jobs and positions hmm? Or maybe you're all spies?"
Mai, perhaps powered by adrenaline spoke back
"No, it's nothing like that! We just need a place to stay!"This seemed to amuse the girl. It was not often that she found someone brave enough to talk back to her. She smiled maliciously.
"Ah, so we have a brave one. How refreshing! Well little girl how would you like to be the first to bleed?"
Mai became infuriated. How dare she talk to her like this? Especially after her country had destroyed hers.
She just would not stand for this. Suddenly a blast of courage ran though Mai's body. It powered her and soon the words she longed to say came out.
"How dare you talk threaten us! It is because of your country that we ARE refugees! All we want to do is work! There's no other place we can do that! All our homes are gone! We're tired! We're sick! We need money for food! We are not spies! We mean no harm to Xeres! Just let us in so we can live!"
Mai was now out of breath and shaking with anger. All the other refugees looked at her in astoundment. They had never seen anyone stand up to dangerous authority. Even the young Senshi looked quite surprised. Nevertheless, she knew that people had to be put back in their place, she just needed to do it the hard way with this girl.
"Enough! Now to do what I came here to do." She chuckled evilly.
Out of the glove the Senshi wore popped out metal strings that attached to it. In the blink of an eye the strings launched themselves onto the two arms of an older man in the crowd. He screamed and struggled but he was trapped tightly in her grasp. Like a puppet, she swung him into the air and laughed maniacally.
"This is what happens to those who disrespect my country."
The refugees could only watch helplessly as with one wave of her glove the strings brutally tore the man into two vertical pieces. Blood oozed onto the sand as organs and other gruesome body parts flew from the air and onto the crowd. Bits of brain and intestine flopped onto the sand as the crowd went into a mass hysteria. Some went toward the city, while other went to the sides and attempted to climb the fence again. Smirking, the Senshi pointed her glove to a younger man. The horrible death strings attached themselves to his neck and pulled off his head as though he were nothing but a toy.
Mai dashed away from the carnage as tears streamed down her face. She had never seen anyone kill or be killed like this. She ran toward the side of a hill as the Senshi killed more refugees. A piercing scream could be heard as she pulled each one apart. Trying to block out the screams she thought of her homeland. She thought of Takumi and her father. She thought of her deceased mother and wondered if her death was anything this horrible.
The man, his pregnant wife and young son ran toward Mai's hill.
"Not so fast," the Senshi called as she hovered quickly to them.
The man stood his ground as he told his family to head for the hill. His wife refused but he pushed her and urged her to go. Reluctantly the woman and her son headed toward the hill as they took one last look at him alive. He looked her straight in the eye then charged at her. She cackled then grabbed him with her strings and pulled off his legs. He cringed and fell to the ground. Pain ate away at his body as he realized what had happened. He tried crawling away on his calves, as blood flowed from them but the Senshi wrapped her strings around his waist and pulled it off as well. That was the final blow. With his last breath he smiled at the hill his family hid at. Then everything faded away. He would not live to see his second child's birth.
Behind the hill the woman sobbed uncontrollably. Her little son had no idea what had happened yet he too was crying. Mai looked on the faces of these poor souls. It was no use to comfort them. She looked next to her and realized that a city pipe, big enough for a person to crawl through was wide, open. She tapped the woman's arm then pointed to the opening. Still crying the woman nodded and called for her son. She knew that despite her loss she had to protect her children. Though unsure where it would take them, the three entered the pipe together.
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