A/N Hey everyone,
Sorry about the long(ish) wait between chapters school work has meant I haven't had as much time to write as I would like. This chapter is also notably longer than the others by a reasonably significant margin.
Anyway thankyou so very much for all the favourites, follows and reviews when I first came up with this Idea I really wasn't expecting it to be so popular. I am truly grateful for al your support.
Thankyou
-Angel
-Chapter 3-
The Falcon and The Phantom
Tensions between the six kingdoms have been high for two and a half centuries however the aptly named Endless War of recent decades has strained these already stretched relationships even further to the point that most kingdoms do not communicate with each other in a civil manner most communication is left to the battlefields of the kingdom borders.
The Earth, Light and Shadow kingdoms are the less vicious half o the kingdoms all three only actively at war with one of their neighbours. Water, Fire and Wind all three being heavily attack based elements attack their neighbours at almost any opportunity.
Excerpt from The Endless War
by Alexandra Garcia
-Consumed by Shadows-
"Seirin is at least 2 days ride from here on horseback, are you sure you want to go through with this Midorima-sama." Midorima immediately started a glaring contest with his general Ootsubo Taisuke at the mere suggestion of aborting their current mission. Takao to his credit stayed quiet for once, Midorima tried not to consider it a brief miracle knowing that if he did the luck wouldn't last, no matter how well he stuck to the day's Oha Asa reading. Cancers and Scorpios simply weren't compatible.
"We need this land in order to succeed, the kingdom will starve before we actually get anywhere otherwise." Midorima stated deep voice echoing in the royal stables of the Wind Kingdom hidden on the edge of the forests at the back of Shutoku Castle's extensive grounds. At that precise moment Takao decided he couldn't hold his almost uncontrollable chuckling fit in any longer.
"Shin-chan the situation really isn't that desperate. We have plenty of food." The hawk-eyed teen managed to choke out in-between fits of laughter clinging desperately to the wooden pole his horse's lead was attached to. The large black stallion almost seemed to stare incredulously down at his master in mild confusion as if it were wondering just how silly humans could get. Midorima would later regretfully admit to agreeing with the horse at that point.
"Be quiet Takao." That promptly shut the Wind Shadow mix-mage up as he abruptly came to stand at attention untying his horse's lead from the pole and gripping it tightly. Midorima couldn't help but sigh at the sheer idiocy of his usually intelligent second in command. Ootsubo wasn't much better either for being the oldest of the Wind kingdoms three leaders.
The green-haired male turned back towards his horse aptly named snow. The huge white stallion simply muzzled the young king's hand as he reached up to pet the horse. Horses were one of the very few things Midorima actually enjoyed the company of, they were loyal, couldn't judge him for how strange he was compared to the rest of the mage population not to mention the fact they couldn't talk back. When faced with Takao for 95% of his waking hours the quiet time he got when in the stables was a small blessing.
"We should move now Shin-chan, whilst we still have time to reach Seiho
by nightfall. " A nod was the Wind king's only indication he had heard his strategy advisor as he moved to mount Snow gripping the reigns tightly as he did so.
"Come Takao, Ootsubo. We have a long ride ahead." With that Midorima rode from the stables surrounded by his usual calm yet domineering air. His second and third in command fell into line behind their king with ease as the trio of wind mages rode away towards the rising sun.
-Consumed by Shadows—
"K-Ku-Kuroko-s-sama" Furihata Kouki a young and easily startled shadow mage shook slightly as he knelt at the base of the phantom king's throne. Kuroko simply blinked down at him tilting his head to the side slightly in either amusement or confusion, Furihata had given up on trying to read his king when he'd been 10, which was 6 years ago.
"What news do you bring Furihata-kun?" The message delivering brown haired teen began to quake more. The simple idea of being one of the king's messengers had scared the flight mage at first mention of it, sitting in front of the throne just made his role more real. Though later Furihata would note that if he hadn't been so sure that the news he carried at the time meant the destruction of their kingdom he may have laughed. Kuroko really wasn't made to sit in a throne.
The petite powder-blue haired male was nearly swallowed by the gigantic –as in larger than an entire house in some of the smaller villages- black and indigo throne. Perched on the top of his head was the silver crown of the shadow kingdom, as simple silver circlet decorated with pieces of onyx and amethysts at even intervals around the edge. To complete the regal look Kuroko wore a pair of plain black formal pants, a crisply ironed white button-up shirt with the top button undone fore a sense of slightly shabby neatness and impeccably polished black shoes. Finally draped around his shoulders sat a black cape edged with an intricate embroidered design in purple yarn at the bottom making a pattern of crescents and stars.
"The party from the wind kingdom is no more than an hour away Kuroko-sama. You are expected to great them at the castle gates." Furihata managed to stabilise his shaking voice enough to not sound as if he were quaking in fear or nervousness he'd given up trying to tell the difference long ago. The Wind kingdom had been the nemesis of the Shadow kingdom for the entire war. If the king, his second in command and the general of the Wind army were coming to visit it meant trouble.
"Thankyou Furihata-kun, you may leave." Furihata simply nodded standing as he turned and walked out of the tall obsidian archway that lead into the throne room. The brunet messenger let out a sigh of relief as he begun to head towards the servants' quarters. Kuroko may have been young. Small and lacking in presence but that didn't make the throne room itself any less intimidating for the naturally nervous teen.
-Consumed by Shadows—
"Man the Wind kingdom is kinda bad at fighting head on battles, they're supposed to be an attack element geez. I was looking forward to the challenge we weren't even needed in the end." A tall, hot tempered, spikey haired redhead complained as he swaggered into the throne room without a care in the world. Safe to say Kagami Taiga was not one for manners having spent about half his time growing up in Acirema a western land half-way across the world who's sense of manners was very different to that of Teikou where being polite was far more highly valued.
"Kagami-kun, please at least look to see if anyone else is in here before barging in." Kuroko's soft voice startled the fire wielding shadow knight for what must have been the ten-millionth time so far that decade. The young king stood gracefully before elegantly descending the steps down from the huge mage-swallowing throne. He strode past Kagami with purpose the redhead had never scene present in the Shadow king before that point, the visiting party from the Wind kingdom must have really been troubling the blue-haired boy.
"Come, we have to meet Midorima-kun and his advisors at the gates. It will look bad if we are late." Kagami swivelled on his heal and followed after Kuroko towards the grans front doors of Seirin castle and further to the gates of the Shadow palaces extensive grounds.
The gardens of Seirin castle were simple yet elegant in design Shadow mages not usually being keen on flashy exhibitions of wealth and power. Most of the gardens in front of the palace were consisted of a simple plain green lawn mowed reasonably short split into four sections by a black and dark grey marbled pebble path. At the centre of the courtyard where the four paths met was a fountain a plain circular base with an obsidian crescent moon rising out of the centre water cascading down the sides of the elegant shape. To finish the courtyard there were garden beds around the very edge planted sequentially with black, white and lavender coloured roses creating a small hedge hiding the plain rough textured stone bricks of the castle walls.
"Kagami-kun, Kuroko-Sama. The delegates from the Wind kingdom have arrived." Riko spoke from somewhere off to the side hidden in the shadows of the castle.
"Thankyou, Riko-san, come on Kagami-kun we can not leave them waiting."
"Yeah, coming Kuroko" with that he followed his king completely unaware of what was to face him on the other side of the gate.
-Consumed by Shadows—
The viridian-eyed male glared up at the gates of Seirin castle loosely grasping Snow's reigns in one hand other placed on his forehead to prevent the sun's glare from reaching his glasses. Takao sat beside him perched on his own black gelding aptly named Night. The younger teen smirked looking up at the gates of the castle he had spent a miniature portion of his childhood growing up in as the child of one of the servants, that was until his father took him to the wind kingdom where the Takao family had grown into prosper over time being the prime servants to the royal Midorima line.
"As usual they can't even organise themselves." Ootsubo groaned from the Midorima's other side staring at the gate with such intensity one could have sworn lasers would come out of his eyes any moment. The military captain ran a hand through thick strands of coarse black hair in an attempt to calm his hostility towards the Shadow kingdom. He's be sent back instantly should he dare show any open signs of hatred as it was seen as highly disrespectful even for a sworn enemy of the kingdom. For Ootsubo his reason for disliking the Shadow kingdom was simply because they were their sworn enemies. It was a notoriously sneaky Shadow mage assassin who had wiped out his entire hometown including his parents and any other family members he once had. Given any choice he would kill every single Shadow mage in existence on sight, including Takao no matter how useful the kid's hawk-eye was.
"It's been a while Midorima-kun." The quiet voice startled the trio of Wind-mages particularly Ootsubo as he's been spacing off into some unknown land of the past. Takao just blinked and Midorima momentarily lost his standard frown for a flash of shock before schooling his features back into the mandatory displeased expression. Kuroko tsked in amusement. As much as he honestly didn't appear and disappear deliberately there was nothing more amusing then fellow mages' reactions when he announced his presence.
"I could say the same for you, phantom." Midorima stated blandly edging his horse forward through the palace gates before dismounting Takao and Ootsubo following close behind. Kuroko nodded towards a trio of servants who immediately begun leading the three horses towards the stables at the back of the palace grounds. A tall (though not as tall as Midorima) and prospectively intimidating red-head that neither of the three had seen before stood at the youngest of the six kings' side studying them with an intense fiery gaze.
"You still lack a habit for pleasantries I see Midorima-kun. Oh and good to see you again Takao-kun, Ootsubo-san." Kuroko deadpanned as he turned in order to walk back into Seirin castle. Before the blue-haired teen could take a step however, Kagami's voice rang loud and clear across the courtyard in a somewhat awestruck, partially accusing manner.
"So you're the Falcon, Wind master of the Generation of Miracles huh? Not as intimidating as I though you could've been." Kuroko sighed in exasperation pinching the bridge of his nose in a vein attempt to dissipate his slowly forming headache. Kagami may have been one of his dearest friends yet the large teens sheer lack of manners and knowledge about the Generation of Miracles was astoundingly appalling even If he did grow up halfway across the world.
"That title no longer hold any meaning, I am no longer simply the Falcon." Midorima growled striding past Kagami viciously brushing his shoulder against the brash redhead's. "I am now known as the Phoenix. Nothing will stop the Wind kingdom now."
"Who says so, you?" Kagami spun on his heal moving with a surprising amount of speed to stand in front of the green-haired mage again. Midorima didn't respond simply choosing to push past Kagami again walking towards the castle head held high adding to his already intimidating height.
Nothing else was said as the group made their way towards the castle Kuroko in the lead Kagami and Riko bringing up the read Midorima in front of Takao and Ootsubo between the Shadow kingdom leaders. Electricity crackled in the air between the delegates of the Wind kingdom and their hosts. The land securing discussions would not be pleasant if the atmosphere was anything to go by. The Wind king would not leave until what he came for was handed to them on a plate and the Shadow king would not give up his land so easily. The Falcon and the Phantom two entities that could never agree on anything. One just as stubborn as the other, neither willing to give in to anything or anyone.
A/N: Yet again thankyou so much for reading. If you enjoyed please favourite, follow and leave a review or all three if you can as they are greatly appreciated by yours truly.
Also if anyone would like to offer I am looking for a beta reader. Whilst my spelling and grammar are above average most of writing is done late at night and my the tireder I am the worse I get. In fact a lot of mistakes I've made I don't notice until hours if not days after the chapter is already uploaded. Please PM me if you are interested
Yet again thankyou so, so very much
-Angel