goimh
K, I had a bit of a grudge on this story for a while.
I just... lost my love for it.
I am trying to get back into it right here.
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"What?" Menma said as Naruto started pulling the half-coat over his head.
"Don't tell me you've never wanted to see a dragon up close and personal?" Naruto said as he finished putting on the troublesome clothing.
"I thought you ment-"
"Talking to Uchiha? No! I wanna see if we can release the dragon." Naruto looked at Menma, who...just continued to stare at him with the blue half-coat. "Here, since you obviously said yes." Naruto walked over to the dumbstruck Menma and shoved the half-coat over his head, making sure to rub his nose on the material, so it would hurt. "Put it on."
"Are you insane?" Menma said loudly, even as he half-heartedly put on the clothing. "It's a DRAGON."He nearly yelled.
"Yes to both. I have a plan, don't worry." Naruto said as Menma re-threaded the coat. Naruto put his hands on his hips and watched Menma thread the material while giving him a look that said 'orlly'.
Menma sighed and finished the threading. He stared at Naruto, trying to make the counterpart waver in his judgement.
"No." Naruto said and grabbed Menmas arm. "We're going. Dragons are special. We need special."
"Don't you think this isn't the time to be thinking simply?" Menma said as Naruto opened the door and dragged the reluctant Menma down the halls.
Menma stiffened at the maid who was scrubbing up some vomited blood. Vomited; he presumed.
Menma gave her a stiff/sorry look and turned back to Naruto. He swatted away the blond boys hand on his sleeve and followed his overly optimistic counterpart.
Although his counterpart had good intentions, Menma didn't trust the idea of cheerily greeting a dragon.
Maybe they could bide some time and keep Sasuke away from his room. It was plausible, the fact that he went through some trouble to hide the scroll in the first place made Menma a bit suspicious,
It was obviously important.
Menma nearly slapped himself.
Of course it was important! Why else would he hide it in a place that only black-market-ers and designers would understand?
On top of that, it was dealing with MAGIC.
Menma sighed and rolled his head around, popping the joints in a manner that made mothers cringe.
He really was out of his game.
Around a week on that ship, captivity for a few days, problems with NOT being on the run and planning his next step on the fly was REALLY getting to him.
The moment Sasuke found out that there was something missing, he would go into a princely fit and beat those dogs.
He drove his heel into the floor at the thought.
Maybe Naruto WAS right to go and be near the hoity-toity bag of monstrosity for a few moments. An hour, maybe.
Long enough to convince Sasuke to not go into his own room.
"So. Maybe you understand how this works?" Menma lifted an eyebrow at Naruto. He wouldn't dare admit out loud that Naruto was right, no way.
Mainly because Naruto was smirking, and smudging the issue in his face.
"So serious." Naruto said and looked back at the wall in front of him. It would take a moment of so, but they would eventually get to the bottom court yard.
If Menma was right, that's where the dragon would be shown off.
The halls were silent and guard-less. Menma considered making a run for it, but they wouldn't get far without a snapped arm.
He shoved all building suspense and plans into the back of his head. Not now, not here.
He might've considered leaving without his counterpart in the stables.
The thought had no fearful tone, just methodical reasoning why he would and wouldn't.
Menma decided that it wouldn't be too bad if Naruto came along. It wasn't really his choice to say "Leave, Get out, I don't want you here anymore." Naruto had been helping this whole time.
Honor among thieves… honor among thieves indeed.
The fact that he was even considering going without Naruto was a bit absurd.
Menma shook his head lightly and focused on the task at hand.
He hoped Naruto had some kind of basic interaction with dragons beforehand. Menma didn't, that made him nervous.
"Naruto?" Menma said as he folded his arms.
Naruto whipped his head over and walked that peculiar side-waddle and swung one hand out a bit further than supposed to be.
a window briefly flashed over his face, giving it a flicker of gray.
"Yeah?"
"Do you have any interactions with dragons? At all?" Menma winced at his own words and implications.
"Nah." Naruto said and turned back around. "I've read a few journal pages of a person who spent some time with the creatures."
"You sure it was a person?"
"Nope. It was handwritten though. Can't be too wrong if so." Naruto said as he folded his arms over his head and stepped with a slight bounce. "You will thank me for shoving that half-coat on you. It looks like rain."
"Yeah, yeah." Menma said and trailed off. He looked at the empty walls. He didn't trust that Narutos plan was the slightest bit safe, it made him evaluate the problems at hand a bit more closely.
When he was finished, or rather, finished several moments before the entering door, he brushed aside all suspicions. If he left without an arm, this would ruin almost everything.
The entrance to the courtyard from the castle was… interesting.
This particular courtyard was in the near center of the castle, two entering doors via the hallways existed rather openly.
Though, one could only enter via the invitation, but everyone knows that Menma didn't follow the laws of uppers, nor Naruto.
By chance, people had already gathered around in the gazebos.
As soon as the door opened, it was like they'd all heard it and were ready to give an assessment of who they were, how much worth they had, and add those two.
It wasn't uncomfortable, just sudden.
Menma smirked when the older ladies and men looked at him with upturned noses. Idiots didn't know a thing and wouldn't last a day on the beach.
A loud murmur covered the grounds when the Naruto followed the thief.
"Chech. Rumors." Naruto scoffed. These rumors had probably been circling the community for the past two days or so. Not that it bothered either of the boys, thankyouverymuch, it was amusing.
A loud screech made him look away from the blond boy.
Sasuke was to the very far right, practically dragging the beast by its teeth.
Menma nearly puked at what he saw.
Spreader bars were on its legs. The best way Menma would describe it in later years; was rectangle with an X inside of it.
It restricted the movement of the animal in such a way, Menma wasn't sure how the beast walked naturally.
Another bar was extended off of another bar, it came up and locked on a chocker around the animals neck, it couldn't even look up.
The tail was arched over like a scorpion, forcing the animal to walk in a humiliating fashion. This tail was wrapped and kept in place by being attached to the wings in a myriad of ropes and chains.
A bit and rein secured his mouth.
Menma grabbed Narutos arm fiercely and pulled his counterpart with him, he practically ran to the fountain.
The dragon was black. But… it seemed like the inside flesh was a bluey color. His mouth steamed a blue mist and the wet flesh inside was…blue.
It seemed more like a skeleton in some places, the flesh was glowing and Menma understood; A thick, black shell covered most of his body, the exposed parts were his glowing blue skin.
He was glad he didn't attempt understanding these beings.
When Sasuke positioned himself in front of the crowd, dragon crouching behind him, he had that satisfied smile.
Menma wanted to punch the lights out of the monster.
He was humiliating a beast, why do humans like seeing giants fall? Menma saw Sasuke humiliating a monster, but Menma was convinced it was the other way around.
"My." Sasuke said and waved his head around. "What a crowd." Sasuke turned and touched the beast on its nose, not flinching when the animal flared its nostrils.
"Anything can be accomplished." Sasuke said as he circled a finger around a select scale. "Especially with a good plan." The dragon growled and opened his blue, pupiless eyes.
Immediately, The beasts vision seized both whiskered boys. It knew something, Menma could just tell.
Maybe some sort of magic still remained on the pair, but they were too young in that field to notice.
"With this being said…" Sasuke said as he trailed his hand under the rough neck of the dragon and rubbed the throat. "Do you want me to be your king?"
A flow of murmurs covered the area for exactly ten seconds and faded.
"Indeed." Sasuke said and then made a fist over the adams apple of the animal. Menma brought his hand to his mouth when the animal tried to roar in pain.
Sasuke shot the fist into the throat.
The dragon tried to scream. It tried to move its neck and pull away, its head came up in an awkward and kinked position due to the chocker.
When he tried to lifted his head, his entire frontal body snapped up. The dragon came tumbling down, panting deeply.
A numberless amount of whispers and shouts decked the crowds.
Menma and Naruto only shook.
"He wouldn't dare do that if it wasn't chained." Naruto said above the crowd. Menma cringed. Naruto knew better than himself what that dragon was going through.
Some of the people turned to the boy, several passed the sentence on to the others. It followed until Sasuke could hear it, but only if someone else said it.
That smile dropped and crumbled into a frown.
Sasuke turned around and walked over to the panting dragon. The creature eyed him with pure distaste.
"Don't feel so special." Sasuke said as he crouched down, he lifted his hand and traced over the exposed neck, the area where life was flowing easily under his palm. "You aren't my first victim."
Sasuke was sure that if the animal could, it would spit at him.
But it couldn't, it could only drool.
Sasuke popped up and walked back to where he was originally standing.
"Naruto, Menma. Come here." Sasuke yelled into the crowd.
"I'm the one he wants, you don't have to come." Naruto whispered. The blond boy looked at his counterpart in amusement when Menma shook his head. "Your choice."
The whiskered boys came out of the crowds, side by side, Naruto smirking at Sasuke, Menma raising an eyebrow.
Naruto and Menma stood in front of Sasuke by around three meters. The crowds whispering amongst themselves, they didn't know what was going to happen, let them be excited.
"Such an unruly servant." Sasuke said as he looked Naruto up and down. "With such a helpless master." He took in Menma. "I see you decided to put some clothes on, stopped being slightly flamboyant?"
"You would know." Menma said with a roll of his eyes.
Sasuke bit his lip and looked on the ground. Not that Menma was sure it was the ground…
"My soldiers tell me you and Naruto were in my stables, find them to your liking?" Sasuke said with a slight British tone.
"A place of breaking animals that generally don't do that? Maybe?" Menma said.
"I assure Naruto showed you around?"
Naruto nodded.
"Or were you doing something else?" Sasuke said and suggestively tapped the hilt of his sword.
Menma had a quick idea, rapidly he hooked his arm around Naruto waist and pulled the boy close.
Naruto was good and on the spot acting. He also hooked his arm around Menma waist, rolling his fingers.
"What if we were?" The whiskered pair asked in unison.
Sasuke rose an eyebrow very slowly. He frowned deeper and the pair-for once- couldn't tell if it was jealousy or just plain 'nope…fuck-that-shit…too-strange-for-me'.
"I don't regret calling you up for demonstration, Naruto." Sasuke said slowly. He pulled out his sword, Naruto smirked and released his hold on Menma. He was still grinning when he spoke back.
"Do your worst." Naruto smiled.
Sasuke slapped him.
"I really am getting tired of you. What I went to further demonstration?" Sasuke said as he pulled Naruto up by the chin, gripping too tightly.
"Heehee. That's funny, coming from you." Even Menma didn't know what Naruto was playing at.
Was he acting? Or just messing with Uchiha?
Something made Menma question his ally.
"You know, for moments like these." Sasuke said as he pulled out his whip. Naruto backed up next to Menma, still chuckling with that same smirk.
Kind of scary.
"I always keep a whip on me."
"Scary." Naruto said with a shrug. Menma could've sworn Naruto wasn't acting, merely getting a sick enjoyment of seeing the Uchiha writh.
"Get yourself over here." Menma presumed the crowds took in this torture as a amusement purpose, or a fear factor. Menma grabbed Narutos arm and halted the boy from going.
"Wait." He said and pulled the boy closer to him. Just to add fuel to the flames, he pecked Naruto on the cheek.
He smiled back at Naruto, like two sadistic foxes.
"Coming Uchiha." Naruto said and made it look like he was still holding Menma. He released his hold and strutted to the Uchiha.
Sasuke looked all but bewildered.
Sasuke proceeded to undo the X threading and cut the coat off of Narutos torso. He took in the nude torso.
Naruto held in laughter. He was in control of the controller.
Naruto didn't flinch when that whip made a diagonal slice from shoulder hip. Blood seeps from the slit. Naruto just smirked again.
"Stop being kind Uchiha, I know you're worse than that."
Sasuke 'tch'ed and slapped the whip across Narutos face, making blond hair fly to the side.
"Jealous?" Naruto asked as he brought his face back to visibility.
Sasuke suddenly lifted his foot and kicked Naruto in the gut. Naruto coughed and landed on his knees.
Sasuke began to slap that whip over Naruto again and again.
Meanwhile, Menma was just… he didn't know if he should smile, or cringe at the treatment.
"Who has been bandaging you?" Sasuke asked as he wrenched the bandages off.
"Take a guess." Naruto spat.
"I don't like your attitude. Something is wrong." Sasuke said. He dragged Naruto off of the ground by the jaw.
"You know, Sasuke, I could've fallen for you." Sasukes eyes widened. "But then I learned that all of your words were being said to that other figure, name won't be mentioned."
"Thick irony I guess. Forgive me." Sasuke said, he suddenly leaned foreward and…
Kissed Naruto.
Naruto pulled the Uchiha away from his face.
He slapped and kicked Sasuke with all force, how bitter, he tasted like tomatoes.
"Give it up, pompy. I don't tolerate bullshit." Naruto said with his arms up, shaking his head in a way that made Menma kind of proud.
He looked like a little gang member. Menma smirked, glad he didn't get that response.
Sasuke just look at the blond with all the rage he could muster. He waved Naruto off.
Naruto walked over to the slightly dumbfounded Menma. He grinned triumphantly and put his arm on the Menmas shoulder.
Menma rose an eyebrow.
Blood was getting on the blue halfcoat, but he didn't mind too much.
What he was acutely aware of, was the VERY good character Naruto was playing.
Menma nodded and Sasuke seemed to be in a broody shell shock.
"Everyone has the right to leave if they wish, I need to go visit my birds." Sasuke waved everyone off.
Menmas throat dropped to his stomach, if he found out…
"S'not was he's sayin'." Naruto assured his friend. "Hawks."
The crowd began to disperse like a group of rats. Sasuke parted as well. They seemed to take forever.
Naruto popped away from Menmas side when he presumed it safe. Menma followed the bouncy boy to the dragon, who had been all but abandoned.
Naruto crouched in front of the lizard, who had been so restricted he wouldn't have been able to stand.
Naruto began trailing his hands over the spreader bars, feeling for a snapping point.
"You are skilled at acting." Menma said to cover the silence.
"And you, lying. Even if that wasn't acting." Naruto said lowly. The dragon was watching their every move.
"Hey, you can understand English well enough, hey?" The dragon huffed at the blond boy.
"Then, I don't know if you can but… try to breath fire." The dragons eyes glowed at the words. It began huffing and blowing. It managed to make some sounds.
"Khhhau-ACK." The voice was raspy and with much difficulty, a blue coal slid out of the maw.
Naruto caught the glowing rock and held it in his hand.
Menma marveled as the fire turned a sickening green then yellow and trailed over Narutos palm. The dragon knocked its head around.
"I got it." Naruto said.
Naruto held his other hand over the flames and the fire became hotter and higher. He reached the pillaring fire on the metal bar in the dragons mouth.
Menma and Naruto watched in shock as the metal began to glow and seep onto the tongue of the dragon.
In no time, the metal was gone.
"Give me some of that." Menma said and reached his hand over Narutos, taking some of the flame. He began to hold his own fire over the metal pole on the neck that restricted the movement. He didn't even feel heat on the flames, but it was melting the metal, so he shouldn't complain.
When the pair was done, the dragon started to speak.
"Thank you. Never expected a human to assist me." His voice was raspy and hissing.
The pair moved back as the beast stood up and began ripping up the bars, he was snapping them as if they were twigs.
How did he even get caught?
"You two must be Fox Lords." He said as he shattered the metal that bound his tail to his neck and wings. The dragon expanded his wings and the chains burst.
"Eh?" Naruto said.
"Don't tell me…Oh goodness, you two jumped right in at whatever you had. Desperate much?"
"We don't have to explain anything." Menma said to the dragon. "Just thought we could be nice."
"Amusing." The dragon said with a snort, his eyelids lowered and his eyebrows rose.
"What's your name?" Naruto asked as the dragon looked at them.
"Vathek. Don't care who you are." (1)
"Charming." Naruto replied sourly. "What are you doing here?"
"I don't have to tell you my story. I could ask you the same thing, blondie."
"Yeah, yeah. We helped you, help us." Naruto said as he folded his arms.
"Heh. Equal for equal. I can repay you, since this is minor." Vathek shook his head, knocking off the excess chains.
"Ok. You know any sleeping spells?" Naruto said as he waved his hands.
"Who?" Vathek said sleepily.
"Everyone in the castle." Naruto said.
Menma couldn't believe how short and simple Naruto was making this. He made sure to shut the door on the problems.
Maybe Naruto didn't want to take forever on this.
Or he was just being Naruto.
Vathek huffed and closed his eyes. He remained silent for several moments, them he opened his mouth a blue mist poured out of his mouth.
It seemed to go through the ground and walls. The slight thumps of bodies made them certain.
"Where will you go?" Menma asked. Vathek began to stretch out his wings.
"Away."
He liked this guy, short and simple, just a tad of snark.
"My debt is repaid. I'll be off."
And he was. The dragon was at the far distance in minutes.
"Why did you want to meet a dragon."
"For the experience."
"Ah."
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They didn't have to slink around the corridors anymore, the guards were sleeping, snoozing really.
Menma had half a mind to kick them, but held back.
They went to bed that night, silent and bubbling with glee.
Menma knows that Naruto wants to leave this place more than he's worth. He cannot blame him, hopefully Naruto didn't have some kind fo attachment to this place.
He shook his head.
"Nah, that's crazy."
"Huh, Menma, did you say something?" Naruto said as he sat up and gave the counterpart a ludicrous look.
"Huh, oh, nah. Just thinkin' out loud." Menma said and resumed staring at the ceiling. He probably just gave Naruto wary thoughts, but that's ok. Menma rolled over and silently bade the objects in the room a goodbye.
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The morning following the night is early and quick.
Menma and Naruto yanked on the halfcoats, the air outside promised of rain and strong wind. Horrible flying conditions.
A bag is the home of the statue and small scroll, which Naruto volunteered to carry.
The walk out of the room and down the halls is silent and filled with gurgling anticipation. But the quiet is welcomed by the two, not that they needed cover of any kind, but something more than that.
Menma wondered where Sasuke was now... Maybe sleeping with his face in the dirt, hopefully.
"When will Rikus reinforcements come in?" Naruto said with a grim look.
"Beats me. He has a knack for either being late or just in time. Don't worry." Menma said casually.
Nothing else is said between the pair, Menma treated the silence as a way of saying 'I trust you'.
When they opened the door to the outside, teeth in the form of wind immediatly began assulting the pair.
It's like this before a raid.
A calm chill over everyone, like the moments of waiting for a drug to kick in.
This sensation stays even as Naruto pulls out the key and dangles it with a sick smirk. Menma hangs his thumbs on the rim of his pants, casually. This was something he had no part in, this was Narutos achivement.
"Eat your own acid, Bastard." Naruto whispered as he jammed the key into the lock.
Menma backed away as Naruto ripped open the doors, they parted and banged loudly against the blockades.
Naruto threw his hands into the air and the songs of freedom cut into the silence.
Menma moved quickly away from the stables as the griffons came out of the stables in torrents. Some took to the skies, others began destroying everything in sight.
This sight is nothing short of breathtaking. Animals capable of flight arched over his head in whirlwinds, the air slapping him in the face, the rubble ticking against his shoulder.
Naruto is in the center of it all, his hands raised high and laughing, motioning for the animals to fly beyond the palace, beyond the walls, beyond the field, and beyond the skies.
Menma stood and laughed with Naruto, he didn't even know why.
His ride, Alden, landed in front of him. Menma presumed this must be hard, to have to wait for freedom for just a little longer.
Naruto is already hiking himself onto Revide. The girl griffon is chirping and jumping under Narutos weight. Menma hoisted himself onto Alden, the male griffon huffed and waited for Menma to get situated.
Menma shoved his legs into the straps and gripped onto the shoulders of the beast.
He didn't know what to expect, he'd never flown before.
Until he noticed something bubble inside him. He felt the need to laugh and smile.
He wanted to fly, too.
Alden was all to happy to grant that wish.
Menma crouched down as the gigantic animal leaned down and shot off of the ground. A rush of air pushed back his bangs and he bounced with every pump of the wings.
He didn't dare look down as the griffon began to asend and unfamiliar wind roughly shoved Menma from side to side. He shouldn't be afraid, really. He has been high in the air, but not like this.
Menma watch as the clouds became closer.
It began to rain.
Menma laughed, he didn't even know why. He was flying! Nothing like gliding on an oversized kite, no he was really FLYING.
Naruto was somewhere beneath him. At this moment, he almost didn't care. This was a new sensation altogether. He looked back at Alden who seemed to be grinning.
He almost didn't want to leave, no matter how chilly it was up here. He leaned over to his left and watched as the world view beneath him arched and dipped into something new, fog layered the area below. He could see the entire palace and district from here.
"Enjoying this?" Naruto said and brought Menmas thoughts to a complete halt. He watch as the smaller griffon swerved haphazardly in greeting. Naruto rose over Menma in a way that made him...curious.
"Yeah..." Menma said and resumed staring straight ahead. It seemed surreal, all of it seemed fast and slow at the same time. Merged and molded into something unfamilar.
Vertigo.
"Hate to end this here. But, it would seem they woke up." Naruto said and pointed down below. Menma cautiously looked over and saw the people below, squirming like ants and looking outside, someone must've been pointing up to them.
"I was enjoying that, too." Menma scoffed. He though there would be some kind of two hour interval where nothing wrong would happen.
Life isn't like that.
"We have to engage them." Naruto said quickly.
"Woah, woah. Hold on."
"Sasuke WANTS us to go on as fast as we can. These animals can only go so fast for a certain amount of time, he knows this." Naruto paused and dipped down below Menma. "If we don't stall whatever he does, we wont get to the tropics." Naruto said and pulled out something Menma hadn't seen this morning.
"When did you get that? Plan on stabbing me?" Menma teased. He REALLY didn't want to engage the tyrant of the north. If Naruto was seriously thinking about doing that...
"It's a knife I've been planning on using for a very long time. I've got a plan." Naruto said as he pulled out a string of beads.
"Those are basic binding beads, what?" Menma said and urged Alden to follow the smaller griffon.
"I've got a plan, here take the beads. Sasuke has one griffon that is loyal to him, it wouldn't leave even if I humiliated it. His name is Dicesl, just as much of a bastard to me as Sasuke." Naruto tossed the binding beads to Menma, who caught them. "You distract them with the beads, get a limb, I'll do my best to be a problem in the flight department."
"...Fine." Menma said and gave in. He leaned back and clenched his legs around Alden.
Plummenting.
This sensation is a complete high.
He was falling, falling and being pulled into everything he saw beneath him. The world getting closer and closer, his intestines crowded against his chest and his hair billowed straight up.
He felt his eyes water from the extremes, but he didn't care, this high is beyond anything he can comphrehend.
He lifts his arms up and open, his heart seemed to have exploded in joy, the sensation of being unrestricted and unbound is overloading and he cannot process the feeling. No words can describe the adrenaline.
His task comes into sharp and clear focus as the world becomes intense, as if liquid crystal had been dipped onto everything. Menma leaned down and grabbed the shoulders of the griffon and pulled upward.
He spotted Sasuke climbing the skies with the prementioned other griffon. Menma let go of the shoulders and plummented even faster than before.
Alden seemed to have a clear idea of what was going on. The animal narrowed his eyes and tucked his wings in, clenching them around his riders legs. The speed was unlike anything you could describe. Menma readied his beads and lifted himself on the griffon, air passing around his legs.
He gritted his teeth and looked behind him, Naruto wasn't far behind, only a couple hundred feet above him.
He looked back at the darker griffon below, they only had one shot at this, if Sasuke moved out of the way, that was it.
Menma glanced back at Naruto who drew closer every second. Menma turned back around and bent his back slightly.
He could count how soon this would take. If Sasuke was watching...
three
He stretched out the beads to their fullest and tightened them. The wind was screeching into his ears.
two
Menma was running on instinct, his hand caught on fire, he wasn't worried. Deafening.
one
"Fall." He whispered.
zero
SLAM.
The impact would've yanked the two humans out of their seats had it not been for the leg restrainments. Although buffeting the speed slightly, the four began zipping diagonally to the fields below.
Alden screamed and began to tear at the flesh of the stunned Dicesl. He released his claws and began yanking at every peice of open flesh. Dicesl roared and gripped onto the smaller griffon, he easily turned the smaller bird over.
Menma cursed and held on for dear life, he was upside down. The ground was far away but not for long.
Dicesl crushed the smaller griffons shoulders, the flesh sliced and oozed the life-giving liquid. He was going to smash them into the earth!
"Shit." Menma hissed. He had to do something fast. He saw Sasuke still somewhat dazed looking over the shoulder of the larger griffon. He was waving around a short sword. Menma scowled and looked at his burning fist.
Giving it everything he had, he reached up as high as he could and grabbed the leg of the enormous griffon.
He pumped every last bit of heat he could muster into the fire, gravity wasn't being nice to the flames. Menma smiled when the fur and feathers caught fire. Dicesl growled and released his grip on the smaller griffon.
Menma hugged his ride as he was flipped over and right-side-up.
He looked at the ground beneath him, then back up. He touched the cuts along the shoulder, blood streaming out of them. Alden snarled at him.
Menma turned his head up and saw Sasuke gaining speed, quickly. Then shot his eyes open when he saw Naruto not too far away. He grumbled at the problem. "Trust me." He whispered to Alden.
Menma twisted his spine and stretched out the beads as far as they would, then he simply, let go.
The beads writhed limply and slapped Dicesl in the stomach. The griffon roared and twisted, paws flailing.
Dicesl screamed as his limbs became tangled and wrought in the beads. He was closer now, if he could just grab that insolent human...
Menma turned back around rapidly an grabbed the jaws of Alden. He yanked the skull downward. Aldens entire body followed the head.
Alden flipped foreward, curling into a ball as Disesl blitzed over them.
He grazed the tail of the smaller griffon and passed over them. Alden shot straight up with the left over momentum and banked away from the situation.
Menma gnawed his lip as Naruto bulleted out from under them, fast approaching the writhing Sasuke and Dicesl.
Naruto stuck the blade in between his teeth, preparing for what was going to come next.
Only somebody as crazy as himself can do this.
He undid the main leg straps.
Sasukes giant problem was regaining its bearings, there really wasn't that much time. Naruto gripped the saddle edge with all his strength and stood on his knees.
When they collided, Naruto felt it was best to make sure that Revide stay on top of Dicesl, she was smaller and Dicesl easily made mincemeat out of Alden.
Revide yanked back with her smaller claws and gripped on the rump of Dicesl, flesh appearing pink under her black claws.
Naruto wait for another moment when Dicesl finally began climbing upward and away from the ground. Sasuke wouldn't harm Naruto as bad as he would Menma, which is why Naruto wanted to be the one to do this.
He popped off of Revide and onto Sasukes back right when the opposing human turned around. Naruto shoved Sasuke into the feathers of Dicesl.
"I've been waiting to cause you pain." Naruto said through the knife and Dicesl began thrashing, tossing the smaller she-griffon all over. But she clung to him, Naruto feared Dicesl would slice her belly if given the opportunity.
Naruto jabbed his heels and knees into Dicesl and made sure it would hurt. He kept Sasukes skull planted firmly into the animals back. Quickly snatching out the knife with his free hand, he gripped the metal into the reverse position.
Instead of stabbing Sasuke through the skull,
he hovered the knife over the tendons and sinew that attached the wing to the shoulder blade.
And dove the knife in.
Blood bubbled and burst from the stab. Pink and rosey flesh made a sickening sfliquchas he drove the knife though, down to the pommel with his palm.
Sasuke and Dicesl both let out a cry of fury. Sasuke roping his arm around Narutos and bent it. Dicesl, as Narutos greater fear, managed to hit her in the belly.
Dicesl turned his head around and looked at the offenders. He made a total 180 and dragged his claws over her face.
Naruto growled and back handed Sasuke. "Oh, you little bitch." Sasuke said. Naruto cried out when he saw Revide in agony. Dicesl had his talons over her dainty neck and was slowly cutting, squeezing.
Naruto grabbed the knife again and kicked Sasuke. He started blindly hacking and driving the knife into any portion of the wing tendon he could reach. Dicesl screamed and let go of the poor girl.
An earsplitting scream cut through the stiff combat. Alden crashed into Dicesl, the smaller animal dove his beak into the knife wounds with vigor. Naruto cringed as Alden began shredding the connecting tendons. Naruto didn't want to kill them, he wanted to stall them.
Using the extra time and shock, Naruto whistled and jumped off of the huge griffon.
Revide caught him, she was wheezing and coughing, but it couldn't be helped. Naruto landed and buckled, the feathers sliding under his legs. He looked up to see Menma and Alden kick the antagonist pair down the next couple hundred feet.
Naruto stroked Revides fur as she began ascending the air, back to their companions. Naruto apologized to her in rough griffon and motioned for Menma to follow.
"Nice moves." Naruto said to Menma. They looked away from the falling rider and griffon.
"Wasn't me." Menma said and began turning to the direction of the tropics.
"It was Alden's choice."
TBC
sorry for that sudden end of the chapter. I've been wanting to update.
Was the flight sequence ok?
~Monochro.