Wow. I know I haven't updated for months. Half a year now. Well, I have no excuse really, I just lost interest and couldn't write. Besides my final exam, that is, for which I've already gotten the results. The one-two months since the last update, I spent studying and not being distracted by fanfic writing, so I guess that is a reason. But I got into HP and the magical creatures remided me of this fic and all, and it was still enjoyable to read. Weird 'cause once I leave a fandom I usually don't come back. I think it's the mythical creatures, I've always liked them. Short chapter, but the next one will definitely be longer. Uh, I hope people are still interested. Please review? I don't want to drop this fic but I need encouragement to continue or it'll end up like Desire, a plot with potential but is now stagnant. Sorry for the long delay, but the next chapter is the one which kind of inspired this story, though it came out of nowhere.

The sky was a clear blue and white clouds floated serenely by. A griffin, dragon and phoenix flew past the clouds, brushing against them with huge wings, as their riders looked at each other.

Taichi drew his hand away from the soft cloud he had reached out to touch as he turned to his companions, "Hey, where are we going?!" He shouted.

"To the nearest town!" Yamato said loudly back as he raised a hand to shield himself against the sun's light and heat. "That town was quite small, and our crests didn't react like when Sora came."

"Which probably means there isn't a Chosen One there!" Sora added. She looked down, "I don't see any towns though!"

"It's across a lake, and it's more like a city. I saw it before." Yamato replied. "It's quite a big place."

Taichi took out his telescope and put it to his eye as he looked down at the passing scenery, "Yeah, I don't see anyone around this area!"

"It's still the forest. We should be emerging into land soon." Yamato said as he looked into the trees which looked small from their height. He nodded, "We should move a little faster." He announced. "I'm not sure how far away the city is, Yuujou and I were travelling pretty fast at that time."

"Speed up, Yuuki." Taichi said as Yuujou and Aijou increased their speed, gliding across the sky.

Yuuki nodded and increased his speed, streamlining his orange eagle wings as Yamato said, "We're going a bit lower," he winced slightly, "The sun's too hot here. We're really far up."

"Alright, Ya-chan!" Sora called out.

"Good idea, Yamato," Yuujou said and Yamato held on as the ice dragon nosedived through the air.

"Alright Yuujou, stop!"

"Sorry!" Yuujou said guiltily. He stopped and flapped his massive wings and craned his neck to look at Yamato, "Are you alright, Yamato?"

"I'm fine, Yuujou," Yamato panted slightly. He inhaled, and wiped the sweat off his brow with a smile. "It's better here."

"You're sweating. Should we go lower?"

"Nah, it's fine." Yamato looked at his partner, "Are you alright, Yuujou?"

Yuujou smiled at him, "I'm alright!" He said brightly, "I was just feeling a little warm! Anyway the artic sun is bright too. I was just worried about Yamato."

"You worry about me too much." Yamato said with a teasing smile. He nodded, "This height is fine."

"If you say so!"

As they flew along, something pricked Yamato's senses. His blue eyes narrowed and he said, "Wait, Yuujou."

"Yamato?"

"I had a sudden bad feeling." Yamato said. He looked around, but the sky was clear. He raised his gaze to the clouds in the sky which were blocking his view of Taichi and Sora. "We should get back."

"What do you feel?"

"Some dark magic." Yamato closed his eyes. "Something controlling…" he resisted the urge to shudder.

He looked up, and paled. "Yuujou, we have to get back. Now."

Not questioning his partner, Yuujou simply nodded and zoomed up into the skies, past the clouds. The ice dragon emerged into a higher area of the sky, and Yamato yelled as he swerved suddenly, as a bolt of sizzling dark energy barely missed them.

"W-What?!"

"Yamato!"

Yamato snapped his gaze, "Taichi!"

Taichi and Yuuki were facing off against something dark, blocking Yamato's view. Taichi tore his gaze away from Yamato and swept out a hand, producing a wall of fire which blocked the dark energy that had headed towards him from the unknown creature. Yamato knew Taichi was a Natural Mage, but it was still awe-inspiring to see someone control magic so easily without a medium, especially since Fire was a rather volatile Element.

"Yamato!" Yuujou brought Yamato's attention back to their adversary. "What's that?!"

"I-I don't know." Yamato said, voice slightly shaky. He inhaled. "But it's not on our side."

The creature in front of them was unidentifiable. Whatever it was, it was shrouded in a thick layer of smoky darkness which inspired a feeling of dread in the mage's heart. It looked completely out of place in the serene blue sky, like a patch of black in a canvas of white and blue. All Yamato could see was a pair of glaring green eyes obscured by the darkness. The pupils completely absorbed by the darkness which consumed the creature. Green slits with not a hint of white.

Yamato quickly conjured his staff, forming a razor sharp icicle which sped forward and pierced the creature. It gave a growl, but otherwise did not seem affected. Yamato frowned. The darkness was protecting it from harm. There had to be a weak spot somewhere…

Dimly, as another blast of dark energy came rushing towards them and Yuujou dodged, Yamato registered a gasp, and then a yell from Taichi, "YAMATO! WATCH OUT!"

Yamato turned, and saw a bolt of dark lightning in his vision. It struck him in the chest, and Yamato was reminded of the bolt of blue lightning which had hit him just a few days ago. But this attack was made of darkness and it hurt-much more. He heard someone screaming, a roar, a cry, vaguely saw Taichi's and Sora's horrified expressions as his balance was disrupted, and he was sliding off-

And then suddenly he was plummeting- down, down down; pain exploding in his chest and nothing beneath him as he fell.