CH. 5

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SKIP TO NEXT PART IF YOU DON'T WANT!First off, I would just like to say that the Chance Young in this is NOT the same Chance Young in TheXGrayXLady's ADVENTURES OF CHANCE YOUNG. (It's a boss story, though. Go check it out!)I promise, I didn't steal the name. I've been working on Chance's design since before she first posted it, so I'm not gonna change his name, but I'm also not gonna claim any naming rights. Just wanted to clear that up. Thanks you muchly.

A/N: Man, riddles are hard to make up. Obviously, I only did Clay and Raimundo's; Omi and Kimiko's are just old ones. But I think I did okay. Feel free to follow along and try to solve them yourself before you read the answer. Oh, and as a little bonus, we get to see why I called this story Runa. Well, it was actually me typing in Rune and pressing the a key instead of the e key, but I liked Runa so much I kept it.
Emma: Shut up and get on with it! That last chapter was the worst cliffhanger ever!
Hush, I'm getting to that. Thanks to everybody who reviewed; you guys always make my day. And now, the next exciting installment of Runa! Enjoy!

Before Emma even opened her eyes, she knew she was by water. The tide could be heard lapping gently against what she assumed was stone, and the smell of the ocean permeated the air. But something else was in the air, too, and when she sniffed, she could identify it. Salt. The ocean. Once she listened for it, she could make out the steady hum of magic and the wet splashes of dead (and living) things in jars of fluid. She would have opened her eyes to better assess her surroundings, but there was one small problem.

She was blindfolded.

And hogtied, it seemed. Her wrists were bound to her ankles, in rope that was scratchy and tight. She was sitting up against what felt like bars, and from the smell they gave off in the damp air, she guessed that they were rusty. Her jacket, shirt and pants were dry, but her shoes and socks still felt a tad damp. Her glasses weren't on and her thick hair still retained too much water, and she felt incredibly sore, but otherwise she was relatively intact.

"Hello?" she called, listening to the echo bounce. Since sound waves reverberated better off of hard objects than soft ones, she guessed that the walls were probably stone, and that the only soft object was the water she heard. There was probably a hole for someone to enter and exit the pipes, and when they flooded, it became an underwater dock. The last thing she remembered was… oh, right. The squid. That tentacle did not taste like sushi, and the water had been far too cold for her liking. But since nobody had replied, the others had (hopefully) gotten away. That gave her a small sense of hope.

"YO!" she yelled. "Anybody home? These ropes are chafing big time." When nobody answered, Emma huffed and let her head drop to her chest. She was tired and sore, and the lapping of the waves was very melodic. Suddenly, she realized just how tired and sore. Since the others probably wouldn't get to her for a bit, she figured it was okay to… take a… little… nap…

"Hold up!" Dojo's cry stopped the Xiaolin Dragons in their tracks. They had been walking for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only a few minutes, down a long, tall corridor filled with paintings of Heylin witches and wizards that seemed to be staring at them.

"What is wrong, Dojo?" Omi asked, striking a pose. "Is there an intruder?"

"N-no, it's the Zenith Mirror!" Dojo yelped, grabbing his nose. "The signal just spiked! I think somebody's trying to use it!"

"That means…" Kimiko began, almost too afraid to finish. Raimundo noticed and finished for her.

"… somebody got through before us," he murmured. "And I don't think Spicer could've survived this long." They all exchanged a glance before charging ahead. Only moments later did they find what they needed most; a door. Unlike the giant, ornate door that had led them into the passage, this was a simple one. It was made of metal, and if it had been painted the same teal-green as the pipes, they might have mistaken it for the same material. But this was a thicker metal, and it had no handle, only a slot for someone to look out.

Clay knocked again, but this time nothing happened. "Awright," he said, turning to face the others. "Anybody got any ideas on how we get in?"

"Oh, that's easy," a voice from the other side of the door murmured. The Dragons jumped, then looked back to the door. The slot pulled open, but they could see no one. The silky voice continued, and from the soprano pitch, they assumed it was a young woman. "All you four have to do is answer a riddle and I can let you in."

"A riddle?" Kimiko asked hesitantly. Emma was the best at riddles, and now they didn't have her. However, Clay was good at them, too, and Omi might know it if it was an ancient proverb or something. "Okay. Give it to us."

"You certainly sound ready," the voice said demurely, "but it isn't that easy."

"Of course it isn't," Raimundo muttered, frowning.

"Each one of you must answer a riddle. That does not include the dragon," she added, making Dojo give a relieved sigh. "I will not ask you a riddle you can not figure out the answer to. The Wizard's Guild may be Heylin-based, but they are not without honor. So, with that in mind, who would like to go first?" The Dragons glanced at each other before Clay stepped forward.

"Ah think Ah'll be goin' first, ma'am," he said.

"Excellent. Please set down the dragon, and remember, if you get any help at all from your friends you will be disqualified and I will be forced to remove you." The Dragons shared a glance again; they didn't need to guess at what removal meant. "Are you ready?"

Clay set Dojo on the ground and let him slither next to Omi before turning to face the door again. "Yes'm."

"Good. Here is your riddle:

You know me as a fickle thing;

I'm said to pick and choose.

But chance is all that I can bring,

I make the winners lose.

Some blame me for their losses all

And others for their gain.

But as a woman, I stand tall

Can you tell me my name?"

Clay beamed. "Well, Ah'd have to call ya Lady Luck, if anything."

"Clever boy!" the voice said, seemingly delighted at the answer. "You are correct! And now if the next contestant will step forward, please." Raimundo switched places with Clay, giving Kimiko a nervous smile before facing the door. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," he replied, and though his stance was strong, his voice wavered slightly.

"Oh, but you don't sound ready. Nevertheless, we must press on! Your riddle is as follows:

I'm under the bed,

I'm inside your head

And shadows and bumps in the night.

Sometimes I'm silent

And sometimes I'm loud

To cause a great ruckus of fright.

Sometimes you see me

And sometimes you don't

But I'm always inside of your mind

'Cause I don't exist

Though I don't desist

Scaring those not of my kind

What am I?"

"You're… uh…" Raimundo paused and scratched his head as he thought.

"Take your time, take your time. But don't take too much, because your friends need some too," the voice chirped. Raimundo thought about questioning the odd remark, then decided not to and went back to pondering the riddle. "Inside my mind… inside my head… under the bed… bumps in the night- oh! You're a monster!" he said, smiling.

"Correct! Excellent deduction. Alright, then, who's next?" Kimiko stepped forward, nodding bravely at Raimundo as they switched places. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Kimiko replied, crossing her arms.

"Very good. Your riddle is this:

What is one thing that weighs little, but few can hold it?"

"Oh! I know that one!" Raimundo began. "It's-"

"Careful, now, Dragon of Wind!" the voice sang. "Remember, your friend will be disqualified if you speak out of place, so I suggest you hold your tongue!" Though the voice hadn't lost any cheerfulness, there was a definite undertone of malice. "Which negates one of the answers for you, Miss Tohomiko."

"O-oh, right. Sorry, Kim." Kimiko glared at Raimundo, who shrugged weakly, and turned back to the door.

"That's… not what I was expecting," Kimiko admitted. "No rhyming, eh?"

"No, ma'am!" the voice replied. "Remember, each riddle is tailored specifically to it's recipient, and prose does not suit you. But your time is slipping away, so I suggest setting that brilliant mind of yours to work."

"How do you- nevermind. The answer is… um. If it weighs little, but few can hold it… then maybe it's not an object at all. If it- oh! A temper!" Kimiko said triumphantly.

"That's correct! Good job, and now if the last contestant would please step forward." Omi gave the others a nervous smile and traded places with Kimiko. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," he replied, steeling himself for whatever might come.

"Then here is your riddle:

"What's not complicated, but hard to grasp?"

"I know the answer," Omi replied, beaming. "A bar of soap!"

"Easy enough, yes? See, you all had nothing to worry about," the voice said cheerfully. "And now it is my pleasure to grant you entrance into Runa! We hope you have a pleasant stay!" The door swung open, showing another, smaller, more well lit corridor beyond. The Dragons exchanged a glance and Dojo crawled back onto Clay's hat, where he hid behind the brim.

"Well… I guess we've not no other choice," Raimundo muttered, shrugging.

"Then let's move," Clay said, relighting the Torch and leading the way. They entered the void, the door swinging shut behind them with a final, metallic clang.

"I ain't 'fraid of no ghost!" Emma's voice echoed down the hallways of her prison, or what she thought might be hallways. She had woken up, stiff and cramped and hungry but otherwise feeling better, and had decided to sing to pass the time. "I ain't 'fraid of no ghost! Don't get caught alone, oh no! When it comes through your door, unless ya just want some more, I think ya better call! Ghostbusters! Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters! I think ya better call. Ghostbusters!"

"Will you stop that infernal singing?" a voice snapped. Emma stopped immediately, perking her ears to listen for the source of the voice. She heard footsteps, heavy ones, come down the passage that led into the room she was in. "You are the most annoying prisoner we've ever had."

"Aww, thanks!" she gushed, grinning. "You're too kind, really." The person sighed in exasperation and Emma's grin turned smug. If they thought her singing was annoying, then they were completely unprepared for the Emma experience. "So, uh, hey, while you're down here, oh mysterious person who will undoubtedly be an important plot device later on, wanna untie me and get this blindfold off? There seems to have been a mistake; y'see, there was this big octopus thingy and it grabbed me when I was trying to tell my buds about the Wizard's Guild and how we shoulda got out, though I'm sure they're all out to save me and stuff, since they're not here with me, y'know, and then I woke up here but there was nobody around so I got tired and fell back asleep but I'm feeling much better now so-"

"SHUT UP!" the person roared, and Emma leaned back happily. "You are the most aggravating mortal I have ever had the misfortune to meet," the voice hissed, and Emma swore she could ear an eye twitch somewhere in there.

"Oh, stop it, you're gonna make me blush," she giggled. The person groaned and what sounded like skull hitting stone came next. "But honestly, about the blindfold and ropes…"

"If I remove them," the person said in a carefully measured voice, "will you shut up?"

"I'd have to be sedated to be silent for more than a minute or two," Emma sighed, shrugging.

The person sighed in exasperation. "Just tell me what you are doing in my headquarters."

"That ain't none o' yo biznaz, foo! Mah posse do be comin' to get me out an' I'm gon' backwards-magic yo behind inta next Tuesday!"

"Backwards magic?" the person murmured, definitely interested now.

"Shizzle mah hizzle!"

"… What?"

"It's fancy talk for yes."

"Oh."

"You got a problem with that?" Emma asked. "'Cause I can kick your butt if you do!"

"I'm sure you can," the voice purred, suddenly condescendingly hostile. "My humblest apologies. So if you have backwards magic, does that mean that the people going into my sitting room are the fabled Xiaolin Dragons?"

"Yepper-doodle! They're my bestest best friends and they're on the way to save me from you. Thanks for tying me up by the way, ya jerk. My ear itches like crazy and I can't even see you so I can't insult your appearance."

"Well, here," the person said, and Emma could feel cold fingers brush her neck as the person reached through the bars and undid her blindfold. When they pulled it off, however, her situation was no better. "Is this fine?"

"No," the Irish girl replied. "I need my glasses to see with, duh. Why else would I wear such awesome things on my face, if not for the sake of fashion? 'Cause, y'know, I care so much about fashion."

"In that case, here," the person said, and Emma's glasses were placed back on her nose. She shook her head to right the glasses and to get her bangs out of her eyes, but had to do a double take when she saw her captor. An incredibly handsome boy that looked about 17 or 18 stood in front of her cage, hands clasped behind his back. He was surprisingly pale, and his skin looked even lighter compared to his perfectly mussed jet-black hair. He wore a swallow-tailed coat the color of garnet, with swirls of gold sewn in, and beige pants tucked into riding boots. He looked as though he had stepped out of an elegant Victorian painting, and his regal stance only helped to affirm this. It was his eyes, however, that had Emma the most surprised. Other than the slitted pupils, one thing about them stood out.

They were a cunning, malevolent gold.

"Holy crap! You're a vampire!" Emma yelped, scooting back in fright. "And you're hot!"

"That I am," the boy said, bowing. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am-"

"Edward Cullen. No need for introductions," Emma replied, shaking her head. "I've heard all about you, y'see. And Eddie, I've come to a conclusion." She suddenly lunged forward, making the boy step back in surprise as she pressed her face against the bars of her cage. "You must die."

"I beg your pardon," the vampire said, brushing off the front of his coat. "I am Chance Young, of the Dragwlya clan."

"I knew it!" Emma cried, sitting on her knees and mustering as much indignity as she could. "I knew you were a Mary Sue! I knew it knew it knew it! Er, the male equivalent of a Mary Sue, anyway. What'd that be, a Marty Stu? I dunno. Anyway! Chance Young, pah! Watch, you'll turn out to be some long-lost son or nephew or dog of Chase Young's or something."

"Chase Young? The Heylin sorcerer?" Chance spat. "I suppose he's here, too?"

"Naw, unless he came here earlier to infiltrate your creepy little base or something, which sounds nothing like him. Why? You got a beef with the guy?" she asked, leaning back again.

"You could say that," Chance snarled, baring a set of fanged teeth. "In any case, you and your friends are here for one of Runa's artifacts, hmm?"

"Runa? That was this place is?" Emma asked, glancing around the room. Shelves of spices, herbs and potions lined the walls, and though the room was small, they seemed to contain quite a bit. Old, faded books that looked as though they belonged in a museum were between jars of organs and old potions, and a dead magical creature or two. There was a three-foot by three-foot circle cut out of the stone floor, where seawater sloshed. That explained the salty smell and the sound of the ocean, and how the oversized sushi dish had gotten her in here. There was a doorway with no door opposite her cage, with steep stairs ascending to parts unknown behind it. "Kinda tiny."

"This is simply a retrieval room for prisoner- I mean, guests," Chance said, catching himself. "You should see the foyer."

"I'd love to! Let's go," Emma said, smiling and pushing open the door to her cage. "Next time, maybe you should lock that." She breezed past Chance, whose eyes were wise with surprise.

"What- how-" he spluttered, looking from the cage to Emma and back again. She paused by the door, turning and giving Chance a grin. "Don't be so cocky, Ed. You an' your toadies need to learn a few new knots, or at least get a lock on that thing. I was in Girl Scouts, after all." And with that, she turned and skipped up the stairs, leaving Chance to watch in a mixture of abject terror and confusion.

"H-hey! Wait!" he yelled, running up the stairs after her.

Heh, heh.
Emma: REDEMPTION! *fistpump*
You're welcome. Anyway, I hope you guys weren't too P.O.'d at the OOC-ness throughout the chapter. I feel like this is going nowhere fast, though it is (mostly) adhering to my original plot line. Review and I'll humiliate Chance!
Chance: I hate humans.
Emma: DIE, EDWARD!
Chance: AAAAGH! *runs off screaming*
Emma: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *chases after him w/ stake*