Yay, another new chapter! I hope you all like the new and improved story. I'm sorry to everyone for the long wait for the improvement. Ive also been trying to find some good character creators so that I can make all of my OC's so you all can see a bit of what I see when i think of them. I'll probably use the character picture as the story picture (when i make it that is).

I do not own Magi.

Chapter 5: Friends

"Does this form pleassss you more?" the familiar baritone voice spoke in a hushed whisper. She glanced at her arm to find the snake, thankfully much smaller, coiled around it. The serpent felt warm and strong, she could feel every muscle flex as the snake moved.

Eleanor's throat felt dry but she was finally able to croak out, "Definitely better size… but having you on my arm is a little scary…"

"The neck would have been more intimidating," the python informed her. "Now that I am able to tap into the Rukh, it is far easssssier for me to maintain this ssssmaller form. It is ssssafer for me to remain."

Eleanor gulped, looking into the snakes eyes for what felt like a long time. The snake stared back, unblinking. Eventually, Eleanor frowned and looked away. "I… I guess I'll get used to it…" she murmured, heading out her door. She could feel her hands shaking but she tried to ignore it by thinking about something else. Now where could I find some food? She was acutely aware of the python wrapped around her arm, and the stares she was receiving from the palace servants and guards.

"Soooo, who's your new friend?" Sharrkan's voice made her stop and she turned around. He was glancing between her and the snake. "I dont recall that being there last night."

Eleanor chuckled dryly. "Um… he surprised me this morning." She looked at the snake, who had slithered up her shoulder blade and rested his head on her shoulder.. "T-this is Sharrkan…" she motioned. "And Sharrkan, this is-"

"Sssserpentessss," the python answered in a bored tone.

"S-Serpentes…" Eleanor parroted.

Sharrkan was looking at them in surprise. "He… talks?"

Eleanor nodded slowly. "He… is apparently my 'Guardian Beast' or something like that. It was pretty terrifying when he showed up, twice my size."

Sharrkan nodded absentmindedly. "That would be terrifying."

"Um.. Do you know… where I could get some food? I'm hungry."

"Asssss am I," Serpentes agreed, making Eleanor cringe but Sharrkan smile.

"Sure, come on, Ele, Serpentes. I'm sure we can find you something in the kitchen." At that, Sharrkan turned around and started heading back down the hall.

Eleanor frowned as she ran after him. "Ele?" she murmured under her breath. Bu-dump.

"This human appearssss to be very familiar with you. He also ssmellssss of sssssnakess," Serpentes said rather loudly, his tongue tasting the air. Well he is from Heliohapt. Aren't they like a snake's best friend?

Eleanor watched Sharrkan's back stiffen, but there was no other sign that he had heard Serpentes's comment until he cleared his throat. "Er, sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I just thought it was a cute nickname," he said, his back still to her.

Eleanor smiled. "Are your ears red?" she giggled. Bu-dump.

Sharrkan coughed in his hand. "Oh, here's the kitchen. What did you want?" He began rummaging through a shelf, his ears an even brighter red than before.

Eleanor smiled. "Ele's fine. And I'm not really sure. Some of those fruits last night tasted amazing. Have any of that?" She glanced at Serpentes.

"I do not eat vegetation, nor the edible tissue of flowering plantsssss," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Then what do y-" Eleanor's question was cut off when Sharrkan placed a plate of fruits in front of her.

"There's a forest nearby. Perhaps you can fetch a juicy rat?" he suggested to the snake.

Eleanor shivered, imagining those documentaries where she had seen snakes swallow cute little mice whole.

Serpentes gave a gruff chuckle. "I do not require material sssustenance, though a few vermin can be nice treat."

"I… see…" Eleanor mumbled as she took a bit of a juicy plum, feeling some of the juice roll down her chin. "So, how did your guarding go last night, Sharrkan? Anything interesting happen?"

Sharrkan had abandoned Eleanor halfway through her breakfast, saying he had forgotten something. It had seemed more like he was running away. Maybe because she had been talking about fanfictions? It had seemed funny at the time to tell him about all the different pairings… Eleanor sighed as she walked through the outer halls. "I'm soooo booooored… Where's the internet when you need it?"

"AH!? Hey, you, pay attention where you put your feet!" Eleanor blinked, looking down at her feet. Nothing. She looked over the railing and smiled as she caught sight of that pink-haired Kou princess screaming at poor Alibaba.

When Alibaba gave her the flower crown, Eleanor couldn't keep herself from giggling anymore. "Aw, isn't that soooo cute!" Alibaba and Princess sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

When they both halted and looked around the garden for the voice's origin, Eleanor jumped over the railing, giggling still. Once she landed on the ground her laughing stopped for a moment as she realized just how high she had been, having assumed the ground was close. She looked up with wide eyes. Did I really just jump from the second story and not get a scratch? She shrugged. Maybe it's a Rukh thing.

Returning her attention to the wide-eyed royalty pair, she gave them a smile and waved. "Yo, I don't think I've introduced myself, have I? My name's Eleanor." At the hissing sound from Serpentes she frowned. This was going to get some getting used to. "And this is Serpentes."

She pointed at Alibaba. "You are Alibaba Saluja, correct?" Then she turned to the princess without waiting for an answer. "And you're a Kou princess, but I can't seem to remember your name…"

"K-Kougyoku Ren," the girl stuttered, eyeing the snake.

Eleanor took the princess's hand in hers. "Kougyoku? Nice to meet you. By the way, I love your robes. Pink isnt my color but the robes themselves are very beautiful." She turned to Alibaba. "And you…" When he began to smile she frowned. "Meh, I've seen better."

He dramatically dropped to his knees in defeat as Kougyoku began laughing. Eleanor joined in on the laughter before slapping Alibaba on the back. "I'm just joking with you." At his hopeful expression she grinned wickedly. "But I really have seen better." Her mind supplied an image of Sharrkan before she shook her head. Bu-dump.

She turned her attention back to the flower crown in Kougyoku's hand. "That is a nice one, though; I bet Koukou was about to ask you how to make it. Can you teach me too?"

"Koukou?" they both asked.

Eleanor smiled "Yep, Koukou. Isn't that a cute nickname for a friend, Kougyoku?" And I don't really want to keep saying that long name so many times.

Kougyoku's eyes widened. "Friends?"

Eleanor resisted the urge to shake her head. Poor girl, deprived of friendship. "Yep, friends. Aren't we all friends here?" She motioned to Alibaba, herself and Koukou.

At the girl's responding smile, Eleanor assumed the answer was a yes.

Authors note: Serpentes is the suborder of snakes in the phylogenetic tree. I was looking up snake symbolism and found a lot of different meanings including: Rebirth, Patience, Eternity, Balance, Cunning, Intuition, Awareness, Healing, Intellect, Protection, Solemnity, Rejuvenation, Transformation, Occult (hidden) Knowledge, Yin-Yang, Duality. Of course, Serpentes has protection and transformation down. What do you all think he should have for powers? The powers have to somehow connect to one or more of these meanings.