Fan Fiction ❯ Colors Of The Dragon ❯ A Destiny Altered ( Chapter 1 )

COLORS OF THE DRAGON

CHAPTER 1: A Destiny Altered

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100 years later

Step… step…step… A figure, cloaked entirely in black save only a pair of golden eyes visible, crept stealthily toward her target. Gripping the sword that was tucked at her waist and careful not to make any noise upon the fallen leaves, the figure crept toward a group of traders asleep around a flickering fire in the early morning hour or late night hour depending on your point of view.

A lone sentry sat, facing the forest, looking for movement. The incredible size of the man was daunting but the impression would have been more formidable had he been more alert and was not obviously dozing off. Perfect. the cloaked figure purred and a quick sharp strike to the back of the head with the hilt of a sword quickly put the lethargic hulk off the some much-needed rest. Moving past the fallen sentry, the figure quickly headed in the direction of the supply wagon. After picking the flimsy lock at the back of the wagon, Sorry, but it's hard to feed yourself on a fugitive's pay, the figure reasoned as she reached in for the bag of coins. There were other items in the wagon, many worth more than the contents of the bag, but items are trackable and much harder to get a price for. While coins, on the other hand, are pure currency. Besides, she really did not need every band of travelers she ever robbed from to personally come looking for her because she took an item of value; there were enough after her as is. Carefully picking it up as to not make it clink, she set about to remove the bag from the wagon.

"You shouldn't do that, you know. There's a alarm spell on that bag," a voice, kind, but with the unmistakable air of a know-it-all, cautioned.

Startled, the cloaked figure whirled around looking for the source of the voice. To find that it belonged to a wizened old woman, half her height. Unfortunately, in her surprise, the figure loosened her grip on the bag, unexpectedly dropping it on the floor of the wagon, and thereby setting off the alarm spell, not that the huge clinking of coins colliding with the wagon floor, a sound only magnified by quietness of the surrounding forest, would not have awoken everyone anyway. Regardless of what awoke the sleeping traders, the once silent camp was suddenly thrown to chaos.

"Damn the gods!" the figure cursed as the sleepy traders, who are now suddenly awake scramble to get up and grab their weapons. Giving up on the coins, the figure prepared to dash off into the dark forest. That was when she remembered the old lady. Something told her the old lady wasn't in cohorts with the traders. However, it wouldn't be right to leave her especially since who knows what the traders would do to her. Letting out an exasperated sigh, she grabbed the old lady and hightailed it out of there. Disappearing into the dark forest just as the traders reached the wagon. She ran for all she was worth dodging branches and ditches as she ran to the cave where she had left her things.

Upon reaching the cave, she gently set the old lady down, figuring it wouldn't be nice to simply drop her, but for goodness sake, she was a lot heavier than she looked. There's something about that old lady… the figure thought as she walked inside the cave and lighted a fire. Removing the cloth covering her head and face, the figure revealed to all that she was actually a girl. (A/N: as if you haven't guessed) Expressive golden eyes gazed out from a calm, composed face, hinting of one who has seen much in a short amount of time but had not yet been jaded by her experiences. The onyx black tresses that covered her head were split into three parts with the two side portions tied up separately near the back of the head in a butterfly bun while the middle section is tied in a low ponytail, allowing the ends to flow down her back.

Seeing the fire, the old lady walked in and sat down beside it. Please let her be the one, the old lady prayed in her mind. Seeing the old lady settled, the figure sat down too. The two individuals sat in silence with the figure poking at the fire with a stray stick. They stayed this way until curiosity finally got the better of the figure. "If you don't mind my asking, um…old, er, elder lady," the figure hesitated wondering how to address the old lady correctly, "would you care to tell me why you were out by yourself in the forest? It can be dangerous at night." the figure questioned while gazing at the fire, looking up expectantly at the end of the question.

"I was looking for someone," the old lady stated proudly, making an eyebrow rise on the figure's face. But before she had a chance to ask who the old lady was looking for, the old lady had a question of her own. "Tell me, child, what is your name?" the old lady asked almost unable to contain her eagerness. The enthusiasm wasn't lost on the figure as she contemplated her decision all the while debating the suspiciousness of the old lady. After a few moments, the figure deigned that the old lady meant no harm and resigned to the inner feeling that felt a kinship to the old lady.

"My name is Ari…Ari Desukei," the figure replied, stating her last name almost hesitantly.

"YES!! " the old lady crowed. Joy clearly apparent on her face. "I have found you, I have finally found you! I knew my instincts were right!" and with that, she suddenly transformed into a golden waist high dragon and ran to hug Ari while squealing and laughing like a child who just received a much awaited gift, sounds that just seemed very out of place coming from a dragon. "But you should not have tried to deceive me, you shouldn't," the dragon scolded as it released Ari from its crushing hug, completely oblivious to the fact that Ari had just sat there all through the hug, looking very much like a statue, a surprised statue, mind you, as her mind tried to process what had just happened. Unperturbed, the old lady turned dragon continued. " Your real name is Astraiea, is it not? Personally, I don't know why you shortened it--" the dragon stated, very pleased with itself. But the sound of her true name had snapped Ari out of her daze and back to reality.

"How did you know?" Ari demanded, interrupting the dragon. Placing a hand on the hilt of her sword Ari surveyed the dragon with suspicious eyes. Well, she tried to, but the flickering lights from the fire across dragon scales were making it hard to focus. Nonetheless, Ari kept her intense golden gaze upon the dragon as she waited for her answer.

"I know everything about you, Ari," the dragon declared as she resumed her spot opposite the fire. "I am you, well, a part of you anyway."

"WHAT!!" exclaimed Ari, this time both eyebrows nearly disappearing off the top of her head.

"Allow me to explain," replied the dragon, unfrazzeled, and with the mannerisms of a teacher explaining a lesson.

"Please do," replied Ari, not quite able to completely keep the sarcasm out of her voice and showing no signs of removing her hand from the hilt of her sword."

"You are a member of a group called the Colors of the Dragon," the dragon started.

"But didn't they die about 100 years ago?" Ari interrupted.

"Yes, the originals died near the end of the Realm Wars, but they have been reincarnated. And you are one of them. You are the reincarnation of the Golden Dragon," the dragon explained, growing more excited by the minute.

"Uh…huh," Ari acknowledged, not quite believing what she was hearing. Well, that explains the coloring, she thought, but still, how are you me?

" I am part of you," the dragon knowingly answered her unasked question "because when the originals died, the gods agreed to allow them to lead normal lives when they are reincarnated until Elysium needed them again. For that, part of your soul was left behind when you were reincarnated so that you could be found again when the need arose. Therefore, in a sense, I am you. I know everything about you " the dragon finished solemnly.

"And I suppose Elysium needs me, us, which is why you, the part of my soul that was left behind, is coming now to find me," Ari said, summing up the situation. Not quite convinced, but deciding the dragon's words sounded truthful. The danger she's talking about must be the rebellion thought Ari.

"Yes, so we'll leave at sunrise for Elysium, right?" prompted an overenthusiastic dragon.

"You may go if you wish, but I'm staying," Ari calmly stated taking her hand off the hilt and crossing her arms obstinately in front of her chest.

"WHAT!!" It was now the dragon's turn to be surprised.

Sensing it was now her turn to explain, Ari did "Assuming everything you said is true and you do know everything about me, but does that also mean you know all my memories?"

"Yes," the dragon chirped happily.

"And you still don't understnd?" Ari was amazed at the denseness of the dragon. "I had promised myself long ago that I would never have anything to do with Elysium ever again. And I intend to keep it," explained Ari walking to the edge of the cave to gaze at the stars. It's been two years, two years of hell. How can I forgive him? How can I forgive the one who made it so that I can never reside in civilization again? He destroyed everything in my life, home, family, honor. If it weren't for the decent people still left in Elysium, I would have joined the rebellion long ago, and then he'd probably be dead by now. She thought bitterly.

"But Ari, you have to go. It's part of who you are, it's your destiny," the dragon whined.

"No, it's not," retorted Ari, turning around. "Unless destiny wants me dead, it can't be my destiny."

"Huh?" asked a now confused dragon.

Letting out a sigh, Ari set about to explain her situation to well…herself. "Look at me, dragon. I'm Ari, yes. But have you seen the wanted posters around here? The king of Elysium wants my head and there's half the bounty hunters of this realm willing to oblige him!" Ari fumed as she crossed to grab some food from her pack in preparation for a long night. " I am not going to walk in there and hand him my head on a platter." After rummaging around for a bit, she found the last of her food supply: a bag of dried berries. Ari frowned. She was nearly out of food. And winter is approaching. If she didn't find extra supplies soon, there won't be another spring for her. There aren't any more caravans coming through now either; the traders from tonight were her last hope…

"As it may, but I'm sure the king would be willing to retract the order once he sees you are a Dragon," the dragon said, interrupting Ari's thoughts.

"I'll believe it when I see it," replied Ari, picking up the bag of dried berries and taking her previous seat.

Letting out a frustrated growl, which amused Ari to no end, the dragon decided to approach her persuasion from a different angle. "You're out of food, aren't you?" it accused.

"What of it?" Ari replied defensively.

"And winter's coming, is it not?" the dragon continued.

"You're point being?" inquired Ari, not quite liking this line of questioning.

"How will you survive?" the dragon continued. Ari scowled. "Think of it, you could live at the castle, well fed and warm all winter. Lord Valion would get the king to retract his orders for your head, so then you're safe. And you'd get to meet all the people in the castle; it must be so lonely out here all alone. Besides, which would you rather face, the castle guards, who you can fight, or Gaia the Earth Goddess, who always wins? Hmm?" The dragon was getting smug, knowing she had hit a soft spot with the friends bit.

"Meeting people would be a lot easier if they weren't trying to kill me all the time," Ari pointed out. "But how can you be sure that this Lord Valion can convince the king or that the palace guards won't just take a look at me and kill me on sight?" questioned Ari, still skeptical, but the alternatives weren't looking too good either.

"Because the king trusts Lord Valion a-a-and…and because you're with me," struggled the dragon to find a convincing reason. All she was told was to get the reincarnated Golden Dragon to the palace, not how to convince it. "Please, you have to come." When Ari made no response and simply kept looking down, the dragon got impatient. "Hey! Ari, did you hear me?" the dragon screeched indignantly.

"Huh? What?" stuttered Ari as she was snapped out of her dozing. "Look, let me think about it, alright? I don't know when dragons sleep, but I'm tired and I want to rest, ok? I'll probably give you an answer tomorrow," she said, trying to stifle a yawn.

"Oh, fine," the dragon pouted, but grudgingly agreed.

Soon, the dragon was asleep, and the fire flickered down, but Ari was still wide-awake. This is a dream; this has to be. I probably finally over exhausted myself from living by myself so long that I'm starting to hallucinate. Damn dragon, woke me up and now I can't sleep. But what AM I going to do? Although she was asleep earlier, Ari had still heard everything. This might be a dream, but the problems are not. All signs point to an especially harsh winter and I have no supplies. I had enough problems with the last 2 winters, and I spent them in an inn, WITH supplies. Freezing to death was really not how I though I would die. An image of her blue and frozen in a block of ice when spring arrived came to mind. She grimaced at the picture. Eeesh, no.

On the other hand, you can simply walk into the home of the man who wants you dead and hand him your head yourself. A little voice in her head reminded her sarcastically.

You're back.

Yep.

So, then either way I die, freezing to death, or slain. How delightful

Well, the king might not kill you; after all you are of some use to him.

Providing what the dragon said is true, of course.

I don't think she lied, and I don't think she's crazy.

It'd be nice if this was true, wouldn't it. Ari thought almost wistfully.

Regardless, unless you want to die, it's the best chance you have for this winter.

True… I can go, the king clears me; I spend the winter, and leave in the spring. With no one the wiser. And the bounty hunters would never suspect to look for me in the king's castle.

That's because generally no one is that stupid. The little voice reminded her.

Oh shut up. Even if the Dragon thing doesn't work out, at least then I've got supplies. At least it's not a trap, I know that much; it's too elaborate. Dragons are hard to come by, and even though this one's young, they don't take orders from anyone. Besides, I'd be amazed if the king even gave a second look at the order when he ordered my bounty. Maybe before I leave, I'd give him a little payback in the process. She smirked evilly as she thought this. Yes……Wait, this is all a hallucination, remember? You're starting to treat this like it's real, the voice reminded her. The realization hit like a bucket of cold water onto Ari's thoughts. That's right, it's only a dream, Ari murmured a bit sadly as she drifted off to await the end of the `dream' in the morning.

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! Unfortunately, it wasn't a dream and Ari was in for a rude awakening.

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A/N: The format isn't really as I had it on my computer but I don't know how to change it. I apologize for any confusion. Spoken words are in quotations, and whatever spoken not in quotations are thoughts. K? Thoughts are suppose to be italicized, but fanfiction.net seems to have problems with italicization. This chapter actually took me a LONG time. I finally managed to finish the chapter b/c school's out! Yes, free time, I actually have free time! Alright, yeah, I'm done. Anyway, please review, as they are VERY much appreciated. Ja ne.

--hitokiri*seraphim