Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Dragon Rising ❯ Chapter Eighteen ( Chapter 19 )

In whichYugi's mother has a bit of a conniption and an unfortunate event befalls our beloved Drizzt

 

Yugi blearily opened his eyes due to the feeling that someone was watching him as he slept. Watching him and glaring.

 

His mother stood by his bed side, arms crossed over her chest and foot tapping the floor in obvious agitation.

 

“Mom?” he asked, blinking in surprise.

 

“Just what do you think you are doing?” she demanded.

 

“What?”

 

“Don't you dare play innocent. Not accepting who you are. Don't you know how dangerous that is? Your magic is finding ways to creep out, no matter how much you keep it walled up, and I will not have my only son go mad or die because of some stupid little…snit!”

 

“Mom, what are you talking about?” he said as he sat up, rubbing the back of his neck.

 

“What am I talking about? Your denial, that's what I'm talking about! The reason you aren't progressing as Seto Kaiba is, the reason that you've been loosing sleep, the reason you've been feeling a little ill on occasion for no particular reason, the reason you have a head ache right now! The blood that you refuse to just come to terms with cannot be ignored so easily, Yugi! It is the blood of a dragon!”

 

“Dragon-demon,” he replied dully. “You forgot that last little part.”

 

“Do not be coy with me, boy, I am in no mood,” she said in the low, motherly voice, glaring at him.

 

“Well, hell, it's not like I asked to be a half-blood and then not be told about it till I was practically grown up. You expect me to be okay with it? `Oh, by the way, Yugi, you're half dragon demon, hope it's cool with you.'

 

`Oh, sure, it's no big deal, I'll just suddenly accept that everything I've thought my whole life is basically not true and be happy that I'm not totally human and that I'm part some evil creature.' Yeah, Mom, that's really easy to do.”

 

He never even saw her hand or lips move. He was suddenly dumped out of his bed and yanked into a standing position by some unseen force on his ear. “OW!” he yelped.

 

“Don't you dare accuse your father of being some evil creature,” she growled, propping her hands on her hips, “And don't you dare sass me. I will not tolerate any such behavior.”

 

“I get it from you.”

 

“Shut up,” she snapped, giving him such a deadly look that he felt his teeth click as his jaw snapped shut. “Atem and Mystique have told me about what is going on, and I am loosing patience with you. You are in Terran to learn to control what you were born with, not to deny it and leave it alone, free to do as it wants when it escapes through your barrier.”

 

“I never asked—”

 

“I AM NOT DONE YET, SON.” His fangs nearly pierced his tongue as his mouth snapped shut again. “Thank you. Now, as I was saying, enough is enough. There is only so much your teachers can do and you being a pig-headed fool is not helping make their jobs any easier. If you continue on this course, your magic will eventually break through, no matter how much you try to stop it or deny it, and it will not be stopped. It may hurt those around, it may cause some unknown thing to happen, it may even kill those around you or it will kill you.”

 

“I'm not denying the magic, I don't want to be—”

 

“Blood is one of the most powerful agents of magic, Yugi! Have you not understood this? That is why you heard Terran's call—part of your blood belongs to her. That is why your friends heard the call—when magic touched them, their blood became part of Terran. That is why the blood of a dragon can give the drinker the power to speak to the beasts. That is why the blood of a unicorn will curse those who slay it. That is why the blood of two beings will bond them together forever if they intermingle it. That is why a single phial of blood can be used to resurrect a dead soul wholly or in any other way that is wished.

 

“That is why you have lost your new found senses over these months. Your new hearing, your new sense of smell, your full capability of seeing and identifying the magic around you. When you began to truly deny what you were, what blood runs in your veins and gives you life, you denied the magic. In response, it has denied you access to it. When you denied your blood, you denied yourself, and how can you truly live if you deny yourself? How can you continue to live?”

 

The force on his ear abruptly ceased and he raised a hand to rub the now sore curve of his ear.

 

“Do you so truly hate the half that is not human?” Deirdre asked quietly.

 

“I don't know,” he muttered. “I was human one day and not the next. But I'm not a dragon demon either. I'm something in between—neither human nor dragon. I don't really know what to think or if I should hate it or not.”

 

“Then perhaps you should think about it,” she said softly.

 

He shrugged sullenly and crossed his arms over his chest, unconsciously mirroring her posture earlier.

 

She sighed and walked to him, cupping his face in her hands and looking him in the eye, “You are my son, Yugi, full blooded something or other or not. That is what is first and foremost, and it always will be. Blood is a powerful agent of magic, but it's only mortals who gave it meaning of worth and nobility. In truth, it does not matter one bit if you are a full blooded human prince or some half-blooded orc barbarian. In the end, it all boils down to how you see yourself. Forget everyone else and their opinions. Who do you know yourself to be? What is important to you? What do you want to do with your life?”

 

She brushed hair out of his eyes and kissed his forehead, “You don't have to like being half dragon demon. You don't have to like being a half-blood. But there's nothing you can do about it, so you might as well accept that fact and move on with your life. You have friends and family who love you for who you are. That's what counts.”

 

She embraced him now, hugging him tightly. “And stop worrying about how much more powerful your rival is and whether or not a girl will like you or not. Those things don't matter. What matters is what you do with the time you're given.” She held him out at arm's length, smiling slightly, “You are my son. Yugi Moto, grandson of Solomon, who owns the Game Shop in Domino City. You always have been, and you always, deep down, will be, despite future deeds and past events.”

 

Yugi found himself smiling slightly in return. “When you put it like that, it sounds really, really simple,” he said. Her grin turned impish, “Of course. One thing few people ever actually realize, let alone say, is that life really is simple. It's people who are complicated.”

 

“And the same goes for magic, right?”

 

“Exactly. Magic is a simple thing. It's the user who makes it complicated.”

 

He nodded and was silent for a moment.

 

“Mom, what am I supposed to do about this curse? I can't beat him. I learned that when he attacked me at the pond.”

 

“You can beat him. You are my son, and you are as powerful as he is, whether you and he know it or not. Don't even think you can't do something, because then you won't be able to. Learn what the wolf-folk have to teach you. Listen to everything around you. Remember, magic is simple. You're making it complicated. It's not about how intense a spell is or how powerful a blast of lightning you hurl at your enemy is. It's not about destructive force or anything like that. All you need is here,” she tapped his forehead, “Not in some book. Use your head. Get creative. Magic is simple.”

 

“Then what about Marina? I mean, how can a girl like—”

 

She placed a finger on his lips with a chuckle, “Weren't you listening to me? Worth of blood is a concept made by us mortals. It really doesn't matter. Nobility is defined by your actions, never your birth. Although, if it will give you some confidence, you are not nearly as common as you and most believe you to be.” She winked mischievously. “No, don't ask me about it. You will find out in due time. Just remember all that I've said. You don't have to like something to accept it. Keep things simple. Like I said on your birthday, `sing like no one can hear you, dance like no one is watching, and love like it's never going to hurt'. It's a good bit of advice to remember.”

 

She hugged him and kissed his forehead again, “And always remember that saying you have a t-shirt of now. Tell people never to meddle in your affairs, for they are crunchy and good with ketchup.”

 

He grinned, “You think it will work?”

 

“There is no `think' about it. I know. Now back to bed with you. You need your rest.”

 

She gave him a light push and he obeyed, laying down again and reaching for the blankets, only to have her pull them up for him. “Sweet dreams, Yugi,” she said, kissing his cheek.

 

“`Night, Mom. Love you.”

 

“I love you too, Yugi. Now go to sleep. I will stay until you do.”

 

He closed his eyes and fell back to sleep with her stroking his hair and singing softly.

 

“I'm wishing on a star

To follow where you are

I'm wishing on a dream

To follow what it means

 

And I wish on all the rainbows that I see

I wish on all the people who really dream
And I'm wishing on tomorrow praying never comes
And I'm wishing on all the loving we've never done…”

 

Snow had fallen over night, leaving a carpet of pure, sparkling white on the ground and trees. Yugi's well made, practical boots crunched softly as they stepped on the icy crystals, leaving faint tracks in the banks as he hiked over them. It was the first time in several weeks he had managed to get away to spend some time on his own, and he felt he much needed it—he wanted to be alone for awhile.

 

 

He paused at the top of a hill, overlooking the cold, gray moors, and took a deep breath. The scent of the fir trees mixed with the crash of the waves, the salty brine that was frozen with the chilly fingers of winter's Lady.

 

Terran was a beautiful world, he admitted. It was a place that he imagined the world of his human blood had once resembled—wild, untamed land stretching for miles, a fierce, mysterious sea beating away at the coasts lines. The air was clean, unpolluted by the exhausts of a technological based society, pure from the radiations of heat reflecting from cement and the evaporated chemicals that slowly infiltrated water.

 

There was a song here, one that was soft and hardly there, unless you listened. He could feel it, even now, pulsing softly in his veins, thrumming through his body in a slow, soft caress, like the brush of Marina's fingers when she swept a smudge from his face or placed her hand on his, leaning close as she said something that was meant for his ears and his alone. He belonged here, he was slowly beginning to accept, or at least half of him did. And part always would.

 

Terran calls her children.

 

He stretched his arms to the sky, loosening muscles cramped from spending hours hunched over a spell book. He breathed deeply, again. He looked to the sky, and saw, once more, the faint shapes of dragons in flight, dipping and weaving through the wintery clouds. A small smile formed on his face as he remembered the great red's song and he wondered if it was her that flew today.

 

He had told no one of that encounter, except Marina, who had looked surprised but had been most intrigued. Apparently, it was not commonly known that dragons could sing.

 

What would it be like, to fly with the dragons? To be up among them, feeling the wind on his face and the chill of the atmosphere? To hear nothing but the singing of the air as it whistled passed him or the flap of a dragon's wing?

 

He sighed wistfully and looked back towards the way he had come. The den was warm and welcoming—but he was restless. Almost as if…

 

“I don't belong,” he murmured.

 

Where did he belong? Among the humans? Among his father's kind? With the pack?

 

You are nobody. A filthy, tainted half-blood.

 

He shook his head to clear that voice, that thought, and looked back to the sky.

 

The dragons still wheeled and played. If only he could join them! Or if he could speak to them!

He dropped his gaze again and became quite still.

 

There, standing at the edge of the trees, almost indistinguishable from the shadow of the tree cover, stood a unicorn.

 

He was not, as Yugi had seen in many books, pure, sparkling white with a horn of pearl. Nor did he look fragile as glass.

 

No, this one was a pitch, silky dark black, like the deepest part of midnight or the sea, with glistening waves of silver for his mane and tail. The horn that spiraled up from his forehead was nearly three feet long, and also looked to be silver. He was powerfully muscled, a strange look that was both regally streamlined yet elegantly strong. His shoulders and chest rippled under his coat as he slowly turned and looked at Yugi.

 

He was tall, nearly seventeen hands and probably about equal to that in length. His legs were built for running, long, slender but strong limbs that ended with long hair fringing his hooves, which were also silver as he picked his way over to the young man.

 

As he came upon Yugi, he dipped his head slightly to bring him more of an even eye level. His eyes where a glittering, deep dark brown, with the faintest line of silver around them. Yugi swallowed and cautiously held out a hand, which the unicorn sniffed gently after a moment and lightly touched his muzzle to.

 

The regal head gently nudged Yugi's shoulder before the velvety nose sniffed at his face and hair before the unicorn nickered softly and stepped back. He lowered his head faintly again and tossed it, his silver mane flying in the soft wind.

 

“I can't talk to you,” Yugi whispered mournfully. “I don't know what you're saying.”

 

The beast gave him a scrutinizing look before tossing his head once more, as if accepting this for now, before turning and moving gracefully back to the trees.

 

A pang of loss and sorrow shot through Yugi's being and for a moment he was tempted to call the creature back.

 

The shouts distracted him.

 

He turned to see several of the tribe breaking the tree cover, running full out towards the den with their wolf companions close at their sides. Three more followed at a slower pace, carrying something between them with the help of the silvery gray Starjumper, companion of Skywise.

 

A feeling of dread seized Yugi and he hurried over, sliding on the snow a bit.

 

A tracker named Lightfoot carried a familiar belt along with a torn satchel that had been bundled into a ragged, blood stained cloak. Skot and Skywise steadied a familiar body covered with Skot's thick, reliable cloak atop Starjumper's back. The wolf's ears were pinned to his skull with worry, a soft whine escaping his throat on occasion. The three elves looked drawn and pale.

 

Yugi felt his stomach clench. “Drizzt…” he murmured, looking at what he could see of his teacher.

 

The drow's face was a mess, smeared with melting snow tinged silvery pink with his blood. Gruesome scrapes lacerated the handsome male's features, going over his cheek and an eye and one ear had been dangerously close to being shorn off. Part of his shoulder was exposed and Yugi could see the flash of white that was the bone of the shoulder blade. Blood dripped from the drow's fingertips and some from other wounds had caked on Starjumper's fur.

 

Skot stepped away from the party and firmly turned Yugi away by his shoulder, steering him away. “Don' look, lad,” he said softly.

 

“What happened?”

 

“Dunno wha' got to `im. Just know tha' somethin' mauled him bad.”

 

“But why?”

 

The one eyed wolf folk shook his head, at a loss. “Dunno. Nothin' tha' can do that to us lives near. We've been makin' sure o' tha'. What bothers me is that evidence is a-pointin' to ambush. Wha'ever it was…it was waitin' for `im.”

 

Something cool settled in the pit of Yugi's stomach. “It was a deliberate attack?”

 

Skot nodded and ushered him forward again. “Don' be goin' and doin' anythin' stupid till we know more, lad. I don' wan' nothin' happenin' to ye, like to Drizzt,” he said.

 

Yugi set his mouth in a thin, straight line.

 

Whatever it was would pay.

 

Drizzt's wounds were grievous and extensive. His abdomen had been torn like a sack, this back was in shreds. His, while still recognizable, was a macabre piece of art, with slices hitting down to the bone and scrapes that oozed pearly red-silver blood. His arms and legs were in little better shape, suffering defensive wounds, for there was no doubt in anyone's mind he had at least wounded whatever it was that had attacked him.

 

His scimitars had been given to the shaman to inspect as soon as he and his mate, Daystar, had tended to the warrior.

 

The loss of blood had made his skin loose is satiny ebon health, making it look grayish and gaunt.

 

No amount of spells and potions would heal much on the weapon's master, and the amount of sewing back together Daystar had to do made for a tense situation. It did not help that Jade was in shock, angry and worried about her lover. Alianna did what she could for the drow woman but that was little, since she was just as worried for a brother.

 

Kaiba and Yugi, for once, put aside their little rivalry and forwent opportunities to snipe at each other. They stood outside, waiting for word or for someone to give them something to do.

 

Night was falling when the shaman finally emerged from the room, one of the many shaped into a large tree, looking pale and tired and wiping his bloody hands on a rag.

 

Jade looked up, eyes glassy with unshed tears yet hopeful for some good word.

 

“Will he be alright?” Kaiba asked quietly.

 

Blackbird sighed and shook his head slightly, “I do not know. My mate and I have done the best we can. There was a poison in his system, from unclean claws and fetid saliva, but we have cleaned his wounds and given him antidote. Now it is up to Drizzt Do'Urden.”

 

He saw Kaiba and Yugi's expressions, one that told their throats had just locked and their guts had clenched. He smiled in a soft but sad way. “Have faith, my young wizards. Drizzt is strong and iron-willed. He has reasons to want to live.”

 

“Can we see him?” Jade asked.

 

Blackbird nodded, “He is unconscious, but you may go in with my mate. Only two at a time, please.”

 

Jade hurried in without asking further, Alianna following only after looking at Yugi and Kaiba questioningly.

 

They shook their head and waited till the elves and the shaman had disappeared back inside.

 

“I was thinking about taking a look at the place of the attack,” Kaiba said casually.

 

“Really? I was tossing the idea about as well,” Yugi replied, just as casually.

 

They looked at each other and an unspoken agreement was reached.

 

Turning, the two young rivals walked off into the night, too see what could be learned of their teacher's attacker.

 

In the darkness, a traitorous being watched them, smiling maliciously. Their claws were still stained with the drow's blood, their teeth still coated in it, their tongue savoring the taste. “Just wait, little dragon,” they hissed and chuckled, “My work is not done yet. And by the time it is, your precious teachers will be helpless to save you, and you will be mine.”

 

A dark haired elven girl hurried into the den, having heard the news from a well-intentioned pixie who had passed on the tidbit.

 

She ran to the room and was stopped at the door by Blackbird, who kept his voice quiet as he explained everything.

 

The being's eyes narrowed. “You will be mine, Dragon's son. And I'll make sure your pretty little friend there stays out of my way. Permanently.”

 

~~~~~~~~~

 

So sorry, my dear people! Things got a little crazy with college starting an all that I haven't been able to update regularly! The good news—I now have my own computer so I can write when I am bored and have nothing to do, so HOPEFULLY I'll be able to get these chapters up more frequently!

 

Sorry again! Don't kill me!