Chapter 2: Neeria

Rue
     I woke up, and grasped the necklace around my neck. Now was the time to wish for my heart's desire. I sat up and closed my eyes. "I wish I could be a heroine and save the world!" I shouted, and I opened my eyes. I was still in my room. I looked around. "Wha-?" But before I could finish my cry of rage, the lights went out and the windows disappeared.
     I got up and walked to the front door. Eagerly, I pushed it open and stepped out. I was in a endless meadow. The only thing other than stalks of grass was a door right there in front of me. I turned to look back at the house, but it wasn't there anymore. I shrugged. Who cares? This is my adventure.
     I ran up to the solitary door and put my hand on the knob. I was about to turn it when a cold, grimy hand grasped my wrist. I screamed. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" I flinched away from the doorknob and turned to face my attacker. It was a-a-a person? It was deformed, half its face twisted into a permanent grimace.
     The "person" spoke. "Don't go, dearie. It isn't safe. Turn back now before you have to pay the price. Use the necklace to wish yourself back!"
     I shook my head. "Can't you see?" I spat. "This is my future! I wanted this! This is my adventure!"
     The person shook his head and sighed. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Rue Crowhearth."
     The words rang, familiar in my head. "Mr. Domigura?" I whispered, unsure. But then again, how else would he know my name?
     The figure froze, and bent over. The outer covering came away, and there was Mr. D, standing straight and tall. "Eh?" I said, tilting my head. "Why are you here?"
     Mr. Domigura frowned and bent down to look at me on eye level. "Why am I here, you say?" Mr. Domigura let out a great big laugh and smirked. "I am Takeshi, the ancient protector of Neeria. Mr. Domigura was just my code name on Earth." He grinned and let out a chortle. "My job is to never let mortals within the ancient gates of Neeria. I have been here all along, waiting for you." He poked my stomach, and grinned.
     "Eh?" I said again, "Waiting for me?"
     Takeshi let out another big booming laugh and pointed at me. "I knew you would not listen to my words and soon find that necklace. I just didn't expect it to be so soon. But, I have to do my job, so I'm sorry."
     "Sorry? For what?" I bit my lip nervously.
     "Girl!" He bellowed, "Do you not know anything? You are mortal! I cannot allow you to enter the gates for that reason. And because you will not listen to me and wish yourself back, I will have to do my job and kill you." His eyes turned dark and his expression grim.
     "Aahh." I tried to stay calm as I backed slowly away from Takeshi, who pulled out a sword from seemingly nowhere. What could I do?
     "Don't worry, because you were a student, I'll make this quick."
     I collapsed and gave up. Takeshi raised his giant gleaming sword and was about to bring it down when the door leading to Neeria burst open.
     "Stop, Zura!" A childish voice shouted. Takeshi froze, and put his sword away.
     "Eh?" I said, unable to help myself. I glanced sideways to see where the voice came from. There was a small green haired child standing by the door. He had white porcelain skin and was about 1.5' tall and had a toy drum strapped around his neck. He held two drumsticks tightly in his tiny fists and he had the costume of a circus boy.The small child turned to look at me.
     "Ms. Adile wants you, Zura!" He demanded, running over to me and banging on his drum. "Come, Zura!"
     "Uhh...." I said, but Takeshi picked me up, and shoved me through the door before I could say anything else.

/)_/)
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     I opened my eyes and sat up. "Ugh..." I moaned, and looked around. I was sitting on a couch. I saw the green haired boy staring intently at me.
     When I met his gaze, he banged his drum loudly and shouted: "She's awake, Zura! Ms. Adile, Zura!"
     I covered my ears and cringed back into the couch. A green haired lady stepped from the doorway on the far side of the room and came to sit beside me. "Welcome to Neeria." She said in a soft, mystical voice. I turned to look at her more closely. She resembled the little boy in more ways than one. For starters, they both had the same shade of green hair and the same porcelain white skin. But instead of a drum, the lady had a hand-cranked music box hung around her neck.
     "Uh, thanks." I stammered, a little late. "I'm Rue, Rue Crowhearth." I held out my hand.
     She shook it. "I would be Ms. Adile. Nice to meet you Rue," she said, smiling warmly. The little green haired boy came bounding over. He jumped between us then plopped down on Ms. Adile's lap.
     "Introduce me too, Zura!" The little boy said, looking up at Ms. Adile and pounding impatiently on his drum.
     Ms. Adile glanced down adoringly at the little boy before turning to look at me. "This, is Azura." She said, patting his head. "He is my little boy. He always had the habit of saying part of his name after a short sentence.         He is a little loud, and when he gets frustrated, or impatient, or mad; he bangs on his drum." As if to prove her point, Azura banged down on his drum with his tiny drumsticks. Ms. Adile smiled. "Azura is quite a handful, though he may be very fun to have around. He is very curious, you may have to watch out." She glanced down at Azura and grimaced. "Oh! But before we have you begin your adventure, I'll have to find a few things. Watch Azura for me, will you? Thank you, now excuse me."  She bustled out of the room, placing Azura on my lap.

     I had barely said anything when Ms. Adile got up and rushed out of the room, playing a tune on her hand-cranked music player. I sighed and looked down at Azura. He was looking up at me with curious eyes as if asking a question.
     "So," I said halfheartedly. "What do you want to do?"
     "I'm thirsty, Zura!" Azura shouted. He frowned at me impatiently as I franticly began to search the room for water and a glass cup. Azura banged on his drum madly.
     "Ok, ok!" I shouted, getting up and running around the small room. "I'm looking! I'm looking!" I ran up to the nearest door and stuck my head through the doorframe. It was a small empty room with a single lightbulb in the middle. I sighed and ran to the next nearest door. I opened it to see a porch, and grass with a pathway leading to the house. Definitely not the kitchen I was looking for. I sighed and ran over to the last door. I swung it opened and stepped in. It was a blank, empty room, just like the first one, except this room had a different feel to it, like something magical was about to happen. Painted in elegant slanted script in the wall across from the door were the words: "You just have to ask..."
     "'You just have to ask' huh," I said, frowning. "Well then, I want a glass of water!" I demanded. Nothing happened. I looked down. There sat a glass of water. "Oh wow!" I whispered, picking it up. "Weird..." I walked out of the room and closed the door behind me to see Ms. Adile sitting next to Azura, handing him a glass of water.
     "Phooey!" I pouted, "You're fast."
     She glanced at the glass of water I held, then the door I came through. "Ah," She said softy, "I see you've discovered the wishing room."
     "Oh, that room?" I responded, looking back at the door.
     "Yes," Ms. Adile whispered sweetly, smiling. "Come sit down. Let's talk and have a chat."
     "Okay," I said, sitting down and sipping the water, "About what?"
     "Hmmmm..." Ms. Adile said, thinking hard, her eyes lit up. "What about, your adventure?"
   

/)_/)

                                 ( ^o^ ) happy reading!

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Chapter 1: The Necklace

Sorry, was kinda messin' with the tool bar and it got highlighted in white. Sorry. 


Rue

     “Stop it!” the girl said, yanking her hand out of my grasp. “What do you want?”
     “Huh?” I said, still dazed, just now, I was imagining that this girl was a person in need of help. “I thought you were a poor hobo, staggering through the desert, so I came to help you!” I grinned, but the girl stared in disbelief.
     “Y-you thought of me as, a hobo?” the girl said, tears coming to her eyes.
     “No, well, yes; but I didn’t mean it like that!” I cried, reaching out my hand to calm her. She slapped my hand away and sank to the ground, crying.
     “Stop it Rue, you’ve all ready done enough damage.” The ever popular 
girl, Michiko rushed past me, shoving me aside to kneel beside the other girl, lending her a calming hand and comforting words. Other girls came and gathered to help her, all the while shouting insults at me.
     “How could you?”
     “Keep your thoughts straight, will ya?”
     “What were you thinking?”
     “Yeah, what’s wrong with you? Some people are sensitive. Be considerate.”
I turned away, wiping my face. “They’re the ones that are inconsiderate.” I sniffed, trying to convincing myself. But I knew deep inside, that, as an 8th grader, I shouldn’t be running away with my thoughts, and then blurting them out. 14 years old! And still dreaming. I sighed, walking to class. 
     “Today in class you will be learning about…” Mr. Domigura droned on and on as I drifted away to my land of fantasies.
     Dragons and princesses, fairies and angels, heroes and heroines. I sighed dreamily. “I want to be a heroine…” I drawled quietly, closing my eyes. “I wanted to help that hobo…”
     “Sure you did, inconsiderate girl. You have no heart. All you think about is yourself and your fantasies.” Michiko was leaning forward from her desk, whispering in my ear. “Lay it down. Lay down the fantasies. Only then will you be understood.”
     “NOOOOOOO!!!” I screeched, jumping up. Michiko and everyone flinched away.
     “I will NOT GIVE UP ON MY DREAMS AND FANTASIES!” I stated, glaring at Michiko. Michiko said nothing, just staring ahead of me, past me. She was completely ignoring me. This did not ease me, but it made me angrier. But before I could come up with a good comeback, Mr. Domigura had dragged me out into the hallway. He pushed me out and stuck his head into the classroom.
     "Behave yourselves, I'll be right back!" And with that, he slammed the door to face me. "Now, Ms. Crowhearth, do you maybe have something to say for yourself?" his hands on his hips, staring at me.
     "Ummmm..." I said, looking into his eyes. What to say? I stated the truth. "Michiko was teasing me about some...uh...beliefs I have," I stated, keeping a calm and truthful face. 
     "Beliefs, you say. And just what are these beliefs?"
     I looked from he ceiling to the floor, back and forth while forming my answer. "Well, ummm...it's kinda hard to say..." Mr. Domigura was staring my me hard, his forehead creased, his lips pursed. I backtracked quickly. "Well, I believe in fantasies." I let out, breathing deeply. "Please don't laugh!" I added.
     But instead of laughing, he did the complete opposite. He frowned. "Ms. Crowhearth, I suggest you do not meddle with the fantasies. Bad things could happen. For now, I don't want you to dig in your backyard."
     "Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah!" I said, shaking my head. "You know that I dig in my backyard? How?"
     Mr. Domigura shook my shoulders, shouting. "That is besides the point! I have meddled with fantasies, and return lost something very dear to me: my wife. Stop believing!"
     I shook my head, "I'm sorry Mr. D, but I'd rather believe in fantasies than live as a normal girl."
     Mr. Domigura sighed. "Don't say I didn't warn you..."
     I nodded, and went back to class.

/)_/)

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c(") (")

     I hurried home and to change out of my school uniform and into my digging clothes. I flew into the backyard and began furiously pawing through the dirt. I dug everywhere. What was Mr. Domigura trying to keep from me? The backyard was already full of holes, and I dug 11 more before I struck something. A box.

     It was a small box, nothing big, just 2" wide. I pried it open, and there sat a necklace. There was a large opal in the center with diamonds framing the side. I rushed inside and shoved it under warm water. I ran to the bathroom and put it around my neck. It was pretty.   

     "It would be cool if it was magical, Eh?" I whispered dreamily into the mirror. The gem in the necklace gleamed once and sparkled as if responding. I gasped. "Well," I said to the gem. "Let's try you out!"

     I rushed to my room and stood in front of my bedroom drawer. "I wish..." I thought hard. "Oh! I wish I had apple pie!" An apple pie appeared in my waiting hands. "Oh!" I squealed. "It works! It actually works!" I ran around the room, stuffing pie into my mouth. I could have my heart's desire. Anything! I could have anything! I sat down on my bed and lay down. This was a lot to take in. Tomorrow, I would go to fantasy land. I promised myself. And with that, I fell asleep as the most happiest girl in the entire universe.

/)_/)
                                   (^o^)   Happy Reading!
c(") (")

Epilogue

6 years later...

Ayumu

     Everyone was happy. It was now 6 years after our incident, and Sari, Hemu, and Muri were now 19. I however, was still 17. Things had changed a lot. Sari and the other two had their driver's license, and now drove around themselves. I also knew that Sari and Hemu were secretly going out. I heard them talking about a movie they saw around midnight as I passed their bedroom. And midnight was about the time when Muri and I went searching for the two, who always went "missing" together. Eventually, they'd turn up two to three hours later. 

     I groaned as I rode in the backseat of the car. Sari and Hemu were holding hands, Hemu driving with his free one. I prayed silently in my head. Please don't crash, please don't crash, don't crash, please! I braced myself as we swerved around the corner. I still didn't know where we were going. All I had heard was that it was going to be a surprise. I didn't think Muri even knew. I looked at him now, trying to read his face. He stared ahead, frowning. His head swiveled around to face me and he caught my eye, smiling. I grimaced back and turned to face the road. 

     "The airport!?" I screamed, gasping. "We're going to the airport? What for?"

     No one answered. I looked at Muri and gave him my best pleading look. He snickered and leaned out his window, sighing. We got out of the car, and walked into the airport. It was huge. I had never been in an airport in my entire life! Hemu and Sari each had their own personal luggage, and I realized with shock I didn't have one. 

     "I forgot my luggage!" I gasped, racing for the door.

     Muri caught the collar of my coat, pulling me back. He frowned. "We didn't pack your luggage, silly. Only Sari and Hemu are going to California!"

     "California? What for?" I asked, mystified. I was confused.

     "For tomato's sake, Ayumu!" Hemu turned, grinning at me. "College! We're attending college in California!"

     "Ooo-ohhh!" I breathed, nodding. "College." Everyone nodded, relieved that I got it. "Wait!" I said, looking at Hemu and Sari, then Muri, "Why isn't Muri coming?"

     "'Cos I'm gonna watch over you, silly!" Muri grinned, ruffling my hair. 

     I smoothed it out, smiling. "Thanks!" 

     "Well," Sari said. "It's time to say good-bye."

     "Not for forever." I whispered as she squeezed me tight.

     "No," she grinned, "Not for forever."

     I smiled up at her as Hemu swooped down and picked my up in his arms, snickering. I frowned playfully. "I'm not so little anymore, Hemu." I giggled.

     "Nope," he said, pretending to struggle under my weight. "You're as light as a feather!" he grinned, putting back on the ground with a peck on the cheek.

     I hugged them both smiled. "Remember my smiling face, okay?" I said, smiling as big as I could.

     "Of course," Sari responded, Hemu nodding in agreement. 

     "You just remember to keep smiling!" Hemu said, patting my head.

     "I will! Bye!" I said, giving one last hug before taking Muri's hand and heading to the car. Tears flowed down my still smiling face I turned around to see Sari and Hemu walking around the corner, hand in hand.

     

   

Chapter 24: The Final Battle-Part 2

Muri

"Ok, we need a plan." I spoke firmly, trying to take my place as leader. After all, I had the fanciest weapon.

"What the carrot! But you just said-" Hemu argued, frowning when I cut him off.

"Yes, I know I just said before to 'charge' but the situation's different now, we need a plan." I frowned back.

"No duh, smarty pants, we all need a plan! We all needed a plan even before the 'situation-was-different.'" Sari shouted back, her hand

on her hips.

"Well, you got a plan?" I yelled back, standing up.

"Here we go again..." A voice said, but I was already pushed too far over the edge to care.

"Celery yeah, I got a plan!" Sari screamed, her face reddening as she stood up. No one laughed at her joke, except for Hemu, who "ha ha'ed" a bit then quieted as soon as he realized nobody was laughing with him.

"Well, what about we hear this plan?" My voice faltered, and I narrowed my eyes, hoping it would go unheard. It didn't.

Sari sneered at my doubt, then firmly spoke her plan, "My plan," she grinned, "Is to kill the dragon, put the parents in the corner, and bag the cat."

"Cat? What cat?" Hemu said, looking around.

"Oh, and bag the parents, you know what I mean. Put them to sleep." Sari frowned, sitting down. I sat down after her.

"Okay," Ryuu spoke, looking around at all of our faces, "Good plan. Great job, Sari." He nodded, and Sari grinned. I groaned. "Let's concentrate on Step 1: Kill the dragon. Everyone will do their best to kill the dragon with the weapons they have. But as far as killing it, only people who can't join in are Hemu and I."

Sari

"Ah, Ryuu?" Ayumu whispered, flipping her hair behind her shoulder. "Wouldn't your gift let you wish for you to have the soul keys of your mom and dad if you wished it? 'Cos your gift was the one that lets you grant one wish."

"No. I couldn't do that for a couple of reasons. First, he said it will help me in a time of peril. Well, I'm not in peril right now, am I?" Ryuu grinned, raising his eyebrows.

Ayumu nodded, looking up thoughtfully. "A time of peril..." She whispered, her eyes turned purple, and I came to her side, telling the others not to look. Ryuu continued his list, looking away.

It was 30 seconds before she moved again. I patted her back and spoke softly, "What did you see?"

Ayumu looked pale in the fresh moonlight. I hadn't realized it had gotten dark so quickly. Her eyes were wide, and she quickly glanced at Muri fearfully, as if she worried for him. "It's soon." Ayumu whispered, this time only to me. She glanced at Muri again before looking again into my eyes. Her light lavender pupils mirrored pain as she whispered urgently. "Muri's going to die. Remember the vision? He's gonna die in this battle, I can feel it."

My face switched to a face filled with pain. I stared at Muri, my eyes felt hot and itchy, but I held back the tears. I looked back to Ayumu, who had silent tears dripping down her face. "Should we tell him?" I whispered, glancing at the others. We were the only ones talking, as the others listened intently.

"Yes..." Ayumu murmured, wiping her tears, "They'll blame us if we don't tell them. And if there's a possibility that my vision might be wrong, then to grasp that possibility, we have to tell them."

I nodded. "Okay." I turned around to face the others, Ayumu still sniffling quietly into my shoulder.

"So, guys, what's the big secret? Why's Ayumu crying?" Hemu said, smiling a little.

"I'm not (hic) c-cry-(hic) ing! I just (hic) I (hic) WAHHHHH!!!!!"Ayumu burst into another round of fierce tears, soaking my shoulder.

I sighed. Great. Now I was sad and wet. "First, I'm sure all of you know, that when Ayumu's eyes turn purple, she is seeing the future." I struggled to keep my voice low. It was so close to cracking up.

Everyone gasped. Obviously they didn't know that.

"So that's what she was doing when her eyes turned purple and she turned solid. Ayumu was seeing the future?" Ryuu speculated.

I nodded. I was so close to tears. Words couldn't be trusted. The backs of my eyes welled up with tears and I swallowed. I would not cry...yet. Not here, not now.

"And one particular vision has been showing up to Ayumu for I while now." I paused. Holding in my own flow of tears in as Ayumu burst into yet another wail. "The one particular vision... where... Muri..." I gulped, and a single tear ran down my cheek. "Died." I finished, a silent flow of tears dripping down my chin. "I'm sorry," I whispered, sniffling. "Ayumu and I thought it would be the right thing to tell you. She thinks it's going to be in this battle." I looked up to gauge their expressions.

Ryuu looked miserable. He was biting his lip as tears silently dripped down his cheeks. He shook he head as if telling himself it wouldn't happen would make this all a dream. Hemu looked stunned. He was hugging his brother tightly, hiccuping and sobbing into Muri's shoulder, just like Ayumu was doing to me; except a little quieter. Muri was broken down. No longer like his proud and brave old self. His eyes bore into mine, then he looked down to his brother, and cried softly.

I stared up at the night sky, and slowly, quietly, I cried myself to sleep.

~|*_*|~

Ryuu

I woke up. It was early morning and the others lay on the ground, still sleeping. Muri was gonna die. The thought echoed painfully in my head. And it's all because I want to save my

parents... No! I shook my head. It isn't true! Don't listen! We will all try our best to keep Muri safe. I nodded.

Picking up a stick, I drew a battle force in the mud. A huge circle for the dragon, a star for Sari, a triangle for Ayumu, a square for Muri, a small circle for Hemu, and two X's for my parents. Oh, and a pound sign for me (*).

I thought hard. And this is what I wrote so far in the mud:

The others awoke slowly as I carefully thought out my plan. 15 minutes later it was done. Also, 15 minutes later, everyone was awake and staring at my plan.

"Everyone can tell who's who, right?" I said. Everyone shook their heads. I sighed. "Well, Sari=(star), Ayumu=(triangle), Hemu=(small circle), Muri=(square), Ryuu=*, dragon=big circle, and parents= x x. Got it?" Evenyone nodded. "Okay, here's the plan:" I explained, how Sari would be attacking from afar, Muri would be close combat, and Ayumu would be our all-around medic and attacker. Me and Hemu would climb to the top of the dragon during this and put the parents to sleep. I would then carry them down.

It was a full proof plan. And the very next morning, we put it into action.

~|*_*|~

Ayumu

I jumped nimbly from tree to tree, getting down softly to pour drops around the sleeping dragon. The parents were nowhere in sight, so we continued with step 1: kill the dragon. Leaping back into the trees, I whispered the trigger: "Explode." A huge blast shook the ground around the dragon,

creating a ring of dust around the awakening beast. I leaped back through then trees to the camp.

"Mission accomplished. I have awakened the dragon." Ryuu nodded, then nodded to the trees,

where Sari and Muri lay in wait. Ryuu had taught us tree leaping yesterday, and now all of us

could leap through trees with ease. I jumped back into the trees and leaped into the battle field. It was already turning gruesome. Charismi was flying around, blowing fire into the large dragon's eyes. It swatted around, and I noticed Ryuu's parents on his back. How they did get there, I don't know.

Sari was not a bad shot. Her marks hit below and above the eye, causing the dragon to below in pain. Muri was slashing at the dragon's feet, quickly stepping aside to avoid getting squashed. The dragon howled in fury and pain. He kicked around on all for feet and blew fire in all directions. The trees were on fire. My tree even smelled of smoke. I jumped to the nearest tree that wasn't on fire and observed the battle field. It was my job to help whoever got hurt.

Sari

I drew back the string and let another arrow fly. That was the last one. I watched as it took its place in the dragon's eye. "BULLSEYE!" I shouted, smiling. "Yumiko, can I please have more arrows?" I asked into the air. I waited a second, and turned around to check my quiver of arrows.

It was full. I started to pull one out to hear Ayumu scream: "Sari! WATCH OUT!" I turned forward to see red, orange and yellow rushing at me. Fire. My feet moved of their own accord, scrambling to get out of the way. Time slowed and I tripped. The fire was coming closer. I scrambled forward on my hands and knees when it happened.

My leg burst into flames, and I screamed. I turned to watch my leg, and I shook it around, rolling in dirt. The fire wouldn't die down. I screamed again, calling for the only person who could help me now. "AYUMU! AYUMU! AYUMU!!!"

She was running towards me, and I saw her hands shake as she knelt beside me, reaching into her pocket to pull out the phial. She ripped the stopped out and shoved it in her pocket. Quickly dropping a drop into the flames, she whispered "Extinguish!" and the fire went away.

I still moaned in agony.The pain was still there. I looked at my leg to see black, burnt, charred, skin. Ayumu poured one more drop and whispered: "Heal." And the pain was gone.

I stood shakily, and thanked Ayumu, who sighed with relief. Ayumu put her hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes for a second before flying back into the trees.

Ryuu

I gritted my teeth and kept climbing. This had to work. The rope held up to now as I dug my

feet into the shaking dragon's scales. Hemu struggled behind me.

"Ryuu!" Hemu called out, gripping the rope tightly as the dragon shook violently. "Are you sure

this rope is stable?"

"Eh. Yeah." I said, continuing to climb. "I threw it over the dragon's horn. It'll hold."

Hemu nodded and kept climbing. We braced ourselves as the dragon roared and kept shaking.

But we held on. Kind of. Hemu yelped as his left hand came free of the rope. I looked to see him

dangling from one hand as the dragon shook. He held on for dear life, his eyes full of fear. "Ryuu!"

he screamed, panicking. "Help me!"

I reached down, holding the rope steady for him. "Grab the rope with your other hand!" I

yelled. Hemu reached up and grabbed the rope. I sighed. "You foolish child!" I shouted. "Hold on!"

I smiled.

Hemu looked up. "I'm sorry. Thank you."

I nodded. "Let's go." We climbed and climbed, when finally, we reached the top.

There were my parents. Their eyes were a dull gold, a faded yellow. "Mom? Dad?" I whispered. There was no response. Their eyes showed no recognition. Tears came to my eyes and I wiped them away. "Do it." I whispered to Hemu, turning my back and wiping my tears. I knew what was happening. Soon, my parents would be lost. The words echoed in my head. I didn't dare tell the others. They would give up on me. If the subjects are brainwashed for long enough, soon their brains will rot and reason will be no more. They will die without feeling. I sniffed. "No." I whispered. "No."

Hemu

I dipped two fingers into the solution and pulled them out. My fingers were cover in a thick orange goo. I grimaced. Was this really sleeping potion? I sighed and rubbed it onto the mom's forehead. The goo disappeared, and the woman's eyelids closed. "Woah..."I whispered. The goo got absorbed into the forehead. "Weird..." I murmured, dipping my fingers again into the goo. I rubbed it onto the dad's forehead. His eyelids closed as he became limp. "Ryuu. It's done." I said.

He took his dad and mom and put them on his shoulders. He balanced them carefully and began climbing down. I put the stopper on the phial and slipped inside my pocket, following after Ryuu.

~|*_*|~

Ryuu

I slipped my parents off my shoulders and dropped them back at camp. They lay slumped against a tree and I sighed. Soon. I thought. "Soon."

Muri

I slashed and dodged, the monster now had several cuts on his feet. I grinned. This was easy. I slashed again as the dragon roared. I was so lost in my own thoughts when the unthinkable happened.

I heard someone scream and looked around to see the dragon glaring down at me. "Tch!" I clenched my teeth, running into the trees. But before I could make it, the dragon stooped down and threw me with his horns and his giant head. I felt like a cowboy on a bull rider show. A lifeless doll as the bull tossed me back and forth. But, unlike a bull riding area, there was nobody to save me here. I felt my body being tossed through the air and for a second I remembered last night. I remembered Sari's crying face as she said the words that now came true. 'Muri's...going to....die...'

I closed my eyes as I heard 4 different screams of agony along with a yelp of pain. I shut my eyes and whispered "Good-bye. I'm sorry." As my existence became no more.

Ayumu

"Muri! MURI! MURI!" I screamed, watching as his body was tossed into the air. I jumped from tree to tree, trying to find him. "Muri..." I sobbed. Tears streamed down my face when a hand gripped my arm. It was Sari.

She gripped Yumiko tightly in her other arm as she spoke softly: "Now is not the time. We will look for Muri once that dragon is dead."

"But he could still be alive! I can help him!" I cried, trying to pull my arm from Sari's grasp. "Let go!" I screamed, bursting into tears.

"I will not let go." Sari whispered, tightening her grip. "We have to destroy that thing, you understand? Do you want more people to die? Do you want to die? Do you understand? We have to kill that thing so nothing more happens to Hemu and Ryuu and us. We have to kill it before it kills us. If Muri were alive, do you think he would want us to kill ourselves over him?"

"No..." I whispered and she let go. I looked into her eyes and jumped back through the trees into the bloody battlefield.

Sari

I jumped from tree to tree, tears blurring my sight. As I jumped to the next tree, my aim went off and my foot slipped and I fell. As I lay on the ground, I tried to pull my self up. But my left hand wouldn't move. I carefully pushed myself up with my other hand and screamed. My left arm was broken. Moving it was impossible. Ayumu had already gone ahead too. "Yumiko..." I whispered, and my bow and arrow disappeared. I sat up, wincing. My arm lay limp at my side.

I jumped into the nearest tree and yelped. Every time I landed, the impact sent a painful vibration through my arm. This wasn't going to work. But I had to do it. I gritted my teeth and jumped from tree to tree, wincing and yelping. I went faster and faster, trying to ignore the pain, when I came to camp. I dropped from the tree, landing on my feet.

"Sari...? What? What's with your arm?" Hemu said, rushing over to me.

I wobbled, and he caught me. "My arm..." I whispered, "It's broken..."

"It's okay, you won't feel it anymore." Hemu said, dipping two fingers into an orange goo. He lifted his fingers to my forehead and rubbed the thick ointment onto my head.

"Hemu...? Wha-?" I whispered. But my eyes closed and I fell into a deep sleep.

Ayumu

I screamed. The dragon loomed over me. Its big fat belly just a few meters ahead. I yelped and panicked. Then, without hesitation, I did the first thing that came to my mind. I took my phial and splashed its contents onto the dragon's belly, yelling "Explode!" I ran from the dragon as it fell to the ground, blood sputtering from its chest. My face and arms were sore, and I knew that I had suffered some of the impact as well.

The pool of blood spread beneath my feet and I stopped. My legs swayed, and my head felt light. I stared lazily at the blood pool as my legs gave out. I lay in the red liquid face up, and let the darkness consume me.

Sari

My eyes opened to a familiar face. It was Hemu. I sat up and yelped. My arm was still broken, but Hemu and Ryuu had put some kind of make-shift cast around it. I leaned against a tree, panting.

"Are you alright?" Hemu asked, "You shouldn't put pressure on it. Ayumu hasn't returned yet, so we haven't been able to fix it. She should be here by now. The dragon's dead."

"Dead...?" I whispered, dazed. I shook my head. "Something must have happened to her. She wouldn't take this long. Look for her please." I gave Hemu my most pleading look, and he sighed.

"Okay. I will. But before that- you look terrible. Sleep." he whispered, rubbing the same orange goo onto my forehead. My eyes closed.

Hemu

I jumped though the trees to the battle field. I saw the dragon, dead; a pool of blood blanketing the grass. I also saw Ayumu laying not far away her eyes looking up into the sky, but seeing nothing.

"Ayumu!" I yelled, jumping down from my tree. Sari was right. Something was wrong. "Ayumu?" I shouted, splashing through the blood to where she lay. Her eyes were glazed, and her skin was blistered and red. She lay limp at my feet. "Ayumu..." I whispered. There was no response. Ayumu was dead.

I dropped down on my knees and stared down at her. This wasn't happening. Ayumu's light lavender eyes were now a dull purple. They stared ahead as if seeing something that I could not see. I shook my head. No. These were dead eyes. Eyes that stared at nothing. Her mouth was slightly open, as if she was going to say something. "Why?" I whispered. "Why?" With those parted lips, I figured she was going to say something. I waited. I waited and waited. I waited for her to say "Let's go!" like she used to. I waited for her to sit up and say: "Oh, I hit my head pretty hard there!" But nothing happened.

The sun had already gone down when I finally accepted what happened. I cried out, reaching two fingers to close her eyes. I sobbed when I slipped my arms under her lifeless body and lifted her into the trees, carrying her corpse back to camp.

Sari

"Oi, Sari, here!" Hemu threw a small familiar phial at my face. I caught it in my right hand, and looked at it. It was Ayumu's phial. There was only a little liquid left so I took off my cast and poured a single drop onto my broken joint. "Fix." I whispered, and the pain left my arm. I moved it again, smiling. Putting the stopper back on the phial I turned to Hemu. "How's Ayumu?"

Hemu walked over to me and took the phial from my hands. He turned it over and over, then shoved it in his pocket. He then knelt beside me. "Sari..." he whispered, looking away.

"How's Ayumu?" I repeated.

"She's... dead." Hemu whispered.

The warmth drained from my face. "Dead...?" I repeated. "Dead?" Hemu nodded. "Let me see her." I said, pushing past Hemu to where Ayumu lay.

Hemu was right. My sister lay there her face was covered in blisters and blood. Her long brown hair now was painted red. Her face was a scary pale in the moonlight.

I sighed. Now everyone was dying. I turned to Ryuu, who was holding two glowing keys in his hands. One was a bright yellow, and the other a neon green.

"Are those-?" I asked, sitting down next to him.

"Yes." He answered, stroking them gently, "They are. The yellow is my mum's and the green one is my dad's."

"Aren't you going to put them in?" I asked gently.

Ryuu nodded. He carefully lifted the yellow key and inserted it into the mom's head. The key went into her forehead. There was a loud click! as Ryuu turned it to the left. Then the soul key disappeared in a shower of yellow sparks.

My eyes widened as Ryuu's mom opened her eyes. She shook her head and looked up.

"Ryuu...?" she asked warily.

I watched the exchange, the knowing, that went between them as Ryuu nodded and said, "Yes, mum, it's me; you're safe." They hugged for the longest time, tears flowing down both their faces until Ryuu pulled away and said, "Now for dad."

He took the green key and repeated the same process. A click! as Ryuu turned the key to the left, and a shower of green sparks as the key disappeared.

Ryuu's dad opened his eyes and tears immediately flowed from his eyes. "Edith? Ryuu? Is it really you?"

Ryuu's mom, Edith and Ryuu nodded. "Yes John, it's us. Ryuu too. He saved both of us."

Ryuu hugged with his dad then looked at both of them. "It wasn't just me; mom, dad; it was everyone here. My friends." He said, gesturing to Hemu and me.

I smiled sweetly, and held out my hand. Edith and John both shook it. Hemu stepped closer, giving Edith and John a thumbs up and a smile. "Oh, dearies; you shouldn't have," Edith said, smiling.

"Yes, we shouldn't have," Hemu said, grinning, "But we did!"

"Oh and who's that sleeping over there?" Edith asked, gesturing to Ayumu.

"Uh, mum." Ryuu said, getting uncomfortable. "That's Ayumu, Sari's little sister. And, she's not sleeping, she's dead."

The happy atmosphere was drained and replaced by a gloomy one. I grimaced and turned away. "Please excuse me." I whispered in a strained voice, leaping into the trees. I jumped from tree to tree, pondering a many great things.

Hemu

I stared after Sari, then followed her. I needed time to get over Muri's death too. Even though Ayumu told us, and we all saw it happening, there was nothing we could do to prevent it.

Ryuu

I grimaced and stared after the spot where Sari and Hemu left.

"What's up with them? Did we do something wrong?" John asked concerned.

"No, no." I assured them. "You did nothing wrong. It's just that-" I paused

"That-?" Edith encouraged.

"Well, Sari lost her sister, and Hemu lost his twin brother." I finished, letting it all out in on big breath.

"Oh." Edith said, looking down. "You guys did all that to save us. Thank you."

I nodded. "You guys stay here. I'm gonna go after them."

"Ok sweetie, be careful." Edith said, kissing me on the cheek.

"Mum, I will." I whispered. "Both of you, get some rest."

"We will, son." John whispered, hugging Edith close.

With one final nod, I flew to the trees.

Sari

Hemu shook his head and turned away from Muri, who was slumped against a tree, his eyes closed. I stared at him and crept closer. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw his fingers twitch.

I scuttled back as fast as I could, gasping for breath. "He-he-he-" I wheezed, my heart pounded. This couldn't be true! I saw him thrown sky high! But, somehow, he broke his fall? Impossible!

"He what?" Hemu yelled, startling me.

"He huh?" I whispered, coming out of a daze. "Oh, yeah, right now, I swear I just saw his finger move."

"He's still alive? Quick, Sari, hand me the phial!"

"The what? Oh! The phial! Here!" I fumbled with Ayumu's phial and finally managed to toss it to him. But it wasn't the perfect toss. I stared in horror as the phial with the last of the accium lorenby hurtled towards the ground. Hemu dived for it and caught it just as it was going to smash into a million pieces.

I grimaced, but Hemu wasn't looking. I watched silently as Hemu poured the last of the accium lorenby on Muri and whispered, "Heal!"

And with a groan, Muri sat up. Hemu hugged him tightly, throwing the empty phial into the woods to grasp his brother. Tears streamed down his face as a stunned Muri slowly wrapped his arms around a sobbing Hemu.

They pulled away and Hemu punched Muri on the shoulder, shouting "You reckless fool! You could have died! Did you think I wouldn't mind? Eh?"

Muri just laughed, patting his brother on the head and rubbing his shoulder. I smiled. I was happy for them. I turned to see Ryuu smiling in the tree, and I jumped up next to him, grinning. Thank Wadsworth for these great gifts... gifts... gifts!

"Gifts!" I shouted to Ryuu. "Ryuu, your gift!"

"Yes, what about it?" Ryuu said, covering his ears and leaning away.

"Use your gift on Ayumu! Wish her back!" I pulled him through the trees, rushing back to camp with high spirits.

~|*_*|~

I jumped with excitement as Hemu and Muri entered camp. Ryuu took out his spray bottle and looked at it.

"Ewwww! Ryuu, are you sure that's wish spray? It looks like urine!" Hemu stuck out his tongue, grinning. Ryuu's parents snored peacefully in the corner.

Ryuu glared at him and turned to face Ayumu. He sprayed the liquid all over until the bottle was empty. He then threw the bottle into the trees and put his hands together, squeezing his eyes shut. All was silent until Ryuu's voice boomed across the clearing.

"I wish Ayumu would come back to life!" He shouted and opened his eyes.

Nothing happened. I was just about to burst into tears when a voice drifted across the clearing.

"Oh, I hit my head pretty hard there!"

I gasped as Ayumu sat up and smiled at us, holding her head. We all gathered in for a group hug, the happiest moment of my life.

The End

Chapter 24: The Final Battle-Part 1

Sari

“What the- what is this?” I was confused. Ryuu’s parents… not even recognizing Ryuu? What was happening? “Are you sure these are your parents, Ryuu?”

Ryuu just nodded, staring up at his sneering parents in disbelief. “Y-yes. It’s them. But something’s happened. They’re different…”

“Yeah, I think we’ve noticed that…” Muri snorted, looking from parent to parent.

“Muri! How can you be so rude?” Ayumu protested, glancing from Ryuu to Muri.

“No. It’s okay.” Ryuu said, collapsing on the ground, putting his head between his knees. “I think everyone is aware of the fact that we will have to battle them to win the key, right?”

“Huh?” Everyone stared at Ryuu with shocked faces; even I had no idea what he was talking about.

“You mean- you don’t know?” Ryuu sighed, and got to his feet. “Well, while I was traveling I heard rumors of some brainwashing device that could make people do another person’s bidding. Just as long as someone doesn’t get the soul key to that person who is being controlled…”

“Uh-huh.” Ayumu said, nodded her head and pumping her fists. “But- just one question… what’s a ‘soul key?’”

“Young people… so uninformed these days…” Ryuu sighed. “A ‘soul key’ is a key made out of the person’s soul. It can be used to access a person’s soul to return it to normal. But- to get a soul key: you have to challenge the person in a battle and win. Not so they’re dead, but so they admit defeat."

“Woah…” I murmured, amazed. “But- are you really sure about battling your parents, Ryuu?”

“Yeah. Whatever it takes to get them back.” Ryuu said, staring up at his parents.

“Then, Ryuu; I’m going with you!” I cried, looking at the others.

“Me too.” Muri said, putting his hand on Ryuu’s shoulder.

“Oh! And me!” Ayumu shouted happily, jumping up and down.

“Me three!” Hemu cried.

“Thanks you guys…” Ryuu said, his eyes filling with tears.

“No problem.” I said, putting my hand out. “We’re all friends, aren’t we?” Everyone put their hands on top of mine and shouted “Yes!”

“But- we don’t have any weapons.” Muri said, raining on our parade.

“Well, I do!” I exclaimed. “I have Yumiko.”

“Well for the others, nobody came to be their weapon.” Muri said, frowning.

"Well, I think I saw an old battlefield on our way here..." Ayumu said, pointing into the trees.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Muri ran back through the forest, with us just a few yards behind. Suddenly Muri stopped, and we all tumbled into him. Just to our right, was an old battlefield. "There it is..." he said into the grass. He was facing downwards.

"Oooops!" we said, getting up. Muri spat out grass and dirt, then we all walked into the battlefield.

There were old swords and daggers. The ground was trampled and worn. I sighed. Rusty weapons like these were no use.

Suddenly a big fat booming voice came out of the air. "Ho ho ho! Does someone need a gift? Or, let me say, a wish?" Before you could say 'chapter 24,' a fat red guy dropped out of the sky. He landed on two feet in front of us.

"Santa Claus?" Ayumu asked, amazed.

"No, no dear child. Santa is my brother. I am Wadsworth Claus." Wadsworth said merrily. "Now, who needs a wish?"

"All of us," Ryuu said.

"No, that can't possible. I can only grant one wish. Decide carefully." Wadsworth grinned, rubbing his tummy.

"Then we all want something to fight and protect ourselves with." Ayumu blurted, frowning.

"Okay, if that is what you wish." Wadsworth wiggled his fingers and conjured a phial. "This small phial holds 'accium lorenby,' a magical liquid that does whatever you want it to do. You only need one drop. For example, if some one is hurt, put one drop on the wound, and say 'heal'. If you wish to fight, pour one drop on a place, and say 'explode' and it shall explode. This gift shall go to Ayumu."

Ayumu took the gift and smiled, putting it in her pocket. "Thank you mister."

"Your welcome. Now the next gift is for Muri." Once again, Wadsworth wiggled his fingers, and this time a sword appeared. Its hilt was decorated with rubies and sapphires. There were also emeralds and diamonds. "Use this wisely," Wadsworth said, handing Muri the sword, which was wrapped protectively in its scabbard.

"Thanks," Muri muttered, pulling out the sword to admire it.

"Then, for Hemu." Wadsworth grinned, and wiggled his fingers. A fat phial appeared and came to Hemu's hands. "This is sleeping potion. Just dip two fingers in the solution, and rub it on the person's forehead. That will make them fall asleep. But it only works on humans."

"Woah, thanks a bunch." Hemu said, shaking the solution around.

"No problem. And last but not least, Ryuu." Wadsworth took some time to smile appreciatively, then wiggled his fingers for the last time. A tiny 6" tall spray bottle appeared and rested into Ryuu's hands. It was fill with a bright yellow liquid, and smell strongly like flowers. "This, will help you in a time of peril. To use it, spray it all over yourself and make a wish. Don't you it rashly, as you only get one wish. And if you make a wrong wish, your efforts will be wasted." With a nod, Wadsworth, jumped into the sky and became no more.

Chapter 23: Finding Parents

Muri

"Hear, hear! Let's keep going. We have to find Ryuu's parents! Ayumu, are you rested yet?" I said firmly.

"Yes, yes!" Ayumu said, putting a battle face on and pumping her fists. "I'm ready! Let's goooo!!!" She set off at a brisk marching pace which soon slowed to a walk, which came to a drag. Just a few yards from our previous resting place.

"Well, I think we all need a little more rest." Sari giggled as Charismi flew onto her shoulder, licking her face. "Besides," she tittered, smiling, "I'm hungry; aren't you?"

"Say, say; right you are!" Ryuu grinned.

"Speak of the pickle!" Hemu gasped, "She's right! My stomach is hungry!"

"The pickle?" I sighed. "I guess so." I picked up Ayumu who was already sleeping soundly, and carried her back to the resting area.

~|*_*|~

Sari

After a long rest and a hearty feast, we continued on, Ayumu sleeping on Ryuu's back. The boys were taking turns carrying her and soon it was going to be Hemu's turn, then Muri's again. I sighed, it was getting dark, and I was too getting sleepy. Soon my feet would no longer hold my weight, and I collapsed, unable to go on.

~|*_*|~

Ryuu

"Oh! You're awake!" I smiled, looking upon Sari as she opened her eyes.

"We took a break?" she asked, sitting up.

"Uh-huh! Oh! Speak of the cucumber! It's afternoon, and we told Muri we'd catch up!" Hemu trailed off, looking up at the sun.

"Cucumber? Muri? Catch...up?" Sari murmured, jumping up. "Oh-no! I'm so sorry, we gotta go!" And she ran off, waking up Ayumu and dragging her along, Charismi at her back, as she left us to clean up everything.

~|*_*|~

Muri

"No," I gasped, it couldn't be. I refused to believe it. Before me was a dragon. But not jusy any dragon. A HUGE one. And on top, were Ryuu's parents, laughing maliciously down at my gaping face. I was confused. Ryuu described his parents as fun and kind. but this was far from that. This was evil and dark. And they were laughing as if I was the world's funniest comedy. Just evilly.

I put on a brave face and puffed out my chest. I was not going to let Ryuu's parents get away. And I was not going to let them just sit there, laughing at me.

"Lol!" The mom said. "The little hero, trying to be brave? What foolishness!"

"It's not foolish!" I shouted. But I was beginning to admit that I could not take on a dragon that size by myself.

"Rotfl!" The dad said. "Tsk tsk tsk. What is it that you are hoping to accomplish all by yourself?"

"My friends are coming! And together, we will defeat you! Then Ryuu will have his parents back!" I shouted, frowning. Now it was their turn to gape.

"Defeat....Ryuu?" The parents whispered, confused.

They don't know? I thought to my self. They must have been brain washed or something.