Dragon's Rule Ch 16

Ch 16

Lee's face turned grim as he and Lance separated from the others. Lance sighed, his
head down a small bit. "I didn't think it would be this hard." said Lance with a small shake of his head. "I know, leaving the others, true friends I bad enough but leaving behind Light . . ." Lee let his words trail off. "Yes I miss Frost already, and it is so strange to fly alone." Lance looked to his left and right for a moment. "The sky is just so empty." Lee lifted a hand to pat him but Lance gave a small growl. "No, never mind I can handle this." though Lance's voice was as strong as ever, he felt a stabbing pain inside.

Lee smiled and patted Lance's shoulder sympathizing with him. Lance sort of shrugged
the pat off and as he did, Lee thought of something. He closed his mind and reached our around searching for something that was always there even though he had no need to feel it before. He opened his eyes with a small smile on his face and spoke. "Hey Lance, our team is made of Riders and Dragons, a team of bonded partners that will always be together. Clear your mind and reach out to what's around you a little and you can still feel their presence."

Lance glanced back at Lee, unsure but he trussed his partner with his life so he too
cleared his mind. When he did, he felt a strong force that was as familiar as an old friend, something from even at a distance made him happy. As Lance growled contently, almost like a purring cat, Lee spoke up. "There is something else there, some sort of comfort and warmth." Lance searched a little longer and felt a warpath as well. "That warpath, it's Frost." He said with a smile his tail lashing a little bit. "Frost? Oh I see, I sense Light and you sense Frost, our one true loves." Lance nodded. "Yes, and at least we have them, all of them, on this journey to a living nightmare." He laughed a little hoping his joke would lighten the mood.

"It might help us to keep up moral but trust me, nightmare does not begin to describe the
land we are about to face, or the twisted thoughts of the one responsible for all of this." Lee said with a faraway look in his eyes, changing the mood around them a little bit. "Well weather we think of nightmares or not were together in this to the end." said Lance still feeling comfort from sensing the others around him. Lee thought for a moment then smiled. "Yes, not just us and them but you and me partner. We'll just do what we can to make sure the end doesn't come too soon." Lance laughed. "Well I just won't let that happen!" Now that they were booth in higher spirits the pair flew on till nightfall when they arrived at a confiner forest.

They bedded down on some soft pine needles Lee fixed while Lance caught and cooked
some food. Once they both ate their fill, Lance curled protectively around Lee who leaned
against him. Lance fell asleep long before Lee who looked up at the night sky. He gazed at the bright moon wandering if the others, mainly Light, were doing the same. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes and thought of each Rider and Dragon, seeing their faces clearly in his mind. Lastly he thought of Light and held the image in her mind before letting it fade away as his mind cleared. He smiled opening his eyes he smiled as he felt the bonds that connected them all strong as ever despite the distance.

Casting his eyes back at Lance, his black scales were shining in the light of the moon.
"My Dragon, partner, and dear close friend." Lee thought to himself sure not to let his thoughts awaken Lance "I have never told you this but thank you for everything." Finally he closed his eyes and let sleep take him as he felt the bonds of the others around him. "Goodnight." He thought just before he slipped into a peaceful sleep.

The next day, Lance awoke before Lee did and yawned. He looked at Lee who moved
during the night and was now laying on the ground and no longer on Lance. Lance rose as
carefully and silently as he could before spreading his wings and taking to the air with one jump. He waited to flap at the top of his jump, where any wind made by his wings would not disturb Lee. Hovering in place for a moment, he spun in a slow circle to cheek for any danger to him or Lee. Satisfied at finding none he flew after the smell of water until he came to a like about two miles in diameter. Lance dove and hid himself in the waters depths.

Folding his wings, he tucked his legs close to him and used his neck and tail to swim like
a large snake. A water lens covered his eyes as he swam on, gliding to the water and finding a few fish. Once his mouth was full, he filtered the water though his teeth with a puff of air and swallowed the fish. Once he was full, he mimed a crocodile and poked his nose and eyes out of the water and floated, waiting for any large game to come by. He was thankful the sun was not up completely, letting his form still be concealed by the water.

Back at the bed, golden eyes were watching Lee from the forest. Lee's ears picked up
the sound of footsteps and he opened his eyes slowly looking around a moment. He pretended
he was still asleep but that did not make whatever was watching him go away. He sat up figuring that Lance was out hunting and looked to the forest. "Come out!" He demeaned narrowing his eyes. "Relax dear kin," came a soft voice as pleasant as a bell. "I merely wish to know you." The golden eyed speaker emerged reveling itself as a fox with white fur. Its fur had patches of soft yellow and its snout was pointed and well defined. Lee relaxed a little. "A corsic fox. I haven't seen one of you in while."

The fox nodded and spoke. "Nor I a neko, or any biped for that matter. Well unless you
count those cloaked fellows. My name is Maya by the way." "I'm Lee and yes most bipeds, avoid this land due to how close it is to the Land of Outcasts. What cloaked fellow?" Maya seemed to ignore his last comment and spoke only of his first. "Yes, and that is exactly why most animals flock here. Others stay away so we have more land and food. The only thing hare have to worry about hunting them is the likes of me." Lee spoke again, more serious this time. "What cloaked fellows?" Maya looked at him with interest knowing now she had his full attention. "Show me your fox form and I shall tell you."

Lee paused as Maya took a step forward, her eyes gleaming and bushy tail swaying.
She knew full well she had won and there was nothing Lee could do about it. He sighed knowing the same and shifted to his fox form. Maya paced around him with what could be called a grin on her muzzle. "Well well well the nine tailed fox in the flesh. What are you doing in these parts? Get homesick?" Lee's ears pinned back as Maya came back in front of him. "This is no home of mine." Maya shrugged. "Well you did live here and awfully long time no question about that. The question is however why are you back? I thought you left go be a-" Maya was cut off by a roar.

Both she and Lee looked up to see Lance in the air above them with a slightly wet deer
in paw. He landed behind Lee and stretched his neck beside his partner, his nostrils right in front of Maya who took a step back but growled while doing so. Lee spoke up. "It's alright Lance, she is no threat." Lance huffed then nodded moving aside to prepare the deer, one eye still on Maya who smiled. "So you are a Rider! Ha, I knew it, I mean every real fox knows what the bipeds only think. Those fools are so easy to scare, especially the humans. Tell them one story, give them one word like 'demon' and they misinterpret everything about a story. I know as well as every other best that you are no demon but a sprit."

Lee laughed. "So all that time you were just testing me, trying to see if I would lose my
temper, or get scared and call him." he looked over at Lance then back to Maya who spoke. "Of course, what are we foxes if not cunning and cautious at every turn." "We would be noting but dogs." Lee said his head high. Maya laughed and looked at Lance. "Sorry Dragon, hope I didn't worry you." Lance nodded. "It is fine you were just doing what you know." "Now then." said Lee calling Maya's attention back to him. "About the cloaked fellow?" Maya nodded. "Ah yes, well I did say I would tell you and seeing how you are Rider and Dragon I feel it best for you to know." the light that was in her eyes dulled a bit as she let out a sigh.

"For some time now bipeds in black cloaks have been running all over this place. They
leave alone but always come back with a creature considered magic. Unicorns, griffins,
phoenixes, you name it. It seems Yomi wants them on his side but if any of them have any
sense at all in their heads they wouldn't think of it. However, I have not seen any return this way, they stay for some reason, and whatever reason that is it can't be good." "Fantails." growled Lance. "Perhaps perhaps not. It could be a spell, tortured, or some sort of trickery. Either way he still has them, and the newest slave to be passed by a little bit ago. It was in chains and fighting like mad, a griffin, a black griffin. One like I have never seen."

After she spoke, Lance came over and offered some meat to both of them and as Lee
ate, Maya looked at Lance. "Aren't dragons and griffins old foes?" she asked curious. Lance nodded. "Yes they take treasure eggs and home. They aren't much alone but can do damage as a group. That aside not even a griffin would work with Yomi. Not willingly." Maya nodded and finally ate now that all of the questions in her mind settled. Lee looked at Lance who nodded. "Can't have someone we can save be taken, it would be our fault." Lance said as Lee shifted and jumped to his back. "Let's go. We can save the griffin and see if we can't find out some info about who he uses them in the process. After that we can find the Rider and Dragon we seek."

No sooner had Lee spoken then Lance took to the air. Lee looked down at Maya. "Thank
you for the advice, it was nice meeting you." "Yes you as well Ninetails and Dragon, farewell, best of luck and thank you for the meal!" Maya shouted up at them as Lance turned and flew onward. The flight would turn out to last three days with breaks to sleep and on the third day they came to the end of the pine forest. The land was dead and gray with ash coving the ground. Though they were out of the forest, they didn't fly far before they had to stop for the night again.

"Welcome to the Dead Forest." said Lee as Lance landed, sending ash in the air all
around them. "Yomi burned this place to the ground to show his power." said Lee as Lance
looked at the land around them. He moved away behind Lee and rolled around in the ash. Lee
shook his head. "Some 'power' relying on everyone and everything to do things for him. Starting a simple fire to-"He paused as he turned back to the now gray Lance. "What are you doing?" Lance stood and smiled. "Blending in, what else. If I lay flat and cover you with this stuff we'll both blend in. Now hold still." "Oh no you don't." said Lee taking a step back. But it was too late, with one flick of his tail Lance sent a spray of ash over Lee turning him gray as well. "Hey!" said Lee coughing as the cloud still stuck around him.

When it finally cleared he glared at Lance who simply said. "There, now you blend in
too." "Oh I'm going to-"said Lee but was cut off once more. "What hurt me? We both know you wouldn't hurt a fly." Lee looked down with pain in his eyes. "No. .. that's far from me, look at my past. I let my darkness get the better of me and now my soul is as black as the night." "Now see here." said Lance stamping a foot, getting Lee's attention as he did so. "I would never have chosen you as a Rider if you had such a soul, no dragon would. You may have done dark things in the past but it's obvious you regret tem. Were you soul as black as you say you would have no regret, in fact you would probably be with Yomi now. All you needed to do was break away from a very bad situation was the right person and the right Dragon."

Lance placed his head in front of Lee, making eye contact. Lee smiled after a moment
and gently placed his hand on Lance's nose. "You're right, I don't know what I was thinking, I guess all the regret just came back so close to a place I once called 'home'." Lance smiled. "I know a way to make that regret go away, save the world. You and me together partner." Lance smiled making Lee laugh. "Alright you got a deal. It will hardly make up for lost lives but it's a start." Lance smiled. "That's the spirit now come on, we can't save the world if were exhausted so let's get some sleep." The two bedded down for the night, their gray forms blending in nicely with the formless gray landscape.

The next morning after a hunt they continued on their way to The Land of Outcasts. The
land itself was a dark gray and barren. A few dead trees broke the otherwise empty skyline. The sky itself was covered by black clouds. As they went on, they could see small houses carved from obsidian stone here and there. "No," said Lee looking below. "This isn't right. Even this land should have some life, what happened." Lance looked down. "I don't know, let's take a closer look and rid ourselves of this ash. I don't think we need it anymore." Hold on tight." Lance fell into a dive and the wind around them carried off most of the ash, letting his black scales be seen again.

Leveling out above the ground, Lance landed, but when he did, Lee's eyes went wide.
"Go up! Now!!" He thought in a panic. Lance instantly rose and once they were back to their previous elevation Lee let out a sigh of relief. "The air, now I know why the land is dead. The Dragon and Rider here have the element of poison. This land has always been tainted but the pair kept it at bay. Yomi must have control of them, making them simply let the poison go about unchecked." His voice was grim. "Not to mention that griffin that has to be around here somewhere. You have good aim but from up here you may burn captive and captors alive if we find them." Lance looked back at him with a smile. "Don't worry we can get them back." "But how? There is now way for me to get close to the ground."

"Easy, dragons can handle poison. Think of all the gasses that are in fire and its smoke.
Our lungs are different than yours, and everything about the way we breathe. We are made to handle poisonous gas, as my partner some of that power must extend to you. We just need to move slowly so you can adjust." Lee nodded. "Alright, I trust you on this. Let's go." Lanced nodded and moved down in a large slow circle. Each circle he made was completed fully before he moved down a little to the next. Little by little, Lee adjusted and soon enough Lance could land. Lee jumped to the ground and looked at him with a smile. "It worked." Lanced nodded. "Yes now let's see what this land has in store for us."

Lee smirked. "I can tell you that, a Dragon, a Rider, a griffin, and most likely a bunch of parasites. Heeds up though, not all parasites are in the sky." As he spoke he walked over to a group of buildings, telling Lance to stay put as he stood in the middle of them. After a moment he shook his head. "No one is home. Everyone in this land knows to lock down their homes if they catch just a glimpse of my face." "Well that's in the past, I'm sure when we fix this they'll open their doors wide to you." "Thanks but that's not the point. Where is everyone? Is it even possible for them to survive this? There are many people who live at this land out of force, prisoners in their own homes, they don't deserve this."

Lance thought a moment before speaking up. "Probably with Yomi. I don't know him as
well as you do but I figure he has them around to live as captives, something to use against us if he needs to. If he has the Dragon in his power then he can control the poison, keep his stronghold and servants safe." Lee nodded. "Yes, he is power mad and will use anything he can to make him seem stronger. He even bends the weather to his will to leave the people in this land at his mercy." They were both silent for a moment letting everything sink in when a shrill cry broke the air, a cry of a lion and a predatory bird. "That's our cue!" said Lance crouching down as Lee jumped to his back. They flew up in the air, about a dragon length so Lee would not have to recondition to the poison again.

Following the cry and a few that followed it they came to three figures, two were on the
ground and in cloaks while the third, a black griffin was in the air. The air around them were clear of poison, Lance's guess was right Yomi protected his servants. The griffin had a steel collar on its neck and two large hoops embedded into its wings. Chains from the collar and hoops were held by the figures. The griffin fought valiantly to try to stay in air and tired to pull away. Despite its best efforts, the two figures heaved on the chains that were attached to its wings, forcing its wings down and making it fall hard. "Bloody bird! Looks like we'll have to cut your wings off!" said one of the figures in a male's voice drawing a twisted sword.

"Not so fast Kaz!" said Lee as Lance dove at them. As soon as Lance landed, he used
one swipe of his tail to nock back the two figures who doped the chains as they flew. Lee
dismounted and went for them while Lance took hold of the griffin with his front and back legs and flew up to the pure air. The cloaked figures turned to Lee. "So you know who we are?" spoke one in a female voice. "Of course, I would never forget your stench. Lilly." Lee drew his sword as the two figures looked at each other and cast off their cloaks. The boy called Kaz had brown hair and dark eyes while the girl called Lilly had white hair and fairy wings.

"Seems you are both as low down as ever. And Lilly I thought you were still in training.
Did you move up on Yomi's twisted latter?" "Well someone has to take Kaz's place since he took yours you traitor." Lilly replied. "You two are the traitors! By siding with Yomi you side against the world, I was lucky enough to wake up and get out while I could. I'll give you both that chance due to our past friendship. Open your eyes and leave Yomi." "Never!" said Kaz and suddenly cast his sword aside changing to the shape of a bull. He charged in his new form but Lee jumped at the last second and landed in a crouch on Kaz's back. "Come on Kaz, we could use a shape shifter." Lee said before jumping off of his back to land in front of Lilly. "And a Fairy."

"So could Yomi." said Lilly unwinding a whip at her side. Lee used the hilt of his blade to strike her wrists making her drop the whip which Lee promptly kicked away. He was about to speak once more but Kaz came charging again. Lee quickly turned and held his sword out
waiting for Kaz to barrel into it but just before the two collided Lance roared with great ferocity making all three pause and look up at him. He managed to get all chains off of the griffin who now flew above him in the pure air. Lee smirked "You two are both outnumbered and outmatched. Give up now and we'll let you live." Kaz snorted and spoke. "We will fight again traitor, and we will win."

Kaz shifted to the shape of an eagle as Lilly flew a small distance away and he went to
flee with her. Lee looked up to Lance. "Thanks, can you take me up to meet our new friend?" Lance nodded and Landed, Lee mounted and they flew up to the black griffin. "Meet Black Talon." Said Lance as the griffin looked at Lee. "Thank you both for helping me. Although I am no friend of dragons I am an ally in times of chaos. If we had to choose Yomi or dragons, any griffin would choose dragons. I wish we could talk more but I must get back to my flock." Lee and Lance nodded. "Understood. perhaps we will meet again." said Lee. "Yes, farewell." with her thanks given, Black Talon departed.

"Alright, now that that is taken care of perhaps we can search from up here to find the
pair. We won't have to take the time to get to the ground again." Lance nodded. "So any
thoughts of where they might be?" "Yeah right on the edge of Yomi's stronghold is a river. It runs around his land and comes from a waterfall. At the top of that waterfall is a mine full of toxic gas, normally it is safe thanks to the pair but not now. Either way though, I would think that is where they still live." Lance nodded as Lee gave him a mental map of the land. He flew on to a black river and looked down at it. "It doesn't even look like water." said Lance. "Yes, I never thought it would be this bad. All the more reason to set it right."

Lance followed the water to a waterfall where they could feel the strength of a bond.
"Well there here, I feel it." said Lee. "Yes but the poison must be at least ten times stronger here. I don't even think it's safe for a dragon." Lee nodded. "One breath of that stuff and were done for." "A wise deduction both of you." a smooth voice called from below. They looked down to see a man standing at the foot of the falls. He wore a dark purple, almost black suit and had jet black hair. His eyes were a toxic purple. A dark purple bow was on the ground beside him. "Come, land in front of me so we may talk. Don't bother taking time to adjust either, I will protect you." He held out one hand in a welcome gesture, the other in his pocket.

Lance looked back at Lee who nodded. Happy that Lee approved Lance landed and
lowered his head to look at the man. "You arrived right on time gentlemen. You see Venom my partner seems to have lost herself and I can't do a thing about it. She won't let me near but I believe you two can help her out. I know full well who is behind this, I'm close enough to look into his land and hear whispers. Good thing that this is on the outskirts though and far from his castle and beasts. It is also good you Ninetails, are the Rider who came to us. We know of your past and what better place for you to move on from it and help the rest of the world." The man smiled and gave a bow.

Bowing lower than him out of respect Lee spoke up. "Thank you, I am Lee and this is
Lance. So can you help us get close to Venom?" "Yes and once she is free we can combine our strength again and do this." He reached out a hand to the water and a small area around his hand was pure and clear. "I am Baron Poison, with Venom I keep, or kept, this land pure and alive. The river as you know runs circles around the land right to Yomi's castle. The entire land lives from this water but now without Venom I can't keep that poison at bay. With our powers as one once more we can keep this land and water clean, even from a vast distance away." Shaking his hand dry he ran it over his hair and then leaned back against the cliff side.

"But how do we get close to her?" asked Lee. Baron Poison smiled as his from faded
away. A large patch of clear water appeared next to them. "Stick with me, I'll keep the poison away from you. Just don't leave me too suddenly here, link your minds with mine so you don't die." Baron Poison's voice called. Lance narrowed his eyes a bit before Baron Poison linked minds with them. "Now go!" He thought to them. Lance growled and spoke. "Look I know you are an Elemental Sprit and I respect that but you are not my Rider and cannot command me." Lee smiled. "Thanks Lance, go on." Lance nodded and spread his wings and moved above the clean water. "That's better." He smiled and flew on.

Lee and Lance watched as the clear path moved up the waterfall. "Hold on." Lance said
before he flew vertically up with it. Soon they were at the top where water bubbled up from a cave system. The mouth of the cave was more like a mineshaft that stuck out of the earth and came upwards at an 85 degree angle. A thick mist poured from this that Baron Poison was sure to keep away from them. "She is in there, I feel it. Give her a wakeup call." said Lee. Lance nodded and set a jet of flame to the shaft; it instantly hit something and spread out over it. As the flame spread, it illuminated the head of a wyvern, seeing this Lance snapped his mouth shut ending the flames. Two eyes the color of Baron Poison's suit opened and glimmered in the darkness.

"Since you don't like to take orders I suggest you back up!" Though Baron Poison with
touch of urgency in his voice. Lance flapped his wings backwards and backed up as the wyvern, just as big as all the others, emerged and perched atop the sturdy shaft. "Venom we will snap you out of this." Baron Poison's voice was for once sad. Venom turned her head, her scales shining the same color as Baron Poison's eyes. "We need to find the Fantail first. Lance can you get close?" asked Lee. "No but I can get her to come to us." Lance let more flame loose at Venom who gave a roar and charged at them.

Lance held his position until the last second then folded in his wings and dropped down,
looking for the parasite as he spread his wings again and moved forward. "There!" said Lee and Lance at once as Lee pointed to the end of Venom's tail where a small parasite was latched on. "But how do we rid her of it?" said Lance. "Poison!" said Lee after some thought. "If we get that mist around it, there is no way it can survive." "But she can control poison, how can we get around that?" Lance thought dodging a jet of flame aimed at them. "I have a suggestion, but it's risky, well for you two at least." Thought Baron Poison. "That is, it is risky if either of you breath." "Let's hear it." Sighed Lee.

"Really? My my, you are both brave. That's good I like brave people, but they don't live
as long as most. Ah well, now then the plan. Dive into the cave, it's a tight fit for Venom at this size, so tight she must put all her effort into not crashing in the darkness, thus losing some of her focus on the poison. Now she is immune but we already know not much else is. Venom will be free once more and our powers can combine. I will stay with you a moment but, then I will leave you to put all my power behind Venom and send everything I can at that parasite while she is half distracted. Even if I stayed with you, wouldn't be much good. After all the most pure form that of poison is in there without the water out here to take away some of the toxins. Basically I can't do in a thing in that space without my partner. But once we are together again, we can help. Needles to say, once you are in there you should hold your breath."

"And if this plan doesn't work?" said Lance. "Well I see two options, one you breath in
that poison and die, two it doesn't work and I come back to you but we are in a tight space with one angry, parasite controlled Dragon and have no escape." "It's a risk worth taking." said Lee. Lance nodded and dashed to the cave, Venom right behind him in pursuit. He dove headlong into the darkness of the cave, sending out small puffs of fire every now and then to see his way. "Alright boys, I am with you only for a moment more. Take a deep breath and hold it." called Baron Poison. They did as he said and Baron Poison's protection left them and he threw a wave of poison at Venom distracting her just a bit more so he could focus on the mist behind her. He quickly sent everything he could to the parasite and a shrill cry rang out followed by a roar and a flame that lit the cave.

As Lee and Lance felt the poison all around them they also felt Baron Poison leave their
mind as he reconnected with Venom. "Venom, good to have you back!" He thought to her. "You
two Baron, now quickly let our powers combine!" As their powers mixed and strengthened the
mist in the cave faded away to the very depths of it and Lee and Lance took a breath. "Breath it in boys you've earned it." Baron Poison laughed as his human form sat on Venom's form in the darkness. "Come on my friends, let's go the open air." said Venom as she proceeded to lead them back. Once outside she shrunk to a size closed to Jewel's and told Lee and Lance of the skill that came with her age.

"Thank you both for all of your help. We will gladly go with you. Not only to save the
world admittedly, I want to see my family again. I'm ready to set everything right, but first." She settled into the water that fed the waterfall and as Baron Poison saw to it all of the gas from the mine was settled in the far back by a small pool of water, held in by surface tension while Venom purified the water. It was a sight to see, pure clean water spread out from around her and down the falls, moving all along the river. "Soon the water will help to clean the air as well and things will be far better here." Venom said with a smile as Lance moved in the water next to her.

The two Dragons looked at each other and nodded. They both spread their wings and
with only a few powerful flaps were up and flying. "If the rest of your generation of Riders and Dragons is this interesting or even at all like you two, this is going to be fun!" Baron Poison laughed as they flew out of The Land of Outcasts and started the journey back to The Barron North.