"This... is it?" Ookami blinked as she put her hands on her hips. "THIS is the Blue Dragon's lair?"
"That's what Aika said," Karu pointed out. "So it has to be."
"There's nothing but water!" Ookami complained as she gestured around the cave, practically flooded with pools and rivers all fed by a monsterous waterfall in the back.
"...That's probably because it's the BLUE DRAGON'S lair," Karu pointed out, chuckling. "His... er, hers... er... its element IS water, you know."
"Bleh." Ookami stuck out her tongue. "It's humid and wet!"
"The sooner we find the dragon, the sooner we can leave," Karu replied. "Besides, given the fact that we live in a wasteland, I thought you'd like to see water."
"Yeah, but not this much. I feel like I'm standing in the middle of the ocean!" Ookami retorted. "My skin feels all clammy!"
Karu simply chuckled and strode towards the smaller cave by the waterfall, where the dragon's main den was said to be.
Ookami blinked, then huffed and followed after her brother as she crossed her arms sulkily.
The sight they were greeted with was anything but what they had expected to see.
"I'M FREE! I'M FREE! I'M FREE!"
Streaking through the cave, completely naked, was the blue dragon in human form.
Ookami's eyes widened just before she let out a scream and covered her eyes. Karu paused and stared, his cheek twitching visibly.
"I thought it was the Black Dragon who was insane!" Ookami whimpered, muffled by her hands.
"This one comes a close second, I guess." Karu grunted.
With a strangled cry, another baby doll-like monster fell to the ground. Nightstar grunted and hefted his sword up, trouncing past the monster and towards the stairs. "This had better be the last one, or I'll catch the whole place on fire."
"Well we are pretty high up already," Yuki commented as she followed closely behind Nightstar.
"Why does he have to live here, anyway?" Nightstar muttered, irritably. "Isn't this the place where our kind was...?"
Yuki could only shrug, which was hard to tell considering that she was in her baby form again. "I dunno, but maybe he just wanted to make a good use for it?" she guessed.
"..." Nightstar held his tongue with any bitter retort that came to mind, simply shrugging. "I guess so." With a grunt, Nightstar approached the steps and slowly climbed up. "I'll tell you one thing... it's times like this I miss wings."
"Why not just change into baby form like me?" Yuki blinked as she flew up alongside Nightstar.
"...I'd have to leave all my equipment," Nightstar replied.
"Why not just put it all into your pocket dimension?" Yuki blinked, confused. "That's what I do when I change back and forth."
"..." Nightstar paused and flushed, not wanting to mention the fact that he didn't feel comfortable using his pocket dimension. Before he met Yuki, he didn't even know how to use it. He had spent so much time training his mind and body that he hadn't actually thought about his pocket dimension. Yuki quickly found out and gave him instructions on how to use it, but he felt very weird about the whole thing.
Yuki tilted her head slightly as she looked at Nightstar, waiting for his response.
"...I... don't..." Nightstar grunted. "... ... Um..."
"..." Yuki blinked slowly. "It'd be a good chance to use what I taught you!"
"..." Nightstar didn't reply.
"..." Yuki tilted her head the other way, a thoughtful look on her face. "Did you forget?"
"...No..." Nightstar turned to look at Yuki. "It just... feels weird using it."
"Yeah but you'll get used to it." Yuki nodded. "All of us dragons can do it. That's one of the reasons all the past Dragonmasters and heros needed us along." She then struck a pose, grinning cutely. "That and we're so cool!"
Nightstar quirked a grin and chuckled. "I guess so."
Yuki giggled then landed on a step. "C'mon, give it a try! Okay?"
"...Well... after we reach the top and have to leave," Nightstar smiled. "We don't know what's at the top. We may hafta fight some more."
"Yeah, that's true," Yuki nodded thoughtfully and returned the smile with one of her own.
Nightstar grinned and continued climbing, grunting along the way. Finally, he reached the top and blinked curiously about. He found himself standing on a large balcony garden of sorts, covered with children's toys.
"...We're here?" he ventured, slowly.
Yuki hopped into the air and flew up towards the ceiling before looking around, one paw over her eyes. "I don't see any monsters," she commented.
"I don't see anything," Nightstar growled. "Where is everyone? Inside?"
Nightstar strode forward carefully, looking around. He paused in the middle of the balcony and put his hands on his hips. "...So where are they?"
Yuki flew downwards a bit and shrugged at Nightstar before flying towards him. "I dunno. Maybe they went out for lunch?"
"..." Nightstar narrowed his eyes. "They're here... I can smell 'em. They're up to something."
"You can smell them?" Yuki blinked then sniffed the air, curious to see if she could smell them too.
"Yes... and they're right... over...," Nightstar leaned down to grab a rock, casually. "...THERE!" With that, Nightstar threw the rock as hard as he could in to the bushes.
A loud, high-pitched yelp came from the bushes moments before a small pink baby dragon flew out of them. "You jerk! You almost hit me!" she fumed angrily.
"That was the point," Nightstar replied. "You were hiding."
"Well, YOU'RE the one sneaking in here!" Ruby huffed.
"We weren't sneaking. You were simply too oblivious to notice us." Nightstar crossed his arms.
Suddenly there was a squeaking yelp originating from behind Nightstar.
Nightstar paused and whirled, his first thought concerning Yuki.
Nall stood a short distance behind Nightstar, holding Yuki firmly by her wings while the small blue dragon struggled. "It doesn't matter if you were sneaking or not," Nall said, his eyes narrowed at Nightstar. "You're still trespassing. Why are you here?"
"H-hey! We're not doing anything bad!" Yuki yelped as she flailed her paws in a futile attempt to get away.
Idly Ruby couldn't help but get a sense of deja vu.
However, Nightstar was far from intimidated by Nall's display. Instead, he was downright enraged. Nightstar lunged forward and slammed his fist in to Nall's stomach before snatching Yuki out of his grip and backfisting Nall for good measure. "HANDS OFF, BLEACH BOY!"
Nall let out a grunt of pain as all of the air was forced out of his lungs from Nightstar's punch, then staggered back after the backfisting, gasping for air.
"NALL!" Ruby cried, alarmed. She then whirled to glare angrily at Nightstar. "You just made a BIG mistake, buddy!" She then spat flames at Nightstar, intent upon charring him.
However, Nightstar was prepared. He quickly dived out of the way before diving at Ruby and grabbing her roughly by the tail. With a snarl, he yanked her around before quickly grabbing her by the base of her wings. He held her up, smirking viciously, before turning to look at Yuki. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Yuki said as she quickly flew over to Nightstar, eager to get away from Nall before he recovered. "They're not very friendly, are they?"
"Hey! Let me go!" Ruby protested as she struggled, more than a little humiliated at being made helpless so easily. She also couldn't help but notice the similarities between now and her first meeting with Nall.
"Shut up!" Nightstar bared his fangs at Ruby before he glanced at Yuki. "No, they're not."
Nall straightened as he recovered from Nightstar's attack, and glared at the other dragon turned human while mentally cursing at allowing himself to be so easily overpowered. "Let her go right now!" Nall ordered.
"Why should I?" Nightstar barked at Nall. "Turn about's fair play, white dragon."
"...You're the black and blue dragons aren't you?" Nall bared his fangs at Nightstar. "Why're you here?"
"Hoh?" Nightstar returned the gesture to show off his own teeth. "So you knew it was us when you attacked us? I suppose that's how you treat all family?"
"I didn't realize it was you until just this moment!" Nall glared. "Why are you here?" he repeated.
"You have a habit of 'not realizing', don't you?" Nightstar leaned back, casually. "Like you didn't realize you left Papa, Uncle Quark, and the others to slowly die in the Grindery until it was much too late... right?"
"..." Nall went silent for a few moments. "...We all thought they were dead," he said quietly, both filled with guilt and the need to tell his side of things at the same time.
"I guess it didn't clue you in that they were alive when you saw them breathing as you passed by them through the Grindery's interior," Nightstar commented, sarcastically. "It's normal for dead people to BREATHE, after all. An honest mistake."
"..." Nall couldn't respond to Nightstar's accusation.
"...HEY! Are you gonna let me go or not!?" Ruby demanded as she struggled more violently before. Although, the main reason for her outburst was more to get the subject off something that was obviously upsetting Nall than anything else.
Nightstar looked at Ruby, then grunted and released her unceremoniously. He glanced at Yuki before returning his gaze to Nall. "..."
Ruby wasted no time in quickly flying over to Nall and glared at Nightstar irritibly.
Nightstar glared back, his lips curling up slightly before he crossed his arms and snorted out a spark of electricity.
"...Why are you here anyway?" Ruby demanded as Nall was still silent.
"We're here to get your Dragon Armors so Nightstar can become the next Dragonmaster!" Yuki said enthusiasticly, although privately she was wondering about what Nightstar had accused Nall off. Nall didn't really purposely let the elder dragons almost die did he?
"I already have the helmet and armor. I just need the shield and wings now," Nightstar added, nodding his head.
"...You can't be serious," Ruby asked incredilously after a moment as Nall was still silent. "Dragons can't become Dragonmasters!"
"Why not?" Nightstar arched an eyebrow. "Dragons are stronger than humans."
"You obviously don't know about the power of humanity," Ruby pointed out. "Humans were able to defeat Zophar after all. I should know."
"Power of humanity? Yeah, to help themselves," Nightstar snorted. "Where was the power of humanity when my uncle and your mother died inside this very building?"
"..." Ruby was taken back at that momentarily. "...You knew my mother...?" was all that she could say.
"..." Nightstar closed his eyes, his expression solemn. "... Yes... I did... she and my father were very close."
"..." Ruby was at a loss.
Yuki's brows furrowed as she looked at the three other dragons. She didn't know what to think about the situation.
"...You can't be the Dragonmaster," Nall said, his voice quiet, solemn.
"..." Nightstar looked at Nall, poisonously. "Why?"
"We lend our powers to the Dragonmasters, not to each other. Althena didn't design us that way," Nall said seriously as he returned the look with one of his own.
"Dragons can do more than just lend our powers away. We aren't tools. We're alive, just like anyone else," Nightstar growled. "Why should we be considered nothing more than SLAVES to everyone!? Why can't dragons have as much right to free will as humans!?"
"That's not what I'm saying at all!" Nall snapped, baring his fangs due to his anger. "HUMANS, and only a certain kind of humans, can become Dragonmasters. Althena didn't give us the ability to become Dragonmasters."
"How do you know that?" Nightstar demanded.
"Because there has NEVER been a dragon as a Dragonmaster," Nall pointed out. "It's ALWAYS been certain humans."
"Because there hasn't ever been a dragon who wanted to!" Nightstar retorted. "And it's been humans with green eyes."
"Well, the title does imply that it's a MASTER of DRAGONS," Ruby added.
"And a dragon can't be a master of his own fate?" Nightstar arched an eyebrow.
"Of course, but what would be the point of all the past Dragonmasters if we could just do it ourselves then?" Nall retorted.
"Because the Dragonmaster is a symbol of heroes! Someone to look up to!" Nightstar snarled. "And we at least need one Dragonmaster who actually cares about EVERYONE!"
"Alex did care!" Nall snapped angrily.
"Oh really?" Nightstar hissed. "Then why did he leave Quark, my father, and the other dragons to die!?"
"We thought they were dead! They were dying when we had gotten there and by the time we defeated Ghaleon and saved Luna we thought it was already too late!" Nall shrieked, eyes moist as centuries of buried anger and regret came to the surface.
"Nall..." Ruby whispered softly.
"Did you even bother to check first?!" Nightstar screamed back, eyes flashing. "Did you even look at them!?"
"If you saw how close to death they were you would have thought that it was too late to help them too!" Nall screamed, tears at the corners of his eyes. "Don't you think I would have saved them if I knew that they were still alive!?"
Yuki whimpered, cringing back from the yelling as she placed both paws firmly over her ears, unused to such yelling or suffering after having been living in a cave all her life.
"..." Nightstar glared at Nall, his expression unreadable. He leaned back and crossed his arms, his jaw set.
Nall returned the glare with one of his own as he tried to put his emotions back in check. He rubbed the back of his hand across his face, trying to act casual as he brushed the wetness away from his eyes.
"...Your decision stands?" Nightstar asked, tensely.
"Yes," Nall said with a forced calmness.
"...Then know this," Nightstar raised a finger. "I am the new Black Dragon. I have inherited my father's position."
"..." Nall said nothing.
"Thus... the Black Dragon armor is now my property... and mine to give to future Dragonmasters," Nightstar continued, looking at Nall levelly. "Is it not?"
Nall still remained silent, but nodded slightly.
"...Then it is my decision..." Nightstar drew back to his full height, arms crossed. "That I will NEVER give the armor to a human. Ever. There will be a dragon Dragonmaster... or no Dragonmaster at all."
"...You'd risk all of Lunar being destroyed rather than let a human become Dragonmaster!?" Ruby asked, aghast. "That's insane!"
"..." Nall looked at Nightstar levelly. "...That might be the entire point, Ruby."
"Heh," Nightstar smirked. "Us Black Dragons have been known for being a little insane. Besides, if this world can't treat all of its people fairly... then maybe it doesn't deserve to exist at all."
"...You're the one being predjudiced." Nall crossed his arms.
"Am I?" Nightstar tilted his head. "Or am I simply giving you what you are giving me?"
"...I'm not being predjudiced. I'm just stating that I doubt Althena made us to be able to become Dragonmasters. She believed in the power of humanity."
"It is your personal opinion. You refuse me based off of opinion," Nightstar replied. "Therefore, I have the right to do the same."
"I'm just stating the conclusion I came to based on common sense," Nall retorted.
"Hah. You're just trying to hide the fact that you're totally dependent," Nightstar retorted. He paused and regarded Nall carefully, as if he suddenly had a thought. His eyes roamed before widening with realization. A large, toothy grin crossed Nightstar's face.
"We're all depending on Althena," Nall pointed out. "And now Lucia." He then eyed Nightstar as he noticed the black dragon's look. "...What?"
"...I'm dependant on no one," Nightstar replied as he grinned like a Chesire cat, his mind obviously made up about something. "Hmmmmm hmmm hmmm..."
"...We ALL depend on Althena's power," Nall repeated firmly.
"I depend on no one," Nightstar grinned even wider, before stretching almost casually.
"...Why are you smiling?" Nall asked, suddenly very wary.
"Because I just noticed something," Nightstar replied, starting to chuckle.
"...What?" Nall eyed Nightstar suspiciously.
"... ..." Nightstar grinned even wider than seemingly possible, then jerked his thumb behind his back. "Say, isn't that Lucia coming up the gondola now?"
"Wha?" Nall blinked and shifted his gaze slightly towards the gondola, still keeping a careful watch on Nightstar out of the corner of his eye as he did so.
Ruby blinked and turned to look as well, as did Yuki.
Nightstar didn't waste any time.
With a smirk, Nightstar lunged forward and plowed through Nall and Ruby as he headed for the stairs, his hands moving quickly for unknown reasons. He didn't wait for them to react, however, as he leapt down the stairs. "C'mon, Yuki! Everything's settled!"
Ruby and Nall cried out as they both crashed into the floor due to Nightstar's sudden lunge.
"Huh?" Yuki blinked as she quickly flew after Nightstar. "But what about the armors?"
Nightstar simply winked and gestured her to follow as he bolted. "Not here. Farther down. Quickly!"
"Uh, okay?" Yuki blinked again, but did as Nightstar said and followed him as quickly as possible.
"HEY! That was RUDE you know!" Ruby shouted heatedly as she got back up into the air, glaring at where the two dragons retreated.
Nightstar simply smirked until the two were out of sight before displaying the Red Dragon Shield, White Dragon Wings, and Althena's Sword to Yuki. "See? Settled."
Yuki gasped as she stared at Nightstar and the dragon items. "What the?! When did you get those?" she asked, amazed.
"When I was plowing through them!" Nightstar crowed.
"Wow..." Yuki stared in awe then blinked at Nightstar. "But don't you have to get permission first and pass a test or something?"
"But I did past the test," Nightstar replied, slyly. "The White and Red tests are to use your head and show courage. I used my head and showed courage in taking the armor from them without them knowing."
"Ooooohhhhh," Yuki nodded slowly as it seemed to make sense. Still it didn't seem quite like how her uncle told her it was supposed to work, but she trusted Nightstar's judgement.
Nightstar nodded, smirking, before he shoved the armor and sword out of sight in his pocket dimension. He couldn't use them, despite his reasonings, because he knew that Nall and Ruby would simply deny him the power. However, possessing the armor made it impossible for them to give it away to anyone else. He figured the two would eventually allow him to be Dragonmaster, albeit grudgingly, but it would take time and patience; not that he'd tell Yuki that. Nightstar paused in his musings when he realized what he had done so effortlessly, then beamed happily. "I guess I did get used to using my pocket dimension!"
"Yeah!" Yuki cheered, smiling brightly. "Good job!"
"Heh, of course."