Serenity (Serenity)

[athena]

Athena's large body stepped aside, away from the other two, Bael and Elizabeth. Every step seemed to be screaming out to her to go back and to enjoy the moment of being in her true skin a little longer. But she knew better. Long ago she had decided to stay in her skin just a little longer, and it had nearly cost her her life. So much death had happened because many had decided to stay just a little while longer, and she wasn't going to be caught off guard, not like her mother.

The flames burst out of her mouth, liquid gold, blazing, and covering for what was to happen in a moment. As soon as the fire surrounded her large form Athena's gaze lost it's confidence and pride. All that was left was hopeless loss. A look like someone just told her she was to die and only had a week left. It was a look of pure sadness. No one was looking, no one was trying to see into her mind, she was protected behind this flame, for it burned as hot as Hell's fire, not allowing anyone close to it unless they were of the fire element.

A deep breath filled her lungs as she closed her eyes tightly, claws sinking into the ground. "Elbritar filainte olendier" The words came off her tongue and filled her mind. Suddenly a immense pain filled her body, it was as if every bone was being snapped and shoved into different places, places it didn't belong. The first time she had done this spell she had passed out from the spell before it was even completed, waking up back in the body of a dragon. Sweat covered her scaled making them glimmer and shine in the light.

Claws turned into long fingernails and then shortened into hands. The wings on her back pinned to her and shrunk, slowly fading from view. As much as she loved being in her ture form, she dreaded this, in fact some nights it even gave her nightmares. Darkness, blackness filled er senses as her golden eyes winced, her lip quivered and her limbs twitched. Yet through it all she repeated the spell, reinforced it. Sweat covered her body and the black dress which had appeared on her seemed wet with it, but soon the heat dried it from her body.

There she lay on the ground, curled up in a fetal position, tears streaming down her face. Her heart felt empty, it was as if she had lost something that was closest to her. Shakily her body stood up and her gentle hands brushed off the dirt. "It seems to get more painful every time.." She muttered to herself. Indeed it was. Sure it had hurt the first time, but slowly it had faded and she had been able to change forms without noticing much of anything, but lately.. lately ithe pain had been growing. There had been myths among the dragons that this spell caused them to grow weaker the longer they were exposed it it, or the longer they were in their human form. Yet it had been put off as a myth, for it would have to take many years. Athena's face showed slight worry. "Perhaps it is just this world going awire.." She thought. Closing her eyes she ran her fingers through the flame, which now had grown closer to her. The fire caused a hot wind to blow through her hair, whisking small pieces of hair across her face.

But the peaceful moment didn't last long, for quickly her hands tucked those asray hairs back into their place and the fire vanished around her. What had seemed like moments to the others had felt like years, no longer than that, decades. And when the fire had cleared, all the insecutiry and sorrow had vanished from her face like the wind, the usual stern and stoic face remain. If you peered into her mind there was a shield as strong as dragons scales, and the chanting of the spell running through her mind. Her gaze shifted to Elizabeth, wondering if she had felt anythign that she herself had experienced, for she had let her guard down, as always, during that time when she was weakest. Then she looked back to Bael, "I'm sorry but the next ride might not be for a good long while..

[elizabeth]

Elizabeth turned to face the salty depths as Athena morphed into an unnatural form. Her eyes narrowed as she looked out across the horizon, the gray skies seeming too stark for a place of this nature. She crouched down and sat on the coarse sand, her fingers sifting through it absentmindedly. She felt it rude to stare while the transformation was occuring; it felt heavily personal. Even so, she wondered what it must feel like, how it must affect her close friend. It couldn't be healthy, interchanging from two such polar opposite forms like that on a regular basis. What other choice did she have? Elizabeth had seen first hand how dragons were looked upon in this universe, and it certainly wasn't anything pleasant.

With a heavy sigh, she glanced backward after Athena had completed her metamorphisis. She couldn't quite feel it on her own, but something definitely had drained Athena's strength to almost the point where it was nonexistent. The same strong, solemn expression flitted across her friend's features, but Elizabeth knew better. It was getting more painful for her with every time. With a reluctant grunt, she heaved herself up off the sandy terrain and brushed the grains from her chaps. She winced when she took a step; her thighs were still extremely sore. Gradually she managed to trudge her way closer to her, enough that she could mutter something that Bael couldn't hear.

"Can you continue like this?" she whispered, her eyes meeting Athena's. She was sure Athena wouldn't give her a straight, honest answer; Athena wouldn't want to expose any weakness. It didn't hurt to ask.

[athena]

Athena looked at her friend for a couple moments. Should she really tell her the truth? She decided against it yet, as soon as she opened her mouth to say she was fine, she saw the concern Elizabeth had for her. No, Elizabeth deserved more than a lie or silence. Plus she would see right through it. Her gaze shifter to the horizon behind Elizabeth. "Do I have a choice?" She hadn't admitted that it was draining her, nor did she say she was fine, she just avoided the question, with a question, yet somehow answered the question. "I fear..." She stopped as her eyes narrowed slightly, "That the time of dragons, has ended."

Her eyes shifted back to Elizabeth's face and studied it, looking at her emotions. "So how are you feeling. I saw you were a bit..." She tilted her head slightly, a sign of amusement, "stiff." Those fiery eyes of her flashed as she said the last word with a hint of sarcasm.

The world around the two friends was as peaceful as ever. Yet underneath the serene surface there was turmoil. A perfect comparison of the two friends and Athena, now seeming so peaceful was seeing many things that didn't look pleasant in the future for her. In fact, for the first time her strong heart quavered slightly with fear.

[zephyr]

Zephyr, who had watched the whole transformation advanced on the trio slowly. A cocky smile played on his lips as he flipped his hair our of his right eye. "Ah, what do we have here?" Walking over he rested a foot on a high stone and then rested his elbow on the knee. "How interesting. A demon boy, a human.." His gaze rested icily on Athena, "but most amusing, a dragon." A strange light glimmered in his eyes as he looked her up and down, "I haven't seen a dragon in many years, especially one that has the mark of royalty on their arm. How very strange."

Athena's firey eyes blazed with fury, "I don't know what you are talking about. "

"Oh, don't be so humble, I've seen my share of dragons before. Though never have I seen one master the art of becoming a human so masterfully as you have." At this he strode forward and circled around her, that smirk never leaving his face. "So tell me, " he got closer to her, "Is the transformation starting to weary you now? Is it making you weak?"

Athena's face showed nothing of letting this taunting bother her.

"I have seen dragons go insane from that little spell you use, some even grew so weak that their heart just couldn't stand it any more. Though." He leaned in closer to her, "I must say I helped out with that a bit. There is nothing so rewarding as." His voice dropped so that only Athena could hear, " killing a dragon." His icy eyes met hers.

Athena could feel the anger rise in her, the fury of this man being so close to her. How dare he?! Then as told her about killing dragons, her blood ran cold. Her eyes narrowed.

"Don't worry, you shouldn't fell like you should be so docile, it's been a long time since I have last had some good sport. Though I must say I am impressed, your self restraint is most impressive. Most dragons, by now, would have flown into a furious rage."

Athena's eyes flared at his, "What do you want you insipid beast?"

Zephyr laughed darkly, "There we are, showing your true colors now." Athena turned away from him angrily, "I was beginning to think I made a mistake."

Athena's eyes glared back at him, knowing that he was lying, he knew he had her in his grasp. If only she could have a distraction she could transform back into a dragon. Just one little distraction.

"What do I want, well let's see.. I don't want anything, but my friend here.." Zephyr motioned to his sword, "Has been starting to get hungry." His eyes darkened slightly, "And I mustn't let that happen. "

Raising her arm Athena slapped him across the face, not holding back any of her strength.

The blow mad Zephyr step back a pace as he touched the side of his mouth gingerly. Blood showed on his finger tips. "Ah, well look who drew the first blood. I'm sure the guardians will forgive me, this time" The word guardian came out of his mouth like a curse and the whole sentence was dripping with sarcasm. Pulling out his sword he grinned at her, "Arm yourself, I don't fight defenseless dragons, unless, of course, provoked. "

Athena stepped back from him, it was to late, she had drawn first blood. Her eyes glanced at the others, she sent a thought in their heads not to interfere. This was a fight between him and her, better one die then all three. Then she stopped thinking the spell, the transformation started to rack her body as a shield of fire erupted around her. Wings burst from her back, claws from her fingers. A scream escaped her lips which quickly turned into a roar. Yet this time, as the fire cleared, instead of standing ready, like she usually did. She was struggling to get up. Her scales were west from a steamy sweat. Athena had transformed to quickly in succession to when she last transformed, the result was weakness.

"Ah, to weak to get up? It seems as though your time is running short, my friend. Better to die in battle then the humiliating death of that spell."

These words seemed to give Athena some strength and she staggered to her feet. Letting out a roar fire burst from her lips and covered Zephyr, yet when they cleared he still stood standing there.

"That all you've got dragon? Strange how I have been given the gift of wielding fire, is it not?" Circling around her like a lion circling his prey, Zephyr waited for her next move.

Athena was furious, the little human thought way to much of himself for his own good. Not only that, but her vision was slightly blurry from the transformation. Lashing out her tail she aimed it straight for him.

Zephyr leaped out of the way with ease. "This is pitiful, surely you have more than this. Perhaps I underestimated you. You aren't worthy to even be called a dragon. " He dodged another swipe with her tail. "Though I should have guessed, you being the blue ones daughter."

Athena paused at this.

"Yes, that was your mother wasn't it. My father helped the wizard in killing her. Came home with terrific wounds, but he told me, before he died, that he had seen another dragon, rare golden scales and eyes. I believe that fits your description perfectly. Does it not?"

Athena quivered with raw fury. Her eyes got a strange glow about them. Battle rage was taking over her, and as soon as she succumbed to it, she would loose all feeling of wounds, all weaknesses would desert her. She would be uncontrollable, even to Elizabeth. Letting out a deep hiss she said to him, " Yes, I remember your father, saw him smashed against a tree. Sons always do follow in their father's footsteps you know. Perhaps you to will be killed by a dragon." With that she lost all control. All sense of pain and time left her. Athena was no more, now she was just a furious dragon. Lunging at him with her claws she managed to swipe him on the side, leaving bloody slash marks on him. Only his agility had save him from death. Thrusting her wing out, the bony spear at the tip of it came straight at him, but she missed by a hair. Her wings unfurled and whacked him across the chest sending him sprawling. Then she went forward, rushing upon him like the wind. Swinging her tail it headed straight for him.

Zephyr suddenly found himself skidding across the sand without even knowing what had hit him. "Beautiful" He smirked, "This is what I have been waiting for." Pure raw power, it was beautiful. But before he could revel in unleashing this power in her, the corner of his eye let him see a golden tail, spikes gleaming, rushing toward him. It took all of his agility to thrust out his sword, letting her impale her tail on it.

A roar split the air as pain rushed from her tail up her spine. Glancing down she say the blasted pointy thing embedded in her tail.

Zephyr took the sword out and quickly moved away from the back of her, dodging her wings and claws.

"What is that." She hissed as the bite from the blade stung miserably.

"Oh you like it? Quite a bite eh?" Zephyr laughed as he showed her the blade. "This is my friend, inherited by my father, given to him by the wizard. Your scales have almost no effect on this blade., only your toughest scaled with keep it from going deep."

Athena lunged out with her neck, teeth reaching for the sword, but her target just skipped agilely to the side and swiped her front leg, leaving a deep gash. A roar filled with flame was sent toward him. Which he quickly told to go else where before waiting again for her to attack. Athena tried hitting him with her wing or claw, but he was to quick for her, a cut of the wing here, a slice to the foot here, and before she knew it those golden scales weer covered in a red tint.

Zephyr stood back and watched with satisfaction as the dragon stumbled and fell, tripping over her own feet. Not wasting any time he leaped on the dragons back and thrust his sword between her shoulder blades, The blade went deep, but because of the thicker scales on her back, he would have to strike again in the same place.

Athena didn't make it easy. She swayed and stumbled, trying to knock him off, almost succeeding. He was just out of her mouth's reach, which angered her mightily. Finally she succeded by flipping over to her back, causing him to leap off. But what she didn't expect, was that she revealed her belly.

Zephyr tumbled off her back and landed on his back by her belly. It took him a moment to gather his senses before he realized where he was. Right by her belly, to good to be true. Slashing out with his sword, he dealt the death wound.

Or so his thought, for as soon as he took his swing he was hit on the side by something hard, causing him to loose balance and fall down.

"How dare you!" A girl's voice rang out.

Zephyr turned to look at the girl, her red hair tumbled over her shoulders in curls.

"How dare you even think of trying to kill a dragon just for sport."Her thin form trembled with rage.

"This isn't your problem pipsqueak" He said to her as he turned his attention back to the dragon.

Athena tried to rise, but even though his sword hadn't gone deep enough to kill, it had gone deep enough to cut her scales. Pain racked her body, every time she moved.

Zephyr smiled at her condition as he moved towards her with a wince. Even he was feeling the effect of the wounds she had dealt him. A couple cuts here, three broken ribs from her hitting him with her wing, the deep cuts on his side, and the loss of blood.

"I believe it is." Kaylen answered

Not paying her attention Zephyr changed his grip on his sword and glanced at the dragon. She would be immobile for a couple minutes.
Yet as he went to get closer, vines tied him close to the spot. "You try my patience" He growled before slicing the vines and turning to the girl. "Alright you have my attention, what do you want?"

"To leave."

Zephyr laughed, "Yeah, not happening, so go fun off to your little home and leave me be. I have work to do" Shaking his head he turned away from her and started to take another step, but the vines came around his foot once more. "Release my foot, or else." He yelled.

"Not happening." She replied.

Zephyr's gaze shifted to the dragon, she was pulling herself off the ground and to her feet, he had to act now or his chance would be over. "Don't make me.."

"Don't make you do what?" she challenged.

"This." Reaching down he pulled a knife from his belt and sent it spinning toward her. It didn't miss.

Kaylen collapsed with a cough, blood streaming from her chest.

The vines around Zephyr's feet tightened then relaxed, falling around his feet. "Thanks." He smiled at the fallen girl coolly. Before he turned his attention to Athena, who had picked herself up. "So dragon, shall we continue?"

Athena hissed, "Let's"

[{Kaiji}]

Kaiji had been taking a swim deep in the ocean in the form of a Great White shark. 'It's nice having gills' He thought, smiling on the inside. Then he decided that was enough time in the depths, the hours he had been in the water had been fun, but it was time to go ashore. He started swimming at top speed vertically. As he neared the surface, the shift back to being human began. He shot out of the water, into the air and splashed back in. He was lucky that his pants always remained, even when he shifted. His eyes wandered around, he was still quite a far distance from the shore. He raised his hands. As he did, his body raised onto the surface and a wave formed behind him. It brought him closer and closer to shore. He was even surfing on it with just his feet.

His smile disappeared when he saw the sight on the beach. There was a man attacking a golden dragon and a girl. He instantly knew who the dragon was, his friend Athena. The man had thrown his knife and hit the girl in the chest, killing her. Kaiji's anger began to grow. That was pretty bad too. Because of his shape-shifting into animals he had quite an animalistic rage. He stoppped the wave dead in its path.

He raised his hands again and the water that made the wave floated into the air and began to turn to ice. He made the water under him force him up next to it. Then his fist connected with the ice. He made it form into about 50 ice spears that sped toward the man. Then he forced the water under him to shoot him to shore through the air. He changed some of the water into an ice sword as he flew through the air. His expression was serious and slightly angry.

[zephyr]

Athena's rage burned within her as she opened her mouth, letting a golden blaze of fire hurtling toward Zephyr. A growl rumbled like thunder as her golden eyes blazed with fury. An innocent bystander had died, someone who she didn't even know, but even still she felt a piercing stab in her heart from the death. Sadly what she didn't expect was help from behind, ice spears heading toward Zepyr. They melted in her stream of fire.


"Thank you dragon." Zephyr smirked as he bowed mockingly to her. "I didn't know that I meant so much to you." His gaze shifted toward the figure of someone on waves with an ice sword coming toward them. A frown came to his lips, "Friends, you have such brash friends..." He turned to her with a smirk, "To bad they will all die when I'm through with you."

Athena turned to see Kaiji flying through the air at Zephyr. A mistake, for she had taken her attention from her enemy.

Zephyr took this chance, after all he wasn't going to wait around for the kid who just turned up to land before him. Taking out a dagger that had a dragon as the hilt. He aimed and threw, it soared through the air and landed, blade first, into the soft part behind her leg.

Athena roared slightly and turned to him, "Do you think a thorn will bother me?"

"It will in a moment." He scoffed. This had all taken only a couple of seconds. Zephyr now prepared himself for the incoming boy with the ice sword. It was time to go. He knew his strength and now with a multitude of wounds, he had met his match. The dragon would have to wait until later. Smirking He stared at the boy, "We will meet again, I assure you." Fire enveloped him and when the blaze had died out, her was gone.

[{Kaiji}]

Kaiji landed with a thud on the shore. Just as he slashed, the man had disappeared. He growled and threw his ice sword into the ocean. In mid-air the blade turned back into liquid and splashed in. His eyes shot straight to the girl who lay dead not too far from him. He hadn't ever known her or even seen her, but he felt sad for her death. Also, he felt that if he had just surfaced a bit sooner, maybe he could've saved her. The sadness didn't last too long. He turned to face his dragon friend. "Would you like me to pull that out?" He asked her, pointing to the knife sticking out from behind her leg.

[athena]

Athena stumbled slightly before glaring angrily at Kaiji. Reaching her head back she grasped the knife in her teeth. Yanking it out with one smooth movement she shattered it in her mouth and spit out the pieces. "cursed blade you no longer will be used." Shuffling over to the girl that was laying still on the ground she nosed her gently. "she isn't dead..not yet though soon the ancestors will claim her. " Before she could say anything else the girl reached weakly up and placed her pale thin hand on Athena's nose.

"Don't move, I give you my life's energy to heal you. That blade was poisoned, soon your knees will weaken your heart will slow and you will die.[/b]" every word was strained and weak. [/size]

Athena's eyes grew wide, "But how..?"

"[size=1I know a lot more than you may think...I give my life for you... use this chance for good and don't waste it.[/b]" closing her eyes she seemed to be concentrating. But nothing seemed to take place, only Athena could feel the effects.

It only took a couple minutes, with one growing paler and paler, the other seeming to grow stronger. Soon Kayle's hand fell off Athena's nose and she was gone.


Athena looked at the girl that she had barely known. A girl who had given her life for her. Yes, Athena's body was riddled with scratches, cuts and gashes, but her energy had been replenished, how had such power come from such a thing frail frame and how had someone so close to death have so much energy left. Closing her eyes she rested her nose against the girl, mourning the loss of such a good soul. "May you rest in peace." Blowing flame on the girl's form fire consumed the body. "I will do as you said,.. " Athena's eyes opened, reflecting the fire, "I promise." She didn't move until her golden flame had died, nothing was left of the girl for she was free to roam the earth now. All was gone except her necklace, a red necklace. Reaching down Athena took it in her talon and clasped it before putting it in a bag.

turning to Kaiji she dipped her head, "I thank you for all you have done. You probably saved my life." She gazed at him, the mourning had left her eyes and had been replaced with a spark of life.

[{Kaiji}]

A sad look spread across Kaiji's face when Athena glared at him. His mind processed that she was angry that he even showed up and she could have handled it herself. This was obviously wrong, but his mind convinced him like it always did. It was a vicious sadness, for the time it lasted at least. Then he looked over to the girl dying on the ground. She gave Athena her life. Kaiji thought about walking over or putting his hand on Athena's scales or something. But then that feeling from before stopped him, that is until she turned and dipped her head. She thanked him and said he probably saved her life. He couldn't help but smile and say, "You're welcome." He kept smiling when he saw her eyes. Then he just wished that he could someday turn into a dragon, an ocean colored dragon. That just made him smile bigger.