composingfantasy

They say that beings of two species become something new, and perhaps more powerful than the two species that make up that being. These beings are called Hybrids. Hybrids are powerful creatures, and should not be messed with. What do you think happens when people get involved with hybrids, even if it is only one. Their life changes. Some gain memories of the past, others gain pain beyond their imagination, and even the hybrid gains something. What it is, the being does not even know.


 * Hybrid**

The sky was no more vibrant than that of the deep blue curls that flew behind the young female. Her optics of obsidian were filled with fear as she ran from... Something. After a few moments, the young girl tripped over the long sleeveless/strapless gown she was wearing. Her cloak billowed slightly as she fell to her knees, weakened. ~This can not be happening, after all this time...~ she thought. ~I can not get up, my life force has not had time to recover...~ she closed her black eyes for a moment and then opened them; only to be staring at four swords pointed at her neck.

"Get up Hybrid, we have no time for your games..." one of the figures in front of her said, his voice was deep and gruff. He had shoulder length brown hair and matching dull chocolate optics. He wore a v-cut tunic, black pants, black boots, and a tattered brown cloak.

"What do you want from me?" the young female asked. She stood up; her height was no more than 4'10", which was rather short compared to the young man's 6'3".

"Just the name that you go by now, Hybrid," the man said, "Apparently, you don't recognize me. If it makes you feel any better and safer, I will introduce myself. I am Senshi Aiwa (Sin-she -long-I-wa), captain of the King's army, and I have a mission to bring you in to the King."

"That is not going to happen," the girl replied, "If you wish to know what I am called, then it is Mitsukai Kogun (Mitsk -long- i Ko-gun), elf-faerie hybrid of the Mitsukai clan..." she said, her voice gentle and soft, yet venomous. She threw her cloak to the side, revealing the fact her gown did have sleeves, but they were detached from the gown. They covered her whole arm, with the exception of her upper arms and her fingertips; they were the same black as the gown and they had gold dragons embroidered into them. At this time, Aiwa took a moment to observe the being he was pursuing. She wore no shoes, but instead had three golden bangles around each ankle. Around her neck was a black ribbon with a gold bell hanging off of it. Her ears were slightly pointed, showing that she was at least half elf. Her gown was strapless and also low cut in the back, and the reason it was low-cut proved the young female was a hybrid; a pair of black faerie wings with gold swirling in and out of spaces and intertwining with the black of the wings were the reason the dress was low-cut, and also the reason she wore the cloak. Kogun had skin the color of the moon and she looked sickly, but she was beautiful, though none could put their finger on how she was beautiful. She may have had looks, but she was also dangerous. She had a belt around her waist that held four katanas; each one had a different colored hilt. One had black, one had white, one had red, and one had blue. She stood in a battle stance, ready to take down anyone who stood in her way.

Aiwa smirked, "Just come with us, Hybrid, and nothing will go wrong," he said, his voice now cunning as he tried to persuade Kogun to go to the castle with him.

Kogun smirked, "That is not going to happen!" she snapped, pulling out all four of her swords and charging after Aiwa. ~I can fight effectively with four swords more than I can with one... Maybe I will have the advantage...~ she thought.

(Amber H. -I used the original Japanese way of saying names, so Senshi and Mitsukai are their last names, not their first ones. Aiwa and Kogun are their first names. And anyone who is good at making battle scenes... Yeah... And it's kind of Medieval and kind of Warring States Era Japan...-)

Aiwa raised his eyebrows. There had always been stories about the fighting power of the faeries, but no one had ever mentioned what a hybrid could do. He brought his sword up and flicked it gracefully; just enough to temporarily put the charging elf/faerie off balance and disarm her of the black-hilted katana.

Kogun stood facing her opponent. Her dark glare only made the King's men laugh.

"Well, //Captain//, I see you can defend yourself from a head-on blow, now we will try something new. It is called confusion," she challenged. As she said this, she threw the white-hilted katana to her right and the blue one to her left. They skittered across the ground.

One of Aiwa's men went to pick up the sword closest to him that Kogun had lost in the beginning. As he grabbed the black hilt, his eyes drooped. His whole body sagged. He fell down and crawled up against the wall. He curled up and started rocking back and forth.

"What did you do to him, you witch?!" Aiwa yelled.

"You know what the colors mean. Red means passion. Blue means fidelity. White means purity. Black... well, black means depression," Kogun smiled evilly. "Your friend will be okay after a while; as long as he is not depressed enough to kill himself, but elf magic //is// strong...."

Now it was Aiwa's turn to charge. The curved blade cut through the air. Kogun only just managed to block with her katana. Red sparks flew, shining bright in Kogun's raven eyes. She poised her blade beside Aiwa's shoulder, the sharp point only centimeters away from his face.

Aiwa's eyes flashed as he stepped back furiously elevating his sword and jabbing at Kogun's heart. She parried the blow and slapped him on the face with the side of her blade then brought it down onto his sword while he was still off guard, causing it to clatter to the ground. She kicked him on the backs of his knees and brought him to the ground. Several sharp intakes of breath were heard from the direction of Aiwa's men.

Aiwa looked up at the hybrid with contempt. "Just go ahead and finish me off!"

"No. I do not think I will, but thanks for the offer. I might have to take you up on that some day." Aiwa glared. "No, what I want is for you to tell your King that I refuse to be taken prisoner by men sent to do his dirty work. I will, however, talk to the King personally and when //I// decide it is time. Not before. Understand?"

Aiwa nodded, still glaring.

"Take your men and go, but first: here is a little something to remember me by." She tapped the hilt of her katana against the crook between Aiwa's thumb and pointer finger of his right hand. A bright red, katana-shaped mark appeared where she tapped.

"Now go, and leave my swords or I //will// come after you."

Aiwa stood and gave Kogun one last glare. He and the rest of his men walked away quickly, occasionally stealing glances behind them. When they were finally out of eyesight, Kogun sighed. She collected her dropped swords and cloak. She then walked away into the sunset, her jewelry jingling in the silence.

(Elizabeth H. -Again Amber and I work together on a story. This is becoming a habit. ~lol~)

Kogun sighed heavily as she sheathed her final sword and pulled her cloak over her small body. She was breathing hard, as if she had just got through running a race against a horse. She seemed to be even weaker than she had been before the slight tiff with Aiwa. She knew he would be back, not any time soon, but he would be back. She decided to rest for now; she jumped onto a tree branch she had come across, her bangles jingling against each other. She sat on the branch and closed her eyes, until she heard a sound in the bushes coming closer to her. ~Wonderful...~ she thought. She was too weak to move, and she was about to be ambushed.

(Amber H. -I'm terribly sorry about adding again, but I had to do something... I didn't think anyone would add anything if it was left with Kogun walking off... And who ever adds next can decide if the sound is good, evil, human, or not...)

A cricket jumped out of the bush. Soon after that a girl pounced at it, but it walked a few centimeters away. She sat up, "Mr. Cricky! Don't go away! I'm hungry!" The girl sat on the ground Indian style. She had red hair, like fire. Her green emerald eyes shined. She was wearing two feathers in her hair, with her hair pulled in a pony tail. She had a green ribbon tied around her neck, with a bow in the back. As for her cloths, they looked like a pirate costume.

Kogun automatically scoffed. It was a changeling. A girl who could change her form. To top it off, she seemed to be a new changeling, a stupid, not-able-to-even-catch-a-cricket, new changeling.

There was another ruffle in the leaves.

A girl with blond hair and blue eyes stepped out, "Kiri? What are you doing?"

"Hullo Kiln!"

The girl, probably fifteen, was wearing a simple white dress with a black decorative tunic like thing over it. The tunic's skirt had a white bird woven into the fabric on it.

Kogun went wide eyed. This was rare. The girl had very pointed ears; more pointed then Kogun's. This girl was a full blooded elf!

Another person stepped out.

'Great, more people...' thought Kogun.

The boy had brown hair, and sort of rusty red eyes. Telling from his very thick leather cloths he worked with fire, and from the looks of his armor, he worked with large animals. He was a dragon rider.

'A dragon rider, a full elf, and a changeling all traveling with each other?' this puzzled Kogun.

"Kiln," the boy said, "What is wrong with her?"

The elf, named Kiln sighed, "She's fine Mido, just hungry."

Kiri's stomach growled.

The dragon rider, Mido, smirked, "Ha! I'll catch something for us to eat! For I am the greatest dragon rider in the w-"

Kiln pinched his lips together with her thumb and pointer finger, "When you get your license, I'll let you yell that, but for now, you're just a dragon rider in training." She smirked and let go of his mouth. "Grounded."

"Wait..." said Kiri going wide eyed, "You're not going to kill an animal, are you?" she asked in a sad innoccent tone.

"Uhhh...weren't you just going to eat that cricket..." said Mido.

"CRICKETS AREN'T ANIMALS!" yelled Kiri, "THEY'RE BUGS!"

Mido rolled his eyes, “Kiln, this is boring; you know even 1918 is more interesting than this…”

“Shush, I hear some thing in the tree,” Kiln took out a bow and an arrow, then pulled and pointed, “Come out or I’ll shoot.”

((Hi ya'll! Just wanted to help! Victoria N.))

Kogun held her breath. Since she didn't have enough energy, she couldn't fight this interesting trio. Besides, they outnumbered her. If she did give herself up, who knew what they would do to her.

"If you come out, I'll give you a cookie!" Kiri giggled.

The hybrid slowly moved her cramped wing. She tried to do so without hitting any leaves, but it didn't help. The full-blooded elf's ears picked up the sound of the creaking of Kogun's wing joints. Kiln cocked her head and scanned the trees for any signs of someone or something that shouldn't be there. She saw a slight movement of gold against a black tree branch. She let loose an arrow just below the branch.

A soft gasp was heard as the Hybrid fell to the ground. Her wing was twisted in a strange way under her body. Kogun groaned.

Kiri handed Kogun a cookie. "I told you I would give you a cookie if you came out!"

(Elizabeth H. I'll add more, but my computer is almost dead.)

Kiln gasped, “Mido! Why did you hit me! I wasn’t going to actually hit her!”

He went wide eyed, “Oops… you weren’t?”

Kiln shook her head and ran over, “I’m so sorry! Will you be alright?” Her voice showed little emotion, yet some how Kogun could tell she was really sorry. As of now Kogun hated all of them, especially the stupid dragon rider.

(Victoria N.)

Kogun groaned softly. She could barely keep her eyes open. The energy needed to get up the tree coupled with the energy expended when she fell on her wing left her almost completely defenseless against these strangers that had added to her misery.

(Elizabeth H. I got stuck!)

Kiln looked at Kogun and realized she hadn’t caused her those injuries. Still, she could have caused them if she had hit her. She stood up and looked at Mido, “We have to help her.” “Uhhh…why?” he asked. Kiln went into another speech about how they should show kindness and respect to everyone to prove that they were noble people, not just freaks. Mean while Kiri was talking to Kogun. “Hi! My name’s Kiri! What’s yours? I like fish! Do you like fish? I like fish! I wanna cookie! Are you gonna eat that cookie!” Kogun groaned. Kiri smiled, “Thanks!” She took the cookie and ate it. She hugged Kogun, “We’re gonna be best friends!” Kogun winced. Kiri noticed her wings, “Oh! Pretty!” She began to pet them. Once more Kogun winced, this time she sounded really angry, but Kiri didn’t notice. Kiri smiled, “Wait!” She concentrated and wings similar to Kogun’s came out of her back, “I got wings too!” She danced around for a second then yawned, “Ooo… tired… night night!” She fell to the ground and began to snore.

((Victoria N. A little random, but gives you a little bit of an idea of how they all act, for example, Kiln's responsible and Mido's a pig.))

Kogun wanted to end the misery of the loud little girl, and was glad when she fell asleep. Kogun's black eyes seemed grey now. She looked at Kiln, "What is an elf doing traveling with a changeling and a pathetic excuse for a dragon rider?" she asked, trying to keep her venomous tone, but her voice came out in a slightly weak whimper. Kogun managed enough energy to move her hand up to her neck and placed her hand on the golden bell hanging off of the black ribbon.

Kiln was finally distracted from her speech, which seemed to be to Mido's relief, that is, until he heard 'pathetic excuse for a dragon rider' coming from the stranger's mouth.

"Long story," Kiln replied, she seemed to be a friendly person, which Kogun thought was foolishness.

"I am NOT pathetic!" Mido snapped at Kogun.

All Kogun could do was glare. Pops and cracks could be heard as Kogun straightened out her wing. She seemed to be in immense pain, especially as she stood up weakly, leaning against the tree. Her swords clinked together and she glared at Mido the most, not liking him right off the bat. "Well, it is not my fault that you people have more issues than the king's army put together..." she growled.

Mido crossed his arms and glared at Kogun.

Kiri woke up and jumped up and down, "YAY!!! NAP TIME OVER!!!!" she said, then her face turned to a pout and she pulled on the edge of Kiln's shirt, "I'm hungry..." she whimpered.

Kiln sighed and looked at her, "We'll find something soon..." she said softly.

Kogun rolled her eyes and then looked at Kiri, ~Great, so I am still short...~ she thought.

"How old are you anyway, ten? Eight?" Mido smirked.

"Fifteen..." Kogun growled.

((Amber H. -This was pointless... But it just goes to show that men, especially dragon riders, are complete idiots... ^_^))

Mido laughed then jumped, "Ow! Kiri! Did you just bite my leg!?"

"Don't make fun of my bestest friend dragon breath!"

((Victoria N.))

Kogun lifted her eyebrows. She hated it when people used improper grammar, especially when it was being used when talking about her. Besides, no one had ever been her friend. She had always been alone. Friendship was a concept that she didn't have much experience in. Every time someone had tried to be her friend, Kogun had tried to get out of it. She didn't like having ties with anybody or anything. If she had her energy, she would have left right then and there, but seeing as she didn't, she would have to stay.

Mido glared at Kogun and Kiri. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but decided against it and stalked off.

When Mido left, Kiri started flapping her new wings. "Can you fly? I wanna fly! Can you show me how to fly? Please, please, please, please, //PLEASE//!"

Kiln smiled slightly at the younger girl's antics. She turned and started looking for Mido. She started walking away toward where she had last seen Mido.

Kiri ran around for a little while trying to fly. She managed to get up a few feet, but she couldn't stay that way for very long. When she got done doing that, Kiri crawled over to Kogun and curled up in a ball.

"You don't talk. Why don't you talk? What's your name? Are you hungry? Are you sick? What's your favorite color? Oooohhh, Mr. Cricky, come back!" Kiri had started her tirade of questions when the cricket from earlier bounced across her line of site.

Kiri jumped up and started running off after the cricket. In doing so, she ended up stepping on Kogun's bad wing. Kogun gritted her teeth together. She didn't know how much longer she could stand this.

(Elizabeth H.)

Kogun sighed heavily; she actually managed a small smile through her pain. She had never really liked people, but she loved little kids, they reminded her of her family. The smile faded as she thought of her family. Her Elven mother and Faerie father, her elder elf brother and sister, and younger faerie sisters. Even though her parents had been together through all of the children; Kogun became the only hybrid, though she seemed to not be related to any of them at times, she was the only one who looked any different from her other siblings, some say she was not even their child. Kiri brought back memories of her six year old sisters.

Kiri dove for the cricket, but it hopped away from her. "Mr.Cricky!!!" she called out, once it hopped away again, she plopped down next to Kogun, her face formed into a pout. "He got away..." she sniffed.

Kogun sighed, "Your name is Kiri correct?" she asked, trying to mask her pain.

Kiri nodded, "Why didn't you answer my questions?"

Kogun smiled slightly, she only showed a soft side toward little children. "Well Kiri, I do not talk because I do not like people. My name is Mitsukai Kogun, or simply Kogun. No, I am not hungry. No I am not sick. My favorite color... Well, that is a secret," she smirked.

"Tell me!!! I can keep a secret!!!" Kiri said, jumping up and down, barely missing Kogun's injured wing. "Like the fact that me, Mido, and Kiln are time travelers!" she said and then slapped her hand over her mouth. She looked down, "Oopsie..."

Kogun looked at her, seemingly not surprised by her comment, "Well then Kiri, I will keep your secret, and I hope you will keep mine," she said, leaning in and whispering something in Kiri's ear.

Kiri smiled and jumped up and down again, "I like that color too!"

At that moment, Mido and Kiln walked back into the clearing, Kiln was explaining something and Mido was acting like a child and making 'Lalala' noises and covering his ears.

((Amber H. -I shall be bored and write wonders! ^_^, Just kidding.))

Kiln was starting to loose her patience, "Mido! Kiri is more mature than you!"

Mido sat on the ground and continued with the 'lalalalala' chanting.

Kiri smiled and ran up to Kiln, "Hello Kiln. Guess what, guess what!"

"What?"

"Kogun knows we're time travelers and you guys are from the future!"

Kiln sighed.

Mido stopped chanting. "WHAT?!"

((Victoria N.))

Kogun sighed heavily, looking at them, "Believe me, I've kept secrets that are more surprising than yours..." she said, still leaning against the tree, she was referring to her own secret. She was trying to keep her wing from contacting anything.

Kiln looked at Mido, "Keep it down," she said under her breath. She pulled an arrow from her quiver and placed it on her bow, not aiming to shoot anything... Yet.

Kiri looked around, for once, she was quiet.

Mido glared, yet listened.

Kogun's pointed ears seemed to perk up slightly. She moved away from the tree and pulled out her red hilted sword as a man jumped out of the tree with a sword in his hand.

"Blasted Hybrid!" the man snapped as Kogun somehow found the strength to run toward the man, flip him on his back, and hold all four of her swords at his neck, "Were you there when Aiwa and his men attacked me?" she snarled, her eyes black again. The man simply nodded, "Then you would do well to remember the colors!" she hissed. She backed away from the man and sheathed her swords as another man jumped from the same tree and used a small knife to cut the black ribbon from around her neck. The bell jingled as it hit the ground.

The two men ran as Kogun fell to her knees.

Kogun's wings disappeared as her pointed elf ears grew slightly longer and pointed. She picked up the ribbon and shook her head, tossing it to the side. Her hair had changed to a lighter blue, not the dark midnight blue it normally was. Her eyes were also a shade of blue; ocean blue. Her hair was actually a light day-sky blue. She looked a bit older, and she seemed to grow in height slightly as well. Instead of 4'10", she was now around 5'0".

((Amber H. -C'mon Elizabeth, it's your turn!!! ^_^))

"Whoa.... What just happened?" Mido questioned.

Kiln's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she tried to remember what she had been taught about Hybrids. Her jaw dropped as she remembered a myth that she had heard when she was a little girl. She openly stared at Kogun.

Kiri jumped around only giving a moment's notice to the change in Kogun.

Kogun stood still, gauging everyone's reactions. She noticed the look on Kiln's face. She wondered what was causing her to have that expression. She decided not to ask.

(Elizabeth H. Finally! I added! Shocking isn't it?)

"This is SO weird!" said Mido.

Kiln looked at him, "This is weird? You've got to be kidding me; you should be used to this by now."

He rolled his eyes.

Kiri nodded, "Yeah! It's not as weird as the weekend we spent with your cousin, Kohaku."

~Flash back~

An Asian girl with short black hair and wearing a pink kimono like dress was standing with a pink and blood red dragon. "Come on!" she called to a slightly younger Mido.

"But Kohaku! I'm tired of training," wined Mido.

She rolled her eyes, "The Elf and the Changeling know more about dragons than you!" She looked down at him with an evil glare, "Start working you little insect!"

~End~ Mido twitched a little, "I never want to see that crazy girl again..." Kiln smirked, "Aww, I thought we were all going to visit our families for the holidays..." "Uhhh, no, I'm going to go with you and Kiri to the orphanage." he said, "Crazy Kohaku will make me practice in the cold, wet rain again..." Kiri nodded, "I don't like Kohaku. She gives me the creeps." Kiln sighed, "Can we get back to the problem at hand?" The two nodded. She sighed, "Is there anyway we can help you, Kogun?" ((Victoria N. Yeah, a little weird, I don't really plan to have Kohaku actually come into the story, but heh, it's kinda fun.))

Kogun sighed, "This has been one weird day..." she mumbled, "Quite interesting, but yet, it has still been a bit awkward." She took a moment to rethink the daily events. "First there was Aiwa attacking me, the four swords, depression, weakened, meeting an elf and a dragon rider in training that are time travelers that travel together, befriending a little changeling, getting in random arguments with a pathetic 'dragon rider', turning into a full elf because of my stupid ribbon being cut off, and now something about a crazy cousin named Kohaku..." she sighed.

Mido and Kiri looked a little confused at how she remembered all of it and how she could say it in one breath.

(Amber H. -Revised and shortened)

Mido glared at her. "Hey! I am so not pathetic!"

As Kiri was chasing the cricket that seemed to come by an awful lot, she spotted the ribbon with the bell hanging from it that Kogun had tossed aside. She pounced and grabbed the bell. "OOH! This is such a cool necklace! Can I have it, please?!" Kogun turned toward Kiri. "No! Leave it!" "Aww... Can I borrow it?" "I said NO!" Kiri jumped back, stunned that Kogun had raised her voice at her. "S... Sorry, Kogun. Can I still be your friend?" Kiri asked, tears almost appearing in her eyes. Kogun sighed. "Yes. I did not mean to yell. I am the one who should be sorry." Mido looked over and noticed how Kogun was being nice. He closed his eyes sweetly. "Aw, how sweet. The Hybrid is getting along with the Changeling!" He suddenly heard a bang sound.

"Shut up, you childish fool!" Kogun's hand was on the black katana, trying to intimidate him. Mido backed away, hitting the ground. ((Monica B. Yes! I added! Finally!))

Kogun took her hand away from the black hilt and sighed heavily, shaking her head and looking down.

(Amber H. - I am apparently bored...)

At that moment four men surrounded Kogun, followed by a fifth; Aiwa.

"I thought I told you that I would speak to the King when I decided!" Kogun snapped, but didn't dare move because she had four swords at her neck again.

"But the King wishes the princess home as soon as she can get there," Aiwa smirked. "Come now... Do you think I would have let you live if it wasn't your father's request to keep you alive? You are to come of age soon M’lady and the King wishes for you to celebrate it by having a ball and finding a suitor."

Kogun shook her head, "NO! I will not go with you back to that place!" she snapped.

Mido stopped and cocked his head toward Kogun. You could tell that he was thinking hard about something.

"I have one question to ask you, my dear Princess. Why did you not recognize me before when we talked? Since you have known me since your birth, why did you all of a sudden forget?" Aiwa's voice came, shaking with pain and disgust.

Kogun smirked, "I am sure you know that since I am half-faerie and half-elf, I have to use energy different from the way you do. When you attacked me earlier, I was almost out of that energy. When that happens, I have to stop doing one or more things so that I'll have enough energy. Memory is one of the first things to go."

Mido still looked confused, "Wait..." he mumbled, just realizing that the girl he had been making fun of was a PRINCESS and she could have done anything to him.”You're a PRINCESS!?"

Kogun looked at him and nodded before taking out all four swords, she held three of them still and used the red one. She didn't touch the men at all, but Aiwa went to his knees as the katana shaped mark on his hand seemed to burn deeper into his flesh.

//'Hybrids have had many bad reputations. If you should ever happen to come across one, do not touch the ribbon about their neck. For the bell keeps their powers within boundaries, if these monsters of mixed breeds lose their boundaries, they can be too dangerous for even a whole army of elves, men, dwarves, or dragons and their riders to stop. The time of the Hybrid race will come to a peak if a hybrid is ever to wed to someone outside of the two species they are made up of. Hybrids are rare, yes, but they have specialties about them. Their powers could be limitless, or they could be powerless altogether. One hybrid can stand up to a whole army, even if it is weakened almost to death, and it can still defeat the army.'// Kiln remembered the myth she had heard, but she knew that wasn't all of it, she just couldn't remember. Why couldn't she remember? Uh-oh... Not this again. She was starting to forget things again. It usually happened when she stayed in one time era for too long without returning back home.

((Amber H.))

Kiln took her arrow out. She would have to leave as soon as they got this over with. It took memory to stay in this time period. That's what time travel ran on. So the longer she stayed here the more she forgot about the future, and remembered of the past. For most people this would not be a problem. As soon as they got back to their own time period they would remember everything all over again, but forget about the past. That's why you'll notice most time travelers have a diary. The problem with Kiln's memory was that she had spent a lot of time in both periods of time. It was like having two lives overlapping over each other. What she didn't know was if she stayed here too long she'd remember her twisted past that had taken so long to replace. Now she was Kiln, but if she stayed too long she may reclaim another.

"Kiln!" yelled Mido, taking out a double edged sword with a dragon around the hilt, "Snap out of it!"

She shook her head.

((Victoria N))

Kogun growled and in a blink had all four of their swords floating around her and the four men that were holding swords at her neck were lying on the ground; their own swords piercing them.

Mido looked a little worried and shocked, "Remind me not to get her mad..."

"I may be a princess, Aiwa, but you, if you have already forgotten, are my servant. You have been ever since I was but a toddler," Kogun smirked.

Aiwa sighed and stood up, more men coming out of every side of the forest. It was starting to lighten up slightly; the sun coming up slowly over the trees.

"I may be your servant, Princess Kogun, but at least I did not run away from the castle before my fifteenth birthday..." Aiwa said, "I was blamed for your disappearance, Princess," he said, looking down, "I actually took the blame, which is now why I have to take you back to the castle." He finished, taking out his sword and getting in a fighting stance.

(Amber H.)

Kiln was picking off people who came close to any of her friends with her bow and arrow. She hit something every time. A younger fighter lunged at her. She dodged. He gasped, "Hikaru?" The boy must have been sixteen or seventeen. He had raven black hair and crystal blue eyes. There was something strange about him. He had pointed ears.

Kiln let go of her bow in shock, the arrow racing past the boy and hitting a tree. "What?"

He disappeared into the battle.

Kiln shook her head and continued to fight.

((Eh, developing some of the characters, I've got an idea for Kiln, so if you intend to add something big for her and want to know my idea you can ask. Kiri and Mido are pretty much self explanatory. Victoria N.))

Kogun looked at the boy and then at Kiln. "Kiln, are you alright?" she asked, sounding a little concerned.

Mido looked around; he was fighting as well.

Kiln looked at Kogun, "Let us just get this over with," she said. She seemed a little different to what Kogun knew of her even though she barely knew her.

Kiri was in a tree, using the wings she had created earlier to get up there.

(Amber H. -It's not much...)

Eventually the men retreated with Aiwa yelling after them, "Fools! Don't run! You run from just women?"

Mido watched them as they ran and yelled angrily, "Oh! I am so not a girl!"

Kiri found a large rock and hoisted it at Aiwa. He fell out cold on the ground. Kiri danced a little in the tree, "Yeah! I won!"

Kiln regained her normal smart and all knowing look. She always got cranky when fighting.

Kiln walked over to Aiwa, "What should we do with him?"

"Run him through with a sword?" said Kogun flatly. "He should be hanged, drawn, and quartered," said Kiri darkly. Everyone looked at the little child with wide eyes. "Uh... Kiri, do you even know who he is?" asked Kiln. "Uh, nope!" she said happily. ((Victoria N.))

Kogun looked at Kiri, "He, my dear friend, is Senshi Aiwa; Captain of the King's Army and also supposedly my protector who is trying to kill me because my father wants me home in time to find a stupid suitor at a stupid ball..." she said.

(Amber H.)

Kiln sighed, "Then what shall we do with him?"

(Victoria N)

"I will take him back to the castle... I have to return anyway, before Father gets too upset with me and sends Damien and Shashta after me..." Kogun sighed.

(Amber H.)

Kiln sighed once more. "We need to hurry up..."

Mido nodded in agreement.

Kiri pouted, "But I want to meet my bestestest friend's family!!!"

Kogun smiled slightly and shook her head.

((Amber H.))

She was leading the group of four beings to the castle she called home. "It would help if we all could fly. Walking is too much of a hassle. Mido, do you have a dragon of your own? Or are you that pathetic?"

Mido growled, "I am not pathetic!"

"Yes you are..." Kogun said.

"No, I'm not!!!" Mido snapped.

"Yes. You! ARE!" Kogun growled. She glowed slightly and her wings came back. They were large and looked like large tribal butterfly wings. They were as pure as the moon; white and glowing. Her skin was still the abnormally pale color, but her eyes changed from their original black to a pure white with a butterfly for the pupil, though the color of the pupil was violet. Her long blue braids became white with gold ribbon tied in with the braids and a gold bow at the ends.

Mido was wide-eyed, "Okay... Maybe you're right..." he said.

Kogun looked down at herself. Her outfit had changed from the black and gold outfit to a totally new attire. Her black gown was now long, silky, flowing, and white; it looked like water and wind. The sleeves that once covered her arms were now sheer and a white/silver color. The cloak that once hung about her shoulders was now gone and her bare shoulders could be seen. She had black tribal designs on her arms leading up to her neck and then back to her wings. Thanks to the gown and the sheer sleeves; they could be seen perfectly. She seemed to be a couple inches taller as well. She went now from 5'0" to 5'3". She was still slightly short, but not as much as before.

"Great... Now I suppose everyone will be calling me Getsuei when we get to the kingdom..." Kogun rolled her eyes as they continued walking down the forest path after Kogun and Mido's little argument, in which Kogun was the victor. She turned back to Mido, "So, do you have a dragon or not?"

Mido ignored her question and started to snicker a thte name she called her self, "Getsuei?" he smirked

"Shut it Dragon Breath," Kogun growled.

((Amber H. -I believe that is enough...))

Kiln sighed, "He's a dragon rider in training," she said, sounding slightly bored.

"Well I don't HAVE a dragon, but I can ride one!"

"You failed the exams five times already, Mido..." Kiln sighed.

He groaned, "Quit reminding me."

((Victoria N. When's this due? We need to hurry.))

Kiln sighed, "Let's just hurry and get to wherever we're going..."

Kiri nodded, "I'm hungry..."

Kogun smiled at Kiri, "Yes, let us hurry and get going."

Mido raised an eyebrow.

Kogun sighed and started walking, Kiri next to her, babbling ninety-to-nothin'.

Kiln sighed and rubbed her temples, she was walking next to Mido.

(Amber H. It is 'due' closer to the end of the month...)

When they made it to the hill before the castle, a silence fell over everyone. Yes, even Kiri.

The elves' ears pricked at every sound. Everyone noticed the slight electricity in the air.

As they climbed the last hill, they stopped and stared at the magnificence of the castle.

The sun finally fell below the tree line. The area had a dark purple tint. The humid air pressed down on the group. They decided to set up camp for the night at a small pond about two miles away from the castle.

(Elizabeth H. I added again!)

Kogun had three of her swords laying beside her, her wings starting to annoy her tremendously. She was sitting next to Mido, who was grumbling something about how he hated castles sometimes.

Kiln was adjusting Kiri's now messed up ponytail, taking it down and retying it.

Kiri was eating a fish that they had caught right when they got there. She had looked at a fish and transformed her legs into a fish's tail and obtained gills, though she was upset that Kiln had not let her eat the fish raw, she was THAT hungry.

Kogun was holding the black-hilted sword, a looked of deep confusion, thought, and worry on her face. She looked at Kiri as the young girl sat down in front of her, she smiled softly, "Hey Kiri, do you remember my secret?"

"Oh, you mean the one where your favorite color is p-" Kiri stared, but Kogun clapped her hand over the young girl's mouth.

"Yes, that one," Kogun smiled, taking her hand away.

Kiri nodded, "Why?"

"I was just asking," Kogun said. "Friends remember things... I was making sure you were a friend..." she smiled and then looked back at the black-hilted katana again, the same look of confusion, worry, and thought on her face, this time with added depression.

Kiri nodded and stood up, hugging Kogun and then finishing her fish.

((Amber H.))

"Of course I'm your friend!" Kiri said in between mouths full of food. Kogun smiled slightly, still looking down at her katana. (Taylor K. I have no idea what I am doing lol but I had the urge to add a little... Hey you said even I little counted right? lol)

Mido sighed and looked at Kogun's wings, "You know... You're kind of like a butterfly..." he said, looking and actually sounding like he was thinking out his words.

Kogun raised an eyebrow at the dragon rider whom she loathed at first, but now thought could be useful in some way. "What do you mean?"

Mido sighed and sat up from his slouching position, still looking at her wings, he knew if he looked into her eyes he would lose his train of thought. "When we first met you you were like a secluded caterpillar, you wanted nothing to do with any of us. You wanted us to leave you be. As time progressed, however, you became more friendly. First with Kiri and then with Kiln, you still seem to not like me, but maybe in time we could be friends," he paused a moment. "Now you're in a cocoon, soon you will leave it and become the butterfly inside. All of us are a certain animal, I don't know mine yet, Kiln is an Owl and Kiri is a Kitten in my eyes."

"Why am I a butterfly?" Kogun asked.

"Why am I an Owl?" Kiln raised an eyebrow.

"I like kittens, they're fluffy and cuddly!!! ... Wait... Why am I a kitten?" Kiri asked.

Mido smiled, "Kogun, you are a butterfly because of the changes you have gone through. Kiln, you are an owl because of the wisdom and experience you have. Kiri, you are a kitten because of your playful attitude," he replied.

Kogun, Kiln, and Kiri nodded, "Then you are a dragon," the three said.

Mido was now the one to be confused, "What do you mean by that?"

"You seem to be dangerous on the outside," Kiln started.

"A fire of good rages behind your eyes and spirit flies with the help of the wings that lifts your whole being," Kogun added.

"And you're actually really nice on the inside, not mean or anything," Kiri smiled as she finished.

"You are a dragon," they concluded.

Mido nodded, "I can see the logic in that..." he smiled. "This odd little group we have here, it could work out."

Kogun actually smiled a happy smile as she nodded in agreement and put her sword back in its sheath, "An owl, a kitten, a dragon, and a butterfly... Quite an interesting combination."

Kiri smiled, as did Kiln.

"Wonderful and balanced differences though. Just as the world is balanced, we must be balanced." Kiln said in her philosophical voice.

Kogun nodded.

Kiri smirked, "Kogun's favorite color is pink!" she randomly bursted out.

Kogun went wide-eyed and then looked down.

Mido started laughing.

Kogun smirked as she looked up at Mido, she kissed him square on the lips, making him shut up.

Kiri was wide-eyed as her hands flew up to cover her young eyes.

Kiln actually started laughing hysterically.

Mido was wide-eyed and stock still, blushing a deep red.

Kogun smirked triumphantly.

((Amber H. -I have talked to the major contributors of this story (Elizabeth H., Victoria N., and myself) and we have come upon a majority vote to end the story. Yes, I know it doesn't seem like much of an ending, but it's as good as it's going to get with the time limit that we've had to finish this up, if it were up to us three, we would have much more added in, but we do not have time.))

(Elizabeth H. -I have enjoyed writing this [and I'm sure Victoria and Amber did, too] and I hope that you all enjoyed reading it. Have fun with your lives and even though it works for Kogun, don't try to kiss people to get them to shut up. It may not work and you might get in trouble with teachers. Have a nice day!!)

((Victoria N.- No elves, dragon riders, changlings, or hybrids were hurt in the making of this story...though I can't say much for the crazy dude who showed up in the beginning of the story and made Kogun angry. ^__^ hope ya'll had fun reading this!!))