Chapter Three: This is New...

This time we left Akio with a strange shadow girl. Ra Dai was sitting on the box with the egg inside minding his own business...

"You see something forced us out of the demon kingdom...No one really knows what it is. All the demons that stayed were killed or disappeared. We need your help Prince Akio! You must go back to your friends as fast as possible!" The girl seems to choke back tears.

"And what do you all think I've been trying to do!?" Akio screams. He's had enough for today.

*Aki--OH!* Ra Dai screams before there's a loud thumping sound and a squeak from him.

Akio turns around with is eyebrows raised to see that the case has opened by itself and crushed Ra Dai. "That's...new to say the least..." He walks over to examine the case and egg. Everything seemed okay so he shuts it, "You Ok--" The case decided to smack Akio in the chin. "OWIE!" He hit the ground with a slight thump. What was going on here? Was this thing some sort of demon box?! He rubs his chin in pain and looks at the box from a bit of distance. "Is the egg hatching?"

*Ow...that might explain why to box is being so mean to me...ow...*

Suddenly a nice sized crack appears in the golden shell. The crack quickly goes around the whole egg, and a dragon head pops out suddenly shattering it. It tilts its head to one side and makes a whining sound toward Akio. Apparently hungry and curious about why it was sitting in a box.

"Well Hello there...um...boy," Akio raises his eyebrows again.

The dragon prances over happily, and sits on Akio's feet.

"Okay you are a he. Now for a name..."

*Omhp! That really hurt!*

"Are you okay Ra Dai?" Akio looks up to see the Fennec flipping the cover onto the case. He glides over a bit ruffled, but nothing more.

*That really hurt,* Ra pouts as he takes a seat next to the gold dragon.

"Stop whining. What should we name him?"

*Ymir. It means hero I believe. Since you're on a quest to save the world you do need another hero. Ymir the Hero.*

"Do you like that name little one?"

The gold dragon jumps on to Akio's lap and licks his face a few times making a content sound afterwards.

"Okay! Ymir it is! Now, off to find Nightingale..."

"Ahem. Not to bother you, but I am wounded," Gwen's voice comes form near by.

"And I'm still here," The shadow waves her hand.

Akio grins, "You can take care of Gwen! I'll be off!" with that said he picks up Ymir, who barely fits in his arms, and walks off with Ra Dai on his head. Just leaving the two standing dumb founded.

"He just blew us off didn't he?" the shadow girl asked.

"Yes, yes he did..."

*Hold on. You mean to tell me you have to help this crazy girl save the world!* a childish voice projects through Akio and Ra Dai's heads.

"Yes, In short Ymir," They were now flying above some bright neon trees. Akio had relayed the whole story of how he had gotten in this mess to Ymir and Ra Dai. At least they where a good audience.

*Akio...I'm hungry!*

Except Ymir.

"You said that two minutes ago," Akio sighs.

*Well I really am! You don't look to good...I think it's time to rest. You've flown with me in your arms for...um...how long?*

*Two hours, and it took him that long to explain his story because of your interruptions. Ymir's right, you need to take a rest!* Ra Dai says as he descends slowly.

"I see I don't have a choice in the matter. Let's land," Akio made a sudden rapid descend past Ra Dai. He was easily able to stop, because this time he had already calculated the weight of the dragon. He was stupid enough to do that twice in the same day. He lands softly and puts Ymir on the ground. "Now to find something to eat! Ra Dai you stay here while I go and look for something."

Ra Dai lands next to the dragon, *Fine. Have it your way.*

Akio turns to leave but stops in mind step.

*AIEEEEEEEE! LET GO!* a painful Fennec squeak follows.

Akio turns to see Ymir trying to eat Ra Dai's tail. Nice one. He smacks himself in the head before asking, "What do you think you're doing?"

*Hehe. His tail looked surprisingly good a few moments ago. Plus I don't want to be left her with him! I want to go with you! Please?*

*Get--him--OFF!* Ra Dai cries while hugging the part of his tail that isn't in Ymir's mouth.

"Get off of Ra Dai's tail. You can come with me. ONLY if you stay close to me."

*I will!* he realizes Ra Dai's tail from his mouth and trots over to his bondmate.

"I have this funny feeling you're trying to make me happy or bored mindless."

*A little bit of both. Can we get moving?*

"All right. Let's get going," Akio walks into some bushes and Ymir follows.

*Wait for me!* The little Fennec cries while flying after the two.

It doesn't take them very long to find a camp. This was just too weird. No one had camped out in the Elf Kingdom since the falling. Why now?

The answer came when a man in all gray walks out from behind a tree, "Ah ha! I found you fiends!"

*Akio, Ra, what is this nutty man speaking of?* Ymir tilts his head and examines the man. He decides he's harmless and walks up to sniff his shoes.

"What is that thing doing?" the man blinks a few times while looking at the dragon. Pity how no one could see his eyes, let alone the expression on his face.

Akio sighs, "He's just sniffing you Mister Hero. If you don't mind could we have a little food of yours. We are really hungry. You being a hero and all can't turn down the hungry!"

"Erm...well you see...."

Ymir looks up at him with watering eyes, *Please Mister....*

"I guess I could, but wouldn't you people like to know my name first?"

"That'd be wonderful. Then I wouldn't have to call you Mister Hero."

*Why are you so grouchy? Are you P--*

"Quiet Ra Dai! Men can't do that!"

*I wouldn't be too sure with the way you're acting,* Ra snickers as he takes a seat on Akio's head.

"Anyway, My name is Gray. It’s nice to meet you...um..."

"My name's Akio, The yellow thing on my head is Ra Dai, and the dragon at your feet is Ymir. It's nice to meet you on nice terms. Will you ever take your hood off anytime soon?"

Gray hesitates, "Well...um...I guess so..."

*Something wrong Mister Gray?* Ra Dai tilts his head to one side with wide blue eyes.

"No," He flips off his hood to reveal long sliver hair, bright blue eyes, and large pointy ears.

"You're an elf. That explains it..."

*Could you not leave me in the dark. I was just hatched a few hours ago! I'd love to be included!* Ymir pouts while sitting on Gray's feet.

"If I tell you what he means will you get off my feet?"

*Yes I will...*

"This is the kingdom of elves so no one normally camps out here, unless they like getting lost. It's dangerous around here if you don't have an elf with you. That's why I'm surprised to see a demon like you bondmate here."

"And I'm surprised to see so many other demons here. I'm assuming you don't like all the demons moving in."

"No I don't Prince Akio, and if you want I can help you out of the woods."

Akio goes starry eyed, "You mean it!?"

Gray just blinks, "Yes. I do."

"ALL RIGHT!"

*Is my bondmate overly happy?*

*I'd say so!* Ra flies over to Gray and Ymir as Akio dances around like a moron.

*Can we eat...please?* Ymir groans.

Akio sighs, "Let's..."