Shadow asked me to post this for her as she was unsure of the tags, never
mind that I've been lurking and have no idea if this list is any different
to post to from any other list. ;p   However, she is here, a quiet member of
the ml hiding in the corners and on her behalf I humbly request lots of
feedback. *Snort* This is probably the only place that she is quiet.

Any way enjoy, Shadow if this works you can do the next one ^_^

Milgazia, Lina Inverse, Xelloss, the rest of the Slayers cast, the original
story and Slayers in general is copyrighted to Hajime Kanzaka / Rui Araizumi
/ Kadokawa Shoten / TV Tokyo / SOFTX / Marubeni. The Slayers Manga is
copyrighted to Shoko Yoshinaka.

This fic and others can be found at
 http://milgazia.envy.nu/haiden/
http://members.tripod.com/jeniamnb/index.htm


Slayers Dragon Cycle
Chapter I: A Surprise Long Delayed! That Nest Belongs to Who?!
by Shadow


          It was a beautiful dawn on Dragon's Peak, with the sun just barely
peeping out from behind the mountains. The crisp morning air was filled with
the song of birds...and the voices of many Dragons.


          Filia Ul Copt, who was visiting the Peak, pushed her way through
the crowd of Black and Golden Dragons with the Elder, Rashia. Filia was in
human form-it made carrying Val's egg much easier. "What's going on, Elder?"


          Rashia looked up at where the crowd was pointing. Respectfully,
the throng parted as the other Elders made their way forward. "What's all
this hubbub about?" Elder Vandar asked, going up to Rashia. "What's gotten
you all astir this fine and beautiful morning-Oh!"


          Filia blinked in confusion. "What is the matter, Elders?"


          The Elders broke into joyful grins. "How astounding! After so very
long!" Rashia exclaimed happily.


          "Yes, at last, at last!" Elder Inelo said, clapping her hands
together in delight.


          "I wonder who it is!" Vandar grinned.


          Filia, realizing she wasn't going to get any answers, looked up at
the mountain ledge where everyone had been staring. Around her, Dragons in
both their normal and human forms, whispered excitedly to each other. All
she could see was a large castle of stone sitting on the ledge. Even from
here she could tell it had been shaped by magic-the edifice had literally
grown out of the mountainside itself.


           More puzzled than before, she turned to one of the Black Dragon
females who happened to be in human form. "Excuse me, but what is that?"


          The Black Dragon looked at her. "Why dearie, that's a nest bower!
It means that one of our young ones has finally come into Cycle!"


          Filia's eyes lit up in comprehension. A Dragon was in Cycle! It
meant that someone was ready to find a mate and either lay or sire a clutch
of hatchlings at last! She understood the excitement. Dragons rarely came
into Cycle-which was why there were so few baby Dragons in the first place.
Even mated Dragons rarely produced more than one or two clutches of eggs, so
when a young Dragon came into Cycle, or when older Dragons went into Phase,
it was a cause for great celebration. Filia knew that she wasn't going to go
into Cycle for a good three hundred years or more. When a Dragon youth went
into Cycle, the Dragon experienced strange compulsions that prepared for the
well-being of the future offspring. Building a nest was one. Finding a mate
was another. If two Dragons, a male and a female came into Cycle at the same
time, there usually was no problem about mating. Occasionally, a Dragon did
go into Cycle or Phase alone, and they usually sought out mates from the
Elven races. But the Elves had died out long ago, and the few tribes that
did remain were so shy of outsiders that they simply couldn't be coaxed out
from their realms any longer. Filia knew what that was like.


           "I wonder who could have gone into Cycle!" "Do you think that..."
"Ooh, that means that we'll soon have children in the Peak again!" "But
there are no other youngsters in Cycle. Do you think that this one will
leave us soon?" "How long has it been?" were only some of the things that
the Dragons were excitedly chattering about.


          The Elders were moving up toward the nest, to congratulate and
identify who had gone into Cycle. Filia followed, as did the other Dragons,
though they maintained a small but respectful distance.


          The castle was large by human standards, but for Dragons, it was a
medium sized home, just enough for two Ryuzoku and some young.


          Rashia reached for the giant door handles and pulled easily.


          The door opened and POOF all the Elders vanished in a cloud of
gray dust.


          "Elders!" Filia exclaimed in shock and horror, thinking there was
a threat within. She prepared an attack spell, ready to avenge...


          The dust cleared, and Filia let her spell dissipate in shock. Even
the Dragons behind her were silent, amazement taking their tongues.


          "...Elder Rashia? Elder Vandar? Inelo-san? All of you, what are
you doing here?" asked a deep, measured voice, that voice tinged with
confusion. Filia gasped and stared, a faint flush on her cheeks. Behind her,
she heard several of the young dragon maidens murmur in surprise, then
giggle, whispering eagerly to each other.


          A handsome Dragon male moved over to them and helped dust off the
Elders, while the other Ryuzoku took in his appearance. The young Dragon had
his hair tied back from his face, his head protected by a kerchief, and his
robes were rolled up, hitched up, and covered with stains and smudges. His
human form's face was shiny with sweat and streaked with dirt, and what
should have been lustrous golden hair was tarnished with dust. In his hand,
he held a broom. "I'm sorry...I was sweeping the dust from my floors...as
you can see, there's a lot..." the handsome Ryuzoku apologized in melodious,
contrite tones.


          "Ah, Lord Elder Milgazia...no, no, it was our fault, we really
should have knocked." Vandar coughed. "We were just curious as to who built
the new den."


          Elder Milgazia smiled almost shyly. "Well, my old place was
starting to get a little claustrophobic on me, so I decided to build a new
home." He waved a hand behind him. The great hall beyond was neatly and
expertly shaped, and done so with love and care. "I didn't want to disturb
any of you, so I started working on it last night. Its almost ready for me
to move my things in." He kept glancing behind him, as though itching to get
back to work.


           Elder Rashia nodded serenely, though everyone in Dragon's Peak
knew that Lord Elder Milgazia had not complained of his 'bachelor pad' cave
in the past thousand years, even though many had insisted that he move to
quarters that befitted one of his stature.


          "I'd invite you in, but as you can see, it's really not fit to
receive guests yet." Milgazia's expression brightened. "I'll do that as soon
as I finish."


           Inelo patted him on the shoulder. "It's all right, Milgazia-san.
We'll throw a housewarming party when you've tidied everything up. Do you
need any help?"


          Milgazia shook his head vehemently. "Ah, no, thank you, my
friends, but I'd really rather do this on my own, so I can remember where I
put everything." Elder Milgazia was also known as one of the most
compulsively neatest Dragons there was, and everything in his cave was put
in an exact place, so that one could see where they'd formed little
indentations from settling in.


          "Go on now, Milgazia-san. We'd like to see your new home as soon
as you have it ready." Elder Tymar said kindly. Milgazia waved good morning
to the other Dragons, who were still speechless, and bustled back inside.
They watched him vanish into one of the side corridors, and almost
immediately, a cloud of dust erupted from said corridor.


          Filia gaped and thought bemusedly to herself: That's The Elder
Milgazia? He doesn't look like ANYTHING from Lina-san's tales!


          They left Milgazia to his almost frenzied housekeeping and headed
back to the draconic village itself. Filia, confused and curious, rushed up
to Elder Rashia and politely asked if the Elder could explain some things to
her. The grandfatherly Elder, who resembled Saichuurouh but was more jovial,
smiled encouragingly and told her not to be shy.


          "Well...full-blooded Dragons normally go into Cycle when they're
five hundred years old, ne?" Filia asked. Rashia nodded, knowing what Filia
was going to ask.


          "And you are wondering why the Lord Elder Milgazia, who is a
thousand and a half years old, is only going into Cycle now?" Rashia asked.
Filia nodded.


          Rashia sighed sadly. "Come to my home, child, and I will explain
why."


          Once Rashia had prepared tea and some biscuits, and Filia had
settled Val's egg into the Elder's bed of gold near the hearth, Rashia began
to talk. "Milgazia, as you know, was one of the few to survive the massacre
that Xelloss the Beast Priest perpetuated long ago in the Kouma Wars. His
entire family, indeed, Milgazia's whole clan, was destroyed in that instant,
and Milgazia himself barely escaped with his life. He was so wounded that he
could not have survived had he remained in Dragon form, and it was thus that
a band of bandits found him, and nursed him back to health. He discovered
that this bandit gang was actually the survivors of a village that had been
destroyed during the war, and in return for their kindness, he led them to
the relative safety of the mountains for the duration of the war. When he
came here, he found only the children and other youngsters of both Golden
and Black lineage, and because he was eldest, they named him Elder and Lord.
Dragon's Peak became our refuge, we who also lost our clans to the Wars. But
when Vandar, Inelo, Haranzel, Tymar, Kishara, the others and I found the
small clan, Milgazia had already started to lead the children into survival.
Though he bowed deference to us because we were Elder than he, he had proven
himself as a competent leader, so he remained Elder and a Dragon Lord. Mind
you, Milgazia was born to the Golden Dragon nobility, but he was still a
child. The other youths who were near his age went into Cycle and were the
first to renew our race after the War, but Milgazia himself, to our
surprise, never went into Cycle. The other Elders and I believe that it was
because of his extensive injuries and the way he threw himself into his
duties then that delayed the Cycle of Maturity. Come to think of it, it is
only now that we Dragons have prospered since the Wars, and that duty has
relaxed its hold on him." The Elder looked at the egg that Filia guarded
with her life, her atonement for the sins of her clan. "I don't think he
knows that he is in Cycle. There are a few who never go into Cycle. We'll
just have to wait and see on how restless he'll get."


          "Restless, Elder?" Filia asked.


          "Dragons who don't know they're in Cycle exhibit the same symptoms
that Elder Milgazia is showing now-restlessness, the need to change one's
surroundings suddenly, the feeling that something's not right. Eventually,
it will drive him out of Dragon's Peak-to search for a suitable mate, of
course. But he won't know that. He won't know he's looking for a mate, until
he finds her." Elder Rashia smiled. "And when he finds her, his perfect,
ideal wife, he will move heaven and earth to make her his."


          Filia nodded, suddenly envisioning a beautiful, and ultimately
silly scene where Milgazia for some unknown reason, falls for a princess.
After all, what princess would not want to be married to a Dragon Lord? Oh
the romance of it! To go out and search for your one true love! Ooh, I can't
wait to see how this all ends! It never occurred to her that most princesses
wouldn't want to be even looked at by Dragons, and that most stories
involving Dragons and princesses usually had the Dragons capturing the
princesses for food. This particular oversight was due to the fact that the
Ryuzoku were not even related to such Dragons, which were the
Mazoku-Dragons. She never even paused to wonder why the Milgazia in her
little daydream had a bejeweled sabre and looking particularly dashing-or
ridiculous-with a wide-brimmed hat that had a rakish feather stuck in it.
Right now, he looked like something out of the Three Musketeers. Such
inconsequential details nev er bothered Filia in Sugar-Dream mode.


          Rashia sweatdropped as little pink hearts swirled into existence
around the Dragon maiden and said Dragon maiden developed a dreamy
expression. "Filia? Filia-san?" Rashia wriggled his fingers in front of her
nose. "Filia-san?"


          Filia snapped out of her daydream. "Ah?! Yes, Elder?"


          "You've requested to speak to some Dragon matrons, concerning Val.
Are you intending to have him adopted by a family?"


           Filia shook her head no. "Actually, I wanted
advice...child-rearing, what to expect, that kind of thing."


          Rashia's grandfatherly smile warmed her heart. "If you would like
to stay, we've plenty of room, and we'd be very happy to have you here with
us. Little Val would be the darling of Dragon's Peak."


           Filia thought about it, then shook her head. "I want to raise Val
on my own for a while, and perhaps, when he's a little older, we'll come
back. I want to find a suitable place for us to live-So much has
happened...I..." Filia stopped, shaking her head.


           "I understand. Take your time, and stay as long as you like,
Filia-san. Perhaps you could even address the council sometime, and tell us
of what transpired that led to this." Elder Rashia looked back to Val's egg.


           Filia nodded. "You have every right to know. If you wish to know,
I will tell the tale."


~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~


          Later, while Filia was unpacking in a guest cave, she reflected on
the differences between her clan, who worshipped the Fire Dragon King
Valbazard, and the ones of Dragon's Peak, who worshipped the Water Dragon
King Rugradia. They're so much kinder, and more aware of the other races
than mine used to be. They're respected, not feared, and Gold and Black
Dragons live side by side, even intermarrying! That had come as a
surprise-the newest young of Dragon's Peak, a clutch whose children were
near her own age, were a mix of Black and Gold Dragon parents. The resulting
young had the strength and size of the Black Dragons, and the wit and
magical power of the Gold mother. Perhaps I will return, when Val's older.
Acceptance is the lesson I want him to learn...the lesson that the others
couldn't learn.


          Filia put away the last of her belongings and picked up Val's egg,
putting it into the pouch that kept it near her own body and kept it warm.


          "Excuse me, Filia-san?"


          Filia turned to see a slender elven maid standing in the entrance
to her room. She brushed back her long golden hair and smiled, green and
gold eyes twinkling. She was dressed in a white blouse trimmed with gold and
wore dark blue leggings and with a bustier. "Yes, that's me. Can I help
you?"


          The elf grinned. "Actually, I'm supposed to help you. I'm Memphis
Linesword, and Rashia-sama suggested that it would be best if I showed you
around, since I know most of the ways around here on foot. Have you settled
in? Is everything to your liking?"


          "Oh yes, everything's very comfortable." Filia smiled, liking the
young elf's liveliness immediately.


          "You're supposed to meet with some of the Ryuzoku den mothers,
aren't you, Filia? Well, I'll show you the fastest routes. Let's go, shall
we, before it gets too hot." Memphis gestured out of the cave.


           Filia looked at her as the elf strode out of the cave with long,
almost feline steps. "Uh, I don't mean to pry, but I never thought to see an
Elf here in Dragon's Peak. Where I used to live, there weren't very many
left."


          Memphis waved that away. "Oh, I'm just visiting with
Milgazia-ojisama."


          Filia blinked in surprise. "Huh...? Milgazia-sama's your uncle?"


          Memphis looked at her in return as they stepped out into the
sunlight. "Not really. He's a close family friend since I don't know how
long. He's friends with Father. By the way..." she suddenly grinned "Is it
true that Milgazia-ojisama built that Nest-bower? I didn't know because I
went out on my predawn run and I hadn't noticed he hadn't slept in his bed
at all!"


          Filia laughed. "Oh, it's true. I was there when everyone found
out."


          "Yes!!!" Memphis pumped her fist in the air and skipped down the
path. "It's about time he got mated! Bachelorhood's habit-forming, and
that's not necessarily a good thing!"


          Filia shook her head in wonderment as Memphis started to chatter
about bacherlorhood and her uncle not equating. Things were certainly
different here in the Valley.


~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~


          "We're almost there, Filia-san."


          Filia followed Memphis up the mountain ledge and stopped near a
large cave mouth. In it, four young Dragon females, near Filia's own age and
older, were chatting amongst themselves.


          "I heard that the new nest belongs Lord Elder Milgazia! Is that
true?" said one.


          "Oh Jevel! You're so behind in the news! Yes, it belongs to him! I
heard Father telling Mother when he came back from the morning hunt!"


          The third female made a high pitched squeak and wriggled happily.
"That means that Lord Elder Milgazia is in Cycle!" she exclaimed.


          "Yes, he is!" said the fourth, and the lot of them sighed
dreamily.


          "Ah, if only we were going into Cycle too..." The second girl
said.

          Jevel sniffed. "Ylara, you're not going into Cycle for another
century!"


          The fourth giggled. "Yes, and I don't think the Lord Elder will
wait that long!"


          "Terena is right. Besides, were not the closest to go into Cycle.
Why, Antimone is only twenty years away from turning five hundred!" said the
third.


          "Oh Venn, I really don't think that Milgazia-sama will wait even
two measly little decades! He's in Cycle now."

          "Ah, Milgazia-sama!" the foursome sighed in unison.


          Filia sweatdropped. It seemed that the Lord Elder had a following.
Memphis was wriggling with an effort to keep her giggles under control, and
was just barely succeeding.


          "A-hem, ladies..." Jevel, Ylara, Terena and Venn all jumped,
startled by a voice that emerged from the cave. The head, neck and upper
shoulders of a Golden Dragon matron, who looked decidedly reproving,
immediately followed the voice.
            "Instead of sitting around gossiping idly, why don't you get
about with your chores?"


          "Mother!" Ylara said in consternation.


          "Ooh, they're going to get it," Memphis whispered to Filia.

          "Aunt Jannia! Er, um, we were going to just do them!" Jevel ducked
her head in apology.

          " 'Just about' isn't the same as doing them, lass. Get your tails
into the air before I nip off their tips! Hop!" Jannia snapped her jaws at
the Dragon girls, but they were already fifty feet into the air before she
had even finished talking.


          "Heh, that's telling them, Missus." Memphis crowed, clapping her
hands.


          "Oh, good morning, Memphy. What can I do for you?" the Matron
asked.


          "Oh, not me, Missus. She's the one with business with you."
Memphis jerked her thumb at Filia.


          "Um, pardon me, Lady Jannia..." Filia looked up at the Golden
matron. "My name is Filia Ul Copt, perhaps Elder Rashia mentioned me..."
Jannia looked down, noticing Filia for the first time. She immediately
radiated friendliness. Memphis pushed her forward.


          "Why, yes, he did. Come in, come in, child! I'd heard all about
you. From Karyu-oh no Shinden, am I right? Goodness, we've never had
visitors from the Outside before." Jannia turned into human, and looked
exactly as matronly as she sounded. Jannia's ash-blond hair was braided and
coiled at the nape, and she wore a simply cut dress. She reminded Filia of a
hen she'd seen once-herding all her chicks here and there. "Please, please,
just call me Missus Jan. Everyone does. Except the Lord Elder. He always
refers to everyone by their full given names, he's so serious." Missus Jan
shook her head. "But then, I'm only seventy years younger than he, and
Ceiphied knows that he's been through enough that weighs on him so heavily."


           "Uh...yes, I suppose that is true." Filia said. "He seems very
popular."


          "Especially amongst the young, I'm sure you've noticed." Missus
Jan said wryly. Memphis burst into giggles. "He's something of a catch here
and it's fairly understandable." She chuckled. "It just so happens that
there aren't any maidens in Cycle now...how ironic, considering there were a
lot of them who would have been happy to become his mate."


          Memphis snorted. "They're all but tying their tails into knots
trying to get his attention, but Milgazia-ojisama is just too..."Memphis
glanced at Missus Jan and rolled her eyes up to the sky "absorbed in his
duties."


          "That he is indeed, Memphy. You know your uncle best." The Ryuzoku
matron put an arm around Filia's shoulders. "But gossip isn't why you've
come to see me, is it, Filia?"

          "Actually, I'm looking for advice on how to raise babies..." Filia
said shyly.


          Missus Jan laughed. "You've come to the right place! In all of
Dragon's Peak, I've raised lots of young ones-enough to earn me the nickname
of Missus anyway. Let's get to that over a cup of tea, hm?"


          Filia smiled beatifically. "I'd love that."

          Memphis waved goodbye. "I'll be off now. I'll see if Uncle's ready
to move into his new house; and even if he isn't, I'll start packing. I'll
pick you up later for lunch, okay, Filia?" she started to skip back down the
path.


          "Okay," Filia smiled. "Thanks for everything, Memphis,"


          The golden-haired elf turned, her eyes warm. "Call me Memphy.
Everyone does. See ya!" With that, she sprinted down the narrow rock and
gravel road.


~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~


          Two weeks later, a council was summoned, for Filia was to tell of
the events that ultimately led up to the transformation of Valgaav-now
simply Val-and to his future rebirth.


          Every one of the twelve Elders of both the Black Dragon and Golden
Dragon races were already there in the Hall of the Elder Council, but The
Elder was not.


          Elder Inelo looked at Elder Vandar. "Didn't you tell him that we
were holding Council now?"


          "I did."


          Elder Inelo started to get up when they heard the snap of wings
echoing through the great tunnels. Seconds later, Milgazia glided into the
great Council Hall and landed on his ledge, which, given his position as
Lord Elder of Dragon's Peak, was slightly raised.


          Filia gasped softly in awe. Milgazia was easily the largest Gold
dragon she had ever seen. He was larger than even Supreme Elder Saichuurouh,
who was the oldest Ryuzoku that Filia had ever known, and only a little
smaller than the ghosts of the Ancient Dragons that Filia had seen.


          Milgazia gravely bowed his head in apology and said, "Forgive my
tardiness. I was baking a pot roast."


             There was a full minute of shocked silence, then the Black
Dragon Elder Kinneas roared to tell that the council was in session.
Milgazia blinked in mild confusion, before regaining his composure.


          Filia recounted her tribe's dark history, of their fear of a clan
of the Ancient Dragons that ultimately led to genocide. Filia's tale
elicited some worried murmurs and disapproving looks. They weren't directed
specifically at the former priestess, as she hadn't even been born when
these things had happened. Rather, they were reflected on the waste of what
her clan had done-and the horror of the deed. Even dragon hatchlings and
unborn had been killed, at a time when the dragons were trying to recover
from the Kouma War, and most of all, Xelloss' attack. It was in Dragon's
Peak and the Valley of Dragons that they had been able to replenish their
numbers, and it was only thanks to Milgazia's leadership that this had
happened. Dragon young were precious to the inhabitants of the Valley, and
as they were so rare, each hatchling was cherished and nurtured. Indeed, it
might have been Filia's only saving grace: the fact she wanted to atone for
the sins of her tribe.


          Feeling ashamed despite herself, Filia let her gaze wander around
the great cavern. All the other Ryuzoku were in their natural form, and she
alone was in the humanoid form that her clan had preferred. It was a rather
different one from the Ryuzoku of the Valley. The Ryuzoku of Filia's clan
tended toward forms that resembled the Elves of old. Valley Ryuzoku wore
very human-looking guises, and the only thing that would give them away
would be their eyes-The irises were often diamond-shaped, slitted, and a
metallic gold color. Also, many of the Valley dragons sported antler-like
horns, while Filia had none, though she had a golden mane instead.
Many humans would have had plenty of trouble trying to tell individual
Ryuzoku in their natural form apart from the other, but Filia was Ryuzoku
and thus did not have such a handicap. She spotted Elder Rashia talking to
Elder Milgazia and one of the Black Elders named Navi. The discussion was
intense, but carried in low, measured tones. It seemed characteristic of the
Valley Ryuzoku to speak softly but intently. Filia did not try to listen to
them. There were too many mind-voices echoing through the great cavern as it
was, and to try and sort them was fruitless.


          Finally, Elder Navi stood up. The other twelve folded back their
wings to show that she had the floor. The Black Dragon was silent for a
moment, then she spoke. "Filia Ul Copt, this saga that you have brought us
is a tale of pain and shame, humbling us all. But perhaps that it is good
that this has happened...for then can we Ryuzoku realize our shortcomings.
In truth, we have become too aloof, too arrogant. The times have changed,
and if we do not change with them, then we, who seek to preserve, will
ourselves be wiped out. There are things that we Ryuzoku do not know or
cannot comprehend...simply because we have eternity. Filia, daughter of
Bazaard Ul Copt of Karyu-oh no Shinden, would you share with us what you
know?"


          Elder Rashia raised his head a little higher to show that he had
something to add. "Yes. You have spent so much time amongst humans, that
surely you know them a little better now. Please, stay here in Dragon Valley
with Val and enlighten us."


          Filia's eyes widened, realizing what was being said. In that
invitation was the offer that she become part of the Clans that inhabited
the Valley of Dragons. She stood, bowing her head so that her face was
shadowed, as the Hall resounded with the other Dragon Elders' approval and
agreement on this suggestion.


          "Forgive me, Elders, but I must decline your generous offer."


          Silence descended upon the hall, pregnant with surprise. Filia
lifted her head, smiling gently, her eyes shining with tears. "I cannot
accept. I do not yet know enough about humans...I grew up with all the
arrogance of my clan. You offer me an honor I do not feel I deserve. I must
find myself again. All that I knew was a lie, and every belief I had was
shattered. I cannot have peace yet. Also, I know nearly nothing of
Humans...I treated them badly, with disdain. To correct this gravest of
errors, I will live with them, as one of them, and learn of them. I must
learn...to value life as they do. Perhaps one day, I will return, with Val,
to this sacred valley...but not now."


           The assembled Dragons looked at her, then at each other. "You
show the promise of wisdom, Filia Ul Copt. Indeed, I agree with Elder Rashia
that we must now learn more about mankind, in order to truly appreciate the
value of living." The Elder Milgazia raised his head high. "Their lifespans
are short, therefore they try to spend each moment of it well. We who are
eternal cannot truly understand this...until we have lived it ourselves. You
choose to go and live amongst them; have you found a place to stay?"


          Filia nodded solemnly. "I have, Lord Elder Milgazia. The fox-man,
Jiras and Gravos the Troll, are preparing it for me and his Master Val. It
is a port town in a valley known as Green Cradle. We chose the site because
the inhabitants of Green Cradle and the town of Windy Meadow are mostly
farmers and artisans, and lead peaceful lives, normal human existences, but
meet many people and races at the same time. It is there that I plan to
settle and raise Val."


          The council looked at each other again and nodded. "As you wish,
then." Milgazia intoned, closing his luminous golden eyes. Then he raised
his voice slightly, opening his eyes and mouth to give emphasis to what he
was about to say. "I believe that the time has come for us to start
interacting with the other races once again. Sequestered here in this
valley, we will be left behind in news as well as knowledge. To this end, I
will accompany Filia to her new home and observe how much the world has
changed since we withdrew into this, our home valley, a thousand years ago.
This will help facilitate our initiation of interchange with the humans." He
looked around to the others, awaiting protest or violent reaction.


          No one protested, for Milgazia was the only one save Filia who had
most recently dealt with any humans. They also knew that he spoke logically
and truthfully, and that remaining aloof from the other races would lead
only to the stagnation of their own. It also went without saying that Lord
Elder Milgazia probably had other reasons for wanting to get out of Dragon's
Peak, though he himself might not have known what they were.


          Milgazia stepped down from his lofty perch and landed gently in
front of Filia. He flowed into his human form and bowed to young Dragon
maiden respectfully. "May I accompany you, Filia Ul Copt, into the lands
beyond the Kataart Mountains?"

          Filia bowed deeply, deeper than Milgazia did. "I would be greatly
honored."


~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~


          Later that afternoon, Filia made her way to meet with Missus Jan
once again. She was walking down the path, adjusting Val's pouch so that the
sun would warm the bag when she met some young Ryuzoku who were talking
amongst themselves intently. The argument was loud enough that she could
hear their mind-voices from a fair distance.


          "...what they did was against the very purpose of the Ryuzoku!"
lamented a male Golden Dragon.


          Another young male shuddered in horror. "To commit genocide on
another race of Ryuzoku, so soon after the Kouma War...simply because they
couldn't take the idea that someone was more powerful than they?"


          "A waste! A waste!" a female Ryuzoku keened. "The Mazoku has no
purpose in this world if those who are supposed to delay the very End hasten
the ending. How they must have laughed..."


          Filia stopped in her tracks, realizing that most of the Ryuzoku
did not approve of what had happened-indeed, they condemned what Filia's
clan had perpetuated so long ago.


           "You! You dare call yourself Ryuzoku after what you've done?"
Filia looked up to see a Black Ryuzoku male towering over her.


          Another Ryuzoku, this one a Golden female snaked her head forward,
hissing. "It is a good thing you aren't staying here; you'll destroy the
sanctity of this valley!"


          "False dragon!" sneered another female, and Filia couldn't tell
who it was any longer. "I heard you once traveled in the company of the
Beast Priest! Go to him then! You and he are of the same ilk!"


          Filia stepped back, unable to do more than stammer weakly in
protest. Unable to deny the accusations, unable to defend herself in the
face of the contempt of the young Dragons, she clutched Val's egg to her
chest, tears welling out of her eyes and spilling down her cheeks. The young
Ryuzoku advanced, hissing menacingly at her, one ebon female lowering her
head, jaws slightly parted to reveal her giant fangs.


          As Filia tried to think of ways and means to protect the egg and
herself without harming the angry Ryuzoku, a great black shadow fell over
them all.


          "You will cease this at once," A deep voice declared sternly.


           The Dragon youths looked up. "It's the Lord Elder!" a Dragon
maiden gasped.


           Milgazia backwinged to slow his descent, then his hind paws
touched lightly into the ground. Filia curled her body around Val's egg, so
that should she fall due to the inevitable gale created by Milgazia's wings,
it would be cushioned from the stone. Milgazia's head snaked forward and
past Filia, and stopped only to gaze with stony disapproval at the young
Dragon nearest her. The young Black Ryuzoku drooped her head, slunk back a
few meters away, then flattened herself on the ground submissively. Milgazia
raised his head slightly to transfix the others with his stare, who all
backed down, squeaking in fear.


          "Foolish hatchlings!" Milgazia intoned, raising himself to his
full height over Filia. "With your words, you are as the one you accuse! No,
you are worse for not using the mind that Ceiphied has blessed you with!
Filia Ul Copt is the last of her Clan, and though she is of that Clan, she
had no part in the crimes of her kin! In her care is the egg of the last
Ancient Ryuzoku in the entire world-her penance for the sins of the Dragons
who followed Karyu-oh Valbazard. You bring shame to us by your undisciplined
actions and ignoble reproaches! As punishment, I decree that all of you go
into seclusion and meditate upon this newly discovered history and speak to
no one save an Elder when you have reached a more sensible and logical flow
of thought." He shook his head sorrowfully, turning away from them at last.
"Leave now. You have much to reflect on, to my detriment."


          Milgazia's thundering but quiet proclamation reverberated from the
mountain walls, and long before the echoes had faded, the area was empty of
the unruly young Dragons.


          Filia gazed up at him in awe and a little in fear. Here was the
Lord Elder in all his majesty, not the self-effacing, soft-spoken Ryuzoku,
whose authority had only been hinted at in the Hall of the Elder Council.
Gone was the image of the dust-smudged, preoccupied young man. In its place,
was the image of the one who ruled the Ryuzoku of the Valley, and ruled it
well.


          Memphis suddenly appeared next to Filia, touching her arm in
concern. "Hey, are you all right?" without waiting for an answer she looked
up at the sky. "They're in trouble now, but don't worry about them."


          Milgazia roared once then shimmered into his human form to stand
next to Filia. "My most humble apologies, Filia. What just transpired was
most uncalled for." His face was expressionless but his eyes betrayed his
disappointment. "I am ashamed that our young ones acted that way."


          Filia shook her head. "No, Elder-sama...they were right. Since I
am the last of my clan, their sins are mine by blood and heritage."


          Milgazia looked at her, and Filia flinched involuntarily,
remembering the understated rebuke that his gaze could deliver. "That does
not mean that they should disrespect you. You are still a guest, and such
rudeness reflects badly on our clan."


          Memphis frowned. "I'll say."


          "Please, Milgazia-sama...don't waste your time for my sake. They
are young, like me, and hot-headed." Filia demurred. "I have not earned
their respect."


          "Good manners and civility, young one, are never a waste of time.
If you think that you have not earned their respect, then they doubly have
not earned yours. And if no one shows common courtesy to the other, then
respect will never even be born." Milgazia scowled up at the sky as though
he could still see the now-vanished Ryuzoku young. "Stupidity is no excuse.
They should not judge you. Judge your clan, perhaps, as I have been
listening to them do, but not pass sentence upon you who are trying to
atone. Nothing will ever justify genocide, Filia...nothing will ever erase
the stain your clan have brought upon us all. But if we learn nothing as
well from mistakes made in the past...then we have already beaten
ourselves."


           Filia's eyes widened. "Milgazia-sama..."


          "That is why I will go with you, Filia. I have made a mistake in
sealing up my people within the safety of this valley, to simply exist. We
Ryuzoku are to preserve life, not stagnate it. Life means change and
learning, and if it is disaster that brings about changes for the better,
then we must let danger back into our lives. The very fact that Gaav and the
Mazoku could disturb us here in the Valley proves that we are not isolated
from the rest of the world...so we must not isolate ourselves from it."


          "You know better than to simply turn us loose en masse though, ne,
Milgazia-sama?" Missus Jan stepped out from behind the bend. "Best to change
our way of thinking little by little first. One can begin to reshape the
landscape with a single flower,* Lord Elder, and that is what you hope to
accomplish."


          Milgazia laughed. "I have been compared to many things, Lady
Jannia, but this is the first time I have been called a flower." He chuckled
again, the tension gone from the air and from his eyes. Next to him, Memphis
gasped with laughter, images of dandelions dancing in her head.


          Milgazia ignored his irreverent niece. "The roast I was baking
earlier is quite done, and should be cool by now. Shall we adjourn to my
home and sample it?"


          Missus Jan grinned. "Milgazia-sama, we'd be delighted."


          "More than delighted!" Memphis draped an arm around Filia's
shoulders. "Just wait until you taste Milgazia-ojisama's cooking! He doesn't
do it often, but when he does..." the elf girl smacked her fingers against
her lips.


          "Really?" Filia asked, wonderingly.


          "Memphy exaggerates." Milgazia murmured modestly, glancing over at
the two girls.


          "Not this time, Milgazia-ojisama!!!"


           With that, the four started to walk up the path to Milgazia's new
home.


~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~�~~


          They set out two days later, after Milgazia had made certain that
someone would sweep his brand-new house clean each day and Memphis, Elder
Inelo and Missus Jan promised to keep an eye on it. Shifting to human-form
once more, Milgazia swept his hand out toward the pathway that led to the
labyrinth and the outside world. "Shall we begin, young one?"


          Filia turned back to the Valley one last time, her eyes lingering
on the thousands of dragons that flew over it, their backs and wings
gleaming gold and black in the sun. She let her breath be swept away by the
peace and ancient majesty of the place, and listened to the giant waterfall
so that she could remember its roar and take it with her.


          Filia clasped her hands together and prayed. Oh Rugradia,
Seiryu-oh, watch over your patron clan, and watch over your Lord Elder as he
ventures out with me into this world...Guide him and help him find what he
seeks, and help me find peace.


          The prayer finished, Filia straightened the egg pouch at her hip,
and started to walk toward the Dragon Elder Milgazia. He then turned his
back on the Valley and took his first steps, retracing in reverse, the path
Lina Inverse had taken a long time ago when she had sought the Claire Bible.
She had come to the Valley and found what she was looking for. The one who
guided her to her goal was now leaving the Valley, seeking something that
only his heart knew about, but his mind remained ignorant of.


           Back at the castle Milgazia had built, the Elders Inelo, Vandar,
Rashia, Missus Jan and Memphis looked at each other once, then up at the
smooth stone edifice, knowing that one day, with Ceiphied's grace, its halls
would be filled with the long-awaited cries and laughter of children.


*Quote originally said by Spock to Captain Picard; Star Trek: The Next
Generation: Unification Part 2.



Thanks to Pen for the important feedback that led to my revision of the
chapter. It was greatly appreciated and put to good use.


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