A Journey Within the Realm
Chapter 12: Shadow Commanders Gen and Machiko

We quickly reached the main part of town, making sure we stayed well hidden. I observed the area. We saw that there were shadow dragons around. I noticed one of them asleep on guard duty. That gave me an idea.

“Nori,” I whispered, “You see that sleeping dragon?”

“Yeh,” Nori answered.

“Do you think you can possess it?” I asked.

“Well… creatures aren’t my best, but I will try,” Nori replied.

“All I ask is for you to do is to infiltrate and see what you can replace,” I said, “Think you can do that?”

“I will see what I can do,” Nori answered, “Just don’t hold anything against me if something goes wrong.”

I watched as Nori turned invisible. Then, I saw Nori’s hand touch the shadow dragon. After a moment of dull light, the shadow dragon woke up. It looked at us and winked. Nori was now in control. I nodded. Nori walked away.

“Let’s go,” I said, starting to move.

We went from building to building. After a while, I finally saw one of the commanders. My guess she was the shadow goddess. Just then, I felt a tapping on my shoulder.

“Not now, guys,” I said, “I watching one of the commanders.”

“And, one of the commanders is watching you, light mage,” a new voice added.

I turned around. Rin and Miki stood tied up by shadow boa constrictors and Kuri sat trapped inside a old lantern. In front of me hovered the shadow fairy commander.

“This way, light mage,” the commander said.

“He has a name, you know,” Miki exclaimed, very angrily.

Suddenly, I heard a snap and Miki’s boa constrictor tightened its grip. Miki moaned in discomfort. I was about to hit the boa, when the commander stopped me.

“If you value your friends lives, do not do anything you might regret,” the fairy commander said, “Now this way.”

I sighed as I followed the fairy commander over to her partner.

“Good work, Gen,” the goddess commander said, “Shadow Boa! Tie up Randy!”

As soon as she said that, a boa wrapped around me.

“Please, if you don’t mind, everyone sit down,” the goddess commander ordered.

Rin, Miki and I fell hard on our butts. The few shadow fairies carrying the lantern that held Kuri, placed her on the ground next to us.

“Before we kill you, let us introduce ourselves,” the goddess commander said, “I’m Machiko, Shadow Commander of the shadow creatures. Next to me, floating, is Gen, Shadow Commander of the shadow fairies. We have been looking for you for quite some time now.”

“Hold on, Machiko,” Gen said, “Didn’t Aneko tell us that he had a ghost with him?”

“That’s right,” Machiko replied, looking around.

Machiko scanned her creatures in the area. When she saw one of the shadow dragons, she stared very carefully at it.

“You,” Machiko yelled, pointing at the shadow dragon, “Here! Now!”

The shadow dragon slowly walked over and stopped in front of Machiko.

“You really think you can hide one of your friends in one of my minions?” Machiko asked me, pointing at the shadow dragon, “Touch of the underworld!”

I watched as black gas came out of her finger’s tip and entered the shadow dragon’s nose. Within seconds, the dragon die, and Nori appeared above it.

“Uhhh… hi?” Nori asked.

“Bottle her,” Machiko commanded.

The shadow fairies flew around Nori. In just a sudden flash of light, Nori was trapped inside a corked bottle. The shadow fairies placed the bottle next to Kuri’s lantern.

“You see, Randy,” Machiko began, “It’s no use. Kei will always win. That is why she is the ruler of this realm. She will always be one step ahead of you.”

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a bat. Kyoko! I listened carefully to the squeaks. The more I listened, the more I could understand it and translate it. ‘Keep them busy so I can make my move,’ I think Kyoko said. Will do, Kyoko.

“Hey! I have a question for you two,” I said.

“What is it?” Machiko asked.

“You are both commanders of two different kinds of shadows,” I began, “You, Gen, are the commander of the shadow fairies, while Machiko commands shadow creatures.”

“Get to the point,” yelled Machiko.

“Okay, fine! Man…,” I replied, “Anyway… who is the higher rank?”

Machiko and Gen looked at each other before going back to me.

“Why do you want to know that?” Gen asked.

“Just call it a hunch,” I answered.

“What hunch?” asked Machiko.

“Ohhhh… that Gen, here, must answer to you,” I replied.

Machiko laughed like crazy.

“I like you, light mage,” Machiko laughed, “You’re funny. And, by the way, you’re right! Ha ha ha!”

“Why you hot head,” Gen yelled, “I knew your rank would go to your head!”

“What did you say!?!” yelled Machiko.

“You heard me, you sad excuse of a goddess,” Gen yelled, “You’re always trying to control my shadows! I will not stand for…”

Just like that, Gen was unable to finish her sentence. A bat had just eaten her. I watched Machiko to see what she would do after seeing her partner eaten. Machiko was tearing up as a huge smile started to form. Suddenly, Machiko burst out laughing, falling to the ground.

“I can’t believe what I just saw,” Machiko laughed, “That was the funniest thing I ever saw! That’s rich! That’s beautiful! That was the perfect death for that dumb fairy!”

Machiko got a hold of herself before getting up. She brushed herself off and turned back to me.

“Well, it seems it’s just me having the honor to kill you,” Machiko said.

I started hearing the squeaks of a bat again. They were telling me something. No… not telling, asking. ‘What would you like me to do?’ asked Kyoko, ‘Would you like me to suck her blood?’ I shook my head.

“Why are you shaking your head no to me?” Machiko asked, “You have no choice in the matter. I have to kill you. Kei’s orders.”

I listened carefully to the squeaks. ‘Who would you like me to drain?’ asked Kyoko, ‘Miki?’ I shook no. ‘Rin?’ asked Kyoko. I shook no. ‘Well, I can’t drain Nori or Kuri,’ said Kyoko, ‘You don’t mean yourself?’ I nodded. ‘Okay… if you wish,’ said Kyoko.

“Stop moving your head,” Machiko yelled, “It’s driving me nuts! I’m not even asking you any questions! If I don’t ask, you can’t answer!”

Just then, a bat landed on my neck. It squeaked once before sinking it fangs into my neck. As it sucked my blood, I started to feel that now familiar tingling.

“This is too good to be true,” Machiko laughed, “That bat is draining all your blood. You are going to die from lack of blood! Ha ha ha!”

As Kyoko drained more and more blood out of me, I could feel the shadow boa’s grip loosening. Before long, the boa lost interest in me; boas like lively meals. Less blood, less lively. I got up and started to wobble over to Machiko. As I walked, the bat flew from my neck and transformed back into Kyoko. Kyoko ran over and started breaking everyone free.

“How can you still walk!?!” exclaimed Machiko.

“No, I don’t not want any chalk,” I replied, “I want to hurt you bad enough that you will be helpless.”

“Get away from me,” Machiko yelled, backing up.

“You say that would be peachy keen?” I asked, grabbing hold of her arms, “Here it comes.”

“That’s not what I said,” Machiko yelled, “No! Don’t!”

The next thing I heard was a high pitched scream as I fell to the ground, holding something in each hand.

“My arms,” Machiko screamed in horror, “You burned off my arms!”

“No. I did not learn from the palms,” I corrrected, “What do you mean anyways? Palms as in my hands or like the tree that grows coconuts?”

“You’re nuts,” Machiko yelled, “I’m out of here!”

I heard Machiko disappearing with all her minions. I slowly sat up and tossed what I was holding away.

“I guess she meant palm trees, “ I said, “She mentioned coconuts.”

“Is Randy okay?” asked Rin.

“Of course I’m staying,” I answered, “I can’t leave! Ha ha!”

“He’s like this when his blood is drained,” Miki replied, “During this time, he will not make any sense. Speaking of which… why, on earth, did you suck his blood again!?!”

“He told me to,” Kyoko answered.

“How?” Miki asked, “He was just moving his head!”

“That’s what I don’t understand either,” Kyoko said, “I was a bat at the time. After a while, I noticed Randy listening to my squeaks. So, I tried talking to him as a bat. Somehow, he knew what I was saying.”

“And, those head movements? That was him answering your questions?” Miki asked.

“Yes,” Kyoko answered, “Through my questions, he nodded yes to me to drain his blood.”

“Well… whatever happen just now, worked,” Miki said, “All thanks to Randy.”

“Don’t you think we should take him back to the castle so he can regain his blood?” asked Rin.

“Good idea,” Miki replied, “Grab one of his arms, Rin. I will take the other.”

I heard footsteps approaching. Just then, I felt two people lifting me up and carrying me someplace.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked.

“Back to the castle,” Miki answered.

“Well, if carrying me is such a hassle to you, I will walk on my own,” I said.

“You’re not well,” Rin said.

“Don’t say that,” Miki exclaimed.

“Why?” Rin asked.

“Timmy’s stuck in the well again!?!” I exclaimed, “We have to save him again! Where’s Silver, my horse!?!”

“That’s why,” Miki said.

“This realm has one strange hero to rely on,” Rin said.

“Yeh, but think of the fun,” Kyoko added.