Synchronicity

Chapter 13

"Len. I told you not to play with it," his mother scolded.

Len frowned but let go of the pendant, letting it drop back around his neck. "It itches," he insisted. She made him wear it even to bed. What kind of mother was she? He could suffocate in his sleep from the stupid thing. She went over and began tucking him in, kissing his forehead before she was finished.

"I know. It's very special though," she insisted sitting on the edge of his bed. "It's part of a set."

"A set?" Len asked curling up into his pillow. He was only seven summers or so by this point. Hardly caring about legends and spells and magic.

"That's right," she said with a faint smile as she reached out and poked his nose playfully. He laughed of course, faltering back into his sheets. "There's the Bass clef pendant that you have around your neck now. Then there's the Treble clef pendant someone else has that is very important to her too. The two communicate to one another."

Len had no idea what that meant especially since he was falling asleep. "It's the third pendant though that is important. The Alto clef will be the one to save you in the future." Len said nothing though before drifting off into a deep sleep.

Rin had fallen asleep some time ago; probably too exhausted from all the running around they'd done. Not to mention the stressful singing. Len was sitting besides her thinking how ironic it was. He'd dreamt of seeing his sister and being with her through the good and bad times but this was ridiculous. They'd been down in that little hole for who knew how long. They had to have missed their hour deadline. Just sitting and waiting. He was sure the others had gone by now. If the dragon was still alive, it hadn't done anything big enough to notice.

Len was just staring into the blackness of the tunnel, disappointed in himself more than anything. He played with his pendant trying to think of why this would happen to them. "What'd we do to deserve this?" Len asked himself mindlessly as he twirled the pendant more and more, thinking of when he was still just a child. His mother had known that the two would one day find each other through the necklaces. Some how it seemed she'd always known about everything.

It wasn't uncommon though. The child of an oracle or scholar or wizard or something to that effect was often taken to be the new diva. The way his mother talked, Len assumed she was an oracle of sorts. Always saying things like 'this will happen one day' and sure enough it would. It didn't mean anything now though.

"Mom," Len whispered softly glancing up, "what am I suppose to do now?"

"They're going to come for her you know," she said to the blonde mother. "Because of who you are."

"I know that," she replied rocking her two babies to sleep. They were hardly a few days old.

"I can help," the other woman said with a smile reaching out and stroking one of the babies. She couldn't tell which one it was though. "The oracle has told me plenty. I know the outcome of this ordeal but… I might be able to help change it."

"How?" The blonde one asked weakly. "They'll take Rin away and I'll never see her again."

There was silence between the two a moment and then a small boy stepped forward with a book of sorts. He had hair the color of eggplants that was just barely long enough to be tied back in a horsetail. His clothes were too large for his body but he'd grow into them eventually. "Mother?" He asked staring up at the woman.

"Thank you Gakupo," she smiled and reached down taking the book and opening it. "I've read about a set of pendants forged by the Pythoness herself. They have a gift about them. Two can communicate to one another in harmony while the third is merely a gateway."

"I don't understand," the blonde one said frowning a bit.

"It means," the woman pulled out two odd shaped music notes that dangled on silver chain. "That so long as your babies wear these, they will never be apart, in hopes that one day they will find each other again."

The blonde mother took them, examined them a few times then looked back at her babies. "Their lives will be full of strife…"

"Yes, but the necessary steps have begun to keep them safe and ensure them a peaceful future. Even after we're long gone." She flinched a bit by her own words. "Please. Make them wear them at all times."

"I will," the blonde mother said again then looked back at the other woman. "What about the third pendant though? The one that's suppose to be a gateway?"

The woman smiled at that and reached down patting her song on her head, "don't worry. It's all taken care of."

"His time is up," Gakupo sighed in annoyance as he stood up. His legs were stiff and throbbing from the fight earlier and now sitting around doing nothing for the past hour. "He's had his chance to be the hero." He muttered looking around.

"We can't leave him like this though," Meiko frowned as she stood also. "It's not right. If it was us down there he wouldn't hesitate to try everything physically possible to rescue us."

"True," Gakupo said softly rubbing his temples as though he was even more annoyed though it was hard to tell why. Kaito said nothing, only stared at the crevasses that lead downward. Miku hadn't said anything in a long time and the blue haired man wondered if she'd just fallen asleep. "My… My mother gave her life for this day." Gakupo said suddenly.

Everyone turned to look at him. "No, she didn't." Meiko said softly, "she gave her life because she didn't want to be imprisoned by the rulers of the kingdom who would have used her gifts for evil."

Gakupo scoffed, "is that what they're telling you now." He walked around the interior of the mountain cave looking carefully at the walls and platforms, making sure each one was secured. "My mother wasn't an oracle but she was close to the one that rules the kingdom now."

"Luka?" Meiko frowned, "but she would have just been-"

"A child," Gakupo nodded, "and much easier to persuade into spilling any secrets about the future." He stopped by one stone in the wall, reaching out and felling it before shaking his head and moving on. "My mother may have given he life, but it was in hopes I'd move forward to this day. Everything had been part of her original plan from the beginning. Kaito, she knew you would come looking for the Pythoness. Meiko, she knew you would turn against Luka and follow us from battle to battle after Teto's death." He stopped again feeling another part of the cave wall. "She knew I would come with Len if he told me his journey here. Every one of us has played a role in this day."

"What day?" Kaito asked annoyed.

"The day we finish this whole damn thing," Gakupo said reaching under his robes and pulling out a music note shaped pendant. "Tenor granted," he said as the entire wall glowed a faint orange color. Everyone was now on their feet, including Miku who must not have been asleep after all. They all looked towards Gakupo for an explanation. "This whole mountain was carved from magic," he explained as the walls returned to their normal color. "There was a secret entrance that lead down into the bottom of the pit to deliver the Diva the things she needed when she needed them. However, the only way to get down there was with the use of this pendant." He turned around and showed off the necklace.

"It's like Len's," Kaito said confused.

"Yes," Gakupo nodded putting it back in his robes. "The set. This pendant has bee passed down for generations through the castle but only the highest scholars are suppose to keep them. Others may use it but it must be returned back or else." He didn't bother to continue that train of thought. "I was hoping Len would find his own way out but it seems we've put too much faith in the boy." He pressed against the stonewall but it didn't appear solid. Instead, his hand rippled right through it like it was immersed in water.

"Gakupo?" Meiko asked in shock. The group slowly made their way over to the older man.

He just gave a faint smile and nodded, "come on. Let's get that brat out of here."

Len just kept staring at the wall. He felt cold now and even he was starting to feel hungry and tired. How long had it been since he'd eaten a good meal? It seemed selfish compared to the hell his sister had gone through. He closed his eyes and felt his body go numb. He was slipping… He could easily let his mind drift off and then he could-

He snapped his eyes awake again. No! He couldn't fall asleep. If he did, he might not wake up. He frowned at the thought and reached over to check the sleeping girl beside him. Good, she was still breathing. He let out a sigh of relief and stared up at the ceiling. She apparently had the stamina of a god. He wouldn't have been able to go through all she did and make it this far. Then again, maybe he already had in his own way.

"I have to stay awake," Len told himself though he wasn't sure why. If they both fell asleep and died here, would it matter? He wanted to save her and he did. Maybe this was a fitting end to their journey after all. He closed his eyes again and opened his mouth deciding to push back any thoughts of death and sing like he'd done in the past. "The number one princess in the whole entire world, I promise to be by your side."

When had he taken his sisters hand? Was it when they'd first sat down? He couldn't remember. All he knew was that he could feel it now and gave it a gentle squeeze. "So please smile. Don't show me sadness. In my point of view, we are one when we're together." He smiled a bit at his words, "you've got to be kidding if you think that I will get away from you." He was drifting again. Maybe death wouldn't be so bad after all.
"You're kidding me," a voice snapped Len from his peaceful thoughts. The boy jumped and turned seeing no one there; just that same black wall of nothingness. Though…it did feel a bit warmer. "We come all the way down here, thinking you're fighting dragons and rescuing fair maidens and you're sleeping!" That was Kaito's voice wasn't it?

Len was speechless as he felt the girl beside him stirring. "Len?" She asked rubbing her eyes with her free hand. "What's going on?"

He didn't bother to reply, only pulled them both up to their feet as he watched the dead end. There was more laughing and teasing he couldn't quite understand and then… A hand went through. Len pushed Rin behind him just in case. Bit by bit the body emerged from the wall. Gakupo. Not far behind him was Meiko, Kaito and the Pythoness girl. "How-?" Len asked still fairly speechless.

"Magic," was all Kaito with his usual grin. He paused a second only to glance around Len and look over at Rin. "This must be the Diva. Wow, she looks just like you Len."

"Nice to meet you," Rin replied shyly still a bit taken back also.

"That's good and all," Gakupo said glancing back, "but we should get out of here. I don't know about all of you but I'm feeling a bit cramped."

"Right," Meiko said, shoving Kaito back through the wall. Miku merely followed close behind, still feeling a tad guilty for what she'd done, especially when she saw the two there. Gakupo waited for them to go before turning back to the twins.

"You're not hurt I hope," he said frowning.

"No. We're fine," Len said still very confused. "I don't understand… The wall. It was solid. I tried everything."

"Yes, I assumed as much," Gakupo nodded. "There's a magical ward on this place. If you know how to avoid it all, you can slip through the cracks and get out unharmed. If not, well, we have heard the stories of the failed heroes," he turned and started to go but Len caught his arm.

"You did something didn't you?" Len asked narrowing his eyes.

Gakupo didn't look back. "Perhaps so. Perhaps not. One day I may tell you but for now, let's just get you two out of here." Len hesitated before letting the man go. Gakupo slipped into the darkness and vanished altogether. Then the blonde boy looked back at his sister, "Rin. Are you ready to get out of this place?"

The girl was hesitant but smiled and nodded slowly, "I was born ready."

One by one the group emerged from the hole in the wall and back into the whole of the mountain. "Well that was one of the weirdest things I've ever done," Kaito said looking himself over to make sure nothing had happened to him.

"You're telling me," Meiko said looking back at Gakupo came out followed by the twins. "Well now, this is the dragon Diva?" The woman asked with a smirk as she looked at Rin, who was busy looking around curiously.

"This was the sky I saw every day?" She asked in awe. "I guess I really haven't seen stars."

"Allow us to take you them then m'lady," Meiko said bowing. Rin was a bit confused by that and even the others were wondering what she was doing. "I failed in saving the last dragon Diva. I'm sorry… But I was glad I was able to help rescue at least you."

Rin just stared a moment then nodded and curtsied back, "thank you. I am forever grateful to you."

Meiko stood back up and looked towards the only exit she could find. "Well now that that's over. Shall we?"

They all nodded and headed for it but they hardly had to take three steps before Miku stopped and held her head. A moment later, Rin did the same. Both girls flinched in pain and it was Len and Kaito who went to their side. "What is it?" Len snapped right away.

"The dragon," Rin said through clenched teeth. "It…It's not dead…"

Miku winced and almost fell to her knees had it not been Kaito who caught her, "and it's not very happy…"

Suddenly, the entire mountain shook sending each one of them to the ground. "I thought it was dead!" Kaito shouted over the noise of the rumble. "Len killed it didn't he?" He asked looking towards the boy who seemed just as confused if not more so.

"I thought I did," Len said grabbing his sword that rested by his side. The blood stains were finally dry on the blade.

"You thought wrong," Gakupo said narrowing his eyes, "we have to get out of here before it takes down the entire mountain!" The roaring noise was heard from below them as the cave shook more and more, the walls were crumbling, the platform was breaking. "Run!" The man shouted making a run for the exit.

Kaito nodded and scooped Miku into his arms, following after the scholar. "Len!" Meiko shouted running over to the twins, "I can carry her." She offered when she noticed he couldn't quite get her to move on her own. The boy nodded and helped get Rin up. Meiko held tight as she made a break for the others. Len went right after as the platform crashed down and out screeched the huge beast.

All of them turned to look upon it's black scales and glowing red eyes. It screamed at them, clawing and snapping trying to get out of the hole. "Dammit!" Kaito shouted as they went running again. All but Len who was glaring at the dragon with the same intensity as before.

"Len!" Meiko shouted when they had reached the arch of the exit. "We have to get out of here now!"

Len said nothing for a long time, fist clenched around his sword handle. "Go!" He called back to the others before he stepped forward into a defensive stance. "I can't let it escape."

"No!" Rin shouted back at him but Meiko wasn't about to let her go. "No, the cave is collapsing! Len, you have to run!"

Len didn't look back at them though, "Meiko. Get my sister out of here," he said before running towards the beast.

"No!" Rin screamed as Meiko nodded and bolted out of the cave. No one in the group looked back as the blonde haired girl screamed some more, reaching her hand out for her brother. "LEN!"

Her voice echoed through the mountain, over the rumbling and noise of the falling rocks. There were loud screeches coming from the dragon inside and a battle cry was heard even from Len. Rocks and boulders were falling from every direction, the group had to dodge to their best ability. "There!" Kaito shouted when he spotted the day light outside. No one stopped, even when their legs were aching.

One by one they spilled out of the mountain and onto the path they'd followed in the first place. They collapsed into the grass, ducking in case any debris hit them. The whole ground shook for a long time and then everything was still. Everyone was in shock at what had happened as Rin scurried to her feet weakly, cupping her mouth over her lips. "Len!" She shouted some more as the tears rolled down her cheeks. "Len…!"