Chapter One;

When Shadow Meets the Light

A yellow orb lay in the blue sky; burning everything it touched a glimmering orange. Brownish birds filtered in between the fluffy clouds, chasing each other in their games of tag. The relentless ocean rested below, two giant silver reflections dancing with the endless waves: One the sun, the other a cloud.

This cloud was as blue as the moon, skimming the water with its wispy end. A gigantic kingdom sat on its top, complete with turrets, a gate, and a city in between. The black Iron Gate was at its front, the center piece for a violet stone wall. This wall stretched on the eastern, northern, and half of the western wall, for the gate took up the other half. On the cloud’s southern side rested the castle.

There have been five most beautiful palaces in the history of the universe, and this one surpassed them all.

Gardens naturally grew around the front walls, only breaking to allow paths to the entrances and marble statues and fountains. The sides were connected to the walls; every stone stained the same purple. The thick back was touched by air, somehow protecting the inner rooms from any kind of ambush.

Gigantic turrets arose from the front corners, housing windows and topping themselves with sturdy metal roofs. Towers sat behind them, less prominent but none the less beautiful. However, all four of them combined were nothing to the central, main tower, itself rising above even the two turrets combined. Balconies looked out to all four directions, wreaths and flowers decorated the sills, and the roof was a triangle of patterned navy tiles.

The city slept in between all of this, sounds and scents of anything wafting towards the swimming fish under-foot. The band played in the garden theatre, their music flowing over to the noisy shops. Beings bustled around, buying fresh crops and fragrant flowers for the night’s celebrations. Tonight there would be a feast- A grand one in honor of the princess’s coming.

Not only was every resident in the city out, but so was every single visitor to the city of Asmerald. It was early summer, the busiest time of year for this usually spacey metropolis. Creatures of all races came to visit, the beasts ranging from small to large, wide to thin, winged to hoofed: They came in all shapes and sizes.

One such visitor was hopping –not walking- away from the crowd, straying close to the Palace Garden fence. He peeked in between the planks, closing his brown eyes in enjoyment as he passed a section of Jhikan Flowers. Jhikan Flowers were therapy plants, able to relax and cure nausea when near. They’d put a smile on anyone’s face.

Flicking two long cream ears, he adjusted his small box to a better holding position. Having paws and no thumbs was definitely a set-back. However, the rabbit put on a smile. This was for a good cause. He was traveling to his friend’s house, delivering the box she’d ordered not too long ago. It wasn’t very heavy, no, just hard to hold with rabbit paws.

A gate appeared ahead in the fence, and the creature bounced faster. Despite the celebrations for tonight, some beings still had jobs. This someone he wanted to meet worked at these gardens, in this sector as well. Perhaps he’d even meet her today too… The rabbit stopped dead at the closed gate, ears and hopes hanging down. He sighed hopping along with closed eyes when-

He fell back, barely clutching the box to his chest in time. The thing he’d slammed into stepped back, startled, but she quickly recovered her self. Grabbing her dropped basket, she held out a hand to the fallen rabbit. “I’m sorry! I wasn’t looking at where I was going! Are you okay?” She asked, speaking in the common German tongue for rabbits.

“T-T-Tanja!” He stammered, grabbing her hand and pulling himself up. “I-I’m sorry.” His words were slurry and almost inaudible, and the rabbit felt his face turn hot. Tanja was wearing her frilly purple dress today; the one he thought fitted her spotless white fur the best. Even so, with those sparkling blue eyes, she didn’t need an expensive dress or jewelry to look pretty.

He blinked stupidly, then looked at the ground. He’d been staring. His cheeks were damp with little beads of sweat, and warmed his fur when he wiped a dusty paw across his face. “Sorry.” Was the mumbled apology given. Tanja shook her head and smiled, as if she didn’t care at all. “It’s fine.”

The male rabbit couldn’t help but smile. She was so carefree. That was one of the many reasons he adored her. He wasn’t captivated by her splendor, nay; he was caught in her web of words and being. Perhaps if he was himself could spin as delicately as she, they could intertwine said threads to make a new chain in the links of life…

The movement of his paw brought him from his thoughts, and he looked at Tanja with surprise. She smiled, shaking mitts with him once more. “Felix, I must be going. Maybe we’ll bump into each other again today.” She let go with a giggle, and waved goodbye as she walked away. Felix stared ahead, too stunned to move or even wave back.

“Oiy!”

Felix jumped high into the air in fright, stumbling backwards to look at the caller as he landed. An almost spiteful glare rested in his eyes, but when he saw who it was, he had to bite his cheek to stop from bursting out laughing. “You got me good this time!” The rabbit smiled, pointing a tan paw at the beast.

Said beast nodded, smiling bigger than Felix-which was very hard to do. “I sure did! I believe this brings the score to 1-7?” The two were best friends, despite only being able to see each other for two months a year. They had made a game when they had first met five years ago with very simple rules: Who ever can scare the other the most in two months wins. Of course, Felix always lost, but the two never stopped playing.

“Hmph!” He grunted, building up a sad façade. “You know, you pronounced a word wrong there.” He playfully cuffed the dirty brown paw that hung over the fence, smirking with false pride. These two were not from the same culture, so naturally their language would be different. Felix’s natural tongue was German, while his friend spoke English. However, the other had offered to learn German, and they had spoken together freely ever since.

The brown paw swiped itself over the rabbit’s face, giving his head its own ‘cuff-of-revenge’. “Aw, come on! I can only practice it with you for a little bit! The bunnies that stay here think I’m weird.” A smile crossed the furry, light brown canine face, and he flicked his long ears away from the wind. This type of being was native to Asmerald, having large feline paws and tail, canine senses and head, and being rather large in general. Though, not all of these beasts were the same. Some were larger, some had bigger heads, and some had wings.

This was one such winged beast.

Two large white-feathered wings rested at the creature’s sides, remarkably clean compared to the rest of him. His main body was a muddy brown, while his tail tip was black and his furry head was musky tan. It was not as bright as Felix’s fur, but the rabbit had the money to clean thoroughly now and then. Besides, he worked in a garden.

Said Felix crossed his arms with a grunt, almost dropping the box in the process. “We’re not bunnies! We’re kaninchen!” He said firmly, tapping the ground impatiently with a long foot.

“Whatever. I’m still calling you a bunny. I bet Tanja would like that.” A stifled gasp and blush from his friend told him he’d hit a soft touch. “Oh! Have a crush on the girl, aye? So that’s who that white bunny you were just with is.” He reached out happily with a paw and flicked one of the rabbit’s ears.

Felix pulled back, gripping the one ear with an agitated grip. “That’s not the point! Besides, as long as you call me a bunny I’ll call you a Zicklein.” He stood proudly then, with a smug expression on his face. The ‘bunny’ looked at the ‘Zicklein’ for several moments like this, but the two couldn’t help but to burst out laughing.

“Stop it!” A voice cried from another part in the garden, and as it continued to speak it came closer. “If you’re not going to work, Reiki, go home. I can’t have you disrupting the other workers.” A bulky wolf stepped out from the tall green stems, his own greenish-blue fur blending in with the plants. He gazed sternly at the two, flicking his tail impatiently.

Felix looked down guiltily, but Reiki brightened and turned to face his employer. “Are you sure? I still have to check on the plants in the southern sector.”

The wolf shook his head and gently flicked a stem with a forepaw. “Yes, I’m sure.” He knew how hard Reiki worked, and how often he volunteered to do someone else’s work. “Besides, if you work as hard as you always do, then you won’t have any energy for the Princess’s return.” He smiled and walked back through the flowers, calling over his shoulder, “You’d better hurry and find a spot for the parade, or all the good ones will be gone!”

Once he was out of sight, Reiki turned back to Felix, “Did you hear? We can go to the ceremony together!” Even though there was a ceremony every year, Reiki had never gone to one. Felix has described it to him once, but he couldn’t wait to see it in person. “Do you think there’ll be red streamers again this year?” He asked, looking up as if he could see the decorations already.

Felix chuckled, tapped his friend’s hanging paw with his own, and motioned for Reiki to follow him as he walked along the fence. “I see you’ve adopted my love for streamers, haven’t you?”

Reiki nodded happily pulling himself over the fence with a gentle flap of his wings. He landed beside Felix, who had surprisingly not jumped in surprise or fright. “Aw! Well, I guess the score’s the same.” With a shrug, he walked on to catch up to his friend. He smiled and looked over Felix’s shoulder, surprised when he saw a box. “What’s this?”

Felix shrugged, “I don’t know, but Katero bought it and I’m delivering.” He lifted the box to his ears and shook, hoping it would give him a clue to what was inside. When it didn’t, he lowered it with a sigh. “It’s light and rattles, if that gives you any ideas.” The rabbit tapped the package as proof.

“Hhm… Well, if Katero bought it, then it might be new combs for her and her mother?” Reiki smiled sheepishly, having gone from thoughtful to thoughtless in one sentence. Trying to change the subject, he sped up his pace. “Anyway! Since I’m coming to the parade, we have to help with the after-party!”

Felix raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Don’t you always help?” He hopped along with wider jumps, matching Reiki’s speeding and enthusiastic pace.

Reiki smiled down at Felix, “Yes, I do, but this time I’m dragging you along!” He marched with a vibrant skip now, south along the lonely and ragged street to his house. He looked towards his right, between the rows of ragged shacks and cabins, ignoring the pestering yells of his friend.

“What?!?” Felix threw one fist into the air angrily, with shock written all over his face. “What do you mean by that? You’re not going to drag me over to that cleaning party are you?” He let his friend cross the corner then followed. “And what if I don’t go? Hey! Hey!” He jumped in front of Reiki’s face, barring the way. He leaned forward and placed one hand on his hip, “HELLO!?!?!”

“Is that you Felix?”

The voice made them turn, and Reiki blushed sheepishly. “Sorry there, Katero.” He pawed the ground sheepishly, shuffling his tail nervously. Felix stifled a laugh, looking away with a proud smirk. He earned himself a smack to the head for it, then turned around and stuck his tongue out at his friend, rubbing his head with a paw.

Katero watched the exchange between her friends, and sighed. “I should have known that was you as well, Reiki. Who else hangs around with an insane little rabbit from Garbanor?” She laughed, walking closer to them with a smile. Katero was also a native to Asmerald, and a winged one like Reiki.

The rabbit hopped closer and handed out the box. “Hey,” He began, trying to speak in his Katero’s natural language. “Just because I am from Garbanor, does not mean I am insane.” He flicked his ears, while Reiki rolled his eyes behind him. Felix had spoken in English so Katero could understand him, but it hadn’t always been this way. Guilty he couldn’t understand Reiki’s friend, he learned how to talk and understand English. However, in honor of when they had first met, Reiki and Felix both spoke in German instead of English.

Katero shuffled her wings, which were a muddy green leather, and patted Felix’s head gently with a paw. “Are you coming over tomorrow for some more lessons on speaking English?” At the expression on his face she laughed, “I’m just kidding.” She turned around, and walked up the street instead of down. She motioned with her tail to follow, and called over her shoulder, “Come on! It’s this way.”

Reiki looked at her worriedly, but followed anyway. “Katero!” He called, bounding up to her. “Isn’t your house the othe-“

“No.” She said simply, turning to look at him with sad eyes. “No, it’s not. The landowners decided to raise the price for our house, and Mother and I couldn’t pay it. Luckily, this house over here was for sale.”

Felix, who had caught up in time to overhear, muttered, “Those evil bastards. That’s the fifth time this summer.” He stamped the ground impatiently, “Some time, I will come over there, and find a way to teach them a lesson. With a little bit of this!” He swung paw in a punch. “And this!” He swung his paw again the other direction. “And even some of this!” He kicked out his foot, smacking it on the ground as if he was stomping on some kind of bug.

Katero laughed, but shook her head sadly. “No, don’t do that, Felix. You’ll get throw out of Asmerald forever, and then where would Reiki be? You wouldn’t leave him up here all alone in the summer, would you?”

Blushing, Reiki wandered over to the house Katero had pointed out. “Is this it? W-well, let’s go inside… Now?” He bounded up the steps and ran smack into the door, already forgetting this house was not like her last. “Ow.” He shook his head, placing a paw on his nose.

Felix burst out laughing, but Katero ran to him quickly. “Reiki!” She padded up beside him and peered at him worriedly. “Are you hurt? Are you okay?” She cast an angry glare at Felix, who was rolling on the ground with laughter. He quickly stopped, ashamed for his actions.

“Oh, I’m fine… Katero.” Reiki looked at her happily, and she beamed. “Besides,” He began, standing back up on all four legs. “At least it knocked some sense into me.” He shook himself, smiling sheepishly at her. She blushed, flicking her ears self-consciously.

“Sorry to ruin the moment, but we should be going.” Felix looked between them, smirking as they blushed. “We’d better get these combs inside for your mother, or she’ll beat us home.”

Reiki rolled his eyes at his friend, but Katero looked at the rabbit, confused. “Combs? Oh no, those are s-“ She stopped, looking at Reiki in alarm. “…Yes… Those are s… so… socks!” She laughed nervously, gaining odd looks from her friends.

Felix looked as if he was going to say something, but changed his mind. “Whatever. Just open the door so we can get going.” Taking note of how late it was, he looked up towards the sky, blinking his eyes in the sunlight. “Huh.” He shook his head, blinking to stop the little green dots from popping up everywhere. “The Garden Master was right. If we don’t hurry, we won’t even make it in time for the start of the parade.”

Upon hearing that, Katero walked up to the door and clumsily twisted the door knob with a paw. It opened after a few tries, and they all filed into the house- or rather, shack. The one roomed place wasn’t even big enough to be called a cabin, let alone a house. Spider webs hung from the rafters, and Reiki sneezed from the dust.

“Holy Down, what is this stuff?” Felix flapped on paw through the air, jumping up and down, trying his best to remove the sticky web that was on him. “Blech! I’m all for only spring cleaning, but this is a little extreme.”

Katero sighed, “I know, but it was all that was available.” She walked past the fireplace and to the bed, petting the straw mattress delicately. “Here, Felix. You can lay the box of sake here.”

Felix nodded and did as he was told, and then turned back towards the door. “Well! Tomorrow Reiki and I will come over and help you clean this place up! Yup! That’s what we’ll do!” He stood proudly and smiled.

“But Felix-“ Katero began, but he interrupted her.

“No buts! Nope, none! I will drag that ever-so-reluctant to work Reiki over here, and we will clean up this place.” Felix nodded quickly. “Yes, I mean… Someone over there,” He coughed, muttering the name Reiki in between, and then continued. “Does not even want to go to the after party!”

Reiki stamped his foot, “Hey! Don’t you be trying to make me look bad, Mister Bunny.” He swished his tail back and forth, grinning mischievously at the rabbit. “Oh, that’s right. Supposedly you aren’t bunnies. But… Wouldn’t Tanja think it would be cute if we dressed you up like a doll and paraded you around town as ‘The Bunny Doll’? Hhm?”

Felix blushed, “We-we-well…. Well! I never! J-just… No. Go. Parade. We must. Go!” He marched over to the door and rushed out, almost tripping over his own feet. He muttered a few curses in German, looking around nervously in case anyone saw.

The two of them laughed at their friend, smiling at each other. Then, as they realized they were alone, the looked away nervously and uncomfortably. Katero coughed a few times, standing, “I suppose we had better follow him before he’s run over by everyone.” She smiled crookedly at him, shuffling her wings anxiously.

Reiki was startled, but smiled back happily none-the-less, “I suppose so.” He agreed, walking up to the door and pushing it open with a paw, happy to see it stayed open. He nodded towards her and then the door, becoming Captain Obvious as he stated the door was open. He smiled and added cheekily, “Ladies first.”

“Well, then go right ahead.” Katero laughed at the startled expression on his face, shaking her head with a roll of her eyes. “I’m just teasing you.” He sighed with relief and watched her walk to the door. She was almost through when she stopped, however, which surprised him. Before he could ask what was wrong she turned to him, their muzzles so close their whiskers touched and their cheeks burned as the smiled.

“Thank you, Reiki.” That was all she said before she turned and walked away, her tail slipping alluringly across his bewildered nose. What had just happened? What had possessed Katero to do that; was she ill? Reiki sat there, pondering the possibilities. She had been acting strange all day, now that he thought about it, especially when either he or Felix mentioned that box.

Speaking of Felix, he was probably wondering what was taking so long. Reiki smirked, just imagining what Felix would say when he caught up to them. He stood with a sigh and walked out the door onto the street slowly and carefully. This house already didn’t like him, and his poor nose had figured this out the hard way. The rest of him didn’t necessarily want to find out if this theory was true anyway.

Leaving the grungy home behind him, Reiki set off at a run, hurrying to catch up to his friends. He realized that they must have run as well, for he only reached them at the parade sidelines. He panted for breath, smiling ruggedly to both Felix and Katero as he reached them. “Hiya.”

Felix smirked at him, “So what was the hold-up? Did the kaninchen of dust molest you or what?” He laughed at his joke, shaking his head and mindlessly waving his paw as he chuckled. “Come; let us go find a seat.” He turned and faced Reiki, speaking in German so no on could overhear. “Let’s find one soon, before more animals start arriving, please.”

Reiki nodded and looked at his friend with a sullen and worried gloom in his eyes, taking a protective stance to shield the rabbit from all but the wind. Just as Reiki had said before, the Asmeraldian Rabbits avoided him like the plague; they did their best to avoid it, but sometimes it couldn’t be helped. However, not all of them just avoided him- and Felix as well when he was there. As if to exemplify this, a beast called out to them in a mocking tone, “Look at that! What an ugly pair! You’d think they’d get a room.”

“Come on, just ignore them.” Reiki muttered to his friend, who was bristling with anger. Felix growled under his breath, kicking the dirt as he hopped along. He hated being ridiculed and unable to do anything about it. Not only could he not stick up for himself, but he couldn’t help his friend deal with them- he felt as if he was letting Reiki down. He stamped impatiently as they stopped to let people pass, before finally they found a spot. It was near the end, however, so the band would be missing as they watched.

Katero took a seat next to Reiki and leaned over to whisper in Felix’s ear, “It’s not your fault; No one blames you.” She smiled down at her startled companion, brushing her ears against Reiki as she lifted herself back up. He blushed, turning away towards the other side to hide it. Felix, who was too busy contemplating what Katero has said, didn’t notice.

More beasts filed along the street as time went by, and the three of them passed the time by talking. They talked about all sorts of things; they talked about what they thought of the summer, picked on Felix good-naturedly for being so short, and teased them for their spring loves. A manner of blushes spread through them on this subject, and they quickly moved on. Beings pressed on them from all sides, and Felix moved to sit between Reiki’s paws for protection.

The three acquaintances remained silent as they were jostled between the rows of creatures all trying to cram themselves into one little place. All of them made small remarks on how long the parade is taking this year, but so did all of those around them. A loud murmur arose from the awaiting crowd, and loud singular voices soon called out from the crowd to anyone who would listen.

“What’s wrong with the parade?” Someone loudly yelled in English, from farther down the lane. Seemingly someone answered, for a few moments later, the same voice called out again. “Well, where’s the princess then?”

Another voice called, and this time it was quite close. “Shut the hell up! It’ll start when it starts!” Reiki turned to see a creature just as him, only nicer groomed and shaking in anger. He felt Katero shiver next to him, and glanced worriedly in her direction. What would they do if a fight broke out? There was no way he could protect both her and Felix.

As if fears were being realized, the yelling started again- except this time the first beast had calls of support. “Hey! I’m just worrying for the princess! And if you want me to shut up, make me shut up!”

“Well, don’t mind if I do!!!”

“Then let me save you the trouble and show you how lying is unhealthy!” Just as this was yelled, cries of surprise sounded through the crowd, and were moving in a straight line for their direction. Reiki looked down worriedly at Felix, opening his mouth to say something when a crash from above startled him.

Red streamers flew from the skies as the boom resounded, showering down upon them like snow falls on an unsuspecting wilderness. Giant birds flew through the air, their long and flowing tails soaring after them as they danced in the air- and, oh, what a wonderful dance it was. Cheers of joy flowed to them, and they grew more exhilarated, as if the ovation motivated them to do their best. They twirled around each other, and confetti seemed to drop from their wings, as if they were showering everything with magic stardust.

The parade had begun!

Music drifted through the air, growing louder as the band marched closer. Their song was that of Asmerald, a majestic song of great magic and mystery. Then it slowly grew slower, and in honor of the lost family of kings known only by the land, all grew silent. No one stirred, and the birds stopped their dance to honor the dead who had long since passed. A single flute called out from the silence, playing a slow and desolate tune to show how horrible they had died- but it wasn’t a sad song, so that everyone would remember the great things they died for.

“Hello. I’m here to fulfill your empty threat.” Reiki turned at the snarl, startled. It was as if he had broken from a trance, and had been suddenly thrown roughly back into reality. He seemed to be the only who had too- even Katero was still caught under the music’s spell. Afraid for his friends’ safety and angered by the misfits’ disrespect for his home, he growled softly, “Be quiet for just a little more. Just wait until after the parade.”

The whimsical tune stopped, and the crowd hoped and hollered happily as the parade continued. However, the two bickering beasts were far from happy. They both glared at Reiki, taking threatening postures towards him. “Why don’t you go crawl back to your sniveling rabbit, you traitorous bitch?”

“Oh,” The first caller interrupted, pointing a black paw at him as he continued. “So you are the one who hangs around German rabbits. This isn’t your battle; turn around and mind your own business.” A few others muttered about the crowd, showing they agreed with the black animal. Who would become involved in a war they could do nothing about? Did they learn nothing from history’s past mistakes?

Felix shuffled nervously as Reiki curled around to face his opponents, both worried for each other. The parade hadn’t even noticed the quarrel in its midst, and had kept on its course straight to the palace. The band had broken apart from the show, spreading in twos along the road lines. Their melody turned dark and angry, as if only they could sense the distress in the air.

Katero moved beside him, stepping forward to stand at his shoulder. “Well, perhaps we wouldn’t be involved in your matters if you weren’t flaunting them about and making such a horrendous scene.” She shook her head, “Perhaps if you didn’t want anyone to interfere in your business, you would have been quieter sharing it.” Whispers echoed around them as more people stopped watching the parade and turned towards the fight.

“Ah, what do we have here? A girl with spunk, eh?” The second caller advanced on Katero, placing a grey paw on hers. She quickly withdrew it from his grasp, but he was not to be deterred. “Hey, you’ll watch my little victory won’t you?” He rubbed his nose against her chin, and Reiki burst out in rage.

“You get away from her.” He snarled, glaring at him through angry and unthinking eyes. He walked menacingly closer to him, barring his teeth and snarling. Katero shivered from the chill it sent down her spine, stepping back as soon as the chance came. She had always known Reiki could be called ‘two-faced’, but she had never seen it with the intensity that shone now. Felix grabbed her arm in comfort and protection, his eyes wide in fright. Obviously he had not seen this either.

The black one shook his head, trying to calm them, “Hey now, don’t be fighting on the day of the parade!” The crowd yelled insults at him for being hypocritical, but he paid them no mind. “What happened to waiting until after the parade?”

The grey beast scoffed at the idea, “Hah! What a load of bull shit! I wasn’t the one who had that idea in the first place.” He pointed a paw at Reiki, smirking as if he had one this battle already. “You were the one who said that! You and your stupid friends- one of which will be deflowered and the other will be torn to bits to beco-“

He hardly had a moment to gasp as Reiki pounced on him, and they were tussling on the ground without hesitation. The crowd moved back out of their way, trying their best to avoid them battle foes. However, just as rabbits can’t avoid the plague, neither could they. Reiki felt something soft and hard press onto his back that squealed as he slammed into the body. He panicked, loosing his concentration for just one moment. A grey muzzle snapped at his ear and he cried out in pain as blood spattered onto the ground.

Reiki shoved his foe’s chest with a paw, causing him to loose his balance. He swiped a grey paw at Reiki’s face, but he missed considerable and scratched at the air. Reiki pushed harder and onto the ground his opponent went, and he jumped back to avoid becoming an easy target. The crowd awed at the parade on the other side of the street, but on this side where screams of exhilaration and a need for a fight.

“Stop it!” The black caller commanded to them, “Stop it! Both of you! Don’t you dare move Derano!” He snarled at the grey beast, but nothing seemed to work. In fact, it was as if he was ignoring them, for he didn’t turn to glance in their direction.

“Had enough?” Derano taunted to Reiki, who was foolish enough to rise to his challenge. “Fine then, prepare then for I am going to teach you a lesson on manners.” With his threat hanging on the air, he pounced at Reiki, landing on the ground where he had just stood before. Angry, he leaped to his left, forcing him closer to the parade lines. There he wouldn’t have to worry about crashing into the crowd. His fight was with this conniving fiend, not the crowd.

Reiki, noticing he was corner against the parade, snarled at Derano. “I’m almost in the parade, you fool! Stop this! We should continue our battle farther away from this so no one gets hurt.” He glanced at Katero and Felix, thinking about them as well as selfishly about himself.

Derano laughed, and Reiki’s attention was focused squarely on him once again. “Hah! Don’t worry about your petty friends becoming hurt- at least, not your lady-friend. The only one you should be worried about becoming hurt is you!” He glared at his foe defiantly, as if he was trying to force Reiki to submit.

Submit he would not though, despite the pain his ear was brining him. At least it was only bitten, not torn completely off his head- however, that was the only good thing about it. It was bleeding quickly because it was his ear, and a small trickle of it was already slowly falling down his cheek. “Don’t be so cocky; you never know what might happen.”

Laughing, Derano walk closer, “Oh, does it matter not? I will finish you no matter what.” He leaped onto Reiki’s back suddenly, surprising his opponent. His teeth sunk in to the soft flesh and warm fur, and blood splattered into his eye. Howling, he let go of his victim, snarling as he wove his head back and forth in the air.

Seizing his chance, Reiki flung himself onto Derano, but he was too slow. Derano had seen him coming at the last moment, and had swung his paw in the air. His claws raked across Reiki’s face, but it wasn’t enough to steer him off his course. He slammed into Derano and his claws sunk in his shoulders, but his momentum carried him farther than he had thought. Their noses collided with a force that sent them yowling, and Derano jumped back in pain.

However, Reiki’s claws were still cruelly hooked into his tender skin- so deep even a sharp tug wouldn’t break their grasp. Derano’s eyes opened wide in dismay, and he yowled, lifting his head for everyone to hear his pain. His face crashed into Reiki’s chest, knocking the both air and blood to flow from his mouth. Then, just as Reiki’s pounce had carried him, so did this attack.

Reiki turned in midair, flipping over so he could see the crowd once again. His claws tugged on Derano’s shoulder, but they were too stubborn to be retrieved so easily. Instead, the pulled and pulled as Derano squealed in pain, and drug his front half off the ground. Reiki gritted his teeth in pain; it felt as if his claws were going to missing when this battle was over, and the strain wasn’t helping the wound on his back.

Derano’s eyes widened as he was dragged into the air- slowly at first, but as the drive of his foe’s jump grew stronger, he was dragged faster and the pain was worse than before. Now only his hind paws were on the ground, and they were losing their footing. His blood stained the fur on both the fighters and the ground, mixing with the soft yet compact dirt below. He moved his foot to grip it with his claws, but as he placed it down, it slipped on the forming pool of blood. Even his own body was against him in this fight.

Down he fell- down, down he fell onto the ground. Reiki’s claws were flung out from his shoulders, and he was thrown into the middle of the street. The tiny rabbit dancers screamed, trying to jump out of his way. However, just as the crowd could not avoid them, they could not evade him either. His hind paw smacked into the chest of one of them, and his back slammed into another, staining her dress a dirty and bright red. That wasn’t the worse thing that happened, though, far from it. One of his clawed paws swung out in front of him, catching on of the rabbits across the face and chest, shredding her purple dress to ruins as she screamed in pain.

“Tanja!” Felix screamed with the crowd, scrambling out of Katero’s grasp. She tried to call him back, but he ignored her. “Tanja, no!” He pushed his way through the cowering dancers to the collapsed rabbit, slumping to his knees beside her. He gently picked her head off the ground and cradled her against him, staining his shirt with her blood. “Tanja…”

Dancers crawled closer to them, their paws over their mouths to muffle their screams. A few hid themselves from the sight, shaking their heads in despair. The two rabbits who had escaped with only a stain and a scratch were sobbing hysterically as the clung to each other for support. The crowd cried out in shock and terror, the realization of what had just happened spreading slowly but mercilessly. As more and more comprehended what had happened, however, their cries become shouts of anger and rage.

“Murder!” They yelled at Reiki from all sides, “You filthy, treacherous scum! Get away from them!” They growled and snapped at him, threatening to overcome their roadside boundaries and tear him apart. They whimpered and howled to the skies as they mourned for the loss, and yet they still found the energy to ravage a killer.

A killer… That was what he was now… A cold-blooded killer. Why had he killed her- How had he killed her? She wasn’t his target… As he thought this, his eyes grew wide in fright and panic. He had meant to kill Derano, and even if he hadn’t succeeded he had still meant to kill him. “No…” He whispered to himself, shutting his eyes against the blood that ran from the tears on his face. This didn’t stop the voices of the crowd from tormenting his mind though…

The parade had stopped as it had caught up with itself, sitting idly as it waited. The participants murmured between themselves, shouting with the crowd or mourning for the life of one that was taken. Even amongst the different species, they all mourned- even if they had no idea who the death belonged to. That was the way of Asmerald however, and the more time they spent there, the more they adopted its tradition of the dead. They howled their despair to the moon and skies, those that could cry shedding their sorrowful tears.

Felix’s scream broke through the continuous string of angry and somber voices, “Tanja! You’re…” Reiki lifted his head at the yell, guilt over-whelming him and pushing all his other emotions away. He had just killed his best friend’s love! How could he ever face Felix ever again? Nothing anyone could say would change the fact that Felix probably hated him now- hated him with every ounce of feeling the little rabbit could muster.

He deserved it too; every single drop of hate everyone felt for him he deserved. Death was too good for him now, not now. Torture was how they should be rid of him, for then his soul would never find a resting place, and all the pain and sorrow he had brought he would experience over… and over… and over… again and again, until it drove him mad. He would have nothing to do but brood over his pain and suffering, and that which he had brought onto others… forever…

“She’s alive!” One of the dancers called, sending ripples of gasps and accusing yells across the crowd. How could she be alive? She had been murdered, hadn’t she? However, some didn’t care whether it was true or not, and the howled in a somber joy with the dancers. Even the two fortunate victims found it in their miserable hearts to cheer with joy, and took a break from living in their own selfish world and looked to another’s.

Reiki breathed heavily, swinging his head side to side, the voices of the crowd blending into meaningless words. He closed his eyes against the world, trying to ignore them and the pain they brought. His back hurt and his ear stung, and his face was numb with ache- no matter what he did he could not escape pain. Maybe it was better he was going to live as a wandering spirit: He was already practicing being one, why not just become one?

“Reiki…” Katero breathed into his good ear, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. He looked up at her anguished shock, and she flinched, “Tanja isn’t dead, and neither is Derano. Don’t worry…”

Smiling gently, she pressed her muzzle into his neck, trying to push him back to her home. “Come along; you should probably walk away before the crowd remembers you are here.” He stood as if he hardly felt her push against his fur, and he only looked up as the rhythm of a running beast rumbled his paws.

“There’s the beast that’s causing so much trouble.” A large brute slowed to a stop in front of them and glared harshly, shuffling his wings. A silky black collar hung around his white neck, red and blue designs swirling in twos across the rim. That meant he was one of the princess’s guards. They went everywhere with the princess, protecting her from anything they could. If they were there, that meant…

Katero sighed shakily, but she still held her ground against the over sized officer. “It was an accident. There shouldn’t be any charges pressed against him.” She tried to sound persuasive as best as she could, but in front of a face like that, with screams and shrieks resounding around her, it was hard to even concentrate.

A feminine voice startled the group, and the officer turned around in confusion, “Jarkoa!” The female began, and he flinched, “What is going on here?”

“Princess Yumera…” Jarkoa started, forcing himself to sound strong in the face of his princess. “Please go back to the parade. Calm the crowds before they go out of hand.” He continued to plead with her, “I’ll take this… this…” He pawed the ground nervously, searching for the word he would use to describe Reiki.

Princess Yumera didn’t seem to be in a patient mood nonetheless, and she stamped a foot on the ground. “Yes?” She prompted, glaring at him. He winced, and continued rambling.

“I’ll take this… thing to the prison cells myself.” He turned to glare at Reiki, who only stared blankly back at him.

However, Princess Yumera wasn’t about to change her mind. “No, Jarkoa. I will take him. It’s my duty as Princess, is it not?” She stared at him harshly, until finally he broke down against her will agreed. “Good. Now, please calm the crowds before something else happens. Take whoever is hurt to the infirmary.” She paused before adding, “I’ll be back in a few moments, I promise.”

The guard nodded, hunkering over to the other guards to perform his duty as a cloud of gloom and shame followed him in his return. The princess watched him leave before turning to Reiki and Katero, staring at each of them with her cold and demanding eyes. “You must stay here.” She snapped at Katero, who only glared back unsympathetically.

“And you,” She whipped her head around to face Reiki, and something in her gaze softened as she saw the pain in his stare and the marks on his face. She quickly redeemed her former inglorious splendor. “You must come along with me.”

Katero placed a paw on his and gazed at him with worry, but he shook his head. A part of him wanted to believe Katero had been speaking the truth when she had said Tanja was alive, but even that side of him knew he had to pay for his actions. He nodded somberly at the princess, who snorted in recognition. She motioned for him to follow, and so he did, like an obedient puppy who has just suffered the pain of his first punishment.

The crowds behind him shrieked in triumph as he was taken away, and he sighed in a relieved yet saddened tone. At least he would never have to speak with anyone from those crowds for a very… very long time…

And with that final thought, he entered the palace.

Author’s Note:

Please Note: All speaking is translated into English –From Reiki’s point of view- for easier viewing.

Please Also Note: German words are underlined.

The Down is to Reiki’s world what Paradise is to humans. (Down is shorted for the “Downs of Life”, the afterlife for Felix’s and Reiki’s religion.)

Asmerald; As-mare-AHLD
Jhikan; GEE-con
Felix; FEE-licks
Tanja; Tan-YUH
Reiki; Ray-e-KEY
Katero; Cat-TEAR -oh
Garbanor; Garb-an-NOR
Derano; DARE-uh-no
Jarkoa; Jar-CO-uh
Yumera; YOU-may-rah