Chapter 22: Cause of the Poisoned Forest

"Zoro! Nikita!" I ran over to them as they were getting off a dragon. "You are welcome to stay Kilon if you'd like." "Uh I'd have to call the elder but I'd love to take you up on that offer." "Sure do you know where the kings office Is?" "Yeah pretty much thanks Raven." "No problem Kilon." Now it was just me, Zoro, and Nikita.

"Hey Raven. Glad to see your ok." "Yeah I'm so sorry for scaring you guys like that. I didn't even know what was going on that time. It scared me too. I thought I would have to fight them but I made them a deal. If I went quietly they would leave you all alone. I'm glad they kept their promise." "We thought you were kidnapped! You shortened our life by half." Joked Nikita. "Haha sorry." I knew she was joking. "Come with me. I know a place we can talk."

As we were walking, I saw a maid. "Excuse me? Can we get some tea in the garden? We will be in the pavilion." "Yes your highness. What tea would you like?" "Oh sorry. Jasmine/Chamomile, and Lavender." "Yes your highness. I will bring some snacks too." "Thank you." She bowed and we went to the garden.

"Here we are you two." "Oh its beautiful out here." Said Nikita. "Yeah I like to come out here when there is nothing better to do." "How is your training doing Raven? In both things. Dragon, sword, and Ninja." "Oh Rayden is training me. Right now we are focusing on my powers. I learned enough not to attack anyone for now. As for the other training, I did some an hour before you guys got here." "You were nervous weren't you Raven?" Said Nikita. "I know you train when you are nervous or scared." "Yeah you got me. I was afraid to face you both. I thought you were going to be mad at me." "We can never be mad at you. If we are its not that long you know that. In fact we were more pissed off at the guys we thought kidnapped you." Said Zoro. "There was a commotion outside. The elder noticed and went up to the podium to explain your situation is how all of us calmed down." Said Nikita. "That's good. Sorry again guys. I'm glad your not mad at me. That is a huge relief." Then the tea's and snacks finally came. "Thank you, Melody." "You're welcome your highness." Then she bowed and left back for the castle. "Don't you have like a guard or a personal knight?" said Nikita. "Well I have had meetings with a few. I just don't think I need any. I mean I am good enough at protecting myself. Well except for when I was stabbed by the poisonous arrow. I still remember the pain." "Well were glad your ok now." Said Nikita. "Hey Zoro? I noticed you have new scars or newer wounds. What happened to you?" "Oh these are just scratches. I got them when I was training with Prince. Man I hate that guy. He is the only one besides you who can beat me or be at my level." "Haha is that so?" We drank our tea and ate our snacks. "By the way Zoro and Nikita. Do you have any knowledge about this castle or the forest by the gate?" Then I noticed Zoro's look. It looked like he knew something. "I know a little something. I don't know if you knew this, but I used to live in the village where this castle is. So I know a little about the castle. I know the forest as well that you are talking about. Did something happen to it?" "Yeah. For a year now according to Faye, Its been poisoned. They are going in tomorrow to see what is causing it. I begged them to let me go. Faye casts her magic on us to protect us from the poison. Sorry if I have to leave you guys for a few hours but its important." "Hey its fine. Right Nikita?" "Yeah your busy here we understand. By the way, is Rayden here by any chance?" She said blushing. "Oh someone has a crush on Rayden?" "Stop teasing me." "haha. Sorry. You know what? I'm not supposed to tell you, but when he saw you, he had a crush on you too." "Really?" "Yeah so how do you want to get asked out?" "Oh anyway is fine. I don't have a preference." "I have an idea. When I go out, I will have Rayden guard you guys. I'm sure Zoro here can take care of himself." "Haha. Yeah I can. I will be fine. Like I said I used to live in the village. I've been in the castle plenty of times." "OK then. We have a plan." Then we visited awhile longer.

Finally it was dinner time. "Oh you two should change. You both have clothes on your bed ready to change into. I picked them out. I hope you like them." "Ok we will do that Raven." Said Nikita. So they left to their room to change.

I went to my room to change, then I started feeling weird. I tried to shake it off but was having a little difficulty. 'Maybe I should stay behind tonight. I don't know what this is. I also don't want to hurt anyone.' I thought. Then I thought 'They would probably worry. I think I will try my best to bear this weird feeling for a while. If anything happens, I will just run to the other forest on castle property. Yeah, that's what I'll do.' I thought. So I got dressed in my midnight blue dress.

When I got to the dining room, I saw Zoro and Nikita already there. I was shocked by how well they looked in their clothes. "Wow you two. You both look better than I thought you would in them." "Thank you, Raven." Said Nikita and Zoro. I sat down next to them and we all started eating.

In the middle of our dinner, I said "I'm going to use the restroom. Excuse me." So I left. Nikita looked worried for Raven. So she said, "I'm going to make sure Raven is ok." "I will do it." Said Alora. "She's my sister." "Oh ok your Highness." So Alora headed to the closest bathroom to check on Raven.

Alora went in and saw Raven hunched over the sink. "Raven? Its me Alora. Are you feeling ok?" "Oh hey Alora. Sorry. I just have a weird feeling. I feel sick but that's not all. I think its like a dragon sense or something. I have a feeling its connected to the forest." "Do you want to go to bed early? I'll tell the others you weren't feeling well." "Yeah thanks. Sorry to make you come in here." "Its fine. Let me get a maid. You stay right here." "Get me Melody, would you?" "Yes of course."

Melody rushed to the restroom where Raven was. "Hello your highness. Want me to help you to your room?" "I can get there ok. I just need someone with me right now in my room." "Ok sure." So we walked to my room and as I was taking off my clothes I realized I was having trouble. "Melody can you help me with this please?" "Of course your highness." She helped me out and she helped me put on my nightgown. "Thank you melody. Oh and don't call me highness. Just call me Raven like everyone else. It feels weird." "Oh no I couldn't. How about princess Raven?" "Yeah that will do I guess." "Ok princess. Would you like me to do anything else?" "Uh once everyone is done, can you get Rayden for me? Oh and Zoro an Nikita?" "Yes of course." "Thanks Melody." Then she left and I closed my eyes for a few minutes.

An hour later there was a knock at my door. (Knock Knock Knock Knock) "Who is it?" "Its Rayden, Nikita and Zoro." "Oh yeah. Come in." Luckily I had my robe on.

"Melody told us you needed to see us about something?" "Yeah it's a dragon thing. That's why I called you all here. Since before dinner when I was getting dressed, I was thinking if I should even come to dinner. I had a really weird feeling. As in a bad feeling. I think it has something to do with the forest. I might have to go in sooner. I'll have to talk to Faye to see if she has any ideas. Also its strange. When I went to the bathroom I felt really dizzy. When my sister came in I had her get melody for me. I was going to go to sleep but now I'm not so sure." "Well I don't remember if I had anything like that." Said Rayden. "Neither have I." Said Zoro. "I have." Said Nikita. "You have Nikita? Do you remember what it was you had a feeling about? Were you right?" "Woah slow down there Raven. I can only answer 1 question at a time. As for your first question, I do remember what it was about and second yes I was right about my hunch." "So I could be right then. It could be connected to the forest." "Yeah it could be." "Hey guys I have to go see Faye. I'm going to dress in my normal clothes." They all went out of her room and waited for her.

"Sorry had some difficulties. I can hardly dress myself right now I feel so weak." "yeah I hated that part. I managed though." Said Nikita. "Ok lets go see Faye." We headed towards her den.

We finally got there and I felt weaker. "Woah." I almost fell but Zoro caught me. "Ok I haven't been this weak. Maybe Raven has a stronger connection than I did to my issue." "Faye! You here?" "Yes coming." Zoro had my arm and sat me down on a couch she had there. "Hello you 4 what's going on?" "I am the reason we are here Faye." "Oh Raven. You don't look so good. What is it?" Then I told her what I told them. "Oh I see. I will on the condition that Rayden and I go with you ok?" "Yeah just don't get yourselves killed ok?" I joked. "Its nice you can joke in your weakened state." Said Faye. "Ok Um will you at least let Rayden carry you on his back? At least until we get to the part where you weaken then we will back up and I can put a spell on you to protect you from the poison." "Yeah that sounds ok." I said. So all of us headed toward the gate and we said goodbye for now and be careful. Zoro an Nikita were going to wait at the gate for us. Rayden turned dragon and I hopped on his back. Faye used her power to fly. Then we were off.

"Ok we are getting closer to the poison Raven. Let us know when you get sicker." Said Faye. I nodded. Then after a few minutes. "Right here is where I am starting to get weaker." Rayden backed away a little bit and I was fine. We landed 6 feet away from where I got sick. "Ok Raven. We never tested you with my spell. Lets hope it lasts awhile. It lasts about an hour on the others. I hope yours is longer." "I will be ok Faye. No need to worry." Faye put the spell on me, then on Rayden then herself. We walked into the forest.

I used my dragon sense of smell to figure out if I can find out where it might be coming from. Then I got weaker and I knew I was going the right way. "Its this way guys. I know because I get weaker every time I get closer." I was barely able to stand. Rayden picked me up and carried me piggy back. "Ok Raven. Where to now?" "Keep….going straight. Ha….You should see….a rundown old shack…..Ha that should be where the poison is…Ha or someone who knows." Then she passed out. "Raven! Raven!" Faye ran to her to make sure she was ok. "She's fine. Its not the poison causing this." "Ok we should do as she says. Lets find this rundown shack and get her better." Said Rayden. Raven was breathing pretty heavy. "Hang in there Raven. We will get you better. I promise."

About 20 minutes later, they came to the shack like Raven said. Rayden knocked on the door. (Knock Knock Knock Knock) "Hello?! Who's there?!" "We're friends of Ravens. She's in danger." "Come in. Come in." They went inside and the man in his mid 30's said, "My name is Frost. I'm an old friend of Raven. I know she must probably be weakened because she knows the reason for the poison. I guess she sensed I might be able to tell you. I am immune to the poison here." "Ok please tell us what is the reason for the poison and what is causing it?" said Faye. "Well Faye. (sigh) I don't know the reason, but what is causing the poison is a poison dragon. I did everything I can to reason with him but I can't." "What does he want? Is there anything we can do?" said Rayden. "Well apparently he knows Raven. He said he wanted to talk to her. See if she really is back and alive. He hadn't seen her since she was 3 after the shipwreck." "Do you happen to know where this dragon is?" said Rayden. Then Raven started waking up.

"Hmm. Frost? Is that you?" "Yes Raven its me. You probably know the poison dragon is doing this right?" "Yeah I figured as much. I heard I knew him when I was 3. He was my brothers age." "Yes he is. He hadn't seen you then. He said he wanted to see you or he won't stop the poison." "I might know where he is. He could be in the cave a mile and a half away." "OK you 3 go. Just be careful ok?" We nodded and headed out.

Rayden carried Raven until they got to the cave. "OK guys. You have to leave me here. Go back to the shack I will be ok." "Are you sure Raven?" "Yeah I'm sure." Then Faye refreshed the spell just in case and they left back to the shack.

"Hello Poison dragon. It is I Raven." "Raven? Is it really you?" The dragon came out and I was shocked for a minute. "Oh sorry. Let me turn human." He turned human and I was shocked.

"Its you. I had dreams about you since I was 3 years old. You are the same age as Jason." "Yeah I am. Do you remember my name?" "Yeah sorry. Its Kane." "Yeah you do remember my name. That's good. Can you blow this poison away please. I am here now. No need to make people or animals sick and die." "Yeah hold on." He blew the poison out of the way and the forest was clear after a whole year. "Thank you. Now we can talk." So we talked and caught up on some things that happened since we haven't seen each other.