Lief: Ah, right. My first Takouji fic here on so don't flame me if it sucks. I just write for the fun of it. :-) Anyways, hope you guys like it!

Title: Draconic Wars

Author: Lief Nerys

Pairings: TakuyaxKouji (Takouji), TaichixYamato (Taito), DaisukexKen (Daiken)

Rating: Not really sure, but M, just to be safe.

Summary: Since the dawn of Time, the Firedrakes and Sea Serpents have battled endlessly for power over the Lands of Fire, Water, Air and Earth, unheeding of the consequences wrought by their actions. Now, a winged Elf is born, the first in several centuries, and a Dragon Rider is called forth to fight for the Light. Caught in the middle of a long-forgotten prophecy in their ruined lands, they must come together and journey through many hardships and find the legendary Gem of Light.

Warning: Contains Yaoi and Yuri (I think), so if you find this repulsive, offensive, revolting or disgusting, do leave right now 'cause I couldn't care less if you flame me for that.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon and never will.

Prologue: Of Shadow Cities and Crimson Lords

Everything was dark. The sky, the streets, the buildings. Even the people who were running up and down the dark streets with their shoulders hunched down and their coats pulled over their heads in a vain attempt to keep out the pouring rain seemed dark, like shadows of a lingering nightmare, their presence cold and unwelcoming.

These dark shadows of people went about as though everything was fine, even when a small figure of a child pushed roughly past them, his pale, pale face a mask of terror and desperation.

The child ran and ran, hot, salty drops of tears running down his face, mixing with the cold rain that pounded unmercifully onto its small, frail figure. The ground was covered in muddy puddles of rainwater, splashing everywhere and dirtying the pure white tunic of the young child.

Thousands of emotions were clashing within his mind and soul, fighting for dominance over him, confusing the child and paining him even more.

But above all other things that swam in his mind, there was one that the child understood and felt most; fear. Fear of everything. Of the shadow people, of the dark streets, and of the shadows that beckoned to him from the deep, seemingly endless alleys that he passed as he ran. But most of all, fear of the menacing presence behind him. That was what he truly feared. For who in their right mind would not fear Burngrey, Lord of the Firedrakes, the fierce and fiery ruler of the Fire Lands?

No one, that's who.

Running was the only option he had. And ran he did. He ran and ran and ran some more, even when his tired body protested. He ran.

But soon, he had nowhere to run left. He had reached the edge of the city, yet still, the presence was within his senses.

The child skidded to a stop as the road abruptly ended and he was suddenly at the edge of a very high cliff. Bits of stray pebbles fell off the edge and disappeared into oblivion. There were no sounds to indicate that they had reached the bottom.

Something behind him hissed and the youth whirled around, coming face to face with a large, scaly being with a horn-studded head that was hunched down to meet his eyes.

A pair of golden, flaming orbs bore into him and he fell to his knees, unable to fight the fear that overwhelmed him.

The creature hissed once again and breathed into the child's face. The boy's eyes closed drowsily against his will and his head tilted to the side. A sticky, warm thing licked his pale, tear-stained cheek as smooth, scaly skin wrapped around him. His body was trapped within the Firedrake's coil and there was no more he could do. His mind and body belonged to it now, just like they did before.

Despair shook through him as he realized that he'd known all along that running away would've done him no good. Burngrey had caught him and now owned him once again. He always would, with the Firedrakes by his side.

Always would…

A warm feeling was released from the Firedrake's crimson-scaled body and the child felt a tugging within his body. His shoulder blades began to ache and his body began to shiver, not at all from the cold of the still-pouring rain.

A dark, bluish-black light slowly enveloped the child as something dark blue and black protruded from his shoulder blades, the ache easing as the feathery things sprouted, ripping through the dirtied white wet tunic that covered the boy.

Dark blue streaks appeared among the child's long raven locks while his bangs grew longer to cover his eyes. The dark light expanded and stretched, wider and wider, until the whole city was engulfed in its powerful glow.

Then, faster than it had spread, the strange, power-filled light retracted sharply back to its source, snapping like a tautly stretched rubber band. And just like that, the dark city was no more. Piles and piles of broken down stone buildings and black, smoldering rubble and debris were the only remnants of its existence.

Not a single spark of life could be detected, save for the two eerie glows at the edge of the cliff.

The Firedrake was no longer coiled around the boy; instead, it had its scale-covered, crimson wings spread out behind it, an unearthly red glow of power surrounding it. Its large mouth was curved back, bearing its two sharp fangs in an unmistakable sneer, its forked tongue licking the air and savoring the taste of legendary strength that seeped from the child in front of it.

Said child was outlined with the same light that had disintegrated the city. A pair of large, dark blue feathered wings lined with black around the edges and protruding from his shoulder blades was spread out wide behind him. His dark blue-streaked raven hair was slightly longer than it was before, though his fringe was still longer, still hiding his eyes. His slim frame was more slender and what could be seen of his face was sharper and more delicate. His already pale skin was paler than before.

His whole body was shaking, too, whether from the cold rain or the tremendous power within him that threatened to break loose, even he did not know. All he knew was that he was tired. Painfully so. The fear was gone; the Firedrake had what it wanted now, knew what it wanted to know. The boy fell to his knees and gave one last shiver as a cold wind blew at his torn clothes and he fell to the ground, his glow diminishing.

Feathers of the same color of the wings on his back flew lazily in the wet air as his wings retracted into his shoulder blades, his body reverting back to its human state.

The boy struggled to stay awake as he felt the Firedrake pick him up with the slim end of its tail. The Firedrake turned and flew through the pile of devastatingly crumpled shadow city, nodding as if in approval. The boy watched sleepily as tears fell down his cheeks, the tail of the Firedrake wrapped firmly around his waist.

As they disappeared into the darkness of the clouded skies, the boy blinked his dark, dark blue eyes as another stream of tears fell. A small, silent voice whispered pleadingly to anyone who could, or would, listen, echoing into oblivion.

Help…

Somewhere thousand and thousands of miles and hundreds of dimensions away, a 13-year-old boy with short ebony-black hair shot up in his bed; the pitiful call for help did not go unnoticed to him.

Tbc…

Lief: Please R&R and tell me whether you like it or not.