Partners In Crime

Chapter 49: Tale of Celest Part 4

The next few months went by painfully slow for the old dragon. Layla insisted on staying home with Svern, but was persuaded by him to go with Ryoji. The realm was new and the people were adapting, they needed the help of its creators.

Every day, Svern would stare down at his newly healed hand that would forever be scarred. There was no other way to explain what happened that day, then what he already knew. He was the being of darkness that kept the balance of the world, but he could not touch something as pure as the golden weapons.

Angered by the thought, Svern decided he wanted to go out. For the first time since he came to the new realm, Svern dawned his dragon form and took to the skies. The large dragon was able to feel like his old self again, the familiar feeling was comforting.

However, his joyous ride was cut short by the screams of people. He had traveled outside of his domain and came across a village of people. Having never seen a dragon before, the people became scared. Many of the men became hostile and started throwing spheres at the dragon.

Svern was able to dodge many and began to quickly headed back to his home, not before a spear managed to pierce his chest. Enraged he roared loudly and turned towards the village. The villagers lost their resolve seeing the mighty beast was not taken down.

They began to run as Svern's eyes began to glow purple. Flashes of the war from the first realm came before his eyes, the hunters screams and the cries of his fellow dragons filled his ears. Before he knew it, he had fired his dark beat straight through the village. Destroying homes and injuring, if not killing, many.

Svern came to his senses and stared at the destruction. For some reason, he felt comfort, it felt as if he was home. Svern turned around in satisfaction before flying back to his domain. Svern laid in his dragon form under the Tree of Life, taking a nice nap.

"What the hell Svern?!"

Svern opened his eyes to see Ryuji standing in front of him looking pissed with Layla behind him looking worried.

"Ryuji," Layla grabbed his arm "calm down."

"I will not!" Ryuji shouts before turning back to Svern "You destroyed Ninjago village! Do you know how many people died! Why did you do that?!"

"They attacked me," Svern replies calmly.

Svern, still being in dragon form, was only understood by Ryuji. Layla still did not know Draconian.

"You didn't get hurt though!" Ryuji argues "You're a big black dragon! You scared them! Why did you leave home when you weren't in human form?!"

"So I'm not allowed to leave my domain, in my own home?" Svern questions annoyed as he stood up.

"Guys," Layla says nervously.

"You can, I'm not saying you can't!" Ryoji explains "But not as a dragon! You'll scare everyone and now you've killed innocent people!"

"Innocent?" Svern questions before turning into human form with his eyes glowing purple, catching Ryoji off guard "Innocent is what they should've viewed me, I was minding my own business. They started the fight, I just finished it."

"Finished it?!" Ryoji shouts angrily.

"Svern," Layla ran up and put her hand over his chest seeing a large wound "you're hurt. They did this?"

"Yes, they did." Svern replies as he took her hand.

"Ryoji," Layla turns to him "the villagers were in the wrong for this. Svern didn't do anything."

"It doesn't give him the right to destroy Ninjago," Ryuji argues "It's my job to protect the people of my realm."

"You're realm?!" Svern growls. "This was our realm! It was our home! You brought people here that I didn't even agree to!"

"He's right Ryoji, you're going to far," Layla agrees.

"I thought you would agree with me Layla," Ryuji looks at her surprised "we- we created this place together! Do you want him to destroy everything?"

"You're blowing this out of proportions," Layla shakes her head.

"I'm not," Ryoji argues "from now on Svern needs to stay here."

"Now you're making me angry Ryoji," Layla's face changed as she crosses her arms "my husband can go wherever he wants in our home."

"This is his domain," Ryoji gestures to the forest surrounding the large open area "I created a forest around here so he had a space to stay."

"You're treating him like an animal!" Layla argues.

"He is an animal!" Ryoji points to him "He's a dragon! A pure blooded dragon with the power of destruction!"

"Get out Ryo!" Layla shouts as her eyes turn black.

Ryoji gasps as he took a step back from the two. Svern's eyes never turned back to normal either. Ryoji stared at the two, a dragon with his glowing purple eyes and Layla with the black eyes of an Oni.

"You're an Oni of creation Layla," Ryoji says as he shakes his head "but Svern is turning you into your worst nightmare, a real Oni driven by destruction and hate. I admired and respected both of you, but it seems as if you don't value the life of this realm."

"This is my realm," Layla growls.

"It was," Ryoji says "but now I will protect it to my last breathe if I have to."

"If this is how you want it then so be it," Svern cracks his neck before punching Ryoji in the face.

Ryoji growls before tackling Svern, the two of them began to beat each other up before Layla intervened. Grabbing Ryoji by the collar, she threw him against the tree of life.

"Mark my words you two," Ryoji says "you're to stay here and never enter Ninjago!"

"And who's going to stop us?" Svern asks darkly "You?"

"Yes," Ryoji replies "I won't allow you to destroy the peace I worked so hard to create! Everyone was so happy until you decided to attack Svern!"

"Idiot," Layla growls.

"I'm no idiot," Ryoji says "If you choose this dragon over a realm of people, you're the idiotic one."

Ryoji got on his feet and headed out of the domain.

"Ryo get back here!" Layla shouts "We're not done!"

"Yes we are!" Ryoji calls back "If you want to live by yourself so bad that's fine by me!"

"Ryo-"

"Let him go," Svern put his hand on her shoulder.

Layla's eyes turned back to normal as Ryoji disappeared into the forest. Layla slowly turned to face Svern who's eyes showed true happiness for once.

"I'm sorry Svern," Layla hugged him.

"What are you apologizing for?" Svern asks "You got mad on my behalf, thank you."

"Now Ryoji hates us," Layla pouts "I know you didn't do it on purpose but he wouldn't listen."

"We all said things we regret," Svern rubs the top of her head "I'm sure he'll calm down and listen to reason."

"I hope so," Layla looks up at him "Are you alright?"

"As long as I have you, I'm perfectly fine." Svern replies as he hugs her tightly.

"I'm glad," Layla smiles sadly "I'm sorry for not realizing you were unhappy Svern. It's been so long since I've seen you as a dragon. You should've never had to hide."

"And from now on I wont," Svern tells her "I am who I am."

"Right, and I wouldn't want you any other way." Layla replies happily. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," Svern smiles "my little bunny."