III - SWORD OF THE BRAVE // Doraemon Fanfic

14 - REUNITED Part 1

Gian and Suneo were already a few yards into the tunnel, followed by Nobita and then Doraemon at the entryway.

That was when he heard a huge fleet of ravens. Gazing up he saw them flying about in the sky, as if running away from something.

"Hey guys-" Doraemon shouted ahead. "Take a look at this. I think something is not quite right."

Hearing that, they came out of the tunnel.
All of them stared up at the same sight.

Confusion and amusement overtook them.

"What the hell is all this?" Suneo said.

Nobita's eyes followed the trail of birds flying up and landed in a specific direction.

"I think it's there. Something is happening out there that's agitating the birds like this."

Before even realising what he was doing, Nobita had started walking in that direction. Doraemon grabbed his hand.

"Where are you going?"

Nobita replied to him, "We have to check it out, right? What if they need us? What if there is trouble?"

"Exactly. What if there is serious trouble? You can't just waltz in there."

"Well, we can't just ignore it either. If our help is needed, we should be there."

"I don't get it. That has nothing to do with us, Nobita. Why us then?" Doraemon said. His voice was fearful. Fear for Nobita, not for himself. He knew very well how his friend got in situations like these.

Nobita freed his wrist from Doraemon's grasp and demanded, "Because we are the fucking warriors of this kingdom. It's our duty. If not us, who then, Doraemon?"

Doraemon got bitterly reminded of the new reality they were residing in. It was a harsh fact but a fact nonetheless.

Nobita made his way there when Doraemon added, as a last attempt to stop the boy, "What about the dragon's lair? Weren't we gonna go in?"

Gian answered in Nobita's stead, "We'll go in there, no worries. You two go on and see what's up out there."

Doraemon fell silent.

Nobita walked back and stopped before Suneo and Gian. As much as he hated them going in alone to such a dangerous place, he was left with no choice.

He knew the dragon sleeps at that hour and it was the perfect time to ambush it.

He patted on their shoulders and said in a reassuring tone, "Be careful, okay?"

Suneo and Gian smiled and nodded. After that, they continued into the tunnels, leaving Doraemon and Nobita to follow their path towards the newfound ruckus.

Unknowest to them that they were being followed by someone...

Or rather something...

A crow.

The same crow that was following them before in the woods.

Seeing the group part ways, the crow gave a sly smile and flew away.

After a short flight, it seated itself onto the shoulder of a boy.

"Are they coming?" Kiyoshi asked.

"Yes. Just like you planned, Master," the crow replied.

Kiyoshi let a smirk slip. "Looks like it's gonna be fun. Shall we get started then?"

"Oh, how cruel! All this wasn't even you having started yet?"