Legend Of The Ice Dragons

Omake : The Yuki Onna

The mountain was freezing. The winds speed made it feel like razor blades cutting into the skin. But the young man was determined. At the peak of the mountain stood a shrine. The shrine, when given the right offerings and the right prayer, would grant your wish.

The stairs leading to the shrine were coated in ice and the snow making him lose his footing and slip, but he didn't stop. And up ahead was the peak with a looming cave. At the sight, he hurried his steps and took shelter in the cave.

The walls shined from the fire lamp he held. The walls seemed to be cast in ice and glittered like diamonds filled with the colors of a warm fire. The air was cold but refreshing and soft unlike the winds outside.

The man swallowed and trudged forward being weary. The rumors spoke of a dangerous creature taking up residence in the cave holding the wishing shrine. But he had to have his wish fulfilled.

So forward he went deeper into the cave till he came upon a white stone statue. It was in the shape of a woman dressed in flowing robes and she held a star above her head. In the ceiling was a hold filling the cave with soft white and blue light.

At the statue's feet was a bowl for the offerings that people brought. The man took a deep breath and let it out, calming his nerves. As he got closer he saw that the statue was standing on a stone surrounded by crystal clear water and in the water were coins like a wishing fountain.

Probably for people who didn't have the right offerings but still wanted to make a wish. But no time for admiring the beauty. The man pulled his small pack off his back and pulled out his offering.

A box full of chocolate-covered strawberries and raspberries with a single red rose. He took the rose and started to pick the petals to fill the bottom of the bowl. With no more petals, he placed the berries. And with all that he pulled the last item out of his pack.

A bottle of rose berry wine. He pulled the cork and took a taste. He cringed. He didn't like the taste preferring a nice cold beer or scotch over this tartly sweet wine. And poured the rest of the bottle into the bowl.

He put his hands together and began his prayer to the statue.

"Please grant my wish to just see the most beautiful creature to walk this earth. If I can catch a good look my life will be fulfilled."

And in a last-ditch effort, the man threw in a gold coin into the pool below. Once the coin touched the bottom a roar shook the ground and made the man fall to the ground. The cave shook for a few more seconds making the stalactites start falling to the ground and trapping the man under them.

And in the very back of the cave was a flash of blinding white light with more crashing and rumbling. Once the shaking stopped only one figure approached.

And it was so beautiful. Its skin was milky alabaster that seemed to sparkle in the white light. It was a shame that a lot of it was covered up in dark shredded cloth. It's hair a perfect mix of navy blue and inky black and could have been made of the finest silk with how soft it looked.

And of course the most enchanting eyes it had. The only thing that could come close to describing them would be if a sapphire had a smoky gray hue to it as it sparkled.

It's movements were so graceful with its bare feet padded quietly across the ground. And its breath was utterly silent with no cloud coming from its mouth.

The word to describe this creature would only be ethereal and not of this world. The man stared as it got closer and held his breath as it laid its eyes on his trapped form. The creature walked over and as it did it shimmered more.

The reason for its shimmering was the glassy scales covering its body and catching the light of the moon making them glitter in a rainbow of colors.

Just the beauty and pain he was witnessing made the man faint.

When he woke up the man looked around to see that he was laying in a hospital bed covered in bandages. As he was waking a nurse walked in and greeted him with a smile. When he asked how long he had been here he was told he was unconscious for two days.

He then asked how he got here and was told that he was dropped off at the door and was rushed to intensive care. He thanked the nurse who told him that they would be back with some lunch and for the man to rest.

But he couldn't, he could still see that enchanting creature covered in scales with the smoky sapphire eyes coming toward his prone form. When the nurse came back he asked for a sketchbook and a pencil.

Getting the items he requested he started to draw the creature to the best of his remembrance. Once it was on paper he couldn't believe it. He was saved by a Yuki Onna. And it was so beautiful.

(A few months later)

As Gray was walking past an art stand and happened to catch sight of one drawing. It was himself, but he looked a bit more feminine. The resemblance was remarkable. And as he looked down at the corner for the page to see what the piece was called he found the words The Yuki Onna, by Travis Karman.

As Gray was still looking at it the stand owner returned and looked at what Gray was looking at. And he made a remark.

"My young man you bare a remarkable resemblance to a Yuki Onna. Has anyone told you that?"

Gray said no but smiled. He was glad that he saved that man. He bought the paper and walked back home. All the people that walked past him glanced at the drawing than at Gray and started to whisper.

"That's the Yuki Onna of Fairy Tail."

Gray just smiled and thought that the name fit.