Demonsong: Part Two

by dragonsfang

The Arising

Incubus leapt onto the back of one of the white Lupes and tightened her knees against its sides as it turned and leapt into the woods with a snarl. The other Lupe followed close behind, matching its ground-eating strides with its packmate's. The two Lupes and human raced through the trees toward the nearest village, where the wind had been blown.

The trio entered the village, and fairs of resident Dragonets swooped around them, chattering in their high voices a welcome to the three strangers. Ever since the clutches of the pesky creatures had been found on the warm beaches on the Mystery Island, people had been clamoring for them as companions and friends for single-pet owners. It was rumoured that they were the ancestors of the dragon NeoPets that so many people owned.

The Lupes irritably snapped at the dozens of Dragonets, and Incubus waved her spear at the annoying creatures to scatter them. "Go back to your masters!" she yelled, swinging her spear at an especially thick fair. Abruptly, the lizards flitted away, chattering and trumpeting in their high voices at the disturbance.

"Pesky creatures, them Dragonets." The village Wisewoman was walking toward the Lupe Tribe, walking stick ringing out on the flagstones. She was dressed in a dark red dress with a silk shoal draped over both shoulders, and tinkling jewelry on each arm, ear and her neck. She had grey-white hair and a kind, wrinkled face that was constantly smiling.

"Yes," Incubus replied. "Wish those NeoPets never would have found that first clutch and brought it home, as they did." She slid off the Lupe's back so that she would be eye-level with the Wisewoman, though Incubus was a good shoulder and head taller than the small old woman.

"Haven't seen you in a while, Incubus. I trust that nothing is wrong?" the Wisewoman asked.

Incubus shook her head. "I wish I could say nothing is wrong, but that is not the case. The Demons will be returning, just as I feared."

"Aye, the Demons. I, too, have had premonitions of their forthcoming," the Wisewoman replied. "Follow me, child, and I shall show you." She began walking toward her small hut, and, after a moment's hesitation, was followed by Incubus and the two great white Lupes.

"I don't trust her," one of the Lupes whispered in Incubus's ear. "Only you know of the Demons Arising."

"We have to humor her," Incubus retorted softly. "Just be quiet."

The other Lupe lifted its lips in dismay and resentment. "That doesn't mean I have to like it."

Incubus carefully and warily entered the hut, spear held tightly in hand. Her greying eyes swept the interior, eyes running over the gourds, vials, and herb cases hanging from the walls, rugs and skins on the floor, and finally to the mahogany box in the center, upon which a perfectly round opalescent ball was placed upon in a stand. The Wisewoman was sitting on one side of the box, and motioned for Incubus to do the same on the other side.

"In this Seer Crystal, I have seen the Arising conforming," the Wisewoman began as Incubus gracefully sat, still tightly holding her spear. "Though we have more technology than in the days of Old, we still do not have enough power to defeat this Arising. We might be able to put a dent within their forces, but that is all."

Incubus looked into the Seer Crystal, and mist began clouding the wheeling opalescent colors within. Images of black Demons emerged from the mist, preparing to leave their world enter Neopia to wreak their ravages once more. The mist suddenly evaporated, as did the pictures, for the ground was beginning to tremble beneath the hut. Outside, the two Lupes howled and snarled, calling Incubus to get out of the hut and back to them.

"Ha, ha! The Demons Arising has begun! Prepare to be destroyed with your NeoPets, human!" the Wisewoman crowed, eyes suddenly glowing red.

In less than an eye blink, Incubus was on her feet and out of the hut, running abreast with the two Lupes. Without breaking stride, she leaped onto one of the Lupe's back and pointed her spear as a compass for the Lupes to follow. The white Lupes leapt amongst the great cracks that appeared in the earth, leaping over them or dodging around them. From those fissures, Demons arose on giant dragon-like wings to come to rest on the ground. By the time Incubus and the two Lupes disappeared into the forest, over 500 Demons had erupted from the Evil Plane to plague Neopia with their pestilence and suffering.

Akuma stood on a rise overlooking a town that the Demons had just invaded, eyes gleaming redder with pleasure. This New Neopia would be even easier to take over than the Old Neopia, as the pets and their humans were even stupider than before. There were a few annoyances, such as those dreaded flying Dragonets that constantly got in the way, breathing forth spurts of flames, as if that would stop this Arising. Nothing could, now that the Demons were once more above ground.

Akurei backwinged into a landing beside Akuma, having been named second in command for this Arising. It, too, looked over the town that was now being engulfed in the flames of the Underworld, with humans, NeoPets and Dragonets fleeing by the hundreds from their once home. A giant fair of Dragonets, with the colors of grey, black, bronze, gold and silver ranging within, swooped over the trees toward them. They suddenly shrieked and dispersed as a Demon streaked toward them.

This world is weaker than I thought, Akurei, Akuma said, watching the Dragonets flee. Their technology has advanced, one could expect that, but it is still too weak to save their hides from the Demon Plague. I just hope this Arising does not end too soon.

I doubt that, Akuma, Akurei answered, wings ruffling on its back. The Neopians have spread out farther upon this world than in the Old. New places have been discovered, and the humans and pets have moved there. There is much more territory to cover and enslave.

Indeed there is, Akuma muttered absently. The Demon horde lifted off the rubble-reduced town and was soaring toward the next town, nearly ten miles away. Come, Akurei. We have more land to enslave and lives to destroy. As one, the two commanding Demons opened their wings and leapt upward to join their sky borne brothers in their haste to ravage another town upon Neopia.

To be continued...