Nemis stood staring at Akira, real fear on his face, yet when what she had said seemed to register in his mind he turned and ran.  

"Seriously?" Redemption snorted as he watched Nemis disappear. He let out a regretful sigh, "How disappointing, I expected more of him. Oh well, should I get him?" 

"No," Akira replied calmly, her eyes on the remaining council who were staring at each other wide eyed, seeming unsure of what to do now that their leader had fled. 

"How far do you think he's going to get?" Redemption asked as Akira made no move to do anything. 

A small smile appeared on Akira's face, "To the academy, we'll meet him there. Besides, he has my sword and I really would love to have that back." One of the council members started to stand, as though making a move to run, yet as Akira's head snapped in his direction he froze, terror in his eyes, terror of her. 

"Sit," Akira commanded, pointing a finger at his chair. Without taking his eyes off her he did exactly as she said, the other two members beside him shaking in fear and refusing to meet Akira's eyes. 

"You think they believe who we are now?" Redemption asked sounding amused. 

"Judging by the state they're in, yes," Akira thought in reply. She turned to Dominique who was still staring at her with wide eyes and his mouth open. 

"I know we're amazing and all but at least close your mouth pretty boy, before you make a scene," Redemption scolded. 

Akira grinned as Dominique's mouth snapped shut. It was good to have her dragon back, no matter how big his ego was. 

"Now..." Redemption began, yet suddenly he seemed to freeze, his eyes glued to Akira. "Akira," he leaned in closer, his eyes seeming to study her. "What is that?" he asked his eyes looking just below her chin where Akira knew a red mark still showed where the rope at the hanging had cut into her skin. 

Akira didn't reply but looked away, avoiding her dragon's eyes, and yet he easily picked up the memory that flickered through her mind. 

"What?" he asked sounding shocked; "They HANGED you?" 

"Tried to," Akira responded. 

Redemptions shock turned to anger. "That's it, no more Mr. nice dragon. They're toast, literally, when I'm done with them there will be nothing left but ash, no one harms my rider!" his nostrils smoked. 

"Ree," Akira soothed, "I'm fine." 

"The mark around your neck says otherwise," Redemption replied, turning to glare at where the council members were huddled. He took a menacing step towards them and the Watchers around took a quick step back, "So who's first?" he growled. 

"Ree, stop!" Akira spoke firmly. 

Redemption turned to look at her, looking somewhat surprised through his anger. 

"If you harm them then we aren't any better than they are," Akira told her dragon softly. "Don't stoop to their level," she pleaded. 

Redemption stared at her a moment longer before something like pride filled his eyes. "And I thought I was supposed to be the one to give the sensible advice," he let out a loud sniff, "It looks like my little kiddo is finally growing up!" 

"Well one of us needs to, don't you think?" Akira thought, amused, in reply. 

Redemption didn't seem bothered by the hint, instead he turned back to the council. "They're still not forgiven...but your right. We'll deal with them later in another manner, but how about for now, we go get ourselves a certain council member?" 

Akira nodded. "That sounds good to me," she looked up at Dominique. "Free that dragon over there, would you?" she told him pointing over to where the bay dragon was chained. "And then can you keep these guys in line for me?" she asked jerking her head towards the council and a thumb towards the Watchers. 

Dominique nodded mutely, not seeming to know what else to do as he and Breeze still stood, looking in the state of shock. 

"You sure we can leave pretty boy and his dragon in charge?" Redemption asked giving them a skeptical look. 

"I doubt anyone will try anything," Akira replied, amusement running through her at Redemption's nickname for Dominique. "Not if they know what's good for them," Akira took a step towards the Watchers and they instantly all dropped their shockers, recoiling and staring at her hands in fear. 

"See," Akira told Redemption with a grin. She turned to the council members and put on a stern face. "Stay," she told them. They nodded, seeming too scared to disagree. "Now," Akira turned to Redemption, seeing that he had no saddle on she let out a sigh, "Just like old times, huh?" she asked. 

"Just like old times," Redemption agreed as Akira walked up to him. She easily swung herself into his back, a grin alighting on her face as soon as she was seated. 

"I missed you," she thought. 

"I missed you to kiddo," was Redemptions affectionate reply. "Now, I presume you have a plan of what exactly we're going to do next." 

In reply a grin spread across Akira's face.

Nemis' hands were shaking as he pulled the cord for the lift. He had made it to the academy without incident and hope had begun to rise in him. Being in the academy meant he was safe, there was no way in. He had told the Watchers on duty that no one came in, they were to stand on full guard and shoot anyone with shockers who approached. 

As the lift came to a shuddering halt before him Nemis quickly got in and pulled the cord again. He watched as the doors closed and only when he felt the lift shudder and then begin to go up, did he let himself relax. Leaning against the back of the lift he let a relieved smile spread across his face. It was okay, he was going to be fine. There was no way any dragon or rider was going to approach the academy without him knowing. 

He frowned as a picture of the white dragon and the girl flashed before his eyes. It couldn't be, could it? That the dragon of legend and the rider had come for him was impossible! Then he remembered how the bones in the room he had been in the night before had just suddenly disappeared. Shivering he shook his head. No, this was all just some kind of a hoax. They were trying to get to him by playing with his mind. Yet even as the lift drew to a halt Nemis' conscience told him that the dragon and rider of legend were indeed here, and it was time for him to face his judgment. 

"No," Nemis muttered as the lift door opened. He hurried out and down the corridor, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he went. As he followed the familiar path towards the councils' luxurious room, comfort filled him. All the guards were at their stations along the way, that meant he was still safe, no one had gotten in, yet. 

Upon reaching the door to his destination he pushed it open and quickly locked it behind him. Letting out a sigh of relief he turned around, leaning against the door as he felt his energy seem to drain away from him. 

"Finally, it took you long enough to get here," at the sound of the feminine voice Nemis jumped. Fear coursed through him as his eyes scanned the room, searching for the source of the voice. Just as he feared, he found Akira, standing by the curtain that had been drawn aside to reveal the armor that was still piled on the floor where it had fallen. His eyes widened as he saw that in her hand she was holding the white scabbard of the sword of legend. 

"You know," as she spoke Akira drew the sword in one smooth swing, "A few hours ago you actually intimidated me," she shook her head, as though not believing it, at the same time she kept her eyes on the sword in her hands, looking it over as though inspecting it for any damage. "Now when I think about it," she continued, he eyes rose to meet Nemis', "I have no idea why." 

Nemis swallowed, averting his gaze from Akira's cold blue eyes to the sword in her hands. "H...how did you get in?" he stuttered. 

"Your Watchers on the roof were very co-operative," Akira said softly, yet her tone was deadly, "You could learn a thing or two from them. Apparently they don't need any convincing when they see a white dragon they know who he is at first sight." A smirk appeared on her face, "As for how I got in here, the window down the corridor was graciously left open." 

Nemis' eyes were still on the sword in Akira's hands, he did not move them to even glance at her face, seeming terrified of what she would do with the blade. 

"You know what I figured out?" Akira asked as she dropped the scabbard to free one hand, "Your nothing but a spineless leach. You sit here all the time, enjoy your riches and watch people suffer while you hide behind the power of the Watchers, sure that no one can touch you," as she spoke she walked towards him. Nemis reached to the door knob behind him, yet he turned it to no avail, it was locked, he had done so himself. Clumsily her fiddled with the lock and in a panic turned around to see what he was doing. There was just one thought in his mind, he had to get out of there! 

"And once that power is stripped away," Nemis froze as Akira's voice spoke right beside his ear, "Your nothing but a coward." 

Nemis' hand reached into his cloak. In one swift movement he pulled out the dagger concealed there and whirled around, raising it to strike Akira. Yet before he could deliver the blow Akira's hand shot out and grabbed his hand, stopping the blade half way down. 

"You, a council member, would go as far as to try and kill the rider of legend?" Akira asked, disbelief in her eyes. "Nemis, you surprise me, you've sunk even lower than I thought you would," as she spoke Nemis suddenly felt as though his hand was burning and with a cry he let the knife clutter from his fingers. He ripped his hand from Akira's grip and stared at it in disbelief as he clutched it. There, on his wrist and half way up his hand, was the red welt of a fresh burn. 

Feeling something sharp prick at his neck he looked up only to see that Akira had the tip of her sword pointed at him. 

"Selling dragons as pack mules, FORCING them to choose riders, killing them for entertainment, making people cower in fear and sending them to the quarries to die!" Akira glared at Nemis over her sword as she listed the things she could not begin to even understand. Her eyes sparked dangerously as she continued, "That was not the future I fought for when I faced Haiden. This is not the future Redemption and I risked everything for! Redemption did not risk his life to give me another chance for this!" 

"But it was YOU who defeated Haiden, not your dragon, so why should he have a choice in what the future should be like?" Nemis protested as he licked his dry lips. 

"Fool," Akira let out a harsh laugh, "If it wasn't for Redemption I wouldn't be the rider of legend in the first place. I would have been discarded as useless when I went blind had Redemption not believed in me, I would not have survived half the battles I did, I would have died that day on the mountain top had he not brought me back!" 

"So he saved your life once, tough luck, it's his job," Nemis argued, as though trying to get Akira to see his point. 

Akira studied him with sad eyes. "You're wrong Nemis, you see, Redemption did not save my life once, he saves it every day, he's the reason that keeps me going. He is a part of me and I am a part of him. THAT is what being a rider is about, being bonded with your dragon as one until death." Anger appeared in her eyes once again, "So how DARE you treat dragons, our equals, as though they were nothing! How dare you sell them off as though they were just meat in the market!" the tip of her sword pressed harder against Nemis' throat, threatening to break the skin. 

"I didn't know..." Nemis squeaked his eyes wide as he stared down at the blade before they shot up to look at Akira. As he took in the anger in her eyes, the way she held her sword that showed that she clearly knew how to handle the blade, the confidence that radiated from her. Was this the same girl that he had had cowering before him not a week hence? How was it possible that she had gone from that terrified peasant girl to a soldier in moments? Could the presence of her dragon have affected her so much in such little time? 

"I'm sorry," he tried again, scrambling for anything to save his life. 

Akira glared at him before she suddenly dropped her sword so that the tip was facing downwards. As Nemis breathed a sigh of relief she watched him with cold, calculating eyes. "I've showed you mercy Nemis, I have spared your life, which is much more than you deserve. Now, listen carefully, because from now on, this is how things are going to be," she continued to glare until she was sure she had his utmost attention. "The council," Akira began, "Is going 'retire', for good." 

Nemis' mouth fell open. "Who will keep ord..." he began, yet as Akira help her hand up he fell silent 

"I will talk Redemption about what is to be done to keep order around this place," she told him sternly. "But, before you officially 'retire' there are a few issues you are going to address and change." 

Nemis nodded, eager to do anything to reconcile himself, anything to keep him away from an untimely death, yet he felt a twinge of dislike shoot through him at the girl before him. If he had but a small army of Watcher's in here he would not hesitate to act against her. Rider of legend or not, this was HIS city. Yet he knew that no one would follow him, not now, not when the rider of legend was here. 

Akira smiled at him, a smile that was far from warm but a smile that warned him not to try a thing. "How about we begin by you writing out a new law to do with dragons, and from there we'll move on to the quarries."