Note: Think of it as a somewhat Disney-version of a Brothers' Grimm fairy tale; the original story is much more dark and violent, but I toned it down for the twins. You'll get what I mean when you read it.



With a freshly scrubbed and towel-wrapped child perched on each hip, one babbling away in broken German and the other tugging on his damp hair excitedly, Kaa looked a bit shell-shocked. And rather water-logged; his clothes stuck to him uncomfortably.

Manikarnika smothered a snicker with her hand, glancing away innocently when he sent her a disgruntled look.

"I told you not to wear pleather," she sing-songed, eyes dancing.

Kaa hissed at her, which made the twins giggle and Mani grin. "I ssssee how it is… next time you get to wash the little hellionsss. How they managed to get more water on the floor than in the tub is beyond me…"

Ivy laughed softly as she took Fiona from him and started dressing her for bed with the obvious ease of a mother; Orion did the same with Tierney.
"Murphy's Law, dear," Ivy said serenely.

"'It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious'?" Orion queried. He dodged when Kaa playfully swatted at him with a damp towel.

"Yeah, yeah… 'Nothing is as easy as it looks,'" the naga grumbled.

“Exactly,” Ivy replied, depositing the kids in their respective beds. “And I'm so glad you agree. Since the beasties,” she tapped them each on the nose, eliciting a pair of giggles and wide eyes, “are still bright-awake, I think you'll get to tell them a story as well.”

Kaa looked a bit frazzled. “But I don't know any ssstories—at least, not ones suitable for a child'sss ear,” he said.

Orion shook his head as he perched at the foot of Fiona's bed. “The best stories are the ones you make up on the spot. How about I start for you?”

Kaa eyed him. “…All right.”

Orion nodded. “Okay, beasties, what would you like to hear about?”

“Ein heroischer Drache!” the twins chorused.

“A heroic dragon? That's an interesting choice… why not?” He thought for a moment and then leaned forward, bracing his forearms in his lap. Kaa shifted, wary at the sudden mischievous glint in his friend's eyes.

“Once upon a time… in the land of silks and spices, magical creatures were plentiful; but sadly, they were often viewed with fear by mortals and treated badly because of it. Most hid away from sight to protect themselves, but some were forced into the public eye against their will. One such creature was a kind, thoughtful naga named Kavi.

“When he was a youngling, he had been out playing in the oasis near his family's home, when a group of mortal men came upon him. Never had they seen such a young, beautiful naga on his own before. The sun shone across his serpent's tail like emeralds, even as his inky hair seemed to mock the blackest of nights.
"This one will fetch a hefty price," they thought, for they were evil bandits in truth.

“Taking the youth by surprise, they swiftly captured him and knocked him unconscious so his thrashing tail and poison-tipped nails could not harm them.”

Orion paused in the story and motioned for Kaa to take over, unwilling as he was to break the cadence of it. Kaa stared at him for a moment, stunned, before the rest of the tale began to fall from his lips.

“For twenty days and twenty nights, the bandits traveled with their precious cargo, until they finally reached the slave markets. The young naga was terrified, never having seen so many people before. His mother had always warned him away from the mortals, and until that moment he hadn't known why.

“When the bandits revealed their captive to the traders, there was a moment of stunned silence; and then, the bids began flying. Many people wished to have such a creature for their own, so the price quickly soared. Soon, only the more wealthy land owners could afford to bid. In the end, the winner was a local sheik that had been known to have shady dealings in the past.

“Kavi soon found himself installed in the sheik's home, weighed down with a heavy golden mantle and jewel-encrusted shackles. Nothing was expected of him except to laze around all day and look exotic for visiting emissaries, but he longed to return home. Each night he attempted to escape, but was continually thwarted… but one night, two years after he had been sold into slavery, Kavi saw his chance. The sheik and his guards were distracted with planning a grand celebration, and none of them noticed when he slipped away.

“He had managed to secret away a bag with odds and ends of food, a large jug of water, a small dagger swiped from an careless guard, and a blanket to keep him warm during the desolate desert nights, and was soon he was on his way home. He traveled for fifty days and fifty nights, covering his trail and hiding at the slightest sign of life. Finally he reached the formation of stones that hid his childhood home, and rushed inside, calling for his mother and father… but what Kavi saw stopped him in place.

“The rooms were chaotic-- furniture and clothing thrown about, as if someone had packed in a hurry. He searched for some sign of where his parents might have fled to, but found none. Heartbroken, he lay down in his old room, and clutching his mother's favorite shawl, cried himself to sleep.

“When morning came, the young man (for that's what he was now, alone in the world) knew he had to leave. He knew he would not be able to bear the though of living there with only the memory of a happy childhood to keep him company. So he carefully sifted through the things left behind, and gathered what small trinkets and reminders he could, adding them to his traveling supplies. With a final glance around and a heavy heart, Kavi left without looking back. It was time to find a new home.”


Kaa jumped a bit when Mani placed a hand on his shoulder, and blinking, realized that Fiona and Tierney were watching him solemnly, age-old understanding in their eyes. Clearing his throat, Kaa injected a lighter tone into his voice, and continued.


“He wandered aimlessly for a few years, gaining knowledge and experience. He went on many adventures in his quest for someplace where he would belong.

“One day when he decided to stop for a drink after hunting for dinner, Kavi came across a beautiful creature that was gathering water into large clay jugs. He was wary, since the she looked like a mortal woman, but the air around her didn't taste quite the same as other females he had encountered in the past. This made him very curious. Kavi looked around, but he couldn't sense anyone else nearby. Cautious of traps, he quietly crept closer.

“Kavi curled up behind a wide grouping of trees, content to watch her from across the small pool. The woman was humming something quietly as she worked, seemingly absorbed in her task, but looked up suddenly when underbrush shifted under Kavi's weight. He quickly ducked back behind his cover, not wishing to scare her away… but not fast enough, apparently.

“Who's there?” she asked, “I know you're here, I saw you move. Come out.”

“Unsure what to do, Kavi slowly peered out at her, an arm braced on the trees hiding him. He smiled a bit when he saw the simple dagger that she held half-hidden at her side. This mortal had some sense, then. It was rare to find women-folk alone in those days, for a good reason.

“The woman tilted her head when she saw him, as if listening to something no one else could hear, then nodded and re-sheathed the knife in her boot.
“Come, drink. I have no quarrel with your kind.”

“Kavi stared at her in shock. How did she know what he was? Only his head and arm were visible to her, nothing to mark him anything other than human… but he could feel no malice in her, just a thoughtful curiosity and that extra something mixed in. Maybe she wasn't a normal mortal after all.

“Determined, Kavi straightened and glided around the concealing trees and up to the water's edge near her. The woman gasped, but then a dazzling smile lit her face and Kavi's heart skipped a beat. He smiled tentatively back, and carefully took the hand she offered, kissing the air above it; she laughed brightly. Thus cemented an unbreakable friendship.

“They talked for quite a while, but Manikarnika, as she had introduced herself, soon declared that she had to leave when the sun began it's decent towards the horizon. Kavi impulsively volunteered to help her carry the heavy jugs of water back to the caravan she traveled with. She readily accepted, having hinted in their conversation that there was room for another unique traveler amongst them. Manikarnika led him towards a cluster of campfires not too far away. Kavi huddled into his cloak as he fought down instincts that demanded he run away; he knew he could trust her.

“When they reached the caravan's campsite, Kavi was amazed to see a grouping of various creatures mixed in with mortals; they didn't seem to be slaves at all! Intrigued, he accepted the invitation to travel with them to their next destination. At the next, he agreed to join the performers, closing himself into a large cage that could not be locked, hissing at passers-by and pacing the length of the enclosure. To his surprise, it was rather fun. Many years passed this way, and Kavi was content. He finally had a place where he almost fit in. Manikarnika was a constant bright spot in his life. But one night, everything changed.

“It had started out like every other performance. Manikarnika danced and advised people on the meaning of their dreams, Kavi paced and hissed, swiping mock-aggressively at people whom strayed too close to the bars, the mystery called Ivy sang hauntingly as her lone friend, Jinx, kept rhythm on a set of drums, and the other members of the troupe performed their special skills.

“There was a sudden ripple through the crowd as armed guards pushed their way through, a tall, regal figure between them. The performers all continued as usual, used to semi-important people visiting the caravan. The man stopped at each performer and “caged” creature as if gauging their worth, but then summarily dismissing them as he moved on. He paused thoughtfully, watching Manikarnika dance. Kavi watched him discreetly, hissing loudly when he realized why the man felt familiar; it was the sheik that had bought him as a youngling! The noise grabbed the man's attention, swinging his narrowed gaze from Manikarnika to the naga's shadowed cage.

“Kavi was sure that the sheik had recognized him when the man abruptly strode towards him. He lashed out, but the sheik had stopped just out of reach. They eyed each other, and then the sheik spoke: “The same untamed spirit, close enough in looks… you'll do.” He suddenly smirked, then turned abruptly and walked off towards the caravan's leader. A short argument later—though, it was more like the sheik saying, “this is what I want, and you will make it happen” and the caravan's leader saying “no way in hell ”—one of the guards struck down the caravan's leader. People started to scatter and scream as the other guards leapt into movement, tearing down decorations and smashing wagons.

“Before he could move, a cage containing a beautiful but disgruntled tiger was brought forward and connected to his. Kavi could feel the sheik's malicious glee as the coupled gates were slid open and the tiger attacked, but then was too busy defending himself to notice much else.

“Pain exploded across Kavi's nerves as the tiger's claws raked over his face deeply, and he went down under the big cat's weight. Heedless of the injury, he slashed at his attacker, striking deeply. Thankful for once that his poison worked quickly, the naga protected himself as best he could as the tiger's attack slowed and finally stopped. Wiping the blood from his eyes, Kavi quickly moved to the gate and tried to push it open, but it was stubbornly wedged in place. The caravan was burning; some escaped, others trapped and dying. Smoke stung his eyes and made him cough; he couldn't see Manikarnika anywhere. Where was she? Looking around frantically, he finally spotted her unconscious form being carried away, tossed carelessly across the back of the sheik's camel. He pushed against the gate frantically, yelling her name, trying to wake her up, anything… lungs burning and head spinning from breathing in so much smoke, Kavi slumped over into unconsciousness.

“When he awoke, it was to someone poking at the claw-marks on his face. He sat up hurriedly, hissing at the pain and baring his fangs. “Peace,” a familiar voice said. Ivy; Kavi relaxed a bit. “Hold still, child. I can heal that, but it will still scar.” Warmth stole over the wounds, easing the ache in his head as the cuts closed into shiny white lines. Memories of the night before suddenly flooded back to him: the sheik, the fire, the tiger… Manikarnika! “She has been taken to the sheik's home, child. He will not release her without a fight,” Ivy said.

“I will fight for her,” Kavi replied.

“Would you die for her?” Jinx asked. “The sheik's guards are many, and trained warriors all.”

“I would,” Kavi affirmed with quiet dignity. “She is my heart.”

The two women exchanged speaking glances, then Ivy nodded. “So shall it be. I will gift you with a special trick, child, so that you might save your heart from destruction.” That said, she placed a hand upon his brow. Knowledge bloomed, and as she stepped back, Kavi transformed himself into a giant serpentine dragon of emerald green. This form, he knew, would be strong enough to defeat the sheik's forces and save his love. Thus fortified, he thanked Ivy and promised her a boon upon his return, then took flight.

“He found the sheik's sprawling home easily, and quickly began his attack. Blasts of fire destroyed the barracks and set many frightened guards running. The servants' quarters and harem he left alone; he had no quarrel with them. Spotting the sheik dragging a struggling Manikarnika through the dense garden, dragon-Kavi quickly landed in front of them. When the sheik released Manikarnika's arm In surprise, she darted towards her love and hid behind one outstretched wing. The sheik, not realizing whom he dealt with, began to shout curses at dragon-Kavi in imperious tones, and demands of Manikarnika's return. Not liking this at all, dragon-Kavi swiftly snapped the sheik up in his powerful jaws and gobbled him down, grimacing at the taste. Ew .

“His task done, he motioned his love to sit astride his back. When she was settled, he took flight back to the remains of the caravan. When they landed again and Manikarnika was safely on the ground, Kavi transformed himself back into his true shape and hugged her tightly. When she would have kissed him, he regrettably turned his face away; his kiss was a slow poison to those not of his race. He refused to shorten her life for a few selfish years.

“I will fight for you,” Manikarnika said.

“Would you live for him?” Jinx asked as she and Ivy appeared from the wreckage of the caravan, “Surely you would find no safe haven because of such a relationship.”

“Yes,” she affirmed with quiet dignity, “He is my heart.”

“The two women exchanged speaking glances, then Ivy nodded. “So shall it be. I will gift you with a special trick, child, so that you might save your heart from destruction.” That said, she placed a hand upon Kavi's brow. Knowledge bloomed, and as she stepped back, Kavi smiled. Carefully grasping Manikarnika's hand in his, the naga took on the form of a mortal man.

“It is not a true change, but it will suffice. Only those that know what to look for will know the truth of you,” Ivy said.

“When they thanked her and asked what she wished for her boon, she simply smiled and said, “A home. Shall we search for one together?”

“Clutching each other close, the two lovers could only agree. They had found their happy ending; it was only fair to help Ivy and Jinx find their own.”

His story complete, Kaa stood quietly as the others slipped out into the hall. He followed, leaning against the doorjamb and watching as Ivy tucked in the sleeping twins. Mani wrapped an arm around his waist.

“Not quite how it happened, but close enough… I'm glad we could help her find her happy ending, after all.” Dropping a kiss on Kaa's cheek and mussing Orion's hair, Mani left to find her own bed.

The two men stood in silence for a moment, then turned towards the kitchen as Ivy left the twins' room, leaving the door open a bit.
“…I hate it when you do that.”

Orion smiled a bit, but it was Hyde's expression of world-weary, melancholy eyes and subtly-curved lips. “I know. Sorry… couldn't help myself.” He bumped Kaa's shoulder playfully. “Besides, a heroic dragon? There are only so many of those I know, and Little Chaos just doesn't fit the bill… she'd have tried to kill the sheik with cuteness.”

Kaa's soft laughter echoed down the hall, filling the home with warmth.

Fin.