Believing is Seeing

Believing Is Seeing
Flora Winters
I do not own Smallville or the Voyage of the Unicorn.
Summary: Sometimes believing is all one needs in order to see the impossible. This fiction will contain male/male parings and it will contain some very strong language here and there as well. I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter Three

Clark was standing on deck, watching as Faerie Island became nothing but a tiny speck in the distance. He had been given a magical amber lens, and the task of finding the Great Dragon. All of this seemed crazy, and yet it was real. All of this was real. He could see, taste, smell, touch, and hear everything that was going on around him. This was no dream. He was wide awake.

“I want to go home,” Chloe said from beside him, “I want to wake up now.”

“This is all happening to the three of us for a reason, Chloe,” Lana said, turning from the sea to look at her, “We’re meant to be here.”

Clark didn’t want to say anything. Yeah, he wanted to go home, but these people needed him. He could not just turn them down. That would be wrong and he would never forgive himself.

“Look at it like this, Chloe,” he said with a soft smile, “We could wake up at any minute. So, why not enjoy ourselves?”

Chloe blinked. She had thought of that. It just sounds more reassuring when someone else says it out loud.

“Exactly,” Lana laughed, putting a hand on Chloe’s shoulder, “This is an adventure.”

“Jolly,” Clark called out to the dwarf, “Where are we heading?”

“To the Red Isle,” he called from the wheel, “The last place the dragon was spotted.”

“The Red Isle,” Chloe asked, “What’s it like?”

“Nothing but red sand and scorching hot winds, fair Chloe,” the dwarf said, “Tickle is preparing your packs.”

Lana looked at Clark, “What did the sage mean, Clark?”

He looked at her, “Huh?”

“A man from the stars,” she echoed.

He shrugged, “I guess that we’ll find out.”

She fought not to narrow her eyes at him. He was so mysterious and enigmatic when he wanted to be. She hated when he kept secrets. It makes her want to scream and tickle him until he answered.

“He’s an alien,” Chloe deadpanned, “From the chocolate planet known as Uranus.”

Lana snorted and Clark felt as thought he had been punched in the gut. His face was so red.

“You’re so mean to me,” he whined, crossing his arms in a huff to show her just how upset he was.

“You know you love me,” she smiled and hugged him real tight.

“So not speaking to you right now,” he said, sticking his tongue out at her.

Chloe rolled her eyes and Lana laughed.

Jolly just shook his head. Mortals are such funny creatures.

“Got your travel packs ready,” Tickle said from the open door.

“Very good,” Jolly said down to him, “The Red Isle is playing tag this time of year.”

All three teens looked up at him at once, “Tag?”

The dwarf nodded, “And he’s a fast rock, too.”

The teens nodded as if that explained everything, the blinked, “He?”

Tickle laughed.

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“Row faster, you fools,” Bucktooth snarled in rage, “Those pathetic mortals shall not escape me a second time!”

All of the trolls groaned as they began to row their oars faster. Many wished their sails would catch the wind. Their arms were getting tired.

“Prince Bucktooth,” his second in command called to him.

“What is it, Wart,” he snapped, “Can’t you see I’m trying to catch the mortals?”

Wart sniffed. His prince really was insane. Just thinking about it made him want to sneeze.

“The Red Isle,” Wart told him, looking up from the whispering gem in his palm, “The mortals head there.”

“Perfect,” Bucktooth said in a sarcastic tone, rolling his eyes, “I just love a game of tag.”

“They seek the magic of the Great Dragon,” Wart whispered.

Bucktooth’s nostrils flared in rage, “The dragon?”

Wart paled, nodding.

“To the Red Isle,” Bucktooth roared, “Faster, you worms!”

He swung his new battle ax around, “Faster!”

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The three teens stood on the shore of the Red Isle, looking around at the desolate place. Everything was as red as the eye could see. It was hot and the wind was even hotter. All three were dressed in the garbs of desert nomads. Clark was in red robes, Chloe in blue, and Lana in yellow. Each one of them was carrying a pack full of food and water.

“I thought we were never going to catch this place,” Chloe said as the three took off walking side by side.

“You’re telling me,” Lana said as she pulled her hood down further over her face, “I thought this place was going to get away.”

Chloe stomped her heel, “Speedy.”

“Where are we going, Clark,” Lana asked.

“I don’t know,” he said honestly, “But I’m sure we’ll find out when we get there.”

Chloe pulled her hood back just to look at him, “Funny.”

He smiled.

Lana started to hum.

The three of them walked for what felt like hours to them. The sun was beating down on them from overhead and the scorching winds choked the girls.

Clark felt fine. He was just worried about his girls. They were not use to this. Well, he wasn’t either…he was just immune to it.

“Hey,” Chloe shouted, “What’s that over there?”

All of a sudden the winds died down, and all was suddenly calm. There was some kind of ruins in the near distance. All three took off racing across the red sands towards them. This meant that they could get out of the hot sun and take a rest.

Fallen pillars of white rock littered the area around the crumbling structure that led underground. Chloe counted about eight goats that were running around the place.

“I wonder what they eat,” she asked, looking around to see no plant life whatsoever.

Clark shrugged, taking a drink from his canister.

Lana was sitting under a fallen pillar, resting her back against it. She was not use to these harsh conditions, but she was having a great adventure.

“Look at these neat drawings,” Clark said while rubbing red sand from the slab, “There is a man with horns in the center of these weird interconnecting circles.”

“Hey,” Chloe snapped at a goat, and scrambled to her feet, “Come back here with my pack!”

Clark snickered as he watched her chase the goat down into the structure.

“Come here,” her voice echoed.

“Be careful,” Clark yelled after her.

Lana got to her feet, “What about a horned man?”

He pointed at the slab.

She got down on her knees and wiped more of the annoying red sand away. She looked at the drawing and then looked up at him.

“What,” he asked, seeing the concern in her eyes.

“This is the Labyrinth, Clark,” she said, tracing the circles around the man, “And this is the flesh eating Minotaur that is forever trapped within.”

Clark blinked, “But, that’s just a story, Lana.”

He suddenly thought about King Jack and Queen Maeve. They were real enough.

He suddenly spun around and took off racing towards the entrance, “Chloe!”

“Wait, Clark,” Lana yelled after him, “We can get lost in there, too!”

“Bread crumbs,” Clark yelled, only to see the goats, “Rope!”

“Rocks,” Lana yelled, and began stuffing her pockets full and Clark quickly did the same.

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Chloe felt as though she were running around in circles. She had lost the goat with her pack some time ago, and she was starting to feel a little panic attack coming on. She could hear that silly goat, but she could not seem to find it. Was she in some kind of maze? What had Clark been saying before she stupidly ran off into this place after that damn goat? She couldn’t remember.

“Clark,” she yelled out as she raced along the walls, “Lana!”

“Chloe,” she could hear Clark yelling, “Where are you?”

“I don’t know,” she cried as she moved towards the voices, “Everything looks the same!”

She kept running, wondering why Clark was not answering her back. Real panic was starting to kick in now.

“Clark,” she yelled, “Lana!”

A goat jumped out at her and she screamed. She stumbled back and fell flat on her ass.

The brown goat just looked at her and made its little goat noise. Her nostrils flared and she hissed at it.

“Where’s my pack you,” she roared, “You better go and bring it back right now!”

“Chloe,” Lana yelled from somewhere far away.

“Answer us,” Clark pleaded. He sounded really afraid.

“Here,” Chloe yelled, making the goat run off, “I’m here, somewhere!”

Her voice suddenly died in her throat when something much larger than a goat moved in the corner of her eye. She could see that there was a small fire burning in the distance. Something was being cooked on it and it smelled delicious.

She heard something or someone make a defensive snarl, and slowly turned her head to see what or who it was. Her eyes widened in fear when she saw a horned man that had to be over seven feet tall.

He was glaring at her with chocolate colored cow eyes. His skin was like warm brass, and he was powerfully muscular. He was completely solid, and long, glossy, black horns were spiraling from a nest of curly brown locks on his head.

He was wearing some kind of leather pleated skirt that Greek warriors would have worn. She could not take her eyes off his handsome face or his powerful body.

He looked angry, but there was a deep sadness within those mysterious eyes.

Should she get to her feet? Would that spook him? She didn’t know.

He shook his head like a bull would, snarling when Clark and Lana called out her name again.

Was this man the Greek Minotaur that ate the flesh of humans? Was he going to eat her? Oh, why hadn’t she paid closer attention in mythology?

She slowly got to her feet and he snorted at her. He knew that she was terrified of him and he knew that she didn’t like being so.

“Hi,” she said, taking a tiny bow, “I didn’t mean to…interrupt your dinner.”

The Minotaur blinked, suddenly seeming caught off guard. He had expected screams, and then violence. Who was this mysterious maiden in blue? It was as if all fear had suddenly vanished from her eyes.

“I’m Chloe,” she said, not knowing what to do, and she was nervous as hell, “I’m a writer for my school paper and you’re really muscular.”

Her cheeks suddenly blushed redder than a rose. Had she just said that out loud?

With his horns, he had to stand nine feet tall in all. He was amazing to look at.

He pointed at his solid chest with a big brass hand, and his golden lips parted. His voice was deep, and it sounded like it had not been used in a long time.

“Bane,” he smiled softly, and it looked like it pained him to do so.

“Pleasure to meet you, Bane,” she said, quickly going into damsel in distress mode.

“Chloe,” Lana yelled in the distance, voice echoing from all around in a confusing manner.

Bane snorted in defense.

“It’s okay,” Chloe said, holding up her hands, “They’re my friends.”

“Friends,” Bane asked, suddenly getting a far away expression in his eyes.

“I’m lost,” she said, slowly stepping towards him, “Do you know the way out?”

“I have tried to leave so many times,” he said in a defeated voice, “But I always wind up back here.”

She frowned, “I’m sorry.”

That was the first time anyone so fair and lovely had ever apologized to the likes of him. He was a beast…an animal. He didn’t really know what to do or say about it.

“Are you hungry,” he asked, holding out his massive hand for her to take.

She lowered her eyes from his sad ones to the big hand being offered her. She reached out and gently put hers in his.

It had shocked him that she had taken his hand. A fair maiden had actually taken his hand. Did she not see that he was a beast?

His hand was so big compared to hers. She felt like a small child next to him.

She had thought his skin to feel like hard metal, but it felt like human flesh. He held her hand as if she were some delicate piece of fine china.

She smiled up into his eyes, “Thank you.”

That shocked him as well. Such kind words had never been spoken to him before.

He led her over to his cooking fire and helped her to sit down.

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Lana’s side was killing her from where she had been running around all over the place. Where the hell was she? This drop the rocks plan was not working. It was as if the sand was eating the stones, and it was really beginning to piss her off.

“This isn’t working,” Clark said as he ran back out into the sunlight for the tenth time in a row.

“I honestly don’t know what to do,” she said, holding her side, “How come she does not answer us?”

“She’s fine,” Clark said, convincing him self that it was true, “We’ll find her.”

“You’re right,” Lana said, running back inside with him right behind her.

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“This is really good,” Chloe said, taking another big bite of her tasty meat, “What is it?”

A goat ran by the entrance to the room and she looked at the meat on her stick.

“You may feel sorry for them,” Bane said, building the flame higher, “But there is no honor in starving.”

“Feel sorry for them,” Chloe smiled at him, “That little pest that just ran by stole my pack from me.”

She took another big bite and Bane chuckled. It was the first time he had laughed in forever. The laugh felt so foreign, and yet he liked it very much. It made him feel good.

“How long have you been here,” she asked while looking around the room.

“It has been so long,” he said softly, “I can’t remember.”

She laid her stick down and fiddled with Queen Maeve’s gift that was hanging around her neck, “There must be some way out of here.”

“I’ve tried,” he said sadly, “But I always wind up back here.”

She looked down into the compass to find the tiny unicorn ship inside pointing to the hall.

“As long as you have the jewel,” Queen Maeve said, “The ship will point the way home.”

“Come on,” she said, getting to her feet, holding out her hand for him to take, “We’re getting out of here.”

He got to his feet and gently took her small hand.

She held out the enchanted compass and allowed the magic to guide her and her new friend to freedom.

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“Damn it,” Lana hissed when she ran right back out into the sunlight. She fell to her knees in exhaustion. This was not going to work. Her side was killing her. She was so going to hit the gym, and build up her physical endurance when she got back home.

“Okay,” Clark said, stalking back out, “We need help.”

He had used his super speed, and his x-ray vision. He could not find her. It was as if the Labyrinth had swallowed Chloe whole.

Lana looked up at him, and then to what was behind him. Her olive green eyes widened in horror.

“What,” Clark asked, turning around to freeze.

A huge man looking creature with black horns was walking right along beside Chloe.

“Run, Chloe,” Lana shrieked, lifting up a stone rock to throw.

Clark’s emerald green eyes began to glow ruby red, only to fade when Chloe jumped in front of the brass colored man bull.

“No,” she yelled, holding up her hands in defense, “He’s a friend!”

Bane eyed the dark haired maiden and the man who held great power warily. He did not want to be put back into that dark and lonely place ever again.

“This is Bane,” Chloe said, smiling up at him, “My new friend.”

Lana dropped the stone with a heavy thud and gulped. The Minotaur was very handsome and quite intimidating.

His skin was like polished brass. The only thing he had on was a leather pleated skirt. He looked completely human, except for the eyes and horns.

She wanted to touch those horns. Hell, she wanted to touch those muscles.

“I’m Lana,” she said with a small wave, “And this is my friend, Clark.”

Clark could not take his eyes off of Bane. He was just as sexy as King Jack. Was he hung like a bull?

Bad Clark!

Just a tiny peek with the x-ray vision wouldn’t hurt.

For shame, Clark!

Bane nodded his head and snorted. It was his way of greeting. He liked the looks of Clark and Lana. But, he liked the looks of Chloe more. She had been the one to set him free. His life was now hers.

“We’re looking for the Great Dragon,” Chloe said, “We’re going to defeat the trolls with him.”

Bane narrowed his eyes. He remembered trolls, and he did not like them.

“We were told that this isle was the last place the dragon had been seen,” Lana added, stepping closer.

“Would you like to come with us,” Clark asked.

Bane looked down at him and then over at Chloe, “I will come along to protect Chloe from the trolls.”

Chloe’s eyes lit up. This whole playing the damsel in distress thing sure had its perks.

“Thank you,” she smiled up at him.

“Lana,” Clark suddenly asked, “What are you doing?”

“I just wanted to touch him,” she said, smiling up into Bane’s handsome face, “Very nice.”

Chloe rolled her eyes and snickered.

Clark blushed.

Bane snorted, “Where does your magic compass point, Chloe?”

“Oh,” she said, holding it up.

Clark and Lana peeked over her shoulders to see the unicorn’s horn begin to move. It was the neatest thing.

She pointed, “That way.”

Bane followed in step right behind her. Clark and Lana fallowed after. The two of them looked at each other with secret smiles.

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“Are we there yet,” Bucktooth snarled in agitation. This was taking forever.

“Um, well, Sir,” Scab said with a scared look, “It turns out that the compass has been broken this whole time.

Wart ducked for cover. This was not going to be pretty. No, not one little bit.

Bucktooth smiled, “The compass has been broken?”

Scab slowly nodded in fear.

“This whole time,” the Prince of the Trolls asked ever so nicely.

Scab nodded and cringed.

Bucktooth started laughing only to seize the fool by the throat, “Off with his head!”

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“Down there,” Chloe shouted, pointing to the bottom of the big read sand dune.

All four of them took off running to see that there was a giant skeleton of a winged beast lying there in the sand. The massive bones had been bleached to an ivory white.

Clark looked down at what had to be what was left of the dragon and frowned.

“What do we tell Queen Maeve,” Lana asked.

This was really bad.

“How can the dragon be dead,” Chloe asked, looking at he friends. None of this made any sense.

“We should go,” Bane said, looking around, “The trolls might come.”

“We’ll take this,” Clark said, picking up the massive skull like it weighed nothing.

Chloe and Lana blinked.

Bane looked impressed.

“What,” Clark asked them, “We found the dragon. We now rule the land.”

“There has to be more to it than this,” Lana said.

“Come on,” Clark said, leading the way, “We’ll see what Jolly has to say.”

Everyone fell into close step behind him, only to stop when he suddenly did.

“I don’t know where we’re going,” he said with a blush, “Chloe?”

And a blonde shall lead them.

TBC…

Please review and tell me what you think.

Flora.