Desert Dragon

by Michael Rogers

  Man: *He looked up to the large tree Karol stood next to.* "Up there! Fruity-loo is up there!"

  Luna: "Fruity-loo? Seriously? Like, seriously?"

  Karol: *He stamped his foot and glanced at Luna and Nathan, trying to catch their attention.* "As a member of-.."

  Luna: "The Fuckin' Best Guild!"

  Nathan: "The Supreme Guild."

  Karol: "The Remenistal Guild!"

  Destiny: "Yeup!" *She meowed in sync with the others.*

  Man: "P-... Pardon? Isn't this The Rostical Guild?"

  Karol: "Yheah! That's us!" *He glanced at Nathan and puffed out his chest in a manly-like manner.*

  ?????: "Peoweow!" *A poodle-like howl caught the guild's attention.*

  Man: "Up there!" *He sounded worried and stared at a small white poodle-like Scoldrant, trapped inside a cage of branches.*

  Karol: "Up there!"

  Luna: *She looked up in a curious-like manner.* "How-?"

  Nathan: *He smirked and reached over his shoulder, grabbing onto his sword.* "This will be easy."

  Man: *He looked at the sword in Nathan's hand.* (I didn't even notice-) "I thought you were Rostical Users?"

  Nathan: "Haha, you ready to catch the thing, Luna?" *He mumbled in his deep voice, ignoring the man's question.*

  Luna: "Pssht, how 'bout you catch it, aye." *She grabbed the bow by the string and held it into position.*

  Destiny: "Yeu." *She observed the area with heightened vision, as if she was readying to guide Luna's arrow.*

  Nathan: "Me?"

  Karol: "A-And what abowt me?"

  Luna: "Windstream Shot." *She suddenly flicked the string, shooting an arrow made of wind towards the poodle.* "Aha, dead on."

  Destiny: "Yeup!"

  Man: "No! You're going to hurt!-" *He watched the arrow shoot through the air and past the tree, snapping the branches around the Scoldrant.*

  Karol: "Yooh did it!"

  Scoldrant: "Peow!" *It howled in fear as it fell towards the ground.*

  Man: "My little Fruity-loo!" *He violently grabbed his hair with each hand, squealing in terror.*

  Nathan: *He quickly sheathed the sword and ran forward, spreading his arms.* "Gotcha-" *He caught the Scoldrant and quickly stepped back, watching tree branches hit the ground around his feet.*

  Karol: "Nee hee! That was qwick!"

  Man: "My Fruity-loo!" *He quickly ran towards Nathan and snatched the Scoldrant out of his arms.*

  Nathan: "Ah?"

  Man: "Here, take the reward, bye!" *He threw a pouch at Nathan and turned around, tightly hugging the Scoldrant in a fatherly manner.*

  Luna: "Kool, let's beat it. The bestiality if freakin' me out." *She stared at the man in disgust.*

  Karol: "Beesty, what?"

  Luna: "Nothin'."

  Destiny: "Yeup?" *She meowed in a curious-like manner, catching Luna's attention.*

  Luna: "Wat's with that? We completed it?"

  Karol: "Have a nice day, and please spread word of The Remenistal Guild."

  Man: "Geheehee." *He chuckled with happiness.* "Sure thing! I've already heard good things about you."

  Karol: *He smiled and turned around with a child-like grin on his face.* (That makes me really happy-)

  Nathan: *He mumbled and glanced at the trees around him.* "It doesn't make sense."

  Karol: "Nafan?" *He looked up, staring at Nathan in a curious-like manner.*

  Luna: "Yea, wat is it now?"

  Nathan: "The Scoldrant.."

  Luna: "Wat about it?" *She grunted in an annoyed-like manner, as if she wanted Nathan to explain himself quicker.*

  Nathan: "How did it get up there?"

  Karol: "Uhm?" *He looked up and frowned child-like in thought.* "He clymbed up!"

  Nathan: "That type of Scoldrant can't climb well."

  Luna: *She noticed Nathan's seriousness, causing her to glance at Destiny.* "Maybe you're right, aye. Destiny was actin' a little weird too."

  Destiny: "Yeup.." *She observed her surroundings, as if she was trying to find something.*

  Karol: "I dhon't understand?"

  Nathan: "And did you see the way it was trapped in those branches?"

  Luna: "Yea, it was like a cage." *She spoke in curiosity, as she slowly walked away.*

  Karol: "The twee's bwanches? I..?" *He closely followed Nathan and Luna as he continuously glanced between them, trying to understand where the conversation was going.*

  Nathan: *He mumbled in realisation and quickly turned back around.* "We need to head back!"

  Luna: "Gah, why?" *She stopped and leant to one side with a frustrated frown.*

  Karol: "Why?"

  Nathan: (Dammit.)

  Karol: "Nafan?"

  Nathan: "A Wah-Whakatah."

  Luna: "A wafatakatah? Da fuck?"

  Karol: "What are they?"

  Nathan: "Come on!" *He started to run back, causing Luna and Karol to run after him.*

  Destiny: "Yeup! Yeup!" *She meowed at Nathan, as if she was agreeing with him.*

  Luna: "Wanna explain?"

  Nathan: "Wah-Whakatah are rare Scoldrants that take the shape of trees-" *He ran into the small clearing and noticed the large tree, holding the man and Scoldrant upside down by two thin branches.*

  Karol: "W-Woah!" *He squealed in shock and instinctively hid behind Luna.*

  Nathan: "Thought you were a man?"

  Karol: "I-I'ma man." *He tried to overcome his fear and placed his head against Luna's back.*

  Luna: *She looked up with widening eyes.* "I.. I guess it wouldn't be a fantasy world without killin' some tree-like monsters."

  *The tree growled from a face engraved in bark on its stump, as it slithered its branches around it.*

  Nathan: *He smiled and unsheathed his sword.* "Let's complete the request!"

  Luna: *She pulled the string to her arrow and smirked.* "Wateva."

  Karol: "I'm-.. I'ma man." *He twitched in fear as the tree growled again.*

  Destiny: "Yeup!" *She hopped on Luna's head, giving her a better eyesight on the landscape.*

  Man: "H-Help!" *He trembled in fear, preventing him from properly yelling out.*

  Scoldrant: "Peowpeow." *It howled softly in fear, catching the man's attention.*

  Man: "Fruity-loo.."

  Nathan: "Let's do this! Air Slash."

  Luna: "Windstream Shot."

  ----------

  Lezard: "Our one and only, Lezard, walked into the facility to notice the delicious Dawn doing her usual business-"

  Dawn: "For research!" *She angrily pointed at a Rosterology console, causing the researcher sitting behind it to cower down.*

  Researcher: "Y-Yes!"

  Dawn: "Ensure to tell me when the Neurons have infused with the experimental shield next time!"

  Researcher: "My apologies, ma'am! I know for next time."

  Dawn: *She adjusted her glasses and turned around with a sigh, noticing Lezard staring at her.* "Yes?"

  Lezard: "It's me!"

  Dawn: "I don't have time for this-" *She shook her head, as if she couldn't remember Lezard.* "Research waits for no man-"

  Lezard: "I come here all the time! Ooo, how could you forget me?!" *He shook his bottom to each side, triggering Dawn with many flashbacks of him responding in a similar manner.*

  Dawn: "Oh.. Yes.. Research and I remember you now." *She spoke with no enthusiasm and carefully moved all the valuable and breakable items away from Lezard.*

  Lezard: "Bwarharh, still annoyed at me for breaking those-"

  Dawn: *She pinched her glasses with two fingers and adjusted them.* "What can I help you with?"

  Lezard: "Well-.." *He suddenly looked serious.* "Under order of Grey-"

  Dawn: "His majesty?" *She spoke in shock and quickly waved to a chair, causing it to slide itself along the ground behind Lezard.* "Please." *She sat down on a seat and leant to one side, as if she was ready to access the console next to her.*

  Lezard: "Thankies-" *He sat on the chair and wiggled his bot
tom to make himself more comfortable.* "Grey said he will get Ordin to brief you properly."

  Dawn: "So?" *She looked at Lezard in curiosity as if she was wondering why he was there.*

  Lezard: "I'd like to request you and your research's help. To help locate father monster."

  Dawn: "Father monster?" *She looked at Lezard like he was an idiot.*

  Lezard: "Yuppers. Grey and myself believe he could help us out.. So we need to find him."

  Dawn: (It wouldn't be serious if Grey himself requested it.) *She looked at Lezard in thought.* (I'll be able to verify his word before I give him the coordinates-)

  Lezard: "I have no idea what he is doing now-"

  Dawn: "Last I heard from his majesty, is that father mon-, the Consultant was doing his own research regarding the Unknown Territories."

  Lezard: "The Unknown-" *Dawn's words triggered a flashback of the Astragon Projection.* "He mentioned the Unknown Territories too-"

  Dawn: "Pardon?"

  Lezard: ".. Nothing. Please tell Lezard more."

  Dawn: "He was involved with three activations of the ancient ruins."

  Lezard: "Activations? The Unknown Territories are the only places left uncharted, how could you know-"

  Dawn: "Please." *She spoke with a smile and ran her hand along the console.* "Research knows no bounds."

  Lezard: "Okies.." *He spoke with a fake smile.*

  Dawn: *She noticed his sad face.* "Okay-" *She pressed a button on the console, causing a red camera-like flash to blind Lezard.*

  Lezard: "Ooo, what was that-?"

  Dawn: "We can use your Neurons and scan the continents for your father."

  Lezard: "Ooo." *He sarcastically giggled with slight sadness.*

  Dawn: "I'll contact you as soon as research has found anything."

  Lezard: "How? I'm in a guild now-"

  Dawn: *She pointed to the glyphic-like ring on Lezard's finger.* "It will overload the glyph with Neurons-"

  Lezard: *He hissed and repelled his finger.* "That could blow it off!"

  Dawn: "Please. You will feel a slight burning sensation."

  Lezard: "Okies. When you find father monster, I'll have my own personalised alarm?"

  Dawn: "Yes?"

  Lezard: "Bwarharh, deliciously succulent!"

  Dawn: "Is.. There anything else?"

  Lezard: "No-"

  Dawn: "Out!" *She shouted and pointed to the door behind Lezard.*

  Lezard: "Dawn.. Thankies." *He spoke in a serious-like manner.*

  Dawn: *She smiled and nodded her head.* "Who are you again?"

  Lezard: "Bwarharh."

  Dawn: "Hmh." *She smiled and started to type on the console.* (First time he smiled in seriousness.)

  Lezard: "I guess I'll-" *He stood up and started to leave.*

  Dawn: *She sighed and stared at Lezard's back.* "Go into the library from across the hall. You can find some less serious books that could cheer you up."

  Lezard: "Books?" *He mumbled to himself and stopped at the door.* "Don't be a silly sausage, I don't need cheering up."

  Dawn: *She watched red lines scan a picture of the continent in squares.* "Scanning for related Neuron usage..." *She mumbled to herself, casually ending the conversation with Lezard.*

  Lezard: "Thankies." *He looked down to his feet and smiled.* (This weird feeling.. It's like, I know something bad is going to happen? I just don't know what.. These old bones certainly don't like this feeling.)

  *Lezard looked up and walked into the room opposite to the research facility.*

  Lezard: "Ooo-" *He observed the area around him, staring at enormous wooden shelves filled with different sized books.*

  *Lezard hobbled further into the library-like area, noticing the sudden silence.*

  Lezard: "Several people sat around square tables in a library-like room, reading ridiculously thick books-"

  Readers: "Shhh." *Several readers attempted to hush Lezard by placing a finger on their lips.*

  Lezard: "Snappy." *He spoke to himself and hobbled towards a Rosterology console.* "Umm, jinkies, where to start? Funny books?"

  Rosterology Console: "Section four, dash, Midnight Adventures."

  Lezard: "Okies.. Section four." *He glanced across the library and noticed a large four on the floor.*

  *A man wearing a green frog-like Scoldrant onesie walked down the aisle, holding a stack of books.*

  Lezard: *He walked into the aisle and instantly noticed the man's onesie, causing him to gasp while shaking his bottom in excitement.* "Holy fish-cakes! Look at you!"

  Onesie Man: "Harm?" *He lowered the stack of books, allowing him to get a better look at Lezard.* "How can I help you?" *He whispered each word, as if he wasn't allowed to talk.*

  Lezard: "Bwarharh, shouldn't you be hopping-?"

  Readers: "Shhh." *Several readers attempted to hush Lezard by placing a finger on their lips.*

  Onesie Man: "I gotta go." *He whispered and raised the books, before walking out of the aisle.*

  Lezard: "Where did you get that delicious onesie? I want to get one-"

  Readers: "Shhh." *Several readers attempted to hush Lezard by placing a finger on their lips.*

  Lezard: "Sad face." *He lowered his head and staggered down the aisle.*

  Readers: "Shhh." *Several readers attempted to hush Lezard by placing a finger on their lips.*

  Lezard: "Jinkies! I didn't even say anything-" *A small, think black spine of a book caught Lezard's attention.* "Oh?"

  *Lezard pulled out the pocket-sized book and felt the damages due to its old appearing lifetime.*

  Lezard: "Midnight Adventures? Why is it called that-?" *He opened the book and read out a small handwritten line, mixed with dirt and blood on the corners of the page.*

  *Lezard coughed to himself and stood closer to the shelves so he wasn't blocking the aisle.*

  Lezard: "Adventures aren't about the fighting, travelling or the earnings, it's the small things, like smiling."

  *Lezard shook his head as if he had trouble reading and skipped several torn pages.*

  Lezard: "Well, that grammar hurt poor Lezard, critical hit!" *His hissed at the book in an unimpressed-like manner.*

  Readers: "Shhh." *Several readers attempted to hush Lezard by placing a finger on their lips.*

  Lezard: "Jinkies.." *He whispered and started to read.* " What do you..? A vest... Bwarharharharharharh-"

  Readers: "Shhh." *Several readers attempted to hush Lezard by placing a finger on their lips.*

  Lezard: "Who-.." *He quickly looked around and noticed a woman wearing a matching blue, bird-like Scoldrant scarf and bag, causing him to quickly hobble up to her.*

  Woman: "Y-Yes?" *She cautiously looked at Lezard and placed her hand in the bag, as if she was ready to defend herself.*

  Lezard: "I thought, how could a book cheer poor old Lezard up? But holy fish-cakes I was wrong!" *He waved the book in the woman's face, listening to the pages flap together.*

  Woman: "I-, ahm?" *She glanced to each side in an uncomfortable-like manner, as if she wanted to leave.*

  Lezard: "The very first line-. Ahem." *He opened the book and started to read.* "What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator. Bwarharharharh!"

  Readers: "Shhh." *Several readers attempted to hush Lezard by placing a finger on their lips.*

  Lezard: "Bwarharh!" *He hobbled down the aisle while shaking his bottom to each side.* "This book fills Lezard with joy!"

  *Lezard waved the book in the air while hobbling outside the library, causing many people to sigh in relief.*

  ----------

  *Trevour stood behind an eruption of sand as he slammed the sand-hammer into the ground.*

  Rachael: *She watched the sand string past Trevour with a smile.* "Awesome work, Trev!"

  Trevour: *He leant back and twiddled his fingers, watching the sand lose its image into the ground.* "Heh heh, you're too kind, boss."

  Rachael: *She watched the remaining few Scoldrants burst into tiny white o
rbs.* "Do you see it?"

  Trevour: "Umm-" *He scanned through the bundles of white orbs, as if he was looking for something.*

  Rachael: "Nothing?"

  Trevour: "No, wait-" *He spoke with a smile and watched a medium sized floating block of meat appear from within the orbs.* "H-Here!"

  Rachael: "Really?" *She spoke with a smile and jogged up to Trevour, staring at the drop item.* "Is that-?"

  Trevour: "This is the request-" *He took a step forward and grabbed the floating piece of meat before it fell to the ground.* "The rare Wolfbane Meat."

  Rachael: "How come it's all nice and chopped up?"

  Trevour: "Heh heh. Your first time seeing a rare Scoldrant drop?"

  Rachael: "But-?" *She watched Trevour wrap the meat up with sheets they collected beforehand.* "How?"

  Trevour: "These things just happen." *He turned around and faced Rachael.* "We grow up with this sort of thing, so even though it's not really explainable, we're used to it."

  Rachael: "True. But why was it all cut up, like it was all ready to be served as a dish?"

  Trevour: "Oh! That's due to the Astragons."

  Rachael: "Astragons, space, got it." *She spoke with a smile and observed the area around her, noticing many rock pillars that weren't there before, due to their fight.*

  Trevour: "Our request isn't completed yet."

  Rachael: "We have to take the meat back to the person?"

  Trevour: "Correct, boss. We're meeting her just outside this Spacial Funnel."

  Rachael: "Shall we?" *She readied to leave.*

  Trevour: "After you, heh heh." *He waved his hand, implying for Rachael to go first.*

  Rachael: *She looked up and watched the tiny orbs continue to float into the sky and out of her sight.* "As we were nearing the last twenty, I was beginning to worry we wouldn't get it."

  Trevour: *He smiled and wiped a thin layer of sweat off his forehead, nodding his head in agreement.* "It is a rare item. It's almost frustrating in a way, that it was the last Scoldrant to drop the item."

  Rachael: "Hehe, yeah. Still wicked we got it though."

  Trevour: *He admired Rachael's bouncy-like attitude.* "You aren't tired?"

  Rachael: "Nope." *She walked in a jog-like manner, listening to Trevour's armour rattle.* "So."

  Trevour: "So." *He chuckled and held the meat covered in blankets in both arms.*

  Rachael: "I didn't want to ask because we weren't really close back then, and the fact it's been very busy to ask such questions, but I like to think we're friends now-"