Nathan: *He awkwardly looked away, as if he wanted to say something.* "Ah-"
Luna: *She suddenly frowned and formed fists.* "How long have you been there?"
Nathan: *He looked surprised.* "Not long."
Destiny: (It's true. I didn't hear anything around us-)
Luna: "Good." *She grunted to Destiny in response.*
Nathan: "About before..."
----------
*Kath sat on a stool-like chair and crossed her legs, looking across the poorly lit room.*
Kath: (Too many captains have been incapacitated, so I will do something new.) *She mumbled to herself in thought, ignoring the sounds of typing in the background.* "Zephyr!"
*Zephyr flashstepped in front of her, kneeling down in respect.*
Zephyr: "Y-Yes?" *He lowered his head, staring at the ground.*
Kath: "Good news, you've been promoted to captain number four."
Zephyr: (I-I'm nearly in the top three?) "Th-Thank you, Kath-"
Kath: "I have an important mission for you."
Zephyr: "M-Me?" *He looked up, half smirking in excitement.*
Kath: "Due to your new rank, I'll give you some special insight."
Zephyr: "It would be an honour-"
Kath: "Number one is finding someone for me, I will never forget that audacity of escaping Sorrowprax in that manner." *She grunted in recollection, forming a fist.*
Zephyr: "If you've sent number one, then this person will be annihilated?"
Kath: "Perhaps. Number two is currently locating the last Unknown Territory, I have a lot of trust in her abilities."
Zephyr: (Number two, I heard the rumours about her weapon, it's said she has one of the best sound based Azure Bursts-)
Kath: "Number three has been terminated."
Zephyr: (Number three? That's Zayden-)
Kath: "So-" (Number four and five, which is now three and four are acceptable for this mission.)
Zephyr: "W-What is this mission?"
Kath: "I understand all captains have been trained to work as individuals, but I need you to work with someone else."
Zephyr: (A partner?) "Who-?"
Kath: "Sofia!"
Zephyr: (S-S-Sofia?! Not her.) *He gulped, trembling at the thought.*
Sofia: *She flashstepped next to Zephyr, kneeling down with a smirk.* "Kath-" *She looked at Zephyr, causing him to look to the ground.*
Zephyr: (Why her-?!)
Kath: "Sofia, you've been promoted to-"
Sofia: "To number three, I understand."
Ten: *She stopped typing and sighed.* (Nothing on the glyphic screens?) *She stared at screens which displayed different landscapes on them, focusing her attention to Kath.*
Sofia: "So what do you want us for?"
Ten: (Kath's attitude is different with her, she even treats number one and two different to Sofia, or at least the same as everyone else-)
Kath: "You will be working together, with Sofia being the party leader."
Sofia: "Of course." *She smirked, flicking her hair over her shoulder.*
Kath: "I want you to stop a man who has been following the Consultants for a while."
Sofia: "Why do you want us to stop this man now?"
Zephyr: *He looked at Sofia in shock.* (How can she talk to Kath like that?)
Kath: "He is only one step away to finding this location. I cannot afford to invest more time to relocate."
Sofia: "Can I play a game with him?"
Kath: "..."
Sofia: "I haven't fought anyone on a different level to me, it's time for me to increase the difficulty level."
Kath: "Yes."
Sofia: (Let the game begin?) *She smirked in thought, looking at Kath.*
Kath: "I will prompt you with the procedures later-"
Sofia: "Procedures?"
Kath: "This man is very powerful. The normal procedures for this mission will be different."
Sofia: "How exciting, a new difficulty level and now new rules."
Kath: "I've given you two hours to recover from your previous missions and I will tell you what you need to know."
Sofia and Zephyr: "Kath!"
Kath: *She watched Zephyr and Sofia flashstep out the room, causing her to sigh.* "..."
Ten: *She hopped off the stool-like chair and bowed in respect.* "Kath?"
Kath: "Hmm? Responding to me directly is not tolerable."
Ten: "I'm sorry, but there's something I want to ask."
Kath: *She pushed her glasses up, focusing her attention to the warrior.* "Speak."
Ten: "Why do you act differently towards her?"
Kath: "Sofia?"
Ten: "Yes."
Kath: "To tell the truth, that woman frightens me."
Ten: *She gasped in shock, leaning back with widening eyes.* "Surely someone of your power-"
Kath: "Let me clarify, it's not power. I could defeat her with no problem, but it's her attitude."
Ten: "You could-?"
Kath: "Remember, your primary role is to scout for abnormalities, back to work."
Ten: "Of course!" *She stood up with satisfaction, focusing her attention back to the screens.*
Kath: *She watched the warrior walk away, causing her to look down in thought.* (Despite the gap in our power, Sofia's ranking does not hold true to her power.)
----------
*Nathan looked up, watching stars twinkle in the sky.*
Luna: "Wat about before?" *She hissed on her breath.*
Destiny: (Would you like me to leave?)
Luna: (No.. It's kool, aye.)
Destiny: "Yeup."
Nathan: "I.. Wanted to apologise."
Luna: "Oh.." *She looked down, as if she was disappointed.*
Destiny: *She glanced at Luna.* (She's disappointed he's apologising? I'm confused.)
Nathan: "I.." (I like you..) "But.."
Luna: "But wat?"
Nathan: "I can't.. Not now.. I need to keep my promise."
Luna: "You can't wat? And a promise?"
Nathan: (Isabella.) "Yeah. I made a promise a long time ago.." *He placed his hand on the right side of his chest.*
Luna: "If you're symbolisin' your heart, it's on the left, dipshit."
Nathan: *He shook his head.* "I.. Just wanted to apologise."
Luna: "Why bother, aye."
Nathan: "We're on the same guild. During harsh times, if we like it or not, we rely on each other."
Luna: "..."
Nathan: "We've had each other's back for a while. I don't want that to stop."
Luna: *She sighed and nodded her head.* "I get it, I get it."
Destiny: "Yeup." *She hovered around Luna, catching Nathan's attention.*
Nathan: "You? Can fly?" *He took a step forward, filled with interest.*
Luna: "Yea?"
Nathan: "How? Did she evolve?"
Luna: "Evolve? Nah, I'm not level thirty and I don't have a water stone."
Nathan: *He shook his head.* "If she didn't evolve-" *He squinted his eyes, as he took a closer look at Destiny.* "Her coat is a different shade? And she floats, the quality of your Soul Link."
Luna: "I don't get half the shit you're sayin'-"
Nathan: *He formed a fist.* (Keno..) "Can you communicate in some manner?"
Luna: "Aye?"
Destiny: "Yeup?" *She meowed in surprise, as if she wasn't expecting that question.*
Nathan: "My tribe leader.." *He grunted to himself, triggering a flashback.*
----------
*Nathan sat on a bamboo floor in a small straw made hut, looking up to an old man with a frown.*
Nathan: "I said I don't want to-"
Old Man: "Is this because of that foolish woman you've been seeing?" *He grunted with a brittle voice, glaring at Nathan as if he was in trouble.*
Nathan: *He looked surprised.* "How-?"
Old Man: "Nature.. It's all around us-"
Nathan: *He stood up in anger.* "What can't you understand, Keno?! I don't want to be a S
coldrant User!"
Keno: "It's in your blood! You can't defy who you are!"
Nathan: "Watch me." *He turned around and readied to leave.*
Keno: "You will never experience your soul companion.. The Soul Link-"
Nathan: *He turned back around and faced Keno with a growing frown.* "Soul Link this, Soul Link that, I'm sick to death with you and your tribal ways!"
Keno: "Nathan..." *He spoke with disappointment and closed his eyes.*
Nathan: "What's so special about the damned Soul Link anyway!"
Keno: "You disrespect our ways for the last time." *He spoke with his eyes closed.* "Then, I'll show you!-"
*Keno opened his eyes and clapped his hands together, causing a human sized reptilian-like Scoldrant to materialise next to him.*
Keno: "Kosmo!"
Kosmo: (Yes-) "Reptile's Frite." *He hissed with an echoing voice and his body suddenly elongated and warped around Nathan.*
Nathan: "What-?"
Keno: "Once the Soul Link has increased, both partners are able to communicate through thoughts alone!-"
Nathan: "Imposs-" *He reached over his shoulder, grabbing onto his sword.*
Keno: "And we unlock a variety of nature based Azure Bursts!"
Kosmo: *He suddenly wrapped his body around Nathan, as if he was made of vines.* (Success-)
Nathan: "Let go-" *He struggled to move.*
Keno: "Once the Soul Link has increased furthermore, the Soul Link will evolve once the Scoldrant has reached physical or emotional maturity."
Kosmo: *His eyes widen, causing a purple ring to spiral around his iris.* (I can smell the fear from him.)
Keno: (Excellent.)
Nathan: "So? What use has showing me this caused? Nothing! I don't want to be a bloody Scoldrant User! I want to find my own way, my own title.. I want to make a name for myself, not some-"
Keno: "Ougi."
Nathan: "O-Ougi?" *He spoke in shock.*
Keno: "During the Soul Linking process, once a certain level of emotional bonding has been achieved, it's possible to activate your own Ougi or even your partner's Ougi."
Nathan: "Partner's? Then that means-"
Kosmo: "Ougi." *He spoke with a hiss and stuck out his snake-like tongue.*
Keno: "Summonce Punch." *He reached forward and a blue giant fist suddenly shot out of a blue glyph behind him, violently punching Nathan out of the hut.*
Nathan: "Arh-" *He tumbled across a camp-like area, watching bamboo and straw spiral around him.*
Kosmo: *He slithered in front of Keno, as if he avoided the punch and reverted back into his normal body shape.* "Roar of the Servervous."
*Kosmo leant back and roared out a stream of purple liquid, watching the excess liquid burn the ground underneath it.*
Nathan: (K-Keno was this strong?)
Keno: "You've tried to escape from the tribe four times.. But this time, it'll be different."
Nathan: *He crossed his arms and the purple liquid whooshed past him, violently eating away at his clothes.* "Argh! It burns!"
Keno: "You're banished from the village until you learn respect for your own heritage!"
Nathan: "Whatever-"
Keno: "And nearing the final point of the Soul Link.. A Hi-Ougi becomes accessible."
Nathan: "A Hi-Ougi?"
Keno and Kosmo: "Hi-Ougi."
----------
Nathan: *He gasped out of his flashback and looked at a slight graze-like burn on the underside of his arm.* ".. It doesn't matter."
Luna: *She sighed.* "You're shit at tellin' stories, aye."
Nathan: "Are we all good?" *He looked up, as if he cared about what Luna had to say.*
Luna: "Yea, we're kool."
Nathan: "Cool." *He smiled in relief, trying to hide his mixture of emotions.*
Destiny: (Luna, you were so emotionally distraught? What you told me-)
Luna: (I'm tired of bein' an emo-) *She glanced at Destiny with a sorrow filled smile.* (But, I'm used to it, aye.)
Destiny: "Yeup." *She meowed and floated towards Luna, gently landing on her shoulder.*
Luna: (Let's just ignore the fucker.. We don't need a man to be happy, right?)
Destiny: "Yeup!" *She meowed in agreement.*
Nathan: *He watched Luna and Destiny interact with each other, causing him to smile.* (Their Soul Link-)
Luna: "Wat are you starin' at?!" *She grunted at Nathan, realising he was staring at her.*
Nathan: *He quickly looked away with blushing cheeks.* "Let's head back to the city. I'm definitely not missing a Battling Oxident."
Destiny: (It's almost night.) "Yeup." *She meowed and looked up to the darkening sky, staring at mist-like clouds filled with glistening stars.*
Luna: "Wateva." *She sighed and walked past Nathan, causing him to smile again.*
Nathan: (Thank you, Luna.)
Chapter 6: Battling Oxident
*Lezard stood in the middle of the research facility, shaking his head in disbelief.*
Lezard: "We found him."
Dawn: *She glanced at Lezard, shaking her head in an annoyed, tired-like manner.* "No."
Lezard: "You found him?"
Dawn: "No."
Lezard: "Jinkies, someone found him?"
Dawn: "No. Research found him."
Lezard: "Naww, thankies, research!"
Researcher: *He walked into the research facility and looked surprised, staring at Dawn and Lezard.* "Ma'am, are you still in here?"
Dawn: *She pushed her glasses up with two fingers.* "Of course!"
Researcher: "You two have been in here all night!"
Dawn: "Lies!" *She pressed a button on the Rosterology console to her side, causing a window-like slit to open up, filling the brightly lit room with natural sunlight.*
Lezard: "Hsssstk!" *He hissed at the sunlight and avoided eye contact.*
Dawn: *She gasped in realisation.* "It's Battling Oxident today! I haven't done any of the paperwork!-"
Lezard: *He heard growing chatter outside, causing him to look confused.* "What's the delicious commotion out there?"
Dawn: *She grunted in frustration, as if she was annoyed at herself.* "Sorry, research! I'll do this as fast as I can!"
Lezard: "My lady, Dawn?"
Dawn: "Tsskt. People are getting ready to use Grey's teleportation glyph to head to Surpreon."
Lezard: *He squealed, shaking his bottom.* "I have to go! Please don't forget about me-"
Dawn: "Out!" *She shouted and sat down, readying herself to fill out stacks of paperwork.*
Lezard: "And as Lezard ran out of the research facility in fright, he fears he may have missed his guild!-"
--
Karol: *He stood amongst the growing crowd, glancing at the guild around him.* "Where's Wezard?"
Lezard: "Wezard is here, little monster." *He skipped out of the castle, ignoring the rippling effect of the doors behind him.*
Rachael: *She looked over her shoulder, watching Lezard skip towards the guild.* "I was just about to find you."
Lezard: "Jinkies?"
Trevour: *He eagerly nodded his head.* "You were lucky, sir. You might have missed out on accessing the teleportation glyph and that could've been very temperamental."
Nathan: "And if you missed it, then we would've had to of listened to your vexatious moaning." *He mumbled in a deep voice with his arms folded.*
Luna: "Pssht, watch out, he's learnt big words."
Nathan: "It means annoying, no surprise you don't know what it means."
Destiny: (Shall I bite him?)
Luna: (Nah, revenge is best served unexpectedly.) *She grinned evil-like, pretending to twirl a moustache.*
Destiny: "Yeup!"
Champion: *She awkwardly slanted forward, due to her hunchback.* "Oh my, another set of games. Who else is excited?"
Rachael: *She formed a fist with a growing smile.* "I am."
Trevour: "Watching warriors fight against each other. Not sure why, but it's a little exciting."
Luna: "Pssht, males." *She grunted, looking away.*
Trevour: "I'm sorry, madam."
Luna: "Wateva."
*An enormous purple glyph started to draw itself on the ground, catching the crowd's attention.*
Nathan: *He smirked.* "About time."
Champion: *She waddled back in excitement.* "Oh my, finally."
Karol: "Wow, it's hewj!" (It reminds me of mama and papa's glyphs-)
Lezard: "Holy fish-cakes, we're leaving already?"
Luna: "Yea, the floatin' Asian explained everythin' to us-" *She looked at Lezard while pointing up to a man sitting in a royal chair on a floating, rotating glyph.* "While you were skippin' about bein' a dumbarse, aye."
Lezard: "Wow, morale lowered!" *He lowered his head, pretending to sniff in a sarcastic-like manner.*
Champion: "If you're accustomed to Battling Oxident, in reality, it shouldn't be any different to the standard practices."
Rachael: (Grey mentioned about those already signed up.. I couldn't find anywhere to sign up for Battling Oxident. I hope I'm not too late-)
Karol: *He watched the purple glyph suddenly glow, causing silence of anticipation to drown the air.* "It's weady-"
Lezard: "And the guild stared at the completed glyph like animals, waiting to get blinded by the inevitable Astragon release."
Luna: "Wait, wat-?"
*The glyph suddenly released a blinding light, queuing the party to quickly close their eyes.*
Luna: "Gah-, Lezard, you dicksniffer-" *Several people bumped into her, causing her to open her eyes in frustration.* "Aye?"
Rachael: *She glanced to each side, observing an enormous circular shaped courtyard, filled with busy people.* "It's really busy, it's like we're in the city."
Karol: "Witch citee? Silver Wind Island?"
Rachael: "No." *She shook her head with a faint smile.*
Lezard: "Which one indeedly do, Razzypoo?" *He giggled, shaking his bottom to each side.*
Rachael: "Just from Earth-"
Nathan: "No disrespect, but I'm going ahead-" *He stepped to the side and pointed at an enormous dark pulsating purple sphere.*
Luna: "Wat the fuck is that?"
Destiny: "Yeup?" *She meowed in agreement, as if she wanted to know too.*
Champion: "Oh my, that's-"
Trevour: "Battling Oxident, madam-"
Champion and Nathan: "Battling Oxident."
Lezard: "Battling Oxident, Loonamotto."
Luna: "Rightio, settle down, everyone, aye."
Desert Dragon Page 17