The Rostical Users - Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

  Lance: "Not only have I got these Astragong words to worry 'bout, now I've got to learn these stupid dictionary words too."

  Alicia: *She walked past Lance and Ashton, noticing their flustered faces.* "Phew-" *She sat down on a rock and stared at Teresa with confusion.*

  Teresa: "Please exhaust the required time your bodies need to rest, we will begin walking immediately after."

  Ashton: "Of course, I appreciate the generosity, thank you." *He smiled with respect, wiping sweat off his forehead.*

  Alicia: (Teresa has no signs of fatigue or even sweat-) "T-Teresa, aren't you tired? You're not even red?"

  Teresa: "I am fine."

  Lance: *He watched Teresa elegantly sit down on a rock with an emotionless face.* (Yea, she's right-)

  Teresa: "As a traveller, I am used to extreme weathers."

  Alicia: *She took deep breaths, as she tried to cool her body down.* "Once we reach Surpreon, Ashton and Lance, you'll have to show us around."

  Ashton: *He silently stared at Alicia and Teresa with concern.* "Well, there's something I would like to tell you both."

  Alicia: "..." *She looked shocked, focusing her attention to Ashton.*

  Teresa: "Hoh?" *She looked over to Ashton, retaining a calm face.*

  Lance: "Aye?" *He looked puzzled and whispered to Ashton.* "What are ya goin' to tell them?"

  Ashton: "I feel that we can trust them, it will just complicate things when we actually get into Surpreon."

  Lance: "I won't object if ya think it's wise." *He spoke in a mature-like tone, grunting with respect.*

  Alicia: "W-What is it you want to tell us?"

  Ashton: *He looked up and paused.* (How am I going to word this?)

  Lance: "Oi, Ash, you all good?" *He mumbled to Ashton with concern.*

  Ashton: *He nodded his head and took a deep breath.* "The only reason I'm telling you this, is because Lance and I feel that we can trust you both, and-"

  Lance: *He nodded his head and wiped his nose.* "..."

  Ashton: "Could you both please promise, not to repeat what I'm about to say to anyone."

  Teresa: *She nodded her head, brushing sand off her boots.* "Understandable, I accept."

  Alicia: "I-I promise."

  Ashton: "I would still like to go to Surpreon, as it may give us answers, but-" *He took a deep breath, filled with anxiety.* "We do not come from Surpreon, or anywhere on this continent." *He sat and stared at Teresa and Alicia, feeling vulnerable.*

  Teresa: (I am impressed, I knew she was one of the rare people in history to master Astragons. But to do this.)

  Alicia: *She stared at Ashton with a blank face.* "What do you mean? Not from this continent?"

  Ashton: *He paused and stuttered.* "W-We." *He stopped and paused again.*

  Lance: "It's all good, Ash." *His words caused Ashton to take a breath of confidence.*

  Ashton: "When we first met you Alicia, it was right when Lance and I got transported here-"

  Alicia: "Is this some sort of joke?"

  Ashton: "We-"

  Lance: "Stinky bitch, why would Ashton lie?"

  Alicia: "It's just-"

  Lance: "It's just wat? I won't let anyone talk like that to Ashton-"

  Alicia: "I-It's hard to believe!"

  Lance: "You have magic here and ya find this hard to believe? Pssht."

  Ashton: (Lance.) *He sighed and stared at his feet.*

  Alicia: "Teresa. What do you think?"

  Teresa: "It is not a believable story-"

  Lance: "Wait a-"

  Teresa: "But as what Lance suggested, I see nothing to gain if this were a pointless lie."

  Alicia: "T-Teresa, I guess." *She whispered to herself in thought.* (Why would he lie about something like this?)

  Ashton: "Alicia?" *He looked up, placing his hands on his knees.*

  Alicia: (For now-) "O-Okay, I believe you."

  Ashton: *He sighed in relief, causing him to smile.* "Great-"

  Lance: "Oh yay, wee, awesome-" *He sarcastically waved his arms in excitement, before suddenly frowning.* "Let's go, it's friggin' hot!"

  Teresa: "For once, let us take Lance's suggestion and head to Surpreon."

  Alicia: "Y-Yep." *She nodded her head and stood up, brushing sand off her pants.*

  Lance: (For once?)

  Ashton: "Yes." *He stood up and started to walk down the path.* "Teresa, you seem to be taking the news very well? Although you never show any emotions, so it's hard to tell."

  Teresa: "I am fine by it."

  Ashton: "Oh?"

  Teresa: "It does not matter where you come from, what matters is the actual person."

  Lance: (Pssht, how corny. Are we going to give each other little presents too?)

  Ashton: "So Alicia, Teresa. How do we get to Surpreon from here?"

  Teresa: "We will need to walk through Gasher Hills."

  Lance: "Wat's that?"

  Teresa: *She pointed towards the enormous spiral mountain.* "Once we go through Gasher Hills, we merely have to walk straight towards Surpreon's outer sphere. We are not far now."

  Lance: "Thank gosh!" *He grunted and closed his eyes, wiping sweat off his eye lids.*

  Teresa: "Let us not waste any time. Our bodies were not designed to endure such heat, it may cause internal damage."

  Lance: *He watched Teresa lead the party towards Gasher Hills.* (Still, like Alicia said, she's not even red.) *He thought to himself with curiosity.*

  Alicia: *She walked on a limp, causing her to discreetly whimper.* (I've hurt my foot somehow.)

  Ashton: *He looked around admiring the rock formations.* (The entire mountain is a spiral, the only formations close to that, would be rocks you see at the beach-) *He noticed Alicia limping, which caused him to look at her worried.* "Are you okay, Alicia?"

  Alicia: "Yes-" *She tripped on a rock, causing Ashton to quickly catch her.* "Th-Thank you."

  Ashton: "It's unacceptable to push yourself too far." *He wrapped her arm over his shoulder, supporting the side she limped on.*

  Teresa: *She looked down and noticed the dark red ground, causing her to face the party.* "This is Gasher Hills-" *She touched a nearby rock, causing it to crumble.* "Despite its solid and unusual formation, there is a possibility it may crumble under your feet."

  Ashton: "I appreciate the warning, thank you."

  Teresa: "Ensure not to drag behind." *She spoke in a stern voice, before leading the party through Gasher Hills.*

  ----------

  *Celest stood on a small grassy island, ignoring the constant wind which blew against her back.*

  Celest: *She took several steps to the ledge and looked down, staring at a layer of cloud.* (Thy cannot believe Pepper, the chosen one, really has been banished.) *She shook her head in disbelief and turned around.*

  *A flock of white doves flew past Celest, causing several feathers to blow past in the wind.*

  Celest: (Thy will go watch over her now.) *She sighed and suddenly disappeared in a flash of white light.*

  ----------

  *The party walked out of Gasher Hills and noticed bright green grass in the distance.*

  Ashton: (This is strange? The environment?) *He looked down and noticed an obvious line where vegetation had started to grow.* "How come grass and trees bloom here?"

  Alicia: "I-I'm not sure." *She looked puzzled, staring at the sudden growth in vegetation.*

  Teresa: "Currently there are no facts as of now, but people believe this is the work of a powerful Rostical User."

  Lance: "Pssht, wat's next? We go find a man with magical powers and he can control the elements?" *He rolled his eyes and chuckled to himself.*

  Teresa: "Continue walking." *She spoke in a stern tone and continued walking with an emotionless face.*

  Lance: "Wateva." *He mumbled to himself and looked away.*

  Alicia: *She looked down to the grass and smiled, biting her bottom lip.* (The closer we walk towards Surpreon, the more greener it becomes, you wouldn't even know Mase
rio is close by.)

  *Directly ahead of the party, stood an enormous grey sphere-like structure.*

  Ashton: "This structure is gigantic."

  *The party noticed a path of small white pebbles, leading to the front of Surpreon.*

  Alicia: "W-We are here." *Her flustered face gradually lost its red colour, as the air's temperature dropped significantly.*

  Lance: "Finally."

  Chapter 4: Surpreon

  *Holland and Freya ran across a large desert, chasing a flightless vulture-like Scoldrant.*

  Holland: (Dang it-) *He frowned and gritted his teeth, ignoring the sweat which poured off his face.* (Another Scoldrant with the disease, it really saddens me we've got to do this-)

  Scoldrant: "Skreuuurr." *It spun around, extending its wings.*

  Holland: *He looked down to Freya and watched the sand splash around her paws.* "Be careful, even though it can't fly, it can produce-"

  Scoldrant: "Skeurrr." *It flapped its wings, causing a pulse of sand to blast towards Holland and Freya.*

  Holland: *He quickly jumped in front of Freya and crossed his arms in front of his face.* "Go and strike it from behind!-" *He grunted, as the sand blew past, scratching his arms.*

  Freya: "Ruff!" *She watched blood string off Holland's face, causing her to growl in anger.*

  Scoldrant: *Its eyes glowed an eerie yellow, boosting the wind's force.* "Skuerrr!-"

  *Swirls of sand ringed around Freya, as she pounced through the blinding sand.*

  Freya: "Growlith!" *She elegantly ran on all fours, directly towards the Scoldrant.*

  Scoldrant: "Ske-oh-oh-oh." *It open its beak and shot small balls of visible wind at Freya.*

  Holland: *The wind died down, causing him to lower his arms.* (Quickly, Freya-)

  Freya: *She jumped to each side, evading eruptions of sand.* "Groowlth-" *She ran into striking distance and pounced towards the Scoldrant, opening her jaw.*

  Holland: *He watched Freya bite the Scoldrant around the neck, instantly causing him to turn away.* (I am sorry, we had no right killing you. But, we couldn't allow you to attack passing travellers-)

  Freya: *She trotted next to Holland and lowered her ears, symbolising she was upset.* "Garwoo?"

  Holland: *He shook his head and scratched Freya behind the ears.* "Don't be sad, we had to."

  Freya: "Gruff." *She flopped her tongue out on the side, panting with exhaustion.*

  Holland: "Let's get out of Maserio, we need to find another Guardian."

  Freya: "Ruff!" *She wagged her tail in agreement and locked towards large mountains in the distance.*

  Holland: "Come." *He grunted with determination, before running into the distance.*

  ----------

  *Pebbles crushed under the party's feet, as they gathered around the wall of Surpreon.*

  Lance: "Hello?" *He impatiently growled, as he touched the sphere.* (Smooth-?)

  *Lance's words caused noises to come from the other side of the wall.*

  Gatekeeper: *A transparent slit appeared on the wall, allowing him to observe the party.* "This is the city Surpreon, what business do you have here?"

  Alicia: *She took her arm off Ashton and stepped to the side, causing her to look down in shock.* (Healed already?)

  Gatekeeper: "Hmm?"

  Alicia: *She quickly walked up to the wall, placing her hand in the sack-like bag.* "Ahem, "I have a letter for the ruler."

  Gatekeeper: "From who?" *His arm went through the wall, grabbing the letter off Alicia.*

  Alicia: "F-From the elder of my village."

  Lance: (Dude, his arm just went through solid rock?!)

  Gatekeeper: "Yes, yes, this letter-" *He mumbled to himself with an approving nod.* "You may come in."

  *The wall rippled like water, revealing a door sized entrance.*

  Lance: "Whoa."

  Ashton: "Good grief."

  Alicia: (Wow-)

  Lance: "So wat, we're off fantasy and in a sci-fi movie now?"

  Ashton: "Lance." *He sighed with a slight smile.*

  Alicia: (Scy fy? Maybe they really aren't of this world?)

  Teresa: "The door is now accessible-" *She walked past the party and stepped through the entrance.*

  *The party quickly followed Teresa into the city, causing the wall to close behind them.*

  Lance: "How is it doin' that?"

  Teresa: "You see that device over there." *She pointed to a white box-like console with symbols engraved on it.*

  Ashton: "What is it?"

  Teresa: "It is a Rosterology item, it controls both Neurons and Astragons allowing it to create or disperse matter."

  Ashton: "Such as a solid wall?"

  Teresa: "Precisely."

  Alicia: "I-It's amazing, what is its energy source?"

  Teresa: "My knowledge in Rosterology items are limited. But like The Library, this city contains a significant amount of information."

  Lance: *He placed his hands on his head and looked around, observing Surpreon with disappointment.* (I wasn't expecting this.)

  *Alicia and Teresa talked amongst themselves in the background.*

  Ashton: *He glanced at Lance and noticed his strange facial expression.* "What is it, Lance?"

  Lance: "Aye? It's just, everyone is sayin' that this place is like the most advanced city to use Rostickal."

  Ashton: "Yes?"

  Lance: *He stared at the brick ground and down the walkway.* "But looking 'ere-"

  *Ashton and Lance noticed markets with booths, stands and crates filled with vegetables and fruits along each side of the walkway.*

  Lance: "The most advanced city sells fruits 'n' veggies? How crappy."

  Ashton: "Well-" *He looked down the walkway and noticed larger buildings in the distance.* "We haven't explored the entire city, it's unacceptable to base opinions just yet."

  Lance: "Pssht, wat are your thoughts?"

  Ashton: "To be honest I was expecting something more like The Library."

  Lance: "You too, aye?" *He smirked at Ashton.*

  Ashton: "Ha ha, yeah."

  *Alicia and Teresa walked past Ashton, catching his attention.*

  Ashton: "Now that we're in the city, what are we going to do?"

  Alicia: "I think we should see the ruler first."

  Lance: "Aye?"

  Teresa: "To tell him your story."

  Ashton: "Do you think it's wise? What if he thinks we're crazy?"

  Lance: "Wait, didn't ya promise not to tell anyone?" *He became defensive for Ashton.*

  Ashton: *He stepped forward, quickly interrupting Lance.* "I was going to say that too Lance, but I won't doubt Teresa's decision."

  Teresa: "Do not fret, I have a feeling he may believe me." *The party closely followed her, as she walked through the city.* "We were once companions back in the days."

  Lance: "Gah! Where is it?" *He scanned across the city, glancing at shops, markets and houses.*

  Teresa: *She walked across the clearing and made her way towards a royal-like building.* "It is quite obvious which is the ruler's manor."

  Alicia: *She looked down and noticed a large black glyph, engraved on the ground.* "W-What is that?"

  Teresa: "Merely Battling Oxident, keep your mind focused on the task at hand."

  *The party walked up a set of stairs, catching two guard's attention.*

  Lance: *He noticed the guards standing side by side in front of a large golden door.* (The building with the golden door and guards in front, yeah, that's pretty obvious.) *He face palmed at himself.*

  Guard A: *He walked up to the party, causing his armour to rattle.* "What is your name?" *He pulled out a scroll and looked at each party member.*

  Alicia: "A-Alicia."

  Guard A: *He opened the scroll, running his finger from top to bottom.* "You are not on the list, leave now."

  Teresa: "My name is Teresa."

  Guard A: *He paused and scanned the scroll.* "Teresa is not here either."

  Guard B: (Teresa? Sounds
familiar-) *He turned around, facing the golden door and walked through it.*

  Alicia: "We have permission to see the ruler-"

  Guard A: "No, your name is not on the list."

  Lance: "Wat's up your ass-?"

  Guard A: "What?!" *He yelled at Lance with anger, preparing himself to attack.* "Leave or you'll be forced away-"

  Ashton: "But she isn't lying we do have permission."

  Guard A: "You all have been warned." *He straightened his arm at the party and opened his hand.* "Raging flames, fall down, snatching heat, FLAMING-"