Desert Dragon

by Michael Rogers

  *Rachael, Nathan, Trevour, Luna, Lezard and Karol ran across a grassy clearing towards a massive green coloured lighthouse-like structure.*

  Luna: "Are we almost there? We've been runnin' for like years."

  Destiny: "Yeup!" *She meowed in agreement, sitting on Luna's shoulder.*

  Nathan: "Suck it up, it's only been a few hours."

  Luna: "Wateva."

  Karol: "Evewyone! Whait up!" *He panted in exhaustion, trying to keep up with the guild.*

  Trevour: "We must be getting better with our Astragon control. It only took up a whole day to get to where we are now, heh heh."

  Rachael: "Wicked." *She sounded impressed, as she felt the grass brush against her ankles.*

  Nathan: "Our first S ranked mission.. To find an Astral Projection." *He smiled in excitement.*

  Rachael: "That reminds me!" *She glanced at Lezard, watching him pant through his mouth.* "Lezard, what's an Astragon Projection?"

  Lezard: "Well, not much is known about them, little monster."

  Rachael: "Oh? How come?"

  Lezard: "They are very rare to come by."

  Luna: "Pssht, it can't be that rare, aye."

  Trevour: "On the contrary, madam, I can vouch for this. I've only ever heard about an Astral Projection from one captain.. He said, it-.. Or I should say, she, stared out into the distance."

  Rachael: "So, Astragon Projections are women?"

  Luna: "And I'm assumin' Astral Projections means the same thing?"

  Nathan: "No and yeah." *He spoke with a deep voice, cautiously observing his surroundings.*

  Rachael: "So, what are they?"

  Luna: "Hello?! We come from Earth, dipshits. Give us info, aye!" *She grunted in an annoyed-like manner.*

  Lezard: "Sorry-"

  Karol: "Astrahgon Projeckions are the remains of someone powerful."

  Luna: "Remains? Like, dead?"

  Destiny: "Yeup." *She shivered at the thought.*

  Trevour: "Yes, madam." *He adjusted his shoulder plates, causing them to stop rattling as loud.* "When we were in the discussion, the captain said, they're the Astragons left behind by someone powerful."

  Lezard: *He nodded his head in agreement.* "Father monster speculates, that Astragon Projections are linked to users having unfinished tasks to attend to."

  Luna: "That's freaky as shit, man."

  Rachael: (So they're like ghosts?)

  Trevour: "I'm a little confused now." *He rubbed some dry dirt off his face and slowed down, listening to his armour rattle.* "If they're just Astragons, how did it hurt Skyward and Hayward?"

  Rachael: "Yeah, that's a good question, Trev."

  Trevour: "Heh heh, thank you, boss."

  Lezard: "He also said, depending on how strong they were when they were alive, also determines the extremity of Astragons left behind."

  Luna: "English?"

  Lezard: "Some Astragon Projections are most commonly seen as staring into space."

  Trevour: (Like what the captain mentioned-)

  Lezard: "Others have been known to talk or even interact with people."

  Karol: "Ya hah." *He eagerly nodded his head like a child.* "There were ritiwals-"

  Rachael: "Rituals."

  Karol: "Richtuals-" *He nodded his head with a smile.* "In the citee. We were able to talk to family members that had passed away."

  Trevour: "Talking to the deceased? That's amazing, little meister."

  Karol: "Nee hee-"

  Nathan: "Our tribe used to do similar things, but involving deceased Scoldrants instead."

  Destiny: "Yeup?"

  Rachael: "Just when I honestly thought things couldn't get any more amazing."

  Luna: "I know, aye!" *She chuckled in amazement, listening to wooden arrows move in the container over her shoulder.*

  Nathan: "Astral Projections, despite knowing for a fact there's one around here, it feels like I won't see one."

  Trevour: "Heh heh. That's exactly what I was thinking, sir."

  Lezard: *He looked up to the clear blue sky and took a deep breath, jogging with an awkward hobble with the guild.* "It's a succulent day, isn't it, little monsters?"

  Rachael: "It is-"

  *Small white orbs clustered in front of the guild, causing them to slow down besides Luna.*

  Luna: *She continued to jog ahead, as if she couldn't see the clustering orbs of light.* "Why have you all-?"

  ?????: "Don't step any further!" *A man's eerie voice echoed, catching Luna's attention.*

  Luna: "Who-?" *She looked over her shoulder, glancing at Nathan.* "You constipated or somethin'?"

  Nathan: "In front of you!" *He shouted with his deep voice.*

  Luna: "Aye?"

  Destiny: "Yeup?"

  ?????: "MOONLIGHT REFLECTION"

  Luna: "Moonlight, wat-?" *An oval, reflective-like ripple pulsed in front of her, suddenly blasting her back.*

  Destiny: "Yeu!"

  Luna: *She slid on her feet, back towards the guild.* "Fuck! My nose!"

  Nathan: *He stepped forward and caught Luna, causing her to stop.* "You're so dumb sometimes."

  Luna: "How else am I meant to relate to you, aye?"

  Nathan: "Hmph." *He smirked and pushed Luna away, causing her to discreetly smirk.*

  Rachael: "What was that light that pushed Luna back?"

  Karol and Lezard: "Remenistal."

  Nathan and Trevour: "Rostical."

  Luna: "Guessin' it was Rostickal?" *She rubbed her nose and stared in front in a blindly manner, reaching over her shoulder to grab the bow.*

  Lezard: "Our sensational heroes watched the orbs of light form into a-" *He watched the light fade away, revealing a man in old appearing garbs.* "Homeless man!"

  Trevour: "No, sir. That appears to be the old fashioned clothing for a Rostical User."

  Lezard: "Oh-?"

  Luna: "Huh?" *She looked at the man in confusion.* "Where did that guy come from?"

  Rachael: "He came out from the light."

  Karol: "That's an Astrahgon Projeckion."

  Astragon Projection: "You have power within you, leave this area now!"

  Karol: "Harh?"

  Astragon Projection: "This is a sacred area, imperfections are not allowed to enter the world's Aurorions!"

  Karol: "Oaroariyons?" *He squealed on his breath in confusion.* (Where have I heard that word before?)

  Rachael: "What is he talking about?"

  Trevour: "I have no clue, sorry boss."

  Lezard: "Neither do I, little monster?" *He spoke in shock, as if he was surprised he didn't know.*

  Rachael: "Nathan?"

  Nathan: "No clue."

  Astragon Projection: *He glared at the guild and took a step forward, causing his robes to start flapping.* "If you will not leave, then, join the holy warriors in The Astral Plain!"

  Karol: "I'm sckared." *He sounded nervous, as he hid behind Rachael and Trevour.*

  Nathan: "Tssk, thought you were a man?" *He mumbled to Karol in his deep voice without looking away from the Astragon Projection.*

  Karol: "I-I'ma man!" *He stamped his foot and pouted, pretending to be angry instead of frightened.*

  Trevour: "Everyone." *He sounded worried, as he watched the grass pulse around the Astragon Projection.* "His Neurons have increased!"

  Nathan: *He smirked and reached over his shoulder, sheathing out a long sword.* "I'm ready."

  Luna: "Pssht, loser." *She raised the bow and pulled the string back.*

  Lezard: *He wiggled his bottom in preparation and glanced at Luna.* (She's not pulling back on an arrow? Does that mean she's mastered that technique?)

  Luna: "You got my back, Destiny?" *She grunted on her breath.*

  Destiny: "Yeup." *She meowed in acknowledgement.*

  Astragon Projection: "I'm one of the sacred guardians to protect the planet's Aurorions from being tampered with!" *He raised his arm, causing strings of yellow lightning to swirl around his hand.*

  Rachael: "Here we go, everyone!"


  Lezard: "The Flavoursome Heroes!"

  Luna: "The Guild of Fully Sick People-"

  Trevour and Rachael: "The Rostical Guild!-"

  Nathan: "The Rostical Warriors."

  Karol: "The Remenistal Guild."

  Lezard: *He stood in a battle-ready pose.* "Queue battle intro theme, children!-"

  Astragon Projection: "LIGHTNING BLAST" *He pushed forward, blasting a thick stream of yellow lightning towards the guild.*

  *Trevour and Rachael quickly ran in front of the guild and spread their arms, forming sturdy stances.*

  Trevour: *A brown glyph zigzagged underneath his feet.* "You ready, boss?"

  Rachael: *Her body glowed a shade of blue.* "Hehe, yeah!"

  Trevour: "DUST STORM"

  Rachael: "Dust Storm!" *They punched the ground, causing a massive swirling wall of dirt to erupt in front of the guild, easily breaking the lightning stream.*

  Astragon Projection: "Dirt?" *His voice echoed, as his clothes flapped in a divine-like manner.*

  Karol: "I kan do this!" *He started to dance and kicked the ground, causing an orange glyph to expand from his toes.*

  Nathan: "Kid!" *He grunted at Karol and sprinted towards the Astragon Projection at incredible speeds, holding the sword with both hands.*

  Karol: "Sacred dance, Power Up." *He watched the orange glyph form underneath Nathan.*

  Astragon Projection: "BUBBLE BLAST" *He cupped his hands together and pushed forward, blasting four, blue water filled bubbles at Nathan.*

  Lezard: "Jinkies! He knows two affinities!"

  Nathan: "Raining Fury." *He lined the sword up to his face and jabbed the sword like a missile, exploding the bubbles at the end of his sword.* "Tssk-"

  Lezard: *He watched four miniature explosions of water push Nathan back.* "This ghastly creature has a powerful Rasticplash!"

  Karol: *He changed dance routines, causing the orange glyph to change colour.* "Nafan! Sacred dance, Speed Up."

  Lezard: "Quick healing shot, HEALING IMPLOSION" *He swayed his hands around Nathan, watching light flash around him.*

  Nathan: "Thanks." *He stood up straight, raising the sword in front of him.*

  Luna: *She aimed the non-existent arrow at the Astragon Projection's head.* "You're gone, sugartits! Windstream Shot."

  Astragon Projection: "An Elementalist?"

  Luna: "Hah!" *She smirked and released the string, shooting a wind made arrow at the man.*

  Astragon Projection: "MOONLIGHT REFLECTION" *An oval, reflective-like ripple pulsed in front of him, suddenly shooting the arrow back at Luna.*

  Destiny: "Yeup!" *She hissed with widening eyes, alerting Luna.*

  Luna: "Shit-"

  Rachael: "Rock Pillar." *She kicked to the side, causing a rock pillar to erupt up in front of Luna, blocking the wind arrow.*

  Luna: *She listened to the wind howl around the rock pillar.* "Thanks, Rach."

  Trevour: *He smiled, nodding his head in appreciation.* "We got your back."

  Luna: "Shut up, Rusty! Wasn't thankin' you, aye."

  Rachael: "Let's go, Trevour!"

  Trevour: *He focused back in front and started to hobble after Rachael, listening to his armour rattle with each step.* "What's the plan, boss?"

  Rachael: "We know it can use Water and Lightning, let's be a little careful."

  Trevour: "Right, boss!"

  Nathan: *He ran at near blinding speeds, sliding along the ground directly in front of the Astragon Projection.* "Double Slash."

  *Nathan slashed the sword across the man's face, watching the sword ripple through his image.*

  Nathan: "What-?"

  Astragon Projection: "FIRE BLAST" *He suddenly kicked the ground in front of Nathan, watching a wave-like flare of bright red flames arch over Nathan.*

  Trevour: "Sir!" *He bent forward and tucked his arms into his stomach.* "DIRTCLOUD TALONS" *He shouted with an echoing voice and suddenly spread his arms, causing streams of sand to spiral towards Nathan.*

  Luna: "Windstream Shot." *She shot another wind-based arrow past Nathan's head, breaking the fire's wave-like formation.* "Ya know, when there's fire, people usually get outta the fuckin' way!"

  Nathan: *He watched streams of dirt explode into the fire, forming falling dirt clouds.* "Shut up-"

  Lezard: "Jinkies! What a poor start to our new delicious adventure!"

  Astragon Projection: "BUBBLE BLAST-"

  Rachael: *She slid into striking distance and kicked across the man's face, watching her foot warp through his image.* "Dang-"

  *Rachael back flipped away and suddenly jumped towards the Astragon Projection, punching towards his face.*

  Rachael: *She watched her fist warp through his image.* "Grr-"

  Lezard: "His made of Astragons, children! Use something Astragon based!-"

  Astragon Projection: "MOONLIGHT REFLECTION" *An oval, reflective-like ripple pulsed in front of him, suddenly pushing Rachael back.*

  Nathan: (This guy's Rostical seems to bounce back the level of attacks it receives. Rachael wasn't pushed as far back as I'd thought-)

  Luna: *She reached over her shoulder, grabbing one of the arrows out of the container.* "OK, here we go."

  Karol: *He quickly looked at Luna and started to dance, slowly facing her.* "Sacred dance, Speed Up."

  Luna: "Hah!" *She fired off the arrow, watching it soar through the air at incredible speeds.*

  Astragon Projection: "MOONLIGHT-" *His arm suddenly shot off, swirling into small white orbs.*

  Luna: "Kool!-"

  Lezard: (That arrow was fast!-)

  Karol: "Nee hee." *He giggled in accomplishment and continued to dance.*

  Destiny: "Yeup!" *She purred in a victorious-like manner.*

  Rachael: *She raised her fists to her face, frowning at the Astragon Projection in thought.* (All my physical attacks go straight through him!.. Maybe-)

  *Rachael suddenly kicked the ground, causing two boulders to erupt into the air.*

  Rachael: *She punched the two boulders, causing them to crack into dagger-shaped weapons.* "Piercing Land." *She smirked and caught the daggers before they fell to the ground.*

  Lezard: "Razzypoo?"

  Luna: "Oi, Rach! Physical attacks don't work on him!-"

  Rachael: *She jumped forward and stepped into striking distance.* "Didn't your arrow work?"

  Luna: "Oh yea?"

  Destiny: "Yeup-"

  Rachael: *She spun the dagger in her hand and swirled towards the ground, slashing it downwards, causing the man to grunt in pain.* "Hehe-"

  Trevour: "There's Astragons in the-" *He paused in realisation.* "I get it now, heh heh-"

  Astragon Projection: "MOONLIGHT REFLECTION" *He pushed forward, causing a reflective ripple to blast Rachael back.*

  Rachael: *She watched white orbs swirl back around the man's missing arm.* "It's restoring itself-"

  Nathan: (Why does Rachael's dagger and Luna's arrow work, but my sword doesn't?) *He leant back and sliced the sword in front, watching a visible air slash screech towards the Astragon Projection.* "Air Slash-"

  Astragon Projection: "MOONLIGHT REFLECTION"

  Nathan: "Hmph-" *He quickly jumped to the side, closely avoiding his own air slash which was reflected back at him.*

  Lezard: "Holy fish-cakes! This is tediously upsetting me!" *He placed the back of his hand on his forehead, as he wailed in failure.*

  Luna: "Tediously upsettin'? Wat the-?"

  Nathan: "Hayward and Skyward had trouble with this guy.. I wasn't expecting an easy win." *He spoke in determination, raising the sword in front of him.*

  Rachael: *She stood in a battle-ready pose, twirling the stone made daggers in her hands.* "It just keeps reflecting our attack back at us-"

  Astragon Projection: "BUBBLE BLAST" *He quickly cupped his hands and shot bullet-like blasts of water filled bubbles at Rachael.*

  Karol: "Waichael!-" *He squealed and started to dance at Rachael.* "Sacred dance, Defence Up."

  Rachael
: "Crud!-" *Five miniature explosions of water blasted Rachael off her feet.*

  Lezard: (Jinkies!-) "Quick internal light, INVOKING AURA"

  Rachael: *She rolled on the ground and used the momentum to back flip onto her feet.* "Grrr-" *A swirl of warm light flashed around her elbows, healing her wounds.*

  Trevour: "You okay, boss?"

  Rachael: "Yeah. Besides the Rasticsplash, I didn't feel anything."

  Karol: (Ghood!)

  Luna: "Oi! Rusty, how 'bout you use your swirling sand thingy and block sugar-tit's vision, that way it can't moonlight fuck our attacks back at us."

  Nathan: "No, we should just keep fighting it-"

  Trevour: "No, sir, that's a great idea-" *He faced the Astragon Projection and formed fists, punching them together causing a brown glyph to zigzag under his feet.* "The aurora lights bend and swirl the gravel into liquid, turn to dust and sand, watch it vacuum your sins-"

  Rachael: (When Trevour was teaching me how to use Dust Storm, he learnt the incantation to every single one of his Rostical-)

  Trevour: "SWIRLING SANDPIT" *He punched the ground, causing the ground around the Astragon Projection to visibly soften.*

  Astragon Projection: *His feet started to sink.* "Foolish! I will protect the Aurorions!" *He started to float into the air, causing Trevour to frown in failure.*

  Trevour: "Oh, no you don't, sir! Liquid of creation, dry out and swirl into your fury, DUST STORM" *He punched up, causing a massive swirling tornado to erupt around the Astragon Projection.*

  Astragon Projection: "Where-?" *He looked around, staring at a wall of dirt.* "This can't hold-" *He reached out and watched the dirt graze his fingertips, causing him to quickly repel his arm.*

  Lezard: (Unlike usual ground users, Trevour seems to excel more in Astragons than Neurons-)

  Karol: *He stopped his dance, causing the glyphs to fade away from his feet.* "Phew.."

  Lezard: "What now, children?!"

  Luna: *She squinted her eyes and looked up, pulling on the string.* "He's about ten feet up!"

  Trevour: *He noticed Luna staring at the swirling tornado, placing his fists on the ground.* "How can you tell, madam?"

  Luna: "Really?" *She spoke as if Trevour was an idiot, as she stared at the Astragon Projection's figure with her sketch-like vision.*

  Destiny: "Yeu, yeu!"

  Trevour: "What a foolish question, my bad, madam, heh heh." *He spoke with a loss of concentration, as he focused on his fists on the ground which kept the swirling dirt tornado from weakening.*