Desert Dragon

by Michael Rogers

  Trevour: "Heh heh, that's a relief." *He spoke with a smile and watched Holland walk out of the arena with his Scoldrant.*

  Spectator: "Next is-"

  ----------

  *Lezard and Millard slowly stood up together and smiled in a father-son-like manner.*

  Millard: "Have we finished being emotional?"

  Lezard: "Well, if this was a show, we're meant to have sooks together near the season finale."

  Millard: "Bahahaha, on the next episode of The Estels, Lezard reveals he's pregnant-"

  Lezard: "And Millard farted out a kitten!"

  Millard and Lezard: "Plot Twist!"

  Lezard: "I'd watch that!-"

  Lezard: "Bwarharh."

  Millard: "Bahaha."

  Lezard: "Unlike before, will you let me know what's happening?"

  Millard: "Yes." *He placed his hand over Lezard's neck and concentrated, causing flames to burn on to his skin.*

  Lezard: "Ouchies-" *He instinctively tilted his head away but didn't move back, as if he knew what Millard was doing.*

  Millard: "There-" *He stepped back and lowered his arm.*

  Lezard: "That hurt more than I recall."

  Millard: "Do you remember what that glyph does?"

  Lezard: "Of course. It has different uses. One would be, it'll allow you to track someone's Neuron signature, the other is a vice-versa effect."

  Millard: "Oooo-" *He giggled, wiggling his bottom to each side.* "I've raised you well."

  Lezard: *He placed his hand on the small tattoo-like glyph on his neck.* "You'll let me know when you've found mother monster?"

  Millard: *He nodded his head.* "I'll keep you informed through the glyph."

  Lezard: "Tell me again why I can't come with you?"

  Millard: "It'll be too dangerous."

  Lezard: "I can heal you!" *He shouted and spread his arms, causing sparkling white light to shine from his hands.*

  Millard: "I'm fine-" *He spread his arms and clicked his fingers, causing bright red flames to violently scorch upwards.*

  Lezard: *He stepped back slightly intimidated.* "Holy fish-cakes-"

  Millard: "Promise me one thing, Lezardestel."

  Lezard: "I'll always wear fresh underwear!"

  Millard: "No! But good, bahahaha!" *He lowered his arms, causing the flames to extinguish.* "Be good to your guild."

  Lezard: "I don't want to be a sour puss, but what is your craze about my guild?"

  Millard: "Every person you meet.. They are afraid of something, love something and lost something. Be there for them and they'll be there for you."

  Lezard: "This seriousness makes me awkward."

  Millard: "Glad it wasn't just me!" *He spoke in relief.* "Your Radiatons will progress with you. Your feelings, the quality of your emotions will improve."

  Lezard: "I can heal just fine, thankies!"

  Millard: "Can you?"

  Lezard: *He had flashbacks of struggling to keep up with healing his guild members.* "Well-... I'm pregnant remember?"

  Millard: "Bahaha, I better go too. I don't want you to see my kittens."

  Lezard: "Bwarharh." *He smiled with sadness and wiped away the tears left behind from around his eyes.*

  Millard: "I promise you, I'll keep you informed."

  Lezard: "Okies." *He took a deep breath and nodded his head.*

  Millard: "I'm off on a delicious adventure now." *He smiled and turned around, slowly hobbling away from Lezard.*

  Lezard: "Be careful!"

  Millard: "Dear oh dear." *He mumbled to himself and waved to his side, keeping his focus in front.*

  ----------

  Spectator: "It appears Holland is unable to battle, Pepper is the winner!" *His announcement caused the crowd to cheer with excitement.*

  Luna: "Dude, the fuck just happened?" *She leant forward in shock, staring at Pepper in disbelief.*

  Rachael: (Who-? What the hell is that girl?) *She stared at the teenage girl with ridiculously long hair in shock.*

  Trevour: "I wouldn't want to get on her bad side, heh heh."

  Karol: "I'm not as good as other people in my citee, but her Neurons kept chaynging frewout the fight."

  Trevour: *He nodded his head.* "Right you are, little meister. I felt it too."

  Rachael: "Her eyes, did they change colour, or was that just me?"

  Luna: "Nah, they kept changing from blue to gold, aye."

  Trevour: "How?"

  Luna: "Magnified vision, Rusty."

  Trevour: "Impressive, madam."

  Destiny: "Yeup!"

  Trevour: "Madams."

  Spectator: "Now the moment you've all been waiting for-" *The crowd interrupted him, cheering with excitement.*

  Luna: (Gah-) *She covered her ears, as if the cheers were too loud for her.*

  Destiny: (Yeu! Our hearing-)

  Luna: (It's really sensitive, aye. We haven't got used to changing the level of our hearing yet.)

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

  Rachael: *She stared at Pepper, who stood in the arena by herself.* "The last match."

  Spectator: "Pepper versus the champion."

  Trevour: "This is it, everyone." *He spoke with a smile and leant forward with anticipation.*

  Karol: (I dhon't remember much of the champion, but everywon likes her-)

  Champion: *She hobbled across the arena, stopping in front of Pepper.* "Nice to meet you."

  Pepper: "Nice to meet you too."

  Champion: "What scenery would you like to battle in?"

  Trevour: (That's right. Season announced previously that the last match will have the special scenery change. Very similar to The Agoura Marbles level changes.)

  Pepper: *She closed her eyes, causing the ground to glow.* "This."

  Champion: *She watched the arena walls suddenly burst into flames and the ground turn into charcoal.* "Oh my."

  Trevour: "This.. Looks temperamental." *He spoke awkwardly, as if he didn't like the scenery change.*

  Champion: *She glanced to each side surprised.* "You want to battle in this type of environment?"

  Spectator: "The match will begin, now!"

  Champion: "Would you like to go first, or me?"

  Pepper: "I say, me." *She reached over her shoulder, unsheathing her the mallet.*

  Champion: "Of course." *She smiled, speaking in a high tone.* (I can feel the sheer level of Radiatons resonating her from body-)

  Pepper: *She ran forward, lifting the mallet into the air.* "I say, let's see how strong this champion is?"

  Champion: "Oh my?" *She tilted her head, swaying her arms to the side.* "Endure the piercing sounds, hurricane's might, ball of force-"

  Pepper: "I say, take this!" *She ran into striking distance and gritted her teeth, swinging the mallet towards the champion's face.*

  Champion: "FLURRY STYX" *She pushed forward, causing Pepper's arm to freeze in the air.*

  Pepper: *Her hair rapidly blew back, as she struggled to move the mallet.* (I can't-)

  Champion: "Impressive, you're resisting my wind's power by brute strength alone."

  Pepper: (I can't move my mallet, it feels like someone is holding it back.) *She pushed her body forward, slowly moving the mallet closer to the champion's face.*

  Champion: *She swayed her arm, causing strings of dirt to swirl in front.* "Oh my, but how strong are you? I hope you didn't forget, this is an incantation boosted Rostical."

  Pepper: *She watched the wind pick up more dirt, revealing an expanding ball.* (It's getting stronger!)

  Champion: "Sorry, but you're no match for me." *She arched her arm forward, blasting the ball of wind into Pepper's stomach.*

  Pepper: *She gagged in pain and squinted her eyes, as the ball of wind ripped her clothes to shreds.*

  Champion: (Your face-) *She looked at Pepper, taking advantage of the closeness between them.* (You look familiar-)

  *The champion looked curious, ignoring Pepper's flapping hair.*

  Champion: "Re
ceive this." *She enthusiastically lunged forward, blasting Pepper into the wall.*

  Trevour: "She's a fighting machine."

  Karol: "Y-Yheah!"

  Rachael: "Her movements, she seems distracted."

  Trevour: "Distracted, boss?"

  Rachael: "It's just something I can tell by her footwork."

  Luna: "Footwork? Pssht, she's hardly moved."

  Destiny: "Yeup."

  Rachael: (You'd be surprised by how much you learn about body movement when you take up a martial art.)

  Pepper: *She stood up, placing her hand on the wall, unaware of the fire.* (Now I understand the power of her Rostical, she will not be underestimated again.)

  Champion: (She isn't feeling the flame's heat? Either way, this is another Rostical I've yet to master.)

  *A blue glyph formed underneath the champion, catching the audience's attention.*

  Bird Nest Woman: "Ice or water?!" *She whistled in excitement.*

  Champion: "Frosted skies reveal the truth, with the power strike forward, FREEZING HOLLOWS" (Hold it-) *She started to concentrate, as two ice pillars curled up from the ground.*

  Pepper: *She glanced at the ice, walking forward with an emotionless face.* (I would assume her body is frail due to that back of hers? And to compensate, she has that immense Remenistal power?)

  Season: *He looked at Pepper's arm in amazement.* (She has no signs of damage from the fire, maybe her affinity is fire? Or perhaps a special ability of hers?)

  Champion: "Icy swirls call down upon me, frigid skies grant me power, ICICLE EDGE" *She looked up, watching forty or so ice shards form themselves in the air.*

  Pepper: "..."

  Champion: "Swift might, at my command, AIR SWIRL" *A piercing gust of wind shattered all the ice shards into tiny pieces.*

  Pepper: (What is she planning?) *She looked up and stared at the ice with an emotionless face.*

  Champion: "Harh!" *She raised her arms with emotion and dropped them, blasting the crushed ice pebbles towards Pepper.*

  Season: (The champion always seems to impress me with the way she strings her Rostical together.)

  Pepper: *She took a deep breath and held it, raising the mallet over her shoulder.* "Hammer Spin." *She swung the mallet across, pulsing the barrage of crushed ice away.*

  Season: *He watched the ice sparkle away from Pepper in amazement.* (As a Rostical User myself, I find her fascinating to watch.)

  Pepper: "Hermph, was that all?"

  Champion: *She smiled, tilting her head to one side.* "ICICLE EDGE, AIR SWIRL"

  Trevour: (Wielding different elements.. I'm happy with what I can do, but I always find myself a little jealous-)

  Champion: *She focused her attention to Pepper.* "Aren't you going to strike?"

  Pepper: "I say, enough taunting."

  Champion: "Then strike?"

  Pepper: *She bent down, positioning herself like an animal.* (I will show you a magnificent strike.)

  Champion: "Oh my." *She raised her arm and sliced the air, causing the crushed ice to form into tiny ice needles.*

  Karol: "A Remenistal combanation." *He whispered to himself, kicking his legs as his feet couldn't reach the ground.*

  Champion: "Accept this." *She hobbled back and waved her arms, showering the ice needles on top of Pepper.*

  Pepper: "Gah-" *Ice needles jabbed into her body, causing blood to run down her shoulders.*

  Champion: "Oh my, still can stand?"

  Pepper: "I say, still stand? This is nothing!"

  Champion: "Did you forget about my Freezing Hollows?" *She raised her other arm, slowly moving it forward.*

  Pepper: (Freezing Hollow?) *She focused her attention to the ice pillars.*

  Champion: "Here we go." *She pushed forward, blasting a tunnel of ice towards Pepper.*

  Pepper: *She panted, wiping blood and sweat off her face.* (This won't be enough!-) *She ran on all fours and jumped to the side, avoiding the Rostical's path.*

  Champion: *She smiled and clicked her fingers, shattering the ice tunnel into nothing.* "Frostic stars, rain forth, FRIGID STORM"

  Pepper: *Ice suddenly swirled around her feet, twirling up in a tornado-like manner.* "Gah!"

  Rachael: (She seems to favour ice, but realistically that would be the best killing element to use. Daggers of ice, no evidence left-)

  Champion: "Remember, leave no openings."

  Pepper: *Small shards of ice sliced her cheeks, causing strings of blood to drip down her chin.* (I need to move fast and attack at close range!)

  Champion: "ICICLE EDGE" *She raised her arms, causing ice spears to form themselves in the air.*

  Pepper: *She lowered her head and grunted in anger.* "Shattering Stones." *Her mallet glowed red, suddenly pulsing the swirling ice away.*

  Champion: *She dropped her arms, blasting the ice spears towards Pepper.* (Unlike the other combatants, I'm actually using a significant amount of Neurons in every Rostical-)

  Pepper: "Herh." *She jumped to each side, avoiding the shattering ice spears around her.* (Now is my chance!) *She grunted with frustration, sprinting towards the champion.*

  Champion: "Oh my."

  Pepper: (I've sustained a significant amount of damage, but-)

  Champion: "FREEZING HOLLOWS" *She pushed forward, causing a pulse of mist to blow past Pepper.*

  Pepper: *She ran into striking distance and grabbed the mallet with both hands, swinging it like a bat.* "Hurling Might-"

  Champion: "Watch your step." *She looked down with a smirk.*

  Pepper: "Huh?" *She suddenly slipped forward and spun around, trying to adjust her balance.*

  Champion: "FLURRY STYX" *She formed a ball of wind, pushing it into Pepper's face.*

  Pepper: "Gah-" *She slid back, slipping onto her back.*

  Champion: "Oopsy, looks like you had a tumble."

  Karol: "Warta?" *He sounded confused.*

  Trevour: "What a sneaky lady, heh heh." *He glanced at Karol in the corner of his eye.* "The heat from the walls melted the ice, little meister."

  Rachael: (Is that why she was favouring ice? She was a few steps ahead of the match this whole time.)

  Pepper: *She awkwardly breathed, lying on her back in pain.* (Do I have enough stamina to continue?)

  Spectator: "Is the champion once again the winner?!"

  Pepper: (I have to put my all into this.) *She looked up and blanked out, triggering a flashback.*

  Champion: (The Radiatons inside of her.. It's!-)

  Pepper: *She gasped, causing her eyes to shine gold.* "My all!" *She leant up and flapped her arms, suddenly standing back up on her feet.*

  Champion: (What?) *She gasped in disbelief.* (That energy, that power! I remember it! Where have I met you?!) *She thought to herself with widening eyes.*

  ----------

  *Lezard hobbled into Surpreon and stared at the pulsating sphere, quickly hobbling towards it.*

  Lezard: "Jinkies, Surpreon is almost empty while Battling Oxident is-"

  *A bright purple flash suddenly caught Lezard's attention, causing him to notice a man completely dressed in imperial armour step out of it.*

  Lezard: "Ordin?"

  Ordin: *He noticed Lezard, causing him to sigh in relief.* "I am lucky to have found you so easily."

  Lezard: "Me?"

  Ordin: "Dawn has pinpointed something very strange and wants Nathan to verify it."

  Lezard: "The rest of the guild are in Battling Oxident-"

  Ordin: "Before the spectators fill the city, you must retrieve the guild immediately. I will keep this teleportation glyph activate."

  Lezard: "Ooo, a special mission for the one and only Lezard? Leave it to me!"

  Ordin: *He nodded his head and stepped back onto the glyph, causing his armour to rattle.* "You don't have long!"

  Lezard: "Got it!" *He giggled with excitement and hobbled into the pulsating sphere, causing it to ripple around him.*

  ----------

  Pepper: "Hermph." *She grabbed t
he mallet and flicked hair out of her face, blasting herself across the ground.*

  Karol: "Wow."

  Luna: "So, is she flyin' or am I tripping?"

  Rachael: "It looks like she's sliding on the ice hey." *She sounded impressed.*

  Champion: (I've underestimated this girl, she's propelling the Astragons and pushing herself across the ground.)

  Pepper: *She landed directly in front of the champion, lifting the mallet above her head.* "Sacred blood throughout thy veins, I say heed thout command, SOUTHERN CROSS"

  Champion: *She gasped with widening eyes.* (I-It can't be.)

  Pepper: "Harh!" *She slammed the mallet on the ground, causing a large glyphic cross to shine underneath her feet.*

  Champion: *She awkwardly stepped back, covering her eyes.* (Impossible-)

  Pepper: "Harh!" *She looked down, yelling with determination.*

  *The glyph started to hum and suddenly released a blinding flash of light, pushing Pepper and the champion across the ground.*

  Lezard: *He hobbled up the stairs and scanned each row, causing him to notice the guild.* "Ooo, friends! Friends!"

  Man: "Sshh." *He grunted at Lezard who stood next to him.*

  Trevour: "It's Lezard?" *He looked down and noticed Lezard, causing the guild to notice him.*

  Lezard: "You. Need. To. Come. With." *He spoke each word with a motion of his arms, implying for the guild to come towards him.*

  Luna: "He's either havin' a seizure or tellin' us to go to him."

  Trevour: "It looks like the match is about to finish, maybe-"

  Lezard: (Now!) *He started to jump on the spot like an idiot, slowly drawing more of the nearby audience's attention.*

  Karol: "Wezard?" *He spoke in confusion, as if he didn't know what he was trying to do.*

  Rachael: *She sighed in defeat.* "I'm sure it's important."

  Luna: "Wateva." *She grunted in an annoyed-like manner and slowly stood up, queuing Destiny to observe the area around her.*

  Trevour: "Let's go, little meister." *He nudged Karol and helped him off the row.*

  Nathan: *He watched from the waiting area.* (The light's fading-)

  Season: *He leant forward, watching the champion slide on her back.* (That's the first time anyone has knocked the champion back, especially on to the ground.)

  Pepper: "I-I say-" *She looked to each side, as if she was intoxicated.* "The Sacred-" *She sighed, suddenly falling unconscious.*

  Champion: *She slowly stood back up, awkwardly leaning forward due to her hunchback.* (Radiatons! How is it, a teenage girl is able to use it.)