Desert Dragon

by Michael Rogers

  Karol: "That's wright. Dancers kan use both light and dark."

  Trevour: "Amazing." *He spoke to himself.*

  Rachael: "So, it's Radiatons then?"

  Dawn: *She looked back up, nodding her head.* "Yes."

  Nathan: "So, you think the person is a Scoldrant User?" *He looked at Dawn with a serious face.*

  Dawn: *She pushed her glasses up with two fingers.* "No."

  Rachael: "Could you please continue?"

  Dawn: *She looked back to the screen behind her.* "There's been a recent energy spike around Concern's Gate."

  Lezard: "Concern's Gate?"

  Champion: "Oh my."

  Luna: "Is someone concerned? I don't get it, aye."

  Destiny: "Yeup."

  Karol: (That also sounds famimwliar.)

  Nathan: "Concern's Gate? I know where that is."

  Trevour: "Isn't that back on the other continent, sir?"

  Luna: "Like, where we just got back from?"

  Trevour: "Indeed, madam."

  Luna: "Gah-"

  Dawn: "Research understands this isn't your duty alone, but, we don't have many Scoldrant Users to ask."

  Nathan: "...-"

  Dawn: "With the information you have supplied regarding the Guardians, you have essentially set everything in stone."

  Nathan: "..." *He silently nodded his head in acknowledgement.*

  Rachael: "You got your confirmation, now what?"

  Dawn: "With Concern's Gate.. Grey will be sending his imperial soldiers to find out if the energy spikes are related to this man-made-"

  Luna: "Are they?"

  Dawn: *She paused.* "There's an eighty-two percent chance-"

  Nathan: "I thought it was an illness, I never would've thought it was man-made-." *He paused and tightened his fists.*

  Rachael: "Nath?"

  Nathan: "Sorry, Karol, everyone-.. But I'm going to Concern's Gate."

  Karol: "B-Bhut, the guild-?"

  Nathan: "Remember my reasoning for staying? To use the resources to help me find more information with the yellow eyes." *He looked up, glancing at each guild member.* "Well, here it is."

  Rachael: "So.. Does this mean we won't see you for a little while?"

  Luna: "..." *She silently folded her arms.*

  Destiny: (You suddenly got upset, Luna? Is everything okay? Yeup.)

  Luna: (Yea, wateva.)

  Destiny: "Yeup?" *She meowed in a confused-like manner.*

  Karol: "N-Nafan?" *He sounded upset, as if he didn't like the idea of separating.*

  Nathan: "This... Where can I get another teleportation glyph?"

  Dawn: *She shook her head.* "Due to Battling Oxident, his majesty has exhausted all teleportation glyphs for now."

  Luna: "Then make another?"

  Champion: "Teleportation glyphs are one of the hardest glyphs to form."

  Trevour: "I wouldn't know personally, madam-" *He faced Luna, causing his armour to rattle.* "I form my glyphs by concentrating the Astragons."

  Luna: "So?"

  Nathan: (She's so straightforward.) *He frowned to himself before discreetly smiling.*

  Trevour: "What I'm trying to say, madam, my glyphs take a while to perform, create correctly."

  Luna: "But we ain't talkin' about your glyphs."

  Trevour: "My glyphs are rather ordinary, while teleportation glyphs are layers of patterns."

  Luna: "I don't get wat you're sayin' or how glyphs work with Astragongs, aye."

  Champion: "The best way I've heard someone explain glyphs, is that, you draw the glyph with your Astragons."

  Rachael: "That's a wicked way of describing it."

  Luna: "Aha, yea."

  Destiny: "Yeup!"

  Champion: "Needless to say, it's not easy to create another teleportation glyph on request."

  Luna: "Someone who knows how to dumb it down."

  Trevour: "My apologies, madam-"

  Nathan: "No glyphs? Fine." *He turned around and started to walk out.*

  Rachael: "W-Where are you going?" *She sounded surprised.*

  Karol: "Nafan?!" *He squealed in frustration.*

  Nathan: "I'm going to sail across the continent."

  Dawn: "Sail? That will take you a day, if not two."

  Nathan: "Two days compared to three years of waiting? I'll take that chance." *He suddenly walked out, purposely not listening to Karol's cries.*

  Luna: "Oi? Did Natalie just quit the guild?"

  Trevour: "W-What's wrong, sir?" *He bent down, glancing at Karol.*

  Lezard: "Little meister?"

  Karol: "The guild!" *He stamped his foot in anger.*

  Champion: "Oh my, he's very passionate about this-"

  Rachael: *She sighed with a smile.* "A silly way to handle things, but let's go."

  Trevour: "Go? Go where, boss?"

  Rachael: "With Nath to Concern's Gate."

  Karol: *He stopped sniffling and focused his attention on to Rachael with a growing smile.* "Nee hee."

  Lezard: (The other continent.. I'd feel more comfortable knowing I'm on the same continent as father monster-)

  Luna: "Where is this Concern's Gate?"

  Dawn: "It's near Surpreon."

  Rachael: "Ah.. Back at Surpreon." *She sounded awkward, as if she knew Luna would have a problem.*

  Luna: *Her eye twitched.* "So, we got rushed to come here and now we're sailing back, to a place that was right near where we were before?!"

  Trevour: "Well then-" *He stood back up, causing his armour to rattle.* "Let's make haste."

  Luna: "Let's make haste, pssht, you're such a douche, Rusty." *She grunted and started to walk out.*

  Rachael: *She smiled and formed a fist, watching Luna walk out the room.* "Champion, what are your plans now?"

  Champion: "Hmm.." *She hummed and took the time to think.* (Corrupted Radiatons, it can't be possible-) "I guess you're still stuck with me."

  Trevour: "Heh heh."

  Lezard: *He looked at Dawn.* "Is there anything else, cupcake?"

  Dawn: "Negative. Go out and find what is happening in there! Come back and tell research what you've learnt!"

  Lezard: "Okies! Let's go, championmotto!" *He giggled and grabbed the champion around the arm.*

  Champion: "Motto?"

  Lezard: "Bwarharh-" *He giggled and started to skip out of the facility.*

  Trevour: *He looked at Rachael and Karol.* "Off to help Nathan find what's been happening with Concern's Gate?"

  Rachael: "Sounds like a plan."

  Karol: (Nafan.. He made a pwomise!) *He thought to himself with a childish frown.*

  ----------

  *Nathan stepped outside and walked across the castle's lawn, ignoring the sounds of the flapping flags.*

  Nathan: "To get a ship, I need to head up and ask one of the guilds-"

  Luna: "Oi." *She grunted in an annoyed-like manner, stepping outside the castle.*

  Nathan: *He smiled to the voice and suddenly looked serious, slowly turning around to face Luna.* "What do you want?"

  Luna: "Pretty sure we're like some guild or something, aye? Don't that mean we stick by each other, or some lame shit like that?"

  Nathan: "Huh?" *He looked surprised.*

  Luna: "Aha, your face looks so retarded. We're meant to work together."

  Destiny: "Yeup." *She floated around Luna, meowing in agreement.*

  Nathan: "The guild means a lot to me, but this is my life's mission-"

  Luna: "If you care about the guild so much, why you walkin' away?"

  Nathan: "I-..." *He paused, as if he didn't know how to respond to her question.*

  *Lezard and the champion walked out of the castle, noticing Luna and Nathan.*

  Lezard: "Ah, there you silly sausages are." *He giggled while shaking his bottom to each side.*

  Champion: "Are you okay?" *She looked at Lezard's bottom in confusion.* "Is there something in your pants?"

  Lezard: "Ooo, champion, ask those questions on our next date!"

&
nbsp; Nathan: "And what do you two want?" *He looked at the champion and Lezard in curiosity.*

  Lezard: "We're coming with you too."

  Champion: "I'm curious to know what this abnormal energy signature is about." *She spoke with a smile.*

  Nathan: "Err.."

  Lezard: "Don't worry, my naughty Nathan, the others will be coming soon."

  Nathan: *He sighed in a defeated-like manner.* "Let's go."

  Lezard: "Yay."

  Champion: "In order to sail, it will cost a lot. It's best to head to the guild's tavern."

  Nathan: "Yeah, that's where I'm headed."

  Luna: "Hurry it up then." *She waved to the side, implying for Nathan to walk.*

  Nathan: "Don't slow me down." *He turned back around and started to walk down the road-like path with a smile.*

  ----------

  *Rachael, Trevour and Karol stood in a line inside the research facility, facing Dawn in appreciation.*

  Trevour: "Thank you very much, madam."

  Rachael: "Yeah. Your information has been very helpful."

  Karol: "Yheah!"

  Dawn: *She nodded her head in acknowledgement.* "Get going already. Research waits for no one!"

  Trevour: "Heh heh-"

  Dawn: "For research!" *She suddenly fist-pumped the air, causing the researchers to quickly do the same.*

  Rachael: "Where to look though?" *She glanced at Trevour and Karol.*

  Trevour: "I have no idea, boss."

  Dawn: "Tsst-" *She grunted in annoyance at Rachael's lack of knowledge and shuffled back to her desk, glancing at the guild.* "Go to the port, you'll find many ships there."

  Rachael: "A port? As in outside? I'm a little confused because there're no ports around here."

  Karol: "Whats a poart?"

  Trevour: "A port is like a harbour, where many ships are stationed, even people do business along the port-" *He looked at Dawn in confusion.* "But I concur with the boss. I've been here for a few years and never heard about a port."

  Dawn: "That's rather laughable. Has your guild always relied on Grey's teleportation glyphs to get to the other continent?"

  Rachael: "We don't go over there often-"

  Dawn: "Tsst-" *She sat down and held her head, as if she was getting more annoyed at their questions.* "On the third level, find the workshop with the blue flags, see if there's a ship ready to set sail."

  Rachael: "Down below? Wicked." *She smiled and readied to leave.*

  Dawn: "Now, out!" *She shouted and focused her attention to a stack of paperwork.*

  ----------

  *Nathan, Luna, Lezard and the champion walked into the tavern, listening to the many different conversations in the background.*

  Champion: "Oh my-" *She noticed the sticky floors and very lively environment.*

  Lezard: *He placed his hand on the champion's shoulder with a smile.* "I thought this place was icky too, but you get used to it-"

  Luna: "Oi, Keeper." *She grunted to the woman behind the counter, catching her attention.*

  Keeper: "Well, if it ain't The Rostical Guild." *She spoke with a smile, while cleaning several large cups.* "Come back for another guild request?"

  Nathan: "No. We're here to enquire about setting sail to the other continent."

  Keeper: "Ah, bad luck-" *She pulled a sour face to emphasise the situation.* "Most of the ships are still at the other continent."

  Champion: "Probably due to Battling Oxident."

  Keeper: "That's right." *She spat in the cup, allowing her to clean it even better.*

  Champion: "Oh my, how unhygienic."

  Keeper: "Unhygienic?" *She looked confused and suddenly chuckled in realisation.* "My saliva works as a disinfectant."

  Champion: "Your saliva is a disinfectant?"

  Luna: "Aha, trippy I know." *She chuckled, as if she had a similar reaction.*

  Lezard: "Ooo, Keeper! Show us your marvellous glyph."

  Keeper: *She smiled and stuck out her tongue, revealing a purple glyph underneath her tongue.* "This glyph is filled with Neurons, it boosts the natural healing properties of saliva and converts it into killing bacteria."

  Champion: "Astounding. Using such a simple glyph over something so complex."

  Luna: "All lazy people like me would want them!"

  Lezard: "Ooo! Imagine a glyph that wipes your bottom too!"

  Nathan: "Lezard, acting weird again." *He mumbled with his deep voice.*

  Destiny: (What are we going to do?)

  Luna: *She glanced at Destiny and nodded her head.* "So, wat's the deal with the ship?"

  Destiny: "Yeup." *She meowed in agreement and floated around Luna, catching Keeper's attention.*

  Keeper: "Prhrhrh." *She chuckled while shaking her head.* "Your Soul Link increased, has it?"

  Destiny: "Yeup, yeup." *She meowed, as if she was responding to Keeper's question.*

  Keeper: *She smiled and looked back to Luna.* "You could always try and find The Seaside Bandits."

  Nathan: "The Seaside Bandits?" *The name triggered a flashback.*

  --

  *Pirate-like bandits dressed in blue and black suddenly ran out from the shadows, pointing old fashioned guns at Rachael and Nathan.*

  Nathan: *He noticed the guns, causing him to raise his sword.* "Let us pass."

  Grunt A: "No, argh." *He grunted like a pirate and aimed for Nathan's head.*

  Rachael: "Who are you?"

  Grunt A: "We're The Seaside Bandits."

  Nathan: "What do you want from us?"

  Grunt B: "It's easy. Give us your valuables and we'll let you pass through to the next Reality Marble."

  --

  Nathan: (Those scumbags?)

  Lezard: "Yuckies! I hear icky things about that guild." *He pulled a sour face while shaking his bottom to each side.*

  Luna: "Icky?"

  Champion: "Yuckies?"

  Keeper: "They may be reckless at times, but they're one of the top guilds around here. They bring business to the city."

  Luna: "Fairo." *She spoke as if she didn't care.*

  Destiny: "Yeup."

  Nathan: "Where are they now?"

  Keeper: "Last I checked, they're in The Entarlia Dome."

  Luna: "Ah, wat's that again?"

  Champion: "It's a specialised dome that allows you to fight copies of the warriors the system has registered."

  Lezard: "That's where Razzypoo and Trevmeister train together."

  Luna: "Kool-"

  Nathan: "Thank you, Keeper." *He turned around and started to walk towards the swinging doors.*

  Luna: "Yea, thanks."

  Destiny: "Yeup."

  Lezard: "Thankies, delicious lady."

  Champion: "Delicious?"

  Keeper: "Prhrh." *She chuckled to herself and watched the guild leave, while gathering saliva in her mouth.* "Always enjoyable to talk to."

  ----------

  *Rachael, Karol and Trevour stepped outside the castle, watching the solid doors ripple around them.*

  Rachael: "Something has been on my mind."

  Trevour: "Ask away, boss?" *He started to walk down the road-like path, watching the busy citizens gather around each market.*

  Rachael: "During Battling Oxident, those twin sisters."

  Karol: "Waichael?"

  Rachael: "They used a Hi-Ougi and fainted?" *She spoke in confusion.*

  Trevour: "Yes? It's the power of two people's Ougis combined."

  Rachael: "So, can anyone use a Hi-Ougi?"

  Trevour: "I'm not too sure. I know my siblings can."

  Rachael: "From what I've seen, very powerful people can use Ougis.. I just think we should learn how to use a Hi-Ougi."

  Trevour: "That's a spectacular idea, boss, but it's a little more temperamental than that. Some captains tried to Hi-Ougi."

  Karol: "...-"

  Rachael: "What was it like?"

  Trevour: "They couldn't do it." *He shrugged his shoulders in confusion, causing his armour to rattle.*

 
Rachael: "So.. Those twins were able to do something not even captains could do?"

  Trevour: "Sounds like it, boss."

  Karol: "You need to be emotionully acatched."

  Trevour: "You know the requirements, little meister?"

  Rachael: "If you need to be emotionally attached, then that would explain why the captains couldn't do it."

  Trevour: "Yeah, that sounds about right." *He spoke in realisation.*

  Karol: "High Ougis require a perfect mixta of Neuwrons."

  Trevour: "I-..." *He shut his dropping jaw.* "I'm surprised you know a lot about this, little meister."

  Karol: "Nee hee. My daddy and arnty have the bloodline to high Ougi without any wequirments."

  Rachael: "Could you tell me more about this perfect mixture of Neurons?"

  Karol: "Uh ha." *He nodded his head like a child and skipped down the stairs.* "Daddy always said it's like twying to fill a container with both your Newrons."

  Trevour: "Interesting, little meister." *He adjusted his armour, causing it to shimmer in the sun's light.* "What would happen if they didn't mix properly?"

  Karol: "Uhm-" *He skipped in a circle and faced Rachael and Trevour, watching them walk towards him.* "It won't work. And, if yooh don't have enouf Newrons to fill the container, you'll..."

  Rachael: "Faint?"

  Karol: "Hm." *He nodded his head.* (Twinity, Infinity-)

  Trevour: "Very interesting hearing this about Hi-Ougis.. I've personally always wanted to know why the captains didn't pair up and unleash their frightening power."

  Rachael: (A mixture of powers...) "Karol, would you know what happens to people using Hi-Ougi of different elements?"

  Trevour: *He looked around the water fountain and observed the shops on the lower level of the city.* (Ah, there's the blue flag-) *He smiled in thought and started to hobble towards it, causing Rachael and Karol to follow.*

  Karol: "I've seen a mixture of water and light... It was ahmayzing. Water-like light, shewting fwrough the air."

  Rachael: "Wicked." *She smiled to herself and noticed Trevour stopping in front of a wooden cabin with anchors on each side of the door.* "Is this it?"

  Trevour: "Indeed, boss." *He noticed the glyph on the flag.* "The swirls on that glyph-"

  Rachael and Trevour: "Water-"

  Karol: "Wow!" *His voice came from inside the cabin, causing Rachael and Trevour to quickly step inside.*

  ----------

  *Nathan, Luna, Lezard and the champion gathered around a small white door at the end of an alleyway.*

  Champion: "Why would The Seaside Bandits be in a place like this?"