Desert Dragon

by Michael Rogers

  Luna: "Open the fuckin' door." *She twitched in excitement, as if she's never seen it before.*

  Lezard: "These old bones have been here before. It's similar to The Hall of Oats."

  Champion: *She opened the door and stepped inside, suddenly disappearing in a whirl of purple light.* "Oh my-?!" *Her voice faded into the darkness.*

  Nathan: "A forced transportation-?"

  Lezard: "Yay, adventures!" *He giggled and purposely pushed Luna and Nathan into the facility, causing them to whirl away.*

  --

  Champion: *She staggered forward and found herself in a plain hall where everything was grey-scale.* "Oh my?"

  ?????: "Oh my? Argh?" *A man with a deep pirate-like voice grunted and turned around, noticing the champion in curiosity.*

  Champion: "Hello there." *She spoke with her eyes closed and smiled.*

  ?????: "How did you get in? I'm busy, argh." *He faced the champion and stroked his massive long black beard.*

  Champion: "We're here to find The Seaside Bandits."

  ?????: "Argh?" *He grunted and looked more curious.* "What do yer want with them?"

  *Pirate-like bandits dressed in blue and black suddenly whirled behind the man, causing the champion to become weary.*

  Grunt A: "What should we do boss?"

  Grunt B: "Yeah, argh." *He grunted, adjusting a black eye patch.*

  Champion: "We were directed to see you about using a ship."

  ?????: "Hahaha, ahoy!" *He laughed at the champion and looked down to his beard, plucking out a grey hair.* "All the ships are out. Even my girl!"

  Grunt B: "Even the Sheridan, Whitehead-?"

  Whitehead: "Argh!" *He angrily growled at the grunt, causing him to look away in realisation.*

  Champion: "Oh please, it'll mean a lot to me." *She continued to talk with a smile.*

  Whitehead: "What's it worth to yer?" *He greedily stroked his beard, as if he was excited to hear what she had to offer.*

  Luna: "How 'bout nothin'?!" *She grunted and stood next the champion.*

  Destiny: "Yeup, yeup!"

  Nathan: *He staggered forward, as if he wasn't expecting the transportation.* (Dammit, Lezard-)

  Whitehead: "Hahaha! You come to me and demand to use ships I don't have?!"

  Luna: "Nah, bro. You see, I grew up in a shit place-" *She frowned, looking at each grunt with heightened vision.* "I know when someone has a bargaining chip."

  Lezard: "What do you mean, Loozamotto? He said he doesn't have any ships-"

  Luna: "Pssht-" *She squinted her eyes with a sly smirk.* "He wouldn't have asked us wat we have if he didn't."

  Nathan: "..." *He glanced at Luna and reached over his shoulder, holding onto something.*

  Whitehead: "She's smart." *He grunted to himself in an impressed-like manner.*

  Grunt A: "Argh, she's a looker." *He smirked and licked his lips, snarling at Luna.*

  Lezard: "Ooo, I'm sensing a possible fight scene happening. The readers will enjoy this." *He giggled and shook his bottom to each side, causing everyone in the area to look at him in confusion.*

  Whitehead: "Get out." *He reached over his shoulders and suddenly pulled forward, causing sparks to scatter around a black and a red cutlass sword in each hand.*

  Nathan: "This is too important to do this!" *He pulled forward and watched a swirl of sparks splinter around his sword.* "We need a ship now!"

  Whitehead: "You've got some nerve, mateys." *He pointed his black cutlass sword at the guild, causing two grunts to charge towards them.*

  Lezard: "Jinkies, this is something Lezard didn't want to be right about!"

  Luna: *She swayed forward and accidentally scratched Nathan as he closely stood by her side.* "Aight, you fuckers are goin' down."

  Champion: "Oh my, such an experienced tongue." *She implied she didn't like it.*

  Nathan: "Ah?" *He glanced at his arm and looked down to Luna's nails.* "You scratched me-"

  Luna: "Have a sook-"

  Nathan: "But they felt-"

  Grunt B: "Double Smack." *He punched Nathan in the face and leant to the other side, punching him again.*

  Nathan: "Damn you-" *He leant back and raised the sword, watching his arms glow a shade of blue.* "Double Slash."

  Luna: *She noticed metallic rings around the grunts fists.* "He's got fist weapon thingys!"

  Destiny: "Yeup!-"

  Grunt B: *He quickly swayed his fists in the motion of Nathan's swings, causing sparks to flash from his hands.* (He's tough, argh-)

  Lezard: "They look like Rosterology enhancers."

  Luna: "Aye?" *She raised her arm and pulled out a small bow, which was discreetly tied around her neck.*

  Lezard: "They enhance the flow of Neurons, very rare and expensive."

  Whitehead: *He took a step forward, staring at the cluttered guild.* "Fire Stroke."

  Champion: "MYSTIC SHIELD" *She stood on the spot, watching a glass-like shield raise itself in front of the guild.*

  Whitehead: "Hargh." *He sliced one of the cutlass swords downwards, watching a slash-like stream of fire burn against the shield.* "Hahaha, strong!"

  Luna: "All the shit we been through and you complain about my nails?" *She grunted at Nathan while shaking her head.*

  Lezard: *He felt Luna's fingernails and gasped in disgust.* "Your nails, they feel like stone. Icky!"

  Luna: "Stone? They look fine, Lizard." *She grunted and pulled the string back, causing an arrow made of wind to form itself.* "Windstream Shot."

  Destiny: "Yeu-yeu!" *She mentally targeted one of Whitehead's grunts, queuing Luna to release the string and shoot the arrow of wind towards him.*

  Grunt A: "An arrow-? Yarr!" *He pointed a small dagger in front and a shield-like glyph spiralled around the tip, blocking the arrow.*

  Luna: "Aye?" *She grunted in shock, as if she was expecting the arrow to hit.*

  Lezard: "Jinkies! The Rosterology enhancers, remember."

  Grunt A: "Arrr, you're mine, sweet cheeks." *He grunted at Luna and suddenly ran towards her.*

  Luna: "Sweet cheeks? Fuck off!" *She ran away from the guild and pulled the string back, shooting another wind-made arrow at the grunt's feet.*

  Grunt A: *A small glyph spiralled in front of his boots, blocking the arrow.* "Yarharharh!"

  Luna: "That enhancer is on his feet too?"

  Whitehead: *He slashed the glass-like shield in front of the champion, causing it to shatter.* "Hahaha, my crew have the latest Rosterology items!"

  Champion: "AIR SWIRL" *A green glyph flashed underneath her and a visible air swirl suddenly hit Whitehead in the chest, pushing him back.*

  Whitehead: "Yarh?" *He touched his chest in confusion.* "You pushed me back this far even with this Astragon resister chest plate?"

  Champion: "My Rostical only pushed you back that far? Oh my-"

  Whitehead: "You're strong, mi lady." *He grunted with a smile and gently held the cutlass swords together, causing them to attach.*

  Champion: *She hobbled back.* (The Astragons around his weapon has suddenly increased!-)

  Lezard: "Quick internal light, INVOKING AURA" *He focused on Nathan, causing light to spiral around his wrists.*

  Nathan: "Thanks!" *He shouted in appreciation and slashed the sword across.*

  Grunt A: *He quickly ducked under Nathan's slash and leant forward, punching towards his knee.* "Yi-yarr!"

  Nathan: *He tried to step back and failed, as the grunt's fist cracked his leg.* "Argh!-"

  Lezard: "Quick internal light, INVOKING AURA" *He shouted with an echoing voice, as white light spiralled around Nathan's leg, allowing him to step on it properly.*

  Grunt A: "We might not be able to use Rostical, but we've had our fair share of fights, argh." *He smirked and tightened his fists, causing his body to glow a shade of blue.*

  Lezard: "Nutritious Nathan! The scary man's Neurons just spiked!"

  Grunt A: "Sonic Drilldriver." *He twirled his wrists and suddenly jumped up, upper-cutting Nathan while spinnin
g his body.*

  Nathan: "Ah-?!" *He slid back, as he blocked the spiralling punch with his sword.*

  Grunt A: "This is my strongest Azure Burst! Yarr!" *His voice sounded distorted, as he continued to spin against Nathan's sword.*

  Nathan: (What kind of fist-based Rosterology weapon is this?!)

  Luna: "You've got a stupid dagger!" *She continued to run in a large circle around the grunt, pulling the string back.*

  Destiny: (Be careful, these people have different coloured Neuron signatures.)

  Luna: (It's probably from all that enhancer shit they're wearin'.)

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

  Grunt B: *He leant forward and suddenly slid across the grey floor, as if he was riding on rollerblades.* "Yar harh!"

  Luna: (H-Huh?) *She thought in shock.*

  Destiny: (Luna!) "Yeup!"

  Luna: "Gah-, Windstream Shot." *She quickly fired off another wind-based arrow at the grunt.*

  Grunt B: *He quickly raised the dagger and timed himself, before stabbing the arrow to the side.* "With these Rosterology enhancers, I can block Azure Bursts with unnaturally boosted Astragons!"

  Luna: "Shit-" *She grunted and pulled the string back, causing another arrow of wind to materialise itself.* "Windstream-"

  Grunt B: "I'll break your arrow before you even shoot it, argh!" *He skated into striking distance and slashed the dagger to the side, causing sparks to scatter from her wind arrow.*

  Luna: "Aye?" *She grunted in shock and quickly re-aimed the arrow.*

  Grunt B: "Yarh? It didn't break? That's a powerful wind arrow you can generate-"

  Luna: *She released the string and blew a puff of air into the grunt's face.* "Shit?"

  Destiny: (He hit the wind, which caused it to lose its shape!-)

  Luna: "Ah-" *She quickly pulled the string back and aimed it for the grunt.*

  Grunt B: "With my Rosterology boots, you'll never out speed me! And-" *He suddenly slid into striking distance and quickly jabbed the wind arrow, causing it to violently burst around Luna's hand.*

  Luna: "Fuck!" *She grunted in pain, as an instant bruise started to appear on her hand.*

  Grunt B: "We don't have smart people in our guild, but you're one of the dumbest. Your attack won't work-"

  Luna: *She ignored the grunt and pulled the string back.* "Windstream-"

  Grunt B: "Air Slash." *He sliced the dagger down, causing a small visible air slash to slice into Luna's arrow, amplifying its power.* "Yarh!"

  Luna: *She watched the air slice violently slice her across the chest, knocking her off her feet.* "Gah!-"

  Destiny: "Yeu!-" *She screeched in pain, catching Nathan's attention.*

  Nathan: "Luna!-"

  Grunt A: "Watch yourself!" *He swayed to the side, punching Nathan in the face.*

  Nathan: "Och!" *He instinctively held his nose, as it started to bleed.*

  Lezard: "Quick healing shot, HEALING IMPLOSION" *He swayed his arms around Nathan, causing his nose to glow.*

  Nathan: *He sniffed as the warm light opened his nostrils.* "Thanks again-"

  Luna: "Gah-" *She screamed in pain, as the grunt jabbed the dagger into her arm.*

  Grunt B: "I don't like doing this, yarr. But if yer mess with the crew, you mess with the crew-"

  Luna: "Fuck you!" *She suddenly kicked upwards, kicking the grunt in the groin, allowing her to crawl back in pain.* (Are you OK?)

  Destiny: (The side of me is hurting, but I'm okay.)

  Luna: (Where her arm would be-) *She glanced at her arm and hesitated, before ripping out the dagger.* (Fuck!-)

  Destiny: "Huest." *She hissed in pain, as if Luna ripped the dagger out of her too.*

  Lezard: "Quick internal light, INVOKING AURA" *He spoke with an echoing voice, as white light spiralled around Luna's arm.*

  Luna: "Thanks, Lizard!"

  Destiny: "Yeu, yeup!"

  Lezard: *He noticed Nathan getting punched in the shoulder.* (Jinkies-) "INVOKING AURA"

  Champion: *She became weary of Whitehead.* "What are you planning?"

  Whitehead: "It may be simple logic, but if I combine my weapons, the Neuron output is doubled!"

  Champion: "Oh-?"

  Whitehead: *He suddenly sprinted towards the champion at incredible speeds, raising the red and black coloured cutlass sword.* "The destructive arts number sixty three, Hurling Might."

  Champion: *She slightly frowned, as a blue glyph flashed under her feet.* (I can't use the incantations, or I could kill him.. We need him alive-) "AQUA LIQUID"

  *The champion swayed her arm in a fluid-like manner and a whirl of water materialised to Whitehead's side, slapping itself towards him.*

  Whitehead: "I've sailed all regions of the sea! This is nothing-" *He slapped the water to the floor and continued to charge towards the champion.*

  Champion: *A dark blue glyph flashed underneath her.* "FRIGID STORM"

  *A swirl of ice pebbles spiralled underneath Whitehead, before erupting up into an icy tornado.*

  Whitehead: "Be it frozen or hot, I've endured the rough seas with my Sheridan and crew! The destructive arts number thirty eight, Raining Fury." *He pointed the cutlass sword to his side and suddenly jabbed it like a missile, breaking the icy swirl around him.*

  Champion: (The sheer level of Astragons with each swing-, he wasn't lying, combining his weapons into one has doubled-) *She thought to herself with gritted teeth and a yellow glyph flashed underneath her.*

  Whitehead: "Yellow?" *He raised the sword and readied himself to strike, as his body glowed a shade of blue.*

  Champion: *She raised her arm and strings of electricity sparked in between her fingers, forming itself into a lance.* "LIGHTNING SLICE"

  *The champion threw the lightning lance directly towards Whitehead, as vein-like sparks lit up the area around it.*

  Whitehead: "I won't fall for the Rasticsplash! Twenty nine, Air Slash." *He enthusiastically sliced the cutlass sword downwards and the lightning lance suddenly broke its shape, before stringing across the ground.*

  Champion: "Oh my?" (He knew once that particular Rostical hits the ground or target, it releases a powerful widespread Rasticsplash?) "Flames consume and burn my Astragons, HEAT LANCE" *She shouted with an echoing voice and watched a bright red glyph draw itself underneath her.*

  Lezard: *He stared at the champion and Whitehead in a worried-like manner.* (Quickly, he's in striking distance!)

  Champion: "Please receive this-" *She pushed forward and seven curved fire lances burnt towards Whitehead, exploding in pulses against him.*

  Whitehead: "Yarrr?!" *He slid back and fell off his feet, violently hitting the ground.*

  Grunt A: "Whitehead?!"

  Grunt B: "Boss!"

  Champion: *She slowly exhaled and stared at Whitehead.* "Tell us what you know."

  Lezard: *He smiled at the champion, ignoring the sweat which dripped off his face.* "Quick healing shot, HEALING IMPLOSION"

  Champion: "Oh my? Fantastic replenishment, Lezard." *She spoke in relief, as the warm light healed the slight burns on her fingertips.*

  Grunt B: "Nobody messes with our boss." *He focused back to Luna and held his bracelet, causing the dagger on the floor to suddenly spiral back into his hand.*

  Destiny: (Astral based magnetism!)

  Luna: (My arm-) *She leant back and felt the ground around her, trying to grab her bow.* (That bloody hurt!)

  Destiny: (I know!)

  Luna: (S-Sorry, aye.)

  Destiny: *She floated around and took sight of the bow, allowing Luna to quickly grab it.* (Yeu?) *She spiralled in the air and watched the grunt skate towards her.* (Get up, Luna! Yeup!)

  Luna: (I got an idea!) *She pulled the string back and waited for the grunt to skate into striking distance.*

  Destiny: (Why aren't you getting up?!) *Her fur blew in circles, due to Luna's wind arrow.*

  Grunt B: "Ya harh! You don't learn, do yer, lass?" *He skated into striking distance and purposely jabbed the dagger
into Luna's arrow, causing the wind to repel it back.* "Yarh?"

  Destiny: "Yeu-?" *She squinted her eyes, as sparks flashed around the grunt's dagger.*

  Luna: "Aha, I boosted them Astragongs in the wind-" *She smirked and focused her attention on the falling sparks.*

  Grunt B: "So?" *He twirled his wrist and readied to stab Luna again.*

  Luna: *She swayed her arm, causing the sparks to suddenly brighten and string into electricity.* "Ya ready, dipshit?"

  Grunt B: "Harh?" *He watched the lightning suddenly form itself into an arrow, allowing Luna to pull back on the string.* "How-?"

  Luna: "Seraphic Volt." *She released the string and shot the lightning arrow into the grunt's chest, causing strings of electricity to flash down his body.*

  Grunt B: "B-B-B-B-O-Osssss-sss-" *He violently twitched and suddenly skated back, before falling onto his side.*

  Destiny: (She wanted him to attack so she could collect the sparks-?)

  Luna: "Yeww!"

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

  Nathan: "Harh!" *He angrily slashed the sword across the grunt's face.*

  Grunt A: "Y-Yargh!" *He stumbled back and fell onto his bottom, holding his face in a defeated-like manner.*

  Lezard: "Ooo, that was scary!"

  Luna: "Nobody messes with The Rostickal Guild, pirate lookin' douchebags!"

  Destiny: "Yeup!"

  Whitehead: "Hahaha." *He chuckled and pulled on his beard, before slowly staggering back onto his feet.* "You think yer heartys could hurt me and my crew?"

  Champion: *She hobbled back with uncertainty.* "His Neurons and Astragons increased again."

  Lezard: "This isn't good. Lezard is getting tired." *He squealed, shaking his bottom to each side.*

  Nathan: "Stuff this! Tell us what you know!" *He shouted and charged towards Whitehead, raising the sword.*

  Whitehead: "I don't tell just any ol' seadogs!" *He mentally aimed his arm at Nathan and rammed the cutlass sword in a punch-like manner towards him.*

  Nathan: *He threw his sword above Whitehead and quickly rolled under the cutlass sword and in between his legs.* "You think someone as skilled as me charges up to the opponent?" *He quickly stood back up and faced Whitehead's back.*

  Whitehead: *He looked down, surprised.* (Between my-?) "Damn you-"

  *Nathan looked up and caught the sword with one hand, before slashing it across the back of Whitehead's head.*