Desert Dragon, page 21
Ridley: "Fortunately for you dancers, I still find your abilities useful."
Trinity: "U-Useful?"
Infinity: "You're not mad?"
Ridley: "I will not tell you my motives as of yet. But let me down again, and I can't guarantee the safety of all your friends and family."
Trinity and Infinity: "We understand, sir."
Ridley: "I don't like playing the villain, but my dream for peace is far too great to be stopped by a teenage girl's failure."
*Ridley sighed and turned around, causing the girls to look up in confusion.*
Ridley: "Take the ship back to the other continent and Kath or myself will give you further instructions."
Trinity and Infinity: "Sir!"
Ridley: "Now get out of Surpreon. You could blow my cover." *He smirked and suddenly disappeared in a puff of shadow-like smoke.*
Infinity: "We failed.. I was hoping to see them again."
Trinity: (It's been such a long time, I'm starting to forget what they look like.) *She thought to herself in sadness.*
Infinity: "Next time, we won't fail. We have to do this for our fellow dancers!"
Trinity: "Yes." *She rubbed Infinity's back for comfort, as she stared at the stone wall in determination.*
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Luna: *She stared at Lance who stood in the middle of the arena, as he waited for his next opponent.* "Is that really Lance?" *She grunted to herself.*
Destiny: (His aura is similar to yours.) *She watched a teenage girl with ridiculously long blonde hair which was tied in two ponytails skip across the arena.*
Spectator: "Pepper versus Lance Lighten!"
Luna: "Pepper? Wat a lame name."
Karol: "I like heaps of peppa on my food!"
Rachael: "Hehe, a little bit too much sometimes."
Karol: "Nope! Heeeps of peppa!"
Lance: "..." *He stared at Pepper with an emotionless face.*
Spectator: "The match will begin, now!"
Pepper: "Okay, let's go, yeah?"
Lance: "Bring it, docta Angla!" *He leant forward, half smirking in confidence.*
Pepper: *She looked down, touching her stomach with worry.* (I don't have that fire-)
Lance: "Oi! I said bring it!"
Pepper: (I guess I'll have to fight without it-) *She sighed in thought, rushing towards Lance.*
Lance: (She isn't holding a weapon? This is going to be easy.) *He smirked in thought, bending his knees.*
Pepper: *She took large steps towards Lance and jumped into the air, preparing to kick him.* "Take this!"
Lance: "Aha-" *He ducked and avoided her kick with a cocky smirk.* "Yawn." *He jumped forward, slicing the sword across.*
Pepper: *She landed with ease, leaning to the side.* (Whoa-)
Lance: *He discreetly chuckled, continually slicing the sword at Pepper.* (This is too easy.)
Pepper: *She ducked, jumped back and stepped to the side, avoiding Lance's swings.* (There isn't an opening-)
Lance: (Aha, this is just like my match with Teresa.) *He smiled in thought, effortlessly swinging the sword at Pepper.*
Pepper: *She ducked under his swing and stumbled back.* (Oh no-)
Lance: "Hah!" *He lunged forward, slicing Pepper's arm.*
Pepper: "Arh-" *She jumped back, creating distance between them.*
Lance: "You gotta attack me sometime or just forfeit, aye." *He taunted, wiping the sword against his leg.*
Pepper: *She raised her arm, staring at the small cut.* "Ouch."
Nathan: *He watched from the waiting area.* (He has natural sword skill like me, but from the looks of it, lacks raw experience.)
Lance: "Umm, hello? Want to fight or retire?!"
Pepper: *A sudden heartbeat pulsed throughout her body, causing her to lean forward.* (There's the fire.)
Season: "Hmm?" (Pepper's Neurons suddenly spiked-)
Pepper: "I will not give up, yeah?" *She reached over her shoulder, sheathing out a large mallet.*
Lance: *He ignored the sparks around her back, staring at the mallet.* (Shit, I forgot she had that.)
Pepper: (Search for weak points, analyse the opponent.) *She stared at Lance, closely observing his arms and legs.*
Lance: "You pulled out your mallet so you could check me out? Oi, someone tell her she's disqualified, she's doing nothing!"
Pepper: (No current weak points.) *She bent her knees and jumped forward, blasting dirt into the air.*
Lance: *He stepped back, raising the sword.* (Shit, she's fast.)
Pepper: *She moved within striking distance, tapping one foot on the ground.* "Hermph." *She twirled on her toes, swinging the mallet towards Lance's face.*
Lance: *He ducked and awkwardly stepped back.* (Whoa-)
Pepper: *She used the force, swinging the mallet again.* "..."
Lance: *He gasped and raised the sword, blocking the mallet.* (I can't go in and attack her-) *He slowly walked back, watching Pepper spin in circles.* (She's just like them dancing cows.)
Pepper: "Is this action better for you?" *She smiled, jumping towards Lance.*
Lance: *He looked annoyed, slightly frowning.* "Don't get cocky."
Pepper: "If you don't intend to attack, then-" *She used the momentum to swing herself high into the air.* "Hammer Spin." *She swung the mallet and a howling wind pushed Lance back.*
Lance: "Wat the-?" *He stuttered back, as the wind subsided.*
Pepper: (That is used to scout the enemy or intimidate them.) *She thought to herself and looked down, remaining airborne.*
Lance: *He took a deep breath, holding the sword with both hands.* "I ain't gonna lose to a fifteen-"
Pepper: *She slammed into the ground, exploding dirt around her.* "Hermph-" *She charged towards Lance with a smirk.*
Lance: "Pssht!" *He grunted in anger, charging towards Pepper.*
Karol: "That girl just jhumped towards the ground?"
Trevour: *He nodded his head.* "Several captains are able to burst themselves off platforms of Astragons in the air, but it's surprising to see someone use it at such a young age."
Rachael: (It's very fascinating hearing stuff from a warrior's perspective.)
Lance: "Harh!" *He ran into striking distance, slicing the sword to his side.*
Pepper: *She jumped to the side, swinging the mallet at Lance's head.* "Gah!-" *She spun at high speeds, slamming into the ground.*
Lance: (You didn't expect that.) *He smirked, wiping dirt off his nose.*
Rachael: "What happened?" *She looked confused and stared at Pepper lying on the ground.*
Karol: "I dhon't know?"
Luna: "Me neith-"
Destiny: (There was a stroke of Astragons with his swing, similar to Nathan's Air Slash.)
Luna: (Aye?) "He used one of them Azure Burst things, aye."
Trevour: "He did?" *He sounded surprised, as if he wasn't expecting Luna to suggest such a thing.*
Rachael: *She nodded her head in agreement.* "That makes a lot more sense."
Pepper: *She twitched, coughing out dirt.* "I say, what did you do?"
Lance: "Apart from being awesome? Nothin', just being me."
Pepper: (I dodged that attack.) *She grabbed the mallet and stood up, flicking her hair over her shoulder.*
Lance: *He took several steps to the side and sniffed, lining himself up with Pepper.* "Smear upon the skies, blue waves crashing down-"
Season: "Oh?"
Lance: "LIGHTNING BLAST" *He straightened his arm and pushed forward, blasting a stream of lightning towards Pepper.*
Luna: (Not bad.)
Destiny: "Yeup-"
Pepper: "Hermph-" *She bent her knees, jumping high into the air.*
Lance: *He looked up, frowning at Pepper.* (The bitch.)
Pepper: *She spiralled in the air towards Lance and touched the ground, slamming the mallet in the dirt.* "..."
Lance: *He watched the mallet crack the ground, exploding dirt around him.* "Argh."
Pepper: *She held the mallet and flipped forward, kicking Lance out of the dirt cloud.* (Excellent.)
Lance: *He tumbled across the ground, noticing Pepper jump out of the dirt cloud.* (Shit, no! I always get hit when I'm like this-) "Smear upon the skies-"
Pepper: *She ran towards Lance with her arms swaying behind her sides.* (That Rostical will not hit me in time.)
Lance: "Blue waves crashing down, LIGHTNING BLAST" *He slid on his toes, straightening his arms at Pepper.*
Pepper: (I will dodge his Rostical and finish him off with a nine finger snap in the face.)
Lance: (I dunno if this will hit her so-) *He pointed down and blasted a stream of lightning into the ground, pushing himself up.*
Pepper: "Hermph." *She slid along the ground, staring at Lance above her.*
Lance: (It worked-) *He held his wrist, causing the lightning to spark away.*
Season: (His lightning, he's unable to hold a current for a long duration.)
Lance: *He started to fall and stared at Pepper, raising the sword behind his back.* (Now it's my turn to use momentum!)
Pepper: (In the air? My speciality.) *She stepped to the side, swinging the mallet to her side.*
Lance: *He shifted his entire body to the side, readying himself to strike.* "You're goin' down!"
Pepper: "I say-" *She spun around and spiralled, slamming the mallet into Lance's sword.*
Lance: "Gah-argh." *Sparks flashed off his sword, as he tumbled across the ground.*
Pepper: "Did you think you had more strength?" *She ignored the sparks and swayed her mallet to the side, watching Lance slowly stand back up.*
Lance: (Man, what went wrong? I fell from the sky, but I didn't even make her budge!-)
Pepper: *She lifted the mallet above her head with ease, charging towards Lance.* (To stand up after a counter like that, he's strong willed.)
Lance: *He looked at Pepper, discreetly sighing to himself.* (She's after me already?)
Karol: *He stared at Pepper in curiosity.* (The vibe I get from that lady.. It's a feeling I vaguelee remember, but who used to give me that same feeling?)
Lance: "Try to block this!" *He held the sword with both hands and slashed across, slicing a shock wave towards Pepper.*
Pepper: "Hmm?" *She noticed the air slash and jumped forward, kicking the shock wave.*
Destiny: (It's the same Astragons from before-) *She watched the shock wave push against Pepper, bending her knee.*
Pepper: *Her hair blasted back and dirt scattered under her, caused by the shock wave.* "Wow-" *She kicked forward, bursting the shock wave into a pulse of wind.* "I say, that attack had incredible force behind it."
Lance: "Yea, I know."
Pepper: (So that's what hit me before.)
Rachael: "How awkward. Your annoying brother has a better fight than Nathan."
Luna: "Aha, yea."
Rachael: "Did you know he was here too?"
Luna: "No clue."
Rachael: (Does that mean Ash is here too?) *Her fingers suddenly twitched with excitement and anticipation.*
Pepper: "I say, enough of these games." *She threw the mallet above her and sighed, catching it with two fingers.*
Lance: (She throws that stupid thing around, as if it weighed nothing.)
Pepper: *She dug her feet into the ground, jumping towards Lance with incredible speed.* (I sense he's preparing a Rostical.)
Lance: "Smear upon the skies, blue waves crashing down-"
Pepper: "Do you have a limit to that, or-" *She jumped into striking distance, staring at Lance face to face.* "Can you use it freely?"
Lance: "LIGHTNING BLAST" *Lightning stringed around his hand, pushing it towards Pepper's head.*
Pepper: "Hammer Spin." *She held the mallet with both hands, slamming it into Lance's hand.* "Harh!"
*A ring of dirt pulsed around Lance and Pepper, as a distorted stream of lightning blasted dirt into air.*
Rachael: (I have to talk to him after the games.. I want to know where my Ash is, I miss him so much.)
*The dirt cloud suddenly exploded, throwing Pepper and Lance into the air.*
Lance: *He hit the ground and bounced up, twirling in the air.* (Shit this hurts-) *He awkwardly landed, sliding along the ground.*
Pepper: *She tumbled across the ground, painfully sliding on her elbow.* (The force recoiled us both equally, but-)
Lance: "A-Ah." *His body twitched, as electricity sparked around his sword and hand.*
Pepper: *She stopped and sighed, slowly standing up.* (His power-) *She stared at Lance, taking deep breaths.* (It's unusually hard to understand-)
Trevour: "What an amazing way to conclude a match."
Spectator: "It appears Lance is unable to battle, Pepper is the winner!"
*The crowd cheered with satisfaction, watching the healing breeze revitalise Lance and Pepper.*
Lance: (Gah, I feel much better.) "Freakin' shit nuggets, I lost. At least I didn't lose on the first match." *He stood up, mumbling to himself in disappointment.*
Pepper: *She took a deep breath, lowering her head.* "This power-?"
Lance: *He walked up to Pepper, flicking the sword to his side.* "How embarrassin', I got beaten up by a little girl."
Pepper: *She looked up, shaking her head in confusion.* "L-Lance?"
Lance: "Come on, let's get outta here. I'm freakin' embarrassed."
Pepper: "Y-Yeah." *She nodded her head, walking with Lance across the arena.* "Wow, that was fun, yeah?"
Lance: *He stared at Pepper and raised an eyebrow, walking towards the gate.* (Now she sounds like a kid again?)
Spectator: "The next match is between Holland Breeze and Myseria Restocks."
Nathan: "Holland Breeze?" *He mumbled to himself.* (That sounds familiar.)
Trevour: "So that gentleman that can use lightning Rostical is also from Earth?"
Rachael: "Yeah. We had no idea."
Trevour: "The chances of encountering each other at least once in three years is quite high. Why only now?"
Luna: "Oh, I dunno aye, Rusty. Better check my stalk your friend app on my phone." *She grunted like Trevour was an idiot.*
Trevour: "My apologies, madam."
Luna: "Makes me wonder if his loser friends are with him."
Rachael: (Ash..)
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Lezard: *He placed his hands on the ground and watched the grass sway in the wind.* "Why do you say this?"
Millard: *He looked down, staring at Lezard with an emotionless face.* "I was going to search for your Neuron signature before I did this."
Lezard: "Things you have told me, there are things left in this world."
Millard: "I know. Tarlea.. Valhalla.. There are many things left unsaid, undone.."
Lezard: "Then, daddypoo, don't talk like it's over."
Millard: *He bent down and adjusted his cone-shaped hat.* "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but this yellow-eyed contagion."
Lezard: "Yellow-eyed this, yellow-eyed that-" *He spoke with a frown and looked up.* "I just want my parents back."
Millard: "If this contagion is as powerful to corrupt a Consultant, do you think it'll really stop there?"
Lezard: "It's already affected people and Scoldrants-"
Millard: "Her condition is worsening."
Lezard: "W-What does that mean...? Mother monster-"
Millard: "I pick up faint energy signatures.. The same ones I once remember-" *He spoke with a sigh, as if he was trying to hide his sadness.* "But they've become less frequent."
Lezard: "Stop-"
Millard: "It means, if I don't do something soon, Kathalestel will no longer be in there-"
Lezard: "Stop-"
Millard: "Lezardestel!"
Lezard: "S-St-.." *He paused with emotion.*
Millard: "Do you think this is easy? These poor old bones are tired, Lezardestel."
Lezard: "You make it sound like I'll have to say goodbye to my father monster or mother monster... Why?"
Millard: "Life.. Things just happen, some things you aren't in control of."
Lezard: "Bwarh-" *He suddenly opened his mouth in sadness, as he was trying to hold back his tears.*
Millard: "That's why.. The things you are in control, make the best you can with them."
Lezard: "I-.... I can stop you from-"
Millard: "My decisions aren't in your control."
Lezard: "...-"
Millard: "But, forming a stronger bond with your friends, your guild, you can."
Lezard: (Razzypoo, Loonamotto, Karol, Trevmeister, Nathan..) *He shook his head.* "Guilds, bonds, friendship, they're all fine and dandy, father monster. But only a silly sausage wouldn't choose their parents."
Millard: "These old bones never wanted to say anything like this, but.. I won't be around forever-"
Lezard: "But you're here now?! That's what you don't understand!" *He shook his arms, digging his fingers into the ground.*
Millard: *He paused, as if he didn't know what to say.* "...-"
Lezard: "I just want my daddypoo and-"
Millard: "You've lived through multiple lifetimes, don't you think it's time to stop the nicknames?"
Lezard: "But, my nicknames are delicious." *He stared at the grass with double vision, as tears dropped out of his eyes.*
Millard: "No, they aren't delicious."
Lezard: "H-Huh?"
Millard: "They are succulent." *He spoke with a smile and hugged Lezard.*
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Spectator: "It appears Myseria is unable to battle, Holland is the winner." *His words caused the crowd to once again cheer with excitement.*
Luna: "That guy is a Scoldrant User too?" *She looked down at the very large man in the arena.*
Destiny: *She stared at the black husky-like Scoldrant with magnified vision.* (Yes. I can sense the Soul Link from him.)
Luna: (Do you think they can talk together like this, too?)
Destiny: "Yeup?"
Luna: (Wat do ya mean, I don't know?!)
Destiny: (I didn't know much myself until we Soul Linked, but it all came naturally to me. Each Soul Link is different.)
Luna: (Man... I feel so lost, aye-)
Destiny: (But I'm here!)
Luna: "Aye?" *She looked up to her head, staring at Destiny in shock.*
Trevour: *He looked to his side, glancing at Luna.* "Did you say something, madam?"
Luna: "Ah-" *She shook her head in realisation.* "Nah, I'm good, Rusty."
