Ok guys, here's Chapter 3. I'm still not running out of ideas, but a little suggestion can make it better. Sorry if this chapter's a bit short. I kinda got into a little problem back at school, that's why this chapter's short. But don't worry, i'll try my best to make the succeeding chapters more... interesting. And don't forget to leave reviews, ok? It's fun to read your reviews about my story. And I think I'll be responding to some reviews, too.

Chapter 3: Into the Stronghold

Blaster Blade was left there, unable to move, unable to do anything. His body wanted to move, fetch his sword, and follow his brother. But his mind protested against it. He was bombarded by emotions that he had reined in for almost 20 years. His body was paralyzed by the emotions, coming and swirling around him, threatening to rip off his sanity. Slowly, his mental defense against the emotions degraded, until he was vulnerable, exposed. Tears continued to dribble down his cheeks, and he might have cried there for eternity if not for Wingal. He heard him flying towards him. He did not move, didn't take any action to hide his tears. Instead, he let Wingal reach him.

"B-Blaster Blade! What happened? Why are you… crying?" He asked, concern weaving its way into his voice.

"Wingal… I have found him…" Blade answered in between sobs.

"What have you found?"

"I found… him…"

"You mean… you have found… your brother?"

"Yes, but… he did not remember me. He didn't know me! He forgot all about me!" Blade finally rose, gripping the soil with his hands.

"Get a hold of yourself! If you have found him, then go get him! You love him right? He's your brother! Come on! I'll help you." Wingal took Blade's sword and gave it to him. "Here. Now come on."

Blade took hold of his sword, and new strength flowed through him. He stood up, dusted his armor, and looked at the direction his brother went.

"Blaster Dark, I'll take you home now."

It took Blaster Dark a while to reach his base. There, the guard posted at the gate quickly let him through. He went straight to his cabin, a small, black bungalow with a hanging sign saying "Home Sweet Home".

Inside, Doranbau was busy licking the crumbs from his plate, while Blaster Javelin was washing the dishes.

"Hey, Dark-yo! Where'd you go anyway-yo?" He asked while rinsing a plate.

"Nowhere. Just scouted out the forest. Can I have a glass of water?" Javelin ceased scrubbing and handed Dark a glass of water. He drank it down in a few gulps. He returned the glass to Javelin.

"What did you see, anyway? Were there some intruders?" Doranbau asked.

"N-no, there was no one."

"Well then, why are you exhausted?"

"I ran all the way here."

"Okay then," Doranbau remarked, but he did not take his eyes off Dark as he stood up and stretched on his bed. Doranbau was skeptical about what Dark told him. Did he meet someone in the woods? He asked himself. To be sure, he himself left the cabin to scout out the woods on his own.

"I see someone coming!" Wingal said to Blade, and both of them reached up a tree, where they were hidden by the large, green leaves. As they waited, the said newcomer came into sight. It was sniffing the air suspiciously. Wingal gasped and tugged at Blaster Blade.

"It's Doranbau!" he whispered forcibly.

"Who's Doranbau?" he replied.

"When we were young, Doranbau was your brother's pet, same way as I'm your pet. We were the best of friends back then, but when your brother, Blaster Dark, disappeared mysteriously, he came to me to say he'll find his master. He said he'll come back in a few days, but he never did." Wingal explained with feeling in his voice.

Doranbau sensed something… someone. He became alert and spied every tree around him. He sniffed the air and smelled a familiar scent. A memory of a friend, a promise to come back… he couldn't remember it. As he looked up, he saw a small, dog-like figure hulking about in the shadows of the tree's leaves. He bared his fangs and growled at the creature.

"Doranbau?" Wingal voiced out.

"That voice… it's unmistakably… Wingal!?" Doranbau exclaimed.

Like two friends who have not seen each other for so long, they bit and nuzzled each other-a dog's way to greet a long lost friend. Blaster Blade watched the scene from his perch, unsure if he should get down and introduce himself or stay there to keep safe.

"Where have you been? What happened to you?" Wingal asked after they have greeted each other.

"Well, my master, Blaster Dark, I found him taken by this… clan. They took me in, since I explained that he's my master, and I followed him. Doranbau explained patiently.

"I have someone with me." Wingal called Blaster Blade from the tree. In a moment, he was by Wingal's side.

"Hi. I'm Blaster Blade, Wingal's master." He smiled with practiced confidence.

"Yes, I remember you. You're the one who fed me when my master's out fighting. Or training, as he calls it." Doranbau reminisced in the memory. "Well, I know why you guys are here. You're welcome to our base, as long as you guys keep hidden. You can use a black blanket as cover. Wingal, you don't need cover, cause I'm your cover." he assured Wingal.

After a few minutes of walking, Blaster Blade, Wingal and Doranbau made it to the entrance of the base. "Well guys, here we are. Welcome to the base of the Shadow Paladins!"