Let's move on, shall we?

Chapter 3: Legends and Lore

"Thousands of years ago, there were two secret clans: the Sizone Clan and the Aunka Clan. Each clan had a variety of members scattered throughout the globe. However, these clans couldn't be more different. While the Aunka wanted nothing more than to keep the peace, the Sizone wanted something sinister and vile: world domination."

"For years, these clans were at each other's throats. At first, it wasn't to bad. Name calling, here. Dirty looks there. But soon, things got edgy. We're talking kidnapping, death threats, murders! Before anyone who wasn't a clan member could even start piecing all this together, a horrible war broke out between the two clans. A lot of blood was shed. Many lives were lost.""

"Now, here's where it gets more twisted than a soft pretzel," Skipper warned. "So, pay attention, soldier. I'm only gonna tell you this story once. During the war, a young Doublo named Ariana-"

"What's a Doublo?" Johnson asked.

"The offspring of a Sizone and an Aunka," Skipper answered.

The other penguin was confused. "But, from what you told me, that doesn't sound possible."

His leader facepalmed. "Johnson, what part of 'secret clans' are you not getting? That kind of thing is usually by accident. Sometimes, the married couple never finds out the truth about each other. But, the clans usually found out, and kept it secret to avoid losing a member to love." He thought for a moment, then said "now, where was I...?"

"Ariana."

"Oh, right."

"Ariana Trayton was a young Doublo girl, who steered clear of both groups. You see, Johnson, by the age of eighteen, a Doublo was required to chose a clan to follow. However, Ariana wanted to pursue her own ideals, so she fled. No ones knows precisely where she went, but they say it was somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. Anyway, that dame was a bit of a sorcerress. When she heard about the war, she knew she had to do something. So, Ariana used her power to create a powerful orb she called 'Dionte.'"

"Dionte?" Johnson repeated. "What is that, Latin?"

Skipper slapped him. "That was the magic word she chanted to create it, soldier. Hence, why she called that...I think."

"Legend has it, whoever owned this mystical object had enough power to do anything. From bringing people back to life, to taking over the world. Ariana used its power to stop the war, and bring peace between the clans. For a good while, the clans got along just fine. Soon, however, word spread of the orb, and a lot of Sizone wanted it. You see, Ariana may have stopped the war, but she didn't change the clans' individual ideals. The Sizone Clan still wanted world domination, and the Aunka still wanted to protect the earth. Driven by their desires to find the Dionte, they turned on each other once again."

"In order to put a stop to this, once and for all, Ariana broke the Dionte into several orbs, and hid them in various places where Copenhagen stands today. She picked Copenhagen, because it used to be a lifeless wasteland that no one ever went to."

"Whatever happened to the clans, Skipper?" Johnson was very interested in this story.

"They still exist, today, but there are hardly any members left. Nevertheless, the remaining members are still searching for the orbs, so they can recreate the Dionte. Of course, first they'd need a Doublo, because Doublo are the only beings who can put the individual orbs together...or so I hear."

"How do you know about all this, Skipper?"

"Brace yourself, Johnson, for what I'm about to tell you. I. Am. An Aunka." Johnson gasped. "Furthermore," Skipper continued. "I'm the only Aunka left. My Symbol of Aunka-the X-shaped thing you saw-was taken from me, because, along with a Doublo, you'd need the symbol of both clans in order to recreate the Dionte."

"So, Hans, Manfredi, and Annelise are in the Sizone Clan?" Johnson asked, finally understanding the recent events, and why Skipper was so eager to leave.

"affirmative."

A determined glint found its way into Johnson's eye. "Well, I'm helping you find the orbs!"

"Johnson?"

"If those orbs are causing all this trouble, we'd better find them before the Sizone do! Even if we can't put them together, we can still protect them!"

Skipper pondered this, then smiled. "Commence Operation: Expedition!"

And it begins... Please review!