Chapter 10: Surprise, Surprise
After putting their wagon away, John checked himself and the others into the local inn for the night. After doing that, he and Susan decided to have lunch, at the local restaurant.
"So, do you want to order, or should I?", John asked Susan.
"Maybe you should.", Susan suggested looking at the menu. "I don't want to order something that I have no idea about."
"How about a salad and some mixed vegetable soup?", John suggested.
"What kind of vegatables?", Susan asked with a raised eyebrow.
John then busted out laughing, causing Susan to laugh with him.
"Don't worry.", John said as he calmed down a bit. "It's a mix of vegetables grown on Metamoor, and Earth."
"I guess I'll give it a try.", Susan said.
Once the waiter came and took their order, they went back to talking about old times.
In another part of the town, the others were walking around town, taking in all that was there. Irma was the first to notice a thing of train-like track that lead underground.
"Hey, what's that?", Irma asked pointing to the tracks.
"That would be the Quick Tunnel tracks.", Joe answered. "We use them to get to other towns and cities in the Drakken Kingdom, if we need to get there fast."
"How do they work?", Taranee asked.
"They're like a subway and a roller coaster.", Joe replied. "They move underground, at great speeds, to where they need to go. And with no twist and turns to make, it can make it to where it needs to be in a shorter time, than it would be if traveling on the normal paths."
"So, why not take them to the capital city?", Caleb asked.
"The carts that we use, needs to be here for us to use.", Joe said. "The chances of the happening, are very slim."
Suddenly, a rumbling sound was heard, startling everyone. Just then, a large train-like cart came up from the hole the tracks lead down to.
"Then again, I could be wrong.", Joe said as he walked up to the cart as the doors opened.
Just then a group of soldiers walked out of the cart. Along with them were two people Joe knew. One of them was a young dark-skinned female with black hair and brown eyes, dressed in brown boots pants and a brown mid-drift shirt, with a bow at her back with a quiver full of arrows, and a short sword strapped to her belt. The other was a young male with brown wings, brown hair and blue eyes, dressed in brown boots, black pants and a blue shirt with a staff strapped to his back.
"Selece and Falco!", Joe said. "What brings you two here?"
"Sir Joesph!", Selece said happily as she gave Joe a hug. "What are you doing here?"
"I believe I asked first, young lady.", Joe said with a smirk.
"Oh right!", Selece said. "I turns out that some Lurdens have been stealing livestock, and produce from this town."
"So, the king sent you along with these soldiers here to capture them.", Joe figured.
"Pretty much.", Selece said.
"So, are these the spacial guest that are coming to the palace?", Falco asked
"Yes they are.", Joe said. "Falco, Selece let me introduce you to Taranee, Irma, Hay Lin, and Cornelia. Four of the five Guardians. And this is Yan Lin. One of the former Guardians, and Caleb from Meridian, and finally Matt, one of the Regents of Earth."
"So, your Irma?", Selece asked looking at Irma. "We've heard about you."
"Oooooh!", the other girls said before laughing.
"And you're Matt?", Falco questioned looking at Matt, who was in his normal form. "We've heard about you too."
"Oh boy.", Matt said. "Look, we can explain..."
"Don't tell us.", Selece said. "Tell it to Will, when you see her."
"How is Will?", Hay Lin asked.
"She's doing fine.", Falco said. "Granted she's been spending a lot of time with Angelo."
"Really now?", Joe questioned with a smirk.
"Hey pop!", John called out to his father as he and Susan came walking up to them. "Selece and Falco? So, what I just heard is true. Lurdens have been spotted around here."
"Unfortunately, yes.", Falco said. "The king sent us to help capture them and have them sent to Lurden Island."
"Lurden Island?", Cornelia asked. "Where's that."
"It's an island, far off from here.", John explained. "It's where we send any Lurdens we capture to live freely. It's actually very nice."
"So, how's Angelo doing?", John asked.
"He's doing great. He and...", Falco stopped in mid-sentence as he notice Susan staring at him. "Is there something wrong, ma'am?"
"What?", Susan asked. "Oh no! It's just that... well..."
"I think I get it.", John said. "You've never seen a Aveon before. Susan, let me introduce you to Falco of the Skyan Kingdom. And part of the Drakken Kingdom's Royal Court."
"Ma'am.", Falco said as they shook hands.
"Nice to meet you.", Susan said.
"And this is Selece.", John said introducing Selece to her. "She to is from Earth."
"Hi.", Selece said as she as Susan shook hands.
"Where on Earth do you come from.", Susan asked.
"I lived in Florida.", Selece said. "Believe me when I first fell into the portal that lead here, I was just as surprised as you probably were, when you first cane through here."
"And yet you and Angelo got through it all.", Joe said.
"I guess you're right.", Selece said. "But when I went back home, after we found out folds could be open, I had to convince my family to let me stay here to avoid questioning from the police. And that was no fun."
"But they did agree.", Falco said as he held her hand. "And I for one am happy for it."
"You and me both.", Selece said before they shared a quick kiss.
"I guess we can take the Quick Tunnels back to Yaga.", Joe said.
"Sorry, but the cart is needed to go pick up supplies from Kelfla.", Selece said. "They need more lumber to make extra tables for the kings and queens that are coming to the festival."
"What kind of festival?", Hay Lin asked getting a bit excited.
"The annual festival to celebrate Tarnas's defeat, and the crowing of the Warrior King.", Falco explained.
"It's something the people wanted to do.", Joe replied. "Around this time of year, the people of the Drakken Kingdom have a seven day festival celebrating their freedom from Tarnas's rule."
"During the second day of the festival, there's a Grand Feast, that every town, city, and village has at large tables, set up with plenty of food for everyone to share.", John said.
"Sound a bit like Thanksgiving.", Matt said.
"In a way, you're right.", Selece said. "It not only brings people together, but it shows us all what to be thankful for."
"But these Lurden sightings could be a problem.", John said.
"What do you mean.", Susan asked.
"Well, the king has a choice to make.", John explained. "He can either postpone the festival, or let it go on as planned."
"What would happen if he cancels it?", Cornelia asked.
"If he does that, it'll look like a sign of weakness to the rulers of the Skyan and Ferala Kingdoms.", Joe explained. "For you see, the rulers of those two kingdoms hardly fear a thing."
"And if he goes on with the festival, innocent people me be put in danger.", Taranee figured.
"Bingo.", Selece said. "So we're here to see if he can fix this problem."
"Well, I'm backing you two up.", John said. "It's been a while since I had a good fight. You up for a bit of Lurden busting, pop?"
"Why not.", Joe said. "It could be fun."
"You were never one to turn away from a fight.", Yan Lin said, rolling her eyes.
"You better believe it.", Joe said with a grin.
"Can we help?", Hay Lin asked.
"Yeah!", Taranee said. "We've dealt with our fair share of Lurdens, when we were fighting aginst Phobos. I mean the Claynan Phobos."
"The more, the merrier!", Selece said. "The sooner we take care of all this, the sooner we can get back to Yaga."
"Then it's settled.", John said. "Tonight, we go Lurden busting."
Just then one of the soilders came running up to them.
"Sir Falco. Lady Selece. The soldiers are at their post on lookout for any signs of Lurdens.", the soldier said. "The rest of us are taking our rest, for the shift change later tonight."
"Good.", Falco said. "Later tonight, me, and Selece, as well as Sir John and other members of his party here, will be going with us to the farmlands to see if we can catch some Lurdens. While we're gone, Sir Joesph will be in charge."
"By your command.", the soilder said with a salute, before walking away.
"Yanni. You and Susan will be staying in the inn, while we're gone.", Joe said.
"Be careful.", Yan Lin said. "I don't want to have to tell Kadma that she's a widow. All of you be careful."
"Don't worry, Grandma.", Hay Lin said. "We've dealt with Lurdens plenty of times. It'll be a peace of cake."
With that said, everybody went their separate ways. All but Susan who stopped to talk with, Selece.
"Selece, right?", Susan asked Selece.
"Um... yes.", Selece replied.
"I have to ask.", Susan said. "How's my daughter, Will? Is she okay?"
"She's doing fine.", Selece said with a smile. "She does miss you, but is afraid of how you'll take her being a Guardian and all."
"Right now, I'm just glad she's okay.", Susan said as she breathed a sigh of relief. "I've somewhat dealt with the whole Guardian thing. It's going to take some getting use to."
"I think she'll understand.", Selece said as they caught up with the others. "Just be sure to tell her that, and I think everything will be okay."
"Thanks.", Susan said. "Part of me needed to hear that."
"You're welcome.", Selece said.
"Hey Selece!", Falco called to Selece. "Come here for a moment!"
"Coming!", Selece said. "I'll see you later, Ms. Vandom!"
"Okay!", Susan said as she waved to Selece.
Susan then looked up at the sky. The sky was clear, and the birds were flying freely through it.
"You okay, Susan?", John asked walking up to her.
"Actually, yeah. I am.", Susan said. "Will's safe, and I just realised that she's a lot stronger than I thought she was."
"That's good to here.", John said as they walked towards the inn, to get some rest.
"By the way, thanks for the lunch.", Susan said. "The food was quite interesting."
"I thought the same thing, when I first had some it.", John grinned. "Come on. Let's catch up with the others."
Walking side by side, John and Susan headed for the inn, where the others were, getting their rest before their search for Lurdens, later that night.
In Yaga, Angelo and the others had just finished their lunch, and headed out to the Royal Garden, to relax a bit. Angelo was pretty surprised to see Will in clothes like the ones the people who lived there wear. She was in a pair of brown lady pants, brown boots, and a white, long sleeve, frill shirt.
'She looks pretty cute in those clothes.', Angelo thought to himself as he sat next to Will, under a tree, away from the others, who were somewhere else.
"Phobos told me about the Lurdens being spotted near one of the towns.", Will said looking up at the sky.
"It's nothing to worry about.", Angelo said as he picked a blue flower up and sniffed it. "I've sent a group of soldiers, along with Falco and Selece, to the town to capture them and send them to Lurden Island."
"An island for Lurdens?", Will asked with a grin. "Now I've got to see that."
"It's real.", Angelo said. "They have everything they need there."
"It must be a beautiful place.", Will said with a sarcastic smirk.
"Actually it is.", Angelo said.
"It is?", Will questioned.
"Yep.", Angelo said as he showed Will the blue flower he had pick from the ground. "Sometimes, you can find true beauty, of you're willing to look hard enough. And if you find it, it'll be worth it."
Angelo the put the flower in Will's hair, above her left ear.
"Totally worth it.", he said looking in to her eyes making her blush a bit.
'Wow!', Will thought to herself. 'Now or never, Will!'
Will then leaned towards Angelo and kissed him. Needless to say he was surprised by this, but soon he returned the kiss, as they fell back on the flowers behind them. Both were enjoying their moment together, hoping not to be interrupted by anyone or anything as they ran their fingers though each others hair. Soon the need for air came, as they pulled away from each other. They both just laid there, looking into each others eyes and saw the feelings they had for each other.
"Hold me.", Will requested of Angelo.
"Will?", Angelo questioned her.
"Just hold me.", she told him with pleading eyes. "Just for a little while."
Understanding what she meant, Angelo pulled Will closer to himself and wrapped his arms around her protectively.
"I don't want to lose this.", she said holding on to Angelo a little tighter. "I don't want to lose you again."
"You won't Will.", Angelo said as he stroked the back of her head. "You won't. As long as you keep me in your memories, and your heart, you'll never forget me."
With that they just laid there holding each other, hoping for the best, as the shade of the tree kept them cool. Soon they drifted off to sleep, in each others arms. Watching them, from afar, were Cassidy, and Nerissa.
"It's about time!", Cassidy said.
"Yeah. I thought they'd never get together!", Nerissa said.
"So, do we go congratulate the happy couple?", Cassidy asked.
"Nah!", Nerissa said. "Let's leave them be. They need this time alone."
"I guess you're right.", Cassidy agreed as they made their way out of the Royal Garden, giving Angelo and Will their privacy.
A/N: Well, with John, Joe, Matt, Caleb, and the other Guardians helping Selece and Falco, they may be able to nip this Lurden problem in the bud. And it seems Will and Angelo are now a couple. I wonder how Matt's going to take things?
P.S.: I decided to sort of have Angelo and Will get together now. You'll see why later on. Simply put, Will had a dream.