Kettle and David had traveled far and wide. Their adventures had taken them to the far side of the world from their little hometown, which seemed like a speck in the dust compared to all the wonders they had witnessed. The adventuring duo had just crossed over what seemed like the hundredth mountain on their journey.

"No more mountains, David. I'm not as nimble as you." Kettle huffed as he followed his friend over the last bump in the road. "I need to take a break." The kettle's younger self was a much richer brown in color and he didn't even have a mustache yet either.

"No worries." Said David, jumping onto a six-foot boulder. "According to that eagle, we should be getting close to the next town." His brown-furred goat legs allowed him to jump and climb much easier than the brown kettle. With his trident in hand, he looked about at their surroundings. It was rusted a bit, but its golden sparkle was still visible under the light coating of bronze. His human-like upper half was covered in his specially crafted armor. The helmet pressed down his thick and curly brown hair but left clear holes for his horns to fit through.

Kettle leaned against a rock with his armored body filling up with sweat. His sword was safely sheathed in its holster on his hip.

Something caught David's attention as he saw something large spiral upward into the air. The wind from it nearly knocked him off the boulder.

"Whoa! What was that?" The faun gasped as he got spun around. Kettle looked up and saw what looked like a lizard with wings.

"Is that a dragon?" He wondered aloud. And then it came plummeting back down, and Kettle's suspicion was confirmed. Down came an armored dragon with fiery red scales. Every part of its body was long and skinny, each one of its scales were etched carefully into the skin and clearly visible. But the kettle noticed that something was on its back. David looked down into the valley and saw a handful of creatures brandishing weapons upward toward the winged reptile. The duo watched as the dragon swooped down and unleashed a stream of fire from its mouth. All of the organisms ducked for cover. Flames ate away at the grass, but did not find its way to any of the opposing creatures.

"Looks like they could use some help!" David said, leaping off the boulder. "Come on!" Kettle raced after the faun. He looked up at the dragon again as it swooped low to the ground again.

"Get off!" Kettle heard a deep voice rumble as it went by. It was then that the glassware realized that it wasn't something on the dragon – It was someone! The red beast rose upward but then took a nosedive, throwing itself into a somersault. This ultimately tossed the person off. The pitch of its screech told Kettle that it was a female. Acting out of instinct, he rushed towards the falling person, holding his gloved hands outward.

"Oof!" She said as her body collided into the kettle's.

"I've got you!" He said, reassuring her that she was safe. The female, who turned out to be a slender pink kettle, stared into her savior's eyes with gratitude. And Kettle stared right back. Their hearts seemed to skip a beat as they saw perfection in one another's eyes.

("It was love at first sight." Kettle commented.")

("More like betrayal at first sight!" The Devil argued.)

"It's coming back!" Someone shouted, breaking up their tender moment. Kettle immediately put the female down and got ready for the fire-breathing beast's return. The bipedal dragon landed on the ground, letting its pulsing yellow eyes sweep over each one of the creatures that opposed it. A crown of spikes grew around its head and reached down its long jawbone. It gave a roar, showing its many sharp fangs, and charged forward. Kettle noticed that its four-clawed hand was going for its own sword that was hitched to its armor on the right side.

"Cover me!" The pink she-glassware said, racing toward it. "You go right!" She said as she noticed Kettle running alongside her. They both brought out their swords and got ready to use them against the red reptile. The two swords cut into the monster's sides. It screeched in agony and bumped the female away with the hilt of his sword.

"Ugh!" She cried as her body collided with the scorched earth. Kettle went to rush to her side as David prepared to launch his trident at the beast. He lobbed it so hard and accurate that the three points went right between the plates of armor on its torso. The dragon roared in pain and lost its footing. Its gangly body kept moving forward until it was over the faun. David couldn't get out of the way fast enough and the flying reptile fell right on top of him. It took a few seconds for the thundering crash from the beast's body to dissipate. A layer of dust flew off its armor and danced around in the air like a bunch of flies.

"Help!" Came David's muffled cry under the armor and scales. A single hand waved around from under the heap, hoping that someone would come help him. The hand that came to help felt much like his instead of the kettle's. David took a gasp of air as his body was yanked out from under the silver plates. Before him stood a gray-furred centaur.

"Thanks!" He praised the half horse, half human creature. Its rigid and serious looking face gave a nod of understanding.

"Are you okay?" Came Kettle's voice.

"Well, as good as I can be considering I just got crushed by a dragon." The faun replied, feeling like he could have been crushed even more had no one helped him. His human hands frantically dusted off some substance from his armor. It was dry and red with a dust-like consistency. David realized that it must have been the reptile's shedding skin. He turned around to find that the glassware wasn't even talking to him, but in fact another person made of glass.

"I'm fine." The pink female replied as Kettle helped her to her feet. "Thanks to you."

David just stood there staring at the scene in front of him. He could've just died and his best friend is off talking to a girl!

"Young faun, what is your name?" A strong-sounding male voice came from behind him. There was no doubt that it was the centaur talking to him.

"David." He replied, turning back around.

"That's quite an aim you've got there. We can always use skilled warriors such as yourself." The steady and calm voice traveled all the way to David's soul. It made him feel empowered. The faun put a humble smile on his face. He was about to say something more when the monstrous lizard behind him began to stir.

"We told you to leave us alone!" The centaur said sternly, stamping a hoof to the ground. "How many times to we have to drive you out of our town?"

"Heh, heh, heh!" It laughed at them, letting trails of smoke billow out of his nostrils. All of the creatures did not seem shaken by the fact that it had just gotten impaled and it was still talking and trying to get up. Only Kettle and David were the ones dumbfounded at how this creature could still be living and breathing.

"I'll keep coming back as much as I want! And there's nothing you can do to stop me!" The red dragon's deep voice rumbled.

"Be gone, foul creature! You've lost for today!" The centaur persisted. It growled at the hybrid body in front of it. "Or would you want to try your luck again against this boy's aim again?" David flinched in fear when the mammal gestured to him. He had hit the creature that one time, but could he really get so lucky again? Poor David wasn't sure he wanted to test his luck. Bulging yellow eyes shifted over to him. A low rumble sounded in its throat as the lanky body went to stand up. The faun put a determined look upon his face despite the hint of fear growing in his heart. An armored body got up on all fours, still staring at the other bipedal creature. David watched as its tail crawled under its body and grabbed onto his trident that was still stuck in its gut. The wound bled profusely. And it only bled more when the weapon was pulled out. A mini flood seemed to erupt from the dragon's body. David grimaced at the sight of so much blood. He was afraid its actual guts were going to fall out. The tail then tossed the golden weapon to the faun's hooved feet.

"You haven't seen the last of me…." The flying reptile sneered, still staring intensely at David. It seemed to single him out among all the other people standing around it. Large and powerful wings lifted it into the sky as it flew off over the mountain that he and Kettle had just traversed. They all watched the dragon until it was gone from sight. David then picked up his bloodied weapon and turned back to his new centaur friend.

"Come." It said, holding out a hand. "We must go home and recover now." The faun happily grabbed the hybrid's hand. Its powerful bicep lifted the smaller creature off the ground and plopped it onto his back. "David and I will go ahead and make sure there's no more trouble back in town."

"I'll see you in a little bit, Kettle!" The faun called out, waving his hand. But the glassware still had not noticed him. For his eyes were still glued to the female. The centaur could tell that his new friend was feeling a bit left out.

"Hold on." He told the biped. David squeezed tightly with his legs to hold onto the horse torso. The centaur took off galloping at a steady pace toward his home. Meanwhile, his passenger got thinking about what he told the dragon. About how they had to keep driving it off and how it responded that it would keep coming back as much as it wanted.

"So that dragon comes around and terrorizes your village often?" David asked.

"Yes. I'm not sure why it chooses to attack our village above others though. It's just evil and likes to torture us in particular." The other hybrid explained.

"But if he's such a problem, then why don't you just kill him? There was plenty opportunity for that when he was down."

To this the centaur just stayed quiet. He then answered his guest with a very cryptic and unsatisfying response.

"Some things…..are just best left alive."

What the hell does that mean? David wondered. The two remained in silence for the rest of the trip to town. For he did not want to push a subject that seemed a bit touchy to the locals. But yet he still didn't understand the response that was given to him.

David watched as his new friend brought him to the town's medical practitioner. Slinging himself off the equine body, he landed gracefully on the ground with his own two hooves.

"Have the doctor give you look-over just to make sure you didn't sustain any injuries from the dragon. If she questions who you are, just tell her that Chiron sent you."

"Thanks….erm, Chiron." He replied. The centaur nodded to him and trotted off elsewhere. David watched as it traveled down the dirt road. The town's small and cramped buildings lined the streets, nearly on top of one another. In fact, a few of them did reside on top of one another. Changes in color and architecture made this distinction clear. Very few locals were actually bustling about the streets. David assumed this was probably because the dragon had been spotted nearby and they were still waiting for the all clear signal. Those that were walking about stared at him and talked to one another in hushed voices. For he was a stranger and they were unsure if he was friendly or not. The faun quickly shuffled himself inside to avoid their harsh stares. Even the doctor seemed a bit uncomfortable in this person's presence. So he described to her what happened and that he knew Chiron. Upon hearing out his story, she became more agreeable and gave him a good look-over. The doctor concluded that he had no broken bones or any serious injuries.

David stepped out of her office after having been patched up for the few wounds he had and looked about town. He noticed Chiron trotting up to him.

"I take it all was well?" The centaur said. His little friend gave a nod. "Come. I will give you a tour of our village." David's little goat tail whipped back and forth in curiosity. He followed the large hybrid about town as all the buildings were explained to him. As time passed by, the locals seemed to be less scared of him. Perhaps part of the reason was that he stayed alongside the centaur that was considerably bigger than he was.

"Mommy! Mommy, look! A faun!" Came a young female voice. David looked over and saw a family of garden trolls staring at him. They had three children, but the oldest seemed to be the one that marveled at his presence. Even she seemed no older than about six years old.

"Hello there, little one!" David said as he leaned toward the young troll that was covered in foliage. Small white flowers sprouted from her head. Her round body waddled up to him without fear.

"Wow!" The troll's eyes sparkled. She looked about his armor and even noticed his trident in hand. And how it was still stained with blood. "Who were you fighting?"

"We just drove off the dragon!" The faun boasted. "He won't be bothering you for a while now!"

"You're my hero!" Her stubby little arms hugged his torso. David blushed a bit at the child's compliment.

"If a meanie ever comes by, just call for David and I'll protect you." He explained.

"Okay! Bye-bye, faun!" She said, almost rolling back to her parents. The faun watched as the little garden troll kept looking back at him as they continued on their way.

"I take it fauns are not common in these parts." He turned back to the centaur.

"No. It is also uncommon to see a lone faun." Chiron stated. "Where is your herd?"

"The only herd I have is my buddy Kettle." David admitted. But then he realized he had not seen the kettle throughout their explorations. "Speaking of which, I should probably start looking for him. You haven't seen him, have you?"

"Your friend is with Ceramica." He stated. "She is a fierce and loyal warrior. And she will be a loyal partner for your kettle friend."

"Partner?" The faun jumped in surprise at what Chiron was suggesting. "Whoa, whoa! I think you misunderstand us. We are travelling warriors and can't stay for too long. There's no way Kettle is talking about settling down right now!" David just hoped what he said was right. After seeing the glassware talking to the other one earlier, he had his doubts.

"Maybe. Maybe not. You will have to ask him yourself. Ceramica's house is the last one on the left." His gray-tinted hand pointed the way to the she-glassware's house.

"Thanks, Chiron. I'll see you later." With that, the faun skipped over to the mentioned hovel and knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Came the female's voice in a cheery manner. David slowly opened the door. Upon closing it behind him, he passed by the kitchen and stepped into the living room where she and Kettle were enjoying each other's company.

"Oh, it's your friend!" The pink kettle immediately got up to greet her new guest. "I was wondering when you were going to stop by. My name's Ceramica!" She said enthusiastically, shaking his hand so hard that David's body jiggled up and down.

"I'm David." He responded, trying to get his bearings.

"Are you hurt, dear? I saw what happened with the dragon. You were very brave!" Ceramica praised as she looked him over.

"I'm fine." The faun responded. On the one hand, he was happy that she was so considerate and caring of others. The female seemed much more concerned about him than his best buddy. But at the same time, he tried to hide his suspicions that Kettle wanted to settle with her.

"Good to see you, pal!" Kettle finally addressed him. "Take a seat and join us!"

"Actually, I-"

"We should all go to The Sloppy Ogre!" Ceramica interrupted him. "Drinks are on me, boys!"

"That sounds like a grand idea!" The brown kettle said already standing up. "Let's go!"

David watched as the female bolted for the door. And Kettle was hot on her trail. He held up a hand to stop the glassware from getting away from him. It gently rested on the kettle's shoulder.

"Kettle, there's something I want to talk to you about." He said in a serious tone.

"Can't it wait? We'll just pop over and have a drink. It would be rude to refuse the lady. Besides, it's not like we're in a hurry, right?"

"No, I suppose not. But-!"

"Then what are we waiting for? To The Sloppy Ogre!" David got interrupted yet again. His pal pushed right past him, and followed the girl eagerly. In fact, he didn't even stop to see if the faun was following him. But it was. Slowly and at a distance, but he did follow. And that was exactly how he felt, like he was distanced from his friend whom he thought he had known so well. It was as if the meeting with Ceramica changed his outlook on things. That he had been degraded to a third wheel in the kettle's book.

The three of them entered into a bustling bar that was also a nightclub. They took their armor off and left it by the coat rack near the door. Many a creature sat around the spacious dance floor and upon stools at the bar itself. Behind the bar was a variety of ingredients and a very chubby ogre. Moss and swamp weeds grew from the green and slimy creature's skin.

"Hey there, Chugga!" The pink kettle greeted the ogre. "Hit me with three moonshines!"

"Three?" It questioned. "Now hold on, if you think you're going to try and beat my moonshine chugging record, you'll have to train first!" The bouncy green blob teasingly challenged its friend.

"No, silly!" She chuckled. "The other two are for my new friends." Ceramica gestured to the kettle and faun that came up on both sides of her. He looked to the two new faces, but Chugga's sights seemed to fall on Kettle.

"Well I'll be! You found another of your species! Treat that boy good and maybe he'll stick around for a while, if you know what I mean. Nothing like a few good drinks to loosen him up a bit."

"Oh, Chugga, that's crazy! We just met!" The female blushed as she tried to swipe away the ogre's attempts to hook them up. David saw how she blushed, but it didn't just say that she was embarrassed. It also said that Chugga was right to assume that she felt that way toward Kettle. The faun realized that he must have made a face because Chugga then looked to him.

"Sorry, man. We don't have any female fauns in town. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen one within a week's travel time."

"Oh, I'm not looking to settle anytime yet. There's still so much to explore before I even think about that." He said so that Kettle could hear. Chugga began to mix their drinks.

"Take my advice, man, if you ever find a girl willing to give you the time, you should seriously consider it." The ogre said as he shook up a vat of ingredients. David's little goat ears curled back as if he were insulted that Chugga pushed that subject while the brown kettle was around.

"Here you are." Three wooden cups were pushed the trio's way. "Just try not to drink it too fast or you'll end up like me." He said, smacking his stomach with a wet hand.

"Drink up, boys!" Ceramica beamed, picking up her own. "I'll make sure Chugga knows that you're on my tab, so you can have as much as you want."

"A-are you sure? We don't want to impose…" Kettle nervously said. But it was clear that he liked her very much and was willing to do whatever to stay by her side.
"Absolutely! What's mine is yours!" She replied. Behind her, David rolled his eyes at what was going on between the two of them. He flinched when the pink kettle then turned in his direction.

"How's the moonshine, David? It's not too strong for you, I hope." Ceramica said, making an effort to see that the faun wasn't left out either.

"It's fine." He replied. But then he noticed that there was a thick layer of clear slime on the outside of the cup. "I just usually prefer mine with less….slime." The sticky substance clung to his hand as he let go of the cup. He shook it violently, trying to get the unknown liquid off.

"Sorry about that." She whispered. "Chugga's not the….cleanest of people."

David sat there for what seemed like an hour while the two glass people chatted it up. He was about to get a word in when Ceramica pulled the brown kettle to the dance floor. Live musicians had set up shop and were pounding the music out for all who wanted to party. David moved himself away from the bar so he didn't have to listen to Chugga's weird jokes that he cracked to the locals. He sat in a corner at a two-top table just watching his friend as the hours passed by. It had been so long that he started to nod off on his very stool. His shaggy head slipped off his hand and he didn't even wake up until his head hit the table. The faun was jolted awake just in time to see Chiron walking his way.

"How are you doing, friend? Have you talked with Kettle yet?" Its long gray legs curled up under the horse torso as it lay down beside the other hybrid.

"No." David sighed. "I haven't had a chance to get him alone."

"Perhaps I can be of service." It replied. "See that door right there?" The faun looked to where Chiron pointed. There was indeed a door merely a few feet away from him. "That's the backroom. I happen to know that Chugga leaves it unlocked. I will talk to Ceramica for a minute. That should give you an opportunity to pull Kettle back here. Are you ready?"

David took a deep breath as he finally realized he was going to get a chance to confront Kettle about what was going on.

"Yes." He replied and got to his hooves.

"Very well." Chiron said, getting up himself. "I wish you luck, friend."

The faun gave a nod of approval and watched as the horse body mingled into the crowd. As luck would have it, the current song was just ending, giving the centaur prime opportunity to get the female's attention.

It worked! They're finally apart! David thought as he watched Ceramica be led away for a moment. His goat hooves skirted up behind Kettle as he caught him by the arm.

"I really do need to talk to you for a minute now." He urged the glassware.

"Okay, David, whatever you say." The kettle said as he swayed back and forth a little even though the music had stopped. They made their way over to the door that led to the backroom, which was lined with boxes and shelves of ingredients for the mixed drinks. Some had been opened and were spilling out their contents like someone had gutted their bellies. Others were buttoned up tight, not having been used yet. It looked like Chugga had enough stock to last him for a few months. There must have been a few cracked bottles in there since it smelled of a complex concoction that would normally never be brewed in the bar. David gave his friend a slight push in. Kettle stumbled back and forth as if he had just been pushed forcefully. He had to catch himself on one of the many crates that cluttered the room. The faun failed to notice this as he turned around to close the door quietly.

"Now," He began as he walked towards the still swaying person. "What is all this about staying with Ceramica?"

"Oh, Ceramica!" Kettle said as if he had just remembered something important. "We need to protect her and the village, David! They are in great danger!" He said, lolling forward and almost going face first to the floor. Luckily, his friend was right there to catch him. His spout rested just under the faun's face as it held him aloft. David's face screwed up as he smelled something emit from the opening just below his nose. It was foul, but it was nothing he hadn't smelled before. He just wasn't used to smelling it from the brown kettle.

"I know." David replied, heaving Kettle back to his feet. "And I agree that we should help them. But no one seems to want to give me any insight on how we might defeat the dragon."

"Ceramica said to leave him alone, to forget him…" The kettle still swayed a bit as he spoke. David could feel that acrid stench just pour out of his spout. It flooded the room and made it even more uncomfortable than it already was.

"Why are you drunk? You never get drunk! How many drinks have you had?" A human hand waved in front of his face in a vain attempt to waft it away.

"Can't remember…." Kettle said, still swaying just as much as before. This only made David even more aggravated that his friend was so drunk that he couldn't even stand still.

"I need you to focus, Kettle!" David snapped. "Did she or anyone else hint at anything that might help us defeat the dragon?" But Kettle only made out part of what he was saying. Mainly that the faun was asking him for help.

"Oh, David, you're always running to me for help! You act so much like a sidekick that I wonder if you can make any decisions for yourself! Kettle, what should we do? I need your help!" He mocked in his drunken state. But the young hybrid only felt hurt by this. Was this the truth coming out after all this time? That all it would've taken is a bit of alcohol to get the truth from him? David surely didn't want to believe this was true.

"Is that what you really think of me?" He asked with his ears lowered in sorrow. "That I'm just a sidekick to you and nothing more?"

"Oh, little David!" The kettle poured out, and bobbed toward his friend again. A glass arm went around David's neck. It squeezed harder than Kettle intended for sure. Gloved knuckles grinded themselves into the curly hair and gave the faun a noogie, causing his face to screw up once more. "You should stop worrying so! You'll be much happier when you lighten up and settle down like me!"

David got the arm out from around him and gently pushed the reeking glassware away from himself. Had he pushed any harder and the kettle would have fallen on his rump.

"So you are thinking of staying here!" A finger of flesh pointed in Kettle's direction.

"Oh, you will too." It replied nonchalantly, and began swaying yet again.

"What?" David's ears shot up straight at what his friend had just suggested.

"Come on, David, you know that you never go anywhere without me!" The kettle urged. This conversation seemed to be getting very one-sided to David. He had to get across to the glass person that one does not make all the decisions when working together.

"But…. we're a team! We never go against one another! We talk with one another before making a decision! That's what a team is!" His words sounded strong, but deep down the faun was losing hope in winning the kettle back on his side. A gloved hand merely waved away David's explanation. It was as if he was indicating that they were making individual decisions from now on.

"Yeah! I'd like to see you actually make a decision for yourself sometime. Ho! Wouldn't that be the day?" Kettle chuckled a bit. All he was thinking about at that point was what the future might hold for him and Ceramica. He just assumed that David would hang around like he always did. It didn't occur to him, in his drunken state, that the faun might just have other things on his mind. That he might have something important to say. Meanwhile, David made the biggest gasp he ever made in his life. It was so jarring to his soul that he literally jumped off the ground. His hooves clacked against the ground as he landed a couple feet back from where he started.

"Y-you don't mean that." He muttered to himself. But then he made eye contact with the glass person. For David wanted to hear that from Kettle himself. "Please tell me you didn't mean that!" His voice wavered as he was losing faith in his friend.

"Do what you wish, David. But it's about time I got back to Ceramica." Kettle explained and began to turn back for the door.

"So that's it? You're just going to leave me to deal with the dragon alone? You won't even help?" The kettle stopped and stood there for a second. "You're still very drunk, Kettle! You're not thinking clearly! Why don't you take some time to think about it before making a big decision like that?" David urged.

"I'm thinking more clearly than I've ever been!" Kettle announced as he backed his way toward the exit. "And I've made my decision. That dragon won't come around for a long time if he knows what's good for him. Like Ceramica says, forget about him! And have some fun while you're at it!" His spout turned back around just in time to bump into the door. He backed off a couple steps so he could open the door and ultimately slip through.

David stood in the middle of the room, shaken to the core. He was afraid that the alcohol had caused Kettle to spill how he really felt about him. All this time, he thought they were best friends. Could it really be true that Kettle does not feel that they are equals? His hooves paced back and forth as his mind reeled at what he was going to do. Hands clamored all over his face and curly locks uncomfortably.

What do I do? What do I do? Kettle won't help me! All he wants to do is hang out with Ceramica and get drunk! And worst of all, he wants to me stay here with him while he lives out his life with her! I've gotta do something! I must prove to Kettle that I'm not just a sidekick!

David held back tears that wanted to burst from his eyes.

I need to get out of here! He thought with a shake of his head. The faun rushed for the door and tore himself out of the backroom. He made a beeline for his armor and trident, immediately starting to put the protective plates on his arms and torso.

Perhaps if I defeat the dragon myself, that would convince Kettle that I'm not just a sidekick and that I can make decisions on my own! Maybe then he would show me some respect! David thought as he caught sight of the centaur heading his way. Chiron noticed the faun's panicked frenzy to put the armor on.

"What's going on? What happened?" He asked.

"I'm sorry, Chiron, but I have to get out for some fresh air." David said, trying to sound calm. But the larger hybrid could tell that something was very wrong. He intended to get the faun to slow down and tell him what happened. His powerful hand caught a flailing arm from the smaller hybrid. The centaur could feel that David did not want to stop and talk. They stared intensely at one another. David's stare said that he desperately wanted to get out of that atmosphere. Instead of interrogating the poor faun, Chiron merely bid him good luck and safe passage.

"Don't run too far. There are many dangers in the mountains, especially at night." He could feel the bipedal hybrid trying to wriggle out of the grip. Before Chiron let him go, he just wanted to know one thing:

"You didn't get the answer you wanted, did you?"

"No. Kettle won't listen to me." David finally answered as he looked to the ground. "I need to change these series of events. Please! I need to know the dragon's weakness!" His head whipped up and stared at the centaur. At the mention of the flying reptile, Chiron let go of his friend and took a couple steps back.

"There is no solution that involves the dragon. You should leave it alone. Your conflict is with the kettle and no one else." It explained. David was starting to get put out with the locals' resistance to talk about the dragon. His facial expression made this clear.

"It is a good idea to go blow off some steam if you need to. See you soon, friend." Chiron added, hoping that the faun would not go looking for trouble. For it was not his place to stop someone from leaving the village if they wished. His gray body turned around and went to mingle with the other locals. David gave an apologetic look over his shoulder before darting out the door and into the earth enveloped in the darkness of night.

I'll check the south mountains! That's where it was heading when it left. The faun thought as he scrambled forward, still trying to put on the rest of his armor. He was about to get the helmet on when he crashed into someone. The impact threw both him and the other person to the ground.

"Oof!" he said as he bounced off the body that was heading for the nightclub.

"Sir!" The faun heard a female voice gasp. Before him stood a creature that looked like a bear with a long cat-like tail. The fluffy, dark brown creature stooped down and went to pick up the person he had just knocked down. David realized that the suspect of the collision was very old. Its skinny body that was draped in purple robes moaned in pain.

"I'm so sorry!" He apologized and immediately got up. "Here, let me help you." Between him and the human-sized bear-like creature, they heaved the elderly person up to his feet. The frail and hairless body coughed as it found its footing. For the creature looked like a human-sized hairless rat that stood on its hind legs. The only fur on its body was its bushy white eyebrows and mustache that grew where its whiskers should have been. Its cloudy white eyes looked at David as if it were studying him. Upon the ground was, no doubt, the person's staff. The long golden staff had an oblong crystal attached to the end of it. David picked it up and intended to hand it back.

"Here's your-" But before he could get out anything more, the rat seized his face with its long bony fingers. The faun froze as the fingers uncomfortably moved about his head and rested on his cheeks. Its eyes drooped in sorrow as it gave a big sigh.

"I see great pain and suffering in your future, young one." The hairless rat said. "If you continue on your current path, your fate will be sealed."

"I-I'm going to change my fate right now." David replied, still staring into the creature's cloudy and colorless eyes. "I won't be a shadow in my friend's life anymore."

"Indeed, you won't." Its creaky voice said. "It isn't my place to stop you, but I urge you to slow down and think before changing your life. For it could be a change for the worse."

David listened intently to this person's words. But a crackle of thunder in the distance reminded him that he had something to do. And that he had better do it fast before the storm came and turned him into a rag of curly fur.

"I have to go." He said and pulled a hand away from his face. David placed the staff in the creature's open hand. "Again, I'm so sorry! Bye now!" The faun pulled away from the elderly person and finally put on his helmet as he ran out towards the surrounding mountain range. This left the two mammals to watch as he disappeared from sight.

"Wasn't that one of the new faces that came into town today?" The were-binturong asked as the old man turned around to face her. His long snout pointed down to the ground in a look of defeat. "Are you okay, sir?" Her clawed hands rested on his shoulders. Thick whiskers sprouting from her muzzle twitched as she spoke.

"Yes…. But many others won't be if we don't convince his friend to stop him. He is in there." The staff pointed to The Sloppy Ogre. Her snout turned to the building and then back to her boss. "Valerie, you must find the kettle. For he is the only one who can stop the faun before it is too late. I will be there as soon as I can."

Valerie nodded to the rat and bounded off to the bar. For she wasn't sure what exactly the faun was about to do, but according to her boss, it was something that could mean danger for the entire village. She burst into the bar huffing. Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and looked to the were-binturong.

"Valerie, what are you doing here?" Chugga asked her.

"I'm looking for the kettle!"

Every pair of eyes in the joint shifted to the brown kettle that was clamoring for a drink in Ceramica's hand.

"For goodness sake, Kettle! You've had enough!" She scolded him and tried to hold him back with her free hand.

"Oh, there you are!" Valerie said and stumbled forward on her hind paws. She held her prehensile tail out behind her rigidly, helping to keep balance. "I need you to come with me! Quickly!"

Kettle stopped trying to climb the other glass person and started to feel the binturong's fur.

"You're so soft!" He cooed.

"Please! Snap out of it!" Her clawed hands pushed his away. "Your friend really needs you right now!"

"Sir Tiberius!" Hushed voices called out behind her. Valerie turned around to find her boss entering the door at that moment. Everyone bowed their head and made sure to give him plenty of space. The staff tapped on the floor every other step he took.

"Hold him still, Valerie. This won't take but a moment." Tiberius creaked out. The were-binturong obeyed the hairless rat and held him as still as she could. She watched as the elderly person held out his staff and touched the diamond to the kettle's spout. The once clear object turned a sour green color for a moment as it sucked all of the alcohol out of his system. It then retreated from the glassware's face. Kettle shook himself, seeming quite confused as to what was going on.

"Who are you? How long have I been in the bar?" He questioned.

"We've been in here for hours, Kettle. Don't you remember?" Ceramica peaked herself around the fluffy creature that still had hold of him.

"N-no…."

Tiberius tapped his staff on the floor a couple times to get the brown kettle's attention.

"I need you to listen to me very carefully." The rat started. "Your friend went out to kill the dragon."

"So he did go…." Chiron commented, seeming very disappointed that the faun had not listened to him.

"Yes. I'm sorry, Chiron. I know you had a soft spot for the boy." Tiberius looked over his shoulder at the centaur. Then he turned back to the kettle. "You must stop your friend from killing the dragon."

"But why? Why is it so important that the dragon stays alive?" Kettle asked, hoping to get the information that David had been asking for all along.

"He is not just a dragon. He is an evil spirit, an embodiment of the darkness. His name is Satan, and there have been many creatures like him throughout time."

"Oh yeah, before him it was Beelzebub. And before that there was Lucifer-" Chugga started to explain.

"Thank you, Chugga. I think he gets it." Valerie stopped the ogre from going on and on.

"Satan is hundreds of years old and he will keep on living for as long as he can still heal himself. That ability lessens with time, especially if they have abused their bodies with senseless violence." Tiberius solemnly explained.

"So…can he actually be killed then?"

"Yes and no. You can kill the body by impaling it through the heart with its own weapon. But the dark spirit will transfer to the one that murdered it. Thus, it is a never-ending cycle of pain and misery for the doomed creature. Kettle, you are the only one that can convince him not to kill that dragon. Go quickly! For we are all counting on you to prevent a new monster from being born."

Kettle stood there a bit dumbfounded at the sudden demand to go out and stop his friend from doing something he would deeply regret.

"Well? What are you waiting for? You heard Sir Tiberius! Get moving!" Valerie roared at him, showing her large canine teeth. The brown kettle finally snapped out of his trance when Ceramica pushed him towards his armor. She helped the male put on his armor since he was still shell-shocked at what he was just told to do.

"Go, Kettle. I believe in you." She urged softly. Kettle gave a nod of understanding and proceeded to go out the door.

"I believe you will find him South of here in the mountains." Tiberius advised.

"Thanks. I'll try my best." He then set off for the destination the hairless rat mentioned. Once the kettle was gone, everyone in the bar looked to their leader once again.

"What should we do now, boss?" The binturong questioned him. For she knew that Tiberius would take precautions in case the worst became reality. Chiron slowly walked his way up to the leader and was going to ask if there was anything he could do to help. But Tiberius already knew that.

"Chiron, I want you to take a team and follow at a distance. Should the faun succeed in killing Satan, I want you to subdue him and leave him there. With any luck, he will be too dazed to know where he is and how to get back."

Tiberius could tell that Chiron did not truly want to do that to someone he considered a friend.

"Will you do whatever it takes to protect the village?" He urged.

"Of course, sir. The safety of the village comes first." The centaur said, sounding confident.

"Good. Proceed with caution, friend."