With the handshake with the Commander the previous day, Spyro was officially made an honorary member of the Fifth Fleet. With his size, he was granted permission to have private quarters built just past the bridge leading to the trail towards the Ancient Forest. Spyro would have viewed it as a form of racism, but thanks to meeting and getting to know a few of the Wyverians and some Palicos in the Commission, he was able to see it as it was: Building for his size and mostly preferred solitude in privacy.
His private quarters were roughly 70-ish percent done by the time he returned to Astera with the Commander, so he had to hand it to them, they knew what they were doing and did it fast. The same couldn't be said about the Second Fleet Workshop, though through no fault of their own. After being issued the standard garments, heavily modified for Spyro's size, it would take barely more than a day to get his basic armor truly started.
In the meantime, the dragon would be given his weapon, a Buster Sword built for him to use one handed like a short sword would be used by the average human hunter. Spyro chose it almost instantly upon seeing the weapon selection that was available, with most being too small and too expensive to refit for him to use.
So excited Spyro was, that he barely was able to sleep that night, tossing and turning almost without end. By the time the Second Fleet Workshop started their morning shift, he was awake, clean, dressed, and standing at attention in front of the meeting table, with CDR Matthias, the Second Fleet Master, and Meowscular Chef (Spyro checked, that is his real name) standing on the opposite side of the table.
"It's nice to see you up and ready to tackle the day," Matthias praised. "If only some of our younger hunters had the same enthusiasm you have." He shook his head in amusement before continuing, addressing the Second Fleet Master. "So, the initial preparations I asked for you to perform for our Draconic hunter's armor, do you see why I asked for those now?"
"Seeing this scaly mass before us now, I can better appreciate the warning to put in some overnight work on prepping plates, chain, gambeson, and leathers," the burly blacksmith said in awe and amusement. "But, then again, you did have me try to convince the Admiral to test the slingers for the past two decades, so preparation for armoring an Elder Dragon isn't one of the most outlandish things you asked me to do."
"Umm…" Spyro mumbled reluctantly, catching Chef's attention.
"It seems our Meowster on display has a thought to share," he said, getting the attention of the two humans. He then gestured for Spyro to speak.
"Why do you guys keep calling me an Elder Dragon?" Spyro asked, curiosity mixed in with his annoyance at the 'nickname' most called him by.
Matthias turned to the Second Fleet Master, who left at the wordless request. He then turned to Spyro and spoke. "I can explain over some breakfast. Chef, let's see what the new canteen trainees can whip up for us for our conversation."
"Understood sir," the muscular Palico said. He then climbed up some nearby rope and began parkouring through other ropes and the construction of Astera to get to the canteen.
"Always likes to show off," Matthias chuckled before walking towards the canteen. "Him and his team are quick, but thorough cooks, so our food should be ready by the time we get to one of the tables." He then led Spyro up to the canteen.
True to his word, their respective breakfasts were ready when they got there, so they dug in. After about half of the food served to them was eaten, Matthias began explaining. "Some of the Commission consider you an Elder Dragon, not out of disrespect, but out of minor confusion and some misinformation. Considering how we classify the monsters we hunt, it is understandable."
"How do you classify the monsters?" Spyro asked, thankfully with his mouth empty.
"We have it in a three-tier system, so to speak," Matthias explained. "At the bottom rung of the 'monster hierarchy', are the Wyverns. They're easier to classify as their 'abilities' are able to be understood through proper study channels, like autopsies when slain ones are brought in and simple observation if one is captured and brought in."
"Where does Elder Dragon fit in the 'monster hierarchy'?" Spyro asked.
"That is the second rung," Matthias continued. "They are where they are because of the strength behind their abilities, and sometimes because of a lack of understanding said abilities. A kirin, for example, is able to conjure storms and call down lightning with frightening accuracy, but with how rare they are, we can't fully understand them...and if you want to be technical, if being and Elder Dragon was all about looking reptilian and looking something like you, then kirins aren't Elder Dragons. However, we judge by different standards than you. No offence meant, if you felt any."
"It's okay," Spyro assured. "So, I'm both powerful, and you lack understanding of my abilities…"
"Correct. Your explanation of magic from your world is extremely foreign to us," Matthias pointed out. "If we had the time and permission, we could do biopsies and such to try to understand magic at a biological level, but I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate that. All we're left with is observation and non-intrusive studies."
Spyro hummed in understanding, but he then remembered. "What's on the rung above Elder Dragons?"
Matthias shuddered slightly in fear before speaking. "Black Dragons," he said. "If Elder Dragons were to fear something enough to check under the proverbial bed for them, it's Black Dragons." The table they sat at was unnaturally silent for a few minutes before he continued. "Not much is known about them, save for legends and unconfirmed sightings. Fatalis is the most famous of the Black Dragons. Destroying an entire city-state, and then melting the corpses of the deceased into its hide in order to mock and warn us."
"So, Wyverns are run of the mill monsters; Elder Dragons are considered 'unnatural'; and Black Dragons...avoid at all cost if you value your life?"
"Correct, Meowster," Chef piped up as he walked to the table with a shy looking Palico hiding behind him. "By the way, most hunters are paired up with a Palico for support."
Spyro regarded the Palico hiding behind the larger cat before speaking. "What kind of support are we talking about?"
"Palico gadgets vary from crossing to crossing," Matthias explained. "We work to set up relations with the indigenous felynes, and we obtain gadgets from the tribes we work with...on loan, at least."
"And the Elder Crossing tends to mess with the landscape and ecosystem," Chef explained as the shy Palico slowly moved toward Spyro from her 'hidden' position. "And that can spark felyne tribes moving or changing, resulting in broken ties we need to reestablish."
"With that in mind, you and your Palico's primary assignment will be to aid Felixander, our Felyne Researcher, with reestablishing those ties, and see if there are ways to keep said relations alive for the next Elder Crossing," Matthias said.
"Well, a chill assignment that doesn't involve saving the world or whatever is a good breath of fresh air for me," Spyro commented. "I'll do it. And the Palico, what's the name?"
He suddenly felt something attempting to hug his huge gut and he looked down and saw the Palico that was shyly hiding wasn't hiding anymore and was hugging his gut, as if she found the perfect cushion. "I'm Felisha, and I'm being assigned to you," the Palico said, giving him a little smile.
Looking closely, Spyro noticed that this Palico was at the camp and was the one to first talk with him. And now, seeing her confidently hugging him, he now seemed to understand some of her nervousness. "It's nice to meet you," he said to her as he picked her up and brought her to eye level. "I'm Spyro, and I think we'll work well together." He then hugged her back, gently, in return for the earlier hugging.
After handling some paperwork and obtaining some understanding of Spyro's general diet for supplies, he and Felisha settled down in the now completed quarters. The room was simple and had a bed that was large enough for him that was sitting in the middle of the room. Off on one side of the side of the room, a weapon rack and an expertly carved mannequin of himself sat, ready to hold his gear when it was done. The other side of the room had an unfolded box containing Felisha's gear, and it had room for the tools she would be learning how to use as well.
As soon as they entered, Felisha immediately moved to the box and began organizing her stuff on the shelves on that side of the room. Spyro sat on the bed and watched her do her thing. He carefully examined her, seeing that she had some well hidden muscles beneath her almost white-pink fur. However, he noticed that she took occasional 'peeks' at him when she thought he wasn't looking.
"Enjoying the look?" He asked her when she took one of her 'peeks'. She released a cute 'purr-meow' when she realized that she was caught.
"I'm sorry," she said, looking ashamed. "I have a hard time holding back my admiration for someone that is both a hard worker and manages to appreciate the finer things in life."
"Wha?" Spyro answered, confused at her words.
Felisha sighed and began to explain. "I have an odd fascination with who I fantasize being with as a mate," she said, hiding her blush as much as she could. "I fantasize being with a relatively small Elder Dragon that is both muscular and a bit portly."
"Are you making that up just now, or was that always a thing?" Spyro asked. "Because that sounds oddly specific."
Felisha blinked at his breakdown of her explanation before nervously smiling. "The Elder Dragon part was made up, if I'm gonna be honest," she admitted. "You see, my father, back in the Old World before I came here, he gave me a few 'tips' on what to look for in a potential mate...or, at least be able to understand those that I meet."
"The muscles you have points to you being a hard worker when you need to be," Felisha explained. "Your confident smirk you use hints at your belief in your skills, and your generous belly hints at enjoying the finer things in life when you are given time to relax."
"So, you look for a guy that is sure of himself, is also a hard worker, but isn't afraid to let loose when needed to?" Spyro asked, to which Felisha nodded with a happy grin. "And most would have a build like me?"
"No, none of the other Palicos I met with that personality had that shape, and it seemed to irk me for unknown reasons, but I found myself attracted to your shape after a careful look at your personality," Felisha answered. "And I don't think I need to tell you, but personality can only get someone so far in any relationship. Looks and skills matter too."
"And me being an 'Elder Dragon' doesn't set you off like the others that share my personality, but lack my shape?" Spyro asked.
"If it's a matter of genetics and species, there are a few Guild researchers that have managed to salvage some technology from the Ancient Civilization to look into the potential of such relationships," she simply said. "Other than that, I don't really care about the species I'm attracted to."
Spyro looked at her with a contemplative stare before closing his eyes with a sigh. "We can see where this can go, but it'll be a pretty new experience for me," Spyro told her.
"That's okay. It's a first for me too, so some mistakes are bound to happen," Felisha said, almost too happily. "Anyway, we should rest up for tomorrow." She then hopped onto the bed and with the cutest 'kitten face' she could muster, she asked, "May I sleep on your belly?"
Those who have seen animals give that 'cute, pleading face', you more than likely know that Spyro couldn't say no.
Sorry for the wait. Headaches and depression aren't things to joke about.
And yes, I do intend on Spyro and his new partner/friend, Felisha, to fall in love fully. I will NOT, however, have any explicit scenes involving those two.
Also, I'm no love expert, so if anyone is an expert and can see any flaws, leave a review with a potential edit to where you see any flaw in the scene portrayed in this chapter.
Spyro and Monster Hunter belong to their respective companies.