Yes that journal entry is meant to be a tirade Kiro's not gonna be patient with some people like Charmles when he's dealt with that for three years. Also he's twelve after all…
I own nothing except the stuff I made up
The Argon Heart
It was a bit of a trek towards the Royal Hunting grounds. Kiro just, enjoyed the silence. As he would only have it until they arrived. Then Charmles would come out of the wagon. And start pushing them around. Making sure no one saw. He took a breath to steady his nerves.
Charmles had gotten out of the wagon and there was a small far nearby. A Farmer had noticed them placing his hoe, on his shoulder to rest. "Ahh if it isn't Prince Charmless- err I mean Prince Charmles! I S'pose you're 'ere for the Initiation then eh?" he asked.
"Indeed I am you uneducated bumpkin." Charmles hissed.
The Farmer laughed. "And who's this with you eh? Last I heard you Royals had to go in alone…"
Charmles quickly thought up a lie. "They awe mewely accompanied me hewe. They shall be uhhh accompanying me on the way home as well. I have instwucted them to await my weturn, just inside the Woyal Hunting Gwound."
"Oh right you are! I hope you have a good hunt then. I got to be getting' on now." The farmer replied as Charmles breathed a sigh of relief. Kiro noticing two kids the Farmer's playing in the yard. Couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy.
"So this is the Royal 'unting grounds," Yangus whistled. "We should be seeing some o' them lizards before long eh?"
"I know we're doing this for the magic mirror. But it doesn't feel right. This is a sacred royal tradition no matter how you look at it." Jessica said thoughtfully. "I really think the Prince. Should be carrying out this duty on his own," she admitted.
Charmless scoffed, "If you don't wish to help then go." He said snobbishly. "I couldn't cawe less whethew I do this or not. It wasn't my idea."
"She has a point though." Nanaki pointed out.
"It's all still frustrating to me." Angelo replied. "It feels like we're being made to jump through hoops. Let's get this over with. We need to get back to the real task at hand."
"You mean Dhoulmagus right?" Zidane asked. Angelo nodded while Kiro was ignoring the conversation. He soon saw a set of stones set up like a gate way. He got distracted for a moment and started to go inside.
"You feathew brained bwat!" Charmles yelled from the cart. Loud enough to make him jump. "You fowgot the lizawd Humow I gave Ehwo didn't you?"
"I just-"Kiro said turning around to face him before being cut off. It was embarrassing even though Charmles was older. Kiro was basically way more mature.
"I told you we wouldn't be able to get the lizawd without it, didn't I?" He asked shoving the bottle into Kiro's hands roughly. "Now do as you'we told you lazy wascal!" he snipped Kiro merely put it on. It wasn't that Charmles worded his words as meanly as Corrum would. But the implications were the same. He was dumb, useless, not trying his best. Passing the bottle to the others, he glared at the ground. Stifling the urge to run and make a scene. But he made sure to fall behind, as they continued inside. He sat down alone and sighed.
"This was not worth agreeing too." He sighed to himself. However as he looked to the sky a flash of green caught his eye. To his surprise there was someone in armor up there. It was mostly black with Red rose colored accents. It had strange decorative olive green vines, with blood red thorns; Twisting around the figure like they were trying to strangle it. And a grey under leather, almost a pale zombie like grey. A Pair of them grew out from inside the petal like horns at the back of the head. And then they twisted around the helmet, crossing over the mouth piece of the head. They crossed over it like an X.
A couple of thorns looked like fangs but they seemed to be restraining the person's jaw or mouth. They also seemed to attach to the ring of thorns around the knight's neck. The Thorns on it were curling inward in a threatening way while also looking like they could tighten and strangle the wearer at any moment. It had a large metal chest plate with petal shaped breast plates. And shoulder pads. From which a large sharp looking pair of thorned vines came out and curled a little at the top. From under them were sharp vines starting to pierce the man's arms and body. The Petal shaped thigh plates has vines doing this to the legs. There were tight rings of thorns around his wrists and ankles. The shoe armor was again petal shaped with a few going around the shoe like a closing flower.
Kiro watched it for a bit he was looking down at something. Kiro crawled in closer and gasped. He groaned almost loud enough to be spotted; this weird knight as after Charmles who was by the wagon. He summoned a Keyblade that seemed to be made of thorns. That the same color and blood red tips as those on the armor. Unfortunately Kiro couldn't allow him to attack the Prince. He jumped up behind him summoning his own Keyblade.
"Stop right there!" Kiro growled pointing his Keyblade at the persons back. It turned to see the boy it seemed shocked a sound emerged but was muffled. By the strange lime green mist that suddenly erupted from their body. It held his head but shook it to clear the cobwebs. The Knight then rushed at Kiro who tried to guard. But the Knight broke through his barrier and Kiro was on his back. The thorn Keyblade was at his throat. But before it pressed down a blizzara spell hit the Knight square chested. It stumbled back then looked up. Zidane was lunging towards him in midair. The knight raised his arm to intercept Zidane. Who was suddenly jumping at the knight; and then slashed at it quickly. It blocked each one before rushing off into the hills with expertise.
"Good thing we found you when we did huh?" Zidane asked helping him up as Amei healed him.
"Ye….yeah thanks. He was after Charmles. As much as I hate him, I can't let him get hurt." Kiro replied.
"Yeah Ehro, can't turn Medea back into a Human; if we don't get that mirror." Zidane added.
"Just Medea, not the King?" Amei asked skeptically. Zidane blushed and rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, ya know what I mean…." He chuckled.
"So Kiro listen. According to Charmless- eerr I mean Charmles," Amei explained. "We need to sneak up from behind the Argon lizard."
Kiro sighed. "They sound pretty shy. I don't like this but at least we can end it quickly." He added if Argon lizards were aggressive. It would at least make him feel better, about just killing one for an initiation. "On the other hand part of the world order to respect cultures. This was a more, strict rule in the past. before the King decided to loosen things a little bit; to take injustice and crazies like Xehanort and the Master of Masters into account." Kiro went with them to quietly, and joined their ranks. As they targeted one. It looked like a large red wingless Dragon. Their bodies were raptor like minus the pot belly, with large claws and a cream to white belly with large ears with purple membranes that fanned out widely around their heads.
"So that's an Argon Lizard…." Kiro muttered. Ehro nodded he motioned to the group to follow him, and Zidane as they crept up on it. They surrounded it quickly as it let out a mighty roar. It swung its tail as Nanaki jumped over on its back. Gripping its shoulders and biting into the back of its neck. It roared in pain as Kiro slashed at its front. Charmles tried to stab it, with the smallest dullest knife. Zidane had ever seen. The Dragon roared at him. He squealed like a pig, and ran in the other direction. As fast as his stubby legs could carry him.
"Exactly as I imagined!" Zidane thought. As he took one of his mage mashers, and slashed at its leg making it stumble back in pain.
"Boom!" Jessica shouted to Kiro and Amei's surprise. She unleashed what was basically an explosion spell right into the beast's face. It screeched in pain its head rearing back. As Ehro then launched a few electrified slices at its front. Not too far behind him was Angelo shooting multiple arrows.
"You can use magic?!" Amei said excitedly.
Jessica smirked. "I sure can." She replied as she used a status spell of to slow it down. Yangus took this opportunity to slam his axe into its side. It stumbled back beaten and bruised. It could only watch when its head rose up. As Ehro jumped over it and plunged his sword into its head skillfully flipping away from it. The monster stopped over the light in its eyes fading. Kiro watched solemnly as it hit the ground. It began to fade away, into small bits of light. As Nanaki let out a small howl as it vanished completely. In its place however glistening in the grass was something red. Charmles went over and picked it up. Between his sausage like thumb and forefinger was a small glittering red crystal. It was small enough to fit in a ring and sparkled like a ruby. Charmles examined it in the light.
"So this is an Awgon Heawt?" he muttered curiously. "But it's so small…." He said before putting a hand to his chins. "Looks like the Awgon Lizawds awen't anything to wowwy about aftew all." He said before apathetically tossing it away. Ehro caught it in the nick of time.
"It is pretty small. How does something live with a rock. The size of a pearl, rattling around in a physical heart? Maybe it's for a ring for the heir to wear?" Kiro asked himself in his thoughts.
"We'll have to keep hunting Lizawds until we find one big enough to justify my hewoism!" Charmles declared.
"This, from the guy who runs at the slightest hint of danger? Don't make me laugh!" Jessica hissed.
"Especially with that tiny little butter knife," Zidane added.
"He couldn't kill a rotten tomato," Amei growled.
Kiro grimaced like Christmas had been canceled. He stifled a groan he flinched a little when Zidane whispered to him but listened calming himself. "Hang in there just a tiny bit long okay?" Kiro had a look that was reluctant. But he nodded.
"Hopefully we don't kill the whole population…" Kiro sighed.
"So, any tips on finding more Argon lizards, your eminence?" Angelo asked. The corners of his lip twitching a little in disgust at calling Charmles that.
"I'm glad you asked sewvant." Charmles said getting cocky about a victory, he didn't even help with. "Thewe should be fwuit neawby called Salamango. The Chancellow, told me that Awgon lizawds. Adowe this fwuit. We can use it as bait." They headed off in search of such a fruit. "The lawgew the Awgon Heawt the gweatew the King I'll be. So I have to obtain a humongous Awgon Heawt I can, in owdew to impwess all those who doubted me."
As they headed off, Jessica whispered to Ehro. "Actually, his penchant for running away is actually very helpful. Imagine if he got hurt or killed. We can't have that happen. Not until after Clavius gives us the magic mirror at least."
"Having him die regardless; would cause issues between Trodain and Argonia. Then again if he marries Medea, the kingdoms will be together. And that's more people to cause harm with how childish he is. And then there's how Medea will feel and be…." Ehro thought worriedly.
"I mean, we could always plan for an accident." Amei suggested jokingly in a low tone.
"No! No," Ehro half chuckled trying to keep his voice down. "Medea will keep him in line. I'm sure of it. He probably just needs a dose of reality."
"You're confident in that." Kiro sighed. His Dad always said everyone had at least a sliver of good in them, but having heard stories about his battles; With Xehanort and the Master of Masters. Then having lived three years with Corrum and Kaen, in Civiti Ombrato; And then having spent two hours with Charmles. He seriously doubted that right now. As they cleared out Monsters and Heartless in the general area they soon found another Argon Lizard fast asleep.
"Look thewe's one an Awgon lizawd! And it's sound asleep too!" Kiro pushed the urge to complain about ambushing a sleeping lizard down. They had to please this idiot. Or no magic mirror, no Dhoulmagus and no Corrum being distracted by Clavius.
"We'll obviously need the Salamango to lure it over? Where do we find this fruit?" Nanaki asked.
"The Chancellow said that it, gwows in the Hunting gwounds. You should find some neawby. A sleeping Lizawd will awaken at the slightest wiff of one. I suppose that's proof of the Chancellow's words." Charmles replied. At least he wasn't totally useless here. If he actually put in the effort, he might have been able to do this on his own.
Ehro soon saw a patch of large pumpkin like melons nearby across the river on a large root that was widen enough to be a bridge without issue. Kiro followed him across where he saw the patch up close. they were the size of a very large Watermelon and had the texture as such. Ehro was able to lift it with slight difficulty, and carried it back to the large stumps in the river, where they saw the Argon Lizard. Ehro dropped the fruit quickly on the smaller stump. It broke open to reveal a big green orb. That looked like a Cantaloupe with a similar skin. A strong purple mist wafted from the orb. It smelt strongly of rotting fish and meat. Kiro backed away in disgust, as did Ehro.
The Argon Lizard however perked up with a huge smile on its face. And jumped down swallowing the orb in one bite before realizing it was ambushed. Ehro slashed its throat causing it to fall towards him with a loud sickening thud. It disappeared like the last. Charmles investigated the Argon heart. It wasn't much bigger than the last one.
Nanaki howled again, "why do you keep doing that?!" Charmles demanded. Being interrupted from examining their prize.
"A Howl in honor of your glory your highness." Nanaki replied with a slight bow.
"Oh I see." Charmles said delighted, "cawwy, on then."
Amei leaned in close to Kiro. "Actually it's to thank a creature that has fallen for their sacrifice. But Charmless wouldn't care about that." She hissed. Kiro nodded in understanding, as the Prince finished off his inspection before callously tossing it aside.
"Nope, this is no good either!" He declared as Ehro caught this one. "The only way I'll get; the wespect I deserve." Charmles began.
"Which is none at all," Kiro grumpily thought.
"Is by returning with the biggest Argon Heart the world has ever seen." He finished. Kiro growled his fist clenched and shaking. "So we'we going to keep hunting; Until we find one big enough to take back!" he shouted. "Do I make myself cleaw?!" he snarled in a demanding tone.
"transparently…" Ehro sighed hiding his own irritation.
"Wow E's even started to get ta da guv,'" Yangus hissed. To Angelo who nodded in agreement.
"No way, I don't want to stay here anymore than I have too!" Kiro growled. Wishing he had said no when he had the chance.
"It'll be fine. We'll figure something out if worse comes to worse." Ehro assured.
They had killed several more lizards. One, of which, much to Kiro's disgust, had only wanted to nap. And they had to lure it out as well. They did eventually find a heart, the size of a human eye ball. Which they were hopeful about but. Charmless turned them all down. And Kiro had had enough.
"Listen we've been at this for hours! None are much bigger than you're imagining!" Kiro snapped.
"I told you, sewvant, We'we, not stopping the hunt. Until, we find an Awgon Haewt wowthy of my Heowism!" Charmles snapped back.
"Oh yeah, you run away. As soon as the lizards, get angry, from being attacked. Very, heroic of you," Kiro said. Hissing with venom laced sarcasm. Charmles gasped, making Trode and the others nervous.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Charmles shouted, reaching for something in his back pocket. Kiro summoned his Keyblade. Charmles got nervous and backed a few feet from him, just as he thought. Charmless, didn't back all the way down however. Fair enough, the only thing physically intimidating about him. Was just having a Keyblade.
"We've got through ten all together! The biggest one being the size of an eyeball! I don't think they're gonna get much bigger. And they're probably not meant to! They're small enough to be a jewel on a ring; which is probably what you're supposed to get one for!" Kiro growled.
"That's Cowwect, you'we not as dumb as you look. Membews of the Awgonian Woyal Family, turn the Heawts into wings; which will be given as engagement wings. To those they awe wed too. And Pwincess Medea should be honowed. To weaw a wing that could cwush her wist."
Trode let out a loud cough at this probably stifling his own objections. Kiro just stared at him incredulously. "Do you even hear yourself, how ridiculous that sounds!?" Kiro snapped half squeaking.
Ehro got between them. "Look we're not gonna get anywhere fighting amongst ourselves. Let's just use what daylight we've got left. To find one more then find somewhere to camp." He said attempted to defuse the situation before it got worse.
Charmles thought for a minute then nodded. "You'we wight sewvant, We'we wasting time hewe. I'm not going to bothew dealing with this webellious squeaky wough-neck any longew!"
"Squeaky?!" Kiro sputtered. But just glowered and kept his mouth shut he was already blowing their chances at the magic mirror. Why did he have to let his feelings get in the way of anything?!
"You know I might come back and grab a few of those hearts myself, for the ladies. These Argon Lizards aren't much trouble," Said Angelo. Kiro growled at him and ran.
"Well done Angelo," Jessica huffed.
Kiro found himself in a different area from the cart. He growled, "Stupid self-righteous tub of lard with Balloon limbs!" he growled about Charmles. "Come back for more indeed. Sure why I don't I just do that too?!" he snapped ranting slightly. He then heard tiny squeaks. He looked over the cliff to see a couple of baby Argon lizards, with their parents. They had bigger pot bellies. And huge ear flaps that they would clearly grow into. They jumped around play-fighting their mother watching. Kiro could see his younger self play-fighting with his own friends. One of them which he imagined himself in its place nuzzled its mother he imagined hugging his two parents. He could feel his eyes stinging with tears.
"Kiro!" Amei called catching up to him.
"What do you want?" Kiro asked dryly.
"Listen I'm sorry about how he treated you. I can't believe it looked like he was going to-"she said before Kiro cut her off.
"My emotions are none of your business! Also we just met why, would you want to help?!" Kiro snapped.
Amei was taken aback but replied a bit nervously. "But isn't it good to talk about your feelings with others? Yeah we barely know each other. But you don't need to know each other, that well to want to help, right?"
"Sometimes you do, otherwise you get tricked." Kiro pointed out. "Also," he said a bit snippily. "You should consider when people don't need or want, your help." He growled emphasizing want.
Amei growled and turned away starting to march off. Zidane however called out to both of them with Nanaki they had been looking for both of them. Kiro turned away.
"Listen Kiro, we're gonna make camp for the night. Ehro said the monsters are more vicious at night. So it's not safe to sleep out in the wilderness alone. And the Heartless will make it worse. So come back ok? Charmless is already out like a log so you won't have to deal with him for the rest of the night." Zidane assured.
Kiro thought about this. He looked at Amei apologetically; feeling like a child who threw a temper tantrum. He nodded.
"What are we gonna do about Charmless?" Amei asked a little hotly.
"Zidane and Angelo are going to try and sweet talk him. Into just looking for one, that could produce a large enough Heart. As awful as he is hopefully we can convince him. It'll be more efficient that way." Nanaki answered.
"That's something at least." Kiro sighed, avoiding eye contact with Amei, feeling bad for snapping at her. He did notice however that Zidane had wrapped his tail around his waist; probably to avoid being called a freak from Charmless as well.
"Maybe will find one, as big and round as Charmless is." Amei joked. Kiro hid his amused smile but giggled. She looked back at him. He got embarrassed.
"Listen I'm sorry about before…Amei…" Kiro muttered quickly.
"It's okay. It's been a long day. And I don't think anyone, wants to deal with Charmless. For as long as we have." Amei assured with a smile. Kiro smiled back as they followed the two back to camp. Kiro found a place for himself by the fire. He didn't realize how tired he was. The Entire day had literally been filled with him running away from Corrum, into another Corrum this one much more obnoxious. Then fighting giant lizards, because tradition. That didn't demand one heart. So Charmless was free to kill Argon lizards until. There wasn't enough for the rest of his blood line, to complete their initiation. He looked up at the horse Medea the cursed Princess. She was so elegant. The more he looked at her. It seemed the more beautiful she got. In fact Kiro sensed a powerful light coming from her. But eventually he dozed off falling asleep.
X X X
During the night Kiro was tossing and turning in his sleep wildly. He kept dreaming about that knight.
"Help him, you need to help him." Kiro could see flashes of other worlds he had never seen some he had as the voice cried to him. It tried to say who she was but static cut it out. Kiro held on to his head. It felt like it was splitting from seeing and hearing too much at once. As memories of him using his attacks and spells before Corrum took his power away, flashed through his mind.
"It's too much!" Kiro groaned as memories of his parents rushed in as well. He clutched his head in pain begging for it to stop. The voice pleaded with him again.
"You have to save him, you have to save him!"
The world cracked around him as someone shouted a mighty "Be still." Kiro fell through the area with a scream. He found himself floating in a strange area. It was sparkling like the night sky. But there were opalescent clouds and pink dust around him. Something started to pull it all in like a massive vacuum. Various lights and Dream Eaters flew towards a certain area. He turned trying to plant his feet as much as he could. remembering the Demi spell to keep in place with gravity magic. What he saw made him gasp. It was huge. It looked like a tick of some kind. But the large inflated back, was covered in sharp black spikes. Some kind of glow from the front center of what was possibly a face. It had a large beak mouth that was wide open inhaling them all. He could've sworn he heard shouting. As the beast then closed its mouth for a second, a few tense seconds passed. Then it opened its mouth wide again. To let out a terrifying alien cry. That suddenly turned into a distressed neighing.
"GAH!" Kiro gasped sitting up wildly and panting in a cold sweat. The sound continued, he look around wildly. The sound was disturbing the others as well.
"Wot's going on eh?" Yangus asked half asleep.
"It's barely even light yet!" Angelo sighed exasperated.
"Grrrr What is that noise?!" Jessica growled. "Are we under attack or something?!" she asked shaking out the cobwebs.
"The 'orse-Princess, don't sound too 'appy this mornin'." Yangus said starting to fully wake up now.
Kiro turned sharply to the sound. He groaned upon seeing what was going on. It was too early for this! Charmles had jumped on Medea's back. And was trying to ride her she was bucking wildly, trying to get him off. Medea was clearly uncomfortable by him being on top of her. She was still human inside after all. Trode was circling around them desperately a scared look on his face. Ehro was already up rushing past Kiro.
"Come on giddy up!" He demanded she was still bucking. "Giddy up, go do as I say!" he growled getting angry quickly. "Listen to me you stupid beast!"
"Prince, please restrain, yourself; Med- I mean my horse is not accustom to being ridden!" Trode begged. "Come on now down for my horse at once you fat oaf!" he snapped getting angry.
"Shut up I'll show you how to break in a horse!" he snarled at Trode.
"It's not the horse it's you!" Ehro shouted. "Not all Horses can be ridden!" Charmles ignored him. And pulled out what he had meant to pull out on Kiro yesterday. A large jockey crop, now a horse's skin was resilient. But not insensitive from what Kiro read. However Charmles was hitting her. With enough force that it would've hurt! Kiro growled, feeling his anger quickly rising. Back to what it was yesterday. And Trode and Ehro were furious as well.
"Stupid animal, maybe a little pain will teach you!" Charmless shouted as he continued to whack Madea very hard with it.
"STOP IT!" Ehro shouted. "Ma- Girl, kick up your back legs and flip forward as far as you can!" he shouted.
Medea understood and started to do just that. Charmless thankfully hadn't heard him and was too busy trying to hold on when she tried the advice. "Calm down!" he shouted. Medea didn't listen. She kept bucking wildly flipping her backside eventually. "Stop bucking, stop! I'm going to, WHOAAAAAA!" he shouted as she got him off finally. He landed on the ground with his chin. Ehro went over immediately to cast heal on the horses back as Trode comforted her. Kiro could see pain in her eyes.
Charmless jumped up. "Out of my way sewvant I need to whip some mannews into that beast!" he snarled. "You should be honored to have a taste of my cwop you stupid beast! I'll teach you to have wespect for youw wider!"
"You're the beast!"Ehro growled. Kiro was marching over as Trode got between the tub of lard and Medea.
"Enough!" he shouted. "This is my horse. And I will not let you harass her any longer! If you must strike something strike me instead."
"But-"Ehro started.
"It's fine Ehro." Trode hissed his mind made up.
"So, the Howse is that impowtant to you?" Charmless asked mockingly. "Fine Wish gwanted, pepawe to accept hew punishment!" he shouted getting ready to strike Trode as hard as he could while Trode got ready to take the beating. Yangus and the others quickly got between Trode and Charmless Kiro had joined them.
"Leave them alone!" Kiro growled.
"Just ignore 'im grandad!" Yangus growled. "E's actin' like a spoilt brat if you ask me!"
"Get out of my way! A Punishment must be doled out!" Charmless hissed.
"Well, well, well." Angelo chided analytically. "You certainly come to life. When there's a horse to be beaten. If only you showed, this kind of fire around Argon Lizards. You'd be quite an asset."
"Yeah he would. Instead he picks on those who can't and/or won't fight back! Like a bully!" Kiro snarled.
Charmless glared turning into a living tomato. "Such wank impudence!" he snarled. "How dawe, you filthy lowlifes speak to….My Majesty like that?!"
"Just give it a rest! If anyone's in the wrong it's you!" Jessica snapped.
"Heeeeyyyy!" shouted Zidane as he rushed over. His timing was Godly. Kiro sighed in relief.
"It's huge!" Zidane shouted as he stopped to take a breath. "Amei, Nanaki and I got up early, to try. And scout out a large Argon lizard. And we found one, a freaking giant!"
A powerful roar hit the area. It was about a mile off but it was deep and loud enough to sound closer than it was. "Did you heaw that? It's the cwy of an Awgon lizawd!" Charmless said delighted. "Fowget the stupid Howse! We've got to get that Awgon lizawd!" What Kiro wouldn't give, to feed him to that lizard! They quickly got ready and rushed after it.
As they rushed out to catch it. Trode hung his head a little feeling powerless. If he had his true form, Charmless wouldn't have gotten away with this. "Never have I regretted. My current form more than now…"
X X X
They came out to a cliff over-looking a small quarry where it was sitting. Even from a far off perspective Kiro could see it was gigantic. He could see Amei and Nanaki who looked much smaller in the distance. They raced over as fast as they could to join, back with the other two and sneaking up on it.
It was a deeper red and cream coloring than the others. Its ear flaps were smaller but not by much. Charmles ran up to it. "Thewe you awe you beast!" he said triumphantly practically challenging it. The Lizard turned around and stood tall on its legs. It towered over Charmless. Whose fear of Lizards was suddenly rushing back to him, he whimpered. In return it let out a powerful roar. That blew everyone's hair and head gear a little bit. Charmless let out a high pitch squeal, and ran away. From the Lizard as fast as his stubby, fat legs could carry him.
"Saw that coming." Zidane sighed as they turned to the beast that charged at them. The group; quickly surrounded it. It swung its tail. Angelo quickly cast Kabuff and Amei Protera. They managed to half the damage from the tail. It ran at them head down. Nanaki, Zidane and Angelo jumped out of its way as it hit the nearby stone wall. It was stunned slightly allowing Kiro to fire a Thunder spell at it. It growled in pain before swinging its tail back around. Kiro remembered and used Protect just in time to save himself some major damage but he was knocked back off his feet. Amei quickly helped him up. As the Argon lizard jumped; Jessica cast acceleratle or Haste in Amei's case. Increasing their movement speed to quickly escape from the Argon's tail. But it still hit them hard with a shock wave.
"Cura!" Amei shouted healing everyone. Nanaki jumped on its head scratching at its face making it scream and thrash around as Angelo shot him with a Seraph Arrow. Slowing it down slightly.
"Nanaki move away!" Zidane called as he unleashed a powerful attack on it called Tidal Flame, which unleashed a burst of golden energy on the beast making it stumble back before trying to bite down on Zidane who expertly dodged him with a roll. Kiro ran up and unleashed a combo on his back that started with a small warp raid. It screamed in pain whipping around to snap. But Kiro expertly timed it and launched a Bio spell into its mouth poisoning it. It reared back in pain. It sat their coughing trying to vomit the poison. It was then hit by a barrage of Blizzara and Crackle spells by Jessica and Amei.
It swung its tail violently and quickly the group barely dodging it. Yangus managed to get above it with a Helm Splitter and swung it right on its head. Amei cast Slowera on it, "Ehro now!" Amei shouted.
"Dragon Slash!" Ehro shouted landing a mighty blow on the Argon lizard. It let out a scream and fell to the ground. Nanaki howled for it as it faded away.
Charmless came out of his hiding place, his eyes widened greedily at the jewel that was the size of a Cantaloupe. He picked it up with both hands. "Yes! This is it! This is exactly what I needed. This will show Fathew and his sewvants!" he declared hungrily. "I can just see theiw faces now! 'oh Shawmlay how wondewful you awe, what a hewo! They'd bettew! Aftew all I went thwough to get it!"
"What you went through!?" Kiro snarled in his thoughts. "Also you didn't do crap! If anything, Ehro completed the Initiation not you!"
"Sewvants back to the Castle!" he declared.
"At last!" Ehro groaned. Then he cast a teleportation spell called, Zoom to get them back to Argonia as quickly as possible.
X X X
They entered the gates of Argonia. "Home at last!" Charmless said happily. "It feels like ages since we left on ouw epic jounewy."
"It's only been a day." Nanaki muttered flatly. Charmless ignored him and noticed the castle town. It suddenly looked different. In the center of town several Tents and tables set up. Flagged streamers had been hung in the trees and on the rooves all over.
"The Flags awe up!?" Charmless asked excitedly. "Oh the Bazaw is on! It must have Stawted while we wewe away! I'm going to do a little shopping before; I go back to the castle. DIS-MISSED!" he declared running off. Kiro looked around the bazar. He wanted something, to make himself feel better. After the Hell, Charmless put them through. He saw the wizard that gave him the clothes earlier. There were even a couple of Moogles that forged his Keyblade for him to be slightly stronger. He could see Ehro and his group buying new weapons for their Journey. Zidane and Amei had been looking at weapons for themselves as well.
"Are you not going to look for a weapon?" Kiro asked Nanaki. Noticing he hadn't bolted for a stand.
"My magic and power are channeled through my Clips. It's hard to come by something like that. This one will do me fine don't worry." Nanaki assured. Kiro nodded. As Kiro and him climbed a nearby hill. They saw Ehro looking both furious and incredulously at something. Kiro's gut dropped like a stone.
"I am going to freaking scream….." Kiro said in a tranquil fury. His eyes wide with rage.
"That little…." Nanaki growled in a low tone. They all saw that Charmless was now holding a much larger watermelon sized ball of Blood Quartz. That had been polished and cut to look like an Argon Heart. Zidane and the others soon joined. They all glared at him.
"Ah thewe you awe." He said joyfully. "And you've awwived just in time. Without fuwthew ado, allow me to present, my new Awgon Heawt!" Kiro's eyes twitched he gritted his teeth. When he was young Takeshi one of his friends had been mean to him. He took that anger out on Raian. From that point he had learnt to never take your anger out on people who didn't deserve. It as well as to control his temper. But Charmless was making it infinitely hard to do either. And he already screwed up with Amei he did the only thing he could do.
"That's Blood Quartz." Kiro growled.
"The Biggest you evew saw!" Charmless Boasted.
"That's Blood Quartz." Kiro growled again.
"I mean, you've seen a real Awgon Heawt for youwselves. You can tell this is no fake." Charmless added.
"You're right I can," Kiro said hotly. "And That's Blood Quartz!" He was convinced the tub of Lard was actively ignoring him now. Especially with how nervous the peddler was looking behind.
"I suppose you'we wondewing whewe I acquiwed it? Well as Luck would have it. One of the peddlers, was selling one."
"You mean the big ball of Blood Quartz!?" Kiro growled loudly eye twitching now. Charmless was ignoring him and proceeded continue to do so.
"Service is our motto." The Peddler said in a slimly voice. No way, he was legitimate. "We gots another if you gots the money…" He said holding a similar ball of Red Quartz up.
"Anothew? One is quite enough!" Charmless assured.
"That. Is. Blood. Quartz!" Kiro growled through gritted teeth. He was now resisting the urge to attack.
"Anyway, you lot can keep that Awgon Heawt, fwom the Woyal Hunting Gwound, fow youwselves. I'm going to take this one back to the Castle. Of couwse in exchange you will keep quiet about this will you." Charmless asked implying it as bribery. "And Once the Bazaw moves on, I won't have to Wowwy about that Peddlew telling anyone! It's a Flawless plan. He laughed flippantly. "This is Fawewell. I'm off to the Castle! Dwop by sometime if you want to see the adowation on my subject's faces ta-ta!" he stated running off.
But unbeknownst to them all however; Clavius had been watching the entire time, Through a looking glass. "Oh, Charmles, what have you done?" he asked his voice laced with grief and disappointment.
Special Attacks and spells
Boom: Makes an explosion to hit a small radius of enemies.
Acceleratle: Spell like Haste but slightly more powerful. It raises the target speed.
Haste: A spell like acceleratle. Though not as strong it increases the speed of the target. For a short while;
Crackle: A spell similar to Blizzara. Summons crystals of ice to strike the foe from the ground.
Kabuff: A Spell like Protega. It increases the Targets defense by a large amount.
Protera: The Second level of Protect. Increases the targets defense by a bit more than Protect.
Slowera: The Second level of the Slow Spells. It decreases a foe's movement speed.
Cura: The second level of Cure. Like the Spell Mid-heal it recovers a decent amount of HP to the target. A ranged attack version in The Land of Sages is called Multi-Heal.
Tidal Flame: One of Zidane's special attacks. Summons non-magical energy. Like a burst of flame that charges towards the foe. And then strikes them with two times Zidane's attack power.
Dragon Slash: One of Ehro's special attacks. A Deep Gold flame covers the blade as the user leaps up and slashes downward of the foe. It is super effective against Dragons and Dragon like Monsters and Heartless.
Flame Slash: One of Ehro's special attacks; slashes a foe with Fire Damage.
Zap Slash: One of Ehro's special attacks; slashes a foe with Electric Damage.
Helm Splitter: One of Yangus' special attacks. The User jumps into the air. And then rolls into the foe holding the axe to split their heads.
Seraph Arrow: One of Angelo's special attacks. Damages the foe with energy that gives the user back Mana.
Argon Lizard: Lizards that are hunted by the Royal Family of Argonia as an Initiation. One of Ehro's moves Dragon Slash seems to be very effective on them. When destroyed they drop a small jewel called an Argon Heart. That varies from the size of a marble to an eye ball. They look a lot like Blood Quartz apparently. The difference is the Argon Hearts Glitter on their own and are pure red; whereas Blood Quartz has traces of Black and other colors in it and don't glow unless placed in light. Not that the Tub of Lard Cared. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King 2004
Great Argon Lizard: A Rare gigantic variant of the Argon Lizards. It's also deeper in color and hits hard. Charmless wouldn't leave until he found one big enough to satisfy him. This Variant drops an Argon Heart the size of a Cantaloupe. Good thing too. I was afraid the Tub of Lard was gonna wipe a good chunk of them out before giving up! Rest in Peace. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King 2004
So Quick bit of Trivia, That scene with the rest of Ehro's party; It was a deleted scene from the original game. And was carried over to Localization; But was cut. Even in the new 3DS version. I found it at the Cutting room . The way I understand it, one or all of the Hero's companions would confront Charmles just as he was harassing Trode and Medea. And say those lines I put in, but, unlike the final game. Where Yangus was off doing his own thing. And alerted the group to the Great Argon Lizard, when he saw it. It would just let out a roar which would distract Charmless from pursuing punishing the two even further.
READ AND REVIEW!