Later on, Briana brought the group back to her home and once inside, she led them to the living room so they can relax and kick up their feet for awhile.
Briana: Hahahhaa, I seee~So that's why you came home so suddenly. You not only forgot some of your supplies, BUT YOU picked up some traveling companions to accompany you on your journey.
Diamond: Well Mrs. Everhart, it-:She was soon cut off when Briana raised her hand up.:
Briana: Please, call me Briana. No need to be so proper, young lady.:She smiled teasingly at her.:
Diamond: Miss Briana, it's actually your daughter who is accompanying us-or um we are accompanying her as you said...:She pointed left and then right as her arms were criss crossed for she was getting confused before looking up at her. A sweatdrop formed on the side of her head before rubbing the back of her hair softly.: Well...we can say were accompanying each other together as a big group as were traveling to Solaria's Temple where my mother planned to meet me there and hopefully along the way we can reunite my Uncle with his friends.
Briana: Solaria's Temple? That is quite a journey to go traveling to a sacred landmark.
Diamond: A sacred landmark?:She was confused as she wondered what she meant by "sacred landmark".:
Briana: Yes, you see Solaria's Temple is said to be home of the legendary Sun Dragon who is one of the six dragons of Monworld. It is said that when Monworld was young, she appeared in a sphere of glowing light and blessed the world with the sun so illuminate the land from darkness. She is said to be one of the ancient monsters told in legends, the guardian dragon of the Holy Realm that lended her assistance to the angels during a great war. But since then, she hasn't been seen by mortal eyes-some say once the great war ended, she retired deep within the temple and went into a deep slumber to recharge her strength. Yet another tale tells of another reason, but that can be saved for another time.:She smiled softly at them before waving her hand to the couch.: Please have a seat, my husband should be coming home shortly. I'll get some tea started while I prepare dinner.:She placed her hands together before heading to the kitchen.:
Hermes: Huh...so Solaria's Temple isn't just some religious establishment, it's...it's...:He was trying to find the right words through his startled stuttering.:
Diamond: IT'S a dungeon temple!:Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him with a glow surrounding her being.: Full of traps, monsters, treasure and an incredible ancient monster! Boss or Divine Ally! And mom is going to meet us there!? THAT'S so coool~!
Hermes: How can you say such absurb things!?:He waved his arms around frantically in chibi form.: For all we know, she wants to only just MEET us OUTSIDE THE temple. Why do you think she wants to meet us INSIDE where there's an ancient, powerful monster that may or may not WANT TO eat us if we disturb her slumber!
Diamond: Hermes, Solaria is a Light Monster-right? And her home is the Holy realm even if her temple is between Earth and Holy. And Briana said that she helped the angels in this "Great War" long ago when fighting against demons or some evil force-so she can't be a bad monster.
Hermes: Tell that to the giant bugs that nearly tried to eat us.
Prince Eccentro: Welll it was either that or from any fragrance you might have on.
Diamond: Or food-Maybe they were attracted by the crepes in my bag that I gave later to that kind oldy lady who gave me the bracelet and a magic mirror for free.:She looked down at her left arm as she stared happily at her bracelet for she couldn't help, but admire it then a sudden realization hit her when she realized she HAD Crepes with her and she gave them away.: Ohhh no...I DID HAVE crepes with me...and I gave away my strawberry creamy too...:She lowered her head down in disappointment as she smiled ironically.: But at least they will help her and she might share the others with her bird friends or elderly friends.
Gemma: You know you can be quite a goofball, do you sometimes act clueless on your actions?:She smiled jokingly at her.:
At that moment, the front door opened as a masculine voice ringed out from the doorway.
?: Honey, I'm home!
Briana's voice: Welcome home, dear! Dinner will be in awhile, our daughter's stop by to pick up a few items she forgot and she brought guests!
As he walked into the living room, the well-built man in a baker's outfit (Minus the hat) was holding a bag of bread, fresh and cooled from the bakery he owned not too far away from his home. He had shaggy brown hair that nearly covered his midnight blue eyes as he brushed his bangs back with one hand to take a gander at his daughter and her new friends she picked up on her journey.
Keith: Well now, a day out of town and you already got yourself a traveling party. I'm quite impressed, Gemma.
Gemma: TWO of them are my traveling buddies, ONE OF THEM is EXTRA Luggage.:She pointed a thumb at Eccentro as she gritted her teeth in annoyance.: He tried to swipe my staff.
Diamond: :She pulled herself up on the couch abit before looking at Keith as she raised a finger.: BUT he apologized and she got her staff back. He thought it was a monster item.
Keith: Ah that would explain it-anyone would mistake the Mage's Blessing for a mystical and ancient artifact. It's been handed down in the family for generations.
Diamond: My name is Diamond, this is Hermes.:She pointed to Hermes before pointing to Eccentro.: And that's my Uncle Eccentro.
Keith: A pleasure to meet you all. My name is Keith.:He walked over as he held out a hand to Diamond with a soft smile on his face.:
Diamond: A pleasure to meet you as well Keith.:She held out her hand to shake his hand, but at the moment he took her hand-she found herself lifted up in the air and shaken up and down abit fast in chibi form.: WOooahhH~!
Keith: Hahahhaha! You got quite the hand shake for a human-so light and gentle. ^_^
Gemma: Uhhh~DAD you might wanna ease up on the shaking or she might go through the ceiling.:She had a sweatdrop beside her head seeing how fast he was shaking her from the handshake.:
Keith: :He looked over at Gemma before looking back at Diamond as she was going up and down before halting midway down on the shaking.: Woops! Hahahaha sorry there, miss. I keep forgetting my own strength sometimes.:He lowered her down back on the couch as he released his grip, patting her head softly.:
Diamond: ~ Soo...sooo strong a grip...so many stars...:She swayed a little before falling back onto the couch.:
Prince Eccentro: :He had a nervous smile on his face before yelping when he saw Keith held out his hand to him, waving both hands in front of him.: Ummmm~No thank you, Jazz hands are my way of air shaking your hands-ahahahaha!
Hermes: :He stared at him with anime beady eyes in annoyance.:
Awhile later in the dining room, the family along with Diamond and her companions sat down at the dinner table-There was a bowl of freshly cut fruit, a big bowl of mixed salad with slices of tomato, carrots, jicama and an odd-looking vegetable sliced in the mix with a creamy dressing. The loaf of bread was sliced up with fresh churned butter on a different plate and of course-Soup! It was a creamy vegetable soup with potato dumplings-almost like Gnouchi soup in a way! There was a pitcher of honey lemonade with ice cubes to keep it cool and at the other end of the table were Honey cakes, honey-comb shaped pastries and of course-a jar of honey to drizzle on top just in case!
Diamond: :She blew on her spoon before taking a bite of her soup, her eyes sparkled as she savored the creaminess of the warm liquidy goodness.: Mmmm~! Sooo good! This gnouchi vegetable soup is delicious, Briana. I've never tasted anything like it before.
Briana: Well there's plenty more where that came from, I got a whole pot in the back in case anyone wants seconds or thirds.
Hermes: :He was sipping some carrot oil that he had stored in a compartment to have as his dinner.: Ahhhh~this is my dinner right here...good ole Carrot Oil. That hit the spot.
Keith: You sure you don't want anything, Hermes? Does your carrot oil really help fill you up?
Hermes: It's fine. I'm a robot, so I don't have to worry about physical food. Just good ole fuel and electricity to get me back to top form.:He looked over at Keith as he looked at the food.: Although my eyes are studying and recording the food in front of me as part of gathering information on Monworld Culture.
Diamond: :Picking up a slice of bread as she got a knife to use to spread the butter on.: Hermes is a Companbot that my mother invented-she's a scientist just like my Uncle here.
Briana: I see, how fascinating. The other world must be full of Companbots like Hermes if they only require natural energy.
Diamond: Not only that, but he's ECO-Friendly too.
Keith: Eco-Friendly? What is Eco-Friendly?
Diamond: Friendly for the environment. No hazard to the land, nature or wildlife.
Keith: Ah.:He nodded as he understood it much clearer now than he did abit ago.: So tell us, Diamond-you said that you and your mother went through a "Mon Gate" that brought you here when you were attacked by robed shadowy figures?
Diamond: Yeah, they attacked my home and one tried to suck my blood if it wasn't for Tulip striking him out of the ball park. We ended up getting separated, me and Hermes almost got attacked by Giant Bugs if it wasn't for Gemma, then we caught the thief who took her staff that happened to be my uncle and...umm...here we are?
Hermes: Right now were heading to Solaria's temple, that's what Hinata told Diamond before we got thrown into the gate.
Diamond: I was shoved than thrown?:She looked at Hermes a little confused.:
Hermes: I'd rather been shoved then thrown like a football.:He had a sweatdrop as he looked away for a bit.:
Diamond: Oh, speaking of legends. Do you know who the Mon Colle Knights are?
At that moment, Prince Eccentro was drinking some honey lemonade just as he heard the words "Mon Colle Knights" that made him turn his head to spit out some of his drink, coughing hard for abit before patting his chest when he felt some of the liquid go down the wrong pipe. Why would his nece want to know about those meddlesome brats who kept interfering with his plans everywhere he went?! Was she crazy!?
Briana: Oh! You must mean Mondo and Rockna. That's what they called themselves. Their the heroes of Monworld who united every realm to taken down Redda and the Time Master when they tried to turn our world into nothing.
Keith: United with the Golden Dragon to vanquish that horrid creature back to his realm and as for Redda, he was slain by Sir Gabriolis during the great battle.
Briana: :She took out an old newspaper as she carefully handed it to Diamond.: We kept a copy of the "Monworld Express" that told about their heroism, there's even a picture of them on the front cover.
Diamond: :She took a look at the front page as she gazed upon the Mon Colle Knights photo. Her eyes widen as she saw Professor Hiragi in the background amongst the monsters before a bright smile formed on her face.: Hey! Uncle Hiragi's in this picture too! And I know that girl with the curl in the back of her bobby hair! That's his daughter Rockna Hiragi. I remember the Christmas card they sent us last year with Hiragi being Santa and Rockna was dressed as an elf. I didn't realize she was a legendary hero!:Her eyes sparkle in wonder that her uncle's daughter was a legendary hero.:
Hermes: :He came over as he zoomed in on the picture to take a closer look from Diamond's left.: Hmmm...Yeah I recognize that goofy scruffy haired crazy looney anywhere...man how long's it been since he saw a hair stylist? He needs to do something about that hair...
Diamond: :She kept gazing at the picture as her eyes softened, she scanned the picture a little closely as she seemed troubled.: That's weird...I don't see Eccentro's picture anywhere. He was part of the great battle as well.:She opened the newspaper as she took a look at the different pictures alongside the details of the battle of the century.:
Hermes: Check Under "Coward Runs With Tail Between Legs".:He snickered before he got kicked by Eccentro's foot as he glared at him in anger, fist forming as he shook it violently seeing him turn his head and whistled like he was playing innocent.:
Diamond: Oh! I found it!:She folded the paper before pointing to a picture of him cheering the knights on from the distance with Batch, Gluko and Ms. Loon.:
Gemma: Yeahhh~Seems like he was spectating than helping...:She had a sweatdrop beside his head.:
Prince Eccentro: Well of course-I WAS SPECTATING for awhile before deciding to get in on the action with my crew to help take down that overgrown blob of a Time Master. I fired a missle right at the beast that took it right down, heh! I showed Hiragi up on that one.:He placed his hand to the side of his mouth before letting out an annoying evil laugh.: If it weren't for me, his Eagle would of been cooked!
Diamond: You just keep amazing me more and more, Uncle. It's a surprise that they didn't put your photo on the bottom front of the cover. ^_^
Gemma: Hmmmm~Yeah...that is PRETTY strange.:She stared at him in disbelief, she clearly wasn't buying any of his so-called "tales" even how a "missle" knocked a giant monster like Time Master off his feet and onto his rump.:
Diamond: :She handed the newspaper back to Briana before taking a sip of honey lemonade, her body tingling all over once she swallowed some of the sweet soury, honey lemonadely goodness.: Mmmm~This lemonade is delicious. Just the right amount of honey to balance out the sweet, yet sourness of the lemonade.
Briana: Just wait until you try the Honey cakes and Comb pastry. They Honey comb-shaped pastries are a big seller at my husband's bakery.
Diamond: Gasppp~! YOU own a bakery!?:Her eyes sparkled as she stared at Keith with a huge smile on her face and her fists together close to her chest.:
Keith: Hahahhaa yep...my bakery is one of the many ones around town that are known for our variant honey baked goods when it comes to pastries. No bakery has the same goods on their shelves so its fun to see which ones have the best baked treats in town.
Diamond: I'd love to try one from each bakery and compare it myself! Anything that's sweet can't be beat and you can bet that it's so good to eat!:She waved a finger as she made up a little rhyme.:
Keith: Hahahahaha! Well I hope you got quite a sweet tooth and a savory sweet appetite. Honey Meadow has about four bakerys scattered about the corners of our little town.
Diamond: Four in such a small place. Back home, bakeries are scattered almost in secret corners of districts that you had to ask for directions to get to one, but in a town like this it takes only going either north, south, east, or west. So convenient!
Hermes: Ughhhh~...:He thought, "I can just imagine a stomach ache ready to happen if she goes overboard. Her and her sweets.":
Later on after dinner, Gemma showed Diamond and the group to their rooms. Gemma allowed Diamond to share a room with her while Hermes and Eccentro shared a room across from them which they didn't seem to like the sound of that idea one bit with how they've been at each other's necks for quite awhile. In Gemma's room, her room was lavishing and by lavish a little messy with a couple of bookshelves on opposite sides with books about magic, spells and Monworld history that covered every inch and corner; some of the books had to be stacked on one another on a few shelves along with crystals and some knick knacks she picked up during her travels. Her bed looked like your average bed, but a little more fluff in the mattress and a sea green sheet with flowery patterns stitched into them and a cute little pixie plush next to her pillow. In the center of the room was a burgundy desk and chair that looked chaotic with papers scattered about with a locked journal with splotches of ink on sides of the cover due to the quill's ink splatting on it as a quill holder rested right by the book.
Gemma: Excuse the mess, I haven't had a chance to get some of the areas cleaned up before I left because I was so excited about going on my magey journey to see more of the world and help folks out. Anyway your bed is across from mine.:She pointed to the extra bed that was placed on the opposite side of the room.:
Diamond: :She ran forth toward the bed, placing her bag down before bouncing onto the bed; bouncing a couple times before sinking down in it's cloudy texture as she embraced the marshmallowy softness of the mattress.: MmmmM~It's sooo soft and comfy...almost like a cloud.:She turned over to look at Gemma with a big smile on her face.: So different from a futon.
Gemma: And a futon is?:She had a puzzled look on her face as she stared at her.:
Diamond: It's like a super soft, but flat comforter-like a giant pillow, but bed-like that you roll up and fold up when you wake up, pat it outside to clean it and to fall asleep in.:She laid on her back before placing her hands behind her head.: Like a big sleeping bag without the zipper to keep you snugged in, but you can put a sheet on it to make it feel like a sleeping bag if you tuck the sides in to make it feel like your sleeping in a sleeping bag.
Gemma thought for a moment as a fantasy bubble appeared before her head as she imagined Diamond all snugged up in the "sleeping bag" futon looking like a catepillar-a worm maybe? Or maybe a human spring roll? A blissful smile on her face as she slept happily before it popped when her attention returned to her.
Gemma: I see...sounds quite interesting. You must show me sometime when you and your mom get back home...Speaking of your mom, did you call her on your "Smarts Phone"?
Diamond: I sent her a few texts and a few pics of where me and Hermes are, even left a voice message when she didn't pick up, but I'm sure she'll see them soon and call and/or text back...The signal in this world is REALLY amazing, it'd give Spectrum a run for their money if you had your own cable company here.
Gemma: I don't know what Spectrum or cable company is, but um...thanks?
Diamond: Your family is really nice, Gemma.:She smiled softly at her.: Your mom is a teacher and your dad is a baker! You got the coolest parents in the whole realm. Say let me ask you something, where did you learn your magic from? Your mom or your dad?
Gemma: From both my parents-though you wouldn't think due to their job titles, they're just the jobs they got after they wed. Mom was a White Mage, my Dad a Black Mage-YET he never used a staff but enchanted fist cuffs-He was...:She had a sweatdrop as she imagined her father as a brawler black mage.: Well...let's say he got physical when he cast his spells. He once used a Magma Sphere on his fists to bash a Rock Golem into goo.
Diamond: Coooollll~...:She rested her head on her fists as her eyes were starry from Gemma's tale.: What about your mom?! I bet her white magic was the stuff of legends-did she had to bring anyone back from the dead or near death!?
Gemma: Well...there was this ONE funny story she told me when she was about to revive one of her team mates' from near exhaustion...Okay it all started in a tavern...
Meanwhile in the other room, Hermes was using a piece of chalk to divide the room so Eccentro stayed on his side and he ont he other. He didn't want his "royalness" anywhere near him-sharing a room was bad enough, but having him try to steal his space drew the line-LITERALLY.
Hermes: :He pointed at the chalk line before pointing behind him.: Alright this is MY SIDE-YOU STAY on your side of the line and I'll stay on my side of the line.:He pointed back at him with a tiny vein on his head.:
Prince Eccentro: :He looked at the chalk line before a wicked grin filled his face before using his right boot to brush away the chalk to his left.: Heheheheheh~! Sorry, but no pesky dusty line can keep me in line, Tin Rabbit!
Hermes: Ah!:He saw him dust away a portion of the line before redrawing it, yet kept getting annoyed as he kept brushing it away as he kept redrawing the line back in.: Errrr~! Will you cut it out!?
Prince Eccentro: And will you quit trying to treat me like a criminal!?
Hermes: Because you are a criminal! Listen up, you don't like me and I don't like you! But Diamond likes you because your supposed "family", but if she finds out WHO YOU really are-then she's not gonna like you.:He took out the newspaper he borrowed from Briana earlier.: IT'S FISHY how if you helped the knights that you DIDN'T appear in the front page with them.
Prince Eccentro: I just didn't want to be anywhere near Hiragi.:He had his arms crossed as he looked away.:
Hermes: Then why weren't your "heroics" mentioned anywhere in the article?:He turned the page as he looked over the article a few times.: There was a slight mention, but nothing about blasting a missle at Time Master OR any mention of you helping out-FACE IT, YOur a fraud!
Prince Eccentro: Of course there was only a slight mention because they didn't give me a proper interview for me to tell of my heroism in the battle.:He placed a hand on his chest as he felt insulted.:
Hermes: Heroism my tin hiney! Your nothing, but a coward behind a royal facade!...Your a villain.:He glared at him angrily as he gripped the newspaper in both hands.:
Prince Eccentro: And what if I AM A villain, hmmm?:He turned to him with a smirk on his face.: You going to rat me out?
Hermes: MAYBE I will and maybe I won't, it all depends on you. No matter who tells, the one getting hurt in this will be Diamond...If she learned that half of your tales were lies and that you aren't some hero, she'll be disappointed...she might not trust a word you say nor even talk to you if she finds your just a fraud in a mediocre Prince Charming costume...:He lowered his head sadly as he softened his grip on the paper.: If you truly care for Diamond, if you truly think of her as family...then you'd do the right thing and tell her the truth. Hearing it from you will ease whatever comes next, but that choice is up to you.
Eccentro's gaze softened as he took in every word Hermes was saying-If Diamond learned the truth about who he really is, would she hate him? WOuld she detest him? Would she abandon him in the middle of nowhere with no way to find his way back to the Flying Lion? He lowered down his head as he began to thought deeply (Maybe for the first time to think empathically about his choices and the situation he's found himself in-Pretty rare in his case!). Diamond has been nothing, but kind and caring when they reunited in the forest and she promised to do her best to help him get back just as Gemma promised to get her back home. He took a deep breath before letting out a moanish sigh that turned from sad to plain annoyed then to angry as he fell to his knees abit before ruffling his hair as he was stressing out.
Prince Eccentro: Errrrr~! Alright~...Sighhhhh...I-I'll tell her.:He turned to Hermes with a worried look on his face.: But what if she ends up hating me if I tell her who I really am? What if she detests me and decides she'd be with those annoying brats than me?!
Hermes: I think it's pretty hard for Diamond to hate anybody, she's a very forgiving person. Of course maybe a light scold might come your way, but I don't think Diamond would hate you. You just have to wait to see how she reacts-it's better from you than anyone else because if somebody else tells the truth that'd be betrayal to not tell it directly to the person.
Prince Eccentro: YOu know surprisingly for a tin can rabbit you seem to full of advice. You a therapist?
Hermes: I do got a data file on psychology if that's what your asking, but I'm not a licensed therapist...I don't think Companbots can get degrees.:He thought for a moment with a question mark as he was stumped by his own question.:
As the sun was set outside the town, darkness cloaked the night sky as stars began to light up like tiny candles sprinkled across the night sky-all was calm...at the moment for in the distance of a distant farm, the sheep were sleeping in the field before a sudden quake woke one of the sheep. As the sheep awoke, he bleeped as his eyes widen in terror which alerted the other sheep to awake only for their eyes to catch sight of a terrifying beast that stood 20 feet tall with pitch black fur and a red mane that matched its terrifying red eyes as it stood before the sheep pen. He let out a monstrous roar that sent the sheep running off in the direction of the farm, yet the beast had no interest in having pork chops tonight as his gaze returned to the town that rested up ahead.:
?: Let's save some of the sheep for later once we decimate this town...What were looking for is hiding somewhere in that sickly sweet town...as well as intel on a monster item.:As he grinned it revealed his sharp teeth underneath his masked face.: Hehehehehhahahahaha!