CHAPTER SIX
"The Honor of Avion"
Emily was bit startled when she found everyone the next morning. She had forgotten that they had been out celebrating, so was shocked to find them here. While some of them (Poet, Tail, Mekaneck, Exo, and Fisto) had all managed to stumble back home, the others apparently decided to "camp out" in the Memory Room.
"So this is the mighty Defenders of Eternos?" asked Talon, who had come in behind her. "Passed out and foul-smelling."
"They were out celebrating last night," Emily told him. "It was their first victory and the old warriors thought that -"
"I know the details, daughter of Adam."
"Then why are you down here?"
"I came here to find the Machinesmith. My father wanted to congratulate him on his recent . . . promotion. But it seems that will have to wait until that man wakes up and fixes his hang over. I would suggest a drink for the congratulations, but it seems that Machinesmith can't handle it and would make a fool of himself."
Emily spun around, glaring. "What is your problem?"
"My problem is that Eternos continually depends on Avions assistance. And it comes to no surprise seeing as how your people celebrate."
"What? You want to rescind the treaty just because a few of the finest warriors had a few too many the night of their first major victory?! You're pathetic."
Emily couldn't believe what just poured out of her mouth, but she had a lot of built-up aggression and Talon was just asking for a debate.
"What does it matter to you? It's not like you'll be getting the throne!" Talon snapped back at her.
"And?! That means I can't have an opinion in politics?!"
"You're nothing more than a child! The only thing you should have to worry about - "
"Oh! Just who are you to tell me what to worry about, huh?!"
"Fine! Then you must realize that the only reason that Avion is still holding up with Eternos is purely out of tradition!"
"OH OKAY! THEN DOWN WITH TRADITION! MAYBE I SHOULD GET THE THRONE!"
"MAYBE!"
"EMILY!"
"TALON!"
The two of them jerked over to see their fathers - Adam and Stratos - looking quite displeased. "Just what is going on here?"
"Father, I . . ."
"Dad - "
"Forget it," Startos cut in. "We don't want to know. Talon, we spoke about this. The alliance between Avion and Eternos is not of tradition, but protection for both our peoples."
"Yes father," Talon strained.
"And Emily," Adam brought in, "you are too young to understand the delicacies of politics."
"Right, sure. Well, at least I respect our allies!" she shouted, projecting it right at Talon.
"EMILY!" yelled Adam.
Emily just grunted and walked away. "Nevermind, Dad. You don't understand," she muttered as she stomped out.
Adam sighed. "I'll talk to her," he told Stratos and Talon.
"No, Adam, I'm afraid she's right," Stratos replied, turning towards Talon. "We must respect and honor we have allied ourselves with, son."
Talon snarled. "You know what, Dad? STUFF IT!"
The young Avion ran towards the nearest exit, then shot into the clear, blue sky. Stratos sighed to himself.
"I'm getting too old for this."
Adam grinned. "It's alright. They both have a lot of learning to do."
"I suppose."
"Hey . . ." moaned Ram-Man-At-Arms as he awoke. "What's going on?"
***
As soon as Emily slammed the door of her room, she let out a sequeal of anger and kicked her wall. "Ow!" she gasped. "Damn it, that hurt."
She began to reach for her bags so she could just get to school and leave the Palace for another week - when she realized something very odd. From the midst of her anger, a clear and strangely rational thought came to her.
Anti-traditionalism.
That was what the entire debate was about, wasn't it? About not wanting to go through with certain traditions and rites. Her insecurities about not getting the throne. His insistence that the alliance between Avion and Eternos was nothing more than an on-going tradition.
And that was something he was quite passionate about. He was willing to go straight to personal attacks to defend his point. She couldn't help but admire someone like that. Someone that is able to come and fight and go straight for the jugular if need be. Emily could feel the intentness about him. She could see it in those cute eyes of his . . .
Emily paused, realizing what was going on.
"Oh no . . ." she complained aloud. "I have a crush on him."
***
Just south of the Mystic Mountains, Talon found himself a good place to sit and sulk. He cursed himself for losing his temper, but not too much. Of what he said, he regretted only the personal attack on the young princess. It was an immature judgement on his part, but he was upset at these people.
"Son?"
Talon turned around, finding his father standing right behind him. "Father, I . . . I'm sorry . . ."
"It is alright, Talon. These are . . . trying times."
"Are they?" asked Talon, standing up now. "Because besides the Energy Beast, there hasn't been a major threat to Eternia in twenty years."
"Our peoples must still remain connected. We are allies, not enemies."
"I understand that, father. But Avion should stand with Eternos on everything? If you ask me, Eternos is holding us back from becoming a stronger power. You said that we must do what is right for Avion, but what if what is right for Avion is growing beyond the need for Eternos?"
"Perhaps, son, but it would be unwise to throw off our bounds to Eternos."
"Maybe, father, maybe."
Just then, two figures dropped down from the sky. "There you are!" exclaimed Buzz-Off, who was followed by Stinger.
"We've got a bit of a problem," said Stinger.
"There's been a band of Trolls along the canyons of Yon, up to no good. We thought since we shared that boarder, we could both investigate."
"Of course. Talon?"
Stratos' son stood and the four shot into blue sky. Stratos was a little concerned to see dark, gray clouds beginning to gather in the north, but decided they had some time before any sort of storm kicked up. And he could tell by the hairs on the neck that there was one waiting in the wings.
The canyons of Yon were huge and quite treacherous. But Stratos and the others were up for it. Hopefully, they could find something.
"Talon, you and Stinger head east. Buzz-Off and I will head west. We'll meet in one hour," Stratos ordered.
"Yes father."
Stinger and Talon searched the east end of the canyons carefully, with Stinger attempting to conjure up some small talk. Talon barely answered, obviously split between concentrating on the task at hand and what he and his father had spoken about earlier.
"There!" shouted Stinger.
"I see them!"
The pair dove in low, eyes locked on the five Trolls . . . that lay upon the ground, dead.
"What is this?" asked Talon, looking-over their corpses.
"I'm not sure," Stinger replied. "They don't look like a member of any clan I'm familiar with. Looks to be hired help."
"They were each stabbed through the heart," Talon noted. "But I don't see any other tracks."
"Here are the Trolls tracks. It looks like they were coming from the west."
Meanwhile, Buzz-Off and Stratos touched down between two large cliffs. "Here are their tracks. Five of them," Stratos observed. "Coming from the south."
Stratos began to follow the tracks as Buzz-Off took a close look at his surroundings. The king of Avion tried to figure out why the Trolls would be in this area. It was clearly not a part of their territory. No where near their area.
Then it dawned on him. He turned around and was about to speak, when there was sudden explosion from the cliff! It was coming down!
Stratos shot like a dart towards Buzz-Off, pushing him out of the path of the falling rocks. Buzz-Off was sent across ground and turned to see Stratos . . . as the rocks poured onto the Avions body.
"STRATOS! NO!" shouted Buzz-Off, speeding over. He immediately began to pull rocks away, hoping and praying the Stratos was still alive.
He finally found Stratos and pulled him out from the pile and into his arms. "Stratos, come on, speak to me . . ."
Stratos' body was bloodied and bruised. Bones were broken, including his tattered wings.
"FATHER!" screamed Talon, then, landing right next to him. He pulled the body from Buzz-Off's arms and held his father.
"Oh no," gasped Stinger.
"Father, speak . . ." Talon begged, pulling off his helmet, as well as Stratoses.
With blood-caked lips, Stratos groaned. "Son . . . Talon . . ." Stratos muttered, his hand rubbing against Talon's cheek.
"Father, you're going to be okay."
Stratos' eyes defied that logic, but he said nothing of it. Instead, he brought his hand around Talon's neck. "Avion . . . Talon . . ."
"Father! Father!" Talon gasped, hearing Stratos' voice weaken.
"Talon . . . Avion . . . honor . . . honor it . . ." Stratos moaned. And then, with one last heave of breath, the great king said no more.
"Father . . . FATHER! FATHER, WAKE UP! FATHER - WAKE UP!" Talon yelled, tears beginning to bud in his eyes. "WAKE UP, FATHER, WAKE UP! Please . . . please . . ."
But it was no use.
Stratos, king of Avion, warrior of Eternos, and father of Talon was dead.