Team Decided
"Rei! Teepo! Is it really you?" asked Ryu, "I thought Balio and Sunder had done you guys in."
"Nope, we're alive and kicking. Me 'cuz I'm a Dark Dragon. And Rei, well you know how hard this guy's skull is. It'd take more than those thugs' fists to crack it," Teepo commented.
Rei told him, "Watch it Teepo. We've got a Guardian to deal with, and your jokes aren't helping the situation any bit. Nina, do you think you can defeat him in a fight? Or maybe you Ryu."
Ryu looked down. "Well, the first time we fought, in the Contest of Champions, Garr kicked my butt. But I was able to defeat him at Angel's Tower, then something told me not to kill him. So maybe if we fight once again, I can find out the answer to why we must not fight."
"I didn't get it," Rei said, "How can fighting tell you why you must not fight?"
"Clueless as always Rei. He's using Light Dragon Philosophy, you know, like when Ryan and Valindo are always drawling on about how we must not kill if we don't have too," Teepo chided.
Nina told them, "Take care of Momo for us then. Ryu and I will got and try to fight the Guardian, and find out whatever we can." With that, they took off for the house.
* * *
At the house, the two found Garr being beaned by Selene. "Foolish Guardian, showing your face around the hideout of the Dragon Protectors. You have just sealed your fate to die by my sword. Now you will feel the wrath of the Allies of Justice for all of your crimes against our race."
"Lay off Selene," yelled Nina, "Let Ryu and I take care of this. We know what to do."
"Ni~na. Can't I just knock him unconscious for a bit?" inquired the Justice Freak.
Nina told her, "Not now. If we are unable to talk him around, then you can have all the fun you want. But we need to have a word with the Guardian at the moment."
Selene left. Nina looked Garr strait in the eye. "Now then, did you come here to do battle with our peaceful little colony? Or is there some other reason you've come to see us?"
"I came to see Ryu," Garr stated, "Ever since the battle at Angel's Tower, I've become confused. I wonder exactly why he didn't kill me, or why the Dragons of long ago never fought back. Maybe our god was misguided in fearing the Brood. I want Ryu to come with me to find God, so we can find all of the answers. He has the right to know this, as he is one of the Brood."
"What a coincidence. We were going to seek out just that. And Dies just gave us a beacon of light that will lead right to where Myria lives. We were going to head out after I choose the team of six to accompany us, as I know these people much better than Ryu," said Nina.
Garr asked her, "Could you take me with you? I want to redeem myself for the past."
Nina nodded. "That solves my problem of dividing the group, or leaving an uneven ratio of Light Dragons to Dark Dragons. I'd better gather the gang together, and announce what's going on."
* * *
Everyone gathered in the biggest clearing for Nina's announcement. She set up a makeshift podium consisting of the table from the kitchen, placed on top of the stump of a tree that had been cut down recently after Selene had mutilated it while on one of her evil hunts. Her gravel was simply the hammer they used to build all of their furniture. It sure got a lot of work, since some people - - most notably Sylvia and Raven - - didn't want to stop arguing.
"Now that I have your attention, I've got a very important announcement to make," Nina informed them, "We're going to search for the Goddess Myria. Dies has given us a very important clue, as well as informed me that this is Ryu and my destiny. With us, we're taking six others. Due to circumstances, we are going to bring the Guardian along, so he can repent from his past mistakes. We also are going to bring some of our companions from the original journey east that Ryu and I took as children. I would like to introduce you to the scientist, Momo, her Crysm Bot, Honey, and the sentient onion, Peco."
The Dragons looked at the three of them. Momo was blushing furiously, and Peco was sleeping. Garr stood there as rigid as always. Rei wondered if he ever smiled.
"Who will the last three be Nina? We need the strongest fighters we can get if we have to go up against someone who could wipe out the entire race in one blow," Garth reminded her.
Nina told him, "I was just getting to that. We'll need someone whose good at picking locks, in case Myria is trying to lock us out. Therefore, Rei will also come along. But the last two spots took some careful consideration. We need someone to represent the Dark Dragons, but we also don't want the representation to become uneven among the clans, either in the party or back here watching the fort. Therefore, I've decided to bring Teepo and Helen along as well."
The group of eight then stepped forward, toward the podium. Cheers rang up from the other Dragons, although they all wanted to come along, they also didn't quite feel like dying at the moment. But Nina was also right about one thing, with one and a half people from either Dragon Clan in the group, the representation would be evenly split. And that also meant that there'd be six on a side if they decided to start some kind of debate between the clans at home, it was no fun if the numbers were uneven.
As the group turned to leave the forest, Sylvia ran up to them. "Goodbye Teepo, I know you're going to make it back safely. Bring me back a souvenir from Myria's home."
"Only Sylvia," muttered Teepo, "Only she would think of this like it was some kind of picnic."
"Don't worry everyone, we'll be back soon. Then, finally, the Brood can live in peace once more," called Nina over her shoulder. She then ran to catch up to the others. After all, she was the only one who could fly, without here they'd never be able to cross the sea.
- - - -
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...the power of Great Birds. Skip over all the crud.
"Rei! Teepo! Is it really you?" asked Ryu, "I thought Balio and Sunder had done you guys in."
"Nope, we're alive and kicking. Me 'cuz I'm a Dark Dragon. And Rei, well you know how hard this guy's skull is. It'd take more than those thugs' fists to crack it," Teepo commented.
Rei told him, "Watch it Teepo. We've got a Guardian to deal with, and your jokes aren't helping the situation any bit. Nina, do you think you can defeat him in a fight? Or maybe you Ryu."
Ryu looked down. "Well, the first time we fought, in the Contest of Champions, Garr kicked my butt. But I was able to defeat him at Angel's Tower, then something told me not to kill him. So maybe if we fight once again, I can find out the answer to why we must not fight."
"I didn't get it," Rei said, "How can fighting tell you why you must not fight?"
"Clueless as always Rei. He's using Light Dragon Philosophy, you know, like when Ryan and Valindo are always drawling on about how we must not kill if we don't have too," Teepo chided.
Nina told them, "Take care of Momo for us then. Ryu and I will got and try to fight the Guardian, and find out whatever we can." With that, they took off for the house.
* * *
At the house, the two found Garr being beaned by Selene. "Foolish Guardian, showing your face around the hideout of the Dragon Protectors. You have just sealed your fate to die by my sword. Now you will feel the wrath of the Allies of Justice for all of your crimes against our race."
"Lay off Selene," yelled Nina, "Let Ryu and I take care of this. We know what to do."
"Ni~na. Can't I just knock him unconscious for a bit?" inquired the Justice Freak.
Nina told her, "Not now. If we are unable to talk him around, then you can have all the fun you want. But we need to have a word with the Guardian at the moment."
Selene left. Nina looked Garr strait in the eye. "Now then, did you come here to do battle with our peaceful little colony? Or is there some other reason you've come to see us?"
"I came to see Ryu," Garr stated, "Ever since the battle at Angel's Tower, I've become confused. I wonder exactly why he didn't kill me, or why the Dragons of long ago never fought back. Maybe our god was misguided in fearing the Brood. I want Ryu to come with me to find God, so we can find all of the answers. He has the right to know this, as he is one of the Brood."
"What a coincidence. We were going to seek out just that. And Dies just gave us a beacon of light that will lead right to where Myria lives. We were going to head out after I choose the team of six to accompany us, as I know these people much better than Ryu," said Nina.
Garr asked her, "Could you take me with you? I want to redeem myself for the past."
Nina nodded. "That solves my problem of dividing the group, or leaving an uneven ratio of Light Dragons to Dark Dragons. I'd better gather the gang together, and announce what's going on."
* * *
Everyone gathered in the biggest clearing for Nina's announcement. She set up a makeshift podium consisting of the table from the kitchen, placed on top of the stump of a tree that had been cut down recently after Selene had mutilated it while on one of her evil hunts. Her gravel was simply the hammer they used to build all of their furniture. It sure got a lot of work, since some people - - most notably Sylvia and Raven - - didn't want to stop arguing.
"Now that I have your attention, I've got a very important announcement to make," Nina informed them, "We're going to search for the Goddess Myria. Dies has given us a very important clue, as well as informed me that this is Ryu and my destiny. With us, we're taking six others. Due to circumstances, we are going to bring the Guardian along, so he can repent from his past mistakes. We also are going to bring some of our companions from the original journey east that Ryu and I took as children. I would like to introduce you to the scientist, Momo, her Crysm Bot, Honey, and the sentient onion, Peco."
The Dragons looked at the three of them. Momo was blushing furiously, and Peco was sleeping. Garr stood there as rigid as always. Rei wondered if he ever smiled.
"Who will the last three be Nina? We need the strongest fighters we can get if we have to go up against someone who could wipe out the entire race in one blow," Garth reminded her.
Nina told him, "I was just getting to that. We'll need someone whose good at picking locks, in case Myria is trying to lock us out. Therefore, Rei will also come along. But the last two spots took some careful consideration. We need someone to represent the Dark Dragons, but we also don't want the representation to become uneven among the clans, either in the party or back here watching the fort. Therefore, I've decided to bring Teepo and Helen along as well."
The group of eight then stepped forward, toward the podium. Cheers rang up from the other Dragons, although they all wanted to come along, they also didn't quite feel like dying at the moment. But Nina was also right about one thing, with one and a half people from either Dragon Clan in the group, the representation would be evenly split. And that also meant that there'd be six on a side if they decided to start some kind of debate between the clans at home, it was no fun if the numbers were uneven.
As the group turned to leave the forest, Sylvia ran up to them. "Goodbye Teepo, I know you're going to make it back safely. Bring me back a souvenir from Myria's home."
"Only Sylvia," muttered Teepo, "Only she would think of this like it was some kind of picnic."
"Don't worry everyone, we'll be back soon. Then, finally, the Brood can live in peace once more," called Nina over her shoulder. She then ran to catch up to the others. After all, she was the only one who could fly, without here they'd never be able to cross the sea.
- - - -
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...the power of Great Birds. Skip over all the crud.