Here's chapter four for ya! Now I can go read my new manga!

Yes, I am aware that I make Garet even taller than he already is. He's a dragon now, he's allowed to be taller. ^_^

Thank you Alex! I wanted to try something original, so here it is!

I didn't realize that this story was on Flowers of Moss' favorites! Thank you! I'm so glad someone thinks this story is favorite material even if not a lot of people review!

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Chapter 4: Martian Heat

            Garet sat in his room licking his wounds. Literally. He was very aware it was barbaric, and he didn't care. He'd had all of the other barbaric things broken out of him except this. He wasn't quite sure why he acted so brutish at times, but it seemed almost his nature, his people were part dragon after all. His sister barged in. She narrowed her eyes in annoyance.

            "You stupid boy, don't lick yourself! Have someone dress your wounds!" she cried. Garet snarled.

            "Dress them like what?" he asked sarcastically.

            "You know what I mean! Now go!"

            Garet rolled his eyes, but got up and went anyway. He might have this broken out of him too. At least he could still eat like a barbarian. Garet didn't know why he listened to anyone around here. He towered at seven feet tall, and was stronger than most other dragons. Even Sauratos and Menardi were no match for him and they fell into forced servitude to him. He wandered down to the infirmary, where Jenna treating wounded soldiers. Garet waltzed over to her and sat down in the empty chair next to her.

            "Mind patching me up really quick?" He inquired of Jenna.

            "Sure," she replied with a smile, "Cool Aura."

            Garet was healed and he smiled at her. She didn't smile back.

"What's the matter?" he asked.  Jenna sighed.

            "Garet, why does my own brother hate me?" she asked.

            "Because the entire clan of Venus is made up of stupid, shallow idiots," he replied.

            "Look who's talking," Jenna said laughing a little.

            "What are you talking about! I'm not an idiot!" Garet shouted.

            "I do think you tend to be shallow at times," she said.

            "Really?" Garet said, cocking an eyebrow, "Prove it!"

Jenna smirked, "Foxy nurse dragon over there."

            "Over where!" he cried.  Jenna giggled and Garet glared at her. Jenna's laughter died slowly and she looked down, to hide her tears.

            "My best friend Isaac betrayed me, I can't get over that," she said quietly.

            "Shows what a good friend he was," Garet snapped crossing his arms.

            "No!  Don't say things like that!" Jenna cried.  Garet was a bit taken aback by this sudden outburst.  Jenna looked down and gripped her arms solemnly.

"It's like he changed over night, and it didn't even seem like he meant what he said, it's like he was just doing it for show," she said, sadness hanging on every word.

            "That was a pretty painful show," Garet said softly.  Jenna remained silent as tears continued to slide her cheeks.  Karst, one of the chief army officers, came down to the infirmary.

            "Prince Garet, dinner is ready," she said.

            "Oh, boy!" Garet said jumping up, "Jenna come with me! Have a bite to eat! It'll make you feel better!"

            Jenna sighed but came along. Garet was only trying to cheer her up.

***

            "So there's a war starting in the southeast?" Agatio repeated.

            "Yep, that's what I saw and heard," Menardi said, stuffing her face with food, "And our spy said that King Hydros did declare war."

            Garet vaguely remembered his nanny warning him about the mermaids in the south. He couldn't remember what she said they did though, but it was something terrible.

            "Then we should hit Mercury hard and fast when their guard is down, and their troops are gone," Sauratos said. Garet nodded. His father also agreed.

            "Keep tabs on the Mercury clan," he instructed his military officials. Garet smiled. He had to sharpen his sword and train ten times as hard. Another war was on the horizon. His younger brother grinned at him from across the table. He liked to watch Garet train. Something about the Mercury clan stirred the memory of a fear Garet had long forgotten. He was trying to remember what he was supposed to be afraid of, besides the water. Something about the people themselves was supposed to scare him. It didn't make sense, he used to think about it all the time when he was younger, and now he couldn't remember. 'Maybe I don't have to be afraid of them anymore,' he thought, 'I'm not afraid now.' The Mercury clan was as good as gone.

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More war next chapter! Yeah! War! To tell you the truth, in real life, I despise war. But this is fanfiction. Review or dragon-Garet will burn down your house!  Okay, maybe not, but please review.

Next Chapter: Cool Reflections