A/N: I have many things to rant about, but I shall choose to keep it to myself and continue my fanfic writing for all yous.

Eliwood: A wise endeavor.

Roy: Neeeeerd...

Eliwood: WHAT WAS THAT?

Roy: Nothing!

And yes, I know Vanuto is very close to Vaati from the Minish Cap. In fact, I did kinda base Vanuto's look off him when I drew the pic, but most of his character will be original, honest!

Link: RIPOFF!

FME: CHEAP!

Ed: Can I shut them up?

Sure, go right ahead.

Ed: (puts tape on their mouth) Duct tape is like the force; it has a light and dark side, and it holds the universe together. :)

X) I love that quote. Chappie time!

Dragon Blood: Chapter 2: Meeting the Sorcerer

The hour passed before anyone knew it, and by 6 o'clock, all arenas were shut down, only to open tomorrow at 8 o'clock sharp. Free to their own schedule, most Smashers went out to the various restaurants in the surrounding city for dinner. The swordsmen, however, being broke, stayed behind in the Mansion to dine on their share of a pot roast dinner cooked up by Fox (who was surprisingly quite the cook). And so did Vanuto.

"So...which one of you is going...?"

Marth, Roy, and Link stood side by side in the small serving line, the latter of which who asked the above question. They had agreed that more needed to be learned about this Vanuto, and that one of them was to sit with him during dinner and try to get some information. The only problem was deciding who would be the one to step into the lion's den.

"No way in hell you're making me do it!" Roy instantly countered. "I ain't going anywhere near him!"

"Well, I'm not!" Link retaliated. "You're the one he's interested in!"

"Kinda the reason I gotta stay away from him, dumbass!"

"You guys," Marth, the eldest and most steady-headed (most of the time), stopped their quarrel. "Why don't we all go together so if he tries anything, we'll be in greater numbers?"

"...Okay..."

"Sounds fair."

"Don't pout like that, Roy, it's not gonna help."

"Hmmp..." Roy glared in annoyance as he snatched his warm dinner plate with the smoking meat and steamed vegetables. His attitude instantly changed as he glanced up at Link and Marth. "Just... don't let me sit too close to him... I-I don't know what he could do..."

Once more the two exchanged looks, more concerned for their friend than anything. "Sure, Roy, whatever's comfortable for you," Marth answered softly, with Link nodding in agreement. Roy couldn't help but smile slightly in gratitude. Sure, these two were the ones who always picked on him, but he was glad they were capable of being mature and understanding when they needed to be.

Once they had grabbed their meal, the three made their way towards the table that Vanuto was sitting at, alone, of course.

"Try to be friendly," Marth advised. "We don't wanna get on his bad side." The redhead and blonde nodded.

They approached the table, casually taking a seat each around the round table. Vanuto glanced up from his meal at the sudden swarm, a puzzled look on his face.

"Hey," Marth greeted, giving him a friendly grin. "How you doing? I'm Marth, and these punks are Link and Roy." They laughed in response. Even a nervous Roy lightened up a bit at the presence of familiar humor.

Vanuto stared at these strangers while silently questioning their sanity and/or intelligence. "Uh-huh," he replied irritably, carving into his meat with his knife and fork, showing adequate table manners. "Why are you here?"

"Can't a person get to know the newbie?" Link responded, a grin beaming on his impish features.

Vanuto seemed to hesitate, not used to approaches such as these, but figuring there was no harm in a little talk, his face lightened up a bit with a soft smile. "Right, then."

"So, what's your profession?" Marth asked, encouraged by his openness.

Vanuto paused just before he slipped a tiny piece into his mouth. "Pardon?"

"What do you do?" Link translated.

"What're you known as?" Marth specified.

He set down his utensils, willing to explain. "Well, I'm a dragon sorcerer. I study the ancient arts and lore of dragonology in order to preserve the powers they once held."

"Wow, that's cool!" Link grinned.

"What do you mean 'they once held?'" Marth asked, inclining his head.

"Dragons are gone from this world. All hunted by fools who called themselves dragonologists," he noted with a tinge of scorn. "But they never had the powers. They could've never touched upon the true nature of dragons with the foolish procedures they had..."

The blonde and cobalt paused at that statement, as well as the bitterness they had agitated with such a little question. Perhaps this was why his demeanor was so unpleasant. For a minute they felt bad for ever considering him to be a sort of evil mage or something like that.

"Ahem, well..." Link sought to change the subject. "You can use these powers, like sort of arcane magic, right?"

Vanuto nodded, his inner remorse retreating. "You know of arcane magic?"

"My friend Zelda uses it. I know a bit myself as well."

"What about all of you?" he asked, raising his fork and taking a bite.

"Well, we're all swordsmen," Link stated first, placing a hand on his sternum. "I come from Hyrule, and I was its savior when Ganondorf attempted a takeover."

"I was the Prince of Altea," Marth noted next. "But I was forced into exile when the Kingdom of Dolua took over. During my travels, I met Roy here." He patted Roy on the back, catching him off-guard and causing him to sputter a bit of food in surprise. "After his studies of swordplay were finished, he chose to leave Pherae to hone his skills in foreign lands. We've been on the road since then, until we were invited here."

Vanuto nodded, his gaze now set on the Pherean once more. "What's wrong with him? Not much of a talker?"

Roy flinched and went back to shoveling in his food. He had been that way for the entire conversation, though his pace had quickened now. He rushed through his meal as if he had to be somewhere... or just had to get away.

Marth chuckled, ruffling Roy's mop of auburn hair, to which the youth moaned in protest. "Don't mind him, the little half-dragon's just shy, that's all." Roy turned up with bright angry eyes, exclaiming something incoherent behind the food in his cheeks. "Don't talk with your mouth full."

Vanuto's showing eye widened just a bit as his body tensed up. "...Half-dragon...?"

"Oh, that's just the nickname we gave him a while ago." It was now Link's turn to ruffle his hair, gaining only more full-mouth protests. "It's because he uses fire in his combat."

"...I see..." His gaze was now fully focused on Roy, whose antics ended instantly once he realized it. It was that same gaze as before, but seemed to burrow deeper than before. It was too much for Roy to handle. He gulped, forcing under-chewed food painfully down his throat, then grasped his plate, swiftly standing up.

"Well, I'm done," he announced hastily. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off. Supposed to be a new episode of Full Metal Alchemist tonight."

"Sweet!" Link shot up, gripping his plate to take with. "Count me in!"

"But," Marth spoke up, puzzled. "Aren't those on Saturdays?"

"They changed it," Roy answered sternly, looking straight into his cobalt's friend's matching blue eyes. Understanding, Marth nodded and stood, taking his plate as well.

"It was nice talking with you. See you later," Marth bid Vanuto goodbye as the swordsmen left for the dorms. The sorcerer watched them go with expected suspicion, but also with that redhead named Roy ever so in his interest. Was this who he was looking for? His appearance steered Vanuto toward this hope, but the Laws might've not applied to outsiders of this world. Besides, the powers of fire they mentioned might've come from elsewhere. But Vanuto was not willing to give up until he knew for sure.

He would have to watch Roy closely during his battles tomorrow...

----------

"...Sorry, guys, I just had to get out of there..."

"Wait, does that man we're not watching Full Metal Alchemist?"

"No, you moron! Didn't you notice the way he was looking at Roy again...?"

"Aw, man..."

The three had quickly retired to Roy's dorm, the other two finishing their meal as they spoke among the matters of the new Smasher.

"He seemed okay once we talked to him, but there's just something that's really odd about him..." Marth pondered.

"What's not odd about him?" Link cut in with his own opinion, stuff a piece of broccoli into his mouth. "His appearance and attitude are one thing, and he's got mystery written all over his face!"

"Well, yeah... But the way he reacted to 'half-dragon' was really weird..."

Roy sighed, propping his chin in his hand while his face sulked. "I wish he'd just leave me alone.."

Marth raised a brow. "He hasn't done anything to you, Roy."

"Well, he will, the way he keeps looking at me!" Roy snapped, a fierce face hiding his deep fears.

His friends paused at that and once more looked at each other silently. How could they be like this when their friend was plagued with anxiety? As Roy buried his face in his hands in distress, Marth scooted over and placed a hand on his shoulder (his armor had been removed for the night).

"Hey," Marth said gently, getting Roy to look up at him. "Don't you worry about him. If he does try anything, me n' Link will be there to back you up, alright?"

Roy's eyes of cerulean were slightly glossed over as a smile came to his lips. "...You really mean that...?"

"Of course." Marth smiled. "Now, how 'bout we watch some you-know-what to get Vanuto off your mind?"

"Ooh!" Link shot up and snatched the DVD form the shelf. "Dibs on pooping it in!"

"Yeah, yeah, pop it in, you nutcase." There were laughs all around at that comment. Marth was glad to see mirth fill Roy's face, as the smile seemed to fit his cute, youthful face much better. He was just this way barely three hours ago, before that sorcerer had arrived and filled his heart with dread. Marth had to admit, he liked Roy much better when he was happy. It had always been that way, ever since they met. The shine in those eyes always seemed to fit the face.

By then, Marth decided that the sooner they discovered the dark secrets behind Vanuto, the better. For Roy's sake.

A/N: There, FME! I updated! Happy?

FME: Si, senorita! 8)

Ed: I got a brief mention! 8D

Link: PLUFFY-FLUFFINESS ALERT! (sounds the alarm)

NO THIS IS NOT AN INDICATION OF MARTH/ROY ROMANCE! KNOCK IT OFF!

Link: Oops, sorry! (sweatdrop)

Although the pairing is cute, I feel that it would be kinda unnecessary.

Eliwood: (sheaths rapier) Tragedy averted.

Roy: Whaddya mean by that?

Eliwood: (unsheathes it again rabidly) I WANT GRANDKIDS WITH MY GENES, DAMMIT!

Roy: O.O Whoa, alright! Geez...

Ed: Oo Your dad's scary...

FME: Good thing he doesn't know about Roy's...ahem...

Eliwood: Roy's what?

Roy: Um... (FLEEEE)

Eliwood: (CHASE)

XD What's Roy's secret? Well, you'll just have to ask FullMetalEdward! (blows raspberry) In the meantime, review this sucker!