A/N: Hooray! Let's get this story back moving!

Link: WHY DOES EVERYONE WANT ME TO BE WITH MARTH? ;o;

Kim: Cause it's a hot pairing. :)

Roy: O.o

Ed: ...crazy yaoi fans.

Eliwood: Yaoi? Sounds like yeow.

Roy: Like "YEOW! I'm on fire!"

Eliwood: Right, exactly. (sees that Roy has lit his boot on fire) YEOW! I'M ON FIRE!

Roy: :)

OKAY ENOUGH HORSIN' AROUND! CHAPPIE TIME!

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Chapter 5: A Companion at Last

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Roy sat on the bench atop the roof of the SSBM Mansion, staring up at the stars as a light breeze played with his mop of auburn hair. He was nervous for some odd reason, forced to remove his gloves from his sweaty palms, but the twinkling diamonds in the sky seemed to calm him down slightly. Even as he heard the middle tower door open behind him, he continued to glance towards the heavens to keep his nerves under control.

He felt Ryka sit down beside him, and she greeted him with a simple "Hey."

"Hey," he responded, building up the courage to look away from the sky and at her. "Um... Th-thanks for coming."

"It's not a problem," the girl smiled, leaning back and taking in a breath of the fresh air. "I'm glad you choose this place. Being indoors for too long drives me crazy."

"I hear that," Roy quietly agreed, clearing his throat to begin. "Okay, um... it took me a while to figure this all out, 'cause... um...okay, I'll be frank. You're really pretty."

That comment actually got Ryka to faintly blush. "Oh... thanks..."

"Heh, yeah, but anyways, I was watching you fight, and your powers really stood out... And now that I see it, so do your... um... features..."

Ryka smiled, knowing where this was going. "And?"

"And... well... uh..." Roy sighed, boldly faced her, and threw out the question. "Are you a half-dragon?"

Ryka's face beamed, and Roy's eyes bulged.

"Really? Are you serious?"

"Mmm-hmm," Ryka nodded. "And I'm guessing you're one too?"

"Yeah...Wow...!" Roy was overwhelmed with excitement, laughing joyously as she did over the discovery of a being just like him. Maybe the books were wrong. Maybe he wouldn't be alone.

After at last they calmed down, Ryka gazed at him near apologetically. "...Roy, I... was the told the stories... of what happened to you..." When the mirth melt from his face, she placed a tender hand on his shoulder. "I'm... sorry you had to find out that way..."

He shut his eyes briefly, but then they slowly opened and came up to Ryka's, no longer afraid to look her in the eye. The glance was unreadable. "...How did you find out...?"

Ryka hesitated, but figured she could trust him to keep her secrets. She drew away and settled back, sighing tiredly. Glancing at Roy, she saw she had his full attention, and she began.

"I'm... not sure exactly where I was born... but I know it was in Ireland, because hours after my birth I was... abandoned."

Roy's face instantly reflected pity, a response she did not want but had to expect. "No, no, please, it's alright, I turned out fine. I was soon picked up by a hermit who lived in the forests."

"A hermit, or a wizard?" Roy asked with a knowing smile. "After all, a forest in Ireland would attract loads of magic, am I right?" (1)

Ryka chuckled, impressed by his knowledge of the subject. "Ah, so we do know a bit, don't we?"

"I've been doing a lot of reading lately," Roy laughed. "They'd launch a search party when I was in the library for too long."

Ryka giggled at his joke, then continued. "Well, this wizard, Demetrius, took me in and told me all the knowledge he had on dragons. He helped me cultivate my powers... and he told me that half-dragons like me- like you- have a purpose."

Roy leaned forward anxiously, intrigued. "What's that?"

Ryka grinned. "Our purpose is to preserve and protect the dragons that are still left!"

Roy blinked, and as that statement moved through his mind, he became confused. "Wait... B-but, I thought they were all gone! Vanuto, he said..."

"Yes, he did," Ryka nodded, her proud smile not wavering. "Demetrius also taught me that dragon sorcerers have another purpose besides studying dragon lore. They have been given the task to make the commonpeople believe that the dragons are all gone so that no harm come to them. Vanuto was young, so he probably took the belief seriously."

Roy's jaw slacked in a gape, eyes wide with disbelief. "So... that means... dragons still exist here...? They're still alive...?"

"They're very much alive," Ryka's face beamed. "I know. I travel all over the world, communicating with dragons to ensure their safety against those with greedy hearts. That's what I really do. It's not an easy job, but it's got its merit."

Roy was caught up with surprise, gazing out aimlessly as the new facts sunk in. "..W-wow... That's incredible... no way..."

"Yep, it's true. For example..." She fingered the knot in her headband where the three turquoise feathers rested. "See these?"

"Those can't be... amphithere feathers..." (2)

"But they are." Ryka smiled as Roy carefully smoothed his fingers along them, amazed at her soft they were. "They were a gift when I saved an amphithere from some nasty bandits. The West forests are getting more and more dangerous every time I go."

"Gosh..." Roy breathed, taken in as he sat back down. "I...never would've imagined they still existed..." His brows then furrowed. "But wait... then why did the Dragon Gods give us the blood if there're still dragons...?"

Ryka shrugged, still grinning. "Who knows how the Dragon Gods' minds work. Perhaps it was simply to create humans who will appreciate and help preserve dragons."

Roy pondered this. "That makes sense."

She nodded in agreement, looking him over carefully. "So... you've known for how long now?"

"Three weeks," Roy answered, facing her with an envious glint in his eyes, though not the wrong way. "But you've known all your life. You know so much more than I could ever cram into a reading session."

"Yes, you have a lot to learn yet... which is why I'll be willing to teach you."

Roy did a double take at that remark. "W-what? Are you serious? Really?"

Ryka nodded. "It's easy to know everything about dragons; you're well on your way with that. But you've got hidden powers within you, Roy, and being a half-dragon means tuning into your dragon side, to use those powers effectively to gain the trust of those you're swearing to protect. I can teach you and train you in your abilities like no one else can."

Roy shifted to face her fully, giving her an unbelieving stare. "You... you'd do that for me...?" he squeaked out.

"Of course, it'd be my pleasure," she chuckled. "Well, to tell you the truth, I'm ecstatic. You don't know how long I've been looking for a companion who cares as much as I do."

They boy thought about this, and a warm, comforting smile slowly came to his face, and he nodded. "Yeah... Thanks a lot."

"We can start lessons tomorrow at the same time, if you want." She got an eager nod in response. "Okay... But... we can't tell anybody, okay? And... could you not say anything about..."

"It's alright," Roy interrupted her, knowing what she wished. "I'm sure you've got your reasons, so I'll keep quiet." He stood and she followed, and he took her hands tenderly in his. "Thank you so much, Ryka. Really."

"You, too... Roy."

And for a few moments, the two stood together atop the roof, sharing a gentle silence as all but the soft breezes were quiet. But before anything magical could happen, their hands separated and Roy cleared his throat. "Um... you, uh, wanna head down? It's getting pretty late..."

"Actually..." Ryka stopped him. "I don't stay here at the Mansion. The reason I was late today was because I was setting up a place to stay nearby."

"Oh... I see."

"I'll see you tomorrow." Very slowly, she approached the edge of the roof, giving him a friendly glance before she leaped down towards wherever she belonged.

Roy lingered for a second before turning away to approach the door that lead downstairs. But as he gripped the doorknob, he froze when he heard the sound of small, leathery wings flapping against the wind. Surprised, he briefly turned, but it was too dark to see anything beyond the stone roof. Thoughtful, he turned the knob and stepped inside, eager to get some rest after today.

After all, it was a big day: the arrival of a new Smasher, who just happened to be another half-dragon who was even willing to share her knowledge with him. At last, Roy had someone to relate to, someone he could truly call a companion.

The last thought brought a smile to his face as he descended to the Mansion's interior, anxious for his first lesson tomorrow...

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(1) Info taken from Wizardology, from the same series as Dragonology. All other information regarding half-dragons and dragon sorcerers I made up on my own.

(2) Amphithere: a species of dragon from Northwest, Central, and South America, with no legs, a serpentine body, and feathery moth-like wings, tails, and plumes (from Dragonology)

A/N: Woo... lotta info there. TOLD ya the dragon stuff would come back.

Roy: Hooray! Half-dragons rule!

Kim: WOOO! (plays fanfare on her flute)

Link: Where was me and Marth?

Ed: Obviously not in this chapter. Good use of grammar, by the way.

Link: Thank you!

Ed: -.- Sarcasm just goes RIGHT OVER these people.

Eliwood: Huh? (looks up above his head) Where?

Ed: ...I rest my case.

Oh, hush up before you turn all emo. Review, please!