Miss.Ecofreak: Oh damn! I was supposed to have updated this earlier, I really planned on it but the computer got some sort of virus... again.
Zakura: no wonder as you and your brother takes turn on the pc and sits on the internet almost the whole day!
Miss.Ecofreak: er... right. This chapter is called Big News, and I've got some big news about my life as well, I'm going to get a new rabbit!
Zakura: (gasp!) don't you love me anymore?
Miss.Ecofreak: of course I do (otherwise I would have sold you and got a new one already)
Zakura: reasuring...
Miss.Ecofreak: But I would never give up you Zaku-chan. My other rabbit is a rex, black rex, he's so cute
Zakura: he?
Miss.Ecofreak: so NOW you're intrested. Anyways, here's the next chapter and Anny's got some big news for you as well.
CHAPTER 14
THE BIG NEWS
It took Rose three months to fully recover, but after a long time of staying in bed (which for her meant a small box which was constantly replaced by a bigger box) she was back to her usual hyperactive happy self, as if the whole incident was forgotten.
Balder hadn't forgotten though, he had now seen what the dark makers could do, and started doubting whether Rose would ever gain the strength to defeat the dark dragon.
He watched as Rose played tag with some of the younger ottsels right outside the entrance to Mountain Lake Town.
She had actually grown much faster than his father had predicted, maybe it was the shook of meeting a bigger enemy that caused her growth to accelerate.
She had almost doubled in size in three months, now she was almost nine feet long but still she didn't harm the little ottsels no matter what they did to her.
Maybe Buster had added some genes to make her extra docile, Balder had never been much interested in science (especially not after what happened to his mother) so his father never bothered to explain anything to him.
"She sure is amazing isn't she?" someone behind Balder said.
He turned around and saw his father, he smiled at the dragon.
"One minute she's fighting metalheads, the next she's playing peacefully with the children. I guess we can say my experiment was a success" Buster said, putting extra pressure on the word "my".
"Did you want something?" Balder asked.
"Yes, in some ways. Your sister wants to tell you something" Buster said and stepped away.
Anny was standing right behind him; Balder was a bit surprised he hadn't noticed her before, with her blue color she was easy to spot out in the open.
"Hi sis, how's it going?" Balder asked.
"Um… I'm fine" Anny said.
Buster seemed to be waiting for something.
"Go on honey. Tell him what you told me" he said.
"I didn't tell you anything, it was Kiko who couldn't keep his mouth shut" Anny said and turned her face away.
Kiko was one of Anny's old childhood-friends from Tunnel Town, one of the lucky survivors.
"Are you saying…?" Balder started.
"Yes Balder. We're getting married" Anny said happily.
"Anny! That's wonderful news!" Balder said.
"And here I was always thinking you would be the first one to settle down" Buster said.
It had been quite a while since Anny first started looking for "the one", but she hadn't had much luck.
Many of the male ottsels had been reluctant to bond very closely to her, because of her "disability" to hide from predators.
Ottsels rarely chose mates out of personality, because of the predators they had to think about the best for their children, and choose the mate that would be most likely to pass on good genes.
Most of Anny's old friends had let her down as she and they grew older too, as kids they never thought of the chance of being eaten by a bigger animal, but as they grew older and learned what the outside world was like, they started avoiding her, probably afraid of getting "too attached" as she was more vulnerable.
No one had ever considered her as a mate.
"When did you decide this?" Balder asked.
"Two hours ago actually. Quite straight forward, he said he'd always loved my wonderful personality, and didn't care even if we ended up having children with missing limbs, he would still love them as long as they had my temper" Anny said. "He even suggested making a camouflage-dress for me".
"Your mother would be so happy" Buster said. "I'm sure she's smiling now, wherever she might be".
"The wedding will be in a two months time. And you're all invited, you too Rosy" Anny said.
The dragon twittered happily and Anny giggled.
"You could have been the perfect best man, too bad you can't do speeches" she said, petting Rose between her horns.
"I should try to make a translation device for her sometime" Buster said. "It would be great to be able to know what she's really saying".
"Well I've got to go. I have to send out the rest of the invitations" Anny said. "Kiko insisted we'd invite his brother, though I don't see why, he probably won't show up anyway. See you later dad, Balder and you too Rose".
And then she went back into the tunnel, looking happier than she'd ever been since she left Tunnel Town.
"At least some of my genes can be passed on now" Buster said. "Haven't you got anyone special in mind Balder?"
"Dad, we've been through this. If I ever get a girlfriend you'll be the first to know (second after the girl of course)" Balder said.
"I know. But it's about time. You're almost ten years old" Buster said. "I married your mother when I was half that age".
"But Rambo is 17 and still he doesn't care about anything else than lunch" Balder commented. "And I've still got time".
Sure enough, ottsels had been known to have a very long life expectancy, although they evolved fast from birth.
In the past, an ottsel would be lucky to live to a thousand years (I know, it's insane and probably completely impossible… but this is a fantasy-fic) but now they could get three or sometimes even four thousand years old thanks to modern medicine.
The green eco might even increase they life even more, but as it had only existed for nine years no one knew for sure yet.
"Just make sure you'll be at the wedding" Buster said. "Who knows? Maybe "The One" will be there?"
"And maybe Rambo won't eat the entire wedding cake by himself. But don't worry. I won't miss my sister's wedding" Balder said.
Rose twittered in agreement.
"Rose comes too" Balder translated.
Miss.Ecofreak: was that the worst chapter ever or what?
Zakura: now you're really optimistic
Miss.Ecofreak: I don't like to brag. Please review and I'll do my best to not take such long time before the next update.
Zakura: and maybe guinea pigs will fly
Miss.Ecofreak: now you're really optimistic
Zakura: no seriously! Look! (Points at a guinea pig that has just been taken by an eagle)
Miss.Ecofreak: oh no!