A/n

Okay, here is chapter two, and for the next couple of chapters some will notice that there is little change in the story as it was before other than more details and the style it is written. Honestly, I like how this is written at this point the story as this part is flows nicely and I would rather not disrupt that. So enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 2: Meeting the Chatterbox and the Legend

As Saber set off in this world that he knows nothing of, h quickly realized how the world around him was so foreign to him from what he knew. And yet, it was somehow familiar in a way that Saber could not explain other than some form of Déjà vu. The differences from Earth he saw that were 'fiction' didn't seem out of place to him. However, going forward from here except for some insights, I will tell you it as it was told to me by Saber himself and others that I have spoken with as well.

-Saber's pov-

After I had taken in the world that I could see, I had headed for the forest deciding that it was as a good direction as any to go with. So, I walked and walked, until the feeling from my legs was just soreness and not the passage of time. I admit, I've a huge amount of stamina and it serves me well, I suppose that it is the only sign of just how much time had passed since I started walking from where I had been to my present location. After coming under the roof of trees the scenery hadn't really changed abundantly. The only other sign of the passage of time was my breathing was reflecting the work that my legs had been doing. As I stared ahead to see the small stream still babbling on my right as I was trudging through the forest. I decided that a break was in order.

I spotted a large rock by the bank of the stream and so, I headed over to it and sat down on it and then I took the time I sat to think about my situation as it was currently. With what I had been dealing with recently, I couldn't help but mutter to myself, "Still under a roof of trees, I don't see an end to these trees ahead… I've been walking for hours on end and yet am still in this forest!" I sighed, "I mean, it is better than getting killed by whatever that thing was back at the park, but still. It is at times like this I cannot help but hear Master Kai's voice spouting those philosophies of his. With this situation it would go something along the lines of 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' Then again, this is Master Kai I am talking about and he has his days of humor, he could be as likely to say, 'Just pick a direction and get moving, you will get somewhere eventually,' while laughing."

I exhaled to myself imagining my teacher of kendo and martial arts picture perfect, "Yeah, he would without a doubt be saying the second rather than the first." I couldn't help myself at remembering one of the many experiences when I had first started at the dojo years ago had taught me what kind sense of humor Master Kai had sometimes. Things had been a lot different in my life back then, but my standing had begun looking up for me from what it had been for me before that.

Years ago, during one of the days I had been at the Dojo, I'd burst into the kitchen breathing hard with a big grin on my face from the pride of my accomplishment. Of course, I had been searching for Master Kai for I just couldn't wait to tell him that I had finished the exercise that I had been given. I had finished the routines in a little more than half of the time I had been given me to do so. Many of the other students had said that there was no way I could do such a task and to not even try. I had proven others wrong, and it was a developed habit that had been new back then. "Master, where are you? I have finished the sets you gave me I am ready to do the next ones," I called.

I had called out hoping for Master to reveal himself, but when I'd looked around the room like under the tables and glancing behind the counters, he had been nowhere to be found. As I had gone to the other side of the counter and into the kitchen area, I nearly jumped out of my pants and hit the ceiling. There Master Kai had just been standing and staring with a slight smile on his face making not one sound. How does Master Kai do that? To the present day I can still not figure that out and I have tried to understand. He could just sneak up on people in such a way it seemed that he just appeared out of nowhere. Master Kai would one day kill someone doing that I swear, yet it hasn't happened so far as I know. "Ah Saber my young student, wish to eat before all the others do? It is an ingenious tactic to make sure you get food, although not a very honorable thing to do," he had said to me, still with a bemused smile.

My jaw had opened as I gawked at my Master confused, then shook my head and replied remembering the reason I was he seeing him. "No Master nothing like that, and I wouldn't do something like that. I just came to find you to say I finished the sets you gave me and that I am ready for the next ones," I replied.

Master Kai let out a chuckle, "A quick learner you are my young student and a diligent one as well as I suspected you would be. However, one must set a steady pace at which they learn or do more harm to oneself they will," he returned.

The reply hadn't been the one I had wanted back then plus, I was young and impatient I'll admit. Although with the way that Master Kai had done and said, it made more sense now why a number of the other students of the Dojo saw Master Kai as a little odd. Not that such had deterred me then or now for I was one that had a thirst to prove I could do what I said. My chosen reply back then had been, "Master I am ready, I can do more. So, please teach me more than the basics," as I recall.

Master Kai with his infinite wisdom had not listened to me, but had tried to be gentle when saying no. He had commended my eagerness but had given me a lesson in patience even if I didn't see it back then. And yet, I still have a hard time understanding how Master Kai comes up with the seemingly most random comparisons for said lessons. In the instance that I have been telling you about, he had used of all things pudding comparing it to martial arts. I know that the two ideas shouldn't relate to one another, and I agree wholeheartedly in that, but somehow Master Kai had tied them together. He had said something to the effect of the balance of what made up the pudding was like what made up good martial arts. It still makes little sense to me how that relations works, but I've learned that sometimes its better to just smile and nod your head and appear to agree with some.

Anyways, that's enough of me reminiscing in the past, I've done at this point I would think. So, as I was taking a break, I found myself a flat rock and so I sat down on it to catch my breath before I would continue my journey through these woods and hopefully find signs of civilization. If I could find civilization, then I could figure out where I was and where to go forward from there. I wasn't looking forward to the walk that still remained before I would need to find a place to sleep, but that's life right now. When I looked up through the roof of trees, the sun looked to be past the midpoint of its arc and I assumed that it meant it was afternoon right now. Ever onwards I suppose as it's said, little to no rest for the weary and everything.

I exhaled and rose to my feet and I was about to waltz off and trudge on but didn't get to that. The reason I didn't was I heard a scream, which brought me to a halt and I glanced around to locate the source of the screams. You can call me paranoid if you want, but such an attitude has saved my rear end more often than not so I'm sticking to it. Screaming could and likely means there was an issue or multiple issues coming my way, so be prepared I say. The act of screaming doesn't just randomly happen, especially not without a source of some kind. Wherever this place is, I assume that screams were a sign of problems in this place as they were back home. That's pretty much a constant fact that you can depend on being true no matter where you go.

While I scanned the area in front of me searching for the source of noise, I felt an impact to my chest, it was more a soft splat when I took the time to think about it. Now, like any other human being when something hits your body, you look to the impact spot to identify what hit you. Nonetheless, what I saw was not what I expected to find, "What the," I exclaimed. I could only stare at my shirt for a long moment to make sure I wasn't seeing things, because there was definitely something there that wasn't a couple of minutes ago and that something was yellow.

Grabbing whatever the thing was with my right thumb and fore fingers, I peeled off the thing that had hit me. I held the object half an arm's length from myself and just gazed at it attempting to identify what I was holding. "What the fiddlesticks is this thing? Is it some sort of light bulb that was thrown in my direction? Wait… are those wings attached to it? Well, whatever this thing is, it certainly is something I can't say I have seen before," I muttered to myself. Still curious as to what this thing was, I turned it slightly to see if a different angle would help me identify the object or whatever it was happened to be. No such luck with my action as I found no other helpful facts or clues to help me identify what it actually was. It was alive as I felt a faint 'heartbeat' or something like that with similar rhythm, "Maybe it is a bug of some kind, it looks sort of like a dragonfly now that I get closer a look at it. Although, if it is, certainly is one of the biggest that I have seen, perhaps some sort of mutation? I suppose that is possible," I iterated to myself.

It was at that moment that the 'dragonfly' began to move and struggle in my grasp, "Hey let me go," it shouted.

That reaction caught me by surprise, but I still kept my hold on the creature, "Whoa it talks too, that is something you do not see every day. Then again, when does one get sent to a strange other world like I have? I get the hunch that this is going to be trouble screaming at me the longer I look at it. Oh well, it is not like I have anything else to do right now," I remarked to no one in particular. Then, brought the creature up to his eye level with a serious look on my face, "Okay you uh, whatever you are, what is this place and what is going on?"

"AHHHH A HAIRLESS APE," was the creature's screaming reply.

I think this thing is male by the tone of voice that shout came out with, but I can't be sure at the moment for a couple of reasons. And yet, hearing the contents of said scream that came from the creature gave me a feeling of annoyance that was somewhat unnatural for me with most I'm around. Granted, I tolerate people I'm not very fond of the majority of the time, but my current feeling of annoyance wasn't the same that comes about with that type of situation. A point to further investigate at a future time, focus on priorities first before spending time on other things. The 'bug' kept ranting fairly unintelligible words loudly after the initial scream, and it was infuriating me, the name this thing had called me added to the feeling. Of all the animals it could compare me to, he had to choose an ape or monkey, and to that I would reply what in the hell! However, I took a moment and forced myself to calm down before continuing my attempt to reason with this creature.

It was very obvious that this bug was panicking and was not think straight, I will be nice due to that. I should show patience and self-restraint and not hurt him for the previous comment as it was probably not meant. The question of if it could think straight is debatable, but that was an argument to be done later. Glancing around me, an idea came to me as my sight fell on the stream, maybe a cold shock would help move things along. It's worth a shot I suppose and honestly, I want to get going as soon as possible and not have to deal with this. So, putting words into action, I dunked the creature in the stream and brought him out and back to my eye level, "Perhaps now you would be a little calmer and willing to talk," I posed.

The bug's or 'dragonfly's' wings began to work and so, I let go of him and he started to hover with its wings and just looked at me. I stared right back at him not backing down and waited, "Why should I talk to an ape even if you don't have as much hair," he questioned, and he just kept looking at me warily.

Anger flared up with the continued comparison to ape as it was insulting, but I exerted control and the feeling of anger faded. I'm willing to attempt to be nice, but if this bug is going to be continually rude and stupid, then it will face the consequences. To be patient right now will show how far I've come from where I had been, along with the maturity gained, and the progress made. Although, if it's the name calling game he wants to play, then I can certainly do that, and I'll win it should things come to that. I've already got a good one for this bug I promise it will describe him perfectly. I can't help what I'm thinking yet, I didn't let it show, instead I forced a smile and spoke. "Well first, how about we start with your name."

We'll see if this bug will continue to insult me, heck I was silently daring the bug to insult me again. "I don't give my name out to apes," he answered me.

And he delivers, this bug is definitely male, his reply leaves no doubt in my mind and a male with ego problems fueled by testosterone. Oh what a perfect mixture this is for a world of trouble, I can't say for whom just yet. I'm already disliking this bug from this short encounter for he is being freaking difficult. Still, since he isn't reacting to my nice manners, then he's asked for it and I'll give him what he's earning. I looked him straight into his eyes and retorted, "Very well then, since you will not give me a name, I will give you one. As it happens, I have already thought of the perfect one for you, but before I get to that, I got a question I would like you to answer, what are you exactly?"

The creature looked at me with disbelief on his face, "You're telling me you have never seen a dragonfly," it questioned.

So, it is some sort of dragonfly as I kind of guessed then though it doesn't look exactly like any I'd seen either with my eyes or in pictures. Gaining a skeptical look on my face at the reply, and I could only stare at the yellow or gold insect. Dumb and obvious he seemed to be, but he didn't appear to be lying at this point about the dragonfly fact. And yet, I've the growing hunch that this bug and I are not going to get along at all and such hunches are rarely wrong! I can't say what it was about him yet, but there was just something about him or multiple things that perturbed me. "Dragonfly you say huh, not one like you Incessant Chatterbox," I stated clearly.

I couldn't help a grin as I saw his facial expression at the name, I called him as it gave pleasure to me. He looked back at me, "What did you just called me," he asked.

Oh ho, I haven't felt this much pleasure for the delivery of a well-deserved retort in a long time! I prevented the smile from growing wider on my face, instead I just stared right back and calmly gave my reply. "It would seem that your ears or whatever you use for hearing seem not to be working correctly. I called you an Incessant Chatterbox but, if you like I can call you IC for short, you can take your pick," I returned, before my expression turned serious. "You didn't tell me your name, so I gave you a fitting one instead. If you don't like it, then tell me your name and then I might think about addressing you by name, but I make no promises."

I continued to think the rest of my reply as to be polite as if I were to say more, I would be really mean. To call him a complete idiot and a waste of my time and the space he occupies, I think is going too far and may be untrue as I don't know him well yet, I don't think so though. However, I on the other hand like the name I came up with for him fits the bug to a 'T'. The dragonfly turned his head away from me and then said, "My name is Sparx, there you happy?"

I was unable to hold in the amusement, I couldn't help but laugh. Admittedly, Sparx was one of those type you could call the comic relief… in fact, he is a prime example of the idea! Yet, he still annoyed me badly, more so than almost anyone I have been around. It was kind of reminiscent of one who spends their time around me at the dojo, a girl to be precise. But IC wasn't like that person still, I would have to watch myself around him. I took the time to calm down and became serious, "Well Sparx my name is Saber and I am NOT an ape. I am a human, there is a difference." After I finished speaking, I shook my head in minor frustration as I gazed at Sparx, "Say Sparx I assume since you came from the direction I am going in, there is something in that direction, correct? So, what say you and I go that way and save time?"

I'm very likely going to very much regret traveling with IC here and in a very shortly period of time, but I can't see little much else to do. Maybe something good could come of tolerating the dragonfly, we will see I guess. Picking up my backpack and swinging it over my shoulder, I started walking in the same direction I had been for however long it had been awake. The sound of Sparx grunting and mumbled something along the lines of, "Never heard of hue-mans" and "Still looks like an ape to me."

I stopped momentary to turn back and glare at Sparx before saying in a loud voice making sure that he would hear me, "Did you say something IC or am I just hearing things."

I did my best to keep a straight face while I said this, and I think I was fairly successful as I faced forward and resumed walking. I did see Sparx start after me shaking his small fist shouting, "Don't call me that!"

-Neutral pov-

The meeting of Sparx brought a set of things for Saber, which can be said in the form of a question. Have you ever experienced the situation that you're with someone that they're chatting away without a care and leave you the one forced to listen?

And where many would think to tell that individual to hush and stop talking that would just be plain rude and most tend to be bound by good manners and social edict. Hence one is trapped as there're too nice to tell the chattering individual to shut up until they have gotten warmed-up and started talking your ear off, you're left to suffer. It makes one silently ask the question 'why do I have to deal or suffer through this?' Thus, was the situation that Saber found himself in now as he traveled through the forest with Sparx his new-found traveling companion. So, let us return to Saber's plight then dear reader.

-Saber's pov-

So, I am forced to retract an number of things I thought and said about IC over close to ten minutes after meeting him. What do I mean by that some would ask, more than words could say unfortunately. You see, as I was walking, and the Incessant Chatterbox was flying next to me going forward in the forest, IC was fully living up to the name I had given him. He was chattering away, and it was annoying me the longer that I had to listen to he do so. It left me wondering the circumstances I just stated and why I was dealing with this and what I could've possible done to get handed this crappy situation.

To say that the annoyance I felt of IC along with the irritation with the current situation was quickly growing would be absolutely correct in ways words couldn't say and do justice! At least I was feeling regret at suggesting the two of us traveling together not too long after the start. And that feeling of regret was increasing since I hadn't predicted just how annoying IC was capable of being, or how quick he could get on my nerves. I would start having thoughts of ill deeds I would want to do to the bug if this goes on a good deal longer without being able to help myself! In short, IC and I won't be getting along at all and I wouldn't deny the feeling heck, I'll personally make sure it will stay that way with the torture I was being put through!

IC had been talking, I would assume to me since we began traveling in the same direction and there was no one else around. Somehow and don't ask me to explain how, this dragonfly had started a commentary and kept it going for a while in which time horrid thoughts of what I could do to the bug quickly began to pop up in my brain. I ignored the thoughts that were coming, and the other things that accompanied them, but it got harder as time went on. The question of if Sparx ever shuts up came to me since his non-stop chattering seemed to be so natural for him came and went from my mind. But I wouldn't ask such a question directly as I fear that I would get an answer I would never like or accept.

Still, I discovered that IC liked to talk about anything and everything that seemed to come into his head though most of what I heard concerned himself. Hence, why I see myself as condemned to this new form of torture of listening to the nerve grating voice of IC. It didn't take around seven to eight minutes of us walking that my self-control was being put to one hell of a strenuous test. I mean seriously, why in the heck would I want to listen to him talk about what 'he's' done when I believe it wasn't him specifically. Yet, what was so telling I would think on my end was I'm doing nothing to IC when he's talking my ear off and I don't stand and take that often if I don't have to. It's not for a lack of tools or inspiration for I got the tools in my pack to do plenty of things to the bug and IC's voice is providing an extreme abundance of motivation. It's more a testament of the years of training and lessons from Master Kai having done at improving my mental control!

"Then I helped to beat that ice monster," IC went on.

I can't help but wonder if the constant flapping doesn't tire his mouth, does IC not have a limit to what his mouth can do, I hope it does. Meanwhile, I'm left to suffer… please, someone make this come to an end soon, or at least give me an opportunity to shut up the lightbulb with wings and make it look like an accident! Honestly, I don't know how much more of this mental abuse I can handle without losing my marbles and pretty much getting close to outright murdering the dragonfly close by! Trust me, the thoughts that would likely lead to that by the end were becoming very tempting and difficult to ignore.

"They all started to worship me for the help my friend and I did for them," he kept going.

AAARRGGG! If I were given a choice between having to go through a lectured and what follows curtesy of my Uncle Douchebag or having to listen to Sparx talk, then to my awe, surprise and shame, I believe I would choose my Uncle Douchebag over this. And worship, can his ego get any bigger… actually, I don't want to know the answer to that question in this case or any involving IC!

One of the veins on my forehead began to pop out and pulsing, a sign that my temper was starting to push against my self-control really hard. The feeling of exasperation Sparx was incensing in me had achieved levels that I had gotten to in ages. IC had been rambling for so long, I don't think he even knew what subject he was mouthing about any more. Yet on the other hand, I just don't want to ask if it means that gives him a reason to keep chattering on. Thus, is the conundrum that I'm trapped in, too nice to tell the lightbulb with wings to shut up and not wanting to spur the pain to be prolonged further.

"Then as we delivered the finishing blow, but," he chattered.

Glancing back at IC, I just managed to hold in a groan of frustration with difficulty since it sounded like he was going to keep chattering away. I couldn't help but have the muse to myself as I was forced to listen to ignore the pain and not give into performing the vicious responses against IC that were coming to me. If only, if only, he came with an off switch, hell I would settle for some type of mute setting just something to get him to be quiet! If words were a weapon, then no one would dare go against this bug unless they had a death wish. He would be classified as a Weapon of Mass Destruction and of levels that cannot be calculated!

"Then she left and I thought," Sparx kept saying

Why haven't I done something to shut him up?! Why do I feel the need to be so dang nice at times like this, it does more harm than good. And this cannot be entertainment for those that use me for the idea through my bad luck, this is outright boring in that way. Were I to compare him, to the some of the girls that were at high school which had a love to gossip, then those girls have sworn a vow of silence like ancient monks did which would be humorous if not for its validity. Honestly, how can there be such a creature that can talk this much and not suffer some type of injury that stops them from using their voice?! Whether said injury is self-inflicted or is delivered by another not really the point in this, but still.

My attempts to drown out his voice with all my might, failed and it wasn't going well for me to say the least. Why you might ask? As my luck would have it, somehow Sparx happened to have one of those kinds of voices, the type of voice that no matter what you do, it just can't be drowned out or silence! "Of course we had to go out then," IC kept going.

Since I found him out on his own, I think it is blatantly obvious why he was like that for which I don't blame anyone that had the poor misfortune to have been around him! I have only been with him around ten minutes and I already want to get away from him! Mostly to obtain peace of mind and to get him to stop talking before I go nuts, "And don't get me started on the pirates," the lightbulb with wings said.

Pirates huh? I'm wishing they had done something to you at this point, how unfortunate that they didn't by what I see. However, I was keeping my mouth shut as I'm afraid IC would go into detail about whatever happened with those pirates were I to speak up. Actually, I honestly stopped listening to the majority of subject matter of IC's chattering quite some time ago, he just failed to notice.

Anyways, we kept going for a while through the forest, losing track of time quickly as we went. I was trudging along progressing towards while I had a white-knuckled hold on to my sanity amid the droning on of Sparx. With the loss of the accurate perception of time it could have been ten minutes, or an hour and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference! I was starting to think that I would be doomed to slip into madness from having to suffer in the absolute torture that was Sparx's speech and rambling. The only other option that I was seriously considering, was to just take out my katana and threaten to kill Sparx if he didn't shut up. Yet again, I am too nice a person to do that, so it isn't really an option for me at the moment. It was tempting don't get me wrong, still I couldn't do it at this point, but give me time and I just might go with that.

In the moment I was about to lose my cool and scare the lightbulb with wings the best I could, there was a sound I heard that was different from Sparx's voice. To me, it was like being offered salvation from my torment and by golly by gosh, I was going to take hold of it and grip it with everything I had! Now, good manners would normally dictate that I shouldn't interrupt IC to demand he shut his mouth without a viable reason. And unfortunately, madness and insanity don't tend to fall under viable reasons per say but that's a debatable thing. Nonetheless, a change in situation like a potential like other individuals in some way is a viable reason. So, I turned to face Sparx saying what I have been dying to say for most of the time we had been walking. "IC SHUT THE HELL UP," I bellowed at the fly.

Sparx for the first time since I was cursed to meet him went quiet and looked at me. He was likely trying to find the reason why I had shouted at him and stopped him from talking. As for me, I was holding back the tears of gratitude and joy at the silence I was now experiencing! You upstairs, I can see the light of salvation from the plague of torment and woe that I thought I was being consigned to! I can only think of this to say, Hallelujah silence at last! Now to listen to what saved me and has granted me my salvation-I mean, the one who is in need of help. I strained my hearing and caught the faint sounds of fighting if I was not mistaken. Registering that, I turned promptly to gaze at Sparx with a serious look set on my face, "Okay Sparx, there wouldn't be a fight you haven't told me about now would there?"

My stare didn't falter as I looked straight at him and so, how did IC react? Oh, he was trying to look any other way but at me which didn't work. And then the bug made the mistake of attempt to lie to me, which was obvious to me and so was pointless. I could see it in his face and the other things he was doing, "Why would you ask that? I told you all I know Saber," IC replied.

Really?! Apparently, IC has never had to fool someone like me that can tell pretty much when someone is lying the majority of the time. It's not absolutely certain or infallible but tends to be right four out of five times correct. I gave Sparx a skeptical expression, I mean honestly, his body language was practically screaming 'lies' at me equivalent to an individual screaming bloody murder. "Really? So, the sound of fighting is nothing but the wind and *sniff* the smell of something burning is absolutely nothing to be concerned with then? Is that what you are saying IC," I asked in an aloof tone.

The lightbulb with wings was trembling at my question to him and oh, it was amusing to watch! But I kept a straight face as I waited for the bug to answer and see what he would do in this. However, I couldn't resist adding just one more line to this and honestly, I kind of wanted to see what IC would do. "Care to change your previous answer," I mused.

It was extremely difficult not to smirk with the smugness I was feeling right this moment, I contained myself though. Sparx at my stated question, look at me and I swear he was somehow sweating yet there were no visible droplets. Although, in the end, he spouted in desperation one line, "Okay, you are right. I was with another before I bumped into you and we got separated when a group of apes spotted us and started chasing both of us, please help him!"

Well I'll be… and here I was beginning to think he didn't have it in him, especially with how much an ego IC had shown himself to have for him to care this much about another. Perhaps I have misjudged the gold bug from the first impressions I got from him a margin, even I can be wrong sometimes. I had to just stare at Sparx for a short period with surprise, not only was he asking for my help, but he was doing so with manners! "Now Sparx, was it really that hard to ask for help, and with a please no less? Of course I will help your friend," I returned.

Without further consideration, I broke into a run in the direction of the sounds of fighting. Still, I'm a tad curious as to what kind of… whatever Sparx's companion was, for he or she isn't necessarily a 'dragonfly' like IC. If they have a personality that was able to tolerate IC on a consistent basis, then I can't see an issue between them and me. As I drew closer to the sounds of confrontation around what I would estimate to be a hundred-meter distance, the gears in my mind turned on something that sparked my attention.

I took some time to think about the point that my bad luck hadn't struck me for a time and that never has gone well for me. IC wouldn't fall under my bad luck doing its thing even if it felt like it somewhat. Admittedly, I've quickly developed a dislike of bordering on hatred of him mostly because he's freaking annoying. Nevertheless, there have been a lot of unexplainable things occurring as of late around me and though I have seen that I can attract that kind of thing, it has never been like it has recently! Oh, I have drawn crazy stuff before, but those times are very few and there tends to be a bit of warning, but not as of late so, the current standing worries me greatly!

Dare I ask or wonder what I am getting into this time? That signals me to take stock of my situation right now as I haven't done that fully for a time, not since getting here. First of all, I haven't the faintest clue what kind of creature is Sparx's companion. The fly hadn't given any hints in what he has said so, I can't say what they could be, or perhaps I should be asking do I really want to know what they are.

I'm getting the feeling I'm about to be involved in something big and said something was nearly guaranteed to bring even more problems my way. Don't ask me how I come to this conclusion, for I can't say how I predict these things as I do, but I tend to be fairly accurate in this. If that wasn't enough to put me on edge, a worse thought crept into my mind. That being, it has been a while since my bad luck has come into play, at least since the run in with my uncle. As I've implied, my bad luck is very similar to clockwork, it hits regularly, and it can get scary when it doesn't! The streak of luck I have can strike with horrible precision in the timing department like nobody's business cackling as it screws with me. The real difference between regular bad luck hitting me and some that's built up, the magnitude increases and I swear it's exponential. I guess the best that can be said is that I've a bad feeling about what I'm about to get into!

With the mental accounting done, I came to a halt before I reached the place where the commotion was coming from. I did see a cliff that dropped downward a little ahead, but there were things to do first, so I turned on the spot and grabbed Sparx grasping him firmly. I brought IC to within less than two inches of my face and I did this in order to make sure that I had his full and undivided attention for what I was going to say. "Listen Incessant Chatterbox and listen well! From the time this talk ends till I say that you can speak again, you are not to utter a single sound, unless I ask you a question. If I do ask something, you are to give me a short direct answer. Fail in this and there is no guarantee your friend's safety and wellbeing will be good. Do you understand my instructions clearly, you Incessant Chatterbox," I hissed.

Sparx looked a little scared of me, "Yeah I got it," he replied to me.

I let him go and crept up to the cliff edge crouching down to make myself harder to spot and looked down into the bowl surrounded by rock walls below. I gazed to the field below and started to take in the pieces of the fight to get a clear picture and I began studying. First thing I noticed, were six big furry messes, not hairy monkeys I think, but I suppose one could call them apes in a fashion. Really, now that I got a closer look at the brutes who I assumed that IC would know as apes, I was irked and flabbergasted at how in the hell Sparx could have ever mistaken me for one of these idiots.

I'm aware that science says humans evolved from apes or monkeys, I learned that in school. If that concept is true, then in this case I don't want to see or know the donors for this particular gene pool. These apes may have had the brawn to be brutes and everything but that was about all they had going for themselves. I say that as when it comes to brains they definitely were lacking and that was no joke. Actually, I would say more a horrendous shortage or deficit thereof which would be more accurate. A human child in their early years could outsmart these apes without breaking a sweat and that's being nice to those dumb creatures down there to say the least from what I saw.

My gaze moved to the one the apes were taking on and all I could do gape at the sight. I blinked for a couple of seconds, since I wanted to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was for if I was then normal logical sense is close to failing me. The apes were fighting was a lizard like creature that should be nothing but fiction and fantasy as far as I know. At least, I believe that the creature I was seeing was in fact, a dragon, but not like that thing I had encountered that got me to wherever here was.

I assumed it, or he was a male, you can call it intuition, but that's what I'm going with for now as that's what I got. He had a height of what I would say was over seven feet, but well under eight feet. The length he had was longer than his height, a bit of over eight and a half feet in comparison. The scales were of a neutral purple overall except those on his underside and central front, which were gold. The wings he had coming from his upper back were orange with a tint of red other than the spines being the same gold as the non-purple scales. There also was a line of spines down the center that started at the top of his head and went to his tail. Then lastly, the dragon had a pair of horns growing out of the top part of the back of his head.

After taking in the dragon's appearance, my mind came to a near standstill with the lunacy of this all. If my sensory input wasn't lying and I had no reason to suspect that they were, there was a real living dragon down below where I was. Turning to Sparx to inquire for a confirmation as to the sight in front of me, "Am I really seeing a dragon, I mean a real living dragon," I asked, somewhat stupidly.

Sparx looked at me strangely and then answered me, "Well of course he is a real dragon. Do you mean to tell me you have never seen a dragon, anything else you want to know about this," he replied.

His last line got me glaring at him as he had just done what I told him not to do, and I was not in the mood to deal with that. "Did I, or did I not say no more than a minute ago to give short and precise answers IC when asked a question," I growled.

"Oh I forgot," IC said nervously.

I just continued to glare and then sighed as I held back the retort begging to be said, which was 'did you IC, no duh Captain Obvious'. However, I was unable to stop myself from saying what else I was thinking, "Don't make me slap and gag you, it is sorely tempting at the moment I promise you IC," I snapped.

Sparx went quiet at that comment and it was wonderful! Still, I shook my head in irritation and went back to observing the fight. After a minute, I focused on the problem at hand of helping this dragon get through his predicament. Were I included the dragon in the odds that were in this fight, then the statistics were in the ape's favor if one simply went by numbers. However, as Master Kai has said many times, to go by numbers is the worse statistic to rely on so don't. By what I had seen the dragon do thus far, this wasn't by any means his first fight. He had experience, a helpful plus in this line of things and I'll take that. So, this means there were two experience fighters against the six rather dumb apes that looked like they were about to bolt in fear. Need I say more than this? I don't think I could ask for a more perfect setup in a skirmish. This should be an easy win in theory at least, we'll see how practical application goes I suppose.

I unslung my backpack from my back and drew out my wooden bokuto kendo with my right hand and put it in my mouth. Then I scaled down the cliffside to where the fight was going on. I was moving stealthily downward towards the greenery as that would do for a place to come out of. None gave signs that they detected my presence with the time I took to get down and to the thick bushes on the bottom of the bowl structure. I took my bokuto out of my mouth and began creeping forward towards the apes quietly. If I could sneak up on these apes, then I can eliminate a number of them without the leader knowing he lost his backup. And now that I was closer, I could clearly hear what was being said, "Ha ha ha, Spyro we caught you and now you our prisoner," said the biggest of the ape lot who was in the middle.

I would guess that he would be the leader of this group, first point that was going against them. He didn't seem much smarter than the rest of the group so why he was leading I couldn't guess. His speech was simple and lacked signs of notable intelligence, a brute through and through. "Just try and catch me," said the dragon in a male voice, confirming my guess at to his gender.

Admittedly, this dragon 'Spyro' impresses me, he has a lot of guts in him for he's facing down six opponents that are likely stronger than him, that takes courage and daring. I've gained respect for those like him that are able to do that for it is rare for anyone to stand up for themselves by themselves. There aren't a great many of people or any other living being that can easily take on a group who outnumber you by a fair margin and show this kind of courage. I'm one of those and I've had to face multiple opponents more than once and it ain't easy.

Still, while this scene was playing out, I snuck forward without making a sound and there was none the wiser to me coming. As I went forward behind the apes, using anything I could to not draw notice of any utilizing my natural skills of stealth. As I closed the distance, the leader of the dumb group stepping forward towards Spyro likely to flaunt I assume an air of triumph. This makes me consider the argument of why it is that idiots see the need to inflate their ego by taunting and flaunting. The leader started their teasing when I reached the spot, so I was slightly behind the apes, so that I could start knocking down our opponent's number. I set down my wood sword on the ground before moving towards my first target.

Without hesitation, I moved up right behind the ape on the far right of their line and began my part in this fight. In a moment, I clamped my hand over the ape's mouth firmly while my other hand ceased the back of his head. The amusing point in this to note, the muscle for brains was a foot taller than me, yet I was doing something like this to him. Thankfully for me, I've long arms and so, have an extensive reach to work with, which comes in handy in something like this. The second I got my hands in place, I tightened my holds, then wrenched the ape's head hard in a clockwise directed twisting motion. This was a classic movement meant to break your intended target's neck and disable or possibly kill them.

Interestingly, there wasn't a loud sound of his neck cracking as I had expected there to be, yet I know it did as I felt the unmistakable vibration of the bones being wrenched out of place. Perhaps this lug head had thick enough muscles that it muffled the snapping of his neck? Who knows? Anyways, with the ape going limp, he fell backward, and I ended out catching the brute and he was at least a couple hundred pounds and so was heavy! I didn't let my exhale be heard as the heavy weight fell on top of me, but I managed to set him down silently.

Well, one down four to go as it can be stated I supposed and no rest for the do-gooders and all that. I moved on to the next dummy in line and performed the same technique with the same wonderful results. Then I crept to the far left to continue my silent elimination, but in the process, I tripped over a rock that I had failed to see. Well, gravity doing what it does, my prat fall like motion was inevitable though painful to experience as it always is. My face planting into the ground happened with a crash, which if anyone didn't hear the crash, they had to be deaf or dead.

A sour feeling washed over me at the suddenly timely appearance of my luck doing its thing, I had to question why such crap has to occur now? There was dead silence as I pulled my head upward from the ground and once my head was up, I looked around and found that everyone was staring back at me with surprise. Well, guess my cover was blown, resort to plan B it is then. Knowing that stealth was out the picture for me, I gave a slight smile unable to think of anything else at the moment. "Um, I was just passing by and thought I would drop in… hope no one minds… he he he," I tried.

Not waiting for an answer from anyone here, I rolled over to get into reach of my wood kendo and I snatched up the weapon and shot to my feet quickly with my wood weapon in hand. That transitioned into me whipping around and striking the closest ape in the stomach hard. Said ape doubled over in pain, and as if it was a part of the technique I was performing, I swung the bokuto kendo in a vertical arc upward and then bringing the wooden sword down in force onto the ape's head. Noting the resounding crack as well as the ape going slack before falling, I took that to mean the ape would out cold. I didn't have much time to look over my work as one of the other apes charged at me reacting on practiced responses I sidestepped him, dropped down and swung my bokuto kendo low knocking him off his feet.

My first impressions of these apes were needlessly being proven to me in this fight. From the sheer stupidity they had to the slow uncoordinated movements, it made beating them all the easier. I followed up knocking ape down with spinning right then and there, using the momentum from the spin to bring the wood kendo down his forehead with a sickening crack. If these apes had the same as a human's in anatomy as I assumed, then the ape in front of me wouldn't be getting up due to the trauma resulting from the impact I had inflicted, and he didn't rise.

Upon glancing towards where Spyro had been, I saw that he had dealt with the leader and the other apes I hadn't dealt with. Yet, now he was… oh boy, facing me in a fighting stance which wasn't what I wanted to have. Great, Spyro probably thinks I'm his enemy and that won't go well for me I feel if it stays that way. I'm certain I'll regret this, but… there is no other option in this right now that I can come up with. I turned to where I would guess Sparx had been hiding, "Sparx could you come down please and yes, you can talk again," I called biting my tongue at calling IC by name a bit.

Sparx sped down and immediately hugged the snout of Spyro, "Spyro you are okay, thank goodness," he said.

Spyro smiled at Sparx as I observed, "Sparx you not hurt are you? What about that ape over there," Spyro asked IC.

I mulled over if I should speak up before IC did, but honestly, I doubt that there was anything I could say that would help me. Still, depending on what the fly said, I could be in a worse position than I am already. I controlled myself at being called an ape again as Sparx looked at me, yet I gave a look that would say to most, 'Careful what you tell your friend or you will regret your actions'! Sparx, then back to Spyro, "Do not worry, he is nice even if he has less hair and fur, but a good guy brother," IC replied.

Okay, that could have been better and I had to tone down the glare I sent IC's way to show my frustration in what he had said. I admit he could say worse things, yet he could have also said better. The fly will pay for that later though at this time I need to make a good impression. I took a deep breath and then shifted my gaze over to Spyro with a smile giving my greeting, "Hello, my name is Saber. I just thought you could use a bit of help with the brutes." It was then the last word of what Sparx said sunk in and I was thrown for a serious loop, "Wait did you say brother when referring to him," I questioned pointing at the lightbulb with wings.

They both looked at me with a look of being dumbfounded and then at each other before they nodded. My response was to just shake my head no even able to come up with the logic that could explain this fact. I wonder just how that figures… actually no, I really don't want to know! "I do not even want to know how that is supposed to work, but to you Spyro, my heartfelt condolences for having Sparx as a brother," I remarked.

Spyro looked at me confused at my statement and I couldn't figure out what could have confused him that I had said, "What does 'con-doll-alen-says' mean?"

Wait, Spyro doesn't know what condolence means?! Okay, fine, I'll go with this for the moment, "Never mind forget it, say mind if I travel with you," I asked.

Spyro nodded in reply to my query, "Well of course you can," Spyro said back.

The three of us got out of the bowl, Spyro and IC by flying and me by climbing the rock walls to reach the higher ground. From there we began walking to who knows where, honestly, at this point I just want to get out of this forest soon.

Chapter End

A/n

That is where I'll leave off of the second chapter and will pick up in the next. Some may note that I have combined my previous chapters 2 and 3, but it seemed better that way. Also, there is a change in scenery as I've come up with a map that I would like to stick to so there will be some changes going forward. I hope you like the way that this is being rewritten thus far. Please some of you write a review to tell me what you think, comments are appreciate. Working on more chapters and hope to have them up soon enough, we'll see how things go.