Hey everyone! I'm back again with a new chapter! What will happen in this chapter after Ink's fight with Axl Low? Find out!
Wait a tick, you're doin this for what now?!" Axl paused eating his burger and staring at the Gear girl named Vanity 'Ink' Vanguard, Ink for short. A meal compensated by Ink since she apologized for attacking him thinking he's a bounty hunter.
"That's right!" Ink grinned as she sips her cola. Ink decided to bring their guest into their hideout, much to Navarro's complaints of 'why are you seriously?! Why?! That's a bad idea!' To which, Ink responds, 'It's fine, for the first time, this guy isn't afraid of me. He's pretty funny' as if that was her argument, much to Navarro's annoyance. But there's no way to convince her not to bring him over.
The word 'afraid' seems to be inaccurate though. More like shocked at first, then horror and starts to laugh the whole thing off afterward.
Shdwkyz looks at Axl conversing with Ink as if nothing happened.
If he were, to be honest, Axl Low seems like an interesting person.
30 minutes earlier...
After being told that Axl Low claims that he isn't a bounty hunter, Ink just groans to which Shdwkyz shakes his head.
"Seriously, Ink. You didn't notice that?" A voice, it was coming from the trees that made Axl blinked.
"It isn't my fault! Also, why didn't you say so, Shdwkyz ?!" Ink now walking towards the tree.
"Because you get too excited for a fight," Shdwkyz mentioned.
"Huh?! " Ink whined.
Eh...why is she talking to a tree? Axl Low thought before he takes a double-take to see a figure of glowing yellow eyes in white under the shadow of the tree's leaves. Is that another guy a Gear too? Also...are they're arguing?
"Also, I bet you attacked him because you smell food. Not to mention, you already ate Danny Missiles yesterday." Shdwkyz points out.
"I can't help it! Their burgers are so good like the fries! Plus! SODA!" Ink whined.
"Really? That's your excuse?" Shdwkyz just stared at her. " Also, you drank two liters of soda yesterday."
" Oh, come on! I got to act the part of being a dragon in this place, don't you know?!" Ink retorted.
"Right...to him," He points to Axl. "I just got off the comm with Fosh and he states that this guy isn't on the bounty hunter registration."
"Are you serious?! I really thought he was a bounty hunter with those cool scythe chain thingies!" Ink argued.
"You mean chain sickles?" Shdwkyz corrected.
"Yeah, those!" Ink replied.
"Honestly...you're hopeless..." Shdkwyz sighed. "If you really want to be a dragon, why not steal livestock? Or princesses?"
"Are you kidding?! That's old school! Besides...it's hard to carry sheep plus what am I going to do with them?! " Ink argued.
"Pfff..." There is a loud snort. The teens stopped their argument to see Axl start to shake before burst out laughing. "Last time I check, they eat sheep for breakfast!"
"Huh, I don't eat raw sheep!" Ink pouted. "Plus, I like having them around." She said, twiddling her thumbs. "They're fluffy." Shdwkyz can't help but rolls his eyes at that one.
"Well...you butcher em and cook em with fire breath!" Axl snorted.
"No way! That's too much! " Ink waved his hand. "I can't use fire breath for that! That will ruin the meat!"
"That's how dragons do it!" Axl laughed.
"Oh yeah and how do you know?!" Ink stomped over to him with her arms crossed.
"Because I'm Brit!" Axl jerked a thumb to himself proudly.
"HUH?! " Ink stared while Shdwkyz just stares at the duo with amusement. When...this shifted into something else. Shdwkyz wished he should of get smoothie and popcorn for this.
"Seriously! What the heck does that mean?!" Ink asked.
"It's exactly what I mean!" Axl crossed his arms while sitting cross-legged with his chin raised to the air as if he knows what he is talking about.
"Okay, mister! Tell me how a dragon does it and I promise that I get you another combo meal of Danny Missiles! So that way, I can say sorry about what just happened." Ink vowed.
"Deal!" Axl grinned.
Now
And so, that's how they got here. And because of that, Ink easily made a new friend just like that. Shdwkyz isn't surprised anymore.
"So, Mister Axl Low, right?" Ink asked. Oh, Ink also transformed into her human form surprising Axl making him wonder a girl like herself would be transforming into a scary monster just to scare people for the heck of it.
"What do you know about dragons?" Ink asked.
"Well...back in my country, we fight them," Axl said with a smile.
"Fight them! Why?"
"Because dragons terrorize the heck out of villages and steal princesses, ya know," Axl replied.
"And?"
"Then we got knights to go on a quest and beat them. I thought you know about dragons, missy." Axl questioned as he sips cola with a straw.
"Yeah but that sounds old school! I read the stories and stuff like that. I wanna be the dragon that no one beats. The best one ever!" Ink said proudly.
"Is that right? Well, missy, ya gotta be strong then if you want to get to your dream. Also...you look more like a devil than a dragon." Axl snorted.
"Huh?!" Ink exclaimed in disbelief which got Axl to laugh. "Sorry! That's how ya look like to me!" Axl then asks, "But I'm curious, why do you want to be dragon so bad? It's the first time I ever heard of it. It's kind of weird, no offense. I mean..you kind of look the part? Why ya striving for?"
"Because dragons are awesome! I mean...they're so cool, they can fly, collect, get their own turfs and they can do whatever they want. Plus, people make stories about them!" Ink stands up as she said it proudly, "So far, I haven't beat a knight yet but I guess it would be kind of cool to fight one."
"Even though you know how that ends..." Shdwkyz interjected with a bored look on his face. Shdwkyz is still wearing his mask, he's not going to show his identity to a stranger.
" Oh, quiet Shdwkyz!" Ink pouted.
"But he's right ya know, Ink!" It was Rust this time, "In stories, knights always beat dragons!" The blond tells him. "Especially when it comes to British and other European stuff!"
"Hey that accent, you're Irish, ain't ya?" Axl asked.
"Aye." Rust grinned. "I'm going to guess ya, your accent is around in London, right?"
"That's right." Axl nod to that. "But there are dragons that are cool like you said. You know that the city of London has two dragons in their crest." Axl drinks.
"Crest?" Ink repeated as she is very curious.
"Yep. If I remember... the two dragons holding the shield of arms. There is a sayin in Latin, it's uh... oh! Lord guide us!" Axl shifts his tone to something serious as he said this before switching to casual with a wry smile, "Though, I'm not religious or anythin." Axl laughs. "Dragons are kinda terrible but when it comes to meaning about them, they do represent how strong they are."
"Yeah! That's exactly it! I think I need a crest! Rust!"
"A crest sounds good! Oh! How about it we make it for the team?" Rust asked.
"That's a good idea!" Ink grinned.
"And here we go..." Shdwkyz mused as Ink and Rust along with Gerald and Taz who joined in for the fun.
"I don't know why I really like you, kids!" Axl laughed as he enjoys their company. Ink is an interesting girl, not to mention her friends are too. Though, he can sense that few of them staring at him suspiciously. He wouldn't blame them. It seems like they cared about each other.
Speaking of which, the teens listened to the conversation "I think that's a wonderful idea." Hellmare and Ophelia chuckle listening to the conversation while Oblivion is doing her own thing like playing video games. Jaron is drinking his iced sweet tea from the kitchen as he watches the TV.
Navarro and Fosh look back and forwards to the computer and to Axl, trying to search for information about him but nothing. Maggie is watching Axl and keeping her guard up.
"I hope ya don't mind me asking but who's the leader of your group? Do you guys live here?"
"First! The person who scared you half to death." Shdwkyz quickly answered. Axl blinked, "Hah? Really? I thought it will be you."
"I wished, " Shdwkyz replied. "And second, yes most of us live here."
"Ok! That's it! You gotta answer our questions now!" Navarro has enough as he now stomps over to him. "We get to ask the questions and you answer. We didn't find anything about you! So, who are you? Are you sure you're British?!" Navarro demanded some answers.
Shdwkyz stays silent after hearing that. He looks over to Axl, waiting for him to answer.
Welp...guess I gotta tell em . Axl Low thought as he feels like he has to, then again, nobody would believe him.
"Believe it or not, kid. I'm a time traveler." There. He said it. Silence fills the room as everyone's eyes turn to Axl. Then,
"What the hell?!" Navarro began before he shouts, "YOU THINK WE WOULD BELIEVE THAT CRAP?!" Navarro yelled, "IF YOU WANT TO LIE, AT LEAST COME UP WITH A BETTER ONE, YOU DUMBASS! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE?!"
"Uhhh...well...it's the truth!" Axl chuckles as he sweats drops. Really, it's the truth. But oh well, I tried.
"OH sure! And next, you're gonna tell us that you're related to the Queen of Freaking England!" Navarro scowled.
"Pfffttt...Queen of England." Rust snickered as he drinks his can of cola.
"Shaddup, Rust!" Navarro shouted. Shdwkyz watches. Navarro is always suspicious of everyone that he came across especially when it comes to strangers invited by any of his friends. Call him paranoid but he cares about his friends as he doesn't trust any adult at all.
Time Traveler? As if that wasn't ridiculous enough. Yet... Fosh didn't notify the team about him about a minute ago, maybe it isn't so far fetched? Shdwkyz thought. Maybe time-magic? It's something I didn't hear about; it must be rare to ever exist. So it would be possible.
"I believe him." Ink said. This got Axl to blink his eyes twice.
"WHAT?!" Navarro yelled. "How could you believe him?! There's no way that's possible!"
"Well...I'm a dragon, what's your point?" Ink retorted childishly making Navarro choked while everyone else cracks up. Even Oblivion who snorts a little.
"This guy thinks you're a demon!" Navarro pointed at Axl, "What the hell are you talking bout?!" Navarro argued. Ink made a face, "I'm not a demon! I'm a dragon! Get that right!"
"God, Ink! Why you such a moron?!"
"Because I am!" Ink replied proudly.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SO PROUD OF THAT?!" Navarro exclaimed in disbelief.
"Um!" Fosh clears his throat, "Now I think about it, he didn't come up on any of my magic cameras until a minute ago. It's like I haven't seen him enter the forest at all." Fosh
Ah, so Fosh noticed it too. Shdwkyz thought and looks at Axl's reaction. Guess he isn't lying after all.
"Well, I still don't believe it! Maybe he cast some magic to make himself invisible!" Navarro argued.
"Magic cameras? What are ya setting those up for?" Axl asked.
"For filming!" Ink grinned. "It's good to see how I'm doing so far as well as everyone else."
"And making sure who enters and comes out of the Central Park Forest." Navarro scowled. "Also! We look them up to make sure who we're dealing with."
"Plus, it makes good memories to watch and play it back again." Ink added.
"Ha! I remember the time when someone who acts big and bad then he pisses their pants after getting his ass kicked." Rust snickered.
"Some of the bounty hunters we encountered were interesting though." Hellmare smiled. Axl is now very curious. What was in for them? "So, what are you all doing this for?" He is curious about others' personal goals. Is it same as Ink's
"Just watching the show," Shdwkyz answered. And sticking around here for the time being.
"I'm here for a good time." Rust grinned.
"Us too!" Taz and Gerald said in unison. To them, it's like a family.
"I like to collect weaponry." Hellmare chuckled. "Especially from those bounty hunters that caught my interest."
"Just passing the time," Oblivion answered monotonically, still focusing on her game.
"Just like helping people out." Fosh said.
"Same here!" Ophelia raised her hand with a smile. "Plus, I like the flowers in this forest."
"And making food, I like to cook for people. "Jaron answered.
"And I'm just here for the ride," Maggie sighed.
"Yeah, I'm here just to make sure everything stays that way. Especially keeping this idiot safe!" Navarro jerked his thumb at Ink as she is laughing. He pinches her cheek despite being the height difference between, "Ow!" Ink yelled out.
"Huh." Axl slowly nods as he understands, "Makes sense to me." Axl laughed. "But no really, you kids not only doing it for the town? You're doing for the fun of it?" If that were true, those reasons are pretty good reasons. Enough for him anyway.
"I mean yeah, a dragon gotta have a territory!" Ink grinned. "Also! Want to watch one of our clips? It's pretty cool so you can see what we're doing!"
"Uh sure!" Why not? Axl thought. Must be cool. "Anyway! I hope you got some popcorn for this!"
"We always do!" Ink grinned. "It's going to be fun!"
Back in Illyria
"Every bounty hunter, every bandit and every mercenary that ever went into the forest for the Gear, always come back in bruises or get tied up in the town's center. They are stripped of their possession including their weapons." Ky Kiske said.
So, this one doesn't kill. Nor need to have to. Sol Badguy looked through the reports. Most of them suffered burns, scratches, slashes, and other injuries. This Van Ink gave them a hard time, alright. Of course, the bounty on it is starting to increase over time after each failed attempt by each group who tried to take it down. Sooner or later, more experience and stronger bounty hunters will come to that Central Park Forest.
It made Sol rack his brain for a bit. Even Ky tries to understand this.
What is this Gear's plan?
Alright! Well...sorry if it feels rushed but I want to give an idea on what is Ink's purpose even if it's vague. But not to worry. Time will tell.
So what's next? Stay tuned!