Drum's friends smiled when they noticed the fear disappearing from his face. The fear that invaded the very soul of the red dragon was replaced by determination.

That was something that hindered a little their pride in the dragon. It was his love of pudding, or fear of never eating it again that changed his thought. Maybe he feared to never eat pudding more than his father power.

Chapter 133: Surprised Visit Part 2

Drum continued telling himself that it was for pudding. As the fear of getting destroyed by his father started to fade away, he began searching for a way to achieve victory, for pudding, his muscles tense as his mind was a blank paper. Nothing came to his aid, "Guess I'll have to fight with everything I have."

"That's a little better son," The XIII stomped the ground and charged.

Drum gasped and turned into his SD form. His father punched far above him as the little dragon passed on the other side, turning back to his real form. The red dragon grunted as he aimed for the spine with his foot.

The XIII blocked it without looking back and countered with a blow on the flank, sending his son far away.

The red dragon painfully grunted, before twisting himself and landed on his feet against the wall feet and absorbed most of the impact, before sliding on the ground snout first. Drum stood up and saw his father crossing the distance already. Color disappeared from his face, before avoided the attack to the left. The dragon called his strength and courage and gave an upper cut on the jaw. It made the head bent towards the air. The dragon smiled as it was his first time he ever managed to hit his father.

The XIII slowly lowered his head as he gazed in the eye of his son, lightly frowning, "Not good enough," he said before punching the gut of his son sending him on the ground.

Fang Slade Terrestrial The XIV was coughing loudly as he covered his breastplate with his arms. The armor was bended inward, pressuring his stomach and intestines. He took it away and continued coughing. It took a while, but eventually, it calmed down.

"That punch might be efficient against most warriors, but if you are intending to fight Azi Dahaka, that will never be enough," he grunted, "Don't hold back!"

What? Was what came in the mind of the younger dragon, before he was grabbed by the horn and thrown on the ground. He coughed once again as pain was starting to overwhelm him.

Gao yelled, "Drum!"

"He sure isn't holding back," Joker commented.

Halberd crossed his arms, "I see what he is planning right now."

"What is it?" Jackknife asked.

"He is testing Drum and see if he can handle it. Remember that we will fight Azi Dahaka. If he cannot stand a chance against his father, he is good as dead," the red dragon concluded as he tapped the head of his buddy, Hanako.

The little girl wasn't looking at the fight anymore.

Tenbu thought, he couldn't kill Drum without dying himself. Thanks to the pact we made.

"Over already son?" The XIII asked when his son wasn't standing up.

Drum had his eyes closed and remembered Tenbu's teaching. Somehow, he thought about it and calmed his breathing. He breathing was now slow. Mind clearing up at the same time. The thought of the pudding was gone now. When the name of Azi Dahaka came, the red dragon understood why his father was testing him. Why was he frowning at him when he held back? It wasn't disappointment or anger towards him. It was hard and painful to him, but the dragon knew that it was fatherly love. His father loved him in his own way. He always knew it. After all, the training he had, the pain he endured, came only after the death of his mother. Very close after it. After all this time, he forgot about why he was trained that hard and that painfully.

Many Years ago

Fang Slade Terrestrial The XIII had his arms crossed, at the top of the mountain and yelled, "Hurry up son! You have until the moment the sun hides behind the mountain's peak. If you come too late, no diner for you!"

Halfway to the peak, Drum, younger, smaller and with paler red and orange scales ran towards his father. He was sweating and exhausted. He barely ran anymore. He was more trotting as fast as he could, having trouble maintaining his balance. Ever since his mother left the world of livings, his father seemed to torture him with endless training every day. He remembered that one time he woke up in the middle of the lake and his father ordered to swim back towards him, when he barely knew how to even swim, what's even the point in trying? The question resonated in his mind. It snapped back why he had to try, Diner!

He used all his remaining strength he had but couldn't accelerated. He saw the sun coming down way too fast and the day ending too fast for his liking. When he was close to the peak of the mountain, the sun was now gone behind the mountain. In the mind of the dragon, it was all for nothing. When he joined his father, he only saw a disappointed dragon, looking at him with anger. The eyes gazing at him with a predatorial intention, "No diner for you tonight."

"But-"

"I said no diner for you son! Next time don't fail!" Those were the only words his father said. Drum didn't dare to say anything else.

If only mom was still here, he thought. He panted as tears came out of his eyes, "Mom."

The night came, and the little red dragon was resting on the ground, more trying. His stomach was grunting loudly as he covered his gut with his hands, "So hungry. I want to eat something," but dad will be angry if I do.

He whined as he tried to find some rest, hoping that his slumbers will prevent the pain of hunger. He heard his father talking to another dragon, near his room. He could hear them clear enough.

"You sure are tough with your son Fang Slade Terrestrial The XIII," the familiar voice of The Punisher came at the other side.

Drum grumbled as he listened to the conversation, knowing it was about him.

"Of course, I am. He is my child," his father replied.

"Pardon me for telling you this, but I believe you should be more lenient with your son and-"

He cut abruptly the other dragon, "You do not tell me what to do Punisher. I know what is best for my son."

"He is still to young to meet your expectations and he will probably end up hating you," the other dragon warned him.

"Is that all? Because he has to be ready to succeed me you know."

It was quiet for a few seconds, Drum thought it was over when he heard The Punisher said, "Are you that afraid Fang Slade Terrestrial The XIII?"

"What are you insuni-"

"I understand now what is going on. You fear of losing y-"

Drum heard a loud sound as if the dragons were struggling.

"Enough words!" he heard the voice of his father yelling in rage.

"Your training might kill him! Then you will lose everything!"

"It won't!"

Another sound resonated, and his father painfully grunted.

"Look at you Fang Slade Terrestrial The XIII. Right now, I can defeat you and take your place over Dragon World if I wanted," the red dragon heard disappointment in the voice of the other dragon, "You fear the death of your son, but you are bringing him to his demise yourself. Even if he survives, he will despise you."

"Then so be it! I rather have him hating me than losing him too!" The voice of his dad was both infuriated and sad, as if he was about to cry.

He heard footsteps and The Punisher last words, "It is time for you to greave Fang Slade Terrestrial The XIII. Your mate is gone, don't let the same go with your son," and after this, the other dragon was gone as he heard nothing.

The last thing he heard, was his father marching away quietly, holding back a sob.

Fang Slade Terrestrial The XIV closed his eyes. He heard everything with his ears, did The Punisher do that on purpose? That question was one he probably would never get an answer, but one thing was clear no, dad… I'll try harder. I will make you proud of me.

Present Time

The XIII came and cut an end to the younger's thought. Drum didn't hold back anymore, dodging the fist of his father and countering with his own, aiming the snout. He missed it and was hit in the chest.

Drum avoided crashing on the ground and jumped back on the ground. He charged without hesitations, "Dad!" he slid under his father in his SD form and when he turned back, he gave everything he had in his kick, no hesitation and no holding back. He hit the left cheek of his father and didn't stop there. He followed up with a punch on the snout and gave a third one. The last punch was blocked, and the dragon was thrown on the ground.

The red dragon used his tail and grabbed The XIII leg, breaking his balance and dragging him on the ground. The red dragon stood up and breathe fire on his father, never stopping until his instinct told him to move out of the way, which he did just in time. The next second, his father was behind him and literally kicked his ass, sending him in the air and landed on the ground. Drum landed on his feet, legs shaking by the impact as a tear came on the corner of his eyes.

The XIII remained there and looked in the eyes of his father. He chuckled, "That's enough son. If we keep this up, you will die."

His son gulped at those words, when his father appeared in front of him, "H-hey!" he raised his arms defensively, in case of a surprise attack and his father telling him that he shouldn't drop his guard.

His father pinched his snout and the son was on the ground, painfully rolling on the ground, which as harder since he wasn't a little round anymore, "I said that it was over. Gao! End the spell card."

Gao and Tetsuya ended the spell.

Everyone was back in the living room. Drum was back in his SD form, bruises starting to form on him while his armor was damaged on the ground.

"You're okay Drum!" Gao asked as he came by his side.

"I'm good," the red dragon nervously said.

The XIII watched everyone congratulating his son for holding up against his father. When no one was looking he lightly smiled, "It wasn't horrible son. You managed to hit me, which you always failed before."

In the eyes of Drum, it was the best he could obtain from his father and would take it, he bowed.

"You are ready for this," he gave his son a spellcard and the dragon looked at it. He saw a new armor on it, but it was a spellcard like the others he used to change form, but this one was from Dragon World.

"Thank you, dad. I'm honor of that gift," he said before he was pinched on the sound, rolling on the ground again.

"Don't get sentimental son," his father said as he sat on the couch. He looked at everyone and said, "Now that the formalities are over, I think the celebration has to go on, right? I can share a few stories too," he grinned at his son.

He better not brings that up! He wants to make it up for being seemingly nice to me! I hate you when you are like this dad!

The continued eating and after a while, Hanako asked, "What stories?"

The XIII eyes shined, as if he fished what he wanted, "There is a few things I can tell you. What do you want to know?"

"Who was Drum's mother?" Gao asked curiously.

The eyes darkened at the question, from both Drum and his father. The older red dragon replied, "Right on the scar," he chuckled, but his voice was nostalgic, "But she was one of the greatest dragons you'll ever see and the greatest in my eyes. She was strong, not what you would call effeminate with her large and muscular stature. Her eyes shined like the sun in the sky. That's why we fought until I won, to prove that I was worthy of being her mate. I won obviously."

"She must have been a tough one that female," Tenbu commented as he played with his mustaches.

"She was the Suzumi of our world," The XIII replied.

So are you, his son thought.

"I never found love again… And I'm kinda too old now," he admitted. Nostalgia was in his eyes now. He remained quiet for a minute, letting the mood pass, before asking, "Want to know a funny story?"

"Sure," Joker replied.

"My son might not look like it now, but he was wasn't that tough before," he started.

"Dad!" Drum yelled as he blushed in embarrassment.

"When he was four, he was still acting below his ages. One time, he dropped something on the floor and broke it. What does a father's do? Some discipline. I put him on my lap," he chuckled, "He cried before I even punish him. He was such a crybaby before. You just have to make him believe you'll do something and he'll cry for a while," he chuckled loudly.

Everyone was giggling, except for Asmodai who laughed loudly. The poor victim was reddish in embarrassment and humiliation. Tenbu was gently tapping the back of the dragon, while holding back his giggling.

"You sure it was the same dragon?" the pink demon asked.

"Yes. He is my only child," The XIII replied with a smirk.

The child in question frowned. He didn't care for any punishments now that his pride was wounded and asked, "Remember what came afterwards father?"

His father glared at him, clearly warning him to not bring that up.

"Mom made you eat dirt by burying your face in the ground for a long time!" he proudly said as a grin appeared on his face.

That made everyone lightly giggled, imagining an intimidating dragon ending up like that, except for Halberd and Jackknife who avoided looking at the dragon in question.

His father was quiet for a minute, eating some sweets. That spread fear among the other guests and the Mikado's family, expecting something to come. The XIII acted and pinched the snout of his father, "Don't disrespect your father."

"You told them about that!" Drum said before he was on the ground rolling painfully, as his father pinched him another time.

The XIII ignored the reply and went on, "So I tough him up and look at him now," he stood up, "Ready to face Azi Dahaka," nothing else was said as a small honest smile was on his face, "Like all of you. I should call you all as fools for standing in his way, but what else can be done? I was a fool when I fought every dragons who stood on my way and won. Foolishness granted me victory," he grabbed one more piece of sweet and said, "Got a few more stories," the grin was back on his face.

Dad!

He told a few more humiliating stories about his son's mistakes and when that dragon in question started sulking on the corner with Tenbu and Gao cheering him up, he gave a few stories about some of his greatest victory in his battle against other dragons. When it was starting to get late the old dragon stood up and said, "It is time for me to leave. Duty calls and I'm late."

Drum stood up and asked, "Dad."

His father gazed at his son, as he was at the door, "Son. I won't accept anything than victory," and left unsaid that a defeat meant the demise of his son, "Gao."

"Yes."

"Don't let him down. You are buddies," the XIII said while thinking, more like brothers, "Better bring good news," he showed his fist.

Drum was once again nervous but nodded. His father now left the house.

Asmodai said, "Well, looks like Fang Slade Terrestrial The XIII stole the party and make it his own."

Kiri nervously chuckled and replied with a smile, "I'm okay with this Asmodai. It was fun."

"At my expanse!"

"You've survived Drum," Joker replied, giggling at one of the stories he learned.

"We have to leave Yo. We can't be late for diner and my parents are surely getting worried," Testuya said as they walked near the door. They turned around and the boy said, "And don't worry Gao. We are ready to stop the Darkness Dragon plan. Whatever it is Yo!"

"You can count on this demon! Victory is ours!" The pink demon concluded as he also left.

Everyone remained in the house and continued talking while Gao's parents and his grandmother prepared their own diner.

Later that night, when everyone went to bed, Gao rested on his own and looked at the new spellcard. Drum's new form, "Drum. What do you know about this card?"

The red dragon was taking off his armor as he replied, "I heard stories about it. Dad also mentioned it. He used it and wore that armor when he fought the dragons and gained control of Dragon World as the unique ruler," his eyes lightly shined, "And now. I have to honor to wear it when we shall challenge Azi Dahaka," the dragon climbed on the bed and rested on the other side of the bed.

"With this, we have better chance to win," the boy smiled.

"Yes, but it's not only the gear," the dragon started.

"Yes. We have our friends, ready to fight and prevent everything. I'm sure Commander I and Stella would be happy that we don't give up," the boy said.

"What's going on with them? We haven't heard anything for a long time," the red dragon asked.

"Don't know," the boy replied.

The two were pensive, thinking about them and hoping for the best.

AC: This is the end of this chapter. I hope you've enjoyed it.

Next: The Moment Justice Waited.