Dash

Dash Smith Ivory and Alexia Ivory were born in siblings, but James was adopted. After James went out on his 'one' year training expedition, Dash and James met in the most unlikely way. James had used up all his extra money a month later and all James had left were a measly six dodos. Dodos were the currency used in the Desert Sector of the Cloud Country. The Snow Sector, sometimes called 'The Path to The Snow Village' or 'EverWhite', used Yeena currency. There were exactly four sectors, but a fifth one was in the myths. The Dead Flower Mountains used rooka currency, and the Sakura Blooms would take any type each for a fair amount. Currently the Snow Sector and The Sakura Sector had the highest financial gains throughout the decade with a steady surplus trade, while the Desert Sector was at the bottom of the scale with a defeceit. And ever since the nuclear holocaust, the Dead Flower Mountains are nothing but ancient ruins.

James had his six dodos in his hand as he desperatley struggled to make it all the way to the nearest city, Hat U7. Hat U7 was the capital of the sector and the most populous and rich city in the sector. But compared to other capitals, it was nothing. Kroy was Snow Sector's Capitol and Tenpi was Sakura's. James trudged across the heavy sun under the molten humid sun with ragged up clothes and a half bitten of shoe. Just one shoe. James stared up at the sky fell to his knees. He swore a couple of times and got back up, but eventually fell down. He lay on his back, staring up at the little clouds up ahead. Suddenly a bump appeared in the corner of his eyes. Then another one. Two men, each holding a bottle of sake, stared down. The one on the left had a large nose with many boils and pimples on his face which made James burst out in laughter. Almost. He also wore a olive cap that hid some dry brown hair. His eyes were bulgy and brown and his teeth seemed like they hadn't been cared for... for months...! He wore ragged clothings after that. His accompanis was a overweight man with the same cap. He was completely bald and always had this disgusting wicked smile while showing his crummy teeth.
"Where am I?" James asked as he sat up. The two men snickered and waved around. It was clear that they were drunk.
"Look at the poor kid. He's lost! Let's give 'em a hand, Jackie ol' pal!" The big one said in a drunk tone of voice.
"Yeah great idea! Whats're yer name, kiddo?" The other male said, flailing his bottle around and nearly hitting James. James grimaced.
"I've got no time for you low lifes" James picked up his pack and money and trudged back up. He was surprised to find himself in the middle of a desert old town. James sighed a sigh of releif and looked for any sort of restauraunt. Then he looked back at his six dodos. He knew he couldn't buy a thing with those! He let them fly to the ground as he went back to his lay-back-and-look-at-clouds-helplessly position. I'm never gonna make it to Hat U7... maybe I should just head back... No! I can't! I've barely progressed in my training! And I barely have any money... The requirements for me to return are to bring back atleast 10 000 dodos and have mastered atleast one type of ninjutsu and two types of taijutsu. Dammit... Stupid Vlad... I need more money... If something would come up... if something would just hit me in the head...! James was knocked back by a flying sake bottle.
"...Hey! Who the-" He stared at the two men. Only one had his sake bottle in his hand.
"Yo!" One of the men said, then laughed. James was getting really pissed.
"Unless you have any way of getting tons of money around here, then you have no position to be talking to me"
"Actually... We do. My daughter loves to gamble but she's a sucker at it. She's never won a game yet she still keeps on going!" The overweight man pointed to one of the rusty old bars. James grabbed his dodos and walked in. The second he did, a bunch of men ran out with money in their hands and yelling out cheers and stuff. James raised a brow and entered to find a red haired, surprisingly skinny (compared to her father), teenage girl laying on top of one of the tables with a barrel full of money. James walked over to her and said
"I'll bet six dodos" James knew he wasn't going to make it. Or was he? Surpisingly, he was. The girl nodded and smiled. Then she took out a pair of dice. James smiled. He knew he was going to win.

Six Minutes Later

James came out running from the place after a series of unfortunate events. It seemed that luck was not with him. While the daughter celebrated by throwing her cards up and down, the drunken scrooges had escaped from eternal drunkness and began the pursuit. James clenched his dodos and fitted the strap of his backpack closer to him as he continued to run. James was in no condition to fight, after all. He made for a corner only to bump into a yellow haired fine clothed (Well, compared to James) boy. His spiky hair created an impression that he was the sort of "Mob Gang Member" person. Atleast that's what James thought. He leaped up but was only trapped by the two men. The overweight one grabbed him by the collar and twirled him onto the shop wall, immediatley letting James recognize his unbearable strength. The other man simply started kick-beating the poor guy until blood spewed out of his mouth. Dash wasn't going to just stand there.
"Hey..!" Dash stepped in between the threesome. "Leave the guy alone" Dash grabbed the dodos on James' hand and laid his hand up. The skinny one smirked and slapped the hand. Then the overweight one stepped up and raised his fist. "Kids like you should just keep quiet, punk" The cliche of a lifetime. Atleast for someone like him. Dash jumped up, his hands in his pockets, stuck out his knee and let it land on the man's face. Then he scraped it out and landed safely on the ground. Blood appeared on his bald head. Well now it was bald. Dash took out the disgusting wig and threw it up on the roof. The man was amazed, and angry. He collapsed on the dust. The skinny one patted him on the bag and gave an angry smirk at him. Then they immediatley left.

Dash turned around and lowered his hand, signifiying that he was an ally in this rugged old town. James just looked away and picked himself up. Then he grabbed his bag and walked away. Dash looked at him for a few seconds. Then he litfted his palm and said "Forgetting something". James remembered the dodos. He turned back and snatched it from him. Then he walked back the same path, tracing his footsteps unknowingly.
"You're welcome" Dash said under his breath. James heard it.
"Meh..." Was the thing that came out of his mouth. Then he kept on walking. And walking. And walking. And walking. And walking.

He walked all the way to the end of town. He looked back and saw nothing. Nothing but village houses reaching a mile across. As determined as I am... I can't continue any longer... I gotta'... rest... James thought, then sighed. He walked back to a local bar. There stood the bartender cleaning a wine glass, and a mysterious person in one of the high chairs. It was Dash wearing his white/black neck collared open jacket and his bagish pants. James crept to a seat and looked at the drink infront of Dash. Simply water in a fancy glass. But it was dirty.
"What'll ye' have?" The bartender said.
"Ummmm... What can I have? I am just 13" The bartender sighed.
"You must be new. All we serve here is water" He presented a glass, all filled up, out of nowhere and handed it to James. James stared at the man in confusion, then at Dash. Dash just smiled.

After James finished his drink, he asked the bartender and Dash why the water was so dirty and muddy and if they had so fancy so glasses then couldn't they bother to get some Wine? They both sighed.
Dash spoke first. "Well first of all this is a desert. We're really poor and get fewer tourists per year. That's why our Water Pumping Co. hasn't really cooperated with us for the last several years. But the strange thing is that we haven't communicated with them for over a year after the water became short sourced and muddy. And everytime they sent a messenger, they never came back. That's why we just stopped relying on them. And second of all, we only have fancy glasses 'cause the previous owner was rich and all. Plus he hadn't thought of importing any wine until he was called to be a messenger" Dash finished his water to quench his dry mouth. James was confused. He drank his water, and left his chair. Dash turned around.
"Where 're you going?" James stopped.

"I'm going to be your new messenger"

NEXT Chapter,
Whirlwinds and Dust Demons. Is this what awaits the new youth tag team as they embark on their newfound quest? And what awaits at the end of this sandy tunnel? If they even make it!

NEXT Time,

Destruction

Fight Through The Dark Cavern Of Despair, Youth Tag Team!