1Writing on vacation is always fun. Especially when you have received a bright red sunburn in the same day. Fun fun fun fun fun. Ok ok, I'll get started on the chapter.
Thecrazyfanficcer- yep, they're my oc's. hmm, a moogle, maybe for Roll. Oh, and thanks for naming off all of my oc's. I'm not using my computer, heck, I don't even have my comp. It's in the shop, so I'm using my dad's. that list has helped me know which one's I've used already. Thanks!
Begin Chapter
"Someone's at the door," Min yelled, not even looking up from her book. She was crashed on the couch, reading, while the boys were 'remodeling' the dining room.
"I'll get it," Rock replied as he walked out of the room. Min looked up from her book just in time to see a painted Rock walk by.
"You're supposed to paint the room, not yourself," she teased.
"This was Tabor and Lykaios' fault," he defended. "But I got them back. Someone left some cherry bombs in the room, so I made a nice little wick, stuck it in the bucket of paint, and lit it. If you hear an explosion, don't freak out." He walked to the door and answered it. A messenger from the castle was there.
"Um, are you Lucio?" he asked nervously.
"Yeah, sorry about this, we're trying to repaint, and well, um, the guys got a little happy with the brushes," he said, laughing, "So, what did you need?"
"I was sent to tell you that you are needed at the castle, but you may want to clean up a little first," he gulped.
"Ok, I'll be about forty minutes, an hour if this paint doesn't want to get off," he said. "Thanks."
"Y-yes sir," the messenger saluted.
"One more thing," he said. "Calm down. People won't bite."
"Your team maybe, but I'm not going to tell the other team squat," he said. "They can send someone else. The girl will bite your head off faster than anything."
"Amen to that," Rock agreed. "I'm going to go and clean up now." An explosion was heard throughout the house, followed by a scream of surprise.
"What was that?" the poor messenger asked.
"Well deserved payback," Rock said plainly. "I'll see you in around an hour."
"O-ok," he said as he ran down the road.
"ROCK, YOU'RE GOING DOWN!" the boys yelled as they opened the door, covered in paint.
"After I get back from the castle," he said.
"How many cherry bombs did you use?" Min asked.
"Ten," he replied as he started up the stairs. "Look at it this way, we're done painting."
---
"Is that it?" Searchman asked. He, Gutsman, and Roll were shopping for the day's groceries.
"Yes it is," Roll replied as she packed her final item into the basket that Gutsman was carrying. They started down the street, chatting about the third person that was foolish enough to try and take on Forte in a fight. They walked down the street, and passed the castle. While they passed, two pairs of eyes started to follow them.
"That them?" a male voice asked.
"I think so, they fit the profile," a second replied.
"Let's go see."
The three continued towards their home, becoming increasingly aware of their followers. "We've got tails," Searchman said. He started to walk a little faster, the two other following suit.
"Still following, de gutsu?" Gutsman asked. Searchman looked over his shoulder, and turned the corner.
"Yes," he replied. "If push comes to shove, Roll, you run to the house, and send either Blues or Forte to come and help us. Tell the other guy to stay with you."
"Got it, but we only have one more block," she said. "I can see the house." They broke into a trot.
"Hey," one of the followers said, running towards them.
"Run," Searchman whispered to Roll and Gutsman. Roll started onto a full fleged run, while it took the boys a little bit longer to get up to speed. Although they didn't get a head start, the three made it to the house before their followers, but before they could get the door shut, the two men made their way into the home.
---
"Finished," Netto sighed as he closed a window on the computer and ejected the disk.
"Good, because we're done too," Enzan said as he, Laika, Meiru, and Deako entered the office where Netto was. Enzan handed Netto the box, and he installed the chips. "We actually finished yesterday when you gave it to us, but we decided to wait until you were finished to bring this."
"Ok," Netto yawned.
"Did you get any sleep last night?" Meiru asked.
"No, I wanted to get this finished," he yawned again.
"Get home and get some sleep," Laika said sternly. Netto nodded and started towards the door.
"I'll go with you," Meiru said.
"Me too," Dekao added. The three walked out the door and out of the building.
"Do you want to be the one who goes to ask Dr. Hikari when the transporter is going to be done?" Enzan asked.
"Let's both go," Laika hastily replied. "Last time, he was kind of angry with me."
"He's been angry with everyone," Enzan said. "Anyone who breaks his concentration. Does he have anyone else helping him build that?"
"I believe that he pulled Mejin into it, but I think that's it." They turned the corner, and entered the construction zone. "Hello Dr. Hikari."
"Hello Enzan," he replied, not even looking up from his work. "I'm almost done. It should be done by lunch. You can leave then."
"We may want to wait until tomorrow," Laika said.
"Why?" Mejin asked, popping up from the backside of the contraption.
"Netto hasn't gotten any sleep in the past twenty-four hours."
"What?" Dr. Hikari asked.
"He stayed up all night last night programming that tracker," Enzan replied.
"Ok, well, I'll make sure to not tell him anything until tomorrow morning. If I know him, he will want to leave as soon as he can." Enzan and Laika agreed and left the office.
---
"Lucio, m'boy. How are you doing?" asked the king as Rock walked into the room and bowed.
"I'm fine, your majesty."
"I heard that you and your team made a little mess in your house today."
Rock gave a nervous chuckle before replying. "That's true. Tabor, Lykaios and I got into a paint fight. Also, I found out that you cannot efficiently paint a house with cherry bombs." The king started to laugh.
"It's good to know that you are getting settled well. But I have an assignment that I need your team to carry out." The king sobered immediately.
"What is it, your majesty?"
"We have discovered spies from Bastok in our new territory. The kingdom of Windurst has allotted us fifty miles all around BMC for our starting territory. We are allowed to conquer and expand. We found the spys the day after the break, and they were headed towards our fine castle."
"What is it that you would like my team to do?"
"I would like for your team to escort the spies back to Bastok, and to warn their king, King Fitzgerald, that, although it may be permitted in Windurst, BMC will not allow spies. Tell him that we will return them this time, but the next, they will be released to our sharp shooters." Rock nodded.
"Is there any specific way that you would like for us to travel?"
"Actually, I have called the rest of your team here. I have found some areas where tamable dragons are to reside. I would like for each of you to take one." The two waited in silence for three minutes until the doors burst open, and Min, Tabor, and Lykaios, the latter two still covered in paint, rushed in and bowed.
"We came as fast as we could," Min explained as she tried to catch her breath.
"Sorry about our appearances," the two boys apologized.
"It's no problem," the king said. "Now, do you see the large pits of elements whose powers you possess?" Behind him on either side were pits. One of fire, one of electricity, one filled with water, and the final one filled with plants.
"Yes, your majesty," they replied.
"I want each of you to go into the pit where your element resides. In it, there should be a dragon for each of you." Rock shrugged his shoulders and entered the fire pit.
"Wow." There, in the middle of the fire, was a red dragon. Rock walked up to it slowly, and put his hand out to touch it. Suddenly, a stream of fire burst out and connected Rock's hand and the dragon's neck. It solidified, and turned into a ruby leash. "What?" he asked as the fires fell down.
"Congratulations, you have a pet dragon now," the king joked as the three other pits emptied. Min had a yellow dragon on a golden leash, Tabor had a blue one on a sapphire leash, and Lyakios had a green one on an emerald leash. "We will give you and your dragons a stable here in the castle. Decide on a name for them before your mission tomorrow."
"Yes, your majesty," they replied as they lead their dragons to the stables.
"We should probably spend some time with our dragons, just to make sure that they trust us," Rock said.
"I trust you, Rockman," said a voice in Rock's head.
"Who said that?" he asked.
"So you heard it too?" Min asked.
"It was I, your dragon," the voice said again. "Dragons and their trainers have telepathic communications. Try speaking to me in your mind."
"Like this?" Rock asked telepathically.
"Very good. Judging by your friend's faces, they have achieved communication with their dragons. So, Rock, as I see you like to be called, have you decided on a name for me yet?" the dragon asked anxiously. Rock thought for a minute before answering.
"Orinda, it means fire serpent," he replied as they entered the stables. "Here we are guys." The stables were huge, each the size of a small house. They lead their dragons into specific stables, and bade their new found friends goodbye. "So, have you named yours yet?"
"Yep, mines a girl named Damini," Min said as they started out of the stables.
"Boy named Indra," Tabor said.
"Girl named Eranthe," Lykaios added.
"Mine's a boy named Orinda," Rock finished. They left the castle, and started back to their home. "Oh great, Shiro and Caitlin."
"Rockie! Oh I know that you didn't mean what you said the other day," Caitlin said as she started towards Rock. He took a step back, and the rest of his group took a few steps forward, so that Rock was in the back of the group.
"What do you want?" Min asked.
"For Rock to apologize," she replied.
"What does he have to apologize for? For telling the truth?" Tabor asked as Shiro cracked his knuckles. "Ooh, intimidating."
"That's the point," Shiro said, as he advanced on the group.
"Can you not count? It's two on four," Min teased.
"Wanna bet?" asked Maiju, who had appeared from behind them, Alger in tow. Rock and friends were surrounded. "Now, what did the king need?"
"He needed someone who he can trust to do something for him," Rock said as Team two got into fighting stances.
"Rock, what's wrong?" Orinda asked.
"Orinda? How can you, never mind. My team is surrounded by the other group of elites. They want to fight," he thought. "We may need backup."
"I'll get the rest of the dragons, and we'll come to your aid," Orinda said.
"Thanks," Rock thought. "You may want to stand back, Maiju."
"And why is that?" he asked, advancing. Suddenly, a thunderous roar broke through the semi silence of the afternoon. "And what is that!" The four dragons landed in front of their new owners.
"Damini!" Min exclaimed as she hugged her dragon.
"What is a Damini?" Caitlin asked.
"It's the name of her dragon," Tabor said.
"I take it that this is the reason that you four were called to the castle," Alger said.
"Correct, now beat it," Lykaios spat.
"Have fun with your high maintenance pets," Maiju said as he walked away. "Come on team."
"Thanks Orinda," Rock thought.
"That's what a dragon is supposed to do." The dragon seemed to smile. "We help our owners when they are in trouble. I see that you have had a bad experience with a dragon."
"Yeah," he replied. "Thanks again. Do we need to take you back to the stables?"
"No, we can go back by ourselves," Orinda assured him. "I will see you in the morning."
"You too," Rock said as the dragons flew back to their stables. "Come on, we've got to pack."
---
"So, you are the elites of Bastok," Blues said.
"Why didn't you just tell us instead of chasing us?" Roll asked. She had made it back to the house, and Forte ran out to attack while Blues stayed to protect her.
"Well, you didn't really give us a chance to. We said 'hey' and you took off running," Dan, one of the elites said. His friend John agreed.
"Sorry about that, but all we saw were two people following us for no apparent reason," Searchman defended. "What would you have done?"
"Probably the same thing," John said. "We only followed you to ask you if you know the elite Black Mage Lucio."
"Lucio?" they asked.
"Desiree said that he was also known as Rock," Dan replied. Roll's face lit up. "I take it she knows him."
"Yeah, we know him," Forte said. "Did you find him?"
"He's in BMC."
"He's the elite?" Roll asked.
"One of the elites," John corrected. "There are eight in total, and he's in a group of four." All of the sudden, a falcon came in through the window. Dan took the letter from its leg, and read it quickly.
"I'm sorry, but we need to leave," he said. "I hope to see you again."
"You too," Searchman said, escorting their guests to the door and bade them 'goodnight'. "That was interesting."
"At least we know where Rock is," Roll said excitedly.
"Oh goody," Forte sneered. "So, how long will he be staying there? One week, two? Elites are sent on high missions."
"He might come here, de gutsu," Gutsman said.
"Why would Bastok be visited by an elite Black Mage?" Blues asked.
"I don't know, but I have a feeling that we'll be seeing Rock sooner rather than later," Roll said, smiling.
---
"Thank you for bringing Netto home," Mrs. Hikari said to Meiru and Deako. "Would you like some cookies?"
"No thank you," Meiru replied. "We need to get home. I do, at least."
"Me too," Deako agreed.
"Well, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask," Mrs. Hikari replied.
"Thanks," the two said as they left the house. Mrs. Hikari walked back up the stairs and into her son's room. Netto was asleep and holding his PET tightly. Mrs. Hikari walked over, removed his headband, and tucked him in.
"Mama?" he asked, sleepily.
"Go to sleep honey," she replied. He shifted under the covers.
"Rock," he muttered as he fell back asleep. Mrs. Hikari smiled and kissed her son on the head as she walked back out of the room and down the stairs.
"I'm home," Dr. Hikari said as his wife made it to the bottom of the stairs. "And I have great news."
"What is it?" she asked.
"I have finished the transporter, and all preliminary tests have been completed. Netto and his friends will be able to go and find their navis by tomorrow."
"That's wonderful. Netto really misses Rock."
"I know, that's why I finished it as fast as I could. Now, what's for dinner?"
End Chapter