Ranger24: Last chapter of this story before the start of lord of the rings.
Chapter 14: Dragon rider 101.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
When Naruto awoke the weight of all that had happened in the past few days came crashing down on him. He cried silent tears cursing Ranger. He sat up and glanced about. Ranger was making breakfast around a small fire. He looked up from what he was doing and smiled.
Ranger: Good morning.
Naruto grunted a reply then sat cross legged on the ground with his hands under his armpit's for warmth. After a quick breakfast Naruto set the hides on the ground. Ranger frowned at him.
Ranger: What are you going to do with those? We can't carry them with us.
Naruto: I'm going to make a saddle for Cortana.
Ranger noodded.
Ranger: Well riders usually used two types of saddles. The first was molded like a horses saddle but those take tools and time that we don't have. The second was light and used when speed and flexibility were needed. Really they were just an extra layer of padding between the rider and dragon so they weren't nearly as comfortable.
Naruto: Do you know what they looked like?
Ranger: Better I can make one.
Naruto: Then please do.
Ranger noodded and walked over to the hides.
Ranger: Alright but pay attention. You may have to do this on your own one day.
With Cortana's permission Ranger took some measurements of her chest and neck. Then he cut several strips from the hide and began punching some holes. While he worked Naruto went about repairing his pack and reorganizing their supplies.
Near dark Ranger finnaly finished. Naruto admired the handy work. What had once been two large ox hides was now a saddle made entirely of leather. It fit well in between Cortana's neck hollow. It tide of around her legs and chest with adjustable straps so it would fit her for the next few years. In the place of stirups Ranger had made several leather loops meant to hold Naruto's legs in place.
Naruto: You do a good job.
Ranger smiled.
Ranger: One tries his best.
Cortana: Aren't you going to try it out?
Naruto: Maybe tomorrow its to dark right now.
In truth Naruto wasn't sure he wanted to ride Cortana again after his last attempt. As Naruto began to make dinner Ranger pulled out a small leather bound book along with a pen. He flicked through a couple of pages till he was about one third through it then started writing. The book looked rather old and the leather was scuffed in several places. When he looked up from what he was doing he spoke in a matter of fact style.
Ranger: We're going to need horses.
Naruto: Maybe you do but I've got Cortana.
Ranger sighed.
Ranger: There isn't a horse alive that can match a flying dragon. But we need horses since Cortana can't carry us both.
Naruto groaned.
Naruto: But that'll make it even harder to catch the Razac! If thats even possible with their lead.
Ranger: Thats the price of me having to come with you.
Naruto sighed.
Naruto: Fine we'll get horses but you have to buy them. I don't have any money and I don't want to steal again.
Ranger smirked.
Ranger: That depends on your point of view.
He threw some dirt on the fire putting it out.
Ranger: It's late and my bones ache.
Naruto: Alright we'll leave tomorrow.
With that they all went to sleep.
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The next day the set out just after breakfast. Naruto had felt safe inside the bramble but once they left the woods caution began to creep back into his movements. As they passed the ruined farm Naruto gave it a sorrowfull look.
Naruto (Thinking): I will see this place again. This cannot, will not be a permanent exhile.
When they reached the road they started going south towards therinsford. Cortana took off into the air to hide. Even though it was unlikely they would meet another traveler she still had to hide herself just in case.
Since it was unlikely that the Razac had brooken from the road they stuck to it. While they walked Naruto decided it was time to ask some more questions.
Naruto: The other night you said you knew something about dragons and their abilites.
Ranger laughed.
Ranger: Its a mere fraction of what I would like to know. Dragons have always been mysterious. You can't truly understand this rather complexs subject without understanding the foundation on which it stands. I shall start with the life cycle of a dragon and if that dosen't tire you out we'll move onto another topic.
Naruto: Umm... What?
Ranger sighed.
Ranger: Just pay attention.
Ranger described how dragons mate and what it took for their eggs to hatch.
Ranger: You see when a dragon lays an egg the dragon inside is already to hatch but it waits, sometimes for years until the right cirumstances. When dragons were in the wild this was normaly dictated by the available food resources. But once the riders were formed every year the dragons would donate an egg or two to the riders. Then the egg would wait until the person destined to be its rider came into contact with it. How the dragons inside knew this is unknown.
Naruto: So Cortana might not have hatched for me?
Ranger: That would have been the case if she hadn't liked you.
Naruto felt honored that out of all of the people in the world Cortana had chosen him to be her rider. Ranger continued on with his lecture. Dragons normally could mate at about six months of age which was when they could breath fire. There were certian was to take care of their scales and claws. Some plants could heal them while others would make them sick. One night came they stopped for the day. Cortana rejoined them on the ground.
Naruto: Did you have time to hunt?
Cortana snorted.
Cortana: Trust me, if the two of you were any slower I could have gone across the ocean and come back in the time it took you to just to get half way to this town.
Naruto: You don't have to be so rude you know. Besides we'll go faster when we have horses.
Cortana: Maybe. But will it be enough to catch the Razac? They have a lead of several days now and they probably bought horses of their own.
Naruto was a little disturbed by this. After dinner they sat around the fire. Naruto was going over everything he had learned in his head. Ranger meanwhile was widdling to long sticks.
(AN: To fans of Naruto how don't like reading about him getting his butt kicked please skip this next part and stop reading this chapter now!)
Suddenly Ranger threw one of the sticks at Naruto who caught it out of instinct. Ranger rose to his feet griping the other stick tightly.
Ranger: Defend yourself.
Naruto looked at the stick and saw that it was shaped in the crude likeness of a sword. Ranger wanted to fight him? What chance did the old man have?
Naruto (Thinking): Alright I'll play his game, but if he thinks he can beat me then hes in for a suprise.
Naruto stood up. The two of them squared of sticks ready. Naruto lunged forward took a swing at Ranger!
Smack.
Ranger blocked the blow with ease. Suprised, Naruto took a step back and swung again but Ranger blocked him again! Then as he took a swing at Ranger's head he changed direction at the last second and tried to hit him on the side. Ranger's stick blocked him again.
Ranger: Improvisation! Good!
Then Naruto felt Ranger's stick smack him really hard on the back of the head and he hit the ground out cold, stars flashing in his eyes.
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A splash of cold water knocked Naruto back to focus. He spluttered to see Ranger holding a bucket of snow water. Naruto's head hurt like hell. He felt the back of his head and felt some dried blood. He glared at Ranger.
Naruto: You didn't have to do that!
Ranger narrowed his eyes looking indignant.
Ranger: Why? A real enemy wouldn't soften his blows and neither will I. Should a pander to your incompetance so you'll feel better?
Naruto: For once I wouldn;t mind being thought lesser of.
Ranger tossed Naruto his stick and picked his own up.
Ranger: Now. Defend yourself!
Naruto looked at the stick and shook his head.
Naruto: Forget it I've had enough.
He turned around to go to bed only to fell a hard smack on his right shoulder. Naruto whirled around to see Ranger still in his combat stance.
Ranger: Never, and I mean never! Turn your back on an enemy. Kid this is ass kick 101, its going to hurt. Now defend yourself!
Naruto groaned. The next hour was spent with him trying in vain to hit Ranger while the latter was constantly giving him a good smack on the arm or chest. Mid way through Ranger taught him how to do a certain move. After that there fight went on for another half hour before Ranger finnaly set his stick down.
Ranger: Okay, we're done for the night.
Naruto sat back against Cortana's scales rubbing his numarous brusies. Ranger had not been gentle with his stick. He was amazed he hadn't brooken any bones from the hammering he had taken. Cortana made a strange rumbling sound and barred her teeth.
Naruto: Whats wrong with you?
Cortana: Nothing its just funny watching you get your ass kicked by the old guy.
She made the sound again and Naruto realized she was laughing at him. Turning red he lay down on his bed roll trying to go to sleep. Ranger pulled out the little leather book again and wrote some more before he too went to sleep.
Ranger24: Ah nothing like kicking some ass before bed. Please don't hate me for giving Naruto an ass whuppin but its part of the story. And it was kind of fun. Remember this week end is none stop LOTR!
Again please don't hate me for beating up Naruto, every now and again the main character needs a good beating. In Kingdom-Hearts-Nintendo's Kingdom hearts/RvB cross over Sora was severly beaten by the blues. And in a side journey Nintendo Sora got beaten up by the blues.
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