"What if it comes back?"

Gildar looked across the table at the blonde huntress. He glanced at his cup of coffee before picking it up. "Then we better be ready."

Kookaburra was resting his head on his hand as he stared at his cereal. He yawned. "But what if it doesn't?"

"We still should be ready," Knightriss stated without looking at him.

"Dragons don't give up so easily," Crocness explained. "Once that thing's ready, it'll come right back for the crown."

"Why must dragons love shiny things?" Kook whined, rubbing his face.

Ballista shot him a scornful look. "Toughen up, Kook."

Thorne brutally stabbed one of his sausages. "Then do us a favor and shut up."

Crocness glanced at Thorne. He was in a worse mood than usual.

Kookaburra sat up and dropped his hands on the table. "Well, excuse me for only getting seven hours of sleep for the past two days!"

Shaiden took a quick glance at Kook. His eyes were red, his green hair was more messy than wind-blown, and his feathers seemed to droop along with the rest of his body.

Knightriss took a deep breath, then looked over at the inventor. "Tinkor, my boy, I think we're gonna need sharper weapons."

Tinkor grinned. "Okay!"

"I'll need you to get working on them as soon as possible, my dear."

The inventor nodded, then quickly took a few more bites of his breakfast.

The barbarian sitting next to him turned to look at his inventive friend. "Tinkor, we're gonna need more exploding splat balls."

Tinkor nodded rapidly. "Yes! Yes! Haha!"

Ballista glanced at him. "And I think we need a few bows and arrows."

The inventor started trembling with excitement as all sorts of ideas filled his head. "Exploding arrows! Flaming arrows! Poisonous arrows!"

Knightriss nodded. "Whatever it takes to defeat this dragon."

"I'll get started right now!" Tinkor declared, standing up. Without another word, he dashed off to the Techni-Cave.

Gildar wiped his face with his napkin, then stood up. "I'm gonna go work out. The next time that monster faces me, I'm gonna make sure it gets a proper gunshow."

Crocness watched the viking as he quietly left the hall. After he had left, she stood up. "I'll go gather some of my relatives."

No sooner had she left the room, Kook rubbed his eyes, then pushed himself back from the table. "I need some rest. I'll be in me room."

Slowly, one by one, the Defenders left the table to prepare the castle and themselves for the dragon's next arrival. The last ones at the table were Shaiden and Thorne. The alchemist's sister glanced back at her sheathed weapon.

Guess I better go sharpen my Splatana...and my skills.

The ninja stood up, then began to walk out of the dining hall. She suddenly stopped in the middle of the room, then turned around. Her brother was glaring down at his forearm.

"Thorne, are you okay?"

The alchemist snapped his head up and covered his arm. "I'm fine!"

Shaiden blinked. After a moment, she shook her head, then turned and continued to walk out of the hall.

"Someone's a bit moody, today," she muttered under her breath.

A/N: Guest that made that suggestion in the review box? Could you explain a little more on what you meant by that? And if I don't do what you asked, is there anything else you'd like to see? I could even do a one-shot for you if you like.