Welp! I'm back, guys! I am so sorry for the long hiatus… My life underwent a major overhaul and so much has happened within the year itself. In fact, there was one point where I thought I had to give up on writing fanfics, so I'm really glad that hurdle's been cleared. And now that I've settled down, I can finally resume my writing! Owing to scheduling conflicts, I can't guarantee that my updates will be as regular as before, but I will try my best to work around it. Thank you so much for your patience!

...

Lilli – For the rest of the game, begin everything you say with, "All hail King Hiryuu!"

"All hail King Hiryuu!" exclaimed Lilli. "This is going to be a mouthful."

Zeno's arms shot up enthusiastically. "All hail King Hiryuu!"

"You don't have to join in," snapped Yoon.

"Is this really a good idea? What if we are mistaken for rebels?" asked Kija, casting worried looks all around, as if someone was trying to eavesdrop on them from the shadows.

"Indeed," said Hak, with a significant look at Soo Won. "If His Majesty himself were to pass us by when Lilli utters those words, he might have all of us beheaded."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," assured Tae Jun. "His Majesty is right h– "

He gasped so suddenly, everyone stared at him.

"Oh?" said Hak wryly. "His Majesty is right h– ? Whatever do you mean, Your Highness? Do finish your sentence."

"I, uh…"

Tae Jun stuttered incomprehensibly. Lilli was frowning at him, as if to say, Now you've done it.

Hak continued to stare expectantly at the Prince. Yona had jerked her head to one side. The Dragons also looked puzzled.

"His Majesty is… is right-handed!" stammered Tae Jun at last.

Kija eyed him in exasperation. "And? What does that have to do with the dare?"

"Zeno is right-handed too!" announced Zeno, thrusting his hand in front of Kija's face so suddenly it made the White Dragon fall over on his back.

"ARGH! I didn't ask you!"

"All hail King Hiryuu! His Majesty isn't the kind who beheads people for playing a game anyway," said Lilli, brushing the matter off.

"I'm more worried about the soldiers," said Yoon apprehensively. "But like what Lilli said, it would be foolish for any of us to be beheaded for such a reason, especially in the presence of three high-standing nobles."

"Including a very high-standing one," chimed in Hak, narrowed eyes still fixed on Soo Won.

Soo Won smiled. "If anyone tries to behead us, I can assure you I will intervene."

"Our lives are in your hands, M'Lady," said Jae Ha, inclining his head graciously. "Come, Shin Ah. Give the respectable lady a bow, too."

He leaned forward and reached for the back of Shin Ah's head as if to push it down, but the Blue Dragon felt Jae Ha's fingers fasten on the string of his mask.

Shin Ah was ten feet in the air before Jae Ha could react.

"Whoa!" cried Tae Jun, ducking as the breeze from Shin Ah's flight ruffled his hair.

"Shin Ah, come back! I was just kidding!" laughed Jae Ha, when Shin Ah wrapped himself around a tree and refused to come down.

"Can he fly?" asked Soo Won, watching the Blue Dragon with fascination.

"No," said Yona with a shake of her head. "But Jae Ha can jump really well."

"Zeno too! Zeno too!" cried Zeno, bouncing up and down so wildly he almost ended up on the Princess's lap.

"Will you calm down already, you overzealous beast?" shouted Yoon.

"Zeno knows how to aim," laughed the Yellow Dragon, coasting to a stop. "Zeno would never hurt Miss."

"It's all right, Yoon. No harm done," consoled Yona.

"I'm almost tempted to change your spot," sighed Yoon. "Perhaps you should sit between me and the Prince."

"No!" yelped Zeno, grabbing Yona as if Yoon had just threatened to send her to the gallows.

Tae Jun's face lit up. "A wise choice, Yoon! Princess, why don't you come over here?"

"Oh?" Hak, who was two spots away from Tae Jun, leaned forward ominously. "And why does the Princess have to listen to a backstabbing Prince like you?"

"Me, a backstabber?" protested Tae Jun. "I risked my life healing the sick and wounded– "

"Two rights don't make one wrong, Your Nobleness."

"Don't start fighting, you two," Yona told them off. "Hak, didn't I say I already forgave Tae Jun for everything he's done?"

Tae Jun gave the Princess a look of pure gratitude. "Princess…"

Hak straightened back up, his face blacker than ever. Jae Ha jabbed him in the ribs.

"There now, Hak Huns. If it's any consolation, you still have a chance to gain Yona's lo– "

"Droopy Eyes, if it's any consolation, I suggest you remain silent before I slice off your tongue."

Tae Jun – What are your greatest strength and weakness?

Shin Ah returned, but he sat a little further back, as if afraid that Jae Ha would attempt to pull one on him again.

"His greatest strength would be throwing people off of cliffs," declared Hak, scowling at the Prince.

Tae Jun went scarlet. "What? That's not true!"

"And his weakness would be harrassing Princesses."

"Aren't you talking about yourself, Hak Huns?" grinned Jae Ha.

Hak rounded on him when Yona blurted, "Yes. But in Hak's case, he bullies everyone."

"Hang in there, Thunder Beast," said Yoon worriedly, clapping Hak on the back.

Jae Ha was in stitches. "Yona dear, you couldn't have said it better!"

With a yell, Hak flew at the Green Dragon.

"Get behind me, M'Lady!" shouted Kija, as he and M'Lady were seated right next to the tusslers. But next moment the White Dragon was pulled into the fight.

"Noooooo– !"

Looking unnerved, Taae Jun edged away from the melee. Yona gave a small sigh and turned to the Prince.

"Don't worry about them, Tae Jun. Go on – answer the question."

Tae Jun was startled. "You're not going to stop them, Princess?"

"Pay them no heed, Your Highness," Yoon told him, also exasperated. "You should be used to those beasts' antics by now."

By this time, Zeno had also hurled himself into the frail.

"Cannon ball!"

Shin Ah seemed alarmed by the growing pandemonium. He kept staring at them with his mouth open.

"Shin Ah, come join the party too!" called Jae Ha, laughing despite the fact that his clothes were torn and his face was covered in dirt.

"Come join us, Shin Ah!" Zeno beckoned to the Blue Dragon.

"You have nothing to do with this, Zeno," Hak told him in annoyance. Kija, who had been lying on the ground in defeat, sprang up furiously

"Neither was I, you uncouth beast! Look what you've done to my clothes!"

The White Dragon flashed him his ragged robes. Hak appraised them unconcernedly.

"I think it's an improvement."

As Kija's eyes shot flames, Tae Jun voiced out his answer to Yona and the others.

"My greatest strength would be courting Princesses, and my greatest weakness would be throwing people off of cliffs."

"Uh.. Isn't this the Thunder Beast's answer in flipped order?" demanded Yoon.

"All hail King Hiryuu! And how is courting Princesses a strength?" asked Lilli in confusion.

Soo Won gave a small laugh. "At least he's honest."

"All hail King Hiryuu!" exclaimed Zeno happily from twenty feet away.

When things finally settled down, Yoon decided it was safe to read out his slip.

Yoon – Do you have a crush on someone?

"No," said the young genius flatly. "Next!"

"I believe there's been a mistake, Yoon," said Jae Ha. "That question was definitely meant for H– "

Hak silenced him with a glare. Yoon had threatened not to mend their clothes if they fought any further.

"All hail King Hiryuu! You're still a little young to be having crushes, Yoon," Lilli told the genius in motherly tones, as Zeno echoed, "All hail King Hiryuu!" "Give it another ten years or so."

Jae Ha chortled as Yoon grew indignant. "Ten years? Just how old do you think I am?"

Lilli blinked. "All hail King Hiryuu! You're around twelve, aren't you?"

"All hail King Hiryuu!"

"I'm fifteen! And be quiet, you!" barked Yoon at Zeno. "Anyway, isn't twelve a little too old to wait another ten years for a crush?!"

"Precisely," nodded Jae Ha wisely. "In fact, Hak found his one true love when he was just a wee little la– "

Yoon slapped his hand over the Green Dragon's mouth. "Jae Ha, don't make me tear up the rest of your clothes."

Hak – If you had to spend an eternity with one person here, who would it be?

Yoon, who was about to remove his hand from Jae Ha's mouth, stopped in time. Whatever the Green Dragon had in mind to say came out in an unintelligible garble.

"The Princess," sighed Hak, as if he knew there was no escape.

"Of course," said Kija unexpectedly. "It is your duty as the Princess's guardian to serve her to the end of days."

"Yes." Hak gave the group a smug smile. "Well said, White Snake."

Lilli sighed wistfully. "All hail King Hiryuu! I wish I had a guardian with such unwavering loyalty."

"I'm yours for XXXXXXXXXX rin," Hak told her mildly.

Lilli's mouth fell open. "WHAT? I mean – all hail King Hiryuu! Not even His Majesty can afford that!"

"You avaricious traitor!" yelled Kija, his unevenly-coloured unibrow furrowed in his anger. "Is money all you can think about? Now that I recall, you tried to make off with my bribery money the first time we met! You really are an uncouth beast!"

Hak looked unconcerned. "Says the one who grew up well-fed and pampered his whole life."

"Princess!" Kija turned to face Yona, puffed up with rage. "You should cast aside this repulsive man and find yourself a new guardian!"

"Calm down, Kija!" said Yona reassuringly. "Hak is just joking. If he really wanted money that badly, he would never have followed me all this time."

"And they say that snakes are intelligent." Hak spread out his hands as if to say, What a pity.

"Jae Ha, stop Kija from dealing collateral damage," ordered Yoon, as the White Dragon stood up, claws extended.

"Ayeuffeufyeheh," said Jae Ha.

Yoon took his hand off his mouth. "What?"

"I said I will if you remove your hand," said the Green Dragon with a charming smile.

"Oh, all right!"

As Jae Ha restrained Kija, and Hak stared coolly off into space, Yona drew the Green Dragon's slip and read it out for him.

Jae Ha – Sing a duet with the person on your left.

"Oh look, Kija! It's our time to shine!" exclaimed Jae Ha, as the White Dragon struggled to break free. "Pick a song! I'll accompany it with some flute music!"

"Jae Ha, you're supposed to sing too," pointed out Yoon.

Kija gave up on attacking Hak and sat back down, looking irate. Jae Ha thumped him on the back.

"Good man! Or should I say – good Dragon!"

"So White Snake and Droopy Eyes will be singing this time?" grinned Hak. "I can't wait. Let's see how much better White Snake does compared to someone whose singing is 'fitting for a funeral'."

It turned out that the only song Kija and Jae Ha both knew was the one Yoon had sung, so they went with it.

"Long, long ago, when the big red sun was gobbled up, and the world was stained black… "

But no sooner had they finished the first line than Jae Ha choked on laughter.

"What's wrong?" demanded Kija, startled.

"Sorry," gasped Jae Ha. "Your singing reminded me of the first time Yona tried playing the erhu…"

As Kija stared at him blankly, Hak couldn't suppress his laugh either.

Kija scowled at the Thunder Beast. Yona felt sorry for him.

"Don't worry about it, Kija. I think your voice is beautiful."

Hak wiped the tears from his eyes. He shook his head and sighed piteously. "Look what you did, White Snake. You made the Princess tell her first blatant lie."

"ARGH!" Kija flew at Hak like a madman.

"Kija, that's enough! It's your turn now," shouted Yoon over the noise that followed.

Kija – If you could bring someone back to life who would it be?

Kija stiffened. So did Jae Ha.

Uh oh. We've touched on a sensitive subject…

"If I could bring someone back to life…" said Kija. He paused, looking embarrassed. "I…I would bring back the Princess's mother."

Jae Ha blinked. That was unexpected. He thought Kija would have mentioned his father.

Yona was touched. "Thank you, Kija," she said with a bright smile.

Jae Ha thumped Kija on the back. "You've earned my respect, Kija."

"Zeno too!" cried Zeno, as Shin Ah nodded.

"Me too," said Hak solemnly. "I'm sorry for provoking you, White Snake. I know the truth can hurt sometimes."

Kija flew at him again.

Yoon exhaled. Will they never stop?

Soo Won – Embrace anyone as tightly as you can for thirty seconds.

"No," said Hak loudly. All eyes turned to him. The Thunder Beast was scowling at Soo Won.

Soo Won smiled warmly. "What's wrong, Hak? Were you perhaps expecting me to hug you?"

"Hak, you big pervert! As if hugging the adorable Princess wasn't enough," reprimanded Jae Ha.

Yona frowned. "Hak, don't be disrespectful towards M'Lady. If you want to hug girls, do it when you visit the next red-light district."

Jae Ha shook with laughter. Hak kept himself from punching the Green Dragon's teeth in.

"The Princess is off-limits," he told Soo Won directly.

Soo Won laughed good-naturedly. "How protective of you. Don't worry, Hak. I'll save Yona for her special someone."

Hak blanched as Yona asked puzzledly, "'Special someone'?"

"He means your future husband," said Yoon without preamble.

Kija blushed. "F-Future husband? The Princess's?"

For some reason, Yona found herself staring at Hak. My future husband…? I've never really thought about it before…

Her thoughts were scattered when Soo Won turned to Tae Jun.

"Noble Tae Jun, I'm afraid I must subject you to one of my selfish whims."

"Huh?" said Tae Jun, but Soo Won was already embracing him.

Lilli's mouth dropped open. Jae Ha looked fascinated.

"Using one's authority to fulfil immoral desires, huh?" he said approvingly. "That's my kind of style."

"Not now, Droopy Eyes," said Hak wearily.

Tae Jun had turned pale, and he remained so after Soo Won released him.

"Are you OK, Tae Jun?" asked Yona with some concern. "You look like you're in shock."

"He was just embraced by a beautiful dame, Yona dear," Jae Ha told her affably. "It's a normal side effect. If you don't believe me, you can give Hak a loving embra– "

"How about I do it with you?" growled Hak, wrapping his arm around Jae Ha's neck and squeezing with all his might.

"Thunder Beast, you're killing him," said Yoon warily, as Jae Ha steadily turned purple.

Yona – Say "karate chop" at the end of your sentence for one round

Yona grinned. "This sounds fun! Karate chop!"

"Pork chops!" shouted Zeno brightly.

"That was unnecessary," snapped Yoon.

Hak snorted. "You're just like a kid, Princess."

Yona was abashed. "No, I'm not! Karate chop!"

Hak laughed even harder. Tae Jun was looking at the Princess with mesmerised eyes.

Oh, Princess! I wish I could hold you…

"All hail King Hiryuu! Would you cut that out? It's creepy," Lilli informed Tae Jun.

Tae Jun was snapped awake. "H-Huh? My apologies…"

Yona continued to pout. Jae Ha said with a grin, "Yona dear, if you want to show Hak you're not a kid, there are a few simple ways to remedy the situation."

Hak stopped laughing at once. Yona asked eagerly, "Really? What should I do?"

"Not a word, Droopy Eyes," growled Hak.

Jae Ha tossed back his hair easily. "Well, if you're ever looking to take a bath, you could always ask Hak to join- "

Whoosh! Jae Ha dodged the Thunder Beast's spear effortlessly.

Yoon sighed. "Yona, whatever advice that Jae Ha offers you from now on, don't accept it."

"Huh?" Yona looked like she didn't know what the young genius meant.