Disclaimer: Zatch Bell is copyrighted to Makoto Raiku (characters, series, and concepts). The only things I own that are currently revealed in the story are E, Nylon, Shine, Angelica Tsukoro, Curtis Herrakoro, Gretchen, Harumi Kisamaru. Izo Uramori, Myriam Schwazden, Mystrael, Metallix, Professor Linda, Orion, Jade, Shine, Zale Schwazden, Thoria, Cassandra, Vini, Amanda, Phoebe, and Samantha.
Chapter 13: Something New II
"In a matter of minutes, I finally can ditch this stupid cloak." Shine said grumbly as he tugged irritably at the cloak's hem. The two were close to exiting city limits where they would continue their journey.
"So, hunting Mamodo, huh?" Zale said for confirmation.
"That's right, and the loser will disappear." Shine said bloodthirstily, raring to eliminate Mamodo, "That will make the day come closer to when I become King!"
When Shine said that, the request Lori gave him immediately came back to his mind. As such, the Swedish book owner asked, "Shine…I must ask; why are you so obsessed with becoming King?"
"I never really told you, haven't I?" Shine snickered, "You never seemed to care until now; you never really questioned my motives."
"Just answer the question." Zale snapped back in his usual toneless manner.
Shine explained, "Well, my desire to be King simply came from the me one thousand years ago. I wanted to become a strong, powerful King…in order to eliminate the source of my bitterness." The anthropomorphic porcupine clenched his fists at this point as he continued, "But when Goren and my past bookkeeper screwed me out of that, my anger steadily increased as that lonesome millennium passed by. Now, I have no idea how the Mamodo World is in the present…but I want to make sure, and that's by becoming King."
That's right; Zale and Shine empathized with each other but they each initially shared strong bitterness for something that changed them. That's how Zale was able to optically communicate with Shine when they first met. "And that source of your bitterness is…?" Zale asked.
"Something awfully similar to yours," Shine answered, growling, "My clan."
After revealing that vital piece of info, the sounds of sirens blaring suddenly filled the area. Shine and Zale, among the rest of the passersby, immediately stopped walking and saw multiple police vehicles zooming by. "Well this is out of the ordinary." Zale commented, crossing his arms. "Definitely. Something's wrong." Shine said forebodingly. After all, there were absolutely no instances of criminal activity in the city—well apparently not until now.
Just then, a paddy wagon rounded the corner, and Shine saw this as an opportunity to seek answers. "Stay here, Zale." he ordered as he sprung into action. Zale already knew what was about to happen and hoped that no one else but him was going to see it.
The driver was in the middle of finishing to a call on his radio, "10-4. Copy that. I'm on my—WHAT THE?" The police van was inexplicably and suddenly stopped. He couldn't understand why that was so. Shutting off the police van, he quickly went to investigate the cause. However, the moment he jumped out of the driver seat, he was approached by Shine, "Sir, I couldn't help but notice the strange amount of police cars rushing through here. What's going on?"
Although the police officer found it odd that a cloaked "child" had approached him, he answered regardless, "There is a fiasco going down on downtown. Many people and civilians were suddenly kidnapped, and a botanical citadel has stopped forces from advancing to them. The ones responsible are demanding every ounce of jewelry and valuables from jewelry and designer stores in the city on the outskirts."
Shine drunk in the explanation provided by the police officer. He then nodded as he ran off, "Thanks!" With that done, the police offer went to see what caused his paddy wagon to abruptly stop. "Nosy kids-WHAT THE HELL!" He paled dramatically when he saw the back half of the police van ripped clean off.
Zale and Shine had long left that scene and were rushing to downtown Mochinoki City. "So those were the Mamodo I was sensing previously," Shine pointed out, "They were weak, but to think they are causing this big of a commotion."
Suddenly, up ahead, they saw a crowd of people. They were all looking at something in a display window. "What are they doing?" Shine questioned as he and Zale stopped in the back of the group. They were all watching a breaking news report on multiple TVs on a display. It was predictably covering the details of the occurrence.
"Suddenly, within Mochinoki City's downtown area, a ring of thorns and vines cut off an area. Witnesses described that three strange female creatures with three humans with odd books were the cause of that. Additionally, a number of innocent people are being held for ransom. The criminal group of females is demanding all priceless goods in the city in exchange for their freedom."
As the newscaster explained the situation, a camera crew located in a helicopter above designated area provided footage of the situation. Indeed, a ring-shaped citadel of thorns and vines was located in the downtown area. Even with the powerful camera on full zoom, only silhouettes of people could be seen within it.
"Tch. Only weak Mamodo go through such trouble for something they want." Shine sneered, "Come on, Zale, we're going to eliminate them." Zale unquestioningly followed, "And the captives?"
"If they get caught in the crossfire, it's their fault."
Shine and Zale arrived at the site of the disturbance, particularly the part where the most police officer, new reporters, and other officials and force amassed themselves. A large door-like object was connected the citadel with a large rose imprinted on the face of it.
"I swear it's pathetic how they're handling the situation." Zale affronted, pulling out the blizzard blue spellbook from inside his vest. "Glad to know we think alike." Shine snickered as he and his bookkeeper continued to approach, ignoring the calls the police officers gave to them.
However, one police commander was ballsy enough to actually get in their way. "Hey, hey, this is sealed-off territory," the dark-skinned higher-up said gruffly, "Turn back around."
"Zale, can I take off this ridiculous cloak?" Shine asked his bookkeeper, blatantly ignoring the police commander. "Sure. I don't care whatsoever." Zale replied, no longer caring if Shine's true identity was revealed to the public, given the circumstances. "Hey! Don't ignore—" The police commander was abruptly silenced as Shine removed his cloak and tossed to his face. The surrounding people gasped at the true appearance of the Millennium Mamodo.
Zale walked past the flustered police commander as he demanded, "Don't get in the way if you know what's good for you. Leave this to us." The blizzard blue spellbook began to glow as Shine positioned himself in front of the door.
Meanwhile, inside the botanical stronghold, three teams of women and female Mamodo were vainly perched on thrones of overly beautiful flowers.
"Just think, girls, in a matter of minutes, we'll be rich beyond our wildest dreams!" A blonde human by the name of Cassandra gushed. Her Mamodo, whose name was Thoria, wore a strapless, leafy dress with denim, Capri pants and boots.
"And all it took was our three charitable little Mamodo." A redhead by the name of Amanda squealed as she hugged her Mamodo. The Mamodo, whose was named Vini, reciprocated the hug. She wore a high-necked, flowery halter dress with denim, Capri pants and boots.
"Underprivileged is a no-no in our book." A brunette named Samantha stated, smirking. Her Mamodo, Phoebe, was also smirking. She was wearing a colorful, long sleeved dress with rosebuds adorning it, denim Capri pants, and boots.
Behind their thrones were the captive people, all tied by vines and against the wall. Among those held for ransom were Lori and her parents. "To think, plants were supposed to be a beautiful part of nature." Lori's mother said woefully. "Don't worry, we'll get out of here…somehow." Lori's father consoled his family. Lori stayed quiet as he looked at the ground. She was praying that another team like Zatch and Kiyo would come save them all and end this.
"Diamonruk!"
Everything conversation and thought stopped once the disturbance to atmosphere made its presence. The door to the inner sanctum of the citadel was suddenly slashed into green bits. In its place was Zale and Shine, the latter's right arm transformed into a large diamond blade.
"Zale! Shine!" Lori exclaimed in an overjoyed manner. Many of the people around her were equally thrilled to see their apparent saviors, even if they were another human-freak team like their captors.
Speaking of captors, all six ladies frowned sourly at the sight of an unwanted guest. "Who invited you?" Thoria sharply asked. "Ourselves." Zale and Shine responded calmly, causing the sextet to grit their teeth in anger. The phthalo green spellbook in Amanda's hands glowed as she said, "Then let us kindly show you the door. Juron!" Vini held out her glowing hand and summoned a large vine behind Zale and Shine. However, the minute it came, it was sliced in half. Vini gasped, "What the?"
"How unobservant." Zale affronted tonelessly, "I never stopped casting my Diamonruk spell." Sensing this opposition was going to be a challenge, Thoria, Vini, and Phoebe all jumped down from their thrones and onto the ground. At this point, the glow temporarily disappeared from the blizzard blue spellbook and Shine's arm reverted to normal.
"Shine, I'm going to free those people. You handle these girls." Zale informed as he starting walking off to the side. "Good. I don't need you to take these weaklings on." Shine stated, crossing his arms. Reacting instantly, Vini darted for the apathetic Zale, "Don't think lightly of us!"
Out of nowhere, Shine appeared in her way, "Back off!" He roared as he raised his leg and kicked Vini back over to her allies. "Gee. If that's how you treat a lady, I'd hate to see your girlfriend." Phoebe remarked in an unimpressed tone. "Don't have one. Quit your babbling and fight." Shine demanded.
"Gigano Doruthorsen!" Cassandra recited the spell from the glowing celadon spellbook. Thoria extended both of her hands and spontaneously a large, spiky drill of thorns. Shine simply held up his hand and grabbed the drill, its spinning cycle stopping instantly. Then, the drill started spinning in reverse, and since Thoria was unfortunately connected to the other side by her arms, she started spinning along with it.
"Oh my-Thoria!" Cassandra exclaimed as he canceled the spell. Thoria fell to the ground dizzily, eyes replaced by swirls. "I got your back, Cassy." Amanda said as her phthalo green spellbook glowed, "Jurondo!" Vini's eyes glowed green as she summoned multiple vines from underneath Shine and they started wrapping around his body like a cocoon. "Got him." Vini declared, grinning.
A moment afterward, the sounds of something stabbing into the vines was heard. Then, they were forcibly ripped apart. Shine landed back on the ground and picked residual vines out of his spines. "Next." He requested in a bored manner. Vini and her bookkeeper Amanda felt one of their veins pop in their foreheads.
Meanwhile, as Shine distracted the girls, Zale managed his way out to the captives and assisted the first person he recognized. "Zale, I'm so glad you decided to stay in town a little longer." Lori said appreciatively as the Swedish male kneeled beside.
"Yeah, well, that's how things can be." Zale replied nonchalantly as he set the spellbook down. Automatically, a small tantō slipped out of right sleeve and into his hand. "Now hold still, I have to cut off these vines one-by-one. I'll do the rest of you immediately afterward. When you're free, you have two choices—leave quietly or help free the others. Either way, you're doing me good." He instructed, his voice loud enough for most the people around to hear. Lori smiled as she adjusted herself so that Zale could begin cutting the vines.
"Ganzu Thorsen!"
"Ferozuga!"
"Jurusu!"
Shine swiftly ran around, dodging the barrage of thorns (Ganzu Thorsen), pink laser beams from a roses (Ferozuga), and glowing energy vines uprooting from the ground (Jurusu). "It's about time you ladies got serious for a change." Shine commented as he jumped over another energy vine. "It's maddening that you haven't used a spell yet." Samantha said. "Because you're not worthy." Shine replied.
"We'll show you worthy!" Cassandra exclaimed and then recited the next spell, "Baagasu Thorsen!" Thoria suddenly discharged multiple sharp thorny projectiles at Shine. "Try dodging those, sweetheart." Thoria said, grinning a little.
Zale was in the middle of cutting the vines of another patron when he suddenly sensed something. "….One second." He said before adjusting his body so that his hand was flat against the blizzard blue spellbook, "Diamzu Shield." Against Shine's will, a dark blue, diamond hexagram formed in front of him. The shield blocked against Baagasu Thorsen rather easily. "Well, at least we got him using spells now." Phoebe said proudly.
Acting as if nothing happened, Zale resumed freeing the person. Lori, who was watching him as she freed another, could look at him in a mystified way, "Without looking or seeming to care, Zale knew exactly what spell to cast for Shine…Those two have that powerful of bond to understand and work with each other at that level?"
"Zale!" Shine shouted in aggravation, "Didn't I tell you I didn't need you for this?"
"Keep up the tough guy act if you want," Zale retorted, "But I'll step in whenever I feel necessary." As Shine growled audibly, Lori sweat-dropped; maybe the two weren't in synch as they implied.
"It seems we're attacking the wrong guy." Samantha spoke insightfully. In a blink of an eye, Thoria was already charging for Zale, "So it seems! Get the bookkeeper before he frees everyone!" She shouted. "Thorouk!" Cassandra recited the spell, thinking they got them now. This spell created thorny claws and spikes around Thoria's arms. But before she actually got a chance to use them, she felt an unbearable tug.
"This is what you get for turning your back on me." Thoria was making hoarse sounds of pain as Shine, with a fistful of her green hair, pulled at it mercilessly while keeping his foot at the base her spine. "OW OW OW OW OW! THAT HURTS!" Thoria screamed in distress, flailing her arms immaturely and unable to help herself. "Oh my god, he's pulling her hair!" Cassandra stressed out, immediately cancelling the spell. Thoria's companions were also on the verge of hysterics, demanding Shine to let go with no avail.
Meanwhile, everyone else—and the captives—stared blankly at the scene. Thankfully for Zale, it did exactly was he wanted to do: provide a distraction as he quickly freed the remaining captives (he was also glad the ones already freed stayed to help him). "Come on, let's get you guys of here!" Zale shouted. "About time." Shine said as he aggressively threw Thoria, by her hair, back to her comrades.
"What? No!" Amanda cried out, landing on the ground after jumping off her throne, "Don't let them! We need them for the ransom!" Cassandra and Samantha did the same as the former replied, "I'll tie them back down! Juronudo!"
"Go Diamonruk."
As many vines erupted from the ground around the group of captives, Shine assumed his feral, diamond transformative state. With increased speed and power, the Go Diamonruk-induced Mamodo was able to easily slice through the vines. "Keep moving! I'm getting tired of protecting you people!" Shine roared commandingly in the midst of his actions.
Heeding his words, the captives were eventually escorted out of the citadel and through the open entrance. "What? NO!" Thoria, Cassandra, Vini, and Amanda exclaimed in disbelief and defeat. Out goes their captives and, thusly, their money and jewels.
Zale made sure each and every person was taken out of the battlefield. Fate being an odd thing, Lori and her family was the very last three to be checked on. "Zale, are you going to be okay?" Lori asked concernedly. "Of course." Zale replied as he started walking forward, back to the battle itself, "You need to get you and your parents out of here. I'll end this quickly."
"Come on, Lori, let him handle…whatever's happening." Lori's father stated as he directed his wife and daughter to where the police were. Lori's mother was willing but Lori herself was somewhat hesitant. Eventually, she reluctantly decided to go.
"Now, no more intrusions." Zale announced, with the smallest hints of relief, as he cancelled the Go Diamonruk spell. "Finally." Shine stated as he was reverted back to his normal self. "Why you…" Amanda sneered, gritting her teeth. "Now how are we supposed to provide for ourselves?" Samantha said woefully, but her and her Mamodo were the calmest of the group.
"Holding people for ransom and demanding money isn't the way." Zale responded. "You, you three Mamodo, should be ashamed for assisting them in that." Shine growled ferociously, making all three of the female Mamodo flinched uneasily.
"Like you will ever understand." Samantha continued abrasively, "Do you know what it's like for us three…to have your father step out of your lives and force your mother with him?" Zale raised a curious eyebrow; apparently there was a reason for their criminal doings. However, neither he nor Shine was there to make friends or listen to sob stories, and they made that obvious with their remark: "Never have, never will; can we skip all the bullshit?"
"Ooh, we'll show you." Samantha said irefully as she turned pages in her Persian pink spellbook, "My Mamodo has a particularly effective spell for males like you." Zale and Shine raised an eyebrow and simply waited to see what this technique was. The Persian pink spellbook glowed as the rosebuds on Phoebe's outfit did the same, "Modiero Ferodon."
Slamming her hands on the ground, three giant roses rose from the ground at parts of the battlefield. The core of these flowers then released a sparkling red gas. Within seconds, the whole battlefield was blanketed with this red gas.
And Shine and Zale immediately noticed the effects of this Modiero Ferodon. At the first inhale of the rich, fragrant smell, their vision went blurry and they felt dizzy. "Wh-What the…?" Zale's voice strained to speak as his free hand held his head; he then dropped to his knees. "Sh-Shit…I'm losing motor coordination…" Shine growled in an equally strained voice, finding it a battle to stay on his feet.
The vindictive and triumphant laughter of the sextet echoed through the gas as they surround Zale and Shine in a triangular formation. "Scary, huh?" Samantha said, smirking, "Modiero Ferodon is for naughty and disrespectful boys like you two. Once you inhale the scent, your senses will act up. In other words, we can watch you two struggle as entertainment or finish in your pathetically weak state."
As the girls chortled once more, they failed to realize they had said the magic word. "Did you just…call us weak?" The males said in icily calm voice. The girls instantly stopped laughing. Even they could recognize when something sounded off. "Y-Yeah, what about it?" Phoebe responded.
"We hate weakness…weakness is EVIL!" Zale and Shine said in rage. The sextet of females paled instantly as they saw that the two were seething with anger, manifested as malignant auras of dark purple and dark red. "You should've kept…your damn mouth shut," Shine rasped as he mustered enough power his body could in this accursed gas, "I will not…allow weaklings like you people look down on me! I already accepted one recent defeat, but for the better. Something like that will never again for as long as I battle!"
Zale grinned as he said in agreement, "You're right, Shine…the battle against Zatch Bell, Kiyo Takamine, Angelica Tsukoro, and E…getting beat by them is only allowable mistake we'll make…because we learned from that experience, and we have already grown stronger!" Despite the gaseous ailment around them, Zale and Shine stayed on their feet defiantly.
"Bah! You guys are getting on my nerves!" Vini said as he held out her hands, "Thoria! Phoebe! Let's finish these guys off with our most powerful spells!" The two nodded and also extended their hands as all three spellbook began glowing radiantly.
"Well, we've gotten this far…now what?" Zale asked his partner. After all, due to the gas, his keen and effective eyesight was on the fritz. He couldn't anything but blurs in his field of vision, and his other senses were acting up as well. "H-How should I know?" Shine responded, "You're the smart one…"
"All of three of them are around you in a triangle. You're in the middle."
Shine's and Zale's eyes widened in shock. They did not have to see or turn around to know who the nearby voice of the person belonged to. "Lori?" Zale said in disbelief. "Are you crazy? What are you doing here?" Shine questioned. Definitely, Lori was the one assisting them and she was right between the two males. "I got concerned when this red mist appeared," she answered, "I guess…I just jumped in recklessly."
"How are you…not affected by it?" Zale questioned.
"That I don't know." Lori answered honestly.
"Whatever!" Shine asserted rudely, "Listen, Lori. Point out the directions where these harpies are so I can blast them back to Hell. We're gonna use you from until this gas is gone." Not all affected by Shine's assertiveness, Lori responded smilingly, "Sure! I'd be glad to help! After all, if Zatch and Kiyo were able to help you two, I feel obligated to help as well!"
"Just how far has your influence spread, Zatch Bell and Kiyo Takamine?" (Zale)
"Companions, huh? Hmm…" (Shine)
"Thirusu Raja Jigano." Cassandra, Amanda, and Samantha called out in unison. The hands of Thoria, Vini, and Phoebe glowed as they simultaneously released giant, explosive flower buds. "It's coming from all around us!" Lori informed the two males.
"Ganjasu Orudiamzu."
Suddenly, Shine, Zale, and Lori were encased by a large crown of diamond spikes. The spell was powerful enough to block the Thirusu Raja Jigano. To add insult to injury, rows of rising diamond stalagmites were heading straight to the girls.
"What? Not only did they block it, but they retaliated?" Phoebe exclaimed in disbelief. "They shouldn't be doing that in these conditions!" Samantha shouted. "Look out!" Vini yelled as she grabbed her bookkeeper and began avoiding the diamond spikes; the rest followed suit.
Zale stopped casting Ganjasu Orudiamzu as its purpose was to block the attack rather than attack. "All right, Lori, where are they?" Shine requested, panting heavily. "Well, there is something you guys need to know," Lori said, "There are three giant roses around here that is releasing this gas. Maybe if you destroy them, this spell will be canceled."
"Hurry and tell us where they are," Zale pleaded, covering his nose and mouth with his free hand, "I can only keep this up for so long due to the gas." Lori nodded understandingly as she quickly looked around to spot the three roses again, so she could accurately tell of them their whereabouts. "They're…Oh! Southwest, north, and east!" She directed.
"It looks like someone stayed behind to help them." Vini pointed out, glaring at Lori from afar. "Take her down with those two; simple as that." Amanda said. The three spellbooks glowed in unison as they each recite the next spell.
"Gigano Juron!"
"Baagusu Thorsen!"
"Raja Ferozuga!"
An immensely large vine and rose came out from underground while a rain of multiple thorny projectiles were summoned. "Three spells are coming!" Lori exclaimed. "Don't make me laugh!" Shine taunted his enemies after hearing that, "Coverage spell, Zale!"
"Ariza Diamzen."
Quickly, Shine raised his hand and shot a white lightning bolt into the skies above him. An aurora appeared immediately. Before the vine got a chance to aggressively smack the three, raining diamond stalactites chop it to pieces. The rose was charging a pinkish beam but it too suffered the same feat before it discharged. The barrage of thorny projectiles were waned slightly but some still survived and continued their course for Zale and Shine
"Hurry! You guys need a defense spell!" Lori alerted.
"Diamzu Shield." A dark blue, diamond hexagram immediately appeared before them, blocking the rest of the thorny projectiles provided by Baagusu Thorsen.
"Aw come on! They cannot be that good!" Thoria shouted outrageously. Suddenly, the red mist began to dissipate, much to the shock of everyone except Zale and Shine. When it fully disappeared, it was revealed that three diamond stalactites hit the targeted roses.
Taking three deep breaths, the residual red gas exited from Zale and Shine's mouths. They regained their proper motor coordination and usage of senses. Zale fell to one knee, the strain of the arduous task catching up to him, still panting. Shine was in equal condition but continued to stand up.
"Are you two okay?" Lori kneeled down, checking on the condition of the two. "We'll be fine." Zale answered as he locked onto the flabbergasted enemies hungrily, "Although…I'm pissed off now. I am finished with these girls." Shine extended his arms out as he requested, "Strongest spell."
"Girls, I'm afraid we'll have to go all-out now." Samantha said as her Persian pink spellbook glowed vigorously. "The strongest spell." Cassandra said as her celadon spellbook glowed just as brightly. "Yes." Amanda's phthalo green spellbook followed suit.
"Thirusu Dio Jigano!" Thoria, Vini, and Phoebe all extended out their arms again and fire giant flower buds. Unlike last time, these flower buds bloomed beautifully to reveal three goddess-like figures.
"Pretty." Zale commented. He opened the blizzard blue spellbook as he inputted the last of his strength into this last spell, "But let me show you something better. Dioga Diamzu!" Both of Shine's hands were enveloped in whitish-blue light and released the powerful, blue diamond Griffin from it.
The most powerful spells from both sides collided, lighting up the battlefield considerably. However, the clash of power only lasted for so long. Dioga Diamzu was just stronger than Thirusu Dio Jigano, and that showed when the diamond Griffin tore through the trio of flower goddesses some seconds after starting. The sextet girls could only gasp; everything else afterward happened so quickly.
Soon, the end of the battle had come. Dioga Diamzu and Thirusu Dio Jigano had disappeared, three spellbooks were on the ground burning, and the ring-shaped citadel of thorns and vines were disappearing. "That took longer than I wanted." Zale groused as he closed the blizzard blue spellbook and put back in his vest. "You're telling me." Shine said, apathetically watching Vini, Thoria, and Phoebe disappearing and sharing their last tearful words with their respective bookkeepers.
"Wow…You two are strong." Lori commented in awe. Momentarily, Zale and Shine had forgotten she was still there. "No other status suits us." The anthropomorphic porcupine said, crossing his arms. When Vini, Thoria, and Phoebe finally disappeared, returning to the Mamodo World, Zale spoke, "Stay here, you two. I need to straighten these girls out." He started approaching them as Lori questioned, "W-Wait, Zale! You already won the battle! What more can you do?"
"They said they were doing this whole ransom thing in order to fend for themselves. Their father walked out of their lives and forced their mother with them. All they had was themselves and their Mamodo. Now that they're gone, something must be said." Zale explained. Predictably, him approaching Cassandra, Amanda, and Samantha almost seemed like a slap to the face.
Zale began, "So what do you three plan on—" But was quickly interrupted as the three girls verbally bombarded him. "What do you mean? It's over for us! The police are gonna arrest for this mess!" Cassandra cried out. "We don't know even know why you're offering us your pity! You don't even care about us!" Amanda yelled. "You and Mamodo took away our three companions…We'll never get them back! They helped us get money, through any means necessary, so we could make ends meet! Now, that they're gone, we're through! Nothing is ever going to cha—"
"SHUT UP AND LET ME SPEAK!"
Cassandra, Amanda, and Samantha immediately silenced themselves, huddling together fearfully. Zale was using his infamous glare on the three, and the dark purple aura was about him yet again. It was also worthy to note that was one of the few times Zale spoke out like that. Apparently, he had enough.
Clearing his throat to regain his usual demeanor, Zale then went on to say, "You three are sisters, correct? That means you're family and you will always stick out for each other. So, why not transition that loyalty to getting jobs or something in order to provide for yourselves? You don't need Mamodo or bribery to get what you want. All you need…" It was then Zale pointed to his heart, "is this…and everything that comes with it. With it, you will get what you need the right way and no obstacle will stand in your way. Oh, and another thing. Some girl once told me that change is not a punishment but a reality; it's how we interpret change that dictates its effects on us."
Letting his words of wisdoms hang in the air for the sisters to ruminate on, Zale turned his back to them and walked back to Lori and Shine, with the latter saying: "Zale, not even a rose garden compares to the beauty of those words."
"Odds are we can't really show our faces in Mochinoki City anytime soon." Shine remarked as he and Zale exited city limits, finally heading on in their journey. "Oh well. Not that it matters." Zale stated, "What are they going to do? Issue a warrant for our arrest?" Shine snickered, "They can't. You're Swedish; not Japanese." Zale succinctly replied, grinning, "Exactly."
"Zale! Shine!"
The two males stopped walking and turned around to see it was none other than Lori approaching them. "Didn't we already say goodbye and thank you already?" Shine asserted. Lori caught to them hunched over and hands on her knees, panting. "I…forgot to give you guys these." She spoke after catching enough of her breath. She handed Shine a sort of wristband with two hand-crafted flowers; Zale was given a necklace with triangular pendant with each corner taken by hand-crafted flowers.
Shine held up the wristband with mixed emotions as he eyed, "What's this?" Zale was in an equally disconcerted state as he held the necklace in his hand.
"They're handicrafts I made for you two. They have flowers on them, but I purposely made them dark-colored to match your styles. On Shine's wristband, he has the Hydrangea, which symbolizes boastfulness, and the Magnolia, which symbolizes perseverance."
"I'll let that 'boastfulness' comment slide for today only." Shine said warningly, though with no actual meaning, as he slipped on the wristband. He then contemplated on purchasing gloves so that he could protect the handiwork. Lori giggled before continuing, "And on your necklace Zale, you have the Camellia, the Heliotrope, and the Daffodil. In that order, the symbolize gratitude, devotion, and regard."
"Hm. Thanks." Zale thanked as he put on the necklace, right beside the one Myriam gave him. "You guys coming back soon?" Lori asked hopefully. "Maybe. After all, unlike you now, we're still in the battle to decide King," Zale answered as he looked at the Millennium Mamodo beside him, "And I need to make Shine that King."
"Just be careful. There are many more powerful Mamodo out there." Lori cautioned with a smile. "Pft. Nothing I can't handle." Shine stated as he turned around and began walking away. "And you wonder why you have the flower of boastfulness." Zale said, chuckling a little as he followed his Mamodo.
"Bye, you two! Stay safe!" Lori said, waving at them as they left. They did not respond, but they did raise their hands up in a parting manner as they headed to wherever their next encounter was destined to be.