Episode 2.5: An Old Friend Visit And Burning Conflicts
Drum was a dragon with red skin except his orange underbelly and his long tail, yellow hairs, two silver horns on each side of his head. His golden armor with a ruby jewel on his cuirass made a sharp song as he moved forward to clean another part of the weapon and a dark gray shirt, a golden helmet with two tubes on it and pant and he wore a red tattered cape on his back.
For Gao, Drum was taller than when they parted away and his arms were buffed with more muscles than before. What was different was his gazed that showed strength and confidence, showing his maturity. Drum turned toward Gao and smiled, "It's been way too long Gao. It's good to see you again and," he lightly chuckled, "You sure have grown up."
The boy lightly chuckled as it was true after all this years, "You too Drum."
"I'll let you two catch on," Suzumi returned to the kitchen.
Drum crossed his arms and said, "I heard of your-"
He was interrupted by Holy who yelled, "Fang Slade! You here?"
That outburst woke up Batzz who cleaned his eyes, he grunted as he wanted to aggressively warned Holy that he shouldn't wake him up no matter what.
Holy kneeled down, "It's an honor to welcome you in here ruler," he gasped, "I didn't prepare anything and-"
"I came unannounced. There is no problem," Drum sighed.
Batzz heard the word ruler and grinned, So Fang Slade Terrestrial the XIII came" He walked toward the entrance, already imagining his revenge plan, "I'm going to make him regret sealing me and ruler over-" he stopped when he saw Drum. Drum was not the dragon he was expecting. He mentally made the difference between the dragon in front of him and the one he was thinking, but he also noticed the familiarity, Who's that? It annoyed him that the red dragon didn't remark his presence, "Who are you? Where is the ruler of Dragon World?"
Holy didn't dare entering in a conversation between his ruler and his boss as he felt the tension between them.
The red dragon looked at him for a second before turning to Gao, "That's why I came."
"Answer me or I'll destroy you!" Batzz threatened.
"Batzz!" Gao warned his buddy as he grabbed his card, ready to seal him if he tried anything.
The red dragon replied, "I am the new ruler of Dragon World, Fang Slade Terrestrial The XIV."
"So you are his son," Batzz frowned before pointing his claw at him, "And why are you in your real form while I can't!"
Drum gasped, "Sorry Gao."
"Hey!" the gray dragon yelled as he was the one who said it.
"I haven't been here for a long time and I forgot about it," Drum turned into his mini form.
Batzz gasped when he saw that Drum still looked a lot like a dragon. He pointed at a specific location of Drum and yelled, "How?"
"What is it?" Drum asked, exasperated with the gray dragon yelling so often.
"How do you still have hair?" he yelled. It was obvious that the gray dragon was jealous and furious about it.
Drum scratched his yellow hair, "It was always that way and- It's weird that you are bald," the red dragon managed not to laugh, knowing it would only make Gao's life more problematic. He grunted, "Anyway. I'm here to talk about Batzz since you freed him and-."
"Why do you have hair when I don't? I'm the greatest and not you!"
Drum was getting annoyed and gazed at him, Sorry Gao, "The greatest?"
"Yes!"
Drum chuckled, "My father defeated you twice Batzz."
"Don't call me like that Fang Slade! I am the great Barlbatzz Dragoroyale The First!" He tried to turn into his real form, and destroying the house at the same time, but Gao forced him to stay in his SD form, "Stop doing that kid!"
"His name is Gao Mikado. Not kid!" Drum warned him.
The two dragons glared at each other's. After a while, Batzz turned around, knowing that he couldn't fight the son of his nemesis with Gao ready to imprison him in the card, which he didn't want to be in once again. When he was out of their sight, he made sure to hear everything they would say.
Drum calmed down and looked at Gao, "I'm sorry you are the one who had to deal with him."
The boy nodded and replied, "He's... It's not easy to deal with him, but I know that he's not pure evil Drum. I felt no malevolence coming from him."
The red dragon closed his eyes and replied, "I believe you Gao," he didn't ask about how he felt the malevolence, "I see it too after all. Anyway, I wanted to talk about Batzz and now that he won't interrupt us, I can explain why I come here."
"Why was that?" Holy finally talked when the tension was gone.
"Since Batzz has been freed, there is a lot of talk in Dragon World. Many fears his rage and rampage while other's said good riddance now that he's not in Dragon World and hoped he never comes back," the red dragon took a deep breath, "They are not aware that he's your buddy and that you and him are going to represent Dragon World yet in the World Master Buddies."
Gao knew he caused trouble to his ex-buddy and great friend, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I talked with father and already made my decision about him. I could order to reseal him, but with everything Holy explained when he came to Earth, it is inevitable," Drum crossed his arms and looked at his friend with all the seriousness he had, "With my father blessing, I decide to officially let him free on Earth as long as he doesn't cause... too trouble or threaten to destroy the Earth. You're going to have a close watch on him. Gao, if he ever does or tries to do something irredeemable, know that the only thing awaiting him is death and the memory of his mere existence, forever erased."
Batzz heard it and knew that the threat was real. He would have laughed it off or be enraged that someone dear threatened him that way, but he knew that he would be hunted by every dragon of Dragon World and if Drum had any connections, other world would chased him. He held the rage inside of him and continued listening to them.
"Don't worry Drum. I will make sure that Batzz doesn't try to do something like that. I will seal him before he even tries," Gao replied as he looked in his friend eyes.
"As for your buddy representing Dragon World, I will officially announce it tomorrow and I'm ready to face their rage," he hit his chest with his fist, "I'm tough Gao, so don't worry about me. If they want to fight me, I'll defeat all of them just like dad did. After all, we defeat a fiend who devoured world, so a couple of angry dragons aren't much for me," he lightly smiled.
Gao nodded and didn't reply.
Drum suddenly said, "Enough about that stuff. Now that I'm here, we have a lot of catch on to do."
Gao also put those thought aside and replied, "Yeah. There is a lot that happened."
Gao explained everything that happened during those years, especially about his second buddy Bal and what happened to him as they climbed in the chamber while Holy entered in the kitchen to see what Suzumi was preparing. Drum was surprised when he heard about the impact monster form and asked a few information about it and once the red dragon was satisfied, he looked at the picture and saw what Bal looked like in his SD form.
"So you didn't have a new buddy after all those years," the red dragon said as he put the picture back, "It's really bad that Batzz is your new buddy."
Batzz lightly grunted as he listened to them and got bored. He was hopping to hear a few things about Drum. He was about to walk away when he heard something interesting.
"What about you? How did you become the ruler of Dragon World?" Gao asked him.
Drum grinned as he replied, "I was wondering when you would ask it. It's not something impressive, but two years ago, father said that it was the time for me to become the ruler of Dragon World. I had to prove myself and fought many dragons to prove my strength and since then, I rule over Dragon World," he scratched the back of his head and added more details about his duty as the ruler, "Father is watching me on my duty, making sure that I don't screw this up, but with the time I spend with you, I was ready."
"You sure are busy," the boy replied.
"I never stop thinking about you Gao. Our time as buddies is precious to me," the red dragon said with some melancholy. He looked at him and said, "Remember Gao, if Batzz ever caused you trouble, I'll face him and defeat him."
As if, Batzz thought furiously.
He heard someone coming and walked away, not wanting for his enemy to know he was spying on them. Suzumi walked in the chamber and said, "Drum. Do you want to stay for diner?"
"Of course! It's been so long since I didn't eat anything from your world!" Drum was joyfully replying.
"That's good. It will be ready soon," she told them before walking away.
Drum eyes were shining at the thought of eating while Gao looked at him with a little smile, "As long as it won't put you in trouble."
The dragon smiled, "It won't. I'll just say that it was busier than I thought."
The two chuckled together. Once Suzumi was gone, Batzz returned to listen to them. After this, he just heard them talking more about the old times together and it bored him. The gray dragon walked away as he believed he wouldn't hear anything to get the edge over Drum.
Later on, the family were eating together at the table with the buddy monsters at the table. Gao was surprised that Batzz was even there, the other times he preferred not to be with anyone, but the boy noticed that the gray dragon was glaring at Drum, who was ignoring the Demon Lord Dragon as he ate the octopus dumplings. Gao was a little nervous since the two dragons were facing each other's, so Gao was besides Drum with his card near him just in case Batzz tried something.
Drum repeated what he became to the family. Eventually, Drum asked, "Gao. I've been wondering about it, but... What was your buddy skill looked like with Bal?"
Gao looked at his ex-buddy for a few seconds before his sister replied, "He didn't give one."
"Hum?" the red dragon turned toward Gao.
The boy was nervously chuckling as he replied, "I didn't want to pressure him like I did with you. It never happened."
Holy asked the question that Batzz was also wondering, "What's buddy skill?"
Gao thought about it and nervously chuckled while the red dragon didn't reply, "I don't know really well how, but it was Drum who activated the buddyskill when he knew how."
The red dragon replied, "Buddy skills cannot really be explain, but it's through the bond I have with Gao. The form of the buddyskill is made by the human while we give the energy."
Like I will give one to Gao! Batzz thought as he frowned at Gao.
"Since Bal was really young, I don't think he would figure it out," Gao concluded.
"So Drum. Did you get a girlfriend?" Hanako asked.
The red dragon blushed as he looked toward the ground, "N-not ye- No!"
The humans and Holy chuckled while the red dragon had smoke coming out of his helm pipe.
No descendant right now. That means I can end their lineage once and for all, Batzz thought.
"I thought you were looking at one female dragon a lot Drum," Holy commented.
Even more smoke came out of the helm as Gao's parents started coughing.
"Enough about this!" the ruler of Dragon World ordered with his face crimson red just like his cape.
They continued talking while Batzz learned more and more about Drum Bunker Dragon. Most of it was forgotten if it was useless to him, but kept a few things that could eventually cost him. It wasn't a lot. He did notice that Drum didn't have any grace in eating compared to him, like a commoner. The Demon Lord Dragon concluded.
Suzumi served the desert and they all smiled. Drum eyes shined like stars as he joyfully yelled, "Pudding!"
Batzz immediately noticed that the son of his nemesis completely dropped his guard at the sight of this food called pudding. You showed one weakness Drum. You are still immature and aren't even close to be as great as me, he thought with satisfaction.
He looked at it in front of him and saw the bouncy food with some chocolate on it. He never ate that before and looked at Drum.
Drum grabbed his pudding and ate it in one bite, "Tasty! I missed it so much. It's been years, but it still tastes like my most greatest dream."
"That's..." Gao didn't dare finish the sentence.
"You didn't change Drum," Takashi said.
"I change a little, but it's good to know you are all still here and well. I still missed all of you back at Dragon World," the red dragon smiled. He closed his eyes and ate another one pudding.
Batzz grabbed his own dessert and looked at it for a few seconds and took a bite. He stuck his tongue out and grunted, "This is disgusting! No wonder a dragon like you enjoy this!"
Drum twitched for a second. The gray dragon was satisfied by it and blinked. Once he blinked, the pudding he wasn't in his hands anymore, but in Drum's one.
"Then you won't mind that I finish it," Drum ate it.
Batzz glared at Drum, both surprised and enraged as he thought, he ate the delicious pudding that was mine!
"You are the one who dropped your guard Batzz," the red dragon said as he pointed his claw at him, "I noticed that you were eyeing me, as to find a way to find out how to defeat me, but it won't work."
He did it too! He... Even so... He cannot be compared to me! I am the greatest! The gray dragon thought.
"Batzz says he's the greatest right Gao?" Drum suddenly grinned as he looked at Batzz. The Demon Lord Dragon saw insolence in his grin and it enraged him.
"Y-yeah. Why?" Gao asked.
"My dad defeated Batzz twice. The first time was during the great battle where dad defeated any dragons who tried to be the ruler of Dragon World. Batzz was the last one to fall against my father, but he felt and was just a lord of the Thunder Empire. An empire that never ruler Dragon World."
Batzz clenched his fist as he grunted loudly at Drum, "Insolent dragon!"
"The second time, my dad was older while Batzz was and is still at his prime. Even then, he lost against my dad."
The Demon Lord Dragon heard enough and was about to turn in his real form, "Prepare to die Fang Slade Terrestrial the XIV!"
Gao immediately used his card, "Batzz!" he prevented his buddy to take his real form at the last second.
"Don't stand in my way kid!" Batzz yelled.
"So impulsive," Drum said. He looked at the Demon Lord Dragon and continued, "I won't take back anything I said Batzz, but know that this is the true."
The Demon Lord Dragon bit his lips and blood lightly came out as he didn't reply anything.
Drum sighed and told his best friend and his second family, "Everyone. I'm sorry for the trouble, but Batzz is really getting on my nerve."
The two dragon's glared while Holy was starting to panic.
Suzumi stood up and said nothing, but her gazed ordered Drum to not provoke Batzz any further.
"One day..." Batzz whispered at Drum, "You're lineage will be destroyed Drum. You will regret to insult me, the greatest."
The red dragon didn't reply and decided to let the Demon Lord Dragon vented out his rage.
After this, they tension between the two dragons dropped and they had one last casual conversation before it was starting to get late.
Drum was the first to notice it and sighed, "It's getting late. I strange to only see the few stars in the sky once again."
Batzz was glad that his nemesis was leaving the house. He will be able to plan his future revenge against Drum, when he won't be in danger of being sealed once again.
Gao's family and Holy followed him as the red dragon walked toward the door leading outside the house.
Before Drum walked outside, he said, "It was great to see all of you again," he smiled as he turned toward Gao, "Gao. Remember that you are representing Dragon World. I expect you to win this tournament as you always did and show everyone that you are the best buddyfighter of the Earth."
The boy smiled and replied, "I will of course."
Drum grinned before turning toward Holy, "I'm counting on you to watch over Batzz and make sure that he doesn't cause any problem."
"I will," Holy replied.
"And continue doing what you are doing," the red dragon mysteriously added.
Batzz watched Drum saying his farewell to the family and frowned as it was taking time. He wanted to get rid of him until the time came to end the Terrestrial lineage.
Drum turned toward him and walked closer to him, he said, "And you are representing Dragon World. I expect you to be victorious."
"I don't need anyone, especially you to tell me that. I'm the greatest," the Demon Lord Dragon grunted at Drum.
Drum was besides Batzz and whispered, "Consider yourself lucky to still be free Batzz. It is only due to the current circumstance," that made the gray dragon frowned furiously, "Remember this Batzz: If you do anything to Gao, his family or his friends, you will face more than being sealed away. I promise you that."
Batzz wanted to destroy Drum right now, but saw Gao looking at them. He forced himself to keep his fury in him and walked away, I'll make you regret those words one day Fang Slade.
Gao watched his current buddy walking away and wondered what Drum said.
"I just reminded him of what he shouldn't do," Drum said as he turned back in his real form. He looked at everyone and said, "Good-bye everyone. Stay safe and healthy!"
"Bye," the family and Holy replied as Drum flew away.
They waved at the red dragon as he returned to his world.
Once he was gone, Gao searched for Batzz, guessing what his mood would be. He found the dragon outside, clenching his hands and ready to explode into fury when he heard the dragon grunting quietly.
Batzz suddenly turned in his real form and let out a powerful primitive grunt as electricity sparkled around him.
Gao took a deep breath and calmly said, "You should calm down Batzz. You're going to cause-"
"Don't talk to me like that! I am-" Gao used his card and forced him to return to his mini form. "Argh! Stop doing that kid!" Batzz furiously ordered Gao, "I am-"
"And you have to calm down!" Gao yelled back, showing the card and letting him know that he could seal him. The dragon said nothing else, but still sparkle electricity as he furiously glared at the boy for even daring talking down to him that way, "I know you are furious or even more against Drum, but that's not a reason to cause another power outage!"
Batzz didn't reply, but was still furious against Drum and Gao. He didn't know against whom he was the angriest.
"Batzz," the boy decided not to bring out Drum, especially in his current mood. He tried to move the dragon thought on something else, "Let's focus on the World Buddy Masters competition and show them that you are the greatest in every world."
The Demon Lord Dragon glared at Gao for a few seconds before grunting, "I don't need to prove that I'm the greatest," he returned inside after yawning.
Gao sighed, glad that it didn't turn worse than just furiously yelling and almost accidentally caused another power outage. The boy hoped that there won't be anyone provoking his buddy, or it could be troublesome for the World Buddy Masters competition.
AC: This is the end of this episode. It took a while longer since I was playing Persona 5 yesterday and I got it complete today (29-04-17)
I want to thanks everyone for the review you shared. I really love and appreciate it all.
Next will be the third episode of the show: No-Damage Fighter! Ozora Kanata!