*December 14th, 2030*
(POV: Third)
It had only been a month. After giving up, he decided that he needed another way to find the answers he sought. The Fifth Omni Cavalry Dragon, Alliot, had returned to Tokyo after a month-long stay in the United States. At such an early hour in the day, the normal person would expect others to be wary or at least tired. However, Alliot's resolve kept him up. As he ignored his exhaustion, he continued walking along the sidewalks with his Shining Bunker in hand. He hid his head within his scarf, but it wasn't for warmth; as much as he would hate to admit it, he was feeling particularly nervous.
He had reached a more suburban area when a sudden sensation pricked at his back. The dragon had been residing in his SD form to draw unnecessary attention, but he had fears that others would underestimate his strength. At that moment, that thought crossed his mind; he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He tightened his grip on the Shining Bunker and turned around, seeing nobody. "… Who the hell?" He still saw no one. "Come out and fight!" The drills sputtered, but soon he realized that his weapon was the only thing making noise. Giving in to his sense of sight, he turned away and continued walking, for he saw no one.
He finally reached his destination. It had been quite some time since the dragon resided in this residence. When remembering such memories, he couldn't help but wonder whether or not they were fond ones or not. Then again, during the Yamigedo Incident, he didn't necessarily want to work with Drum. Even so, he was thankful to still remember where Gao Mikado lives.
The dragon hopped onto the rooftops and peered through a sealed window. With his mouth hidden by his scarf, he was able to hide his content sigh. There he was; The Mighty Sun Fighter. Needless to say, he didn't expect the kid to get involved in the incident that just transpired; he was buddyless and was a mere 6th grader. To ask him to get involved in events showing nothing but death, horror…. Alliot gritted his teeth, soon knocking on the window. Gao Mikado reluctantly opened his eyes. It was obvious that he didn't like getting up at such an early hour. Alliot heard Gao call his name with curiosity and confusion. As the child approached the window, another sudden sensation pricked at Alliot. He hastily looked back, staring at the empty streets and sidewalks behind him. Who was following him? He couldn't tell. Finally, the window opened. The two of them were now face to face. Gao Mikado, normally a chipper and quirky fellow, was too tired to really emote. He spoke with a grumbling tone while he innocently rubbed his eyes. "Al-…. Alliot? What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you."
"Shouldn't you be in America?" The boy returned. Alliot looked away. He figured that Gao Mikado still kept in touch with CJ and the others. "What are you doing here?"
"It's actually about CJ," Alliot reluctantly returned. "And yeah, I should be in America right now, but I came back. It angers me that I have to ask a kid for help, but I need you."
"Well… what is it?" The curious child returned with a shrug.
Alliot grinned. He hoped that the sudden utterance of his next sentence would brighten the sun that existed within the child. "How would you like to talk to Drum again?"
(POV: First)
The impact of Doble's gloved fist was not to be underestimated. Even though my duty was to block his incoming blows, each one felt harder than the next. The pure strength of each punch nearly knocked me off balance. It was taking everything from me to stay upright. We had only just arrived at the gym, and the absence of my precious one meant that I had to go right to physical training. She said she would be gone for half of the day due to a particular errand, which she wasn't able to explain. I blame myself, since I had a rough time getting up this morning and she had already left the room, leaving a note behind.
I wasn't able to block a swift blow towards my gut. Thinking of Arkaid's absence began to make me distracted, and it didn't help me that my anxiety was bothering me for the past month. Tasuku and Jackknife came to the gym one day, telling us about a certain plan they had for us. They wanted us to think about joining a division of the Buddy Police, a new one called the Omni Force. It was going to be led by Count Dawn, an Omni Lord that has worked with the Buddy Police for quite some time. Everyone unanimously agreed with the decision, but I was the only one who was reluctant about it. Earlier, I was more than willing to join the Buddy Police, but Alvis's death still lingered on my mind. Thinking about him made my mind and muscles weak, which I began to truly feel when Doble walked up to me with my body spread across the floor of the boxing ring. He huffed at me. "You could've blocked that, so I'm not saying sorry," he said, soon extending his arm out to me. I grasped it, nodding back to him as I heaved, attempting to get the air back into my lungs. "You need to be ready with us. You've been slacking for the past two weeks."
"I'm sorry," I returned with a heavy breath.
"… Let's just take it from the top," Doble returned, punching his two hands together. "You need to be able to block me. Work your reflexes. I need to work out that office, corporate crony body of yours."
"Right," I returned with a swift nod. Doble looked at me funny. At first, I didn't understand why, for he normally just kept going along with his incessant demands anyways. However, he noticed something different. Before, I was usually dismissive of his actions towards me, saying that his opinion doesn't matter as long as I had Arkaid. This was said even before Alliot came into the picture. But now, I acknowledged him. I understood that I was beneath him. It was a luxury to be trained by him, that's what I thought. "Especially since we get in tomorrow."
Rikka concurred with my statement. She hung over at the sidelines, leaning over the rope enclosing the boxing ring. Her long, pink hair dangled over the ropes as she playfully smirked. She was rather sweaty, for she had just finished her little session with Mizaru. Apparently, Doble wanted to reserve me for the day. "We gotta show them we're not a bunch of wussies. We still have that terrible reputation because of Yamigedo."
"Right," I sighed back. I hit my mitts against my head. I needed to smack some sense into myself. No time for thinking; it was time for me to act. "Alright, let's just-" Suddenly, I begin to pick up an odd power in the room. Ever since my training with Arkaid, I've been able to sense mana and energy much more efficiently. I was in the middle of a sparring match. My adrenaline must have made me pick up the power without even thinking about it. However, there was an odd power coming from outside the ring. I glanced over at Melanie and Mizaru, watching as the two of them stayed side by side. They looked confused back at me, but then I noticed something behind Melanie's back. Her arms were positioned in a way that made it look like she was hiding something. The moment I paid closer attention to her, she twitched and hastily moved the object behind her. From the little that I had seen, she was holding some sort of red, glass-like sphere.
I feel a light jab at my face. Nothing hard, but it definitely brought my focus back in the ring. It was still annoying though, so I looked back to Doble with an unimpressed glare. Doble snickered, looking at me with a confident smile. "Not my fault. You lost your focus in the midst of battle."
"… True," I sighed. I got into position, but I hastily made one quick glance over to Mizaru and Melanie. Doble was getting back into position so he didn't pick up on the distracted look. When I turned to the mysterious duo, Melanie winked at me. It felt like my mind was playing tricks on me until Mizaru quietly held a finger to his mouth, hushing me. What we the two of them trying to do?
(POV: Third)
Even in times of peace, there is a responsibility to hone one's skills in order to ensure the survival of one's clan. Drum, or more specifically, Son of Drum Bunker Dragon, Fang Slade Terrestrial XIII, had taken up the duties of his father since the end of the Yamigedo Incident. The Drum Clan was that of a specific sort of dragon, many of them resembling Alliot in terms of overall appearance. Such semblance was expected; Alliot was a member of this clan a millennium ago, striving for the same dream that Drum once carried. Drum has accomplished this dream, becoming the leader of the Drum Clan now that his father had retired. However, he owed a certain level of responsibility. He tirelessly looked over the dragons within the village and trained the next line of fierce warriors. He did all of this without regretting a single thing; this was the life he wanted, and he wanted to make his father proud by surpassing him.
The Drum Clan trained and honed their abilities on the hilltops, competing in competitions of strength and intellect on the battlefield. Drum saw to it that he would watch over these warriors, hoping to train the next line of this clan's protectors. He imagined that, one day, he would have someone else take over him as chief of the Drum Clan. However, such a time had yet to come; Drum was still young and fresh to the position. He had plenty of time to worry about such a thing later, especially when the present called for certain duties.
His fierce, wild blonde hair seemed to reflect his still blistering youth. Despite his colder demeanor, he used to be a fairly immature and arrogant man. The dragon often eagerly fought, but now he has seen that he had to mature in order to truly be the chief that his father would want. However, this also came with a bit of an indirect side effect; it had been a while since he truly fought someone, and he was secretly itching for a fight. He wanted to fight someone with his full level of strength, no holding back.
As he continued to oversee the training of the other members of the clan, two warriors approached Drum. The chief turned around, seeing their rather stern faces. They kneeled before the Chief, bending the knee and submitting to Drum's power. "Chief Drum, we have come to inform you that you have guests waiting on the hillside."
"Guests?" Drum questioned. "I'm not expecting anybody. Who are they?"
"A human, and one of our brethren," the speaking guardian returned. "He has identified himself as Alliot of the Fifth Omni Cavalry."
He had a general idea of who to expect, but he still remained cautious due to the knowledge of a human. Chief Drum had heard of the efforts of the Fifth Omni Cavalry members, recalling how word spread rather quickly about this horrific deity. The thought of a creature like Zahhak rampaging in Dragon World was unthinkable to him. He was definitely thankful for the ones responsible. This was also why he decided to go down on his own; he had nothing but trust for these people and would like to know the man with Alliot. Was he his buddy? He had to figure this out, for it piqued his interest.
At the edge of the clan's territory resided one figure, which puzzled him at first. As he got closer, he recognized the dragon as Alliot, residing in his normal form. The cavalry dragon's height and long, purple hair were a dead giveaway to him. Seeing him made him smirk, chuckling at the dragon's size for a short moment. Besides, they also had a form of a rivalry between them; Alliot doubted whether or not Drum truly deserved to lead the Drum Clan. He imagined that Alliot was coming for the sake of a friendly hello. As he drew closer, he saw the Cavalry Dragon's serious demeanor. There was no sign of a smile on this being's face. It made Drum especially wary, especially when the human the guard told him about wasn't present. "It is surprising to see you here," Drum began, remarking at Alliot's presence. He kept his distance at first, for he still didn't know where the human was. He couldn't pick up his location anywhere. "Where's the human?"
Alliot grasped the Shining Bunker at his side, hoisting it towards Drum. "I'm not here to hang around for long. I want to fight you."
Drum chuckled, almost out of how insane Alliot portrayed himself. "You raise your Bunker against me? You ask for a fight?" The chief shook his head, looking somewhat disappointed. "I have been busy since we last saw each other."
"Then I hope seeing him will change your mind." Alliot stepped to the side, allowing the figure behind him to be seen. Drum gasped immediately, speechless at the sight of such a familiar friend. Gao Mikado seemed uneasy, almost stunned that Alliot had motioned himself away so soon. The child felt the need to hide, not wishing to confront Drum so soon. Gao could feel that he wasn't the same person he was when he met Drum. Gao remembered Gale's fight with him. How could Gao forget that? Gale was true in some of his words; Gao still felt weak without a buddy. He didn't have someone to push him forward the way a buddy would. Regardless of everything, when Gao looked back at how strong and mature Drum had become, he couldn't help but finally give off his signature smile.
"Drum!" Gao called back.
The chief was still trying to regain his lost composure. "Kid…." He gasped, looking back to see Alliot sternly back. That was when Drum knew there was much more to this, but that could wait; he had some catching up to do.
Alliot and Gao were both invited into the Clan's territory, with Alliot moving himself to the training grounds. He wished to remain there, observing the progress of the other fighters while he hung back with his Shining Bunker resting against him. He sat in front of an ancient stone pillar, one of many that surrounded the training grounds. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to rest. The lack of sleep from before was starting to get to him, and the familiar sounds of his brethren training began to relax him. It got to a point where he began to lose track of the time. Still, he was patient. The Cavalry dragon was willing to wait all day if necessary. He wasn't going to leave until he got what he wanted.
As the hours passed, he began to actually take notice of some of the indirect comments spoken about him. Other humanoid dragons would walk by, noticing the smaller version of their brethren sitting in front of the pillar. Clad in white and green armor, the other dragons found him to be rather odd; he wasn't dressed in the normal garb of the clan, yet by species he was one of their own. He was a specific kind of dragon, the Drum dragon species, born and raised within his time with the Drum clan. Despite these facts, Alliot was disgruntled to hear that they mostly had words of mystery or trash.
"He's Alliot?"
"He looks so small though?"
"No way that's him, probably some fanboy."
"Just ask him."
"Look at him! He looks terrifying. I'm not going anywhere near him."
"Yeah, he does look pretty pissed.
"He's been like that all day, too."
"Jeez, no wonder he's all alone."
It took a lot of willpower to keep himself from lashing out. He was a guest, so he knew that he had to abide by the rules. It didn't stop his anger from rising, unfortunately. He hadn't felt this horrible since Ms. Fridrik lashed out at him. Because of her rank, he could yell at her so close or be so intimidating to her. On the spot, she could file for his arrest. Just being in front of her made him feel so weak. He felt helpless, and that's what he felt now. He looked angry, he looked pissed, but in reality, he wanted to keep himself far away from everyone. His teeth were bared. He clenched onto his arms tightly, trying desperately to wait out the time so that Drum could just show up already. If he was the chief himself, he wouldn't have to deal with these bastards.
But did he really want that?
His mind went back to Ms. Fridrik. He remembered CJ's voice. It eased him, knowing that his partner was willing to argue against his boss. Such a thought managed to calm him down; it reminded him why he came here. It reminded him of why he needed to fight Drum.
The sounds of approaching footsteps made him open his eyes. Drum's voice spoke to him. "You don't have to move," he started. He leaned his back against another side of the pillar. His eyes kept a sharp focus on the dragons training in his name. "I left Gao with my father for a bit. I plan on spending some more time with him later, then I'll have someone send him home."
Alliot felt a sudden wind of cockiness. The orange dragon grinned before asking him something with a bashful tone. "You enjoy yourself?" He asked in a snarky voice.
"I showed him around the place. He was impressed with what I've been doing, and happy that I'm becoming the Chief he thought I'd be," Drum returned with a soft smile. "I have to thank you for bringing him here. I've only just gotten into the swing of this, so I haven't been able to make time to visit him. I'll be sure to start changing my plans around once I adjust."
"You sure you have the time?"
"Even the chief has downtime," Drum returned. "The visits will just cut into that." He lowered his voice, becoming much more solemn. "I shouldn't be thinking of visiting Gao as a 'chore' anyways."
"It's good that he looks up to ya," Alliot chuckled.
"However," Drum's voice boomed. "I didn't expect you to use Gao as a ransom piece," Drum bickered. "That was low for you."
"It wasn't planned that way," Alliot returned with a sigh. "I planned on just showing you him from the beginning, but he got nervous once he noticed you coming."
"What?"
"He's been different since you left. I've heard about it from my comrade. He told me about how Gao is much shyer, lacking in motivation. He may play his part as the confident kid, but even he has his moments. Someone needs to be there for him."
"… If that's true, then that only further displays the value of a buddy."
"He values you more than anything. He told me that on the way here." Alliot turned away, sighing with a pit of dread in his voice. "Saying goodbye to a buddy is rough, I would know."
"Gao…." Drum muttered to himself. "… It can't be helped. Without the Omni Lord's ability, us dragons outlive humans many times over. I remember someone… I think it was Arkaid, saying that 'time stops for you,' or your bodies, but the rest of us don't have that. It's a harsh reality, but I have accepted that Gao will grow old and expire someday." The Chief managed to grin slightly. "I should try to make time to visit Gao more. I want to check up on him more, remind him that he can grow, maybe find a buddy that can afford to stick with him for life."
"Yeah…," Alliot mumbled back. "Sticking for life…."
"Speaking of that," Drum returned replied, turning his head over to Alliot. "You say you know what it means to say goodbye to a buddy. What happened?"
"That's why I'm here," Alliot muttered back. "I don't want to fight you, but I need to in order to find out if I made the right choice."
Chief Drum could feel the genuineness in Alliot's words. This wasn't about their rivalry, for this was something completely different. Alliot was unsure of himself, and he needed to confront Drum, no one else. Drum has been the ultimate obstacle for him since Drum became the temporary successor to the Fifth Omni Dragon Lord, Tenbu. Such a fact hurt Alliot when it first happened. It made him second-guess himself after some time of purely bashing Drum. In reality, he was unsure of himself. He needed to discover himself. And now, confused, without a buddy, and with himself admitting his faults in front of him, Drum acknowledged that he needed to help in some way. "… I'll do it." Alliot perked up. "Besides, I need to burn off some steam anyways."
(POV: First)
My curiosity was getting to me. I couldn't help it. I needed to confront Melanie and Mizaru about that little sphere they were hiding earlier. Since they appeared to keep it private, I figured that Rikka and Doble didn't know. I had to call them over during my thirty-minute break. When they walked over, I could tell that they were rather reluctant to do so. Mizaru looked a bit distraught, but that was definitely because of what Melanie was doing. She was shaking. Out of the two of them, she was the mental weak link. It was easy to single her out, especially when she kept her hands behind her back. So, when I saw her essentially sweat bucket loads in front of me, I figured that I was onto something. "I know you're keeping something from me, Melanie."
"I-I'm not h-hiding anything!"
"I didn't say hide, I said you're keeping something from me." After I said that, Melanie yipped with nervousness. "So you are hiding something."
"N-no way!" Melanie whined back. "You're just i-imagining things. I'm not hiding anything!" I get that she was sixteen, but her attempts at hiding the truth of me were incredibly subpar. If she were scheduled to take a lie detector test, she would make the machine go haywire from the aura she's giving off alone. She could tell that this was a losing fight. Melanie quickly turned to Mizaru, begging him with her innocent, pure eyes to take over.
The Cavalry dragon sighed, soon accepting the odd sphere as Melanie dropped it in his left hand. He showed it to me, revealing that I was not simply just imagining things. The object was clearly a sphere, a crimson one, and it gave off a soft, iridescent glow. It captured me the same way Lord Tenbu did. I remembered seeing his Omni Orb, which was more than enough to make me curious about the otherworldly object. "Is that Lord Tenbu's orb?"
Mizaru shook his head. "Not necessarily. We refer to this as a Moxy Orb," the wise dragon continued. He brushed his hand against the spherical object as I stared directly at it. "Think of this orb as a sort of amplification. The Omni Orb, when used by our Lord Tenbu, allows him to peer and gaze at any location he wishes to see. However, this is not all-seeing as you may believe," Mizaru held the orb closer to my face. "Notice how we cannot peer into anything?"
"… Yeah," I replied, feeling fairly confused. "I'll be honest; I tried using it to see where Arkaid was. She's been gone for a while."
"That is what differentiates the Omni Orb from the Moxi Orb," Mizaru answered. "As I've stated, the Omni Orb is not truly all-seeing; Lord Tenbu cannot look at every location at once. This can cause our Lord to overlook certain events that he just so happens to not be seeing at the time. That is why these are so important," Mizaru brushed the orb carefully. "Tap the Moxi orb with the Omni Power at your fingertips, and a sort of Alert is sent to the Omni Orb. The person using the Omni Orb will be alerted that something of interest is happening, making the user wish to seek our location and watch the events we alerted."
A disgusted sigh left me. "That… would've been useful a month ago."
"How do you mean?"
"I mean… we could've called Tenbu and his armordragons, right?"
"You are definitely correct in that regard, if such things existed at the time. Tenbu had these in mind for quite some time, but creating these have been difficult, even for him. There's a difference between using a power that one holds at birth and applying it to, as I'll put loosely, a piece of technology."
"… Wait, but now I don't understand," I returned. "Why have it now?"
I couldn't get an answer. As soon as that last word left my mouth, Rikka and Doble were calling me back to the boxing ring. Mizaru looked relatively relieved. Melanie was on the verge of hyperventilating at this point. The cavalry dragon had to take hold of his buddy to calm her down as I warily entered the boxing ring. Even when I asked Rikka about the Moxi, they barely expressed any concern as to why the two of them had it now of all times.
Everyone was acting weird today.
(POV: Third)
Alliot was thrown back. His weapon had flung out of his hands. He was on the receiving end of the Chief's mighty power! One on one; that was how Alliot wanted it to be. In the training arena, other dragons began to turn their attention to the chief and the short one fighting him. Alliot skidded along the dirt, soil that was compounded down after a millennium of hosting Drum dragons from different generations and eras. The Shining Bunker hit the dirt with a hard thud as Alliot struggled to rise back up. The chief stood back, staring down Alliot as he directed his weapon of choice. In Drum's hands was the weapon of the Drum Clan. The Drill Ram Bunker. It appeared incredibly heavy. He held it at his side with both hands keeping the weapon held. However, Drum had incredible strength. He could manipulate the large, mechanical object with ease. One large drill was attached to the end of it, with a sort of propulsion system at the other end to help propel him forward.
Drum wasn't pleased. Alliot struggled to get back on his feet after such a short confrontation. Was this truly all the power that Alliot possessed? The chief couldn't help but feel disappointed. He expected more, and secretly wished for more. "You are too distracted," Drum stated lowly. Alliot gritted his teeth before bracing himself for the next encounter. "You still wish to do this? If this pattern persists, you'll surely be defeated."
"I need to face you with everything I have!" Alliot's Shining Bunker began to whirl. The three drills at the end of it began to sputter at insane speeds. Drum sighed to himself as he tightened his grip on the Drill Ram Bunker. The machine was revived, rattling with life as it purred with satisfaction. The Shining Bunker propelled Alliot forward. His spear was aimed right for Drum! The Drill Ram Bunker went to work. As the drill rang with fury, Drum took off and raced out of the way. Alliot missed his target, soon seeing Drum behind him. This was an aggressive sparring match. Drum couldn't afford to wound someone with the drill. Just when Drum found an opening, he deactivated the drill, ramming the back end of it into Alliot's back.
"GAH!" Alliot roared as he fell forward.
"This is getting ridiculous," Drum returned with a morose sigh. "I take the time out of my schedule to fight you, and you barely hold your own to me?" The bystanders marveled at the strength of their chief. Mutters and cheers left the crowd as they watched Drum excel in speed, strength, and overall cunning on the battlefield. Alliot could feel his muscles twitch. He cursed at his weakness, furious that this was all he could apparently do. Weakly, he took hold of the Shining Bunker, using it as a crutch to make him stand once again. "You really are persistent as usual."
"I told you, I have to do this!" Alliot roared. "For the sake of my buddy, I need to fix my stupid, picky, and clouded head so I can find another buddy!"
"Another?"
"Or, do I even want someone different?" Alliot growled to himself. His second-guessing made him furious. "Damn it! This is what I'm talking about! I decided to leave my buddy to see if I could find a true partnership like CJ and Arkaid already have."
"Clearly, you are somewhere else right now," Drum returned. He held the weapon at his side, letting his arm dangle. He could feel that the tension, for now, had dropped. Alliot, as stubborn as he was, figured that the only way to solve this was by fighting. In reality, Alliot needed someone to talk to, and Drum knew this. "By this 'CJ,' do you mean Chase Hallows? One of the guys who fought alongside you?"
"He didn't just fight with me," Alliot sternly replied. "He was my buddy, but so was Arkaid. She was with him first," Alliot sighed. He diverted his eyes before turning his head away. It was becoming difficult for him to speak. This was why he wanted to fight. However, it was obvious to him at this point that Drum only wanted to talk now. To his dismay and reluctance, Alliot continued. "The way the others saw it, there is only room for one 'true bond.' Between human and monster, not monsters."
"Hmm…." Drum had grown increasingly curious about Alliot's behavior. He expected more selfish, arrogant persistence, yet Alliot had shown a side that he hasn't seen before. It made him intrigued by the dragon's odd growth. To get a little more information out, he decided that he had to rile him up a little bit. "You sound like you truly are close, but you're having such a specific 'truth' stop you? Are you letting a foolish ideal stop you from saying? You've grown soft, Alliot."
"… Maybe I have." Drum was stunned to hear that kind of answer. "Which is why I'm here. I wanted to see if I could knock out this crap out of me."
"I want to know why Chase makes your mind so clouded."
"It's not his fault."
"You just became defensive there," Drum returned with a smirk. Alliot stopped himself from saying any more. He was now at the mercy of Drum's words. "What makes him stand out to you? To most dragons like us, he's a weak human. When we last fought alongside each other, I remember you giving Gao and me such a difficult time about whether or not I was strong enough to deserve the Omni Emblem."
"That's not it," Alliot weakly replied. The tenseness in his voice made Drum feel like he was getting somewhere. The short dragon laid his Shining Bunker beside him, looking deeply at the chief before him. There was contempt in Alliot's eyes. "When I saw you, I knew that Lord Tenbu picked you because of your heritage, because of your father, Daddy's boy," Alliot huffed. "You got everything I couldn't obtain because you just so happened to be the son of someone important. That infuriated me to no end! Even to this day, I can't look at you without you pissing me off!"
"Glad to know you're still you," Drum returned. "And? What makes Chase so different?"
"… In an odd way, I guess I can see him as a version of me." The orange dragon crossed his arms. Drum remained quiet, listening closely to Alliot's words. The cavalry dragon sighed, feeling the weight of the guilt he still holds over his shoulders. "When I first met the guy, I was like the others; I doubted his abilities from the get-go, but I wasn't upfront about it." He shrugged. "He was some corporate crony, a guy working at an office filling out paperwork. I had no clue what Arkaid saw in him except for the fact that they were similar." Alliot lowered his head. He couldn't look at anyone. He refused to. "That title, him being a corporate crony, held him back like my …" He quivered. "… My height does." If Drum wasn't completely certain that Alliot's words rang true, he was definitely certain now. "And, worst of all, Arkaid only chose me to partner up with them one day because I just so happened to make fun of him the least." He suddenly found himself chuckling. Alliot found it incredible that such a chance meeting had came to this moment. "Yet, after all of that, I saw someone different. He took that office job because he thought he could make a difference. He thought he could close the gap between what a monster was and what a human was. And then, as we fought alongside each other, I realized that, yes, he was weaker than I'd expect out of a warrior, but his conviction and willingness to risk his own self for others was unbreakable." Upon remembering those moments, he managed to obtain the will to stare back at Drum. "He had an inherent weakness; he barely valued himself. We expect people like that to give up on the world, but he was different. He sought to help others, myself included. He risked his own well-being for Arkaid and me multiple times. As soon as he knew Arkaid and I were hurt, he'd be willing to fight alongside us, no matter what!"
"Sounds like you have a buddy right there," Drum returned with a nod. "Sounds like you respect him in many ways. So, tell me, where does your difficulty lie?"
"It lies in the fact that Arkaid is his true partner," Alliot grunted. "Hell, the two of them are in love with each other."
"Huh, who would've thought." Drum was genuinely shocked. He didn't expect the rather stately and reserved member of the Fifth Omni Cavalry to breach such a standard. "Still, good for her. Yet you don't seem to like that," Drum pointed out. "Does that anger you?"
"The only thing that angers me, what clouds my judgment is that there's a buddy that I want more than anything, but a part of me feels like I can't have him." Alliot turned his back to the chief of the Drum Clan. He picked up his Shining Bunker. "Sorry for disturbing you. I thought fighting you would clear my head, but now I'm even more unsure. Compared to Arkaid, I'm just some extra. The Cavalry Dragons searched for buddies so that we can have the same power you and Gao once did, hoping to protect and serve more efficiently. Most of us believed that only a true buddy partnership could happen between one monster and one human. I can't see myself anywhere near him, and making CJ give up on Arkaid is out of the question."
Alliot was on the verge of leaving. Drum didn't want to let him go. He could feel the passion Alliot carried for his trusted buddy. The only thing holding Alliot back was this silly idea that a buddy contract can't include more. Seeing Alliot start walking towards the edge of the arena infuriated the chief. He knew that Alliot needed to be here. But how? The only thing he could think of was to enrage him, but he needed to do it a certain way. Suddenly, Alliot noticed Chief Drum chuckling to himself. The comical behavior made Alliot snarl back at the chief. While laughing, Drum bellowed back to the cavalry dragon. "Should have expected this; if your rivalry with me told me anything, it's that you're the jealous type."
"What the hell did you just say?" Alliot scowled back.
"Interesting how you went out of your way to tell me their relationship," Drum mused confidently. "You didn't have to do that, but you did. Do you have a certain affection for him?"
Alliot gritted his teeth. "Now I know you're trying to piss me off!"
"I don't know," Drum returned with a casual shrug. "You tell me, shorty."
"Ya bastard!" Alliot turned around just as Drum expected. He charged forward with his Shining Bunker in tow. He readied a lunge, but Drum managed to evade the attack! Alliot wasn't letting up; he leaped towards drum with the drills spinning at the edge of his spear. He managed to make contact, striking Drum's armor! The drills began to release sparks as Alliot attempted to break through the chief's defenses! Drum grinned. With one, heavy swing, he rammed his drill back at Alliot, sending him flying back. "GACK!" He clenched his teeth as he was sent back first toward the ground. His lungs contorted. The air without him shot out in an instant. He struggled to regain his breath, feeling the tenseness of his body.
He attempted to get up, but Drum destroyed such a chance. With one foot pressed against Alliot's chest, Drum had finally subdued the cavalry dragon. It was complete and total humiliation. Alliot looked to the side, but Drum held onto Alliot's small head. Alliot couldn't look away now even if he tried. Drum's tone was much calmer, but it certainly still carried authority. He expressed his words with a level of wisdom that would only be fitting for someone of his rank. "There is no such limit on a buddy contract. To believe in such an ideal only shows how little you truly know what a buddy is."
"Gah, what do you know? You left yours!"
"I had a responsibility," Drum returned. "You should know that, when I first partnered with Gao, I saw no interest in becoming his buddy." He huffed, angrily glaring at the persistent dragon beneath him. "However, as I spent more time with him, I saw traits that I could relate to. I saw things in him that I could respect. He and I became friends, but it wasn't one-sided." Slowly, he removed his leg off of Alliot's chest. Alliot was only being dismissive at this point; he lost the will to keep fighting. "We had our flaws, but we helped each other. That is what a buddy is at its core. Whether you see yourselves as friends, more than that, or less, a buddy is about a strong partnership; both sides assisting each other, pushing each other so that they could become the best they can be. Because of Gao, I reached this point. Because of me, I know that Gao will continue to grow and live out his life as a great man."
Alliot was silent for a time. He couldn't figure himself out. Every time he looked at his partnership, he couldn't help but feel like he failed. He only saw CJ with Arkaid; he couldn't possibly see where he actually helped CJ in any way. At the core of it, this was an issue about him, and he knew it. Unfortunately, he didn't know how to express it, not until now. "… Yeah, but I don't feel like I did anything for him, really."
"Can you really say that?" Drum returned. "Can you truly-… huh?" His attention was removed. Alliot picked up the oddity as well. Before the two of them was a small, floating orb. It was about the size of their head. Drum recognized it immediately. "It's Gramps's Omni Orb, but how did-?" Before he could finish his sentence, he discovered the source. Alliot and Drum were left with jaws agape as the two figures suddenly emerged. The bystanders knelt before the deity that superseded Chief Drum in terms of rank. They watched as Lord Tenbu emerged in his SD form, floating beside the calm sapient of the Fifth Omni. "Arkaid? Gramps?"
Lord Tenbu waved at the chief. He retained his friendly demeanor. "It's great to see you again, but I'm afraid we have to conduct business at this moment." He quickly turned to Arkaid. "I got the alert. Whenever you're ready, Arkaid."
Alliot remained speechless as Arkaid approached the Omni Orb. She nodded to her Lord, signaling that now was the time.
(POV: First)
It was difficult keeping up with Doble. I could tell that he had some strength to spare, but that didn't stop me. I had to advance. He and I were sparring in the boxing ring, exchanging blows as the others stood by and watched. Out of the three of us, I was the weakest. Melanie could cast stronger spells and Rikka was faster and physically stronger than me in general. Because of that, I had to advance. I had to get stronger. I didn't want to hold the others back, especially Arkaid. Whenever I fight alongside her, I need to hold my own. I cannot have her continue risking her life for mine. No matter what, I had to get stronger.
Doble and I could feel our sweat dropping onto the floor of the boxing ring. The way we fought was like that of a horrid dance. We had choreographed our steps, rehearsed every possible matchup, and now we were putting our lessons into action. Doble looked serious, but he still carried a gigantic grin for some reason. When I glanced over at the others, I couldn't help but notice their smiles as well. Suddenly, I heard a soft tap, followed by a shock of some kind. I was too focused on fighting Doble to even notice. But then, as I put my focus back on him, I noticed that he glanced away as well! I saw my opening, I went in for a punch, but he quickly blocked it at the last moment. Suddenly, his smile widened. His eyes flared with life. It was time for him to get serious, but I couldn't understand why he waited until now."
(POV: Third)
Drum mused, impressed with what he was seeing. "I never trained with Gao like this." His words fell deaf to Alliot's ears. His mouth was agape; he watched as his buddy was giving his all in the ring. He began to grit his teeth; he hated how Doble was getting the upper hand. "Man, Doble isn't holding back either. I didn't expect any less from him." The chief nodded. "So, this is your buddy, Alliot? This is Chase Hallows? I've got to say, you guys have taken your training up a notch since I last saw you; having your buddies fight too."
He scowled back. "Our buddies aren't just that; they are members of the Cavalry. They need to be ready." Alliot's attention left that of the Omni Orb. "Arkaid, why are you here? Why are you showing me this?"
"I'm showing you what you need to see," Arkaid returned. "He's doing well. I wouldn't have done this, but the others know it as well as I do; you wanted to stay with CJ. You wanted to remain his buddy. Even so, your self-doubt is what's keeping you away from him."
"It's not 'doubt'!" Alliot roared. "You're his buddy! You're-"
"-someone that just so happened to meet him," Arkaid finished. She appeared disappointed with herself, like that truth was something she was ashamed of. "I only managed to meet him because Marissa told us about him. There's no doubt in my mind that, if I didn't pick him, you would've been his next option."
"Stop saying lies!" Alliot returned. "I know what is needed!"
Lord Tenbu shook his head. "You wouldn't be here if you did." Alliot looked away. "Alliot, I want you to watch him. That's all you need to do; watch and listen to him. The others know this is happening, but only CJ doesn't know. What he says here is genuine."
Arkaid agreed. "People are most honest when they're put in a high-tense situation," she began. "I hate the thought of putting him through this, but if there's a chance to show you the truth, the chance so that he and you can still be buddies, then I know it will be worth it."
The wielder of the Shining Bunker had no choice but to comply. Not only that, but he wanted to see CJ beat the crap out of Doble. Alliot watched the sparring match closely. CJ was sweating profusely, expressing his exhaustion, but his moves were not getting sluggish. He could hear CJ's breathing pick up at a rapid rate. It hurt him to watch CJ like this. In the eyes of his buddy, he believed that he was just going through a rough training session; CJ didn't know that he was being manipulated in such a way. At the very least, Alliot wanted CJ to come out on top. He wanted to show Drum the kind of strength he saw in him.
Unfortunately, as CJ's breathing increased, so did Doble's power. Doble put more oomph in his punches, and soon CJ couldn't dodge or block. Alliot watched as his buddy got nailed in the face, then the stomach. It made Alliot's blood boil. CJ was getting beaten out there. He knew he was being too defensive; this was no different than what Rikka did to CJ. If anything, Alliot should appreciate the fact that there was much better gear being used. However, he didn't care about any of that. His protective nature kicked in. He turned to Arkaid, coming close to yelling at her for putting their buddy in this mess. However, he noticed that, as Arkaid watched this fight, she cried. Words that would describe the amount contempt she felt simply didn't exist.
Alliot didn't want to watch anymore. CJ was fighting valiantly, and the bystanders were impressed that a human would be willing to box with a dragon head-on. Despite all of that, Alliot felt nothing but guilt. This must also be why CJ was kept out of the loop; no way in hell would he resort to creating a guilt trip like this. That still didn't stop Alliot's chest from hurting. This happened because he couldn't make up his goddamn mind!
It got to a point where CJ was reaching his breaking point. Doble punched him in the face, but it was where the headgear was. The punch was one of the lightest that Doble threw. He himself could also admit that he was getting a bit winded wailing on CJ consistently. However, that punch was enough to knock the exhausted human off his feet. Ten minutes of intense sparring had passed since the very beginning. The man tumbled on the floor, weakling laying on his side as he heaved in a pond of his own sweat.
Everyone watching the scene fell quiet. Alliot saw Doble kneel down in front of the exhausted human. The other cavalry members were unable to be seen. It was just Doble and CJ now. Doble knelt to CJ's side. Everyone could hear just how deep and severe CJ's breathing became. "You tired?" Doble didn't get a response out of the breathing man. "Had to make you go out with one last big one. We move in tomorrow." Still, not a single response. CJ was still struggling to catch his breath. "I'll give you some time to rest. Good job."
Just as Doble got up, CJ's head moved towards him. There was a specific contorted expression on CJ's face. It wasn't angry, and Doble certainly didn't punch the man hard enough in the face to leave him permanently rearranged. It got worse the more Doble continued to get out of the ring. That's when the red dragon noticed it. Just as he put one leg over the rope, he saw CJ's arm press down on the ground. Alliot was taken aback by the display. He lost control of his own breathing as he watched his buddy use every last ounce of strength just to push himself up. Arkaid quivered, soon shaking. "Damn you, Doble. You always go too far."
It was clear to Alliot that she would go after the guy later. However, at the moment, Alliot was left in awe. Doble began to slowly approach CJ. His eyes couldn't leave the man for even a moment. He smiled, watching as CJ buckled his knees in, supporting his body in hopes of pulling himself back up. The man still breathed heavily, yet he kept trying to move. Doble, expressing a tone of confusion, confronted CJ. "You alright?"
"I… I can't half-ass this." Those words struck hard into Alliot's very being. "I need to put everything I have into this, for their sake."
"They?" Doble returned. He chuckled to himself, soon hoisting the man back to his feet. "Look, you're tired. You've done enough training for the day. How about you rest up and let Rikka and I do our thing, okay?"
"… Five more minutes."
"CJ…."
"Five more minutes, please!" He begged, still coughing on the dryness of his throat. "I… I just need to know how to do more!"
"You have plenty of time for that," Doble returned. "You've only joined us for a few months. Go rest, and don't cut into my buddy's training time."
"… Right," CJ morosely muttered. "I'm sorry." Doble initially looked puzzled at the man. As he assisted him off the stage, there was a true feeling of reluctance.
That was when another tap was heard. Lord Tenbu nodded, ending the viewing. Everyone turned to Doble, expecting him to say something, anything. He was speechless. He couldn't think of anything to say. Finally, Drum spoke up. "I doubt he picked that up from Arkaid," he stated. "And it seems like you, more than anyone else here, knows what he's talking about at the end."
He did. Of course, he knew. Arkaid and CJ have already expressed that they would be there for each other for all eternity. That responsibility is already something CJ is working towards, and he has already accepted that he is on the right track. Only one other thought was on Alliot's mind about what CJ meant. The Talk on the Final Battlefield. He winced upon remembering such a horrid scene. He and CJ were both knocked to the ground, gravely injured from Zahhak. Despite CJ's exhaustion, he was doing everything in his power to restore the health of Alliot. The cavalry dragon could remember how much it hurt him to see his buddy work so hard for the sake of healing him. CJ was on the verge of blacking out when Alliot forced him to stop. That's when he remembered it; he remembered CJ wishing that he could do more for Alliot.
That crushed him. Even now, CJ still blames himself. Alliot could see the man's inherent weakness. In a way, CJ did reveal to everyone his strength. His decisions are greatly affected by other people and, in a way, it strengthens his resolve. Some would say that this is because of a sense of dependence, but Alliot couldn't see it like that. One could be independent yet still greatly enjoy the company of others. Alliot remembered what CJ told him; CJ separated himself from his family because they all tore themselves apart. He had no one for quite some time. To Alliot, it was only natural to find the need to hold the few friends one has closer than ever.
Guilt swept over the dragon. He felt his mind go blank as everything around him became an empty, bright color. His eyes were closed as he solemnly took in a deep breath. Even without him knowing, he could sense the power of the deity before him. She didn't even need to say a word. Alliot knew the answer. He knew what he had to do. Even so, he realized the truth at the same exact time he reached his lowest point. Without even looking at the great deity before him, he nodded. Dynamis returned the nod as well. The entity knew that Alliot understood the truth. He had self-worth. Others recognized his self-worth. Alliot remembered his pride. He knew just by how much of an impact he left on his buddy. That's correct, his buddy. His eternal partner.
Outside of his mind, Drum snickered as he saw Alliot transform before him. Arkaid and Lord Tenbu moved back as they watched their comrade transcend. The chief took up his Drill Ram Bunker, bringing it to life. Finally; Alliot embraced the power within him, giving Drum the challenge he desired for all this time. "Now that you're finally ready, it's time you and I settled the score!"
(POV: First)
I was completely beat. Despite the fact that I wanted more, my body was far too exhausted. My muscles were so sore that my mentality completely shifted; now I just wanted to go home. The rush of adrenaline was gone, and the only thing that was left was the pain. Doble definitely found my laid back position amusing as he finished up his session with Rikka. Mizaru and Melanie playfully chatted with each other about other things. Her innocent mind kept Mizaru rather upbeat. I honestly couldn't see Mizaru with anyone else besides Melanie; the two of them shared a strong bond like the rest. The way Rikka toyed with Doble's ego was amusing to me, and not once did Doble truly act like he took offense to it. It was a part of their relationship now. At the end of it all, I was tired, but I felt victorious nonetheless. After everything we'd gone through, after the terrible hell of losing a friend, the peaceful atmosphere around me helped alleviate my mind. The only things missing was Alliot, Arkaid, and a bottle of vodka… and six orders of Takoyaki.
It was then that the gymnasium door opened. I kept my eyes straight as I leaned back in my chair. My head leaned back over the back cushion of my chair. Everything was literally upside down to my perspective as I stared exhausted at a wall. I guess a part of me wanted Arkaid to come across a goofy sight. Maybe I just wanted to make her giggle a little bit to lighten her mood, since she told me that she was very busy today. I closed my eyes for a moment, soon taking in a long breath. Rejuvenation settled in as I truly felt my body relax after such a long, tiring day. It was close to dinnertime at this hour and I just wanted to head back home. I've been here for too long.
Arkaid's face came into view. She was smiling at me or, in my perspective, frowning. I started laughing uncontrollably, for I found it hilarious to look at her from this angle. It wasn't just that; the excitement of seeing her again appeared to fuel what was supposed to be a slight chuckle. Arkaid couldn't stop giggling upon seeing my silly self. She had a hard time talking to me until she cleared her throat. She looked like she had a lot on her mind. "I see that you had a rough day."
"Yeah, totally did," I returned as the blood started rushing to my head. I've been upside down for too long, but I didn't want to move. I didn't want to take my sights off Arkaid, even for a moment. "How did the errand go?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"Decided yet?"
"About how it went," Arkaid returns with a smirk. "It depends on you, in all honesty."
"You serious?"
"First, I need to ask you this," she returned with a grin. She placed her head above her mouth, shielding herself for smiling too much. I curiously looked at her. Because of the way I was positioned, she chuckled at the contorted face. "Why are you looking at me upside down?"
"I don't know. I leaned back like this because I was tired," I began. "Now I'm just doing it because it's strange looking at you from this angle."
"Is that so?" Arkaid mused as she glanced at her right.
"Yeah," I returned. "I don't know how to describe it. It's funny to look at you this way, I guess?"
Suddenly, an orange face appeared with before my eyes. "HOW DO I LOOK?!"
"JESUS CHR-"
WHAM
"OW!"
"GAH!"
From sheer shock alone, I had flung myself up. I managed to hit my head against the familiar orange blur. It was a hard, clean hit, and I rolled onto the floor as I tightly grasped my forehead. My eyes were tightly closed due to the immense pain. I breathed through my teeth. Beside me was the familiar figure, grasping the edge of his snout. Quickly, I turned to him, worried about my actions. His eyes were closed shut, wincing from the pain. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry!"
"Are you okay?" The dragon man returned hastily. He released his grasp, hastily coming to my aid. "I nailed you in the forehead with my teeth!"
"Am I bleeding?"
"No, no you're fine," he sighed in relief. "Jeez, that scared me. Don't flip out like that, ya bastard."
"I'm sorry, I just-…" My eyes widened. Only then did I register the person sitting before me. Only then did I realize that the other Cavalry members were standing around Arkaid, the figure, and I. They others looked so damn proud of themselves of what they were able to achieve. When I finally recognized the person before me, I understood why. "… Alliot?!"
"Y-yeah!" He stammered back. "How are you doing?!"
"Fine!"
"Why are we yelling?!"
"I guess I'm excited?!" I yelled back. "I just went from dead-tired to full-blown store-bought battery in a millisecond!" The two of us needed to take a breather. What made it easy was the fact that the others were laughing at us like we were both some goofballs. Finally, I felt Arkaid's soft hand pat my shoulder. I looked up at her, noticing her sly grin. I love her. This was her plan. The others were in on it too, the bastards. Alliot was a bit timid, and understandably so; for her to come back after only a month, especially after our goodbye, was strange. After I managed to calm myself down, I could speak clearly without the risk of my mind going off the rails. "Alliot, what are you doing here?"
"I was wrong," Alliot struggled to reply. He turned away for a moment. He was clearly embarrassed. "I was wrong. You and Arkaid were right. You told me that I was important, but I couldn't see it. Because of her, I was able to look past my weakness, and find the truth." He nodded, soon giving me a confident grin. "Looks like you're stuck with me, ya bastard."
Without even thinking, I wrapped my arms around my two buddies, locking them in my embrace.
My excitement stuck with me on the walk home, almost to the point that I feared that I was becoming vain. There was a bit of a skip in my step as I walked, which may have made me stick out a little bit more than needed. I wasn't this peppy since Alliot and I managed to make Arkaid return. It was funny to me, really, how things progressed over time. My mind was stuck on telling Alliot everything that had happened in the month of his absence. Arkaid and I told him about the evidence Liam revealed to us, the job at the Buddy Police HQ, as well as the few updates from America regarding the other cavalry members.
Alliot walked beside us in his SD form. I didn't care to ask him why. However, as Arkaid remained in her normal form and walked beside us, there was a noticeable jolt of positivity in Alliot's expressions. Maybe he preferred his SD form when around us? Maybe he became more comfortable with it over time, especially when his SD form is around the same size of other SD forms. When it comes to his real size, I am taller than him by about a foot. He became incredibly casual while Arkaid maintained her regal demeanor. However, the end of her tail flicked around while a soft smile became one of her permanent features that walk home.
When asking him about America, Alliot didn't exactly appear to please. He would dig his head into his scarf when he talked so he sounded a bit muffled. "Wasn't interested in anyone. The few that I was interested in had underestimated me immediately due to obvious things. I didn't plan on spending the time to change their minds, especially when I didn't have to do that for you."
"Sounds like I set a high standard."
"In some ways, but I don't know," Alliot muttered back. "Is it really too much to ask for a decent human being?"
Arkaid mused in return. "You were in New York City, weren't you?"
"Where else should we start besides the place with the most people?!" Alliot roared back. Arkaid and I laughed at each other, igniting his embarrassment. "Don't laugh at me!" However, he soon found himself smirking before hiding his face beneath his green scarf. It was getting cold outside, so I wanted to get home as soon as humanly possible. My jacket also weighed me down, but I think it was more of the fact that my body was so tired that it struggled to carry it. This feeling made me think of a writer so tired that he or she becomes unable to even lift up their pen or pencil, or unable to type a letter on a page; such a thing would be so embarrassing and pathetic. Soon came a period of quietness between the three of us. We weren't talking to each other, but instead were simply basking in each other's company. This was fine to me. I kept looking back at Arkaid, seeing her warming smile. She had extra layers of coats, wearing a thick brown one on top due to her cold-blooded body. The image was cute to me, and I took note of buying Arkaid more coats one day since I knew she would need them. When I peered over to Alliot, he appeared to be deep in thought. He was looking forward, grumbling to himself until a sudden idea pinged into his mind. "We should drink tonight."
The idea piqued my interest. Arkaid and I didn't drink last night because things were a bit hectic about the planning for the move. We spent that night moving a lot of our stuff around and storing it for the move on Sunday. Arkaid and I looked at each other. There was a moment of doubt in her eyes since we only had tomorrow to move, but, on the other hand, Alliot came back, so a celebration needed to take place. She tried to speak up for a moment, but soon canceled herself out, soon looking away. She dug her head into her brown trench coat. Small streams of visible vapor came out of her snout as she exhaled nervously. "Could we get … more Takoyaki than usual, then?"
That was already a resounding yes to Alliot. His bright teeth gleamed in the setting sunlight. He couldn't stop chuckling as he proudly raised his weapon into the air. "Tonight, we celebrate! Right, CJ?!" I didn't answer. He was confused by my loss of focus, soon realizing that I was staring at something or, rather, someone from afar. Arkaid and Alliot caught on almost immediately. It was Liam, sitting where I sat a month ago, watching the river.
Without another word, I started walking toward him. Just by how he sat I could tell something was up. He was hunched over, staring at his feet and not even the water. I was a bit nervous about confronting him. Arkaid and I still felt guilty after what happened. Liam was mind-controlled, and we didn't believe him. When Gale was captured, and the proof was indeed shown, Arkaid and I sincerely apologized. He said it was alright, but that didn't stop me from treating him extra every now and then. Because we were still nervous about doing another thing wrong, Arkaid and I looked at each other, discussing how we should attack this. Should we be super friendly? Should we display our concern yet fear that he'll withdraw since he may not want to 'burden' us? Or should we just be completely direct? Alliot said 'screw that' and simply marched forward. Arkaid and I tensed up as we watched Alliot sat himself next to Liam, soon staring at him straight in the eyes. "So your friends are worried about you, so what's up?"
Where was the tact, Alliot? Where was it?!
Then again, he didn't exactly have any when he brought Arkaid and me back together, so maybe he was onto something.
We decided to roll with it since Liam was already alerted to our presence. We approached him, setting ourselves beside him as I looked at what he was fiddling with. He wasn't looking down to look at his shoes; he was staring at his deck of buddyfight cards. In front was a copy of the new form Demios managed to unlock; 'Foundation of the Purgatory Knights, Lord Demios.' Liam muttered to us, seemingly aware of what we were focused on. "… When Demios unlocked his potential, we put his card information into circulation. Now copies of his card are being distributed, and many people want to make Purgatory Knight decks."
I had to say something. "Well, it's good that he's getting some exposure," I returned with a shrug. "I put Arkaid's information into circulation and now many people want to build a deck with her, and, oh-" I looked over to my other partner. "Alliot unlocked his Super Form too, so I plan on having his card information recorded."
"But…," Liam sighed. "… They all want him as their buddy."
"… What do you mean?" I questioned. Arkaid and Alliot remained quiet, allowing me to take control of the conversation. Liam was my friend over theirs, so I can only assume they thought it was the fairest.
"CJ, Demios went to Darkness Dragon World," he hastily returned in a morose voice. He sounded like he had given up. "Things still need to be done there after what happened, and he said I shouldn't go." He turned to me, tears falling from his eyes. "CJ, do you think Demios is the buddy for me?"
"Of course!" I boomed back. "Demios can only be your buddy, no one else!" I inched closer to him. I made sure he understood just how serious I was. "Any other person can just make a deck, like the power of it, and play it. Your bond with Demios transcends the card game!"
Arkaid finally intervened. "Besides, we're not tools," she spoke solemnly. Liam's ears perked. He must have heard those words before. "One day, the cards may be no longer usable, and players will make a different deck instead of sticking true to what they built. If I am, someday, outclassed, I am not afraid of CJ leaving me for someone else."
Alliot nodded with a confident grin. "Same goes with me," he gruffly began. "You're gonna feed into that bullcrap doubt you have? You died for Demios, gruesomely."
Liam shook his head. "That's why I'm worried." We didn't understand, but Liam was far from over. We had cracked him, and he was spilling the information right to us. "When I died… I haven't been able to think too straightly about it, like," he sighed. His eyes trailed off until he finally stared at the calm, seemingly motionless river. "The blood… the feeling of it poisoning my throat. My insides felt like they were on fire. I can't stop thinking about it, and Demios knows it. That's why I'm afraid." His right hand began to shake. "I know many people will just pick up a Demios deck and start liking it, but what if there is someone better than me? What if Demios lost faith in me?"
Alliot huffed. "Well, did he say it?"
"… No," Liam returned. "But keeping me out of Purgatory Knight affairs is close enough."
Arkaid shook her head. "That doesn't sound right to me." Liam glanced over at her, confused by her wording. "Your interpretation… it just doesn't sit right with me. I saw you and Demios together. You were willing to go through hell for him, and he respected that. In fact… maybe you were too willing."
"Too willing?"
"Similar to how CJ is too willing to keep me and Alliot safe," Arkaid returned.
I chuckled to myself. "And you two to me," I added.
She exhaled with a noticeable smile. "Of course." She looked to Liam with the sincerest of eyes. "I believe that Demios is worried for you. He isn't pushing you away. I believe that he's sincerely worried that he's pushed you too far, and he's afraid to put too much on you so soon." Liam looked back to his lap, staring at the copy of Demios's card in his left hand. "Have you thought about it that way, Liam?"
It was like Liam's gate was a spell, given the sole purpose of opening a dark gate. Upon Arkaid saying his name, a small vortex of violent energy formed to our right. All four of us quickly embraced ourselves, expecting the worst when a small, armored dragon emerged. His eyes went from red to yellow, which then followed the closing of the gate. It was Demios, residing in his SD form. Liam looked away for a moment, but that didn't stop Demios from approaching his buddy. Then it happened; Demios got cold feet. His sudden boom of leadership-fueled confidence had left him. My partners and I exchanged confused looks until Liam finally saw how anxious Demios had appeared. Finally, as the dragon grasped his elbows, he managed to wring out his will to speak. "Liam… do you despise me?"
A look of total bewilderment took over Liam's face. His mind couldn't handle such an oddity. Such leaps of logic were foreign to him. How could it that the leader of the Purgatory Knights, the eternal warriors of Darkness Dragon World, could show any sign of this sort of weakness? It just didn't make sense to Liam at the time. Suddenly, his eyes flickered. He understood what my partners and I knew. Despite the fact that my partners are warriors trained for an important cause, they were still people with weaknesses in addition to their strengths. "… What?"
"I asked, 'do you hate me,' Liam?" Demios asked again.
"N-No!" Liam replied back, completely stunned by the accusation. "I could never hate you!"
"I need to know if you do," Demios returned. He breathed deeply through his nose, soon looking to the side. "Liam, you are now in the state you're in because I failed you. When that power ruined my wings, I dropped you. I let you fall to your doom. You didn't even die instantly; your death was excruciating and painful, and it remains in your memory because I failed you! I've broken my oaths to you!"
"Demios…."
"That's why…." Demios turned his back. The confidence in his voice waned. "I… if you want to leave the Purgatory Knights, none of us will blame you. What happened to you was my doing, not yours." His face contorted. He struggled to keep back the wave of emotions piling up within him. "So … if you need to… I'll end our buddy contract right now, but only if you can only see me with contempt!"
Liam couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked at my partners and I like he had made the discovery of the century. However, as his eyes met ours, we merely directed them to the one who was hurting. Demios was waiting for an answer. Liam needed to tell him. Demios needed to know if things shouldn't continue this way. From how I remembered it, Liam was always bad at expressing his feelings. But now, it was 'do or die' for him. If he wasn't going to be open here, he could lose the person that was the closest to him. I believe he understood that. He got up from the bench and quickly raced to his buddy's side. Liam embraced the small dragon. Demios tensed up. He too must have been expecting the other result. Liam couldn't speak; he was crying too much. I had to speak for him, but it was difficult. My throat became dry as I watched Liam unleash Demios everything he had been holding for quite some time. "He thought you hated him," I informed the dragon. Demios gasped, looking at his partner with sorrowful eyes. "He thought you lost faith in him."
There was something about this that made me think about what has happened in the past. As the sound of Arkaid's worried voice echoed through my head, as I watched Demios tear up in Liam's arms within the confines of my head, I couldn't help but ponder over what people imagine us to be. Liam brought up that other people were making Purgatory Knights decks because Demios looked cool and strong to them. However, what if they knew the true Demios? What if they knew that Demios, at his core, was a sensitive soul, only forced to be cruel for the sake of survival? Would people look up to a fearless warrior less than someone who has trust issues? Because, at their very core, Liam and Demios were the same, and nothing could change that. Both were souls that were stricken with immense pain. They were secluded, both finding it difficult to express their feelings so freely until they found each other. Both of them worried about how they were viewed to the other. That's why, as I watched Liam release his emotions, finally open up to Demios about how he felt about the hell that he experienced, I couldn't help but imagine other people looking at Liam and Demios like they were crybabies.
Scumbags.
People who judge like that are nothing but scumbags. Demios and Liam found each other after a difficult hell. They were able to be the buddies they wanted to be. Now, their fears were gone. They no longer had to fear that one side disliked the other. It isn't wrong to give in to your emotions at times. No matter what each one of us goes through, no matter what stately demeanor or confident smile you put up, no matter how boring I have made myself to be in the past, and no matter how weak I began, nothing changes these two facts.
1) We all have to start somewhere.
2) We are all human.
Not in the term when it comes to species, but what it means to be 'sentient' or 'alive.' Before we knew of such monsters entering our world, we only knew of humans. I worked with the DMW in hopes of closing the gap between them. But not everyone is like that. Many people just see monsters as monsters, nothing more. Later, when I interviewed Gale in prison, I found out that Alvis thought of Alliot and Arkaid as just two lizards. Arkaid and Alliot; two of the most important people in my life. Arkaid; the one I hold most dear to me. Arkaid and Alliot; the most genuine people that I have known in my life, were devolved due to Alvis's words. To him, they were nothing but lizards, in the way of his pursuit of love. As we bridge the gap, things will definitely become much more difficult. As we continue onward, more and more people will be unable to recognize the 'monsters' as anything but. There are still people that only see their buddies as weapons for personal gain. However, my original duty was to rectify that issue. When such ideals collide, disaster and chaos are created until a compromise can be found.
Unfortunately, many people choose chaos.
They choose disaster.
It will continue to fester with no end in sight.
Until people realize that the true value of a buddy-
Of a partner.
I needed to unwind after that. My mind had gone into overdrive when I watched Liam and Demios return home. Arkaid could feel my passion, but she felt that such a thing was needed elsewhere. It was getting late into the night now, and I was sobering up after unwinding from the alcohol. Alliot remained in his SD form on the off chance he fell asleep. He didn't want Arkaid or me to bring him to bed when he was his larger, muscular, and heavier self. That would just prove too difficult for me. Arkaid seemed to be enjoying herself tonight. She was chowing down on the Takoyaki, humming to herself with each happy bite. She probably had three to four dozen of the stuff; I wasn't keeping track at this rate. She wasn't sobering up nearly as quickly as I thought.
I was returning to the disorganized living room after putting the vodka away. Alliot was lounging in his chair, looking at us with glazed eyes. He was gone; he was fiddling with the empty plastic cups and tossing them onto the table. Normally, I'd berate him for doing that, but at least each one landed on the table. I guess his drunken self wished to impress me with some of his sweet parlor tricks or something. Maybe he had just gotten bored and he found a competition to keep himself busy. That didn't sound right, since he was chatting his butt off. "And Drum came at me with a BAM! And I got him back with a WHOOSH!" He had already gone into lengthy detail about his transformation. His muscles were tense, his Shining Bunker became a pole with a large drill on each end. His armor embraced more green, and one thing he liked focusing on was his hair. "My hair was ALL over the place!" He tried imitating the movements of his hair by fumbling with it. For a moment I glanced over to Arkaid, noticing that she was enjoying the little show. She said she already saw it, but it was funny to see a replay, especially with Alliot's incredible commentary. "Aw, CJ! Come on!" He just noticed I looked away. "You love my hair! That's what you focused on, right?!"
"… Oh yeah," I chuckled to myself. Arkaid and I grinned at each other. I had already told her about that. "Don't forget how I said you could just devour me with those muscles."
"Yeah, that was the best…." Alliot leaned back in his chair, sighing back before staring at the ceiling. "… I'm sorry I left."
The mood changed quickly, which wasn't uncommon when drinking. People tend to get fairly emotional during such times. "It's alright Alliot," I approached, soon patting his back. "You're fine. You're here now."
"I just can't shake off the feeling that you hate me a little bit."
"Alliot, you shouldn't worry about that stuff," I returned with casual hand wave. It soon became noticeable just how weary Alliot appeared. His eyes were sullen, and he kept his body perched back. "You tired, Alliot?"
"… Maybe a little," he mumbled. "Sorry for ruining the night."
"You didn't ruin it; we had fun," I returned. I made a quick trip to the fridge, making sure to get him his water. He needed to get the alcohol out of his system. He may be tired now, but he will wake up soon, or he may stay up, and he'll need to filter everything out. Because of his SD size, all he needed was a few water bottles. I came back, seeing that he already opened the door. "Take these. You'll need them so you don't get hungover."
"I get ya," he returned casually. It must have been his drunken self, for he just tossed them all into my old bedroom. My one laugh was one that expressed pure shock and awe about how silly the incident became. I shook my head before I shrugged my shoulders. No harm was done at all; I figured he'll get them in the morning. He turned back to me with a hesitant look. Alliot diverted his eyes to the side. "CJ?"
"Yeah?"
"… Thanks."
He closed the door behind me. I turned back to Arkaid, watching her as she sprawled herself on the couch. She had just witnessed what just happened, soon seeing me shrug my shoulders. "Guess it's the alcohol."
"I believe you're also at fault for making him a bit softer, albeit slightly," she returned with a calm, soft smile. I sat myself down in the chair Alliot was in, setting myself back as we lazily looked around. "Maybe it is a little bit a both, perhaps?"
"Most likely," I returned with a shrug. A thought had been pestering my mind for a while, and it was time I got it off my chest. "Arkaid, remember when you said you loved me?"
A suaveness in her voice came about. "Which time?"
"At the castle," I returned with the gears turning in my brain. "I realize that, before that 'time,' you never said that before." I curiously looked over at her. She was intrigued at where I was going. "… So… was that the 'secret' you were trying to tell me all this time? The one you kept postponing?" Arkaid's eyes went blank for a moment. She rapidly blinked. Was she confused at what I meant? No, she knew. I could tell because she soon smiled back at me with much more vigor. "… If that's the case, then Alliot must have known way before me," I continued to reason. "No wonder he nudged me that time."
"Are you actually tipsy?" Arkaid asked, startled by my surprising memory. "I ask because I am rather perplexed by your ability to recall such information."
"Yeah. I'm just slower right now." I exhaled for a long time, lost in my thoughts for a moment. "Maybe I just have strong genes in this regard? Nah, not possible."
"… CJ?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay with this?" Arkaid's question caught me off guard. When I saw her eyes, I couldn't help but feel torn by how solemn and sincere she became. Her voice softened, lower in volume. "Are you okay with us?" Her eyes diverted away. The more I looked at her, the more flushed she became. I wanted to help her in whatever way I could, but it seemed like my very presence made things difficult for her. "With everything like it is now, I mean. I mean, we... we're now..." She looked away. "... Demios feared that Liam would want to leave, so I began to think about it." Arkaid laid her head against the couch cushion, looking over at me with strong eyes. "I'm willing to stick with you to the end, but I want to ask if you have any qualms I should know about. Name any, and I'll take care of them."
"That goes both ways, I hope you know that."
"CJ, I have no fears of fighting by your side for the rest of our lives," she returned. Her tone dropped. She spoke with sincerity and strength. "The three of us, Alliot, you, and I, we are the Sapience of the Fifth Omni. I declared that I'd serve that belief till the end of time. I trust that you feel the same after everything we've been through, but I must ask if there's anything on your mind right now that I should worry about."
"… There's only one thing," I returned with a casual smile. She inched towards me, bringing herself close so that she could hear my softening voice. Unbeknownst to me, I was starting to trail off into sleep. My speech was becoming too quiet for her to hear. When I didn't finish fast enough, she got up and knelt next to me, waiting for my answer. "Tell me what you need. Nothing fears me more than knowing that you're worried."
Her graceful smile gleamed back to me. She didn't have to say anything else. As she moved closer to me, as I saw nothing but her, I knew that she had everything she needed. And I, fortunately, just so happened to be one of them.
End