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[i][u]Third Energy Research - Subject Sixteen Preparation[/u][/i]

[i]28-08-2046[/i]

[i]Recorded by Dr. Andrea Dixon[/i]

[i]With what little data we managed to record from Subject Fifteen, we're now refining our calculations to see if it's possible to direct ourselves back home. We have also ensured more communications with the Flyer tribe so as to keep a constant vigil for anomalies as soon as they arrive. With how much progress we have made, we can't afford to lose ground from inaction, especially when we have future plans on keeping this era maintained without damaging the fossil record.[/i]

[i]Professor Durai has greatly assisted us in developing the Ark project that we obtained from Meridian-5's records, devising a means to transport the tribes that have settled here to a separate point in the future that will not only preserve their lifestyle, but ensure the fossil record remains undamaged. It would be a massive undertaking, and one that would require an absolute reliable TEG so in order to finally achieve our mission, we must first perfect the system that brought us here in the first place as well as gain consent from all the tribes involved.[/i]

"In short," continued Haytham, "the only means we have of geochronic preservation is by the very portent of perfecting the gate's finite ministrations. Once you have achieved a 1:1 ratio of predictable calculus, then one shall catch two chocobos with the same bush as the parlance goes."

"I see," Thomas nodded, "so our objective really hasn't changed."

"Only its purpose," said Anne drinking a hot mug that said Habeas Cuppus, "that and you now have the several tribes to deal with."

"How do you plan on doing that?" Andrea asked tucking into a sandwich. "We set up a conference?"

"That would be best, considering this is their world and not ours we should tread carefully."

"The dinosaurs are our first priority," Thomas crossed his arms, "they're natives, we have to make sure they're not affected."

"The terrans shan't be a problem," Haytham pointed to the drawn map on the wall, "but the pterodactyls might considering their piscatorial needs."

"That is a good question," Anne put aside her drink, "how much of the actual world DO we take to the future, like just this landmass, the islands, the ocean with it?"

"Normally the transferals don't take water," Dixon said chewing her faux-ham, "but there's no reason it shouldn't if we can get the range wide enough."

"This is going to be an ecological nightmare," Thomas cupped his face, "nnnnnrgh we just started on this and I'm already burning my head over this."

"We don't have to worry TOO much, we can find a time period of the future that's empty enough to not bother anyone."

"Is that even possible?" asked Kerkorian leaning forwards. "We're already in quite a pickle legally-speaking what with transplanting primordial creatures from one place to another, normally one shouldn't be moving species unless it was an emergency."

"What kind of emergency?" asked Andrea.

"Well basically something that would cause their extinction, thankfully that's only a few million years away."

"As I said," Haytham stressed pointing to the ocean, "the terrans can manage themselves with their contained food sources, but the pterodactyls might become more than a bit crocitatious without their aqua vita."

The room became quiet for a moment, the humans gathered round the meeting room table, its map of the world a mimic of the one that Haytham had pinned to the wall with charming little pictures of different beasts. Ideas burned away in the back of their minds as gentle sips and soft chewing burst through the unease like gunshots before Andrea nodded.

"Okay, idea. Why don't we just ask the flyers how much ocean they'd be comfortable with, that way we can set ourselves a size?"

"And what of the fish from the prehistoric world?" said Thomas. "The raptors and such are all on the one continent, but fish can go anywhere."

"Yanno they might just actually like the fish in future times, I don't think they're that different evolution-wise, I mean coelacanths still exist in our time."

"Best we ask Jane for that then," said Anna patting her chest, "but I do agree that it's best to actually have the tribe representatives here to explain things."

"Mayhaps the sooner the better," said Haytham walking to the table, "you know not whence your piligrmage home begins and a little ire from discussions now wouldst save you great amarulence in future."

"I agree with Durai, telling them sooner would save us a headache, so we should put up a list of leaders to confer with."

"Well Oddclaw for starters," said Thomas tapping the table.

"Oddclaw is not a leader-"

"No but he's ambassador that's his job, we also need that Lizanaich and whoever's the head of the flyers-"

"Prince Stonesea."

"What of the Birthlands?" Durai pointed at the great plains. "Who is representative there?"

"Most senior they have is a brachiosaur whose name I forget. I'll write up a list and we can summon them after this experiment."

"Speaking of I gotta get ready for it," Dixon stood taking her sandwich with, "Haytham you wanna come with?"

"Of course," he stepped to her side taking her hand, "why would I ever turn away from such excitable caprizance?"

"HMHAHA, god, DAMMIT!" she slapped her knee. "I never know what the fuck yer gonna say I swear you crack me up!""

"Well I may be kexy good Andrea, but I have many a surprise left in my verbiage."

"Oh you got plenty surprises in your verbiage alright," she gave a teasing grope at his thigh.

"Good MADAME please!" he cracked a grin in mock offence. "I am a respectable astrologian whose instrument shall not be-"

"Yeah I know all about your instrument don't you start."

They walked out of the room leaving Thomas and Anna looking at each other.

"Kids these days," she tutted sipping her coffee.

"I'm like fifteen years younger than you," retorted Thomas.

"I'm sorry do YOU remember the first Star Wars coming out in theatre?"

"Don't, bring up that shit with me."

"Oh why because you're a Trekkie?" her smile widened leaning back.

"Neither, I watched X-Files."

"Oh you're not serious, YOU?! Mister government?!"

"It was all the rage back in my hometown," he stretched his arms with a yawn, "my parents especially loved it since it boosted their business for hocking to tourists."

"Really? Strange I never thought to ask you before."

"I never let you ask me before, that's what happens when I drink Mohberrin Moonshine."

"Oh that stuff is delicious," she snickered raising her mug, "goes surprisingly well with coffee for some reason!"

"Really?"

"Just a smidge, but yes so you watched the X-Files hmm?"

"More like my parents watched it for research," he took her mug when she offered for a drink, "mmmmph, damn shit that's good but yeah, they didn't believe any of the hype, they just wanted to capitalise on shit."

"Well now I have to ask, what made you want to join the army?"

"To not be a sucker like the rest of the saps they sold to."

"Mmmm, can relate," she gulped down the rest of her drink, "GUH, nnnngh well not so much the sucker part but being more aware of things."

"I guess you can say I just wanted to find out if aliens were real," Thomas chuckled rubbing his knees, "and why not just go to the source and work my way up, at least that was my initial reason."

"That is the most charming and innocent reason I have ever heard for enlistment," she pinched the commander's cheek, "such a sweet boy you are."

"I'm your commanding officer," he gently bapped her away.

"And I'm your attorney, also your senior so my point remains."

"Heheheh...god. It just hit me."

He leaned forwards facing the floor.

"It's been twenty years since we first came here."

"Oh we have so much to catch up on when we get back it'll be unbelieveable, imagine what the iPod will even look like now."

"Probably just made an earpiece that just actually holds all of the music inside it, cut out the middleman."

"Hmmmm," she tapped her chin squinting her eyes, "don't think I like that idea, I hate those bluetooth bastards."

"What why?" he cocked his head at her.

"Oh god well let's see, firstly trying to have a conversation and then they just go off talking to someone who isn't there it's bloody rude! Second that whole look of the Silicon Valley fuckwit just really riles me up."

"Wow, language."

"Oh don't give me that I'm from Edinburgh, I've heard far worse in the courts."

"Hahahaa...alright, duty calls." He finally stood up and left the room with Anna following. "You got your book club thing later on?"

"Yes!" she grinned skipping in her blouse. "Tonight we're doing Harper Lee's 'To Kill A Mockingbird', been very excited to discuss that one for a while."

"Oh hey I read that book, mind if I tag along?"

"Absolutely Thomas, the more the merrier I'll see you tonight!"

"Later."

They wandered to their separate duties, Anna returning to the library where she found James and Chanoch sitting together at a table.

"Oh, hello!" she whispered loudly. "Don't mind me just back from the meeting."

"How was it?" the lizardman looked up from his book.

"Quite illuminating."

"So nothing got done," James muttered flicking a page.

"It was a discussion, you can't have plans without a discussion."

"I've had plenty of plans made without need of discussion."

"Hmm," she nodded slight as she stepped behind her desk, "and how are you good sirs?"

"Ohhh fine," the lemming never looked up from his book, "still experimenting when I'm allowed to."

"James," Chanoch side-eyed at him, "please."

"Yes...my apologies, I have been suffering difficulties concerning my research."

"Understood," said the patient librarian, "were you just wanting a quiet place to relax or did you have need of me?"

"Actually yes," he placed his book down and cleared his throat, "do you recall that linking book we gave you for safekeeping?"

"Yeees?"

"Well, I have actually constructed a much better book, one that has a more refined structure for easier transference."

"Really?"

"Yes right here." He pulled out an old-looking tome with a cracked grey front. "Don't worry about its cover that's just the stressing when infusing it."

"Well that's good to know but, actually I have to ask since you carry your own books what is the point of keeping one here?"

"It acts as a conduit of sorts," the lemming walked to her desk, "realms that have a book within them are much easier to access than those without."

"Ohhh I see it's like a signal," she nodded taking his book, "that's fair, I'll just swap them over then but, what will you do with the other?"

"Oh I'm going to disassemble and reuse its paper, can't go wasting that."

"I quite agree, very sensible."

Heading to the backroom of the library, Anna was no more than a few minutes until she returned with a similar book of different tones.

"Thank you," James nodded placing it in his satchel.

"No problem dear," she beamed like a peach, "are you coming to the book club tonight still?"

"Absolutely yes I've read the whole Mockingbird cover to cover."

"He read it to me," Chanoch stood from his seat, "I loved it...very tragic."

"Well I'll be champing at the bit to hear your thoughts," said Kerkorian clapping her wrist, "was there anything else?"

"No thank you," James smiled turning to leave, "I shall see you tonight miss Anna."

"See you soon!"

She waved them off as they headed down the hall back towards their room, James taking a deep breath whilst Chanoch held his breath with tightening lip until they were safely behind doors.

"What?! Chanoch breathe for saviour's sake!"

"I-i...hhhhaaaaah forgive me," the hulking lizard sat himself on the bed, "I, I-i, um-"

"Pull yourself together!" he grabbed his shoulders with a sudden shake. "This is not an issue you should be losing your head over!"

"But...but, why?" He rubbed his hands delicate. "Why did you lie to miss Anna and give her a worthless book?"

"Because if no one else can even trust me with my research then why should I trust them?!"

"They cannot all be wrong," he shook his head, "why not tell Jane at least?"

"Because I trust only YOU." James grabbed his cheeks and stared deep into his eyes. "You have always remained at my side since we first met, I would give my life for you and I almost did."

"I...I understand-"

"So please, just bear with me on this."

"I do not want to lie to them," he muttered looking downwards.

"I won't make you, you have said nothing untruthful to them this is purely my work and nothing else."

"Yes...I...a-alright."

"It is fine. It's fine, yes?" He kept stroking Chanoch's face. "Everything is fine."

"Are you, sure?" he gulped.

"Absolutely. Do you trust me?"

"Y-yes...I...I do."

"Good. Now," he stood up and walked over to his desk, "let's have a small drink to freshen up hmm?!"

He pulled out a bottle from his desk drawer with a lemming's face staring out towards the sea.

"I picked up a little Lemwine from my village, and it's kosher I checked! Purest grape wine."

"Ohhh, really?" Chanoch took the bottle with a growing smile. "I have never tasted anything from your home."

"Well then I offer you the first taste!" The lemming pulled out two glasses. "I think we both needed this."

"Not too much," he said giving the bottle back, "you have book club after."

"Yes, mother."

The two snickered as James poured them out, sitting together on the bed and taking gentle sips of the grape-based wine that was soft on the palate and slipped down sweetly. It was nowhere near the strength of beverages Chanoch had tasted back in the castle, but he was thankful for it as it helped ease the worries of his mind.

"What did you want to be when you grew up?" James asked him.

"A knight," Chanoch shrugged gesturing to his armoured body, "like my father was, he trained me."

"Oh wonderful, so you achieved it then!"

"He gave me his sword," he tapped the hilt beside his hip.

"Did you...tell me that before, I feel you might have um-"

"I am not sure. What about you?"

"Hmmmm," the lemming took another sip, "I guess...actually far as I remember I wanted to be a scribe, or something of a writer."

"Good," the reptile nodded, "you also achieved your dream."

"I mean I could hardly ask for more, what with travelling to other realms and making new friends...and lovers."

His hand slipped across to Chanoch's claws who grasped his fingers and squeezed gently.

"I know I have my um...my...mission and I deeply appreciate your company."

"I know James." He proffered a kiss to his cheek. "Hm...hmhmhmhmhm, I remember a story."

"Ohhh, of what?"

"When I was a child, I had this bird, a pigeon I think." He scratched his neck. "He would land on the window next to me when I was in school. I gave him food. He came back, so I kept giving him food."

"Awww that's rather sweet."

"I fed him for two months. I got more excited for school because it meant I could see Johaim, that was his name."

"You named him?!"

"Yes," Chanoch tightened his feet with a tender sip, "I...after the first month I...kissed him."

"WH-...wh-wh-what?!" James clutched his mouth with a gasp. "Wh-why?!"

"My mother kissed me after she gave me food. So, I would give Johaim his food, and kiss him."

"OH...ohohohoho my Chanoch that is PRECIOUS!"

"I thought that was what you did!" he threw his hands up in defence. "I loved little Johaim and wanted him to feel good when he ate food."

"Hhhahahaha!" James cackled clutching his mouth. "You sounded like such a sweet child."

"My teacher did not like it," Chanoch grimaced, "tried to shoo Johaim away, and I pushed him away shouting 'no I love him he is my child!!'"

"PFFFT AHAHAHA, OHOHO NOOO noooo that is too much!"

"That was a long talk with my parents, my mother worried sick, ranting about germs from the pigeons and my father just smiled at me."

"He, he smiled?"

"Yes. He said 'such a nice boy we have, why punish him for it' and my teacher said 'he is disrupting our lessons with his vermin', then my father said 'no, YOU are disrupting HIS lesson to learn how to love'."

"...awww." James nursed his drink before wiping a tear that rolled down his cheek. "What a, wha-...a-awww Chanoch."

"My mother started to laugh," his smile grew as he drank more, "my teacher was not happy. So we taught Johaim where my house was, and he would nest by my bedroom."

"And you still kissed him?"

"Every night. Until he left one day, I am not sure where to."

"I am sure he is fine," the lemming smiled patting his arm, "grew up and had a family, tells them about the nice human that looked after him."

"Yes." Chanoch sighed with a warm grin leaning his head back. "What about you?"

"Mmm?"

"Do you have stories of your childhood?"

"Um...w-well, not really."

"No? You must have some."

"I-i, don't really."

"What about your brother?"

"OH yes, yes I have stories about him!" James quickly knocked back half his glass. "S-so um, yes, when Alistair was about...four or five, he asked me once if he could draw my feet."

"Wh-what?" the lizardman smirked pursing his lip.

"He had this...idea, Talisman knows, that feet were shaped like islands?! And he wanted to draw mine, he's always loved maps and islands and what have you and he said to me 'I want to make islands out of your feet!' and I asked 'why not use your own feet?' And he just told me with a straight face 'I KNOW MY OWN FEET, THEY'RE NOT NEW, THEY CAN'T BE ISLANDS!'"

"PFFFT [i]HAH![/i]" Chanoch's shriek of laughter popped the air. "HHHHAH, [i]HAHAH![/i]"

"I KNOW, CAN YOU EVEN-ALRIGHT, alright I DO understand what he meant, but that doesn't make it any better!"

"N-no!" His voice cracked. "It does not!"

"And he just said it so, CLEAR, like he was absolute in his fact!" The scribe doubled over in a panting fit. "I just, j-just, don't, [i]wh-whatgoesthroughhismindthinkingthat...HHHHHH, AAHAHAHAhahahaaaa![/i]"

"Hhhhmhmhmhmheheheh, ohhhh." He wiped his face feeling flushed in the cheeks. "I would love to meet your brother."

"I'm sure he would love to meet you too," James smiled kicking his feet, "he was actually the one who...um, inspired me to further our relationship."

"Really?"

"Yes, he has a lover of his own, a girl named Susie and we were discussing it so um...well, he said there was no reason for me not to pursue things with you if we both appreciated each other's company."

"Agreed." He clicked his collar off then raised his glass and clinked with James. "Lechaim!"

"U-uh, lechaim!"

Chanoch smiled turning the collar back on as they drank the last of their wine and savoured the peaceful quiet. They looked to each other with heated breaths as thoughts rumbled in their minds and James pushed himself forwards into his arms with a sudden kiss. He gasped clutching the lemming tight with a suckling shudder down his throat, wrapping his hands round to embrace his robe and lay himself on his back to let James lie on top of him. The taste of wine trickled on their breaths as they clasped each other's tongues with a sensuous moan, slipping their fingers along flesh and scale with bodies grinding harder until Chanoch's armour made it uncomfortable.

"Hhhhh...ohhh saviour," James whispered.

"M-mmmmph," Chanoch pushed him back to sit up and disrobe himself, "do you want to-"

"Yes, yes absolutely," he was already pulling off his cloak.

"I have not had any...mmmph, this wine is to blame."

"In which case we are drinking more the following week!"

"Hah, such a feisty youth."

The sounds of clanging steel fell to the floor before the lizardman placed his armour onto the mannequin in the corner, showing his naked body with strong reptilian tail twisting behind him and a prodding slit that flowered open with increasing arousal. James was already at full mast, invigorated beyond belief as his slender shaft twitched seeing Chanoch lay himself back down on the bed to let the lemming climb on top of him for another kiss, smooching deep with an exchange of tongues that lapped the inside of their cheeks, suckling gasps and squeezing fingers that grabbed at James' rear as well as Jarogniew's waist. Their thickness grew against each other with sweltering heat, James grinding his thinner shaft upon the thick beastly cock that kept growing even harder to throb with aching strength.

"H-haaaah...a-aaaah, Chanoch I...I-i-i-"

"Yes?" he whispered between kisses.

"C-can...c-can I...take you inside me?"

"Are you...sure?"

"I-i um...I...I-i have been practicing," the lemming blushed biting his lip, "I-i would love to feel you, even a little."

"Mmmm...alright...but first."

He lifted James up and turned him round to face the sweet pink rear, naked with twitching pucker exposed as the lizardman spread his cheeks and gasped upon the soft ring.

"H-hhhhhh! H-haaah."

"Such a beautiful boy," murmured Chanoch licking his lips, "I love to taste you."

"I...n-n-nothing."

"Hmmm?"

"Um, I-i-i was going to make a joke about kosher," James turned back to look at him with a wince.

"You are not food," said Chanoch rolling his eyes, "do not be silly."

"S-sorry, hahaha-A-AAAAH!"

His voice peaked when Chanoch pressed his snout forwards to suck at the tender rump, smooching the ring before his tongue came out to lap around the edge in a teasing fashion. James tried not to tighten up from the thick cold tongue pushing inside, slickening up his passage as it clenched with contorting walls that milked the invading tongue deeper within it. James spread his feet to both sides of his lover to give a greater gape and allow him his depth, spasms through his thighs that Chanoch stroked and fondled whilst the lemming squirted pre onto the lukewarm chest.

"H-h-hhhhaaah, a-aaah Ch-chanoch!"

"Mmmmmmhhhh..."

The tongue smacked against the walls and twisted in a soft corking motion to grind deeper into the ridges of James' tunnel, sucking loudly to make the lemming blush with eyes crossed in stuttering moans and panting breaths that washed over the great swollen shaft that pulsed in front of the lemming's lips. He lapped at the thick cock, savouring the strong taste as he sucked at the head with stroking fingers along the length, nurturing his lover and in turn drinking the pre that dripped ever thicker from the taut reptilian shaft. Chanoch flared his nostrils with a deep hot breath that washed over the lemming's back, making his body ripple with excitement before he took one last plunge to the absolute depths, scraping his tongue to its limit at the tensing rippling ridges.

"Mmmmmglrk...ahhh...now, you are ready."

"Y-yes," James gave one more kiss to his cock, "I'm ready."

Turning himself round he carefully positioned himself to align his now-wettened hole to the equally-dripping cock, the robust swollen head pressing against his pucker with a creaking grind as he tightened his grimace.

"H-hhhaaaah!"

"Shhhh...it is alright." He kissed the lemming's lips. "Just relax. I am here."

"I-i know...I know......alright, do it."

With a firm shove he pushed his head inside as James whimpered sharp, a soft pealing cry as his anal walls stretched with a muscular treble that spasmed around Chanoch's length. He waited until the tremors subsided before pushing deeper, holding James close in a firm embrace against his thick warming chest, his heartbeat like a mourner's drum slow and strong.

"Ch-chanoch...a-AAAH!"

"NNNGH, h-haaah, J-james!"

"S-s-so, so thick, AHHH!"

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, yes p-please don't stop, please!"

The lizardman nodded with another kiss to his lover's cheek, pushing deeper with methodical pace as he felt James' walls stretch around his thickening cock. The lemming kept his legs spread as he could feeling inch after inch fill him up, the space of minutes becoming eternal as his fingers clawed at the thick-scaled chest with softened whimpers of bliss and discomfort.

"Y-y-you are...the first to...have me feel this."

"Yes?" He kissed his snout.

"H-how...d-do I feel alright?"

"Perfect." He kissed his lips. "So...tight, a-aaah...ohhhh James."

"H-haah, aaah, A-AAAH S-SAVIOUR!"

Hitting seven inches deep, Chanoch made a gentle grinding rhythm to open up the walls and unflex James' muscles, before they found the limit where it was just too tight beyond for the lemming to take him further. Half of the lizardman's cock remained pulsing at the entrance, James kissing over Chanoch's chest and occasionally his lips, scents of dry bark and leather intoxicating him as Chanoch smelt the grass and the sea from James' hair. Creaking hips pulled back the thick lizard shaft from the lemming's rear which gaped slightly around his meat, Chanoch pushing back in with a gasp from both as they kissed deeper with heated breaths. Their tongues wrapped briefly, their voices clashed between high-pitched whimpers and bestial snarls that rumbled in their throats with each growing thrust that Chanoch made inside his beloved. His hands slipped down across the lemming's rump, spreading his cheeks and kneading them with his claws to feel the pucker stretch around his aching flesh.

Shifting his body slightly he pushed his hips further upwards, angling James forwards to keep him close as he started thrusting harder to grind his cock against each of the lemming's walls, causing ripples through his body as James started to push back against with a blushing face of tender rose. His slender cock dripped on Chanoch's chest, smearing his warmth with each push the lizardman made as the bed shuddered from his growing strength. Their voices became less, their eyes clouded with lustre as red reflected green, breaths turning thick inside their mouths that they drank down with increasing fervour, James almost managing to take one more inch with a squeal that channelled down Chanoch's throat, causing him to groan even harder from the vibrant energy within his younger partner.

The faster he bucked the faster James heard his heart become, a symphony pounding through his skull as Chanoch steadied his breaths with increasing pace, pumping his shaft harder as he raised his head to the ceiling and felt his climax approaching. James felt it in turn as he tightened his grip on his lover's chest, slipping one of his hands down to stroke himself off and join him at his peak.

"H-h-haaaah...a-aaaah, Ch-chanoch!"

"I-i am close," he gasped, "please, James!"

"NNNNGH!"

Keeping his body moving James continued to pump himself, both his rear upon the shaft and his hand on his cock with increasing vigour as he felt Chanoch's pre thicken inside his walls, trickling droplets becoming a stream like James' own pre was now dripping off the side of Chanoch's belly with each thrust quickening thrust. Then he felt it, that quickening of the veins and the burst of heat as he wrapped his arms around James and pushed once more.

"A-AAAARGH, [i]JAAAMES![/i]"

"[i]CH-CHANOCH, MMMMHHHAAAAGH S-SAVIOUUUR![/i]"

Their screams to the heavens shook the walls as the lizardman came with bulging thick seed pouring deep inside his love, painting the walls with layers upon layers of his rich beastly milk that started flowing out and down his shaft in rivers of white. The lemming came too, moments after him with a hard furious pumping of his length to spray his cum all over their bellies, spiderweb patterns growing over scales and flesh as his anal walls clenched hard with orgasmic reflex to drain Chanoch of every drop, his monstrous cock convulsing with a creak of potent veins and a long drawn-out breath between them.

"Hhhhaaaa...aaaah, T-talisman's grace, that was wonderful."

"Mmmmhhhh...thank you." He kissed the lemming's lips. "You have given my heart...a place to be."

"Wha...what do you mean?" James blinked with drooping eyes.

"I have not...found many I wish to be with like this. Not truthfully."

"I-i would think that you found others considering how...wonderfully kind and intelligent you are."

"I had doubts, too many back then," said Jarogniew stroking James, "but you helped me. Here, I can be...free."

"I'm very glad to hear-"

"No, more than that." He gripped his shoulders and stared deep in his eyes. "You are...a saviour to me."

"Wh-...what?" James gasped balking in his grip.

"Whatever happens to you, whatever comes in future...I believe in you James. I believe you, because you saved me."

"B-but, I am not-"

"You are my saviour. You are my friend, and you are my love. Always."

"...thank you." He clasped the beastman's claws bringing them together in his hands. "I am...honoured that you would trust me so much. I've long trusted you since the day we met, knowing you have a pure and good soul."

He laid himself down against Chanoch's chest, wrapped in embrace as he felt his lover still feed him with his seed that dripped lightly from his rump. They spent a few moments in embrace, silent breaths and heaving chests before their bodies felt rested enough to get up and clean themselves with a shower together, James washing down the thick long tail whilst Chanoch scrubbed carefully down the lemming's soft pale back, staring with a grin at the results of his work dripping out from his rosy rump. Once they were refreshed James put back on his robe with Chanoch still nude and his member retracted back into the slit.

"Alright," the lemming smoothed out his cloak, "I should get ready for book club."

"Have fun," the lizardman smiled sitting back on the bed, "I will be here."

"Um, actually, there was one last thing I wanted to tell you. I wasn't sure about this but...hearing what you said has confirmed it to me."

He walked over to the desk and picked up the linking book.

"You are the only one who...really does not treat me like a child, you always believed me. That's why I trust you."

He placed the book into Chanoch's hands as he gasped with a quiet mutter.

"If...something should happen to me, be it experiments or-"

"I would never let anything happen to you-"

"But IF something does, for whatever reason I want you to have this. I want you to protect it, to keep it safe no matter what may come."

"I...what were you planning to do with this?"

"Well keep it obviously, but I feel it's safer in your hands than anyone else."

He turned the book in his grasp feeling along the cracked lines of its cover. The power he felt from it was one strangely familiar from his times back in the castle studying alchemy.

"I will protect it," he said holding it tight, "I will keep you safe, as well as this book."

"Thank you," James kissed him on the head, "I know you will Chanoch. I believe in you just as much as you believe in me."

"I am glad to hear that...James."

The lemming departed as the lizardman stayed, putting the linking book in his personal drawer as he pulled out an exercise book in Jane's handwriting, listing several English terms as well as a few children's books to take reference from. He smiled throughout his lesson, turning the collar off to practice the phonetics written down as he scribbled.through the lesson.

"Is this the place?" asked Adenine.

"Sure is," said Bokonette, "we made sure to pick the perfect spot."

"Damn, you weren't kidding this place is beautiful...I'm sure your friend woulda loved it."

"I know he would," said Bokorie puffing her chest, "he always loved the solitude, though I think he would have loved being on a mountain more."

"I mean it's close TO a mountain, who wouldn't wanna be here?"

"I suppose..."

The four of them stood before the grave in the forest, a quiet headstone upon a small hillock between the trees where the sun always shone upon it. The trees swayed in a soft breeze, gentle leaves caressing the stone and whispering of the future. Both bokoblins stepped forward first, with small plates of food that they placed before the tombstone as they gave a prayer in silence. Adenine sat behind them, giving the same prayer that they gave pitch perfect in the language of Hyrule.

"[i]By the light of the Goddess, may you find peace in the skyworld. May Din strengthen your heart, Nayru preserve your memory and Farore embolden your spirit.[/i]"

Lizanaich stood watching, making the prayer to himself in silence as Bokonette looked up with a smile towards the lone frying pan buried in the dirt.

"H-hey uh...big guy howsit going? We're all doing great, you don't gotta worry about us."

"I worry plenty about Nette," tittered her mother, "but we are all fine and well, we made such wonderful friends with the humans who have been such a big help."

"And uh...I-i have a boyfriend now, yeah, crazy right? Say hi Ade."

"Uhh, m-me?" he gestured vaguely to the tomb.

"Go on," Bokorie patted him, "it's alright dear, just be nice."

"Okay, uhhh...h-hi." The alchemist waved stiffly. "I uh, remember you, actually yeah you fed us back when your uh...your group kidnapped us. I loved your food, it was real good and I wish...well, wish we got to know each other more, maybe you coulda given us the recipe, haha!"

He rubbed his arm nervous with a deep breath from his beak.

"But, I'm sorry about what happened to you, and yeah uh, me an' Bokonette are a thing now."

"Sure are," she squeezed him tight like a plushy, "I can't even explain how it happened but he's really sweet."

"And having another sensible person in the house helps me," Bokorie chuckled clapping her hands, "speaking of, best get back, I have a pot waiting on me but it's good to see you Mohberra."

"Always is, you take care alright?"

They both patted the gravestone with Adenine awkwardly doing the same, smiling under his hood as they petted him for reassurance. Once they were done Lizanaich stepped forwards to kneel as they departed, giving him privacy as the wind picked up.

"Hey buddy. You're looking good."

His voice suddenly caught in his throat as he took a deep breath. His words failed him briefly, his hands gloved rubbing his knees as he shook through his tail with eyes darting every which way.

"I uh...s-sorry, I dunno what to do, I'm not great at this. It's just been a busy time yanno, lots of new tech an' stuff, we got a trade deal going on with the humans an' they're pretty chill about it. Honestly I was expecting a lot worse, Mobenheim's been a big help, you remember him right? Maybe?"

The grave stood silent in contemplation as the lizard sighed.

"You always knew what to say to make me feel better...wish I could hear your voice again. I haven't forgotten it, I just...hhhhh..."

Lizanaich clasped his head, tail unfurled around his feet with golden scales as his feathered cloak rustled in the breeze.

"It's hard. I know I shouldn't complain but it's...hard to feel everyone relying on you. I'm just a cook, you know that I was just a sous chef, I know nothing about leading anyone, not even a kitchen that was your job, YOU should be the one out here leading everyone. I keep wanting Mobenheim to lead but he won't have it, said everyone voted for me an' we gotta respect what the people want. But...what if they're wrong Mohberra, what if..."

He clutched the headstone with both hands and sighed deep into the earth.

"What if I fail them? What if their trust in me is...bad, it's no reason they want me, they all wanted me because they LIKED me, cuz I never pissed anyone off but that's not enough is it? I...I know, I know I've told you all this before but it's still there, it's just...I can't tell anyone else this, they can't know their leader's got these doubts, Mobenheim knows but he's cool, he understands...you...you would have done this better."

The lizalfos sat himself beside the grave with his back resting against.

"You never let anything rile you up, you never...you always had the coolest head out of all of us, you'd never poison anyone's food like I did when someone pissed me off, you knew what was right, you knew when to stand up and that's why it got...got you...I'm screwed up, dude."

His throat stutered with a coughing gulp.

"I'm not some good guy like you, I couldn't stand up to anyone face to face, I'm a coward like them Yiga shits, I just knew when to keep my head down and that's why everyone likes me! But it's BULLSHIT!!"

He slammed his fists into his knees.

"They only like me cuz I never made a ruckus, I never did nothin' to stand out, they don't...they don't like me, they just...don't hate me. One of the few that none of them hated, when all we had was hate. All we had was...Ganon."

A few minutes passed in silence, the sun starting to set on the horizon to turn the leaves darker whilst the lizard tightened his throat with frustration as he forced himself to weep. But nothing came, and his guilt grew deeper at the absence of his tears. He walked with a heavy heart from the grave, giving one look to his friend's resting place before making his way to the base of the black mountain near the forest. A forty-minute walk from the settlement, the cavern had been sculpted by their hands with spare supplies and the makings of a home inside with water and food stored in the coldest driest darkness for freshness. The sounds of pickaxes shattered through the abyss as Lizanaich's eyes swivelled with purple pinpricks, glancing over the walls smoothened from the months of hard work as he encountered a mixed crew in the largest room.

"Howsit going boys?"

"Going great sir-OW!" a bokoblin smacked himself with a shovel in salute. "Got two more rooms laid out there, aaaaand there!"

"We also found a spring," said a green lizalfos, "or at least the path to one, small underground stream due north that'll really help."

"Thanks to me, I was the one who found it!"

"Yeah when you tripped over and fell in it, would hate to tell your wife how you drowned in two feet of water."

"I was NOT drowning I just snorted some by mistake!"

"Pretty sure that's how drowning works."

"Alright, good!" Lizanaich clapped his gloves. "You all doing fantastic, the Haven's looking awesome it might even turn out better than the village!"

"Iiii dunno," said a blue moblin scratching his neck, "living underground seems kind of a drag, sir."

"I'm kidding, but it makes a good shelter, you guys done great. So you all ready to head back soon?"

"Yeaaah sunset's coming we better go."

The workers picked up their tools and headed out from the cave, faces coated with dust as they jostled and bantered with each other with Lizanaich out front. He said nothing, letting them ramble on as they crossed over the plains and stepped back within the walls of the village whereupon Liz was met by Mobenheim.

"Sir," he saluted thus, "I have urgent news to report."

"Alright."

They made their way to the leader's hut, which barely stood out apart from its sturdier construct and the interior with fine-feathered beds and a triceratops skull upon the wall.

"As per your request," began the moblin, "we have been keeping watch on the skies this past week."

"And?" Lizanaich flumped on his bed.

"There was a strange star on the north horizon, much like the one that brought us here."

"So we got company soon?"

"I believe so," Mobenheim nodded, "I have alerted our garrison to be sharp for the next week."

"Good, thanks a lot."

"Are you well?"

"...hhhh," the chieftain shrugged, "I dunno anymore."

"I take it Mohberra's counsel did not assist today."

"Are you mocking me?!" He rasped tightening his claws.

"Never," Mobenheim clasped his chest, "I meant that most sincerely, I would never disrespect the memory of your dearest friend."

"Right...s-sorry." Lizanaich rubbed his hands. "Hhhnnnngh."

"Do you wish to discuss your duties?"

"No, no I...really gotta learn to do this mysel-"

"No." Mobenheim shook his head. "A leader does not stand alone. We are here to support you, as you support us."

"I never felt that support back in the kitchen."

"Because we were never allowed, you understand this."

"I know I-...I know." He pressed his back against the wall and pinched his snout. "Am I doing alright?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thanks. I'm gonna lie down for a bit, wake me if there's anything."

"Of course sir."

The quartermaster gave a salute and marched diligent from the hut, leaving his chief to lay himself down on his bed and try to sleep his worries off. He slept longer than he expected, drifting through the night upon dreams restless and torrid as the sun blinked beyond the horizon and plunged the village into darkness. Moblins settled in their long beds, bokoblins chipped away at wooden carvings to surprise their friends with gifts whilst lizalfos shared stories of the old days and fiendish battles they had fought. Dawn would slowly come, creeping claws of the sun that threaded the sea like fingers on a harp, plucking the waves to turn them a blood-soaked hue as trees became pillars of amber beneath darkened canopies. But something else came upon the horizon, a black cloud that the night watch caught just before their shift had ended. Their eyes widened at the northern sea as something rose out of the waters, glistening in the waking light with the taint of evil. Something that moved as a herd with pulsing trails of black like a plague of locusts.

"SOUND THE ALARM!"

"ENEMY FROM THE NORTH!"

"WH-WHA, WHAT'S GOING ON?!?"

"Nnnnh m-mommy whuusss happenin-"

"WEAPONS READY, KEEP THE CHILDREN INSIDE!"

Lizanaich awoke when the first scream had sounded, a horn trumpeting from the night watch as all the experienced fighters stood to attention before Mobenheim, a mob of armoured beasts with rattling weapons who marched half of them out of the village to stand against the enemy. The lizalfos grabbed his harpoon and raced out immediate to catch up with his vice-chief.

"Wh-what's going on?!"

"A horde approaching from the north," said Mobenehim, "stay with the village."

"What no I can't just leave you-"

"MY duty is to be the first and last line of defence. Your duty is to stand with our people and protect those who cannot fight."

"...right...yeah, alright just be careful."

"SOLDIERRRRS READYYYY!" The quartermaster barked as they turned north from the gate. "SPEARS FRONT, [i]ADVANCE![/i]"

"[i]HRAAAH![/i]"

The legion of halberds stomped forth as they kept marching, using the hills of the land to position themselves in the easiest footpaths for the enemy to come through whilst swords and shields stood in the centre and gunners kept to the back with laser rifles shining in the dawn. The enemy fast approached, much faster than anticipated as Mobenheim squinted upon their horrific faces, a monstrous sea of darkness that gibbered and shrieked with bestial cries.

"Wh-wha...what in Farore's name are they?" whispered one moblin.

"They look like...like-"

"Nothing we've seen in this world, you think they're from another-"

"SPEAAAARS, [i]FORWARD![/i]" the commander thrust his weapon in front. "FORMATIOOOON, VOLVAGIA!"

"[i]HOO, RAAAH![/i]"

The 25-strong militia spread themselves out into a serpentine rank, forming a wall between the hills and at the foot of the southern sides waiting in ambush. The monsters grew closer, their snarls of screeching lust for battle causing some of the soldiers to quiver in their feet but Mobenheim kept his force steady. Not until the burning jade of their eyes could be seen before he shouted:

"[i]ATTAAAAACK![/i]"

The savage invaders leapt upon them with a whooping shriek, dark skeletons wreathed in fog with the skulls of humanoids and long wicked claws from grossly-malformed hands that raked the earth behind them, sweeping slashing strikes that cracked against staffs as the Mohberrin guard countered sharp with twisting retorts and thrusting lunges into the smog-filled hearts of the foul beasts. The swordsmen took on the advance when the spear-wielders started to falter, ducking below the lances to thrust and cut with blocking clangs of their new steel shields against the shrieking claws of the shadowy beasts. The gunners stayed close to the village walls farther back, keeping their aims cautious for any foe that broke from the group and dared to try attack the settlement.

Mobenheim faced upon three of the shadows that jumped for him, leaping back to avoid the first strike before thrusting his royal spear hard into one of their faces, twisting through the partial skull that cracked and jostled out of place as he tore through its beady emerald eyes and pulled back quick to strike the other beast that galloped towards him. With howling cries they swung their wicked claws as he parried their strikes, deftly scarring his blade across one of their wrists and stabbing the other in the leg to prevent it from lunging. The first beast with shattered skull managed to lumber forth and punch across Mobenheim's face, making him stumble back before he grabbed at its head with one hand and crushed the weakening skull's remnants, slamming its face hard into the ground with a cracking smash.

"COME YOU BRIGANDS!" he snarled raising his spear. "For the price of naught I shall send thee back to the underworld!"

Roaring with a screech the gibbon-shaped creatures came at him together, one on each side as the moblin twirled his spear like a propeller to crack both of them in the head and lunge-thrust into of their stomachs, ripping out a thick oiled essence that half-bled half-smouldered on the grass before the second beast leapt on his face. Thrown down on his back, the quartermaster pushed the staff of his halberd within the beastly jaws that snapped on his face, twisting its head left and right before he slammed his knee into the semi-solid body and threw it over his head, rolling back up to plunge his shaft into its back and cleave it in half. The first wave of beasts were soon defeated, rabid claws deflected by shields and speartips draped in the smoke-wreathed blood.

"S-SIR!" a lizalfos cried from the hill. "ANOTHER WAVE IS COMING, THEY GOT WEAPONS NOW!"

"SHORE UP!" Mobenheim shouted. "MOVE TO FORMATION GOHMA, GUNNERS STAY SHARP!"

"[i]YES SIR![/i]"

The guards stuck close to each other to form a spider-shape, the legs bristled with swords and the front a circle of spears that formed an eye of piercing death. The second wave of monsters came with large hammers and wicked swords dragging behind them, wreathed in coils of dark like their bodies as they came out swinging with vile malice in their burning jade pupils. The spear-wielders struck first, thrusting in unison to impale the first four beasts straight through their ribs and rip them asunder whilst others tried to come swinging from their sides. But their companions defended them by swords striking against skulls and shields that parried blades of dark as blows were exchanged with a song of steel that rang throughout the hills. With a growing intellect the second wave of beasts started to counter in turn, swinging hammers against spears and crushing them upon shields to knock back bokoblins whilst swords struck down upon armoured chests and cracked with shuddering force to wound some of the soldiers.

The tide of battle stagnated during this, moblins and lizalfos suffering wounds from hammerstrikes to the head or bokoblins getting cut from the swords that raked across their stomachs and tore their armour off, clutching their chests and falling back with fright. Two of them were killed by unfortunate blows crushing their faces into the hillside, gasping croaks as the horde pushed against them. But these creatures were more resilient than the first wave, taking thrust after cut after blow and still managing to stand with only the smallest of wounds perforating their ghastly skeletons, wrapped in their foulest ethers to form a semblance of flesh that hardened against their assault.

"I CAN'T BREAK THROUGH!"

"THEY, S-SIR THEY'RE RESISTING!"

"PUSH THEM BACK!" Mobenheim lunged with a cleaving slash. "KEEP THEM AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE!"

But the horde managed to overcome, not through pure strength but by an amassing of their numbers as whilst one legion kept the guards busy, another third wave of beasts had rushed around the hills and went straight for the village. Over the steppes they barrelled down towards the settlement, gunners ready to fire with laser rifles piercing across the land to penetrate deep through their bodies. Much to their shock and relief it was tremendously effective, like demons overcome with holy fire as they gasped and screeched burning into ashen dust. The volley of lasers would not last however, each gunner only managing a few shots before the magazine had to recharge, during which the remaining beasts had dodged through their hailstorm and mauled one of the gunners, ripping the face of a lizalfos to shreds as he fell screaming clutching his bloodied eyes whilst a small troop raced past them into the village proper.

"THEY'VE BROKEN THROUGH!"

"KEEP THEM BACK FARORE'S SAKE!"

"D-DADDY, DADDYYYY?!"

"GET BACK INSIDE, KEEP YOUR BROTHER SAFE!"

"Hoh Din help us," muttered Lizanaich, "uh, E-EVERYONE, STAND TOGETHER, KEEP THEM IN THE SQUARE!"

"YES SIR!"

The villagers who were able to fight stood with their swords and axes with their chief in front, quivering through his knees and grasping his harpoon with deathly-tight fingers and a deep breath to steady himself. The monsters lunged as the villagers struck back, axes tearing through with violent swings and swords cutting through necks with little blood spilling from their wounds compared to the ruthless claws and savage swords that cleaved towards them. Two villagers fell hard into the muddy dirt, shrieking as a hammer swung high above their heads waiting to crush them into dust.

"[i]N-NOOO![/i]"

A screaming force slammed into the hammer-wielding beast.

"Not...here, not here, not ever here."

Lizanaich stood with harpoon braced, staring down the monster with mace at the ready as it came roaring in a half-gallop, pounding its feet and an arm into the mud before swinging with all its might to make the air whoosh with severing blast. The lizalfos ducked beneath the dark sweep and thrust upwards with his spear, stabbing through the chest and tilting through its neck to thrust straight through the back of its throat, frantically ripping its spine to dislodge the head as it cracked to one side hard stopping it temporarily. Another shadow came racing from behind as Lizanaich turned and swung at its legs, reaping the waters to splash across its form that blinded it temporary before he stabbed straight through the head. In a desperate cry he charged forwards to slam its skull into the earth, twisting the neck to feel the crack of whatever semblance of skeleton remained inside the voided smoke to paralyse the second fiend.

The plaza became a battlefield as the chieftain rushed towards another beast, thwacking the shadow on the back of its head with a cleaving cut to slice it in half before two more tried to leap on him. He planted his spear in the ground and charged his horn with the currents of his body, screeching as a bolt of lightning shot from his body and formed a golden sphere, bursting like a bubble to tear through the shadows with wretched shrieks and completely destroy them. The reptile chief grinned with some relief as he twirled his spear with another volt running through him.

"Alright, come on, COME ON I'M HERE FOR YA, ALL YOU BASTARDS WANNA TAKE THIS VILLAGE YOU HAFTA GET THROUGH ME!"

"S-SIR!" a moblin cried trying to push back a shadow. "S-SIR I CAN'T HURT 'EM!"

"GET BACK I'LL HANDLE THIS!"

Rushing forth he built a static in his feet, tail twitching with volts as his horn became a peerless white, crackling lightning down his spear as he thrust into the shadowbeast to spark deep into its core with an earth-shattering screech. The darkness was obliterated, forming wreaths that coiled to the air as Lizanaich swiftly scarpered over the square to carve through another fiend, bursts of white jolts across the muddy expanse as he kept his distance from the villagers whilst severing the dreadsome foe, slashing them apart with golden trails until he started to tire out, reserves withering in his body as his head became too warm and his muscles felt sluggish, jolts of electric weakening as he staggered back from two more shadows that came close to him.

"N-n-no...d-dammit, I got too...guh." He shivered hotly as he planted his spear to keep his balance. "Not...done this much jolting in like forever I jus-...gah, Din fuckit."

He braced himself with legs tight and his harpoon raised towards them, two beasts with sword and shield. He managed to block one but in his stumbling gait he was shoved down hard by a shield as one sword raised itself high to cleave down upon him. The lizalfos rolled fast and threw all he could into his upright swing, knocking the sword away and using the momentum to pull himself up for a brazen stab towards the other ape. But before he could there came a blasting comet from above that made him stagger back in fright, shielding his eyes from the explosion that obliterated the shadow into a brazen black ring.

"Wh-wh-wha...what...what jus-"

"WHAT IS THAT?!"

They looked towards the sky as something circled above the village, a pair of wings blasting flames with precision at the shadows that swarmed the land as the Mohberrin villagers started to disperse. The gunners were tending to their fallen friend, whilst Mobenheim ordered to fall back as the volleying bursts spread pockmarks over the hills, blasting shadows one by two and decimating their forces with a shocking ease.

"HEY, HEY WHAT THE SHIT IS THAT?!"

"KEEP BACK!" Mobenheim warned. "If it fights the horde then it shall make an ally so long as we not antagonise it!"

The winged stranger circled lower towards the earth as it kept firing blast after blast keeping shots away from the village and its residents who all watched amazed by its powerful bursts. Closer it came as they saw its golden belly, scales plated like armour with amber wings stretched taut against the sky before it suddenly closed them tight, divebombing towards the earth and gathering a great surging fire around its body to crash into the centre of the black beasts. The moblin quartermaster urged his troops back, shadows purging left and right to become wisps in the air amongst scorching flames that burned through the hills and erased shadows from its light. One of the shadows was even kicked high into the air by a flurry of deep purple, claws and horns slashing like a whirlwind with two meaty strikes before slamming it back into the herd with a crumpling thud that shockwaved briefly through the hills.

"That thing is just..." a bokoblin whispered, "just tearing through them without a scratch."

"How is it DOING that?!" gasped a lizalfos. "Is it really just fire or something else?!"

"Keep your weapons primed," said Mobenheim, "one of them may yet escape."

But none of the shadows could escape, their fury frothed from their wicked teeth as they snarled and swung their blades upon the intruding presence masked beneath their surging group, their bodies punched through by piercing flame as their forces were diminished with each second passing. In the space of minutes the hills were soon cleansed of darkness, the last of the shadows swinging hammers that the stranger ducked beneath and swiped fast with its tail to rip through the legs before burning its face to cinders. A steady breath came through the hills as they stood watching, curious of its intent. Silence through the dawn for a precious minute as neither of them moved, Mobenheim glinting with a tender eye and his thumb rubbing the spear.

"HEY, H-HEY!" The voice of the village chief came piercing through the quiet. "D-DID YOU SEE THAT THING, THAT THING THA-...tha...w-wait. Wait."

He saw the stranger sitting by the hill.

"That...that was you, did you-"

"Are you alright?" the stranger asked. "You fought pretty good against those shadow apes with that lightning."

"Uhh y-yeah, yeah I did uh...um...thank you, for helping my village."

The dragon smiled with a warm relief. Shining horns of gold that forked towards the light of the sun, dawn breaking upon his head of wondrous violet that shone as deep as his eyes of the same colour. He stretched his wings briefly with a pale amber hue, catching the light in his tendrils that caused all of them to gasp.

"That is...the weirdest lizalfos I ever seen," muttered a moblin.

"I don't think he is one," said Lizanaich, "but...damn, what is he?"

"I-i dunno, you wanna ask him?"

The chief sighed deep as he walked forwards with Mobenheim to meet the dragon, the drake folding his wings as he stood patient for them to stop.

"Did you come from another world?" asked Lizanaich.

"Well, when you phrase it like that I guess I did," the dragon smirked hiding his teeth, "I hope nobody got hurt."

"Unfortunately three were lost," said Mobenheim with a bow, "but your assistance was deeply appreciated, we are in your debt."

"O-oh, no no I don't want any debts, I'm just glad to help!"

"Your strength against those beasts was incredible."

"They just arrived outta nowhere," huffed the chief, "not too long before you showed up when they kept trying to tear our faces off."

"I'm..sorry I didn't arrive sooner, this world is pretty big."

He strolled up the short hill beside them to gaze over to the east, his body shimmering in the rising dawn as the morning breeze crested down his back, ending at the tail where a golden scale was shaped like a flickering flame.

"Are you the only people here?" he asked looking back to them..

"There are others," said the black moblin trudging up behind, "this is the settlement of Mohberrin Village, I am Mobenheim the quartermaster."

"And I'm, uh, Lizanaich," he followed awkward with ungainly step, "I'm the chief of the village."

"I'm Spyro." He offered his paw. "Glad to meet you!"

They shook his hand carefully, Lizanaich moreso despite his rubber glove which made Spyro smirk as they gazed upon the 4-foot-tall drake.

"You know, you're the first electric dragon I seen to wear gloves."

"Well I'm not a dragon," the chief shook his head, "I'm a lizalfos...hey, hold up you speak Hyrulian?"

"What?"

"I mean you know what we're saying and we know what you're saying sooo-"

"OH, right that hahahano, no I uh, my magic lets me understand anyone."

"Seriously?! I didn't know magic could do that."

"And yet he does not wear a collar like the humans," pondered Mobenheim tapping his snout, "would you do us the honour of coming to our village?"

"Sure!" the dragon grinned showing his teeth for a second. "Would it be alright if I had some food, it's been a long flight."

"Of course sir Spyro."

"Uhhh, just Spyro, I'm not a sir."

"Hmhm, very well."

The dragon walked between the chief and the quartermaster, the group of soldiers carrying their deceased friends back into the village gates as they put their weapons back in storage and spoke the unfortunate news to the two families, one of whom was lost had no immediate relations to mourn upon him. The villagers were cautious, both on the newcomer and also realising it was not the time to celebrate in the presence of the fallen, except the children who rushed immediately towards the dragon and clamoured all around him, a mob of little piglets and lizards all shorter than him that tried to touch his scales.

"W-WOOOOW you got WINGS!"

"How'd ya get'em, didya steal 'em?!"

"Hahaaah nooo no these are mine," he stretched them out on display.

"WE SAW YA FLYIN'!" shrieked one lizalfos. "You were like PHHOOOOM, BANG, WHAPOW!"

"Oh you saw all that?"

"Can ya do it again?!"

"Only if there's more enemies nearby," he leaned forwards nodding, "wouldn't want to hurt you by accident."

"Ahm okay, ahm TOUGH!" the lizalfos smacked his chest. "Ah fell down a hill once an' didn't die!"

"It wuzn't a hill!" shouted a bokoblin child. "It wuz a teeny TINY bump!"

"NOOO IT WUZ A HILL!"

"Hahahaha, well I know who's protecting THIS village." Spyro patted the lizalfos child. "If you're that tough then this place'll be fine with you around."

"YAH!" The little hatchling puffed his chest. "See ah TOLD you ah wuz tough!"

"No yer wuznnnn't!" squeaked a piglet hammering his chest with tiny fists.

"My apologies for the children," said Mobenheim leading him away, "they are rambunctious to a fault."

"Awww it's fine," the dragon walked beside, "it's good that they are, kids should be kids."

"Nicest words I've heard all week," said Lizanaich rubbing his neck, "hhhhh...dammit."

"What's wrong?" Spyro looked up to him.

"Nothing it...it's fine."

"Tell me," Mobenheim stooped forwards, "from whence do you come from Spyro?"

"Avalar," he nodded, "what's this place called?"

"We do not know, we came not from this place but another world named Hyrule."

"Oh...wait, you guys came here? Through worlds?"

"Let's just get back to my place," said the chief waving his hand, "there's a lot to explain."

So the dragon nodded, soon sitting in the chieftain's hut whilst they calmed themselves waiting for the soup to be brought. A short cough rippled the air as claws rapped upon the wood with the villagers babbling from outside and Lizanaich steadying his breaths.

"You sure you're alright?" Spyro asked looking at him.

"I-i am, yeah."

"I'm sorry about your friends-"

"It's fine. Don't, worry about it you're our guest let's just have some soup."

"Heeeere we are!"

The voice of Bokorie came sauntering through the door as she offered three bowls of soup, placing them down as she sat opposite of the dragon who bent his head to lap at the stew.

"OH, I'm so sorry I should bring something-"

"No no it's fine!" he said laying on all fours pulling the bowl with a paw. "I can eat like this."

"Oh but I feel so rude perhaps you would like a spoon?"

"Iiii'm much more comfortable like this thanks."

"So," Mobenheim slurped a quarter down with the bowl in his hand, "Spyro I wish to ask something concerning those beasts."

"Yeah?" he licked at his soup like a cat.

"You called them 'shadow apes', that and you were able to dispose of them with such ease even when faced by the horde of them alone."

"I fought them before," he scratched an itch above his eye, "I thought they'd all been banished, they shouldn't even be here, or even anywhere."

"What exactly are they?" the moblin asked taking sips.

"They're what's left of the dark armies, ones who tried to conquer my world."

"I assume they failed."

"Yeah, but...their master cursed them into shadows, left to wander forever. I thought they were all gone, but some of them must have been left."

"Are they stalfos?" Lizanaich dipped his finger in his soup and stirred. "Skeletons from the earth?"

"Not exactly," the dragon shook his head, "they're more just...cursed, best I can explain."

"And they can only be killed by fire?"

"Well, any element really, but fire works best on them yeah. I mean your lightning worked too."

"The guns also worked well," Mobenheim noted, "a fine first test of our new weapons."

"Until they stopped," snarled the chief, "what's the point of a weapon if it just stops working?"

"It is not the bow at fault for when you lack the arrow."

"Yeah whatever...so, uhh, Spyro, you got a reason for coming here?"

"I saw the shadow apes," he pointed outside, "there was someone that was leading them and I knew something was wrong so I followed them, then this portal opened up and we all got sucked in to this other world. I thought I lost them, but it turns out they were just under the sea walking along the bed, I didn't realise until I heard your village sounding the horn."

"What sort of someone was leading them?" asked Bokorie sitting patient before him. "What sort of beasts are they?"

"They're not really anything," he scratched his neck, "they can't really think anymore beyond how they fought, just pure hatred is left. I don't know who was leading them, I couldn't recognise him but it was definitely a guy."

"What did he look like?"

"Had this head that looked like an onion but made of bone."

"That's just a skull surely," she smirked shrugging.

"No it...actually might've been his head," Spyro rubbed his chin, "he was big though, like big shoulders, really thick bone teeth that stood out like this."

He gestured the shape of shoulderpads on either side of his neck.

"Had huge hands too like they were orange, and eyes that were glowing some strange pink."

"Well that's definitely not anyone from here," said Lizanaich finally drinking his soup, "should we worry about him?"

"I don't know what he can do, but if he managed to command the shadow apes he must be dangerous."

"Hmmm..." the moblin tapped his head with narrowing eyes, "this commander of the group, was he close to them before your arrival here?"

"Like, close or-"

"Was he in the vicinity of them?"

"I uh, yeah, I'm sure he was."

"I see. I must attend to my duties," he stood up taking his bowl with him as he drank, "twas a pleasure to meet you, and again I thanketh thee for your great assistance."

"You too," the dragon bowed, "see you around."

The hulking quartermaster left the hut as Bokorie bounced on her rear afluster with questions.

"We don't often get visitors here, especially ones that have helped us so greatly!"

"Really it's, it's fine," he blushed taking a drink of his soup, "just doing what I could."

"We'll have to tell the humans about you," said Liz smacking his lips, "they'll wanna know all about you."

"Hyoomans? Never heard of 'em."

"They uh...they're kinda responsible for dragging you outta your home and endin' up here along with them shadow ape things."

"Wait, what?" He leaned forwarrds with his neck. "Why'd they do that?"

"It's not their fault," the bokoblin mother cooed, "they're just trying to get back home but their machine keeps breaking."

"And it sucks people out of other worlds when it does?"

"Well, yes, but they are lovely people, they would send you home straight away if you just explained that's what they've done with the others."

"So why are you guys here?"

"We chose to." The village chief stared with one chameleon eye. "We had the choice to go back to Hyrule but we decided to stay."

"Oh. I understand." The dragon nodded slurping up the last of his soup. "Mmmmh, that was delicious thank you ma'am!"

"Ohoho dear just call me Bokorie," she waved her hand with a smirk, "I hope you won't try to ask me the recipe!"

"Naaah I'm awful at cooking, your recipe's safe."

"Oh don't say that, I'm sure you could learn!"

"I...actually never had the chance to try," Spyro smirked with a shameful grin.

"Well there's no time like the present, if you aren't doing anything."

"I think we've said all we needed to say," said Lizanaich stretching his legs, "sorry it's been a bit of a rough day and I uh...need stuff to deal with."

"Alright." The dragon stood up as Bokorie took their bowls, "if there's anything I can do to help-"

"Naaah nah you've done plenty enough saving our asses. Sorry, I'm not normally like this it's just-"

"Hey I understand, really, it's okay, we'll talk more later."

"Sure, and uhhh welcome to our village."

The drake smiled with apology and stepped out into the open morn with Bokorie, leaving the lizalfos to his own devices as he clutched his head in his hands and shivered with pinching claws on his scales.

Outside the newcomer cast his eye over the various huts, the strange machinery in the back chugging away near a field of nourished crops and a mixture of confused excitement from the locals around him. Outside one of the huts were two robed creatures, one in a red-and-yellow smock with the other in brown-and-blue carefully checking over a wounded bokoblin.

"You should be fine," said Blue, "nasty scars but they'll heal."

"Th-they're not, poisonous?" whimpered their patient.

"Nah I checked the pH it's fine, things coulda been a lot worse."

"O-okay, thanks...um-"

"What, is something up?"

"I-i-i...I can't get Bokanah's face out of my head, wh-when they tore through it I-i-"

"Hey hey, it's alright." The red-robed doctor pulled him up and walked him into the hut. "Let's talk about it okay?"

"O-okay...th-thanks."

"Next!"

"Is everyone alright?" asked Bokorie approaching him.

"Well I mean better we didn't get attacked bu-...woah, damn they weren't kidding." He peered past her at the visitor. An actual dragon. Huh."

"Hi," said dragon waved, "I'm Spyro, are you the doctor?"

"I'm one of them, name's Ribose," he waved his blue robe, "Adenine's my buddy who's inside but he's busy."

"Are you two from the village too?" Spyro asked.

"More or less, we're from the human base, but not humans ourselves though the way Ade's going he might as well live here."

"Hey-ey what you mean by that?!" The red-robed doctor poked his head out at him.

"Well I mean you got a girlfriend now, I don't see you heading back to the base."

"And may I say what a wonderful choice you made," said Bokorie winking at him.

"I-i was gonna talk to you about it later dude."

"It's fine, hey." Ribose patted his shoulder. "I'm happy you found someone, I'm cool with it."

"Really?" Ade gulped.

"Course, what you think I was gonna be jealous, come on that's dumb."

"So, we don't need to like have a whole talk about it?"

"Naaaaah come on, we're cool." They did a little fist bump in their sleeves before Ade went back to his patient. "Alright we're getting a little busy sooo-"

"Oh yes of course," Bokorie nodded, "come on Spyro dear let's find you someplace to rest."

"Alright, uhh great to meet you!"

Following the bokoblin mother they found to a hut that was largely empty, with beds provided made out of woven reeds that were surprisingly comfy to the touch, spongy against the dragon's claws as he did a small turn before curling up against himself.

"So you said these humans," he looked up at her, "they know how to get me back?"

"Oh yes absolutely!" she chirped clapping her hands. "May I say how awfully well you're taking all this, much better than I did."

"I'm sorta used to travelling through worlds," he shrugged with a grin, "you seem pretty sure I can get back so no reason to worry."

"But that's no reason to ship off so soon, not until you're well fed and rested!"

"Hhhahaha, you sound just like my mom...actually, funny thing I grew up in a swamp so this place almost feels like home to me."

"Really?!" She clapped her face. "I would never suspect such a handsome thing as you could flourish within the swamp!"

"Well I was adopted but, you know it's still home to me."

"Of course dear," Bokorie patted his head, "truthfully I never liked the swamp, but after a few years this place sort of grows on you, after we drained out a bit of it so we could build our houses here."

"Why DID you settle in a swamp then?"

"Because it had the best access to the forest and the mountain and the sea without being too far away from anything. That and most of the beasts here tend to avoid coming here, they find the smell rather disagreeable but it's nothing to us. Most of us enjoy the swamp, though not me but I manage."

"Do you live alone?" Spyro asked thumping his tail.

"I have my daughter," she blushed cupping her chin, "and I may perhaps have a son-in-law soon if things go well."

"You mean that doctor?"

"Yes, Adenine, such a sweet thing and knows so many things, it was because of him we learned all the plants round here that could heal us."

"Sounds like a real catch," the dragon winked as she chuckled, "his friend said they came from the human base right?"

"Yes," Bokorie nodded.

"Do you think I can go meet these humans, sometime soon?"

"Absolutely dear they would LOVE to meet you! They might seem a little odd with their machines but they are good souls the lot of them. Now, would you like some more soup? Your throat must be awful parched from all that fire-breathing."

"Hhahahaha, I think my throat'll be fine but I would love more soup thanks!"

She went to her hut nearby where the pot was still brewing, pouring some slices of meat in to keep the thickness fresh as she stirred away with a witchy grin that erupted to a cackle.

"Do you HAVE to do that?" Bokonette asked from the back.

"When you get to my age dear you'll understand."

"You're not even that old yet!"

"I'm plenty old enough!" she swung her spoon towards her daughter. "Old enough to not be embarrassed telling people my age."

"Everyone knows round here so why would you be?!"

"Exactly." The mother tapped her head. "Surround yourself with friends Nettie, that way no one'll care if you grow old with them."

"Awww that's, actually kinda sweet," said the daughter pulling an ear.

"Are you doing anything at the moment dear?"

"Uhhhh, no?"

"Could you take this bowl up to Liz, I don't want him starving when he's in one of his moods."

"Oh, sure!"

She took the bowl filled with soup and walked carefully out through the village square, averting her eyes from the three bodies covered by a sheet and laid at its centre where a soft distant weeping could be heard that made her heart sink. She stepped into the hut of the chief seeing his back turned from her.

"Hi uhhh, Liz? I got you more food."

"Thanks."

The bokoblin placed it on an empty spot beside him.

"You need anything else-"

"No."

"...okay."

"I'm sorry." He turned slightly. "I'm not mad at anyone."

"No I getcha, we're all just trying to be out here, that's the best we can ask for."

"But is it the best?" His tail curled up full. "I could do better-"

"You ARE doing better," she walked round to his side, "we all know you are, we just need someone that's got a good head on their shoulders-"

"And you all thought that was me?"

"YES because everyone likes you!"

"No, you all liked Mohberra, I was second prize."

"That's not true!"

"STOP IT!" He raised a finger as his horn shimmered briefly. "Stop, it, I am sick of people denying what they wanted and pretending for me."

"I'm NOT pretending!" She stiffened her fists. "How dare you, how DARE you think I don't believe in you!"

"Well maybe you believed wrong, you ever think of that?"

"We stuck together, no matter what, when Mohberra almost threw everything out the damn window for the girl he loved we still stuck by him cuz we believed in him and in Chihlo who was our friend!"

"DON'T [i]EVER[/i] BRING UP HER FUCKING NAME!"

He shot up in an instant, almost knocking the bowl of soup as he loomed over her with a piercing stare that wilted her knees. He stopped himself short of a second outburst when he felt something stutter in his chest, clutching his heart with a biting wince and a tear threatening to drip from his eye.

"I'm...I'm sorry. I-i have...I'm not okay."

"I-it...do you wanna talk-"

"No. Just leave. Thank you for the food."

The lizalfos sat himself down and drank his soup, saying nothing further as Bokonette left with a heavy slump and drooping ears. Lizanaich pressed his snout into his hands and groaned deep, staring at his partial reflection in the stew.

"What's wrong with you? You know what you felt, why does it matter now...I got better shit to deal with instead of lashing out at everyone."

"Sir?"

He wanted to scream there and then upon hearing Mobenheim's voice. Instead he forced his shaking fury down inside and turned with the calmest breath.

"Yes?"

"I have terrible news."

"Oh. Good, did more people die?"

"No."

"Well that's something then, what we ran out of stew then-"

"The grave of Mohberra has been defiled."

It took far too long for Lizanaich to register this sentence. Long enough that Mobenheim feared his leader had collapsed whilst sitting upright as he ventured forth with thick hulking creep to try and read his face. An eternity went before he finally answered:

"Wh-...what?"

"The place where Mohberra lies buried...his weapon, his...his tool has been stolen."