FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The village-like settlement that surrounded King Arthur's castle was bustling with dozens of civilians, each of varying shapes and sizes, going about their day. Despite Arthur's knights being more human in shape, the town seemed to welcome all walks of life; small fairies flitted to and from stalls, going about their business as easily as the large, imposing blond-haired man adorned in decorated black armor. Gao and Drum managed to get away with a few glances from curious passers-by, but Axia garnered more than a few waves of recognition - which he was quite eager to return, to no one's surprise.

Even with the occasion greeting, the trio continued at an amiable pace, with Axia relaying the tale that Drum could never seem to finish - and doing an admirable job of making Drum's orange scales turn red whenever he talked about Drum being empathetic - as they headed down the road that ran to the mountain, then up the large staircase embedded in the rock that led up to the castle. By the time Axia finished their time in the cursed forest, leaving Gao in a contemplative silence, the group had made it to the top of the mountain, and took a moment to enjoy a bird's eye view of the vast plains that covered the countryside.

"I wish we'd had more time to take in the sights together," Axia said wistfully. "Or be able to ride the carriage again. The gentle cruise down that grassy knoll was incredibly relaxing."

"Yeah, because you got to take a nice nap for most of it," Drum laughed.

"It's not my fault you make a comfortable pillow," Axia teased, pressing his head against Drum's arm. "You're the best mix of soft yet firm."

"Well don't get too used to it." Drum huffed, but made no attempt to move his arm. "Next time, I'll be the one to use you as a pillow!"

"We did steal away all your rest time with our chatting, didn't we?" giggled Axia. "It's a deal then. I'll let you rest on me next time."

He gave Drum a wink that left the red dragon stammering his reply. "G-good… I'm glad we…agree…"

"Hey, you two," Gao called back, having already crossed the courtyard. "You alright over there?"

"We're fine!" Drum called back, incredibly thankful for how his red scales hid his blush. "Just…enjoying the view!"

"Flatterer," Axia said just loud enough for Drum to hear. He giggled as he walked ahead, having too much fun hearing Drum stutter and regain his composure. I could get used to this, he thought to himself.

They both jogged through the small courtyard to catch up with Gao, then as one walked up to the castle's main gates, where a man in silver armor awaited them in front of the large portcullis.

"Halt, travelers," he declared gruffly. "Only those who have received a summons from His Majesty may enter his royal court. Please state your business."

"We're here to see King Arthur," Gao said. "There's something really important we need to ask him."

"And who are you to make such a request?" the squire asked.

Gao looked uncertain, and was about to answer, but Drum impatiently pushed past him. "Why don't you take off that helmet so you can see for yourself. He knows us, so just tell him Drum came to pay him a visit."

Though they couldn't see his eyes through the shadow his helmet cast, the squire appeared to give them a look over before speaking again. "Ahh yes, Sir Gao, Lord Drum and Sir Axia," he said as he began leading them to the magnificent castle. "Apologies for the inconvenience. Please, allow me a moment to raise open the gate."

The trio waited as the way forward slowly opened, but one thought was nagging on two of their minds.

"Sir Gao?" Drum asked his Buddy.

"Lord Drum?" Gao asked, more incredulous at the higher rank.

Axia smiled at the pair's confusion, but remained silent while their guide cleared the way. Large double doors opened as the gate was raised, and the group headed into the castle proper, pausing for a moment to take in the ornate architecture that made up the hallway. Smooth stone turned into carpeted tile under their feet, the two newcomers at a loss for words as they were shepherded into a large room, the high ceilings and ornate arches making it seem even bigger than it already was. Several knights were gathered around, their conversation cut short as they took notice of their new additions. The circular table they surrounded made their identities clear, and the trio halted behind their escort.

"His Majesty, King Arthur and his Knights of the Court," declared the squire. "It is my pleasure to announce the arrival of Sir Gao, Lord Drum, and the return of Sir Axia."

Both Drum and Gao quickly bent into stiff bows, but stopped when they were met with the Round Table's Knights bowing to them. It was especially surprising to see King Arthur mimic his charges, but his was akin to a respectful nod compared to the fuller dip the other knights took.

"Okay, I kinda like the fanfare, but what's up with the bowing?" asked Drum. "Aren't we supposed to be the ones to do that?"

Arthur spoke up first, while the rest of his knights righted their posture. "It is merely due diligence. You've proven yourself a knight of the court, and a capable Omni Lord on top of it. The same goes for all of you, thus you shall be shown due respect, as custom."

"Okay, but why are Axia and I 'sirs' and Drum's a Lord?" wondered Gao.

"You've not changed your title of the Mighty Sun Fighter, have you?" asked Arthur.

"Of course not! I could never abandon that name!"

"Then that is the reason why. You've stood up for your title, and have made it your own, but we don't have anything in our lexicon to defer to you as such. Thus, we call you a sir, on par with a knight. Axia's title is in reference to his service to the Court, while Drum's is an extension of his rank as an Omni Lord."

"Well, former Omni Lord," said Drum sheepishly. "I gave it back to Tenbu after the whole Yamigedo thing settled. You can still call me 'sir', though! I'm totally fine with that."

"Hmm, I'm sure you are," Arthur said amusedly. "Very well, Sir Drum. Though I doubt you're here to discuss the technicalities on your titles. We shall meet in private to discuss your business. After which, it would be an honor if you would join us for dinner."

"Dinner?" Three voices asked, one more enthusiastic than the others.

"Yes," replied Arthur. "If you recall we had promised you a feast before. We would fulfill our promise to you, after we hear about your problem."

"Oh yeah!!" cheered Drum, already practically drooling at the thought. "A meal fit for a king inside an actual castle! Oh, I can't wait!"

"Drum, you just had lunch an hour ago," Gao said, though with no real attempt to reprimand his Buddy.

"Hey, it takes a lot of energy to warp between Worlds," answered Drum. "Even split between me and Axia, I'd be on empty by the time we made it back!"

Gao looked to Axia to confirm his Buddy's claim, but all the Dragowizard offered was a sheepish smile.

"Well…he's not wrong," Axia offered. Gao sighed but went with it, seeing as he was outvoted either way.

Before they could continue their conversation, another squire marched up towards them, declaring loudly. "His Royal Majesty King Arthur and," he paused after taking note of Gao and the dragons, "Attending knights. Presenting the blacksmiths from the Sith Clan, Cait Sith in Boots!

The trio watched as a cadre of cats walked up from behind the squire; 6 of the small felines, each dressed in blacksmith's aprons, carried a rectangular black box, long enough to be balanced out by all its bearers. The others waited a few paces back while their leader, donning a red suit and cap more typical of their namesakes, stood before the assembly and fished out a scroll from his pocket.

"Greetings and salutations from the Cait Sith clan, meow!" the lead feline piped up, reading from a scroll as he adjusted his cap. "It is our pleasure to announce that the order you commissioned has been completed. We now present to you the finished product, complete with the Cait Sith seal of quality."

Drum smiled at the familiar feline. "Oh, hey, that's-"

"The most cutest kitty I've ever seen in my life!!" Axia finished, forgetting all decorum as he ran up to the group of cats.

"Yeah, it's… wait, no Axia!"

But Axia was far too busy to hear Drum. In a flash, he leapt toward the unsuspecting feline, and scooped him up in a tight hug, nuzzling Caith Sith against his snout. "Ohh, look at how cute this little kitty is!" he gushed, unashamedly.

"Put me down, I am not a cat!" Cait Sith fumed, wiggling his body as much as he could in hoped that his natural flexibility would free him from Axia's grasp.

"You can't fool me, not with those adorable fluffy ears and cute fuzzy tail!" Nimble fingers babied Cait Sith's ears, and the feline monster soon devolved into a bundle of purring fur.

"Should've figured the cuddle dragon would find that guy's weak spot," Drum sighed. "Axia, he's not a cat. He's a monster from the Cait Sith clan."

"Oh, but look at him Drum-kins!" Axia squeed, cradling the feline monster in his arms. "Isn't he just the most adorable little thing?"

"You and Kuguru have so much to talk about," Gao said with a smirk.

It took more than a little coaxing, but Axia finally relinquished his grip on the poor monster, who grumbled quietly once he was allowed to straighten up his fur. "Why does everybody always treat me like I'm a house cat?"

"it's not our fault you look like the poster animal for an adoption center," Drum joked, much to the feline's annoyance. "Still, it's great to see you working hard."

Cait Sith calmed down at the praise, and attempted to smoothen out his fur. "I just followed your advice, Drum. It's been hard waiting for my own Buddy to arrive, but I've been giving it my all in the meantime, meow! It's how we managed to finish our latest order a quarter earlier than scheduled."

"Speaking of that order," Arthur interjected. "I believe you have a delivery to make."

"Oh, right!" Cait Sith said, trying to regain his professionalism. "If the knight in question would please present himself, meow!"

"Knight in question?" Drum asked, looking towards the assembled knights and checking each of their hips. "But everyone's already got a sword."

"Not everyone," Arthur said. "Present yourself, Lancelot!!"

Both Drum and Gao' eyes widened at the name, and they each jerked their heads to the hallway leading into the room. A lone figure walked out of the hall, his stoic demeanor faltering once he saw the group before him. He continued on, his now silver armor giving him a more regal look than the black armor they'd seen him in before.

"That's the guy you said started all of this, right?" asked Gao, eyeing the man cautiously. "The knight that worked with Sofia."

"Oh, yeah," Drum snorted. "That's the one."

"The Knight of the Lake," added Axia, looking forlornly at the man. "Lancelot."

The trio stood in front of the Cait Sith entourage, acting as a barrier as they watched as Lancelot slowly approach. However the knight lacked any of the hate or vengeance that had been so easy to see during their first encounter. In fact, he was unable to look any of them in the eye and quickly bowed down in front of them. Unlike the other knights, his was a complete genuflection; head bowed to the knee and looking down at the floor.

"Again with the bowing," Drum huffed. "I know we're awesome, but that's really unnecessary. Especially from you."

Lancelot flinched at that, and spoke meekly. "My sincerest apologies, my lord. I meant no ill will."

Drum and Axia were taken aback by the knights' behavior, and shared a concerned look with one another before looking at the groveling knight.

"Okay, now this is starting to creep me out," said Drum. "Who are you and what have you done with Lancelot? And why aren't you looking at us?"

The knight kept his bow, not moving a muscle from his knelt position. "Because I still have yet to redeem myself in my own eyes, much less yours. I cannot face one who I had harmed so grievously."

"You really don't have to…" Axia began, but Lancelot was adamant.

"No, I insist. I've still a long ways to go before I can call myself a knight of the Round Table yet. The things I have done against both the Court and you two cannot be simply waved away. I must atone for them the way a knight should."

Gao and Axia were dumbstruck at the knight's words, but Drum didn't share their sentiment. He snorted in annoyance and glared at Lancelot.

"Well you can start by looking me and Axia in the eye and apologizing!" He bared his teeth, almost shouting at the knight when he made no attempt to move. "C'mon, get up! Where's that knight who so boldly said that he'd make the whole world his own? All I see is a shadow of a coward, not fit to pick up a sword. If you can't look who you've wronged in the eyes, then what are you even doing here!?"

It was odd to see Drum so forceful, at least to Gao. He'd thought Drum had taken a gentler approach to coercing people, but it didn't seem like that stuck. He looked at Lancelot, half wondering if the knight would even lift up his head again at this point.

"Drum, I don't think…"

But Gao stopped when he saw Lancelot slowly straighten himself up. He had a hard time focusing his gaze to the trio, but after a few deep breaths, he managed.

"I…am sorry," he said, voice laced with sorrow. "Truly I am. It was not my intention to have you and yours dragged into my affairs. Least of all put you through that hell of a forest… I know nothing can undo what i have done, but I want you all to know I would never repeat my actions. I can only hope you can forgive my misdeeds…"

Both Gao and Axia stared at Lancelot, then at Drum, leaving the decision up to him. Drum kept his face even as he walked up to the knight, and placed a hand on his shoulder. Lancelot winced, expecting the worst, but found Drum was smiling at him. "Consider it forgiven," he said at last.

It almost took a full minute before the statement fully processed in Lancelot's head, and when it did, he found himself at a loss for words. "Do…do you mean it?" he asked, bewildered. "Just like that…?"

"You're making an honest effort to correct your mistakes," explained Drum. "Maybe going a bit overboard, but I can tell you really mean it. Morganna and Sofia played you, just like a certain other swordsman we know."

Drum and Axia shared a quiet snicker, and even Gao grinned at the not-so-subtle jab, but they all turned with a start when another voice called out. "I heard that."

"It is unbecoming of a knight to speak of his friends behind their backs," a second, more worldly voice joined in.

"Shosetsu!" Drum and Gao said, while Axia replied with his own cry of "Sho-sho!"

"It's been a while." The named human smiled at the trio from the same corridor Lancelot had come through, and walked with his Buddy, Durandal, at his side. "I can't say I had any idea that you'd be here, managing to do my job for me. Still, I can't argue with the results."

"And you called me dramatic," Drum snarked to Axia. "I'm guessing you're in charge of this guy now?" he asked once the swordsman had joined them.

"I'm in charge of his reintegration, yes," answered Shosetsu. "And I believe we still have something to give our reforming knight."

Cait Sith, creeping up from behind to avoid being noticed by either dragon, leapt up and got in front of his troupe. He straightened out his fur before reading from his scroll.

"It is my pleasure to present the Knights of the Round Table with the newly reforged Arondight!" he recited. The cats pulled open the lid to reveal a magnificent broadsword, nestled snugly on a red cushion. "May it help you in your future battles and bring you good fortune on your journey ahead, meow."

They all gazed at the reforged sword, which held a completely different light than the Arondight Sofia had used. It was a whole blade, no longer hollowed out; the black blade shone in the midday sun, an azure crest that started at the hilt and came up midway on the blade shimmered its radiance. Its hilt fanned out to cover some of the blade, the custom grip designed to catch opposing strikes in its grate-like design.

"It's incredible," Lancelot managed out.

"Indeed it is," Arthur said as he walked up to the feline troupe. "We commissioned the finest blacksmiths in all of Legend World to forge a new sword that would symbolize your return. Consider this my way of apologizing." He reached out and took ahold of the grand sword, holding it up. "Now, kneel, Lancelot."

The knight complied, practically trembling as he bowed his head.

"Lost soul that hath wandered the hellish landscape of that accursed forest," Arthur's voice carried far into the room, the commanding presence unmistakable. "You have found yourself before us once again, awakened from what you once were. Though your regrets are many, fate has seen to give you a chance at redemption. Use these feelings to serve your kin and court."

He lifted the sword then lowered it to Lancelot's shoulder. "By the Knights code of honor." The sword was raised again, over his head to touch the other shoulder. "With the blessings of Nimoue, dub thee I do. Knight of the Round Table, Lancelot." He held the sword out, and Lancelot took ahold of the hilt, holding it reverently.

"Now my journey begins anew," he murmured.

"A quick word of advice," Drum called out. "Don't let yourself get bogged down by all those negative emotions. Trust me, it's not good for your health."

"I'll remember that, Knight's Champion, Drum." Lancelot offered the dragons a bow and went to take his spot among his fellow knights.

"That was incredible, Drum-kins," said Axia. "He's always done his best to avoid me and stuck to moping around in the shadows, but you managed to get him out of his slump!"

"Yeah, man," Gao joined in. "I'll admit, I was a little worried at first, but you really pulled it off."

"Ahh, well, it's no big deal," Drum shrugged, still wearing a grin. "Just because I'm not an Omni-Lord doesn't mean I can't be inspirational. Now, how about that dinner!"

"Well, it was fun while it lasted," Gao laughed. "But maybe we should save that until after we finish what we came here for."

"Oh, right!" Drum turned to the assembled knights. "Hey, Arthur! If it's alright with you, we were wondering if we could ask some questions." The other knights' eyes narrowed at the casual association to their king, but it dropped when Drum finished his sentence. "It's about Morganna."

Murmurs filled the court, and even the squire that had brought them in managed to look apprehensive underneath his helmet.

"I see. Very well, you two shall have a private audience. Shosetsu, I shall leave Lancelot's training to you. Cait Sith, I thank you and your clan for your marvelous work. Feel free to enjoy my kingdom's hospitality until you depart."

"Thank you, King Arthur," replied Cait Sith with a small bow. "We'll stay and make sure the blade is up to snuff before heading out. A quick, mock fight should do it, if you don't mind us using your training field, meow."

"It is no trouble at all. Please, use it as you see fit."

"Sounds like you two are getting up to something big," remarked Axia. "You don't mind if I tag along, right?"

Drum made to respond, but Shosetsu called out first. "Axia, Merlin scheduled this day for training. You can hang out with Drum afterwards."

Axia looked conflicted, but Drum knew what would get him out of his funk. "You know how important training is, and this shouldn't take too long. We'll tell you about after we're done, okay?"

"Alright, if you're sure. Good luck with your mission." He hesitated for a moment, then reached up to give Drum a quick peck on the cheek before rushing off to join the others.

Drum took a moment to process what happened, subconsciously raising a hand to the cheek Axia kissed. He then turned to his Buddy, once again aware that he was in public, and had to fight to stay composed when he saw Gao's wide grin.

"So, that's what was going on in that forest!"

"Kid, I-"

"It's alright Drum, I understand. I won't get in the way if you and Axia wanna go on a date while we're here." Drum's jaw dropped, the dragon frozen at how casual and innocent Gao was at his teasing. "Now let's go! The sooner we report our problem, the sooner you and Axia can make goggly eyes at each other!"

Drum slumped, now confident that the burning he felt in his cheeks had set his hair on fire. He had Gao's blessing, alright. He just wished the kid wouldn't make it sound like they were already an item.

"This is gonna be a long day…"

---

Tasuku regained consciousness for a second time that day. His body still felt sluggish, but the pain he was in before had dulled to a mild soreness. His eyes opened easier this time, and the sterile sight of the hospital ward filled his vision once again. An uncomfortable sense of deja vu flooded Tasuku's addled brain, and he tried his best to remember his day.

"Back again to the land of living, are we?"

Tasuku turned his head, seeing Dr. Hamasaki sitting next to the bed while lazily scrolling through her tablet. Recollection hit him like a bus, and he nearly jolted up, but was held back by a soft push by the doctor. The adrenaline rush left as quickly as it came, and Tasuku fell back on the bed with a quiet grunt.

"If I had a nickel for every time you tried to shoot out of bed," she said, not looking up from her tablet. "Your body caught up with you, and you passed out. Good news is, you've rested for your recommended amount of hours, so I brought you something." She set her tablet down and held up Tasuku's phone.

"My phone…" he reached out to take it, but the doctor's hand pulled it out of reach.

"There are conditions," she said sternly, poking his chest. "I'm giving you this phone to call Gao. You said you had important information to pass onto him, and I will let you do that. Afterwards, I shall keep it for safety until I deem you physically well. You still need rest, and checking on the news feed would make you anxious on the best of days."

Having restrictions placed upon him always irked Tasuku, more so after the Buddypolice coup that had taken place months prior. Being without some way to affect the world always made him remember what he felt after the Disaster. The exact details were still lost to him, probably for the best according to Takihara, but he could still remember how hopeless he felt standing atop the mountain ridge.

Still, the doctor's words were strict but measured. The sinking feeling in his stomach lightened just a bit hearing that he'd still be able to do something. It wasn't much, but he would gladly take it over the micromanaging he'd experienced before.

"Thank you…" he murmured, holding out his hand. "And…sorry."

"Nothing to apologize for," Nagisa said, placing the phone in the boy's hand. "Much as I hate to admit it, you're a part of these operations, the same as any officer. These are the hazards of the job, the risks we adults take to make sure the younger generation stay safe. I'm just sorry you had to be exposed to them."

She went back to her tablet, and Tasuku took the opportunity to adjust himself, putting his pillows behind his back to help him sit up. Dr. Hamasaki always had a more hands-off approach when it came to him, something the young boy appreciated more than he let on, even if it worried Takihara and Stella to no end.

His posture corrected, Tasuku's fingers navigated his phone, quickly coming to Gao's name in his concerningly sparse contacts. To his surprise, the call switched from local to long distance, and then even further. It was only because of his special clearance that allowed him to place a call to another world, at least without breaking his phone bill, and his brow furrowed at the implications.

Just where did you need to go, Gao…?

---

King Arthur's throne room was a step above anything Gao or Drum had seen. The ceilings had already been higher than most houses they'd been in, and that was in one room! The king's throne room was almost daunting to look at, giving both human and dragon an odd sense of vertigo. Gao had to focus his eyes on the chandeliers that were hung at regular intervals, his mind thankfully focusing on how they were cleaned than their ridiculous height.

To his relief, Drum had managed to pull him back to earth. His larger form helped to bring the dragon out of his stupor once he heard the squire close the doors behind them, and he gently lowered Gao's head to face Arthur, breaking the room's spell.

The king himself seemed unaware of their plight, and walked to his ornate, golden throne; one of two, the other just beside him and looking just as regal, if conspicuously empty. Red cushions were embedded to help give the royal pair a comfortable seat for, what Drum could only imagine would be, long and arduous lengths of times holding court.

Drum had seen his father hold similar meetings during his childhood, and remembered just how long some of his disputes lasted. If there's one thing I'm not looking forward to when I become chief, he thought with a small sigh. It's the politics.

"Now then," Arthur said, now seated in his throne. "The court recognizes both Sir Drum and Sir Gao, friends of Castle Camelot. Please tell us of your plight, and I will see what I can do to help."

Before either of the pair could speak, Gao's phone rang. He jumped in surprise, the room's acoustics making his ringtone sound louder than it was.

"I'm sorry! I thought I put it on silent! I'll-" He stopped as soon as he saw the caller ID, and his face lit up in a bright smile. "It's Tasuku!"

A quick button push and Tasuku's face greeted him. The Buddypolice Boy Wonder still looked worse for wear, but that fact that he was awake and talking eased the pressure on Gao's heart. "It's great to see you awake!"

"Gao, I'm glad I caught you," said Tasuku, sounding equally relieved. "I need to tell you about the assailant that I fought with."

"Oh, that's perfect! We were just about to ask King Arthur about it."

Whatever Tasuku had been planning to say had been thoroughly derailed from the, at least to him, complete non sequitur. "Arthur?"

"Yeah! Drum and I are in Legend World right now," he turned the phone to the king, who looked at the child with measured patience. "We've been trying to get more information on Morganna, and Arthur's gonna help us out."

"Greetings, young Tasuku," the king greeted, giving a light incline of his head. "It seems that you were caught in the fallout from one of Morganna's schemes. You have my condolences."

"I appreciate your concern, but I'm not sure how involved Morganna is in all of this. She told me the criminal's name was Muichi and by the sound of it, she had been pursuing her for quite some time, though I don't know to what end."

"How very vexing," Arthur murmured. "Usually it is Morganna performing abductions rather than the reverse. Was this Muichi working with anyone else?"

"I'd imagine so," continued Tasuku. "As far as I can tell, she's a regular human, but she managed to get her hands on something that acted like a Dark Core."

"A Dark Core!?" Drum yelled out, jumping in front of the screen. "No wonder she was able to make that foul miasma! This has Kyoya's dirty fingerprints all over it! That no good, little-"

"It's not Kyoya," Tasuku said. The words were filled with a surprising firmness that stopped Drum's tirade cold, and all ears were drawn to him.

"What makes you so certain?" asked Arthur, eyes filled with skepticism.

Tasuku took a deep breath before answering. "I've…been around him long enough, and this isn't how he operates. This girl may be using a variant of his ideas, but I know he's not directly involved. More to the point, she had a Buddy, one that-" A sharp groan of pain interrupted him and he held his head with his free hand.

"Tasuku!" Gao shouted while he and Drum crowded over the video screen.

"I'm fine," he managed out. "Just… whenever I try to remember her Buddy, my head hurts. I can't remember its name, but I do know it was a red dragon that looked- aargh!!"

He winced again, and another voice joined the call.

"Alright, that's enough," a woman peered into frame, and the video image shook as the phone was taken from him. "You've reached your limit, it's time to rest."

"Tasuku? Who is that?" asked Gao.

The video feed flipped, now showing an out-of-breathTasuku in his hospital bed. "Don't worry…it's the Buddypolice doctor, Dr. Hamasaki. She's looking over me and Jack while we heal."

"I'm sorry to interrupt your time, but I must insist he rest," the doctor said, turning the feed to herself. "Whatever that girl hit him with is still afflicting him. I will let him contact you again once I make sure it's nothing permanent."

"Wait! At least let us say goodbye first!" Much to Gao's surprise, Dr. Hamasaki turned the phone camera to Tasuku again, and he could only offer a quiet, "Bye Tasuku. Get better soon."

"Goodbye Gao, Drum. Be safe out there, and contact Stella or Takihara if you find out anything."

Gao managed a smile as he replied. "You can count on us!"

Tasuku nodded, and the line disconnected.

For a long moment, Gao stared at his phone in silence. He took a shaky breath to quell the flurry of emotions still running through him. After putting his phone away, he looked back at Drum, who gave him a reassuring smile. Drum's attitude was always infectious, and Gao felt himself smile on reflex as he turned back to face the king.

"So, whaddya think?" asked Gao. "Know anybody who might fit the bill?"

Arthur shut his eyes, rubbing his chin in thought. "Curiouser and curiouser" he said before returning his attention to the duo. "Unfortunately I've not heard of this 'Muichi', though it wouldn't surprise me to learn that Morganna had acquired a new enemy to add to her already long list. She certainly seemed to enjoy making herself an enemy of my knights."

"Why does Morganna have such a beef with you guys, anyway?" asked Drum. "She came to me asking for help but I would think that it'd be easier to ask you guys."

"Morganna is a complex monster, she was not always the malicious manipulator that you've come to know. Originally she met my master, Merlin, and asked for training in the mystic arts. She was intrigued by the other worlds' magics, and studied with Merlin when he traveled to Magic World."

"She was quite the scamp," Merlin's voice interjected as the old mage nonchalantly entered the room. "She was a sponge to every word I said, and was eager to learn everything I could teach her. Perhaps too eager… I was so caught up in taking her as my apprentice that I hadn't noticed her more violent tendencies.

"Morganna took my training and spat in its face. She wanted to learn the powers of Darkness Dragon World, finding infinite amusement in its potential. It was only later that we learned that she was a fairy, though perhaps it is because of that lineage that she was so taken with that World's malicious nature."

"Right, a fairy… Would Oberon know anything?" Arthur asked his mentor. "Perhaps this 'Muichi' is an ally of the fairies?"

"It is hard to say," replied Merlin. "I find it hard to believe that we'd be unaware of such a being so close to our own domain. Still, it is worth looking into. Shall I call him?"

"Yes. I think it would do us some good to get a second opinion."

"Wait, you're gonna call Oberon here?" asked Drum nervously. "Are you sure that's such a good idea?"

"What's got you all rattled, Drum?" asked Gao.

"Just got some bad memories. Oberon is the guy who put a curse on that stupid forest we got thrown into. And considering we blew up his enchantment, I don't think he'd be too happy to see us."

"That territory was primarily my domain," Arthur reassured them. "He hasn't brought it up in the time you've been gone, and I doubt he will now. Besides, he if does know anything more about Morganna, his insight on the matter could prove invaluable. And if it makes you feel any better, I'll take responsibility for the actions you took in the forest. I was the one who sent your three out there, so it is somewhat my fault."

"Fine," relented Drum. "If he doesn't start anything, I won't either. How long is this going to take?"

"That, I cannot say," Arthur replied. "Oberon respects me, and thus will give my summons more consideration than most. Of course, he is still a King of his own domain-one of the fairies, at that-so there's no telling when he'll--"

"Oberon and his wife shall be here within the hour," declared Merlin as he reentered the room. "We were lucky, they sounded quite interested with our request."

Both human and dragon looked expectantly at Arthur, but to his credit, the King kept a straight face on as he continued. "Of course, he is a fairy, and as such, has no desire or whim to follow the rules of convention. Thank you Merlin."

The old mage spared a smile to his friend before making his exit.

"Hey, not to be nosey, but we won't have to wait for Oberon to get here before we get to eat, will we…?" Drum asked anxiously.

"I appreciate your confidence in my chefs, but even they are not so talented as to make a banquet in seconds," he said good naturally. "That said, it is only proper to wait when you're expecting royalty. Rest assured, you'll have your dinner as promised. Just with some added guests. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some preparations to make. Feel free to move about the castle. A squire will notify you when dinner is ready."

It was hard not to miss the amused grin on Arthur's face as he passed the duo, giving Drum - frozen in place after hearing of the new wait time - a consolatory pat on the shoulder before exiting the throne room.

"I just can't catch a break today…" Drum mumbled, his body drooping in defeat.

"Don't look so down," said Gao. "We can get some training in while we wait. Plus…" he grinned sneakily and elbowed his buddy. "It'll let you spend time with Axia…"

"I…" Drum still froze and fought back his rising blush. And here I was worried he wouldn't approve. Now I gotta wonder if he'll ever stop! "Y-yeah…"

---

Now stuck playing the waiting game, Gao and Drum made their way to the training field. A multitude of squires helped guide their way through the expansive castle, until the duo reached an open area located just outside the castle walls, were they treated to a very interesting matchup.

Axia and Lancelot, once enemies vying for the fate of Legend World, were now training partners to bring the reformed knight's skills back up to speed. Sword and staff clanged loudly against each other as two combatants vied for dominance in the ring, the atmosphere of friendly competition a much welcome break from the last few days.

Drum had to take a moment to adore Axia's form sprinting to and fro from the knight, acting more like he was performing a dance or gymnastics than fighting. His Buddy, on the other hand, waved excitedly as he ran to the group of cats that had given Lancelot his sword.

"Hey, Cait Sith," he called.

"Hi Gao. Good to see ya, meow," Cait Sith replied. "You came at a good time. The preliminary tests are just about done, and the sword's looking better than ever. Now those two are just having a friendly sparring match."

"Axia's really putting it through its paces, huh?" Drum commented, eyes still glued to the field.

He wasn't wrong, Axia used his agility to keep Lancelot on the offensive, leading the knight to overreach each swing, then counter it. Yet despite the amounts of hits the sword took, it showed no sign of scratching or breaking.

"That's the quality of the Cait Sith clan! You won't find another sword as durable as that unless you went to the Lady of the Lake herself, meow!"

Axia parried another of Lancelot's swings and thrust his spear hard against the flat of Arondight. The blade remained unscathed, but the knight's balance crumbled and left him wide open. Using the momentum built up, Axia spun on his heel, and kicked Lancelot hard in the stomach, sending him down for the count.

"I believe that's the match," Shosetsu called from the other end of the field. "The victor is Axia."

"I accept this loss," Lancelot managed, holding his stomach as he tried to get up. "It appears I'll need to double my training regimen."

"You didn't make it easy," said Axia, holding a hand out to help him up. "If you keep that up, you'll be back to your peak in no time!"

"You have incredible grace as well, Sir Axia," he replied. "Not all wizards are so athletic. I'm amazed your training here bore such fruitful results in such a short time."

"Axia already had some good moves before," Drum called as he and Gao crossed the field. "Glad to see you two getting along, but I thought old man Merlin had you out training?"

"You don't have to worry about that, Drum-kins. I managed to convince Merlin to let me help Lancelot with his training as part of my own. If I'd known your meeting would be so short, I would've waited until later."

"We just finished briefing King Arthur, but now he has to call…" he stopped himself from saying Oberon's name, not wanting to distract from Axia's good mood. "someone to help confirm what we know, so we have some time to kill. Told you it wouldn't be long. If you're still up for it, I wanna go a round."

"You want to spar with me?" Axia asked, slightly taken aback.

"After the show you just put on, who wouldn't?"

That got Axia giggling happily, and he smiled brightly as he responded. "Alright, I think I can go again. Just give me a moment to catch my breath."

Lancelot grunted in amusement. "It's good to see the next generation so spry. I've had my fill of action for today."

Cait Sith darted forward, jumping atop Lancelot's shoulder. "If you're finished with your exercises, then we can head to the armory and get that sword a new scabbard! Something to really bring it all together, meow!"

Lancelot chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a fine idea. I wish you both luck in your coming bout." He gave a nod to the two dragons before heading back into the castle.

Gao walked to where Shosetsu watched over the field. "Once they're done, whaddya say about fighting me?"

"A Buddyfight, or…?" He raised Durandal's scabbard up.

"Either really," Gao replied, holding up his deck case. "I brought my deck, and I've still got my moves from training in Dragon World!"

"Drum said that you had personally trained with his clan a while back," said Shosetsu. "I'm interested in seeing the fruits of that. We'll have a proper match after theirs."

After a few breathing exercises, Axia gestured for Drum to lift up his weapon, his own staff lighting up with a gentle glow. Drum lifted his sword and watched as Axia's spell enveloped his blade in a gentle hue of teal light. It was gone soon after, leaving the dragon confused.

"What's with the magic show?" he wondered.

"I'm blunting our weapons," replied Axia as the same glow covered his staff. "I did the same for Lancelot for our bout. This is only a practice match after all."

"Pretty handy," complimented Drum. "I hope you know this means I won't have to take it easy on you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way!" he grinned and jumped back, taking the appropriate place on the field.

"Combatants ready?" Shosetsu called out, and waited a beat for both dragons to nod before shouting out. "Begin!"

Surprisingly enough, it was Axia who made the first move; the teal dragon darted forward after spinning his staff with a flourish, acting as if he would impale Drum on it. Drum's eyes were focused on Axia's charge, looking for any sign that would telegraph his movements. It wasn't until Axia was a few feet away that he saw the dragowizard's run start to turn into a crouch.

Just as he predicted, Axia feigned his first attack and leapt up over Drum's head, swinging his staff at him for some easy damage. Had their weapons not been blunted, Drum was aware that such a maneuver would grievously injure the opponent, and even with blunting, it would knock him off his balance. Drum moved his sword up high, managing to block Axia's skyward assault, but the teal dragon wasn't done. Axia swiveled on his heel, intent on kicking Drum to knock his balance off, but was shocked to find his leg caught by the armordragon's tail!

Drum could almost sense Axia's intent, and his tail moved on instinct. He didn't have the most prehensile of tails compared to some other dragons, but it was an invaluable resource that his father always had him utilize whenever he had the chance. It came in handy, and he dug his feet in to throw Axia forward, forcing the dragowizard into a roll to disperse the momentum, and immediately charged, sword raised above his head.

Axia was quick, and held up his staff, the metal of Drum's sword clanging loudly against as the two vied for power. It was clear from the start; Drum was physically stronger than Axia. In a war of attrition, the dragowizard would come out short, so he improvised. He tilted the head of his staff until it reached the ground, forcing Drum to overextend and causing his blade to slide down until it was hooked in the smaller blade of Axia's staff. It also caused Drums head to lower just enough for a swift knee, and armordragon was sent reeling back, letting his sword be tossed to the side. Axia charged again, but Drum turned on his heel, his tail wrapping around Axia's staff and used his own momentum to rip it out of the wizard's hands.

Now weaponless, both dragons circled one another, sizing each other up. This time it was Drum who moved forward, charging with his arms held up in an indication of a grapple. Drum was hard to size up; though he was earnest in everything he did, Axia couldn't help but feel his charge was too predictable. Axia feinted a guard, and Drum sprung up. The difference in their strength was clear as Drum cleared the same distance Axia had before without telegraphing a jump. Axia was stricken for a second before his reflexes kicked in; in a mimic of Drum's last move, he lashed out his tail, and ended up catching a well timed kick that would have knocked him down.

Instead, it forced Drum to throw his arms back in a desperate attempt to keep balance. It left him unable to guard when Axia crouched down and swipe kicked his feet, finally upending the red dragon. Axia immediately pounced, pinning Drum's shoulders down to the ground. Both dragons panted as the adrenaline wore off and heard Shosetsu call out from the side.

"That's game," said Shosetsu. "This round goes to Axia."

"I gotta admit, I never would've expected that," remarked Gao. "Better watch out Drum, or Axia'll be the new star!"

The call had meant to be teasing, to get another predictably flustered reaction from his Buddy. But neither dragon seemed to notice him, still caught up in the aftermath of their battle.

"I won…" Axia said, breath short in both exhaustion and amazement.

"Yeah…you got me," Drum panted out, similarly tired but happy all the same. It reminded him of their time in the library, when the over enthusiastic dragowizard tackle-hugged him into a similar position. Only that time, their snouts ended up much closer. "You have a habit of knocking me off my feet."

The quip came out before he could stop it, but it didn't sound as awkward as he feared. If anything, it seemed to amuse Axia more than he expected, and the look he gave Drum caused his heart to start racing.

"Only because you swept me off of mine."

Drum's budding confidence was demolished by Axia's bold statement shattering any subtly he had been going for, leaving his emotions exposed. He tried to come up with a decent retort, something to fluster the teal dragon with, but his mind wasn't fast enough and he froze when Axia lowered his snout, connecting their lips for a bier moment. It was a quick kiss, one born from one of Axia's many fantasies involving the red dragon in situations so similar to this, and ended just as soon as it had begun.

Drum tried to stutter a response - something that was becoming far too common for his liking - but turned his head when he remembered they had an audience. Neither Gao nor Shosetsu looked disapproving, but the extra eyes on him sent a spike of anxiety that he was sure was apparent.

Unsurprisingly, Axia followed Drum's eyes and quickly noticed the source of his discontent. Drum saw the emotions play in Axia's eyes, and knew he would reach the same conclusion. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice shaky, and started to push off him.

With Axia so close, Drum couldn't miss the disappointment in his eyes. It was all too apparent that Axia wanted to share a tender moment with him, for both of their sakes, and he shot him down. That horrid twisting in his stomach from the morning came back in full force, and he knew it was from seeing Axia look so sad. That wretched feeling was worse than whatever anxiety he had, and he brought Axia's head back down to meet his, kissing him deeply. The dragowizard let out a brief squeak of surprise, before melting into it.

Drum closed his eyes, doing his best to focus only on Axia. He accidentally used his magic sense, he was so focused, and Axia's body became a bright, teal glow in his mind's eye. Gao and Shosetsu's aura's became background ambiance, and Drum's frayed nerves finally began to calm.

Despite the emotions raging in Drum's head and heart, the kiss remained tame, both dragons looking content with each other. They were slow to separate and left panting anew.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. None of us do…" Drum took a deep breath to stop his heart from racing. "Just… give me some time to get used to this? This is all still so new to me."

"You are one of a kind, Drum-kins." Axia said, sitting up and freeing Drum from the pin. "And you are worth the wait."

Gao looked rather distant at the sight. It was incredibly bizarre to see Drum like this. He was aware, and somewhat proud, that his Buddy seemed to get over his skittishness with Axia. In an odd way, they reminded him of his parents. The air of comfortableness they felt with one another felt so familiar…

It reminded him of a talk he had with Drum's father…

---

"The time when Drum will become chieftain is drawing near," Drum's father, Fang Slade Terrestrial XIII, told him. It was a warm crisp night when the chieftain had asked for Gao by himself. Drum had long since fallen into a deep sleep, utterly exhausted from whatever he had been doing over the last few days.

"Really? How can you tell?"

"A father has his ways. You saw how he looked when he got back, how he can't even finish that story when it comes to that other dragon." he looked down at Gao, and smiled warmly. "He's found someone special."

"Someone special?" parroted Gao. "He didn't mention meeting anyone new."

"Perhaps you're still a bit too young to understand," Fang Slade said. "Then again, maybe he is too, if he hasn't brought them back yet. Still, I'm sure it's only a matter time. If there is someone he fancies - someone that he clicks with - he'll show it."

"Can't argue with ya there, Drum can't hide his feelings to save his life. But I'm his Buddy. Shouldn't we be able to click like that?"

Fang Slade guffawed. "Ahh, the spirit of youth. Yes, you two have a certain bond, but there are other types. You've seen how your parents act around each other right?"

Gao nodded, several images of his parents coming to mind. Mostly of his mother's harsh training while his dad took care of the housework. But there was always a comfortable air around them, one that exuded kindness and love.

"When Drum finds someone that makes him feel that way, that's when you'll know," finished Fang Slade. "Of course, from the sound of things, that's still a ways off! Just remember to enjoy your time together, as Buddies."

---

Is Axia the one? He'd always known the two had a special connection, no matter how many times Drum denied it. But now…

He barely heard the two make their departure, Axia mentioning cleaning up after their workout while Drum followed after. Gao meant to make a remark about that, it was almost instinct at this point. But the sight of Drum and Axia walking away stirred uncertainty in him.

"Gao!"

The voice shook him from his reverie, and he turned to see Shosetsu look at him, concern in his eyes.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "My mind was somewhere else."

"Do you want to wait a little before we spar?"

"No, some exercise will help me," he replied. It was true, usually a good sparring session would clear his mind, but even as he went through the motions, he still was aware that the time would come where he would be living in a future without Drum…