Dragon Storm: Chapter 30: A Stunning Banquet Invitation!
#30 of Dragon Storm
Author's Note:
Hi again! I just want to say a few things. First, I want to let everyone know that I have some Dragon Storm Art and Dragon Storm music themes out! Please go check them all out! ^_^ I feel like this story is slowly becoming something bigger! Secondly, I thought that when my dad found out about me being a gay furry, that he would shun me, however... he shocked me by saying that he also has a Fursona and even tattooed it on his back! Also, he wants to be in the story as soon as he can, how cool is that! XD (my real dad, not my step dad) anyway, please enjoy the next installment! XD
SoFurry Cast
DS-Rio: http://ds-rio.sofurry.com/
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A Soviet Dragon: http://a-soviet-dragon.sofurry.com/
Yun95: http://yun95.sofurry.com/
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Eveser: http://eveser.sofurry.com/
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Naraku: http://naraku.sofurry.com/
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Aresues: http://aresues.sofurry.com/
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ASCII Artwork:
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I do not take credit for this artwork.
-PREVIOUSLY ON DRAGON STORM-
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Suddenly, a fireball emerged from the treetops and hit a flanking griffin up above Shayde. As the burning griffin hit the ground, Shayde looked up toward the small cliff and saw where his heat wave left some charred spots. He proceeded to look further up the small cliff and spotted a snowy terrain, not hit by Shayde's heat wave, and then, standing on it, he saw a red and black striped anthro dragon. His mouth was still spewing out flames from his fireball attack just now. This red dragon was turned so that his back was to Shayde and his head was turned sideways a little. The red dragon sported a small black bow on his back with a silver quiver and silver arrows each with a crimson red feather on it. He also had his black and red sword held out in one hand while holding his S&W 9mm semi automatic handgun in his other hand. The red dragon was standing in a rather cool pose himself.
"Ah. You must be Rio." Shayde said calmly.
"Heh! Yeah... that's me, and your Shayde." Rio said just as calmly and jumped down the small cliff to meet Shayde.
" Quicksilver told me to look for you." Shayde said while sheathing his sword.
" Yeah. My dad told me about you. Looks like we are allies." Rio said while putting his sword in its sheath and placing the handgun in its holster.
" Yup. So... Rio. Where is this pseudo-chimera thing at anyway?" Shayde asked while tilting his head sideways.
" I will inform you... if you be my friend... Shayde." Rio said while holding out a gentle hand for a handshake.
"You want to be my friend?" Shayde asked.
"Yeah. I saw you fighting off all those griffin soldiers by yourself. I think you are cool!" Rio said as he swung his long red tail side to side.
" Alright, Rio... you have twisted my arm." Shayde said in between his laughter and reached out to shake hands with Rio.
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" I knew I felt something before... I WAS being watched." Lazz thought to himself.
"If you don't then I will have no choice, but to kill you where you stand. What did you think I was going to do?" Aisu asked sarcastically and took a step forward.
"............................" Lazz remained silent, completely stunned by Aisu's new Quintessence readings.
"Holy crap! What do I do now? I can't fight like this. He has me cornered... I'm sorry Rio... but I'm going to have to tell him where you are...forgive me." Lazz thought to himself.
"He is in the forest to the north." Lazz said out loud.
"Hmph..." Aisu muttered and then left the room quickly.
"At long last Rio your G.O.N. shall be mine!" Aisu thought while walking toward the forest just in front of him.
"Wh-what have I done...? Rio won't be able to beat him, his Quintessence level is far beyond Rio's... he'll never win." Lazz stated in shock.
OPENING#2:
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Sha la la I know that someday
I will find what I'm chasing after
I pray that light will shine into your heart
And set your empty soul ablaze
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My desire to see you just once more
Is so strong I cry till my heart's torn
Fireflies have flown into summer
And they will never come back again
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You left me with a kiss on my lips
And told me that you had to go
And although I was sad
I just nodded my head
And then you walked away and left me
I trembled and cried with grief
_ Sha la la I know that someday_
I will find what I'm chasing after
I pray that light will shine into your heart
And set your empty soul ablaze
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Sha la la my dear beloved
I can still see your precious smile
The dazzling light shining from the moon
Illuminates tomorrow's way
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Let it shine; let it shine, to brighten your way!
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I do not own Hotaru no Hikari .
Dragon Storm
CHAPTER 30: A Stunning Banquet Invitation!
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" I'm so sorry May." General Andal said while placing her gently on a rather large dock and locking a shackle to his own left leg.
General Andal's feathers and uniform blew lightly in the wind as the waves of the sea splashed into the dock. He looked up to see an anchor above him. He then followed the black chain back to his now shackled left leg. Andal reached for a flare gun and shot it high into the air. The bright neon orange light shone down intensely and then Andal let out a sigh.
"I guess it's finally time... Rio will be here soon." General Andal said as he reloaded his H & K machine gun.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - (Flashback: An earlier event) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I wonder what's taking them so long.... Ah Here they are now." General Andal said.
"Sir, we did as you asked." The first griffin said.
"Why are you doing this sir? " the second griffin asked.
" Yeah, she is your own blood isn't she!?" the third griffin shouted.
"I don't recall giving you guys permission to speak! The reason why I had you prepare May's coffin and grave is because we won't need her anymore after we capture Lazz!" General Andal said.
- - - - - - - - - - - (Flash forward: Dragon Talon Island Docks) - - - - - - -
" Now that Lazz has been captured, it's just as I said, I no longer need my daughter here." General Andal said as he waited for Rio and took a deep breath.
- - - - - - - - - - - (Flashback: An earlier event) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Take him!"
" He's to heavy, you take him!"
"Relax you two, just put him right over there!"
"Okay! I've strapped him in!"
"Let me finish him off sir!"
"Don't kill him yet... I want him alive."
Lazz was light headed and hurt real bad, but he could here something. He could hear voices, the voices of the BLACKFANG members talking. Lazz was out of it, he was dazed. He could hardly even open his eyes, but he then began to open them slightly. At first, there was a bright light, then as his vision focused; he could make more of the lights out. His vision was still a little fuzzy, but it was better then nothing.
" Leave it to me." Rock Lizard stated.
" Do you need his DNA too?" Cross Wing asked.
"Yes. I want a sample while he's still alive. We know he won't talk and tell us where in the D.E.O. Nuker's remains are being kept and with War Wolf dead we can't simply read his mind either. So I'll just take a sample of his DNA and see what the results will tell me. He works for the D.E.O. and he has nanomachines inside of him so he is bound to know something." Rock Lizard explained.
" Have they given in to our demands yet?" Cross Wing asked.
" Not yet." Rock Lizard said.
"They won't give in. They're all hypocrites, every one of them." Cross Wing said.
" Is that your opinion as a phoenix?" Rock Lizard asked.
" They always put politics first." Cross Wing said.
" That's right... that's why they want to avoid any leak of our new nuclear weapon." Rock Lizard stated.
"Boss, it looks like our friend is awake." Wild Horn said.
"ughn....agh." Lazz moaned.
- - - - - - - (Flash forward: Dragon Talon Island Docks) - - - - - - -
General Andal stood there motionlessly; waiting for Rio as the gusts of wind lightly blew past him. He noticed the seagulls flying around this area. He was surprised to see the seagulls out and about during the aftermath of the earlier thunderstorm, but needless to say, they were flying around most likely searching for food. The now lacerated sky was scattered and sunbeams shone through partially. May looked very peaceful just lying there dead still. Andal stared at her and the rest of the scenery, and enjoyed the calm, as he knew he would not get another chance.
======================= (Meanwhile) ==========================
Rio and Shayde proceeded to walk through the forest and get to know each other while doing so. Since they were alleys for the mission they were on, then it would be a good idea. As they did there friendship grew to a new level rather quickly. It seemed like they talked for hours even though only minutes were passing them by. Rio was leading the way and also leading the conversation, while Shayde followed behind slowly, but surely.
" Really?! That's cool! Not many anthros that are lower on the food chain can beat a higher placed anthro. Wow! You beat a dragon! You must be really strong!" Rio said while picking his ear.
" Yeah... I guess so. Although it's not about winning." Shayde said while following Rio, his ears twitched a few times, but still walked forward.
" Yeah, your right! It's about fighting for what you believe in!" Rio exclaimed.
"Well, that is a better way of looking at it." Shayde said.
" What do you fight for Shayde?" Rio asked.
" Umm...well, besides my job, and to ensure everyone stays safe, I would like to have a more personal reason. I'm sure you have one with the way you're saying it." Shayde implied.
"Yeah, to protect my friends! We are stronger when we are all together!" Rio stated and then smiled.
" That's a cool dream Rio. It makes me feel safe knowing that you will put your life on the line and protect your friends from almost anything. I will try to think of my own reason for fighting, and when I think of it I will tell you." Shadye said while rubbing his head with his eyes closed.
"Yeah! There are so many questions I want to ask you!" Rio said while speeding up due to the excitement.
" Yeah... ask away..." Shayde said and then sighed.
" Huh? What's wrong Shayde? Your really famous." Rio said and then turned around to face him.
" Look around Rio... this is a big place. How we will ever locate the pseudo-chimera adult before the deadline?" Shayde asked and looked at Rio.
" Don't worry! You just have to have faith! We'll find it! I normally feel this way when I am around really strong or really famous anthros, in this case you are both!" Rio stated.
"I hope we don't get separated." Shayde muttered as he looked away from Rio.
"Hey, Shayde!" Rio said and then placed his fingers in his mouth and blew on them, a high-pitched noise was released and it caught Shayde's attention right away.
"What the heck was that for? Are you trying to give away our location?" Shayde asked as he took a step forward.
"In my clan, we do this when we see a really good-looking anthro. It was a long time ago and I really can't remember how it was integrated into the Crimson Craft clan, but it is pretty cool!" Rio explained as he whistled again.
" Oh? Now that you mention it... it does sound neat. Why is it that some of the world's smallest gestures mean so much?" Shayde asked as he looked at his own two hands.
" Hey! You try it too! See? Put your fingers in your mouth... like this. See!" Rio said although he was muffled from his own fingers in his mouth.
" Like... this?" Shayde asked while trying it.
" No, not like that! Like this!" Rio said while demonstrating.
"Got it. Like this right?" Shayde said while muffling himself out.
" That's right! Now all you do is blow!" Rio explained.
"Hmmm.... It's not working Rio." Shayde said after trying it.
" Well then, practice!" Rio said while laughing.
" Okay, fine!" Shayde said and felt a little embarrassed.
" Oh, hey! Why don't we use that if we get separated?!" Rio said and then smiled.
" Oh?" Shayde said while trying it again, but it was no use.
"I promise you that I will come running and be there for you!" Rio said and then whistled a third time.
" Alright, I'll hold you to that." Shayde said as he grinned.
Suddenly, Shayde and Rio noticed the bright neon flashy flare that was shot into the lacerated sky. It shone down intensely and even worried some of the nearby animals and caused them all to scatter in quite a hurry. The rabbits hoped away, the birds flew overhead; the dear scurried into the forest. Rio was worried about what this flare meant. Shayde was about to ask Rio about it, when all of a sudden Rio dashed off toward the direction the flare appeared from.
"Hey! Wait for me! Wow! You're really fast, wait up Rio!" Shayde said as he tried to run fast enough to just keep Rio in his sights.
Shayde ran as fast as his two legs would let him, the forest stretched on only a little more before Shayde found himself in a giant open snowy grassy plain. The way the sunlight shone down from the sky was enough to set all the crystallized blades of grass glittering. The frost on the grass wasn't completely engulfing the blades of grass; so when the wind blew, the grass still flowed. Shayde ran, and ran for a good while before realizing that he was starting to run out of breath. He began to pant and even slow down some as he ran across the open plain, which sparkled as if he was running along shards of glass. Just then, Shayde finally could see Rio in his sights again. He was relieved to see Rio had finally stopped to wait for him, but Shayde was mistaken. Rio didn't stop to wait for him; he stopped because someone was blocking the way. Shayde finally caught up and stopped right beside Rio while catching his breath.
"Huff... huff... huff.... You're...!" Shayde said out of breath, looking at who was blocking the path.
"..................................." Rio remained silent and took a step back.
"Only Rio may go beyond this point. It's General Andal's orders." Yun said calmly as he opened his eyes and looked right at Rio and Shayde.
"Yun... I am surprised that you are still alive after falling from that high up." Rio said in a low tone, aware that Yun could easily manipulate the sound and use it against him; so he figured the less sound or lower the sound, the better.
- - - - - - - - (Flashback: An earlier event) - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Who are you?" Rio asked and watched as the hooded figure approached him slowly.
This powerful force was massive and forced Rio and Yun to their knees. Despite how much they both struggled to get up they could not muster the strength to overpower it. The hooded figure finally walked up to Yun as he was on the ground and quickly grabbed him and held him up. Suddenly, Rio noticed that part of his arm was the same as his tail. It was red and had black stripes. Rio thought he was looking at himself for a brief second until he snapped out of it.
"Hey! Arg... let go..." Yun said gasping for air.
The hooded figure then quickly threw Yun. Rio figured that Yun would not travel far, however, to Rio's surprise, Yun was sent high into the air and screaming the whole time until Yun's voice just faded away. Rio was now in shock; he could not believe how powerful this dragon was. Rio began to panic and escape, however useless it may have seemed, he still tried. After Rio noticed he was getting nowhere and fast he faced the hooded figure that was glaring at him back.
- - - - - (Flash forward: Dragon Talon Island: Grassy waves prairie) - - - - -
" I have been through worse." Yun said while uncrossing his arms.
" Why are you working for them?" Rio asked.
" I am not working for him... I am doing him a favor that he asked of me. Now go... May is waiting for you Rio... she needs you. Just beyond these gates are the docks... you will find them both there." Yun informed Rio.
"Fine. Do whatever you want. I am going to come back for Shayde after I save May!" Rio said calmly.
" No, you can't, Rio! Let's take him down and go in together!" Shayde said while raising his voice to get his point across.
" I have no intention of fighting. However, if you insist on going with him, then I will show you no mercy." Yun said while taking a few steps forward.
"Shayde... Stay put. This is my vendetta." Rio said and walked right past Yun, and through the gates, then to the docks.
"Hmph. The great sword master Yun and also a master at wielding seven swords at once..." Shayde said calmly and glared right at Yun.
" Hmm?" Yun muttered.
"Have you forgotten me? There is a massive bounty on your head, and I have fought with you before in order to obtain that bounty! It ended up in a draw and you got away, but this time I have learned a few new things." Shayde explained.
" Oh? I almost forgot about you, your Shayde the bounty hunter! I have fought so many opponents; it's hard to recall all the faces. You say you have learned a few new things, huh? Who says you can't teach an old dog-" Yun said, but then got interrupted.
"Don't you even finish what you were about to say! Listen, I don't want to just wait around for Rio... will you let me kill some time and have some fun with you, Yun?!" Shayde said as he placed his hand on the handle of his sheathed sword and took his stance.
"Unlike before, you're quite cocky, aren't you?" Yun asked as he pulled out a capsule from his waistline and threw it into the air, only for it to poof into a smoke cloud.
" Oh? That's a sword I have never seen before." Shayde stated while keeping his eyes on Yun.
"It's my tuning fork sword! With it, I can do things that I normally couldn't do." Yun said as he held the sword that had a "Y" shape to it in his hand and stood in his stance.
"Do you really think that you can beat me with something like that?" Shayde asked as he grinned, but still kept his guard up.
" Hmph. Maybe I should grind you down a bit." Yun said and then suddenly, slammed his tuning fork sword into the ground sending a sound wave at Shayde.
"So you use sound, huh?" Shayde said as he unsheathed his sword and as he did a concessive energy wave emerged out and crashed into the sound wave, canceling them both out.
Suddenly Yun emerged from the smoke that was left behind by the two attacks colliding and attempted to strike out at Shayde, but Shayde quickly brought his sword up and clashed with Yun's blade. As it did, Shayde could feel all the vibrations coming from Yun's sword and channeling into his own blade. He knew that this was bad, he knew that Yun's sword was shaped like a tuning fork, but he never actually expected it to act just like one as well.
"It seems you're more proficient with the blade than Rio is." Yun said as he swung out at Shayde again.
"Hmph. And rightfully so! I have trained my ass off to obtain this high level of swordsmanship." Shayde said as he blocked Yun's second sword swing and parried him.
"Did you know?" Yun asked as he dodged the sword parry and jumped back some.
" Hm?" Shayde muttered while keeping his eyes on Yun. Shayde could not help it, not that he was complaining. He had always been told and shown to always keep his guard up and keep his eyes on the enemy. Shayde was so good at it now, that it came to him like second nature. He could easily tell what his foe would or could do mere seconds before they did it just by looking at their movements.
"My great tuning fork blade was never intended for dueling, you know!" Yun said while a gust of wind blew past them both.
" Same here, buddy! Mine is for killing those foolish enough to blockade me!" Shayde said while feeling the gust of wind fly past him also. This made waves in the silver grassy plain that stretched out as far as the eye could see; every wave sparkled with the flow of the wind.
"Tsk! He has a tad more power in wielding the blade, well the, in that case..." Shayde thought and then rushed at Yun.
"Hmph. Such a monotone effort. I take back what I said about you being better then Rio." Yun said as he raised his sword up, high into the air and parried downward to block Shayde's attack.
After Shayde's attack was blocked he quickly jumped back and staggered back into his stance. Something was wrong. Shayde couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew that he had been watching Yun's movements and therefore he couldn't grasp why he felt this way. Just then Shayde's vision got blurry for a few seconds and then quickly returned back to normal again.
"What was that sword attack just now? At first glance, it looked like a downward sword parry, except the roles for hitting are reversed... damn it! Unless I don't finish him off for good... he won't let me move forward." Shayde thought to himself as the wind pushed Shayde's fur, which caused his fur to sway along the flow of it.
======================= (Meanwhile) ============================
Rio was walking calmly along the shore of the island and headed right for the docks. Rio's red and black highlights hair was flowing in the gusty breeze as he approached the docks slowly. He could hear the seagulls chirping and flying up above, and the sound of the waves from the ocean splashing against the docks. Rio was close enough to the docks now, that he could see General Andal and the passed out May on the docks, just as Yun said.
" Andal... you have been a pain in my ass since the very beginning. I will be the one to finally stop you!" Rio shouted as he proceeded to walk onto the docks.
To be continued............
Author's suspenseful questions:
What is General Andal planning?
Will Shayde be able to hold his own against Yun?
Tune in next time!
THANKS FOR READING!!! XD