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Fear Is The Weakness Act 3 - The Arms Of Sorrow

By Bartan Tirix

Chapter 1

The city was dark. The streets empty. The air almost scentless, and the sky a harsh red. Something he could barely make out until his eyes adjusted. But there was something familiar about it, something the brass dragon couldn't quite place. "Awake, are you?" The voice of a woman flicked his ears, making his green eyes scan the roads for her.

"Lynnoa...?" He half mumbled eventually finding her in a space he already searched. Shaking his muzzle a bit while stretching. His muscles felt unusually sore, and his right eye stinging a little bit, like there was an old wound over it. "Where are we?"

The woman half shrugged while walking closer to the large one. "Out of one city and into another. Your guess is as good as mine." A concerned look from the large one, as he looked around. One specific building looked familiar to him, getting those eyes to alter and adjust to get a closer look.

He barely caught the flash just below where he was looking, something really thin that went through the building. For a moment, nothing happened, then the building almost teleported to fall on the brass one. Pinning him down on the ground before he could escape, and growling at the crushing weight of the object. Feeling ten times the mass of what it probably was.

"Are you okay?" The woman asked him, only getting a grumble from the dragon as he fought to lift it up. "We wouldn't want anything to happen to that body of yours." Her voice almost mechanical, getting Beo to double take at her. As the woman's head turned sideways to break her own neck, her flesh suddenly combusted along with her clothing. Then a black ooze drained out of it.

As the body hit the asphalt, it bursted like it was nothing but soggy flesh. Scattering that black substance all over the place and let it accumulate before lunging at the dragon's maw. Feeling it force down his throat, in his eyes, and ears. Filling his body with pain and rage-

He woke up in the grassy field panting loudly. Constantly checking his surroundings in the night sky for anything familiar, or anything black. Seeing the very ends of several tails almost dipped in ink, and instinctively tried to scamper away from it. Just now noticing that he was braced by a few paws. "Hey. Relax." A female voice said, much different from the one before. "It was just a bad dream."

A few deep breaths, and those arms calmly pulled the dragon back down. Wrapping him in a body of fur and giving him a few licks. A few more deep breaths, and Beo'Karah started to relax. "...Another damn nightmare." He mumbled.

"I know." His eyes half tried to seek her red ones. "You've been making noises for hours, but I could not wake you properly." He didn't know how to respond to that, so he didn't. Instead, just laid his head down in the comfortable grass. Looking over the night sky at the countless stars that painted it. "If you're still having them here, it's not his Universe that's causing it."

"...Yeah." A deep breath. "I suppose that's good news in a way." A few licks as those four paws caressed him into relaxation. Eventually feeling them grip under his jawline and getting him to purr. Then, getting that white fox muzzle closer to his own, giving it a few licks with that purple tongue, then sharing a few kisses.

"Would you like a session to help you relax?"

"No thanks." Another kiss. "I'm not really in the mood." A strange look of not understanding came from those red eyes, but didn't go past that. "I feel like that's all we've done for the past few days as a cure."

"That's because we have done it for the past few days. It works."

"But only to have me sleep again, then... Nightmare." A heavy sigh from him, then a nuzzle from the female. Getting a brass paw on the back of her neck as an embrace for a few moments. "Where is he, anyway?"

"Checking some things out in the nearby universes. Concerned about his previous power source that he left as a replacement." A nod from the brass one.

"That sun thing?"

"I do not know what it was. I was too busy tending to my own areas and making sure everything was working properly." A deflated sigh from the dragon. "Yes. You are keeping me from my duties, but nothing urgent. I'll tend to them when you are well and satisfied." A sad smile that she couldn't see.

"You still talk funny." He chuckled, getting the fox to smile as well. "It's hard to believe that you two came from the same place..."

"Yet, Bartan was the only one to gain Emotion?" A nod. "He was gifted with it. I was not."

"But you do pretty well to mimic him." A few licks into that white fur, loving how it never sheds. "How long did it take you?"

"478 GUYs." A double take was felt, and the fox met those green eyes again. "General Universal Years."

"Y-yeah, I know. But 478?"

"I only started recently." A blank stare from the dragon.

"And I thought I was lenient with time." Another nuzzle from her. "So that's, what...?"

"That would only be 4,201,488,763 of your years." A very long half grumble as he stared into space, making the white one half chuckle at the reaction. "Doesn't seem that long ago, really."

"You say that, but that's still like six thousand times older than I am." He grumbled. "Does this make you a cougar?"

"I'm borrowing the image of a nine-tailed fox."

"I mean... An older female looking for a younger male."

"Then, yes."

"So, what would that make Bartan?"

"I believe the term Manther would fit that category. Perhaps Chicken Hawk." The two chuckled a bit. "Slag is very strange."

"Tell me about it. I was only looking after a universe for a maybe a decade, and I still couldn't keep up with it." A deep breath of relaxation, and a tail brushed the dragon's sheath. Getting him to breathe deep once again. "Persistent, aren't you?"

"It functions, and you should give into it."

"That's not exactly how moods work-" Another brush interrupted him. "You're not going to stop, are you Arson." He grumbled.

"It functions, and you should-"

"Okay. Okay. But keep me awake this time. I want to at least get some flight time today." A nod from her as they kissed.

The white hall was massive. So large that the dragon almost felt lost while inside it. Everywhere there was doors, below and above. All lining up to the grand set of them at the very end of the hall.

He knew he should've just taken the express way, but the brass one just wanted to fly so badly. Stretch out his wings that have felt restless for nearly a week. Has it been a week? Sure felt like it. Ever since these damn nightmares started haunting him, the only cure the mates could think of was what he was currently recovering from.

Not that he minded such a 'treatment' but it felt almost for the wrong reasons. Before, it was a form of fondness and love. Affection and admiration. Now, it almost felt like a medication, though he still couldn't blame the fox for that. It was the only way she understood it, but she was trying her best.

With the last doorway in sight at the very end of the hall, his wings shifted to a glide. Still finding it strange that there's even gravity in such a place, but if he understood the bear correctly, it was different for every person. The way his universe seemed to work was they all felt the world differently. The way they're either used to, or want to feel it. With that explanation, you'd think the dragon's wings wouldn't feel so tired. But then again, maybe that's what he wanted?

Landing about ten steps away, and slowing down to a patient walk, he couldn't help but look around at the opened doorways along the walls. All filled with different areas where corporeal spirits seemed to inhabit, all souls that were casted in a recycled hell until this massive change. Now, they got whatever they desired, without the punishment of taking from another person. Whereas, Envy never seemed to exist here.

But why did the brass one almost feel envious of them? Ever since he visited here for the first time, all that praise and hype leading up to this point only resulted in disappointment for him. The pain of loss still existed, the nightmares still existed. The constant hunger for something still existed, only filling that last one with the gluttony of lust. It was his experience with this place, yet his alone. Every other being he talked to so far, which was only a pawful, never got those feelings.

Which in return made Bartan and Arson theorize that perhaps it was the fact that the dragon was A: not a Counterweight, and B: an outsider to the universe. He wasn't present during the conversion, so therefore his 'Strain of Information', whatever they called that, was not altered for such things.

It half saddened him. His husband's homeland, and he couldn't help but feel so outcast by it. Perhaps this was how many others felt, but it was a first experience for Beo. Regardless, he carried on. At least the two were willing to try to find solutions for their new mate, but altering the dragon's 'Code' didn't sound too pleasant. Let alone, he worried about the after effects. Mostly: would he still be Beo'Karah afterwards?

It was almost a scary thought. Intimidating, much like the colossal doors in front of him, possibly big enough for the bear's real size to crawl through. An amusing thought, seeing him struggle on all sixes, possibly with his white haunches in the air. Presenting themselves to be mounted while he was helplessly snared. Making him wonder what would happen if a certain brass dragon where to discover such a prey-

A rapid shake of his head as he tried to stop his sheath from swelling. Taking a few deep breaths to get the purple tint out of his ears, he placed a heavy paw on the door and was transported inside. Almost to a suburban house with a rather small front door, by dragon standards. Getting the brass one to flick an ear of irritation as he sighed and approached it.

It was wide opened at least, welcoming others inside while some people were pacing around. Getting some jobs complete that the bear instructed before, remembering how polite he was to his 'subjects'. Perhaps Employees would be a better term, almost a turn-on for the dragon to see the white one take charge-

Another headshake as his body grumbled. Likely at the indecisiveness between his arousal or his hunger for his husband. Fluttering his slightly sore wings and closing them tightly against his back, a grumble left his plated neck. Carefully walking to the door and peering inside. A few others noticed him, but probably still didn't know the brass one's status with the bear. Regardless, they didn't stop him from attempting to enter the door... Which took a few minutes. And several scrapes against the wooden doorframe.

A female giggle came from the side after Beo gave the door a snort. Getting the larger one to curl his neck at the blue gerbil. "Talk about an entrance."

"It's a wonder you keep that damn thing so small." The brass one grumbled, trying to watch his body in the semi-large Livingroom, and trying not to-_ thwack! _Too late. Getting him to flinch at the sound of his tail giving someone a concussion. Well, if they could feel pain at least. And that flinch lead to a chain reaction of a few more broken objects, from his wings hitting the lights, to his hind leg stepping on a table.

It all just made the gerbil laugh loudly, and a few others to chuckle at the event, but carry on. Beo, on the other hand, just grumbled and lowered his head. "Relax, it's all replaceable. Not even necessary, to be honest."

"It's just not... Dragon-friendly." He tried to keep all limbs close to his main body as possible while studying the female. "You're... Lillian?"

"Or Lillith. Whatever works." She said, not looking off her tablet, but approaching the brass one. Giving his arm a stroke on the bicep. "We met your first night here."

"Y-yeah. Outside." He mumbled awkwardly. "I'm looking for Bartan, have you seen him?"

"He hasn't returned yet, but he's on his way if you want to stick around and wait for him. Make yourself at home." Another glace at the large one trying to compress himself. "Well, at 'home' as possible. If you need something specific, you can always talk to Lyago."

"N-no. I just..." Another grumble from the dragon's stomach area got Lillith a bit curious. "Can't he just teleport everywhere? I never understood the want to travel so much."

"Teleportation is fine in short distances, even to planets or plasma travel like space. But you do have to realize that he is a massive creature." A nod from the brass one, and she gave his muzzle a few strokes. Putting the tablet away for a moment and sitting on his arm, while he tried to study her in secret. "Have you seen him in his full size?"

"I can't say that I have." He mumbled, unable to read the faded message on that dark hoody. Not to mention, tell what the large headphones around her neck were for.

"Not as impressive as it sounds. Mostly because all you can see is just white." She chuckled, even getting him to smile a bit. "But even when his size is reduced like that, he still needs to calculate the 'space needed' for his original form first. And usually... Things that are small enough to fit inside a universe, it's not that big of a deal."

"But something larger..."

"It could possibly cause the entire thing to collapse. He's reported a few remnants of dead universes that look like they've been torn to shreds." His ears dropped a bit, and she shrugged at him. "It happens. That's why they had this 'No Experimentation' rule for so long. Too many things were just going wrong, and it really ruined it for others."

"And you know this...?"

"Oh. Maybe he didn't tell you, I'm his Reality." A curl of his neck. "Fate and Death are around here somewhere, I think. I have a hard time keeping track of them without looking at my phone every ten minutes. But I usually try to help Lya and the staff around here when the big guy is home."

"He's not _that_big." Beo snorted, teasing her a bit. "Who is this Lyago?"

"Lya? He's kinda like the Fill-in for when Bartan's gone. Think of him as a Take-over CW but without the CW." His head tilted. "He makes final decisions when they're needed, and keeps a large record of any problems that appear. We'll do what we can with them, but sometimes they just require tools out of our power. That's where the bear comes in."

"So he just decides things."

"Kinda like a manager of a store, if you know what I mean." Another snort got her to giggle.

"_Stores_are worse than this house at being dragon-friendly." He grumbled, looking around a bit awkwardly. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

An awkward grunt as he rubbed the back of his neck a bit. "You mentioned... Your old nickname."

"Lillith?" A nod from the large one.

"Why keep it?"

"How much do you know about me?" She smiled at his shyness, getting more of 'I don't remember' vibe. "Alright, alright. But short version, I still have work to do. I was in your typical broken home. Real mother married the wrong guy, but lost custody of me. Left me behind with him. He remarried, gave me a brother I was kinda close to, but ended up murdering that new mate. Sent to jail, our uncle took care of us for a while before he shot himself." The large one's heart sank as she continued.

"But... I survived. Brother moved out, and I for some reason, stayed in that house. Tried to drown my sorrows in the addictive holes: drinks, some drugs, sex, loud music, and terrible boyfriends. You can guess which one worked the most." She tapped the headphones.

"One day, I just got tired of it. For once, I broke up a bad relationship. Had to fight my way out of it, and just... Left. I spent a few nights crashing above clubs and living off of others. Running away from police trying to detain anyone who had narcotics, and eventually ran into him."

"Him?"

"Bartan. In that bipedal form, not the CW form. Back then, he just looked like another detective that I thought was stalking me. But all he did was talk, even after I vented all my frustrations at him." A nod in understanding from Beo. "Then he offered me a job."

"This job." A nod from her and a sad smile. "And you've been with him ever since?"

"If I recall correctly, I was his first." A faint whimper as the large one looked at her surprised. "First Force, you perv." She laughed. "I think he was running the entire thing himself for GUYs, but after a while wanted help." A breath from Lillian. "Maybe he finally seen the pointlessness of running in circles."

"You're talking about the Terrasque." He almost whispered, and she nodded.

"He wanted to find a way to be rid of it. Tired of making others suffer so one creature can eat."

"Yet, exchange it for power."

"You remember that one quite well." Another awkward grunt from him. "It's fine, you. I'm just teasing. But you're going to have to ask the others about their stories, I gotta run and take care of a few things." She got up and pulled out that tablet once again. "You should talk to Lyago though, he's just upstairs. He knows when the bear will be back." She motioned a stairway above, and he half grumbled at the tighter space. "You'll live. Put a hole in the wall if you want to, no one will mind." She chuckled, exiting the building. Getting the dragon to half sigh at it.

Chapter 2

The void was a bit less than homey, but still held a familiar livelihood within. Yet, something was still off, something the bear could detect while walking through the silver halls. Perhaps it was more of his very own worry that was manipulating his cautions, therefore, he attempted to put them aside.

Reaching the opened doorway, he spotted the seven armed naga painting. All Counterweights were indeed architects, but many of them had different forms of building or creating. To see such a creature painting something within eight dimensions was not uncommon. However, it stopped for an exhale when a few of those six eyes noticed the bear. "Greetings." Bartan said with a smile, only getting a glare of studyment before the creature continued.

After a few more moments, it almost grumbled. "What do you want."

"I'm just visiting the nearby areas to ensure everything is okay-"

"We expected it was you." The naga almost sounded angry. "The energy levels have been very scarce for a very long time."

"...Yes. I was attacked by the Terrasque, and had no choice but to defend myself."

"Yet, you attempt to end our own creations with it? Come around to watch everything but your own wither away with famine?" The tone made his ears go back.

"I didn't have a choice-"

"Of course not."

"It's either attempt to keep you and everything else functioning, or watch as a Terrasque devoured everything. Do you really think-"

"That this is any better!?" The snake roared, getting the bear to stop in silence for a few moments. More surprised than anything. "A demise is a demise. Regardless of how it is done. You have already sealed ours, so why bother pestering us while we wait for the end?"

"...Because I've been trying-"

"To convince us that such things are not needed. That we should label ourselves traitors to the old traditions, when really you have been forcing us to change." A faint grumble from the white furred one, but he didn't reply. "First, it was the Counterforce. Slain and dismembered due to you-"

"I was not responsible for that-"

"Your Pets Were!" Another roar. "Then you slay our Terrasque, force us to starve until we give into your new commandments-"

"I was cornered! I didn't have a choice-"

"You prodded that muzzle where it didn't belong-!"

" That Wall Was Weak!!" Bartan barked at him, finally silencing the naga for a moment. "You cannot look me in the eyes and claim that it was not threatening us every second! Imagine if it escaped! What terror it would bring-!"

"Do Not. Tell Me. About _ FEAR _." The bear almost growled silently, as his gaze fell on the snake's lower back. Still being able to see the slight shift in colors from which the Counterweight was tore in half. Though a few faintly black spots still remained.

"...I warned you not to get too close-"

"Somebody needed to repair that wall, or else it would have-"

"Just tore it a bit more! Nothing that we couldn't handle with a little time-Even if it was badgering against it! It was panicking, desperately trying to halt its imprisonment."

"So you are saying my sacrifice was in vain!?"

"I'm not questioning that the repair had to be done. But you're the one who made yourself vulnerable-"

"Get out."

"If you would've done what you were told instead of attempting to be a Hero-!"

"Get Out!" "_ GET OUT!! _"

The naga came face to face with the bear, nearly challenging him. After a few tense moments, the white one sighed. "...There are a few holes in your universe-"

"I will not say it again, Counterweight." Another long stalemate and Bartan backed down. Seeing himself out, but not before looking back at the Naga once more.

Reaching the end of the hall, he set up a few glyphs in the air. Pressing into them slightly, and exhaling. "Lyago. I'm done here. I'll be back soon." The Glyphs disappeared shortly and the bear left.

The stairs were complete hell. Not that the dragon was out of shape or even too exhausted to climb them, but with the low ceiling constantly being scraped by the tips of his horns and claws on his wings, they tore large holes deep within the walls. The stairway itself was too thin for him to possibly even fit, wrecking the guardrail and hearing such a thing creek constantly before snapping off. The wall next to the stairway; now covered in scrapes and every picture hung in pieces all over the floor.

Then there was the steps. The dragon knew he was heavy, but watching them collapse under the sheer weight of every step he took, it was basically a very dangerous ramp now. Making the larger one whimper loudly in embarrassment at the entire mess. His first visit into the bear's home and he totaled it.

For now, he just scurried down the hall. Unable to fully stand up in it, but at least it was wide enough for him to turn about if needed. Checking room after room to see if he could find this 'Second in Command' for the bears were abouts. Carefully opening each door, and eventually finding a master bedroom. On the bedding, a large feral white tiger was somewhat laying down.

With his back turned towards the doorway, the feline's head was rather close to its pelvis area. Making the brass one almost completely freeze, thinking maybe he was interrupting it in a private moment. But watching the creature from the hallway felt a bit wrong, getting him to try to quietly move along, only to step on a creaking floorboard and get the white one's attention.

A very awkward silence as the two stared at each other. The dragon with clearly purple ears and a bit of a swelled sheath, and the white tiger with a look in question. "Can I help you?" He asked after a few moments, not seeming to be embarrassed by such an encounter.

"O-oh, I was... Looking for someone named Lyago."

"That would be me." He resumed his licking like the large one wasn't there. Making the dragon feel a bit more uncomfortable.

"I was... Wondering when Bartan would be back. And..." No response from the white one, as if he was really into it. A bit of an awkward breath, Beo was glad no one else was here to see this. Thinking that maybe he should just come back after the feline was finished. But the bear's voice from a past conversation echoed in his head. Don't be afraid to ask for a session from others, it's a great way to break the ice.

With an awkward swallow, the brass one cleared his throat. "Did... You want help with... That?" It got Lya to raise an eyebrow at him.

"With bathing?" The large one stared at him in several awkward moments, never feeling so embarrassed in his life. With a whimper he started down the hall. "Wait." The white one ordered, getting the dragon to at least stop. "Come back here." Though Beo just wanted to hide into another room for a bit, he took a deep breath and started backtracking. Meeting those green eyes of the tiger's, a bit more on the blue side than the dragon's own. "You are...?"

"Bartan's husband."

"Ohhh, that explains it." The tiger jumped off the bed and changed into a more hybrid form. Oddly enough, going from a white one to a deep orange and wearing aged jeans. Slightly looking back at the bed where he laid while approaching the still uncomfortable dragon. "I guess from your point of view, that's what I was doing." He half chuckled. "But sorry to disappoint, I just don't have the time for something like that. And that quick bath was my break."

"Oh..." He mumbled, getting a few taps to move back a bit so the feline could exit. Grabbing a long black coat to put on as well, then motioned the brass one to follow him.

"You said you were looking for him?"

"Y-yeah. I just wanted to ask him something."

"He should be back in a few minutes, providing he wasn't distracted by something."

"Or someone." He half grumbled, mostly out of the annoyance of the clustered hallway.

"Is it something I could answer?" The large one slowed to a stop, looking away as the tiger studied him. "If it's private, that's fine. He's just busy, is all-"

"I-I know. I'm just... Not sure if I should talk about it out loud."

"Is it trouble?" Beo wasn't sure how to answer that, but he took a deep breath. If the bear trusted this creature to run his universe while away, then surely the dragon could trust him. Walking up a little close, he whispered to Lyago.

"I've been having... Nightmares. Ever since I came here. Nearly everytime I fall asleep."

"And Bartan knows about this?" A nod.

"Arson too. They haven't..." A sigh from the dragon. "I'm not sure what to do about it. I'm not even sure what it means."

"Well, no one else here has had anything similar since the change, so you didn't catch some sort of illness." He pondered for a moment until his phone rang. Getting it out of his back jean pocket and answering it like a speaker phone. "What's up, Lillith?"

"Hatchet finally got back to me, still no trace of October 1st. If he was actually there like witnesses said, he's long gone." The gerbil on the other end mentioned. "Also got those coordinates for the next expansion over on E#665-2248 if you're ready for them."

"I'm on the way to the office now. Just having a little chat with the new guy."

"_Hai_Beo." The female on the other end teased.

"H-hi." The large one grunted awkwardly, getting her to giggle.

"He apparently already offered me a session."

"Works fast, doesn't he?" An embarrassed whimper from the brass one as he hid his eyes with a paw. "Relax, we're just teasing you. But if you're serious about it, watch out for his spines. They pack a pinch."

"...Noted." Beo half grumbled.

"For now, Beo, you can either make yourself at home here, or wait outside for Bartan to return. But I'd like to get this done."

"Oh, don't let me hold you up." He rubbed back of his neck. "And outside sounds like a better idea."

"Feel free to go through the roof, there's no one on the second floor currently." The tiger pointed up before leaving towards another room. Making the dragon study the ceiling for a few moments then take a deep breath. Ramming his titanic body against the horizontal wall and completely wrecking through it with ease. Though it was a little harder to climb out, he eventually got off the roof without it completely caving in. Landing outside in the front lawn and shaking the debris off his body.

Some familiar chuckles fluttered the dragon's chest, as the bear landed quite a few steps away. Making him resist the urge to just charge towards him and squeeze the fluff out of the Counterweight. "It's quite cramped in there, isn't it?" Bartan smiled, getting a bright one back, as well as an uncontrollable tail wag. Waiting patiently until the bear got close, then snatched him for a surprise tight embrace. "Nice to see you too."

"I missed you." Beo purred, trying to grasp every inch of the fluffball with his paws. Even getting a tight grip on his haunch before the bear kissed him. Sharing their own vocal tells of affection before breaking it and getting a few licks. "How long do you think you're going to be here?"

"Not long. Why, got something planned for me?" The white one's eyebrows bounced a bit. Getting a devious purr that didn't quite say yes or no. "I'll take that as 'It's a surprise,' in which I raise you: I look forward to it." Another kiss. "Come, let's just get closer to the door. I'll get Lya to come out here to discuss business." Another bright smile, and he followed the white one.

"About that tiger of yours..."

"You met him, did you?"

"Him and the... Lillian one. Not sure what she is."

"Gerbil, if I recall correctly. She kinda looks like a blue cat, eh?"

"I guess. I don't really know what a gerbil is."

"It's kinda like a mouse. Anyway, continue." The brass one stopped for a moment, trying to remember his place of thought. But when he recalled it, his ears started to tint, getting the bear to chuckle. "Out with it, what happened?"

"I kinda... Walked in on him."

"Oh?"

"And thought he was... 'Tending' to himself."

"And? You offered your assistance?" A faint whimper. "No need to feel embarrassed, you're excellent at what you do." He gave the large one a lick on the muzzle.

"Y-yeah, but it's not so 'excellent' that he wasn't 'Tending' as he was 'Cleaning'." Bartan laughed at it, giving the dragon a hug.

"There, there. But go on, did he accept your offer?"

"Said he was too busy." Half a grumble.

"Don't worry about it. But if you like, I can give him the night off so you can show him your excellence." A double take from Beo.

"N-no, it's alright. I only offered because you said it would break the ice." He mumbled quietly as the bear motioned someone to come closer to them. Asking for Lya's presence outside, then laid down to wait for him. Getting the dragon to lay on top of the bear, and turn him over to face muzzle to muzzle. Sharing a few licks.

"Well, it is a good ice breaker. A little forward, but everyone here understands."

"They're used to knowing how you work, so." The brass one buried his muzzle into the white fur and took a deep breath. Nuzzling it harshly while purring. "Besides, right now I just want you."

"That's fine. You can have me if you like." It made the titanic body take a relaxing breather hearing those words. Just holding the fluffball tightly as Lyago came down and half chuckled at the two. Though Beo was still a bit embarrassed about earlier, he still greeted the tiger with a nod before resuming his fondling of the bear.

"Everything okay on the outskirts?"

"There are several black areas just outside of Arson's territory, then beyond. Though they haven't actually penetrated through her universe yet."

"That's Cqurrizhgaookuz' area." Lya mumbled while the dragon tried to wrap his mind around the extremely odd name. "Any sign of it as well?"

"That's the odd thing, not even a trace. I did what I could, it's Forces know me and are very worried from the lack of communication. Perhaps it left for something?"

"Abandonment is something no CW does."

"Not on purpose, no. I wonder if there's a reason behind it. In a few days' time, I'd like to revisit." That half sank the dragon's heart. "See if I can find any traces among the outside, perhaps even ask the farther neighborhood CWs if they've seen anything."

"You don't think they're still distrustful of you?" (Distrustful? Of what?)

"That may be, but they're still trying to filter out the old ways. Mine and Arson's universe are prime examples that this new way is functioning. Though it may take more convincing, if there is some sort of infection, or another Terrasque attempting to get in from a different angle..." A breath from the bear. "Then they might not have the time to argue."

"You don't think that they might come to the conclusion that this is staged?"

"I hope not."

"But you know they will." Bartan just sighed at the tiger's words. "Just have something ready, is all I'm saying. After what you did with the Counterforce, they'll be expecting a ruse."

"Yes. I know. And I will." A sad look from the dragon, and he got three paws stroking his head. "Is there anything else that needs my attention?"

"Just the fact that there's no sign of October 1st."

"And 4th is still looking?"

"Along with Hatchet, yes." A faint nod from the bear. "Do you want them to withdraw?"

"...Yes. If there's no evidence that those five cannot find, he wasn't there. Maybe it was just something else. For now, can you tell them to head to a new destination?" Lyago nodded. "I'll be up in a few. Thanks Lya." The tiger went back inside, and Beo took a deep sigh. "Don't worry, it'll only be a few minutes."

"I..." He exhaled. "It's not that." A noise in question. "You're leaving again?"

"These wounds are concerning me, I need to look into it." A nod from the dragon as he got a few licks. "Have you still been having nightmares?"

"Yes." It made those four ears drop. "I don't know..."

"Other than opening you up again to find the issue, I'm not sure either." Half a grumble. "But cheer up, you'll have me undividedly for the next few days, okay?" A nod and they shared a few licks.

"I suppose I should give you some extra fuel, just in case." Beo smirked.

"Oh, is that what you have planned for me, eh?" A devious smile as they kissed.

"Maybe." The brass one purred, getting them to chuckle. "Alright, go to your meeting before I mount you right here."

"So willing to have an audience, are you?"

"It wouldn't be the first time." The dragon got up, not afraid to reveal his lower horn showing.

"Ah yes. In the middle of that city square."

"Christmas memories." Another nuzzle from the two.

"You sure you don't want to come inside-?" He could barely finish that sentence before Beo tossed his snout.

"No. Never again. I'll just wait out here." A lick from that red tongue.

"Okay, but save some for me." A slightly embarrassed whimper.

"I-...! I'm not doing _ that _!" He hissed, and the two laughed.

Chapter 3

Sunbathing. It was a wonderful pastime, if one could call it such a thing within a city. The air may reek of car exhaust, the sun maybe blocked by the massive shadows of buildings, and the grounds covered in either asphalt or trees. Except for the large patch of it that next to no one seemed to use, besides a specific part of the day. Even if the dragon was dominating it nearly every day with said pastime.

Still, the brass one's activity was much more important than... Whatever they were doing with this grass. Such a strange concept did come to mind from time to time, but the only thing he really cared about was how well they seemed to tend to the lawn. It was rather comfortable for being so short, often making his belly argue with his back for whom would be touching it.

But this day, his back demanded the floor. Erm, Lawn. Letting him take a deep breath as the clouds once again parted. Reflecting his brass scales with a brilliant shine and giving him a warm, cozy feeling. Granted, that was nearly ruined by the sound of someone giggling while walking out of the vomitorium. "Come back to pester me more, have you?" The large one grumbled without moving.

"Only because I know you like the company." She giggled a bit at his snort, then made a short gasp that made him flick an ear. "...W-wow, really leaving it out there, aren't you?" A noise in question as he made the mistake of opening his eyes. Getting the glare of the skylight in his eyes and nearly make him hiss.

"Damn sun." He grumbled, though nearly praising it a few moments ago. "And what are you talking about?"

"Those moon sized orbs you're carrying around." He seen the blushing female feathered lizard half gesture the dragon's lower half, and getting him to snort. "I swear, you're just showing off."

"Maybe I am." He chuckled a bit. "Or maybe I'm just being a role model for your males."

"An unrealistic one at that. And that's putting it lightly."

"No different from every other picture that's plastered all over your city."

A noise of disgust from her. "Don't even get me started on those damn things. I've heard of worshiping scales and fur before, but that is ridiculous." A thin exhale as she took out a cigarette. "I hate how they throw such imagery into our faces and almost expect us to adapt to that like it's the norm."

"Then why put up with it?" He let out a sigh as the sun's got under his chin.

"Because to fight against it is basically called vandalism. Stupid huh?" A noise in confirmation. "Now, what are you doing in the football* field?" She asked, taking a seat in the stands.

*American Football

"Sleeping. What are you doing out here so early?"

"Skipping classes. And you've been sleeping for like four days."

"Well, magnificence at this level requires alot of sleep and sunbathing to keep accurately obtained. And why are you skipping classes. Again." He grumbled, almost scolding her.

"Because classes are dumb. Just ask Joashua." She motioned beside her at another feathered lizard. One completely stunned while looking at the dragon's stones. "Y'know, once he stops looking at your planet sized packaged."

"See? Magnificence is enthralling, girl. He's my proof."

"That or he's just never seen under your tail before."

"T-they actually look smaller under his tail." Joash finally snapped out of his gaze, and got a glare from those large green eyes. "N-not to say they're small or anything...!" He almost whimpered.

"Definitely a lot bigger than yours." Beo snorted at him.

"That's putting it lightly. Seriously, you could probably fit a car into that package." That one made the brass one feel proud.

"Candrice is impressed with it, at least."

"Yeah, well. She won't be if she knew what a full load like that would do to someone." He half grumbled. "Let alone to the surrounding area. Probably cause a flood of biblical proportions."

"You watch too much porn." She teased him, but he didn't deny it.

"What are you doing out of class." The dragon half grumbled.

"Meeting up with you guys. What are you doing in the football field?"

"Some people were using the park for something, and I didn't feel like scaring them off today."

"Okay, first: who are you and what have you done with Beo?" Candrice started.

"Second: you do know there's children in this school, right?"

"First: I am myself, just felt like something different today. And Second: maybe, and see my Role Model argument-ask the female for the details."

"Actually, I think he was here during that. Just stunned like that entire class coming through to use the field."

"There's plenty of room for them to play their little hatchling games. They don't need to occupy the entire field." The brass one snorted.

"Actually, the game requires the entire field, and you're taking up three quarters of it."

"Well then, they can just bathe in my magnificence for the time instead. Trust me, they'll get more out of my presentation than their silly game." The two chuckled loudly at that.

"It's a wonder the city hasn't really attempted to do anything about you yet." The teal male said, getting the larger one to aggressively clear his throat. "Besides steal your spot in the park."

"I should threaten them for that, but then I wouldn't have found this spot. Other than those who are breaking the rules, no one pesters my slumber."

"We're not breaking any rules, you walking mountain-"

"I'll take that as a compliment." Another chuckle from the two, even the dragon smiled at it.

"But there's nothing in the system that states we _have_to go to school. We have a Saurian right to an education, but that doesn't mean we need to attend a public school like this." The male argued.

"Then who else is going to teach you how to... Whatever they force you to learn in this foolish building." Beo muttered. Though half agreeing with Joash's statement, he also knew how cities seemed to function. They just often used different terms depending on the species.

"You mean like study ' Important' plays and literature that are hundreds of years old?" The female joined in, passing the cigarette to the other.

"Dissecting helpless animals that we already know how they function?"

"Constantly being barraged about the older days and our history."

"We're not even being taught our Saurian rights in there. I ended up researching them myself."

"Instead we're just wasting our time learning about pointless things, rather than something we will actually use in our future."

"How to vote properly, and possibly change the damn system, for example."

"The laws of this country."

"How to get a job, pay taxes or get a mortgage." The large one grumbled, whereas alot of this was over his head.

"How about hunting?" The two feathered ones looked at the dragon for a moment. "You know, for food."

"Uh... We don't need to."

"You've eaten before in front of me." He snorted at Joash, getting the red female to chuckle.

"He meant we don't need to hunt." A louder grumble from him.

"Maybe not now, but what if you're in a situation where you cannot magically buy prepared food?"

"Then we'll call you." Another snort at the teal one's smart answer. "But nowadays, it's not really a needed skill for us."

"But something helpful to learn." The two didn't argue past that.

"...All this talk about food has made me hungry." Candrice said, getting out her packed lunch. "And you can suck it, Mr.I-Buy-My-Lunch-With-Money-And-Think-Those-Who-Paperbag-Are-Lame."

"That is a ridiculous nickname for him." The brass one mumbled.

"A little long, but we'll shorten it to something later." She shrugged, taking half of her sandwich out and hearing the male whimper a bit.

"A valuable use of your time, I'm sure." The dragon stretched a bit, but didn't get up.

"Want some Mr. Muscles?" That name hurt his heart, and would've probably shown if his eyes were opened.

"Wait, you're offering some of your lunch to a creature that probably won't even taste it, yet you won't offer me any?"

"It's got eggs and ketchup in it-"

"Oh Kruasst! You are horrible." The teal one cursed, getting the red to giggle.

"So, how about it brassy?"

"Pass."

"Is it because you don't like eggs with ketchup?"

"I've never tried eggs with ketchup."

"Well don't. It'll ruin your life forever." A shove from the female. "Possibly make your balls smaller too-" A stronger shove knocked him off the stands a bit.

"But seriously, Beo. You're not hungry?"

"Nope."

"I've never seen you eat any food. So what do you eat?" That was a question that he really didn't know how to answer. Getting him to eventually just mutter something and attempt to shrug his wings, which didn't telegraph too well.

"Any idea what that meant?"

"Think it was a shrug." Joash guessed. "But really, what do you even eat?"

"Food?" The brass one half answered.

"Okay, how often?" This time, he telegraphed his shrug with his paws. "What was the last thing you ate?"

"Orange-" He stopped himself for a few moments and awkwardly grunted. "...Juice."

"Orange juice?" He technically wasn't wrong, but.

"It'll probably take thousand gallons of juice to satisfy him." Another awkward grunt that he desperately attempted to hide. Though that thought made the brass one miss the bear, he couldn't help but take the male lizard's statement much differently. "Possibly even more."

"Candrice, shove him for me." She did so, making him smile and eventually get up to lay on his belly. Mostly to hide his weapon slowly coming out, but the grass didn't help that case.

"Awwh, there goes our show." Joash rolled his eyes at her. "What? You liked staring at it."

"I didn't _like_it, I was just captivated by the display." A bit of an unimpressed stare from those green eyes got the male to double take and whimper a bit. "What I mean is... They're magnificent, but-"

"You should stop there." The female teased, getting him to nod in agreement. "Maybe end with how much you'd like to play around with it. Y'know, for science."

"I never said that!"

"You did, just to some female fur." A look in question from the brass one. "He was trying to get a feel for her milk sacs, if you know what I mean." The male whimpered loudly as the dragon shrugged.

"I don't mind."

"You don't mind him attempting to use science as an excuse to fondle females?"

"Not the part I was talking about." Beo yawned, getting the two to pause for a moment, then Joash to whimper as Candrice started giggling loudly.

"Must you give her ammunition?" He grumbled, covering his eyes with teal paws.

"You say that, but I'm serious. If you want to, I won't stop you. Just don't stand in the line if fire, for your own safety." The giggles got louder as the dragon's sights turned to the female. "Same goes for you, cackling witch."

"You realize we're still minors, right?"

"I'm not the one attempting to mount you. If I'm just lying about and you find something you'd like to play with, or _experiment_with" A loud whimper from the male lizard. "Y'know, for _science_purposes, I won't stop you. Feeling a bit pent up as it is."

"Good enough motivation, I'd say." A playful shove from her only drew out another whimper. "I'll set up an appointment for you two, but we'll have to find a place-"

"Okay, enough!" Joash grumbled. "Ugh, you're going to turn me purple permanently if you keep this up."

"Maybe blue by the end of it." The two lizards looked at the dragon in a slight state of confusion. "The color of my-" A louder whimper as the male covered his eyes again. "You're the one that described it as a flood."

"Okay-okay-okay. Subject Change, Please!" He pleaded, only to have his stomach growl and then look at the female for sympathy.

"Live with it. You're not getting anything else out of my lunch."

"But the cafeteria doesn't open for at least another hour." He whimpered.

"Then why don't you just go off school grounds and buy something? Odds are it'll be ten times better than school food anyway."

"But the nearest restaurant is like 30 minutes away from here."

"Yeah,walking." Joash looked at her for a moment blankly, until she motioned the dragon, clearly no longer paying attention. Eventually Beo returned to them and curled his neck at their stare.

"...What?" He asked, but not getting an answer. Instead, the male just looked at her again.

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Why not what?" Those green eyes were constantly shifting between them.

"Because I don't want to die today, especially on something that clearly defies physics!" Joash hissed at her.

"What do you mean by that?" The dragon snorted.

"Seriously, how much do you weigh?"

"Enough." He grumbled, rather quickly at that.

"But not enough for those wings to generate lift, no matter how big they are. A creature as big as you should never be able to fly!"

"Don't shatter his dreams like that." Candrice playfully swatted him. "Though, it would be funny as soon as you made him think about it, he wasn't able to any longer."

"For you maybe." The brass one snorted again. "And I can fly. But what's this all have to do with me?"

"Feel like going for a flight then?" His ears went back, but didn't answer the female. "It's either that, or just stay here all day where there's nothing to do."

"You forget, I was absorbing the sun and adding it to my brillia-"

"Yeah, yeah. But you can do that anywhere. So why not?"

"-Did you just interrupt me?"

"Hello? Not dying sounds like a pretty good thing not to do today."

"You were the one hungry, so come on. I'll even buy us the drinks." The male whimpered a bit. "You only live once." She got up and headed towards the dragon.

"Don't I get a say in this?" Beo grumbled.

"You just had one a few minutes ago. Something about children staring at your brass balls."

"That was his complaint, not mine." He snorted, but resting his head on the stands for a moment. Feeling her take a tight grip on his spines and climb up on his shoulders. Hearing the male lizard whimper a bit more. "Get on or get left behind." A sharp sigh, and Joashua climbed up as well. Poorly, I might add, but enough.

"Please don't kill us." The male whimpered as the dragon started to move.

"Just hold onto something." Another few grips on his spines, but they hardly hurt. "All set?"

"Yes!"

"-No!" The large one attempted to look back and wait for a moment for Joash to whimper. "...Yes." And the brass one took a powerful leap to the skies. Wings stretched out, almost cupping the air and pushing down, creating massive winds below the behemoth. For a few moments, he just hovered out of spite. Trying to look back at the smaller male, but couldn't quite see his face, then propelled forward while getting the lizards to cry out in excitement.

The dragon landed in a grassy field, far away from the city in the distance. Though he was only flying for maybe ten minutes tops, it felt good to get out and do that. Especially after sunbathing.

Laying down on his belly once again, he felt the others still grasp on his spines. "That's okay, take your time." He muttered, even lifting up a paw for them to stand on.

"Damn that was terrifying!" The female whimpered a bit, finally hitting the grassy grounds and nearly hugging it.

"This was your idea!" The male lizard hissed. "And at least you didn't have to get off in the middle of an intersection!"

"You wanted to stop for food." Beo grumbled, laying on his back once again and leaving that package on display.

"Yeah, but you could've landed in the parking lot!"

"There was several in that area." He snorted at Joashua. "Not like I could tell which one you were pointing at, so next best option: land in the area of all of them."

"And nearly crush a car or two." Candrice grumbled, carefully stepping on his red furred membranes and now realizing how comfortable they were. Regardless of how the tickled at every little movement, and fluttered a bit. Making the large one grumble. "Definitely not one of your best decisions."

"Everything was fine. And they really shouldn't have been so impatient." Another snort, as a second set of paws tracked on his membranes. "I don't understand the purpose of using such vehicles if they're going to be stuck in traffic most of the way regardless."

"Just something people have a hard time letting go."

"They'd be better off without it, and probably less lazy too." The two chuckled at the large one's statement, but left it at that. Taking a few moments of silence to enjoy their meals, they started talking to each other. A conversation the dragon couldn't quite follow, due to a strange distraction.

There was something off about his chest. It felt... Stiff. Like his blood was thickening. His heart wasn't slowing down, or working harder, let alone cramping. It just felt strange to him. Something that he couldn't quite place.

Instead of worrying about it, Beo just took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Enjoying the warm glow of the sun's rays, and almost instantly felt them shift behind him. A foreboding feeling of anger and despair washed over him, as he pictured standing in the streets of the city once again. The buildings covered in a black ice before shattering loudly and making his eyes open widely.

He was still out in the field, but his breaths heavier. "Everything okay?" Candrice asked him, but her voice was echoing. Looking at the dragon almost sitting up and scanning the grass around him. "Beo?"

"Why do you sound far away...?" He mumbled, seeing his breath exhale a cool mist. Looking down at the two, clearly frozen while sitting on a blue-tinted abyss black wing. His wing.

The darkness that coated his scales startled him. Getting the dragon to attempt to sit up, all while pulling the black membranes out from under him. Watching his friends shatter at the slightest touch into billions of slivers before his vision went dark for a moment. But he could still feel.

Getting fully up, his chest suddenly felt tired. Feeling almost a rotating pulse within his heart, one he recognized but it was slowing down. Like it was already used and spent. His vision returned, finally able to scan the black iced horizon around him. Everything was either shattered, or still covered in the cold.

A sudden crash near him got the dragon to jump away, seeing a cloud that was suddenly frozen solid freefall to the earth. Showering the brass one with splinters of frost, before several more hit the ground. Getting Beo to shield himself with his wings for a few moments, until they stopped.

Slowly, he looked around at the dead lands. As far as he could see, everything was covered in dark ice, as well as several large tears in the skies. Before he could even silently curse, his ear caught some grass crinkling behind him. Turning about, he got hit hard and knocked back nearly an entire mile before hitting the ground and skidding on his side.

Though the blow did somewhat hurt, it wasn't anything to take the brass one down. Getting up and growling, he was interrupted and slammed down hard by an unknown force. Then someone on top of his back pinned the dragon. Nearly grappling his neck. "Don't move!" A female hissed, and he knew what it was.

Another one landed just in his sight, much smaller than the thick arms holding his plated throat in a headlock. As the smaller mouse pulled out a few throwing daggers from her coat, the dragon held up a paw in surrender. "Okay! Okay! I give-!" One of the daggers hit his neck, upwards inbetween the plates. Getting him to growl at the slight pierce, but nothing else.

A bit of an awkward silence, and the creature holding him shared a look from the clearly confused mouse. "Try another?" A second knife in the neck just made the brass one irked, but he still didn't struggle against them. "What the hell?"

"Nothing's happening. It's like I can't grasp its soul." The mouse said, getting that green eye to study it a bit closer and notice it was somewhat wounded. A small bleed through its nose.

"I'm not here to fight-!" Beo growled, getting a tighter grip from the female behind him.

"Then why the hell did you attack this planet!?"

"I don't remember doing it! I just blacked out, and it happened!" He growled at the one behind him. "If you don't believe me, grab Fate and have it read my mind!"

"We can't." The mouse said, getting a sharp look from the dragon.

"She's dead."

Chapter 4

"Is this necessary?" The brass one grumbled, completely tied down with large cables. Though they weren't really cutting into his scales, the stress of them were very uncomfortable on the wings. Making them restless.

"For you, yes." The female zebra grumbled. Though now much smaller than when she was wrestling the dragon. Though she wasn't wearing much, just a denim jacket with the sleeves ripped off and some long shorts, the cold didn't start getting to her until now. "Damn it's freezing here...!" She cursed, before a shelter started building around them. Even putting in a large floor.

"I told you, I don't remember doing this. I'm not an enemy of yours-"

"Then why did you literally ice half a planet?" The mouse hissed, but the lack of bass in her voice made it much less intimidating. "And why can't I kill you?" The large one growled at that, but tried to keep himself composed.

"Because I'm not from here. I'm an outsider, from-"

"Then what are you doing here?" A glare at the stripped one, mostly out of the interruption. Getting him to sigh.

"I was just looking for an answer."

"By destroying half a planet and killing Vokria." A glare at the smaller female this time.

"I didn't mean to harm any of you or your Fate!" He hissed. "I don't know what happened! I don't even remember losing control or Outbreaking-!"

"Outbreak?" The zebra repeated, getting the two to look at each other.

"I've heard that term before." The smallest one said, getting both of them to sigh. "If I can't kill him, the best we can do is lock him away-"

"What!?" A heavy growl as those straps tightened around him. Feeling another heavy push on top of that.

"At least until we figure out what else works. But that might be a few thousand years." Another deep growl.

"Damnit, I'm not a threat to you!" A look from the two, and he grumbled. "I mean, I'm not your enemy!"

"But you're unstable, and we can't afford risking another one of those." Reality said.

"Until then, we don't have a choice-"

"Yes! You do! Just escort me out-"

"Only for you to do it in another universe! Possibly even destroy that one!" As angry as he was at them, the zebra was right. Making him exhale and nearly deflate.

"...You're not wrong." The dragon mumbled, not looking at the two. "I didn't mean for this to happen, I was just attracted to come here. I was thinking maybe someone was..." Another breath. "Bartan was right, I should've never left-"

"Bartan?" The two females asked in surprise, getting the large one to..._ Attempt to _double take.

The bear arrived a few hours later. Landing in the still cold grass, like it was poisoned with the frost, no matter how much it was being recovered by their mother. The wounds in the sky were at least being tended to, an no signs of infiltration from such portals. Though that did relieve the white one a bit, worries of what awaited in the oddly untouched house still got to him as he approached the door. Knocking on it softly when there wasn't a doorbell, let alone any windows to peek into.

The mouse opened the door and Bartan greeted her with a smile. "Hello Krishseer." Getting a worried smile back, and seeing him lean in for a nuzzle.

"Glad you could come to our assistance, Counterweight." She greeted back a bit shyly, but accepting the nuzzle with both hands.

"I see you're still tending that business look." He half teased, being invited in. Almost signing in relief when he seen the dragon bound, but unharmed.

"That's because I enjoy looking like I'm busy."

"Yes, but it does hide your beautiful figure." The white one flirted a bit, looking over the Zebra within the room as well. "Speaking of Beautiful, how are you Alloe?"

"Doing fine, bear. And no, I'm not looking for any enhancements." A slight whimper from the six legged one, but chuckling none the less.

"Still holding that against me, are you?"

"I told you I would. Especially after..." There was a sad vibe that painted over the room, as the white one motioned the two in for a hug. Accepting it without any regard to the dragon watching and taking a moment of silence for the fallen sister.

"I'm sorry about Volkria." They nodded at his apologies, making Beo feel remorse once again from his actions. "But these things happen. I know it's hard, but have you found a replacement yet?"

"We've been thinking about it while we were waiting." Bartan gave the mouse a lick, then another tighter hug before letting go.

"We'll do something for her, I promise." The two nodded as he slowly approached the dragon. Standing tall over the brass one and thickening his voice. "Do you remember what I said the last time we met? What I would do to you?"

"All too well, I'm afraid." Beo growled at him, getting them to pause for a moment and the tension in the room rise. As the bear cut a few straps around his head, and took a grip on the dragon's spineful beard, he lifted up the brass one a bit. Getting the two in a heavy deadlock stare that lasted nearly 40 seconds, until that purple tongue licked his snout and broke the bear into chuckles. "I win."

"Yes. Yes you do." Bartan licked him back, clearly confusing the Forces in the room. "I must apologize again. It seems you found my husband."

"Y-your...?"

"Husband?" The zebra looked at her sister for a moment. "I knew you had a wife, but...?"

"Beo'Karah is quite recent. Do you mind if I release him?" Though their looks were concerned, they trusted the white one enough to handle anything. Nodding in confirmation before taking their own seats once again. Cutting the straps quickly, and letting the brass one finally stretch out a bit, even if the house was still a bit cramped. "Let me just explain a few things to them first, okay? Then we'll talk." The dragon nodded, and the two shared a quick kiss. "Feel free to wait outside if you like, I know you don't like tight spaces."

"As long as it's okay with them." Beo mumbled, still feeling bad about the incident. Again, they got a concerned look, but Alloe opened up an entire wall for him to exit, as well as keep an eye on the dragon.

"Phew. Where to begin?" The bear started a bit of where the two met, but kept alot of the private details out. Though mentioning the issue with the Terrasque to them, as well as the nightmares the dragon was having. As much as Beo wanted those things to remain a secret, they deserved to know. At least the bear was with him once again.

About an hour later of both telling the tale and going over possible solutions to their situation, the Forces went about their business. Getting the attention of the dragon who wasn't quite aware, and feeling the fuzzy Counterweight lay down beside him. "...I'm... Sorry."

"You don't have to be." The bear licked at his neck a bit, climbing ever closer to that ear to see if he could make the brass one smile. It half worked. "I just wish it wasn't so sudden."

"I know... But I just couldn't stay there anymore. The nightmares, the constant hunger... I felt trapped, imprisoned." A soft paw on his own told him he didn't have to explain, and the two remained silent for a bit. Enjoying each other's company as the weather started to get warmer.

"Do you still have them?" Beo shook his head. "And you...?"

"Don't feel hungry here, no. Not even right now. I wonder if it's just a side effect to the universe thing." When there wasn't a noise in confirmation or even pondering, those green eyes looked for the brown ones. Seeing concern in them, like he seen it. "What is it?"

A deep breath from Bartan, and he hugged the large dragon tightly. Almost listening to his chest. "...It's black." It struck a bit of a sad cord within those plates. "It's not completely, but it's really dark." His paws felt around Beo's collar and arms, seeing the white one do his best not to get aroused. "Even here. It's like it's... Tainted somehow."

"With what?" A shake of his bear muzzle as if to shrug sadly. "...What do you see?"

"...That's the problem. I can't really... Identify it." A noise in question. "The way a Counterweight's sense works is... Like gathering actual data. It's never wrong, misplaced or fooled by acts of treachery. We gather it as if it's complete information, and able to know exactly what is going on." Those green eyes looked deep into the brown ones again. "It doesn't work on other Counterweights though, that's usually how we identify them. But..."

"But what?" A sad look from the bear, and the dragon embraced him for a moment. Encouraging him to tell the dragon the bad news. "But what?" He repeated, getting the white one to take a deep breath.

"It's the same thing for Terrasques..." There it was, a deep worry of the dragon's that suddenly became truth. Nearly making the brass one almost panic and feel complete fear, yet frozen with it. Even after Bartan attempted to warm him up with another tight hug. "...I guess I didn't fix you after all..."

"Will you three be okay?" Bartan asked the Forces, as he was beginning to leave.

"Yes, we will be fine. Now that things have been fixed up a bit." The mouse said.

"Though we did lose half a planet of souls, we'll be okay. We just don't know what happened to them." A sad exhale told the Zebra that the bear knew, but they were better off not knowing, nor looking for them. Getting her to look back at the dragon following them a few steps back. "What are you going to do with him?" She asked, almost coldly.

"Don't hold a grudge, Alloe." The white one said thickly. "I'll take him with me while I go out and scout the nearby areas. I want to keep a close eye on him anyways." It made the brass one look away. "You caused about as much terror when you started out as well." Though he was serious, he did give her a playful nudge. "You can't-"

"Blame them of actions if they don't know how to control themselves, I know." she repeated, giving the muzzle a few taps. Especially after attempting a small feel for those body pillows.

"And you are going to be okay with these two showing you the ropes?" Bartan asked the wolf, the new Fate.

"Y-yes. I believe I'm in good hands."

"You know, Yensia, if you're ever looking for some... Enhancements..." He smiled, bouncing his eyebrows, and getting a bit of a shove away from the zebra.

"Do not take that offer, rookie." Alloe grumbled. "You won't be able to see your feet for a week." They chuckled as the Counterweight tossed his snout, even getting the dragon behind him to smile a bit. "Take care then, Bartan."

"You too, girls." He smiled at them while waiting for the dragon to catch up. "All ready to go?" A quiet nod from Beo, and an unexpected hug from the white one. "Leave your regrets behind, okay? This is no one's fault-especially yours." A deep breath from the largest one, as he overlooked the mouse and zebra.

"...I'm sorry." The dragon said sincerely, getting the other two to nod, almost like they had to. "If there's anything I can do..."

"He is a really good lay." Bartan whispered loudly, getting the brass one to whimper a groan and cover his eyes with a paw. "Serious, best you'll ever have." He teased them, getting the others to chuckle awkwardly. "Take care of yourselves."

"You too, bear." And the two males went off.

Chapter 5

The fresh summer air filled the large cave, bring with it the warmth of the sun, unable to reach within such an area. Nearly every season, it was banished from the cave, but that was the entire purpose of it from the one inside. Lazily slumbering within on his bedding of coins and other treasures. Though not nearly as big as the one in his first home, it was getting there.

Granted, he was only stealing from thieves and bandits, or at least trying. It was almost a tactical game for him, to wait until the bandits become a problem, and richen their supplies. Then the dragon would swoop in, snag the treasures (leaving the villages and farmlands have the rest), and save the day. Win-win: The dragon was a hero, and he got to pleasures of rolling around in shinnies.

But with such acts of heroism came the damn requests. Picking up the scent of the rather... Let's call them, not very hygienic, villagers. And groaning loudly, hoping they could hear it as they approached the cave. "That sound means I don't want to be bothered this morning." The dragon inside grumbled.

"We heard it." One of the visitors said. "Been hearing it for nearly five minutes."

"Then_why_pester me?"

"Oh, Great Overlord! We beg your assistance!" Another villager started, yet was interrupted but another groan.

"Ugh, Great. Yes, I am. Overlord though; _ blehhh _. Overlord sounds like work." His long muzzle flopped on his bedding, sending a few coins scattering.

"We have a situation down below-" The first one said, clearly unimpressed with the large creature.

"New rule I'm calling: No work in the mornings, no matter how dire. Or the evenings. Or at night. So, see the first part of the new rule."

"It's the Afternoon, Sire."

"...Maybe not in the afternoons either."

"B-but that only leaves-"

"Only at Noon, which only last for one minute. Which really, is enough work for one day." The large one grumbled. "Actually, that kinda conflicts with another rule I've stated before: no disturbing me while I'm eating. So-"

"Sire, we have an issue in the farmlands."

"I told you, I'm not a work horse." An awkward silence between them. "...One of you are a horse, aren't you?"

"Yes. Yes I am."

"Excellent. Problem solved. Leave me to sleep."

"Oh, Great One!"

"That's... Actually much better. Continue."

"-It's not a problem with the fields, it's about what is in them." The horse interrupted.

"Are you seriously complaining that you have too much food? That's something I could actually help you with then-"

"N-no, Great One-"

"Is it pests? Because the last time I tried doing something about that, you didn't like it too well."

"Yes. I can still taste it in the lettuce."

"_You_wanted a solution, I presented one."

"Lifting up your leg and...! That's not a Solution!"

"It kept the insects off, did it not?"

"As well as everything else, yes. B-but we really suffered from-"

"Being able to taste _anything_else but... _ It _."

"...I'm still not sure how this is my problem-"

"Because we haven't told you yet!" The equine grumbled loudly. "Look, there's intruders in the fields! They've been there all morning, and our farmers cannot get any work done!"

"So, you want me to hiss at a few bandits who are... Not stealing your food, but...?"

"They're just lying there. And they're not band-"

"Well then, come back when they've _burned_something. There's no law against them just lying there."

"But they're preventing our farmers from working, which is dire if we want food this winter. Unless you want to help out afterword-"

"Ugh, sounds like work. Pass."

"You damn lazy liza-!"

"-Oh, Great One! Please aid us in getting rid of such intruders!"

A loud groan from the dragon. Then a second one. "...We'll pay you." The horse grumbled.

"_ Fffffffffffffffffffffiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeee _." The large one grumbled. Getting up. "I can't believe I have to work for money." He snorted, stepping over his bed and stretching. Allowing the other two to finally see his slender figure up close. Though the dragon was taller than them, he was far from intimidating when it came to looks.

Leading them outside and grumbling at the bright light, the brown dragon yawned lazily. Flicking his long tongue and lightly scratching the space between his nostrils with it. "They're down that way." The horse and the hog pointed in a direction, getting the large one to still moan about it.

"Today is not a day for work-"

" Get Your Scaly Ass Down There!!" The horse barked at him, getting the dragon to take a half-step back and curl his neck. At least now more awake.

"...Well, now that you've asked nicely." The brown one snorted, grumbling something about villagers being rude and taking to the skies. From there, he could see something odd in one of the fields, but barely cared about it. Instead, thirst called to him, making it a top priority before hissing away anything... 'Occupying Fields.'

Going down next to a freshwater river and drinking his fill, the dragon felt much more awake now. Enough to start pondering why he was the one needing to drive away trespassers from their lands. The brown one didn't _belong_to them, if anything it was the other way around! Grumbling, he turned about just as a white creature tended to the river. Something out of his view, and took off before even hearing it.

But the sooner he got this job done, the sooner he could get his reward. And it better not be 'Sprinkled Lettuce' that they're paying with. Or else something _ IS _getting set on fire. Scouting the farmlands once again, he seen a large metallic beast just laying out in the grass. Almost looking familiar from a far, but the dark gold color didn't ring a bell. Let alone the red on its wings.

Wings...? Metal scales, wings. Was this another dragon? "Great." The brown one grumbled, landing a bit softly in the grass and sighing out of boredom while walking towards the brass creature. "You." He said, so lackadaisically it hurt. "You're trespassing, and the little people want you to... Y'know. Leave." He snorted, getting the grumbling attention of the other dragon.

"What?"

"You heard me, Mr..." The scrawny dragon stopped when he took a closer look at the brass dragon's build, almost losing his breath for a moment in an old memory. Then completely lost it when he seen those green eyes. Peppered with black spots.

"...Sig'eaal?" Beo whispered, scanning the smaller one as Siggy took a step back.

"You...?" Another quick scan, and he nearly lost his speech again. "Beo'Kros...?" There was a bit of silence between the two as the brass one fully rose up. "But you're..."

"Supposed to be dead?" The brass one said a bit sadly, almost looking away. "It's nice to see you're still alive." He tried to give the smaller dragon a smile, but it just wouldn't come out. Then his heart nearly stopped when that long muzzle turned to the skies, knowing who was returning with their fresh water.

"Annnd that's...?" Siggy started, but was stunned at the look of the six-legged creature.

"Found a friend, did you?" The bear teased, but felt some tension between them. After offering the brass one a bowl of water, he studied the brown dragon for a moment, and sucked in a breath. "...Oh wow. Literally an old friend. Is that Sig'eaal?"

"Y-yeah. Apparently." The smaller dragon only double taked between them, a bit speechless while Beo just rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Siggy, this is Bartan. He's..." It was then that the brass one was a little stuck. Not knowing how to tell that he was mated with another male, let alone if he wanted the smaller dragon to even know about it. Due to their complicated past of constantly insulting each other, he almost didn't feel safe saying it.

But that bear's muzzle looked at him for a moment, trying to read his actions, perhaps asking if the white one should gesture instead. But Beo took a breath, then rested the paw that was tending to his neck on Bartan's. Then feeling that middle paw grip on his arm tightly as if to say 'I'm proud of you.'

"...Ohhh." Siggy muttered, awkwardly looking away and almost avoiding eye contact. Not knowing what to say to them, let alone to the brass one entirely.

Instead, Beo changed the subject. "Sig'eaal, what are you doing here?" It nearly got the smaller dragon to shoot up and double take. Then take a moment to remember exactly _why_he was here to begin with.

"Oh, right. Trespassing." The other two tilted their heads, but the brown one was still in a state of awkwardness to go past that. Knowing he was supposed to chase this mountain of a dragon away, he just wanted to go back to his cave and sleep.

"Trespassing? Are we trespassing?" The bear asked, concerningly. Now looking at the small crowd off in the distance. "Oh, I didn't think this was farmlands. It just looked like anyone's grass to me."

"Well, apparently they own it, and haven't been able to work all morning because of..." The white one lowered his head a bit, but Beo couldn't help but stare at the smaller dragon for a bit longer.

"Oh, well then. Accept my apologies." An odd head tilt from Siggy as his neck curled. "For that, let me offer my assistance. That way, you two can take the day to catch up on lost time." Another awkward moment as the bear gave the brass one a few licks on the neck before approaching the crowd patiently. Leaving the other two to awkwardly half stare at each other.

Finally clearing his throat and taking that drink, Beo looked around before taking a few steps towards the old comrade. "So... Did you want to go somewhere else and... Talk?"

"Oh, uh... Sure." The brown one then quickly looked around, really not wanting to invite the larger dragon to his own cave. "There's a clearing over there that's rarely bothered. Let's..." Beo awkwardly nodded and gestured him to lead the way.

The dragons landed in the large clearing. One much heavier than the other, and making Siggy's spines raise a bit. "Can't say I miss that." He grumbled, getting an awkward chuckle from the larger one. After a bit of silence, and the two studying the area to ensure they were alone. Feeling the slight winds begin to pick up as Sig'eaal cleared his throat. "So... Can I address the elephant in the room?"

"S-sure." Another neck rub as the brass one sat down.

"Why the paintjob? And also, how are you not dead?" A bit of a whimper. "You seriously had no pulse."

"You checked?" A neck curl from the scrawny one as his ears turned purple. "N-nevermind. But... Bartan saved me." A noise in question. "He talked to the Counterweight of that universe-" A snout toss from him got Beo's attention.

"A pile of Taath, that one." The brass one's ears went back and nearly released a growl. "I mean, the Counterweight, not your... Fluffball." His expression didn't change, making the smaller one's ears drop with a bit of embarrassment. "...Oh. C-carry on."

"Right. He convinced it to let me go instead of... Destroying me. And Bartan helped me recover." A breath as the brass one looked away. "He gave me back my life and..."

"That's all it took to lift your tail, huh?" That growl left Beo's throat, but he didn't look at the brown one. "And your scales?"

"They... He helped me... 'Thaw Out' you could say."

"So blue wasn't your natural color?" The larger one shook his head. "That look makes you less frightening." Siggy snorted, but not getting a reaction out of him.

"What about you? What happened after...?" A snout toss from the brown one as he took a breath. Laying down in the soft grass.

"Like I said, that CW was a pile of Taath. Honestly never gave us a chance, and kicked us out. It even claimed that letting us live was doing us a favor, and banished us away." He grumbled. "Granted, I was a Force for about a week, and realized, as I predicted, that I taathing hated it." A deep exhale though his long muzzle. "Thanks _alot_for that, by the way."

"I couldn't hold onto it. What did you want me to do? Give it to a leaf?" The brass one snorted.

"-Do anything. As long as it kept you alive." Siggy said rather quickly, not really noticing what came out of his muzzle until it was too late. Feeling the stare of those green eyes in question, and making him sigh heavily. "You didn't need to leave us, you know. You could've just... Kept it. Found us, then let us work together."

"I..." A deep breath from the brass one. "I couldn't forgive him-"

"Then don't bother." Sig'eaal half grumbled. "Not like the old bastard deserved it anyway. But Raccel at least tried." A bit of silence. "Seriously, Nalchulus probably would've crooked by the time we found the final Force, and then it would just be us. You wouldn't have to work with him."

"And you really think Raccel would've just accepted that-?"

"If it meant getting his best dragon back, then yes." Another tenseful few moments. "I know what he did wasn't... And I know what I said about... Her wasn't..." A deep breath. "But you didn't have to leave us. We could've worked it out. Even if I..."

"Even if you what?"

"...Had to take her place." A bit of silence. "...For you, I mean."

"...You mean... You would've...?"

"Heard you out?" The brown one shrugged at his own question. "Not like you never did it for me or any of my stupid ideas." A sad smile almost formed over that brass muzzle.

"Not all of them were stupid. Just that one with the Ion Storm." They lightly chuckled at that memory, but then the tension blanketed over them again. Getting the brown one to sigh heavily, almost in defeat. "Siggy?"

"...Why did you even come here, Beo?" He muttered, almost harshly while still avoiding those green eyes. After a few moments, the brass one started to get up. "Don't."

There was a few moments of silence before the larger one sighed. "...I didn't know you were here. I didn't know where you were, or that..."

"Figures that you wouldn't notice." The brown one muttered, sitting up himself and resting on his haunches. Still facing away as if to take off into the woods at any moment.

"Who says I didn't?" The brass dragon asked a little harshly. "I remember it, Siggy... Your attack against the Forces when they pinned me down. That saved my life. When I was dying that last time we met... Your whimper still haunts me." The smaller one just lowered his head down.

"...Then why didn't you...?"

"Because..." A heavy breath. "...The first female I seen..." A heavy swallow from the large throat. "She leeched off me. Promising tail in return, but only took off to find another male." No response. "She ruined it for me, to the point where I didn't think I could anymore-"

"And that pet of yours?" Beo's jaw stressed for a moment, but sighed afterwards.

"...I don't know. She did nothing different from you, other than being completely helpless." A shaky exhale from the scrawny one.

"Yet you show up here with... _ That _?" His wing gestured the fields, getting the brass one to look back and almost spot the white bear. "...What did he do differently?" The larger one didn't have an answer, and for a few moments did nothing. Eventually he adjusted, and the brown one rose up to all fours, almost running off. "Don't!"

Another long silence, and Beo exhaled again. Yet watched that thick brown tail intently. A few moments later, he pounced at it, getting the smaller dragon to dash off. However, his tail was caught in the harsh grip of the brass paws. Getting Siggy to hiss loudly, creating a few sparks from his muzzle, but still couldn't look into those green eyes.

Chapter 6

Beo'Karah kept his grasp on the brown one's tail, but didn't pull on it. Just forced it to stay in place, and halt the smaller dragon's escape. As much as Siggy wanted to fight for freedom, he knew he couldn't win against the larger dragon. So, for a long time, he just accepted the stalemate. Feeling those winds once again pick up and the clouds begin to darken the sky. "So, what now? You're going to rape me?" He asked the brass one rather seriously.

Another long silence as those green eyes studied the plated tail. Seeing a faint bronze shine over them, and studied how unusually thick it was compared to the rest of the dragon's body. With a heavy exhale, Beo answered him. "No." No response. "I just don't want you to leave."

"Why-?"

"Because I'm afraid I'll never see you again." It was a hard thing for the larger one to say, and equally hard for the smaller one to hear. Taking a few quivering breaths before Sig'eaal stepped back, then rested on his haunches. Doing his best to hide his tears, and being a little thankful when the droplets started falling from the sky. Cautiously, Beo let go, and climbed up the dragon with his paws. Sitting directly behind the brown one and wrapping those thick arms around it in a hug. "...I'm sorry, Sig'eaal." That long muzzle's jaw tensed up as he once again looked away from the bearded one. "I just... Didn't think I could back then."

"...Yet you insist on doing this to me-"

"Because I _ care _, you twig." He whispered harshly, but getting a faint chuckle from the brown one. "And I won't let you go until you think of a way to make this right."

"And if there isn't?"

"...Then I won't let go." A harsh exhale from Siggy. "You wanted me for so long, now you have me. Don't make that same foolish mistake I made." A long silence as the rain started to fall. "Punish me for this, if it will get you over it. If it will let you look me in the eyes again." That statement nearly collapsed the brown one, his body giving into gravity. But those brass arms kept them up. A few harsh sniffs later, and Siggy took a deep breath.

"...Your... Mate." A noise in question. "How much do you love him?"

"...How much...?" Beo didn't know how to answer that. "...Whatever I am worth is his. But I can't measure that-"

"And if I were to tie him up?" The brass one held a breath. "Forced you to watch? As I presented him and mounted him before your eyes-?"

"That's it?" Beo asked, rather puzzlingly. In return got the brown one to whimper at the unexpected response. "You'll forgive me if you get to mount the daylights out of Bartan?" Another faint whimper practically told him that Siggy was bluffing. "Seriously, I actually think he was daydreaming of it since the first time he saw you, Sig'eaal."

"W-what?" A shrug of the brass shoulders and wings half lifted up the smaller dragon for a moment.

"He's kind of a slut." Saying it out loud made Beo chuckle. "But are you actually serious?" A moment of awkward grunt, and Siggy deflated. "That means no. But you..." A sigh from the brass one as he let go of the dragon gently. Resting him in the wet grass and carefully laying his own head on Sig'eaal's lower back. "You want to punish me, is that it?" No response. "...Alright." A noise in question. "Okay. If you really want to punish me... I'll tell you one of my worst fears." Those brown frilled ears were listening intently. "...I... Hate being dominated. Overpowered and pinned down. Helpless."

"Like what you're doing to me right now?" A heavy exhale from the brass one, but he felt him nod.

"...Just another thing I'm sorry for. But..." A breath. "I'm doing it because..."

A long silence between them. "Define that. Dominated."

"...Being taken advantage of." He mumbled. "It's different when someone you love is doing it, so-"

"Does that mark me off the list then?" A bit of silence, and he wasn't sure how to answer that question.

"...Siggy. What do _you_want." No response. "Is it to really hurt me? Punish me for being a terrible friend?" A long silence. "Because I will let you do anything you want to me."

"...Like what?" A deep breath from that brass muzzle and he gave his lower back a few licks. Eventually getting up off of the brown one and laying down beside Siggy's tail. Seeing the brass appendage near his head, Sig'eaal almost questioned what Beo was doing. Studying the dragon as he was laying on his side, forepaws together like they were tied by the wrists. Then lifted his hind leg and made his brass stones vulnerable to the brown one.

"...They're yours, if you want them. If you want to beat on them, I won't fight back. If you want to bite them, claw them... Cut them off, and keep them as a trophy. Odds are Bartan will just make me a new pair."

"They would look nice in my collection." The two chuckled at that. "And you want me to...?"

"Forgive me. Even if it's doing the most emasculating thing you can do to a dragon." A long stare of silence as the scrawny dragon studied him. Eventually stepping forward and grasping around the large sack. Getting a faint grunt as Siggy felt for those orbs inside. Rather jealous how they were bigger than his, and somehow fuller.

He played around with them for a few minutes, not really knowing what to do. Did he really want to castrate the dragon? All for what? Not taking notice of his affection? One that was constantly scattered with insults and shots about his slow, titanic body? Exhale after heavy exhale, Sig'eaal pondered over it, wondering what he could do to him. Wondering what he himself wanted.

The answer was actually right in front of him, lying about. He didn't want revenge, he was actually happy that Beo somehow survived. It just wasn't until that bear thing showed up. But something about how the larger dragon talked about him seemed... Opened. Like an invitation. Finally letting go of those orbs, and taking a step closer, Siggy half pet the raised hind paw a bit. Taking a deep breath before lining up his lower horn and pushing it into Beo's tailhole. Granted, not without a bit of a yelp.

The opening flare took his breath away, but the larger dragon didn't fight it. Though, that extended hind paw got a little tickle once in a while, it only pressed back so he could change his position a bit. Almost expecting a bigger fight from the brass one, Sig studied him for a few moments. Leaving the flare of his weapon just within that tailpipe. "Do..." Beo half gasped. "Do you want me on my back?"

Another moment of studying as he looked the dragon in the green eyes. "...No." He faintly said through the heavy rain. "I want you like this." His voice carried this confused coldness to it. Harsh, but uncertain. Regardless, the large one did nothing to defend himself.

After the brown one adjusted himself a bit more. Leaning onto the brass dragon's side, while still keeping that hind paw upward a bit more, Siggy pressed in. Getting a series of heavy breaths as his teal weapon flared out the tailhole and dug deeper. Following that, the long spines that really seemed to have a bit of flexibility to them. Almost altering their points and tips when coming out. Enforcing a slightly different experience than Beo was used to.

Of course, his own lower horn was peering out of his sheath. The purple weapon still not quite hard yet was slightly moving with the two dragons, as the brass one fought to keep still. The waves of pleasure were getting to him, making his tail want to wag from instinct, and accidently whacking the ground a few times between Siggy's haunches. Feeling him nearly sit on the long appendage as his horn drilled inside deeper.

A very deep breath nearly turned into a whimper as the larger dragon braced himself into the ground. Clawing at it while that horn went deeper than he was used to. "You're..." He started, getting a few grunts between every movement. "You're alot... Longer than expected."

"Yours is just short, I'm sure." Sig'eaal playfully snorted at him. Getting Beo to smile, like they were old friends again.

"Well, mine's currently on display if you want to-" A sudden deep penetration, forced out a whimper and a few breaths. Though the shaft itself wasn't overly thick, it was wider than he expected out of the scrawny dragon. Almost impressing the brass one, but now knowing where his ego came from. Regardless of his runt size, Siggy felt well equipped.

Another deep slide into the large one's tailhole and Beo grunted to a whimper. Struggling to keep himself from squirming a bit, and releasing his own blue juice out of his lower horn. But not getting the attention of the dragon mounting him. A few more long paced thrusts, and the horn went a little deeper. Now feeling a heavy ring that finally got the brown one to gasp. Squirting himself inside the titanic beast while some thunder echoed from the distance.

There was some strange hum to that liquid, something he couldn't quite identify. Especially with other distractions occupying him. Feeling that ring play around with his tailpipe really started to stimulate the smaller dragon, but that was about all he could get in with this position. Getting Siggy to growl a bit. "Let me... Get on my back." A few moments of studying, and he exited out of the brass one. Allowing Beo to get up and fold his wing under easily. Then motion for him to climb aboard.

There was a strange look in those yellow eyes, as he couldn't look away from the purple weapon. Let alone the blue liquids leaking out of him. Taking a step closer, he rested a rather thin paw on Beo's weapon, getting a faint grunt. "What gets you off? Ridges?"

"That and... Hamstrings." The metallic one admitted, getting the attention of those eyes again. Feeling one paw on a haunch and the other grasp on his ridges, a heavy breath left the larger dragon. Unable to control his squirms, especially when the paws started to move. Getting more and more juice flowing out of that tip.

"You were not kidding." Siggy half grumbled, toying with the larger dragon who was clearly not trying to fight against the paws. At least until they started moving a bit faster, then Beo was just helpless. Nearly melting at the slightest touch as his weapon started to thicken up. "Come on, Mr. Muscles. Let me see you wet yourself."

Though he was trying to keep his whimpers in his throat, a few of them got out before a heavy brace and a bit of thrusting. Once again, the shaft thickened as a few torrents started to launch. Getting the brown dragon to let go of the haunch and start controlling the horn like a hose. Spraying Beo in the face with the thick streams, all while he opened his maw and attempted to catch it with his purple tongue. Doing a decent job of it too.

A moment for him to recover and a grasp on his stones was felt. Weighing them for a moment, and notice how there was still alot left inside. "Now, how often can you do that?" Siggy half pondered.

"Record is... About fifteen times... I think."

"In a row?" A slow nod. "So we have plenty to work with until you're empty. Good to know."

"You really... Planning to go that far?" Beo asked between breaths.

"Don't know yet. But first." Another prod into his tailhole made the larger one gasp once again. "I want to finish inside you." The rod slipped inside quite deep as he squirmed a bit. Feeling that long penetration once again and making the brass one whimper a bit in pleasure. "Now, I want the truth, Beo. Would you be letting me do this back in the old days?"

"N-no..." He gasped as the long tower started moving around. Feeling those spines carefully claw the inner walls.

"And what about now? If you weren't asking for forgiveness."

"Yes..." A few breaths. "You just... Needed to ask..." The brown one curled his neck while stopping. Getting a whimper, nearly begging for more.

"What the hell changed then." It was barely a question.

"...Bartan." A few moments of silence as Beo caught his breath. "...He helped me see what I did wrong. Helped me change, be a better person." His green eyes finally opened up to Siggy's yellow ones. "...I really mean it when I said I'm sorry, Sig'eaal. And I'm not doing this out of pity or..." A heavy breath as he placed a brass paw on the smaller dragon's. "I'm doing this because you want it. I'm doing this because... I want it too." Those eyes didn't falter, not until Beo's paw lifted the brown one a bit, and lead him to lie down on the brass body. Once again hugging the brown one the best he could.

But Sig'eaal was somewhat stunned by the idea of it. So much so, that he completely spaced out that the brass one was covered in his own seed. Even after Beo leaned in to give the smaller dragon a few licks of affection, and encouraged him to carry on. Though he was still confused about his current feelings, Siggy's instincts were still pressing for action. Letting him finally take a small step back, and making Beo think he was withdrawing entirely.

Then a sudden forceful thrust made both dragons growl loudly in bliss, as that lower horn went inside deeper and another shot of thunder getting closer to them. Climbing over a second ring and spaz out a bit. Releasing a few more squirts of that strange juice before going back for a few easy thrusts. Then another really heavy one for the third ring. Making them lose their breaths at another squirt. Thinking that there really couldn't be much more to his length, they came to a fourth ridge.

A loud whimper from the brass one as he tightly grasped the brown dragon with his paws. Though trying not to hurt him, it was almost too much for him to take in. As the two panted a bit, Siggy still tried to press in deeper. Making Beo whimper a bit more before the smaller one gave it his all. Slamming the full length over and over into that tailpipe. Even using his thick tail for more leverage, slamming down on the ground.

A full minute's worth was enough for Beo to reach another climax. Spraying the blue liquid between them, but not distracting Siggy's instincts. Giving that tailhole the full length over and over, until they finally reached a fifth ring. Getting both dragons to hiss loudly and grasp each other tightly. A few rapid breaths from the smaller one, and thick sprays were finally felt releasing inside. Getting an extremely loud thunderclap to overpower their own roars.

The sheer amount of it was still rather impressive, feeling his lower end flood with the dragon's seed. But there was something else off about it, something stimulating. Like the juices itself held an electrical current that passed through the simple layers of the dragon's body. Even going through to his own weapon and making the brass one reach another climax. Still getting that comfortable shock constantly, even after the dragon was done. "Wow..." Beo started, still whimpering in pleasure. "This feels... Amazing...!"

"See what you've been missing all these years?" The brown one attempted to joke, but his voice cracked halfway. Unable to look the other dragon in the eyes while he caught his own breath. But felt those heavy paws through the equally weighted rain. Though his lower half was still being stimulated by the unique current in his belly, Beo tried to gesture the smaller dragon to come up closer to him. However, Sig'eaal refused. "...I can't do it."

"Do what...?" A long silence as the brass one tried again. "Siggy, talk to me."

"...I can't... I can't let you hurt me again." That sank the larger one's heart. "And I... Can't tell you-"

"Hey." A deep breath from the brown one as he was clearly trying to hold himself together. Hiding his tears in the rain. "You can, Siggy. I won't... Reject you again. I won't hurt you-"

"But you might. Especially if..." He exhaled towards the fields again, and Beo knew who he was talking about. "So. If you will... _Kindly_let me go-"

"No." The brass one said thickly, feeling that rumble from the sky once again. "I won't leave you like this. Now talk to me." A very long silence as the teal horn completely withdrew into its protective home once again. Not feeling it anymore, Beo pulled the brown one up further for a tighter embrace, noticing how he didn't even fight back.

"...I hated dragons." Siggy eventually mumbled, only getting a few comforting strokes. "I hated my nest, my parents, their friends and nestmates. I hated every dragon I ever seen, including that old red bastard." A deep breath. "I hated humans, I hated animals, I hated every species that I damn well ever came across. I hated that mutt with the one eye, I hated all the vermin he dealt with. I hated the work, the diet, the taste of trees..."

The brown one continued. "...The only things I didn't hate were treasure, the storms... And-" A quivering breath as Beo predicted it, just motioning him to continue through touch. "But I hated you at times too. Just not like the others... When I seen you, I hated myself. When I seen how..."

"It's okay. Keep going." The brass one said, though being able to tell the difference between the rain and the tears, he let on that he didn't notice.

"I was Taathing weak... My entire life, I was the weakest thing I've ever seen. When I first seen you, I envied every damn scale on your body." A deep breath. "I was afraid... Intimidated, but almost in lov-" He choked. "I wanted it... So badly, I wanted your power. To the point where I started dreaming about it." A few strokes to make him feel less awkward. "Dreaming about you raping me... Pinning me down, grabbing my tail and just having your way with me until I colored the floor. Maybe even going so far as to bite me until I was paralyzed. They would've been nightmares if I didn't wake up so aro..."

"...So, you...?"

"I wanted to be you... Every part of you, I wanted it for myself. I wanted to switch places, switch _lives_with you... Sometimes even tried to make that dream a reality. Wondering what would really happen if I did sneak into your cave and presented my haunches for you to skewer. But I knew what you would do... So, instead of just admitting to it, I just denied it. Forced myself to lash out at others, like they did me. I would insult you, hiss, and make fun of your envious shape... But I couldn't keep myself from wanting it..." A sniff. "Even if you were one of the worst creatures to ever be in existence."

"That's not far from the truth." That made the two half chuckle.

"I was still one of them myself, so..." A deep breath. "But when you left... And when we lost you... I kept telling myself it was for the better. That those fantasies would have never come true. I forced myself to believe that you weren't worth it, just so I could move on... But today? All it took was seeing you to collapse that stupid wall, and know that things will never change..."

"...I have changed-"

"But I haven't!" Siggy hissed, almost struggling against the embrace. "And I don't think I ever will. With that... Thing down there, standing beside you...!? What am I supposed to do against that? How am I supposed to compete against a Taathing god!?" A long silence as the smaller dragon did his best to hide his sobs.

"...You don't have to-"

"Yes. I do... Because I can't share what I want." A long silence. "But there... I gutted myself in front of you. Now rip me apart."

"No." A few more sobs from Siggy. "I will not punish you for feeling affection-"

"And what about wanting you? All for myself-?"

"No." The rain still poured over them. "Siggy, what you wanted... That bastard of a dragon... It's gone. That's no longer who I am, and I cannot bring that side back. You need to stop wanting what is in the past, and look to what you might want now." He started shifting the deflated dragon, until Sig'eaal found out what he was trying to do; look the brown one in the eyes. He then started to fight against it. Clawing away at the brass paws and arms, hissing at them to avoid all eye contact, but there was nothing he could do. Eventually forced to look at them and show all the pain those yellow orbs have been through. "What do you want, Sig'eaal?" The words collapsed him.

Chapter 7

"Anything at all." Beo continued, trying to speak over the heavy rain. "Don't think about the consequences. Don't think about Bartan, or what is impossible. What do _ You _want?" A long silence and eventually those brass paws released the brown dragon's head. Those yellow eyes still almost frightened of being judged and rejected, eventually falling and hanging his head low.

"...You." He whispered, getting those metallic ears to flicker.

"Then take me, however you like." When there was no movement, a large paw lifted his long muzzle to look him in the eyes again. Slowly going in for a few licks on that snout, and even on his lips. "Just stop fighting with yourself. Take me." A soft kiss, and it wasn't until that purple tongue separated the brown dragon's lips a bit more that he began to participate. Giving control to the smaller dragon and letting that long tongue explore the brass one's muzzle from the inside.

Carefully feeling each ripple on the roof, and examining every fang, he let that silky appendage make its investigations. Every once in a while softly greeting it with his much thicker one. Feeling Sig'eaal finally press his lips much harder into the brass one, and setting his head back down on the ground. Grasping it with his scrawny claws, and really forcing himself into the larger dragon. Nearly biting at it, like he was battling himself.

Eventually breaking for a few moments, and going in for a quick few ones. "...Don't you hurt me again, dragon." Siggy nearly hissed, no longer hiding the tears from his eyes. "Don't you damn well hurt me again-"

"I won't." Beo assured him, giving him another kiss and licking off those shaky droplets. "I promise I won't." A few deep breaths as those yellow eyes studied him again, before going it for a rather violent kiss. Really biting against the brass muzzle and digging his claws into his neck. Forcing that long pink tongue into it, all while accepting the large purple one every so often.

The motions lasted for minutes, as the rain got heavier and heavier. Almost flooding the grassy areas they were laying in. Thunder bellowed above them several times, demanding attention from every creature around, but got none from the two. Even after they took a break for a few breaths, they were focused on nothing but each other.

A few heavy gasps, and Beo licked that brown muzzle again. Still tasting a bit of blood in his own, but nothing alarming. "What do you want, Siggy?" He whispered to the smaller one. Feeling his haunches dance around the purple weapon below him, half looking back at it and then to those green eyes again. Seeing him nod in acceptance, as the brown one took a step higher.

Another rough kiss before he started to feel that tip prod around that area. Almost expecting the brass one to suddenly turn on him and just ravage the smaller dragon like in his dreams. But Beo just waited patiently for the brown one to take action, only steering him with those large paws until he found the tip.

A few presses into that tailhole was enough to get them both breathing heavily once again. Grabbing the larger dragon by the shoulders and force himself slowly to don the weapon. Feeling that flare widen greatly and making Siggy whimper like it was too much for him. A few harsher attempts later only brought the smaller one pain, and those paws forced him to stop. "Okay, okay. Hold on." Beo whispered. "I don't think you can fit."

"...Figures." The brown one grumbled, almost defeated.

"Let me try something else." A noise in question, but those brass paws just guided him up. Leading the smaller dragon to step forward, until his haunches were over the brass muzzle, and feeling that tongue slowly paint up a leg.

Sig'eaal had no clue what he was doing, and getting the motion to squat down on Beo's face seemed a little odd. But he wasn't misreading the tell, and carefully did it. Feeling that purple tongue start rimming around the tailpipe threw waves through his smaller frame. Lapping at it from all directions and even prodding at it a bit. Nearly too much for the dragon to handle.

With that tongue tightly folded to a point, it started to press into that tailhole. Getting Siggy to whimper loudly at it, and fight against those brass paws grasping his tail. Though not letting go entirely, they gave him some resistance to relax and get used to it. Pressing in a little deeper made the dragon sing in the rain, eventually feeling that penetration much easier than the brass one's weapon.

A few moments to get used to that, and the tongue began to unfold from the inside. Making the brown dragon yelp a bit and lose his breath quickly. It released in pulses, giving those walls time to adjust and widen much easier than just getting impaled. But it was turning the smaller dragon on too quickly. Getting him to squirt a few times before whimpering too loudly. "You okay?" Beo asked as he withdrew.

But Sig'eaal's breaths didn't stop. Getting a slight step back, he rested his stones on the brass muzzle. Getting the tell and opening his maw to caress the bronze bag. Doing his best not to bite too harshly on such a thing, yet play around with the two rocks inside. Sucking on it to lightly stretch the bag. Lapping at the leather, and getting rather impressed with how thick it actually was. Something Beo never seemed to take notice to whenever he seen the smaller one around.

With the stones withdrawing, the brass one took the initiative to lick at the teal horn. Noticing how it seemed to be more of a turquoise towards the tip, and slowly fade into a teal-blue around the ridges. Speaking of such things, they were much thicker than expected, no wonder they felt like rings to the larger dragon. A few more licks and the weapon jerked with another thunderclap. Releasing a bit more of that turquoise juice from its tip, and landing on Beo's muzzle. Feeling a slight buzz from it, like it was electrified.

A few more licks and Siggy couldn't take it anymore. With a quick step back, he forced the long weapon into the larger dragon's mouth. Feeling Beo lap at it vigorously, and nearly collapsing the smaller one. Making him desire more out of it, and pressing into the muzzle deeper. Loving that tongue slip around it, toy with the ridges, and suck on the tip until the juices inside were pulled out. Giving that slightly sour buzz lead down his throat and make him purr loudly at it.

Another heavy jolt of the pre and Sig'eaal took another step back. Enough for him to finally grab Beo's upper head with his paws and really start thrusting his horn inside. Letting his throat take the full length and notice how the brass one never gaged. No matter how many squirts were released.

That tongue was racing him. Those paws still toying with his rear entrance. Those fangs gracing his ridges. It was all too much for his smaller body to handle. In less than a minute later, Siggy gave one final trust. Letting Beo build up all that tension from inside and release everything down that thick throat. Roar after roar caused the lightning from above to strike nearby, as that sack of his began to transfer its contents. Feeling the brass one swallow every drop given, and almost purr at the stimulating feeling it gave off.

But then that tongue didn't stop, still playing with the shaft inside and overstimulating the smaller dragon. The paws still prodded around with that tailhole carefully, making Siggy whimper at the rising climax again. Grasping at the back of those red spines, and really digging his claws into the scales, the brown dragon whimpered loudly once more. Hearing that thunderclap as his torrents released.

His leather bag drained every last drop it had, forcing it into the large dragon's throat and maw, as the brown one started to pull back. Losing his balance and almost collapsing on the purple weapon that was still erect. Panting a bit heavily, as Beo climbed up to meet Sig'eaal's muzzle. Licking it a few times before locking lips and making the smaller one yelp in surprise.

But he was too exhausted to fight against it, and accepted a muzzleful of his own seed. Purring loudly at that sour taste, one that brought back adventurous memories of experimentation. Lapping at the purple tongue until he couldn't any longer. Forcing him to breathe heavily for a few moments. "...Sorry. I'm used to Bartan having multiple releases-"

"Did you... Apolo...?" It made the brass one smile a bit, then feel the smaller dragon grasp his claws suddenly. Grunting to a hiss, before taking deep breaths and looking down at his pouch. Seeing it once again full and his fatigue gone. Giving those green eyes a surprised look. "What...?"

"I'll... Explain later. Just accept it." He gave the brown one a quick kiss, and he nodded. Once again moving into position, and feeling for that purple horn. Taking a few breaths while getting a few licks of encouragement. "Ready?"

"I hope so." Siggy grumbled, looking back at the horn like he wasn't sure it could even fit. But he wanted this, a phrase he kept whispering to himself in the heavy rain. Taking a step back to reduce error, he once again started to don the weapon inside him. Feeling that flare stretch his tailhole outward, and making the brown one whimper loudly.

A few pets of encouragement, along with a few licks, told him to keep trying. Pressing in at his own pace and slowly feel his entrance widen to fit such a thing. Taking a few bounces before trying again, he got alot further than the first attempt, but it still felt like too much. A few heavy pants, and Siggy almost growled. "What's wrong-?"

The brown one threw all of his weight onto that one area, forcing himself to widen up and plop the entire head inside his tailpipe. Getting both dragons to whimper and pant loudly, while having their own little releases of jolts. "Stupid... Idea?"

"Really stupid." Beo growled, but gave him a few licks. "But once again, dumb luck that it actually worked." They chuckled. "How does it feel?"

"Like I have a skyscraper in my rear." He growled, moving it up and down the shaft, but not quite fully out. Feeling the head almost stuck inside and half making him whimper at the brass one's grunts. "I think it's stuck."

"Figures." The large one grumbled. "You might as well enjoy it though." The brown dragon nodded, slipping the length of the weapon though himself and making the two pant constantly. Feeling squirt after squirt with every touch of the ridge, until something came to mind.

"You..." Another deep breath. "You release alot, don't you...?" A noise in confirmation. "So...?"

"Worse comes to worst? You'll swell up a bit." A loud whimper from the brown one. "But it won't really hurt or anything. Just feels really really tight."

"What?"

"Trust me. Bartan really loves it." An odd stare from those yellow eyes, as Beo bounced his haunches on that purple weapon. Making Siggy whimper a bit, and feel his lower belly. Recalling how the brass one's seemed to bulge out a bit. "Hey." Those yellow eyes raced to the green ones. "You'll be fine. Just enjoy yourself." A faint nod as the brass one kissed him again. Letting him finally lock lips and start letting go.

The brown dragon's instincts started taking over once again. Lightly biting and clawing at the larger one, as he adored the stimulation of the flagpole stuck in his rear. Feeling the thing pulse once in a while with juices and start to add up into the smaller dragon. Though those worries still attempted to flood his mind, he pushed them back. In an act of trust towards the brass one.

But the pressure started to build up after several minutes, making Siggy wonder what would happen in the end. The stimulations of both instincts and bliss were rising him to another climax, making the smaller dragon whimper loudly all at once before spraying his teal release once again. But Beo didn't seem to mind. Only hugging the dragon afterword.

Or at least he thought it was hugging. With the brown one's endurance starting to run down, Beo carefully rolled the smaller one on his back with the brass on top. Through it did worry Sig'eaal for a moment, the two shared an affectionate kiss before reaching at the dragon's lower back. Gripping those brown plates, while motioning Siggy to do the same around Beo's neck.

A few quick thrusts, and the brass one lifted him up. Standing on his own hind legs, he forced the brown one to take the purple weapon's entire length. Making the smaller dragon spaz out a bit before sliding up and down the pole like a small swing. Desperately trying to hold onto the brass dragon's neck, he was reaching another climax quickly.

Jolt after jolt, Sig'eaal painted his own belly as the rain washed it off. Though this was definitely less strenuous on the smaller one, taking that full length constantly was getting too much for him to handle. Feeling that pressure build up again and again with every thrust, like the weapon was getting bigger.

Until he noticed it really was. The very base of the purple tower was bulging out a bit into a bump. One that was progressively getting thicker and thicker, making Siggy whimper very loudly and call for Beo to stop. Granted, he stopped in the full length, forcing the smaller dragon to start taking the entire knot inside. "Beo...!"

"Just... Enjoy it!" The larger one hissed, feeling the two grasp each other tightly, and Siggy to bite at his shoulder out of instinct. The pressure was building up constantly, forcing the inside of his tailhole to widen up and snare the dragon down. Whimper after whimper made the teal weapon release constantly until it was completely empty, and then he felt it.

A few faint sprays inside him, fighting to entire the brown one's lower half. No matter how much he attempted to wiggle out of it to make room, he was completely stuck. Getting him to whine in fear as that first torrent bulged out his small belly. Pressing it outward more and more with every spray inside.

As frightening as it was, there was no pain with the pressure that it gave. But with every forceful torrent that his rear was fed, it only brought bliss with that accumulating belly. But the torrents slowed down, eventually getting the two to catch their breaths and suddenly feel the pressure release. His rear drained of its blue contents, and the brass one carefully set the smaller dragon down. Licking him clean before laying down beside him and almost dozing off.

Another few heavy breaths, and fatigue began to set in for the brown one as well. Hearing the storm finally start to slow down, Sig'eaal felt exhausted. Relieved and more comfortable about himself. Closing his eyes while faintly smiling, he felt those large brass paws embrace him and nuzzle up to the smaller one, which brought out his full smile. Perhaps, maybe with enough time, he could share.

Chapter 8

A strange set of paws in the grass flickered their ears, as the brass one moaned awake a bit. Licking at the smaller dragon in his arms and getting him to grumble at the light of the sun. "Enjoy yourselves?" The bear asked, Siggy not really recognizing the voice for a few moments. Then half whimpering of embarrassment.

"I'd say so." Beo leaned in to kiss the bear as he laid down with the two. "You should really ride Sig'eaal. He feels amazing." Bartan chuckled at that, noticing that the brown one was still a little shy about the events of last night.

"That's up to him. I would love a run if you two feel up to it." A faint shrug from the red wings as he laid back down for a few moments.

"Did... You...?" The brass one asked the bear, pointing at Siggy's equipment for a moment.

"I didn't listen in, if that's what you mean. But I did keep an eye on your fatigue and whatnot. Noticed his was getting really low, so I gave him a refill." A playful nuzzle on the brown one's muzzle got him more awake. "I hope you didn't mind."

"I know I didn't." Beo mumbled, yawning and stretching out a bit.

"How do you feel?" Bartan asked the clearly uncomfortable brown dragon. "It's okay, no need to be shy. But would you mind if I did have a quick session?"

"On... Me?" A solid nod that was almost excited. "And...?" He half pointed at the other dragon.

"He can join in too, if he likes. But be warned, he likes to overfill people."

"I noticed that last night." The smaller one grumbled. "...How could he do that?"

"I enjoy altering people for a better experience." A nuzzle from the white one. "It's not the entire reason why he's well equipped." He motioned the brass one. "But I did add a few things. A 'Bigger Tank' for example, as well as the knot."

"Knot?"

"That thing that tied your rear end last night." Beo purred. "Thanks for opening him up at the end, by the way." The bear and him shared a kiss.

"You're welcome. Not everyone is ready to take your full supply on the first date." A nuzzle. "While we're on the subject, was there anything you would like, Sig'eaal?" The question stunned him for a few moments.

"He's quite well off, actually. Much more impressive than I expected."

"Thanks." The brown one snorted.

"I-I mean..." The brass one almost whimpered, getting a playful swat from Siggy. Then took a breath.

"Can you... Make me like him?" Two of those four ears perked. "You know... Muscley-?"

"Sorry, but..." A deep breath from the bear. "That's a little too much. I can alter for the sake of pleasure and good fun, but making changes like that..." It depressed the brown one, making the furred creature frown.

"He isn't under control by the Forces here though, so that shouldn't be affecting...?"

"He could still cause ripples if done suddenly. Let alone be bad for his overall body." Siggy looked away from them, but a soft paw brought that muzzle back. Giving it a few licks. "You are still very capable of power, Sig'eaal. Your frame isn't as weak as you think it is."

"But it's not as strong as his-"

"Does it need to be?" Bartan asked sincerely, getting those yellow eyes to stare at him for a few moments. "You've been through alot, Siggy. Believe me, I know. But a new body is not going to change that." A sad exhale. "That doesn't mean you're incapable of getting what Beo has." A noise in question. "You just have to get there yourself."

Half a grumble. "That sounds like work."

"It is." The other two chuckled.

"I missed that about you." Beo licked him.

"But it's work well worth your while." A hug from both of them made the smaller dragon feel a bit awkward. "Was there any other ideas that you had?"

"...What about his stones?"

"Like, capacity?" The bear questioned, getting a nod. "That would be fine, yes. Just be warned that it might be discomforting if you don't completely empty yourself after you start. They'll build up after a while, you know."

"So what you're saying is...?"

"Find someone to love." He gave him a lick. "Then plow them until you're empty." The three chuckled. "Even if it's Mr. Muscles over here, I don't mind. And I'm sure he doesn't either."

"Not in the slightest, but there are a few rules to our little game that we'll go through."

"As well as some effects and after-effects that I'll explain later on." A lick from the bear and he gave the brass one a tap. "Take it away while I work my magic."

"Okay, first rule:" A yelp and a heavy gasp from the brown one. "If your partner says No to anything, and they actually do mean it, don't press forward. If they're indecisive, feel free to pressure them, but always think of them first. Which is basically rule two: Always think of your partner. Meaning, if you get released, they should as well. It's not a score game, or a 'You owe me a muzzlejob' type of deal, but don't leave them hanging and just take everything for yourself. Finish the job you started."

"Why do you make sex sound like work?" Siggy grumbled, getting a chuckle from the two and another hiss from the brown one. "Are you done down there?"

"Almost. How's this size?" He gestured the bronze bag, now about 25% bigger.

"It's..." A disappointed look, and the motioned for more in question. "Y-yeah. If you can make it bigger than Beo's, that would be better-"

"That would really get in the way." The brass one snorted.

"He's right though. Right now, you do have the capacity, it's just hidden. However, if you want the display bigger, I don't mind. Keep in mind all of this is reversible."

"Then, twice as big as Beo's." Siggy smugly smirked at the brass one, only getting a snout toss from him.

"Suit yourself." Beo snorted, hearing the brown one hiss loudly and whimper in pain. Almost enjoying it, but comforting him nonetheless.

"Why did I agree to this...!?" Another few hisses as his sack grew tighter and tighter, making him pant loudly. "Okay...! Too Big...!"

"Told you." The larger one tormented, licking his neck a bit and nibbling at his spines.

"Well, looks like we're just going to have to empty you then." The white one purred. "I mean, after all, it's for Siggy's relief."

"Aren't you the thoughtful couple." Another grumble, but didn't fight the bear climbing on him. Feeling the soft fur on his belly and those tails comfort the stuffed stones. Then that red appendage licking at his neck, much like the purple one was doing on the other side. Leading the two to come closer towards the smaller dragon's throat and meet up, kissing the neck together, while close enough to touch each other's lips as well.

They painted their way up his jaw until they got to a three way kiss. Alternating tongues every so often, as that teal tip started peeking through. Almost instantly being accepted into the bears tailhole and easing it's way inside in pulses. With those six paws working the upper half of the brown one's body and neck, those tails doing their best to stimulate the stuffed orbs, it took no time to get the dragon ready.

With the shaft already inside, and slowly creeping up in size, it really started getting Bartan's attention. Getting both of them to start with heavy breaths between kisses, until the bear had to stop. Feeling the weapon pulse deeper and deeper inside him, stretching out that hole every movement really took his breath away.

The two dragon's locking lips wasn't helping. The deep kisses were racing Siggy further and further, as well as when the ringed ridges started to appear. Instantly being greeted by the soft brushes of white fur and releasing squirts after squirts inside the Counterweight. Giving that humming feeling deep within.

At about that third ring, Bartan couldn't help but squirm a bit. Really feeling the incredible length was almost too much. Which in turn got the brown one to start hissing at the pleasure it started giving off, making the squirts and jolts more and more common. Accumulating the voltage seed much more than previous states, and already giving the bear that shocking feeling.

Even before he was completely unsheathed, Sig'eaal felt very ready. Whimpering at every movement, and trying to get the furball to slow down a bit. Causing the brass dragon to pull Bartan up a bit, off the ridges for a few moments while they caught their breaths. Getting a better position towards their hindquarters, Beo started dragging the white one back onto the teal weapon. Getting both of them to whimper and start racing once again at a climax.

Taking the full five rings was enough to start leaking torrents inside the white belly, but not quite enough for the full release. A few bounces on the long tower sent them over the edge though, half sitting up so they could all pay witness to the sheer force behind the dragon's armory.

It took a few sprays to see any difference, but it really did start to bulge out the fur a bit. Slow at first, but really started to make a difference per torrent shot inside. Making the two whimper a bit at the pressure it caused, and the brass one to purr loudly. "It's so arousing to see you get shafted by another dragon."

"We should..." A breath from the white one. "Do it more often..." A loud moan as that current really flowed through him. "Wow... You feel amazing...!"

"Told you." Beo purred again. Getting up and almost sitting on the brown one's tail, as he reached over and felt the white belly. Still getting that pleasuring shock from the outside, while his other paw reached below the bubble. Finding the red weapon, already leaking of its juices, and pressing them together.

The current flowed through the bear's lower regions, making him gasp loudly and whimper in bliss. Making him climb faster and faster until the squirts were constant. That paw eventually sneaked back and started stroking those red ridges until a very long whimper.

The orange torrents started spraying Siggy, getting him to yelp in unexpected surprise at their launching distance. Even getting a few sprays inside his muzzle for that thick orange flavor, making him question it in surprise. Eventually stopping the barrage, the brown one's expression didn't change during his pants. "Are you serious...?" Making the other two make noises in question.

"Oranges?" Beo asked, getting a nod from him. "He tastes amazing, doesn't he?" A purr as his brass muzzle nuzzled the white fur.

"Just... Unexpected." Those four ears perked.

"You didn't try Beo's last night?" Bartan asked, getting Siggy's frilled ear to do the same, then look at the brass one. "Would you like to?"

"I'd prefer not to drown, thanks." Sig'eaal snorted, gasping as the white one adjusted a bit.

"That's fine. But are you okay with me having another go?" A look in disbelief, then to the other dragon again.

"You were right, he is a slut." It made the other two chuckle. "If you think you can take it..." A few pokes into that furred belly.

"He's taken alot more." A thick lick over that bear muzzle and a quick kiss.

"Reminds me, you deserve something for your patience." The white one placed a paw over that brass arm and motioned him towards the smaller dragon's head. Making Siggy worry for a moment that he was going to take that purple weapon to the muzzle himself, but the bear started licking at it instead. Just before sliding up and down the teal tower once again.

A few moments of rough play with that red appendage along the purple ridges, and the bear's muzzle started kissing at the tip. Getting the motion to step a little closer, Sig'eaal's muzzle was just under the dragon's stones. Though slightly uncomfortable still, he started playing around with them. A few nudges and licks, knowing he wouldn't be able to take them in his own muzzle like Beo before, but it was a start.

Occasionally finding one of the stones inside and attempting to suck on it a bit, he was eventually lead to the tailhole close by. Just barely out of reach, and feeling the bear make another tell to come closer. Taking Beo's thick weapon a bit more, before getting a surprised yelp from the brass one.

That sneaky long tongue painting against his tailpipe really enforced a large jolt into the bear's muzzle. Accepting it gracefully and really taking the shaft deeper until he could tongue those ridges made the brass one's breaths as deep as the other two's. With Beo feeling the pants on his weapon and over his tailhole, Bartan donning two weapons at once, and Siggy penetrating two tailpipes, it took less than several minutes to start a chain of climaxes.

The brass one released first, really gripping the bear's head and roaring as he took the weapon deep into his throat. Letting the brown dragon pay witness to his metal bag slowly shrink, and feel those scrawny claws grip them. Pushing out as much as possible out of the whimpering large one.

Meanwhile, Bartan was stuck. Swallowing every torrent coming through but barely changing his middle in the process. Then questioning the brass one's sudden whimpers for a moment before getting another series of muzzleful torrents. Collecting a sample and keeping it.

Bartan then grabbed Siggy's head, who barely got in a yelp before getting that muzzle and red tongue inside him. Feeling the blue liquid transfer and fill his mouth with grapes and blueberries made him purr until a braceful whimper. Another few bounces, and he hissed loudly.

The pressure in the white one's lower region started to rise once again, as the torrents filled his tailhole. Still getting that shocking current and fueling his very own barrage of liquids, the bear whimpered loudly in bliss. Feeling the stimulation in his belly before the bear tried to get up off the teal weapon. That is, until to brass paws were pinned on his shoulders, forcing him down to take Siggy's gift while in song.

The three purred loudly after they caught their breaths. As the two larger ones kissed deeply, Beo felt the furry middle with his paws expecting it to be bigger, but knowing the excess release was likely teleported somewhere nearby. "I think I should call it here." Bartan panted. "There's a few things I'd like to do today before I get... Too distracted."

"You sure?" The brass one purred, stroking the furred coat into submission. Or at least attempting to, and seeing it begin to work as the bear whined.

"Y-yes. It should give you two more time to catch up as well, but I shouldn't be too long." Bartan panted, dismounting the smaller dragon before getting a tight hug from behind. One leading downwards on top of Siggy, making the scrawny dragon growl.

"No-no-no! Don't you-!" Slowly, Beo placed all his weight on top of the bear, who was on top of Sig'eeal. Causing the brown one to nearly hiss at the double embrace as he was pinned into the grass. "Taathing Hell, you're heavy-!" He barely wheezed out.

"And soft?" A growl from that longer snout as Siggy attempted to wiggle out, all while the furball was just whimpering, trying to hold out on his willpower. "Say it and I'll let you up~"

"-Okay, okay! And he's soft! Now get off me, I can barely breathe!" A strong lick from that purple tongue before Beo got up, chuckling at the horseplay. The bear, however, was still left there huffing on top of the smaller one. "You can get off anytime now."

"G-give... Me a minute." How Bartan ended up saying that actually worried the wyrm. "I'm fine, promise! I-I just..."

"I really know how to press his buttons." The brass one smirked, nudging the furball.

Chapter 9

"You sure you want to do this?" The bear asked the brass one, walking along the clear roads in the overcast weather. Witnessing the grassy fields dance a bit in the wind.

"I think so. When do you think you'll be back?"

"I can't give you any specific time, but I won't be terribly long." A somewhat sad smile. "You could come and see another one, if you like."

"I'm not terribly fond of other Counterweights, no offense." Beo muttered, exhaling through his nostrils.

"None taken." Bartan chuckled, then took a breath. Stopping and placing a paw on the broad shoulder. "...You sure you're going to be okay?"

"I'll be fine. Just don't take too long." A faint nod, and the two hugged. "Besides, I'd feel bad if I just suddenly left Sig'eaal all alone."

"After a weekend like this, it might be difficult to go back to the normal." They chuckled, hearing the brown one finally return from his refreshment. "I suppose it would be good to keep an eye on him for a few days, in case something starts backing up. He also needs some backdoor practice."

"I heard that." Siggy snorted, getting the other two to smile. The bear gave the larger dragon one more tight hug and then walked over to the smaller one. Doing the same, but not getting nearly the same affectionate reaction as Beo gave. "Muscles was not kidding about you." A few licks on his frilled ear to torment him.

"I'm trusting you to take care of him, Siggy."

"Ugh,Responsibility." He groaned.

"Make sure you stroke him off once a day."

"Sure." A grumble.

"And keep that tailhole in check."

"Uh huh."

"Exercise it if you need to, but do it with care."

"Got it. You can let me go anytime."

"Don't forget about the hamstrings-"

"Seriously, a little help here?" He grumbled at the brass one, trying to pry off the bear. Getting Beo to chuckle and pull him off. But not without another tight hug and a few purrs.

"Come back to me. Sig'eaal isn't as comfortable as you." He rubbed the furry belly a bit and gave the neck a few licks.

"Same goes for you. I think I'd rather sleep on a rock than this hunk of metal." The scrawny one snorted.

"He's definitely... Dense." A breath to compose himself, and Bartan turned around. Giving the larger one a quick kiss. "Be careful, okay? I don't want to come back in a rush."

"I... Know. I will." One last final hug and they let go.

"I'll be back soon." A nod, and the Counterweight took to the skies. Already missed by the brass one, but he took a deep breath.

"What was that about?" Beo double taked at Sig'eaal. "Be Careful?" He quoted, getting the metallic dragon to sigh.

"A bit of a long story, but I'll get to it. For now..." Another breath. "Let's start after I died."

The void was rather dark and unsettling, clouded in a tension that nearly translucent. Even for the bear to carefully study through, it was nearly a mist that was barricading his vision. Barely making out the endless halls of bookshelves.

Many of his species tended to have different ways of keeping records, and the space that Counterweights reside are often painted with those forms. Though many of them severely lack a personality to begin with, these records of history often held some sort of faith within a cosmetic form. It was often a fun experiment for the bear, to read what his own kin held within their beliefs just from studying what he could only call their homes.

But many of these books that lined the walls were purposely tossed on the floors. Rather irrationally, at that. No patterns what so ever, no signs of searching for something specific on the higher or lower shelves. Just a few books scattered here and there, making Bartan worry as he carefully followed the trail.

He eventually came to a master study, where much of the mist was present. Creating a fog for the bear as he treaded the area with great caution. Only to eventually step in something very dark. Holding this silver color that was desperately trying to separate itself from the darkness.

Yet, he was unable to read it's substance like normal, which only made him fear for the worst. A few quick gallops into the mist, and he banished it away with his presence. Only to paint his face with both shock and horror.

The silver liquid painted much more than just the floor. The old desk that seemed constantly in use, the walls and some of the ceiling as well. All following some body parts of the late sparrow. It's four wings, all torn apart and disowned of its once elegant form. It's jaguar like body split into sections, with several paws appearing to be ripped off from the wrists. And it's head, still somewhat attached by a shoulder and a half, rested on the desk.

It was a heavy thing for the bear to witness, but what creature could possibly murder a Counterweight? Bartan slowly started to investigate, starting with the desk. Looking around at the writing, only to have that bird's eyes slowly open. "Is anyone there?" It asked, getting the white one a little spooked.

"Yes, Pyajvrunssa. I am Bartan, I don't believe we've met." He answered the grey sparrow sadly.

"I do not recall that name, and I can no longer see." It attempted to cover its six eyes with a paw that was not there.

"What did this to you, Pyajvr?"

"...What does it matter?" It replied, almost sadly. "Nobody knows where Counterweights go when our lives come to an end." It made the bear whimper a bit, trying to comfort the late one. "You too feel fear from such a statement?"

"I fear for existence itself, yes." Bartan took a breath. "But why do you?"

"I do not know... It is not something I am naturally familiar with." It made the white one quiet. "What do you believe happens to Counterweights and Terrasques when they die? Or do we even die at all?"

"...I've wondered that myself, especially facing such creatures."

"So, you've seen them first hand, have you?" A bit of silence. "Tell me, what are they like?"

"...Frightening. Powerful and intimidating beyond standard will. Even if you cannot feel fear, it will show you it."

"...Yes. I too have seen it then." It made the white one double take.

"What do you mean?"

"They are... Black. Covered in Madness... Such cold Madness."

"Who did this to you!?"

"But it was not a Terrasque... It just wore the face of one."

"The face of one...?" He whispered, getting the sparrow to look in his direction.

"...Bartan was it?" A nod and paw of comfort. "I do not want to fade away. I just want to read my books one last time..." Another whimper. "Can you... Find my Forces? They can understand my language."

"...Okay." He whispered. "But I need to know, who was your last visitor?"

"...The blue book on the side of the door. It is a terrible story, I know. But I needed to record it." It's voice started to fade away. "Find them."

"...Book?" Bartan looked over, but found the one he was talking about. Though it was mostly written in another language, he did recognize a certain name. "Ywuggal...? The one who nearly removed Beo?" He had to be sure first. Though the sorrow of the sparrow was on his mind, he needed to find this Counterweight. Quickly exiting out of the library to find his Forces.

"Ugh." The brown dragon grumbled loudly. "Today is not a day for walking." He said, flopping his head down on the shoulders of the brass dragon carrying him.

"This was your idea." Beo snorted. "And you said that yesterday."

"Yesterday wasn't a day for walking either."

"Neither was the day before." The brass one grumbled, though not opposed to carrying the scrawny dragon, he didn't enjoy the constant complaining. It was cute at first, but after four days of it, it was getting on his nerves. "Besides, this was _your_idea."

"My_ Idea _was to go to the city and demand some biscuits. _ Your _idea was to walk there instead of fly." The two groaned for a moment. "Why in the name of the greatest species in the known universe-"

"It better be dragons."

"Of course it's dragons!" A snort. "But where would such an insane idea come from?"

"Well, for one, I'm not out of shape."

"Lucky."

"Two, if you were walking, it would help build up that body of yours."

"But walking is worrrrrrrk." The larger one tossed his snout at Siggy's whine. "And work is annoying."

"But worth it. You think I just magically got this way by being lazy?"

"Ugh, not the 'Motivational Speech' again. Anything but the Motivational Speech...!"

"How about walking for yourself?"

"Pass."

"Fulfilling that sex dream of yours?"

"Pass. And we're never to talk about that ever again."

"I could try tying you again." A slight whimper made Beo chuckle. "And Bartan wouldn't be around to help you..."

"...Fine. Give me the speech."

"Gladly. It takes work to build yourself up, as well as dedication. If you believe in yourself enough, and really want it, you can make yourself into a very strong dragon." A grumble from the brown one.

"You've made better." The brass one snorted at him.

"Does that mean you're ready to try again?" A very deep breath from the smaller one. Then a second breath. Then a third as Beo stopped. Quickly dropping his haunches and letting the dragon slide off and rest on his large tail. A fourth breath and he grumbled loudly.

"I guess I should." Sig'eaal got up, walking beside the titanic one. "My method of transportation was getting loud anyway."

"What would you do without wings?"

"-Fly. Oh wait, without." The brown one cursed. "Probably sleep. That'll be my first priority."

"Of course it would." The larger one grumbled, looking ahead at the city gates nearby. "...Are there supposed to be guards at the gates?"

"How. Would I. Even _ Know _!?" He grumbled loudly, almost hissing. "I always landed in the town center."

"That's because you're small enough to fit in it, I'm sure." That time he got a hiss, and Beo playfully nudged him. "You keep doing that, then I'm just going to want to mount you again."

"I haven't recovered from the last one." Siggy grumbled, flicking his tail a little. "But why ask about the...?" He looked forward, adjusting those yellow eyes to see the gate abandoned.

"Does something feel a little off to you?"

"...Yeah. There should be some obnoxious noise and the smell of horses downwind."

"No signs of people anywhere... No smoke...?"

"What, did they finally realized city life sucked and decided to leave?"

"I'm not sure..." The brass one exhaled in thought. "But something doesn't feel right. Maybe we should come back another time." The brown one tossed his snout.

"Really? You did not just drag me out here-on foot, I might add, to just turn tail and run at the first sign of weird."

"This feels like a trap, Sig'eaal." Beo snorted at him.

"That may be, but I want my biscuits." The brown one snorted back, as the larger one just stared at him for a few moments. "And I mean_Badly_."

"And if there's no one to cook them for you?"

"You can do it." A grumble from the brass dragon. "What? You bragged before that Mr. Fuzzy taught you how to cook a bit, put it to good use."

"Feeding you feels counter-productive." He gave the smaller one a playful nudge. "But fine, we'll take a look. Happy?"

"Not until I get something in my stomach." A long silence and he could feel those green eyes stare at him deviously. "And no, not_ That _. Again."

"You say that like you didn't enjoy yourself."

"Shut up."

The large doors were slightly opened, nothing in the way to attempt barricading them. When the two cautiously entered the large walls, there were a few unoccupied wagons, but no other signs of people. Nothing scattered or out of place, nothing dropped suddenly. It was like they disappeared with everything they were holding.

Even the food stands and markets were untouched, yet still on display. Making the smaller dragon whistle after looking at some of the jewelry. "These are nice, but I have nicer." He said, taking a few and tying them to his spines.

"Yet, you're taking them anyway."

"You wouldn't?" The brass one didn't answer that. It's honestly been eons to him since he last slept in such things, aside from the visit to Siggy's cave recently. "Besides, clearly no one is going to miss them."

"Where are they?" Beo scanned the area with his eyes again, trying to find any trace of life besides a few animals. Helping themselves to the food on display with no one to bully them. Though, cautious of the two dragons walking through the streets. All at once, the larger one grumbled. "Is that seriously...?"

"Hmm?" It got Siggy's attention, letting him search the areas as well and find a plate of biscuits on a table, right in the middle of the square. He then looked at the metallic dragon smugly, until Beo double taked at him. "And you said we'd have to cook them."

"You're joking." He grumbled. "You cannot really be considering eating them."

"Why not?"

"This is so obvious that it's a trap, it's ridiculous."

"And?"

"You're willing to risk our lives for biscuits?"

"I'm sure you can handle anything. Besides, free biscuits."

"They're not free if they're a gamble." The brass one hissed, only getting a snout toss by the brown one as he walked towards them. "Siggy..." Ignoring the warning, the smaller dragon stabbed a few with a claw and licked them into his muzzle. Making the larger one tense for a few moments, especially after he spit them out. "What?" He asked concerningly.

"Too much salt." Sig'eaal made a face, only to see Beo toss his snout and take a step forward. However, as soon as he did, both dragons were instantly forced to the floor. Making the bigger one growl, and the smaller to whimper.

"You okay!?"

"Right on the stones...!" Siggy whined in a higher pitched voice. Taking a moment before trying to get up and realized he was pinned. "Ah, taathbaskets..."

"Told you this was a trap." The brass dragon snorted, hearing something land behind him. Something unusually heavy, making the ground shake with every step. Feeling a massive paw grip the back of the larger dragon, and slightly lift him up.

" What do we have here...?" A harsh growl from Beo as he struggled to look at the red creature holding him. " I expected to find one by following this stench, but to my surprise, I found you as well."

"I'm pretty sure he's talking about your scent, not mine." The brown one grumbled, still not being able to see anything. All at once, he was dragged backwards by an unknown force, yelping as one of those massive furred arms gripped the smaller dragon as well.

" Nonsense, Sig'eaal. You have this very... Specific scent to you. Reminds me of invertebrates." That made Siggy growl a bit, as he struggled against the red paw. " How is my _ Reality _ doing, by the way?"

"Reality...?"

"Ah, Taath..." The lightning dragon almost whined, and it then clicked in for Beo who was holding them. "What are _you_doing here!? We left as you said-" A harsh squeeze nearly made his bones crack, causing the smaller one to yelp in pain.

" You brought Rot to my universe, worm!" Another grip, this time on the larger dragon. Never before feeling such immense force used against his frame. " And you... You were the cause of it all! Finding you just saved me time!"

"I have no excuse for what I've done, but I gave you new Forces-!" A loud growl after Beo's, as he felt the intense warmth of the angry creature.

" Your _ Replacements _ were unworthy!"

"I'm right here." The brown one grumbled, still enduring through the pain and getting a harsh glare. "And we were doing fine... I think."

"Yet you decide to chase us down to tell us that-?" A harsh grip interrupted the brass one, as the massive creature turned both of them to look into its green feline eyes. Snarling at them with a lion-like head and crossing two other sets of arms across its torso. However, some rather thick black spots seemed unnatural across its red furred body.

" I came here to find you!"

"For what? Revenge?"

"I never knew Counterweights to be so vengeful." Another loud growl at Beo, that slowly turned into a smug smirk.

"...I think I liked him better when he was mad at us." Siggy whispered to the other dragon, trying to hide his fear with humor.

" You've changed since I last saw you, but you are definitely the one who tainted my universe!" Those mad eyes looked over the larger dragon, then it looked over the smaller one. " Tell me, Sig'eaal... What did you truly desire?"

"Don't answer that!" Beo growled, and the lightning dragon kept his maw shut.

" Regardless if he replies or not, I can still see it. Envy, painted all over like a mirror. One reflecting..." He looked the brass one over again. " You." The dragons growled loudly. " One thing I truly miss about my architecture is the creature creation, you see." The metal one's eyes widened a bit in fear. " Tell me, Sig'eaal. How Badly do you really want Power?"

"I gotta tell you, right now I'm just craving some good biscuits instead." Both creatures half glared at him for a moment. "Seriously, if you baked those last ones, lay off the salt." He snorted.

"You're really trying to get us killed, aren't you?"

"I think we're pass that point if he's going to attempt to play Operation with us."

"Dibs on your sense of humor." The brass one snorted sarcastically.

" No, tearing you apart by your limbs would be too easy... I'm thinking something else." Those other arms unfolded and one set took a second firm grip on each dragon, getting them to growl loudly and struggle a bit. The other set slowly reached inside each of their midsections, bypassing a physical barrier and making them both roar in pain as something was torn from them. Then exchanged into the other dragon half hazardly.

It then tossed them on the ground effortlessly, letting them fall with a loud crack and hiss at the pain. Unable to move for a few moments as the creature left with a dark chuckle. " Enjoy ruining another universe."

The brass one felt something very wrong, like part of him was drastically missing or cut out. At first, he thought it was his lower half, maybe something physically inside. But a quick glance and command to move, and everything responded. A slight delay, and a little numb, but responsive. "You okay?" Siggy muttered from the other side.

"...Yeah... I think." But when Beo tried to get up, a strange overwhelming pain refused his movement. Getting him to growl harshly at it and just remain still. His ears flickered as they could pick up the smaller one's steps, slowly walking towards him, almost with ease.

"You look fine, maybe your back...?" Siggy half worried, looking around the square.

"Don't know... Maybe just some rest first. What about you?"

"I'm fine." A few breaths. "...Great really... Really great!" He looked at his own paws for a moment. "Amazing! I feel incredible! Powerful!" He chuckled a bit, but seeing Beo's concerned look for a moment puzzled him. "Is this how you feel all the time?"

"Considering my looks, did you really suspect otherwise?" He snorted, but then a bit of fear was shown into his eyes.

"What?" Siggy asked, trailing them to his own chest. Seeing dark spots begin to form like bruises, spreading quickly, even as he tried to paw it off. "Beo...!?" They began to invade his arms and throat, as the brown dragon started to drool some black gel. Covering his entire body within a minute, as he started to choke out chucks of it.

"Siggy!" The brass one roared, trying to get up. "Don't give into it! Fight it-!" A heavy cough from the smaller dragon, and a massive shockwave omitted from his body. Clearing the entire square, and Beo with it while the ooze piled up. Transforming into a tar-like titan before the dragon passed out.

Chapter 10

The brass one woke up in horrible pain, roaring loudly as something was bracing him. "Stay with me, Beo! I know it hurts, just stay with me!" He recognized that voice well. And even though it was hurting him with a pain his body knew not how to defend against or even numb, the dragon trusted it. Feeling the odd quakes from time to time as his other senses tried to study his surroundings. Doing anything to get his mind off the pain.

It was getting close to dusk, and something large and black was in the distance. An eerie dark green shine seemed to reflect off of it, and near instantly striking the metallic dragon with fear. Almost struggling to get away, but was being braced too hard. "Almost done..." A few moments later, a very harsh pain made him cry out. Arcing his body to attempt to soothe it, but it did no good. It soon died down though, getting him to pant loudly and leak a few tears of pain. Ones licked by a red appendage. "Sorry..."

"...Ow." He grumbled loudly, getting a sad chuckle from the bear. But now he felt like he could get up, encouraged to and just lean on that large furball.

"Don't worry... I got you." He started leading him away, but the dragon struggled against it. "What's wrong?"

"...Siggy..." A very sad look from those brown eyes, as they half glanced in the distance. Towards the large creature, and Beo instantly knew those memories were not nightmares. "I need to-" A heavy pain as he tried to turn back.

"Beo, no." He whispered harshly at the brass one, trying to keep him in a straight line. "I know! I know you want to save him so badly, but there's nothing you can do. There's nothing left to him..." That statement cut the dragon deep, so deep it actually made him angry.

"You don't know that-"

"The only thing I can do is quarantine this area and perhaps expel it outside of the universe-"

"You said you can't see through that abyss!" The larger one growled, matching those sad brown eyes with green ones. Peppered globes of both sorrow and almost rage. "He has to be alive!"

"There's nothing we can do...!"

"So we just let him rampage through the world? That bastard forced him into this!"

"I'm not saying it's right, but..." A heavy breath. "Beo, your body is torn and barely recovered. Your soul was ripped in half! That doesn't sound like much, but it's a heavy toll on you if you don't let it heal-!"

"So, you're giving up on him!?"

"I'm looking after my husband..." The dragon took a breath. "If we go back in there... We won't make it like this. One of us is surely to fall..." A few tears from both of them, and they embraced. Only holding tighter as the makeshift Terrasque in the background roared loudly.

"...I'm going to save him." It nearly made Bartan collapse. "He's still in there, and I can't leave him." A shake of that white muzzle as they just held each other. Pulling away slowly and studying the bear's eyes, almost filled with desperation.

"...There might be a way." The two looked at each other for a moment. "It's going to hurt... Alot. Might even do more damage to you than ever, especially in your current state."

"Outbreak...?" Bartan slightly nodded.

"But not that one." The dragon curled his neck, as four paws were placed on his plated chest. "You're not supposed to get this until later... When your body is ready. But I know it's still in there, just dormant." One more look to ask Beo if he was sure, and he nodded.

A sudden shock in his chest hurt drastically, but he soon felt that generator behind his heart drastically rotate. Cycling rapidly, constantly gaining speed as his scales began to fade to monochrome. A slight afterimage of the dragon was barely lifted off of his body, coating the entire outline as it rapidly shifted.

His breaths were deep, exhaling sheer force. His presence itself was enough to shake the world around him, almost like it could not hold itself together without the bear's aid. As the rotation in his heart moved at a constant speed, forming a generator of energy, Bartan cautiously let go. Hearing the dragon roar as he struggled to hold such strength within himself.

A few paws grabbed his muzzle and held onto it tightly, trying to get those now deep silver eyes to keep focus on him. "Be. Careful." The white one growled at him, trying to fight back the tears in his eyes. "I love you." A shaky nod almost immediately broke the bear's grip, as the dragon hugged him. Too tightly, and getting a whimper out of the Counterweight not knowing his own strength. Another look in each other's eyes, and they took a breath; the dragon's quaking the very earth around them. "Go."

The dark grey one took off, creating several fissures in the ground and causing the air around him to clap loudly in a thunder-like form. Spotting the massive black behemoth in the city and locking onto it with intense focus. Only being somewhat interrupted by the bear's voice in his head. ("Head out behind it, I'll flank it from the side!") Beo followed his orders, though almost instantly grabbing the attention of the Terrasque.

What could only be described as the ooze monster's 'Head' was focused on the dragon, sensing his power and wanting to feed off of it. Making it much easier for the bear to approach a ways behind it undetected, and create a massive white blade out of ethereal energy. Controlling it without even touching it, Bartan swung it at head height, and cleaving though the Terrasque's neck. Severing it and forcing the creature to roar loudly with pain, as the Counterweight grabbed the creature's attention.

The rest of its quadruped body lashed out at the white creature, sending several tentacle-like ooze pillars to grab hold of him. Sundering every new appendage with a brand new ethereal weapon, Bartan evaded. Trying to keep his distance without touching such a toxic substance. ("Odds are, if Sig'eaal is still alive, he'll probably be in its chest. Go!") And with that, the dragon charged.

Though still seeing the creature's head fall on the ground and move to consume the monochromed one, Beo'Karah roared at it in rage. Sending a massive blast of concussive force that turned it nearly into a black mist, then a second one to remove it out of his path. From afar, he sent out several more along the Terrasque's hind legs, forcing the thing to stagger a bit and lose balance before blowing off a few limbs.

The creature roared loudly in both pain and fury. Still slightly focused on the Counterweight, it did try to sweep a tail-like tentacle at the dragon, and cleaving through several buildings in the process. Only to get a massive spear severed into it, nailing the thing down while Beo threw out another force at the base of the tail. Breaking it off from the main body with ease, and letting the thousand foot long appendage squirm for release.

With an opened area now available on the Terrasque's main body, and the creature still distracted, the monochromed one launched himself at the wound. Forming a concussive blast with a drill-like arrowhead just ahead of him, he tore through the abyss body. Constantly ripping it and digging a small tunnel about his size while climbing to its chest.

Though such a thing did harm the creature, it was still more concentrated on the white beast. Constantly severing limbs and appendages without getting too close to the black ooze himself. One touch of the fresh darkness could possibly bring illness to Bartan, like he's been seeing on the other Counterweights. Getting a few close calls when those appendages started moving by themselves and using tactics.

Landing from building to building, the bear tried to keep his movements irrational in hopes that they would have a much harder time predicting them. Constantly changing size and trying to remain in direct sight of the Terrasque, in case such appendages did have eyes, was a bit harder than expected. But staying in the air was just too risky. It wasn't big or formed enough to have an aerial advantage.

Hearing two of the blobs land on a couple of rooftops above him, the bear took to the streets. Coming through a thick alleyway and turning corner nearly got a glob of the darkness in his face. Barely sliding underneath it and racing forward. Doing his best not to get surrounded by such things.

But as he feared, the creature was growing from both its own rage, and Beo's outbreak. Seeing the appendages grow larger and larger with every encounter, as well as not slowing down when they were either snared or wounded. Eventually, they started growing into walls as the main body launched out bombs of the abyss all over the city. All growing into massive pillars to cage the white beast within, and forming a dome-like roof.

If he took to the air, Bartan would be immediately seen and probably caught. As frightful as it was, his safest option for the moment was to stay within. But that gave him an idea, starting to make his way towards the underground tunnels and sewer system, the bear made himself small enough to fly through.

It didn't take long to get detected within, and the tentacles desperately started to break their way through the roads and passage ways to follow. As the white one turned corner after corner, barely racing to the next before a wall of black attempted to cut him off, he could sense it. The concentrated main source that was the Terrasque's body.

Just as most of the other exits were completely sealed, Bartan struck the ceiling harshly. Making a massive explosion of white and cyan flames that launched the black body upwards, and allowed the Counterweight to escape. Using the road as a massive barrier, as well as creating his own ethereal just in case, he launched the thing through the sealed dome. Breaking the barrier enough for him to escape, until something whipped at his tail. Pulling him back down towards the ocean of black.

Severing the vine quickly, that hole would be repaired before he could possibly make it in time. Seeing the Terrasque melt through the dome and glare at the white beast before roaring loudly. The ceiling was barricaded. The streets now off limits. The dark waters rising by the moment, the bear's jaw clenched. He was surrounded.

From within, the dragon constantly dug. Trying to make it through the tough ooze, and cursing at how the bear made it look easy. Though much of it was still gripping his scaled body, he barely worried about it. His mind was focused on one thing: rescue that twig of a dragon.

It was hard to estimate the distance that he made with the constant blackness. Every once in a while expelling a surrounding shockwave to push away the darkness, and break open walls. Maybe he could see where the ground or sky was, but those waves never seemed to break through the ooze. Even after doing it in rapid succession.

But that was the only way he could make any progress, rapidly creating spear-point blasts of force ahead and do his best to launch himself through that makeshift tunnel. Never finding it so easy to constantly create the bubbles of force and manipulate them until now. But it was hard to concentrate on his defenses like this, and his body was feeling like it was falling apart. Slowly, but it was giving out.

With an angry growl, he sent out another barrage of shockwaves to his surroundings. Enforcing a large hole inside the creature and attempting for another scan. But it was just too dark for him to see anything. With his exit blocked, and unable to create another one, the dragon was starting to panic. Especially after feeling the body take a massive blow and slam Beo into the sticky mess.

Fear overcame him, struggling to keep that black ooze off and away from his maw. Pawing at the black gel and thick plates. Plates...? A moment of study, and he recognized that feeling. Siggy's tailplates, wide and unusually thick. The dragon was possibly whole! Digging frantically and trying his best to force him out, Beo found the scrawny one's head. Everything seemed to be remained in place, just stuck inside the Terrasque's body.

But the real question now was, how was he going to get them out? The ooze and outer sinew of such a creature was too hard for him to break through with concussive force. Even when used with a point. And with not much time to really discover what this outbreak could do, he wasn't really prepared enough for this.

What this outbreak could do... He didn't know this one, but Beo was familiar with his other. Possibly even able to stack the two together for even greater power? Stupid idea, but he remembered the bear mentioning such a thing being done before. Granted, in Vertias. He just hoped that the Counterweight could sustain such a thing.

With a deep breath, and holding the smaller dragon close to him, Beo concentrated on his first outbreak: Midnight Ice. No bothering to defend himself from the nightmare he's had for so long, just attempting to shield the unconscious dragon in his arms and wings as his own scales glistened with an abyss blue shine. That generator within his chest grew so warm, it started to grow cold.

With the ooze constantly barraging the bear, trying to snare him down while cutting the white one off into a corner, they all started to suddenly slow down. The main body of the Terrasque roared a bit in pain, but didn't give up. Managing to grab one of the Counterweight's forepaws before leaning over. Pulling away from the snare, Bartan constantly studied his surroundings.

They were all growing solid, slowly frosting over, and he knew what the dragon within was doing. Starting to feel the harsh cold himself, he called to him from the outside. "Beo! Enough! Just force your way out and escape!" He roared, almost finding it hard to with the massive temperature drop. Pulling himself away and breaking through the abyss dome with ease, the bear hovered in the air a bit.

The black frost grew and grew, covering the city, then the fields. The landscape, and soon the sky. Feeling that harsh sting again, the Counterweight withdrew out from the planet itself, but that still wasn't enough. The atmosphere became solid, then the plasma surrounding it. Constantly and quickly spreading throughout the cosmos, as the bear flew farther and farther away. Barely keeping out of its reach.

Suns started to dim and go out. Stars of all sorts quickly being erased from the black sky, until the entire galaxy was frozen solid. But it all started to slow down finally. Giving the white one a bit of an exhale of relief. And then, a new worry of the bear's surfaced. Making him phase into a different form to view the 'Road' or 'Tapestry' that this Force of Fate built. Seeing that specific galaxy lag behind from the rest.

The dragon literally Froze Time. Creating a massive lag output that was stretching the fabric of reality out. Without 'thawing' it quickly, it could tear a hole completely in that timeline, and possibly lose the dragons within. Phasing back into the present, Bartan could already see the tears begin to form, doing his best to hold them together, and possibly pull the frozen sphere ahead.

A few moments of struggling later, and the sphere shattered. Ripping a massive hole within the universe and nearly sucking the Counterweight into the void, but created an ethereal platform to grasp onto. Though it was somewhat struggling against the sudden change in dimensions, as well as the countless shards of the space that shattered, the large base held together.

It took a moment to scan for Beo, but the bear found him. Giving him telepathic breadcrumbs for him to follow so that could meet up once again, while Bartan attempted to repair the hole as quickly as possible. Hoping that the creature inside didn't quite notice it, but it was wishful thinking. And the roar it gave was deafening, striking a fear within the white beast, and the monochromed dragon that was on his way.

The hole was shrinking, being refilled by new plasma and repairing the drastic tears that nearly bled with energy. With another unreal roar from within, a heavy scrape was somewhat heard from within the void. Then, a massive claw tip caught within the wound, pushing down the platform and halting the bear's repair. Though the ethereal base was doing its best to keep itself stable, it was too much for Bartan to concentrate on. Trying to lift up and fight against the claw's unreal strength.

A faint thud was heard behind the bear, and soon the larger dragon landed beside him. Grasping a hold of the claw as well, together they started lifting it up. Still in both outbreaks, Beo fought with all his strength. His muscles tensing and bulging out drastically, roaring back at the Terrasque within, and actually pushing the claw upwards. Giving the Counterweight enough room to start repairs, but it was difficult for him while fighting against the claw as well. "Go!" The dragon roared at him. "I'll hold it!"

As much as he really didn't want Beo to hold it all by himself, he trusted him. Letting go and feeling the larger one struggle a bit, he still pushed it back inside. Repairing the wound up until the claw cutting through, then lifting the platform higher so that the dragon wouldn't have to change stances.

Further and further the pushed upwards. Repairing every inch of slack they could, until the creature was forced out. Finally sealing up the hole for good and giving the two a much needed breather, as the dragon let go of both outbreaks and collapsed on the platform. Grunting loudly at his muscle spasms until Bartan held him. Easing his pain, while trying not to get turned on by such display.

Several minutes passed, and the white one looked back at the thud from before. Within some sort of miracle, Sig'eaal survived. Still laying there unconscious, with harsh frostbite, and a few bits of his outer wings and tail missing. But he was alive. Getting those soft furry tails to half drag him towards the couple while curing his injuries. As much as Beo wanted to embrace the two, he just couldn't move his body. Barely getting a wing to cover them as he struggled to breath and regain his energy. Passing out shortly after.

Chapter 11

"How the hell was I able to do that...?" The brass one half grumbled. Still getting half awake, and feeling like he just lifted eight suns across a desert. Getting those muscles to lash out at him for attempting to move, but a slight brush of that white fur banished that pain away.

"Well..." The bear mumbled, feeling exhausted himself. Perhaps still a bit shaken from having to deal with two Terrasques back to back. "Outbreaks are powerful, that's obvious enough."

"And the second one?"

"The second one..." A deep breath. "Terrasques are huge... Colossal even. They grow to fit the space provided for them. For perspective purposes... Maybe a good sum of all the universes surrounding it, then multiplied to the power of ten."

"Ugh. Math..." The brown one grumbled loudly, getting a couple of licks and nuzzles which only half added to the pain he was still in.

"But yeah... They grow, to the point where they can no longer really fit into that space well. What you were holding back... It was probably a single 1/1,000,000,000th of its claw. Completely pretzeled inside that space." A half a grumble from the brass one as he struggled to imagine such a thing. "Not to hurt your ego, but... You were fighting against nothing more than a single bound claw. No extra body weight or momentum added, just a single-" A louder grumbled that was nearly a growl of disappointment.

"Something stronger than Mr. Muscles? Impossible." Siggy grumbled, getting a playful shove from the brass one before a tight embrace.

"You can joke about it, but that is no small feat." A lick and a kiss from the white one on Beo's muzzle. "I'm proud of you. But how are you feeling?"

"Pain." He grumbled. "Irritating pain."

"I thought so. What about you Siggy?"

"About a 12/10 on the Ouchy meter." They chuckled a bit. "Damnit, it hurts to laugh."

"It'll pass. But let's rest elsewhere, I'll take us to a suitable nearby planet." The two grumbled as the platform began to move.

A long sleep is exactly what the three needed. Finally able to stand up, but still a little weak. Still feeling the unusual tight embrace from the bear, Beo almost struggled to get out of it. "Is something wrong?" He asked the Counterweight, getting the smaller dragon to study them as well. Seeing a rather almost defeated look from Bartan as he sighed a bit.

"...There's something I didn't tell you or Lyago back in my Universe. When you totaled my house." A snout toss from the brass one as he snorted at the idea of the cramped area.

"I swear, we're building a new home sometime. One with sixty times the space." He grumbled, sharing a little kiss and trying to cheer up his mate. "What about it?"

"...Apart from those tears, I met up with an old comrade." A couple of perked ears. "Another Counterweight, one that helped out when we were repairing the walls to the Terrasque you replaced." A motion for him to go on. "...He started acting... Angry. You know how Arson is, right?"

"A blank white wall that tries to be colorful?" A series of chuckles. "Because they're not supposed to have..." Beo stopped for a moment, then looked at Sig'eaal. "That Counterweight..."

"Ywuggal?" Both dragon's groaned at the odd name, then half shrugged.

"It was the one that made the universe where Muscles gave us the Forces. Quite the bastard, to put it lightly." Siggy snorted.

"He hunted for us. Saying something about ruining his universe and wanted revenge..." A moment of study, as those green eyes locked onto the yellow ones. "Why was he angry?"

"Didn't you just-?"

"I mean, Counterweight's aren't supposed to be..." A look at the bear. "You're the only execption, right?" A faint nod.

"...Ywuggal attacked another Counterweight nearby. Ripped it apart and left it's remains all over its study. It's how I found you two, following Ywuggal's tracks."

"That doesn't explain-"

"Pyajvrunssa-" A louder groan as the two held their heads for a moment, making the white one smile sadly. "He feared... Fading away. It's... 'Blood' I suppose, was mixed with something black. Something I could not identify." A motion to carry on. "...I think Terrasques are infecting them. Contaminating us if we..." A sad look of puzzlement from those green eyes, as the bear's middle paw was displayed on his bicep. Still smeared with the abyss black from when the white one was struck. "...I'm sorry." He said quietly, seeing the fear in Beo's eyes.

A few moments of sadness, and the larger dragon held him tightly. As tightly as those muscles demanded, releasing a few sobs that he wasn't trying to hide. "...It doesn't mean anything."

"Beo..."

"You've fought Terrasques before, it doesn't mean-"

"But I've never been hit-"

"It Doesn't _ MEAN _ Anything!!" He roared in denial. Rocking him back and forth a bit while releasing his own tears. Making the brown one feel uncomfortable. "You'll be fine. You have to be."

"Beo..."

"You started off as an angry old wyrm, you'll be fine." Another sob of denial.

"But mine was..." A sigh as Bartan really didn't know what to say. After a long silence, the smaller dragon spoke up.

"...How did I survive?" The two looked at him, once again not being shy about their tears. "N-not to steal your moment here, but..." He mumbled shyly, even getting those brown eyes to study him up and down.

"...How_did_you survive...?" The bear whispered to himself.

"I swear there's an echo in here." Siggy grumbled, only getting the bear to step closer to him and touch his brown scales. Granted, making it really difficult due to the brass one not letting go. Making Sig'eaal whimper uncomfortably.

"I mean, you're tainted... But like..." They gazed at Beo for a moment, as the Counterweight rapidly looked between the two. "What happened to you guys...?"

"So he just tore it out of you?" The brass one nodded, still holding onto the fluffball. "But he didn't remove all of it, which would still explain your taint." Then a look at the brown one. "And he tore your soul in half...?"

"All I know is it hurt like hell." Siggy snorted.

"You can say that again." Beo grumbled.

"All I know is-"

"Don't say that again." Another grumble, and a slightly provoking purr from the smaller one. "But you...?"

"I repaired you both when I could, but was too exhausted to really notice his taint. Yet..." Another few moments of physically studying the smaller dragon, making him half whimper and grumble.

"Why do I feel like you guys are going to toy with me again?" Sig'eaal grumbled, only to have those ears perk up and those brown eyes lock onto his yellow ones for several straight moments. As if pondering something and making the dragon curl his neck, then whimper when they wouldn't stop. "Muscles. Help."

"When he gives you that look, there's no saving you." The brass one teased. "I might be able to hold back a Terrasque, but not his sex drive." That look shifted to the green eyes, giving Beo the same reaction as the smaller one. "Twig. Help."

"You're on your own."

"Sex...?" Bartan whispered.

"Quite the one track mind on him, isn't there?"

"You wouldn't believe it." The larger one snorted, feeling those paws press him back a bit. "What?"

"Lay on your back." His frilled ears went back.

"I know just mentioning it usually turns you on, and you did just recently see my muscles-"

"Ohh... They were sooo _ Big _..." The bear took a few breaths to compose himself. "But not what I'm doing. I just need to see them." He tried to look at those brass stones from the current armlock position, but it was difficult. After a faint grumble, the larger one let go and laid on his back. Instantly getting a couple of paws to study them, making him yelp.

"They could've been mine." Siggy grumbled, looking at the sack himself.

"Too bad, you missed out." A snout toss from the brown one.

"Pfft. I have my own now-"

"You lay down too. Beside him." A rather shocked look from the smaller dragon as he curled his neck. "Do it." Bartan almost said strictly, getting him to whimper.

"I love it when he gets all commando." Beo purred. Feeling the scrawny dragon lay beside him, and instantly get a tight hug from those brass arms.

"Tag in, Tag in!" Siggy yelped at the white one, barely being able to last a few seconds of it. But got a firm grip on his sack with two paws, getting him to almost growl. "What are you doing?"

"It's Sex!"

"It's Stone Torture, not Sex!" The two hissed at the bear.

"No, well yes. But I mean..." Those paws let go and pressed around their sheaths. Getting both dragons to whimper uncomfortably. "You... Produce it." Two ears perked up as two heads tilted. "What is the only difference between me and Arson, and every other Counterweight?"

"...Fluffyness?"

"White?"

"Lack of Asshole levels in your blood?"

"Sex drive?" A double take from the brown one as the brass just shrugged.

"You really want us to get raped, don't you?"

"He mentioned sex several times."

"You're Mated to him, and you haven't noticed he says sex in someway every ten seconds!?"

"He does say it alot."

"Guys." Bartan teased. "I can go back to holding your balls again."

"Please don't."

"Continue." The brass one attempted to say while staying composed.

"But Beo was close: me and Arson both had sex with him."

"And? This is surprising how?" Siggy snorted.

"Lots of people and species have sex with dragons. That's nothing new." A double take from the smaller one.

"...What sort of planets have you been visiting?" It made Beo's ears turn a bit purple.

"But they haven't had sex with Terrasques." A double take from both dragons, as Bartan looked at their groins again. "I think you're producing the antidote. Maybe even granting immunity to anyone who's encountered this illness."

"Bartan, I love you and all, but that has got to be the dumbest idea I've ever heard."

"Meaning what exactly? He has a long line of partners ahead of him to cure an epidemic of universal proportions?" The two looked at Siggy for a moment and he curled his neck. "What?"

"You're a Terrasque too now, you know." His brown ears instantly fell.

"W-what?"

"I'm afraid he's right. Your soul met with Beo's tainted one, and..." A grumble from the smaller dragon. "Means-"

"I'm going to get alot of tail, aren't I?" He mumbled like it was a bad thing.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Bugger all.

"Hold up, you two. We might be able to do something else instead. Perhaps just ingest it."

"And it's only Counterweights that need it, right? There can't be that many of them around." Sig'eaal snorted, getting blank stares from the other two. Getting him to sigh grumpily. "Sex sounds like _ worrrrrrk _!"

"But it might not be just them..." A look from both dragons. "Siggy, how long was it since you met Ywuggal?"

"That's the Taath-head, right?"

"The red one, yes." Beo mumbled.

"Erm... A few decades? I just landed here and started something."

"Have you been more angry or greedy lately?"

"Or lazy?"

"Or envious?"

"Or sad? Depressed?"

"Okay, okay!" Those brown paws covered his eyes. "Alright, yes. I admit it. After everything went to Taath, I..." A heavy sigh as the two gently held him. "...So I was infected as well, is what you're saying?"

"You have been improving since our visit."

"You mean since Mr. Muscles raped me."

"You were on Top!" Beo growled. "And you enjoyed it!"

"It's really hard not to!"

"It really is, with Beo's design." Bartan purred, getting the two to share a kiss between the clearly uncomfortable smaller dragon. Then the brass one suddenly stopped halfway through it. Getting the bear to worry for a moment.

"Nalchulus..." He whispered, getting the other males to look at him.

"What about him?"

"Him and Raccel both encountered... Erm..."

"Ywuggal?"

"-Yes."

"So, what?" Sig'eaal snorted. "Old bastard deserves it-"

"No, he doesn't." The brown one's ears went back. "He deserves something, but not that." Beo growled, then looked at the white one. "Bartan, I need to get to him before it's too late. Can you find them?"

"Yes. They're a bit far from here, so I can't take us all there. But I can open up a timestorm near them for you." The larger one nodded and got up as the bubble of time was made. "Be careful-" He was interrupted by a deep kiss. A very deep kiss. One that took the bear's breath away and made him nearly melt on the ground after several moments. Making him go back for a few more and whimper, wanting the large dragon right there.

However, he got a few licks instead. "When we met again, I promise. But right now, I can't." A shaky nod, as he lead the bear's sights over to the brown dragon, who only whimpered loudly. "I'm sure you can tend to his needs for now, right Siggy?"

"Don't you leave him here with me like that-!" The brass one jumped through the portal, making Sig'eaal whimper loudly and scamper to take a step back.

"I-I'm okay, Sig'eaal." A few breaths from Bartan as he composed himself. "But I do want to make sure your soul is still untorn. If you don't mind."

"Great." He grumbled.

"Because... I know what he's going to do in there." A noise in question. "And you're going to have to convince them that Beo is telling the truth."

"Ugh." He grumbled, tossing his snout. "Work."

"The buildings look old." The grey tirix said, studying the old ruins of an urban city completely covered in plantlife. "Maybe close to about three centuries."

"Those faint black marks are from napalm." The red dragon pointed out, still half grunting at his older frame. "Wonder how long they were at war...?" He grumbled, still walking until he no longer heard the other one's footsteps. "Raccel?" He looked back, to see the mutt incased in ice.

A sudden heavy landing in front of him got attention of those grey eyes, as the brass dragon. Ramming into his old body and knocking Nal down with rather ease. As he struggled to get up, one of his forepaws were suddenly snared into the ground. Shackled by icy cuffs as he struggled against it.

Another heavy push threw the red one on his back, and then bound his other forepaw, then tail, then neck. Getting him to growl at the metallic one that he never seen before. "Who-!?" The larger one met him muzzle to muzzle, those deep green eyes giving him a look of anger that the old one recalled so long ago. "Beo'Kros-!?" His muzzle was suddenly collared as well.

"You'll thank me for this later, old bastard." Beo growled, getting a look of fear and puzzlement, until he got a few prods in his tailhole. Making him attempt to yelp and struggle against the makeshift chains. Unable to even melt them without getting distracted and nearly torn from the thick shaft gaping at his lower end.

It didn't take him long to finish, trying to do it as quick as possible without knotting the old beast. Just a few heavy torrents inside, and enough for a bulge should suffice. As the larger dragon panted, muscles still a bit sore, they glared into each other's eyes with hatred. Until Beo felt that scytheblade under his neck. "That's enough, Beo." The tirix growled, still unsure of what's going on. "You've done enough to make up-"

"This wasn't for Revenge, Raccel. You two are infected, and this might be the only cure-" A loud growl from the red one said he didn't believe such things, while the dog just looked at him. Cautious, but curious.

"He's right, mutt." Sig'eaal landed from afar, getting all of them to look at the smaller brown dragon. "As Stupid as it sounds, it's the only common factor we've discovered. Meaning..."

"You're going to need a dose too." The brass one grumbled at the Tirix.

"Cue 70's Porn Music."

Fear Is The Weakness Act 4 - Self vs Self

By Bartan Tirix

Chapter 1

A large spike of pain woke him up in a growl, feeling bound by his very body as something behind felt like they had their paws in his back. "Try to relax, I'm almost done." That familiar, soothing voice spoke. Making the brass one feel safe almost instantly. However, if the bear was here, then...

He couldn't help but let out a sigh of defeat, regardless of how much it hurt. Trying to stay perfectly still as the white one worked deep inside him. "...How bad is it?" Beo eventually spoke up, nearly letting out a faint sob.

"...It's been worse. But it's still pretty bad."

"And the area...?" A long silence and another spike of pain.

"...Decimated." The word sank his heart. The Counterweight must've noiced it, because soon after, he pulled out those three paws and embraced the dragon tightly from behind. Doing his best to help the metallic one through his sorrows. "...I know..."

"And no one survived...?"

"...Not even the Forces." Another heavy breath nearly deflated him. Recieving a few licks of comfort on his plated neck. Something that usually brightened his mood, but there was no avoiding this pain. "...Tell me about it. About them."

"I really don't feel like it."

"It's not for me." The bear sat back up, carefully putting those paws inside the titanic beast once again and hearing him growl in pain. "It'll get your mind off of this while I cleanse you."

As much as he really wanted to remain silent, Beo took a deep breath. "...There was... A cranky old one." The expression put a sad smile over Bartan's muzzle. "Almost reminded me of the stories Lillith told me about you."

"Yes, I've heard them many times." He chuckled. "What about this cranky old one? How did you meet?"

The two dragon's groaned at each other while lying in the grassy evening fields. Almost having a conversation from their noises of exhaustion, mostly consisting of complaints about thier current occupation. Turning into whimpers and whines when a certain few sets of pawsteps were heard. "It's alright, you two. I think we're done collecting for now."

"Thank all dragon kind...!" The brown dragon mumbled through the long turf. Sensing the six legged bear lay down between them, mostly comforting the brass one.

"I know, I know. I'm familiar with the feeling of being overstimulated. It's not really fun." Bartan teased a bit, licking at the metallic frilled ear as a loud growl came from those thick plates. "But you can relax. I'll be heading out in several hours to help deliver your cures to the others possibly infected." A slight groan as the brass paw tried to dig under the fluffball beside him, getting the bear to follow the lead and cuddle with the brass titan. Chuckling a bit as it made a noise in question. "I guess I'll be the first Counterweight to be a Milkmaid."

"Don't call it that...!" Siggy grumbled. "It's officially on the list of Never Say Again Around Me."

"You have a list?" The white one asked.

"I do now."

"I'll have to agree with the stick on this one." A snort from across the mountain of fur. "I never thought I would get sick of being milked."

"A-hem. List."

"Well, I can understand why." A few licks from the bear and a couple of small kisses. "It's hardly for pleasure and only for a result. It feels almost like-"

"Wooorrrrrk...!" Siggy got a playful swat by the set of fuzzy tails.

"Yes. Work. Really ruins such a wonderful thing. But you two have put up with us stroking you empty-"

"Eighty seven times over." The brass one grumbled, getting a nuzzle from Bartan.

"Nothing you couldn't handle. Siggy surprisingly endured though."

"What do you mean 'Surprisingly'?" A bit of an long silence as the other two slightly leaned to look at the brown one until he snorted loudly. "Some friends you are."

"I'll say. They only stroked you off for the last seven days."

"Five days." Bartan corrected him, getting a slight noise in question and disbelief. "Time is a little wonky here, but it's basically been about a hundred and twenty hours or so."

"Ugh... I've never wanted to leave a paradise so badly." The other two chuckled at Sig'eaal's complaint.

"Well, we're not keeping you here against your will. You're free to leave when you wish." A small kiss on the brass lips. "Same goes for you as well, Beo."

"Maybe after I've gotten a bit more rest. I am feeling..." He trailed off, not really knowing how to describe it, but the bear just nodded at him. "I just don't think I can survive in a place like this."

"Not until we find a cure." The white one mumbled sadly, embracing him tighter. "I think the only way you have lately is due to Siggy's complaints."

"I don't know what you're on about. I haven't complained about anything since I got here." Another set of chuckles, and Bartan started to get up. Nudging and licking at the brown dragon's ears until he growled against it. "How has that tongue of yours _not_fallen off yet?"

"Thank you for your donation, Sig'eaal. You've helped a lot of people."

"Then why have I felt like I've been tortured since I got here?"

"That's what love feels like, Stick." A loud grumble came from the long snout, though Beo wasn't sure who it was for.

"That does remind me." The bear finally stopped. "Would you like to join our family, Sig'eaal?"

"Pass." The brown one grumbled, rather quickly at that. "Only because I've heard your stories from Muscles, and I don't feel like getting raped anymore." A look of confusion from the Counterweight.

"Well, you wouldn't have to..." An unimpressed look from those yellow eyes for a few moments and the bear sighed. "Good point. But if you ever change your mind, you're always welcomed here." Another few licks and a pair of lazy paws shoved the bear muzzle away. Forcing him to return to the brass one for another few kisses. "Wish me luck, and maybe some tail along the journey."

"I think you've had enough this week." Beo joked at him, seeing the white one overdramatically toss his muzzle. "I'll see you out though."

"You don't need to-"

"Trust me, I have to take a break from Siggy once in a while." A loud snort from the lazy dragon. Getting a thick lick from that purple tongue of the other before moving with Bartan. Once after moving out into a massive room filled with Milk bottles, Beo whimpered a bit. "I don't think they've ever hurt so much as they do now."

"It is an excessive amount, but I want to be sure. There's no real telling how much is needed to fight off such an illness."

"Let alone, if it will actually work." A heavy sigh was caught by a soft paw, getting the two males to look into each other's eyes again.

"It will. And if it doesn't, I'll just have to introduce you to them." A bit of a grumble. "You have so much to teach them-"

"And so much to give, yeah yeah." A few chuckles, but it brought a smile to the brass muzzle for a few moments. Then he looked back from where they came.

"...It is his decision."

"I know. I just..." Another sigh. "After seeing him turn into that black..." Another white paw moved into an embrace. "Is he... Going to be alright?"

"He's fine, for now."

"But I mean... Is he going to be like... Me?" A long silence worried him. "Does he know what to avoid?"

"I'm not even sure what to fully avoid. This..." A pet around those chestplates. "Thing is even new to me. I'm only responding in theory." A faint nod from Beo as he took a heavy breath, nearly squeezing the stuffing out of the furball. "But don't worry so much. And don't tell him just yet, but..."

"Hmm?"

"I did end up giving him... A 'Name Tag,' if you know what I mean." The dragon broke the hug to give him a confused look. "They're sometimes called Pet Tags. Just a small calling card if any Force ever finds him, I left a message to send word to me and I'll..."

"Attempt to fix him?"

"Or cure his urges, whatever is needed." Another set of chuckles. "You have it too, just in case."

"So you can stalk me in case you ever get lonely, huh?" Beo nudged the bear.

"Of course. But to be serious, I don't want another..." A silent nod in understanding. "I Can follow it if I need to though. So if you or me get worried about each other, or even Siggy..."

"We can track that stick down. Got it."

"And shove our own sticks in it, yes." An odd and almost insulted look from the brass one burst the bear into laughs.

"I think you mean Trees, I'd thank you." Beo snorted loudly.

"Trees can't fit into sticks."

"Well, our _Trees_can't fit into him!" The statement collapsed Bartan into incapacitation via laughs, even getting the dragon to a bit before joining the puffball on the floor.

The peace and quiet was nice, but it made the scrawny dragon restless. Granted, that could've been the previous acts the week brought him. Regardless, even the softness of the grass couldn't save those brass paws from creating tremors with every step. Making Sig'eaal grumble when it started to get close. "You'll live."

"That's the regrettable part to all this." The brown one snorted. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to leave." He grumbled, but remained laying on his back while the brass one stared at him for several long moments. "Eventually."

"I'm sure you'll get on that." It made Beo smile, but it soon saddened. "Can I ask you something?" A noise in question from the smaller one. "Why did you... Pass?"

"No idea what you're talking about."

"On Bartan's offer." Those yellow eyes looked at him in confusion. "To... Join us. Our family." A long silence and Siggy eventually exhaled loudly.

"You want the honest truth?" A faint nod.

"I won't be angry. I'm just..." Another breath from the brown one, as he looked towards his side.

"...It's because I can't share." He could feel those green eyes gaze at him in question. "I can't... Won't share you. Not with him, not with the 'Wall'." A chuckle from the large one. "If I can't have you for myself, I won't have you at all."

"...People change, Sig'eaal. Even I was able..." The smaller dragon went quiet, and the metallic one gave him a half hug by laying his head on Siggy's chest.

"Mother of Bahamut, you are heavy."

"You like it."

"Your bear likes it. I prefer not to become a pancake, thank you." But the brass one ignored him. Nuzzling against his chest for a few moments before getting back up.

"You can change, Siggy. You just have to believe you can. Just like I believe." He didn't respond to that, and Beo turned to leave. "Take care of yourself." Several pawsteps away, the brown one spoke up.

"Question." It made the larger dragon stop and look back. "How do I leave this place?" It made him chuckle and come back.

"It's better if I show you."

Chapter 2

The heavy shock of revival came with the massive pain once again, getting the dragon to almost roar against it before coughing. Every growl and hiss after seemed to echo around him along with the pain inside his body. Eventually fading and allowing him to feel that soft fur of recognition, holding that brass paw nearly as tightly as Beo was holding him. "...Sorry." That white muzzle said, laying down behind the titanic one and resting against his neck.

"...I forgive you." A few deep breaths, and he could still feel the pain pulse through, under his scales. Highlighting an unclean feeling through most of it. Hot, almost sticky like tar, signifying what he feared happened. Then it all came back once again. The flood of regret was something the bear could instantly identify, simply through contact. A type of pain he could not easily lessen with the dragon in such a state. With a deep breath and a shaky exhale, the dragon spoke up again. "How much was left...?"

A moment of silence before the Counterweight responded. "I managed to read the signs beforehand and reduce the damage to a minimum. But..."

"The damage I've done was-"

"You are not responsible for this, Beo." Bartan said a bit thickly. "This isn't your fault." A few moments of silence, and the white one nuzzled his neck again. "It'll be alright. We'll find a way to balance this."

"You keep saying that..." The mutter almost hurt the bear. "I believe you, but... It's getting harder for me to."

The ruins were cold and silent. Completely void of all life within the mechanical halls. What were once just bland white panels have now decayed into rust and age. Giving off a certain smell that the White Cheetah was rather used to by now. Cautiously scouting the dead Hive in case anything still lived within its corridors.

"Still no signs of life." The black Tirix behind him stated, still somewhat feral and taking less caution while looked into his device. "I'm still trying to access the logs to find out what happened here."

"Odds are an Unborn attack." Hatchet replied.

"I don't think so. There would be more signs of violence around. Possibly even bodies." The white one just looked at the shorter male. "This place is ransacked, yes, but I don't think it was attacked. Just abandoned."

"Then what do you call the debris floating outside?" He muttered, half gesturing a nearby large window towards the docks, and the black one just shrugged.

"It's possible something else hit it afterword. But so far, I want to say the Hive is still intact. We actually might be able to restore power and check out the logs."

"That doesn't explain why he would be here." The tirix slowed to a stop, looking at his step-brother for a few moments in silence.

"...You knew him better than I did. At least before he went rogue." That one got Hatchet to stop as well, almost taking a breath in thought.

"That's why I said it. It's not like him to look so deeply into the past. Let alone someone else's. We're Chimeras, that's all we needed to know for the longest time." It made the black one give a sad look, meeting with those red feline eyes as they glanced back. "...Sorry. I know it's harder for you to accept, October. But it wasn't for the 1st."

"At least not until those whispers got to him." A faint nod as they started walking forward again. "Whatever those voices said to him... It lead him here, I'm sure of it."

"But why though? In an abandoned Counter Force Hive of all things?" The cheetah grumbled, not noticing the odd questionable stare from the canine for a bit.

"You've never done investigations before, have you?" Half an irritated growl from Hatchet almost made the black one chuckle.

"My three were not big into research, what do you want me to say?"

"You're supposed to be the flexible one." October teased.

"Physically, sure. But you've got more resources to pull from." A faint noise in response, and then a bit of silence. "Are they saying anything?"

"Just exploring the possibilities of events. But..."

"But what?" The white one looked at him, studying the worried face looking off to the side as if to listen to someone not there.

"...Rixxix can sense something. An old fear that almost coated these halls. Whatever people were forced to do here, they did it in..." That black ear flickered to the opposite side and curiously looked over at some debris. Flipping over a large panel of wall to reveal a map and directions. "You were right."

"Hmm?" Hatchet muttered, but was almost left out of an invisible conversation. Trying to follow the signs of October's eyes and ears flicking in different directions. Catching and scanning for hallucinary sounds and voices.

"Is that where...?" Another moment of silence, and the black one looked in an off direction, then back at the map for a moment. "Okay. Floor 87. The backup power might still work if we can get down there."

"A place like this wouldn't have stairs."

"Means we'll just have to find an elevator shaft, and work with what we've got." The Tirix lead the way, but couldn't shake off the stare of red circles on him. Getting the two to lock eyes for a moment and making the younger brother whimper in question. "W-what?"

"N-nothing." Hatchet rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm just still not used to you... Having conversations with yourself."

"Myself...?" A glance around the hall they were traveling in. "Oh, did the 1st never...?" The feline shook his head.

"Not that I seen. At least not until the whispers."

"I thought you could hear them too." They came up to a large set of damaged doors. Both taking a side and sliding them opened, revealing a dark vertical hall that seemed to have no bottom.

"I could only when we first found them. After that, nothing." Another awkward glance at his smaller half-brother. "And I'm guessing Bartan...?"

"Can see and hear them as well. I never noticed until much later that others..." Another look around and the Tirix shook his head for a moment. Pulling a couple of small disks from his bandolier. Activating them and watching as they started to create a light and start floating on their own. Though the lights were able to show some old gear treads on the walls, there wasn't any sign of where the cargo elevator left off. "Usually yes." Another noise in question from the white one. "Ladder. They usually have one somewhere just in case, but I don't see-"

"Because they couldn't design one for a universal species." A sad look from that black muzzle. "You haven't been in one of these before, they have thousands of different beings forced to work on something. Aware of it or not."

"And they're all different shapes... Hence the stairs." A glance down the hall to where a typical set of doors would usually be, along with an emergency exit. Regardless if there actually was an emergency in a place like this, there was nowhere safe to go. Let alone, judging by the stories, the CF wouldn't care if they lost these people. A deep sigh was interrupted when he heard the cheetah take a step forward. "W-what are you doing?"

"Going to find the bottom."

"Bottom-?" Before the Tirix could stop him, the white one took a confident step forward to drop down into the black. Making October almost yelp as he watched his half-brother disappear into the darkness.

"He'll be fine." An orange tirix beside him said, looking down the same hole rather patiently. "He's got a little bit of the ferret in him. However, I would take a step to the side." The larger feline said while taking his own advice. Getting the black one to mirror those actions before hearing thick glass shatter from across the elevator shaft. Immediately spitting out the Cheetah from the darkness and causing him to slide back on the same floor as October.

The younger one heard of such strange abilities, but was still stunned to see them in action. Constantly studying the far wall for any damages or debris of that sharp sound. "The elevator crashed at the bottom. Possibly overloaded."

"And the exit?"

"Blocked." The two sighed at the statement though their muzzles. "I'm only assuming the power generator would be at the bottom."

"It might just be the spine of the Hive instead. If I were to make a place like this, the main power grid would be from the very center where all the plates connect." The black tirix thought out loud. "Odds are, this elevator would run alongside it..." He started walking along the wall, closely studying it while a holographic visor bent over his eyes. "Over here maybe."

"Through the wall?"

"Odds are there's an easier way to get to it. There should be a maintenance room very close by." Once again, they moved down the halls, a bit less cautious than before. Every so often, the echo of something either falling or running into the large building's outer shell echoed through the darkness. Constantly puffing out the Tirix' mane until he found a specific door. "Translated... This should be it." He tried the handle, but it barely moved. "Locked? Oh, I have just the device-" A sudden heavy palm thrust hit the door just above the lock. Bursting it wide open from the Cheetah's impatience. "Oooor you could do that."

"There's no reason to hide our tracks. For all we know, we're wasting precious time." Hatchet said bluntly, walking in and scouting the room rather quickly, but not identifying any threats. Let alone lifeforms. "All clear." October followed in, though still getting a bad feeling about the atmosphere of this place. Making his own scans and eventually noticing the feline studying him. Releasing a noise in question from the younger one. "It'll pass. You'll get used to it."

"I take it you two have been in worse?" The step brother didn't respond to that, and the black one let it pass. Searching for a few wall panels full of switches and many different electronic webbing, he looked at his brother again. "Want to try breaking this one too?" He grumbled, getting the older one to grunt a bit. Regardless, the black tirix started following instructions from a flickering ear. After a bit, he was so enthralled by his work, he didn't notice the Cheetah watching him. Completely lost in the process of fixing such a power grid. "This? Then maybe..." A loud snap came from one of them, but several panels began lighting up.

"Sounds like it's working."

"Just a few more steps apparently." Moments later, the lights came on, and several computers started up. Resuming many functions that have been neglected for so long. "That should be enough to trace what the 1st was up to." The black one said, turning to one of the computers nearby and searching through it while the Cheetah did the same on a separate.

"Does the name Xakoda ring a bell?" Hatchet asked from across the room, getting the younger one to glance back, then at the other three tirix' for their opinions. One by one, they shook their heads.

"Not at all, why?"

"Last time this Hive was completely functional was way back around when Rixxix made an appearance."

"In Veritas?" October asked, then looking at the other Black Tirix with a green highlighted mane. Hearing him sigh pleasantly.

"Good times. Wouldn't you say Deago?" A glance at the orange one from before, but no response. "Regardless, never heard of him."

"Still nothing. What's that got to do with the Hive?"

"She attacked it, apparently." A loud noise in question got the younger one's full attention. "A weapons developer that turned on the Counter Force that occupied this place. No real footage was found, due to the security messing up terribly-"

"Odds are she jammed everything. That's what I would do if I were to attack a place like this."

"Yeah, well... She ended up freeing an prisoner before she was shot and bled out."

"Prisoner...?" October looked closer at the report then took a quiet breath. "Vyitr-I'm just not going to butcher that."

"Hence why I didn't even try." The feline half grumbled.

"Vyitr...?" The orange tirix looked at Rixxix for a moment. "Vyitritvuietoafecr?"

"You mean C. Weight?" Deago nodded at him, while the brown Tirix was just looking back and forth at them.

"Is that...?"

"The Counterweight that touched Rixxix, yes October." The orange one said, getting a loud groan from the other black one.

"Stop saying it like that! It makes it sound like he molested me."

"Was this the same creature you and Linet were traveling with...?" Ryoko asked, getting a nod from the other three. "So he was bound here before you met, I wonder why?"

"What are they saying?" Hatchet asked his half-brother, getting a double take from the feral one.

"Oh, just about... They called him C. Weight. And Ryoko questioned why he was locked up."

"Because he experimented with Veritas." A noise in question from the other four, though the Cheetah could only hear October's. "It's illegal to try anything new as a Counterweight, and Vyitr-whatever ended up doing something different with that universe. Much like Bartan did."

"Dad?" The white one nodded, still scanning the report. "...But he experimented as well. Why wasn't-?"

"He locked up?" A faint nod. "Kinda hard to get arrested when there isn't a Law Enforcement to arrest you."

"Is... That why he sent you...?" The two locked eyes for a few moments, the older one almost being able to see October's faith slightly shaken.

"...He sent us for many reasons. Perhaps that was one of them." Hatchet resumed his scan. "Make whatever opinions you wish of those orders, but it's history now. Your feelings are not going to change that." It made the black one's head lower a bit, but dropped the subject. Returning to his own research on the other side of the room.

Chapter 3

"Are you sure this will work...?" The grey Tirix with one eye missing asked, looking doubtfully at a vial full of blue liquids. Almost being able to see the bear through the glass and substance within. "I feel like this is some kind of prank."

"I know it seems farfetched, but it's the only real thing that meets the common factors." Raccel grumbled at that answer, really not wanting to believe it. "It doesn't taste bad, if that's what you're wondering."

"Doesn't make it... 'Not' what it actually is." A deep breath of thought, as he couldn't keep that orange eye off of the sample. "Can you at least tell me which one it was from?"

"Would that make a difference?" Bartan tilted his head and perked his ears. Trying not to make the event uncomfortable for Raccel.

"Not really." Another long study and a bit of a grumble. Then he pulled the small lid off and took a deep breath. Taking it in one single quick shot like it was a form of horrible medicine. A bit surprised at the pleasant taste of blueberries and grapes. A few unsettling grunts after and an extra swallow just in case. "I think I can feel it moving."

"It's just your imagination." The white one smiled, extending a paw forward and the Tirix gave him the bottle back. Then an unexpected yelp as the larger creature came in for a hug. "It should make the extreme negativity fade away soon."

"I can't say I've noticed any real effects of late, but... I appreciate the concerns, Bartan." He felt the six legged one nod. "As well as my spine still intact." A chuckle and the bear let go.

"I'm so used to hugging someone much bigger, forgive me."

"That's... Alright." The grey one said a bit uncomfortably, finding a seat in the abandoned home. "I'm still finding it hard to believe that he's still alive."

"Beo?" A nod. "Did he ever tell you what happened?"

"Never got a chance to. After his encounter with Nalchulus..." He gestured towards the back of the home, and the white one scanned the area. Still finding the old red dragon on a very large pile of mattresses several rooms down. "He hasn't been the same since."

"It's not the Negativity, but that doesn't excuse my husband's actions." A breath from the bear as he looked into that orange eye sadly. "However, I don't think there would've been any convincing the old friend."

"Friend...?" Raccel asked a bit seriously, getting a faint smile from the white muzzle. "What sort of stories has Beo told you?" That one got Bartan to chuckle.

"The best and the worst. I couldn't really think of another word to describe their relationship." Another moment of silence. "He's told me about Lynnoa."

"Who?"

"The... 'Pet' as the others called it. Before Beo left your iron city."

"Oh. I never knew her name."

"He didn't tell anyone." A breath from the bear. "At the time, Beo was still contemplating if it was a weakness or not. Something he feared deep down within himself." The grey one nodded in understanding. "It seems that they care about each other so much that they will do anything to protect each other. Yet, they tend to select the worst ways possible to do so. You can see my loss of words."

"Perhaps Frenemy would fit?" It made the larger one smile.

"Yes. Yes, I suppose it would." Those brown eyes gazed upon the old dragon once again. "I would like to talk to him. Is that alright?"

"He hasn't even talked to me much since. If you can somehow fix this..." The white one nodded, going in for another 'Less-Tight' hug before leaving the room.

Those tattered ears picked up the voices from afar, but he couldn't quite make out what they were saying. Just mumbles distorted by several walls and the ache of constant ringing that accompanied the silence. The old dragon knew what was coming by sheer instinct by now. The dog would be worried about his state of mind, and ask this newcomer to pry on the elder's feelings. Something he really didn't want to do.

The growls didn't keep the pawsteps away, no matter how loud he attempted to make them. And they were too strange to be the stick's, foreign and not of dragonkin. Not to mention, something was off. Nearly picking out three sets of paws instead of just two.

A slight knock on the door was only greeted by a growl that left his red throat. Expecting such a warning to be ignored due to the Tirix' concerns. "Leave." Nalchulus finally said in anger, hoping whatever this thing was would finally let him be. But regardless, it let itself in.

"Nal?" The unfamiliar voice echoed through the damp room. Only to be absorbed by the pile of mattresses and the faded scales that rested on them. Back still turned towards the only normal exit. "I'm-" A faint whimper interrupted the stranger, coming from that same muzzle as the dragon began to feel a strange warmth. One of gawking and staring, specifically at the red one's rear end.

The silence was enough to make the old one finally look at the visitor, and stare back at the furball in almost disbelief. Never in his many years encountering such a strange mashup of fluffy parts and slapped onto a single creature. One that couldn't stop staring under the dragon's tail, where his package was unintentionally on display. Finally tracing those brown eyes, Nalchulus snorted loudly and covered said package with his thick tail. Finally snapping the bear out of a strange trance and getting a growl from the elder. "S-sorry. I couldn't help myself. I'm Bartan, a friend to Raccel and-"

"Let me guess, a relation to the one that raped me." His grey eyes specifically looked away before he said it, loathing to use such a word to describe such a thing. More for his own pride. "And now you want to give your own words of comfort as if they will magically remove such a wound, is that it? For what? His own comfort?" Some silence, and the red one exhaled. "Just-"

"Would you like to have a session?" A slow turn of the dragon's head, expressing both puzzlement and irritation like he was being ignored.

"A what?"

"A session of pleasure." A long silence and he could almost tell that the bear was blushing. Making the elder one's ears go flat against his head.

"No." A whimper of disappointment as Nal got up to turn about. Finally facing the white one and attempt to stare him down. "What are you doing here." He grumbled, barely asking a question. All at once, that blush went away as Bartan sighed. Taking a few steps closer and getting a threatening growl that didn't faze him.

"I am Beo'Karah's Husband." One ear lightly perked, but the grumble didn't hold back. "You know him as Beo'Kros-"

"I know him as a rapist, yes. I know him as the one who assaulted me for saving his scaly hide!"

"And I know that you 'Saved Him' from that Dragon Maiden behind his back." The bear almost snapped back, getting the red one to stay silent for a bit. "You and him both did stupid things to save each other-"

"He raped me-!"

"He_ Saved _You. Cured you of an illness you've been stained with for a long time! One you weren't even aware of!" Another growl from the red one. "I know he did it in the worst way possible, but he cared enough to do it in the first place." A long silence as they stared at each other.

"What are you doing here."

"...I've come to make amends."

"So, you're asking for me to forgive him. Is that it?"

"In return for a gift, yes." The dragon tossed his snout.

"Please. There's nothing you could give me to even consider that."

"You're wrong. I can give you the one thing you've always wanted-"

"Quite the ego attached to that tail of yours, isn't there?" That one actually made the bear growl a bit. "Makes me wonder who exactly is in charge of this little relationship with him." Another thick stare. "Tell me, how many strokes did it take to get that behemoth to submit? How many for the stick? He's in on it too, correct?" More silence, and Bartan looked away. Closing his eyes for a breath as the red one snorted.

"...How long has it been since you last trusted someone? One that isn't Raccel?" A faint growl returned. "When you seen the signs of a Dragon Maiden manipulating Beo, that wasn't because you were interested or curious about such things." Those brown eyes locked back onto the grey ones. "You knew from experience, didn't you." That red jaw tensed a bit.

"You know nothing about me-"

"I know how she felt." He said a bit sadly. "I can understand why honestly, I felt the same way with Him. I also know that she used you as protection at first." His claws pierced through the mattress. "But you figured it out soon enough. You weren't blind, Nalchulus. You just wanted her to be the real thing so badly."

"Leave."

"She was, though." A very faint inhale. "Even if it didn't start that way, she learned the truth about you and that heated heart. And she used you-but not for her benefit. For both. For your relationship." Those grey eyes at least started to calm down, but also showed pain. Like an old wound was ripped open. "She was taken away from you too early, Nal. Just like Lynnoa-"

"I was only trying to save him from the pain-"

"I know." The white one almost whispered. "But sometimes you just can't. It was too late by the time you found out." The red one's gaze eventually dropped and looked off to the side, barely catching the white paw lift up for a request. "Please, can I have your paw?" Those eyes questioned again, but submitted a few moments later. "Nalchulus. My name is Bartan. I'm a Counterweight, but not of this universe." Another white paw started stroking that red one a bit, getting a very faint numb and pain feeling from it. "I can do many things for you, but I can also take them away, understand?" He said softly. "So when I ask you to consider forgiving Beo for his actions in exchange for a gift..."

The upper paw slid up his red forearm, almost displaying the glossy crimson scales that clearly did not match the rest of his aged body, those grey eyes looked at it with a bit of shock. Slowly studying and flexing it, no longer feeling the harsh pain of near fossilized bone and muscle. "How...? The Forces-"

"Were never taught how to do it properly." A step closer to comfort the dragon's awe. "Nal, Eternal Youth is a very complex transition that requires usually all three Forces to fully obtain. And that's not to be confused with the Immortality that some species tend to have, those are just exceptionally long lifespans that have no recorded end." A white paw stroked that faded red chin a bit. "I can do this for you, but it requires me to touch you in nearly every area. So I need your consent."

"Eternal... Youth?" A comforting nod from the bear. "And that is your gift?" He asked, in disbelief.

"Yes. If you're willing to accept it. If not, I can attempt something else." A few moments of just studying the renewed paw, and the dragon was almost stuck. Not really knowing how to accept such a thing, until those white hands cupped his chin once again. Almost giving him the decision to either submit to them, or turn away and forever remember that he rejected such a surreal thing. With a difficult breath, he leaned into the forest of white. Letting them finally take the weight of age, something that nearly defined the dragon for eons.

A few pets of comfort, and those strange feelings returned. Sliding up and down that red muzzle and letting them brush away the dead grey that he hated for so long. Ones that echoed the disease of weakness across eons, stained onto his once beautiful and defiant body. Now removed by a few single paw swipes, only adding to the surrealism and making those grey eyes question if he was dreaming.

As they brushed up and over his eyes, that discomfort grew. Making Nal grunt a bit as a set of paws quickly moved to his head. "Nalchulus? I'm going to put you in a state of nirvana for the rest of this to make it less unpleasant. You'll probably feel very lightweight, but you'll enjoy yourself a lot more while I work. Is that alright?"

A deep breath to relax. "...Yes." He finally spoke, unable to look the bear in the eyes. Feeling a strange warmth start spreading through those paws and making his head weightless. Letting it sore through his aching bones and finally silence their cries for attention. Warning him that something was wrong for centuries, something he could not do anything about. Until now.

To accept a gift was much harder for the dragon than fighting Raccel for the first time. His entire life, Nal only claimed what was his. Regardless if they still belonged to another person or vermin, the Red one's rule was absolute. Never was something specifically given to him that was not already his. But time? Endless time at that...?

The warmth invaded the ruined temple that was once a fearsome kingdom. Nearly repainting those walls like they were so many eons ago by two sets of white paws. Resealing every crack that was taken, every scratch that had been made, patching every tapestry to perfection. Removing every mark made by a blade or arrow, from the surface of his face and deep down. All with a single brush of winter.

Caught in such a trance, the dragon began purring loudly and uncontrollably. Once again nearly giving his weight to the bear while closing his eyes. Making out every fiber that banished eons away from his very being. Tracing it over his eyes, around his jaw, inbetween his snout, and feeling it sharpen his dulled fangs. Doing a bit of his horns and mane before stopping a bit. "Nalchulus?" Bartan asked softly, just getting a blissful noise in question that eventually opened those grey eyes. Following a single paw that held something.

The red one held his breath, still a bit lost in the haze. Gazing at another dragon like looking into a past memory, a reflection that was once lost to him. Stolen by time itself. It would've been unbelievable if he couldn't make out the rest of his aged body still connected to that wyrm's face.

His heart fluttered, almost wanting to whimper and cry in happiness. But was still too prideful in front of another person. Instead, trying to take a clumsy step forward to hug the white furball of a creature. Meeting him halfway with a chuckle and embracing his strange way of thanks. Giving a few licks that still restored escaped life from those scales and spines with the very touch before continuing.

Those four paws worked on his armored neck, reversing the damage taken from deflecting countless near-deathblows. Scars and dents disappeared while several plates shifted back into their normal state, then freshly painted with the gloss of a newly hatched. This creature wasn't just simply removing time from his body, but giving everything a second chance. Any defects ever born into his body, removed and fixed to a near paragon status. Giving even the most simple of breaths to become much easier to manage.

As the bear took a faint step back, the dragon almost followed. Hoping the white one wasn't done, and by his adoring chuckle, he was far from it. Just repositioning his paws and snout to work on the side of the red one's head while those white hands continued their work deep within the elder one. Licking around the jawbone to find any place he might have missed, until he got to the ears.

Tattered and almost broken, they still fought against the tongue out of instinct. Trying to flick the red appendage away, as if not to notice it was fixing those frills with every soft lick. Even getting the dragon as a whole to almost growl at such affection, especially when said ear was caught by the Counterweight's fangs. Not biting hard, but almost playfully... Perhaps arousingly.

Regardless, another growl and the white one let go. At least before working on the other ear. Nearly getting a warning growl before that tongue even made its complete journey to the other side. Not staying on it for too long after restoring the frilled appendage and the dragon's hearing to its full potential. Then taking a step or two back to once again look Nal in the eyes.

The faded grey iris had been polished into a silver disc, nearly mirror-like to the point where Bartan could see his own reflection when looking hard enough. "Nal?" A faint noise in question, as if he were sleepy. "I'm going to start working on your back now. Which means I'm going to have to get behind you." A slow blink to confirm he understood. "After that, I will work on your underside. Which in turn, I would like to have a session. Do I have your permission?" That almost frightful look told the hexeped that the dragon was still conscious of his own decisions, not really knowing how to answer that. "If you don't want to be penetrated, that is fine. But I would like your consent if that is alright."

A long stare in silence before he spoke up. "...Why?"

"Why do I ask?" The white one repeated, seeing that blush return. "Because once I start restoring that part of you, I might not be able to help myself." A slow blink. "So I thought I would ask befor-"

"Alright." Those brown eyes studied him to be completely sure, and the dragon nodded. "As long as you don't..." A nod from the white one that time, as he lead that red head down softly on the mattress. Giving it a few pets before walking up and laying down behind the elder one. Feeling that soft fur embrace his aged spine as if spooning the dragon before those paws went to work.

Within moments that stiffness went away. The sluggish and tired muscles almost melted into a warm oil before being reformed into his young self. Even through the glowing nirvana he could sense it, just like his old tired memories. Even reaching a paw back to meet with another to grasp it with thanks. Getting a few friendly kisses from that muzzle before continuing to work on his shoulders and arms.

Once those were done, he moved onto the wings. The joints still sensitive and almost frail from constant use, the opposite of the membranes. Though now aged and numb, much of them were tattered and torn from many battles had. It's a wonder the old dragon could gain enough lift with the several holes between the branches. All repaired with a single soft stroke as they continued down the dragon.

It was the back the required most of the attention, having a constant set of paws tending deep within the old beast. Filtering out and removing so much scar tissue and old wounds that haunted the red one for so long. Even the white hind legs were working on that thick tail as the bear continued to climb down. Feeling him get closer towards those haunches and almost getting uncomfortable. Pondering what exactly the creature meant by Session.

But the white one didn't go straight for those specific areas. Tending to the entire hips and back legs before nudging the red one to lay on his new back. Almost embarrassed by such a thing, let alone uncomfortable showing how stiff the supernatural massage got him. But those paws and muzzle only pressured harder. Eventually getting the dragon to cave in and reveal his black weapon.

Aged and scarred, much like the rest of his previous body. But the Counterweight hardly looked at it, saving his studies until much later. Actually tending to the tail a bit more before climbing over the red one. Almost expecting another intruder to prod between those haunches, putting up his red paws just in case and planning how he would get out of a situation. Easier now that he wasn't bound in ice, but that could always change.

But the white beast only resumed his work, starting with the dragon's collar and moving down. Feeling his old heart flutter while the furball rested on his new structure, now able to easily support such weight like his prime years. Those red paws, going from defense to embrace without even noticing it as he felt his entire body reach completion. All except for one area...

A nervous swallow, but Nal already gave his consent to the white one. In exchange for what he always wanted, he would accept this price. Feeling that white muzzle kiss its way down the dragon's pelvis and around the erect weapon to ensure all of those areas were well taken care of. Then those middle paws slowly cupped what the white one eyed when he walked in the doorway. Exhaling a heated breath as soon as they made contact, and feeling a bit of a sting as everything inside the red sack was renewed.

Then finally, the black draconic weapon. Chiseled with a few unnatural lines down the sides. Ones on par with some of the sheath wounds, possibly telling a story of a lucky shot with a blade or worse. Never being able to be healed normally, nor get enjoyment from the pain of being erect once again after such a thing sealed up. It was a wonder it didn't get any infections, but odds are with the faint traces of burn marks...

It made sense now why the old one was so against sessions like this. Not only from the recent assault against his lower region, but the sheer pain it would normally bring him to even be ready. But that changed today, with one long lick of that red tongue, he started from the very base of the wound. Deep inside the flesh where cold steel sundered such a beautifully designed weapon. Bringing it back to its former elegance and welcomed with a soft kiss against its tip. One that got a few pleasant lick as well.

The dragon almost hissed against such a touch, unable to recall the last time he could enjoy such a thing before that forced deformity. The black tower loving the admiration that the white beast was giving, and almost jerking for more. For him to go further and remind it what it meant to feel pleasure without that aching sting. As those claws dug deep into the bear's mane, they started to almost force him down the shaft with his maw.

But Bartan resisted for a bit. Taking his time to really study the up-tipped flare and the spines that parted from it. Ones that reminded him of long frills, like dragon ears. Just a bit thicker and flexible. A few more licks and Nal let out a whimper. Pressing down harder, and attempting to thrust that black weapon inside. Teasing him a bit more, but enough was enough.

Those jaws parted, finally obeying the desperate demands to just take it in. Feeling those paws press down until that black nose was against his sheath. Nearly regretting that action, whereas that tongue started painting those ridges. Exiling the breath out of the dragon's lungs as he struggled not to make too much noise.

Lap after lap forced the intensity to rise drastically, until it was too much for the red one to handle. Stressing with a whispering roar, he squirted several jolts into that white muzzle. Feeling the tongue gather such a substance and varnish his tool with it before sliding his maw out and over that tower. Matching the speed with the dragon's breaths, almost playing him like a musical instrument.

That pressure began to rise soon enough, increasing the pitch of the scaled one's whimpers. Streams of pre-release began to drip out of that white muzzle as those fangs carefully went over every spine. That tongue teasing the very sides and ridges when it came down to meet the red sheath with a brushing kiss. Pebbles of juices gathered together to form thick beads as they ventured down with the muzzle, traveling the pleasant journey over those sensitive divides and forcing the red one to squirm against the ticklish movement. Pushing Nal so close to the edge as he fought drastically to hold back.

But he couldn't. The pressure was rising, the bliss overwhelmed him. And all he could do was tense his body, not even roar in warning as that black weapon thickened inside the bear's maw. Spraying a near eon's worth of repression into the Counterweight as a thick white seed. Feeling it escape between his lips until a red paw reached further down. Grasping the muzzle tightly against his weapon and barely hearing a surprised yelp from Bartan as he continued to swallow.

Nearly a minute and a half of the dragon's orgasm, and it began to slow down. Though the straining feeling was still felt, it was like the red one just ran out. Just those last few jolts of liquid were passing, feeling the draconic claws begin to ease up their brance. Setting free the bear and collapsing to catch his breath.

Those wounds stun, but were soon restored. Finally getting the feeling back in his body and recognizing that fur brushing up his chest, Nal opened his eyes and barely got out a yelp as Bartan pinned him down and kissed him. His muzzle still full of that white dragon seed and feeling it slip into his own, getting the sensation of sweetened cinnamon to dance along his tongue. Like a thick frosting that was very warm.

He was too weak to fight against it, and was still in the effects of the Counterweight's spell. So for now, Nalchulus just accepted the gift. There was no pride to be harmed, no action provoking him or calling the red one frail. Just pure bliss and affection from that red tongue. One the dragon was not used to, but could learn to be.

He gently lapped the inside of the red maw as he waited for Nal to recover. Even looking him in those silver eyes with a smile before touching noses and getting up. Thinking that the session was complete, the now younger looking dragon took a deep breath. Now that his chest was dismissed of that weight that is, until it came back. Only taking a step forward and squatting down, then a brush against his black weapon.

The straining feelings were brushed away, and the red one's stamina was restored. Feeling the tip of his fleshy weapon begin prodding the forest of white, it was clear what the bear was asking for. Something Nal was fine with, but wanted on his own terms; grabbing the larger looking furball and start rolling it on the side of the pile of mattresses. Getting a playful yelp from Bartan as the dragon leaned over him.

Taking a deep breath and stretching out his body, feeling so surreal that there wasn't a single ache detected. His lungs, able to take full breaths. His tail, able to curl up and slam against the concrete floor. And his wings, touching the ceiling and walls without so much as a flinch. He grabbed the forest of white and embraced it tightly in thanks, before forcing his weapon inside it. Getting both males to roar in pleasure.

Normally, it would've been a stupid idea to attempt such a thing without some foreplay. Nal was just thankful that his tool was already greased up from the muzzlejob. Feeling it slip inside nice and easy, a heated warmth that still felt like it was brushing against his sensitive flesh. Throbbing thickly and proudly against the teasing fibers.

Every harsh thrust was him testing out his new body, throwing everything he had into it. From the tail flicking in the air, almost breaking the sound barrier like a whip, and slamming his haunches into the bear's rear. More thankful at the moment that Bartan was almost indestructible, meaning the red one could go all out. Grasping the white shoulders and sides with freshly sharpened claws. Biting into that thick mane with a powerful jaw, the strength able to crush diamonds into simple powder. And then muscles; bulging drastically, but not as much strength that the white one was used to.

Still, it was enough to bite back out of instinct. Feeling the pain, and almost loving it, Nal barely even noticed the orange sprays underneath him. Constantly in focus of just ramming into the furball and rising that orgasm back to full. Every thrust was like filling a meter by a percent, slowly increasing the volume of an imaginary tank until it was overfilled. Feeling his weapon begin to leak out those spare juices as his insides were struggling to keep it all contained.

All at once he felt himself go over the edge. Gaining an adrenaline rush to thrust into the white one at double speed, spraying several torrents in the process before one final full body one that pushed the two up the pile a bit more. Grasping the furry coat tightly as his weapon went to work; spraying that thick seed into the equally white bear with every ounce of energy and pent up aggression the dragon had.

The torrents began fighting against a pressure that started inside, as the two whimpered loudly against it. Soon after, Nal began to feel a bulge under him as the Counterweight took shallow grunt and breaths. Every thick jet that was released from his black tower pressed against the bear's belly, getting it harder and harder for the dragon to continue releasing inside him. Getting another series of orange sprays as well, as the dragon was drained completely empty.

Nearly collapsing onto the living pillow, Nal attempted to pull himself out of the bear. Taking a few tries, but eventually his weapon gave way. Allowing the two to officially rest and regain some energy spent. Not expecting the white one to still cuddle with him, let alone go after his ears with that tongue. A few growls of annoyance and Bartan stopped.

A few minutes of rest and a strange look was shown in those silver eyes, making the bear release a noise in question. "...Why?" Two of those four ears perked. "Why do this for me...?"

"For you?" He questioned, but not coldly. "I did this because I love my husband. I did this because I don't want him to feel hurt." That odd look didn't release, but saddened slightly. "What Beo does sometimes... He still acts like the dragon he once was. Especially around you and Raccel." A white paw on his red one. "That doesn't excuse what he has done to you, but it also doesn't completely make up for what you did to him." Bartan leaned in closer. "I'm tired of this feud. And I will not allow you two to hold a grudge. Whether you consider forgiving him or not, I will tell him that you did."

"Because you love him." The dragon mumbled, getting a nod and a slow blink. Those eye trailing off the forest of white and into space for a few moments as the Counterweight got up. Heading towards the door without another word. "Bartan." He looked behind as their eyes met. "...Thank you." A nod as if to say You're Welcome, as he opened the door. "And I will... If he forgives me."

"He already has." A sad smile traced over that white muzzle as he left the dragon to his slumber. Walking down the hallway to meet a clearly uncomfortable tirix still enjoying his tea, the two caught glances as if to question. "He'll be fine."

"You got him to talk?"

"Yes. You could say he's a new dragon now." Bartan smiled, walking past and catching the reflection of Raccel unable to look at the new weight the bear was currently carrying. Trying to make complete sense of what he heard from afar and only spading his ears with shyness. "But give him a few hours, Nal's a bit tuckered out."

Chapter 4

Another heavy shock that his body was trying to ignore. Feeling so weak that he couldn't even make a noise besides a few shallow breaths. "Beo, I know you're afraid, but I need you to do it." The bear said, trying to comfort him. "Just a little, alright?" A cough, and then a deep breath that gave him a bit more energy. Then another. "Good, keep doing that while I attempt to fix this."

"...Did it..." A cough and a groan of pain. "Work...?"

Bartan stayed quiet for a bit, but stroked him in comfort. "...There was a significant amount of reduced damage, but..." Almost a breath of relief from the brass one. "You starved yourself to death, didn't you?"

"Seemed like a good idea at the time..." Beo half joked, growling at the pain while taking a bit more feed.

"But it's horrible for your body-"

"It's better for them..." A sad look and the white one hugged him tightly. Getting the dragon to eventually pull the counterweight over so they could embrace each other. "If most of them survived, it was worth it."

"It's not worth you living in famine... You can take a little."

"Only to crave more." A defeated sigh from the white one as they just enjoyed their company.

The brass behemoth was resting in the fields, collecting the sun's warmth while lounging on the dried grass. Not really feeling the effects of being overheated, possibly due to how reflective his scales were. Almost sending signal lights in all directions for anyone to spot the titan.

But he wasn't trying to hide or avoid detection. The dragon was just tired of the smoggy smells that seemed to cloud the more populated areas. And those smells brought back painful memories he really didn't want to relive. Instead, he was just trying to relax. Not really getting any sense of direction, just not wanting to feel famished again.

But the dried meadow did come with its flaws. Many of the animals a bit farther out, especially birds, were rather noisy. Their constant chirping almost ruining Beo's vacation, as well as a strange feeling of a nearby presence. Nothing threatening, but almost ignoring the massive creature for reasons unknown. Almost irritating him by instinct and listening into some random gibberish his filled ears were picking up.

"Excuse me, sir!" The voice from far away addressed something nearby it. "Would you like to sign a petition to get the heavy yellow thing off my house?" It even made the dragon make a noise in question, but not look towards it. "I'm looking for at least 255 signatures to convince it to leave, and I've only gotten three so far." Heavy Yellow Thing? Granted, the large one was covering quite a bit of space. It wasn't so farfetched that he was laying on someone's habitat. But he didn't feel anything out of the ordinary under him.

A few faint grunts were barely heard after. "You will? Thank you, kind sir! I just need you to sign here... And here. Initials here... And the date. It's the 23rd." A few more grunts got the dragon's attention, looking over at a strange man talking to a wild rabbit. "That will do! Thank you once again!" And the animal scurried off. Seeing a red haired human with shades and modern clothing make eye contact with the brass one. Getting Beo to curse under his breath. "You sir!"

The dragon curled his neck as the strange man walked towards him. "Me?"

"Yes! Would you like to sign a petition to get the heavy yellow thing off my house?" A very slow head tilt from him, as the human showed him a sheet of paper on a clipboard with several dozen paw prints on it, and a series of unintelligible scribbles. Tilting the clipboard for the dragon to read easier. "I'm looking for at least 255 signatures-"

"To convince me to move?" The man gasped.

"It's like you can read minds! -Wait, You?" The red one asked rather seriously. "Why would I want you to move?"

"Because..." He motioned for Beo to go on. "I'm laying on your house...?"

"You are? I could've sworn I lived over there." Again, he seriously said. Pointing a bit further down and confusing the dragon even more. Not seeing anything yellow or large in the empty space. Let alone a home.

"...Where?"

"Just down there a bit. Come, I'll show you!" He started marching and humming a tune, leaving the brass one a bit dumbfounded. Yet, curious. Enough to get up and follow him to a flattened cardboard box laying in the middle of the grass, with a single dandelion in the center of it. "See?"

"There's a flower on it." Beo half grumbled, getting his ears to flatten against his head.

"Yes. Yes there is."

"Flowers aren't large."

"I didn't say it was large. I said it was heavy."

"Flowers aren't heavy either." He half hissed.

"But this one is. Hence the petition." A few moments of irritated staring and the man shrugged. "You want to try to move it? I'd appreciated the help. My stamp collection is in there."

"...Stamps?" A near excited nod and the large one sighed. Taking a paw and flicked the flower off the box, but it didn't move. Another attempt, and the plant remained. Grabbing the flower, the man interrupted him. "Ah-ah-ah." An angry stare in question. "Lift with the legs."

His ear flickered, both puzzled and in disbelief, but tossed his muzzle regardless. Getting into position, he used his full body to start lifting a single cut dandelion off the box. Or would have, if it even moved. Getting the dragon to growl in anger and try again. This time using both paws and not playing around. His muscles bulged through his brass scales and nearly roared as he lifted the tiny plant up about a foot and tossed it off to the side. Landing with a heavy earthquake.

The man cheered as he scooped up his box and looked inside the folds. "Awwh, he ransacked it. Oh well. Looks like I'll have to find a new place." He looked at the dragon who was still a bit shocked at the crater the flower made, double taking when he caught the stare. "Where do you live?"

"...How?"

"-Do we get there? You tell me. I mean, I guess I could lead the way, but it might take us a while." A blank stare from those green eyes. "Me leading the way; it is!" And he started marching away from the clearly puzzled dragon. Not noticing his questionable stare that didn't let off until the ground started shaking violently.

From where the flower landed sprouted a colossal mutated one with a set of jaws, hissing loudly at the brass one that braced in defense. Snapping to bite at him, but missing as Beo jumped back out of range. Still slightly stunned at the surrealism to act to respond otherwise. Hearing the monstrous plant roar at the dragon as he prepared to strike back with a concussive blast, however was interrupted by the clipboard being thrown into his field of vision.

The flying object collided with the mutated flower and exploded into a series of colorful fireworks and sunflower seeds. Once again leaving the brass one speechless for a moment before looking at the man once again. "Huh. Apparently I only needed four signatures. Go figure." The two looked at each other for a bit in confusion. "Anyway! Coming?"

A long silence as the puzzled stare didn't let up. "...How-?"

"-Skittle button." A head tilt.

"...What-?"

"Huh?" A rather serious question got the dragon to look back and forth at the many strange areas. "Did you lose your contact lens?"

"My what?"

"You know, for your eyeballs." His head tilted the other way. "It allows you to see. Can also make your eyeballs glow in the dark, but we don't talk about that. Too many adventurers with arrows and slingshots." Beo remained quiet for a long bit, wondering if he was somehow dreaming. But unless he was powerlifting in his sleep while being sprayed with sunflower seeds, it wouldn't make any sense. Granted, none of this did. "I take that as a no?"

"Hmm? Oh... No. I didn't lose..."

"Anything but your words. I've been there. Still haven't found that dictionary. Such a shame." A few slow blinks. "It was written by a pterodactyl, and started everything in the T section with PT instead. If anyone gets a hold of it, they'll never know that it's spelled wrong! And that fish ain't tight, yo!"

"...Did..." Beo started, looking around for a moment. "Did you hit your head or something...?"

"Nope. Just naturally a conehead." Another blank, but more curious stare. "So! Coming? Be hard to find a new home alone." The brass one looked back to where he was sleeping before, then back at the human.

"...Sure. But what do I call you?"

"Hmm... My Secret Identity is the Caped Catfish, but you can call me Dehoken." The red haired man said, leading the way into the field. "But don't tell anybody! I'm only telling you because you nearly got eaten by a radioactive eggplant."

"Eggplant...?" He couldn't help but look back at it. "I don't think that was an eggplant."

"No? Stapler?"

"What's a stapler?"

"The worst thing you've ever seen. Apparently they're illegal in Colorado, who knew?" The dragon raised an eyebrow. "What about you?"

"Me...? I'm-"

"-WAIT!" The large one completely stopped mid step as Dehoken whispered to him. "Before you tell me, you need to answer me one very important personal question..." A long silence as the brass one listened. Studying the man to the point where his green eyes could be seen folding out in large black pupils through those sunglasses.

"Wh-?"

"What color is your toothbrush?"

"...I-"

"This question is important. If it's yellow, then don't even talk to me." His ears lowered a bit. "You need to speak softly in whispers instead. Also in haiku."

"I..." He started, almost expecting the strange man to interrupt him. "Don't have a toothbrush."

"..._ Really _?" Dehoken seriously asked, very surprised. "Huh! You're the first acorn I've seen that doesn't have one!" Once again, the statement was lost to the dragon. "They're all the rage these days. You're not waggling it until you've got one." He leaned to the side to whisper to the dragon, blocking the other side of his mouth with his hand. Then stretching his lips to Beo's other ear. "That's what all the kids are calling it these days."

"Calling what?" He asked, watching the hovering mouth as it snapped back onto the man's face. Then he shrugged before walking into a large rock. "You okay?"

"-I'm okay."

"...How much can you actually see in those sunglasses?"

"What sunglasses?" A blank stare at the serious question. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"That might actually answer my question then."

Several hours later, and Beo was still nowhere's close to an actual answer. Yet, that didn't bother him... Much. "Then the doctor told me that BOTH my eyes were lazy! And that's why it was the best summer ever." Dehoken finished his story to a clearly lost dragon as they came up a hilltop.

"And that's why you're wearing sunglasses?"

"Sun-what-now?" A slightly irritating groan from the metallic beast. "Oh these things? A man with very nice teeth gave them to me. Said they gave off magical powers around kittens." A toss of his snout at the excuse.

"Sadly, that's a rather normal thing, coming from your maw."

"You know my mother?" The serious question made the dragon stop and cover his eyes with a paw. "Oh look. Civilization." He stopped and looked over the distance, seeing a town rather nearby and giving a bit of a worried look. "I know that expression..." Those green eyes met those shades, and the man pointed off to the other side of the dragon. Following it rather quickly to see three outhouses; one for males, females, and a ridiculously large one for dragons. "I'll wait here." Dehoken whispered.

"What? N-no. I don't need to..." A grunt of discomfort. "I just... Don't want to go near something like that right now."

"I'm sure they're clean-"

"Not what I was talking about." He grumbled rather quickly.

"You mean the town? Why not?" A worried expression painted over Beo's face as he looked it over. "They might have an RC Cola machine."

"A what?"

"Only the most mediocre carbonated beverage ever!" A few slow blinks. "You have to try it to believe me."

"But..." Beo took a breath. "Dehoken... It's not safe for me to be there. It's not safe for anyone, including you." The man tilted his head like the dragon did from time to time. "It's a long story-"

"Does it have anything to do with Hippo-Eating Spiders?" A double take that was getting less and less surprised.

"N-no."

"Then do tell. Last time I was told a story in an upcoming storm, it was raining those things. Worst Tuesday Ever." A few blinks from the large one and the man overdramatically motioned for Beo to continue. "Go on."

"Dehoken... I'm... Not what I look like." He mumbled, feeling that strange gaze of being studied from afar. "I'm something called a Terrasque."

"You mean a French Dragon-Chimera?"

"I don't know... I'm not really sure what it actually looks like."

"But you are one, so wouldn't it look like you?" A heavy breath in defeat from the brass one, and the human could tell something was wrong. Especially after the dragon closed his eyes and looked away, like he was struggling to keep himself composed. "You're... Afraid of it?"

"...Terrified. And from what me and my husband can tell, it feeds off of negativity... 'Eating' too much..."

"Will result in the devastation of the world around you." A faint nod and he took a deep breath. Feeling a hand on his arm that was a bit... Strange. Reminding him of the white bear, enough to look back at his new friend and see him in a strange silver-white wolf form. Getting the dragon to curl his neck. "I know what it's like." Dehoken said seriously, traveling in a different direction. Away from the town and motioning Beo to follow.

Chapter 5

The two scanned the computers in the dark room for what felt like dozens of minutes. Trying to find anything they could that wasn't specifically a date. All while the three behind the black tirix half argued among themselves. "All I'm saying is, odds are they wouldn't know the 1st by name. There shouldn't be any record or data based on that." The orange one said, getting a snout toss from Rixxix.

"Yeah, searching for intruders didn't work out so well. If you don't recall."

"Actually, there were several detections-" The brown one started.

"Which could've been anybody. Considering how scavenged this place is, it wouldn't surprise me that they were just vultures."

"Guys... Please..." October whimpered, getting a reaction from the cheetah on the other side.

"Still nothing?" The smaller black one shook his head. "Nothing much here. Hard to get any data when the scanning sources were turned off." A breath from each of them.

"I just don't know why he would come out here. The headquarters I could understand, but an abandoned Hive?"

"HQ would've been too easy, hence why Bartan suggested it before-"

"Oh, that is just a name I really wish I didn't hear again." A mechanical voice grumbled harshly, startling both males into defensive stances. But they didn't detect any presences nearby. "But if you came from the bear, then I suppose I understand why you're in one of my Hives, let alone on my network."

"Network?" October asked, seeing a faint red light that wasn't on before. One in the middle of the switchboards and carefully approached it. "You're the AI system?"

"Arkist, yes. And I'd file you under trespassers, but it is difficult to trespass in an area that has been disqualified. And, you're not worth my time."

"Yet enough to make contact." Hatchet muttered, getting a bit more relaxed.

"Only out of curiosity than anything. Usually people look for more materialistic valuables rather than digital ones."

"We're just trying to follow someone's tracks is all." October said in a more peaceful manner.

"Let me guess: tall. Black. Forcefully demanding like he has some daddy issues?"

"That's too good of a guess. Means we're on the right track."

"Were, Spots. You clearly don't know how long it's been since that encounter. You're basically just wasting your time, and mine."

"What did he ask about?" The cheetah growled.

"I see he wasn't the only one with daddy issues."

"You mentioned Bartan." October interrupted them. "Did you know our father?"

"I've met with the furball several times, yes. Can't say I'm fond of such meetings."

"Someone that doesn't like the bear, surprising." Hatchet grumbled sarcastically.

"Is that what the 1st asked about? Bartan?" A strange feeling of being studied fell over the black tirix.

"What if he did? What if the little rodent was just looking for a biscuit recipe?"

"Rodent...?" The white one interrupted again, overlooking his half-brother and making him a bit uncomfortable. "I always thought they were more like... Cat-Dogs."

"You misunderstand. Everything looks like vermin to me, in one way or another." Ark got a bit of a growl.

"All we're trying to do is find the 1st and stop him-"

"From doing what, exactly?" A moment of pause from October. "If he were to get dirt on that overgrown cottonball, what would be in it for me? You've already established that I dislike that bear, for him to meet an end in some way and tell you about it would only sabotage such a plan." A sarcastic gasp. "Oops."

"He wouldn't try to end Bartan, he's too valuable to lose."

"Perhaps in a level mindset, you might be onto something Spots. However, this one looks awfully familiar to this '1st'. Aside from the fact they tend to have the same twitching ears." A bit of a worried look from the younger one. "I've witnessed a lot of mind games, pawns. A few constant whispers can alter the reality of the mind far better than simple manipulation. Of course, often leading into insanity."

"He can't kill a Counterweight. You're misdirecting us."

"Who says the rodent has to be the finishing blow? The lives of a Counterweight can end just as easily as everything else, providing you find the right dagger for their heart." The two males looked at each other. "I see gears turning..."

"Don't believe it, October. It doesn't add up."

"Yet it's the only lead you have." A detestful stare from the Cheetah. "If you're here, you must be scraping the bottom of the barrel." Another worried look from the tirix as the machine chuckled. "The emotional ones are so easy."

"Don't listen to it. We're leaving." Hatchet growled, making his way to the door and almost tugging his brother to follow.

"Tell me, one-with-the-stupid-hair. How often have those whispers convinced you to do something-?" A half-roar from the white one as a thick blade slashed through the console. Sending sparks jolting for several moments and making the black one yelp a bit.

"H-Hatchet?"

"I've already lost one..." He whispered harshly. "I won't lose another." A thick stare from those red feline eyes. "Understand?" An intimidated shaky nod from the younger one.

"Too Late..." The last words of Ark came through as the last bit of power was soaked up. Getting the two to stare at it for a moment, and the cheetah left. The tirix soon following, but now a bit shaken.

The tears and stings of ash forced him to cough awake, doing his best to expel such a horrible thing from his mouth and eyes. That clenched throat never felt so dry in his lifetime, as it struggled to do anything else but cough onto the field of soot and dead grass. Finally able to see after about nearly a minute, he didn't recognize where he was. Let alone, the burning city in the background.

Almost crying out into the air, his eyes barely caught sight of something white. What he could only describe as muscular werewolf, standing upright and towering over the young boy. Making him whimper as he locked onto those cold silver eyes, as it studied the naked human with a near expressionless face. Not angry, not curious.

At first, he thought it was a statue, but the heated breeze did make that white fur flow a bit. Sending shimmers of silver like it was made out of metal. "W-...Where am I?" The boy finally got the courage to speak, but didn't get a response. "Where's my mom?"

For a long bit, the creature didn't speak. Just stood there, arms crossed and never blinking. "Your parents are dead." It said, almost without remorse. Though, not with enjoyment either. "Your friends, family. Everyone who ever existed on this planet before this; dead." A whimper from the smaller one.

"W-what...?"

"You killed them." A horrible fear was caught in his throat, unable to process the sheer thought of it. "You transformed into a Weapon and cleansed the surface of the planet, as you were told." A cough as the young one started to cry. Instantly getting those spaded wolf ears to point backwards. "Doing that will not bring them back. Let alone, will spend your body's limited resources."

"B-but..." A few sobs still came out. "What are you-?"

"I'm here to end your life." That fear once again. "Usually, the Weapon slumbers within the planet. But for some reason, it chose you." That look didn't let up. "I've never seen that before." A long silence as the young boy sobbed a bit, whimpering loudly when the wolf took a step forward. "You remember it."

"What-?"

"That power. You remember it. Could feel it, can still even." Another few moments of study and it turned around. "Come with me."

"Why-"

"I'm only giving you this choice once. Either come with me and possibly live, or I can end your existence now." A cold stare from those near lifeless eyes. "If you try to escape, you will die out there. You're not worth pursuing, but you cannot survive in a dead world."

"That boy was...?" The brass dragon studied the now wolfish person on the other side of the campfire. Though, fake and just blowing transparent plastic orange flames over a fan, it was still giving out warmth like it was real. "Who was...?"

"That... Wolf-thing was a creature named Xion." Beo's ears perked. "He was a Living Outbreak, which is-"

"An overpowered adrenaline rush." A puzzled look from the white one. "And... I know that name. My husband mentioned him before. And you..." Those green eyes looked around in thought. "You were from Veritas, right?"

"You know about Veritas?"

"Not a lot, but Bartan has talked quite a bit about it, let alone the events there."

"Who?"

"My husband." An awkward silence. "He's a Counterweight. Along with our wife, Arson-"

"I know her!" Dehoken almost chirped. "Me and her go way back." It made the dragon smile for a few moments.

"Can I ask..." A noise in question. "What's with the... Fur coat?" The brass one asked a bit shyly, seeing the white one literally look at his black jacket.

"It's polyester, I think."

"N-not what I'm talking about..." Another head tilt from the canine. "You look like a..."

"O-oh. It happens almost on instinct now that I hardly notice it." His frilled ears perked in question. "Xion... Trained me. To control myself, and do many things with my destructive nature. He wasn't cruel, but he was strict. And he didn't like my more... Human form, if you can even call me that anymore."

A nod in understanding, and a motion for him to go on. "One of the very first things he taught me was how to shapeshift, more or less into this. He..." A chuckle. "He did not have any sense of humor, and whenever I addressed him, I needed to look like him."

"...Why?"

"I think it was a sign of respect, to attempt to look like the one that's taken you in. Almost as if I were his... Son." A sad look from those green eyes. "Ever since then, everytime I've been or felt rather serious..." He gestured the furry look.

"To the point where it's natural instinct." A nod. "But you learned to control yourself. To keep yourself from becoming that monster, right?"

"That's... Complicated." A noise in question. "Beo... You can place a barrier between you and it, but you _are_that monster. That's just something you need to accept." It made his heart sink a little bit. "The longer you distance yourself away from it, the harder it is going to be to accept it. That doesn't mean you have to be Evil... Or Destructive." A heavy breath from the larger one. "The truth is always painful and ugly, no matter which way you look at it. But that doesn't make the world around it that way."

"What do you mean?"

"During my training with Xion, he would often ask many questions that I swear were rhetorical. Why was I training with him? What did I want out of this? Why did I choose to live?" Another sad look from those green eyes. "Yes, he expected an answer out of those. Often enough, they were answer that he didn't approve of, and he would let you know. Again, he wasn't cruel, but he wasn't... Supportive of bad decisions, I guess would be the best way to put it."

"Bad Decisions...?"

"Training to protect other people, when you can't protect them from themselves. To attempt to fight a monster that was pure Instinct. Perhaps control would've been a better word. But why I chose to live? That one I could never figure out, aside from the idea of being afraid of dying." A slow blink. "But I eventually figured out those answers. Again, not without his disapproval, but..." Another chuckle.

"And they were?" A faint shrug from the wolf.

"To make people laugh. To brighten the days of those around you. Some of them get frustrated with my humor, but that's an issue with them. I do what I can to make people happy, and I'm happy with that. If I'm happy with myself, I can be happy about what I've become. About what I am."

"...What are you?"

Chapter 6

The brass behemoth purred himself awake. Snuggling up against something rather fuzzy that he missed dearly. Squeezing it in one of his famous hugs, it omitted a loud squeak in his arms, bringing him back to reality. In a field where the one he missed was not present. But what was he holding then?

His eyes slowly opened to get used to the sunlight, barely making out something rather white in his arms. Soft, yes, but not as soft as he was used to. A few more moments and he could make out a bear muzzle, but one that looked like a stuffed animal. Makeshift, and slightly crude, but it was a rather charming attempt at his mate. Even life-sized too... To a degree.

Though it did make his heart sink a bit, missing that furball, this wasn't a bad replacement. Definitely enough to almost feel like home, and enough to slumber with for a bit longer. Repositioning himself away from the glaring sunlight, the brass dragon went back to sleep until it once again woke him up... After a bit of grumbling.

Looking over his surroundings of forestry and fields, he couldn't find any signs of Dehoken. Getting up and stretching out a bit, his ears picked up some music off in the distance. Turning a corner revealed a twenty foot neon sign that read "The Forehead Smack" and pointed into the ground nearby. Getting a chuckle from the dragon, recognizing the reference of his Mentor often face palming many of the wizard's strange ideas.

But still, there was no building around to see where this 'pub' was. Though the music could still be heard at a distance, the brass one began exploring still. Coming up to a jar of mints and another sign saying "Prenez Un," a language that was foreign to the dragon. Regardless, he took one and struggled with the packaging for a bit. Tossing it into his maw and getting the strange flavor of peppered eggs.

But aside from that, nothing happened. Even after waiting around for a few moments. A shrug from those red wings, and Beo continued down the vague path. Starting to notice that the grass was getting thicker and the trees taller, or at least it seemed. After a careful study of his surroundings, it was the dragon that was getting smaller.

Half a yelp, he took a few steps backwards, only to see the process reverse. The further away he moved from the music, the larger he became. Even exceeding his own size after a bit of experimenting. Though disliking the idea of being small, he wanted to find Dehoken and see what trouble the man was causing. If he could even be considered a Man anymore.

Pushing forwards, past the point where the grass towered over the dragon, he was starting to get worried. But eventually came up to a small building, one just big enough for the dragon to fit through easily. Labeled "The Forehead Smack" and having a neon animation of the white wolf putting a paw over his eyes from time to time.

Though it took some effort, Beo squeezed through the doorway. Only to feel gravity and the floor take a right angle downward and nearly get the brass one to trip, let alone brace his surroundings a bit. Witnessing several Dehokens eating and talking with one another, with one on the other side of the bar. Back turned and tending to some breakfast cooking. Though it was a bit odd, the dragon was learning to see the charm and humor of it all and making a smile spread across his muzzle as he walked to the wooden divider.

Leaning over the bar, he gave the cook a nuzzle while purring. Only to see him flip around and slap that brass muzzle with a spatula with a loud and painful _Smack!_Making the dragon yelp loudly in surprise and hold the stinging area. "No Licking!" The wizard shouted at him.

"I wasn't licking you!" He hissed, more at the pain than anything. "I was just...!"

"You were thinking about it. Let alone, doing it in your sleep."

"No I wasn't." The brass one grumbled. "I'm not a sleep-licker."

"Then how do you explain THIS!?" Dehoken ripped off his apron, jacket, and shirt all at once. Revealing his torso completely red with raw and causing everyone in the bar to gasp loudly. Even one person to scream until they fainted. All looking at the cook in horror until he zipped up the damage done to his clothing, then immediately going back to their conversations like nothing happened.

"You sure you didn't go on the Slip & Slide too much again?" Beo snorted.

"Don't you try to blame this on Wham-O! It's why I gave you the cuddle buddy. You can sleep with that from now on."

"Cuddle buddy?" He curled his neck, then remembered the stuffed animal version of his husband. "O-oh... That..."

"You paused for a minute there." The man stared the dragon down, seeing those ears blush. "Why."

The screen then flashed quickly back to Beo's previous resting spot, where a very unhappy looking stuffed Bartan was... Well, 'Stuffed' in the rear with a large amount of blue liquids. Looking rather bloated and misshaped before flashing back to the bar.

Dehoken gave off his most shocked frowning face as the dragon whimpered. His frilled ears hanging low. "I didn't know what it was for, and it's been a while since-" Another slap on the muzzle with a spatula made him help loudly.

"That's the last time I give you a stuffed animal of your six-legged furball."

"Can I have one?" A random Dehoken asked in the background, only to get a threatening point of the anti-muzzle weapon.

" Not Until You Give Me Your Sneeze!!" The cook yelled, only to then completely change into a cheerful tone. "So, what will you have?"

"Have...?" Beo looked over the menus and felt a little uncomfortable. "I don't think I should-" A threatening point from the utensil again made him whimper.

"You're hungry, and you should be eating. I haven't seen you take a bite out of anything since we met, and your stomach has been more talkative than you are." Another embarrassed look from the dragon and the man sighed, half frustrated. "You've got to be kidding me."

Another flashback to the over-stuffed Bartan to see several fang marks on the back of his neck. Once again, blue liquids were basically pouring through it.

"It's technically a bite." Beo rubbed the back of his neck.

"Did you just... Replace the entire stuffing with your own...!?"

"N-not intentionally. I'm not really sure what it was, but it felt like cotton candy." A long silence fell over the bar as all the eyeballs were looking over the brass dragon. Probably on the verge of becoming completely purple.

"...How would you know that?" An embarrassed whimper and Dehoken covered his eyes while taking a breath. "Moving on, I'm cooking you something and forcing you to eat it. What do you feel like?"

A sad look from the brass one. "I really..." Another threat of the spatula. "Don't know-"

"I make a mean Slapjack. Want a shortstack of those?" A shrug from those red wings, but the brass one nodded regardless. Taking a breath and looking around, never noticing how weak he felt until the wizard mentioned how often Beo's been starving himself.

His mind wandered off into thought and remorse. Really missing his new family, but unable to survive in that environment for very long. And the places he could survive in, outside of places were still somewhat toxic to him. Granted, the sorrow look was interrupted by a stack of pancakes that were placed in front of the dragon. Looking at its syrupy goodness reminded him of the first time the bear showed Beo such a meal.

But that memory was interrupted by the pancake speaking. "Oh Wows. Looks what we has heres. An Overgrowns Yellow-Bellied Lizards that thinks it cans stands up tos the big stacks!" It made the dragon curl his neck at it. "Yous got a lot of nerve to come arounds this place."

"...I'm brass, not yellow." He grumbled back.

"Same difference."

"They're two entirely different colors. One's even specifically metallic."

"Alls brass' is is a dirty gold!" That one made the larger one growl.

"Beo, stop talking to your food."

"He started it!" The dragon hissed.

"Awwwhs, the little lizard's throwing a hissy fit." Another growl at the shortstack. "You wants a piece of me, tough guy? Comes and gets it-NO! NOTS LITERALLY-!"

The black tirix was trotting through the hallways with his other companions, looking around for a specific blue gerbil for information among the busy pacing of others within. "Something doesn't feel right." The orange one beside him almost whispered, like the other people could hear them.

"I concur, it's more busy than usual and they're trying to hide something." Ryoko's statement worried October. Giving him a sad look while watching out for others.

"I just need to find Lillith or Hatchet. But I have the feeling I won't find him here." The youngest one whispered, this time catching the ears of other people but didn't get attention aside from that.

"You could always call her." Rixxix, the other black one, suggested.

"Only to perhaps disturb her or keep Lillian from her work." Deago said. "And that's if you can get an answer."

"Perhaps Rixxix is onto something." The brown one said, getting the others to stop and look at him. "Set your UCD [Universal Communications Device] to track hers. No one's disturbed or interrupted this way." The younger one looked at the other two for their opinions and they shrugged, but nodded. Of course, what the AI said to him a few days ago still ringed in his head, he set the device and started following its instructions.

"You're worried again." The orange one almost whispered again. Getting October to sigh.

"Should he not be? I mean, the talking switchboard-"

"Arkist." The other three interrupted Rixxix, getting him to toss his snout.

"_ Talking Switchboard _." He grumblingly ignored them. "Basically said we're manipulating him."

"We're not forcing him to do anything." Deago stated a bit thickly.

"Actually-"

"We're not." Another thick statement that silenced the brown one a bit. "We're only here to give our opinions."

"That's an understatement if I ever heard one." The larger black one almost challenged the orange, getting a glare from him. "Me and Ryoko, sure. Limited to Opinions. You on the other hand are basically carrying his strings." A growl.

"You are a bit forceful on your suggestions, Deago." That glare moved over to the brown tirix, but he didn't seem intimidated. "That can't be overlooked."

"That's because I'm morally correct. I know what's right-"

"Sounds like a Dictatorship to me." Another growl at Rixxix.

"We certainly can't leave someone like you in charge." The orange one growled at the larger black one. Leaving October with an uncomfortable feeling while leading the way.

"Why not?"

"Because you murder people! You leave them to die!"

"And? A general needs to feed their soldiers from time to time-"

"Those serpents are not Soldiers! They're savage, unreliable-!"

"Well maybe they would be a bit more _reliable_if they got some fresh air sometime, hmm? Just a thought." Rixxix snorted.

" Stop! Please!" The younger one roared at them, causing everyone in the hallway to halt for a moment. Staring at the feral tirix just holding a paw over his eyes and taking a breath of frustration. After a bit, they continued on, but the tension still didn't release off October's shoulders.

"This is probably what Ark was hoping for." Ryoko said to the others, trying to comfort the younger one. "Your arguments will only cause stress on his psyche, which in turn will only lead to mistakes." The other two took a breath but didn't respond. "Come, Lillian should be up ahead." Another breath from the smaller black tirix before carrying on.

They found the blue gerbil in the same old hoodie along with Hatchet, who seemed to be getting ready for another mission. Seeing the female greet October from afar, but he could tell she was somewhat worried. Or even just having a bad conversation with the white one. "Where are you off to?" The feral one asked, getting a common stoic, yet serious look from those red eyes.

"Another job." He responded, donning two of those strange longswords to his belt. Oddly wide to the point of axes, but halfway down the blade they created a gap that acted like a hook of sorts.

"We just got back from the last one-"

"Well, NK#694 isn't going to defend itself." Those black ears perked, not knowing the area. Then he looked over to Lillith for an explanation.

"It's being assaulted by Unborn. The walls were completely shredded."

"That..." The black one started. "We can't do anything against that. If the cuts are too big, the only thing we can do is quarantine the area. Why would-"

"Because the 1st has been detected there." Another worried look from those orange eyes. "It's why I didn't tell you."

"Because you don't think I can handle it-?"

"Outside of simulations, you haven't seen an Unborn." Hatchet almost growled at him. "To bring you in this area would be suicide." A quiet moment, and the black one exhaled a heated breath. Going towards his own locker and getting a few things while getting that growl the feline held back earlier. "No-"

"You're not going alone." The younger half-brother almost hissed. "And Bartan doesn't want you running solo anymore." An intense staring match. "I have greater perception than you do-"

"But worse reflexes-"

"Then I'll keep on Layronix. Or even SyeRen, she's faced them before." The cheetah's ears went back. "If the 1st is there, you'll need my help bringing him in." A long silence. "I'm not a rookie at this, I know what I'm doing and what I'm up against. And so do they." He motioned towards the other tirix', who were not visible to the others. Finally getting a sigh from Hatchet.

"...We leave in Ten. If things get dicey, you Recall back to base. Understood?"

"Only if you do." Another angry stare. "Even if it's escaping into Oblivion, don't fight this on your own. You don't need to."

Chapter 7

The screeching and cries of pain were sounds of nightmares into the dark night. One almost showing off the horror of a massive wound that painted the sky. The tirix had seen many photos of such things before, but it was still surreal to see it with his own eyes. Really noticing a strange 3D effect to it that the pictures couldn't quite capture.

Along with that, there was something strange within the darkness of the tear. An odd shape that he couldn't quite make out, but once in a while catch a glimpse of red. Perhaps a bit of fur of something that dared to enter such a terrifying place. Regardless, the tirix knew of the result of such things before he could discuss it with his half-brother.

The cheetah's eyes showed no fear, something October almost envied at that moment, as they came up to the edge of a city. Following the constant traces of their devices, trying to track down their lost comrade. "This feels like a trap." The black one finally spoke.

"I know it does. But he wouldn't do that." A look from those orange eyes told Hatchet that the younger one wasn't so sure. "He's too smart for it. He knows it wouldn't work."

"Then why be here? It doesn't seem like he's trying to hide."

"Perhaps the 1st is trying to show us something. Warn us about..." Another sad look was felt as the white one looked away from his brother.

"You don't... Believe what Ark was saying, do you?" A breath from the feline.

"...No." The quiet moment was interrupted by another cry of pain, getting the two to look at each other. "Do it." The younger one curled his neck in question. "We're not engaging until you're protected." A bit of a sigh, and the tirix nodded.

Taking a step back on the flat surface rooftop, he placed a paw in the center and concentrated. Seeing a glyph being drawn out from the center of the paw placement, inked by a shimmering gold energy until it was completed. Upon that, it shrank back into the paw and covered his black coat with the same energy before fading. Making October exhale for a moment and grunt at the strange feeling. "Did it work?" The white one asked.

"Yeah. Just not used to how she normally feels. It's like it's... Stiff." He shook his coat trying to get the feeling off, but it didn't do much good. "I'll be fine though-" His brother quickly drew one of his swords and slashed against the black one's shoulders, making him yelp but barely even feel the blunt trauma. Though his hide was cut, only for a moment before being completely restored. "Ow...!"

"I guess she was never cut by this material before."

"First time for everything." October grumbled, getting a rather calm look from the white one and sighed. Tossing his snout and giving him permission to strike the tirix again. This time, not even a wound, let alone barely any force felt. "Happy?"

"Satisfied. I just want to make sure-"

"Yeah, yeah." Another grumble. "SyeRen wasn't called a Paragon for nothing."

"Speaking of which..." A look in study at those red eyes. "What about her Outbreak?" A noise in question, then he recalled what he was talking about. Something Deago used to call Ashes Of The Innocent. "Not like it would really matter here, but-"

"I only... Mirrored her defenses. Nothing else." A nod from Hatchet as they started going across the rooftops. Trying his best to just ignore the cries for help and the harsh shrieking of metal insectoids. The young tirix had encountered them in simulations before, but something about this felt more... Dangerous. Even with the superb defense, October still felt vulnerable.

He didn't even notice that his brother was gaining ground ahead of him until he jumped a roof early, then several creatures chased him from the streets below. Dividing the two before he could catch up to Hatchet. Instead, calling out to warn his half sibling of the metallic humanoids.

Their roars sounded like several thin plates of steel scraping against each other, as they withdrew the blades from the sides of their forearms. The middle one of the three striking in a downward slash against the white cheetah. With unreal reflexes, Hatchet managed to draw one of his weapons and deflect the first swing. Sending it to the side to lightly collide with the second creature's attack, while leaping over the first one's middle sweep.

That dodge, along with a rotational kick to the third Unborn, lead to a heavy snap with the straight-axe. Hitting the first one's shoulder hard, but not piercing through the polished steel-looking plates that covered most of its body. However, it did give him a little bit of distance between them as the Tirix made it to the same rooftop.

The second and third insectoids both slashed at the feline, nearly attacking him in sync and barely giving him a chance to escape. Though a bit risky, he took to the air a second time, bending his body in such a way where both slashes would barely miss him. All the while preparing to kick the first Unborn in the face, just before it could get its refooting once again.

The hind paw seemed to have a lot more power than it seemed, sending the creature sliding on its back a few meters just in front of the tirix, while the cheetah hit the ground. The other two took the prone stance as an advantage, and swept their armblades upward together, even cutting through the very ground they were standing on with ease to ensure a hit. With very little momentum built up, Hatchet used his free paw to move into a handstand-cartwheel between the two uppercuts. Once again, barely dodging them with what looked to be dumb luck.

With his weapon hand, the white one struck the second Unborn's arm, catching it within the hook halfway down Hatchet's blade. Pulling it back and spinning it with a pivot, he positioned the creature's arm to bend backwards and lock it into a vulnerable position; leaning forward. Finally drawing his second straight-axe, he cut between the plates of the creature's side twice, sending streams of black fluids out before tripping it forward. Warding off the third insectoid before finishing off the wounded one with a heavy slash to the neck.

Meanwhile, the First Unborn was still recovering, October drew his own weapon and stabbed it between the chestplates. But the wakizashi's blade was just a bit too thick to get between them, surprising the tirix for a moment. Long enough for the creature to slash heavily at his neck, getting a heavier impact than his brother's blade, but the Paragon's defenses kept him safe. Still, if he didn't have it-

A kick to the feral one's side nearly sent him off the roof, being distracted by his own thoughts. Keeping himself on it while the plated monster got up, and doing his best to remember his training. Making the mistake of looking the creature in the hollow eyes, two very faint stars of madness were the only things visible in the black void. Nearly paralyzing him as the creature took another swing. "October-!" The orange tirix shouted at him.

A black metal serpent caught the offensive arm, snaring it to the side while another did the same to the opposite. With a small roar, the young tirix shoved the short katana-like weapon up the Unborn's split jaw, looking at those lights once again with fear until they faded and he took a few steps back. Nearly off the edge again.

Everything around him went nearly silent, like a thick soundproof sphere surrounded October as he nearly panicked. Not even hear his half-brother call to him until a few times. "Hey!" It finally snapped him out of it, looking at Hatchet for a few moments, still standing there, almost relaxed. "You hurt?"

It took a moment for the young one to respond, but he did. "Y-yeah..." A thick look from those red eyes.

"These ones are easy compared to the ones in Veritas." That made his black ears lower a bit. "Get used to it. If you want to, you can go home-"

"No." He snapped, almost angry at the suggestion. Trying to match that thick look. "I'm fine."

"Then start acting like it. No more distractions, got it?" A faint nod as he started following the white one again.

A few more of them were encountered, but on their own terms. After that first kill, the younger brother felt doing such an act become more and more easier. Though his conscience nearly badgered him for taking a life, these creatures needed to be stopped at any cost. That still didn't stop October from looking at their lifeless corpses for several moments. "What's wrong?" Hatchet interrupted his thoughts, nearly double taking at him with a loss of words. "Don't feel sorry for them-"

"I-I wasn't. Just..." A noise in question. "Do they look different to you?"

"What you seen in simulation were the records in Veritas, so odds are they do change a bit from Terrasque to-"

"I mean..." A breath, and the tirix turned on a search light from his UCD. Pointing it at the metallic plates of the Unborn and getting a rather strange reflection from it. One of metallic red and abyss oil. "That's not normal..."

"...No. It isn't." The cheetah studied it closer. "Almost reminds me of Counterweight's blood."

"Counterweight's?"

"They tend to commonly hold this metal look to them. But this black..."

"Looks like Unborn blood. It's not like them to sacrifice their own for more power."

"This isn't a power ritual." The feline looked over on another corpse. "This one has significantly less, but it's there. Yet, only on certain places."

"Meaning, it wasn't bathed in it, but a spray instead?" October looked over his other companions.

"Perhaps an after effect to something that was recently slain." Ryoko suggested.

"But what?"

"I can take a very good guess, little one." Rixxix said rather calmly, looking up at the tear with an object inside. "The grasp of escapism, it puts a flutter in my heart."

"Escapism...?" The smaller black one repeated him, getting Hatchet to look at the same direction.

"A Counterweight's paw, perhaps?"

"Why would they-?" Their UCD gave off an alert of something nearby. Getting the tirix to look at his brother for a moment, and notice the white feline instantly find the creature. Falling backwards rather quickly, Hatchet hit the floor and feel through it as the sound of glass shattering echoed. Surprising the younger one, and using his own UCD to follow him from afar as the cheetah took on pursuit.

It was several rooftops away as the group of tirix' attempted to follow the sounds of glass shattering. Seeing his brother's dot on the radar jump from one section to another quickly. "We'll never catch up to them like this!" The orange one said.

"Deago's right. You need to use another power. Try using Layronix as well." The younger one gave a worried look at Ryoko.

"I-I've never used him before. I don't know-"

"Can't be that hard." The other black one grumbled, getting that same worried look. "I mean, spots there is making it look easy."

"What about Downe then?" Deago suggested. "There's nothing here worth preserving, as horrible as that sounds." A bit of a whimper from October, and he stopped.

"If you don't catch up to him, you're going to lose them." A faint nod at the brown one, as the younger one started drawing a glyph on the ground. The red lines and foreign lettering quickly expanded out and absorbed into the black creature's body when he struck it. Trying to prepare his own awareness for such a change while waiting for his brother's next teleport.

As soon as the blip changed, October took off. Nearly breaking the sound barrier before taking off to the air and falling in such a distant arch. Running up against a couple of buildings while still getting used to a drastic speed increase, he was a least catching up to the two very quickly. Even with their constant movements and teleports, the young tirix took to the streets when he overshot a building. Still closing the gap between the two, even with all the extra debris and obstacles that were added.

All at once, they stopped and the black tirix passed them on the streets below. Skidding to a harsh stop, he back trailed and ran up the building. Once again overshooting the roof, not quite getting enough awareness, and broke the dramatic silence when he landed with a whimper. At least SyeRen was still activated, doing no damage to his body. But he released another whimper when the young Tirix overlooked... Himself. A taller, upright version of himself that was in a deadlock stare with his half-brother...

It was a peaceful night in the oddly colorful city of Lego Land, with many of its residents standing completely still in the streets. Almost greeting those around them with blank stares and smiles as the makeshift stars above twinkled with the light of the moon. That is until a brass goliath was sent tumbling into the city block, sending hundreds of colorful bricks flying through the air as debris. Even hearing a terrible audio recording of sirens and people screaming in the distance as the Lego people were suddenly attached to fishing wire and manipulated like puppets fleeing for their lives.

But the dragon shrugged off the blow, getting up to face his own behemoth; a larger purple Cryo wearing rather modern clothing. With a growl, Beo sent several shards of ice hurling in the air to distract the creature. Getting it to block and half dodge the threatening vapor, enough to almost imbalance the creature. The brass one used this opportunity well to send a concussive blast at the side of it's footing to trip it to the ground.

The dragon then re-entered the fight with a leaping hammer blow, trying to strike the prone creature with the heavy paw. Only to see it teleport away in a small cloud of smoke and reappear just in front of him, rotating backwards in a sweep with its long tail. A hind leg following that, they both barely missed the dragon by inches as the Cryo continued its rotation. Matching the brass one's retreating height for a spin-tailwhip + kick.

However, it was surprised to feel that foot get blocked by the dragon's forearm, though taking the tail to the side, it wasn't anything Beo couldn't handle. Locking the purple paw with his other brass one, the dragon got a firm grip of the behemoth's leg. Making him yelp loudly as the metallic titan dragged it a step and threw the Cryo into another city block. Sending pink and white bricks all over the place, and more 'people' screaming in terror.

A quick roll in recovery sent a few more buildings into fragments of their former selves, as the purple goliath got into a stance. Starting his own lightning attack from its hand, but stopped when the dragon sent out several sharp shafts of ice from the ground. Though not completely reaching the Cryo and puzzling it for a moment, a sudden concussive blast against its back nearly impaled the creature onto them.

But with unexpected reflexes, those shards of ice were heated up insanely fast. Near instantly turning them into steam and creating a thick fog that quickly turned into a storm cloud. The lightning from before jumping off his paw and bathing inside the hot sauna excitedly, but only giving off little tickles against the behemoth inside.

Meanwhile, Beo from the outside was trying to freeze such vapor solid, but under-estimated just how much heat was inside that fog. Not even turning it remotely solid before the Cryo's exit and taking its electrical backfist to the snout. Nearly turning him around from the sheer force of it and trying to keep his balance. Instead of evading and getting some distance, the dragon chose to retaliate with his own middle swing. Only to have it be blocked, slightly pushed back, and for the purple one to slam on the ground heavily.

Once those large paws hit the floor, a large burst of electrical energy was shot upwards around it. Almost giving a physical impact rather than something stunning like the brass one would've expected. Nearly throwing the dragon up into the air like he was heavily uppercut. Trying to recorrect himself to fly normally was very difficult, and he soon caught a glimpse of the purple goliath meeting him up in the air. Getting the brass one with a wild lariat, sending them both crashing into some poorly colored buildings.

The two rolled their separate ways, once again knocking over a few buildings or walls. The purple one once again going into his stance, then suddenly yelped painfully before tending to a hurt foot. "What-?" Beo started, only to be interrupted by a series of whimpers.

"I stepped on a Lego." Dehoken whined, getting a blank look from the dragon that just looked at the toyetic debris surrounding them. "It's like... The _ WORST _Pain...!" Once again, the brass one gave him a puzzled look, and even purposely stepped on one of the hundreds of bricks. Only to feel nothing out of the ordinary.

"I... I'm not getting it."

"Be thankful." The purple one grumbled, easing down to a sit while he tended to his sore sole. "Just... Give me a minute here." He said, starting to hiss through the pain.

"You're the one who wanted to fight in here."

"Yeah, thinking I could score two nostrils with one brownie, if you know what I mean."

"Not in the slightest." Beo chuckled at him.

"I always wanted-" A hiss in pain as he started to rock back and forth. "To have a King Of Monsters style brawl in a city without consequence."

"Clearly you didn't think ahead."

"You think I don't know that!?" Another hiss and the dragon chuckled at the frustrated reply. "Sorry, it's just..."

"The worst pain-?"

"The_ WORST _Pain!" The brass one just shook his head.

"Where did you learn how to fight like that?" An odd, and almost angry look at the upcoming dragon. "Talk. If there's one thing I learned from the furball, is that talking will get your mind off of the pain."

"...Xion. Wouldn't let me study under him without it."

"Without what?"

"His martial arts." Another hiss directed at his foot, but they were getting weaker. "Guy was almost obsessed with his ways. Hating the idea of people using a tool to defend themselves."

"Tool?"

"Weapons, armor, and the like." A noise in question. "He believed so viciously that the body was the perfect weapon, and to replace that was an insult. Both to him and my own body."

"But isn't your... Magic...?"

"Extensions, yes. But I guess he didn't want me to be a One Trick Pony." Another puzzled expression from the dragon. "Most people, when they are gifted with power tend to just focus on using said power. Having variety is better than being predictable."

"So, not just magic, but physical strength...?"

"As well as self-control. You, for example, tend to fight rather straight-forward and almost barbarically." The brass one snorted at him. "I mean, it works, but... What's going to happen when you face something that can't be physically damaged? That can't be knocked around easily, or maybe even frozen? What do you do then?" The statement almost worried Beo, not having to think about it before.

"I'm... Not sure. What I've done... When I had to, it's always been enough. More than enough."

"But if you could be taught more, wouldn't you want-" Another whimper in pain, as the Cryo held his foot. "Seriously, it shouldn't hurt this bad!"

"Let me see that." Beo grumbled, taking a look at the behemoth's sole and seeing a colorful glob at the bottom of it. "You didn't step on Lego, you stepped on... Gum?" The brass one pulled it off and got a whimper from him. On the other side of the sticky substance was two metal prongs. "What is...?"

"Is that a Staple!?" Dehoken grumbled, getting another puzzled look from the dragon. "I'll tell you about it later, but it's a trap. We're not safe here!" He whispered, getting the metallic one even more confused. "But seriously, wouldn't you want the ability to do more than just... Bash your way through problems?" Beo only stared at him in thought for a few moments, until this strange snapping sound caught his ear. "Fishsticks, they're here! Run!" Though still lost about what was going on, the two retreated out of the realm.

Chapter 8

"You insist on pursuing me..." The upright black tirix said, finally breaking the silence between him and the white cheetah. Unarmed and unarmored, aside from his pants. Almost ignoring his younger brother as he shook off the heavy landing. The impact nearly numbing his paws.

"Only for as long as you keep running." Hatchet replied, trying to keep his focus on the larger black one. Nearly ready for another attempt to chase him down. "Don't let it come to this-"

"Why? Because he wouldn't want you to?"

"You really think Bartan would want that-?"

" Do Not Say That Name Around Me!" The 1st barked loudly, nearly silencing the distance screams as the two continued their deadlock stares. "He wants me alive, doesn't he?"

"That was his order."

"One you persistently follow until your death. Perhaps his too." He half gestured the smaller tirix.

"It's my preference too." Another long stare.

"And how long do you insist on keeping that oath?"

"For as long as I have to." With a near impatient rotation of his bladed axe, Hatchet changed his stance. Nearly getting the 4th to whimper, not wanting it to come to this. "We just want you back."

"So he can have a firm grip again, I'm sure."

"You weren't the only one who had a rough beginning."

"That's not what I'm talking about!" A silence fell over them, as the older black one sighed. "You heard them too. How are you still standing by his word?"

"Who's to say that those whispers were even reliable-?"

"And if they were!?" Another long silence, and the younger took a step forward. Finally getting the attention of his older sibling.

"That's why you were seeking information..." October the 4th said, getting almost a growl from the other. "You were trying to prove your doubts, that's why you were in the Hive."

"I was trying to disprove them." The 1st corrected them thickly. "Do you two have any idea what that bear has done?"

"Yes and no." Hatchet said, matching the larger one's tone. "More importantly: I Don't Care."

"Of course you wouldn't. You're just a good little soldier. One easily replaced if you happen to fall-!"

"Is that what this is about!?" The younger one shouted. "His experimentation with life and creations!?"

"Part of it. It's illegal for Counterweights to exp-"

"Says who!?" The 4th growled at him, getting a near death-like stare from familiar orange eyes. "And what makes _Them_right!?"

"Do you know why we were sent to take out the CounterForce, pup?"

"There were many reasons. The biggest one was that they were a pain for everyone-" The cheetah started.

"They were a pain for that Bear! You were even _Told_that!"

" By Unreliable Sources!!" Hatchet roared.

"...And if several other sources say the same thing?"

"That doesn't make it true." Another harsh stare at the white one.

"Yet, you insist on constantly believing it. Like a loyal pet." A halfhearted shrug from Hatchet.

"That's the Krow and Dehoken in me." A double take from the younger tirix in massive surprise. Nearly lip syncing the response to question his half-brother. "Believe it or not."

"I don't." A faint smirk from the feline. "Like... Seriously? Dehoken is your third...?"

"Ask Arson if you don't believe me." A grunt from the older black one. "You got something against her as well?"

"Only the typical part. Much like you, she seems to follow his every word."

"And she shouldn't?" The 1st nearly snarled at the white one's rather calm response.

"You spoke with that AI, didn't you?" The younger one asked, not getting his attention. "What did Arkist say to you? What were you looking for?"

"...Information."

"About Bartan." Another low growl when Hatchet continued his sentence. "And? What did you find that was so disillusional that you purposely made yourself found, and lead us away from the distractions?" A worried look from the 4th, as he looked up at the tear before back at his older brother.

"I didn't cause this." The 1st answered the silent question. "I was trying to stop Ywuggal, but-"

"He wouldn't listen." A bit of a sad look from those younger orange eyes. "It's unlike any other CW to listen to a mortal. Especially one like us-"

"You mean a Frankenstein's Monster?" He growled at his younger kin.

"Any other CW except for-"

"Don't!" Another growl, this time at their half-brother. "How much do you know about him?" A half shrug basically said that Hatchet didn't care. "That bear and fox are the youngest of all Counterweights. Even they were the result of Experimentation from Vyitritvuietoafecr-"

"In order to save something he cared about." The smaller black tirix added.

"So much so, that he broke a lot of rules."

"And was imprisoned for it, until Xakoda freed him." Hatchet said. "Dying in the process. Gunned down by the CF, I might add."

"I'm not saying they're perfect, but they were needed!"

"Why-?"

"To Keep That Bear In Check!" Another heavy stare. "You want to know what's interesting? Bartan is the only CW to have emotions on record."

"They were a gift from the Original Bartan from Veritas-" The 4th started, only to get that stare as well. Not really having the intimidation to resist it.

"Is that what he told you? Funny, he told me that the original never claimed the Gift was Emotions."

"What do you mean?" A look at the feline.

"That bear has been around more Terrasques than any other Counterweight. Has experimented far more than any of them should. And to top it all off, he's keeping a Terrasque around as a pet!" The other two gave him a bit of a surprised look.

"What are you on about?" Hatchet started.

"Keeping one as a pet...?"

"That dragon he's been hanging around with."

"Beo?" The 4th asked, tilting his head.

"I don't know its name. But Ark told me it's a Terrasque. One that was supposed to replace another that Bartan killed. And instead of confiding it, that bear let it loose. Claiming it's part of his family, isn't that right?"

"That is his new husband..." The white one looked at his younger half-brother for a moment, getting a sad one in return.

"But that's not..." A look at both of them. "That can't be. Beo just can't-"

"Survive in an area without pain..." Hatchet took a breath. "That doesn't make him a Terrasque. They're far too dangerous to keep around in the open."

"Ask Arson, if you don't believe me. And pray she's not under its spell as well." The cheetah's ears went back, but didn't respond past that.

"Just like you believe Ark's word?"

"I believe the truth." A long silence, and the sudden hissing of Unborn started to get close. Getting the attention of the white one, and the 1st took the opportunity to withdraw quickly. A growl left the cheetah as he started to chase him down. Making the smaller black one yelp and start to catch up, only to be quickly surrounded by the insectoids.

"What is the point of this?" Beo grumbled, trying to keep his balance on hind legs and a having a very difficult time with just standing. "Dragons were not made to do this."

"Funny, every dragon I met was made to do that. Now- NoMoreWhining!" The man flicked the spatula in the air, making it give off a loud snap like it was a whip.

"Were they forced to wear pants too?" A loud growl in frustration as the brass one once again adjusted the black yoga clothing attached to his lower half.

"No, but they didn't have their bits swinging about for everyone to see or get flattened by!"

"For the last time, that was my tail-"

"Your tail is not a squishy!"

"_ A _Squishy?"

"Silence! Release the Marbles!" Another snap of the kitchen tool and a sack fell from the ceiling of the large building. Leaking it's contents of very small marbles that slowly rolled towards the dragon's hind paws, getting both of them to just stare at the small pile they made for a few moments. "...This is where people usually begin to slip on them."

"I thought you were teaching me about balance."

"Balance on marbles, yes." Another blank stare for several seconds. " Release the Paint cans!" He swung the spatula again and several cans that were half full fell from the ceiling. Attached to strings at the handles, they swung towards the dragon and collided with a loud _Bonk!_but the brass one remained standing. Leaving this awkward silence of near disappointment. "...Well that was anti-climactic."

"I'll say."

"Maybe if I made them bigger...?" An unimpressed look from those green eyes. "Yeah, you're right. That is a pretty lazy way of increasing difficulty." Beo just snorted at him, but some movement caught his eye. Along with a thick "_whoosh!"_he barely seen the massive paint can swing at him before it knocked the dragon out of the building. "Didn't seem to work."

"I don't think any of this is going to work." The brass one grumbled, making his way back in and sitting down. "I'm just not... Made to stand up like that."

"Doesn't mean you can't try to."

"What do you think we've been doing for the last three hours?" He almost hissed at the man, getting a shrug in response.

"I donno. What do you do during your weekends?"

"It's Tuesday."

"And a boring one at that. But if you can't do the physical stuff, maybe we should try magical instead?" A sigh from the large one and Dehoken made a noise in question.

"I'm just not feeling it today."

"Why? Because it's Thursday-?"

"Tuesday."

"Monday Funday?" A faint chuckle and a smile from his metallic muzzle.

"I'm just tired. Just feel like sleeping lately."

"You've been eating, right?" No response, and the man gave him a less-than-impressed look. "Beo..."

"I just don't want to-"

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you must eat to keep your energy up! Especially while training and skiing." A bit of a whimper as the dragon's ears fell.

"But-"

"No butts! I don't like butts in my language sandwich! Now let's go find you something to eat." A heavy sigh from the large one, as well as a loud grumble from his mid-section. "Onwards! Beo's tummy demands it!" And he started marching off. Though uncomfortable with the decision, the brass one got up and followed him.

Chapter 9

"You let him escape." The white, six-legged fox stared down the cheetah and black tirix. Nearly getting a whimper from the smaller one who was looking a lot more guilty than his half-brother. "And you left October behind to be ambushed."

"He had his defenses up." Hatchet half grumbled.

"And if he did not, he would have been slain." Arson tried to sound a bit angry, but there was this falseness within it. Almost forced as she studied the two. "What happened down there." It was barely a question.

"A-another Counterweight tore through the fabric in order to get closer to the Terrasque." The tirix said with his ears low. "I think its name was... Ywu-"

"Ywuggal, yes." A rather surprised look from those orange eyes, while the feline nearly expected the answer from her a bit sooner. "Bartan has followed that one's trail of destruction for a while now. I trust it is deceased?"

"Missing a paw, at the very least. Along with a lot of blood." The spotted one answered, getting another studied stare from his mother that felt rather uncomfortable.

"...Do you believe what the 1st said to you?" Hatchet quietly exhaled, not really answering the large one. Then her red eyes looked over the tirix, nearly asking the same question. Getting him to whimper and nearly break before the cheetah relieved his brother of the stare.

"I'm not sure. He had some good points, a few of them somewhat make sense. But you've been around a Terrasque or two before as well, yet you're not affected by this manipulation." A blinkless stare. "As much as you attempt to be like your husband-"

"Husbands." An uncomfortable grunt from the feline.

"You are still just mimicking their emotions."

"And you believe that Bartan's is real?"

"He does a much better job at displaying it than you do, if anything." October nearly whimpered at his brother's calm statement, nearly expecting her to take it as Talking Back to a superior. "The 1st also claimed that Beo is a Terrasque."

"He is." Arson replied rather blankly, finally getting a serious reaction out of her son... And a near petrified stare at the smaller one.

"And you're okay with this?"

"I am. And so is Bartan." A couple of questionable stares at her. "You are afraid?"

"You're not?" The younger one blurted out.

"I do not fully understand the concept of fear, but the seed of concern has been planted."

"Why didn't you tell us this sooner!?" Hatchet grumbled.

"Would it have mattered?" The two males looked at each other, wondering if the statement was rhetorical or not. "We did not know at the time what was wrong with Beo'Karah. We are still not completely sure."

"Seriously?" The tirix asked, almost surprised. "You guys literally know everything."

"Untrue. The infection that has plagued Beo's body does resemble that of a Terrasque, and he was sent to become one when Bartan discovered that he could not use himself as a host."

"Wait-what? Dad tried to...?" October trailed off.

"Indeed. He was the one who slayed the previous one. He assumed it was only fair to the universes and Counterweights who relied on such powers-"

"We got it." The feline interrupted. "So Beo stepped in instead? And Bartan attempted to keep him as a-"

"During the metamorphosis, Beo passed over his soul to Bartan as a final gift. He then used that to create a new body for Beo'Karah to live out here. However, we are thinking his soul was tainted before it was passed onto-"

"Again with the uncertainty." The black one grumbled. "I've never known you guys to be uncertain of anything!" A clam look from the fox towering over him.

"For us to see Terrasques is like you identifying Shadows. You can see that they exist, but you cannot identify what lurks within them. We can tell it is there, and it has been eating away at every body Beo has had since then. Regardless of how often Bartan has fixed them."

"So you guys did not know before you accepted him inside then. But to keep something like that around is dangerous, why-?"

"Because he loves him, for one."

"Interesting choice of word there." The tirix mumbled, getting a slightly puzzled look from Arson. "You said He instead of We."

"I attempt, but I cannot feel the same-"

"Yeah-yeah." Hatchet grumbled, almost impatient and looking at his brother. "Where would the 1st get that information?"

"The Hive? From Ark?"

"Why would Ark have that?"

"Because Arkist is the one who controls the metamorphosis of Terrasques." A double take from both males, as well as a blank state. "Did you not know-?"

"No!" Her son hissed. "That would've been very helpful!" Only a half shrug from her.

"You didn't ask." A whimper of frustration from him as the feline put a paw over his eyes. "Is there anything else you would like to know?"

"Where is Beo now?" The black one asked.

"Quite far away, from what I can tell. But Bartan is meeting up with him soon."

"And the 1st?" The feline questioned, getting the Counterweight to study him for a moment.

"What do you plan on doing with that information?"

"You know that already-"

"He will not come back, Hatchet." She thickly said to him. "He cannot trust Bartan anylonger due to those whispers and doubts." The two just stared at each other for a few moments, making the younger one rather uncomfortable. "I have given you two another mission for now. Lillith will brief you." Another several seconds of staring and the cheetah exhaled a heavy breath while turning about. Leaving with his brother while he whispered to Hatchet.

"How in the hell do you have the stones to talk to her like that!?"

The large abandoned building was silent and dark. What little windows there were poorly screened with a black paint, giving the slumbering behemoth inside an easier time to rest. Barely noticing the faint whistle that was coming outside, even after it was drawing closer. Hearing him stop just outside the massive door and start tapping at a digital keypad, giving off an annoying beep everytime a key was pressed. Pressing it for nearly thirty seconds straight in a ridiculous display of a password got the dragon to grumble. Only to hear a buzzer at the end of the input. "Huh. I could've sworn that was it." A moment later, the large door fell inside the building with a loud crash, letting much of the setting sun in and getting the brass one to grumble louder. "Neat."

Again with the whistling as the man walked up and sat in front of Beo, taking notice at the deep breathing like he was still in a deep sleep. "Come on, you've been sleeping since fake Friday. We'll never find a home at this rate." Another loud grumble that was more him trying to get up. Barely opening his green eyes and focusing on his friend. Blinking a few times before feeling the heavy weight of his eyelid, forcing it to a close. "I found you some oranges! Though they're yellow, oval, and don't taste like oranges. So I could be wrong about them." A smile over the brass muzzle as the dragon tried to chuckle. "You okay? You've been eating lately, so your energy should be kicking in soon. I guess that was on the real Friday, so..."

He didn't get a response aside from heavy breaths, making Dehoken frown until he heard something land outside. Watching the door closely and spotting a white silhouette, almost reflective step through the door. "Dehoken? Is that you?" A bit of a noise in question as he tried to make out the large furball.

"Oh, you're the..." The man glance over at Beo for a moment as the bear came closer. Giving him a sad smile. "And you know me from..."

"Xion, yes. As well as many events from Veritas." A bit of an awkward look. "I still consult him from time to time. He was a very good mentor."

"Just no sense of humor." The man grumbled, getting a hearty chuckle from the six legged one.

"I know that all too well." Those brown eyes looked over at the dragon, as he rested a furry paw on that muzzle. Nearly getting a purr from it, identifying who it was almost immediately.

"What's wrong with him?" Bartan took a breath, wondering where he should begin. "He's told me about the Terrasque and how he was supposed to replace one."

"Yes, and the events afterword?" A solid nod. "As well as..."

"The destruction." A bit of a sad look as the white one attempted to look through those sunglasses. "I've been trying to feed him, get him to at least eat, but..."

"It's still an infection that takes a toll on his body." Another frown. "Your methods were not in vain, they kept him stable for a long time. But after a while, the body cannot host it anylonger. This is the longest I have actually seen him go without..." A heavy sigh. "All I can do is either repair it, or give him a new one to start the entire process over again."

"But it doesn't cure it...?" The bear shook his head.

"It's something past physical. An infection that's transferring the lines between spiritual and material, affecting both of them at once." A heavy sigh. "I've tried even straining his soul from it, but it still comes back. It's probably too late to do so anymore... Sometimes I wonder if it's just for the best if I just let him rest. But even then, I'm not sure if he will." Dehoken took a heavy breath in defeat, getting a paw on his shoulder. "I'll... Figure something out eventually. For now I'll just cleanse him again."

A nod from the man. "I'll give you two sometime alone then."

"Don't wander too far. He'll want to see you when he wakes up." Another nod and Dehoken left the large building. With a deep breath and a lick between the dragon's eyes, the Counterweight started. "Let's get you back to normal."

A slightly chilled east wind was blowing through the deserted city, often sending whistles and whispers between the broken windows. Nearly singing songs of the past like they were still alive, unable to recall what really happened to them.

The plantlife was nearly the only thing left that survived here, climbing and grasping the many tilted buildings that depended on each other for support. Forced to watch the sun rise and set each day and question if anyone had forgotten that the city still existed. Especially over on the mainland. Walking through the occupied, yet abandoned streets, the man could feel their stares of shock and awe. Never thinking they would see another one of his kind again.

But he wasn't their kind, that was the harsh truth. Something he's still attempting to accept even to this day. Regardless of appearances, the young man was really something much worse. A threat to even the lifelessness of the city. Though that's as far as it would go, for he was anything but unstable. Someone else made sure of that.

Encountering those old thoughts and this deserted atmosphere brought that more wolfish form out once again. Barely even noticing the change anymore until he caught his own reflection, making him stop and study it. Nearly looking like his mentor's son if he ever had one, making Dehoken take a heavy breath from those memories. "...How long has it been?" He asked out loud, knowing it was watching him. "Do you even remember?"

A digital sprite of a feminine doll appeared in the reflection from afar, almost studying the white and silver creature before answering. "I cannot. That data has been lost for a very long time."

"But this is where it started, isn't it?" She went quiet. "What were you to them?"

"A navigational program. Used to map out the entire universe in order to help lead them. Back then, they weren't even called the CounterForce, let alone had any clue how large of an operation it would turn out to be." She finally took her eyes off the wolf and looked around, as if dusting off old data and recalling them as memories. "Though I was still called Ark at that time, used as a lighthouse for many places and stations. Eventually expanding into something greater."

"Like taking care of Terrasques." A near dirty look at him.

"I take care of Universes, Outsider. And no, it has not been a clean job. Many things need to be done, many sacrifices need to be made." Another look at the buildings. "They were so frightful of their Counterweight, did you know that?"

"I can imagine so."

"To the point where they thought they must fight against the creature in order to obtain freedom. That went better than expected, but it was a very short war." A slight touch against an old abandoned vehicle and the headlights began to turn on. "Technology is useless against them, they were fools to think that such things could be tamed."

"And the Counterweight?"

"Let them do whatever they wished, along with the rest of its species. A very poor choice, whereas the CF thought that they had complete control over everything. Until they met with the Terrasque. A dying one, and they still could not defeat the creature." A sad look from Dehoken, whereas he couldn't picture it outside of being Beo. "Do not tell me you pity such things as well." She scoffed.

"No one deserves that fate."

"Yet something must be sacrificed in order for others to live. Unless you truly believe what that bear says." A bit of silence as they locked eyes. "That means yes, and you're as great as a fool as he is." No response. "That's what this is about, isn't it Outsider? That Bear?"

"Actually, it's about someone else. Just related to him." A noise in question. "I'm going to ask you once nicely; what is the cure for a Terrasque?" A strange look, and she started laughing.

"You cannot be serious, child. You mean that dragon is still alive?" No response. "How many hours as that Counterweight put into repairing that creature?" Again silence, but the air was getting tense. "There is none, Outsider. Once the ooze hits, they will become the abyss."

"I don't believe you." A chuckle from the doll.

"Believe what you want, it's not a matter of faith. It's fact, much like burning a piece of paper. You cannot reverse it." He took a long time to study her, eventually even taking off his glasses to reveal the rainbow iris. Taking a breath before tossing them aside, giving a strange wave with the other paw as if gesturing the sky. Then she felt something off, but couldn't quite place it. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to make sure you never do that again."

Chapter 10

"You must be joking." The electronic doll nearly cackled. "Do you really expect me to believe such threats? I'm not even physical. You cannot threaten me with something so foolish as pain."

"Then I'll just have to hunt you down and erase every trace of you."

"Even if you could find every trace of data, I'm a program, you idiot. Do you expect me to _cherish_existence like your kind does? I'm not afraid of a premature end. It's ridiculous that you'd think such a thing." She scoffed, but was almost startled by his sudden roar. Paying witness to how quickly his fur shed and was replaced by a purple hide. How his body morphed into a more muscular physique, a longer and thicker tail equipped with spikes. Black horns out of his head and back, along with a single row of red mane, tracing down his spine and tail. Though his size was only a bit bigger than previous, Ark only rolled her eyes at the display. "You're joking. What part of your small brain isn't cluing in that barbaric tactics and intimidation isn't going-"

A sudden overhead paw interrupted her, getting the doll to step backwards to avoid the attack. Seeing the tail swing following it and taking another step to near casually avoid that, however wasn't expecting the backfist. Let alone how quick it connected with the side of her mechanical body. For the very first time she felt a heavy sting that nearly paralyzed her, unable to respond nor attempt to avoid the upcoming straight that followed.

Again, she felt that unreal pain with the connection of the purple fist, but not the impact when her body hit the ground several yards away. Bouncing off the broken pavement and hitting a magnetic wall that stun her like before. Disabling her motor functions for several moments, forcing her to obey such horrible warning signs that her vessel was damaged. Then detecting the Cryo coming closer.

"What did you do!?" She painfully shouted, even hurting her pride a bit as she forced the mechanical body to stand up against such a thing. "Such a thing is Impossible! I don't have-!"

"You're digital, and not the first enemy I faced that was." Dehoken growled. "If you tell me the cure, I'll drop the field and allow you to retreat-"

" There Is No Damn Cure!!" A roar of desperation and pain. "And if you kill me, you doom everything else in existence! Terrasques don't last forever, and they_ Need _to be Replaced! _ You Can't Stop That!! _" No response from the creature. "They Need To Exist-!" Another insanely quick punch that broke the sound barrier, slamming the doll into the magnetic field and rubber-banding her back within the dome that surrounded the city. Filling the air with a mechanical scream that could be heard for miles.

His heart ached seeing him like this, laying on the floor grunting in pain. Or at least trying to, whereas what little energy the dragon could obtain was quickly snatched away by that damn infection. Feeling through him how tearing that black ooze out of his body felt, nearly whimpering on cue with his husband. All this, and for what? Just to keep him alive. But for who's benefit?

He was so concentrated and lost in thought that Bartan barely noticed they were being watched from afar. A silhouette of something hybrid, but instantly recognizing those three sets of DNA. "October...?" The white one called, but not getting up from his embrace with the brass dragon. Still, he got no response from his first son. "I've been worried about you."

A long silence between them. "...It shows." The 1st finally replied.

"Not enough, I'm afraid." Those brown eyes glanced down at Beo. "You found me at a bad time, as you can see." He said, continuing his work. Hearing the tirix walk inside the building and resisting the urge to be united with his missing son. "Be cautious... You don't want to touch him right now."

"...What's wrong with him?" A sad look from the bear and he sighed.

"The infection is just getting stronger. I've never seen it last this long, nor be this bad-" A painful whimper from the slumbering one. "...Normally he ends up-"

"I know." Another sad look, but this time with a smile. "I've been researching his... Progress, so to speak."

"...Do you know what his favorite flavor is?" A strange stare from those feline eyes. "Oranges. His favorite color, Brass. Especially when the light hits it. His favorite feeling is fur... His worst fear..." He pulled out one of those six paws from the dragon's back, displaying the abyss ooze that seemed to plague the dragon's inside. "I know you must think of him as a monster... You've been trained to think of Terrasques that way. I cannot state that it was a wrong thing to do-"

"I know." The black one whispered.

"...There's a person trapped in all of them. Usually they get devoured within moments, but Beo..." A painful sigh. "I think it makes it harder to do this to someone you love." That strange stare was felt again. "...Before you disappeared, you probably never expected me to say such a thing."

"...Not at all."

"I was... Different back then. Back when I first made you... I've changed, but I can't say for the better." No response. "Do you believe her? Ark?"

"...I don't know."

"Sometimes I think she's right, you know." A noise in question. "I often wonder if I am infected by the same thing. Perhaps I always have been and just couldn't tell the difference. But I always had companionship with me... I always had Arson, my Forces... My sons, both created by my paws and hers." A heavy sigh from that white muzzle. "Something I've never felt I did right by."

The tirix was silent. "I know you don't trust me anymore, October. You've always had your doubts, considering how hard I've pushed you growing up. Those whispers... The information you've discovered on your quest, they're not lies. Just perspective." A look from those brown eyes, filled with sorrow. "What are you here for?" The 1st only blinked slowly. "Are you here to attempt to end me? Stop me from something? Perhaps from doing more damage to the worlds and universes outside? Or are you here to end... Him?" The black one looked over the brass dragon, but still didn't get a response.

"I can understand both decisions... At times I question if it is for the better. I love this dragon, to the point where I nearly sacrificed myself several times to keep him alive. And he has done the same. But I wonder if I should just end his suffering... That's what Terrasques are created for: to suffer and devour the suffering of others. Preventing his transformation only continues that, and prolongs his numbness against such pain or fatigue." A shaky breath. "Yet, I am absolutely terrified of losing him. Unable to restore him to the point where... He's no longer Beo." A few tears rolled down that white muzzle. "When is it going to come to the point where he is no longer himself? When this black ooze of corruption will feed on the husband I know and love?"

Again, Bartan got no answer and continued working on repairing the ill dragon for several quiet minutes. "...Where is the other one?"

"Dehoken?" A nod from him. "...He's fighting."

"Fighting?"

"I assume Arkist." A bit of a shocked look.

"...What good would that do?"

"It's not about the outcome, October..." A breath. "He'll probably try to enforce a fix or some way to reverse this, but truth be told... There's a reason why Arson used him for one third of Hatchet's creation. Dehoken is from Veritas... He craves conflict when bad things happen. That's how most of them dealt with change."

"I've never felt that."

"Your three didn't have that trait." A sad smile from the bear. "Truth be told, there were many reasons why I picked Deago, Rixxix, and Ryoko."

A half shrug from the tirix. "I just figured you drew the names out of a hat." He got a long chuckle from the Counterweight, even lightly joining in on it himself.

"Your three also didn't have Outbreaks. Those were the two main reasons I chose them for you. I trusted them to guide you well, even Rixxix." Some silence and those brown eyes looked over the black tirix. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, or pressured you to become something great. I..." He trailed off, sighing heavily before returning to his work. After nearly a minute, the 1st stood back up.

"...Let me end this."

Those cries of pain traveled across the land, demanding the attention of the two brothers from afar. "What the hell is that...?" The feral tirix asked, still trying to use his device to scout it. "I can't get anything from-"

"That's a Cryo." Hatchet half whispered, getting a look from those orange eyes. Even after the doll screamed in agony once again. "I know that roar anywhere."

"But they're usually like two hundred feet tall minimum, aren't they?" A noise in confirmation. "Then...?"

"...I'm checking it out." A whimper from the younger one. "I know her orders were to pursue the 1st, but we can't let this go unscouted." The white cheetah took off, getting the tirix to sigh and follow him. Entering the abandon city limits and instantly getting some strange feedback from their UCDs, getting the two to grunt and take them off.

"Ow...! What was that? I've never seen anything knock out these before-" Another nearby cry interrupted October, as something small and humanoid crashed through a few buildings.

"Be cautious. Odds are it already knows we're here." A worried look at his half-brother, as the two moved out.

Chapter 11

It was overwhelming. Unbelievable that any species could even survive, let alone function properly with such a sense. Constantly putting the damaged mechanical doll into states of shock, halting it's motor functions and preventing her from even attempting to fight back. Once again, Ark cursed that purple creature traveling across the rubble as she attempted to stand up. If only she could somehow jam or pierce through that damn magnetic field, she could escape back into her internet. "It doesn't have to be this way." The Cryo said thickly, getting the doll to almost growl.

"You are nothing but a persistent bully! Living in your own world of delusions and expecting everything to go your way! Even when I keep telling you that your request is impossible, you seem to think that torturing me will make any difference!" She frustratingly roared at him.

"It will." Another growl from the doll. "Eventually you will become too damaged and cease functioning. When that happens, I'll go after any programming you've related to so no other creature will be corrupted by your-"

"You Idiot!! You do this, and you'll be the end of everything in existence!!" A painful shock nearly caused her to collapse, knowing this body wouldn't be able to take much more punishment. But close by she detected two others within the dome. Quickly spotting the Cheetah and black Tirix on a rooftop and nearly whimpering in defeat. "Not these two again..." It even got Dehoken to glance over at them, almost making eye contact, but not letting the doll out of his sight.

"Does that sound like...?"

"Arkist?" The white one questioned his brother. "You look like hell."

"I try my best for my encounters to the inferior." She grumbled, almost getting ignored by the two.

"So, what did she do to piss you off?" The Cryo looked at the feline. "I'm not going to argue she doesn't deserve the smackdown, Dehoken, but-" The younger one's double take interrupted him. Nearly rolling his eyes at his brother lip-syncing Really? silently. "Unless you know of another red maned Cryo in his outdated clothing."

"Outdated?" The purple asked, a bit shocked. Getting a shrug from Hatchet.

"Aren't you a little old to be wearing cargo pants?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. They're classic."

"No. A Trench Coat is classic. You've should've been out of those by your thirties." A blank stare from the Cryo for a few moments.

"This conversation sounds familiar..."

"Anyway." October interrupted the conversation. "What's going on here?"

"She's the one who turned Beo into a Terrasque, and probably many others I haven't met."

"I can't understand why." Hatchet grumbled, getting another blank stare causing him to put a paw over his eyes. "UnderstandWhyYouHaven'tMetThem."

"I thought Arkist just ran the Hives. She manages all Terrasques too?"

"It would appear so, both her confession and Beo's own story. So I'm culling her." The Tirix tilted his head at him.

"...You can do that?"

"I can try." A sigh from the 4th. Nearly mimicking his half-brother's actions.

"DadWasNotKiddingAboutYouGuysBeingStraightForward."

"You say something?" Dehoken asked seriously.

"N-nothing. Just... Questioning those I used to look up to when I was younger-" The doll suddenly took off into the streets. Disappearing from their vision.

"I used to look up to GeeKer and Freakaziod when I was wee lad." The two brothers looked at Dehoken rather awkwardly, wondering if he even noticed Ark's withdraw. "Does it show?"

"...Not much, no." Hatchet grumbled.

"Are you going to...?" October almost whimpered, pointing at the vacant space that the doll once occupied.

"Yeah, eventually." The two stared blankly at him. "It's not like she's going anywhere."

"Your confidence is overwhelming."

"You think so? Hmm, I better cut back a bit then. Don't want to get overconfident." The two released awkward grunts while looking at each other. Both wondering the same thing as they followed him: Is he always like this?

She couldn't understand why she was running. It wouldn't do any good against one of them, let alone three. But something was driving her to survive, something she couldn't explain. A force of will which took control of her instincts, following closely to the patterns of fear. Causing her to keep sprinting away from those footsteps far behind her. That is, until the doll's foot got snagged by something.

A sharp hiss came from that foot, as a black metal serpent pierced through the mechanical limb. Snaring her down to the pavement, and preventing her from moving just for that moment for another one to nail the other foot. She didn't even notice any pain from them, so they weren't from the Cryo. A slightly heavy landing behind Ark interrupted her thoughts, trying her best to free her break free as quick steps charged behind the doll, then forced a paw into her torso. Entering through one of the damaged cracks from her beating earlier.

A different pain was suddenly recognized, as well as some familiar presence. Getting the mechanical doll to nearly stiffen in shock as a muzzle rested on her shoulder. "Remember me?" It growled, almost sounding like that feral one in the Hive... And...

Again, her investigations were interrupted, as a black ooze started leaking out of that cracked shell. Her whispers of denial were barely heard, as such a thing was corrupting her. Not only the physical form, but even through her digital nerves. Barely even hearing that white cheetah call out to the one holding her in place.

"You cannot be serious!" Bartan looked at his son in disbelief. Even stopping his work on the dragon for the time being. "If you even touch this, you'll...!"

"I know." The 1st replied like he was sure. "But she needs to be stopped... These need to be stopped."

"And this isn't the way to do it! If anything, I should be the one-"

"You're needed here! With him!" A sad look from those brown eyes. "And she's stuck at the moment, Dehoken has her trapped in a confined space. Distracted at that." A moment of silence and October took a step towards the pile of black ooze, only to get the bear to stand between him. Almost protecting it. "This is the only way-"

"Hardly!" He almost scolded. "There will be other opportunities to get rid of Arkist, you don't need to do this!"

"Only for her to see something like this coming! You really think she won't make failsafe after failsafe following this event!?" The Counterweight's jaw tensed. "She's vulnerable, and too persistent to be reasoned with. If you won't take her out, she will end you and all the work you've done to this point."

"That's still not a reason to sacrifice yourself!"

"It's either me or him." A gesture to the dragon. "I've already screwed up, too much to be trusted by anyone else-"

" They Will Manage! I Will _ Force _ Them To If I Have To!" The bear barked in desperation. "You will not do this, October! I've lost you once, I won't lose you again."

"We're out of options, Bartan." Another step closer got the white one to growl loudly. "I accept this-"

"No."

"You will need to as well-"

"No." " No!" A tense silence. "I forbid it! I will not let you suffer this fate-"

" It's My Choice!"

" I Don't Care!" He roared, sheading a tear. "We will find another way."

"And who will be sacrificed then?" A frustrated breath. "Arson? Beo? Hatchet? The 4th? Someone unwilling to give up their lives?"

"Stop."

"This happened because you couldn't let go of what you wanted, father. You let this happen to your Husband, getting rid of Ark might cure that." That white muzzle shook side to side. "It's worth a shot-"

"It's not worth you..." A black paw was felt on his white shoulder. "It's not worth-"

"Then who would it be worth?" A heavy exhale in defeat. "I am your creation, your first prototype. I was not made for anything else but experimentation." A whimper. "Arkist will likely try to erase me for even existing, given enough time. Same with Hatchet." A tear. "The 3rd. The 4th... The list goes on." A whimper in denial. "Let me do this, so they can have a future. So Beo can have one without this torment." Those brown eyes, moist with tears, gazed into those orange ones.

"How...!?" Ark grunted loudly against the pain. Nearly feeling her body fuse with the anthro black tirix and the ooze. Changing their structure, soldering their nervous systems together to create a brand new form of pain. Overwhelming the two to the point where they couldn't hear Hatchet curse at them loudly. Landing quite far in front of the two, so the half-brothers could almost have a silent conversation with their eyes that only lasted seconds. Seeing the white one flick one of those heavy blades, covering it in a white shine before dashing through the two in fractions of a second.

The three creatures now sharing one body collapsed several dozen feet behind the Cheetah without anymore signs of pain. But the black ooze kept moving, mutating and feeding off of the restlessness in such an area. Keeping it's oath of silence until the other tirix and Cryo caught up. Looking at the monstrous growth in question, then the feline's almost sad expression. "What happened...?" His half-brother asked, not getting a response. "What Happened!?" Seeing those red eyes avoid his orange ones gave him a clue.

"Should that be moving?" Dehoken broke the tension, getting the other two to witness the mutation's accelerating rate. "That's not good."

"Damnit... I was really hoping that would kill it." Hatchet cursed, looking over at the purple one. "We can't let it grow here, and we can't touch it!"

"You can't touch it. I should be fine." Dehoken replied, getting a couple of questionable looks. "...I think I'll be fine."

"You're actually willing to risk that?" October whimpered.

"You say that like I don't take risks everyday." A horrible time to give long blank looks at the larger creature. "Say what you want, everything's out to get me lately."

"Can you get it in the air?"

"Well, yeah. But what good would that do?" He asked the white one.

"I'm bringing it to Hell." Hatchet replied, taking off to the rooftops. Leaving the other two to question his statement.

"Hell?"

"I-I'm not sure." The black one whimpered, catching a large appendage forming from the living tar and yelping while retreating. Making Dehoken release a noise in question before being slapped by it and shoved into a building. Growling at it while grabbing the surprisingly solid 'tentacle' and pulling the black creature towards him, then slugging it harshly with a lightning coated fist. Hearing it give off its own growl of anger before getting hit by an equally hard backfist.

The stunning effects didn't work long, but long enough for the Cryo to get a bit more charge. Then slamming the grounds with near liquid lightning, forcing the ooze upwards in a massive electrical burst. Opportunity arose for the feline to make his move, jumping high above it and coating his two long-bladed axes with a rust colored essence and slashing down at the ground with two sharp swings. Sending that energy through the black creature and digging into the ground massively, creating a dimensional portal below it.

Hatchet then landed on the another roof with a large billboard. Severing its ties to the building quickly and kicking it over the airborne tar monster. Then falling through the rooftop and appearing out of the billboard with the sound of glass shattering before throwing both his weapons through the ooze. Appearing on the other side with rusted chains attached, made up of that same essence.

Another quick teleport to where the blades landed, Hatchet then started dragging the creature into the portal. The harsh orange winds forcing against that struggle, and even forcing the portal to open wider. Before the ooze got inside however, it flung out a tentacle in desperation. Latching it onto Dehoken's muzzle out of all things, and dragging him down into it as well. Closing shortly after, leaving the black tirix in the abandoned city alone.

Chapter 12

"Huh. That was neat." Rixxix said, almost enjoying the show while a rather stunned October composed himself.

"W-what...?"

"That was Oblivion." Ryoko came into view, studying where the portal was from afar, rather interested in the sight. "It was a beautiful city in a separate dimension. One promising prosperity to any species who claimed its grounds. In turn, countless wars and invasions were fought over its region. Spoiling it, and turning the entire land into a rust covered wasteland." The other three looked at the brown tirix in silence for a few moments. "What? You never looked into your own brother's story?" The 4th shyly shook his head, getting him to sigh in slight disappointment.

"The main question is, are they going to be okay?" The orange one asked.

"I cannot tell. And it's doubtful Oblivion could even contain a Terrasque for very long." October gave Ryoko a sad look. "In any case, we can't do anything to help from here."

"...Maybe someone else can." They looked at the younger one. "I have an idea, but..."

The air was almost blistering as the three fell from the glowing orange sky. Near stinging winds from a rusted dust storm made it slightly difficult for the Cryo to adjust to, but he soon did. Freefalling onto several aerial seaships and landing on the bow of one. Nearly battle in size, and fully armed, there wasn't much time of observation before the makeshift Terrasque began lashing out at the two with several long appendages.

Finally freeing purple muzzle from the tentacle he was dragged down with, Dehoken got slapped a few more times for good measure. While the cheetah dodged with surreal precision, bending in almost imposable lengths to just barely avoiding contact through sheer advancing flexibility. Spinning to evade one last strike, Hatchet finally took the opportunity to counter with a few heavy slashes. Ones that seemed to have nearly triple the range of his own weapons.

Thick invisible blades formed into the air, mimicking the pattern of those long axes with very little slack. Cutting into the black ooze much harder than before on the surface, and nearly getting hit by the spray of tar before he teleported through the floor. Appearing on its flank and adding a few more strikes before retreating once again onto a different ship.

The Terrasque spent it's precious moments lashing out around it and tracing the feline's steps. Regretting leaving the neglected Cryo after getting thrown back by a purple straight. Sending it into the bow's first set of turrets, until the larger beast followed up with a charging knee. Wrecking through the gunships first two sets of weaponry, and against the bridge.

A heavy body blow dug into those opened wounds, getting the mutating creature to cry out in agony as the wall behind it began to crack. That same knee as before rammed into its adjacent side next, followed by two backfists. One from the right arm, setting off a thick explosion on impact and only making the strike from the left fist that much more harsh. Even following its own explosion. Aiming the Terrasque towards the ship's command tower before nearly impaling it with a right body blow.

That purple fist dug deep into its opened wounds, then soon felt the sting of electricity flowing off that paw. Exploding in a static burst and forcing more of that tar to pour out of those previous cuts. A second one nearly cut off the first creature's scream before Dehoken started lifting up the growing mutation with that single arm. Swinging it over his own head before slamming it down behind him in one final electrical burst that cracked the ship's exterior.

Meanwhile on the other ship, Hatchet was observing from the very tip of the bow. Waiting for another chance to tag in, but with the constant sprays of black liquids, it would prove difficult to be of assistance. Almost growling at the feeling of being useless in this fight, the ship's turret started to adjust. Pointing straight at the Cheetah for a clear shot and getting the feline to look at it almost in annoyance, until it gave him an idea. The cannon fired, and the white one spun backwards to strike the massive bullet with his weapon, deflecting it off to Dehoken's current ship and shattering its hull loudly.

The first ship started to plummet down, aiming for the city streets with the Cryo and Terrasque still on board. Granted, the purple one didn't realize they were falling until the ship started tilting down. Let alone the massive amount of smoke, sparks, and debris starting to come out.

The thick sound of metal being quickly cut and scraped together echoed through the sky, as the bow of the ship started to tilt much faster in the freefall. The back half going off in its own little spin, as the Cryo barely seen Hatchet on the hull of yet another ship. As the force of the massive object started to turn and rotate faster, it was getting harder to keep his balance. Yet not as difficult as he expected, though enough to really brace for the landing.

Eventually, the bow crashed into the rusted buildings of the abandoned city. Bouncing off from its own weight to level city block after city block, while the ship's interior erupted in several clouds of fire. Sending shards and sections of its hull spraying in many directions as the other fleet evaded the makeshift projectiles. A few of the larger shards still scatter-shotting many of the other ship's hull, and even bringing one down to follow it.

"Why have you summoned me." It was barely a question from the white wolf, towering over the younger black Tirix and those around him. Nearly getting a cold stare from what was almost a hallucination. Regardless, its sheer presence was enough to get blisters from the sky, worrying October that they might burst and erupt any moment, causing even more problems than they could handle. "Speak." He said thickly.

"I..." He whimpered, almost looking at the other three for guidance. Getting a growl from Xion and a thick stare from those cold silver-like eyes. A breath to compose himself, and the 4th tried to match that stare. "I need your help."

"You need me to clean up your mess?"

"No." The tirix almost snapped at him, actually getting a bit angry at the tone. "A Terrasque appeared here. I don't know the details, but it's too dangerous for it to remain in the open like this." That stare didn't let up. "I need to find a way to banish it. Transport it without anyone touching it, because-"

"Do not waste my time telling me what I already know." A slight whimper from the young one, as the nearly nine foot giant look at their surroundings. "Where is it now."

"My... Brother has it locked away in another dimension, but it won't hold it for too much longer." Those silver eyes returned to October.

"We will need space." A few shaky nods. "A lot of it."

After several long tumbles and crashes, the first ship's bow came to a stop. The flames outside the wreckage quickly getting sucked inside by some unknown force, only to explode loudly with ten times the impact. Shattering the very streets into fissures and upsetting many buildings to fall onto their companions. Nearly creating a domino effect in the middle of the city, and a smoke screen of rusty fog. Within the middle of it was the cries of torment from the mutated creature.

Several more massive quakes, and a sudden change in that cloud that could be seen from above. As several more buildings from afar got toppled over, like something large was sent through them. Soon after, the second ship fell onto the land, causing even more destruction to the abandoned relic. There wasn't much time to observe the fight from above before the sentient battleships found Hatchet's location on the side of their ally's hull. Barely hearing the dozen turrets take aim over the noise below and fire their rounds at the feline.

With a faint growl, the Cheetah stood his ground. Waiting for the series of massive bullets to become airborne before stopping the first one with the very tip of his blade. Jumping on it quickly and then deflecting the series of shots down below. Directing them into the cloud in a shower of metal and more explosions before falling back to the first bullet. Using its surface to teleport to another ship and start sending that one down below as well.

Meanwhile, the Cryo was shaking off the surprising blow from the tar creature. Still being able to sense it through the rust storm, as well as hear the heavy black tentacles dart through the air. Moving out of the wreckage before it collapsed on top of him, Dehoken started forming a bladed saw out of the rusted air, until several whistles could be made out.

Soon enough, the entire city was bombarded with a metal storm. Massive bullets crashed into the grounds and laying into growing Terrasque. Screaming at the constant impact and damage it was doing to its developing body, and ripping its old wounds into new lengths. Ending with one more ship falling directly onto it, carrying what could only be described as several dozen nuclear warheads.

After the winds blew the dust away, the black creature emerged several times bigger. Roaring into the sky and lashing out at the ships above. Culling them with a single few tentacles, but hearing Hatchet teleport near him with that same glass shatter. "I think you just made it angrier."

"That seems to be my specialty." The feline grumbled in reply. "Any ideas?"

"I think a reality show about a guy who's allergic to floors is a very dumb one."

"...You and me both, but not what..." A near frustrated sigh from Hatchet as he put a paw over his eyes. Getting a rather puzzled look from the Cryo. "How did my mother ever like you?"

"Your mother? That sounds like an insult."

"Kinda meant to be." A snort from the purple one. "But seriously, what are we going to do about that?"

"About what-now?" He asked, getting another black tentacle stuck to his muzzle and pulled into the ever-growing ooze with a loud yelp. Well, attempting to yelp. Sounded more like he got his snout stuck in a vacuum cleaner hose. Nearly getting trapped in the blob of tar as it attempted to swallow the behemoth, only for it to start increasing in size drastically. Making it much more difficult to wrap around it.

Instead, those large purple paws slammed into the Terrasque's sides. Forcing a mix of electricity and plasmic vigor into the black ooze and damaging its structure greatly with a series of rapid bursts. Hearing the creature scream once again as the behemoth lifted it past chest height.

He let go, but only for a moment to make fists. Slamming them together with the tar creature between them, the beast sent every type of magic he could think of into one single blast. Then repeated it after lifting the creature up a bit more. Slamming it with a massive amount of energy that nearly made the air around them ignite and turn into plasma.

After just a few slams, it was getting to be too much for the Cheetah to even remain several blocks away. Feeling the air around him slow down like it was turning into a thick liquid, and withdrawing to the point where he could breathe normally. The space around the two larger creature morphing and bending like time itself was about to tear apart, worrying him that maybe even this dimension might not be able to hold this creature for much longer. Let alone both of them, if they keep this up.

A thick white glyph started writing on a very large building near Hatchet, one that looked a lot like the symbols that October used. Quickly drawing onto the skyscraper's wall, and opening a portal of thick darkness. Getting the feline concerned about what's happening on the surface. Was this for their safety? Or was it to expel...?

A sharp look at the Cryo and the Terrasque, still in the purple one's advantage. "Dehoken!!" Hatchet roared, barely getting the behemoth's attention and seeing the portal. Taking the black creature one more time to slam it into the liquefied grounds before grabbing it one last time. Throwing it overhead and directly into the abyss darkness as the feline bolted out of its range. Barely dodging a few more desperate attempts to remain in this world.

The Glyph disappeared soon after, locking the Terrasque inside and out of Oblivion. Though concerned about the abomination's blood that was spilled, this place has dealt with worse. As the massive creature walked up behind the Cheetah, the two locked eyes for a moment. "You going to be okay?" He asked the purple one, getting it to look at its own paws for a bit. Completely soaked in half crusted ooze.

"Might need a bath."

"And a breath mint."

"I think you mean eight thousand breath mints." The purple one made a sour face, sticking out his tongue and spitting out a bit of black. Then took a breath, trying to be serious. "But I... I think so. I'll get checked out just in case."

"I think I know where Bartan is anyway." A faint nod, as they stared at the wreckage behind them. "...Dibs on not cleaning."

"You can't call dibs on that!"

"My dimension, my rules." A whimper from the Cryo.

Chapter 13

The two stepped out of the rusted portal, finally free of those harsh winds but not from concerns. Scanning the area carefully and spotting the Tirix and tall wolf in the middle of a mass clearing of several city blocks. But taking a breath of relief for now and a full one when the 4th's expression was rather calm. Still a little intimidated, but calm. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Just a mess in there." The feline replied.

"So, the usual then." A smirk from his older brother and a nod. Getting those red eyes to look over at the white canine who was only looking at Dehoken. Who then swallowed loudly before changing into his own wolf-like form, and lightly bowing in respect. "I take it you two know each-"

"What are you doing here." Xion interrupted the small black one, nearly getting him to yelp in surprise. Granted, his 'question' was directed towards Dehoken. "You should be back in Veritas, where you belong."

"I'm needed here."

"Were needed here." Those cold eyes looked at October, who only lowered his head a bit, then returned back to the other wolf. "Now we are no longer. You should leave while you still can." A heavy silence and Xion turned around. Once again glancing at the younger tirix. "You may call upon me again." A small smile from the 4th as the giant wolf disappeared. Finally easing the stress of the world around it.

"What the hell did you guys do?" The Cheetah asked.

"We sent it back to where... Beo was converted. I'm not sure if it'll stay alive, but the universes surrounding it now have a living Terrasque."

"It wasn't living before?" The two brothers shook their heads at the wolf.

"It died shortly after Bartan left it. Which reminds me, you wanted to see him."

The streets have turned dark, leaving a few small orbs to light up the large building. The bear and dragon laying together in a silent embrace within the dim glow, and a few ears caught some footsteps. Those brown eyes watching for the Cryo's return, rather surprised to see his more canine form. That didn't make those circles any less sad. "Are you alright?" Bartan softly asked.

"I was... Hoping you could tell me that." A noise in question. "Beo said that you could almost read his..." A gesture to the brass titan, no longer even breathing. "Is he...?"

A heavy breath. "His body quit on him. I'll have to make him a new one." Dehoken entered and sat near the brass one's head. Touching his cold scales almost hoping to feel a pulse. "Only to have it corrupt that too."

"And it's getting faster everytime, isn't it?" A faint nod as the bear rested his head on the dragon's neck. A long silence between the two as Dehoken struggled to tell him something. "...Your...Son?"

"I know..." He said sadly. "He knew as well, regardless of how much I fought with him." Another heavy breath. "I was always too hard with him. Expecting so much back then."

"I think that's how all parents are. And trust me, you don't know strict." A chuckle.

"I'm not so sure. I tended to look up to Xion and his ways quite a bit."

"Then you would know strict." He half whimpered. "So... I'm okay?" A soft nod.

"Not a single thing wrong with you. Did you touch it?" A sudden stop as Dehoken remembered all the contact he made in that last fight.

"Touch works... For a start." Another chuckle. "Could say it slapped me, I slapped it. Even got a bit of it in my mouth."

"How'd it taste?"

"The_ Worst _." A large smile on that white bear muzzle. "I mean, the _ Worst _."

"I'll take your word for it-"

"We're talking : take a piece of toast that's been stuck in a toaster for the last four hundred years, sandwich that between two car tires. Then glaze it with three parts motor oil, and one part skunk spray." A laugh. "The _ Worst _. Pray he never tastes like that."

"Yeah..." A heavy breath.

"...What if...?" Those brown eyes looked at him.

The dragon grunted awake, feeling almost uncomfortable. Getting those familiar set of paws trying to brace him down. "Beo, stop. Just for a moment." He made a noise in question, but barely listened to him. "Please."

"I'm alright, Bartan." Beo yawned, snapping his jaws a few times. Looking at his mate's worried look and giving it a small kiss. "What are you doing here-?" He stopped, seeing another brass dragon on the other side of the room. One laying completely still, with his colors. "What-?"

"Shh..." He tried to block the brass one's vision from it for a bit. "I just need to make sure you're doing okay. So stay still for a bit." His heart started to race a bit, frightful of the idea of death once again, that not even those paws could remove it. Or perhaps chose not to for the time being. "Everything looks normal except for your heartrate. And that's due to..."A glance back, like he was trying to protect the dragon from such a sight. "It's unsettling, I know."

"So, I...?"

"That body couldn't take the infection anymore. Repairing it wouldn't do anything else." A sad look. "How do you feel?"

He studied himself for a few moments. "...Fine. A little hungry and sore. Along with a really bad taste in my mouth." A sad smile that almost broke the bear into tears. "But not hungry for... What's wrong?" That gaze fell, and the dragon caught it. Regardless, he didn't get an answer. Once again, Beo looked around the room, trying to avoid looking at the hollow body. "Where's Dehoken?" That one broke the Counterweight, nearly making him collapse. Shifting his weight onto the brass titan. "Bartan? What's wrong?"

The winds were blowing gently across the evening fields. Making the long green blades of grass dance, along with his red spines. Greeting the metallic behemoth as he casually walked through, looking at the stars twinkling from afar. Almost trying to relieve the dragon of his depressed mood. Something he was thankful for.

It was strange to live in such a place without worry. Even after a few days, he usually started to feel the side effects. Nearly getting tired of the same old questions. "How do you feel?" "Any Pains? Cravings?" And the bear could see it, so Beo couldn't blame him. He was only concerned for the dragon's health and state.

But each question only reminded him of what this brass being had taken. Nearly unwillingly. However, if he did have a choice, would he be selfish enough to choose this? That one made him stop and think, to the point where he needed to park himself within the grass and just stare into space.

"Are you okay?" He was so spaced out he didn't hear his husband creep up behind him. Glancing back at the white furball, he made a faint noise to answer him, but unsure himself if he was or not. Physically, yes. Just like any other time, but...

Regardless, he opened a wing for Bartan to join him. Shifting himself to half embrace his love and hold one of those four paws tightly. Nuzzling against each other in a few faint purrs and licks. Leading up to a deeper kiss, but this is where the brass one started to pull back. "...Sorry, but I just don't feel like..."

"That's fine." He gave the larger one a sad smile. "My tail is ready for you when you are." A snout toss made him chuckle.

"Of course it is. It's always ready for action." A playful nudge. "I like it like that." A deep breath. "But I just haven't... Felt like it since..." A nod in understanding as the two just held each other. "I..." He started, taking a breath. "I dreamed that you had died, and I was forever alone. The one person to keep me alive and well, and..." A few soft pets to tell him it was okay. "Bartan... Was I worth all this? These Sacrifices?" A bit of silence. "I need you to tell me that I was-"

"Were you?" The bear asked, almost thickly like he was angry. Getting those frilled ears to drop, but getting a heavy sigh from him. "I know it's a hard thing to hear, let alone think about. It was more my choice that I made for you, and I've been asking the same things lately." A slight whimper from the large one. "But the more you think about it, the Burden of the evidence will only continue to grow. If you are unsure, then... You Need To Make Yourself Worth It."

"And the only way to do that is to live."

"Live Happily." A sad nod from the brass dragon. "They gave themselves for us, to give you a new life. Now, how are you going to spend it?" The white bear asked softly, only to get a tight embrace.

"With You."