Dragon's Rule Ch 20

Ch 20

Once Dark and Flame were away from the others, Flame lifted his head and roared
before looking down at the snow. He growled and sent a wave of fire down at it leaving a trail of destruction as they went. "Easy Flame, were not in battle yet." said Dark hoping to calm him down. "I know I'm just expressing myself in my own way." Flame growled as he spread his wings out wide and banked to the left. "Perhaps you could speak your emotions instead of destroying things." said Dark patting Flame's neck. Flame looked back at dark with a small growl. "This isn't just my emotions you know. You have some sort of anger or something twisting inside of you, building up and getting stronger. We are partners, I can feel your emotions and as your Dragon my ability to do so is stronger. Remember dragons can read the feelings of other living things, and Ridden Dragons are especially in tune with their Rider's emotions."

Dark, taken aback, looked at apologetic. "Oh, my bad Flame, you see when Light and I
are apart we don't keep each other in check. Our powers are more than just a part of us; they can control us if we don't have something to balance them. My inner darkness comes out when there is nothing to counter it and puts all around me in turmoil. If I don't fight it or if it somehow slips my mind I fall to that inner turmoil and get, well crazy. Those around me succumb to it as well and basically become minions. As fun as it sounds, it's horrible, I'm not myself at all and neither are the ones around me. Luckily though Light and I have a strong bond of our own and it helps us suppress our inner nature. Now that we have this link as Riders it's a lot easier. All I need to do is make sure our minds can stay linked, as Riders now we can even if were on the other side of the world. Hold on just a moment."

Dark took a slow breath, feeling Light's strength in his mind keeping the excess darkness
in him down. Flame growled pleased and smiled. "Much better, so if I ever sense that again then all I need to do is tell you and you'll take care of it?" Dark nodded, "Yep, now that I know I need to pay a little more attention I should be able to prevent a next time though." Flame looked back ahead relived. "Good, then we can have a much better flight, that's for the best since this is going to be a long one. Your home is very far from her, the mountains even farther." As Flame thought of the path ahead Dark sighed. "I'm not even sure if they want me at home, they kinda hate me." "Well going in on Dragon back may just change that." Flame said in hopes of cheering Dark up. "Maybe. . .Hey who knows maybe I'll become the hero of the town! They'll build a statute in our likeness." Dark struck a pose flexing making Flame laughed.

"I can see it now, The Great Dragon Flame! And his so-so rider Dark." Dark scoffed.
"Who are you calling 'so-so' Mister 'Great Dragon'? It's more like the Fantastic Rider Dark! And his assistant the Dragon." "Oh so I don't even get a name do I?" Flame laughed bucking just a little to shake up Dark. Dark fell to lay flat on Flames back in a dramatic fashion. Flame laughed and leaned forward enough to set Dark back up. "Ok, how about this then, Flame and Dark, awesome partners and mighty heroes." Dark swept his hand across the air in front of him as if the statue was before him. "Now that I like." Flame said with a smile. The pair laughed as they flew on over the snowy landscape.

The landscape changed as they crossed the Back Bone Mountains and entered a forest
like the one that held Merchant Villa. Flame landed in the biggest clear spot he could find knocking off a few branches from the trees as he did. With Dark still on his neck, Flame swept his tail back and forth across the ground clearing the forest floor of debris. Dark jumped down and lay back on the cool grass. "Great job today Flame, you're the best flyer ever. Go on and get some food for yourself, I'll hold down the fort." He pointed up at the sky for dramatic emphases. Flame chuckled and turned. "Aye-aye fort holder, I'll find you a little something too."

Flame looked up making sure he had enough room to take off before he jumped to fly
over the more sparse trees. Dark listened to the wing beats fade off then closed his eyes. The first thing that came to his mind was the team. "Good luck everyone, see you soon." He said before he dosed off and fell into a dream. Dark found himself sanding in front of a forest town. A cobblestone walk way was on the ground weaving its way around trees and to handmade wooden shops that lined both sides of the road. Up above platforms were set along the trees and homes were on some of the platforms. Walkways ran from tree to tree all leading up to a central hose, the Elders' home, and his old home.

Dark smiled and moved up to a spiral walk way that ran around a tree and took a few
steps before he heard a deep growl. He turned slowly with fear in his eyes as he saw a blood smeared black wolf. "Your family is gone, all your friends, your pathetic sister." he wolf growled and licked its lips. "Yomi you coward! Challenging me all alone." The wolf laughed a terrible sound that sent chills down Dark's spine. "Me the coward? You're the one who knows you can't take me alone. Without Light your nothing!" Dark sent forth a wave of darkness but the wolf sidestepped and charged at him. Dark continued his assault but what the wolf didn't dodge seemed to just move around him. Soon it was close and leapt at Dark; fangs bared aiming to snap at his neck. Just before it struck a pricing cry rang out.

Yomi fell right out of the air and Dark fell to his knees placing his hands on his head. He gritted his teeth. "Ugh, this must be what Light went through. Marigold said there was an Original Dragon out there waiting for me. Is this it?" Dark thought as Yomi lay on the ground whimpering as the cry grew louder. Dark awoke suddenly and sat up breathing heavily. He narrowed his eyes and stood, fist clenched. Looking up to the sky he shouted. "Yomi! Next time we meet I'll be waiting for you! If you enter my dreams again, or even my mind I'll kill you, you got that! Next time I face you your dead!" As his shouting reached the skies Flame's wing beats could be heard as he came back with a boar in his paw. "Dark!....Yomi was in your mind?" He lowered his head in sorrow, feeling ashamed he let Yomi in his partner's mind. "I'm so sorry; I should have kept our minds linked. This is all my fault." Dark looked up at Flame and shook his head. "No, I want to face him either one on one or with Light. We have a score to settle. Besides I know you're here for me and always will be. This time though, it may have been to our best interest you were away."

Flame tilted his head and set the boar aside for the moment. He lowered his head to
Dark and nuzzled him. "What is it, what kept him away?" Dark put his hand on Flame's snout. "I sensed something, a cry a loud an urgent cry like when Rubia was calling to Light. I think we're going to find ourselves an Original Dragon soon." Dark grew serious and turned away From Flame closing his eyes in though. Flame did not like how serious Dark was becoming and spoke. "Well that's fine but let's look for it tomorrow. Now you need sleep" Flame nudged Dark playfully. Dark ignored him at first before placing both hands on Flame's snout and nudging back. "Alright you fire breathing lizard." Dark laughed laying back in the grass again. "See you in the morning." Flame smiled and curled up around Dark to stay by his side and patrol his dreams thought the night.

The next two days were uneventful for the pair. They flew on caching meals and sleep
along the way. By the end of the second day they entered a new sort of forest, one with trees that were incredibly tall with all leaves at the very tops of the trees. Flame had no problem walking along the forest floor and had plenty of room to move around without any trouble. As night fell upon them, they could see lights in the distance. "Tomorrow I'll be home." Said Dark leaning against a large tree. Flame lay down beside him, his head on his paws like a large scaly cat. "It will be a warm welcome, you'll see." he said as he closed his eyes. Dark nodded wordlessly closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

As night turned to day, Flame awoke lifting his head and looking to town. Not seeing
much movement he carefully crawled over to Dark laying in front of him. Dark soon awoke with a yawn and after a few tired blinks stood and stretched. Flame looked at him and smiled. "Come on, let's make an entrance." Dark nodded and jumped onto Flame's neck. "Let's rock!" He laughed punching the air. Flame got airborne and roared as loud as he could before taking flight and circling the town once. The town was identical to the town in Dark's dream with one exception. The real town was alive with people, most of them hard at work in the shops selling goods to travelers. They were calling out their wares but fell silent when they say Flame. The entire town was soon out and active people of all ages; each person had their eyes on Flame and Dark.

Once his circle was complete, Flame landed under the Elders' house and stood tall and
proud. Dark stood on his back like a hero and people ran to gather around them. All of the
running stirred up dust and made Flame sneeze, throwing Dark over his neck as he did so. The crowd who murmured now fell silent, all expect for one person who stood in front of dark. Dark looked up to the person, a boy roughly his age with hair and pale blue eyes in a long brown coat with a gray shirt and black pants. Slung on his back were two red blades that had gun shaped handles. "Same old loser." The boy scoffed.

In a flash Dark was on his feet and took the boy by his collar to glare into his eyes. The
boy smirked and reached for a weapon. "You really wanna do this?" he asked. Dark smirked.
"Same old Juji." he said tilting his head in a cocky manor as he let the boy go. They looked at each other in a sort of glare between friendly rivals before they both laughed and shook hands. "Welcome back Dark, or should I say Rider? And welcome to your Dragon!" The rest of the townspeople broke into cheers of welcome and respect, some of them even bowed. Dark turned to look at the spectacle before turning back to Juji. "Nah, just call me plain old Dark." Flame looked at the crowd as well before speaking to them all. "And I am Flame; I have heard how all of you hated Dark. Don't tell me you respect him mealy because he is now a Rider!?" He narrowed his eyes and growled, flashing his fangs.

Dark put a hand on his leg. "Easy buddy, Juji here has always been a friend of mine. He
has this meditation thing called Kuta..Kudo…Kah…" "Kutabaruie and I've told you that a thousand times. Too bad Light isn't here at least she would be able to say it right." Dark shrugged. "Well you know me. Flame this guy is as different as me and Light, we always ran together in a little group of outcast misfits." Juji smiled. "Well were not outcasts anymore my friend. All of the 'outcasters' needed us. That wolf came back a while ago looking for something, something that's gone now. Well anyway, in its search it felt no fear attacking us and was far stronger than before. Turns out only us outcasts could hold our own and drive it off. I've become a sort of hero of the town, so have you and Light now speaking of which. . ." He stopped and looked around.

"She's off with her Dragon to find an Elemental Dragon and Rider. So are we as a matter
of fact and our goal is in the mountains. We just stopped into say high, mostly to the Elders." The crowed grew silent and Juji's face grew grim. These things were not lost on Dark or Flame. "No." Dark said hopelessly. "It's not what you think, trust me. We don't know what happened but just about a week ago, the day before we got word of the attack they just, vanished. We can't find a trace of them anywhere Dark, I'm sorry." A small smile came to Dark's face. Don't be, the Elders always knew more about the world than us. They must have some sort of plan."

Juji laughed. "Always seeing the lighter side of thing. Who knows if you could become a
Rider maybe the old folks are special." "Hey!" Dark protested as Juji laughed. "Come on what about all those things you used to call me? I'd say fair is fair." Dark smirked. "Well yeah true and I'd love to call you more but Flame and I have to leave." "Yes, we need to get a move on, we got work to do." Flame called loud enough for everyone to hear. "Wait, wait, we can't let you leave without a little celebration. How about some food and drink? Flame I bet you would love our smoked deer, fine quail, tenderized boar meat?" Flame licked his maw. "Well. . .that does sound tempting." Juji turned to Dark. "Come on Dark, party time." Dark looked at Flame who nodded. "Well, we can wait a few more moments. We haven't eaten yet and we do need full strength." Dark shrugged. "What the hey, let's party!"

More cheers rang out as Dark and Flame were named as the quests of honor. They got
their fill of food and drink and the town's people formally apologized to Dark for turning against him and Light when they were children. Dark was now more understanding and felt the respect the others had for him not only as one of them but as a Rider who was meant to protect them. He forgave them all with smiles and told them he would pass the message along to Light. Dinner was over all too soon and Dark told them all of them but Juji farewell. Juji wasn't ready to see them off just yet so he offered to walk along side them to the edge of town. Dark sat on Flame's back as he walked along at a mild pace so Juji could keep up.

"So you're going to the mountains?" asked Juji as they reached the edge of town faster
than he would have liked and they could see the dark brown mountains in the distance. "Yes, our mission lies there. One part of returning balance to the world." said Flame. "All eight together will do just that, once we find the other missing two." Dark said looking forward. "You and Light I take it." Dark looked over to Juji a surprised with a small bit of suspicion in his eyes. "Relax, my wit is almost all I have going for me. Well that and my charming personality." Dark laughed. "You charming? That'll be the day." "Hey everyone loves the tuff guy. Anyway, you and Light it's kinda obvious, your names your powers, the fact you can wield other elements? Lucky you, coming from this know-nothing town and you both have huge parts in saving the world." He sighed closing his eyes.


"Don't be so hard on yourself. Yomi has an army and even with all the Elementals we
could use one of our own. I know you would be valuable on the battlefield." Juji smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that but." "When the time comes you shall know." Flame said reading his heart. "And I believe you shall be a blazing hero!" Juji smiled, folding his hands behind his head. "Maybe but me a hero? Well anyway I suppose this is where we part. See you on the battlefield." Dark said nodding to Juji as flame took his first few wing beats. "Oh hey, word is the golems are distressed recently. We haven't seen them too much but there has been sighting of an odd golem, a large one made from coal black stone with burning red eyes. Be careful!" Juji called up at them before they were out of earshot. "Will do!" Dark called back before Flame flew onward.

They approached the mountain range and as they did both Dark and Flame could feel a
force pulling at them. "What's that?" asked Dark. "Hum. Think a bit Dark, where have you felt this before?" "With the others, when our group is together we have a connection. So does that mean this is them?" Flame nodded. "Yes, now all we need to do is follow it." Flame adjusted his flight and flew to the back of the mountain range where a colossal dome of stone was. Flame landed on top of it and Dark dismounted. "Well I'd say it's in here, can you dig though it? Dark asked Flame as he kicked at the rock.

Flame scratched at the stone then struck it with his tail. "No, this is far too thick and
strong. It must have been made by one of them." Dark cracked his knuckles. "Well then, I'm an Elemental after all and have a bit of control over earth." He placed his palm on the dome and focused trying to pull the rock apart. Small fissures appeared by his hand and spread out over the dome. He smiled and tired to deepen the fissures but he stumbled back like something had struck him. Standing up he put his palm on the rock again but before he could do anything the fissures came back together as if the dome was healings itself. "Awe man, one of them is against me, I'm good at Earth but am no match against the Earth. It would be the reverse if they challenged me at Darkness but. . ."

Flame put his tail around Dark. "Don't worry; you are literally out of your element here.
Though I think we can do something, you said only one of them is fighting you right?" Dark
looked up to Flame and nodded. "Well then we just have to find the other. Juji said golems live here, I'm sure they know where that other is and with that other we can break though." Dark nodded. "Sounds good but Juji also said a black golem with red eyes is around here, remember what Marigold said?" "Yes, maybe we can stop him here and now." Flame smiled knowing that the chances were slim at best but it was good to give Dark hope. "Yeah! Let's find the big ugly behemoth! To the top peak, we can get a great view from up there." Dark took his place on Flame's back as Flame jumped, hit the dome with his tail one more time and flew to a tall mountain.

Flame landed in-between a few ledges and the two of them looked around. They didn't
long though as they heard a close landslide. "That sounded way too close for comfort. I
wonder." Dark looked up to see one of the brown stones above them turned black and was
coming down fast. "Flame!" shouted Dark. With a roar Flame took off, curling his tail against his body to keep it from getting crushed. "How do you beat a golem!?" asked Dark. "Any way you can." Flame growled and flew up at a diagonal letting loose fire across the body of a large black golem that emerged from the mountain.

The golem body was large and no one rock was attached to another but seemed to float
in place by some force. The fire seemed to do nothing to Yomi. Flame growled as he hovered in front of Yomi's head looking into the red eyes. A massive hand reached for them and Flame dove, Dark drew his axe in the dive and tired to strike at the golem's body but it was harder than any ordinary stone and the axe bounced right off. The force of the recoil took the weapon form his hand. Tracking its fall Dark spoke only one word. "Go!" Flame didn't have to be told twice and dove after the axe. Yomi kicked at them but the slow golem body couldn't compare to the speed of a diving dragon.

Dark leaned forward to claim his weapon but as he did the pricing cry rang though his
head, much louder and more urgent than last time. Dark closed his eyes and yelled in pain but he couldn't hear his own cry over the one in his mind. He blacked out and fell from Flame's back. Flame roared in distress and lifted up his body catching Dark with is tail. Though he saved Dark, the pause in the air let Yomi target them and kick hard, hitting his mark. Flame was propelled back into a mountain but he kept his tail in front of his body keeping Dark safe. Knowing full well he couldn't fly like this with Yomi looking for his next chance Flame managed to roll over and climb to the summit of the mountain.

Once on top a familiar smell came to him. "Hum, an egg?" He said tilting his head.
Looking around he found a cave and crawled into it, letting Dark go and falling onto his belly, hurt from the impact on the mountain. Looking in the back of the cave he saw a small alter of rock with a fog gray egg. "Oh, an Original egg, so this is what was calling you." He said looking to Dark. He snorted and looked back to the egg. "A fine time you picked Egg." He growled and looked back to the entrance of the cave as Yomi walked over and looked in at them. A massive hand reached for them but a strong force pushed it back. Flame looked back to the egg.

"Ah, so you can repel him? Well I guess it is a fine time." Yomi grew angry as he was
unable to reach them and started to kick at the base of the mountain. "But we must hurry."
Flame stretched his neck over to Dark and placed his nose gently on the top of Dark's forehead. Closing his eyes he focused on Dark's soul making sure he was not near death's door. Dark wasn't yet but he was slipping so Flame acted fast, focusing on their bond and guided him back. Giving Dark some of his energy Flame opened his eyes as did Dark. "Flame?" he asked as the mountain shook from the kicking. "Not much time to explain." Said Flame spreading his wings. "Just get to the egg!" he tried to move but fell back down.

"Flame!" Dark said kneeling at his side. "It's nothing; my back just hurts is all." Flame
said trying to keep things positive. "That is not nothing! Hold still if you can heal me, let me return the favor." Dark put his hands on Flames back purifying his energy to something that can heal rather than hurt. His energy ran along Flame's spine finding a fracture. Dark opened his eyes. "How hard did you get hit?" He asked worried looking into Flame's eyes. "Well. . ." "Don't tell me, just be glad you didn't get hit any harder, it could have gotten very bad." Dark went back to healing fixing the fracture. "Well then, I'll try to not get hit again." Once he was healed Flame stood. "Alright, round two. You get to the egg and I'll take care of him."

Flame dove out of the cave and flew around Yomi's head like a buzzing fly to annoy him
and draw his attention. Yomi turned and once he did Flame dove and flew around his feet, just begging for him to strike. Yomi had enough and pursued Flame. Meanwhile Dark looked to the alter and took a deep breath as he approached. "Well little Dragon, for both our sakes I hope your right in choosing me." Climbing the steps he took the egg and a large crack appeared running right down the eggs center. The egg feel apart and a blinding surge of energy emerged from it, almost overwhelming Dark but he stayed strong. When the excess energy faded, Dark looked in his hand to see a baby lung coiled up. He uncurled and looked up at Dark. "Dark," it thought in a calm and mystic voice. "You are my hatcher, my Rider, my Partner. Name me."

Dark looked at the little lung, its horns main and spines that somewhat resembled a
mountain range were all white. The lung's primary scales were fog gray and looked soft as a cloud. Its belly scales and talons were dark blue like a smoky mountain and its eyes were dark gray. "Um, Mountain Top." Dark decided with a smile. "Mountain Top? Creative, unique and a good choice Partner. Now come." He jumped up to Dark's shoulders. "I have the knowledge of my age old egg and know what to do." Dark nodded and moved to the edge of the mountain. "Flame! Come and meet our new Partner, he has a plan." Dark thought eagerly.

Flame was still ahead of Yomi, taunting him. "On my way." He thought and flew up high
moving over Yomi's head. He dove down to Dark and Mountain Top, flying in front of them. Dark jumped on in a flash and Flame flew up as a fist flew at them. "Go reclaim the axe; it should be stronger with our new bond. Once you have it strike where the head meets the neck." Mountain Top thought to both Dark and Flame. "Dark, can you sense where it is?" Flame asked saying out of Yomi's reach. Dark focused finding the weapon as if it called to him. "There." said Dark pointing down in front of Yomi. "Figures. Hold on tight, like on our very first flight when I dove." Dark managed to laugh. "Only this time we're in it together." He said leaning forward in preparation.

Flame dove down avoiding Yomi's fists as he did. Flame adjusted his wings and with
quick short flaps he leveled out just above the ground allowing Dark to take back his axe that now had a cloud gray edge and a cloud gray stripe down the handle. Avoiding kicks Flame flew back up staying close to Yomi as Dark readied his axe. Flame and Mountain Top roared with pride as Dark struck, his axe hitting the underside of Yomi's head. Flame moved away as the golem lost its bonds and turned into nothing more than a pile of rubble. "See what happens when you challenge me!? Next time it won't be just one of your forms." Dark called as Flame went back to the dome and landed.

"So where are the golems?" asked Dark jumping onto the dome's surface. "Just watch."
said Mountain Top with a smile. No sooner had he spoken than the mountains around them
started to move. Monstrous figures of stone emerged from the mountain and circled the dome. One of them, a red rocked golem spoke. "Rider, Dragon, Hatchling, you have defeated the one who plagued us so. We know you seek the Dragon and Rider of the Earth. We cannot reach the Dragon but we can help you with the Rider in thanks for helping us."

Each golem held out their hands, palms out and began to chant in voices that sounded
like falling rock. One the dome a muscular figured of a man appeared made of stone. The
golems silenced and the rock tuned to flesh. In front of Dark now stood a man wearing a bolder brown shirt and dirt brown pants. His hair was dirt brown and his eyes were bolder brown. In a holster at his belt was a dirt brown mace. Crossing his arms he frowned.
"Why am I summed here?" he spoke in a bellowing yet even voice. He looked at Dark
and his face changed right away to a look of surprise to a look of joy. "Brother! Is that really you? Oh it's been so long, far too long!" He embraced Dark in a mighty hug as Mountain Top flew over to Flame's nose. Confused Dark gave a half hearted hug back. "Where is Sister? Oh I cannot wait to see her! He looked around and his eyes fell on Flame. "That is not Chaos..so this means. . .You must not know." He looked back at Dark as he released him from his embrace. "Well I know but don't remember. So all of us Elementals are siblings?" "Yes, I am Brother Earth, do you know of Light?" "Yeah were twins. Born when the world needs us right? Well the world needs us because Yomi is back."

Brother Earth scowled. "Yomi that traitor! I must have missed much." "Dryard knows."
said Mountain Top getting the attention of the others. "Jewel spoke to the Elemental Dragons and I got the message too. He can fill you in. Though right now his mind is weak and his body controlled." Brother Earth nodded. "Well then, we must free him. Golems, go back to your mountain state it is much safer and I don't want you hurt." The golems nodded and backed up to where they were before their forms becoming part of the mountain once more. "Now get ready to fly." He told Dark who mounted Flame, Mountain Top jumped to Dark's shoulders again. Brother Earth drew his mace and slammed it into the dome channeling his powers of the earth through it. Fractures spread all over the dome and it soon crumbled up and fell.

Flame went airborne flying far above the dome and looked down to it as it fell to see a
massive lung curled up. It opened its bolder brown eyes that stood out in clear contrast to its bolder dirt brown body and growled. In an instant it jumped up flying right at Flame with a roar. Flame reeled back as small boulders came to float around him. "Brother! Dragons! I am here for you. We must devise a plan." Brother Earth's voice called. "Easy, find a parasite, we have an Original Dragon, we can kill it." thought Dark to all of them. "Yes, think all of you, can you find a way to distract him?" Mountain Top thought with a small growl. "On it!" said Flame and flew towards Dryard's face and let loose his fire.

Dryard growled and swiped at Flame. Dark watched carefully noticing something odd
dangling from his arm. "Is that a scale falling off?" He thought. "Can't tell." Mountain Top replied. "Let me get a little closer." Flame thought flying down Dryard's back. Dryard turned as did Flame moving behind Dryard's arm. "Parasite!" Dark thought. "Good, now keep his attention." Mountain Top instructed. "Still on it." Thought Flame as Dryard snapped at them. Flame moved away and down, getting back to Dryard's arm.

Dryard was growing angry and tired to reach for them again and as he did a small bright
red flame shot to his arm. A shriek was heard as the parasite dropped off and Dryard finished the job. Without a word, Flame and Dryard landed at the rubble that was once the dome. Dryard shifted sides and Brother Earth appeared on his back. Stretching, Dryard looked over at Dark. "Dark it's you!" He said happily. "Yes, allow me to grace you with my presence. . .even though I don't remember you." Brother Earth Gave a hearty laughed as he jumped down to the ground and beckoned Dark to come over. Dark went to him and received another strong hug. "Ah same old Dark, how I have missed you Brother." Dark hugged back. "Wish I could say the same." Dark said as he was let go.

"You will when you meet Chaos my dear friend. Everything will come back to you."
Dryard said with a smile as the Riders remounted. "Now let us take to the sky, my mussels need it, I've been to lazy and so have you Brother Earth." "Oh you guys will get plenty, trust me." said Dark as Flame jumped to the air. Dryard nodded and joined them as the golems awoke once more. Brother Earth looked to them. "Thank you my eternal guardians. Do not feel bad at what has happened, Yomi is a fierce foe. Though I think you will get a chance to redeem yourselves when the time is right." "We look forward to it." called the red rocked golem with a nod. Flame and Dryard flew on as the golems sang in their language. They flew past Merchant Villa on the way back where Dark saw Juji sitting on the edge of town watching. Dark looked down to him and the two gave each other a nod, knowing they would fight side by side some time soon.