The ocean swept up against the sides of the jagged rock by the cliff near Luminy castle. Bomb and Lance were sitting atop the cliff watching it. The sun was beginning to set in the distance, which created and amazing portraits of colors across the sky, reflected in the sea.
Lance: I’m sorry about Kyle, how long were you two friends?
Bomb: About 9 years ago… He came as an orphan to our city, just like me.
Lance: Oh….
Bomb: (Kyle’s gone, and so is Rick… I could even deal with it if Lance was gone, it isn’t so bad… It’s hard to go on with my life without him. It should be him and me on this crazy adventure, him and me! Like always… But here I am, with a bunch of people I just met. Its like I’m trying to substitute them with him… But… I will still go on… I will defeat Agile, and Lyrian, and even Kyros with my own hands, in a tribute to him! I know he is still watching on me, I can feel him near me ever step of the way now. I haven’t lost him yet; I just can’t see him for a while. But I know he can see me…)
Bomb stared at the setting sun and Lance did too. Soon a shadowy figure appeared in the sunset.
Bomb: Ah, she is here…
Lance: Karen?
Bomb: Yeah, let’s get this over with and get the hell out of here!
They still sat down and watched the sun set closer and closer to the ground patiently, and soon Karen was overhead and descending upon them. Bomb and Lance stood up and got ready to jump on.
Lance: What do we do?
Bomb: Just let me handle this, you can help fight if we get in trouble.
Lance: Ok…
Jerzyl lowered just near the cliff leaving enough space for Bomb to just fly onto him. Bomb spread his wings out and took a deep breath. He jumped and flapped as hard as he could. The jagged rocks of the ocean lay many feet under him.
Bomb: (Still hurts a little…)
He flapped down quickly onto the back of Jerzyl.
Karen: Hey, who’s that? Wow, where did he come from?!
Karen sat staring at Lance.
Bomb: He’s an old friend of mine, hop on Lance.
Lance: Hello again, Karen.
Lance flapped off the cliff edge and onto Jerzyl, he got a seat right behind Bomb.
Karen: Wait, I recognize that-
Bomb: He’s the person who saved you at Middlegrove forest a few days back!
Karen: Oh wow!
The dragon flew up towards the Luminy castle Shredded Wing statue. Bomb told Karen quickly about his King Blister plan.
Karen: So is Lance coming along for the whole time?
Lance: Yes..
Karen: Wow, I can’t believe we have some followers now.. We did have Lukis also.. Too bad about Lukis though…
Lance: Lukis?
Bomb: Yes, he left on some personal issues..
Lance: I see….
The three conversed for a while and both got to know Lance as Jerzyl soared up towards the castle top and again onto the statue.
Karen: Amnesia?
Bomb: Yes, I’m supposing King Blister knocked him out or something… How did you get out of the dungeon anyways?
Lance: I don’t know, I woke up outside, under castle… By the rocks and the sea…
Bomb: Oh… Ok, is everyone ready?
Karen: Let’s go!
**************************************************************************************
Lukis: C’mon, let’s go already!
By now Lukis had traveled deep into the forest. It was getting late and dark. He was shouting up into the crowded treetops. Up there, atop a branch sat Jinz, munching on a banana.
Jinz: We’ve gone far today, it will probably start getting cold. I suggest we sleep!
Lukis: In the jungle?! That’s crazy, how close are we!
Jinz: Hey, it’s a two-day journey!
Jinz tossed the banana peel away and began to jump from branch to branch down the tree.
Jinz: Oh man, I haven’t eaten like that in so long…
Lukis: So where do we sleep?
Jinz leaped off the last branch close to the ground and glided just past a brush safely onto the grass.
Jinz: Oh yeah, in the bed they leave for travelers.. Sheesh, just sleep on the ground…
Lukis: Ground, what?! And they make Royal Lawren sleep on the ground?!
Jinz: Uh, yeah…
Lukis: That doesn’t sound right….
Lukis: (This is weird….)
Jinz: Goodnight man, I am sleeping!
Jinz got up against a tree and slowly sat down onto it. He closed his eyes and quickly drifted into sleep, probably from all the food he had eaten in the jungle. By now the sun had set and it was dark in the forest. Only the moon provided a bit of light. Lukis walked over to the tree parallel to the one Jinz was sleeping on and slowly sat by it and laid his back on it. He let out a sigh of relief as he rested his worn out legs.
Lukis: Ugh…. Sleep… I am tired now…
Lukis looked up at the stars one last time as his eyes began to shut.
Lukis: (I wonder what Bomb is doing right now….)
His eyes shut and his body relaxed all over, and he fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.
**************************************************************************************
The other three stood in the same throne room as before, and the King of the Luminy Castle began to shake in his chair.
King Blister: You can’t possibly… think you can kill me! Me! The King…. Blister!
Bomb: Do you not see the dragon?!
King Blister looked again at the dragon, who lay near the skylight, and had his head propped through the hole. The dragon stared directly at the King.
King Blister: Guards… Guards, take them away!
The same two guards stood at the door.
Guard 1: Uhm…..
Guard 2: I refuse….
King Blister: What?! My two loyalist….. servants?! Refusing?!
King Blister looks shocked. By now the sun had set and it was once dark in the throne room, giving it the ultimate spooky look Bomb felt the night he had entered the other day.
Guard 1: I am sorry, but, I’m with Bomb……
Guard 2: Yes, I mean.. Other than the whole massive dragon destroying us part, bringing the Scraps community back to life could bring us even more power!
Guard 1: Yes, we could build factories and shops and be like Lawren!
King Blister: Lawren?! Lawren?! You traitors!
Guard 2: …………
Guard 1: King Blister, we are not traitors!
King Blister: Yes you… are!
Guard 2: If the first King of the Luminy castle were here he would not be proud of you. He built Luminy for a reason, not to be scrapped. You wouldn’t even be sitting here if the last King Luminy died before he had any children!
King Blister: Outlandish!
Bomb: It’s true King Blister.. I know you want to remain all high and mighty, but, don’t you want to be respected too? You will never gain respect by killing your own people. If you work hard, you can have the people on your side, for good of course..
King Blister: I can’t just give up everything… I….
Karen: If you can just try to do this one good deed we will be on your side.
Lance: We will be the first people on your side, we will respect you..
Bomb: I know it isn’t easy to just change your whole philosophy, your heart, but have you ever looked at the Scraps?
King Blister: I… I…
Bomb: King-
King Blister: No need for further talk… I understand… And tomorrow we will… start Luminy up anew!
Bomb: You really will?
Bomb: (Whoah, I didn’t think he would just give in)
King Blister: I will become so powerful even… you will cower someday! And your dragon!
Bomb: We will come meet here again in a week or so… With Jerzyl. I want to see a lush, flourishing city, and I want to see all the old inhabitants there, too!
King Blister: ……….
Bomb: Do you understand me?
King Blister: Yes, one week..
King Blister: (First respect, then power!)
Bomb: Ok, we have to go, I’ll see you in one week.
King Blister: ……
Lance and began began flying up, but first Bomb grabbed Karens hand, and Lance grabbed the other. They brought her up with themselves above the skylight and onto the back of Jerzyl.
Bomb: That was easier than I thought…
Karen: He still has some evil in his heart, though..
Bomb: You can’t just change someone’s heart, but I think we really did those people some good.
Lance: Yeah, we did a good job…
Bomb: Yeah, ok Jerzyl! Go back to Lawren! We will sleep tonight, and tomorrow, Saltis!
Karen: Saltis?
Bomb: Yes, I have a feeling a big war is brewing over there.. But anyways, what did you find out at Balback? We never had a chance to talk about that..
Karen began to tell Bomb what she had found out as the dragon took off in the distance towards Lawren. Back in the throne room it was very quiet. The King was thinking over to himself exactly what he was going to do. A smirk appeared on one of the guards faces.
Guard 1(Whispering): Just like old times, eh! I can’t wait to see the city back up!
Guard 2(Whispering): Yeah, before Agile killed King Luminy, it was great around here. Just like Lawren…
King Blister: What are you two talking about!
Guards: Nothing sir!
**************************************************************************************
The sun was just beginning to rise past the treetops as Lukis awoke from his long night’s rest.
Lukis: Ohh…. Where am I?
Lukis: (Oh yeah…)
Lukis looked around him; Jinz had left his sleeping spot, and was probably around munching on food in the trees. Lukis began to get up quickly but stopped instantly.
Lukis: Unh, my back… Man, why did I sleep up against a tree…
Lukis got himself up much slower and when he was up and awake he stretched his arms and legs.
Lukis: Ohh… That’s going to be sore all day… Jinz!
Lukis looked around the treetops for the blue monkey. After awhile of searching he saw Jinz atop in the tree he was sleeping against, munching on some apples.
Lukis: Hey! Hey Jinz!
The monkey ignored him and continued eating.
Lukis: I can see you!
Finally he got the monkey’s attention and Jinz looked down.
Jinz: Hey!
Lukis: We have to get moving! Uh, I forgot where we were going, what direction is it?
Jinz: I don’t know. Just go in some direction.
Lukis: What?!
Jinz: Man, I’m trying to eat here!
Lukis began to get frustrated and aggravated.
Lukis: Hey, I thought we were in this together, where do we go?! You have to know!
The monkey dropped the apple core and looked at Lukis.
Jinz: Well I guess I can tell you. You did let me back into Lawren, even though they didn’t have any food I liked… There isn’t any secret passage-
Lukis: What?
Jinz: I just wanted to get across that bridge because they have the food I like here.
Lukis: You what?! What the hell?! What the hell is the matter with you! I cant even get home now, I… I’m stuck here!
Jinz shrugged and walked along the branch looking for more food.
Jinz: Ah c’mon, what else would you have done anyways? Saltis is closed, did you forget?
Lukis: You idiot, I’m stuck in a forest! I don’t even know where to go! I have no idea where this forest leads!
Jinz: Man, don’t get mad at me now.
Lukis: Get.. Get mad?! Ahhh!
Lukis lunged at the tree and tried to climb up to catch the monkey, but he just ended up slipping down and getting hurt. He tried again, but to no avail, he slid down again and slammed on the ground.
Lukis: Come down here!
Jinz: Chill out, we got food! We got water! We got… Paradise!
Lukis: I don’t see any water!
Jinz: There is a river that passes through here somewhere. We would find it eventually. And there’s tons of water in citrus fruit. See?
Jinz picked an orange of the tree and tossed it down. Lukis just barely caught it and immediately ripped it open.
Lukis: Food! Ah, food!
He began to munch on the sweet fruit inside.
Jinz: Man, this forest is filled with this kind of stuff. Eventually if you really want to, you can find a way out, I bet you could. By then Saltis would be open and I suppose the war would be over by then, probably.
Lukis finished feasting on the orange and threw the peel far off into the forest. After filling his stomach a little bit he felt a little less hostile and angry.
Lukis: I guess it’s not that bad, and I guess I shouldn’t just sit here complaining. Now give me more food!
Jinz: Ah man, are you going to bug me all day?
Jinz picked of an apple and tossed it down, but instead of catching it Lukis just moved out the way and the apple smacked into the dirt on the ground.
Lukis: I don’t want an apple! I want an orange!
Jinz: (Agh, he’s gonna be like this all day.. I should have just run away at night)
Jinz: *sigh*
**************************************************************************************
Bomb stepped out of the Inn and stretched, looking at the glum city of Lawren.
Bomb: Hmph, I guess they are still depressed about the whole Lyrian thing.
The townspeople still looked sad, but now they didn’t walk around with their heads drooping around. The just walked around quietly, and with no expressions on their face.
Bomb: Well I think they are getting better, I mean, they just look dull and lifeless now. That’s better than sad and suicidal.
Behind Bomb followed Karen, then Lance. They all walked down onto the stone streets.
Karen: Onto Saltis and Delban, right?
Bomb: Yeah, hey, I guess I should go check up on any news there so we can be prepared if there are bullets flying around.
Karen: Or torpedos…
Bomb: Or girls riding tanks and shooting teammates.
Karen: …….
Lance: ?
Bomb: Hey c’mon, I’m kidding. You guys just chill out at the bar or something and I’ll go to the general store.
Karen: Ok…
Lance: Ok Bomb.
Bomb walked off the streets and past the place where the statue used to stand. Two guards were now patrolling the crime scene. One was inspecting the ground.
Guard: No trails of anything unusual…
Bomb passed them towards the general store. He looked back to see both Karen and Lance entering the bar.
Bomb: They better not drink too much, I don’t want to drunk teammates flying into intense combat..
Bomb pushed the door opened and walked into the store. On his left were shelves upon shelves of food, weapons, and armor. However, nothing looked new. On his right was a counter with the same clerk Lukis talked to. Bomb walked up to him and put his hands on the counter.
Bomb: Hey, do you have any news about Saltis or Delban?
Clerk: Another person wants to know? Hmm, well, I heard there was a huge war brewing up over there. So Saltis and Delban have locked their doors up to any visitors.
Bomb: Damn!
Clerk: That’s what the other guy that asked said, why do you want to go in so bad?
Bomb: Nevermind that, so there is no way in?
Clerk: Nope.
Bomb: Not even friends of the city?
Clerk: No, they are worried about traitors and spies too, you know.
Bomb: Ok, well, do you have any other interesting news?
Clerk: Yes, a little. Two nights ago Luminy Castle was broken in for the 2nd time, the 1st was about 5 or 6 days ago.. And bandit raids have been rampant in Seascapes. That is all I have so far.
Bomb: Bandit raids? In my hometown?
Clerk: Yes, no killing has taken place yet, just tons of stolen goods.
Bomb: Arg… Well, tanks for the information.
Clerk: Sure you don’t want to buy anything?
Bomb: Uh, no thanks, I barely have any silvers.
Clerk: I see, well feel free to come again. I get the news every two days so it’s always recent.
Bomb: Thanks..
Bomb stepped out of the general store and leaned up against the wall, thinking.
Bomb: (Hmm… Saltis and Seascapes both seem to be in trouble right now, however we could just fly into Saltis… First we will go to Saltis, and if we can’t get in, we will go to Seascapes. Although I doubt they can keep us out of Saltis.. I better go get the others.. I wonder if Lukis somehow got in?)
Bomb got to his feet and began walking towards the bar.
Bomb: (Saltis, here we come!)