Zayla Eternal

Zanaria. Welcome Home...

Bodoku, Zayla and Tidus rested while Tonton kept watch over the still unconscious Choji who they had tied to a nearby tree. She sighed crossing her arms, "how did I get stuck with this job...?" She asked herself aloud, "then again..." She glanced over at Bodoku, "I'm glad his sleeping like a baby for once..." She gave a sad sigh then flinched as Choji coughed waking up, "go back to sleep will ya, I'm not in the mood for your attitude". Choji frowned up at her, "who are you?" "I'm Tonton, and your Choji, now that we're introduced. Shut up". Choji straightened, "ah..." He looked down at his injuries that had a weird smelling substance on them, "healing ingredients, did you do this?" "Of course I did, I'd never leave someone injured no matter who they are, well unless your name is Devari that is". Choji glanced across to a grave, "who was that?" Tonton ignored his question, "I'm impressed you knew those were to heal you". "Yes... well I have powers of earth". "From your first impression, I wouldn't have guessed", she sat before him making him straighten, "what the hell was that stuff around you?" "Curiosity killed the cat Tonton". "Let's pretend for a moment that I don't have four legs and a bushy tail, what was it?" He sighed and blinked, "I-I confess, I am not entirely sure. All I do know is that whatever Zayla did suppressed it, and I'm thankful". "Are you trying to tell me that something inside you took over?" "Yes, that is the second time I've died and came back as a monster..." "Really?" She eyed him, "then I guess you owe Zayla since she helped you out". He smiled then snorted, "are you kidding? She was trying to kill me". "You killed her first if I recall what they told me". Choji opened his mouth to retort but instead gave a small smile, "ha... yeah that's true. I guess I do owe her one then", he slouched with a yawn, "so what are you proposing then Tonton, you want me to be a good guy?" Now it was Tonton's turn to snort, "as if! You're a nasty spawn from Devari sent to capture the girl, I'd never believe you'd actually help Zayla-" "I'll do it", he shrugged. Tonton was bewildered, "wait. Really? Just like that?" "Just like that, I was getting bored anyway, your friends seem way more interesting than Devari and his stone stare clones. I don't know if you noticed but I hate being bored". "I see". "I owe Zayla one. But only one, once I've repaid my debt, I'll do what I was sent to do". "To capture Zayla". "Exactly". Tonton shook her head, "you are a weirdo. I reckon you'll learn to love these people, you won't betray them once you've settled your debt, you'll see". Choji shrugged, "so does that mean you'll unbind me now?" Tonton shook her head, "no this means I can sleep in peace, I trust you won't slit anyone's throat and try to kidnap Zayla and escape while I get my rest?" "You have my word". "Good, then best make yourself comfortable since I know you've already freed yourself", she laid down. Choji tilted his head pulling his arms forward, "how did you know?" "I'm not stupid", she chuckled then closed her eyes. Choji stared at her then looked over at Zayla. Tonton peeked out of one eye, "hey, you aren't thinking about doing something sneaky are ya?" "Wouldn't dream of it, we struck a deal", he laid down to go to sleep.

"We're here", Tanjiro mentioned as they reached the end of the sewage tunnel. "Ugh finally..." Kuriso moaned. Seth glared at her as she climbed through the opening first, "after you..." he said sarcastically making Tanjiro smile. Tanjiro offered him a hand through but he refused and gave a gentlemanly bow gesturing him to go first, "ladies first huh?" Seth frowned, "uh no of course n-!" "I was kidding! Haha thanks", Tanjiro climbed up the ladder. "Uh your welcome..." Seth followed. Kuriso pulled herself up then looked up and around at the area they had reached, "uh... Tanjiro..." Tanjiro hoisted himself up then lent a hand to help Seth out of the hole, "was this supposed to lead us to Zanaria?" "Of course-" Tanjiro looked up and couldn't believe his eyes, "uuhh where the heck are we!?" The three of them looked around the steel box they were currently in. "Some sort of trap?" Seth mentioned, "perhaps Devari thought one day someone would come through the sewers to kill him". "Geez! Paranoid much!" Tanjiro exclaimed. "So what now? We head back through?" Kuriso asked. As she did an alarm bell shrilled forcing them to cover their ear, "Ah what the hell!?" Kuriso cried. Seth looked down as the cover they had climbed through suddenly filled over with foam, "definitely a trap..." "Tanjiro do something!" "What do you want me to do!?" Seth watched as a small black device rose out of the ground in all four corners of the square they were contained in, "Tanjiro can you hear me?" "Somehow..." "There is still earth under this pavement, you must use it to destroy those devices". Tanjiro followed his gaze, "what are those?" "I don't know, but we're in a steel trap, do the math". Tanjiro gave a nod releasing his ears, he raised his hands shooting earth chunks out of the ground to break the electricity units, once broken he used his power to create an opening in the floor, "come on, quickly", he ushered them into the hole then closed it up.