Before The Fall (origins)

Guardian

"This the place?"

"Yes...no...sort of...look this is very complicated."

"No, you said there was a cave here.  This isn't a cave, this is a forest."

"I swear to god, the entrance was just here!  Right, Magrathea?"

"..."

"Magrathea?"

"Huh?  Yeah.  Sure.  Yeah, it was here."

"See?  The entrance was just here!  Use your power if you want.  Ask the Base Tree."

"You're wasting my time."

But he still put a tanned hand to the nearest tree, and turquoise streams flowed from his hand into the woody bark.  The fuzzy outline of something was perched on his shoulder.

GRRRRK.

"See?  See?"

GRRRRK.

"Seems your weren't shitting with me.  Now let's see the issue."

KACHINK.

The forest melted back to reveal the same unnatural stone walls and floor that made up the antechamber.  The change was seamless as earlier, and before thy knew it, they were all engulfed in the antechamber.

"This is the place?"

"Further ahead."

"Just so we're clear, after we get this girl out..."

"I'm out.  Got it."

"I'm not joking, Asura.  This is serious."

"I love you too."

"Every second you spend with him is-"

"I know, I know.  Christ, you should have been a priest, this attitude of yours."

"This is the door?"

"Quite."

"Okay.  Hold on."

The same turquoise light steamed out of the General's fingers and entered the beady eyes of the dragon effigy.  The eyes suddenly burned into life, blazing red and seemingly intelligent.

"Let us pass."

"No."  The dragon's voice was deep and boomed around the passageway.

"Asura, what's Dad doing?"

"Magrathea, I forgot you were there.  That's his power.  Familiar."

"Familiar?"

"Long story short, he can talk to and see spirits.  He can also use a lesser version of Submission on them."

"Let us pass, guardian."

"No."

"Fine."  And he started twisting his hand as more energy poured out of him.  The dragon's eyes narrowed, and it let out a screech that was like metal grinding on metal.  It's eyes blazed brighter and brighter, now closer to white than red.  A red aura radiated from the effigy and coagulated into a twisted, lumpy shape in front of them.  The lump of red pulsed and slowly twisted into the form if a long, red beast.

"What..."

"Not your best day, is it, General?  Trust me, my whole week's been like this.

The beast let out a roar, and without warning, leapt at Magrathea.