The Flux's Flower

Guardian

As the group reached the main sanctuary, Nano was instantly in love. The garden was beautiful, with four crystal fountains, all forming small streams, leading to a moat in the middle. Within the moat's borders, Nano saw a beautiful tree, with sparkling blue-gold leaves and a beautiful white trunk. The ground around it was peppered with small silver flowers. The garden was perfect, except for the fact that a sleeping dragon encircled the tree, its head resting just under the branch with the Apple of Grisaia.

Shadow stopped and began to unsheath his sword. "The guardian of the apple. We must get past it"

"No!" Nano grabbed his arm, and the dragon snorted, causing everyone to shut up

"Firstly, be quiet. Secondly, why not?" Shadow glanced at Nano curiously

"He's a living being. We can't just kill him. Maybe I can reason with him"

Shadow huffed and looked at Lalna, who simply shrugged and said "She's good with animals"

Shadow shook his head "This dragon isn't any normal beast. It will kill you"

"Uh...Maybe you shouldn't go talk to it then" Lalna turned to Nano, but she was already gone, walking toward the dragon. "Nano!" He rushed over, but Nano held up a hand and he stopped cold.

"I have this taken care of." She hopped over the moat and sat cross legged in front of the dragon, putting her hand on its snout and talking in a soft tone. Meanwhile, Lalna had his hand on his sword, waiting for the slightest indication of aggression from the beast.

The dragon woke and stared at Nano's hand, puffing smoke and rising to face level. "Hi there" She soothed "What is your name?" The dragon's eyes glowed, and a deep baritone voice rang in the minds of everyone present. I am Daedalus. Keeper of the Apple of Grisaia. Who disturbs my slumber, and what are your intentions?

"I'm Nano, the one with the goggles is Lalna, and the quiet one in the back is Shadow. You're in trouble and we need to take your apple to protect it"

Daedalus rose up, his wings unfurling. Several have tried to take this apple and failed. Many of them tried to use the same trick. How can I be sure you aren't one of them? How can I be sure you're not just after the apple's wish granting magic?

"I promise you, we have no intention to trick you, sir. There is an evil force on its way and we only wish to protect your sanctuary" Nano kept her tone calm, though Lalna began to get fidgety. From this range, he couldn't intervene if Daedalus attacked, and Nano had yet to take back her sword from him. He looked back at Shadow and mouthed "Wish granting?". Shadow simply shrugged in response

If you wish to prove yourselves, you must battle my champion. If you win, then I will grant you access to it's power. Daedalus transformed into a black shadow "Nobody has beaten the Gaia Guardian."

"Not until now" Shadow stepped forward "I will do battle with you, and you will lose, Guardian"

the Guardian lifted its hand, and fog filled the area, transforming it into a flat battlefield "I highly doubt that. No mortal can stand against my power.". On the world mortal, Shadow's mouth twitched into a smile "We'll see." He hefted his sword, and the two charged into battle.