Skyrise

The "Epic" Battle

Dragonfly

     I woke up in a strange room that I wasn't sure I had been in before. The dying sunlight filtered in through the cracked windows. Scorch marks covered the walls and door. The whole place smelled of diesel and other lethal, yet scientific, chemicals. Fox. How had I gotten to Fox's house? Last I remembered, I was running from... I risked a look at my hand.

     It was all bandaged up. Across the bandages was written: "Do not remove for at least 8 hours!" However, there were also several other things written: "Oak was here!" "Stay Beautiful, darling! -Dawn" and a ridiculously long paragraph by Fox detailing the dangers of the swamp. He had run out of room and had to write the rest of the essay on my palm. It was barely legible in some parts where he had erased and rewritten. I chuckled and climbed out of bed. After wandering downstairs, my stomach let out a huge growl. "Guess I'm hungry?" I had never explored Fox's house, so of course I got lost. I found and peeked in on his little workshop. He wasn't working on anything. Just sitting there, massaging his temples and muttering about Cerberus. Hmm, weird. "You okay, there, buddy?" I asked, walking in to rub his back. He didn't respond until I touched him.

"Huh?! Oh, you're up. Yay. That's a relief."

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing." I gave him a look. "Okay, it's Cerberus. He did something that I absolutely hated, right?"

"Yeah...?"

"Well, I actually want him to do it again. It was painful and scary in a...weirdly fun way?"

"Huh. That is weird." Cerberus. I wonder what he did to you?

"Have you ever felt that way, Dragonfly?"

"Not really. What did he do?"

As he laid out the details, I couldn't help but get a little angry. This guy thinks he can just waltz in and almost hurt our friend? As Fox continued, however, I wasn't entirely sure what to feel. Cerberus didn't seem too bad, and he did truly regret what he had done, so...what now? "And that's why I can't really wait to see him again." He grinned. "Oh, and also, you're gonna help me do his house, okay?"

I reluctantly agreed. Maybe if I can figure out what this guy is all about, I can protect Fox should he need it.

"So what happened to you?" He asked, gesturing to my hand.

I told the story with gusto, trying to emphasize the great peril I accidentally put myself through. He listened with widened eyes and ears. "And then, with the help of my trusty hammer, I barely escaped. I called out the names of my attacks like in your history books." I stood to demonstrate. "Hammer of Perseverance! March of the Dragonfly King! Bow before the Mighty... Uh... Magic Attack! Boom! Pow! And... After a long, grueling battle, he surrendered to I, Dragonfly."

"Wow!"

"Impressed? Yeah, I am pretty great."

"I'm shocked you knew any of your attacks, seeing that you're a pacifist and all. Plus, if he really surrendered, you would've gotten experience, but you don't have any!" I was taken aback. He had almost completely undermined me. "Good luck fooling me, lad. Now, are you hungry?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now, if you're finished making a fool of yourself, I'd like your help testing out a prototype after dinner."

"Fine."