Last Road To New Oania
Ouran played with Urs ears and rubbed her back. She rolled over to give him access to her belly.
"Hey, you're that kid from the Port. Where's your brother and sister? Lyra and what's his name." Nero recalled.
Frides crossed his arms. "What are you doing here?"
"I followed you." He said.
Elle looked between them. "Who is he?"
"We stayed at his house for a night on our way up here. How you doing kid?" Nero walked over to him and patted Ouran on the head.
Ouran slapped Nero's hand away. "Are you guys going to become Retainers?"
Nero raised his eyebrows. "Look kid, Where do you think you're going with this?"
"No. Do your brother and sister know you're here." Frides refused to himself aloud.
"I want to join too. Its safer for me to join someone than to apply."
"So, You shouldn't be joining in the first place. Now go on home. Let's go Urs." Nero walked away and Urs growled.
"They don't know you're here." He stated. "You're coming with us and we'll send word for them to come and get you."
"He is?" Nero questioned.
"We can't send him back."
"Don't send me back." Ouran begged.
"He found us just fine. I'm sure he can find his way home." Nero argued.
"How did you find them?" Elle asked.
"He said he was going to New Oania. I followed the road. How else? Who is she?"
"That is Elle. She's our new friend."
"Oh. I'm Ouran nice to meet you." He shook her hand politely.
"Maybe he wont be okay." Nero stated. He looked over to Frides' frown. "Okay. He can come with us until we can get him a coach or something."
Frides looked at Nero and a devilish grin creases his face. "Nero your reward starts now, so not a peep for two peaceful days." Nero let out a gasp and his face fell. "Now lets go before the Peace Corps comes after us."
Nero stomped away, spiritlessly waving for them to follow him.
That night they made camp deep into the woods in case the Peace Corps came after them.
They gathered around a small fire that Nero made in quietly.
"That food was so good. Thank you.." Ouran looked blankly at Elle across from him.
"Elle." She reminded him.
"Sorry. Where'd you get it?" He asked.
"I got it from the Springs we just left. I wasn't expecting another person so we'll have to portion it out." She explained.
"Ur..." Nero started then stopped and looked at Frides.
"Not a word." He said returning Nero's glare. "Ouran, why are you trying to become a Retainer?"
"It's the Port." Nero looked sharply at him. "After you guys burned down that building, everything looked like it was going to return to normal. It's those guys."
"You guys burned down a building." Elle exclaimed.
Nero nodded triumphantly.
"We had to. Who are you talking about, Ouran?" Frides clarified.
Ouran looks at the camp fire. "I don't know. They came in and replaced the other guy with Gote. They're working with the pirates too. I heard my brother say something about the Green Book."
"If it's the Green Book then burning a building is understandable." Elle made out.
"My brother has started to make more Pulley's but how long will that work? I want to do more. I want to fight. You have to let me join you guys."
"Ouran, that is out of the question. Being a Retainer is too dangerous. More than that it would jeopardize everyone's safety." Frides rebuked. Nero bobbed his head in agreement.
"I can take care of myself. Look I taught myself how to Glow daggers." Ouran Glowed two grey daggers and stabbed them into the ground next to him. Nero looked up impressed. "They're strong too."
Frides looks over to Nero. "Don't embolden his recklessness. That's not everything you need to know. You don't know how to shield and I don't know anything about your form."
"You guys know. You can show me how to do those things." Ouran construed.
"Frides is right. It's not that easy to learn those things." Elle tried to illuminate the difficulty of what he was trying to do. "It takes years to learn those skills and just as long to learn how to use them in a fight."
"I can learn. I'll prove it. Teach me something. I can learn it and master it before we get to New Oania. Please."
"Please, what?" Frides asked purposely not understanding.
"I think he's saying, if he can learn whatever you teach him, then can he come with us." Elle explicated.
"Thank you. I don't see the point. Even if you learn one thing you'll still be severely lacking.in all of the other categories."
"Then you can teach me the other stuff." Ouran simplified.
"I don't think it's..." Before Frides could finish denying the boy, Nero stood up glowing his staff. He stomped the staff gaining everyone's attention. His expression was alarmingly stern. He looked them all over then stopped at Ouran. His eyes burrowing into him.
"I'll do whatever you guys.." He was interrupted when Nero slapped his chest then pointed his thumb to his chest. "I'll do whatever you say." Nero slowly bowed his head.
"Are you serious?" Frides got ready to protest but was caught by Nero's side eye. "This is crazy. It's not going to be my problem anyway."
"Are you sure about this Nero?" Elle questioned. Nero nodded his head resolutely.
"Really!"
"Don't be too excited." Frides leaned and locked his finger. The flames casting shadows across his face. "You'll be learning to slip."
To Be Continued...
Thanks For Reading!