The Arrogance of Man: Remastered Edition

It was a cold evening in Saddle Arabia. While the climate of this land is scorching hot during the day, the temperature takes a nose dive during night fall. This is when the creatures of the night emerge from their shelters. As is the case for those who are trying to conceal their presence in this new environment.

The Mutant 4 found themselves making their way to the beach on this evening. They carried with them knapsacks, which held an extra pair of clothes. The incident with Sirens from earlier this day had prompted the group to all stash extra clothes into a hiding place in case they were forced to change form. They hoped that other than Junior, they won't have to risk changing.

"I think right around here is good," said Junior as he stopped next to a boulder. He knelt down and began to dig into the sand. The Transmutants dumped their knapsack into the hole.

"OK, remember this spot. Aang, Ro, be up early tomorrow morning. We've got one last chance. We can't afford to botch this," said Junior.

"With a new boat, some harpoons and you patrolling the water, we can handle this no problem!" said Angirasu.

"And all it cost us was an advance on payment," said Rodan, a heavy sigh escaping him.

"You guys better be careful tomorrow," said Mosura with a grimace. The tale that the boys had told her earlier had her on edge. She would be raising a storm to keep them from endangering themselves had they not been so stubborn. They were racing against the clock to maintain housing.

"We will. Come on, let's-"

There was the sound of three feminine screams in the air. The Transmutants were startled by the sound.

"That came from the beach!" said Angirasu.

Junior bolted off, following the source. The rest followed in suite. At this time of night, by the water, Junior had one hunch as to what could cause such terror. They came to the shore, where the waves crashed. It was here that they found an unexpected sight.

In the mud, there lied three young girls, around their age. Their bodies were soaked from head to toe. Mud stuck to their faire skin, as they shivered. They wore colored clam shells over their breasts, but were otherwise completely naked.

"Ah!" Angirasu exclaimed, covering his eyes, his face beat red. Rodan went slack jawed. Junior and Mosura rushed over to the three girls.

"You three OK? What happened?" Mosura knelt close to Adagio Dazzle.

The Siren, now turned human, pulled away and hissed. Mosura recoiled while Junior sent the girl and odd look.

"Stay back!" Adagio suddenly pulled out a sawfish sword and swung it wildly.

"Whoa! Take it easy!" Junior cried, as the Dazzling swung at him. The rest of the sisters began to draw their weapons at the Transmutants.

"Is that a rusty hook?! exclaimed Rodan.

"YOU'LL NEVER TAKE US ALIVE!" Sonata shouted, trembling in the cold mud.

"Yeah, just go ahead and try!" shouted Aria, jabbing a spear at them. Junior groaned as he grabbed the spear and yanked it out of the girl's hands.

"ENOUGH!" Junior snarled. The Dazzlings huddled close together, fearful looks on their faces. The boy winced as he felt a tingling sensation in his head. A familiar cold presence was felt over his shoulder.

"Goji, dial it back," said Mosura, raising a hand to the boy. Junior took a calming breath, feeling the presence subside.

"Achoo!" Adagio sneezed. She sniffled as she shook violently. The cold had never bothered her before. For some reason, she couldn't stop trembling. The blowing of the wind made it worse, brushing against her wet body.

"Jeez! What are doing out here this late? You're basically naked!" said Mosura, removing her hoodie. She held it to Adagio, who shrunk back. The Dazzling eyed it in suspicion.

"Take it before you freeze to death!" Said Mosura. Hesitantly, Adagio took. She set the weapon she held down, looking over the strange thing. She felt the cotton fabric at her fingers, having never felt something so soft.

"H-Here..." Angirasu removed his coat and knelt beside Sonata. The girl shrunk back from him, but the boy gently draped the coat over her shoulders.

The girl's wet skin was shielded by the cold air, much to her surprise. The boy met her with a warm smile. Sonata couldn't help but get lost in the gentle warmth of his hazel eyes. His features were masculine, but carried a bit of a softness to them. Unlike the boy with the dark hair, whose features were more hardened and rigid. Sonata may have found what she thought may be the cutest boy in the world.

"Better?" asked Angirasu.

"A bit..." Sonata spoke, absent minded.

"Hey, what about me?" asked Aria, huddling herself for warmth. Junior sighed as he removed his shirt and handed it off.

"It's not much, but here."

"It stinks!" Aria scrunched her nose, a grimace on her face.

"Take it or leave it." Junior scowed. Aria sighed as she slipped on the shirt. The girls were all covered for the most part, but still shook.

"So, what happened? Why are you all... Naked?" Angirasu blushed. The Dazzlings shared a look.

"Did those monsters attack you?" asked Rodan.

"Monsters? What monsters?" asked Sonata.

"The Sirens," said Junior. Sonata furrowed her brows.

"HEY! WE'RE-"

"We're fine! It wasn't anything like that!" Adagio interrupted. She sent her youngest sister a glare.

"We just... Fell over board. Yeah! We uh... We fell in the water and got washed up," said Adagio, forcing a smile. Junior raised a brow.

"What's with the bras and no pants?" asked Junior.

"Pants?" Aria tilted her head.

"Swim suits! Yeah, we're uh... We're swim suit models!" Adagio tittered. Her knowledge of Surface culture was limited, but she heard tales from her elders that the humans would display themselves to the public for fashion. She heard of something called 'swim suits', which were apparently a pair of minimal garments used for swimming. Strange, but Adagio opted to use it as an alibi.

"It must be for a dirty magazine," Rodan leaned close to Junior and whispered.

Junior slightly nodded, but he wasn't convinced. Their bra styles seemed odd. Their story would have some merit if there was a boat or something nearby, but the bay was empty. If it was far, these girls would have likely froze to death by now in the water. There was something that was also fishy. The smell of them was off.

"Oh no, that's terrible!" Angirasu frowned. Then, an idea came. He looked to the rest of the Mutant 4.

"Guys, we should help and take them in," whispered Angirasu. Mosura narrowed her eyes at him.

"No!" Mosura's voice was audible, startling the Dazzlings. The Transmutant cleared her throat.

"No, are you crazy? The reason why MONARCH found us in the first place was because we let people into our lives!" Mosura whispered. Angirasu frowned.

"Mosu, we can't abandon them! Look at them. They're cold and wet, with nowhere to go."

"And hungry!" Sonata chirped. Aria elbowed her in the side, prompting a pained whine. Angirasu pointed to Sonata, while looking directly at Mosura with an expectant look. Mosura grimaced, still reluctant.

"I'm not leaving them out here," said Angirasu defiantly. Mosura sighed.

"Well, it would be wrong to leave them here." The girl turned to Dazzlings, forcing a smile.

"You can stay with us until we can figure out what to do next," said Mosura. Angirasu held out a hand to Sonata. The girl eyed it, but her cheeks reddened. She took his hand and was hoisted to her feet. Sonata's legs began to shake. She gasped as she suddenly collapsed. Angirasu was swift and caught her before she could hit the ground.

"Are you OK?" asked Angirasu worriedly.

"I... I can't stand," muttered Sonata. Having legs instead of a tail was certainly a new experience. She felt like she had no control of them. The same was felt by her sisters, as they struggled to stand. Adagio sneezed again as she fell onto her rear, her face flushing. Junior instinctively looked away, before he could catch a glimpse at her exposed nether region.

"Here, let me help you," said Junior before kneeling. He scooped Adagio up into his arms, carrying her like a princess. Adagio sniffled, as she eyed the boy. Junior's expression suddenly turned to concern.

"She's looking flushed. We should hurry. If they can't walk, than this is serious," said Junior urgently. Mosura and Rodan helped Aria to her feet, supporting her over their shoulders.

Later, the group arrived at the inn. Having been acquainted with each other's names, Rodan opted to prepare canned food for everyone. The Dazzlings were wrapped from head to toe in blankets. Adagio was the most bundled. She shook violently as she found herself with the sniffles. Her face and nose were a visible red. Her sisters looked on at her in worry.

Junior approached her and brought the back of his hand against her forehead. Adagio stiffened, not liking the land dweller placing his hands on her. She only allowed it once since she was incapable of walking. This was now pushing it.

"Yep. Definitely a fever," said Junior as he set his hand down. Mosura approached, carrying a bottle of cold medicine. She poured some into a spoon and held it to the Dazzling.

"What in Tartarus is that?" Adagio backed away from the colored fluid.

"It's medicine. It'll help you feel better," said Mosura.

"No way am I putting that stuff in my body!" Adagio glared at the girl.

"What are you, five years old?" Junior snorted. Adagio met him with an indignant look.

"Look, you wanna get better, right? Well, you gotta take your medicine." Mosura held out the spoon closer. Adagio grimaced. The Dazzling leaned in and allowed the spoon to enter her mouth. Immediately, she was greeted with the taste of the medicine. Her face contorted as she let out an inaudible whine.

"Swallow it," said Mosura, almost in a parental tone. Junior watched on in amusement as Adagio pulled away from the spoon and gulped. She stuck her tongue out and gagged, much like a child would. Mosura smiled.

"See? That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"It's bitter!" Adagio whined.

"Good medicine is supposed to be bitter," said Junior.

The Dazzlings found themselves sporting some of Mosura's night wear outfits. However, Adagio's figure proved to be too much for the Transmutant's clothes. So, wore one of Junior's shirt. But, this proved to give the Dazzling a bit of an erotic look.

"Nice," said Rodan, a sly smile on his face.

"It gets cold at night. Here, you'll need these, especially if you're sick." Mosura handed Adagio a pair of socks, much to her confusion.

"Hey, what are these?" asked Sonata, holding up a pair of socks. The Transmutants shared odd looks.

"What? You never seen socks before?" asked Junior oddly.

"Socks?" Sonata cocked a brow.

"Of course we have! She's just being silly!" Adagio twittered as she unfurled the socks she had. She eyed them, attempting to figure out what to do with them. A thought came to mind as she found the tube-like shape. Adagio slipped her hands into each sock, reaching her fore arms. She met them with an innocent smile. But, that smile faded once she noticed the stares that she was receiving.

"I mean, you can wear them like that. But since you have a cold, you ought to cover your feet," said Junior. Adagio looked down at her legs and then the socks on her arms. She removed them and slipped them onto her feet.

"Huh. That makes sense." Adagio said under her breath. The rest of the Dazzlings did the same. Sonata giggled as she wiggled her toes beneath the socks.

"That is a lot warmer," said Aria, smiling.

"Uh... Ro, is that soup done?" asked Junior, making his way to the other room. Rodan followed.

"Should be."

The two boys began to open up heated cans and poured the contents into paper cups. It wasn't much food, but it will hold them over until they can make money for actual meals. Not to mention that a sick girl needed it much more.

"Those girls seem off," whispered Junior, looking over his shoulder.

"A bit, yeah. But, they're hot," Rodan grinned. Junior sent him a look.

"Don't say it. I know better now. I was just saying," said Rodan as he tossed a can into a trash bin.

"There's something up. Nothing about those three makes sense." Junior furrowed his brows.

"Ah you're just on edge because we're on the lamb," said Rodan, dismissive. He began to take a few paper cups that he could carry and brought them over. Junior watched as Sonata eagerly attempted to scarf down the contents, only to have burned her tongue.

"Maybe. Maybe not." Junior said to himself. He grabbed some of the paper cups as well and brought them to the rest of the gang.

"Careful. It's hot," said Junior, before handing Adagio a cup. The girl appeared hesitant, as though she wasn't sure of what to say.

"Th-Thanks." Adagio muttered.

"Hey, we should talk about sleeping arrangements. I think it's fair that you boys give up your beds to these girls," said Mosura. The male Transmutants, sans Angirasu, appeared miffed by the suggestion.

"And where would we sleep?" asked Junior.

"There's a couple couches. Maybe we can ask for an extra mattress or two," Mosura shrugged.

"Mosu, not to sound like a dick, but we're the ones who are going to be working all day just for an income," said Junior.

"I don't mind," interjected Angirasu, nonchalant. Sonata frowned.

"W-We wouldn't want to impose," said Sonata.

"Speak for yourself." Aria muttered to herself. Mosura sighed.

"Goji, come on! At the very least, Adagio should have a bed." The girl gestured to the oldest Dazzling.

"Can't we just share beds?" asked Rodan. Everyone looked at him with disapproving glares. The boy raised his hands defensively.

"I didn't mean us guys with the girls! I could probably bunk with Aang, Sonata can bunk with Aria, but Gojira and Adagio could have their own beds. You know, since he's bigger and she's sick," said Rodan, scratching at his head. Everyone shared a look, pondering this suggestion.

"It beats sleeping on a small couch," said Junior. Mosura blushed as a thought crept into her mind. The idea of her sharing a bed with Junior filled her thoughts. She quickly shook off the inappropriate thought, her face still red.

"Uh... I guess that's alright," said Mosura.

It was a cold evening. The sky was shrouded by many clouds, blotting out the moonlight. From the clouds emerged a massive flying object.

The object was an airship. However unlike most, this one was designed for military use. The great balloon was dark and pill shaped. The MONARCH Infinity emblem stood proudly on both sides near the nose. Attached to the sides near the rear were large propeller engines, which beat against the wind. The steel cabin beneath the balloon was built on, rather than being secured via rope as most. The cabin's length almost reached to the rear of the balloon. Many windows decorated the top portion of the cabin, while the hull beneath was reinforced and secured. Cannons were built into sides of the vessel.

This ship, 'The Harbinger', was capable of housing hundreds of crewmen, as well as soldiers. Its ability of flight, its armored hull and its mounted weaponry made this a formidable mobile fortress.

Ghidorah found himself on the bridge of the ship. The view through the great windows allowed him to see the cloudy night sky. He stood in silence.

The sound of a projector humming to life drew the elf's attention. He turned to find Onyx's holographic form to have appeared.

"I will not tolerate failure a second time, Ghidorah. You have all of the reinforcements you'll need. I even went out of my way to lend you our latest mech, despite protests from the committee." said Onyx, sternly.

"On the bright side, this will be as good as a field test as any," said Ghidorah. Onyx narrowed his eyes.

"Rest assured, I won't let them get away again. This time, I'm serious," said Ghidorah, smirking.

"You better be." Onyx's holographic apparition disappeared. Ghidorah sighed as he turned back around.

"That girl's hunch about them heading for Saddle Arabia better be correct," said Ghidorah to himself.

Meanwhile, in the living quarters, Sunset found herself bunked beneath Erika Shiragami. The pair was sound asleep for the night.

It had been an infuriating few days. They were close to accomplishing their mission, only for Princess Celestia to bar MONARCH's presence from Equestria. Whatever reason that was, it hindered them. The elf had fumed about this since. Her mind on the Avatar, who was so stupid as to swipe away the helping hand. Once again, she was interfering with her greatness. It was only through sleep did her mind have rest.

"Sunny..." A feminine voice whispered. Sunset's eyes shot open. She felt heavy. She attempted to move her head, but remained still. Her limbs were slack on the bunk, while she stared into the darkness. She was completely paralyzed

Sunset was filled with a sudden sense of fear. She attempted to speak to call someone. However, all that came out were strained, quiet grunts. Her heart was pounding as she lied, much like a doll. She didn't know what was happening and dreaded this being her permanent state.

Sunset suddenly felt a hand on her. Her eyes darted around, searching for the source. But, she saw nothing. Even when her sight adjusted to the dark, she saw no one. The elf felt something gently caress her cheek, causing her to make inaudible whimpers. She had a feeling of violation as the invisible hand brushed her bangs aside. She heard feminine giggles in her ear, causing the girl's eyes to become pinpricks.

The elf closed her eyes, making a vain attempt to block out the feeling of being touched, as well as the creepy giggling. But they continued to torment her. She wanted to break down, but dreaded showing such a weakness.

Sunset suddenly felt a jolt in her body. She shot open her eyes. The girl was able to move her body. The paralysis was gone, as well as the voice and feeling of being touched. Sunset trembled as she got up from her bunk. She peeked over onto Erika on top, thinking that she may have been messing with her. However, the girl was sound asleep.

Sunset got up and left the quarters. Her bare feet felt the cold ground with every step she took. She made her way to the women's restroom area. There were numerous stalls lined together, with pipes connecting to them. It was cold and felt cramped with the piping built into this area. The girl made her way to the wash area and proceeded to rinse her face.

"Get it together, Shimmer. It was just a dream," Sunset whispered to herself, taking calming breaths. As she wiped her face with a towel, she noticed a shadowy figure in the reflection of the mirror. It was hovering over her shoulder with teal, cold eyes.

The girl exclaimed as she turned and backed up to the sink. But, there was nothing there. Sunset was breathing heavily, breaking into a cold sweat. She quickly rushed out of the rest room, as ominous giggles filled her head.

It was the next day in Saddle Arabia. The day was busy as usual for the citizens of this land. However, business was slow, if not nonexistent, for the fishing district. There had been no one willing to go out into the bay due to the disappearances of people. Rumors of monsters lurking in the water had begun to circulate.

One such monster as of now was Junior. The boy was in his beast form, roaming the water beneath the surface. Meanwhile, Angirasu and Rodan rode a boat, with new fishing supplies in hand.

There had been no luck so far in catching anything. Junior was able to see that not a single fish was around. Save for a shellfish or two, the bay was rather barren. It was a shame that the people of this land didn't partake in the consumption of certain animals, shellfish being one of them. Cultural differences certainly made this task tougher. Junior made his way to the surface, drawing the attention of Aang and Rodan.

"There's nothing out here. All of the fish just seem to be gone," said Junior.

"Do you think that the sirens had anything to do with it?" asked Angirasu.

"Likely. They could have eaten everything here and are now setting their sights on humans," said Junior. Rodan shuddered.

"Dude. Not when we're out here in the water!" said Rodan. Angirasu frowned

"What do we do now? We won't get paid if we can't catch anything."

Junior looked out to the open water in thought. He looked back to the boys.

"We'll have to expand our search further out. Maybe we can find something out there. We'll have to be careful though," said Junior.

"You think she'll accept dolphins if we catch them?" asked Rodan. Angirasu sent him an incredulous look. Rodan shrugged with a confused look. Angirasu merely scoffed as he shook his head.

"You're sick."

Meanwhile, back at the inn, Adagio found herself lying in bed, wrapped in blankets. The girl let out a cough and sniffled. Aria and Sonata sat on a separate bed, watching the eldest sister with worried expressions. Mosura was made her way for the Dazzling, placing the back of her hand on her forehead.

"Hm You still have a fever," said Mosura. The girl was curious about these three. Like Junior, she felt a bit skeptical herself. She decided to confirm their story using her telepathy. However, Mosura couldn't get a read to her mind. It seemed that the fever was interfering with the Dazzling's thoughts, preventing Mosura from reading it.

The Transmutant decided to try and read the thoughts of the other two sisters. Before she could, Adagio suddenly took a breath, her flushed face scrunching up. The girl suddenly sneezed, directly into Mosura's face.

The Dazzlings all gasped in alarm. Mosura had stiffened before backing away. Her face held a grimace, her voice gave a small, inaudible whine. The feeling of saliva and some snot made her want to gag.

"Oh gosh, I am SO sorry!" Adagio, cupping her mouth in horror. Living under water her whole life, she had no issue with this sort of thing.

"It's fine. Maybe next time, cover your mouth," Mosura whimpered before making her way to the next room. The sound of the sink running and frantic scrubbing could be heard. Moments later, the girl returned. She cleared her throat as she made way to the door.

"I'll be going to get some clothes. That you way you three aren't forced to walk around looking indecent. Adagio, make sure you take your medicine. One spoonful in the next hour. Be back soon," said Mosura, leaving the room. The Dazzlings found themselves alone.

"Finally. Thought she'd never leave," said Aria in relief.

"So... WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH US?!" Sonata exclaimed, pointing to her legs.

"Not only that, our gems are gone!" said Aria. Adagio shook her head.

"No, they're not gone. Can't you feel it? The magic aura in the air?" asked Adagio. The rest of the Dazzlings paused. They too sensed something familiar. Adagio felt a hand to her chest, above her breasts.

"Our gems are just hidden, like the rest of us. And we're stuck like this," said Adagio in disgust. To think that they'd take on the limbs of these wretched surface dwellers. The very reality made her feel more ill than she already was.

"Are we stuck like this forever?" Sonata whimpered.

"No. In fact, I remember a story of Sirens being able to go on land. It's an old tale, known by that kooky old guy back home. I guess he's not as kooky as I thought. We just have to be submerged in water again to go back to normal."

"Aunt Sarila must've known too. Otherwise she wouldn't have sent us to the surface," said Aria, thoughtful.

"She should've told us we could do that!" Said Sonata, annoyed.

"We know now. For now, we need to get acquainted with our new limbs," said Adagio. She removed her blanket and brought her legs over off the side of the bed.

"But Dagi, you're sick!" said Sonata.

"Don't worry about me. I'm feeling much better," said Adagio with a sniffle. She attempted to stand on her feet but immediately felt them wobble. She yelped as she fell to the ground with a wince.

The Dazzlings spent the next few minutes training themselves to walk. It was frustrating and at times painful, but they persevered. They held onto whatever surface that they could to support themselves. Through trial and error, the girls were managing to stand much longer. They had much more confidence in the steps they took.

"I'm gonna try walking on my own," said Adagio. She forced herself from the wall and began to shuffle herself to the center of the room. A smile grew on her face as she began to move with confidence. Her legs trembled a bit, but she was starting to grow more used to them.

"Wow!" Sonata grinned from ear to ear. Adagio turned with a smug smile.

"See? Nothing to it! I bet I can handle this 'walking' thing better than these dumb humans!" said Adagio. Aria rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say, Adagio."

Adagio began to shuffle her feet around, swaying her hips about. She moved with some rhythm, although it was a bit rough given her new limbs. All she was doing was utilizing movements that she knew as a siren under water.

"Think I can mesmerize more people this way rather than with my voice?" chuckled Adagio. She began to look herself over with a thoughtful hum. She turned to look at her rear thighs.

"I'll give the humans this, there's something sexy about their women's lower half. Or maybe that's just me," said Adagio, grinning as she continued to look herself over from every angle that her head could turn. Aria rolled her eyes.

"Ugh. Can you be anymore full of yourself?"

"What are those things called on human feet again? They're kind of like fingers," said Sonata.

"Toes?" responded Aria.

"Yeah! They're adorable. Kinda like fries," said Sonata, wiggling the appendages on her feet. They certainly reminded her of newly hatched fish, what with their round shape and small size.

"Meh," Aria shrugged.

"OK. We won't have much time before Typhoon starts looking for more food. We need to get better at walking so we can freely roam land. Maybe brush up on our seduction skills to go with our singing," said Adagio.

"I don't think Sonata can handle it," interjected Aria, nonchalant. The youngest sister raised a brow.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You just don't scream, 'seductive'. You're more like a kid, to be honest," said Aria. Sonata scoffed in offense.

"Hey! I can be just as seductive as either of you!"

"Please. You're like an arousal killer for guys," snorted Aria. Sonata gasped, a look of hurt on her face.

"Th-That's not true! Boys think I'm cute!" Sonata whined.

"Cute and sexy are not synonymous," deadpanned Aria.

"Shut up!" Sonata stamped her foot with a glare.

"Alright, break it up! We can't afford to fight amongst ourselves," scolded Adagio.

"I'll prove that I can entice men with my looks! You'll see!" Sonata stormed off. Aria held a mischievous smirk, while Adagio looked at her in disapproval.

"Why do you have to go and tease her like that?"

"Cause it's funny," said Aria.

"That's your sister. You shouldn't mess with her like that," said Adagio. Aria scoffed.

"You know, the more you try to act like mom, the more annoying you get," said Aria, crossing her arms over her chest. The elder sister recoiled.

"I'm not trying to infantilize you, Aria. I just-" Adagio groaned in frustration before storming off.

"Ah forget it!"

Aria huffed as she kept her arms crossed over her chest, leaning against the wall with a scowl. The girls spent the next hour in silence. None had interacted with each other since. The girls had noticed the door opening. Mosura entered, carrying shopping bags.

"Sorry that took so long! Had trouble looking for a place to exchange currency and I just got lost looking at-" Mosura trailed off once she noticed the cold atmosphere in the room.

"What uh... What's going on?" asked Mosura. Sonata perked up and made her way to the Transmutant.

"Hey Mosura, do you think I'm sexy?" asked Sonata. Mosura looked as though she had just been slapped. She stumped by the girl's question that it took her a moment to register it.

"Pardon?"

"Never mind that. What did you bring?" asked Aria.

"Ah. Just some clothes. Not only are they modest, they'll protect your skin from this awful heat. Try them on!"

The Dazzlings found themselves trying on the apparel. They were soon clad in long, loose, robe-like dresses. They bore bright patterns on the fabric, while the loose clothing gave a subtle look at the girls' feminine forms. Sonata frowned as she looked herself over.

"I can't look sexy in this," whined Sonata.

"Wait, what?" Mosura raised a brow. Aria snorted while Adagio sighed.

"Don't mind her. Thanks for this, Mosura," said Adagio.

"Oh. No problem. Are you sure it's fine? I can always take it back and try to find something else," said Mosura, awkwardly. Sonata was about to speak, but Adagio quickly cut her off.

"Nope! Sonata's just being a brat," said Adagio, sending the younger Dazzling a look.

"Am not! Aria made fun of me! She said that I'm a 'turn off' for guys!" Sonata cried.

"You still haven't let that go?" asked Aria.

"Hey, it's none of my business, but you should be kinder to your siblings," said Mosura. Aria huffed as she looked away.

"In the end, they'll be who you have left when your parents are gone. You wouldn't want to end up like me. My brother and I aren't even on speaking terms these days," said Mosura, a sad smile on her face. The Dazzlings looked at her with unreadable expressions. However, there was the subtle hint of sympathy. Mosura cleared her throat.

"W-Well, I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to be desirable. But, maybe you shouldn't have to flaunt yourself for the world to see. Personality and character go hand in hand with looks," said Mosura. She then began to adjust Sonata's clothes.

"Besides, modesty is kind of 'sexy' too. Leaves something to the imagination," said Mosura, forcing a smile. Sonata didn't appear satisfied by her response. Mosura couldn't help but still feel the tension in the room. She felt that she couldn't let this continue to fester.

"Hey, I've got a game we can play!" said Mosura. Sonata huffed.

"Games are for kids."

"Spoken like a kid." Aria muttered, prompting Sonata to glare daggers at her.

"Come on, it'll be fun!" Mosura smiled.

The search for food seemed fruitless. That's what a young siren realized, as her aching tail propelled her through the water. She glanced down at her tail, as it was tightly wrapped in kelp. The resulting injury and the encounter with a dragon masquerading as a man ended in her mother forbidding her from going on hunts.

This young Siren, known as Lynn, could not sit idly by as her tribe starved. She had to help find food. Even if it was alone. This was better than being another burden.

The girl had traveled far from the reef. Her tail made her journey slow, but she was determined. Lynn pressed through the pain, keeping a tight grip on a makeshift spear and net.

After some time, Lynn found herself hiding among kelp. They swayed in the water, standing tall like trees. The young siren found a large school of fish to be out in the open. They weren't very big, but they were numerous.

Lynn readied herself. She needed only to mesmerize them with her singing and she'll be free to catch as much as she wanted. Before she could leave cover, she quickly shrunk back as a boat passed over. A net was already cast over.

The young siren cursed to herself. The humans had beaten her to this find. Already, fish were getting caught in the net.

Lynn thought that maybe she could sneak in and swipe some fish before they could real the net in. A fight was not something she was looking for, especially in her condition.

Before Lynn could move from the cover of the kelp, she felt a presence loom over her. She froze, her heart throbbing as her senses screamed of danger. A shadow was cast over. Lynn slowly turned to find the familiar dragon to be hovering over her. The dragon snarled at her, his eyes glaring daggers.

"I warned you." The dragon growled, his voice low and gravelly. Lynn turned and pressed herself low to the ground, covering her head.

"Don't eat me! I'm sorry, I just wanted to find some food!" cried Lynn.

"You're through eating fishermen. Now that I'm around," growled Junior.

"I was talking about the fish they're catching! I don't eat humans! I'm not that desperate for food!" said Lynn, waving her hands defensively. She whimpered as she continued to cower.

"It's the truth! Please don't hurt me!" cried Lynn. Junior kept a stern look. He then glanced at the net as it caught more fish. He then took notice of the girl's wrapped tail. These sirens must have been pretty desperate if one that's wounded was willing to come out here on her own.

"Fine." Junior relented. Maybe it was best to give her what she wanted to get her to go away. It also wasn't in his nature to bully the weak. He began to swim passed the siren. He ascended to the surface, drawing the attention of Angirasu and Rodan.

"We have plenty. Let's head on back," said Junior. Rodan and Sang hauled the net on board, finding a large number of fish caught. They flapped wildly as they attempted to free themselves. In moments, Junior and the boat began to move from the area. There was still a large number of the school of fish left, which had scattered about. Lynn watched in confusion as the dragon followed. But, she eagerly made her way for the remaining fish, net and spear in hand.

It was the late afternoon. Junior, Rodan and Angirasu had spent much time searching for fish. While they came up with a decent first load, they barely had any luck going back around.

Now, the boys were returning to the inn. They made some money, but not as much as they would've liked. All the fault of sirens that wrecked their equipment before, and the scarcity of fish in the water.

"Next time, let's try searching even further," said Junior. Rodan sighed.

"At this point, we might as well become whalers. We'd have a better chance at finding whales and may even make more money," said Rodan.

"Don't even joke like that," said Angirasu. The red haired boy groaned at the boy taking him seriously.

"You're way too sensitive," scoffed Rodan.

The boys soon entered their room of where they were staying. They were immediately greeted with the sound of laughter. They found that Mosura and the Dazzlings were gathered on the floor, where a board game lied.

"Looks like you earned your pay, Sonata!" Mosura handed Sonata color paper bills.

"I'm gonna be filthy rich!" giggled Sonata. She gasped once she noticed the boys entering.

"Hey, the boys are back! Hi guys!" Sonata greeted sweetly.

"Hey." Angirasu smiled. He stood aside as Junior stepped further inside. A slightly annoyed look was on his face.

"The hell is this?" asked Junior.

"Just a game I brought along. I thought the girls were bored so we decided to play," said Mosura.

"Sweet! Is that 'The Hellish Game of Life'?" asked Rodan. Junior sighed heavily as he made his way to the beds. He muttered incoherently to himself.

"So how did work go?" asked Mosura.

"Better than last time. But, Goji says we have to look farther for fish," said Angirasu. Junior threw himself into bed with a relieved sigh.

"You mind keeping it down? I'm exhausted," said Junior tiredly.

"Let's call this game girls. Someone needs his rest," Mosura cooed teasingly.

"Not in the mood, Mosura," said Junior, sternly. The girl did a double take. Adagio slightly narrowed her eyes at the boy. While they had made an agreement on how they would be going about their new lives in this land, Junior couldn't help but feel annoyed to just see the girls playing around, while he and the boys worked in the hot sun and risking their lives. But, he was too exhausted to get into a fight that wasn't even worth having.

"Uh... Hey, I managed to find a place that exchanges currency. I was thinking we could exchange the rest of what we have and maybe buy ingredients for dinner. What do you think?" asked Mosura, a bit cautious. Junior sighed.

"That's fine." He answered dryly.

"Cool. Uh... Girls, you wanna come?" asked Mosura.

"Sure, I'll go!" said Sonata eagerly. Aria nodded in agreement.

"Count us in! I wanna see what they got in the market," said Rodan.

"Adagio, you stay. You're still sick," said Mosura, just as the eldest Dazzling was about to stand.

"But..." Adagio grimaced in worry, looking to her siblings.

"We'll be fine." said Aria dismissively. Adagio sighed in dismay. Soon, only she and Junior were left alone in the room. The boy was lying in bed, having closed his eyes. The Dazzling pouted as she sat in boredom.

"Foo."

Meanwhile, the rest of the Dazzlings and Mutant 4 found themselves wandering the streets of Saddle Arabia. They stood close together, as they navigated through the crowded streets, as numerous people went about their daily business.

Sonata and Aria were in awe of the sights around them. The many humans that were clad in different clothes, some appearing dull and others appearing flashy. The strange trinkets that they sold one another. Even some of the public displays.

The group had stopped to watch as a man played an instrument. From a basket, a cobra began to slowly rise out of a basket, swaying in a rhythmic fashion. Everyone watched in awe and fascination as this venomous serpent was charmed.

Aside from the serpent, Aria and Sonata made encounters with other strange land creatures. They occasionally encountered a stray dog, which they were visibly fond of. Mosura kept her distance with a grimace.

"Ugh. I don't understand what people see in dogs," said Mosura. Rodan bore an odd look as he watched the Dazzlings smother the stray with affection.

"I've never seen anyone be that affectionate with dogs before. They're basically smothering the poor thing," Rodan. Angirasu made his way over to the two Dazzlings. Sonata held the whining dog tightly, as it attempted to pull away.

"I'm gonna hug you and love you and call you, 'George'!" said Sonata.

"Ew! Don't call him that!" said Aria.

"Hey girls, I think he's had enough. Let him go so we can move on," said Angirasu. Aria and Sonata frowned in disappointment. The youngest released the dog, allowing it to scamper off.

"No one told me that there were such cute animals here," said Sonata sadly.

"Oh I'm sure there's plenty of cute dogs where you're from," said Angirasu. Sonata and Aria shared a knowing look and snickered.

"What's funny?" asked Angirasu.

"Nothing." The Dazzlings answered in unison.

The group continued their trip into market. They had begun to split up to cover more ground.

Angirasu found himself with Sonata and Mosura. The Dazzling blushed as she walked alongside the boy, while Mosura searched for the first ingredient.

"So Angirasu, what do you think of my... Outfit." Sonata grimaced as she looked at herself. She doubted that she could catch anyone's attention with a modest outfit as this.

"Hm? I like it. Very colorful," said Angirasu, smiling.

"Anything else you like about it? Anything that tickles your... desire?" Sonata flicked her head and struck what she thought was a seductive pose. Mosura looked over her shoulder and suppressed a snort. Angirasu hummed as he analyzed Sonata.

"I like the head scarf. It puts a lot of focus onto your face."

"My face?" Sonata perked up.

"Yeah. You always have a smile. It's contagious," said Angirasu.

"So... You like my face?" asked Sonata, her cheeks growing red. Angirasu shrugged.

"I suppose so. You have a friendly face. My aunt always used to say that 'a friendly face makes lots of friends'."

"What about boyfriends?" asked Sonata eagerly. Angirasu paused in thought.

"I don't see why the same wouldn't apply," said Angirasu, shrugging. Mosura raised a brow as she glanced at the two. Surely Angirasu was wise enough to recognize someone flirting with him. Especially from someone who is being so obvious. Although that might be the best for him, considering their situation.

Mosura felt a sudden chill. She winced as the world around her began to feel off. It was though her balance was being lost. Her head was starting to spin.

"Aw, man." Mosura pouted.

"What's the matter?" asked Angirasu.

"I think I caught Adagio's fever. I think I'm going to head back to the Inn. Can you guys handle the rest?" asked Mosura. Angirasu nodded in reassurance.

Meanwhile, Rodan and Aria found themselves roaming the market together. Aria sighed in annoyance as she wiped a sweaty brow. Her enthusiasm for this field trip died as soon as she started to register just how hot it was.

"Now I'm bored and hot," said Aria.

"Lighten up, Arie. It's not every day you get to appreciate a whole other nation like this," said Rodan.

"Don't call me that." The Dazzling sent the boy an annoyed look.

"Oh, sorry I just hear Sonata call you that so much that-"

"Yeah, and it's annoying. Stupid nicknames," scoffed Aria.

"I like 'em. Especially cute ones for cute girls such as yourself," said Rodan, playfully. Aria recoiled, cringing.

"Ew!"

"Heh. Ouch. That must be the fastest I've been shot down," said Rodan, sheepishly scratching at his head.

"Well duh. You barely even know me," said Aria. For a moment, she thought surface dwellers were fast when it comes to courting a mate. But, she realized that this guy may have just been an idiot with no social experience. She was no expert, but Aria was certain that this was not the norm on the surface.

"Yeah, I know. It's a bad habit that I'm having a hard time breaking," said Rodan. The two were in awkward silence.

"I do think 'Arie' is a cute nick name," said Rodan. Aria glared at him in annoyance.

"You're still on that?"

"What do you got against nick names?" asked Rodan, raising a brow.

"Because it feels like I'm being treated like a kid! I already have to put up with that enough with Adagio!" Aria groaned in exasperation. Memories began to flood her mind, which caused her face to grow red.

"It's always, don't do this. Don't do that. Stop teasing your sister. Look after your sister! EAT YOUR KELP!" Aria suddenly cupped her hands to her mouth. Her eyes were wide in alarm. She glanced over at Rodan, who just stared with a stunned look. He suddenly forced a smile.

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I mean, I can relate. Mosura's barely a year older than us and she always treated us like little kids," said Rodan. Aria lowered her hands, relaxing a bit.

"But you know, it just means that she cares about you. I admit that I don't know much about you guys, but it sounds like the symptoms of an overprotective family member. Trust me, I know," said Rodan, chuckling. Aria sighed.

"It didn't always used to be like that, you know. We used to be able to just have fun together without a care. Suddenly, everything just changed." Aria said, a melancholic expression growing on her face.

"The world sucks. Why does everything have to change?"

"Yeah, that's the thing that sucks most about life. It's always changing. Sometimes faster than we would like. But you know, not all changes are bad. Sometimes, they could be good. It's all a matter of how you look at things, I guess," said Rodan, scratching at his head. Aria shook her head.

"Why am I even talking to you about this?"

"Am I really the worse person to talk to?" asked Rodan. Aria looked at him, a neutral look on her face. Rodan felt a bit of a sting in his chest from the girl's long silence.

"I guess not. You seem to get me at least. That's more than I can say about Adagio," said Aria. Rodan chuckled.

"So... Kelp?"

"What? Is that weird?" asked Aria, worry on her face. She hadn't meant for that to slip. She was so wrapped up in her built up frustration that she hadn't thought about what she was saying.

"Not really. I heard that it's actually good for you. When it comes to healthy food, it's usually brussel sprouts or broccoli that kids are forced to eat by their parents," said Rodan. Aria looked at him in confusion.

"What are those?"

"Wait, what?" asked Rodan oddly.

The pair found themselves returning to the rest of the group. Rodan carried some ingredients that were sought after. Aria was lost in thought. She normally doesn't vent like that. The Dazzling was usually used to concealing her emotions through snark and being deadpanned all of the time. But lately, that's been hard to keep up. Never had Aria felt so free from when she finally spoke just what exactly was on her mind. If only she could do it to Adagio's face.

Mosura Yasu sighed in exhaustion as she made her way to the door of the room that she and the others are staying in. Her haze was steadily beginning to grow a bit worse. Had she not been a Transmutant, this fever may have been harder on her. But, she still needed to rest.

The girl entered the room, finding that it was quiet. She tip toed inside, finding that Junior was sound asleep on his bed. Adagio was also sleeping, in her own bed.

"Just as we left you," said Mosura.

After taking some cold medicine, Mosura began to make her way over to the beds. She yawned as she stretched herself out. Her eyes fell on the sleeping boy and girl, smiling sweetly. The two looked quiet adorable when asleep, Mosura thought. One was clearly exhausted, the other was trying to sleep off an illness.

Before Mosura could climb into her own bed, she heard muttering. She froze in place as she heard some shuffling in the bed. She turned and found Junior to be tossing and turning in his bed, muttering. He was beginning to sweat in his sleep, his brows crinkling.

"Gojira?"

Mosura approached the boy's bedside as he shuddered in his sleep. She recognized this state. He must have been having a nightmare. During their journey here, Mosura had begun to notice that Junior was regularly having nightmares. The first time she saw this was when they were coming back from Neighpon, but she never imagined that this was a common occurrence until these last few days. She couldn't imagine what kind of terrors would be haunting his dreams. Was this what people called reoccurring nightmares?

If she could, Mosura would peer into his head with her psychic abilities. But, this fever was hampering her power. Mosura sighed as she knelt close and brought a gentle hand to Junior's head. She caressed his sweating forehead, her fingers running through his unkempt hair. Junior seemed to relax at her touch. His breathing grew calm, and his body became still.

"There, there." Mosura whispered in a sweet tone. She continued to stroke the boy's head, a warm smile on her face. Rarely did Mosura see this boy look so peaceful.

"Mm. What did I wake up to?"

Mosura flinched, having been startled. She turned to find Adagio to be lying on her side, a coy smile on her face.

"So what scandalous deed is happening here?" Adagio giggled.

"I was just..." Mosura awkwardly looked away.

"Hey, no judgements. Everyone knows that it's the innocent ones that are the dirtiest," said Adagio, sitting up from the bed. Mosura glared at her in offense. The Dazzling strutted over to her, placing a hand on her hip, while running her hand through her long, curled locks. A sultry look was on her face.

"You know, I have a bit of experience. I can teach you if you want to win him over."

"E-Excuse me?" Mosura slightly recoiled. Her face slightly reddened.

"Kidding~! You should see the look on your face!" Adagio mischievously giggled. Mosura scowled in annoyance as the Dazzling laughed at her expense. She wasn't expecting that the Dazzling would be the sort of person to tease people like that. Especially when she's been the most reserved out of her sisters. That must have meant that she was starting to get a bit comfortable around them.

"So, what's so special about this guy? He seems unapproachable. I felt awkward the whole time around him." Adagio plopped herself back on her bed, propping up her chin and kicking her legs.

"He's not so bad. When he's in a better mood, he can be sweet." Mosura shook her head.

"Besides, we're not really like that. Someone else has his heart," said Mosura. She glanced at the boy with a sad look. She was certain that he was still harboring feelings for Twilight. But sadly, those feelings will go unrequited.

"So what happened?" asked Adagio, curious.

"That's... Not for me to say. Let's just say that he's hurting right now," said Mosura. She sniffled as she climbed into a bed with a sigh.

"What's with you?"

"I think I caught your fever," answered Mosura. Adagio smiled sheepishly.

"Oh. Sorry about that."

The air was filled with whispers. They all called upon Junior, as he wandered a cold, lonely forest. His eyes scanned the fog covered area, as he anxiously roamed.

"Gojira..." The Beast called. Junior painted as he began to flee through the forest. The whispers were in his head, taunting him. The boy exclaimed as found the rest of the Mutant 4 appeared. Before he could approach, skeletal shadowy hands began to rise out of the earth.

Junior cried out to his friends. One by one, the shadows snatched them up and pulled them beneath the earth. Junior lunged for Mosura, attempting to grab her hand. But, she slipped through his fingers. Her muffled screams being the last thing he heard. The boy cried in anguish as he dug into the ground in a vain attempt to reach her.

"You can't protect them." A voice whispered. Junior heard heavy footsteps approach him. A large hand suddenly grabbed him by the torso. Like a mere doll, the boy was picked up. He struggled in the cold' scaly grasp of a massive, humanoid shadow. The shadow bore horns on its head, as its cold grey and black eyes stared into his soul.

"You're weak. You'll be all alone again. With me." The voice whispered, as deep and distorted chuckles came from The Beast.

Junior's eyes shot awake. He found himself in bed back at the Inn. The boy rose up, finding that the rest of the Mutant 4 and Dazzlings had returned. By now, Rodan, Aria and Angirasu were in the middle of cooking. All the while, Mosura napped and Sonata talked off Adagio's ear about their day.

"OK, now watch your fingers," said Rodan, guiding Aria's hand as she held a knife over a cutting board. The Dazzling broke into a sweat as she intensely focused on the knife.

"Finally awake, huh?" Adagio called, drawing Junior's attention. The boy said nothing and got up from bed. He silently made his way outside of the room, much to Adagio's annoyance.

"Rude. What do I expect from a land dweller?" Adagio muttered under her breath. Sonata raised a brow.

"Really? I've met plenty of nice land dwellers. Look, a nice man gave me these tasty sweets for free when we were shopping!" Sonata held up a bag full of pastries, a beaming smile on her face.

"These guys are also really nice! Especially Aangey," said Sonata, as she dreamily looked to the Transmutant in the kitchen. Adagio forced a small smile, feeling a slight discomfort at her sister's expression and tone.

"Hey, don't get too attached. You remember why we're here, right?"

Sonata immediately lost her smile. Her bubbly mood was replaced by melancholy. She didn't even feel like eating her sweets. Adagio sighed as she stood up, placing on the clothes that Mosura had purchased before.

"Hey, where are you going? Aren't you sick?" asked Angirasu, noticing the girl headed for the door.

"I'm feeling a lot better. I'm just going to take a walk," said Adagio. She thought that now would be a good time to scope out the area. She would've earlier, but her fever rendered her immobile.

The Dazzling found herself leaving the Inn. She soon stepped outside, finding it to be late afternoon. The sun was beginning to set, and less people were filing the streets.

Adagio roamed about, as few paid her mind. The girl wasn't a fan of the feeling of dry air against her skin. It was only a day, but the siren was missing her place in the water, terribly. While her sisters were having fun, Adagio waited helplessly, wondering how everyone back home were doing. Their time was short, and Typhoon would devour everyone. The thought of this sent the girl's stomach into Knott's.

The Dazzling ventured a bit further into the city. What she needed was a place with enough people gathered, and with acoustics that could reach far.

Adagio came across an area that caught her eyes. She found a large structure that resided between buildings. It resembled an arch way, with a great dome top that left anything beneath it in shadow. Adagio stepped beneath the archway, finding it connected to two different halls that were connected to the neighboring buildings. Adagio's footsteps were amplified in this area.

The girl smirked. She cleared her throat and took a breath. Adagio began to vocalize. Her musical voice carried through the Archway, even outside of it. This was beginning to draw the attention of citizens. Adagio realized that the acoustics were perfect for the mission.

Before Adagio knew it, she was lost in her own singing. She closed her eyes and continued on, this time pouring more heart into her own voice. Adagio's mind brought her back to the cold blue waters of her home. A place that she remembered was thriving with life. She remembered a time when she and her sisters didn't go to sleep while hungry. She yearned to go back to those days.

Adagio stopped. Her eyes opened. She was surprised to see that a large crowd had gathered. The people cheered and applauded Adagio. The girl hadn't intended to draw a crowd, but she had to admit that it felt good to receive their praises. She sheepishly smiled before quickly pushing through the crowd, escaping.

Later, Adagio found herself out of the streets. She was down at the beach, sitting on the sandy ground. A gentle breeze blew against her, as the waves crashed onto the shore. The cry of seagulls filled the air, as the sun was setting in the horizon. Adagio held a melancholic look on her face.

"There you are!"

Adagio turned to find that junior was making his way down the beach. The boy held an annoyed look.

"Everyone's wondering where you've been!" said Junior. The Dazzling bore a surprised look.

"Huh. I didn't think you'd care."

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you on a brooding streak or something?" asked Junior, approaching the girl. Adagio snorted.

"That's the pot calling the kettle black. You've done nothing but brood since I've met you guys," said Adagio.

"I'm not-" Junior scoffed, annoyed. Adagio scooted to the side, patting the sand beside herself

"Wanna have a seat?" asked Adagio. Junior eyed her briefly, suspicion on his face. Cautiously, he made his way to the girl's side and took a seat. Adagio sighed, looking to the horizon.

"I love this view. I never knew that the ocean could look so beautiful from the outside," said Adagio.

"From the outside?" asked Junior, oddly. Adagio stiffened.

"I-I mean... I've never actually been to the beach before," said Adagio.

"Oh... Wait, aren't you a swimsuit model? They never put you on a beach for their shots?" asked Junior, confused. Adagio bit her lip, her mind working to come up with an excuse.

"No?" Adagio smiled weakly. The pair was in an awkward silence. Junior had a blank look on his face.

"Hm. Seems like a waste," said Junior.

"Yep. But I guess some people don't appreciate what the sea to offers," said Adagio. Junior shrugged.

"Well, I could do without the man hungry sirens and sharks," said Junior. The girl suddenly glared at him. She was about to say something, but the boy continued on.

"But, I guess the same could be said about land. Just about anything wants to kill you for whatever reason no matter where you are. Humans, Sirens, sharks, lions, changelings..."

"Dragons..." Adagio interjected, a frown on her face. Junior chuckled.

"Oh yeah, there's no place where those things aren't. I've seen a couple of dragons myself," said Junior. Adagio looked at him, incredulous. Surely this guy had to be joking, but she knew that dragons also lived on the surface. If she was certain about anything, it's that these barbaric surface people may have had run ins with such monstrous beasts.

"How did you survive?"

"Well, one of them is a little friendly drake that I knew."

"Bah. I find that hard to believe. There's no such thing as a friendly dragon." Adagio scoffed.

"Not true. Sure there's plenty of monstrous dragons that won't think twice about eating you. However, there are also some dragons that bring good fortune. At least in my land they do." Junior said. Adagio didn't respond, believing that such a thing was absurd.

"The other was going to hibernate on the mountain. I barely even got a look at it. Someone else drove it away on her own," said Junior. Adagio perked up at this. Someone conquered such a viscous monster? She never heard of such a thing. Even sirens with their own power were helpless against Typhoon.

"H-How'd she do it? Did she use some kind of powerful spell? Or a magical weapon?" asked Adagio, almost desperate in her tone.

"No. She just stood up to him," said Junior. Adagio tilted her head, not appearing convinced.

"That's it?" asked Adagio.

"Yep."

"You're messing with me, aren't you?" Adagio pouted, brows furrowed.

"No, I'm telling the truth! She can actually be a bit intimidating if you get her mad," chuckled Junior. Adagio brought her knees close to herself. She wasn't too convinced about the story, but she was curious about this other person.

"so, who was this person to you?" asked Adagio, curious. Junior looked out to the sea, his eyes soft as he gazed out to the glimmering surface of the water.

"She was a good friend," said Junior.

"Was?" Adagio raised a brow. The boy grimaced.

"There was a bit of falling out. I don't want to talk about it," said Junior.

"Oh. OK," replied Adagio. The two returned to staring at the ocean view. Adagio felt a little less tense being around the boy. This was the first time, and the longest she's had a conversation with him. She felt compelled to keep talking. Anything to get her mind off of her melancholic thoughts.

"So, where are you from? You said that you were from a different land," said Adagio. She hadn't been on the surface for very long, but she could tell with just a glance that this boy was not of the same tribe of the people that lived here.

"No, I'm from Neighpon," said Junior.

"Where's that?" asked Adagio, curious. Junior glanced at her. He figured that a girl in the modeling world like this might know in this day and age.

"Far east. An island nation residing near the Neighsian continent," said Junior.

"Far east? You must be a long way from home," said Adagio, surprised.

"Very far." said Junior, before standing up.

"You shouldn't be out here when it gets dark. It can get pretty cold. Come on, dinner should be ready." Junior held out his hand to the girl. Adagio smiled as she took his hand, hoisting herself up to her feet. She hummed as she looked at his hand. It was larger than her own and calloused.

"Something wrong?" asked Junior.

"Just never felt a man's hand like yours before. It's kinda nice," said Adagio, a flirtatious smile on her face. Junior quickly pulled his hand away, his cheeks growing a bit red. This girl was certainly something, he thought.