Daniel Book Four- Zebrica

"Fifth, get up." A voice said. It was male.

"Ugh." Daniel felt as if an elephant had danced on his body, and grenades had one off in his head. But he knew the drill. Big powerful voice, listen, wake up. He got on his hands and knees, and stood. His shirt was tattered, and pat of it was blowing in a nonexistent breeze. As he looked at himself he saw many scrapes and gashes on his skin. large bruises spotted his skin as well. Looking around, he saw that the normal dreamscape of darkness was gone, instead, he was surrounded by a large factory working hard. steam was shrieking out of metal pipes, large plates smashed blocks of tin like substance, and far below him, he could see that the floor was really many vats of liquefied metal. Daniel looked around for the source of the voice, and found a draconic like figure, dark blue, with jet black spines running down his back from his head. His body had jet black lines that almost looked painted on his scales, but as he examined more, he saw the markings were permanent, for they were engraved deeply into his scales.

"Ah, the great and powerful fifth, or should I call you Daniel?" He said smugly.

"What do you want?" Daniel said.

"Me? Nothing. I was created a long time ago by a power greater than Faust, sort of. I was created to help you. There was just a small problem." Something about this character rubbed wrong on Daniel.

"And this problem is?"

"I was made to be incompatible with you. But none the less, you need my help, and therefore will receive it," The creature said, disappearing in a cloud of smoke, and reappearing right in front of Daniel. Daniel's eyes widened in shock, and he took a step back, and nearly fell of the ledge, just as the person pulled him back up. "Careful, hat body right there will save you someday, don't destroy it yet, it isn't even totally finished."

"What does that even mean?" Daniel asked, now annoyed.

"It means exactly what I said it does," The creature said. "In t he name of, Ice Fire I have a name!" The thing sa-- "Thing? Come on!"

"Who are you talking to?" Daniel asked.

"Oh, never mind, I suppose I should tell you my name then. You can just call me Friend."

"Alright, then, Friend, how can you help me?" Daniel snapped.

"Oh, cool it, I'm here to warn you. You will be facing a nearly impossible decision soon. I'm just giving you this. Whatever happens, you will come out alive. Now wake up, and get going."

*   *   *

Daniel gasped awake, startling the other two in the tent. Ditzy had a scratch on her back, it was shallow. Daniel found one of his blades protruding out of his arms. She muttered a quick healing spell, and then turned to Daniel.

"What's wrong?" Ditzy asked quietly. Daniel only looked into her eyes regretfully.

"I'm sorry about that love," Daniel said, his look forlorn. The words of Friend kept echoing around in his head. Whatever happens, you will come out alive...

But what, did that mean for him?