Literature
Dragtopia Chapter 48
“A duel?! Why?! She’s so strong!” Solana exclaims with a bit of fear at hearing this even being proposed. “There’s no way I’m putting Sol in a duel! Especially after what Ria tried!” Kayda yells in a furious manner. “Tide, why can’t you just take Tia away from Ria? That would be easier.” “I… I want to… but, Ria won’t let me, she said that she’d only let me if I beat her in a duel and, well… I’ve never been able to do it… she’s always won…” Tide says as he looks away. “So you think Solana is the right choice to fight her?!” Aashni asked in an aggressive tone. “I just… yeah… you’re right. I just assumed you’d do it, to help Tia…” Tide says softly before standing up. “I need to do this by myself.” “Wait!” Sol called out as she stands up which shocks everyone. “I-I’ll do it! I… I want to teach that woman not to mess with my relationship. I’ve held my tongue for the past several weeks for Tia’s sake, but today, she just declared we can’t be a couple anymore, she doesn’t get to decide that. So I’ll do it, I’ll challenge her to a duel, and save Tia!” “Sol, you don’t-“ Kayda started to say but the human smiles up at her. “Yes I do. Tia is my girlfriend, and I’ve gotten much stronger. She only caught me off guard because I was angry, I’ll be much more calm and level headed this time.” Sol says with a determined look. “Hehe… I see why my daughter fell for you… your passionate and caring… alright, before you challenge her, I must tell you what to expect.” Tide begins to say. “First, make sure your terms are set. Ria won’t accept a challenge without terms, so, what do you want if you win?” “I want her to let Tia do whatever she wants!” Solana says without hesitation. “I see… that one might be hard. However she’s cocky so just maybe… anything else? Remember, you need to be clear or she’ll try and do a loop hole.” Tide explains. “Hmm… Tia’s freedom from her grasp, for us to keep dating, and… she needs to let Tia spend time with you.” Solana says pointing at Tide. This caught him off guard, as he stares at the human. He slowly smiles and even tears up a bit. “You… you really are kind… thank you. I’m sure she’ll accept these terms, however be ready to accept whatever terms she will set, and be ready to accept some extra nasty ones… she can be sinister…” “Right.” Solana says as she looks back at Crystal, Aashni, Eurus and Kayda. “I’m going to issue the challenge now, I don’t want to let Tia suffer anymore than she already has.” “Should we come too?” Crystal asked worriedly. “Yeah, let’s go!” Aashhi pounds her fists together. “No, I need to do this alone. I want to show she can’t just bully people!” Solana says as she looks to Tide. “Besides, Mr Tide can go with me.” “Oh, Tide is fine, no mr needed.” The water Scaleborn says with a chuckle. “Alright… just be careful, and at least set the duel for tomorrow, I want you to at least rest…” Kayda says as she didn’t want her adoptive daughter to fight while she’s not thinking clearly. “….alright.” Sol says with a smile before looking at Tide. “Let’s go, we got a challenge to give.” With that the two leave Kayda’s home. “Is…. Sol okay?” Eurus asked softly as he looked back at Kayda and the others. He wasn’t quite sure what was happening, only that Sol was upset and Tia was in trouble maybe? “Yes, and she’ll be right back. Let’s actually start making dinner.” Kayda says as she was glad Tide went with her, she’ll get into less trouble this way. Tide is a good Scaleborn, she’s known him since the academy days, and was Noctus’ best friend. Tide and Sol made their way towards the Scalia mansion, as they do, Tide started talking. “So, how did you and my daughter meet? I wasn’t able to ask her…” Tide says in a soft tone, which was a bit sad. Seems like he wasn’t able to learn much of anything… “Well, when I arrived here, I was alone in the forest by the academy, there was a Turog that had been chasing me and that’s when Tia showed up. She unfortunately got attacked by it and I saved her. However, despite not knowing me, she took me home that night so I could be safe… she was very kind to me, a stranger, a human.” Solana smiles as she relived that moment. “However, because she helped me and lied to the teachers, she lost her library privilege but I managed to get it back for her! I just, wanted to do something nice for her, I just… felt like she needed a friend to rely on.” Tide stares at Sol for a moment, before looking towards the hill that leads to the mansion. He seemed lost in thought, but then said something Sol wasn’t expecting. “You have my blessing.” “Huh?” Sol looks up at the water Scaleborn. “To marry Tia.” This causes Solana to blush profusely. “When you’re older of course, you’re both still young, but if there’s ever a day you wish to propose, you have my blessing. I can tell… you’re perfect for my daughter, you make her happy, I could see it in her eyes when she talked about you for the short moment she was able to.” “Um… t-thank you.” Sol decides to not say she already proposed. Granted not on purpose! She didn’t know! Though, she was happy Tide was a good father, he seemed very kind and caring. She was starting to see where Tia got her personalty from, because it certainly wasn’t her mother. After a moment of walking up the hill, Tide and Sol reach the door. The two of them seemingly take a breath, before Sol knocks on the door. Almost instantly the doors open and an older water Scaleborn is standing there, it was the head butler. “Ah, Master Tide. Welcome home. I was unaware of your arrival.” “It… wasn’t exactly planned. I would like to talk to Ria, please bring her out here if you will.” Tide says softly. “Of course, right away.” The head butler boys as he steps away from the doors and walks off. Tide and Sol didn’t have to wait long, as Ria came walking over. “Hello Tide. What brings you here?” Ria asked with a sickly sweet smile. As if she knew exactly why… “We are here to challenge you!” Solana says before Tide could speak. “Oh? A challenge? As in… a duel?” Her smile spreads across her face more as the human nodded. “Fascinating… of all the Scaleborns in this world, it’s a human that has the courage to challenge me. Fascinating indeed. Alright, state your terms.” “First, me and Tia keep dating. Second, you let her do whatever she wants. Third, Tia gets to visit her dad whenever! And lastly, you stop controlling her life.” Solana says with hands on her hips, glaring at Ria. “Oh oh, quite the term list you got there…. So you pretty much want my daughter to be a rebellious delinquent like Nia.” The mother says with her arms folded. “Nia isn’t a delinquent, you’re just upset you can’t control her.” Tide adds in as he got annoyed hearing that. “Yeah yeah, whatever you want to think. Sighs… alright, you know what? I’ll accept the terms, only if you accept mine.” Ria says as Solana and Tide looked nervous at hearing that tone. “First, you human, you’ll become my personal servant, you’ll do anything and everything I say without question. Second, you’ll never talk to Tia again.“ The two waited to hear more, but Ria didn’t add anything else! “That’s… it? Just those two things?” Tide asked as he thought his wife would come up with lots more. “This is all I need. Being my servant means I’ll have full control over the human, it makes things more simple.” Ria says smugly. Solana wasn’t expecting such a deal, however Tide did tell her to expect anything… and this was for Tia. “Deal. I accept the terms.” She sees Ria hold a hand out, which Sol grabs and shakes. “Tide, you’re the witness. Now, let’s get started. I’ll let you pick the place of combat.” Ria says putting her hands behind her back. “Actually, we will do the duel to-“ “At the academy. The elemental training arena. Seems fitting.” Solana interrupted Tide. “Wait, Sol. Kayda said you had to go back so you can rest!” Tide says worriedly. “Rest and do what? Think of all the things this pompous woman is putting Tia through?!” “I’m right here human.” Ria glares. “And?” Solana glares back. “I don’t care if you’re there or not. You’re horrible to your husband and kids! A parent… shouldn’t do this to their own family! It’s messed up!” Ria remained quite for a moment, not because she was letting what Sol said sink in, but rarely she looked annoyed. “Well then, if we are going to attack with words, we might as well fight with our elements. Let’s head to the academy arena.” Ria turns to the head butler. “Tia and Nia are to remain here. Do not let them out.” “Yes master Ria.” The head butler vows as he understands the order. “Wonderful. Then let’s go.” Ria walks past Sol and Tide. Solana wasted no time to follow the mother while Tide took a moment before following them. He had no idea this human was so reckless! Then again, she was doing this to help Tia, he just had to hope she was ready for this… Once they reach the academy, and head into the arena, Ria looks around, arms behind her back still while Sol and Tide are right behind her. “Hmm… nostalgic. Isn’t it Tide.” Ria says without looking back. “It was here that you asked me out. You were so mesmerized by my skills.” Tide stares at Ria. “It wasn’t just your skills… it was your ferocity. You were amazing to watch… why did you change so much?” Silence. Except the sounds coming from the nearby forest. The sun was starting to turn the sky orange. “I… wasn’t the one that changed. My goal was to always open a business, with you. We were going to be the best business family in all the land. Me, you, Tia, Nia… all of us. However Nia just wanted to goof around, rather than take up the clothing portion I had planned for her. Tia… I won’t let her throw away her chance to be successful.” Ria turns to face Tide and Sol, a look of… sadness? But also angry. “You let Nia do whatever she wanted, and Tia would have followed her…” “Ria, your father wanted Tia to just have a childhood… why can’t you see that?” Tide asked softly. “Father… I do miss him.” Ria says softly while looking at Tide. “However, Tia is my daughter, he had no say in how I raised her.” “No.” Solana says suddenly. “Tia isn’t just your daughter, she belongs to both you and Tide.” “Human… heh, oh, I can’t wait to make you my servant. Then I can teach you some proper manners.” Water starts appearing around Ria, her arms, tail, legs. Water pillars then rise behind her, swirling like whirlpools or tornados. “Now… let’s see just how strong you are to challenge my authority. Tide looked worried, he just hopes the human knows what she’s doing…. Meanwhile, Nia was comforting Tia in her room, Tia was crying while Nia gently rubs her head. “Tia… I’m sorry you have to go through this… I really do…” Nia says softly to her little sister. “It’s just not fair… I just want a normal life! I want to be with my friends and be stupid! I want… I want to be with Sol…” Tia cries in her older sister’s arms. “I know…” Nia says softly as she wishes to help her sister in some way. If only… she was stronger, she could challenge her mother and beat that smug look off her face… Just then, there was a knock on the door. “Come in.” Nia says softly, thinking it was Aquila. However it was the head butler. “Pardon my entry masters Nia and Tia, but I thought it best to inform you that the human girl showed up with your father.” “Sol?! She’s here?!” Tia asked as she quickly looks up. “Father too?!” “Not quite. It seems they came to issue a duel to your mother. They’ve gone up the academy, the elemental arena.” “She… she did not!” Tia shouts in an angry tone. “Why is she so stupidly reckless?!” “Woah, settle down! Maybe it was father and Sol was just-“ “The young human made the challenge.” The head butler chimes in. “…..I’m going to pull her stupid adorable cheeks hard!” Tia suddenly rushes past the head butler but he didn’t stop her. “Tia wait!” Nia calls out as she runs after Tia. The head butler watches them run off before looking back at a painting of the Scalia family, looking up at the grandfather. It was just a panting, but the butler seemed to nod at it before walking off. “Ah!” Solana shouts as she gets thrown into the wall but the powerful water torrent. She coughs up some water as she shakes a bit, trying to get up. “Huh, I thought you’d be strong. With such a personalty of eagerness, I thought you’d have learned lightning or fire, but wind? That’s more defensive than offensive.” Ria says with her arms at her side, as she wasn’t even breaking a sweat. “Ria! You’re going to kill her at this rate!” Tide shouts in a worried tone. “Fear not Tide, I wouldn’t dare kill her now. It kind of defeats the purpose of her being my servant.” Ria says with a sinister smirk as the sky above was now a bright red as the sun was setting. This makes Ria look like something out of a horror scene, even the blue water was glowing from the red light, but it was just the light effect. “Don’t… don’t get cocky…” Sol says while standing up and creating wind around her arms. “I can do this all day.” “That so? Well so can I.” Ria has more water torrents rush the human! Thankfully Sol managed to dodge out of the way before shooting off pressured air blasts at Ria, sadly the water Scaleborn dodges or blocks with her newly formed water wall! Sol continued to shoot off pressured air blasts, but nothing could get through the water wall. “Please, is that all you got? Noctus was stronger then what you’re showing off here. He could at least do something to my water wall.” Ria says a bit disappointed. “Here I thought Kayda would have taught you some stronger moves, guess she failed in that regard.” “Grrr! Don’t talk about my mom like that!!” Solana’s eyes glow green as the wind around her arms burst with force and fires off a stronger pressured blast! It actually hits the water wall and causes it to vaporize! Then another blast hits Ria when she was stunned and gets thrown back a bit! Ria catches herself as she looks at the human, before grinning. “Now THAT is more like it.” Then she narrows her eyes.l at Sol. “Sadly it’s not enough.” Water started to emerge from Ria’s body! As they form into torrent tentacles of water like whips. Several spawning from her back, tail, and arms. “Time I showed you why they called me Thousand Strike Scalia back in the day.” Tide was worried about this, Ria was starting to enjoy this! Her thirst for combat was always seen as a bit much. There was a right way and a wrong way. This was definitely the wrong way! He shouldn’t have let Sol do this! He had to get Kayda! But… could he abandon the human? Could she hold out long enough till he gets back? Tide looks at Solana and sees her determined look. It seems… she would be okay. Besides, if he didn’t get Kayda than she’ll be even more furious! He was seriously having trouble deciding what to do! Was he over thinking?! No, he had to go get Kayda, it was the only chance… especially since he wasn’t strong in his elemental like Ria, he was better at weapon combat. While Ria attacked Solana, he uses their chance to make a run for it. “Just hang in there Solana…. I’ll be back.” He says to himself as he ran as fast he could! Thankfully her house wasn’t that far… However as he left, Tia and Nia came running towards the academy, the three of them just missing each other as they head towards the elemental arena. “Please be okay please be okay please be okay-“ Tia had been repeating this since they had left. It actually started with “I’m going to punish her” until it turned into “please be okay”. As the two sisters enter the arena, the sun has gone down and the two moon lights was now lighting up the arena so they saw Ria striking at a dodging human! Solana was using all the skills she had to just avoid getting hit, sadly a few hits did make contact on her arms and legs, which are a bit cut be how thin the water was at the tip. “Sol!” Tia cries out, getting both the attentions of Ria and Sol. “Tia?!” Solana was surprised but also happy to see Tia was okay! “Tia… why are you here? I told you to stay in your room till I was ready to punish you. You’re such a naughty-“ “Shut it mother!” Nia shouts angrily. “She came here to make sure you didn’t kill her girlfriend!” “Like I’d kill her. She’ll be a valuable servant for the Scalia family. We’ll be the only family in the land to own a human! How much support we’ll get when the other families learn we have such a rare creature.” Ria smiles as she looks back at the human. “At this rate, the challenge is as good as mine. Once I’m done with her, she’ll forfeit and things will be right again with us.” “Mother! Please stop! Don’t hurt Sol anymore!” Tia shouts but her mother walked towards Sol without listen. “I-I invoke swap!” Ria stops as she turns towards Tia. “Oh? You’ll swap in her place?” Tia nodded. “Then that means, you’ll take on the deals she made. However, I feel it’s fair I add a new one to my part. If I win, not only will the first two parts be fulfilled, but you, my dear daughter, will spend the rest of the academy time at home, I’ll train you to be the best, just like me.” “Fine, I accept.” Tia says as she looks at Nia and nods, as the older sister nods back and rushes over to Sol, making sure she’s okay. “No! Tia! Let me do this for you!” Solana shouts desperately. “Sol, you’re strong, and brave, but also reckless… and sadly, not strong enough to fight mother.” Tia says softly as water claws swirl around her arms as three head shaped water tendrils emerge from her back, the same ones from earlier today. “I… I don’t think I am either, however I will not stand by and let you get hurt. I have to protect you…” “Hehe, foolish daughter. You really do know your place. It’s just sad you even think about challenging me.” Ria gets into attack position. “Let’s end this foolish uprising and put you all in your place.” Water from Ris lashes out towards Tia, as blood sprays out…. Meanwhile, Kayda was still at home, waiting for Sol and Tide to come back. She was even holding Solana’s Wyvern eggs, rubbing it gently. “Ugh! Where are they?!” Aashni shouts as she walks back and forth in annoyance and impatience. “It hasn’t been that long.” Crystal chimes in, “only… an hour… for a trip that should only take 20 minutes…” the ice Scaleborn says as she was gently petting a sleeping Eurus who’s head was on her lap. “Exactly! If she went behind out backs, I’ll kill her!” Aashni growls. “No you won’t!” Crystal pouts. “Not actually kill her! It’s an expression…” Aashni rubs the back of her head. Just then, the door swings open and Tide came running in, panting. “S-Sol… she… she… she’s battling Ria at the academy…” “Okay, NOW I’m going to kill her!!” Aashni growls as she runs past Tide! “No! You can’t do that! Aashniiiiiii!!” Crystal calls out by giving chase. “Mmmm…” Eurus stirs a bit at all the yelling and Crystal getting up. “Tide! What’s the meaning of this?!” Kayda sets the egg down. “I’m sorry! She just-“ “I know, I know. Let’s just go. Eurus, stay here please!” Kayda knew if Eurus saw Sol getting hurt there was no telling the rampage he’d cause. Luckily he was very sleepy and just seems to nods and curl up again. Tia’s eyes were wide as the blood stained the ground, but it wasn’t her blood, it was Sol! The human had rushed over and protected Tia! Thankfully the sharp spinning water only hit Sol’s left shoulder, nothing major had been hit! “S-Sol!! What the spark?!” Tia cries out as tears rush down her face. “I-I can’t stand by and let you get hurt either… you’re mine Scalia, and I’m yours.” Sol smiles as she leans in and kisses Tia on the lips, before pulling back. This causes Tia to blush as her pointy ears wiggle like crazy. “You can’t interfere human! Move!” Ria lunches another water tendril at Sol but Tia pulls her in and turns, holding an arm out as her water dragon claws suddenly absorbed the water tendril! Nia and the mother look in shock! “H-How did you-?” Tia’s eyes were glowing bright blue as she smiles. “Because I’m not fighting alone, I have my dorky girlfriend.” “Seriously, you think love is going to save you from punishment?! This isn’t a fairy tale, foolish daughter! It’s real life!” Ria lunches more tendrils of water but a blast of strong wind forming a cyclone engulfed the water and slams it into the ground! This time is was Solana! Her eyes also glowing but it was a bright green. What’s more, the wind has seemingly taken on a strange… shape. On her arms and legs were wind claws, a swirling wind like tail behind her and even wind like wings! It was as if, the wind itself was giving her dragon features, even though it was just the wind taking on a semi-solid appearance. “You’re right, this isn’t a fairy tale, it’s real life, however, what we have is team work and understanding of each other, meaning we stand a chance together rather than alone!” Solana smiles as her green eyes stare at Ria. “Grrr! I won’t let this slide! I’m going to punish you both!” Several water tendrils rush at them! “Tia?” “Yes?” “Let’s dance.” Tia smiles as she and Sol take each other by the hands. They rush forward, and synchronize themselves to dodge the attacks! Solana would pull Tia out of danger as Tia picks Sol up and tosses her into the air! Then catches her with each, spinning and setting her down, as the two face towards Ria. Sol grins as she gathers wind around her, creating a powerful cyclone of powerful wind. Tia fires off her three snake like heads at the cyclone, gathering it all up into a hybrid elemental of wind and water! “Tia will forge her own path! Without you getting in her way!” Solana shouts as Tia stood next to her. “Grrrr! You don’t have a say in the matter! I’m in charge here! Not you!” Ria rushes at Sol and Tia, her own water claws at the ready! “Sol. I trust you.” Tia whispered as Sol smiles and holds het arms forward, firing off the water cyclone at Ria! The mother’s eyes widen at the speed it was coming at her, she holds her arms hold to stop it but the water inside absorbed the water claws and hits Ria! Pushing her into the nearby wall as the water and wind sucks her inside and bombarded the mother with the power of two elements! Before it suddenly vaporizes and drops Ria to the ground, wet and covers in cuts… “Holy spark.” Nia says as she had never seen such a thing before. She looks over at Tia and Sol, as the wind around the human vanished and their glowing eyes returned to their normal coloring. “We-We did it!” Solana says as she grabs Tia by the waist and twirls her around! Tia started giggling. “Hehe! Yeah! Yeah we did!” She says in such disbelief… they… they beat her mother… after Sol set Tia down, she looks at Sol. “So… what did you tell her in the deal?” “It doesn’t matter!” Ria growls as she stands up. Causing them to panic. “You cheated.” “Oh boo hoo. You’re a sore loser.” Solana scoffs at the mother. “No no, Tia swapped in, meaning the duel was no longer about me and you, it was between me and Tia. You interfered, meaning, the deal is invalid.” Ria says with a victories grin. “What?! No! That’s… not right. Right?” Sol looked at Tia, who looked shocked, but realizes… yeah, Sol interfered. She was so worried about Sol’s injury that she didn’t think to say anything. “Now then, we are going home, so I can properly deal with my naughty children.” Ria smiles as she starts waking towards Tia and Sol. “Things will be right again, once we’ve had time to-“ “No.” Tia says softly and suddenly. “W-What?” “I said, no. Mother. I’m done…” Tia says sadly as Tide, Aashni, Crystal and Kayda came running in. “I’m done being your obedient and perfect child… I can’t anymore…” Ria just looked dumbfounded and confused. “Yes you can, let’s just go home and-“ “I said no!” Tia shouts loudly. “You’ve hurt Solana twice now, was planning to make her your slave, AND you were just willing to hurt me in a way that could have seriously hurt! If not for Sol…. Who knows what would have happened… no, I don’t even care, this is about Sol. You’ve endangered her twice in the same day… I can’t live with someone that would hurt my girlfriend…” “T-Tia, you… you need to stop right now, let’s think this over.” Ria says as she steps forward. “No… I’m done thinking… I’m… I’m revoking you.” Tia says as everyone gasped, except Aashhi, Crystal and Sol. “I’m sorry mother, but I will not live in fear anymore.” “You… you stupid child! You think this will solve anything?! Where will you go?! Huh?! Who will help you succeed in this world?!” Tia shouts angrily. “I’ll take her in if I have to.” Kayda says as she walks in, finally making her and the others known. “She will be welcome to stay with me.” “Kayda!” Sol says happily as Kayda walks over and gently puts a hand on Sol’s head. “Kayda…. How dare you! I can’t believe you’d do this to me! We are friends!” “I stopped being your friend the day you started to act like the world was your okay thing. I only stuck around for Tide, Nia and Tia. Not you,” Kayda says as she reveals the truth. “T-Tide, talk sense into our daughter!” “Oh, she’s OUR daughter now? I believe that with the revoke, she’s MY daughter.” Tide says, walking over and setting his hands on Tia’s shoulders, making her blush in happiness. “I also revoke you mother.” Nia says suddenly as she walks over to join Tia and Tide. “I would have done this years ago but I wasn’t going to abandon Tia.” “I can’t believe you’d turn on me… Tia, you’re my daughter, I groomed you to be the best! To succeed! Everything about you wouldn’t be without me!” Ria shouts angrily while seemingly holding back tears. “No mother… I’m me, because of me. I never got to have real friends because of you. Yes, I love Frostine and Victoria, but you made me their friend… I didn’t even get to choose… but I’m glad I know them, they kept me sane…. And if not for Sol, Aashhi, and the others, I’d not be standing here right now…” Tia went silent for a moment, before turning to her dad and pulls a dagger from his belt, before stepping forward, locking eyes with het mother. “I’m going to carve my own future, without you.” Tia reaches back, grabs her hair, then uses the dagger to slash off the long hair that now flowed into the night wind! Her hair went from waist long to neck length, just barely touching her shoulders. “You… you….” Ria scowls before getting face softened. “Fine…. Do whatever you want.” With that, Ria walks off, taking the long way to leave the arena since there’s two entrances, one on the right and left, she was headed to the right. “Tia! That was a great speech! I’m so proud of you!” Sol rushes over and hugs Tia grin behind, but then hears Tia crying and sniffling. “Oh no… Tia… it’ll be okay, we are all here for you and-“ “Sol~!” Tia turns to look at the human girl with very sad eyes. “Why did I just cut my hair?! What was I thinking?! I didn’t want to cut it! I mean… I kinda did but not that much!! What came over me?! Did I just want to recreate a scene from Dragcoria 3 when-“ “Okay okay, hey, I think it looks great on you.” Sol says as she rubs her fingers through the loose hair that now hangs on her neck. “Oh Sol… you’re truly the best…” Tia leans in and snuggles with Sol. Which Sol hugs her girlfriend back gently. “Yeah yeah, cute lovely dovey crap… Sol! I’m going to beat you for doing such a reckless thing!” Aashni shouts angrily. “Sure sure… later though.” Sol says while hugging Tia. “Tsk, stupid cute couple crap…” Aashni scoffs but she was just glad Sol and Tia were okay… Like she said, Kayda allowed Tia a place with her for a few days. Which Sol and Eurus loved having Tia around more often, even Tide came by to visit for a few days as he had taken a break from his ship to spend with Tia, Sol and Nia. Not to mention catch up with Kayda and even got fascinated by Eurus. However, one day, Tia made an announcement. “You’re leaning?!” Solana asked as she and Tia were sitting in Sol’s room. “Well, leaving isn’t exactly the word… but, I’ve decided to in a sense leave for about a month.” Tia says softly as Sol gives Tia sad eyes. “Sol, please understand. I’ve lived almost my whole life in the capital, I’ve seen the same things over and over. I want something new, and I… want to spend it with father… to catch up… and, I want to forge a path for myself, to see what I want to do in life.” Solana looks at Tia when she said that, as she thought about her own father. Smiling, Solana gets up and walks over to Tia who was sitting on the bed as she was just at her desk. “I understand. I want you to be happy and spend time with your dad, it’s actually the whole reason I challenged your mother.” “Yeah, father told me.” Tia snuggles her head under Sol’s neck while her head rests on the shoulder. “I love you so much, my reckless human.” “And I love you too, my book worm goddess…” Sol says as she sets an arm on Tia’s shoulder and her face leaning on Tia’s newly short hair. “You better come back to me, or I’ll have to become a pirate and come kidnap you!” “Pfft! What is with your and wanting to kidnap me? Hahaha! Spark you’re a dork.” Tia leans up, setting a hand on Sol’s cheek. “But you’re my dork.” She then leans in and kisses Sol on the lips, which Sol returns the kiss. The next day, Sol, Kayda, Eurus, Aashni, Nia, Tide and Tia were at the docks in the water kingdom, Tide’s crew helping get stuff on the ship that Tia had brought. “Well sis, guess I’ll see you in a month. Worry not, I’ll keep an eye on your girl!” Nia laughs in confidence. “Nia, thank you for always being with me… even though you didn’t have to.” Tia says softly and hugs her older sister. “….oh elder sis…” Nia starts tearing up as she hugs Tia back. “Aashni, please keep Sol in check.” Tia says looking at the red head. “Heh, you got it.” Aashni holds a hand out, which Tia takes and they smile at each other. “Eurus, keep her safe for me.” Tia rubs Eurus on the head. “I’ll keep her safe.” Eurus smiles as he enjoyed the head rub. Tia then looks at the Wyvern egg. “I hope you’ll be hatched when I get back. I wanna see you.” Tia pets the egg slightly. “Sol. Please stay out of trouble.” Tia says half joking but mostly serous. “Hey, with Aashni watching me, how could I?” Solana chuckles as she then takes Tia by the hand. “A month… man, I hope it goes by quick.” “You’ve been here for nearly 5 months, look at how fast they went by. We’ll be back before you know it.” Tia smiles as she was trying to not cry. “Hey, I have a gift for you.” Solana says, pulling out the headband she showed Tia when they first met. It was a blank headband with two small stubby horns on both sides. “Take it, it’ll be like a part of me with with your.” She sets the headband on Tia’s head, it fit perfectly. “Sol… you dork!” Tia giggles as she tears a bit, then leans in for a kiss on the lips, before pulling back as they blush at each other. “I left my books in your room, read them, it’ll be like, a part of me is there with you.” “Hey! I just said that!” “And I said it back.” Giggling at each other, Tia and Tide walk into the ship and raised the anchor as the sails takes the ship out. Solana and the others waved as Tia and Tide wave back. “You ready kid?” Aqua asked. “Ready.” Tia says as she was soon wearing the sea scale armor and holding her trident. “The wind it perfect!” Marine shouts from the lookout. Seara nodded as they were controlling the ship. “We should head to the usual spot.” Coral tells Tide. “I agree.” Tide nods. “Let’s do this!” Gust yells happily. “Co-Co! Let’s get some grub ready!” “Mmm…” Coal grunts. “Ahh, a wonderful breeze. Wouldn’t you agree m’lady?“ Soar asked Tia. “Yeah, I agree.” Tia says as she looks back on me last time, seeing Sol and the others still there but barely visible. “Let’s forge our path on into the new and unknown.” With the help of Solana, Tia has learned to stand up to her mother, she can finally start learning to be her own Scaleborn and not be shackled down by what her mother wants. Now sailing with her father and his crew, she can learn what she wants in life without being told… Meanwhile, Solana watches as her girlfriend sets into the sea. Though she’ll miss her, it’s just one month, what could possibly happen in a month? End of Act 2