Higher education? More Like Fire Education (p)

Approved

Manfred stood off in the distance with his arms crossed and he just looked out at the ocean. His whispy blonde hair flew around as the cool sea breeze flew through his hair. He took in a deep breath. He was going to have fun today, no doubt about that. Finally time to let loose with is powers. Now these peons would see how farther above them he was. He could hear a loud thumping pounding in his chest. Though from the cave he did hear a bit of sound, and he quickly grew quite. He had no intention of giving him, and his allies away so early in the hunt. Well honestly he didn’t have any intentions of giving them away at any point. It’d been his idea to hunt the hydra in the first place. The last thing he needed was to get everyone killed too. That would look pretty bad on his loyalty card now wouldn’t it?
He closed his eyes for a brief moment before reopening them. When he opened his eyes back up they were bright purple and quite magical looking. “Hmm.” He announced for a brief moment. “I can hear that thing breathing all the way from here, how big do you think it is?” He rubbed his hands on his chin, and gave a slight smile as he looked further at Sea. It was faint, very faint. But he could recognize the a boat on the ocean out on the distance, if only they knew how cool of a battle they could have been witnessing if only they’d been a little closer.
It seemed to Tomas that everyone was really keeping to themselves before the battle started, and that was okay with him. He really needed to focus on his Sword before battles, place enough of his own enegery in it so that it would take him over mid battle. Because that could absolutely destroy everything. He would surely turn on his friends if the demon got on ly the smallest of Chances to turn on them. But that wouldn’t happen. It couldn’t.
The gang was all here! Well she’d already established that they were, but now it was confirmed. Gwyn squeaked from her position next to Jay. “ “We have a hydra to slay!” That didn’t’ come out nearly as strongly as she wanted it took. The tone she used seemed to alack a cetain amount of chest hair that she was hoping would brighten up the dreary atmosphere around here! She cleared her throat and again tried to summon up a mighty roar. “We have a hydra to slay!!!” She roared, and it echoed across the sea all the way to that far off ship.
She giggled as she began to move forward. To their left was the ocean. A large cliff lead to the sea side below them. Up a head there was the large mouth of a cave that looked over the ocean. A good perch of a  hydra as any! Before the mouth there was a field of bones, and even a scattering of gold coins. You could see a thickly sort of mist coming out from the mouth in a steady and constant manner. ‘Breathing.’ Gwyn concluded as she noticed the method in which it was inhaled, and exhaled. The metronome like rhythm of the mist, gave a clear indication to the nature of it. There was some sort of beast of great size within the bowls of that cave. Whatever could it be? Narf.
Quietly Gwyn beckoned to her order of hydra slayers to enter into the cave with her. Inside the gave there were moist walls and ceilings as a short cave tunnel quickly expanded into an inner chamber. There in that inner chamber was, The dreaded Hydra. It’s large snake like body coiling into a tight circle. It rested atop a large mound of golden, and silver, artifacts and treasures. The Hydra had no limbs, or wings. Yet rather than a dolphin like appearance, this beast looked to be more Sankey. It had large sharp looking scales, and was easily three times larger than a man. It’s massive from filled a great deal of the cavern. Yet it seemed to be sleeping soundly. It’s cool mist breath filled every nook and cranny of the cave, covering everything in a wet slick film.
A Fearsome beast indeed. Just it’s sleeping breath seemed to change the landscape around him. He was easily larger than any of the members currently assembled in the cavern. Even Tomas who was six feet tall wasn’t as tall as that thing!  It’s powerful form… Even the slightest error by anyone of the hydra slayers could mean death for them. Gwynevere looked to her ream, as she stared down the short tunnel that lead further into the cave. “No beast we would wish to take on lightly. What do you say our plan of attack should be?” She looked to her men, She wasn’t the team leader, but she wanted to get some points for at least trying to figure this out.
Jay’s breath caught in his throat as he smelled the foul stench of the beast which resided with in the confines of this cave. A Hydra. The greatest of all beasts. Right there almost within reach. Jay could see it’s powerful sleeping form within the cave. Stronger than any man, that was for sure. He felt his mouth begin to fill with warm tangy spit, as the blood started to rush Within Jay’s body.
Jay clenched his fist. He bit his lip as his stone armor began to sprouted out of his arm. The with protrusions erupted from his flesh and begin to mold around his forearm, and hands as if they were a suit of armor. The stone shifted slightly as the density of the stone grew beyond that of even steel. The weight of the immense earth weighed down heavily upon Jay’s arm. Even his immense strength had a bit of trouble lifting it. This thing was made for two hands, that was for sure. But he muscled on through the struggle, and held the sinister looking weapon aloft.  “Alright guys I know you’re chomping at the bit to get going with this so I’m only going to give you one order during this fight. Let’s go wild!” He let a pearly white smile spread across his dark lips. His dark eyes shone behind his orange tinted sun glasses, Jay was so cool, he looked like he didn’t have a bit of fear in him about going up against this monster. There was just one thing on his mind. Feeling that creatures blood dripping from his body. It’s warm life dripping off of him, as he bathed in blood of the second greatest creature to ever hunt in these lands. “Kill.” He growled once more, crouching down slightly. His muscles coiled up. He prepared to spring forward. “Kill!” He shouted, his voice echoed through the cave bouncing off the far wall and bouncing back at him. He launched manically as the cool air of the gave brushed past his face. His eyes were wide and crazy tears streamed from his face as she charged forward. “KILL KILL KILL!”
He dashed forward through the cavern his Body rocking and shaking the stone walls of the cave as he ran through
Hmm Hmm Hmm. What an interesting Fellow this Tomas was going to turn out to be. What hark! What that a back story, and personality that this young lad had? Far too interesting for Manfred to handle. Tis sad he had to live in a world devoid of people who were drastically less interesting. Boring, boring people.
There was Lady Gwynevere. The Lone Mejin of these lands. Able to both spit a fire from her mouth, but not only that she could transform her hair into a great fire strom and use that as a weapon as well. Manfred had seen the stuff melt right through a brick wall. Beyond that she was a boundless beauty, being more than capable capturing the attention of any boy who looked her way. Now that she wasn’t a complete loser when it came to jutsu that was. Though he had never seen it up close, he had her tale that she had an ability that allowed spit a fire ball the size of a football field across great distances. He wasn’t sure if he belived tat or not. Gwyn was good but studnes at suna talked so no one really knew the extent of her fire abilities. But with the recent and none too regrettable loss of morgan people didn’t think that it had too manyh limits. People had seen Morgan get her arm broken in half and then be punching with it only minute slater. Her healing factor was nothing to sniff at. And gwynever had overcome it completely. As if that wasn’t enough she was also incredibly skilled in hair jutsu, as well as fore. So much in fact that she had a very deep understanding on how to fuse the two actually turning her fire jutsu into hair jutsu, or fice versa. Not only did it have the nice stabby stabby abilities of hair jutsu, but the incredible burning powers of her lans fire jutsu. . He’d seen her make all sorts of flaming hair creatures that all create their own very different and very destructive form of explosions. It was a surprisingly effective move..
Then there was Jay. A quite foe, and completele phycopath as far as combat went. At least from what Manfred had seen of him. Still. He did have one of the most unusual abilities that Manfred had ever seen another man posess. Able to sprout his stone armor out from his body almost quicker than the eye could see. It was an impressive trick. Besting that man in hand to hand combat would be a challenge for anyone. That much was for sure. Though he didn’t seem to be the jack of all trades that his mistress was, he seemed incredibly capable in close combat. He had some sort of strange taijutsu power that allowed him to move far beyond what he’d ever seen another human perform before. Not only that but he was probably the coolest guy Manfred had ever met. Not that he would say that outloud, but when he wasn’t fighting he was so calm and cool it was hard to believe that the people were in the same skin.
He didn’t know all that much about this Tomas fellow. But he was a boy from a cursed family and that was good enough for Manfred. Plus he’d been personally picked by the Head master to join their little hunting party. So even if he was new to the school his powers were probably more than any of them could have imagined. He couldn't wait to see. Knowing everyone strengths and weaknesses couldn’ only help him in the future. The Headmaster didn’t just grab a hold of any noob that wanders around the earth with a cursed sword as a weapon. He only picked the greatest of ninja to join his academy. And so it would be that Tomas was one of the greatest of ninja. Plus there was something about that steel sword of his that Made Manfred think he had a trump card up his sleeve. That thing looked pretty tough.
Then there was Manfred. And he wasn’t one to brag. But he was the greatest Telepath of all time and could rip a person in half without even lifting a figner. These three could use all of their powers combined to try and kill him and it wouldn’t’ even be a challagne. The only question was if he was going to let them kill the hydra or if he’d take all the glory for himself?
When he saw the princess move forward towards the Cave he followed behind. He wasn’t going to be much good in a fight, but he’d do what he could. He decided that he was going to just try and provide support for this round. As much as he hated to admit it he needed some good credit from this. He felt the blood lust coming off of Jay’s body. Like a sick red, and black cloud the evaporated off of him.  He wasn’t going to… Then he just went and charged off. Okay so he was planning on charging in there. Fair enough.
The wind caught in Tomas’s breath as he quietly began to choke again. He looked down at that cave, and couldn’t’ believe the sight. I mean…. He’s seen hydras before. Heck he was a roommate with one. Heck, heck! He’d even kissed a hydra one time, not willingly mind you. Still despite all his close encounters of the hydra kind he could hardly wrap him mind around the concept that there was one so large inside of that cave and that they were going to kill it! It seemed impossible. The thing in there was just so much larger than anything they would be able to muster. How were they going to do this?
Tomas took in a deep breath to calm himself. Relax man. These were professionals. Don’t get scared. They know what they’re doing. It’s not like this is their first rodeo. He just had to calm down, step back and let them do their work. Follow their lead, and he was sure to come out of this A-Okay. Yeah that was the plan. Just do as he was told. No problem. With his breath now steady he stood back, and listened closely o any instructions that his superiors were about to give him.
That is until Jay ran head long into the cave before any of them could even discuss what they were going to do when they actually got in there! With his mouth agape he looked to the others. Gwynevere was whisked away by Jay by virtue of standing on this shoulders, and Manfred seemed to be calming making his way into the cave as well. Tomas sighed.
Alright! If this was how it was going to be, then fine! People learn through doing! “Let’s do it!” Tomas announced holding his hands in the air. His sword would melt down, and form a tight suit of armor around his hydra slayer. It was a total magical girl transformation, glitter, and everything. With the Armor now in place Tomas would crouch down slightly awakening his hidden demonic powers granted by his oh so cured bladew hcih he held.. His skin grew gray and awesome wings of might sprouted from his back giving him the ability to fly! All buffed up Tomas flew through the cave. His cursed sword safely by his side, well as safe as it could be by virture of it being cursed. He put his hand on the handle of his sword, and waited for the perfect moment to attack.
When he finally saw it he’d activate Ballerina Blade Risk, soaring forward at a speed that gwynevere couldn’t even track, and slicing into the hydra’s side with his razor sharp sword.
The Hydra Stirred awake as it heard the bloodthirsty roar of Jay the earth Hydra Slayer. It opened it’s slanted eyes, which immediately dilated. What foolish mortals dared to enter into his domain? Not wise ones that much was for sure.
Seeing the fool charge at him, the Great old hydra would uncoil It’s body. His head would raise up towards the ceiling out of the way of danger, while it’s tail would uncurl and swiped at Jay. With a strength equal to ancient hydra it would smack Jay and send him flying at the cavern wall, crushing him aginst the density of rock wall and the hydra’s tail.
Seeing a second foe approach him from the air, the Hydra would curl up momentarily before striking forwards, aiming to swallow the boy whole. He’d been sleeping for a few days it was about time that the old hydra had a nice meal!
A Bead of sweat rolled down the side of Gwynevere’s head. Oh Jay he was just so ripping, and ready to get into a fight sometimes. Why could he just take a minute to plan things out? Oh well good thing for him Gwynevere was pretty good at planning things on the fly. In fact she’d always felt like was a better strategist on the cusp of the moment rather than when she had a bunch of time. She dropped down from Jay’s shoulders. No longer was she sitting on his shoulders, now she was wrapped around his back, with her arms around his neck. She fromed several hand signs before firing Six Balls of fire at the body of the sleeping hydra.
“There!” She thought to herself with a happy smile on her young face. ‘That should soften the scales, and give Jay’s lance a clear shot to the body!”
The lava hit the skin of the hydra and sizzled loudly as it melted through the layers of the beasts thick armor. Then she gasped loudly when she felt her body get slung to the side as if she’d been hit by a powerful truck. She squealed and held on tightly to Jay’s body as they were tossed at the cave wall.
Jay grunted loudly, as the hydra uncoiled and smacked him in the ribs. “Bastard!” He screamed as he felt the tail press up against him and force him into the cave wall. “Gwyn!” He shouted again. The poor girl. Jay could survive a crash like this, but her? Her poor frail frame was sure to be destroyed by the force of the impact. “Hang on!” He annoced. He chocked a little as she felt her tiny arms coil around his neck. Too tight! As he was forced backwards he sprouted six thick stilts of stones form his back. He dulled their tips, and made for a flat edge. They flew far out from his, body while still staying connect. They hit the wall a few meters before he did. The cracked a tad, but the strength of the stones allowed him to absorb the rest of the shock of the hydra’s attempt. More importantly it kept gwynevere from being crushed.
Through he could still feel the weight of the hydra’s tail pushing against him. It’s muscles cracking his bones, despite their immense density. He maneuvered his body to place his feet upon the hydra’s tail. He crumble his stone to ash and begin running up the length of the Hydra’s Form. Running straight for the Hydra’s head!
 “Tomas!” Manfred would shout as he saw the Beasts Great Maw flying towards Tomas. Activating one of his abilities Manfred would form a ball of Energy Within the mouth of the Hydra. The sphere would kind of be like a ball gag and keep the hydra from closing his mouth around Tomas, which should keep him safe for a while.
He’d let out a slight Sigh of relief when the boy was out of danger. This beast was fast. IT was able to make attacks on several fronts at the same time. Manfred would have to keep his distance and keep an eye out for everything that was going on right now. There would be a lot to focus on, but someone had to keep these guys alive!
Manfred’s green eyes looked over at Tomas’s flying Form. That was quite the interesting ability he had going on at the moment. His power had more then doubled since the time they’d first met only minutes agon. And it wasn’t just his own charka. It felt different, more demonic. They’d been talking about how they were going to train Tomas, but it’s possible that the boy had surpassed them already.
It was too fast! Even for Tomas with his demonic form activated, the thing moved quicker than anything that Tomas had ever seen before! He’d seen Jay swept aside like it was nothing, and that had been the strongest man that Tomas had ever seen in his life. He could feel a cold sweat forming on the steel scales of his body. Maybe he wasn’t ready for something like this? He was just a Genin. He may have been gifted with a cursed sword and some amazing powers, but he was still just a Genin!
Then he saw The Hydra give pause as A large sphere of some sort formed over the creatures mouth. As the Hydra gave pause in it’s attack Tomas went forward ready to capitalize on his advantage. He flew forward and drew his blade at a blinding speed. Enhanced with his chakra the blade with a sharpness great enough to cut air inhalf, and a respectable speed Tomas would aim for the creatures eye, hoping to blind it on one side.
A ball gag? Did they think that the mighty Ciamath was some common street walker? The Rage! The Hydra fuled rage! Worse than that the mortals now dared to tread up and down his body as if he was some ramp? Did these little, tiny, puny, insignificant creatures think that Ciamath was some game for their amusement? Well he wasn’t!
As the stone man ran up the body, Ciamath the mighty water hydra of suna would force his body into the cavern walls, slamming the man into the dirt, and stone. But this time he’d bring the length of his mighty form running across the mortals body. His sharp scales cutting him to ribbons as well as grinding him into the wall. It would be a slow and mighty painful death for the young man, and the woman he kept on his back.
Meanwhile… AAARGH! Blinded by someone like this? The Great Hydra Clamped his jaw down smashingly crushing there sphere in his mouth. The world through his right eye had completely vanished. Blast! He’d gotten careless. He’d open up his mouth and unleash a torrent of water into the cave. The Waves would be supernaturally powerful. Their Magical waters would crush to death anyone caught within their waters. The Water would fill halfway up the Cavern before stopping. It would also not flow out of the cave, and instead stay in the cavern… like jello.
After Than the hydra would dive into the water dissolving into the small ocean, and wait for a chance to strike again.
Gwynever would give Jay a smooch on the check. He was such a good bodyguard. If only they weren’t fighting in such a confined space, she could be of much more use! No fire clouds, no giant explosives. At least now when they were fighting underneath a mountain. She had to settle with summoning a few fire balls and firing them out from the side of the wall, and aiming it at the Hydra’s exposed underbell.
Feeling the Hydra shift underneath him, and having no time to react. Jay would snatch Gwynevere off of his back and throw her like a football towards the ceiling. As the Hydra slammed him into the wall he would Activate his super special earth powers, and began sinking into the wall. A plate of stone would form over him giving him some protection from the razor sharp scales as they dug into him. He quickly formed with the earth, but now before plates of stone, and scrapes of flesh were torn from his chest and ribs. Him sinking into the wall spared him from the force of the impact but his side was still wrecked. He’d have to eat some dirt to patch that up for sure. It’s too bad that he was almost completely out of chakra!
Still inside of the cavern wall Jay would move towards the ceiling and take a bit of the roof out, and eat it to regain some chakra. His wound would still be gapping. He gritted his teeth at the humiliation. He was going to be out of the fight for at least another round.
Manfred was not at all impressed by the performance of the hydra. Rolling his eyes he flew up into the air to avoid the crashing waves, and other nasty things.
A Solid hit excellent! Tomas glowed with pride as the hydra flailed about. The first one to score a vital wound. Tomas couldn’t be more pleased with himself. He was an equal to any of these warriors no matter what their rank was! He placed his sword back into it’s sheath, and began to charge it up for his final attack. He was going to take this Hydra out in one hit. If he tried to send a jutsu at him, he’d pull the sword out, absorb it’s energy, and redirect it at the hydra! Sure this sword hpossesed him, and was slowly absorbing his soul, but man it was an amazing Item.
He’d still be flying in the air above the water. His bat like wings flapping with a synconized almost silent beat.
Ciamath wonder which would run out first, his ability to maintain the water or the remaining air in the cave? Not that he had much interest in seeing. These bothersome pests had lived long enough! They’d entered into his home, trampeld upon his gold, and dared to lay a wound upon his perfect body!
6 fleshy hydra heads burst from the water! It was the Hydra’s ultimate move! The Hydra Formation.
These six sinister snouts would burst from the water at a speed of a raging train their mouths wide opened. Razor sharp teeth would grab at the hydra slayers and the two participating Hydras. They’d rip their prey apart shredding them to ribbons, and consuming all that remained. The Hydra’s teeth would be sharper than any possible substance ripping apart armor, hydrascales, and bones a like. The Hydra Would only die when all 6 heads were destroyed.
 “Whaaaa!” Gwyneveer shouted as she was thrown to the ceiling. She clamped her feet down on the ceiling, and placed her hands together forming a quick handsign and channeling her chakra into her raven hair wich was rapidly turning crimson. It got more and more fizzy until it actual burst into flames. The Hydra’s mouth raced towards her and she smiled. With a simple flick of her chakra she sent a torrent of burning needles straight down the cullet of the great beast. Not only cutting but brutally searingthe inside of the beats threats. The needles pierced through flehs, and muscles burning their way past the scales and exiting. It was an awesome display of pyrotechnics.
Jay made a move to attack the hydra. But his Side groaned in agony, and he could only cough up blood, and sink back into the stone of the cavern. Damn this beast!
Manfred Would use surge and zap himself down the throat of the hydra, before activating an expansive sphere of energy around him  and exploding out of the Hydra’s throat like Obi Wan in that one Star wars mini episode. The one with durge. After that another head would take an intrest in him, and open it’s mouth to attack him. Manfred smirked. If one couldn’t beat him what made them think two could. Zero times two was still zero. He formed a cylinder of energy and forced it into the beats throat, and with a pulse of kinetic energy he forced that cylinder down the beasts throat splitting the entire neck in half. Gorey was the most polite way a person could describe it.
What a beast! What power! Tomas had never truly seen anything like it before in all his life. This was truly a creature which needed to be slain, to be killed! He’d seen everyone else skillfully dispatch their heads, and now It was his turn!
He’d gracefully twirl out of the way of the Hydra’s head. It’d fly past him like a speeding train. Then once more with an unmatched Swiftness and send his blade out, and cut completely through the neck of the hydra! There would be that dramatic arm hold out, where the hydra looks okay, but you see the neck start to slide apart. Right before Tomas re sheathed his blade.
Tomas had skillfully dispatched on Hydra head, but he failed to deal with the other! The Great Maw would open up as Tomas was busy dealing with the other hydra. As Tomas held his sword out the Hydra’s Mouth would fly up past him, catching Tomas’s arm and sword within his mouth, and ripping his arm right out of the socket, tearing the limb from his body with a horrid ripping sound.
 
Jay’s Hydra would still plow forward slamming straight into the roof of the cave, shaking the entire mountain. Finding now prey he’d turn his attention towards Gwynevere. He’d plow through the roof tearing up great sheats of rock as the surged towards Gwyn like a land shark.
Gwyn would find herself shaken from from the roof, and begin fall towards the ground. The Hydra would still be following her, it’s mouth open and watering, ready for a meal!
But just for an awesome scene Gwynever pulls out the last reserves of her chakra and focuses it into her hair. A bright light would explode fromj her hair and bline the hydra as five serpeants of flaming hair would fly out from her impressive main and wrap around the neck and mouth of the monster burning and choking the thing to death.
However she finds herself so drained from the battle that she feels faint, and is unable to stop herself from plummeting into the water. Which unless the final head is killed, will crush her!
Jay emerges from the rocks! Sees Gwynevere Falling to her death. “Gwynevere!” He would shout with more anguish and purpose than most nations saw in their life time. She could not die! She was everything good about this world. She was beautiful, and holy, and precious beyond all compare! Juuust kidding. Jay was just a cool guy. He couldn’t let one of his team mates die.
He would rocket off of the ceiling at a speed equal to plot. His wound ripped open and began spurting blood all over again, but Jay didn’t even feel it. He could only feel the horrid pain in his chest. The pain came from the thought of losing one of his team mates like this. He would never be able to forgive himself. As she shot down he lowered his awesome orange sunglasses and got ready to catch her.
He rocketed forward, his hand reaching out for her’s! He’d done this. He’d been the one to charge in. If only he could have controlled himself. She wouldn’t be in this mess. It was him! He’d killed her! She was just inches away…
 “Tomas look out!” Manfred would shout just in time to see Tomas’s arm be ripped from his body. “Nooo!” He screamed, feral. It wasn’t just his arm. It was the wing too. Without that wing Tomas would be unable to fly, and he’d fall to the water.
He’d have to kill this hydra fast!
He motioned to send a bolt of energy at the hydra. One powerful enough to just completely burn the thing out from the inside out. But he suddenly felt what felt like a lighting bolt strike him in the back of the head. His powers he’d been over using them.
 
Tomas Gasped, as he felt his arm ripped away. How had he missed that?
His demonic posession deactivated as he began to fall towards the water. His consciousness draining from him entirely.
He’d gotten too cocky.
How Shameful, for Tomas was the most modest among all.
The world at the corner of his eyes was turning black.
No he couldn’t die. Not yet!
He still had an arm!
His sheath was still…. Connected to his body. He placed his hand on the trigger, and adjusted his body to face the neck of the hydra. He pulled the thrice, and sent three blades of red energy cutting into the neck of the hydra. The first three weakened the neck, and the third one sliced right through everything else.
The channeling what power he had left a new arm burst forth from his gaping wound and he was healed!
Gwynevere let out a soft happy sigh as she felt Jay Pick her up out of the air. “You’re hurt.” She pouted, placing a pair of glowing green hands on his side. She frowned as she watched the wound heal up. Tears were slowly flowing down the side of her face. “You’re a good knight.” She whispered.She cleared her eyes, and pushed away the water out of her eyes. Couldn’t appear weak in front of the children now. She stood to her full unimpressive height. She didn’t want to give anyone any ideas. Especially Jay. She was dating Snowflake. In love with snowflake. A dirty office affair was no way to earn a reputation in the world People already gave her dirty looks for what she’d done to Morgan. Not because she’d killed her because she was universally reviled. But because she managed to get away with it. She’d literally managed to get away with murder. And no matter how you spun that, it was just wrong.

The four students gathered around the dead beasts body. It now lay dead and defeated before them. Their powers. Abilities that had once made them freaks around their people now made them heroes. Powerful slayers of a great beast. Demi gods. Inheritors of this world, now that they’d stolen it from the grasps of old and dead gods. None of them really knew what to say. They’d just killed that thing. Sure they were all tired and battered from it. Tomas had even temporarily lost an arm, but still. They lived through that. Now that was amazing, they should all be dead. By alrights they should be, but yet they stood. Proud. Defiant. Victorious. Gwyn dared to let a bit of pride well up in her chest. “To think.” Her voice was husky, but she wanted to be heard. “To Think. Just a few months ago I was cooking pizzas and I couldn’t imagine a bigger life for myself, except to maybe make manager some day. Now here we are. Ion a gave with a dead hydra and a mountain of gold. Who’d ever think that a girl like me would be surrounded by a group of heroes like you? I’m honored. Without a doubt it’s a privilege to know you all.”
The boys all looked at her. They took her in. Looked her over. Let her words sink in. Then almost together they shook their heads. Except for Manfred because he totally believed that it was an honor to know him because he’s just that type of guy. “No Gwyn.” Jay said in a nice firm tone. “It’s my honor to have been able to lead all of you. I know that it was my fault in there, and I could have done so much better. But you all pushed on. Kept on your toes. Stayed alive, and killed that thing. I’ve never been more proud to welcome new students into Suna Academy, but I must say. You’ve done us all proud.”
So the four of them set out. Actual officials coming into the clean the place out. Of course not before the students took the time to fill their pockets with as many gold goins as they could grab. Gwynevere after that found herself not exactly lacking in the clothing or jewelry department. From that point on she was always decked out in a fancy outfit. It may not have always been fashionable but it was always awesome. But at that point Gwynevere was just peacocking. After all how many visual indicators can a girl have because it just get’s out of hand? Like having flaming hair wasn’t eye catching enough?

TWC 6015
30 stats
3200 For Hair Needle Senbon
2300 For Needle Hell
515 For Exploding Flame Shot

"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." Snowflake muttered the phrase to himself over and over. The other kids in the hall were going to start thinking he was crazy. They would have if the waiting wasn't driving them just as crazy. Ms. Dent and Aylen were both behind teh locked door of R-1 picking who would be getting what parts for the fall play, and the anticipation was palpable. "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."

"Snowflake will you shut up?" Chairty grumbled. "Your nervousness is making me nervous. It's like your the host of disease." She gave him a little wink.

Which he returned. "I do have mono now that you mention it."

"You have mono?"

An entire week spent laying in bed listening to Bob Marley. Sure it sounded great on paper, but he was so weak he could hardly make it from his room to the bathroom and back. "Had, but once you've had it it's always inside of you."

"Like Herpes."

"Yeah."

"I have herpes."

"You have herpes?" Snowflake did his best not to scream it just in case she didn't want everyone in theater knowing it.

She gave him a knowing wink. "Just cold sores."

Snowflake gave his own knowing wink in return. "Just cold cold sores?"

"Alright alright." Gwynevere surrendered. "I also had a case of chicken pox when I was seven." She gave him yet another wink. "Had to miss out on church camp."

The door to R-1 opened and immediately all conversations halted. There was
a collective holding of breaths,  as Aylen stepped out. In her hands she
had it, the cast list. It felt like she had some sort of treasure map in
her hand and everyone in the hall was a scurvy ridden pirate. Her blue
sneakers squeaked quietly as she made her way to the call board. She took a
thumb tack, impaled the paper, stuck it into the board, and ran back into
the room before you could say ‘North Dakota’.

The whole hallway rushed the board like it was some teen heart throb.  Student’s
shouted with joy, and sighed with disappointment. The whole spectrum of
human emotion was on display as each individual read the part they’d play
in the production.

Relief, happiness, and pride. That’s what Gwynevere felt as she coolly
whispered “Lucy” into Snowflake’s ear. Of course it was all hidden under a veil
of cool confidence, like she’d never doubted herself the entire time. Of course that was short lived as she steped away from the group and shouted to the heavens that she’d gotten the part. Fire raged out from her, and every one jumped away. She was her normal explosive self. Her excitement was streaming out of her body like a giant cloak of fire. It came out in waves and in jolts.

Then there was the heart pounding, seam bursting, sky clearing, earth
shaking, knee quaking, overwhelming joy, that Snowflake felt when he read his
part. “Reinfield.” He gasped. Gwynevere threw off her fire cloak and went to embrace Brody with joyus joy.The two of them hugged each other, and danced
around, squealing the whole time. “I got a part!”

“You got a part!”

“I got a part!”

Gwynevere disengaged and put on a dreadfully bored looking face. “As if there
was ever any doubt.”

Snowflake followed suit, and took on a bored façade. “Not even the slightest.”

“Of course not. With such grand actors as you and I, they may as well call
it ‘The Gwynevere and Snowflake show’." Sure it was all awfully disrespectful
for those who didn’t get a part, or didn’t make the productions at all,
but they weren’t really thinking about them right now.

Some people who wanted to act were given jobs as technicians, lighting,
sound, etcetera. Though Ms. Dent preached that tech was equal to the
performers, the student’s still felt put down. At the very least, they had
a part in the play. Once they get over their ego’s and accept their
positions with grace, they will find tech to be just of a magical position
as any stage actor. Some people didn’t even get that much. A few, no more
than three people didn’t even get their names on the call sheet.  They were
already in twenty other clubs, didn’t fit in, or just sucked, those people
simply didn’t make it. No part no matter how small, is better than simply
not making it.

You’d think.

“Dr.Quincy!” Manfred shouted out. In joy? In surprise? In pure elation? No!
Of course he didn’t, he shouted that name out angrily.

Snowflake couldn’t help but be confused. Dr.Quincy was the Doctor at the insane
asylum, he had dozens of lines, and was in just about every scene of the
play.  He was pretty much the main character in everything but title. It
was the title that Manfred was after.

A person asks you what part you play, and you say ‘Reinfield’, or
‘Dr.Quincy’ you have to explain who that is. When you say ‘Dracula’ it’s
completely different. Their eyes go wide and they smile, they know what
that means. You’re the main character, you are the face of the play. You’re
Dracula.

The moment Manfred yelled out "Dr.Quincy" , Drake knew he was Dracula, and made for the door. He knew the role he’d gotten, just by knowing the role Manfred received.  He was a cool kid that Drake. Calm, cool, quite, collected, and he had an excellent fight or flight instinct. He flew out of the hallway before Manfred was able to collect himself.

“Well that sucks.” Manfred shouted, just loudly enough so that Aylen and
Ms. Dent could hear him from behind the closed door of R-1.

Gwynevere shook her head. “Manfred do you remember that time, when you told me to tell you when you’re being a baby?”

“Gwynevere I don’t really…”

“It’s right now, just in case you were wondering.” Snowflake just nodded, it wasn’t untrue.

“Now we won’t get to kiss.” Manfred sulked, with a cool smile on his face the whole time. He didn’t look that dejected anymore. Maybe he was just looking for attention with his tantrum.

“I’ll live.” She could live without kissing Manfred? One point for Snowflake.

Manfred snatched up her hands, and danced with her around the room.
“Couldn’t you just imagine it though? Me in my cape, we dance for a bit,
then I lean in!” Snowflake was turning fifty shades of green, weither it was a
jealous green, or a nauseous green he couldn't tell. Worry not snowflake Manfred already had a certain nature class girl as his main squeeze. He just had finally managed to war up to his room mate. Gwynevere still had to sleep out in the hall, but she was this close to having a friend.

Gwynevere lightly shoved Manfred away. “Then you wake up from you trance,
where you think I’d ever kiss you.” Snowflake could have punched the air.
The smile on Manfred’s face didn’t seem like it would ever come off. He didn't look like a guy who'd just lost a role he'd been hoping for all summer.

He was in a good mood though, and that was good enough for Snowflake. "So are you alright?"

The danced stopped and Manfred smiled at his Friend. "Yeah." He let out a little sigh. "I'm upset I didn't get the role, but I did what I could." Then he gave that stupid smile. "I love acting, and Theater. If I quite because I didn't get one part, well then I don't deserve any parts." How could one guy be so charismatic? There wasn't a girl who heard that story who'd heart didn't Belt. Even Gwynevere gaze softened a little.

"You're alright Manfred." Was all Snowflake could say.

"Thanks Bud, I work pretty hard to be alright." Cheeky. "And Hey, congrats to you both on both your parts. We're going to blow that crowd away on opening night. Bet on it." He let out a laugh King Henry would have been jealous of. "They'll cheer, throw us flowers, take their tops off, oh man it's going to be great."

"And you wonder why I don't want to kiss you."

"A couple of us are going into town tonight, do you want to go with us Snowflake?" Students were usually only let off campus during the weekends. As a result every Friday night the town of suna was flooded with red blooded teenagers chomping at the bit to get out of the academic atmosphere for a few hours. Until the curfew at ten at least. "I know a great burger place." He added.

Jessie when she was still Snowflake's girlfriend, said that they'd go on a romantic date on the first Friday of the school year. But that was then, for tonight Snowflake's only plans were checking to see if he'd gotten a role in the play. He'd also been planning on watching T.V in his room, but that wasn't a high priority. "I'd love to."



Bueno Burger was the Best Burger/Taco Joint in all of Suna. It was a nice little building nestled at the edge of the towns woods. It had old white floor tiles that had faded into a light yellow. It was well lit with over hanging lights, and the neon of their still working juke box. It was all owned by a old couple named Bert and Jenifer McOren. Bert served up the burgers, Jenifer made the Taco's, and Cassidy their young blonde waiter took care of the rest.

Cassidy led the group of five to a corner booth with her signature hip wiggle. "Just call me over when you're ready to order!" She flashed them all her pearly white teeth, and strolled off.

"Snowflake don't even touch your menu!" Belgosi announced with an urgency greater than a menu could ever incite. Snowflake really liked Bel, and his Girlfriend Lorna . They were the two most pleasant people Snowflake had ever had the pleasure of meeting. Bel had messy brown hair, and clear blue eyes. Eyes that were always smiling at you. The hour long walk from the school to the diner had been filled with Bel and Manfred Joking around with each other. He was a freshman, and wanted to a radio personality when he graduated. "These guys have the best Refried Burger on the planet."

"What's that?" Snowflake hadn't know Bel for very long, but he didn't need to, to know that he was an interesting guy.

"Don't ask!" Lorna begged. Her big brown eyes begged along with her.

"Well what they do is..."

Lorna squinted angrily at Snowflake. "Now you've got him started!" She obviously heard this same sales pitch one too many times.

"...smother the patty with refried beans, it is so good you wouldn't believe."

Snowflake cringed. "That sounds disgusting!"

Lorna just shook her head. "That's because it is, but he swears it's the best things since sliced bread." Lorna liked to play the part of the exhausted girlfriend. She always sighed and rolled her eyes at Bel's jokes, but when no one was looking she give him the biggest grin a girl could muster.

"Surely not." Bel purred. "I mean you're on the list after all. It's only the second best thing, after you of course."

"Sure glad you rank me above a bean covered burger." Despite her tone they kissed, and the rest of them blushed.

They were cute, they didn't hang over each other like most couple. They kept it to themselves, in the school at least. Snowflake didn't even know they knew each other during rehearsals. In town though they were acting like proper teenagers, holding hands, kissing, and what not. It's interesting what the environment can do to people.

Manfred closed his Menu. "I'll just stick with a cheeseburger."

"Prude." Bel whispered.

"Enchilada for me." Gwynevere announced. "What about you Fran...."

"Eh yo Cas-si-day!" Manfred called, interrupting Gwynevere. "Sorry, Gwynevere. I figured we may as well get our waiter in on this conversation." The smile on his face was just begging to get slapped off.

"You know, the French make dinning out an event. They take their time to enjoy the food, and company." Cassidy's nurse shoes padded across the yellow tile.

"God bless them. Cassidy I'd like a cheeseburger, no onions."

Cassidy brought out her pen and paper. "Okey Dokey."

"Enchalada for me please!"

"Gotcha."

"Two Refried Burgers for my buddy Snowflake and me."

"Okay." Even Cassidy cringed when she heard the order. Not a good sign as far as Snowflake was concerned.

"Cheese fries for Lorna!" She'd been waiting all summer to get a plate of their cheese fries. 

"Alright, I'll see you guys in a bit!" And with that Cassidy wobbled off. Her gait was slow and meandering. She walked the purpose of a girl who didn't have one. And yet they all stared at her, fascinated in a way that couldn't' be described.

Lorna Smiled, maybe she knew why. "I'm going to marry her one day." No one even had to say anything. Just her comment hanging in the air was enough to prompt an explanation. "She has a great voice, you should hear her sing someday." It's hard to explain the appeal of a naturally Charismatic person. "I think she's going to sing in the home coming parade." Lorna was only digging herself a deeper hole.

"I think the show is going to be great." Said Bel only slightly worried he'd lose his girlfriend to the waitress.

Gwynevere jumped right in. "Oh no doubt!" It was like every conversation up until now had been filler for her. She didn't care about the school or the teachers, she cared about the play. So she talked about it. Talked about the script, and what she liked. Talked about what the set would look like. Talked about the roles they all got. Talk, talk, talk. Sheesh.

Manfred was halfway done fashioning a noose out of napkins by the time their food arrived. Cassidy rode in on her metaphorical steed, all five plates balanced expertly over her arms. "Two Refried burgers, an Enchalada, Cheesburger no onions, and an order of cheese fries." She recited it all by memory.

Lorna gratefully took her plate. "Cass tell them all you have a beautiful voice."

"Yep!" Hardly an answer. Cassidy laid out everyone's plates. "Enjoy!" She blew the table a kiss, and strolled off.

Snowflake smiled. "Lorna that kiss was for you."

Manfred agreed. "She knows you're interested. Better step you're game up Bel."

Lorna buried her head in Bel's lap. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Snowflake is just stalling, because he's too scared to eat his delicious burger." Belbourne Gosi would not let up on this burger thing! Eating strange and mysterious things was sort of his passion. When he was a kid he always took the mystery flavor sucker. Friends would always bring him back chocolate covered insects whenever they traveled. "Just give it a taste." He just wanted a buddy to try new foods with. Lorna always ordered the same thing at restaurants.

Snowflake looked nervously at his plate. The beans were dripping out of the side of the sesame bun. All four sets of eyes were on him. "Alright!" Snowflake was a warrior! A warrior fears no food! If the kings asks him to taste a food he suspects to be poisoned, the warrior eats it! He swiped the burger off the plate, and gripped it tight. The bean paste slowly oozed out the edges of it. Snowflake opened up his maw and took a big bite out of it! He razor sharp teeth ripped and grinded the meat and bread into a fine paste. One big gulp and the bite of burger landed in his stomach like a lead brick.

"What do you think?"

"It's alright." Those words were like a sword through Bel's heart. "It's good, but the taste's don't really go together."

"Yeah." Bel nodded in agreement. "It's interesting though right?" A slight spark of hope.

"Yeah."

Lorna Grabbed Bel's face and kissed him on the cheek. "Ah poor baby no one likes your nasty burgers."

“You know what bel. No one thinks blood is a good food either! What’s a vampire doing eating a burger anyway?” Best friends were good to have. If for nothing else than that you could abuse them, and get away with it. Gwynevere had been quite ever since the food arrived. The current conversation flailed to provide her with any entertainment. As far as Snowflake could tell Gwynevere only thought of one thing Theater, she eat, breathed, and lived it. Well She eat Enchilada's, but the rest was certainly true. She just didn't seem happy unless she was talking about theater.

Although in her defense no one was enjoying the burger conversation all that much.

As all the others conversed about teachers he didn't know, and students he'd never met Snowflake started to think. He started to think about Gwynevere, who'd been taking up a disturbing amount of mental space for him lately. Maybe not disturbing, but a creepy amount. You can't blame him. Gwynevere was a beautiful, smart, and incredibly talented young lady. The most mysterious part however is that she seemed to like Snowflake! It's every guys dream for a girl like Gwynevere to pursue them, and it was actually coming true for Snowflake. Sure, maybe he was just misreading some signals. Maybe she was just being friendly to him, and he was looking into it too much.

But someone's foot had been stroking his leg all night, and Manfred wasn't wearing sandals.

The conversation died down, and eventually everyone went their separate ways. Everyone except for Snowflake and Gwynevere, lady combustible. The two were outside the academy looking over the pond as the sun went down. Stars were filling the sky, and the two were just sitting and talking. “I like this snowflake.” Gwynevere announced eventually. “I’ve been so shy and quite my whole time here. Mainly because I had such poor control over my powers. I just.” She paused considering things. “I’ve just been climinb ladders lately and I’m happy that we can finally spend some time together. I feel like we haven’t spent the time we deserve together. What we me trying to figure out what to do with all this fire.

Snowflake could only smile and nod. He was wise beyond his years. Gwynevere guessed that came from being part tribal god or something. She felt like they’d skipped over his back story, but as a quick reminder Snowflake had almost complete control over the wheather around him which made the village he came from think of him as a god. He wasn’t into the scene so he left for Suna to learn more about himself. “Well I think you know exactly what to do with that fire.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah what is fire.”

He leaned in feeling smooth now. “Well Fire is…”

“… Heat, flames, power…” She leaned in herself.

“…. Passion.” He finished by placing his lips on hers and kissing her firmly.

Gwyn’s throat lept into her throat. Oh man that just happened, that just happened. A kiss a kiss. Ooooh man and a really romantic one. Oh god she was blushing. She leapt to her feet. Her heart felt like it was bubbling like heated up chocolate. Oh man she was blushing, and burning, and fire. She felt fire. She felt it again inside of her. The fire. The universe. The celestial bonfire that mankind has sat around since time beyond reckoning. Her skin caught fire and her whole being was ablaze. This was different than with Morgan. This wasn’t rage. This was. Love? Joy. A happiness. It was burning her from the inside out but with a glow that was comfortable. She was probably the only person to ever feet a bit of joy from being lit a fire, but Snowflake had done it to her. That dorky little demigod had done it.

For his part Snowflake was shielding his eyes because Gwyn was absolutely glowing! Not just glowing absolutely emitting fire out from her. Like an aura. It was a miracle that the grass wasn’t catching on fire, but his fire wasn’t like that. It didn’t want to consume. Only love. Love him. Her dark haired date. Her acting partner, the reinfield to her Lucy. 

It didn’t feel like it was ever going to stop, she felt as it she’d be on fire for the rest of her days. Considering her bloodline that was completely likely. But a decision had to be made and Gwyn threw herself in the pond to cool herself down like they did to Michael a few weeks bac. Gwyn sighed and floated on her back. “Man. That was a good kiss.”

Snowflake, laughed, blushed, and nodded all at once. “Thanks.”

Gwynevere stroked her chin in consideration. Do you think that would make a good jutsu? Just bursting flame out from my entire body?”

“Couldn’t hurt.”

Gwynevere laughed. Now that she was cool her hair was black and was spilling out across the surface of the water. “That’s where you’re wrong Snow. I think it could do a lot of ddamage.” Gwynever laid her head back and closed her eyes as the stars started to come out. She thought about the best way to mold that chakra into a useful form. Rat tiger bull, that should have provided a nice little platform for the heat.

(TWC 3614)
18 stats
3200 Immolation
414 Dragon Fire