Onward We Go!

A cluster of almost thirty people can be seen walking away from the crumbling labyrinth. They were like warriors that won the war and coming home, and the destruction of the enemy is on their background.

The others are bickering, flaunting their achievements inside the labyrinth, and others are snuggling towards each other as a show of their affection.

The two grown ups: Zeke and Yano - seen by the people, and the people smile or sometimes laugh softly when they see them - is at the front of the group.

The Four Elemental Laws: Mei, Titus, Aisha and Jay are at the further back. They are looking at the youths in front of them, bickering and sometimes, glancing at their partners.

In the middle: the twenty one brats that cleared the dungeon. Aeriel can be seen hugging the arms of Aves. They are directly behind the two adults. Aeriel is yawning again and again due to lack of sleep. They can't sleep inside the dungeon peacefully after all.

Riku and Lily, along with Sora and Yuri is on the left and the right of Aeriel and Aves, respectively. They are a bit behind the two because Riku and Sora are best buds, they can't be separated when it comes to bickering.

Ethan and Hiera, together with Tim, Paul, Von, Ven, Zaine, Dalia, Kaye and Theo are bantering and running around, like the whole ordeal is nothing to them. They will pinch, slap or even jump to others' backs when they feel like they want to.

Behind them is Charla holding Quandor's hand, Raine hugging Shelar's waist and Vin. Sometimes, Vin will scold the group in front of him, will tell them to be careful, and sometimes, he will seem to act, but won't because he see them laughing. He would just sigh from time to time.

"Naughty kids." He said under his breath. Aisha heard it but she chose to just smile and watch the energetic teens.

Kids along the way kept waving at them. They also waved back, but after that, they continue on playing.

They sometimes play rock-paper-scissors, then the one who lose will have a pinch on the ear. Sometimes the guessing game, charades and others. They will laugh everytime someone loses.

In their case, it was always Theo who loses.

"Hey, your brother here is embarrassed at you!" Titus shouted and everybody laughed, except of course, the two grown ups in front, who somehow managed to think that there's something on their face. Or they are just imagining it (?)

"They are cheating!" Theo shouted, and everybody laughed at him. He was so red from embarrassment, but he managed to still squeeze out a smile.

"I will win this one for sure!" He declared. Kaye just nodded at him, but after that, he still lost at rock-paper-scissors. He is clearly abandoned by the goddess of luck, if there is someone like that.

His face grew pale, but he can't escape the punishment: he will walk like a dog until the next last man is standing. Titus just facepalmed at the sight, but he too is laughing.

"Hey, it's not a dog unless you bark!" Jay shouted from the back, and all of them went laughing again. Theo doesn't have a choice but to bark.

But he also laughed on how silly he looks. Vin seems to be enjoying the show. He looked at them, and remembered the day when his father used to be their horse when playing knights.

Ven, Von and Vin will play as the knights, and Nadia will play as the witch. Vyndra will be the horse that will take the three to the witch's castle. The three will be carried by Vyndra, and they will play until the three feels sleepy.

'Mom, Dad, we did it.' he said in his mind.

Maybe he forgot it when he was training to be stronger, but he won't forget it now, as he remembers the joy, fun and fulfilment he experienced with his parents.

He sighed and looked back to the group in front of him.

'At least they can still smile.' he said.

It was the last round now. Ven, and Zaine are the only ones who was left. It's too funny to see six people on their fours, crawling about in the vicinity.

It was then that Theo seemed to be tired, and he fell flat on his face. Zaine and Ven are too focused when suddenly, Zaine tripped and fell backwards.

Ven tried to catch her hand, but a little bit short in time, so she missed her by a breath.

Vin then slid forward to catch Zaine. She fell into his arms, and then she opened her eyes.

Her gaze fell into his. Her breathing became bated, her cheeks flushed red up to her ears, and her heart began to race. Vin also felt a large thump on his chest.

Looking at her eyes, he felt a longing for them. Her moist, soft lips was like screaming for him to take it using his own lips, and her hand was wrapping on his neck.

"Ahem!" Ven cleared her throat as she saw the scenario. Zaine rushed up to stand, waving her two hands like saying 'no, it's not like that'.

Ven's eyebrows are raised like saying 'is that so?'

Zaine nodded her head. The others also joined Ven at her suspicion, making dumb faces like saying:

'I don't believe you!'

'Don't be embarrassed.'

'Are you sure?'

Like that.

Zaine was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Explaining will make her guilty, and not saying anything will be like that too. The only thing left to do: is to be angry.

But it's not her character to be angry, or she is too embarrassed to feel that. Her heart is still beating fast.

"L-L-L-Let's just know who is the Queen of the Horses." She said as she stepped towards Ven.

"YOOO!" The other six shouted, but then, Zaine tripped again.

This time, she fell on her butt, and all of them saw that a bit of swell can be seen on her ankle.

"That's pretty serious." Vin said, and knelt before her, his back facing her.

"Hop on." He told Zaine.

Zaine was a bit flustered. Her cheeks became redder, as red as a tomato, and steam can be seen on her forehead, from her golden hair.

It took some time before she got the courage to hop on, and she became redder when she got on.

"And here comes the knight!" Ven proclaimed, and everybody laughed, except one.

He chuckled a bit, but he did not got in the fun.

Vin then joined in the fun of the eight.

"As a knight, I will make the queen win!" He declared as he walked towards Ven.

"Onward we go!" He said and they continued walking.

"We will fight as we walk!" Ven said, her face smug, and a hint of arrogance is in her face.

Why?

Because never in her life, did she lose to Vin in rock-paper-scissors.

This is a defining moment. If Vin wins this, Ven is not a fear to him anymore in these kind of games.

If Ven wins, he is still weak in the game.

"Rock-paper-scissors!" They both shouted.

A draw. Both of them chose paper.

It happened a lot of times, and then, the winner was decided after ten draws.

---------------------------------

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Walk my wretched horses. Offer your backs for your Queen!" Ven hollered as she laughed.

"Arrrrghhh!" Vin grumbled, as he walked on all fours, Zaine on his back.

"Loser!" Ven shouted as she laughed hard.

Vin groaned and promised himself that he will win next time. The teens were all laughing at the scene. Their captain, Vin is walking on all fours. It was a bit of distance until the place they stay in, so he will endure the humiliation for the sake of his honour.

In the midst of the laughter, Vin can easily hear Zaine as she is just on her back. She can't stop herself from laughing, but it made Vin at ease.

"Sorry, I couldn't win." He said in a dejected voice. Zaine chuckled, but she still answered.

"It's okay, at least we enjoy ourselves once in a while. Also, it may tell them that their almighty captain is also human, and incapable of some things sometimes." Zaine said while also laughing.

As they stepped into the city, the losers then stood up. They all then looked at the now flourishing city, led by Darkos. The people lived in harmony, as the Eight Heads were elected.

Each head are for every continent. There are also refugees from the continent of the Dariel, who chose to escape, chose to turn a new leaf and the ones who was abandoned when the war came. People did not accept them first, but as the time goes by, people started to accept them. They became the military strength of this place, although there are little to no threat in here.

Near the entrance was the market. People come and go, and there are merchants, restaurants, and people. Stout, thin, yellow, white, black, red, women, men, old and young. They are all living in harmony. There are all kinds of shops. There are smiths, jewelry stores, and some other shops that sell perfumes and pet animals.

They went shopping til they drop that day. They went separate ways, and they all went wild.

"Vin, is it good to look at? Is it too tight? Too big?" Zaine asked.

"You look good on them." Vin said, looking at the black blazer over a cream dress. Her heels are not too high, and she is wearing a hat that accentuates her beautiful golden hair.

She also tried some other fashion like jumpers with t shirts, oversized shirt and tight jeans, a blue cocktail dress and some other dresses. The female seller cannot believe what she is seeing. It is like a goddess came from heaven and blessed the earth.

"Brother, you are unfair!" Ven shouted as she went out of the other fitting room. She is wearing black shoes, black fitted pants, white belt, and black tailcoat over white long sleeves.

"Is Zaine the only one who is beautiful here?" She asked.

"Of course not, silly girl." He hugged Ven and caressed her hair. "You are beautiful too."

He said and Ven smiled in satisfaction.

In the end, the two ended up shopping more pairs that made them look good. The others also came for some change in costume. They all picked up colors that are their favourite or some that their partners picked for them.

Then, the final boss, Vin, took the floor.

Brown leather shoes, black fitted pants, a three way belt that is in the shape of an X and also has a belt that shapes the pants, white polo and a gray vest that hugged his body tight.

"Cheater! Why are you so damn hot!" Von hugged his brother as he saw him. All of them also looked at Vin. It is a pleasure to see all of them in their new clothes, and then:

"Von, is it just me, or do we stink?" As he said that, Ven smelled herself.

"Yeah, we do." Paul said as he looked at the surrounding. People are happy to see beautiful people, but it seems that they forgot to take shower.

In embarrassment, they all ran out, Vin telling that they know Darkos, and the bill was sent to Darkos' office.

Once they were home, they all rushed to change in their bathing attires, for the place has its own....

Drum roll please...

.....a hot spring.

The male and female springs are separated of course.

When they arrived, they all washed themselves first before jumping onto the spring.

At first, it was a cheerful bath, but then, a soft voice asked.

"Captain, what do you think of Zaine?"

They all looked from the source of the voice, and it was Tim.

"Zaine, you say?" He said as he looked up.

"Aside from Von and Ven, she is the only one that looks at me like I am a normal person."

"I know you think that I am talented, adept and hardworking, but I have shortcomings too. Like for example, I never won a single rock-paper-scissors against Ven."

He laughed and then he continued.

"She is like a partner to me. I want to always see her smiling, and if ever she is in peril, I want to put my life on the line to protect and save her."

"She is perfect, overall. That is all I can say." Vin ended.

"I see." Tim said as he looked down the water.

"How about you? What do you think of her?" Vin asked back.

Tim was a bit startled at first, but he mustered up the courage to talk.

"She is perfect. From the moment we arrived here, I felt my heart skip a beat. She is the embodiment of the word beauty."

"I love her, Captain. Not just her looks, or her character, even the things she hide, or the things that she sees herself to be bad at. I love her flaws, her weaknesses and her negativities."

"I watch her everyday, and I can say that there are some things that changed for her and for others. I can see how dedicated she is."

"I am quite jealous on how she treats you, but I must respect her choice. She is a perfect woman, after all."

Tim said with confidence and honesty.

"That makes me relieved." Vin said as he wrapped his arms around Tim.

"Let's do our best!" He said as he smiled.

"Captain, one more question." Ethan then looked asked them.

"Okay, go on." Vin smiled at him.

"Why do you seek power? I mean, for what?" Ethan dropped the bomb.

It was then that they realized something.

"Von, Vin, calm down. He doesn't know." Titus swam fast across the spring and arrived beside Vin. Riku and Sora also arrived beside Von.

Similar ruckus was happening on the other hot spring. Turns out that the girls were listening to the boys. Yuri, Lily, Dalia and Kaye are stopping Ven and Zaine.

Vin then remembered that they are all asleep when the war began.

Vin recounted the parts to them, and then they all understood. Ethan apologized, but Vin said it was not a thing to be sorry for.

"Well, the girls are already eavesdropping, so it may be the time to say this."

"Next week, we will travel to Central. Yano and Zeke, together with Darkos will send us to Alehon, a planet in the Hose Galaxy, Elon Star Cluster, Melody System. There is a portal there that will take us to the Central Galaxy. It will take time but please prepare the things you will need when we set out."

"As your captain, I will look out for you. I promise that I will protect you if harm comes your way. After all, your captain does not break promises." He said and all of them shouted in victory.

"Captain, what is our group called? Do we have a name like the Power Rangers, or the Digimons?"

Vin pondered for a bit and then an idea came to his mind.

"From now on, we will be called Plume. We are called criminals and rebels by the unjust society, but we will fight them and free our brethren. We may not be able to write novels like a certain patriotic person that was shot on the back, we can use our wits to expose the lies of this society!"

"Long live, Plume!" All of them cheered that night.

It was the 21st day of the 8th month of the year 15437.

It was a cold night, and Plume was born.