Family Gatherings

Skittles coughed. This was his one and only real paid day off and what did he have to do? Go on some random mini-quest of Martia's. Of course that did not last very long.

As Skittles and Sprite walked through the weeds with the others trailing behind they found themselves suddenly in another place.

"Okay. This is strange." Sprite said as she looked around a clear flat area. Instead of being in the middle of a green tangled forest they had been transported to a ceremonial field of some sort.

Martia did a flip in the air and whizzed past Skittles head. *It's time! WHOOHOOO!*

"Gack! Don't do that!" Skittles ducked but was still smacked by the end of the dragon's tail. He still could not get used to her sudden appearances out of no where, sneaky or not.

While Skittles rubbed the side of his face that was hit Sprite posed a question. "Time for what?"

*The Shantel!*

"Oooooh."

In the mean time the two angecurs were conversing on how familiar the settings were, and Skittles was looking over the horizon to find a guide. It seemed that they had come early or at late to the little shindig. 

*Hello there! You're a bit early.* A voice said from some undisclosed locatioin.

Skittles and Sprite both blinked a few extra times as Martia stopped in dead air.

*Who and where...?* Martia asked as she flopped to the ground unexpectedly.

A green terran-arboreal popped up from a conveniently placed bush. *Sorry, I do not remember this bush being here. My name's Jarod, and I'm going to guess that you're here for the Shantel.*

All the members of the party nodded.

*You're in the right place, but you'll have to wait a bit. No everyone's come... * The dragon trailed off, he seemed to be slightly worried about something. 

Sprite, being the sensitive person she was asked, "You seemed to be worried, may I ask what's troubling you?"

*Oh! Nothing really, my mate just said that she would be helping with the Shrapes this time around. She didn't want me to stress myself out and it was Mjollnir's day off.* He paused for a moment, *But you don't know who I'm talking about so it is rather pointless to tell you all this.*

Sprite could not help but giggle. "You mate is probably more than capable of taking care of things."

Jarrod seemed to remember something very important as his wings twitched a bit. *I forgot to mention,* he fluttered over to Martia, *You'll get to meet your parents and siblings!*

Martia had never thought of meeting her family. 

She had also wondered why Skittles  seemed so apprehensive when she asked about her mother once. He said that he had never met her but he was still so shaken. Now she would find out.

*Interesting...* the red Bishel seemed to purr.

*I'll be off, make yourselves at home while the others arrive!* The dragon gave a graceful bow and glided away.

"I guess... we should mingle or something."

"They're all so pretty!" Sprite said wide eyed as she caught sight of the ice shard who appeared to be talking to a very strange, pale young man.

*Don't go all fan girl on them. They may be more dangerous than me.*

"Somehow... I doubt that's possible," Skittles said as her looked around. "I wonder who's missing, it's almost sunset."

"Wait. Wasn't it morning when we left?" Fulmen suddenly asked.

"Let's chalk it up to different time zones." Skittles replied as he went to "mingle."

It wasn't long before he had met everyone with the exception of Martia's mother. He had to admit that this family was filled with some interesting dragons and strange bondmates. 

It made him feel normal to some extent.

He watched Martia from the corner of his eye as a red marine dragon passed by. The marine then backed up and asked quite loudly, *Why do you have a tail?*

He would have responded with something similar to, "The heck?" if it was not for the call of a blue marine. 

He watched the red marine roll her eyes, *I'll deal with you later.*

Skittles blinked as the dragon slithered away. That was nice.

Martia growled as she landed besides her red marine sister. *You know, family or not, if you hurt Skittles, I'll hurt you.*

Chayala raised her eyebrows, *Oh yeah?*

*Yes.*

If it was not for Verdara's interruption Martia probably would have kicked the other red's tail right then and there for being cocky. The nervous laugh snapped Martia back into the world of decent thoughts. *Please excuse our sister,* the blue hybrid told Martia, *She's just used to being Queen of All She Surveys.*

*I am NOT! I was curious!* Chayala, at least that's what Martia thought she was called, smacked her twin with her tail fin.

*Just....Go line up so she doesn't hurt you, okay, Chayala?* Verdara asked nervously.

Ah, so that was her name after all. 

Chayala grumbled. *Fine. Whatever.*

*Umm... Good luck! Sorry about that!* Verdara said as she hurried after her twin.

*That... was interesting,* Martia said as she flew up to the line. *Hopefully I'll get to meet my mom after this. It seems that she just arrived a few minutes ago.*

Martia's attention snapped to the dragon who flew out of a near by cave. He was a deep shade of red, obviously the wisest Machesri dragon in the Realm, and an air of importance surrounded him. The Kailan waited for the odd peeping noise to stop before he spoke.

*Welcome, all,* he called to the crowd as he looked very regal from his perch. *Today, we are celebrating the Shantel of the shrapes of Faiamitsukai and Striking Echo. They are an interesting and varied clutch, as you can see, and they have all worked hard during the first part of their lives to become the shrapes they are now. Today, they will take their final step to becoming Bishen.*

'No kidding,' Skittles thought during the dramatic pause.

*Eimin, step forward,* he announced. The dark red, vampiric shrape stalked a few steps frontward to stand before him.

*... Why do I suddenly want to go hunting for vampires?* Martia thought a she raised an eyebrow. How did she miss that one?

After a nice little speech the dragon was give the Muted Charm, a bracelet that could control darkness and sound.

The ice shard, Jiyuu Touhi, came next. He was an impressive dragon and he received an equally impressive gift. Glacial Gorget was the object given to him, and it allowed him to control a freezing mist, and gave him the gift of visions.

It was amusing that he puffed up after words, and even more amusing that her very own father was practically bursting with joy. She held back her giggles of course.

The twins, Chayala and Verdara, were called up at the same time. Both received Treasurer's Collar, but each collar had a different ability. Both had telekinesis, one could misplace objects, the other had an amazing memory, and they could both breath fire of a different color.

Impressive.

The blue bounced back into the line, while the red did her best to maintain her dignity.

*Martia, come forward,* the Kailan proclaimed.

With all her refined grace and composure she managed to slip in front of the boulder. She was nervous as all hell, but she was NOT going to let anyone see that.

*You have led an interesting existence thus far, and I am sure you will continue to long after you leave this Realm. You have faced more enemies than most, and you have always tried to help those close to you achieve their goals. To you, I give these Fury Stones. They will allow you, when angered, to grow larger in size. With practice, you will be able to control this growth and may be able to grow ten times larger or more! Also, you will be able to surround yourself with bolts of red energy and breathe these bolts at your foes. Remember to use your powers wisely and sparingly, and always question the 'why' of your actions.*

What on earth did that mean? 

The Fury Stones slipped onto the Martia's horns nicely, and she bobed her head to the Kailan before slithering back to line, her new jewelry jingled lightly. It nearly caught Martia off guard when her crew decided to applaud for her, she blushed slightly.

Now, only two dragons to go.

The bouncy blue Halifax came next. She was awarded with Mire Shard, an object that allowed her to control quick sand, and create smoke. 

A pretty practical gift if you lived on a beach, which Halifax probably did, she gave off the vibes of a blonde.

Raistlin, a red terran-aboreal came last. The broad winged dragon was given a Chaosblood Jewel that allowed her to breath red energy, purple fog, and it also projected illusions. Interesting name for an interesting gift.

*You are now Bishen of the Machesri Clan. I know you will all make our Clan proud, so continue your explorations and quests. Congratulations!*

With that said Martia bolted to Skittles. *This is SO GREAT!*

He snorted, "Just be careful with that thing, we don't want a natural disaster on our hands."

*Natural disaster? Isn't that your job?* Martia landed in front of him with a happy jingle.

"No... angel of death, there's a difference." Skittles said as he brushed some stray hair out of his face. "Congratulations."

*I'd hug you if I had arms.*

The little conversation was interrupted by a strange "ahem." Both of them turned to see a young dark skinned woman and a red, tattooed Bishen dragon. 

So, THAT'S where Martia got it from.

 *So you're the man who raised my little girl.*

"Yes..." Skittles nearly whimpered. Somehow the dragon was intimidating. 

*You did a fantastic job.*

'Oh thank En'dai.' Skittles thought to himself.

*You're my mother?* Martia had not expected to be so surprised by this.

*Yes. You expected something else?*

*... Well, I didn't really expect anything.*

*... Why am I suddenly regretting not killing this man right off the bat?*

"Faia. Be nice." Nightingale said as she turned to Skittles. "So, is it true that you've been resurrected to destroy your world?"

"Yeah...Along with my friend Sprite." He waved his hand to the former priestess who was currently stalking the cloaked isolated figure.

"Just don't tell Echo or Cor about that, they might get a tad upset."

"You aren't?"

"We've been over it for a while."

Skittles, for once in his life, was speechless.

Then Echo the bouncy, and his sane bondmate came to introduce themselves.

Skittles was quite brain dead for the rest of the day.