[IC] Fairy Tail: Travelling Companions [Jakeozzy & Demon Shinobi]

[Jakeozzy]

The royal palace in Pergrande was decorated incredibly, far better than it had looked under Queen Talia's reign a year or so back now. The halls all looked brand new, the antiques lining them were in perfect condition, neatly shelved or in glass cases. It was definitely more colourful. The various servants and guards made way for Flare and Ryker with kind smiles - a year ago they were probably getting treated like slaves. Makali had really turned everything around. Not just the palace, but the country as a whole... But even so, all countries have corruption, poverty and misfortune. Pergrande wasn't perfect, but it was well on it's way.

The two young travellers were reunited after that long year, it felt great to be at Ryker's side again. Who ever said Fire and Ice don't go together? As they walked down the halls, Flare looked up at Ryker and sighed happily. "So... Dark Mages want your head, I get that. But how do we go about that?" Flare asked as she finished tying a black full body cloak around her neck. It just made her feel more secure, as less people noticed her as 'Princess Airashi Pergrande' that way. ...Well, that and she didn't exactly like the idea of showing herself off to the entire city. Felt nice and warm with the cloak, too.

[Demon Shinobi]

"Hmmm Well honestly I need a minute to think. Oh and I'll need a cloak too." Ryker said calmly as he ran his fingers through his hair. "I'll be bait. We round of the 50. Take them down and explain that it was them who killed the old queen so I can look like a victim of identity theft instead of a criminal and Pengrande's most wanted." He spoke calmly before holding up a newspaper. "By the way. Couldn't you have used a better picture?" He asked holding up the article with a... um... Less than flattering picture of the ice mage.

[Demon Shinobi]

damn double post...

[Jakeozzy]

"I made sure they used a freeze frame that was just~ right..." Flare chanted innocently, "I guess it works out for the better though. Magic that can change your form does exist, and when you show Pergrande your cool guy smile, they'll think the evil bastard-looking Ryker was a fake!" She said, throwing her arms open and wrapping them around one of his. "I can't wait to start on our travels again! It'll be just like the old days, but even better!"

As they left the palace's main entrance, Flare snatched a cloak from a coat hanger and started tying it around Ryker's neck for him. Could probably assume the one-year-no-Ryker had really got to her, she treated her best pal like a king. If she wouldn't look stupid doing it, she'd probably start dragging a red carpet under him. "Now, for the bandits. You want to be the bait, so~ I should go hide somewhere right? No? If you want all 50 in the same place at the same time, the town square would probably do it. I could go evacuate it for ya'! How about it?" The short Fire Mage pestered her partner.

[Demon Shinobi]

Ryker placed his hand of Flares head. "Stop treating me all special Flare." He said laughing a bit. "Go evacuate it. That was a good plan. But I want you to be your usual self when we meet up again okay?" He instructed her calmly be hugging her. "Be safe." With that he let go of her and left quickly pulling the hood of his cloak over his head.

[Jakeozzy]

"...You too." Flare whispered after Ryker, before the two went their separate ways. They were still in Pergrande City, so she kept her hood down. Her authority transcended that of even the royal guards, so she could more or less do what she wanted. But given the situation at hand, she'd have to keep it quiet and have the guards calmly and quietly escort the people away from the town square. When she got there, she began discreetly talking to the guard force, who quickly but quietly started to will the people away. And after that was done, Flare would hide in an alley and wait for her partner to start the noisy part.

[Demon Shinobi]

With the square clear Ryker didn't need to worry. "Hey! You damn crooks! Get out here!" He shouted as he shot up fireworks of ice which would explode into snow. "Come on! I'm right here!" He added. With the guards and people of Pengrande preoccupied and not focused on him he didn't need to worry about them getting in the way. Yet.

[Jakeozzy]

"Hehehe! Look, boys... He's all pumped up and ready to go again!" A sinister voice rang out. "Ima bet those wounds aren't even healed yet." Another man with a deeper voice chuckled. Pretty soon, the disguised Mage-bandits were coming out into the emptied town square, moving to surround their target. Some on rooftops, but most ready to charge in for a brutal fight.

"You got any last words ya' interfering little bastard?" Another bandit asked playfully.

[Demon Shinobi]

"Actually... A few." Ryker said with a smirked. He pressed his hands to the ground. "Ice Make! RAMPART!" He shouted forming a set of huge walls surrounding them. He and the bandits were trapped inside. What they didn't know was that Flare was in there too. Poor guys didn't know what was coming.

[Jakeozzy]

"Trapped us all, huh? I doubt you were gonna get out of here alive either way." A bandit began to laugh, but his evil laughter quickly turned into a high-pitched, girly scream. Someone just kicked him in the nuts from behind!

The boot retracted, and as the writhing idiot bandit fell, Flare was revealed happily standing there with her hands together, "Surprise...!" She greeted the bandits, jumping over the crowd using her flames to propel herself further. When she landed, she had her back to Ryker's. Finally... This was where she belonged.

"B.. Bitch! That's Airashi Pergrande! Catch her; kill the other bastard!" The same writhing bandit squeaked, every single one of his men moving in.

[Demon Shinobi]

Ryker laughed. "Airashi... Geez you're name sucks Flare." He said as he charged into the crowd of bandits freezing and beating them with ease. He didn't wanna waste time after all. "Take 'em down. Don't kill." He said calmly. "Oh and find one who can do transformation magic!"

[Jakeozzy]

"I'll keep my eyes open...!" Flare said, her tone rising as she spread wing-like blades of fire among the bandit crowd. "Just don't die and leave me here, frosty. If they do somehow manage to catch me, these guys are probably thinking of doing some really unsavoury things to me!" Noting that worst-case scenario, Flare began to punch, kick and explode her way through the bandits like skittles.

Heh, I hope he notices I trained more. I can't just be his burden this time, ...This time, I'm gonna fight beside him.

[Demon Shinobi]

Ryker smirked. She got better. He thought as he bulldozed through the bastard mages like they were cannon fodder. "Hey! What do you say we head after their guild master after this?" He's got a huge price on his head!" He called out happily taking more down. It was like a first date or something. A really weird action packed first date.

[Jakeozzy]

"Sounds like it could be fun!" Flare called back from somewhere in the middle of the bandit mages. It was followed by a barely audible "Hands OFF!", and an explosive pulse that sent quite a few of them flying out of the battle. She was remembering now. This is what Flare lived for, not being locked up in some castle!

Before she got too deep into the fighting though, something caught her eye. A bandit suddenly swapped form and became a mouse, scuttling away from the chaos. Flare dived after it, catching him in her hands and holding him tight. While she did this however, she let her guard down. Surrounded, Flare felt a drip of sweat run down her cheek. She held her hand out to the pissed-off bandits and smiled nervously, "...No hard feelings...?"

"Knock her out and take her prisoner!" A bandit yelled, but all of them charged in wanting to get revenge for the burns and bludgeons caused by the Fire Mage.

"Can't we talk about this?!" Flare cried sheepishly, covering herself with her arms as they got closer.

[Demon Shinobi]

Ryker laughed a He came between Flare and the bandits before ice shot up around them freezing them in place. "Geez Flare. What happened? You were doing awesome." He said smiling at her confidently. It was like things hadn't really even changed.

[Jakeozzy]

"I found a scapegoat to use, but I kinda forgot about the rest of 'em..." Flare said scratching her neck nervously. "It's great to be back..."

"SCAPEGOAT? WHAT? GOD DAMN IT!" The high-pitched little mouse complained as he struggled to get free. "GET OFFA ME!"

Flare smiled innocently and dropped the mouse into her dress, letting it's head poke out the top. "I don't wanna go to jail, man~!" It squeaked.

[Demon Shinobi]

Ryker laughed a little. "It's good to have you back with me Flare." He said smiling at her before looking around. He snapped his fingers and the ice walls shatters into snow like sparkles of ice. "And we can go whenever you're ready." He stopped. "Hopefully after dinner." He added in with a small laugh. He'd been ignoring the bandit the whole time.

[Jakeozzy]

"Hey guys.. I'll do anything! I don't wanna rot in some dungeon!" The mouse-bandit squeaked.

Flare nodded to Ryker and grabbed hold of his hand so she could pull herself up. "Though there's nowhere I can think of in Pergrande City that won't treat me like a goddess when we enter. I guess we'll have to hit the road, right?" She asked with a smirk.

[Demon Shinobi]

"Yeah. You like it better that way anyway right?" Ryker asked calmly continuing to ignore the mouse. "Besides. Our road life was way more private right?" He asked before leaning in a bit closer and kissing her. This time it was an actual kiss. Not mouth to mouth. A kiss. The first one since they separated.

[Jakeozzy]

"That's so sweet..." The little mouse-bandit squeaked.

Flare sighed happily and linked arms with her partner, finally taking notice of the little guy. "Before anything else though, we should have this one locked away and let the people know you're not an evil bastard. Maka will probably see to that though."