The Sky's the Limit: SkyBrine and Enderlox

Ol' Sorcerer Seto

"Sky, wait, I didn't mean it that way." Sky ignored his friend's call, stroking his horses's muzzle as he led it into one of the small pens for short-term transportation. If you didn't mean it that way, why'd you say it?

Jerome cleared his throats awkwardly, breaking the silence induced after the small dispute. "If everyone is ready, we should depart. It's only about a day by boat to the place we're landing, but we need to hurry once we get ashore."

"I second that," Seto called out, as if reminding everyone that he was still here. Sky sighed internally. How was he supposed to get along with Seto and his people? They had a pretty major grudge against each other now, after Seto mistreated Sky and he publicly humiliated the general in return.

Surely we're both mature enough to put aside our differences, Sky thought, risking a quick glance at Seto. The sorcerer was speaking with Jerome, now on the boat, making gestures that hinted at him being angry, but when Mitch interrupted their conversation to ask Jerome something, Seto quickly regained his composure as if nothing happened.

He bottles up his emotions. Just like Deadlox. Meaning he needed to dispel the tension between them quickly before someone did something they'd regret.

-

The day had been fairly horrible for Deadlox. Not only did he have to deal with being around several people he either didn't like or didn't know, but he also had to watch Sky be angry with him. Even worse, he could clearly see that being constantly surrounded by an expanse of water was taking a bit of a toll on his health. He had vomited several times over the side of the boat, but always in private so nobody saw, and he often sat still against the wall of his horse's pen, trying not to move. It was physically painful for Sky, but the fact that offering to help might drive him away more was painful in a different way to Deadlox.

The only upside was the company of Ian and Mitch, though the latter of the two spend most of his time with Jerome. Ian offered to introduce him to Dan, but Deadlox turned down the offer. He did share a nod of acknowledgement with Ant, however. That had to count for something, right?

At around noon, when everyone sat around various places on the wide, flat boat eating lunch, Deadlox quietly complained to Ian.

"I didn't even do anything, really," he hissed. "I just told him that it wouldn't be easy to make friends with any of Seto's people."

Ian tilted his head. "I made friends with them."

Deadlox waved a hand dismissively. "Yes, but you didn't beat their leader in a duel. So they have no reason to hate you."

Ian rubbed his temples and sighed. "Deadlox, he's an extrovert. He wants to make sure people are on the same side as him. You can't blame him for that. Don't discourage him for being himself."

Deadlox looked over at where Sky still remained in his spot by the horses, knees pulled up to his chest. He was at least writing something, now. He wished he could see what.

"I suppose you're right," he told Ian. "But what do I do now that he's angry?"

Ian stared at him as if he were stupid. "Deadlox, what do you do when you do something hurtful to someone else? Think about it."

Deadlox glared at him. "Yes, I know I should apologize. And I will. But what if he doesn't listen?"

"He will eventually," Ian assured him, a faint smile on his face. "You know Sky. You two can't stay angry with each other for long."

"That's not true," Deadlox muttered, but even he knew that sounded ridiculous.

-

Sky was miserable. He felt as if every ounce of strength had been sapped from his body. The saltwater air was fresh, but every breath was on the verge of being painful. In the squids' kingdom, the ocean had been all around him yet hadn't affected him. Why was it doing so now?

Despite his condition, however, he had been at work since lunch working on something that would not only totally humiliate him but hopefully ease the tension between he and Seto. Though he didn't feel bad at all about challenging the general to the duel and winning, Seto was the leader - and everyone needed to understand that for their team to function, their leader should be respected, his own personal opinions set aside.

So, he wrote. And when he was done, he leaned against the horses's pen and tried to ignore the sickly feeling of his energy being sapped.

During dinner, everyone was scattered around the boat once more. Seto sat closest to the center of the flat boat, murmuring with Dan and the man that Sky didn't know. Sky pushed himself onto his feet, nearly collapsing again as he did. When he was able to stand on shaky legs, he unfolded his paper and cleared his throat for attention. All eyes on the boat immediately snapped to him, and a knot of nervousness immediately twisted in his gut.

Just get it over with. We can all use a laugh, anyway. He took a deep breath, and began belting out the true monstrosity of a ballad he had toiled over this afternoon.

"Oh, our simpleton lives were lived on a whim
Until the great magic general came in.
Waving those hands with a purpleish glow
Oh now it is courage in our hearts we will stow!

He has hair like the horse filth, so wondrous and brown
and his galavant smile leaves no solider down.
Poor, sleepless eyes that change on a whim;
though his nails and his ego may need a good trim.

So raise a glass to the general, he's led us this far!
Though I found in our duel you should work on your par.
Years spent building the city we know
have done a great deal for the old sorcerer Seto."

Silence greeted him. I made the wrong move, he thought. It wasn't funny. It just made things worse.

Then Seto erupted into shrieks of laughter. Jerome was next to join in, guffawing in a way that quickly drew all of the others in - except Deadlox. Sky glanced at him only for a moment, but he was smiling. Sky was having a difficult time containing his own grin as he called out to Seto, "I thought I should dispel the tension! Did you like my song?"

Seto almost beamed at him. "Yes, Sky," he laughed. "That helped. Although - is my hair really the color of horse filth?"

Both Sky and Dan said "Yes!" at the same time, sending them into more laughter. Sky took the opportunity to come and sit next to Seto, relieved to not be standing.

"I'm sorry I humiliated you," he said apologetically. "I sure didn't mean to."

"And I apologize for treating you like a child," Seto smiled back. "Hopefully in the future we can agree." He extended his hand. Sky shook it and immediately felt the bond of companionship. He grinned again, grateful that his incredibly stupid idea had succeeded in its purpose: to bring some laughter to this stupid boat in the midst of of war.

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yeah I know I disappear for a couple of months and then return with THIS bullcrap chapter? lol sorry y'all. thank you guys so much for your continuous support!!