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Exclaimer: To people who don't like the story, just don't read it.

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Legacy of Legends 3

Chapter 26

Friendship

Zaze, Flame and Steppe found themselves once again at the Training Dojo, and the purple dragon didn’t waste any time in getting to work. Zaze walked over to Flame and after giving him a few helpful tips and tricks, left the fire dragon to doing the fire technique he mentioned earlier. Zaze knew full well that Flame wanted to show off, at least look cool in front of Steppe, and he was going to let him do just that. However, whilst he prepared, he busied himself with Steppe, who was looking at him expectantly.
“So, Steppe, what do you want to see?” Zaze asked, looking at the earth dragon.
“I don’t know; something cool I guess?”
Zaze tapped his chin, thinking of something simple he could do. “Did you ever see Crombe do something that you wanted to do yourself? Or another earth dragon at that.”
Steppe thought to himself. “I guess I always wanted to learn how to be able to do that thing where you can punch the ground and a pillar of earth will appear. That looked cool!”
Zaze nodded. “That’s a bit hard for a first, but challenging yourself is a good idea.”
“You can teach me that?” he asked excitedly.
“Only if you want to learn it.”
“In that case, yes please!”

Zaze smiled. He walked over to the side, giving an idle glance to his right, seeing Flame come into view. The fire dragon was still practicing the fire technique. He then faced Steppe who was focusing on him. He gave the dragon a questioning look, who replied to him with a nod. Clapping his paws, he focused his elemental energy into his paw. With powerful force, he punched the ground, making the floor shake. A crack formed in front of him that travelled through the floor and resulted into a massive earth pillar jutting out of the floor and erecting it in front of them.
“How’s that?” he asked, smiling at Steppe.
“That was awesome!”
“I’m glad you think so.” He then noted the concerned expression the earth dragon had. It’s simple, Steppe, don’t worry. It’s easy! If I can do it, so can you.”

The next few minutes consisted of Zaze teaching the earth dragon the earth technique, which was a bit challenging but with his coaching, the earth dragon had an easy time following. Before long, Steppe was able to pull it off, but not as stong as Zaze did it. He made a pillar jut out the same size as he was before him. Steppe was panting, completely tired from the exertion. “Zaze…how do you…how did you do what you did? I don’t think I can make something as big as yours!”
The purple dragon patted him on the head. “Don’t push yourself too much, Steppe. It’s a reflection of your elemental power. Just keep working on it, and eventually, you’ll get stronger.”
“Like you?”
Zaze nodded.
“Like me as well,” Flame added, finally joining the two. “Get strong yourself, and you’ll be able to do stuff like this.”

Zaze watched expectantly as Flame did the technique he had been practicing for the past hour or so. Flame shot out a fireball into air, which then exploded and set off smaller balls of fire that rained down the ground below. It was a beautiful sort of destruction, for the most part. At the corner of his eye, he could see Steppe watching happily.
“You guys are cool! You know that?” he said, turning to face the two of them.
“We are,” Flame said, puffing out his chest. “But I guess what matters is that, we can do what we say, right Zaze?”
The purple dragon nodded, letting the fact that Flame had eaten his words earlier. “Yeah, Flame’s right. In any case, I have to leave you guys for now. I have to go talk with Crombe.”
“Alright; thanks for teaching me, Zaze!” Steppe waved at the dragon.
“See you around,” Flame added, waving goodbye.

0 0 0 0 0

Crombe stood at the balcony, staring off at the distance. Terrador had left him hours ago, but he felt contented to stay, still contemplating the bomb shell the Earth Guardian had left him. The opportunity to become a Guardian; it was a tough choice for him. He still remained indecisive in the whole matter. He was unsure of it all. Was he right to be a Guardian? He shook his head. He felt like he couldn’t answer it yet. Everything seemed to be going too fast for him.

“Crombe?”
A voice snapped him out of his musings. He turned his head and saw that it was Zaze. “Zaze. What is it?”
The purple dragon stood next to him and decided to get straight to the point. “I wanted to talk to you.”
He sighed and faced Zaze. He needed an outside opinion for his dilemma, so maybe Zaze could shed some light on things. “About what?”
“I’ve heard some things.” Zaze looked completely troubled.
Crombe nodded. “It’s true. Terrador wants me to replace him.”
“Steppe told me that—wait what?”

Zaze was completely derailed by the statement.

“What was that?” he asked again.
Crombe sighed. “Terrador wants me to be his apprentice, Zaze. He wants me to be a Guardian.” The earth dragon shook his head. “I’m not sure what to do.”
“Congratulations! That’s amazing.”
Crombe just stared flatly at him. “I don’t know what to do, Zaze.”
“Take it,” Zaze replied, almost instinctively.
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“Is it really that easy for you?” Crombe asked.
Zaze shook his head. “Of course not; Volteer asked me the same thing.” Crombe’s brow rose, prompting Zaze to explain.

The purple proceeded to give him a quick rundown of what happened, and why Trax was missing in the first place.
“Alright; in that case, why did you refuse it then?”
Now it was Zaze’s turn to sigh. “I don’t know. It’s not my place. It doesn’t feel right for me. I feel like I’ve done too much already, be it good or bad.” He then faced the earth dragon. “But you, you should take it. It’s appropriate for you.”
Crombe scoffed. “You say that as if you know me.”
“I don’t. But apparently Steppe does. He told me things about you.”
The dragon blinked, his cold expression cracking and forming into a look of concern. “W-what did he tell you?”
“That you’re apparently a very nice, helpful and funny dragon.” Zaze stared at the dragon curiously, a knowing smile on his face. “I never thought you were such a sweetheart.”
Crombe just stared daggers at him.
Zaze brushed him off, waving a paw at his face. “I’m just teasing you. That’s actually great to hear! You actually care about Steppe!”
“I do not CARE about Steppe I—“
He stopped midsentence when he saw Zaze’s smirk. “I…” His resolve faltered. He couldn’t lie. “Alright…I do.” He glared at the purple dragon. “Are you happy now?”
“Was that so hard?”
The earth dragon sighed. But he had to accept the dragon’s point. “No. It wasn’t. Steppe’s a good dragon. I guess he needed a role model.”
“And that’s you! You’re good at that.” Zaze said, patting Crombe on the shoulder. “That’s what you should do.”
“Be a role model?”
“Exactly. And you can be that if you become the Earth Guardian.”
Crombe nodded, heeding the purple dragon’s words. “I suppose you’re right. I’ll think on what you said.”
“You should. We’re not bad dragons, Crombe. We want to be your friend; even if you do find me annoying at times.”
The earth dragon chuckled. “That you are. So, I’m sure that’s not the only thing you came to talk to me about.”
Zaze nodded and his expression turned solemn. “Steppe told me some things.”
“And those were, aside from my personality?” Crombe’s expression equally turned serious, sensing the tone Zaze was using.
“I don’t know how to say this but…” Zaze sighed, feeling terrible. “I…I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
Zaze looked at Crombe seriously. “I…I didn’t know. I didn’t know that Latis was part of your family. And that is why I am apologizing.”
“Oh…”

Crombe closed his eyes. Zaze came to him about this. It was just a matter of time anyway.
“I’m sorry,” Zaze said. “I wish I could have been better.”
“You broke your promise too.”
Zaze blinked. The statement felt like a slap to the face.
“Do you remember that?” Crombe asked, opening his eyes again.
Admittedly, he had forgotten about it up to this point in time, only remembering it when Crombe brought it back up. “I do now.”

0 = 0 = 0

“So you don’t know?”
Zaze shook his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Can you fill me in?”
“For somebody that’s smart, you’re too naïve Zaze.”
“I’m not smart,” said Zaze humbly. “Just…average.”
Crombe chuckled. “Oh, really now?” Crombe’s expression turned back to serious, “But Zaze, you have to talk to her. She cares about you; more than you know.”
Zaze nodded completely. “Maybe—No; once this all blows over, I’ll talk to her.”
“Can you promise me that?”
Zaze smiled. “Of course I can. And one thing you can be sure about me and promises is that, I never break them.”
“Oh, how noble,” Crombe smirked, “how about making another promise then?”
“And what would it be?”
“Keep her safe; no matter what.”
Zaze nodded. “Don’t worry. I will. And besides, I would never put her in harm’s way. I’ve saved her life, twice. I think my track record’s clean.”

0 = 0 = 0

“You broke your promises,” Crombe said, looking at him seriously.
Zaze felt ashamed at himself. The fact that he sounded so confident in saying all of it too, made him feel all the more horrible. “I know…I’m sorry. I’m terribly, terribly sorry.”
“And you never got to talk to her.”
“That I did.” Zaze closed his eyes, biting his lip. “I was too stupid to realize that she actually loved me.”
“So you finally realize that now, huh?” Crombe asked.
Zaze nodded. “I was too thickheaded back then.”
“At least you’re moving forward.”
“And you?” Zaze asked, looking at Crombe. “Are you angry at me?”

Crombe stared at Zaze seriously, before letting out a sigh. “I am not angry at you, Zaze. It’s hard for me to forgive you for what you did. But I am not stupid either. I can’t disregard the other things you did.”
“I’m glad you’re not angry at me. But I will have understood if you were.”
“I may find you annoying at times, but…”
“But?” Zaze’s brow rose.
“You’re a good friend to have.”
Zaze smiled. “Thank you, Crombe. That means a lot, coming from you.”
“You’re welcome.” His face then turned serious. “But we have to fix this new problem.”
“Trax?”
“Exactly.”
“We still haven’t found him, to be honest. I’m worried what may happen.”
“Same here.”

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Author's Notes:

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