I had only been out of it for a short period of time, as I awoke still on Fiske’s boat, out at sea, where he was still hauling up the abundance of fish. I could hear shouting orders and Link responding. Did he fear that the fish would all disappear again.

“Fang, your awake.” Link stood above me with an expression of relief.

“Why haven’t we return to shore?” I asked, looking up to the skies to see the sun setting.

“Well, your vitals were fine and Larana said you’d wake up soon.” Link glanced behind him. “And well he refused to leave without taking some fish back with us, he wants to feed Dagan tonight with a feast in your honour.” He paused. “Are you alright?”

“Fine.” I sat up a little stiff and weak, I’d lost a lot of blood.

“That battle must have been hard for you Fang.” Link gazed at me with sadness. “Princess Tigra told us what Cutter did to your…” He didn’t want to say it.

“Yeah.” I nodded, getting to my feet, feeling annoyed with myself. “It wouldn’t have if I hadn’t let my anger get the better of me.” I clenched my fist. “I never thought about how hard it would be when I actually faced against one of them.” I took in a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Dumah and his so-called unit are the cause of the chaos that is spreading throughout this world and the ones who ambushed my unit and I on that day. I will never forgive him for that, but I can’t let this anger towards them consume me like it did, otherwise I will never win over the darkness.”

Link remained silent for a moment almost like he was trying to process the information I had just given him. “Fang.” I looked at him. “I want you to always remember, you have no need to fight alone, we Princess Tigra’s Guardians are here at your command, we stand together.”

I smiled at his words. “Thanks.”

“Wonder how long we’ll be out here,” wondered Link.

“Not long.” I noticed how full Fiske’s nets were. “With the darkness gone, the fish are returning home, with so many at once they’ll have full nets today and maybe tomorrow, until things settle back to normal.”

“You mean balance.” Link licked his lips as he stared at the fish.

“Hungry.” I smirked.

“Maybe a little. I haven’t eaten since this morning, been waiting for you to finish your fight.”

“Oh, sorry about that.” I apologised. “Oh, I’ll have to do some research when we return.”

“Remember something?” he asked.

“Cutter devoured a dark crystal, far more concentrated than the ones from the dark crystal farms, he became even more powerful and monstrous,” I informed. “I think it was the power of the eternal dragon I fought, such a small portion of it; how could the legendary Fang have fought against such monstrous power.”

“I see,” nodded Link. “He made his choice to take on such power and lost. Continue to grow and you’ll win against the darkness.”

Link had been exposed to the crystals since he was young, years of exposure made him capable of using those dark powers to enhance his strength, but he refused to rely on.

“I hope we go back soon.” I leaned heavily on the railing, feeling dizzy, my vision blurring. I could feel the strain on my body from using Mila’s fused armour for the first time. It seemed I needed more rest, than what the visions had brought.

Fiske came over. “We’ll be heading back now.” His face had the biggest smile on it, a big improvement from what it was when we first arrived. “To thank you, we would love to throw you a feast to celebrate.”

I let out a sigh, would I be able to get some sleep tonight. “Sure, we’d be honoured.”

-

We shortly returned to Dagan where we brought the large catch on to the shore, gathering a large crowd of Animalia, all drooling at the sight of the fish. Chiefs cooked up the fresh fish and a party began, just as the moon began to rise into the sky, lighting up the little fishing village in a gentle white glow, which was expanded by lanterns.

I wondered around getting so many thank you that I lost count. The food cooked was a mix of fish soups, grilled fish and fried fish. I don’t think I had ever seen so much fish in my life.

Link dug straight in, not saying no to anything he was given, considering he hadn’t done much to help, but information gathering did count for something and from what he told me he did keep Animalia safe from the huge storm I had whipped up while fighting Cutter.

I enjoyed the food too, but I wanted to sleep more than eat. While sat down enjoying the amazingly prepared soup, I saw many Piscis with a bright aura, compared to what I saw in the city, perhaps these Animalia would be a perfect option to start my specialised unit to deal with smaller problems, but did they have any combat capabilities. I would have to investigate later; my head was currently not even capable to even think about it too much.

I let out a random laugh, I’d get Dash to do it later. He worked so fast I could get him to do most stuff for me, after all he admired me a lot.

Link gave me a weird look. “You alright Fang?”

“Yeah, fine.” I smiled. “Just thought of something else I can have Dash do for me.”

“Oh,” he nodded.

I stood up. “I love this party, but I need to get some rest before I pass out.”

“Got it.” Link bowed his head slightly, digging into another grilled fish, his tenth, I think.

“Have fun.”

I headed back to the inn, getting another hundred thank you. I had thought about staying one more day just to make sure things returned to a more balanced state before leaving, and to make sure none of the others from Dumah’s group came along to undo what I had worked so hard to create.

Unfortunately, I didn’t remember making it back to my room, just falling on something soft, perhaps Raziel, today had taken its toll on my body, I hoped to avoid the same strain in the future.

When it came to the day, we were leaving Dagan, every citizen came to see us off, but it was not the only thing we were taking back. They had given us a cart filled with fish, a thank you to us and Cathopia for sending the help they needed.

I let out a sigh as they had not provided anything to pull the cart, leaving the duty to the lions. Arata was not happy one bit about it, and he was certainly letting me know about it.

“We are not horses you know,” he snarled in displeasure.

“Sorry, but I kind of have no choice here,” I responded calmly, why couldn’t he just take commands like the others without making such a huge fuss over it.

Larana giggle. “Don’t know why you are moaning Arata, master used to ask you to do this all the time.”

“Shut up.” snarled Arata.

“Really.” I looked at Raziel.

“Yes, but I must say I was never a fan either,” he admitted.

“I see.” I took his words to heart. “I’ll only do this when it is necessary.” Raziel nodded acknowledging I had listened to his more complacent complaint.

“Thank you again Fang and Link.” Fiske was at the front. “We hope our gift of fish is humble enough of our gratitude.”

“Plenty.” I nodded. “Queen Daz will be pleased to resume usual business with Dagan now the fish have returned.”

“Queen Daz.” They all muttered her name under their breath.

“I suspect in the near future she will indeed come to visit personally,” I added.

“You don’t know that,” commented Link.

“Oh, she will,” I was adamant on that. “Well, we best be off.” I put my hand up in a wave. “If any of you have any problems in the future send all your complaints directly to the queen.”

“Understood.” acknowledged Fiske.

“Let’s move out.” I gave my order, and the lions began to walk, Arata again mumbling under his breath.

“Good luck.” Link bowed and followed.

After we were some distance from the village, I let out my own complaint. “I had been hoping to fly straight back to Cathopia, but with this cart we kind of can’t.”

“Hoping to return to Princess Tigra’s side,” he was grinning when he said that.

“I have a duty to protect her to fulfil.” I looked away from him, she was the main reason I wanted to get back quickly, but also. I glanced back at the cart filled with fish, I wanted to see what she thought of this hoard we brought back with us.

Mila had appeared placing her hands over the fish. I wondered what she was doing, but with the sun shining brightly above us it was obvious, she was keeping the fish cool. After all the cart we had been giving was half broken.

“Thanks Mila,” I said.

“No problem master,” she smiled. “Oh, great job using my power yesterday.”

“I couldn’t have done it without any of you.” I looked at Raziel and Arata. “I really mean it.”

“We know master,” answered Raziel.

It took us half of the day, maybe a bit longer before we arrived in Cathopia, across the blue maiden’s bridge. I stared at the stunning statue of Mila they had at the centre, it had her adult form and her child form back-to-back. I’d never admired the bridges more than I had before receiving my talismans.

The fourth bridge had no name as half the statue had been destroyed years before my birth, it would have been the perfect way to find out who the last talisman spirit of the original Fang was supposed to be.

I was glad when I got through the main gates, many of the Feles stared as I walked by with the cart full of fish, the sooner I got rid of it the better.

I dropped off some of the fish at Cathopia’s local market informing them that business would resume as normal with Dagan, they like everyone else appreciated my hard work.

I then made my way to the back of Cathopia’s castle where Link and I were greeted by Queen Daz, Tigra and Dash. Queen Daz was mesmerized by the hoard of sea fish, some of which were her favourites.

“Well done, fantastic Fang.” Queen Daz almost lost her usual elegance drooling over the fish, but she quickly corrected herself. “What was the problem there?”

“The fish were being chased off by a powerful dark essence within the waters, which was powered by dark crystals put there by Cutter.” I wasn’t going to hold back on my report.

“Cutter,” she seemed a little surprised. “I see.”

“I dealt with Cutter and the crystals,” I finished off. “I will submit a full report on what happened there to you later.”

“Of course.” Queen Daz nodded.

“Hi.” I looked at Tigra.

“Welcome back Fang.” She smiled. “I hope the mission wasn’t too tedious for you.”

“Of course not.” I grinned. “It might have been tough, but I also unlocked Mila’s fused armour.”

“What?” Both Tigra and Queen Daz responded at the same time.

“Wanna see?” I touched Mila’s necklace. My whole body flashed blue, showing off the armour for a few seconds.

“Showing off as always.” I heard Brendan as he approached the building with Athena.

“Brendan.” I nodded to him as he came closer.

“Ah, perfect dinner.” He picked three fish off the cart. “Thanks.”

“Nice form,” commented Athena. “You still have much of your power to unlock.”

“Yeah, two lions.” I looked at Arata as I said that. He snarled at me and disappeared.

“You two still not getting on,” sighed Queen Daz.

“Nope.” I shook my head. “But he’ll come around eventually.”

“Keep teasing him and he might not,” smirked Raziel.

“Can we get this fish in now?” asked Mila.

“Oh right.” Queen Daz snapped her fingers and several of the castle servants came out with tubs of ice for the fish.

“I already gave a bunch to the markets,” I informed.

“Great.” Tigra responded. “I’m sure the Animalia will be happy with the sea fish.”

“I’m sure they will.” I nodded, glancing at Dash. “I’ll take it from here Dash, have a break.”

Dash smiled. “Thank you, Fang.” He was about to zoom off but stopped. “Tomorrow I will return to the research you requested before you left.”

“Good.” I nodded as he zoomed off. “Shall we your highness.”

“Of course.” Tigra began heading off. I followed behind her returning to my Guardian duties. I gave Link a nod, signalling him to return to his usual duties too. He nodded back, bowing to Queen Daz before heading off himself.