Dragon Savers- Uprising Episode 12

The Hidden Society of Suntoria

“Huh? A girl helping us out?” Spear stuttered, a little wide-eyed with the girl’s spunky, yet appealing look. “Uhh, you know what? You should stay out of trouble- they are not just goons!” Little added, trying to pull her back, but the spunk just halted.
“Then I’m not just a girl~” she said in a wink. Soon enough, a grunt was about to attack the girl, but she just dodge and sharply slammed her left hand on his nape, knocking him down. And another jumped, but she just cart-wheeled, hitting the guy with her legs and even unmasking him off.
“A fighter eh~… You are somewhat good to be my recruit! I like you woman…” Confragian mocked, but then he was attacked by Lance, tossing him against the wall. “Little, you have to revive the Sapling right away! We’ll take care of these guards!!”
“Aye!!” Little immediately approached the sapling. The Vanquishers became furious and they tried to get close.
“DESTROY THE SAPLING!! Destroy everyone here as well!” the leader shouted, causing the Vanqs to be a bit more aggressive, all of them trying to aim at Little.
“To hell with it!” Lloyd snarled, clawing off the grunts from their masks. “You better go fast there!” he said at Little, which is now starting to heal and nourish the sapling.

The spunky girl went within the range close to Little, before lifting a familiar brush, causing Little to be wide-eyed. “Unleash!! Florid Zealot Rifle!!” she yelled, before the brush transformed into a rifle-like weapon, having ornate vines printed and embossed around it.
“So you were the Chosen Messenger eh,” she muttered, aiming at the grunts, before shooting one.
“Uhh, yeah I am… How do you know?” Little said, healing the plant, which seems to respond to growing. “And that brush… Are you a…”
“An Artistan? You bet I am!” the girl yapped, before slamming something which jumped above Little. “And the shrine in our place told me about the Chosen. Not to mention…” She noticed another grunt which was about to stab Little, and shoot at him at the head.
“Ouch…” Little sneered, sour-faced. “You’re actually hitting humans… Artistans weren’t trained to harm people right?”
“Well, I’m not just an ordinary Artistan too~. But before anything, you have to synchronize with the sapling. Suntoria needs you now, and to help us here, you need to combine!” the girl just said, keeping on defending the sapling.
Little, on the other hand, just kept on nourishing the sapling with patience, until it began to grow tall as a bush, and sooner, about to go through the tiny hole where the spunk came. But then, Confragian manage to hit the spunk.
“Ah!” Little quickly healed the girl up. “Stand up! Stand up you…”
“Heh, now it’s time to end you all… We won today… I think I won’t need this woman here, though her weapon seems familiar eh…” Confragian looked at the girl which was getting up slowly.
“You won’t inch another step old man!” the spunk said, before kicking him at the crotch, however Confragian just slapped her away. “Out of my sight! I have a tree to cut down!!” He then lifted a scimitar above Little and the tree.
“I won’t allow you!!” Little stammered, guarding the tree, which annoyed the man to nearly cleaving her. All of a sudden, the tree glowed bright, blinding everyone…

“You who possesses pure heart, a desire to help the others in need, at the same time, seeking my path…” a voice echoed in the surroundings. Little suddenly opened her eyes, looking around…
“W-who are you?” she stuttered, turning around.
“I am the one you seek. I am also the one who seeks for you…” the voice replied, making Little turn at her back. A majestic dragon of Nature stands tall, yet elegantly, spreading its floral pink wings. The dragon appears to resemble a fairy, as it has antennas and streaks which look like vine tendrils and stems.
“You must be… Suntoria… the Pure Nature Dragon……” Little stuttered softly in awe. “I am, indeed, Suntoria. I was the one who nourishes these lands for several centuries. Not even my death stopped me from nurturing Angelianna. While nurturing the lands, I laid my life in great danger; a danger in which I could be touched by evil ahead. I waited for the time that the Chosen one would come…” the dragon stated.
“You must have rescued one of the guardians… Feykro… When I’ve heard of his abduction, I grew worried… But alas, I am only able to dwell in my tomb, which is where you are now… I thank you for giving him a peaceful death. As a reward for your deeds…” Suntoria then opened her wings wide.
Little then heard a clash, before a woman fell from the ceiling of the void, startling her. “Ah! The girl which helped me!” She hurried to her.
“It seems that danger starts to break through. And the princess here had been injured too much in protecting us… Little Sakura, are you ready?” Suntoria said.
The girl nodded sternly, allowing her body to be spread wide. “I will accept. And please help me save this girl too…” Little added, pointing at the spunk.
Suntoria then glowed bright, before suddenly turning into a sphere of light, before striking the still-standing Little.

Back in the outside, the group were tilted by the Vanqs, and Confragian was about to kill Little at her subconscious state. “You may have a chosen, but the chosen will soon die along with you… Deity of Deeds!” the man growled.
However, Little suddenly woke up and open her eyes, which startled the Rayners. Her eyes were bright as rose. Streaks of green, pink and purple ran through her face, neck and arms, giving her the gaudy tattoo.
“A person desiring darkness to the world should not be tolerated…” Little spoke, but her voice seemed to accompany another mature voice. “She did it!” Argie stuttered.
“My style of battling is not meant to harm, but I assure evil cannot stand on both legs with it…” Little then lifted her arms, before several vines from the ground wrapped and constricted most of the grunts. Some of them were eventually freed by Suntoria’s powers.
“I shall heal you, those who I considered my friends…” She then entangles Lloyd, Spear, Lance and the girl which helped them with glowing vines, restoring them completely, and even buffing them up as well.
“Alright!” Lance stammered, shooting down the fewer grunts which manage to come in the room. Sooner enough, Sen and Realyn, along with some SB grunts, entered and tried to arrest the Vanquishers.
“Grrrh! You won this time!!” Confragian shouted, before shooting a harpoon gun upwards, and he got pulled up. “You won’t get a chance next time! You still don’t know where the third one is, and we will NEVER let you know!!” he screamed, leaving the ruins.

One of the SB Grunts aimed a Gatling gun and tried to shower Confragian, but it’s too late. “Jackal, put it down! He has escaped…” Sen stuttered, patting the guy’s shoulder. The person, although looking calm, is blazing with fury inside.
“Jackal, we should let it pass… There is a chance still. We can defeat Confragian anytime…” Sen said. The man dubbed and Jackal sighed, shaking his head as if he’s upset.
“All I could do to show him… that messing Gulu Drop is a regrettable thing…” he muttered. The Rayners looked at him curiously.
“Isn’t he one of the Twelve Hounds?” Lance stuttered. “And the number 3 on his back… He must be the third one…” Spear added.
“Possibly he is March of the Twelve, as Aussie was August of them, and she has 8 on her dress,” Lloyd added, folding his arms. He then looked at Little, which returned to normal after. From her back, a spirit ball came out, in the form of a dragon head with a flower tail. Petals can be seen falling from its wake.
“Well done there Little. We had repelled them off!” the sprite said. “Yeah… I was surprised that you really accepted me, even without a test…”
“The test onto you was already executed… With full heart, you tried to protect me from that man’s scimitar. And then, you tried to protect this girl here, even while trying to heal me still…” Suntoria looked at the girl which was fixing herself up.
“Ahahaha! Sorry about that. I kinda grew so confident, that I caught off-guard by that geezer,” she laughed, scratching her pea-green hair, before placing her cap back. “Anyway, I’m so happy that I helped you, the Chosen one. I’m Pauline Goldbeads by the way. Nice to meetcha!” she introduced.
“I’m Little Sakura, princess of Leaf Kingdom,” she shook hands with Pauline. “These are my leaguemates, Mand Rayne. This is Lance, Lloyd, Spear, Sen and Realyn,” she introduced the others.

“Ooh, Mand Rayne and Shadow Busters! Two well-known leagues on my front!! I’m from the league of Bloom and Doom by the way. It’s the league in Hanging Gardens City, my homeplace,” Pauline said.
“I’m pretty sure I’m familiar with the Goldbeads family…” Sen muttered. Realyn whispered, “Apparently, I’ve been in the Hanging Gardens. It’s really a hidden place…”
“And Little, you’re a princess? Oh, I’m a princess too!” Pauline stuttered. “Wow, really? Though you don’t seem to look like one…” Little mumbled, looking at Pauline from top to toe.
“Ah well, this isn’t the place to talk about that. I could bring you to our secret homeland here in the forest. No Vanquishers ever stepped on Hanging Gardens, because Suntoria keeps it protected. Since you befriended her, I guess you can access our homeplace…” She dispels her rifle back to its brush state. This somehow caught Sen’s attention. “Another Artistan?”.
“Let’s go to our place!” Pauline said, guiding them. Nearby the shrine, they happen to find a huge rock which Realyn checked closely.
“I guess she knows about the pathway…” Pauline muttered, watching Rea crawling around. She later stopped at a rune on the rock. “If you are trusted by Suntoria, then you can just place your palm here…”
As Realyn placed her palm on the rune, a door path revealed itself on their front. Realyn then went down the stone, and back to the group. “You may go in now… Only those attuned are able to go inside the place. I will be accompanying my hunny out here though~…” she said.

The Rayners were lead by Pauline. The Shadow Buster grunts and Sen were left outside, clearing out the forest from any Vanquisher traces. The path was a tunnel, which eventually lead them to a majestic sight unseen by normal explorers- a society hidden within the mountainous rocks surrounding it like walls. The gang feasts their eyes on the beauty of the hidden society in the forest.
“Welcome to Hanging Gardens city, my kingdom,” Pauline introduced. The people in the place seemed no ordinary beings, as most of them have strange, elfin ears and markings.
“These people…” Lloyd muttered, looking around. “They must be the Dryads my mother was talking about.” “Dryads?” the other three spoke.
“They are also known as tree sprites, and they are usually seen dwelling around forests like this region. They are known guardians of the forest in behalf of Suntoria. In fact, they are also titled as ‘Children of Suntoria’, as they protect nature, and continue aiding their goddess,” Lloyd stated.
“You really know a lot of tales, kid,” Argie muttered, hence Lloyd grinned wide. “My mother tells a lot of tales you know. So in this bearly mind, there are a lot of tales and info useful~!”

Lance was looking around, until he saw a familiar circle in a certain space. “That’s it!” Lance went to the spot where a circle is located. He then activated it using the insignia. “We can now access Hanging Gardens, in case they need our help.”
“Ooh, now I see why that thing appeared here outta nowhere… Suntoria must’ve laid a purpose on that circle,” Pauline mumbled. “She sure treats Mand Rayne as the hope of all.”
“We’re glad to help out!” Spear added, a little confident at Pauline’s front. Lance somehow observed his twin, and suddenly giggled nervously.
Some Suntorians came close and curiously look at the gang. “Outsiders… what are they doing here?” “They must’ve befriended Suntoria, our mother…” “They must be good then…”
“Ah right,” Pauline then looked at the three Suntorians. “They’re my friends, don’t worry. And this is the Chosen Messenger of Suntoria, our mother…” She pulled Little towards them.
“Oh… wow!” the three stuttered, before stretching their arms above their head and bowing at the same time. “We are grateful to see Suntoria’s Messenger…”
“Eh, y-you don’t have to bow down on my front! I may be a princess but no one has to bow down like that!” Little stammered, telling the three to stop.
“Ah well, you’ll be used to them. My children are of humble nature. It’s the same nature I found in you, Little,” Suntoria said. “I would like you to be the castle’s guests. Princess of Hanging Gardens, let them in your palace for a fine feast!” she ordered Pauline.
“Affirmative, Mama Sunny!” she said. She then leads the gang into the palace where Pauline lives and made them stay in the guest room, which appears to be an open room situated on a hanging garden. The castle itself was a temple of gardens, where plants and trees flourish.
“Incredible! Such technology to bring the water up here!” Lance said, looking at the canals which were filled with water from the spring below.
“The waters are lifted through the use of a screw which forces the water upwards. The screws are turned twice a week when the plants are watered,” one servant told him, causing him astonishment.
“Even though the modernity of the outside, I adore such historical technology!” Lance added.
“Well, I can’t imagine mixing nature with modernity… Unless if there are more greens than metal. Apparently, Steamborder also builds hanging gardens on top and sides of the residential houses.” Lloyd added, leaning on the couch.
Soon enough, Pauline came out in rather different attire- she is wearing a long dandelion yellow gown with a large leaf-like green offset flap on her waist, added with an asymmetrical pea-green train which slightly covers the left of the front and the entire back which is secured by a single fairy-wing collar and an orange jewel, long white evening gloves and an offset crown which frame is at the left side of her head. “Hi again. Sorry I’m a little slow in changing clothes.”
The four teenagers were stunned, having their jaws dropped, especially Spear. “She’s previously spunky right?” “Not to mention, she’s an Artistan…” “And this is how she looks like in her royal wear…!”
“Ah right. This is my royalty outfit. I only wear this inside the castle. Outside, you’ll see me in my hip outfit,” Pauline said, flapping her skirt. “By the way, my parents were excited to see Little, since she’s the Messenger. They’re preparing for a while though. Anyway, are you hungry?”

“Ah right! We’re tired with that ruckus last time, so we’re really hungry,” Lance chortled, rubbing his tummy. “Right then! Follow me to the dining room!” she stuttered, skipping to the hall.
“For a princess, she’s so bubbly… Isn’t she?” Lloyd muttered with a hum, while squinting at Spear. The lad just looked away, trying to hide something. They followed the princess to the dining room, where eventually, the king and queen are already sitting.
“Mom~! Dad~! I’m here with them~!” Pauline called out, causing two persons of royalty to turn at her. The king happens to stand up while opening his arms. “Ah my lovely little spunk! As beautiful as a sweet pea…” he greeted his daughter, before Pauline jumped to her dad’s arms, giving her a big hug.
Little happened to see this and she remembered her own father, which never gave her embraces. She then sighed in a little bit of sadness. “I wonder… where he is now… Even though he doesn’t show me love……”
“What bothers you, Little?” Suntoria questioned her. The girl just shook her head and stepped forward.
“Where are our guests now? I’m sure you are all tired with the little adventure in Mother’s tomb,” the queen added, being hugged by her daughter. “Right. Hey, don’t be shy now! Have seats and dig in!” Pauline called the four.
The four Rayners entered the dining room. Seen from the table, there are four persons sitting already on some chairs, two of them are the King and Queen. “By the way, meet the Messenger of Suntoria, Little Sakura from Leaf Kingdom,” Pauline introduced.
“And they are the Mand Rayne. They’re friendly league aiming for the welfare of dragons and humans,” Pauline laughed, before turning at the four. “By the way, they are my family. This is King Sylvain, and this is Queen Moriko. This is my younger brother Troy and this one is Sarah.”
“Oh, what are we waiting for? Go ahead now Mand Rayne and dig in! Our tummies can’t wait a little longer now!” Sylvain stuttered, guiding Little to a seat. The other three just followed and took their seats, with Spear sitting next to Pauline.

“Ah, so you are the Chosen One…” the king said, looking at Little. “So young yet so kind. Suntoria selects her Messenger by the heart’s intentions; hence she is the Deity of Deeds.” Little was a bit shy about the flatter, but Sunny budged her and giggled.
“Deity of Deeds?” Spear muttered, munching a steak. “Argentum is the Deity of Knowledge though,” Lloyd mumbled, looking at the spirit floating beside him. Sarah noticed the sprite and stopped eating, looking at Lloyd intently. “Are you another Messenger?”
“Yep, I am Argentum’s companion,” the lad grinned, pointing at himself. “I see now… Two of the Deities have found a Messenger, in which they will join forces to accompany the Hosts…” the girl said.
“That means only the Pure Earth Dragon has yet to find his Messenger,” Troy added. This caught the attention of the Rayners. “Hmm, indeed…” Argie spoke.
Sylvain then cleared his throat before telling a tale. “There are three Deities which participated in the war alongside the Pure Light Dragon long ago. Argentum is the Pure Metal Dragon, god of technology and all intelligence. Suntoria is the Pure Nature dragon, goddess of all plants in Angelianna, and a great example of deeds. The third is the Pure Earth Dragon, Himalaya, the god dragon of the earth, and the one influential to build the great peaks in the center of the continent, possessing him the valor.”
“And is also my wedded husband…” Suntoria spoke. “The Vanquishers are after the tombs. They planned to make the dead stay dead……

They wanted to destroy us Deities…”