By: KomoriBlade

Ch. 3: The Answer

(All the students are in the classroom waiting for the teacher. Everyone is talking and laughing except for two students, Lipagron and the new student, Ray. Lipagron sits quietly in the desk that's in the back of the class on the left side of the room. He looks down as the others are talking. A while later, the teacher walks in and the class quiets down.)

Teacher: Okay, let's get straight to the point. The Great Quest begins a week from today, so that means that those of you that have abilities from a Doubutsu and are planning on participating will be out of school for a while. For those who are going to be participating, I MUST see your entrance ticket by the end of this week, so I'll know that you're not just skipping school. Do I make myself clear?

(Some of the class nod, while others say yes.)

(A student raises her hand.)

Teacher: Yes, Ray? What is it?

(Ray smiles)

Ray: Well, teacher, as you know, I'm new here, and this is my first time really hearing about this Great Quest. What exactly is it?

(The teacher raises his eyebrows and laughs.)

Teacher: Oh yes! I forgot that you're not from this country! Though the majority of the world knows about the Great Quest, the people in your country are some of the few that don't agree with the Great Quest's regulations, so they don't speak of it nor participate!

(A guy sitting in a desk in the middle of the classroom raises his hand.)

Buey: Mr. Charles, allow me to answer the chick's question, since she's new and all...

(The teacher looks at Buey and lightly smiles.)

Teacher: Sure, Buey. Since your family owns the town, I'd be an idiot not to allow you to speak about it... sighs

(Buey continues looking at the teacher.)

Buey: The Great Quest is exactly what it sounds like. Its just a quest. As you should know, there is a special tree called the Moon Tree. This type of tree only appears once every two years, and its location changes every time it shows.

Ray: Yes I've heard of this tree, but why would anyone want to find it?

(Buey smirks as he begins to look in Ray's direction.)

Buey: The fruit from the tree has the ability to fully awaken a Doubutsu user's ability. That's all I know about it. That's all I need to know.

(Lipagron looks in Buey's direction)

Ray: So why do people have to get tickets to join the Great Quest, if the tree's location is unknown when it appears?

Buey: Because the-

Lipagron: Because the officials of the Great Quest find the Moon Tree first, then they make Doubutsu users pay to enter a man made quest. The tree is guarded by the elders of the world and present challenges to all who enter the quest. The age minimum to enter the quest is 15, and the requirement is that participants must be Doubutsu users. So, in other words, the Great Quest is nothing but an artificial scavenger hunt... Nothing to be interested in...

(The class gasps and Buey turns around and looks at Lipagron.)

Buey: Kid, my grandfather is one of those elders! You insult the Great Quest again and you're dead!

(Ray looks at Lipagron.)

Lipagron: The quest for the Moon Tree should be a natural one. Why must the world wait to search for something that's already located? That ruins its purpose.

Buey: The tree's purpose is to awaken greater abilities in a Doubutsu user... Something you wouldn't know about, LIE-pagron.

(The class begins to laugh. Lipagron looks down at his papers. Ray continues to stare at him.)

Lipagron: I didn't lie...

Buey: You lied about seeing the Light Beast, when even the new kid should know that the Light Beast is a myth. You've been trying to convince us that you have the abilities of an artificial Doubutsu for years! Ha.. you have no abilities, and the Light Beast is fake.

Lipagron: It's more real than the Great Quest that your grandfather helped create.

(Buey's eyes turn red.)

Buey: THAT'S IT! YOU'VE INSULTED ME LONG ENOUGH!

(Buey gets out of his desk and walks towards Lipagron who also begins to stand up.. The Teacher begins to shiver.)

Teacher: Come on Buey. Please don't start anything! We all know that Lipagron lied about going to a mountain when he was 8 and seeing the Light Beast. He's the liar, not you! We can't afford school repairs right now!

(Buey turns and looks back at the teacher with his bloodshot eyes.)

Buey: I own this school! So I'm about to teach this kid a lesson on why you don't insult the family.

Lipagron: And why's that? Because your family pledged to the Great Ox and think they can run the city by force? They are corrupt, Buey, and the sooner you understand that reality, the easier it'll be to actually have morals...

(The class gets out of their desks and move to the other side of the room. Buey turns back around facing Lipagron.)

Buey: Oh I'm going to enjoy this...

(Buey walks slowly towards Lipagron. Each step he takes makes the ground shake. Buey grabs a desk and breaks off one of the metal legs tossing the desk back on the ground. Ray gasps. Lipagron remains standing still.)

Lipagron: The Light Beast is real, Buey.

Buey: Then use your abilities to help you get out of this situation.

(Lipagron looks Buey in the eyes.)

Lipagron: They're a little different.

Buey: Oh?

(Buey raises the metal rod.)

Buey: Then too bad!

(As Buey's arm begins to move and swing the rod at Lipagron's head, there is a quick flash and Buey's movents suddenly stop. His eyes return to normal and his mouth opens wide. Lipagron looks shocked at what just happened. Buey begins to slowly fall forward. Lipagron moves out of the way as Buey hits the ground revealing a small needle in his back.)

(Lipagron and the class look in shock as Ray steps forward with porcupine needles sticking out of her hand.)

Ray: He's alright. The poison from my needle just paraliyzed him temporarily.

(The needles go back into her skin and she turns around and smiles at the class and teacher.)

Ray: That was one of the longest answers I've ever had to a question. Shall we get back to our lesson, now?