Leaves crunched under his boots as Marco looked up from his hood. His latest encounter with Hekapoo has left him stranded in the woods. He kept walking for a few more minutes before stopping and sitting down.

The journey has lasted for hours now. Plus all the fighting and lack of a proper break have finally collected their toll. Marco took off his boots and rubbed the sore muscles. It provided little relief, but relief know the less. He sucked in a breath before gathering the sticks around him and forming a fire pit.

Several sparks from his old sword and a rock set the wood on fire and there he sat. The brisk weather now seemed weaker thanks to the flames licking through the air.

Marco sighed as he put on his boot. Marco?

He stopped what he was doing and looked around. That voice it was familiar. He kept looking around until he could confirm it was nothing. He closed his eyes for a second to calm his nerves down.

Why haven't you come home? Marco, we miss you! He looked up this time and saw in the fire Star stood. Her innocent teen self faced the rugged and tired twenty year old. "Star?"

I don't get it. It's been years, why haven't you returned home?

"No Star, I lost your scissors! Your prized possession! I need to retrieve them for you!"

You disappear all these years and leave behind all of us! The fire spread and Marco saw everyone he knew aged up, Star included. They looked like model citizens with jobs, careers, money...kids. He saw Jackie standing there with a hidden husband in the shadows.

His heart leapt at the guilt as he saw her silently contemplate where he was. He looked at Star and she was in queenly garb and looked absolutely miserable. He wasn't there.

I don't understand! Why weren't you here?!

Marco couldn't handle it. He got up and ran away, but not before kicking the fire dead. Grabbing his sword and strapping it to his back, Marco began running through the woods. He kept going until the tree line slowly gave way to a clearing.

He stopped and panted hard as he looked ahead. There was a town and Marco could smell freshly cooked food. His stomach growled as the warrior walked down. Marco checked his pockets to see if anything was in there and luckily found a pouch of money.

Before he always had cash on him and its good to see that skill still stick with him after all this time. The town was barely busy as the late evening signified to most that day was over. Most.

Marco found a bar across the street and walked toward it. Before he walked in, Marco heard a snort and turned to see a cycle shaped like a dragon. He whistled at its design before its eyes opened and Marco flinched at seeing it actually alive.

"What are you?" He said. The dragon didn't respond and moved its head at the chain holding it down. Marco leaned forward and looked at the chain. It seemed simple to cut off, but who's bike was it? It certainly was someone's and something Marco could use.

Traveling alone does thing to a man. The visage of Star and Jackie came to mind, but he shook his head. Before he could move forward, a loud growl could be heard. It wasn't his stomach and the dragon was yawning. It was the dragon. And for good reason. Marco could see that it was underfed.

"Please, wait here and I will get us some food."

Marco reached over and held his hand out. He stopped himself as he was unsure if the dragon would accept his hand. It did and nuzzled softly against his hand. Marco smiled and adjusted his vest.

He stood up and walked into the bar. Several people were there and Marco walked up to the bartender. "Excuse me, I was wondering what kind of meals you serve in this establishment?"

The bartender put a menu on the table and Marco's eyes widened at one of the items. "Water, duck fly wrap, and two orders of nachos please."

The bartender looked at him before leaving to the kitchen. Several of the customers were looking at Marco weirdly enough. The held up a poster that said wanted.

They surrounded Marco slowly as if not to arouse in suspicion. A few minutes later, Marco was given his food in a paper bag. "Thank you."

He reached into his bag and pulled out the sufficient funds for the food. He placed it on the table and walked out. The others slowly followed him as Marco saw the dragon still tied up.

"I've returned and got us some food. You like duck fly wrap?" The dragon snorted, but cautiously sniffed his bag for the other goods. Marco watched the dragon tear into his first order of nachos. It gobbled up the corn chips and got cheese over its snout.

"Man I don't blame for that. After all this time I could go for some nachos too." Marco reached into the bag and pulled out the second order. He pulled the container top off and the dragon could smell the warm cheesy scent. He reached for it but was stopped by the chain. Marco ate one nacho before reaching over with the bowl.

"Ok! Step away from my ride!"

Marco stopped and turned to see one of the patrons was staring daggers at him. "What do ya think ya doin?"

"I'm sorry, but this creature looked terribly underfed and uncared for. I wished to help it."

"What I do with my property is my business! You don't get to push in on my business."

"I mean no disrespect, but perhaps I should. Before I fed it, your dragon was close to collapsing."

"I don't want any of your fancy pants advice. Besides you should save that all that talk for the bounty on your head. Twelve googling fragment. That's a lot of money on one man. A human of all things. Tell ya what, I'll give you a chance to surrender so me and the boys don't roughing you up before jail."

Marco turned around and saw he was indeed being surrounded. "What do you say to that?"

"If I say no and beat you all, I get your dragon." The owner laughed hard and pulled out a club. "It's your funeral, but why not. Let's add a few stakes to make this interesting."

Marco reached for his hilt, but then a chain wrapped his sword and tore it from his belt. Marco looked surprised as he saw his blade was taken by another. That moment distracted him long enough for the owner to get a punch in and toss Marco to the ground.

"Ha! You're worth twelve fragments? What a joke!" Marco got up and narrowed his eyes. He looked around and saw six enemies around him. The dragon looked at him with cheese dribbling down and Marco saw the same hopeful eyes that his friends shared. Marco took a stance and let them rush him.

He pulled off counter after counter to each of their attacks. Using their weight and anger to outsmart them. He flipped into the air and found the one with his sword.

Marco ran forward and punched the creature in the face before grabbing his sword. The clang of metal on metal could be heard. Marco kept his guard up with all the knives, clubs, and sword used against him.

However one by one, each weapon was reduced to a stump before Marco knocked their owners out. The dragon's owner looked on as Marco decimated his crew. He dropped his club as Marco approached him.

"I believe we had a deal."

"Screw you!" The owner ran far away as he could as Marco shook his head. He walked over to the dragon. He raised his sword and swung down. The chain snapped and the creature was once again free. Marco grabbed the empty nacho container and sighed.

He grabbed the duck wrap but before he bit into it, he felt a nudge. He turned to see the dragon looking at him. "Are you still hungry? You ate all my nachos."

Marco paused for a second. This dragon didn't have a name for all he was concerned. Perhaps something with nachos rang. "Nachos. That's a nice name. Wouldn't you say?"

The dragon seemed to like it as well and Marco petted it. This was going to make travel much easier. Although he was wondering on how much food it was going to need.