Armin watched with mild curiosity. //Never ridden on a plane before... Is it true that they're prone to crashing? Mmm, probably shouldn't tell Rex that.//

{Dianne took care of the tickets, stashing them in her purse.}

Dianne: "Ok, I forgot to tell you, for our belongings tomorrow, Chief Alder is going to meet us at the airport and handle the shipping. You'll just give him the keys and he'll handle the rest."

'And if anything gets lost or broken, I'm getting Luxia to spell him,' said Armin darkly. 'We spent a fortune on those Christmas gifts. OK, is that all?'

Dianne: "Yep. I'm sure Luxia would be happy to hear that. She won't be expecting us to give her a present, will she? Because if she makes me switch bodies again, I'm letting the Aspect do whatever it wants with her."

'She can't expect anything from us. She's not a friend, is she? She cast a weird spell on us one time, we saved her from the Aspect, and we haven't interacted since. HeII, the senile old lady might have forgotten about us.'

Dianne: "I'm ok with that. I didn't like her anyway."

{Hoisting Esme onto her shoulder, she walks for the truck.}

Dianne: "Regardless of what happened, I'm glad we took this trip."

Armin hopped up into the driver's side. 'It's been a nice way to relax. And we got some action in too, with the hunters...'

He fired up the engine and started to head off.

'Did you want to take care of Titan too? Should we do that before we fly?'

Dianne: "Yes. Do you remember where he was, outside the city?"

'I think so. Assuming he hasn't moved further off by now.'

Armin started to head for the edge of the city, towards the point where they had originally entered several days prior. He wasn't sure what state they were going to find Titan in.

Dianne: "He was ordered to hold position. He'll be there."

{As they approached the spot, Titan came into view. Like the police said, he was missing a wing and had significant damage from mortar shells.}

Esme leaned close to the window and growled when she recognised Titan, unsure why he looked, in her eyes, rather misshapen.

'There he is.' Armin drove until he was about twenty feet from Titan, then started getting out.

Dianne: "Shhhh, it's ok, Esme."

{As they got out, Titan kneeled down.}

Titan: "Hello, you three. Here to decommission me?"

Dianne: "Unfortunately. We both know you won't be making it back to Sovereign in that form."

Armin looked Titan over. 'Yeah, you look pretty bad. So, what's going to happen after this? Are you just going to shove him into a new form later? Not sure we'll find any convenient dead dragons anytime soon.'

Dianne: "Yeah, he'll just be with me in spirit form until I can find something suitable. That may not be for a very long time."

Titan: "We'll, this was fun while it lasted."

'And thanks for everything,' said Armin, looking up at the hydra. 'I don't think any of us would have escaped Agamidae if you hadn't been there. And there were probably other times too...'

Titan: "What's with the lengthy goodbye? I won't be gone, you just won't be able to hear me talk."

Dianne: "Regardless, you've kept us safe. Thank you, Titan."

{Raising her hand to Titan, she then pulls it back, and Titan's form collapses into a large pile of ash.}

Armin eyed the mountain of ash, wrinkling his nose.

'It's going to be odd if anyone stumbles across this...'

Esme drew her head back sharply, blinking and sniffing warily. She looked bewildered at Titan's sudden disappearance.

Dianne: "They won't know what it means. Come on, let's go before the wind starts blowing it around."

{With that, she walks back to the truck.}

Armin hastily climbed back inside, as a small breeze blew a bit of ash in his direction.

'So, how about we drive a bit further out into the countryside, and find a nice area to fly over?'

Dianne: "Sounds good. Let's go."

They drove away from the spot where Titan had been. Armin didn't aim for any particular spot, but just kept driving until the scenery was mostly grass, trees and mountains. He parked up at the edge of a small country lane.

'Alright. This province is used to non-humans, so if there are any farmers out here, I don't think we'll scare them.'

Dianne: "Yeah. We should be ok out here."

{Getting out, Dianne puts Esme down, then shifts.}

Esme chirped with excitement, jumping back and forth.

Armin walked around so he was standing in front of Dianne, looking her over. 'Hello, adorable giant lizard,' he said with a grin.

{Dianne matched his grin, bumping him gently with her snout.}

Dianne: "Hello cute little human. Want a ride?"

Armin caught hold of her head and lightly kissed the top of her snout, scratching under her jaw with one hand.

'Sure, sounds fun. Then I'll fly on my own for a bit.'

{Nuzzling him, she smiles,}

Dianne: "Alright, get on. Let's fl."

*fly.

Armin vaulted onto her back. Esme peered up at them both, then stretched her wings and jumped on as well.

'Ready. I'll make sure she doesn't take a flying leap off.'

{Spreading her wings, Dianne leaps into the air, climbing up into the skies.}

Armin held onto Esme as they climbed, but the dragonet seemed more interested in watching the view than jumping off.

'How fast can you go?' he called out.

Dianne: "If I enter a nosedive, pretty fast."

{Folding her wings just right, she enters a steep dive, moving at an incredible speed.}

Esme squawked, and Armin gripped her harder while trying not to fall off himself.

'Woah, careful! There's not much to hang on to up here!'

{Hearing this, she spreads her wings, catching the wind and slowing down.}

Dianne: "Heh, sorry. I thought you liked thrills?"

'No, I do. The thrill is lessened by my concern about Esme falling off,' said Armin, sitting up and loosening his grip.

Dianne: "Yeah, sorry. I wouldn't have done that if I wasn't confident you could hold onto her."

{She continues to fly at a more easygoing pace.}

'Everything's good.'

Armin and Esme watched the scenery rush by as they flew.

'So what are your favourite things about being a dragon that you can't do as a human?'

Dianne: "Flying, obviously. The overwhelming strength is a plus too. So is being able to breathe fire. In human form, I feel...squishy and weak....vulnerable, even. In this form, I know I'm at my best."

'You're far from weak in your human form. But I get why you'd feel that way, when this is what you really are... And yet, it seems like you nearly always choose to fight as a human, rather than a dragon.'

Dianne: "Well, lately we've been fighting a lot of gunmen. My dragon form is too big of a target to be optimal. Also, there's the space constraint. I can't shift if there's not enough room. "

'That's true. Like when we fought the hunters inside my house. You couldn't have shifted then. But, at least you can fight in human form... Minus getting injured all the time, of course...'

Dianne: "Hey, you can't fight without risking injury. It's just the way it is. And I may not prefer this form, but I'm still the best fighter of our group."

Armin chuckled slightly. 'I know you are. You haven't died yet, so I try not to worry about you too much.'

Dianne: "Honestly, I'm flattered you all care enough about me to actually worry. Most of the other people I've met didn't. "

'Well, same for me. The difference is that I tend to get hurt by being reckless, but still, not many people cared for a long time.' He patted her shoulder.

{Dianne smiles fondly at this.}

Dianne: "Well, I'm here now to bail you out of your recklessness, and you're here to back me up in fights. Hopefully this means a bit less pain going forward."

'We'll see.'

He smiled faintly, then continued after a moment.

'Hey, can you land for a minute so I can pass Esme to you? I'm going to fly, so you'll have to hold her.'

Dianne: "Sure thing."

{Dianne lands in a lightly forested clearing, waiting for Armin to make the switch.}

Armin slid down from her back while holding Esme, then set the dragonet down.

'OK, keep up if you can!'

Shifting to hawk form, he launched powerfully into the air, shooting past the treetops.

{Dianne scoops up Esme in one hand and flies after Armin.}

Dianne: "Energetic today, aren't we?"

Armin kept ahead, swooping and diving in a show of aerial agility.

//It's nice to be out in the fresh air again. And I quite enjoy flying.//

Dianne: "It is a lovely day. And it's even better knowing that no one's going to get spooked and shoot at me."

Armin continued to fly joyfully, sometimes in front, sometimes around her, while Esme watched scenery rushing by. After a while, Armin darted up above Dianne.

//So, should we steal livestock and burn some villages now? That's what dragons do, right?// he said innocently.

{Dianne laughs at this, shaking her head.}

Dianne: "Only when they're starving, or the king pissed them off. Why, getting hungry? Or is there someone out here who disagreed with you?"

Armin opened his beak slightly as if grinning.

//No, I was just thinking about dragon stereotypes... How about sleeping on a pile of treasure? Kidnapping princesses?// he said teasingly.

{Dianne chuckles.}

Dianne: "One dragon takes one political prisoner and suddenly, everyone thinks that's all dragons do. The treasure part is true, however. I used to do that."

//That doesn't sound particularly comfortable,// he remarked, //but, to each their own, I suppose.//

Dianne: "You're thinking in terms of a human. Thick belly scales, so I don't feel a thing. Just a warm mass of metal under me."

//That makes sense.//

Armin moved to glide above her, keeping his wings outstretched instead of flapping.

//Well, vampire stereotypes are worse. Apparently, we all wear big dark cloaks, live in castles, are nocturnal, and only bite pretty girls.//

Dianne: "We'll, that last part might be true, if our relationship is any indication."

{She says flirtatiously.}

Dianne: "You might look more handsome in a big, dark cloak with a big collar. You should try it sometime."

//No. I'll look like I'm on my way to a fancy dress party. Anyway, aren't I handsome already?// he said in a tone of fake offense.

Dianne: "Of course you do, I'm messing with you."

{She says, laughing.}

Dianne: "Yeah, those stereotypes are odd. Why would you be nocturnal when all the best stuff happens during the day?l

//Antisocial ones, maybe,// he said with amusement. //Bright sunlight is a little uncomfortable, but that's what sunglasses are for.//

Dianne: "Yeah, true. I used to wear sunglasses because my eyes would unnerve people. Now, I don't really care."

//Let them think what they want, as long as they don't attack you over it. It's not their business.//

Armin flew down and landed on her neck, shifting back. He reached out to absentmindedly run a finger along one of her horns.

{Feeling him on the back of her neck, she becomes careful not to throw him off or turn her head.}

Dianne: "Like those? They're worth a million apiece."

'Yes, if we ever run out of money, we can just sell one,' he said, smirking. 'It would keep us going for years.'

Dianne: "Yeah, we could. But that'll never happen. My horns will stay firmly affixed to my skull, thank you very much."

Armin simply chuckled in response. He rubbed her neck affectionately, then settled back to quietly enjoy the rest of the flight.

{Dianne continued to fly for a little bit. Looking back towards the truck, she speaks.}

Dianne: "Ready to head back?"

'Yeah, let's go. We've been out here for a while.'

Armin remained atop her, enjoying the feel of the wind rushing by as they flew. Esme was also quiet, though watched the scenery with an air of contained excitement, thinking about when she'd be able to fly properly.

{Dianne turned back, landing by the truck.}

Dianne: "Well, that was a nice flight."

Armin jumped down beside the truck, stretching.

'It was quite refreshing. Is there anything else you want to do today?'

{Dianne lets Esme down before shifting back herself.}

Dianne: "Well, it is our last day here...hmmm....any suggestions?"

'Hmm... I'm not sure... We've done a lot here already. The amusement park, fishing, shopping, movies, restaurants...' He leaned against the side of the truck as he tried to think.

Dianne: "Why don't we just drive back to the city for now? See if anything strikes our fancy?"

'Sure. Maybe we'll see something interesting along the way.'

Armin climbed up into the driver's seat of the truck and waited for everyone.

{Dianne hopped in with Esme.}

Dianne: "Well, we can't try any bars. Not appropriate for Esme. We could find a park, see how well Esme can fly."

Armin looked slightly disappointed at 'no bars' but started the engine and headed off anyway.

'Well, whatever we do today, this trip has been nice. I'm quite looking forward to getting home and seeing everyone now.'

Dianne: "So am I. I can't wait to see their reactions to our gifts."

'And I'm looking forward to giving you yours. It's all planned out now.'

In truth, he was slightly nervous about giving her her present, even though Lucci had approved it. He just hoped it would go down well.

Dianne: "Oh? We've hardly left each other's company since coming here. When did you have the time to get it?"

Armin grinned, showing the points of his fangs.

'It doesn't matter. All that matters, is that it's all sorted out. I still have no idea what you've got me, by the way.'

{Dianne smiles mischievously.}

Dianne: "Yep. You'll just have to wait."

Armin eyed her sideways with a hint of amusement, then focused on the road as they entered the main city.

'Well, I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure it's something great.'

Dianne: "It is. I know you're going to love it."

Armin just smiled faintly and continued to drive without responding.

'Tell me if you see anything you want to stop at. A park, or whatever.'

Dianne: "Yeah."

{After a few minutes of driving, a park came into view. It was lightly forested and had a small lake.}

Dianne: "That one looks interesting. Maybe we could fish there too?"

'Depends. I don't know if they rent out fishing equipment here. But it looks nice anyway.'

Armin slowly drove in, parking on a flat area of grass near the lakeside.

{Dianne hopped off the car with Esme, looking around.}

Dianne: "Yes, quite pleasant. Let's see how well Esme can fly."

(new room)