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“Sword!”,Schezo called in the distance.
“Schezo, you are back in one piece”, Sword smiled and it widened when he saw an adorable long nosed creature on Schezo’s shoulder.
“And who is this adorable friend of yours?”
Tenori Zoh stood on its two legs and trumpets happily.
“This is Tenori Zoh, we met during one of my adventures”, Schezo beamed with pride.
“Hello Tenori Zoh, I am Sword, Schezo’s older brother. Nice to meet you.”
Sword took an apple out of his pocket, sliced the apple to pieces and offered his hand out with the apple slices to Tenori Zoh.
“Have a slice”
The tiny elephant enthusiastically took a piece and ate it quickly. It chirped, demanding more.
“Of course. It is all yours”, Sword grinned.
The elephant jumped from its master’s shoulder to Sword’s hand and sucked in all of the slices into its mouth. Tenori returned back to Schezo's shoulders with a satisfied look.
“What about mine?” Schezo demanded.
Schezo caught the apple the Sword threw at him and took a bite.
“How about we show Tenori Zoh my garden? I bet he will enjoy that”, Sword suggested.
“Tenori and I are going to have a nap together first,” Schezo muffled with a mouth full of apple.
Tenori heard what his master said and trumpets disappointedly. The tiny elephant jumped out of its perch to hop towards Sword.
“Hey Tenori, where are you heading?”, Schezo yelled.
Tenori Zoh ignored Schezo and kept hopping towards Sword. Schezo started to chase after him until it hid itself into Sword’s scarf. Schezo let out a frustrated growl.
“Looks like Tenori wants to look at the flower.”
Schezo looked at Tenori in the eye. It in return gave Schezo the puppy eyes. Schezo sighed defeatedly, knowing he cannot win against Tenori’s charms.
“Okay then, but I am coming along”, Schezo agreed reluctantly
“My worrywart brother, you don't have to worry about a thing. I got your friend’s back... or tail.”
Schezo groaned internally at the poor attempt of a joke.
“Let’s go, Tenori! I wanted to show you my latest flower collection. Maybe we can get to the orchards along the way. I heard there are a lot of delicious fruits there.”
Tenori clasped its forefeet on the side of its head and trumpet with enthusiasm. Sword took this as a nod to head off the garden and walked off in the forest with Tenori on his shoulder.
Schezo followed his older brother to the gardens, where the new flowers are displayed. The new plants looked like reeds but they appear to have shorter stems and have a coloured head, most likely where the flowers would be.
“These are Hyacinth flowers. Aren’t they beautiful?” Sword said with a proud look on his face.
Sword pointed towards the red Hyacinth, “Look Tenori, this one has the colour of an apple, your favourite.”
Schezo watched these two from a distance and can’t help but feel irritated at the sight. He sulked quietly and crouched to look at the yellow Hyacinth in front of him. Schezo focused his attention on how the tiny flowers were arranged in clusters, hoping the feeling would disappear.
Schezo growled in frustration when this idea didn’t work and returned back to glare at his brother, only to see his brother beside him with Tenori.
“Oh Schezo, I see that you are liking the yellow Hyacinth a lot”,said Sword.
Schezo withdrew himself and huffed, “No I am not. I was simply looking.”
“We are going to the orchard, so unless you want to look at the Hyacinths all day, we are going to head off now”,said Sword.
“You can go ahead. I’ll catch up”, Schezo replied with his best efforts to hide his grumpiness.
Schezo looked at the two of them walking away together. Once they are at distance far enough, Schezo exhaled loudly. Feeling slightly more composed, Schezo stood up and quickly followed Sword to the orchard while trying to maintain a good amount of distance from Sword.
They stopped at the row of trees that are abundant with fruit. The fruit in season is apple.
He looked at Sword being occupied with Tenori and took this opportunity to snatch an apple without Sword finding out.
An idea sparked in his head as he got an apple in his hand.
“Tenori. Come to me Tenori” Schezo cooed.
“But I have a snack for you!”Sword replied as he offered Tenori’s favourite food.
“Nooo!! Come to me!!” pouted Schezo as he begged harder for Tenoris attention.
"I promise you get longer playtime”, Schezo added.
Tenori looked at Schezo first, then at Sword, and back at Schezo again. It leapt towards Swords hands, quickly snatching all of the slices. All seems lost for Schezo until it returns to Schezo’s side.
“Aww whos a little elephant? Whos a good widdle ewephant?”
Tenori trumpets replying to Schezo’s question.
“Yes you Tenori. You are a good elephant” Schezo took out the food he stole, with a smug look on his face.
“Look Tenori I got you something.”
Schezo cut the apple in bunny shaped slices. Tenori sucked in all of the apple slices into its mouth once again.
“I told you to ask me first”, Sword said sternly.
Schezo watched Tenori dance happily in hands, ignoring Sword's words completely.
Sword cleared his throat. Schezo turned to his brother and saw Sword's stare filled with ice.
Schezo froze. He felt a sense of deja vu of Sword trying to kill him for intruding on his garden.
"I told you to ask for my permission", Sword repeated himself.
"I wanted to feed Tenori",Schezo explained. Sword looked at Tenori who appeared content and his gaze softened.
“I am going to have some playtime with Tenori as promised"
“Can I join?" Sword beamed.
Tenori's eyes sparkled once again. Schezo felt like he couldn't even say no at all.
“Alright”, Schezo agreed reluctantly.
“How about we play Heroes and Villains, just like how we used to as kids?”
Schezo was surprised that Sword suggested this idea. He felt they were a bit too old to play a childish game. Considering he had no better ideas, he didn't object
Okay.
“Just like old times, we decide with Rock, Paper, Scissors. Winner chooses, loser gets leftover.”
Sword brought his clenched hand out in Schezos direction and Schezo brought out his clenched hand in return
“Rock. Paper. Scissors”, They yelled simultaneously.
Schezo fist remained clenched, choosing “rock”, unfortunately Sword had his hand open, indicating that he had lost.
“I win. I choose… to be a hero. Now for the second round, winner keeps Tenori.”
Rock. Paper. Scissors, They simultaneously yelled once more,
Schezo changed his strat again and chose paper while his brother also chose paper.
Again
Rock. Paper. Scissors, They simultaneously yelled once more,
Schezo chosen rock as Sword scissors. Schezo wins
"Mwahahah, Schezo laughed triumphly.
"The little elephant is mine and I have cursed disabled your movement and sight. Count to fifty to restore all of your senses."
Seeing how Schezo quickly jumped into character, Sword played along. He closed his eyes and started counting.
After counting to fifty, Sword started his search for Schezo. Sword walked the line of tree with a sense of deja vu. He remembered the time when Schezo was such a difficult person to find as he was really good at being quiet. However years of his training have helped make this search short.
He followed Schezo's aura and when he was close, he attempted to be discreet as possible.
Unfortunately, Schezo quickly realised that his brother was nearby and leaped into a running stance.
Sword reacted by making vines grow out of the ground in an attempt to catch the dark mage. Schezo quickly disappeared to avoid the vines and manifested from the ground a few seconds afterwards
Sword strikes at Schezo, more vines grew out of the ground to catch him.
"Kirisake!" Schezo yelled, slashing the vines into pieces.
Sword reattempted to ensnare him once more and Schezo used Flamestorm to destroy the vines and the affected area surrounding him.
Sword pointed his weapon at his brother.
"I shall rescue this cute elephant from your tyrannical grasp."
"The elephant is mine!"
"You leave me no choice. I shall defeat you villain."
“NO!”, Schezo yelled.
“THUNDERSTORM!”
Lightning projected out of Schezo's hand, leaving a trail of fire and destruction as it headed towards Sword’s direction. Sword narrowly dodge the lighting and charged towards Schezo.
“BRING THE ELEPHANT BACK!”
“Schezo, stop! You are setting this place on fire!” Sword yelled, breaking character.
But Schezo didn’t listen. “NEVER UNTIL THE ELEPHANT IS MY RIGHTFUL HANDS!”
Reasoning with his brother is near impossible and so Sword’s ability to compose himself.
"FINALLY I HAVE WO-", Schezo gleamed feeling proud of himself.
His feeling quickly disappeared when he saw the destruction he had left in his charade.
The trees have completely fallen down and burned into nothing. The ground that had grass was seared into blackness.
Worst of all, Sword had a a cold desolte look in his eyes.His brother was staring at him and the damage done to his trees.
Tenori look at Sword sadly. It tried to make Sword smile but Sword did not respond.
“Sword I-”
“GET OUT! I don’t want to see your face. Please just go”
Schezo walked out with Tenori Zoh in his hand. Tenori trumpetted sadly, helpless that it cannot make his friend smile.
“Let’s go Tenori.” Tenori reluctantly agreed, making a slow turn towards his master.
Once they arrived in a nearby cavern, Schezo sighed as he leaned against the cavern wall. It wasn't really comfortable. Tenori turned to his master and made a noise that sounded like an angry huff. Schezo only sighed.
"Tenori. I know what I did wrong. I will make things right for me and Sword. Sleep now Tenori.”
Tenori made another huff and slept on the cave floor, away from his master.
"Tenori…."
The tiny elephant didn't respond. Schezo believed that Tenor was both asleep and very angry, yet he paid Tenoi no mind. He simply carried Tenori and put it on his shoulder. Schezo closed his eyes afterwards, he decided he was better off sleeping his issues away.
-
"Tenori?"
Schezo looked back and forth for his friend, only to find an empty space.
No, it can't be.
The thought of his new friend gone snapped him out of sleepiness. He quickly left his napping spot to find Tenori.
“Tenori. Where are you?” Schezo yelled.
No answer.
“Tenori.”
Neither his brother or Tenori are anywhere to be found. He looked back to the wrecked orchard. Schezo knows what he must do.
-
Schezo spent the rest of his day finding apple seeds from the orchard. He has managed to acquire a couple of undamaged seeds from the flame. Feeling rather exhausted from the search he decided to make his return to his cave.
On the way back found his friend with his older brother tending to the purple hyacinth. Relief washed over him. The sight would give him an ugly feeling he had before, however he is happy to see Tenori with someone he knows.
Sword and Tenori appeared to be comfortable with each other despite not having a conversation. This enough gave Schezo hope that he could talk to his brother and make things right.
“Hello”
No reply coming from Sword at all.
“Sword. About the orchards... I am sorry for my callousness. I should have never taken my act this far and let my emotions control me like this.”
Another moment of silence, the atmosphere is still rather awkward.
“Well the damage I have done to the orchard, It was horrifying to say the least.”
Still another silence.
“I did find something interesting as I walked around the place. Maybe you might be interested", Schezo said as he approached Sword.
Schezo brings out his hands with the intact apple seeds. Sword turned around, trying to hide his intrigue.
“Give them them to me”, Sword ordered.
Schezo complies without question, handing the seeds to Sword.
Sword looked out to the sunset and turned to Schezo. He raised his brow.
"How long were you out there?", Sword asked.
"A while", Schezo answered sheepishly.
Sword looked at the intact seeds in hands and sighed.
“While I have forgiven you, as for your actions,you are never going near my garden unless I accompany you. I don’t care what your excuses are. You are lucky that you have only destroyed my apple trees. If you destroyed my garden as well, you are next."
“Fair enough”, Schezo replied.
The heavy feeling of guilt disappeared. Schezo without thinking wrapped his arms around his brother.
“Schezo, you don’t usually hug me like it is the end of the world.”
Schezo let go of his brother and replied,“Well, no. It is just...I thought that I would lose my family again.
A pair of arms returned the embrace, Sword patted Schezo on that. “It’s okay.”
“I was so close to losing you over something stupid."
"I did suspect something when you looked irritated while I was playing with Tenori. Were you jealous of how Tenori and I are getting along so well?”
Schezo’s face turned red,ashamed that he had been exposed. He could only muster a nod.
"Schezo, you are such a doofus."
"Shut up"
"But since you went out the way to salvage them, I am going to start growing some new apple trees."
L“If you want,I am more than willing to help you in growing and tending a new orchard with you”
“I would like that a lot actually. Tenori can help out.” Sword smiled brightened with Tenori trumpeting with excitement.
Of course he can, Schezo thought to himself.
Schezo walked beside Sword with Tenori by his side. This is what he can finally confidently call his family.