Double Feature: Continue the Old Units being young; As well as more Zephyr Shenanigans! The serious humor is amazement.
The Old Units' Youth Potion: Part 2 (You try coming up with a better name)Imagine last time we saw our heroes (the old Units.) Shida, Weiss, and Bran are still arguing, Eltri's still rooted and stuck watching the argument, and Lorand and Grah are out parading as new Units. "Hey, how's it going?" Grah greets Lunaris, who stares at him funny. "Hello, what is up?" he says to a passing Elsel. "Why so sociable all of a sudden?" Lorand asks, his light blond hair fluttering behind him, attracting the eyes of other long-haired Units (mostly Atro and Alyut.)"The other warriors used to fear me on account of my terrifyingly old age," Grah chuckles. "I don't think it's your age...""Eh? Why else would Units act so fearful?""The cake incident?""Ah, right..." The duo come across the training hall and enter unconsciously. "Say, not-so-old chap, what say a round?"The Taskmaster smiles wryly, already snapping his fingers to summon his long sword. Grah does the same to summon his lance and sword. Some Units, such as the Six Heroes and other Heroes of Palmyna, take notice and watch along the sidelines. Lorand makes the first move, charging forward with speeds he hadn't reached since his youth. He didn't have to rely completely on the amount of force in his swing, as he was now able to handle quicker strikes. Grah blocks the blade with the staff of his lance, before stabbing low. Lorand, however, manages to sidestep in time to try another blow with a horizontal strike. Grah is too fast, and blocks again. He then switches to the offensive and prepares his lance. SHING!!In one swift motion, the silver-haired legendary warrior jabs right through Lorand, who could only lift his blade in time to not take the full effect as Grah skids to a stop behind him. "Nng! You've got a little more oomf in your step, haven't you?" Lorand smirks. "I haven't felt this nimble in a while," Grah nods. "I don't suppose you give up yet?""Not a chance!"SHING! Clack! Clang!"Those two are amazing!" Selena exclaims in wonder, watching on a bench. "Who are they, anyway?" Atro asks, skeptically. "I've never heard or seen anything of them...""Must be a new batch of surprise Units," Loch shrugs. "Hey, Loch..." Edea nudges. "Yeah?""The blond, long-haired one... Those robes look familiar... And that sword, too.""Oh yeah, they kinda look like Lorand's.""I never knew he had a son. Or...grandson, is it?""Oh, sweet!" Dean cuts in. "Gramps really was a Gramp?!"Clang!"Argh!"Lorand is on standing, still defiantly, but with his sword now flung from his hands. Grah stands triumphantly a few feet away, posing with his weapons in ready position. "Nice match," the Taskmaster nods. "I say the same to you." The two shake hands. The nine Heroes watching on the sideline come up to the pair, some excited and some still maintaining their interest."You two were amazing out there!" Eze laughs. "I'd say I've never seen anything like it, but...""Who are you guys anyway?" Vargas asks. "I-I mean, I don't mean to be rude, but... We never heard of any new Units joining.""I'm Grahhhh..." He trails off. "...aaaandmaster Silver," Grah finally decides. "And I'm... Landor...?""Nice to meet you, Landor and Graaaaaandmaster Silver," Dean grins widely. "Landor, is Lorand your Gramps?""It's a, um, complicated family relation.""Ah, ho ho!" Grah chortles. "Ah, Landor, we should go get lunch," he pulls the Fire Unit in closer, "so they don't find out about you-know-what...""Lunch?" Magress repeats. "We were about to get some as well, if you'd like to join us.""That's quite alri-""Nonsense," Lance says. "We'd love to get to know you two."The two old Units look at each other hesitantly as they're lead out of the training hall. Meanwhile, back in the lunchroom..."You really were always a prick, Shida!" Weiss angrily erupts. "You only care about yourself, don't you? It's your selfishness that caused the war in the first place!""That was never proven," the dark magician offhandedly remarks, more focused on polishing his staff."Fool!" Bran grumbles. "You should at least be thoughtful of your peers! See, this is why you never achieved the level of Rashil! Look at him now! He's on a horse!""As if I care. Look, the effects wear off at midnight. Go skateboard around the estate or something, you bumbling buffoons." Shida turns away with a scoff, leaving Weiss and Bran to exchange looks. Bran looks up thoughtfully, hand unconsciously stroking his now non-existent beard."Perhaps they have a 'dashing young adult' discount at the bakery-""Oh, enough with your bakery!" Weiss snaps. He gets up and starts to leave. "Now now, that's no way to talk to your former teacher!""Get away from me, old man!""Oh, were you talking to me? I'm not old.""Please leave me alone." As the youthful strategist leaves, he unknowingly passes the Heroes with the other two old-turned-young Units."Was that... Weiss?" Eze whispers to Lance. "Looks like it.""He looks...different. Must've finally gotten some work done at the salon."'... There's a salon?'"Hey, is that Bran?" Vargas asks. "Fools! Tell me, would you happen to know if the bakery's discount applies to young-looking seniors?""No...?""Hmph! I'm out!" With that, the young sage takes off in Weiss' direction. "What exactly... Where did his beard go?" Edea asks, utterly confused. "Wait, wait..." Loch waves his hands as if signaling a time-out. "So, he and Weiss look younger..." He turns to a noticeably nervous Lorand and Grah. "Lorand? Grahdens?""They got us.""There goes our fun...""What happened?!""Um, I could explain if you'd look over here..." they hear a voice call out. Their heads turn to a nearby window to find a skinny and small tree. "Eltri?!" Lance panics. "Is that you?!""Ah, thank you for noticing me. I thought I'd been forgotten..."Zephyr's Daily ShenanigansImagine Zephyr had always been watching the chaos of the estate unfold from the shadows. As some might remember, he likes to keep a journal of his findings each day.He lies on his stomach in bed, covers draped over him as he writes in his journal. "I decided it's too tiring to keep up with the dates," he writes. "As if I ever come back to these. Apparently today Shida turned some of those old folks young again. Heh. At this point anyone would assume it's Rashil's doing. But I can testify that he was trying to joust with Sodis again."Imagine earlier that day, Zephyr was watching the lakeside from the roof of the main building, binoculars in hand."Last time we were interrupted!" Rashil declares. "But this time I shall prove my creation's superiority!""It's impressive indeed," Sodis agrees, rearing his horse, "but a mere machine cannot defeat my trusty living steed!"Just as the two are about to charge each other again, they're interrupted by the Twins riding a frantic Leorone between them, throwing them off their horses."It didn't end well." Zephyr sighs as he attempts to remember any other details of the day. "So, I've been snooping around the estate lately. Yes, call me a gossip or whatever, but there's always something interesting going on. I hear Grybe and that Battle Maiden... Fennia, was it? I hear they got together. Also, apparently some Thunder Units can catch radio waves. I don't get how that works, but it sounds cool. I hears one particularly humorous confession the other day in the Thunder Dorms... Ah, but that's for another time. So, a while ago..."Imagine a few hours beforehand, Zephyr's hanging around the cafeteria. He doesn't eat or socialize, he just hangs out in the shadows. It's always full of juicy bits of gossip."Oh my gosh, did you do something to your duck, Serin?" he hears Cayena ask. He listens in a little closer out of curiosity."Actually, that one Guardian decorated it for me. Nice fellow... I do like this face."'That's my friend...' Zephyr thinks to himself. He peers around the corner to find Serin holding up his old friend. She pets it rather fondly."It is pretty cute," Vanilla nods. "How'd that Guardian get it, though?""Sometimes my ducks fall behind," Serin explains. "... Perhaps they try to find new friends. Maybe this one wanted to be friends with Zephyr.""Oh, that Guardian?""I hear he took a bath with it.""Where'd you hear that?""Does it matter?"Zephyr's eyes focus on the duck, instead of the conversation. He could almost hear it squeak in his head. "Take me back, Zephyr! I miss you!"His eyes widen ever so slightly as his eyes fixate on his old friend... The friend he had taken a bath with... The friend whose purpose was wholeheartedly redesigned with the simple lines of a marker... The friend who-"Long story short, I worry a little for my own mental health. Must be the estate. Perhaps I should seek Sodis' council... He'd know what to do. Ah, well, goodnight. That's it for now."With that, the Dark Warrior shuts his journal and lies down on his back. Before he closes his eyes, he turns to the window. It's a beautiful full moon tonight.He hears a faint squeak. He shrugs it off and closes his eyes fully. "Maybe one day..."
