[Arrow Rinehart]

Sparkster did very much appreciate his kindness, that sympathy was something that, while not sought, was welcome still. His friend had felt for his beginnings and he was grateful for it. "Thank you, Keil. While I try not to seek out sympathy per se, I'd be a dolt not to accept the fact that the situation was difficult for any orphan. War is a terrible way to come into life and even harder when one loses a family that same way." he just admitted it to himself and with it, seemed to help himself close that particular door again. The story did often open up old wounds, no matter how calloused they may have been with time. He was okay living with them after all.

Hearing the tale of Keil's and how he met Solo Wing was something that he honed in on pretty quickly, this was nothing that he mocked. In fact, he found himself hanging on some of the words as he spoke. The way that he'd started up in the middle of nothing, essentially an accident of stumbling across something, well in a manner of speaking. He'd come across the previous rider. The kind of trust in that action and more that he had to do something that had come to him on the spot. He was just beside himself with the action of the story. "Wow...I...must say, that is nothing of that tale that is easy." 

He'd said this before looking at Keil and then Solo Wing while he let his fingers rub against his cheek, he was naturally concerned about it of course. Though his friend was through it, he could see that there was a weight on him and in its own way, motivated. Though he was absolutely certain that to him this made Keil a certain hero suffice to say. "You are a great person, to say the least. I mean, you did just jump into action, little knowing of what you'd do and you overcame a very great difficulty. That makes you a hero, at the very least over this, a brave soul. And you tell good stories, I was not bored during that, not at all."

"Now as for that next tale, I do have a number of them, two more major adventures before getting here. I've got the tale of the Gedol Empire and the mighty Generalissimo Lioness's Army that I faced. Both rescuing two separate Princesses from the first that I saved on the earliest adventure of mine. Do you fancy hearing about either of them?" he'd keep them brief of course, as a full tale might take far too long and he knew it.

[Deleted]

At Sparkster's words, Keil looked away, hiding a genuine smile creeping across his face. "You're a nice guy, you know, real hero-like. Glad I didn't make you bored, that would be a terrible way to start." He didn't address the whole "hero" thing for himself. Heroes were those who took on a n overwhelming enemy with courage and strength. Giving the Dragon his vision for some time couldn't have made him a hero that fast, could it? It was a nice thought. He and the Dragon were heroes then? Really nice thought.

"You saved two princesses? I'm almost jealous!" Keil barked out in a joking manner, before his eyes widened slightly as he realized something, "You fought an army? Sorry, but that sounds like a story I'd like to hear." A story of great courage and against overwhelming odds...he felt lucky to be hearing a real heroes exploits.

[Arrow Rinehart]

How to say it? He'd rescued a total of three, but realized that he'd left the first Princess out of the story completely. That one made him rub behind his ear a little bit as he let off a light chuckle. "Oh boy, I was so into what distracted me during the first war...I've saved a total of three Princesses. The Kingdom of Zephyrus was the first I saved, and the King's daughter, the Princess was kidnapped by Axle Gear. My adoptive brother made quite a mess, and thought I did defeat him and rescued her...my mind was on the Pig Star afterwards. There was just so much going wrong I guess, I really was concerned over. But I don't wish to make it sound like she didn't matter to me...she did a lot."

Though as he cleared his throat, he looked ahead and decided to get going on his next story, he had many a tale, but the next was one that took a bit of a start up. "Well as I start this next thought up, I have to ask, do you have any aversions to some messy details? I won't be getting into any seriously gory stuff, but I wanted to know if I might speak too much or too little. I want to be certain that I don't trouble you with some word selection." 

He was fine with telling the story, but he was worried about his friend's tolerance for such words? He was truly thoughtful, that much seemed to be on the rise. Sparkster cared greatly on this front! For him it was the staunch sign of a good friend. 

[Deleted]

Three princesses. Wow. A quiet grunt from Keil signaled his acknowledgement, but inwardly, he could scarcely keep from laughing out, only reigned in by the fact that aside from the fact Sparkster sounded like he came out of a fairy tale, these tales were serious. "She sounds nice." Saving a person had to make you close, correct? He'd like to try the whole "brave rescue" one day.

Sparkster's concerns were warranted, Keil didn't meet many people outside of fellow Hunters who even wanted to know the slightest gory details. Cleaning kills? Nah. Just catching a creature? Apparently no! But it always cut those conversations so short...you couldn't get any sort of detail out of the stories the moment someone put the lid on it so quickly!

"Eh, don't stop telling your stories the way you do for me. With how I've lived, I think the goriest thing won't even make me twitch." Here was one nice thing of living like how he did, your stomach didn't toss with most you've seen...just your head, and stories didn't do that to him.

[Arrow Rinehart]

What was it that was on his mind? After an answer like that, some relief that he could share the story despite how it got on some levels. Though the point of it should have been concern, instead? He let it go and did not hone in on it, that simply wouldn't do. "Well in such a thing, I will say that this started with the kidnapping of the first Princess's cousin. A younger Princess of a neighboring Kingdom, though it sounds like a poorly written sequel, it was my adoptive brother being cruel." another sigh  breaking from his lips as he looked down a moment.

"My biggest regret really was being too focused on trying to reform him, I mean I did defeat him in every encounter we've had. Even during this, I focused in on him for the wrong reasons. He simply did not want to reach out to me..." well it was a lament, but the opossum didn't focus in on it for too long. After a sigh, he gave him a light smile, something more of a relaxed, knowing one. 

"Though it was before this encounter, that I'd fought my brother over a Sacred sword...its actually one that I keep on my person. A means of using an incredible strength that I protect at once, but he was after this sword and its counterparts to find a way to defeat me." 

The brief explanation itself necessary to share in part, though the biggest of goofy smiles crossed his face as he realized he hadn't said a thing about his technological skills. He was no expert or whiz with it, but he did know he way around technology. He was just really poor at naming them as would be heard within moments. "Both myself and Axle are engineers of sorts. I am not as into technology as I let on, but I know enough to maintain this large mech back home. I call it the Spark Robo."  It was like a teenager telling a story, a little bit of leading off into small tangents, it was clear this story was definitely longer. Sparkster had some annotations it seemed, though he was just excitable and that could make his story telling skills a bit rough.

[Deleted]

This time as the story began, the Dragon lowered its wings like paws and closed its eyes genuinely and took a deep breath. Clearly this Sparkster didn't mean any harm, all this time spent telling silly stories and, honestly, it was tired.

Keil had forgotten any weariness, and leaned forward like a child. This felt like the lucky peaceful moments he would have in the dead of night, all they needed was a fire...not in this park though, too pretty.

If he noticed the little tangent Sparkster went off on, he made no indication of it, instead blurting out, "A mech? You have a mech? Oh...um, I got some skills too...I mean, look!" He reached for his gun and pulled it out, "It shoots energy bullets, my head spins just keeping this going! You maintain a mech? Does it shoot energy too!?"

[Arrow Rinehart]

Eyes focused on that item, on that weapon of choice of Keil's, well now it had a special part did it not? At the very least, Keil had his full attention while he looked on and found himself growing more excited. The nerdy side of him rising to the forefront and getting him into explaining a few things on his end and showing impressed he was about this very thing as well. "Yeah, that's one heck of a cool weapon there! Wowee, you can do a good number of things with that, for certain."

Grinning lightly at the expanse of the conversation, he'd given a firm nod at that thought, did he have that mech shoot some bullets? Well in a manner of speaking he'd worked out a few things around that very thought. It was just one of those things that he'd had to upgrade in order to match his step brother's own mech. "I can say...that in a way I did! I mean it has some projectiles in the forms of large hydraulically launched spheres of energy if that counts." this was more of a joke, as it was about the best that he'd had, a few things on it now to speak of the technical specs as best he could for this.

"Not to beat on that too much, but I'll say that I've got rocket boosted flight on it, rocket punches and movement to help it remain active with speed." well now he was going on about explaining the fun aspects of it, oh the many weapons that he had going on. He'd been glad to work things up and out brilliantly, he did have some more to explain about it of course. 

[Deleted]

One would think that someone veering off the path of a story would be annoying, but it just wasn't. Not at all. The excitement, and even happiness Sparkster showed without hesitation, it was nice. "Yeah, this thing's pretty cool, it only shoots though, can't be too amazing, I guess." He shrugged, and put the gun away with a smile, ears catching all of Sparkster's words.

As he kept talking, Keil piped up yet again upon knowing the mech's abilities, "Ah! So it's like a better airship, more weapons! Or maybe a Dragon!" Dragons were the biggest and best weapons ever created, so perhaps a mech was a Dragon if you thought about it that way!

[Arrow Rinehart]

"Between the Spark Robo, and the second robot I made, called a Stampy-Do X. The strange name, is based off of one of our own living bio-mechanical lifeform called the Stampy-Do. It's very interesting! But such is the uniqueness of the world." In reflection over it, he let off a small chuckle and then continued with a better thought in application, sharing some of the cool things that it could do! He had a good mind, so he didn't forget where he was in the story. Instead he just placed a bookmark there and had let off a big grin as he cleared his throat.

"The real neat stuff begins with how fast it is! The Stampy-Dos are normally as fast as my Jetpack, if a little faster. I really can't emphasize on just how fast they are!" he moved his gauntlet-clad hands from side to side and tried to show how fast it was. "Though beyond that, it shoots energy rings from its mouth, lasers of a sort. Though a natural bio-laser through some means I don't know. The real surprising thing being that they are fairly friendly. Fast footed, steadfast, intelligent, and just keep on the move whenever they aren't gathering nutrients from the sunlight or some things they eat. I wish I knew more about them. But anyway, I did my best to replicate this with my completely mechanical Stampy-Do X." it wasn't too hard given he had scans of the robotic lifeform and just went on about making his fingertips twist, as he showed how it was him: putting things together.

"The business of re-creating the Stampy-Do wasn't too hard, but the X variant I made does have its own kind of automatic system. It has pulse lasers, triple-laser rings, a rocket system to help it move even faster or give it temporary flight." Oh the engineer was unleashed! He'd get to the story, it was a certainty, though he was nerding out something heavy now. hopefully Keil and Solo-Wing wouldn't mind a rant about things, as he got on about the second creation of his.

[Deleted]

"These...Stampy-Dos spit lasers and fly?" Rubbing his head, and somehow glad that even someone from another world seemed to have a similarity, he revealed more about the Solo Wing than he thought he would have to someone he met just today. "Weird...Dragons spit lasers too, you sure they're not the same creature?" He commented jokingly, letting out a bark of laughter under his breath, "Really, those things sound great to replicate!" Sounded almost like some kind of weapon, everything was great about them...maybe he shouldn't be thinking of everything in regards to such things, but it was pretty difficult not to, survival and all that, if one of those Stampy-Do was here, that would probably make things easier on everyone. The Solo Wing too, together they were a veritable weapon that could probably get many resources. Heh, was that hunting or being a hero?

The Stampy-Do X sounded like the best thing in the world, if Keil was being honest with himself, the curiosity in him bubbled to the surface, but if he was being honest with himself, there was another problem. He had a sole Coolio's chance in the desert of making anything even similar...ah, couldn't hurt to be curious, right? "...How'd you even build this thing? It sounds pretty crazy, just wondering you could build it again, if it isn't too difficult...is it?" A tinge of worry crept into his voice, wondering if he was asking the impossible, maybe there were materials the Life Sphere didn't have...or just couldn't spare, they were surviving! How'd he forget, a surviving city, if even that, couldn't sustain itself on frivolity. His face barely changed upon his personal chiding, but he did clam up suddenly and sink lower, struggling to stay in the spirit of storytelling.

[Arrow Rinehart]

"Well I won't lie, it was more replication of something that already existed. The Stampy Dos are native to Elhorn, along the Macra Plains and other areas. I just took a look at how they were anatomically and just used one that trusted me as a model. I built the other to be a bit heavier, have some additional abilities and parts, it was fairly simple with the natural elegance right before my eyes." 

At the first moment of thought, he hadn't been sure if he could recreate it. The particular materials would have to be secure, he wasn't sure if the world of Li had the necessary things to do so. Though he wasn't sure how to initially word it, after a few moments of contemplation, he did manage to come up with a properly worded response; that or it was just what he could manage under some 50 seconds or so of thought.

"I won't lie, I can't be sure. I mean, technically and theoretically all I'd need is the parts for such a thing. Though the Stampy Do-X did have a bit of its own way of thinking, it might be a bit of magical crafting: I can infuse the memory of mine of the Stampy Do onto the piece and basically imprint it upon the newer one. Hm...hadn't ever considered trying to really build either since arriving. You're the first to bring it up, but...can't say that its not something to consider for some research." 

It was a sobering moment really, he didn't think of this as bad by any means: quite the contrary, his face lit up slightly during it. The Rocket Knight didn't really consider himself to be the most elite engineer, he did have just enough skill to produce some of what he considered to be the 'latest technology', at least from Elhorn. It was a curious thought, if he could manage it on some level. And after another moment of thought, the base of his fist was slapped across the glove region of his gauntlet. The visual of it and the sound of the light metal against cloth resounded in a 'slap' was something meant to be almost a eureka moment.

"I'll keep this in the back of my mind, I'll see if there's any kind of ore here that might be suitable to build up a new Stampy Do-X, thank you for the vote of confidence Keil. I mean more to even considering it, that just kind of raises my spirits, to hear another excited about something that I myself made. I never considered it really groundbreaking, especially given what the armies I faced were producing, just being overall better in terms of design and application." 

[Deleted]

"So...it's considerable? I'm not just being a kid?" Despite getting an answer, Keil babbled for some confirmation, like...well...a kid.

He gave a vote of confidence? An involuntarily bigger smile crossed Keil's face as he spoke, "Heh, thanks. I just thought if it was built once, it could happen again. I guess I'm simple." Slightly deprecating, but he seemed happy with his own observation, or at least that it was helpful in a spirit lifting way.

At the mention of the other army, Keil perked up, "The other army had stuff like yours? What'd they look like?...Bigger, I'm guessing?" He thought it was only normal, intimidation definitely started with size, and he didn't think an army of another world would be any different.

[Arrow Rinehart]

As it seemed to be something more about it, he'd found himself explaining the situation with the enemy armies. "It is more like they had simply more of them, the size wasn't quite comparable to my Spark Robo,  but they did have lots of capable, numerable ships and other craft that did damage my own pretty fiercely. They attacked with rockets, large cannon fire rounds, flying ships of their own. I mean I did manage to hold my own, but I can certainly say from firsthand experience, they had some fairly comparable technology at least. I felt it was better in execution? That or I might be a bit harder on myself than I'd give myself credit for."

Like any good engineer, he scrutinized his own work intensely, but he did go on the design. "My enemies, the Armies had thought of just about everything...castles with machine guns, fireball launchers, lightning blasters. I mean it was really quite an impressive set...flying mech suits, bazookas, flying ships, cannons, they definitely went a whole ways out in terms of their talents. It is a pity that it was all used for their evil, personal gain."  He lamented that, like a good knight, just hopeful for something better from them.

"The Devintindos Empire, Gedol Empire, and the Generalissmo Wolf Army. All three...they were my great foes, with incredible technology, ambition to rule the world and ruin it for all else. Still, I will admit, what wonders they did make." He had hopes that there might be some use to come of it, perhaps anymore questions? Keil was good for them so far, he was helping Sparkster really reach deep.

[Deleted]

"Huh, your place sounds nicer than mine, didn't think you'd still have a ton of weapons and stuff. I thought it'd be...nicer." However naive it sounded, Keil wasn't the one to pretend he thought otherwise. "I guess, with how nice you are, I thought your world was that way...not with those Empires and Armies...gotta have one, huh? A piece of work who think they can get what they want." A tinge of bitterness entered his voice, curling his lip. He didn't quite forget his own experience with a so-called "Empire". An already dangerous chase to save the surrounding land, and what did they want? The Dragons, of course! Who cared that a bunch of mutants would get unleashed if they got their weapons, right!?

He seemed to deflate slightly at the genuine respect Sparkster showed, slumping slightly before chuckling, "See? That right there, you even think your enemies did good things, at least in building...thought your world besides a few bad eggs were like that, what a nice place that'd be. Me? I guess I'm still a little mad at my enemies, not much to rule, and they still wanna rule it. Hope they stop without me and the Solo Wing, no Dragons to control."

His imaginination running about these 3 giant enemies, he raised the only logical question, "And...you beat these guys? How?"

[Arrow Rinehart]

"I suppose I did make Elhorn seem like it'd be really nice? I mean it is really nice, the war torn areas still manages not to be so bad, not with the reconstruction that we've undertaken there. At least, once those nasty forces were beaten back: then we were in some better shape." though as he found himself smiling more at that fact that Keil thought so well of him and his attitude. "Though your compliment to me and by context Elhorn, I am happy that you think so highly of it. Maybe I can show you that world one day." he was not entirely sure of the 'how' but it was a nice thought. And yet, as he moved on in subject: he addressed how he tried to be the better person and a part of him always did hope to find the better of his opponents. That they'd become better people in the wake of their defeat. 

"I admit that I try to think the best of my foes...I can understand that anger you might have. I mean, I do sound a bit virtuous, I do my best in that regard. But they are indeed, as they were: bad apples. Whole leagues of soldiers, knights, warriors, and others just being a violent lot after battle or to torment the weak." If anything, he'd let his emotions show a little. Though the opossum was able to maintain his focus on the conversation. The haunted look in his eyes was momentarily there, though brief, it was certain that Sparkster was a bit wary of the combat that he'd ended. 

It was a really good question that Keil asked, how did he do it? The real answer was just by pushing through it, it was not his gear alone or the skills his father trained into him that helped him. Perseverance had been the part of it, the combination of determination to stop them, to bring down each major leg of the foes presented before him. It was in his mind, less that he'd defeated them and more that they simply pushed people around too far and somehow; he'd become the channel of all of that energy...that strength that let him push through them. 

"It was more that I became the blade for the people, I don't mean to make it sound like I single handledly crushed every soldiers. But I did cut a swathe through their major forces, I shattered their Commanders, many of their platoons of troops. I managed to beat them all, their leader...sometimes I'd question how I did as well. I can't explain it more than, I did it because I had to, I suppose."