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'What was with equines and calling him lazy?' He thought. He never could figure out why they did that. He nodded though in responce to Pavel. Pulling out the figure from his pocket.

"Yes, I Have it right here."

Shiro showed the avaling to Pavel to prove that he did indeed have it. Less the Centaur might question him. Better to show proof.

He followed the rude equine and didn't bother to make conversation. He doubted it would be worth trying anyway. When the centaur asked the question, he thought about it.

"No... I have no problems with inclosed spaces. What do I have to do?"

He used to crawl down tunnels back home, so doing it here would not be any different. But patience is going to hve a field day when he get's home.

'Thanks for the vote of confidence' Shiro thought as he moved to the dock, placing his glasses safely away. Carefully, he walked across the bridge till he reached the hole. Making sure the hole was not going to collapse on him, he squeezed himself through. He feet landed in water, but sunk only so much because there was the sand bar there. Wading out a bit, he noticed the dollar that had been pointed out by Pavel. Taking a deep breath, he dove. Thankfully it was not far, and he didn't ahve to keep his eyes open to long for him to be able to secure the dollar. Gently, he held the dollar, not wanting to crush it, and hit the surface. Shaking the water out of his eyes, he moved back towards the hole. Placing the dollar in his flannel pocket, he hoisted himself up and out of the hole. Soggy and wet. Shiro aprouched the centaur, taking the dollar out to show Pavel.

"Done."

Thankfully, Pavel was right and the sun was drying him out. He waited and heard his next task. Nodding his head to the Centaur, he headed into the hole. For once he was happy about his headaches, because what would have normally been dark, was actually somewhat visible.

It was a tight fit, but he was able to make headway. And ebing part bunny himself, he followed his instincts. But not before his hands came upon a piece of paper. Odd... Why was it in here. Oh, it must be the next item. Taking it and placing it with the sun dollar, Shiro continued on. He used his ears to detect the sound from Pavel's inpatience hoove steps and felt the breeze grace his face. Soon he was peeking his head out into the bright sunlight.

"Ack... light..."

He pulled himself out of the hole and shaded his eyes till his vision got used to outside. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a dirty, but whole dollar bill.

Now fully dry, but somewhat dirty from his underground romp, Shiro took up the next part of his quest. So he had to request to be allowed to get some veggies from the Dragon, and they are rare. Just great. Well... Here's hoping he's heard of Hurog...

Taking to climbing, Shiro shimmied up the rockface to get to the ledge that the dragon's cave face. Standing close to one side of the cave mouth, he picked up a rock and tapped it to signal his presence.

"Who dares try to eat from my garden! I shall eat you and swallow you... eh? Where are you?"

"Um. Over here Great Sir."

"Eh? This tiny morsal beconds me from the prow of my cave. Why mortal, shall I not eat you up?"

Shiro did a florished bow, making sure to look away paying full respects and not kepeing his eyes locked on him as a sign of trust. The dragon was taken aback and flomped down. He placed his hand on his hand to prop it up. Shiro straighted up and looked at the dragon.

"Oh great lord. I am on a quest to get some of your veggtables."

The dragon snorted.

"You haven't happen to perchance know a dragon by the name of Balik do you? Large guy, loud laugh?"

"Why, yes I do. Why do you ask?"

"I see. Well we dragons occationally get together ever couple of decades and I recently visited the guy. He told me he had not gotten to many people visiting, as much as he wanted to eat a knight, but one visitor he did have was extremely polight and was a Bunny/fox. He says that he was the new keeper of Hurog. I rarely see such strange conbinations as one being a bunny and a fox around these parts. Some odd Fox/wolves or maybe a cat/racoon... But Bunny Foxes seem to not be that common. And being someone educated in proper respect to dragons is also another rare thing. So I though you might be the one Balik spoke about."

Shiro nodded his head. It was not easy to forget his first quest and meeting the loud dragon.

"Yes my lord. I met the, um... commandingly loud Balik on one of my journeys. And this time I come to request something from you as part of a quest."

"Boy, your tongue is quite praising, it is a nice refreshment to the usual rabble that come to take from my garden. Though praising such words for Balik is not needed. He, is not unliked, but can be irksome when visiting. But what do you perpose in trade for my veggtables? They are rare, hence why many come to steal from me. Why should I give them to you?"

Shiro thought a bit, but not to long to prove time consuming for the Dragon. Never test the patience of a dragon less you get eaten. He had nothing to show, so he stated it as such.

"My lord. I do not have anything upon myself except for the object in which I am questing for."

Shiro pulled out his avaling and the two items he had already picked up. The dollar and the Sand dollar. The piece of paper did not interest the dragon. The avaling did peek his interest. He picked it up out of Shiro's offered hands and brought it close to his eye to inspect.

"What is this thing. It smells of magic. It peeks my interest.

"My lord. That is a charm called an Avaling. It is the item with which I am seeking your veggetables. For inside contains a baby boy in some manner. I don't undrstand is fully myself but I am set on a quest to find items for my child and it will apear from that charm you are holding."

"Facinating. A child will come from this small trinket. I would like to see this child when he apears some time. As part of the deal, make that so."

Shiro nodded and accepted the charm back. Having his child apear before this dragon would not be negative. He would have to get used to dragons anyway since Hurog had a whole mess of them. The dragon might give blessing to the boy, so it was not a bad idea. Then dragon picked up the sand dollar next. He looked at it.

"Boy, where did you get such a strange looking item?"

"My Lord, it was from the beach, by the broken dock. It is called a Sand Dollar.It's a type of shell"

"Shells you say?"

The dragon's interest was certainly perked. It's tail swishing like a happy cat.

"Boy, if you promise on your word and on that Child there, that you will return with as many of these 'Shells' as you can carry. I will allow you to take some veggetables. But break your word, and you shall have to offer that child to me to do as I please. Understood?"

"Yes my Lord. I understand and I accept the promise. I will return with the said objects of your desire once my child has apeared at the end of my quest. Thus at one time fufilling both parts of my bargin."

Shiro bowed. Then once the bow was over, he offered his hand. Looking down upon it, the dragon took it and shook the hand, sealing the promise. Personally the dragon would have prefered burning most of his tail off in showing that he was serious. But the boy was not disrespectful and had told him that he would return. He was the one picked by Hurog, so he should be atleast civil, as much as his method was more fun for him. Shiro bowed again, keeping his head low as he asked a question.

"Great Lord, what is your name, so that my child might know the name of the dragon he owes his apearing to?"

"Had your tongue not been as respectful as it has been, I would have eaten you on the spot. But since it is for the child, I shall tell you. I am Bestria. And I am a countess."

Shiro bowed lower. He had been calling the dragon male. He had not thought it might be a female. Telling genders of dragons isn't an easy thing.

"M... M'lady... Forgive me. I am not educated enough.... I had mistaken you for a... Forgive me..."

The countess laughed.

"Boy, you amuse me. I like you. No wonder Balik spoke so highly of you. So as long as you keep up your end of your bargin, I won't eat you. "

She said with a toothy grin. Shiro raised himself up to stand straight. She had not been insulted. Thankfully for him. She nodded her head towards the garden.

"Now go pick three and then return to your quest, but do not forget our bargin."

"Yes.. Thank you. I and will not forget to fulfill my promise."

Shiro bowed a few times as the dragon got up and went back to her cave, so he could get by. He was careful once getting to the garden that he did not crush the tiny produce. With much caution, he plucked two carrots and a lettuce. Then he removed himself to show which he had taken. She nodded. He bowed again and tucked everything back into his pocket except for the sand dollar that she had kept. He hoped it wasn't going to be important. But then again maybe that was the use of the dollar afterall. He climbed down and trotted to Pavel.

"Got them."

Shiro was suprised when he was picked up. Shocked, he stayed quiet and just clung on, so not to fall off.

O.o

Shiro was roughly dumped off, and then listened carefully to Mother Tree, but she said she couldn't help him? Because of a bargin... Does that mean he did something to mess up his avalings birth by making a deal with the dragon Countess? Mother Tree was asleep before he got a chance to ask. He sighed and looked at Connor.

"I guess she isn't going to tell me anything else... I better atleast hold up my part of the bargin. Pavel, Can you see me out of the Grove? I better get to fufilling my bargin... Though part of it was to bring my Avaling once he was born. I hope the Countess is understanding."

Shir sighed. The quicker he got it done, the sooner he might be able to solve this mystery.

"I need to get someone from home to help, so you don't have to carry me. But I can summon her, I just need to be out of the grove."

"Unless there is somewhere you have to take me, I am set. I'll I needed was out of the grove. Thank you Pavel."

Shiro slid himself off the centaur and he searched his pockets. Taking out a small flute, he played a short tune. Soon, out of no where came a dust cloud that was getting closer to them. The dust cloud arrived and it was a Green Chocobo.

"Hello Highwind."

"Wark Wark!"

Shiro mounted her saddle and turned to face Pavel.

"Is there anything else I should know? Or should I just complete my bargin?"