“Alright, here is a cart to help you transport your Idol back to your lands. I would suggest strapping both of you onto it to make things easier in the long run. Wheels don’t work well in sandy ground and eventually the roads to the south will end at some point.
Which means that the two of you will be then forced to drag this thing through natural terrain for the rest of the trip. Just a little heads up on that.” Bakuss stated.

Little steppes nods. “Thanks, we will keep that in mind, and also thank you again for giving us this wagon freely. It is highly appreciated, not to mention the free provisions as well for our trip.” She happily thanked the captain of the guard as the aforementioned cart was brought into the scene. Being pulled right behind the shrouded idol.

Two guards where immediately attempting to load the Idol onto the cart afterwards, with Mystic’s very keen gaze keeping a very close eye on every movement they made. She was capable of leading the Idol onto the cart herself with the aid of her magic, but why do so when these Zebra’s insist of doing it themselves?

Unless when something goes horribly wrong and she is forced to step in. The Idol may be sacred but not indestructible sadly enough. Made quickly apparent during its transport to the surface, where a tiny piece of the Idols tail was chipped of on one of the cave walls when one of the changelings suddenly loosed his grip on it. An incident which almost gave mystic a heart attack when she saw it. Though she would be damned to ever openly admit that.

The stallions though managed to successfully load the idol onto the cart without any additional trouble. The springs on its wheels even sagging down a bit once the idol was perfectly nestled within the cart. A little extra padding added to smooth out the ride for both the idol and its drivers. A suggested design given by the king himself. Which is also how these two both got their free cart and provision in the first place.

“No need to thank me. These were all the Kings direct orders actually. But sadly, beyond that he couldn’t personally see you two off today. He has a lot more important meetings to attend to today so his schedule is already quite busy as it is. Especially regarding the changelings. Not too hard to understand I would say.” Bakuss explained.

Steppes just nodded. “Well yeah, we can understand. Also in that case please give the king our personal thanks then for everything. I am not sure if we would have ever gotten the idol or even learned about its whereabouts if it wasn’t for his tolerance and overall generosity. We have completely misjudged him, us and the rest of our kind back home.” She thanked Bakuss once more.

“No problem, and I will deliver your thanks to the king when I get the chance to do so. But for now. Now I suggest that you two be off while the sun is still over the horizon. Remember, traveling the desert through the night is a lot more comfortable during the day. Just make to make sure to make good use of the Blankets given to you so that both of you do not freeze your tails off while traveling at night. Other then that, I wish you both a safe trip.” Bakuss added.

Steppes nods. “Yeah, and again thank you so much for everything.” She responded in kind before switching her gaze to her sister.

“Well should we get going now?” She asked her older sister who simply nodded.

“Yeah, the faster we can get home the better in my opinion.” Mystic commented before being the first to make her way to the cart and strapping herself onto its harness.

Little stepped followed suit, taking her place next to her sister and doing the same. After everything was secured and checked for any form of discomfort, both Mystic and Little Steppes announced their final goodbyes after their promised provisions where also loaded onto the cart. The two then set off, passing through the south gate of the city and stepping out into the open fertile farmlands surrounding the metropolis.

Leaving both Bakuss and a few of his guards at the foot of the gate, to watch them slowly vanished off into the distance.

“Well...that is that then.” Bakuss eventually announced after the pair disappeared from view. “Time to head back to the Palace. We have a recruitment campaign to plan after all. If incidents like these are going to be a common norm from this point on then we are certainly going to need as many soldiers as we can get. Especially with old rivals such as the Minotaurs taking notice of our build up. This is just the start.” Bakuss announced.

His fellow guards nodded to that before following their captain back to the Palace. Bakuss predictions are sensible to make in such dangerous times. That is If the Minotaurs already managed to take note of the Zebra’s steady rise from their far off lands, then believing that others would be capable of doing so as well wouldn’t be too far outside the realms of possibilities to believe. It really is just a matter of time now. A waiting game to be exact. To see what could possibly come for them next and be prepared to face it.

Which is why recruiting more soldiers for their cause is certainly a requirement at this stage. Not just for the city itself, both hopefully from the other tribes as well along with their unique expertise.

Those are certainly going to be needed.

.............................................................................................................................................

“Strange...very strange but still...very interesting indeed.” Akunezzar muttered to as he looked at the egg with a thoughtful look.

His latest tests on the egg were certainly...something he didn’t anticipated, or rather, he kinda did, but still believed that the latter was going to happen rather than the former.

The egg didn’t crack or splinter when he hit it lightly with a hammer. A very dangerous thing to do, but it was all in the name of knowledge and science. Or rather that is what he kept telling himself to justify his rather brutish methods.

Though if the egg really started to crack, then he would certainly have a lot more issues to deal with rather then having a pre-hatched egg on his hoofs. He would also have to confess to the king about it at some point. An encounter he certainly did not look forward too if that ever happened.

He personally doesn’t know how —quote, unquote— tolerant the king really is when someone really “fucks up” as he likes to say it. But he certainly doesn’t feel like testing the patience that way just to get his answer. Rather it would be better if someone else would screw up for him so that he can see how tolerant or wrathful he can be.

But alas it didn’t matter as the egg was still fine after everything he had done to it. Good, because then it seriously proves that this was far from your typical egg either, nor dragon or otherwise. Any other egg he personally know off so far would have cracked long ago or showed slight signs of damage or wear. Even a bit of acid didn’t do anything, even when said acid had no problems in chewing a rather large hole through the floor.

He certainly still needs to explain that to the king when he gets back.

Akunezzar stroked his Babylonian beard. “Hmm...maybe I should just stop for now before I really go to far. Plus...” He looked over at the awakened Penelope in her crib babbling on. “...I should really call a servant over to take care of Penelope. I might be knowledgeable but I am also old. I can’t really take care of a young and quite energetic little youngling all by myself. Also I think it’s time for her feeding as well.” He quietly talked to himself as he watched Penelope’s widdy little claws wave above the cribs edge.

“I think calling for a servant is the wise thing to do.” He eventually decided before making his way towards the door. With of course making sure the egg is back onto its pillow where it belongs.

Though to be fair, if the abuse he had deducted on it hasn’t even put a scratch on its exterior then what else could possibly damage it at this point? The egg could be rolling down the massive cliff sides of the Palace its build upon and it still wouldn’t show any dents or scratches on its surface.

Or she Aku thinks. Though he obviously wouldn’t be stupid enough to actually try that. He is daring but not foolish.

“Just stay in your crib little one and don’t do anything while I go and quickly fetch a nearby servant to help you get fed. I for one should be close by in one of the rooms, so sit tight.” Aku openly stated before opening the door.

“Again, just stay there and don’t burn anything. It will only take a minute. I won't be far.” He added before finally stepping through the door.

Penelope of course had her own ideas of what to do once the old man was out of earshot. The little drake decided then and there that tumbling out of her crib was the best method of causing trouble for her over aged caretaker.

She flopped onto the floor with a tiny thud and then began to look around. Her emerald green eyes scanning the interior of the room before they eventually landed on the strange egg on the middle of the floor. She began to crawl to it, babbling a bit to herself and quickly reaching the edge of the large cushion the egg was resting on. Once there she once again began to gaze up at the strangely colored egg with a great curiosity and childlike wonder.

Well she is a child after all.

The egg then suddenly began to wiggle a bit. Its yellow stripes shining in a golden hue as a chime escaped from its innards. Penelope was understandingly mesmerized by this before clapping her claws together with a glee full smile. The egg seemed to respond to this with an almost laughing like sound as it continued to wiggle in place.

Penelope was ecstatic at this point. Clapping and giggling happily at the egg as said egg was doing the same. Or so it tried.

After a while though, Penelope had the urge to climb up the large pillow and crawl herself closer to the egg. There was little objection coming from the egg as she did so. Not that it would be able to do much in the first place.

Besides teleporting.

Once close enough, Penelope once again began to inspect the egg closely this time. Observing its yellow and silver texture and getting herself drawn by the eerie light it was giving off.

The egg on contrast was still. Not wiggling or chiming anymore. The only thing which reminded where shines of the golden strips it is decorated with. Shining every brighter the closer Penelope got to it.

She then started to reach out with both of her claws. Attempting to touch the egg for the first time as her overwhelming curiosity took control of her.

The egg in contrast was shining ever so brightly the closer her claws got to its surface. Once Penelope's claws first grasped the egg however the light around the egg quickly died down. Only for it to return in full force and brighter than ever before. The entire room was soon bathed within a golden shine, enveloping everything and anything within its space.

Penelope on her part was forced to close her eyes as she fell backwards onto the pillow. Strangely enough though, she was not feeling any fear or shock from this event. Rather just feeling somewhat surprised that this strange thing suddenly became brighter then the desert sun itself.

The egg began to crack. In between its cracked shell, more light was pouring out along. A chime like cry began to echo throughout the room. Coming directly from the egg as it began to form more and more cracks on its surface.

Soon, the pressure was to much and the egg finally shattered in a final explosion of light. Bathing the room in a white blinding light. Forcing even Penelope ro shield her large baby eyes.

Once the the glare finally subsided however, Penelope slowly reopened her eyes to see what the light has brought forth.

What she saw hovering above her. Giving her a curious look and then a smile left her speechless at first. Not that she can say much to begin with besides Dada. But she got over it, she started to smile up at her new...thing hovering above her as well. Clapping her claws together before reaching out for the newborn being.

The strange creature happily complied. Levitating the little drake off the ground and playing with her.

Akunezzar would never expect this when he comes back.