A Sweet Treat

"Well at least we aren't rotten," Don smiled and looked proud, "As predicted. Sometimes I amaze myself." Don chuckled then yelped when Kaa pulled on his tail from the floor. "Don't act like you knew this would happen!" Kaa said. "As much as I love the full force of your body weight crushing my body Kaa, could you maybe get off please?" Kemba said strained between the floor and Kaa.

Kaa smiled apologetically, "Sorry Kemba." He got up and Kemba followed, dusting himself off. "It seems we all had the same thought," They looked to see Cole and Ike already eating, "Oh, hey...uh...you know ice cream isn't supposed to be eaten until after dinner." Kaa said.

Don tugged on his brothers tail, "Ouch!!" He glared holding his tail, "Shut up. We're here for the same reason." Don said crossing his arms. Kemba's eyes grew when he saw them eating it and began to drool, watching as if in a daze. "Uh-oh, Kemba's got that look again." Kaa said pointing.

"I'm f-f-fine...." He said not removing his gaze from them.

Cole laughed, "I was just showing Ike what ice cream was. He wasn't allowed this in Scomparsa, among other treats." Don walked up to him, "That is just cruel...so what's the verdict?" Don said sitting down next to him with a smile.

Cora and Ban shortly made their way inside after a moment, "Ah there my children are." They looked to him, "Guess that means you're the rotten digitama." Kaa chuckled. "I don't know what you're talking about. Ban and I used the shortcut to get here. We got tired of waiting and walked around a bit." Cora said with a grin. "We did?" Ban asked questioningly, Cora looked up at him and Ban got it.

"Oh! We did!" Ban said his tail wagging in response as he eyed the room. Don frowned, "What shortcut? There is no shortcut to the kitchen." Kaa nodded, "Yea! You're totally last!"

"It's a shortcut only reserved for Kings, I use it aaaaaaall the time." Cora teased making his way in the room and noticed Cole and Ike. Cole nodded, "I can attest to that. Cora and Prince Ban were here minutes before you all."

"What? Where's the shortcut!?" Kaa said. Kemba crossed his arms, "I'd like to know where it is too. I've been down these halls countless times and saw nothing of the sort."

Don looked at Ike, "Were they really here before us?" Don asked. Cora made his way to the fridge, his servants leaving to give them all some privacy. He opened it and looked at the frozen contents, "Let's see...." Ban looked at them all to, shivering from the sudden burst of cold air.

Kaa smiled apologetically, "Sorry Kemba." He got up and Kemba followed, dusting himself off. "It seems we all had the same thought," They looked to see Cole and Ike already eating, "Oh, hey...uh...you know ice cream isn't supposed to be eaten until after dinner." Kaa said.



"Ouch!!" He glared holding his tail, "Shut up. We're here for the same reason." Ike looked to Kemba concerned then sort of moving over his ice cream a little protectively. Theos chuckled at the sight. "Uh-oh, Kemba's got that look again." Kaa said pointing.



"I'm f-f-fine...." 

Cole laughed, "I was just showing Ike what ice cream was. He wasn't allowed this in Scomparsa, among other treats." Don walked up to him, "That is just cruel...so what's the verdict?"

"It's good," Ike said. "It's creamy and flavorful."


"Ah there my children are." They looked to him, "Guess that means you're the rotten digitama." Kaa chuckled. "I don't know what you're talking about. Ban and I used the shortcut to get here. We got tired of waiting and walked around a bit." Cora said with a grin. "We did?" Theos raised a brow at the pair.



"Oh! We did!" Don frowned, "What shortcut? There is no shortcut to the kitchen." Kaa nodded, "Yea! You're totally last!"



"It's a shortcut only reserved for Kings, I use it aaaaaaall the time." Theos laughed and made his way over to the fridge and grabbed a tub for himself, "I can attest to that. Cora and Prince Ban were here minutes before you all."



"What? Where's the shortcut!?" Kaa said. Kemba crossed his arms, "I'd like to know where it is too. I've been down these halls countless times and saw nothing of the sort."



Don looked at Ike, "Were they really here before us?"

Ike waited til there attention was turned away and then shook his head no. He smiled though motioning for him to remain quiet so that his brothers could remain oblivious.

Theos sat at the table popping the lid off. He took a lick then a bite humming at the taste. 

"You all better grab yours before Kemba gets them," he said teasingly.

Don understood and chuckled, "Well if dad and Ban did get here before all of us. That means Kemba is the rotten digitama." Kemba shook his head, "No way! It was a three way tie between me, Kaa and Theos." Kaa walked by Kemba eating a tub of strawberry, "But you got up laaaaaaaaaast" He sang. The intoxicating aroma ran into Kemba's nostrils and he became a victim of his sugar frenzy once again.

He looked to the fridge and leaped at it grabbing a cradles worth of different flavors and sitting down opening them up. He began to purr, his tail slowly swaying back and forth as he began to eat, "Almond! Strawberry shortcake! Banana...." He said, it wasn't long before his face was covered in the stuff.

Cole looked at Theos, "Is Kemba okay...?" He asked worryingly. Cora watched Kemba and was a bit worried that the lack of ice cream would alert Raja to their rule breaking, Ban was happily eating his vanilla, dripping it onto his father's head as he did so. Cora didn't seem to mind but it looked funny to see him sweating ice cream.

Don walked over and grabbed some chocolate making his way back to Ike, sitting next to him. He looked at Ike and smiled and wiped a bit of chocolate on his nose. He laughed and continued eating.

Cora looked at Cole, "So...I've decided to bring them on as our Generals." Cole looked up at him, "Is that right? Then they'll be attending the deployment and stations meeting." Cora nodded. "Yes. I will also have the armorer prepare protective gear for each of you."

"Dad, I hate armor. It makes me feel all clunky." Don said. "Either you all agree to wear it, or you can forget about joining us." Cora said. Don sighed and nodded, "Kemba wears it all the time." Cora pointed out, "Yes and so do I." Cole said.

"Well Kemba is not a dino and....clearly not right in the head." Kaa said. "This one tastes like cupcakes!" Kemba said to himself. "But we'll wear it if it makes you feel better."

Cole looked at Theos, "Is Kemba okay...?"

"He's fine," Theos said chuckling. "Anything with sugar in it ends him into a sweets frenzy. It's kind of funny. He will probably eat every tub in the fridge if we don't lock it."

Ike went cross eyed a bit. His tongue coming up to lick off the chocolate. It tasted good much to his surprise. He had to wonder if everything ice cream tasted good. He looked to Don and smiled a bit. Offering his tub slightly to see if he wanted a taste.

Cora looked at Cole, "So...I've decided to bring them on as our Generals." Cole looked up at him, "Is that right? Then they'll be attending the deployment and stations meeting." Cora nodded. "Yes. I will also have the armorer prepare protective gear for each of you."



"Dad, I hate armor. It makes me feel all clunky." Don said. "Either you all agree to wear it, or you can forget about joining us." Cora said. Don sighed and nodded, "Kemba wears it all the time." Cora pointed out, "Yes and so do I." Cole said.



"Well Kemba is not a dino and....clearly not right in the head." Kaa said. "This one tastes like cupcakes!" Kemba said to himself. "But we'll wear it if it makes you feel better."


"We'll have to get use to it of course though. Isn't armor heavy," Theos asked. He had never worn armor let alone clothes so he didn't really know but they looked hot and heavy to him. 

"We'll have to get use to it of course though. Isn't armor heavy," Cora shrugged, "I would assume so, but I've never worn any so I couldn't say for certain. It will be a new experience for all of us." Ban had made his way towards the end of the tub and stuck his head in it. The partially melted ice cream dripped out over his head and body which made it's way onto Cora's face, he closed one eye as it passed over it. Cora still didn't seem to mind.

Cole had finished his snack and decided to chime in, "Armor can come in different styles and is usually made to the benefit of the wearer. Take mine for instance, it is specifically contoured to my body and is also lightweight allowing me to masterfully move without hindrance and even helps me gather Terra energy and channel it. It had to be specially made, just like my boy's will be. You just have to get used to it." Cole said.

Don looked at Ike and nodded a thank you taking a single claw and having a taste of Ike's flavor. It was good but Don knew that, there wasn't much ice cream he didn't like. "Trying to imagine you wearing your dad's armor and it's kind of funny. You're much thinner then him. It's like it is consuming you." Don said taking the last bit of his tub and finishing it. He looked up at Ban and his father and frowned, "Ban, you're making a mess of father."

Ban stuck his head out from his tub, the vanilla all over and he licked what he could and looked at Don cocking his head. He looked down to see his father. Cora waved it off, "I'm find Don. The cold drips feels nice...even if it's tasty and sticky." He chuckled.

Don sighed and went to finish his own, "Personally, I don't think you need armor Ike." Don said. Kaa snickered, "Yea that's because it will ruin your image of him." Don turned a slight red, "Sh-shut up Kaa! I'm just trying to be a good friend!!" Kaa began to chuckle and Cora's tip of the tail came around and whacked Kaa's head into the tub of his ice cream.

Kaa slowly pulled his head out, the strawberry dripping from it. "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad."

The room laughed together. Except Kemba....who was still in his own world. He was on his fourth tub, "This one tastes like cookies!!" He mumbled to himself.

Don felt a bit awkward now that his brother made that comment and avoided looking at Ike. He had hoped that Ike didn't get the wrong impression.

"Okay boys, I think that's enough ice cream. Raja will kill me if you spoil your supper." Cora said. "Hey uh....Theos...mind helping Kemba...?" Cora said. Kemba's feet were twiddling happily as he continued to eat his ice cream. He had taken two more tubs that he hadn't even opened yet. He really would eat them out of ice cream if he didn't stop when finally, Kemba's eyes dilated and he froze. His tail became stiff and he made a pained expression. Kemba reached for his head and held it, it seemed he had eaten to much and to fast.

He made a high pitch moan as the brain freeze came over him. He fell on his side holding his head, Don shook his head "Happened later then I predicted." Kaa and Ban chuckled.

Cole looked at Ike, "That is why it's never a good thing to eat a lot of ice cream very fast. That is a side effect of this delectable treat, the affliction known as brain freeze. Completely harmless...just really painful. When I was a kid I thought brain freeze would strengthen my mind and so I purposefully gave myself them. My mother had a mean streak in her, she didn't tell me that I was doing all of that for nothing until I cried after my eight one in a row. She said the faces it made me make were to cute to stop."

Cora nodded, "I remember my first brain freeze...Midas freaked out. He had no idea what it was and called Magi to look at me. All I did was clench my eyes and mouth tight and hold my head until it passed. Magi explained it to us and then Midas went and gave himself one just so he could be even with me. That was a funny day."

"Theeeeeoooossss...." Kemba yelped.

"I would assume so, but I've never worn any so I couldn't say for certain. It will be a new experience for all of us." Theos shook his head at Ban chuckling at the ever so tolerant Cora.


"Armor can come in different styles and is usually made to the benefit of the wearer. Take mine for instance, it is specifically contoured to my body and is also lightweight allowing me to masterfully move without hindrance and even helps me gather Terra energy and channel it. It had to be specially made, just like my boy's will be. You just have to get used to it."

Theos thought about it his armor. His would also have to be light so he could continue to hop around. It was his favorite move in battles it seemed. 


"Trying to imagine you wearing your dad's armor and it's kind of funny. You're much thinner then him. It's like it is consuming you." Ike thought about it but his was being custom made so it shouldn't eat him so to speak, "Ban, you're making a mess of father."



Ban stuck his head out from his tub, the vanilla all over and he licked what he could and looked at Don cocking his head. He looked down to see his father. Cora waved it off, "I'm find Don. The cold drips feels nice...even if it's tasty and sticky." He chuckled.



Ike got up and tossed his tub in the trash before returning to his seat. Everyone's attention was on the growing sticky pair.

"Personally, I don't think you need armor Ike." Don said. Kaa snickered, "Yea that's because it will ruin your image of him." Don turned a slight red, "Sh-shut up Kaa! I'm just trying to be a good friend!!"  The room laughed together. 


Ike looked sideways at Don after Kaa got his face full of ice cream. He didn't really get it. If Don liked him in that way wouldn't he be nervous of showing it? Ike would be...but that was him.



"Okay boys, I think that's enough ice cream. Raja will kill me if you spoil your supper." Cora said. "Hey uh....Theos...mind helping Kemba...?" Theos chuckled as he watched Kemba suddenly get a brain freeze. He walked over returning the uneaten tubs to the fridge. Then sitting by his head petting it. "Happened later then I predicted." Kaa and Ban chuckled.



Cole looked at Ike, "That is why it's never a good thing to eat a lot of ice cream very fast. That is a side effect of this delectable treat, the affliction known as brain freeze. Completely harmless...just really painful. When I was a kid I thought brain freeze would strengthen my mind and so I purposefully gave myself them. My mother had a mean streak in her, she didn't tell me that I was doing all of that for nothing until I cried after my eight one in a row. She said the faces it made me make were to cute to stop."



Cora nodded, "I remember my first brain freeze...Midas freaked out. He had no idea what it was and called Magi to look at me. All I did was clench my eyes and mouth tight and hold my head until it passed. Magi explained it to us and then Midas went and gave himself one just so he could be even with me. That was a funny day."


Theos chuckled at their stories. Ike however just shook his head. He was amazed something so tasty could cause so much pain. He would have to be careful. 

"We should probably get him away from the temptation," Theos said as he groaned again. "That will teach you for eating sugar so fast." He urged Kemba up to go into the hall. "So she we go get measurements for the armor? Or is Magi just going to summon them," Theos asked.

"We should probably get him away from the temptation," Theos said as he groaned again. "That will teach you for eating sugar so fast." Kemba let Theos move him into the hall, his tail tucked under his legs and holding his head. "So shall we go get measurements for the armor? Or is Magi just going to summon them," Theos asked.

Cole and Cora laughed, "Magi can't just summon armor. Magic doesn't work like that. It has to be forged in fire and steel." Cole replied, "So yes we will see to your fitting, though if you're anything like your father we already know your measurements. I know Kaa, Don and Ban's measurements as well because well....they're my sons." Cora said as Ban had licked the last bit of vanilla off of his father's head.

Kaa cleaned his face with a rag and threw it away, "We should use this new energy we just got to do some more training. If it's true that we're leaving tomorrow, then we only have the rest of today to train." Kaa said. Cole stood up, "Very well, if that is what you all want, I can give you a quick training course." Cole chuckled, "Unless his majesty wants to do it. He is clearly stronger then I now."

Cora shook his head, "I am just a good fighter, not a teacher. I didn't get this way because I trained on my own. You put me down the path and I followed it to the end."

Don stood up, "Then that settles it. We go back and train as long as everyone is up to it."

Ban nodded, "Okay...as long as I don't have to fight daddy again." Cora gave a nervous laugh, "I can assure you that will never happen again."

Cole nodded, "Okay then...I'll meet you back at the guards room. I want to set up some things for your session." He turned to his son and knelt, "Ike, if you'd like you can participate too but I will not force you. It will be similar to your practices in Scomparsa." He placed his hand on top of his head. "Though I doubt you'll see any battle, a little extra training can't hurt you. You have a strong heart so now it's time your body caught up to it." He stroked his head a few times before standing again.

"I'll go on ahead to set up the obstacles. Come prepared to sweat, bleed and cry because I only have a few hours to train you and I am going to make sure all of you feel it tomorrow before the meeting. I'll be asking Magi to assist me too, there is a particular spell that will come in handy." Cole gave his son a wink before walking into the hall. "See you soon."

Kemba had recovered from his brain freeze and was finally broken from his sugar frenzy, "Training with Cole huh? Sounds like a good way to get stronger."

Cora nodded placing Ban down on the ground, "I'd love to watch you but I need to speak with a few of our divisions for tomorrow. I know you'll all do great! You're all my children after all!" Cora chuckled and waved as he went opposite of Cole. He turned the hall and ran into Raja.

"Oh...if it isn't my sweet sneaking husband...." Cora's eyes widened and made an audible gulp. "I....I can explain......." Raja grabbed him Cora by the neck and glared "I'm listening...."

"Well there is no point hanging around here anymore, let's get going!" Kaa said. Don looked at Ike and scratched the back of his head, "Hey Ike, what my brother was implying...I don't like you." Don quickly realized what he said, "Not that I don't like you! I do like you, just not in the way he was implying! I mean, not that I couldn't like you like that, I'm sure you're likable but I just don't want us to be awkward! I wanted to be your friend, not that we couldn't be more....I mean I would have to like you to be more and I totally don't! Not that it isn't....possible....ugh...I'm just gonna shut up now..." Don dragged a claw over his face walking with the group towards the exit.

"Smooth." Ban said, "Shut up Ban."

"Magi can't just summon armor. Magic doesn't work like that. It has to be forged in fire and steel." Cole replied, "So yes we will see to your fitting, though if you're anything like your father we already know your measurements. I know Kaa, Don and Ban's measurements as well because well....they're my sons." 


"We should use this new energy we just got to do some more training. If it's true that we're leaving tomorrow, then we only have the rest of today to train." Kaa said. Cole stood up, "Very well, if that is what you all want, I can give you a quick training course." Cole chuckled, "Unless his majesty wants to do it. He is clearly stronger then I now."



"I am just a good fighter, not a teacher. I didn't get this way because I trained on my own. You put me down the path and I followed it to the end."



Don stood up, "Then that settles it. We go back and train as long as everyone is up to it."



Ban nodded, "Okay...as long as I don't have to fight daddy again." Cora gave a nervous laugh, "I can assure you that will never happen again."



Theos nodded his tail wagging. If Cole was going to train them he was sure they were going to become strong just like Cora. He just hoped they would become strong enough. This war was going to take a toll on them all.

Cole nodded, "Okay then...I'll meet you back at the guards room. I want to set up some things for your session." He turned to his son and knelt, "Ike, if you'd like you can participate too but I will not force you. It will be similar to your practices in Scomparsa." Ike nodded He would train with the rest of them. "Though I doubt you'll see any battle, a little extra training can't hurt you. You have a strong heart so now it's time your body caught up to it."


"I'll go on ahead to set up the obstacles. Come prepared to sweat, bleed and cry because I only have a few hours to train you and I am going to make sure all of you feel it tomorrow before the meeting. I'll be asking Magi to assist me too, there is a particular spell that will come in handy." Ike figured he was just trying yo scare them. "See you soon."



"Training with Cole huh? Sounds like a good way to get stronger."



"Yep," Theos replied.

"I'd love to watch you but I need to speak with a few of our divisions for tomorrow. I know you'll all do great! You're all my children after all!" Theos nodded and chuckled.


"Oh...if it isn't my sweet sneaking husband...." Cora's eyes widened and made an audible gulp. "I....I can explain......." Raja grabbed him Cora by the neck and glared "I'm listening...."



Theos chuckled and began moving away from the pair. He was not eager to see why Cora was scared of her.

"Well there is no point hanging around here anymore, let's get going!" Kaa said. Don looked at Ike and scratched the back of his head, "Hey Ike, what my brother was implying...I don't like you." Don quickly realized what he said, "Not that I don't like you! I do like you, just not in the way he was implying! I mean, not that I couldn't like you like that, I'm sure you're likable but I just don't want us to be awkward! I wanted to be your friend, not that we couldn't be more....I mean I would have to like you to be more and I totally don't! Not that it isn't....possible....ugh...I'm just gonna shut up now..." Ike stared at him the entire time he talked. There was the awkwardness he had been expecting. He understood even if Don's wording was a big mess.



"Smooth." Ban said, "Shut up Ban."


"It's okay," Ike said finally looking away sheepishly. "I also like you as a friend. You've been nothing but kind," Ike responded walking beside him.

Theos walked with Kemba teasing him about getting brain damage from too many brain freezes. They walked semi-slow to give Cole time to prepare. They had no idea what to expect but Theos knew it was going to be good whatever it was.