Fair.

Doll took in her old home, the only place she truly felt happy and safe, the dojo was empty now but for every nook and cranny there was a memory lurking, echoes of children playing and shouting only she could hear.

Doll sat on the steps leading into the dojo, she had made it here ahead of this Aella and Timon pair. Doll believed this dojo to be their destination, but why?

If these really were two savage warriors who went around destroying cities, why go to an abandoned dojo in the middle of nowhere? ‘perhaps,’ doll thought ‘its the obvious answer… they are coming here for training?’

–

Almost out of breath the trio climbed the steps into the cinnamon hills towards the dojo, trying to get to the dojo before the sunset would.

“I thought dojos were just at the top of loads of steps in stories.” Aella was getting worn out.

“It makes sense though, it keeps you fit.” if Timon was physically drained, he wasn’t showing it.

“I don’t know what you are complaining about, this is the perfect physical difficulty for me” Claire boasted.

“Yeah, but as soon as you get to the top you are going to pass out from pushing yourself too hard.” Timon responded

Claire shot him a dirty look “you’re just jealous I can push myself like this, when we get to the top it wont matter how tired I am anyway. Speaking of which, I can see the top from here.”

–

“It’s not much to look at is it? You sure there’s anyone to train you here?”

The trio stood before the dojo, and Claire clearly didn’t think much of it.

“I don’t know, thinking about it it’s been almost 20 years since my mother came here… maybe coming here wasn’t such a good idea.” Aella suddenly felt very foolish having suggested they come here.

“You are a little late I’m afraid, Old Udo hasn’t given anyone lessons here for a long time.”

The three turned quickly to see doll sat at the top of the steps looking down across the hills.

“Who’re you!?” Timon demanded.

“I’m one of Udo’s last students of course,” doll stood up and faced them, “And I presume you are Timon and Aella. I’m sorry I haven’t heard of you short one.”

“Are you here to kill us and collect your ransom?” Aella asked defiantly

“well,” doll put her hands on her hips and looked at the ground thinking, “my plan was to kill all the other warriors, and I thought I was justified to do it too, but seeing you guys I see that’s not entirely the case.”

“what are you talking about lady?” Claire was not in a mood for someone to just unload like this.

“Well, to put it simply, I don’t think it’s your fault what happened in Koob, I think Polot has some kind of agenda in wanting you dead. Plus it’s not my style to fight someone who is untrained… I tried to play the part of merciless warrior but it doesn’t fit quite right. So in short, I’m not going to fight you… assuming of course you wont fight me.”

“for real?” Timon was unsure.

“For real.” Doll nodded

all four eased up a bit, but then a fifth voice spoke

“But will you fight me Doll?”

Doll looked across the clearing to a woman standing against the side of the dojo.

“…Cadence?”