So, after my long period of being dead to the outside world. I'm making a triumphant return! I'm updating everything! So, here's a WAY better WTHIGO coming your way for your consumer wants and needs!

Chapter 1- It begins.

"And just as it looked like I wouldn't make it back; when everything was grim; when it looked like your favorite-" "ONE of our favorites." "Shh. YOUR favorite Guardian wouldn't make it back alive, a large green neck appeared, connected to the head of a dragon-" "Why not just say-" "Hey, it's MY story. The Guardian Dragon himself saved me from total defeat!" The children cheered. "And that's how I-" "Hiroko Echo!" The children chimed. "Became a true Guardian."

The children clapped as they began to leave the inn. 'Who's your favorite-' Hiroko stopped as his Number One Fan opened his mouth. "ONE of your favorite heroes?" The children banned together for a final: "Hiroko Echo! Echo echo..." They laughed as they filed out of the doors. Yulgar approached the protagonist. "Still as much as a bragger as the day you arrived" He laughed, patting Hiroko on the back.

"Yulgar, you deranged blacksmith." Hiroko chuckled; his attention was split to the person coming into the Inn. Robina Hood. Yulgar interrupted Hiroko's thoughts, "You've become a great help to Battleon Echo-boy." he said lively, oblivious to Hiroko staring at the female archer. 'She and I have worked several times in the past.' Hiroko thought. 'We've helped each other a few times, even shared a tent...' Hiroko grinned, remembering the short glimpse of her underwear. 'But I know she only sees me as a fellow protector of Lore... if even that much...'

Robina looked up having had sensed someone staring at her. Hiroko froze. 'Oh boy...' Robina smiled gently at him, before she retreated upstairs. Hiroko groaned. 'Why am I so-' A pink Truffle landed on his shoulder. "Meep!" He glanced at it, recalling seeing it somewhere before. "Hey, aren't you-' 'There you are!" Sure enough, Valencia, the Treasure Hunter, wasn't too far behind from her Truffle. "Sorry," She said, "she doesn't usually run off lie that." Hiroko grinned; losing all rationale thought. "It's okay," He giggled; quickly clearing his throat to try and play it off.

"She doesn't take a liking to strangers that fast. You must be special..." Hiroko mentally groaned. "It's me Valencia, Hiroko!" She gave him a questioning look. "Hiroko! We met when I was an Adventurer." "I have met almost every Adventurer in Lore. You'll have to be-" "I'm a Guardian now!" Hiroko said proudly, puffing his chest. "I know a lot of Guardians, too." Hiroko rapidly deflated. "You called me 'Echo-boy'." Valencia's face lit up. "Oh! Hiroko!" He sighed; 'Why is it always Echo-Boy?' "Look at you! When did you get your armor color changed?" "Before story time... five minutes ago... by you..." Valencia gasped. "Really? I don't remember-" "It's fine." Hiroko sighed. Not even the Legendary Valencia knew his name! Was he really making any progress to becoming famous?

"Tell you what, how about you and I hang out sometimes?" Hiroko shook his head. Valencia's truffle held on for dear life. "R-r-r-really?" Hiroko gulped. "Sure. The three of us can have lunch or something." 'Three?" An image of himself flanked by Robina and Valencia on a large bed fluttered through his mind. "Of course; I'm sure my widdle buddy here wouldn't mind having you along.'Valencia drew closer to Hiroko's face. He gulped hared this time, as her hands came into view.

Valencia picked up her truffle, turning to leave. "Maybe tomorrow, Harold?" Valencia walked out of the door. It slammed shut, shattering Hiroko's fantasy and pride. "It's Hir- aw, never mind." He sighed. He turned to Hans at the counter, preparing to restock before his journey to Dragonstone. To his surprise, he found Robina Hood of all people, standing behind him. A look of shock jumped across her face. "Hiroko!" She sputtered, hiding her hands behind her back. "Robina!" He replied, scratching the back of his head, a nervous habit he had since childhood.

"What a- a coincidence running into you!" She stammered. "Yeah, who'da thought it..." He chuckled. "Hiroko," Robina began, slightly nervous. "Y-yes?" Hiroko answered, lowering his arm. "Will you.. can you.." She exhaled sharply "Never mind" She began to pivot on er heel to leave. 'I can't let her get away!' Hiroko thought as he grabbed her arm. "No, tell me." Robina looked down at his hand, holding her wrist gently. Hiroko quickly retracted it, laughing nervously.

"Are you free right now?" She asked, avoiding his eyes. "Uh, yeah, for you..." Hiroko added that last part unintentionally. Robina blushed a little, hearing him say that. "You know," Hiroko quickly waved his hands back and forth. "Since you and I have such a great relationship." Robina's blush grew a little. Hiroko's hands moved faster. "Y'know, us being friends... and.. all..." Hiroko felt a pang in his heart as he said that. Robina shook herself, as though waking up. "Yeah.. friends..." She answered Hiroko cringed at her voice. "Robina that's not- I mean- you're not my friend."

Robina was taken aback. "What?" She yelled. "No, I mean you mean- I- couldn't put a price on our love- er, freindship! I think your worthless to me! I mean MORE!" Hiroko groaned; He was messing up, big time. "I think about you a lot in my own time.' He said, feeling more confident. A few passerby's heard what he had said. Some giggled. "PERVERT!" One yelled. Robina began to grow angry. 'Oh man,' Hiroko thought. 'I could really use a distraction!' The door to the Inn exploded. From the rubble, a medium sized dragon writhed. It was soon put out of it's misery by none other than.

"Galanoth!" Hiroko called, running to his master and father figure. Galanoth swung his blade, the hilt catching Hiroko in the gut. Hiroko fell to the ground, writhing in pain much like the slain dragon. "Where were you/ Had you been en route to Dragonstone, you could've beat this dragon before it called for backup! Now, because of your negligence, Battleon is minutes away from being overrun!"

Galanoth looked up at Robina. "Were you here, flirting with-" Hiroko quickly tripped Galanoth. His body glowed a light blue, changing his black tee shirt, blue jeans and shoes into light blue Guradina armor with white trim and a white cape. In his right hand, the guardian Blade appeared; opposite of t, the guardian shield manifested itself. "Galanoth," Hiroko spoke in a much deeper voice. "There's no time to waste." Robina looked at him. 'He never sounded like this before.' As Hiroko turned, Robina looked into his blue eyes. The were narrow; piercing through space and what ever else was in their path. Even his brown skin seemed to lose its sheen; his white hair now stood towards the back. 'It's like he's a whole other person! Is this what happens to all Guardians?'

Hiroko approached Robina. "Robina," he began. A shiver went down her spine as his voice sent her heart a flutter. "Yes?" She replied. "Can I rely on you to assist me once more, as we take arms to protect Battleon?" His entire aura had changed; the goofy, easygoing man she once knew was replaced by a stoic, almost frozen figure that now stood before her. She could feel his lust for battle pouring from his soul. "Of course." Robina nodded, keeping her cool. 'Is this the same Hiroko?'

A memory of Hiroko on the ground came into her head.

"One day," Hiroko lifted himself up, dusting off his silver Adventurer armor. "I'll be so strong, Robina," he lifted his longsword as he faced the Orcs that had raided their camp. "That even you won't recognize me."

'Has he reached that peak, in only a year?' "Great.' Hiroko turned to Yulgar and Hans. "Sound the alarm, gather any nearby Adventurers. I'll send word to the Guardian tower." Hiroko turned his sights to Robina once more. "You and I," Robina's lost eyes gazed upon him. "Will head off the first wave." Robina, aware of her skill and Hiroko's gasped. "Just the two of us? How-" "Galanoth." Hiroko had already moved onto his teacher. "can you find out where they'll be coming from and cut off their reinforcements?" Galanoth's grin was apparent under his helm. "As well as their retreat, Hiroko." Hiroko nodded. "I love it when you go Guardian mode." Galanoth chuckled. "Hikiro would be proud." Hiroko heard Galanoth; he must've; they were right next to each other.

Whenever Hikiro, Hiroko's uncle, was mentioned, Hiroko would chuckle or pout, or show some emotion. Surely, this stranger in front of Robina wasn't Hiroko. "We will set out in a few minutes in order to gain an advantage against their-" Blackhawke stepped through the damaged entrance. "They're here!" Everyone turned to Blackhawke; everyone but Hiroko, who was already passing him by, running and brandishing his blade. "When did he get so fast?" Robina gasped. Galanoth chuckled. "Guardian training is a magical thing." "That's the results of his training?" "Slightly. Afterward, he trained with me some more, then set off across all of Lore to learn everything he could." Robina gasped; "For a year he was traveling?"

"A year? Robina, after he returned from Darkovia forest with you, he left. Granted he returned ever now and again to restock and train with Warlic." "Hiroko trained with Warlic?" Robina felt so left out. He'd been gone since the returned? He'd been go for four years? Why didn't she notice? Why didn't he tell her?

"I promise you Robina," The final Orc gurgled as it hit the ground. "that I will become stronger for Lore. Stronger for Hikiro. Stronger for myself." He walked over to the archer who was slowly losing consciousness. "Stronger for you. No matter how long it takes. And when I return I promise you, Robina..."

Robina followed Galanoth outside. She gasped; multiple dragons and their kind laid slain in heaps all over the village. Atop the largest heap, consisting of dragons of all eight elements, colors, shapes and sizes, stood Hiroko, covered in dragons blood. Galanoth shouted; "That's my Echo-Boy!" Hiroko responded by throwing a dragon's fang with expert aim at Galanoth's hand, disarming him. A second fang clonked Galanoth in the head. Robina looked up at Hiroko as she neared him. "Hiroko..." Robina murmurer. Hiroko's eagle like gaze cast upon her. "I had no idea you've become so powerful..." Hiroko's eyes locked onto Robina. She felt a shiver go down her spine.

"I told you Robina, the day the Orcs almost slew us. I will be able to protect Lore, Battleon, and make my uncle proud. Most of all, I'll make sure you never get hurt again. As long as I can wield a weapon, I'll protect you."Robina saw Hiroko's gentle face from that day, dirty and battle worn fade, to be replaced by the new, rugged one that made her very being quake. "And I will keep my promise" Hiroko dismounted his throne of death. "Because I," He took her hands, his armored gloves vanishing. "Am in love." Robina inhaled, she could taste him; he was so close! Even in their time together, he had never been so close to her. "With- Valencia!" Hiroko dropped Robina's hands, and took off running in the opposite direction.

"Wha..." Robina whispered. There was a second scream; this one accompanied by children "HELP!" Hiroko leaped onto a small building, pushing off with his hands, he rolled off the roof, landing near Valencia and the children she was trying to protect. "Look! A Guardian came!" One little girl yelled. 'I know that armor, that's Harold.' Hiroko turned, looking upon Valencia. Valencia gasped; there was something about his eyes; they were different. Hiroko walked to the huddled group. "Are you all right?" Valencia was astounded. Was this the same Harold- Hiroko from not even five minutes ago? The little girl whimpered. "What's wrong?" Hiroko asked, drawing nearer.

The girl cuddled into Valencia more, avoiding Hiroko. "He's scary!" She whined. The other children shrank back as well. Hiroko cringed; his eyes grew sad. "Don't be afraid." Hiroko's voice was heavy. "it's me, Hiroko Echo!" The children looked at him. "It is! Why- why are you-" A dragon's roar filled the air; Hiroko stood, and came face to face with an obscenely large red dragon. Galanoth arrived on the scene, also covered in dragon guts. He had heard that roar; the all too familiar roar that meant death.

Robina had caught up, she too, knew that roar. Valencia herself stared in disbelief; how was this possible? He was dead! Who could be responsible for his resurrection? Hiroko stared the dragon down; the dragon did the same. Both were locked in their place; waiting for the other to move even the slightest inch. Galanoth and Robina ran towards Valencia, the herded the children to safety. "How is this possible?" Robina asked no one in particular. "He was defeated in the Great Dragon War!" Valencia yelled. "No, it is an imitation; but even the imitation is a threat." Galanoth sensed the mana that create the dragon. "Yes," A new voice spoke. The three turned to see Warlic.

"But something is different this time. This time we have Hiroko." Valencia scoffed. "What? You place all of your hope into one man?" Warlic and Galanoth glared her down. Robina even felt sorry for her, but was glad that it wasn't her. "You haven't spent time with him like we have.' They spoke lowly, hinting at something that Robina was curious to find out. "He has virtually limitless power within him. And, it has yet to be tapped." "Then how can he be so powerful?" "We're not even sure," Galanoth spoke admittedly. "But, he is strong; strong from those around him. His own strength still sleeps dormant inside of him." "But can he defeat Ankrolith?"

Hiroko stared down the Legendary Fire Dragon Ankorlith(?).

The dragon stared at him as well. They knew what was coming.

Battle.

So that's it. The first of the revised chapters of What The Hell Is Going On? I hope everyone who reads this likes it. Don't worry, the comedy will return, but first, the awesomeness. I won't be able to update until around Monday, 1/16/11, so... have fun.

X.K.