The fierce Calvalese sun beat down on Stahn and Rutee as they stood in front of the fruit seller's stall at the wharf. Stahn stood waiting rather impatiently for his companion as she examined a row of dorians on the counter.

"Tell me again, Rutee, just why would you want to stop here in the blazing sun to buy a dorian?"

"Because Leon told us to buy some supplies for our trip to the capital, sonny boy."

"I know that, but why would you want a dorian, for Atamoni's sake? Why not a pineapple, or...or a mango?"

"Because I like dorians."

"Could it have possibly occurred to you that I hate dorians?"

"I couldn't care less. Besides, dorians are very nutritious."

"They also happen to be 1500 gald a piece. A little expensive, in case you didn't know."

"Hey, we still have the 10000 gald from that old rich fogey that we delivered the old cane to!"

"And, dorians stink."

"Maybe to an untrained nose like yours. But my nose tells me that dorian on the top of the shelf is nice and fresh."

"Oh my, what an incredible nose!"

"....Was that supposed to be funny, spikyhead?"

"Just get on with it, Rutee. I'm melting here."

"Fine, fine, whatever. Hey, shopkeeper guy! Over here!"

"Just remember, I'm not the one who's going to be carrying that stinking thing across Calvalese."

"Suit yourself!"

Leon sat down in front of the newly built campfire where the party had decided to stop for the night, in between the capital city of Clavalese and Cherik. The young warrior started wiping Chaltier as he waited for the others to finish setting up the tents. It was a few minutes later before an indignant Rutee sat down opposite him.

"Well, now, which super-manly warrior decided to laze around while we were getting the tents ready?"

Leon reached for the remote control which was always in his belt.

"Okay, okay!... sheesh, just because we're your prisoners doesn't mean you can push us around with that blasted gadget!"

"Strange. I thought that was the general purpose behind the tiaras."

"You...!"

Mary sat down in between Leon and Rutee, interrupting their argument.

"Well, Rutee, what's there to eat tonight?"

Rutee broke out into a sudden grin. " Ah, that's a surprise. Wait and see..."

Philia sat down gracefully near the fire. " A surprise for dinner? That's nice."

"You're not going to like this surprise, Philia," said Stahn as he sat down with the rest of his companions.

"Ahem! Dinner's served!" said Rutee, opening up the tightly wrapped package Mary had been lugging along since they left Cherik.

The green spiky fruit tumbled out at Leon's feet. Leon stared at the dorian. "Rutee, this had better not be what I think it is..."

"It's a dorian. So?"

Philia took a closer look at the fruit. "Phew, it stinks!"

Stahn nodded. "That was exactly what I said, but Miss Gourmet here wanted to buy it anyway."

Mary turned to Rutee. " This is what we're eating tonight?!"

Leon broke his gaze away from the dorian and glared at Rutee. "Could it possibly have occurred to you that I hate dorians?!"

Stahn looked at Leon. "You know what, Leon? We're agreeing on something for a change."

"Never mind that. I'm not having that foul thing for dinner!"

"If you guys were to stop whining and taste that dorian, you might find that it is actually quite filling!" said Rutee, grinning.

Mary looked at Rutee in consternation. "Are you sure there's nothing else to eat?!"

Leon said, in a near-mockery of Rutee's voice, " Yes, dorians are filling...and they also taste like month-old fish!"

"Dorians are an acquired taste, as any gourmet diner would know," said Rutee defensively.

"Oh my, what an incredible tongue you have!" said Leon. "And besides, who's going to open it up?"

"I'm going to use Atwight to open it, of course."

Oh, no. I'm not touching that thing, said Rutee's Swordian suddenly.

"Atwight?! Are you actually disobeying me?!"

Sorry, Mistress Rutee. Although I would sacrifice my life for you, there are some things I absolutely will not do.

Don't look at me, said Dymlos.

I'm not going to do it either, said Clemente.

"And there's no chance I'm going to let you use Chaltier to cut that thing open!" said Leon.

"Fine! Mary, lend me your Hand Axe."

"What?! No way! It'll stink for days!"

"Mary... you sink that axe into all kinds of foul monsters everyday. What difference will a dorian make?"

"But..."

Rutee grabbed the axe despite Mary's protests and lifted it up before the dorian. " Well, does anyone want the first taste?"

Philia backed away, shuddering. "I can't believe that you actually bought that thing in the first place."

"Mary, how about you? It might jolt your memory!"

"Rutee, If the dorian tastes as bad as it smells, I'd rather forget about the taste than remember it."

Stahn grinned at Rutee. "So, Miss Dorian Lover, why don't you want to taste it first?"

"Oh, I've tasted dorian many times before. I just want to let one lucky person have an enjoyable first taste." Rutee was wearing a broad grin on her face.

Leon glared at Rutee. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Stahn rolled his eyes. "Probably, knowing our dear, dear Rutee. Whatever it is, I'm not eating that thing."

Leon looked at the dorian again. "I'm not, either."

"Count me out," said Mary.

"Oh, come on, fellows! Am I the only one in the world who likes dorians?! Never mind, I'm going to cut it open now, no matter what any one of you say!"

Rutee lifted the axe. The axe glinted in the light of the moon.

"GIVE ME THAT DORIAN!!!"

"Huh?!?!" The surprised companions turned towards the source of the voice, grabbing their weapons.

A band of mandrakes stood at the edge of the camp. The leader, a mandrake of considerable size, was looking hungrily at the big green fruit.

"Are you humans deaf or something? I want that dorian!"

"Eeee! How cute! I didn't know mandrakes could talk!" screamed Mary. Large sweat drops appeared around Stahn's and Rutee's heads.

Leon approached the mandrake leader cautiously. "Are you sure all you want is the dorian? Nothing else?"

"When was the last time you had your ears checked, human? Or your brains, for that matter? I said, I WANT THAT DORIAN!!"

"Here," said Leon, lifting the spiky fruit gingerly and tossing it towards the mandrake.

"Hey! You can't do that!" cried Rutee, lunging for the dorian. Leon pressed his remote control. A few thousand volts later, Rutee lay smoking on the ground. " Damn.... you, ... Leon..."

The mandrake leader looked suspiciously at Leon. "Sure you aren't gonna fight?"

"Believe me, I don't think that thing is worth fighting over."

The mandrake leader grabbed the dorian and ran off into the darkness, followed by his pack. "Gee, not even a word of thanks," Leon muttered.

"That was smart, Leon," said Rutee acidly as she got up. "Now what are we going to eat? It was the only thing I bought!"

With a grand flourish, Stahn opened his bag. "Chicken, anyone?"

Mary ran over to Stahn. "Stahn, you're a lifesaver!"

Leon appeared behind Stahn. " Why didn't you tell us earlier that you had some real food, idiot?"

Stahn looked at Rutee, a glint in his eye. "Hmm, I wonder who's turn is it to cook tonight? What do you guys think? Could a gourmet diner actually dress and roast a chicken?"

Rutee gave Stahn an icy glare, then grabbed the chicken. "I'll get you for this, Stahn..."

It was about that time that she saw the rows of blowfish. A wicked grin appeared on Rutee's face.

"Heh heh heh..."