User blog:Dangoslayer/Purple Shards

Because the wiki needs more fanfiction about itself.

'''Summary: Meet Scarfacial, a mysterious man on his misadventure to rescue the kidnapped princess Annacaza with his trusty sidekick, NoBanana. Things are not as they seem, though...'''

'''Warning: Contains explicit language and implications. If you're nine and reading this right instead of looking up recipes for bluesteel I'd think it's fine if you're mature. Though being mature is subjective... and professional formatting'''

Chapter One - she's gone?


Once upon a time in the land of Survival 303 there was a large kingdom on Mainland. The inhabitants were blessed with plentiful beef and corn and ores and coal and could not wish for anything more. They revered their rightful princess of the Kingdom of Mithril, Annacaza. She was fair and had a great temper, but everyone agreed that she was fit to rule as the Purple Throne.

But then, disaster struck as quick as a fox that jumped over the large brown bear. Which is to say that it was sudden… Ha… Ha...

"Oh no! Princess Annacaza has been kidnapped!" a servant shouted to the palace gate. A sleeping patrol instantly jumped to their feet and rang the bells. The news spread like wildfire. Within a few hours, everyone in the kingdom knew that she was taken, unwillingly, and that there would be a hefty reward for bringing her back. Many brave warriors seeking gold and perhaps a new wife streamed out of Mithril, determined to bring back the damsel in distress.

One man who wanted to rescue Annacaza, referred to as Scarfacial, had other reasons in mind besides a shit ton of gold. Why? Because of the kid whining at him, interrupting his morning sip of fermented banana peel extract.

He had originally found NoBanana foraging food in the trash piles near the place with the lonely lynx, the furthest southwest of the world. And such, coming from the same past as the boy, he took him under his wing to be his ‘apprentice’ in the works.

“Come on, Scarfacial!” NoBanana yanked the flask out of the man’s hand and hid it behind his back, “Let’s rescue the princess, it’ll be fun!”

Scarfacial sighed. When he didn’t have his daily drink he would be very, very mad. Especially when a certain brat in a drab cloak took it. “Let’s not, kid. By the time we find out where she’s at, we’d get news spreading like a certain highly contagious blood-borne disease about her return. Not worth the effort, so give back my stuff.”

“No,” NoBanana stared into Scarfacial’s eyes. The boy’s eyes seemed to turn red and strangely relaxing. Red with a myriad amount of swirling designs and mesmerizing motions.“ You will obey me. We will rescue the princess, and I will accompany you. ”

"That's a seriously unsettling and a horribly hypnotic voice," Scarfacial said, "Sure, I'll take you. Just give back my drink and don't make a fuss."

"Ah," wailed NoBanana, "Why can't my eye powers be cool and get people to not know that they've been controlled like in that one TV show I watched!”

"What’s a TV?" Scar asked, hauling his burlap sack on his shoulder, “Nevermind. Anyway, there's no such thing so powerful, except for magic… which doesn’t exist. Come on, we're heading to the nearest port."

And so the two walked north, north toward the adventure that would come. And maybe toward a new wife. NoBanana laughed in his head. Screw magic, he was special already.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">---

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">"Who the Hell are you, a wizard?" Princess Annacaza exclaimed, struggling against her bonds.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">"Can you Be Quiet, I'm trying to sleep here," sighed her captor.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">How long had it been since she was snatched from her room with a seemingly arcane force? A few days, perhaps. Being crammed into that dark room put a wrench in her senses.Then there came that disorienting buzz that occupied her head. What a distraction in her plan to escape.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">For the Nth time, Annacaza studied her surroundings, or at least what she could see. Splinters from the wooden floor stabbed at her legs, dust covered much of the area like a thin wool sheet, and in front of her was a bed - a proper bed - with elegant carvings and brightly embroidered designs on the blankets and pillows probably stuffed with the finest feathers in Mithril.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);">If only her captor had the decency to at least let her have the bed, not tied tied up on the floor similar to a witch about to get burned by the mob. What’s more, he - or she - had the audacity to rest in the bed fit for royalty in front <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;">of her <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);">. In front of her, the princess of the most powerful kingdom in the world.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">When Princess Annacaza escaped, she swore to make sure that abductor was captured and tortured on the spot. People who did such things deserved a fate much worse than death. Sleeping in a bed fit for kings and queens in front of her, of course. A mere commoner - what was he thinking?

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">“So tired…” muttered her capturer. He tossed and turned on the bed. After a while, at least to what if felt for the princess, the soft sounds of snoring filled the room.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">And that signified the start of Annacaza’s first escape attempt. The princess took a deep breath. It had been forever since she had the opportunity to try out her…. abilities.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">If a conscious observer had been in the room, he or she would have felt the energies in him, the faint light from the bottom of the door, and anything that used to hold life be drained and placed in a singularity centered towards her chest. Not only could the observer feel it, the said observer could swear that he or she saw a dim, shimmering light in the area of that singularity. The center of the energies faintly glowed; dim enough to not draw attention to the sleeping abductor, but bright enough to know that something extraordinary was occurring.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">“Jeg opfordrer ånden i Solen og Månen at fortryde obligationerne holder mig fra frihed,” murmured Annacaza. The energy held in her body shot out, wrapping itself around the ropes that tied her and dissolved it to ashes.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">Of course, the commoners of Survival 303 didn’t know magic arts even existed. It was to be kept a secret, only in the hands of the elite. To be honest, learning such tricks was a bore. The amount of mathematical formulae having to be solved to make a simple smiting bolt was, to say the least, stupid. Already, Princess Annacaza’s temple throbbed in exertion. She didn’t like math anyway. Such an occupation of painting and sketching appealed to her more.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;line-height:1.15;">As the princess shakily stood up, she shot another scornful look at the figure sleeping near her. Poor him, the hooded man. If only he had kidnapped a princess with less affinity of the secret arts.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);">With her head held high, Annacaza opened the door out of the bedroom, toward freedom.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> <h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);">Chapter Two - copy pasting is fun  <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">The best investigators and detectives are stumped as to how Princess Annacaza vanished from her chambers. From our sources, the culprit disabled two of the best guards stationed in front of her door and managed to escape the eyes of over thousands of guards and servants in the palace. Some speculate that it's the same man who attempted to assassinate her five years ago, almost succeeding if not for the intervention of the Queen's Guards...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Excerpt from 'YOUR PRINCESS IS IN ANOTHER CASTLE!?' article in The BS Tribune.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Hell yes," Annacaza rejoiced, climbing over the rail of the ship, planning to swim to shore, "It's time to - "

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">She fell. Not into the frigid sea water, but into the air. The wind whistled around her as she dove in headfirst into the clouds. Luckily, panic had not completely overtaken her, and she murmured a spell that suspended her several thousands of feet off the ground.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Jesus Christ," she said, observing the vast world of Survival 303. The princess was floating above Canyon Island, surprisingly close to her kingdom and operational base of the leemf cultists. To her right was Rockma Island, where projects of early mining were taking place. Thank God that the Rockma, large four-legged animals encased in rock-hard hide, were neutral. On the contrary, the expedition report she'd read of the men traveling to Horseshoe Island was horrifying - hostile unicorns as black as night eating them alive was not something that she'd ever want to experience.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Princess Annacaza gazed up at the mysterious machine she fell from zooming away from her, toward Spire, perhaps. She took note of its details; a smooth metallic body, a loud yet mesmerizing humming sound, and also casting a shadow the size of a war sloop on the sea. Her captor would get caught in no time with such a noticeable vessel.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">The brown haired woman was about to figure out how to fly back to her castle when a sudden change in scenery jolted her. She recognized the elegant bed with her abductor on it immediately. What had happened?

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I spent my last chapter sle - I mean I get some Well Needed sleep and now you try to escape?" her captor sighed, still covered under the extravagant sheets, "Can't you stay here for a bit? Come on, the Food's nice."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Fuck no," Annacaza conjured a force of energy to her palm, "Ved magt af Solen og Månen - "

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Skingra," her opponent muttered. The power in the princess' palm vanished.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Before Annacaza could speak in astonishment, the man in the bed said something else. Arcane binds materialized and fastened her to the old and splintered floor, back to where she started.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Finally, I Can go back to sleep," he sighed.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">So that male really is a wizard, Annacaza thought. She didn't want to be a damsel in distress, but her captor was quite obviously at a much higher level than her in magic. She would have to wait for someone to rescue her. The princess focused on creating a new vortex of power, but it dissipated as soon as it became slightly visible, a twinkle in the darkness. Might as well wait for someone to rescue her. An airship was bound to catch someone's attention.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">And that was the conclusion of Escape Attempt Number One.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"This is bullshit," Scarfacial complained, sifting through his bag for money. From the amount of prospectors eager to save the princess, the captains of every ship inflated their prices of passage to an unbelievable amount. Sadly, currency was not in good supply for the vagrant.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Can't you use your eye powers to get us a discount?" asked Scar.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Huh?" said NoBanana, pointing to his eyes, "Idiot, I have a cooldown time for that skill. A few hours would be sufficient to use it again."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Scarfacial muttered something under his breath. Certainly something not appropriate to be read. That brat was very, very irritable. Cooldown time? Seriously? There were moments where the temptation of pulling out a crossbow and shooting him in the head was near overwhelming. If only the kid hadn't made it so that he couldn't kill him. Damn those eyes of his. Scar grew lost in his thoughts for a few minutes until something interrupted him. Great.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Scarfacial?" NoBanana tapped his shoulder, pointing towards the end of the port, "Rumors say that there's a man who offers passage for a comparably cheaper price. Plus, it'll be a fantastic experience. All the regulars say that it's an airship!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"How much?" he asked, "I've only got a few coppers left and I'm not going to sell the stuff on my back."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Price is five coppers, apparently," NoBanana grinned. Creepy, though, since the smile didn't reach his eyes. That kid was something else. "I sense that his service is reliable, but maybe we should take precautions just in case."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Don't care," Scar replied, walking towards the direction NoBanana pointed to, "We both can defend ourselves perfectly fine. It's just the money, and I don't want to resort to my old… methods."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Does that mean I can put my training to use?" NoBanana asked, "I've always wanted to see how effective it was."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Definitely not, unless he starts giving us trouble."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"That's a shame," chuckled the child as they strode through the crowds of adventurers. The Mithril Port, the largest ship marina northernmost of Mainland. Certainly an unusual place for an airship to be docked. Much less having an airship exist. No engine had enough power to sustain a platform in the air. The captain would be an interesting person to meet, to say the least.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">The two strode towards the direction where the rumored cheap passage was. They weaved in and out of crowds, evaded the grasp of cunning thieves, and resisted window shopping in the vibrant bazaar. Port Mithril really did live up to its legacy. It seemed like hours to walk from one end to the other.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Ah, there it is!" NoBanana broke the silence.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">At the distance Scar was at, it floated about thirty five metres above the lapping waves of the ocean, leaving a sizeable shadow shading the ground. Scarfacial's eyes trailed up and observed a giant membrane holding in... what was it... air? It was connected to several thick ropes supporting the main part of a metal ship-like body. A loud vibration shook the aircraft, followed by the decreasing altitude of the machine. It contacted the ground with a loud clang.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">As they arrived, a group of Queen's Guards clad in Mithril exited from the ship. Since the abduction of Princess Annacaza, security in ports had severely cracked down on those suspected to be the culprits. They must've finished searching the airship. Clear. The unlikely fear of being in the vicinity of the kidnapper decreased to zero.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">After the soldiers left, a teen stepped out the door, wrapped in a dark cloak. Noticing the two visitors, he strode towards them.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Heya," the captain smiled. Certainly charming, with brown hair and hazel eyes. And more description than NoBanana and Scarfacial's combined. "I'm guessing you're here for a ride to find The Princess? Six coppers for Both of you, please."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Six coppers? Shit.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Six coppers was certainly cheap, but Scar was one short. Just one. The command NoBanana instilled in his mind exploded into a migraine. Damn the kid and his eyes. Any of his hypnotic commands had agonizing consequences if they were broken.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Five," he said, attempting to hide the obvious pain in his voice. "I'll do five. That's all the money I have."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Negotiations, Huh?" the captain smiled again. Scar didn't know which was scarier - NoBanana's or the teen in front of him. "Fair enough, Five will do. Where's your destination?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Spire Island," Scar replied. From his experience, all evil villains had some kind of secret base on the jagged terrain. Like that one immaculate man with his furry feline.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"It will take quite some time, but I will keep to my word."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">As the pain subsided in his head, the captain gestured behind him, a hatch open. The three went inside the metallic ship and sat in a circular room. Scarfacial dug into his bag, dropping the money with a clink on the table.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Welcome to my airship," the captain said, straightening his dark cloak, "I'm Qoazi, by the way. We will Begin Departure toward Spire Island now."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Qoazi?" Scar muttered, "Who the Hell named you that..."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I could ask the same about You two," Qoazi said as he left the room, picking up the pile of coppers, and leaving behind a bewildered duo.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"He didn't ask us for our names," Scar pointed out.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Quite a keen observation, Scarfacial," said NoBanana, "Perhaps I shall be the Watson to your Sherlock."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Watson? Sherlock?" confused, Scar took a swig of his fermented banana peel extract, "Don't know what you're talking about."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I… Nevermind," the child sighed. He would never get his references. "On a new subject, I created something for you. You've got no idea how hard it's taken to forge this."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">NoBanana's hands fumbled around his sack, pulling out a miniature bag of black powder, a few crudely shaped steel… balls?, with crudely shaped… thing… with a hole on one side and a trigger-like mechanism on the other.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"May I ask what's this?" Scarfacial said, gazing through the hole in curiosity.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"It's something I learned before I met you," replied the brown haired child, "I call it a 'gun'. More precisely, I name yours the Chekhov's Gun. It shoots projectiles out of the hole you're looking through at a high velocity,and at a much faster speed than a crossbow. Don't forget its improved accuracy to your weapon."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Scarfacial nearly dropped the object. Losing an eye was towards the bottom of his to-do list. He gingerly turned the barrel's exit away from himself.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Sorry, but I trust my crossbow more than this," Scar said, placing it in his sack, "But thanks, anyways."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Your choice," NoBanana shrugged, "It's going to be useful later on."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Just then, Qoazi came back from the cockpit. A whirring was heard, and that weird feeling of falling overcame the two adventurers. An airship! Damn, talk about a once in a lifetime experience!

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"It's quite weird in the beginning, But I assure you, It's quite safe," Qoazi mentioned, eyes studying his passengers, "Let's take a tour, Shall We?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Moonlight shone through one of the circular windows, shining its pale light onto the vagrant's face. It highlighted his… features… that would certainly scare away most women on sight. A nasty scar on his left cheek, corroded right side from the incident with a certain powder lab, and to top it off, he hadn't bathed in weeks. This is why he loved hoods.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Captain Qoazi, though. He didn't even wince at the mess of his face. That teen was something else. He was hiding something though, that was for sure. Scarfacial recalled one of the last parts of the tour leading to their rooms, stopping by a large, visibly locked door.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Hey, Qoazi, what's that?" NoBanana pointed to the conspicuous door resembling a bank vault in one of those spy movies, "It looks important. Care to explain what's inside?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Qoazi laughed and shook his head. "Just the Engine Room. You seem smart, Though, And I wouldn't want you Reverse Engineering my technology. 'Sides, It's dangerous. I certainly wouldn't want a dead passenger I'd have to throw overboard."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Maybe tomorrow," mentioned NoBanana, "We can both go in there together. I've always loved stuff like this, and I swear I won't copy anything. Except for Scar, though. He can go back to drinking whatever abomination is in his flask."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Scar gritted his teeth and fingered the crossbow in his bag. Hypnotic command his ass, the imagery of a bolt to the brat's head almost overcame the mental block. Almost.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Perhaps," was all Qoazi mentioned, "Dinner is in a few hours. I apologize if anyone's a fan of fish. It is in short supply."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">With that happy note, the captain left, leaving a pissed Scarfacial and an excited NoBanana standing in the metallic halls.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">What was in the engine room? Scarfacial mused. It couldn't be the princess, that was for sure. The Queen's Guards always did a good job of searching for illegal cargo in ships, from his personal experience. Qoazi's airship was definitely searched over like a fine toothed comb. Perhaps it was just a regular engine room. Yes, yes. Anyone with the power to cause ships to fly would want to keep how it works a secret.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Before Scar drifted off to sleep, though, he unconsciously brought back an old memory.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"The training has served you well, _," a man smiled warmly at him. "Take this pendant, and keep it safe. I'll be going away for a while, but I'm sure you'll find your own path."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">In his hands, he held a tiny crystal that seemed to change colour with the light. Beautiful, yes, and it would fetch a nice sum on the market. Scarfacial took it from his hand and strung it around his neck. Expensive or not, it was a gift from his mentor. The pendant sparkled and glowed for a brief fraction of a second.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Goodbye, _, you will always be my hero."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Goodbye. May we meet again, Davidii," Scarfacial replied.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">First part was a Curb Stomp Battle. Yeah, sorry about that. But I'm sure the people rescuing Anna have something up their sleeves. cough

Chapter Three - why did you open it
<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">With the disappearance of the princess buzzing through the kingdom, numerous sources state that there's a new ruler on the block. One of our scouts we interviewed, insisting on the alias 'trialtest' stated, "[The new princess] is up to something terrible. I've seen it myself - machines tasked with executing anyone who opposes her rule, like the chef that didn't fluff her cake properly. That isn't the worst part, though. They look just like us..."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">Excerpt from 'This Trial Is A Tricky One' by reporter Emily Duchin & Others in The Mithril Daily

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">It beckoned. The door to the engine room, composed of flawless stainless steel and locked tightly with three layers of security drew in NoBanana like a hungry Teraphyx to an unwitting human. The airship's loud thrum emanated from that room, hiding his footsteps clacking towards the entrance.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">Just a little peek, he told himself. It wouldn't hurt anyone. NoBanana had no intention to copy the technology, but he did have a need to satisfy his curiosity of how it worked. What fuel source did it consume? Did it have an unprecedented design? What a treasure trove of secret knowledge!

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">Feet softly touching the polished floor, the child proceeded to creep towards the mysterious room. As he arrived at the door, he grasped his one-of-a-kind lockpicking tools and inserted them into the first keyhole. Excellent locks - high chance to be made by a master smith. What a great challenge!

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">As he was working on the locks, he remembered a moment similar to now. His 'father', of sorts, teaching him and complimenting him on his array of skills a few years ago. Nevertheless, such a time would never be able to occur again. NoBanana was taught from birth for one reason, and one reason only.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">The third click resonated and the massive door swung open, scraping against the splintered floor. NoBanana cautiously stuck a part of his head in the room. Who knows, maybe there were superheated wires ready to cut and cauterize the head of any unsuspecting individual. Perhaps the boy was paranoid, but he carefully gazed around the inside of the secret engine room for any hidden traps.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">It was dark, though, even with the purple glow coming from some…. thing… that could only be described as a mechanical core. Thin magenta lines traced intricate patterns around the metal sphere, pulsing by an unseen force. Several tubes led out of the implied power source towards the walls, leading to different parts of the ship. The rest of the room was bare, tinged in the lilac shade from the light.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"This is…," NoBanana's eyes filled in awe of the engine room. "It's amazing! Why didn't captain Qoazi ever sell this? He could be as rich as the princess!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">A motion from the corner of his eyes told him that he was not alone. From her hiding place in plain sight, a woman covered in dust and dirt stood up. Her brown locks reached shoulder length, and her eyes, the same color, studied him closely. Perhaps she may have been a noble, but the dirt and grime on her silk dress spoke otherwise.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Because he's a criminal with a death flag on his head," she scowled, smoothing out the wrinkles on her garment, "Whoever you are, I'm the Princess Annacaza, and we've got to get out of here."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Nice try," NoBanana laughed, "And I'm Shedletsky. There's no way for you to be the princess; we saw the Queens Guards search the ship for her."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"He used some kind of magic to deceive my guards," she said, "And who's Shedletsky?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"He's - Nevermind," the boy sighed and turned towards the door. Magic? That only existed in fairy tales with evil wizards and huge beasts. That woman was surely mad. "Anyway, it seems like you need a breath of fresh air after being cooped out here for so long. Let's leave."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Fine. Believe what you want."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">As they were about to exit the engine room, the person NoBanana most expected was trudging along the hall. It was, of course, Qoazi, intently reading a book. The teen noticed the light coming from the still open door and looked up from his text.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Oh, Heya, NoBanana. What are you Doing here so la…" he trailed off, noticing the woman next to him. In an instant, he started to mutter something, but the mad woman stopped him.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Ved magt af Solen og Månen, vil din eksistens være væk," a beam, seemingly shining with the moon and sunlight, came out of the woman's outstretched finger and shot towards the captain. As it engulfed him, he gasped in pain and fell to the floor, barely supporting himself with an arm.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"What is this, a D-list special effect technique?" NoBanana frowned, looking back and forth at the collapsed captain and the insane woman. Perhaps believing in magic at this time would be appropriate. There was no other way the scene he had witnessed be done with something not arcane.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Shut up, boy," the brown haired lady said, staring at the fallen Qoazi. "He still isn't dead yet. That was my most powerful spell, he should've died!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"I certainly did Feel like dying. It was like being a fish flayed alive in a fryer," Qoazi said, "Läka."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">The captain's body shimmered, as if he was a ghostly projection. It returned to normal after a moment. Qoazi stood up, as if there was no pain at all, and turned towards the two. It would be a pain to get rid of more witnesses. Too much mopping.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"But Luckily I always keep some protection on hand," Qoazi lifted his hand, creating a spinning vortex of energy. "Ansikte arrangör!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Ved magt af Solen og Månen, beskytte os mod hans angreb!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">Just as a wave of pure destruction hit them, a transparent shield, barely visible in the purple light, shattered instead and protected NoBanana and Annacaza from the blunt of the attack. They fell to the floor with a crack.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">The two scrambled upright and dodged another destructive blow aimed at their faces. As the bolt sped behind them, it exploded and ruined the metal wall at the end of the hall, scattering shrapnel that stung their cheeks. It was by luck that none of the metal fragments reached their eyes. Annacaza turned towards NoBanana, shoving him towards the wreckage of the wall.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"I don't know who the fuck you are, but run!" Annacaza turned back to face the captain, "I'll hold him back!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Are you sure?" NoBanana observed the scene. Half the hall in a wreck from who knew what, air still filled with the dust of the explosion, and a chaotic evil man guarding the other exit. A disheveled princess-like woman would be no hope against him, certainly, unless she had a gambit up her dress. "No offense, but it seems like he's got us already."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"My teacher told me to take action in what I believe in," Annacaza said, "And I'll protect myself and my kingdom to my last breath. I will never give up to the likes of him!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Now that's just cliche," sighed NoBanana.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Am I really that Bad?" Qoazi frowned, "My mum always told me - "

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">The captain suddenly appeared behind them in the time it took to blink. How did he manoeuvre beside them so fast? Perhaps it was time to believe in magic, however absurd it was.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">They were done for, but at a moment of divine intervention, a click sounded in NoBanana's head. His wait time for his special trick was over, and the advantage of having Qoazi closer to him was too good to pass up. NoBanana locked sights with the wizard.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Obey me, Qoazi," NoBanana's eyes turned a ruby red, glowing with a compelling force. "Let's talk. Why don't we begin with why you kidnapped the Princess Annacaza?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">A strange cooling sensation filled the teen's mind, attempting to convince him to just let go. Even though Qoazi's will was strong enough to deflect much of the influence, he knew that he would have to do whatever the boy in front of him commanded.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Huh, This is an interesting trick," Qoazi smiled. He was impressed. Since the wizard's birth, he had spent his time studying magic arts with his tutor. Such topics ranged from energy generation, explosions, healing, and, of course, mind manipulation. It would be a sound deduction that Qoazi was under one of those spells right now, but to be influenced by a child…

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">What was he?

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Quit stalling and answer the question," commanded NoBanana. A headache started to form in the captain's head.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Alright, Then," started Qoazi, "I did it because There was no other… alternative…"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Explain."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Haven't you heard about the Increased raids?" Qoazi asked, "Or the leemf cultists? Or even the rising amount of General Corruption occurring in this world?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"So you want to cleanse the world them with some artificial virus or something so you can rule the world?" NoBanana shook his head, "You'd be no worse, you know that?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Don't jump to conclusions."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">Before NoBanana could speak, though, he was interrupted by footsteps heading his way. As he turned to investigate the noise, his red iris' faded back to brown, and his control over the captain vanished.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Hey, kid, watch out!" warned Annacaza.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">Too late, as Qoazi raised his hand and shot another face arranger at the unsuspecting child. NoBanana was hurled back several feet away, left sprawled on the ground in front of a very tired Scarfacial. The kid didn't have his face re-arranged, but he certainly was in a bad condition. The vagrant close to him took a sip of his fermented banana peel extract before speaking.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"I heard a noise when I was about to sleep, and now I see this kid on the floor," Scarfacial said, holding up his crossbow, "What's going on?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"A boring fight scene, nothing to read here," NoBanana groaned. To Scar, the kid must've broken every bone in his body. Yeah, sure, definitely boring. A flash of anger crossed the vagrant's mind. He may have had a bad past, but innocents and children should never deserve this. Someone had to pay. That left two suspects - the woman who looked suspiciously like Princess Annacaza and Qoazi.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">Wait. That woman… She didn't just look like her. She was the princess. That hair, the diamond and chromite necklace, and her eyes. Especially those eyes. Scar could recognize them everywhere; the eyes that seemed to know everything and pierce any male's heart like an arrow from a yewbeam bow. Or something like that. Love was confusing.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"A… Annacaza?" Scarfacial lowered his weapon in astonishment, "Is that really you?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"What the Hell? Of course I'm me!" Annacaza exclaimed in exasperation. What a surprise, she recognized someone on the ship. Though not the type one would like to associate with, even after five years. "And you! You're the one - "

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Save that for later. We're getting off of this ship. Now," said Scar, "And I want everyone to save the bullshit explanations of what happened for later."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Not on My watch," said Qoazi, "Blockera."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">Two thin walls materialized, composed of coruscating magic, sealing off the exits in the hall. Scarfacial fired a bolt at the obstruction, which shattered on impact. A few splinters embedded themselves on his cheek. The bolts were made from one of the finest craftsmen, designed to never break under any circumstances. If they broke on the barrier…

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Let's have A Deal," said Qoazi, "I'll let you three go, If you, Scar, Defeat me in a fight."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"... And if I lose?" the man glanced at Annacaza, afraid of what fate befell her. And NoBanana, sprawled on the ground, of course. Just a lot less.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"I'll toss you off My ship and use the princess and the boy for my Own means," replied !oazi, "Is there a deal, Or shall I kill you anyway?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">From the crushed appearance of the hall and the other two, a head on fight would not go in Scarfacial's favor. Not only that, it seemed as if the captain had a few tricks up his cloak. Hypnosis or something; a mind trick that somehow convinced Scar that the shining barriers were real.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">Magic didn't exist, after all. Not even when, five years ago, princess Annacaza deflected the killing bolt away from her head. Certainly a blow to Scar's reputation, for not being able to snipe a target ten metres away. That was not magic. It couldn't have been. Now was not magic, either, and that gave Scar the strength to accept Qoazi's warped offer.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">A groan from NoBanana interrupted his thoughts. The child gazed up, meeting Scar's eyes. The brat's eyes held no emotion, but the vagrant could guess what he was going to state next.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Don't fall for the hero trap, Scar," he croaked, "I don't know why he wants me all of a sudden, but you've got to escape and warn the Queen's Guards."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"This is one thing that the boy and I agree with," Annacaza said, "You'd have a better chance of returning alive by breaking the shield. Forget about us; I don't believe Qoazi would resort to killing us so fast."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">The pleading in the princess' chocolate brown eyes and that cute mouth in the shape of a pout almost made Scar abandon his decision. Almost. He had a command instilled in his head, and he was going to obey.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"I accept," Scarfacial pulled out another bolt from his bag and clicked it in place. He pointed the crossbow at the captain standing a few meters away. Nobody could dodge a bolt at that distance.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"You idiot!" yelled NoBanana, "We're done for!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">"Let's begin," Qoazi conjured two balls of fire in his hands. Another mind trick of his. "Perhaps you may win, But I wouldn't count on it."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">Not many knew of Scarfacial's past. NoBanana only knew a fraction, to the child's dismay. Mainland news agencies dubbed Scarfacial as the Scarred Man, a contract killer who got the job done with a bolt to the head and a flask full of a disgusting liquid. He was a sensation whenever a high profile target was found dead, but the killings came to a sudden stop five years ago.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;line-height:normal;">Perhaps it was time for the Scarred Man to resurface again, this time as the savior of Mainland.

Chapter 4 - qoazi hax ban her plx

Of all the islands, many experts agree that Plateau has the highest concentration of magic in its vicinity. It is hypothesized that this is because once, many eons ago, the center of the world was this island. Its core, full of energy, is what began the cycle of life and death and everything else. Recently, an influx of corrupted filth has contaminated the force that drives it, in turn plaguing the world of Survival 303 with misfortune after misfortune. There is a way to cleanse it, though, but the catalysts are quite difficult to obtain...

Excerpt from 'We Need A Protagonist For This' by researcher Idvidia Ravivsul

…

The fight was not going well for Scarfacial. Like a mythical giant climbing down a beanstalk and seeking the blood of a young boy, he was outmatched. A shame he wasn't the giant in this situation. The man's skills were the best in his profession, but despite that, his opponent's tricks disoriented him and drove Scarfacial to the point of near insanity.

Qoazi was unnaturally fast, able to dodge the vagrant's crossbow bolts with ease. Not evading the projectiles with swift movements like previous adversaries, but suddenly appearing at another spot in an instant. Such a feat, Scar knew, was impossible. Damn, the captain's mind tricks were powerful. It would take a person with much more resolve to resist the effects.

"Bränna!"

Scarfacial turned to his left just in time to avoid a blazing white hot beam coming his way. The heat singed a part of his face and shot towards the still shielded exit, dispelling in a hiss.

"Hey, Scar, don't lose hope," NoBanana halfheartedly cheered, bound by an arcane force at the edge of the hall, "At least if you die, you'll be known as the dumbest hero ever, told to kids in the form of an eBook. Assuming that we survive to tell that story, that is."

"Serves him right for trying to kill me," Annacaza rolled her eyes, restricted in a similar fashion to the shild next to her, "Do you hear me? This is retribution to your act of treason five years ago!"

Reloading another bolt with a click, Scarfacial ignored them. Distractions in a fight like this were fatal, and he intended to have a normal life expectancy. After all, he was twenty six, and it was unheard of for any man of his age to wash up to shore.

Another mental apparition, this time as a wave of darkness, swept toward the hitman. Better to be safe than sorry, and with that Scar vaulted over it and took aim at Qoazi's head. He fired.

Wait.

Did his mind slip again with the overall excitement and adrenaline in his head? Scarfacial could have bet his gemstone on his neck that Qoazi would never have been able to dodge the shot. Nobody could, especially one so close to him.

"What is it, Are you tired of Dancing already?" Scar, startled by his opponent's voice behind him, swiftly drew a hidden blade and slashed.

Expecting to hit his face, it happened. Again. Scarfacial's knife whistled through the air behind him, the space where a split second ago Qoazi stood. Sweat rolled down the vagrant's forehead. After all, how were you supposed to defeat someone you couldn't touch?

"Ansikte arrangör!" Qoazi conjured a wave of force, " And nice weapon, it's almost a shame that it didn't hit me."

Scarfacial jumped over the incoming projectile, but even he noticed his energy waning. Even with his training, as a hitman, he did not specialize in fights for an extended period of time. His body began to ache, ripples of pain coursing through muscle. If the fight kept going on like this, well, it would be impossible to win.

...

Near the edge of the metal hall, NoBanana cursed at his bindings. He had noticed something quite peculiar, but the ropes of a glowing blue energy tying him up did little to aid his view. If only that oaf Scarfacial could move. Whatever. He could recall perfectly from memory alone.

The child clicked his tongue and pieced together scenes in his head. His mentor and resident meat shield ejecting a bolt from his crossbow. The bolt snapping at impact on the glowing walls preventing escape. The slight twitch on Qoazi's normally stoic face. Yes, yes, that was the key. The question was, would Scar be able to do it?

Luckily, the cloaked ex-hitman was still alive, albeit wincing and cradling his arm while sloppily dodging firebolts left and right. Most likely got grazed from that black wave attack. NoBanana could relate - that destructive thing was very, very powerful. Now that Scarfacial was crippled by it, it was likely that this adventure would not have a happy ending. There was only one chance.

"Hey, Scar," said NoBanana, craning his neck as far as he could towards the curb stomping," Try attacking the shields Qoazi put up."

Because of the sudden distraction, Scarfacial barely twisted out of the way of a firebolt, hissing as it scalded his flesh. He spared a moment to scowl at the kid.

"I'm pretty sure that we've already established that they're indestructible," he said, "Go back to inhaling the fumes of your burning hemp."

NoBanana's eyes narrowed, annoyed at still not being taken seriously. "I know it's the definition of insanity, but trust me on this."

"Come on, Don't listen to the child," said Qoazi, hearing what the conversation was about,"He's doing… Umh… Childish things and spreading Lies."

"How would you know that I am a mere child?" frowned the child, "Come on, Scarfacial, give it a try. It's our only chance."

"Sorry, Qoazi, but this fight scene is taking way too long," the man stated, feinting a stab at his opponent, then rushing past him. He loaded another bolt and fired at the shimmering wall. And loaded another. And fired.

"A-Are you seriously going to - "

"Yes."

"Klippa med." the drab teen suddenly reappeared, latching onto Scar's back. "I can't let you Do that!"

"And I thought you denied that that illusion of yours was a weak point?" Scarfacial cursed at the abnormally strong grip pinning him down. That scrawny teen shouldn't have been able to lift a small bush stump, much less keep a hitman from moving. He groaned internally. Not another 'magic' power again...

"No, I just tried to discredit That Son of yours' claim," smirked Qoazi. He had successfully held the man in place on the splintered floor, pinning Scar's appendages with the strength of 420 men.

Son? Really? As if the wanderer would ever introduce a kid like that to this world. If there was a person he would like to kill, it would definitely be the boy. And then Scar came to the revelation that the person most capable of killing him was too close for comfort. And probably about to sneakily slit his throat or something that amateur assassins did. But still, he had to give the captain credit. The hallucinations he experienced during the fight were the most lifelike he had ever seen, after all.

Qoazi's hands slightly loosened as he shifted his weight, and a slight tingling was felt.

"Oh, Right, You're at my mercy, Now. What to do? Shall I dip you in a vat Of Acid I have lying around?" the wizard's hazel eyes seemed to arc with electricity, "Oh, Wait, I've got it. Goodbye."

"Just go f - "

"Elektrisk!"

The faint tingling sensation felt before exploded to pain on par with NoBanana's migraines, just everywhere. Pain tolerance could only last so long, of course, and soon a very long drawn-out obscenity escaped his lips. Blisters and burns surfaced along the man's skin and the odor of smoked meat wafted through the air.

"Scar, can't you be quiet?" NoBanana rolled his eyes, "I'm a kid, and I don't need to be hearing the filth coming out of your mouth."

"I think that you're Lacking some sympathy, 'Child', But whatever. My Plan is still on track," said Qoazi.

While NoBanana didn't particularly care for the hitman, he was vital towards his plan. If Scar died before it happened...

Then the boy noticed something on the floor. A plan formulated in his head. It could work.

"Hey, princess, are you alright?" NoBanana turned to the woman, "You haven't spoken at all in the ch… Recently."

"What? Am I smelling beef?" She blinked and scornfully gazed at the chaos occurring away from her, "Oh, right, I was just remembering some stuff from the past."

"Definitely, judging from how you managed to just notice the smell. Oh, and the screaming, too, " the child gently shoved the book Qoazi dropped towards her with his foot, "I need you to launch that at Qoazi. If we don't stop him, Scar's going to die."

"Why would I want to help him?" Annacaza whipped her head away from the book, scowling at the memory of her attempted assassination.

"Because after we're free you can throw him in the deepest, darkest, moldiest dungeon in the kingdom," grinned NoBanana, "And I know how much he hates mold."

"That's actually a decent offer," she said, focusing energies around the book beside her, "But then I'll have to throw you in, too, so sorry about that."

"No offense taken," NoBanana shrugged, or at least attempted to due to his bonds, "I'll get away somehow."

"Sure," Annacaza focused on wrapping the book, 50 Shadings of Grey by Idvidia Ravivsul, in energy. It was reasonably thick, and leather bound. Perfect for a makeshift projectile. Still, she was surprised as to why her captor forgot to dispel her magic. Nevertheless, the princess focused on the book, now glowing, and brought it up to a hover.

Like letting go of a taut bowstring, the tension in her mind relaxed and caused the large book to sail across the hall. It hurtled and hit the wizard's head with a sickening crack. Qoazi's eyes widened in disbelief at the book he discarded preciously and collapsed on top of the tortured man.

Despite the lethal shock, the vagrant pushed the body off himself and rolled over. The translucent walls imprisoning them in the hall briefly sparkled and vanished, and NoBanana could detect that the strength of the magic ropes started to loosen.

"I don't know what the hell happened, but I'm gonna roll with it," and Scarfacial, still covered in blisters and delicious smelling flesh, uncorked his flask of fermented banana peel extract and splashed the contents in the still-recovering teen. He then stood up and bolted as fast as an anthropomorphic gingerbread cookie toward somewhere out of the hall.

"And he's still alive?" NoBanana's bonds vanished as he stirred and crawled to that mysterious engine room, "They tell me I'm the weird one… Oh well, at least it's my turn to pilot this ship now."

"Wait, where the fuck did that magical guy go?" Exclaimed Annacaza.

...

Even after surviving a near death experience, Scarfacial still being pursued by a certain main antagonist. This guy, a good-looking, psychopathic hypnotist just didn't know when to stop. Already bloodied on his head and covering his eyes, Qoazi summoned bolt after bolt of surprisingly accurate fireballs. It was only the hitman's quick reflexes that allowed him to escape with a few burns.

"Ugh, It's Like I Have Teraphyx Urine In My Eyes," the wizard muttered, "You're Much Harder To Kill Than I Thought."

The man's mind was racing. He was approaching the exterior of the airship, with only a rail to protect passengers from falling to their demise. As far as Scar knew, he didn't want to be anywhere near a railing several thousand feet in the air with the harsh wind. His stomach lurched by thinking about it. There had to be another escape option.

Too late, as Scarfacial's rough, bruised, burnt hands closed around the cool metal pole. He narrowly evaded a bolt of fire that seemed to melt the metal beside him. Good. Little did Qoazi know, Scar analyzed how often his opponent could blast him with fire at a given time. Judging from how the captain gave off every signal in the book that he was mad as hell, it was safe to say that he was firing as fast as he could. Scar could make this shot, even in such turbulence.

Scarfacial pulled out the gun NoBanana gave him and aimed in the split second after the flame missed him.

He was about to push that thing called a 'trigger' when the entire airship suddenly tilted ninety degrees downwards. The wind forced him into the air, but Scar gripped the rail with both hands in time.

The massive shock he experienced weakened his muscles, though, and his grip loosened as the powerful air currents pushed him back.

As Scarfacial fell towards the water, his life flashed before his gray eyes and a burning sensation on his chest grew before a bright light took over his vision.

Qoazi gazed over the railing, making sure another miracle didn't occur after his eyes sufficiently recovered. There was nothing; just the relaxing, cool ocean after a storm.

==

Chapter 4.5, since this is too short to be 5 - going meta
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Abducting Princess Annacaza was easy enough, I suppose. The Queen's Guards were fat and Lazy and even took bribes in the palace. Honestly, a ragtag Bunch of mercenaries would have done a better job, especially if the rumored Scarred Man was on the Team.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">She is currently asleep on the floor, Bound by terrible knotwork. But hey, I'm a sorcerer, Not a Lynx Scout. I noticed the gem on her necklace. Identical To mine, I think. You know, it's sparkly and catches the light and explodes into fireworks, But actually doesn't explode. Ugh, So hard. I'm Not a writer, Either...

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">Qoazi's Journal (Diary) Entry #573, recovered from the depths of hell

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">...

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Pass the dip."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Yea, Sure."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">Who knew that there was a cozy, fully fledged recreation space just above the wreckage from the hall? Annacaza, NoBanana, and Qoazi relaxed in the thick, fluffy couches of Den'rai fur while enjoying their afternoon snack. A fire cackled softly several feet away, giving much needed warmth to the prisoners, countering the flow of frigid air outside.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"This stuff," NoBanana crunched on the lightly salted cracker covered in mashed seed, "is delicious. If only we had some freedom to escape instead of being cooped up here."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"I appreciate your input, But I can't let You escape yet," Qoazi took a sip of spiked apple juice, "Just One more person, Some congregation Later, And we can All live happily ever after."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"I find that hard to believe, I mean, look!" NoBanana pointed to the princess to the left of him, who was weeping in her seat, "You made a woman cry!"

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Look, 'Child', It wasn't my Fault. Technically, You were the one piloting My Ship like an aimless Bento Buck, thus forcing Mister Scarfacial off the deck," said Qoazi.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Well then," the child took a chip, and ate it, "At least I'm not blind. I wager you can't even steer properly by now."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">Qoazi's hand touched the corner of his eye in what appeared to be sadness. Ever since he came in contact with a splash of that... Poison... Things had never been the same. The wizard's hazel irises turned a dull shade and his eyes appeared to be soulless. And the darkness. Never had he felt so alone, even with two annoying occupants close by.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Whatever was in that flask, It seems like Scarfacial had quite the experiences with magicians," Qoazi stood up from his couch and brushed off a clump of Den'rai fur, "Anyway, I'm going to sleep. Please don't begin to conspire about how to escape once I leave."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">Arms stretched in the air, the wizard left with a yawn and nearly hit the door frame before stumbling out and shutting the exit of the room. For a few seconds, only the little fire provided sound. No one spoke.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"So... Do you miss Scar?" NoBanana leaned back on the soft, critically endangered animal fur and hung a sparkling gem on a twine necklace in the air. It caught the light from the fireplace and the candles above and let out an explosion of warm colours.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">At the sight of the necklace, Annacaza’s crying halted. Her red eyes widened, then turned nearly swollen shut. “No, why would I?”

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">“Come on, I read it myself. It’s revealed towards the end that you love him.”

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">“Read?” Annacaza snorted, “What type of damsel in distress fairy tale have you been on?”

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">“It’s called <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">Purple Shards <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">, for your information. The plot in a nutshell is pretty much about an ex-hitman and his sidekick on an adventure to rescue a princess kidnapped by an evil wizard on an airship. Seem familiar?” NoBanana placed the necklace back behind his shirt.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">“Definitely,” she frowned, “So familiar, in fact, I bet you’re making it up.”

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">“Fine, fine, it’s not like I can control your thoughts,” the child said, “I’ll indulge you in a spoiler, though. Scar’s alive.”

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">“ <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">What? <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">”

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">“Anyway,” NoBanana waved away the topic, “Let’s come up with an escape plan. Clearly, sneaking off this thing while Qoazi’s sleeping was an ineffective move.”

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"How di - "

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">He waved away her question again, continuing on, "As I said, <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">Purple Shards <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">. And the book also mentioned this plan, the one we're going to do in a week."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Of course, put our lives on stake because of a book."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Qoazi made it quite clear that we're very valuable cargo. If anything goes wrong, we can always take ourselves hostage."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"That defeats the point of an escape attempt if we kill ourselves. Qoazi isn't that dumb."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Stop being a pessimist, look on the bright side. When Escape Plan Number Two is a success, at least I can say, 'I told you so.'"

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Let's not," Annacaza went back to doing whatever the hell she did on her stay on Qoazi Air. Sketching, most likely. It always helped her calm down whether it be from a petty argument to a nanite apocalypse.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">NoBanana, having lost a friend to speak to, began to have a conversation with himself. In his mind, though, since talking to yourself sent you to a prison nicknamed 'the loony bin'. Who knew what he was discussing, though. NoBanana was a... Special... Person, to say the least.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">And, of course, the blind wizard with a 98% approval rate, Qoazi, was, unbenknownst to them, watching the events that unfolded. Normally, blind people, <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">especially <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">blind scandinavians, should not have been able to watch from the shadows. That's OK, since nobody noticed the pure genius it took to pretend to stumble out of that door and plant some type of magical surveillance device to monitor their every move. What was even better was that it converted the feed to dream-o-vision 1998, which was perfect for a chronic sleeper like Qoazi. Sure, the video quality was not up to par, but he could manage.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Insolent dunce! You were lucky I convinced you to install a magical Observation system to thwart their plans," <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">the Den'rai said, its smooth voice filling his dream.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"That's just creepy," muttered Qoazi, "Do you know how I would feel if I discovered that My stay at a hostel was bugged? I would not want to be caught Dead with a copy of a children's card game on camera. Besides, You're a Den'rai. Go back to your cave."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I cannot, fool," <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">the Den'rai hissed, yet still sounded smooth and rich like grandma's soup but more tasty, <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I am Indigo Montana, you killed my family and turned them into furniture, prepare to die."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">Qoazi rolled his eyes. Or whatever felt like his eyes, since he didn't manifest his them in the dream. "You always say that, But I'm not getting the Reference."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"What is this? You've only read the mediocre works of Idvidia Ravivsul and Deoxycitidine(1) <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">and the likes? Shame on you!"

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">The teen was about to make a comment on how much he had enjoyed killing Indigo's family for arbitrary reasons, but the sight of a low resolution NoBanana punching and denting the wall interrupted his thoughts.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"I can't take it!" screeched NoBanana, "There's <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">nothing <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">to do here! Someone, just <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">please <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">give me something to read! Even Stephanie Meyer's works would suffice!"

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Jesus Christ, calm down," an onscreen Annacaza said from her sketchbook.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">The child continued pummeling the wall, eventually ripping through the metallic surface, to the shock of Qoazi and Annacaza. NoBanana appeared unharmed.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Ved magt af Solen og Månen, holde ham tilbage!"

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">But good thing Annacaza held him in place with magic bonds and dragged him back to the main cushion area. More property damage than needed would have been undesirable. Qoazi was drowning in debt from the previous fight, and his insurance plan didn't cover damage to his ship.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"What other derogatory names shall I call you?" <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Indigo sighed, <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"You do realize you forgot to dispel her magic abilities?"

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"I'm tired, Indigo. I'll do it later."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"You're already asleep."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"I know, I want to Sleep while sleeping. That's how Tired I am."

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"What about the unanswered questions? NoBanana can crush steel walls. And his pretty necklace, the princess seemed to recognize it. The plot can't move on until you get to the bot -"

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">"Goodnight," with that, the dream-o-vision 1998 winked to a black, dreamless void while Qoazi drifted away.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">Indigo was furious, to say the least. On a scale of a fluffy bunny to a Yellowstone eruption, his anger would have been the Big Bang itself, creating baby planets and stars of its own degree of rage. Not only had the wizard been overjoyed at the slaughter and transformation of his family, he had the nerve to reject his advice.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Such an act deserved retribution. Indigo would have to wait, but when the time came, he would have revenge, and Qoazi would beg to be swimming in fermented banana peel extract when he finished. The Den'rai did that evil laugh that every other villainous mastermind formerly residing on Spire somehow pulled off.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">...

"I'm still alive?"

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">Scarfacial groaned, inhaled a good helping of sea breeze, and gazed at the sky. Funny how the weather changed so fast, from a storm to a sun that radiated nice, warm, and tropical feelings. Oh, right, the storm. The last thing the man remembered was a burning sensation on his chest and a bright light engulfing his vision. Definitely not the transition to Heaven.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:1.38;">Waves from the ocean cooled his feat as Scarfacial searched through the sand. His hand brushed against the burlap sack he always had. Maneuvering his hand, he opened the bag and searched for his flask.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">“Dammit,” the vagrant aborted his search once it was apparent there was no supply of fermented banana peel extract. His head and everything else ached. There was an annoying throbbing in his forehead. Scar closed his eyes and drifted away.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">(1) Deoxycitidine = pen name of whoever wrote this on fanfiction.net

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Chapter 6 - There was a plot?
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">I'm never, Ever going back to Plateau. Davidii can insane for all I care. Perhaps the blight already has its hold on the man. So, Dear Diary, I have no memory whatsoever of the past months after I last visited my teacher. It's all some Green haze. I have awakened this Morning only to find a Den'rai - <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">a Den'rai <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">- in my quarters, Raving about how much he hates my guts and How I turned his family to furniture. As I sail towards Mainland to retrieve the Princess Annacaza, I must get to the Bottom of this. On the bright side, I do have a very fluffy cat-like thing To pet. Next off, a subterranean base under Spire.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">Qoazi's Journal (Diary) Entry #570.23, recovered from undah da sea

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:bold;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Today was the day of escape. Not a stupidly crafted attempt, but the real plan. The past several attempted escapes were all fake, made on purpose to lower Qoazi's guard. Even the first one, where NoBanana ripped through the steel wall while groaning in boredom and submitting to Stephanie's supreme command.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Of course, to the hypothetical observer, nothing out of the ordinary was seen between the two prisioners under house arrest. After their midday to go meal of Chik-Fil-Aela (a number five ten count for the princess, number one meal with unsweet Earl Grey for NoBanana, and lastly a calorie dense chicken strip salad for our blind teen we all love), it left the two wondering how the hell did a dead animal carcass taste so good and why there was a fast food joint in such close proximity.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"After this is over," Annacaza dipped a fried nuglet in a revolting orange sauce, "I'm knighting whoever made this franchise."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Why, Thank you, Anna," Qoazi smiled as he picked at his food, "I would be Honoured to swear fealty to you, And serve the might of the Mithril Kingdom."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Forget I said that. This isn't good enough to make me forget about what you did."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Well then, I guess I must tell my Lackeys to add more addictives, But any more and it Could reach lethal amounts," Qoazi stared at the direction of NoBanana, who was intently gazing at his sandwich. Becoming blind was certainly an inconvenience, but no more than that. Thank the Light he was a wizard who could conjure floating eyes. Invisible floating eyes, of course. If they were just floating, then that would be scary.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">That was right when NoBanana decided to screw eating sandwiches properly and proceeded to cram the entire fried chicken sandwich into his mouth and swallow. Without chewing. That's like eating the contents from a can of surströmming and saying it smelled amazing. Utterly impossible.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Did he just...?" Annacaza gaped and wondered if she was remotely the only normal person in a hundred kilometres. One was a full fledged wizard and the other could survive magic bolts that tore through walls and even recover from it without injury. Oh God, she so didn't belong here.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"I think he Just did," frowned Qoazi, "NoBanana, Any explanation?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"I did nothing," the child said, "You are all imagining it. Especially you, Qoazi, you're blind."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Ever heard of implants?" he lied. Not even supporting characters could survive the mere mention of invisible floating eyes scouting the room. That's how amazing they were.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"NoBanana, is there something you haven't told us yet?" asked Annacaza, "Maybe any secret magic gifts you have?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"I didn't even know magic existed until the third chapter. Come on."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Right, Right. Just let us know if you feel like you're Going to combust. It's quite common for that to happen," sighed Qoazi. A waste of potential, in his opinion. And money to clean the mess. He was not made of money, no matter how he wished otherwise.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Speaking of my remains splattered around the room, can we take a walk outside? Qoazi should come with us, seeing the sun is long overdue for him."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Did you just...?" frowned Qoazi. Most people who insulted him were faceless mooks who didn't know his final form. He was not used insults from a child who initially regarded magic as a plot device, not a real life concept. Didn't every brat believe in San De'Klass and his Den'rai pulled sled?

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Fight me," challenged the new, shorter than average main character. Of course, he was secretly fearing the fight would last the entirety of a chapter without any story developments. Nobody read crap like that. Well, except for friends and family of the author. And the teacher.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Let's not," the teen refused. Shocking such valuable cargo to death wouldn't solve a thing, "But you're right. Let's take a walk and enjoy the nice weather."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:bold;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Indigo awoke from his satisfying dream of ripping Qoazi apart piece by piece and feeding the bits of him to the uncivilized leemf cultists. Oh, his screams and begs of mercy were like music to his ears. The Den'rai felt tingly on the inside, anxious for his revenge just like a child waiting for a certain fat old guy to appear through the chimney.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">To think, it had only been half a year since the rest of his family was massacred by the likes of the wizard. He still remembered the event as clear as the membrane surrounding and protecting his eye fluids from spilling on the floor.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Of course, Mom. What's wrong?" He asked.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Aluin and I fear that humans have discovered our last sanctuary," a surprisingly handsome Den'rai said, "I want you two to go back to the cave while him and I investigate."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Indigo started breathing faster and faster, flashing to another memory.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Oh, My," the voice said, "And everyone else said that The legendary Den'rai were extinct."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Who are you?" Indigo's ears perked at the sound of his father's voice, quite steely and implying significant bodily harm to those who disobeyed it, "What do you intend to do with us?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Obviously, Commodify every organ of your species and create my Own Den'rai breeding empire because Capitalism..."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">A tear streaked from his eye, sliding from his face and plopping on the ground.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"My curiosity cannot be satisfied with a mere 'no'. You should know that by now. It's like a planet eating dust cloud that keeps nom nom nomming until it's destroyed by a protagonist with terribly tough plot armour." Indigo proudly stated to his sister. "I've got to see what's happening."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Hah. If only he had decided not to. Everything would be fine. Indigo breathed in and out. In and out. In and...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">The <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">schlok <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">sound came from his father's disembodied head hitting the ground, blood spurting and watering the soil with a dark red. More blood fountained out of Indigo's father's neck, before the now deceased body stumbled a few steps forward and collapsed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">So much for trying to calm down. A low growl came from the Den'rai at the sheer injustice of it all. His father did nothing wrong! He did not deserve such a thing!

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"After the corruption of the Unicorns, you Den'rai are the next best for catalysts. A shame that You had some affinity for magic. My interrogation methods would be Quite ineffective at finding the rest." the figure said, its voice giving no hint to beheading an innocent animal. The beheader laughed. Laughed! Laughed like a psychopath antagonist that fangirls secretly wrote fanfiction of. Indigo was about to get the boogers out of there, but a blow to the head caused him to drop like a wizard being let go from a constriction spell.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">After the unnecessarily long flashback segments, Indigo was left shivering in rage, anger, redundancy, and the freezing air from the air conditioner. Come on, seriously, they were several thousand feet up in the air for Roblox’s sake. It should have been cold enough.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">But then, the Den’rai felt it. Like a harsh wind cutting through his head, or an electric current causing his fur to stand on end. The world seemed to stand still for a few moments. He just knew, for some reason. Something had to happen. Preferably revenge. Yes, yes, definitely revenge. It was even better than chocolate and poison ivy combined.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">“It is time…” <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Indigo hopped off his bed and pushed open his door. Vengeance was imminent.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:bold;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">The sun shined, the skies were blue, and there was surprisingly little of the frigid wind that plagued this level of the sky. The opposite of a dark and stormy night, and definitely not the best of times. At least it was a respite from their cramped quarters, even though the Den'rai fur was utterly soft and fabulous.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Annacaza took in a deep breath of fresh air. It tasted salty, just like her state of mind. She was <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">the <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Princess of the <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">only <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">civilized kingdom of the world! By now she should have been rescued by a dashing hero, taken back to her palace, married, and guide the Karma Laser and vaporize her captor. Now? Just spending the day in a room, needing permission to leave... Like a... Classroom. Yes, a classroom. Studies were over for her, and she had no desire to ever come back to them.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Well, getting to walk around the airship was refreshing, the princess admitted. Even if she had to be beside two incredibly peculiar people, not meant in a good way. Annacaza gazed over the rail, the same rail where Scarfacial hung onto and fell. Hopefully not dead. She was unsure whether or not to believe NoBanana's statement or his plans to escape.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">The princess looked downwards, enjoying the sight of Flax Island below. What a peaceful island, with no settlers, beautiful flax flowers, and shallow waters sparkling in the sunlight. It was a popular destination for nobles with some time off, but very expensive.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">As she smiled a bit at the sight, time seemed to stop. The reflection off the ocean stopped glimmering and somehow became... Different. A creeping sensation filled her head as she started to shiver. Something was happening, that was for sure. She had once heard from her tutor, Professor Idvidia, that very powerful spells sometimes did things like this. Other times, they exploded. Very violently.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Yet, as soon as it happened, it vanished. Probably her imagination, then.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Did you feel that?" asked NoBanana, breaking the silence.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"I did. It's probably something that doesn’t relate to the story at all," said Annacaza.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Let's all agree On that," Qoazi frowned.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">NoBanana turned his head toward the audience, or wherever they were. He began to monologue about how it probably wasn't the wind, but something much more powerful.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"No, I know it isn't the wind," he thought outwardly, "Did the taint on Plateau do something? Or maybe we're all insane?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Kid, who are you talking to?" Annacaza called back. Darn. The two spellcasters were already striding ahead of him. So much for speaking out loud, monologuing never did anything good.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Some time later, NoBanana decided to break that awkward moment of quiet again. He noticed some movement in the ocean, even though he was several thousand feet above. Because, somehow, his eyes were that good.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Wow, Qoazi, look at the dolphins!" he pointed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Oh, Silly child, There are no dolphins in this world. I harvested Them a..." Qoazi stopped and turned toward the boy, "I mean, They somehow just Decided to cease to exist.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">“Are you sure?” he locked eyes with the teen, “Maybe you should look closer <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">by jumping off your airship. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Well, That was expected," sighed Qoazi, "At least the story can Move on."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">" <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">Come on, jump. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"But I'm blind. Doesn't your eye trick require Functional eye contact?" he asked.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">" <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">You have implants. It should still work. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"I lied."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Then how do you - ?" NoBanana's face contorted to a confused expression as his eyes faded back to their normal colours, "Oh, right. Magic. I keep forgetting about that."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Just like how the author forgets to write about me," Annacaza muttered. Luckily, the other weird ones didn't hear her.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Even after a week, Seems I still can't trust you," Qoazi conjured a ball of fire in his hand, "Let's go. Solitary Confinement for both of you."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Anna!" The anti banana shouted, "Now!"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Don't call me that, it's 'princess' for you!" dizziness suddenly overcame her senses as she focused all the energy she was secretly hoarding at her adversary. It had been quite some time since she used one of her most powerful spells in her arsenal. "Ved magt af Solen og Månen, skrue dig!"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Considerably less potent than the whole wiping-out-of-existence spell, but it did the job. The energy converted itself to a block of invisible, transparent mass that constricted the hell out of whatever it touched. In this case, a brittle, pale, fair-haired, too-young-for-drinking teenager was screwed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">At first, Qoazi raised a questioning eyebrow at Anna, wondering if her spell failed. It happened a lot, he understood. After all, he did accidentally become a female, but that is a story for another time.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Then came that bone crushing pain, despite his body argumentations. Pain was not good, the wizard deduced, and he spoke some words of healing, like before. Attempted to, more like. It was hard to make a peep if all the air in your lungs was squeezed out. The horrible truth hit him.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">He was paralyzed, unable to use any magic, and about to die before accomplishing his plans. At the worst time, a flashback came along. Great.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Davidii?" a young Qoazi asked, "How would you defeat a magic person?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">Davidii was doing who knows what, floating several feet off the ground and praying to Lord GabeN. He opened an eye.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Why would you need to?" The man frowned.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"It's always good to be prepared," said Qoazi.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">The archmagi slowly dropped to the grass, landing gently. He reached into the belt around his waist, uncorking a flask. And then, fast as a fox jumping over a lazy dog, spilled the contents toward the boy.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Sköld," Qoazi reflexively erected a shield to defend himself. Years of training resulted in praise for such a sturdy barrier, able to deflect teraphyx headbutts and crossbow bolts.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">Unfortunately for him, the liquid melted the protective wall and dribbled to the mountain grass below.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Wha - ?" Qoazi had seen his fair share of his own shields shattering... But melting? Unheard of!

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"This is one way," Davidii placed the cork back and returned the container to his belt, "Fish oil. The bane of all magic users. It can cut through any spell. And if a caster comes in contact with it... It's very painful."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">The man took note of a frightened apprentice's face. He continued, "Well, it's quite rare to come across it. It's mainly used as a flavor enhancement for fermented banana peel extract, and you've got to be a madman anyway to even try a drop."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"What about the other ways?" Like some morbid curiosity, the apprentice in training had to learn more. What if he was against someone with a canteen of that peel extract?

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"This one's a bigger threat. If your opponent prevents you from speaking, say, by slitting your throat, you can't cast any spells, now, can you?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Too late now, the lack of air and a sound of bones - his bones - cracking pointed to certain death. And the pain, too. Qoazi could barely think straight from the agony just plain everywhere, much less utter a lifeline. As blood trickled out of his mouth, he knew it was the end.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Annacaza was not faring well with maintaining the constricting force. Powerful spells took quite the toll, and she was in fits of shivering and sweating like a sick, cold, and wet naked molerat. After the story was over, the princess thought, she would approve legislature to build soup kitchens for the naked molerats. No naked molerat ever deserved to feel what what she was feeling right now. NoBanana's quips of encouragements did little to help.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"One, two, three four, Annacaza's causing gore! Five, six, seven, eight, it looks like something that she ate! Gooo Annacaza!" He halfheartedly cheered.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"That doesn't even make sense," Annacaza groaned. A nauseous feeling tingled in her stomach, threatening to eject the meal of Chik-Fil-Aela she had for lunch. That's it, she determined, free healthcare and soup kitchens for all sick, cold, and wet naked molerats.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"You can do it!" He cheered anyway, "He's foaming at his mouth. That's a good sign!"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Already, the princess sank to her knees from exhaustion. Could she make it? It was like chemotherapy...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">She grunted. Her head hurt, like a foot wearing a very small sized shoe. Except that it was her head. Skull sizes are a thing, you know.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">A bowl of hot stew was what the princess desperately wanted, along with resting her tired body on one of those divine Den'rai cushions. But still, Annacaza kept pushing on. Qoazi was surely an evil person, probably one of the scum that planned to have their own subterranean base and attack the Mithril Kingdom by proxy. It was her obligation for justice to be done.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">So far, she was doing good. A few more seconds and Qoazi would be as dead as a cat that got too curious for its own well being. Her thoughts, and respectively, her spell, of course, was cut short by an invisible force that knocked her senseless. So much for a clean ending.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Hitting his head against an imaginary wall, NoBanana sighed at the third spellcaster that arrived. There were too many magicians in his social circle than he preferred. The Find Your Friends feature needed more tuning, as with everything.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">He had seen a fluffy blue feline thing, perhaps a Den'rai, approaching toward him. It stalked slowly, tail up, and stopped just a shy of a dead Qoazi suspended in the air. Just then, its tail flicked, and Annacaza collapsed to the ground. As the constriction eased off of the former wizard, he dropped down, a heap of broken bones. Then it looked at him, big, beautiful eyes that NoBanana found utterly adorable

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"May I inquire as to why you two are here?" <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;"> It - he - smoothly asked, his voice a thick cascade of everything thick and gloopy and tasty.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Just watching the dolphins several hundred metres below," NoBanana shrugged. He scolded himself for cursing in his head, but the animal in front of him was too damn cute. Fluffy animals had a soft spot in his nonexistent heart. Too late, lynx, a new species took the top spot of squee-ness.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"That explains the two unconscious people on the ground," <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;"> it said, <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"But please leave that Scandinavian wretch to me. I can do a much better job."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Hey, why not?" agreed NoBanana. To be honest, he didn't care either way about Qoazi, just about leaving this ship and finding Scar. "So... Can I pet you?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Never," <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;"> it hissed, like a cat. Even more cute. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Get some rope to tie him. It's somewhere, but I don't know where. I still know, since any sensible person has a coil of industrial strength bindings on hand."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Yes, Sir Fluffles, right away."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"My name is not Fluffles, it is Indigo Montana," <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;"> but it was too late, NoBanana vanished from sight, footsteps echoing in the metal halls.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Just then, Qoazi groaned. Apparently, he wasn't dead after all. Just when could he die?

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Annacaza, Will you be my wife?" He muttered in a delirious stupor, "No? May as well kidnap you and Jump start the plot."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Oh, do shut u - " <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;"> the Den'rai was cut short by a bright, blinding light engulfing the bane of his life and the loudest, bloodcurdling scream. Not even victims of teraphyx maulings could scream worse. Christ, even he didn't when he went full Rai'den.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Am I hung over?" croaked Annacaza, squinting at the bright... Thing.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">It shined so bright, everyone on the world thought there was a second sun. Miners on Rockma covered their eyes and ran towards the darkness of the main cave. Enjoying a stroll in her gardens, the new princess gazed at the brightness with curiosity, possibly gaining permanent eye damage. A hermit living on Plateau howled at the light, clawing at his throat, several ounces of dark green ooze flowing out of his mouth. Leemf cultists on Ore paused their rigorous training, and resumed just as fast, except for one hideously scarred man with suspicion clouding his face. Tales would spread on what happened this day. Everyone feeling something off and a second sun was surely the work of a sorcerer, especially since both occurred the same day.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Lasting for several minutes, the light gradually faded around Qoazi, leaving behind a surprised Den'rai and a princess who decided to screw it, let's not think about it. They stared in shock at the result of the corona that engulfed the sorcerer before. Even after a few more minutes, when NoBanana came trouncing back, were they still staring at the healthy, breathing body of a teen so close to death.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"You're right, Fluffles, I found rope in a room full of surgical torture devices," sarcasm dripped from NoBanana's voice as he came back empty handed, "Nope, no rope. What happened?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Uh," Annacaza said, shaking her head. She had managed to sit up, which was good, and pointed at Qoazi. "Look at this."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">The child took a look at Qoazi, his eyes closed, and having no sign of being crushed like an ice cube in a person's mouth at the cinema. Then he noticed what had troubled Annacaza.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Oh."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:bold;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Today was very weird, but then again, all days were weird in the Leemf Federation. That was the official name of the feared leemf cultists, as Scarfacial learned.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">He was given a thorough history lesson of the formation of the leemfs, courtesy of the blonde-haired, unobtainium-eyed teenage girl next to him. Her name was Trialtest, the girl who rescued him from dehydration on the Ore Island shore and essentially forced him to stay. At least they had delicious barbecue.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Come on, Evil," Trialtest called him by the alias he gave to her, "Stop zoning out. We've gotta be in the groove when we raid the Mith Kingdom palace."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Scarfacial grunted in reply. Of course he was 'zoned', as she called it. Something happened and caused all the hairs on his neck to stand. Something likely harmful, and likely related to the plot.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"She's right, EvilShogun," another teen ,older than Trialtest, said. He nocked an arrow and released the bowstring before continuing. "The sooner we overthrow the new princess, the sooner we can end the terrible things going on in the castle."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">The leemfs had told him why they hated the new princess more than most, and Scar remembered it like it was minutes ago.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Look, Evil, you're skilled," Halofan said, "Please, we need you come with us."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"From your history, it seems that you all hate every descendant of Annarnizam since that war," Yawned Scarfacial. Being tied to a chair didn't bother him, but his muscles were still sore from the shock from earlier. "So, what makes her worse than the others?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"We're totally fine with Annacaza. She's a pretty decent ruler. Her successor, though... We know she's planning something," Trialtest butted in. "Nobles in the palace disappear for a few days, then come back and sing praises for the new ruler. Creepy, right?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Or maybe she's an even better princess. Ever thought of that?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Doubt it. Our Mainland front published the story, and Squadron Emily died by explosion several days later. Why would she need to go to such lengths to hide it?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Whatever," Scarfacial sighed. The BS Tribune was right. Leemf cultists were insane. "I'll join. This is an offer I can't refuse anyway, isn't that right?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Spot on."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">A conspiracy including a malicious princess. As if. Scarfacial continued target practice, shooting almost on spot every time. Sure, the one he was loaned wasn't the best, but he could live with it.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Another bolt thwacked into the wooden target. Not good enough, just a few inches shy of hitting its mark. At this rate, he would be half decent in a year.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Scar took a look at Halofan's plank to compare. Six arrows embedded in the wood, clustered together on the charcoal mark. Dear god, he wished his crossbows would wash up to shore.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:bold;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"I see that y'all have improved," Jake said, sweeping back his jet black hair that was beginning to gray.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">He was obviously eyeing the newcomer, EvilShogun, or rather, Scarfacial, with an unreadable expression. The other trainees squirmed. Special attention usually meant a month scrubbing pots or mining sulphur in the cave.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Yessir, Cummander Jake," Trialtest saluted, "I believe Squadron Halo is ready for Operation Assilem."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Did I give you permission to speak?" he asked.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"No, sir," she shook her head, "But we are still ready."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Tell that to the scalawag that can't even get a bullseye," and now Cummander Jake was really looking at Evil, and not in a good way. "So? Say something!"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"I'm pretty sure that I've been half blind since that bright light came," EvilShogun shrugged. It was true, after all, that light in the sky distracted everyone. From what he knew, it must've been the work of Qoazi. "Oh, and also I haven't fully healed yet."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Then <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">why <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">would you join if you're not in top condition?" The commander roared, "Your mom forced ya, didn't she?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"It's not like I could refuse," the scarred man glared at Trialtest and Halofan, both awkwardly standing aside. The blonde made a whoops <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">expression before composing herself.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Fine! I'll be sure to put ya on meatshield duty," Jake seethed and swiveled to the line of uncomfortable soldiers. "Anyway, maggots, here's the plan. Squadron Halo, led by Halofan, goes in, kills the princess, and claims the throne. Any questions?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">A girl, Kaitlyn, raised her hand.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Yes?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Did we really need a tactical meeting for a plan as simple as that?" she asked.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">Cummander Jake exploded, to say the least. It took several men of Squadron Norris to take him down.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:bold;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">In a kingdom, not too far away, a princess leisurely lounged on her throne. A modest theone, to a rich person, as it was only carved from marble and trimmed with gold. Nothing too extravagant. She really had to applaud her former 'sister's' taste.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Your majesty," a well dressed and handsome man kneeled, "Your fluffed cake shall come shortly."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Why, thank you, Sir Lamp," the princess twirled her wavy brown hair. "Now, leave. I have little time for such things."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">He scurried away, as a woman in a flamboyant dress (covered in sapphire, no less!), strode in.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Your highness," she curtsied, "I have a message from our spy. The leemf cultists plan to come within a week. Perhaps we should increase security?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"No, I am sure I will manage," the princess tapped her newly manicured nails on her armrest, "Status report on the drill?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"It was a success, Highness. We have broken the Fourth Wall, and nothing shall stop your plans."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"Ah, so that explains why I sensed something peculiar a little after noon. Speaking of what happened at noon, are there any leads of the light I witnessed?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"No, your Highness, everyone is stumped. The best theory is that a harbinger of doom is coming to kill us all."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">The princess laughed, its sound like a thousand bells. Harbinger of death. Funny. If anything, it would be her to be the harbinger.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"What of Unit KG-6?" She continued, after her brief chuckle.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"It is currently learning through private tutor. The best ever since Idvidia Ravivsul mysteriously disappeared."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">"What a shame, Idvidia would have been a great asset," the princess' eyes narrowed, briefly flashing green, "Florence, request the tutor to accelerate her plans."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);white-space:pre-wrap;">The blue dressed woman curtsied, again and smiled, her beautiful blue eyes devoid of any emotion. <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;font-size:15px;white-space:pre-wrap;line-height:22px;">"Of course, Princess Annaryth."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> <h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">Chapter 7 - He She She or She He He? <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Why do rituals have to involve such peculiar things? If a wizard had enough power, just that alone would be enough to accomplish the task, and not some object like a frog leg or teraphyx horn. It's idiotic, I admit, but I have no choice. The corruption has grown too far, and I suspect that it is a sentient being. From studying its spread and old texts, the appropriate catalysts to destroy it involve the blood of the days and nights, an skilled wizard, a four dimensional being, and a cunning fox. Or perhaps... <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">It is making me think that? I feel it, a pulsing, throbbing, thing that crawls into my head no matter what wards I use... HELP

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Found in a lone hut on Plateau Island, decorated with blood stains and other fluids

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Everything was alright, until they realized they had walked straight into a trap. By then, it was too late.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The Mithril Port may have been the largest port on Mainland, located on its northern part, but the Leemf Federation cared nothing for that. They sent ships filled with dedicated soldiers towards the boardwalk on property of the castle, at a lesser known Anna's Harbour.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Squadron Halo got off their official-looking merchant frigate (owned by a close friend of Idvidia and ally to the leemfs), and acted like members of a crew. They unloaded boxes, lowered the sails, and even made an act of restraining a 'stowaway' attempting to depart. Not even the best hypothetical observer would detect anything out of the ordinary.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A man, coat tailored in the fashion of a high ranking official, scurried toward them, charcoal pencil and paper ready.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Ah, so our shipments of stainless steel have arrived!" He studied several of the crates lying on the floor, "Good, good. Her Highness Annaryth has been wanting these for quite a long time. She will be pleased."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"If it could be possible," Trialtest stared, her unsettling green eyes in contact with his near black, "We would like to deliver the cargo personally. We would be honored to even catch a glimpse of such joy on her face."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The man vigorously shook his head, tugging at his mustache. "No, no, Her Highness cannot meet with anyone this week. Rumor has it that an assassin is planning to do the job. It's him! The Scarred Man will come back for another Anna to kill!"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">EvilShogun snorted.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Are you sure?" The girl reached in her bag conveniently next to her and held up a thick wad of currency. Mustache Man's eyes widened. It must've been more than what he earned per year. Which could be interpreted in two ways, so pick one.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Well... I suppose I can make an exception," he hastily lunged at the money, pocketing it in his elegantly embroidered breast pouch. "I assume you know the way in, so best of luck you all come out alive."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Waving goodbye and carrying their cargo, the 'crew' strode through the winding path lined with generic trees that shielded them from the sun. The unlucky person driving the automated wooden cart containing the cargo was lagging behind as the rest of the group were several hundred feet behind. He did manage catch up at the main gate, but not before taking a crossbow bolt to the head. Another member, a woman, took over.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Did they seriously shoot that guy down?" the protaganist muttered. It's not like security would have been that paranoid.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Yeah."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Main gates creaked open, letting in the group, but not without earning suspicious stares from the guards. By the time they actually arrived to the palace, many were exhausted by the walk, yet determined to continue on. An assassination would not be delayed by an insanely long exercise routine.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Scarfacial really had to admire the grand architecture used to construct the palace. It had been built after High Lord Chancellor Annarnizam slayed Princess Leemfedora and took over the continent. Historic texts took note of Annarnizam's taste in design, always elegant and majestic and striking fear and respect into equal helpings for her citizens.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Gold lined as much as gold could, without being tacky, on the floor, roof, and pillars. Different shades of marble covered the floors and wall, polished and shiny. Crystals, similar to the one on Scarfacial's neck, hung as a chandelier and reflected a myriad of colorful lights. The point of this display, the ex-hitman thought, was to show how obscenely rich the Annas were. It's been five years, and it hasn't changed a bit.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Trialtest's eyes flicked back and forth, making sure there were no observers. When she thought it was safe, she spoke.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Alright, ya'll. We're splitting up into two groups; the killers and the meatshields. Killers, come with me. The rest of ya'll gotta be sure to distract Annaryth real smooth. If she finds out what we really are too soon, then we're dead. Got it?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Striding toward the blonde co-leader, the killers, already decided by a three person committee, separated from the crowd, placing their crates of stainless steel on the floor. They pulled out weapons from the bottom of the ingots, because nobody would ever think of smuggling them in with legitimate cargo.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Uh..." a girl asked, "You're telling us to distract her real smooth? Do you mea - "

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Keep it PG," sighed Trialtest, sheathing  two thin, sharp swords across her back, "We have standards, unlike the Leemfs eight years ago."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Oh, thank Leemf," someone else, another meatshield, breathed a sigh of relief.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"No other questions?" Halofan scanned the group, "Well then. See you all in the throne room."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">And so the killers and the meatshields separated ways, both heading towards their objectives. Still, the spy amongst them was ready. Ready to kill, and wholly ready to betray. But Scar? He didn't care. He just wanted to go take a piss. Like, really, really badly.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Killers killed people, never weapons. Whether stewardess, servant, or fat guard, the killer group continued to plow on, murdering anyone who got in their way. To be honest, a man, Yousay, didn't see the point to this. A trail of dead bodies did certainly point to something amiss, and did not mask the presence of an unseen intruder. It was almost like... They wanted to be noticed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Wouldn't it be better if we crawled through the air vents?" Yousay said out loud, earning annoyed stares from the others. Yeah, like his voice would give any more clue as to where they were. Hypocrites.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"That would be stupid. That only works in books," giggled Maschenny. She secretly liked Yousay and his figure, but she would never admit it. Unless she lost a children's card game, but that was synonymous to losing the will to live.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Be quiet, we're almost there," shushed Trialtest from the front of the group.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">That should have been the first warning. Yousay had undertook scouting missions in the grand palace before, so he knew his way around. Right now, the walls were cobblestone, cracks and loose stones about to crumble. Quite a contrast from the gold and marbled area they were in before. Still, the only place that wasn't renovated were the dungeons...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I'm 100% certain that we're not heading the right way," Yousay complained. Something was wrong, from the trail of dead bodies to the misdirection. He expected Trialtest, the leader, to at least manage to remember the route to the princess. Before he could voice another opinion, the group stopped. A woman stood, blocking their path.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"We're not buying any more Lynx Scout cookies," she twirled her hair around her blue, manicured fingernail. She smiled, her cerulean eyes devoid of happiness.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I already have a package of Thin Minty Crisps with me," Trialtest replied, "How'd I get rid of 'em?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">By then, everyone drew their weapons. Whether it be bows, crossbows, swords, or knives, it was sure as death by storm with no shelter that Trialtest and this mysterious woman were traitors. And traitors, of course, deserved to be killed by killers... With weapons.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Why, we can eat them!" the woman lifted up her gloved hands, twinkling with sapphires, and the faint outline of string.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Trialtest, is she some insider? Explain!" Halofan demanded, nocking an arrow at her. At this range, it could not be dodged.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Deleting personality file: trialtest.cgom. Success," the blonde moved and stood next to the blue lady, eyes blank, "Unit FLORENCE, you may proceed."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">From that, arrows sailed, bolts were shot, and swords were even tossed at Trialtest. She swiftly drew her swords and deflected all the projectiles at blinding speed. Yousay frowned. No way anyone could slash that fast. It wasn't human.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Florence gripped the string she held and tugged, snatching the killing group (except Trialtest, obviously) and tangling then into her web. She continued to pull, this time jerking it, causing screams and cries of pain.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The string, made from a woven alloy of bluesteel and mithril, cut through flesh and bone, leaving a pile of severed body parts marinated in a pool, garnished with weapons on top. Immediately, the smell of blood wafted to the two survivor's noses. They ignored it, walking around the mound of biomass towards the way they had come.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I have increased my deflection rate from 98.4% from four months ago to 99.28%," mentioned Trialtest, her voice sounding like a vibrating metal, "Will this be satisfactory?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Less than a one percent improvement?" Florence flicked some fluids off her dress, "Annaryth will not be pleased."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Nevertheless, let us continue on to phase two. We have several meatshields to grill.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">From her analysis, those in the meatshields group had little skill compared to her. The risk was minimal, except for one person that piqued her interest. Yes, that EvilShogun man. He had lied about his name, and almost managed to hide his rising heart rate and dilating pupils. She would have to find about more about this man, even if she had to violate her orders.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">There were appropriate times to ask to go to the bathroom, but this was not one of them. A period of free time would have been accepted, or even during a lecture if the person really had to go. A high stakes operation, where one mistake could cause everyone to die, was not an opportune time to pee.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Look, I really have to go," muttered Scarfacial. In truth, he really did. Any longer and he would explode, which was not a pretty sight.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Can't ya hold it?" yelled the leader of the meatshields, the meaty guru. He was buff, and likely full of juicy meat, with delicious fatty marbling.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Okay, thanks, bye," the vagrant vanished, like a ninja, but with none of that smoke bomb business. One of the perks of being a notorious hitman.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Agh! Fine!" the leader snarled, beckoning the bewildered rest to follow, "Keep going, not my fault if he takes a bolt to the head like Kenny."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"But they'll know that we're here," a person pointed out, "We already have deathflags on our heads, why make it worse?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Poor Kenny," sighed one of Kenny's close friends, "Anyway, I agree with Meaty Melvin here. If that Evil guy could sneak out with all of us watching, he should be fine."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Ok..." the person agreed, with a trace of hesitation, "Why do I feel like we're walking towards a trap?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Shut up, Mokuba," growled Meaty Melvin.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Ignoring the paranoid one, the meatshield group continued down the elegant halls, carrying their crates full of cleverly faked steel bars. They arrived at the throne, all bowing down to Princess Annaryth, waiting for the killers to strike.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Who knew that bathrooms could be so hard to find? Scarfacial was contemplating the action of doing his business in a potted plant, until a friendly servant girl took notice and pointed him to the right direction.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Sir, keep going forward until you find the picture with Princess Leemfedora's dismembered limbs. Then, turn left and you'll arrive," she said.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Dismembered limbs? Sounds like a thing that's easy to find," Scarfacial thanked the girl, running like a gingerbread man towards the heavenly toilet, its celestial porcelain seat glowing angelically.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Relieved of his burden, Scarfacial was stumped on how to find his way out. Sure, he did some deep infiltration in the palace, but it seemed that every corridor was renovated after 'that' happened. Rather than a familiar layout, the halls formed a sprawling labyrinth with no way out.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Placing his hand on the right wall, he began to explore with hopes of another friendly person giving directions. Black and white shades of marble began to meld into cobblestone full of moss growth. The gold lining faded to cracks in the wall. Beautiful torches lighting the building transitioned to crude sticks, with some not even lit. Scarfacial began to fall into a trance with his footsteps, until the most disturbing figure ever appeared before him.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Little children in any area had heard of the tale of The Butcher, a man covered in blood from head to toe, wielding carving knives in both hands. That was exactly what it looked like, but replacing the knives with a bow, and possibly drenched in more blood and guts than its ghost story counterpart. Scarfacial was about to reflexively gasp until a familiar voice came from the dark red humanoid.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Thank Leemf, Evil! It's me, Halofan!" Halofan wiped some dried blood off his face, "You've gotta tell the others to scram!"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Wait, why?" he asked.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Halofan took several shaky breaths, nearly sobbing. "This entire operation was compromised. I saw the rest of my group... My group... Cut to pieces! I wasn't caught in the web, so I hid myself under the pile of..."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The leader of the squad broke down, hands and knees on the floor. Scarfacial noticed a trail of footprints and several chunks behind the teen. No wonder why he was so traumatized.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Pile of?" he inquires, but he already knew.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"The guts and bones and flesh of my comrades... Still... Still warm..." Halofan nearly vomited, "I hid until, they left... Oh God, oh God, we have to go!"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Who did this?" in order for an operation to be compromised, there had to be a spy somewhere, Scarfacial reasoned, kneeling down to Halo's height.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"T-Trialtest!" Halo gripped the man's shoulders, "Please! We have to! Yousay was right, it was all a trap, and it was my fault!"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Pulling the distraught squad commander up, Scar shook his head. "Don't say cliche things like that. Besides, it's too late. The best we can do is to escape. Mind if I borrow your bow?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, a group composed of a blue animal, a child, a wizard, and a princess had just come to an end to their constant bickering. On one side, Annacaza argued that they should go back to Mainland to get new dresses, as her old one was as ragged as Scarfacial's face. Indigo agreed, as he would take any fair Buttercup's side and to spite off Qoazi. Being stubborn, Qoazi refused, citing that he had plenty of spare clothes available and any were free to wear. NoBanana stood back and munched on some Chik-Fil-Aela waffle chips, enjoying the debacle.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"It's two to one, with an abstain," said Annacaza, "Come on, turn back and I can buy my own clothes."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"As I said," Qoazi tugged her shoulder length hair, "I have spare clothes you are Free to wear. We are not turning back."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"They don't fit. You're seven inches taller than me, <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Qoazilini <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">," Yes, Qoazilini, the new nickname coined by everyone on the airship. After an attempted murder, a bright light came upon Qoazi, healing him of all injuries with the side effect of becoming a girl. Rather than the slightly alright appearance of a decent guy, she now took on a more... Cute... Figure.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Don't call me that," Qoazilini scowled, and blushed at the same time. God, being a woman was weird. He - She always felt her face redden at the most inconvenient of times, and found herself... Heart pumping... Reading sappy love stories...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Come, now, we must come to a conclusion on this pointless argument, and do something productive," <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> Indigo purred, daintily lapping up a bowl of cremé, <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Any ideas?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Cupcake wars," grinned NoBanana, "I can be the judge."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"There's no frosting," the wizard said while licking a white fluffy object on her lips.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">In response, Annacaza uttered a spell, bending the light on the table. Sixteen squares appeared on either side, along with two stacks of cards. Numbers beside the two arguing appeared, both bearing '4000' in a glowing light. At the sight of these, Qoazilini cringed and attempted to leave, but not before restraints kept her in place.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">If only becoming a girl didn't drastically depower his abilities. Such crude binding magic could have been easily dispelled. Qoazilini rolled her eyes and surrendered the thought of doing such a hard task in this body. She had to remember that she was a novice in containment, and novices tended to explode if they weren't cautious.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"If there won't be a cooking competition, then I'll challenge you to a children's card game," Annacaza said, pale faced and shuffling her deck, "I almost threw up making this duel, so you better accept."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Later, the airship changed direction from heading northward to bulleting back to Mainland at full speed. Being on the outer deck would have been suicide, as anyone would have been swept back and encounter the same fate as Scarfacial. The group, having common sense, decided to move down to their prison room and share some baked cookies and coffee.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Getting a dress can't be that bad," reassured Annacaza, lounging next to the wizard on her Den'rai cushion, "I'm well off. We can get one of those dresses Lady Florence wears, with lots of jewelry and lace for you."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I had a nightmare like that, You know," said Qoazilini, "And what happened to your Plan to imprison me for life?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Why do that when we can leave you alone with Indigo?" Annacaza gazed at the furry Den'rai resting on NoBanana's lap.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"What about me?" <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Indigo lifted his head, <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Oh? Quality time with my family's murderer? Count me in."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Qoazilini's face paled at the mention of 'Indigo' and 'alone with Qoazi' in the same sentence. She still remembered their first session, and tried to do anything in her power to forget. Another reason to hate her gender change, such a weak body could not even cast memory wipes. Really, the cons outweighed the benefits.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"What did he do, anyways?" asked NoBanana, scratching Indigo behind his ears.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Nothing. It never happened. There is no Indigo," Qoazilini shivered, standing up and leaving the room, "There was never an Indigo, And I'll keep it that way."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">With their technically-captor gone, NoBanana took up the opportunity to point out several suspicious plot points.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I think Qoazi... Qoazi <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">lini <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> has the same necklace as me." NoBanana said.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Oh?" Annacaza crunched on a cookie.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"I checked it while she was unconscious. The gem's the same color, same hardness, and I reckon a same cut."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Probably a coincidence. I have a similar pendant to yours, so it's likely a souvenir."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"There was also a burn mark on his - no, her - chest in the shape of the stone. You think that's a coincidence, too?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Well, what did <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Purple Shards <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">say it was? Surely, that book should have an answer."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Hey, several pages were ripped out. From what I read, they're lifesaving magic artifacts, which explains why she-Qoazi is still alive." NoBanana shrugged.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Oh, come on. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Purple Shards <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">is just a bad fanfiction, you can't possibly believe a theory as ridiculous as that."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Ugh. I'm going to sleep," he yawned, dropping Indigo away, "It's not fanfiction, it's real. I'll check for a mark on Scar's chest on Mainland."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">As the child rested, his breathing even, Annacaza sighed. NoBanana was insistent that the book was gospel and truth in its purest form. She would have to read that, someday, just to see what was good about it.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">...

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"What do you mean by 'one escaped'?" asked Annaryth. She tapped her nails against her armrest, an idiosyncrasy to take note of. Expression unreadable, she stared down at the two in front of her. One, a dirty, grimy, formerly green eyed girl with two holes replacing their beauty. The other, a woman in a dress as ridiculous as fake butter, blue as the ocean and just as shiny.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Unit FLORENCE always wore such dresses, but that was not the problem. The problem was how a witness escaped <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">and <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">how he managed to harm one of them. Multiple trials were conducted to achieve the strength of arrow deflecting armor plating.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Both stood in front of the throne, straight faced. It was not that they had an iron will, but rather incapable at channeling emotion, notably fear or pain. Only a personality file could enable that.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"The one with a heavily scarred face. In human terms, ugly. As we were in pursuit after him and his accomplice, he shot me multiple times with a bow."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"So? Arrows are nothing. It is not possible for a mere steel drop on a stick to destroy both sensors," murmured Annaryth. She had designed the protection herself, after all.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Of course, they had no effect, Annaryth," Trialtest pulled a shaft out of her torso, "But after he, EvilShogun, realised it had no effect, he used another weapon."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"And that was what caused it?"

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Affirmative. Whatever it is, it launches projectiles up to 2.5 times faster than an bow. I barely had time to react before my optics were destroyed. Luckily, Florence managed to capture the other one. He is currently being interrogated by <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">him <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Good, good. Oh, what a discovery. If I could obtain that power..." Annaryth mused, "Well, Trialtest. Go back and be repaired. I have new sensors to be put on a  trial test run... No pun intended."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Florence held the other girl's hand, guiding her out of the throne room. The doors closed with a deafening boom, leaving Annaryth staring at the floors. Really, she had to applaud the janitors set to clean the thick gumbo of limbs and organs. That woman, Florence, had such a messy style of finishing the job.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Annaryth stood, brushing her hair behind her ear. She gripped the sword leaning on her throne, holding it up towards the light. Rubies, topaz, and moonstone gleamed on its hilt the metal itself changed patterns, gold swirling in a mess of silver. A sword was a sword, she reasoned, but this had a more powerful use. Handed down from generations of the Anna's, it was rumored that the blood of a descendent of Annarnizam would be able to harness its powers, unleashing genesis or armageddon, whatever its wielder desired.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Are you still admiring that?" someone asked, "It is not your prince, Annaryth, so stop obsessing over it."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The new princess put down the sword after recognizing the voice. Certainly, she didn't expect to hear him quite quickly.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Unit KG-6. Have you finished?" she wondered. If so, that was fast.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Yes. Halofan, however strong willed, was not able to resist the compulsion to tell the truth." he went on to explain what he had gleaned from the questioning. However, it was not useful, as Annaryth him away, changing the subject. Seriously, how does a comrade have no knowledge of a weapon another comrade uses?

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"What about the crack in the Fourth Wall? Have you managed anything yet?" she began to pace around, anxiously waiting for an answer. Her plans - <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">its plans <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">- relied on prying the barrier between worlds open.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"Nothing much, except I do have a troupe of dancing bananas I can summon at will. I believe that 'It's peanut butter jelly time!' is an excellent warcry." snickered KG-6.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">"You must be joking."

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A flash of irritation rumbled from inside of Annaryth's frame, almost as if whatever was inside was not pleased. Her vision began to fade to a dark green as she realized that her plans must be accelerated - again - to avoid another attack. Knees buckling, the last thing she successfully processed was the arms of Unit KG-6 carrying her towards help.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;white-space:pre-wrap;">DON'T YOU REMEMBER THE BOND WE MADE, BLARGETY? I CANNOT BE COMPATABLE WITH YOU FOREVER, AND THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE HOSTS TO CHOOSE FROM. Chapter Nine - What Happens in Vegas... <p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">And so, this story has come to an end. As ash and hellfire rained from Plateau, the taint was gone, forever, along with the lives of the four protagonists. The corruption had ruined so many lives attempting to escape, and now, it has been put to rest.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Davidii rejoiced, his plan a success, and deciding that decades of convoluted planning was worth it. The man, old, now, face webbed with wrinkles, stroked Indigo's fur.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">He failed to notice the terrifying glint in the Den'rai's eyes. During its dying moments, it reached out, sending a seed to continue its existence.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">This is one end. There will be others.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">It is up to you to change it.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Purple Shards, the unspecified last section of the last chapter

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Not all alcohol was equal. Some tasted like heaven, fermented with yeast and tasting like the very barrel it soaked in. As what the most interesting man in the world states: "I don't always drink wine punch. But when I do, it's stuff from the Mithril Brewery."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Others tasted like evil. Pure, pure evil. So evil, nobody in the right mind would ever have a drop. One such drink was the legendary fermented banana peel extract; a beverage so disgusting that many thought it was poison in disguise, or a corrosive agent used in prison escapes. Except to one person. He chugged it by the barrel, unhindered by its satanic taste, which was exactly what he was doing now.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"What is that guy? A viking?" a man, wide eyed and mouthed said in awe. He considered himself as very lax toward the quality of drinks, but he could never stoop to that level. He watched as another man, covered in a cloak as ragged as cloaks through a shredding machine, deeply drank from a mug of fermented banana peel extract (he could smell it) and demanded more.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I don't know… Hey, baby, let's dance at your house tonight…" his friend slurred.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"But Melinda..."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Forget about her, I'm your new girlfriend now."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I'm straight, sorry."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Ignoring the two behind him, Scarfacial continued to heartily drown himself in what he thought was the best thing since crossbow assassinations. Some people were just haters.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Scarfacial exhaled as he gazed at the weapon on his lap. A gun, as what the brat called it. Surprisingly effective against the thing that pursued him as he daringly escaped from an inconvenient ledge.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">They were gaining. Fast.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Even the one in the blue dress, how could someone manage to do that? Scarfacial never considered himself as a sprinter, but he surely could've outrun a pasty white noblewoman with a dress that shouted 'Hey! I deserve to have my prized sapphires stolen!'.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Surrender now, EvilShogun," Trialtest said in a monotone voice, devoid of any Leemf-ish accent, "Your accomplice has already been captured. It is only a matter of time before you will join him."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Over Halo's dead body," he yelled, his feet beating against the luxury carpeted floors, "Oh, wait... He already died, did he?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Not yet. Interrogations first, then beheadings," sang Florence.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Well, you know what? While I was distracting you with the morbid joke, I get one free turn because of initiative. Sneak attack, bitch!" The vagrant shot several arrows at the blonde's torso.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">They zipped through the air, embedding themselves in her flesh. Trialtest merely glanced at the arrows in her stomach and resumed the chase.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Describing me as a female dog was uncalled for," she charged faster than before at her target, tackling him through a closed door, mind you. Splinters pierced the man's skin, but nothing compared to the chokehold he was in. It was like his neck was a wizard being crushed by a constriction spell two chapters ago... Except that magic didn't exist.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Hey, make sure you do not kill him," Florence arrived, ridiculously dressed as usual. She glanced at the face Trialtest was strangling the poo out of. Quite ugly.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Then two loud bangs were heard. The traitor, blonde, whatever she was called covered her eyes and whirred in surprise, letting go of the scarred man. Kneeling down, Florence checked what happened. Two holes in the place of her sensors stared back.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"What did this?" she asked.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"He pulled out a weapon, and now I cannot detect anymore. I cannot be of use anymore in tracking him down."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Do not worry, I will continue," Florence noticed the disappearance of the man during their conversation. Scanning the room, she noticed him outside the ledge used for a leisure activity humans called... Looking at the sky?

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Crashing through the glass door, she cornered the ugly faced mook who had evaded her for too long.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Give up. There is no escape," even though there was little risk of harm to herself, she desired KG-6's power at least make the job a little easier. Negotiating with enemies was always a hard task.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Stupid, inconvenient ledge too high for me to jump off of," Scarfacial growled, "Why must building fixtures always ruin my plan of escape? It happened at this very ledge after my failed attempt at trying to poison Annacaza..."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"The plot calls for it. Now, come with m - "

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Just kidding. I've survived falling off an airship once, I can do it again," he climbed over the ornate, gold covered rail.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"No." The blue dressed woman readied her string to catch him. It was safe, she reassured herself, as she set the wire settings to 'dull' this time. A net would be simple to weave.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"While I was distracting you with my thoughts of becoming a red splat in her highness' nightshade bushes, I get one free turn because of my initiati - "

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Let me guess: 'Sneak attack, bitch', am I right, or am I right?" muttered Florence. The trick would not work twice.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">There was no reply. At first, she was thoroughly confused. Then she spotted a certain ratchet man, bow slung around his back, making a break for the outer castle gates. Fooled again, by a human no less.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">On the ground, Scarfacial winced at his skin becoming a splinter and glass pincushion. At least he was alive. Him, his free cloak, and a weapon effective against whatever the girls were. Perfect.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Ha! The look on that crazy her face!" Scarfacial burst into laughter, pleased at the success of escaping two superpowered who-is-what's. Cunning escapes were in, and would be the norm for several years.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Sir, please get out," a serving maid appeared, pinching her nose, "You've drunk too much already, and the other patrons are complaining of the stench."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Never!" the wanderer said, "If they can't stand the smell, then they're not real men!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">The waitress smoothed her skirt and apron before brushing back her brown locks and whispering to the vagrant's ear.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I hear that there's a bounty for a man who resembles you quite a bit. You would be better leaving..."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I take back what I said, fine damsel!" Scarfacial flushed, "Do not worry, I'll be gone as fast as a lazy dog jumping over a quick fox."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">His head a swirling mess, he struggled to stumble out of the exit. He slammed into the door frame twice before Drinking too much fermented banana peel extract was always a bad thing, he decided. Hypothetically, if he were ambushed by a hypothetical observer, Scarfacial would have been incapable of defending himself, save for a bad breath attack.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Being as disoriented as a perp having water splashed on him, he pushed through crowds of people in the avenue. Night time near the palace, as always, was near claustrophobic and always full of gambling, drinks, and women. The area reminded him of a certain city within Desert Island, known for the exact three things, but only with a giant castle estate blocking the view.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"You look down. Have you ever tried renting our best girl from us? Only $4,000 USD per hour!" cried a fat man. He handed Scarfacial a card, gripping it in his oily, wrinkled fingers.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I have 1,337 SEK, is that a water drop?" Scarfacial studied the card, unable to decipher its meaning.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Water drop? No! Now stop wasting my time!" he shooed him away, obviously disappointed at the lack of money. Succubi was his best escort, and she did not come cheap.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Continuing on, gazing at the lights hanging off entrances in wonder, he arrived at a chic clothing boutique. Having had no interest in his appearance, Scarfacial questioned exactly why he stopped at that exact store. Lightly glowing, his pendant he wore started to burn, like that one time he fell off an airship. Good times.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"'Chica's' sounds great!" the drunk ex-hitman heartily laughed, studying the sign and the very chic-ish dressed mannequins, "Oh, ha! What if I found Annacaza in a place like this? She'd kill me, I'd bet my necklace on it!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Movement from the inside of the shop caught his eye, hair that he could recognize anywhere swept through. Three more followed, easily recognizable, except for the blue-haired cat. The group inside stopped at the checkout area, all bored and positively mortified at the thought of being in a woman's domain.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Wait, am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Scarfacial said in mild, only mild disbelief.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Back at the tavern, Melinda, the waitress, smiled.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I guess that bounty trick always works. Hah, as if that drunkard ever had a net worth... Now, time to manage tables 41-48..."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">She turned to a man at table 42 she recognized snogging with his friend. Melinda immediately stomped towards them, tray in hand ready to bludgeon.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Melinda! This isn't what it looks like!" he pushed the drunk friend off of him, "He's drunk, I had nothing to do with it!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Oh, save it for your new boyfriend!" the flat of her hand connected with his cheek, toppling him off his chair. She threw down her tray and stormed out the bar, crying her eyes out in the climatic rain. Because it just had to rain in that part of the city for her tragic break up.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Desiring some alone time under the pit-pit-patter of tiny droplets, Melinda took refuge in an alley, stopping and reflecting on what happened.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Excuse me?" someone tapped her shoulder. Well, tried to, as he was a tad shorter than desired.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"What?" Melinda snapped, "Can't you see that I'm having some precious screen time alone here?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Fourth Wall influences here? There seems to be more than just an ethereal rift hanging around, contrary to Annaryth's belief," the figure said, "Back on topic. Have you seen a man about 5'11, having a bow and an ugly face?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Yeah, so?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Do you happen to know, say, where he went?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"No, but I kicked him out. He was drunk as a typical night in the Vegas strip, and smelled like it."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I... Thanks," the figure said, vanishing from sight.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">A lead, after a few hours of fruitless searches, and a good one at that. While the woman didn't exactly know where his target went, she did add a crucial snippet of information. Unit KG-6 sniffed the air, inhaling a variety of odors. Deciphering the scents, he discarded the fumes from coal factories, the rose oil every woman doused themselves in, and the sharp scent of blood. All that was left was the scent trail of something pungent, like fermented banana peel juice with a splash of fish guts.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Found him."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Scarfacial signaling his arrival in an anticlimactic manner in three... two..." announced NoBanana.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">The door to Chica's burst open,

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Anna! You're alive!" cried Scarfacial in a completely out of character manner.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Scar! Why are you here?" Anna whipped her head towards her... towards Scar. She nearly knocked him off his feet as she tackle-hugged him.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Looks like someone mixed up the dialogue," said Indigo.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Am I the only one wondering how he survived a fall from several kilometres high?" asked Qoazilini.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Shut up and enjoy the reunion," NoBanana joined in on the group hug, ignoring the cashier's confused stare.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">After the unexpected regrouping, Annacaza paid for the dress and led the rest to an excellent hotel. Most hotels advertise bedbug free beds, but everyone who lived in the inner city knew the claims were all bull excretions. Unlike most overnight stays, though, The Home had some secret art to keeping their bedding bugs away.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Scarfacial, NoBanana, and Qoazilini rested after gathering in a room. Two beds were not enough, though, and Qoazilini was elected to sleep in another space, presumably alone. Annacaza, having been desiring privacy since her abduction, almost squee'd at her own private chambers.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I can't believe it - there aren't any bedbugs," NoBanana checked the undersides of his mattress and inside it, "You'd reckon there should have been, judging from last year's infestation. Only magic could drive them out."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Come on, magic doesn't exist," yawned Scarfacial, "Grow up."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Joke's on you, age is nothing to me."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I digress. I am living, breathing proof that it exists," interrupted Qoazilini.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Right, hey, who's the hot babe next to us?" ignored Scar.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"The one who tazed you and indirectly threw you off a boat from seven thousand feet."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"So you had hormonal surgery. Nice," the vagrant approved, "But your hair's a bit short. Aim for waist length."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"No way," she huffed, "It's not like I ever wanted to be a girl, idiot."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Then why do you look like one?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"My necklace did some weird things." she said.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"And mine saved me from being shark bait," Scarfacial muttered, "Yeah, I don't believe you."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">She scowled, about to do some old fashioned burn-you-alive chanting.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">He placed his hand on the new canteen of fermented banana peel extract.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">An argument was about to commence.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Not, arguments can be taxing to the mind, as what Idvidia Ravivsul stated. True colors can be shown through them, and irrational actions during them quite prevalent. To diffuse the situation, or more likely, a fuse between a slightly grimacing Qoazilini and a stubborn Scarfacial, NoBanana did the next best thing to mediating.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">He ripped the lantern hanging on the wall and hurled it at Scar's face.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Son of a - " the man blocked the projectile with his arms, hot candle wax splashing his skin. Glass shards embedded in his flesh, causing several stinging pains.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Just then, at the worst moment, the door squeaked open. Annacaza poked her head in, intrigued at the scene.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I like what I'm seeing," she nodded, "Well, I'm leaving to get some fresh air. Have fun."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Bye," waved NoBanana.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">After the princess left, Scarfacial turned towards the kid who threw a light fixture at him.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"What was that for?" he hissed.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I ended an argument before it escalated," NoBanana climbed into his bedding and pulled up his sheets, "Besides, what does one more scar mean to you?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Utterly savage," smiled Qoazilini, "It's late. I better go, too. You know, leave you two alone."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Like Annacaza, he left, leaving both professional and apprentice in a room. At least he didn't have to pay for the damages.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"These people are crazy," complained the magical girl, "I would've been a lot more prepared if I knew what was coming."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Qoazilini smoothed her hair as she unlocked the door to her temporary room. It was a good luck gesture, said to get rid of rogue static. Her eyes swept the room. The same as the other, but something in her gut told her otherwise.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Too late.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Luminescent ropes forced her still, resistant to any of her struggles. She attempted to say something, anything, to free her. Lucky her, a magic gag quickly removed any chance of escape.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I have a dead rat, clove oil, and a butter churn at my disposal. Guess what I'm going to do with you."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"What kind breakup happened to get this much rain?" wondered Annacaza.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Droplets soaked her scarf and dress, giving her the shivers. Stepping in a puddle, water splashed and covered her toes, causing the princess to curse at how cold she was. Still, she continued to weave in and out through the abandoned alleyways, as walking the right way would have taken half a day round trip.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Annacaza was crossing behind a fermented banana peel extract refinery when she realized that she wasn't alone. Sure, the heavy precipitation was noisy, but whoever was behind her, to put it bluntly, sucked at sneaking around. In curiosity, she turned around, energy already focused at whoever it was at this time at night.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"NoBanana?" she recognized the figure, "Weren't you in The Home, you know, checking for bedbugs?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Annaryth?" NoBanana mimicked the tone of her voice, "Weren't you, I don't know, planning some world domination in your throne room?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Wait, what? I'm not Annaryth. What's wrong..." and then she realized the terrible truth, "You're with Team Antagonist, aren't you?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I suppose I am," NoBanana shrugged.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"This is awkward," said Annacaza, "By the power of the sun a - "

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Too slow. Stay quiet and follow me," NoBanana activated his red-eye powers, "For the record, I have no idea who this 'NoBanana' person is. Just call me KG-6."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Having no choice but to shut up and obey, she strode with him in the cold, cold rain, her mind racing. Two NoBananas, she mentally cringed. That would be just stellar.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Never ending rainbow baked, frosted pastry cat sounds didn't help with KG-6's thinking, either. He regretted offering to become a test subject on the effects of the broken Fourth Wall. Numerous squeaks and meows messed with his thinking, which led him to a different target than what he intended.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Hopefully Annaryth would be delighted in the change of plans. Chapter Ten - It Must Be the Hunger <p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Blargety was sick. But then again, so was everyone. Our research expedition on Plateau was fruitless, even though everyone, even that obligatory comic relief butt monkey, knew something was wrong. Andrea just vomited on her target of a ring of onions. It's becoming a game, seeing who was the best at aiming a glob of projectile bile. So far, it was Belkar.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Then again, Blargety was acting a tiny bit weird. He began to complain of the voices that wouldn't stop, then screaming about how he wouldn't let it win. Nothing serious, but we all hope he gets better. E -

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Idvidia Ravivsul's Log #9+10, bits of an unknown substance chewed holes through the rest

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Annaryth was uncomfortable. She stared at her heavily gemmed and impractical sword, once again admiring its beauty. It took her mind off the unusual increase of collapsing episodes, coupled with voices berating her about everything, really. The voice would not be pleased at the sluggish pace of chipping away at the Fourth Wall. Something had to speed it up, like a descendent of...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Guess what I found?" said KG-6, "She starts with an A and ends with it, too."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Amaterasuna?" she guessed.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"The Corruption must really be getting to you. It's Annacaza," he sighed, "Contrary to popular belief, she's alive. I guess it's a plot twist."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Good, good, exactly what I needed," she smiled, "Bring her to me."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Skeleton machines, composed of shining stainless steel and wires, hauled her in. They had an unflattering appearance, prone to scaring away humans, but they were cheap. The first generation were nearing their obsolete function, Annaryth would have to recycle them for scrap, but if only she could remember to.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Beep boop," the automation on the left said.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I can't understand you; don't even try," the new princess turned away and gazed at Annacaza. Perfect.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Beep beep beeping beeping beep boop beep!" Lefty threw the already poor, kidnapped woman to the floor and stomped out of the room, cursing wildly.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Boop beep. Whir. Beep! Beep! Honk!" the one on the right left, chasing after the other like a prince chasing down a girl with glass slippers.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"What?" Annacaza rubbed her sore wrists.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Apologies, dear, the first gen is a laughingstock. Please take no offense at their attitude," said Annaryth.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Just who are you?" Annacaza asked. The woman occupying her throne was a carbon copy of herself, with the he same face shape and even that mole near her nose that she would scratch at. Brown locks piled high on her head, with what used to be Annacaza's tiara now complimenting it. Funny, though, thought the former royal, I hid that tiara, didn't I?

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Annacaza," her eyes suddenly glowed a sickly green, cracked grin spreading across her face, "I am your father."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Annaryth held the valuable sword overhead and sliced down. The princess could do nothing but watch the shining steel of the ceremonial sword of the Anna's move closer and closer.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Scarfacial awoke from a terrible nightmare where he was Annacaza about to be cleaved by an expensive sword. He gasped, taking in quick gulps of air and wiping cold sweats off his brow. Gripping his blankets, he slowly calmed down, bringing himself to normal breathing.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Yes, he remembered his feelings for the princess, even before they met again on the ship. The expression of betrayal on her face five years ago... He would never have gone back to rescue Annacaza again, if it weren't for NoBanana's persuasive social skills.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Six years ago, he was hired by a client of his to kill off the princess. He paid well, well enough that an early retirement at Paradise would be the future for him. Relaxing on the beach would be heaven compared to the high stress environment hitman lived for, and he heard that Paradise had several cosmetic surgeons on hand.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">At his hardest job yet, he acted like a busboy. Clumsy, oblivious, and sort of cute, he managed to do what no other man did - make Annacaza fall head over heels. She did suspect the scars, but love threw that observation out the window. Scarfacial, at least, to her, was as handsome as Prince Charming.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Then came the time to kill. Scarfacial remembered readying his crossbow, taking aim at her head as she was playing in the piano in some giant ornate room. Lady Luck had other plans, though, and a guard caught him in the act. Annacaza, startled at the shouted accusation, realized the truth, how she had been played, and that face would haunt Scar in his mind.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Being arrested wasn't an option, so Scarfacial did escape, jumping off a ledge and vanishing into the red light district, supposedly never to be seen again. That was when he met NoBanana suspiciously loitering around, but that was a story for another time.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Though he would never admit it, he had feelings for Princess Annacaza, formed as he spent time with her. Like a cliche assassination plot, but weirder.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">A dream involving her in danger is probably a warning, he thought as he pulled himself out of bed, and I trust how the plot works, I have to do something.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Hey, Scar," croaked NoBanana, rolling out of his sleep, "It's early. What's wrong?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"My dream tells me that Annacaza's in danger, and I also had a sudden exposition flashback to a few years ago. Pretty sure that's a bad sign," he replied, wrapping himself in that ragged black cloak that could have been considered a fashion statement.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Cool. I'll help."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Bursting out of his room, he carried on to the next, knocking on the door. No response.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Anna, are you there?" he said.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Still, nobody answered. Something was very wrong.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Anna!" his knocks escalated to bangs on the door, causing it to nearly break.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Stop. I'll pick the lock," the child stepped in. He inserted two thin, bent rods in the keyhole and heard a click as the lock snapped.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">To say Scarfacial barged in was an underestimate. Like a rhino, he nearly tore the door off its hinges, which would have resulted in a permanent ban from the hotel. His breaths started to choke as it became apparent Annacaza was not there.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Let me guess, she got kidnapped... Again," NoBanana deduced, "I wonder who's to blame."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Meow. I have awoken," purred Indigo, "And that woman is missing? Funny. My familia's murderer is gone as well."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Anna and Qoazi are gone... I'm gonna kill that bastard," said Scarfacial.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"They're at the palace. I can feel it, so let's go!" said NoBanana.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">He hurriedly brought his gun and stuffed it in his waistband, also snatching a bag of coins for a decent pair of crossbows. NoBanana scooped up Indigo and followed as well.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Rain drops from the previous night soaked his cloak and face as he exited The Home. Scarfacial frantically searched every shop, nook, and suspicious alleyway for even a trace of those beautiful brown locks. He would find her, he swore it.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">For the thousandth time, Qoazilini repeated the mantra in her mind. Ode till guden av bröstvårtor, Svara mine böner och frige mig från min plikt. Ode till guden av bröstvårtor, Svara mine böner och frige mig från min plikt.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">The belief that telepathic commands could activate a spell was widely regarded as what homeopathy was to Big Pharma. Words were needed to even summon a spark of magic, which was why wizards tended to keep their necks protected. Even so, she had to get out of her bonds.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Whatever occurred during the past few hours was something she wanted, in fact, craved to forget. Qoazilini was sick to the stomach, tempted to vomit at another whiff of clove oil, if not for her magic gag.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Indigo had whispered to her that he would be back, so the time of escape would be now. Now, before any more traumatizing events could make its way into her mind.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Ode till guden av bröstvårtor, Svara mine böner och frige mig från min plikt.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">She missed having her old spell emulation enhancement. It would have made thinking a lot easier, and less embarrassing than asking for a god's help.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Ode till guden av bröstvårtor, Svara mine böner och frige mig från min plikt.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Focusing on herself in bird's eye view, she had a twinge of hopelessness. Here she was, as hopeless as a fairy plunged in a barrel of fat, relying on pesudomana to escape. She had to, she couldn't bear another moment in this dark, smelly, sore room.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Please. Please answer my prayer. I'm not even religious, but I'm praying to anyone I can.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">For a moment, the wizard felt something. A spark. It jolted from her floating eyes, through invisible chords into her body, and electrified everything. The tingling feeling almost made her giggle.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Her vision became red, and a burning sensation surrounded herself. It like someone dipped her in eggs, floured her, and then boiled her in a deep fat frying pan of magma. In the heat, Qoazilini swore that her cells were personally crying and begging for mercy, and also petitioning for the closure of Chik-Fil-Aela due to animal ethics.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">After what felt like hours, she slightly wiggled her hand, noticing that her ties vanished. Victory was hers, and she knew it. Sadly, it seemed as though her exterior eyes fizzled away, so she was left in the darkness, forced to grope her way out of the room.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Eventually, she made it out, and stumbled past the receptionist when it was clear the rag tag group of non-magical beings had left her.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Yeah, leave, you bum!" the concierge exclaimed, "Take your clove oil elsewhere, you cross dressing man!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Wait, Man?" she asked. Qoazilini was taken aback at the sudden deepness of her voice.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"What do you mean, 'Man?'" she hissed, "You have a chest as flat as a board a masculine face shape. Of course you're a man!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Qoazilini reached towards his chest and nearly wept in joy when she noticed the conspicuous lack of breast tissue.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Yes!" he sprinted out of The Home, "I'm free!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">...

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"There's a weak point on the east side. Not as many guard towers there to witness your approach, so you should be safe," Melinda handed Scarfacial an old, tattered map.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">They stood outside the palace walls, a shy away from bloodthirsty guards. Indigo perched on NoBanana's shoulder, mewing with intrigue.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"May I ask why you have blueprints to the most fortified stronghold in the world, and just giving it to three shady people on the street?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"My ex gave it to me. He'd get in trouble if the plans leaked, but who am I to care?" she grinned in a devious fashion, "Besides, you look like you need them."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Gee, thanks," Scarfacial warily grabbed the parchment, worried about explosives etched on the paper. They said their goodbyes and parted ways.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"We must be really suspicious if a passerby would say that," said NoBanana.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Me, a magical blue cat. You, a male who's seen better days with crossbows strapped to his arms. Him… An odd child with a high composition of metal. Nope, I see nothing wrong with that," snarked Indigo, "We'd better move before anyone who can detain us can notice."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Hands in the air, before I shoot these little bolts in your fat bums and feast on your remains!" someone, dressed in an official Queen's Guard armour. He nocked his crossbow at the group, poised for battle ten feet away.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"You're not you when you're hungry," the child complied with the guard's demands, "Try our specialty at the Wikiu Bistro; you'll love the cool, steel taste in your mouth."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Nothing happened. The guard was caught off balance by the comment, but quickly regained his composure. His finger twitched, about to launch a lethal projectile right at someone's head.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"You'll love the cool, steel taste in your mouth," strained NoBanana, pointedly staring at Scarfacial.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Oh, right," the man quickly shot the armored sentry with a bolt piercing straight through his mouth, a spray of blood exiting through the back. Collapsing, the possible anger issued male uttered one last breath, before becoming soaked in his own crimson liquid.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"An almost perfect line, fitting for a bestselling spy novel, and you ruined it," NoBanana strode towards the ornate front gate, teeming with other soldiers, "And I even made a reference to a popular chocolate confectionary…"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Kid, you know you're heading to a lion's cave full of the same men that I just murdered?" Scar stopped him, "I'd prefer it if we could, say, sneak in and avoid as many as possible?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Why do that when many of the Queen's Guards are corrupt as Plateau?" laughed NoBanana, "We can just bribe them."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">As they approached, the sentinels in their elegant mithril suits of armor straightened up, put away their flasks of cheap vodka, and wore a snarl that would drive off any sane being. The one in the center, likely the leader, stomped towards the three, exhaling a cloud of gas that resembled the odor of Satan's crotch.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"What the Hell do you want?" he growled, "If you're trying to bribe us, we'll have to decline. Annaryth's been cracking down on corruption, and I'll have to arrest you. Prison quotas and stuff, you'll understand."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Not really, I'm sort of new here," replied NoBanana, "We just want to have a tour, you know? Any tour groups around?"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Wait a…" his eyes widened to the size of The Cheesecake Factory* dinner plates. He immediately stood erect and bowed, almost contemplating the thought of kissing the kid's hand.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"I forgot it was you coming back, sir. Please forgive me, but I could've sworn you arrived mid morning," the guard popped in a few breath mints to improve the smell. It did little to help.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"So you wanted to come in with your friends? Yes, sir, I'll open the gates," he bobbed his head and lead him towards his group, "Hey, Francis, open the vault, winter's here!"

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"You're some royal's illegitimate son, aren't you," concluded Indigo as they casually strolled through the entrance gardens, thankfully past the smelly sausages of troperific mooks. The feline couldn't stand another second, lest he snap to his homicidal Rai'den state.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"No, they just fell for my natural 18 charisma. I can insist that my parent did not have sexual relations with that woman."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Suspiciously specific denial confirmed. Perhaps we should scry for your family when this is over."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">As they arrived at the entrance at the end of a winding filovirus shaped path, Scarfacial couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear. That was the lion's cave, home to Trialtest and her Milan wannabe friend. They could not be defeated in a fair fight - Hell, even in an unfair one. The two seemed to be made of metal, immune to both conventional weapons and poison and probably any sub orbital ion cannon manufactured by Spire Inc., a family company.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">"Me and Indie have to take a piss," said NoBanana, "We'll catch up with you later. Trust me, not even thinking about bailing out or anything..."

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">So the child and pet left, leaving the terribly nervous man alone in an old place with new, overpowered enemies. Great.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">Until he heard the scream.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">*The Cheescake Factory has notoriously large portions.

<p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;">**You're not you when you're hungry.