Eriol and Mintaka were bored in the Hellmaster's surprisingly cheery palace, but too polite to show it. Pandora may have been a very sweet woman, and a credit to the human race, but she hadn't been in touch with children in a LONG time, and was smothering them with her motherly instinct.

"Hey Eriol," Mintaka picked absently at the rug he was stretched out on.

"Nani?" Eriol looked up from the book he was reading.

"Don't you think we've sat around enough?" Mintaka asked.

Eriol blinked. "What do you mean? We're waiting for Big Sister Daryl, aren't we?"

"Yeah, but . . ." Mintaka frowned, "Why should we just sit around and do nothing? Won't she be happier if we took some action? Did something noble?"

Eriol paused to think about this. "Maayyybe . . . but what do you think we could do?"

Mintaka leapt to his feet with a smile. He was ready for this.

"Do you remember," he asked, "That book I read?"

"The ONLY one you read." Eriol rolled his eyes. "The one about the sleeping lady in the crystal."

"Yeah! That one!" Mintaka's eyes showed his excitement. "The Wise One! She put herself asleep for a thousand years! They say that the one that awakens her will be given the answer to ANY question!"

"And what do you want to ask her, pray tell?" Eriol sighed.

"You should know that one." Mintaka said softly. "It's the same for you too."

Eriol paused, a hurt look coming to his face. It was the truth, however. Ever since both boys had come in contact with their spiritual "parents" Neptune and Mars, they wondered, deep inside, just how much of a person they were . . . and how much of a construct of the two mighty gods.

"Ok," Eriol put his book down. "I suppose it's something to do."

"YAHOO!" Mintaka whooped and swung the young Zora around. "This will be OUR great adventure!"

From around the doorpost, Phebrizo the Hellmaster smiled to himself.

"Well well, I can't make it TOO easy on them, now can I?" his grin deepened. Was it simply impish and capricious, or was it somehow . . . sinister?

All Eriol and Mintaka knew as they set out, using the palace's dimensional transporter, is that it was their time . . . for an ADVENTURE of their own!

--Darylohki, "your turn, Excal"

SYE: "Sir! I must protest! This is cruel and unusual punishment, totally unjustifiable!"

Living Tribunal: "We're sorry, but your contract clearly states 'must serve the wishes of the Interdeity Council in all circumstances, no matter what those wishes may be, or face an eternity upside-down in Pikacthluthu jam'. We have the jam ready, if you insist."

Jam: "PeeeeKAAAA....PeeeeeeeeeKHAAAAAAAAaaAAAAaaaa..."

SYE: shudders "Very well. But I'm filing an official protest!"

Moments later, a cute puffy bunny rabbit materializes near the exit to the teleporter Eriol took. Around its neck is a sign, which reads, "Greetings. I am your Obligatory Cute Animal Spirit Guide, here to Guide You on your Quest for which you need Guidance On. (Oi.)"

Eriol bent down and looked at the rabbit.

"What's that?" Mintaka looked at it. "Food?"

"No, I think it's a . .. guide?" Eriol raised an eyebrow.

"I still think it looks like lunch." Mintaka sniffed. "Rabbits are GOOD eatin'."

"Cut it OUT, Mintaka." Eriol clipped him on the back of the head with one flipper. "What's your name, lil bunny foo foo?"

--Darylohki ^o^

*In the Kingdom of Yeria, near the town of Pax, two young humans are walking along the road. One is dressed in leather armour with a short sword on his belt, and a composite bow and a quiver of arrows across his back. Some of his blond hair spilled out from under the leather cap he wore. His companion carried a staff and wore a plain robe with several pouches. His long brown hair spilled down over his hood which was pulled back.*

2nd person: Why're we doin' this?

1st person: Simple! We're gonna go and find the Wise One. The lady that helped Canis forge his mighty sword Neuvesper.

2nd: Yes, Garain. I knew that.

Garain: Well, we're gonna go and find her. And then we're gonna find out how to become great heros like Canis. And how you can become a master mage. Isn't that what you want, Rael?

Rael: Yes, but I already knew how to do that. I just have to keep studying and practising.

Garain: It's great field practise. We're gonna see plenty of monsters on this quest. And we're both gonna get a lot better at fightin.

Rael: Do you even know where to start the search? All we know are legends.

Garain: So, we're gonna go and learn the legends. They can't all be wrong.

Rael: Sigh, you're not gonna stop, are you.

Garain: Not until I'm a hero like the great Canis.

Rael: Well, I guess I'm gonna go with you. You're gonna need someone to help you outta the scrapes you're gonna get into.

Garain: Oh please. You're just comin because you know that Bertha's gonna start picking on you again now that I'm not there to protect you.

Rael: Am not.

Garain: (singing it)Are too.

Rael: Am not!

Garain: Are too!

Rael: AM NOT!

Garain: ARE TOO!

Rael: AM... Huh, who're they?

Gariain: Who? Oh, them...

*They see two figures just a ways off. One is a zora, although neither of them have seen a Zora before. And the other is red with wings and horns.*

Garain: They must be monsters!

Rael: Are you sure? I've never heard of monsters like them before.

Garain: Have you ever heard of people like them before?

Rael: Hmmm, guess you're right... So what're we gonna do?

Garian: Let's go get 'em!

*The two of them go up to Eriol and Mintaka. Then, Rael gets into spell casting position while Garain draws his sword.*

Garain: Alright, monsters! Let's fight!

Rael: Are you sure they're monsters? They don't look wild or savage.

Garain: Hey, you just ruined my great battle speach.

Rael: Yes. But I don't think they're monsters. They look sorta like scaly kids.

Garain: Rael! Haven't you learned anything? If they're scaly then they're not human and not a pet animal. That means that they're dangerous animals!

Rael: I dunno. Maybe we should ask them. Well, are you guys monsters?

Excal, your turn Daryl.

SYE: .oO(I really hate Polymorph spells! Couldn't I've just worn a rabbit suit?! Oi...oh great, here come the ornery local yokels.)

Eighth trundled around on his little bunny foots.

SYE: "What ho, brave adventurers! I am...er...Piece du Huit. Yo--thou, hast been gathered here by the Fates at the whims of Time and Causality and Globber, God of Muffin Tins to embark together on a quest to free the Great Sage from her sleep .oO(Although she'll probably be pretty narked off, after all she's sleeping for a reason, isn't she?) Rejoice, for together you shall not fail in your quest! .oO(You'll just succeed and get killed or something).

The four humanoids blink in non-comprehension.

SYE: "Aw spoon it, go fraternize with each other, I need a drink..."

Eighth hopped behind a bush and took a pull on a concealed bottle of Happy Juice.

[OOC Note: Mintaka is a dark grayish color with black hair, horns, and wings-- NOT red, although his element is fire. Got that straight? good.]

. . . as their rabbit disappeared and they were left alone with the two young humans.

"Monsters?" Mintaka looked confused.

"What do they mean, Mintaka?" Eriol turned to his friend.

"I think they think we're enemies, Eriol." Mintaka answered. "Best not to take chances-- maybe they're the bad guys!"

"But they just look like normal kids to me . . ." Eriol cocked a head to one side in thought.

"I don't trust 'em-- that guy pulled a sword on us!" Mintaka decided, his teeth bared.

"MinTAKA!" Eriol growled. "I'm not gonna go questing with you anymore if you're gonna be THAT dense." He turned to Rael, who seemed to be the smarter of the two. "Hallo there. No, we're not monsters. We're 'chibi bishonens,' or at least that's what Big Sister Daryl calls us. I'm Eriol and he's Mintaka. Who might you be?"

--Darylohki, who is turning to absolute GOO with these kawaiiii lil chibis!!!

*As The Bunnified SYE Drank His Happy Juice, A Noise Stirred His Attention. He Looked Up, And For The Few Seconds He Had Left, Was Suprised To See A Small Rock Headed His Way. Seconds Later There Was A Loud "CRACK!", And SYE Was Dead. Again. Garain And Rael Looked Up* <Garain> Oh My God, They Killed... That... Cute... Bunny Thing.... <Rael> You.... Spoony.... Baka's? *Suddendly, A Oddly Dressed Man With A Ragged Beard Appeared, The Offending Sling In Hand. He Picked Up The Carcas, And Walked Off. SYE Would Later Be Turned Into A Felt Bag Used To Hold Small Shiny Stones And A Copy Of The Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy*

((OOC-Sorry, I Just Couldnt Resist This Joke. ))

(OOC: Okay, thanks for correcting me. Forgot what they looked like and guessed instead of looking it up.)

*Garain stands there completely stunned. He blinks a few times, and then finally manages to say something.*

Garain: It... talked...

Rael: Yes, if you had been listening, you would have heard them call themselves Chibi-bishounens.

Garain: Chibi-bishounen? Maybe it's some animal that's never been seen in Karenas before?

Rael: Then how come they're here? The only things I've heard of that weren't from Karenas before are the Verinians.

Eriol: I don't think that chibi-bishounens are a type of monster. I know I'm a Zora. And I think Big Sis Daryl called a human a chibi-bishounen.

Garain: Really?

Rael: Wait! We forgot to tell you our names. I'm Rael. I'm a mage in training.

Garain: And I'm Garain. I'm training to be a great hero like Canis! And I'm starting by trying to find the Wise One! The great sage that taught Canis what he needed to know to defeat the villeanous Verinas.

Rael: Yup. That's why we're heading to Trekk. We're gonna go to the head office of the Hero Guild and see what they have in the legends about the wise one.

Garain: So, why're you two travelling?

Excal, still hoping we avoid Chu-chu levels of cuteness.

(OOC: Okay, thanks for correcting me. Forgot what they looked like and guessed instead of looking it up.)

*Garain stands there completely stunned. He blinks a few times, and then finally manages to say something.*

Garain: It... talked...

Rael: Yes, if you had been listening, you would have heard them call themselves Chibi-bishounens.

Garain: Chibi-bishounen? Maybe it's some animal that's never been seen in Karenas before?

Rael: Then how come they're here? The only things I've heard of that weren't from Karenas before are the Verinians.

Eriol: I don't think that chibi-bishounens are a type of monster. I know I'm a Zora. And I think Big Sis Daryl called a human a chibi-bishounen.

Garain: Really?

Rael: Wait! We forgot to tell you our names. I'm Rael. I'm a mage in training.

Garain: And I'm Garain. I'm training to be a great hero like Canis! And I'm starting by trying to find the Wise One! The great sage that taught Canis what he needed to know to defeat the villeanous Verinas.

Rael: Yup. That's why we're heading to Trekk. We're gonna go to the head office of the Hero Guild and see what they have in the legends about the wise one.

Garain: So, why're you two travelling?

Excal, still hoping we avoid Chu-chu levels of cuteness.

Dang Server Hangup...

Eighth was getting a bit irritated. SOMEONE, or SOMETHING was determined to kill him even more frequently than usual. He made a mental note to find said perpetrator and introduce him to his friends, Fist and Foot.

SYE: hopping along "Well, at the rate they're going I've got a few hours before they get through their introductions. Time to do a little research."

A few moments later, an elderly man was seated in the heart of the Trekkian library, surrounded by tomes, scroll cases, really big stone tablets, and, oddly enough, a few DVD players.

SYE: "Right. Now, just have to compile this into a passable authentic legend."

"HEY! Just WHAT do you think you're doing!? It was MY idea to go look for the Wise One!!!!"

"Calm down, Mintaka." Eriol slapped his forehead, embarrassed. "Sorry Rael, Garain. It looks like we're on the same quest. What an odd coincidence! If you want, we can share the information we have . . ."

"WHAT!?" Mintaka snarled at the Zora-child. "NO WAY!! It was MY IDEA and we're NOT SHARING INFO WITH STRAGERS!!!!"

"MINTAKA!!" Eriol roared, growing three feet and glowing angrily. "ZIP IT!!"

Mintaka fell on his butt, eyes wide, as Eriol coughed and returned to normal.

"As I was saying, before I was SO RUDELY INTERUPTED, would you like to travel with us?"

--Darylohki

Garain: You're also seeking the wise one?

Rael: Well, what do you say, Garain. I think it'd be fun to join them.

Garain: More friends always make the trip better.

Eriol: So you're gonna join us?

Garain: Yep!

Eriol: YAY!

Rael: Umm, but where're you goin?

Mintaka: (blinks) ummmmmmm...

Eriol: Uh, well, we were heading for the forgotton peak, but...

E and M: We don't know where it is.

Rael: Sounds like they know what we know

"Ha! We know a LOT MORE THAN YOU!!" Mintaka sniffed.

"If you did, you'd know where the Forgotten Peak is," Garain countered.

Mintaka scowled "That's just a stupid spoony deatail."

"Watch your mouth!" Eriol warned him.

"But we DO know where to go after we get there."

"Who doesn't?" Garain replied. "After you go there and get the Sage's Pendant then you go to the forbidden Craigrock Isle. Just like Canis did a thousand years ago. It's in ALL the legends about the Wise One."

"Course," Rael cut it, "there's no story that says where Canis hid the Pendant after he got it cause there's no place called the Forgotten Peak."

"No Forgotten Peak?" Eriol and Mintaka both said together.

Garain shook his head. "Nope. That's why nobody's woke her yet. They can't find the Pendant to wake her."

"And THAT'S why we're gonna go to Trekk!" Rael concluded. "We're gonna read the old legends and try ta find out where the place is from them."

"Wanna come with us?" Garain finished.

Garain, goin by a different name for this thread.

Eighth poured over the volumes.

SYE: "Let's see...find Forgotten Peak, battle the Rael-Tae-Rhal, retreive the Pendant of the Maiden, travel to Craigrock Isle by invoking Sael, the Evil-Minded-Flame-Spewing-Sea-Monster-from-Westphalia, confront the bridgemaster and answer he his questions three, cross the Bridge of Trump, confront and defeat the Diabolical Demon of Doom, enter the Crystal Chamber, use the Pendant with the Cup of Nyquillan to enter Dream Realm, convince Lady to awaken, use Pickaxe on Crystal, ask question! Right! Now...Forgotten Peak..."

Eighth reviews his summary notes.

SYE: .oO(The only official record of Canis's journey comes from the journals of Plinnie the Middle-Aged, who heard it from Abdallah the Slightly Deranged Fruit Merchant of Lower Al-Balaztazza, AKA the Migratory Island. Unfortunately...)

Eighth set down the flamed, moth-eaten, water-blurred, torn and ragged journal.

SYE: .oO(Plinnie was attacked by the forces of Azrael the Anti-Semetic shortly after his final entry.)

Diary: "*blurred text* thye *blurred*: Wonyderfull dhaye today to ghoe sail*hole* whye just last night I saw Selene skirt the stain of Hammerjug and what the sod is *really huge scortched bit with blood on the edges*"

SYE: "Wait! That's it!"

He hastily clears a spot on the mammoth workdesk and slaps down Grendleworth's Gyude to Thee Heavens.

SYE: "The distant world Selene (now called Azarus for no conceivable reason) passes over the constellation of the Hammer and Jug of Hammerjug once every thirty years before the Planet was shifted in the Cataclysm (if those old Summeriran texts are accurate)! Canis lived at most 475 years ago, so...three possible dates, year 1034 BX, 1004 BX, 974 BX...records show Abdallah was at the Crucifixtion of Borris 1005 BX, but his head was found in a vat of cheese in 980 BX, so we're talking 1004 BX. For Plinnith to have written this as his second to last entry and to have seen said incident, must be in month of Grune, the fifth, meaning Lower Al-Balaztazza was....HERE! Sea of Arbellage! Abdallah said the whole deal went down three days previous, that he left Canis's ship and landed on the island immediately after it passed the floating country."

Eighth drummed his fingers on the table and took a swig of milk.

SYE: "No weather records for the Sea of Arbellage that time, so no way to tell where Canis's ship would've come from. Wait...yes! I remember trying to order in a box of Aztekkian doughnuts and the portmaster telling me the current of Aztekka was calm and it would be half-price for shipping! Canis had to have gone straight from Al-Bal to Gelleppo to have arrived by 4th Bruene like the legends say, and if the seas were calm he would have come from..."

Eighth draws a line connecting Gellppo and Al-Bal, extrapolates, and...

"HA! The Rock of Amnesia (now submerged after the sea-quake of 1044), off the coast of Whareemeye, now called Upper Cytheria! "Forgotten Peak," mine buttocks!"

Librarian: "Sir, please don't draw on the maps!"

SYE: "Shut up! I'm busy!"

Moments later, at the Archives of the Guild of Legends...

SYE: "Right, here's the Canis file...just have to give a subtle hint for them to find..."

Eighth takes a map, neatly circles Upper Cytheria with an arrow pointing to Forgotten Peak, and writes, "Go here!"

Eriol picked up the manuscript and eyed it, confused.

"Go here?" Mintaka grinned. "Wow! That was easy!"

"I dunno, maybe it was a little TOO easy." Eriol tapped a finger on the map. "I mean, 'Rocks of Amnesia' and 'Forgotten Peak' DO make sense as to being the same place. But . . ."

"But what?" Mintaka giggled happily and huggled the map.

"PLEASE do not huggle the map!" the librarian said sternly.

Everyone blinked.

"When did HE get here?" Garain puzzled.

"I have NO idea." Rael answered.

"ANYWAY, I think that this COULD be a trap." Eriol reasoned. "Why else would it be so obvious?"

"Aww, come off it Eriol." Mintaka waved away his fears with a hand. "IF it's a trap, and I'm SURE it's not," he grinned and his fingernails grew slightly, becoming razor-sharp claws, "I think we're MORE than a match for someone THAT obvious."

A smile spread across Garain's face.

"I like your style." he grinned at Mintaka.

So, the chibis scooped up the map and gleefully began their journey towards the Rock of Amnesia with an intelligent air-- they went outside town to level a bit and get some money to buy equipment.

After they left, the librarian shifted shape until he resembled a small child . . .



"This is going to be loads of fun!" Hellmaster Phebrizo giggled under the blue blue sky.

--Darylohki who says "THERE, for all you non-Slayers ppl, is what Phebrizo looks like.

Eighth flew above the party via the flapping of his bunny ears.

SYE: "Sheesh, if I'd known they were such paranoids I would've booby-trapped the map! Guess I WILL have to be subtle. How irritating."

Eighth flops back onto the ground.

SYE: "Hrm, a crude pit trap...*looks under pit mat*...which, when disarmed, activates a Summon Gigademon spell! Well well well, someone does have it in for our intrepid adventurers! Now, how to tip them off?"

Eighth does something "subtle" and then reclines behind a bush.

*As they wander the fields, the group wanders near the pit trap that SYE had noticed earlier. Then, they stop suddenly as Garain spots something.*

"Alright, what is it this time?" Rael sighs.

"I think there's a trap up ahead," Garain replied, his voice far more subdued than usual.

Rael blinked as he took this in. "A trap? Out here? Who'd want to put a trap out here?"

"Maybe they're trying to trap some animals?" Eriol supplied helpfully.

Garain shook his head. "Nuh-uh. You don't catch animals with something like that. Look, that patch of grass there is a different shade of green suggesting a pit trap. But the really dangerous part is right behind the shrub."

"My eyesight isn't as good as yours Garain. Could you just tell me what's behind the shrub?"

"A rabbit," Garain said with the most serious voice Rael could ever remember him using.

"You mean like the ones which got into Pax last year?" Rael asked, his voice troubled.

"Yup."

"What's so bad about rabbits?" Eriol asked.

"Yeah, they're nice n' tasty!" added Mintaka.

They were rewarded with a look of disbelief from Garain and Rael.

"Wow, you two really aren't from around here," Garain said in awe. "Everyone around here is really afraid of rabbits. Tell 'em, Rael."

Rael shuffled a bit and drew himself up as tall as he could. Then, clearing his throat and taking a deep breath, he launched into his best imitation of his mage school teacher.

"Rabbits are a species which spread across Karenas prolifically. Their harmless exterior and lack of any physical proficiency hide their true strength. Due to the mixture of oils in their fur which leading alchemists have been unable to duplicate rabbits are incredibly powerful magically. Although due to their low intellect rabbits do not often use magic, they will do so when they are frightned or if they are hurt causing massive explosions of magical energy which few can survive. Conversly, their magical hide also makes them extremely vulnerable to magic and a spell which would normally do nothing to a normal human is fatal to a rabbit. Because their skin is so magical, it makes a wonderful focus for more powerful spells although it will be used up in the process."

After finishing all of that Rael just stood there looking quite pleased with himself for having remembered all of what the book had said.

"And no creature naturally takes THAT position but human." finished Garain. "But, just give me a few seconds and I can easily get rid of that!"

Garain got his bow ready and nocked an arrow. Pulling back the string he aimed carefully. Then, he loosed the arrow. Garain then jerked his arm up in celebration as he saw the arrow hit dead on.

"Alright! I bagged a rabbit!" crowed Garain.

"Great. Can you go and clean the rabbit for me?" Rael asked the joyous Garain. "It'll be something great to have later. I'm gonna go check that trap. It feels a bit magical. Mintaka, Eriol, he's gonna be like that for a while, so you might wanna join me."

Garain, knew he was gonna get the rabbit bit in somewhere or other.

Eight hopped out from behind the bush.

SYE: "Ho! We meet again, brave adventurers, and I see thee hast cleverly espied the trap placed yonder by the Great Evil Menace! However, I must now give you, Lord Gawain, one important piece of advice!"

Eighth leaps up, grabs Gawain and drags him down to ground level.

SYE: "DON'T....SHOOT...THE CUTE ANIMAL SPIRIT GUIDE, LUMMOX!!!"

Eighth slapped Gawain around a bit (with surprising effectiveness for his size) and hopped off, the arrow still lodged in his skull.

Garain had a definite feeling that something was very, very wrong. After all, to his knowledge, rabbits didn't talk or smack. And yet that's exactly what that rabbit had done to him. Garain's mind, sharp even though it was young, came to an immeadiate conclusion. This rabbit was not normal. And a rabbit not only able to survive a shot to the head, but still talk and smack afterwards must be destroyed at all costs.

Coming to that conclusion, Garain quickly went over his resources. Which amounted to pretty much just his bow and arrows for this task. However, even though he was primarily a fighter, he did know a few magic tricks that Rael had taught him. With this in mind, he pulled out one of his special arrows with a rune on it. Drawing the bow back, he chanted the proper words and the rune on the arrowhead glowed red. Then, having aimed, he fired at the rabbit.

The arrow flew true even though it didn't hit dead on. Then again, it didn't have to. When it hit the rabbit the rune activated and the rabbit burst into flame. The magical flames hit the fur of the rabbit and caused an immense magical fire which turned the rabbit into ash rather quickly.

"Hmph, a rabbit smack ME!" sniffed Garain as he put his bow back and went off to find Rael and the others.

Garain, mmm, extra crispy.

Death: "This Is Becoming Tiresome."

Eighth whirls about, grabs fistfuls of Death's robe, and hauls himself up to Death's petrified face.

SYE: "SHUT.....UP!!!!"

Death: "Perhaps You Should Reconsider What You Have Just Done."

There is a tense silence.

SYE: "Eh heh heh....sorry..." hurrily releases Death

Death: "Excellent. It Would Have Been Vexing Going Through All The Trouble Of Teleporting You To The Maw Of Eternal Torment."

SYE: "I'm sorry, I really am, its just this assignment is so very very very VERY....*holds breath and counts to ten*....irritating."

Death: "You Don't Say?"

SYE: "That was sarcasm and totally uncalled for!"

Death shrugs.

A portal appears in the nothingness.

SYE: "Right. takes out Rod of Polymorph Now, a few modifications..."

Seconds later, at the base of Forgotten Peak, 3 kilometers from the trigger-happy-paranoid-schizophrenic-brainless (excluding the chibis) adventurers, a bear, clad head to hind in +77 Godly Full Plate Barding, bearing a sign around its neck that read "Replacement FRIENDLY (i.e. NOT HOSTILE) magic (IN A GOOD WAY) animal guide to guide you on your quest. For the love of all that is holy DO NOT ATTACK!!!!!", appeared.

*SYE In Bear Form Stood There, Waiting For The Chibi Adventurers* <SYE> Where Are They? They Should Be Here Anytime No.... Waitasec, Whats That? *SYE Noticed A Growing Shadow Beneath Him. He Looked Up, And Was Suprised To See That The Shadow Was Being Made By A Large Sperm Whale. And It Was Currently Heading Right Twords Him* <SYE> Oh SPOON IT.... *The NExt Sounds That Were Heard Was The Sperm Whal Crashing To The Ground.* <Random NPC1> Oh My God, They Killed The Bear! <Random NPC2> YOU SPOONY BAK... Huh? *The Two NPC's Looked In Suprise As SYE Climed Out From Underneath The Whale. Bruised, Bloody, Hurt, But Not Dead*

<SYE> HAH! TAKE THAT FATE! This Armor Is Impervious To Sperm Whales, Bullets, Swords, Elephants, Baby Panda's, Steamer Trunks, Piano's, Harp's, And Even Kitchen Sinks! And There's No Chance The Only Thing Its NOT Impervious To Would Hit.... *SYE Was Cut Off As A Pot Of Petunia's (Which Had Also Been Falling With The Sperm Whale) Collided With His Head. Unfortunetly For SYE, A Falling Pot Of Petunia's Was The One Thing The Armor WASNT Impervious To. And SYE Fell Dead. Again*


((OOC-I Swear, Killing SYE Is Becoming A Sport. ))

Eighth sat down, as the Living Tribunal ruminated.

Living Tribunal: "Thou hast both made excellent cases. Regretfully, due to the absence of the defendant, I am unable to grant a literary restraining order to the plaintiff, Agent Section Yea Eighth, against the defendants, X of Liquid and Excal of the Vigilantes."

SYE: "Drat!"

Death: having intervenor status "Sir, I Must Protest. The Parties Concerned Are Clearly Inhibiting The Legally Required Duties Of This Agent, And Forcing Him To Violate Standing Order Twenty-Eight, To Wit: "No Agent Shalt Abuse Their Nigh-Immortality By Utilizing Ressurection More Than One Time Per Assignment Per Target Timeline." I Request A Moratorium On Further Deaths To The Agent Until The Completion Of His Current Assignment."

Living Tribunal: "Am I/We correct in mine discernment when I speculate thou hast a personal interest in this matter?"

Death: "Although I Have An Infinity Of Time, And Can Be Everywhere All At Once, And Indeed Am Everywhat And Everwhy And Everywho As Well...I Have Had To Call In Backup."

Death of Rats: "Squeak."

Death of Fleas: "Yah! We overworked!"

Death of Eighths (newly christened): "I'm workin' minimum wage here!"

Living Tribunal: "Very well. The Moratorium is granted."

The Living Tribunal slammed an infinite gavel, and nothingness returned.

SYE: "Thanks."

Death: "Believe Me, The Less I See Of You, The Better."

Shortly thereafter a beaver bearing a white flag piffed next to the mangled sperm whale corpse, performed last rites upon it (and wished the continually ressurected spirit good luck in its quest for Dent), incinerated it, and set up a tent in front of the Peak.

:I couldn't have done it better myself.: he laughed his childlike, sinister laugh. :That idiot practically BEGS for death.:

Phebrizo skipped along happily, to the rest of the world appearing an innocent little boy, young and full of spirit. No one would have guessed he was a several million year old god, father of three, and sadistic maniac whose favorite activities included keeping people alive for as long as he possibly could, just to see them SQUIRM.

:Let's see how good this . . . snicker . . . beaver here can be.:

Assuming his most innocent look, he popped up over a nearby rock.



:Konnichiwa, Cute animal! Whatcha doin'?:

To his surprise, rather than popping over the rock, he found himself in another dimension.

:Who dares to transport me without my permission!: he snarled.

A figure appeared before him. One as just as chibi and just as old.



:Hello Phebrizo.: Lord Dynast smiled.

:Dynast?!: Phebrizo blinked. :I thought you were still trying to assassinate Lina Inverse!:

:And I thought you had been killed by her.: Dynast answered smoothly, his eyes as cold as ice. However, this was his friendliest glance-- most of the time they were colder than absolute zero.

:It is nice to see you again. Bored enough to take on an adventure?: Phebrizo immeadiately suggested.

:Sure. What is it?:

Phebrizo cackled gleefully and explained.

:I see. Well, I suppose I will toddle along after them now, ne?: Dynast smiled coldly.

:Exactly. We'll meet up later. Don't start the fun without me!: Phebrizo giggled.

:Wouldn't dream of it . . .: Dynast faded out of existance.

Phebrizo rubbed his hands together, then willed himself back to his former position.

:Time to give it another go . . .:



:Konnichiwa, Cute animal! Whatcha doin'?:

------------

Dynast, with one final adjustment to his hair, hailed the group of chibis.

:Hail, travelers! Where are you going?:


Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters

Eriol and Mintaka eyed the stranger, as did the other chibis.

"Wh-who are you?" Eriol asked. He didn't much like the look in Dynast's eyes. He seemed too . . . old, somehow.

Dynast bowed with a flourish. "I am called Marlon, of the house of Kai." he lied smoothly.

"I'm Mintaka, and this is Eriol, Rael, and Garain." Mintaka said cautiously. "We're adventuring."

"Really?" 'Marlon' raised an eyebrow. "To where?"

"Uh . . ." Mintaka suddenly felt like he had revealed too much, but it was too late to stop. "To awaken the Wise One."

For a moment, Dynast's exterior cracked and showed his extreme surprise. But he had it back under control in an instant.

"How intriuging." he mused aloud. "Would it be too much to ask to accompany you?"

--Darylohki, who will let the other chibis have a say ^_^

Garain quickly stepped forward when he heard the offer. "It wouldn't be too much! In fact, it would be an honour for one of the House of Kai to join us!" Garain blurted out.

"Uh, Garain," Rael asked while pulling him back. "How about the four of us talk a bit before you accept him?"

"Huh? Ok."

Garain stepped back and the four chibi's huddled.

"Well, what's to talk about? This guy has to be good and he's offering to help US!" enthused Garain.

"Maybe, but I don't trust him," Mintaka said. "There's something about him I don't like."

"I have to agree with Mintaka," chimed in Rael. "What do we know about the House of Kai?"

Garain thought for a few moments, and then spoke his thoughts. "Yeah, I guess you wouldn't know much about them, would you. Well, this is just what I've heard, but the Kai are an elite fighting group located in the country of Lannel. They're pretty much the same as our own Hero Guild except that one can only get in through hereditary means, or exceptional service in the name of Lannel. So, getting help from one of these guys is a great help to any party."

"Lannel? But that's on the northern coast of Karenas. How'd he get all the way down here to Yeria? And also, why would he be offering to help us without asking for anything?" Rael argued.

"Rite of Initiation," Garain shrugged. "Even though one needs liniage to get in, they still need to pass through an initiation to ensure they're up to the standard. Basically, it's just wandering around and finishing a quest. Bring back something rare enough to show you actually did something tough. So, I say we accept! How about you guys?"

"Fine, I'll go along. Like always..." sighed Rael.

Garain brightened up to hear one vote go his way. Then he turned to Eriol and Mintaka.

"Well? What do you say?"

Garain, wondering if there's a killing SYE 12-step program...

Phebrizo is momentarily befuddled by a flurry of feathers, pecks and squawks.

Chicken: "SwaAAAAWWWK! SQUEEE! SQUORNK!"

Moments later, the advance units of the 344th Puissant Poultry Squadron (fresh from triumphantly administering justice to chicken abuser #20001, alias "Link") dipped through the clouds. Leather flight caps strapped tight, wings taunt, mythril heel spurs gleaming, they hurdled earthward, contrails of cloud spiralling out behind each. Wave upon wave of courageous, bloodthirsty, corn-fed avians, all fanatically dedicated to the protection of chickens everywhere.

Waiting for their air support to engage the target was Special Armor Unit Chocobo Six. Assembled from around the multiverse, this tough fraternalhood of fighting birds crouched, ready to rush in and secure the hostage.

The beaver itself was no where to be found.

but finally shrugged.

"I guess he can join up with us. I mean, if Marlon is who he says he is, he'll be a great help. If he's lying, we'll pound his face in!"

"Well, as much as I don't want to do this, I guess . . . ok, let's let him join." Eriol nodded, hoping privately that this was the right decision.

"Marlon! Welcome to the group!" Mintaka grinned widely and threw an arm over Dynast's shoulder. He jumped away cursing rather quickly however-- the boy was cold as ice. "SPOONY! What's up with you!? Do you have a permanent Ice2 barrier or something!?"

--Darylohki, who leaves it up to VALEN to get hisself outta this one!

:My, how amusing! This SYE is more fun than I expected.: he muttered. A quick snap of his fingers brought an army of zombies out of the ground, which the 344th Puissant Poultry Squadron engaged, and the air was filled with feathers and rotting flesh. With the seeming obliviousness of Mihoshi, Phebrizo skipped gleefully through the battle of his own creation.

:It appears that he knows how to do more things than die . . . WOAH!: Phebrizo ducked as a lone Chocobo that blocked his path took a swipe at him with one wing.

:WARK!!:

:You silly creature, get out of my way before I kill you.: Phebrizo said gently but with a definate threat, the Chocobo's small life orb appearing in his hand.

:WWWAARK!: The Chocobo bravely stood his ground, ripping up the sod with his claws. However, he was shaking badly and didn't appear very happy to be engaging the Hellmaster in combat.

:Hm.: Phebrizo paused. :I like your spirit, friend-- it would be a shame to destroy it. Have you ever considered leaving that silly army?:

:Wark?: the Chocobo paused, puzzled.

:They don't treat you very nicely there, do they?:

:Warrrk.:

:And,: Phebrizo closed his eyes and read the Chocobo's simple mind. :They call you names and make fun of you, don't they?:

The Chocobo was amazed. :Wark wark!!:

:And I'm willing to bet quite a bit that the benefits aren't any good.:

:Wark!!: The Chocobo nodded.

:Well, if it's so bad, why don't you come and work for me? I give full medical and dental coverage and one month's paid vacation a year.:

:Waaarrrkkkk . . .:

:Did I mention all the Gyshtal Greens you can eat?:

:WARK!!!: The Chocobo looked ecstatic. He extended a wing. :Wark, Warrk.:

:Nice to meet you, Roger the Flighty. I'm Phebrizo the Hellmaster.: Phebrizo shook the large Dark-Blue Chocobo's wing.

Soon, he had swung aboard the Chocobo's back and left the battle far behind.

:WARK!: [Dammit, where did that Spoony Roger go! He's SUPPOSED to be guarding the ridge!]

:Wark wark!!: [Damn clutz of bird! He's screwed up for the last time! He's going to be passing out birdseed for the rest of his life!]

***********

Dynast cursed inwardly-- he didn't think the young dragon-child would be so comradely with a total stranger.

:My apologies, Mintaka.: he bowed slightly. :It is my cloak of Ice +2. I must have forgotten to deactivate it after my trip through the desert. My my,: he laughed slightly. :No wonder people have been avoiding me. That must have hurt one of the fire element such as yourself. Gomen nasai.:

:Hey!: Eriol's eyes narrowed. :How did you know he was of the fire element?:

Dynast cursed again.

:It's fairly obvious, Sir Eriol.: The title had the desired effect-- Eriol straighted a bit in pride. :He has all the characteristics of a Dragon-child, all of which excel in fire magics.: Here, he feigned insecurity. :I am right, aren't I?:

Once again, it had the desired effect-- he made Mintaka feel a great deal superior.

:Yes, you're right. You're a mighty good guesser, Marlon.:

Dynast beamed outwardly, silently casting a spell to raise his body temperature in case Mintaka touched him again.

:So I may join your group?: Dynast asked at just the right moment.

:Absolutely.: Eriol nodded.

:So where to now?: Dynast asked.

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters

"Right now we're going to Trekk. Seems these two want to get some new equipment before we head off." Garain offered as he motioned at Eriol and Mintaka. "As for Rael and myself, we were battle ready when we left Pax."

"And where shall you be headed after Trekk?" Marlon asked, reiterating his last question.

"North-West to the Rock of Amnesia, though I'm sure there's something about that place that I need to remember." Rael's voice trailed off.

"The Rock of Amnesia?" Marlon's brows furrowed. "I believe I have heard of it. Isn't it off the coast of Upper Cytheria, one of the Dueling Baronries?"

"Oh!" exclaimed Garain, recalling one of the few things he knew about Upper Cytheria. "I remember that place. It was the site of the largest naval battle since the Verinas Wars. There were hundreds of ships and so many mages that they managed to sink a lot of the capitol and some islands surrounding it."

"THAT'S IT!" Rael suddenly exclaimed causing everyone to snap their heads towards him. "The Rock of Amnesia was located just off of the old Capitol of Upper Cytheria but was sunk in that battle. And now it's completely underwater so we're gonna have to get some items in order to be able to breath underwater."

"Then I guess we'll have to thank Eriol here for getting us out here to collect these pelts which we ought to be able to sell or barter off for what we need," Garain said. "But, we should probably head back to the city now. Rael is going to have to figure out just what'll let us breath underwater while we try and sell these things."

Garain, letting Daryl decide what they're looking for, or SYE if he isn't busy getting killed/maimed.

"Right now we're going to Trekk. Seems these two want to get some new equipment before we head off." Garain offered as he motioned at Eriol and Mintaka. "As for Rael and myself, we were battle ready when we left Pax."

"And where shall you be headed after Trekk?" Marlon asked, reiterating his last question.

"North-West to the Rock of Amnesia, though I'm sure there's something about that place that I need to remember." Rael's voice trailed off.

"The Rock of Amnesia?" Marlon's brows furrowed. "I believe I have heard of it. Isn't it off the coast of Upper Cytheria, one of the Dueling Baronries?"

"Oh!" exclaimed Garain, recalling one of the few things he knew about Upper Cytheria. "I remember that place. It was the site of the largest naval battle since the Verinas Wars. There were hundreds of ships and so many mages that they managed to sink a lot of the capitol and some islands surrounding it."

"THAT'S IT!" Rael suddenly exclaimed causing everyone to snap their heads towards him. "The Rock of Amnesia was located just off of the old Capitol of Upper Cytheria but was sunk in that battle. And now it's completely underwater so we're gonna have to get some items in order to be able to breath underwater."

"Then I guess we'll have to thank Eriol here for getting us out here to collect these pelts which we ought to be able to sell or barter off for what we need," Garain said. "But, we should probably head back to the city now. Rael is going to have to figure out just what'll let us breath underwater while we try and sell these things."

Garain, letting Daryl decide what they're looking for, or SYE if he isn't busy getting killed/maimed.

"Right now we're going to Trekk. Seems these two want to get some new equipment before we head off." Garain offered as he motioned at Eriol and Mintaka. "As for Rael and myself, we were battle ready when we left Pax."

"And where shall you be headed after Trekk?" Marlon asked, reiterating his last question.

"North-West to the Rock of Amnesia, though I'm sure there's something about that place that I need to remember." Rael's voice trailed off.

"The Rock of Amnesia?" Marlon's brows furrowed. "I believe I have heard of it. Isn't it off the coast of Upper Cytheria, one of the Dueling Baronries?"

"Oh!" exclaimed Garain, recalling one of the few things he knew about Upper Cytheria. "I remember that place. It was the site of the largest naval battle since the Verinas Wars. There were hundreds of ships and so many mages that they managed to sink a lot of the capitol and some islands surrounding it."

"THAT'S IT!" Rael suddenly exclaimed causing everyone to snap their heads towards him. "The Rock of Amnesia was located just off of the old Capitol of Upper Cytheria but was sunk in that battle. And now it's completely underwater so we're gonna have to get some items in order to be able to breath underwater."

"Then I guess we'll have to thank Eriol here for getting us out here to collect these pelts which we ought to be able to sell or barter off for what we need," Garain said. "But, we should probably head back to the city now. Rael is going to have to figure out just what'll let us breath underwater while we try and sell these things."

Garain, letting Daryl decide what they're looking for, or SYE if he isn't busy getting killed/maimed.

The party set off on its way.

Moments later a phesant blundered into the trap they forgot to disarm and briefly encountered Orpuddex, Devourer of Souls.

*****

The enlightened citizens of Trek amble about on their daily chores, clad in the classic Trekkian two-piece two-coloured outfits (although some wore the "old school" lycra ones).

Kvarq, a local barkeep mops up the spittle and spilled drinks (and blood) from the countertop, whistling an old classic, accentuating the tune's "whooshes" with expansive sweeps of his cloth. The bar is mostly empty, save for Mourn, of course, and with the latest Council ruling on alcoholic consumption business has not been good as of late, so the source of his joy isn't readily apparent.

Kvarq: .oO(Heh heh heh! My informants tell me there's yet another bunch of suicidal adventurers coming this way! And me, with my little old stock of genuine Pearls of Breathing Water, and no one to sell to!) "Yep, looks like a beautiful day to make a profit, Mourn!"

Mourn: "..."

The doors to the bar slide open, and a cloaked figure, curiously out of place in amongst the trim uniform of the Trekkers, walks in and sits at the end of the bar.

Kvarq: "And what can I get for you today, sir?"

Figure: "A shot of that old Janx Spirit would be nice."

Kvarq: [taken aback] "Sir, I am insulted! You should know the Council has put a hold on the consumption of alcohol! How dare you imply this respectable, law-abiding establishment would serve, nay, even POSSESS that outlawed substance?"

The figure fires a crossbow through its cloak. The bolt cleanly prises a nail out of a board in the side of the counter, riccochets off the floor and removes the board entirely on the return visit. Kvarq sprawls to catch the 27 bottles of Janx Spirit that roll out. There is a flash, and the barkeep blinks. When his vision clears, he sees the cloaked figure looming overhead, a pictograph in one gloved hand.

Figure: "I have a proposition for you."

Kvarq: [trying to stuff the bottles back in] "Who told you about this stuff?!"

Figure: "A party of adventurers will arrive here shortly, searching for equipment to enable underwater breathing. You plan to sell them Pearls of Water Breathing."

Kvarq: [stands and slowly walks behind the bar] "...and I won't bother asking how you knew about that."

Figure: "Pearls of Water Breathing that enable one to breathe water underwater...and drown."

Kvarq: [smirks] "Lemme guess...you'd rather I not do that?"

Figure: [nods]

Kvarq: "And you might be willing not to tell the Council about my little secret if I offer them the real thing instead?"

Figure: [nods]

Kvarq: "Ah. An interesting proposal. Lemme talk to my associates about it. Gouger! Poker!"

Two flesh golems drop down behind the figure.

Kvarq: "Kill this man!"

The golems look at the figure, look at their employer, turn to each other, then run through the far wall.

Kvarq: "Uh...get 'im Mourn!"

Mourn turns on his stool, looks at Kvarq, blinks, makes a snappy salute and leaps through the window with shocking agility.

Figure: "Oh, and I can shoot this thing eleven times in the time it takes you to bring that Wand of Horrific Bodily Harm you've hidden under the counter to bear." [pointing crossbow at his head]

Kvarq: "Oh, a hard bargainer, I see. [smiles] Well, I know when I'm beat. Your little friends will get the genuine article, don't you worry, and--"

A hand rests on his shoulder. Kvarq notices it is extraoridinarily cold. Suddenly, primal instincts for years drowned out by the pangs of profit awake within him, and he realizes it would be an exceptionally bad idea for him to press the hidden pitfall-with-added-poison-arrows-anti-irascable-customer switch right now.

Death: [from behind him] "Your Instincts Are Quite Articulate, Norman Kvarq. You Would Be Wise To Listen To Them."

Kvarq nods, very carefully.

Figure: "A pleasure doing business with you."

The figure drops a few diamonds on the table and leaves. Moments later, Kvarq feels someone else leave as well. Greed overcoming terror, he makes a grab for the gems, only to have them disappear and be replaced by a note.

Kvarq: [scowls, reading] "'Payment On Delivery?!'"

*****

SYE: "Thanks for the assist back there. What do I owe you?"

Death: "Just Keep Not Dying."

SYE: "Right."

The five young adventurers wander through Trekk finding themselves infront of Kvark's Bar which is located near the town gates. As they passed it Marlon motioned for them to stop.

"Huh, what is it, Marlon?" Garain asked as they stopped.

"Well, there's this tavern here. They're usually good places to go for information," the young Kai Initiate explained.

"Well, not this time!" Garain stated firmly as he planted his foot down, arms akimbo. "As a matter of fact I already know what we're gonna need to breath underwater!"

Garain tilted his head up in a self satisfied manner as everyone dealed with this new information. As usual, Mintaka recovered first.

"You knew what we needed to know, and you DIDN'T TELL US!"

"Well, you didn't need to know until right now. And I just remembered anyways. But it WAS on the tip of my tongue. Besides, would you have told us if you knew?"

Sensing that nothing good could come from that exchange continuing Rael quickly jumped between the two of them and tried to change the subject before Mintaka could reply.

"Garain, could you just tell us what it is we're going to get?" Rael asked as he noted Eriol preparing to hold the two fighters apart.

"Huh, oh yeah!" Garain brightened as he returned to his idea. "Anyways, there's really only four ways to do it. Two of them require major magic. Stuff that's way out of anything one of us could do. So, that leaves us with items. There's the Pearl of Water Breathing which most people would go for. But, it's really easy to fake those and none of us could tell the difference. The other is Oxyale. It's a very distinctive type of water that allows one to breath underwater for a few hours."

"Uhhh, Garain..." Rael said, "how do you know this?"

"My mentor Bob told me! I asked when I figured that a warrior could be able to use underwater breathing to ambush the enemy or ford a river faster. And he told me how to find it too! It's in the Mauvais Hills which lie between here and the Dueling Baronries."

"So, if what we're looking for is on the way to where we're going," quiried Marlon, "why have we returned here?"

"Well, the Hero Guild HQ will give a copy of the map to those bearing a reference from a member of the guild. And we'll need a few more wineskins to hold the Oxyale in because we don't know how much we're gonna need," Garain explained.

"And if it is so easy to find the location of this place, why do more people not use this Oxyale?" Marlon continued.

Garain looked at him for a bit with a slightly larger smile than usual and said "The usual reason. Monsters so tough that most people get eaten before they're halfway there. They're tough enough that if Rael and me hadn't met up with you guys, we would've had to hunt down one of those pearls. Anyways, I'm off to get the map so can you guys get my wineskins for me? I'll meet you guys back at the inn!"

And with that Garain turned and ran off.

"HEY! He didn't even give us the chance to say if we wanted to go off and get his Oxyale or not!" fumed Mintaka as Garain's form melted into the crowd.

"I'm still here. So, you can tell me!" Rael said.

If you choose to go after the Oxyale, advance to page 39.
However, there's still that Tavern. If you follow that path, open the door to page 68.

Excal, sorry fer taking your turn Daryl, but I had an idea.

A dark figure in a forest green hooded Suikan Robe went over to the barkeep. He pulled out an ink picture of a monster.

???: Have you seen or heard of this monster around?

Barkeep: I can't say I HAVE seen this monster, but I have heard that there are monsters like that at the Duelist Hill, just a few miles southeast from the Duelist Baronries.

???: Duelist Hill......the same place they killed her.

Barkeep: Excuse me?

???: Nothing, here.

The Dark Figure then proceeded out of the tavern, leaving a small gold coin behind, which was overtipping the barkeep, but it seemed money did not matter to the figure.

_______________________

A large grey-skinned wolf/troll saw a small village nearby the Duelist Hill. It howled into the sky, and it charged down the hill. The town guards were already ready with pikes at hand, but they were easily mowed down by the wolf/troll's battle axe. Town Guards were easily overcomed by the monstrocity, but the Captain of the Guards, an agent of the Kai house also, slashed into the monster's back with a Spinning Slash technique, only to find that it regenerated almost instantaneously. The Captain then feared for his life, and ran from the village. In a few hours, the village was up in flames, peasents and their families dead on the streets. The monster howled into the night again, and it had another feast on human blood.

Eriol stroked his chin thoughfully.

"You know, it might not hurt for us to go ahead and get some Pearls-- just in case the monsters prove to be too much at Mauvais Hills. And he said he needed wineskins . . . all in all, it looks like Mintaka and I should go to the tavern. We'll pick up the wineskins and see where we can get some Pearls of Water Breathing. Of course, it's not like _I'll_ be needing them. I'm a Zora-- we LIVE underwater." Eriol paused and thought for a moment. "Rael, you catch up with Garain, and we'll meet you at that fountain over there when the sun reaches its highest, ok?"

Rael nodded and took off after Garain.

"Marlon, you come with us, ok?" Eriol suggested to Lord Dynast.

--Darylohki, lover of chibis! (Ps, go ahead and do the tavern scene, Valen, I'm spent!)

--They weren't supposed to split up! Oh well, I suppose Phebrizo can handle it.--

:Oh, by the way!: Rael suddenly came pounding back. :Meet us at the inn-- that's where Garain said the first time.:

:Oh, right!: Eriol bonked himself on the head. :See ya there!:

Eriol, Mintaka, and Dynast strode into the tavern, where their chibi selves were eyed with some surprise by the patrons.

:Ain't ya a bit young ta be in here, boys?: An old lush laughed at them.

Dynast fixed him with a piercing glare, which promptly shut him up. Meanwhile, Eriol wandered up to the bar and began to speak to the barkeep . . .

:Ano-- sir . . .?:

:Here, take 'em!: The tavern owner tossed a box of pearls at the Zora, which bounced off his head and had to be caught by Mintaka.

:Uhhhh . . .: Eriol blinked. :We also need . . .:

:HERE!: The tavern owner threw 5 new wineskins at the Zora, who managed to catch them this time.

:Wow . . . a psychic barkeep . . .: Eriol's eyes widened, impressed. :And . . . well, we could also use. . .:

:Here ya go, sonny!: The Barkeep grinned and gave him a few bottles of his best blackberry wine, a few of straberry cordial, a small cask of October Ale, a jug of sake, a bottle of Zora toothrot (to which Eriol's eyes GLEAMED), some "firewater" (to which MINTAKA'S eyes GLEAMED), and . . . a speed tab!

:MINE!: Mintaka snatched it and used it on himself.

:Er, arigatou, sir . . .: Eriol, Dynast, and Mintaka walked out as the barkeep rejoiced at his newfound wealth.

They headed back to the inn, very wierded out.

:We're gonna hafta talk this over with Rael and Garain.: Dynast mused. --Who is helping these chibis? It's NOT Phebrizo . . .--

****

Phebrizo followed Rael and Garain across town to the heroes guild. When they disappeared inside, he yawned, bored. It was then that he sensed it . . .

:Who is that?: he asked, zipping through space to where the Wanderer was. :I wonder . . .:

Deciding to leave the chibis in Dynast's care for the time being, he observed the Wanderer in complete silence and invisibility.

Lord Valen of Dischord, last of the Bard Hunters

Eighth methodically shapes a tree with his head.

SYE: "The Mauvais [whack!] Hills. Of all the [bonk] blinkin' [thud] subquests they could've picked they [donk] pick [whud] that [whud] one [whud]!?"

Death: "Yes."

SYE: [puts his Crystal of Farscrying away] "FINE! If they want to be little munchkins and milk the system for all the EXP they can get, then its not my place to stop them!"

Death: "They Will, Of Course, Require Aid. Axlebirk, The Hundred And Ninety-Ninth Level Hell-Rabbit Resides There."

SYE: "Suppose I could soften him up a bit [flicks his crossbow to "X4 Fire"]"

"Garain, I'm not so sure this quest is such a good idea..." Rael said to his friend as they entered the Hero Guild.

"I know, you've been telling me that since I told about my plan. And I'm telling you that nothing is gonna stop me from doing this and becomming a hero!"

"But, Garain! Ever since we met up with those other two I've been getting a strange feeling. I think we'r being followed by something really powerful!" Rael paused a bit before he continued in a lower voice than before. "And I think that whatever this thing is wants to stop us from finding her."

A slight shadow of fear touched Garain's face before he set his jaw firmly. "So you think there's some great evil trying to stop people from fionding the lady, huh. Well then that's all the more reason for me to find her!" Garain stated resolutely. "If evil forces are about then it's the job of a hero to stop them!"

"But you aren't a hero. You're a kid! We're all kids! We can't save the world or face down evil. Or anything like that!"

Rael was on the verge of hysterics as Garain stopped and turned to face his friend. "Have we ever tried before?" he asked in his calmest voice.

Rael had been prepared for anything was that and as a result managed only to stammer back, "Well, uhhh, no, I guess not..."

"So then how do we know we can't do it?" Garain concluded triumphantly as he continued to stride off briskly.

Rael stood there stunned for a few seconds by the simplicity of Garain's argument. By the time he had recovered Garain had already rounded a corner and he had to run off to catch up to him. As Rael caught up to Garain and prepared to give him a piece of his mind, he found that Garain was already asking for the map. After a copy was handed to them Rael started up again.

"You're not going to stop, are you."

Garain shifted his gaze from the map to give his companion a quizzical look. "I thought you'd learnt that before we left Pax," he said as he returned his gaze back to the map.

"I did, but I just wanted to let ya know that there's something big following us, and it's been following us since at least that Marlon guy joined us. And maybe as far back as when Eriol and Mintaka joined us," Rael said in his usual meek tone.

"Well, it's good you told me. That's something I never woulda picked up. And now we know to be careful," Garain said as cheerfully as ever. "So, were we followed after we left the other three?"

"Yes, but I couldn't feel it after we entered this building."

"Try to sense it again once we leave the building; however, I doubt that this building has any wards that would stop something like that. However, this may have something to do with what I heard in the library."

Rael stopped and looked at Garain. "What did you hear?"

Garain looked at his pal with a grim look on his face. "Monsters at the Duelist's Hill near the Dueling Baronries. And I don't mean the usual kind, but stuff that hasn't been seen since the days of Canis."

"You don't think this might mean..."

"The return of Verinas is imminent?" Garain finished Rael's thought for him. "Yeah, this mission is even more important than ever."

"But, how can we do what noone else has done since Canis? I mean, do you think that map can be right? If it as easy as this, why would we be the first? It wouldn't be out of the relm of possibility that this might be a trap."

"It might be, but why can't there be anyone trying to help the side of good? Besides, sometimes you gotta trust that things'll be alright. This is one of those times," Garain offered. "So, just keep your magical eye out, and I'll keep my own eye out and we'll do this thing."

Garain, who wishes to say that Verinas is a dark wizard for the off chance that the Wanderer wishes to throw this world into mortal peril. And to kindly keep him out of this 'til near the end.

He stopped in a path among the trees. It was night, the owls were hooting, signaling the Wanderer that nothing is wrong with the forest. Abruptly, he didn't hear the hooting of the owls.

???: (Something isn't right. I wonder if the monster's already found me? It's too soon though....)

A fireball suddenly flew out of a tree, striking the wanderer down. A dark figure appeared.

Figure: You will not interfere with Verinas's creature's rampage...Mwa ha ha ha.

The figure then left the scene, the wanderer struck down in the middle of the road, his robe nearly turning into ashes. The fire was put out after the figure left, the magical power of the figure had left the fire, causing it to be snuffed out. He layed on the ground, burned and unconscious.

He looked closely at him, his gaze no longer childlike but filled with a cold sort of wariness. He reached out with one foot and tapped the burned body. The figure groaned. Phebrizo crossed his arms.

:There's nothing for it.: he shrugged. :I suppose I'll just have to heal you or I'll never find ANYTHING OUT! I never WAS one for patience . . .:

With that, Phebrizo distainfully emptied the contents of a megalixer over the Wanderer's Frame.

:Onegai, wanderer-san--: he said, impeccibly cute as the wanderer sat up. :Tell me about yourself! Why are you here? What is your quest? What is your favorite color? Ne, ne ne?!!?:

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters . . . who learned everything about chibi bishonens from evil Daryl and her HOURS of Saiyuki and Clamp School watching . . . DAMN that Goku to the LOWEST PIT!!

[Dammit, Valen, if you're gonna insult me, using MY COMPUTER to post, you could at LEAST be SMART enough NOT TO POST UNDER MY LOGIN!!! *SMACK!!!* Ahem, back to the normal post]

Eriol, Mintaka, and "Marlon" arrived back at the inn first. Mintaka . . . proved to be an underaged drinker.

"WOOO! THIS ISSS GOOOOOD STUFFFFF!!" he hiccuped.

"WHO let him into the liquor!?" Eriol sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Not me." Dynast sighed, desperatly longing for some asprin.

Just then Rael and Garain walked in.

"Guys! There's some WIERD things going on here." Eriol greeted them, then told the story of what happened . . .

--Darylohki, who is SICK AND TIRED OF VALEN BEING TOO LAZY TO BUY HIS OWN COMPUTER! BAH!

???: It's none of your business, child. Although, thank's very much for the heal. (Aiyoooooo....[Mandarin for Oh no] the robe that sister gave me before she disappeared! THAT BASTARD!!!]

The remains of the green robe slowly fluttered off, showing a burning red armor, and navy blue pants, the hood for the robe however, didn't fly off, but the back part had fallen off, revealing a bright blond hair.

???: Must keep going.....

The man tried to move a little more, but he stumbled on a tree. He layed his back against the tree, trying to get up with his hands.

???: Must...keep....

He then fell back down to the trunk of the tree and fell asleep.

[Note, this is how he should LOOK like.



Well, that's his backside shot anyways, not revealing the face. Hopefully the picture works though.]

:Yet another USELESS mortal.: he shook his head. :Well, I GAVE him the chance to do what he wanted . . . those mortals are SO DELICATE!:

With a wave of his hand, Phebrizo held the Wanderer's life in his hand. It resembled a small golden ball, as did all human lives. The ball was slightly dingy, reflecting its owner's weakened state. Phebrizo gently ran his fingers over the ball, his eyes closing to a half-lidded state.

:Ooooh, should I, or shouldn't I?: he crooned softly. :A person like this has had a long, full life . . . ending it with a BANG would be fun . . .: he started to tighten his grip on the ball, but stopped. :But he has unfinished business . . . a quest of some kind, from the way he spoke. Ooooh, decisions, decisions . . .:

Phebrizo went completely chibi, bouncing all around the Wanderer.

:Ooooh, it's SO HARD TO DECIDE!!!!: he whined, his eyes a maniacal shade. Suddenly, he grew calm, shrugged, and tossed the ball back into the spirit plain from which he withdrew it.

:He's too interesting to destroy. I'm intrigued . . .: Phebrizo stopped for a moment. :But I AM involved with those chibis at the moment . . . wait! I know! I'll . . . bring them together!!! Oh ROGER!!?:

In a flurry of dark blue feathers, Roger the Flighty, Phebrizo's Chocobo friend (for those of you who have forgotten) appeared.

:Wark?: he asked.

:Please help me carry this mortal to town.: Phebrizo said sweetly. :I'd do it myself, but mortals get EVER so bothered when a god just BREEZES into town.:

:Wark!: Roger knelt, accepting the Wanderer's wounded form with Phebrizo perched, grinning, behind. Together, they sprinted to town, towards the INN where the Chibis resided . . .

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters.

[My apologies if you see this as a god-mode, Wanderer. You are free to wake up before we get there and get off the Chocobo if this REALLY screws up your plans, but I took your collapse as an invitation to do what I wanted. However, meeting up with the chibis and getting the group together MIGHT be preferable-- so think it over. Oh, and Phebrizo, for those of you who don't know, is lifted STRAIGHT from the Slayers Next, where I took his powers as well. I won't let him just randomly kill people-- the reason he has the power over death anyway is because he's too capricious to use it on a regular basis. So . . . any other concerns? I thought not. I now return you to your regularly scheduled shudder Chibi Quest.]

Eighth is rather distraught.

SYE: .oO(It's a sodding Case of Infinite Plasma Bolts! How can it be empty?!)

Behind him lays a trail of sixty-seven other Cases of Infinite Bolts, each a different lethal variety, all emptied. Behind these runs Axlebirk, the Hundred And Ninety-Ninth Level Hell-Rabbit of the Mauvais Hills, scortched, poisoned, bleeding, mangled, cursed, zombied, blinded, silenced, entangled, slowed, doomed, marinated, and really quite aggravated.

Eighth growls and loads a Case of Infinite Neo-Bahamut-X-Doomsday-Flare Bolts into his crossbow.

SYE: "Right! If you aren't down to at least seven-eighths of your hitpoints after this, I'm going home!"

At this moment, Jorh-Dee, an renowned floral arrangement specialist returning home to Trekk, chances to look towards the Mauvais Hills and notes several firey fungus-like clouds that weren't there before before his eyeballs melt from the radiation.

Eighth leans over the still flaming corpse of a hapless Ruby Weapon that happened to get caught in the blast radius to look down the 2 kilometer deep crater the bolts produced.

SYE: "You dead ye--OW!"

Eighth tumbled backwards as Axlebirk nipped him on the nose for 3 million damage. After a brief UberElixer binge, he runs away, the Hellrabbit in pursuit.

The man had worken up in a soft bed. Dazed as he had collapsed from being knocked down by a fireball and suffering from overexersion, he saw the child sitting patiently nearby.

???: ...(That child helped me...)

He got up from the bed, and he found his sword tilted on a wall somewhere.

???: (Hmmm....but that child...he looks familiar as if he was from a fairy tale I read when I was a boy...hmph, must be my imagination.)

He searched his sword sheath, and pulled out a picture of a 22-year old woman.

???: (It's been 10 years, Mifuyu, hasn't it? And I still have yet to avenge you...)

He clutched the picture, and renewed hatred flew through his veins.

-[I did not mind that you moved my character, but I was just using common sense if he got knocked down by a fireball and has been travelling for a few hours non-stop, you would expect that sometime he would collapse from exhaustion. You just exploited me at the wrong time, but oh well.]

He had just finished summoning up a load of Gyshtal Greens for his Chocobo when the Wanderer stirred. Pretending he hadn't realized, he listened slyly as his mysterious companions spoke to the picture.

--Oooh, interesting. VERY interesting.-- he smirked wickedly. Then, all innocence, he turned to the wanderer with a sweet smile.

:Ohayo, stranger-san! Are you alright now? I thought you needed help so I took you the inn with my Chocobo. His name is Roger. He likes Gyshtal greens. Would you like to help me feed him? Ne? Ne? Ne?:

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters

He then walked slowly over to the blue chocobo, picked up a small bundle in his hand and fed it to Roger, while he stroked his head.

???: (It's been so long since I had touched one....)

________Flashback Sequence________

A boy in a red tunic and navy blue breeches was set on top of a chocobo by a tall brown haired man. The chocobo was a rare black one won that was bred from a male blue chocobo and a female green chocobo. The chocobo the boy was riding was a male.

Boy: Wee hee! Let's go, Tom!

Man: Don't go too fast, son..this one's been known to shake riders off and go on it's own if it went too fast...

But it was too late, the boy struck the chocobo with his hand, in the back of the neck, and the chocobo sprung like a gun and it galloped.

Boy: Yahoo! Keep going, Tom!

The boy held on the leash with one hand, and Tom was trying to shake the boy off, but the boy held on. A few minutes later, the black chocobo ran back into the stable, with the boy still clutching onto the leash. The man got the boy down from the chocobo in an agitated fashion.

Man: Are you alright, son?!

Boy: That was fun! Let's do it again!

The man sighed in relief.

_______________________________

???: Those were the days.....

The Wanderer had emptied the pile of Geystal(sp) Greens while he was thinking, and the chocobo's hair was as flat as cardboard now where he stroked.

wasted no time in contacting Dynast telepathically.

\\Dynast, I think we have the one that will be a PERFECT catalyst for my plan. Bring the chibis up to the second floor room B by mistake. I'm sure you can manage it, my friend.//

******

\\Consider it done, Phebrizo.// Dynast smirked to himself and turned to the chibis.

:Since you were kind enough to allow me to join your group, I will buy us a room for the night. It is far too late to be continuing onward at this time. And our dear friend Mintaka . . . seems to be unconscious.:

Eriol noted both the setting sun and, embarrassed, his drunken friend. Before he could say anything, "Marlon" had whisked away to the innkeeper and plunked down some gil on the counter. He soon held a key to room B on the second floor, and turned to the others with an icy grin.

:Well, let's go on up there, shall we?: he said smoothly.

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters

wasted no time in contacting Dynast telepathically.

\\Dynast, I think we have the one that will be a PERFECT catalyst for my plan. Bring the chibis up to the second floor room B by mistake. I'm sure you can manage it, my friend.//

******

\\Consider it done, Phebrizo.// Dynast smirked to himself and turned to the chibis.

:Since you were kind enough to allow me to join your group, I will buy us a room for the night. It is far too late to be continuing onward at this time. And our dear friend Mintaka . . . seems to be unconscious.:

Eriol noted both the setting sun and, embarrassed, his drunken friend. Before he could say anything, "Marlon" had whisked away to the innkeeper and plunked down some gil on the counter. He soon held a key to room B on the second floor, and turned to the others with an icy grin.

:Well, let's go on up there, shall we?: he said smoothly.

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters

wasted no time in contacting Dynast telepathically.

\\Dynast, I think we have the one that will be a PERFECT catalyst for my plan. Bring the chibis up to the second floor room B by mistake. I'm sure you can manage it, my friend.//

******

\\Consider it done, Phebrizo.// Dynast smirked to himself and turned to the chibis.

:Since you were kind enough to allow me to join your group, I will buy us a room for the night. It is far too late to be continuing onward at this time. And our dear friend Mintaka . . . seems to be unconscious.:

Eriol noted both the setting sun and, embarrassed, his drunken friend. Before he could say anything, "Marlon" had whisked away to the innkeeper and plunked down some gil on the counter. He soon held a key to room B on the second floor, and turned to the others with an icy grin.

:Well, let's go on up there, shall we?: he said smoothly.

Lord Valen of Dischord, Last of the Bard Hunters

???: (Other People. I don't want to disturb them with anything, nor attract them to my armor.)

The Wanderer hastily retreated back into the room, and sat down on the bed.

???: (Ho hum, ho hum....now I know what it feels like to be alone, sister.)

_________Flashback Sequence__________

A boy was training with a cadre of squires in at pasture, where they were doing jogs with armor on to build up their endurance and stamina.

The trainer then shouted out,

Trainer: Squire 13! Your sister is here to speak with you.

The boy with chainmail on came forward, and went over to a 19 year old woman, with blue plate armor on.

Woman: It's almost time for the contest brother.

Boy: Oh boy! I can't wait!

Woman: I won't be around to give advice, so do your best brother.

______________________________________

???:(That was the first time I felt alone. It's such a lonely world that I see from my eyes, sister.)

Garain looked around the room. It was certainly a bit smaller than he would have expected. He also hadn't expected to share the room with two other people he had never met before. And this didn't make him feel very easy. What made him feel even worse about this was the way everybody was acting. One of the new people was just huddling in a corner trying to stay out of view. As though he were afraid of being recognised by them. But he was the least of Garain's worries. The other person who was already in the room was acting very friendly with Marlon. They definatly knew each other. Well, there were several reasons they could have wound up in the same room, from both using this room when they travel, or perhaps bumping into each other earlier and making arrangements. But, it was Rael's reaction that really worried him.

Garain was used to Rael being more nervous than most people would be. But the look on his face wasn't nervousness. It was bordering on terror. And from watching the way he tried to keep his eyes off of Marlon's friend but they keep darting back, he could tell that there was something about him that scared Rael witless. Really, the only people acting anything near normally were Eriol and Mintaka. Mintaka because he was drunk witless, and Eriol because he was naturally ashamed of his friends behaviour.

The only good news it seemed was what Eriol told him about what happened. They'd have to be careful with the liquor they had been given, but it seemed to back his belief that there was some force on the side of good helping them.

However, that notwithstanding, he had to get Rael out of here, and he'd need to get some help on this matter as he and Rael wouldn't be enough. Regardless of what he had said earlier that day, he knew very well that he and Rael were just kids and couldn't do that much. And so he'd have to fill Eriol in and hope that wouldn't be a mistake. Typically he'd have preferred Mintaka as Garain had a better feel for how Mintaka thought and acted as it was more how he himself acted. But, as Mintaka was currently out cold, Eriol would have to do. Besides, they owed him their story for what he had told them earlier.

"Marlon, this room is two small for seven people. I'm gonna go and get another room," Garain said. "And I'll take Rael and Eriol with me if they wanna go since we wouldn't want to break up such good buddies. And once we're settled in we'll pick up Mintaka since we don't want him and the booze in the same room when he wakes up."

Rael's head perked up at this. Garain couldn't tell if he questioned his choosing Eriol and Mintaka to come with them, but he could quite definatly see that he was glad to get out of the room. There was definatly something interesting going on in this room.

"Hey, great idea! Let's go!" Rael said a bit too eagrely.

"C'mon Rael, we can't go yet. It'd be rude to leave before at least Eriol has had his say."

And so Garain waited for the answer to his question.

Garain, sorry for the delay.

???: I'll make things easier on you. Don't mind me.

He left the room and got another room, throwing 10 gold coins on the Innkeeper's desk. The room was 5 doors down.

He entered the room slowly and locked the door, hoping they did not follow him because of his out of the normal armor and the abrupt way he got out of the room.

???: (...)

________________Flashback Sequence__________________

A boy was rushing through the forest in the night. His leather armor tattered from slashes across it. He heard the sound of armed soldiers running after him.

Boy: (I can't stop now, must keep going....)

The boy turned a corner in the forest and scrambled up a tree, hiding on one of the top branches.

Guard: Where'd the pipsqueak go?

Guard: Don't mind him, he won't live for long in the middle of nowhere. He'll come begging for food at the front gate.

Guard: Good Idea, Freddy! Gwa ha ha! (Laughing away in a Baku Accent)

Guard: sighs

The guards left, the boy was safe, for now. The boy had panted, for he had run a long distance from town. The squire training had definitly paid off.

______________________________________

???: (...)

And the Great Evil Overlord grew bored, and did press the Switch of Fast Forward to accelerate time to whence the Adventurers arrived in the Mauvais Hills, and did find a scene most distressing.

The mighty forests were laid asunder, what life not atomized or blackened to ash flattened to the ground, as if some great Wind God had fallen from the heavens and dashed himself upon the land. Fierce Beholders, Curiosly Non-Technological Robots, and other Assorted Level 99 Creatures, littered the landscape; indeed, here seems to be the body of a mighty Crimson Dragon...and over there...and there...what faces they possessed fused in an expression of terminal surprise.

In addition to the copious corpses, which did bring the horrors of Rot, Corruption, and Samonella, were the mysterious clouds of magic. Seemingly at random would a great gout of, well, gout, explode from the debris, thrash about for some life to assail, then disappate. In the distance towers of fire and lighting still burned, and the occasional Ultra Ultima Mega Mega Nuclear Firey Pain Death spell did illuminate the land in a Technicoloured way.

(As Eighth stomped beyond the periphiary of the forest and waded into the ocean, headed for the submerged Forgotten Peak, he pondered briefly if he should have collected all those bolts that missed Axlebirk, The Hundred And Ninety-Ninth Level Hell-Rabbit. "Nah, they'll go off eventually," he muttered, as he slipped beneath the waves.

Soon after he surfaced, expectorated a few literes of water, slipped on his Amulet of Breathing Quite Naturally Under Water, then submerged.)

And in the midst of a crater a league wide and a league deep, ringed with flames, they did find Axlebirk, The Hundred And Ninety-Ninth Level Hell-Rabbit.

She was not happy.

(Uh, Eighth has removed about 3 trillion of its HP, so it's only got 3 million left.)

Sorry SYE, but I think we're better off declairing this one dead until Daryl gets back. After all, we can't really go forward without Daryl AND Valen. And it seems that often as not, Valen gets on through Daryl, so...

*Excal wanders over by the gates to Hades and spreads a blanket on the ground where he starts setting up a picnik for the chibi's and a nice relaxing spot for himself and SYE should he feel so inclined as well as the mysterious figure.*

I guess in the meantime, we've gotta find a comfy spot and simply wait for Daryl to get back from beyond those gates with the thread in tow once again. But until then, want a chicken wing? It's finger lickin' good!

Eighth groused. "Pass the gravy..."