Smash Civil War

Chapter 20: The Secret Plot

At the Queens castle Air is plotting with himself after the discussion with the Queen was a failure.

"D@mn it! D@mn it! D@mn it! Why will she never listen to me?!"

All of the sudden he hered two guards talking outside of the room.

Guard#1: "Ya I heard about that! Do you really think Straked is running a rebellion?"

Guard#2: "Not really he'd have to be crazy to do that. He's probably just doing a scramble drill."

Guard#1: "A scramble drill? No I don't think so. It's got to be bigger than that."

As Air's ear was pressed to the door, he heard the voices silently fade as they waked away.

"Yes! just what I needed I'll show the Queen who's right! I'll expose Straked's plot and capture him for the Queen. That way Teran will have no choice but to save his best friend, leading him right into our hands!"

He stops talking because he realizes something how is he supposed to do this if all the guards are either subduing The Disco Room or helping Crimson King control The Light House.
Then a thought come to his mind....

"I'll Just have to go myself. even if it disobeys the Queens orders to stay at the castle."

And with that thought he leaves by sneaking out of the castle walls.

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Suddenly on the stage was a young man, no older than 15. The villagers all shocked by this revelation. It was common knowledge that a old man by the name of Skyler Ocon was a major figure in the resistance. If any thing Crimson King sensed the aura of the crowd.

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Chapter 20 cont.

Air passed through the courtyard, rapidly approaching the castle gates. He began thinking about if this was a good plan or not, but decided that it would be worth it in the end. He turned a corner and entered a room with a single sleeping guard in it. Here he would get supplies to prepare for his search for Spock Straked. He went to grab the guard's sword which was lying on a table next to him, when suddenly invisible hands covered his mouth, and a clearly viable dagger, seemingly floating came to his throat.

"I'm looking for a man named Straked. Would you happen to know where he is?" Asked a voice smugly.

"No, I..." Air was flabbergasted, he searched for words to get out of this situation but none came to mind. At this time, he figured that going along with this invisible man's requests was the best way to go if he wanted to stay alive. "He's not here, whoever you are!"

"Sure, you seem like the cowardly type... it doesn't take much to scare you, does it?"

Air suddenly found himself pushed back against the wall, then the dagger came flying at his head, barely missing and embedding itself into the wall behind him. Air needed to escape and alert the others to what had happened. But as he made a dash for the exit, an audio-able "THWACK!" was made to the back of his head, and he closed his eyes and fell unconscious, joining the guard in a little nap.

The invisible man looked down at his defeated foe, he was under orders to not kill anyone. He decided an alternate way to get rid of him. Just outside, there was a supply caravan set for somewhere, a distant town the man hoped. And by the time he was done, that caravan would carry a cargo of a most unusual sort.

This had all become pointless. The man had used an invisibility ring in combination with a pendant that give him the skills of a master rogue and still couldn't find Straked anywhere in here, even after searching every nook and cranny of the dungeon and every other part of the castle that he could get to. It would seem that he would have to return to Firus empty-handed, giving claims of a false report. And at this, his mind also started to wonder if Godsmith was doing a good job holding the North...

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TigerWoods said:

Do you guys think it'd be fun to bring this to the AE to illustrate?

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TigerWoods said:

Do you guys think it'd be fun to bring this to the AE to illustrate?

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tigerwoods said:

do You Guys Think It'd Be Fun To Bring This To The Ae To Illustrate?

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Chapter 21: Spoiled Spoilings

Just as Frown was about to speak again, he was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approching their cell. A black, leather-clad guard came near the cell, holding something in his arms. It was hard to make out what it actually was due to the very dim lighting of the dungeon.

"Dinner's served," he called out. "Compliments of the palace chefs!" He laughed heartily.

He slid a large, metal tray underneath the bars along with two extremely beat-up, makeshift goblets.

Cutter got off from the floor and investigated the food. Frown could see from where he was laying on the cot that Cutter recoiled slightly at whatever he was seeing.

"What is it?" inquired Frown.

"Brace yourself -- and your stomach," replied Cutter. "Ready?"

"Yeah."

"Pig's foot, liver, tripe, and cow tongue. And then some... questionable water," said Cutter in a grim, yet confident voice.

Frown could feel his stomach become queasy and contract reflexively. Well, at least it's something that's edible no matter how disgusting it may have sounded, he thought. Hunger began to prick slightly at Frown after taking several seconds to process this information.

"You hungry?" asked Cutter.

"Give me some of the cow tongue," answered Frown. "It shouldn't be that bad. Do you mind?"

Cutter chuckled a bit, "Naw, not at all. All this stuff isn't too bad per se. It's probably more or less of an insult from the Queen to give us this kind of food. I can only imagine what she is gorging her mouth on..." He extracted a long, serrated knife that was hidden in his left arm, cutting up the cow tongue and motioning the tray to Frown. Frown extended his uninjured left hand and reached out to grab a piece of the tongue -- his right arm was still quite hurt from where Queen Killjoy had slashed him with that dagger.

Frown started to chew on the morsel. The meat was stone-cold, and had no taste to it whatsoever. What he thought was disgusting at first turned out to be utterly listless and bland. Frown managed to swallow it though as he felt that was enough for one night. He then turned his head a bit more to see Cutter hunched over, eating whatever was on the tray at a quick pace as if it were a normal meal to him.

"How do you manage to eat something that's practially nothing?"

"Well, it is something. I'm used to having to go around and salvage whatever possible to make part of my living when money and deals weren't doing so well. When times are desperate, it's amazing to know what you're willing to do -- which includes eating."

Before another world could be uttered, more footsteps could be heard as they became louder and louder. It didn't take long for a tall, brooding figure covered in black armor to approach the cell.

"You," he said in a deep, booming voice. His right hand pointed right at Frown on the cot. "You're coming with me."

"What now?" moaned Frown.

"Stop complaining. We're transferring you to a special cell."

"So why was I here to begin with?"

"It was a temporary holding location. Now stop wasting time and come with me."

Cutter helped to get Frown off the cot, who was still reeling from the two holes that were in both of his feet; one of which was from his own knife, and the other from when Queen Killjoy stomped him with her heels.

"You, metal man!" continued the figure pointing to Cutter. "You stay here! One false move and you're done." The man flashed a very vicious looking sword that he had sheathed at his belt. Cutter obeyed the man as he went back to sitting on the cot, looking at the ceiling in a non-chalant manner.

As Frown limped to the entrance of the cell, the figure fumbled around for a set of keys and unlocked the door. He grabbed Frown and took him out, locking the cell as he left. The last Cutter saw from his cell was Frown's face, confused yet dejected at the same time as the man escorted him through the dungeon.

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Chapter 22: Walking the Black Mile

The prison guard continues to forcibly escort Frown throughout the cold, sooty dungeon. Still sore and weary from Queen Killjoy's brutal interrogation, Frown struggles and limps as he is bulldozed by the breastplate of the pacing guard. He keels over from the overexertion, only to be woken up by the pulling of his hair from a heavy gauntlet.

"You'll get no sympathy from me, you cur," the guard strictly whispered into Frown's ear as he held his head back by the hair. The guard then knees Frown in the back, knocking him flat onto his frontal ribs. His back is gashed and shirt is torn by the sharp edges of the guard's plated greaves. He then picks Frown back up, grasping him by his hair yet again.

As they trek through the somewhat endless corridor, Frown can see other prisoners behind bars. The odor emanating from the cells was nearly unbearable, as if all sorts of raunchy and repulsive activities have taken place in them. The guard remained unphased by the horrible stench; he was most likely accustomed to it.

It had been almost an hour walking down the single hall. "Is...is there no END to this dungeon?", Frown questions in pain.

The guard chortles at Frown's confusion. "This is my favorite part of this dungeon. It is called 'The Black Mile'. A spell has befallen here thanks to our treasured sorceress. It is practically an endless abyss. Did this hellhole not appear much smaller outside? The magic here prolongs the dank halls and corridors. So even if you were to escape from your cell, you will find yourself running endlessly in angst and darkness."

"But..so how is it that-"

"Enough questions!" The guard back hands Frown's jaw with his gauntlet. "We are here. Now you can rest and wallow in despair, you inferior being."

The guard points to a single containment cell surrounded by gem-like orbs of 5 colors: red, blue, green, yellow, and purple.

"Welcome to your new home."

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Chapter 23: Flight!

Teran awoke the next morning, and was ready to make his decision. He had slept on Vacaville's words as he said he would, and had settled on the two companions he would bring with him to Creative Minds.

He dressed, and left his room in the Arthur Reed. He exited the large building, and passed a few solemn faces on his way out. This was vastly different than the Disco Room he had arrived in, the frolicking, babbling, and stupidity were almost completely gone.

Teran walked briskly to Motel Vacaville's abode, to inform him of his choice. As he entered, he heard Vacaville counting slowly in a back room:

"801........ 802........ 803......"

"Excuse me," Teran said. "I have made my decision."

"Ah yes... And who would these choices be?"

"I have decided to take sasukebowser and Lythium."

"Lythium, that may not work Teran. As I am sure you are aware, Lythium is working as a double agent in the Queen's court as a doctor. If she is needed, she will be unable to warp to the Queen's palace, and the Queen will grow suspicious. We have a battle to fight soon, suspicion is the last thing we need at the moment. I am sure you understand, Teran."

"That is understandable. I was hoping she could accompany me, but my second choice would be Bionic Sonic. His triangular powers work in mysterious ways, and they might be helpful on my journey. He also has the trust of the Queen. Sasukebowser is resourceful and a good warrior. I feel bad for taking him from your army, I know he will be missed."

"We have plenty of warriors here, although he is a high caliber soldier. We have supplies for you, and horses. You should leave as soon as possible."

"I will fetch them now, and we will leave within the hour. Thank you for your help."

Teran left the room and heard the low, rhythmic sound of Vacaville's counting. He closed the door behind him, left the building, and saw Bionic Sonic sparring with a few other soldiers.

Teran called him over and informed him of his decision. Bionic Sonic was a good warrior, but he disliked battle, so he was excited to be accompanying Teran as opposed to defending the city.

Teran and Bionic searched for sasukebowser and found him a few minutes later. Sasuke was not exactly happy to be leaving his city when battle was inevitable in the near future. Nevertheless, he nodded when Teran told him that he would be accompanying him.

Sasuke, Bionic, and Teran left out of a side gate of Disco Room about a half hour later, with their horses laden down with food and other important supplies for their journey. They planned on camping out outside of the small village of Computer Café. This was mainly deserted, with a few permanent citizens and an inn. They would then get to Creative Minds a few days later, and find Jam Stunna.

As they approached Computer Café around noon the next day, they realized something was amiss. Smoke swirled in the sky, and the whole village stank of burning flesh. A small squad of soldiers stood where the gates of the city had been, and a few patrols encircled the area, searching for someone.

That person was Teran. They had been betrayed.

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<3z said:

That's it? Only two chapters today? Where is Jam or whatever that guy changed his name to.

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Chapter 24: Expectations (of course!)

Queen Killjoy sat atop her massive throne, legs crossed. Her patience was growing very thin. She was expecting the nightly update from her lackies any moment soon, but he was running late...

Someone burst through the large metal doors at the front of the throne room. A medium-sized man swiftly entered, armed with a large metallic crossbow. His clothing was entirely made of black leather, which included a long, leather cloak that silently moved with him like a small wind breeze. Upon seeing the Queen, he immediately put away his weapon and started to walk in a gallant manner to her. He kneeled down on one knee, head deeply bowed.

"Status report. Now!" demanded Queen Killjoy.

"As per your request Your Majesty, we have just transferred that piece of filth to the special cell in the Black Mile."

"Excellent," said Queen Killjoy softly, "Frown will feel so absolutely miserable, he'd wish he'd be dead. But he won't be."

"We have also recovered a body found close to the Observatory. He triggered the wall spike booby trap, promptly turning himself into kebabs. The body -- or what was left of it, was disposed of in the Furnace."

"Someone was waltzing around in my palace?!?" shrieked Queen Killjoy.

"Not to worry Your Highness. Before disposal of the body, we conducted a quick autopsy at the site and found the structure of the body was very emaciated. We are almost certain it was some prisoner thinking they could escape and evade the banhammer under a different name. This in turn set off the booby trap's IP sensor."

Queen Killjoy's tension quickly faded away and she sighed to herself.

"I have nothing more to report Your Majesty," added the man.

"Very well then. Get out of my sight," snapped Queen Killjoy.

"Oh, one more thing," interjected Queen Killjoy just as the man started back towards the front of the doors, "how are you guys liking your crossbows?"

He turned around and beamed, "They're like the best weapon ever conceived! Only you could think of making a crossbow that fires exploding arrows."

"Now you know why I run this country," said Queen Killjoy silkily. "Just remember, IP sensors never lie."

Queen Killjoy began to think and reminisce back to the time when she had her head of Research and Development purged, with her personally taking over it afterward. Since then, she ordered booby traps all over the castle and then came up with the sadistic idea of making exploding arrows to blast apart the bodies of those she hated. So far, so good.

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<3z said:

*squeals with excitement*

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Chapter 26: The Escape Plan

*Flash Back to a conversation between Cutter and Frown*

".....and that's when the two figure's left and I was taken here."

"Hmm, those words might come in handy." Cutter said as he was admiring his mechanical arm.

"Well I've got a plan to get out of here, I was planning on doing this by myself but seeing as you'll be torchered in the near future I might as well bring you along."

"Umm, Thanks?"

Cutter taps the wall three times each in a different place.

"I discovered this the first day I got here"

Cutter then shut the wall.

"What did you do that for?"

"We can't just escape, we don't even know where this leads to, It could lead us into a trap or into the Queen's private Quarters there's no telling if it's safe to go into."

"Fine then we'll start the exploration tomorrow."

*Flash Back ends*

Cutter is sitting alone wondering about the horrible fate Frown has before him.

"Well no point grieving over it now. I guess I'll just have to go without him."

Cutter then opens the passage and goes into the unknown.

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Chapter 27: Blizzard

Finalark had been in tough situations before, but none like this. The Black Guard continued to pursue his group, a whole month after the failed raid on the fortress. They'd been spotted that night 41 strong. 19 of them escaped the initial onslaught. Only seven were left now. They couldn't go back to UB. If the Black Guard followed them back there, it would be the only excuse the Queen needed to destroy their home once and for all. Instead, they'd continued north, going deeper into the tundra known as the Northern Front. Hunger, exhuastion, brutal storms and constant attacks from the Black Guard had pushed them to the breaking point.

They were holed up in a small cave they found along the edge of a frozen river. Finalark rubbed his hands together furiously, trying to restore some of the feeling he'd lost hours ago. Cherry64 stood guard near the edge of the cave, although he couldn't see more than two meters in front of him due to the storm outside. The rest of the men were huddled together in the back of the cave.

"Do you think that Firsus made it back to UB okay?" one of the men asked.

"Stop asking that," Finalark answered.

"UB has probably been razed by now," another said.

"Stop saying that."

"We're probably better off just dying here in this cave. Just go to sleep, let the ice and snow claim us. Never wake up."

"Stop thinking that."

"If we can't-"

"Hey!" Cherry yelled. "Enough! We're alive, and we're going to stay that way. This was the plan; if anything went wrong, we were supposed to go north, and Godsmith would be waiting for us. Relax."

"I think that TheBuzzSaw is the one chasing us," the last man muttered. No one spoke to quiet him, they all knew he was right. TheBuzzSaw, one of the captains of the Black Guard and the most accomplished and feared tracker in all of SWF. No one had ever escaped once he was tasked to find them. Finalark had tried to put the thought out of his head, but now he had to face it with his men.

"You're probably right," Finalark replied. "TheBuzzSaw is on our trail this moment, and it's only a matter of time until he finds us. The question is, do we want him to find us now, cold, hungry, and weak, or after we get to Godsmith, and have a few hundred more people to help us against him?"

"That would barely make the odds even," Cherry said. "Maybe we can get a few thousand to put us over the edge."

The decision was made. They had to keep moving, as fast as they possibly could. They gathered the meager supplies they had remaining and stood together in the mouth of the cave. The storm had subsided only slightly. There was good and bad in this; it would make traveling far more difficult, but the fresh snow would cover their tracks. Not that it mattered against TheBuzzSaw. There were tales that he'd tracked fugitives across the continent while blind-folded to make it more challenging. And finalark believed them to be true.

His thoughts were interrupted by the unmistakable fwip/I] of an arrow being shot. Before he could warn the others, the arrow struck, exploding and reducing their group to six, and a pair of legs which was all that was left of the seventh man. "Run!" Finalark yelled. They took off, arrows raining down around them. There was no doubt that TheBuzzSaw was tracking them now, only he could find seven men in a cave during a blizzard.

Finalark didn't know where they were headed anymore, only that they had to keep moving. He could only hear the wind whipping across his frozen ears and the muffled explosions of the arrows as they burrowed into the meter-deep snow. His mind was racing, trying to come up with an escape route. It couldn't end here like this, their bodies left to freeze after the Black Guard finished with them. "There must be some way out of here," he said to himself.

Suddenly, his feet gave out from underneath him. He'd slipped, and landed flat on his back. The river! As he scrambled to his feet, a plan formed instantly. He turned to Cherry, who had the same thought.

Break the ice, they can't cross the river, Cherry said with his eyes.

How? Finalark asked, communicating wordlessly in a way that can only be developed by years of friendship. And that's how he saw it. Cherry had figured out how to destroy the ice and block the Black Guard. He was going to do it himself. Finalark knew him too well. Once his mind was set, there was no way to change it.

"Now go!" Cherry said. Finalark nodded, and led the other four men to the other side of the river.

Cherry stood his ground, watching as the arrows fell from the sky around him. He was standing in the center of the river. One exploding arrow would do the trick, taking out the layers of ice that made the river passable, and him along with it. A regular arrow pierced through his thigh. He cried out, collapsing to the ice. He gasped again; the ice was so cold it took his breath away. Now the arrows fell with more accuracy, landing dangerously close to him. Then he saw it: one sparking streak, arcing high throgh the air. It whistled, red-hot through the whited-out sky, plumetting on a collision course with his torso. He lay back into the snow, now stained copper red by his blood. Teran and Finalark will lead us to victory, to freedom. They will...

Finalark heard the explosion, then a deafening roar, like the earth was being ripped apart by giant hands. The river ice was cracking, splitting into glacial pieces that would be carried away by the surge of rushing water. It would take at least a day for it to re-freeze. A day they could use to get away. Finalark couldn't fight back the tears that froze against his face in the searing wind.

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Frown said:

I think I might have missed a few chapters. Can someone who knows the story well summarize where all characters are right now?

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Chapter 28: Scavenge and Salvage

UB had once been a proud bastion of the country. Now it had become desolate, completely razed by the Black Guard patrol that had plowed through it. Small fires could be seen burning haphazardly all throughout the region as buildings lay half-standing or collapsed in their wake. This was certain the job of a Black Guard legion. They were trained to be cold, cruel, and ruthless.

The only signs of life that could be seen now in UB were the Black Guard soldiers dispersed althroughout the area. Out of all them though, one of the them stood out. His armor was much more battered and worn, and his shoulder pads were much broader than the others. He was armed with the traditional crossbow, equipped with exploding arrows and a very staunch-looking sword at his belt.

It was Scav.

Even though it wasn't his real name, he was known in the Black Guard as an adept person at salvaging and scavenging for items to acquire for himself. No one really knew his actual name, as everyone just called him by his consensus nickname Scav. He had been one of the Black Guard's top generals for a long time now as he was one of the few people who could control an entire legion of soldiers and maintain their discipline and morale.

A soldier approached Scav. "Sir, we have assessed the damage of UB. Total destruction."

"One moment," Scav interjected. He pulled out a medium-sized piece of parchment from one of his small metal box compartments strapped to his armor (which he had also conveniently salvaged from a raid a very long time ago) along with an archaic pen and scribbled a note on it. Scav then beckoned out up above him in the sky. A smallish raven began to take form out of the starry sky and landed on Scav's left shoulder pad.

Scav rolled up the parchment and tied it up with a small black ribbon, giving it to the raven's talons.

"Send this directly to the Queen. It is a report telling her that we have successfully decimated UB."

As if the raven knew exactly what Scav was telling him, it cawed casually and flew off on its own, disappearing back into the night sky.

"Alright!" ordered Scav to everyone around him in a very loud, demanding tone, "I want every square inch of this area searched for whatever could be valuable. Leave no stone unturned!"

Every soldier within significant earshot heard the orders and immediately started moving quickly, yet with a purpose to fulfill the general's demands.

Not too far in a house that was still standing despite the rampant destruction around it, a man lay curled up in a ball hiding underneath a bed, panting heavily. He heard what General Scav had just said, and he buried his face in his hands, tears beginning to stream out his eyes. It would only be matter of time before General Scav's men searched every nook and cranny of his house and found him. He was surrounded.

Or was he? he thought. He was close to the border of UB, and if only the Black Guard soldiers were distracted for a few moments, he could run as fast as he could out of the city and escape from the Queen's clutches.

Hearing nothing but the burning of structure and wood, he apprehensively peeped his head out the window. Three soldiers were walking away from him as they surveyed the damage of what used to be the restaraunt that served up the Blog of the Week.

"Keep moving," said one of the soldiers, "there's nothing here but a smoldering pile of ash."

Now was his chance. Stealthily opening up the backdoor, he exploded out his house like a bullet. Without thinking, he just ran as far possible. Unfortunately, he forgot about the dip from the curb of the street onto the main street himself. Adrenaline still coarsing through his body, he felt a huge dip in the road and lost his balance, tripping on his side.

He tried to get up, but he could feel a force pushing him back down again.

"Oh no, You're not going anywhere!" yelled a voice behind him. It was one of the Black Guard soldiers. He had grasped on to back of the man's cloak.

"General! I got someone!" exclaimed the soldier eagerly.

"Excellent work corporal GwJumpman!" said a happy Scav, "expect a nice raise in your future."

"Yes sir! Thank you sir!" replied GwJumpan in a jubliant tone.

"So," continued Scav to the man that was still in GwJumpman's hands, "you really think you could escape on my watch? Scav approached the man and smacked him with his metal crossbow across his back, sending the man collasping to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

"Tell you what," said Scav, "I'm a nice man, so I'll cut you a deal. I'll spare your life on one condition -- you pledge eternal committment to Queen Killjoy. She could always use a few more servants doing her dirty work."

The man still laying the floor lay out a muffled cough.

"NEVER!" he cried out.

"Oh really? I'd reconsider if I were you," replied Scav. He kicked him hard in the back, the man giving out another cry in pain. In desperation, he started to crawl away but Scav wasn't paying attention.

"Last chance!" mentioned Scav in a booming voice. He then saw the man crawling away in futility.

"I'm not done with you yet," said Scav coldly.

"I'm... not... selling... my... life... *coughs* to... that... *****!!!"

Scav's face recoiled slightly.

"Such desecration of the Queen's name will not be tolerated. The punishment is immediate death."

Scav grabbed the neck of the man as he kneeled down close to him. He forced the man down to the ground of the side of the road.

"Bite down on the curb!" yelled Scav. The man, still shaking from the blows to his back, opened his mouth slowly and bit down on the medium-sized stone curb. Scav then pinned the man down with his right foot. He savored the moment as he looked down the on the prone man.

"Be lucky I don't wear high heels like the Queen does," chuckled Scav. As Scav raised his right boot, he bellowed out a gutteral yell, and then slammed his foot down with all the force in his body on the head of the man. A dull thud reverberated a bit as blood began to gush out like a miniature fountain.

Scav then plunged his hands through the pockets of the dead man. He pulled out a mysterous silver amulet that his left hand managed to grasp a hold of. He studied it as it glinted silently to his eyes.

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Chapter 29: A Project's Predicament

Dr. Lythium rushed into the corridors of the dungeon along with Caotic and Chaco. She falters at the foul stench, hunching over and vomiting uncontrollably. Chaco conjures up a spell of a yellow, blinding light, applying it to the top of Lythium's head as she is on all fours gasping for the limited air there was.

She suddenly felt relieved, as if a burst of fresh after-rain air had blown across her face. Lythium was astonished by the effects of the spell, though she pretended she was not. The good doctor had always relied on science and experimentation. She was not sure if these "powers" were a form of magic, illusionism, or actually spiritual faith by the Goddess Miss Yuna. The priests said nothing, and continued down the Black Mile, with Dr. Lythium following after.

Further in, the three stop at a pentacle obscurely emblazoned onto the floor. It was the sorceress' intent to slightly conceal it, to prevent unwanted breaches by those who are profound in witchcraft and sorcery as well.

Caotic fumbled through his satchel and took out a spherical obsidian gem that was seeping a black mist. In the center of the pentacle, there was a circular slot engraved into the ground. The priest drops the gem as if he was shooting dice. It immediately rolled into place as if it was magnetic to the slot. All of a sudden, the Black Mile began to distort. The dark corridor loses its sootiness, and the three find themselves only a few paces from the room of the Project Masamune. In that cell hung an unconscious Frown, with the spiteful guard smirking on the outside.

"What are you doing?!", exclaims the doctor. She runs up to the cell attempting to open the ironclad door, but fails.

The guard cackles. "Ah! If it isn't the renowned professor Lythium?! It's been a while since you've been around these parts. Much has changed, hasn't it? Kohohohoo". His voice began to sound flippantly baleful.

"Why have you meddled?! The project is barely near completion!"

"Relax, prof. I just think of it as being prepared for what is to come. You see, I know all about your little experiment.", the guard grins with his helmet visor still over his eyes.

"No doubt Her Majesty shared. It doesn't matter. What does matter is him being in there! It's still too EARLY!"

"Please, calm down, Doctor", Caotic says behind her.

The guard begins to pace around Project Masamune. "LOOK at this contraption! Behold all its radiance! You are surely not without merit, my dear doctor."

Lythium leers at him. "...Are you mad? What does a mere prison guard care about technology?"

"I'm hurt, milady", he says with levity. "It's the utter concept! The amalgamation of magic, science, and divination! A weapon of mass destruction in the palm of the queen's hand. No fool would dare oppose such a formidable device of war and it's-"

"That's enough", Chaco interrupted. "If the doctor requires the host out of the cell, then acknowledge that."

"Oh, but of course, milord.". He simply smiles at the order.

Lythium only felt more pressured with the project. She was being used for something she wasn't sure she was compatible enough to do. The science part was down. Magic was on its way, but faith was going to be the hard part.

She could not help but think that there was more to this man than just being a dungeon guard.

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<3z said:

lol @ cutter getting inspiration from music.

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<3z said:

Well, if we follow the routine, I will wait until you post a chapter before dawn, then I write after you later that morning.

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<3z said:

Jam isn't the only one writing, you jerkface.

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Vrael said:

Someone got curbstomped!

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Chapter 30: Realizations

Teran couldn't believe it. It almost felt as if a knife had stabbed him in the back. Who could have possibly turned against him? As he began to ponder this fact, his mind started to drift away into obliviousness, only to be startled by Sasukebowser:

"Teran, we have to keep moving! We're sitting ducks here! We have to relocate and change course or the Black Guard will find us within a matter of minutes."

"Alright," said Teran quickly arousing out of his partial stupor, "Let's head northwest and then southwest to the Poke Center. We can't afford to go due west through the Artwork Emporium. Chances are the Black Guard will have already ravaged that area as well and will be looking for me."

"It will take too long to go that way Teran," mentioned Bionic Sonic. We don't have the resources to take that route. It'll take at least four days minimum. We need to head west through the AE."

"How long would it take?"

"Just 1 day."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"How did yo--"

"Law of Cosines," said Bionic Sonic very quickly, looking at his makeshift map of SWF.

Sasukebowser couldn't help but facepalm.

Just before another word could be said, something flew through through the air, narrowly missing Teran's head. It was an arrow, which hit the ground and exploded, sending a massive amount of earth flying in the air.

"RUN!" yelled Teran. They had been spotted. Sure enough, they could see several figures on horseback charging towards the trio.

As Teran, Sasuke, and Bionic Sonic ordered their horses to flee at full gallop, Sasukebowser could see behind them. The Black Guard was cutting the distance between them -- and fast.

"Do something!" cried Sasukebowser. "They're gaining on us!"

Upon hearing these words, Bionic Sonic quickly traced a trangle with his right finger in the air and then used his hand to push it behind them. A blue-colored, aura-imbued triangle materialized, snaring three of the black horses and the Black Guard soldiers and completely immoblizing them in place. This created a momentary barricade in the narrow dirt road.

"That'll buy us some time, but not a lot," said a worried Bionic Sonic.

"What did you do to them?" asked Teran.

"Sine bind," replied Bionic Sonic. "That's not important though. We have to just get out of their sight for now."

Teran agreed to himself silently as they charged out of the region on their horses towards AE. Bionic Sonic was right. Their supplies and gear were great in number, but not enough for the perilous alternative journey Teran intially mentioned on going. For now, they headed to the Poke Center via AE. He knew that they couldn't run from the Queen any longer. She was beginning to exert her callous grip on the nation.

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