Mithos was happy. And this was worrying. Being anything other than suicidal was unusual, and right now, most of the others were scared shitless. All because one little evil genius was smiling. Yeh, you heard me. Smiling.

"Bloody cheek" muttered Martel as she seethed on a fluffy green cloud watching her little brother make his way to the lake near the campsite. Honestly, siblings these days, you give them - what - seven years? And they're already over you? Cheeky sod she mused, missing a small village with her lightning she was so annoyed. Could be worse I suppose she reflected, trying to ignore the light moaning that was coming from Yuan's tent your soul mate could have abandoned you for a steamy affair with one of your ex-comrades. The yelping grew louder. Oh yeh she glared bitterly he just did.

Anyway, back to Mithos. He was smiling. As if we couldn't guess why you randy bugger… He'd spent a very, hem, pleasant evening with Genis and after he had confessed his unfaltering love for him, the two were now engaged and Lloyd had agreed to be their bridesmaid. Just kidding. Lloyd was, of course, still madly in love with Genis and had refused. But he was sure that Presea would make an adequate replacement, after all, pink was going to be the colour scheme.

"Sheena" he said as he passed her, "you heard?"

Sheena on the other hand was not happy.

"I spent all of this morning trying to comfort Lloyd who cried so loudly that he interfered with a summoning and then I was chased 14 times round the lake by and irate spirit. How exactly could I have not heard?"

Mithos shrugged "whatever. Aren't you going to congratulate me?"

Sheena raised her eyebrows. "Sure. Its not like I had no idea that Lloyd was gay and have spent most of my life infatuated with him. By all means, I'm happy for you. Just don't expect me to be a bridesmaid."

He laughed " Don't worry, Presea's already agreed. Besides" he added, looking her up and down "you're purple.."

"No, estupido, my hair is purple." she turned to leave and then smiled slyly "oh.. and by the way, I just heard that that village we passed yesterday not longer exists." glancing upwards, she grinned "someone ain't happy…"

Mithos turned a delicate shade of green and went to find his fiancée

So back to Martel. C'mon you've got to feel sorry for her, first she's sacrificed, then she's forgotten, she has to sit back and watch her brother go insane and everyone else move on. "and you know the worst part?" she wailed to Botta's ghost, "I never got to tell Colette that she looked cute in that red mini" Oh yeh. And she died before she could tell Colette that she looked cute in that red mini. Filing her nails she lazily wriggled her foot out of her shoe which plunged off the cloud and hit Colette on the head. If you think for one minute that you're getting away with being gay all your life and never confiding in your loyal, understanding and caring big sister you're wrong Mithos. Time to stir things up a little methinks…

Colette blinked. Something was wrong.. did someone need saving? Had she suddenly lost her powers? Did she still have feet? (well you never know..) looking down, her suspicions were refuted, no, she still had feet… aah. Picking up a shadily green coloured shoe that had an ominously light and fluffy quality to it, she blinked again and smiled. Colette was happy when she figured things out all by herself. She had been hit on the head by a passing shoe. Wait a minute.. shoes don't fly.. so how could it have passed her?

She blinked again and frowned. Then smiled again. Aah, of course, someone had tried to throw the shoe away and it had hit her. But why would anyone want to throw away a scary glowing shoe?? Finally, the smile died on her lips as colour rose into her cheeks and her eyes felt wet. Her bottom lip began to wobble. Someone had… thrown a shoe at her… and … and it h- huuurt!! A deep sob rose in her chest and her normally pretty face was broken with sorrow as she began to weep silently.

Martel sighed. Jeez how stupid could you get?? If you get whacked on the head by an unnatural shoe it's a sign that .. Oh never mind. Ill have to sort this out by myself again, as usual. Giving Botta a longingly lengthy goodbye, she straddled the nearest penguin of death (rehierds are SO last century ) and began her journey back to the one place that she had sworn she would never return to… the land of the living dead…

Aah. Sorry. My mistake.

back to the one place that she had sworn she would never return to… the land of the living …

Where all hell was currently braking loose.