I do not own Chaotic nor anything related to it. It belongs to TCDigital.

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The Second Time

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I open my eyes, and there's sand everywhere. Sand in the road, on buildings, on plants that look like palm trees. Half of the sky has a blue glow, while the other is deep violet and shining with stars.

I'm confused. Is this what I think it is? It feels kind of like last time. Definitely not the same place, though.

I look around. There's an adult man and, I take a moment to count, eight children near me, all of them looking confused. Maybe I should say something to them.

I take too long to decide, and the man shouts, "What the f*** just happened?"

I cringe. The man has language issues, and some of the kids can't be more eight years old. "Maybe we shouldn't talk so loud," I say quietly. If this place is what I think it is, then somebody could be standing right next to us, listening.

"Shut the f*** up," the man snaps at me. "Don't pretend you know what's going on."

Before I can say that I'm pretty sure I know more about what's going on than he does, I hear a small shriek behind me. I turn in time to see what appears to be a reptilian woman drop a basket and cover her mouth. In an instant the lizard-person vanishes, literally disappearing on the spot, leaving behind the spilled basket.

The foul-mouthed man swears loudly, "What the f*** was that?!"

I find myself taking the man less seriously with everything he says. At least I know where we are now. "That was a Mipedian, and she's probably looking for guards."

The man stares at me as if I was the idiot. "Mipedian? What the-?"

I cut him off, "Lizard people from a world called Perim." I'm not sure I'm doing a good job explaining. "Which is where we are, by the way."

The man has lost patience with me. He marches away from me and the children, towards the fallen basket, and bellows, "I don't care what you f***ing lizards are! Or is this some prank? Well it's not f***ing funny!"

There's a crack, and the man suddenly collapses to the ground. The air behind him flickers as a Mipedian wielding a spear appears there. The Mipedian turns to face me, and there's what I assume suspicion in his expression.

I raise my hands in front of me, palms open. "...Hi."

The Mipedian quickly closes the distance between us and thrusts his spear towards my face, the point stopping maybe an inch from my nose. I flinch away, and the kids behind me squeal in fright. The soldier narrows his eyes and growls, "Who are you?"

I don't immediately answer, I'm too busy staring at the spear pointing between my eyes. When my breath stops catching in my throat, I stutter, "M-Michael. My name is Michael."

I hear the kids behind me shriek, and a voice behind me growls, "And who are you?"

I turn my head to see another soldier aiming a spear at the group. "They're kids!" I almost shout. "Don't hurt them!"

I see the spear waver, and the soldier holding it suddenly looks uncomfortable. He eventually raises the weapon. I breathe a sigh of relief as turn back to face the soldier in front of me. Who is still pointing a spear at me. Oh, right.

Before anything else can be said, I hear a voice approaching. "Excellent job keeping control of the intruders, soldier." I see the voice's owner strutting closer.

It's Prince Mudeenu! He's one of my favorite creatures from the game! Holy crap! This is the best day ever!

Prince Mudeenu draws a sword and walks around me. "Start walking. Slowly." I feel the point of the weapon press against my back.

Scratch that. This day is far from the best day ever.

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By the grace of the Mipedian king, Theb-sarr, I'm not spending my first night in the Mipedim Oasis in a prison cell. I don't even have a face to attach to the name Theb-sarr, but I feel very grateful to him. Come to think of it, Theb-sarr it the tribe leader I know the least about. Maxxor, Chaor, Illexia, they all have cards in the game, and they've all appeared in the show. Theb-sarr's an absolute mystery.

I'm lying down in a bed in one of the guest rooms of the palace. This place is jaw-droppingly beautiful. I've spent the last several minutes just staring at the designs in the ceiling. The bed itself is more comfortable than anything else I can remember. And this is a guest room!

While I'm admiring the place, I hear the door open and close. It's probably a servant. I remember Prince Mudeenu gritting his teeth and saying, "Make yourself comfortable. I'll send a servant to take care of you." It was like the words put a bad taste in his mouth.

I hear a fluttering sound, and I turn my head to see the curtains being closed. That will take some getting used to, seeing invisible people go about doing things. I grin as I imagine the amazing haunted houses Mipedian would be able to pull off if they used their invisibility that way.

The pillow beside me lifts up, and I can see claw indentations as the Mipedian holding it began to fluff it. "The pillows I fine," I say, "I fluffed them already."

The pillow doesn't drop back down, instead moving around the bed, flapping around as whoever was holding shook it. It was a little comical, really. Ah well, I guess if he insists on-

The pillow flies toward my face, and suddenly I'm pressed into the bed. I can't see, can't breath, can't speak. He's smothering me! I flail around my arms and legs, trying to scream, trying to shake off my assailant. The pillow presses harder into my face. I grab for the Mipedian's hands, trying to pull them off. He's too strong. I punch at the air, and I feel my fists connect with scales, but the pillow doesn't budge.

My head feels fuzzy. I lift my legs and plant my feet against my attack's chest. I can't push hard enough. I can feel the Mipedian's muscles shake as he presses harder.

My ears are ringing. I can't tell where my arms or legs are. I can't feel the pillow against my face. I can only try to breathe, but I can't make my lungs fill...

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Coming next: The Palace Guards

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Like I said before, Chaotic belongs to TCDigital.

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