Okay, we're back on track. Last time we've seen our heroes, things weren't looking so good. And guess what? It's not going to get better anytime soon! (I'm awful, I know) Anyway, this chapter is a little bit lighter (with the pressure on 'a little'). Go on, keep on reading! I won't stop you anymore.
Disclaimer: I do not own Wakfu.
Disclaimer2: I do not own Alys.
Chapter 9: Back to Bonta
Alys blinked a few times to get rid of white spots in front of her eyes. The blinding light disappeared rather quickly, but she couldn't tell the same about the ringing in her ears. She shook her head a few times, but it did little to nothing in ending the annoying feeling. She decided to let it go, for now, switching her focus at the surrounding.
Her eyes blinked again, as she looked around the room they were in. The desk which before was standing by the far-most wall was pushed with enormous strength and somehow ended half-buried in the stone surface. The several chairs which stood next to the wooden furniture were, too, pushed aside and were lying haphazardly on the floor. All in all, the once neat and organised office now seemed to undergo a close encounter with a tornado.
A painful groaning to the Eliatrope's side made her move her head towards the direction of the sounds. She noticed both of her Ecaflip companions pushing themselves up from the floor, trying to steady themselves on their wobbly feet. It looked like whatever hit them, take a stronger toll on the two than it did on herself. She hurried towards them, intending to aid her friends to the best of her capabilities.
"Let me help you, Mister Crepin," she offered, raising his white-furred arm and thrusting it over her shoulder. He smiled a little at her, allowing himself to lean over the female Eliatrope.
"Thank you, Alys," he said, as she helped him to his feet. "Did you see what hit us?"
She shook her head in response.
"I'm sorry. The last thing I remember is this dark-haired woman threatening to shatter the Dofus, and Master Joris-" she stopped in the middle of the sentence, as she mentioned the name of the small master. Her eyes widened in horror, as they scouted the room for any signs of her friend and hidden lover. Where was he?
Her heart sunk, as she caught a glimpse of the familiar blue under one of the fallen chairs.
"Master Joris!" she cried out, letting go of Kerubim's shoulder and rushing towards the lying figure.
He wasn't moving, she noticed in terror, as she fell to her knees next to the Bontarian master, pushing the chair aside. Her eyes tried to search for any clue as to his state, but the oversized cape he always wore effectively prevented her from doing so. Her trembling hands stopped mere centimetres before his unmoving figure, afraid to not find him breathing. She held up the tears at the thought of losing him now, just after they reunited. She didn't even notice a flash of white and green which hovered over her lover.
"He's breathing" a shaken but convinced voice reached her ears. She moved her head to see the young Eniripsa kneeling next to her, the brush at work. "He has some bruises, probably from being hit by the chair. Nothing too serious" she added, eyeing the wooden object.
"So... he's okay?" a flush of relief flooded the female Eliatrope, as she saw Anrika nodding, her cyan eyes following the movements of the Eniripsa's brush.
"Just unconscious" came the answer, a small smile coming from the blonde. "He's a tough one, Master Joris..."
"Yes, he is" Alys agreed, allowing herself to breath normally when the Eniripsa confirmed there was nothing wrong with the small master.
"Dame?" another female voice cut through the air, making Anrika jump up and let out a startled shriek. She turned around to the source of the sound, her brown eyes widening in horror.
The red-haired Rogue was scanning the room when her gaze stopped on the two kneeling women and the still figure of Master Joris. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, as she pointed her finger at them.
"What did you do to Dame?!" she shouted in accusation. "Where is she?!"
"We don't know. We-" Anrika tried to explain, but was abruptly cut off by a fired shot which barely missed her cheek.
"Where. Is. Dame?" Dalila growled through her teeth, her gun pointed at the Eniripsa. Too terrified to speak, the blonde healer only shook her head, tears sparkling in her eyes. The Rogue ground her teeth at the reply, her finger trembling on the trigger. Another shot sounded, and this time the bullet went straight for the Eniripsa's face. She just stared at it getting closer, paralysed in fear. Just moments before it hit her, a wall of cyan shot up, giving her protection.
"Don't you dare hurt her!" Alys snarled, her Wakfu shield sparkling before her. Dalila clicked her tongue in annoyance. She didn't think twice before she fired a whole round, hitting the cyan protection with her full strength. The shield glowed and glimmered, but didn't disappear, holding in firmly.
"Let's move!" Atcham shouted, running to the women and leaning over to pick up the small figure in blue. "We're not safe here!"
"The Dofus!" Kerubim cried, pointing his claw at the two dragon eggs lying further away.
"I'll get them!" Anrika offered, starting up in their direction, not paying any attention to the firing which was happening. She managed to grab one of them and reached for the other when a fire shot made her retract her hand.
"You're not going anywhere" Dalila growled, another pistol in her hand, one pointed at the Eniripsa, while other focused on the Eliatrope behind her Wakfu shield.
Alys' eyes darted between all of the people in the room, weighing the options. They were in a dire situation. Her shield was holding for now, but she wasn't sure for how much longer she could keep it up. She was sure the enraged Rogue will not let them leave the building, providing they manage to create enough distraction to escape from the room. Her cyan eyes stared at the unconscious figure shuffled in Atcham's arms. She ground her fist, determination overfilling her thoughts.
She swiftly dissolved her shield, creating two medium-sized zaaps with both of her hands. Before the Rogue had any chance to react, she quickly joined hands, firing her Wakfu at the woman. As predicted, she dodged the shot, rolling away. Alys moved quickly, creating a few more portals, which swallowed Anrika, Kerubim, Atcham with Master Joris and, finally, herself.
A flash of cyan blinked in the back alley, four figures appearing on the cobbled street and the fifth huddled in the arms of the fur-less Ecaflip. The blonde Eniripsa's legs buckled and she fell forward, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Alys, we appreciate your help," Kerubim said weakly, the sickly feeling in his stomach making him want to throw up. "But next time, please, warn us you're going to zaap us out"
"Sorry, Master Crepin" the female Eliatrope blushed in embarrassment. She kept forgetting the travel through her people's zaaps wasn't exactly safe for others. At least it was only about nausea and not something far worse.
"We got out and that matters" Atcham cut in, his snout looking a little lighter than usual. "Now let's move. We have to get to the zaaps and leave this city as soon as possible"
Everyone nodded and they started off through the busy streets of Brakmar. Luckily, no one paid attention to the group of two Ecaflips, an Eliatrope, an Eniripsa and an unconscious figure belonging to the Master of Bonta held by Atcham. And even if anyone did, they weren't going to stop the running company. This is how Brakmar worked: don't get involved if it's not your problem. It worked pretty well for the escapees' advantage, as they soon arrived at the main square, where the zaaps were stationed. Kerubim went on to fill in the form for them to cross the portal to Bonta, while the others stayed a little bit behind, catching their breaths after the long run.
"I'm sorry we dragged you into this, Anrika," Alys said apologetically after a moment of silence filled only with heavy breathing. The Eniripsa looked up at the woman from where she stood, her face surprised by the sudden apology.
"Ah, it's not your fault, Lady Alys" she denied quickly, waving her hands. "I would have probably got involved one way or another, knowing my clumsiness" she laughed nervously, scratching her neck.
"Still, you lost your home because of us..." the female Eliatrope still tried to apologise for the trouble.
"That place... wasn't exactly what I would call home" the Eniripsa replied truthfully, her gaze saddening. "I don't have a home"
"I'm sorry, I didn't know-" Alys gasped, ashamed of herself.
"We're good to go" Kerubim called out happily, waving the piece of paper while approaching the others. "Everything's in order, we can cross anytime now"
"So... this is goodbye?" Anrika lowered her head in sadness. She didn't want to leave the small group, but they had no reason to keep her with them.
"What are you saying, darling? Of course, you're coming with us" the white-furred Ecaflip replied in a surprised but serious tone. "Papa would have disowned us if we left you here by yourself"
"But... I don't want to be a nuisance..." Anrika said silently, turning her head away.
"Oh, please" the fur-less Ecaflip huffed, readjusting the hold on the still-unconscious master. "It would be much more of a nuisance explaining to Papa why didn't we take you with us"
"But I-" the Eniripsa tried to argue, but Kerubim cut in.
"No buts, darling. We've got plenty of rooms back in our home in Bonta. I'm sure Luis won't mind you living with us" he said, pushing the astonished healer towards the zaap.
"You said it, brother" Atcham nodded in agreement, following the Ecaflip.
Anrika felt silent, letting Kerubim guide her along. Was it really happening? Was she actually leaving Brakmar? Her mind felt so blank, not able to process what was happening. She mindlessly let herself be taken by the hand and walked through the surface of the portal, not even noticing the moment of travel. She only found out she left Brakmar behind her, as she felt the heat of the sun on her face and the gentle blow of the wind in her hair. She blinked a few times, staring enchanted at the landscape in front of her. Her eyes were filled with warm colours of grass, the sky, the ever-present flowers. Even the air felt different, more alive and carefree than it was back in the city she spent all of her life in, until now.
"Welcome in Bonta" Alys smiled, standing next to the astonished Enripsa, her eyes cast upon the magnificent city further on the horizon.
Anrika glanced at the female Eliatrope before, too, moving her gaze towards the building visible in the distance. She felt her lips curve upwards and her cheeks flushing with excitement as her mouth silently repeated the name of the city, Bonta.
