Hey, everyone! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and if everything goes right, very soon we'll have the apex of Bai Yu An's adventures as Prince's unwilling impersonator. I am just sorry that for that I have to beat around the bush so much, but it all feels so important... Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep stories short and to the point? Or are you all okay with the current pace? Please let me know through your reviews!

Chapter 10 - Teammates

Mayday and Headstrong were new to Second Life. After a week, they were finally able to leave the newbie city and now called Moon City their home. They did think about starting at Infinite City, but they wanted to participate in the tournament during the fair, and decided it would be a good idea to start somewhere else and use the journey to level up along the way. Of course, before they were actually able to do that they would have numerous excursions around town, learning how far in the wilderness they could go before coming back for potions.

Today, they felt ready to go farther than ever before. Their inventories were completely full of health and mana potions, plus the few items they planned on equipping as soon as they reached the next level. They hoped that would happen soon, because with the mobs they were killing, they really needed space in their inventories if they wanted to keep their loot.

"Headstrong, do you hear hoof beats?"

"Yeah. Sounds like they are coming our way."

"I know you said we should save our money for Infinite City, but I do wish we'd bought horses... It would be so much quicker..."

"Mayday, you silly. We don't want to go quicker! We want to take every possible opportunity to lev..."

THUD.

Headstrong was interrupted by an arrow that hit the tree by his left ear. He practically fell against the tree by the sheer surprise.

The riders had closed in, having come into sight after a bend in the road. They rode identical brown horses and were clad in identical black cloaks, hoods covering their faces. The one in front carried a long bow, and attempted yet another shot at Headstrong.

Mayday screamed, and that seemed to distract the archer, for he missed Headstrong by inches. Both the archer and the second rider closed in on Mayday. She was a mage, and as soon as the hooded figures revealed themselves hostile she'd started the recitation of a spell, but even if she was successful, unless she managed to hit-kill both targets, she would still be left unprotected, so Headstrong rose to her aid with difficulty.

He was to late.

"All items, or she dies."

The second one had drawn a knife, and was holding it against Mayday's throat. The archer had an arrow notched and pointed straight at Headstrong's chest. This one would not miss.

Headstrong and Mayday were left tied in the woods. As soon as the sound of the thieves' horses died, they started struggling against the cords to free themselves. They didn't have time. It was with apprehension that they heard hoof beats again.

"Oh, no! They've attacked again!"

This rider's mount was a white horse, and the rider himself had the looks of a fairy tale knight - shining armor included. Headstrong didn't like it in the least when he saw Mayday's eyes getting wide at the sight of him, but he couldn't complain, since the newcomer had quickly untied them and asked what had happened.

"I see..." the knight said after hearing about the tale. "Did you see what the robbers looked like?"

"No... Even their faces were shadowed by the hoods."

"You are safe, guys. They didn't see your faces."

"Great."

"How was the loot?"

"Not bad... Their actual items were low level, but there were a few things that they were saving for after they leveled up, and those can actually be useful. Plus, they have an insane amount of potions."

"Had. It's ours now: we took it."

"Right."

"So, which plan? Anything I can actually 'retrieve' for them?"

"Not without looking suspicious. I guess we should go for 'Dramatic Death'."

"Che... I hate dramatic death..."

"Well, I can't say I'm exactly pleased with our current strategy, either. I'm sure after this job we can think of something we'll enjoy better. For now, just endure it."

With a displeased face, the knight seemed to consider this information in his mind.

"Still, by their way of operation, I'm pretty sure they are the same band of robbers I've been chasing since Sun City. And you said you've only seen two of them? It makes one wonder where are the other three..."

Mayday and Headstrong shot a worried glance to the woods. They wouldn't be able to cross the woods without their items, especially if there were more thieves about.

"Well, let's go, then." The knight remounted.

"Us? Go? Where?"

"Retrieve your items, of course. I'm Dashing Mysterious Hero, nice to make your acquaintance."

Both of them looked up to him, the girl quite adoringly.

"I'm Mayday".

"Headstrong".

Dashing Mysterious Hero guided them through the forest, and they could tell he was really expert - he saw footprints and broken twigs and other clues where Headstrong and Mayday could only see trees and shrubbery.

"Careful now." He warned, and as soon as they circled a particularly big tree, they found a hooded figure dividing the loot - their items - in neat piles.

Upon noticing them, the black clad figure rose, unsheathing a sword and taking a fighting instance.

"If it isn't Dashing Mysterious Hero..." his voice was full of contempt. "I see you followed us all the way here."

"Crow! You've gone too far! This time I'll stop your life of crimes for good!"

The hero attacked, and the bandit parried a couple blows before being hit and flying back a couple meters, disappearing amid the bushes. Then he was back, and threw himself at the hero with renewed vigor.

Even Dashing Mysterious Hero was surprised at the speed and strength of the attacks, but he was still able to parry each blow. It would turn out into a battle of stamina, rather than strength or technique, or at least it seemed so until hero and bandit lounged at each other one last time. Headstrong and Mayday weren't able to see who had been able to get an advantage on who, and both contestants breathed heavily.

Then the moment was over, and blood gushed out of Dashing Mysterious Hero in a heinous wound. He fell, clutching his chest with one hand and reaching for the HP potion with the other. With that, he didn't see the arrow. There was a pillar of white light, and Headstrong and Mayday were alone with the hooded swordsman.

The archer chose that moment to reveal himself from his perch on the trees.

"Scram, or you're next".

He made his point by accompanying his words with an arrow that hit Headstrong on the shoulder. A plain arrow wasn't enough to kill a warrior his level, but without any armor or equipment it actually dealt a lot of damage.

Boy and girl turned on their heels and run.

After the two newbies were completely out of earshot, Crow and Jet lowered their hoods, and Dashing Mysterious Hero came out of a nearby bush, brushing leaves and twigs off his clothes.

"That was a new one, the two of you swapping places in the middle of battle", he complained, taking one of the potions from the loot pile and starting to sip at it. Immediately his chest wound began to close.

"Sorry, Dash. Jet was getting bored, and it did make more sense to have the two of you sparring. Besides looking more impressive, it gave me more room to throw the light grenade."

Jet interrupted them.

"Hey, it should be any time now."

And just as she said it, the system voice came to their party channel:

System Notice: Player Dashing Mysterious Hero's reputation has increased. Player Crow's reputation has gone worse.

"So, that leaves us at..." Jet opened a party menu. And checked their 'Fame' status. "Dash with plus 35, he is 'Trusted'. At 40 it should change to 'Admired'. Crow and I have minus 20 and minus 19, respectively, we are both 'Suspicious'... Not bad. Not bad at all."

The three of then had an unspoken agreement never to mention that Prince's fame was above 800.

"Still, I think it's time for a change of strategy..." Crow said. "I mean, I don't really like that hostage taking thing."

"Yeah." Dash agreed. "And that Light Grenade you learned from the alchemist's quest is amazing, Jet, but faking your own death sucks."

"I know. I'm trying to come up with a foolproof scheme where the three of us can participate, because I'm not happy with our current situation either. Even if Crow and I alternate, I still feel like we can do better." The role of genius of crime suited Jet well, and she was soon laying down new plans. "I guess the first step is would be to get Dash a hood, just in case, and black horses. Brown just isn't dramatic enough."

The boys exchanged an amused glance and answered in unison:

"Roger, ma'am!"

A hood and black horses it would be.

End Chapter

Preview for the next chapter:

"Drop your weapons, or I'll show you just how small this kekkai can get!"

Uncomfortably pressed against each other in a sphere with a diameter of little more than one meter, Crow and Jet did not dare disobey, and hoped Dash would come along soon.

Crow, Jet, and Dashing Mysterious Hero are confronted by a mad barrier master and (if I can squeeze it in) an angry mage. Some updates in real life as well.