Chapter 11: A Walk in the Park
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. This one was really fun to write and a scene in hear was heavily suggested by you the readers. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
At a construction site high above Drake City, three dwarves were taking a break.
"Sure is peaceful up here." One said opening his lunch. "Ugh cheese and bologna again?"
Suddenly from out of nowhere the Mysticons flew past them firing their attacks and Choko jumps onto the dwarf's shoulder and gives him a kiss on the cheek before taking a big bite of his sandwich.
"Hey! That foz ruined my sandwich!" He snapped when Dreadbane fires a blast causing the dwarves to dangle for their lives.
"Still worried about that sandwich?"
"Heh kinda."
As Arkayna, Zarya, Piper and Ryou flew through the air on their griffins and Kipperin Dreadbane and Tazma pursued them.
"Alright hoopy do your thing." Piper said throwing her hoop knocking a skeleton off its ride and down towards the ground. "Heads up down below!"
"Enforcer! Bring them to me!" Dreadbane said taking out another amulet and a large bug like titan appeared who fired lasers from its 3 eyes at Piper.
"Honorguard!" Arkayna said blocking the attack.
"Raypulse!" Ryou said blasting Enforcer making it fly backwards as Zarya fires multiple arrows at it and Tazma who quickly disappears.
"How much longer do we have to stall these boneheads?" Zarya asks.
"Until Em gets her Codex Piece." Ryou said as he looked to the top of the royal palace where Sophie and Musa were helping Em up the pole.
"Had to be at the top of the tower." Em groans.
"Just hurry up and get it." Sophie groans as she and Musa kept her in place as Em summoned her sword.
"Okay! Above a place of Kings and Queen, celestial power justice brings!" Em said firing a blast into the sky opening up a portal which lowered her piece of the codex. "Girls we got it!" Em smiles as it drops and hits her in the head but luckily Musa caught it.
"Here you go." Musa said handing it to her as it formed a unicorn bracer.
"Yes!" Em said jumping off them and onto her griffin.
"The final piece of the Codex." Tazma said appearing nearby.
"Don't let them escape!" Dreadbane said as he and Ryou clashed swords.
"Sorry my liege, you do your thing and I'll do mine." Tazma grins.
As the 5 Mysticons flew over a building Dreadbane and Enforcer fired two blasts sending Kippering into his amulet and Zarya off her griffin making her and Ryou crash onto a roof.
"Say goodbye Mysticon Ranger and Mysticon Tactician." Dreadbane said readying his sword.
"Why? You're the one who's leaving. Unleash the Dragon!" Arkayna said.
"Fly Phoenix Fly!"
"Battle Unicorn Charge!" Em said as the three bracers send Enforcer back into his amulet and force Dreadbane to retreat.
"Em you check on Zarya and Ryou. Piper and I will track down Dreadbane." Akrayna said as they flew off.
Jumping down next to them Zarya and Ryou stand up.
"That was a thing of beauty. Great strategy Ryou." Zarya said playfully punching his shoulder.
"Divide and conquer works every time." Ryou smirks.
"Thanks Ryou you guys—" Em gasps when she sees Tazma appear behind Zarya and grab her.
"Tazma!" Ryou said drawing his swords.
"Let her go!" Em said aiming her bracer at her but Tazma just laughs.
"Just blast her!" Zarya said.
"What if I hit you?" Em asks worried.
"Take your time dwarf." Tazma said as she struck Zarya's arm with dark magic causing Ryou and Em to gasp.
"No!" They both said as Tazma disappeared and Zarya fell off the roof.
"Zarya!" Ryou screams alerting Arkayna and Piper.
"Quick after her!" Arkayna said as they turned around.
Arkayna dove to try and catch her but as she dove a taxi came out of nowhere and almost ran them over forcing Arkayna to pull up.
"Cavalier!" Ryou said calling out his flying knight titan who dives down quickly and catches Zarya just before she hit the ground.
"Zarya? Zarya?" Arkayna said as they all ran over to check on her.
"Is she okay?" Em asks as Cavalier hands her to Ryou and they see her infected arm causing them to gasp.
Back at their base, Zarya was laid down on the couch as Zarya and Tecna tried to heal her.
"Any luck?" Ryou asks as both girls shook their heads.
"That's some serious shadow magic my sister used. I'd give her about 3 hours before it completely takes over her." Malvaron said.
"And then what?" Em asks but Mavlaron just sighs until he got a glyph.
"Tazma." He growls answering it.
"Greetings little brother. Like the spell?" Tazma asks.
"Pretty shady, even for you. Now end it." Malvaron said.
"But of course, once you hand over the rest of your Codex pieces." Tazma said.
"Yeah that's not going to happen." Malvaron snaps.
"Have it your way. Enjoy watching your Ranger waste away." Tazma laughs as Malvaron hangs up.
"I really hate your sister." Ryou groans.
"Join the club." Malvaron sighs.
"We can't give Tazma our codex pieces." Arkayna said.
"But she's the only one who can undo the spell." Piper said.
"Unless we can figure out a way to cancel it without her." Sophie said.
"This is all my fault. If only I acted quicker, but I hesitated." Em frowns.
"Hey, hey calm down all that matters is that we fix this." Arkayna said when Zarya groans waking up.
"Why do I feel like I was orc bashing with a 10-ton kraken. Whoa what happened to my arm?" She asks noticing the curse.
"Tazma put a spell on you." Ryou said.
"But don't worry we're gonna find a cure before it's too late." Piper said.
"Too late? You're starting to scare me." Zarya said.
"I swear by the Star of Gaigax we will figure this out!" Em vows causing Malvaron to gasp.
"By the stars. That's it. It's all in perfect alignment." Malvaron said looking at the star chart.
"Uh in English please." Zarya said.
"Yeah what does it mean?" Piper asks.
"It means we're gonna have to bake a cake." Malvaron said in a serious tone.
"Now I'm really freaked out." Zarya said.
At Dreadbane's base, Dreadbane was angry about his most recent failure.
"Blasted Mysticons! I was so close! Forgive me my queen. Tazma where are you? We need to formulate a new plan!" Dreadbane calls out making his way to the cells when Tazma appears nearby.
"Oh I have a plan Dreadbane it just doesn't concern you." Tazma smirks.
In the cell room, Dreadbane approaches the caged Dante Vale who appeared to be asleep.
"Wake up!" Dreadbane said banging on the bars.
"Ugh good morning to you too Dreadbane and here I thought you forgot about me." Dante smirks.
"Oh I could never forget you. You have information I seek." Dreadbane glares.
"If you want my titans you can forget it, they won't listen to someone as rotten as you." Dante said.
"I have no use for them, and I already know that. Years ago, you came to this castle and stole something of great importance to Necrafa, what was it?" Dreadbane asks.
"I came looking for more of her titans, but I didn't find any." Dante said but Dreadbane punched him the gut.
"I know you're lying, and I'll find out what it was that you took sooner or later." Dreadbane said walking past a locked-up backpack that had an amulet sticking out of it.
Deep within the forest of Centaur Park, the Mysticons, Sophie and Musa were following Malvaron.
"Okay where are we going and why did we need to bake a cake?" Piper asks.
"We're going to visit my Auntie Yaga. If anyone can undo the spell, she can." Malvaron said.
"Not if these Wood Sprites eat me alive first. Anyone pack any spray?" Zarya asks as Choko swats one away with his tail causing the wood sprites to turn red.
"Just leave them alone, trust me you do not want to make a wood sprite angry." Malvaron warns.
"So, your Aunt lives here?" Ryou asks.
"Nah she bumps around from dimension to dimension, but visits Centaur Park this time every year." Malvaron said.
"You mean an Astral Traveler?" Sophie asks.
"More like a minor demigod whose super eccentric and loves cake." Malvaron said when he got a glyph. "You've reached the Malvaron hot line for seriously disturbed sisters how may I help you?"
"Very funny, but I doubt your Ranger is laughing." Tazma said.
"Hey Tazma, add any friends to your friend list lately?" Zarya smirks.
"And skeletons don't count." Piper said.
"Or your own titans." Ryou added causing everyone to laugh.
"I don't know sis sounds like laughing to me." Malvaron said.
"If this is such a joke to you I'll just let the spell run it's course." Tazma said.
"Go ahead." Arkayna said.
"Buh bye." Em laughs as Tazma hangs up.
"Impossible, there isn't a soul in this dimension powerful enough to—" Tazma suddenly gasps in realization.
As they made their way through the forest the wood sprites were seriously starting to get ticked off.
"So which way now?" Ryou asks looking around.
"I'm not sure, somethings up." Malvaron said when a tree moved behind Piper.
"Uh I think this tree is creeping up on me." Piper said.
"Trees don't move." Musa said.
"Uh huh this one did." Piper said when suddenly the Wood sprites made all the trees around them start to move and surround them.
"Everyone this way!" Arkayna said as they ran for their lives when the Wood Sprites grabbed Choko knocking him to the ground.
"Choko!" Zarya said as she, Em and Musa ran after him.
"Wait! We need to stay together!" Arkayna said when multiple trees shot up separating all of them. "Em!"
"Zarya!" Ryou yells.
On the other side, Em was using her sword to try and cut a path but the trees were too strong.
"Give it up Em, it's not going to work." Zarya groans as the spell was taking effect spreading to her other arm.
"Arkayna come in. Do you read me?" Em asks making a call.
"Magical interference. Come on Em there's no time to wait for the others." Musa said.
"But I can't find Madam Yaga on my own." Em said.
"Don't second guess yourself." Musa said.
"I know I hate that." Em admits.
"Me too, that's what got us here." Zarya said.
"I should have blasted Tazma when I had the chance." Em said.
"And you probably would have got her, but right now Zarya needs us to help get her through this." Musa said.
"You're right. I just hope the others are doing better than we are." Em said as they led Zary through the forest.
With the others, they were at what looked like something from a romance novel. "What part of the park is this?" Sophie asks.
"I'm not sure." Malvaron said.
"Best stay close guys we don't need anymore trouble." Ryou said.
"Ooh look at all the pretty flowers, aww is that Love's Breath?" Piper asks sniffing it when the pollen goes into the air. Oh my goblin! Guys don't breathe in the pollen!" Piper calls out but it was too late as Arkayna and Ryou both breathed in Love's Breath.
"Arkayna…I've never noticed this before but your hair is so beautiful." Ryou said stroking it.
"I love your armor, very manly." Arkayna said as she put a flower in her mouth and music started to play.
"Oh hell no!" Piper growls about to lunge at them but Malvaron and Sophie held her back.
"Piper calm down." Malvaron said as Ryou and Arkayna danced.
"Does anyone else hear music?" Sophie asks.
"Get your hands off him!" Piper yells.
With Em, Zarya and Musa, they were trying to figure out which way to go but Em was still second guessing herself.
"Maybe we should have gone down the other path or maybe we should try and find the others." Em said.
"Or maybe you should stop second guessing yourself." Zarya said before dropping to her knees in pain.
"Zarya!" Musa said running over to her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Zarya groans as Em took out something. "What are you doing?"
"It's a Seeker Orb. I'm programming it to find the others." Em said throwing the orb into the air.
"No offense Em but you really need more confidence." Musa said.
"Come on let's follow that orb." Em said.
"Halt!" A voice said. Turning around they saw a Centaur behind them, but this centaur was barely a foot tall. "You trespass on the lands of the great northern kingdom, prepare to face justice." He said as more centaurs arrived.
"Centaurs, had to be centaurs." Zarya groans.
"They're so adorable." Em said.
"Why did you have to say that?" Zarya panics.
"You dare call Tiberius the Tall adorable? Charge!" Tiberius yells as the Centaurs chased after them.
"Run no!" Zarya yells as they ran for their lives.
"Not so adorable anymore Em?" Musa asks.
"Nope definitely not!" Em yells.
With Ryou and Arkayna, the two of them were still dancing while the others were trying to calm Piper down and knock some sense into them.
"Hey lovebirds snap out of it!" Piper said.
"Now is not the time." Malvaron said.
"Ryou, your name means Dragon and I'm the Dragon Mage. I should've known, we were meant to be together." Arkayna said.
"Yes, yes we were." Ryou smiles.
"Ugh this is worse than those cheesy romance novels." Sophie groans.
"Snap out of it you guys! We're on a quest and the clock is ticking!" Malvaron said causing Arkayna to gasp.
"You're right Malvaron." Arkayna said causing them all to sigh in relief.
"Thank you, finally someone sees sense." Sophie said.
"Life's too short. Ryou, will you marry me?" Arkayna asks taking out a ring causing Piper to freeze up.
"Yes! A million times yes!" Ryou said as she put the ring on his finger causing Piper to faint.
"Piper!" Malvaron said running to her.
"Where did she get that ring?" Sophie asks.
With Em, Zarya and Musa the Centaurs were gaining on them and throwing their spears when one strikes Em.
"Hey quit it!" Em said pulling one out only to be struck by 3 more spears.
"Careful, their spears are laced with paralytic poison." Zarya said.
"Poison? But they're so cute." Em said as her lips started moving. "What's wrong with my mouth?"
"This isn't good." Musa cringed.
"You call yourself a knight? Stand and fight coward." Tiberius mocks.
"Who are you calling coward pipsqueak?" Em leaps into the air and brings her sword down on the centaurs knocking them all back.
As the centaurs scramble to get up Choko jumps down and roars at them.
"I will vanquish you giant beast!" Tiberius said as he threw spears a Choko causing him collapse before they got Em, Zarya and Musa.
"Uh oh my feet are falling asleep." Musa said as they collapsed.
"This day just keeps getting better." Zarya said as Tiberius climbs atop of Piper.
"Victory is ours! We are the truth North strong and brave, we are proud, we are fearless, we are dashingly handsome and there is nothing that can—" Before Tiberius could finish an orange spray covered the centaurs causing them to cough. "Retreat! Retreat! The mist of doom!"
From the orange mist, a woman with dark skin and messy hair appeared. "Shoo, shoo. Ugh centaurs.
"Uh are you Auntie Yaga?" Musa asks.
"Why yes I am. Oh dear you three have been hit with quite a bit of poison let me fix that." Madam Yaga said as her arms glowed and instantly the poison went away.
"Stupid centaurs." Em said getting movement in her lips again.
"Madam Yaga we need your help our friend is in serious trouble." Musa said as Madam Yaga looked at Choko instead.
"Hmm I wouldn't say trouble all he needs is a cookie." She said giving one to Choko.
"You guys are killing me, literally." Zarya groans.
"Uh we meant our other friend." Em said.
"Oh, of course." Madam Yaga said examining Zarya's arm. "Looks like a nasty Life Drain spell follow me back to my place." She said only to find trees blocking their path. "Blasted wood sprites someone must've gotten them all ticked off." Instantly Choko curled up into a ball before Madam Yaga used her magic to remove the trees revealing a van campsite.
"Whoa, now that's some powerful magic." Musa said amazed.
"You live in a fan? Awesome." Zarya said.
"Come, take a load off." She said as Em and Zarya sat on the couch only for the cushions to push them together.
"So huggy." Em said.
"Perfect for days like today." Madam Yaga said.
"I hear ya. Today could definitely use a do over." Em said as Zarya pushed Em away.
"Agreed why earlier today some dark hearted girls robbed my sweet adorable niece." Madam Yaga said.
"Wait what?" Musa said nervously.
"You have my word we'll bring the thieves to justice." Em said as Zarya elbows her.
"If she's Malvaron's aunt then it means her niece is…" Before she could finish the van door opens to reveal Tazma.
"Tazma?!" Em gasps.
With Ryou and Arkayna, the two of them were atop a bridge holding hands while Sophie was holding Piper back and Malvaron was trying to snap them out of it.
"I am honored to have everyone here to share this special day with us." Arkayna said.
"What is she talking about?" Malvaron asks looking around.
"I think Arkayna has finally lost it." Sophie said.
"It's the pollen, it's messing with their heads." Piper groans. 'Even though it's not real seeing Ryou marry another girl hurts so much.'
"Ryou, you are the macaroni to my cheese, the peanut butter to my jelly, the—" Before she could finish Malvaron got in between them.
"One who should be helping us save Zarya." Malvaron said.
"Dude, you're embarrassing me on my big day." Ryou said.
"Ryou, snap out of it." Malvaron said.
"I object! I object!" Piper yells.
At Madam Yaga's van, Tazma was pointing at them.
"That's them auntie! Those are the thieves who stole my magical books and bracelets." Tazma accuses.
"You dare steal from my niece?" Yaga growls.
"No she's lying!" Musa said as Auntie Yaga fired magical spheres at them which Em blocks with her shield.
"Auntie Yaga I don't want to hurt you." Em said.
"Hurt me? Ha! I've taken on beings a million times worse than you kids!" Auntie Yaga said as the spell was draining more from Zarya.
"I'll finish them Auntie! Give me the codex piece and the Ranger lives." Tazma said.
"Not happening." Zarya groans.
"Solar, roast this witch!" Musa said calling out her flaming titan which blasts Tazma knocking her into a tree freeing Zarya from her spell.
"Tazma! You will pay for this mortals with your life!" Auntie Yaga said bursting into flames.
"Zarya!" Em said running to her as Zarya collapses. "Em, it's up to you and Musa." She groans.
Auntie Yaga fires a blast at them but Em aims her bracer at her. "Battle Unicorn Charge!"
Em's unicorn burst through the blast and slams into Auntie Yaga.
"I haven't been hit like that since I was hurled into an exploding star 5,000 years ago. The gloves are off now. Come forth Metagolem!" Auntie Yaga yells pulling out an amulet and from it a giant golem appeared.
"Uh oh." Em said as she and Musa looked up in shock.
Back at the wedding they were about to kiss.
"And with this kiss may our starts join as one." They both said.
"Okay that's it! Fly Phoenix fly!" Releasing her phoenix it flew over them buring away the pollen causing Ryou to open his eyes to see he was holding Arkayna in a dip.
"What the?" He said letting go. "What's going on?"
"You breathed in the pollen and you came this close to getting married." Piper said quickly.
"To him/her? Hey!" Ryou and Arkayna said both looking at each other.
"I know right. By the way Arkayna the stuff said, it was so pathetic and cheesy I can't even explain it to you." Sophie said when the Seeker Orb flew down towards them.
"It's one of Em's seekers." Arkayna smiles.
"Okay take us to the others." Malvaron said as they ran off.
"For the record I would have made a great Star Mate." Ryou said.
"Not as good as me." Arkayna said.
"Shall we agree never to speak of this again?" Ryou asks.
"Agreed." Arkayna said as they followed the others.
As Metagolem punched Solar the titan went back to Musa's amulet and was about to slam its arms down on all three of them when Malvaron ran out.
"Auntie Yaga wait! Those are my friends!" Malvaron calls out.
Seeing her nephew Auntie Yaga calls back Metagolem and turns to him.
"What in the cosmoverse is going on?" She asks.
"Long story short Tazma tried to trick you into destroying my friends who are also the Mysticons." Malvaron said.
"I thought I recognized those costumes. Is this true Tazma? Don't make me read your mind." Auntie Yaga said walking over towards Tazma.
"Not at all Auntie I was just…"
Before she could lie any further Auntie Yaga read her mind. "By the stars, such wicked thoughts. You need a time out young lady."
"No!" Tazma yelled as she disappeared.
"Come child let me heal you." Auntie Yaga's hands glowed as she removed the spell from Zarya.
"You're okay." Piper smiles.
"Thanks Auntie Yaga, what a nice place you have here. Ooh what a comfy couch." Ryou and Arkayna sit down but the couch pushes them together.
"Can you feel the love in the air?" Auntie Yaga asks.
"Nope!" Ryou said standing up.
"Not at all." Arkayna said standing up as the two of them looked away.
Turning to Em Auntie Yaga walked over.
"You were very brave back there, sorry you had to see my bad side." Auntie Yaga said.
"Same here." Em said.
"As an apology take this." Auntie Yaga said holding out Metagolem's amulet.
"By the hammer of harmon." Em gasps.
"Take it, you Mysticons will need all the help you can get." Auntie Yaga said putting it in her hand.
"I promise to take good care of it." Em said.
"You better." She smirks when Malvaron walks over with a cake.
"Auntie Yaga." He smiles holding it out.
"Coconut cake! My favorite, but I'll have to take it to go many dimensions to see. You Mysticons have lots of adventures ahead like when you find out who the boy's…"
"Auntie Yaga! Spoilers!" Malvaron said.
"Oops silly me. There I go again." Auntie Yaga said.
"Wait find my what?" Ryou asks curiously.
"Child if I told you now it wouldn't be so important when you find out yourself." Auntie Yaga said causing Ryou to sigh. "Well I'm off to the kingdom of Arizona!" She said getting in her van and driving off.
"I love her!" Arkayna said.
"I don't know if the kingdom of Arizona is ready for her." Malvaron said.
"I wonder where she sent Tazma." Piper said.
"Not our problem." Musa said as they headed back to Drake City.