Last time Yan Lin, Nerissa and Halinor arrived on the purple world of Zamballa, only to be roughly thrown into the presence of Kadma, who was less than happy to see Nerissa. Kadma was still angry at her former leader and friend, and was super mad when asked to join the fight against The Krawl. Nerissa, Yan Lin and Halinor left Kadma to her fate.

Oh, now that Elyon has her own Spectrobe, the list has been updated:

Will: Komainu

Irma: Shakin

Taranee: Spiko

Cornelia: Dongor

Hay Lin: Zoza

Elyon: Kasumi

On with the show!

Chapter 13: Male Pride

Back at the palace Will, Elyon, the girls and their Spectrobes were watching Matt, Caleb and the boys getting ready for something that would soon prove most hilarious. They were on the highest balcony on the palace. "Just what are you doing?" asked Irma.

Nigel and Matt were setting up a latter which would get the boys up to the top of the tallest tower in the building. "What we're doing, oh divine goddess of the oceans," said Martin, "Is setting up a means to detect The Krawl, should they decide to invade Metamore."

He had a sophisticated looking satellite dish and a laptop to program it. "Watch and be amazed, ladies," said Eric, "We'll have this thing up and running in no time."

"You know," said Elyon, "I don't see why you boys have to go and risk breaking every bone in your bodies, just to install a satellite dish, while working up a sweat in the process."

"Oh let them," said Taranee, "I just love watching them sweat."

"Me too," said Will.

"Humans are such strange people," said Kasumi as he chewed on a green pyramid crystal.

"Especially the females," said Dongor, "They're the weirdest."

"You sure you want to do this?" asked Elyon, "With my powers I could have that dish working like that!" she snapped her fingers, (insert finger snapping sound).

"That's very kind of you, Elyon," said Matt, "But where's the fun in that?"

"Doing it yourself, manually," said Martin, "Now that's half the fun."

"Well it's your necks," said Elyon, "I'm just worried whether or not you really know what you're doing."

"Don't fret yourself," said Caleb as he and the boys began to climb the ladder.

"Yeah," said Nigel, "We'll have this dish up and running in ten minutes. Just you wait and see."

"Boys," said Hay Lin with more than a little contempt as the girls watched the would be installers climb the roof, "They never know when to ask for help."

"How long do you think it'll really take to install the dish?" asked Will.

"Probably all day and most of tomorrow," said Taranee, "Assuming they stop for meals and sleep."

"How long will it be before one of them falls off the roof?" asked Irma.

"I'd say no more than ten minutes," said Elyon.

"Fifty bucks says one falls in five," said Cornelia.

"I'll take that bet," said Elyon, "The time starts as soon as they reach the top."

The two blonds shook on their bet and watched the boys reach the highest point of the palace. They started to put the dish in, yet in reality they had no idea on how to do it. Four minutes into the bet Nigel slipped and fell down the shingled roof onto the balcony.

"You alright!?" asked a worried Taranee.

"Nothing really hurt except my pride," groaned Nigel as he tenderly stood up. He had a slight limp as he maneuvered back to the ladder.

"You sure you don't want my help?" asked Elyon in a taunting tone.

"Ten minutes, your majesty," said Nigel, "Ten minutes."

Just then there was a shout of terror as Eric slipped and fell onto Nigel. "I'm alright," said Eric, "Something broke my fall."

Two hours later the boys were still at it. Each of them had fallen off the roof at least once; Eric, Caleb and Martin had fallen twice. "You'd think they'd wise up by now," said Hay Lin, "And installed some safety harnesses."

"You'd think they'd wise up and let Elyon do it," said Cornelia, "But then I wouldn't have won my money back. Let's see now, I've guessed three times correctly who falls and when he will fall, so you owe me $350, Elyon."

"I'll write you a check later," grumbled Elyon, "Or, how about double or nothing that Matt falls next."

"Alright," said Cornelia, "And, that Martin falls on him next."

"You're on!" said Elyon.

Two minutes later Matt fell of the roof for the third time that day. Elyon grinned madly that she was going to get he money back, only to have her smile do a 180 as Martin fell onto Matt. "Yes!" exclaimed Cornelia, "You owe me $700, Elyon!"

I assume it's disturbing you, the readers, that the girls are enjoying watching the boys get hurt. Truth is, they're not really getting hurt, due to the fact that the boys are made of stronger stock than normal Earth humans. I thank you for your time.

"This is f#ck$ng nuts man!" exclaimed Matt as he and Martin got back on the roof, "We should face facts and just let Elyon do it for us."

"Don't say that," said Martin, "We can get this job done."

There then followed a heated argument among the boys as to whether or not let Elyon uses her magic to install the dish.

"Everyone shut up!" shouted Caleb, "Now's not the time to lose our heads. Look, it's been a hard day for us. We've all fallen off the roof at least twice by now."

"I've only fallen off once," said Nigel.

"Well permit me to show you the way," said Eric. He then hit Nigel in the foot with a hammer. Nigel hopped on one foot in pain, then fell over the edge of the roof. "Now we've all fallen at least twice."

Caleb waited to finish as Nigel got back on the roof, "As I was saying, it's been a long day, we're tired and strung out, not to mention more than a little bruised. I know that as men we have pride in our skills. But let's face facts; we'll never get this done. I say we should just swallow our pride and ask Elyon to use her magic."

"I agree," said Martin, "It is totally illogical for us to risk our lives when we have no idea what we're doing in the first place."

"I hate to say it," said Eric, "But I agree as well."

"Majority rules," said Matt, "So let's get off this roof before we fall again."

"I'm not too keen on giving up so soon," said Nigel, "Let's give it another 30 minutes before asking Elyon. Is that acceptable?" The boys nodded in agreement.

Four hours later…

"Alright," said Nigel, "I give up. Let's just ask the Queen for her help, but let's do is so as not to injure our pride further."

"All you have to do is say please," said Elyon as they boys reached the balcony, "I heard the whole thing. Say please and it shall be done."

"Alright," said Caleb, "Please?"

"It shall be done!" exclaimed Elyon. She raised her ands and one white flash later the dish was put together, secured to the roof and running as it should be. And not a moment too soon, for trouble was on it's way in the form of black vortexes.

The end of chapter 13. Next chapter The Krawl finally arrives to devour the planet. Can our heroes stop the invading abominations before the planet is destroyed? Reviews will be rewarded with cake and pie. See you next time!