Chapter XIII: A Ransom Before the Great Awakening

In which Dusk is captured, and some long sleep comes to an end.

"Okay, everyone, pull harder! Come on!" Menta coaxed as everyone tried removing Dusk's mostly-sunk body from a pool of sinking sand.

Soon, Menta's fear began to grow. Despite their efforts, Dusk was getting farther and farther into the sucking terrain.

"Alright, at the count of three, everyone pull with all their might!" Menta ordered. "One, two, three!"

Everyone yanked as hard as they could, but Dusk didn't raise an inch. As soon as they relaxed from the sudden force, Dusk finally sunk all the way in and vanished from sight.

"My lord!" she screamed.

She started to jump in after him, but Spike grabbed her tail and held her back. She fired a psychic blast, knocking him down and resumed trying to join her brother in his fate. Ceit knew what Dusk would have wanted him to have done. He focused, and Menta's anguish subsided. All but Menta hung their heads in sadness at the loss of a friend.

"Why do you all look like that?" Menta questioned.

"You not sad that Dusk-" but Ceit quickly covered Petrie's mouth, being the only one hadn't realized what Ceit had done.

"She forgot him," Ceit whispered.

"Ohhh."

Menta gave the two Flyers a funny look then pressed on.

"Don't dawdle, guys. We have a Long Neck to catch up to."

Despite their grief, they followed her in silence.

xxxxx

A loud coughing broke the silence.

"What is this place?" a voice echoed in the darkness. Dusk wiped bits of sand off his body and abruptly exhaled to get the granules out of his nose. He looked around and saw nothing; it was too dark. Finally, he said aloud, "Yikes, I hope I can get out of here."

"Would you look at that?" a voice called out.

"Yes, it is rather sad, is it not?"

"Indeed it is. Our guest wants to leave so suddenly. That's not polite at all."

They were clearly three different creatures, as the tones were all very different. Dusk was no fool. He had already picked up on the fact that these guys were up to no good.

"Help me get out of here, and no one will get hurt," he offered.

"Would you listen to him?"

"Yeah, he doesn't sound very nice."

"Quite true. He threatened to hurt us. That is certainly rather mean."

There was silence for a few seconds.

"He isn't a threat. He has two powers, but one involves using his foe's shadow, worthless in this darkness, and the other is manipulating his energy outside his body, also pointless if he can't see us."

"Ah, you're a psychic, I see," Dusk remarked.

"And you're a master of pointing out the obvious, I see," the psychic replied.

"So are you three going to help me or not? I assume you have some method to see in this darkness, otherwise you wouldn't be hanging out down here."

"This one has gotten boring very quickly. Shall we finish him here and now?" one of the voices asked, causing Dusk to tense up.

"No," the psychic replied. "I see that he has a great deal of friends. We can use them to do things for us in the light. We promise to release him if they help us, then when they help us, we keep him still!"

"Ah, brilliant," the third voice agreed. "They'll serve us forever as long as he's alive."

"Eh, why not just kill him and tell them we have him captive? We don't want another mouth to feed."

"No good," the psychic replied, shaking his head. "He has a psychic friend as well, so she'd be able to see if he was dead. I'll go up and find his friends. You two remain here with our guest."

"Gotcha," the other two voices replied in unison.

"I have to contact Menta," Dusk thought to himself worriedly, "to warn her." Focusing, he called out to her mind, just as he had done so many times. She always kept a mental link to him open, but made it so that she only heard him when he wanted her to. "Menta, can you hear?"

xxxxx

"Why did you stop, Menta?" Cera asked her.

"Sorry, I just heard a voice in my head. I think it's another psychic, because I certainly didn't make a link with anyone. Oh well. I'll just block him. Onward we go."

xxxxx

"Ugh, why isn't she answering? Did something happen to her?" Dusk wondered. Carefully, slowly, and quietly, Dusk made his way to a wall and began creeping away, hoping to find an exit. Then he heard laugher.

"I see that you've already forgotten the very thing you guessed about us. We can see just fine down here. I was hoping you wouldn't go and make trouble, but alas, our lives just seem to be full of it. Go and get the rope."

"Why do I have to?"

"Because I can beat you in a fight. Need another reason?"

The other voice did not reply, but instead went and got a rope. He approached Dusk and started to tie him up. Although Dusk couldn't find his enemies by sight, he certainly knew where one was when he grabbed him. The Sharptooth lunged out and successfully grabbed his enemy by the neck and squeezed hard. The creature began to choke, but his neck suddenly grew so hot that Dusk had to let go in pain. As the one he grabbed gasped for the breath, the second creature arrived before Dusk, raised his arm, then brought it and the stone he was holding down hard onto Dusk's head, knocking him out.

"I trust you'll be able to tie him up now?" the one who knocked him out asked.

"Just shut up." And with that, he bound Dusk's arms and legs.

xxxxx

"What! How can the hermit be the kidnapper of the chef? He was one who wanted his bread in the first place," Fiirawen said quietly so the approaching Rainbow Face wouldn't hear. "Are you absolutely positive it's him?"

"Well, I wouldn't stake my life on it, but I'm pretty sure," Clowd answered.

Having arrived at the group, the old Rainbow Face repeated, "What is with all this noise?"

"Sorry, sir," Freund replied. "We were attacked by a Necromancer Lord."

"Ah. And how did you all beat him? One of you have light or healing magic?"

"The boy suffocated him," Rane explained.

"Ah," he said again. "Now if you don't mind, be on your way. I can clearly see that you don't have any bread with you, so your mission has not yet been carried out."

"You can't tell us when to leave!" Rane told him, quite angry.

"Um, yes, I can. I own this area. Would you like to see my deed?"

"Oh. My apologies, sir," Rane said as his face turned red.

Still, they all remained.

"How many times must I say it? Go!" he repeated.

Then, Fiirawen looked up with a devious smile.

"We are here to take you in. Several Rainbow Faces had heard what you did to the chef and in turn told the governor. He sent us to apprehend you."

"What! I can't believe I didn't notice any others… Be that as it may, I won't go quietly."

"But why?" Fiirawen pressed. "Why send us to get something for you that was impossible?"

"I wanted you to spread the word that I was wanting some of Cocinero's bread in the town so the Rainbow Faces there wouldn't suspect it was me who took him. And when I find out who all blabbed to the governor, I'm gonna-"

"You won't do a thing to them," Fiirawen replied, still smiling.

"You think you can stop me?"

"No need. The ones who told the governor don't exist. I made them up to trick you into confessing," Fiirawen replied.

"Why you-! You will pay for this with blood!" he exclaimed, furious.

"Heh, now what's a little ole healer gonna do? Cleanse us to death?" Clowd joked.

"The powers of a healer are many. We can do more than you think. For example…" the hermit then snapped his fingers and Clowd went limp, falling to the ground.

"What did you do to my brother?" Rane shrieked.

"Healers help with pain by being able to numb others. I simply made every muscle in his body go numb. Now for you." With another snap of his old fingers, Rane too fell to the ground.

Fiirawen lunged at him, claws out, but with another snap, she fell to the ground as well. She tried belching flames at him, but she couldn't feel her throat to be able to do it. All that emerged was a tiny puff of smoke.

"Just numb me and get it over with," Freund said as he stood, admitting defeat.

"Smart lad."

In seconds, the young Rainbow Face fell to the ground with the others.

"This will last for only a few hours. Plenty of time for me to whip up a forgetful serum for you all. I'll be back shortly, so don't run off now," he said with a laugh.

That being said, he turned to head back to his little house. No sooner had he done this though, when a loud cracking sound filled the air. The old Rainbow Face fell to the ground and Freund could be seen holding a large stick, now broken near the end. With the loss of his consciousness, his magic effect on the others immediately wore off, and they stood up.

"How in the world did you get up and move while under his spell?" Fiirawen asked in awe.

"Heh heh. Well, there is more to super speed than simply moving fast. It also allows me to recover extremely fast, even from magic spells. Now let's head over to his house. I bet he has Cocinero trapped in there. You two," he said, looking at Rane and Clowd, "stay here and watch him. If he starts to wake up, you need to take him out again."

"No problem," Rane replied. "I will be ready with a Slumber Trap the moment he moves an eye."

Freund and Fiirawen then quickly made their way to the little hut which was in eyesight and nearby. As the children opened the creaky door and went inside, they at once saw an unconscious Rainbow Face chained to the wall.

"That's him!" Freund exclaimed, rushing over. He placed two fingers on the chef's neck then gasped. "He's- dead."

xxxxx

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" a Rainbow Face called as he ran up to the group. He placed his hands on his knees as he huffed loudly.

"What can we do for you?" Menta asked him politely. To her surprise, he laughed in response.

"'Tis an amusing form of courtesy given the situation. My buddies and I have Dusk captive in our lair. He survived his fall in the sinking sand, and he's being held up there, safe and sound.

"Sorry, you must have us confused with someone else," Menta replied. "I know nothing about someone called 'Dusk.'" Now it was the stranger's turn to be surprised.

He focused on Menta then frowned.

"So, one of you must be an illusionist. Anyway, for the rest of you that DO recall who he is, here's the deal: Bring us twenty loaves of bread and a whole basket of vegetables, then Dusk goes free."

Ruby, who had been carrying the basket from the village they worked in, handed it to him.

"There's still most of a loaf in there and some vegetables. They should hold you over if your request takes us a while."

"Smart girl, not putting up a fight. If I don't return shortly, my companions will cease their gentleness with him," he explained, taking the basket.

"Shoot!" Cera said to herself. She was planning on attacking him.

"Meet me at the sinking sand when you get it. I'll open a link between myself and the pink one." Turning to Ruby, he said, "Whenever you want to contact me, just think of me and form words in your head."

"I will do that, that I will do," she replied.

Then he ran off into the distance.

"Okay, what was that all about?" Menta wanted to know. "Who is this Dusk guy?"

"Since he's alive, I may as well change her back," Ceit said. Focusing, he did just that.

"We need to hurry and get that food!" Menta exclaimed suddenly. "There's no telling what they might do to him, whether we get it or not."

"Can you Mind Seek for any large gathering of Rainbow Faces? That should lead us to a town," Ceit suggested.

"No good," she replied. "Don't forget about my switching cool down."

"Then I'll fly up high and see if I can spot a town. One moment." As Ceit took to the skies, a smile soon formed on his lips, and he landed. "This way," he told them, leading on.

xxxxx

"Are you sure?" Fiirawen whispered.

"Positive. No pulse at all. There are no wound marks that I can see, so I'm guessing he wasn't given any food or water," Freund replied.

Suddenly, the body opened an eye. The kids screamed and jumped back.

"I thought you said he was dead!"

"Maybe he's an undead?"

"There aren't any Necromancer Lords around to resurrect him. I'd smell the decay."

"I take it you two are not with that old advisor?" Cocinero asked them.

"No, we actually came here to find and rescue you," Fiirawen explained, still nervous about what was going on. "But uh, weren't you dead a moment ago?"

The great cook laughed.

"I am illusionist. I couldn't work my magic on him because he would just cleanse away my influence. Not even memory alteration would work, because he knew of my power so wrote a note to cleanse himself every few minutes. So, I made an illusion on myself that I was dead in hopes that he'd get rid of me. Sadly, I've been looking like this for nearly two days and he hasn't so much as touched me. I guess he's too creeped out to touch a 'dead' guy."

"Well don't worry anymore. We'll get you out of here," Fiirawen assured him.

She opened her mouth and fired a small stream of flames on his shackles, and it wasn't long before they had melted away.

"So, what was he wanting from you while he kept you here?" Freund wanted to know.

"He wanted me to bake him some bread, but he was constantly watching me."

"So? Are you that nervous about being observed?" Fiirawen asked.

"Just when I'm cooking…" he replied nervously.

"I can't imagine why!" Freund exclaimed. "Your food is the best around."

Cocinero hung his head.

"You two saved me, so I'll let you in on the truth. Perhaps it will lighten the load of guilt I feel each and every day. I am actually a horrible cook. I just cast an illusion spell on all my produce to make them taste good."

Freund's mouth dropped open. Cocinero was a role model for him; he wanted to be able to cook just like him. Now he felt devastated.

"Let's just get out of here," the little Rainbow Face said quietly.

They returned to Rane and Clowd to see the old Rainbow Face still asleep.

"Did he wake up at all?" Fiirawen wondered.

"Nope. We didn't have a single problem," Rane replied. "Now, if Freund will just use his speed to run and tell the governor about this, he can be arrested and we can put this whole situation behind us. Well, mostly…"

"What do you mean mostly?" Fiirawen asked, glancing at him. "Oh…"

"Heh heh, I see that you just remembered. You owe us some meat for our help," Rane replied with a grin.

"Can she do it later? I need to bring her back with me to tell my father. I made a promise not to speak of this," Freund pointed out.

Rane and Clowd exchanged glances then lowered their heads and sighed in unison.

"Fine, but you owe us, dragon," Clowd finally said.

"I should be able to carry you, Fiirawen. You're kinda thin for a dragon. Hop on."

The young dragon got on Freund's back, and he ran very quickly back to town. Freund told the guards that they needed to see the governor on a matter of utmost urgency, so they escorted the kids to him. Otherwise, they would have taken Fiirawen captive again.

"How tragic," the governor said after hearing the tale. "To think he was my trusted adviser. He left a note saying that he needed a vacation, which is why I never pursued finding where he went. I'll send guards immediately to go to that area and arrest him. Sorry for the trouble earlier, uh, Fairwen, was it?"

"Fiirawen," she corrected. "Now, I must be going. I have a debt to repay."

"No, you don't," the governor replied with a grin. "After all your help finding my cook and exposing my evil advisor, giving food to that family is now MY part. They will be given the grandest feast that I can provide, and when they need more, they need only to ask, so don't worry a thing about them."

Fiirawen bowed politely and said, "Thank you, sir." As she turned to leave, she suddenly remembered something very important. "Oh, but if I can ask for just one more favor…"

"Anything," the governor offered.

"Do you know a healer?"

xxxxx

Chomper sat up and let loose a great big yawn. Then Agu and Niah did so as well.

"Oh, yeah. Let's cuddle like this forever, my Chomper," a little Sharptooth was saying in her sleep.

"Hey, Coaley, quit your gross dreaming and wake up!" Agu demanded, giving her a flick on the forehead.

"Huh!" she exclaimed, sitting up suddenly. She hoped that she hadn't been talking in her sleep, and her face turned red just in case. "What are we doing down in this hole?"

"Okay, kids, just give me your hands, and I'll pull you out," a kindly Rainbow Face called, looking down at them. In less than a minute, all of the kids were safely out of the hole. Fiirawen then suddenly leapt onto Chomper, hugging him.

"Oh, Chomper, I was so worried about you!" the dragon cried.

"Hands off!" Coaley demanded. Then when everyone looked at her, she laughed nervously and said, "She might hurt him, hugging him that hard, that's all."

After Chomper had hugged her back for a little bit, he stood up and looked at the Rainbow Face who had pulled them out.

"So, who are you?" Chomper asked him.

"Oh, just a healer friend of the governor," he replied.

"Governor?" Agu wanted to know.

"It's like a leader," Niah explained.

"Oh. Well anyway, what were we doing in that hole? Why is a healer here in the first place? I don't remember a thing," Agu continued.

"He came to remove the sleep spell on all of you, and he healed your foot, too, Agu. I'll explain everything else on the way to town," Fiirawen answered.

"Town?" Agu asked.

"Thank him," Fiirawen whispered to Agu.

"Oh, right. Thanks for healing my foot."

"Don't mention it. Anyway, a town is a large gathering place for Rainbow Faces. You guys have been asleep a while, and the governor offered to feed us all before we continued on our journey," the dragon told him.

"No," Chomper declared, and everyone looked at him. "We've wasted too much time already. We need to find Littlefoot as quickly as possible."

"How noble of you, master. Thinking with your heart while your appetite tries to sway you is commendable indeed," his heart remarked.

Fiirawen's stomach growled and she looked sad, but she couldn't bring herself to challenge Chomper's declaration. Finally, she spoke to the healer.

"Please tell the governor we are sorry, but we decline his offer. We are on important business. Oh, and please tell Freund, 'I hope our paths cross again.'"

"As you wish, little lady," he replied, then began making his way back to town.

As Chomper's heart whispered the way to go and they all resumed walking, Coaley asked, "Did I say anything while I was asleep?"

Agu was going to reply, but Niah poked him.

"Don't embarrass her," she whispered to him.

"I'll take the silence as a 'no,'" Coaley finally said. She took Chomper by the hand and walked beside him.

"If we end up together, I hope her dreams don't keep me up," Chomper thought to himself.

"Something on your mind, Chomper?" Coaley asked.

"Err, nope! Nothing at all! Heh heh…"

Character Bio Number Thirteen

Name: Coaley

Species: Sharptooth

Gender: Female

Personality: Kind, energetic, and jealous

Power given in part one: Warp- The ability to take one's self and nearby others to any place that the caster has already been to, leaving a temporary Warp hole that others can enter to go to the same place the caster went.

Power given in part two: Negation- The power to Negate the next ability someone is about to use or an ability that is currently in use, as well as making a field that provides protection from any power-based attacks.