Oontz, oontz, oontz baby~ I finished this chapter surprisingly fast! Must be because I had such a great time writing it, haha. (That or the 2 hour mixes of Deadmau5 and lot's of coffe keeping me going had something to do with it...)

Today the party starts making their way through the Caverns of Evil in search of Taro but may end finding more then they bargained for...

So yeah, enjoy~ ^3^

Chapter 5: The Promise; Of Flowers and Flutes

Hanako: Hanako is Adell and Taro's younger sister. She is bothersome, very cocky and constantly wishes that Adell would take her with him when he goes out to fight. She has great culinary skills as her cooking tops even the greatest of chefs. Contrary to Adell's quest to lift Zenon's Curse and restore everyone back to their human form, Hanako actually likes being a demon. She and her sibling may not even have human forms since they were not born as humans. Hanako has short pink hair with a single pigtail, small bat-like wings on her back and wears a pair of pink bloomers. In battle, she uses a magic cooking pot.

Location: Holt Village; Adell's house

Back at Adell's house, Mom and Dad were still waiting for their children to return. Succumbing to his anxiety, Dad clasped his hands together in prayer.

"Dear God… Please protect Taro and Hanako."

"Why is a demon praying to God?" Mom asked Dad ironically. "Besides, Adell is there to protect them." she added with a casual smile.

Feeling reassured by his wife's confidence, Dad stopped his prayer. "I guess you're right, honey. Adell can protect them." he said relieved.

"While you were out praying, have you remembered anything about Adell's parents?" Mom asked suddenly.

Dad tilted his head in thought. "Hmm… No, I don't remember a thing about them."

"Hmm, me neither." Mom said, also in thought. "But I do vaguely remember their faces…"

Location: ?

The masked man appeared before his master once again. "…Overlord Zenon. Preparations for the Demon Lord are nearly complete."

"Hm… I shall leave that to you…" Zenon answered his servant in an almost uncaring manner. "More importantly, have you found the princess yet..?"

"…Well, sir… We are about to conduct the [Ritual of Foresight]. But, because of the secrecy of the mission, we can't use our servants, so…"

Zenon glared darkly at the masked man. "I won't except any excuses. Find the princess immediately…" He turned his back to his servant. "The most beautiful flowers grow delicately in a garden. Once exposed to the wilderness, even the most beautiful bloom is tarnished."

The masked man bowed once more in understanding. "…As you wish, my master…"

Location: Cavern of Evil; Entrance

The Cavern of Evil. If you follow the Dallos River downstream you will eventually come across this place. The river roars down into a large cavernous area which splits up into many different smaller caverns. It was here that the party had come to search for Taro, who had been carried away by the river.

"This is the [Cavern of Evil]…? I heard the rumors, but this place is beautiful." Rozalin observed as she admired the landscape.

"Taro is in here, somewhere…" Adell said with a grimace as he looked down into the darkness of the caverns.

("...Yes, somewhere down here… all the way… down here…") Rozalin thought as she also stared down the ledge. (…Isn't this…rather high..?)

Tink, who felt absolutely no desire whatsoever to descend into such a dangerous place, decided to perform a little act. "Ah, merde! My tummy aches. Can I go home now? I have to use ze restroom, as well. Have you seen ze little froggy's room?"

"C'mon, let's go already! Even if Tardo didn't drown, we'll have to save him before a monster eats him." Hanako said completely ignoring Tink.

"Y, yeah, you're right! Let's go in! You should get on my shoulders, Hanako."

"'Kay~" Hanako grinned as she grabbed the struggling Tink in her hand and then jumped on Adells back.

The redheaded young man then started his climb down the steep path. "It's pretty slippery. Watch your step, guys."

After he had descended his first few steps down the rocky slope, Misaki followed after him without a word. Exchanging a look and a nod, Marc, Celeste and Roy also followed suit.

"This is proving to be rather arduous…" Celeste said after carefully stepping down to a lower rock. Looking back, Marc noticed her struggling.

("Hm… Maybe I should help her out?") And as if reading his mind, Roy stepped in front of him.

"Hold on sis! I'll give you a hand!" After turning to Marc for a quick scoff, he ran to his sister with a warm smile on his face.

("Damn kid… Stealing the good parts… Hm?") Glancing back, Marc noticed that Rozalin was still standing at the top.

"Hey princess! We're leaving you behind! Something wrong?" Rozalin remained on the ledge without answering. "*Sigh* Guess I'd better go see what's wrong… Hey Misaki!" Marc called out to the girl who was already halfway down alongside Adell.

"What?"

"You guys can go on ahead; I'm gonna go see what's taking the princess!"

"Fine! Just don't take too long!"

Marc turned around and jumped back up the route he came from. When he got back up, Rozalin was tapping her foot impatiently.

"So, what's up Rozy?" Marc asked her, ignoring the rapid clacking of her heel on the ground. Rozalin shot Marc an annoyed glare in reply.

"*sigh* What seems to be the matter, princess?" Marc corrected himself with a slight bow. Rozalin nodded in acknowledgement and looked down the edge of the rocky slope.

"Well, you know, it's that… *Mumble, mumble* …and that's how it is."

"I'm afraid you lost me there, princess. Could you run that by me again?"

Without making eye contact, Rozalin continued to mutter under her breath while occasionally glancing down.

"…Could it be that you're afraid of heights?" Marc asked the princess straightforwardly.

Rozalin stepped back in shock at the sudden, accurately placed, question. "Wha-! ? Preposterous! I am Rozalin, daughter of the legendary Overlord Zenon! To think that *I* would fear such a thing is simply absurd! Hmph!" She puffed out her chest in her usual show of superiority.

("She's not very honest, is she…") Marc thought to himself with a shrug. "Ah, right. Sorry about that. Well, I'll see you at the bottom then." Marc turned around and walked back over to the edge.

"F-Fool! Wait just a-!" Rozalin grabbed Marc by the arm to stop him. He then faced Rozalin with a great big grin. "So you did need help getting down then?"

Her face flushed in embarrassment, Rozalin looked away. "I-It's not like I need help or anything…"

A bit taken aback, Marc's face also turned red. "(… Th, that was surprisingly cute… Could that have been the legendary 'Tsundere' appeal I've heard about..? Who knew the princess possessed such a dangerous move… I'll have to be more careful in the future.)"

"*Ahum* So as I was saying…" Rozalin coughed in order to regain her composure. "I don't mind if you would like to assist me. In fact, you should be thankful for the privilege."

"Wait, how'd this suddenly become about doing me a favor..?" Marc thought out loud in confusion. "Well whatever, we're in a hurry so I guess its fine." He squatted down and held his arms out behind him.

"You… What are you doing?" Rozalin asked him confused.

"You need help getting down right? So just get on my back and I'll take you there."

"Simpleton! You do not offer a lady such a crass means of transportation! Have you no class! ?" Still squatting, Marc stared at Rozalin blankly. "…Ah, right…" Rozalin sighed.

"So? What do you suggest we do?" Marc asked her, also with a sigh.

"Well that's obvious isn't it? Carry me."

"…"

"What's with that look! ? I am a princess, you know!"

"Yeah, fine. Geez…" Marc walked over to Rozalin, picked her up and held her in his arms bridal style.

"Hm?"

"What is the matter?" Rozalin asked after Marc made a strange face.

"Oh, don't worry about it. It's just that you're heavier than I thought you'd be."

"Wha-! What did you-!"

"Here we go, princess!" And with just that, Marc leapt down to the first foothold. Needless to say, Rozalin held on for dear life.

"See? That wasn't so bad right?" The warrior asked 'his' princess upon safely landing.

Rozalin looked back at him with the beginnings of tears in her eyes.

"S, sorry. I guess I kinda overdid it… I'll go a bit slower from here, alright?" Rozalin meekly nodded back at Marc.

After making it past the halfway point, Marc noticed Rozalin had calmed down, though she was still a bit uneasy. He felt like this might be a good time to ask her something.

"Say, princess?"

"…What is it?" Rozalin's reply was still slightly weak.

"I've been wondering for a while now but…what do you intend to do once you reach your father?" Despite being a bit startled by the sudden question, Rozalin remained quiet.

"Your father is Adells sworn enemy. When they meet, one of them will most definitely die. But, from what I've seen, you don't appear to completely dislike Adell either…"

Without making eye contact, Rozalin stared off into the distance. "I'm not saying you should already know what to do. But, just in case, you should prepare yourself for when that time comes and really think about what it is that's most dear to you."

"…Sometimes I feel like you are smarter then you lead us to believe." Rozalin said, examining Marc.

"What do you mean by that? I don't seem that dense, do I?" Marc smirked at her. "Hehe, maybe you should have asked Adell to carry you instead of me. He probably would have done it, you know."

"As if I would ask him for help! Hmph!" Rozalin grunted with a slight blush on her face. "That's what servants like you are for."

"Heh, right. Then ask Tink next time."

{-}

"You can let me down now." Rozalin told Marc once they had almost reached the bottom.

"Hm? You wanna walk by yourself?"

"Fool. It would not do to be seen by the others, carried in by the likes of you. You are to keep to this a secret, understood?"

"Understood, princess." Marc smirked. "I'll be sure not to mention this to Adell."

"Wha-! I do not even care about that oaf! Hmph!" Flustered, Rozalin walked ahead alone.

"That girl really should be more honest."

"Young master Marciano." Ayane ninja'd out from under one of the nearby rocks.

"…Ayane… Don't tell me you were hiding underneath those rocks this entire time…?"

"It does me well to see you worry for me, but fear not. Such a technique is but a trifle for a kunoichi of my level."

"…I see… So was there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

Ayane nodded and looked at her young master with concern. "…Yes… You see…when a man and a woman do not dislike one another very much…"

"Whoah, whoah! What's this all of a sudden, Ayane?"

The kunoichi took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes dry with it. "To think the young master is already at the age to make women cry… this Ayane has been moved beyond words…"

"Oh, it's about that..? She was crying more out of fear than anything else though."

"You needn't say anymore, young master. 'Tis just that, it feels like it was only yesterday when you were clinging to my side and followed me around everywhere… You were so very adorable when you constantly tripped and fell over and proceeded to cry until I let you snuggle my-"

"Stop right there! I don't want to hear it!" Marc called out flustered, interrupting Ayane's fit of nostalgia. "I'm going on ahead. The others are waiting for me."

Marc headed after the rest in a near dash and without any further stalling, they entered the caverns.

Location: Cavern of Evil; Glutton's Hideout

After their eyes had adjusted to the dark, the party finally established how large the caverns actually were.

The waters of the Dallos River had carved out many pathways and small room-like hollows into the rock, over the course of many, many year's time. After walking through the main route for a while, the bright glistening of many blue-ish crystals embedded on the walls lighted up their way.

"Ugh, there's just too much terrain to cover…" Adell grunted as he hastily searched every nook and nanny of one of the open hollows.

"Seriously…" Roy also grumbled as he peered deeper down the way, seeing no sign of an exit. "At this rate, it'd be faster if we split up and searched separately."

"Hm… That makes sense… Right, that's what we're gonna do, guys. Split up and search individually. But don't wander off too far; we don't want to lose sight of each other as well."

Adell disbanded the group and everyone headed off in a different direction, though Tink still remained by Rozalin's side and Roy and Marc kept an eye on Celeste.

Despite the fact that the search for Taro continued on fruitlessly, Marc could swear he had been hearing an increasingly loud sound from somewhere nearby.

*Squeee… Snrk…* "…What is that..?"

"Ah, you heard it too, blockhead?" Roy walked up to Marc from the other side of the cavern.

"Yeah. It doesn't sound like Taro but… I wonder what it is."

"It sounds like its coming from over there." Roy pointed at one of the wider open crevices.

"Might as well check it out, I guess… Is your sister okay by herself?"

"She's with Misa-chi on the other side, so she's fine."

"I see. Then let's go find out what that noise is."

{-}

This is a story from a long time ago; a story of when the Caverns of Evil were still considered young, and the waters had not yet carved so many hollows into the rocks as it had been in the present.

Back then a group of demons, who craved for the large gemstones that were embedded in the rocks, continuously hacked and carved away into the ground.

Their campaign ended however on a single faithful day.

Blinded by his greed, one of the demons struck a vein deep in the ground and released a torrent of boiling water unto their excavation grounds, rendering the gemstones unsalvageable.

Now, many years later, the crevice had been forgotten by all but a few. It had become however, for the few privileged demons who know about it, a paradise hidden away from the world.

This quarry had become a natural gathering place for those who desired to cleanse themselves of the worries of their worlds.

"-And that's how these underground hot springs were erected…are you even listening to me..?" An Alraune, also known as a Flora Beast, nudged her companion in her side.

The Alraune had green skin with blonde curly locks of hair. Her entire lower body was in the form of a large pink flower, just like two smaller variations of flowers on her head.

"Yeah sure, I heard you. Something 'bout an erection, right?" she answered halfheartedly.

"*sigh* So you weren't paying attention after all… Really Vanille, it wouldn't do you any harm to learn about these things once in a while…"

Vanille, a Succubus, stretched out her well toned body and leaned back against the wall. "You should lighten up, Momoko. Who comes to a hot spring to study anyway?"

The succubus washed her long red hair in the warm water; she even rinsed the long uneven horns on her head. The pair of ''maidens'' casually relaxed in the hot waters and stared up at the ceiling, completely relaxed.

"So? How's your work with the seer going?" Momoko asked Vanille as she drifted though the water on the petals of her flower.

"Don't even get me started about it; she's a total slave driver! Seriously, who expects a demon to put in so many hours of labor! Especially one as cute as me!" Vanille pouted at her flowery companion playfully.

"Hah, I think a little hard work would do you well." Momoko smirked at the busty succubus. "Maybe it'll even let you get rid of some excess body fat. Especially around your chest region, hmhm."

"Oh~? You really want to go there, little miss pancake?" Vanille smirked back. "Perhaps with a little skin-ship you'll grow to be half as voluptuous as I am~?"

Vanille playfully dove onto Momoko and the two of them energetically splashed around in the water.

{-}

*Snrk, grunt* "It's coming from over here…" Marc whispered to Roy as they silently moved towards the sound.

Once they got close enough, Marc and Roy found the source. Three orcs, standing on each other's shoulders, were balancing to keep upright.

"C-Can you see anything, *snrk*?" The middle orc asked the one on top.

"J, just a bit higher *oink*… I can almost see *oink*…"

"Hurry up so we can switch *buhi*! I wanna see too *buhi*!" the orc at the bottom complained.

"S-stop moving around so much *oink*! We're gonna fall *oink*!" And just like the top orc said, the tower of small piglets toppled over and the three small monsters crashed into the ground.

"That hurt *snrk*… huh?" The orc that was in the middle of the tower noticed Marc and Roy staring at them.

"Who're you guys *snrk*!" The three monsters jumped back to their feet and raised their clubs at the two guys.

"Here to move in on our secret peeping spot huh, *buhi*! ? Well, we won't let you *buhi*!"

"Peeping spot? What's that all about?" Roy wondered out loud.

"We're not here to move in on anything. We're looking for someone." Marc tried to explain to the agitated orcs.

"If you think we'd fall for such an obvious lie you must be poor in the head *snrk*!"

"Well, at least they got that part right." Roy smirked to himself amused. "Anyway, if you'll just listen to me-" But before Roy could finish he was interrupted by the orcs.

"Why should we listen to a little brat like you, *oink*! ?"

"Yeah *snrk*! You little midget brat *snrk*!"

"Yeah, yeah, and your hat is stupid too *buhi*!"

"Oh that is it! It's on, you stinkin' oinkers!"

{-}

"Hm?" Vanille stared up at the wall and listened carefully.

"Something wrong?" Momoko asked the succubus.

"Don't you hear some kind of rumbling noise from the other side of that wall?"

"A rumbling noise..?" Momoko swam over to the wall and put her ear to it.

("*Buhi!* Not the face! Not the face!") ("Oryaaaah! *smack*")

("Bro! *oink*! I'll avenge you, *oink*! Orc Combo, *oink*!") ("*Thud* Gah, you little-! Get back here!") ("Catch me if you can, *oink*!")

Confused, Momoko stepped back from the wall. "Voices..? I wonder what's going on…"

("Mega Fire! Ugh! Stand still, you freakin' hamburger!") ("*Snrk*! A little maggot like you could never defeat- *plonk* *S-snrk*! ? Y-You hit me with your staff! ?")

("Grrr, now you've done it *oink*! Orc Smash!") ("Oh shi-!")

Suddenly the wall separating the hollow and the hot springs started to shake violently and many cracks started to appear on its surface. With a loud bang, Marc was launched through the wall and landed in the hot springs.

"*Hack, cough* Ugh, those little guys are really getting on my nerves! …Hm? Water?"

"*Snrk*! Noooo! Our secret peeping spot is ruined, *snrk*!"

"Retreat *buhi*!"

"We won't forget this, *oink*!" the three orcs yelled before they dashed off in a hurry.

"Then you're smarter then you look!" Roy yelled back irritated.

"*sigh* Well that was a big waste of time…" Marc sighed as he floated on his back in the water.

"You sure you want to bathe with your clothes on? You might catch a cold, you know."

"No worries, I'm built pretty sturdy so… Hm?" Marc noticed the two naked ladies standing next to him.

Vanille eyed Marc interested while Momoko hid herself behind her less timid friend. "Hi there, boy~" Vanille smiled interested.

"Whoah!" Marc jumped back on impulse and covered his eyes. "S-Sorry..! For what it's worth, I didn't see anything!"

"Hm? What didn't you see?"

"I didn't see your huge knockers… Err, forget I said that…"

"Hmhm~ you can look you know; I don't mind at all." Vanille teased playfully.

"Vanille! I do mind!" Momoko cried out.

"Oh hush! It's not that often that people visit this place; especially someone as handsome as this one, hmhm~."

"Err, no, that's okay." Marc said awkwardly. "You, uh, didn't happen to see a young boy around here, did you? He has two horns on his head and wears a cow-print apron."

"Nope. Beside that young mage ogling us from up there and yourself, there hasn't been anyone else~" Like Vanille said, Roy still stood up on the higher part and looked down with a flushed face.

"…Right. Well, I think I'll be going back up now… Just uh, carry on…" Marc waded through the water with his eyes still closed.

"Boy~!" Vanille called out Marc. "It's the other way!"

"Oh right… Thanks…" After Marc had climbed back up the broken wall and left together with Roy, Momoko let out a sigh of relief.

"Geez… that was…something else."

"To be looking for someone in this dangerous 'ol cave is quite something…" Vanille thought out loud. "I wonder what their circumstances are."

"I don't like that look in your eyes…" Momoko observed cautiously. "Don't tell me you plan to…"

Vanille turned to Momoko and smiled a deeply mischievous smile. "Teehee~ let's go Momoko, we're gonna trail 'em."

"*sigh* I knew you were going to say that…"

{-}

After promising each other never to tell anyone of their little accident, Marc and Roy met up with Celeste and Misaki and, after a fairly awkward conversation about why Marc was drenched, returned to Adell and the others to report. Adell, Rozalin, Hanako and Tink were also standing in one place and called Marc and the others over.

"You guys also had some trouble with the local monsters, I see…" Marc noted at the sight of Adell.

"Now I know why they call this cavern evil. The monsters around here are really strong." Adell nodded, standing next to a small pile of unconscious orcs.

"Is that joy I sense in you?" Rozalin asked him with a smirk. "You love the thrill of battle, don't you? You… battle maniac…" Rozalin nodded to herself, pleased with the nickname she just thought up.

"Who's a battle maniac! ? I told you, I'm only fighting to save my family!"

"Zen you must be a family maniac. All we ever hear is family zis and family zat, after all."

Hanako shot Tink an angry look. "Shut up! Adell is gonna fight the Overlord so we can become human! Most brothers just pick on you."

"Hmhmhm. So Hanako, you take much pride in Adell being your big brother. (Family… Does father think of me as family?") Rozalin thought to herself, thinking of her father.

("No, how can I think of such blasphemy! ? After all, it was father who gave me such a lavish and tender life until now! To doubt such a thing..! Oh, father…please forgive me…")

{-}

Meanwhile back at the Dallos River; Axel was still staring into the river Taro had been washed away in. After having waited a while without him ever saying a word, the director decided to take the initiative.

"Come on, Axel darling. Let's go, eh. We had a bad shoot today. Let's try it again some other day. There are other ways for us to show the universe that we're still alive. We can't give up now."

Axel turned his head to look at his companion. "…What can I do? What is a Dark Hero to do now?"

"Axel darling…"

"Stage performances, tricks, it's all a part of my act. I'll do whatever it takes to let my fans know I'm still alive. But, I never meant to hurt those kids..!" Axel balled his fist in frustration.

"Eh, that's the risk you take when you take people hostage." The director shrugged.

"What I do and what my character does are completely different! Look, I gotta go!" Axel suddenly yelled heated up.

"Wha, what, go! ? Where are you going?" the director stumbled, slightly shocked by Axell's sudden second wind.

"In order to find myself, I hafta go!" Axel put his hand up, signaling something yet unseen. "Hey, taxi!"

Out of nowhere, a taxi skidded to a halt next to the Dark Hero. Axel jumped in and within that very second; the taxi drove off again with screeching tires, leaving the director standing in the dust, completely baffled.

Location: Cavern of Evil; Eternal Oblivion

"Huh…! ?" Adell suddenly stood on guard.

"What's wrong, Adell?" Hanako asked him concerned.

"I just had a weird chill run down my spine. I've got a bad feeling…"

A wave of demonic energy amassed in front of the party. Once the energy stabilized, a masked figure appeared in front of them, effectively blocking their path.

"Who's that…! ? A new enemy! ?"

The 'person' in front of them was dressed in dark purplish rags and wore a familiar emblem on her front. Her face was hidden behind a mask and all that stood out were her blank white eyes.

"…There is no need to be afraid…" the demons voice was that of a woman.

"What..! ?"

"…Princess. I have come for you…" The masked woman's blank eyes rested upon Rozalin, who in turn stepped forward to closer inspect this new arrival.

"Hm? Are you my father's servant?" The masked woman nodded. "…I carry Overlord Zenon's orders. You must return to your mansion…"

"If I knew where it was, I would have done so already." Rozalin spoke truthfully. "However, I no longer wish to return there just yet. Please take me to my father instead."

"…That is not my concern. Overlord Zenon has ordered me to return you to your mansion, princess…" The words spoken by the masked woman were both cold and detached.

"What..? What did you just say! ?" she muttered in shock. "My father doesn't want to meet me! ? This cannot be true!" Rozalin's voice rose up and echoed through the many hollows of the caverns. "My father loves me! You are lying..!"

The masked woman merely stared blankly at the distressed princess. "My father… My father does not wish to see me?"

"…If he desired to see you, he would have come to visit you before…" Despite her cold tone of voice, Rozalin could tell that this woman was not lying to her.

"But why..? Why doesn't my father wish to meet me..?"

"Hmph. We don't need her help." Adell shrugged. "If he doesn't want to come to you, we'll just have to go to him."

Rozalin looked at Adell, thankful for his back-up. "Adell…"

"Look, I promised to take you back to your father, didn't I?" A bit relieved, Rozalin returned to her stuck up self.

"Don't act like everything is fine! This is your fault for not taking me back sooner!"

"How did this all become my fault?" Adell asked her with a smirk, relieved that she was back to normal.

The masked woman now focused her attention on Adell. "Are you the human who summoned the princess? If you interfere, you will be harmed."

Unimpressed, Adell crossed his arms. "Heh, well said. We're trying to save my brother's life, so I'll offer you the same terms. Until my brother's safe, I won't let anything stand in my way."

"…Even if it costs you your life…?" The masked woman's aura started to exude a threatening energy.

"Yeah! Even if it costs me my life!" Adell needed not even think about it before giving his answer.

The masked woman could not help but feel something stirring from deep within after seeing this boy's determination. It was something that resembled the feeling of warmth…

"…You are a reckless young man…" the woman concluded as she dispelled her energy. "…It has been a long time since I have felt such strong human emotions…" she laid a hand over her chest.

"…Very well. Your combined determination has swayed my judgment. I shall let you go…"

"R, really..? So, I do not have to return to my mansion?" Rozalin asked her surprised.

"…I did not find anyone. That is all I can report…"

"I'm sorry. The one who is in need of saving is very important to me, too. Please forgive me."

"…Princess." The masked woman looked at Rozalin. "…Many vicious beasts dwell in this area… If they confront you, it may be wise to use this…" the masked woman rummaged through her ragged robe en took out a blue flute. She then passed it to Adell.

"A flute?" Adell asked her confused. "…It is a magic summoning flute. It will allow you to control monsters with low intelligences…"

"You're Zenon's servant, right? Why are you helping us?"

The masked woman turned from the group and spoke just before she disappeared. "…I do not know… But, I am compelled to do so…"

Leaving the party alone once more, Rozalin looked to the ground troubled. "My father is searching for me… But, he will not see me himself. Why is that…?"

Adell turned his attention to the troubled princess. "Hey… Weren't you just begging to be taken to see your father? But, you stayed to help Taro…" Adell also looked down in conflict with himself.

"What are you saying! ? Taro's life is in danger now! Of course he takes priority!" Rozalin yelled at the downcast young man. "You must survive, Taro! At least until we arrive to rescue you!" Rozalin brusquely walked off further into the caverns ahead of the rest.

"Oh-ho. She is trying very hard. But, I know she suffered a great shock." Tink calmly observed out loud as he headed after his childhood friend.

"Rozy is stubborn when she wants to be. It's so cute~" Hanako grinned to herself.

Adell looked at Rozalin's back in the distance and found himself in conflict. "She…"

I really did have a lot of fun writing this chapter and I hope it shows in the story itself! ;) So today we met two new characters, Succubus Vanille and Alraune Momoko~ We're gonna be seeing more of them soon and they may have more to do with the plot then you'd think~ (Yes, there's a plot, geez...)

And just to throw this in there; here's a little fun fact for you: as you probably noticed, the sounds the three orcs that Marc and Roy fought made were all pig noises, oink being, well, simply oink. Snrk being (for me at least) their snorting sound, and buhi being the japanese equivalent of oink =P

Next chapter we'll continue our search for Taro and find more trouble in the process!

This is me signing off, see ya next time kids! And remember; Saving the princess does not always mean you'll get a kiss. There will be cake though.