I'VE GOT A BIG SHOCKER (OR NOT) IN STORE FOR YOU ALL! TO THOSE OF YOU WHO SAW THIS COMING, CONGRATS! TO THOSE OF YOU WHO JUST SAY YOU DID WHEN YOU REALLY DIDN'T, SCREW YOU. HEHE, I KID :D I OWN NOTHING!

Ch.35: Enter the Jabberwock

I continued to trudge through the gritty sand, as I have been for the last half hour. I sighed, what the h*** was I supposed to do now? I was lost, I had no idea where my team was, and quite frankly; I HATE THIS D*** PLACE! …Then again, all this time alone is giving me a chance to think. I haven't really been alone like this since…. Actually, I couldn't remember the last time since coming here that I was truly alone. I thought some more, trying to sort out my priorities.

Let's see now…I've got the blade, so now I need to find my friends and get to Marmund. Then I need to find Alister, defeat Alistair, and kill both plus Yuri…. I paused in my walking; …Should I…no. CAN I kill them? Alister is weird, sure, but I don't think I could kill him cold blood. And Yuri's as loyal as a dog! I'd be like rescuing a dog just to put it down! And what about Alistair? I'm sure that once I've knocked the sense back into him, he wouldn't be so bad….

'They are trapped in a world in which they do not belong….' Twice I'd heard that, and both times it rang true.

I groaned and closed my eyes, "I know I promised Charlie I'd…free them, but…AAAGGG!" I rattled my head side to side, "What the h*** are Yuri and Alister doing in this time anyways? That was never explained to me! Alistair is the Dark Master, but Yuri and Alister? Obviously they have some sort of role cause they have faces but…how the h*** do they fit into all this crap anyways?" I sighed again, and opened my eyes; I guess I'll just have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I lifted my foot and forced myself to start walking gain.

I made my thoughts do a U-turn and allowed my thoughts to fall in another direction. I can't wait until this is all over! I'll finally get to ride that wicked roller coaster! …That reminds me, I still have to pay Blood back for coaster blocking me. And then White-! I shook my head as White entered my head. What the h*** is wrong with me? Every time that clown comes up, I spaz out! I remembered my last minute of silent reflection; right after White had nearly short-circuited my brain. …Do I…really l-like him?

I thought back to when we first met. …Not the best first impression. But still, he had helped me when I was in trouble, ulterior motive or not. And again, when he saved me from bleeding out after my first encounter with the Jabberwocky. And then again when he had insisted on escorting me to the camp. I flushed again as I recalled him telling me to run from the assassins, and how he had laughed his head off at my 'diversion'. (a.k.a; me making a total fool of myself) Weather he had just been playing a game, or if he had genuinely wanted to help me, he had helped my regardless of the risk to himself. …And I'll admit, he wasn't bad on the eyes.

I shook my head, banishing that thought and clipping it at the bud. I touched my face and was slightly horrified to find it burning up. I shook my head again; ok, maybe I like him a little…. But what the h*** should I do about it? I have to go back…right?

I sighed and shut out the thoughts further. Again; I'll cross…or burn down that bridge when I come to it. Instead of thinking about he-who-shall-not-be-named, I remembered my favorite song; Saving' Me by Nickleback, and ran it on loop in my head.

The song had just finished its twentieth run beat-for-beat when my private concert was interrupted. …By something I know all too well. A dark shadow fell over me and I gasped. The shadow passed over me, but it was getting bigger and bigger. I shot my head up to confirm my darkest current fear; the Jabberwocky coming in for landing!

For a minute I scurried for a safe place like a rat, then, realizing I had absolutely nowhere to hide, I remembered my new weapon and pulled it from my belt. I hopped away and assumed a fighting stance, ready to look the beast in his one eye once more.

The Jabberwocky landed in front of me, facing me. Mono-e-mone. This was a standoff.

Or at least, I thought so at first. We stood there, staring at each other for some time, before I realized something was either very wrong with the Jabberwocky, or something was finally right with it. Firstly, it didn't make the first strike, like it had last time. In fact, it hadn't moved at all. It just stared at me. Secondly, it lacked the same savage, killing aura it had possessed on our last encounters. There was something very different and…familiar, about the way it carried itself this time. Its back was straight, not arched in attack poise, and it was hanging its head. It almost looked…tamed.

I gulped, "Umm…hi?" Now it moved. But instead of launching an attack while I had my guard down, it lowered its head to be eye to eye with me, though it kept it's only good eye well away from me. What I stared into was not the cold, blood lustful, red reptilian eye of the killer beast that had kidnapped me. This eye was big, apologetic, and kind hearted. And a deep, dark brown. So dark, I almost couldn't tell what color it was.

My free hand flew to my mouth to muffle my gasp of horror. I nearly lost my grip on the blade. I very gently removed my hand from my mouth and stretched it out, mystified, horrified, and disbelieving.

"…Alister?" The Jabberwocky dipped its head slightly and blinked; as though in confirmation of my question. A deep, humming noise started echoing through its throat, the cross between a cats purr, a dogs growl, and a large bird of preys coo. I gulped, "W…what happened? How…how can this be…?"

The beast stared at me a little, before closing his eye. I was assaulted by a brilliant flash and loud popping sound as air rushed to fill the sudden void. I cracked open my eyes and gasped to see Alister, brunette, tall and skinny all, standing a few meters from me. He smiled shyly and reached up to cover his scarred and useless right eye. "I suppose you'll be wanting some explanation?"

…..

I paused as I just finished explaining to Alister what I was doing out here; that I had gathered up a team to come and find him. After the great reveal, we had sat down and I had explained to him the main reasons; editing out specific events, of course.

He blushed a little and smiled gratefully at me, "I do appreciate you going through all this trouble for me C.J, but you've put yourself in harm's way by doing so." I frowned, "What do you mean?" I closed his eye, "You see C.J, I remember everything. All that you seem to have left out of your tale." I raised my eyebrows and then laughed nervously, rubbing the back of my neck, "…Well, telling you all that I knew might have confused you." "That's alright, I understand. Could you please tell your tale again, excluding nothing this time?"

…

This time, I told him everything. The vision of their childhood, the visit to Elda, the Vorpal Blade, and my encounter with Charlie. He was shocked to learn of Charlie, and pleased to know of his friend Elda's living state, but all around he was solemn the whole story. Of course I edited out the personal *coughWhiteinvolvedcough* moments, but other than that, nothing. After I finished the second time, he stared at the sand for a little bit. "…So, Charlie asked you to kill me?" "…." "…It's for the best really." I raised my eyebrows at him, "Wait, wah?" He was still staring at the ground, "When I tell you my story, you'll understand."

"You see, after poor Charlie's death, Alistair began to…recede. He began to stop talking, brooding. It was very…strange. T'was bad enough not having Charlie around, but after that, Alistair became remote and distant. If you remember that vision correctly, you'll recall him being rather agitatingly chipper. A few months passed and, Alistair only seemed to fall into deeper despair. At one point, he disappeared. Yuri, Elda, and I all scoured the town for him, but could not find him. About a month had passed before I heard from him again. This time, I could hardly tell it was him. This time, he had a face."

"He came to me, and told me of the deal he had made with the dealer. Then…he asked a favor of me. He asked me to take a role and help him. He said we would end the tyranny of the role holders once and for all. He said…." Alister sank his head into his hand, for the first time I'd seen him racked with emotion. "I took it. I swallowed his lies and took the role like a fool." I gulped back a lump in my throat, "It's not your fault Alister…." He jerked his head up and held out his hand; now scaly and clawed like a lizards. "If I had known that this was the price of vengeance, I would have never taken that cursed role! If I hadn't been foolish enough to realize that the serpent that was feeding me these lies was not my dear friend, but the madness that had consumed him, I would have walked away! If I hadn't been there to help him, perhaps he could have been defeated, but no, I did take the role, I did succumb to his deception and hypnosis, and I did help him destroy my home. However I look at it, it is my fault that any of this ever happened!" He finally caught himself and hung his head in embarrassment, "I-I…I apologize. I shouldn't have-" "That's ok. But you can't blame yourself Alister. Bad things just happen, and all's we can do is try to move on."

He took a deep breath. "Yes. I'm sorry. As I was saying, I took the role. Once I had taken it, I was forced to command his will. I became that…beast, and destroyed Marmund. Afterwards, Alistair forced me to wander in these Badlands for 80 years as a mindless beast. No more, and no less. …Which reminds me, I'm truly sorry about your arm. And for trying to kill you in the forest…and for kidnapping you. As I said, I wasn't…myself, at the time." I smiled a little, "I know. It's alright. But in all fairness, I did put your eye out." "You had every reason to. I hold no resentments." "But I really should do something…oh!" I dug around for my bandanna, the same one that had bound my wound from him. I pulled it out and scouted up to him, "Hold still." He blushed slightly, but complied without complaint. I tied the dark cloth around his head and secured it over his eye, covering most of the scar. I leaned back to inspect, "hmmm…you look even more like a pirate than Nightmare." He managed a small smirk and fingered the edge of the cloth, "Amusing."

I stared at him a bit more, "…So what's this about me being in danger?" His eye widened, "Yes, I must tell you. When I kidnapped you, I was still under Alistair's orders!" My eyes widened, "What? Why would he want to kidnap me?" He shook his head, confused, "I don't know, but he must want you for one reason or another. I must warn you C.J; Do not attempt to stop him! You must go back, or he will capture you for whatever reason he wants you!"

I smirked, "You're forgetting one thing Demos." I flipped the Vorpal Blade in my hand. "I have the trump card." He frowned, "It may not be enough." I glared at him sternly, "So? If I don't stop him, he'll kill everyone, right? I have to try!" He stared at me, "…There is no stopping you?" "Nope." "Then I will join you." "Umm…you sure?" He stared at me, "Yes, I am sure. I want to stop Alistair before all of my friend is gone. And…when this is over…I want you to do as Charlie asked." I raised my eyebrows, "What! But-!" He hushed me, "Enough. My mind is made up. Charlie and Elda are right; I don't belong in the this world, and I have I not suffered enough?" I stared at him, "…Ok. …But we need to find the others first."

This time, he was the one who smirked, "That will not be a problem. They are not too far behind us, tracking my scent. I assume they're trying to rescue the damsel in distress." I rolled my eyes, "Har, har. So now what?" "It will take too long to wait for them to come to us, so we will go to them." "What? How-!" I was cut off with a reverse of his transformation, only with a whooshing sound instead of a pop. I opened my eyes to Alister, in Jabberwocky form, looming in front of me. He knelt down and outstretched his wing, offering me to climb on. My eyes widened and I crossed my arms in an X in front of my chest, "Uh-uh. No way, José. I have a strict 'no flying on the back of large animals' policy." He chuffed, as though to say he wasn't giving me a choice, and gently wrapped his long tail around my waist. I kicked and banged on the hard scales, "DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME? I'M NOT, I REPEAT, NOT GOING TO FLY ON YOUR BACK!" He gently plopped me on his back, up against his neck so I'd have something to hold on to, and launched into the air without warning! The air wished in my ears as I wrapped my arms around his keck as tightly as I could, "ALISTER! I'M GOING TO ENJOY KILLING YOU'RE A**!"

HE-HE. C.J'S NOT HAPPY. ALISTER'S TRUE NATURE AND HIS TIES TO THE STORY ARE FINALLY REVEALED! POOR GUY; _; IT'S JUST SO SAD! WHAT WILL POOR C.J STUMMBLE UPON NEXT? ALRIGHT THEN, I HOPE YOU ALL LIKE THIS CHAPPIE OF NG,OS, AND PLEASE REVIEW! OR THE BUNNIE OF DOOM WILL PUT FLYPAPER DOWN ON THE FLOOR WHILE YOU SLEEP!