(AN:
*there is the same stage with a spotlight, Mr. Handwaver runs on stage with the two bikers hot on his heels. He gives them the slip and hides by the floodlights. He looks up and whispers*

"I know you can hear me, and I want to know that I'm sorry I called you a wanker. I would greatly appreciate it if you could use your vast God-like powers to unwrite this unfortunate episode out and return things back to normal."

*in a puff of smoke the bikers disappear and the magician is back to his immaculately groomed self and looks around questioningly*

"What? Why am I here?"

"Nothing, I thought I had a handwave for you to do, as it turned out I just altered a few sentences."

"Ah, very good then. And now time for something completely different."

See? I can be nice. On a more serious note there had been some questions about why Crosby snapped the way he did in the last chapter. I thought I'd put a bit of 'reality ensues' angle, but I'm addressing it in this chapter.

I've been slowing down on my updates, which is irritating me, and work has been super busy this week since one of my project managers called in sick and I'm basically doing his job in addition to mine. Add to this mix a nasty bit of writer's cramp and you have a recipe for disaster. This chapter is very short, but I figured it could sit in my doc manager folder for a week or I could at least post it and give you guys something this week. I'll try to get the third part up by the weekend or 1st part of next week. Anyways here's the second part of Aim High, enjoy!)

"Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Corporal Jebediah Tebby, your regular pilot Lt. Bowles is currently indisposed at the moment enjoying some female company, so I will be your pilot this morning. Thank you for flying Tristainia Airlines, we have about a thirty minute flight ahead of us, depending on the weather. Unfortunately our flight attendants are on strike so there will be no beverage or snack service on this flight. As for in-flight entertainment, you have the choice of watching our pink-haired walking IED abuse her boyfriend, or Sgt. Crosby getting his face wedged between Big Red's melons. Please be advised that due to violence and adult themes, the entertainment is rated PG-13, parental guidance strongly suggested. I wish to point out that if you feel the nicotine cravings due to the unwanted harem wanting to fuck your brains out or the like you'll be SOL, as federal regulations designate this as a "non-smoking" flight. Thank you very much, and we'll be taking off shortly."

Lugo looked over his shoulder into the passenger compartment of the Little Bird and smirked. Originally Crosby had wanted to go solo, but Montmorency said that the sprite would only speak to a member of her family, so she would have to come. The fact that she was still under the influence of her own love potion also had something to do with it. Louise also wanted to come, and brought Saito her familiar along as well. Kirche came along just because she didn't want to be separated from Crosby, which was why he was currently being cuddled by her. Lugo opted to take the copilot's seat to accommodate the extra passengers. He spoke into his mic.

"Okay Tebby, everyone's secured. Let's lift off."

"Roger that."

As the chopper took off, Lugo was thinking about the conversation he had with Crosby the previous night. After he had spoken to Bowles on the radio, Lugo had made his way to the dormitory and knocked on Crosby's door. There was a distinctive rasping click of a handgun being cocked.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, sarge. I just wanted to let you know I got off the horn with Bravo Six, they'll be picking us up at 0600 tomorrow."

The door opened revealing Crosby. He was holding his Desert Eagle on the ready, and quickly peered down the corridor before letting Lugo in. After he entered, Crosby locked the door and stuck the pistol into the waistband of his black utes. The Delta sniper folded his arms.

"Want to tell me what that was all about?"

"What all what was about?"

"Oh, nothing much, just you pulling a loaded gun on three teenaged girls and threatening to kill them. Seems like a bit of overkill to me."

Crosby hung his head.

"Look, I'm sorry about that, but I seriously thought I was going to die when they were doing that stupid witch's duel."

"I dig that, sarge, they were messing with you and almost got you killed, but that was a bit of disproportionate retribution, don't you think?"

Crosby sighed and sat down on the bed.

"I guess something in my mind just snapped."

He looked up to Lugo.

"Do you ever get nightmares about what happened in Dubai, sergeant?"

A pained look crossed the usually cheery Delta sniper's face.

"Just once. It had Walker and Adams in it, too. They were shooting their way through some sort of fortified outpost by a bridge, near a marina."

Crosby nodded.

"That place we called 'The Bridge' because it was the only way to access Konrad's headquarters, the Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in Dubai."

Lugo continued.

"They were bloodied and looked like hell and basically were killing anything that moved. I was hiding in the last bunker, and burst through the doors. Walker began taunting me, and both he and Adams began shooting at me, I'm guessing they thought I was one of the 33rd. I kept trying to tell him that all this was his fault, that he was no savior, that the only villain was him. Then he shot me in the face, and I woke up. It was bad enough to scare Siesta. She had heard me scream, even though her room is down the hall in the servant's quarters."

Crosby looked thoughtful.

"I've been getting visits by the Weaver in my dreams lately."

Lugo grinned.

"You're lucky, getting a visit by a gorgeous ethereal babe."

Crosby returned the smile.

"Yeah, I think she's developed a sense of humor since she sent me here. She's the one who told me about the water sprite."

Lugo turned and made his way towards the door.

"Look, I'll see about talking some sense to Big Red and Pinkie so they don't go all clingy on you tomorrow, but can you promise me you won't pull a stunt like that again? It really freaked Pinkie out and she was crying when I left her."

Crosby shook his head.

"I can't promise anything, Lugo, but I'll do my damnedest to keep the violent impulses under control."

"That's all I needed to hear. Good night, sarge! See you at 0600."

(the next morning, 05:45 hours)

Crosby woke up to the sound of someone knocking on his door. He felt groggy in spite of getting the first good night's sleep since his change-up. He sat up and checked his watch.

"Hmmm? Oh, Bravo Six must be early."

He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and put his feet on the floor. He yawned as he shuffled over to the door. The knocking persisted.

"Alright, alright, I'm coming! Ease up, Lugo!"

He unlocked the door and flung it open, and was greeted by a face-full of tanned lavender-scented cleavage.

"I brought my handsome war horse a nice cake for breakfast!"

Crosby pried his face out for air.

"Please tell me you brought coffee?"

As if on cue the redhead pulled up a coffee pot seemingly out of nowhere. He shrugged.

"Okay, you can stay. I have a feeling this is going to be a long day and I'm not facing it without coffee."

"Hey! I said cut it out!"

Crosby had finished his coffee and was attempting to finish a slice of cake. Attempting being the key word as he was simultaneously trying to keep Kirche's hands off him as he ate. There was another knock on his door. He disentangled himself from the redhead's embrace long enough to open the door to reveal the Delta sniper, who had a shit-eating grin on his face.

"Hey, sarge there you are. Am I interrupting anything?"

Crosby glared at Lugo.

"You're late."

"Nope, Bravo Six is late. Just got off the horn with Tebby and he said his ETA is about 15 minutes."

Crosby was about to say something when he was ambushed from behind by the redhead.

"Ah, plenty of time to spend with my handsome war horse."

Lugo grinned at the sight of the Zulu squad sergeant turned teen being glomped by Kirche. Finally he gingerly took both her hands and disengaged Crosby from her embrace.

"Why don't you give your war horse a breather and let him gear up?"

Which brought Lugo back to the present; he was looking over the horizon through the Little Bird's windscreen. Gallia was not much different from Tristian, there were more pine trees, and it was a bit more mountainous, but it wasn't much different. He turned around and beckoned Montmorency to come up front. He motioned to one of the spare headsets that was hanging off the bulkhead. She didn't seem to understand at first but when Lugo motioned towards his own headset she nodded and put the headset on.

"Can you hear me, Blondie?"

She looked startled.

"Yes, I can hear you! Is this some sort of magic?"

"Yeah, yeah it's our own version of magic so we can carry on a civilized conversation in this loud 'Bird. Where is this lake?"

The blonde paused for a moment to get her bearings and pointed.

"There! To the south and east."

"Tebby, you heard the lady, let's go check it out."

"Roger that."

As Tebby guided the Little Bird around an outcropping of foothills, Lugo saw a strange sight. There was a town that was almost completely flooded. He heard Montmorency gasp.

"The town! It's flooded, but why?"

"I take it that's not normal?"

She shook her head.

"No, my family has had a pact with the spirit for many years, something must have angered it."

He nodded and turned to Tebby.

"Find us a flat spot by the edge of the lake and take us down."

Tebby set the chopper down in a clearing. Lugo jumped out first and scanned the area through the scope of his Scout Tactical. When it was all clear he motioned for the teenagers to disembark, then gave the thumbs-up to Tebby.

"Since Gallia might be aligned with Cromwell and his cronies, you might want to dust off and keep a low profile."

"Roger that, I'll keep my ears on if you need a hot pickup. Bravo Six out."

The chopper lifted off and the group made their way towards the edge of the lake. Crosby secured his P90 and adjusted the straps on his borrowed PALS vest. Currently it just had a cross-draw holster for his M9 and a mag pouch. He left the rest of his gear in the care of Marteau, figuring the chef would keep it safe. He took the lead and walked by Saito, mostly to get away from the trio of girls who were currently arguing over which one of them loved Crosby more.

"So kid, you seem awfully laid back about Louise being smitten for me."

Saito shrugged.

"It's okay. When Louise was trying to beat me the other night I told her that the love of her life wouldn't approve her abusing her familiar."

Crosby looked incredulous. The sword strapped to Saito's back spoke up in McPherson's voice.

"Don't blame the kid, sergeant. It was my idea, Saito had asked for advice and I figured it fell under the 'adapt and overcome' column."

Deflinger's voice cut in.

"Yeah, and I told him it was kinda low."

Crosby interrupted.

"And she bought that?"

"Yep, since then she's been very nice to me."

He shook his head.

"This is nuts."

Something on the ground caught his eye and he signaled for the group to stop. He bent down and picked it up. It appeared to be some sort of public notice poster. Someone must have walked off with it and discarded it here. He couldn't read the language on the poster but there was a highly stylized woodcut engraving of someone in heavy armor. He handed it to the trio.

"Can any of you read this?"

Kirche peered at the writing.

"It's Gallian. It says 'Wanted; the criminal known as the Jester and his unholy Golem, for War Crimes against the Crown of Gallia, for the murder of four diplomatic envoys, and for spreading mischief and mayhem in the republic of Albion. A Reward 50,000 sovereigns is offered for their apprehension.'"

She looked up at Crosby.

"Do they mean Mr. Gordon? That can't be right."

Crosby took the wanted poster from her and tucked it in his pocket. He shared a glance with Lugo, then spoke.

"Of course, it's all lies designed to paint the allies of Tristain to be evil. Come on, we're burning up daylight."

They continued through the forest, and after about ten minutes of hiking arrived at the edge of the lake. Louise turned to Crosby and clasped her hands in his.

"Are you sure you want to do this my love? You know that the spell will wear off after a while."

"How long will it take to wear off?"

She thought for a moment.

"Oh, not more than a year."

"And spend a year in this body with the three of you fighting over me? No dice. Blondie, quit with the jealous glares and summon this water spirit."

Montmorency set her toad familiar on the ground and pricked her finger with a small needle.

"Why are you doing that?" Saito asked.

She looked over to him.

"It is for proof that I am a Montmorency."

A drop of blood landed on the toad's back, and it hopped off the ground and into the lake. No sooner had it submerged when the water in the lake started to churn and boil. Then a spout of water from the middle of the lake shot straight up. It morphed into a female form, which bore a striking resemblance to the blonde witch. A voice issued from the water.

"Who is it that has awakened me?"

"It is I, Montmorency Margarita La Fère de Montmorency, who has awakened you. I seek to undo a wrong that has been wrought. I need three of your tears to accomplish this."

The water spirit shook her head.

"I cannot grant this to you, not while I seek what has been taken from me."

Crosby took a step forward.

"Seeking? Is that why you flooded the village?"

The water spirit nodded her head.

"Yes. Two wicked mages stole a treasure from me, my ring of Andvari. Until it is recovered I must refuse, and I must ask you to leave."

The spirit's form began to waver, and turn back into a roiling spout of water. Crosby waved his arm.

"Wait, noble Nøkk! I need those tears!"

The spout morphed into a female form again.

"How is it that you know my true name? Who are you?"

The water spirit leaned closer towards Crosby, and suddenly the rune on his forearm began to glow. The spirit spoke.

"It is you, Lífþrasir, after all these ages I thought I would never see you again. If I give you the tears, will you accomplish a task for me?"

He nodded.

"Of course, anything."

"Hunt down those who took my ring from me, and bring it back here to me. Will you do this for me, Lífþrasir?"

Crosby straightened up and saluted.

"Consider it done."

The water spirit dissolved into a pillar of water, and splashed back into the lake. Three small phials floated out of the water and on the shore by Crosby's feet. The spirit's voice echoed across the water.

"Remember your promise Lífþrasir, and a thousand blessings on your quest."

Without hesitation Crosby grabbed one of the phial's and drank down its contents. Immediately he felt a burning sensation and was blown into the water. When he emerged from the water he felt his face and looked over to Saito for affirmation.

"It worked, Crosby-san."

He nodded as he pulled himself out of the water.

"Give the other two to Louise and Montmorency."

The change was less dramatic on the two girls, and they were back to their old selves.

"Sir Crosby, I am sorry for my wanton behavior towards you."

Crosby turned to Montmorency, who was blushing.

"Forget it, it's all water under the bridge, Miss Montmorency. The question is, who or what is Lífþrasir?"

The blonde shook her head.

"I don't know. It must have formed an ancient pact with this spirit, for the spirit to trust you with its tears."

Crosby was about to respond when he felt a something hit his back. Unsurprisingly, it didn't hurt.

"Stupid Bodyguard! Stupid! Stupid! Stup-"

He turned around quickly to see Louise hitting him. He snatched the riding crop out of her hand and threw it in the lake.

"With all due respect to my lady," he said, ignoring her tiny fists pummeling his leg, "if you hadn't bungled that transmutation spell I wouldn't be in that position to begin with."

He looked up and saw the redhead flying towards him.

"What has happened to my poor old war horse, let Kirche make it all better!"

Her advance was halted when her forehead collided with Crosby's palm, he was very gently but firmly keeping the well-endowed redhead at arm's length.

"I'm sorry Miss Zerbst, it pains me to tell you that you have glomped your last glomp with Sgt. Crosby. I hope you had a lovely time over the last couple of days, thanks for playing. But there will be no more of that."

He nodded over to Lugo.

"Get Tebby on the horn and tell him to pick us up, we're out of here."

(AN: Sorry, Kirche. It had to end sometime, but you'll always have the night when Crosby slept in your bed.

Welp, hope you enjoyed this 'silly' arc, I certainly did get a chuckle out of writing it. I'm shifting gears for the next chapter, we're going to be checking in with Konrad and co. at the palace. The Radioman might even make an appearance. Work has me busy and up to my eyeballs so depending on how things go it will probably be the weekend when I publish the next chapter.)