Standard Disclaimer

ACEN was fun again this year, saw a lot of costumes, some good AMV's, and ate some nice food. Work has me doing a lot of overtime, fixing others defects, and our designers seem to being offering counter documents just to spite us...jerks. Oh well it MIGHT be getting better soon.

X-X

Wandering Pilot

Epilogue – 2

With her goal in sight, Annelotte steadied herself as best she could but it was hard. This wasn't the typical battle she was about to engage in, not by far. Little under four months of hunting for the Swamp Witch finally bore fruit, and it was Katsuragi's plan that got it. It cost a lot though, mentally at least, to find this accursed place. Now she stood with her sisters, with the exception of Branwen who was with Shinji and those that clung to Leina Vance and a few others, but they did gain Shizuka as a replacement. It was going to be a three pronged assault on the cave that likely went down deep into the earth. Leina's group, her own padre of warriors, and the smaller group of more spiritually focused warriors that would take to Lilliana's ship once it showed up.

"Are you ready for this? It'll be your first real battle with us," Annelotte asked the healer of her group. She ground her foot hoping to get some more steady perch but the swamp offered none. Their foes had to know they were coming, the animals of the swamp answered to Werbellia and they had seen many birds and lesser animals as they approached. Trying not to sound frustrated, "You did ask to be assigned to my group. Lady Melpha or Shinji could have been here if you are still worried about fighting with…her daughter as an ally."

"Daughters," Sigui pointed down the line towards Aldra who was talking with Yuit. Summoning her own holy power, it radiated off of her in small calming waves she bolstered the women. Patting Annelotte on the arm, "Sister, I want to fight with you again. Prove to you that I trust you. And I would not be able to relax if I knew Dame Melpha was with us on the ground during this assault. It will not be easy, and her safety would make me worry."

And she would never fully trust Shinji, even if he was now married to said Arch Priestess of the church, Annelotte figured. Oh Melpha had just about burst with happiness at that wedding a month ago, everybody saw it. Woman's heart was nearly as big as her chest, but Annelotte was glad for her. Not like she didn't get her fair share of her squire whenever she wished. Just the last week they had gone out, just the two of them, to check a little outpost and had a lovely honeymoon. But that love they felt for their king was the exact weakness Werbellia exploited.

"Can we rush in there and play with them? I so want to work off some pent up stress and my beloved Sage is on the other side of that dung heap," Luna-Luna splashed over to them. Not letting her legs touch the ground, she used her tendrils to walk above it. Flashing out a few of her sharper implements from the tendrils off the back of her hand, her lovely brown skin was marred with a horrid scowl. "I do not want to have another morning like the last that witch caused, my heart cannot take that," Luna-Luna started moving faster.

Legs caked with muck and mud, Shizuka had her own gear at the ready, she winked at Annelotte to set her off her stride. Annelotte could never figure out the women from Hinomoto, none of them. "You will get what I leave behind. I'm going to get to that bitch first, and sorry Anna-chan, but I'm going to eat your mother's heart for what she did," Shizuka licked her blade with a fierceness that scared those around her. Were all Hinomoto women this odd? Tomoe and Leina's romance had been fierce and intense, doubly so when Shinji was involved, Shizuka was aloof and playful to the point of bordering into Echidna's territory, and lastly was Izumi and her odd clothing and demands. Demanding a position in the Hinomoto embassy, then a position on Shinji's personal guard, and finally Annelotte walked in on her being his…personal bathing attendant.

"If that is what it takes to stop Werbellia that is what it will take. Aldra and I do not know our mother's affection, nor do we owe her much else. And since they know we are coming, I say we do rush in and sow as much chaos as possible. If we don't, the others will surely mock us for besting us," Annelotte did not want to be out shadowed by the older women, had to show them that the younger were just as skilled. Summoning her horse, she caressed his long neck fondly and it helped calm her. Turning Grim Venus into a lance, "We strike to end the witch that has been assaulting our lands, poisoning our people, and trying to take our happiness! Do not hesitate, do not hold back, she surely will not!"

Her warriors cried out in unison in victory! There would be no retreat, no surrender, and no quarter given. Before them was the last but sadly the best of Werbellia's defenders. Over the months of searching many smaller tribes of cultist, monster dens, and other heretical gathering had been found and destroyed on the hunt for this place. During that time, Shinji had two assassination attempts that would have succeeded if he were lacking his healing powers. What got the biggest rise out of them happened two weeks ago…a kidnapping attempt. One of the King's Women had been tempted and fell to Werbellia's promises. Misato 'bugged' the woman and let her escape after a fake battle. The 'tracker' led them to this location, and sadly the woman's body. Werbellia did not reward such failure it seemed.

"We're going in, so if you're not in position you're going to go wanting, honey. Going to do without the foreplay today and go right for the climax," Echidna's voice crackled over the walkie-talkie. Something about that woman had changed over the last few months, then again Annelotte never knew Echidna other than stories from others. But like all of them, Yuit included, she was beset, molested, and teased by the woman. Only with that woman that stayed with her and Shinji did anything seem to not be a game. Oddly though, the snake enthusiast seemed to be putting on a little weight…right in the belly. Annelotte, shamefully to herself, was too afraid to ask the question everybody was wondering.

Her armor starting to vibrate and glow, Mirim was oddly the first to let out the rallying cry, "To victory!" And she started running, splashing all the way, until she fell face first into the mud. Thankfully the newest angel to join Annelotte's crew, a subordinate to Lady Ayanami, picked up and helped clean the woman, Laila was a very odd duck, but in her innocence and slight denseness was quite endearing. "Thanks, Laila," Mirim moaned out with a few tears in her eyes. Angels, Annelotte thanked, her sisters were all such caring and gentle souls. Souls she would protect!

"To battle!" she joined in Mirim's cry and willed her spectral horse into a gallop towards the huts. Grim Venus tore into the wooden spiked barricades and other defenses as if they were the finest silk, and cleared the way for her sisters to follow! Before her was the earthen mound that Lady Rei examined and found had two entrances, hence the two pronged attack, they would not let Werbellia escape this time! As expected, the area was swarmed with all manner of degeneracy that allied with the Witch for whatever reason. While she had always wished to avoid killing when possible, such was not to be allowed here. "Flee if you wish to live another day! If you leave now we will not kill you, but stay and your lives are forfeit!" she at least gave them the option.

From burrows Lizard men came along with orcs, thatch huts were emptied and men and women covered in filth joined them, and out of the marsh itself skeletal bodies (some with flesh still on their bones) stood up. A few did escape into from the battle, but not many, not yet. So be it, the offer had been given. With a fierce warcry, Annelotte charged through and into the throng. Venus knocked several of the lizard men back, chests caved in from the force, and they knocked others over. Using her shield she batted away a tossed net, and bounced that Lizard in the face with her lance and it dropped.

"See what the great Yuit has created and despair! Vante range mode go!" Yuit cackled madly in joy. Riding atop her golem, that gentle smile on Vante's face never faded, Yuit was devoid of any of the sludge the rest were slopped in. Twin barrels erupted from each of Vante's arms, complements of Shinji's technological advancements and Yuit's skill at manipulating it, and the sound was thunderous. Magical bolts rifled down the armaments and unleashed devastation on a group of men and women. Calling out as she was oft to, "Do you see this Onii-san! Do you see what we can do now?"

Leaping from the ground, onto Vante's back and kicking mud all over Yuit, Shizuka ruffled the girl's hair as she deflected an arrow that would have clipped Yuit's throat. "Aren't you just the most precious little child ever? You don't brag during battle, you do that AFTER battle in the arms of your lover. Then again you don't have one, do you?" Shizuka teased. Kicking at a skeleton that got close, she knocked its head off with a quick slash. Kissing Yuit's cheek, "Though I bet that 'onii-chan' of your would give it to you if you asked, wouldn't you Anna-chan?" Shizuka didn't stop for a response, she dove off Vante and took off towards a group of chanting people.

"We have these manlings, y-you go on miss Annelotte! But don't forget to tell Lady Rei how I helped you. If I do good enough I'll be her pupil and that would mean…" Laila took up Vante's other shoulder. Using her 'Divine Punishment' she took potshots at any creature that got close to Yuit or her. They were establishing quite the nice perimeter. Aldra joined them with her little summons literally eating some of them that got close, or were burnt by the acid she kept throwing.

Dodging past man, beast, and abomination, Sigui's habit was cut and fell off leaving her hair exposed to the elements. Once she had gotten to a nice place, right in the thick of the undead, "Holy Pose: Banishment!" she dropped to her knees, grabbed at her chest and threw her head back in ecstasy. Such an embarrassing move, Annelotte was glad she wasn't doing the poses. Oh she could, and Lady Ayanami was quite insistent that Melpha, Sigui, Shinji, Laila, and her train together in them. It was very hard to focus on that task when Shinji was with them…but it did make for some very enjoyable post workout bouts of lovemaking. From Sigui's position, a warbling ball of light unevenly worked out from her…Sigui had done the move to fast and it wasn't perfect, but the pose did eradicate the undead.

"Focus onii-san, we still have these lizard men to deal with, and with the rumblings I'm betting something else wants to play," Luna-Luna's tendrils spun around Annelotte protectively. She cut three lizard men across the waist and one was bisected. Grabbing at Annelotte's bust, Luna-Luna had to play as she danced her ruinous dance. Hips swayed, hands waved about sensuously, and her tendrils just unleashed. Oh Luna-Luna got their attention, Lizard Men were drawn to the dance and right into the bladed onslaught. Kissing Annelotte's cheek, "Keep me covered and I can do a special dance…the antithesis of the dance Sage and I did on our little vacation last month."

How could Luna-Luna be so amorous in this sea of nightmare and death? Annelotte was amazed by that, and matched her foe for foe. But it was starting to become harder and harder and the Lizard Men weren't slowing down or their numbers ending! A cut here, a bruise there, Annelotte was not winning without taking some punishment. "I'll keep them off of you, but please, make it fast," Annelotte pleaded as she jabbed Venus, now in sword form, into one of their chests. No longer on her horse, it was too hard to defend on it, she stood between Luna-Luna and the throng.

Dodging a trident thrust to the face, Annelotte cast her eyes skyward and saw a very unwelcome sight, but not unexpected. Captain Lilianna's ship hung over their destination, yet nobody left it, and the cannons were silent. Batting away to trident, she missed seeing the foe to her side and felt the blinding pain of her side being grazed and her clothing now in tatters. "Have at me then! You will not win, you will not have us in your dens!" Annelotte cut the offending Lizard's arm off. Keeping their attention on her, the wound made them flock to her, injured prey was easier to deal with. But as long as the small infiltration troupe kept the ship from acting they just might win this!

"That's good enough my Knight, and I'll kiss it and make it better after this is all over…I'll kiss you all over," Luna-Luna teased after her prep work was done. One tendril knocked Annelotte out of the way and into the mud, and Luna-Luna performed a dance Annelotte never saw before. It was equal parts savage and ugly as it was beautiful and elegant. All the lizards were petrified by the sight of it, hands opened and weapons fell from their hand to the ground. Eyes went wide, their chests started to puff out larger and larger, then their mouths hung open with drool started to flow. That was when the first grabbed at his throat, grabbed at its chest, and when Luna-Luna's top fluttered open…they dropped to the ground. In droves they fell, each grabbing their chest and sporting a disgusting barbed phallus standing proudly. After they were all downed, Luna-Luna stopped, covered her chest, and fell to her knees, "Dance…of death…takes a lot out of me." She clung to Annelotte in equal measures groping and necessity.

Hoisting Luna-Luna up, trying not to show the pain of having a tendril wrap around her wound, Annelotte started towards her friend, allies, and sisters. Complete annihilation was what she saw. Sigui was covered in sweat and tiny cuts, most of her clothing in tatters, hobbled over to them. Yuit flew Vante over was covered in mud and a massive black eye, and Vante was just as topless as Luna-Luna now while Laila was covered in mud and Holy Milk from her discharged rounds while Aldra was smiling and untouched. Lastly was Shizuka who had a nasty gash down her arm but a gleam in her eye that promised she paid back her opponents. What they hadn't killed had fled, but it wasn't without cost. They were hurt, they were tired, and they were just starting.

"What was with that dance, next time why don't you open with that?" Shizuka pulled out a cask of Holy Milk. Applying a frugal amount to her wounds, they had to make it last, Shizuka hissed as she slapped the injury. "OH Love is going to have to give me a good long petting after this. If you do good enough I might let you watch or listen," she winked at Luna-Luna.

Rubbing her belly, Luna-Luna clicked her tongue, "Like I said, it was the antithesis of what the dance I did when we went to visit my village. It was the Dance of Death. And you'll get a petting if you beat me to him. I can't get MORE pregnant, and with how many are going to want to dance with my sage…he'll not have Holy Milk by the end, and it would be a shame to waste it." The woman all gasped, and Annelotte couldn't help herself and caressed Luna-Luna's stomach. Holding Annelotte's hand to it, "Yup, the new elder is right here, well eventually. And my dance did teach me something, Sage is also Berserker, my dance worked better than expected. Thinking my tribe will have a swell of members thanks to that, betting he could even give YOU your fill…he gave me mine."

Shizuka just laughed at that and sheathed her blade, while the others circled around Luna-Luna. Annelotte didn't know what to say or do, so she touched her own stomach…a child? Did she want a child? Yes, with the world becoming more peaceful, the changes they were bringing meant warriors such as themselves weren't going to be needed much longer. And to have a child with her beloved squire…maybe she WOULD seek him out later rather than sooner if Luna-Luna was right. But that was for AFTER the fight, and the path was open, they had to move. Casting the flying ship another worrisome glance, she hoped those up there were doing well.

X-X

Waiting a good distance away from the two attack groups, Tiina held the small plastic device gingerly. Listening to both side say they were going in, she fidgeted and about took off to join them but a hand clamped down on her shoulder. Right, right she was part of the infiltration team going after Liliana if she ever showed up. She would, the undead captain had been seen in this area enough to prove that. So she'd have to wait and worry. Guppy was out there, fighting without her, her husband was fighting without her at his side!

"Tiina-san, I know how you feel. But we have to see to the task that has been assigned to us," Tomoe attempted to reassure. A quick look at the miko was enough to prove she was just as anxious. Her hand gripped the sheath of her weapon so tightly the already pale hand was nearly transparent. Wards were affixed to her sash for quick and easy grabbing if and when they would be needed. Eyes trained on the sky, Tomoe puffed out her chest as she inhaled deeply, "Leina-chan will keep him safe, just like we will keep that one safe." She pointed at Melpha who was softly talking with the angel Rei.

Grumbling and kicking more swamp muck off her legs, Tarnyang hoisted her sister higher up her back, "I hate swamps! I hate mud! And I hate these blasted insects! I've lost so much blood my sister's beloved will have to heal me just to get it back!" The elder Shai-Fang sister had done little but complain since they hunkered down to wait. Listening to her sister whisper in her ear, Tarnyang laughed loudly, "Oh he's more than that now? Well it's not as if I don't feel your feelings, or did you forget about our Ryu-Rin-Ren."

"Agreed, this is not a place fitting for a queen. And yet Werbellia is trying to turn my beloved desert into this abysmal drench," Menace sneered at the land. Keeping off the ground using her bandages, she kept close to Tiina. Waving the gagged Setora about, the cat statue's eyes had been updated to include tears at his new status of being observer, Menace was not the happy camper she oft was. Rubbing her hands over Tiina's shoulder, getting them wet, Menace cleaned some of the mud off her legs, "My right hand is going to have to massage me for a good long time to get the stench of this land off me."

Shadow fighting, Izumi jumped and splashed her allies without much care, "My first real fight as the emissary of Hinomoto to the capital, I can't wait! He'll be so impressed with my skill, just you watch! Get out her you pirate so the great War God can cast you down!" Izumi pranced about showing little of the fear the others had, openly anyway.

Flying over to the group, carrying Melpha around the waist, Rei's wide wings glimmered in stark contrast to the gloomy atmosphere. Hoisting Melpha up just enough, and in such a way the woman's top tore, Rei waved them all in closer with her wings. "I am sensing a building energy in the sky, Tomoe-kun do you as well? Likely it is our target. I will carry Melpha up while Izumi holds onto my leg, Tiina-kun you are responsible for the rest. We enter the ship, prevent the cannons from firing, and capture or kill Liliana. If we fail, both of the assault groups will fail, we will fail. That is not possible," Rei was urgent if not almost worried.

"I will…use the Holy poses to grant us a boon, and help heal when I can. If there are as many soldiers up there as when you were up before…I can even banish them. Just-just don't look to deeply into the poses please," Melpha blushed as Rei unintentionally fondled her. Woman's chest was the easiest thing to grab, and Rei's hands sank deeply into the mounds. As her hand went to her mouth to stifle a moan, they all saw the band of pure silver glisten on her finger, the lone piece of actual 'non-sanctified' jewelry she wore. A wedding band, some looked on in envy(Izumi) others in camaraderie (Tiina/Menace), or hope (Sainyang).

Tugging on her own proof of partnership, a wrist bangle her mothers' crafted from sacred stones and marked with magic runes, Tiina psychically called out to her servant/husband. He was fighting, mind troubled, so she didn't use their new bond to talk to him mentally. The three bands that linked Menace, Shinji, and her in union in this life and the next allowed the three to hear and speak to one another mentally. Menace heard the call from Tiina and ran a comforting hand down her arm…but before any words could be said, they all saw it. Appearing above swamp, flying a quarter mile up, the galleon slowly started to manifest. It was time to start this.

"Remember mummy, if you can exert more power than that captain when we get to her, you can take control of her forces," Tarnyang rushed over to Menace. Grabbing onto one of the Desert Queen's bandages, she wrapped it around her arm and grabbed on tight. "Now you hold on dear sister or I'll have to explain to your Airen why you didn't participate in the battle," she goaded and teased her sister.

Everybody took positions quickly at that little comment. Fun time was over for now, thoughts about her Guppy would have to wait until after they were finished. The months of time with him, nearing a year now, had done much to bolster Tiina's courage, but this wasn't a one on one fight, this wasn't some lesser man or woman that could easily be bested, this was different. Grabbing Menace's arms as Tomoe took the other bandage, they all nodded and voiced their state of readiness (save for Sainyang who just nodded), and the eight infiltrator's took to the sky.

Heavy, they were heavy, but Tiina could handle the weight! Turning her legs back into her tail she flew through the cloudy sky towards the rotting ship. If only they were close to the ocean she'd just have her friend the kraken sink it again, but such wasn't an option. Hearing Melpha doing one of her Holy poses, Tiina felt her strength double and she increased her speed. Getting along side of the ship, she moved out of the way so Izumi could smash a hole in the side and they all flew in. So far so good, no sounds of cannon fire, or Liliana challenging the ground forces.

"Tarnyang-san, do you recognize this place? You two are the only ones to have been on this ship before," Tomoe had unsheathed her weapon already. A blue burning talisman was at the ready and ridged in her hand. The sounds of feet on wood echoed around them, they'd have company soon. "Melpha-san, please stay near either myself or Ayanami-san," the miko floated down the hallway towards a doorway.

Reforming her legs, Tiina had her water-ball grow in size to about two feet in diameter, "It smells horrid here. This isn't the natural smell of a rotten ship." She would know since she played a lot in such ships as a child. Those had been her first taste of the land and its wonders, this was a mockery of that. Moving forward, Tiina yelped out in surprise as something wrapped around her wrist tight and hard, a hand, small and warm, finding Sainyang holding her hand, "Y-yes little one? What can I do for…"

"Don't let her size trick you again, she's only a few minutes younger than me. She's just small. I want you to watch her while things get hectic. Fitting we have my little money makers women keep an eye out for one another," Tarnyang started laughing as she ran off after Tomoe.

Laughing at Tiina's frustration, Menace slapped her on the back and waggled a finger, "Remember we spent a week in your kingdom, we spend a month in Amara after this is over. My kingdom is rife with new life and they want to see its queen's and servant again." With a nod, Menace and Tiina both took off running less they get left behind. Behind them came the remainder, the spiritually attuned warriors (and Tiina suspected those thought to be either dubious or weak) spilled into the ship proper.

"Fresh meat again men! The captain will reward us for their heads!" a skeleton warrior cackled out. Their pathway lead them to an open galley that had two floors that lead up to the deck of the ship through an opening. "Leave the fish to me though, been a long time since I gutted me one of their kind!" it yelled out again and leapt from the mid-level to the lower that Tiina was on.

From doorways and corridors they flooded the storage bay, if they were men or women it was only determined when they spoke. Flesh clung to a few, but most were just bones with armor and chipped and broken gear. Tomoe was already on the mid-level tossing wards and batting around the few that got to her, but their number was endless.

Crawling up behind Tomoe, nowhere near as skilled or acrobatic, Izumi kicked her foot through the wood and stabbed in with her sword to make a ladder up. "I'll show you Tomoe-sama that I'm on the same level as you!" the bold claim fell on deaf ears. Not only did Tiina have to throw her waterball to knock back an approaching skeleton, but Ayanami intercepted several well placed arrows. Izumi was not scoring many points so far.

"This is chaos, madness," Tiina cried a little as her fear started to gain on her. Using her tail to swat at the approaching minions, they got in cuts and slashed along her scales. Her hide was tough and durable, but those rusty blades were enchanted it seemed and cut more often than they should. When given the option she hurled her waterball at them and that cleared a path for Menace to charge.

A mixture of bandages, her stylized martial arts, and a screaming Setora ground bones to dust and yet Menace was not satisfied. "Nobody touches my co-Queen but my servant or me! Where is this so called captain who fears my wrath? If she doesn't show, I claim this barge as my own in the glorious name of Amara! And you as all my servants!" Setora screamed out in panic as Menace slammed him down and put a massive hole in the ship.

"Less talking, more fighting! Sainyang, we need some aid. You and that tit-monster do your thing!" Tarnyang was sporting a lovely red line down her arm. They were all far superior to the skeleton crew, but when the skeletons simple got back up after each defeat with no loss of energy they were all being whittled down. A cut here, a bruise there, it added up and there still was no end in sight.

Laughing, the lead skeleton marched behind the defensive line of his men. "Lilianna isn't the captain anymore! I am! She is just here to serve us. Ever since her heart started working again, she's just been a meat sack that we use to stay in this world to serve the glorious Werbellia! Ain't that right crew! Now kill them so we might have a feast tonight! You four go get the net caster and the mounted crossbows! Let's see how if we can capture the nun and the child alive! Get some bounty from those two I recon!" he cackled as he ordered the crew about.

"I shall not be a weight upon my friends and allies. I may not be as strong or as fast as them, nor as courageous, but my faith is pure and I shall not allow such abominations as you to spread your evil!" Melpha shouted. Shoving a skeleton away from her, her mace embedded in its waist, Melpha's bodice was torn, her sacred adornments in tatters, and her hair disheveled and caked on with blood. At her sister's call, Rei flew in and in a massive spin with outstretched wings cleared a circle for Melpha. Dropping to her back, Melpha stuck on leg straight up and her left went horizontal, and her hands smushed her chest together, "Sacred Pose: Annihilation"

Tiina stood in awe as she watched Melpha's defiant act. Nobody said it, but all did have that sense about the woman. Melpha was a darling woman. Caring, loving, and peaceful to a fault…but she wasn't a fighter. So to keep the woman safe they always watched out for her and kept her in the rear. Ayanami defended Melpha so vibrantly it was as if the angel was the priestess's servant instead. But in this moment, the golden light radiating out of the perverse pose she was in, Tiina stood mesmerized at the power and glory radiating out of the woman. It hit them all in a massive wave, only the living weren't phased by the impact, they were healed.

"Think you could have toned that down a little!" Izumi screamed out. As not only the skeletal forces were obliterated the very boat itself started to break and fall apart. Jumping from broken plank to plank, Izumi tried to stay on the boat proper as the sides fell away and the ground peaked through. Dashing over to Rei, "Angel lady, you're willing to fly us back down right? I think we're done here." Oh how that poise and sense of pride faded when the drop came into view.

Scooping up Sainyang, Tiina heard the faintest of thank you, she thought, from the girl as she flew over to Tarnyang. "We don't have much time left. This place is falling apart, and we must see to Liliana if she does life. A victim is a victim regardless of their past," Tiina handed the smaller girl to her sister.

"Agreed. Young Ayanami, could you take who you can down to the ground while Tiina-san and I hunt for the ex-leader? It would be a shame to let her go. She may hold some information that might prove vital," Tomoe asked before vaulting up through the hole in the deck to the upper level.

Gathering the tired and panting Melpha in both arms, holding her like a bride, Rei nodded. "I shall see them to the ground," Rei said before fixing Melpha's hair, "You over did yourself my vassal. Such a pose will leave you weak. Any other holy woman, save Shinji, would have died. I will not lose either of you, not now." Pressing her forehead to the sleeping Melpha, Rei stunned those that saw it with a rare showing of pure unabashed emotion. Taking to the sky, she let the Shai-Fang sisters and Izumi grab onto a leg as the wood continued to break and fall. "Stay safe," was all Rei said to the remaining three as she flew down.

"Say what you will about the angels, that one I will accept," Menace admitted before leaping after Tomoe. Menace didn't show appreciation for others much, but when she did, it was on her own terms.

Flying after the pair, dodging planks as she did, Tiina felt the rush leaving her. They would have failed if it wasn't for Sainyang's wards and Melpha's poses, but those two would have died without the defense the others provided. A true group win, but oh how tired Tiina felt after it all. The adrenaline was leaving her, and her tail felt like it was coated in lead. Following the destroyed doors (Menace), and the flaming wards (Tomoe) Tiina found the pair in the captain's quarters. Not a pretty sight. Naked as the day she was born, Liliana was bound to the wall by her ankles and wrists, cuts up and down her haggard body. But it was a body that drew breath.

"My servant did it again…brought undead to life, only she chose her subjects poorly," Menace smashed the manacles as Tomoe caught the falling woman. Liliana tried to talk, but nothing came out but a garbled cry of gratitude before she fell asleep.

Absently Tiina grabbed the captains hat and a book hidden inside it, "Come let us leave before this all falls apart around us." Tiina reached out and took the body of the captain into her arms much as Rei had done Melpha and let the others grab her. Their part of this battle was over. As Tiina flew down she saw a devastation landscape but none of her friends. They had moved into the caves, and they were down a healer and had a woman to tend to…all Tiina could do now was pray.

X-X

Alleyne didn't think this assault would have been easy, but the resistance they were feeling was far beyond what even she anticipated. The forces outside the cave were bad, what was waiting for them inside was far worse. Traps, ogres, more cultists, and a maze of twisting and labyrinthine corridors was what was between Werbellia and them. They hadn't even seen the dragon yet or anything that might be a 'general' of sorts among the troops. Thankfully Shinji was able to keep them bolstered and heal up any injury they suffered, but a few of the traps targeted him specifically.

"How are you feeling, husband, ready to push on or should we wait a bit longer?" Alleyne asked. Sitting at his side atop an overturned barrel, she gently rubbed his back. The last trap had been felt only by him, it played on the remnant of Werbellia's curse inside him and brought him coughing blood and wracked with pain. It was Risty that found the totem that was the cause, and Branwen shattered it, but the damage was done. Hoping the others would support her on prolonging the break, "We've made good progress, and the last word from Annelotte's forces was good as well. We can take a moment."

Standing up defiantly, Shinji was pale and covered in dark blood, "No, I'm good to push on further. I'll be better in a few minutes so no reason to hold up. S-sooner we find her the sooner we can get out of here." His words would have held more merit had he not then pitched forward and would have fallen to the ground had Claudette now caught him. How small he looked next to the gargantuan woman, and how tenderly she appeared when she thought nobody noticed her feelings.

"We're…a locked door…Lil' Yuit is…break it…opefully no cave…" Aldra's voice cracked over the walkie-talkie. More locked doors by the sound of it. The cave structure was bare rock floors mostly, some places of mud and water, yet a series of heavy doors kept proving bottle necks. It was Leina that kicked in their last such barrier, yet the destroyed doors always left the cave shambling and the fear of a cave-in constant.

Shaking the dust off her hair, and out of her eye, Leina put the walkie back at her side next to the twin braid of hair. "Sounds like they're going to be holed up a bit longer, are you sure you don't want to wait a little longer, Shinji? Starting to worry this is a trap and we should abort. If we get to the heart of this cave and all the exits get sealed we'll win yet lose at the same time," Leina was never far from Shinji's side.

"You have a point, but…" Shinji was wanting to go but a chink was found in his mental armor. Leina's fear, a shared fear, was mimicked by him as well. Putting them in danger left her husband's mind in fear. Something they could work with to keep him seated and heal himself a bit more.

Coming out of one of the smaller side caves that served as living quarters for the dead ogre that stank up the place, Nowa smiled wildly. "It had fruit! Can you believe it! Shin-Shin did you want some? He has bananas and apples?" Nowa held out a burlap sack half filled with what looked like fresh fruit.

"Nowa you can't possibly think of eating that. Anything in this cave has the mark of the Swamp Witch, so it's likely poisoned," Alleyne warned. Nothing had been fresh for the five miles approaching this swamp, what hope did they have of Nowa's boon being true. Her co-wife however did just have such positivity that it was infectious. Turning to Shinji, who clung to his staff as he tried to bravely walk forward with some color returning to him, "What say you? Not good right?" He was more versed in 'bacteria', 'viruses', and other odd things.

Taking an apple, Shinji cleaned it a little as the women crowded in closer to him, waiting. "It doesn't feel bad, but you might be right," Shinji reluctantly took a bite of the fruit. The reaction was instant, he dropped it, and fell to his knees again covering his mouth. Shoving his fingers down his throat, a vain attempt to get it out, Shinji quickly fell onto his back and convulsed.

"Master, why do such if you suspected!" Branwen cried out. Grabbing the man, she held him as his body bucked against her. Catching his flailing arms, she kicked the bag of fruit over and it spilled to the ground. It was obvious why he did it, because he knew he could survive if it was a trap. If it wasn't, he'd have given them all the rest as a small reward. Once he started calming, "You are taxing yourself far to much. I am starting to agree with Leina Vance. We should leave and use that staff of yours to seal the entrances. She might astral project, but she'd physically be trapped here."

Picking up his staff, Risty handed it to Alleyne before smacking Shinji lightly on the side of the head. "Guess you don't get a choice in it now. We stay here a little longer, unless you plan to crawl behind us. I know I said I was hungry," her stomach rumbled and was chorused by a few others shamefully, "but to do that to try and get us a little fruit? Hun, I love you but you're going to put me in an early grave from fear."

Nodding, Alleyne understood exactly that feeling Risty was conveying if only not as brutishly. "Sit here and drink some water, that sleeve should still have at least half its contents," Alleyne hoped at least. This battle was going on far longer than expected, over half a day of constant fighting and stress was taking its toll on all of them. They had no food stock with them, it was hidden at the edge of the swamp, so hunger was starting to become an issue. Sensing movement from one of the three tunnels leaving the ogre den, "Irma what are you doing?"

"Echidna is gone! She's went down one of these tunnels, she's not responding to my calls and I think I heard her cry out," Irma paced back and forth in front of the pathways. Irma had been a very strange woman from what Alleyne saw, she seemed to hate Echidna and Shinji while tolerate the others. Irma had rejoined the Fang under the new twin-leaders, did a good job, and her cat sanctuary was actually quite darling. Right now however, true colors revealed, Irma was alternating between her two true passions. "S-Shinji…may I go look for her? After her, you are the only one I have. And she is…" whatever she was going to say she stopped.

Gesturing Nowa to her side, Alleyne tossed Shinji her beloved hat. "Sit here, we'll find the wild elf. Irma you take the left passage, Nowa and I will take the right, and Leina and Risty can take the center. You three stay here and protect our rear," Alleyne was tempted to throw back Shinji's staff. But the look he gave her, he wanted her to keep it. As for Claudette and Branwen, they'd not have left his side even if ordered. They were the fiercest of body guards and would surely die for him if necessary. Taking a moment to go over to her husband, Alleyne caressed his cheek, "We will be right back. Then we will move on."

With a nod, the group split up and tore off down their own corridors, Nowa kept close but not so much as to hinder fast movement. Something vaguely familiar about this situation started to dawn on Alleyne. Gripping Shinji's staff tighter, she was going to use his weapon instead of her own. A dirt cave, three pathways, a missing person…wasn't this how Shinji's capture ended all those years ago? Had they seen Melona lately or was she already among them? "Nowa," she gasped out as she ran, "What were you doing with our husband when you went out to the city?" Shinji had told her already, but if this wasn't really Nowa…

"C-Captain you said not to talk about things like that in public," Nowa's face went full red. Lou clung tenaciously to her longer hair, but he nearly fell a few times thanks to the speed and uneven ground.

Hating the unearthly purple flames that lined the tunnel, they flickered in their direction indicating a larger room ahead, Alleyne slowed. "In public yes, but we are in private and are co-wives. I have not had as much time with husband as I would wish. So if you have a suggestions on ways to spend a good evening," Alleyne rolled her free hand over hoping Nowa would answer. It had been a very sweet and private affair between her beloved Nowa and her husband, but if this 'Nowa' didn't know it…was the real Nowa unconscious in that hut with the fruit?

Her running stalled and Nowa fidgeted with her staff. Twirling her staff with one hand, and covering her mouth with the other, Nowa's bum wiggled. "W-well if you HAVE to know…we-we went to Irma's cat shelter first. You should have seen the kittens! They were so cute. Then we went for a nice walk through one of the new gardens, we sparred a little. After that we went to Nyx's small café…shame she didn't come with us her. They both cooked for me, and well…she let us use her office to-to…do I have to tell you captain?" Nowa was now near frantic.

"No, that is more than enough, Nowa. Just wanted to make sure he's treating you well," Alleyne felt shamed. Not only did she doubt Nowa she slandered Shinji to cover it up. But when she started to think, Melona had to be somewhere right? A shrill scream that was quickly muffled got Alleyne and Nowa to move again. It was Echidna, Alleyne knew that instantly. Flinching her head to the left, Alleyne got to the right, "We rush in and we attack as in unison. On three….one…two…"

The rushed in, they did not attack, they both skidded to a halt eyes opened wide in disgust and horror. Legs confined in a hardened bit of slime, same with the arms stretched up to the ceiling, Echidna was a roadmap of small cuts across her totally naked body. Before her Melona tittered as she slashed and poked at her. "So why do you keep twisting that belly away from me, snake? Something in there you want to protect? I can smell it on you. So why don't you tell our new guests?" Melona swiped at the two new additions forcing them to dodge away.

"Virgin, Nowa what are you doing here, where is Puppy?" Echidna squirmed against her confines. Up to her knees and down to her elbows the encasing slime kept her in place. And it was as Melona said, cuts and gashes riddled her body with the sole exception being her belly. A tendril of slime went down Echidna's throat violently, a parody of the act Alleyne found she quite enjoyed performing on her husband when emotions flared.

Waggling her finger before the suffocating Echidna, Melona laughed joyously, "Not what I told you to say was it? I waited so long for you to come here, to bring my pet back to me, I have to make this worth it! And if I'm right, it will be perfect!" Jets of slime poured out of Melona's back and kept Alleyne and Nowa on the defensive and unable to close in. Making a long gouge down Echidna's side, thin enough to hurt but not deep enough to kill, "Now tell them or I'll go in from the other end."

"She is with child," Alleyne saw the small bump on Echidna's stomach. And in that moment so many things made sense that she hadn't anticipated. Echidna's change in armor, her stopping drinking, and her even more affectionate nature towards Shinji. Somehow Echidna had gotten pregnant and was keeping it a secret from Shinji.

Batting away a stray tendril, Nowa chucked a few heavy rocks at the slime that sadly passed through the beast without hesitation. "She can't be! She'd be…bigger wouldn't she? I thought your belly got really big when you had a baby in it. That monster is just trick us," Nowa tried getting closer but stopped when both Melona and Echidna acted.

"STOP!" Echinda screamed as Melona put her dagger like fingers right over her belly, "I am…I am. I worked Puppy dry after we reunited. Was going to shock him with it, he's so worried and…and…then he said I'd be a good mother." Squirm as she might, this time Melona kept her in place and those daggers right above the worst spot possible.

Getting to Nowa's side, Alleyne felt her body starting to go numb. The fighters high was coming back, the fear of death leaving her as she gripped Shinji's staff and readied herself. "Elves take longer to give birth Nowa. With our longer lives we let our children grow slower to make sure they aren't born with any issues. She's, if telling the truth, only about half way through," Alleyne and Echidna's eyes met. This woman had antagonized her for decades, beat her best trained warriors, and now was the first to be with child with the man they all loved. Despite all that, not even for a moment did Alleyne not want to free the woman now.

"Put down your weapons, and maybe I won't spear her right now," Melona gave herself a little grope. OH how those flowered irises were spinning in delight and mirth. Batting them away once the staffs were on the ground. Firing a few gouts of acid to cut off the pair, Melona was reveling in this. Giggling, "Oh how I love you fools. You actually believed me?"

Alleyne's mouth opened wide but it was Echidna's resounding, "NO" that filled the cave. Melona's fingers dove into Echidna's belly carefully and with purposes. A wet sucking slump sound and Nowa and Alleyne watched in terror and disgust as a small bundle was torn out from the wound.

"Lookie lookie it's a boy! Well…it was a boy," Melona mocked as she showed off the baby. Then it started to dissolve and vanished within the folds of Melona's body. Smacking her lips, Melona's bunny ears twitched in rapid fashion, "Oh it was delicious! Dark meat mixed with my pets. Don't worry you'll join him soon."

Snapped out of her horror, Alleyne dove at Shinji's staff and chucked it at Echidna's hand. The massive weapon seemed to curve in the air, against Alleyne's throw and smashed the twin pillars keeping Echidna's arms in place. A moment later she had used the staff to free her legs. "My child! OUR CHILD! The only…good thing I've ever created…and you…and you…YOU!" Echidna cried out.

Alleyne rushed to Nowa and they stood at the front of the cavern. "You cannot escape us this time, death is not enough for what you've done," Alleyne grabbed her own staff and stood her ground.

"It doesn't matter, I've won! You can never have it back, you ca…" Melona was cut short. Any further thought was smashed out of the slime. This wasn't the same as Shinji's rage attack on the slime those years ago, this was a skilled warrior applying centuries of the art of fighting using the most vicious of weapon to apply the most pain possible.

But what kept Alleyne and Nowa from joining in the massacre was Echidna's fierceness and sobbing. Never had the Wild Elf showed such a raw showing of emotion. "You took it from me! You took our son! My proof…my proof that I'm not just…that even I'm capable of…" she fell upon the slime after Melona lost shape. Grabbing the quickly evaporating bits, she punched her fist against it harder and harder. After Melona was gone, Echidna pounced on Alleyne, grabbing the woman's throat and her face was pure unhinged madness, "If you tell him what happened here…if he ever learns of this…I will kill you and her. He must never know…ever." Her finger was a dagger pointing at Nowa's neck.

Jutting her hands upward through Echidna's, Alleyne knocked the Wild Elf off of her and coughed hoarsely, "I swear." And she meant it. Even she felt the profound sadness of what just happened. For ten minutes they just lay there, Alleyne handing Echidna a vile of Holy Milk and watched how Echidna left the scar behind, a memory of what could have been. Once Echidna looked passable, they rejoined the troupe and let Echidna lie about a troll they fought, but she couldn't look at Shinji during it. Then the others confessed to finding another door, much larger than the others. They were nearing the end of this nightmare.

X-X

With his staff back in his hands, Shinji was having to shift his body from time to time to hide his growing problem. This was what fighting Werbellia was expected to be like, an uphill exhausting nightmare full of enemies and traps. The casks of Holy Milk they brought had been depleted so he took up the mantle of healer full bore instead of trying to help fight. Problem was the totems they found reacted to his powers, caused him immense pain whenever he used them, but he couldn't stop. Soon, soon this ordeal would be over and they could relax.

"Are you sure it was a good idea for Echidna to go check on Tomoe's group?" Leina asked. Helping Shinji walk, nobody spoke about his worsening condition, they kept their eyes out for more of those totems.

Smashing yet another of the small wooden effigies that pulsated dark energies, Risty spat on remains. Flinching her head hard enough to send her hair over her shoulder, "You heard the walkie-talkie, they're hurt and have that captain captive. And after fighting a troll, you have to admit even the snake looked ready to break." They walked in pairs, each looking to one side of the gradually widening hallway, on the ready for an ambush or trick, but things were oddly still. Trying to lighten the oppressive mood, "So you going to visit the orphanage, the kids want to meet you. And they want you to talk to that tiny elf about making school more fun."

"It doesn't get fun until you start to find things you like learning," Shinji joked and laughed just a smidge. School never was the more enjoyable thing for him, but he accepted it as a necessity in his world. Ages ago, when he first came to this world, he understood WHY they had it. Knowledge was power, the upper class wanted the lower stupid and easy to control. Shinji was hoping to break that control, to get everybody on equal footing. It was impossible, but he could try to tip the balance at least a little. Feeling Leina's hand around his waist, he grabbed it and held it, "You're wanting to visit Hinomoto with Tomoe-san aren't you.

Using her free hand to stroke the braid at her side, how she kept that token so well cared for warmed Shinji's heart, she nodded. "Things between us have...well you know what they are like. I want all of us to go. And I was thinking, with how they're making embassies in our capital, why don't we make some in other countries? That way you can come with us!" Leina proved again to not just be a skilled fighter but quite intelligent. And she was right about Shinji's knowledge of how close Tomoe and Leina had gotten. Their time together was nearly always the three of them now, both out on the town and in the bed chamber.

"We have a big chamber ahead, I fear it is likely where the dragon is husband," Alleyne said as she and Nowa rushed back to the group. As the stealthiest of the group, the elf and half-elf had taken to making trips forward to scout. Taking the offered water sleeve, the rubber starting to flake with age, Alleyne drank little and forced Nowa to drain the remains. Reluctantly she showed Shinji a deep slash along her hip, it was red lined and the veins could be seen darkening...poison. "An arrow trap, I was distracted," Alleyne looked more ashamed of her actions than being hit.

Instantly getting on his knees, Alleyne's hide quarters filled his vision, still beautiful despite the injury, Shinji put his hands on it. Hearing a few off laughs from the others, "W-what if I don't cure the poison it'd..." They were teasing him again! These women would never give him a moments rest, not that he minded or even wanted one. But if somebody got some sugar, he could see the eyes of the others start to fill with wanting as well. Only feeling a small bout of pain, "We either missed a totem or one is in that room ahead, not so bad." They all noticed his wince, so why hide it.

"No fair, Captain gets some treatment...maybe I should have gone first," Nowa pouted cutely. Damn half-elf was just so darling Shinji couldn't help himself and he repeated the little act on his second elfin wife. Not like his powers had a limited usage, and Nowa never asked for anything...none of these women asked for anything. So Shinji spoiled them as best he could with what he could. Throwing her arms around his neck, Nowa rubbed her cheek against his, "Yeah! Now we're even again."

Pulling Nowa off Shinji, Branwen shook her finger at the girl, "Their will be time for that later. We must stay on guard though. We haven't seen the slime yet, and you know she is an ally of the Witch. Keep on your guards for anybody new, if just one of Sister's group shows up, or we find a victim, we may have a snake in the grass." Branwen's chain clattered as she kept moving in pace with the others, it tore a small rivet in the muddy ground but she refused to take it off.

"Agreed, Melona has to be here somewhere. I hate to be this way, but she's smart and wants to do nothing but hurt us. We'll have to question anybody who is alone," Shinji shuddered at just thinking of the slime. Impersonating Ymir, ruling the kingdom in shadow, and causing such mayhem that they still hadn't fully recuperated from it, Melona was another foe they needed to put down permanently. Leina's heat engulfed his side, she was worried about him so was standing extra close, "I'm fine, Leina-chan, just nervous. Thinking we should take another visit to Luna-Luna's village before Hinomoto. It's closer, likely warmer weather, and I could use a long rest after this." And he was worried about the women that now likely were bearing children.

Nearing the mouth of the tunnel, they all saw it opened into a massive cave arena. Across the circle from them was another entrance way, Annelotte's group would likely arrive from that side, meaning this whole system of caves was just a torture route designed by Werbellia for them. Force them to part ways, then beat them into submission as they progressed deeper and deeper after her. And it was what Alleyne feared, just off of the center of the arena was a pile of bones, huge green and purple bones. Faking sleep or death, it wasn't likely to remain that way once they entered.

'So you've come to me freely then? Enter the arena alone and I will spare your little harem. If even one of them steps foot in my special arena they will all die, and you will watch it happen. You should have seen what Melona did to your little wild elf. The other elf knows, but lies to you, ask her,' Werbellia's voice echoed in Shinji's head. The deeper they got into the cave, the louder the voice became, proof they were getting closer.

His body reacted faster than his mind did, and Shinji held his hand up signaling everybody to stop. "We should prepare before going in that room. I mean, we destroyed all her forces, we could seal the caves and and try to sink this place," Shinji hated the fear he felt. Could one of his beloveds die in the cave ahead? Not if he had any say in the matter, but what if he didn't have a say? "And least I can do right now is top all of you off if you want it..this is going to be the last," he hoped.

"I want some sugar before going in, and my little man here is better than what he's saying. I'm a killer, yet you've..." Risty just shut her mouth. What could she say that hadn't been said before. She was a bandit, a killer, a thief, and yet she was accepted. Drawing Shinji into a deep embrace, he healed her as they showed their affection for all. After Risty the others all had their moment, the act helped Shinji hide the massive spike of pain...the totem was huge and was filling him with agonizing pain.

Last was Alleyne, she had stayed back and kept her eye on the bones, when Shinji touched her shoulder she jumped. Whispering to her, "You're distracted. You found Melona already didn't you, something happened didn't it?" What happened, what could have been so bad it forced Echidna to leave and have Alleyne so out of sorts?

"Melona is dead, but the cost was high and I cannot tell you about it husband. Just know that Echidna will need you after we are finished here. We will all need you, but she more than most," Alleyne blinked a tear out of her eye and nodded at Shinji. As he caressed her cheek, she leaned into it and cried a few quick tears, "You are to kind to us. You see the good in us that we do not think exists. I love you husband. Now let us end this witch and return to our home."

Deep in Shinji's mind he heard the cackling, Werbellia was drinking this up like fine cream, 'She denies you. Maybe I should tell you what happened...but I'll wait for a better time. If you wish to see them all die. Please step in and enjoy the show.'

"Let us end this! Sister, friends, and my stupid and weak husband," Leina winked jokingly at Shinji, "CHARGE!" At Leina's rallying cry they all tore into the arena and a steel gate fell into place after they entered. This was a one-way ticket with no retreat option, not that they intended to do so. The mound of bones retook their monstrous shape well before they cleared halfway towards it. The undead-dragon towered over them and belched green flame at them that it fanned with its wings.

Stepping before Shinji, shield before her to block the flames, Branwen was a rock. "Our foe is not a fire or ice dragon but a poison. They hail from forests and jungle, and unlike my Asher...they have weaknesses. Their larger heads leave their necks fragile," Branwen advised the others. What flame that struck the woman, Shinji healed and nearly fell from the pain. The dragon was the totem, and he was right in front of it. Not looking at him, Branwen was to focused on her duty, "When we've time again, Master, Asher wishes to speak to you. As the realm of humans have been...aligning using you, they wish the same. They want to offer you a dragon maiden of your choice." She didn't offer herself, didn't even consider it by the sounds of it.

"You, always you," Shinji said as he gritted his teeth and fought to stand. So this was the trap Werbellia set. Being so close to this massive totem that crippled his healing, he had to fight to remain conscious! And what was this talk of some OTHER dragon maiden, Branwen had to know he cared, but her masochistic tenancies prevented such thoughts. Standing behind Branwen as she distracted the dragon, let the others get into position, Shinji noticed something distressing. The brand was gone, all the fighting on their way through the cave must have removed all the remaining links. Did Branwen know?

From a flanking position, Claudette rallied a distracted opponent, "Fel-beast, you will not stay your master's execution!" Thunderclap smashed off the creatures neck with a resounding crack as it passed through bone and separated head from neck. Instantly the fire stopped and the skull crashed to the ground.

"Well that was easier than expected," Nowa cheered from behind the beast. Her boast was quickly silenced as the beasts tail smashed against her and sent her rolling along the ground. She appeared a broken rag doll as she flew.

Alleyne and Shinji both sought each other on the battle field, and saw that they both were rushing towards Nowa's body. Leina and Branwen took to attacking the beast that was already in the processes of reattaching its head to its body. Tripping in his haste, Shinji rolled to the ground and found Alleyne dragging him the last few feet to Nowa's body. The half-elf was laying with eyes open, mouth covered in blood, but she wasn't moving. They could see her neck bent in a horrid angle, it was broken and Nowa was paralyzed. "Nowa never relax until you KNOW all enemies are taken care of, zero-points!" Alleyne cried. Her hands kept reaching for Nowa but pulling them back less she hurt her co-wife more.

"You have to be careful Nowa-chan, if I wasn't here..." Shinji too felt tears in his eyes. Seeing his wives and lovers hurt like this, it never got easier. Putting his hands to her neck, Shinji's body was rocked with a lightning bolt of pure suffering as he healed the injuries. Split organs, broken bones, and yes a snapped spinal cord, but after he was done she sat up and threw her arms around both of them.

Sobbing, Nowa just yanked her two favorite people in close, "I'm so sorry! I was just so happy at the idea of being finished here! I want to leave, I never want to see a swamp ever again!" On that Shinji agreed, but they had a task to finish first. Getting off the ground, the trio rushed back into help.

Risty had gotten on the creature back and was trying to bash off one of the wings, Leina and Claudette were taking shots at the neck again, and Branwen the claws. Limited success was being gained, as every injury just re-knit itself while their attacks were met with fire, teeth, and claws. It was Leina that spoke loud enough for Shinji to hear her, "We're only stalling the damned thing! Our attacks wound it, but its already dead...Shinji-chan, you can use those poses right?"

'Yes, use the poses on my little dragon. See what happens to you after that, my pet," Werbellia's seductive voice wafted and caressed Shinji's mind. All was going according to her damned plan!

If normal healing cause him such torment, the poses would be so much more, but Shinji could see this was a losing battle. Eventually one of the women would get hit one direction and another some other and he'd have to make a choice. Who lived and who died...or he could take the bait. Grabbing Alleyne's hand, he pulled her back, "If I pass out after this...wake me quick. This is what Werbellia wants, but I can't think of another plan."

Blinking at him confused, Alleyne didn't understand what he meant until he already dropped to the ground. On his hands and knees, Shinji hoisted his butt into the air, dropped his head low, looked at the dragon through the gap between his legs, put a hand right to his black button, pushed and called forth, "Sacred Pose: Banishment!" A beam shout out of where he touched, and struck the dragon that let out a guttural roar right as it was about to bisect or at least dismember Risty. It stopped and fell to the ground, the color leaving the bones which then crumbled to dust. All Shinji felt was abstract nausia and a sense of vertigo.

"Welcome home, my beloved pet. You worked perfectly as I desired, and now I have you again," Werbellia's voice was deafening in Shinji's mind. He felt her sink her tendrils into his mind as darkness wrapped around him, caressed him, and he felt himself floating in a sea of blackness...what had happened he didn't know yet, but he saw the burning image of a woman, a woman of pure blue flame approached him in the darkness...her beauty so great and horrendous that he screamed in his own private hell, but nobody was in that void with him, nobody except Werbellia.

X-X

Panting heavily, sword clenched tightly in both hands, Leina cast her weary eye over to Claudette and nodded. This time it seems the dragon had been felled and would stay that way. Thank the angels for that, she was finding her age finally catching up to her. Tired, she was not able to fight all day like she had used to be able to. Shambling over to Claudette, the massive bulk that was her sister had a particularly nasty gash across her stomach complement of the dragon's talons. "Guess we know why she had an undead dragon now. Without Shinji's magic we'd have been overwhelmed," Leina gave her hand over to help steady her sister.

"Either husband or that woman from the church," Claudette grunted out. Since the marriage to Melpha, Claudette was being just a little jealous towards the newer addition. Church and state never would get along it seemed, and Claudette feared the church trying to get a deeper hold on Shinji. Blushing just a little as Leina wrapped an arm around her waist, Claudette used Thunderclap as a walking staff. Gesturing her head towards the opening gate, "And the younger troupe finally arrive. After everything is done."

Climbing out from under the mountain of bone, Risty hissed loudly as she pulled an inch of dragon bone from her side, "Love, I could use a hand here. Stupid cunt got a parting gift off. And did Claudette say those lazy revolutionaries finally got here?" Blood oozed from between her fingers, and her normally bronze skin had a gaunt pallor to it, but Risty had her trademark toothy grin. That was until she saw something and forced her body to run, "What happened?" she called as she ran.

Leina waved at Annelotte and Shizuka who returned the gesture before noticing Risty's run. Following her hero, Leina's chest tightened. Why was Alleyne kneeling on the ground? Where was Shinji? "Wh-what happened?" Leina was reluctant to force Claudette to move fast. Yes they could be healed, but it still hurt and she never wanted her sisters in pain. Though the time away from Elina was still quite the blessing. Leina loved her younger sister, but the woman needed to change her ways. When Leina felt Claudette start to drag HER along, she picked up the pace. Finding Shinji on the ground, breathing shallow, "What happened to him?"

"I do not know fully. He said to wake him if he fell like this, but he isn't responsive," Alleyne continued to shake the fallen healer. Caked in muck, the woman splattered more as she continued to lift and slam him back down. Not being kind in her actually slapping of the man, Alleyne was growing frantic. Sitting him up with Branwen's help, Shinji just sat there breathing, when she forced his eyes open they were dull and lifeless, "He doesn't wake. It doesn't feel like last time either."

It was Vante and Yuit that got to them first, thanks to the golem's flight power, "What is he doing sleeping at a time like this? We watched the fight from the gate, couldn't get the damned thing open without risking a collapse." Yuit vaulted off Vante and rushed to Shinji's side. Leina watched the two with an odd fascination, they were odd friends that bordered on enemies at times when Annelotte was involved. But right now it was nothing but concern, same concern that was on all of their faces.

"So this is where mother is, she is coming, I can feel her," Aldra hugged Annelotte to her side. The two sisters weren't without injury, none of them were, so they hobbled together with their allies to form a small circle around Shinji. Her apron was nearly transparent with sweat and moisture, Aldra was for a change not smiling or gushing about her husband. The sisters had an odd glow about them, unnatural. Kneeling down closer to Shinji, she shied away when Alleyne wrapped her arms around him protectively, "I do not wish to harm my sister's husband."

Putting a hand on the ex-queen, who was far different now than when they last fought, Leina tried to calm the woman. "We're just worried is all. This has never happened before, and all of us could use a little of his healing powers right now. How was your tunnel? Ours had a few trolls, a lot of cultists, and traps. Irma and Echidna went back to help Tomoe with something too," Leina noticed Shizuka perk up at mentioning Tomoe. Now that was an odd blossom in Leina's heart, to think she could love a woman nearly as much as she loved her man. But she did, Shinji and Tomoe were etched into her soul, and part of that etching was unresponsive at her feet. "Who wants to take him out, no reason to leave him like…" Leina cringed as she heard the gates fall shut again.

"And where is the fun in that? I warned him, he didn't listen. Told my pet that if any of you save him or my daughters stepped foot into this sanctum he'd have to watch you die," Werbellia's voice echoed in the domed chamber. From the northern most point in the arena the mud started to bubble and boil up in a massive circle until it erupted and from the cocoon of muck stood Werbellia. Pale pure white skin, an aura that radiated out of her, and an elaborate garb that was festooned with skulls and harsh edges. The woman's staff was wicked looking and a faint flame flickered out of it. "And unlike you sweet summer children, I learn from my mistakes. No little exorcism will free him this time," she started to slowly walk towards them.

The impulsive Nowa, beside herself with concern and fret took the bait first and went running. "Leave Shinji alone! He's suffered enough already!" she yelled as she charged. Nowa got halfway to Werbellia before she was lifted off the ground by an unseen hand. Grabbing at her throat, Nowa coughed a few times and flew even higher. Out of reach of Alleyne who went to aid her pupil, Nowa just gagged until she let her bladder go, her eyes rolled up, and then Werbellia flung the girl to the ground and covered her up to her neck with mud.

"Fret now dears, she is just asleep. I want him to watch you die, so there is no point in killing you without him seeing it, well if I can help it. Some of you might make that impossible, but such is life," Werbellia spun her staff around. Walls of flame erupted out of the ground and forced the fighters to dodge to the sides to avoid it. Setting up a labyrinth of walls, her laughter filled the room. "So, which of you wish to live, you can if you serve me, I have need of power and you have cost me one of my more unique pawns," Werbellia asked.

Leina found she had been cut off from most of her allies, with the exception of Risty and Shizuka. "What do we do? This isn't going to be easy, not with us hurt and Shinji asleep," Leina had no fear of her allies turning traitor. Risty had fallen before, Shizuka had lied and tricked Tomoe, but they had done what they had for noble reasons. What Werbellia was asking was simply life at the cost of others. She couldn't hear the others, the billowing fire was far too loud, but she had faith in them. She had to. But…who was with Shinji right now?

"Love, we have to get to him and wake him up. Isn't there some fairy tale about waking the sleeping prince with a kiss or something?" Shizuka tried joking. It might have worked had Shizuka use of both of her arms, but her off hand was hanging limply at her side, a nasty infectious wound leaked puss, and her headband was torn and tied around her upper bicep as a stint. Running through one of the open arches in the flame walls, "Once we end this bitch, going to have a long nap, a gallon of saki, and going to make Love cook my favorite meal."

Following close behind, Risty chuckled a little, "I think we all have the same plan then. Be a race to get to him first. I might not be a princess, but I'm betting I can get him to wake up." The trio ran through serpentine pathways and felt the blasphemous heat bearing down on them. Lefts and rights, they took them without thought or plan, just running with the frantic hope. It was Risty that found it too, they all ran passed a side access, Risty peeked in and fell on her ass, "Annelotte? Annelotte!" Risty pointed at the side room they passed.

Helping Risty off the ground, the mud was starting to back and become hard and brittle, Leina felt light headed from the heat and dehydration. Pulling her shield up as best she could, she entered the room, "Glad to see you Kreutz, you got to him first. You see any of the others?" Leina was relieved to see the young rebel leader. Annelotte stood over the laying Shinji, and Aldra was at her side, both just stood there weapons at the ready. Starting to get a little worried from the blank stares she was getting, "Is something wrong? You try waking him again?"

"No, he will sleep as long as mother needs him to sleep," Aldra said as she flung some flaming muck from her ladle. The unexpected attack landed squarely on Leina's chest and seared her armor. Forced to take off the defensive plate or get burned worse, Leina felt her skin already start to react to the fire.

Pouring a little remaining water on Leina, Shizuka stood defensibly between Leina and the sisters. Spitting at the pair, "So you did side with your mother? I thought you better Kreutz, he speaks so highly of you, they all did. And I guess it isn't a surprise the ex-queen would side with the bitch. Risty, your pupil here has fallen from the path." Shizuka slowly started to circle the sisters, but kept her distance.

"I'd agree with you, but my vision is better than yours shinobi," Risty took up the mantle as Leina's protector. Hoisting Leina up, arm wrapped over her shoulder, Risty held the badly burned Leina. Pointing her massive mace at the ground, "Look at their feet, they're joined in the mud, illusions from the Swamp Witch." Risty had to raise her shield again as another gout of fire hit it. The wooden and metal implement did its job, but caught fire as mud stuck to it and Risty was forced to throw it away.

Feeling stupid for missing something so easily confirmed, Leina shoved herself off Risty and dove at the two 'sisters'. Performing her Dragon's Tail, she found the blade went through them just as if they were mud, and crumbled and fell apart. "Stupid, how could I have missed that!" the pain was exquisite and she was sure she could see bone showing through the charring. Blackness was starting to encroach her vision and she had to force herself to stay awake. Crawling over to Shinji, she saw he was bleeding out of his nose as his body fidgeted from time to time. Caressing his cheek, "Fighting her in your own way aren't you. S-so, who wants the honor." She wanted to be the one, felt it was her right, but she had grown from the selfish girl that had been saved by this man years ago.

"You do it, I might poison him," Shizuka fell to her back at Shinji's side. Taking his hand she pressed it to her forehead. "Come back Love, we need you to finish this," she kissed the back of his hand.

Taking the other side, Risty took Shinji's other hand and kissed it as well, "We can with without you, but it would be a bitter victory. And I've had enough bitterness in life. I'm ready to get fat and lazy, want to have a child, and you will be here for it." Risty sounded so very tired.

Well if they gave her their blessings, Leina wasn't going to pass it up. Sadly with Risty and Shizuka taking up the sides, Leina had to look at Shinji's face upside down. Holding his head with both hands, she went right in before she could faint. When she did, the pain vanished, the world shimmered, and she found herself in a massive void of utter darkness. "What is this place?" she asked aloud but was stunned when she didn't hear it. No sound at all! Scanning the void for something, anything, to explain what was happening. Had she died? Was this what happened when death came for her? A small flash of white, not bigger than the head of a pin got her attention.

"There…do it again," she pleaded. And it did occur again. Finding she could will herself to move, fly through the void. Leina had her direction and willed herself towards that light. How long she flew, how far she flew, Leina didn't know. She had nothing to gauge distance by as she saw that pinpoint growing larger and larger. "SHINJI! What are you doing leaving us behind! You have to take responsibility!" Leina couldn't help but smile. It was him, and he was fighting a battle only those of spiritual power could. As she neared the globe of white however she found she was stopped by something.

On the other side of the invisible barrier, Leina could see Shinji fighting against a woman made fully of blue flame. As good of fighter as Shinji had become, his opponent had centuries of experience. Pounding on the wall, trying to break it with her force of will alone, Leina made no impact. "Leave him alone you witch! Leave him alone!" she hated watching this. This spirit, Werbellia, was just toying with Shinji. Burning in places, cutting in others, and mocking him all the while. It was all done just to demoralize him, and it was working.

"Do you truly wish to save him?" a voice called out to Leina and a soft hand touched her shoulder.

Spinning around, Leina was stunned to see Shinji flying right behind her. A few moments of joy later she realized it wasn't truly Shinji. "W-who are you?" Leina asked the new woman. The woman did look much like Shinji, just older with longer hair, but just as gentle.

"His mother. I followed him when his soul was taken from his body. But I have no true power here. But I can give you power. If I do this however, I will cross over, can I trust you to care for and love my son? When he learns of what that slime has done, he will be devastated," Yui was firm.

Confused and worried, Leina didn't know what was going on. "I'm not…I don't understand what is happening here! You're his mother? I…I want to save him, I will do whatever you want if you give me the power to save him!" Leina begged this woman. His mother was dead, how could she be here? What was this cross over business? Leina never did take her studies that serious, even when she did have the time for it.

"Ask your friend Tomoe, daughter in law, she will explain. Be happy, all of you," Yui's voice faded as the spirit melded with Leina. For a moment Leina was awash with pleasant maternal love, then she was overcome with homicidal rage! This thing was trying to kill her son! Wanted to enslave and hurt him! SMASH! Leina's fist hit the shield and it shattered. Flying to the flaming blue woman, "HOW DARE YOU HURT MY BABY!" Possessed by the spirit, Leina was faster, stronger, and more capable than she had been before in this void.

Tearing the flame to tiny shreds, only the smallest of it remained and it eluded Leina's grasp. "I'll be back, pet…I am eternal…as you could be…I'll be back for…" the flame sped off at such acceleration that Leina couldn't even watch it. After that, the feeling of rage left her, as did the maternal feelings, leaving only Leina and Shinji in the void.

"Leina-chan…you're here…you saved me again," Shinji was crying tears of joy as he embraced her. He had staved off Werbellia far longer than anybody else had before, likely ever would, and he was with one of the women he loved, Shinji kissed her deeply and powerfully.

When her eyes opened, Leina was back in the cave, the pain gone. "What happened?" she asked aloud. The fire was gone, the others slowly making their way over to them. Leina saw Shinji's eyes open with a flourish. Quickly they had him see to everybody's injuries, and there were many to be tended to. While Leina and her trio hunted for Shinji, the others found more doppelgangers, and Annelotte and Aldra fought their mother. It was a slowly losing battle until all at once, a blue flame fled Werbellia's body and the woman fell to the ground…alive and confused. The Swamp Witch was eternal, and Werbellia was just the latest body she had claimed.

Things to think about later, right now Leina wanted a soft bed, her man at her side, and a good long sleep. They would have peace for a good long time, and if the swamp started to come back, they'd put a stop to it again.

X-X

Notes

This was the primarily action focused chapter of the epilogue finishing off the principle fighting. The Melona/Echidna thing was on my mind for quite awhile. Melona would want to inflict the most pain mentally to Shinji as punishment and what she did would be such. As for the Werbellia thing...from what I read about it all I think I got it correct. She was possessed by the 'Swamp Witch' as she had the perfect body.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter and my future writing. Right now I'm thinking of odd little stories I can write. A three to four chapter type of thing for a joke before starting a bigger thing. Something like Lady X Buttler or Please Tell me Galko...something silly and odd.

Later

Mercaba