"Uh, what is that?" Lire asked. I heard a growl as my face lay in the dirt. Turning over a bit, I saw that it. . . was my puppy!
"Kaze'doggeh!" I exclaimed, and hugged him. "My puppy!"
"Your. . . puppy?" Lire asked, confused. Kaze'doggeh proceeded to lick my face.
"Uhm, it looks like. . . uh. . ." Lire hesitated. "Your dog reminds me of. . . Kaze'aze. . ." Point?
"Dog?" I heard Ryan say. "I love dogs." Turning around, I saw that Ryan had turned into his wolf form. Meanwhile, Lire had came closer to Kaze'doggeh, who growled and tried to bite her nose. Immediately, she jumped back with a yelp.
"Aw, how cute!" I said. "He likes you!"
"My nose," Lire complained, rubbing it.
"Hello, in pain here?!" Ronan cried out.
Kaze'doggeh jumped out of my arms, went over to Ronan, and urinated on his shoes.
"For the love of-!" Ronan shouted.
"He likes you too, Ronan!" I forced myself to say, and picked up Kaze'doggeh, who licked me again. I huggled him tightly. Suddenly, Kaze'doggeh turned and glared at Arme, who glared back.
"What are you looking at, ya' mutt?" Arme snapped.
"Aw, they're connecting!" I said.
"Lass, I'm sorry, but I don't like your dog," Arme said. And turned her back on him. Aw. . .
I frowned and pouted only slightly. "Sorry boy, but maybe you need to go back to the castle. . . ruins." Kaze'doggeh snorted.
"Castle?" Arme asked.
"Don't blame me that it got burnt down!" I said defensively.
"What castle?"
I pointed at Kaze'doggeh. "Oh, nothing, just. . . something." I got bit as Arme asked, "What castle is it, Lass?" and yowled in pain, then answered, "It's not really a castle!"
Kaze'doggeh barked.
"Fine, it is," I said.
"And what's at this castle?" Arme asked.
"It was somewhere that the Kaze'aze gathered her minions and such," I answered, then waved my hand in front of my face and yawned. "I remember standing next to, uh. . . someone. . . Ow."
"Really?" Arme was interested now. Kaze'doggeh barked again.
"Uh, yeah, what he said," I said.
"I don't understand mutt," Arme said coldly. Ouch.
Ronan tried to get up, but he only hurt himself more.
"Don't try to move," Lire told him. Ronan turned his head away, looking depressed.
Ryan took Kaze'doggeh at me, who then made a faced and began barking.
"Shut that thing up already. . ." Arme muttered.
"Uh, hold on. . ." Ryan told her. "Calm down, doggie." Kaze'doggeh just kept barking.
"Just set him down!" I yelled over the barking.
"No wait, calm down, doggie!" Ryan yelled, to no avail. Then Ryan snapped, turned into a wolf, and growled, "I said 'Calm down'!" Kaze'doggeh let out a yelp and began to cry.
"My puppy!" I exclaimed, and snatched Kaze'doggeh from Ryan's furry grasp. "Don't worry," I cooed, "Ryan's just so evil!"
"Hey, he is noi evil!" Lire protested. Ryan turned back to normal.
"Evil!" I cried out, and got slapped. "Ow!"
Kaze'doggeh began to cry more.
"Shut the hell up already!" Arme snarled.
"I'm gonna go insane, aren't I?" Ronan muttered.
"Uh, maybe," Lire answered. "Ryan, can you bring Ryan over to Elesis? Or vice versa, doesn't matter."
"Sure." Ryan turned into a wolf once more. "Set him on my back." I began to soothe my puppy as Lire tried to get Ronan onto Ryan's back. I think my cute, widdle puppy cooed back at me. How cute!
Then I set him down. "Be a good boy," I told him.
"Yeah, be a good boy and stay out of my sight," Arme grumbled. Then Kaze'doggeh jumped at her.
"Bad doggy!" I scolded, as I caught him mid-leap.
"I said stay out of my sight, you stupid mutt!" Arme shouted.
Kaze'doggeh barked at me. Your girlfriend doesn't like me!
"Yeah, I know!" I said, then began to shake Kaze'doggeh. "Why can't you just be good?"
Because you're my iboy! Not hers! Stopstopstop!
"No, you're my boy!" I said. "You're being a very bad boy!"
B-B-But!
"Bad boy!" I repeated, as Arme threw a rock at Kaze'doggeh. He turned and caught the rock in his teeth, then glared evilly at Arme. She glared back just as evilly. Eep.
Kaze'doggeh snorted, then jumped out of my hands and followed Ryan clumsily. Then Arme threw another rock at my puppy, who dodged and jumped onto her head and began to tear at her hair. Arme let out a loud yell.
"Bad doggie!" I shouted, and snatched Kaze'doggeh off Arme's head. "He's gone nuts! Go follow Ryan, Kaze'doggeh!"
Kaze'doggeh whimpered, and then growled. He lifted his chin and tail up, in a dignified way, and walked off.
Arme grumbled, "Get near me one more time and you're toast. . ."
"Might as well go see Elesis, and Jin," I said with a sigh.
"I hate that stupid thing," Arme muttered, then took out her creepy hat with the eyes on it and put it on. I hugged my precious mage tightly and murmured to her, "You're still beautiful."
She hugged me back and mumbled, "Thanks." She wasn't looking that happy.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing's wrong," she answered. I frowned. "Alright. . ."
"I'm so roasting that dog if I catch it alone," Arme muttered. I drew away from Arme, leaving her to her puppy-roasting thoughts, and headed off towards Elesis and Jin.
"Looks like Elesis and Jin are asleep," I said to myself. Elesis may have been in a nightmare, as she was kicking out in her sleep.
Ryan the wolf had his front paws over Ronan's mouth, words coming out of it. "Oh, hey."
Kaze'doggeh was sitting next to Ryan. My puppy was getting glared at by Lire. He stuck his tongue out at Lire, then huddled next to Ryan. Lire sat on the opposite side next to Ryan. When he let go of Ronan's mouth, he began complaining about the "demon dog."
Kaze'doggeh bit Ronan's shoulder, and he let out a cry of pain. Lire kicked Kaze'doggeh off. "Off!" Ryan the wolf set Kaze'doggeh away and said, "Why don't you check on Lass?" Kaze'doggeh barked and walked away.
Then Lire said, "Hey!" She looked over at Elesis. "Elesis?" She was muttering something.
"What's she say?" I asked.
Lire whacked Elesis and muttered, "That's for kicking me." To me, "I don't know."
"Wake up, sleepy head!" I said, and whacked her. I got a kick in the leg and fell over. "Wake her up, will you?!"
Lire poked Elesis, who proceeded to kick Lire in the face. Lire backed off immediately, grumbling, "Get Ronan to wake her up. . ."
"Ronan's asleep, and crippled," I reminded her.
"Well, he's next to her," Lire told me.
I touched Elesis gently with my nodachi, and she yelped, waking up.
"Finally!" I said.
"What the hell did you do that for?!" Elesis exclaimed. "That hurt!"
"Well, being kicked hurts too!" I snapped at her.
"Well, sorry that I can't control my actions while I sleep," Elesis muttered.
"Yeah, well, your dad's possessed by Kaze'aze," I said.
"What?!" Elesis cried out. "Why the hell didn't you tell me sooner?!" Well, you were asleep, duh.
Elesis got up and disappeared into the forest, followed by Ryan, who told her to stop.
"Nice going Lass," Lire said. Oopsies.
--
I caught Elesis' arm as she tripped over a rock and helped her up. However, I didn't let go.
"Thanks, now let me go!" Elesis yelled.
"No!" I told her. "Look, we really don't know where he went. Lass said something about somewhere, but we're not sure. And Ronan needs you."
"I. . . but. . . Father could. . . be in danger," Elesis told me.
"Sieghart can take care of himself," I reminded her. "He's done it for most of his life, and we've seen that proof."
"Then why is he still possessed by Kaze'aze?!" Elesis asked. I looked down before answering. "Sieghart was fighting it. I'm sure he's fine, but Kaze'aze used his strength to break Ronan's leg. Ronan needs you at his side right now, Elesis."
Elesis looked like she was going to protest, but then said, "Okay, let's go back. . ." I could see that she was reluctant.
"I wish I could do two things at once. . ." Elesis said to herself. It was a few minutes before we came back, and Ronan was awake.
"Ronan, how do you feel?" Elesis asked, at his side immediately.
"I feel fine," Ronan said, with a groan.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. . ."
Elesis bent over and gave Ronan a hug. He returned it with one arm. I saw Lass sitting in a tree, toying with a kunai. Then Elesis stood. "I'm going to go into the forest for a bit."
Ronan watched her begin to leave, then sighed, and closed his eyes. He wasn't asleep though, his breathing told us that much.
"Elesis, maybe you shouldn't go," Lire said. "I mean, Sieghart can take care of himself, right?"
"Then if he can, then why hasn't he already broken free of Kaze'aze's control?" Elesis countered, then disappeared into the forest. Ronan sighed again.
"What's wrong Ronan?" Lass asked.
"Nothing," Ronan answered, as Lire went after Elesis.
"They're all leaving," I said, sighing.
"You're right. . ." Lass said.
Ronan, Lass and I all sighed. Jin said, "I'll go after them."
"Fine, but I'll come with you in case," Lass said.
"In case. . ." I inquired.
"Well, he was on the verge of dying the other day!" Lass told me.
Jin didn't say anything, he just walked off.
"Hey, wait up!" Lass yelled, and ran after.
"I'll stay here with Ronan," I said to no one in particular.
--
"You know where the castle is?" I asked Jin. I heard Kaze'doggeh walking behind us.
"Yes. . ." Jin answered. Kaze'doggeh and began to butter up to Jin. That traitor!
Then Elesis ran into Jin. He stumbled.
"Hey, Elesis, watch it!" I yelled. "Jin ain't as peachy as you."
"Well, sorry that I didn't see him!" Elesis snapped.
"It's alright." Jin sighed and staggered to his feet.
"Father, where are you?" Elesis called out, and began to head off again.
"Hey, wait!" I called.
"Huh? What?" Elesis looked at me.
"Are you looking for the castle he might be in?" I asked.
"Castle? He's in a castle?" Elesis seemed doubtful. "Oh, that would make sense, I think."
"Well, it's not really a castle," I said. "But are you looking for it?"
"Well, if that's where father is, then yes. If not, no," Elesis answered.
"Jin and I know the way. We could show you," I said. I looked for Jin, and saw that he was ahead of us. Hey! The two of us ran to Jin.
We soon arrived.
The castle was more of a fortress of blue-colored crystal. Even though it was made of crystal, the fortress hardly looked pretty. It towered above us, the turrets looking empty and worn down. You couldn't see through the walls.
"So this is the place?" Elesis asked, looking up. I nodded. "Seems really. . . fragile."
"Not really," I told her, and to show it, I picked up a rock and threw it at the side of the gate. The rock hit and fell to the ground, broken into pieces.
"Shouldn't be hard to get in, I suppose," Elesis said.
"Yea-"I began, then threw a kunai into the bushes nearby. "Who's there?!"
"Watch it Lass!" Lire stepped out of the bushes.
"Oh, it's only Lire," I said with a sigh of relief.
"What are you doing here?" Elesis asked.
"Uh, I was just taking a walk!" Lire lied.
"Then why are you here?" Elesis asked, wary.
"Yeah, well. . ." I grumbled, then I leaped onto the castle and ran up the side, scaling it until I reached the top of the wall. Jin followed, emanating waves of chi and soon made it up next to me. The wound Sieghart gave him began to open.
"Hey, be careful!" Elesis shouted from below.
Suddenly, a giant hand, the color of red, white, and a deep navy blue, grabbed Jin. Lire and I cried out, and I tried to save Jin, but the hand pulled him into the fortress. Damn!
"How are we gonna get up there?!" Lire shouted.
"Beats me," Elesis said. Then I noticed Kaze'doggeh headbutt the fortress gate. He barked and padded over to a doggy door.
"No, way I can fit in there," Lire said, as Kaze'doggeh walked in.
"You try and fit through," Elesis said.
"I am not that small!" Lire protested.
"Yeah, well, neither am I!" Elesis shouted, and kicked the door. There was growling from the other side.
"Uh, bad idea?" Lire squeaked.
Then I saw a faint silhouette of Kaze'doggeh, backed by a larger silhouette.
"Uh, run?" Elesis said.
"Good idea," Lire said, then turned around and ran into Arme. I jumped down in time for Arme to shout, "Watch where you're going!"
Then a purple Gorgos burst through the door. Kaze'doggeh barked at it.
"Oh, a Gorgos?" Arme didn't sound fazed. "What's it doing here?" Then she noticed Kaze'doggeh. "That mutt?!"
Kaze'doggeh barked once, then shout out a bright green laser through its mouth, hitting the Gorgos on the head. It fell over, stunned. Kaze'doggeh barked again, then turned and ran into the castle. Uh, okay, what happened? Anyway, Elesis, Lire, Arme and I followed Kaze'doggeh.
He lead us down the castle, going through corridor after corridor. Kaze'doggeh barked once as he pushed past through two large doors.
"Where the hell are we?" Arme asked, as we entered the room.
The room was enormous. There were tons of footprints scattered around, all of various sizes. Some were massive, and there were some hover-prints, which were the most common around the shaded edges of the room. Arme walked over to a footprint.
Suddenly, a Dark Anmon Scout snatched Kaze'doggeh up and jumped to the second floor, onto a balcony.
"Get out. . . trap. . ." a voice groaned. The doors suddenly closed. Then a forcefield surrounded us all, electricity crackling, and a large mass of Dark Mages and Lichs appear from the shadows.
"Looks like we're in for a fight. . ." Elesis muttered.
Then the electricity died away, revealing a cage in front of us. Who was that in it?
"What the hell is this?" Elesis asked, then sliced at the cage. The bars were thick, but cyrstalline, and they held against the sword.
Then it went dark for a moment, and I was in another cage, this time with Sieghart and Jin.
"Lass!" Arme cried out, and ran over.
"Father? Is that you?" Elesis started to come closer.
"Honey. . . stay back. . ." Sieghart groaned.
"Arme, no," I said. "Don't get any closer!" I was afraid, now. Jin was slumped on the bars, bleeding.
"What happened?!" Arme asked, running over.
"No, stop!" I shouted.
Immediately, Arme stopped, just as the Dark Mages sent bolts of lightning into our cage. Jin and I cried out in pain, Sieghart trying to bear it. We were all a bit fried when the electricity stopped. I saw Lire and Elesis fall over.
Arme growled, then shot a bolt of lightning at the Dark Mages. There was a small shimmer of light, and then Arme's lightning was reflected back at her. She cried out in pain, and fell over.
"A-Arme!" I cried out, as I heard barking.
Soon, a Scout descended with Kaze'doggeh. The Scout looked a bit nervous.
"Bwahaha!" Kaze'doggeh. . . laughed? The Scout looked awkward.
Kaze'doggeh coughed, then began to speak. "*Awthou it's hawd to speek fom a dog's mouf. . ." What witchcraft was this?! Kaze'doggeh laughed again, and barked a bit.
"M-Mangy old. . . mutt. . ." Arme muttered.
"**Actuwaly, this is. . . nevuhmin'," Kaze'doggeh said.
"I-I can t-tell who. . . you are. . ." Arme growled.
"***Yew awl awe abowt tew fawl intew a deep sleep. . . Sweet drems. . ." Kaze'doggeh said, then coughed again. "Stoopid dogs. . ."
"N-No!" Lire cried out. "I don't want to f-fall asleep, in a place like this. . ." Kaze'doggeh's eyes seemed to change, and he began to bark wildly. The Scout began to panic and run around a bit. That same red, white, and navy hand that grabbed Jin early appeared from the ceiling, the fingers demonic, pointed and hooked, and snatched both Kaze'doggeh and the Scout. It disappeared into the ceiling.
The Dark Mages and Necromancers began to chant, their eyes glowing, as the girls grew drowsy.
"No, Arme!" I cried out, throwing myself against the bars.
"Elesis!" Sieghart yelled, and then began to cough up blood. Soon, the three girls were asleep, and were about to experience their own nightmare.
–
Additional Notes:
* "Although it's hard to speak from a dog's mouth. . ."
** "Actually, this is. . . never mind."
*** "You all are about to fall into a deep sleep. . . Sweet dreams. . . Stupid dogs. . ."
