Chapter 54, everybody! In which we get the ball rolling….

Fromtheashtrees, thanks for the review! Yes, death by boredom is horrible. :\ And no, it couldn't. :D It's a start, at least….Maybe we should make good on our desire to head south for the winter—February has to be the most miserable month here, as far as weather is concerned. It is pretty awesome—and missing, apparently. I just looked for it, and I can't seem to find it….In our house, that tends to mean that either someone stole it or the house ate it. :|

Yu-Gi-Oh! © 1996 Kazuki Takahashi

Don't Starve © 2013 Klei Entertainment

Tonight was the night.

"This is the plan," Gazim declared, addressing a small contingency of thieves. "We set fire to a small portion of the city." He nodded at some of the thieves, who were carrying bundles of sticks and jars of oil. "That done, you others start ransacking a different part of the city. Those staying behind, evacuate everyone to a deeper portion of the canyon and seal off the exits—we don't want anyone finding this place."

"What do we do?" Joey asked.

"You two," Wilson interposed, before Gazim could respond. "Head back to Rae's and get everything ready. If all goes well, Yugi and I will be there by morning."

"And what if it doesn't?" Tristan asked.

"If it doesn't, then by noon you gather everyone up and begin heading back up the mountain. Head west first—it'll take you to Newport and a safer stretch of marsh."

"What about you?"

Wilson was sorely tempted to ask what about me? "We should be right on your heels—you'll be departing an hour or so before we try to get Yugi. Noon is plenty of time to get there after you arrive. If we're not there, then something bad has happened, and you don't want to tarry within the royals' reach."

"So we'll still die of freezing. Yay," Joey noised.

"Not necessarily," Gazim said, indicating to the other thieves to finish preparing. "We'll get a contingency together to head for this 'Frostmore'—we may not be suited to cold weather, but we know where to find them now. We can get in and out quickly."

"No one's ever made it past the Pass," Tristan countered.

"You did."

"Yeah," Joey said. "But we had Ya—ow! what was that for!?"

Wilson had slapped him upside the head to keep him from mentioning the Frost King. "You two. Supplies. Road. Hit it. Now."

Joey and Tristan complied, scowling.

"Why do I feel as though they were about to spill the beans on something you did not want spilt?" Gazim asked.

"Because those two have remarkably large mouths," Wilson stated. "Now come on—we don't have much time."


"Teana!"

Teana looked up from her stitching to see Bakura skid to a halt in front of her.

"I've got to go," he declared. "The distraction is going now—and then I have to head for Newport afterwards because apparently that's where it's safest to cross the swamp—"

"Perfect," Teana declared, putting her stitching away and picking up two packs. "I'll meet you there."

"What? No! You can't—"

"Yes I can," she said, leaning so they were close—he was a few inches taller than her, but he had a tendency to slouch recently, so his extra height was negated. "This whole thing involves us—all three of us. I need closure just as much as you do. And besides, you'll need the help."

Bakura looked remarkably frustrated.

She kissed him on the nose before he could formulate a good counter.

"For luck," she declared. "You'll need it."

And with that, she ran off before she could be herded back into the canyons, before the exits were sealed.

Before he could see her blush.

Ah, how much more complicated this would become if he truly were alive and they were the three musketeers once again.