CHAPTER 6: STRATAGEM.

(POV: Mysterious Narrator.)

As Billster, Timothy, Gordon, Henry, Edward, Oliver and Douglas were forging on to find Malstorm, Duck, Donald, Toby, James, and Percy, were travelling down the path that Donald found and had been on it for another hour or two. The group had just exited the caverns when they were caught in a blizzard.

"Argh!" Grunted Percy. "This wind is too strong! and cold!"

"Everyone! Back to the caverns!" Duck cried.

And so they did, but before they could go back inside, a massive pile of snow fell from the cliff above, and blocked the only entrance back in. Everyone was trapped.

"Great! Just great!" Percy grumbled sarcastically. "Of all the times for our path to be blocked, it just had to be now!"

"And now we'll be dying of not just hunger, but of cold temperatures as well!" James added. "Thanks a lot Donald!"

"Oi! It wasn't My fault! I didn't know that there would be a blizzard here!"

"Well, there is. so..."

As James, Percy, and Donald argued, Duck and Toby looked around, and then spotted something that caught their eyes.

"Hey Duck, is it just me, or do I see a cave right over there?"

"Well as a matter of fact, that is." Duck replied. "And by the looks of it, it should work as a shelter from this storm."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's tell the others."

"Right."

So, Duck and Toby then turned around and faced the arguing Sorcerer-Knights, as they bickered. Duck then shouted at the top of his voice to get their attention.

"QUIET! Good." Duck then sighed upon seeing that Percy, James and Donald had stopped bickering. "Now listen, I understand you're all frustrated, cold, cross and hungry, but now's not the time to be fighting one another. Now, Toby and I had just looked around and had spotted a cave not too far from our current position. Now if you don't want to die from freezing, then quit the arguing, and help one another to stay close as you follow me and Toby."

The Sorcerer-Knights nodded, and then they began to follow Toby and Duck, ensuring that no-one was left behind as they did so. Meanwhile, in the cave, Thomas was still resting as Lady tended to the fire. The Magicborn was about to fall asleep, until there was a knock on the barrier, which was followed by a familiar voice.

"HELLO!" Duck called from the other side. "Is anyone in there?!"

Lady promptly ran up to the barrier to see if it really was some of her allies.

"Duck?!" She called back. "Is that you?!"

"Yes!" Duck replied. "I'm also with Percy, James, Toby, and Donald! We were about to look for the others, but were caught in this blizzard!"

"I see!" Lady replied. I'm going to open the barrier. Hurry in!"

Duck nodded, as Lady then opened the barrier that was keeping the cold air out. Once the magicborn did, the group scrambled into the cave and Lady then closed the barrier once more. As the group sat down, they sighed in relief as they were out of the horrible blizzard. As the warmth from the fire spread across the place, Percy looked over and saw Thomas, who was still recovering from his injuries.

"Whoa! What happened to Thomas?"

"An attack from Strea's minion." Lady sighed as she replied. "I did what I could with what I got, but he is still not out of the woods yet."

"I see." Toby replied. "Well, it's still good to know that he's still alive."

"Yeah." Lady said quietly as she then looked away. "It is. I can never stand it if I lose him."

"You can never stand if you what?" Toby quizzed, only hearing the first part.

"Oh!" Lady replied as she then looked back with a nervous look. "I-I said that I can never stand it if we lose to Strea. Heh-Heh."

"Oh." Duck remarked. "Ok, so since you brought that up, why don't we come up with a strategy."

"Oh... uh... good Idea." Lady replied. "Any ideas in mind Duck?"

"Well.." Duck replied. "I was thinking that since Excalibur is of a divine element, Thomas could use elemental release on Strea's monsters, while the rest of us team up on her since it could make light to weaken them."

(POV: Lady.)

As I took in Duck's plan, I frowned, for it had it's complications.

"Um... Duck." I replied. "Though that strategy might work, I hate to break it to you, but we can't execute that one."

"Why not?" Percy quizzed.

Well, first of all.." I began. "Thomas has not unlocked his own Elemental Release yet, second, Strea can escape through shadows by basically swimming in them, And third, Thomas is in no condition to fight with Excalibur, let alone stand. While you guys were busy trying to find a way to find us and the others, I've been doing my absolute hardest to keep Thomas alive for he is gravely injured, and there's no way to properly treat him as of right now."

Everyone then began to frown as I gave them the truth.

"Can't we just use a healing spell?" Percy quizzed again.

"In certain cases, yes." I replied. "But, with how Thomas is now, a healing spell or sigil could only do so much. I'm sorry guys, but as much as I want to let him assist, Thomas is out of fighting Strea."

As I then finished, everyone had expressions that clearly stated that they were running very low on any hope of defeating my sister. As the fire flickered, something struck me confused as I then looked over at the massive shadowy area in the corner.

"If Strea can swim and travel through dark shadowy places.." I thought. "Then why hasn't she come here? Why hasn't she sent a monster to finish us off?"

As I thought about the situation, I thought back to when the monster attacked me and Thomas.

"The monster seemed weaker than it did when it separated us." I continued to think. "If that's the case, maybe Strea was reaching her limit. Wait... Limits... Shadows... Minions... That's it! Guys!" I then said out loud. "I think that I may have something."

"What is it, Lady." Duck replied.

"So, you lot know how my sister used shadow magic to make that monster that separated us?"

"Yeah.." Percy replied. "She ordered it to kill us. Why?"

"Well.." I began. "Strea isn't exactly the type to give up on her goal easily, and doesn't like to. Also I looked around and noticed a massive shadowy area. And since she can travel through dark shadowy areas, one question has come to my mind."

"Which is..."

"Why hasn't she just simply come down with to finish the job? Why hasn't she killed me upon entering this cave? My guess on all of this, is that there's a limit on how long she can use her shadow magic for, meaning..."

"She's probably taking the long way round to all of us to save her strength!" Toby finished. "Thus, why she didn't just simply come popping out of the shadows when we awoke."

"Yes, exactly." I replied. "And I think if we either make her reach her limit, or ensure that she stays at her limit, we could defeat her or drive her off."

"Thus, giving us a strategy that doesn't heavily rely on Thomas, while giving us a chance to defeat her!" Duck exclaimed. "Brilliant! this can work!"

"Yes, it would. I replied. "But still, we need to find the rest of our allies, for we still could use their help to pull this off."

And everyone else nodded in agreement.

(To be continued...)