Note: I'm finding that I'm getting these done during the days off I have in between work shifts. Also, while I admit that it may be a bit pretentious for me to say, yet one of the things I'd really love to do is get a fic of mine have a TV Tropes page, or at least a mention. True, this needs cleaning up in some areas, yet overall, I think I'm going in a direction no one else has before regarding how this story's being told (again, sorry if I sound pretentious). And you guys have been making it better for me to continue this fic, both here and on Ao3. I'm considering posting to Deviantart and elsewhere, yet I'm not sure of the word count limit there or what's considered 'too long' for those other sites (Wattpad, Quotev, ect.). I'm just wanting to spread the word I guess.

There will be some peeking into the minds of Duran and Angela, as well as answering some questions as to why Duran wouldn't take the Mana Sword at first or why Angela has disdain for the Mana Goddess. Also, I'm thinking the Ghost Ship will take around 3 parts at most, but I could be wrong.

That said, I hope you enjoy the beginning of this Scooby-Doo esque escapade of the group!

Stirrings on the Ship

Three eyes gazed on in a bizarre combination of horror and amazement at the other three individuals opposite of them as food disappeared at a rapid pace, all going down the ravenous gullets of three very big eaters. Chicken, turkey, vegetables, fruit, drink, all of it disappeared down the throats of the voracious three, their other companions eating in a much more 'normal' fashion, or at least trying to.

"Geez, you'd think that one of them would've choked by now." Angela noted, gesturing to Duran.

"Hm?" he said through mouthfuls of food. "You say something?"

"It's a miracle that you haven't choked on a bone yet." she said.

"Bones are easy to chew through," Kevin said, currently having his way with a turkey. "The marrow inside is great. Hope I find some in here."

Charlotte on the other hand had her little cheeks puffed out to the size of balloons, face covered in whipped cream, pudding, cherries, and a variety of other fruits from the pies and pastries she was currently annihilating. "You guys have gotta try the cobblers! They'we to die fow!"

"Um, maybe later," Hawkeye said, finding the whole situation somewhat humorous. This wasn't exactly a sight that was pleasing, yet he understood it. Hell, had he not been in the company of ladies, perhaps he would've been tempted to give in to his base instincts too. He then looked at Riesz's plate, poking at her meat and vegetables with her fork. "What's up? You ok?"

"Yeah. Weren't you the one that said we shouldn't let this go to waste?" Angela added, this prompting Riesz to hurriedly finish her food. Granted, she actually used her utensils (unlike the three across from her), yet she still ate at a rapid pace.

"There." she then said. "Now, I don't want to put a damper on things," she then began. "But there is something that I've been wishing to discuss since I've...boarded the ship if you will." she still couldn't believe she had done that. "It was something that was said during the latter part of retaking the citadel."

Hawkeye nodded, sort of wanting to get his mind off of that particular set of events. As far as he knew of his fellow Nevarlans, they were still being kept in custody, if not just for precaution's sake, and those that were still in town had apparently gone into hiding. Belladonna's influence was gone, yet the townsfolk still didn't think too kindly of them. He couldn't exactly blame them, but still, the whole situation was still not exactly desirable. "Well, what do you exactly want to talk about?"

"I heard one of those twins mention something to you regarding the Mana Stones. Or more specifically, the Benevadons." She took a sip of wine. "About her wishing to release them-"

"What?!" Faerie emerged, causing Duran to choke a bit on the drink he was guzzling down.

"Geez, don't do that!" he said once he swallowed.

"Everyone stop for a second!" Faerie said, all eating and drinking coming to a halt. "You said that this Belladonna wants to RELEASE the Benevadons?"

"That's what Bill said." Hawkeye confirmed.

"But...they can't really do that, can they?" Angela asked. "I mean, the ritual to activate the Stone's power just does that. It's not like anything's popped out of one of them yet."

Faerie contemplated this. "Yes, this is true. The ritual should just activate the power. But still...if all of them are active at the same time…" she continued to think. "That would open up the pathway for the Mana Holyland...but to release them…" she then gasped. "If something had happened to the Sword of Mana, then…"

"Then what?" Duran asked. "What's the Sword got to do with this?"

"The Sword was the very weapon Her Worship used to slay and trap the beasts." Faerie explained. She then closed her eyes, as if recalling something, though in truth, she had only heard of the Goddess' feats, not seen them herself, having been born long after. "She had crafted the Sword from her very own essence and that of all the minerals and metals of the Earth, a Sword to rival all others." everyone listened as she continued to speak. "She put a stop to their destruction and afterward, she transformed herself into the great Mana Tree, the Sword resting in the most prominent of Her massive roots."

"Weww...can't she just sway them again?" Charlotte had asked, whipped cream and fruit all over her face. "I mean, she IS a Goddess, isn't she?"

"Impossible," Faerie said. "She expended so much energy in doing so that all she could do afterward was turn into the Great Tree and enter a deep sleep."

Angela huffed. "Some Goddess." she murmured.

Faerie's ears picked this up, yet she said nothing. This wasn't the first time the Atenan princess had said something concerning Her Worship. She went on. "The Benevodons cannot be released from their prisons, no matter what."

"Then, if they're that bad, then why would Belladonna or this Koren, assumedly, want to release them at all?" Hawkeye questioned. "As much as I hate to admit it, Belladonna's a witch, but she's not stupid."

"I'm not sure," Faerie admitted. "Perhaps they believe that the Sword somehow will allow them to harness the full power of the Benevodons, or maybe that they're under the impression that the Sword will allow them to tame and control them. Though...I admit this is just speculation. I have no idea why they would want to try and attempt such a foolish and dangerous thing." she then looked around at the six. "As well as cause so much suffering to get there."

The old man stood upon the deck of the ship, looking towards the entrance to the lower areas of the ship, a smile growing on his lips.

'Stop this.' a voice suddenly said, voice low, yet it had lost its intensity as if it were barely hanging onto whatever authority it had. 'They are the key to the salvation of this world. You would damn it to destruction if you add them to your horrendous collection.'

The old man shrugged. "And what difference would it make? This world is on its way to Hell already. If anything, I'm merely helping it along."

'Even if you succeed now, you shall not succeed in the long run.' the voice said. 'The Goddess shall choose another champion, one that shall overcome the darkness that you will wreak. And then, sooner or later, they shall slay you."

"Ironic that you speak of darkness. I thought that was what you commanded. Oh, excuse me, formerly commanded."

'The shadows cannot exist without light and the reverse is true. It is a balance that must be maintained. And those that dwell in those shadows have just as much a right to life as those that live in the light.'

The old man huffed. "I'm not interested in your talks of balance and harmony anymore." his eyes then grew dark, red orbs forming in his pupils. "Now is time for the game to begin."

Down Below

"How long before we reach Maia?" Kevin asked, knowing well that docking in Beiser was no longer an option.

"Shouldn't be too long," Duran said. "Goddess knows that Auntie's dying for some sort of update." he knew that he wouldn't be getting to see her that much on this quest, yet still, he had every intention of letting her know that he was ok.

"Speaking of," Hawkeye then said. "Your aunt's quite the looker."

Duran sputtered. "What?! Really?"

"You don't think your own aunt's pretty? Not very nice to think of a lady."

"But...well, she's...not bad. I guess." Duran said. Honestly, this was quite awkward. Didn't he even know her age? He needed to change the subject. "Well, I doubt it'd be something that Riesz would like to hear. You fawning over another woman. Who just so happens to be my aunt." the soldier added the last part with some disgust and irritation. Not that his Auntie couldn't go and find a man if she wanted, but still...anyone that wanted to court her would have to meet his standards. And perhaps not have good depth perception when he inevitably kept an eye on them.

"Hey, I'm only teasing," Hawkeye said. "Besides, what's wrong with a man complimenting a woman?"

"Um, aren't we getting off track here a bit?" Faerie spoke up, emerging from her host. "Valsena's safe, yet the other areas we'll need to be treading through are a bit more dangerous." she then looked back and forth at Hawkeye and Kevin.

"We can get to Nevarl, no problem." the violet-haired youth said, undoing the ribbon wound around his low ponytail. "I've gotten out once, there's no reason I can't get back in just as easy." Still...if his presence was noticed, he knew well that it wasn't just his life that would be on the line. He was certain that Belladonna was now constructing some plan involving Jessica, and who knew what she would have in store for Flamekhan, assuming that she wouldn't just kill him later. What she was keeping him around for eluded him. Maybe he had the information she needed?

"Well, I don't know about Ferolia…" Kevin admitted. "But, maybe we can use Lake Astoria to make it across if we go back to Jadd." then again, there were surely some beastmen lurking around there, and he wasn't exactly keen on fighting any of them again. If he had his way, he wouldn't have to fight any one of his fellow people again. And there was still the issue of Ludgar maybe being there. He could hear the beastman's taunts in his mind.

"Look, whichever way we do it, we'll get there," Duran said to everyone. "We've gotten this far, right?"

Faerie twiddled her thumbs. "Well...yeah, maybe. Still, no harm in being mindful of the dangers, right?" she then lowered herself down to the bed her host had just gotten into. "But I suppose the best thing to do is, well, as the human saying goes, burn that bridge when we cross it."

"Exactly," Hawkeye answered, finally untying his hair, a veil of violet draping over his shoulders, Duran and Kevin's eyes wide at the sight of it. It was long and silky, much unlike their own hair that was wild and spiky. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with a man keeping his hair in check either." the tan-skinned thief said. "You two want some tips?"

Kevin slowly raised his hand but Duran put it back down. "Our hair's just fine, thank you very much."

"Eh, suit yourself." he then climbed into his own bed.

"...I'd like some tips." Kevin murmured.

Adjacent Room

Charlotte knew it was impolite to stare, but upon seeing the more developed bodies of the other two, young women with her, the half-elf was feeling quite envious. "Hey, Angewa?" she asked, seeing as the violet-haired young woman had the most 'sizable' chest and curves.

"Yeah?"

"How do you, weww, you know, get a body wike that?"

"Oh, like what you see?" Angela chuckled, noticing Charlotte's cheeks grow red. "That's ok. I'm not one to flaunt, but...I'd imagine there's more than a few that would want a body like mine."

Riesz was preparing for bed, yet she was listening to the conversation. 'Not one to flaunt. Yeah, sure.' still, her mind was consumed by other matters. 'Dark Majesty…' she thought back to Belladonna's words. 'And that wizard Koren claimed to serve someone as well. Just how many foes are we truly up against?'

"I wanna get wike that!" Charlotte declared. "I'm tiwed of peopwe tweating me wike some wittwe kid!"

"...well, for one thing, you're not going to get anywhere talking like that."

Charlotte was confused. "Tawking wike what?"

"Exactly," Angela said. "Here. Your body...well, I don't know. That might take a lot of vitamins and protein." she surveyed the small, blonde girl. "And if all that fails, get a guy with a Lolita complex." she murmured the last part.

"Huh?"

"Nothing." the older magician waved the comment away. "But we can work on your pronunciation." she then sat on the bed, Charlotte sitting beside her. "Here's an easy one. Hello, how are you?"

"Hewwo, how awe you?" the blonde repeated.

"No, there's not 'w's in hello. L, as in, hell-o."

"He…" Charlotte began. "He...lllll...www…" she struggled, trying to get her tongue to cooperate with her. "He...ll...wwoo." she then hissed. "Aw, shi-" she then covered her mouth, shocked that she was mere seconds away from cursing. "Poop." she corrected herself.

"And that's another thing," Angela said. "Stuff like that makes you sound immature. If you want to say what you're truly feeling, go for it."

"You mean…" Charlotte gasped. "But gwandpa says that's bad fowm. A pwopew wady nevew cuwses."

"Well...he's not here right now, is he?" Angela said.

"I don't believe you need to be teaching her that," Riesz interjected. "There's nothing wrong with maintaining self-control." she ran her fingers through her hair. "Besides, we have far larger matters going on at the moment."

Angela looked at the amazon. "If you're talking about Koren and that Belladonna, then we'll take care of them when they come around again."

Riesz folded her arms. "It's not wise to treat them with such flippancy. We must get to know our enemy," she said firmly. "This Dark Majesty...I've never heard of such a name." she then directed her attention back to Angela. "This Koren figure is affiliated with Altena, yes?"

Angela glowered, though her anger wasn't directed at either of her companions. "Yeah, that's right." she growled. "Bastard drove me from home and turned mother against me. I wouldn't be surprised if he's been doing it the whole time." she then went silent. 'He's the reason she hates me. He MUST be! Mother...no mother would hate their own child, would they?' she shook her head. 'No. Impossible. It...it can't be.'

"Angewa?"

Angela shook her head. "I'm fine." She pulled herself together. "Anyway, what about Koren?" she asked Riesz.

"He is also working for someone, isn't he?" Riesz then paused, thinking for a moment. "Yet given his interaction with Belladonna, it's clear that they're on opposing sides. So another unseen element is at play here."

"And that jestew…" Charlotte interjected. "The one that kidnapped Heath...do you think he's with eithew of them?"

"I'm not sure," Riesz admitted. "From what you've said, he's allied with the beastmen. And if they're also after the Stones...then perhaps a third party is involved as well."

"Whoa, wait a minute," Angela said. "Are you saying that there are THREE things we've got to look out for, among the other guys that probably want us dead?"

"It's just speculation." Riesz clarified. "But still, any preparation is good in my eyes. We must remain vigilant and on guard." she then climbed into bed. "But I suppose that it'll do us little good to dwell on it when we need sleep. I'd suggest you two do the same."

"Ok, mom." Angela chuckled, though felt a pang in her chest upon saying that.

"Angewa? You've got that face again." Charlotte observed.

"No, it's nothing," Angela said. "Y'know, Riesz is right. You should get to bed too."

Charlotte huffed, crossing her arms. "But I'm not tiwed. I wanna stay up more."

"Growing girls get extra sleep. Besides, you can grow and your limbs can stretch out. If you don't want to be a pipsqueak forever, you'd best get in, because lack of sleep can stunt your growth."

The blonde girl needed no further convincing than that, immediately hopping into bed, mind filled with the possibilities and prospects of waking up with a full-grown body appropriate for her actual age. Angela then got into bed herself, hoping that thoughts of her mother would leave her mind and allow her some peace that night, even if the woman's cold, icy stare constantly emerged in her mind.

Adjacent Room

Snuffing the lantern in the room out, Duran looked up at the ceiling, arms behind his head. Faerie searched his thoughts and immediately began to regret being so grim. "I didn't mean to discourage you," she said. "I...I'm just worried is all."

"No, it's fine." the young man said, silence falling between them. Then, after a while, Duran finally spoke, knowing well what Faerie had just discovered. "I guess you realize why I didn't want to take the Sword up, right?"

Faerie emerged from him. "You...you were afraid," she said, stunned, her look in his memories and emotions tied to the brief, yet just long enough to delve further beneath the surface of what she initially felt due to her and Duran's link. "You were afraid you were...unworthy?" she noticed Duran's features grow solemn, yet after a few moments, he nodded. "I...I didn't know that you felt that way."

"Good," he said. "I didn't want you to know." he didn't want anyone to know.

"But...but why didn't you say anything before?" Faerie asked. "Fear is a natural emotion for humans, isn't it? Us faeries also have fear too you know!"

Duran sighed. "Faerie, it…" he groaned. "It's not...like that for a guy," he said. "Let alone a defender of the kingdom." he turned his head away from her. "...and the son of the Golden Knight." he murmured the last part under his breath.

"Golden Knight?" unfortunately for him, she heard what he said. "That's-" she took a moment to search his mind.

"Faerie, wait-" Duran protested, yet it was too late.

"Loki? Loki the Golden Knight." she said aloud. "This man...was your father? And he…" she paused, processing all the information she had taken in a single moment. "He had been…" she went silent, seeing Duran's wide eyes suddenly grow sad. "I-I'm sorry," she said. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…" Duran threw his arms up and got out of bed, putting his clothes back on. "Wait, where are you going?"

"Out."

"H-Hey! Wait a minute!" he ignored her, exiting the room, not exactly caring whether or not he woke anyone up. "Wait!" Faerie called out, forgetting that the others were sleeping. "Duran! Duran, I'm sorry! Duran!"

Hm? Angela stirred, hearing a female voice calling out for someone to 'stop' and that they were 'sorry'. Eventually, it got to be too much for her, so she went and cracked open the door, seeing Duran ascend the stairs with Faerie following behind.

"What does he think he's doing? Doesn't he know what time it is?" she then thought for a moment. What time WAS it anyway? Well, it was late enough, that much she knew. And the soldier's stomping had just woken her up. Still, the reason as to why he was up, let alone in such a mood piqued her curiosity. Perhaps this warranted some further investigation.

Getting dressed, she exited the room and followed him up the stairs, careful to maintain a distance between them.

Duran ignored the winged woman's pleas for him to stop and finally reached the deck of the ship. He went by the railing and leaned on it, looking out at the ocean. Or what he could see of the ocean. By the Goddess, when did it get so foggy out here?

"Duran?" Faerie said, her host still not answering her. "I'm sorry." she looked down at the wooden planks below. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to."

He clenched his fists, raising them up as if to strike the railing. But he didn't. His arms stopped and were still before being lowered slowly down, fists still clenched, yet he didn't react the way Faerie anticipated. Angela too watched what was taking place from a small space of the creaked door, listening and watching what was going on.

"...no." Duran finally spoke. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I...I was afraid." he admitted. "I was afraid...and I felt unworthy. And…" he then grabbed the railing, knuckles turning white. "I'm still not." he said.

Faerie fluttered closer, yet kept her distance. "Duran...you know that's not true-"

"Yes it is!" he shouted. Then, after a few moments, began to chuckle. "I mean…" he then placed his hand on his chest. "Here he is, Duran! Son of Loki and Simone! The Golden Knight and slayer of the Dragon Lord! And here, his son has let a kingdom nearly burn, twice, allowed so many to die because he couldn't take on a single red-caped bastard, allowed his king to nearly getting killed, failed to protect what family he has left…" he paused, throat feeling dry, the cool night air somewhat soothing as he breathed in. "And overall...started this entire thing because he was a disgrace and failure." he then looked to the ground, head low and concealed from view.

Faerie began to approach him, yet he turned away. Angela made her way up the deck, inching closer and closer as quietly as she could. Then, she and Faerie saw something traveling down his cheek. A tear? It was quickly wiped away with an arm, yet the young man gave a low growl as if he were trying to keep noises coming from him at bay.

On either side, Faerie and Angela stood, the winged woman brushing back a strand of his hair while the princess placed a gloved hand on his shoulder. He then clutched his forehead, gripping at his hair that rested under the weight of the helmet. Angela looked down at the water below, at least what she could see of it, and scrambled on something to say. Finally, after a few moments, she found her answer.

"You feel like it's hopeless," she said aloud, gaining Duran and Faerie's attention. "You feel that nothing matters. That nothing you did, are doing, or will do will make any difference. Am I right?" Duran was still and unmoving, yet Angela continued, not waiting for his answer. "The son of a great knight and all that training you did still didn't help you," she said. "Your King and everyone else, despite whatever encouragement they give, it doesn't help at all." she then paused. 'Don't make it about you.' she told herself. 'Don't make it about you.' "And those that you wish to have look at you with approval and love...you're afraid only making them disappointed...ashamed of you." she then looked at Duran again. "Now, am I right?"

It took a few moments, but the soldier slowly nodded. "Y-Yes."

Again, she tried to not make it about her, yet it was hard. Not because she wished to make it centered on herself, yet it was now that she was truly beginning to see some parallels. Her story and his.

'And the Goddess won't answer you, no matter how hard you pray. No matter how much you cry, plead, beg bargain...nothing. Your mother and everyone else look at you like you're a mistake. And that's the reason you hate the one you're supposed to pray to.'

"You're afraid your King, Auntie, and sister can't depend on you anymore. That no one can. After all, if you didn't protect them then, how can you protect them now? Better yet, protect any of us?" she then grew quiet. "Let alone wield the Mana Sword and save everyone else?"

Faerie watched, feeling Duran's subconscious confirm each and every one of Angela's statements. "Duran…"

"It...it may mean nothing," Angela said. "But...it's not easy to. It's not. Just believing something someone tells you." she then placed her hand on his bicep again, just as she had done before they boarded the ship. "I meant what I said about you taking care of us," she said. "Not just here, but...everywhere else too. Against whatever else."

She then removed her hand and placed it atop his own. Duran looked shocked, then felt Faerie do the same for his other, even if hers was far smaller. He found himself unable to contain himself any longer. He tried to keep the noise down through clenched teeth, yet couldn't stop the moisture coming from his eyes. Angela and Faerie didn't try to get a look at his face, allowing him space and to keep what semblance of pride he believed he had left at the moment. He growled, hissed, and bit down to where he felt it would be mere seconds before he would bite right through it. Yet he didn't turn either of them away. Like it or not, he needed them here. He needed someone here.

And, if there was anything to take away from this...at least he got to feel the princess' hand feeling his muscle again.

Down Below

'Now it's time for the game to begin.' a disembodied voice said with anticipation, the shadows on the walls rising and stretching, far from retaining the shapes of the objects they were cast from. 'You know what to do.'

The shadows then began to move, trailing along the walls and stopping at two rooms on the lowest section of the ship. They slipped under the doors and manifested inside, their slumbering prey there for the taking. Charlotte stirred as she felt her sheets being pulled back, the chill of the air making her curl up. Then, she felt a dreadful cold on her face, this rousing her from her sleep and making her sit up.

"What the-" she looked to the side, seeing what appeared to be a balloon-like creature with a wisp of a tail, a red jester's collar and cape with white pom-poms, a pale, round head, and red crosses for eyes. "You wook siwwy." she murmured, not entirely awake, let alone sure what she was seeing was even real. "You'we kinda cute though."

She was about to go back to sleep, yet felt something chilled wrap around her waist and drag her out of bed, the balloon-like creature being the culprit, its 'tail' coiled around her like a snake and its grip was just as tight and strong. Then, the being drawn closer to Charlotte, the bottom of its head then opening wide, revealing a gaping vortex of darkness, it opening further and further, a long, spectral hand emerging from back within what Charlotte assumed to be its throat. It then shot forward, aiming right for her chest.

A scream echoed from down below, Duran, Faerie, and Angela whirling around to face where the door they had just exited rested.

"What the!?" Angela shouted while Duran listened, recognizing the voice.

"That sounds like Charlotte!" wasting no time, both of them rushed towards the door, leaving Faerie behind.

"Wait!" she called out, flying after them. 'There's something...something here.' she thought as she made her way to the door. 'It feels like a…' her already wide eyes widened even further. 'A Mana Spirit?!'

"Release her!" she heard Riesz call out, having been awoken by the girl's scream. She threw her spear in the direction of the balloon-shaped specter, yet the weapon passed right through it, landing in the wall.

The specter only gave the amazon a small glance before it shifted its attention back to its captive, the ghostly hand reaching to, then, once it arrived, through her chest. Charlotte immediately began twisting in the creature's grip, cries and screams forced out of her throat as the vaporous appendage continued to move from within. There was no physical pain, yet it felt strange. Strange and intrusive, breaching one's space and intruding into the deepest parts of themselves. It was looking for something, that much she knew, but what? Whatever it was though, it was searching thoroughly, it felt like it was 'digging' through her very being, and whatever it was looking for, Charlotte was helpless to do anything to stop it.

Riesz leaped upon the girl's bed and retrieved her spear from the wall, yet remembered that it would do her no good, so she reached for the girl instead. She was about to grab her, yet the specter's tail extended and wrapped around her wrist, yanking Riesz off her feet and slamming her into the wall, she then falling on the bed in pain.

"N-No!" Charlotte cried out. The hand found what it was looking for, deep within a space inside her that she didn't even know existed. It wrapped its chilled fingers around the unseen 'organ' and the bitter cold transferred into the hidden object, Charlotte then releasing a loud wail. "H-Howy…" she stammered, light forming in her hand.

'That's it, hun!' Lumina cheered. 'Say it! Scream it!'

"H-Howy...BOLT!" The half elf's palm shot forth a bright beam that tore through the specter, its form exploding akin to that of a balloon, scraps and scattered bits of its form flying around before they faded away from view, as if they were never there.

"Charlotte!" Riesz called out, running over to the girl. "Charlotte, are you all right?"

"The hell is…" Hawkeye began, opening the door, Kevin by his side. They both saw Riesz cradling the young blonde, the beastman rushing in first and immediately going to her side. "What happened here?"

"I...It gwabbed me!" Charlotte coughed out as if she had been choked or swallowed the smoke. "It gwabbed me and...and it...put its hand inside me!"

"What?" Hawkeye said, he and Kevin confused.

"It's true," Riesz affirmed. "I saw everything."

Kevin placed his head on her chest, noticing Charlotte was having a hard time breathing. "Her heart…" he then realized, to his horror, that there was another problem. "Her heart...it's…"

"What? What is it doing?" Hawkeye questioned.

Kevin looked at both he and Riesz in horror. "It's not beating."

Suddenly, another specter formed just before their eyes. Then another, and another, and another. Soon, the entire room was full of them, all their eyes centered on the four. Or rather, the 'three' that mattered now.

"What are these things?! Ghosts?!" Angela shouted, giving a yelp as one of the pale-faced beings inched towards her, she instinctively blasted it with Holy Bolt, having figured out that it was the only effective spell she had when the beings had first surrounded her and Duran.

"Hey, you've got another one over there!" Duran said, gesturing to the left of them. Angela blasted it, she and the soldier running in the cleared direction down yet another hallway. "Damn!" he cursed. "These halls don't seem to ever end!"

Indeed, since they went through the door, the ship's interior seemed to have steadily been changing. Wood was beginning to look more wet and rotten, the planks below didn't seem as stable and gave a little when stepped on, and there was evidence of everything from mold to algae and barnacles appearing throughout, the ship looking as if it had sunken and risen up again after a good century or two at the bottom of the ocean. And even more, they couldn't go back down to the floor they were previously on! The stairs had disappeared! They had looked everywhere, running back and forth down each hall they could find, but found that there was no way down! And then, upon trying to get back up to try and maybe get there from the deck (Duran suggested climbing down towards a window, yet Angela and Faerie quickly shot that idea down), yet found that the way up was closed off too! They were trapped on the floor of the ship and with nowhere to go!

'It might be too soon to say,' Faerie said, having slipped back into her host. 'But I sense that there's more here than meets the eye!'

"Oh wow, really?" Duran asked sarcastically. "I haven't noticed one peculiar thing!"

'No! Not like that! Hey!' Faerie cried out. 'Stop for a minute! Duck in one of the rooms!'

"What?! We can't stop now!" Duran argued.

'Just do it! It'll take just a second!'

Seeing that they had yet to come across any more specters, Duran grabbed the knob of one of the doors, yet found it locked. Then he checked the next door, then the next, and the next. "Oh! Move over!" Angela demanded, aiming shards of diamond right into the knob, knocking it from its place and through the door. Duran then proceeded to kick it down and they both entered darkness overtaking them, for Angela's wand was the only light source they had.

"So much for your kindness before." Duran said.

"You were taking too long." Angela retorted, taking in a few breaths. "Besides, Faerie won't stop yapping."

Duran sighed, taking in a few breaths for himself. "Well, we've stopped. What've you got the say?" he asked the winged woman.

She emerged from him, providing a secondary glow in the darkened room. "I don't know how I didn't notice it before. I mean, I noticed that perhaps SOMETHING was off, yet I didn't think that it would lead to something like THIS manifesting!" she looked around. "This is terrible. If I'm right, and I think I am, at least, I hope I am, then…"

"Then what?" Duran asked, anxious to hear the answer.

"Then there's a Mana Spirit aboard this ship."

Duran and Angela were left befuddled. "But how can that be?" Angela asked. "I mean, there's no Stone anywhere near here! And there's no way that it could fit on this ship unless you chop it up into little pieces!"

"I know, but that's what I'm sensing!" Faerie said. The other Elementals manifested then.

"I felt the same thing when we boarded," Sylphid said. "Something suppressed, but present all the same."

"Me too!" Gnome added. "There's something lurking about on this ship, I'll tell you what!"

Lumina was silent for a moment as if focusing on something, something he had missed earlier. "Lumina?" Faerie asked. "Lumina, what are you-"

"Aha!" the wisp then cried out. "I think I know who's here! Of course! How could I mistake that feeling for simple jitters? He ALWAYS gives everyone a chill down their backs!"

"Who?" Duran asked. "What are you talking about?"

"It's ok!" Lumina assured. "He might seem all doom and gloom, but he's really a nice guy! We're good pals!" he then looked to his other Elementals. "We're in luck! Sha-"

Suddenly, Duran, Angela, and Faerie gripped their noses, the room soon overrun with a pungent odor. "The hell?!" Duran coughed, trying in vain to keep the smell from entering his nostrils. "What IS that?!"

"It smells like someone had died in here!" Angela said behind her hand covering her mouth and nose. Then, the light from her staff hit a distant object. Faerie approached it, and to horror, saw exactly what it was.

It was a piece of meat, long rotten and now serving as a home and feeding place for maggots. "Oh Goddess…" she gagged, Angela's light being directed to another object, and another, and another, all food, all rotten, and nearly all covered in either roaches or fly larvae.

The amazon thrust forward, the thief leaped back, and the beastman slashed. Yet no matter what, there were simply too many of their foes for them to deal with. Each was seized by a specter and, to their dismay, had a ghostly hand pierce their chest and inner being to lay it on and transfer some sort of horrid sensation to whatever it had found. Once that was done, the specters all disappeared, leaving the four alone.

"Guys!" Charlotte rose up, running over to them. "Guys, awe you ok?!"

"I...I think so." Riesz wheezed, placing her hand on her throat. "But...but I…" she realized with horror that she couldn't feel a pulse.

Hawkeye and Kevin too realized this, horror creeping into their features. What had happened, none of them knew, yet one thing was certain. Duran and Angela were missing, and who was to say those ghostly figures wouldn't go for them too? Quickly, everyone dressed and got on their gear, dashing down the hall to try and find them.

Duran and Angela burst through the door, everyone else fading from view, the Elementals returning to the separate dimension, waiting to be called on once again. "Don't…" Angela wheezed. "Don't tell me that's what we…" she fought to keep bile from rising in her throat. "Ate."

"Rest assured, you won't feel any of its effects on your body."

Duran and Angela's blood ran cold, the sudden voice echoing throughout the halls...no, from above, below, all around. "Wh-Wha…"

"Otherwise that would cripple you too badly. And I want to give you all at least a fighting chance."

"Who...who's thewe?" Charlotte asked, raising her palm and producing light, trying to look brave. Especially for Kevin. "Show youwsewf!"

"Hmm, you sound like a young one." the voice said, amused. "What are you, two? Three maybe?"

"I'm fifteen for youw infowmation!"

"Hmm...but there's four of you...and only three floors…" the voice then paused. "Ah! That will solve the problem!" Suddenly, two specters manifested and seized both Charlotte and Hawkeye, pulling them up through the ceiling before they could even protest.

Both Kevin and Riesz tried to reach them, yet only their fingertips managed to graze each other, the two youths out of sight in an instant. "Charlotte…" Kevin cursed himself for not being quick enough, clenching his fists. "Where are they?!" he demanded. "Bring them back!"

"Oh relax. I have no intention of killing them. I have no intention of killing any of you." the voice spoke again.

"Who are you?" Riesz asked, voice a low growl. "Tell me!"

"Under whose authority? Yours? Who do you think you are? Some sort of Queen?" the amazon flinched at this, yet still stood her ground. "Rest assured, they're fine. In fact…"

"They can hear me just as fine as you can."

Charlotte yelped. "There it is! It's him!"

"Ok, fun and games are over, pal," Hawkeye said, trying to keep his cool. "You're making the little lady nervous."

"...I'm not THAT wittwe."

The voice chuckled. "I would carefully consider each breath you take, for it may be your last." Charlotte, despite her affirmation of bravery before, held onto Hawkeye's pants leg.

"But...but you said that you wouwdn't kiww us!"

"And I don't have any intention of doing so." though they couldn't see it, they could imagine whatever the voice belonged to grinning with anticipation. "Yet." it then chuckled. "But it would be no fun if you were simply left to wander aimlessly within this ship. So, without further ado," he then proclaimed. "We can finally start the game!"

Note: Well, maybe not Scooby-Doo esque yet, but I plan to add some dark humor here and there to add some levity. I'm not wishing to spoil what's exactly happened to Kevin, Charlotte, Riesz and Hawkeye yet, but rest assured, it DOES have a payoff later, as well as a reference to far further in the story concerning Duran.

That said, here's hoping you enjoyed, and I'll see you next chapter!