Frozen Memories - 1-8 Bridge

by Xeir Zith

Hidden Past - Back Cover. Hidden Past remake! This is entirely overhauled with missing dialog added to inital scenes with expansions and spelling fixes to the original writing from Hidden Past. In Bridge we see exactly what happens between Frozen Memories and War of the North - Frozen Memories. Xeir dreams and Elsa lives in a simulated city. Light works, Jarius writes Xeir sleeps

38. Ingrid - Meet Again: Chapter 8

Frozen Memories – 1.8 Bridge

Hidden past – Back Cover

Ingrid – Meet Again/Kiyori's Last Stand

Chapter 8: Something You Could Never Imitate part 2

4 July 2058

Arendelle Castle

Star Formation Chamber

Seven PM

Kiyori placed the last shard freely into the formation, the stars shone brightly and glittered as it was fully repaired the way it was to be from the start. He knew it was repaired when he could control it entirely.

He found himself able to travel in time, backwards and forwards.

He could see Time end, and he could see when it began.

He had so many options. He decided to go backwards, see things from history. Time also gave him uniquie abilities that only ancient powers could attain or control. And yet there he was.

He could control time

He could control fate.

Time was his to command, he was not going to back down now. He had what he wanted. He could end the stubborn woman before she began! He went backwards in time.

Upon the Formation's balcony, glass steps formed before him, he walked forwards, ever upward. The steps were solid under his feet, and glowed with an inner light that bathed the floor, the stairs, with an etheral glimmer.

He did not know it then, but he was merely a passenger, an observor. As he went backwards through time he witnessed events go in reverse until he stopped at one.

An old battlefield. Untouched for generations. And yet there he stood at the base of a hill. Time continued to reverse around him as he was soon able to see the structures rebuild and time then started forwards. He was at the start of time, the beginning of recorded history.

Known recorded history he knew from the outside world started at five thousand BCE. And yet Arendelle predated even that by millions of years. A city advanced beyond its own understanding.

He saw the first battle between the Precoursors and Humans. But he never expected the founding of Arendelle to be such a pivital pitched battle so dangerously focused upon.

Time surged around him, and he found he could traverse time easily with little hinderence.

Time, Kiyori mused, was now his toy.

He watched as a star died and another star was born.

He saw a galaxy form.

He saw the Isu, Those who were known as Those Who Came Before, otherwise known as the precoursors strike a deal with someone or something.

And then came the destruction. As he moved through the ruins around his perched, he found himself standing in a sdea of glass and light. He saw something incredibly, the birth of the nuclear bomb was not this majestic.

Stars formed and danced over his head. Galaxies swirled and storms in the stars danced and roiled soundlessly.

And yet his focus was upon a single item.

A pocketwatch was open. And itwas ticking.

Ever forwards.

Kiyori reached for the watch. And upon his touch, time shifted around him, moving forwards and backwards. Swirling in an endless array of light, color, and sound. He came to a sudden bone jarring halt as energy swirled around a being.

He stared at the majestic structure above. Made of glass and crystal in a hue of silver. Dragons were everywhere. He smiled. Kiyori knew then that the woman who dogged his every breath was not even human.

Blackmane was the least of his worries.

Kiyori saw from the Formation what looked to be a woman, clothed in golden silk. She carried an infant, a girl in her arms. Her eyes were of silver as was her hair. But the eyes were not human in the slightest.

And yet, the infant, one so tiny, so destined. For a brief instant Kiyori felt something of a fathers love for his child. And yet the woman seemed to look directly at him, as if daring him to come near her and her baby. Kiyori was incredibly tempted to reach for the child. But he fought back the tempation and simply watched the woman carefully.

Time once again shifted and danced around him. Kiyori found that he could only watch what was going on around him. The temptation to change the present was just too strong for him

So he decided to see his future. How much time could progress.

Time shifted around him, a swirl of sound and color. Finally it stopped, suddenly as if the Formation never exsisted.

He saw two people. Then hundreds against one.

Time shifted once again and he was standing upon the balcony of the Formation's Bridge to Nowhere. He dropped to one knee. "Impossible!" He muttered as he breathed hard. Time didnt just end!

He saw time begin, he saw time somehow end ? Or did he witness something else ? He stood up, and went through the memories of the Formation. A flick fo the wrist and he saw a battlefield, Himself one of the fighters, and a unknown woman in silver as the other.

He snarled when he recognised the woman in silver.

"Damned Dragon!" He hissed, he turned, the visions fading, he was tired and needed to sleep. Stalking from the Formation's chamber he reentered the Arendelle palace and headed for his room. Locking the door behind himself with a hard clack. He then sat at the dresser desk and brooded well into the night.

5 July 2058

Arendelle

Yaeko District

just after midnight

"It seems to have settled for the night" Tiri mused aloud seeing the sky above. Mark had an entertaining evening however, Four siblings all calling him their father. One of which nearly twice his size alone.

"Indeed" Xeir replied to her sister. She went back to the gazebo in the courtyard and poured a drink. Taking the cup into her hands she sat in thought.

"Still upset that you cant sense him ?" Tiri said, she meant Xeir able to sense Kalda within Mark.

"I have an entirely new body, you have your body. Is it possible that whoever made my body can do the same for Kalda ?" Xeir asked her. "I mean think about it, If its true, I returned to being me when my Nothing merged with me to wake me up. What about Kalda ? Couldnt he do the same ?"

"I am not sure if it works that way" Tiri said in reply. Xeir sighed in thought and took a sip of the wine. "Though it is possible we could ask Kanwar or even Fang's father, Emperor Tilr for their advice on the matter. From what I can remember about how the the Vulture Enclave in the Eagle Empire are medical geniuses when it comes to body work"

"Could they build a Silver Dragons body ?" Xeir asked

"Maybe ?" Tiri replied, she had no idea who built Xeirs body, it felt young, looked young, and yet, was also more likely old too.

A woman showed up at the courtyard house gate. Tie stepped into view. "What is it Tie ?"

"A winged lady, named Spike, wishes to speak to you, she needs your advice on something important that Lady Blackmane discovered for her." Tie said

"Do not keep her waiting," Xeir said, Spike stepped into view, she carried a silver and white kitten in her arms, about seven months or so old. "Spike, its good to see you still caring greatly for the cats in this kingdom."

Spike smiled at the Silver Dragon, by that time of night, Xeir was dressed in a nightgown of pale silver and white, almost identical to the kitten, named Ghost, in Spikes arms. "I am glad you are still awake, I wont keep you long. But I need your help, it concerns Ghost. Her siblings were able to transform like their mother. They're Tigris. Mystra is worried for Ghost though. Its like, she cant transform ?"

Spike set the kitten on the table, Tiri smiled seeing the kitten struggle with Spike, not wanting to let go of the woman and kept constantly trying to climb back into her embrace. "Blackmane said that the whole itter, even their mother, are Tigris, she could sense it. But for some reason, Ghost cant transform even though Blackmane was able to confirm that Ghost was the firstborn of Mystras kittens."

Xeir absently stroked the kittens fur, the kitten, half a year old or so, purred and pawed at Xeirs gently scale covered hand. "How can I help her ?" Xeir asked Spike

"Blackmane said it might have to do with the Formation, and the weird things in the sky. Mystra said she will remain as a housecat with her kittens for as long as she must. But she knows that Ghost can transform into a human form of some kind." Spike explained. "Its possible the stars at night are forcing something onto Ghost, but I dont feel anything different and the vets we have have noticed nothing either. We all know she is like her mother."

"I see" Xeir said thoughtfully, she stroked Ghosts fur some more. The kitten purred. Xeir stood and stepped to the edge of the gazebo and looked upwards. The stars were in the night sky unmoving. Perfect. "I think all she needs is a little bit of a magic boost. Her own magic feels really weak, like its there, but not strong enough to let her transform" Xeir produced a item from somewhere else entirely.

She held it to Spike, "Have her eat this. Hopefully it will help. From what I understand about Tigris, their fur color denotes some kind of outfit or clothing, or at least modesty when they first transform ?"

Spike nodded. "Yes, Mystra herself is a dark calico girl. When she transformed before my eyes she was wearing a gorgeous dark gray and blue black dress. Her kittens were in similar robes and dresses too. Children really. Very cute."

"And Ghost is the first born of the litter, so she will be quite beautiful. Have her eat this." Xeir said, the sliver of food was more or less a strip of bacon, but magically infused by Xeir as she flicked a scaled finger against it. Silver sparkles danced on the meat before they faded. "It will give her magic the boost she'll need to be able to transform at will"

Spike took the bacon and held it out to the kitten, Ghost scarfed it down and hiccuped twice before scratching at her left ear and transforming right there on the table into a gorgeous dark haired young woman, a dress of pale silver and white with bits of gold that matched her fur was what she wore. She was scratching her left ear with a slender hand

Still scratching her left ear she looked at Spike confused. "Spike ?" She asked seeing the winged woman, Spike smiled. Finally Ghost could talk!

"Yes, its me. Ghost ?" Spike replied to her cat. Who was now a human girl, who looked gorgeous

The girl leaped off the table and tackled Spike with a happy meow of joy. "It worked!" Ghost said with joy, "Just like Momma said! Trust the Silver Dragon Lady. I wanted to transform sooner but, I just didnt have the strength, it was like every time I tried my magic failed or didnt work or wasnt strong enough." Ghost said, she was shy as she explained to Spike what kept her from transforming so quickly and effortlessly like her siblings.

Moments later and the two took their leave from Xeir and Tiri.

"A nice family" Tiri mused, she knew she would see more of Spike more often in the future. She just did not know when, she also knew that Tigris could live for a long time.

"Yes, a very nice one" Xeir replied, seeing the joy on Spikes face made Xeir also quite happy.

"Spike will be happy now, you saw how worried she has been since Mystra was revealed by Blackmane to be a Tigris ? How her kittens, execept for Ghost could effortlessly transform. Ghost herself is quite beautiful. I wonder what her skills could be ?" Tiri mused aloud as she and Xeir went into their bedroom and Xeir got into bed.

"At this moment I am more worried of other things." Xeir mused, she helped Spike, and knew the woman meant well, caring for so many cats in one location, yet so careful in doing so, so loving as well.

"Like what ?" Tiri asked from her pile of ice on a nearby pillow

"When I wake up, ask me again" Xeir replied, she then turned off the light and went to sleep. Tiri chittered something but Xeir was already asleep, to the point wherein that Tiri was either snoring or talking in her sleep.

Arendelle

Marketplace District Den

At that same moment

Blackmane stared at the ceiling. How could her nephew be so stoneheaded to give the shards so freely to the High Priest ? Didnt he see that in doing so they were dooming themselves ?

But Mark had heard none of it, instead insisting on introducing Blackmane to Severian, Umi, Hiriko and Tamond, four of Iries six children. Umi, Blackmane saw right off the bat, seemed to mirror Mark in every way.

From her clothing style, brutish sure, but also elegant, like a Tigris should be, and yet Blackmane could see clearly that Umi was a Snow Leopard, like Mark. Whereas the other three were a hybrid of both Snow Leopard and Cheetah. Their markings a mix of both.

But only Umi matched Mark, a Snow Leopard, marking for marking, even down to the fighting style. Umi was basically a bigger female version of Mark. Blackmane found it hard, briefly at least, to tell them apart, three of the four looked like Irie, and infact Blackmane had called Hiriko by that name only to get corrected.

Mark too was impressed with the knowledge the four knew about them all. But was most impressed with the skills with technology that Tamond had inhereited from Irie. Somehow the small lithe man had stolen the wristphone off Marks own body without getting noticed in any possible way.

Blackmane had laughed she remembered. Mark nearly tackled his son for the theft, but when Tamond pointed out the battery issue and fixed it for him before giving it back, it made things slightly easier for them all.

"Next time ask first" Mark had grumbled to his son

"Sorry, but you were focused on other shit at the time." Tamond apologised to his father, but still had a smirk on his face as Tinker Bill stepped into the main house from the structure below. "All things going well enough for you to come to the land of the living Mr Bill ?" Tamond had asked

It made Tinker Bill smile, being called Mr Bill was not something he expected. Either way the creamwhite Tigris smiled and nodded in reply "yes, everything can handle itself downstairs without me just fine. Ever since your mother and father inquired with a friend of mine for my aid and directions to find me I have been helping them out downstairs.

Everyone knew, at least in the Brotherhood, everyone knew, that Tinker Bill's 'Friend' was a Beerholder, which was basically a Beholder who made too many bad life choices and got addicted to the sound of billard balls and cigarette smoke. It was only a matter of time before Mick found out what Hookahs could do

Nevertheless, introductions were had and Blackmane, and the now awake Kaezin, were introduced to the foursome. And were told that their mother, Irie, and the last two sisters, Gwenn and Alethra, were on their way.

Blackmane knew the house was filling up, but that was the design of the structure as a whole. It allowed for the family to expand nicely. To the point wherein new rooms were added to the Den and the second floor was basically a massive hotel with three sets of stairs.

Blackmane and Kaezin found themselves getting rather immersed in Severians story of their mother sending them to get the RV, then get to Gilja, then from there get to Arendelle by portal.

When Hiriko had arrived it only made a bit more confusion, though it quickly faded. When the family explained further the portal split them apart. And Tamond spoke up.

"Umi knocked dad on his ass" He said, as if telling the worlds biggest secret to his sister and brother.

Both Umi and Mark glared at him as Severian said. "Really ? I would have loved to see that, how did it happen ?"

"Well, she also landed me on my own ass in the trash heap we landed in" Tamond clarified. Again Mark glared at him, but Umi was smiling a goofy smile on her face as she remembered Tamond rebounding off her ass and landing in the rubbish.

Umi looked to Severian, "What about you ?" She asked

"Hit a fridge door and got asked about a pizza from Asami" Severian replied. Umi wondered what a Pizza was.

But Hiriko beat both Umi and Tamond to the punch when she said "I landed in a fountain outside a very nice library, also, Sev, what's a pizza ?"

Severian smiled at his sisters and brother. "Oh wouldnt you like to know." He replied. Asami of course hogged the deep dish, it had mushrooms, black olives, italian sausage, pepperoni, and bbq shrreded beef for the toppings. And the sauce was bbq sauce. It was, as Asami termed it, a taste of Heaven.

Severian however had tasted the normal pepperoni and onions slices the others ordered and it was really good, so Asami was mostly right about it being a taste of heaven.

The pizza place was infact called A Slice of Heaven and they made a damn good pizza. But that was beside the point.

Blackmane laid in her bed, it was past midnight, and she was unable to sleep. The High Priest was beocoming more powerful then anyone could hope to guess and here the family was, the whole Brotherhood really, squabbling and bantering between one another as if there was nothing to worry about whatsoever.

Was she over thinking the whole thing ? Was Xeirs plan the correct plan of action to take ? Curled up in bed, Blackmane could only stare at nothing for a few moments longer before going to sleep. It was not much longer before she was sound asleep.

Arendelle

Pond District

Nine hours later

Breakfast, the most important meal of the day as far as Nara was concerned consisted of bacon, three large flat eggs, some ham, and a lot of garlic bread. Why the garlic bread only Diamond knew and she was not telling anyone. As Nara ate breakfast, Diamond was drinking a pot of what smelled like roofing tar, and it also had the taste of roofing tar. Coffee left plugged in all night just waiting to get tossed out. Thick as mud yet tasting quite good. "So,who exactly are we waiting for again ?" Nara asked around a slice of bacon

"Marks cousin, Irie. Then again she might as well be his wife, you saw the girls and their brothers right ?" Diamond replied, giving Nara a hard look as she spoke. "She is supposed to be arriving by RV. So we're to watch for the RV and let Mark know when she gets here."

"Sure, there's no missing that phonebooth" He replied, meaning Umi, she could try and deck him, but it wouldnt do much good. He nodded as Diamond spoke. He rubbed his chin. "Dear, ya got something here... no here..., there ya go" he said to her as he motioned where something was on her chin. She was drooling coffee it looked like. He went back to eating his eggs. "Any idea what the RV is to look like ?" Nara asked as he took a sip of his breakfast wine.

"No, only that it is big, and it is a HoverRV, like a hovertruck, only built for luxary over anything else." Diamond replied.

"You sure you dont want to eat anything dear ?" Nara asked her, offering her a slice of bacon. She shook her head, Diana was not hungry. "Suit yourself."

A moment or so later and once more Nara spoke up. "So this big RV, is it supposed to look like it came right off the assembly line ?" Diamond looked at him confused. Nara nodded towards something behind her. She turned and saw what he was looking at.

"That is a big RV" She said seeing the RV that Irie was driving. She pulled into a nearby parking area and got out. "Yeah, that's Irie, come on." Diamond said, Nara by that point had finished eating and was downing the last of the wine before dropping the payment on the table and heading after his wife.

Irie spotted Diamond almost instantly. But Diamond was taken briefly aback by the site of a much younger version of Irie dropping out of the RV, followed by a slightly older yet still much younger version of Irie following the other. Infact if Diamond did not know better, she could have sworn she was seeing double.

However as Diamond and Nara neared the mother and her two youngest daughters. Diamond heard the youngest, the exact duplicate, say "So this is Arendelle. Why is it so shiny ? So many fountains" Alethra said

"Small wonder mom could navigate the roads! Fountains at every intersection alone" Gwenn replied.

"Both of you shut it." Irie said when she saw Diamond, she smiled and rushed forwards. The two women hugged close. "Diana, it is very good to see you. Infact I am glad to see you." Irie said, she then turned and introduced her daughters who were with her. "I would like to introduce you to Gwenn, and Alethra." In turn she pointed both girls out. "Girls, this is Diana, a close friend of mine who helped me nail down your father.

"Where is dad anyhow ?" Alethra asked

"If I can recall rightly" Nara said in greeting after the introductions were finished. "It is quite possible he is either still asleep, or getting himself quite drunk in the nearby bar"

"We met the other four last night, Mark downed the boxwine in one go. No idea where he went after that. So Nara might be right of where he is right now" Diamond said

Irie smirked as her daughters couldnt help but smile at the very apt discription of their father. "When I said your father was stubborn and more then likely blind to my advances. I wasnt kidding, for all we know he's trying to drown his memories and believe you guys are hangovers already" Irie said to the two girls.

"Either way" Nara spoke up after the gigglefestival ended. "You are just in time for the remainder of our breakfast unless you already ate in which case the Den is thataway" Nara pointed towards the Marketplace Den. There was a recently burnt smell in the air.

Irie noticed it but said nothing, however Alethra asked "Why cant we take the RV to the den ?"

"Because the den has no place to park it." Gwenn replied. After all she did listen to their mother when Irie had explained why she sent the other four stooges ahead of them. Alethra gave her sister a dirty look, the two headed with their mother towards the Marketplace den.

However they took all of ten steps out of the Pond District when Irie was spotted by some of the Honor Guard thugs, which weere formally soldiers but were now no more then common thugs getting paid to bully the kingdoms residents. Upon spotting them the suqad leader shouted out "Hey! Hey you! Stop!"

Irie turned at who was speaking, and rolled her eyes, Putting a hand to her forehead she groaned. "Not these fuckers again" She grumbled softly. But speaking up she asked innocently "Who, us ?"

"May I ?" Alethra asked. Irie nodded and the younger girl turned to the oncoming group of thugs who were roughly moving people out of their way. "Sorry gentlemen but we're busy. You'll have to come back later or not at all" Alethra called towards the bunch of thugs.

"Stop right there in the name of the High Priest! You are under arrest!" The leader of the group of soldiers called out. Irie started laughing as if she had been hit with a fit of the giggles. Which she had as the soldiers surrounded them.

"I tried to warn you to come back later but no." Alethra growled.

"You are under arrest for jaywalking" The soldier told Irie, who still laughed in the mans face at such a stupid useless charge. It only worked to make him all the more upset. "Will you stop laughing woman!"

"I'm not the one you should be worried about" Irie said to him while still laughing her ass off.

"Hey! Where'd the other woman go ?" Said one of the soldiers, "Wasnt there three of them ?" The group started looking around confused.

"Where'd the third one go ?" The leader thundered at Irie, who simply smiled, her sharp feline teeth glittering in the sunlight.

Irie finally got a grip on herself and slowly stopped laughing. "Like I said, I am not the one you want to worry about." She told the man. He just looked at her confused. She nodded at the girl about to bring down hell from behind. "But she is"

"What ?" the soldier thundered, turning around, only to get smashed in the face by Gwenns decloaking fist. Breaking his jaw and sending him to the street in a heap. Alethra clapped her hands and made a air tick motion as if marking Gwenns sneak attack as another successful strike.

By that point Alethra had counted five other soldiers. And started laughing along with her mother. Their leader down the other five had no idea what to do and quickly ganged up on Gwenn, only to get smashed in the face, their armor doing nothing to protect against the dragon forged duradaeden knuckles.

Within a minute it was over, the soldiers were dead in the road. And the people nearby were cheering. Gwenn shook her fist where she had pummeled the last soldier in the gut, then face, then stabbed repeatedly. As if playing patacake with his lungs.

Even with the knuckles it hurt a little bit more then just a little bit. "Well, that's that" Gwenn said simply. Irie was nodding, Alethra ticked off another score card in the thin air. Which made Gwenn smirk at her. "Oh stop that" she chastised her sister as her mother simply just smiled at the silliness her children had between them.

"Not bad for real world experience. Great job. Come on, lets go find your father and hope he is sober." Irie said, the three then headed for the Den nearby.

As they neared the den they found Asami resting outside it, with her was Hiriko, the two women had taken to each other rather quickly. Hiriko saw her mother out of the corner of her eye. Gwenn looked to be holding her hand, occasionally shaking it as if recently in a fight. And Alethra was struggling not to skip like a child through the street at that moment.

"Oh, hello Mother." Hiriko called out spotting Irie. Which got Asamis attention. The two women were more or less soaking up some sun as Asami had a dark green two piece bikini on while Hiriko had her normal outfit on. Which even then also showed a lot of skin to begin with.

Asami smiled warmly when she saw Irie and got up from the lounge chair she rested on. Irie and Asami hugged close. "Welcome back!" Asami said to Irie. "Its been too long! What kept you ?" She said nothing of Lazul mistaking Severian for Irie albiet so briefly.

"Traffic mostly." Irie replied as she returned the hug. She looked over Asami's outfit. "I do not remember you wearing a bikini ?" She said simply in confusion.

"You never asked if I did, now you know that I do." Asami said with a snicker. She turned to the two girls with her waiting nearby to be introduced. "And these, my dear cousin, are ?"

"Gwenn, and Alethra" Irie said pointing for to Gwenn who was taking off her duradaeden knuckles, Gwenn nodded in greeting to Asami, and then Irie pointed at her seeming twin but youngest daughter, Alethra. Who waved a cute greeting to Asami. It made the green swimsuit wearing older woman smile seeing how innocent Alethra was.

But it was all just a ploy, and Asami knew it. "Welcome home, I am Asami, your mothers cousin." Asami said, introducing herself to both girls

"The woman with green hair, green eyes, green lipstick, and wears a green dress with nearly shoulder length green gloves ?" Gwenn said. Asami simply looked at briefly struck dumb as Hiriko and Alethra both started giggling as Irie went red in the face

Asami then nodded. "Yes actually, that's me" How many other women in Arendelle, or the world, had green hair ? A few, but not as green or as beautiful as Asami herself. Or so said her father Martin.

Hiriko spoke up. "Dad and Loo Brush are in the sparring arena, Umi is asleep, I had to climb over her to get out of bed. And Severian is I think trying to sleep, he had night watch" She explained to her mother.

"Good morning to you too" Irie said with a smile and soft chuckle as Alethra started giggling like a schoolgirl, which she kind of looked like right then. All because Hiriko had used Tamonds nickname. And now Asami even knew it.

But thankfully Asami did not ask what the woman meant by the name and nodded. "Last I heard Mark was either teaching Tamond how to swear, or Tamond was kicking his ass." The green haired woman said with a snicker. Which made even Irie start laughing.

Irie turned to the two girls. "Come on girls, lets go find your father. Hopefully he wont be in a body cast" the three bid good by for the moment to Asami and Hiriko and headed for the sparring area of the Den's lot

When they came upon the scene they found several people watching, Severian, contrary to what Hiriko had said, was actually napping nearby and in the shade of a tree. While Tamond was whaling the tar out of Mark in the sparring ring.

At least until he spotted his mother and sisters and suddenly found himself flat on his back in the sand "Oi!" He chirped

"That's another thing to remember" Mark said to him. "Never take your eyes off your enemy."

"So that and swearing each time your ass hit the ground ?" Tamond asked him. Mark pulled back to punch him but Tamond snickered. And suddenly Mark was on the ground with Tamond having both legs wrapped around his waist. "What's that about taking both eyes off my enemy when one works just as good ?" He asked

By then even Mark spotted Irie, and the two girls with her. At which point Tamond easily, and completely accidently, sent Mark sailing, Mark smashed against the ring edge with a sudden curse of a loud "HOLY FUCK THAT HURT!" Irie didnt even flinch as Alethra's ears were covered by Gwenn. Alethra however shook her head briefly,

"We're both adults here stupid" She said, Gwenn snickered

Tamond however did a victory dance. "Who knew mom could be so distracting!" he crowed

Mark climbed up to his feet, his hand reaching up and grabbing the surface of the ring edge, and he then pulled himself right up to Perfect Kissing Reach of Irie, and she planted one hell of a tail curling liplock on Marks lips. Mark stood there for a long moment in shock as Irie pulled back "Good morning, Dear" She said with a smile

Mark's mouth didnt work, it opened and closed sure, but it didnt work because no sound came out. Another moment passed and Mark got his mouth to work properly with his brain. "I might be able to get used to that" He said, meaning Iries kiss.

"And there is more where it came from" Irie smiled at him. Mark did not look confident in what she said. Infact he looked a little bit more then scared.

Thankfully his attention went to the two younger women with her. "And these two look familiar. Yet I cannot say for sure" Mark said on sight of the two girls.

"Girls, meet your father. Mark, dear, these are your two youngest daughters. Gwenn," Irie set a hand on Gwenns left shoulder, she waved at her father. "And Alethra" Mark could see that even though Alethra shyly waved at him, that she was a direct pretty much solid genetic clone of her mother.

"Nice to meet you both, now if you'll excuse me I'm gonna kick your brother to to Moon" Mark said after the two gave him a hug.

"No you arent, dad" Came Tamonds voice at Marks left elbow. Next thing Mark knew he lost his wallet, and both wristphones, again. "Geez, I thought I fixed this battery ?"

"Oh for fucks sake! TAMOND GIVE ME BACK MY STUFF!" Mark thundered as he ran for him. Tamond pitched back the wallet but bolted while still carrying the wristphones. Mark caught his wallet and stuffed it back in his pocket and gave chase to his son around the ring.

Finally when the dust cleared, it found Mark and Tamond in a stalemate, Tamond's tail in Marks mouth, and Marks tail in Tamonds mouth. Both men stared hard at each other, ready to bite each other in the ass.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Finally Tamond smiled and let go of his fathers Snow Leopard tail. Mark was getting better at fighting in hybrid form. He handed his father the wristphone. "I'll fix the battery system after lunch, this time I'll ask before I'll take it" he said.

Mark half smiled then started laughing, letting go of his sons very floofy tail the two men stood up, Mark accepted back the wristphone and nodded. "Alright, you fight well for improvision, Son. But your form still lacks a bit of fineese. I think we can work on that later"

"After lunch then ? I can fix the battery on your wristphone during lunch, then after you can teach me" Tamond said

Irie had to smile. Of the six children, Umi was a direct yet female match to her father, Mark, a gorgeous Snow Leopard. Whereas Alethra was a direct full Cheetah like her mother. Tamond, even with his ultra floofy tail even in human form, was a genius like his mother when it came to technology.

Gwenn and Hiriko were both martial masters when it came to fistfighting. And all six of them were all excellent swimmers too.

Severian however was the most levelheaded of the six, a leader type, and he studied tactics in the Mythic Realm under the Champion known as Asaca, the Third Daughter and Champion of Light. Which basically meant that mark was a wuss when ti came to chess

But it was Tamond who was a pickpocket by sheer natural skill alone. Irie could never hope to steal anything without getting noticed. So when she grilled Tamond under even magical means, Tamond had infact insisted, and truthfully explained that he had taught himself how to steal without getting seen or felt. No magical skill needed either.

Which made Irie smile. Not only was Tamond a genius with technology. But he could get into places even Mark couldnt hope to get into.

And that alone made a happy family very interesting because many people, Irie included, often wondered how she could birth such a big daughter in the form of Umi.

Where Tamond used a Baretta Auto 9 machine pistol with a Light Dragon magic infused endless clip. Umi matched Mark, in the sense of a .50 caliber desert eagle pistol, also with the Light Dragon magic blessed endless clip. She also matched Mark for his outfit too.

Mark stepped from the sparring ring. "I take it everything was alright where you were, able to raise the kids without the worry that I'd, teach them the wrong thing ?" Mark said to Irie as she watched him.

"Far from it, The Dove said it was best for me, safest for me really with the Formation and whatnot going on. All night long the stars were just acting bizarre while we were on the road to get here from Gilja" She said to him.

"Tell me about it, I could barely sleep, so Severian and I took second watch together so Diana and Nara could sleep." Mark said in reply, he was then thoughtful, "You know I actually havent seen either them alone in a while, just always working together. Are they in love or something ?"

Irie just shrugged even though she knew they were husband and wife. She looked at Mark almost expecting him to get on a knee. But it was Alethra who spoke up. "Daddy ? Why didnt you get Momma a ring ?"

"Uh..." Mark said, his brain stopped working albiet briefly, and yet somehow he couldnt figure it out. Could he have six kids out of wedlock ? Well he was a widower, Xeir had made it clear Elsa was dead and gone. And he still was not used to it either. "A ring ?" He then asked

Irie just looked at him, expecting just that.

"I did not think of it, truth be told, its been a rather interesting month, let alone a very interesting and harrowing twenty four hours." He replied to her. It was mostly true, He then spotted the blood on Gwenns hand "I see you met somebody you didnt agree with, Gwenn right ?"

She nodded. "Yeah, some soldiers tried to arrest mom" She said. "But I was able to do the beatdown, they never stood a chance." She said proudly, Mark felt himself puff up with pride, Yup, Gwenn was his kid alright.

"What did they look like ?" Mark asked in a goofy sounding tone

Alethra detailed them with three words, "Big, dumb, and stinky."

Both Irie and Gwenn started laughing. While Mark simply replied "A exact detailed description if I have ever heard one." Already Mark was quite proud of his youngest daughter. He looked to them all. "Have you had breakfast ? No, there's food inside on the table. I think Aunt Blackie made extras." He said to them

They all went inside. And briefly Mark turned and spotted his cousin, Asami, and his daughter, Hiriko, sunbathing. He raised an eyebrow and was about to ask Asami why she was wearing a dark green two piece bikini when Irie reached through the front door and grabbed Mark by the left ear and pulled him inside the Den with him suddenly screaming out a loud. "Ow hey, that's my favorite ear!"

From their lounge chairs, Asami sat up on her chair and looked towards the Den door in confusion. "What was that all about ?" She asked.

"Dunno, but it sounded like Mom wanting Dad for something" Hiriko replied from where she laid on her stomach as she tanned her back. They went quiet after that, to the point of napping lightly in their sleep in the sunbeam, so to speak.

One Hour Later

Marketplace District Den

"Go wake up your sister and my cousin" Mark said to Tamond, the smaller man shook his head, "What do you mean ? Shaking your head 'no' for ?" Mark asked him "Go wake them up!"

"Why do I gotta wake up Hiriko ? Cant Umi do it ?" Tamond complained to his father. Barely knowing the guy twenty four hours and already they were acting like father and son

"Because if I asked Umi to do it she'd throw both women into the swimming pool chairs and all, that is of course based on the fact of, that if we had a swimming pool she would do just that" Mark replied to him. "But we dont, so you are gonna wake them up"

Tamond raised an eyebrow as his father watched him. As if expecting him to do as was asked. Tamond pointed at Mark "Somehow I cannot help but wonder if you were with us back home where we grew up because Umi did that to Hiri and I, a lot." Tamond told Mark in a very confused tone.

Mark snickered and sighed. "Ah forget it. For now, just wake up your sister and Asami and let them know lunch is ready. We need to plan on how to take down the High Priest. And you six are the perfect pieces of the chessboard for it too." Mark said to Tamond

"You keep mentioning the guy, who is he ?" Severian asked from the sofa while the holoTV was showing The Weather Channel's When Weather Changed History, the segment was about the hurricane, Katrina.

"Possibly one of the most evil fucks to live." Mark replied There came a knock at the door as Tamond had gone out the back. "That must be the food. I'll get it" Mark said, thankfully it was Mark was bringing the food to the table as Umi all but fell down the stairs as she struggled to wake up.

"Is that lunch ?" Umi askeed. She heard nothing of Tamond complaining. However when Tamond suddenly smacked against the sliding glass door, a towel, a very wet towel, after him. Made her smirk. "Loo Brush at it again huh ?"

"From the sounds of it, yeah" Severian replied, looking to his much larger yet still younger sister he asked her "Sleep well ?"

"No thanks to you and Dad keeping watch" Tamond ducked into the house and all but went running and jumped over the railing with the sound of a airplane diving to the ground and hid in the sofa under Severian as Umi spoke. A whirlwind of motion the smaller man was trying to hide from Hiriko and Asami, both women were drenching wet in the doorway.

Mark struggled not to laugh as Umi looked at her little brother. But it was Lazul who choked back his laughter and asked. "You found the garden hose huh ?"

"You bet your ass he did, soaked us both!" Hiriko growled. Ready to dive over the railing after her brother when Mark cleared his throat.

"Ladies" He said, for once getting the required word not corrected with a better one, both drenching wet women looked towards him, there was venom in their eyes. "Lunch is ready, if you like we can all wait or make Tamond dry you off with the windfan" Mark said to them

Asami pursed her lips at her cousin, Hiriko looked sick. Asami growled softly, a snicker in her tone as she pointed at Mark "You really wanna see me like a bottle brush huh, cousin ?"

Fact was, Mark actually just wanted Tamond to wake up Asami and his sister Hiriko to let them known lunch was ready. "Actually no, I just never expected Tamond to go for the hose when I wanted him to do was wake you two up for lunch."

"At least it wasnt Umi," Hiriko said as she accepted a towel and went to change out of her soaked clothes "She'd pitch us into the pool, chairs and all"

"Hey!" Umi said looking sharply at her slightly younger sister.

"What, its true!" Hirko said as Mark started laughing. Tamond also laughed from his safe spot in the sofa.

"Dad said the exact same thing!" Severian said with a churtle of laughter. Umi grunted, looking to her mother, who struggled not to laugh or smile before Umi sighed defeated for once.

She glared at Tamond and Hiriko, "I am gonna get back at you two for this, count on it" She growled softly. She was going to get back at Hiriko and Loo Brush for sure.

"If the wind fan is too much, then feel free to towel off. Lunch is here and its hot and ready" Mark said to the two drenching wet women dripping in the doorway. The smell of chinese food, locally made, and also some eghyptian food also locally made had their attention.

"Is that what I think it is ?" Umi asked as the smell of eggrolls filled her nose

"It is and we got a bunch just for you, Severian said you always wanted to try them so I had the guy make extra so everyone can get some too." Mark said to her.

The food was split out and the family ate lunch.

After lunch however it was Tamond who spoke up, his voice was meek but there was a hint of thoughtfulness to it. "Sorry about the hose" He said to Hiriko, "But Dad said to get you up and shaking you just wasnt working." Hiriko slept like a dead rock.

"Its alright, I'll figure out something to get you back" Somehow even in the Mythic Realm, the siblings were constantly trying to one up the other. Severian smirked

"So" Irie spoke up. "What do you four think of Arendelle so far ?"

"Could use less trash" Georgina mused as she stepped in from the Assassin area below the den, the den above ground and the first floor, what shouild be the basement, was a house like structure, while the rest of it, far underground, was a massive network of rooms and chambers for the Assassin's to do their work within.

Mark struggled to not laugh as Tamond glared in the Chinese Princess's direction. "I agree" Tamond said. "This place could use a little cleaning up.

"Loo Brush, you're just saying that because you landed in the refuse pile to begin with." Umi smirked.

"HEY!" Tamond said sharply at her. Sure he was born fourth, but that didnt just mean anyone could call him by his hated nickname! "If you werent so large I wouldnt have been sucked through the portal to land on you in the first place!"

"Are you saying I am fat ?" Umi glared at her brother

"No actually I... you know what fuckit, nevermind, the point is. Its a nice place so far. Umi even landed dad on his ass" Tamond said, once again as if telling the worlds greatest secret.

"Loo Brush is right, dad just walked into me and bounced off." Umi couldnt help but tap a hand on her muscled stomach as she spoke, Mark went red in the face

Everyone looked at him. "Georgina and I were having breakfast, Umi and Tamond landed, we heard the earthquake" Mark began

"Hey!" Umi gave a glare at her father, but knew better, for the moment, not to attack him for the weight barb in her direction. But then it did make sense, it was not her weight as everyone pointed it to be, it was the force of their landing to be enough to cause an earthquake.

As the saying went, unstoppable force met an unmovable object. In this case, Umi was the unstappable, and the Tavern was the unmoveable.

But that was beside the point as Mark waved her off. "We thought the tavern was coming down because everything shook. When we went outside and around the corner, the next thing I knew I was on my ass on the pavement and Tamond poking around Umi's left leg at me like I was the catch of the day" Mark explained to those present, Even Blackmane was amused by the story.

"Well, its about time someone can land this idiot on his butt" She said simply jerking a thumb towards Mark. Who rose an eyebrow at her confused by what she meant by that exactly.

"Then this morning I also kept landing him on his butt, unless you were pulling your punches, even then I am not sure how long you'd last against me, Dad" Tamond said to Mark

"Yeah, they know" Hiriko said when she came back with a towel getting water out of her ears, Asami was wearing a towel around her waist like a skirt with her pink fur covering her body and hiding any nakedness nicely. "They also know your nickname and more then likely wonder how you got it" She concluded, Tamond glared daggers at her.

"If you werent born two minutes before me I would so have a throwdown right now." Tamond growled getting to his feet, his fingernails forming claws, ready to go for a throwdown as Hiriko seemed to just dare him to attack.

"Ladies, gentle...toms I guess. Please calm down" It was Silvermane who spoke, forming from a nearby doorway. She was nursing a martini. Mark turned towards her. "While you two were busy throwing down this morning, and landing in the dirt in the streets last night. I did some looking" The hologram table turned on and everyone turned towards it. It showed a map. "It seems, if you want to lay things out. That your path to the Castle to take down Kiyori, is this way." The hologram showed a laid out trail to follow, nine miles long, covering nearly ten different districts.

"That's a lot of ground to cover." Mark said thoughtfully

"Indeed." Silvermane replied, "Which is why you are going to do it." Mark stared at her as everyone else started to smile slyly.

"Why me ?" Mark asked

"Because you're the only one with the endurance to take these fuckers down." Silvermane replied, if she wasnt their aunt, then it would have made sense

"What about us ?" Severian replied, Silvermane smiled when she looked to the young man, he looked like Irie, but Silvermane could tell he was a mix of both Snow Leopard and Cheetah. A truly beautiful hybrid.

"That is where it becomes fun" Silvermane said, she turned to Blackmane. "Blackie, you said that you had a plan for the next stage ?"

"Yes, I did" Blackmane said, she sat up on one of the sofas in the room. "Georgina has come back to Arendelle, yesterday she and Mark met Umi and Tamond and brought them home, at the same time, the High Priest used me as leverage to get the six Star Shards. He has them all now." Blackmane said

"He more then likely repaired it too." Mark grunted, there was no telling what Kiyori could do right then or what he was worried about. But the mere actions of his cousin, and children through Irie made Mark very briefly forget the fact that he still had an enemy living in the castle.

"Yes, and word has filtered through the kingdom, he is disbanding the council. Tomorrow morning" Blackmane said, everyone turned to her as Mark looked at the hologram thoughtfully. "The only way we can keep the disbanding from happening is to destroy the high priest, and place Princess Anna as Queen."

"Why not Xeir ?" Mark spoke up, out of sheer habit alone, he still wasnt used to the woman insisting on living in the Yaeko District with Tiri, but Mark then realised it also kept the Icewraith, Tiri, out of trouble.

"Because Xeir never lead a kingdom in her life, she's a warrior and fighter, and also sometimes very cute when she is drunk out of her mind, but she is not someone that you would want to lead a kingdom." Blackmane replied to him.

Mark just looked at her dumbly. "Not the reason I was expecting" He replied to her thoughtfully as he stood stubbornly under his aunts bamboo killer glare. He was in a word, upset that Xeir did not want to be queen. Then again he was married to Elsa and she did not want to be queen either.

But Elsa was gone, Xeir was in her place, and Xeir had made it clear to several people, many of them ranking members. She was not a queen, never was. She was a princess more then likely. And she hated the idea of running a kingdom. Anna however was a Princess and was native to Arendelle and therefore could know its politics. But the last year in and of itself was a huge mess! How or who, could lead the kingdom properly and watch it grow ?

Xercine was a possible canidate, as a member of the Star Council, he, after all, was the only council member, and was also the appointed head of the council by Elsa before she disappeared the year before Possible in the sense of leading a council. Xercine couldnt lead the kingdom as a king. Arendelle only had queens.

As as much as Mark himself wanted to lead the kingdom, he knew he himself couldnt do so.

However it was Georgina who spoke up. "Where is Xeir anyhow ?" she knew to call her Xeir and not Elsa, because of the way Blackmane termed it.

"Once she received word of the High Priest planning to disband the council entirely and take over the kingdom as its King, she began making plans." Blackmane said in reply.

"Plans ?" Mark asked as everyone looked at her, even his six kids stopped their bickering for two seconds to look at Blackmane as she was oddly quiet.

"She and Tiri went to the Blackrock Temple. Xeir will attack the High Priest within the hour." Blackmane said in full deadpan. "To her planning, he will be too focused on ensuring his own safety then anything else."

Well that wasnt good.

"And the rest of his soldiers. Aunt Silvermane, how many are there ?" Umi asked.

"I counted around three hundred at first guess" The silver and black haired woman replied. "Though more could have joined them by now."

Umi was silent, Mark smirked. "Three hundred. That's not bad." He said

"What is your plan, Nephew ?" Silvermane said as Irie brought Mark a pepsi

"I will take on the High Priests men, the remains of the honor guard as soon as we're done here. Their base location, where is it ?" Mark said. At those words Silvermane shifted the holomap for him. "I will start here and work my way to the palace gates." Ensure ever honor guard soldier is informed, and have our Assassin's ready to take their proper places as I pass through."

"Do you want help ?" Blackmane asked him

Mark was silent for a moment, studying the map. "Here" he said, he highlighted seven different structures and locations. "Have energy drinks, gaterade or water, in these areas. Make it easy for me to find them, with magic or otherwise. Fresh weapons also might come in handy too. Judging by how things looked in the street fight yesterday, a sword will be just fine."

"Why not a gun or two ? Just mow down the fuckers" The one to ask that was Kaezin, who got a pillow in the face from his sister.

"That's just it, I do not have a gun like you guys, yet" Mark said, nodding to his son, Tamond, who had shown Mark the Light Dragon blessed clip his Baretta Auto 9 had. Umi had also shown her father the Blessed clip she had, such a blessing made the ammo never run out or overheat, ever.

"So you're stuck using swords." Silvermane mused

"I got it, what kind of swords do you need ? We can set up a few, maybe even hide in the location too" Tamond spoke up. "If we have to we can shoot some fuckers too" Now he was swearing.

"LOO BRUSH!" Umi said sharply, Tamond merely smirked at her as Irie pinched the bridge of her nose.

"We're all adults here sis, cool it." He retorted.

"Hes right, I'm going to use the same kind of weapons they have, infact, Aunt Silvermane, you still make those silver Katanas right ?" Mark said, Silvermane nodded. "Perfect, I'll start off with one, get the fight going and start moving. At those places for me to stop weill be another katana to pick up, plus a brief place to take a respite for a drink to regain my energy."

"So that's the plan ?" Blackmane asked, but it wasnt just her that asked, but also Silvermane, Shadowmane, all six of marks Mhildren, Asami and Georgina. Who all asked it. Irie, however, was giving Mark the stink eye for being so close to Georgina, and Kaezin was getting himself a really strong beer.

Mark smirked and pointed as if ticking an air score. "That's the plan" He said simply, everyone collectively groaned, this was not going well.

A good moment passed, then another. When that third minute was about to have the fourth baby in as many minutes did Blackmane speak again. "You are going to want to get into postion. And it will take us time to get the katanas and your water and other drinks of need into place without getting seen." She said to Mark

Mark nodded and stood from his chair, the easy chair was a comfy Lay-Z-Boy recliner of a dark blue leather color. Silvermane tossed her remains of her martini in the sink. "Come on, I got a bunch you can pick from to start your party. I might have to go to the Mythic realm to make more, or somewhere else entirely. Making swords is not something one can do in a few minutes in the Mortal Realm."

"True" Mark replied, Silvermane and Mark then disappeared into the bowls of the Assassin hideout.

Blackmane then turned towards Gwenn and Alethra, two of the six kids she hadnt met yet, Mark enver heard her ask to irie "I see you've been busy. I am glad that being a mother has gladdened your heart, Mark seems taken with them. Either that or proud too ?"

"When I told dad of how I fought off some soldiers, he looked proud." Gwenn said to her. She pointed to herself. "I'm Gwenn, this is Alethra. We took the RV with mom from Gilja to here." She said.

"So that is why the other four arrived yesterday afternoon. If they hadnt, I would be worse then I am now" Blackmane said, she still thanked Umi and Tamond both for helping ger away from the soldiers. Umi was surprisingly gentle with Manfredd, she could tell by the way that he handled Blackmane, like a gentleman, not in any manner of ill will or worse. "Umi, Tamond, do not worry of helping your father, I have something else I want you two to do." Blackmane then said, she traded looks with Irie and Georgina.

"What ?" Irie asked her

"Have either of you heard of a man named Manfredd ?" Blackmane asked them, Georgina shook her head no, Irie however nodded.

"Yeah actually the last time I saw the guy he was really gentle when he came to the shop. Why ?" Irie said

"What I want your kids to do is go find him, they know what he looks like. They can get him away from the high priest. I already know where his girlfriend, or in this case, his soon to be wife, is located and I can assure you, she is safe. I just want to ensure they are together and both of them safe." Blackmane said,

"I agree, he was a gentleman with the way he handled you" Umi said thoughtfully. It was possible they could find him, they knew what he looked like and where he could more then likely be. "Do you know where he lives ?"

"Yes" Blackmane flicked a hand at the hologram fo the kingdom. A blinking ring formed where Manfredd currently was. The Clocktower District "It appears he is in a house or barracks. And by look of things on the lifesigns. He is the only one there. You should not have trouble convincing him to abandon the high priest. Judging by where he is, he was also dismissed."

"Alright, Umi and I will go get this guy and make sure he and his girl are both safe. In the mean time, help dad, OK ?" Tamond said

"I will stay here with Asami and aunt Blackmane," Hiriko said, when Blackmane was about to protest the improvision, Hiriko gave her a stern look, "When I met you last night you looked very sick, you look no better now then you did last night. The last thing I want is for you to keel over on the job. So Asami and I will stay here and help you. Be it doing chores or whatever." Asami looked sick at that as her mother smiled at Hiriko

Blackmane smiled, Hiriko was right, she nodded. "Alright, since you put it that way, Tamond and Umi go find Manfredd and get him to safety, Irie, Georgina, Silvermane, Severian, Gwenn and Alethra will help Mark by setting up stratgic respite locations for him along his fight path. Tinker Bill will be monitoring everything with me downstairs." Blackmane said "Does everyone got it ?"

Everyone did, "Good. Get going, and good luck. The high priest is not someone who sits around on his ass all day. He's always plotting something" Blackmane said, everyone got up, Umi was halfway to the door when Tamond launching himself through it.

In the basement of the Assassin Den, Mark and Silvermane went through Iries workshop and into another workshop where Silvermane normally forged weapons, swords mostly. None of them duradaen, but all of them durable and very light. Mark had never been in Silvermanes workshop before so he had no idea what to expect.

"Take your pick" Silvermane said when she turned the lights to the room on. Mark stared, row upon row of racks, each one filled with all sorts of swords., daggers, knives, even what looked to be old movie props that Silvermade had copied from.

"Any weapon ?" Mark asked her as he stared at the seemingly endless racks of swords.

"Any weapon" Silvermane replied, "Each rack section has a dozen of each type of sword on it. Whatever you pick will also be scattered in the fight path for you to pickup a new one. Over time the swords durability will drop as you use them. So you are going to need the replacements as you fight." Silvermane said.

"Any sword I pick I get to use, scott free" Mark mused, he had to think carefully on the swords to use. Silvermane and her sister Snowmane, both fought like dervishes in the tornado like stances they used.

"Any sword." Silvermane repeated. She watched as Mark went through her shop. Little by no means, the last time he was in such a place he had found the Star Shard under the Wolfe Manor.

But instead of rows of ancient armor, Silvermanes shop was rows of brand new combat ready swords. Mark finally found a sword he liked. Silvermane had said there were a dozen swords to a rack, but this rack seemed to extend into the next rack ?

He picked up the sword, Silvermane saw the twenty six swords remaining and smirked. "Good choice, from look of things we can set the remaining swords in the breakstop places you're going to be needing. They dont need any sharpening either." Mark examined the blade and smiled. A white sword, with a white saya. Perfect.

"I'll use these then. I'll see you when this is over then ?" Mark said. Silvermane nodded and started getting bundles of swords together as Gwenn and Irie upstars started getting the waterbottles together.

Things had to work perfectly, just so, and Silvermane knew time was their enemy by that point. They had lingered too long. They could only hope that Xeir couyld delay or distract the High Priest long enough for Mark take out the remaining Honor Guard.

But that was just a hope.

A hope the whole city now shared wether they liked it or not.

Arendelle

Pine District

At that same moment

Spike sat in the loveseat. Ghost, as a human girl, curled up next to her, using Spikes lap as a pillow. "Its a lot to take in, isnt it ?" Came a voice

It was her oldest brother Xim. The others were patrolling and caring for the cats on their property. Ghost wore a gorgerous silver and white very fluffy gown that felt like silky fur. "Yes" Spike replied.

One moment, Mystra and her kittens were just a normal cat and kittens. And then Blackmane dropped a huge bombshell on Spike by the announcement, and then Mystra proved it and insisted on staying with Spike and her family, as she felt safest there with her kittens.

That and Ghost was insistant to stay as close to Spike as she possibly could. Who cared about being so safe with Spike and her brothers and sisters. The mere fact that Spike cared for them all and insisted they were safe when that nasty man was there that one day.

The mere fact that Ghost was exactly like a cat Spike once had while growing up only made things all the more better. Because Ghost remembered those times, and the two women got to know each other even more.

"Are you happy ?" Xim asked to Spike. She had her beloved kitten back. And the kitten remembered her too.

"I am," She replied, "I have Ghost again, even her siblings and mother want to stay with us." When Spike first got Ghost as a child, they had adopted the kitten from the shelter, at the time a no kill shelter, now it was the hub that the Milligans used to run their operation to care for the cat colonies in Sacremento. "Which is better then last time, when I wasnt able to bring Ghosts mother back to the house."

"Very much so, I agree" Xim replied, he brought Spike a pepsi with ice, Spike greatfully took the drink from her brother. She barely got any sleep the night before, and mostly because of her giddiness of having Ghost back in her life again. The fact that Ghost also said she was actually on her first life as a Tigris, and not as her last life of nine lives made Spike even happier.

Xim watched as his sister stroked Ghosts long black hair. Even he had to admit, Ghost and her siblings, even her mother were all beautiful people. They however were Eagles, they could conjure beautiful wings from thin air if they had to, all of them but Spike, Vitas, Talak of Sacremento, their boss and close friend. Had magically triggered Spikes wings, and the kittens loved sleeping in them and causing Spike to not be able to get out of bed at times. Which on occasion made Spike adorably helpless

"After all. Ghost said she was on her first of nine lives ? So you have a long time together. Thanks to Vitas, and Mother, and all of us," Xim mused as he stood by the front window.

"Yes, we do" Spike agreed, "And that just makes me happier" She said, then she saw that Xim was leaning on the window frame looking out into the street. "Xim ? Is something wrong ?"

"Soldiers are moving they look to be clearing the streets." He said, he set his drink on the nearby table and went to the hallway, "Ezra, have the cats inside the property line and activate the hexagon barrier fences" He said "Take james with you, James!" The other Milligan twin was at a nearby computer in the other room across the hallway.

Ezra stepped to the doorway as Xim spoke "Right Bro, on it! James lets go!"

Both men went to do their duty as Spike gently extracted herself from under Ghost who swiftly turned into a cat as Spike tried to get out from under the woman, now with Ghost in her arms, Spike saw what was making her brother so worried.

"What is going on with all the soldiers ?" She asked

"I dont know, but it cant be good, the streets been entirely cleared and there's been an increase in patrols" Xim replied. That could only mean one thing, a military parade, or something else entirely.

"What do we do ?" Spike asked as she snuggled Ghost in her arms, Ghost used the crook of Spikes neck for a sleeping space and started to purr in her sleep.

"Right now, keeping the cats safe is my goal. Once we're sure they're all inside the hexagon barrier we too should be safe as well." Xim replied to Spike, who simply nodded. Xim picked up his pepsi from where he set it and drained it.

The next few hours were going to be most interesting, and also very entertaining. They had no idea that Marks rampage was going to begin next door either.

Arendelle

Clocktower District

Moments later

Manfredd sat on the barracks bed. Staring at the wall in peaceful thought. His mind went over the last words he was told by his charge, being the Bodyguard of the High Priest, Kiyori, he suddenly found himself without a job, but he had something stacked in a carpet bag next to him.

The High Priest had paid him. Paid him in full for his two years of service in protecting him!

Manfredd even had mumbled at one point he was never being paid, but he was wrong, There was nearly a million and a half in Arendellian Thrones right next to him on the bed.

He had been dismissed from his service to the High Priest, when Kiyori had summoned him that morning. He had Manfredd pack his meager belongings, only a scant few things really, and then set a carpet bag full of money before him, And then Kiyori had said "Good luck, I hope you find what you seek for so long"

Did that mean that Kiyori knew that Manfredd wanted to start a family with Atert ?

So lost in his thoughts when two voices broke him from his meditation. "That's him, I'd know that black fur shine anywhere" It was a young mans voice, turning towards the owner of it, Manfredd saw the owner of the voice. A small man compared to the huge muscular woman beside him.

"I remember you" Manfredd said upon seeing them. He stood up. "Did you come to rob me ?" he asked them

Umi stared at him, "Rob you ? We're here to save you. Come on, this place is about to be ground zero for a street fight. Besides, last I knew you had the hots for somebody right ? Come on, we dont have a lot of time." She said.

"What my sister means is" Came Tamonds voice from next ot Manfredd, who didnt bat an eye as the small man picked up Manfredds stuff, but didnt touch the money bag. "We gotta scram while the scramming is good! Besides, I hear Atert wants to see you", she actually did want to see him, and soon.

"How do you know her ?" Manfredd asked, clearly concerned, and also shy.

"No time to explain, lets go!" Umi said, she spotted a patrol and shut the door behind her, two seconds later and there was a barracks bed shaped hole in the wall. The three scrambled into the back alley and headed for where Atert lived.