Chapter XI: Dani and the Emperor

Walker

"Are you sure he's in there?" I ask Bullet as I watch my troops invade the far Frozen. He says if our source was right. The boy is ours for the taken. More Clockwork clones come out and blast our troops. They mow through my boys. Bullet asks if we should bring out the new toys. "Not yet," I tell as I leave to converse with my officers.

"I don't think it's worth it Herr Warden," Colonel von Boom says looking at the map. "Even if the boy is in there. I say we retreat and we regroup. We can...," he says before I blasts him to bits. The officers look at each other in terror as I ask them if anyone else wants to regroup.

"Hey Warden," a voice says as Vlad's birds fly in. "When do we gold the reward?" their leader asks as I sigh. "We brought you the boy and his friends. Now give us the gelt." I tell them once the punk is in chains they will get their reward. "And it better be none of that 'eternal reward' nonsense. We want money." I remind that they are already dead and second I always keep my word.

"Don't play dumb with us. We know you have kind of device to fry ghosts," the third one says adjusting his glasses. I warn them not to cross me as they still have time to serve themselves. "You don't scare us!" he says glaring at me as I take out my law book. I tell them they still have to do time for stealing 50 shekels from a market place in 1223 BC. They look at each other before saying that I will hear no more from them.

Grubby

"Do you have anymore crackers?" I ask Teddy as he looks in his pack and says and shakes his head. "I'll have to eat this jam without them," I say sticking a finger in it and eating. Leota says we should get going bur before we do we have to leave an offering.

"We're trespassing on their land. If want to continue safely, we must leave something for them." We all look in out bags but have nothing that they would want. "Come on there has to...," we hear noise coming from the trees. She flies around nervously trying to remain calm. "We don't want to be here and have nothing to offer them.

"I might have something," Gimmick says reaching in his pocket and taking a small bar of gold. "I was saving for experiments." Leota smiles and tells us look around for gooseberry plants. "Whatever for?" She says we have to burn the leaves to show them we mean no harm.

Teddy rolls out the map and studies it, "We shouldn't be too far off," he says pointing to a road. "From what the grunges told me, no one goes by that way." Leota warns us that it that is road sacred to the elves and they let no one on it. "What if we ask them nicely? We are giving them gold and...," Gimmick comes back saying he found some gooseberry leaves.

"Good I need some matches to light the offering," the woodsprite says as we all look around but find none. Gimmick says we don't need them. He removes his glasses and adjust them so the sun hits them. He says we can use the sun's power. The light concentrates into a single ray and starts to burn the leaves. "Hear us oh wood elves. We seek safe passage into your land! We bring gifts," she says laying the gold in front of the fire.

Sam

We could hear the sounds of the battle above us. Frostbite and said that Walker was attacking us. "He said something about a treaty saying he's not allowed down this way." Tucker says as I tell him that all Walker cares about his making us his prisoners or worse. The Technogeek paled at those words.

I was too focused on Danny. It seems like he had been asleep for hours and hadn't moved since his 'reaction.' "I wish I knew what was going on in that cute head of yours," I say as Tucker asks if I called Danny cute. "Uh, I meant it sarcastically...like 'your cute when you're angry.'" He was about to say something when the ground shook from another blast.

I open my backpack and take out a weapon I borrowed from Danny's parents. "That's mom and dad's ghost grenade." Jazz says as I show them a green and silver orb. I smile, this bad boy can level several squads of goons in seconds. "They never got the auto timer and focus lens to work," she points out. "It could go off in your leaving nothing but a mess of muscle and bone."

"I hope we don't...," the lights flicker on and off again. I throw the grenade to Tucker and tell to defend the room. "Excuse me?" he asks confused. I tell him to go stand outside the room and make sure no one gets in. "Why me?" he complains as I tell him Jazz and I are going to guard Danny. "But...," I hand him an ecto-pistol and push him outside.

Tweeg

"Finally," I said taking a box out of a closet. "I knew I had a spare battery in here," I head back to the dungeon when I notice something. "That idiot bounder never left," I roll my eyes. "Once I am Supreme Oppressor I will have all those worthless warts locked in the dungeon...If I am in a good mood."

I approach the bathroom door and pound on it, "You better not be using all my hot water!" there is no answer. I slowly open the door but find nothing inside. "Where did that...," it hit me, "I was tricked! They probably alerted Quellor to my plan. I have to work fast," I said as LB sneaks in the castle. "LB!" I call out as he swallows hard. He asks if I had the kid's magic yet. "Your moron friend is gone."

"Well, you weren't very nice to him. Denying...," I hear a bang downstairs. I grab the LB by the horn and make my way back to the dungeon.

"I wouldn't think about trying anything," I said as we walked in and found the boy by the corner. "You had better prove useful to me," I tell him as he looks up and ask if I am worried my plan will fail. "My plan is perfect, but Quellor is sending his goons here. You'll be spending the rest of your life in a M.A.V.O dungeon if you're lucky."

"Luck hasn't been on my side for a while," he says as I hook the battery up to machine. LB tells him that his luck is going to get worse.

Dani

"This place is amazing," I said as Morpheus lead me down the halls of the castle. He says it was built for his mother Nyx eons ago. "Nyx? She's the goddess of night?" I ask as the dream crafter nods. She was one of the eldest deities in existence. Only Chronos and Ananke are older than she. "Ananke, that's who the Observants obey."

"I see Chronos was taught you well," the elderly god said as I blushed. "Then again he has always spoken highly of you and your cousin." I ask him how he knows about me and Danny. "Chronos is an old friend of ours and often confides in us."

We approach two large ornate black doors. It was decorated with diamond and a phrase written in ancient Greek. "I think it says something about secrets. My Greek is a little rusty, don't tell Clockwork," I said as Morpheus laughed. He said it means 'Behind Here are the Secrets of Nyx.' He places his hand on elaborate knock and knocks six times."

"Enter brother," a voice says as the doors open. Two of those blind ghosts lead us inside. "Ah Welcome Danielle," the voice said as we came to a large throne. Sitting on it was a ghostly being. His body was made of stars and he had goat like features. "I am Nocturne, although you know me by my true name – Hypnos."

"Yes, your majesty," I manage to get out as he smiles. "I come here seeking your aid for my cousin," Hypnos smiles saying he met Danny before. "You have?" He says he had the honor of battling against him and is a worthy opponent. "Oh, then I...,"

"Do not worry, it was a honorable fight and I hold no ill will towards him," he stretches out his hand as a glowing orb floats into it. "The elder halfa did quiet a number on him I hear." He motions for me to step forward. I ask him what is that. "Your cousins dreams," I look inside and...the doors swing open.

"Brother," a voice said as a being wearing a black cloak enters the room. His eyes seemed to glow red beneath his cowl and in his hands held a scythe. "We are under attack, the hunter," he says in raspy voice as the god of sleep frowns. He tells the figure to prepare the Sleepwalkers. "As you wish," the being says bowing before leaving.

"Morpheus, take the ghost girl into the sanctuary," Hypnos says as the younger god nods and leads me out of the room."

"Where are we going?"

Quellor

"Make way for the Supreme Oppressor," Ickly calls out as we enter the forge. The weapon-smith looks up and smiles. "Kneel before Quellor!" Ickly shouts as the smith kneels in front of me.

"You may go Ickly," I tell the gatekeeper as he bows and leaves the room. "You said you had something to show me?" He shows a glowing black chain. "Is this the chain you will use on the boy?" He nods and motions for a prisoner to be brought forward.

Two guards bring in a young Illiper boy. "This was one captured in the forest," the weapons master says as the guards push the prisoner forward. "This was one apprenticed to one of the king's mages," he explains as he wraps the chain around the boy. "Not only will it drain him of his power but the longer he's ensnared he loses hope. By the time you have his magic. The boy will be your slave."

"Excellent! Release the mage and prepare to receive the boy," I tell him as the guards remove the chains and push the boy away. "Soon the rest of the treasure will be mine and the world be plunged into darkness!"