No Matter What It Takes Part Two

by KidHeart4

The Mighty Ducks continue their adventures in their new home on Earth. Along with familiar foes, a few new ones begin to rear their heads. Some new allies will be met along the way as well. In this part 2, Heart's locked away past will be unveiled, bringing on more adventures for them to tackle as a team.

15. 40 Woven

Heart:

"You still need to be careful. You haven't fully healed yet, but moving around shouldn't be too bad," Tanya instructed.

She then shook her head with a bit of a laugh escaping her beak, "If I were talking to anyone else that might work!"

I gave a slight shrug while trying to sound convincing, "I'll be careful."

I looked over at the bed nearby, noting Duke's folded up blanket at the foot of it.

"He needs you to be, as do the rest of us," Tanya said while following my gaze.

"He's stayed in here every night since it happened..." I mentioned.

"Are you surprised by that?" Tanya asked with a cheerful smile as she helped me apply new bandaging.

Now I shook my head, "No."
Once bandaged up and dressed, I gingerly hopped off the bed and started towards the hallway. Yet Tanya speaking up caused me to pause in my steps, "Heart...you know you can always talk to us, whether you're hurt or not...right?"

I turned to face the blonde duck, who in turn watched me with weary eyes, and a remaining smile.
"Tanya?" I questioned in bewilderment.
Before I could ask what she meant by this concerned comment, Nosedive darted into the room upon seeing me up and about, "Heart!"

He threw his arms around me in a hug, causing me to yelp suddenly. He pulled back immediately, "Sorry sis!"

I smiled through the aching pain in my shoulder blades, "I'm happy to see you too Dive." Before Tanya could give a warning to the blonde drake, "She has to-..."
We were gone, with me being somewhat dragged towards the galley by my twin.
"Take it easy..."

After breakfast, and a cheerful greeting from our teammates; I found myself heading up to the stadium to watch them practice. I hadn't yet found my dark feathered rogue, but knew he'd been up late the last few nights to keep me company in the infirmary. It was as I was passing by the gym before heading up, when I was surprised to hear Duke give out a bit of a growling yell. Turning quickly to look inside the room, I caught the tail end of his practice session just as he lunged at the bot, dismantling it with one quick slash.
Watching him catch his breath, I gripped the rounded door frame of the door with my own unease and tention returning. When I took a step inside, he turned to face me, "Hey...?"

I glanced at the new pile of scrap metal at Duke's feet, before I looked up at him to see his attempt at a smile.
He then sheathed his saber and started cleaning up the mess he'd made.

"Duke?" I asked while kneeling down to help him.

"Don't worry about this Heart, I can take care of it," he tried to insist, "Ya need to be careful how ya move still."

"I can help you with this,," I pushed.

"Let me take care of it, Heart," Duke parried back.

"Duke?"

The last few nights, even with me in the infirmary, he had been surprisingly cheerful. He'd stayed in there at night, not just to watch over me, but to give me rather pleasant company. Yet now, with the adrenaline from his sparring match tapering off, he seemed more standoffish.
"What's wrong?" I pushed gently, placing my hand over his as he reached for another piece.

Duke:

I paused, almost shuddered at her touch even. Looking to her as she was kneeling at my right side, I was reminded of her small frame. She was wearing a loose fitting tank top so she and Tanya could keep an eye on her bandaging while she was up and about. Even without this though, there was no escaping what was beneath those bandages. I looked away and attempted, "Nothin's wrong sweetheart.-"

"Duke..." she insisted while picking up a few more pieces of what was once a robot.
"Practice is starting soon," she mentioned softly when seeing me recoil slightly.

I gave a nod while picking up the rest and standing up. Carrying it over to a bench to sort it later with Tanya, I then said in a half attempt at laughing, "She'll give me an earful for this one..." "You don't usually do this. As I recall, you tend to disarm?" Heart noted.

"I try to anyway," I replied with a shrug.

"I'm looking forward to seeing you and the others practice again, Phil mentioned the other day you weren't quite into it?" Heart dug further.

"Hard to do that without ya there..." I admitted quietly, "Since bein' with ya here, you've rarely missed a game or practice."

"I'll be there today, and at the game tomorrow," she assured, before glancing at where my own injuries were healing, "Are you ready though?"

I faced her and said firmly, "I've been fine Heart."

"Tell that to the robot you just shredded," Heart replied just as stubbornly.
"Not much to really tell, I needed the practice."

Heart raised a brow at this, but then noticed how the number of practice bots had dwindled down since she'd seen them a week or so ago. She locked eyes with me as I tried to take a step back.
"Let's just go upstairs, alright? You're finally out of bed, I want ya to enjoy bein' around everyone again," I attempted to wrap an arm around her shoulders, but paused to take her by the hand instead, "Come on."
Heart allowed herself to walk alongside me, leaving the bot to deal with later.

Meanwhile, in a prison between worlds, the B.R.A.W.N.s went along their general patrols. Canard went through his usual tasks before returning to Puck World to help with further rebuilding. As he left through his gateway, another figure passed through with another bounty dragged in.
However, a certain lavender haired duck in her cell was far too busy fuming to pay much attention to this. Fuming over ending up in this forsaken space once more, fuming over the ones who locked her back in, fuming as she mentioned a name as though appalled by the sound of it, "When I find my way back out, that wisp Heart won't get a chance to run this time!"
Handing off her quarry to one of the robotic men, the fox's ears twitched at the sound of the name of the wretched human girl. As the mechanical guard lumbered off with it's captive in tow, the bounty hunter placed her hands on her hips, her tail swishing behind her. Walking over to the cell, she leaned up against the control panel, glancing at the avian, "You said something about a Heart now, right?"
The duck glanced up as though offended by the name again, her eyes narrowing, "I did. What about it?"

She got up and folded her arms over her chest, "You know the little guard..." she was going to say dog, but paused when noting the fox standing before her, "that little human wretch?"
Raising a brow, she gave a nod, "You can say I do. What do you have to do with that little trollop?"
"Oh my, what language for someone hardly worth looking at," she scoffed, "I guess you could say she has become quite the sudden thorn in my side. Twice that human has been alert to my plans and helped land me here once again! I had her and her precious teammates in reach, but now here I am as you can see!"
"It seems like she's a nuisance to the both of us... tell you what, you want to get revenge on her? Well, so do I. Perhaps we can help each other to deal with that little pest?" She said, as she placed her hand on the cell's control panel, a sly grin across her face.
LuCretia gave a smug smile of her own, "That would make things simpler. May I ask what else you want out of this to make the deal more concrete? I plan to go after her teammates once she is out of commission."
"Well... I want Duke. Leave him to me. You can have all the rest of them, but, I want Duke to myself. Is that understood?"
LuCretia raised a brow at this, "I see, no wonder you want his little...distraction...?...out of the way?" She gave a smile, "Consider it a deal then."
With a nod, she headed over to the control panel, and quickly entered a code. The doors to the cell deactivated, allowed the duck the chance to escape, "Bette move quick, cause it won't be long until the alarm goes off."
Lucretia didn't waste a second as she followed the vixen to her ship, only pausing a moment to collect something from a side room. In hand was the device taken from her upon being locked up again.

She mentioned once in the ship, "Sending her to this awful place won't do us any good with their friend here to bail them out. I need a new realm to toss her in with those other saps that she accompanies. Any ideas?"

She was ready to set the coordinates into the handheld teleporter upon suggestion.
"Oh.. I have a few ideas of my own," The vulpine replied, starting up the craft, before blasting off away from the prison, and heading to the dimension Earth was in.

Heart:

Duke had seemed to nearly return to his usual self during practice, and even more so the night of the game. Our teammates were certainly at their best as well. They'd won that game, and I was thrilled and proud to watch them. Phil seemed relieved to see that I was up and about too, and took great care not to nudge me in any way while sitting at my right during the game. Kleghorn had done the same at my left. In fact, everyone was extra careful when it came to touching me, almost as though they were afraid to.

Then again, I couldn't falt them after what they'd witnessed. The change itself had been taxing enough on my body, but then losing my...it then began to hit me. While we were having dinner late that night, celebrating their victory, I caught sight of how Duke kept a close watch over me. How he would only reach for my hand, rather than wrapping an arm along my shoulders like he often would before. Even going to sleep the night prior, he'd kept a bit of a distance while still facing towards the door and myself. When he did slip out of sight, it was only when someone else was with me.

"Duke...?" I wondered barely aloud wen he stepped out of the rec room later that night.

I'd been playing a game with Nosedive, with Grin giving pointers to join in. From beside me, my twin sighed, "He's been a bit withdrawn the last week. Can't exactly blame him though."

"You guys got me back, and things have been calm since, right?" I inquired, "Phil would have told me if there was a mission."

"More like you would have dragged it out of him," Nosedive retorted.

"Dive?" I pushed sternly.

"Things have been fine, sis," he assured me with his hands in the air in a show of honesty.

"Then why is he...?" I wasn't sure what I was asking.

Nonetheless, Grin gave an answer, "Perhaps you should find out?"

"I tried to, but he keeps trying to evade the topic," I mentioned.

"Maybe it's something he's afraid to admit, even to you, sis?" Nosedive pushed a bit carefully, "I mean...we saw a lot the other day, and went through quite bit...it might be hard for even him to take it all in right now...especially when...?"

I quickly realized even they were afraid to touch me, or mention what had happened the other day as well. While not as standoffish, or even frustrated, as Duke had been in mostly secret, they still avoided talking about the fight from a week ago, and how it had ended.

Finally I got to my feet, leaving my controller in Grin's care, to follow after my husband. He'd taken the elevator up alone, so it minute or so to make it's way back down. It would bring me to the locker room, in which I slipped through to find the rink again. Yet there was no sign of him in the stands, on or off the ice, or on the bench. Going to the roof didn't help in my search either, nor did calling him on my comm. His wasn't turned off...he just wasn't answering. His signal showed he was across the street at the mall, so I didn't think he was in any sort of trouble. If anything...this told me he just didn't want to be found at the moment.

As much as it hurt, I headed back to the rec room. My head continued to wander about, but I would try and wait for him to come to me. Though thinking on it, I couldn't recall a time where he'd hidden from me like this before?

It had taken quite a bit of convincing, but I managed to convince my teammates to let me wander out alone for the first time since that fight. I just wanted to get some air after being cooped up for so long, and I didn't want to disrupt what any of the others were doing. That was mostly true...for I had wanted to ask our resident rogue, but he had remained just as elusive. I'd caught Duke sparring again, despite having a good game the night before. I'd hoped that things were finally seemed to be getting back to normal...but something just wasn't settling with him.

"I wish you'd tell me what's wrong..." I sighed as I reached for the door, my mind wandering as I returned home.

Yet something in the reflective surface quickly caught my eye...a ship landing just outside the sensors of the pond. Turning on my heel, I went for my comm. However, as I did, a quick shot at my wrist burned the device, forcing me to rip it off before it singed my skin as well. I looked up in confusion, before my eyes narrowed into a glare.
With smoke billowing from the barrel of her blaster, Vulpina stood there with a grin across her face, "Well, Heart, funny running into you here! looks like we have alot of catching up to do! Infact, I brought along a new friend I think you know already?"
I was already glaring at her as well. LuCretia gave a smile, "Miss me?"

I took a step back from them, almost pressing my small frame against the warm glass of the door. I needed to warn them, but without my comm...I tried to think...my mind racing. I couldn't even quick change into my battle gear with the device destroyed. So I was stuck standing before them in cargoes, a loose t-shirt, and the bandages that were hinted at beneath that. If I moved it was a risk, if I stood there it was a risk. They could even see the bandages that I had to wear from my last fight...when I still had my magic..?...wait?
"Awh, surprised to see both of us? Well, Heart, your little game of inserting yourself into other people's affairs is about to be over, and none of the others can help!" The fox snarked, blaster aimed steadily at the woman. "And... we have a special place in mind for you to go to. If you don't fight, we don't have to hurt you."
I stood my ground, forced to ignore Tanya's instructions about taking it easy. LuCretia, beside the fox, readied the teleporter while Vulpina kept me from trying to make a move, "Don't worry though, maybe we'll be nice and send one of them to you as we scatter them throughout space!" She then giggled, "but it certainly won't be him, it seems you shamefully stole him away from my friend here, and it's about time you gave him back to her I'd say?"

I glanced at my wedding band and growled, "I don't think you'll get the result you want out of him!"

Still I tried to think, knowing time was limited to form any sort of plan.
"Well, with you out of the picture, it'll be alot easier!" Vulpina replied, as she kept the bead on me, "Besides, I'm sure you'll find a way to shove yourself into somebody else's relationship soon enough in this realm..."
Raising a brow, she then looked over my tended to wounds, "Looks like you've already been roughed up... well, things are going to get alot rougher."
Backing up against the glass, my wounds still rather sore and not fully healed, I tried in vain to hide the shape I was in. Yet I also knew that I was standing between my teammates and the plan these two had in mind. Biting my lower lip, I tried to think fast.

Then...I noticed it around my fingertips, the soft spurts of desperate electricity trying to ignite. LuCretia gave a cruel smile as she aimed the teleporter at me, "Don't worry, we'll take good care of them for you, and he'll be with someone far better for him I'd say, might pull him back to the drake he was before you came along?"
"Oh, I'm sure of it. I'll bring him back to his glory days, and you'll be nothing but a fleeting regret for him!" Vulpina chuckle, placing her finger on the trigger.
I didn't have the time to argue on how wrong they were. As I faced the very real threat, the teleporter firing up, knowing they would find ways to corner the others and pick them apart in similar circumstances...I felt something in me firing up. Energy began sparking around me in defense. I was trembling too, not knowing what would happen...knowing I had no way to call to them. To let him know it wasn't his fault I was gone...

None the less, as the gateway opened to pull me in, my own magic began to warp it. As it dragged me in, that electricity lashed out and bonded with the gateway that now grabbed for Vulpina and LuCretia to pull them in as well. Seeing this, I shouted, "You won't get near them!" With that, the three of us were dragged into the swirling vortex with me crying out to the others without a voice outloud, "Duke! Guys!"

Then we were gone, taken from the doors of the pond and tossed about inside that portal.

To the trio of us, reality distorted as we were pulled through dimensions. This was unlike traveling through limbo, or the portal to the magical Anaheim, however. As we were pulled through, the very fabric of existence seemed to give up. One moment it felt like we were stretched for all of eternity, pulled through endless distances, and in another it was like we were crunched up into an infinitely tiny space. Light permeated through our forms one second, and next darkness engulfed us entirely. Each one splintered into countless fragments, that curled into and devoured itself. And then, we were brought back together, before entering this new world.
The three of us each landed on the hard, blue surface, a cloud of flakes puffing up upon impact. It was dark, yet they would still see, a red light radiating from the clouds over head... a deep groan filled the air, as tentacles writhed and dangled down... and occasionally in the clouds, an eye would open, survey what was below it, before vanishing.
I moaned in pain as the wounds in my back especially buckled. I had landed on my front fortunately, but it had still shaken me quite a bit. Energy sputtered in and out, before fading again within me. For all I knew it had been my last reserves of magic...used to try and protect the ones I loved most...who may never know what happened, I realized. No...I couldn't just give up...there had to be a way back...My eyes squeezed tight a moment as I took this all in, forcing myself not to break down as I tried to push myself up onto my hands and knees.
Near me still, were the two threats that had caused this. LuCretia was just now sitting upright a bit, looking around in horror at our surroundings, "How did this happen?!"
Pulling herself up from the cerulean dirt, Vulpina clutched at her head, holding back all the impulse to just vomit at the strange sensations she just went through, "Urrrgh... if I get my hands on that girl, I'm going to strangle the life out of her for that..."

As she stumbled to her feet, there was a loud shriek, as over head a large web winged creature started to plummet towards them. It seemed to be just a pair of leathery wings with a massive toothy maw snapped over, and within the mouth was a large, jaundice yellow eye stared directly at the three.
I wasn't even up on her feet yet when I heard the two. Still catching my breath when I heard the creature above, I held it quickly instead. Looking up at it, I wasn't sure what it was I was seeing. As it dropped, I rolled out of it's path, avoiding the jaws. All the while, my previous injuries screamed in alarm and defiance. I instinctively reached for my glaive before remembering I had no access to it or my gear at all. I was stuck there in cargoes, a loose fitting t-shirt, and bandages. All I could do was move!

"What the devil?!" The fox exclaimed, as she was quick to draw her blaster.

As she fired upon the monster, the blast impacted, but it seemed to not even be phased. Opening it's mouth, it's eye focused on the bounty hunter, before it let out an ear piercing cry, and rushed towards her.
LuCretia tried to fire as well, only to receive a similar response. She reached for the teleporter, only to see it wasn't activating. She tried and tried to turn it on to no avail, "What's going on?!"
I jumped to my feet, and did all she could think to. I darted after the beast, using my shoulder to try and knock it out of it's path as it lunged at Vulpina, "Back off!"
It let out a yelp, as it stumbled away. Vulpina, in shock of what was happening, took a few moments to gather herself as she took in just where they were. "... oh crud... run!"

She hollered, as she began to run off.
I glanced over my shoulder to gather why I had been given this advice. Only adrenaline was pushing me by this point as it was. Yet I could quickly see why Vulpina bolted off. An entire flock of the creatures were descending from above, a yellow eye gleaming with hunger in each of their mouths as they dived at the two of us that remained behind.
In my rush, I grabbed LuCretia by the arm to yank her up into a run. The two of us hurried after the fox in an attempt to evade the winged swarm. Ahead there was a cavern of sorts, barely noticable in the rocks? Not knowing what else to do, I pulled LuCretia into that narrow crevice, while grabbing Vulpina's hand as well to do the same. With the three of us tucked away in that sliver of an opening, we barely managed to avoid the collection of maws as they darted by.

Only when it was quiet did I let go of their wrists while slidiing down gasping for breath, my sore muscles quite distressed by this after having to rest for so long.
Looking out of the opening of our shelter, Vulpina held her blaster to her chest, breathing heavily. Leaning against the wall, she placed her hand on her face, "Where the heck did you set the teleporter to LuCretia?! What kinda nightmare dimension did you send us to?!"
"I didn't set it for this! I used the coordinates you gave me!" LuCretia quickly insisted, "Isn't this the realm you wanted to send her to?!"

I glanced up at the two starting to bicker. Raising a brow at the information exchanged, I questioned, "Where, pray tell, were you going to send me? And where the feathers are we now?"
"Just some primitive world, nowhere dangerous, just to get you out of the way with no way for you get get back! Not this... horror show...!" She glanced out the crack again, and gestured for us to follow, with it seeming to be safe to venture out again.
"Gee...how thoughtful..." I grumbled as I dragged myself back up.

The sleeve of my shirt had slid down my shoulder, hinting further at the several bandages I still had to wear. I was readjusted it when she noticed LuCretia staring with a raised brow. The wrappings went up to my throat and and all down my torso. Not to mention the few I had on my arms and her left leg. For the moment I ignored the duck's staring and reluctantly followed the fox.
"Look... if we have any chance of surviving... where ever this is, we need to stick together." The fox commented, as she slowly began to explore, looking to the flock of eye beasts flying away in the distance, "We need to figure out a way out of here, or we're all stranded."
"Unless there's a way to leave me here right?" I asked sharply, trusting them as far as she could throw them.

Which...wasn't very far at the moment. Still I walked with them, and was still ignoring LuCretia in the process. The duck was mainly working on the teleporter, but would occasionally glance at me.
As we searched about, strange growths in the soil emerged, fleshy vine like structures that ended in flowers filled with teeth, that basked in the crimson light from above. As they drew close, the flowers snapped shut and burrowed back under the ground. Looking back at me, Vulpina took a deep breath, "So, what happened to you?"
It was trying to step lightly, being mindful of the tooth plants. At the fox's question I replied, "How should I explain it...ever had a limb torn off? Well that's how it feels to have wings torn off."
LuCretia's eyes grew wide hearing this rather blunt answer.
The vulpine grimaced, as she turned to face forward again, "Sorry for asking..."
I gave a shrug while wondering what the others were doing. I thought over Tanya's request and retorted, "So much for taking it easy..."

The thought of the door we had opened had begun my wondering as I looked at my hands, still walking on, "I wonder if that's what did it?"
Letting out a huff, Vulpina looked back at the duck, "Any luck figuring out that contraption? Or did it get fried as well when we landed in this place?"
"It tries to start up, but it's almost like it's being blocked from doing so," LuCretia replied as it did this once more, "I am still trying to figure out what went wrong in the first place."

I looked ahead while the two talked. LuCretia tried to recount our steps, "Back in the city, I set the coordinates, hit the trigger, and the gateway opened. Then there was this weird electricity..."
Vulpina's gaze left the duck, and focused on the me. She crammed her eyes closed, and shook her head, "Of course... just of course..."
I was looking over my shoulder at the two of them, but remained silent.
LuCretia looked to Vulpina, "What? Do you know what happened?"
I faced forward again, allowing the vixen to explain if she wished. Though I did glance down at my hands and wondered if I had anything like that left in me?
"Let's just say it seems that Heart has more tricks up her sleeve than you were aware of..." The bounty hunter added, as we continued forward.

Soon, twe had come to a cliff, overseeing an oozing lake of vicious fluid. It roiled and bubbled, with eye like structures bobbing up and down in the goo.
I bit her lower lip and let out a slow breath to not get nauseous from the sight below.

"This place...it's just filled with fun things isn't it?" I asked while trying to figure out where to go.

"If you did something to the portal, can't you do it again to get us back?" LuCretia questioned before rolling her eyes in disbelief, "Really...wings? Magic?"

I glanced back at her and retorted to both of them sharply, "Well he likes it."
At that comment, Vulpina ground her teeth, but... there were more pressing matters to attend to. As she looked around, she saw in the distance what looked like a tall spire. Placing a hand to her chin, she pondered. "... as silly as this may sound, but, maybe it's a matter of reception... maybe if we get up there, it may work better."
"It's a start," I replied while then answering the previous question, "As for my magic, I don't even know if I have any left...even if I did, I am still learning how to use it in the first place. I simply reacted to a threat and here we are..."

With this I then started walking in the direction of the narrow tower. LuCretia had little choice but to go along with the two of us.
As we proceeded with our trek through this strange and alien landscape, the very ground itself began to betray us. The ground would loose it's consistency, as with each step there was a wet suck as they pulled our feet out.

"Cripes sake! Is this place just trying to be a pain in the butt?!" Vulpina yelped.
I glanced down with her own irritation remaining. The brim of my cargo pant legs were getting a bit muddied. LuCretia found her heeled boots sinking into the ground here and there. "So what were the coordinates you gave me?" She questioned while pulling her boot out and tried to march on, "How did you mess them up?"

I rolled my eyes before answering, "All I did was react. I had no idea where you were sending me when I pulled you both in with me. I just did whatever I could to keep you both the heck away from Duke and the others!"
Vulpine gritted her teeth, as the two of us went through this. Clutching her hands, I got the feeling that she was close to drawing her blaster on us again, as the muck and mire made traversing even more difficult... as she came to a realization. With each step, we were starting to sink further into the goo, "Everyone, stop it now!"
I did as told, but had to catch LuCretia by her arm. She too now realized that we were sinking as well.

"Let go!" Lucretia ordered as I pulled her hand away to oblige. "

What's going on now?!" Lucretia demanded while I quietly looked around.
"I'm not sure, but, this seems to be some some kinda quick sand!" As she answered, we began to sink deeper... until we realized it wasn't just us sinking, but we were being pulled under, as the sludge inched up on them.

"Quick, do either of you have anything to pull us out?!" Vulpina questioned with urgency.
I tried to think. I didn't have my glaive. Pulling my ribbon loose, practically grasping at straws, I tried to see if there was anything to tie it to? Looking around, I would see limbs of trees above if I could just...the ribbon started to stretch in my hand! As it did, I took a chance and swung half of it up as it tied around the sturdy branch like a snake curling firmly around it. I then reached out to Vulpina, "Come on!"
Vulpina grabbed at the string, and gave me an incredulous look, "What the devil is this supposed to do?!"
"Climb out I guess?" I retorted while beginning to demonstrate.

LuCretia raised a brow before reluctantly following me up to the branch, the two of us managing to pull ourselves free.

"Either trust me or don't!" I pushed as I reached the top and offered a hand down to them if they followed.
Gritting her teeth, Vulpina followed suit, and climbed up the string, pulling herself out of the mire. It snatched at them at they ascended, but it's slow and sluggish movement was not fast enough to catch them again. Sitting on the gnarled branch, Vulpina let out a deep sigh. "... this place is some kinda madhouse.."
I was retrieving my ribbon now, watching it shrink back in my hand. The white silk was then returned to my hair in order to tie it back up, with a slight smile curving my lips as I did this.
"So now we walk along tree branches the rest of the way?" LuCretia asked with irritation lingering.

While we discussed this, I found a rather long, but sturdy piece of the branch to snap off and use as a staff, "Sorry tree...but I need this to guide my way...and it's better than nothing."
The branch shuddered as I snapped off a portion, giving Vulpina a pause, before we headed down the branch. As the three of us progressed, one of the eyes above looked down at us, and gazed upon our group of three, unlblinking.

When the tree hand shuddered, I had patted it in a comforting attempt. As I did, I found myself saying, "I miss Grin..."

I missed them all, but I was trying to stay somewhat optimistic.
I would notice the eye staring down at us and say, "I wonder what it's watching us for?" "Probably deciding what to throw at us next! This place has no rhyme or reason and you're curious about it?!" LuCretia spat with growing unease.

I was using the makeshift staff to test my footing as we walked this time. The branch writhed gently, contorting under our footfalls, but not too difficult to make it across. However, from a hole in the tree, a pair of eyes popped out, on the end of a set of feelers. It looked at the three of us curiously, as Vulpina drew her blaster, "Great, another varmit to deal with!"
I leapt from branch to branch with a bit of pride curving my lip into a smirk. When the creature before us caught our attention, I held out my staff in warning. LuCretia drew her blaster, ready to shoot at whatever it was.

"Hello?" I attempted.

"Have you lost your mind?" LuCretia spat with irritation.

I ignored her.
The eyes darted back, before peeking out. They looked at us cautiously, before the rest floated out. A fleshy dish with tendrils trailing below it, a little slit of a mouth sat between it's eye stalk. From it, a nervous, but friendly voice emerged, "H-... hello?"
I tilted my head curiously, lowering my staff a bit.

"It's sorta cute?" I admitted as it hovered before us.

"It's probably luring us in for something bigger, if it doesn't trick us for it's own meal!" Lucretia snapped, "How can you think it's cute?!"

I shrugged while turning to the strange being before us, "What are you?"
Vuplina kept her blaster ready, but... knew they may in need of a native's help.

"Oh.. hi! I'm Flumph! And I'm a Flumph! Umm.. nice to met you! Your energies are different!"
"You don't say?" I gave a slight laugh to match my smirk, glancing at the two briefly.

I crept over to it and offered a hand out to it, "I'm Heart, Heart L'Orange. My fellow travelers and I are trying to find our way back home."

Lucretia stared on with wide lavender eyes, "The human has already cracked!

I'd noticed that at the mentioned of my last name, Vulpina seemed tempted to take aim at me... but, appeared to decided that this could wait until later. The creature levitated towards us, it's slit mouth forming a smile, "Oh! Nice to met you! I haven't seen creatures like you in a long while! This place is really dangerous! I can't really blame for your wanting to go back home! OOOH! Maybe I can help!"

With that, it placed a tendril in my hand, wrapping it around my digits.

As I shook appendages with it, I eagerly replied, "That would be great Flumph!"

LuCretia's jaw dropped to see this interaction, "How can you just trust it like that?!"

I looked over my shoulder at her and raised a brow, but didn't say anything to the duck. Instead, I turned back to my new friend and asked, "Dangerous huh?"
"Oh yes! All sorts of hunters and predators... and Orothi the terrible! Oh, he's super scary!" It exclaimed, placing two tentacles where it's cheeks would be.
"Orothi?" I inquired.

I then felt compelled to ask, "What did you mean by different energies by the way?"
"Oh! He rules this area! He's very very powerful!" It tilted it's entire body, as if confused by such a ridiculous question, "Umm... your energies. You know, your psychic auras!"
"Yeah?" I prompted while trying to explain my curiosity, "Auras aren't talked about as often back home? May you explain?"

Though I had thought of what Grin had mentioned from time to time.

"Why aren't you more worried about this Orothi creature?!" LuCretia questioned, "We need to get to that tower so we can leave this awful place!"
"Oh, just the innate energies all sentient beings radiate. Your's is nice! The other two... not as nice, but alot better than what I usually have to deal with! And why would you wanna go to that tower?! That's Orothi's!"
I smiled a bit at first at hearing the remark made about my aura. Some part of me couldn't help but feel perhaps it was due to the influence of my teammates. Then I heard the exclamation about the tower and about laughed, "Good thing we ran into you then! Do you know how we can get home then?"
Lucretia's eyes widened at this before she glared at Vulpina, "You were leading us into a death trap! Why am I even following you?! Your plans are horrid!"
"Not like you were doing anything right yourself!" The fox snapped back, snarling.

At that, the Flumph cowered back. "Oh... umm.. he does have... portals to magic worlds up there.. but.. it's really really dangerous... I can show you all how to live here and enjoy it! I hope you like squig!"
I shook my head, "Sorry friend, but we can't stay here. I can't speak for them, but I have to go home. No matter what it takes."
LuCretia shot a look at the fox, "You didn't even tell me about the human's abilities! I bet you wanted me trapped with her!"
"Can your quacking!" Vulpina snapped back, as she pulled the blaster on LuCretia, "I should've left you in that hole to rot!"

At this, the Flumph recoiled, "C-Can you make them stop? Their vibes are really not good."
Raising a brow, I stood up and looked back at the two. LuCretia scoffed at the fox, "What would have been your plan then without my teleporter?!"

I went to step between them, but my own irritation was tugging at me. I then said to the floating being, "Can vibes effect things here?"
"I could've done something else! I didn't need you!" The fox yelled back, her finger on the trigger, "You're so dumb, you don't know when you shut up when somebody's going to blast you to ash!"
"Oh yes! Umm... their vibes could attract th-" Suddenly, there was a loud screech, as the flapping of wings could be heard approaching, "... them..."
I looked up and groaned, "Of course."

Quickly, I looked to the two and attempted, "Enough! Both of you!"
LuCretia shut her beak, but drew her own blaster out of caution. Seeing this, I took a shot, opening my hand and letting out a burst of energy that not only hit...but it overcharged both blasters, causing them to explode in their hands. The energy also struck at their hands, scorching fur and feathers alike. LuCretia yelped as she pulled her hand against her in pain and surprise.
Letting out a yelp herself, Vulpina turned towards me, "Look at what ya did! Our only way of protecting ourselves!"

As she continued to yell, the flapping grew louder, with Flumph giving another warning, "Umm... guys... you might want to take a few deep breaths.."
I looked up before then grabbing Flumph by a tendril and ducking down under some of the branches. LuCretia found herself following this lead out of desperation as the creatures drew nearer.
"Wha-OH CRUD!" Vulpina exclaimed, as she dived in with us.

The Flumph, wathcing the bat winged monsters flew by, let out a whistle, "They really felt your energies! Got them reaaaaaaaally hungry."

I took a moment to catch my breath as the beasts flew off, trying to calm myself, "Well they can go get something else to chew on."

With the coast clear, I climbed back up and started for the tower again, "I don't know about you two, but I want to go home now after this nice long walk."

"How do we go anywhere without our blasters now?!" LuCretia demanded.

I shrugged, "What goes around comes around doesn't it?"

I raised up my right hand to show where my comm should have been, reminding them that I was still in casual clothes and bandages.
Grumbling to herself, Vulpina crawled out after the flock left. With the tentacled creature following, it hovered about. She grumbled, ".. so... to the tower?"
I found I didn't much care that Vulpina had been visibly annoyed with the comment. To the question I replied, "Unless I can somehow make another door, yes."

What I was trying to mask, was the pain from my wounds were aching from being pushed this far already. My back, especially, was screaming. And I was desperately trying to focus on getting back to the others.
"Oh... well... better follow me then. I've snuck in there a few times... and I think I can help!" Flumph offered cheerfully.

With that, it began to hover off, leading the way. The fox, sneering at this, shook her head, "This is maddness..."
"Any more bright ideas?" LuCretia snarked at the fox.

I followed along the floating being, wondering what the others were up to again. I had a guess, and I hated knowing how worried he probably was. Glancing back at the two, I could feel a bit of anger rising in me that I tried to drown out with lighter thoughts.
Snarling, Vulpina followed as well, as the Flumph lead the way. Soon, we would arrive at the tower, seemingly made of not stone, not metal.. but chitine. It stood tall, it's glossy coat occasionally shifting, as the friendly abberation floated along, looking for a way in, "Should be here somewhere!"
I started to look around the structure, carefully running a hand along the odd substance to feel for a way in. In doing this, I thought of him in a way. With a bit of a smirk, I slipped my hand into an opening wide enough for us, "I think I found it."
The opening would slide open, prompting a huff from Vulpina, who shoved me aside to get in herself.

"At least someone here knows how to get a job done..!" She snarked, as she began to

explore.
I wanted to comment, and gave a bit of a soft growl when I was pushed over. LuCretia followed after Vulpina, with me at the tail of the trio of us. Some pride emerged in me though before I looked ahead at the two, "You two are always so surprised? You know I joined them for a reason, don't you?"
"Here I thought it was just because he pitied you?" The fox quipped back, as she examined the strange structure they were it.

It's designs seemed nonsensical, almost contradictory... but it still worked.
LuCretia gave a laugh at Vulpina's comment towards me.

"I joined the resistance on Puck World before I even met him! You two betrayed that world and everyone in it, including Duke!" My comment was meant to be a bit biting, especially towards Vulpina in that moment.
"He betrayed me first!" The fox barked, causing the floating creature to wince, "What did you even do in the Resistance? You were probably just kept as laser fodder!"

As we argued, a loud clicking could be heard by the duck.
I planned my steps carefully still as we crept along the narrow path, wanting nothing more than to be back home with him and the others.

I glared back, "You tried to kill him because he didn't give you what you wanted! You want to know what difference he sees in you and I?!" I tried to keep her voice low, but sharp.

I pointed right at Lucretia, "When she showed up the first time and he started giving his attention to her, I didn't try to kill him! When I found out what she was trying to do, I tried to save him whether he loved me or not!"
"Quite foolish if you ask me," LuCretia scoffed, "I had him wrapped around my finger, and you were an absolute mess as I recall, but you were quite stubborn. Almost died with him trying to protect them!"

I glared at both of them now, but managed to keep my voice chillingly calm, "That's the difference he sees!"
I planned my steps carefully still as we crept along the narrow path, wanting nothing more than to be back home with him and the others. It was now that I also heard the clicking sound emerging bit by bit.
"That should show you how easy you would be to discard. As soon as LuCretia showed up, he didn't think of you until she was revealed to be working for old lizard lips, huh? I reckon if she was on the up and up, he would be with her now, not you!" She yelled back, noticing the sound as well.

My eyes flashed with anger at this remark. My calmer side knew that much more had come to light in that time, that Duke and I were far closer even then than they'd thought. Besides, that isn't what had happened. However, my more agitated side started breaking through my reservations. Until I heard the clicking sound growing louder nearby.

Turning around the bend, was a giant hard shelled figure. Almost lobster like, with a mass of tentacles dangling form it's head. A pair of giant pincers ended it's front arm like limbs, as it let out a hiss, and lumbered towards us.
Seeing the creature shambling towards us was a good excuse as I lashed out at it. Or at least I tried when my magic wouldn't come forth. So I resorted to swinging the makeshift staff, as I had with countless hunter drones, into it's head.
The wooden staff splintered over it's head, the brute taking a moment to recognize it was attacked, before grabbing me up in it's claws.
I tried to pull free before it began to press into my wounds. An unwillingly cry tore from my throat as my back also screamed in protest, my eyes shot wide open. I just wanted to be home, she just wanted to be with him! Again I tried, and this time energy began sparking around me in defense against the creature, lashing out as scales tried to grow over my back to protect the sensitive, healing wounds.

It's grip tightened, as it's pincers clamped tighter around my petite frame. While energy crackled from my body, the monster simply took it, the beast's gaze unflinching. It's vice like grip growing more intense, as it's jagged claws dug into my flesh. The tentacles dangling from it's mouth writhed in anticipation of it's freshly acquired meal... until there was a loud crack against it's exoskeleton. It slowly turned it's head toward the fox, grumbling in irritation, as it raised one of it's many legs up to kick her aside. However, this gave the little tentacled creature a chance, and while the chuul was distracted, it squirted a spray of goo into the lobster like monster's face, causing it yell out.
I had bit my lip to keep from crying out again as my wounds were pressed into. Again tried to get free in vain. While LuCretia backed up against the wall to keep herself away from the creature. Still I felt my core trying to ignite when LuCretia suddenly began to float. She tried to grasp for the wall to stay on the ground, "Wh-What's happening now?!"

I couldn't really answer as I attempted to get loose still.
As the vicious substance began to burn, the crustacean began to thrash about, and threw me across the room as it attempted to scrap the goop off of it's face. Vulpina began to pull herself out, fighting back the pain as the beast began to rush at her, while the hapless Flumph flailed about in a panic.
I about crumbled to the floor from the harsh impact. Yet as I heard the creature charging forward, I attempted once again to let out a burst of electricity, giving out a bit of lightening to strike it. LuCretia's eyes widened a bit at this, but then she refocused a well. As the monster was struck in it's stride, LuCretia pushed off from the wall and turned so to kick it square in it's face!
It let out a squeal as the bolt struck true, and as the terrible thing gurgled in pain, the duck's boot would land right in it's face. It stumbled back, and let out a hiss, as it skittered away from the four of us, hiding back in to the corridors of the tower.

I gasped for breath as I had no choice but to lie on the ground a few moments. I was managing the pain as best as I could, but the energy output was taking it's toll. LuCretia managed to land on the ground as the magic fled from her. Remembering who was nearby, I tried to push myself back up to my feet.

"A-Are you both okay?" I asked shakily.
Cringing as she got back to her feet, Vulpina gave a nod, "Yeah.. I'll manage... you okay?" The floating disk of tendrils bobbed up and down. "I'm fine, thanks for askin!"
I gave a slight smile, and pushed myself back up. I needed to fix my bandages, but I refused to try with them there. They would have to wait for now. So I got to my feet and looked around, "Where to now?"

LuCretia raised a brow, but didn't say anything.
Vulpina, placing a hand on her side as she winced in pain. The Flump hovered abit, placing a tentacle to it's lipless mouth.,"Well... umm... I think the portals are up. That would be easy for me... but for you three..."
"So we need to find a path heading up then?" I pondered before noting Vulpina's stance. I then walked over to the fox and asked rather directly, "What's wrong?"
Taking a sharp breath through her teeth, the fox shook her head, "Nothing. I'm alright. Let's go on with this..."

The friendly abberation gave a worried look, before it began to hover ahead, scouting for the group.
However, I wasn't budging, "You're not fooling me. What's wrong?"

LuCretia folded her arms over her chest with a scoff, "Stubborn as always?"

I shot her a look, but said to Vulpina, "I am the only one here who hasn't tried to outright murder anyone. If you're hurt we need to take care of it."

I then slipped a hand into one of my many pockets and produced some bandaging, "Here."
Narrowing her eyes, Vulpina shook her head again, "That varmit may have got a good hold on me.. I'll be able to walk it off, don't you fret about m-"

However, as she stepped forward, she let out another yelp, and clutched at her side.
Instinctively, I grasped her shoulders and forced her to sit down, "We're not moving until we tend to it! I can look away and give cover if you want."
Looking to the side, she closed her eyes, "Just get it done with already. We're wasting time enough as it is."
With that, I went to work at helping Vulpina look over her side, finding a gash left from the crab claw, "It's not too bad, but we need to bandage it before it gets worse okay?"

Without waiting, I proceeded to do just that, cleaning and dressing the wound with notable care. I risked a comment, "I had to learn to be a bit stubborn with this because of him."
Looking away from me, a weak smirk crossed her face, "Yeah.. Duke has issues with showing his weaknesses..."
I didn't want to point out just why he did. With Vulpina being one of the trusted ones to turn on him, and his best friend trying to kill him...So I continued to dress her wounds. Then some part of me mentioned cautiously, "He...he's come a long from that since joining the resistance."
She let out a grumble. "Need some more salt for this wound?"
I gave out a frustrated sigh at this, "You know, I can not help what happened between the two of you. All I can do is state how I have come to know that drake since I met him on Puck World, and I certainly don't regret being with him. I had no idea about you when he and I got together; but I also believe he never meant to hurt you. You can get mad at me, growl at him sharing his name with me, hate me, whatever; but it won't change my being with him."

LuCretia listened to this, but said nothing. She watched as I did a decent job at bandaging Vulpina's side.
After the job was done, the fox got up, and looked over the patching up, "Not bad... now, let's get going. I doubt any of us want to stay here any longer than we need to."
I simply nodded while getting up myself. Despite my body resisting the attempts at movement, I knew I had to push on.

As we wandered along the narrow corridor, I again began to wonder what my teammates were up to at the moment. Did they know yet? Did he? I made sure both women were in front of me by this point, while taking the back with the Flumph.
The strange friendly creature turned towards me as the others went on.

It gave a sympathetic look, and bobbed it's head, "I'm sure they're alright.."
I looked to him with widened eyes, "What?...You knew what I was thinking?"
"... of course? Don't you?" It tilted it's head curiously, as if it was asked what color the sky was.
"I know what I am thinking...but not generally what others think. For the most part," I gave a slight smile, not really caring if Vulpina noticed as I thought of him. "I miss them...and him...we've been going through a lot lately, and I can only imagine how worried he is after all that..."
"Oh..." It replied, as it floated along.

Vulpina lead the way, clutching the makeshift club. As we ascended the stairwell, bringing us up the tower, a voice began to ring in their heads. The voice was alien, we couldn't place anything like an accent or gender... but, it was clear.

"It seems I have a few intruders in my tower. I am curious, what exactly are vermin like you are doing in here? For your sake, it better be to give me an offering?"

My hair stood on end as this occurred. I covered my ears a moment as though to block out the voice to no avail.

"I just want to go home," I replied.

As fear lingered in me, something else was being drawn out. I looked ahead at the two, "Let's just keep going."
LuCretia at first grew anxious, but took a quick breath before composing herself.

"An offering?" She thought to herself, unknownst to us, in case it heard, "Maybe."

She glanced at the two of us fellow travelers and gave a smirk that we couldn't see in the low light.
The voice called back to the duck, but only in her mind so we would not hear it, "So, you have brought these two to curry my favor. Do tell, what would you like in return?"
"A way back to the dimension we came from," she answered, "and protection from this realm of yours."
"Excellent... bring them upstairs, and I will spare you." The voice finished, before going silent, though Vulpina and I had not heard it.
I remained towards the back with the Flumph, "Did you hear that too? Is that Orothi?"
The Flumph, placing it's tentacles by it's mouth worriedly, gave a nod, "Yeah... that's Orothi... he knows we're here! We need to be careful!"
"Careful huh...?" I half laughed to herself, "I am just on a walk after all."

Looking at the woman that caused this in the first place, my hands balled into fists before I took a breath and tried to calm down. Yet in the back of my head, I could feel that anger pulling something out.

"What can this creep do?" I raised a brow.
"Oh... well.. Orothi can control minds, toss people around by thinking about it, and... likes to eat brains..."

It whimpered, as Vulpina looked back at me, feeling her glaring daggers at the fox, "And what do you want?"
"To go home for one," I retorted sharply while trying to stay focused on that.

Yet hearing what this guy could do brought little comfort.

"I wanted to go for a walk, go back to the pond, and prove he didn't have to worry about me so much!"
Gritting her teeth, she glared back at me, "You know, this would go a whole lot easier if you stopped bringing him up every other breath. Yeah, go ahead, gloat about it, you clingy little welp!" The flumph cringed at this, floating ahead, "Come on guys! We need to work together!"
I couldn't begin to say how much this wasn't what I was trying to do...but focusing on getting back to him and the others...

"Cl-Clingy?! Are you kidding me?! It's not to gloat! You asked what I wanted after ripping me away from him and the others!" I tried to take another breath, "I am just trying to focus on what helps me keep control right now, okay? You don't know what we just went through, nor do I expect you to understand it; you just get to hate me for simply being with him!"
"Could you just shut your yap! We're in got dang enemy territory, and you keep on flapping your gums as if you're the only one that matters! Blast it, maybe this place is too good for you!" The bounty hunter snapped, her fur standing on end, "If you want to live, shut up and come along!"
I did as the woman demanded, not bothering to point out that she had asked me in the first place. Though I did glance at Vulpina's bandaged wound and shook my head, "Clearly..."

I was trying so hard though. I wasn't trying to hurt anyone...that was the last thing I wanted, even if I didn't like them...I couldn't lose control again. Nonetheless, I followed along behind them with a quiet, but growing, panic in my chest. Glancing at the floating being beside me, I attempted in my head, "You mentioned auras? Why did you say they were so different if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oh... well.. each creature has it's own aura! Just, it's shaped by alot of factors... how they feel, what they think, how others think of them..." Flumph began to trail off, describing how auras worked.
"Yeah?" I was genuinely curious, and was trying to distract myself from the instincts clawing at my mind.

If we went back together, would they still be gunning for my teammates? I glanced at LuCretia and placed a hand to my chin. I then gave a nod and slipped near them, sliding my hand into LuCretia's satchel, and pocketed the device I'd taken from it. Then I fell back and placed a finger to my lips to signal to Flumph not to alert them to this.
Luckily, LuCretia was too focused on following Vulpina, it seemed, to notice.
We began heading up to the next floor. With every step, I felt my fury rising in me.
The Flumph gave a nod, as he floated along.

Vulpina slipped into the next room, looking around before waving the others in... before there was a loud hiss. Her fur standing on end, she searched around quickly, "Did any of you see that?!"
I gave a quiet nod while looking into the space before us to try and see what it was.
Diving from the ceiling, a mass of tentacles and eyes dropped down, and quickly enwrapped the fox. She kicked and fought, but it was able to hold her in place, before it turned towards the others.
I jumped to attention while attempting to let out a burst of energy again. This time it rushed forward to strike the creature, trying to force it to release the vixen.
As it coiled around the fox, the flash of a blade would suddenly sever through it's rubbery flesh, causing it to let out an unearthly cry! Seemingly coming out of thin air, Duke was there, and was fending off the monster, "Get back, ya miserable cretin!"
My eyes widened when I saw him there. My heart in my chest leapt to my throat from relief, "Duke!"

Seeing my magic bounce off the creature, and having no other weapon at the moment, I had little choice but to let him handle this one. I was too happy to register that the bursts of magic thus far had left me a bit drained, and I needed to recharge a bit before using more.
The swashbuckler fended of the beast. It coiled and hissed at him, as he slashed at it, driving it away from us. It lashed it's tentacles at him, but he was able to deftly dodge each strike. "You're as clumsy as you're ugly, it seems!" As he quipped, Vulpina pulled herself away from the monster, shaking off the viscioius goo.
While Duke fought off the beast, I went over to Vulpina with genuine concern showing, "Are you okay?"

While trying to offer help, I would glance over once or twice as though in disbelief that it was him.
LuCretia didn't say a word, but looked on in shock as Duke fought off the strange creature.
Vulpina let out a scoff, as she helped herself up. The monster, seeing a powerful threat keeping it from it's meal, slithered off to hide. Duke then turned towards the two of us, and as he approached us, he extended his hand, "You okay there, sweetheart?"
"How did you get here?" I asked while going to place my hand in his. Looking him over almost didn't feel real.
"Hey, I have my ways," He said with a smirk, before pulling his hand away from mine.

He went to help Vulpina up, and gave her a smile, "You okay there darlin'? That nasty thing got the drop on you three."

Vulpina gave him a confused look... before a wide smile crossed her face, "Yeah, I'll be fine."
My eyes went wide in shock at this. As did LuCretia's at first. Then she glanced at the me and scoffed, "Something the matter girl?"

I wasn't really sure, but tried to convince myself that he was just concerned for Vulpina for the sake of their past friendship. Though, recalling Vulpina's comments from a little bit ago, I didn't mention my quite sore injuries or early signs of fatigue. Instead I replied to Duke, "Still in one piece so far. Are our teammates okay? Did they stay behind?"
"Yeah, my teammates are fine..." He answered, as if half interested in me.

Holding onto Vulpina's hand, the drake began to lead them along, "Follow me, I know the way out of this madhouse!"

"O-Of course!" Vulpina answered, a giddiness in her voice.
There was a certain stab in my core from this odd remark, "Your? Duke, is something wrong?"

I followed along, but my head swam with confusion. Was this place messing with him, or maybe, "Duke, are you upset with me?"

I glanced at my ring for a moment and attempted, "I'm sorry I disappeared like that, there wasn't much else I could do."
He gave me a glance, and turned forward, as he lead the way, "Why would I be mad at you?"

The look he gave her was one of incredibility... as if my even asking seemed absurd for him, "I have to save people everyday, after all. You're no different."
"No diff...?! What?" I questioned, "Just a week ago you were..." It clicked... "You scared I was going to die, now you're acting like we're strangers...?" I looked him over with growing confusion and unease.
LuCretia watched in amusement as I clearly was thrown off from this.
Taking this moment, Vulpina gave a weak gasp, as she stumbled forward. At this, Duke was quick to aid her, "You gotta be careful, sweetheart. That cretin will pay for hurtin you."
I about felt lost at this moment. I could see his ring, I knew the gear he wore to be that from our team. Yet something just was off? Maybe he was upset? Maybe this place was drawing forward other things, old memories maybe?
LuCretia, however, couldn't help but comment, "What was that about being with him?"
I shot her a glare, before taking a quick breath and glancing at my wedding band to try and confirm our connection with it. Then I watched as Duke tended to Vulpina, and I ignored my own aching wounds for the time being.
"I know the way, come on," He said, ushering us on.

Soon, we would arrive at a large door, and gestured to the fox, "Ladies first."
I watched as Vulpina was offered to go through first. I waited for her and LuCretia to go ahead. Then I walked up beside Duke, glancing up at him with bewildered unease, "Duke? Please tell me what's wrong?"
He looked at me for a moment, before rolling his eye, "Nothing's wrong, kid. I mean, other than being stuck in this place. Don't worry, we'll get out of here."
That's where I paused. He'd never called me that before. Even when upset, or when getting to know each other. I looked up at him as I stood before this drake and directly asked, "What are you to me Duke?"
"Why, you're Heart of course," he said with a smile and a chuckle, as he lead us on into the next room.

It was a grand chamber, with a burning brazier in the center, beyond it stood a tall throne. Duke waved his hands back towards the three of us, "Be careful ladies..."
However, at Duke's reply, I had already felt a chill in my blood before it ignited. At least it tried to as I registered the casual remark. Electricity attempted to lash out in warning towards the apparent doppelganger. However, that very energy would instead backfire and lash out as I went to speak. My hand flew to my throat as I realized words wouldn't come forth. Frustration continued to burrow as I looked ahead, seeing Lucretia's all too pleased smile, "Something wrong there?"

Again, I shot her a look, and then glared at the supposed rogue.
Duke did not notice my failed attempt to lash out at him, as he snuck along, guiding Vulpina, who paid no attention to me either. Only at the fellow duck's comment, did Duke look back. "Hey, everything alright?"
I stepped back, my eyes darkened a bit. Yet it was only my eyes and failed magic that would show the signs of what I was. With my wings gone, my scales wouldn't come forth. Instead, my injuries ached in a reminder, furthering my frustration. My mind screamed, "You're not him!" Yet the words would not be voiced. Even his attempts at speaking were off, I now realized.
As he lead us on, soon, we reached another door. The Flumph floating behind us nervously, Duke turned back to us, "Say... I seem to have left my tools back at the base, any of you got something to pick this lock?"
I didn't want to oblige, but I didn't have a better plan either. Not yet. So I took a breath, and retrieved a pick from one of my many pockets. However, I didn't hand it over; but stepped forward to start working at it instead. I glanced at him briefly with a smirk, confirming to myself that the thief I knew would not be so easily caught without something to work with.
LuCretia raised a brow at this, but allowed things to play out with a comfortable smile of her own.
As I worked the lock, the one eyed drake began to draw his sword. A grin on his face, he raised up the blade, and lashed it down at me, cutting her shirt before I could move.
I couldn't even cry out as the blade glided across my all too recent scars. Nor could I stop myself from collapsing onto my hands and knees in some form of reflex. Before he struck again, I tried to push myself to the side, rolling to the left as fresh blood began to flow down my back from the reopened wounds, and new ones along my back. In desperation, I tried to summon some energy to knock him back.
However, her magic would act on it's own , and as he swung again, I seemed to vanishe from sight, causing him to pause in his attack. Vulpina, taken back by all this, grimaced, "The heck happened there, Duke?!"
A soundless breath of relief escaped my lips when he missed. With Vulpina distracting him, I took a leap and tackled the rogue to the floor, landing a punch at his jaw as I tried to keep him pinned down.
LuCretia looked on with widened eyes, "What knocked him down? I don't see anything!"
With me forcing Duke down, Vulpina went to the avian's aid, raising a boot and swinging a kick down at me, whether she could see me or not.
I cried out without a voice as I was knocked to the side from the impact to my shoulder. Scrambling to my feet, I tried to take advantage of not being seen while I could, and went to the door to finish unlocking it.
I was able to reach the door, as the others tried to make sense of what was going on. The Flumph, taking a deep breath, began to fling itself at the one eyed mallard, slapping him with his tentacles, "You leave her alone!"
To this, I breathed a "thank you" he couldn't hear. Then there was a click, and I was able to push the door open and slip inside, pushing it shut behind me to try and buy me some time. Then I found a corner of the room and tucked myself away to try and control the pain washing over my back. At last my voice came back, along with me I realized, as I breathed, "Duke...I don't know what to do..."
As I'd gone to hide, the others fended off my tentacled friend. The fox, grabbing one of it's many slimey arms, tossed it across the room, causing it to crash against the wall. It let out a whimper, as the fox shook her head, "Knew we coulnd't trust it... must've taken over that poor thing's mind..."
LuCretia watched on in quiet amusement. She looked to the door and mentioned, "It seems the lock was picked?"
However, my blood would be another unfortunate give away. My thin tshirt and bandages were not nearly enough to stop a blade's bite, soaking my back with crimson. I bit my lip to try and manage the pain. Yet when I heard the whimper of my friendly companion, all I could do was mutter some sort of apology through short gasps of pain. Through that, I looked up at the room I was now hiding in while trying to figure out my next move.
The trio now followed the red dotted trail into the room I was hiding in, as they began to explore it.

"Heeart... come out, sweetheart... it's just me, Duke..." The duck called out, as Vulpina smirked.
The room we were in seamed to be some manner of alchemical lab. Large vials, bubbling brews, and strange concoections sat on the shelves, with a large vat in the center of the room churning.
However, I stuck to my corner beside the shelf, trying to summon some energy to just stand. Moving caused my back to burn with resistance. I risked a glance out from that hiding spot to see the three still searching the lab. Biting my lower lip, I shakily stood to try and run for the trap door I spotted beneath the table, trying to slide under it.
Luckily, as the others scoured the room, they didn't notice me making a break for that door. Slipping under, I found myself in a small chamber, in which a figure rested in a tall chair. Dressed in dark robes, it's head was turned down, a set of four tentacles dangling from it's mauve face.
Instinct immediately kicked in as I froze before backing against the wall. The blood soaked shirt I shirt started to stain the fabric by now, as it dripped onto the floor. I held my very breath to not draw it's attention, or theirs from above in the lab.
It raised it's head, and opened it's milky white eyes. I could then hear a chuckle in my head, as it gazed over me, "So... you are blessed enough to witness the lord of this land... how lucky you are..."
Shaking my head, I quickly realized my whole body was trembling. I tried to summon some energy up, but wound up moving closer to the being in the blink of an eye. My legs shook violently from the jolt of misfired magic and sudden movement as I collapsed onto my hands and knees, barely catching myself. I cried out in protest as the reopened wounds in my back were jolted as well.
"Oh, you poor thing..." I heard in my head, as it rose up, starting to levitate, "Your fear is palatable... I will save you for last... your innate magic will make you far more delicious than the others... but for now, just tremble and wait, while I take care of them."
While I certainly did not care for the two above, I also knew I couldn't let this fate for them occur. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to stand between them and whatever this thing was. At least I tried to, but stumbled from pain and fatigue. However, out of some manner of hope, my scales began to emerge. I wasn't sure how, but this gave me a bit of strength to try and stand again as a more bestial nature began to take over me. With this, I glared up at the tentacled being and growled, "Back off!"

It turned towards me, narrowing it's eyes, before suddenly appearing mere inches from my face. It raised a tentacle, and grabbed me by the throat. It's slimey grip squeezed tightly, as I could feel it starting to crush her windpipe. It hissed in my mind, "I said wait here. Your time will come soon enough. Do not be so impatient."
A strangled cry attempted to emerge from my throat, but to little avail. I gasped for air that wouldn't come. My scales began to break away as though to mock me without my wings. All I could do was try to pry it off of me with nails digging into the slippery tendril. Without a voice I cried out for him, "Duke!"
Just as I was about to pass out from exhaustion, lack of oxygen, and pain; a sudden cut of light emerged, as though right out of thin air. With the aid of the enchanted blade in his hand, Duke hurried through the door. He quickly glanced around the room, immediately seeing the eldritch being holding me up still, almost unphased by this interruption. Without much of a warning, he hurried over and slashed at the tendril still strangling me. The gold blade cut clean through as the rogue stepped between the two of us, and hissed, "I'd stay away from her if I were ya, cretin!"
With a thick, green goo spurting from where the tentacle was severed, the illithid stumbled backwards, grasping at it's face. It's pupilless eyes glared at him, glowing with hatred and anger, "You will live to regret this...!"

Raising up a hand, it created a portal, which it quickly jumped through, closing it behind itself.

Only after he was certain door in space was shut tight behind the tentacled being, did Duke turn around to face me. Ignoring his own labored breathing, he found me looking up at him with widened, fearful eyes. By now I was trembling, my legs barely able to keep me standing by this point.
"..Heart...?" he ventured cautiously while reaching a hand to grasp my shoulder.

I tried to pull away from instinct, yet he was quick to catch me as I faltered.

"Heart, it's me!" he insisted while grasping both me shoulders when I tried to pull away still.

"No...please don't do this again!" I cried out in desperation.
"Heart, look at me!" he snapped urgently, before easing his tone when I winced in fear and pain, "Look at me, love."

Finally I did.
Finding that before me, stood the drake I thought I knew. His remaining eye looked at me with a familiar warmth. His grasp on my shoulders was firm, but gentle as well. Then I caught how he addressed me, encouraging me to ease up slightly, "Duke...?"

"Of course, sweetheart," he assured as he wrapped his arms around my trembling frame, "Did ya think I wouldn't come lookin'for ya?"

When his hand brushed over my back in his attempt to caress it, he felt me tense up as I tried not to scream from pain still. Taken a back by this, he soon realized the blood he'd brushed his hand over from my shirt, before getting a better look to see the new wounds in back, "...Heart?!"
I winced as he had me sit down without much way of arguing, taking advantage of our hidden position under the lab. There was little resisting, if any, made by me as he tended to my wounds.

Though it was also about now that I noticed how ragged he was in return. His feathered hair was disheveled, his breathing tired, and his expression, while warm, was also quite fatigued. He soon realized that I was seeing all this, and said softly, "I had to find ya."

It took all her energy not to break down as I wrapped my arms around his neck and shoulders, hugging him tightly.
Above the two of us, in the lab, LuCretia looked around with the others trying to find where I had run off to. She was about to give up when she noticed the trail of blood upon the floor leading to the trap door. With a smirk she said, "Gotch ya!"
As LuCretia opened the door, the one eyed duck that was with them quickly faded away, Vulpina letting out a shocked gasp as he vanished, "No! Duke! Come back!"
Duke looked up a bit confused by this, and was holding me rather defensively as the door was opened. Seeing LuCretia and Vulpina didn't bring him any reason to relax. Quite certainly not with me as vulnerable as I was, with my bandages fully showing as he had just finished tending to my wounds.
"What in the world just happened?! How are you down there...now?" The lavender haired duck trailed off when she realized it was the real drake there now.
"Thank heavens, Duke, what did this horrible girl do to you?!" Vulpina called out, as she rushed over to help him out of the chamber beneath. Hovering weakly, the Flumph came into the lab, "You... you won't hurt my frieeend...!"
"What she did to me? What are ya talkin' about?" Duke questioned in disbelief.

He then began to climb up, with me having to hold onto his back. Once up, I heard our jellyfish like companion and turned to greet him, "A-Are you okay?"

By now I'd been reduced to bandaging and my cargoes, for my shirt was too torn up to wear.

"I've got ya," Duke assured when he felt me shiver a bit from cold and fatigue.
Vulpina took a step back, her eyes narrowing... from what she had seen, she was with him... he wanted her... but now she was back to me... the trollop in her eyes! Vulpina, enraged and defeated, remained silent... even as the Flump hovered over, and gave her several weak thwaps with it's tentacles, "Take that... and that... and that!"
"FL-Flumph, it's okay now...I think...?" I attempted.

"It will be once I can get the star sword goin' again. Give me a little bit an' I'll get us home," Duke assured in tired breaths.

"ooooh... Okay!" The strange creature said, as it hovered over towards Duke and I.

"Duke?" I noted this.

"It took a few more tries than I liked to find ya, sweetheart," Duke admitted while glancing at the star sword, "an' it seems the star sword needs a bit of energy to work, when it's cut off from your home realm after a while. Every door I opened felt like I'd played a night's worth of a game, an' I did this quite a bit, until I found the right door."

"Duke...?" I stammered, "How did you know which door was the right one?"

"I didn't, but I hopped through each one 'til I got it right...'til I heard ya callin' for me..."
LuCretia watched in growing confusion, looking around the room for what should have been there to reward her. Yet the chamber remained empty.
Vulpina had her arms crossed, glaring off to the side, simmering in her own anger.
I looked to the odd being apologetically, "I am sorry...you got...hurt. Are...are you okay?" I had little choice but to be firmly holding onto Duke's neck and shoulders for dear life at this point.

Duke looked to Vulpina and LuCretia, "Care to tell me what happened while we're stuck here a little longer?"

His voice was short with his own frustration that he kept low, but I could feel the anger simmering in his throat.
Vulpina, glaring at him, and then at LuCretia and I, snarked. "We're stuck here because these two had to ruin everything..."

"Is that so?" Duke retorted sharply, before going for an irritated bite of his own, "Did ya really think gettin' rid of her would get ya what ya want? How long have ya known me?!"

I winced as I felt him growing tense.
She crossed her arms, and looked around, her ears folded back as she glared off into the distance, unwilling to answer or address him.

Duke knew he wouldn't get an answer and gave up. Instead he helped me carefully off of his back, and was forced to sit with me on the ground for a bit. He couldn't fully rest as he needed to, but easing up beside me seemed to help at least?

He looked at the floating being and asked with curiosity, "So Flumph, huh?"
"Yup! I am Flumph and Flumph I am! You must be this Duke I've heard about alot! You're in two of their heads alot!"

Turning towards me, it gave a bobbing nod. "And Flumph is okay! Thanks! A little sore, but, Flumph had had worse."

Duke:
I chuckled to see Heart had enough blood in her to blush at this abrupt comment, "So it would seem?"

Then I glanced over at Vulpina, with a number of guesses of what she thought of this remark. Turning my attention back to Heart and Flumph for the time being, I carefully wrapped a protective arm around the woman beside me.

"Worse?" I raised a brow with a smirk of my own, "I guess I can relate to that."

Heart looked up at me with lingering unease as we both realized, "You made another friend Duke...what you did gown there..." "

Don't ya worry about that now, sweetheart. Ya know it takes a lot to knock me down," I assured her.

She attempted a smile as I carefully pulled her closer and into a hug of sorts.
At the mention of a new friend, the Flumph hovered over, a smile atop it's head, "Oh! Hello! I am Flumph, and I am a friend of your friend, Heart! So, if you're a friend of a friend, then you're a friend!" It happily exclaimed, while Vulpina moped to the side.
Heart shook her head with a weary smile upon her face. In the calm, I took a breath while giving Heart a squeeze as I hugged her still. Looking up at me a bit closer, she could see my own fatigue, my disheveled feathers, and general worn demeanor. It was rare for me to be like this. I glanced at my former friend and shook my head.

Heart then asked, "Do you have a plan to get us back?"

I nodded, "Yeah, jus' need to gather myself a bit. The star sword has been tappin' into my reserves with every hop."

Heart's eyes widened, "How long have you...?"

"Since I found your comm broken up outside the pond, an' the time an' space varies world to world. Borg an' Kazor say hi, an' wish for your fast recovery by the way."

"How did you know I wasn't on Earth?"

"Tanya said Drake One picked up your energy put off from the gateway made outside the stadium, an' we went from there."
At that, the fox's ears folded back, as a scowl came over her face, "Oh yes, how wonderful, you're so dedicated to her. She must be soooo special to do that..."
"I am, an' she is," I said without a second thought, before questioning a bit sharply, "If it were you it would be different right?"

Heart grew a bit rigid from this remark, but didn't say anything to the fox.

Vulpina looked away, crossing her arms and letting out a huff as she headed off to get away from the two of us for a few moments. However, some time would pass... before there was a scream coming from the direction she went off to.
Out of instinct, I leapt to my feet, pulling Heart carefully up with me. The two of us, with LuCretia following, ran off to see what had happened.
And following after us was the Flumph. As the four of us darted down the hall, we would find Vulpina in the grasp of the Chuul, having returned for it's meal. It's pincers squeezed tightly on the fox, as it brought her towards it's tendril filled maw.
Seeing this, I raised up the star sword and took a swing. A burst of light shot out at the beast to knock him back and release her. LuCretia watched this in confusion and unease. Heart, however, wasn't surprised.
As the blast struck the beast, it stumbled back, dropping Vulpina to the ground. Letting out a gurgling roar, it rushed at me, snapping it claws in hopes of rendering me to easily digestible bits.
I braced myself, telling Heart, "Stay back!"

Heart could hear the bite in my tone, unsure if it were her or the creature I was snapping at, but seemed to believe the former. As it drew nearer, I stepped to the side at the last second and slashed at it's side, before following with a jab in it's exposed piece.

"Over here, ya oversized crab!" I called to it to keep it away from the three women.
Letting out a shrill cry, it ignored it's own wounds in it's hunger induced rage. It's four legs trampled the ground as it continued it's assault, slamming it's massive claws towards me.
"Duke!" Heart cried out just as I ducked down to avoid the massive pinchers.

I then jumped back to avoid being struck, steadying my feet as the ground shook. Heart tried to get near, but the trembling ground shook under her, causing her to have to grasp at the wall to balance herself. In some places the floor began to crack, more and more giving way underneath us.
Pulling herself up, Vulpina looked up towards me as I continued to fend off the beast, and the ground breaking beneath us. Grimacing, she yelled out while looking at the blade in my hand, "Please tell me that thing's ready by now!"
"It's not the sword that isn't ready!" Heart told her over the crashing and shaking, but looking to me as my breathing grew a bit labored.

Just then the ground beneath the rampaging crustacean gave way, dropping him several floors beneath us. The creature gave a yell as it plummeted, fading into the collapsing structure. LuCretia clung to bit of wall to keep from falling. Heart did the same, grabbing onto Vulpina to keep her from plummeting as well. I, however, was caught in the space near the falling monster, and thus had to scramble to grab a bit of floor that remained stable. Seeing this, Heart darted over, and grabbed my hand to keep me from falling with what had to be sheer adrenaline at this point. As the area settled, she used what strength was left in her to help pull me back up. Catching my breath, I crept closer to her, hugging her as she supported me, and asked, "Everybody alright?"
Vulpina looked away meekly, rubbing her arm, "Y-yeah... I'm okay... thanks.."

The Flump hurried in after us now, "Is anyone hurt?!"
I gave a quiet nod to Vulpina, and said to the Flumph, "Nah-"

Though I had to balance myself a bit as I answered, cutting it short. Heart remained as my support as best as she could, despite her own injuries.

LuCretia raised a brow seeing this, "It wouldn't take much to wipe you two out at this point would it?"

I gave a warning tone, "You'd be surprised, I wouldn't try it."

I glanced at Vulpina with the same look in my eye that I'd just given the other Puck Worldian traitor. Yet it softened slightly. Then my expression eased entirely as I looked to Heart. "Once I regain some strength...I can get us home..." I managed through tired breaths. "Maybe I should try?" Heart suggested, "If I hold the star sword it may-"

"You can count on me to do this," I said quickly.

LuCretia looked on in mild amusement, before looking to Vulpina with a smirk, nodding a head towards the two of us with, what I quickly knew to be, malice in her eyes.
Vulpina shot LuCretia a venomous glare, her teeth barred, obvious that if she had the strength too she would take Decoy out herself, "Let's... just get back... I'm sick of this awful place."
"Didn't you want him?" The duck snarled, "Isn't that why we're here in the first place? You wanted her out of the way so he would remember the good days with you?" LuCretia was digging further as she started to walk over to the two of us.

I got to my feet with Heart's ever weakening support, "Not bein' very subtle are ya?"

"I don't need to be! I just need to survive, and you have what I need for that apparently! Besides, this little wisp warned you about me the first time and you ignored her didn't you?"

My head swimming with guilt as exhaustion, and this strange place, seemed to begin messing with me as it had with them.

"Do you always go from girl to girl? What will the next one be like I wonder?" LuCretia kept digging. knowing her words were hitting their mark.
At that... Vulpina snapped! Grabbing a rock from the crumbled floor, she rushed the purple haired duck, and swung it at her, "You shut up! Shut up, you stupid bird! You're the one that messed up the teleporter in the first place! I oughta toss you down there with that monster!"
LuCretia turned and dodged the rock, and placed a hand on her hip, "You're the one that sprung me free aren't you? You needed my teleporter to do this, it's not my fault this freak messed it up!"

Heart didn't even rise to this comment. LuCretia turned to the two of us with a smug smile on her face, as she said, "I'm sorry, but I will need that sword to get out won't I? I am not risking being sent to limbo again."
Vulpina, still enraged, went to tackle the duck. Grabbing onto her, she grinned madly, and began to drag the two of them towards the gap in the floor, "You stupid, stupid trollop! You can't do anything without somebody else to help you! I'll make sure you stay in this nightmare with me!"
Heart and I snapped to attention, trying to hury over to stop them. I managed to grab Vulpina by the wrist, "What are ya doin'?!"

Heart tackled Lucretia, only to be kicked off of her quite swiftly and harshly.
Vulpina fought and struggled, trying to break out of my grasp. Seeing this, the Flumph took a deep breath, and hurried over. Taking a tentacle, it touched both Vulpina and LuCretia on the head, dropping them both gently to the ground in a daze. Floaiting back, it tipped it's tentacles together, "I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do! They were going to hurt you guys and themselves!"

Heart turned to the Flumph, "It's okay, I'm not sure what else to do either at this point."
Letting out a sigh of relief as things calmed down, I slid to the floor myself. My back against the cold wall, I glanced at Heart as she remained standing. The guilt that had been kicked up in me began to eat away at my core as I watched her, fearing she would believe it. That after all this time, she still might be hurt in some way from that day.

"Heart, I wouldn't..." I attempted before, desperate for her to believe me instead.

Relief washed over as she assured me, "I know that."

To show this, she limped over to me, taking my offered hand as I looked up at her wearily.

Then we both looked over the two as they were semi-conscious.

Heart asked, "So what do we do now?"

"I can get us home...in just a bit...sweetheart," I insisted.

The creature hovered close to us now, and took a deep breath, "You know... you two give off really good vibes... just hope we don't encounter Orothi... he's real nasty..."
I glanced at the floating being, "Orothi...?"

It was then that I noticed as Heart couldn't shake the unease creeping up her back, but not at the name given it seemed. Something else was drawing near, it's voice echoing through the floors in a chilling whisper, one that I couldn't hear just yet, but knew from her reaction that it was certainly there. She tried to tell herself it was the place and exhaustion getting to her, but looked to me when it continued on, "Duke...?"
The Flumph nodded, looking nervous.,"Yeah, the mindflayer. Powerful magic, lotsa tentacles on his face... wait... do you guys hear that?" It asked, before curling up defensively.
I had heard him now. Though to the Flumph I quickly mentioned, "I sorta made him mad then, he's...uh...one tendril fewer now."

As the voice grew louder, I tried to get to my feet to reach Heart, who was now backing up towards me. Heart knew before the being's hollowed eyes opened to find her from down the corridor before us. His equally empty smile grew ear to ear, "Ah, my little world hopping doll, at long last!"
At the sight of Shadow, the tentacle being let out a yelp, and hid behind me.
Shadow began to slither towards Heart, using the darkened room to his advantage. He jumped in and out of sight, appearing nearer to her with every hop. He then noted her bandages, "You seem to be a bit broken, let me fix that?"

He reached towards her shadow with stretching fingers. Now standing, I quickly pulled Heart back a bit and tried to figure out a plan. As we did, LuCretia moaned as she started to sit up with growing frustration in her throat, "So much for that plan...!"
Vulpina let out a moan of pain too, as she was pulling herself out of the Flumph's spell, who sent a tentacle at Shadow to slap at him, "Stay away from them!"
Shadow merely laughed as he slid away from the tendril to grab at Heart. I slipped my hand from over Heart's shoulder to grab for her hand, glancing at the sword as I did. Heart saw this, and gazed up at me, "You're not ready-"

"I am not losin' ya! Not to them, an' especially not to him!" I snapped, "Now be ready to jump through the doorway!"

"Duke-". The look in my eye stopped her.

LuCretia was standing shakily by this point, taking in what was happening. Vuplina staggered to her feet as well, still reeling from being knocked out by the Flumph's magics. It yelled out, as it began to hurtle itself at Shadow, "You guys go! Flumph will keep him busy!"
I gave a nod as he slashed at the air near us, cutting open a doorway.

"Go now!" I ordered the three, "Unless ya really want to be stuck here?"

LuCretia didn't wait, she just hurried through as told to.
The Flumph went on to give ineffective slaps at Shadow, which while did no harm, did at least keep him busy and annoyed. While the shade was distracted, Vulpina looked at the couple, and let out a huff as she staggered through.
As the two went through, I felt my strength wavering and the gateway began to close. As it did, Shadow had caught sight of the scowling fox and snickered with intrigue. Unseen in the commotion, two slivers of his being followed swiftly after both women just as the door locked tight.

Vulpina and Lucretia would then find themselves on Earth, but far from Anaheim and without resources to get back quickly. Vulpina would also find LuCretia gone already. Leaving her alone to hear, "I think we can help one another?"
Regaining herself completely, the fox took up a defensive stance, "Who-who are you?! What do you want?!"
"I am simply Shadow. I want her, and you want the thief that keeps stealing her from my grasp. I think we can help each other in due time. What do you say, my dear?"
She took a moment, not knowing just what the devil this thing was... but then, she thought of what she had just went through... how Heart went out of her way to save her... but then, how she took the man she wanted. How he was willing to do so much for her, and nothing for Vulpina. Narrowing her eyes, she extended a hand, "Looks like we have a deal."
Shadow gave an unnaturally wide grin as he took that hand, "Splendid!"

Back in the far realm, I kept Heart behind me somehow as my knees folded under my fatigue and lack of strength. The star sword attempted to drain more, but it's glow grew feint in this. Shadow snickered as he watched the two of us, toying with his meal. His claw like hands grew to try and engulf us in their ebony shroud, the Flumph too.

"Heart run!" I shouted.

Yet as those hands closed in around us, Heart quickly looked to me instead. Quickly kneeling before me, she threw an arm around me and used her free hand to grab the Flumph's tendril. With energy desperately sparking around us, she begged, "Just bring us home!"

In a sudden flash, with the star sword still carrying a dull glow, one that was sparked into a brief blinding light as though a key had been put through a lock, the two sources created a bubble that burst with illumination engulfing us. Shadow's deafening laughter would echo out of ear shot, before the three of us were dumped onto the roof of the pond, with Heart and I desperately gasping for breath now.
The Flumph, being pulled to our realm as well, quickly began looking around. He slapped it's own face with it's tentacles in disbelief, "W-Where am I?! What is this place?! What are those lights?!"
Heart gasped still, "This...This is...home...!"

She all but collapsed beside me, barely awake myself. Yet with some reserve I managed to reach my comm, "Wing...? I got her...we're...we're up on the roof...we could use some help..."

The last thing I could recall before blacking out, was managing to turn onto my side, reaching an arm over Heart to shield her, and breathing her name as she rested a trembling hand on my feathered cheek.

"They're okay! Thanks so much!" was the next thing I heard, with the Flumph floating nearby, letting out a squeal as I woke up.
I sat up quickly in the infirmary bed, only to be scolded by a nearby Tanya trying to explain things to our new guest, "Don't even think about getting up, L'Orange! Either of you!"

I looked to see Heart waking up, but simply looking over at me quietly. Though I had seen her wince a bit with me at Tanya's remark. To this I offered a weary, but still playful smile.

After Tanya had ran down the list of why we couldn't get up, she informed the others we were awake, and alert enough to have them check in on us. Nosedive was flying through the door with Grin at his heels, and they were both beside Heart just seconds after that. Mallory stood at the door, shaking her head with a sigh of relief escaping her beak. Wildwing looked torn between who he wanted to address first. At last he decided to walk over to my bedside, and carefully rested a hand on my shoulder, "How are you doing?"

"Jus' a bit tired," I chuckled with a bit of confidence shining through, "Nothin' a good night's sleep won't cure."

He patted my shoulder, "Well rest up then."

"How long we were gone? Space an' time flows differently between realms," I mentioned.

"About three days," Tanya replied.

"One day felt like three days here?" Heart inquired.

"Where were you exactly?" Mallory asked, "Your friend here has told us a little bit, but he gets distracted easily."

The Flumph chimed in at this, "There's so much to see here! I haven't even left the building yet!"

"Did you want to stay here?" Heart asked.

"Well...I don't exactly want to go back where Orothi is...but I sorta miss the surprises back home," he admitted.

I pondered over this a few moments before suggesting, "I think I know a place ya might like. It's sorta like your realm, but with a few less things tryin' to eat ya. We also jus' can't afford to open any door that we know Shadow is behind."

"Ooh? A world like home, but not home? I'm interested! I'm interested!" it replied eagerly.

"Alright, let me recover some of my strength, an' we'll send ya on your way," I assured while receiving a stern glare from our team tech, "I know, I know."

"Man, girly-girl, you scared us half to death...again!" Nosedive rustled her hair carefully, while I was forced to watch on from my bed close to hers.

"I'm sorry guys...I just didn't know what else to do. I tried to warn you, but they took out my comm before I could..." Heart explained as Tanya brought the forementioned device over to her, after having repaired it, "Thank you."

"So your plan of action was to take them with you?" Wildwing asked.

"It wasn't so much of a plan, as it was reacting. They were going to scatter everyone...even just one of you being lost to them would...-"

"We know," Wildwing insisted from beside me.

"Wing, it wasn't her falt," I mentioned quickly.

With a sigh, he said, "I know that. I guess I just got scared too."

"We'll always know the risks in what we do, but that never means we're prepared for them once they're taken," Grin said.

"I jus' wasn't," I said to Heart, "This time, last week, or any time before."

Her weary eyes widened as they moistened a bit.

"Well, the important thing is that you found her and brought her back home, right?" Nosedive said cheerfully, trying to cut the unease lingering in the air.

"Of course," I sighed, allowing my head to hit the pillow again.

While taking a few quiet breaths, I simply listened to the others for a little while longer. Heart tried to explain what all she'd seen in that nightmare world. Worst of all was what some doppleganger of myself had put her through, filling me in on why she'd been so afraid when she had seen me. Though I did chuckle a bit when she pointed out what had helped tip her off that it wasn't me, "You wouldn't be caught without something to unlock a door."

"Ya know me well, sweetheart," I smiled through my aches and fatigue, watching her blush a light pink.

"I wonder what happened to LuCretia and Vulpina?" Mallory pointed out, " I don't exactly feel comfortable with the two of them loose."

"We'll just have to search and be ready for them," Wildwing stated, "For now, just do what we usually do."

"Sounds like a plan to me, bro," Nosedive nodded along.

After a little while longer, the group of them were pushed out of the infirmary by Tanya. She then told us, "I'm trusting you both to just get some rest. You're both in here, so maybe that will help you stay put?"

"Probably," I tried to tease.

Heart had drifted off to sleep by this point, encouraging me as I assured, "I'm not goin' anywhere. This is somethin' I can do."

"Duke, you've done more than you seem to think," Tanya insisted, "Hopping realms to get her back is no small feat."

"Preventin' myself from havin' to do that in the first place should be though," I retorted a bit sharply.

Seeing this wasn't going to be an easy fix for me, and Tanya shook her head as though knowing that. Then she offered a quiet, "Good night, Duke."

I gave a very slight wave, "Good night."

I spent that night sleeping for short intervals, waking up every so often as though to make certain she was still in her bed. Not that I thought she would get up and move with her back torn up the way it was, and her other previous injuries, and new ones, preventing her from this as well. It was a different fear that kept making me jolt awake to make sure she was still beside me in the other bed.

It was that fear that made me break my word to Tanya and the others as I got up. Though I knew I shouldn't be pushing it too much, I still found myself in the gym with my saber and a practice bot kicking on. It seemed restlessness would counter my remaining fatigue, pushing my body because it's all I could think to do with this frustration.

As I swung my saber, I unwillingly let out a sharp groan as my muscles screamed with resistance. Forced to instead drop the blade, I crumbled with it to my knees, barely catching myself with my hands, about cursing myself, "I need to be enough!"

My hand hid my eyes as I tried to gain my composure as I knelt there on the mat still.

"You're...you're more than enough,...Duke," her voice struck my core as it trembled over to me.

I looked to see her weakly leaning against the door frame from where she'd been watching me. She was wearing one of my jerseys, with the sleeves reaching well passed her hands. She was clutching the frame for support as she went to take a step closer.

"Heart, what are ya doin'?" I questioned in warning.

"Looking for my thief?" she attempted with some levity, before she added with pain in her eyes, "You're supposed to be resting too, remember?"

"I will in a bit," I said while pushing myself up to my feet, my body continuing to resist as I did.

Further groans slipped from my beak as I managed to get up and face her.

"Duke, please, you're pushing yourself too hard right now," she insisted, unknowingly kicking up a fire in my stomach.

That heat ran up to my chest, along with the lingering pain caused by simply moving without much rest. Still I pushed back, "I need to be ready for when that thing comes lookin' for ya!"
"You won't be ready if you don't rest!" she told me, "Using the star sword like you did about drained you dry-"

"What else was I supposed to do?!" I finally snapped, startling her a bit.

"Duke...?"

"Heart, I would have done whatever it took to get ya back! I failed ya once, I sure as heck wasn't goin' to do it again," my tone softened at least, but the burning through my chest didn't.

"Why do you keep saying things like that? You didn't fail me," she insisted, trying to push passed her injuries to step closer.

When her leg forced her to pause, sending a jolt of pain up her already sensitive back, she about toppled over to the floor. What reserves I had were then spent catching her by the shoulders to help keep her up. Then while trying to catch her breath, she pushed further, "You didn't fail me."

"Really?" I questioned, "I couldn't stop them from takin' ya last week! I couldn't stop them from usin' ya like they did! I couldn't stop him from takin' your wings an' almost killin' ya! I wasn't there to support ya through all those hardships ya endured! An' I certainly wasn't there when those two showed up the other day to take ya away, because they were tryin' to get to me! So how have I not failed ya?!"

Heart looked to me rather stunned at first. By now I'd pulled away carefully, after making sure she could at least stand. She was propping herself up, leaning back against the stack of mats near the wall for support. After spilling all of this out, I almost didn't want to face her...as I hadn't been able to bring myself to for very long in the last several days. In fact, I was looking away from her still, trying to find my lost composure.

"An' don't jus' say it's 'cause I was there that night..." I begged her, "It's not enough."

"Is that all you think you've done for me in the last year or so? After everything?"

I shook my head quietly, but insisted softly, "It still isn't enough...I know the risks we take, an' why we do. I jus'...I don't know what I'd do Heart...if..."

"The other day...was the most scared I've ever been, sweetheart," I hated admitting to her, not because of the fear of losing her, but, "An' I couldn't do anythin' to stop it...to protect ya from any of it..." Finally I faltered...breaking down a bit, "How can I call myself a hero when I let the one I love most get hurt like ya did?"

"Duke...as I recall, you were there to find me, weren't you? To pull me back? You were also there with the others searching those memories for the real me, so I would come home to you?" she mentioned gently.

"I should've been able to stop him..." I argued while trying to not notice the bandaging peeking out from the collar of my jersey she wore so comfortably, "To keep this from happenin' to ya in the first place."

"This wasn't your falt," she insisted, "It wasn't anyone's falt other Dragonus's. The others all know that, and so do I-."

"They're not your thief!" I couldn't stop myself from shouting, albeit ragedly from fatigue, all while looking away from her quickly, not being able to stomach the guilt that had been shaking me ever since that day.

So I didn't see her expression. I only saw her attempting to walk again after a silent moment or two between us, pushing herself off of the stack of mats, to step closer to me, and only from the corner of my remaining eye. I still didn't face her when I felt her hand abruptly grabbing mine as I realized she'd stumbled a bit in her reaching out to me. Fatigued, but reflexes kicked in nonetheless, I grasped her side with my other hand to catch her.

"You certainly are, Duke," she said, "Weren't you the one that stole me back, both last week and the other day...and so many times before that?"

I nodded my head quietly.

"You never failed me, Duke," she insisted gently, squeezing my hand to emphasize, "I'm still here because of you."

At last I risked a glance at first. It was enough to catch those sapphires as our gaze met with the other. She was trying hard to ignore the pain I could see showing in them. She was grasping my upper shoulder for support. Her legs looked as though they might fold under her from the strain. Yet she forced herself to stand.

"We look out for each other though, remember?" she then added.

"Of course, love," I managed to say in a very fatigued, but sincere, voice.

"Then right now, you need to rest, ...or you won't regain your strength. As long as we can... get through it with each other, ...regardless of what we go up against,...then that's what matters," she said, her own exhaustion trying to win out, "but we can't do that...if...we don't..."

She all but fell into me, holding me by both upper arms now quite stubbornly. I caught her by her sides carefully, being sure not to press into her back in any way. I didn't even brush her back. Keeping my hands firmly at her waist, I could feel her trembling.

"Please, Duke...don't push yourself like this...it hurts to watch you...it wasn't your fault! You were there when I needed you, you always have been, and I know you always will be. We can't protect each other from every scar, but we can help the other heal those wounds...can't we?" she clung to me, and I realized the front of my shirt was growing slightly damp.

Then I realized what she needed. More than rest in her bed, as critical as that was. It wasn't simply bandages or even to have her wings back. What her trembling body was telling me, as she wept quietly now in my arms...was...was what I'd been afraid to do since that day. Whether it was sheer fear of hurting her somehow, or guilt, I hadn't done this.

My own hands shook as I attempted to reach carefully around her small frame. That guilt nearly pulled them back with unseen shackles warning me not to touch her. It was my fault she didn't have them, wasn't it?

Yet then, as I felt her clutching my shirt front, my heart ached unbareably, forcing me to rest my hands gingerly against her back. I paused when I heard a sharp gasp escape her lips, her frame tensing up briefly. Then I realized she was leaning further into me. This, somehow, gave me just enough strength to venture further as I wrapped my arms around her, begging her softly, "I'm so sorry..."

"Don't pull away..." she pleaded.

If I had I might have crumbled with her.

So it was quite the marvel that I was then able to find a bit of strength in me. Enough to carefully sweep her up as she then wrapped her arms around my neck and shoulders. With her hanging on tightly, I found my balance long enough to head towards our room. My steps were slow, and I had to pause and lean against the wall here and there, but I wasn't going to let her down.

"Duke?" she asked softly.

"I've got ya," I assured her with another step closer taken.

"There you two are!" Tanya exclaimed, sounding rather exasperated.

Beside her, standing behind us, was a very stern team captain and older brother, "And where do you two think you're going?"

I gave a light, weary chuckle, drawing out a relaxed laugh from Heart as well, while I pushed on until we got to our room and bed, "Jus' goin' for a walk.