Shocked Author's Notes

Ho-ly shit! Are you telling me that 60ish people read the new chapter in the middle of the night??? 60?!? Geez! I mean... it is very much flattering. Thank you guys for the support!

ThinMint, I think I'll stick to ThinMint (though I did like MintE). And I can't really respond to the rest of the review without giving anything away, so...

On with the story!

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Simon's POV

Thin ray of sunshine was filtering through a tiny crack in the wall, and it just so happened to land on my eyeball. I woke up placed my hand over it to protect it from that pesky little ray.

Iza had, at one point, sprawled all over the bed. Her head was below my chin still resting on my chest, her torso on my stomach and every limb pointed at a different direction. It made me smile despite my throbbing eye.

I slowly and carefully slid out from under her, replacing myself with pillows. Once I was out, I quietly moved over to the dresser and opened it. I took down my hoodie and threw it on, pulling my goggles out of it's pockets and onto my face.

Iza stirred, and I watched her closely. Like a cat, she hugged the pillow her head was under and nuzzled it. I chuckled quietly. Iza was just so cute when she slept. Did she do that to me, do you reckon? Did she nuzzle me as we slept? Suddenly I wanted to sneak back under her.

I got closer, and Iza opened an eye slowly. She blinked (winked?) sleepily and made a show of rubbing her pretty face against the pillow. I smiled at her and chuckled. She stopped and looked me in the eye with a smug expression.

"Only you can make me jealous of a pillow, Z", I muttered. The slime girl giggled, and hugged the object in question tighter.

"That's what you get for leaving so soon. I'll be the one that tell you when you leave, okay?" I feigned indignation. It always makes her giggle when I do that sort of thing.

"But that was not part of the deal, fair lady!" She giggled, just as expected, and my heart felt a million times lighter. The pain in my eye was forgotten.

"Well then, good sir, you should have read the fine print before agreeing." I laughed quietly and bent down on top of her. She stare at me with such an innocent and loving smile...

I leaned closer and kissed her soft lips. She kissed me back almost immediately, and I got an idea. How about I torture you, now... darling. I used one elbow to hold myself up while my other arm trailed from her shoulder down to her thighs. Iza was holding my head close with her arms, not realizing my intentions.

I let my hand 'accidentally' come close to her nether regions, and she gasped.

'S-Simon! Wh-what are you- mmph!" I silenced her with a fierce kiss and continued to gently rub her side, staying as far away from her private area as possible. The arm I was using to stay up was playing with her spruce-colored hair, combing it with my fingers.

After a while, one of her hands began to rub my back, going as far down as she could. I smiled into our kiss. Everything is falling in place, my love. You're gonna hate me after this. My moving hand had begun inching closer to her bust, but still stayed away from the other 'problem area'.

We stopped to breath every now and then, but Iza would just pull me back onto her afterwards. My hand finally reached the side of her bosom, and I slid a single finger against it.

I don't know much about women's eh... private size things or whatever. I don't know how or why people measure them. All I know is Iza has good sized uh... those for her body's proportions.

She was kissing me more hungrily now, and would soon be moaning into my mouth. Her hand moved from my back to my wrist, and she guided it to her left breast. I was stunned, and she smiled. There was a bright blush decorating her pale cheeks.

"Go on. They won't bite." Her attitude was very much surprising. I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew... I gave them a tiny and uncertain squeeze, to which she responded with a frown.

"Hey. I thought you wanted this. Changed your mind about... Y'know." A mischievous smile played at the ends of her lips, and it made me all the more frightened. Definitely bit off more than I could chew. I hadn't changed my mind at all, as I still believed that 'sexual intercourse before the age of 18' was very much wrong.

Still, I got myself into this. If I'm going to go through with it, might as well make her beg for something I would not give her. Oh, she's really gonna hate me now... I squeezed harder, but not by much. Iza encouraging smile felt really odd.

"That's it! Keep going. Please?" I smiled at her, and decided that if I let my emotions roam, they would get the better of me. Staring through blank eyes, I continued to tease Iza's body.

Little touches here and there, more squeezing and kneading, but my hand never actually touched her *ahem* uh... entrance. She was moaning quietly now, trying to muffle the sound with kisses or pillows. I've got you right where I want you, dear.

Then, I stopped all together and backed off. She stared at me in surprise, and I smiled. "W-what? S-Simon, why did you stop? I... I thought you wanted me." She was sweating that strange slime stuff, just like last time, and I scooped some off her arm.

"I do. Very much. But I didn't change my mind. And besides, you deserve it because of everything you did with the pillow. Might make you think twice about cheating on me."

Her blush deepened. Then she shut her eyes and she threw one of the soft squares at me. "I hate you, I hate you! You are so mean!" I laughed and escaped the room, making sure no pillows flew out.

"Sorry, Z! All's fair in love and war!" I heard a dull thump against the door.

"I'll get you, Simon! Just you wait!" Her voice gave away the fact that she one; enjoyed the experience, two; thought it was maybe a tiny bit funny, and three; she still loved me, which was the most important thing.

I walked downstairs happily. Almost fucked it up then. Whew.

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Time leap: 6 hours later. Eba's POV

Blight and I were training in the same clearing where we always did. This time, I was against three shadows.

I dashed forwards, my Needle-point trailing behind me. The three shadows swung down one by one, right after the other. I parried the first two and then swiftly blocked the third.

They were relentless, but I was much faster. On and on they swung, and yet I still managed to block them. I went for the opening that Blight always seems to have when swinging. With a single well-timed thrust I pierced one of the shadows, and it turned into dust.

Now that there was less of them, I could 'relax'. It felt great to fight, made me feel proud of how good I became. Once I was bored I thrust my rapier at them, one by one with such speed that blight couldn't even try to step back.

Blight remorphed himself properly. He was breathing heavily, but his eyes were full of pride and joy. "W-well... well done, Eba. You... you've gotten much better."

I smiled and put my sword away. "Thanks. I enjoy our sparring lessons." Blight gave me a breathless smile.

"I'm glad... I enjoy them too... it's been years since I had a proper fight." I walked up to him and gave my demon a hug. For a few seconds he just sort of stood there, unsure of what to do. Then he shakily hugged me back.

"I'm not... used to your affection, Eba." I smiled and backed off a little.

"And I'm not used to yours. I guess that makes us even." He smiled again and his vessel desintegrated.

Ah. Now I don't have to worry about needing to breathe.

Why do you give your vessel lungs if you don't need to breathe?

Because then the vessel would die. It needs a brain, a heart, lungs, and a skeletal structure. Everything else is unnecessary.

Oh. Okay, then.

I wandered back towards the house. Everyone would generally start to worry after a few hours. It felt nice to know someone worried about me.

I wonder if my parents ever worried about me.

Judging from your memories, I highly doubt that. They behave more like demons than I do.

Yeah... I sighed out loud. They weren't the most loving.

That's an understatement.

Please, Blight, I don't want to talk about it.

I can respect that.

I liked walking instead of warping everywhere. Warping was an exhausting activity. I don't know how some enderpeople do it so often. There was a familiar itching on the top of my head, and I groaned.

What is it?

Endermites.

Those pesky snippers? I'll deal with them, if you like.

Please do.

I felt some of Blight's rot-sand crawl up my chest and neck, then it flooded my head. I heard some crunching and a few tiny shrieks. After a few seconds, the rot-sand left my head feeling refreshed. I sighed in relief.

Thank you.

crunch*... welcome... *crunch*

Ew, gross! Blight!

crunch*... yesh? *crunch*

How can you eat those things??? They're parasites!

crunch*... tashty parashitesh. I'm a demon, what did you exshpect? *crunch*

I didn't expect you to eat them!

crunch*... well, I can't really eat much elshe. *crunch*... Besides, so what if I like the tashte? It'sh not like I complain about you eating fruitsh or saladsh just 'cause I can't eat them. *crunch*

Just... don't make so much noise! It's so... unsettling.

crunch*... I'll try. *gnorff*

Ugh, don't do that either!

What, now I can't bite or swallow them whole? What next, I won't even be able to nibble their tasty heads?

Oh, lords, gross! Just... ugh! Don't make a sound!

Fine. *nyom*... how about that? *nyom* Jusht little bitesh?

That's better, but please... don't ever make any of those sounds again.

Yup.

I shuddered and continued walking. It was truly unsettling to hear Blight crunching up what is essentially mutant head lice. Just... ugh.

Dear lords, I hate my demon so much some times.

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Theridas's POV

We had no time.

The warriors from the Argonaut ranks immediately reached out to grab us. I pushed lady Anastasia and Ella forward, towards the nether portal. The little girl almost tripped, but the ex-queen held her hand tightly. I followed close behind, running like a frightened rabbit.

We crossed onto the overworld, but now was no time to gaze at anything. The soldiers from the patrols that had already crossed weren't moving. I guess they didn't hear Darkness's orders through the nether portal. Or maybe they just haven't realized we're here.

I turned to the I'll-looking woman and the Ghast girl. Her description of one of her nightmares came crawling back, and it made me feel even more skittish. The little kid had round eyes, and tears were pooling inside them. The ex-queen looked exhausted.

I turned back to the nether portal, where the monsters were already stepping through. I looked back at lady Anastasia and Ella. "You... need to run. I'll hold them back for as long as I can. Go!"

I summoned a small fireball in my hand, and lady Anastasia grasped my forearm. Tightly. I stared at her in surprise. There was determination and stubbornness in her amber eyes.

"You are not leaving me stranded in a foreign world with a little girl, Theridas! If we run, you are running with us!" I blinked then nodded, still in shock. Lady Anastasia ran with Ella trailing behind her. I threw one poorly aimed fireball at the soldiers before following suit.

We ran like the devil was chasing us... wait... he actually was. Shit. Well, we ran very fast, heading towards a forest on the edge of the moor where the portal had left us. Even throughout my panic, the beauty of the world bathed me in colors.

There is so much here... trees, grass, flowers, the sky... so green. Peaceful. If only 300 odd warriors weren't out for our blood...

Arrows began to fly, and I cursed silently. I had forgotten about the archers. My panic rising, I removed my helmet and placed it on lady Anastasia's head. I tried to shield Ella with my body. The arrows weren't that accurate, which probably meant the skeletons were gunning on the run.

I risked a look back and was met with a whistling blade swinging down inches from my face. I gave an embarrassing shriek and ran faster, pushing the others forwards. Lady Anastasia was slowing down, obviously exhausted. Ella too.

Oh, lords dammit, come on! There's... there's got to be somewhere for us to hide!

I almost tripped on a stone, but managed to keep my balance and speed. The monsters were gaining on us. Shitshitshitshitshit... come on!

I picked Ella up off the ground and held her in my arms, willing the ex-Queen to run faster. We entered the forest at last, and I felt a surge of hope run through me.

I looked over my shoulder again, and noticed the warriors were cutting down the trees before stepping forwards. It will take them time before reaching us. Relief flooded me, and I slowed down. Lady Anastasia was gasping for breath.

I put Ella down and helped the ex-queen. "Come on, my lady. We need to keep moving. The woods will not protect us for long." The tired blaze nodded and we continued walking.

Ella kept tripping on roots and fallen branches, but the unnerving sound of metal on wood kept us moving. After a while, we found a deep-looking cave entrance. I felt even more relieved, and ushered the others inside. We trudged on through the darkness, a small flame on lady Anastasia's hand our only light source.

After a while, we came upon a fork in the tunnels. Ella walked to the one on the right withought hesitation, so Lady Anastasia and I followed. It took us deeper before beginning a slow climb upwards. On and on we walked, the sounds from the forest having faded long ago.

Then, we rounded a corner and found a cave entrance. We could see another stretch of moor, as far as the eye could see. A long grey smudge stood proudly in the distance. I smiled doubly and fell to my knees.

"We... we made it. We're out." Lady Anastasia was panting heavily, but she smiled. Ella was staring at the rolling hills with pure and raw wonder.

"Yes... we did."

I sat back against the cold stone wall, shuddering. "I-it May be b-beautiful, but it sure is cold."

Lady Anastasia nodded, the smile still on her lips. "Yes, That too."

I rubbed my arms, creating friction and heat. Ella walked up to me and sat down by my side. She was shivering lightly, so I held her small body to my chest.the queen crawled up to us and sat beside Ella, leaning against me.

I enjoyed our combined warmth, happy to be alive. "Theridas?" I looked down at Ella's wide crimson eyes. There was a tiny smile on her lips. "You didn't die." I smiled.

"No, I didnt. See? I told you some dreams were just dreams." She nodded and snuggled closer. My eyelids began to droop, and I noticed that Lady Anastasia was already asleep.

"But... *yawn*... where was the fall? And the fire? The masses of warriors?" I blinked, suddenly unable to drift off. I stared at the young girl, but she had her eyes closed. I wondered if she even spoke. Maybe I imagined it.

I looked back out, and stared at the colorful green moor. There were animals and plants everywhere. Some where grazing while others stalked, and a few stray monsters wandered under the leaves of short pale trees. I breathed in deeply, then exhaled.

We are safe now. And that is all that matters. Soon, we will reach the clans. We could warn them of Darkness's invasion. They might take us in, protect lady Anastasia and Ella. The lords know I can't. But I'll try anyway.

Determination flooded my veins, filling me with strength. I will protect them. I'll make sure nothing harms either one. Nothing, and no one. I stared at the roof of the cave, as if that alone would melt it and allow me to see the sky in all it's glory.

And I'll keep doing so until my star fades.

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Author's Notes

Ah, I had forgotten how great it felt to write a chapter. And how exhausting it was...

I hope everyone enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing! This one pushed up to almost 3k words, and that is something to be proud of. :D

Thank you all for your undying support, Have an awesome (rest of the) day!

~ LeMafiaKreb