Chapter 6

"Ne, Sol!" Koyuki called. Sol looked up from her book, then down from her perch in the tree.

"What's up?"

"Come down! I have something for you!" Sol jumped down. "Here! I made a cake during free period! I call it… 'Poseidon, King of the Sea'! See how the trident is a fork?! Try it!"

"Okay." Sol took a bite and spit it out pretty quick. "…do I want to know what you put in that?"

"Shrimp and squid."

"And too much sugar. Girlie, you know I'm not big on sweets and I hate seafood."

"Oh! That's right! Sorry! The next one will be better." Koyuki smiled. Sol huffed a laugh and shook her head in amusement.

"Geez, why does Koyuki like you, anyway?!"

"Yeah, you're not supposed to spit out a gift!"

Sol gave Koyuki's peanut gallery a nasty smile. "Let's see you eat it then." Both girls blanched.

"Hmm. Maybe I'm the only one who understands. I know so many great things about you, Sol!"

Sol blinked. Looking to her left, Jack was still dreaming. Nnnnh... please Ma... don't spank me anymore... Why is a 16-year-old getting spanked? To her right, Babbo was also dreaming. N... no! Please ladies... I understand your eagerness, but I have only one body...! …ew.

Sol looked up at the waterfall. Phantom... so that's your name...

*SMACK* "Yeouch!"

"Wake up, Jack. Time to start."


It was the third day since they had met Alviss. Sol had pushed hard in Jack's training. As he lay panting on the ground after another round of hand-to-hand, Sol decided to go investigate something she sensed nearby.

Babbo hopped over to Jack. "Jack. It seems we'll have to fight these Chess fools soon. It'll be dangerous. You're better off going home."

"Sol said that yesterday." Babbo's eyebrows rose. "But this trip is about training to be a man! If I run away when things get scary, I'll be right back where I was! I'm not going to live my life as a coward! Besides… I still… have to repay Sol!"

"Hmf. Dumb as a monkey. But an admirable monkey nonetheless!" Babbo turned to Jack. "By the way, were you watching me just now? How'd I look? Was my good side showing?"

"Who you calling a monkey?!" Jack protested.

Just then a sharp whistle pierced the air. "Jack! Babbo! Quit arguing and get over here!" Sol called.

The two raced over to where they had heard Sol. She was crouched in the road, looking at…

"…a dog?"

"What's wrong with him?" Jack asked.

"Don't know. I found it like this." 'This' being passed out in the middle of the road. "Maybe it's dehydrated?"

"That dog!" Babbo exclaimed.

"What!" Sol jerked, startled.

"It certainly is ugly!" Babbo started laughing, loudly.

Sol just looked at him. Turning her head away, rolling her eyes. "Useless kendama."

The dog blinked. Babbo's laughing had woken him up. Babbo noticed. The two jerked away from each other. "It's also awfully suspicious! State your name, dog!"

The dog adjusted its glasses. "Me? My name is Edward!" Sol blinked. Clothes on a dog didn't surprise her. The dog talking? That's new. "Who are you-! AH! I don't have time to be dallying here! That was twice! I must sleep once more!" The dog flopped back down onto the ground, clearly trying to go back to sleep.

Edward blinked. "It's no use!" he howled. "Not when the precious life of my princess… is in such grave danger!"

"Stop howling." Sol barked. Edward silenced himself. "It doesn't change anything. Now, what's this about a princess?"

"A-are you ÄRM wielders?" Edward kneeled. "Please! I beg for your help! Please, save my princess!"

Sol and Jack looked at each other. Jack shrugged. "Sure." Sol said.

Several minutes later, the group of four were standing outside of, "An ice castle. Or rather, an ice covered castle. Cool." Sol said. The she flinched. "Ooo. Bad pun. Wasn't trying to do that. Sorry."

Edward blinked. "It's fine."

Jack was shivering. "Why is there snow only here?!"

"It is the power of the princess' ÄRM. She has sealed herself away with this snow and ice. You see… her life has been targeted. In our kingdom, located in the far reaches of the land… my princess was born to the king and queen. Wrapped in their love, she was very happy. But then the queen passed away… and the king took for his new wife a vile woman! She was greedy, always wanting more. More foods, more clothes, more jewels, more ÄRM s. She wanted to rule everything. After a time, the king fell ill… and the queen took full control of our kingdom… MÄR Heaven! From who-know-where she gathered imperial guards. And one by one, she erased those who stood in her way.

"When I guessed that the queen's evil eye had fallen upon the princess, we escaped from the castle and I led her away. We shook off pursuing parties… crossed sea and mountain… until we were finally backed into a corner on this remote island… and the princess…sealed herself away!" Edward was fighting tears. "If the pursuers who have already entered the castle possess the ÄRM to break the seal… my princess will surely be taken to the queen! And even if they don't…"

A hand rested on Edwards head. Looking up he saw Sol. She rubbed his head. "Stop being a hen, dog." Sol hitched Babbo's enlarged hammer over her shoulder. Jack had his Earth Scoop out. "We'll get her out. And stomp those asses flat while we're at it. Ne?"

"Indeed. Brutes that torture young girls deserve punishment." Babbo agreed. Jack nodded.

The main door had iced over. Sol threw Babbo. His heavy weight shattered the ice. A brutal kick forced it open. Inside, Sol stopped. "…11…12…13."

"Huh?"

"There are thirteen people in here besides us. One must be the princess. As for the other twelve…"

Edward whined. "We must hurry then! This way." He pushed on a section of the wall, revealing a secret passage.

"Yo, Ed, tell me about the princess." Sol said.

"She's an angel…with a heart as pure as snow. When we arrived here, she sent me away, despite my protests. She said she wanted me to bring back someone to save her. I fear she only wanted to save me from her fate. I'm ashamed to have been protected…when I should have been her protector."

"Ed." He turned and jerked when Sol bopped him in the forehead with the hammer in time with her words, "Stop making that bloody face." Ed stared at her wide-eyed. "Two things. 1) Stop feeling ashamed for not doing something you aren't equipped to do. You're not a German Shepard or a Rottweiler. A fighting dog you are not. You don't see Babbo begin ashamed of the fact that he can't move much faster than this without help. He has no legs, so he can't run. Why be ashamed about it? 2) The princess didn't throw you out. She sent you to do your job. Given your body design, I would call you an 'alarm' dog, rather than a 'guard' dog. Your job is not to fight; your job is to go alert those who can fight that something is wrong. You did that. The princess isn't expecting to die. She trusted you. Now, stop moping and lets go save her."

Edward smiled. "You're right!"

The group reached the next floor. "I-it's getting c-colder." Jack stuttered.

"Then we must be getting closer." Sol stated. She paused. Babbo and Edward noticed the smell of another person. Babbo realized the human had a lot of magic.

"Solara!" As he yelled, Sol sensed someone coming up behind her. She whipped around, bringing up the hammer. She blocked the dagger, then looked at the person in front of her.

"Dorothy?!"

"Huh? Sol!" Dorothy jumped at her. Surprised, Sol dropped the hammer and caught her. Dorothy hugged her tightly and chattered excitedly. Sol looked kind of confused.

"…you know her?! Sh-she sure is p-pretty!" Jack was almost drooling.

"That woman again! That witch!" Babbo was not happy to see her again.

"I'm so happy to see you again! But, why are you here?" Dorothy asked.

A couple minutes of explanation later, Dorothy had calmed down and taken a seat on a low-raise wall. "Oh-ho-ho! So that's why there's suddenly snow and ice! Well, you'd better get a move on. Your princess must be totally frozen. Even with an expert spell, her heart will stop after half a day."

"How can you sound so unconcerned?!" Babbo exclaimed.

"Because I am, ugly! I just came here looking for ÄRM s."

How long since Ed left to go get help? Doesn't matter. Long enough. "Babbo, Jack, Ed. Let's go! There's no time. See ya, Dorothy." Sol turned and ran off. Ed followed.

"Goodbye, beautiful lady!" Jack cried before following.

"Get yourself out of here, stupid woman!" Babbo hopped after them.

"Good luck!" Dorothy smiled and waved. Then her expression darkened. "Now… come out, you nine." Nine black robed figures with red and white diamond checked masks emerged from the darkness. "With magics scent, I've lured you out like mice!" There's still two upstairs. She smiled cruelly. I don't help others very often, Sol! "Bad luck for you all." Screams of pain and terror echoed through the room.

Running towards the princess, Sol smiled as nine of those she had sensed disappeared. "Thanks, Dorothy." She said quietly.

"Huh?" Ed looked at her.

"Nothing. It that it?" She pointed at the slightly parted door ahead.

"Yes! The doors are open; our pursuers must already be inside!"

"Great." Sol put on a burst of speed and jumped at the doors. Though the doors were open, they had partially refrozen. She hit the doors boots first. The impact shattered the ice and the doors blasted open. Sol landed, then lifted her head to look at the princess and froze for a long second.

Sol raced forward. She vaguely heard Ed yelling that she didn't have an ÄRM. As she ran she sensed something coming at her face, fast. She dropped and slid underneath it. Her momentum forced her legs up. Rolling as he slid, she shoved off with her hands against the floor, performing a stunning twisted flip, and she came back down facing the princess and the two people she had initially ignored.

"Ms. Solara! That was dangerous! Why did you-!"

"Name."

"Uh-what?"

"What's her name." Sol demanded, never taking her eyes off the people in front of her.

"She is the true heir to Lestava, the soul of MÄR Heaven, Princess Snow!"

"L-L-L-Lestava?!" Jack cried.

"Why the astonishment, Jack?" Babbo asked.

"Lestava is the powerful kingdom at the heart of MÄR Heaven! If she's their princess… She's a princess among princesses!"

"She looks like Koyuki." Sol said. The others looked at her with various levels of confusion. Sol smirked. "More than enough for me. Come here, Babbo. Let's bust this Chess set."

"Ch-chess?!" Jack was startled.

"You know anyone else who has the bad taste to wear a chess piece as an earring?" She stepped forward.

Babbo hopped up next to her. "Barbarians who torture a helpless girl! As a gentleman, I must punish you!"

"'Barbarians', did he say? Doesn't sound like the ÄRM I've heard about. Was it like that before?" the taller of the two asked his companion.

"Not at all. Its memory might be shot." The small girl replied with a dead tone. Judging by the look on her face, Sol wondered if she wasn't gonna keel over just standing here.

The taller one removed his robotic looking mask as he stepped forward. "Then do you mind if I see how it fights? All I've been doing for days is drink sake. I want to sweat, cutie."

"I won't join you. In fighting or sake. And don't call your elders 'cutie'."

"…Okay, girlie, how about this?! One-on-one! Me and you!:

Sol cocked an eyebrow. "Obviously."

As Jack and Ed yelped in protest, the Chess Piece said, "I like you. What's your name? Who's your tribe?"

"Name's Toramizu Solara. And you won't like me for long."

"I am Ian. Of the Chess Pieces."

Sol charged. This fight ended up being different from her past ones. Before she close, something she couldn't see hit her. With her standard method of shrugging damage off, she kept going. Sol chucked Babbo at Ian, who jumped on him laughing, much to Babbo's vocal displeasure. Ian found it less funny when he realized Sol was in his face. She slammed the hammer into his stomach, knocking him back.

Ian grunted, then moved his arms. Something smashed into Sol multiple times, forcing her back.

"Aren't you going to transform it?" the girl asked.

She might have continued, but Sol cut her off. "Unless you have something remotely intelligent to say, short stack, shut up." The girl was so surprised by the insult, she did. Sol attacked again and was once again repelled.

"Jack!" Ed yelped. Jack had been watching the battle and jumped. "We've got to go to our last resort! Please, knock me out!"

"Huh?!"

"I have to go to sleep! Hit me!" Ed begged.

"I don't get it… and Sol's not done… but if you're sure…" Jack hauled back and smashed his Earth Scoop into Ed's face as hard as he could.

Ed dropped, but remained conscious. "…it's… no use… I can't even pass out! What a worthless servant! Oh, p-princess!" Ed cried.

"D-don't give up, Ed! Sol's not done yet! This guy's gonna have to try a lot harder to put her down!" Jack comforted Ed.

"Damn straight." Sol stated. "Not like this guy's actually a threat." Ed's jaw dropped, Jack grinned, and Ian looked first surprised, then annoyed.

"I'm not a threat? Yet, you seem to be the one with all the injuries." He smirked.

Sol shrugged. "Surface scratches. Barely even hurt." Ian scowled.

"If I'm not a threat, how come you've only hit me once? Why don't you actually prove it." He challenged.

"I don't need to prove anything. I know what I can do. If you tried to fight me head on, I'd kick your ass easily. You sense that, so you're resorting to using cheap tricks to win instead." Sol kicked him where it really hurt; right in the ego.

Behind one of the pillars, Alviss was crouched. His eyes widened at this arrogant sounding statement. Was she stupid? "Alviss, what's wrong?" Belle asked.

"She's facing a rook and she has no magical abilities. Babbo can't transform even if she did, since the magic stones were all removed! How can she act so cocky?!"

"You think she'll lose?! Then you should do something! Either help or destroy Babbo!" Belle exclaimed. Alviss frowned but didn't move.

"'Cheap tricks'?! Eat this 'cheap trick'!" Ian moved his arms again. Sol didn't move. The ÄRM s this her and she fell. Ian laughed… at first.

Ian felt a tug on his right arm. Looking down, he realized that his weapon ÄRM was still extended. Sol huffed a laugh as she got off the floor. The eyes of all those watching widened. Sol had allowed the blow to land, so she knew where the ÄRM was, and had grabbed it.

She gave him a cruel smile. "Hope you're not too attached to that arm." Before Ian could say anything, Sol changed her grip and forcefully hauled on it. Ian got jerked forward. Sol punched him full in the face, which left him reeling. The next thing he knew, he was kneeling on the ground, forced there because she had wrenched his right arm up behind his back.

"Told you you wouldn't like me. Hope you didn't think I meant your weapon." With a hard jerk, four distinct *CRACK*s echoed through the room. They were quickly followed by Ian's chocked scream of surprise and pain.

Jack flinched at the sounds and Alviss blanched, but Ed was so surprised and disturbed by them, he passed out. Sol immediately released Ian. She was brutal but had no inclination towards cruelty. As Ian stumbled away from her, Jack started yelling.

"Sol! Sol!" She turned sideways, so she could see him and the Chess Pieces. "Something's wrong with Ed! I thought he just fainted but—"

*BOOM* "Gah?!" Jack jumped away. Sol covered her lower face and squinted against the smoke.

"Good night… and… Good morning." The smoke cleared revealing a tall man, probably in his mid-forties.

Jack and Babbo looked stunned. Sol blinked. Belle whisper-screamed, "…the dog… turned into an old man?!"

Alviss expression shifted from shocked to elated. "Astounding… that man is…!"

The man approached Solara. She reached up and swiped some blood off her face. The man rubbed her head. "You hung in. I'm impressed."

"So… you're a shapeshifter with a split personality? Or I'm missing something?" Sol asked.

Before he could answer, Ian spoke up. "Hey! Mr. Dog!" They both looked at him. "Are you going to get in the way again? You're developing a bad reputation among our members, y'know." His smile was stiff with pain.

Ed sneered. "You're mouthing off after a magicless teen just broke your arm? Piss off, brat."

Ian narrowed his eyes, annoyed. "Even with one arm…" he moved his left arm. Ed caught the weapon before it reached him.

"Bracelet weapon ÄRM, 'Python Whip.' Your weapons are good. A pity your skill's so bad." Ed pulled slightly on the weapon, making it groan. Ian winced as it tightened on his wrist.

"Back down, Ian. This opponent is the real thing." The girl said.

Ed released the weapon. "So, Sol was it?" He put his hands in his pockets. "I've been watching from inside the dog. As the dog is now watching from inside me. We were sperate once… but then something happened… and now Edward and I are combined. When he sleeps three times, I come out. When I sleep once, he comes out. Doesn't seem fair does it? Hahahaha!" Well, at least he didn't seem to be bitter about it.

"Hold out your hand." She did. He dropped an ÄRM into it. "This is the ÄRM of Fire. Throw it and break the princess' seal."

"Got it." Sol sprinted to the ice spear that the princess was trapped in.

"Oh, no you don't." Ian moved to block her, but he found himself blocked by Ed.

Ed extended his hand. There was a burst of air and Ian went flying back. "I thought I told you to piss off, brat. Don't make me repeat myself."

Sol threw the ÄRM at the ice. The ice melted and the princess woke up. Sol caught her as she fell. The princess wasn't fully awake yet and so she didn't have her full set of reactions. Failing to support her own head, she headbutted Sol right between the eyes. Sol grunted but didn't drop her.

Sol turned towards Jack and Babbo. They were looking at her funny. "What?" They just blinked. Shrugging, she looked at the princess. "You okay?"

"Y-yes." She looked confused. Sol set her one her feet. Ed started yelling at someone.

"Hey you! What are you mumbling about… tomato-head?!"

A man in a black robe had appeared. Bizarrely, he was chained to a metal cross and had his head encased in a… tomato? "Ah… I've heard tales, but never quite believed… Alan."

"You're wrong. I'm Edward now. It's been six years, hm?"

"I'm glad we both survived…" the tomato chuckled.

Alviss was looking pale. I remember him from the war! The knight, Halloween! So my fears were right… Including the worst fear of all… The return… of Phantom!

"How lovely. As if the two we had weren't enough, we got a third." Sol stepped up next to Ed. "Where'd this one come from, the discount rack at a Halloween store?"

"Who's that?" the tomato asked his companions.

"That's Sol. She broke my arm. Really bad." Ian gritted out.

"…I don't get the joke."

"I'm serious!"

After a moment, the tomato started laughing, almost hysterically. "She broke your arm?! Not Alan?! Hilarious, Ian! Now I get it!"

Most of those observing cringed at the sound. Jack actually got kind of huffy at the insult to his friend. Ed smirked and Sol just cocked an eyebrow. "And what if the story is true? What will you do, Halloween?" Ed asked.

Sol looked mildly surprised. "Wait, his name is actually Halloween?!"

The tomato seemed incensed at that question. "It is. What of it? And who are you?"

"Toramizu Solara. And you're a tomato. Pumpkin, fine, you'd be going towards the Headless Horseman, but a tomato. There's a reason Attack of the Killer Tomato's is a B-grade movie. No one in their right mind would be scared of a tomato." Sol scoffed.

Jaws dropped at the audacity. The girl decided to speak. "She used Babbo."

"Babbo?" Turning, Halloween noticed Babbo sitting next to Jack. "It's what Peta said – Babbo, used by someone other than Phantom! And I thought it was a joke! So you've taken a fancy to her, eh, Babbo? But come back to us now! Come on!" Halloween called.

Babbo snorted. "Don't speak to a gentleman like you would a dog! I'll eat your squash of a head!"

Halloween stared. "It seems his memory is gone." Ian pointed out.

"Lucky for him, since I seem to recall that the creature that use in inhabit Babbo was pretty damn sadistic and I doubt it would have tolerated that." Sol reminded Ed. Ed frowned, but nodded.

"Don't take Sol so lightly! She's a human from the other world!" Even Ed looked surprised at that.

Sol looked at Jack in confusion. "What the hell does that have to do with anything?"

"Is… this… TRUE?!" Halloween demanded. Jack squealed and semi-fainted in terror.

"Nice." Babbo commented sarcastically.

"Yeah. I came through the Gatekeeper Clown's door. You got a problem with that, ya bloody vegetable?" Sol was unimpressed.

Halloween chuckled. "An otherworlder! Just like 'that man'! Now I can believe you Ian's arm!"

"May I have permission to kill her now?" Ian chirped.

"The orders are to assemble at the castle! Nothing else is permitted. 'Capture the princess' and 'bring back Babbo' will have to wait… and so will 'kill the otherworlder!'"

"So the condiment is a kiss-ass. To a rotting corpse, no less. …Ha, bad pun. Vegetable grows from decomposing flesh. Ha." The others looked at Sol like she was nuts. Even though she couldn't see his face, she was fairly certain she was starting to really annoy him.

"I suspect… that this will be an interesting war." Halloween started laughing again as the three Chess Pieces disappeared.

"Dumb bitches." Sol turned to the princess. "You okay, girlie?"

"Ah, yes. Thank you for rescuing me! My name is Snow! Pleased to meet you!"

Huh. "I'm Solara. Call me Sol." She acts like Koyuki, too. Snow smiled at her. Sol blinked, then gave her a small smile in return. Well... I'm not complaining.