Chapter 11

"Sunny, are you mad?" Dorothy asked.

"Mad? No. If I was mad, you wouldn't be asking. I'm aggravated. I don't like bullies. And when it comes down to it, that's what the Chess are."

Dorothy was going to say something, but something brushed by her. She screamed and jumped on Sol. Sol shoved her off when Dorothy screamed again in her ear. "Seems that the villagers were right." Nanashi commented.

Rubbing her ear, Sol cast Dorothy an annoyed glare, who blushed. "About what?"

"This cave system is haunted." He pointed at several ghostly figures floating around them.

"Huh."

"You aren't scared of them, Sunny?" Dorothy seemed surprised.

"No. Why should I be?"

"B-but, they could possess you!"

"If they wanted to possess us, why would they wait?" That seemed to stump Dorothy.

"Any idea why the Chess would have come into the caves, Nanashi?" Sol asked.

"I heard that there was a rare and powerful ARM here. I tried to steal it a few years ago, but the villagers had boarded up the cave entrance. That's probably why the Chess came here. They wouldn't have had to attack the village though…"

"Of course not. They probably just did that for fun. They path splits here." Sol looked at both, then said, "Babbo and I will take the right. You two check the left. Meet you back up front." Ignoring Dorothy's protest, Sol started down the right path, Babbo chortling as he hopped behind her.

"You know Solara, that man… Nanashi… he has the same scent as you!"

Sol stopped and looked at him. "You wanna elaborate?"

"Uh… he… he smells like you."

Sol simply looked at him. Finally, she said, "Are you attempting to say that you think he's from my world?"

"Yes."

"Hm. Well, he's no one I know." Sol turned and started walking again. As the two continued down the path, the ghosts floated around them.

Suddenly, Babbo stopped, clearly freaked out. Sol stopped. Due to his reaction she focused; was someone else in here?

"Come out! This instant!" Babbo yelled.

A young man stepped out from the darkness behind them. Sol snarled, ready to deck him.

He held up his hands. Or rather, hand, because his left arm was encased in bandages. "W-wait! I'm sorry! I'm just a villager from Vestry. Tom."

Sol narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, while Babbo blinked in confusion. "What are you skulking around in the dark for." Sol demanded.

"I appreciate what you're doing, trying to help us all. I came because I wanted to help out, even if it's just a little. I can't fight but… I can at least show you the way, so you don't get lost. Can I come?"

Sol was still suspicious due to Babbo's initial reaction. Focusing on 'Tom' she couldn't sense any magic from him. However… he oozed malice. Standing near him felt like sitting in oil. She resisted the urge to gag. Despite his apparent lack of magic, Sol strongly suspected this "harmless civilian" wasn't very harmless at all. For some reason, he didn't seem interested in attacking them, so… what the hell, she thought with a shrug. "Sure."

The group of three started down the path. "Hey. What's your name?" Tom asked.

"Toramizu Solara. Sol."

"Solara… that's a strange name."

"I suppose so. I haven't encountered anyone else in this world with a name like mine."

"You're from the other world?" Sol nodded. "How interesting. How did you get here?"

She glanced at him. "A guy named Alviss summoned me with an ARM call the Gatekeeper Clown. I haven't been here very long. This kendama ARM is my friend Babbo."

"Why are you so willing to go after the ones who attacked the village?"

"Why not? We're going to take down the Chess Pieces anyway. Might as well start now."

"Really." He seemed amused, sarcasm laced into his voice. Sol planted a hand on his shoulder and shoved. "Eep!" He squeaked as he tumbled to the ground.

Sol stood over him with her arms crossed. "You think something I said was funny?"

"Sorry! Sorry! It's just… the Chess Pieces are so powerful!"

"Yeah. And?" Sol curled her lip at his blank expression. "It's not like they can't get their asses kicked or die. Last I heard the 'immortal' among them was -" Something clicked, and her eyes narrowed as she bared her teeth, "you, Phantom."

Babbo yelped. 'Tom' looked surprised for a moment before his expression slid into a rather malicious smile. He stood up. "How did you know?" he asked.

"Babbo's initial reaction; who else is gonna make him freak out." She counted off on her fingers. "You ooze malice, so much that it's actually disgusting. Your 'name' isn't all that creative, just taking off the first four letters. And who but a member of the Chess is going to think someone trying to take them on is funny." She re-crossed her arms. "Now why don't you tell me what you want and prove to me that you've got at least half a brain left in that desiccated skull you call a head."

Phantom laughed. "Oh, I like you. Don't worry. I'm not here to fight you. I want to see what you can do. That's not too bad, right? After all, Danna was so much fun. I hope you can provide me with the same level of entertainment."

Sol's eyes narrowed. "So you don't intend to interfere if I fight one of your men?" Phantom shook his head still smiling. She didn't trust him… but… she tilted her head to the right. Phantom was clearly demented and thus followed his own logic. To him, this was all a game. Sol didn't trust him as a person… but could she trust him to follow his own twisted rules?

Babbo looked back and forth between the two. He recognized Phantom, but at the same time, he didn't. Solara he was familiar with, but her instability made her hard to know. What were they thinking?

Suddenly, Solara shrugged. "Fine. Then let's go." She indicated for Phantom to lead. Not like he would feel threatened by her being behind him. Phantom inclined his head, smile still in place, and started down the tunnel, an irritated Solara and pensive Babbo following.


"Oi, Dorothy. Tell me… what sort of person is Solara?"

"A sweet one. I didn't think so at first… but she grows on you. Straight forward, passionate, caring… all hidden behind a brutal front. A new type for me."

Nanashi was quiet. Dorothy was as well, thinking. It's true… in my whole life… I've never met anyone quite like her… A memory crossed her mind. Dorothy… Round up ARMs! Then… find her! Find that woman! Kill her!

"Dorothy… Dorothy!" Nanashi drew her out of her thoughts.

"What…?" Then she noticed the energy.

"You're slow to sense it, witch! Magic power." Nanashi and Dorothy had come to a standing lake. As they looked at it, bubbles started to form. Then a huge man erupted from the water. He was wearing a pair of tan pants, held up by a black sash. A strange golem-like mask was on his face and two thick, large ARMs encased his wrists with sheared chains attached to them. The ground shook when he landed.

"Magic…" He reached up to pull off his mask. "Strong magic!" He revealed a set of large eyes with pupils so dilated, his irises were nothing but thin slivers, a large nose that looked like it had been broken repeatedly, and a thick set of lips forming an obscene, tooth-filled grin. "Who… are… you? Enemy?" He seemed slow.

Dorothy shuddered. "Eww… creepy…!"

That upset the giant. His grin turned to a snarl. "I'm… not creepy!" He yelled, punching down at Dorothy. She leaped out of the way. The stone she had been standing on shattered under the impact, but his fist…

He hit the rock that hard… and not even a scratch?! His body must be harder than these boulders! There's a body-hardening type of nature ARM that strongmen love to use…

"You're welcome to stand back and leave this to me!" Nanashi sang, much to Dorothy's surprise.

"You seem awfully calm. Does this mean you can handle this on your own?"

"Easily. Who do you think I am? I am Nanashi, master of Luberia! And my desire to shatter the Chess Pieces… is second to no one's."

The giant went to swing again, this time at Nanashi. "Think you can beat me?!" Nanashi jumped out of the way. The man ripped several chunks stone out of the bedrock and threw them at him.

As Nanashi hopped and skipped out of the way, Dorothy activated her ring ARM, producing her broom. "'Easily,' you said…? I think I'd better help."

Nanashi gave her a peace sign and a cocky grin. "I got it, I got it!"

The giant stopped. "Hun-gry." He dug in the pocket of his pants and pulled out several pieces of meat. As he ate, he scoffed at them. "Don't… you… know who I am?! Orco, of the Chess Pieces! If you didn't know… sorry. 'Cuz you gonna die. If you did know and came anyway… you stupid. 'Cuz you gonna die!"

Nanashi cracked his fingers. "Your stomach full now, giant? Chew well! For… this is your last meal!"

The giant looked confused. "Huh…? Don't get it…"

Dorothy narrowed her eyes at Nanashi's back. Nanashi… Leader of the thieves guild, Luberia. All I know about him now is that he hates the Chess Pieces who killed his comrades. I don't know what kind of guy he is or what level of power he possesses. But the level of magical power I'm sensing isn't very high! A skilled fighter – like that old guy – can hide the level of their powers. But… can Nanashi?! Is he doing it now?! She smirked. I suppose… I'll just have to sit back and find out!

"One question, before I strike." Nanashi said. The giant looked confused. "Are you the one who destroyed Vestry?"

"Yeah! Yeah! Orco and Girom did it!"

Nanashi was quiet for a moment. "How did you feel?"

"It was fun! Smashing houses! Making everybody scared! My friends like it too! Smashing and killing! I want to kill more! But I have to go home first! The War Games are starting! I love the War Games! After we kill you… Orco and Girom'll go back to the castle!"

Nanashi gave him a nasty look. "You… won't be killing anyone. And you won't be going home again. This will be your graveyard."

It took Orco a couple of seconds to put together what Nanashi was implying. "Ooh! I get it now!" Angry, he swung at Nanashi. Nanashi simply put up a hand and stopped Orco's huge fist.

Orco grunted in surprise. Dorothy's jaw dropped. That monstrous force… he stopped it?!

"And here I thought…" Nanashi jumped to reach Orco's head, "you were strong." Nanashi punched him in the jaw, launching him back several feet into the lake.

Dorothy was stunned. Did he use a strength-increasing ARM?! No! If he'd synced with an ARM, I would've sensed it!

Orco came up sputtering and hacking. Nanashi lifted his right hand and electricity crackled from the eye-shaped ring on his index finger. "One of the Chess Pieces has an ARM that sucks all the blood from an opponent. Tell me his name." He coldly ordered.

Orco stumbled over his words in his terror. "Oh… I-I know! I know! Peta! H-help me!"

Nanashi had moved his hands together and electricity was building between them, coming from the two matching eye ring ARMs on his index fingers. "Peta… so now Luberia's vengeance… has a target. Thanks." He pointed at Orco. "Electric Eye!" The massive amount of electricity surged, striking Orco, which was further amplified by the water he was sitting in. Orco screamed.

A nature ARM! A lightening wielder! Dorothy was surprised.

Nanashi flinched. With a pained grin he mumbled, " Why is it, whenever I use this… I feel as if I'm about to remember something?" Shaking his head, he turned to Dorothy with a coy grin. "…well! That about does it!"

Dorothy gave him a small smirk. "Hmm… not bad…" Amazing… for one instant, his power shot through the roof! And I have a feeling that's not the extent of it…!

"There's one more enemy in here." Nanashi noted. "That means…"


Solara and Babbo stared. "How the hell did a galleon get in here?" The huge ship sat in the still lake, the ghosts looping around it in lazy spirals.

"Since the ghosts seem attached to it, they must have been sailors. As for how it got here… perhaps a curse?" Babbo suggested.

"Fair enough." Just then something slid across her senses. Her face hardened. "Get back." Phantom looked at her surprised. "Unless you want to find out if your minion is stupid enough to attack you, given that you've decided to pretend to be villager."

"I didn't know you cared." Phantom remarked.

"I don't. However, if you kill your stupid minion, I won't complain, but you won't get to see what I can do. After all, I'm not defending your undead ass."

Phantom smirked and slid back into the shadows. Solara turned her attention back to the ship and the boy that emerged onto the deck. He noticed her and sneered. Sol kicked Babbo's hammer up into her hand. This should be entertaining.