"How many of you ARE there?" Milo asked, looking rather disgruntled at this point. "I told you, I can't help you!"
"He hasn't told you anything yet?" Ivor arched his eyebrow, crossing his arms suspiciously at him.
"'S he hiding them somewhere?" Petra asked, crossing her arms and glaring at the other blonde.
"I am uncomfortable with this line of questioning," and Milo crossed his arms, glaring back at them.
Jesse made a move to rest her hand on his shoulder, but then she forced herself to stop. Since she was a stranger, he probably would be more creeped out than reassured, what with her six arms and all. So she just put all of her hands up in surrender. "Come on, you can trust me," she said sincerely, crossing her heart and then putting her hand over her eye, "Nothing bad is going to happen. Just help us, please?"
"Fine!" Milo huffed, "if it will make you leave me a lone, that 'Aiden' fellow DID come talk to me earlier. Wanted to know where the Eversource was."
"Called it!" Ivor called out, waving his arm.
Milo huffed again at Ivor's interruption. "I just told him what everyone else already knows- the Eversource is in the palace with the Founder. That's all that happened, I swear."
Petra growled slightly, gold eyes beginning to heat up in anger. "What a bunch of creeps," she growled through gritted teeth.
Milo nodded, a bit more nicely this time. "Yes, I wasn't terribly fond of them."
Jesse scratched her head, her lower arms crossing. "So... where is Aiden now?" she mused, partially to herself.
"The group left for the palace, and I haven't seen them since," Milo responded, shrugging slightly.
"Attention!" called a voice, making the whole group look around quickly, "attention, everyone! Just a moment of your time, please. Emergency meeting in the Founder's Garden! Attendance is mandatory!" Jesse spotted a guard walking along behind them, the citizens of Sky City trailing after him.
Milo scowled. "Oh... slime blocks!" And he walked briskly towards them.
"Curious," Ivor hummed, "I wonder what that's all about."
And they all came around the corner to stand behind the crowd that had gathered, as they all whispered and murmured. "Oh! It's the Founder!"
A young(ish) woman with green eyes that were remarkably like Jesse's, pale skin, black hair, and rather nicely done makeup wearing a gold robe came up to the front of the crowd. Her posture made Jesse straighten up, even as she looked out over the crowd.
And then Jesse's eyes narrowed. Coming up beside and behind her was Aiden and the Blaze Rods, the Founder giving Aiden a small smile.
"You've got to be kidding me," she groaned.
"What are you- oh," Petra responded, staring at the group as well.
"People of Sky City!" the Founder started speaking ("They were certainly creative with their naming," Ivor grumbled. "Shht!" Lukas hushed), "I'm sorry to pull you from your duties, but something urgent has come to my attention. A crime has been committed."
The crowd started muttering again.
"Please, remain calm. Earlier today, outsiders built a bridge into our fair city from a distant island!"
Jesse dropped her head forward into her hands in what could really only be called a facepalm. "... and by earlier today, she means ten minutes ago," she grumbled softly, as the gates opened to reveal the bridge they'd built.
"Now, whether these outsiders know it or not, this is a violation of Sky City's most sacred law: no unauthorized building."
"Wait, was that you?"
Jesse started a bit, and Petra nearly hit Milo in the face as they leaned around Petra, all of them turning to look at the innkeeper, "Are you the bridge builders?"
"I didn't know it was illegal," Jesse groaned, putting her hand to her nose and pinching the bridge of it in frustration.
The Founder listened to Aiden's whispers, before she continued, "Jesse, wherever you are, step forward now. I have already been informed of your identity."
To use Milo's term, slime blocks.
"I appreciate that you may be ignorant of our laws, but I will warn you: Sky City is small, and I promise that if you try to hide, I will find you."
"Not likely," Jesse grumbled, crossing her arms with a soft huff and scowling at her feet. She WAS good at hiding, much better than even Lukas or Olivia, back when they'd needed to hide for some tests. For a spider hybrid, she was quite flexible.
Ivor turned to Jesse, and whispered, "We need to get to that Eversource at whatever cost. This is clearly our fastest way into the castle!"
"Yes, but at what cost? We'd be in the dungeon, we wouldn't be able to get out if our lives depended on it!" Jesse pointed out, trying not to flail her arms too much.
"Don't be fooled by the Founder's lies," Milo whispered, softly, "I can help you come up with a plan to get into the palace."
Ivor hesitated, before giving a reluctant nod. "Fair enough, I see your point," Ivor said softly.
"That's them!"
Well crap, Aiden had spotted them! Guards were starting to come towards them.
"Run!" Jesse hissed, and bolted after Petra and Milo, Lukas following. Ivor turned to follow but was grabbed by a guard, and he let out a yelp as the guard yanked him back.
"Ivor!" Jesse cried, skidding to a stop at the sight of her mentor being captured by the guards.
Lukas shoved her quickly into the alley, seeing her hesitation. "Jesse, run, run!" he yelped, as a guard tackled him to the floor and knocked the slight boy over.
Jesse stood there for a moment, torn between helping Lukas or following Petra, but Lukas's parting words gave her a jolt of energy, and she spun on her heel and raced after Petra and the blonde innkeeper.
A/N: Ooh, chase through Sky City is up next!
DemonCatLady: Haha, made it up on the spot xD
angelwings: We'll see.
A Person: Haha, yeah, I'm DETERMINED to get these chapters out. (Eh? Eh?)
Kaos Ruin: Pfft xD
Kitty7Claws: yep, pretty hot (you know, like hot and cold?)
rebekahtpe: Death by Ivor. He could just give me Potion of Poison or something.
TheRealRedGaming: PAMA. I could just reprogram it to watch YouTube or something xD
NinjaCat: Yep xD And you'll see!
Toni42: Not quite... and no, I'm not explaining. You'll have to see when it comes up!
RapidSammiBackup: Lol xD
Guest: No, I do know, I'm just not explaining right now xD
Guest: Nope.
Guest: Also nope.
RavenBlaze4850: You'll see when that specific chapter comes out! xD
x.X. A.L. X.x.
