Chapter 07: Meeting the Neighbors and the Outcasts
Giants Land
Sunday 7am
After an hour of flying up the beanstalk, the group rose up through a thick layer of clouds, and finally reached their destination. Orpet floated enough for a full view of the floating edge as Eric, Sebastian, and Iago stared in disbelief at the sight. Before the group was a view that would both amaze and horrify even the most seasoned explorer. The edge of a land that looked as though it had risen up into the air and was kept a float by the clouds below it. Trees that made the trees below look like blades of grass, stone sculptures of angry faces with water falling from the open mouths into the clouds below going across the land, and the beanstalk next to one of the mouths.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh, are we there yet?"
Everyone looked to see a sleepy Dax poke his head out as he scratched his side. After a minute of cold air in his face, Dax's brain woke up as he took in the view, "Oh yeah, we're here."
Orpet flew the group down and floated just a few feet off the ground. Eric stepped off while Iago sat on his shoulder and Sebastian in the outside pocket of his backpack. "Thanks for the lift Orpet," Eric said as he smiled at Orpet who gave him thumps up. He then flew up in the air and divebombed back down to Earth, "See you tomorrow," Eric said as he waved goodbye, "All right, let's find Ariel and Arista," Eric said as he started walking towards the forest.
"Um... Maybe I'll just fly back down with Orpet," Iago started to say as he turned around, "You know, to make sure he makes it back down the beanstalk, and tells everyone you made it."
"Okay... But that means. Treasure. Sebastian and I. Treasure. Get the biggest share if we. Treasure. Find any treasure," Dax said with a sly look on his face saying the one word he knew would work on Iago.
Iago stopped at the sound of one of his favorite words with a look of dread on his face as he groaned as he turned around, "You just had to say that one word," Iago said knowing he couldn't say no to treasure. Especially when it was treasure that was ripe for the taking as Eric walked into the forest with the three critters.
As Eric walked through the forest, he took in the same sight his fiancé took in as searched for signs of her. Only now there were beams of sunlight shining through open areas in the trees. "This is amazing. To think there was a land like this floating right above our heads all this time," he said as he looked up at the trees that looked as though they could touch the clouds, "Everything here makes me feel so... Puny."
"How do you think we feel," Sebastian said as he looked up at the trees as well along with Dax and Iago, "By de way Dax, Iago told us how he knew about this place, but how do you know about it," the crustacean asked in suspicion as Dax knew where they were going when he was away the whole time.
"Tia gave me a crash course on it," Dax told the suspicious crab, "There wasn't really a reason to know about the Giants since they haven't been able to cause trouble since that day and the relics were hidden."
"Dax, something's been bugging me since I heard the story. If all this took place when the Merfolk, Humans, and Atlanteans were living in peace, does that mean there wasn't a Seablade Bearer when the Giants attacked," Eric asked his guardian, "Did the fight happen when there wasn't one?"
"Hey, the story is hundreds maybe thousands of years old," Iago pointed out in his defense, "Some details are bound to be lost! Besides it's not like someone wrote a book about it!"
"There was a Seablade Bearer in that era, one of the first ones in fact," Dax said as he continued to wake himself up, "I didn't catch his name though. Era- something or other, but he only joined the fight during the late periods of the war. He was caught up in a battle with some god on the other side of the Earth when the war started." This new development led to the others becoming shocked by this.
"A god!? You're saying one of my past selves was fighting a god when Giants were attacking the world," Eric asked in shock.
"Eeeh, probably over something stupid like a stolen treasure, or not enough worshippers," Iago squawked as they continued.
"I didn't have time to find out all the details," Dax continued as he did one last stretch, "Tia only gave me the abridged version of the story before sending me out the door. Not even letting me chow down on some clams." He then started looking around, "Maybe if we find a lake, we can look for some," Dax said with high hopes.
Sebastian grabbed Dax by his throat, "How can you think of food at a time like this," the crab asked in a panic, "If we don't find Princess Ariel and Arista before Triton finds out about this, finding food will be the least of your worries! He most likely kill himself a crab and otter for sure!"
Dax pulled Sebastian's claws off his shoulders, "Relax Sebastian. King Triton only knows what goes on in the ocean and he rarely goes to the surface. We'll be back before he knows either of them are gone," Dax told him as he knew the King of the Seas still dislikes the surface despite Eric's actions. Sebastian knew that but still knew his majesty's temper more than anyone. Before Sebastian could respond, Eric came to a stop causing all three critters to lose their balance for a moment. Iago continued to sit on Eric's shoulder while Sebastian and Dax held on to the bag. "Geez Eric, you should give us a heads up before you stop like that," Dax said as he was weak from a lack of food.
"Sorry guys, but we've run into a speed bump," Eric said as he looked up. The others looked up as well to see the road block before them. Before them was a huge tree root rising from the ground and stretching far enough to block off entrance for miles. It was the kind of root that would normally cause someone to trip but it was large enough to stop a monster truck. "Looks like we're climbing. Wish I brought some climbing gear," Eric said as he started to climb up the root as best he could without losing his grip.
Iago on the other hand flew off Eric and maintained flight next to him, "Why not just go super mode and fly through the forest," Iago asked referring to Eric's Master Mode, "We're up the beanstalk already and it would be faster than going on foot."
"It's an option but I'd rather use it for leaving here," Eric replied as he continued to climb, "I still don't know where the girls are, where anything is, or how strong the giants are. If I do transform, it has to be when I find the girls so I can fly us all to safety."
"If you say so. I still say transforming and zooming all over the land would be faster than just walking around blindly," Iago squawked back.
"Well if you feel that way," Dax said with a sneaky expression, "We can always send you since you can fly without powering up. I mean you are pretty small. The giants probably wouldn't even see you but you could also make a good diversion-"
"NO! No diversion! No bird as monster bait," Iago yelled out in fear as he disliked the idea of being bait.
"You said that before at Olette's house," Sebastian reminded Iago with a deadpanned expression. He then began to pant a little bit as he was starting to feel thirsty, "I'm really wishing I had a chance to swim in the ocean before leaving. I haven't had a chance to be wet all day," Sebastian admitted as he was starting to feel dehydrated.
"I know what you mean," Dax said as his stomach began to rumble, "I wanted to grab some clams on my way back but Tia made it clear if I didn't make it in time, she would use me for her voo doo rituals. The last guardian that went through that had all the openings on his face mixed up," he finished as Dax shivered from the memory of it.
Before anyone could respond to Dax's comment, Eric reached the top of the root. He pulled himself up while Iago landed on his shoulder. The four explorers all became silent at the sight before them. They had reached an area with stones all over, parts of the ground dug up, and the mountain side looking as though it had been blown up. But the most nerve whacking sight for the group were the extremely large human shaped foot prints that were buried under stones.
"Oh boy," Iago said breaking the silence in the group, "I'd hate to see whatever did this!"
"Considering where we are, we probably will," Dax replied as he looked at the damage.
"I just hope the girls weren't anywhere near this," Sebastian said in dread.
Eric didn't say anything as he continued to stare at the sight before him. The voices of the critters behind him was toned out as his mind filled with pain. He could feel a sense of dread starting to build with in him as a thought filled his mind. 'Could she be... Could they have... No! She can't be dead! Neither of them can be,' he thought to himself as he found himself consume with the fear of losing the love of his life. Eric however shook his head as he shook his head, 'No! She's alive! I know she is! Both of them,' he thought as he attempted to convince himself of their safety.
"Hey, Thatch."
Eric snapped out of his train of thought at the sound of his name as he looked at Iago who was looking nervous. "Don't let it bug you. You know your girl is more of a fighter than a damsel in distress," he said trying to lift Eric's spirits.
Eric looked at Iago in surprise as he looked at Sebastian and Dax who smiled in agreement, "Thanks Iago," Eric said with a smile, "I do believe she and her sister are safe. But I'll feel a lot better when I see them with my own eyes."
"Yeah well, don't get used to it," Iago replied, "I'm not good at this mushy stuff." This caused Eric and the others to laugh as they continued their way through the forest. Eric continued to journey in the mysterious land. No matter how much ground he covered, he felt as though he had barely left the edge of the land. "How big is this land anyway," Iago yelled out in frustration, "We're here for what feels like an hour and we haven't seen one piece of gold anywhere!"
"Not even a drop of pool or a puddle to swim in," Sebastian said as he was feeling more dehydrated than before.
"Or any sign of Ariel and Arista," Eric said, "Not even of the gia-" he was stopped by Iago.
"Don't finish that sentence Thatch," Iago squawked with a glare on his face, "You so much as say the G-word and one them is going to pop out of nowhere!"
"Oh come on," Dax said over his stomach growling, "As if that were true, than someone would've said 'there will be a pool of water around the next corner' and it will appear out of nowhere!" Just as Eric turned at another corner, he stopped dead in his tracks as he, and the critters stared with open mouths as the sight before them.
Before the group lay a huge lake with the most sparkling water they had ever seen. The water was clear enough to see the bottom of it and the water sparkled as if it was filled with diamonds rather than water. To the side was a large waterfall that filled the lake with more water. Eric, Iago, Dax, and Sebastian were captivated by the beauty of the lake as it sparkled before them.
"Now this is what I'm talking about," Dax said as he leapt out of the bag and headed for the lake. "Come on Sebastian! last one in is a rotten egg," Dax cried out as Sebastian jumped out of Eric's bag. Both of the parched critters headed straight for the water while Eric and Iago remained behind. They both arrived at the shoreline with joyful expressions at the sight of the water. Dax reached out with his hands, brought of handful of sparkling water, and drank it. "It's like drinking the very first source of water in the world," Dax exclaimed as the taste filled him with happiness.
Sebastian jumped into it and began to swim in the water, "I hate to admit it but you're right Dax," he said as he floated on his back, "Not even da King could make the ocean as clean as this,"
"You're not going for a dip Iago," Eric asked him as he walked down to look for signs of Ariel.
"No way," Iago squawked as he turned away, "This place stinks of trouble and there's no way I'm going to fall for something that inviting! Even if the water looks more like diamonds."
Eric grinned as he and Iago looked around for signs of Ariel and Arista. He looked for anything, footprints, dropped items, anything at all to help, but found nothing. "Well no sign of them or anyone else here," he turned towards the pool, "We better move-" He stopped when he saw Dax and Sebastian doing synchronized swimming without a care in the world. "Okay guys, that's great but we should really be," Eric started to say until he saw Sebastian hanging on to Dax's tail like a jet ski on the water.
"Come on, you heard the kid with the big sword," Iago yelled out to get the two sea critters attention, "We have to-" he stopped when he saw Dax spit some water into the air and into Sebastian's mouth, "Don't spit in his mouth!" He and Eric watched in fear as Sebastian spat it back at Dax who caught in his mouth, "Don't spit it back," Iago exclaimed again just as Dax swallowed the water, "Don't sallow it! We don't know what's been in-"
Suddenly the two heard what sounded like thunder, but felt the ground shook with each boom of sound. Eric and Iago looked up in the air for the source but could find nothing, only the sight of branches shaking with each step. "Guys! Something's coming," Eric yelled out as he grabbed the still smiling Dax who was swimming by the shore, "We have to hide now!"
"You heard the teen," Iago squawked as he flew and pulled Sebastian out of the water, "Out of the pool! Now," he continued as he and Eric jumped behind a large rock nearby.
"Eric, I don't know what's in that water, but we have to take some back," Dax said in bliss, "I feel like that water has shown me the answer to the universe. It's-" he is stopped by Iago who covered his mouth.
"Shut your clam hole," Iago said in anger. Suddenly, the sound of thunder became louder every time is filled the air. Finally, from the part of the forest that the rock was facing, Eric and the critters witnessed what was making the sound.
It was a giant. He towered almost fifty feet in height, lean in the muscle department, Caucasian in skin tone. He wore a brown tattered vest and brown tattered pants, all stitched up pieces of leather with a navy anchor rope tied around his waist acting like a belt of sorts. He had a dopey look to his face, as his expression seemed to showcase him spacing out, with large ears as big as an elephant's, and brown messy hair that stuck around unkempt. This giant's title or name was Manhugger; and out of all of them, he was considered the slimmest and tallest among them… as well as the most clueless one there was due to his spaced out face.
The group of explorers stared in both amazement and fear at the giant before them. "Okay, now I really feel puny," Eric said as he watched the giant continue to stare into space. The critters didn't reply as they stared in silence at the giant.
However, the giant began to grab his belt as he undid it. Eric went from amazement and fear to a look of dread at what the giant did next. He began to wiz into the pound that Dax and Sebastian were just swimming in. The eyes of the four followed the stream of pee down to the pool of water. They could only stare in silent dread as the pee continued to fall and the giant moaned from the relief of releasing the pressure from his waist. As much as the four wanted to look away, they couldn't as the giant continued. Sebastian began to gag from disgust at what he just swam in.
Dax hugged himself in fear as he realized what he just had all over his body, "No... No," he whispered in dread.
"Horrible turn of events," Eric said as he looked on at the sight he couldn't un-see, "Just… horrible."
Iago however while still disgusted, was doing his best to hold his breath while having a small grin on his face. Iago's smile only became bigger as Sebastian began to wail at the sight before his eyes. Eric saw this but was drawn away at the sound of two pieces of sand paper rubbing against each other. Only to see Dax using a rock to wash his tongue of the taste of the water he drank. Finally, after a minute of moaning and pee dripping, the giant finished, pulled his armor back up, and smiled in relief.
"Hey! Finish up already, Manhugger!"
Came a loud voice from within the forest getting everyone's attention, "General Fallon wants us back at the castle for when he finishes interrogating the blood haired fish girl!"
This caused Eric to go wide eyed at the description of the girl, "THEY HAVE ARI-" only for Iago to shut his mouth again!
"Shut it or we'll be in the same cage as her," Iago exclaimed as he didn't want to risk being heard.
"I'm coming already, Bloodbottler," the Giant before them said as he turned around and entered the forest.
Once he was gone, Eric ran out from the rock towards where the Giant went. "Come on guys," Eric said, "If we follow him, we can-" Only to stop and see Sebastian and Dax in emotional pain.
"I TAKE IT BACK, YOUR HIGHNESS," Sebastian yelled into the air as he rolled all over the dirt, "YOUR OCEAN IT THE BEST THERE IS!"
"I know what was in it! I know what was in it! I know what WAS IN IT," Dax yelled out as he rolled all over and covered himself in dirt. "Disinfect! Disinfect! Disinfect," Dax continued to say as he licked the dirt to get the taste out.
Iago however finally released the laugh he was holding in, "I told you guys not to go in there," he said between laughs as he slammed his wing on the ground.
Eric looked at them with a deadpanned expression, "I'm sorry for what happened. No one should have to go through that but we have to go after the giant," he said trying to snap them out of it, "Who knows what the giants are doing to Ariel and Arista right now!"
Meanwhile
It was dark when it all came suddenly, but her eyes slowly opened. At first all a blur for her, but it was slowly fading. Arista was sleeping rather comfortably in a bed of warmth, with a few pillows underneath her head, and a white-furred blanket draped on her frame, though didn't cover her shoulder or her head, as she curled up, groaning.
"Mmmm," she moaned out. "Wha… what time is it?"
"Mornin'," a strange voice spoke up as Arista continued to try and sleep. "You've been konked out fer nearly all nightr. I'd already arrived when you was asleepin'. Dreamin' away of home's an all."
Still half asleep, Arista moaned in her sleep, not caring who the new voice belonged to, "It was all just a crazy dream. That's the last time I have sea sponge swirl for dessert close to bed time."
"What youse dreamin' about, child?" the voice spoke again, as loud footsteps echoed in the unknown place, presumably to Arista the Atlantica palace. "Was it the one where youse forgot to study for the big test?"
Arista shook her head in her bed, "Oh no, it was much worse than that. I went to the surface on these horrible legs, followed Ariel to a human festival, got into a fight with her, and ended up in Giants Land. Then we were attacked and..." Though Arista stopped as she shook her head, "Nah, it was just a dream. Or more like a nightmare."
The voice shrugged, "Well… at least yer safer in ere than out there right now. No sense for any bein' being wanderin' and frollockin' around in Giant Country."
Arista suddenly awoke with shock, as her eyes went wide as she blinked to confirm, "Giant Country?" she bolted right up, as she was now wide awake, looking around to where she was.
It looked like a giant cave of sorts, with no water in it at all. There were trees growing out or giant roots, making foundation pillars holding up the place. There were wooden planks or harbor docks being used as shelves or tables, with sails or tents being used as curtains. On one of the tables were various tools, shovels, airplane blades made into knives, various human tools that were normal sized looked to be in place of being kitchenware. The bed Arista slept in… was actually the crow's nest of a ship… that was still attached to it, bobbing in a pool of sorts, and was made into a bed itself. And one of the windows was a glass face of a clock. But the really terrifying sight was where the fireplace was currently heating up a giant cauldron over the fire.
Standing in front of the fire, currently stirring whatever was in the pot… was a giant. He was a Caucasian male, roughly 24 feet in height in his appearance. He was tall, rangy, and imposing at a glance, but wiry in his build, and appeared elderly but not weak in any way. He had gray receding hair that sticked up in the back, with sharp features on his face, with large sideburns going from ear to the lower jaw of his chin. Like the giants Arista had seen, he had huge ears. He was dressed in a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, brown pants that showed off his ankles, with sandal shoes that barely covered his toes, and a brown vest. Though when he turned to face Arista… he had a kind expression on his face with the kindest brown eyes that made her forget the malice in the other giants' eyes.
But the fact remained she was in a giant's home, as she saw him, and let out a high pitched scream. Though the giant did the same, only it was more in startle than fear. Though his died down, as he walked over to her. She scooted backwards until her back hit the crow's nest. As he climbed up, she pleaded, "Go away! Please, please, go away! Please!"
He reached for her with his huge hand, and gently scooped her up, blanket and all. He walked towards the table, all the while Arista was dreading on what would soon happen to her. She wanted to jump down on to the floor and run, but saw she was twenty feet off of it. There was no telling what would happen to her human legs; they would break and she would be forced to crawl out.
Finally, the Giant laid her gently onto the work table, as he walked away from her. She saw him grabbing what appeared to be an airplane propeller blade made into a cleaver. She quickly got up, as she was about to sprint to the window, seeing a clear path and other knickknacks strewn about to help her run up to the window. Until the Giant spoke up.
"No use to be runnin' outside," the Giant replied, causing Arista to freeze in her tracks as she turned around. He gently walked towards her, carrying his cleaver, "It be no use. Not with all of 'em bein' eaters runnin' and sciddlin' around Giant Country."
Before Arista could scream at the cleaver, his other hand came up, and dropped onto the table a car-sized vegetable of sorts. It was green and rigged on its main body, with strange green pustule growths on it. It was almost as if it was a vegetable going through the worst and most disgusting case of acne ever.
He then brought down the cleaver at the tip of the side he chopped on it. It made the most disgusting cutting sound ever as the top spun around.
Finally, Arista couldn't take it, as she brought her legs up to her chest, and panicked, "P-Please don't eat me!"
Suddenly, she heard a loud yell, as she and the Giant turned to see someone riding a line down to the table. It was the human boy that had saved her, Jack Stalkman, as she remembered the name. He slid to a hault on his heels near a telephone booth made into a pepper shaker. He stretched out, as he sighed, "Aaaah, nothin' like a good giant chase to wake yourself up."
The Giant looked worried but gave a half-smirk, "Youse know better 'han to toy with the other giants, Jack? Youse a hart Snapple, tis true, but one of 'em days, you'll be scarfed down faster 'en a frumpin frie, I's be sayin'."
"Thanks for the concern, but it's fine. Besides, I was doing Fleshlumpeater, and his mates a favor," Jack said as he leaned on his staff, "They needed to let loose some anger after our skirmish the previous night." As Jack chuckled to himself, a through occurred to him. "Which reminds me," Jack said as he looked around, "How's our gues-" Before he could finish, Jack went wide eyed as he felt a pair of shaking hands on his shoulders. "Ahh, she woke up, very good. No reason to be afraid, this is the safest place to be if avoiding being on the menu."
"The safest place?! Are you not seeing what is right in front of us," Arista asked in a panic, "There's a giant right there ready to eat us like the others," as she continue to hide behind Jack's back. She then heard Jack chuckling as if nothing was wrong.
"My apologies maim, I meant to be here before you woke up," Jack explained as stood still, "This giant is a good one. Heck he wouldn't even hurt a fly." Jack then held his chin in thought, "Actually, I don't even think he knows how to hurt a fly. Do you know how to hurt a fly," he asked the giant who looked down at the two teens.
"Yes, I be knowing how," the giant answered the boy's question as he sat down on a chair near the table, "That's how I be knowing not to do the pain doing."
The mermaid princess stopped shaking from fear as she looked at Jack's smiling face, "You mean... He's not going to eat us? But why," she asked in relief and confusion.
"For two reasons, one is the BFG here doesn't have a mean bone in his body," Jack answered in defense of his friend who he revealed to be called BFG, "And two, when giants eat people, it goes straight to their thighs," he said as he pointed to his. Arista and the giant are silent to the point a cricket could be heard, "I'm joking. Actually, it's because he's a vegetarian."
"You're sure," Arista asked in concern as she looked up at the BFG still a little nervous.
"I swear on it maim or my name isn't Jack Stalkman," he answered before looking in another direction while covering the side of his mouth, "As explained in my song in the last chapter."
Arista looked at boy and the giant unsure what to do. She had seen and heard the things that humans had done to the ocean folk for centuries. But Jack did save her life while putting his in danger, plus he wouldn't have brought her back just to serve her to another giant. Finally, if this giant really did want to eat her, he would've while she was asleep, but he didn't. 'Ariel was able to have adventures by getting along with Eric,' Arista thought to herself, "Besides, I can't save Ariel and bring her home on my own." Realizing this, she sighed, walked forward, and took a deep breath. "Thank you. Both of you and I'm sorry for before with all the screaming I did," Arista said as she spoke to both of them, "This is a lot to take in. My name is," she stopped talking when a thought occurred to her. She looked down at her bare legs and feet, the skirt she wore on land, and the hoodie she found on the beach, "The legs are back," she asked herself in confusion.
"Youse name be Legs," BFG asked with a raised eyebrow at Arista's word.
"I've heard crazier names," Jack said completely unfazed, "One time a guy was found here named Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo. The guy was able to walk away from the giants because they couldn't figure out where a name like that would come from."
"It being the most silent sun phase with no trumping and crashing," the Giant said remembering how he was able to enjoy the peace and quiet for once.
"No. My name is Arista. I'm just wondering how my legs are back," she said clearing up the confusion while still looking at her legs.
"Oh, that was me," Jack answered as he pointed to Arista's wrist. She looked at it and saw the bracelet was back, "I found that during the chase and grabbed it. I figured it was yours so I put it back on."
"That was when youse two legs turned into the fish legs again," the BFG added in, "It was an amazing sight to be beholding. I must say it be surprising to see a fish bean all the way here in Giants Land."
"Thank you for that as well," Arista said as she looked the bracelet again, "I wouldn't even be on land if it wasn't for this." She then looked back at her legs with an uncomfortable expression on her face, "Although to be honest, I don't like these very much. I prefer my tail."
"Well that's a shame because I think they look as good on you as your tail," Jack said as he put his staff which he had been leaning away on his back, "Not to worry though Miss Arista," Jack continued unware that she now had a blush on her face, "We'll have you back on land or in the ocean again as soon as it's night time."
At the sound of Jack's words, she immediately turned around to face him, "Wait, I can't go back yet," Arista said in alarm getting Jack's attention, "My younger sister was captured by the other giants after we came here!"
This caused the BFG and Jack to become alarmed by this new piece of news. "Well then, that does complicate things doesn't it," Jack said as he walked over to the side of the table.
"You mean you're just realizing this now?! You were there before when you saved me," Arista asked in alarm due to finding it odd that he didn't know about Ariel.
"My apologies but I didn't see her," Jack said without turning around as he rummaged through some things, "I was on my way back here last night when I heard the giants yelling about something so I went to check it out. When I got there, I saw you about to be eaten by Fleshlumpeater."
"Fleshelumpeater? What an unpleasent name," Arista said as she shivered from the memory of that giant in particular.
"Yes, he be a very-" the BFG started to say when all three heard a loud banging on the other side of the room.
"RUNT! You in?!"
"It's him," Arista exclaimed as she recognized the voice. She looked to see the BFG looking a little panicked as he got off the chair and moved to the side.
Fleshlumpeater kneeled down at the doorway, as Jack hid Arista with him at the other side of the table out of view, as the giant looked at BFG, growling, "Is you at home, runt?"
BFG stood up straight as he could, putting his hands on his hips, in a failed attempt to look tough, as he sighed, "No."
Fleshlumpeater barged his way in, as he stood inside the house, over towering the BFG and his home. His head barely touching the roof of the house, as he looked down at the 24 foot giant, as he walked towards him, "Youse been jabbling all day, Runt. Ise and the boys can't even get a wink after last night's hunt, and alls you do is jabble like a jabblebox."
"Well, why's can't youse just sleep then," BFG asked.
Fleshlumpeater got into the little giant's face, pushing him near his fireplace, as he spat right out, "BECAUSE YOUSE KEEPS US UP WITH YER JABBLING!" after he had calmed down, the bigger giant then looked away ashamed and more like a child, as he held out his right hand, showcasing a splinter that Jack had given him, "And I has a boo-boo."
Arista arched an eyebrow at this, and looked to Jack for answers, who sheepishly shrugged and smiled at his handiwork.
BFG leaned on the fireplace, as he shrugged it off, "Ah, later. Yer a big boy; you handle yer own boo-boos."
However, Fleshlumpeater wasn't taking it well, as he stomped around the house, shaking it and all inside, as he roared out, "NOW, RUNT!"
Finally, BFG was convinced, and stopped him, "Alright, alright." And then walked over to the fireplace to pick up his cauldron of water, as he brought it over to the bigger giant, "Jus let me get some water fer that."
But Fleshlumpeater backed away, as BFG came at him with the water, "No, no, no. No's water, Runt."
But what the bigger dumber giant didn't know was that BFG was luring him or steering him away from the sight of the two teens, as they moved from the bottle of throbscottle to the snozzcumber. Once BFG got a sponge and a bandage cloth to treat him, they stopped as Fleshlumpeater reluctantly allowed the runt to clean his 'boo-boo'. However, Fleshlumpeater got a whiff in the air, catching a very familiar scent, as Jack knew what this was, which prompted Arista's curiosity on his reaction.
Fleshlumpeater looked at BFG, as he asked, "Has that boy bein' been around lately?"
BFG nearly went white as a ghost, as he shook his head, "No. Youse know better he'd be smarter than to be with a giant all day."
"Then why's do I smells a…" the bigger giant began, and then looked to BFG suspiciously, as he interrogated, "Has you brought in a new little betty boo?"
Arista nearly gasped until Jack muffled her mouth with his hand, as he looked around for a good hiding spot… until he spotted the snozzcumber. 'Oh, I'm going to regret this in the forenoon,' he thought to himself as he stuffed Arista and himself into the snozzcumber. Both teens could feel the slimy juices run all over them as they were now face to face with their bodies pressing against each other. It felt
as if they were at a party that was overcrowded to the point they couldn't move and had pop dumped all over them making them feel sticky.
"Sorry," Jack said with a weak smile, "But the other giants hate these things. Fleshlumpeater won't even pay attention to this," Arista's silence made him keep silent as he could tell she was very scared and stressed. He looked away to see if he and Arista needed to move at a moment's notice and to hide his blush at having a girl this close to him along with feeling her breast on his chest. 'Well... This is certainly a new experience for me,' he thought to himself as he felt scared mermaid's heartbeat on his chest, 'She must be more terrified than I thought.'
Arista didn't say anything as she had too much on her mind. Not only was she in the same room as the one that almost ate her, but she was now stuck in a smelly fruit with a human. 'I leave for home for less than a day and now I'm stuck in this smelly thing with a... a,' she started to think in frustration and fear until she looked at Jack's face again. She found herself unable to break her gaze at his face and felt a hot feeling in her cheeks. She could also feel Jack's chest and the feeling of his heart somehow made her feel safe, 'You know, if he had a merman tail, he would be kind of cute,' she thought to herself in slight peace until she snapped back to her senses and turned her head away. 'What am I thinking,' Arista thought in alarm, 'I'm thinking like Ariel!?' Before either teen could think of anything else, the sound of loud steps broke them out of their love filled thinking.
"Wh-Whyz don't you just go huntin' for other bein's around," the BFG stated. "Is mean there must be some scuttlin' around for ya?"
Fleshlumpeater stopped, as he turned around, "Aye, wes spotted one out of two betty boos that came up. A Sun-haired one, and a blood-haired one. Wes got the bloodhaired one." Arista went wide eye at that, knowing full well he meant Ariel, and fearing Ariel was eaten already. "But Lord Fallon wants her alive. Says she might knows the way down again to Bein' World."
BFG took that into consideration too, as he asked, "So he's keepin' her alive?"
Fleshlumpeater shrugged, "Fer now." He then turned his attention to the bottle of throbscottle, and then grabbed it, "Ise taken this." He then stomped out of there, as he grabbed the door once he was outside, and glared at BFG, "You and yer veggie-tables… you, is an insult to giants everywhere." And rolled the door back, and was gone from sight.
The BFG stood there for a moment with a slightly hurt from his words but then remembers the teens. "Jack? Arista? Arse youse two bein all fine," he asks in concern. Only to hear the sound of sloshing coming from the table. He looks to see Jack and Arista pulling themselves out of the snozzcumber and covered in snozzcumber juice.
Jack picked himself up and shivered in slight disgust, "Bleech! Ten years here and I still can't get used to snozzcumbers," he said as he shook the juice off his hands.
"Ewwwww, I can't believe I'm saying this but I'll take being dry over this," Arista said as she laid on her hands and knees and shook her head from the feeling. She looked up to see Jack holding his hand out to help her up. On instinct, Arista took the hand, and was helped up onto her slime covered feet. "Thank you," she said as started to wipe the juice off of her.
"Okay, our house guest wasn't pleasant but we now know where your sister is," Jack said as he put the cloth to the side, "So that's a plus."
"We do," Arista asked in confusion and alarm as she continued to wipe off the juice, "All he said was someone named Fallon wanted my sister alive. He didn't say where she was."
"Since youse sister was Gunzleswiped by the giants and is seeing Fallon," the BFG spoke getting Arista's attention, "She be taken to Fallon's castle. It a Hornswoggle of a place where the giants gather for eating and loud speaking," the BFG said as he shook from the mere memory of it.
"So as long as Ariel doesn't talk," Arista said with new hope, "She won't be eaten right?"
"Most likely," Jack replied but gained a confused expression as he held his chin in thought, "What boggles my mind is what would give the giants the idea that you or Ariel know of a way down to Earth. I mean the only way is through random dream portals at night."
"Dream portals," Arista asked in confusion, "But Ariel and I were brought here by a-"
"YOUR BRA IS CLEARLY ON TOO TIGHT! PLEASE ALLOW ME THE HONOR OF ADJUSTING IT FOR YOU!"
Arista turned her head in alarm by the loud voice to see a flash of white heading towards her. Only for the flash to slam face first into Jack's staff which he put in front of the confused princess.
"Please Chamo, she's a guest here," Jack said as he grabbed the white creature by his neck.
"I deeply apologize. I just became so excited and forgot my manners," a voice was heard coming from the white thing Jack was holding.
"Uh Jack... Who or what is that," Arista asked as she tried to see what had just attacked her.
Jack turned around holding the creature. Arista saw that it was an ermine with fur as white as snow. He had black eyes and a black patch of fur at the end of his tail. He currently had a weak smile on his face as if he was in a daze.
"This is Chamo, my partner, friend, and guardian. He keeps an eye out for more flowers and fruits for my arsenal," Jack explained to Arista as he kept his grip on him, "I must apologize for him. He's adores women which are rare in Giants Land and tends to lose it when he sees one."
"I see... And why did he want to adjust my bra strap," Arista asked as she held her chest in defense.
"My apologies miss," Chamo said as he bowed his head in shame, "I saw you were in great distress and assumed that you were in pain from your bra being too tight. I thought I would adjust it just right so it wouldn't hurt anymore."
"Is that so," Arista said as she took in Chamo's response, "Well thank you, but that's not my problem. What I am is just really sticky."
"Ah you tried the snozzcumber," Chamo said, "Horrible vegetable even though it's the only thing these two can eat that isn't meat."
Arista raised an eyebrow at this new piece of information, "You two don't meat too," Arista asked in surprise.
"Nope, we're vegetarians," Jack told her, "The only ones here in Giants Land. For now, how about we get you cleaned up," Jack said as he led her to the other side of the table. There she saw a dirty white sink just a jump away from the table.
Jack led Arista to a faucet with a shower setup on it. It had a shower curtain framed in a circle, as he opened it; the curtain was tight enough to snap back in place, as he looked to Arista, "You can step in here to wash off." He then pointed to a small faucet setup with a red button and a blue button set up as faucet handles, "Red one's for hot water, blue's for cold. You should be able to adjust them with no problem."
Arista stepped in, as she looked to him, nodded, "Um, thank you." Jack nodded, as the curtain snapped back, closing up and hiding Arista from plain sight, with only the faucet head to shade her.
A few seconds later, Jack turned to hear her again, "Um, here you go. Hold on to these for me?"
The curtain opened slightly as Arista's hand stuck out, with only her seashell bikini, skirt, and her hairband in hand. Jack blushed a little, but snapped out of it, as he took them, "Sure, no problem."
But she asked, merely for him to be certain about one thing, "And…?"
Jack sighed, knowing full well what she was talking about, "I'll make sure Chamo doesn't get into these," Jack said, "I'll also leave you some clothing we have for you to use."
Arista smiled behind the curtain, as she pulled her hand back in, "Thanks."
Arista looked to the knobs, and then turned on the water as Jack had showed her. The hot water streamed down upon her, as she nearly gasped, as she felt it run all over her body. She sighed in bliss as the hot water ran over her body. But then she remembered on how Jack and the BFG had been treating her. She frowned slightly as she sighed, 'Jack… this giant… they're not at all what I thouth they were. Or what Father described them as when I was little.' but she shook her head, knowing full well that this wasn't the case for now. For now, she knew that Ariel was alright, but needed to be saved as soon as she could.
She pulled her hair back, looking rather beautiful with her hair wet, as she sighed, "Right now, I have to do all I can to help Ariel."
A while later after drying off, Arista left returned to the others fully dressed. She had her hair the way it was before, but she was now wearing a red jacket with a white t shift underneath, a pair of blue jeans like before, and a pair of red sandals.
The three looked at Arista who just stood there. "Looks good kid," Chamo said as he stood on Jack's shoulder, "Even though the BFG only found bits and pieces here and there, what you picked looks good."
"Chamo's right," Jack joined in as he blushed a little bit, "It will be easy to move around in that while keeping warm," he then turned his head to the BFG, "Right BFG?" Jack saw that the BFG had a look of indifference on his face as he kept silent but tried to smile.
"Thank you," Arista said as she blushed a little from the compliment, "So how do I find Fallon's Castle."
"It be an hour on foot for a giant," BFG said as he picked up a brown bag filled with jars, a golden-brown trumpet, and a butterfly net, "Longer if you be beans."
"And there's no I in team miss," Chamo added.
"You mean... You'll help me," Arista asked in surprise, "I can't ask you to do that though. You've already helped me so much and the BFG will be attacked if he goes near the other giants."
"It would be quite shameful if we did nothing while someone was in need," Jack replied. He then turned to the BFG, "but she right BFG, you'll be bullied again if you come with us."
"I won't be going near the other giants," the BFG answered, "I be taken youse close enough to the castle to take the dark path inside and wait for youse in the outwide."
"Besides, you'll need a set of guides of the land," Chamo added.
Arista smiled at all of them willing to help, "Thank you, all of you."
"Right," Jack said as he collected his things, "Let's get going," he said as he held his staff confidentially and swung his blade into his pocket.
With that, the BFG picked them off with Arista sitting on his left shoulder, and Jack and Chamo on his right. He slid the door open to reveal a beautiful green field with small hills and two large mountains forming a bridge with the sun shining down. The group enjoyed the view as the BFG started to make his way towards their destination... General Fallon's Castle.
Meanwhile
Back in the forest, Eric was running as fast as he could with Iago flying after him, and Dax and Sebastian ridding the backpack who were looking a sickly green.
"Easy mon! Slow down," Sebastian exclaimed as he hung on, "Dax and I feel sick as if it. We don't need to get motion sick too!"
"I can't! The giants have Ariel and that giant knows where she is," Eric exclaimed as he continued sprinting at top speed towards a bright light in front of them, "If I slow down, we could lose him, and have no idea where to go next." Just then, Eric jumped out of an opening in the forest with Iago still following after him. He landed on his feet and saw the sight before them. It was plains of green as far as the eye could see. There were slabs of stones poking out here and there and large ridges that could be mistaken for mountains as they pierced through the clouds.
"Geez. Just as endless as the deserts of Agrabah," Iago exclaimed as he landed on Eric's shoulder, "Yet there's no sign of the giants! No surprise considering a step for them is probably a mile or two on foot."
"There's not even a foot print to follow," Eric sadly said as he looked for anything to follow as Sebastian looked as well.
"How can something so huge not leave fin- I mean footprints," Sebastian asked due to it seeming to be impossible, "Come on Dax, you and Iago are de giant experts," he asked as he looked at Dax, "How could- What are you doing?" Sebastian saw that Dax was back in the bag still looking a little green.
"Give me a sec... I starting to feel sick again," Dax replied as he laid at the bottom of the bag. Only for Sebastian to jump on his face in a panic.
"This is not de time to be sick! I'm still disgusted by our swim," Sebastian admitted to Dax as he tried to snap the otter out of it, "But this isn't the time to be- OOFFFF!" The next thing Dax and Sebastian knew, they were being pushed together from both end like the contents of a sandwich being squished together.
"This is not helping," Dax replied in a sickly voice.
Outside the bag, Eric cold feel the grip of hands on his chest and a pressure on his back while Iago flew off Eric to avoid whatever was attacking him. "What the," he asked as he turned his head to see who was grabbing him. 'Maybe it's Ariel or Arista,' he thought only to see a scared Pacifica hugging him tightly with the side of her head on his back.
"Oh finally," she wailed as she kept her eyes shut from fear, "Someone who can't step on me in this weird place! " She opened her eyes and looked up to see a confused Eric. "Eric? You're here too," she exclaimed as she backed away from Eric.
"Pacifica? What are you doing here," Eric asked her as she was the last person she was expecting to see in Giant's Land.
"I have no idea. One minute I'm at the festival looking my best," she explained as she looked around for more of the giants, "and the next thing I know, I'm in this crazy movie set where the giant monsters are real! What about you?"
"I'm here looking for Ariel," Eric explained to her as Iago landed on his shoulder, "She was caught in the beanstalk that grew in the fairgrounds and was sent here too. I also overheard some giants say that she's-" Before he could continue his explanation Eric is stopped when Pacifica held up her hand telling him to stop.
"Okay I get it. This is some crazy prank you, Ariel, and that crazy fortune teller are pulling on me," Pacifica said in an annoyed tone of voice towards the confused Eric, "You expect me to believe that your girlfriend and I were sent here by a magic vegetable that just magically grew in the middle of the fairgrounds? What you ran out of mermaid stories to feed Ariel so you trying something else now?"
"Listen lady. Around this guy, crazy stuff like this happens on a daily basis," Iago replied to Pacifica's comment, "The sooner you accept it, the sooner you this will all be easier to accept."
Pacifica scoffed at the idea as she placed a hand on her hip, "Oh sure, like I'm going to take advice from a," her annoyed tone of voice faded into silent surprise as she looked at Iago with wide eyes. "Did that parrot just say a full sentence," she asked as she pointed at it with her finger.
"Yeah, I talk toots," Iago squawked back at the stunned girl, "You got a problem with that?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Pacifica responded with a glare, "First I'm hiding behind trees the size of skyscrapers from giant parade balloons with teeth and now I'm talking to a bird that knows full English! Next thing you'll know, I'll find out that there are talking cars in Port Royal!"
'Even that sounds too far-fetched for my life. Even if it does sound kind of cool,' Eric thought to himself as Pacifica and Iago continued to glare daggers at each other. "The beanstalk grew yesterday Pacifica. Are you sure you haven't seen anyone else since then," Eric asked her wanting to make sure there was no one else in danger.
"Unless anyone else means anyone that can't crush me like a grape, then no," Pacifica answered in an annoyed tone of voice, "Now can you tell me how to get out of this crazy dream or do I have to give Polly here a cracker?"
Eric went wide eyed as he could feel a sharp pain in his shoulder. It was Iago as his claws dug deep into Eric's shoulder as pulled his feathers up on his wings as if they were sleeves. "That's it lady," Iago exclaimed in anger at being said the one thing that made his blood boil like lava, "I dare you to say that again unless you'd rather have something really bad happen to you!" He and Pacifica glared at each other as static sparked between them.
"Hang on you two," Eric said trying to remain the neutral one of the conflict, "We've gotten off to a bad start, but I'm sure you two can get along without the need of violence."
"I say they do! I love violence!"
Eric, Pacifica, and Iago became confused by the sound of the new booming voice. They slowly looked up towards the source of the new voice as a large shadow covered the two teens and bird from above them. It was another giant like the one that Eric saw, only this one was bald, and had five o; clock shadow. He had a strong body builder body shape, wore a number of necklaces covered in bobbles and junk from Earth, and wore a brown and white leather kilt covered in armor and junk that went past his knees. This was Bonecruncher, one of Fleshlumpeather's gang.
"Well look what we be having here. Another couple of beans. All for the taking." He reached out towards the two. Only for Pacifica's delayed scream of terror to sound out into the air. Bonecruncher backed away and covered his ears, "The girly beans are louder then I remember," he said.
Taking the opportunity, Eric and Pacifica made a break for it with Iago flying after them. "I knew this was going to happen! I'm going to be eaten! My days of hunting for riches are THROUGH," Iago yelled out as flew as fast as he could.
After a few moments of holding his ears, Bonecruncher started chasing after the teens, "Hey! Get back here you beans! I'm hungry," he yelled as he ran after them.
As the giant chased after them, Eric tried to come up with a plan. 'This giant might know where Ariel is... If I can trick him into thinking he lost us, he might return to the castle, and I can follow him back. But I can't bring Pacifica with me,' Eric thought to himself, 'She wouldn't stand a chance here and I still need to find Arista. That leaves me with only one option,' Eric thought to himself as he knew what he would have to do."Iago! Lead Pacifica back to the beanstalk so she can climb down," Eric yelled out to his flying companion, "I'll hold off the giant as long as you can!"
"Did you lose a few brain cells from your fight with the Mandarin?! That guy is ten times your size," Iago yelled as he flew near Eric, "How are you going to beat him!?"
"I don't have to beat him," Eric replied as he summoned the Seablade into his hand, "I just have to buy you some time! I'll catch up as soon as I lose him!"
Iago just groaned at the sound of Eric's plans, "I had to join up with crazy people... All right Thatch, I'm on it," he replied as he flew a head to the forest where Pacifica was running towards, "Just keep an eye out for gold if you're captured and we'll call it even!"
Eric nodded even though he had no intention of being caught. He stopped running and turned around to face the giant ready for battle. Iago flew into the forest looking for Pacifica, "Just great! He gives me the hard job of keeping an eye on that insulting little-" The next thing Iago knew, he was swatted to the side and slammed into a tree head first. The little bird fell down, hit the ground, and was left in a daze.
Meanwhile, Eric stood his ground as Bonecruncher charged at him. "Ha! Beans have gotten braver or dumber since the battle days," Bonecruncher exclaimed as he started to reach his hand out to grab Eric. However, Eric held his sword as it began to glow its signature blue color along with the jewel in the Fist of Zeus. He then spun himself around in a circle and sent a powerful blue wave of energy from his sword at the giant exploding on contact into a wave of water. The now wet giant backed from the impact on instinct, "AAAAAHHHHH! Wet! Clean water," Bonecruncher exclaimed in disgust, "How did that bean do that?!"
'He doesn't like water? I better keep my distance for more than just ending up a snack,' Eric thought to himself as he charged his sword with another attack. The giant charged at him only to get hit again by blast, but this time he kept charging through it. Eric swung his sword to create a gust of wind that blew him across the ground escaping the giant's hands.
Bonecruncher shivered at the feeling of more water on him, "I hate clean making water. But I love violence a lot more," he exclaimed as he got on his feet ready to attack again. He then pulled out a huge metal club covered in wires and spikes, "Especially when it's me that doing the violence making," he yelled out as he slammed his club on the ground. The impact caused the ground to shake and a tidal wave of Earth and rock to explode from the impact point towards Eric.
"Oh man," Eric exclaimed as he did another air boost to escape the wave, "That's one wave I don't think even I could hang ten on," he said as he looked behind him. He saw the wave of dirt and stones was still following him. With one last swing of his sword, Eric created a burst of wind powerful enough to shoot himself out of the way of the Earth wave just as it collapsed on the ground. Eric however ended up rolling on the ground from the burst of speed until he finally slowed down. The next thing Eric knew, he was caught in the grip of Bonecruncher's hand. Eric struggled in vain to move but the giant was too strong.
Bonecruncher stared at Eric with an evil and hungry looking smile on his face. "The General already has the blood haired bean and there's the sun haired one out there," he said as some drool leaked out of the giant's mouth, "He won't miss one little bean!" The mention of Ariel in danger filled Eric with desperation to save his future wife as he struggled to escape the grip. Even to the point of ignoring the foul smell of the Giant's body odor and breath. "Just give up little bean," Bonecruncher said as he lifted Eric up ready to drop him into his mouth, "Nobody likes a sorry loser." The giant released his grip on Eric and let him drop down to his mouth.
"Sorry, but I'm not on the menu," Eric yelled out as he swung his sword creating an updraft that lifted him high into the air away from the mouth. As he flew, he didn't notice the jewel in the Fist of Zeus begin to glow.
"Come back down here you flying sky person," Bonecruncher called out while swinging his club around, "I be caughting you fair and squarey!" Then he started to pick boulders on the ground and threw it as if it were base balls.
Seeing them coming, Eric created another gust of wind to move out of the way in time to land on another boulder. He then leaped off the boulder out of the way of another boulder as he fell down towards the giant again. 'If I don't do something,' Eric thought to himself, 'I'll be right back where I start-' "Whoa," he exclaimed as he suddenly felt himself quickly moving quickly to the side as if he was skating. "How did I do that," Eric asked himself as he looked down. He saw his feet were now covered in water as if they were made of water, "What the," he said as he noticed the jewel glowing on his gauntlet, "Is this a new power?" Before he could figure it out, he noticed more boulders were heading towards him. As if on instinct, he moved out of the way as if he was skating ice or gliding on the water. He smiled at this new skill, "Now this is cool. It's not surfing but I can get used to this," he said to himself as he continued to dodge boulders and cut others in half.
'This isn't getting me anywhere,' he thought to himself as he tried to think of something, 'I have to find a way to knock him out so I can hide and follow him to where Ariel is being kept.' He then noticed a large mountain of Earth that resembled a wave of water. It was taller than the giant and seeing it gave boy an idea. "You want to eat me," he yelled out at the giant, "Then come and get me," he finished as he glided on streams of water that formed under his feet.
Bonecruncher stopped throwing boulders, picked up his club, and ran after flying boy. "Get back here and into my mouth," he yelled out as he swung his club around wildly. As he chased after Eric, neither of them noticed a shadow on the ground that was moving towards the same mountain they were heading towards.
"Sorry I wasn't able to drop you two off," Eric told Dax and Sebastian who were still in his bag, "Are you two doing okay in there?"
"Just keep us out of that monster's mouth and I'll be fine," Sebastian muffled voice answered as he hung on to the inside of the bag for dear life. Dax didn't reply due to him holding in the need to barf from all that he had been through today.
As soon as Eric reached the mountain, he grabbed the side of the mountain with one hand as he held on to the Seablade with the other. He was Bonecruncher continue to charge at him at full speed with the thought of eating him all over his face. 'Wait for it... Wait for it,' Eric thought to himself as the distance between him and the giant grew smaller by the minute. Just as the giant was less than a mile from him, Eric performed a powerful swipe with his sword, and created a burst of wind that shot him high into the air.
Bonecruncher saw this as he looked up, only to collide with the mountain Eric led him too. The collision caused the mountain to collapse all over the giant leaving him buried under the rubble with only his hand with his club sticking out of the stones. Eric began to glide down with his water shoes towards the ground. 'All right, now I just have to hide and wait until he wakes up to see I'm gone,' Eric thought to himself as he was halfway down to the ground, 'Then I'll meet up with Iago and he and I can-' "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
Suddenly, Eric's body was charged with another ball of energy as his body tensed up with a familiar pain as he fell towards the ground like a stone. 'I can't move,' he thought as the same pain from before went through him, 'This is just yesterday,' he thought as he landed on the ground with a thump. The impact caused his body to leap off the ground a little bit but with enough force that caused him to flip over. His book bag flew off him and landed away from the now paralyzed boy as he laid there. The Seablade turned back into water, the light in the jewel of Eric's gauntlet faded, and his water shoes returned to normal.
In the bag, Dax and Sebastian slowly got over the pain of their fall with Sebastian on his back, and Dax feeling sick from swallowing his vomit from the sudden impact. "What happened," Sebastian asked as he tried to right himself up.
"Don't know," Dax said as the green on his face was as strong as ever, "But I bet Eric is worse off than we are," he said as he reached for the zipper. Both critters looked out of the opening to see Eric on his back with his fingers were stuck in a curled position, his knees were up, and a struggling look on his face. "What is he doing," Dax asked as Sebastian crawled on his head to look.
"GUYS!"
Before Sebastian could answer though, they looked up in the direction of the voice. It was Iago who was flying over to them, "Guys, we have a problem," Iago said as he rubbed his head from the impact before, "Oooooh... I haven't felt a pain in my head this bad since that time Mozenrath tested that potion on me." The next thing Iago knew, he was pulled into the bag by Dax as it ruffled from the movement inside. "What's your probl- MMppphhhh," Iago's beak was muffled shut as Dax and Sebastian looked out of the opening of the bag. Iago looked as saw something that made him go as white as a sheet the same way Daxter and Sebastian at the moment.
Over at the former mountain, Bonecruncher was rising from the rubble. He rubbed the top of his head that had hit the ground to get over the pain. "The General would punish me for falling for such an old trick," he cursed to himself as he got up. But as he did, he saw Eric laying on the ground, and unable to move. This caused him to laugh in victory as he got up and walked over to Eric. He now stood over Eric as he got on his knees, "No escape this time little bean," he said with an evil like tone as he reached over to Eric who still couldn't move. He grabbed him again and began to move him towards his mouth to eat him. Just as he was a few inches from his mouth...
"Stop!"
Bonecrusher looked up to see the source of the voice. It was Pacifica as she walked over towards him and Eric. This caused Bonecrusher to laugh as he back to his feet. "Brave or foolish little bean you are," he said as he walked over and reached over to grab her too. "You should've kept running when you-"
"I said," Pacifica spoke again, in a commanding voice, "Stop." Just as she finished talking, the giant's hand stopped just around her as he struggled to grab her. She now had a smug smile on her face as she watched a struggling Bonecruncher attempt to grab her but found he couldn't. It was as if hundreds of chains were wrapped around his hand stopping his movement. If Eric could turn his head, he would look in shock at the scene before him.
"How did you- Wait," Bonecruncher exclaimed as he continued to grab the girl, "I know this feeling... From long ago... But HOW!"
"I'll tell you all about it," Pacifica said as she traced her hands on Bonecrusher's hand, "But first... As the humans would put it... Take me to your leader," she said as chuckled evilly at her accomplishment.
Next Chapter: Truths and Answers, The Mastermind is Revealed
I am so sorry for the huge delay. Work became busier with my co-worker leaving, hours changing, and people taking vacations. First off, I want to thank Stone-Man85 for help with the BFG talking, and other scenes. This chapter wouldn't be out until next year if it wasn't for him. Now things are set in motion, Arista is learning the way of the Ariel, Eric has been captured by the giants, and Pacifica is revealed to be secretly evil. Things are getting crazy in Giants Land. Also about Eric's new power, think of his water shoes as him skating on the water molecules in the air. He was able to do it here because Giant's Land is basically on giant cloud so there's more water in the air from being evaporated from the Earth below. Finally, I made some changes to the previous chapter, namely the fight scene. Thank you for your patience and I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Till next time which I hope is sooner this time.