Party of Scoundrels

Episode: VI

Part One

Three weeks since King Edgar Morningstar's death and since Raizer was crowned High King of Xenotopia, life has been quiet, but at the same time, dull. Because Kyland City is less prosperous as it was before, and Raizer is glaring at the city from his bedroom balcony. She-Dom is seated on a chair, holding onto her tablet for checking on notes.

Raizer: Those peasants! They don't appreciate my rule since I was crowned the High King. They should be doing a banquet or a parade on the streets, just like they did when my uncle was crowned, but…. They didn't!

She-Dom: Some of the people who died in the last war had families, and they just mourned for them, so they don't have enough time to-

Raizer: No. That's not the case. It's the fact that nobody is paying respect or homage to me! This is why I don't want Morningstar on the throne! His encouragement of everything he stood for has threatened all I've tried to build for Xenotopia's future! I showed them my Elite Force, I have Dola'wic on my contract, and I saved those fucking Grand Army dogs with my golden cannon.

She-Dom: That's where I have to chime in, Raizer. It's the golden cannon that concerns the people. It was General Cruciatus who created this weapon. He designed it as a killing machine to end the gods in Laputa. With it, the people are more fearful of you than they should prosper with you.

Raizer: Don't get me wrong, fear is a great motivator. I agree with that. But with it, the ogres haven't attacked for a while. But if these wretched peasants won't think I mean business as High King, I can make them. That's another brainchild: recruiting every man in the king to serve the Elite Force. With it, we can hunt down the remaining members of the Tribal Unity and force the Grand Army out of business.

She-Dom: Forgive me Raizer, but if we draft all the men, the whole kingdom would be out of business. Most of us rely on farmers, fishermen, miners and craftsmen to keep everything in balance, business-wise of course.

Raizer: And at the same time, growing weak and helpless. I want all of the kingdoms to be united as one, just like what happened a thousand years ago. But you're telling me I can't do this?!

She-Dom: However, there is a solution. Instead of just all the men, we can recruit the young man, the ones who don't have jobs, because the children are all hopes of the future. If we just draft everyone else, the ogres would put humanity on the brink of disaster, and everything we know and love would be lost. But at the same time… they would blame you, starting a revolution, overthrowing you.

Raizer thinks about it, pacing the room. Finally, he comes to an answer.

Raizer: Alright. We'll do it your way. Get me Dola'wic.

Elsewhere, south of Kyland is a village called Brimey-Blue. Living there is a sixteen-year-old girl named Milan Strift; short blue hair, fair skin, sparkling eyes and athletically-shaped. She sits on her bed with her bulldog Winston sleeping next to it. Milan is writing on a scroll about what she is thinking about.

Milan: Personally: quiet and kind… gentle… polite… and, um…. Courageous.

[rooster crows]

Milan: [alarmed] Oh shit! Winston, help me with my chores.

Milan ties a sack of grain around Winston's waist, which makes him wake up. She ties a stick onto Winston so that the end of it is in front of the dog's face. She then ties the bone on the end of the stick just out of reach. Winston begins to run after the bone, which he cannot reach. Milan opens the door for Winston, and he runs into the door frame, then out the open door. The dog runs by the chickens that began to feed on the spilling grains.

Milan's father, Fazoo, is kneeling and praying before the tombs of his deceased family.

Fazoo: Honorable ancestors, watch over Milan as she impresses the marriage counseler today.

Winston comes running, barking and around Fazoo, scattering grain around the floor. The chickens follow the dog and begin to feed on the grain.

Fazoo: And… help her with her sanity.

Milan steps up to the yard, seeing Winston on his hind legs trying to get the bone. She bends the stick down so that Winston can reach the bone, and the dog gnaws on the bone happily.

Milan: Daddy, I got your-whoop!

Fazoo bumps into Milan. The cup falls to the ground and Fazoo catches the teapot with the handle of his cane

Fazoo: Good heavens, Milan.

Milan: I brought a spare.

Milan pulls out a cup from underneath the back of her dress and begins to pour the tea.

Milan: Remember, the doctor said three pills in the morning and two at-

Fazoo: Milan, you should already be in town. This is your moment to-

Milan: Find a suitable man. Don't worry, daddy. I won't fail you. But… why do I need this? I already like-

Fazoo: Child, I know you like this young man, but you just need to be tried. Just like how your mother and I met. Gods rest her soul. Now go.

Milan: Wish me luck! [walks off]

Fazoo: Hurry! [to himself] I'm going to… pray some more.

Elsewhere in Brimey-Blue, Milan's older sister Francine and her husband Ricko are waiting for Milan's arrival, but no sign of her. Francine looks worried before a dress lady pokes out from a house.

Dress lady: Francine, is your sister here yet? The marriage counseler is not a patient man.

Francine: [to herself] Of all days to be late…. I should've prayed to the gods for luck.

Ricko: How lucky can gods be? They're deaf. Besides, I just bought an amulet which is bound to be a good luck charm.

Francine: [annoyed] Ricko….

And then, Milan arrives on a speeding taxi coach in the street and jumps off with hay stuck in her hair.

Milan: I made it!

Francine: [sternly] Where have you been?

Milan: What? I was only-

Francine: No time for short stories. Now let's get you all dressed.

Milan goes through a series of places for preparations: a bath house to wash her hair, a hairdresser to brush and comb her hair, the dress lady putting a dress on her, and decorating her face with powder and lipstick. The make-up lady holds a mirror so Milan can see her reflection. Not looking pleased, Milan takes her single, short bang and brings it down in front of her forehead and smiles.

Last but not least, Francine puts the amulet Ricko bought around Milan's neck.

Francine: There. You're ready. And trust me, the marriage counseler is a calm and reasonable lord. He can find a perfect match for you.

Afterwards, Milan is being escorted by her sister and brother-in-law to the marriage counseler's house, which has three men being thrown out the door all of a sudden. The counseler stands at the doorway, scolding at the thrown men.

Counseler: I've found wives for hundreds of men, but even the Goddess of Love herself couldn't make love matches for you three! Come back when you get personalities! [beat; clears throat] Next!

Milan: Milan Strift, sir.

Counseler: Ah yes. Francine's baby sister. Right this way.

Francine: [to Milan; whispers] Good luck in there.

Milan, nervous, walks into the counseler's building, with the counseler following behind and closing the door. But two random bystanders are standing and watching the scene, both concerned.

Bystander 1: [whispers] I can't believe they're letting in the scaredy cat. This is going to be a disaster.

Bystander 2: [whispers] Yeah. Ten bucks someone goes out screaming.

Bystander 1: Oh. You're on.

Inside, the counseler is eying at Milan, who is becoming more nervous than before, inspecting her shape.

Counseler: Hmmm. Hmmm. Not in bad shape. The hips and chest are both the same size, but… the waist is too skinny. Not good for bearing sons.

As the counseler is walking away to take notes, Milan looks around the place until she sees a mouse scurrying on the floor. She is about to scream, but she covers her mouth before the counseler looks back at her.

Counseler: Before you recite the admonition, please tell me your… type.

Milan nods and smiles, and she takes out her scroll. She is still a little scared because of the mouse, but she tries to ignore it.

Milan: [with dignity] I would like a man who is… quiet and… brave. Kind and gentle, and, um… polite. Someone like… Gideon Nolish, the healer who's seeking to open an apothecary in town.

But the counseler seems disturbed about that statement. He snatches the scroll and looks at it on both sides looking at more of the notes. Milan smiles big when the counseler looks at her.

Counseler: A healer? Normally, when women are looking for someone brave, quiet and polite, they'd want a knight. Kind and gentle? Something a kitchen boy would bear, but from Nolish? [beat] Hmmm. Let's try role-playing. This way.

The counseler escorts Milan to the living room, where a beer jar and mug are placed on the coffee table. He sits down on the sofa, holding the mug, and Milan just stands there.

Counseler: Now, poor me some beer. To please your husband's guests, you must show them a sense of hospitality. For that, you must be relaxed and submissive, but most of all… cooporative.

Milan pours the beer in the mug while the counseler is talking to her. But she sees the mouse crawling up on the coffee table, which is now getting a little closer to her.

Milan: [quietly] Um… pardon me?

Counseler: And silent!

But then, the mouse scurries over to her, and Milan lets out a blood-curdling scream. She throws the beer at the mouse, shattering it and spilling it all over the counseler. The beer also gets on a lit torch, igniting the booze and the counseler is set ablazed. He runs outside the building, screaming and running around.

Counseler: My pants are on fire! My underwear's on fire! I'm on fire!

But he dives into a bucket of water, putting out the flames. The bystander who made the bet gets his ten dollars. And Milan walks out, hanging her head in shame, and walks back to her sister, as the counseler rants at her.

Counseler: You're a jinx! You can never be married and you'll never be praised by the gods!

As Milan sobs in shame, Francine watches the counseler marching back inside, but also sees the mouse running out the door.

Francine: All that… from a mouse?

Milan: Francine… I'm sorry. [sobs]

Part Two

Not so far outside of town, there is a teenage boy named Gideon Nolish; tall, dark-haired, wearing a hoodie and a fingerless glove on the right hand. He checks on the herbs he grew in his garden, and takes notes.

Gideon: Let's see…. Fourteen marsimian ferns, check. Five tons of nardi grains, check. A bouquet of delim roses, double check. And…. Actually… not bad. I think I've gotten everything in-

But then, he hears sobbing. Gideon looks back, seeing Milan sitting down on a bench under a cherry tree, crying, until he comes over to her, and she notices him.

Milan: Gideon?

Gideon: How was it, Milan? Did you…?

Milan: [pauses] I blew it. I got scared over a mouse, and I made a mess all over the marriage counselor. Now, he's deemed me unworthy of being married. We'll never get our future planned.

As Milan sobs with her face in her hands, Gideon sits down next to her.

Gideon: You know… it's natural to be afraid. Even mice, because they're so small and anything would kill them. But sometimes, when it comes to fear, there'll be a time when courage comes, and then… there would be a bright future, whether or not anyone would think so.

Milan: But I…. I just….

Gideon: You don't have to take a marriage counselor's advice. You can just… come with me, Milan.

Milan: You mean… leave Brimey-Blue?

Gideon: I've been planning it for days. We could always leave this place and start a new life. Get married either way, and move far east. As I'm building my apothecary, I could hunt deer and rabbits. Whaddya say?

Thinking about it, Milan and Gideon share smiles. But then, drums start pounding from a watchtower announcing the arrival of somebody.

Milan: What is it?

Arriving in town is Dola'wic and his Deathwalkers, on horseback. Fazoo walks to the entrance of his house, and Milan arrives with Gideon.

Fazoo: Milan, stay right here. It's Dola'wic.

Gideon clears his throat, catching Milan's attention, and motions inside. Milan spies the railing near the wall and climbs up to watch over the roof.

Dola'wic: Citizens of Brimey-Blue, I bring you a proclamation from Kyland City: a kingdom unity has been decided for all of mankind, to eradicate the rampaging ogres. By order of the High King, every unemployed young man from every family must serve in the Elite Force. Criss family.

A family member steps up, bows to the dark wizard and takes the conscription notice from Zu.

Dola'wic: Lang family.

One young man is holding his father back, before taking his notice.

Lang's Son: I will serve the High King for my family's farm.

Dola'wic: Nolish family.

Milan: [shocked] Gideon.

Taking his chances, Gideon walks toward Dola'wic, and bows before the dark wizard.

Gideon: I am ready to serve his majesty.

Gideon reaches for the conscription notice from Chao, until Milan comes running outside to keep him from taking it.

Milan: No, he can't go! Please sir, my fiance is saving money to build a-

Dola'wic: Silence! You should know, child, that a real woman must hold her tongue in an officer's presence.

Bystander: Forget about her. She was deemed a bachelorette by the marriage counselor, for messing up his work.

Milan is about to object, until Fazoo guides her back away. Dola'wic hands Gideon the conscription notice.

Dola'wic: We'll be expecting you tomorrow morning at our nearest outpost.

Gideon: Yes, sir.

Gideon walks back home refusing to talk to Milan, who is now downhearted to realize he's going away.

Afterwards, when it is almost dark, the family is seated, eating in silence. Thunder can be heard and lightning can be seen through the opaque window. Milan pours the tea for her family. Deep in thought, she is thinking about Gideon going to leave tomorrow. Suddenly, she slams her teacup down on the table and stands up.

Milan: They can't do this!

Francine: Milan!

Milan: Gideon doesn't want this; there are plenty of young men to fight the ogres!

Fazoo: It's a man's privilege to protect his home and his family. Even if this is the will of the gods, Gideon knows it when he took that notice.

Milan: So he'll die for the gods.

Fazoo: He will die doing what's right.

Milan: But if-

Fazoo: I KNEW MY PLACE! This is a time for every young man to learn theirs, but you or your sister won't. Because none of you are my sons.

Milan stares at her father for a moment. Looking like she's about to cry, she turns away from Fazoo and runs outside into the rain storm, sobbing.

At night, everyone is asleep. Milan is sleeping in her bed, and a shadow looms over her. She is awakened when a hand clamps her mouth closed, but Milan realizes it'ss only Gideon.

Gideon: Shhhhh.

Gideon motions Milan to follow her, and they begin walking out of the house without making a sound.

Milan: Gideon, what is it?

Gideon: We're leaving… tonight.

Milan: You're not… going to….

Gideon: It would make my grandparents feel ashamed. They never trusted Dola'wic because he's a bounty hunter and a servant of Omicron. I chose not to serve him or Raizer Helix, who seemed awfully thankful for King Edgar's death all those weeks ago.

Milan: But where will we go?

Gideon: I might know a place. They say it's nowhere, but across the sea… there's a land of giants. When we're there, we'll be so small, they'll only focus on the locals. That's where we'll be.

Milan: [hesitant] Um…. I don't know….

Gideon: Trust me, Milan. We have to take this. Because if we don't… they'll make us do what we don't want to do.

Milan is giving some thought about it, and she looks at her house one last time before coming to a decision. She nods her head in agreement, and they both make a run for it through the rain. Reaching the harbor, they get on a sailboat, hoist the anchor, and set sail towards the open ocean ahead of them.

Francine wakes up with a start rising in bed. She walks down the hall to Milan's bedroom, only to find it empty, much to her shock. She walks into Fazoo's bedroom in bed, waking him.

Francine: Father! Milan is gone.

Fazoo: [wakes up] What?

He checks the bedroom and sees Milan is really gone.

Fazoo: It can't be.

Fazoo runs out of the house, looking for Milan. He stumbles while walking because of a rock on the floor. But he looks ahead, and sees the sailboat sailing so far away from town.

Fazoo: No.

Ricko and Francine both aid Fazoo, finding out what he is staring at.

Ricko: There's a second pair of footprints. It could be Nolish.

Francine: Father, you must stop her. She could tip over the edge of the world.

Fazoo: [sadly] If I get there, it will be too late.

Unbeknownst to them, Dola'wic is spying on the kneeling family, and he knows what they were talking about.

Dola'wic: Yen! Zu! Chao!

By his command, the Deathwalkers appear before him in a veil of smoke.

Dola'wic: Find these deserters and bring them to me.

As the storm rages on slowly, Gideon and Milan were trying to keep the sailboat in balance with the waves to keep it from tipping over. But Milan is getting worried about the waves and thunderclaps from the sky.

Milan: I don't like this, Gideon! This part of the sea is ideal for the edge.

Gideon: Please. You know I don't believe the world is flat. I believe it's round like a ball, and it's hard to see that because we're very small compared to it.

Milan: But what about this storm?

Gideon: Don't worry, it's a little storm.

But then, Milan looks down to the water, seeing something moving.

Milan: There's something moving down there.

Gideon: Phosphorous and plankton. It's the same thing we saw back at the beach.

Milan: I don't know. It looks kind of big for plankton. I think it's some kind-

Then, the Deathwalkers come jumping out of the water, arming their weapons, and Milan stifles a scream in surprise. Alarmed, Gideon grabs an oar as a weapon, then he battles Chao who counters with his dagger-axe. Yen swings his meteor hammer and wraps it on Gideon's oar, pulling it and giving Chao the advantage in fighting. But Gideon takes out a phial and throws it at Chao's face, which suddenly makes him poof.

Milan is blocking Zu's deadly blow with a chair. But the Deathwalker's dao is sharp enough to puncture through the chair, and Milan falls down while trying to block the blow.

Milan: GIDEON!

Gideon: Hang on, I'm coming!

Gideon pulls his oar harder, causing Yen to fall overboard, then he whacks on Zu's head, hitting him overboard as well. Then, a wave comes crashing in and the storm is getting worse.

Gideon: Now it's getting worse!

Milan: We have to get out of this storm, hurry!

Then, lightning strikes the sail, setting it on fire. Milan embraces Gideon in fear. The two remaining Deathwalkers climb back onboard, but as they are about to strike, the burning sail falls on top of them, and they poof away.

Milan: Gideon, I never asked for this! I wanted us to be together forever, and I… would've wanted us to die together, happy, married and had kids.

Gideon: So do I, Milan. So do I.

Milan: I love you.

Gideon: I love you too.

Just when they embrace, the waves lift up the sailboat into the air, and it crashes when everything goes dark.

Part Three

Milan opens her eyes, realizing she is still alive. She gets up to see she has been washed to shore, sitting on a beach.

Milan: Where am I? Or… how long have I been…. [beat; realizing] Gideon!

She looks around, and finds Gideon, who seems distraught as he stares at the wreckage of the boat.

Milan: Gideon. Are you okay?

Gideon: No, I'm not okay. The medicine's all gone. It took me two months to grow those herbs back home.

Milan: Where are we?

Gideon and Milan both look back to see their current location. They are on a large desert island, consisting of sandy and rocky terrain. It is littered with cacti, smaller vegetation, large sand dunes, palm trees in some areas, two volcanoes and various other igneous structures, islets off its coast, and also several stone and concrete structures echoing a possible former civilization.

Gideon: I knew there was land beyond the sea. But by the looks of this place, I could say… we're on Colossus, the land of the giants.

Milan: Colossus? Oh, thats just a myth. [beat] Right?

Gideon: Either way, we're going in. We'll salvage what we can, and make shelter where we could.

Milan: Shelter? No, Gideon, we can't stay here. We have a family in Xenotopia, we have friends for-

Gideon: If we go back, they'll hunt us down and kill us for deserting. And like you said Milan, we want to die happy, married and have kids. We go back now, it'll never happen. So… we just go look around. See what we can find.

Afterwards, the two of them are strolling along the desert, looking for shelter. But so far, no signs of life.

Gideon: Didn't I tell you the world was round, Milan? That means you owe me an apology.

Milan: Okay, I'm sorry… that you were crazy to begin with.

Gideon: Maybe you haven't heard, but you're talking to a bonafide healer from Brimey-Blue to the Territories.

Milan: I'm just messing with you, Gideon. But more importantly, how can you tell the Earth was round anyway?

Gideon: I would've been very simple. There's this one time a friend of mine was moving to live in between Dallad and Ingersil. I sent a raven to him one morning, but when I got a reply from him, he was half-asleep because it was still night there.

Mantell: Really?

Gideon: Yeah, that's how I knew the world was round.

Then, Gideon looks at some unusual-looking cacti that piques his interests.

Gideon: Marto cacti! Yes, just what I'm looking for. Their sap has sticky contracts which might work for hardware.

As Gideon works on cutting cacti for the sap, Milan is standing around, until she hears a loud thud from afar. Looking ahead, she sees where that sound came from: behind a mountain, right before something moves behind it.

Milan: [alarmed] WAAAHHH!

Gideon: Just a few more and I should-"

Milan: Gideon! There's something over there!

Milan points at the mountain, but nothing is there.

Gideon: I don't see anything.

Milan: But I did. It was like a huge shadow.

Gideon: Hang in there, I'm almost done here.

Just then, a giant scorpion emerges from the sand dune, and it alarms the pair.

Gideon: Whoa! That's a big one.

Gideon grabs a stick to fight, but the scorpion ejects venom from its tail that melts the stick. The scorpion snips its pincers, about to attack Gideon and Milan. Suddenly, an extremely large foot stomps on the scorpion. They look up to see a giant, who looks at them.

Gideon: It's a giant!

Milan: Run for it!

The two scream and try to outrun the giant, but the colossal being grabs them and carries them upward. But as Gideon and Milan are setting closer, they see the giant is a girl.

Giant: [adored] Look at you! Two more humans, and a young couple! This is a rare sight.

Milan: [begging] Please, don't eat us!

Giant: Eat you? [laughs] Why would I eat you?

Gideon: But… don't you grind our bones to make you bread.

Giant: No, I'm a vegetarian. But it's getting hot out here, so let's head home.

The giant begins strolling across the desert like a walk in the park, with the two humans in her hand.

At the other side of the island, the giant makes it to a mountain, where she just opens it like it's a dollhouse, and she puts Gideon and Milan in there.

Giant: You two have some fun until I come for some playtime. I'll be back here when I'm bored.

The giant closes the mountain, leaving Gideon and Milan alone inside the mountain.

Milan: Oh dear. We're inside a… mountain dollhouse?

Gideon: Well, she says she's a vegan, so we can let this slide.

Milan: But Gideon, we're not dolls. We're human beings. We should….

But then, Milan sees daylight up in the ceiling and discovers a hole.

For the giant, she walks into a house where she encounters another giant, only a boy, holding up three blue whales like he caught a fish.

Giant: [to the boy] Solar, you got some whales?

Solar: I need you to make my favorite: blubber steak. Now Lunar, can ya?

Lunar: I can, but only after you tossed that cactus salad for me.

Lunar, the girl giant, proceeds to pan fry the whales on a giant stoke top, as Solar gets on with tossing a salad consisting of cactus and other desert plants. But with Lunar not looking, he reaches over to a plate of dead cattle on the table, until his hand gets hit by Lunar's spatula.

Lunar: Nice try, brother. Wait until lunch.

Solar is downhearted, but he gets an idea. He tears off a fluke from one of the whales and eats it.

Solar: Those whale tails sure have a nice chew on them.

Lunar: This snacking habit of yours is getting out of hand. You'll eat the whole furniture.

Solar: No. [beat] So where have you been?

Lunar: We got some more castaways. Only two.

Solar: Two more? You know, they're not dolls.

Lunar: But I don't want you to eat them, Solar. We promised the other guy that he can go if he passed the test. You know that.

Solar: [hesitates] Yeah, I know. Just cook faster, I'm hungry.

Part Four

Back in the mountain, Milan is climbing on the wall to reach the hole in the top, but the wall is too steep and she falls down, landing on her ass.

Gideon: Milan, that's the third time you tried to climb.

Milan: Why aren't you helping me, Gideon?! We have to get out of here!

Milan tries again to climb, but she slips and falls back down. She tries it again, and again, and again, but no luck. Finally, Milan sits down, hugging her knees together, and looking worried.

Milan: We have to get out of here. I need to see my father. He's suffering badly with his condition. I…. [beat] I….

Gideon: Hey. We just ask the giant to let us go, the next time we see her.

Male voice: They won't because they're bored out of their wits.

Gideon whips around to see a stranger sitting in the corner that neither he nor Milan have seen before. But peering at him now, they realize that it's Trimbo Morningstar, having a short-beard, depressed and Ringo sitting on his lap.

Milan: Who are you?

Trimbo: Just a castaway like yourselves.

Gideon: Wait. I've seen you before, in Kyland City. You're Prince Trimbo.

Milan: Trimbo? Who?

Gideon: King Morningstar's oldest son, that's who!

Ringo jumps off of Trimbo's lap and scurries over to Milan, who reacts a little nervously with him. But the raccoon sniffs her hand, and lets her pet his head, much to his pleasure. Milan, setting aside her fear over the raccoon, continues to pet Ringo.

Gideon: Your highness, you don't really know me, but I was in town when you and the others had your first victory over the ogres. I'm like… a huge fan.

Trimbo: Really? Well, I can sign my name when I'm ready.

Gideon: But wait till everybody finds out you've been here all this time!

Trimbo: Nobody has to know.

Gideon: Well, of course they do. Everyone thinks you died.

Trimbo: They do?

Milan: It's true. We were about what happened to your father.

Trimbo: [beat] What else did they say?

Gideon: There's a new army called the Elite Force. It was founded when Raizer Helix was crowned High King.

And then, when he hears that name, Trimbo remembers his past.

Trimbo: Raizer! He shot me!

Gideon: What?

Trimbo: He blasted me with his golden cannon, just when I was about to kill Cardi, and…. Before I watched my father fall. I blocked it with a shield, and… I ended up here.

Milan: But… how did you end up here?

Trimbo: It was… around three weeks ago.

[FLASHBACK]

Three weeks ago, Trimbo is inside the mountain, where he wakes up to find out where he is. He looks around, finding out that nobody is around.

Trimbo: Arkus? Rift? Kesseki? [despread] Guys! Where are ya?!

Then, Trimbo hears a chittering from behind. He looks back at a coughing pile of sand, and hurries over to dig it.

Trimbo: That fucking Raizer. I knew he was a jackass, but I didn't think he was that crazy.

He digs out Ringo and cradles him inside his arms.

Trimbo: Ringo. Are you alright?

[Ringo chitters]

Trimbo: It's okay, Ringo. We'll get out of this. [pauses] Somehow.

Trimbo makes his journey to the hole in the ceiling. He tries to climb, but it's proven too steep for him when he falls down. And then, the mountain is cracked open from the wall, showing the two giants staring at him.

Trimbo: [shocked] Giants?!

Solar: Well, you're still alive? And my grinder was ready for your bones.

Lunar: Solar! [to Trimbo] Please excuse my twin brother. He's always like this when he's hungry. You're currently in our land, the island of Colossus.

Trimbo: Colossus? Wait a minute, there can't be giants or this land. It's supposed to be a myth.

Lunar: Well, sorry to disappoint you.

Solar: But for your information, Colossus is pure real, and we're the forgotten ones. Human kingdoms' refuse, cast off and left to die, just like you. And now you're here, you've got a choice: baked or boiled.

Trimbo: What?

Lunar: No, we're not going to eat humans. Mostly because… he's awfully cute and he doesn't look appetizing for me.

Solar: [to himself] Vegetarian.

Lunar: Look, many humans have come here and died, trying to escape Colossus, not only from us but from the animals living here as well.

Trimbo: But… you're willing to let us go, right?

Lunar: We might, if you could try to climb up to the ceiling.

Solar: It's a tradition between humans and giants. If humans would prove themselves to us that they can adapt to our grounds, such us climbing to the top of the mountain, all differences are set aside.

Lunar: But if we let you go, you could… do us a favor in return.

Trimbo: Like what?

Lunar: You would let us go to Xenotopia. We can't stand living on this desert island, if you haven't noticed.

Trimbo: [paused] Deal.

Solar: Alright. But if you don't succeed and give up, I eat you.

Just when Lunar is about to object, the doors are closed, and Trimbo looks up to the hole in the ceiling.

[FLASHBACK END]

Trimbo: But after time and time again… I just couldn't. So… I gave up.

Milan: But you can't give up.

Trimbo: I can, and I have. You're wasting my time here, so… just leave me alone.

Trimbo turns to the other side of the column he is leaning on, looking away from the two. Gideon is a little disappointed by Trimbo's refusal to help, so Milan has only one option.

Milan: Forget about him. He doesn't want to get out, I'll honor it. Besides, we don't have time for autographs.

Milan tries to climb again, only to fall down again. Trimbo walks across the room. He looks upward, and collapses, sending leaves into the air. A gust of wind from the hole blows upward from the hole, sending the leaves into the sky.

Back in Kyland City, Dola'wic scolds the Deathwalkers in the throne room, where Raizer, sitting on the Crystal Throne, and She-Dom watching.

Dola'wic: You all failed me, not once but three times, because of your failure of adaptations! I created you all for demigod hunting, but you couldn't even deal with two peasants?!

The Deathwalkers remain silent as they stare at their master.

Raizer: I did try to tell you, Dola'wic. Magic can't be very useful for anything, and they're made from the stuff. But if the town finds out about the two runaways, they'll inspire others to avoid the draft. If they've tipped over the edge of the world, the least they could do is to make sure they have.

Then Dola'wic waves his hand at the Deathwalkers, making them vanish.

Dola'wic: I don't understand it. I designed my warriors as models of warfare perfection. They possess superhuman powers and martial arts, and yet… they're continually delayed by just a small pack of humanoids. Why is that?

Raizer: It's probably because… they're your warriors to begin.

Dola'wic: The Deathwalkers are my puppets. They do only what I command, whenever I do so. Are you suggesting it was my fault?!

She-Dom: But what if they all have consciousness?

Dola'wic sticks his glowing staff at She-Dom, about to strike her, but he begins to think of something.

Dola'wic: Actually… it might be my fault. Because I didn't give them each a consciousness, because I want them to follow my orders at all times. But if I were to find three victims… I could change all that.

She-Dom: Okay, but who?

Dola'wic: Now that I think about it, I know just the trio.

Elsewhere, the bounty hunter trio, Ozzy, Sleek and Gibber, gather at their new hideout. The other two sit on the table, while Ozzy paces for a plan.

Ozzy: Okay, we've had a little setback, especially after we're bailed out of jail, but we're still going to make ends meet. We just need to find the right guy with enough bounty to get paid.

Sleek: I don't know, Ozzy. Maybe we're no good at this.

Ozzy: DAMMIT, SLEEK! That's just the kind of negativity an asshole would-

Woman voice: Ozzy, lower your voices down there. You're father's trying to sleep.

Ozzy: Sorry, mom. We'll keep it down.

Sleek: If we were good at bounty hunting, our hideout wouldn't be our parents root cellar.

Gibber: [gibberish]

Ozzy: [angrily] You two are- [calmly] Your right. I know you're right. We couldn't get anything done right as bandits over a pair of royalties, or even bounty hunting. Not even if we're too weak and powerless to get things done.

Mother's voice: Boys, there's an old man who wants to meet you.

Enraged, Ozzy approaches the door to the basement while talking.

Ozzy: Mom, we're too old for any babysitter!

Ozzy opens the door and sees Dola'wic entering the basement.

Dola'wic: Good evening.

Ozzy: Dola'wic? You've… gotten old?

Dola'wic: I may be needing your assistance again. Only this time, I can provide enhancements.

Gibber: [gibberish]

Sleek: Yeah, like what?

Dola'wic chants an incantation, and conjures a tornado in the basement, which transforms Ozzy, Sleek, and Gibber into Deathwalkers.

Sleek: You're orange!

Gibber: You're dark! [realizing] Hey, I can talk! With English!

Ozzy: Well, this must be more promising enhancements.

Dola'wic: Bow before me, my Deathwalkers.

Ozzy: We've agreed to get paid, but not to-

Dola'wic forces them to bow using dark magic.

Dola'wic: You are no longer mortal men, but powerful servants enslaved to do my bidding.

Ozzy: Okay, you're… the boss. So… who are we going to get?

Part Five

Back on Colossus, Milan attempts to climb up the steep wall once again, only to fall down once again. But then, the walls open and Lunar is standing there.

Lunar: Play time.

She reaches in, taking Milan with her, and closes the door. Now alone together, Gideon walks over to the depressed Trimbo, still sitting on the floor.

Gideon: Trimbo, please, listen for once.

Trimbo: I told you, no one can climb up there. Don't ask me if I haven't tried yet.

Gideon: I wasn't going to ask you that. I was asking you… why wouldn't you help us?

Trimbo: [pauses] I failed to protect my father to begin with. Raizer is an asshole, but… he was right about one thing. If I was there on time, he'd still be alive.

Gideon looks at Trimbo with sympathy, and he walks over to sit beside him.

Gideon: I get it. We all have this feeling. When we… lose someone or somebody important for us, we wish it never happened. But life is about learning lessons, so it would help us adapt to the future, the next time we encounter any unfortunate event. But what about home? You're the crown prince of Ukrim after all. Don't you miss it?

Trimbo: The only thing I miss is my family, but not Ukrim. It's a frigid country with so few springtimes every summer. I wanted to leave it to begin with, and start a new life for myself. I would've wanted this if I had no other options, as long as it pleases me.

Gideon: How is this pleasing for you? You're in a doll house the size of a mountain, only to get out if a giant plays with you or if you make up on the top.

Trimbo: You wouldn't understand, peasant-boy. You didn't live a life as a prince, not to leave for your own freewill, or even watch a parent die when you had nothing to do. Now, if you excuse me, I've got more dust to collect.

Trimbo stands up, walking away from Gideon, but he stops when Gideon speaks to him.

Gideon: Actually… I do. I was eight when it happened. My grandfather… served in the Navy, and I wanted to go with him, while my folks were… getting a divorce. But one night, his ship returned and his body was carried, where the town cremated him. I was so downhearted, I didn't speak with anyone, not even my family. I couldn't go there because I was too young, and… I would've had the same fate as he did. But one night, all of my friends came to my window, telling me I wouldn't be alone, and I realized then… I always had friends to always be at my side, whenever I needed them.

With his back on Gideon, Trimbo is beginning to heed his words, shedding a tear in the process. He is having flashbacks of all the times he's spent with his friends: Arkus, Kesseki, Rift, Bestial, the Falconers, Pelly, even Rosella. The flashbacks end, and he turns his attention to Gideon, wiping a tear.

Trimbo: Thanks, Gideon. I…. I needed this. But… even if I wanted to get out, we can't go up there.

Gideon: Well… I might know a cactus with a sticky sap.

Meanwhile, the leaves sent by Trimbo fly over a peach tree and are caught by Kesseki. He smells them, grunts, and bounds down to the floor. He pours the leaves into a turtle shell, and sifts it around, humming. He plucks a peach from the tree and eats it. Examining the leaves, realization dawns on his face.

Kesseki: Trimbo? He's- he's alive? He he- he's alive! [laughs]

With joy, Kesseki rushes over to the Bow of Delta, which was placed there, and he looks in the direction where he snatched the leaves.

Kesseki: Praise the gods!

Back on Colossus, Lunar is in her bedroom. Milan is dressed in a princess gown, and Lunar plays with her like a doll with other toys.

Milan: [blushing; to herself] This is so embarrassing.

Lunar: ["Milan" voice] Oh no, the big bag, terrible dragon is breathing his awful breath upon us. It's so gross I can't even smell the flowers. [knight voice] Fear not, your highness.

Lunar moves the knight doll toward Milan.

Lunar: [knight voice] I'll slay the dragon. ["Milan" voice] But who are you, strange and wonderfully handsome man? [knight voice] I am Sir Richy-boy, of Strippersville. I have come here because your father, the King, instructed me, while I was asked to marry you. [dragon voice] Not on my watch.

She rams her dragon figure into the knight doll, knocking it over.

Lunar: [squire voice] Hey, what'd you do to my friend? [dragon voice] The same thing I'm going to do to you, big boy!

One by one, Lunar knocks out the other dolls on the bed, until only the dragon toy and Milan are left around.

Lunar: [dragon voice] Now, Princess. At last, we are alone. ["Milan" voice] No, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you! Leave me alone! And yet… I find you strangely attractive. [dragon voice] Of course you do. Druish princesses are always attracted to money and power. And I have both. But I have something better: a big, hairy penis.

Milan: Eww, that's gross!

Lunar: [dragon voice] Do it, kiss me. ["Milan" voice] No, yes, no, yes, yes, no, no, ah, oh, oh, oh, ah-

Then, her door suddenly opens, revealing Solar, and Lunar scrambles to hide her figures in her cleavage.

Solar: Lunar!

Lunar: WHAT?!

Solar: Keep it down here, I'm trying to sleep.

Lunar: KNOCK ON MY DOOR! KNOCK NEXT TIME! [beat] …Did you see anything?

Solar: No! I did not see you playing with your dolls again.

Lunar: Good! Get outta here!

Solar leaves the bedroom. Lunar looks confused for a moment, before realizing she is burying Milan in her chest, so she releases her.

Milan: Miss, you got to let us go, just this once! We're not a child's play thing, we're living beings.

Lunar: Hey, we're offering you a chance. Surely the other guy told you.

Milan: He did, but… making us climb up to a hole on the ceiling or give up and be yours forever? We have lives too you know, but they won't live on with you just… treating us like toys or something.

Lunar looks at Milan with a sad look, and she lifts her up to her face.

Lunar: Look, it doesn't look like it much, but… it's just been me and my twin brother for so long. Our parents were… killed when our nation was conquered by a sorcerer who used dark magic. And when we were so little, we…. We had to come here, because Colossus is our ancestral home. A safe haven for giants all around, and… it's just been the two of us ever since.

Milan: [sympathized] I'm…. I'm sorry to hear all that. Truly I am. But you know… if you just told us that you're lonely, we would understand.

Lunar: But we were hunted down by humans. It wouldn't be so natural to just… ask if we could-

Milan: I would think so. Because… I needed to speak to another girl, since everyone in town… has been mocking me for being a coward.

Lunar: Really? But… fear's a natural feeling. I was scared of humans before, until I learned that they're afraid of falling from great heights.

Milan: Well, yes. That's true.

Milan and Lunar suddenly begin laughing together, which is actually bounding them.

Milan: So, uh… how about some tea instead of playing with dolls?

Back in the mountain, Gideon is concocting a liquid with a mortar and pestle, pouring the cactus sap in. Trimbo paces around, waiting for something to happen.

Gideon: Got it! It's done.

Trimbo: Is it?

Gideon: Trust me, I've had my experience with alchemy. With the stickiness from this cactus sap, we could have a chance to climb up there. Gimme your hands.

Trimbo extends his hand before Gideon pours some sap on it and the other. With it, Trimbo walks over to the wall, staring at the ceiling in thought, and he proceeds to climb. The sap's stickiness is enabling him to climb higher up, much to his and Gideon's joy. Trimbo climbs further up, high enough to reach up into the hole, but then the sap begins to wear off, and he falls down to land on a haystack. Gideon gasps before coming to his head, and Trimbo is okay.

Gideon: You're alright? [beat] I'm terribly sorry, I should've warned you about the sap drying up.

Trimbo looks at the sap in his palm with the sunlight and rubs it with a finger, while Gideon stares at the sap in the mortar.

Trimbo: I sure hope this isn't permanent.

Gideon: It was enough. I would need more samples.

Then Trimbo's eyes light up. He realizes the light is not coming from the holed ceiling, but from the wall, meaning it's open.

Trimbo: The door! [overjoyed] It's open! We're free!

Trimbo runs for the door. Gideon follows.

Gideon: Trimbo, we don't know what's out there!

Trimbo: I'll take my chances.

Part Six

With Gideon falling back, Trimbo races on the mountainside that looks like a little stairwell.

Trimbo: [to himself] This is it. This is my chance. I'll return home, say the truth, and Raizer will-

He turns onto the top of the stairwell while talking, down a few steps, and is confronted by a large dog, asleep on the landing. Trimbo freezes inches away from the sleeping beast. He slowly backs up the stairs. Suddenly Gideon appears and pulls Trimbo back against the wall.

Gideon: [whispering] Why didn't you tell me the giants had a dog?

Trimbo: [whispering] I didn't know, because they never told me.

Gideon: We'll just go around him. C'mon.

Gideon checks to make sure the giant dog is still asleep and then darts across the stairwell opening to the other end of the mountain. Once safely across, he motions for Trimbo to follow. Trimbo crawls on all fours across the open area and meets up with Gideon. As he stands, Ringo climbs up on his back to perch on his shoulder. The boys begin to creep down the mountainside, right before they see a house on the slopes. Then, a rock falls down from Trimbo's step.

The dog opens his eyes when he hears that noise. Growling, the dog starts approaching the source of that fallen rock.

Trimbo: Split up!

Trimbo and Gideon make a run for it. Two doors are ajar at the house. Gideon dives behind one while Trimbo jumps into a closet. Trimbo slams the door shut just as the giant dog reaches the top of the landing. A crashing sound can be heard from behind the closet door, getting the dog's attention.

Gideon, with Ringo, peeks out from his doorway at the dog sniffing and growling at the closet. Sensing movement behind him, the dog whips around and starts to enter Gideon's doorway.

[snoring]

The noise stops the dog in his tracks. Both Scud and Buzz look up to see Solar, asleep on a La-Z-Boy recliner in front of the T.V. Uninterested, the dog backs out and heads down the stairs.

Gideon: [sighs] That was close.

[Ringo chitters]

Gideon: Shhhh.

With the dog gone, the closet knob jiggles for a moment. Suddenly, the door flies open revealing Trimbo, entangled in a garden hose, standing atop a pile of boxes to be at door knob height. Trimo and the rest of the junk topple over, just as Gideon and Ringo approach him.

Trimbo: Damn, that room is filled with cobwebs.

Gideon: Now, we need to find Milan and leave this place.

Then, they hear giggling from the other end of the house. The boys creep over, as Trimbo is dragging the hose with him. Trimbo and Gideon peek into the open doorway of Lunar's bedroom. She is having a tea party. Her guests are dolls, headless dolls, that is except for Milan. She is seated at the miniature table, dressed up in a frilly apron and fashionable party hat.

Milan: These chairs are so adorable.

Gideon: [under his breath] Milan?

Milan: But how did you brew this delicious tea?

Lunar: It's so easy. We grow cocoa beans at the other end of the volcano, where the water falls and the dirt is fertile.

Gideon steps back outside, acting a little worried.

Gideon: What do we do?

Trimbo thinks for a moment, then takes a few steps further from the door. He clears his throat.

Trimbo: [low voice] Lunar! I'm hungry!

Lunar stops pouring tea and looks up, annoyed.

Lunar: Mom? Please excuse me, Milan. I'll be right back.

As soon as Lunar exits the room, stays put at the table. Lunar passes Trimbo and Gideon, hidden in the garden hose, and walks outside.

Lunar: What is it now, Solar? Solar, where are you?

With her gone, Trimbo and Gideon bolt into the room, grabbing Milan's attention.

Milan: Gideon!

Overjoyed, Milan embraces Gideon, rubbing her face on him.

Milan: You made it!

Gideon: Sorry to worry you Milan, but… we had to figure out a way out to begin with.

Milan: No worries at all. I'm just- Trimbo?

Trimbo: Yeah, it's me. And just so you'd know… your boyfriend has found a way of reminding people.

Milan: So… does this mean…?

Gideon: We got out of the mountain, and a deal's a deal. We're off the hook.

Trimbo: And perfect timing. I can't stay in this desert another minute.

Trimbo walks over to the door. As he goes out, he is confronted by the giant dog. The dog barrels straight for Trimbo.

Trimbo: [panicked] Ah! Aaah! Back! Back! Back! Down! Down!

Trimbo slams the door shut just in time. The dog barks and scratches at the door.

Trimbo: Fuck! We're trapped like rats in here!

Milan: Oh, this is bad. I wish we had a dragon with us.

Gideon: Don't worry, we'll just go through the window. If it works, it'll help us all.

On the beach, Dola'wic appears in a veil of smoke. He peers around the area, only to look at the shipwreck not too far ahead of him.

Dola'wic: A boat.

He looks downward to find a set of tracks heading to the desert.

Dola'wic: They were here not too long ago. Into Colossus. [evilly] But I wouldn't be too worried to look for them there… since I slayed a whole nation of giants.

Back at the giants' home, the dog is planted right outside Lunar's bedroom door, poised to attack anything that exits it. But in the bedroom, Trimbo, Gideon and Milan are climbing up the massive bedroom and scaling the room with a blinds cord, making their way to the window.

Milan: [sighs] This is much easier than the last one. But should we leave without saying goodbye?

Trimbo: Believe me, only one of them would. That Solar guy would just eat us anyway, with or without his sister around.

Gideon: We just need to build a boat and then we're out of here.

Trimbo and Gideon both open the window with ease. Looking down, they see what appeared to be a rough slide on the side of the house. With Milan, they all jump and slide down the side, but Trimbo gets tangled by a cactus. Gideon and Milan end up on the sand, and they are encountered by Dola'wic in the end.

Dola'wic: [laughs] You two couples look like you're having fun here, but playtime… is over.

[dog barks]

Dola'wic whips around to find the giant dog charging in for him.

Dola'wic: Mongrel! Be gone!

He fires a beam of dark magic at the dog, which turns it to dust.

In the house, the giant twins suddenly hear the noise.

Solar: Hey, what was that?

Back outside, Milan pulls Gideon by the arm and runs for their lives, until Dola'wic encoils them with magic strings, pulling them back and off the ground.

Dola'wic: Leaving so soon? We haven't even started yet.

Milan: You leave my Gideon alone! He's not interested in your Elite Force!

Dola'wic: Still need to know when to be silent. You should pay respect to your High King.

Gideon: [sternly] Raizer Helix will never be a High King compared to his uncle!

Then, Dola'wic zaps Gideon with his staff.

Dola'wic: I'll remind you to say it before he hangs you by a tree.

Trimbo's voice: Dola'wic!

Trimbo appears on the ledge, sliding down. He leaps out and slashes his green-bladed sword to free Gideon and Milan from their bounds. Dola'wic is shocked to see Trimbo and he backs away as Trimbo points his sword at the dark wizard's throat.

Dola'wic: Morningstar?! You're supposed to be dead!

Trimbo: Give me one good reason I shouldn't cut your throat.

Dola'wic: [calmly] Now, now, calm yourself. I was only here to bring those two back. They deserted their kingdom, and I was asked to-

Raizer: You think I care about what Raizer decides? He's never worthy for the Crystal Throne to begin with… and neither are you, if that's your interest.

Dola'wic: You got me all wrong, my dear boy. Nothing I do is… personal. It's just… business!

Dola'wic swipes the sand into Trimbo's face. With a cry of surprise and pain, Trimbo wipes the sand away as Dola'wic blasts him with magic.

Dola'wic: Yen! Zu! Chao!

The trio appear into thin air, ready for battle but lacking the weapons.

Milan: [scared] Deathwalkers.

Trimbo: [realizing] Wait. It's that trio again!

Gibber: You? Still alive?

Ozzy: Who cares, Gibber? Second try of a client's request, and we're getting a bonus.

The trio make a run for the charge. With his sword, Trimbo swings his sword around, and they have none to defend themselves.

Sleek: [scared] He's got a sword!

Dola'wic: Oh, you idiots! You've all got weapons!

And then, their weapons appear in the trio's hands. Ozzy has the dagger-axe, Gibber has the dao, and Sleek has the meteor hammer.

Sleek: Whoa!

Ozzy: That's more like it!

Trimbo: [to himself] I hate it when they do that.

With with weapons, the trio engages Trimbo, who parries the blows with his own blade, and Ringo helps in by biting and scratching them. Gideon and Milan, on the other hand, both make a run for it, but Dola'wic is floating towards them.

Dola'wic: I do always love a good chase.