Chapter 3: The finding

"What was that?" a voice muttered. Derix put his paw over her mouth as she bit her tongue, fighting not to scream again, tears coming from her eyes.

"FATHER!" Another scream joined with hers. Ker. "FATHER! HELP ME! HELP ME!" she screamed with all her might. Her eyes were changing color quickly. Tamue could see Derix's face, full of concern as he took his paw away from her mouth. She slumped to the ground, unable to do anything but scream again. The pain! Her body was being ripped apart! "FATHER!" Ker screamed again. "I'VE FOUND THEM! ALL OF THEM!"

"I knew she wouldn't fail me! KER! Where are you?!"

"They're all here, father, ALL OF THEM!" Ker was stumbling over to Arlhox before Derix could stop her.

"Vertunax! Put up that screen!" Vertunax pressed a button. Tamue knew this procedure, it was a screen of pure energy that would be released on them if one of them dared move away from the rest.

"Not this again…" she managed to say.

"Oh, lovely, this brings back memories." Dream said dryly. Arlhox stood there with a look of triumph. Derix, though, seemed to be remembering.

"What…?" Xel, though, didn't know what was going on. Furious, Tamue tried to get up, but finally managed to hit Xel on the back of the head hard with her tail.

"WAKE UP ALREADY!" she snarled.

"What was that f-" there was a silence. "…Zee?"

Relieved, Tamue felt herself slipping off. He remembers me… she was too lost to reply. He remembers me…

++Onee-San! Onee-San, can you hear me?++

++I…++ Xel was shaking her. "ZEE!" ++I hear ya…++

++Onee-San, did Arlhox ever tell you you were special? You could do things?++

++Of course… but I'm not, he lied to me. Is that what he's telling you?++

++Grasp it.++

++What?++

++The power inside. You have it, you just need to find it, that's why I asked for you to help me, you're one of the most powerful pets I've heard of. The most powerful, in fact. You need to help yourself before you sacrifice trying to help me!++ Tamue took a deep breath and shut her eyes hard. She could feel a red glow peeking up, a sense of great power flooding her. Suddenly she could hear Arlhox.

"A ring of power… yes, step back now, slowly…" She didn't care anymore, she just wanted to hurt him, more than anything in the world. He had hurt her and her friends beyond anything, he needed to get some of that back.

Power to phase. Phase to Arlhox… she told herself. And sure enough, she heard a yell.



++I need you're help if you can hear well enough.++ A voice spoke to them.

"What are we supposed to do?

++Get rid of that energy field for one thing, unless you want to all be hurt and have Tamue suffer a terrible death, then get to the bubbleroom and get me out. Blue button on the last wall, can't miss it.++

"Say, what happened to my father?" Derix suddenly said. What is he THINKING? Xelqued thought, looking down at Zee. This wasn't time to ask stupid questions!

"He was punished for being a traitor." Vertunax snapped. She wasn't softening.

"Ah. I'm not, though. Can I come out now?"

"Why would I let you do that?"

"I can't stand it, I'm not a traitor, and I feel sick, being near Xelqued for so long." Xel snarled at Derix. True, they had been enemies. Derix stepped out. "I bet I reek of Xelquedness." Suddenly, he attacked Vertunax, setting the energy shield astray. Xel let loose a breath and rushed after Dream, who set off in a run.

"Good luck, Derix!" He called after him, just for good measure. Derix could be a jerk at times, but that served them well… this time anyway.

Derix snarled. Sure, Ker was nice sometimes, and she was cute, but this time she was going too far.

"Forget HIM!" Arlhox was screaming. Arlhox's screams: music to his ears. "Get that ZAFARA!" Ker let go of Derix and rushed towards Tamue with her claws drawn. Forgetting completely about how he liked Ker, he tackled her to the ground.

"HELLO?! A LITTLE HELP FOR TAMUE!" he screamed back towards Dream and Xel.

"Help has arrived!" DarkLadyTokimi suddenly appeared, attacking Arlhox.

"FATHER!" Rhena appeared as well, dragging Tamue away from it all.

Dream rushed into the room, only to see a little star zafara sitting in the bubble chamber, balanced so that she could press her face and front paws up on the bubble wall.

"Magic, I presume?" She said with a smile. The zafara nodded quickly. Dream tried to slash at the wall, but Magic pointed to a button on the wall, which Xelqued pressed. Falling forward, Magic looked at them for a minute.

"Are you not able to talk, or are you just being quite for the time being?" Dream asked, confused. Magic just stared and began to walk for the door.

"She's a smaller version of Zee!" Xelqued said, suddenly breathless. Magic turned and continued walking, backwards now, smilling at Xelqued. Then she turned around again and broke into a run.

"They'll be fighting over the "cuteness" now…" Dream said. "We have to get out of here!" She grabbed Magic, and she and Xelqued were gone.



Derix fought with Ker, until he heard Arlhox say something about leaving. Then, he and Ker disappeared.

"You'll be seeing more of me more often, you fools!" Arlhox screeched. Toki disappeared, and then he, too, took his leave.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*GASP* I THINK SHE BROKE DERIX'S HEART! My poor Derix_IV ….