A/N: Welcome to chapter 2! Same disclaimers apply! I'm going to be trying to make these chapters shorter, with more actual events happening, so I don't fill up 10000 words a chapter with description and nonsense. Tif (CrimsonObsession) and Kat23a appear in this chapter! ^.^

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Did you expect a trip like this to be easy? Dib snapped finally, more than a little bit tired of the minstrel's excessive complaints.

Of course it's easy, Dib-worm!! the minstrel snarled in reply. It is merely traveling in your company that causes my discomfort!

Dib sighed harshly, and turned his gaze forward again. The dust being kicked up along the road by the caravan carts and wagons was formidable, and the group had fallen behind a bit, but not enough to expose themselves to attack. There were bandits along the roads sometimes, Aubri had told them, and JC had been determined to get a picture of a bandit attack. She was ranging ahead on her horse, camera at ready to snap a picture of the bandit hordes should they swarm to attack. There really had to be better things to use that camera for then bandits. I mean, come on! You could be taking pictures of faery rings in moonlit woods, or dragons' lairs, or the ancient stone ruins of lost civilizations.. provided they found any.

Hopefully this weaponsmaster person whoever he was or she was would have information enough about this legendary sword they were supposed to be after. Alls Aubri knew was old poems, and around here those frankly weren't much help.

The sound of Zim's fiddle started up grandly, and was joined by the rhythmic tapping of a tambourine. Together the melodies formed a slow, entrancing song, and Dib, despite his misgivings, eased back on the packs carried by the mule he rode to listen.

--

Of course I understand, Tif said with a sigh, twisting a dagger between her fingers. Her long purple nails tapped against its hilt for a moment, and then she sheathed it in a boot.

The creature that floated before her gazed longingly at the weapon as she put it away, then returned its black gaze to Tif's face. Then I am to make you happy now, it said, in a bit of a pained voice.

Then get on with it. Tif leaned back, crossing one leg over the other on the chair she sat in as she regarded the pink bunny-like creature that floated before her in a kind of haze. It look sad, haggard, and tired, but slowly, it began to dance. The bored scowl lifted slightly from Tif's face, but not enough that the pink bunny knew. It started doing pirouettes in the air, shot lazers and smoke from its paws in interesting colors and patterns, and singing. While Tif watched, an amused smile breaking over her face.

Have a pickle, the bunny concluded, holding a bright orange such vegetable out to her. She took it.

They're on their way then?

Yes. You know all that you have to do.

Thanks. You can go back to your master now.

The pink bunny flew out a window, and Tif took an absent-minded munch of the orange pickle. It sort of tasted like a combination of vinegar, erasers, and silicon. As if anyone even knew what silicon was. Tif took another bite.

--

Night was approaching again. Dib hated nighttime, and yet it intrigued him immensely. Who knew what weird and enigmatic spirits drifted through the darkened woods where no one could see? It gave him the shivers to think about, but it was one of the things his dad had always yelled at him about stop chasing the mist, stop chasing trees, stop chasing weird noises in the dark. There's nothing there. But Dib knew there was more. There was so much more than real farming'. And he'd prove that to his father one of these days maybe not soon, but when he came back from this quest after saving the world, boy would he show everyone!

The trees' branches stretched over the caravan's path, dark and skeleton-like against the darkening sky. Aside from the glow of the torches and the constant loud shuffle of the caravan ahead, it was dead silent, silent enough to hear the wind playing along the branches, whispering to the leaves, holding who knew what on its—

a high-pitched voice behind Dib shrieked.

Dib screamed, as something clamped onto his skull and wouldn't let go. He twisted, trying to wrestle it off, and the whatever it was giggled maniacally. Finally managing to get a purpose on the chillingly cold, furry thing, he tore it from his head and stared at it. It was GIR. The minstrel's stupid green dog.

Dib shouted angrily.

Yes, O lord of the sizable heads? the mocking voice came back from ahead. The minstrel turned in his saddle on the Iceland pony, crimson eyes glowing eerily in the darkness.

Shut up! Dib said, frustrated. Can't you put your dog on a leash or something?? He tossed the little green dog to the ground, and it ran squealing towards a caravan wagon.

The minstrel snickered. YOUR foolish problems are not my concern! GIR obviously does not like you, as well he should not! He is loyal to ZIM! Zim turned around again, lifting his head high to signal that the conversation was done.

Say, Aubri JC's voice floated through the darkness. Do they have batteries here? I mean, now?

I really doubt it, JC.

The patter of hooves picking up pace marked JC's return towards the front of the caravan, but Dib and the others stayed near the back. They'd stop to camp soon, most likely Dib wondered what batteries were. He looked up at the tree branches again, and felt an eerie prickle at the back of his neck. Something wasn't right here

A grunt up ahead and to the side made him freeze, and he sat up rod-straight, staring ahead. That grunt was their only warning.

Howling hordes poured from the trees, swinging battle axes, the flame from the torches and lanterns illuminating rough green-brown skin, long fangs, small glittering eyes, and crude armor. Dib gasped, and his grip tightened on the mule's rope rein. He heard JC screaming ahead, but he also saw her camera flash going off. He heard Aubri yell something, he wasn't sure what, and a moment later, the minstrel galloped past Dib on his pony, eyes wide and glowing.

STINK SLAVE!!! GIR!!! COME TO ZIM!!! he screeched as he stampeded back down the path. The little green dog ran after him, half-laughing, half-screaming. KidK, however, was hesitating next to Aubri. There was a shimmer around the wiza—experientialist, almost like a tangible force. The sword came out from under his robe, flashed in the torch-light, and Aubri leapt agilely from his horse to disembowel one of the orc-like bandits with a flash of his sword.

came Zim's insistent holler from down the road. Still KidK hesitated, reining in her panicked mount, staring agitatedly at Aubri.

Aubri hissed between breaths, twirling around to easily take off another orc's head. She didn't need any more persuasion, and her horse came flying past Dib towards the sound of the minstrel's voice. But what could Dib do? He certainly didn't know how to fight but hey, he was the important object of a prophecy, right? He had to stay safe! Turning the mule around, Dib fled after KidK and Zim.

The sounds of battle ranged on when he reached them. Zim was standing on the saddle of his pony, playing his fiddle madly. It wasn't a hypnotic tune, but rather one that made Dib's pulse race and his blood flow hot. He wanted to be back there, helping Aubri. I would go, he told himself, if I knew how to fight! Instead I'm chickening out here with a stupid bard and a fiddle-tranced gypsy oh and that moronic little green dog

Zim yelled, not ceasing his playing. GET BACK HERE! But the green dog was already racing at top speed back to the battle, screaming something about waffle irons and ta-key-toes'. KidK was watching the battle, eyes wide, perhaps scanning, as Dib was, for any signs of familiar life. They heard bushes crashing as heavy bodies fled into them, and fading screams and grunts. The inert masses of the caravan's wagons remained as they were, one of them on fire from the torches. A lone silhouette of a figure walked to stand next to it, and the fire diminished to glowing coals.

It looked like he was the only survivor. Oh no! Dib cried, and kicked the weary mule into a trot back towards the figure. The minstrel and the gypsy came right behind him.

Dib leaped down from the mule, praying that this was his mentor who had lived—

IT'S MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! a high-pitched shriek rang in Dib's ears, as a small shape torpedoed itself at his head. Dib did have the presence of mind to duck this time, and the minstrel's dog sailed over his head to land in a mud patch under a wagon.

The figure turned to face them, and Dib saw with relief that it was Aubri. The robed man knelt down and wiped his sword off on the grass, then hid it inside his robe again. He didn't speak, and Dib found himself becoming more and more nervous. Wha.. what happened? he finally managed, weakly.

They took JC, at the very least. Everyone they didn't capture, they killed. Except me.

What!? They dare take the slave of ZIM for their own filthy purpose!? the minstrel's annoyed voice broke in.

We have to find her! Dib said.

Of course we do! KidK put in, still staring wide-eyed at the wreckage around them.

Aubri said calmly. But it'll have to be tonight. There's no way of knowing if they're a wandering band or one that haunts this road.

I bet they haunt it, Dib muttered darkly.

Zim snarled in Dib's direction. You do not have the capacity to go running after BANDITS, fool human child!! You fled like a filthy worm coward when the fighting started!

So did YOU!! Dib snapped back, aghast.

YOU LIIIIIEE!!!!

Zim, be quiet, Aubri said patiently. We have to go after her. He paused, looked around at the carnage of human and animal, and lifted an eyebrow. Without comment, he closed his eyes, and immediately stepped into the woods.

Dib blinked in confusion. Hey, don't you think you ought to do that with your eyes ope—

Move it, Dib-monkey! the minstrel said, reaching over to poke Dib's mule in the shoulder with his fiddle bow as he rode passed, heading after Aubri. Dib glared, but Zim had already turned around, with his head turned upwards haughtily, as usual. KidK shook her head, shot Dib an apologetic glance, and rode after Zim.

I bet she's still under that fiddle-spell, Dib thought with a sigh as he followed them.

--

Back at the site of the massacre, a long figure stepped through the bodies with an expression of mute horror on her face. Her hair was a tangled and messy, and what could be seen of her face in the moonlight was grubby and wild-looking. She wore a badly-fitted breastplate and a pair of scuffed leather leggings over her clothes, and carried a sword belted to her waist. She reached down after a moment, tugging a helmet free from a dead orc. She scrutinized it, then put it on her head. It fell down over her eyes, and fit very loosely, but it would do. She picked up the orc's battle-axe next, sticking her tongue out in concentration at its hefty weight.

When she was finally holding it up somewhat successfully, she faced the road heading back towards the town and grinned maniacally. YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME NOW! she yelled triumphantly, and spun to tear down the road, laughing as she did so. Unfortunately, her foot caught on the splintered tongue of one of the wagons, sending her sprawling into the ditch.

Little loss! She thought as she picked herself up again, re-maneuvering her weapons as best she could. Everyone got better with practice. Finishing getting herself in order again, she sped off down the direction she had been heading, her now slightly forced laughter echoing through the night.