A/N: Severe apologies for the lateness of this chapter. For the past month I've been involved in this lovely thing called National Novel Writing Month... write 50,000 words in 30 days. All my writing has been on that novel ^.^; But, it's finished now, and is up in my profile if you'd care to read it. And now that it's done, I can get back to working on my other stories. They shan't be neglected that long again! And so here is the next chapter of Imperfections!

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I'm not going down there!! No way!! JC said, backed up against the wall, eyes wide.

ZIM will not be forced into that pit of DOOM! the minstrel yelled, crossing his arms. KidK said nothing, only hugged the shaking Ivy closer to comfort her. Aubri's gaze, which was very faintly green around the edges, turned to rest on Dib.

Dib said quickly, the moment he met Aubri's eyes. I'm not crazy!! I'm not going down there! I don't even know where it goes!!

Dib, you have a responsibility Aubri said, arching an eyebrow. You took on this quest. You need to finish it, and I'm going to help you, but we can't finish it in here.

Then YOU go, JC shuddered, still staring wide-eyed at the hole.

I need to be the one to get the rest of you through, he said with a sigh.

I'LL GO!! the minstrel's little dog suddenly shrieked. IT LOOKS LIKE A ROLLEY COASTER TUNNEL!!

GIR!! GET BACK HERE!! the minstrel leapt to his feet as the green dog scampered excitedly towards the hole. Aubri knelt quickly, picked up the little animal, swept him towards the hole, and set him down seemingly in empty air.

BYE MASTER!! the little dog waved energetically, before a soft glow spread around it and it fell.

the minstrel howled, and staggering back against the wall, he turned a furious glare on Aubri. YOU!! HOW DARE YOU DO SUCH A HORRENDOUS VILE ACTION TO MY DOG-SLAVE!!! YOU WILL SUFFER DOOOOOOOOM FOR THIIIIIS!!!

calm down! KidK said, reaching out from where she was huddled against the wall with Ivy to put a hand on the minstrel's shoulder. He broke away and glared at her.

Do not touch me!! he said, tightening his grip on his fiddle. How can you remain so calm when this wizard has FOULLY betrayed my amazing MIGHT!?

I'm sure it's safe KidK paused, looking worriedly over towards Aubri. It is safe, isn't it?

THERE'S FUNNY ROCKS DOWN HERE!! a shriek of joy echoed up to them from far below. KidK looked at Zim, who looked at Aubri. Zim glared between each of them, then suddenly strode to the hole.

ZIM SHALL DESCEND FIRST!! he said, and puffed his chest out, daring anyone to oppose his decision. Without another word, Aubri rolled his eyes and stepped back over to the hole, and the rest of the party got to their feet and followed.

er really do you think that entire village needs to be burned at the stake, Red? Tabby said nervously, handing another bowl of nachos to the tall figure reclining on the satiny pillows.

Sure it does, Red grumped, grabbing a handful of the nachos and stuffing them into his maw. They'a inshholen.

Red?

The king looked up, one red eye narrowed and cheese dripping down his chin. He paused a moment to thrust his heavy crown straight on his head with one claw.

Well, I just think Tabby dropped her gaze and her wings ruffled at her sides in agitation. A long pause followed, broken only by the crunching of nachos. The thief fidgeted, then shrugged. Well, I'm sure they probably deserve it anyway.. she said, trying to drudge up her mercenary training. She was not even close to a high rank or assassin but she knew that the only way to accomplish most of the tasks her occupation entailed was to become cold.

They do, Red said matter-of-factly, before diving into the next mouthful of nachos. He really was cute when he did that, Tabby thought as she watched him.

Dib blinked and threw an arm out in front of him. His hand slapped against—not stone as he'd expected, but a solid wooden door. he called back, and started pushing on it. A very faint glow moved over his shoulder, and Aubri reached over his head to shove the door loose only it came off on the wrong side; the hinges separating from the doorframe and nothing but the bars and padlocks holding the door up from the other side. Dib blinked and stepped through. His boots slid on wet grass, and he breathed a sigh of relief they were outside again. There were a couple of stars out, but not many, and the all-encompassing darkness still loomed

MOVE your huge head, DIB-BEAST!! a voice snarled practically in Dib's ear, and he yelped, jumping quickly to one side and spinning to face his assailant. Zim's crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.

You STUPID minstrel!! Dib snapped, catching his breath. Don't you know we have to be quiet!? We're trying to sneak out, here!!

Dib, shhhh the gypsy girl said, coming out behind Zim carrying the little Irken girl. She paused a minute to look at Ivy, making sure she was okay most likely.

Zim said imperiously, puffing his chest out and lifting up his fiddle. Further ignore the DIB!

We will we will! JC said hurriedly, and she pushed roughly past the little minstrel, nearly knocking him over. Now come on let's go!!

FOOLISH, INSOLE— the minstrel suddenly started, only to be frozen into silence when Aubri stepped towards him swiftly, tapped' a hand against his antennae, then took JC by the arm and headed straight north for the road. She stumbled along behind him, too bewildered to say anything.

Zim stared, then immediately growled under his breath and lifted a hand up to massage some feeling back into the sensitive appendages. Dib glared at him. The minstrel always screamed bloody murder if you pulled his antennae but no, making him scream now would be a bad idea. Dib tagged along after Aubri instead.

There it is panted Kat, looking up at the towering stone edifice, surrounded by villages and farms on all sides. She staggered, tripped, and dropped an entire armload of orc axes with a crash into the middle of the road.

Oh dear said Mike, staring at the tangled heap of oversized weapons. Maybe you could put them into storage?

Kat stared at the pile of axes, then looked up at Mike, then stared back down at the axes again. she said patiently. I can't store anything that could have remote psychic powers, a past life as a toothbrush, or the ability to rust its vital edges. THAT would inevitably cause some kind of holocaustic eruption of monster zombie geckos spitting maple syrup and driving small pink Corvettes. These are staying with me!! So saying, she struggled to pick them up again, staggering dangerously under their weight.

Mike eyed the blades nervously, then brightened. Ah, I know he said, and reached a hand towards them. Sparkles, make magic! he said brightly, and Binky obligingly reached over the magical dude's shoulder and flung a pretty shower of colored sparkles at the axes. Nothing seemed to happen, but Mike smiled in pride. Now they'll be as light as feathers! he said. Come on, Binky! He strode off into one of the villages, headed for the castle.

moaned Kat, struggling after him. I wonder if I'll ever get a chance to fly, before my knees crack. She paused thoughtfully, then called after Mike, Did you know that cape of yours could possibly have belonged to my younger sister's best friend's father's girlfriend's former roommate's third grade teacher's pet hamster's first murder victim?

Binky glanced backwards, shivered off some sparkles, and hid himself in Mike's hat.

Dawn was barely beginning to filter light through the sky before the seashore came into sight. There was no nice, convenient port here, and there were very few sandbars. It was mostly sharp, jagged rocks that caught waves of the tide and shattered them violently into millions of droplets.

They've been here already, Aubri said quietly, and glancing down, Dib's eyes widened. The ground was covered in footprints, ash, and charred wood splinters. A hideous dark taint lingered and clung to the litter, and Dib felt himself moving closer to his mentor unconsciously. The minstrel, however, had no such compunctions, and he marched haughtily along the trail of footprints.

Where are you going? Dib half snapped after him. He hoped the obnoxious being was taking off for good, though it wasn't likely.

There is a BUILDING here, Zim said, his antennae perked nearly straight. It is full of filthy death. No one moved or said anything for a long moment, and the green being immediately whipped his fiddle out and started playing energetically. The smoky tendrils of music swept over Dib's mind, and he angrily shook them off. This was no time—never was a good time—for the minstrel to start trying to mind-control them. Resisting the urge to give Zim a good shove into the nearest ice-cold mud patch, Dib headed in the direction the minstrel had been looking. Zim stood imperiously, chest puffed out, his bow sliding expertly across the fiddlestrings.

Dib glanced at him, and decided to stop resisting the urge. He'd barely reached out to shove the green being when he was tackled bodily from behind.

Don't pick the tatoes b'fore SANTA COMES TO VISIT MEEEEEE!!!! the minstrel's little dog squealed in Dib's ear. It pounded on his back rhythmically before leaping off, performing a graceful pirouette in midair, and landing to throw its small black arms around Zim's waist. I loves yoooouu it cooed affectionately.

snapped the minstrel impatiently, and he stopped playing, turning away from the dog to shield his instrument.

KidK said, straightening up suddenly.

What, stink-slave?? the minstrel said in exasperation. Dib picked himself up from the ground and brushed off his clothes, fixing the little dog with a glare. The creature didn't take notice, it was far too busy clinging to its master and singing a requiem mass. Little Ivy clung to the gypsy girl's skirts, shaking with fear. KidK patted her antennae gently, but her attention was elsewhere. Dib looked up, then turned his head to follow her gaze.

Aubri had moved away from them and was standing at the very edge of what had once been a simple building. It towered upwards, except for the stone pillars that had come crashing down. Fires still licked at the beams inside of it, and the charred remains of an entire host of people inside littered the floor. Dib gulped nervously and edged his way over to stand next to his mentor. Even Zim was silent, for a moment, before he started playing the fiddle again. It was a requiem mass, the same one the little green dog was singing. At least he has some sense of decency, Dib thought numbly, staring down into the blackened face of someone who he thought must've had a nicer time in life than in death.

There's only one survivor, Aubri said softly, and he stepped past Dib, robes swishing against the ash covered floor. Dib gulped, and followed him. A bright flash of light went off against a heap of burned cadavers, and Dib suppressed the urge to retch at the sight.

this is really gross, JC said from behind him, sounding almost awed. Dib nodded, feeling even more sickened.

Almost there Aubri murmured.