Author's notes: I don't have anything to say for this chapter, except this.
DEL, I have a feeling that you're gonna have my HEAD for what happens in
this chapter. (SSBFreak prepares to run)
Chapter four: Kidnap
The next day, Toppo was well enough to get out of bed. As Toppo thanked Tuta and Mio for everything, he left the Infirmary.
After Toppo left the main building of Budehuc Castle, he looked around. Suddenly he spotted Landis walking towards the Bujitsu Center, carrying a log. Curious to see what was up, Toppo followed the Winghorder.
As Toppo followed him, Landis continued marching past Juan's Bujitsu Center, where the blonde man was, obviously, asleep. Landis walked farther on, towards the ranch, which had burnt down several days ago, and if it wasn't for Reed's quick thinking, Kathy and her horses wouldn't have made it out.
When Toppo reached the ranch, he found out why Landis was taking the log to the ranch: Several of the castle's residents were rebuilding the stable! The frame of the ranch was almost done, and it already looked good.
After Toppo asked Leo, who was helping to build the stable, what was going on, he was given his answer. Apparently, while Toppo was still unconscious a couple of days ago, Reed simply walked out to the ranch with a hammer, nails and some wood. As Reed took down what was left of Kathy's stable, he was asked what he was doing. Reed simply answered. "You need to tear something down before you can rebuild it again.". That was enough to get several of the castle's residents to help out. Kathy, Leo, Landis, Peggi, Muto, Guillaume, Ace, Emily, Hugo and Futch were all helping Reed with the stable by the time Toppo woke up. Toppo agreed to help out as he grabbed a hammer.
Toppo sat on a beam a few meters off the ground, hammering a nail into another beam, and Ace was sitting beside him As Toppo helped out with the rebuilding, Ace looked over at him. "You seem pretty cheerful, Toppo." He observed. "What's up?"
"...I have a date tonight." Toppo replied quietly with a grin.
Ace's eyes bulged, then he held his head. "This is just not fair! Toppo gets a date before I can and he hardly ever talks!"
In frustration, Ace hurled his hammer downwards, not knowing what he was going to hit.
*CONK!*
"HEY!" Emily shouted as she rubbed her head. She grabbed Ace's hammer and threw it back, striking Ace in the forehead. Ace slumped forward and fell off the beam, landing on the ground with a dull 'thud'.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
"Okay, now that we're all here, would you PLEASE tell us what you want?!" Ex-council member Julian demanded.
After Thomas and co. came triumphant over councilor Julian, several of the members, Thomas' father included, were removed from office by their own knights, and replaced by new council members who actually cared more for the people than themselves. Since then, those council members, Julian especially, wanted revenge on the young castle master. After Julian received a message to come to a seemingly abandoned castle not to far off of Zexen territory, he gathered the fired council members and an attendant, and they all went to the large castle, where they met with their contact.
"It's quite simple." A figure in the shadows replied. "You want revenge on someone in Budehuc Castle, I want revenge on someone in Budehuc Castle. We need to work together if we're to be successful."
"Who are you?" Thomas' father asked, seemingly changing the subject.
The figure stepped out of the shadows and grinned slyly. "My name is not important at the moment." Mike said. "I merely want to help."
"Well, how are we going to get revenge?" Julian asked, getting impatient. "You have no soldiers, and the Zexen army isn't loyal to us anymore."
Mike's grinned got a little bigger. "That's easily fixed." He said.
Not taking his eye off the council members, Mike waved his hand. Then, in front of the council member's eyes, thousands of foot soldiers materialized out of thin air!
Julian smirked, seeing the large army. "Very well, mister. You have our attention. What are you proposing."
Mike slowly paced, staring at Julian. "You see, there a certain juggler in Budehuc Castle I want revenge on. I have a plan, but I need strategy. That's where you all come in. I need strategists." Mike smirked. "Here's the deal. If you help me, you'll soon see the downfall of Budehuc Castle."
Julian scratched his chin, seemingly thinking the deal over. After a couple minutes, he cracked an evil smirk. "Deal."
Mike grinned evilly. "Splendid! Here's the plan."
As Mike relayed the plan to the ex-council members, the attendant with them was getting more and more horrified. Sure, the council had done crooked things in the past, but nothing like this!
After Mike was finished, Julian was grinning evilly. "Sir, you have just come up with a spectacular plan! We of the council couldn't have come up with anything better!"
Mike stared at Julian. "Now here is where you come in." He said. "While I do have a plan, I've got no strategy to pull it off."
Julian looked back at the other ex-council members. They all nodded.
"This is a good way to get back at that stupid son of mine." Thomas' father added.
Julian looked back at Mike. "You have our support, sir."
"Great!" Mike said. "Come into the castle. My troops will show you all to your studies and accommodations."
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
After helping out at the stable, Toppo went around the castle, looking for something to do that would pass the time until his date with Mio. He had tried several things, such as helping clean up the remains of the theatre to make way for rebuilding it. Toppo went on the racetrack to see if he could beat Percival's time, but he was still three seconds to slow. Toppo had even gone into Goro's bathhouse when Jacques and Watari were already there. Nei had said that she had a bath earlier with Yumi and Mio, and they all became good friends afterwards, but Toppo didn't have such good luck. Jacques, Watari and Toppo were all silent almost the whole time.
Toppo had tried to do several more things throughout the day, but nothing pleased him more than helping Landis, Elliot and several other of the residents play pranks on Lilly.
Eventually, after what seemed like forever for Toppo, it was almost seven. Toppo quickly changed into something more formal than his normal attire, which turned out to be a beige jacket and brown pants with his normal shoes, and rushed over to the castle, hoping to catch Mio as she was getting off work. Toppo rushed through the castle and ran towards the Infirmary, his reddish-brown hair blowing around as he ran. Toppo had left his hat behind, as it didn't go very well with his formal outfit.
Toppo quickly arrived at the door to the Infirmary, and not a moment too soon. It was seven. The juggler knocked on the door, and almost right away, it was answered. Mio stood at the door, also dressed formally. Instead of her nurse outfit, Mio was dressed in a blue, sleeveless, floor-length dress, and black shoes. She wore a thin necklace with a small diamond attached to it, which seemed to sparkle under the Infirmary lights. Mio giggled when she saw Toppo's eyes widen.
"I got Tuta's permission to go back to my room at the Inn to get ready." Mio said. "After I got changed, I just came back to wait for you." When she noticed what Toppo was wearing, she smiled. "You look wonderful, Toppo." She said.
Toppo blushed as he too smiled. "...You too." He said softly. He held out his hand to Mio. "...Shall we go?" He asked.
Mio nodded as she took Toppo's hand. The couple left the Infirmary, leaving a smiling Tuta watching them go. While walking down the hallway, Mio turned to Toppo. "Where are you taking me?" She asked.
Toppo turned to her and smiled. "...Iksay."
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
An hour and a half passed. Toppo had taken Mio to a wonderful restaurant in Iksay, where throughout dinner, they each spent a good deal talking. Mio was surprised to see Toppo this talkative. Not once had he spoken this much outside of a play to anyone other than Nei or Shabon. After dinner, Toppo took Mio for a nice, long stroll through Yaza Plains, through a path where monsters never attacked. Throughout the walk, the juggler and nurse still talked. After a while, as the two were approaching Budehuc Castle, Mio felt Toppo wrap his left arm around her shoulder. Mio looked over at Toppo who smiled warmly at her. Mio returned the smile as Cecile greeted them at the gate to Budehuc Castle.
To Toppo, however, his date was finished yet. He led Mio through the castle until they arrived at Mamie's restaurant. Mio didn't know what Toppo had in mind until they reached a bench and he offered her a seat. Mio smiled as she sat down on the bench. With one quick movement, Toppo was sitting on the bench beside her.
Toppo wrapped an arm around Mio's shoulder as the two stared off into the glassy lake and the beautiful mountains on the other side. Toppo thought the night couldn't get any better.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Shabon laughed as she chased Melville, Alanis, Elliot, a Karayan boy and a Zexen girl around the main area of Budehuc Castle. The quartet of children were having a friendly game of tag, and at the time, Shabon was 'it'. She reached out her short arms and touched Melville's shoulder.
"You're it, Melville!" Shabon laughed.
As the four children played tag, Cecile stood at the front gate, watching the friendly game. The young guard smiled. She loved seeing kids having fun.
Suddenly, as Shabon was running around, she felt a large breeze blowing against her, nearly knocking her off her feet. Shabon shook her head back and forth as she slowly stood up.
"Whoa! What was that?" Shabon asked. She looked around but found herself staring at nothing but tall, black-clad legs. Shabon slowly looked up, but once she did, she wished she hadn't. Standing around her, surrounding her completely, were seven tall, black-clad soldiers!
Before Shabon had time to do anything, one of the soldiers had thrown a rope around her and started coiling it around her arms, pinning them to her sides. Instantly, Shabon started struggling, attempting to break free. Melville and the others were trying to attack the soldiers, but not only did they do no damage, but they were all kicked aside and knocked unconscious. Shabon was unsuccessful in struggling, and soon, the soldiers had tied her up.
One soldier looked at the others as he picked Shabon up. "You guys go back to the boss. I'll be right behind you." He said.
Shabon's eyes widened as all the other soldiers vanished into thin air. Suddenly, Shabon started struggling again, knowing that these 'things' were kidnapping her. She stared at the direction of Mamie's restaurant, knowing that Toppo was down there, and Nei was also in that area.
"TOPPO!!! NEI!!! HELP ME!!!" Shabon screamed before a thick cloth silenced her.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Mio stared at the beautiful lake and smiled. She had always been so busy with the patients at the Infirmary that she had never taken the time to look at a calm lake under the moon and stars on a cloudless night. She looked over at Toppo and smiled warmly. "Thanks for the wonderful night, Toppo." She said. "I've have a great time."
Toppo turned to looked at Mio, her eyes sparkling under the moonlight, which also showed the radiant beauty of her face that the lights of Nadir's theatre couldn't take. "...Me too." He said with a smile.
Somehow, Toppo and Mio found themselves staring into each other's eyes, neither wanting to look away.
{Oh, how can I tell her that I love her?!} Toppo thought. {Maybe a kiss would help...}
{Toppo's been so nice to me! I feel some sort of strange feelings when I'm with him...} Mio thought. {Am I falling in love with him?!}
Still staring into her eyes, Toppo spoke. "...You're so beautiful." He said softly.
Both Toppo and Mio found themselves drawing their faces closer to each other. Both newfound lovers closed their eyes as they were on the verge of kissing.
However, as soon as their lips were inches away from each other, a shrill scream pierced the silence.
"TOPPO!!! NEI!!! HELP ME!!!"
Toppo's eyes sprang open, immediately recognizing the voice. Mio did the same. Both pulled away from each other as they looked in the direction of the scream.
"Shabon!" Toppo cried.
"Let's go!" Mio said.
Toppo didn't argue. He simply stood up and rushed away from the restaurant, followed closely by Mio.
Both Toppo and Mio tore through Budehuc Castle, hoping that they'd reach Shabon in time. Soon, they arrived at the main area of the castle. Everyone in the area was lying on the ground, unconscious. Well, almost everyone. A lone figure stood in the middle of the area, holding a bound and gagged girl under his arm. Toppo's eyes sprang open in horror.
"SHABON!"
Toppo tore at the figure holding his young friend. Unfortunately, just as he came within reach, the figure vanished into thin air, taking Shabon with him. Toppo ended up flying past where the figure once stood and found himself face down on the ground. When Toppo didn't move, Mio rushed over to him, thinking he was unconscious. However, when she reached him, she heard a soft sob coming from the juggler.
"It's happened..." Toppo sobbed. "It's actually happened. I-I-I couldn't save her."
"Toppo!"
Mio looked in the direction of the voice, as did a teary-eyed Toppo. They both saw a blue-haired elf girl running over to them.
"What happened?" Nei asked. She looked around. "Where's Shabon?"
Toppo and Mio's eyes sprang open as they looked at each other. How were they going to tell her?
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Shabon's eyes sprang open when she saw several former members of the Zexen Council, one of which was Thomas' father, when she materialized under her captor's arm. She wasn't expecting the council to pull off something like THIS.
Julian snickered when he saw Shabon. "Excellent. I guess our strategy worked." He turned to the figure holding Shabon. "Lock her up until the next phase takes effect."
The soldier nodded as he carried his prisoner into the castle.
Julian smiled evilly. This plan to take revenge on Budehuc was going smoothly. Suddenly, he heard a voice from behind.
"Sir?"
Julian turned around and found himself staring at the young council attendant. "What is it?" Julian asked.
"I'm out." The attendant said plainly.
Julian raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"
"I'll have no part in this, sir." The attendant replied. "The council has just become too corrupt to stoop as low as this."
Julian narrowed his eyes, his rage flaring. "You DARE speak to your superior that way?!" He shouted.
"You're no longer my superior, scum!" The attendant replied. "I'm getting out of here before things get any lower!"
Without another word, the attendant turned around and ran off. As he watched the attendant run off, Julian smirked evilly. Three soldiers stood behind him.
"Kill him." Julian said to the soldiers behind him. The soldiers complied with his wishes and ran off after the attendant.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Shabon cried silently as she sat in a dark room, ropes holding her to a chair. She had been locked up for only three minutes, and already her wrists were sore and she was beginning to hate the taste of the cloth in her mouth.
Suddenly, she heard what sounded like something materializing in the shadows. Shabon stopped crying and looked into the shadows, only to see a strange figure in a cloak walk out.
"Well, well, well." The figure said. "My servant made an excellent choice for a prisoner."
Slowly, the figure walked over to Shabon, who was horrified at thinking what the person could do to her. Shabon's worst fears were confirmed when she saw a dagger emerge from his/her pocket via hand. Shabon felt the blade of the dagger against her neck. She sobbed silently and closed her eyes, waiting for it all to end.
It never came.
Shabon opened her eyes to see the figure draw the dagger away from her neck. "No. I shouldn't do it." The figure said. "If the juggler found out, he'd defeat my servant, releasing him from my control. I'm not quite done with him yet."
The figure stepped away from Shabon and smirked. "Consider yourself lucky, girl." Without another word, the figure vanished, leaving Shabon alone again.
Tears of fear rolled down Shabon's eyes as she returned to her crying. {Toppo, Nei, someone please help Shabon.} She thought.
To be continued...
SSBFreak: Whew! That sure took me a while! Anyway, does anyone have any idea who this mysterious figure is?
Ace: (appears out of nowhere) I know! It's-
SSBFreak: DON'T SAY ANYTHING! YOU'LL WRECK IT! (SSBFreak goes Riot of Blood)
Ace: Eep! (runs away screaming like a little girl) SAVE ME, ELAINEEEE!!!
SSBFreak: (goes back to normal) Well, anyway, please read and review! Oh, and DEL, please don't get mad for what I did to Shabon in this chapter.
(SSBFreak runs away while DEL chases him with Landis' scythe)
Chapter four: Kidnap
The next day, Toppo was well enough to get out of bed. As Toppo thanked Tuta and Mio for everything, he left the Infirmary.
After Toppo left the main building of Budehuc Castle, he looked around. Suddenly he spotted Landis walking towards the Bujitsu Center, carrying a log. Curious to see what was up, Toppo followed the Winghorder.
As Toppo followed him, Landis continued marching past Juan's Bujitsu Center, where the blonde man was, obviously, asleep. Landis walked farther on, towards the ranch, which had burnt down several days ago, and if it wasn't for Reed's quick thinking, Kathy and her horses wouldn't have made it out.
When Toppo reached the ranch, he found out why Landis was taking the log to the ranch: Several of the castle's residents were rebuilding the stable! The frame of the ranch was almost done, and it already looked good.
After Toppo asked Leo, who was helping to build the stable, what was going on, he was given his answer. Apparently, while Toppo was still unconscious a couple of days ago, Reed simply walked out to the ranch with a hammer, nails and some wood. As Reed took down what was left of Kathy's stable, he was asked what he was doing. Reed simply answered. "You need to tear something down before you can rebuild it again.". That was enough to get several of the castle's residents to help out. Kathy, Leo, Landis, Peggi, Muto, Guillaume, Ace, Emily, Hugo and Futch were all helping Reed with the stable by the time Toppo woke up. Toppo agreed to help out as he grabbed a hammer.
Toppo sat on a beam a few meters off the ground, hammering a nail into another beam, and Ace was sitting beside him As Toppo helped out with the rebuilding, Ace looked over at him. "You seem pretty cheerful, Toppo." He observed. "What's up?"
"...I have a date tonight." Toppo replied quietly with a grin.
Ace's eyes bulged, then he held his head. "This is just not fair! Toppo gets a date before I can and he hardly ever talks!"
In frustration, Ace hurled his hammer downwards, not knowing what he was going to hit.
*CONK!*
"HEY!" Emily shouted as she rubbed her head. She grabbed Ace's hammer and threw it back, striking Ace in the forehead. Ace slumped forward and fell off the beam, landing on the ground with a dull 'thud'.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
"Okay, now that we're all here, would you PLEASE tell us what you want?!" Ex-council member Julian demanded.
After Thomas and co. came triumphant over councilor Julian, several of the members, Thomas' father included, were removed from office by their own knights, and replaced by new council members who actually cared more for the people than themselves. Since then, those council members, Julian especially, wanted revenge on the young castle master. After Julian received a message to come to a seemingly abandoned castle not to far off of Zexen territory, he gathered the fired council members and an attendant, and they all went to the large castle, where they met with their contact.
"It's quite simple." A figure in the shadows replied. "You want revenge on someone in Budehuc Castle, I want revenge on someone in Budehuc Castle. We need to work together if we're to be successful."
"Who are you?" Thomas' father asked, seemingly changing the subject.
The figure stepped out of the shadows and grinned slyly. "My name is not important at the moment." Mike said. "I merely want to help."
"Well, how are we going to get revenge?" Julian asked, getting impatient. "You have no soldiers, and the Zexen army isn't loyal to us anymore."
Mike's grinned got a little bigger. "That's easily fixed." He said.
Not taking his eye off the council members, Mike waved his hand. Then, in front of the council member's eyes, thousands of foot soldiers materialized out of thin air!
Julian smirked, seeing the large army. "Very well, mister. You have our attention. What are you proposing."
Mike slowly paced, staring at Julian. "You see, there a certain juggler in Budehuc Castle I want revenge on. I have a plan, but I need strategy. That's where you all come in. I need strategists." Mike smirked. "Here's the deal. If you help me, you'll soon see the downfall of Budehuc Castle."
Julian scratched his chin, seemingly thinking the deal over. After a couple minutes, he cracked an evil smirk. "Deal."
Mike grinned evilly. "Splendid! Here's the plan."
As Mike relayed the plan to the ex-council members, the attendant with them was getting more and more horrified. Sure, the council had done crooked things in the past, but nothing like this!
After Mike was finished, Julian was grinning evilly. "Sir, you have just come up with a spectacular plan! We of the council couldn't have come up with anything better!"
Mike stared at Julian. "Now here is where you come in." He said. "While I do have a plan, I've got no strategy to pull it off."
Julian looked back at the other ex-council members. They all nodded.
"This is a good way to get back at that stupid son of mine." Thomas' father added.
Julian looked back at Mike. "You have our support, sir."
"Great!" Mike said. "Come into the castle. My troops will show you all to your studies and accommodations."
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
After helping out at the stable, Toppo went around the castle, looking for something to do that would pass the time until his date with Mio. He had tried several things, such as helping clean up the remains of the theatre to make way for rebuilding it. Toppo went on the racetrack to see if he could beat Percival's time, but he was still three seconds to slow. Toppo had even gone into Goro's bathhouse when Jacques and Watari were already there. Nei had said that she had a bath earlier with Yumi and Mio, and they all became good friends afterwards, but Toppo didn't have such good luck. Jacques, Watari and Toppo were all silent almost the whole time.
Toppo had tried to do several more things throughout the day, but nothing pleased him more than helping Landis, Elliot and several other of the residents play pranks on Lilly.
Eventually, after what seemed like forever for Toppo, it was almost seven. Toppo quickly changed into something more formal than his normal attire, which turned out to be a beige jacket and brown pants with his normal shoes, and rushed over to the castle, hoping to catch Mio as she was getting off work. Toppo rushed through the castle and ran towards the Infirmary, his reddish-brown hair blowing around as he ran. Toppo had left his hat behind, as it didn't go very well with his formal outfit.
Toppo quickly arrived at the door to the Infirmary, and not a moment too soon. It was seven. The juggler knocked on the door, and almost right away, it was answered. Mio stood at the door, also dressed formally. Instead of her nurse outfit, Mio was dressed in a blue, sleeveless, floor-length dress, and black shoes. She wore a thin necklace with a small diamond attached to it, which seemed to sparkle under the Infirmary lights. Mio giggled when she saw Toppo's eyes widen.
"I got Tuta's permission to go back to my room at the Inn to get ready." Mio said. "After I got changed, I just came back to wait for you." When she noticed what Toppo was wearing, she smiled. "You look wonderful, Toppo." She said.
Toppo blushed as he too smiled. "...You too." He said softly. He held out his hand to Mio. "...Shall we go?" He asked.
Mio nodded as she took Toppo's hand. The couple left the Infirmary, leaving a smiling Tuta watching them go. While walking down the hallway, Mio turned to Toppo. "Where are you taking me?" She asked.
Toppo turned to her and smiled. "...Iksay."
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
An hour and a half passed. Toppo had taken Mio to a wonderful restaurant in Iksay, where throughout dinner, they each spent a good deal talking. Mio was surprised to see Toppo this talkative. Not once had he spoken this much outside of a play to anyone other than Nei or Shabon. After dinner, Toppo took Mio for a nice, long stroll through Yaza Plains, through a path where monsters never attacked. Throughout the walk, the juggler and nurse still talked. After a while, as the two were approaching Budehuc Castle, Mio felt Toppo wrap his left arm around her shoulder. Mio looked over at Toppo who smiled warmly at her. Mio returned the smile as Cecile greeted them at the gate to Budehuc Castle.
To Toppo, however, his date was finished yet. He led Mio through the castle until they arrived at Mamie's restaurant. Mio didn't know what Toppo had in mind until they reached a bench and he offered her a seat. Mio smiled as she sat down on the bench. With one quick movement, Toppo was sitting on the bench beside her.
Toppo wrapped an arm around Mio's shoulder as the two stared off into the glassy lake and the beautiful mountains on the other side. Toppo thought the night couldn't get any better.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Shabon laughed as she chased Melville, Alanis, Elliot, a Karayan boy and a Zexen girl around the main area of Budehuc Castle. The quartet of children were having a friendly game of tag, and at the time, Shabon was 'it'. She reached out her short arms and touched Melville's shoulder.
"You're it, Melville!" Shabon laughed.
As the four children played tag, Cecile stood at the front gate, watching the friendly game. The young guard smiled. She loved seeing kids having fun.
Suddenly, as Shabon was running around, she felt a large breeze blowing against her, nearly knocking her off her feet. Shabon shook her head back and forth as she slowly stood up.
"Whoa! What was that?" Shabon asked. She looked around but found herself staring at nothing but tall, black-clad legs. Shabon slowly looked up, but once she did, she wished she hadn't. Standing around her, surrounding her completely, were seven tall, black-clad soldiers!
Before Shabon had time to do anything, one of the soldiers had thrown a rope around her and started coiling it around her arms, pinning them to her sides. Instantly, Shabon started struggling, attempting to break free. Melville and the others were trying to attack the soldiers, but not only did they do no damage, but they were all kicked aside and knocked unconscious. Shabon was unsuccessful in struggling, and soon, the soldiers had tied her up.
One soldier looked at the others as he picked Shabon up. "You guys go back to the boss. I'll be right behind you." He said.
Shabon's eyes widened as all the other soldiers vanished into thin air. Suddenly, Shabon started struggling again, knowing that these 'things' were kidnapping her. She stared at the direction of Mamie's restaurant, knowing that Toppo was down there, and Nei was also in that area.
"TOPPO!!! NEI!!! HELP ME!!!" Shabon screamed before a thick cloth silenced her.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Mio stared at the beautiful lake and smiled. She had always been so busy with the patients at the Infirmary that she had never taken the time to look at a calm lake under the moon and stars on a cloudless night. She looked over at Toppo and smiled warmly. "Thanks for the wonderful night, Toppo." She said. "I've have a great time."
Toppo turned to looked at Mio, her eyes sparkling under the moonlight, which also showed the radiant beauty of her face that the lights of Nadir's theatre couldn't take. "...Me too." He said with a smile.
Somehow, Toppo and Mio found themselves staring into each other's eyes, neither wanting to look away.
{Oh, how can I tell her that I love her?!} Toppo thought. {Maybe a kiss would help...}
{Toppo's been so nice to me! I feel some sort of strange feelings when I'm with him...} Mio thought. {Am I falling in love with him?!}
Still staring into her eyes, Toppo spoke. "...You're so beautiful." He said softly.
Both Toppo and Mio found themselves drawing their faces closer to each other. Both newfound lovers closed their eyes as they were on the verge of kissing.
However, as soon as their lips were inches away from each other, a shrill scream pierced the silence.
"TOPPO!!! NEI!!! HELP ME!!!"
Toppo's eyes sprang open, immediately recognizing the voice. Mio did the same. Both pulled away from each other as they looked in the direction of the scream.
"Shabon!" Toppo cried.
"Let's go!" Mio said.
Toppo didn't argue. He simply stood up and rushed away from the restaurant, followed closely by Mio.
Both Toppo and Mio tore through Budehuc Castle, hoping that they'd reach Shabon in time. Soon, they arrived at the main area of the castle. Everyone in the area was lying on the ground, unconscious. Well, almost everyone. A lone figure stood in the middle of the area, holding a bound and gagged girl under his arm. Toppo's eyes sprang open in horror.
"SHABON!"
Toppo tore at the figure holding his young friend. Unfortunately, just as he came within reach, the figure vanished into thin air, taking Shabon with him. Toppo ended up flying past where the figure once stood and found himself face down on the ground. When Toppo didn't move, Mio rushed over to him, thinking he was unconscious. However, when she reached him, she heard a soft sob coming from the juggler.
"It's happened..." Toppo sobbed. "It's actually happened. I-I-I couldn't save her."
"Toppo!"
Mio looked in the direction of the voice, as did a teary-eyed Toppo. They both saw a blue-haired elf girl running over to them.
"What happened?" Nei asked. She looked around. "Where's Shabon?"
Toppo and Mio's eyes sprang open as they looked at each other. How were they going to tell her?
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Shabon's eyes sprang open when she saw several former members of the Zexen Council, one of which was Thomas' father, when she materialized under her captor's arm. She wasn't expecting the council to pull off something like THIS.
Julian snickered when he saw Shabon. "Excellent. I guess our strategy worked." He turned to the figure holding Shabon. "Lock her up until the next phase takes effect."
The soldier nodded as he carried his prisoner into the castle.
Julian smiled evilly. This plan to take revenge on Budehuc was going smoothly. Suddenly, he heard a voice from behind.
"Sir?"
Julian turned around and found himself staring at the young council attendant. "What is it?" Julian asked.
"I'm out." The attendant said plainly.
Julian raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"
"I'll have no part in this, sir." The attendant replied. "The council has just become too corrupt to stoop as low as this."
Julian narrowed his eyes, his rage flaring. "You DARE speak to your superior that way?!" He shouted.
"You're no longer my superior, scum!" The attendant replied. "I'm getting out of here before things get any lower!"
Without another word, the attendant turned around and ran off. As he watched the attendant run off, Julian smirked evilly. Three soldiers stood behind him.
"Kill him." Julian said to the soldiers behind him. The soldiers complied with his wishes and ran off after the attendant.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Shabon cried silently as she sat in a dark room, ropes holding her to a chair. She had been locked up for only three minutes, and already her wrists were sore and she was beginning to hate the taste of the cloth in her mouth.
Suddenly, she heard what sounded like something materializing in the shadows. Shabon stopped crying and looked into the shadows, only to see a strange figure in a cloak walk out.
"Well, well, well." The figure said. "My servant made an excellent choice for a prisoner."
Slowly, the figure walked over to Shabon, who was horrified at thinking what the person could do to her. Shabon's worst fears were confirmed when she saw a dagger emerge from his/her pocket via hand. Shabon felt the blade of the dagger against her neck. She sobbed silently and closed her eyes, waiting for it all to end.
It never came.
Shabon opened her eyes to see the figure draw the dagger away from her neck. "No. I shouldn't do it." The figure said. "If the juggler found out, he'd defeat my servant, releasing him from my control. I'm not quite done with him yet."
The figure stepped away from Shabon and smirked. "Consider yourself lucky, girl." Without another word, the figure vanished, leaving Shabon alone again.
Tears of fear rolled down Shabon's eyes as she returned to her crying. {Toppo, Nei, someone please help Shabon.} She thought.
To be continued...
SSBFreak: Whew! That sure took me a while! Anyway, does anyone have any idea who this mysterious figure is?
Ace: (appears out of nowhere) I know! It's-
SSBFreak: DON'T SAY ANYTHING! YOU'LL WRECK IT! (SSBFreak goes Riot of Blood)
Ace: Eep! (runs away screaming like a little girl) SAVE ME, ELAINEEEE!!!
SSBFreak: (goes back to normal) Well, anyway, please read and review! Oh, and DEL, please don't get mad for what I did to Shabon in this chapter.
(SSBFreak runs away while DEL chases him with Landis' scythe)