XOXOXO What Happened To That Bard

The amulet paused as they came to acorridor where muffled sobs crept through the large steel door. Punkin, had never met a door that she could not get into by dexterity or force; she'd find away through it. It looked nearly unpickable so Punkin revealed one of her flare bombs and placed it at the foot of the doorway which conveniently stood a half sleeping guard in silver armor. Punkin made a quick run for it as she triggered the wick with a silent combustion spell and rounded the first corner as the hallway erupted into a sea of bright orange and yellow oscillation. It was as if she opened a door that housed the sun. She heard five pairs of feet racing downward toward her and made a soundless presage that filled the hallway with ice boulders and formed an impenetrable fortress of ice. Punkin took this opportunity to find out who the cries were coming from. She appeared in the entrance and saw an unclothed body, female with matted black hair, curled head covered by her hands, massed in the farthest corner wall buckled by her hands and neck to the building.

The crying ceased as the near lifeless form seemed to notice the intrusion of Punkin, "Haven't you had enough yet? Leave me in peace you…you bastard!"

"I…"

"Oh, are you his replacement? Or just a guard looking for sport?" The last word was full venom, "Well? What are you standing there for? A chained young woman too much for you to handle? Get it over with-please."

Punkin stood agape. A million feelings flooded her bloodstream as she began to piece together what this young girl was saying to her.

"Hurry up!" she scream causing the spines on her back to ripple backward, then her voice softened, "Please, hurry. I can't stand being torment just do whatever you wish with me. My god has already forsaken me, my heart can't take much more."
"Are you a prisoner?" Punkin said softly as she approached the crying girl.

"Pun-Punkin," Amberlee's tear-soaked face looked at her. It was bruised like most of the emaciated body and her bright blue were ringed with crimson bolts, "You-came-for us."

"AMBERLEE!" Screamed the bard and sprinted at the speed of light to gather her in her arms, "Are you o-" Punkin stopped knowing that she wasn't fine.

"H-h-he. I can't even speak of all the things he did to me," Amberlee's eyes were filled with hurt. Punkin's breath grew hot as she unscathed her blade and shattered through all three confinements with a fatal swing of her rapier.

"Who did this? I killed the bastard…"

"He's too powerful."

"I don't care. I've fought dragons and Gods of Creator Races…I think a rapist will be simple work for me." Punkin said as she quickly put Amberlee's armor back on her.

"You don't understand, he's a demon… I could not even turn him away. We need to find Meris and get out of this place."

"I don't run. I'll make this guy pay off this," Punkin fumed as she felt tears roll down her cheeks.

"You really care about me, right."

"Of course I do. You irritate me at times but you are… sort of my family, similar to a little sister." Punkin said as she pulled out a healing pack and began to heal the wounds on her fallen friend's exterior body. She wished she could heal the pain that she felt inside the paladin's soul but knew that was impossible.

"I'm-sorry about your parents. I didn't know…"

"What are you trying to do, make me cry more?" Punkin smiled and gave her a hug and then gave her the Holy Avenger that sat idle in the opposite corner, "Don't worry about it. Right now we need to find our wizard."

XOXOXO When Meris Meet PaPa

Meris jump up and away from the doorway as he heard the steel door begin to move and in walked the giant, horn-crowned, purple beast glittering with a golden robe and projecting a twinkle in his eye.

"Who are you?" Meris asked as he stepped back a few more steps.

"I am your benefactor, your vicar, plainly speaking I'm your father…know which one of those goody-goodies did I boink to create you," the purple beast rubbed the skin under his chin and looked blankly at Meris.

"S-S-Salandra S-S-Sensbane," said Meris as he continued his slow retreat.

"Ah yes. She was a hand full, very feisty…if you know what I mean," he said with a half smirk on his face.

Meris stood up straight and looked up at the muscle ripped demon, "Don't talk about my mother like that."

"I'll speak to anyone in any fashion I wish to, now…"

"Now?"

"Yes, for the last 17 years I was bound, controlled by your mother and unable to have any of my…fun."

"You mean sex."

"You catch on fast, I guess that's why you went into the magical arts. Most of my other sons tend to enjoy blades and warfare…you seem different."

"I am different. I'm not like you. I don't rape women…"

"I know, you kill them. That's why I'm enthralled with you."

"I'm not a killer, I just defended myself…"

"Right against an army of unarmed dryads, you are delusional..."

"Where is the girl that I was brought here with?" Meris demanded as he started to heave air in and out of his chest unrhythmically.

"Why? Is she your girlfriend?"

"No, she is my friend…"

"Demons and paladins aren't friends…"

"I'm no demon…"

"So those horns are for some ritual or something."

"I may have demonic blood in me but I'll never allow myself to succumb to it, understand."

"You are regretting your lineage." The demon grew a darker purple and began to shake, "You little snot-nosed brat. I've given you everything and this is what I get." Meris began to back up as he slowly mouthed the first spell that popped in his head. "You'll never leave this place. And as far as your friend goes, let's just say she came in here a girl and is now a woman," Meris focused on the spell and noticed the amulet that seemed to choke the demon's neck, glowing purple.

"Calla yuma della freun!" Screamed Meris as a rush of energy exited his body and surge through the room causing all movement but Meris' to stop. Meris grabbed the amulet and snatched it off the demon's head and ran through the door and noticed the waving black strings of Amberlee and the frozen bouncing locks of Punkin racing around the nearest corner. Meris' heart stop at the sight of his two dearest friends and he looked into the curvy face of Punkin. He flicked back a tendril of her hair that was covering her lips and grabbed her cheeks with his trembling hands and pressed his quivering lips to her's sending him a rush of electricity through his entire system. He felt the ebb of time reboot and looked into Punkin's astonished eyes as he pulled away from her face.

"So," Punkin cheek filled with pinkness, "I see that you are glad to see me."

"I'm sorry I haven't done that enough…I-I love you, Punkin Capernun." Meris said as he hugged her tightly and then looked over to Amberlee, who's eyes seemed much different than they did the last time he saw them, "I care about you too, Amberlee."

"I-I know but…"

"She's not having a good day," Punkin said as she wrapped an arm around the red-eyed girl. Meris did the same forming a triangle and as they did the amulets began to glow along with Amberlee's longwsord.

"How disgustingly touching," spoke the demon as he raced toward the trio but hit what was normal nothingness but seemed to be a Waterdhavian wall, "Those damn amulets. You have them don't you."

Punkin looked up and said, "Of course we do, you didn't think we were as dumb as you, did ya."

Just then the amulets began to circle around the huddle and then flew over to the halted beast.

"No!" Screamed the demon as the purple light began to absorb him, "I don't want to go." And with those last words he was gone and the amulets combined forming a single purple stone and flew to Amberlee fusing with the hilt of her Holy Avenger.

"I don't think Sharwyn going to believe this tale," Punkin said as the tower began to shake and three ran toward the nearest window and dove, hand clasped together into the moat not even attempting to see the structure implode on itself.

The End

After they land on dry land…

Punkin- So….when do we get married?

Amberlee- I could do the service…

Meris- M-M-Marriage, aren't we- looks around for inspiration -YOUNG.

Punkin- I want a huge ring, and a tiara and a long purple dress with diamonds on the sleeves and a golden stallion and we need to move out of that Academy……

Fin, REALLY