The Head was swarming with activity as citizens from all over the isles were arriving. Thousands had already gathered on the circular grounds surrounding the elevated platform where the coven heads were soon to meet and commence with the event. Dozens of airships approached the area, laden with passengers from all over. On one stood Hana Hasdrubal, who was leaning on the side rails as she looked down at the large crowds.
"So you really think this is a good idea?" A voice asked from behind her.
Hana breathed in deeply as she continued to take in her surroundings. "I know what we agreed upon, but things have changed. Boscha is in a bad place and right now she needs the both of us."
A bespectacled red haired man with a similarly colored goatee leaned on the rail on her right as he joined her in taking in the view. "When you put it that way, I guess I can't argue." He said before turning to her. "What about us? Can we really make this work?"
"Well the way I see it Leonard, we're fifteen years older and hopefully that much wiser. There was a time when we were inseparable. Maybe, just maybe we can find that spark again."
Leonard chuckled as he placed a hand over hers. "You know I spend a lot of time on my own and in all that time, I always thought about you and Boscha and how we could have had... something." He sighed as he removed his glasses with his free hand. "Still, I'm not sure I'll be accustomed to being a family man, at least...not at first. I'll come with you after this, find a nice place in Bonesborough and take it nice and slow to introduce myself to her." Hana smiled at him as the their airship was coming in for a landing.
At the treasure shack, Skara was up bright and early as everyone else still slept. She headed outside to see the sun rising and took in a deep breath to keep herself calm for what was about to come. As she went to light a small fire to prepare breakfast for the group, Skara heard snoring and walked around the left side of the hut and found Puddles curled up nearby. "Awe, adorable." She said as she saw both Viney and Boscha cuddled up together resting their backs on the griffon. Skara teleported a blanket to herself and covered the two over before pulling out her scroll, taking one swift picture and walking off to finish her task.
Boscha woke up not long after and her eyes slowly creaked open. Her vision focused as she immediately found herself staring face to face with the wide awake Viney who waggled her eyebrows at her in a seductive fashion. "Morning, sweet stuff." She said with a smile as a flustered Boscha scooted away from her and covered herself with the blanket.
"You will tell no one about this." Boscha hissed out before she got up and brushed herself off. She turned away from Viney before clearing her throat "Anyway, thanks for the lessons. I...appreciate it."
Viney got up as well as Puddles woke up as well and stretched out as she brushed up against her owner. "Don't mention it. Just remember what I taught you. Those little guys aren't the biggest beasts but they are a good beginner and more then they appear and you can summon them from anywhere."
Boscha nodded as the two soon saw the rest of the group up and getting prepped and proceeded to join them. Everyone sat down for a meal as Boscha and Skara went over the plan one final time. Soon everyone was geared up in the scout uniforms and each group was preparing to disembark. Along with Skara and the others, Boscha's group also brought along Matt for his illusion skills. He may have been new to it but he was the only illusionist the team had available.
"Okay team, it's time to head out." Boscha said before the group noticed someone from the roadblock team rush over. She couldn't remember his name but the brown-skinned boy with blonde hair was Skara's date for Grom. He raced over and took Skara's hands in his.
"Skara, I just want you to be safe up there at the Head and know that I'll be thinking of you the whole time. I love you." He confessed to her as she blushed.
"I love you two." Skara said as the two shared a kiss, much to Boscha's annoyance.
"Guys, we have a timetable to keep." Boscha said, failing to get the pair's attention.
Meanwhile a worried looking Mattholomule turned to Celine. "I love you too!" He shouted loudly. The crescent headed girl gasped and slapped him in return. Much to everyone's surprise after, she grabbed him and kissed him.
This made Boscha cringe even more. "Seriously, does the fate of the isles mean anything to you?"
"Um, Boscha..." Viney said as she walked up behind the girl.
"I swear to Titan, if you say you love me..." Boscha shouted into the air in frustration.
"What? No. I just wanted you to know I've got your back and no matter what happens today, despite everything, I'd be happy to consider you a friend." Viney wore a bright smile as one formed on Boscha's face as well.
"Oh, well...thanks." Boscha said simply as everyone got their goodbyes and random declarations of love out of the way and the two teams set out. Boscha's team headed out with Amelia and Cat riding on Puddles with Viney close by on her palisman to keep her calm. Boscha and Celine shared a ride on Maya as Skara did the same for Mattholomule. The group kept in tight formation as they made their way to their destination. The second group kept to the plan and worked in pairs to set up waylaying stations to turn back anyone approaching on the roads.
Boscha slowed her speed a bit and pulled up alongside Viney. "Got a sec?"
"Sure, what's up?" Viney asked.
Boscha took in a deep breath and then spoke. "I wanted to make you a proposal."
Viney playfully put a hand to her chest and blushed. "Ooh, Ms. Hasdrubal, this is all so sudden."
"Not that kind of proposal, you weirdo!" Boscha almost shouted before calming herself down. "I wanted to make you a business proposal. I heard what you said the day we got our palismans about setting up a veterinary clinic and I wanted to offer you a deal. I'm planning to play professional grudgby and I'd be happy to promote your clinic and invest in it."
Viney smiled as she had a raised eyebrow. Boscha was surprisingly full of surprises. "Wow. Yeah, I'd like that. Once this is all over, let's do it." She shook hands with the three-eyed girl.
"Once this is over." Boscha reiterated before she reached into her bag and pulled out a vial of blue liquid and handed it over to Viney. "Before I forget. Something I've been working on."
The other girl looked the substance over in confusion. "What is it?"
"Drink that down if we get in a pinch. Trust me it'll come in handy." Boscha flew back up to join Skara and Mattholomule. "Alright everyone, let's keep ourselves high and tight. Mattholomule, put those illusionist skills to good use and make our cover."
"Got it." Matt said. He focused on what they had discussed and, with some difficulty cast an illusion around the group to make the formation look like an airship from the Emperor's Coven. Of course, given his lack of training, the airship was quite crude in it's design but Skara figured staying at the higher altitude would mask any deficiency in the illusion.
The group kept a steady pace as everyone kept quiet as they approached several airships spaced apart throughout the area. "That's strange." Skara said.
"What is?" Boscha asked.
"Those airships. They should be patrolling down here but they look like they're heading away from the Head."
"Well as long as they stay far away from us that's fine with me." Boscha said as she watched them.
"What's going on over there?" Amelia asked as they spotted several airships a few miles away from their position, seemingly firing on one of their own. A few ships below them even turned off to see what was happening, making a clear path for Boscha and the others.
"Whoever is causing all that noise is giving us a golden opportunity." Boscha noted. "If they make it out of that, I definitely owe them one."
As they pressed on, another airship was flying below them, not close enough to see through the illusion, they hoped, but still a bit too close for comfort. Among the crew of this particular ship were Morvo and Seth who pestered one of the senior members. "I thought we were going to get to see the Day of Unity up close." Seth complained.
"Yeah. Why are we headed in the complete opposite direction?" Morvo questioned as the senior scout groaned in annoyance.
"Because that's what we were ordered to do. You aren't here to show off. You're here to follow orders. Now get back to your posts." He ordered the two who grumbled and got back to work.
Onboard the vessel one of the scouts stood alone on the brow of the airship as they looked up into the sky. "What is it?" Another crewman asked as. The first pointed into the sky as the second looked up to see the other airship flying high above them. "Huh, yeah, there isn't supposed to be any other ship heading that way, especially not at that altitude."
The second scout formed a spell circle and yellow light began to emanate from his mask's right eye slot. This enhanced his vision as he looked up into the sky at the other airship and could now see the shoddy illusion for what it actually was. "Bring it down."
The scout silently complied as they launched a red beam of energy up at the illusion. "Look out!" Boscha shouted as she spotted the attack. The beam flew up and pierced Amelia's shoulder as she screamed in pain. The attack caused Puddles to panic as she reared back and threw Amelia off as the illusion broke and the group took evasive maneuvers. Viney leapt onto Puddles and did her best to calm her down as Boscha and Celine raced to save Amelia before she hit the ground. They found their efforts thwarted as a net was launched from the airship and caught the two and caused Maya to slip from Boscha's hands.
Fortunately, Skara and Matt raced down and the later was able to perform a levitating field around Amelia just in time as they landed down in the forest below. Viney and Cat soon joined them despite the withering fire that came from the airship until they were underneath the tree cover. The two hopped down from Puddles, with Maya climbing down as well, and raced over to the other three as Skara had propped the green haired girl against a tree as she looked at her injured shoulder.
"Don't worry. It'll be alright." Skara said comfortingly.
"I'm fine. I just need to...Ahhh!" Amelia attempted to get up but immediately felt the pain shoot through the area around her wound.
"It's okay. It's okay." Skara said as she kept her friend from getting up.
"Just lay still." Cat said as she knelt down and began to heal Amelia's wound to the best of her ability. "You'll be alright, but you aren't going to be moving around anytime soon."
Skara's eyes shifted back into the skies as she spotted the airship moving off. "Boscha and Celine are still up there. I'm going. Cat, will you stay here with Amelia?"
"Oh course." The spectacle wearing girl confirmed as she was still working on the hole in Amelia's shoulder.
"Matt, you stay with them. They'll need someone to watch their backs if the scouts come looking and your illusions will buy you all some time. Take my staff for some extra firepower just in case." Skara handed the boy her staff as he nodded. The girl held out her hand to Maya. "Let's go rescue our friend." The crab happily chirped as she transformed and landed in the gray haired girl's hands. She was joined by Viney as the two hopped on Puddles as they left the three others on the ground to rescue their friends.
On board the airship, Boscha and Celine were stuck in the net as both struggled to break out. "Well, what do we have here? It's good to see you again, Boscha. I just wish it were under better circumstances." The head scout said as he removed his mask to reveal Dieter, not sporting an eye patch over his left eye, a scar running horizontally across from the ear to the bridge of his nose. "And this must be your little friend from the casino. Nice to see you again."
Boscha's eyes narrowed as she looked up to him with Celine looking a bit nervous. "It looks like Amelia left you a little parting gift from the last time." Boscha said as she gave a small smirk.
Dieter smiled back and put his mask back on. "Entirely my fault for letting my guard down. I do have to commend her for her skill. Though I do have to apologize for the branding." He turned toward another scout who removed his mask and hood to reveal the blue-skinned Ridwan. "Some people don't know when to hold back."
"Sore loser." Boscha shot at him with a smile as the Jiangshi attempted to march towards her only for Dieter to hold him back and turn him away.
"Let's all cool it down." Dieter said.
"We don't have time for this. You need to listen to us." Celine said in desperation. "Emperor Belos is lying to everyone. He's using some sort of draining spell to eliminate everyone once the Day of Unity begins!"
Dieter stood quiet for a moment before stepping back. "Yeah, I know." The casual manner in which he said it caught the two completely off guard. "We've had spies in inside the inner circle for a long time and we got intel on what this all really was."
"If you know that than why aren't you doing anything about it?" Boscha asked.
"Because there's no point." Dieter said in response. "Belos has too many people loyal to him. We convinced and rallied about two-hundred or so members in the covens of his intent and we all agreed that even with our numbers we were heavily outmatched. There's some group inside the coven heads that are planning something today but that's doomed to fail itself. Besides that, we know that the emperor will be leaving the Boiling Isles via a portal and has no plans on returning. So we decided what's best is for us to be as far away from it when it starts as possible."
This news caught both Morvo and Seth by surprise as they looked to each other. "But everyone will die." Celine pleaded.
"Not exactly." Dieter stated. "Despite all of the hype around it. A surprising number of people on the isles, even those with sigils aren't attending today. You all know that better than anyone with how many in Bonesburough aren't there right now. And they'll need someone to give them direction when this is all over and that's where we come in. Our team is small by comparison but we'll bring stability to all of this and you and your friends can be a part of it."
"And everyone at the Head?" Boscha questioned.
"Regrettable casualties of an evil despot." He said simply.
Boscha's anger reached it's boiling point as she fought to get out of the net. "When I get out of this you'll be sorry. I'm going to take that mask and shove it up your..." She was cut short as a buzz saw energy construct flew through the air and cut the net, missing both girls and freeing them to get up. Dieter turned to find Morvo with his hand outstretched with Seth holding two potion vials in his hands.
"Stand down, recruits." Dieter ordered as the half-dozen other scouts and Ridwan looked to them.
"We can't do that, sir." Seth said as they prepared for a fight. "We joined the coven to be awesome, not to help kill a bunch of people." Morvo stood by him as he held his crystal ball. "We're turning this thing around and warning everyone before it's too late."
At the same time, Boscha and Celine had gotten to their feet and were ready to fight. Celine drew her orb from her sleeve and looked to her friend, who held onto one of the few potions she'd brought with her in one hand and a fireball in the other. Boscha was hesitant to get into this engagement as she knew she would have to place her attacks well to take out as many as she could, not too confident in her beast-keeping skills just yet. Ridwan was the most concerning for her as he took everything she had in their last encounter and still got up no worse for ware. Dieter's eye shifted between them and the rebellious duo as he found himself wedged in the center. The scout leader gripped the hilt of the sword on his side as everyone looked to each other, waiting for someone to make the first move.
Morvo and Seth sweated as Ridwan's eyes were trained on them. Even behind his tinted shades, they could see the furious red glow of his eyes behind them as he prepared to pounce on them. Once the fighting started the duo knew that anyone in the blue skinned teen's sights would immediately regret it.
The stalemate was broken when everyone heard the loud cry of a griffon beneath them as Puddles rose to their level with Viney and Skara on her back. Skara, wielding Maya swung the staff and sent an energy blast that hit one of the scouts and scattered the others. The scouts retaliated by launching various attacks at the riders as Skara deflected some before leaping onto the ship, allowing Viney to take evasive maneuvers. In the confusion, Ridwan rushed Morvo and Seth, grabbing them by their throats before hurling them over the side.
"I got them!" Celine said as Boscha was puzzled and horrified as the girl leapt over the side of the craft and went after her two classmates. She held her crystal ball tightly as she focused her mind and the entity appeared and wrapped around her waist, forming a sort of shroud around her. The girl kept her eyes on the two as the descended towards the ground as she finally caught up to them, the entity grabbing the two in it's hands just as they reached treetop level. Celine forced the entity to pull with all it's might as it's levitating form trying to keep in the air with the added weight. The group crashed through the trees and skidded just above the ground before the entity dissipated and they landed face first in the grass.
Celine laid there motionless as Morvo and Seth laid on either side of her. The duo, their faces still in the dirt, each reached a hand over her back and gave a high five. "Awesome." They mumbled before Celine reached up both her arms and slapped them in the backs of their heads.
Back on the airship, Skara and Boscha were in the midst of the fight as the former wielded her friend's staff to keep the scouts away as Boscha hurled one of her potions. One of the scouts summoned an abomination that absorbed the potion only for it to solidify and turn into a stone statue. Dieter and two others attempted to intercept them but found themselves continuously hounded by the still airborne Viney who attacked with her staff and shielded herself from retaliation before flying off to strike from another angle. Dieter dove for cover and looked over to Ridwan. "Would you kindly deal with that?"
The blue skinned young man nodded in compliance as he pulled out a knife from his boot and walked over to the edge of the ship. He spotted the griffon and rider flying through the air and judged their course before hurling himself over the side. The Jiangshi glided down and landed on the back of the griffon, gripping her fur tightly as she panicked and climbed and swung back and forth. Viney looked back and saw the unwelcome passenger as he swung his knife at her several times before scoring a hit on her side, the girl screaming out. She grabbed his arm as the two wrestled over the blade on the unstable mount. She eventually won but lost her grip and fell off, luckily landing on top of the airship, the gas filled canvas making the perfect cushion for her landing.
Viney briefly clutched her side before utilizing her healing skills to patch herself up. She looked into the air in horror as Ridwan was still perched atop a fighting Puddles. He raised a hand and brought it down hard on the griffon's back between her wings, causing her to give out a high pitched screech before she went down. The Jiangshi leapt off her back and landed firmly on top of the airship.
"Puddles! No no no no!" Viney cried as she rushed to the edge of the airship before losing sight of the falling creature. She quickly drew her staff and prepared to save her companion only for the item to be ripped from her hands. She turned to find Ridwan standing there, his face emotionless as he held the palisman in his left hand, the creature burning his hand, though he seemed to soldier through it this time around. He looked down and tossed the staff over his shoulder as it landed near the rear of the vessel. Viney charged at him in anger, tears in her eyes and delivered a left and a right hook to his head. "That was for Puddles, you piece of..." He didn't even flinch from the blows and promptly silenced her as he grabbed her by the throat, lifted her from the ground and began to squeeze.
The Hexside girl gasped for air with futility, kicking her legs in any attempt to break loose. Her eyes were trained on his, hidden behind the dark spectacles, his demeanor never wavering from the blank look as she slowly began to lose consciousness. Ridwan was surprised when the girl swung his own knife at him, the weapon having been concealed in her sleeve as it ran across his chest, creating a large gash in his uniform. He quickly tossed her away, the girl almost going over the side but able to grip onto the canvas and just barely saving herself, the knife falling over the side. Meanwhile, he looked down and found that the wound had just grazed his chest before turning his attention back to his target.
Viney got to her feet and attempted to punch Ridwan only for him to tank another shot and retaliate with one of his own, knocking her down. He backhanded her as she landed on her stomach and began to attempt to crawl away from him. The coven scout stopped her escape and stepped on her left food as she winced in pain. He brought up his hand and prepared to finish her off only to be attacked by the girl's chimera palisman as it clung to his face, burning him as he staggered back and fought with it for a moment before gripping it in his hand and hurling it away. He tossed away his shades, his pupils glowing red against solid black sclera. Ridwan now sported a large burn mark on the right side of his face and his expression was now one of pure fury as he brandished his razor sharp fangs.
He approached and rolled her over to make her face him only to get an empty vial thrown at his head by the girl in a weak attempt at defiance as the she swallowed whatever was contained inside it. She tried to form a spell circle with her right hand only to have it stomped on by him as he prepared to finish this annoyance. He was surprised as a yellow aura began to emanate from her body. A shadow enveloped him as he looked up to his left and saw the griffon he believe he had dispatched earlier barreling towards him from above. The Jiangshi heard Viney chuckle as he looked down at her. "Oh you little bi..." He said before Puddles collided with him, knocking Ridwan over the side and sending him screaming as he plunged towards the ground.
"And that was for Boscha." Viney said as Puddles landed down and nuzzled her. "Thanks girl. Are you okay?" She hugged her before the glow around them began to increase. "This...this is new."
Back on the deck of the ship the crew were in a frenzy as Boscha had used what she learned to summon her pet pixie that had multiplied out of control and swarmed the crew. It had worked for a while until Dieter and another scout created a windstorm that blew them all away. The force of the attack knocked Boscha and Skara back against the railing of the ship. Skara unfortunately released Maya as she hit her head, rendering her unconscious, the palisman flying over the side.
"Skara?" Boscha tried in vain to stir her friend as she pulled her close.
"I'm disappointed." Dieter said as he stood over the two with his sword pointed at them. "You could have had everything, kid."
Boscha looked down at Skara and then back to the scout leader with a defeated look. "Yeah, and I'd still be left with nothing." She said as her third eye glowed orange. Almost instantly, Dieter began to scream as fire spewed from his right mask hole and he staggered backwards as some of the scouts tried to help him. Seeing her moment, Boscha hurled a round potion bottle with a skull on it at them as she threw herself and Skara over the side. Moments later the ship erupted in a massive explosion as the two fell to earth. Boscha pulled Skara in close and spun over so that her friend would be shielded from the majority of the impact from the fall. "I didn't think this through." She looked to the gray haired girl who was none the wiser of their predicament. "Well at least you'll make it out of this."
She closed her eyes and waited for the immanent crash and hoped it would be quick, only for nothing to happen. The wind had stopped blowing her hair and the feeling of descent had likewise completely ceased as she opened her eyes and found that the swarm of pixies that had been blown away had returned. The majority of them were underneath the two as they gently levitated them to the ground. Boscha laid on the ground with Skara as a lone pixie drifted down in front of her. "Thanks." Boscha said as the pixies swarmed around her, dropping Maya down onto her head before flying off.
"You okay girl?" Maya chirped several times happily to answer her partner. "Yeah, I definitely don't want to do that ever again. I don't know how half-a...Willow does it with that flyer derby thing."
"Bos...cha?" Skara said as she woke up and rubbed the back of her head. The three eyed girl breathed a sigh of relief as Skara slowly got to her feet.
"Careful. It's okay. Just take it easy." Boscha cautioned.
"Did we win?" Skara asked as she continued to massage the sore spot.
"Not yet we didn't." The two looked up and saw a bird like creature descending to the forest floor as it flapped a pair of wings on it's back. Upon further inspection the two girls were surprised to find that it was someone they recognized. She had a pair of talon like hands, her feet and tail were like a lions and had gray feathers covering a lot of her body.
"Viney?" The gray haired girl said as she looked shocked as her multi-track friend smiled.
"Yep. Well, me and Puddles together. It's amazing. I can actually see things from her perspective and think how she thinks. That potion works like a charm Boscha."
"I'll say." Boscha said in return as she looked over her work. "And your bile sac didn't even explode."
Viney chuckled. "Yeah, it's pretty...Wait, my what didn't what now?"
"Uh...hey, maybe you should check on Celine and the others." Boscha said quickly as Viney agreed and flew off to find their other friends. She turned her attention back to Skara. "You okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. I just need a minute." Skara said before the two spotted a large golden pillar of light emanating from the Head. "Oh no. We're too late!" She looked over to find Boscha clutching her right wrist, a series of yellow veins running up and down her arm.
"Aah!" Boscha fell to her knees as Skara joined Maya as the two checked on her. "Come on. We...need to get to the head."
Skara put her hands on her shoulders. "You can't. It's too dangerous. We need to get you away from here."
"No," The three-eyed girl struggled to get to her feet and leaned against a tree before she began to move forward. "Everyone is counting on me. She's counting on me."
Skara held her back. "Boscha, stop it! You can't."
"Get...out of my...way, Skara." The girl was defiant to the last but her bard friend was having none of it before wrapping her arms around her.
"Boscha, please! We'll find another way. I just..." Skara cried as tears rolled down her face. "I...I can't watch you die!"
Boscha closed her eyes and embraced her friend. "I know." Skara heard her say before the gray haired girl felt a sharp pain on the back of her next. She reeled back and clutched the spot as she saw a blue wasp like creature fly off. "That's why you won't have to. Sleep stingers. Viney showed me."
Skara's knees got weak as her eyes got heavier. "B-Boscha. Don't...don't do..." The girl lost consciousness again as the venom did it's work and she fell onto the ground.
"I'm sorry." Boscha said weakly, her energy draining every second as Maya chirped with concern. "Trust...me, Maya. It's...better this way. Come on." Maya hesitantly transformed into her staff form as Boscha struggled to get on and the two began to fly towards the light show in the distance. "Hang on, mom...I'm coming."