He wasn't sure what he was going to do.

He knew that he wasn't being smart. While he was the type who liked to stay on his toes, play things by ear, and be adaptable to his situations. He always liked to have a clear outline of a plan with various options.

All he knew was that he was going to kill the Grand Wizard. He had to.

It was too late for Red. Sure, he never trusted her for a moment of his life. He never let himself care about her too much. Still, he didn't want her to die.

But it wasn't too late for Clyde. He could still be saved. He could still be free.

Craig and Clyde, free from this awful city. Free from this awful kingdom. Free to finally build what they had so desperately wanted for so long.

He realized his fantasies were uncharacteristically hopeful for him. Perhaps he was so far down that he needed some semblance of hope. But now all he could afford to pin his hopes on was the look the Wizard's face when he finally slit his throat.

In the back of his mind, a voice screamed that he was being stupid. There was no way he could take down the Grand Wizard. He wouldn't be able to even come near him.

Not only did the voice in his head tell him this, but so did a physical one.

"Feldspar, please don't do this!" Bebe cried, as she visited his place once more in an attempt to stop him, "You know you would just get caught. I'd only lose you too. Please don't do this, I've already lost too much."

"Don't act like I mean anything to you," he rolled his eyes as he started to close the door on her.

"Only because you don't let me!" she yelled, grabbing his wrist that reached for the door, "Only Clyde. Not Red, not me, not anyone else. Don't throw away your life like this-Clyde wouldn't want-"

"Don't act like you know what Clyde wants," Craig pushed her hand away, "You don't know what he wants. No one knows what he wants except for me."

She slowly brought both her hands to her sides, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Fine then," she said in a calm voice, "Do your useless suicide mission. See if I care once you're gone. See if anyone cares."

"Well, I can't do that if I'm dead, now can I?" he scoffed.

Bebe glared at him. It was clear she was finished trying with him. Without another word, she left, slamming his own door in his face.

Craig could hear her footsteps as she stomped away down the stairs, gradually growing softer and softer until they finally disappeared. When he heard she was gone, he punched the door, nearly breaking it apart from its hinges. He pushed his back to the wall and slid down to sit on the floor. His head hurt. He tangled his fingers in his hair beneath his hat.

Bebe was right. He knew she was. And yet, that still didn't change his mind in the slightest.

Craig was a logical person. In fact, others often said he was overly logical to a fault. He always liked to go with the most reasonable course of action, even if it was not the one with the highest potential.

He had also gone through tragedy and hardship no one in this spoiled city could ever dream of. Yet it was always okay because, despite everything, he always had Clyde at his side. Without him, he felt like he was going to puke.

Clyde was counting on him. He was alive out there, waiting for him.

Legs shaking, Craig forced himself to stand back up. He gripped the stolen knight's blade tightly in his hand. He knew he should just get it over with. Three days had passed already and he hadn't actually done anything.

Maybe he was simply overthinking it. It was a job, like any other. It would be like a job to pickpocket him. Only, instead of reaching his hand into his pocket, he would be shoving a blade into his vital organs. With that perspective on his mind, he opened the door Bebe had slammed in his face and went down the stairs.

Feldspar was a thief. Not an assassin. Over the years he often got many job offers to kill, often for extremely high wages. Yet he always turned them down. It wasn't that he didn't think that a lot of the people weren't scum who probably deserved to be killed, but that wasn't the path he had decided to go down-workwise anyway. Not to mention, he already had Wendy Testaburger on him trying to pin him down for a murder.

Still, he always thought he hypothetically would make a good assassin. He was good at being covert and under the radar. He was good at sneaking up behind people. He was good at leaving no trace of his presence. He wasn't classically trained in combat like a knight, but he thought of himself as capable in hand to hand combat and pretty handy with a short blade or knife.

Of course, all of that would be useless against someone with all the magic in the world. He would have to use his stealth method. Sneak up on him in his chambers and stab him from behind. He tried to tell himself that even if he was caught, if it was a spell that was cast on Princess Kenny it would surely break and she would no doubt pardon him and order Clyde freed as thanks. Or, at the very least, even if he was killed in retaliation, the Princess would still free Clyde. Which was what really mattered.

It was easy. It would be easy. He could do it.

Yet when he finally reached the castle he felt his stomach drop to the ground.

But he had already made it this far. No turning back now.

He examined the castle's exterior the best he could. He had already been in it, so it wasn't like he was going in blind. He made sure the last time he went to the palace to pay attention to all the important details he could. As soon as he entered it with Bebe, he made sure he paid attention to every guard, every window, anything that could help him in future scenarios. But then, that was second nature for him anywhere he went over the years.

He knew the tallest tower housed the zombified princess. He knew the Royal Family's chambers were once above the grand staircase, likely where the Grand Wizard himself now lived. He also knew that there must be separate staircases for the help that would be more stealth for him to use. He also noticed a very sparse amount of knights and servants within the palace itself.

The guard at the front gate was different from the lady before. It was a young man this time, far more relaxed in stature. Craig was relieved. The woman was a hardass, but he would probably be much easier to get past. He would still have to think of a plan, but the advantage was his. He stared at the man a little longer. His initial plan was to sneak past any guard, but now he wondered if he should use an alternative method.

"Excuse me," Craig approached the guard casually.

Craig stopped himself. This plan of action meant he was going to be seen. It meant he could be later identified.

Well, it's not like he wasn't likely to get caught anyway, successful or otherwise.

"What're you supposed to be?" the guard asked with a crooked smile, raising his eyebrow. He had a very casual, laid back tone as Craig had expected and hoped he would. He would use this for his advantage.

"Is Butters around?" he asked in a monotone voice, feigning annoyance, "He said he'd meet me in the town square an hour ago."

"Butters-oh, ya mean that Paladin guy. Leopold, yeah?"

"Yup."

"Oh man he's a total airhead, that one. I saw him wander into the palace not long ago."

"Typical," Craig groaned, rubbing his temple.

"What did ya need him for anyways?" the guard asked.

"Important bullshit," Craig groaned, "I mean, it's important, but it's also total bullshit. You know how it is."

"Unfortunately," the guard laughed, "Want me to get 'em called over for ya?"

"Nah, he'd probably just make an excuse again," Craig frowned, "He always does. He's been avoiding me for fucking weeks now, always coming up with some excuse. I mean, we're good friends and all, but when it comes to actual important stuff he always does this shit to me. That's why I wanted to come here to try and corner him."

"Ah whatever, I probably shouldn't let you in, but no one's around. Just be quick and try and drag him out, okay?" the guard shrugged.

"Thanks man," Craig smiled, flipping the guard a gold coin in good measure, "I was thinking he'd be in the Wizard's chambers in the...second floor of east tower, wasn't it?"

"West tower," the guard caught the coin with a smirk, "But no, I think he's back out in the inner courtyard."

"Thanks."

Craig walked towards the hall that would lead courtyard in case he was being watched, but then stopped. That guard was dumber than he expected. It was a wonder how the Grand Wizard hadn't already been executed yet. Craig sighed, letting his knife slip down his sleeve from which he hid it into the grasp of his hand.

It was known he was here, so he would have to be quick.

He pressed his back to the wall. He was really doing this. No going back now.

Everyone knew the Grand Wizard was a lazy piece of shit. No doubt he would be in his bed chambers, probably fast asleep. He would slip into his room and press his knife against his fat throat. He would be dead before he even knew what hit him.

There would almost definitely be guards at his door, however. Probably at least two fully armed and suited up knights. Undoubtedly more ept that that dumb asshole at the entrance. They wouldn't just let him pass and even if they would wake the Wizard first. They would have his eyes on him the entire time.

The easiest way would be to sneak in from above or below. Risky, but there wasn't really an alternative. Below would be where any servants would be located, while above would be less likely to have anyone around. So above it was.

He made his way up the a winding staircase used for servants, avoiding the far more obvious grand staircase. It was nicer than that of the dreary staircase that led to the princess, but there was still a noticeable difference from the lavish decorations of the rest of the palace.

Craig pressed himself as closely to the wall as possible, hoping desperately that no servants were to pass him. He was always quite talented at walking slowly among the shadows-without a sound, without a presence. He carefully looked across the hallway when he reached the second floor of the tower. As he expected, two fully armed knights stood at a large doorway, all but confirming the bedroom of the Wizard.

With a small relieved sigh, he carefully and silently continued on up the winding staircase.

He made sure he examined the palace from the outside, so he knew exactly where all the windows were as well as the general layout of the palace. However, he knew that swinging from one window to another would almost definitely lead him to being seen from the outside, and even if he wasn't, the shattering of glass would be heard.

The floors would be too thick to cut through. Not to mention, once again, loud.

He didn't need either, however. He knew exactly what he was going to do.

It was rumored that there was a dumbwaiter that went between the two princesses' rooms. Princess Kenny claimed she wanted food to be delivered directly to her chambers, but it was said it was more frequently used for the two princesses to send each other secret messages.

It was just a rumor, but Craig believed it.

With the royal family gone, the third floor of the palace was vacant. It was sparsely decorated, and looked like it hadn't been dusted or tidied up in quite a long time. More like an abandoned attic, with dusty old tables and chairs than a once great wing of a palace that housed royalty for centuries.

With light footsteps, he went into the bedroom that would be directly above that of the Wizard's, hoping at praying that it not only existed, but that the Wizard did in fact claim one of the princesses rooms.

The bedroom was dusty and there was no lighting, yet he could still see that it was very soft and pink. Not littered with various things like that of Princess Kenny's prison. Much more subtle. More warm and loving. Like a lot of thought and care went into decorating the room, making sure that whoever lived there knew that they were loved.

It had to have been Princess Karen's room.

He didn't have time, but he found himself wanting to look closely at the room. For the most part, he knew that he was stalling, but he couldn't help but always be reminded of his sister. Karen was about the same age Tricia would be. If they were born into this life-

Craig found himself staring at a large painting over the light pink canopy bed. It featured the three royal children. An aloof Prince Kevin stood to the right looking off to the distance away from the painter, wearing princely garbs that even the painting made obvious were awkward on him. To his right, on the left side of the painting stood a much younger, young teenage Princess Kenny, smiling at a very young Princess Karen who stood in the center, an arm on her shoulder. The two princesses were both very beautiful.

He was definitely stalling.

He gripped his blade firmly in his hand and wandered to the far walls, looking for the supposed dumbwaiter. He pressed against the wall, unsure if it was hidden for security reasons. Finally, he realized what it was. It was a white little doorway that looked like a little cabinet. He opened it slowly and he could see the long rope going down below.

He waited a few seconds to see if it was in use. He wouldn't be surprised if the Wizard was using it frequently for fresh food from the kitchen. When he saw that nothing changed, he very slowly and carefully pulled the platform up.

The dumbwaiter was for food, not humans. He wasn't sure how much weight it could carry. If the rope snapped, this could end very badly. Still, he didn't exactly have other options and he knew the risks he was taking here anyway. With a deep breath, he pushed himself up and slowly slid onto the small platform.

He didn't budge. He let out a sigh of relief. This was it.

This was it.

His heart began pounding. Suddenly, the gravity of the situation hit him. He was mere moments away from a near suicide mission to kill the Grand Wizard Eric Theodore Cartman himself. He was going to try and covertly kill the most powerful being in all of Zaron. Even if he got away with it, the odds of him being quickly killed in revenge by his knights would be high. He hadn't even bothered to think of an escape plan.

He squeezed his eyes shut. This was to save Clyde. To get Clyde free from the terrible solitude of banishment, to allow Clyde to live out his dreams.

For Clyde, it was worth it.

He tried to take a deep breath, but he found himself nearly panting. This wasn't like him. He had to maintain focus, to be completely on the top of his game to succeed.

He attempted his deep breath again, slightly more successful this time. Good enough. With trembling hands, he slowly used the rope to lower himself down.

As he reached the second floor, he noticed the the door to the dumbwaiter was partially ajar. He was worried about how he was going to open it from the inside. He sat still and listened. He could hear the Wizard loudly snoring

A sick feeling rose up in him. How this was all so easy. Too easy. The guard who so naively let him in on his own, the lack of staff running into him, a dumbwaiter that was far too convenient-

He balled his free hand into a fist. He had no time to think about that right now. This was it.

Carefully, to avoid a squeaking sound of the door, he slowly pushed it open and very gently lowered himself to the floor. His hand tightened once more around the blade as he ever so carefully walked to the Wizard's bed where he so clearly laid. He took the smallest steps he ever had in his life, careful to make steps and breaths quiet enough to not disturb even the world's lightest sleeper. If only his pounding chest got the message.

After what felt like forever, he finally approached the large bed. The sleeping Wizard was facing away from him, towards the wall that which the bed was pressed against. No matter, Craig could carefully climb onto the bed and get the right angle to slit his throat.

Biting his lip, he carefully put his first knee on the bed, careful to not at all shift the mattress itself. It was soft, just like he expected royalty to sleep on. Not that he had time to dwell on that now. Instead, he carefully analyzed the movements of the Wizard to make sure he didn't wake him.

Slowly, he lifted his other leg up onto the bed, shifting the mattress a little more than he would have liked, instantly causing him to panic. The Wizard, however, only responded with another loud snore.

Very carefully, he shifted himself closer and closer to the Wizard on the massive mattress. He now gripped the blade with both hands, leaning further and further over to the Wizard.

Trying his luck, Craig gently let one hand touch the shoulder of the Wizard, gently guiding his body to lay down on his back, where he could get the best stabbing angle. The deep sleeping Wizard complied, rolling over with a light thump.

The Wizard was an ugly man, even in sleep.

He was ugly through and through. He turned Princess Kenny into a monster, ruined her family, murdered Red, banished Clyde.

A tear began forming in Craig's eyes. He didn't like to cry, and he hated that this man made him feel such negative emotions.

He hated this man more than he had ever hated another living soul.

With a sharp inhale, he grasped the blade with both hands above his head. He swung his arms down as hard as he could, aiming straight for the Wizard's neck.

It was quicker than a second.

Yet, somehow within that second came out a flash of light. The Wizard's eyes swung wide open with a glow. Not even sure what was happening, the flash of light blasted Craig, blasted him away from the Wizard and against the wall on the other side of the room.

Or at least, that's what he figured had happened. He was unconscious before he even hit the ground.

Craig figured that he died. That bright flash of light must have killed him. He wasn't really that upset by the concept. Annoyed, maybe, but not devastated.

He kind of figured he was going to die anyway, afterall. Still, he really wanted to succeed in killing the Wizard.

What would this mean for Clyde now?

Could he even tell in whatever stupid afterlife existed? Would he be doomed forever to know that he failed but would never know if Clyde ever became free?

It pissed him off.

"Feldspar," a voice called out.

Well, maybe the afterlife at the very least wasn't going to be solitary loneliness for all of eternity. Given the name called out, he could only guess that it was Red. He groaned. He honestly wouldn't have minded crushing solitude for all eternity if it meant he'd be left alone from annoying chatter.

"Feldspar, get up!" a voice called out in the darkness again. It didn't really sound like Red. He also realized he physically didn't know how to respond. He couldn't exactly find himself in the darkness that consumed him.

"Please wake up," the voice pleaded once more.

Those words sent a jolt into Craig. "Wake up." That would imply he wasn't dead. It wouldn't make much sense, there's no reason, even if that blast didn't kill him, that he wouldn't immediately be killed right after for the red handed murder attempt.

Still, if he was alive, that would mean he still had a fighting chance. He could still make things right. He should try to "wake up".

He tried to find himself in the darkness.

"Feldspar can you hear me?"

The voice wasn't Red, but it was definitely female. He could tell that the words were definitely spoken directly into his ears.

It was then that he realized the words made his ears burn. They sent shocks directly into his head, triggering an awful headache.

He was in pain. His head felt like it was going to explode.

"Come on," she pleaded once more. He could tell she was touching him. He could also tell that every muscle in his body ached.

He tried to respond, but only let out pained groans. With great struggle, he opened his eyes, nearly blinded by the light, even though it was very dim.

"You're awake!" Wendy Testaburger exclaimed.

He tried to speak again, but once more couldn't through the aching pain. He quickly regretted waking up.

"You got hexxed," she explained, removing a wet rag he hadn't realized was placed on his head, "I mean, it's kind of what you get for trying to assassinate the Grand Wizard. But it will wear off within the next day or so."

"Wh-Where am I?" Craig finally managed, unintentionally biting the inside of his mouth hard enough to bleed in the process.

"In the dungeon, where else?" Wendy rolled her eyes. She dipped the rag into a bowl of liquid and placed it back on his head.

"Wh-Why are you-"

"Bebe asked me to check on you. Make sure you weren't rotting away, especially given that you were thrown in here unconscious a couple days ago."

"Days?" Craig nearly sat up from shock, stopped only by the spazzing pain in his back muscles. Still, he managed to see more of his cell. It was dark, with no windows and only a few candles lighting the place outside of his cell. It was dark and stone, like something out of a nightmare. He realized he wasn't on a proper bed or mattress, but instead a wooden slab.

"I couldn't come sooner," she said, "But I'm glad I did. You were convulsing, if I didn't come when I did...Well, anyway now you owe me one. Or I guess Bebe."

"Wh-Where is Bebe?"

"She's fine."

"What's going to happen to me?"

"I don't know."

"Well, are they going to kill me?" Craig asked, his voice unintentionally angered as he tried to speak through the pain.

"It would make sense, given what you tried to do," she sighed, standing up, the sound of her metal knight uniform clanking very lightly but enough to trigger a throbbing pain in his head. She looked at him once more with an unreadable expression, "I brought food for you," she gestured to a small makeshift table with a piece of meat and vegetables, nicer food than he normally had. "They rarely feed prisoners here, so..."

"From Bebe?" he managed.

"No," she answered as she signaled to the guard to open the cast iron gate of his cell.

"Then-?"

"For Red," she responded, looking straight at the floor.

With that, she left him alone in his dreary, dimly lit cell.