Wildfire
Returning to her comrades' sanctuary, Athena gave a sigh of relief, walking underneath the lava fall covering the entrance. Ares was in front, escorted by the vigilant and still highly frustrated woman. The rest of the Olympians said nothing as she marched the efreet up to Zeus, whose stern expression implied he already knew what was going on. Athena took her place nearby, while Ares was left to stand before the other fire elementals, judgement bearing down upon him. He just kept smiling through it all.
"You saw everything?" Athena asked her leader.
Zeus brought up the mystical portal that linked to the female Olympian's eyes, nodding. After collapsing the viewing, he placed his gaze back on Ares, who stood silently beneath him. Standing up from his self-made throne, the group's leader made his way down the volcanic mound, stopping when he was directly in front of his rebellious ally. He folded his arms, studying the efreet's unflinching grin.
"Mind telling me what you were trying to accomplish?"
Ares' closed his mouth, hiding his teeth but retaining his indefinite expression.
"Winds carry the boon of echoing strikes, pursuit enabled and grateful for cascading gusts…"
Zeus narrowed his eyes, taking his right hand and holding it up, revealing several light scars covering his fingers, as if something sharp had clutched them.
"We had a deal. Unless you hold up your end, you'll never reap the benefits of mine."
He looked over to Athena, who immediately understood, taking the pouch from her hip and tossing it to her leader. Zeus emptied out the contents, watching the small pile of silver collect on the ground. Taking a step back, he formed a gentle flame in his hand, which quickly linked to his subterranean subordinate. The forge master's withered face appeared in the flame.
"Hephaestus, I shouldn't even have to convince you for this one," Zeus affirmed.
The subdued elemental, staring back at his unwanted master through the candle at his knees, reluctantly nodded, reaching out with his unnatural power.
The silver at Ares' feet began to glow. As every Olympian watched, the individual shards levitated off the ground, slowly rotating and shifting in the air. Once all the pieces were chest-level with the efreet, they suddenly shot into him, impacting the large cracks present over his confining shell. The silver gradually melded into the damaged areas, solidifying the casing and bringing Ares' form back into stable condition.
Zeus offhandedly thanked Hephaestus, before cutting the connection. Next, he turned to Poseidon. Without saying a word, he nudged his head in Ares' direction. The leader's comrade nodded. Several Olympians were startled as two jets of lava exploded from the surrounding pool, homing in on the efreet. The two streams caught his arms like bindings, before Poseidon rapidly cooled them into solid pillars of newly-made rock. Ares casually glanced at each earthen shackle, yet didn't even bother to struggle against them. He laid his violent eyes back on Zeus.
"The only way the fire military could've noticed you is if you disobeyed my order to suppress your aura. Don't think that goes without consequence. You're staying right here until I'm convinced your priorities are straight."
With that, the Olympian leader walked away, leaving the efreet on display for the others. Reaching his throne, Zeus took his seat once more, moving his attention to Athena.
"Have you learned anything else from your unexpected encounter?"
The woman nodded, reaching into her pocket. What she now held was one of the many gem necklaces Weis' team had been wearing during their attempted ambush. She'd swiped one from a random soldier during the fray.
"From what I can tell, it's a recording device, as well as a communicator. Upon viewing on the way here, I found footage of the king's newest knight."
Intrigued, Zeus leaned forward, placing his chin on his propped up arm.
"And your analysis?"
Athena's eyes narrowed in affirmation.
"Combined with Hermes' reports from the palace, I'm positive they're a match. The pieces are falling into place and our opening is at hand."
Down below, the lightning-fast Olympian hopped up from his seat.
"So we can finally storm the place?" he asked excitedly.
Zeus remarkably matched his comrade's grin, rather than putting him down.
"Yes. Yes we can."
He looked right at the younger elemental.
"Would you mind relieving Apollo of his post? I'm sure he'd appreciate a rest from guard duty."
Hermes saluted, then was gone in a flash, flame dashing out of the chamber and towards the location of the now completed seismic hammer. Once he was gone, Artemis spoke up, having kept quiet for long enough.
"Since we're finally moving forward, can you explain exactly why we've been waiting this long? Why we need the hammer completed first?"
The Olympian leader considered his ally's questioning, then sat back in his throne, keeping his relaxed tone.
"The tasks at hand have all been preparation, my friend. You see, idealism is expensive; you need to play your cards right to make it work, and Athena is a shark when it comes to such things."
He paused.
"There is one last Olympian to be collected, but doing so will require the upmost control. Our time will come… very soon."
Cinnamon Bun was waiting outside the entrance for the two to show up. As Finn and Phoebe hopped down from Jake 2, he rushed over to them, instantly catching his king in an embrace.
"It's such a relief to see you both alright," he stuttered.
As he separated from FP, the candy knight held up a crystal necklace of his own.
"I've already been filled in. I'm sorry."
The fiery ruler said nothing for a moment, then hung her head, shaking it.
"It was our own fault."
Cinnamon Bun could tell from her voice that she didn't feel like talking. He allowed her to pass him, leaving the guards to escort her further. Turning his attention to his fellow knight, the bun placed a hand over his shoulders as he led him back towards the palace.
"How are you holding up?" he asked with care.
Finn, like his companion, remained silent, up until they had reached the doors.
"I suppose better. I can withstand being near Ares, at least."
CB smiled, giving the hero a friendly shake.
"That's great to hear," he offered.
Regrettably, the gesture did little to brighten his fellow protector. Sighing, the candy knight gave Finn a few comforting pats on the back. The pair had caught up to Flame Princess, who was discussing any developments in the kingdom since her departure. Once she sent away the advisor, along with one of her lieutenants, she turned to face her guardians. CB was the first to speak, not that he expected either one to do so before him.
"Look, you both seem exhausted. Why don't you go take it easy until the general catches up with us, alright?"
Finn and Phoebe glanced at one another's slouched postures, suddenly aware of the bun's observation. The king nodded to her wise knight, then turned to head towards the library. The flame human followed closely behind. Satisfied with their departure, Cinnamon Bun left for the meeting hall.
As he set off down an opposite corridor, one of the guards present in the throne room watched him leave, his crimson eyes unblinking. Once sure the knight was out of sight, the imposing figure broke away from his post, making his way down the same corridor Finn and Flame Princess had exited into a moment earlier. Up above, Don John had seen the whole thing from his lantern prison. A devious grin emerged upon his face as he watched the 'guard' leave in pursuit.
Since the last time she and Finn had visited the somewhat abandoned library of the palace, Flame princess had requested the chamber be dusted, hoping to return in the near future. Sure enough, the second she pushed open the heavy doors, crisp air filled her lungs; evidence of a clean environment. Rather than making her way to any of the tables and chairs lining the outer ring of the circular room, Phoebe simply lumbered over to the railing overlooking the lower level, where the grand piano still stood, dusted just the same. Leaning on the edge, she sighed, wishing for the secure feeling she had while happily playing the keys with her knight.
Finn stopped beside the ruler, counting the torches around the library's supportive columns. He soon noticed a fading glow from his companion, looking over to see her fiery hair beginning to fall and her skin to darken.
"Feeling drained?" he asked.
FP nodded.
"Like I couldn't even light a match."
Physically, she hadn't strained herself too much, even in combat with Athena. The true impact was the stress she felt from all that was transpiring. Breaks were becoming scarce as Zeus and his gang advanced their plans; it was only a matter of time before the heavily burdened king could no longer stand. Even now, her core felt spent, unable to express the true strength of her flame powers.
Finn's situation was a near perfect match. Doubt was always clouding his mind, making his thoughts scrambled and mistuned. His lava vine seemed heavy upon his arm, weighing him down with its potent cursed magic. He was sinking deeper into a hole from which there was no escape; save for the single task that he would eventually have to perform. Unfortunately, the correct timing was something he couldn't possibly afford.
The two young adults were interrupted from their shared inner turmoil by the sound of the doors creaking open. Turning around, they found a flame guard standing between them and the exit, motionless. Thinking the general had already arrived, FP took in a deep breath, disappointed that her leave from duty was reduced to only a moment.
"Did Cinnamon Bun send for us?" she inquired to the man.
The guard said nothing, continuing to stare with his solid red eyes. Phoebe and Finn briefly shared a glance, before the king furrowed her brow and looked back to the newcomer.
"Is… everything alright?" she asked with a hint of concern.
Seconds ticked by before any further action was taken, until a crack rang out through the chamber. Growing wide-eyed, the two companions watched as the flame guard's black armor began crumbling away, discarded pieces littering the newly cleaned floor. Astonished, neither was able to move. Once the majority of the armor had been weakened, the guard suddenly threw out his arms, causing flames to erupt from beneath the ruined protection, quickly blowing apart the remaining husk.
Phoebe and her knight had shielded their eyes from the blast, before lowering their guard to see what in Glob's name was happening. Though Flame Princess's astonishment simply doubled, Finn found his heart skip a beat, and fear burst from the back of his mind.
A bandaged foot stepped forward, crushing several fallen armor bits in the process. A second step placed the unveiled being closer to the pair, its crimson eyes now cast in a threatening glare. The bandages covering the legs and head fluttered in the draft created by his heat. Scorcher engulfed his hand in flames, then sprung forward with great ferocity.
On instinct, Finn shoved Flame Princess out of the way, forming his lava vine sword to hopefully block the assassin's attack. While successful in the first act, he was overwhelmed by the opponent's force, tackled into the railing behind him, crashing through the barrier, and finally falling right onto the grand piano, instantly destroying the elegant instrument.
Phoebe got to her feet immediately, rushing to the gaping hole in the railing and staring down with terror as Scorcher now had his foot pressed down on the groaning and dazed Finn.
"Fen!"
Before the hitman could make another move, he was struck by a rather weak stream of flames, which he batted aside with ease. He returned the favor by lobbing a massive fireball at the ruler, who could only hold up her arms in defense. Crying out as she was throw back onto the floor, Phoebe could still think only of her knight's endangered life. She forced herself back up, opting to forgo another long-range attack and jumped off the ledge, just as Scorcher was aiming another, more massive fireball, at Finn's struggling figure.
The blunt impact of the fiery girl knocked the assassin off balance, falling into a shelf of books which quickly collapsed on top of him. Taking the opportunity, FP dashed over to her knight, placing his arm over her shoulders and helping him to his feet. Though injured, he still could only worry for her.
"FP, you should've run," he forced out.
The king shook her head, leading him towards the stairs.
"I'm not losing you too!" she shouted in reply.
Firmly shut up, Finn just stared in shock at the girl as she dragged them both up each step to the upper floor. They were interrupted as a flurry of cinders resulting from dozens of incinerated books filled the air. Scorcher suddenly dissipated into a cloud of thick smoke, which rapidly began surrounding the weakened duo. Flame Princess grabbed Finn's hand, as he instantly felt himself being pulled into her flame dash.
The maneuver placed them back at the library's main floor. Still shocked by the unannounced flame dash, Finn found his limbs unresponsive, while Flame Princess desperately shouted for him to move. A bang from the doors being flung open alerted them to more incomers, albeit much more welcome ones; actual flame guards.
"What's going on? We heard a crash."
Scorcher's smoke form answered their questions, bearing down on the terrified king and knight. Luckily, the guards sent numerous blasts his way, hoping to ward off the assailant. Instead, the assassin's cloud was unharmed, before drifted over to them, quickly rematerializing. Scorcher's fists gave each guard a well-placed shot in the jaw, knocking them all to the floor.
As the hitman turned to sight his original target, Finn spotted a ventilation grill beside one of the nearby bookshelves. He pointed to the metal screen.
"FP, into the shaft!"
Seeing the escape route, the fiery ruler nodded. Using the miniscule break from dodging Scorcher, they both managed to get to their feet, stumbling over to the grill. FP did her best to hold off Scorcher, who kept batting aside every fireball she threw. Using his lava vine, Finn crowbarred the screen off, shouting for his companion to enter first. After she shot in with a quick flame dash, Finn dropped in manually, crawling in just as a blast of flames struck the opening.
No sooner had he shimmied his way in that he noticed Flame Princess waiting around, making sure he'd made it.
"Go! He's right behind us!"
Catching his urgency, FP nodded and continued crawling. Just as Finn said, Scorcher's smoke was feeding its way into the vent, moving in to suffocate the two. Thinking fast, Finn bent his lava vine at an angle, then struck it, forming the high-speed fan blade he'd used before. Though slowing him down, the hitman's aggressive smog was still pushing its way towards the flame human.
Using what time he had left, Finn pounded his flaming fist into the ceiling, gradually cracking the rocky material. Once he felt the tunnel losing support, he retracted his vine, thrusting himself back and away from the oncoming black fog. As planned, the vent collapsed just as Scorcher's form was upon him, burying the assassin and leaving what wisps of smoke had made it through to dissipate harmlessly.
After catching his breath, Finn resumed crawling, sure that the blockage wouldn't hold the hitman back forever. Closing the distance between himself and FP, he found the rocky shaft turn to metal, sending loud clunks with every movement. This drew attention to the knight, allowing Phoebe to notice him.
"What was that crash?" she asked through exhausted breaths.
"I plugged up the tunnel, but I'm sure he'll break through soon."
He thought for a moment.
"Turn right up ahead," he directed.
FP took the branching route as he had guided, but couldn't help wondering how Finn knew his way around the ventilation system. Pushing it off for later, she was startled by an explosion in the distance. Shaking it off, she continued, with Finn close behind, worried about exactly where Scorcher broke out.
He directed them through several more sets of tunnels, until finally leading them to another grate, which Phoebe easily blew open with a flaming fist. The two slid out of the cramped interior of the vent, stumbling to the floor of the throne room. Naturally, the guards still inside were confused, seeing their leader emerge from the duct with her knight. The confusion only grew as a few more detonations rang out from the chamber. One by one, the other grates scattered throughout the room were blown out, revealing that Scorcher had begun systematically flushing each tunnel he came across.
When the last grill was left still intact, the assassin's vile smoke form drifted through the bars, lowering to the floor and rematerializing into the hitman himself, sights immediately set on his reacquired quarry. At least this time, every guard in the room surrounded him, spears pointed in defense of the royalty nearby. Neither side made a move, contemplating the best action.
The silence was broken not by the crackling of flames, but by the smug laughter of the twin usurpers imprisoned above. Flame Princess glared at her father and Don John, who seemed absolutely delighted, despite their positioning.
"This… this was your doing!" the fiery girl accused, her flames strengthened enough by her anger to emerge upon her skin.
The flame lord above grinned, amused by her stance.
"Don't tell me you forgot about my assassin during your little escapades with the Olympians."
Finn bared his teeth as his rage grew closer to his companion's.
"You'd really have Flame Princess killed?"
The former Flame King and Don John stopped laughing, staring at the knight for a moment. The two then looked at each other, resuming their cackling.
"My daughter? Please! I draw the line at brothers," the vile despot replied.
Confused, Finn and FP looked to Don John for an explanation.
"The order was placed not on your head, my lovely, but on that of your protectors!"
Understanding it all, Phoebe turned to her knight, still breathing heavily and surely unable to combat Scorcher head-on.
"And since you two were so kind as to exhaust yourselves, he'll be taking care of this pitiful knight, along with that oaf of a candy person. With them gone, your age of renewal comes to a close, as we retake what we rightfully seized before."
As he finished, Scorcher was suddenly a blur, dashing from guard to guard, until each was on the floor in a daze, their spears sliced to pieces. Deprived of all lines of defense, FP and her cherished guardian watched the hitman rise into the air, using both hands to conjure a colossal fireball, which he then raised over his head.
Phoebe was about to attempt shielding Finn with her own body, but was beaten to the punch. The flame human's lava vine was already tied around her waist, as he used what strength he had to throw the girl out of harm's way with his lasso. After tumbling across the floor for a few feet, the fire elemental could only scream as she watched Scorcher fling his lethal bombardment down on her friend, praying for anything to stop the heart-wrenching demise.
And it came.
A large form snatched Finn by the collar, bounding across the volcanic floor to a safe distance before Scorcher could even blink. The fireball's detonation temporarily blinded all spectators in the room, save for the highly-adapted eyes of Jake 2, who dropped off the petrified Finn by Flame Princess. As the blast cleared, the now scarred ground showed just what would have become of a certain young man, had the fire wolf not pulled him out of the path of Death's oncoming bus.
Phoebe couldn't help but hold Finn tightly as she let the knowledge of him being alive soak in, thankful for the loyal hound that now stood defensively between them and Scorcher. While the imposing hunter growled at the hitman, footsteps signaled the arrival of further reinforcement. To FP's relief, Cinnamon Bun, along with a number of soldiers, appeared from the meeting hall's direction, having heard the blast. She'd be surprised if the whole palace wasn't on alert by now.
"It's over, you're completely surrounded," CB declared, bringing out his lance to point at the assassin.
Scorcher eyed each one of the armed individuals closing in on him, prepared to do whatever it took to protect one of their own. His scan ended with Finn, who was the single person sending him a look of fear rather than scorn. Rightly so; only he knew how relentless the assassin was.
In accordance with this, it came to no surprise to the flame human as the hitman took a run at his position, causing Jake 2 to instantly pounce, jaws open to tear into the intruder. However, the wolf's agility failed him, missing the bite as Scorcher sidestepped his attack and swung his leg to strike the wolf right in the stomach. A yelp signaled the blow's damage, as JT fell to the floor.
Finn suddenly found a flame sword about to slice his head off, aimed by the deadly accuracy of the assassin's crimson gaze, paralyzing him. Even his lava vine was unresponsive.
As per the usual reaction to potential and sudden death, the hero's past actions and thoughts raced through his mind. He clarified several things to himself, solidifying the guilt he'd feel in the afterlife. Without him, and eventually Cinnamon Bun, FP's strained power will crumble at the hands of her treacherous father and his cohort. With only a disorganized kingdom to stand in their way, the Olympians would steamroll over any opposition, granting them the ultimate victory. With Zeus in power, who knew how long it would be before all of Ooo was subjected to his ruthless mobilization. Everyone, his brother, his friends, Marceline, Bonnibel, all of them, would be forced to fight an ever-growing superpower of highly dangerous fire elementals, burning the earth in their wake.
And Flame princess herself…
Would Don John resume his plan to collect her for his own? Would Zeus have her finished off? Would she be left in a dungeon to rot, spending every day thinking how each and every person she cared about was taken from her? Himself, Cinnamon Bun, his fake persona whom she'd grown to care for as a whole other person, the loyal soldiers of the kingdom, and the lovable fire hound always by their sides. All their lives, on his head, forever burned into his soul, a reminder of his stubborn ideal of isolating himself as a means to protect his own doused heart, rather than channeling the lessons of the past into further power to shield all those he cherished.
His one regret finalized. Only now, in the face of the end, did he accept his foolishness. He was strong, he was cheered for, and all because he rallied with those around him. Self-growth was a wise move, but he'd taken it too far. He could've confronted the girl he loved, he could've gathered the support of others outside the Fire Kingdom to combat the Olympians. His influence, as a noble hero, was demolished by the very insecurity that forged his morality in the first place. It was his duty to save those who didn't have the power to do so themselves, the same as when he was weak and abandoned in the woods long ago. Ooo needed his help, wanted his help, despite all his flaws.
The epiphany passing, like the setting sun on a clear summer sky, Finn's heart slowed its beat, realizing he could never put his redemption into fruition. Scorcher's blade was inches from his neck.
In that moment, his time to accept had ended, and another's time to reject had just begun.
A blazing fist smashed into the assassin's head, sending him toppling to the side and out of range for his kill. As only his eyes remained functioning, Finn watched Flame Princess charge at the stunned hitman, roaring in absolute fury as both her hands were surging with dark red combustion. Repeated impacts to Scorcher's face made sure the man could do nothing to stop the onslaught, pummeled into submission by the enraged fire elemental. A few more slugs to the assassin's cranium and the fiery ruler switched her attacks to his abdomen, landing hits with successively increased force. The whole floor shook as a crater began to form beneath the helpless intruder, his arms and legs now merely jerking with each concussive blow to his body.
Everyone was too afraid to react, allowing FP to continue until, at last, the interval between punches began to shrink, as the king's adrenaline wore off. Upon landing her final hit, the girl's flames died out, letting her hair fall down her back and drape over her shoulders. Her dimmed skin returned, as well as her heavy breathing. Standing up, shakily, she gazed at the unmoving Scorcher. The occasional twitch informed her he was still alive, but clearly the assassin wouldn't be going anywhere for a long time.
Stepping off the unconscious hitman, Phoebe looked back to Finn, who was still just as astonished as everyone else in the room. She began the short walk back to her knight, getting only a few steps before groaning and falling to her knees, unable to continue. Finn scrambled together what strength he had and closed the rest of the distance, by her side as her head was hung. The hero got to his knees as well, gently reaching out to lift up the girl's chin to look her in the eye. Cinnamon Bun and the rest ran over to the two in the meantime, with a pair of soldiers helping Jake 2 get to his feet.
A few tears were still running down FP's cheeks as she gazed with desperate desire at Finn's concerned expression. The king shook her head slowly.
"Not one more. I'm not losing… anyone else," she half-sobbed, rubbing the last specks of lava from her eyes.
The gears in Finn's mind had gradually rebooted, coming up with his next words carefully. He wanted them to be meaningful; the first thing he would say in his renewed spirit. Perhaps now was the time, to finally pull off his shroud of embers.
"Thank you, Flame Princess," he began.
The young ruler was slightly surprised, her amber eyes shimmering slightly in the surrounding firelight as she listened.
"Thank you for saving me."
He gave her a smile, the best he could manage in the maelstrom of chaos currently enveloping the two of them. He couldn't see it himself, but the true blue of his irises had once more emerged, confirming to FP that he was truly grateful, and happy, to still be there with her. She smiled back.
"Phoebe," she replied, quietly enough that no one but him could hear.
"Call me Phoebe."
Finn just hung his jaw, caught off guard by the sudden confession. The fiery girl went on.
"I… I never got the chance to tell Finn. And with all the times you've almost died, I wanted you to know, just in case."
She held back her pain.
"He meant a great deal to me, and so do you."
FP placed a hand on top of her knight's. After a moment, she sighed.
"I'll always wish I could've talked with him one last time."
The gods may as well have been speaking to the flame human at that very second. Through fire and flames, he'd been handed the greatest blessing he could ask for: a second chance. Here, surrounded by allies willing to protect the minutes they had before moving on to the greater threat of Zeus and his Olympian menace, there was no better time than then to at last cast aside the fiery mask he had created. Placing his free hand atop Phoebe's, the hero took in the biggest breath he could, then gently let it out.
"Well, I think that he-"
*ting*
Although Scorcher's attack had ultimately been evaded, the high temperature from his flame sword had still weakened the metal bonding Flame Princess had placed on Finn's damaged necklace. The sliver chain was once again broken, allowing the heart locket to fall from his chest…
Hit the floor…
And break open from the impact…
As the trinket lay unveiled on the volcanic floor, Phoebe, Cinnamon Bun, and a handful of those closest to them had a very clear sight of what was depicted within.
A younger Finn, as they knew from years ago, was posed with his signature goofy grin, pressing himself close to Flame Princess with his arm around her in an adorable embrace. The fire elemental had a timid smile, as if nervous about something, but clearly trying to enjoy the moment captured in time regardless. It was likely the small amounts of smoke coming off of Finn's side, and the fact that his left eye was nearly shut from bearing the heat caused by the pair touching cheeks. He had no flame shield, having insisted to have a memory of the two of them together, without any need of special protection. For obvious reasons, the photo had to be taken quickly, explaining the not-so-settled position they stood in.
Despite all that, they looked happy to share their time, innocent and without the burdens they would soon face, the hardships that life and growing up would throw at them; the mistakes that would transpire.
Phoebe understood nothing anymore, her whole world frozen as she stared into the locket. The hand sandwiched between Finn's was shaking. Sadly, the flame human couldn't respond, too shocked at fate pulling the rug out from under him, a last ditch effort to win the celestial tug-of-war between itself and mercy that had consumed the hero's life. The fire elemental in front of him fell back slightly, freeing her hand of the young man before her. Behind the ruler, Cinnamon Bun didn't even know what expression to put on. His blank, empty stare just augmenting the horror in his king's shaking eyes.
With her lip trembling, she finally managed to utter a few words.
"It… was…"
Tears broke through her recently dried ducts, spilling down her face yet again.
"You."
The final word was spoken in a whisper, outright painful for her to say. Every second Finn spent silent, he could practically feel his grip on reality fading; the sensation convinced him he was passing out. Something had to be done, even a single phrase before his verbal ability was utterly lost.
"I-"
A hard strike to the back of his head ended the cascade of emotional trauma, leaving behind a plethora of destruction in its wake.
I know a ton of you were waiting for this moment, so I won't drag on. I'll just sit back, bunker down, and await the inevitable response.
sonicthehedgehog240: Yep, I love my twists.
gamelover41592: Thanks so much.
MCFanfics: I do try to implement diversity wherever possible. It's a great trait to have in any sphere of presentation, makes the world interesting.
TimeManipulator99: That's great to hear! I hope to see it.
Awolfx9: She would indeed.
Neo Deammau5: I tend to hold a lot of respect for women, so its only natural I have a bunch in my stories.
TheMentalAdventurer: It makes me happy to know I'm creating an in-depth story rather than a flat one, thanks a bunch.
Fiery Crusader: I like your thinking here, its what I like to trigger in readers. As for the reveal, well... I've definitely been hyping you guys for it.
CryOceD: Ah! Crud! Ok, here it is! Whew, good timing.
MUTO TOHO: Mm, fair enough.
The Guyver: Oh man, it seems impossible to not make a DBZ reference, no matter the story or subject. Isn't pop culture a crazy thing?
R-Doll: Glad I nailed all those things, thanks. I hope I can keep up that sort of quality.
Knight of the Round Bagel: Let me just say I am touched that you took the time to review ever single chapter. Even I tend to read just the most recent and go on from there. It really means a lot to hear all that feedback and I thank you for the continued support.
Hope you enjoyed and thanks for any comments/reviews!