I do not own Chaotic nor anything related to it. It belongs to TCDigital.

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The Blood-Stained Cape

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"Only information we already had, then," Theb-sarr sighs.

We already knew that the M'arrillians were trying to construct a heat cannon at Glacier Plains in an attempt to flood Perim. With the knowledge that many Humans brought with them from Earth about the show and the game, we were already prepared for such a possibility, so any construction started in the northern reaches of the Overworld had been quickly sabotaged.

We also already knew that Aa'une was pushing for obtaining Lake Blakeer, or at least we had assumed that. That location had been the site of the final battle of the war in the show, a battle that came very close to turning out badly. The show and the card game disagree on what exactly makes Lake Blakeer so important to Aa'une, but we do know that he shouldn't get his hands on it.

All in all, capturing Phelphor to interrogate him only confirmed what we already knew.

"At least we have him," I say, shifting uncomfortably in my saddle.

Theb-sarr is riding the lead kozorr, a great brute of a creature that can manage the Mipedian king's weight. Theb-sarr is leading the company at a decent pace, but it will still be several days before we reach our destination.

"Yes," Theb-sarr sighs. "At least we have him."

I touch the top of my kozorr's head and drag my fingers down its spine, and it slows down a little. Using a voice command right now might make the entire company slow. I release my touch on the beast's head when I'm riding level with Enre-hep.

"Hey," I mutter in a low voice. "I need you to help me look inside Phelphor's head."

Enre-hep glances around. "It will be difficult with all these potential witnesses."

I raise my eyebrows, and in a louder voice I say, "I have a bit of a headache. Could you help me out?"

Enre-hep forces a grin away, then reaches out with his right hand to touch my left temple-

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{shoW mE phelphoR,} Enre-hep's voice sounds through a landscape of crystal flowers floating on black water.

The flowers start to fly out of the water and scatter in every direction, crashing into each other and shattering, then reforming elsewhere. This goes on for a bit before, suddenly, a single blossom rests on the water, far away from all the others.

Time to double-check. Show me Phelphor.

The blossom shivers in the black water, creating tiny ripples around it. Enre-hep's spectral gold hand reaches out to touch the very tip of the blossom-

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Don't think about anything, Michael could be watching.

Oh Cothica, where are they taking me? I answered all their questions. I know they won't let me go. Maybe I'm to be kept for trade? No... Aa'une wouldn't trade for me... I'm damaged goods.

Don't think about anything, Michael could be watching.

These chains are so tight. This... this box, it's so cramped. I can't tell where we're going.

Don't think about anything, Michael could be watching.

Am I going to die? Cothica! I don't want to die! Please! Save me!

Don't think about anything, Michael could be watching.

...Am I being taken to Mount Pillar? No, please, no! The Danians hate me more than anything! They'll tear me apart!

Michael! I know you're listening! Please! Anywhere but Mount Pillar!

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Enre-hep abruptly pulls his hand away. "Th-that's quite a headache..."

Well, now I have a headache. I drag my finger down my kozorr's spine, and it slows down again. I lift my finger until I reach an odd-looking wagon being pulled by a pair of kozorr.

"Malvadine," I say.

The left rider of the pair looks up. "Your Highness," he nods.

"Has my package arrived yet?" I ask.

"Package?" Malvadine looks around, then picks up a bundle at his feet. "You mean this?"

"That's it," I say, holding my hand out.

Malvadine hands me the bundle. I unwrap it and give it a shake, and the golden, bloodstained cape inside flows out. I tie it around my neck and hang it over my shoulders.

"Kozorr swap," I say.

Malvadine and I switch places, and I turn towards the wagon. The other rider will keep the two beasts in check while I'm inside. I unlock the door, open it, and step inside.

Phelphor looks up and blinks. His wrists are chained to the walls of the wagon, and his ankles are chained to the back, forcing him to kneel with his arms spread out. His armor has been stripped from him, leaving him naked.

I close the door behind me, and suddenly the only light in the room is the red light provided by my helmet, the glowing, flaming pair of eyes it makes me appear to have. I sit down in the chair across from Phelphor and fold my arms.

Phelphor recoils. "M-Michael-"

"You will call me Prince Osiris, Captain Osiris, or Your Highness," I say firmly.

"Y-Your Highness..." Phelphor stammers. I see his head bow down.

"Look at me," I say.

Phelphor lifts his head, but stays silent.

I slowly take a deep breath, then say, "Mount Pillar."

"No... No!" Phelphor leans forward, and the chains rattle. "You can't take me there!"

"Yes we can," I say.

"Why!?" Phelphor is trembling now. "Please don't take me there! I'll do anything!"

"Anything," I say in a deadpan.

"Anything!" Phlphor shouts.

I lean forward and glare at Phelphor's eyes. "Give Piabo his life back."

Phelphor blinks. "Wh-who's Piabo?"

I lean farther forward. "Phelphor, I order you to look inside my mind, at the place where my dreams reside. If you try anything funny, I will eject you from my mind, and you will obtain no answers to your questions."

Phelphor trembles, and his eyes focus on mine-

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A crystal sphere hangs in a black void. A red spectral hand float near it, tense and recoiling. {WH-WHaT Do you WiSH To See-}

Show me Phelphor.

The crystal rotates in the air for a while, then stops. I make as if to reach forward, and a black crystal hand forms where my own hand would be.

{y-you aRe TaKiNG CoNTRoL oF My PoWeRS!} Phelphor's voice cries out in alarm.

I touch the section of sphere pointing directly at my mind's eye-

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There's the Danian. I can see his antennae quiver. A hive call. Someone speaks inside his mind. {DO not LET phelphor REACH the DOORS}

There's no time to react. I drop the tent I'm unpacking, form a knife with frozen water, and bury it in the mandiblor's gut. His eyes open wide, and he falls backwards.

I look at the knife in my hand, then at the mandiblor. I grin. "Well, looks like I can stop pretending." I raise my arm up.

The Danian cries out as I slit his stomach open and pull his exoskeleton apart-

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I push Phelphor from my mind and glare at him. "Him. He was Piabo."

"A-a mandiblor?" Phelphor laughs nervously. "Th-that's it?" More laughter. "How pathetic! I thought the Danians were furious, that Sarah was furious, because of my deception! A lowly mandiblor?!" Phelphor's body is now shaking with laughter.

I don't remember standing up. I don't remember grabbing my dagger. The next thing I realize, I'm pressing Phelphor's chin up and pressing the tip of my dagger against his throat.

There's silence for a long time. I see red, and not just from the light of my helm. I want to kill right now, just slit this wretch's throat right here. The journey we've made so far will be a waste, but I can't stand it! Phelphor has to-!

...Wait... I... I can feel his presence in my head. I can hear his voice. {HuRRy uP aND KiLL The M'aRRiLLiaN. oH CoTHiCa, HuRRy! KiLL Me QuiCKLy!}

"No," I say as I pull my weapon away from his neck. "You won't die so easily."

I let go of his chin. Phelphor looks terrified again.

I sit back down. "At the time when you killed Piabo, you were technically under the protection of the Danians. You will stand trial at Mount Pillar, and they will decide what happens to you."

I stand up and remove my cape, then drape it over the chair. I leave it for Phelphor, who might not be able to see it in the darkness, but he'll know it's there. Maybe he'll figure out where the blood came from on it.

"Where's your cape?" Malvadine asks as I step out.

"Keeping Phelphor company," I mutter. "Maybe he'll try apologizing to it."

"Your Highness?" Malvadine looks concerned. "Osiris, you don't look too good."

I don't feel good either.

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Up next: The Memories of Passing

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Like I said before, Chaotic belongs to TCDigital.

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