"Fuck, dude. You're a bird chick thing."

"You really are eloquent Ryan."

"Damn there are no ponies, Nico we're dead."

"Do you really think I'm that useless?"

"Last time we fought something you were unconscious."

"Shit you guys are demi-gods, that was unexpected but your faces always taste better."

"Why faces? Do you have a face fetish?"

I think I just pissed it off but it made Nico laugh.

"Ryan just leave this fetish freak to me, I can summon the undead."

"But can you summon weapons from ponies?"

"No, I don't think anyone else but you can."

"Haha I am superior!"

"Would you stop bickering, I'm hungry for some faces!

"We will continue this later. I'll leave the fighting to you this time Nico."

I stood back as Nico unsheathed his black death sword. Man his ass is hot from this angle and those muscles, man can he swing a sword. Like wow. I think he just pierced my heart, again. Hot accent, hot body, killer looks could I do any better? Well I can do worse, much worse.

"So bird brain what do you do here?"

"I eat faces, sell faces, frame faces. I am the face dealer of the black market."

"Then you must be rich?"

"Definitely rich, why?"

"Because when you're defeated we will be taking your money. ALL OF IT! MUHAHAHAHAH! KILL IT NICO!"

"I'm working on it, patience Ryan, for it is a virtue y'know."

He hacked and slashed and dodged and parried. It was great. He had it on the ropes until razor feathers sliced through his sword arm. Damn that's gonna leave a mark. I watched entranced as Nico chanted in a foreign language. Greek? Eh, probably Greek. Then a fucking skeleton rose from the ground and beat the shit out of bird brain. Gods that was hot.

"Just before you kill me can I know your names?"

"Why?"

"So I can make a ship name."

"Erm. I'm Ryan Allard."

"Nico. Nico Di Angelo."

"Ryco? Nian? What do you guys think?"

"I think I should kill you."

"I agree, go ahead Nico."

Boom. Actually it was more of a beheading slash, but the bird is gone.

"Quick let's find his cash stash and head to Guildford. We have a chicken army to destroy and a fork to find."

We easily found the stash behind a picture of a faceless god. It was really creepy. I'm so tired. Need coffee or sleep. Sleep.

"Nico can we sleep here, I'm tired, this time difference thing's really messing with my head."

"Okay, you can have the couch, I'll take the ground."

"Or we could both take the couch?"

"How would that work?"

"I make an excellent pillow."

Nico blushed but it's true, I do make an excellent pillow. He just nodded. Yay. I dragged him over to a conveniently placed couch and flopped down dragging him on top of me. This couch is actually pretty comfortable. Sleeeep now.

"Ryan, you okay? I'm heavy."

"Mmhmm, m'fine. Tired."

I was running along a gloomy dimly lit tunnel. Green torches surrounded me. Piercing screams followed me. I hit a dead end. Turning I found myself trapped in a round room, mounted torches marking intervals. Stone walls closed in on me and an eerie voice filled the space. Here in this garden of shadows. It sung to me, a melody of sorrow and pain. I awoke crying. Silent tears slid down my face. I gently manoeuvred myself out from under Nico and went to explore the building. Probably not the smarted idea when alone but I was shaken. I've had that dream before, always the running and the round room, that eerie voice always singing, her song echoing in my head.

"Ryan, where'd you go?"

"Nico, you're awake?"

"Light sleeper. Why are you crying?"

"Just thinking about home."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I used to live nearby before I was exiled to America."

"What's it like living in Australia."

"It's hot. Very hot."

"That all?"

"Yeah, it's not much to miss but it's still home."

I lied but Nico doesn't need to know that.

"The suns up, let's go get that taxi."

"Yeah."

We left the building. The streets were already filled with cars. We hailed a taxi and jumped in.

"Where to?"

"Guildford please."

"Sure thing boys."

25ks away and at Sydney peak morning traffic it took us half an hour to get there. We arrived at the Arab-Australian society. The KFC was closed permanently. Damn there goes our only lead.

"Let's try Australia's largest KFC!"

"Fine, where is it?"

"I think it's in Newcastle."

"How do you know this?"

"I used to live there."

"Is it nearby?"

"Erm… It's near enough? Couple hours."

"Should we shadow travel?"

"I guess but can I get a happy meal first? I need a new weapon."

"Yes but when we get back to camp you're forging your own!"

"But that takes away all the fun!"

"If fun means you're defenceless, no more fun!"

Awh, he's worried about me. I guess I can forge a weapon, or bribe Leo to make me one. Hehehehe.

"To Maccas!"

"Yes, yes."

Nico grabbed my arm and shadow travelled us to the nearest Maccas. I satisfied myself with a Happy Meal and kept the pony for the trip to Newcastle. We shadowed again and wow that KFC is massive.

"Woo, let's go destroy a chicken army!"

"We don't even know if this chicken army exists!"

"I don't care! We will defeat a chicken army!"