A/N: Hey guys…..I'm so sad…My physics teacher officially hates me and my next door neighbors decided to take out their hate for my bro on me by blasting country music and rap at 10:00pm and 4:30am EVERY FIRETRUCKING MORNING AND NIGHT!...FML!...*EVEN BIGGER SIGH THAN LAST CHAPTER* Anyway, this might be my last chapter for a LONG time…We'll have to see…Well…enjoy… D'X *SOB SOB SOB SOB SOB*

Phoenix Territory

Chapter One

{parto cinco}

~REVIEW FROM LAST TIME!~

"You shall get your wish, Highroller, I will destroy this "Big Green" and you will no longer have any competition," the vertically-challenged scoundrel and the Zebras looked positively giddy, "However! If I do not get her back unharmed, not only will I make them wish they were never born, but you will also be begging for mercy." He stepped closer, "And I am not in the giving mood. Understand?"

The Dark God towered above Highroller now staring into his eyes, fiery red meeting onyx.

Highroller gulped and nodded, too scared to speak.

ONWARDS HO!

The God smiled then, a real smile, showing off his teeth… His sharp, pointed teeth that looked like he could rip a person's limbs from their body…

Just saying.

"I'm glad that we can understand each other!" He slapped Highroller on the back, which sent him sprawling.

Highroller got up and dusted himself off with as much dignity as he could muster (which wasn't much by the way), "Yes. Well, I'm glad too. Now, shall we discuss our plan?"

The Deity snorted, "What plan? I go in and blast everything and everyone until they give her back. Big Green will be in ruins and everyone's happy…Well, not them, but they don't matter."

Highroller let out a sigh of agitation, "Fine." 'Better let him have his way…Who knows what'll happen if I try to go against him…'

Soon his agitation turned into utter ire when the Zebra Brothers decided to make themselves known again, "What's your name anyway?"

"Yeah! Now that you're working with us, what do we call you?" Highroller smacked his head with his hand and was about to scream at the oblivious Zebras to shut up when the aforementioned God blinked a few times and spoke up.

"Huojin. My name is Huojin." His creepy smile returned full force, "But you can call me Jin!"

"O.K., Jin!" The Brothers said in unison, completely content with the Bipolar God's change of demeanor.

Highroller rolled his eyes, "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?" he muttered to himself.

Jin whipped his head around and glared at the villain, "What was that?" The humor was entirely gone from his facial features. See?

Highroller put his hands up, "Nothing! Nothing at all!" He gave a weak chuckle as his cheek twitched trying to hold his smile (although it looked more like a fearful grimace if anything).

Jin smirked, "Good." He turned his attention back to the animals.

Highroller sighed and slid down the side of crater, 'Well, that answers that question.' He looked over at the animals conversing with each other, 'Let's just hope the end justifies the means…'

OUTSIDE HIGHROLLER'S PALACE!~

"Hurry! They just changed the guard!" Mr. No Hands whispered. First Squad crept across the courtyard and silently made their way into the castle. They went through a window and ended up on the third floor.

"All we have to do now is work our way down, right?" Mystique Sonia asked quietly.

"Yes, and if Woo is correct all we have to do is follow this corridor and keep going down the set of stairs until we get to the dungeon." Lin Chung whispered back.

They slinked down the hallway and quickly descended down the steps. The heroes stopped when they reached a long passageway with many cells lined up on each side. Apparently, they had a changing of the guard down here too, because there was no one in sight.

"Hurry!" Mr. No Hands urged softly. And that they did. The group split up looking in every cell. Each individual calling the missing girl's name.

"Lark!"

"Laaaaaaark!"

"LARK!"

Lin Chung ran up to the rest of them thinking of what might be wrong, "She probably doesn't trust us, guys."

"Well, why not?" Mighty Ray asked slightly miffed.

"It's probably because a human captured her right?" Sonia replied.

Lin Chung nodded, "Lark! We're here to help you! To get you back! To bring you to your mate!"

SILENCE

"…What do you know of us, human?" A tall figure appeared in a cell next to them.

"Lark?" Sonia asked with a shocked look on her face.

The girl they saw had to be at least 5'10". She was wearing a red and purple kimono and was barefoot. Her long black hair was in a tight braid that was hanging over her shoulder, and her oceanic eyes were definitely scrutinizing them.

"I will ask again, because based on personal experience (cough- Highroller- cough), I think that perhaps humans nowadays cannot hear as well as they could back then: How do you know of me and Him, humans?"

Lin Chung was the first to snap out of it, "We found a book about the Old Gods and we figured out where their territories and resting places are. We went to the Fire God's area and found out you were missing."

Lark flinched at the mention of her mate, "So, you all have come to rescue me?"

"Yes, that is right!" Apetrully said happily.

"Thank you, but how do you plan to get me out of here?" Lark asked with a small smile.

"Well, we haven't actually thought that part out yet…" The Commander replied sheepishly.

"And we can't exactly break the bars or anything because of the noise…" Mr. No Hands said thinking out loud.

The prisoner giggled, "Find the guard that has the keys and bring him to me."

"Why?" Mighty Ray asked confounded.

GROWL!

"Nevermind…" Mr. No Hands muttered.

"You will let me out, will you not?" Lark asked. The others looked confused at her tactics. As did the guards.

GRRRRR!

"He said, "No way!"' Apetrully translated.

Lark let out a little chuckle, "I know what he said." She turned to address the guard once more, "Young Cub! If you are not going to let me out, then hand me my flute! For I wish to play a song. Surely, you will not deny me that?"

The bear was perplexed. As were the protagonists, while Lark stood there with a smirk on her lips (which was slightly reminiscent of her mate's).

The guards looked at each other and the leader finally grunted in consent. He pulled a long silver flute from this robe, and handed it to the girl wearily.

Lark took it without hesitation, "Thank you!" She brought the musical instrument up to her lips, "Here is a token of my gratitude."

And she started to play.

It wasn't very long, but the melody was soft and sweet. The music flowing from the shiny object was just so tantalizing and soothing. They all felt as if the chords were wrapping around them, like a blanket, lolling them into a beautiful slumber…

"-up! Wake up! WAKE UP!"

First Squad hurriedly opened their eyes and saw that they had fallen asleep where they had stood with Lark peering down at them through the bars of her cell.

"You must make haste! I have made the one whom you call Highroller's entire empire fall asleep, but the spell will not last long!" She whisper-yelled.

Lin Chung immediately got up and searched the guard for the keys. Hurriedly, he opened the door to her cage.

Lark walked out and stretched, "Thank you for helping me, young warriors! ...But I'm afraid that all your hard work would be for naught if we do not hurry to stop the Fire God…"

"Yes, you're right. We must go and stop him!" Apetrully replied enthusiastically.

"He'll most likely be on the way to Big Green by now." Mr. No Hands said.

"Yeah! On the way to destroy us!" Mighty Ray yelled.

"Well, we'll just have to get there first!" Sonia yelled back.

"Let's go!" The Commander shouted.

First Squad and Lark headed back to Big Green and the start of their destinies!

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNN! (oooooo brainwashing! Lol srry couldn't help it…)

"So, this is Big Green, huh?" Lark said as she looked upon the giant dome First Squad called their headquarters.

"Yep! This is it! I can't wait to show you my room, Lark! We can hang out and share beauty tips!" Sonia replied enthusiastically whilst clapping her hands. Yaksha cooed happily, agreeing with his master.

"Sonia! This isn't a social call, remember! She's here to help stop the potential destruction of our forces!" Mr. No Hands roared.

Lark smiled kindly at their interaction, "No worries, Handless One." She turned toward Sonia, "I would love to share some of my "beauty secrets" with you." Sonia, at this, squealed.

"YAY!"

"Pffftttt! Whatever!" Mighty Ray said with disgust in his tone.

"You know, Short One," they all snorted at that, while said 'short one' cried out indignantly, "my Mate would most likely love to speak with you. The two of you have a lot in common." Lark said while patting the turtle she was riding on the head.

"REALLY! HAH! TAKE THAT SONIA! I'M LIKE A GOD!" Mighty Ray stood up on his turtle and started to flex his muscles, laughing all the while.

"Oh, no! Now we'll never hear the end of it!" Sonia sighed knowing how the days ahead will now play out; the rest of the group nodded their heads in agreement. They too know how the young man will act in the following days.

Lark sniggered, "Sorry everyone."

Commander Apetrully sighed, "Do not worry about it, young Miss."

After that the trip was mostly quiet crossing the water to Big Green, well except for Mighty Ray who wouldn't shut up, but that's to be expected.

"Now Lark, we're going to have to be really, really quiet. Nobody knows about you except Us, Highroller, and Woo, our scientist." Mr. No Hands said softly as to not arouse suspicion.

"You can count on me, Handless One!" Lark said giving him a salute.

"All right, then! Follow me!"

Outside First Squad's Meeting Room…

"Whoa! Who's she?"

"Yeah! She's SO TALL!"

"GET OUT OF HERE, ALPHA GIRL! KOWLOON!" Mr. No Hands bellowed.

But the damage had already been done. Nearly an hour later the entirety of Big Green had heard of the tall human girl sitting in First Squad's meeting room.

Awesome…

OH DAMN! SHIT IS GOING DOWN! Lolol srry again. Hoped you liked it! Yeah I know Jin didn't scare too many people…just Highroller, but I don't know. I got to the point in my notebook where the story just stops. I pulled the big green part out of my butt…not really but you know whatever… Well when my muse decides to visit me, I'll write some more…All I gotta say is that she freaking better! It's spring break and I'm bored! Okay! Sorry! Just review please! Byez!~ (Oh and kudos to whoever can figure out where the brainwashing reference came from!)