Vivi woke with a start. She wasn't in her bed. In fact, she was pretty sure she wasn't even in her room. Stars lit the night sky, and next to her Arthur lay on his side, snoring loudly. Mystery lay fast asleep as well, and she usually didn't wake for anything short of her triple-set alarm clock. So why-

"Wake."

The word hummed through her chest. She hadn't heard a sound, but she felt the word pass through her. It was a ghost, and an old one at that. She whirled around, but saw no one. But something else was whispering too. She glanced down.

Her fingers were curled around Excalibur, and thin black strings anchored her hand in place. Callie's voice rose and fell in an eerie chant as the strings laced farther up Vivi's arm. Clawing at the strands did no good, and Vivi couldn't let go of the sword. Rearing backward, she slammed her body into Mystery's ribcage as hard as she could. He jerked back with a yelp, rolling over and bolting to his feet, staring about for an enemy.

Vivi opened her mouth, but the strings slid into her mouth, winding around her tongue and teeth, choking off her cry.

Mystery crouched, eyes narrow as he bared his teeth. Jerking his head, he opened his mouth, exhaling a soft red light. It curled toward Vivi, sending off small spiraling shoots and leaves like ivy. It wound around the black strings and they began to break, disintegrating.

"Tell her to stop, Vivi!" Arthur lay there, watching her. "Tell her to stay in the sword and be silent!"

The strings crumbled out of her mouth and she coughed, spitting the remains out. "C-Callie knock it off! S-stay in the sword, and shut up!"

The chanting ceased, and she pulled her hand free. Mystery shut his mouth, and the red ivy vanished.

"What the frickle dickle was that?" Vivi exploded. "Was she trying to kill me?"

"Corrupt you." Mystery padded over, sniffing her carefully. "That is the same speech I used to corrupt the King." He nudged her head gently. "No residue, it was caught in time."

"Okay, so who just woke me?" She demanded.

Arthur blinked. "I just woke up to Mystery growling and what looked like a black net crawling up your arm. Wasn't me."

"It certainly wasn't me, considering it was you who did the waking," Mystery remarked pointedly.

"Did Lew get free to tell me? It was a ghost for sure."

Arthur's eyes unfocused for a moment as he searched for Lewis. He sighed. "No, it wasn't him. He's up to my chest now though."

Vivi smacked her forehead. "And we fell asleep?"

"Hey, we were all tired!" Arthur protested. "Don't hit yourself!"

"You're lucky I DID wake up!" She marched over, hauling Arthur to his feet. "Lewis, since you've got the legs you'd better start walking him. We've gotta get going."

Mystery crouched as Lewis heaved Arthur's body up onto the kitsune's back. Vivi scrambled up behind them. Mystery's fur was damp, but no longer soaked, but both humans shivered as the light breeze hit their wet clothing.

"N-nothing for it. We have to g-go. Remember the way to the lake, Mystery?"

Mystery lifted his nose to the wind, inhaling deep. "I know the way. Hold tight."

Arthur's body crouched low over Mystery's neck. "Really tight Lewis, he means it." His right hand clutched the fur, white knuckled.

Vivi locked her arms around his waist. "Ready, Squire."

And then they were flying across the beach, sand spraying as Mystery's paws churned the ground in passing. Vivi and Arthur ducked lower to avoid being ripped off his back.

"He wasn't this fast last time!" Arthur marvelled.

Their surroundings blurred, the landscape details bleeding together in a mix of dull, shadowy colors. Gradually, Mystery arced to the right, aiming inland. Vivi lost track of time. Ten minutes? Twenty? There was no way to tell.

Finally, Mystery slowed, sliding to a stop in front of a large hill. The ground was oddly shaped, with large crater-like pockmarks and parallel trenches that fit the spread of Mystery's paw.

"You guys weren't kidding about your last fight here." Vivi slid to the ground, grabbing Arthur's hand and helping him down. "Alright, so go on in and get Merlin."

Arthur nodded, his legs walking him toward the hill. He paused just in front of it, and cranked up a smile for Vivi. "It'll be fine. Just watch." Then he turned, took one step, and faceplanted into the side of the hill.

"OW! The hell?" His legs stumbled back, and his mechanical arm rubbed his face. "What's going on?" Lewis moved Arthur close to the hill and pressed his right hand where the opening had been before. Smooth rock repelled him. "What's going on?"

"She is laughing," Mystery growled.

"Get out here, Callie!" Vivi shouted.

Callie spilled out of the sword, splashing to the ground and cackling. "Son of Uther son of Arthur, King's son going, going, gone. Can't get in through the loophole of before 'cause it's not Arthur, no, it's the loyal ghosssssssst and you're NOT welcome." She clapped her hands together slowly. "Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock."

Arthur stared at the side of the hill, eyes wide. "But… we're here… he's… he's right on the other side." Both hands pressed against the hill. "Mystery… there has to be something."

Mystery cringed, lowering his head. "I smell cherry blossoms."

Arthur's head turned. "But They're not here…" His leg kicked the hill as he and Lewis reached the same conclusion. "because They don't need to be. They know we can't get in. Not in time." He turned, setting his back to the hill and sliding down to a seated position. "I'm sorry Lew, Vivi, Mystery. I tried."

"Not just yet." Vivi whirled on Callie, shouting, "Listen up you mower-finned sack of molasses from a fountain pen's night terror! You're going to stay here with Arthur, Lewis, and Mystery. You're not gonna hurt any of them, and you're not gonna LET anything hurt them, are we clear?"

Callie rose up on her arms slowly, oily drippings sizzling on the ground below her. "And what, daughter of Morgause, are you going to…" Her eyes widened. "No."

"Stay strong Squire! Keep him here, Lew!" Vivi turned, dashing for the hill. "I'll be back!"

"NO!" Callie lunged after her. "DON'T YOU DARE!"

Vivi vanished into the side of the hill, and Callie threw herself at the rock, splashing against it as Vivi's command restrained her. "DON'T!" She wailed, clawing at the hillside. "DON'T WAKE HIM, DON'T FIND HIM, DON'T WAKE HIM!" She slid down the face of the hill, curling up in a little ball and rocking. "Please…"

Mystery heaved a sigh of relief. "Clever Vivi, still a step ahead." Mystery tensed, sniffing the air. "No more cherry blossoms, but…" his tails swept back and forth slowly. "What is that… I know that scent…"

"Stree?"

Mystery returned his attention to Arthur. His ears flattened against his skull. One of Arthur's eyes now glowed pink.

"Stree, I know it's gonna be okay now, but I'm still a little scared."

Mystery padded over and settled in front of Arthur, laying his head across Arthur's body. "I won't let it out of my sight. We've gotten this far, Arthur. Don't start underestimating your plan now."

Arthur swallowed hard. "I know, Stree." His remaining brown eye shifted, searching for Callie. "Hey, Callie. It'll be okay. I promise." His voice cracked as his vocal cords faltered. "You'll get better soon. Just stay…" His mouth moved, but no sound came out. Deep brown was overtaken by glowing pink, and there was silence for a moment.

"Stay strong." Lewis' voice came out of Arthur's mouth, heavy with sorrow. "That's what he was going to say. Stay strong."