Author's Note: I am actually really happy to receive these encouraging reviews, they really make me want to keep writing which is good. I'm having lots of fun writing these chapters and I'm glad to see the community likes it. I've been trying to update once a day, I have a weird schedule so I usually end up updating late at night.

Chapter 7:

The buggy shook and clattered as it headed towards the last member of the Brotherhood, back to Percedal's home and Evangelene. Lucian had become acquainted with everyone, and they seemed to be rather jovial despite the troublesome news that Chibi's vision had brought them.

Yugo seemed deep in thought and Lucian did not want to disturb him, Amalia was cathing up with Percedal and Ruel was vicious about being interrupted while he drove the buggy, it seemed the only one who was interested in talking at all was Cleophee, she was the kid sister of the group, the youngest one who was considered naïve and impusive. She made it no secret she was glad to have someone younger and more gullible that herself around for once.

"It's alright," she said in an experienced voice "Eventually you start learning how people work, once that happens it becomes a lot harder for them to convince you of things."

"How long does that take?" Lucian asked frusterated at his lack of knowledge

"It's different for everyone," Cleophee replied "Yugo figured it out nearly instantly, Percedal took a very long time, I took even longer."

"What about Ruel and Amalia?" Lucian asked.

"I don't think Ruel ever actually figured it out," Cleo said "He just shamelessly grubs for money and most people leave him alone."

Cleo sat in thought a moment contemplating her next answer. "Amalia took her time," she said "but she was faster than Percedal… My sister… My sister caught on even faster than Yugo I think."

"So there is no way to tell?" Lucian asked depressed

"How much do you trust people?" The cra asked.

"You mean you guys?" Lucian answered "or everyone else?"

"People in general." Cleo answered.

"I'm careful," Lucian said "I don't know enough to trust anyone outright."

"You'll figure it out fast." Cleo said.

"Really?"

"Almost definitely."

Lucian smiled, glad to have some encouragement then he thought of something, his brow furled in thought as he decided how to ask it.

"What'cha thinkin?" Cleo asked while looking out the window at the passing trees.

"Well, Why aren't you talking to everyone else," he asked "You're kind of just sitting here off to your own."

If Cleo wasn't fully aware of the boy's situation she'd think he was coming on to her, but the Eliatrope (Yugo insisted he be called that) was far too young and naïve to even know what coming on to a girl was.

"I don't really have anything to talk about." She said "Since Ogrest not all that uch has happened."

"Ogrest…" Lucian muttered under his breath his brow furrowed again. "What is Ogrest?" he asked "Yugo said he fought Ogrest, he said he must have created us just before the fight."

The Cra thought for a moment how to explain Ogrest, at first she wanted to preserve the boy's innocence but decided it was better if he just knew. "Ogrest almost destroyed the world." She began "He fell in love, but she rejected him."

"What does 'falling in love' mean?" Lucian asked.

Cleophee stared wide eyed at the boy, he was just like a child, a blank slate who lived in fear of a world around him that he did not know or understand in the slightest. No wonder he felt so at ease with Yugo around.

Cleophee turned red a little, she was very sure she was not the one to explain this to a young boy. Yet there he was staring at her expectantly for an answer as though this was all perfectly normal and she would answer without hesitation. Ignorance truly was bliss.

"What?" he asked "Did I say something wrong?"

"N-No," Cleophee answered "I'm just not sure I'm qualified to explain that one to you."

"Can you try?" Lucian asked "No one else really wants to talk right now."

Cleophee swallowed "Okay, I'll try." She said she explained how species had two genders and it was necessary for those genders to bond in order for children to be born, Lucian was like a sponge soaking it all in and asking more questions as time went on. He wanted to know if people between races could make children, or how children came to be. For her own sake Cleo deflected that part. But she did explain that it was an emotional experience that caused people to become very attached to one another and that when love was rejected it was often an emotionally crushing experience.

"It sounds complicated." Lucian said "Maybe I should just avoid this whole love thing."

"You've already embraced it." Cleo explained "There are many kinds of love, not just love between a man and a woman, but love between a son and his parents or love between friends. It seems to me you love Yugo as a father figure."

"That doesn't make sense to me." Lucian said "How can it be more than one thing?"

"Like you said, it's complicated," Cleo answered "and inescapable."

"So Ogrest felt hurt after the rejection?" Lucian asked

"Yes," Cleo said, relieved to have returned to the original subject "So he denied it, he gathered the six primordial Dofus, The core power of our world, and presented them to her." She continued "However that did not change how she felt, and she rejected him again. He was so distraught that he killed her."

"That's Terrible!" Lucian said "Why? It's not like it was her fault, she couldn't control her feelings!"

"No she couldn't," Cleo said "But neither could Ogrest and with the Dofus' power making him mad, he only realized what he had done after he had done it. When he realized what he had done he retreated to the tallest mountain in the world to cry and seclude himself so he wouldn't hurt anyone else."

"So he was actually a good person." Lucian asked.

"Kind of," Cleo said "But the power of the Dofus made him more powerful than he knew, just the act of crying caused the world to flood, destroying large swaths of land and killing many tens of thousands of people."

"Why?" Lucian asked distraught at the mere thought of that much death "Shy would anyone want to cause so much… death. Death is terrifying."

Ogrest didn't know what he was doing," Cleo continued "We was unaware that his tears caused such destruction."

"Was he stopped?" Lucian asked looking hopeful.

"Yes," Cleo said "In fact Yugo and Percedal were there to stop him when he started crying again."

"That's when Yugo fought him?" It was more a statement that a question

"Yes, Percedal discovered his god powers and rushed off to face the beast head on." Cleo said recalling those memories. "He wanted to protect his family, but he wasn't strong enough. Yugo gathered and harnessed the power of the six Eliatrope Dofus in order to help Percedal. He brought with him Ogrest's Father Otamai."

"And they beat him?!" Lucian asked excitedly

Cleo's face turned dark, she knew she was about to tread on a terribly recent wound to them all, and hoped the others weren't overhearing. "They won." She said her voice quiet "But at a high price."

Lucian's excitement immediately died "What happened?" he asked.

"Before the battle," Cleo said sadly "In order to obtain the last dofus, Yugo had to fight his brother Adamai, Adamai was angry with Yugo, and left his side promising never to return."

"Why?" Lucian asked Celo swore he should just change his name to Why he asked it so much. She started when she saw Yugo standing behind the younger Eliatrope

"Because Adamai did not believe me ready for their power," Yugo said blankly, his eyes watering with tears "And he was right. I lost my brother, because I was too naïve." He walked away to join Ruel in the cabin.

Lucian stared after him, his own eyes watering "Yugo, he sounded so, hurt just now, like he was in pain. A pain I can't see." Lucian said staring towards the cabin.

Cleo put a hand on his shoulder "Some pain can't be seen, only sensed."

"I hurt him didn't I?" Lucian asked Damn the boy was sharp, "By talking about all this we made him hurt." Too sharp, he would not remain naïve for long.

"Yes, memories can hurt," Cleo said "And that one is the worst memory Yugo has."

Ruel continued driving, it may not take Percedal that long to get from Bonta to Emelka with all his Good powers, but the buggy was considerably slower, it would be several days before they reached their destination, and though he could remain awake and operate the buggy for that long, it became harder and harder to do so with age.

Ruel caught site of a blue hat moving into the cockpit, By Enutrof if that Lucian kid was up here to ask him more questions about the buggy he swore he would see the boy's head as a hood ornament.

He turned his head with every intention of snapping at the young boy, but found Yugo standing there instead. The boy simply sat on the floor next to him and stared out the window, he looked empty and depressed.

"Ruel," he asked somberly "am I a fool?"

The old enutrof was taken aback by this, it was certainly uncharacteristic of the usually cheerful boy. He had seen Yugo sad before, he had seen the tears well up in his eyes when his father was turned to a shrub by the Soft Oak years ago, he had seen the sadness in his eyes after imprisoning one of his own race away in a never ending asylum at the crimson claw archipelago. But he had always recovered to his cheerful self.

"We're all fools at least once," Ruel said returning his gaze to the front of the buggy "Maybe now is your turn. But you'll get past it, you always do."

"Adamai is gone," Yugo said "From what I understand we were always inseparable in our past lives, this is the first time we've cast one another aside."

"You'll see him again," Ruel said optimistacly.

"I hope so," Yugo answered.

He continued to stare out the window blankly but ruel could shee tears occationally fall down his cheek. The boy had always been like a grandson to him, a child who looked up to him, a loyal friend even when the others pinned him as a perverted and greedy old man. And even now, Yugo sought out the old Enutrof's wisdom when no one else saw wisdom in him.

Ruel reached his arm out and pulled the boy into a hug. "Y'know," he said, "It's okay to cry and it's not healthy to leave your emotions bottled up. They'll come out sooner or later."

"But now I have to think of Lucian," Yugo said "He looks up to me, worships me as a god, what kind of message would I send him?"

"That it's okay to be human." Ruel said bluntly

Yugo looked to the old Enutrof, the man was truly loving and wise. Why he chose to hide his love and wisdom beneath a cloak of uncaring, calloused greed Yugo would never understand. He hugged Ruel back and sobbed into the man's shoulder. His body heaving with four months of pent up emotion.

Alarm claxons blared across the ship, Jack rushed from the Great Dragon's room while the latter questioned the source of the sounds.

"Just stay put!" Jack said quickly as he rushed to the observation deck.

He kicked through the doors like a whirlwind and rushed to the room's comm. Array "What's Happening?" he asked frantically over the line "Did Achron already make it."

Logically that was impossible, Achron's fleet was at least a few weeks out, unless he sent an agent to wreak havoc while he approached.

"No sir," a garbled message replied back, according to the computer it was being sent from med center Episilon.

"What happened soldier?" he asked

"The deities," he said over the damaged system "Several of them over whelemed us and escaped. We're not sure where they're heading, but it's clear they want off the ship."

"Get Rosalina up here now!" Jack said

"Belay that!" a strong voice said from behind.

Jack turned to see Seraphin Bartoleme behind him, returned from inspecting the troops, he slid into attention and saluted.

"Sir!" he said

"At ease Jack," Seraphin said "By God, you should know better by now."

"Sorry sir," he said relaxing "heat of the moment."

Seraphin walked up to the display and pressed down on the button.

"Let them think I'm not here Luitenant," he said "Deploy troops to drive them to the freighter bay."

"But sir," Jack said "the Freighter bay is the least secure place on the ship! They'll escape!"

"Escape?" Seraphin said questioningly "I don't recall the part where they were prisoners."

Jack raised an eyebrow, this man never made sense to him, sometimes he was a hot headed, child-like brother in arms, others he was death machine, and still others a wise old man.

"Yes sir." Jack said.

Feca carried Sadida on her back, they had decided that that was wisest as she could put up a barrier to protect him at a moment's notice and he was still feeling effects from the poinson of Sram's blade. Eniripsa ran right beside her ready to heal any wounds. Pandawa and Enutrof were behind them as a rearguard, Ecaflip was point, her reflexes were perfect for the job. Osamodas carried Goultard, Cra and Xelor covered the sides while Sacrier and Sram acted as forward muscle.

Together the gods ran through the ship looking for a way out. It seemed all the halls were the same, nothing seemed different, they could be running in circles and they wouldn't know it.

"What about Mother and Father?" Eniripsa asked worried

"If we can escape, so can they." Sram replied cooly

"There they are!" A voice yelled "Head them off!" A large unit of soldiers appeared ahead of them large Blue energy shields deployed in front of them. Sram threw a dagger and Sacried slammed his sword to the ground causing a wave of orange energy to fly towards the soldiers at break neck speeds. Both bounced of the shield as though they were nothing.

"What!" Sacrier cried.

"No time brother!" Sram stopped him before he got angry an redirected the group to the left, down another identical hallway. They were again met with troops to their front as well as their left this time and rushed right.

"Dam it!" Cra said angrily "They're hearding us!"

Sram had already caught on to this and was trying to process a plan to avoid the hearding, he didn't know how much time he had to do so., but they would have to follow the directions until he could figure the plan out.

Xelor shot a clock hand at a soldier approaching them from the left again., his blade deflected off the shield returning to his hand. He cursed softly while continuing his run

"Xelor," Sram said "Stop time and attack them from behind!"

The armored god nodded and complied, the world stopped and he rushed forward over the guard's heads to slash their backs. The sergent blocked his blow however moving despite his time stopper technique.

"We're not all mortals like them," he said evily and Xelor retreated returning to the group and resuming time.

"No good Sram," Xelor said quickly as they turned again. "The officers are minor gods, immune to time bending magic.

Sram cursed and began thinking of a new plan, but he was too late, the hall opened into a massive room full of many small ships docked together. It was Cra that first noticed the opportunity that the room held.

"This is where they launch ships from," he said I've seen similar rooms in Mechanism vessels. We can get out here!"

"But…" Sram said

"But they have the firepower of all those small vessels to use on us." Cra said.

"Big stakes," Ecaplip said with a smile "My favorite."

"We have wounded Ecaplip," Cra replied "Big stakes are not a good idea."

"We're out of options," Sram said as the soldiers cut off the path behind them.

The twelve ran quickly towards the bay entrance carful to put as many support beams between them and the smaller ships as possible, they hadn't opened fire yet, but that didn't mean they wouldn't.

"Strange," Feca said "It's almost like they want us to escape."

"Not strange," Cra said "They have a way of tracking us."

"Then, when we're out I'll teleport us to my dimension so we can figure out what it is." Ecaplip offered.

"Agreed," Sram and Xelor replied

"Whatever," Sacrier said.

The twelve burst through the shields meant to contain the air and Ecapflip opened a green portal. The twelve disappeared into it, landing in the Ecaflip dimentsion.

Cra immediately began searching Goultard and Sadida as they were still out. Nothing, when he had fought the Mechanisms they used little machines to track you back to where you lived. He assumed that this Serpahin Batoleme had similar technology. It seemed that this was not the case however.

Sram looked to Cra "Well?" he asked

"I can't find anything," Cra said "It looks like they can follow us using our life auras."

Seraphin sat again in his golden throne aboard the flagship Valorous tapping his fingers in a jolly beat on the arm of it. He watched the twelve vanish into the portal as the Freighter was right below the command deck.

"Jack," he said

"Yes?" Jack replied

"They'll have to emerge somewhere," Seraphin said with a smile, "when they do, please follow them, I want to make sure that they and the mortals are warned."

"The Two still here?" Jack said

"You already spoke with the Dragon yes?" Seraphin replied

"Yes."

"Then they'll be fine." Seraphin said "I want to get this done as fast as possible, find whatever mortals will listen and warn them that the end is coming soon."

Author's note: Again thank you for the encouraging reviews, I'm sorry this one took longer to update than normal, I'm going to bed PEACE!