Ch. 11

"He's staying Anneis. Why is he staying?" Tessur hisses in my ear. I lean against the white wall, watching for anyone else to come.

"Your guess is as good as mine." I sigh. Lord Monochrome decided to stay a little longer, saying that this was interesting. Interesting. This wasn't supposed to be interesting, this was a war. I thought Tessur would be thrilled, dancing and thanking the heavens. But, instead he had me meet him in our secret spot so he could complain.

"Do you know what this means Anneis?" Tessur glares at the opposing wall, as if that would solve this problem. I shrug. "That means we need to work harder. We can't constantly be failing or else we'll get sent back home."

"Maybe you, I've been doing good." I shove him in the arm. I wouldn't let his fear rub off on me again. No, only righteous anger would flow in these veins.

"Are you going to throw me under the bus?" Tessur places a hand against his chest. He looks so offended I want to laugh. "Anneis that isn't even funny."

"Kinda is." I hum.

"No. It isn't."

"Hmmm, yea it is."

"You want another black eye." Tessur frowns. Despite that, I can see the glitter in his brown eyes. I crack my knuckles and rise from the wall. I'm physically bigger than him, and stronger. He couldn't even land a hit if he tried.

"Bring it you stick." I drop into a fighting position, raising one arm to block any incoming attacks. We've sparred many times together so I knew all his moves.

"Well, actually Lord Monochrome wanted me." His vitiligo spotted fingers tug at the cuffs of his jacket. He straightens to full height, still below my chin, and pushes his pony tail off his shoulder. "Said something about Pigment shards?" His brows furrow.

"Shards?"

"I'll tell you later." Tessur gives one last sigh before teleporting away.


"Oh, Merle!" I turn at hearing my name. Meena runs from across the field. Another girl trails behind her, a frown tugging at her lips. I shift my binder to one arm and wave a hand. Other girls file around me trying to get into the dorm. Not as many as usual, but still more than last week. I suppose the Dead-Color attack from a few days ago wasn't mentioned. "Just the girl I was looking for." Meena shoves her hand on her hips.

"Hmm?" I point at myself. There was no way they were really looking for me, right?

"So after school were going to go convince Kai to come back to school, aaannnndd we need as many reinforcements as possible. SO would you like to back us up?" She smiles brightly. "Your stony 'take no shit' face would really help."

The girl next to her (I think is Jayme) scowls. "Try saying it nicer Meena." She scolds. That was definitely her. I remember that tone from the psychology project. It unintentionally sends a shiver up my spine.

"Oh? Was that mean? I'm being honest." Meena looks between the two of us. Her green eyes are wide. I shrug and pick at my Pigment. I didn't really understand what she meant by 'stony face'. "There it is!"

"Anyways," Jayme (I really do think that's her name) flips her short blue hair. "Would you like to come and convince Kai to come back to school?" Her serious eyes bore into mine. I quickly look away. Shrugging again, I make a noise in my throat. "I will take that as a yes." With that, Jayme turns sharply on her heel and begins to march away. Meena and I are left to follow.

"Kai lives off campus," Jayme informs. "But, he lives just in walking distance." We make our way through the cooling city. It's almost winter now meaning snow would be falling soon as well as longer foggy days. Street art decorates the side of buildings, creeping onto the sidewalks. The festivals would be coming with the winter chill as well. I don't know whether I should dread that or not. The Art festival means tourists, which means a loud city. Ugh.

"Are we almost there?" Meena drags her feet along the pavement. Jayme sends her a scalding look over her shoulder.

"Don't even try that Meena."

And that was the end of that. Ten minutes later and she would ask the same question and get the same answer. Another 10 minutes and we would be in front of Kai's apartment. She would ask the question and get slapped by Jayme. Walking distance, I wipe cold sweat from my face. The action causes pain to shoot up my spine. That last Dead-Color had really done a number there.

"You ok? You're already grimacing and we haven't even gotten to the door." Meena's face fills my sight. She leans in close, too close. I quickly look away. What's with people and being close today? I was beginning to think none of these people knew what personal space was.

Jayme, seemingly done with our antics, knocks. From behind the door a clatter of plastic can be heard as well as a string of curses. We wait patiently as the clatters get louder and closer. Finally the door swings open to reveal a messy Kai. His hair, which was already a mess if I remember correctly, goes in every direction. His shirt is baggy revealing a pale chest. I look away at this point.

"Kai" Jayme is livid.

"Oh… what's up?"

"I think you know."

"Err…" The poor boy begins to shut the door. "I don't like solicitors." Something smacks against the door. I jump, swiveling my head to the noise.

"Hey, calm down." Meena pokes me in the arm. "Just Jayme forcing her way in." She speaks calmer than usual. I look over her head of curls to see the before mentioned girl fighting with Kai. The door trembles between the two, Jayme pushing from the outside while Kai throws his whole body weight into keeping it closed. When an immovable object meets an unstoppable force what happens? I snort.

"Open… this door… now." Jayme grits her teeth. Her feet slide on the concrete of the floor, but she doesn't give.

"Leave me… alone."

"You're coming back to school whether you like it or not." Jayme gives one final push. With a loud cry Kai tumbles backwards. He slams into the wood floor, the door cracking against the thin plaster wall. Jayme steps over the sprawled out Kai. Meena with a laugh follows her example. I skirt against the edge of the wall, trying to avoid any fingers or eyes.

Paintings are fixed against the walls, all slightly crooked. All are a weird abstract of bright, swirling colors. The small hallway opens into the kitchen and living room. Both a mess. The smell of old food hits my nose. Holding back a gag, I follow Jayme and Meena in deeper. The living room is covered in canvases. Some blank, some painted like the ones in the hallway. Some of surreal landscapes. The smell of paint is thick. It reminds me of last week.

"Is this what you've been doing?" Jayme turns. Her scowl is present. I look behind to see Kai leaning against the wall. He scratches at his hair and shrugs.

"Well, the art festival is coming." He trails off at the end. "I need to have some pieces and school is just getting in the way. I mean the school is haunted too and classes are being cut so?" He sounds more like he's trying to justify his actions to himself than Jayme. Maybe he knew it was a futile act. I was beginning to get the feeling that doing anything against Jayme was futile.

"You just wanted to skip." Jayme scoffs. Tension rolls in the air and against my skin.

"I knew you would think that." Kai rolls his eyes. He pushes off the wall. I shift out of his way as he crosses the room. "I'll come back to school once the festival is over." He stops in front of Jayme and holds out his hands. Nothing happens. He shifts a little, still holding out his hands. Did… he want her to hold his hands? What was going on? Paint covers his palms so I highly doubt that Jayme would.

"You do have my classwork right?" His voice is quiet in the silence of the apartment. Kai runs a hand through his black hair, still waiting. Jayme is silent. Her eyes bore holes in Kai's. After a moment of silence she relents. Shoulders sagging and with a sigh escaping her lips she pulls packets out of her backpack.

"This is the last time Kai. You can't just stop coming to school. You'll be held back or your parents will get notified." Her eyes are daggers digging into his chest. The pale boy jumps back. He fumbles with the packets upon packets that emerges. He seems jittery now. With a quiet thanks, he drops the packets onto an empty table.

"So since everyone is here." He fumbles with his phone. "Does anyone want some tea?"


"Pigment shards." My hands cradle the little things. There's five slivers of the green Pigment. My skin crawls at the fact that it's touching me, but the fascination anchors me. "I didn't even know the things could be broken." I whisper the words.

"Neither did I. It's a testament to how strong Lord Monochrome is." He pauses. "And guess who gets to experiment with them." Tessur sounds smug. I roll my eyes and lean against the wall.

"Is it Etihvv? They've been hiding their brain this entire time!"

"Do they even have a brain?"

"Ouch." I wince. Playful banter, we're falling back into a regular routine. Something the both of us would like. I feel like things were going to spiral out of control soon and if I felt like that then so did Tessur.

"Jokes aside, what should we do with them?"

"Er… Etihvv? I think they're good crying over their lost friendship." They spent a lot, I mean a lot, of time in the dungeons. Who knew what they did down there. Probably some form of guilt tripping, I snort to myself. But, that wasn't any of my business.

"Not Etihvv. The shards." Tessur holds out his hand with a huff. I drop the green shards in his gray hand.

"I don't know, that's your thing dude." I scratch the back of my hand.

"I'm a strategist, not a scientist." Tessur frowns. "Though I have dabble in sciences…" He turns the shards over in his hand. The white splotches on his fingers turn a little green. Gross. Ideas and plans slip quietly from his lips, the gears in his brain turning. Maybe… something like? I can't seem to come up with anything. This was his area of expertise not mine.


"As I was saying." Kai huffs "I need to finish these two last pieces." He gestures a pale hand to two canvases. One is half filled with paint while the other is only penciled. Jayme has been quiet this time, almost as quiet as me.

"That's cool, you entering a contest again or selling." Meena pipes up. They've been conversing this whole time. I eye my cup, the tea had long been cold.

"Both. If I win I might be able to sell more than last year. Remember? That was a disaster." He laughs to himself. I feel out of the loop. But, then again when did I not with these people. A tense silence fills in after his laughter dies out. Jayme is eerily quiet, her dark blue hair covering her face. Meena shifts in her seat, her eyes darting for a new conversation topic.

"Merle, are you going?" She turns her warm gaze to me. I still. Loud crowds? Art everywhere? Sounds like a Gray scaled attack waiting to happen. I would prefer to miss that. But, Meena looks so hopeful. My heart twists. This was one of the first times someone's even invited me.

"S-Sure." I look down to the cup in my hands. My face like it was on fire. Even if Tessur or Anneis attacked, I think it'd be fun to be with some people for once. It'll get me out of my dorm too.

"It's getting late. Let's go." Jayme stands suddenly. Kai stands up as well, but Jayme doesn't even look at him. She gathers her things quickly and practically runs to the door. I follow, my heart pricking. Meena is the only one to actually bid adieu.

"Jeez wasn't that kinda mean?" After the 20 minutes of walking home and silence, Meena finally speaks. Jayme's hands tighten around her messenger bag. "I mean, I get your mad that Kai's skipping, but isn't for a good reason?" Jayme doesn't rise to the bait. Instead she picks up the pace. The dorms come into view, the square buildings jut into the dusky sunset.

"Jayme?" Meena picks up the pace too. I wasn't their friend, so did I have a right to even hear this? I twist a piece of my hair around my fingers. Meena repeats the girl's name again, but gets the same response. Silence. Jeez, I don't understand these people at all.

We split up at the stairs, I heading to my dorm while I hope the others do the same. I felt extremely tired, ready to collapse onto my door. Grf snoozes like a cat on my bed. Luckily unlike a cat they take up the corner and not the whole bed. I slip out of my shoes and sweater before lying down. There's a week before the festival. I hope Kai finishes on time. With that last thought I slip into a hazy sleep.

"-le. -ake." Words jumble in my ears. Something hot meets my cheeks. I swat with a hand. The words are spoken again. "Me-. W-. Up." Still not recognizing the foreign sounds. Did I have school today? I instead think of that. Today was the beginning of the festival. No. I didn't have to 'w-ke' up. Something wet meets my cheek again. Sill oddly warm.

"Grif?" The haze is beginning to retreat. I sit up. Morning light streams inward from the window making the room a dusty gold. The griffon sits on my lap looking peeved. It was too early in the morning for this. "What's up?"

"Merle we need to talk." Can't it wait? I want to groan at the griffon, but if they woke me up it must be important. With a slip of their wing, the bag holding the green Pigment slips out. Unlike before, it seems to be pulsing with power. Dim light shines like dots over its surface Ever so often they would flare a bright, dark green then dim again. "I think it's reacting to the shards."

"What? Can… it do that?" I wipe more of the haze from my head. Reaching across I pull a notebook over. Flipping it open to a blank page, I write what Grif says.

"Pigments are mysterious. All we really know about them is that they are the crystallized form of core emotions. That and when used by certain people, they becomes the Legendary Hero's Pretty Cure." Grif explains patiently. "Even I, the Pigment's Guardian, doesn't know much." Grif holds the Pigment gently. Color flakes off at every tender touch. I copy what they say.

"Are you saying we should get the shards ASAP?"

"You're not strong enough, not yet." Grif shuts the idea down. "I just wanted to keep you updated on what's happening." With that, they put the Pigment back in the bag and sling the bag under their wing.

"How do you know it's reacting to the shards?" I write the question in the book. It was becoming easier to talk to them. Especially when it was just about Precure business. If it was something else… I try not to think about Jayme and Kai. I wasn't an expert on emotions (ha, says the girl with a crystallized emotion hung around her neck.) but, there seemed to be a schism between the two for this past week.

"The Pigment shines with light when you use its power, correct?" Grif ruffles their wings. I give a nod. "It's shining. Someone is trying to access its power."

"Monochrome?" My stomach twists at the suggestion. If they somehow weaponized it… I feel the rest of my insides follow the stomach's lead.

"Most likely. Perhaps, and I would hate to suggest this, but I think he is trying to use it to power up." And we're already lagging in power. It was three against one. Could I not catch a break? I don't mention this to Grif. If I showed insecurities to them… no. Not thinking about it.

I shuffle out of bed. A mess of curls is brushed from my face with a sigh. "Grif, today's the beginning of the festival." I've mentioned a few times to them.

"Have fun." Grif lies on the bed. Their wings flatten against their sleek cat like body.

"... Want to come." I stare straight ahead. They must be bored being cooped up in the room all the time.

"Really?" They leap up. "I can?" Grif sounds way too excited. I guess I was correct. "I haven't been to a festival in forever!"

"There's festivals in the Land of Canvases?" I turn around. Grif nods animatedly. There's a glitter in their eyes that wasn't there before. How… would I sneak them in though? Maybe in a bag? On my shoulder like a falcon trainer? "Would you like to ride in my bag?" It wasn't like they were a dog. If they were I could just put a leash on them.

"Sounds wonderful." I can hear the purrs from where I stand. With a smile, I begin to get ready.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm ready. They weren't that heavy which I suppose is a blessing. Also the fact I emptied everything out. Lots of robotics pieces fell out as well as my missing pair of wire clippers. I was meeting Meena down at the front of the school, but I was unsure whether or not Jayme was coming. She looked really closed off this week. Meena said something along the lines of me looking the same, but I didn't see the resemblance. After that Sylvia would be down at the fair, she was helping set up many of the tents.

"We almost there." Grif whispers from the bag. I roll my eyes, barely at the meeting point with Meena. I whisper a 'no' back. The bag shuffles, the griffon probably sulking.

"Ready?" Meena leans off of the golden gate. The morning haze is lifting, but still there. I shrug. If I wasn't ready would I be here? She laughs and leads the way. The second we leave the school grounds I can hear the chatter. It bounces down the thin streets, seems to seep from all the art that surrounds me. People mill around the open cafes, stroll down the closed off streets. Somehow, I don't really find it all that annoying. Maybe because I was with someone else? A… friend?

"Are we friends?"

"...What makes one a friend?"

"I don't know."

I feel my heart twist. Would Clancy like a festival like this? She would be like Grif I think, ecstatic. Or maybe melancholic. Would it remind her of her home? I force the thoughts away. I would enjoy the next three days and not think of anything else.

"Oh there's Kai's booth!" Meena drags me through the crowd? I look around confused. Were we already here? When did that happen? Meena flags down the pale boy. He's dressed in professional looking attire instead of a hoodie. It looks… almost unnatural. His hair even looks less messy. Canvases and surreal art fill his small tent. Some from the house, some I've never seen before. It was beautiful. Even if I felt slightly sick at all the paint, they were really something to look at.

"Here to buy something?" Kai scratches at his hair.

"I'm too poor." Meena flips through some canvases. "Though I have to say, an improvement from last years." They both laugh at this. The backpack shifts on my back. Grif looks from a sliver.

"A great budding artist." They whisper to me. I nod. Kai was doing some amazing stuff. Before I know it Meena is dragging me to the next booth with a shout of 'we'll be back later!' over her shoulder. There's so many types of arts and booths. Some sell textiles, others offering spray paint tattoos, some selling paintings and others selling sculptures and ceramics. People flood the stalls aahing and oohing over the art.

Somehow between the crowds we find Sylvia and Jayme. What we've stumbled upon however, is an argument.

"I don't think you understand Sylvia. I thought you would, but I suppose I was wrong." Jayme's blue eyes flash with anger.

"That's not the only thing you're wrong about." Sylvia shuts her eyes. Her skin is red and blotchy. Before she can speak again Jayme storms off. With an aggravated sigh, Sylvia covers her face with her hands. Muttering to herself, she doesn't seem to see us. Meena tugs my sleeve and discretely points to where Jayme ran. 'You go after her, I got this.' She mouths the words. Not even an hour in and there was already trouble. I sigh and quickly follow her directions. At least it wasn't a Dead-Color.

It's harder than I thought it would be to find Jayme. I go through many stalls, even the contest center, but she isn't there. I look between the small side streets, but all that's there is trash. With a sigh, I collapse onto the sidewalk. Grif pokes their head out of the bag, their beak downturned. This was ruining the festival for them as well.

"You okay Merle?" They nuzzle their muzzle against my cheek. I shrug and pet the top of their head. How I was supposed to find a girl I didn't know anything about? Why did Meena even send me after her? The thoughts drag me down.

"Are you okay sweetie?" A sweet voice like honey draws me out of my thoughts. Grif quickly pops back into the backpack. I look up to see a tall willowy girl. She smiles and tucks a strand of straight black hair behind her ear. "I saw you sitting here all troubled, you know this is a festival right?"

What was I supposed to say?

"It was a joke." She giggles to herself. My tongue feels like lead in her presence. She stands bright and tall, a thin arm extended to help me up. I take the offered hand. "But honestly, is there anything wrong." Her sharp almond eyes meet mine. I look away.

"No-no. Maybe?" I stutter over the words and look back up. A piece of her side bangs hang over her nose and extend down the cheek. She brushes it back, but it slips back. Nope, I would rather stare at the trash on the ground.

"Maybe?"

"I lost an acquaintance." I fumble over the simple sentence.

"Acquaintance?" She giggles again, but I don't feel like she's laughing at me. "I saw another girl sulking down the street, near the edge of the shops. May be the girl you're looking for." She pauses as if in thought. "She had blue hair." Yep. That was probably her. I give my thanks and run. I guess all the tourists here weren't bad. There was no way someone like her came from Blackwell. She just… felt too nice.

Jayme was indeed sulking behind some shops. At my approaching footsteps, she sours. "Did Meena send you?" She rubs at her red face. I nod and sit beside her. "Of course, too scared to go herself." She sounds bitter. I stay quiet.

"You're wondering why I'm mad. I can see it."

I nod.

"I don't feel like telling."

I nod again. Now that I was on the other side of this… I'll talk to Sylvia later. I didn't have a magic pond to make her talk, only me. This is terrible. I didn't like to talk. But, I have to put some effort forward if we're to be friends. I promised to help others and I would stand by that.

"You'll think it's stupid." Jayme's voice is hoarse. She wipes harder at her face.

"No. I won't." I pick at my Pigment. What was I supposed to do in this situation? "Let it out?" I offer.

"Kai. He's so stupid!" The harsh words come out. I swallow thickly. I didn't think Jayme was that mean. "I've been doing all this shit for him and he can't even give me one thank you? I've been doing this for years and he doesn't..." She sucks in a huge breath. "He's just dumb!" She nearly shrieks the words. "He thinks I'll just be behind him to clean up the messes he makes! But I won't!"

"I won't!" Her pale skin is red and blotchy. Tears dribble down her cheeks. "Especially if he gets kicked out." She wipes hard at her cheeks. Something brushes mine. I nearly jump out of my skin. A white napkin is offered from Grif. They slink lower into the bag after I take it. Offering it to the crying girl, she snatches it out of my hands with a 'thank you.'

"Things are just getting messed up." She whispers the last part. "He didn't even tell me he was entering a painting contest this year. We're supposed to be best friends." She dabs at her tears. I was out of my element. What the hell was I supposed to say?

"That sucks." I am going to shove my entire foot in my mouth.

Jayme laughs a little. She wipes some more of the tears away. "I'm such an emotional baby. Sorry."

"Nothing wrong with that." I twist at a part of my hair.

"I want to be tough, not a baby." Jayme stands. "Let's… go get something to eat or something. I don't want to sit around anymore." I follow her lead. "And… how did you find me?" She kicks at the ground, avoiding my eyes.

"A weird tourist saw you."


"Jayme?" At the voice, the girl tenses beside me. The crepe in her hand is squished. "What are you doing here?" Shit. It's Kai. Jayme turns on her heel, eyes wide. Kai is surprised as well, standing in front of the contest center. In a moment, gone the slowly unwinding girl and in her place is a cold ball of fury.

"Kai." Her voice is clipped. "I'm walking. What does it look like."

"No need to get mad…" Kai scratches at his hair. "Just wondering since you hate coming to the festivals."

"I wonder why." Her voice is dry.

"At least were on the same wavelength." Kai lets out a force laughed. This was extremely awkward. I couldn't say anything, just feel the tension rising and rising.

"Contestants to the hall." The tension is broken by the announcer's voice booming overhead. People one cue begin to flock towards us, and past us.

"We'll talk later!" Kai is quick to run. He's quickly swallowed in the crowd. The crepe drops from Jayme's hand, a hiss escaping her lips.

"Just easily dismiss me like always." With a twist of her heel she storms off. The schism ran deeper than I thought. Without a second though I follow Jayme. She fights her way through wave and wave of people. I flow through the cracks, never losing track of the smaller girl. As she breaks away from the crowd I cut out as well. "Do you see what I'm dealing with? What I've dealt with for the past 15 years?" She doesn't face me. "We've been friends since kindergarten." She mutters. "Friendship. More like clean up." She scoffs.

"If you hate it why have you stuck around so long?" I cross my arms. She doesn't react at all.

"You wouldn't understand." She finally speaks. She wasn't wrong there. What could I, a friendless kid, know about childhood friends? That wasn't going to stop me from listening however. With a little prodding she faces me. Her eyes are set in a cold fury. "Don't play therapist like Sylvia. I said you wouldn't understand." I back off slightly, a sliver of fear crossing my heart. She looked livid. This wasn't like a fight with a Dead-Color. I couldn't just punch her. Although… I narrow my gaze.

"Have you ever told Kai this? Or are you unloading on me." A harsh whisper of Merle! Comes from the backpack. Jayme's eyes widen. Her mouth flies open, but nothing comes out. She doesn't have anything to say.

"Go watch the contest. Go sort this out." For once it's not me who draws their gaze back. Jayme shrinks into herself, arms hugging herself.

"I don't have to do what you say." Even her words have zero bite. I let out a long sigh.

"True. You do what you want." The words sound harsher than intended. She flinches back, eyes wide. Shit, I sound like the bad guy here. "It's up to you whether or not to confront him?" I stumble over the words. I'm going to shove another foot down my throat. Why am I allowed to speak?

"I hate this." Jayme mutters. With that she shoves past me. "If he didn't care to tell me about the contest why would he care about what I have to say?" Despite the words she makes her way towards the contest center. She's going to murder him instead of talk. The thought flits through my brain.

At once a wave of gray floods my senses. Like a doll Jayme hits the pavement. The color from her skin seeps from her skin, melting into the pavement. I shout Grif's name, already preparing to transform. The wave of blue energy crashes along my skin, washing the clothes off and replacing them with my Pretty Cure uniform.

"The Color of the Unforgiving Earth! Cure Aero!" I announce to no one. Bodies are sprawled on the streets, in the tents. I suck in a breath and hold it. Like the Land of Canvases. I blink the memory away and steel my nerves. "You okay back there Grif?"

"The Pigments reacting." They sound breathless. I slip the backpack off and peak inside. The inside is dappled in greens. The color shifts across the small plastic walls, the Pigment itself flickering in the griffons paws. "I knew. They're trying to use it!"

"We'll just have to stop them." I sling the backpack on. "Hold on." My leg muscles coil beneath. I leap forward, the air cutting against my skin. Leap to leap I make my way to the contest center. The Dead-Color could be anywhere, but I bet it came from that area.

Something's wrong. I stop leaping. Instead of gray, the area is tinted green. It was still gray, but with a more sickly green feeling to it. I can't think about it too long as the even center is coming into view. It's overgrown with vines. Not exactly gray vines, but not green either. "Is that a Dead-Color?" My hand curls into a fist. How do you fight vines?

"I can't tell. We'll have to investigate." Grif sounds from the backpack. Investigate? I don't remember seeing vines over the event center when I was walking with Jayme. Stalking forth, my eyes sweep over the greenish area. It was beginning to hurt my eyes, worse than when its gray scaled. Which one would be here today? Anneis? I hadn't seen her in a while. Maybe even Tessur. He was cropping up a lot lately. Maybe… even Etihvv. The thought makes my stomach twist. No way. At least I hoped not. "Aero?" Grif calls my name. I shake my head and start forward.

"Vines. Got it." At my voice, or footsteps, the vines begin to pulse. Slowly they pull themselves off the building. Like lances, they shoot forward. I leap up easily dodging the first volley. My heels drive down in another incoming vine. Pushing off, I flip up. Through the roaring in my ears I can hear Grif crying. I wince and crash back down to the earth. Landing in a side roll, not a regular one as I would crush Grif, I come back up.

"Aero put me down." Grif sounds sick. I nod, remember that they can't see me, and voice that I would. Just after I didn't have to deal with these vines. The ones that speared the earth earlier come for a second round. I raise my arms at the last second. My gloves are torn from the force of the plants. My heels dig into the pavement, my breaths come out in huffs. The barrage is endless. Vine after vine try to spear me. I block with my forearms, the stinging pain exploding forth.

Finally, before the next one can hit I leap backwards. The vine digs into where I stood. Rocks and dust explode forth. Slinging the backpack off, I hit the ground once more. Gently I place it on the curb. "I'll be back soon." I tell the griffon before throwing myself back into the fight. Over the beating of my heart I can hear them wish me good luck.

Maybe it was because I was fighting these things alone, but I found battle instincts coming to me. Dodge here. Throw a punch there. Roll when you hit the ground. Maybe it was the Pigment telling me these things too. It's gone through generations of warriors, right? Before I can dwell on it any further, the vines are back. I slip past like a ghost. I arc my leg up and bring it back down. The pavement cracks beneath the force, the vine itself splitting. Something like water, very thin water, drips from the wound. I dodge back feeling the air cut against my sweaty skin. Another vine spears into the vine I drop kicked.

No mercy. I feel like I'm moving in circles. Dodge from the left. Punch to the right. Twist on your foot. Kick to the left. I'm getting nowhere. The vines are endless. Something wraps around my ankle. "Shi-" I'm yanked upwards. I soar through the air upside down. Grabbing the edge of my skirt I let another curse. "Come on." I growl. I slam my other foot repetitively into the base of the vine. I can feel the blood rushing to my head.

"Ha! Caught like a fly!" Anneis' booming voice sounds from below. I arch my neck to try and find the gray scaled woman. It's not hard given that she's gray against a slightly green background. Not like usual. "This Pigmented Dead-Color is great!" She turns to the man beside her. Monochrome looks impassive as ever. I frown and try to keep my skirt and shirt from flipping.

Pigmented Dead-Color. Is that what she was calling this? I land another crunching kick on the vine stalk, but it doesn't let go. I was beginning to get light headed. The world was upside down and spinning and- I have to do something now. Even if I wasn't that athletic in my regular form, I was here. I let go of my clothes and swing my body upwards. My hands grab the vine slithered around my ankle. They still sting from the barrage earlier, but that doesn't stop me from ripping it to shreds.

With nothing holding me in the air any longer I drop like a stone. I land with a disorienting crunch. Anneis immediately starts talking, but I can't bring myself to care. She's going off in that loud voice of hers that is really giving me a headache. I don't have to focus on her as the vines are coming at me again. I roll back up and dodge one. I can feel the wind burst from the movement against my cheeks. I can almost feel the rough texture brush me.

This was going nowhere. How was I supposed to defeat vines? It's impossible unless I had a lighter. Maybe Clancy's Vermillion Flash point. I shake my head to rid of the thoughts. I needed to find the source of the vines. Get rid of the roots and you're rid of the problem. My eyes scan the area looking for a source. The event center. The vines were crawling all over it when I came. Was it inside? Maybe a sculpture.

Twisting on my heel I barely dodge another incoming vine. I'd rather hazard the source guess than be skewered in front of my enemies. Another dodge then I run. The world blurs before my eyes, my legs pump beneath. I get closer and closer to the door.

"She's running?" I can still hear Anneis booming voice. Yes. I am running. I slam my body into the door, feeling the wood splinter against my skin. The doors bang to the sides their hinges screaming in protest. "She's running!" Her voice echoes down the hall. Again. Yes. I am running.

A source. The sculpture or painting or whatever. I'm leaning towards painting now, the smell of acrylics drifting in the air. It smelt like Kai's apartment, but without the underlying scent of rotten food. It's a short hall and I'm soon in the actual event center.

People are slumped in their seats. While they're gray the domed walls are the sickly green. The ground shifts beneath my feet, caught in an invisible breeze. Grain stalks brush against my bare knees. I grimace and start forward. There's vines on the ceiling. They're moving, but ultimately not trying to skewer me. Thanks. I make my way to the painting at the front. There's many portraits, but only one landscape. Kai is sprawled beneath it. With a sigh through my nose I grab my Pigment.

"The Pigment that stills the heart!" With a flash of energy the miniature cell tower appears. "Aero Bit Buster!" With a swing of the weapon, the sound starts. Another swing and the vines on the ceiling begin to pulse. They pull away from the ceiling, swaying to the music. They seemed entranced. Good. With a flash of blue, the bit buster becomes the oversized pencil.

"The Pigment that tranquilizes the heart!" I draw the code. "Aero Recode!" With a flash of blue color begins to return to the Dead-Color. The green fades away and gold fills its place. The vines overhead begin to bulge, growing heavy with paint; the grains at the bottom swelling as well. Hundreds of pops sound in the air. I cover my ears, but that doesn't stop them from ringing. Paint hits my skin like pellets. I just sigh and wait for it to fade.

Color has fully returned; the people begin to stir now. With a ping my uniform disappears as well as the aches and pains. "Ah shit." I turn at the voice. Anneis and Monochrome are at the edge of the room. Even at this distance I can see how pissed she is. She stomps her foot and looks ready to tear out her hair. "This isn't happening! You defeated it already!" It wasn't that hard, I want to reply.

She looks ready to argue, but Monochrome suddenly shimmers away. Anneis blinks in surprise and then groans. "This isn't over!" With that, she disappears. I sigh and turn to Kai. He's beginning to stir, as well as the others, so I run. I had to make it to Jayme before she noticed I was missing. Something glittery catches my eye. Bending down, I grab a small shard of…something. I rub my finger along the edge. A Pigment shard.

Grif. I'll go to Grif then find Jayme.


"Where did you go?" I find Jayme on a bench. A lot of people are gone, not exactly in a festival mood anymore. Getting your emotions did that to you. I shrug at her answer and pick at my backpack strap. I couldn't leave Grif, they might get stolen or worse. She frowns at my answer and stands. "I'm going to talk to Kai, you… go do what you do." She turns on her heel and stalks through the thin crowd.

"Merle." Grif whispers harshly from the bag. I duck out of the festival and behind a stall. Opening the flap, the griffon pops their head out. "The fragment of the Pigment, it fits."

"Good job." I smile.


Afterword: *fanfare* yaay I'm back. I had a lot of stuff going on so I'm sorry this was put off for so long. I'm already deviating from my plans btw (rip). But, at least the chapter is about 1500 more words than usual

Thanks for reading, leave a comment, constructive criticism or anything. Thanks.