Planning for the Unknown

Laughing at the top of his lungs, he made absolutely sure Marzipan could hear him over her yelling. Homestar ran ahead, backwards to watch his friends. He ran a little farther before he slowed. Eventually Homestar came to a stop. In all the excitement he forgot for a moment what was ahead for them.

Leaves fell around him, coloured in golds, reds, oranges and browns like he had never seen before. The forest of dreams was never effected by weather, seasons, or anything like it before. Always so lush and green because of the fairies' magic, but now it looked like his home was almost... Almost dying.

Strong Bad slipped in behind Homestar, avoiding an angry swipe from Marzipan. Despite all her anger she was grinning as she reached around the fairy to get at the fire prince, pulling his arms towards her. The awkward position sent all three tumbling through the slowly piling dead leaves and two out of three of them laughing. For once it was Homestar who didn't join in the joyous sound.

"Hey, Homestar, what's wrong?" Strong Bad pulled away as he questioned, a bit of concern raising an eyebrow.

"Are you still tired, sweety?" Marzipan crawled over to he fairy and put a hand on his cheek crystals. "From all that running? We could rest here for a while, if you want."

Homestar sighed and looked at both of them. "I don't feel vewy good. Maybe I am tiwed..."

"Hey why don't you get some sleep man. We don't have to be there right now."

Homestar stood, pulling Marzipan up with him. "No, Stwong Bad, I think we do hawve to get thewe, wight away." Then he smirked. "'Specially since all the faiwies are gone fwom the fowest."

"Huh?" Strong Bad uncrossed his arms. "What do you mean all the fairies are gone? Where'd they go?"

"Strong Bad, I think they went to go wage war on your brother, Strong Mad." Marzipan pointed out, graciously accepting the help. "That's what's happening, right, Homestar?"

"Yeah..." The fairy turned to the fire prince. "Befowe we got hewe we met Pom Pom and Homeschool up nowth. Pom-dawg told me gwandma's planning on catching Stwong Mad to fwee his kin'dom and and use him to westowe me back to being a small faiwy."

Strong Bad's eyes widened. "Then we should go back there! We have to help my brother, an'... An' 'da Cheat. He had to have gotten home by now and no stupid fruit eating sparkle bug is going to hurt my 'da Cheat!"

"The Cheat?" Marzipan crossed her arms. "That little weird creature you and your brothers apparently brought from parts unknown?"

"Yeah, except you guys he's my best friend. And my older brother, he... He took care of me when mom and dad..." Strong Bad looked away. "I was a kid when it happened. I still needed them, and my brother took up that role. All I have is them for family now."

Both fairy and druid were quiet, eyes on their fiery companion. Strong Bad sighed. "We're too far now, aren't we?"

"It'll take days, maybe even weeks to return you to the western kingdom, Strong Bad." Marzipan solemnly agreed.

He was nearly facing them alone, with the exception of the small yellow and black creature on his shoulder. But like a plague of loctus, the fairies swarmed around and towards him. Arrows from behind the fairies rained down from nymphic bows.

Strong Mad licked some blood from his lips. This was going to be a good battle.

Earth shuttered before rising up around the field, as the Fury prince took control of his island, and with it golems. He may have been a one man army before, but against this magical force, he needed a little magic of his own. Still, he wasn't afraid. He took out humans, elementals, even nymphs before. He also still had his protective amulet, and though it only had a little magic remaining in it, he believed it would be enough. A swing of his massive fist struck three attacking fairies, sending back and crushing their armour against them like aluminum cans between foot and concrete. Another swing sent back two more, but earned him a spear in his fist. He pulled it out and tossed it aside before running back into the fray of battle.

The Cheat held on for dear life, squealing out with each strike.

On the outskirts, standing on the newly formed rock wall, the youngest Strong stood. He watched the one sided carnage for a moment before turning to his gateway companions.

"I would not blame you in the least if you wish to rush in there and help your army, but I would suggest against it. My brother will kill them if they do no retreat, and will kill you if you get in his way." He turned to fairy and nymph prince. "It is up to you, however."

"What about you, shadow prince." Homeschool wondered out loud. "Will you help my brother, or go home?"

"Family is family, even if he doesn't need my help that is what I'll offer him, now that I'm here." Strong Sad pointed out with a small sigh. "Even if I don't like to fight like my brothers do."

Pom Pom was quiet a moment. Then, placing a hand on the sorrow prince's shoulder, he smiled. Even if they were enemies on this battlefield, if they all survived he hoped they could be allies afterward.

"Thank you, Prince Pom Pom..." Strong Sad whispered before stepping back. "I hope you too survive this battle." With that he disappeared to join his brother's side. Strong Mad nodded to his little brother before returning to the attack.

Pom Pom took the air. He motioned for the fairy to follow, but Homeschool just fluttered there, his glow dimming as the colour left his cheeks. He was terrified of dying, after The Cheat nearly killed him before. Pom Pom nodded in understanding, insisting the fairy return to Champeen before he pulled a magic pistol from one of his many pouches, followed by another.

Homeschool flew over. "If you see her, don't tell grandmother..." He whispered in Pom Pom's ear before flying off towards the forest. The nymph prince nodded before releasing a battle cry and flying down towards the battle.

The land of the dragons, so dry the air seemed to sting the companions' eyes and parch their throats. The smell of fire and smoke seemed to linger in that same air.

"You sure you guys want to go through with this?" Marzipan whispered between the boys, glancing at their expressions quickly. "We could stop now."

"No, we can't." Homestar whispered back to her. "Not now."

"Besides," Strong Bad added. "I've been giving things a lot a thought, and I think I have a plan. A plan that'll help us win, and save the fairies and the forest too."