Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Ghost Hunt.
The late afternoon sun cast its golden light over the bright pastures of Albion. It was truly a glorious late spring day and birds chirped, the brooks ran merrily and bees hummed as they went about their task of collecting honey. A stray beam of ruby red light skimmed the surface of the brook, narrowly missed a flock of bluebirds and the hive of bees before descending on the crowd of curious onlookers, which fled for safer ground.
"Madoka! Would you watch where you're aiming your spells!" Ayako yelled as another beam streaked past her, singeing the tree behind.
"Ah! My bad!" the enchantress said blithely, not in fact sounding apologetic at all. The healer shook her head.
"This is going nowhere," she grumbled to Lin, who just sighed heavily.
The two enchantresses were firing all sorts of spells at each other, not caring who, where or what they were hitting. Already, the palace grounds were pockmarked with bits of bare ground that were still smoking faintly. And, whatever remained of the turf was faring no better as it was being rapidly trodden flat by the rampant sheep, which were attacking the thick vines encircling the palace walls as if they were their worst enemy. John came running round the corner.
"Princess Masako has found an entrance. The sheep are almost done eating their way through," he gasped before dashing back the way he came.
Too engrossed in their battle, neither enchantress observed the small party of rescuers dart round to the side entrance.
"Your Majesties. I would strongly advice that you retire to somewhere safer for now," Lin said. He paused to consider Takigawa's bandaged foot as well.
"Sir Takigawa, it seems we would have to trouble you with looking after their Masjesties. You'll only be a hindrance in your current state."
For a while, it looked as though the tutor would protest, but a look from Ayako quelled him. As they reluctantly drew aside with Takigawa still grumbling under his breath about tyrannical healers, the rest of them poured through the narrow entrance into the bowels of the castle.
The remaining three of them stood watching as vines regenerated over the door, sealing it completely shut. The sheep that had been standing triumphantly to the side bleated indignantly at the loss of their good work.
"So that's that, then." With one last look back at the eeriely silent palace, they retreated towards the town.
***
Somebody sneezed.
Shhhh!
"I'm sorry," John said sheepishly. "It's kinda dusty in' here'."
"Excuse me, that's your elbow in my ribs," Masako complained at Yasuhara.
"Oh, sorry," he said and promptly poked Gene on the back of his head as they all fought to keep their balance in the tiny area
"Does anyone have the key – what is this place anyway?" Ayako panted.
"I think it's a guard post," John remarked and ducked as Gene's arm groped blindly past his face to reach for the key hanging off the wall. Then, there was a loud click and the door swung open suddenly.
"We should split into two teams," Lin suggested as soon as they had dusted themselves. Gene nodded in agreement.
"I think, given the situation, each team should have a magic user or someone who knows how to defend against them."
He looked at Sir John and the princess. Masako stepped forward.
"I know some basic warding and healing spells, but I'm better at sensing magic than countering them."
"What about you Sir John? Are you up to protecting Lady Masako?"
"You can count on me," John said, his mouth set in a grim line.
Lin nodded. "Then, I think it's settled. Masako-hime, you, John and Yasuhara will make a team. Gene and Ayako, you're with me," he announced. "Yasuhara, would you please start with the lower levels and the servants' quarters? We'll start with the upper floors and work down."
***
One hour later…
"You're lost aren't you?"
Yasuhara continued to smile cheerfully as he adjusted his glasses.
"Of course not," he said as they came face to face with another dead end. Masako and John looked at each other and then back at the irate spirit that was tailing them.
"If you know he's getting us lost, why don't you lead instead?" Masako asked. Old Black snorted.
"You'll just get more lost," he retorted disdainfully.
"Not to worry, I know where we are exactly," Yasuhara announced. Masako pursed her lips in displeasure.
"And where would that be?"
His glasses flashed in the gloom. "Why, in front of this wall of course," he said triumphantly.
"That…wasn't very funny," John sighed. "I agree," Masako said. "We should leave him behind."
Old Black grinned maliciously.
"I should put a hex on you so you can't move from this spot," he said with a leer at the university student who cringed in mock terror.
"But what would Lin say?" he asked, eyes wobbling with crocodile tears as they turned back the way they came.
"He'll probably say 'good riddance'," Masako murmured behind her sleeve.
"I heard that," Yasuhara whispered directly into her ear from behind, causing the girl to twitch. She glared at him.
"You're wasting time walking in circles," Old Black commented. "I suggest you all move out of this corridor some time soon. There's a bespelled gargoyle standing guard on the other end. It's pretty stupid, but even it'll notice you with the kind of ruckus you're producing."
With a mock bow in their direction, the ghost floated away through the wall. "Amateurs…" they heard him mutter. "If Arthur was here, he'll have given them beasties all a good hiding instead of sneaking about."
"Who exactly did he say he was again?" Yasuhara whispered. Sir John shrugged bemusedly.
By this time, given the sheep, the magical abductions, and randomness of the group he was in, mysterious spirits who had taken to following them out of the blue seemed hardly stunning in comparison. "Old Black, that's what Lady Ayako called him."
The student tilted his head thoughtfully. "Really? Never heard of him… perhaps we had better be on our way too then…"
A loud scream pierced the gloom.
"That sounded like Mai," John said anxiously. Without another word, the three of them immediately ran towards it.
***
Naru. Why had she called out that name when her dream had been about Oliver? And, why on earth should she even be dreaming about him in the first place. She slapped her own face twice.
"Concentrate, Mai. Now's not the time to be daydreaming." Especially dreams of random strangers as princes.
The corridors with their dizzying rows of painted scenery and statues were all starting to look the same. She paused. Hadn't she passed the marble bust of Merlin once before already? As she hovered uncertainly, there was a loud crash and a hell hound leapt down from the stairs directly in front of her.
Swallowing nervously, Mai took a step backwards. The creature looked injured, but that was hardly comforting since it was blocking the only exit. Looking around, Mai didn't see anything that could be of use for defense – except perhaps the marble bust. What had Oliver said – that her latent spell breaker abilities kept them at bay. Evidently that wasn't going to work now because it was padding directly towards her, the wide gash on its side oozing dark blood. She squeezed her eyes shut and willed as she did earlier. Nothing happened.
"Argh!" she yelled, stomping in frustration and panic as the creature paced closer. It was clearly still wary but there was nothing stopping it from using its sheer brute strength to rip her to pieces while she stood helpless as she worked out how to use her skills.
"Honestly girl. Can't you protect yourself?"
Wheeling round at the source of the voice, Mai found herself looking up just in time to see the silvery spectre of an elderly man with a long flowing beard and star spangled robes floating out of a patch of empty wall. She screamed.
"Mind where you drop that bust, it was expensive," the spirit warned sharply. Mai gulped and placed the statue back on its pedestal with a guilty look. The hound snarled, hackles raised at the spirit. Old Black fixed it with a stern glare.
"Get you hence, hound of brimstone and fire! Your kind are not welcome here." With a startled whine, the creature jolted as if stung. Then, it darted back the way it came, tail between its legs.
"There. Did you see how that was done, girl? You should practice if you want to survive in here," the spirit said with an air of self-satisfaction.
Mai blinked. The sense of being repeatedly hit by déjà vu was getting too much to bear.
"Have we met before too?" she demanded.
To her annoyance, the spirit merely smirked. "Oh, we've been neighbours for some time now. I'm impressed you even recognize my aura given how many times you've gotten lost in my woods," he said smugly.
She narrowed her eyes. Woods? Honestly, why was she always running into insufferable magical types who wouldn't explain anything? He extended a pearly hand to her.
"Shall we? I believe a young princeling would need your help some time soon."
She stopped in her tracks. Prince? She looked up at him, wide eyed. "You mean Oliver and Gene are…" she began slowly. The spirit raised an eyebrow. "You already know don't you?"
When Mai continued to stare at him, realization dawning on her face, he floated on ahead.
"Hurry up. And next time, pay attention when you're dreaming."
***
By the time the rescue party arrived at the scene, all they saw was an empty corridor. "Strange… I am sure the scream came from somewhere around here," John said.
"Look." Yasuhara gestured at where he was kneeling on the floor. "There's blood."
Masako clutched her nose, trying not to breathe in deeply. "There was magic used here. And," she caught her breath sharply, "something with a very nasty aura is close by."
"Stay close," John ordered.
Not a moment later, a shape detached itself from the shadows on the ground, solidifying into the hell hound. It padded towards them, eyes blazing. John drew his sword as Masako and Yasuhara stepped back. The dog stopped. It gave them a measuring look. No, it's not them. She's gone back up. Intercept the girl before she meets the others. Malfina's disembodied voice rang through the room. With a soft whine, the dog darted out, the three of them in pursuit.
Author's notes: Update came earlier than I thought - thanks mostly to your very encouraging reviews and because I hadn't realised that I had already written that much. Still, not much main action this chapter. Mai connecting some of the dots finally - though not all of them. That'll probably happen in the next chapter. Hopefully, after this fortnight, I'll have a bit more time to write a good one for that.
Azamiko, miss koneko, Kafira-chan, ScreamsOnScreen, 'Heaven's Pearl', Jillian Rachel, Anna, Ariana Taniyama, krisaku: Thank you very much for your great reviews!
LaiChan: Haha. I renounce responsibility! Blame it on the characters for being so charming in the 1st place. And no, why would that induce me to delay the chapter? Besides, it's early this time in spite of my announcing on my profile tht it'll only be out in Nov
FallenRaindrops: TWENTY more chapters! O_O That would make a sequel wouldn't that?! *clutches head in horror*
JustJanelle: Why thank you! I'm deeply honoured that you think A Froggy Tale is one of the best fics in the archive. I can only hope that I will continue to work on and improve my writing.
Toyama-chan: knife and saw coming your way again. haha. my apologies.