Chapter Seventeen: Seven Shapeshifters

See? Ha-ha. Seventeen? Seven Shapeshifters?

Sorry. Here we go. Congratulations on reading 83 pages of Okage fan fiction so far.

***

Beiloune had transported them back to Wap Wap, and now they stood there, looking at the six Stone Circles, only one glowing active.

"Since that yellow Shapeshifter had a disc, do you think more of them do?" Big Bull asked after a moment of silence.

Coracinus shrugged, ruffling his feathers. "Quite possible, but we could spend forever tracking them down."

"I bet Melas knows where they are. Do you think they write stuff like that down?" Ari said, thinking hard.

Kisling spread his arms wide. "I believe that one such as Melas most likely does not inscribe down such things, the information is probably stored in his cranium, whereas we might have to exchange blows with him straightforwardly to get the information out of him, and even then he possibly will not speak up."

"Translation?" Big Bull asked tiredly.

"Melas probably has the info in his head, not written down somewhere. We'd have to fight him directly, and even then we'd probably lose." Kisling replied, making a face as if using simpler words disgusted him.

Big Bull muttered "Why didn't ya say so", while Stan spoke up.

"Why don't we proceed to the Watcher? If anyone knows where those changing freaks are, he does."

"Why not use the discs he creates?" Marlene asked, chin on hand.

"We'll have to ask the guy. Great. It means you have to swim again." Stan mumbled. He smirked, vanishing into Ari's shadow, and the boy just sighed.

One very cold and long swim later, the friends were shivering outside the entrance to the Watcher's lair.

To their surprise, they didn't have to enter the dark tunnel. The head of the mantis emerged from its depths, eyes blinking slowly as it processed those in front of him.

"I suspected you'd return." He said at last. His eyes moved over to Stan. "My opinion of humans has only risen since I saw Rosalyn fall before you. My opinions of demons have only sunk, Evil King Stan."

Stan grimaced then shook his head. "Whatever. We need to know where the other discs are to activate the Stone Circles."

"You've found the Spiritus?" The mantis hummed.

"We have." Ari said. "We need the other five discs so we can use it."

His whole body emerged from the darkness of his tunnel, thin feet barely brushing the floor as he settled himself in a corner. The Watcher nodded thoughtfully.

"Yes, I know where the discs are." The Watcher raised one scythe-like arm. "However, would you kindly explain why I should help you, when one disc is being held by a being you cannot defeat?"

"Melas does have one, like we feared. He's probably in possession of Linda, courtesy of Stan here." Epros muttered, twirling a card between his fingers.

"Linda is not with him." The mantis corrected. "She is with Addonexus, or so I guess, because I cannot see his domain. My consciousness cannot penetrate his magic for long."

"What?" Big Bull grumbled.

Ari was puzzled by all of this. The discs were in possession of the Shapeshifters all right, and one was with Melas Kardia. They could barely hurt him the last time, they'd need some kind of…edge of something. Either that or they just had to snatch the disc from him before running.

"I can extend my consciousness far away from me. I can be sitting here, seemingly asleep, while my mind sees and hears things happening in Tenel or Madril, as far as Capital City, where Melas's floating castle now hovers."

"Capital City…" Marlene said thoughtfully. "My father and I used to stay there, a long time ago, before I got lost." She bit her lip at the memory, and Ari shot her a pleasant smile before turning back to the mantis.

"Where is the city?" inquired Kisling.

"Far away and Stone Circles do not extend there. Luckily Melas himself is not in his castle, nor any other Shapeshifters."

"Why is his castle over there, then?" Stan demanded.

The Watcher shrugged his thin shoulders. "I do not know, but I believe Melas sent his minions over to search for something, a tome they will need that is most likely hidden among the now ruined city. It was destroyed by the strange clouds. A gateway to the Diablerie is needed for Addonexus to fully complete his spell; he must stand halfway in the worlds, with the Spiritus and Necomortis, and recite the words in that one, specific spot. It will not work anywhere else."

"Why would Melas stay behind?" Ari asked.

"To hinder you, most likely. If you are interested in engaging the other Shapeshifters in battle, know this: For every Shapeshifter you destroy, the others gain power."

"What?" Several voices exclaimed.

The Watcher seemed to smirk; his eyes narrowed faintly, the lids obscuring the strange orbs.

"Yes, they share a seven way energy source. For every Shapeshifter you destroy, the piece of energy that the other had is split with the survivors. When there is only one Shapeshifter left, you will fight a being with the power of the other six."

Stan swore violently, and Ari said calmly, "I see. There are seven Shapeshifters, and they share energy. So, if there was only two left, Coracinus would get the power too?"

"That is correct." The mantis intoned.

Coracinus shook his head. "I don't have the experience to fight Melas. Even if we had the same power, I can't turn into what he can. He'd squash me."

"What unerringly is this power you have, if it doesn't make itself present by your forms?" Kisling asked.

"I…don't know. I can take more damage I think, not to mention I'm stronger physically. Melas is a very old Shapeshifter, though, and his fighting skills-"

"Not important." Stan said brusquely. "We'll get the other Shapeshifters first, and then we'll focus on Melas. We'll help you, Coracinus, but if there is some kind of flaw to that dark aura that surrounds Melas then you need to tell us, or face the wrath of-"

"There is a flaw. Melas is out of the elemental cycle, like Ari, and is therefore neutral." A brief pause, then Coracinus sighed. "However, he's using a type of malicious spell that draws strength from things around him, sucking our own energy to fuel his shield. I can put a spell on us to prevent this, but then he'll just siphon the environment's energy."

Kisling nodded. "So, if we fight him somewhere where plants do not grow, or anywhere else that produces energy, along with your spell, we should see that his shield is now inactive."

"That is correct. It's a natural thing, we really can't help ourselves. Especially since we're both…Shadow Shapeshifters." He said bitterly.

"Are you…related to him?" Ari asked.

"He's my dear, dear uncle," sneered the Shapeshifter, turning his head to the side.

"Whatever, enough drama!" Stan interrupted. "We'll engage the other Shapeshifters, and then we'll confront Melas."

"Not all of the Shapeshifters are under Addonexus's control. Sargarious, Leontore, and Abterqen are free of the Devil King's influence." The Watcher said. "Head to their three shrines, and if you convince them your plight is worthy, they will reward you with the discs. They had removed them from the Stone Circles after signs of Addonexus's return began to appear, in an effort to stop him from gaining power. They are probably who Melas is looking for. I cannot create fake ones to replace the real thing, but I can give you discs to temporary activate them to get to the locations you seek."

"Thank you." Epros bowed, and everyone else did also.

"Thank you, very much." Marlene crossed her arms, looking thoughtful. "At least some of them are friendly."

"They are also pacifists, unless push comes to shove. Do not ask them to fight, they are old spirits and simply want peace. Well, most of them." The Watcher dropped several fake discs on the ground.

"Now, you may go."

***

Sorry for the slow chapter, this was an explaining one. One chapter for the friendly shifters, one for the unfriendly, then they fight Melas.