Chapter 36: The Easter Party

A guard of the White Knight castle sighed. He was on his dayshift, and he was guarding the bridge. The miserable sky was the texture of chilled steel, and the clouds hung pointlessly in the sky. They threatened to split open and drench the earth below with their tears.

Of course, the guard was supposed to stay on the bridge-no running for cover if it began to rain for him. The guard scratched his chin, and kicked a large piece of gravel into the river, bored. The bustling town of Falador ahead seemed to disappear into nearby buildings (except for the guards) when the sky started showing signs of rain.

The guard was considering nipping into the bar for a glass of Chef's Delight instead of pointlessly guarding this bridge, when he heard a sound from the river.

The guard went on full alert. He heard the swish of a cape, the sound of muffled footsteps, and saw a flash of black. He heard sinister whispering, and a figure clad in silky black clothing appeared in front of him.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here, Madrey1," the man said in a calm, sinister, silky voice to a man in dragon armour behind him. With a swift uppercut, the guard was knocked out, and fell backwards into the river.

I woke up with a jolt of panic. I was sleeping by a tree, and we were finishing work on the general store.

It was rather late, and the clouds had cleared up. About an hour ago, I'd helped the Easter Bunny and had been rewarded dearly. I got my large lumpy clay carrot hammer, and smashed the ground with it, resulting with a giant crack in the soil. It sure was powerful, I thought. In another hour the Easter party would start.

I mulled over my dream/nightmare/vision/warning, thinking sadly about the poor guard. He'd probably drowned in the river while Phantom and Madrey1 ran ahead into the castle. Those evil bastards were going to pay the next time I saw them! I'd probably have to bring Haru or/and Mark with me to take them down.

I decided to prepare for the party. I couldn't show up in my filthy, tatty normal clothes, couldn't I? I ran up to my room, passing osrie1 on the stairs. When I got there, the realisation that I didn't have any suitable clothes crashed around me.

I ran out of the shop, and ran towards Thessila's shop. When I got there, I grabbed a fistful of coins from my bag, and ran inside.

I went to the suit isle of the rather small shop, and flicked through the shiny, sleek black suits. I settled on a bottle-blue, slightly expensive suit, and my choclatrice cape. I decided to bring my weapon belt, just in case. Grumbling, I paid for the suit, and ran to my room again.

I jumped out of my tatty, pathetic day-clothes, and into my brand-new posh suit. I put my weapon belt on, and got my old leather money-pouch that I bought back in the general store in Lumbridge. I filled it with coins from my bag, and attached it to my weapon belt. For our obvious VIP guest, I put on my 'Vote David for King' badge on. I looked at myself in the mirror, and decided that I looked OK for a party.

While walking down to outside, I thought at what Aubury had announced earlier this morning.

"Tonight, to celebrate the victory of Varrock, there is going to be a formal dance in the newly-repaired Blue Moon Inn. Free drinks and food will be served, but you will need a partner to enter the dance hall," Aubury announced. "Now, for the rest of the day, we will be helping repair the general store. Oh, and might I add, there is going to be a VIP in the dance hall too."

The dance was to celebrate our victory, but it was also to celebrate Easter. I suppose he forgot to mention that. It was obvious who the VIP was, or I wouldn't be wearing my badge. I and Amy11 had decided we were going to be the partners so we could enter.

I decided to go to the Blue Moon Inn a bit earlier then planned. When I entered, I heard music coming from several people playing instruments on a stage that had been placed there. The new bartender was dressed in a waiter's tuxedo. The chairs and tables had been set aside, making space to dance. There were several tables and chairs on the edge of the dance floor. On the bar there were several bowls full of different snacks. There was one full of crème eggs, another full of salad, and another full of meat chunks. There were bowls of fruit, plates of steak, and trays of pizza slices. I took a slice of meat pizza, and bit into it. The juicy meat chunks were demolished instantly, and the tomato filled my mouth. I swallowed, and looked at the other end of the bar.

There was a drink menu on the table, along with several boxed Easter eggs with price tags on them. They were 35gp each, which was a very reasonable price for their delicious quality. By the bar, helping herself to salad was Amy11. My jaw fell open at her.

She was wearing a stunning long, pink dress, and she was wearing several glittering rings. She hadn't forgotten her cute little bow in her carefully combed hair either.

I tried to keep my eyes away from her, and picked up a crème egg to distract myself. I bit into it, and delicious, luscious cream filled my mouth. I sunk my teeth deeper into the smooth, tasty chocolate, and swallowed. I wandered towards the stage with several people playing instruments on it.

There was a man there playing several drums. Osrie1 was watching with apparent interest as the drum-man was playing in a world of his own.

There was another man there playing a lute. It was a very loud one, and the strings seemed on the verge of breaking. There were several people playing different instruments, such as violin, piano, and flute. The music blended together to sound really good-danceable, as a matter of fact. There was a singer there, singing out in a very loud but beautiful voice. It appeared that the band was just warming up for later. The lot of them were wearing magnificent, fine silk clothes emblazoned with the letter R and another R, which were entwined. I found out, after asking the bartender, that they stood for 'RuneScape Rockers'.

I went towards a shiny, varnished oak table with two chairs, a menu, and a lit candle, and gestured for Amy11 to sit with me.

Amy11 sat down opposite me. A strand of blonde hair fell in front of her face. She swept it aside.

I went to the bar, and bought a fruit blast and a Chef's Delight. I went back to our table, and gave her the fruit blast. She thanked me, and sipped it. I sat on the other chair, and downed my drink in one gulp. The fizzy delight (no wonder why they call it a Chef's Delight) filled my mouth, and several different tastes exploded like dynamite. I gulped it down quickly, while Amy11 sipped on her drink and nibbled on her salad infuriatingly slow.

"Why do you eat that rabbit food?" I asked her. "It's not good for you. It is making you look stick-thin. You should try and eat a bit more of a variety," I finished. Looking appalled, with a lump of cabbage still in her hand, she bent towards me.

"Do you think I look too thin?" she whispered. "I haven't been eating properly since my mum died from the possessed strange plant." I patted her hand sympathetically. I went to the bar, got two plates, filled both of them with a bit of everything in the bowls and went back to the table.

"Here," I said, pushing the second plate towards her. "Try and eat that. I'm not forcing you-I just think you should eat a bit more of a square meal." She sniffed the pizza, and took a bit. She bit into it, and the look on her face showed that she was relishing it.

The Blue Moon Inn began to fill up a bit more now. The new waiter (keeping in mind the old one was killed in the War of Varrock) had to refill the plates. I offered my hand to Amy11.

"Care to dance?" I asked, in the politest voice I could muster. She shook her head, telling me that she would wait until the V.I.P came.

After at least half an hour of waiting, and nibbling on meat, the door swung open. Several people in suits, wearing black, stele masks, holding rune swords, came in, along with two people in gold robes holding horns. They blew the horns, and a clear, majestic sound came from them. A man in his usual black suit came through, followed by other bodyguards with rune swords. This man was obviously the V.I.P. A crowd seemed to cheer, and I recognised the V.I.P as King David.

He smiled cheerfully, and waved at the crowd. The band stopped playing. King David went on the stage, ushering the band to a side. The rune-sword wielding bodyguards stayed at his side. I didn't know what it was about them, but they seemed awfully familiar.

King David was wearing a dark-green shiny suit that made him look resplendent, compared to the cheering people in the audience.

"Hello, my friends!" King David shouted, and the crowd went silent instantly.

"I started this dance to celebrate the victory of Varrock's war, and of course, Easter! It has been approximately just over a month of hell for us, with Delrith smashing Varrock apart, as well as their ruler, Master Samuel. Unfortunately, he kept himself to himself, so only particular people knew who or what he was. Now, that is enough of my speech. Let us celebrate our victory, and savour it like a generous helping of chocolate cake!"

The crowd cheered, and as King David left the stage, the band restarted their music. It was a very slow waltz. I offered Amy11 my hand, and she took it.

We went on the wooden dance floor. "Take my hand, and put your other one on my waist," she hissed. I looked at her, nonplussed.

"What's a waist?" I asked, blushing. She grabbed my other hand, and steered it to her waist. I took her hand, and we danced.

I tried to copy Slinky dancing with Creator nearby. I tripped over Amy11's feet, and nearly fell over. I decided I wasn't that fond of dancing.

I spun around the stage, and, copying Creator, tried to pick Amy11 up for a second, as was part of the dance. Despite that she was very thin and small, she was surprisingly heavy, and I found myself teetering back and forth. I put her down, and tried to act like it was part of the dance.

After another ten minutes of very awkward dancing, the music finished, and I went towards my table. Slinky ran towards me, and pulled me back towards the dance floor. A new, quicker song had begun.

Slinky started taking me in a little jig. I tried to copy her moves, but they were very complicated. After tripping over at least four times, I discovered I was a very rubbish dancer.

When the song was finished, I went towards a table with Amy11 sitting there, howling with laughter. Her face was taut with glee, and I found myself chuckling too.

I felt very hot, sitting there, in my stiff suit, sweating like ten men after a marathon, with Amy11 sitting opposite. I was feeling very uncomfortable, and I wished I was back in my normal day clothes. My weapon belt dug uncomfortably into my skin. I knew that there was going to be a very big, belt-shaped welt when I took it off.

Amy11 seemed very bouncy and cheerful. She had a quick dance with Haru and Mark, then went back to sit with me. To avoid awkward silence, I went up to get some more drinks and another plate of food.

When I offered her another fruit blast, she accepted happily, and gave me a peck on the cheek. I blushed, looking like a radish with sunburn. Osrie1 wolf-whistled, looking slightly punch-drunk. He stumbled towards us, tripping over. One of the suspicious men with a rune sword marched towards him, and dragged him out of the pub, while he burbled on about having a few many beers, and wanting to come back in.

I sat there happily, sipping on Chef's Delight, munching on a crème egg, watching people dance. As I was about to sit up for another egg, the door burst open.

In came Madrey1 and Phantom. They had evil, identical grins on their faces. Madrey1's armour clanked as he walked in. Phantom's gloved hands looked slightly bloodstained.

King David stepped from the stage, and walked up to the pair. "Excuse me," he said loudly. "Aren't you the infamous Noob Exterminators? I specifically told you to stop your little circus group. Why don't you do so now, today? Leave at once, or I'll put you under arrest." Madrey1 gave a fake gasp, and Phantom snickered silently.

"We don't want to leave, isn't it, Phantom?" Madrey1 laughed. "We want to stay, and have a drink and a dance, and have a bit of fun." Phantom stepped up to Amy11, and knocked her backwards with a swift, sharp uppercut.

Slinky, looking livid pulled a machete from her sparkly dress. I remembered with a jolt of realisation. She was trained to use one! It's a shame she didn't have it with her in the War of Varrock, she could have helped out a bit.

Madrey1 grabbed the machete, and effortlessly tied it into a knot, as if it was made out of rubber. He threw it at a level 6 man in a black suit, and the man was knocked out cold.

Mark and Haru ran towards the Noob Exterminators. Haru was just about to attack, when he remembered that he didn't bring his axe. Shrugging, he punched Madrey1 in the face. It didn't do the slightest amount of damage. Madrey1 grabbed Haru's legs, and spun him around. He let go, and Haru was sent flying through the air, smashing into a table.

Mark tried to hit Phantom, who dodged. Mark pulled a throwing-axe out of his pocket, and threw it at Phantom. Before it hit him, Phantom used his dark magic to dissolve it. With a silky, rapid uppercut, Mark, with an unpleasant cracking sound, was knocked out.

While several of David's bodyguards tried to drag the Noob Exterminators away, I snuck behind Phantom. He was too busy trying to knock out very tough bodyguards he didn't notice me. Neither did Madrey1. I silently grabbed Phantom's arm, and used the freeze emote.

A very surprised Phantom was frozen. Several bodyguards, who had been taking him on, had an easy time throwing him out of the bar and into a gutter. As I melted into a puddle of water, madrey1, alarmed, ran towards him. On his way out, he slipped on me while I was still water. As I re-solidified, I found him sprawled at my feet. I quickly took my Easter carrot, and smashed it on his face. He stood up, and ran towards me, bellowing like an angry bull. I quickly grabbed my cape, and thought of Easter eggs. I was stuck inside a giant egg.

I could feel Madrey1 hammering angrily on the egg. Of course, it was almost indestructible from the outside (I said almost) but I could break it open from the inside as if it was made of paper. I grabbed my giant clay carrot and smashed the egg open.

Madrey1 jumped back, alarmed. While he was still shocked, I hit him in the face with the hammer. Blood poured from his nose like a scarlet waterfall, and he tripped over the unconscious body of Phantom, his helmet flew off, and he was knocked cold.

I grabbed his shiny, new helmet, and my olive-green book flew out of my bag and into my hands, informing me that I couldn't wear it. I had to drop it, since the book seemed to be giving me an electric shock. I kicked the helmet down an open drain nearby.

The party ended shortly after that incident. Phantom regained consciousness, knocked out some guards trying to carry Madrey1 to the Varrock castle dungeon, grabbed his clanking body, and the pair of them disappeared in a puff of smoke. I filled my pockets with crème eggs, and Amy11 gave me a very passionate kiss for saving her. I stumbled back to the rune shop, knowing I was going to have a good night's sleep.