A/N: Hi, everyone! Thanks for waiting, and being so kind. I'm not going to abandon this story, honest. I will finish it! However, I want to warn everyone about some issues that will be in this chapter. Why it isn't in detail, but for individuals that experience this I want to allow you to know prior. This chapter has mention of rape, and abuse. If you have issues with this topic, because skip the last switch off time line. Thanks! Enjoy!

Chapter Thirty

One Mistake, one enlighten, one ounce of courage!

Caleb looked on proudly as his men advanced towards the Terioken solider, and one after the other they'd take down each one. Caleb yielded his sword and held it high, as he glanced over to Radditz assuredly. "Let's take this city by force" he shouted, as he tapped his horse. Instantly the black stallion sped forward, Caleb wielding his sword with ease. The sharp blade slice through one advancing solider with ease, a fountain of blood following. Caleb ran his sword straight through another soldier's heart, and the solider slumped over as he withdrew his sword.

Caleb glanced over his shoulder to find that Radditz too had ease taking down each solider that broke through their front line. He redirected his gaze to another solider who overtly made his way towards him open, and Caleb's sword sunk through his chest. Goosebumps appeared on every inch of Caleb's body as he noticed the wry smirk that adorned the dead man. Something was wrong! All sound had slipped away from Caleb, and frantically he looked around. Why were they leaving them selves open?

"Withdraw" cried Radditz.

One after the other the Teroken soldiers fell back making their way towards the safety of their town. A lump the size of a boulder formed in Caleb's throat, and slowly he glanced up at the whistling sound that ripped through the air.

Orange, red, yellow danced on the ends of arrows rippling through the morning sky. Caleb knew the moment the shower of fire lit arrows begun to land, he had made a terrible mistake. Men after men fell at his side, and others ushered their horses in the direction Radditz instructed. How was he so foolish?

"Get out of there, Caleb!" shouted Radditz, as he zipped by the frozen commander.

Suddenly every noise around Caleb came rushing back, and all his senses followed. He tapped the horse, and drew his reign urging him away from the showers of flaming arrows. Weaving through the open fields he managed to escape the plummeting arrows. He glanced around to find a few fellow soldiers following suit, making their way back to the apex of woods.

When he finally reached to safety of the woods, he glanced back. A distance away laid bodies OX soldiers and Terioken soldiers alike scattered, like animal carcasses. He had led the men to their death, because he made a foolish decision. What was becoming of him?

"300 of the thousand are left, only three hundred" interjected Radditz, weaving his hands through his untamed hair.

"I have failed, I have-"

"Don't commander. Before we step out on those fields we agreed, if we die it is for OX kingdom. Don't let those men's vow become your pity party. What do we need to do now? They know we're out here, and I'm sure they will come soon. We need to come up with a plan. Sooner than later." Radditz sat confidently on his horse, his sorrow buried in the back of his mind. He had to keep a clear head, and figure out how to make certain the three hundred men left, made it home alive.

ChiChi sat with her back pressed against a large tree, which shaded her from the morning rays. Yourichi hadn't pressed her to reveal her secret, yet. However, she knew it was because the plant was taking it course and weakening the malicious woman's strength. Despite her weakness Yourichi pushed them forward, and at first ChiChi hadn't noticed the illness creeping in on Yourichi. It wasn't until the stubborn woman collapsed exhausted, that ChiChi understood the third phase of the venom was taking hold.

It was then that ChiChi was able to convince Yourichi to sleep, after she promised not leave. ChiChi was a woman of her word, and hadn't left. Morning was finally creeping in, and still Yourichi hadn't stirred. ChiChi took that time to ponder. She needed to come up with a plan, but the more she thought, she found herself curious about the stubborn woman before her.

Why was Yourichi helping the very man that killed all her people? ChiChi couldn't understand why that question intrigued her, but it did. Chirping from a bird overhead pulled her from thought, and she stretched in response. She needed to get food, because once she made it to Teriok she had to be at her best.

Quietly she stood to her feet, then tip-toed away from Yourichi's side to find food. The first sign of food was berries, and she picked as much as she could and caught them in her sash. A strong breeze rushed by at that moment whipping ChiChi's hair into a torrid dance, and sending dandelion seeds flying through the air. It was that peacefulness of nature that had always captured her attention, and reminded her of the security she found in her mother's arm.

"Will you kill me?"

"Huh?" gasped ChiChi, frantically glancing around her. Where had that voice come from? She felt goosebumps sprout on her arms, and a knot accompanied it in the pits of her stomach. "Silly me" she said aloud, dubiously.

ChiChi glanced around some more at the various plants that lined the area. Suddenly, she spotted a familiar flower with vibrant purple buddings and green stalk. "Fireweed" she exclaimed, as she quickly gathered some. While it wasn't the tastiest treat, it was food none the less. Then she caught sight of a flower with large yellow budding that slump over, and became overjoyed. "You are just what I need for my new friend."

"My heart is so cold…I'm so cold…I can't give my heart…why? Why?"

"Yourichi? Are you playing your magic" called ChiChi into the open air. Silence was her only response, and it frightened her. "I'm not running, I'm only getting us food." She looked around her again frantically, hoping to find the source of the voice. Empty.

With shaking hands she broke a few more pieces of the fireweed, and stuffed it into her sash. Quickly, she turned away from the field in a hurry to make it to the spring that ran along the trail. She would fill the small canteen in her sash and head back, and there she would confront Yourichi of her torment. She had given the wicked woman her word, and she didn't plan to break it.

She nearly made it to the stream, as she pulled out the small canteen. Her hands were still shaking, and cautiously she kept looking over her shoulder. It was strange how she felt like someone was towering her, but there was no one.

"I found you, when you never saught me… why are you afraid?"

The small canteen fell out of ChiChi's shaking hand at the thunderous voice that filled her ears. She glanced over her shoulder and again she found no one. "This isn't funny, who are you? Did Yourichi send you? I'm not running, tell her that."

"Be still…Be still."

ChiChi's breathing became labored, as her heart was pounding in her chest. What was happening? Who was tormenting her? Suddenly, another whisper of the words 'Be still' and everything in her felt completely at ease. Her breathing slow as did her racing heart, and her shaking hands steadied. Her mind had settled from every thought, and she stood without a care staring out at the morning's painting. The small stream feet away, and trees with vibrant leaves of green shading it. There was flowers of vast colors, and it certain places she could see the blue sky through the trees as if in a game of peek-a-boo. Everything was more vibrant than it had ever been, and with that a sense knowing washed over her.

ChiChi didn't know how long she stood staring out at the view before her, but she knew it wasn't long enough. Soon the wind came back tousling the leaves, and tormenting the flowers till they gave up their seeds. With it she remembered her task at hand, and bent down to collect the canteen. She filled the canteen, and placed it back into her sash. She needed to get back to Yourichi, and she needed to get to Teriok.

"Be still" she whispered, a smile parted her face. She took a deep breath of air, and then pulled off her mask. Tossing it to the ground, before she made her way back to Yourichi. While she needed to get to Teriok, she knew she needed to get their alone.

Bulma clutched on to the reigns of the horse urging the stallion to halt its pursuit. She pat the side of his neck, comfortingly, praising him for his determination. They had pushed the horse to its limits, having him run all night with only two short breaks for drink, and food. However, the push was necessary to make it to Teriok fields in time. She had averted their original path to take a short cut, and cut off a full day's journey.

"Why are we stopping?" questioned Krillen, yawning as he stretched out his kinks.

"We're here" announced Bulma, as pulled away from Krillen's hold. She had allowed him to hug her stomach to secure him, while he took a short nap. However, his closeness had given her much displeasure. One of the most annoying reason being the damp spot she felt on her back from his drooling. She hated men who drool! "I need to get down."

"Oh, right" chuckled Krillen, sheepishly. Quickly, he climbed down off the horse, but continued his stretching. Once he finished stretching he glanced around, only to find they were in the middle of what appeared to be woods. There were trees, bushes, and wild vines all around them. While he wanted to believe Bulma may have known where they were, the enclosed space discouraged him. "Um, where exactly is the Teriok field? Hopefully, it's not as scarce as your arrows."

"Calm down, it's just beyond here. The horse should stay here, because there is no way we can clear enough to get him through. Aside, he looks like he needs a good rest. Right, boy?" she asked, as she smiled proudly up at the friendly stallion as she pet him, lovingly.

"I don't even see what we can clear for ourselves, are you sure you're not crazy?"

"Just as crazy as you are 6'9" she said, cheekily. Krillen grumbled as he rolled his eyes. Bulma reached for her quiver that was hoisted above the saddle, and pulled it free. She tossed it over her shoulder, and then made her way to a patch of wild vines. With little effort she pulled the knotted mess away, and revealed a hidden tunnel. "This will bring us to the end of the woods, which is border of Teriok fields. "Still think I'm crazy?"

"Of course, I do" exclaimed Krillen, as he eyed the tunnel. "Do you even know what's in there?"

"Of course I do, now get in."

"No way, ladies first" he urged.

Krillen eyed the tunnel suspiciously, as Bulma crawled inside. Nothing about the eerie tunnel appeared safe. Bulma disappeared completely into the small tunnel, and he lingered. Was he really supposed to go in there? Was it safe? What could have been in there? "Bulma? Bulma?" No response.

"Bulma can you hear me?" he shouted, as he neared the tunnel. He leaned over to gap into the tunnel, only to find utter darkness. He couldn't see an ounce of light, and that scared him all the more. "She is crazy, she is really crazy! I mean how do I know she's still even in there? What if there something horrendous in there?" Krillen was swept away in panic.

"Are you coming?" came a distant cry, and Krillen only assumed it was Bulma. Was he going?

One deep breathe in, and exhale. Krillen tried to calm his fleeting nerves, with the steady huffs of air. "I can do this, I'm a solider. I can do this. What am I saying? I can't do this! I'm no solider!"

…"Krillen"…

"Right!" exclaimed Krillen, as he heard 18's voice drift through his mind. He needed to be brave, for 18. He felt the sweat in his palm lessen, and his heart rate slow as he thought of her. Eighteen would have been brave, and she had been. Now he needed to be brave, he needed to get to her. "Coming."

Slowly, Krillen descended to the ground on his hands and knees. While the tunnel still remained dark, and eerie, his hope had shifted. He needed to get to 18 to ensure she was safe, after all no one count her as friend but him. He crawled inside the tunnel, and just as he disappeared within the mouth of the tunnel he felt fear gripping him again, with every movement he made forward.

"Well…maybe she's made friends by now…or even got freed. Ah! Get a grip, Krillen. You can do this, you can do this. This is nothing, but a really dark hole. Just a dark h- AHHH!" he screamed, as he felt a peculiar slimy lump beneath his palm.

Quickly, he sped forward. He slammed into a wall, but the moment he did he saw the haven of a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Again, he quickly crawled forward in hopes of evading the slimy creature behind him. Without regards to what laid outside the mouth of the tunnel, he pressed forward. Head first, and legs following he tumbled down a sloping hill.

One cry after the other he made, as he tried diligently to guard his head until his descend ended. His eyes were squeezed shut, and his breathing shallowed. He was certain he had tumbled to his death, until he heard an obnoxious bellow of laughter from above. One eye peeked open to find the blue hair vixen towering over him, with one pointed at him in ridicule while the other was clutching her stomach.

"Ha, ha... funny, laughing at someone when they are down" said Krillen, sarcastically. Krillen struggled to his feet, brushing away the stray twigs and grass that clung to his clothes. "That really hurt."

"Of course it hurts, you rolled down a hill. Maybe you should look where you're going next time, eh?"

Krillen rolled his eyes, and straightened his sash around his shoulder. He wouldn't dare say another word, nor would he tell her that it was freight that had him tumble from the dark tunnel. Instead he looked at her stoically.

"Alright, Alright. I'll be easy on you this time, aside we've made it."

"Made it to where? All I see is a stream" said Krillen, annoyed. He looked around questioningly. They stood near a small stream that parted the hill, from another patch of woods. There were wild vines everywhere. All Krillen could see was clusters of trees before him.

"It took you long enough to ask, follow me" she instructed, as she hopped over the stream. She carefully walked forward to the drop, and pushed aside a few toiling vines to make room for a view.

Krillen complied with Bulma's command, and peered through the window she created. He found relief at the sight before them. Eighteen's cage was at the bottom of the sloping drop, and there below was the Ox army. "So you did know where you were going after all?"

Bulma huffed, and with one annoyed slap to the back, sent Krillen tumbling down another hill. "He'll think twice about questioning me" she said, coolly. She waited till the soldiers rushed to Krillen, before starting her descend.

Yourichi cried out in pain, awaking from her sleep. Everything in her felt like it was being churned like butter. She grabbed her stomach, as she tried to bite back the pain. It wasn't until the pain started to ease that she noticed Raven no longer sat before her, and her heart plummeted. Why did she believe her?

Despite her pain, she knew she needed to get to Raven. She couldn't allow her ticket of redemption to escape, especially knowing the cost. Dragging in a breath of air, she grabbed hold of the base of the tree she rested against for lavage. Struggling, she attempted to stand to her feet. However, she knew she was too weak. The poison had taken much out of her, and her show of dark magic soldiers had nearly depleted her. "That wench!" cried Yourichi, biting her bottom lip as another jolt of pain coarse through her body.

How could she stay in Absalom's favor after a failure as this? Yourichi squeezed her eyes shut, as the pain rack her body. She couldn't even summon enough strengthen to enchant.

"You're awake?"

She hadn't left! Yourichi's eyes fluttered open, and her mouth gapped in shock. There standing a few feet away from her stood the woman that begun her turmoil. It was strange how she an witch, hadn't seen the secret that the woman hid so well. "You are the princess."

"Yes" answered ChiChi, coolly.

"Why did you return?"

"I gave you my word, and I kept it. I wouldn't leave while you were sleeping last night" said ChiChi, solemnly.

"You're a bigger idiot then I thought" she managed through clenched teeth.

Quickly, ChiChi rushed to Yourichi's side. She pulled out her canteen and pressed it to Yourichi's lip, filling her mouth with water. "You need to drink."

Hungrily, Yourichi lapped at the water. Her amber eyes never left ChiChi, nor did her fight to hid her pain.

"I want to get some food, we both need it. It isn't the best, but it will give some strength." ChiChi dug into her sash with her free hand, and retrieved some berries and the fireweed. "You'll eat the stalk of the flower, that is where the meat is."

Yourichi pulled away from the canteen, and glared. "Don't command me to do a thing, I need to get to Teriok. I will eat there."

"You'll die before we make it there if you wait."

"It's a risk I'll take" she barked. "We're going to move along now!"

"No."

"Don't say it again, or else."

"Or else what? Tell me something, one thing. Why are you working for someone that murdered all your people? Why are you doing his bidding?" ChiChi held Yourichi's gaze, sternly. Silence had fallen, but ChiChi wouldn't relent.

Yourichi sucked in a deep breath of air, as she felt a sharp pain in her stomach, again. She bit back the tears this time. "I was only a baby when I was taken, and I know nothing of my family. Absalom's father had me raised in his castle, and a wizard taught me magic. I was kept locked away in the dungeon, alone. Until I became a woman and, King Teriok came to me…"

Yourichi diverted her gaze to the ground, as she could no longer fight her tears. "I was only twelve when he raped me, and left. I was to be their dark enchanter, he said. I found out I was pregnant, and I was disgusted. I was having a child for a man, which took me nightly. He treated me like no more than a dog, and inside me was growing his child. Yet I couldn't hate the child, because it was mine's too. I heard from another woman that another girl was with child, and when he found out he had her beaten until she lost the baby."

ChiChi felt compassion for Yourichi. She felt to her knees before her, her hands resting on her knees. "You kept the baby…didn't you?" she inquired.

Yourichi nodded. "It was the first I ever did a spell right, unseen by even their wizard. I eluded them from the growing child in my womb, but in labor I didn't think of what to do. King Teriok came to have my baby killed, it was Absalom who had him spear her. Elowyn, I named her. I thought he was being kind to me, but it was only an act of leverage. I'm to do what they ask, or they kill her. I can't lose her, and that's why I work for him. Why I must take you to them, because I can't be the reason for her death."

Gingerly, ChiChi placed her hand on Yourichi's shoulder. Silence, fell over the two.

Suddenly, an unsettling need to sleep washed over Yourichi. It was then that she had realized what the princess had done. "You have tricked me" managed Yourichi, faintly.

"Yes" said ChiChi, remorsefully. "I'm sorry. Don't worry, when you wake up you'll be well."

"I understand, I do. Please, Please, get my E-" Yourichi's heavy eyes finally closed, and her breathing eased. ChiChi hadn't expected Yourichi's confession, but she grateful for Yourichi's trust.

ChiChi glanced around the area, until she found a small patch of wild vines. Carefully, she pulled Yourichi over into the direction of the overgrown suckers. With all the care she could, she hid Yourichi away beneath the shade of the vines. While it didn't cover the sleeping womana entirely, it did the job of hiding her well.

ChiChi swiped Yourichi's dagger, with one last glance, she continued on the journey to Teriok. She had one more reason to make certain Absalom paid! "It won't be long now."

A/N: So thanks everyone for their patience. Class have been brutual this semester, and I found myself rushing to finish this chapter (which is a good thing.) I just wanted to make sure that everyone knows, that I am planning to complete this story. I won't give up on it. It is coming to a close, only about four more chapters left, I believe. I love your review, so please review me.