The next day I ported to Chaotic, looking around for Kaz. It didn't take me very long to spot him though once I saw Tom walking beside him I frowned, silently wondering how I was going to ask Kaz for help without Tom knowing exactly what I had planned.
"Good morning, Kaz. Oh and morning to you too, Tom...I guess." I said a faint smile on my face when Tom raised an eyebrow at me.
"Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Tom joked and I just rolled my eyes, Kaz looking at us with his eyebrows raised.
"Well if someone hadn't been so mean to me back in Perim maybe I'd be in a better mood, Tom." I shot back, getting close enough to glare up at Tom. Sensing an argument was about to break out Kaz stepped in between us and I snorted flicking my ponytail hard enough so that it smacked Tom in the nose. "Oops sorry," I added with a grin as Tom rubbed the end of his nose.
"Whoa, what's going on with you two this morning?" Peyton asked, Sarah, walking beside him as they crossed the room. Seeing me smiling at them Tom frowned, curious despite his now sore nose as I high-fived Peyton.
"Did everyone forget about yesterday? I worked my butt off saving him," I answered, pointing to Tom, "and all he can do is blame me for getting hurt in the first place."
"So that's why you're being a pain, Ashley? Figures." Tom replied and I pinched the bridge of my nose as Sarah shook her head at Tom. "Alright, what did I say now?"
"So I'm being a pain for wanting a thank you? Didn't think that was too much to ask." I grumbled, making a move to leave until Kaz cleared his throat and I sighed turning back around.
"I got your message last night. What did you need help with?" Kaz interrupted and I grinned at him, pulling him aside as Tom stared at me. "So you want to port to the Underworld and get some new scans? So that's why you asked me?"
"Of course. Who knows more about the Underworld and its locations and creatures but KidChaor?" I asked, hoping that would be enough to convince Kaz to help me. When we ended up porting to one of the only locations I had of the Underworld, Underworld city, I let out a breath looking around at the rock formations.
"Don't worry, Ashley after I introduce you to some of my friends you'll have all the scans you need," Kaz told me, leading me through the city. "Besides this way you could battle with Underworlders and Overworlders.
"So you've really met Chaor and Takinom?" I asked Kaz and he paused, looking at me until I shrugged at him. "While Tom and I were staying in Najarin's castle he told me all about it. I got to meet Maxxor and Intress in Kiru City and that was awesome too."
"Yeah it was pretty cool meeting and all except when Lord Van Bloot tried to destroy Chaor," Kaz answered and I nodded, already looking forward to showing off my new scans. As we walked deeper into the city I swallowed, not used to being so deep underground. "Don't panic, Ashley. Chaor and I are tight….sort of." He explained not really making me very confident but I shook off my nerves once I finally emerged into a well-lit room.
The moment I saw who was sitting on the throne I stepped back slightly still getting used to meeting creatures up close but Kaz just nodded at me.
"So this is the new Chaotic player you've been talking about?" Takinom said, standing beside Chaor who sat on a throne that made me feel extremely tiny compared to the ruler of the Underworld.
"Chaor, this is Ashley. She heard all about you and wondered if it would be alright to get a scan of you?" I asked, clearing my throat when Chaor started to laugh. "Geeze what is it with everyone laughing at me lately?" I grumbled, tempted to port out when Kaz shook his head.
"How about you do something for Chaor?" Kaz suggested and Chaor rubbed at his chin giving me a nod and a slow smile that did nothing to help my nerves. As I wandered towards Kiru City I looked down at my scanner again, silently wondering why I'd let Kaz talk me into getting some Overworld battlegear I'd never even seen before.
"Guess I let myself get talked into this. Should have known getting a scan of the Underworld leader wouldn't be that easy." I complained as I wandered closer to the city pausing just outside the gates as I considered my next move. "Now how exactly do I sneak in and grab that battlegear that Chaor wanted?"
"What battlegear?" Someone said and I yelped, almost dropping my scanner before I spun around to find Tom standing there. "Before you get mad Kaz told me everything."
"Doesn't anyone trust me not to mess up?" I complained, tapping my foot on the ground and Tom chuckled watching on as I stared at the gates with my eyes narrowed.
"Look he was just worried about you and so was I," Tom answered after a pause and I snorted, not believing a word though when he placed a hand on my shoulder I didn't move and he offered me a faint smile. "Hey look I'm sorry I blamed you for what happened in the Forest of life. You basically saved my life."
"Then why did you push me away back in Najarin's castle?" I asked, getting a blank stare and as I fiddled with the end of my ponytail I let out a breath. "When you answered your scanner I was leaning over, trying to see who was calling you and you kind of snapped at me."
"Is that why you were so angry at me?" Tom asked and I nodded, silently as Tom looked at me rubbing the back of his neck as he did. "Hey, I'm really sorry I made you feel…."
"Terrible? Yes, you kind of did. You were getting sicker by the minute and I just….panicked. If Intress hadn't rescued me in the forest I wouldn't have gotten to you in time." I explained in a small voice noting that Tom was now staring at me wide-eyed.
"Najarin sent her in case I needed help and I did. I was so focused on getting you an antidote that I forgot where I was and it could have….you could have…" I trailed off, turning away as I squeezed my scanner between my hands all too aware that I was shaking. "I'm new to Chaotic and Perim so if I ended up getting...you know it wouldn't mean as much to me. You have a lot more to lose if you couldn't come back."
"Hey don't say that, Ashley. You deserve to be here as much as anyone." Tom insisted and I nodded, swallowing a lump in my throat as I stared at my scanner hoping that I wouldn't start sniffing. Which of course made me start sniffing and I quickly wiped at my eyes frustrated when my fingers came away wet. "Did I ever tell you about what happened to me the first time I ported to Chaotic?" Tom asked and I shook my head, wiping at my eyes as Tom gave me a tiny grin.
"Well it started late on the night just before my code was about to run out and…" As Tom talked I began to feel a little better about my own experience porting and once he finished I found myself giggling at the thought of Tom running through the Port Court in his boxers screaming until Kaz found him. "It was kind of embarrassing now that you think about it." He admitted and I burst out laughing. Tom wasn't happy that I was laughing at him though he was secretly pleased that I no longer had tears in my eyes.
"So how exactly are you going to take battle gear from the armoury?" Tom asked me and I blinked, thinking hard before I shrugged. "You really didn't think this through very hard did you?" He teased and I sighed, nodding with two red cheeks. "Okay well if you don't mind me tagging along I have an idea. I just hope that Maxxor doesn't find out."
Returning to Chaotic we started to come up with a plan. As well as porting back to Kiru City later that night Tom and I made sure that no one followed us as we snuck close enough to one of the walls that would allow us to sneak into the armoury. "Okay so give me a leg up," I asked Tom who raised an eyebrow at me, looking confused and I smiled at him. "Once I get inside I'll help you up too, Tom."
"Alright, Ashley." Tom finally agreed and with his help, I managed to snag the ledge just above us. After a slight struggle I managed to squeeze inside one of the windows and as Tom waited I carefully made my way through the room I'd landed in. After a short search I found my way to a door but when I reached for the doorknob it turned on its own and I jumped back, wondering if I had time to climb out the window. As it turns out I didn't have time when the door opened to reveal Maxxor and Intress the former staring at me for several seconds as I tried to think of an excuse.
Right now Tom was pacing outside, wondering where I'd disappeared to. "Come on, Ashley. How long does it take to open the door and bring back some battlegear?" He muttered, freezing when he heard footsteps and he turned around in time to see me walking towards him. "Finally. So did you at least bring back the….oh." He whispered once he saw Maxxor and Intress walking behind me, his favourite Overworlder glaring at me before he pushed me forward.