As soon as Boris and Alice made their way out of the forest, their party continued on.
"What in the world were you two doing in there?" Susie asked.
"You two sure were in there a good little minute." Thomas answered.
"Oh no worries ya'll, We just went to get some extra food for the trip is all!" Alice said.
That was a close one..
"Where did you get food in there?" Emily asked.
"This part of the forest is where most of the food grows Emily." Boris said as he grabbed a ripe grey apple, and holding it out to her. "Here, try some."
Emily took the apple in her hand and took a bite, though lacking its color, it tasted just like a red delicious apple. "Wow, thats delicious!"
"Well, we're startin to get to The Inky Lake. A marker to reach The Ink Castle." Alice said.
"How much further do we have to go?" Susie asked.
"We're got quite a bit to go, The Castle sits in the center of this entire world, so i hope none of you were hoping for a vacation." Thomas said.
They soon reached a pitch black ink lake with a strong ink waterfall.
"Wow...This looks like a great place to stay if anyone was on a Vacation." Emily said. Staring at the Waterfall gave Emily an idea for everyone to be able to trust Boris and Alice.
She walked to the nearest wall and looked upward. "H-Here we go..."
She began to climb until she reached the top...
When everyone was conversing on plans to defeat The Ink King, none of them even noticed Emily's disappearance. Until...
"Where did Emily go?!"
Everyone began to look around in sheer panic but Boris's heart dropped into his stomach when he found her standing atop the waterfall.
"LOOK! UP THERE!" He pointed.
Emily had noted the height when she reached the top and memories of her first confrontation with The Ink King...Standing at the top of the high Christmas tree...One step away from plummeting to her death...
She hadn't even noticed she was walking forward until she began to fall forward and began her fall to the inky lake.
"SOMEONE! DO SOMETHING!"
Everyone was confused until Alice then sprouted a pair of Ink Black wings and took flight to catch the young toon.
Everyone gasped in shock as Alice managed to catch Emily just before she fell into the murky lake.
"Now what on this earth made you do that Emily?!" Alice cried.
"Now we know we can trust you and Boris, Boris called for help and you took action." Emily said.
Everyone looked to Alice and Boris with assured smiles.
"I had no idea you had wings Alice!" Boris said.
"Huh..I didn't either.." She said, Looking at her new feathered back.
"Quite Surprising." Susie commented.
"Ya did great out there lass!"
"Good Job Alice."
"Thank you for saving my life Alice.." Emily said as she hugged the Angel.
"N-No Problem, Emily." Alice hugged her back.
I just hope you won't be so mad at me when you realize the truth... Alice thought to herself.
"Alright everyone, we're getting to The Lost Harbors, thats where more Lost Ones tend to stick around." Thomas said.
"We should be more careful then i guess." Susie said.
"Aye, you're right Susie." Shawn replied.
"Well.. We should get moving then, ya never know who can be watching." Alice said.
As they began to move from the inky lake, none of them noticed that someone had been watching. A nearby servant of The Ink King listened to their conversation and returned quickly to The Ink Castle to alert his king.
"They're where?" Inky asked.
"Their reaching The Lost Harbors sire. Is it wise to make an action?"
"Hm...I am quite bored, and i suppose it could fun to spook them a little~" Inky grinned. "Prepare the army, we're gonna have some fun~"
Inky cackled as he drew his sword and his army gathered around him.
"Let's go give the little toon a Scare~"
The Rebel party had been traveling through the forest after leaving the ink lake, When suddenly Emily stopped and listened around her for a moment.
"Hey Em? You okay there lass?" Shawn asked.
"Something...feels..off." She said.
"What a bummer! The little baby can feel where i am! Such a party pooper!"
Thomas drew his sword and Boris and Alice drew their weapons. They watched as The Ink King and his army of soliders materialized in front of them.
"Surprise!"
"Back. Off. Ink King." Thomas growled.
"Hehe, I don't think so Thomas Connor." The Ink King said. "No greetings for your King? How rude of you all."
Emily glared as she walked up and stood in front of all of her friends. "Leave them alone Ink King!"
Inky was quite surprised at her boldness to stand forward.
"Oh my, you are just full of surprises aren't you Little Toon?" He said. "How about a trade? You give me the necklace, Come with me, and i'll leave everyone else alone."
Emily bared her teeth in warning, "You want this necklace and me for something, it can't be good. So No, i won't!"
"Such a bad girl you are. You must be punished i'm afraid." He growled. "Guards! Fight!"
The army of soliders began to defend their king. Inky fought with Thomas, The Soliders fought with the Alices and Boris. But for Emily..
"Guards, grab the toon! We'll be taking her with us." Inky said as he continued to fight Thomas.
"No the hell you won't!" Thomas exclaimed.
"My my such a potty mouth there Thomas!" Inky snapped his fingers and zipped Thomas's mouth shut.
"Thomas!" Emily cried as she did her best to run from the ever chasing guards.
The guards fought and the party did their best to protect Emily from their hands.
After a minute or so of this, The Ink King grew bored and retreated with this soldiers.
"I'll see you soon my little one~" Inky cackled as he vanished with his army.
"Everyone okay..?" Emily asked as she tried to catch her breath.
"Y-Yea, we're all fine."
"Aye lass, i still be with ya."
"We're fine sugar."
After everyone collected their breath, they began to venture on into The Lost Harbors.
As they reached The Lost Harbors, they spotted a young woman fighting Lost Ones.
She was a woman close to her thirties wearing black and white overalls, Light skin, reddish hair and minty eyes.
"Get back all you damned morons!" She cried.
Emily and her friends rushed to her aid and chased the other Lost Ones off.
"Thank ya kindly. Those old suckers tend to get annoying. I'm Lacie by the way."
"My name is Emily, and these are my Friends, Thomas, Alice, Boris, Susie, and Shawn." Emily said.
"Glad to meet you all. So, from what i hear, you all are rebels against The ol' Ink King?" Lacie asked.
"That's correct." Thomas said.
"Well ya came to the right woman, I too don't exactly like his way of runnin this joint. Hows about i tag along?"
"I mean, the more the merrier, and you seem to be against him, so i guess its fine." Thomas said.
"I got a friend in town named Wally, he can be a real help a lot of the time. I can show ya'll where to find him." Lacie said.
"That would be great." Susie said.
"Lets get movin then!" Lacie said.
And so with Lacie joining the party, the rebels ventured on into the harbor.
As The Ink King returned to the castle. He rubbed in between his horns with a small headache.
"I take all the color in this world and yet the bright sun still gives me the head hitters..."
One of the Lost Ones gave him an ice pack quickly and he ventured into his bedroom, where he spotted an old portrait of him and that princess.
"Tch, doesn't realize what she's missin. Always sayin Thomas this or Thomas that. If only she made the Right choice in her love interests.." He muttered
He then thought for a minute..
"Maybe i should pay her a visit in that old cell..." He chuckled.