(Third Opening Theme: Gintama Opening 15-Pride Kakumei Performed By CHiCO w/HoneyWorks)
-West Side of the Capital-
One after another the bodies kept piling up as many of the citizens were either left to die or the Mages that were protecting them had been eating them alive one after another. What had once been lively was now nothing more than a ghost town in a manner of hours-
-No, it had been more like minutes if anything.
The ones that had been left, had already hid themselves away in one of the few buildings that hadn't been torched by the fires itself.
Unfortunately, the ones that had been within those buildings-Had been the Royals that were within the buildings, as they had been practically begging to be let inside, but it was to no avail.
"Open up!" One of the servants shouted, "Please let us inside!"
"Don't let us die out here!" Another yelled.
A corpse had soon been on top of them as the people became paralyzed with fear. The people shrieked as the Corpse charged at them ready to devour them. That was when a set of dark purple vines wrapped around the corpses before they were thrown towards two people; one possessing eyes yet she wore a familiar falcon skull mask, as she had of magenta and a young boy with blue hair.
"GO TO HELL YOU BASTARDS!" Liam shouted as he had been seen wearing the skull of an eagle mask as well before he sliced two of the heads of the corpses with his sickles, while Saorise sliced the two on her side with the help of her kamas; the two of them landed safely on the ground.
"Everyone!" Brenin called out as he had been wearing the skull of a vulture; his tail had been out in the open, "You need to get to the Magic Knights Hospital! It isn't safe for you if you stay out here longer than needed!"
"Who the heck are you supposed to be?" One of the servants asked.
"It doesn't matter who we are!" Saorise replied, "You all have to go and leave everything to the Magic Knights!"
"WHY SHOULD WE TRUST YOU?!" One of them asked.
As a couple more corpses began to come towards them a green blade began to slice them up causing them to jump.
"KEKE-Unless you don't wanna be food, I suggest you listen to them!" Jack said with an aura as it shocked them,
Most of them looked more terrified of Jack than the corpses themselves-They quickly ran as not to face his wrath, while the three Therians took a moment to catch their breath. They each removed their masks so it would help them to breathe better.
"Okay-Mental note-" Saorise said, "-Somehow filter these masks-So we can get air…"
"I can't believe you held onto these masks-" Brenin said as he breathed, "-Since the Dungeon-"
Saorise let out a cough, before she replied, "Well somebody's gotta keep the culture alive-These guys were pretty much the first Therians you know…"
"Did I really have to have the eagle though?" Liam asked before coughing.
"Don't argue!" Saorise told him as her ears flopped a little before she coughed herself.
Jack had told them, "KEKE-If you three are done, we still have work to do."
The Familiars couldn't help but let out a collective groan. "Out of all the humans to be stuck with-We had to get stuck with you." Liam said.
"To quote Pluck-We would rather be with Yami than you." Brenin said.
Jack had told them, "KEKE-So you rather be flat is what you're saying?"
"No sir!" Brenin immediately said.
Liam growled, "That damn Spatial Spirit! Why did it think it was a good idea to let us be stuck with this guy?"
"You know fully well a Spatial Spirit can't control its mana without help from a mage partner." Saorise said, "We should be thankful that it provided us a way out to begin with."
"Yeah well, I think it's the Gods mocking us." Liam said, setting the mask back in place.
"We should hurry and find Prism-" Brenin said, "-Worst case scenario a Tainted might appear and try to claim her."
"But she could be with Yami or Naotoshi." Saorise said.
"-Or she could be alone-Either way we need to get to her before a Tainted gets to her first." Liam told them.
"Even if we knew where she was-" Saorise said, "-How are we supposed to find her? All this smoke is messing up our noses."
"And they're still people that need us." Brenin said.
"Then we can split off-" Liam said before they were taken back by Jack's blade.
"KEKE-Like i'm gonna let you guys go off on your own!" Jack told them. "Whoever's after the Princess is also after you three too! Or did you forget that already?"
"But the Shortcake could be in trouble right now!" Liam said, "We're her Familiars so it's our job to make sure she stays alive, not just for our sake!"
Jack soon told him, "KEKE-And you're willing to risk your lives?"
"If it means she's safe, then yes!" He argued.
"Liam-" Saorise said as she held him back, "-This isn't the time to argue."
"We know you're worried about Prism-" Brenin said, "-But he's right. If even one of us gets caught-Then they'll just use us to get to her."
"KEKE-See? Even those two make sense." Jack told them.
"And I thought I already told you people-" Liam said as his eyes started to become lit with flames, "-I don't need protection!"
"This is no time for a fight!" Jack said before he grabbed Liam by the neck of his shirt, "Unless I have to teach this wolf some manners!"
Immediately, Brenin and Saorise went in between them as they managed to pull them off. "Knock it off!" Brenin told them as they pulled them off, "This isn't the time for that!"
"Come on, you gotta keep it together for everyone's sake!" Saorise said.
Liam only sneered at Jack as he started to growl again. Brenin and Saorise soon let him go as his body shifted via a set of blue flames; he took the form of his wolf as his antlers were seen more clearly. His bird mask had been set as he started to move.
"Really?" Brenin said, giving him a look.
"KEKE-The silent treatment, huh?" Jack said, before he told the two of them, "Let's go."
Brenin and Saorise nodded before they started to follow behind Jack, keeping close as more of the corpses came towards them. They took down every corpse that had come their way as they quickly started to go towards the castle.
"Ana latta as me they just keep coming!" Brenin said as he sliced a corpse in two.
"I never thought I'd say this but we could really use Pluck's Oban Oba right now!" Saorise said. "Or any of his swords right now!"
"Where the hell are the other Magic Knights?" Brenin asked Jack, "I thought you guys would've had this controlled by now!"
Jack told them as he managed to knock down three of them, "KEKE-You think we faced this kind of thing before?!"
"Well seeing as how we are 500 years in the future, I thought you would plan for every contingency!" He argued. "That would include fighting an apparent army of corpses!"
A couple of corpses were about to charge at Jack before he sliced them up as he barked back. "KEKE-Watch your tongue! I would have half the mind to slice you up for that."
"I don't understand how you're a Captain if you make threats like that." Brenin said.
"Though-If Prism can like you, then we have to get used to you too." Saorise said.
Jack flinched at this, "What the hell makes you say that?"
"Well-Despite how you are, Prism isn't scared of you." Saorise said, "That means she trusts you and sees you as a friend. You see her as someone important too don't you?"
Jack turned away as he said "KEKE-Who said we were friends?! I'm just doing my damn job!"
Saorise only tilted her head curiously before she smiled, "Well, I can't say I'm surprised that Prism managed to get through to someone like you. If she can make friends with a Therian who's supposed to hate humans-Then she can make friends with you too."
Jack only flinched before he groaned "Let's just get this over with-KEKE!"
Saorise still had a smile on her face as she only giggled, knowing fully well what Jack had been feeling right now. They quickly turned the corner, as they attacked more corpses. Though neither of them seemed to realize… They were being followed.
However Liam had been attacking the corpses in front of them violently. He bit at their necks striking them down with one shot before he used his flames as he shot a set of fireballs out of his mouth. He gave a growl towards the corpses that approached before he jumped towards them, knocking them down in one shot.
Another set of corpses soon went towards him as one had managed to grab his tail causing him to yelp. He went to turn and bite a corpse till one grabbed his neck.
"LIAM!" Brenin and Saorise shouted as they went to help, though they were taken back when Jack had rushed in.
"SERVING MAGIC-DEATH SCYTHE!"
The set of blades sliced the corpses in two setting him free; he soon turned on the other two corpses before he killed them. Liam was able to catch his breath before he spat out some of the torn flesh, letting out a huff. Though it hadn't been long before he yelped again when he felt he was grabbed by the neck and pinned to the ground.
Brenin and Saorise jumped as they had a look of shock. "Whoa Jack!" Saorise exclaimed.
"What are you doing?!" Brenin said, shocked.
"KEKE-ARE YOU ASKING FOR A DEATH WISH?!" Jack yelled.
Liam went to bite him with a growl though Jack merely tightened his grip on him to the point where he gagged.
"LIsten here! If you wanna throw away your life that badly then that's fine! But that Lizard Girl will be the one that's crying if that happens! Do you want that?!" Jack told him, "Personally I don't care how pissed you are about the human race, but you should really think about the person you attached yourself to!"
Liam's eyes widened after hearing Jack's comments. Though his glare soon returned before his body shifted in a set of blue flames, he kicked the Captain underneath his chin, making him stumble and the other two jump.
"Go screw off bug!" Liam told him as he massaged his neck, "Don't think that you're on the same understanding as I am! As much as I want to kill you, I'd rather not get the Shortcake upset."
Jack spat out blood as he said "KEKE-Glad we understand each other!"
"BUT--" Liam said, "-If you keep telling me crap like that, I'll squash you like the little mantis you are!"
Jack's eyebrow twitched at this before he said, "The Hell did you say?"
The three of them were taken back again as Jack suddenly held his blade to Liam's neck. "Liam!" Brenin and Saorise exclaimed.
Liam quickly reacted as he held his sickle towards Jack's neck. "Don't make me cut off your head!" Liam told him, holding his ground.
"KEKE--THAT'S MY LINE!" Jack argued, "And I suggest you don't underestimate bugs like me."
"And what are you going to do if I don't?" Liam asked with a glare as his eyes lit up with flames again.
"DO YOU REALLY WANT AN ANSWER?!" Jack asked.
"Guys stop!" Saorise said as her ears flopped, "This is REALLY not a good time!"
'Brenin added, "We have other things to worry about in case you didn't notice!"
Jack and Liam had been glaring daggers at one another as both of them looked like they were ready to kill one another. Their auras had been meanencing.
"B-Bime i elena.." Saorise said as she shook.
"And I thought Captain Yami had it bad." Brenin said, "We could REALLY use Prism right about now."
Jack and Liam got their weapons ready to strike one another but just as they were about to do so-Until-Liam's ears started to twitch on his head and he froze. Brenin and Saorise seemed to notice it too as they froze up. The winds picked up the smoke from the fires as they each caught a familiar scent as their eyes widened.
"What the hell is wrong with you now?" Jack said as noticed their expressions.
"No way-" Saorise said as she shook, "-Why would they be-"
Jack had been taken by surprise when suddenly the three of them were caught in a set of nets as they let out a shriek. They screamed and struggled as they were suddenly dragged across the ground, trying desperately to get out.
"JACK!" Brenin shouted as he struggled.
Just then a set of men dressed in black, as the leader of the group had worn a dark gray coat with a black western style with an assortment of what appeared to be animal ears and tails hung around his belt like it had been a trophy.
"Well, well, well-" The leader said, "-What do we have here? Never thought I'd find a couple of Shifters in the Capital."
"You damn Hunters!" Liam growled as he tried to break through the net but it had been to no avail.
"Jack, help us!" Saorise pleaded as they were hung upside down by the men.
Jack had turned his magic towards the men, "KEKE-Big Mistake. You three."
"Butt out Captain-" The Leader said, "-These Shifters are our game. Our turf, our rules."
"LET US GO!" Brenin shouted as he struggled, "WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!"
Liam growled before his grimoire glowed, "SAPPHIRE MAGIC- KITSUNE RAGE!"
Liam's hands had become lit with fire before a partial part of the area had been covered in smoke; though it had been quick to clear up as they saw the ropes had glowed a purple shade and didn't look to be damaged.
"What-!?" Liam exclaimed.
"It didn't do anything?!" Saorise said, shocked.
"Sorry boy, but you're magic won't break those ropes so easily." The leader told him
Jack's grimoire began to glow as the blade grew larger, "KEKE-I've heard of you guys before-You're Therian Poachers...Are you?"
The leader chuckled, "Well nice to know someone is acquainted with our work but we'd prefer the term Trophy Hunters-The name's Percival, genuine Trophy Hunter of the Clover Kingdom."
"Let us go!" Brenin shouted before he was hoisted into a cart one of the men had manifested; Saorise and Liam had been piled on top of them.
"Sorry-That ain't gonna happen." The Leader-Percival had told them.
"Keke-And there's the ring leader himself.' Jack said.
Percvial turned to Jack as he gave a smirk. "If I'm not mistaken-you must be Captain Jack the Ripper of the Green Praying Mantis. Sorry, this matter doesn't concern you or the magic knights. Leave if you know what's good for you."
"They're people that need us right now!" Saorise said, "Don't you see what's happening around you?!"
"All the more reason to take this as an opportunity." Percival said, "I mean with all this excitement going around it seems silly not to take advantage of the confusion."
"YOU SICK BASTARD!" Liam shouted as he thrashed, "THE SECOND I GET FREE FROM THIS I'LL-"
They soon jumped when Percival grabbed his head roughly before he slammed his head hard against the surface of the cart making them jump. By the time he had pulled him up his head had been bleeding and his nose causing him to cough.
"Liam!" Saorise and Brenin exclaimed.
"Who said Product can talk?" Percival asked before he tossed Liam aside as he groaned in agony
Jack's look turned sour as he started to step towards the men with a menacing aura, "If you know what's good for you-You'll let those three go."
Percival only chuckled as he got out his grimoire, "Sorry, that ain't happening. Finders keepers Captain-" His grimoire soon glowed before he manifested his magic. "-Gold Magic-Fool's Gold."
He thrusted his hand forward as it shot out what looked to be a golden beam; Jack managed to dodge it just as a wooden beam fell on top of him. The moment the beam hit the wooden beam it suddenly turned to gold before he knew what happened. He barely managed to get out of the way as the now golden beam landed on his leg.
"JACK!" Brenin and Saorise shouted before they felt themselves moving.
"Let's go boy's! Next stop-The Crazy Jester" Percival said to his men, before they took off with the three Therians as they started to struggle again. Jack watched as they flew away as he could hear Brenin and Saorise call out to him.
"Bastards..." Jack said as he let growl. "You just signed our own death wish!" His grimoire floated beside him, "Severing Magic-DEATH SCYTHE!"
He soon sliced the golden beam as it shifted back to wood the instant it was cut. The corpses that had been nearby were suddenly blown away at a sudden force. Jack went after the cart at a tremendous speed using what mana he had saved into his legs allowing him to run as fast as a cheetah itself.
Percival could see him down below as he rolled his eyes. "Great-We got one of these-" Percival said before he turned to his men, "Get him."
The men compiled as they leapt down from the cart and flew on their brooms manifested from their grimoires. They started to send blasts towards him as it was almost as though there had been raining fire and ice from the skies. Jack managed to dodge and slice every single one of them as he couldn't help but laugh.
"KEKE-Child's play-" Jack said before he readied to attack, "-SEVERING MAGIC, LUNATIC SLASH!"
With a wave from his blades, Jack sent the attack towards the people in the sky knocking them down with ease as they hit the rooftops below. Percival clicked his tongue, "You two-Take care of this guy!"
The two on the cart hopped down as they flew towards him via their brooms. "DON'T GET IN OUR WAY CAPTAIN!" One of the mages yelled before they sent balls of fire towards him. The man that had been driving the cart soon started to attack him. "No!" Brenin exclaimed.
Jack smiled as he cut the attacks as he said, "KEKE-IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?!"
"Damn this prick!" The Driver exclaimed.
Brenin soon bared his fangs as did Liam before they both stood despite the restraints. They both leapt towards the driver as they bit him and drew blood; Brenin had gone for his arm while Liam had gotten his shoulder. The driver shrieked as he started to lose control of the cart; he shrieked in agony at this.
"What the hell do you think you're-" Percival started to say before Saorise grabbed his arm and restrained it before making an attempt to grab his grimoire.
"You little-" Percival exclaimed before he had a smirk filled with malice.
He grabbed Saroise's horn before he punched her across the face causing her mouth to bleed; she had a noticeable bruise on her cheek. "Come here you!" Percival said as he grabbed Liam and Brenin by the hair before he slammed them both on the side of the cart making Liam bleed profusely and a wound opened on Brenin's head.
He soon stepped on Brenin's head as he groaned from the pain, "You Therians are beginning to piss me off!"
"You did that first-Asshole!" Liam shouted as Percival noticed that he managed to cut through the ropes, as he had succeeded in reaching his weapon. Liam growled before he launched himself onto Percival as managed to pin him. "Brenin!" Liam said before tossing one of his sickles, "Catch!"
Brenin managed to catch it before he quickly went to undo his restraints.
"What the hell?!" Perceval asked before he was punched by Liam. He pinned him again before he bit him on the arm with an aggressive growl. "YOU LITTLE-" Percival shouted before he started to hurl his fist at the Therian. Liam still kept his grip on him despite the assault as more blood was drawn from Percival's arm.
Brenin soon charged at the driver again as the driver shrieked when he went to scratch his hand before he bit him again.
"YEOW!" The Driver exclaimed before he started to lose control over the cart.
From below Jack could see the cart had started to swerve and started to shake before he saw the cart fall out of the sky. He stopped in his tracks as he saw it had crashed in the marketplace that had been nearby as he could hear the sound of a crash.
"Damn it!" Jack shouted before he managed to stop himself. He soon went off in the direction where the cart had crashed. When he had arrived the already disappearing cart had crashed in a small store that had been on the verge of being engulfed in the flames around the area.
"OI! Jack called out "WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU THREE?!"
Jack could hear a groan coming from inside; he sliced through the debris as he found Brenin practically buried underneath the rubble. He quickly went over just as Brenin shook himself off.
"Ow-" Brenin groaned as he went to stand, "-That landing could've been better." He soon fell on his knees the moment he tried to take a step as he cried out before he held his left leg, "Damn it-My leg!"
Jack went over to him, as he pulled him up on his arm. He could see the damage done on his leg as there had been a fresh bruise not to mention an open wound. "Tch! Great!" Jack groaned. "Well Hang on, We'll get you out. Where's the other two?"
"Jack!" They soon heard Saorise call out. They soon looked over and noticed Saorise waving over to them, "Over here, I need help!"
Jack hoisted Brenin up as he went over to where Saorise had been. They were both taken back as they saw Liam had been on his back breathing horsley; they could see what looked to be a pipe had been through his side.
"J-Jukette…" Liam groaned as he had been trying his best not to hyperventilate.
"I-I can't get it out!" Saorise said worryingly, "I think the pipe is inground!"
"Tch! Okay Hold still!" Jack said as he went to take his arm. "I'll get you out-"
"Damn you!"
Jack turned as Percival got out what appeared to be a gold dagger before nicking his face as Jack barely dodged his attacks.
"KEKE--Well The Rat's still alive, huh?" Jack asked.
"You-" Pervical said with a growl as his grimoire floated beside him, "-Gold Creation Magic: Serving Gold Scythe."
With that said, Percival made a golden scythe as he gripped iotn tight even with his bloodied hands.
Jack clicked his tongue as his grimoire floated beside him. He soon handed Brenin over to Saorise as she had been taken back by, "Look after them."
"-O-Okay." Saorise said as she took Liam's hand.
"I-It hurts" Liam groaned.
Brenin soon shushed him, "You need to stay quiet."
"Oi, where the hell are you damn Shifters-" Before Percival could hurl himself at them, Jack kicked him across as he stumbled.
"KEKE-Fights over here, rat!" Jack told him as he readied his weapon, "Severving Magic-Death Scythe!"
And so the two males began to clash thweir blades against each other in a fight to the death. Surprising enough despite his injuries, Percival was holding his own against Jack. "YOU REALLY ARE PERSISTENT AREN'T YOU ASSHOLE!?" Percival shouted as he took a swing at Jack only to have him block the blade.
"KEKE-Right back at you!" Jack said before he kicked him aside, "This wouldn't have happened, if you hadn't tried to kidnap those three!"
"SHUT UP!" Percival shouted as he hurled his weapon again.
This time Jack barely managed to dodge as it had managed to graze his head. "Those little Shifters are gonna give me my next payday!" Percival said, "You have any idea how much these rich folk would even pay for these guys working for them like the mules they are. Or this tidbit, did you know their fur is richer than other animals in the kingdom. Even with their skin hides in there beast form, they would make you as rich as any king."
Jack's smile soon turned into a frown as he asked "KEKE-Is that right?"
"I get a thousand yules per skin and triple the amount for every Shifter I bid off!" Percival said, "And to find those three here in the city-They're gonna put more money into my retirement plan."
"Why make a plan?" Jack said as he looked to Percival as he flinched at his look, Jack's sight as his sight was on him as the menacing aura seemed to have returned, "Let's give an early retirement."
Percival only clicked his tongue, "You know, I heard about you Captain Jack. The fearsome Captain who is nothing more then a commoner.."
Jack's look changed at this as he continued to speak; Brenin, Saorise and Liam flinched as they started to listen in, "I bet these guys aren't even paying much ain't they? Because you're what, some guy that was out from the boonies. Because that's the only thing you're ever going to be." He soon had a smile on his face, "How about-You let me take those three off of your hands-And I'll be sure to split the yules with you."
The Familiars had gotten nervous as they looked at Jack. His back had been to them so they couldn't read what it was he had been thinking.
Percival had continued on, "just think! With all those yuels, you'll be more respected in the magic knights than those damn black bulls! So what do you say Jacky?"
The look on Brenin's face changed slightly as he reached for his blade while his hand shook. Saorise had done the same as she squeezed Liam's hand. However they felt something from Jack as they were taken back by a certain scent.
Jack gave a scowl before he said, "Serving Magic-Death Scythe."
Before Pervical could blink, he heard the sound of something being sliced off, almost as if it was meat. He slowly turned to his arm only to find-It wasn't there. Instead was a splash of blood coming out as he saw a limb flying freely in the air. Pervical soon let out a blood curdling scream as he held his arm.
The Familiars had a look of shock as Brenin and Saorise let go of the handle of their weapons as they had a look of shock.
"YOU GODDAMN BASTARD!" Percival shouted, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"
Jack cracked his neck as he told him, "KEKE-My Job as a magic knight."
"YOU HAVE A GOLD MINE RIGHT BEHIND YOU!" Percival told him while holding onto his phantom pain, "WHY WOULD RISK IT ALL FOR THEM!?"
Jack looked over his shoulder towards them just as Brenin and Saorise let go of their weapons. Each of them looked at Jack nervously as if they were afraid of something.
"Here I thought-" Percival said, "-You were supposed to be the smart one!"
Jack's head show a vien as he said "You calling me stupid? Keke."
"Maybe if you're thinking about protecting them." Percival told them, "A guy like you shouldn't even care about people like them."
"That's where you're wrong." Jack told him, "While I do enjoy slicing things, That's not always the case-" The blades on his arm seemed to have grown a bit larger, "-So don't think twice that you understand a thing about me."
Percival only clicked his tongue before he manifested another weapon as he readied himself, "Don't go playing the hero now Jacky boy. I don't need to understand you, the kind of background you're nothing more than a little insect."
Jack felt something snap in his mind as he could feel his blood boil just by the mere words. And yet-In that moment his mind couldn't help but race back to a certain girl in particular.
One who had possessed silver hair.
-Sometime Ago-
It wasn't that Jack understood what it was like to have fun-He just didn't see the point of it. The young shouldn't spend their time slacking off, is what he thought. They have to put their time and energy into beneficial uses was another thought that came to him. They shouldn't spend their time playing is what he thought.
No one should have an exception it seemed like.
Including the young heir.
Yet, for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to say no to her, like he had done with so many squadmates.
He had been trying to wrap his head around it, as he watched her play another one of their little games as he had been waiting for Prism in particular since they needed to get some training done.
They had been playing pretend from what he could tell, but it had a different twist to it.
"Oh Samuel!" Prism said to Pluck as he had been sitting in a chair, "I should've known it was you who stole the diamond!"
"Change!" Aisling soon shouted.
"I should've known you stole that puppy!" Prism said.
"Change!" Aine soon said.
"That violent heist just for coffee beans?!" Prism said, "How could you fiend!?"
Pluck had said as he had been speaking with a funny accent, "Cuz, I work at ze Coffee bean store!"
"CHANGE!" Jubei said.
"Because I have a starving family!" Pluck said.
"Change!" Asta said.
"Well how else am I supposed to get a good cup of joe!?" He said, "You tell me you don't go running into stores, throwing a zock around to get some good coffee!"
"Those beans belonged to my sisters-brother-cousins-roommate!" Prism said, "Time to unleash my fury on you!" She soon held up Theodore who looked like he was ready to fly, "GO SPECIAL SECRET ATTACK!"
"KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BIRDIE!" Theodore shouted as he was tossed at Pluck.
"Oh no-" He said before he found himself falling over as Theodore had landed on his face. The whole group couldn't help but laugh-Especially Prism.
"S-Sorry Plu-Plu-" Prism said as she giggled, "-I didn't mean to throw that hard."
"Don't mind-I don't mind." Pluck said as he gave a wave
"Can I suffocate him?" Theodore asked with blue eyes.
Immediately Pluck started to panic as he sat up as he quickly pulled him off of his face. He said to Theodore as he gave him a look, "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"
"It came to my mind." Theodore said before Addeline came out with her glowing stick as she let out a war cry.
"QUACK!" Addleine shouted as sheb hurled her weapon at Theodore, bonking his head.
"Owie-You're a meanie!" Theodore cried.
"Okay, okay-" Prism said before she picked him up before she patted him on the back like he had been a newborn baby, "-I think that's enough improv."
"Awww-" Vandy and Jubei said.
"-Now we'll never know what happens to Samuel…" Vandy said, "... And his coffee beans."
"I didn't even think people could make a Change improve." Asta said.
"And you said that you and the Stuck Up made that up?" Feodora asked.
"Oh yeah, we used to do improv exercises all the time with the kids in the village." Prism said, "It's really fun since we can make up whatever we want. It's like playing house, but for people our age!"
Pluck had said as he rubbed his head, "Plus it was a fun way you pass the time too-Iike something High class royalty wouldn't get, huh, Stupid Silva?"
Noelle, who was at a distance reading a book, flinched before she said with a huff as she turned her head, "I-I can have fun in my own way that's not as childish as your game."
Prism noticed the look on her face before she said with a smile, "Noelle-If you were feeling left out, you can join us in our next game."
"E-Eh?!" Noelle shouted before she said as she crossed her arms, "So-Something like that isn't for me, and you for that matter! We're both royalty, you know?!"
"No, Noelle, it's really fun." Prism said, "I'll even let you decide on a scenario that would-Mantis."
Noelle and the group had been taken back by this, as Jack looked puzzled as to why she would say such a thing. "Mantis?" Brenin said, "Why would you say that?"
"There's a mantis on your shoulder Plu-Plu." Prism said as she pointed it out.
The group looked and jumped at the sight of a pretty large green mantis. Pluck had been especially shocked as the mantis had been staring right at him with its alien-like eyes. "He's staring at me-MENACINGLY.."
"When did that get there?!" Saorise said.
"Hold still bro-" Vandy said as he took Noelle's book before he readied to smack it, "-I got it!"
Pluck stopped him, "Not with that-" He put it back as he said "Despite the owner you're gonna waste a good book."
Noellle couldn't help but glare at him as she crossed her arms.
"Wow-Smooth.." Feodora said as her eyes rolled when she noticed the intensity from her.
Pluck soon took a stick that Addeline had handed him, "I've got him-!"
"No!" Prism said stopping him, "Don't hurt her Plu-Plu."
Much to Jack's own surprise Prism approached Pluck and coaxed the mantis on her hand, with careful and gentle hands. The mantis crawled onto the palm of her hand as it looked to be staring at her instead of Pluck. The spirits seemed to have given the mantis a curious look too. She soon looked over to a patch of grass in the yard before she walked towards it, extending her hand towards a leaf.
"There you go." She said as it crawled off and walked onto the leaf, "Try not to scare any more people, okay?"
"W-Whoa-" Asta said, "-You're really amazing with that sort of stuff."
"Oh she wasn't going to hurt anyone." Prism said, "Maybe if she was bigger she would probably eat the nearest person, but she couldn't do anything even if she wanted."
"Did you HAVE to put it like that?!" Noelle said disturbed.
"Se-Seriously, how are you just cool with a bug crawling on your hand?" Feodora said.
"It's not that bad." Prism said, "Actually their feet kind of tickle."
Pluck had said with a shudder, "Of course you would say that."
Noelle couldn't help but snicker at Pluck before Pluck gave a glare. "Welp-" Feodora said, "-This has been fun but I gotta go and get some more food for the night. Anyone care to join me?"
"I'll go." Brenin said before he took Liam by his shirt, "You're coming too."
"Why do I have to?!" Liam exclaimed as he was dragged away.
"Hooray! Another trip to the shopping district!" Saorise said, "I can't wait to see the cute things!"
Feodora and the Familiars soon left the house; Asta soon went to go inside the house, "I better start cleaning things up before Yami scolds me again-Triple A's you mind helping me out?"
"Sure!" Aisling said.
"Woo hoo!" Aine added, "A loophole to get out of studies!"
"Let's get cleaning!" Aidan said before he went into the house with the others.
"Awww-" Theodore said, "-I wanted to play a little longer…"
"Theo?" Prism said, before she set him on the ground, "Why don't you go see if Sachiko and Karasu want to play?"
Theodore sighed, "Sure, okay. I can probably play cards with Nero too." He soon went up the porch and sauntered inside without a care in the world. Vandy and Jubei looked nervous before they gulped.
"Jubei, want to play Hex Hold Em?" Vandy asked.
"SURE!" Jubei suddenly exclaimed.
They were about to run inside until Pluck caught them by the neck of their shirts.
"No you two." Pluck said. "You have to study."
"Awww, but we still want to play!" Vandy whined.
"Can't we just do one round of Hex Hold em?" Jubei asked.
Pluck had a look before he pointed inside the house.
"...Party pooper." Jubei said with a pout
"Can you at least show mercy to us?" Vandy pleaded with a puppy dog look in his eyes.
Pluck only gave his brother a look before he told him, "Inside."
The kids flinched before they sighed.
"We tried bro." Jubei said before she went inside the house.
Vandy sighed, "Goodbye beautiful sunny afternoon."
Pluck shook his head as he watched his younger siblings step inside, "They're a handful, yet I still love them."
Noelle couldn't help but ask. "Must you do this to your younger siblings?"
"Try babysitting them for a day." Pluck said
Noelle rolled her eyes as she went inside, "In your dreams." She soon turned to Prism, "Are you coming?"
Prism glanced over at Jack as she noticed he had been looking at her, "I better stay out here to continue the training regiment."
Noelle let out a sigh, "Right, I guess that's understandable."
"Don't let him kill you, okay?" Pluck said to her.
Prism only laughed at this sort of thing as the spirits turned a bright color by the sound of her laughter, "Don't worry, I won't."
With that Pluck and Noelle went inside the house as Prism went over to pick up her grimoire. "Okay Jack-" She said as she opened the summon incantation page, "-Lay it on me. Are we going to go over the basics again, or am I learning a new trick?"
Jack soon stood up as Prism noticed the look on his face. "Hey?" She said, "Is something wrong?"
"I don't get it, why didn't you kill it when it was on Barbados' shoulder when you had the chance?" Jack asked
Prism tilted her head, as the spirits shifted colors and copied her gesture, "That's a bit of a strange question to ask."
Jack told her, "Let me be specific, why not swat it off instead of letting it go?"
Prism took a moment to think as she seemed to have understood what it was he wanted from her. "I helped her because it looked like she really needed it." She said as this sort of answer took Jack back a little, "Shouldn't that be a good enough reason to help her out?"
Jack sighed as he told her, "You really are a softie, are ya?"
"Well-" Prism said, "-Didn't you have a moment where you wanted to help an animal? Even a mantis like what you named your squad after?"
Jack merely chuckled at this, "KEKE-If you grew up with a hunter, you'd know there's no such thing as mercy."
Prism tilted her head at this sort of thing, "Did your dad used to tell you that?"
"Not really." Was Jack's immediate reply, "I do remember him telling me just to stick with the small prey and you'll survive. Don't mess with anything that's bigger then you, he would say. It's similar to how a bug walks up to a person. Their curiosity gets the better of them and they end up dying because of it. Why should it be any different?"
"But-You named your Squad after a bug." Prism said, as Jack had been taken back, "You couldn't have named it based on that."
Jack told her, "KEKE-It's all Greek to me."
Prism only smiled again, "... My mom and dad always taught me-Everything and everyone whether they're new or strange are to be valued. Every life even if they're weak they're meant to be treasured. I didn't understand that at first-Until I found my Familiars."
Once more, Jack looked a bit surprised. As Prism set her grimoire aside and a familiar water salamander appeared at her feet and nuzzled her ankles. She picked the creature off the floor and pat its head as she continued, "Unlike me-They didn't have anything. They didn't have names to call themselves by. All they knew was a number or thing they were called since they were small. I was really upset when I learned that from them, and even more upset to learn that their own people gave them to the Ringmaster. They didn't have a right to be treated like that, and they were just as old as I am. But-They were the very reason I learned how to fight to begin with." She soon looked at her hand as she clenched it slightly, "I don't like seeing people get hurt, but I can't forgive those that take others lives for granted and try to hurt others for their benefit."
Prism immediately looked embarrassed as she laughed sheepishly, "I got a bit carried away didn't I?"
"KEKE-If I was you, I would have cut them up in an instant." Jack said.
Prism only laughed sheepishly again, "I'll bet-And if I have to be honest I'm kind of jealous."
Jack only gave her a quizzical look this time, "You? Jealous?" He said surprised.
"You and Yami are both incredible with your magic and not to mention it's nothing like I've seen before." Prism explained as she took his hand, "I've only known six others who were just as strong, but you guys-You guys alone are just as powerful as I could ever hope to be, and you don't look scared by whatever you're facing! Even though you come off as scary, you're incredible! Kind of like a mantis, now that I think about it."
Jak couldn't help but be speechless at her words as Prism had a smile on her face, "KEKE-Save the flattery!" He said, taking his hand away from her own. He turned from her, "Let's just get this lesson started. We're already behind."
Prism only laughed, "You're welcome by the way."
"For what?" He said as looked over his shoulder.
"For the compliment." Prism replied as he flinched, "You don't get many of them right?"
Jack only turned from her as he activated his magic, "Get your scythe out-now."
Prism set the water salamander aside on the floor as she soon got her grimoire, "Yes sir!"
-Present-
That moment alone had been clear in Jack's mind. As he stood before the single armed man, Jack knew his own resolve.
"KEKE-as if someone like you can even get where it is I'm coming from." Jack said, "These Therians are important to the Lizard Girl and if anything bad happens to them, she'll be crying her eyes out! And that's the last thing I wanna see- Plus, I'm not interested in your damn sale."
Percivial gave a growl as he said "Damn you-And here I thought you were a smart man."
"KEKE-Oh don't get me wrong, the offer was tempting-" Jack admitted, "-But what's the point in slashing things if there's not even a challenge?"
Percival told him with a sneer, "If you're not gonna hand over those animals willingly-Then I'll just have to kill you and take them by force!" His grimoire soon appeared beside him, "GOLDEN MAGIC-GOLDEN SHEARS!" A set of golden blades appeared before it went towards him.
Jack gave a smile as ke said "KEKE-Just TRY to kill me! I'll chop up that other arm before you get the chance!" his blades glowed before he charged at full force.
The two soon clashed weapons as it was fast and almost knocked Brenin and Saorise over from the force. Their blades clashed at one another as they could see sparks coming from both parties
"He's fast!" Saorise said as her ears flopped, "I can barely keep track of him!"
"I know I'm sensing bloodlust from him but-" Brenin said as he had been trying to catch Jack in his line of vision, "-How can a human like him-manage to keep it under control for so long?"
They soon heard Liam let out a groan, as they turned back to him. "Liam?" Brenin asked.
"Hey-" They soon heard him say, "-Do you hear that jingle? It sounds-Kind of funny."
They both paled at this as Liam started to say things that had been incoherent. "LIAM!" They both exclaimed.
"Liam, stay with me!" Brenin exclaimed.
"Uh Jack-" Saorise said, getting his attention, "-Not to pressure you or anything, but Liam's starting to lose it!"
"I like apples and milk…" Liam said without thinking.
Saorise screeched, "Please hurry!"
"KEKE-I'm hurrying!" Jack said as he was blocking Percivals attacks. Every attack he dodged from him, Percival only attacked with twice the ferocity. "Someone's motivated now. Is it because you lost a limb?"
"How about I chop an arm or a leg from you-" Percival said before he charged again, "-AND THEN WE'LL SEE!"
The two men proceeded to push each other with their weapons before Jack kicked him in the gut causing him to groan before Jack hurled his blade down as Percival jumped and avoided the attack-opr so he thought, he felt a gash near his head as he groaned. "DAMN YOU!" Percival shouted as manifested another weapon, "WHY WON'T YOU JUST STAY DOWN?!"
Jack dodged another attack as he said, "Why else? It's because I'm a damn magic knight!" His grimoire opened as a page began to glow as he used "SERVING MAGIC-DEATH SCYTHE LUNATIC SLASH!"
In a flash multiple beams of crescent slashes began to fly and head towards Pervicial as he was ready to blow them back and block, though it didn't do much good as he was hit; despite successfully blocking it with his weapon he ended up getting pushed back into the building across from them. In that moment the ground exploded as Percival let out a scream of agony which made the two of them flinch.
"T-That attack-" Saorise said, shocked.
"A-Amazing…" Brenin said in awe, "It's terrifying but-Amazing…"
Jack had stood in triumph as Percival was knocked out, bloodied and bruised as he had been covered in debri
"KEKE-LET THAT BE A LESSON TO YOU FOR MESSING WITH AN INSECT!!" Jack shouted. "YOUR LUCKY YOU SURVIVED-Next time It'll be your head!"
"Uhh-He's knocked out.." Brenin pointed out.
Jack told him with a click of his tongue, "KEKE-Don't ruin it for me, Mutt!"
Liam gave a groan as he said, "Hey look, there's the mushroom."
"Uhh We should get Liam away from here..Now?" Saorise said, "If we can just remove him from the pipe which I'm gonna be honest-" She soon gave a nervous laugh, "-I don't know HOW to do that without killing him!"
"Okay, okay, maybe there's a way we can cut it out of him!?" Brenin said.
"Do open surgery!? Are you out of your mind!?" She said in a panic.
"You unlocked spells didn't you?!" He said, "Don't you have a healing spell on you or something?!"
"DO I LOOK LIKE A HEALING MAGE TO YOU?!" Saorise exclaimed.
"WELL I DIDN'T EXACTLY UNLOCK SPELLS THAT COULD HEAL THIS!"
"NEITHER DID I! WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME TO DO STUFF I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO!?"
"I smell-" Liam groaned as he sniffed, "-Numbers?"
"LIAM!" Brenin and Saorise exclaimed.
Jack groaned as he stepped forward and examined his wound thoroughly before noticing something about the pipe
"Wait-what are you-" Brenin started to say before his face paled.
In a moment, Jack took the pipe and removed it from Liam's side as they shrieked. Liam drowsingly looked at his wound, "Hey-Someone spilled the cherry jam on my outfit-It won't stop leaking out-Oh, nevermind it stopped." Thus Liam ended up passing out as Brenin and Saorise had a look of shock.
"ANA LATTA AS ME, YOU KILLED HIM!" Saorise shrieked.
"Relax." Jack told her after tossing the pipe away. "He's not dead."
"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!" She shouted.
Brenin looked to his wrist as he noticed the holly blue branch. He went to check for his pulse before he said, "Actually he's right. He's just unconscious."
"Oh thank Mana-" Saorise said, as her ears flopped slightly, "-Wait how did you know he wouldn't die?!"
"That pipe didn't stab Wolf Deer Boy deep enough, missed his organs by a few inches actually-Keke!" Jack told her, "If it were the worst case scenario, he would have been dead already!"
"Then how did you know the pipe wasn't in the ground?" Brenin asked.
Jack merely replied, "KEKE-Call it a hunch."
"THAT AGAIN?!" Brenin and Saorise exclaimed.
"Now come on." Jack said as he picked up a knocked out Percival and tossed Liam over his shoulder. "We're wasting time here. Let's get going."
"Go where?" Brenin asked, "There's no way we can get to the castle with our wounds."
Jack clicked his tongue before he thought of a solution as he recognized the area they were in. "We're not far from the Magic Knight Headquarters-" Jack told them, "-They would've evacuated most of the people there."
"Which means-?" Brenin said.
"KEKE-It means they'll have healing mages on standby." Jack said, "We can take shelter there, before we find the person responsible for all of this."
"But what about Prism?" Brenin asked, "We still need to find her."
"The Meatheads got it handled." Jack told them before he took notice of the corpses walking towards them in the distance, "Can you run?"
"I only have a bruise-" Saorise said.
"-My leg still hurts, but I think I'll manage." Brenin said.
Jack told them, "Close enough, now let's get going."
Jack started to move as Saorise and Brenin followed close behind him; neither of them looked back at the corpses as they seemed to have chased them. They had made several twists and turns as Brenin had been struggling to keep up. He ended up falling over, nearly dragging Saorise down with him, though they were nearly caught if it wasn't for Jack as he sliced the corpses in two.
"Keep moving!" He told them. "Don't even think about stopping or looking back! Do those and I'll cut ya up myself! KEKE!"
"This guy is REALLY hard to read." Brenin and Saorise said in their heads
Brenin soon perked up as despite the smoke around them making it hard to see he could see a familiar building structure up ahead. "He-Hey!" He said, "I can see the building!"
"Oh thank Mana!" Saorise said before she shrieked as a corpse came up from the side. Out of instinct her grimoire appeared beside her, "CLAY CREATION MAGIC-GOLIATH'S RUN!"
Clay had manifested out of the pages as the clay started to form a set of mammoths before it charged at the corpses at full speed trampling them and knocking them over. Brenin and Saorise had an equal look of shock.
"Okay-That was pretty cool." Saorise said.
"Didn't you unlock that spell today?" Brenin asked.
"I did-" She said as her eyes sparkled and her ears flopped slightly, "-And that was SO cool!"
Jack soon bonked her on the head before telling her, "KEKE-YOU COULDN'T DO THAT EARLIER?!"
"HEY! I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT ONE WOULD WORK!" Saorise argued.
"WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS! WE HAVE TO GO!" Brenin told them, before he pointed out the other group, "They're still coming!"
"Right!" Saorise said.
The three of them quickly ran towards the door as the corpses seemed to have picked up their paces. The ones nearby had formed a crowd as Jack clicked his tongue; despite him holding two people he got ready to defend them. "GET THOSE DOORS OPEN!" Jack told them.
Brenin reached for the handles but when he went to pull it open but he was shocked when he tried to pull the door open it wouldn't budge.
"I can't!" Brenin yelled, "It's locked!"
"Jack behind you!" Saorise shouted.
Jack noticed the corpses walking as he started to slice them up after setting aside Liam and Percival. "HURRY IT UP AND GET IT OPEN!" Jack told them. Saorise soon started to bang on the doors with all of her might.
"HELLO!?" She shouted, "HELLO IS ANYONE IN THERE?!"
It was then they heard a voice come through.
"Who's there?!" The voice belonging to a man had said.
"M-MY NAME IS SAOIRSE VERA!" She shouted as she continued to bang on the door, "OPEN THE DOOR PLEASE!"
"HOW DO WE KNOW YOUR NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT MADE THOSE THINGS?!"
"PLEASE!" Brenin yelled as he started to bang on the door, "WE'VE GOT PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT NEED A HEALING MAGE! ONE OF THEM IS OUR BROTHER!"
"WE GOT PEOPLE IN HERE TOO!" One of them shouted. "GO AWAY!"
They could hear the growls from the corpses getting more intense as Jack seemed to have struggled; though he had been able to kick them back before he charged at them again.
"HELP!" Saorise soon pleaded as she knocked again, "OPEN THE DOOR!"
They could hear the voices shout inside despite the noises that could be heard around them.
"GO AWAY!"
"WE'VE GOT CHILDREN IN HERE!"
"LEAVE US ALONE!!"
"GO OR WE'LL MAKE YOU LEAVE!"
"Jack!" Saorise said worryingly as she turned to him, "They're not listening to us!"
"KEKE-" Jack said as he got his blades. "-I'll force them to listen to us then!"
"O-oh let's not!" Saorise said.
"Wait-!" Brenin said, "-We can't break down these doors! The corpses will only go after the others inside!"
"Then what do you suggest?!" Jack said.
Just then they could hear someone familiar shout from the otherside of the door. They could hear him yelling through the door, "GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY! THAT'S MY SQUAD MEMBERS OUT THERE!"
"That voice-" Saorise said.
"-Yami?" Brenin said, surprised.
They soon jumped back as the door had opened; soon afterwards they had dodged a familiar dark black blade that sliced the corpses that had been attacking Jack. Yami soon stabbed one of the ones nearby through the head.
"GET IN HERE!" He told them.
Brenin and Saorise had no hesitation as they ran inside the courtyard supporting Liam; Jack grabbed Percival as he tossed him in before he ran through himself. The moment they stepped in, Yami shut the doors and blocked them just as the corpses started pounding. Brenin and Saorise took a moment to finally catch their breath as they fell to their knees as the crowd stepped back a little.
"Thank Mana." Brenin said.
"I really thought we were goners." Saorise said.
Yami said to them, "About damn time you guys got here."
"KEKE-I had that handled you know meathead?" Jack said.
Yami soon jumped at the sight of Percival, "What the hell did you do? This guy's arm is missing."
"He was trying to sell these three." Jack told him, "Lucky enough I cut him a deal!"
"By ACTUALLY Cutting off his arm?!" Yami asked. "That's a bit extreme, even by YOUR standards."
"Please!" Brenin begged to the crowd of people that seemed to have somewhat fearful expressions on their faces, "Help us!"
"Our brother needs help!" Saorise pleaded, "He needs a healing mage!"
"S-stay away!"
"P-please!"
"G-Get away you devils!"
Brenin and Saorise had been taken back as they had realized the animal parts that had grown on their bodies had been scaring them; they weren't even wearing their masks. Soon enough Yami stepped forward, and spoke up, "Hey, is that ANY way to treat your fellow citizens? The poor boy is injured AND his siblings risked their lives just to get here and THIS is how you treat them?"
The crowd had been a bit taken back as they looked at them again; though most possessed weary looks, some of their looks softened. "Now-" Yami said, "-Are you gonna let this kid die-Or are you cowards gonna do something about it?"
"Maybe cowards might be pushing it a little?" Saorise said awkwardly.
"Saorise please don't question the man." Brenin added.
The crowd still looked uneasy but eventually two of them stepped out of the crowd as they went to Liam. "Please get him inside." Brenin said to them as he handed him off to them. "Do whatever you can."
"Of course!" One of them added.
"We won't leave one of our own behind." Another had said
They quickly had gotten Liam inside the building as they quickly tended to the single armed man. The crowd seemed to have dispersed as they went to attend to their own personal manners with their friends and family. "So-" Jack soon said as Brenin and Saorise were soon tended by the Healing Mages who had already taken residents in the building prior, "-What exactly are we looking at here?"
Yami took a puff before he replied "Well for starters-The Lizard Girl apparently did some kind of a new trick. It made her almost bleed to death. Though-She apparently forced her new trick to come out."
Jack looked shocked at this, "What do you mean she forced it out?!"
Yami told him, "It's exactly what I mean. She grew wings, but they came out crooked. Mages did what they could-But they think it'll leave scars."
"What the hell was she thinking?!" Jack said with a rageful look, "Doesn't she realize she could've gotten killed with that idoitic stunt!? When she wakes up I'm doubling the training."
"Save the torment AFTER we survive." Yami told him as he took a puff, "As for everything else-Most of our people are guarding the castle. The other Magic Knights are covering different parts of the Nobles Realm. But the weird thing is-It's just happening here, the Common Realm isn't getting attacked."
"KEKE-And I should care because?" Jack said.
"What it means is-" Yami said, "-This isn't a full scale invasion like we thought. Whoever is conjuring up those corpses out there aren't just after the Lizard Girl and the Familiars. They're here for something else."
Jack couldn't help but look confused by this sort of thing, "KEKE-So if they have some sort of bigger game planned-Then why haven't they taken it already?"
Yami soon gave it some thought before he replied, "... Maybe… Whatever they want isn't out in the open yet."
BANG! BANG-Went the door suddenly as the sound made Yami and Jack jump. They both stood ready to attack until-
"YAMI! YAMI IT'S US!"
"OPEN THE DOOR!"
Yami and Jack immediately recognized the voices as they looked at one another. "Gooden and Acer?!" Yami said in realization as he quickly took the beam off of the door. He opened it just enough to see a familiar raptor, canine, and a man and woman looking a bit beat up, as they rushed in before they quickly shut the door behind them.
"Thank Mana-" Acer said, "-I can finally breathe!"
"We've been doing nothing but running-" Gooden said, "-FOR THIRTY MINUTES!"
"KEKE-So you're still alive?" Jack said.
"Hell yeah we're still alive." Acer said, "We managed to give that Patched corpse the slip before we found ourselves on the streets. Luckily for us we ran into Theodore and Prism's bud here."
Theodore looked oddly nervous as he had fidgeted on the saddle slightly; he had been twiddling his thumbs as he looked to the ground.
Yami soon noticed that he was missing. "Wait a second-Where's Nolan?"
"We don't know-" Gooden replied solemnly, "-When Nolan used one of his spells on that thing we had gotten separated."
"We were looking for him out there." Acer added, "We think he might've gotten out."
Yami seemed to have noticed how nervous Theodore had been. He could be heard whimpering and pacing along the saddle, as if he had been trying to decide something. "Theo.."
Finally Theodore spoke up, "I-I saw him. I know where he is."
"Really?" Yami asked.
Theodore took a deep breath, "D-Don't tell the Pretty Lady but-The Puppetmaster—"
"Puppetmaster?" He said, before he picked him up off of Adrien's back, "What are you talking about? Is that a person?"
Theodore only whimpered as Yami could feel him shaking. "What's wrong?" Yami asked.
With a shaky breath, Theodore gave him an answer, which put him and Jack into shock, "...Pu-Puppetmaster-He's the one making the corpses. And… He's got Nolan."
(Third Ending Theme: Cross Ange Rondo of Angel and Dragon Ending 2-Love Song of the End Performed By Nana Mizuki)
