Escaping with a Little Help from a Thief
Nathaniel and Iris are seen leaning onto each other as they sit at the corner of their prison cell as they almost felt like losing hope, but they also reminded each other that they need to be strong for their friends and hopefully think of a way to escape either themselves or by their friends. Though it's not going to be easy with the magic locks on his speed that prevents him from using his superspeed.
They also passed the time by telling each other's stories like Iris being a long-lost princess of Ephedia and taken to earth since she was a baby and Nathaniel telling him about how he gained his superspeed from his past life.
"Wow, your story seems to be more interesting than mine." Iris commented.
"I don't know, I think being a magical fighting princess is cool." Nathaniel said and they laugh together for a little while.
"Well, at least we get some peace and quiet." Nathaniel pointed trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, the quiet can be peaceful sometimes." A guy's voice said spooking the couple.
"Sorry, didn't mean to spook you two. It just I haven't had anyone to talk to in a while." The guy said.
"That's okay, how'd you end up here?" Iris asked.
"Obviously because Gramorr is evil, that he'll throw anyone in prison." The guy mentioned.
"Oh yeah, I'm starting to see that. So, you must've upset the big bad man to end up here." Nathaniel grinned.
"Well, I did stole a few things from him, but it was only so I can survive the rush reality I was forced to live in because of my life." The guy said in a slight angry tone.
"I'm sure your life can't be that bad." Nathaniel believed as Iris went to look at the lock of the cell.
"Try living with a dying mother until you were six and started stealing things for myself and teaching myself some magic for self-defense and quick getaways." The guy explained.
"Ouch, sounds like you needed help." Iris stated as she summons a small crystal toothpick.
"I tried, but they all turned on me just because I stole a few things from them and because I only after number one which is me." The guy bragged as Iris rolls her eyes.
"I guess that's one way to stay positive, I'm Nathaniel." Nathaniel introduced himself.
"Name's Lev." Lev revealed his name.
"And I would forget about doing that, the lock is magical charm. If I can't pick it, nobody can." Lev warned.
"Good to know you have some skills." Iris commented as she gets back to the lock.
"Hey, in my line of business, you learn a lot more than picking locks. I doubt they teach you those skills in Princess school though, Iris." Lev mentioned, shocking the couple.
"How'd you know her name is Iris or anything about her being a princess which to be honest I'm still shock about that." Nathaniel admitted.
"Everyone knows about "Iris the Wonder Princess" destined to save Ephedia from the evil forces of Gramorr, but seeing you here getting captured so easy. You've really disappoint me." Lev mocked.
This got Iris angry as she broke the crystal toothpick and decided to try using an attack spell on the lock, only the lock the absorb the crystal attack.
"Told you." Lev smirked.
"If you're so smart, then why don't you help us?" Iris asked.
"It's because I'm smart that there are Gramorr's crystal guards patrolling the castle, even if I got out of her, I wouldn't want to suck with two slowing me down." Lev explained.
"Slow? Buddy, if I didn't have this lock on my legs, I would you how fast I really am." Nathaniel stated.
"Big words coming from a guy with blue hair, I bet I could outrace you." Lev betted showing his red eye.
"We'll see, when we get out of here." Nathaniel said and he hops to Iris making a sound when his feet hit the floor.
They look down seeing a crack on one spot of the floor, seems to be weak enough for a super punch which gave Iris an idea.
"You're being a little too quiet, have you escaped already?" Lev asked.
"Oh, we're about to mister professional thief." Nathaniel chuckled.
"Crystempactus" Iris punched the cracked spot.
"Wait, don't!" Lev tried to warn them, but they didn't listen.
Iris continue punching the crack spot until she made a hole in the floor that leads down to another floor below their prison cell, they celebrate of their now escape hole but the celebrating was short live when the cracks gave in under the couple and they fell to lower level much to Lev's annoyance.
"Okay, maybe Lev was on to something." Nathaniel groaned.
"I told you so, rookies." Lev shouted.
"Lev, you managed to sneak into this castle before, so that must mean you know a way out." Nathaniel figured.
"Maybe, but what would be in it for me?" Lev asked.
"Come on, Lev, I know you can break out of your cell. I'm sure you're getting sick of this place and want to be something better than here." Iris pointed out.
"Hmm, you're right. I think it's time I leave this dump." Lev said suddenly appearing behind the couple much to their shock.
Lev has red eyes and black hair that has six quills on his head, four of which curve upwards and two that curve downwards with red stripes on each. He wears a mercenary tattered cloth with a detailed collared vest. He also has a gold ring on each wrist.
"Whoa, that is the coolest hair style I have ever seen!" Nathaniel's eyes sparkled.
"Thanks, though to be honest I never really had this before until a few days ago." Lev mentioned and smash the lock on Nathaniel's legs with his foot.
"Ah, feels good to be move them again!" Nathaniel sighed in relief.
"Okay, now follow me, I'll take where there are less guards." Lev gestured them this way as he runs.
The three are running through a hallway until they hit a dead end with one door on each side that either of them could lead to another room or a hallway.
"Okay, which way should we take?" Nathaniel asked.
"This way." Iris and Lev said at the same time about to go to the opposite directions.
"No, this way." Lev said.
"Why that door, why not this door?" Iris asked.
"We don't have time to debate this, princess, my instinct is telling me this way is the safer way." Lev argued.
"No, that's where you're going. My instinct is telling me to go through this door." Iris said then her arm got grabbed by Nathaniel.
"Iris, maybe we should listen to Lev. He has been doing this sort of thing longer." Nathaniel pointed out.
"Oh, now you're on his side." Iris narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend.
"I'm not taking anyone's side; I'm just pointing out that either of us know the way through the castle." Nathaniel said.
"Still wouldn't hurt to look around for other possibilities." Iris said before going into the door.
"Is she always this stubborn?" Lev asked.
"Well, once Iris set her mind on something it's kinda hard to change it unless there was another way." Nathaniel explained.
Lev sighs and the two boys follow Iris through the door she wanted to go to.
"Okay, princess, what does your instincts tell you now?" Lev asked.
"That we're in trouble." Iris giggled nervous as the room they're in are full of the dark crystal guards, six purple ones and one being red at the top with a red crystal mace.
"Don't worry, I got this!" Nathaniel smirked before he starts running fast around the crystal guard giving each one a strong kick almost makes them trip and two strong kicks for the red one.
"Uh, so he is fast." Lev impressed.
"Yep, that's my Blue Blur, Fastest Thing Alive." Iris said proudly.
"Fastest, huh?" Lev looked at Nathaniel.
"Spin Dash Attack" Nathaniel rolled spin fast smashing through one of the crystal guards shattering it into pieces and did the same to the other two.
But the red crystal guard smash its mace to the wall throwing some stones at Nathaniel, he easily dodges them and narrowly avoid a strong swing from the red crystal guard as he finds himself cornered and the four remaining crystal guards close in on him.
"Okay, this might be a bit more trouble than I thought." Nathaniel whispered to himself and just as the guards were about go in for the attack.
"Hey, crystal losers!" Lev mocked as he runs fast in a red blur running on the wall and kick one of the guards away and smash his foot on it which shattered away.
Lev turns around seeing the remaining three glaring at him in anger.
"Whoa, he's fast too." Nathaniel gasped as Iris is shock too.
"I hope you enjoyed your worthless life; you bunch of rocks." Lev insulted as his body starts to glow red a bit. The guards charge at Lev unknowingly sealing their own fate.
"Chaos Spears" Lev summoned three energy spears out in the air and fires them at the crystal guards, each exploding and destroying them completely.
"You never said you could do that!" Nathaniel said.
"I never even knew I had them until a few days ago, it's like something unexpected has awaken a deep hidden power from within me and it feels awesome." Lev explained.
"(Could it be possibly that Lev is also reincarnated of Sonic's world like me and Doug?)" Nathaniel thought as he starts to think the hair style and gold rings are starting to feel familiar.
"Okay, now that the guards have been taken care of, let's get back to escaping this place." Lev suggested.
"Got to say, you're not bad in a fight like that though it was a bit reckless." Lev pointed out to Nathaniel.
"You're not bad yourself, so you're going to continue thieving after we escape?" Nathaniel asked as the three starts running through the hallway.
"Maybe…" Lev said before they stop looking at two more crystal guards at the scene where they escaped their cells.
"Oh yeah, you mentioned there are other guards patrolling." Nathaniel chuckled nervous.
Iris look at the hole above the crystal guards which gave her an idea that just might work.
"Follow me!" Iris said before running toward them.
"Iris, wait!" Nathaniel worried.
"Crystal Colidum" Iris fired shards of pink crystals at the ceiling around the hole causing more of the debris to fall on the crystal guards which gave the three an opening to run past them.
They keep running through the hallway until they made a right turn heading toward another dead end with two doors like before, but Lev saw a large crack on the wall big enough to hide three people from the crystal.
"Guys, quick, we'll hide in here." Lev pointed at the crack.
"Okay." Nathaniel nodded and grab Iris really close to him as they move into the crack with Lev being last, the two crystal guards run to one of the doors thinking the escape prisoners went through there.
"Phew, we lost." Nathaniel sighed in relief as he hugs Iris closer to him which makes her blush, not that she minds.
"Got to admit, princess, you're not bad in a fight, especially when it comes to using your head." Lev commented on how Iris distracted those guard.
"Oh, thanks." Iris said.
"And thanks for helping us so far." Nathaniel thanked.
"No problem, as long as she promises me my own little island and we'll call it even, after she takes back her throne." Lev grinned.
Nathaniel and Iris look at each other for a moment thinking that Lev wants his very own island when all this is done, kinda sounds selfish to them but he is helping them getting around this castle and he also fought off some of the crystal guards too, so maybe rewarding him wouldn't hurt.
"Okay." Iris agreed then she realize something.
"Wow, that sounds so weird, taking back my throne. I never really had one before." Iris said.
"I always knew you had the heart of a princess, being kind to others and all." Nathaniel stated.
"Well, having a throne is no big deal. Just a really nice chair, fancy crown, absolute power." Lev listed as he looks around to if there are any more crystal guards coming.
"The crown!" Iris remembered the Crown of Ephedia still with Gramorr. "I can't leave it behind!"
"What are you talking about? You want to go into the throne room, where the throne is, the one who sits on it, who we're trying to get away from?" Lev asked as he thinks Iris is being crazy right now.
"Yes, will you help us, again?" Iris asked.
"And think about it, with your new powers, you can finally get some payback on Gramorr for putting a cunning thief like you in prison and there might some other things he has that could be worth dealing." Nathaniel bragged as a way to convince Lev.
Lev did some thinking, he never really thought about using his newfound power to battle against Gramorr himself consider he's a powerful dark wizard, but maybe he can stand a chance against him now with some help from Nathaniel and Iris. Plus, there is also another thing he has to take care which also involves going to the throne room.
"Alright, you convinced me. I'll help take you to the throne room." Lev agreed much to Nathaniel and Iris's joy.
"(I hope Doug and the girls are okay.)" Nathaniel thought.
(With Doug and the Girls)
Doug, Talia, and Auriana are following the three girl who revealed themselves to be Lyra princess of Borealis, Carissa princess of Calix, and their leader Izira Princess of Xeris who, is also Talia's older sister, and they are leading the three to their secret rebel base. They stop for a moment as they see a ruin castle covered in black crystals as this castle was once the home of Talia and Izira.
"Wow, you grew up here! It must've been amazing!" Auriana complimented.
"It was…" Talia sighed.
"Before Gramorr." Izira glared before they continue walking to the base.
"So, you actually made that little watch that turned into the big arm-cannon earlier?" Lyra asked Doug looking at his watch.
"Indeed, I did, you could say that my new levels of smartness came along with the fox ears and tail." Dough said.
"Interesting." Lyra said leaning closer to Doug, she soon realizes this and quickly move away while hiding her blushing cheeks as Dough is also blushing.
"I hope Iris and Nathaniel are okay back at Gramorr's castle." Auriana said.
"I'm sure those two are doing okay, maybe they're already working on an escape plan right this minute." Doug believed, what he doesn't know is that Nathaniel and Iris have escaped and are planning to face Gramorr.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
Nathaniel and Iris managed to escape their prison thanks to the help from Lev the Thief who also has some interesting features about himself like having superspeed with Nathaniel and can shoot energy blasts, which makes him the reincarnation of Shadow the Hedgehog though I wonder he is being truly honest with them as they make their way to the throne room.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!