Chapter 5

The Calnus - busted, bashed and broken beyond repair - now served a new purpose. It's twisted structures converted into small homes for countless people. Its bridge is now the entrance foyer to the town. It was a real ragtag example of resource conservation, a culmination of survival in the desert.

Here, was where Rena, Midas and Welch found themselves. And here they would find Ashton.

"First" Welch began, ''Let's equip some new gear. No need to buy anything, there's a cache at the edge of town. The trio trekked to a long, metallic path that began to elevate over the sands - no doubt the front port of the Calnus' debris. And the end of this path, a treasure chest and a steep drop.

"Leather armor!" Good, Rena gets it. With that, the armor floated around a bit, then disappeared into Rena. Her clothing stayed the same, visually.

"WHY DID I NEVER REALIZE THIS BEFORE!?" Rena was astounded.

"It's not that this Universe isn't real," Welch was turning to US, now. "It's a plane of existence below 4D. Now, let's get this story moving or we'll bore the audience!"

"That was... who were you talking to?" Midas was confounded, to be sure.

"It's called breaking the 4th wall!" Welch exclaimed. "It's fun. Anyway, follow me!"

The trio came upon a distant section of hull that was converted into a home-sweet-hovel of sorts. Not unlike - come to think of it - how Rena and Midas both were living.

"And THIS is Ashton's place!" Welch grinned cheekily.

"Hey, we'll finally get to see what dragons or snakes actually possess him, eh Midas?" Rena was eager to sleaze. "Let's place bets on who was right!"

"100 FOL, loser gives to winner."

"Done!"

KNOCK KNOCK!

The front door opened, revealing a young man with buzzed brown hair, a hipster beard, silver armor - and NO DRAGONS TO SPEAK OF.

"Well guys," Welch grew smug. "You BOTH lose. May as well hand me 50 FOL each."

"Ashton!" Rena gasped. "You look - different." She could definitely recognize him, sure - but this was... unexpected.

"Rena, I look the same as last time you saw me!"

"At least he sounds the same, from what I recall," Midas admitted.

"What are you talking about, guys?" Ashton was perplexed. "Rena, did you really come all the way from the Submarine of Elicoor to play mind-games?"

"Submarine of Elicoor?" Welch groaned. "Ooooh boy."

"Wait, so all of this IS a fever-dream, then?" Ashton conceded.

"Yeah," Welch confirmed. "That's why everyone's memory is all garbled. Of course, with all three of YOU here... I can now slap some sense into you!"

"Wait, what are you-?" Rene started.

"Don't you DARE-" Midas began.

But Ashton... was a different animal. "My pleasure - like up, you two!"

"Trust me, "Welch started" this will jolt your CORRECT memories a bit."

The stooge line-up was ready. Welch was steady. Time to GOOOOOO!

*slap*slap*slap*

The Handystick came in VERY handy! "Now guys, I'll ask the questions here. Rena, what town are you from?"

"Arlia!"

"And Midas, what is your specialty?"

"Semiomancy!"

"Ashton, what is your big dilemma?"

"I have - or rather HAD - two dragons growing from my back. I remember this all of a sudden. But they're gone! Creepy and Weepy - yes, that was their names!"

"Well I'll be!" Rena smiled. "I guess I was right!"

"HALF-right, all things considered." Welch admitted. "But I keep the FOL!"

"FINE!" Rena practically shouted.

"So, why did that work all of a sudden?" Midas inquired about the tri-slap. "Why didn't you just handle us before?"

"I needed three companions - you could say, a Tri-Ace formation!"

"That's a bit on-the-nose don't you think?" Ashton piqued. "And I don't even know why!"

"Well, this sets the next event in motion!" Welch was in the zone. "We head back to my realm - and continue our investigation there! It's someone up there, after all, who is mucking about with what was supposed to be a temporary state of things, you could say!"

"How will we get there?" Ashton wondered.

"Sort of like fast-travel" Welch noted the confused look on Ashton's face. "I'll just say, I can get us there in a jiff! You guys just gotta hold on! Hands on shoulders, stat!"

The foursome adopted a square formation, and did just that. A chant and a rant later, and the four disappeared in a flash of light!