Ok, I guess this is just the new norm for uploads. Progress on this chapter was steady but slow. No real hitches.
Before we get into it, I want to thank you all for 100 (now 102 at the time of writing) followers. I am at a loss for words. Well, not literally, cause I'm still writing, but you know what I mean. Again, thank you all for your continued interest.
Chapter 38: A Shadow on the Isles
"When plan A involves copious amounts of explosives, you rarely end up needing a plan B." -The Venator
Royal stared into the eyes of his supposed protege. She looked back, eyeing him curiously. His mind was racing. Who was Luz? Why did he know that name? What hadn't he figured out? Why did she look so familiar?
"Sir?" Luz asked, tilting her head slightly, "Are you alright?"
"Of course I am," Royal said quickly, "I just have a lot on my mind at the moment." He looked up and down her uniform, noting the chunks that had been taken out of the fabric.
"You seem a little worse for wear," he noted. Luz looked down at her uniform, nodding slightly.
"The insurrectionists put up more resistance than we expected," she reported professionally, "But we managed to take care of them. Champions' intel was solid."
"Of course," Royal mumbled, looking away, "I… I need to go. Important matters require my attention elsewhere." He departed, his mind filled with emotions crashing into each other. Luz watched him leave, an expression of concern on her face. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Champion coordinating the prison guards. She quickly jogged over to him.
"Sir, I think there's something wrong with your Brother. He seems… distracted." Champion turned to look at Royal's retreating form, grinning slightly.
"Is he now?"
Everything felt cold. Cold and wet. Luz blinked her eyes open. She was lying on her back, half submerged in a dark green liquid. As she looked up, she realized that she recognized her surroundings. She was in the strange space between realms, the same place her prototype portal door had taken her. The chilly liquid seeped into her bones, sapping away her strength.
Luz sighed lightly, letting the ambient sounds of the strange dimension drown out her thoughts. Maybe she would lie here a little while longer. It all seemed so peaceful. Much easier than what she was originally setting out to do. What was that again?
Staring blankly at the sky, she realized that the realm mirrored itself. A small golden figure treaded through the shallow waters above her. She could hear a distant voice but was unable to make out anything they were saying. The glowing figure seemed to notice her and offered a wave. Luz struggled to lift her arm out of the water and return the gesture. The distant figure made a motion with their hand and Luz felt a gust of warmth overtake her. Her strength returned, clearing her mind and spurring her onward. She stood up, trying to get a better look at the figure in the distance. They appeared to be limping slightly, but other than that, she couldn't tell anything else.
Before she could make out any details, she felt something wrap around her ankle. She looked down in a panic, only to be dragged into the depths of the water. She opened her mouth to scream. However, nothing came out.
Luz was dragged out of the portal, collapsing on the ground and gasping in shock. Her eyes darted to the sides in a panic. Her friends were crowded around her, watching her with concern and worry. Amity quickly pulled her into a hug.
"Luz! We were so worried about you," she gushed, "When you didn't come out, we thought-"
"I'm alright," Luz comforted, returning the hug, "I thought I saw something in there." Already, the memory of what she had seen was fading. Amity and Vee helped Luz stand up.
"Any sign of… him?" She asked.
"Oh please," Hunter scoffed, "It's not like he'll just show up if you say his name." He furrowed his brow as he thought about it more. "Will he?"
"Well, he better stay out of our way," Camilla said, pulling her baseball bat out of her impromptu sheathe, "Because this mama is on a warpath!"
"Now that is a fight I'd watch," Gus said. The seven began to walk down the path ahead of them. Along the way, Willow stopped to briefly revel in the Demon Realm plant life.
"Hello red grass, I've missed you," she greeted, brushing her hand through the grass. Hunter's expression softened slightly for a second before the sound of a nearby bird caused him to jump.
"We need to keep moving," he declared, "Belos has a head start on us." He stormed off and Gus watched him go, a downcast expression on his face. Quickly noticing, Willow moved to cheer him up.
"Don't worry, we'll all feel much better once we've caught up to Belos and put a fist through his face!" She slammed a fist into her palm with a meaty thwack. Now reassured, Gus smiled.
"Thanks, Willow, you always know just what to say." Willow smiled and summoned a large tangle of vines to carry herself and Gus up to Hunter. Impressed, Camilla whistled at the display.
"You kids were really holding back in the Human Realm, weren't you?"
"You could say that," Amity said coyly before noticing a puddle of Abomination ooze on the ground. She quickly scooped it up with her magic, swirling it through the air.
"Hello, you beautiful slime." Camilla smiled and turned to Vee, noticing that her adopted daughter seemed significantly less happy to be here.
"Vee, are you alright?"
"Yeah," she said uneasily, "Just hoped I'd never have to come back here." Camilla pulled the Basilisk into a hug.
"It's ok," she comforted, "I won't let anything bad happen to you." Vee smiled, reassured, and set off to join the others, leaving Camilla alone with her biological daughter.
"You never told me how beautiful this place was," she commented awkwardly, "The trees, the sky, the- Ahhh!" She cut herself off as the two crested a small hill overlooking the town of Bonesborough. The rest of the Hexsquad, including Vee, were staring out at the landscape. A colossal obsidian pyramid dominated the skyline, hovering above the Titans skull. The air was permeated with Dark energy that sank into their flesh, chilling them.
"Stay back kids." Camilla quickly stepped in front of the children, holding out her arms protectively. "Who knows if that thing is hostile."
"Actually, the Titan is normal," Amity spoke up, "The pyramid… not so much."
"Wait, a giant demonic carcass is normal, but a chunk of flying stone is weird?"
"What happened to this place?" Hunter asked, "Everything feels so desolate." Luz stepped forward, staring down the path defiantly.
"Maybe we can find some answers in Bonesborough." The seven set off once more. They journeyed in near silence, watching warily for any threats. Luz moved at the head of the group, gingerly holding her Palisman that she had brought with her in her backpack. Camilla walked up beside her.
"This place is so wonderful," she said unconvincingly, "I can really see it helping you with your taxidermy hobby."
"You're just pretending, aren't you?"
"No, mija. I love that you've been living on… a giant carcass."
"It's sweet of you, really," Luz sighed, "But I'm not changing my mind. Once we've saved the others, I'm staying in the Human Realm. Permanently."
Paladin gripped the edge of the wall and tensed his synthetic muscles. After a split second of concentration, he pulled himself forward. He lept over the wall, sailing over the beach. He charged a fist with Arc Light as he fell onto the Vex. His fist made contact with the earth, causing it to erupt with Light. The closest Vex exploded with lightning crackling all over their forms. Standing back up, Paladin raised a barrier and drew his shotgun. The Vex continued to pile in around him.
A Minotaur tried to attack him, only for a blast from Paladin's shotgun to punch through its shields and tear it apart. He pulled back on the pump, racking another shell into the chamber. Another pull of the trigger blasted a Goblin to pieces. He instantly spun around, firing another two shells downrange. A Minotaur drew in close, striking at him. Paladin deftly wove around its blow and punched it in its Radiolaria chamber. The machine buckled, allowing Paladin to grab it by its chest and leg. Holding it over him, he tore the machine in half.
Paladin whipped back around, throwing a flashbang grenade into the Vex horde. The machines optical sensors were temporarily fried by the explosive, allowing Paladin to pull out two assault rifles. Dropping to one knee, he squeezed the triggers and cut them down. His motion tracker was alight with pings as the Vex were flanking him, moving for the walls. Paladin spun to the left, flinging a Void shield that bounced between a cluster of Harpy's. He then turned to the right, chucking a small Solar hammer at a Hobgoblin. The construct erupted in a flame that quickly consumed the other nearby Vex.
A shot hit the Titan's back, causing him to flinch. He turned back around, firing a hand cannon at his assailants, only for another shot to slam into his shoulder. He quickly dashed back as more shots harried him. He tried to pull out his rocket launcher, only to catch a Torch Hammer projectile to the gut. His shields flickered and a warning on his HUD screamed at him. He cursed himself, he had grown used to having Venator watching his back.
"What's the matter, little Lightbearer," Pyrikaga taunted, "Can't stand the heat?" The Typhon dragged its blade across the ground, sending a wave of flame at Paladin. It slammed into him, sending the Titan flying back. He landed with a thud and groaned in pain. Slowly, he forced himself back up as the Vex continued to close in. It was a testament to the Construction magic that the walls were still holding up against the Hydra's bombardment. However, it was starting to crack.
"Just give up."
"You can't protect these people."
"You can't save anyone."
The voices returned, whispering in the Striker's mind as the Vex bore down upon him. He felt his will to fight slipping away. They were right. He was a failure. A Wyvern stomped over, aiming its weapons at him. Paladin collapsed to the ground, electricity sparking from his wounds as Thatch tried desperately to patch him back up. The Wyvern's guns began to glow as Paladin raised his hand cannon weakly.
Before the Wyvern could fire, a large stone wall appeared in front of Paladin. The Wyvern backed up as a barrage of spells slammed into it. The Wyvern tried to retreat, only for a large purple mass to spiral out of the ground before it. Darius transformed his hands into scythes and lashed out at the Wyvern. It turned to face him, with the other Vex shifting their focus to the Witch. He quickly retreated, reappearing behind a few Goblins and quickly cutting them apart.
Hettie dropped down beside Paladin, hunkering behind the wall that had been formed. Quickly spinning a circle, she cast a healing spell on him. The Titan slowly pushed himself up, offering Hettie a small nod of thanks. With the Witches now beside him, Paladin returned to the fray, Arc Light coursing over his entire body.
The deep forests of the Isles had been relatively untouched by both the Vex and the Collector. The two forces had remained focused on their own areas, leaving the untamed wilds to themselves. A small butterfly landed on a rock, its wings fluttering briefly. It wasn't meant to last, as a gnarled, rotten hand crashed down on the bug.
Belos snarled as he dragged himself forward, absorbing its flesh to temporarily sustain his own. Cursed organic matter sloughed off his bones, disintegrating behind him. He dragged himself closer to the skull, trying desperately to hold himself together long enough to reach his destination.
As he pulled his decrepit body onward, he saw a myriad of crimson specters manifesting around him. Dozens of previous Golden Guards stared at him blankly, their faces concealed behind their masks. Ahead of him, a painfully familiar pair of Nightmares were waiting.
Caleb stood before him, gazing at Belos through empty eyes. Evelyn was just behind him, matching her lover's expression. Belos snarled at the Nightmares and dragged himself through the two. The specters reappeared in front of him, not blinking as they stared at him.
"Don't look at me like that," Belos snapped at his brother, "I tried to save your soul. And you." He turned to Evelyn as the Witch remained impassive. "All of this is your fault. You spun your vile spells and stole away a pious man of God. Stole away my brother!" Evelyn stared at him a moment longer before finally opening her mouth to speak.
"Do not forget who's hand clutched the knife."
"I was left no choice," Belos snarled, "I was saving him from your corruption!"
"Intention is irrelevant," Evelyn responded, her voice reverberating through Belos's mind, "Only consequence has true form." Belos broke eye contact with the Nightmares and pushed past them.
"Shut up."
The seven travelers stood outside a decrepit building. Their expressions were sullen, some more than others. The windows had been smashed and graffiti coated the walls. Luz sighed, it had been too long since she had been here, yet it felt hollow.
"What is this place?" Camilla asked. Luz stepped up to the door, forcing a small smile onto her face.
"Welcome… to the Owl House." She pushed the door open, gazing inside with melancholy. The interior wasn't much better. The ground was covered with garbage. A few rats rushed across the ground. It was a rather pathetic sight.
The group split up, with Luz and Amity heading upstairs while Camilla, Gus, and Willow looked through the ground floor for supplies. Vee and Hunter remained outside, with the former searching through the shack while the latter paced through the yard, muttering to himself. Gus and Willow's Palismen followed him, much to his frustration.
"So… this is the Owl House I've heard so much about?" Camilla questioned, looking through the cupboards. She found a dead rat and gingerly picked it up with two fingers.
"Yeah, but don't worry, the food isn't usually that spoiled," Willow said offhandedly. Camilla dropped the rat in disgust.
"I need some advice," she began slowly.
"Well, first you have to pluck out the Dire Rats' extra heads. The tiny ones that line the digestive tract can be especially bitey," Gus offered.
"No, not about that. I need advice about Luz. She's… she's about to make a really big mistake. She's determined to make herself sad and I just don't know what to do about it."
"That reminds me of when I failed my first school project," Gus began, "I thought my dad was gonna freak out. So I ran off to hide in a cave in the most dramatic way possible. Of course, reliable ol' Willow finds me and says…"
"Augustus, it's ok to fail every now and then," the Witch said, recounting the story with her friend, "Look at me, I fail all time."
"While I was busy inquiring about what she meant, there was a big slimy explosion in the distance."
"Like fifteen minutes ago," Willow said sheepishly, "When I forgot to chain up my Abomination homework." The two laughed while Camilla watched in concern.
"They have to chain up their homework?" She whispered.
"Maybe Luz is going through something like that," Gus offered, "My dad didn't care if I failed that project, but…" He began to tear up slightly. "I didn't want to fail him. I hope he's ok." Willow placed her hand on his shoulder, reassuring him while the young boy wiped away a few tears.
"Stop following me!" Hunter shouted from outside. The others on the inside looked out at him.
"Belos could be anywhere by now," he ranted, "He had safehouses all over the Isles! We'll never find him at this rate!"
"We should probably make sure he doesn't pace himself into the Boiling Seas," Willow said.
"Good idea," Gus concurred, "Besides, you're probably the only one of us strong enough to stop him." Gus got up and left, with Willow moving to follow him only for Camilla to take her by the shoulder.
"Hold on, how are you feeling?"
"Don't worry about me," Willow assured, "You heard what Gus said. I'm the reliable one."
"Even reliable people need someone to rely on."
"I'm fine," she asserted, "Really. And I'm sure Luz will be fine too. You two are a lot alike." She turned and left. Camilla noticed the vines creeping up through the floorboards in her wake. As she watched the vines curling on the ground, she felt a chill come over her spine and a set of eyes watching her.
"What have you done to my daughter?"
Her eyes widened and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She slowly turned, making eye contact with the Nightmare of Manny Noceda. His expression was somber, almost remorseful.
"M-Manny?"
"What have you done to my daughter?" He repeated.
"I- What?"
"Why do you think she ran away?" He pushed, starting to sound angry, "When she saw the first chance to get away from you, she took it without a second thought!" He sighed, leaning back.
"Face it, Camilla, you were never a good mother."
Upstairs, Amity walked down the hall. Stopping outside of Royals' room, she glanced inside and found absolutely nothing. Whether that was because the room had been looted or Royal just lived a spartan lifestyle, she couldn't tell. Closing the door, she reached Eda's room. The door was slightly ajar, a soft light coming from the crack.
Before she entered, she noticed something on the floor. She scooped it up, holding it gingerly. Tucking the picture into her pocket, she stepped into the room and saw Luz curled up in Eda's nest, cradling her Palisman egg delicately. She glanced up at her girlfriend, offering a weak greeting.
"Did you think sitting in a nest would help your Palisman hatch?"
"Maybe," Luz replied, "But nothing's happening."
"Remember what the Bat Queen said. To connect with your Palisman, you need to express your deepest desire." Luz sat up as she listened.
"How did you connect with your Palisman?"
"Well, after being handed the staff, I said some stuff along the lines of 'I want to be a great Witch' or 'I want to be an author' but she wouldn't move," Amity said as Ghost curled around her leg affectionately, "Not until I admitted that I don't know what I want to be. But I want to be able to choose it for myself." Luz looked down and Amity took a seat beside her.
"I just want to be a Witch and help my friends," she said, "But one always seems to get in the way of the other. When did it all get so complicated?"
"You just gotta be patient," Amity reassured. She reached into her pocket, pulling out the picture. She held it before Luz.
"That wasn't the only reason you came up here, was it?" She asked. Luz took the picture, staring at it as tears welled up in her eyes. It was a picture of the assembled members of the Owl House. Luz stood in the front, holding King in a tight hug. Eda and Royal were right behind her, with Eda's arm slung around the Warlock's neck. Eda held her staff in her free hand. Royal had a hand on Luz's shoulder. Lilith was just beside them, with the porta-a-Hooty on her back.
"I'll find them," Luz declared, standing up as she did, "No matter what."
"It's Eda and King!" Hunter shouted from the front yard. Luz and Amity instantly shot up and the latter ran downstairs. Luz was about to follow before she turned back, making eye contact with the Nightmare that had been silently watching her the entire time. He shook his head in disappointment and turned away from her. Luz felt tears begin to form in her eyes and she blinked them away. Joining the others outside, she looked to Hunter for answers. The boy pointed at the sky.
"They were on some kind of shooting star," he said hurriedly, "I wasn't able to see much, but they were heading towards Bonesborough!"
"Then what are we waiting for?" Amity asked, hopping on her staff. She gestured for Camilla to join her.
"Don't worry, I'm a safe flier."
A shot rang out across the clearing, causing a Goblin to collapse into a motionless pile. Venator crept out of the undergrowth, holding her sniper rifle at the ready. Slowly, she moved over the Goblin, watching the shadows warily.
"Hexside isn't far," Blip reported, "Continue directly ahead, through this thicket." The Hunter stalked forward, keeping a close eye on her surroundings. As she drew closer, she swapped her sniper for an SMG and knife.
"What would the Vex want with a high school?" She questioned, "I don't think they just want a peek at the teacher's answer sheet."
"Whatever it is, it can't be good."
Venator pushed through the trees, arriving before the school building. There were Vex everywhere, conducting whatever business they were up to. Going prone in the grass, she watched them closely, waiting for anything to happen. Her form vanished slightly, fading into the grass as Void Light rolled over her body. Now, she was going to wait.
Camilla didn't have a problem with flying. She hadn't done it much, but she didn't fear it or anything. It was just something to be done sometimes. However, that was flying on a plane. Flying on a staff was another story entirely. She clung on tightly to Amity's staff as the group flew through the air. Her eyes were practically welded shut with fear.
Eventually, they touched down on solid ground. Camilla eagerly hopped off, grateful to feel the stones beneath her feet.
"Those things need seatbelts," she muttered. The rest of the group looked around at Bonesborough. The town was a mess. Buildings had been broken into, the ground had been torn up, and there was a general aura of despair.
"Where is everyone?" Gus wondered. They spread out slightly, looking around the town center. Light glinting off of metal drew Luz's attention to the center of town, where a ruined statue of Belos lay in pieces. In the center of the pedestal was Royal's glaive, planted blade-deep in the ground. Slowly, Luz moved over to the weapon, gently resting a hand against it. Amity joined her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sure he's fine. He probably just lost it in the mayhem." Luz nodded reluctantly and grabbed the weapon. With some help from Amity and her Abominations, she wrenched it free. After Amity formed a sheathe made of goo for her, she rejoined the others. Hunter walked off a little, peering around a corner.
"Somethings coming," he warned. The others tensed up.
"Is it the Collector?"
"Vex?"
"No, it's… sparkles?" His eyes went wide as he quickly turned and ran. The others followed him as he dove into an alleyway. A bright wave of color washed past them, sweeping over the town but leaving them unaffected. Eventually, the wave moved on.
Luz peeked her head back into town. The entire place had been magically refurbished and a strange pastel haze hung in the air. Weirdest of all, the town was now populated by strange puppet creatures. Upon closer inspection, Luz realized that they were the residents of Bonesborough.
"Dad?" Willow asked, reaching out to one of the puppets, her father Gilbert Park. Suddenly, the eyes of the puppets flashed with yellow light. They became animated, running around in wild patterns and emitting a hollow, unearthly scream of terror. Willow ran over to her father, waving a hand in front of his face.
"Stop, it's me," she pleaded, "Have you seen Papa?" The puppet ignored her. Hunter moved to pull her to safety. Suddenly, a large creature burst through a wall and began rampaging through the town center. The beast tore through the streets, flinging puppets around. As it turned, Luz got a look at its face.
"Is that Eda?"
The Owl Beast forced Gilbert into a corner, preparing to pounce. However, before it could, a bright light appeared in the sky above the town.
"Stop right there, beast!"
The Collector dropped from the sky, landing in an action-hero pose. The Owl Beast whirled on him, snarling defiantly.
"Worry not, citizens of Bonesborough," the Collector declared, "For I have come to quell this rampaging beast!" A flying star lowered itself behind him, revealing King as its passenger.
"I believe in you, Collector," he cheered, offering a thumbs up. The Collector was quick to return the gesture.
"Thanks, bestie!" The Collector clapped his hands together, producing a large burst of light that blinded the Owl Beast. It howled and collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The puppets gathered around the Collector, applauding him. The Owl Beast stood up, no longer a quadruped.
"Oh wow, my curse is gone," Terra Snapdragon celebrated, her acting leaving much to be desired, "It's a miracle." The Collector frowned, making a time-out gesture.
"Cut. Cut!" The Collector flew over to her as she straightened her back with an audible crack.
"Terra, you're reading your lines wrong," he critiqued, "For the last time, Eda doesn't sound like that. She's more like a cool aunt who acts like she doesn't care, but really does deep down."
"You're worse than Graye," Terra complained, rubbing her face, "I have had it with you and your stupid dog!" She pointed angrily at the Collector and then King. Terra was so caught up in her temper that she didn't notice the Collector's expression darken considerably. The puppets stopped cheering, letting an eerie silence fall over the town.
"But I just have to play pretend," she continued, "Oh look at me. I'm the Owl Lady. I like musicians and crazy robot people and adopting stray brats."
"You know, Terra," the Collector said, his tone low and even yet carrying a dangerous edge, "You're not being very nice right now." he snapped his fingers and a small crescent moon symbol appeared above his hand. Terra's eyes went wide at the sight.
"No! Wait!" It was too late for her pleading. The symbol slammed into her forehead and converted her into yet another puppet. She fell to the ground limply. The Collector waved his hand over the area and the puppets vanished. The Collector slumped onto his star disc, still looking rather angry.
"Collector, buddy, you gotta stop doing that," King pleaded, "Think about what you're doing to these people."
"I'm just playing pretend," he whined, "Besides, it doesn't really matter in the end."
"Even playing pretend has consequences," King tried to explain, "A cranky old Witch taught me that."
"You mean Eda? Is she better yet?"
"No. Her curse is still in effect." The Collector groaned, tucking his head into his knees.
"But I can check up on her once we get back," King offered.
"You promise?" The Collector asked, looking up slightly. King took the Collector's pinky with his own.
"I promise."
The traveling seven had been watching the entire time from their alleyway. Camilla focused on King, gently elbowing her daughter.
"Is that the little King guy you told me about?" She asked. Luz nodded, smiling now that she knew at least one of them was safe.
"¡Ay, qué lindo!"
The Collector helped King back onto the star and the two took off, heading back to the sky. The town reverted to the decrepit ruins they had been before their arrival. As they flew away, Luz ran out into the street.
"No! Come back!" She shouted. However, it was too late. They had already faded from sight, flying toward the pyramid.
"That was the Collector?" Vee questioned, "Doesn't seem like a dark god."
"We need to follow them," Luz said, starting to choke up, "Belos is probably heading there anyways."
"Luz, calm down," Willow said, "We all want to take Belos down too, but we can't take on the Collector like this."
"We have to try!" Luz shouted.
"You'll never make it," a voice called from the rooftops. Everyone looked up, seeing Skara, Barcus, and a smug yet relieved Matt looking down at them.
"Because you guys are losers!" He taunted in good faith.
Paladin crushed a Hobgoblin's head underfoot. The machine sparked before falling still. Around him, the Witches were holding the line relatively well. Abominations met the Vex head-on, potions were lobbed over the walls, construction magic was able to quickly repair any damage done to the walls, and healers kept their allies in the fight.
Pyrikaga watched from the shoreline as its forces battle the denizens of the island. The majority of its army was being held in reserve, this current assault was a probing attack to gauge their defenses. Paladin raised a Goblin overhead and brought it down on his knee. Dropping the shattered Vex, he turned to the Typhon.
"Enough of this!" He shouted, "Your fight is with me, monster!"
"My prerogative is to destroy all that which lives," Pyrikaga replied, spinning its sword lazily, "Now, where is your companion?" Paladin glanced around the beach, watching the next wave of Vex teleport onto the sand.
"She's around," he said noncommittally, "Doing her thing in the shadows."
The Torchbearer held its sword at the ready, pointing the tip of the blade at Paladin. Its reinforcements had finished arriving, a new wave of Vex, fresh for the fight. The Typhon charged forward, bringing its blade down. Paladin charged himself with Arc Light and jumped up to meet it.
Matt led the group through a dark tunnel, lit only by a few light spells. The tunnel was damp and claustrophobic, but it kept them out of the eyes of the Vex, so it would do.
"How did you guys find out about this?" Gus questioned. Matt grinned.
"Ever since the Day of Unity, we've been laying low," he explained, "Having to run stealth raids on Bonesborough to gather supplies. Viney showed us these secret rooms inside Hexside. Apparently, they have tunnels that can lead all over the area. And the best part is, the Vex don't know about them."
"No," Luz spoke up, "The Vex must know. They always know."
"Well they haven't been bothering us," Skara shrugged, "Just sitting outside, watching us." Luz and Amity shared a nervous glance as they reached the end of the tunnel. Matt placed his hand on the wall before them and pushed it open. They arrived at the main entrance to Hexside, standing in the hallway.
"Welcome to New Hexside," Skara said, sweeping her arm across the hall. Matt gave them a quick tour; stopping by the market, the baby class, and a statue the students had built for Principal Bump. At the statue, numerous other students gathered around them, whispering to themselves in hushed circles.
"They're back."
"Where have they been?"
"Who's that taller Luz?"
"Willow!" Viney shouted, quickly running over to her captain, "Thank the Titan you're here. Your orchids have gained sentience and have been taken over the greenhouses!"
"What? No! Paper clips are not a valid meat substitute!" Gus said to Eileen, one of his fellow H.A.S. members, "Have people been eating those?" Eileen looked around nervously and backed away. Down the hall, one final student caught sight of them.
"Mittens?" Emira asked. Amity looked over and was quickly swept up in an embrace by her sister.
"I'm so glad you're alright. When you didn't return from the skull, we all thought you had-" She was cut off by the sound of someone stumbling over, trying to push their way through the crowd.
"Outta the way!" Edric shouted, "I wanna see my sister." The young Witch stumbled over, so heavily wrapped in casts that he could hardly move.
"Ed, you're supposed to be in the healers' room."
"I don't care! I wanna hug my sister!" He strained against the cast until it shattered at the elbows, allowing him to hug her. It was an awkward arrangement, but it worked.
"What happened to you guys?" Amity asked as Viney reapplied the healing wards on Edric.
"After the Day of Unity, the Vex attacked everywhere," Emira said, "We tried to flee the manor but an Abomiton caught us off guard. It almost got me, but then this idiot just had to dive in the way and get punched down an empty well."
"It wasn't empty," Edric corrected, a little too cheerily, "There were rocks at the bottom." Before the siblings could continue to catch up, the PA screeched to life.
"Attention," Boscha's voice came over the intercom, "Would Captain Tholomule escort his guests to the council chamber? And I mean now, Matt!"
Belos reached the base of the skull, dragging himself up to its edge. So much of his flesh had fallen off that he doubted he would be able to form a pair of legs. It didn't matter, he was where he needed to be.
A lone, sickly hand reached out to the side of the skull. He slapped his palm against the ancient bone, smearing his rotten skin across it. He traced a complex series of interlocking glyphs, one only he knew. Once the symbol was complete, he activated it. A concealed door opened, revealing a hidden chamber. Belos had used this chamber for his experiments. This was where the Grimwalkers were made.
Belos pulled himself into the room, past the mounds of failures. Golden Guards who, for one reason or another, had been disposed of. He turned to the troughs where their bodies were grown from the raw magical ingredients.
"There has to be one left," he muttered. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw an arm poking out. Instantly, he dove into it. The body writhed as Belos tried to bend it to his will. It burst out of its containment and took a few shaky steps forward before falling to its knees. Flesh fell from his bones as the body withered away rapidly. Belos expelled himself from the body, cursing its failure. He dragged himself out of the room and back into the open. He looked up at the Collectors pyramid, curling his lip in disgust. A bright flash of light drew his gaze to the Collector, riding his star back to the pyramid. With a growl, Belos concentrated as much as he could, focusing on this one task. He surged upward, flinging himself up the skull in leaps and bounds, dropping large chunks of himself as he did. With one final, herculean effort, he leaped onto the pyramid and crawled across it. The Collector opened the pyramid and entered his domain. Seeing his opportunity, Belos entered behind him.
Matt lead his entourage to Hexside's gym, where Boscha had set up her throne. The Captain of the Grudgby team rested on her seat, a bored look on her face. She was flanked by two figures. One was short, with a pair of goggles on her face. A small amount of red skin was exposed, with a single fang protruding from her mouth. The other was massive and imposing. A silent wall hovering near Boscha. Before the three was Jerbo, who had the unenviable task of trying to reason with Boscha.
"Who are those two?" Luz asked.
"Miki and Roxa," Matt whispered, "Couple of strays we picked up not long ago. They're Bosca's goons."
"So, if we got together a group to organize the supplies, we wouldn't need to risk excursions to the outside world as often. We could also shore up our defenses, you know, in case something decides to attack us," Jerbo said weakly. Boscha rubbed her chin as she pondered his words.
"President," her short companion interjected, "If I may be so bold. Dedicating resources to this fool's errand would draw them away from more important areas. Such as ensuring your protection. You don't want to be collected like the others, do you?"
"Good point, Miki," Boscha agreed. She snapped her fingers, "Next." Jerbo slumped and backed away, coming face to face with Matt and the others.
"Oh, it's you guys!"
"Did she take any of our suggestions?" Matt questioned. Jerbo shook his head.
"No, she shot them all down," he apologized, "Sorry, but I gotta go make sure the Kindergarteners aren't hunting down lockers again. Last time was a bloodbath. So glad you guys are alive!" Jerbo turned and left. Rolling his eyes, Matt stepped forward.
"Boscha, we found-" He was cut off when Miki cleared her throat.
Matt groaned in annoyance, "Allow me to introduce Student Body President Boscha!"
"Welcome to New Hexside. The future of the Isles and stuff."
"What is even going on here?" Luz questioned.
"Yeah," Amity chimed in, "Hexside doesn't even have a student council! I would know! I tried to set one up multiple times! But Bump kept saying I was too obsessed and-"
"Easy girl," Willow said, pulling Amity back, "Settle down."
"You should thank me," Boscha said, pointedly not looking at Amty, "I've been keeping everyone here safe. Now, we're flourishing!"
"All the Vex outside would beg to differ," Gus commented.
"They stay out there, we stay in here," Boscha shrugged, "It works."
"Well," Luz spoke up slowly, "Let me start by introducing my mama, Camilla, and sister, Vee." The two offered awkward waves, a gesture Boscha didn't return.
"Long story short, we're here to help," Luz said, "We're going to rescue everyone from the Collector, destroy the Vex, and save the Boiling Isles!" The room fell silent as Boscha, Miki, and Roxa stared at her.
"Not the reaction I was expecting."
"Since she is our leader, the safety of Boscha is paramount," Miki said, "And this is a suicide mission. It would be best if we all stayed put and waited out the storm. Besides, with the loss of the Grudgby team-"
"Shut up," Boscha snapped, "I don't want to hear about them. But Miki's right. We're staying put."
Luz began to object, "But-"
"My decision is final!" Boscha shouted, "Now, get out of my sight." Luz glared at her before turning to leave. Her friends followed close behind her. As they reached the door, Boasha called out once more.
"Except for you, Amity. I need to speak with you."
"I should probably go check up on the ol' Owl Beast," King offered, "She needs to eat anyways."
"What do mortals eat again?" The Collector wondered, "Fire? Rocks? Gravity?" King sighed slightly. Despite all his time with the Collector, he had been unable to get through to him. The Collector clapped his hands, dropping his puppets on the ground. Royal appeared beside them, standing at attention.
"Go take care of these guys," the Collector ordered, "And make sure you put them away neatly this time." Royal's body moved instantly, gathering up the puppets and carrying them off. The Collector drifted off, heading away to take care of his own matters. After a moment of hesitation, King followed Royal. The two walked in silence for a while, with King not knowing what to say and Royal not having anything to say. Eventually, the two reached the Collector's trophy room, where thousands of puppets were stored. Royal began to put them away. As he did, King noticed something.
"Wait." Royal froze in place and turned to face him, awaiting his request.
"Can I have that one, please?" He pointed to the puppet Hooty, lying curled up on the ground. Royal complied, robotically offering the House Demon to King.
"Thanks." He accepted and walked off. Glancing back, he saw that the Warlock hadn't acknowledged him.
Elsewhere within the pyramid, the Collector was kneeling before a statue. His master looked down at him, as controlled and dispassionate as ever.
"You disappoint us, Disciple."
"Please, my Witness," the Collector pleaded, "The Lightbearers have remained elusive. The Vex have been unable to locate them."
"We tire of your excuses," the Witnesses' tone was even, but the Collector knew that he was treading across a minefield.
"Finish your work," the Witness ordered, "Soon. Or we shall be forced to send another to finish it for you." The Collector blanched at those words as the Witness ended their communication. Who would they send? He doubted it would be Rhulk, the First Disciple had more important matters to attend to and that would almost be a reward for the Collector. Perhaps they would unleash the Hive, they certainly had the numbers and the ferocity to drown this world in death. Maybe it would be Nezarec? The Collector shuddered at the thought. The Final God of Pain had always scared him, though he tried his best to hide it.
The Collector wrung his hands as he thought about what to do. Truth be told, he didn't want to kill anyone, save the Lightbearers. That was why he had turned them into puppets. He was still upholding the Final Shape. At least, he hoped the Witness would see it that way.
Royal paced through a small chamber in the palace, trying to piece together everything he had been seeing. Something wasn't adding up. Someone was lying to him.
"Where are you Lancer," he muttered, "I need you."
The door to the room opened and Royal instantly straightened. Champion entered, with Luz behind him.
"Are you alright, Brother? You've been acting off for a while now."
"Champion, something has been bothering me," Royal said, "None of this is right."
"None of what?"
"This," Royal gestured to his surroundings, "Everything. I feel like the world is screaming at me." Champion watched as he started pacing again.
"This world isn't real," Royal said, "You believe me. Right?"
"Of course I believe you Brother," Champion said.
"Then what are we going to do?" Royal asked. Luz watched the two, confusion all over her face.
"What are you two talking about?" Champion glanced at her and smirked.
"I've been getting these feelings," Royal muttered, "I don't know what they mean, but none of this is right." He pointed to his Brother. "You're not real. This is all happening inside my head."
"Of course it's happening in your head," Champion mocked, "But that doesn't mean it's not real. Think, little brother. The Day of Unity." At those words, everything began to click for Royal.
"The Collector," he gasped, "The Vex. Where… where am I?" He locked eyes with his Brother.
"You!" He lunged forward. Champion rolled his eyes and swatted him aside. Royal slammed into the wall and crashed to the ground.
"It's the same reaction every time," Champion noted, "I thought it would get old but damn it's still just as pathetic."
"What have you done?" Royal shouted.
"Me? I didn't do anything," Champion said, "You're the one who screwed everything up. Now you get to live that failure out over and over again." Upon seeing Royal's confusion, he let out a laugh.
"I've run you through scenarios like this dozens of times by now," he boasted, "All for this moment." He lashed out and grabbed Luz by the throat. She clawed feebly at his grasp. Royal attacked his Brother again, only for a kick to send him into the wall. He tried to summon forth his Light, only for nothing to happen.
"How does it feel?" Champion asked, "Knowing that once again, you were too weak to save the people you love." His hand tightened around Luz's neck, squeezing harder and harder until an audible crack could be heard. The girl stopped struggling, falling limp as her head rolled back.
Royal watched with horror as his Brother dropped Luz's corpse to the ground. He reached out to her, desperately hoping that she was alright. As his hand stretched through the air, an iridescent blue blade impaled it to the ground. He shouted in pain as Champion looked down on him.
"I'm going to run it back again," he promised, "Mix it up a little. Maybe next time, I'll make you kill her yourself." Royal let out a scream of rage and pulled his arm free. Spinning on the ground, he swept Champion's legs out from under him. Royal seized the advantage, clambering atop the other Exo. He began to pummel the Nightmare into the ground. Each strike cracked the stone floor beneath them. Champion took the blows on the chin, laughing madly. Eventually, Royal raised both fists at once for a heavier strike.
Champion took the opening, jabbing at Royal's throat and gut with vicious lethality. The Warlock was thrown off balance just long enough for Champion to reverse their positions. Champion stood over Royal, twisting an arm behind his back so tightly that it threatened to snap off entirely.
"Love your fire, little brother," the Nightmare laughed, "But you're going to spend eternity in here with me."
Odalia was running through the streets of the city. She had to escape, find a way out. The Vex were bearing down on her and she had nowhere to run. She tore down a side road, the distant sounds of battle ringing in her ears.
Glancing to the side, she saw a set of bright red eyes watching her from the shadows of an alley. Her breath hitched and she redoubled her pace. They weren't going to take her again.
She turned a corner and skidded to a stop. Ignosi stood before her, arms calmly folded behind its back. The Sub-Mind watched her as she hesitantly backed up. It took a step forward and she turned to run. However, a barrier of glowing blue light appeared before her, preventing her from leaving. She turned to face the Typhon and clutched her Oracle gem. A spirit swirled into being. With a flick of its hand, Ignosi dissolved it, overpowering her magic with its computational might. It teleported directly in front of her and seized her by the jaw.
"My master has summoned you once more."
The two vanished in a flash of light, teleporting across the Isles once more.
"Movement."
Venators gaze shot up at Blip's words. She hadn't moved from her perch, waiting and watching for what felt like hours.
"What've you got for me?"
"Vex forces are withdrawing from Hexside," Blip reported.
"How often do you see Vex retreat for no reason?" She wondered aloud. She saw motion beside her, some laying down next to her. Turning, she saw a familiar Nightmare also looking at Hexside.
"Trying to save a bunch of kids, huh? Now that's some real hero stuff," she commented, "Can't wait to see how you screw it up. You're good at that."
"Would you just shut up," Venator hissed.
"Sure, sure, just tell me to zip it. Just keep running from your problems. Never try to actually take a look inside and fix what's broken. But then, where would you even start?"
Matt led the others through the halls of Hexside, ducking through the winding halls in a seemingly random pattern. Eventually, he reached a small secluded hallway.
"Sorry about that," he said, spinning a spell circle, "Ever since Miki and Roxa showed up, Boscha has been extra unreasonable."
"I just hope Amity will be alright," Luz replied. Matt nodded as he finished his circle. The wall responded, opening to reveal a hidden room. Jerbo, Barcus, and Skara were waiting for them. The three were going about their own business; checking maps, monitoring supply manifestos, and drafting up plans.
"We've been trying to run things from here," Matt explained, "Skara keeps everything coordinated. Don't know what we'd do without her." The Witch offered an appreciative nod, not looking up from her list.
"So, what's the plan?" Gus asked, "How are we giving the what-for to Belos and the Collector?" Luz placed a hand on her chin as she thought about it. The Collector was positioned directly above the skull of the Titan. They had no way to even get up to his pyramid. How could they rescue their friends if they couldn't even get up to the pyramid in the first place?
Suddenly, Luz had an idea. She began looking around, frantically sorting through drawers full of miscellaneous supplies. She had been to the skull before twice. The more recent time, she had been flown there. That option was off the table. But the other? It was a slim chance, but it might just work.
She rummaged through a bucket of school supplies until her fingers wrapped around what she had been looking for. She finished out a pair of tweezers, used to pry memories out of the mind, turning them into physical photos. Luz had handled them before, that had been a particularly interesting afternoon.
"Once, I saw Belos use a teleportation glyph to teleport to the Titan's skull," she explained, "It was pretty complex, but if we can get the right memory, we should be able to get straight into the Collectors pyramid."
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Hunter asked, "Don't get me wrong, I want to save everyone too. But you're proposing that we just charge into the pyramid without a plan. And don't forget what the Collector did to Royal."
"You don't know that!" Luz snapped. Before the two could push any further, Viney pushed the door open.
"Matt, we have a development," she panted, out of breath from running all over the school.
"What is it?"
"It's the Vex," she forced out, "They're leaving."
King stepped through the halls of the pyramid, approaching Eda's cell. Seeing light flickering from the chamber, he knew that Lilith was likely working on her newest elixir recipe. He squeezed between the bars, looking around for Eda. He soon found where she was when he was swept up from behind.
"Boo!"
"Eda," he laughed, "You know you're supposed to be laying low. If the Collector finds out you're mostly back to normal-"
"I know, I know," she said, staring out of her cage longingly, "I wish I could do something. How's Raine doing?"
"You know, still a puppet."
"And Royal?"
"He's… the same. Not really responsive." Eda sighed as Lilith scooped up some of her finished potion in a cup.
"Here, drink this," she offered the drink to Eda, who downed it in a single large gulp. She retched, making a disgusted face.
"It's almost impressive how you keep making the taste worse every time," she quipped. Across her body, the last few feathers vanished.
"Here, Lilith. I got you something," King said, taking Puppet-Hooty off his back and holding him out. Lilith took her friend in her arms, tearing up slightly.
"Thank you, King."
"So how have you been doing?" Eda asked, "Your little ice powers coming along?"
"Yeah," King answered, his mood souring slightly.
"You alright?"
"I just really miss Luz."
Yeah," Eda sighed, "At least she's safe."
Elsewhere in the pyramid, Belos was falling apart. He continued to drag himself onward, sticking to the shadows. Having witnessed the conversation between King and the Collector, he knew that his work had been unfinished. He had been surprised to see the Guardian here and tried to follow him, only to lose sight as he was outpaced. Belos finally arrived at the end of a long hall with an open door waiting for him.
Inside were thousands of puppets staring at him through empty eyes. He didn't know whether to feel triumphant or creeped out. He settled on a mixture of the two. Not far away was the Guardian, sorting puppets into their appropriate areas. There was a special pedestal in the center of the room where five of his former Coven heads stood. Belos ignored them, moving closer to the Guardian.
"Oh yes, I think you'll do quite nicely."
The Guardian spun, swinging a long blade at Belos, but it was too late. The cursed man latch onto the Guardian's arm and pulled himself over the Exo's body. He found purchase in the numerous lesions all over the Guardian's body. His cursed flesh sank into the metal. He mixed with the servos and gears, melding with nerves and fiber optics. The Guardian twitched before falling slack.
Now possessing the Guardian, Belos found himself within Royal's mind. He stood up and flexed his limbs. Looking around, he saw a strange building in the distance while he was standing in the middle of a field of flowers.
"What are you doing here?"
Belos turned, coming face to face with another crimson specter. However, instead of being a mockery of his brother, this one looked similar to the Guardian. Outcast glared at him.
"You dare to intrude upon my Brothers mind?" He snarled, "You are not worthy. A lord of disgrace. A stain on Humanity!" Before Belos could react, the Nightmare lashed out at him. Belos recoiled in pain, tearing himself free of the Guardian. He fell to the ground in a pathetic blob of melting flesh. The Guardian remained slumped on the ground. Belos looked at the Guardian with disdain, even in death he remained a thorn, and turned to the Coven heads. His gaze fell upon the wooden form of Raine Whispers and that was when he knew what to do.
"What do you want?" Amity questioned. Boscha shifted on her throne uneasily. Her eyes darted to the sides where her guards were standing.
"Leave us." Miki and Roxa bowed, leaving the room. Boscha tapped her armrest, clearly uncomfortable.
"Look, I have things to be doing," Amity said impatiently, "Just tell me what it is you want?" Boscha looked like she wanted to snap at her for just a second. Then, as soon as it had come, it vanished. She seemed scared, an emotion Amity didn't usually associate with Boscha.
"I want you to stay."
Amity blinked, "I'm… what?"
"I want you to stay here," Boscha repeated, "With me. Help me rule New Hexside. Together, we'd be unstoppable!" She stood up from her throne, gesturing to Amity.
"Just think about it. The two strongest Witches at Hexside, leading the new generation to prosperity!"
"You call this prosperity?"
"I know it isn't perfect," Boscha admitted, 'But that's why I want- need your help."
"No," Amity said, "Luz needs me. The Isles need me. I'm not going to hide here and let our home fall to pieces."
"I won't let you leave!" Boscha shouted, summoning a flaming Grudgby ball, "Not again!"
"I'm sorry that I'm not the person you want me to be," Amity said, "But I've changed. Why haven't you?"
The two squared up, ready to duel, when a loud explosion could be heard outside. Boscha and Amity both ran to the window and tore off a few of the boards. Outside, Roxa raised her arm. A purple light appeared under her cloak before she fired a projectile at the front doors. They exploded, collapsing under her assault.
"What is she doing?" Boscha furiously asked. Amity didn't answer, instead turning and running out of the gym. She raced down the hall, vaguely aware of Boscha following her. The two arrived at the front entrance. Roxa had stood down, with Miki standing beside her, a confident grin on her face. The rest of Amity's friends along with a few other students joined her at the entrance.
"What's going on?" Luz asked. Amity pointed to the sisters. Miki began to laugh, a sound familiar to Luz.
"No, you've got to be kidding me!"
"Good to see you too, Human," Kikimora said, throwing off her disguise. Roxa, or more accurately, Kiki's Abomitron, did the same.
"Oh I've waited so long for you to get here," she gloated, clambering into her war machine.
"I'm confused, why is the tiny red cat doing this?" Camilla asked.
"Kikimora is probably just trying to take over New Hexside for herself!" Luz shouted, "Because she has no ideas of her own!"
"Oh Human," Kikimora mocked as her voice took on a distorted mechanical echo, You are mistaken. About a great, many things." Her form began to glitch, fading in and out of reality. The simulation ended and Kikimora vanished. In her place, a glowing orb of blue light appeared. It expanded until Sarkarae teleported before Hexside. It rose, flexing its talons as it looked down at the organics.
"So full off… youth and vitality," it growled. It extended an arm and transformed it into a cannon. Pointing the weapon at Luz, it began to hum.
"Let me fix that."
In case you were wondering, no I'm not doing anything with the real Kikimora. Also lmao I murdered a child in this chapter. It was a mental construct of a child, but still.
For the Future will be kinda divided in two. Expect the wrap-up next chapter.
Frank180: First off, thank you for the compliment. It's always appreciated. Second, yes the Guardian player character does exist in this story. Royal is not them. Instead, I used my friends Hunter as the Guardian. Post Vex-Domain, Royal does become a lot more involved with the main plotline. Third, I have been constantly looking for a way to make the "Excuse me?" meme work as a joke in an organic way. For the life of me, I just can't do it. If you have any ideas, feel free to let me know.
davisjustus99: I've never fully agreed with that one. Power does not corrupt so much as it exposes the corruption that was already there. Power earned inspires duty and restraint. Power seized inspires paranoia and fear. But that's just my two cents.
OMAC001: I'm putting 500 silver down on 'Never'.
ToasterRoaster: Your move. (With Negotiator rizz)
GodzillaMaster: More answers to come next chapter. And to be honest, this version of the draft is much darker since it's meant to be a form of mental torture. The old draft didn't get very far in development, so I don't really know how it would've ended up tonally.
Jebest4781: My thanks, my dude.
"For Flapjack."
At those words, they stepped through the portal, returning to the Demon Realm. Magic swirled around them as they traveled before finally landing… on a metal platform in the hull of a large ship. Willow frowned, looking at her surroundings. The rest of her friends appeared around her. Willow walked up to the edge of the platform and pressed her hand against the forcefield that surrounded them. There was another, similar platform across from them, with four heavily armed people waiting on it.
Alright, alright, alright," a strange voice said, "You all ready to bang knuckles?"
The Hexsquad looked up. In the center of the room, a man walked onto a raised platform. He pulled out a small jade pendant and flicked it between his fingers, performing a variety of impressive tricks that included flicking it into the air, bouncing it off his foot, and even somehow slipping two more into and out of his sleeve. Eventually, he finished and held up the jade pendant.
"Hive, bring a sword!"
The Guardians across from the Witches all got ready, drawing their guns and making a few threatening gestures. One pumped their shotgun eagerly. Another drew their finger across their throat. The third one pointed a sword at Hunter and banged it against their chest plate. The fourth did a silly dance.
Truly, an imposing display.
"You know, Hive mating rituals can last for days," the man with the pendants said, pacing around on his platform, "And they don't mind 'uninvited guests'." Camilla blanched at the man's words, covering Gus's ears.
"Anyways, transmat firing!" The four Guardians teleported away, heading down to the battlefield. The man placed his hands on his waist and chuckled before noticing that he wasn't alone.
"What the? How did you get in here?" He interrogated, "You with the Vanguard? I keep telling them I already have a license." He paused for a second. "Ok, I don't. But I'll make it worth your while not to tell them that."
"Wait," Amity realized, "You're the Drifter?"
"What's it to you, sister?"
"My sister is a big fan of your cooking show," she said. The rest of her friends stared at her, to which Amity shrugged.
"What, she is."
"Really." The Drifter rubbed his chin, "Been a while since I've met a fan. Or a fan-adjacent I guess, but I'll take it." He pulled out one of his jade pendants and flipped it to Amity. She snatched it out of the air.
"Give that to her, little piece of my generosity," the Drifter said, "Now, what exactly are you folks doing in my ship?"
"We were trying to get back to the Demon Realm," Willow said, "But… that didn't work. Obviously."
"The Demon Realm, eh? I've been there a few times. Good food. People are a little weird but that's nothing I haven't seen before. Tell you what, I'll swing by and drop you guys off real quick."
"That would be great, thanks."
"Don't worry about it. Besides, I've been meaning to pick up some more of that Apple Blood for a while."
