(Sorry for the delay. I had a massive migraine during my week's hiatus; I think my left eye was blind temporarily. Anyway, enjoy another chapter in The Twisted Tale Arc. I should really catalog these.)

I watched Leo run to the woods. I should've run after him. I wanted to chase him. Maybe I asked too much of him. Should I go after him? I should've gone after him. Wait. No. I can't risk getting caught let alone being the center of attention. Did I push Leo too much? Maybe that's why he ran off.

"Merrill, a word?" Great... Mr. Boy Scout wanted to talk to me.

I looked at Gregory with an unenthused expression. I refrained from rolling my eyes. "Yes, Craig?"

"It is Gregory."

"I know what I said", I snapped while crossing my arms, "What do you want?" say your peace and walk away.

"I crave your advice." Advice? Big Bolooga here wanted my advice. The guy who everybody hates? Must be April Fool's Day. "Was I too forward?" Too forward? You proposed in front of the entire town. If that doesn't scream forward, I don't what does. "Since you know Beauty longer, it helps to get insight on what to expect from my future husband." Future husband, sure.

"I think you approached it at a leisurely pace", I emotionlessly replied while biting my tongue from spilling too much.

"Are you certain? You sounded unconvinced."

"No, I'm sure. You and Lee... I mean Beauty would be..." I held in the bile in my throat. "...would be happy together. You'll be the cutest couple here." My God, I need to stop talking. Keep it together. "You're going to live happily ever after." I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from blabbing too much.

"I see... as long as I have your permission."

"Permission? Don't you need to ask the family permission for his hand in marriage?" Ay Dios mio, shut up Merrill! Don't give el cabron ideas!

"I have", the man replied, "and I also want to ask for his closest friend's permission for his hand in marriage."

Permission? Permission?! This asshole wants my permission to marry Leo! Leonardo, my best friend, who I hold dear! Wait, what? "Heh, heh, heh. Hold that thought." I grabbed a man's cup of cider and drank it whole. I took a deep breath. "Wha-wha-what was the question?" I asked, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

"Will you grant me your friend's hand in marriage?" he asked as sincere and gentle as the kindest person in the world.

"Right... you want... to ask... for my... permission... yay..."

"...is that a yes or a no?"

Without meaning to, my mouth rambled like it had a mind of its own. "Sure! Yes! You have my full permission!" I may have stretched my smile a bit wider. "You'll make Beauty the happiest turtle alive!" Where's the nearest cemetery so I can dig my own grave?

"Wonderful! I thought you were going to protest or disagree. You two were practically glued to the hip. Close as thieves. I am shocked to see you willingly give him off."

Oh. No. He. FUCKING. DIDN'T!

I'm two seconds away from jumping this motherfucker. I can play off an asshole as much as possible, but I won't stand here pretending I'm okay with the arrangement. He wants to see a delinquent then I will gladly show him how much of a delinquent I can be! To hell with how tall, strong, buff, and impeccable firm asscheeks! I pulled my arm back, but a random villager called Gregory over. The handsome man went to the caller. I huffed.

"That went well!" Warren said, plopping himself comfy on my left shoulder. "I was hoping for a little fistfight since he insinuated you gave away your boyfriend which by the look of it, you did. I can't wait to see his expression! The look of betrayal on his face. I bet it would be priceless."

I grabbed the worm's body and brought it close to my face. "Listen here, you little shit! I swear if you say a peep to Leo, I will make it my mission to kill you. You're a worm so I already have three ideas on how to accomplish it. Do I make myself clear?"

Warren gulped. "Crystal as an expensive chandelier."

I plopped him back on his spot. "Good answer."

"What now?"

I shrugged. "We keep moving forward. We need to find the author and get the hell out of here. Even though Leo said no, well, he said maybe, that kind of gave us some leeway."

"I'm surprised you didn't run after him. He looked like he needed some comfort."

I glanced at Warren. "You sound concerned. I thought you were the turtles' "greatest archnemesis"," I said, air-quoting, "Who knew you had a heart of gold?"

He scoffed. "Please. I will be the one to finish those turtles. It won't be satisfying if one of four were to be gone before I have anything to do about it."

"Sure", I said, rolling my eyes. The worm was an eyesore.

"Master!" Speaking of eyesores. "I've returned with your drink!" I stepped aside before Mrs. Cuddles spilled the drink on my clothes.

"Took you long enough", I said, grabbing the cup, "What took you so long?"

"It wasn't easy. Everyone loves apple cider!"

"Wait. Why wasn't there yelling? Aside from the shocked shrills of the aftermath, I thought you would be at least as tall as a tree or a house by now."

"Silly, Master. We're surrounded by humans AND yokai. It's not weird for them, in fact, it's natural." She's got a point there. Everyone here is living in harmony. No racism or specism. Everyone was getting along. Nothing could break the peace they'd built.

Or so I thought.

Suddenly, a roar echoed across the town square causing Mrs. Cuddles to grow. "IT'S THE BEAST!" People rushed to their houses locking themselves in. I stood still squinting across the horizon. A figure was struggling to run with a scraped knee; a large dark creature was running after them.

Holy shit!

"LEO!"

~Lady Ai~

There he was. His large body loomed over me.

The Beast licked his teeth. His saliva dripped off his mouth and onto my outfit. His large hand came straight for me. I immediately dived under him. I began to make a run for it only for something to grab my leg and pulled me down. I looked at the large hand pulling me to the large monster.

I lifted my leg and kicked it against his face. He roared in anger, but I kicked his chin. The second attack made the Beast let my leg go. I ran off ignoring the throbbing pain in my knee.

No matter how far I ran, I couldn't see the village in sight. All I saw were trees! Darkness and trees! I know I didn't run that far! Where the fucking hell is it?!

I turned around to face the Beast again!

"Beauty..." he growled. It wasn't supposed to be scary since he didn't say my name, but that growl terrified me. "...Beauty... come...to...me..."

Nuh-uh! I ran to the left and kept running. My heart was pumping against my chest. My legs were barely holding up until my foot got caught in a root again. I fell and tumbled down a hill. I inhaled and exhaled, staring up at the starlit sky. My body ached. My legs were as heavy as lead. My arms didn't want to lift.

I forced myself to turn only to see the village within my sight. I forced myself to stand. I limped toward the town. A roar made me jump. I glanced behind me to see the Beast sliding down the hill I slid from. I pumped my legs hard. My knee wasn't making it easy for me. When I got closer to the town, the screams were getting louder. People were rushing into their houses. Some of them saw me and hadn't made a move to help.

Carry on, Leon! You got this!

"LEO!"

I saw Merrill running towards me. I felt my lips smile until a heavy weight grabbed me and collided with a banquet table. I looked up, seeing the monster's eyes staring at me. "Mine", he growled. I gulped. I never thought I was going to die like this. I haven't thought about how I'm going to die. If anything, it would be less gruesome.

Suddenly, a knife plunged into the Beast's forehead. He released me. Merrill pulled me to his side. "Are you okay?" he asked. I noticed how I could see his whole face. His blue eyes were wide.

"Never better", I gushed. I was brought back to reality seeing Merrill jump us out of the area. He put me down. My friend twirled two carving knives. "I didn't find any weapons, but these knives would do. Can you fight?"

Truthfully, I was close to falling over. My legs couldn't hold on any longer. Instead, I gave him a smirk. "Of course, I can! I'm Leon! I can do anything!" It's a good thing we don't have our mind link. Otherwise, he'll be hearing my cries of pain.

Merrill stared, unconvinced. "Yeah... you're sitting this one out." His focus went to the monster trying to get the knife out of his forehead.

I grabbed Merrill's vest pulling his focus on me. "Who are you to order me around?! I said I was fine!"

"I saw you staggering here before saving your shell!" I gritted my teeth. I hate how he underestimated me. Sure, my muscles are sore yelling for some deep relaxation. I'm more than a pretty face damn it!

"Could you stop treating me like I'm some damsel!" I yelled.

"I don't!"

"Yes, you do!"

"Since when!"

"Oh, I can think of the top five!"

"Is this really the time to start arguing?!"

I want to punch that handsome mug of his. I grabbed his chin. "If it means getting through with that thick head of yours, yes! I hate that you think I'm a trouble magnet!"

"I don't think, I know!" he countered, jerking out of my grip. Ugh, I hate him!

Before our argument got heated, Merrill was tossed aside like leftover pizza. He smashed through a house leaving a large cravat of the inside open. A family fled from their home.

I started to dart to my fallen friend, but I pulled to the monster. The Beast roared again; it rang loudly in my ears. My arms were locked in front of me. I struggled against his hairy arm. A glimmering shine caught my attention. It was a knife Merrill dropped.

I slid my foot underneath the hilt kicking the knife up. I managed to get my arm free and grabbed the knife and stabbed it in the Beast's neck. It cried out in pain letting me go. I ran over to Merrill.

"Merrill, are you okay?" I asked, helping him up.

"Did anyone get the license plate on the truck that hit me?" Merrill wobbled but fell back down pulling me with him. He was so out of it. I wish I had my healing powers. I could heal him in seconds. I wish I had my odachi so I can fight! I wish I had my powers so I can be useful! Why are we stuck in this stupid book?!

Are we ever going to get home?!

The Beast came back looming over us. The knife was removed leaving a deep gash with blood spilling out. I'm too weak to move and Merrill is out of it. Was this the bad ending? I shielded my body over Merrill's. My shell is strong enough for the attack.

I heard a gunshot. I looked up to see the Beast was shot in the arm. I looked at the shooter: Gregory.

"Beauty, go! Take Merrill and seek shelter!" the man said.

Mrs. Cuddles jumped on the Beast. She was as tall as Gregory. "Get away from Master!" She pounded her fists on his head. It was enough distraction for me to grab Merrill. I pulled my friend's arm over my shoulder and grabbed his waist. I used as much strength as I can. Merrill's body was easy to carry. Even without his metal limbs, he's heavy without them as well.

We limply created some distance between the fight however, it wasn't enough to be far because Mrs. Cuddles was thrown over our heads and landed in front of us bruised. How was she defeated this fast? I barely heard any collision. The Beast stomped on the giant rabbit.

I nervously stepped back. I know I'm at a disadvantage. Both me and Merrill are at a disadvantage. Would the author go through the trouble of sending us to restart the process again? I didn't react in time to see the monster tackling me again. I lost my grip on my weakened friend.

I searched my surroundings. I couldn't find anything I could use to defend myself. I have no powers. No weapons. Nothing.

I'm nothing but a face man.

I'm useless.

A sword pierced through the Beast's chest. I looked past the Beast to see Gregory on his back with a sword in hand. The Beast gurgling along with a whimper. If I wasn't so scared right now, I would've felt sorry for him. Then again, it did try to kill me.

Or rather... was he...?

The Beast's purpose was to keep me alive. He never wanted to kill me! For some reason, I got in the way; I sacrificed myself! But why?

The Beast's body was over me. He huffed. His soulless years were taking color. They became sky blue. His body was shrinking. His face was sculpted into a soft curve. The black mane reverted to black hair.

My eyes widened. Towering over me, dying... was Merrill! Or a copy of him. Blood dripped out of his mouth. He leaned into my ear. He whispered a word.

"...quill..." It was so low I almost didn't make it out. Quill? What did he mean by that? Before I could ask, the clone evaporated into smoke like a black cloud of wildfire.

"Beauty! Are you hurt?" Gregory came to my vision. He helped me up. My eyes searched for Merrill only to find him unconscious away from me. I sighed in relief. Good. He's safe. "Beauty?"

I looked at Gregory. "I'm fine", I sweetly answered, "Thank you for saving us."

Gregory nodded. "I would never anything happen to you or any citizen in our home. It baffled me how skilled the Beast is. Using dark magic to clone his victims. How uncanny."

"Merrill isn't his victim." That's right. The Beast wanted me, not Merrill!

"Perhaps not now, but the Beast sees your friend as an insect to exterminate. Using his face to kill him is a psychotic approach." I don't get it. The clone wouldn't go through all this just to kill the original. And what was his last word, quill? What am I going to make of it? It had to mean something!

Now my only problem is what am I going to tell Merrill when he wakes up?