Episode 21 - Mixed Signals

## Episode Synopsis

### Recap

Dariun found a coach who was looking for bullet pills to give his team, the Basement Broohahas, an edge in the finals. Dariun posed as a sales rep that had run out of the pills and after navigating through some rough waters, Bradley and Apophis came into the locker room and Dariun brought them over and suggested they join the team. The coach was convinced and they joined the team, bringing them back to the game. Norman was controlled by Royce, immediately melting Pyro and Victor and making his way through the painted world to the crystal and passing through the farm. Zippy was being bombarded with magic missiles and found a painting. Royce was about to fire his Kiser Canon at Zippy but Norman was able to take control and they had a heart to heart. All of the druids came into the painted world to escape. Norman and Zippy continued on to find the crystal in the throne room. They spoke to a painted version of Veroulias and then came into the real world to talk to the real Veroulias. He spoke to Zippy, mistaking him as Coco, asking him how he went beyond the planes where Veroulias wants to take the crystal. They learn that Coco used to speak to the black bunny through Veroulias who offers to mediate again. Zippy takes his hand and the black bunny comes out and takes the other. Meanwhile Royce is clawing at Norman's chest, trying to get out and take back control.

### Episode Summary

Norman puts his hand at his forehead, grimacing from the pain in his chest as he keeps backing away from Zippy, Veroulias and the black bunny. Zippy is entranced by the black ball. He feels a magical aura wash through him as he feels somehow connected to the black bunny. Zippy asks what they need to do and they scratch their chin. It seems like they are wanting to speak but they can't. Their face starts to ripple and move and they communicate in the best way they can. Zippy hears strange audio clips, one with a piano and someone being frustrated and another of sirens and an explosion. Zippy is very confused and Veroulias explains he doesn't have the power he once did and the connection may be a bit fuzzy.

Zippy tries again and he asks his name, another series of sound clips that don't make sense to Zippy. Veroulias tells him that he needs to be quick as he doesn't have much power. Zippy offers some of his own magical power to extend their time and Veroulias accepts. The black bunny points at Zippy and more clips, about hiding things in an attic, growing power and a lethal agent. Zippy still struggles to understand and asks what does he need to know from this meeting. The bunny moves it's hands, trying to express its hard to say as another series of clips are played. Zippy again asks what he needs to know and the black bunny becomes frustrated. Zippy asks if it's something about a key being upstairs and the bunny plays a clip saying yes. When Zippy asks Norman to go upstairs to get the key the bunny tells him no. So Zippy asks if it needs to be himself and the bunny again says yes.

The black bunny creates a key shape with their finger and points to Zippy and plays another series of audio clips. Zippy tries to reason and figure it out but he's having trouble with the logic. The black bunny puts his hand on his shoulder and plays another couple of clips to do with climbing and looking towards the sun. Zippy wonders if there's a key somewhere or maybe he is the key and the bunny play the clip saying yes. The bunny taps an imaginary watch like whatever is needing to happen won't happen soon. They point to Zippy then to Norman and points to their head to remember. Zippy wonders if they are talking about when they found Norman in the lake in the dream space. The bunny tells him yes. Norman asks when this was and Zippy tells him about when he found him in the dream space while the bunny guided him.

The bunny plays more audio clips, one about monsters, another about people helping other people through life, another of a child working together and the last about fitting valuable items in it. The whole time they speak to Zippy, the bunny points to Norman. Zippy and Norman ask about going to the Deep and how Zippy can get them there and Norman potentially could fit more within in as a hollow. The bunny points to Norman and again to Zippy. The arm extends and morphs into a bag shape. They point to Zippy then himself then Norman and the bag. Norman asks if being a hollow person is a ticket to the Deep and the bunny says yes. Zippy asks if Norman is the suitcase and the bunny says yes.

Norman feels another pounding in his chest. Royce is clawing at him. Zippy asks what is wrong and Norman tells Zippy Royce is really wanting that crystal and it's making him very uneasy. The bunny looks to Zippy, using his fingers to walk on air then plays more clips, a place beyond this civilization and another about finding another path, maybe one not conventional. Both Zippy and the bunny are getting frustrated and the only thing they seem to be wanting to get across is up and key. The bunny takes a second then put their hand out like they are wanting to high five. Zippy high-fives him. A small sphere expands then fizzles away. They look and more clips, an amazing heart, blowing up a balloon with potential energy, doing some dancing by stomping feet and shaking like there are ants in his pants. Zippy starts doing the little dance and the bunny gives a thumbs up.

Norman can feel the pressure building in his chest and head, Royce is too strong. Zippy calls out, saying he's almost got it. Norman stumbles backwards, telling Zippy to stay away from him. He falls back on the stairs and lands at the bottom. Zippy tries to let go but the magic drags him back, the bunnies face goes static and Veroulias tells him he can't just pull away. Norman's skin goes obsidian black and the lava forms cracks over his body. The black bunny gives one last message, saying goodbye, ending what they have for now but they are together and they will talk again real soon. Norman rises from the ground and Zippy knows that what is at the bottom of the stairs is not Norman. Royce sets his eyes on the crystal. The black bunny nods to Zippy and they release the connection. Royce ascends the stairs and Zippy stands tall.

Dariun is in the final innings of the Basement Broohahas versus the Wind Walkers. The game is tied up and the flea flams has just been brought out from the water and they are just starting to build their gorbs. There's a minute left and everyone is on their feet. Bradley and Apophis are working on the gorb and are sweating. Dariun calls out to them and tells Apophis to pretend this is the Genala tournament he never won and for Bradley, he tells him to do this for Paige. Apophis' one arm's muscle bulges as he has a second wind. As soon as Dariun says Paige, Bradley's eyes flash green and he starts building like there is no tomorrow. Bradley finishes the build and they light the gorb. Apophis throws him across the field. They fly and the crowd watches in awe. The gorb smashes into the pyre and it is lit. The scoreboard goes up and the timer goes off. Everyone rushes onto the field, celebrating the Basement Broohaha's win.

Dariun puts Bradley on his shoulder, chanting his name as everyone else joins in. The crows erupts in cheer and the announcements tells them the entire team will go to King Veroulias and get the winners' cup tomorrow, meeting the king personally. The coach comes over and commends them on their efforts and tells Dariun he doesn't care about the refund anymore. He invites them all to the Wild Whale bar at Whimsy World tonight to celebrate and drink the night away. Dariun speaks to Bradley and Apophis saying they need to get back to the ship. He pulls out his rockie walkie and tries to check in with everyone. He tells them the good news about getting the audience with the king tomorrow. Randy is so impressed and asks that everyone meets back as quick as possible. Zippy and Norman do not respond.

Zippy stands next to the king who is completely out of it. Royce is coming up the stairs. Zippy taunts Royce, saying that this must be the guy who has taken over his friends body. Royce huffs and Zippy tells him to leave. Royce tells him this crystal is housing souls that he rightfully owns. He is the king of the deep, ruler of the underworld and owner of all souls who perish. Zippy raises a wall of stone between him and Royce. Royce charges an attack and fires it at the wall. Shrapnel flies but the wall doesn't fall. Royce keeps walking and the demon mode starts to fade and he stumbles, Norman is back in control. Norman calls out to strand and grabs onto him, telling the carpet to get him out of there. Strand carries him out and away from the crystal.

Veroulias talks to Coco, asking if he heard what he needed to hear to go beyond the planes. Zippy tells him he is just trying to keep the crystal safe. Veroulias holds out his hand and inscribes a rune on his hand and tells him to find the statue of him and put the run on the stone tongue. There Zippy will find all the notes Veroulias has on the black bunny. Norman reaches the door and tells Zippy he has to go. Norman leaves the room and comes to a sky walk where there are two wizard guards. Norman feels more pounding in his chest but Norman maintains control.

Zippy stays in the room, trusting Norman can get away. He pulls out the doorknob and puts in on the floor but it's too thick to go through. He pulls out his rockie walkie, finally answering Dariun's call. As Dariun tells him about the good news Zippy tells him to forget everything, he needs Dariun to bring the ship to the castle cause things are going bad to worse with Norman going demon mode. Dariun, with Bradley and Apophis, sprints to the Sparrow. Norman casts calm emotions on the guards and they don’t investigate Norman any further. Norman looks at his options and takes some quick breaths before gaining enough courage to smash out of a window horns first.

Norman hears Royce's voice screaming in his head and he loses control again. His skin goes black again and he demon jumps off strand, hopping off the floating towers one to another back up to the sky walk. Dariun is sprinting through the crowds and he sees in the mainland is small Randy who meets up with them on the way. He calls to James, telling him they need to go straight away. James goes to start it up and says he needs to tell him something about Robin.

Zippy thinks of his options and rushes over to the portrait of Veroulias and searches for a painting that looks like a vault but he hears a slam from behind him. He knows Royce is back as red light is emanating from the entrance of the room. Royce smashes the faces of the two guards, killing them both instantly. He walks back into the room, staring back at the crystal. Norman takes back control again, his hands covered in blood. Zippy runs back in the room and tells Norman to get out of here. Norman backs up against the window and puts his hand on his face and tries to cast modify memory on himself, aiming to change Royce's memory to think the crystal is destroyed. It fails. Royce comes back, catching himself on the window frame and turns once again to the crystal.

Royce sprints to the crystal and Zippy sees the demon is coming back. He casts another wall of stone. Royce super jumps over the wall and charges his cannon. Zippy asks Veroulias to take down the shield around the crystal to let him protect it. Veroulias slumps further as they release the shield for Coco. Zippy closes his eyes, breaths in and claps his hands. The cannon from Royce is charging.

Dariun is lifting off in the airship and they are flying towards the tower. He sees over the edge a lot of action happening at the farm. James tells Dariun he had a breakthrough with Robin but admits he lied and said Krit had sent a letter telling her she could come out. James informs him that Robin is out of the bike and talking, albeit only a little bit.

Zippy claps, remembering that he should wiggle is toes and stomps his feet. This is straining him. He feels woozy as a bubble expands in the throne room. The cannon shoots towards the crystal in the bubble and Zippy miniaturizes the crystal. It cracks, and again. It shrinks down small enough to hold and Zippy throws out his bottomless bucket to catch the crystal. The cannon blasts past and shatters the painting behind the throne. Dariun can see a massive explosion out the back of the keep. The sparrow is getting closer and he instructs James to park next to the sky walk.

Royce lands next to the throne. Zippy is starting to lose consciousness. He sees Royce come around the corner and he yells at Zippy, asking what he just did. Zippy tells Royce to get away from him, saying Norman is the cool one. Royce concludes that the crystal must be on his person so he'll just have to kill him to get it. Royce charges up his fist and slams it into Zippy's chest, the floor craters beneath him. Blood spurts out of him and the bucket falls over and starts to dribble water. Royce raises his other hand. Dariun lands and looks within the room. He sees Royce is about to smash into the ground. He draws the black bow and fires two arrows, only one of which hitting and the blindness not taking effect as he runs in. Royce turns and glancing at Dariun but he turns his attention back to Zippy and smashes into his chest again. Zippy is fully unconscious and his body flops. Norman can't get control back.

Royce, screaming for the crystal, raises both of his fists. Dariun fires off another arrow but it misses. He then tries to spear tackle Royce but it's like running into a wall. Royce doesn’t pay any mind and he slams his fists down into Zippy's chest. Dariun looks down and sees Zippy and knows, that hit did him in. His body is shattered. Broken. Dead. The bloodied fists raise and he turns to Dariun who is filled with fear and anger. Zippy has died to his friend who has lost control. Royce asks Dariun if he wants to help look for the crystal or to end up like Zippy too. Dariun stands up and looks down as tears start to stream down his face. He takes a step back and he looks at Royce with an intense rageand heartbreak. His skin and hair starts to change as he converts seasons, to the bright golden yellow of a summer Eladrin. He draws the spectral katana and vows to save his friends. He activates gail of the serpent and slashes Royce twice as lava spills from the cuts.

Royce laughs a bit then kicks Dariun in the chest. He goes flying back into the wall, feeling death is emanate. Royce proclaims this is what he will do to any who stand in his way. The sparrow is behind and he hears Randy's voice telling a kid not to go. Dariun turns and sees Robin walk into the room. She asks Dariun if he is okay and he, coughing blood, tells her it's bad. She looks at Royce and he tells her she should not be alive. Asking what illusion this is. Robin keeps walking and Royce starts to walk down the steps to meet her. Robin raises her hand an does a slicing motion through the air. Norman feels he gains some control, he can see but the voice is still Royce's. Another slash and he gains back control of his mouth. Robin asks if Norman wants her to sever the tether.

Norman asks to be set free. Royce screams, pleading not to do this. Norman stands to this choice and Robin moves her hand one last time. The weight of the demon on his shoulders is lifted. Royce is gone. Norman nods to Robin. He can't look at Dariun. Norman stumbles over and falls to his knees next to Zippy. He knows what he did. He cradles Zippy's body in his arm. He recalls when he first held Zippy's hand, how soft his fur was as he holds his head in his hand. He casts speak with dead but the spell doesn't work. Norman silently weeps. He tries to use prestidigitation to clean the blood from his face. He glances up to the bucket that has tipped over. Floating out of the bucket, out of the stream is a small crystal and it flashes, as if it caught something.

## Quotations

* Seth "*What a plot we have weaved together here! Jeez! Ever complex!*"

* Norman "*Tell Jezzabell...she's the only one I've ever loved!*"

* Dariun "*I understood maybe about 30% of that but that's one of the greatest things I've seen in a long time!*"

* Royce "*I am the king of the deep and the ruler of the underworld and everyone who perishes is under my domain.*"

* Zippy "*Demon edge lord…*"

* Zippy "*Have a good sleep king Veroulias, you've earnt it.*"

* Zippy "*Norman is way cooler than you* [Royce]"

* Seth "*I thought Royce was intimidating but he can't even one shot someone.*"

* Adam "*Is this not impossible? How can I be rolling this badly?!*"

* Norman "*Robin, set me free ... I have power enough on my own. I don’t need you anymore.*"

* Royce "*You're a hollow!!*"
* Norman "*And you're nothing now.*"

## Featured Characters

### Main Cast

* Norman D
* Dariun Branch
* Zippy Westborrough

### Returning Characters

* Black Bunny
* Royce
* Veroulias
* Bullywog coach
* Bradley
* Apophis
* Randy
* James
* Robin

## Locations

* Jadu
* The Sparrow

## Trivia

### Dice Rolls

Zippy Westborrough
 20
 22