Lady Jonna's Quest

-By Haroldosaur

“But can’t we stay a bit longer?” Pleaded a child, his
bright eyes filled with sorrow at the thought of having to leave the
storyteller.

“I wish you could, but if you stay here past curfew you’ll
get in trouble.” She replied gravely. “Your parents will be angry, and they
won’t let you listen to me anymore.”

The boy hung his head, seeing sense in the woman’s words.
“Okay Jonna.” He sighed.

She patted his head. “Good boy. Now run along, all of you.”

Obediently, the children rose and began to leave on their separate
paths, all of them wishing her well beforehand.

Jonna the storyteller – formerly Lady Jonna, of the Knights
of the Old Speech, sighed in a melancholy fashion as the found herself alone
again. It had been almost ten years since the organisation had fallen, but she
still felt the sorrow of leaving her friends behind as if it had happened
yesterday. She missed Sir Thingguy, who had taught her how to use a sword… her
father King Mattias, who had always wanted the best for her, (even if his
methods were a little off,)… Squeaky the guppy, who had saved her life on
several occasions… She missed them all.

Aged beyond her years, she brushed her dark brown hair out
of her eyes and continued to stare at the fire for a long time, until she
realised with a start that it had almost gone out – there was nothing left save
for smouldering branches and the odd flicker. She hurriedly picked herself up
and hastened to the nearest building, to avoid being arrested for being out to
late. Just in time; as the shut the door, she heard the blowing of a horn to
signify that all citizens should now be indoors. Breathing a muted sigh of
relief, she took stock of her surroundings and found that she was in the
village library – a cesspool of lost knowledge and tales from the time before
time. ~~On the mysterious island of Mata Nui.~~ Everything was a mundane
shade of brown, save for the actual books which had covers of all different
colours.

“Well,” she reasoned with herself, “I *am* running out of stories…”

Perhaps there was some reading material in here which she
could share with the children of her village afterwards. Perhaps there were
interesting facts to be learnt; contrary to popular opinion, Jonna knew far
from everything as she was only in her late twenties. Perhaps, even, there was
a way to give her and the remains of the organisation an edge over thedude!

Suddenly excited, Jonna pulled the nearest book off the
shelf and began to read.

Jonna only discovered what she was looking for the next
morning, before dawn. Despite having essentially pulled an all-nighter, she
felt no fatigue as she poured over books, manuscripts, and the occasional magic
scroll. Typically, the critical information was in one of the last books she
looked in. In the novel “The opened passageway” by a Mr Harry Childs, the story
centred on a group of heroes trying to find a dimensional portal so they can
escape their own, rather rubbish dimension. In the index, one of the author’s
notes mentioned that such a device might actually exist. As Jonna read, she became
more and more excited.

*Whilst no-one knows*
for sure, there is rumoured to be a real dimensional gate somewhere. Although
there has been much speculation, experts agree that if there IS such a gate, it
is located somewhere in the Footsore Mountains.

Grinning, Jonna held the book to her chest as she looked
outside. Still dark – that meant the curfew was still up. If she left now, she
would be hunted by thedude’s forces. But she didn’t care about that any more.
If she could find the gate, she could escape and get help from some other
dimension! In the past, she might have dismissed such an idea, but right now it
was her last, most desperate hope.

The door of the library opened, and Jonna snuck out. As she
predicted, another bell tolled the second she stepped outside, and she heard
footsteps and grumbles as a squad of Vladek’s knights approached her position.
With No time to lose, Jonna sprinted across the square to the stables, where
her steed Hwin was waiting.

“What have you done THIS time?” Hwin complained as she flung
open the stable door and mounted her in a rush.

“I might or might not have found a way to defeat thedude!”
Jonna replied excitedly, too energized to respond to her horse’s sarcastic
mannerisms. For the first time in far too long, she actually felt her age, and
could almost feel the aches and pains that had been plaguing her for the last
few years burn away with the rising morning sun. “Oh, I also set off the curfew
and now we have to get out of here, like, right now.”

“This is a horrible idea.” Pointed out Hwin. “You have no
supplies, no weapon, and you don’t know where we’re going.”

“Yes I do!” protested Jonna. “We’re heading to the Footsore
Mountains.”

Hwin snorted in derision. “Do you even KNOW why they’re called
the Footsore Mountains?” she whined.

“No, but I can guess.” Jonna muttered. “Now ride, horse!”

Hwin grumbled some more, but she stampeded out of the
stables and ran straight into a group of knights. They tumbled over each other
like bowling pins as Hwin barged right through them. As they lay recovering,
Jonna reached down and picked up a sword which had been dropped by one of the
knights.

“Stop! Stop right there!” One of them shouted. Jonna turned
round in the saddle as Hwin began to ride away.

“Don’t even TRY to catch this horse!” She yelled, as a
challenge. “She was sired by the equine gods of the wind, and is the fastest
horse in every realm!” With that, she turned and Hwin sped off, literally
leaving Vladek’s knights in the dust.

“That was a lie.” Hwin grumbled as they sped away.

“Maybe so, but it sounded good.” Declared Jonna.

Hwin whinnied agreement.

They rode towards the village barrier at speed.

“What are you doing?” Came a voice from a guard tower. Then
an alarm was set off.

“Well, that’s just perfect.” Grumbled Hwin.

“Can you stop complaining for ONCE in your life?” Shrieked
Jonna as they leapt over the barrier. Some of Vladek’s knights began to advance,
and Jonna held up her sword in defiance.

“Sorry, but my fans expect a certain amount of complaining
in every story.”

“Newsflash, Hwin – we don’t have any fans.” Pointed out
Jonna, as she began to duel with one of the guards. “We’re on the run from the
forces of thedude, and we’re thought of as criminals by everyone in the world
thanks to those re-education barneybots!”

“You guys know who I mean, right?” Hwin persisted, looking
nowhere in particular as she spoke, except maybe RIGHT INTO YOUR EYES.

“Seriously, Hwin, and you say I’M the crazy one? For being
able to talk to horses?”

“You are, and Thingguy is as well.” Hwin declared
stubbornly, kicking a knight into the barrier.

“At least horses exist!” Protested Jonna. “Who, or what, are
YOU talking to, smarty?”

“The reader!” Complained Hwin.

“Whatever.” Jonna muttered, knocking aside the last evil
knight. “We can continue this discussion later. Right now, we need to get out
of here.”

“At least we agree on something.” Remarked Hwin, as she
raced off; picking up speed as she ran across the barren fields.

“Shut up and gallop.” Jonna ordered. Hwin snorted but
obeyed, and they began their journey.

Hwin rode for several hours, only stopping on one or two
occasions, to drink. It was evening when she finally stopped for the night, at
the base of the mountains. Jonna dismounted and, after lighting a small fire,
began to try and get comfortable on the bare ground.

“What about food?” Asked Hwin incredulously when he saw
Jonna prepare to sleep.

“Didn’t bring any.” She mumbled.

“You cretin.” Growled Hwin. “I hope you realise that I don’t
do things without motivation, right?”

“You want motivation?” Asked Jonna, fighting off her
drowsiness. “Alright, then, how about “We are currently the only hope for
Morcia’s freedom and if we fail as a result of your laziness the land will
never be free.””

Hwin was silent for a moment.

“I don’t care.” She declared finally.

“WHAT?” Jonna gasped. “HOW can you not care?!”

“As long as I get food and a stable, I’m not too bothered
what happens to Morcia. Sure, I’d miss you, but I prioritise with myself first.
I’m just a horse, for goodness’ sake!”

Jonna looked at the ground, disheartened.

“I guess you’re right.” She murmured.

“Sorry.” Sighed Hwin.

“Don’t worry.” Jonna assured him. “You can’t change your
nature.”

“Well, I still don’t feel great.” Hwin murmured.

Jonna rolled over, half asleep. “Probably hunger.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Hwin cantered over to a nearby
tree and, as darkness fell, the pair went to sleep.

The next morning, Jonna awoke to herself with company.
Drowsy, she raised her head to see a youth holding a knife, and staring down at
her. He was dressed in rags, and looked like he come off worse in more than one
fight. Behind him, she could see another person – a girl, by appearances,
searching through her pack whilst Hwin whinnied indignantly, having been tied
to the tree by her bridle.

“Reader! Help!” She yelled. Jonna rolled her eyes; it was
clear she wasn’t going to be much help.

“No funny business.” Said the boy, before turning his head.
“She’s awake!”

The girl nodded to confirm that she had understood, before
tossing a piece of paper over her shoulder – Jonna’s map of Morcia. Before
Jonna could say anything, a gust of wind picked the paper up, and it drifted
into the forest out of sight. Cursing inwardly, Jonna glared at her captor.

“I’d put the knife down, if I were you.” She warned.

“Is that so?” He remarked, letting out a crazy little laugh.
There was definitely something off about him, Jonna decided – and not just
because his hair was a shade of green. He looked like every war refugee she’d
ever seen – however, most war refugees were scared or just insane. This guy,
whoever he was, had clearly seen something unique. She could tell from his
eyes. He hadn’t lost all his marbles, but there was definitely a hole in the
bag. “What are you gonna do if I don’t?”

Jonna blinked. “This.” She declared, before lifting her leg
up and towards her head. Her foot, conveniently cased in a sturdy boot, slammed
into the back of the boy’s head and sent him falling forwards onto her. Jonna
lifted her arms and used his momentum to flip his body over her, resulting in
him flying over her head and landing on his back with a thump.

The girl spun around just in time to see Jonna grab her
sword and rise, holding the weapon in front of her. Instead of surrendering,
however, she reached down to the ground and picked up a thick branch, before
holding it in front of her. Jonna couldn’t help but grin. This girl reminded
her of herself years ago – courageous, but completely naïve and inexperienced.

Jonna raised her sword and lunged at the girl, who
surprisingly managed to counter the blow with the stick. Grimacing, Jonna
whirled around and swung at the girl’s neck, but she blocked that as well.
Perhaps… not so inexperienced after all. However, Jonna still had the advantage
of a genuine sword. Twisting the stick out of the girl’s hands, she raised the
blade high and suddenly, an abnormally strong gust of wind blew Jonna’s weapon
out of her hands, and Jonna herself almost followed it onto the ground.
Whipping her head round, she saw a figure emerging from the forest. He was clad
in golden armour on top of green robes, and his hand was outstretched.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” He said, softly.

Enraged, Jonna ran at him, fists bared, but the next second
she found herself flat on her back – having been knocked over by some kind of
blast of energy. The new arrival loomed over her, blonde hair blowing into
brown eyes.

“Really?!” He exclaimed. “I literally just gave you a
warning not to do that, but do you listen? Wow, is everyone in this dimension
as moronic as you?”

“Moronic or not, she’s a good fighter, Neil.” Said the other
boy, helping himself to his feet and lumbering over. “She disarmed Brooke.”

“Chase – Brooke’s been fighting sky pirates all day with no
sleep.” Pointed out Neil. “Even a master swordswoman needs rest.” He turned to
look back at Jonna, who was still lying on the ground glaring up at him.
“Nevertheless… you’re still pretty good.” Neil held out his hand. “My name’s
Neil. The female of our party is Brooke, and Chase is the one that looks like
he belongs in a cartoon. Sorry for trying to steal your stuff.”

“Jonna.” She nodded, and then looked over her shoulder to
Chase. “Why is your hair green?” She asked.

“Acid rainstorm.” Replied Chase. “I didn’t know acid rain
could do that, either.”

“Huh.” Jonna said, before turning back to Neil.

“You know, it says a lot about my life that you three *aren’t*the
strangest people I’ve ever seen.”

Chase snorted. “Well, THAT’S a first.”

“Trust me.” Jonna continued. “You’ll fit right in here in
Morcia.”

“Here-where?” Said Neil and Chase simultaneously, as Brooke
picked herself up in the background.

“Mor-see-ah.” Said Jonna, feeling like an idiot. “We’re in
the kingdom of Morcia.”

“Morcia?” Repeated Chase. “Weird name, that.”

“Can it, Chase.” Snapped Neil. “She’d probably think the
name Sumesen is weird – or Chase, for that matter.”

“Hey!”

“It’s fine.” Jonna assured Neil. “So… I take it you’re not
from around here?”

“Definitely not.” Neil confirmed.

“Yeah.” Chase butted in. “Wherever you think we’re from,
it’s weirder than that.”

“Hit me.” Challenged Jonna.

Chase and Neil exchanged a look, before Chase shrugged.

“Alright princess, how about this. We’re from another
dimension.”

Jonna couldn’t stop the surprise from appearing on her face.

“Then… how did you get here?” She persisted, hoping against
hope that the gate was the answer.

She wasn’t disappointed.

“At the top of that mountain,” informed Neil, “There’s some
kind of… interdimensional gateway. We used to get out of our own dimension,
which was uninhabitable and being destroyed, to escape to this one.”

“Well, we didn’t come directly here-“Chase began, but Neil
clapped a hand over his mouth.

“Chase, we agreed.” Neil reminded him. “That which happened
in “the seventh dimension” will STAY in “the seventh dimension.””

“Fine.” Said Chase.

Jonna raised an eyebrow, but decided not to pursue the
matter further.

“Right.” She said. “Anyway, I’ve been looking for that
gate.”

“Why?” Asked Neil. “This place seems nice enough.”

Jonna hung her head. “Never judge a book by its cover.” She
said, before starting her tale.

When she had finished, Neil and Chase continued to look at
her, astonished at all she had been through.

“I guess I can keep calling you princess, then.” Chase
remarked.

“So… you’re trying to escape?”

“Not really.” Said Jonna. “I’m trying to get help.”

Neil laughed, cruelly. “Really? Jonna, I don’t know if you
know this, but this is one of the BETTER dimensions. A lot don’t even have
sentient life, and if they do – how can you convince them to help you?”

“I’ll find a way.” Jonna declared, folding her arms. “I’ve
made allies before.”

“What if there are no allies to make?” Shot Neil. “There are
dimensions far worse than this one, you know.”

“But-“Protested Jonna, before Neil clapped loudly.

“Shut your mouth, and open your ears.” He sighed.

“Look, take it from me, that gate is nothing but trouble.”
He said. “I don’t care how bad this world is – our own dimension is gone, and
this is the first habitable one we’ve found. It’s-“

Neil was cut off as the girl, Brooke, suddenly leapt
forward, holding Jonna’s sword in her hands. Landing in front of Neil, she
swung the sword at what seemed like thin air… until there was a small thud on
the ground in front of her. Jonna, Neil and Chase looked down to see two halves
of an arrow lying on the ground.

Neil exhaled.

“Thanks Brooke.” He grinned. Brooke nodded, before running
over to Hwin and cutting the ropes that bound her to the tree.

“I wish these humans would make up their minds.” Hwin
muttered.

Jonna ignored her grumbling steed, and turned to look where
the arrow had come from. Seeing movement in the forest, she immediately
recognized what was happening.

“We have to go! Now!” She yelled.

Another arrow landed at Chase’s feet.

“Seconded.” Chase declared. “Neil?”

Neil looked at Brooke, who was guiding Hwin over to the
group. Catching his gaze, the girl nodded, and Neil sighed.

“Alright.”

Suddenly, more arrows started to appear, whizzing by the
heads of the group. Whilst only Brooke had the raw skill to block and cut the
arrows as they fell, the others managed to save each other numerous times.

Whilst the others seemed to be unfazed by the danger they
were in, presumably in their element,, Jonna knew better. Little had escaped
her attention during the long years she had spent as a village storyteller, and
she had a dark suspicion that she knew who was following them. The greatest
servant of thedude7500. They had little time.

“We need to get to the gate!” Jonna yelled. “All of us!”

“Fine!” Grunted Neil, shoving Hwin along. “But don’t blame
me if things don’t go the way you hope.”

“I won’t hold it against you.” Grinned Jonna, mounting her
steed. “The question is, how are we going to get there? There’s only one
horse.”

“I’ll think you’ll be surprised.” It was Neil’s turn to grin
as he grabbed hold of Brooke’s waist. Brooke gave a start, then blushed
wordlessly.

“We can handle ourselves.” He declared.

“Hey, hey, HEY!” Protested Chase. “What about me?”

Neil shrugged. “You’re a fast runner.”

With that, Neil closed his eyes. Jonna was about to ask what
he was doing, when she suddenly felt the air around her move faster.

“What the-“ she muttered. Chase shook his head in disdain.

“What a show-off.” He sighed. “Always makes it so dramatic.
I mean, it’s just FLYING.”

“Wait – WHAT?!” Jonna yelled. Turning back to Neil, she saw
the wind moving faster and faster, until he and Brooke were suddenly blasted
off the ground. Jonna was forced to close her eyes, and when she opened them
again there was no-one standing there.

There was a brief silence, aside from the whizzing of arrows.

“Did… did that just…”

Chase sighed and placed a hand on Jonna’s shoulder, guiding
her over to Hwin.

“Princess, you have a lot to learn about my good friend
Neil.”

Jonna shook her head, before shrugging Chase off and mounting
her horse – who seemed to be just as surprised as she was.

“Jonna, did that dude just *fly*?!” She asked.

“I think so…” Jonna admitted.

“And I thought I’d seen everyth-“ Hwin managed to say,
before being cut off as Chase leapt onto the horse.

“Chase!” Jonna scolded him.

“What? Neil was lying!” Chase protested. “I can run fast,
but not fast enough to keep up with a horse or a flying guy, alright?”

“Well, Hwin here doesn’t like-“

Jonna was cut off as another arrow landed in the ground not
far from them, followed closely by another. The sounds of shouts from the dense
trees were growing louder, and Jonna thought she could catch a glimpse of blue
amongst the green.

“Uh, you were saying?” Chase asked.

“Yeah, never mind.” Jonna decided.

Jonna urged Hwin forward, and the horse began to gallop up
the mountain path as arrows whizzed past them. Risking a glance behind her, she
saw Chase turn around and yell obscenities at the trees, which shuddered as an
armour-clad figure began to step out of them, wielding a massive sword. Jonna’s
eyes widened.

“Faster, Hwin, faster.” She urged.

“What do you think I’m TRYING to do?” Her horse replied,
exasperated, but she sped up nonetheless.

Jonna looked back again. Vladek’s knights began to emerge
from the trees, but their leader hung back. Chase turned back to the front and
saw Jonna looking behind them.

“Eyes on the road!” He exclaimed.

Jonna whipped her head around and began to steer Hwin up the
mountain. She tried to keep her cool as arrows flew by her. More exasperated
than frightened at this point, she rolled her eyes.

“I don’t suppose you have any way of defending us?” She
asked Chase, who shook his head.

“I was never really the fighter amongst us.” He admitted.

“Great.” Jonna sighed, before unsheathing her sword. “Hold
this.”

“Wait, WHAT?” Chase yelled in surprise as Jonna tossed her
sword to him. “What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Hit anyone that comes close!” Jonna replied. “I need to
concentrate!”

“Great.” Chase muttered.

“Don’t complain.” Jonna snapped.

“I’m complaining.” Chase retorted. “I’m complaining, and
there’s nothing you can do about it. Ha ha.”

“Chase?”

“Yes?”

“If you try to annoy me again, you’re going to lose your
place on this horse. Got it?”

“Loud and clear, princess.”

“Don’t call me that. I haven’t been a royal since thedude
took over.”

Chase shrugged. “Well, it’s the first time I’ve met anyone
who’s even had royal connections, so forgive me if I idolize you for a bit.”

Jonna pulled at the reins as Hwin galloped further up the
mountain, with the sound of arrows growing fainter and fainter. “What was your
dimension like anyway? Before you left?”

Chase grinned, although Jonna couldn’t see it.

“Kinda like… I don’t know. What’s a faraway place that you
would consider unfamiliar and alien at times?”

“The moon.” Jonna answered. Chase shrugged.

“Okay then. Think of it as the moon. A nice place to visit,
but you wouldn’t want to live there.” Chase reasoned.

“Still kinda sounds better than here.” Jonna quipped.

Chase proceeded to make a small choking noise, which was
barely audiable over the clopping of hooves. Jonna turned around briefly to
look at him.

“You ok?” She asked, concerned.

Chase nodded. “Yeah, you just sound like… like…” He trailed
off.

“Chase?” Jonna asked.

“Forget I said anything.” Chase muttered.

Jonna was curious, but decided not to press the young man.

Hwin vaulted over a cluster of rocks on the mountain path
and then stopped dead, their pursuers no longer in sight.

“I’m on strike now.” She declared. “I’ve had enough.”

Jonna decided not to press her steed; they were out of
immediate danger, after all. Instead, she chose to dismount.

“So… where are the others?” She asked Chase. Chase shrugged,
dismounting himself.

“Beats me. They’re probably just relaxing – it’s been a
while since we haven’t been in mortal peril.”

“Sounds like you’ve been living the easy life.”

“Says the member of royalty.”

“Ah, shut up.”

“Hey guys!”

Jonna and Chase looked up as Neil descended from the sky.
Landing in between them, he rubbed his head awkwardly.

“Sorry about that.”

“Do you keep forgetting that MOST PEOPLE CANNOT FLY?!” Chase
yelled, throwing his hands into the air in exasperation.

Neil blushed. “Something like that.” He admitted.

Chase waved his hand dismissively. “Whatever, flyboy. We’re
safe. You certainly didn’t help, but we’re safe. Now, where’s Brooke?”

“As safe as you, greenie.” Neil replied. “I left her inside
a cave in the mountain. Once we get back up there, we can rest up for a bit
before helping Jonna get to the portal.”

“Wait.” Chase raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t you just fly
Jonna up the mountain now? Job over.”

“I’ll tell you why.” Neil replied, with the air of someone
dealing with a halfwit. “Because we’re leaving as well.”

“What?!” Chase yelled. “Why?”

Neil held up his fingers.

“ONE: We’ve just been attacked by a bunch of dudes with bows
and arrows. TWO: According to Jonna, this is a regular occurrence, and THREE: I
don’t want to run into Barney the Purple Dinosaur!”

“You don’t actually… BELIEVE that there’s a bunch of robotic
dinosaurs on the loose here, do you?” Chase sniggered.

“I was telling the truth, Chase!” Jonna declared,
indignantly.

“Whether she was or not, from the sound of it there’s a
whole bunch of undesirable things to see here.” Neil pointed out. “Evil
knights? Robot dinosaurs? Crazy wizards? I don’t even know what Red Mythrans
are, but they sound bad! We’re better off somewhere else.”

“Alright, Goldilocks.” Chase conceded. “We’ll leave this
perfectly habitable dimension for another seventh dimension.”

“What even HAPPENED in the seventh dimension, anyway?” Jonna
wondered as Chase continued to complain.

“You were the one who said that loads of dimensions weren’t
even habitable, and you advised Jonna not to go!” Chase pointed out. “Did a few
arrows change your mind?”

“It’s not that! It’s something else!” Neil protested.

“What was it, then?” Chase snarked. “Did Brooke want to
leave?”

Neil didn’t answer.

“Oh, NO.” His friend muttered.

“Yeah, she wanted to leave, so what?” Neil said. Chase
retorted in a facial expression that said more than words ever could. Jonna
giggled, and Neil waved his hands in front of him.

“Nuh-uh. No way. Chase, you’re totally reading too far into
this.”

“Oh, to be young and in love…” Chase mimed swooning, before
getting back up. “I will say, I don’t think it’s wise to choose which dimension
we stay in based on the whim of the lady.”

Neil stuck his hands in the pockets of his robes. “Brooke’s
good as sensing danger.” He pouted. “If she says we shouldn’t stay here, I
won’t stay here.”

“Sure. Whatever you want to believe.” Chase shrugged, before
beckoning Jonna and commencing a walk up the mountain path. “Just remember,
Neil…”

He turned around once more, to reveal yet another deviously
cheeky grin.

“You’re dealing with a love expert.”

And with that, he was gone, disappearing behind an
outcropping.

Jonna turned to Neil. “Is HE a love expert?” She exclaimed,
incredulously.

“One relationship, and he’s already dubbing himself the
love… ugh. He can be far too full of himself sometimes. Come on, Jonna.” Neil
began to walk as well. As Jonna tried to get Hwin to move, she thought of a
question to ask her new friend.

“Hey Neil? Can you please tell me what happened in the
seventh dimension?”

Neil laughed nervously. “Trust me, you don’t want to know
what happened in the seventh dimension.” He said, before being lifted off the
ground and out of site. Jonna watched him go, scowling.

“I really do, actually!” She shouted to the wind. But, as
expected, she received no answer. She sighed.

It took Jonna a while to guide her stubborn horse up the
mountain path. By the time she arrived, it was past midday. Neil and Chase were
having a conversation, whilst Brooke was sitting nearer to the cliff, gazing
off into the distant sky. Having not announced her arrival, Jonna was able to
get a good look at the odd trio for the first time. Neil seemed to be the one
in charge, which Jonna had few qualms with. He carried himself with confidence,
and both his physical features and his facial expression were hardened and
firm. He also had a wicked looking scar running down the left side of his face,
from his forehead to his jaw, which passed next to his left eye on the way
down. His hair, blonde and unkempt, was quite short and barely reached his
similarly–coloured eyebrows. He was wearing what Jonna considered the only
example of formal clothes amongst the three – golden armour placed over green
and brown articles of clothing. He also had a pair of short swords on his hips.

Brooke looked just as stern as Neil did, with her furrowed
eyebrows and intense eyes that were an unusual lilac colour. Her hair was dark
brown, and matted – it almost reached her waist in length. Still, Jonna could
see that Brooke was a beautiful young woman under all the layers of grime, and
she DEFINITELY saw what Chase was going on about. She stifled another giggle as
she watched Brooke turn to look at Neil, who was in conversation with Chase,
blush, and then turn back to horizon.

Speaking of Chase… Jonna spared him another glance. There
was something she found intriguing about the green-haired smart guy. Not just
the fact that he was a little bit insane, but the way he seemed to be both
responsible and irresponsible at the same time. It was a combination of
personality traits that Jonna had definitely never seen before.

“What’s up?” Jonna greeted as she and Hwin made themselves
known. Without saying a word, Brooke raised her index finger and pointed it to
the sky.

“Huh?” Jonna said out loud, not understanding what Brooke
was doing. Chase laughed.

“You asked “What’s up.”” He said. “She just showed you what
was up.”

“Oooh!” Jonna exclaimed, understanding it and gaining an
appreciation for Brooke’s wit.

“I hate to interrupt,” Neil interrupted, standing up, “but a
wise friend once told me that knowledge is a sharper weapon than any sword.
Before we head anywhere else, I could use a little more of that.”

“What more do you want to know?” Jonna asked. “I’ve given
you the abridged history of Morcia – is that not enough?”

“No.” Neil shook his head. “I need to know who’s chasing
us.”

“Knights under the command of Vladek.” Jonna explained.
“They’re so loyal to him they’d do anything if he commanded it.”

“Who’s leading them?” Neil pressed Jonna, who’s primary
response was a “what?”

“They were hanging back, out of sight in the trees.” Neil
explained. “If they are as fanatical as you say, they would have just rushed
out here and tried to attack us head on – unless someone’s pulling the
strings.”

Jonna blanched, and shook her head in dismay.

“Out of all the tales I heard as a village storyteller, one
of the ones that disturbed me the most… was the tale of the Sentinel turned
monster.”

“The who-now?” Chase spluttered.

OST: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw2VDWB-u2Y)

“They say that a noble warrior of the Nexus Force sentinel
faction was captured and brainwashed to do the bidding of thedude.” Jonna
explained. “He is a mighty warrior, and carries out every order he’s given with
ruthless efficiency. No-one truly knows what he’s like because none have
survived an encounter with him.”

“Is there any definite information about him?” Neil asked
the former princess.

Jonna shook her head, worriedly. “Appearance-wise, he’s
known to still wear the armour of his former faction, albeit altered for a
greater efficiency. Watch out for someone wearing blue armour and clothing. But
in terms of how he fights, strengths and weaknesses… sorry Neil, but I haven’t
the foggiest. He’s a complete mystery, and in some ways I’d rather not know too
much about him.”

“Ah well.” Neil shrugged. “All the more motivation to get
out of here, right Chase?”

“Yeah.” Chase begrudgingly admitted. “Why’d they stick this
guy on you anyway, Jonna?”

“My best guess is he’s kept in reserve for when any former
Knights of the Olde Speech are located.” Jonna mused. “We were – and still are
– the greatest threat to thedude’s rule, so it makes sense that he’d reserve
one of his most efficient warriors for the sole purpose of hunting us down –
assuming he doesn’t do it himself.”

Neil’s fingers twitched in the direction of one of the
swords on his hip.

Hwin sighed, and turned to you.

“And this, reader,” she proclaimed, “is what they call
“filler.” And it’s nowhere near as good as the stuff they put in those
“horse-consumption only” apples.”

Time passed by as the group recuperated inside the mountain,
resting for what could have been the final time in Morcia. The rich afternoon
sun turned to a starry night sky before very long, and with it came a downpour
of rain that only further convinced the group to stay where they were for
longer. Neil persistently braved the rain to fly outside and make sure they
weren’t being followed, but the knights and their leader had mysteriously
vanished.

“Maybe they though we already got through the gate, and gave
up?” Chase suggested as he and Jonna sat near the back of their cave, sitting
beside each other for warmth. Brooke sat at the front, on a constant vigil for
Neil, who was still hovering around the mountain, scouring it for any sign of
thedude’s forces. Hwin was on the other side of the cave, complaining about something
or other.

“I doubt it.” Jonna shivered. “Even if we had escaped,
chances are thedude would want the gate for himself. We can only hope that his
soldiers don’t show up until we can escape.”

“I doubt it.” Chase laughed, then composed himself.

“I’m sorry Jonna.” He murmered, rather suddenly after a
while. “Bad luck just seems to kinda follow us everywhere.”

“I’d rather be here than sitting in a village with no
friends.” Jonna reasoned. “Least it’s not boring.”

“Yeah.” Chase admitted. “I guess so.”

A few moments passed.

“Hey Chase?” Jonna eventually asked. “Why is it that Brooke
doesn’t speak?”

“I don’t think she can.” Chase responded. “It’s weird… she
has a tongue and a functioning mouth, she can hear, and she’s smart enough to
form words if she wanted to, so… I can’t say I know.”

“Perhaps she chooses not to?” Jonna suggested.

“I doubt it.” Chase murmured. “You’d think so, but then you
see her around Neil, or me, or sitting outside a conversation, and she just
looks so… so frustrated. My best guess is she wants to, but can’t for… I don’t
know. For some reason.”

“Hmm.” Jonna said nothing, but instead looked at the
swordswoman with a newfound sympathy. What must it be like, she wondered, to be
unable to speak? To be unable to express your emotions with words? To be unable
to tell anyone anything, no matter how important it might be, or how much it
might mean to you…

Jonna’s train of thought went off the rails as Neil landed
outside their shelter and walked in, accepting the offer of a cloak from Brooke
to dry himself with.

“How does it look?” Jonna asked, as she and Chase stood up
to greet him.

“Aside from the weather?” Neil joked. “Pretty good. I’m not
seeing any knights or super-knight anywhere.”

“Well, we should keep our guard up to be safe.” Chase said.
“If you and the ladies want to get some shut-eye, I’ll take first watch.”

“Thanks Chase.” Neil nodded, before heading to the back of
the cave and promptly collapsing, exhausted from having flown around for hours.
Within seconds, Jonna could hear his snores.

“Well, that’s unhelpful.” Chase grunted. “I’m trying to NOT
fall asleep, and he settles down right in front of me. It’s like yawning in
terms of contagiousness; I mean… seriously?”

Jonna laughed, and Chase stared at her in surprise.

“Wow.” He said. “Didn’t know you could do that.”

“What, laugh?” Jonna asked him, still smiling.

“Well, yeah.” Chase admitted. “You struck me as really
serious, you know… sort of, “look at me, I’m a no-nonsense warrior princess…
and here you are, laughing away after all you’ve been through. Don’t get me
wrong!” He added hastily, as Jonna shot him a curious look. “I know what you
mean! “If we’re going to go down, might as well go down laughing” and all that…
I just didn’t expect it from you, is all.”

“I guess we’re all full of surprises.” Jonna said. “Here’s
another one – how about we take the first watch together?”

“Together?” Chase repeated. Then he shook his head. “I mean
– yeah, sure. Your choice, I guess.”

The pair walked towards the opening of the cave and crouched
together in the centre of the cavern’s maw. The night sky seemed to threaten to
swallow them whole, but they were unworried by that imagery, strengthened by
each other’s presence.

“Let’s hope nothing rocks up until we have the energy to leg
it.” Chase mumbled.

“A… agreed.” Jonna said between yawns.

“Shall we stick together once we get out of this dimension?”
Chase asked her. Jonna surprised herself with how quickly she answered.

“Of course!”

Chase laughed out loud. “Good.” He declared.

They sat in silence, doing nothing except savouring each
other’s company for the rest of the night.

The following morning, Jonna was woken up to the sound of a
muted voice. Instinctively, she pretended to still be asleep whilst actually
taking in what they were saying.

“Okay, Brooke.” Neil whispered. “On a scale of one to ten,
how adorable do you think that is?”

Jonna heard nothing from the mute’s end, but she must have
communicated with Neil in some way, as he broke into quiet laughter.

“Okay, okay.” He wheezed. “I get it.”

Deciding that she would rather not let the conversation
progress any further, she purposely yawned loudly so as to alert the two to the
fact that she was awake.

“Oh! Morning, Jonna!” Neil greeted her. Jonna rose her head
blearily, and realised that she had been resting it on Chase’s shoulder – Neil
and Brooke’s antics suddenly made a lot more sense.

“Morning.” She mumbled, beginning to walk to the back of the
cave so she could awaken Hwin.

“Sleep well?” Neil asked, doing a bad job hiding the
laughter in his voice.

“Oh, ha-ha.”
Jonna grumbled. “The answer is no – shoulders aren’t the most
comfortable things.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Neil told her, now sounding more
mature.

“We should get moving.” Jonna declared loudly, purposefully
being buisnesslike. “For all we know, thedude’s forces could be right on top of
us.”

“Stop being paranoid.” Neil told her. “I’d know if anyone
was here, trust me.”

“Well…” Jonna bit her lip. “Can you go and check, just in
case?”

“Sure.” Neil nodded, understanding the need for reassurance.
The next moment, he had launched himself out of the cave and into the sky.

Jonna watched the air for a couple of seconds, before
turning around and awakening Hwin, who seemed determined to be difficult. By
the entrance, it looked as if Brooke was having a similar problem with Chase,
who was in a sleep so deep it was perturbing to watch; Jonna could only wonder
when the rogue had last rested as Brooke kicked him in the side, resulting in
nothing but a mutter. This sort of pattern lasted for several minutes, until
Jonna was forced to walk to his side to see if she could help in any way.

“How deep a sleeper is he?” Jonna asked Brooke in an
incredulous manner as she walked over, having done her previous job and awoken
Hwin. Brooke shrugged and appeared to be about to indicate something when Neil
landed outside.

“Nothing.” He said. “I hope you’ve had enough of making me
fly around out there, because-“

He cut his speech short as he held a hand up in the air.
Jonna was about to say something when Neil slapped a hand over her mouth
silencing her. Jonna, Neil, Brooke and Hwin all stayed in their respective
positions for several long seconds, before Neil abruptly drew one of his swords
and launched himself at the side of the cave, yelling a battle cry.

“Why is he attacking a cave?!” Jonna exclaimed.

As she watched, Neil raised his sword and brought the hilt
down onto thin air – only for the thin air to make a noise that sounded like a
gauntlet being slapped across a face. From seemingly nowhere, a cloaked man
materialized and fell to the ground, unconscious. The next second, dozens of
figures in cloaks and medieval garments appeared out of nowhere. Voices rang
out.

“What happened?”

“That brat took out the grand Fassad!”

“We’re not indivisible any more!”

“It’s INVISIBLE, not INDIVISIBLE, you dolt!”

“How did you know someone was there?” Jonna gasped.

“These guys must have slipped past the two of you while I
was out.” Neil informed her. “When I came back in, I could tell by the air
currents that there were a bunch of forms somewhere in here; forms that were
connected by some kind of energy which I can only presume was an invisibility
spell. I just tracked the source of the energy to the bloke who’s nap time I
just extended by judging where the energy was flowing through the air and
figuring out that it was being emitted from him.”

Neil leapt out of the way as one of the figures jumped down
from the ceiling, smashing into the floor and sending dust and debris rising
from the place where Neil had been standing but a moment ago.

“But never mind that, who ARE these guys?” Neil roared to
Jonna as he leapt backwards to where she and Brooke were standing.

“I don’t really know!” Jonna admitted, as the figures
gathered around the group. Various colours and effects began to appear in their
hands or on their staffs. “I know they work for thedude, though. You should be
careful, they use magic!”

“Magic, huh?” Chase asked, the wind inside the cave beginning
to blow. Chase woke up with a snort before seeing the sight before him and
crawling backwards so fast he slammed into Brooke’s legs.

“I… yes?” Jonna stuttered, suddenly afraid of the man
standing before her.

“This isn’t magic. Not proper magic, anyway. I’ve seen
magic.” Neil muttered, clenching his fists. “I’ve seen the things it can do.
The idea that any of THEM –“

He pointed at the figures, many of whom were bumbling around
in the cavern; clearly not the most efficient task force.

“-could wield MAGIC efficiently and use it for evil,
frankly, is insulting to me!”

The next second, Neil was hit in the chest by a blast of
violet energy from one of the mages.

“At least we use real magic, and not the heretical power
that you command!” He shouted as he prepared to fire again. “We have studied it
for our entire lives, learning how to control it, and being taught by our
predecessors!”

Neil tried to rise but was hit with another blast and was
knocked over again.

“No!” Jonna tried to run forward, but Brooke held her back,
shaking her head frantically.

“Even if you were taught ANYTHING, which I sincerely doubt
given your lack of form, your teacher must have had no idea what he was talking
about!” The sorcerer finished dramatically as he lowered his hands and fired a
final blast at Neil.

It never hit.

Wind suddenly flooded into the cavern, sending the energy
blast ricocheting off to the side, and Neil stood up; eyes closed, teeth
gritted.

OST: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8mZmgDMLjk)

“Oh, they’ve done it now.” Chase declared in a sing-song
voice.

“What do you mean?” Jonna asked him, wheeling round.

“They’ve annoyed Neil.” Chase said simply.

Neil opened his eyes, which glowed a brilliant emerald
green, and flooded the chamber with light.

Jonna gasped, and Chase laughed.

“Did I mention how much of a badass he is?” He remarked.

With a roar, Neil rushed forward.

Wasting no time, the warrior collided with the group of
mages. He kicked one in the stomach, sending him flying into the cavern wall,
and socked another in the jaw with a blow so powerful it knocked the
unfortunate man into the ceiling.

“No way!” Jonna yelled. “Is he strengthening his blows with
air?”

Still yelling in exhilaration, Neil grabbed the head of one
mage and lifted them clean off the ground before throwing them into a group of
their comrades, knocking all of them down. A trio of wizards charged towards
him with swords and staffs, and Neil responded by drawing his own golden swords
at a lightning speed before engaging all three of them at once. Jonna could
only watch in awe as Neil smacked one with the pommel of his sword, cut
another’s staff in half, and proceeded to head-butt his third attacker, who was
thrown backwards as a result.

A pair of his attackers struck quickly, one blasting fire at
him and the other shooting shards of ice in his direction. Neil responded by
jumping into the air and swinging his sword once, sending a crescent gust of
air at the pair, knocking them to the ground.

Jonna could only watch in awe as her new friend continued to
energetically flip all around the cavern, sending mages and assailants flying.
A couple managed to get past the whirlwind that was Neil and tried to attack
the other three, only to be driven off by Brooke and her sword skills. On the
one hand, Jonna was envious that she wasn’t able to do so much as throw a
punch, but on the other… she didn’t really want to get involved in a brawl of
that magnitude.

“Feeling like a third wheel?” Chase asked her as the pair
watched.

“Yep.” Jonna declared, popping the “p”. Chase grinned his by
now trademark toothy grin and held out a hand.

“Welcome to the club!” He said. Jonna smiled and shook his
outstretched hand. Then they turned around and watched Neil beat up the
wizards. It was a laughably short time before the young man’s task was
completed, and he descended back to the ground, panting from the exertion.
Brooke ran over and let him lean on her for support, and Jonna supposed that
she should probably do something similar. But before she could stand up, she
found herself being hoisted up by a hand attached to her neck.

Chase looked around in shock to receive a boot to the face,
sending him sprawling onto the rocky floor. Neil and Brooke could only look on
in horror as the air around Jonna shimmered to reveal a figure clad in a blue
suit of armour that covered almost every inch of their body. Metal gauntlets,
boots, shin pads, leg plates and a chest plate covered a jet black bodysuit,
and on the new arrival’s head was an oval helmet covered in tinted glass
intricately woven into the metal to create skull-like features.

“Brocktree…” Jonna whispered in fear, her voice almost
completely failing as a burning hot terror overtook her.

No words were emitted from the mask, only a low growl that
sounded like a death rattle.

“No way…” Murmured Chase, tapping his nose gingerly as a
test.

“That’s the guy you were talking about earlier?” Neil asked.

“Guys…” Jonna choked. “Just run…”

“No way!” Chase yelled, scrambling to his feet.

“It’s me he wants.” Jonna protested. “Don’t be idiots!”

“Sorry.” Neil declared, before drawing a sword and standing
up properly. “But we’re too far beyond idiocy at this point.”

Neil held out the golden sword, which suddenly seemed to
bend and buckle in his hand. It snapped almost completely in half in the
middle, the upper segment beginning to fold backwards before stopping at an
angle. Metal ligaments shot out from the two parts and connected together,
locking the blade in its new form. Neil flipped the weapon round and held the
newly-formed boomerang in his hand, ready to throw it.

“Boo! Too overdramatic!” Chase hollered.

“Ah, shut up Greenie!” Neil retorted.

OST: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TcchAoqs1Y)

Wasting no time, Neil flung the weapon directly at his opponent. The swordarang, surrounded by a sharp current of air, flew
through the air towards Brocktree; who, sensing that he was entering a
confrontation, threw Jonna to one side and bent over backwards to avoid the
projectile. The humming blade sliced through the air right above him and flew
out of the cave entrance. However, when Brocktree rightened himself, he saw
Neil holding his second blade, which had undergone a similar metamorphosis.

Moreover, instead of mourning the loss of one of his
weapons, Neil was grinning idiotically.

“It isn’t a stick, you know!” He called.

Just then, the weapon flew back inside the cave and slammed
into Brocktree’s back. Metal went flying as the weapon tore into his armour,
sending him sprawling onto the ground. At the same time, Neil jumped into the
air and threw the other ‘rang at Brock. However, Brock’s form flickered and
disappeared before anyone could react. The weapons instead skimmed harmlessly
on the ground before returning to Neil’s hand.

“The heck?” Was all Neil had time to say before Brock
rematerialized behind him, grabbed his neck in mid-air and threw him
unceremoniously to the ground.

“No!” Chase yelled and picked up the other weapon, letting
it revert to sword form, before charging the super sentinel. For his woes, all
he received was a punch to the gut and a shoulder barge that send him into the
side of the cave. Brock stood over Chase, about to finish him, when Neil
knocked him back with a blast of air. Brock’s reply to this was to grab onto
the cave wall and begin shimmying up it.

Neil clapped his hands and the air in the cavern visibly
formed into an enormous blade that slashed at Brock’s position. The super
sentinel leapt out of the way to avoid the shot and extended his fist to Neil,
releasing several minute rockets concealed in his armour. The missiles landed
at Neil’s feet and flung him backwards. Neil flew through the air before
landing awkwardly onto his knees, panting heavily yet holding both the
swordarangs in their boomerang form.

Wordlessly, Neil tossed the sword in his left hand upwards - it hovered above his limb, levitating and spinning around, covered in a casing of wind that powered and
amplified it. The sword in his right hand
did the same thing - a moment passed, and then they both took off towards Brocktree at mach speed. The sentinel tried to dodge
the attacks, but they were so quick that he could do little but take the hits
as the swords made contact, ricocheted, turned around and headed back towards
him. All the while, Neil stood up with his hands extended, looking like a
demented puppet master.

“Let’s see if that armour can protect you from this!” He
declared with a touch of confidence as Brock was hit by the blades.

Jonna could only watch in utter awe at the battle taking
place in front of her.

*“So fast… Brocktree*
just can’t keep up!” *She thought to herself as she watched.*

Brock held his arms in a defensive position as the blades
hacked away at his armour, slowly lowering one hand to reach for the utility
belt around his waist.

“The heck’s he doing?” Chase wondered out loud, noticing the
movement.

Before Neil could do anything, Brock pressed the button and
his armour lit up a brilliant fluorescent turquoise.

“That CAN’T be good.” Chase commented.

“It isn’t.” Jonna confirmed. “Looks like he’s getting
serious…”

Brocktree’s armour continued to glow, and abruptly a wave of
energy left it, knocking the group back and sending Neil’s swordarangs flying
away. Neil stretched out a hand and blasted another gust of air at Brock, but
their attacker’s form once again disappeared and reappeared behind Neil,
spin-kicking him to the ground. Brooke, obviously tired of hanging back,
sprinted forwards sword raised. Brock turned to her and from his arms extended
blades that he used to counter Brooke’s own weapon.

Brock blocked Brooke’s attack, then lunged for her with his
own weapons. Brooke blocked the first blow that he sent her way, but the second
caught her on the side. A kick knocked her down and a slash from the super
sentinel’s wrist blades disarmed her. It was only the action of Jonna, leaping
in with a sword at the last possible moment, that saved Brooke’s life. The
downside of this was the fact that Brocktree’s attention had been drawn back to
his intended quarry.

“Really should have thought this through.” Was all Jonna had
time to mutter to herself before being kicked in the gut. Hunching over in
pain, the former princess suddenly found herself helpless as Brocktree slammed
his boot into her ribs, sending her skidding on the painful rocky ground. The
super sentinel, however, was abruptly knocked through the air and landed with a
crash onto the ground, sending more pieces of metal flying from his damaged
armour. Jonna lifted her head blearily to see Hwin standing over her, hind legs
in the process of being lowered.

“Don’t say I don’t do anything for you.” She murmured.

“Oh, Hwin!” Jonna almost cried as she draped her arms around
the horse’s neck. “Good horse! Very good horse! I – wait, I shouldn’t celebrate
prematurely!” She reminded herself. “Guys! Brocktree!”

Neil rose unsteadily, hand on his side and wincing.

“He’s gone.” The blonde warrior reported.

“Seriously?” Chase laughed from where he sat on the cave
floor. “You think being kicked by a horse did in his pride and he ran away?”

“I doubt it, he wouldn’t care for something like that.”
Jonna pointed out as Brooke helped her up. “Most likely he’s just backing off
to lick his wounds and then surprise us before we can get to the gate. We’re
going to have to hurry.”

“Ah well, Neil can just beat him up again, right?” Chase
turned to Neil hopefully, only to receive a smile and a shake of the head.

“Afraid not, buddy. The fact is, he’s a lot stronger than I
am.”

“No way, that’s not true! Didn’t you win?” Chase protested.
Neil shrugged.

“No. The truth is, I’d say it was more like a draw.” When
Chase raised a questioning eyebrow, Neil gestured to his chest, then to Jonna
who was being supported by Brooke, to Chase’s own position of being crushed
into a cave wall. “Look what he did to us. If I had fought him on my own, I
wouldn’t have lasted very long at all.”

“Oh… that’s a good point.” Chase conceded, head drooping in
defeat.

“So… plan?” Jonna interjected.

“We need to scarper before he returns with more goons.” Neil
said. “We have a couple of hundred meters left – and they know it. We need to
hurry, because they’re not going to be holding back any more.”

“I am now ALL for leaving.” Chase declared. “Sorry Jo, but
Morcia isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“And don’t I know it.” Jonna remarked. She unsteadily rose
herself onto Hwin before reaching down to give Chase a hand as Neil grabbed
hold of Brooke and began to hover in the air.

“Let’s get the heck out of dodge!” Chase declared once he
was seated on Hwin.

There was a brief silence.

“Is that an… an other-dimension saying?” Jonna queried,
glancing back to look at Neil.

“Never heard it before.” Admitted Neil. “Brooke?”

The mute shook her head in confusion, before indicating
Chase and then waving her finger around her head as if to indicate that the
emerald-haired man was loopy.

"I resent that!" Chase declared. "Brooke,
your harsh words do little for my self-confidence."

"But... she didn't say anything." Jonna
deadpanned.”

"Not to you, princess." Pointed out Chase.
"But towards me, she directed a torrent of harsh words and scathing
criticisms-"

"She LITERALLY just waved her finger around her
head." Jonna snapped.

"That speaks a lot." Chase protested.

"Can the two of you save the quibbling for later?"
Neil interrupted. "We're under time pressure, remember?"

"Right." Jonna turned her head away crossly.
"Chase, do you want to run, or are you going to behave?"

"Behave." Was Chase's answer.

"Then shut up and get on my horse." Jonna ordered.

Chase mounted Hwin as Neil grabbed Brooke again, wincing as
he did so.

"Neil, are you alright?" Jonna queried. Neil
shrugged.

"I should be fine, but this is why I want to hurry. I
don't think I'd be much good in a fight any longer."

"Well get to the top." Jonna ordered. "If the
gate needs activation, start working on that. Me and Chase will catch you up
later."

"We will?" Asked Chase. Jonna nodded.

"Patience is a virtue." Informed Jonna.

"Not where we come from, princess." Chase pointed
out. "In our old world, you had to be quick on your feet unless you wanted
some dire fate to befall you."

"Oh yeah? What was so dangerous, anyway?" Jonna
asked him as Hwin began to canter up the mountain path.

"Well... there was no such thing as what we've come to
know as "solid ground"." Chase informed her.

 "Huh?"

"There was no ground. Our world consisted of, like a
giant ceiling made of rock with these massive, massive stalactites hanging off
it."

"How big?'

"We lived on 'em.”

"Ah."

"Yeah. Airships and the like were our only forms of
transportation, and if you were dumb enough to fall off... well, nobody knew
what would happen. My theory is that you'd keep falling forever, but no-one was
really sure."

"That sounds rather depressing."

"It definitely was."

"So... is that the reason you left?" Jonna pressed
him as she heard the familiar *whoosh* of Neil's power being
activated and saw him soar above them.

"Not really. I mean, yeah, it sucked, but it takes more
than that to risk leaving your dimension forever." Chase pointed out.

There was a brief silence, before Jonna ventured forward.
"Did "more than that" happen?" She asked.

Chase nodded. "Yeah. I've seen a lot of things in my
time - some still haunt me to this day - but I'll never forget..."

He paused, and Jonna spared a glance backwards to see his
fists clenched.

"...I'll never forget the sight... of an entire
dimension... an entire dimension... crumbling." He managed. "Falling
to pieces."

Lady Jonna gasped, putting her hand over her mouth.
"No." She murmered.

"Yeah... not everybody made it out." He revealed.
startling Jonna further. "I made more than two friends in my life, don't
you know!"

"Chase, I'm... I'm really sorry." Admitted Jonna.

"Not like it was your fault." Pointed out the
emerald-haired dimension traveller. "There's no need for you to
apologize."

"Someone has to!" Jonna stated. "Your ENTIRE
dimension?"

"Yep." Chase murmered. "Now we're just...
travellers of the infinite void, I guess. Looking for somewhere to live."

"And here I thought my life was terrible."
Admitted Jonna.

"Well, it's all about perspective and comparison."
Chase indicated. "I'm not really from around here, so there's no need to
use me as a comparison-"

"You not being from around here doesn't matter, you
idiot." Jonna scolded.

"R-really?" Stuttered Chase.

"Of course!" The lady declared. "You think
I'd judge you just because you're from a different plane of existance with
green hair?!"

"Well, when you put it like that..." Chase trailed
off.

"I'm not someone who judges by background. The deeds
make the person, not the heritage."

"Nice mindset."

"Given my backstory, it's kind of a given. Hey, please
tell me you weren't some criminal in your dimension."

"A what?"

"Someone who breaks laws."

"Still not following you, sweetheart."

"Oh, come on!" Jonna protested. "You must at
least know what laws are!"

“Are they related to rules? I know what rules are, are they
similar?" Quieried Chase.

Jonna decided the best thing to do at that moment would be
to swallow her irritation and begin explaining.

"Laws are rules created by those who rule a place such
as a kingdom or a country or town. They're less flexible than rules, and if you
don't follow them you'll get into trouble with whoever's in charge, often
resulting in some form of punishment."

"Gimme an example."

"Well... let's see... I guess a basic example of a law
would be not to steal."

"Stealing isn't allowed?"

"Not really. Why?"

Chase didn't answer, and Jonna turned around to glower at
him.

"You have got to be kidding me."

"Every man for himself, princess." Chase defended
himself. "Nobody I knew was too big on rules. Only rules I encountered
that were enforced were the rules you'd find on sky pirate ships."

"I'm not even going to question the concept, but I will
point out the irony in the fact that the only people in your world who enforced
rules were pirates."

"I think I understood about eighty-five percent of what
you said. Tops."

"Sorry, sophistication is more of a habit than anything
else for me." Explained Jonna. "When you're raised as a member of the
royal family, it's drilled into you. I always tried my best to ignore it, but I
guess some of it rubbed off on me..."

"There are worse habits." Chase pointed out as
Hwin continued to climb up the rocky path, complaining and cursing her aching
hooves.

"Oh? Fill me in."

"No way. That's personal stuff - I've talked about
myself enough, what about you?"

"Well, there's not that much else too me..." Jonna
murmered. "I'm a princess who ran away and became a knight. That was the
only really big event in my life. My childhood was quite pampered. My father
tried to hide me from his enemies."

"Doesn't sound all that comfortable to me."
Pointed out Chase.

"It still was. After my mother lost her life, my father
was very protective of me. I guess he just didn't want the same thing to happen
again. I rarely ventured outside the grounds of our castles, and even then it
was always under gaurd."

"So what changed?"

"I ran away shortly before Morcia's fall to thedude. I
was sick of being the pampered princess stuck in her castle. One of the knights
of the olde speech was ordered to bring me back, but when I explained my
situation to him, he agreed to make me an honourary knight and teach me to
fight with a sword. The latter was very useful, let me assure you." Jonna
grinned as she spoke.

"So what's your plan now? Go through the dimensional
gate and... find allies?"

"It's a long shot, I know." Jonna admitted.
"But when your home, and the people you care about are in danger..."
She trailed off.

"...you'd do anything to protect them. I know how it
goes." Filled in Chase, as Jonna turned towards him in suprise.
"Listen, princess, I hate to be negative, but you have to prepare yourself
for the fact that you might not be successful."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that optimism is great and all, but the
fact remains that sometimes you aren't going to win the day, or whatever.
Sometimes it's all you can do to escape with your hide."

"And you would know?"

"I would know," Chase confirmed, staring at Jonna
with a slightly shocking intensity, "because I failed to protect someone I
cared about in the past. People I cared about... especially one friend of mine.
The point is you need to harden yourself up, mentally. Take it from me,
everything may seem all fine and dandy, but it won't be eventually. And when
that day comes, you need to have your priorities straight."

"So you're saying I should be willing to flee if things
look bad?" Jonna rolled her eyes at the young thief.

"NO!" Blurted Chase. "Well, not necessarily.
I'm just saying, if you make some kinda heroic sacrifice, whose going to save
the people you care about?"

Jonna remained silent for several moments, pondering Chase's
question before an answer came to mind.

"The friends I make." She declared. Chase lazily
made a motion with his hand, indicating her to continue.

"Whilst I want to protect the people I care about, I
have to admit that they can take care of themselves - and others - when I'm not
there. I am friends with a bunch of knights, after all. If anyone can handle
the trials that may come their way, it's my friends - the Knights of the Olde
Speech!"

Chase laughed. "Finally! Don't feel as if you have to
shoulder the burden all by yourself. Heck, I'm pretty sure at least some of
them feel that it's their duty to protect YOU."

"Well, duh!" Jonna couldn't help but laugh along
with Chase. "Princess, remember?"

"Right, right." Chase bashfully rubbed his head.
"How could I forget?"

"It just feels great to help people." Jonna
explained. "After years of security and care, it feels like... like I'm
giving something back, you know?"

Chase raised his hands for a moment, and almost toppled off
Hwin as a result. "Hey, lowely thief here, remember? I don't really have
any experience with security and care."

"Good point." Admitted Jonna. "You know,
you're the last person I thought would turn out to be wise."

"Aww, shucks." Chase grinned.

"In their own way." Jonna finished.

"Say WHAT?!" Exclaimed the thief, insulted. Jonna
laughed.

"I'm kidding."

"You'd better be."

"I am, trust me."

"I'm not sure if I do - I've only known you for a day,
after all..."

"Okay, now YOU'RE the one who'd better be
kidding."

"I'm kidding!"

"Good. See, I trust you."

"And I trust you as well. What's the point in all of
this?" Chase shouted.

"Well, we've got time to kill. Hwin's going as fast as
she can, after all. Might as well converse, right?" Pointed out Jonna.

"Yeah, well going so slowly is unnerving, especially
with that guy around. What's his name? Lord... something rock free?"

"Getting there." Jonna complimented him.
"Definitely getting there."

"Minor progress is better than no progress."
Pointed out Chase. "Hey, what's your official title?"

"Come again?"

"You're a knight, right? What does that make your
title, being a princess as well."

"I guess it would be something like Sir... Lady...
Jonna, princess of Morcia, storyteller and fugitive." Jonna reasoned.

"That." Deadpanned Chase, "is going to be a
nightmare to remember."

"It's something I came up with on the fly."
Protested Jonna. "I'd like to see you do any better."

"Fine, I will." Chase pouted. "Imagine the
scene. Innocent people are being attacked by ruffians. Then, when all hope
seems lost, the door is kicked in and a voice says "Don't worry everyone.
Chase Powers, Warrior of Sumesen, friend of Neil Chloris, recycler of waste, is
here!""

"If I were in that scenario, my initial thought would
be "Now we're SUPER dead."" Jonna snarked.

"You wound me!" Chase declared in a melodramatic
fashion, comically slumping forwards onto Jonna as he played dead.

"Oh, stop that." Scolded Jonna as she gave Chase a
shove backwards, causing the emerald-haired man to almost fall off Hwin.

"Woa! No care for safety, I see." Remarked Chase
as Hwin continued to canter along.

"Not when it's YOUR safety. Neil would probably just
catch you if you fell off the mountain."

"Doesn't exactly mean you'd be off the hook."

"My point is that you have little to worry about."

"What part of angry super soldiers and co falls into
the "little" category of things to worry about?"

"Point taken." Conceded Jonna. "Now shush,
we're almost there."

"How can you even tell?" Asked Chase.

"I can see it." Deadpanned Jonna, pointing to a
peak a hundred feet or so away from them where a couple of figures stood next
to a bizzare looking hunk of metal.

"Oh." Chase spoke softly.

Jonna turned around to Chase and opened her mouth to say
something clever, but the words died in her throat as she saw the glint of
metal behind them, and an armoured figure stepped out from behind a rocky
outcrop.

"C...Chase..." Jonna eventually managed to hiss.
Chase followed her line of sight and immediately tensed, clenching his fists.

"He's back already?" He snarled.

"Looks like it." Confirmed Jonna. "Come on,
we have to move."

"I'm with you on that." Chase agreed. But before
Jonna could galvanise Hwin, the armoured figure held out their hands. She could
only watch in horror as a fresh batch of missiles were launched out of
Brocktree's suit, heading straight for them. Hwin tried to move, but she was
too slow and all three were knocked aside.

"Red vs Blue should sue the writer..." Muttered
Hwin, further baffling Jonna, but it was a sign that the horse was uninjured,
so she decided against snarking back. She groped around her for her sword -
only to find it already in Chase's hands. The youth was glaring daggers at
Brocktree, who was practically sauntering towards them.

"This guy's really grating at me now." Spat Chase.
"Jonna, take a horseride."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you need to get on your disollusioned horse and
get to the top of this mountain. Neil and Brooke are probably wondering where
we've got to. You need to tell them what's happening and bring them here if
they're up to it."

"And you're going to face him on your own?!"
Protested Jonna. "I thought you said you weren't the fighter amongst your
group?"

Chase turned to Jonna and his determined smile widened, revealing
his chipped teeth.

"I never said I was gonna fight him." He
cryptically declared before rushing out into the open and waving Jonna's sword
around.

"Hey! Sir Brocolli!"

The super sentinel turned towards the green-haired man,
growling.

"Look at the shiny sword! Watch as I make myself
disappear! Or crush you! Depends on where these things land!" And with
that, he began hacking away at a loose boulder, evidently trying to cause a
landslide.

"NOW GET UP THERE!" He yelled to Jonna, who
saddled Hwin and began to speed off, trying not to look back as Brocktree
cornered his prey.

Hwin vaulted over loose rocks, Jonna guiding her as the two
of them sped to the highest point of the Footsore Mountains: Sky-Scraped Peak.
The final peak was reminiscant of a mesa - almost a hundred meters long and
wide, a flat table of rock capped the mountain, giving it the appearance of
having the true top of the mountain cleaved neatly off - hence the name. As
Jonna gathered her bearings, she saw Neil and Brooke studying what looked like
a large "O" shape slightly dug into the mountain. An unassuming
grey-silver colour, the gate - for Jonna had assumed it to be such - showed few
signs of being active.

"Can you guys get it working?" Jonna panted,
dismounting Hwin and sprinting over to the duo.

"Should take a second, it's not like we haven't done
this before..." Filled in Neil. "Wait, where's Chase?"

Jonna stiffened as she remembered her friend's
predicament.

"He... he's facing down Brocktree." Revealed
Jonna.

"On his own?!" Neil cried, twisting round
anxiously to stare at the open air behind Hwin, as if expecting to see a
bedraggled Chase drap himself up onto the mesa, before grimacing and grabbing
his side.

"He... he looked like he had a plan." Jonna
murmered, feeling her eyes begin to prickle with tears. "He lead Brocktree
off... at least, I think he did."

"I'm going after him." Neil took two steps before
collapsing onto his knees, groaning in agony. Brooke sprinted to his side, away
from the gate, and helped the injured warrior to his feet.

"We can't." Protested Jonna. "That isn't what
he'd want-"

"I don't want to lose another friend." Neil spat.
"We're going to get to him."

"Worrying about your little friend?"

Wheeling round, Jonna spotted a woman standing between the
trio and the dimensional gate. Wavy, black locks of hair flowed down to her
waist and she sported a loose, dark purple dress complete with sword. Her
crimson eyes glowed with malice as ice began to swirl around her outstretched
hand.

"There's no need to worry. You'll be joining him
soon."

There was brief silence, as the trio took in this new
arrival and her appearance. Eventually the silence was shattered by a
disgruntled Neil.

"And who are YOU supposed to be?" He remarked,
looking decidedly unimpressed despite the woman's apparent control of an
element.

"My name... is Lila." She declared, with a slight
dramatic flourish in her sleep.

Jonna eyed Lila down suspiciously.

"I'm guessing by your attitude that you work for
TheDude?"

"Not full time." Declared Lila. "You can consider
me a mercenary, and it just so happened that TheDude is quite generous when the
capture of the knights of the olde speech are involved."

"He sent both you and Brocktree?" Jonna mused.
"He must REALLY want me."

"I couldn't entirely understand what he was saying, but
it was something about how much of an annoyance your father was to him."
Lila frowned. "In any case, I'm being paid quite well for this - it's
nothing personal, but..."

The woman snapped her fingers, and ice began to form around
Jonna. Before anything could be done, the lady was trapped up to her neck in
the stuff, unable to move.

"Jonna!" Neil cried helplessly, before snatching a
glare at Lila. "How are you doing that?"

"Well... it's very complicated, but I guess I can show
you this." Lila reached into one of her sleeves, and revealed a wristband
with what looked like a light blue gem in the center.

The effect on Neil was instantaneous. The next moment, he
had almost collapsed in apparent shock, and only the support of Brooke kept him
from doing so.

"Neil, what is it? What's wrong?" Gasped Jonna.

Without saying a word, Neil reached into his shirt and
revealed to all a necklace that had been beneath it - a necklace that had a
vivid green crystal at the tip.

"Her powers, they're... they're like mine." He
murmered.

Lila raised an eyebrow. "Interesting." She mused.
"I was under the assumption that I was the only one. What an interesting
turnout."

Her eyes glinted.

"I might ask thedude if I can keep you for
payment..."

"So... your powers are from a magic rock and she has
one too?" Jonna spoke to distract herself from the cold that came free of
charge with being trapped in a block of ice.

"That's a really vague way of putting it, but
yes." Groaned Neil.

"So... we're in trouble?"

"Yeah... she's probably at least on par with me, and
I'm not doing so well." He winced again before rising on shaky legs.
"But I don't intend to go down without a fight." That being said,
Neil drew both of his swords and pointed them at Lila, who shrugged and drew
her own blade.

"Oh, don't worry. You're not going anywhere." She
emphasized, twirling the blade around in her hand. "I want to know
everything about that rock hanging around your neck... what does it let you
control?"

"I'm sure you'll figure it out soon enough." Neil
assured her. "In the meantime, let's try and be civil about this. You
seem to control ice. Can you also eat your element to get a recharge?"

"Why, yes!" Lila seemed almost please to find
someone she could relate to. "I can't tell you how annoying it gets to
have to carry packs of ice around with me for if I'm ever in a jam. It's not
like I can eat my own ice, so I always try to stay by cold mountains like
these."

"I guess that could be a problem." Conceded Neil.
"I don't really have that issue, because my element is one that's... shall
we say, slightly easier to find than ice. I guess you could say it comes to me
the same way breathing comes to anyone else."

"Interesting." Mused Lila. "How good are you
with those swords of yours?"

"Well, if you're looking for sword skills, I've got
nothing on my friend Brooke." Chase indicated the mute, who looked just as
perplexed at the conversation as Jonna felt. "But I'd say I'm alright. How
about you?"

"Well, I'm not a fan of bragging, but I like to think
that I'm pretty darn good.”

"Well, that's horribly inconvenient for me."
Condeded Neil. "I just had a scuffle with a certain Lord Brocktree, so I'm
not feeling too great."

"At least you're intact." Lila pointed out.
"I've encountered Brocktree before... he can be pretty violent, can't
he?"

"You saying he's fought you before?" Jonna butted
in. Lila nodded, and rolled up the leggings she was wearing to reveal a leg
constructed from metal as opposed to flesh and blood. Rapping it a couple of
times, the mercenary smiled wearily at the group.

"I owe him this." She eventually said, gritting
her teeth slightly. "If I weren't being paid such a hefty amount to work
with him, I'd have no issue with taking him out here and now.
Unfortunately..."

The legging fell back to it's previous position and Lila raised
her broadsword once again.

"...I'm a businesswoman above all else."

"Perfect." Spat Neil. "Just when I thought
there was a way out, my hopes are shattered by the cruel nutter known as
reality."

"I don't know about the rest of you guys..." A
voice came from below the mesa. Jonna craned her neck around to see a
bedraggled Chase drag himself over the rock and onto the top of the mountan.

"...but I totally want that on my tombstone." He
smirked as he finished his quip.

"CHASE!" Jonna and Neil both shouted, relief
evident on their faces.

"Where's Brocktree?" Gabbled Jonna. "How did
you get away?"

"I might or might not have caused a bit of an avalance
at the cost of your sword." Chase admitted, holding up what Jonna
recognized to be a broken blade. "I don't think I did much damage to him,
but with any luck, speed mountain-climbing isn't one of Brocktree's many
talents." It was at this point did Chase catch sight of Lila standing
between them and the gate.

"Hey, who's that?" He furrowed his brow.

"An enemy, unless I'm mistaken." Neil growled.
"Thedude hired her to bring Jonna in."

Chase gritted his teeth and stepped forward, clutching the
broken sword in his hand.

"Over my dead body." He hissed.

"You mean over OUR dead bodies." Neil emphasised,
stepping forward. "I don't intend to leave a friend behind."

Lila smirked. "I'll dig one hole."

"No-one's going to fill it." Retorted Neil,
swinging his sword. "We're getting out of here."

"Sorry, but I don't plan on letting anyone go through
this..." Lila trailed off, before glaring savagely at the horizon. Jonna
turned her head again to see Brocktree standing on the edge of the mesa, eyeing
down the scene. She inwardly cursed - she, Chase, Hwin, Neil and Brooke were
caught between Brocktree and Lila - either way, their odds were low.

"I guess he can climb like anything." Cursed
Chase. "Perfect."

"Hello, Brocktree." Lila spoke with an icy
undertone to her voice, which fit her very well. "Long time no see."

Brocktree growled, flexing and unflexing his fist.

"Thedude hired me to do your job. I guess he just
placed us on opposite paths, hoping that we wouldn't meet each other. But to
tell you the truth..."

Her eyes flashed with malevolence.

"I think it's better if we settle this now."

"Any chance of letting us just slip through that
nice-looking gate so we can leave you to it?" Ventured Chase.

"Nope." Lila confirmed.

"Alright, then..." Neil walked forward again,
gently pushing Brooke away and standing strong on his legs. "Let's see if
you can protect the gate and fight two people at the same time."

Lila chuckled slightly, a chuckle that evolved into a
full-on laugh. "You can't be serious!" She choked. "You want to
team up with Brocktree?"

OST: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEgyKecqLVU)

"Not in the slightest." Said Neil. "I don't
think anybody is working with anybody else here... so this should be
interesting."

"Well, alright then... seconded." Lila stated,
beginning to twirl her sword again. "Looking forward to seeing what you've
got!"

Brocktree remained egnimatically silent.

"What do we do?" Chase hissed to Jonna.

"W-w-well, I wouldn't m-mind bei-i-ing let out of
t-t-t-this ice!" Shivered Jonna.

"Oh, right! Sorry, Jo."

Three seconds.

That was how long it took for complete pandemonium to break
out.

As Chase and Brooke ran over to Jonna; Neil, Brocktree and
Lila all lunged towards each other with their various blades. As Jonna watched
the scene, Neil flexed his hand and a cloud of dust was thrown into the air,
masking the battleground. There were a few clashes of metal on metal, and then
a razor-sharp piece of ice flew through the air, whizzing by Jonna's head and
off the top of the mesa.

"Chase... I-I'd quite like to b-b-be able to move
again." Jonna managed to stutter, although it was less due to the cold
this time.

"Hmm... 'fraid I'm not sure how to get you out of
this." He turned to Brooke. "You got a match?"

"Chase, this is serious!" Squawked Jonna. "I
- can't - MOVE!"

"Calm down princess, let me think." Mused Chase.
Brooke rolled her eyes before pulling out her sword and sawing at the ice to
Jonna's left.

Jonna looked at Chase incredulously, who shrugged in
response.

"It's as good a plan as any." He admitted, before
hefting a reasonably-sized rock from the ground. "Don't go anywhere."

"Very funny." Jonna grimaced, before turning back
to the battlefield. The dust in the air was still present, but being dispersed
as Brocktree appeared holding a device that seemed to be emitting some kind of
sonic wave - not only was it getting rid of Neil's makeshift smoke screen, but
the two gem wielders were holding their ears in agony. Brocktree took the
opportunity to swing at Lila, who held her metal leg up and blocked the blow,
before jumping into the air and kicking the super sentinel backwards. She then
proceeded to clap her hands and slam them onto the floor - the surrounding
ground was covered with a thin layer of ice, and Brocktree was thrown off
balance. Neil hovered in the air and sent one of his swordarangs flying at the
mercenary, who counted the blow with her own but was knocked backwards as a
result.

"Just hurry, please." Murmered Jonna.

Lila flipped backwards and dug her sword into the ground to
stabilize herself, glaring daggers at both her opponents as she did so. Neil
shrugged as his sword returned to him, while Brocktree's facial expression
remained intangible due to his helmet. However, it was he who struck first as
he leveled his fist at Neil before unleashing another hail of rockets towards
him. There was a blinding light and Neil was thrown across the mesa, slamming
into the ground. Lila charged at Brocktree and their blades clashed.

Brocktree ducked a lunge before kicking Lila in the stomach
and sending her reeling to the ground. The mercenary retorted by extending her
hand, letting ice surround it in the shape of a spear. She then aimed the
weapon at the advancing Brocktree, who was forced to dodge in order to spare
himself. It was at this point that Neil rose from the ground, yelling a
challenge as he tackled Brocktree to the ground, before spin-kicking the super
sentinel away. He then turned to Lila, glaring ferociously.

"Neil! Roar!" Chase called as he bashed away at
the ice. Neil started, before giving his friend a thumbs-up.

"I can't believe that idiiot didn't remember that
sooner." Chase muttered.

"What's a roar?" Jonna asked, unsure if she truly
wanted to know.

"A roar is an over-dramatised attack, in which Neil
blasts a huge wave of air out of his mouth." Chase shrugged. "I guess
for him it's like exhaling really, really hard."

"Is that so?" A voice interrupted them, and Jonna
craned her head to see Lila smirking.

"Hey, don't listen in on conversations like that!"
Scolded Chase. "Don't you have a fight to participate in or
something?!"

"I do, which is why I've been listening for tips."
Lila shrugged before reeling back.

"Wait, what the-" is all Chase had time to say
before the mercenary lurched forward, yelling loudly. A huge energy blast
filled with fillets of ice crystal erupted from her mouth, and it headed
straight towards Neil.

The roar flew through the sky right towards Neil, whose eyes
widened when he saw it before he hastily leaned forward to retaliate. An
enormous jet of air flew from his mouth and smashed into Lila's vortex, sending
both waves of energy glancing off to the side - right into Jonna's position.
The ice around the princess was destroyed and Jonna could feel herself falling
backwards. However, before she could be knocked off the mesa, a hand grabbed
her ankle and pulled her to safety. Looking up, Jonna saw green hair.

"Chase!"

In the meantime, Neil rushed towards Lila, swords extended,
yelling a challenge. However, before he could get there, a missile careened
towards him, fired from Brocktree's armour. Turning in midair, Neil raised his
sword and cut the projectile in half, letting it explode on either side of him.
However, this enabled Lila to rush forward and kick him with her metal leg,
knocking him to the ground. Brocktree raised his arm blades and rushed towards
Lila, who countered with her own sword and began forcing the super sentinel
backwards. However, a blast of air ended up knocking them both backwards as
Neil rejoined the fray, throwing a swordarang at Lila. The spiralling golden
blade collided with Lila's own weapon - and snapped it clean in half.

The mercenary stared in shock at what remained of her weapon
as the swordarang returned to Neil, who proceeded to engage in combat with
Brocktree. Brocktree extended his wrist and fired a length of cable as Neil,
who evaded the grabbing end of the projectile and sliced through the metal with
his sword before continuing his assault on Brocktree.

All this Jonna saw in the space of a minute or so, but it
was as she stared at the fallen cable that an idea began to form in her mind.

Jonna hastened over to Lila, who looked up at her with a
baffled look in her eyes.

"What are you doing?" She groaned as Jonna
approached. "You know I'm you're enemy, right?"

"Yep." Jonna ignored Chase's shouts as she grabbed
the cable line, grinning as she realised that there was a hook on the end.
"But I've just come up with a way to take Brocktree down."

Lila slyly grinned. "I'm listening." She admitted.

"Let's just say..." Jonna tossed Lila one end of
the cable. "When I say take him DOWN, I mean it."

Neil blocked a thrust from Brocktree and retaliated by
spinning around on the spot and trying to attack the warrior with one of his
swords. Unfortunately, Brocktree was anticipating the manouvre and slammed his
boot into Neil's side, sending him reeling. However, the other-dimenisoner
recovered quickly and attacked again, trying to strike the super sentinel down.
However, Neil was tiring and Brocktree seemed to be faring well despite his
damaged armour. He almost casually blocked the strikes that Neil threw his way
before grabbing Neil round the neck with his fist. Neil dropped his sword and
choked as he tried to pull himself away, but to no avail. However, Neil saw the
glint of metal out of the corner of his eye and grabbed the cable just in time.
Upon hearing the words "the chest!" shouted by Jonna, he hastily
attatched the hook to a niche in Brocktree's chest armour before both of them
looked to where the cable had come from.

The other end of the metal wire was encased in an enormous
boulder made of ice, which was currently teetering on the edge of the cliff
with Jonna, Chase, Brooke and Hwin looking on in wonder. Beside it stood Lila,
her metal leg raised. She turned to look at the one who had taken her leg.

"Enjoy the ride, Brocktree!" She exclaimed
triumphantly as the kicked the ice, sending the entire weight toppling off the
side of the mesa, the cable taunting as it began to pull Brocktree down with
it.

The cable taunted again and Neil suddenly felt the hand
around his neck vanish as Brocktree was pulled along by the cable. The super
sentinel was dragged rapidly along the stony ground, and was roaring and
flailing his limbs as he tried to fight the forces of gravity themselves. Neil
dropped to the floor, gasping for air, and watched in triumph as his enemy was
whisked towards the ledge.

However, suddenly Brocktree stopped flailing and his
movements became more calculated. He twisted round onto his stomach and almost
seemed to be waiting for something. A few seconds before what happened
happened, Neil's blood ran cold and he tried to shout out a warning.

But he was too slow.

As Brocktree skidded past the group, his hand shot out
quicker than anyone would belive and grabbed Jonna's ankle. Jonna herself fell
to the ground and began to slide after Brocktree, the force now effecting her
too.

"No! JONNA!!" Chase turned around and dived after
the pair as they reached the cliff face. As they went over, Neil grabbed onto
Jonna's hands and caught her as she went over the edge. The line jerked and
Brocktree's grip on Jonna was thrown off, sending him reeling and falling
after the cable. Chase would have celebrated, but he was more focused on
keeping Jonna from falling - her hands were slipping from his...

OST: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05qjYHlhOzs)

"Jonna!"

Jonna herself was in a slight stupor, and she did little on
her end to try and pull herself up. She had been standing on the ground one moment,
and the next moment she was hanging off a cliff with Chase being the only thing
between her and a very long fall. However, Chase was unwavering in his efforts
and began edging himself backwards across the ground. He craned his neck
around.

"Neil! Brooke! Help me!"

But there was no reply from either of his friends - they
were still engaged in combat with Lila. Gritting his teeth, he turned back to
Jonna - only to come to a horrific realisation.

"Jonna...?" He murmered. "There's...
something on your leg."

Jonna looked down and saw an almost invisible line attatched
to her leg and leading down into the depths of the clouds below the tip of the
mountain. However, even as the two watched, an armour-clad hand emerged from
the fog as it pulled itself up the cable.

"No... no,
no, no NO!" Chase cursed as he frantically strained to pull Jonna
up - but the combined weight of both Brocktree and his quarry were too much,
and he felt himself losing his balance. "This can't- this can't be-"

"Chase."

Chase, shaken out of his thoughts, leant down to Jonna to
see her face - eerily calm, dark green eyes full of determination.

"Let go."

"WHAT?!" Chase exclaimed. "No way. I can't.
Not happening. Jonna, you might-"

"I'll be fine. I don't think Brocktree would go to all
this trouble only to let me die." She smiled a horribly shaky smile,
before her expression became serious once again. "But I need you to
promise me something."

"Jonna, shut... up..." Groaned Chase as he tried
with all his might to pull his load over the edge. "I can get you up here,
I can-"

"Doom us all?" Finished Jonna. "If Brocktree
gets back up there, he won't hesitate to take all your lives."

"We can take him!"

"Neil and Lila are on their last legs. Perhaps
Brocktree is as well, but he could still take us all with his gadgets."

"We can stop him!"

"You can't even stop ME!" Jonna yelled.
"Look, I don't have time to argue. I'm doing this, whether you like it or
not! But before I do, I NEED you to promise me something, okay?" Her eyes
began to water.

"I'm... I'm listening." Chase conceded.

"Return one day." Murmured Jonna as Brocktree's
hand clambed onto her boot. "I want you to go through that gate with Neil,
and Brooke, and Hwin - and once you're safe, and have found a new home, I want
you to come back and help free my kingdom."

Chase looked on, stunned, as Jonna continued.

"I know how selfish this may sound, but I came here on
a mission! On a quest! I can't just fail now, not when I'm so close! I wanted
to find help! Chase... promise me. Please, just promise me... that you'll
return. Even if it's years from now. Even if it's too late to help me. Come
back and free us.”

"I..." Chase faltered, biting his lip. "I
will."

Jonna smiled through her tears. "Promise?"

"Promise."

"Good." Jonna leaned back and, as Brocktree was
just about to attack Chase, let go of her friend's hand. Chase watched as the
two of them plunged into the fog.

He was still for a long time, until a crack and a flash woke
him out of his stupor. Turning around, he saw the gate's portal swirling with
Neil, Brooke and Hwin beside it.

"Come on! We need to go, now!"

Chase nodded and began to walk towards the gate in a daze.
He barely heard himself say, "Where's Lila?"

"Scarpered." Answered Neil, before looking down at
the ground and sighing. "Chase, I saw what happened. Some of it, anyway. I
want you to know that-"

"Neil, not now." Chase turned to Neil, and his
eyes were watering. "Please."

"I'm sorry." Neil placed a hand on Chase's
shoulder and the group walked into the dimensional gate. As they travelled
between the planes of existence, Chase closed his eyes and though.

*You idiot, Jonna.*

*...*

*I've already found a home.*

*And I'm coming back - to it... and to you.*

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

Time passed, as time does. Winter turned to spring, and
spring turned to summer - though the eternal winter that overshadowed Morcia
remained. The gate remained on top of the mesa, untouched by all. Its secret
was never discovered again, for forces of TheDude were never ones for reading,
and those opposing his rule had no time for research of that kind. For over four
long, stale years the gate remained inactive.

But, one crisp morning, that changed.

The blue energy field that had for so long been absent
flickered into existence once again. First a hand jutted forward - then
another. One by one, four bodies fell out of the gate and onto each other.
There was a brief moment of silence.

"Oh... my BACK!!"

"I thought we'd never make it- agh! Qrow! Get off
me!"

"This is so stupid."

"At least you're - OOF! - not at the bottom of the
pile, Talia!"

"Shut up! Neither are you!"

"Oh, quit whining Alizarin! This is the first time the
two of you HAVEN'T squashed me!"

"Well, sorry for being unable to control ourselves as
we fall through space and time aimlessly."

"It wasn't completely aimless."

"Come on you guys, I thought we were supposed to be
sensible? You know, uphold the family honour and all that?"

"Our family is, like, the most dysfunctional family in
the universe."

"You mean in OUR universe."

"You're suck a smart-aleck."

"Says the girl who designed her own weapons."

"You did the same thing!"

"Hey, there's a fine line between *adjusting* and *conceiving*."

"You two are so - huh?"

Talia trailed off as she looked at the fourth member of
their party, who was crouching by the edge of the mesa with the wind whistling
around him.

"We're here." He murmured. "This is the
place... where I failed."

"You didn't fail." Qrow walked forward and offered
him a hand. "You kept your promise and returned, right?"

"Kept part of it." Chase corrected as he rose.
"Our next step is finding Jonna..." he trailed off and turned to look
out over the horizon, drawing strength from the sun. “And freeing this
land!"

*FIN*

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