Written by BHart
November 3, 2007

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Act LXXIII
The Irresponsible Procurer of Durst

The cool dawn air breezed gently across the shore. The cold waters splashed up onto the shore, cooling the sands. "Damn, that's cold," said Ashlynn, waking up to the cold. She looked around, finding herself on a beach. She saw Mia cooking fish.

"Good morning. Are you hungry?"

Ashlynn enjoyed the warmth of the fire. "Where are the others?"

Mia pointed northeast saying, "They're still asleep."

"If it weren't for your amazing abilities in the water, we probably would've drowned or ended up separated," said Ashlynn.

"I almost lost Potter there for a moment. Your little taru bodies make good driftwood."

"Where are we?" asked Ashlynn.

"We're not far from the Gugru Blue waters. I'd say we're at Bibiki Bay."

"Oh really? That worked out great. We aren't far from our destination."

They arrived at the outpost on the Buburimu peninsula. There were monsters there as usual, working for the council of princesses. "Oh great, another outpost," said Nami, sarcastically.

"I really hate how the council is playing big sister at the outposts," said Mia.

"Don't worry, I can get us by," said Potter. Potter started playing the horde's lullaby song, putting everyone who was stationed at the outpost to sleep.

"Good thinking, honey," said Ashlynn.

Tahrongi canyon lied beyond. They headed south west, keeping a low profile as best they could. They rested on a hill just north of the Ahopahgo pass.

Potter was looking through a pair of binoculars. "The pass heading southward is crawling with Traliz soldiers. There's no way to sneak by them."

A group of people coming from the crag up north were approaching them. "We'll be hiding behind those giant boulders over there," said Kousagi. She, Mia and Nami left.

A large group of people walked by.

A female hume was traveling with a half dozen dhalmels following behind. "Ashlynn? Is that you?"

"Dorothy?"

"It's been a while. What are you and Potter doing here?"

Ashlynn and Potter explained to her the recent turn of events. "I'm so glad to hear that the sailor senshi are coming back. I'm getting sick of the council being "big sister" to everyone. I can help you get to Durst." She explained her plan.

"It just may work; Potter, bring the sailor senshi over," asked Ashlynn.

"Wow, I forgot how big those creatures were," said Kousagi, looking up at the dhalmels.

"I trained each and every one of them. They're beautiful critters," said Dorothy.

"Let's saddle up," said Ashlynn.

"We're going to ride these things?" said Kousagi, nervously.

"There's nothing to it. Shouldn't be much different than riding a horse," said Nami.

Dorothy led the way southward down the path. The dhalmels were very quick runners, trampling over some Traliz soldiers along the way.

"We should do this more often. I love taking out council scum," said Nami.

They reached the entrance to east sarutabaruta.

"We should dismount here, we'd really stand out in Durst with these dhalmels," said Dorothy.

"Thank you. It was really good seeing you again," said Ashlynn.

"Good luck to you all."

Potter handed the sailor senshi hooded jackets. "Put these on. No one should notice you unless they get a close up look."

They arrived at the town of Durst.

"We'll need to be extra careful from now on, now that the council is aware you're back, warned Ashlynn.

They arrived at a large tower called Heavens Tower. They accessed a secret elevator on the top floor. They went up one more level, a secret level. Some taru tarus greeted them.

"Has anyone seen Feral Heart?" asked Ashlynn.

"We haven't seen her for a while. You know how she is; always thinking of money."

"When I find her, she's going to get it. She's always shirking her responsibilities," complained Ashlynn.

"What now?" asked Mia.

"You three wait here while Potter and I go looking for Feral Heart."

The three senshi caught up on old times while they waited.

"You are very good at riding beasts. It comes natural to you, like riding stick," said Mia.

Nami blushed.

"You were such a big flirt back in the day," remembered Kousagi.

"At least I didn't treat guys like garbage like that Andree jerk did. She was ruthless," said Nami.

"Andree? Is she the one that appeared nice on the outside; and when guys tried to get to know her better, she treated them like crap?" asked Kousagi.

"She gives women a bad name," said Mia.

"She always led people on by acting interested in them and flirting; even though she had no interest at all. She gave people her phone number and never returned any messages. If the guy tried talking to her afterwards, she just rolled her eyes at him and turned her back towards him. She always used to make fun of them. Then she still sent mixed messages to them. She was a shallow, stuck up mega bitch," remembered Nami.

"That's just mean. I wonder what ever happened to her?" asked Kousagi.

"I don't know. People like that eventually get what they deserve," replied Mia.

Sailors Bianca and Belinda were at the council of princesses headquarters.

"You shouldn't have told them about the sailor senshi. I don't like being scolded for failing to capture them," said Sailor Bianca.

"I thought they would've given us some back up."

"We're on our own. We can take care of it," assured Sailor Bianca.

"If only we knew where they were. They could be anywhere; maybe even dead."

"Either way we need to check," replied Sailor Bianca.

Sailor Belinda was checking some reports earlier that day from her henchmen. "It looks like we have a good lead."

The report read, "There were an estimated 36 dead Traliz soldiers and monsters trampled to death in Tahrongi canyon earlier today by a herd of dhalmel. The beasts were mounted, but nobody recognized who they were."

"It has to be them. They were probably headed for Durst," thought Sailor Bianca.

Ashlynn and Potter were tired out from looking for Feral Heart. "We'll check one more place then take a break," said Ashlynn.

"Good, my feet are killing me."

They found Feral Heart on the docks, selling spell scrolls.

"There you are! We've been looking everywhere for you. It's a good thing Nchaa knew where you were," said Ashlynn.

"I need to make a living," replied Feral Heart.

"Let's see what you're selling," said Potter, taking spell scrolls out of her bag.

"You're selling level 5 spells for 5,000 gil? Are you crazy? No one who knows what they're doing would pay that much. You're the greediest mithra I know."

"Most of these spells you can get at the auction house for more than half of your prices," said Ashlynn.

"But I've seen people selling the drain spell for 10,000 gil. I thought I was selling my spells at a reasonable price," explained Feral Heart.

"That's because you have to go on a quest to get that spell. You just can't buy it anywhere like the spells you're selling," explained Ashlynn.

"I assume you two are here to check up on me? My sailor senshi is in safe hands."

"We're not checking up on you," said Ashlynn. She explained to Feral Heart what had been going on.

"It's about time the council got what they deserved," said Feral Heart.

"If you attended your duties instead of ripping people off with your merchandise, you would've known what's going on from the taru tarus in the tower," scolded Ashlynn.

"Okay, okay. I get it. Where did you leave the senshi?" asked Feral Heart.

"They're where you should be now. Come on, let's go," said Potter.

They walked in on the sailor senshi playing cards. "You're back!" said Kousagi.

"Let's get going. The council will probably be hot on our trail if they aren't already," warned Ashlynn.

"Lead the way, Feral Heart," said Potter.

Feral Heart walked in the direction of her house.

"Where are you going? This doesn't lead out of town," asked Potter.

"I need to pick up a few supplies before we leave," explained Feral Heart.

"No!" said Potter and Ashlynn, in unison.

"You can sell your crap later. We need to gather up the rest of the sailor senshi as soon as possible," emphasized Ashlynn.

"Okay already," said Feral Heart, changing direction.

They found themselves in West Sarutabaruta.

They walked northward, towards Starfall Hillock where there was an outpost. They hid behind some trees and rocks and examined the situation.

The sun was setting.

Potter was looking through his binoculars saying, "This is really weird."

"What is it?"

"There's no one at the outpost. Not a soul on patrol."

"I don't like this at all. Something's wrong," said Ashlynn.

"That's because they're here, with us," said a voice. Sailors Belinda and Bianca were standing behind them, along with four Yagudo Votaries.

"I didn't think you'd find us so quickly. But that still doesn't change the fact that you're going to die," threatened Mia.

"If I remember right, you fled before us last time," said Sailor Bianca.

"That won't happen this time," promised Kousagi.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Sailor Belinda, catching Feral Heart trying to sneak away.

"Me? I am putting my merchandise in a safe place. Can't let any of it get damaged while we kick your ass."

"I wish you didn't care about that junk so much," said Potter.

"It took a long time to procure that merchandise; I'm not going to allow anything to happen to it."

"It's time to blot you out of existence for the council," said Sailor Belinda.

"Bring it on, blubber sisters," mocked Nami.

..to be continued..