Chapter Ten
[Neo]
"And...uh...why do you think we should ready our
forces?" asked King Marley.
"Because the rebel group is planning an assault
on us," replied Neo, standing before the king's throne. King Marley
stood up and walked toward Neo.
"How do you know all this?" he asked.
"I've spent the last few days spying on their encampment.
And I also came to one of them during the night."
"You did? What on earth for?"
"To warn him that an attack on us would be foolish.
I was hoping it would discourage him, but I have a feeling he'll be here
soon."
The king coughed. "I'm curious, Neo.
Who is this foolish person, and why the h*ll would you do something like
that?"
"He's an old friend, your majesty. I know
him well, and it seemed right for me to do so."
"And why didn't you kill him then?" asked the king.
He paused. "I'm not like that…"
"Like WHAT?!" screamed the king. "You're not
a scumbag like me, is that what you're saying?"
"Not at all."
"How dare you insult me like that! Placing
yourself as a better person than myself! If you weren't my finest
warrior, your head would be off your shoulders so fast, it'll make you
cry."
"I'm sorry," said Neo.
"Sorry is not good enough. You're on thin
ice, Neo. From now on, never ever go on your own little 'spying'
expeditions without permission from me. Your orders come from me,
not yourself. Is that clear?"
"Yes."
"This type of foolish behavior on your part is how
great kingdoms fall, and as long as I'm on the throne, this kingdom will
not fall. Now, ready your forces, do whatever the h*ll is necessary
to stop an assault. Just get out of my chamber before I get even
more angry."
Neo turned around and left the throne room, not
even bowing to the king as he went out. Marley maintained a hard
glare on Neo's flowing black cape as he exited and slammed the door.
Marley sat back on his throne and stared angrily into space.
[Belisarius]
The party walked toward the castle in silence, mentally
preparing themselves for what they would soon do. The odds were against
them, and their plan was flawed in more ways than one. They had decided
to go with the plan proposed by Roland and Belisarius, as nobody really
had a better idea. It wasn't long before the castle appeared on the
horizon, looming over the vast plains around it. They would part
company soon, and would have to unload the horse they had "borrowed" for
the plan.
In a small copse of trees just before the open grassy
area around the castle, they unloaded their horse, and prepared to part
ways. Part of the plan depended on Belisarius' ability to ad-lib
and roleplay, but it was founded on his real accomplishments, so it had
a good chance of succeeding. The castle's knights had gone on a training
exercise, reducing its defense... but by no means making this an easy task.
Belisarius approached the castle on the horse, while
his compatriots moved around to the west wing, where the king's guests
stayed. They had the benefit of the castle being of a more provincial
sort, not surrounded by a village, simply near one. This would allow
for a more stealthy activity, not having to worry about villagers wandering
around noticing people climbing into the castle.
He reached the drawbridge, which was drawn up, and
stopped. He looked around, until finally he heard a voice calling
at him from a small opened area of wall to the left of the drawbridge.
"Who are you? What do you want?" said the
voice - obviously the guard on watch. Belisarius looked at the tiny
slit in the wall, then responded.
"My name is Belisarius. I'm a knight of a
kingdom far away. Your general, Neo, can confirm this," Belisarius
said, knowing full well that Neo was gone with the exercising knights.
The guard was silent for a moment, then said, "Neo's
gone. You'll have to come back later if you want-"
"I'm here to see the king, not Neo."
Again, the guard was silent. Finally, "Alright...
I think I've heard of ya. Realize that you'll have to have an escort
to see the king. He'll be outside the throne room." Belisarius
heard three quick raps on stone, and then the sound of the drawbridge grinding
down. Belisarius walked across on horseback, and could hear the drawbridge
being raised. It was odd, he thought, but seemed to fit the paranoid
Marley.
Belisarius dismounted just inside the gates, and
walked to the throne room as a stableboy led his horse off. The castle's
interior was rich and showed every sign of Marley's opulence; he obviously
put a lot of effort into impressing his visitors... and robbing his people.
Belisarius steeled himself, hoping he wouldn't give himself away by showing
his anger in the throne room. Outside the throne room, another guard
stopped him. "Going in to see the king? Then I'm supposed to
accompany you," he said. Belisarius simply shrugged, and walked in,
the guard in tow.
Belisarius walked up to the throne, and kneeled
before the king, "Majesty." The king looked at him, realizing that
he was a knight.
"Rise," was all he said, and Belisarius rose just
in time to see a sneer on Marley's face disappear. Belisarius almost
killed Marley then, but realized he'd have no chance. At least a
dozen guards surrounded him. Instead, he spoke.
"Majesty, my name is Belisarius. I hail from
the same kingdom as your general, Neo. If he were here, he could
inform you himself. I am journeying, and felt that I should pay respects
to the lord of this realm."
Marley eyed him. "Yes... Neo has talked somewhat
about you. He's let me know that you're a worthy knight. Perhaps
you care to join my guard? Well, perhaps not. In any case,
you're likely tired."
"Yes, liege. I would appreciate a room.
I could use some rest after riding."
Marley nodded slightly, "Certainly. Your room
will be in the west wing of the castle. Your escort will show you
the way." Belisarius bowed, then followed the guard to his room.
After about an hour, Belisarius had everything set
up, and was just waiting from the signal from the rest of his party.
The signal finally came, which coinciding exactly with a knock on his door.
He glanced from door to window, then opened the door. Behind it were
4 guards of the big and nasty variety. As soon as the door was open,
they burst in.
Glancing again at the window, this time as a means
of escape, Belisarius called, "What's the meaning of this? How dare
you barge in here?"
The guard in front simply said, "You're an idiot.
Did you not think that general Neo would tell us about the rebels?
Whatever you were trying to accomplish, you've failed. I think you
had best come with us to the dungeons." He then grabbed at Belisarius,
clamping his arm in a vice-like grip. Belisarius struggled, "accidentally"
knocking over a small table, which sent his rope, securely fastened, out
the window.
Hoping the others would see it, he allowed himself
to be led to the dungeons of the castle.
[Dhsu]
While the rest of the party was preparing to storm
Marley's castle, Flea was rummaging around Spyder's clothing.
"Flea, that's rude you know!" Spyder complained.
"Don't you have your own clothes?"
"Yeah, but a lot of it doesn't fit anymore.
And all your clothes make me look fat!"
"I resent that!" shot Spyder.
"Say, Flea," Parsnip noticed, "you have been
putting on a few pounds..."
"What?" Flea exclaimed. "Have I really?
I knew I shouldn't have eaten so much..."
"He's right," Magpie whispered inside Flea's head.
"And it's not because of something you ate. It's because..."
Again, her voice trailed off. "N-never mind, I--I better not tell
you."
"Look," said Flea sternly. "Your body is my
body now, and if there's anything wrong with it, I need to know!
It's my business too, now!"
Magpie heaved a soft sigh. "All right, I'll
tell you. I...you're...I'm pregnant."
"YOU'RE WHAT?!?" Flea exploded out loud.
The whole group stared at her, but she didn't notice. "I'm carrying...a
BABY?!"
"Yes, that's the reason I was exiled...my lover
was, too, but he doesn't have to worry about this."
"Well, I don't want to worry about it either!" Flea
shouted. "EXORCIUS!!"
Immediately, she started choking uncontrollably.
After much back-patting and stomach-squeezing, Flea finally spit out a
small, black stone.
"Great," Roland sighed. "Here we go again..."
[Flea]
Flea suddenly woke up, gasping, in a cold sweat.
"Whew...it was just a dream," she said in relief. She knew none of
that had really happened, but just to make sure, she consulted Magpie.
"Hey, Magpie, are you...pregnant?" Flea asked.
"Well, that's a rude question, but not to my knowledge,
no," she replied.
"Great," Flea said. "I've got enough problems
as it is. I can barely get dressed in the morning. I didn't
know half the things women wear even existed!"
"Ugh, men!"
[Dhsu]
"Okay, well, even if it was only a dream, I have
to admit that having my soul transferred into the body of a female isn't
exactly the greatest experience I've had in my life. I think it'd
be better for both of us if I found a more...compatible...body. In
fact, this raid may be just what you need to overcome your depression.
Besides, it wouldn't hurt to have another person on our team, would it?"
Before Magpie could answer, Flea said loudly, "Exorcius!"
His soul could be seen being expelled from Magpie's body, his mind condensing
in mid-air into a bright red speck of light. The rest of his soul
quickly solidified around it as a hard, glossy, black substance, and with
a peculiar sucking noise, the small soul stone dropped onto the grass.
Roland had already begun chanting. "...by
the apparition of a ghost, find Flea's soul a male human host."
Immediately, Flea's soul stone began glowing and
shot away from the group, quickly disappearing into some trees. Moments
later, they heard a scream coming from Cyclinbear's direction. Everyone
turned and saw a ninja shrouded in dark robes, holding his katana against
Cyclinbear's throat. "Hey, everyone, it's good to be back!" he said
slyly.
"Flea, is that you?!" cried Cyclinbear. "Let
go, you good-for-nothing bounty hunter, you! This is really starting
to tick me off!"
"Ah, ah, ah, that's mister ninja to you!"
Flea replied, releasing Cyclinbear as he laughed behind the black cloth
covering everything but his eyes. It was a deep, hearty, masculine
laugh this time. "Say hello to my most gracious host -- Dhsu."
Tazor and Parsnip stared. Cyclinbear scowled
as he brushed himself off. Roland looked on with an interested expression.
No one smiled.
"All right, all right," Flea said. "I'll make
up for my little 'prank' by scouting ahead." That said, he jumped
to reach the rope Belisarius had let down. The next moment, he was
yelling, flailing his arms as he sailed over twenty feet in the sky.
He began to descend and franticly grabbed the rope, slipping several feet
before coming to a complete stop.
"Could you...do that...before?" Flea asked Dhsu,
panting heavily.
"No, but it seems that I can now, thanks to you,"
he replied.
"Thanks to me? I didn't do anything, I promise,
please don't throw me out!"
"No no no, it's quite all right. You must
have been a Dragoon before being expelled from your body."
"Ehhh, well, it wasn't my body. I was
actually originally an assassin, and the Dragoon turned out to be a woman."
Flea could feel Dhsu lifting an imaginary eyebrow in interest. "Don't
ask," he added quickly.
"Oh? Perhaps another time then," Dhsu said
in a disappointed tone.
"Yeah...another time."
"Well, I guess you're not familiar with how soul
stones work," Dhsu said, changing the subject.
"Whaddaya mean?!" Flea exclaimed. "I've been
one twice already!"
"Yes, but you don't know what power these stones
possess..."
"Power?"
"Whenever a soul occupies another body, the host
acquires the second soul's abilities and vice versa," Dhsu explained.
"It takes time, of course, but it's well worth every second, and it sure
beats the years of arduous training it takes to obtain those skills normally."
"Sooooo..." Flea said slowly, trying to take everything
in. "I learned how to jump from Magpie...and you learned how to jump
from me."
"Precisely. I've already learned how to steal
valuable objects and throw knives (as well as various other household items)
from the finest late thieves and ninjas in the world. The advanced
knowledge and skill necessary to transfer your soul into a soul stone before
passing away naturally selects only the best of the crop."
"I see. So...what happens when you're done...assimilating
all my abilities?" Flea asked a little nervously.
"Well..." Dhsu replied slowly. "Let's just
say I hope you enjoy your manhood while it lasts."
[Flea]
Magpie was sitting off in the darkness while everyone
else asked questions about soul stones, what they can do, and listened
as Dhsu filled them in. They had then decided how to split up control
of Flea. After a certain interval, they would pass him on to the
next person, and so on, until they had learned all the skills they could.
Magpie was disgusted. They treated Flea like an object, rather than
a person. She decided it was time she split ways with them, and take
Flea with her.
That night, as everyone lay asleep, Magpie opened
her eyes, and surveyed the scene. Everyone appeared to be out cold,
but she ought to make certain. She muttered a sleeping spell and
cast it on the group. She slowly stood up, working the stiffness
out of her limbs. Pulling her armor on quickly, she grabbed her lance
and made her way to the main camp, where everyone had set up their tents.
She noticed one of the tents was still illuminated, and crept past silently
to Dhsu's. As she prepared to enter his tent, Cyclinbear stepped
out of his tent, quickly followed by Spyder, than Roland.
"Hey, who's there? Identify yourself!" Cyclinbear
said, in a whisper packed with enough power to command attention.
He shined his lamp toward Magpie, and gasped. "What are you doing?
And in full armor to boot!"
"I could ask what the three of you were doing together
in that tent, instead of your own. But that would be exceedingly
rude."
Spyder then spoke up. "We don't need to explain
ourselves to you. But if you want to know, we were playing poker.
Now get in here and tell us what your doing skulking around that guy's
tent!" Magpie looked about uncertainly, than followed them into the
dim interior of the tent.
"You will not try to stop me from my task," she
said angrily.
Roland spoke up finally. "Magpie. Calm
down. We simply wish to know what you are doing. It is rather
suspicious seeing one of our newest party members walk around in the middle
of the night in full combat dress." He watched her carefully, expecting
an attack. Instead, he saw her blur, then move through the tent opening
and than flick out of sight.
"Holy...did you see how fast she moved? That
was insane..." Cyclinbear stuttered. All three ran out of the tent,
and saw no sign of Magpie. Suddenly, Spyder saw something slip out
of Dhsu's tent. As she ran toward it, she recognized Magpie's dragoon
armor. She was about to draw her sword on her, when Magpie turned
toward her, than jumped away from the camp toward the castle. Spyder
quickly cast an infravision spell, and watched as the dragoon flickered
toward the castle, then leapt into one of the windows, roughly forty feet
in the air.
"Damn! We had enough trouble with Flea when
he had a body...now this little cupcake goes and makes it even harder on
us," Roland muttered. Suddenly they heard a commotion back
at camp. Dhsu was rampaging around, slashing at trees with his sword
and cursing loudly.
"That ***** stole the soul stone! She has
Flea! AAARGG!"
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