“Follow me.”

Nami trails behind me. I think for a second… Perhaps I should also get Gobber for this… If he can miss a single day away from his children… Today should be that day. Heading inside to get Gobber, I notice his children are far bigger than I remember them. Then I realize it has been a few weeks since I had last seen them. Compared to humans, they age incredibly fast. They look over a year older… I laugh internally at the fact that everyone in this army keeps changing so fast.

“Morning Gobber… Can I speak with you for a few moments?”

“Sure master… What is this about?”

“Ah, you know how the war is coming up soon? Well, I would like for you to get some practice in before it starts... If you're allowed to… A single day is all you need.”

“I'll have to-. Let me go speak with Hilda.”

He heads over to Hilda, who was sitting in the corner of the room playing with a few of her children… While he leaves I'm approached by 2 of his children… I remember him saying something about one punching him in the face when he dropped his guard… So I lower myself down to their level but am prepared to block any attacks thrown at me. I begin to speak in goblin to them.

“Hey. How's it going you two. Having fun playing with your papa?”

One hiding behind the other. The one out in front (the brave one) begins to speak.

“Are you… Are you the hero from the stories uncle Kline tells us?”

“Hmm… I'm not sure, can you tell me one of the stories.”

“Did you fart in a monsters face?”

I let out a little laugh. What is Kline telling these children.

“I don't remember perhaps there was something else about the story you could tell me?”

“Y-you turned into a dragon and breathed fire on it. Cooking it so you could serve it to us.”

“Ah, yea that sounds like me. Do you want to see me turn into a dragon?”

Both of their eyes shoot wide open. They definitely wanted to see me turn, I call the other children over and tell them to back up a little. I could change into a dragon in here… It would just be a little more cramped then places I normally change into. I change into my dragon form. The sight of me changing, most of them looked excited. Screaming as they had just seen something from one of their stories. One looked scared though. I immediately changed back into my human form.

“What's the matter? Are you okay?”

The little goblin was almost on the verge of tears from the sight of me… Was she scared of me being a dragon. Crap.

“Little girl. You don't have to worry about me when I'm a dragon, I only eat bad things like monsters. I would never eat a little girl like you.”

That seems to calm her down a little bit. I have to ask before I leave… If it would be okay to bring my pets here a few times a week to distract them. Gobber comes walking over.

“I… I'm sorry master… Hilda said she needs all the help she can get taking care of the kids… She might fall over from exhaustion if I leave for an entire day...”

“...What if I brought my pets over to distract them while we trained? After the training I'll even watch them for a day if you two want a break.”

He goes back over and talks to her some more… I'm going to get the kids on my side for this fight… What an awful idea but I need Gobber for this fight… Even with this long hiatus as my general, he is still very strong. One of my stronger generals still… I need his help for this fight, he is strong enough that he might be able to shift the tides of battle… Especially if I make him stronger. I talk very quietly to the children.

“Hey… If I can borrow your father for a little while. I'll let you play with my pets if you want. I have enough for one to each of you…”

Wait… With Morpheus gone, Darkclaw wouldn't be able to fit in the door… I would be short one… DAMN! Who can I get to help… I'm going to have to ask Neko for a favor. The children are all more than happy about the deal. Rushing over to their two parents to talk… Hilda looks over at me with a look of. “I hope you don't think you're getting away with this.”

Yea I already know this is going to most likely backfire. Gobber comes walking over with a defeated look on his face. It seems my actions have gotten him in trouble. I feel bad but I do need him. Nami has been standing their quietly this entire time. Gobber speaks.

“Well… I'm allowed to go with you…”

“Alright, I'll go get my pets to help baby sit while we're gone.”

I send my five available pets. Darkclaw is probably out exploring, Purple was hard to find until I used the phrase booby trap to get him to show up. I had to track Neko down as well. Asking Purple where her thought patterns are. He sends me to my own room. She is sleeping on my bed, wearing someone elses loosely made clothing... Still in human form, I bonk her on the head to wake her up.

“What are you doing in my room?”

“I thought you could use some company tonight but got tired of waiting and fell asleep.”

“I'm good on company when I sleep in here. My pets all sleep in that bed... The pillow you are using is Sock's. He'll be able to track your scent now any time he wants to eat you.”

Her tail frizzles up behind her.

“NO! Don't let him eat me!”

“Alright but you have to do me a favor. Can you help baby sit my friends children?”

“I don't really like kids… If it is for you… I'll think about it.”

“I'll give you something that will make you stronger if you do.”

Her tail starts to wag back and forth.

“What is that!?”

I pull out one of the vials of false soul stone… I really want to test something once I get more but one vial wouldn't hurt.

“Go ahead and drink this, I'll be able to teach you another class once you do. Plus you'll get a few other things with it.”

“Okay.”

She starts to drink it then spits it out all over the bed… Those are expensive! She puts her tongue out then says.

“Bitter.”

At this very moment Nami and Gobber come walking into the room… On my bed is a barely dressed female... Now sitting closely to a giant red mystery stain… I speak to avoid any confusion.

“I know it's bitter but the only way to get stronger is to drink it. Here, don't spit this one out… Actually, I can probably flavor it sweeter for you.”

I pull out another vial of false soul stone. I pull out one of my meals and grab the chocolate bar. Crushing it up and mixing it into the vial. I breath a little fire to liquefy the chocolate before giving it a quick stir. Handing it to her she takes a sip at first. Realizing it is much tastier than before, she drinks the remaining false soul stone with no hesitation. I have to take care of this before the stain sets…

“Gobber, can you take her to your room with the other pets while I clean up this mess… Also Neko, please don't wander into my room or Sock might eat you. I told him not too today but tomorrow… Just be careful.”

She shakes a little out of fear. I don't dislike her but these misunderstandings could end badly if word gets back to Leaf. I wash the stain out with water from a flower pot in my room… What a waste I think to myself as I take the blanket outside to dry. Nami following behind, she asks the obvious question.

“You didn't… Did you?”

“No. I tried to give her a false soul stone but she didn't drink it because it was too bitter… I wouldn't either…”

“I'm not judging you if you did… You can tell me the truth.”

“NO I DIDN'T!”

I yell, flustered for the first in a long time that I've been embarrassed. Nami laughs jokingly at me, she was only teasing me… I'll get back at her for that. Hanging the blanket out to dry, we head back to Gobbers room… I keep needing to do little things when I should be training. I need to get yellow mage and saboteur up to level 10. I need to try and help Gobber and Nami get stronger. Because of this, we're going to use the time tree again…

I open the door and… Each child has taken a liking to a different pet. All of them have paired off, even Neko who said she hates kids is getting along with hers. Smiling and drawing with a piece of charcoal… I should really make them a painting set to practice with. Even a few basic colors would help them express themselves more…

Hilda is sulking in the corner. Obviously displeased I'm taking Gobber… Honestly, the pets make much better baby setters than a single Gobber. The numbers match up so it is easier for each kid to get the attention they need. I get the attention of a gnoll and send them into Shienta to buy a gold worth of paint… Thinking about the price… It would be too much for him to carry, so I have him buy the amount he can carry worth of paint.

We head inside the castle mimic… I don't think either of them has been inside here… Gobber looks slightly impressed while Nami looks on in amazement… Gobber has come to expect these fantastical things by this point. I would be surprised if he was surprised. We head over to the tree. Heading inside I explain the situation. I still have a few months worth of meals in my void bag being carried around… I should have really reduced the weight of my equipment at some point. Flying with weights is an intense hassle.

I explain the rules. 1 day inside is equivalent to 2 weeks in this room we're going to be staying in. I explain the top floor is an entire year to one day and that is how Leon, Lance and I got so much stronger. Nami understands then says.

“What good would training 2 weeks in here do compared to training 2 weeks outside?”

“Good question. There is nothing to do in the tree so we'll be forced to train no matter what. It gives me time to try and get you both stronger. We don't have 2 weeks before the fight against the pirates… I've put it off for too long, if I don't do it soon... I feel I never will attack them.”

Gobber looks a little scared by what I just said. I wonder if he is claustrophobic.

“I don't know if I could be separated from my kids for that long. What if they get hurt?”

“Gobber… We need to win this war at all costs… Do you know what will happen if we don't?”

“I… Haven't really thought about it.”

“On top of the heavy casualties we would have… The first thing that happens is the pirates come to attack Shienta. Forcing us to leave the fortress. If we're forced to move anywhere, some of us will die in the process of moving… Everyone we know at Shienta will be dead. Humans have been kind to all the non-humans because we've been useful up until now. If we lose that right gets taken away. We might be attacked, separated, subjugated or straight up killed because of this...”

We continue walking in silence… There is more I could discuss but it becomes too graphic at that point. If we do lose… Most of us will end up dead… The pirates would most likely destroy the murine folk and lizard men villages while heading to Shienta and then burn the city to the ground as well. We would definitely lose the war against the north at that point. Fighting against the pirates... I highly doubt my group will go unpunished… The lucky few that aren't killed outright, would most likely be made into slaves. Without another word, with renewed focus on getting stronger. We all know we must get stronger.