I’ve been practicing more with my thread and my bearing shots, and I’ve figured out how to make sticky webs from adhesive, fusion, and magnetic magic, making the webs really hard to escape. Furthermore, I’ve been keeping metallics out of my body so I won’t be so weak to lightning.

Thanks to that, I can shoot lightning down the cords and taser people, and if I store some mana in the thread or the bearing, I can do it remotely by firing a photon at it. I’ve got other stuff, but I would rather wait for an opportunity to show it off, instead of just telling you about it.

Tauseht Town is a lot larger than Owneyt, it seems the kingdom is very expansionist. They shouldn’t have too much trouble either, since I don’t see any civilizations within eyeshot of it-

“So you go by Big-Coat, huh?” Someone suddenly asks, surprising me…

Demi - “Who- You’re Slade… How did you get past my Mana-Field?”

He looks and waves his arm around, showing me that he can somehow manipulate it- “I shouldn’t tell you… But I’m guessing you got ambushed at some point. You should setup a contingent signal for when it’s tampered with.” He says, as I begin workin on that.

Demi - “Well, it doesn’t matter much to me, anyways, Slade. I’ll get stronger either way, won’t I?”

Yet he only folds his arms. “In a couple thousand years, I guess you might be among the world’s strongest.” He says, as I realize that I probably don’t have that kind of time…

Demi - “Seriously? What should I do then?”

He shrugs, then looks at one of the food stands. “I dunno’- Oh… I must have left my money back on the Brown Boar…” He says, reaching inside of his cloak…

Demi - “I can spot you, man. What can I get for this?”

I place a block of hyper-dense gold on the table, and the vendor looks at it, before handing us some food items on sticks. “Ha, thanks man. You should definitely join a combat organization, or visit a college of some kind.” He says, another person telling me the same thing.

Demi - “Right, that’s what everyone says. I’m going to, so that’s not really much help anymore.”

He thinks for a moment, then looks at me again. “Eh, well, sorry. I’ll just have to have hope that you survive. It was good meeting you, you’re a nice kid.” He says, before tossing me a couple coins- He DID have money!

Well, I guess that doesn’t matter, it was probably just some weird monk-test, as though it’s supposed to mean something. So a little while later, Ling finally begins the recap on the events of this race, I really missed out on a lot of it this time. I guess I was too focused on taking down Vultrym…

So that Zumo guy, he really just came in first, just lumbered on out of the woods again. Followed by that Mistral guy, and the rest of his team. Then of course Vultrym and the Brown Boar, then the Blue Walrus, and I’m going to stop wasting your time.

It really sucks that Solstice was taken out so early, though… I really wanted to compete against him a little longer, after we dragged the Polar Dominion behind his racer. Still, what’s done is done.

“Big Coat! Help us! Vultrym’s gone missing!” A random dude says-

Demi - “Sorry- Who are you?”

“O-Oh. I’m Colvar. Vultrym… We can’t find her anywhere, we can’t win without her…” He says, disappointing me a little…

Demi - “Really now, Colvar… You would so quickly squander your chances? Do you not have mana, you don’t grow? You don’t need to have a psychic power to be strong.”

He rubs the back of his head then sighs… “You’re right, but she’s still our leader… Won’t you help us?” He asks, as I shrink down my size.

Demi - “Yeah, of course. If she’s in trouble, I have to help her. I won’t let anyone get hurt, as long as I have something to say.”

-√G-

“Zumo…” I say, as he stares down at me… “Do you seriously think you can keep me here?” I ask, as I stand up again and break the cuffs. “I don’t… Have a choice…” He says, standing up to fight me.

“Neither… Do you…” I charge an attack, but he and it suddenly disappears, only for him to then slam me against a wall- “What?! How?!” I scream, as blood pours from my head- “Your power… All of your powers…” He says, as my eyes widen…

“No- You can’t-” I say, as I hold my hand over the dust beneath it… “You believed yours to be at the top…” He continues, taking a fat step towards me… “But no… It pales in comparison to mine, Vultrym…” He says, making me feel a little relieved-...

“What’s so great about YOURS?” I ask. It’s probably some sort of special teleport, he’s been teleporting to the front. “Well… I guess you won’t… Survive anyways…” He says, looking away. “You deserve to know… You deserve THAT much…” He says, as the sand beneath my hand suddenly disappears-

“What-” I try to say, until it finally clicks… “I can stop time… None of you really stood a chance to begin with… Once I get my wish, my friends and I will live peacefully…” He says, lowering his head to stare into my eyes…

-√F-

“So… You guys have any, like, traditions? Ya’ celebrate anything?” I ask, as I fold my arms. “Why do you wanna know?” The boy asks, folding his arms in return, as I place my hand on my head… “I don’t know… My dumb friend told me to get to know other people.” I say, as my hand slides down my mask…

“Well… Every now and then, we hold a carnival, but King Volcarus has never really held any celebrations.” He says, surprising me. “Oh. Who’s he?” I ask, and he points at the castle. “He’s right over there, sleeping.” I shrug and nod. “Whatever, bye.” I say, disappointed.

“Cool.” He says, returning to the stream’s recap, as I decide to turn it on myself. “Yeah, sorry my father couldn’t be here, Ling.” The young prince says, he looks to be about a foot shorter than me. “No-No, I’ve been honored to have you, Prince Alvocus.” Ling says, as the boy’s long golden locks are picked up by the wind.

He’s probably another one of Serif’s bastards. I bet he was thrown out, and Volcarus took him in. “So I’m… Going to assume you’re adopted, right?” Ling asks, and he nods. “Of course, I don’t think my dad is even capable of having kids, sadly… So a brother probably won’t ever happen.” He says, chuckling nervously.

Serif’s offspring have always been unnaturally pretty… “So… About that other goal, Ling…” He says, rolling on his back, and staring at him weirdly- “What about it?” Ling asks, as he rolls his chair away- “Tell me! I wanna know!” He says, suddenly stretched out on his hands-

I WAS actually kind of interested in this auxiliary goal… “No- I really shouldn’t-” Ling says, as Alvoc springs off his hands and his backside lands in the chair again, as he crosses his legs… “Fine, whatever. I’m sure it sucks either way.” He says, and Ling straightens up his papers…

“Yeah, it kind of does… It might ruin the race if the participants heard… Otherwise, I’d love to tell you. It’s pretty clever, if you ask me.” He says, quite proud of himself. “SURE it is… Just, turn off the cameras or something, I HAVE to know!” He says, then Ling looks at the camera, or I guess the camera crew.

“I guess… No. Listen, Alvoc, I can’t risk you telling anyone.” He says, and Alvoc just folds his arms and pouts like the child he is. I close the stream and walk away. “Hey, you’re in the race, right?!” Someone calls out, surprising me as I look over. “Yeah! What of it?!” I ask, as he stares at me nervously.

“I’m giving out free Pokops to all participants! Tell all your friends!” He says, as I walk up and fold my arms… “What is a Pokop?” I ask, as I pick up what looks to be a small dough-ball. “It’s just a sugary ball of dough, it’s Tauseht’s staple food. I’m one of the best chefs.” He says, pointing his thumb at himself.

“So do I just take one?” I ask, but he pulls out a bag. “They’re minis, so I’m giving them out in bags.” He says, as he pulls out a scoop and puts them in a small bag with his advertisement. “Right, fair enough.” I say, as I look at the dark alley behind his little stand, and think about all the possibilities…

I begin to walk away, and pull tendrils from the darkness… “Vilstrous! I need your help!” Demi calls out, and I quickly pull them back, before she spots them- “Big-Coat~! I wasn’t doing anything weird~!” I say, as she stops in front of me.

“Okay… I didn’t think you were… Anyways, I need your help, I’m looking for Vultrym, she went missing. Also, did you see the Prince? He is ADORA- What are you eating?” She asks, gesturing to my Pokops.

“Got it from that guy, they’re nice.” I say, as I phase another one through my mask. “Cool, another thing I’ll never get to taste, come on, man.” She says, and so I do. “Right, WHY are we looking for her?” I ask, as we run around Tauseht Town.

“Because if she’s in trouble, we can help her.” She says. “But she’s our enemy right now, you’re holding us back.” I say, as she suddenly grabs me with a string, and pulls us up one of the towers- “Because we STILL have a choice, and so do you, Vilstrous.” She continues, as I land on top of her, while she looks around-

“I’m a little below a quarter of a year old, Vilstrous, and I’m so much stronger than I should EVER be.” She continues, as we land again, and she bolts down the street at surprising speed- “I don’t deserve my power, and that’s why I have to use it for others, everyone who never got to be so lucky.” She says, as I stare down at her, and sit down…

“Is that why you decided not to kill me?” I ask, and she stops. “No. Well, it is NOW. I had no idea what you’d been through… So abnormally strong for a boy your age…” She says, as I begin looking around.

“I can’t undo what happened, but instead ask that you never let it happen to anyone else, and grow strong with me, to destroy that horrendous cycle your father wants to persist.” She says, surprising me- “You can’t be serious…” I say, as we begin moving again.

“Totally, dude. He’s just a big strong man, right? Someday we’ll be big strong men too, and then we can punch him! REALLY HARD!” She says, as we duck into a manhole cover and I clench my nose to keep the sewage stench out…

We eventually shoot out of the sewers, and I superheat the area around me to remove the horrible smell, and then do the same to Demitallis. “Thanks, and sorry about that. I figured we’d have to look down there at some point, so I decided to get it out of the way.” She says, as we begin moving again.

“So do you really mean all of that?” I ask, as we fly through the air with her threads. “Kind of. I do have my own needs… I just, you know… I just want to share my gift with the world, is all.”

-√G2-

I tear open a large portal, and arrive where I left Vultrym, then quickly close it as she begins to wake up… Zumo’s keeping guard, as expected of a professional like himself. “Ling?...” She asks, as I turn to look at her…

“Good, you’re alive, I’m glad…” I say, and she smiles in misunderstanding… “Oh, no, I mean, I NEED you alive, you see. My chrysalis power doesn’t work on corpses.” I chuckle, as she slowly frowns… “Don’t worry, you won’t suffer…” I say, as I tear open a new portal, and I look at Zumo.

“Drag her in, make sure she doesn’t try anything.” I say, as he does what’s asked of him. “Don’t forget our agreement, Ling.” He says, as he places her among the rest of the chrysalis-capsules. “Whatever he’s paying you, I can double it, I’ll do whatever you want.” She says, surprising me.

“Oh, no, you see, he wields a limited form of time magic, Vultrym.” I say, as she stares at me, and I begin forming the new Chrysalis from my mass… “You see, if I died, people would start investigating, and they would ultimately realize what’s going on with him.” I say, as he looks away.

“I’m sorry…” He says, sitting down and rubbing the back of his head… “And if he said NO… Well, I can always just TELL them, then the legendary Demitrivan would CERTAINLY start hunting him down.” I say, as her eyes widen.

“I had to tell him… He would have disqualified me… I need the prize, for my friends…” Zumo says, as he rubs his arms, and the chrysalis begins to rise above her hips… “So there you have it.” I say, and she falls to her knees, hanging her head in shame…

“Don’t feel so bad, at least when you’re gone, and your power is mine… People will miss you… That’s more than the rest of the mutants can say.” I say, realization somehow only NOW hitting her- “Is that why you gathered us?! So you could get us all at once?!” She asks, and I roll my eye.

“Yes. Of course. There’s so many incredible powers. But Demitallis’s has to be among the best. I can’t wait to get that one.” I say, as she stares at me confusedly- “Right, she’s Big-Coat. Said she’s this thing called a Puddle Kid? I dunno’.” I say, brushing it off, as her eyes widen-

“She’s a puddle kid?!” She screams, surprising me, as the chrysalis raises over her nose, and I decide to start rushing it- “I thought they were all wiped out- You have to destroy her, NOW! Or else it’ll find us again!!!” She screams as the chrysalis shuts around her…

“Who?” Zumo asks, and I test her power on him, firing off a couple pieces of my mass, making him raise his arms to block his face- “Stop that, it hurts…” He says, as I roll my eye again. “Whatever. Like anyone cares anyways, Zumo.” I say, making him stand up and look away in shame again.

“Anyways… Isn’t this pretty cool? Once she’s dead, her power will be mine forever.” I say, as he turns to look at her chrysalis. “What are the other ones?” He asks, as I look at them. “They were made by Starcaller, or so he called himself.” I say, as I dust off my clothes.

“He tried to take MINE, you know. But I managed to break out and trapped him in it instead.” I continue, as we walk through the portal into the dark room again. “After that, I just had to eat all his magic, like sap from a tree.” I continue, as we walk out of the new portal into the quiet space…

“Feel free to go have fun with your friends, Zumo. You earned it.” I say, as he stares at me… “Yes, I promise I’ll leave them alone. Just go now, man. The others won’t be able to say the same soon.” After that, he disappears in an instant, leaving me alone in this dark forest with the power called Warp…

-√A-

It’s already been a day, and I need to prepare for the next race… “Are you sure you don’t want to keep looking, Big-Coat?” Vilstrous asks, as we arrive at the Blue Walrus…

Demi - “I… I looked everywhere, dude… I couldn’t find her… Maybe she’s already here?...”

“De- Big-Coat!” Veyta calls out to me… “Hey, the Polar Dominion’s crew wasn’t able to find their captain!” She says, running up to me. “Do you know what happened to her? I was really hoping for a duel…” She says, worry in her voice.

Demi - “Dammit… She’s really gone missing… You don’t think we chased her off by ganging up on her, do you? I feel kind of bad now…”

“Well, there’s nothing more we can do, unless you want to give up on the competition.” Vilstrous says, as he looks up at me…

Demi - “Fair enough, you’re right. Come on guys, I’ve been hatching a little scheme while I was looking.”

I say, as we return to the Blue Walrus.

Demi - “You see, Slade probably doesn’t know she’s gone missing, so I asked the League of Friendship to take down the Brown Boar, to disqualify Slade, while he’s busy helping me bring down the Polar Dominion.”

Everyone stares at me in surprise for some reason… “Jeez, I didn’t think you were capable of an actually good plan.” Lex teases, as he leans against one of the consoles…

Demi - “Dude, I broke us out of the golden kingdom.”

“Yeah, thanks to Lian.” He says, and I roll my nonexistent eyes- Ling appears at the starting line again… “Alright everyone, there will no longer be any set courses to race along!” He calls out, surprising everyone…

“You see, the towns and cities after Tauseht are too far apart for a race track! Remember, you’ll be heading for Thrayd, the beach town!” He continues, with a map hanging from his hook, while he gestures to it.

“Also… I have to admit, we seem to have had a dropout…” he says, looking down solemnly, as I share in his shame… “Vultrym has left, and I blame myself for not making her feel welcome enough…” He says, as I begin to feel even worse for ganging up on her like that…

It’s still supposed to be a friendly, safe competition, I can’t believe I let myself do that to someone… “Anyways, same rules as last time, wait for the hook to go still, everyone.” Ling says, as the Moon carries him into the sky again…

And after the short wait, we’re finally off to the races again. Without Vultrym standing dauntlessly atop the Polar Dominion, it’s pretty lonely up there on that platform… Anyways, I better get to work-

I arrive less than a minute late, and Slade has already destroyed half of the vehicle, fighting off tons of different people while doing it…

Demi - “Once we get rid of the Polar Dominion, there’ll be no way Vultrym stays in the race, Slade!”

He looks up from pounding what looks to be a polar-bear combined with a bengal tiger into the ground with his fist, before throwing it into the others. “You keep them off me, I’ll destroy the rest of the Polar.” He says, and I start firing bearing shots at them.

I manage to hit about three before they start dodging, and I swing a bearing shot with a rope to try and knock them over, but it doesn’t really work, so I decide to just fire nets, while creating spider webs to protect me from their attacks.

After a while, I even manage to start trapping them in webs, as they barely manage to hit my tarp. I’ve been staying small for the time being, so it’s hard to hit me, and the ones who CAN hit their marks, I can either catch or morph out of the way of the attack.

Admittedly… Having to abandon water mass, so as to not get hit, MIGHT be why I’m so small right now… Anyways, the League finally rushes past us, and the Polar Dominion is less flying, and more sliding against the ground.

Slade looks at them, then at the Polar Dominion, which surprisingly comes to a stop. “What’s going on?” He asks, as its members step out of the cockpit and look around. “It took two of you to beat all of us, without Vultrym…” A man with a lion’s mane says, as he inspects the damages…

“You have my respect for at least standing up to me, and fighting to at least this point.” Slade says, staring at the poor guy… “But your mistake was letting Vultrym hold you back.” He says, as he jumps off the vehicle and lifts it with the rest of it’s team over his head, and turns it into a monument in the dirt of what used to be the Polar Dominion…

I land a few yards away, and crawl up to him, as he turns to look at me… “And your mistake was thinking you could ever trick me.” He says, surprising me, before slamming his foot into the ground, and bolting away as I teleport back to the Blue Walrus.

We’ve been following closely behind the Brown Boar, and Zephyr’s team certainly did damage- Slade appears on it, while Vilstrous climbs to the top with me.

Demi - “Vilstrous, use your power to destroy the Brown Boar, it seems Zehpyr couldn’t quite do it on his own.”

Vilstrous folds his arms, and tendrils suddenly erupt from it, surprising Slade, until he looks around and glares at me, as we continue to speed down the line- He disappears and the tendrils begin dissipating as soon as they appear…

“That’s impossible… He’s literally just running around his giant vehicle, destroying each shade tendril as it appears… What do I do?...” Vilstrous asks, as he falls to his knees, the most defeated I’d ever seen him…

Demi - “Jeez… How do we WIN?... I should have protected the Polar Dominion, while YOU destroyed the Brown Boar, that way I could have gotten Slade thrown out much earlier...”

The League of Friendship basically abandoned the plan ever since Slade started showing off…

Demi - “Give up, we’re not beating him like this.”

He sits down, and just sits there with his head in his hands, as Vascula climbs to the top. “Hey, I saw all of that. That guy is something else, huh?” She asks, walking up to us.

Demi - “Yeah. I’m thinking of just jumping on over, and doing some sort of damage control.”

“Ha, that sounds fun. Bring me along.” She says, jumping up on top of me.

-√G3-

I arrive at the top of the Brown Boar, only to see Big-Coat land on our vehicle. “Ey~! The white coats arrive!” I say, as Slade turns to look at me in disappointment. “Vultrym’s team is finished, they’re not our allies anymore.” He says, as I walk up to the purple one.

“Well then we’ve got nothing to lose, right?” I asked, as he sheathed his sword… “Fullbrim… It looks like I should have taken down your team first.” Big-Coat speaks, as she crawls up to me. “I didn’t realize how powerful Slade really was… He’s concealing it somehow…” She continues, surprising me as I look at Slade, and he just shrugs.

“I dunno’.” He says, as I fold my arms. “Right… So what’s up? You came to hang out?” I ask as she shrinks in size. “Pretty much. Figured I’d try and get a better read on you guys, before I defeat you too.” She says, as Slade descends into the Boar.

“It sucks, whatever got into Vultrym.” Her friend says, surprising me. “Yeah, she just disappeared out of nowhere. You’d figure the cameras would have seen something, at least.” I say, as a crystal chair forms under her.

“How would you know?” She asks, and I rub the back of my neck nervously, having watched the intermission in the background… “Yeah, good point… I guess we should go ask Ling, right?” I ask her, and she folds her arms-

“You called~?!” He asks, descending upon his moon-thing from on high. “You were watching?” I ask, and he jumps down onto the apartment complex that is my vehicle. “Of course, just kind of flicked through and heard my name.” He says, as he leans against the Moon’s chin, as it laughs at me…

“We were wondering about Vultrym, you see… At least ONE of the cameras should have picked her up, right? Before she left?” She asks, and he just stares at her… “Right…” He says, as his eye looks around… “Well?” Big-Coat pushes, as we wait…

“She, did…” He says, as he stands up. “Oh. Did she have anything to say?” I ask, as he folds his arms. “Ah- No… I’m sorry, it was never my intention to hurt someone like tha-” He says, suddenly falling over as his moon hits the floor-

It’s asleep… “That thing sleeps?” I ask, as it just sits there, snoring… “I… Didn’t know… Should I also feed it?” Ling asks, standing up as it continues to snooze away. “You should name it. How about Origami?” Big-Coat suddenly asks, making us look at her in confusion…

“It’s the Japanese art of paper folding. It’s really cool.” She says, as she folds a metal sheet pushes out a metal sheet she had surprisingly folded into a weird shape… “It’s a Crane, you can see the wings, the head. and the tail.” She adds, as her friend picks it up, revealing her bat-wings…

“Where do you even learn this stuff?” She asks. “Oh… That would be best left unsaid.” She says, making me laugh. “Man, I hear that way too much.” I say, as we rush past Trees, until Mistral suddenly lands on my vehicle and sits down-

“Mistral!” I say, and he looks at us. “Check it out, it’s a Crane!” I say, taking the crane from the girl’s hands, and showing him it! “I guess you spotted Vultrym’s downed racer, right?” Ling asks and Mistral gives a simple nod in reply. Well, it looked more like a bow, in all honesty…

It suddenly begins raining, surprising everyone. “Did you see any clouds?” The girl asks, as the rain falls through the gaps of her shingles. “No. You guys?” I ask, and Ling shrugs while Big Coat just squishes themself in a weird way, as to mimic that of a shrug.

The rain suddenly stops as Mistral begins singing- “Woah! He can sing the rain away!” Large-Coat says… “No, his power just- Whatever.” Ling says, as he places his hand on his forehead. “I dunno’, he’s singing, and it’s making the rain leave our general area. So whether you like it or not, he can at least technically sing the rain away.” She argues, surprising him.

“Yeah, I guess you’re technically right…” He says, as she just sits there, no way to emote… “It must be so damn annoying, being unable to perform ANY form of social queue…” I say, as she yet still continues to sit there, with all the expressive potential of a rock.

“Dude, I’m fucking myself over here, it’s so friggin’ annoying.” She says to us through telepathy, yet still just sitting there… “Anyways…” Ling says. “If you need nothing more of me, then I think it might be about time I headed off.” He says, turning around to look at Origami, who is still asleep.

“Bye.” He says, surprising me as it stands up, and he hops on. “Um-” Shingles-Girl hums, as it floats off with him into the distance… “I guess it can fly while it SLEEPS?...” She asks, as we stare at it… “I doubt it. Something’s going on, he wasn’t this nervous earlier.” Not-So-Big-Coat says, the same thing we’re all thinking...

A portal opens behind me, it’s Vivan- “Hello…” He says, as he steps through… “Oh, um…” He continues, as he looks at our guests. “Vivan, meet the white coats, and their leader Big-Coat.” I say, gesturing to her.

“H-Hello…” He says and a metal orb suddenly flies out from under her cloak, hitting him in the forehead- “Agh- Why?!” He asks, surprising me. “I dunno’. I wanted to see if you could get angry.” He calms down and moves behind me,

“I was… Looking for her.” He says, surprising everyone this time. “Vultrym… Did you have any luck?” Big-Coat asks, and he shakes his head. “No. I searched for miles, on Slade’s orders. If she had s-simply just left, I would have found her…” He says, as I look over at the stairs.

“Slade told you to do that? Did you tell him what you found?” I ask, and he shakes his head. “No, I was on my w-way to do that now, but then he wasn’t up here. A-And you were… So I’m disappointed, instead of being nervous, as I was originally anticipating…” He says, as I fold my arms.

“Well, you should go tell him already, big guy.” Big-Coat says, and he teleports away before I can get another word in- “Shit- Well, alright… I was hoping to talk to him…” I say, as I rub the back of my head…

“I’m gonna’ head down, come visit if you like, your position is safe either way.” I say, as I kick open a trap-door below me. “See ya’, Fullbrim. Can’t wait to take you down during the next race.” Demitallis says, before jumping and flying off…

“Huh…” Her friend says, as she watches her disappear into the distance… “Cool if I see your vehicle?” She asks, and I shrug. “Doubt I could stop you, I’m not much of a warrior myself.” I say, and she nods. “Right… I’ll just take that as a yes.” She says, before walking in.

Yes, I’m aware she’s probably going to set up some sort of- “Excuse me… Mister?” A little girl with bright blond pig-tails asks, surprising me… “Who was that boy, during Ling’s interview?” She continues, as she walks up to me with her little toy bear.

“I assume one of Serif’s sons.” I say, and she nods. “I thought so, thank you, Mister. Can I come in?” She asks and I extend my arm. “Sure. What team are you on?” I ask, and she takes it. “I was hiding on the Stone Lotus, then I joined the weird friendship team.” She says, as I guide her in and it begins raining…

“They’re going to lose the next round. Coat has been lying to you.” She says, surprising me again. “What do you mean? How do you know?” I ask, and she shrugs. “I dunno’.” She says. “Right… And you want to join my team, I presume?” I ask, and she nods.

“Yeah, I gave you information. Now you owe me.” She says, as I realize my mistake… “Who’s the kid, Fullbrim?” Foozy asks, as she looks up at him. “Stussy, seventy-eighth sister of the sixth century, daughter of the Legendary Hero himself.” She says, surprising both of this time…

“Wait, so that kid was probably one of your brothers, right?” I ask, and she nods. “Yeah, but daddy probably kicked him out.” She says, and Foozy just looks away. “Jeez… Tough dad, huh?” He asks, as we head further down.

“Yeah. Daddy doesn’t like it when we’re too loud, or too pretty, or talk back too much, or when we don’t call him daddy… I haven’t finished reading Serif’s List of things he hates about his little shits.” She says, making me cringe…

“You poor kid…” Foozy says, as we sit down, and Alton crawls up. “Hey, we inviting our enemies over again?” He asks, and Foozy gives him a thumbs up. “Sweet. Check out my pet frog!” He says, pointing at the frog lying with its feet kicked up on a lawn chair. All topped off with sunglasses.

“You’re cute.” She says, as I ask myself why I let him eat that frog…

-√A-

Ling’s hiding something. He said she appeared, but lanky little Vivan has a much different report. Still, I don’t really know WHO to believe. Either something DID happen to her, and Vivan’s right, or she flew away before Vivan could find her.

It doesn’t add up, so I get to investigate! Like a secret spy! Pretty cool, huh? I need to go look around a little more, I’m sure the rest of my team will win this for me. It took me about an hour, and I might have had to destroy some cameras on the way, but I finally returned to Tauseht.

I searched all day earlier, even traveled the entire sewer system, but I found nothing… Which means there must be rooms hidden from view, which means I have to visit the prince… I decloak-myself as I fly toward the castle while it suddenly begins to rumble-

“A slime?...” A big sleepy voice asks me, as the castle suddenly begins to lift from the ground, revealing a giant castle-face…

Demi - “I’m a puddle kid… But what are YOU?”

I stare at him as a huge fabric mustache unfurls and hits the ground. “I’ve never heard of this… Puddle Kid… I am Volcarus the Living Castle, and the king who rules over Tauseht Town… What brings you here, Puddle Kid?” He asks, as two hands reach out of his tower, and he places them under his head to rest it upon…

Demi - “It’s an honor, your highness. My name is Demitallis Genesis. I need information, a friend of mine has gone missing and I need to know they’re okay. Do you have any maps that might lead to any hidden structures under the town?”

He closes his eyes and hums for a moment until opening them again- “I apologize, Demitallis. But it may take me some time-” He says, but his son walks up to one of his windows- “Dad! I’m trying to get my beauty sleep!” He calls out, surprising him…

“Alvocus, please… I need to look around, spend some time with my friend here.” He says, surprising me…

Demi - “Friends already? Man, it gets too easy sometimes. I’m glad I got a chance to meet you. I had no idea what I was missing out on.”

He laughs as Alvoc jumps from the window and lands in front of me. “So what IS this thing?” He asks, as he looks down at me.

Demi - “Demitallis, or you might know me a little better as Big-Coat. I’m a puddle kid, if you’ve ever heard of those.”

He stares at me, then blinks. “Yeah… You guys got wiped out by Arigold like two thousand years ago, right?” He asks, as I grow in size.

Demi - “Sort of. Seems he missed one… Anyways, let’s leave your old man alone, while he helps me out.”

“I guess it’s a nice enough day, could do with a little more wind, for my hair…” He says, whipping it backwards as he places his hands in pockets.

End of Chapter: 47√AFG3 “Sweet and sour.”

Thank you for reading.

“Thanks.”

“Sure. Thanks.”

“Thanks! You enjoying the race too?”

“Would you- Oh. Thanks! Will you buy a pack?”

“Yeah, sure, thanks…”

“Mmm… No, I’m busy…”