"Right to the left", The captain yelled up to me.

Her hair flailed over her green eyes and then tossed back behind her head.

I didn't really notice her before. I was in shock over Ianite and she was wearing that uniform. Now she was wearing jeans and a red t shirt.

Sparkles and I were both looking to get her attention. It was almost like our own competition.

I was pretty fond of Sparkles. He had an attitude like Hope's. Wanted to change the world, sure for a world without chaos, but the Ianites were ambitious and would brake any rule to get with they wanted and I respected that.

So Sparkles was a good opponent. We had got closer so that helped. The whole team had gotten closer.

I jumped down from the boat onto the dock. The captain didn't glance at me. Jordan was at a table set up at the end of the dock with blueprints that Red Beard had made.

She would go over with Sparkles and he would tell her what else would need to be done. I would have taken the job, being able to talk to her more and such, but I knew nothing about engineering or science or whatever the hell Sparkles used to know what those blueprints meant.

Capsize whispered something to Sparkles and he laughed his dorky laughed.

One of those things where Hope is actually helpful.

Speaking of her, I could see Hope in the distance lugging a bucket of water that she was bringing for supplies. Every time she took another step water would splash out and hit her shorts. She wasn't going to have any water by the time she got to us.

We all watched her walk down the hill. Capsize and Sparkles were having a giggle fit. I was shocked that Hope hadn't thrown the bucket down in frustration and given up.

She slammed the bucket down on the wooden dock. "I did it", she gasped out of breath. Her face screamed 'lookie at what I did'.

Sparkles leaned over from his chair. "Hope, half of the bucket is gone".

She did her sassy eyebrow raise. "Why you send a little girl to do your job Jordan"

Sparkles smiled, trying not to show his embarrassment in front of Capsize. "Good point". He stood up and walked up to me. With a smug look on his face, that would usually belong to me, he said, "She's right. Tom would you go get the water". And he handed me the bucket.

Hope had a proud/ 'shits going down' face on.

I gritted my teeth, trying to seem sweet (because that was obviously working for him),"Sure, Sparkles".

I walked out of earshot and mumbled to myself, "Smart little son of a bitch".

I was actually quiet proud of myself for that, and now I can spend more time with Capsize.

I wasn't fully aware why Tom was interested in her. He seems kinda like a one night stand kinda guy and if any guy did that to Capsize I think they would feel it the next day, in a ditch, dead.

How I kinda imagine Hope when she's older.

Not only was her brother an architectural genius, Capsize could go on and on about astronomy. These so called 'Pirates' were actually very bright and only talked in the strange voices when Red was drunk and forced is to call him Red Beard The Great.

"Did you notice my shirt".

I was scared by the Captains voice. She had been awkwardly quite since I shooed Tom off.

I nodded my head no. I didn't speak in case I said something stupid about her shirt being bright red.

"I wore it trying to see what the Dianite to say".

I sighed out my last hopeful breath, "Oh I see".

And Tom is the victor.

She went down to a whisper. "First Dianite I met who wasn't a complete jerk".

I lent my head on my hand, scratching out the beam. "You haven't truly met him then"

Her flicker of happiness and wonder didn't change from my comment. "I wonder what he was like before Dianite. You know it's weird the Dianites around here aren't that corrupt. It's almost like a new fresh breath of humanity".

"What we're the other Dianites like?"

She forced a pretty genuine smile, "They were like normal people for awhile. Just like how Mianites are to us. They were neighbors, even family. They were friendly people with different opinions, and then just like that there attitudes become and ugly, and what is in the inside came to the outside", her smile faded. I really didn't want her to cry. "Just in one night they were demons with a weakened glamor. They killed the whole village. My mom and dad-". She stopped talking and her eyes were watering.

"It's fine", I said.

She wiped her eyes dry with her bear hands. "I'm sorry I can't tell you how it happened, but something weakened Dianite, and that's good".

"That's very optimistic"

She shrugged. "I try. It keeps me happy".

Everything was quiet and perfect. She was staring at me and I was staring at her.

"Help!!"

I looked up. Hope was hanging off the side of the ship, with the tattered net around her leg.

Capsize went back to smiling, "Aw,how cute".

I crossed my arms, "Oh, so that's what we're calling it now".

She glanced back at me and shook her head, "I'll get her".

"No stay!", Hope screamed. "You both are perfect right there!"

After Capsize got Hope up from the boat, she started staking the netting off of her leg.

"You two were okay right there", she mumbled to herself.

"So he wanted the dragons head built on top of a cavern"

"Did you build what was ever made down in the cavern", Tucker asked Wagglington.

"Oh, no", Wagglington shook his head, "I don't know who he got to make that, maybe himself, but I do know it wasn't one of the us".

He referred the Wizards as us.

Red basically jumped out of his seat,"So let's go down there".

Every time something was brought up. Some secret that could hold the heart, he was all down for getting there and finding it even though we did not have enough evidence to prove that the heart was held there.

"Ok yes", Tucker started off one of his speeches, that were some what useful but usually long. "This is the closes place that we have gotten to possibly be hiding the heart, but who says this isn't just there".

"Just there Tucker", I popped in, trying to crank down my sarcastic tone. "For what aesthetics?"

"Don't you say yourself", said Wagglington with his calm and soft voice, "That chaos doesn't make much sense".

I glared at him, he noted.

"Nevermind my last comment, I do think Sonja is correct on the factor that, as crazy as Dianite is, he doesn't waste resources". Wagglington said and pointed to the map. The dragons head was black, purple, and red. A gate covered the mouth that was the opening.

"Alright even if that is where the heart is how do we get in", Tucker asked. "Tom told us that gates lock and in guessing you can't just pick it open".

"Actually", Wagglington held a hand up, "That isn't the lock we need to worry about".

So we went through the Modsteps house and got to the temple with no problems except my headache which I got because I was still a child.

The dragons mouth was black to everyone except me who saw a dark purple.

There all color blind

"Take carful steps", Red said, carefully placing his right foot on the first granite step.

Capsize rolled her eyes. I liked her. She was sassy. "Because the floors are wet".

"Dianite told me he mopped the floors with virgins blood"

Everyone stared at me.

I shrugged, "which really freaked me out, being eight and what not".

Red broke the awkward silence chuckling and turning back down the stairs where everyone, including me, followed.

I heard fire crackling, which wasn't odd in hell, but I also heard bubbling and gushing. I still wasn't sure that the whole virgins blood thing was a joke.

The smell of death was more horrid then normal. Instead of hurting my nose it also hurt my head and my chest.

I tugged Jordan's pant leg, which was reassuring to me back in the day. "Jordan the smell is making me feel more funny then normal".

He turned right around. He smiled.

I tried to hold a smile as well even though I felt really sick. "What's with the smug look?"

He looked back at the crowd that was leaving us behind, even though we were the followers of Ianite. "Try your last moar".

I had already used the green one, which was speed. I knew the white one was light because we were using that right now.

I did the whole thing with the last one, and the prettiest in my opinion, pink.

Hold your breath, count to ten, get the glitter, and open your eyes.

"Done", I said more for Jordan's sake then mine.

His face lite up like me on Christmas. "Well"

My whole body felt like weight was off of it, and fresh.

I must have looked surprise because Jordan had his 'I told you so' face on.

I glared up at him, "Smartass"

"Feel better don't you"

I started walking, Jordan dragging behind me.

"How'd you do that". My voice echoed down the stairwell.

My voice is really annoying!

"Well after I fiddled with the equations-"

"Ahah", I stopped him right there. I felt stupid enough after hearing my voice. "Don't tell me".

"Why"

"Because I'm a little girl that was never taught math. You try to explain your fancy science and magics crap, my brain will explode and then these stairs will actually be slippery"

"Are we going to have to get a rope for us all to hold on", Tom screamed up at us, "Hurry up!"

Even thought Tom was the only serious Dianite left, he always came with us on our little missions. It was probably all just a master plan and we knew and suspected that, but we didn't care.

Jordan and I both agreed that having him tag along was better then him staying at someone's house and eating there fridge out.

"Look down here", Tucker yelled.

At the end of the stair well was a wall that had markings on it and a stone button. That's atleast was it looked like.

Everyone let Capsize through because it looked like she could read the strange writing.

She ran her hands against the markings.

"Why is she doing that", I whispered to Jordan.

"It's a type of brail"

"What's brail?"

We didn't dwell on the subjects any longer.

Capsize turned her head at all off us, she looked kinda pale. "All of you get out your weapons and brace yourself".

"What are we fighting", Sonja asked, adjusting her holster full of knives.

"The worst demons that this world has ever seen"

"Your partnering up with me, sir", Capsize pulled me over to the corner.

The area wasn't that big so Hope was still able to glare up at me doing her eyebrow raise thing. Her brown eyes still held betrayal and anger as she had to fight with Capsizes brother.

"Wh-why me?" Not that I was upset to be with her. I just questioned it as Hope looked over, guilt tripping me, so maybe she wouldn't kill me later.

"Because you have that neat sword", she smirked up at me as she got her cutlass out. It was freshly sharpened, almost like she was hoping to fight. "Someone's got to protect me".

The cutlass glinted right by my nose. I pushed the sword away. "You can sure do that yourself".

Her smiled wasn't smirked anymore.

If Hope would just beat it!

I did two small glances over to Hope's PARTNER FOR JUST ONE MISSON!

Without a single hint of emotion in anything but her eyes, Hope swerved off over to Redford.

Capsize strolled over to the wall.

She sighed. "Okay ready".

"One"

Tom wiped dried blood off of his dagger.

"Two"

Hope launched an arrow in her bow.

"Three".

Tucker put his forefinger on both of his blades.

"Four"

Sonja mentally went over how many throwing knives she had.

"Five"

I put the last attachment on my sword.

"Six"

The stone button was pressed down. The stone slab slide into the right wall, showering dust all over us.

The door opened to a cloud of dust, disfigured, dressed in a dark red cloak.

The hoods direction was aimed at Hope.

No one moved because they new that she could defeat the creature. Her gaze was calm and ready. I knew she could defeat the creature.

The bow went up and she closed one eye to aim.

Then the creature screamed. Just like that white noise at the throne except it literally hurt your ears.

Everyone knelt down in pain holding there ears, except Hope who still looked focused.

The white noise went to a crunching, and I realized it wasn't the noise it was my bones. Everyone's bones.

Everything felt tight together. My body, the room, the smell, the feeling. All of my senses were jumbled together except my hearing.

Then it stopped. My whole body was soar, but all my senses went back in place.

I could feel the cold floor on my hands, and the spoiled and sour smell came back.

Hope had a stone in her hand with the number 1 plastered on with dust.

She threw it at Capsize who started looking it over.

Then she glared at me. "The moar worked, Smartass"

*****************

We had to go through a maze. In the maze were five (now four) guardians, those cloaked things. To open the ending of the maze we had to get each of those stones. Hope already had the first one. When we got the ending open and after we went through the maze and found the ending, we would be at the next room and who knew what that would be.

We were still all working in pairs. I had Hope put her moar on an areal (call it a setting I guess) where it affected everyone.

Now that noise wouldn't crush our bodies and kill us.

"Each of us should only be able to kill one guardian", Capsize said. She usually started off all of the other conversations. "Or we could just kill them all off on our own. Impress people".

"You aim high?"

"Well, most of the time I like to turn things into fun. Like a game".

"A game?"

"Yeah!"

I heard a gasp of air and small explosion of dust in the distance.

"We got the second one", Hope yelled through the watch, and then it went back to a silent static, then no noise.

"So your saying we should turn killing demons". I asked slow, "into a game?"

She slid the cutlass back out of her holster. "Yes".

"Ok?" I muffled my voice to make it sound like I didn't think it was a strange.

We slipped into another corridor in the maze. "Pick a number between one and five", she said.

"Why?"

She sighed. "Just pick one".

"Ok", I paused thinking on it. "Three because Hope already got two and one"

"Well I pick four"

There was another puff of dust and gasp of air.

"Got three", Sonja said and then the watch went mute again.

She laughed.

"Haha", I slow clapped.

"I knew we were messing around to much to get three"

I opened my mouth.

"And before you even say that the Dianite is going to get the next one", she pointed up the stone wall. Another cloaked demon was laying there. "Right there is number four".

"Okay. Well you saw that one. You cheated".

She started to climb up the wall. "You're just a soar loser".

She climbed up the wall and stood behind the guardian. She threw her cutlass up and was about to start down when I remembered

"Wait. I'm not so sure that the moar will work if-"

But it was to late.

The noise started again. It still was high pitched and hurt my ears, but it was obvious that she was in more pain then me. Her first hit hadn't killed it.

"Capsize!"

I couldn't go up because I wouldn't be able to fight it. The moars didn't work at the top of the maze which is why no one went up there.

I threw my sword and hit the guardian which distracted it for only a second and now it was mad at me......and I had no weapon.

I ran with a wall of dust right behind me that the guardian had lifted from the ground.

I turned to a right corridor at a dead end.

I backed up against the cool wall. The dust started to sprinkle on my face.

"This is it, this is how I go out", I screamed out loud out of fear.

The guardian was now in front of me. The dust wall was arching behind it.

I threw my arms infront of my face .

"Tell my story!"

The screaming stopped. I wasn't sure if I was dead or saved

"Your damn lucky to have me", Hope screeched.

I uncovered my eyes. The dark red cloak was laying flat by her feet. Hope had the fourth rock in her hand.

"I forgot Capsize!"

I ran out of the corridor leaving Hope behind.

She was still in the same spot. A block of the maze came off with the dust wall or something. Now it was just a strip of stone, atleast one inch thin.

She started to get herself up, wobbling around.

"Are you okay", I called up to her.

"Yeah I'm", she put her hands up to balance her footing. "Fine"

"Are you sure", I walked over so I was right below her.

"I just need to get where the wall is thicker and-"

Capsize's left foot slipped and with a downward shriek she landed into my arms.

Her expression seemed surprised that I was actually able to catch her then it softened. "You saved me".

"Y-yeah", I stammered.

I stood there holding her for what felt like forever.

"A thank you would have been great!"

I let down Capsize a lot more rudely then I meant to.

Hope now had the fourth and the fifth rock in her hands. "I've saved you a lot lately, you know that".

"Thanks Hope".

I looked down at the floor where I had dropped Capsize. She seemed quite frazzled and out of it. "Sorry Capsize". I helped her up.

"It's fine. It's done", she wiped some dust of her coat.

Hope did her eyebrow raise thing and crossed her arms. I think she was trying to show something with her double sass movement. "I came to tell you", she said long and loud, like she was trying to not say some choice words, "That we need everyone at the room that got opened".

"Right". As Capsize walked by she ruffled up Hopes hair. "Thank you dear"

Hope glared at her and stuck her tongue out at Capsize's back as soon as she started to leave.

I grabbed Hope's hand and we started off to the door as well. "Why are you being so rude. I thought you liked having Capsize around me".

She started to drag her feet.

"Hope! You want to save Ianite or not!"

Hope stood in the one spot. Thinking it over like it was the biggest life decision in the world.

I tapped my wrist watch.

She waved her hand. "Give me a minute"

I stared at my watch, then glanced back at Hope.

I sighed, "Cmon kid".

"Ugh fine, but I am not being stuck with cheesy pirate guy any longer"

"Ok", I put my hands up, "We will never, ever split up again".

"That's a lie"

"Ok for this trip then"

She smiled and ran back through the corridor.

I will never ever understand her.

"There you guys are"