Fantasy Howl's Flying Castle (Finished! ---Whoo! (*＾▽＾)／)

[Zer0]

- Seth Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

Their problems hadn't changed, and the thief and the violinist still had their past baggage to sort out, but they now had the other to lean on and do their best together, and that for Seth was very comforting.

That afternoon, after they had docked and settled themselves in their new hideout in Agraba, they took time to have a private funeral for Jeane, where her body was cremated and her ashes scattered to the great river that spanned across the Sonoran desert. Six years ago, Agraba had been just a struggling city, but after the war, it had prospered from trading with the other kingdoms, most of it through Sen, Seth, and Minnie's guild before Sen pursued his dream to create toys and thingamajigs for joke shops. There was a lot of loyalty here for them and Ricket's folk. In fact, in the center of Agraba was a statue of the four heroes in honor for their great deed.

A spy from Ricket's clan made contact with them later that day to tell them what happened in Magnus after they left. The CSU had attacked at exactly the time Jeanne had said they would, and Jonathan had been with them. He was in disguise, of course, but there was no mistaking it was him. They had followed them after they were furious that no one was in their hideout and that Jeanne didn't come to meet him. Apaprently, the head of the CSU was thinking that Jonathan had been double-crossed by his own fiance, but Jonathan vehemently defended Jeanne thinking something must have gone wrong. hearing this, Seth, Pipino, and David weren't happy, it was a reminder of the betrayal all over again.

At least they now had people tailing them. Apparently the CSU were traveling in two zeppelins, and the spy had counted around forty elite members with them. James wasn't with them, and the spy found evidence that he was being led on a wild goose chase somewhere in Brusk thinking Seth and Serena are there somewhere. The spy unfortunately didn't find out where the artifacts were, not even the head of the CSU. The only person who knew was Jonathan, and so Seth, Pipino, and David started to gather information to find out where they were going to be staying and how they can sneak in there, kidnap Jonathan, and get the location out of him.

It took them two days, but it seemed they didn't have to search far. A couple of bandits hiding out in Magnus had seen their airship leave the cliffs and for the past two days the CSU have been scouring each village, town, and city searching for them in this general direction, and now Agraba was next. Instead of moving, the band of thieves decided to confront Jonathan miles away from here, where the folks in the city wouldn't be affected. And arrive in the city the CSU did.

"There he is. That's him." said David, passing spyglasses to Serena, Sen, and Minnie. "That's the traitor who started this all."

The CSU had docked outside the city of course and it was heavily guarded. They had obtained the permission of the city's ruling governor to search for the wanted criminals, but they weren't foolish. They knew the loyalty of this city to one of the wanted was strong, so their inquiries were being done in secret and there was a lot of bribing going on with the local guards being employed to search for the thieves.

"Tonight, we're sneaking in to the ship and kidnapping Jonathan. But first, we're going to need to get a couple of people out of the way for Sasha and Pipino to replace them --- ah, but not kill of course." said David immediately to Sen, Minnie, and Serena. "We don't do that. We just have to knock them out. But you three shouldn't come with us inside the zeppelin, if we get caught it'll be bad for you guys too and as much as we enjoy your company, we don't want you as jailmates." he chuckled.

Katsuya
OOC | Characters | Moments in Time
​

 

[Katsuya]

That afternoon, after the ship was docked and everyone settled in, Serena stood still. She watched Jeanne's ashes scatter in the desert winds and to the river; her deep magenta tunic shirt that reached down to her ankles danced along, revealing her loose dark pants underneath. The golden beads and embellishing that's at the top of her tunic skirt twinkled under the light of the sun. Her azure blue eyes stared as she pondered about something.

"You know..." Serena started quietly, letting anybody who wants to listen, listen. That included the gunslinger next to her. "Hm?"

"I don't think Jeanne is a bad person..." Minnie raised an eyebrow at that, a corner of her face twitched up. "What makes you say that when you barely know her, Serena?"

"...because...she told Seth of what Wilde is going to do at the end." At this, the blonde sighed sadly. Her leg is a reminder of their troubles. "I think...she's someone who's in love and wanted to help said love one even when she knew it was bad."

"...wouldn't that mean that she's a bad person too? Following him and knowing what that betrayal means?" Minnie asked just as quietly but not too quiet as she guessed everyone was hearing this. Serena shook her head.

"No...it would mean she fell in love with a possible bad person...and thought 'it's all for a future together.' I think she didn't want this type of lifestyle either and thought of helping Wilde so they can have a life together...free and happy." Serena, for the time she spent with the brunette, didn't really feel angry at her. At least, not as much as she would be...and there's a reason why...

"I honestly believe she's a good but flawed person, who followed her heart. At the end, she told Seth, someone who she considered a best friend for years. She must have known for a while now that what she was doing was bad. Must have wanted to tell someone...and finally told someone about Wilde's plan at the end, believing that her crew can bring her love down..." Then she sighed, bittersweet as she chuckled quietly. "What do I know right? I'm just a random violinist who meet and known her for a couple of days...but I think that's enough for me to believe she's a good person despite everything...maybe a troubled person too...yea, a troubled but good person who at the end believes in her friends to take down her love..."

"You keep saying love...how do you know Wilde is her love?" Serena grinned a bit with a gentle twinkle in her eyes. "Because...I would do the same for Seth...helping him get out of trouble, I mean." With that, the violinist stayed quiet for the rest of the funeral, just staring at the sky, sand, and rivers of the desert.

Two days passed and when they heard about spotting Wilde, Minnie took the spyglass first and spotting the said traitor..."His shoes look uncomfortable to wear for battle." was her critique. Then Serena looked, frowning a bit. Yea...okay, she doesn't like Wilde for some odd reason. It's not the betrayal part (That's a given!) it's something else...something about him bugged her in the wrong way and she doesn't like it.

Her head perked up when David mentioned about going inside and looked at Seth with full worry. "Are you sure you guys wouldn't like some help? I may be rusty but I can still sneak in with you guys." Minnie crossed her arms, watching how this will play out...

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Seth Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

"Yeah, but if we get caught, you'll be lumped in with us." said David. "Criminals like us, we wouldn't be roommates in a cell. They'll imprison us in different places, solitary confinement, people go craaaazy in there." he twirled his finger near his ear.

"That and we've never worked together before." said Pipino. "No offense, but I don't trust your skills with this, Serena, because you're an amateur. Not trying to diss you or anything, but I honestly don't know you well enough to work with you."

"I'm going to go with what's comfortable with my friends." said Seth to her too. " But my personal reason is exactly David's.

"Ahh, how much you have grown, brother." said Sen who Seth doesn't want to come too. "We used to do things together, but now we do things apart."

"I know!" sobbed Seth, hugging him. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, let's go on a free run one of these days!"

"Yes, brother." He also hugged Minnie and sighed. "It used to be us three and Ricket. If we don't get caught we should visit him."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

"That...and you have a broken leg. It'll just hinder them, Serena." Minnie chimed in quietly, watching the SCU from afar with the spyglass. The blonde sighed and nodded. Accepting their concerns.

"Okay...I won't do anything." If they do get caught, she's going to help. Not like a thief, but as someone within the Order. She has a plan and it'll only happen either after the guys caught Wilde or after the SCU caught them.

Minnie smiled lightly as the brothers cried in each other's arms. When Seth hugged her, she hugged back, squeezing him tight. "Yes...we should...I wanna talk with Minuette too."

After their hugs, Serena went up to Seth, tugging his shirt lightly. "...I wanna say stay safe, but that's silly...considering what you are about to do."

Taking a deep breathe and letting it out, she said, "So...I wanna wish you luck. Break a leg- not really break a leg because that's painful- I mean...just...just have fun while tricking the SCU and getting Wilde, okay? Same to you guys too, David. Pipino. Sasha." Seth can see that she's nervous for him and his friends with her recently still hands now shaking again. She obvious believes in their skills as professional thieves, but she's not underestimating the SCU either.

"I know it's a serious thing here but have fun anyways, okay?" Her shaky hand tightened it's grip on his shirt.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Seth Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

"Okay." nodded Seth, then held her shaking hands and pressed them to his heart. "I'll also stay safe as good as I can, Serena." He kissed them. "See you back at the hideout." he cupped a cheek for a moment, then went off with David and Pipino.

They were wearing desert camouflage, and since the ship was a couple of kilometers from the city, they have to start crawling in the afternoon if they want to get there at night, crawl on the sand one inch at a time so as not to be detected.

The group had radios, courtesy of Sen, a new invention that allowed one to wear them like a headband, instead of holding them in one hand. It had a longer range too and so he, Serena, and Minnie can hear what was going on. As a rule, the three weren't allowed to speak to the thieves no matter what unless it was gravely important. Sen was in the hideout tapping into the SCU's radio frequency, trying to search for their channels.

Meanwhile, wherever Serena was, she'd see, soaring through the skies in the distant horizon, a gargantuan long dragon with fluffy fur and sheep horns heading for Agraba. And on its forehead was a familiar messy haired summoner with robes of blue and tattooed hands.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Serena froze when he kissed her hands, blushing red as she leaned her cheek into his calloused hand. Not taking her eyes away from his amber ones in that moment until he left with David and Pipino. "...See you back at the hideout..." She uttered quietly, wishing and praying he stayed safe silently.

As the trio stayed in the hideout, Minnie stood next to the radio, carefully listening in on what's what before writing her thoughts on a paper. Her metal arm had a set of bullets ready to use just in case anything wrong happens to them. Her teal blue eyes roamed over to Sen, seeing what he's doing before going back to hearing what the thieves are hearing and writing it down.

The violinist was on a higher point of view outside of the hideout, hidden from plain view but able to see what's going on with the spyglass she borrowed from one of the cats in the cat tribe. Normally she would play something to calm down but since they needed to be quiet, she wouldn't. Serena is used to having her hands being this shaky, this is nothing new for her.

"Oh no..." Serena whispered oh so quietly, feeling a bit of dread now that she sees James and Johnny coming over here. She wondered what to do. Can the crew even see them from their point of view? Chances are...no, then again, it's hard to miss a large fluffy dragon flying over at their direction...The blonde took in a deep breathe and let out a sigh. She said she will see Seth again in the hideout and she will.

But letting Sen and Minnie know...now that's something she has to do. So Serena slid down from her spot, going inside and said: "Sen. Minnie. James and Johnny are coming!"

Meanwhile, there's a red headed fawn with an arm around a winged woman's shoulders securely as they rode in the fluffy dragon's claw. Echo looked up where she can see under Johnny's chin with a small frown. Her ear twitched when she heard Renee sighing. "Seems like they are still searching for them."

"Yes, it does." Was Echo's response. "I can only hope to find them soon...maybe we'll find Serena too."

Renee kept quiet, her wings fluttered.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Seth Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

Beside Renee was Seifer. He'd been mothering her ever since their trip started, holding an umbrella over her head. He had also been fanning her with an enchanted fan that blew cooler wind non-stop, and on her belly too, asking Johnny and James to take a break every three hours, to which James told him they can't take a break because they needed to get to Agraba quickly, and it's okay because she's sitting on Johnny's claw.

The model had also brought with him a backpack of their things which included hot water, drinking water, sick bags, face towels, healthy snacks, ginger candy, and an enchanted water-proof notebook choke full of medical emergency advice and steps for pregnancy, and if any one of them told him he was being paranoid, he'd just point at a paragraph in a medical book he had brought with him called Dad's Pregnant Too!, saying: "Medical emergencies for pregnant women are more likely to happen during the first and third trimesters, see!"

And kept asking Renee to take sips of water because, and he pointed again at the book, "Getting dehydrated can exacerbate symptoms like nausea, fatigue, cramping and constipation — not to mention increase risks of complications like preterm labor, baby."

And also kept asking her if she was hungry because, "An empty stomach can make issues like morning sickness worse, and drops in blood sugar can lead to feeling faint." he said a-matter-of-factly. He seemed to have almost memorized the book.

* * * *​

Meanwhile, Sen immediately told Seth, David and Pipino through the radio that James and the rest had arrived. The thieves were surprised, guess the SCU didn't succeed in tricking him, word probably got out when they raided the hideout in Magnus.

"There's nothing we can do." said David. "Just leave them, we'll get Jonathan then get out. " Because there were three of them and busy, they couldn't put someone to tail on James and the others, and they weren't going to involve Serena, Sen, and Minnie any further than what they already have.

If ever the violinist continued watching them, she'd see a poof of cloud then a black swiftly moving cloud rushing for Agraba. It was James' bees and he was already searching. Johnny roared in greeting, and the group would see him hover over the market place, casting a dark shadow over everyone, as James leapt down and then disappeared into the crowd. Then Johnny slowly floated over to the air docks where he placed Echo, Renee, and Seifer down, and then shrunk back to his normal self.

Katsuya

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo raised a brow at Seifer's readiness, not expecting him to be so...motherly and somehow finds it very sweet of him.

Renee listened to her beau's instructions, eating when she needed to and sipped water slowly. She really did need the ginger candies as she has been feeling nauseous at the beginning. When he panicked about it, she calmed him down by asking him to hold her as Johnny flew and if that didn't work, she'd ask him to read the books he brought to keep him distracted. She agrees with her brother, they couldn't stop flying in order to get to Agraba in time. Though she did appreciate Seifer's mothering. The fan and umbrella helped keeping her cool from the surprisingly intense heat of the desert. She knew it was going to be hot but not like ' the sun is trying to melt your face off ' hot.

"Thank you so much, Sweetheart." She said before cupping his cheek and leaning up to kiss him adoringly. Wings a flutter.

Then they were lowered to the air docks. Renee held Seifer's hand while Mica stood on her shoulder. "We should start searching."

"Right. We should we go, Johnny?" Echo asked, tilting her head.

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

Hearing what the thieves decided on, Serena went back to her post and told Sen and Minnie: "James' bees are looking and he's at the market place! Johnny and Echo are at the air docks with Seifer and Renee...and Seifer is carrying a ... an umbrella?"

Minnie palmed her face, knowing how overprotective Seifer is with the up and coming baby. "It's fine. He's going to be more distracted with Renee then anyone else."

"...But Renee is really good at finding odd things before anyone else..." The two girls stayed silent, grimacing at the thought of the expected mother finding the hideout first. "...Well...We'll just hope for the best then."

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Seth Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

Seifer did hold her and that calmed him down, rubbing her shoulder and then her belly, cooing in that way Renee does and asking the baby in her belly if it was cold. "You're welcome, baby." he smiled, hugging and kissing her too. It was her fluttering wings that calmed him the most, knowing that she was comfortable.

After they landed, he held Renee's hand and stopped their fans from coming over --- especially his fans, who were touched by how the famous model was being such a good father-to-be and were asking for autographs from the two of them.

Johnny nodded at Echo and Renee. "Aye, I'll take to the skies." he took out his whitewood wand and with a flourish summoned Butters, Meatballs, Soda, Sorbet, and Ginger. He told Renee she can ride on one of them if she liked while the rest were under Butter's leadership and were to spread out, especially Meatballs, who was smelling one of Seth's old clothes from the flying castle to track him. Meatballs barked and wagged his tail. It looked like the boarhound got it.

Then Johnny leapt into the skies in his dragon form, circling around the city watchfully; James was nowhere to be seen, he had already made his way to the city hall, probably to talk to the city officials. That was as far as Serena could see, other than that, someone would have to tail him or the group to know what he's doing.

Meanwhile, Seth, David, and Pipino were still on schedule, slowly crawling to the ship on the hot shimmering sands.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Minnie voluteered to tail James. "If he catches me, I'll just tell him that I'm on my way to visiting the royal siblings." Everyone knows that she has a soft spot for the Jaharian royal siblings and tends to surprise visit them when she can. With a cloak to cover from the sun, she kissed Sen briefly.

"I'll be back into your arms, love." She said ever so sweetly, cupping his cheeks as they have their moment. Then with a 'swoosh~!' from her cloak, Minnie left the hideout and went to trail James.

Minnie made sure to put a strong perfume as she reached the market place and giving the perfume to a big lady; who cried out in joy. She loves this scent! It's to distract the boarhound in case he was following her. She was in contact with Seth a while ago.

Meanwhile Renee and Echo nodded. "I'll take the ports." Said the red headed fawn.

"Thank you Johnny, but I think I'll walk this time." She squeezed Seifer's hand. "Come on, Sweetheart." The expected mother greeted the fans with a warm smile as Mica lead her to the market place; the ferret was sniffing close to the ground and snorted at the strong scent of strange crimicals and flowers.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Seth Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

Sen blushed, smiling, then hooked his thumbs on her belt loops, stopping her from leaving, and flung his arms and one leg around her, hugging her like a koala, before letting her go. "Good luck, my gun slinging eastern blue, Iet's have fun later." he kissed her forehead, and watched her go. The Eastern Blue was a cute bird he likened Minnie's laugh to, and had been calling her that ever since he heard it trill during one of their business trips and thought it was her.

Meanwhile, back With Renee and Seifer, he told his fans that they were here looking for her brother and asking them if they've seen him, but no one had, though there had been rumors going around that perhaps they were underground or hiding in the governor's palace or are probably long gone from here what with the SCU prowling about. There were a couple of ghosts, rebels from the uprising years ago from the looks of them, who were following around, whispering to each other as they looked at Renee and Seifer.

Minnie could spot James through the second floor window of the city hall, speaking to the governor. She was able to get close and listen in to their conversation. It was about him confronting the governor about hiding his brother and trying to reason with him that running away from the law and committing more crimes in the process, roping in more of their friends into this mess wasn't going to help Seth, but the governor didn't know where he was and said it was the people hiding them, not him, this place is very loyal to them.

After that James left to meet with the head of the SCU, an old warlock by the name of Scrimgour who had a reputation for being tough on criminals and a record of filling up most of the prisonholds in the Eidolon Kingdom with the nastiest rogue wizards in the country. James didn't like it that he had tricked him, and it now became a race to who would catch Seth first: Scrimgour who was going to slam the book on him, or James who would also slam the book on him, but at least would help him get out sooner.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

"Mh." After a small nod, Minnie left. Though Sen could have sworn he saw her stumbling at the end of the halls. Her face is completely red.

The tiny gunner walked to the City Hall, climbing up the wall and stayed low and close to the building as she hears in what James is saying; seems like James thought the governor was helping Seth. Didn't Sen tell James that Seth would rather avoid bringing people he cares about into this? 'Guess big brother Jams didn't listen.' She thought, watching James leave with a unhappy huff...or he could be stoic again. He's hard to read sometimes. She climbed down to continue on stalking - um...I mean track the oldest Pendragon sibling, making sure to stay hidden and kept far away from his sight. She wore her stealth helmet, now able to hear what James will say whenever he talked.

She noticed that he was going to the stables for flying mounts and...who is that old man? Minnie narrowed her eyes as she payed close attention to what they are saying with her helmet.

Meanwhile as she listened in on Seifer's fans, her ears picked up other voices that sounded...a bit off. It's disembodied and by their tones, they must have noticed her and her beau searching for someone. the thing about hearing ghosts, in her experience, is that there are certain types; the ones she knows are friendly are the ones who haven't lost their way to despair yet like the neighboring spirit in her garden or these rebels. So Renee walked up to the spirits of the rebels, not realizing that she looks like she's staring a large clay pot of desert fruits.

"Hello? I can hear you." She smiled sweetly at them, whispering quietly. "Can you tell me where I can find a passage to an underground hide-away? There's someone I miss very dearly and would love to see him again."

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Seth Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

"Cute Minnie." chuckled Sen fondly, remembering that one time they were flirting with each other and she stumbled adorably, which made him hug her. Her affectionate side which she openly shows him always makes him smile, since most of the time she had her stoic or imma'-beat-you-up look.

He and her had their own radio frequency to communicate with and he asked her for situation reports and to always tell him if she's leaving an area, where she's going, and if she's there already, taking over her duty of taking notes while Serena kept a look out. He also updated the violinist on anything important, such as Seth and gang arriving at the SCU ship and now successfully sneaking in with Pipino taking on the look and clothes of an officer they knocked unconscious and gagged.

"We're in." radioed Seth. "Beginning search."

Meanwhile, Serena would see a blind familiar someone with another . . . oddly overly motherly someone, holding an umbrella over head and fanning her, approaching their hideout.

* * * *​

James' talk with Scrimgour didn't end nicely. Both were cross with the other and it seems that they weren't working together anymore. The eldest Pendragon joined Johnny in the skies, the fluffy dragon scooping him up with a claw, while Meatballs was leading Echo through the market place, then towards the western gates of the city.

As Minnie stalked James, she noticed that she wasn't the only one stalking him. There was another person, one clad in a cloak and had gloved hands and an odd pair of shoes. This stranger was unarmed, but he seemed to be swiftly heading for high ground.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Minnie tuned in Sen's personal radio frequency, letting her boyfriend know what she sees, hears, and when she arrived a place or not. "...Looks like Jams and Scrimgour cut their ties...Hm?" Her teal blue eyes saw the other stalker, taking in his gloves and odd pair of shoes. It wasn't Johnny, he's with James right now...and she knows Echo couldn't wear those shoes; she's a fawn, she has hooves, not feet. So...who is that?

"...Sen, there's someone following James too...Should I knock him out or follow him?" Minnie followed the shifty figure from a far, not trusting him one bit. Unlike her who only wants to spy on James, this person could have bad intentions on not just James, but on the rest of her friends...that's not an option on her book.

*****

Serena continued to look through the spyglass, watching Johnny's movements and seeing Echo's bright red hair from a crowd with Meatballs. Then when she looked a bit closer to the hideout, she froze and gulped. "Sen..." She called out, now sliding down from her spot to get to the other twin. "Your sister is here-"

"Sweetheart, it's okay. There's nothing to be afraid of here. Promise." Renee's voice can be heard from the outside. "I heard from the rebels - Yes, they are nice people. I can tell from their tone and they helped free Agraba long time ago. So they must be nice." She giggled. Then there was a knock on the door to the underground hideout.

"Hello? I want to see my little brother and someone led me to here. Can I see him?" If anyone looked or opened the door, they would see Renee, her wings fluttering and holding Seifer's hand tightly. There's a sweet smile on her face.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Seth Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

Minnie saw the stranger stop atop a bell tower. If she looked through her spy glass she could see him crouch and move like he was assembling something quickly.

"Maybe it's one of Scrimgour's men." said Sen. "I don't know how bad he wants to catch my brother and his friends, but if he tries to hurt Johnny or James, knock him out secretly, Minnie. You got non-killing ammunition?"

He was suddenly interrupted by Serena's announcement. "My sister??" he repeated, nonplussed. Then Renee's voice spoke.

"Okay, if you say so, Renee." said Seifer's voice, reassured, from outside.

"Quick, Serena, uhhhh, stall them!" whispered Sen, as he told Seth and Minnie what's going on and tried to pack up as quickly as he could.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

"...I have sun bullets. If I shoot it, it should blind him temporarily." Minnie whispered back, looking through the spyglass. She frowned, pinched. "He's assembling something." That's not good. That's not good. Normally when someone is assembling something, it has to do with guns. Sniper rifles, to be precise. They always put the spyglass on top to see where they should shoot and the fact that he's at the top of the bell tower.

"I'm moving in to shoot him and knock him out with my akikido- Hm?!" She was surprised to hear that Renee is at the hideout right now. Definitely not good-!

Meanwhile Serena was silently panicking. How can she stall the most stubborn woman on this planet? How? How how how how-?!

The blonde violinist quickly went to the door and peeked through with a wide blue eye. She cleared her voice to sound deeper like she was a man...or something.

"What little brother?" She asked. "Shoo-! No one's allowed here." Serena felt silly. She felt very silly. There's no way her fake voice can convince Seifer or Renee to leave.

"...Um...Miss, I think you have a weird croak in your voice. I can help you fix that if you like?" Renee said, worried. Shoot! Shoot! The blonde panicked, hearing Sen packing up stuff.

"No! I-I mean, no thank you! I'm fine. This is my normal voice." Why didn't Sen do this? She can't lie! Why make the person who's bad at lying, lie?!

"..." Renee stayed quiet and narrowed her now opened eyes in a stubborn glare. Oh boy...

"...The nice rebels told me my little brother is here and I'm not leaving until I see him-" Her wings are puffing-! "And unless you want me to blast the door off with my arrows, open it calmly and I won't even mention it to James or make a big deal on it." Serena wanted to cry in her panic. Is this how everyone else felt when she's being stubborn about something? With their heart palpating like she was on a desperate race? It sucks!

"...Okay okay...I'll let you in..." Serena muttered, giving up. With a sigh and closing the eye hold she warned Sen about opening the door and she opened the door with a deadpan. "Come in quick. I'm not about to have the whole world know where we are too." Once the couple was inside, the blonde closed it behind them and sighed.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Sen Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

"Serena!" said Sen exasperatedly like, whyyyy did you do that? He stuffed their plans of last night into a box and tried to sweep all evidence of their mischief out of sight anyway. "Hey, sis, Seifer." he said dully.

"Well, that was quick. Hello, Sen!" said Seifer distractedly, putting down his pack and getting a chair for Renee as if they just came for a house visit and not in a thieves hideout. "Are you comfortable, baby?"

" . . ." Sen suddenly listened in on the radio and his face scrunched up like something was wrong. Then looked at Renee and Seifer and seemed to decide that it wasn't safe to speak. He didn't know if Seth ever taught Serena morse code or sign language but he gestured to her that Jonathan wasn't in the airship, Seth just told him, and that the three were now sabotaging the airship before bailing out.

Meanwhile, the stranger lifted up a rifle and aimed it at the fluffy dragon, following it's flight.

Back with Echo and Meatballs, the boarhound was leading her through the gates and out into the hot desert. Meatballs woofed and began bounding towards an airship shimmering through the heat haze in the distance.

Spoiler

Stranger
3/3 Hp
+4 stealth, +4 success, enemies -3 to hit.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

"I caaaannnn't~!" Serena said back, completely flustered. "You try not being scared of a pregnant mom threatening to point an arrow at your eye just to open a door!"

"Oh Serena, you're here! Sen too?" Renee went over to hug Serena and Sen tightly, nuzzling her cheek on his. then kissed his forehead. "I'm really glad to hear you, little brother." She sat down when Seifer brought out a chair and sighed. "Yes, I'm comfortable sweetie. You should take a break. You've been carrying so much all day---you deserve to sit too and drink some water and eat something."

While the twins' sister started to mother Seifer too, Serena saw the gestures from Sen and grimaced. Oh no...

"But I'm really glad to hear you two are here. Especially since Meatballs sounded like he found something and Echo is following him. I thought I was too late to see Seth."

"Wait- what? Meatballs and Echo has found something?" Serena asked, now worried. Renee nodded. "Yes, they found Seth's scent from the sounds of it."

Serena groaned. Things can't get any worse, can they?!

Meanwhile Minnie's eyes widened and aimed her arm at the figure from above, being careful to hit him just right-!

At the desert, Echo followed Meatballs through the gates and headed straight to an airship? "...What is an airship doing here? Is that...Seth's?!" The fawn ran along side the boarhound, her ears folded back.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Sen Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

BANG

Minnie's gunshot rang loudly through the streets, hitting the stranger's arm just as he fired --- yet his gun did not make a sound; above, James shielding charm shattered as the fluffy dragon roared in pain. A bullet had barely missed him and hit Johnny instead, whatever it was must be potent, because Echo could see him suddenly going limp and begin falling from the sky --- if he fell on the city, who knows how many people would be crushed by his weight.

Meanwhile, Seifer said, "Alright." and allowed himself to be mothered. He sat down too and disenchanted a key chain which turned into a bag, where he pulled out some of Renee's home-cooked packed lunch. He began eating a gourmet sandwich with some iced pineapple and cucumber shake, looking at Sen gesturing at Serena.

Sen looked panicked too. "Sis, can you tell Echo to pull Meatballs out? She's going to get Seth caught."

Back at the bell tower, the stranger turned on his heels and ran, disappearing down the steps of the bell tower. The people near Minnie who heard the gunfire were screaming thinking some kind of killer was on the loose and were calling the guards.

Spoiler

*We'll make rolls to see who's the highest. No bonus +2. Stranger's stealth vs. Minnie's perception.

Stranger
2/3 Hp
+4 stealth, +4 success, enemies -3 to hit.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

Echo stopped in her tracks, eyes wide in horror to see her beau's giant figure falling. Ears perked up high. "Meatballs! Johnny's falling!" She went back, completely worried for Johnny's safety now.

"Come on! We have to go back now!" She cried out, stomping on the sandy ground in hopes to have a barrier over the city so Johnny doesn't crush it and keep him safe.

Meanwhile Renee turned to look at her little brother, frowning a bit. "As much I would like to, I can't."

"Wha-!? Why?" Serena questioned. She can see Renee's wings wilting a bit.

"...because Echo will ask me why I would do that. I would need a good reason to convince her and Johnny to take Meatballs out right now." The Pendragon sister didn't have a good reason to call Meatballs off. Even when she wanted to help her little brother, Renee is no smooth talker.

Back in the city, Minnie narrowed her eyes and ran to the bell tower to follow him. "Sen! I just shot him and chasing the stranger with weird shoes! I repeat! I'm chasing my target." She muttered quietly in her helmet, weaving her way around the people as she got closer to the bell tower. Then she 'tsk'-ed, searching around until she spotted a red trail of blood. The little gunner followed it through the streets and jumped down to the sewers. There, she saw bloodied clothes. The stranger discarded them...

"...Fish sticks..." Minnie cursed quietly as she violently grab the bloody clothes with a clenching fist.

"...Sen...I've lost him. His clothes are in the sewers...I'm going to keep searching, just in case." Minnie ran further in the sewers, holding onto the clothes.

The stranger couldn't have gone far...not with his wound anyways.

Like a predator, Minnie went off; eager to play cat and mouse once more with her prey...

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Sen Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

"Can you at least try?" said Sen getting angry because of fear for his brother. "I mean, why did you come here and bring Echo and Meatballs in the first place?" he added, irritated. "You're ruining things, sis, Seifer, carrying a big umbrella like that and your fans are outside the hideout!" he pointed outside the shuttered windows. "Someone could be following you two and both of you are here!" he ruffled his hair in agitation. "You have to go." he pointed out the door, sternly. "Serena, we're moving." he added, "This location isn't safe anymore."

"Hey, Renee came here because she was worried about Seth." started Seifer, sounding annoyed, as he swallowed the last of his sandwich.

"Really? 'Cause the both of you reeeeeaally didn't think this through." sneered Sen, starting to pack up quickly again. "If an SCU came in here and sees us, I will be implicated, Serena will be implicated, Seifer and you will be implicated, and you're having a baby." he said looking at his older sister like she was immature.

ROOOAAAAR

Suddenly it became night, as though someone suddenly switched off the sun and a great smashing earthquake shook the ground.

BOOOM

A thunderous crash above them, like the falling of a castle from the sky, echoed throughout the city. Outside people were panicking and screaming, yelling about a dragon falling from the sky and the earth and sands rising over the city.

Echo could see Johnny crashing on her barrier, it was holding, but she has to remove him soon. If she went to the top she could see James trying to rouse him with Pond's help. The fluffy dragon was bleeding under his chin. It seemed to be a cursed wound because dark veins were spreading from one spot like evil roots and his fur and skin were dying and turning black.

"RENEE!" yelled a multitude of James' voice out in the city. All his bees were calling her. "Help, Johnny's been poisoned, where are you?!"

Meanwhile, Minnie would be hearing the commotion above and Sen's voice through the radio telling her not to return to the hideout and to rendezvous in their previously planned second escape route. He and Serena were leaving too.

The gunner could hear behind her pursuing guards who thought that it was she who had shot Johnny, but they didn't know her true identity for Jaharian voices were saying, "Spread out and look for him! Even if you meet a child, take him into custody. Remember, all we know is that he's short and carrying a firearm."

"Be careful." said Scrimgour's voice right with them. "If it's one of those thieves, or Pipino the shapeshifter, they could be four down here. Don't hesitate to use lethal force."

It was hard to follow the stranger through these sewers without making splashing sounds. Minnie could choose to hide and escape the pursuers or continue chasing after the stranger.


Katsuya

Spoiler

Stranger
2/3 Hp
+4 stealth, +4 success, enemies -3 to hit.

 

[Katsuya]

Echo moved Johnny carefully with her spell, making sure to avoid calamity as she placed Johnny beside the city; right where she and Meatballs are. Next to the gate where they can see the airship. She whimpered when she saw the cursed wound and did her best to keep Johnny calm, singing a bit. Thinking maybe it's like the curse illness the old healer wolf had back in Scree. Maybe if she sang, the curse would stop in place until Renee gets here.

**************​

Renee's open eyes narrowed in a glare as Serena placed a hand on Sen's shoulder, hoping he would calm down. "Guys, let's not freak out here--not now when stuff is happening."

The expecting mother took a deep breathe, clearly trying to keep herself calm as possible. Though her wings fluttered and flapped in agitation, puffing up the feathers. Then they flapped in surprise when Johnny's roar echoed in the city. Renee and Serena quickly covered their sensitive ears as they heard James' voice follow up by many bees swarming around.

"I don't control Echo or Meatballs or the people outside. I never asked them or Johnny to come with. James asked all three of us to come with him to find Seth. I wanted to help by shrinking all of you and hide in the bag or something to leave Agraba safely. So pardon me for worrying about our brother being hurt again-!" Renee couldn't sit still as the days passed after reuniting with Seth, gardening nervously and keeping up with her work in the Orients, always checking and double checking on the herb storage. When she heard from James that he might have found a lead to Seth's whereabouts, she felt like she had to do something to help him escape from the dreadful SCU and their sadistic head. So to hear from Sen that she's ruining everything when all she wanted to do was help...really hurt.

Serena watched Renee lay one protective hand on her tummy while the other reached over to Seifer's arm to squeeze; silently pleading with him to lead her outside from what she guessed. Then she looked over at Sen and shook her head as the couple prepared to leave. It wouldn't be the last time the Pendragon siblings fight and argue; they are brothers and sister. It's bound to happen. However...they might need James and everyone's help somehow...just in case...

"Renee wait-!" Serena called out before she left through the door and whispered something in her ear. The sister's wings perked up in surprise, her eyes wide. "Really?" The blonde nodded.

"Yes, but no telling anyone about it."

"...Okay. My lips are sealed." With that, Renee left, feeling calmer now. The violinist watched through the door's eye-hole to see the Pendragon sister change in her owl griffin form and carried Seifer in her talons. The blonde then quickly checked outside in her hiding spot with the spy glass, quickly spotting Renee fly towards the gates...where she can see Johnny, James, and Echo are with Meatballs..

"Sen, everyone in the New Order is at the gates that leads to the SCU's airship-!"

********​

Meanwhile, Minnie tried to find the stranger but she couldn't see him nor could she hear any water splashes. She whispered in the helmet that she couldn't find the stranger and that the SCU is here searching too.

"...Love, I'm going to hand myself over to the SCU peacefully. Know that I'm keeping my promise to be back in your arms, no matter what." The little gunner stood still in her spot, taking off her helmet to crush in her fist before tossing it in the flowing sewer waters. That splash should let the dastardly unit find her and sure enough, they did. She let the SCU cuff her calmly, taking her out in the open air as she saw the sky being covered by a large dirt barrier.

'Big sis Echo is here? Sheep bro too?' She thought stoically. Then she spotted something in the air...

A familiar summoned bee-!

Minnie stared, taking a deep breathe to prepare herself as her cheeks turned pink. She's going to do what she never has done before willingly.

"JAAAMMMMES!" She screamed, startling the men who are taking her away and catching the bee's attention. They didn't expect the calm and stoic young lady to scream like this. Nor did they expected her to say something that's not the usual 'Help! I've been framed!'.

"THE SHOOTER WHO SHOT JOHNNY ESCAPED THROUGH THE SEWERS! I SHOT HIM IN THE ARM AND HAVE HIS BLOODY CLOTHES!" She cried out loudly, putting her cuffed hands up to wave the bloodied clothes for the bee to see. "I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE!! HAVE MEATBALLS SNIFF HIM OUT WITH THIS!!!!"

"BIG BROTHER JAMS!!!!! OVER HERE!!" The SCU men looked at Scrimgour, wondering what to do now that they heard what this lady is yelling about.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Sen Pendragon -
" Agraba "​

The fluffy dragon groaned weakly, curling around Echo. Johnny seemed half-awake, breathing raggedly as his claws clenched and un-clenched, tail thrashing in pain. "This'll hurt only for a moment, Johnny." said James, casting his shielding charms around himself, then taking out a dagger. "I'm going to take the bullet out, you're going to be alright, stay still. Echo, please keep him steady."

The dragon flinched when James cut through the soft under jaw, then stuck his hand in, feeling for the bullet. He drew out his hand and there he held out a blood-stained metal lump, then kept it in a bottle. "Good work, Johnny."

Seifer too said his piece after Sen retorted with a, "It's good to help, but not like this! This isn't helping, you have to use your noggin'!" The model had stood up and bore down at the twin.

"Don't.make.Renee.feel.bad." he jabbed a finger at his chest, "She's sincere, she really came here to help. You only got a few people helping your brother, so don't scold her for wanting to help, Sen."

"Stay out of this, Rathmore, you're just adding fuel to the flames." growled Sen, swatting his hand away and looking ready to fight, but Serena's hand kept him in place and Renee's hand kept Seifer in place.

When Renee squeezed his arm, he let the matter drop, took his pack, and led her outside with an umbrella over her head. He wrapped an arm around her and rubbed her shoulder. "You alright, baby?" he kissed her cheek, looking back at the hideout grumpily. He led Renee outside the city gates, where just by the smell alone, she could tell it was a cursed and a poisoned wound, one she had treated before in the Orients when another assassin failed to take out Chenglei this time and it was a shinobi and a part of Kenren's arm that shielded him from the deadly arrow. She could cure it easily enough, she was after all in a city where trade is flourishing and getting ingredients would be easier; Johnny was able to regain consciousness and some strength after Renee tended to him, turning back into his real form and holding on to Echo, clenching her clothes for comfort. The black vein like, roots were at least just very slowly spreading across skin.

Sen had watched his sister go, huffing, and packed up with Serena without another word as they went through a secret tunnel to a rendezvous point. That was when Minnie told them what was happening on her end, and Seth also telling him that they didn't finish sabotaging the airship and couldn't leave as the warlocks manning it suddenly decided to fly off to Agraba after seeing Johnny fall, and that they were going to try to get out somehow without getting spotted later and then meet up with them in their escape route. So many things were happening at once.

"A-alright, Minnie." said Sen, as steadily as possible. "Remember your right to remain silent, okay? And the loopholes in the laws, I'll send some letters, you're going to get out alright. We're alright here too, heading to second rendezvous point. I can't wait until your back in my arms, my Eastern Blue."

Back with Echo and Johnny, James spotted Minnie immediately when she yelled out and a cloud of bees rushed pass her and into the sewers. He told Renee he was going to go to Minnie and was off on Frey's back, galloping for the gunner. He was met with Scrimgour's calm face as members of the SCU led Minnie to a wider street where their airship could drop a gondola to bring them up.

"Scrimgour, you've got the wrong person." said James the moment he arrived. "Minnie, are you hurt?" he called to her as she was led to the gondola.

"Quick of you to assume that, but she's our likeliest suspect. People saw her fire her weapon before your friend fell. She's in the jurisdiction of the SCU now, you can't interfere."

"You only have a warrant for Seth and his friends, not Minnie."

"She is suspect to helping them, and you know it."

"Where is your proof? You're taking her up for disturbing the public peace, that's Agraba jurisdiction not SCU, you're foreigners, we all are. That's Agraba jurisdiction."

"Tell that to the head guard. He officially endorsed her to us." said Scrimgour. "Let's go."

James' steely eyes went to the head guard. Bribed no doubt, but he can't do anything right now. "Minnie, the law says you have the right to mount your defense in court and you are free to choose a master of the law or a warlock of a high order to defend your case. The order is recognized even by the Eidolon kingdom, so I can defend your case, choose me as your defense and I'll be able to go with you up their ship.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

"Yea...I'll be okay." Renee responded with a small frown but she smiled when he kissed her cheek; comforted.

"I'm used to this unfortunately...Hm?" She took a deep breathe and let out a gasp as she ran over to where the scent is strong; right towards Johnny and Echo. The red-headed fawn was cooing at her beau, caressing his hair, and trying to keep him at still as possible while calming him down with kisses on his heating forehead. "Everything will be okay, Love." She said as Renee fell to her knees to tend to the wounded entertainer.

"James," Renee spoke up as she summoned Mica to help tend to Johnny. "This poison is potent against dragons. I know because someone tried to hurt Chenglei with the same thing. This shot...it's planned well." She waved at her brother, wishing him well as he tried to get Minnie from the SCU while she worked. Once he's tended to and felt sure that he'll be okay for now, she insisted that everyone goes to an Inn and situate themselves while she gathers items for the antidote.

"Seifer, please watch over them while I'm gone." It wasn't long that she went with Mica and gathering the items she needed, coming back to the Inn with her arms full and placed on the table. Then she started to grind and and mix everything together in the right amount. Echo was sitting next to Johnny, not letting him go as she placed comforting kisses on his ears and forehead, rubbing his back and shoulders. Her ears folding back and hidden in her hair in her extreme worry. Whoever shot Johnny is lucky...that she's not the one looking for him right now.

Back with Minnie, she stepped into the gondola as she heard James speak up on her behalf. She never thought she would be so glad to see the oldest Pendragon but she is. At least he's willing to listen unlike some ignorant tart of a SCU head. "No I'm not...Did anybody tell you where exactly I was aiming at?" She questioned the head with a dull stare.

Then she looked at James with a nod. "Yes, please. That would be lovely, Jams."

Meanwhile Serena just listened to everything as she continued to watch through her spyglass in the second rendezvous. "...Too many bad things are happening today..."She muttered, trying her best to not be nervous. Her hands shaking.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Inn -
" Agraba "​

James was surprised at this information. "Thanks, I'll remember that." and off he went.

In the inn, Johnny hugged Echo's leg, nuzzling into her fur for comfort as he held her hand. It hurt to speak or swallow, it seemed, for he just shook his head wordlessly when Seifer offered him a glass of cool water, and then pointed at the door and windows. He seemed to believe someone was after him and was wary. He was feverish, with a bag of cold ice on his head, and leaned into Echo's rubbing hands and kisses.

He calmed down when Renee came back and started making the antidote, the evil veins had now spread down to his chest and across one side of his face; Seifer immediately asked Renee what he could do to help, he was worried for Johnny and also closed the curtains of the windows in case someone was looking at them. His enchanted fan that blew cool air was passed to Echo, including several comfy items --- which includes the bed Johnny was sleeping on, a pair of poufy chairs with a velvet foot stool, a recliner, some relaxing scented candles on engraved clay holders, and short pretty pots and vases of what seemed to be Renee's favorite flowers --- that were disenchanted key chains, giving their room in the inn a mix of rustic and classy appearance. He really packed to make Renee's travel as comfortable as possible. There was also a big gold-gilded bath tub cramped inside the bathroom.

"Don't worry, Echo, Johnny, Renee's the greatest healer I know." he said confidently.

* * * *​

Meanwhile, in their new hideout, Serena and Sen had made it. A few hours had passed since the panic caused by Johnny almost crushing the city, and most of it had subsided. News of Minnie's capture spread like wildfire and outside people were openly rebelling and protesting at the CSU's airship docked at the governor's hall. The three thieves hadn't had radio contact with the two and it was worrying Sen who had taken to biting his nails as he drummed his other fingers on a wooden table anxiously.

"Th-this is Pipino, Seth's been captured. David's still inside. Heading to second rendezvous point."

An old lady wearing a familiar scary entered their hideout, before poof, out stumbled Pipino from the smoky cloud and collapsed on the floor, bleeding. "They found us sabotaging the ship. Seth led them away from us, and now he's caught. P-please help him." he fainted.

* * * *​

In the airship, a very stoic James was sitting beside Minnie. They were in an interrogation room and Scrimgour was asking the gunner questions while James spoke to her like someone used to dealing with criminals and knowing the law, telling her which questions Scrimgour asked her that she didn't need to answer, and which information she was allowed to legally withhold from the investigation.

Scrimgour was very calm and patient in asking her if she made contact with the thieves.

Katsuya