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Fandom Power Rangers Sentinels

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See? Dmitri is a quick learner. Second try at summoning a Beast and he's already succeeded. There came the Unicorn, one of the parting gifts from Avalon. Erin nodded in approval as Dmitri made the Unicorn merge with the Titan. "Avalonian Titan Megazord!" she called. Geez, that still was a mouthful. High time she'd think of renaming the Megazords to something shorter and easier. Maybe drop the -ian and Titan in this case? That's a thought for later on. "Careful with the jumping," Erin grinned. "Remember that the Megazord does what we do." Yes, indeed. The giant towering robot had just made a happy little jump. Nevermind the fact that Aquanon was blasting the city right now. Thank you April for directing Dmitri's attention back to where it mattered most. They had a city to save over here. The Finisher went smoothly, albeit nearly destroying Gawain's own Megazord. "Watch it!" the knight called. Really? He's only just back in this world for a little while and then one of his teammates almost immediately takes him out of it. Sure, it was an accident, but a dangerous one at that!

Villain Vanquished. A term coined by Gawain originally. Erin still liked that one so much better than her own "Demon Destroyed". Why couldn't she come up with the good things? She sighed and lightly shook her head. If the new guy adopted this term already, it made it official. "Villain Vanquished" was now their official catchphrase when a big league monster went down.
I hope you're watching this, Dylan. Wherever you are... Dmitri will make you proud and carry on the legacy you started with us.
United as one, the Sentinels stand in full once more.
---
And with the day saved, they all returned to the Coven. Erin smiled at the Spriggan as it rushed up to give Benji a splintery hug. "We should really think of a name for the little guy, shouldn't we?" she asked. More of a thought rather than anything to be answered right now. Gawain nodded in agreement. Though at first he had assumed Spriggan to be some kind of demon or evil spirit, he had taken a liking to the small woodland creature living in the Coven with them. Gawain put the last of the shopping bags aside. They'd pretty much bought an entire wardrobe for him! Or so it seems anyway. Guy has medieval standards, after all.

And before anyone could get to anything else... there was the screaming again. The overly excited screaming of a little girl meeting her idols. Erin grimaced briefly. "Someday she's going to make me go deaf like that..." she muttered under her breath. Still, Quinn was alright in general. Throwing rocks at big bad villains is not something all young kids would do. Yeah... for now it seemed Quinn was the only or at least one of the very few kids Erin could tolerate to be around. She chuckled as the girl introduced everyone on their own behalf, mimicking their poses as if she'd seen them a million times before. Erin turned to Clay and furrowed her brow. Again with the weird Southern phrases? Is that even a real phrase? Cacti don't even ever die, do they? So many thoughts and so much confusion. Gawain looked just about equally confused. The cowboy certainly does say a lot of strange things.

The knight then turned to Quinn and smiled. "A pleasure to meet you, young lady," he said with a small bow. Gallant knight really shining through there. It's just how he has been raised. "I hope Avlazor hasn't harmed you?" When they contacted Erin they were under attack by Avlazor, after all. The girl seemed alright, but he could imagine the mere sight of the General from hell would have frightened her. The people of Nexilis knew the dangers of the Legion better than anyone else, after all.

Novus smiled broadly as Dmitri approached them. "Welcome to the Coven," he said with a wide gesture. "You already know all of our names, and you know why you are here. You have been Chosen by Fate to said the Sentinels in their battle against Vorkalth and the Legion. The Time of Prophecy appears to be upon us. It is this time around that we shall make our final stand and save the Web once and for all."
Fate smiled as well and turned to Novus for a moment. "I do have to correct you there for a moment, Novus... I did not choose Dmitri." She then turned back to the Sentinels and stepped forward. "It was Deluvian and the Charm self that chose you. The Essencia of the First Sentinel and the Spirit itself have decided that you should take Dylan's place in this war. And such a thing has never happened before. You, Dmitri, are a very special one."
 
"AHHH!" Quinn yelled. Again. Pain not being the source but more glee! Jittery like smaller children on sugar she raced around and almost violently shook the hands of the Sentinels greeting her. "You're all so cool! And awesome! And powerful! And--" she had to take a breath for a minute. Entering the Coven would have stopped the girls heart had it not been for a delicious berry basket near the portal she came from. Little pink things she had never seen before in her life that gave her awful belches but filled her stomach quiet nicely. Hungry, she was, for she hadn't eaten in a while. The label on the basket saying 'treats' might mean they were for the Spriggan in the Coven...she'll make up for that later, honest!
"It is so nice to meet all of you! I've studied the Sentinels ever since I was old enough to walk. My birth parents must have loved them, too, they left this journal behind! I filled it with more stuff, but they had a lot in it to about the ones before you! My dad even met the Earth Sentinel from a previous team once. He thought he did... it was dark but the man was wearing a lot of brown. Could have been him!" the girl rambled, eyes lit up like a Christmas tree because she's meeting her heroes! "Masters told us that your phrases made no sense. I know exactly what you mean, Clay!" Someone understands southern lingo that isn't southern at all???

Kneeling down, April smiled at Quinn. "Dmitri told us a lot about what happened on our way back to the Coven," she said, implying they knew everything already by this point. "Standing up to your masters was really brave. You and your brother are safe here," she softly said. Quinn calmed down and for the first time just smiled. No jumping or over acting....but she just smiled. Her cheeks weren't used to that muscle function being used a lot.
"That big Basilisk wasn't scary. Not when Harley.... I mean Erin and Dmitri kicked his butt. Thank you," Quinn told Gawain and everybody and just hugged April. She hugged back of course.

Dmitri's chills ran farther down his neck and spine. It's quiet now, all ears to Novus and Fate as they greet Dmitri into their home. Transitioning from a smile to a frown his face demonstrated thought. "I was not chosen like the others, then?" he asked. Deeply this bothered him. While that won't come out of his mouth now, it stings in his mind that he is not the Blue Sentinel but a substitute. That he is to fill a slot so that the real Sentinels may defend the Worlds as a complete set. Some just has to wear blue. The next sentences lifted his eyes toward Fate. "Such a thing has never..." Dmitri pondered. "I am a new kind of warrior? Never has there been a Sentinel filling in during the ongoing fight of a generation?" he asked again. Chills all over again. "I am... I'm honored!"

Quinn poked her head under Dmitri's arm. "Never! I would know. One question... if Dmitri's going to be a Sentinel does that mean we have to say goodbye? See he's been the only family I've ever really had. Maybe a last name or blood doesn't bond us but please... please don't separate us," Quinn begged as any vulnerable girl her age would. Dmitri put his arm over her shoulders. Having to say goodbye to her would break his heart. With desperation and strength in his eyes her stared into Novus and Fate's. Please don't take my only family away. I will fight. But don't ask me to part with her. Dmitri thought.

Swelling at the eyes April stood in the background with her delicate hands cupped in one another. These two foster siblings not wanting to part. They won't have to...will they? Wait...no last name? Foster siblings...well there's an idea waiting to happen.
 
The spunk on this girl rivals every single kid at the orphanage who had ever found out they're getting adopted. Must be similar to find out you're meeting people you idolize like you would be getting a family. Thrilling, not knowing what will happen but getting the sweet relief of a huge milestone in life passing by. Benji agreed that they should find a name for their Spriggan friend. 'Spriggan' should be suitable but its his species not a name. "What about...Sprout?" he suggested.
Both a short name and a tie-in to Sprouting Forest! Of course to outsiders this may entail Benji being some kind of fatherly figure to the tree. Not something you hear every day. Spriggan 'pyouu'd again. Does he like the name or have no clue what's even going on? It's only been over a fortnight since they even found him.
Benji cracked a smile. Quinn is so full of passion and energy. Sentinels to her are a lot like comic books to the rest of them. "Your birth parents left a weird thing for you. But it's cool that you filled a lot of it in yourself. I'll bet even we could learn something from your notes," he jested.

"Aye now, we could," Clay pointed out. If this girl is a super fan with a lot of spare time on her hands she may well know more about them than they do. He laughed and tipped his hat to her when she told them about her birth father and a possible Brown Sentinel, as well as understanding his southern twang. "Well now little missy I do declare! Plus how ya took care of business back at the lake. You and me is gonna git along just fine, little darlin'!" he said while ruffling her hair. Stick some straw in his lips to chew on with the scent of a pipe and he could be his grandpappy. This girl here stood up to slavers and even got a hit in on them! She is a tough little scrapper!

"Harley? So together y'all were..." Clay trailed.
"...Harley Quinn? Really, Erin?" Benji questioned, glancing over to the fire-haired one of their group. "That aside, welcome to the Coven, Quinn. You've certainly had quite a day."

All eyes on them. Dmitri being formally welcomed into the Coven, given the speech as they had been given. Both Clay and Benji looked around in remembrance of the day that changed life as they knew it. Following that 'kid' into the woods and discovering how the forest has some kind of magical barrier within it to hide the ruins of the Coven from the outside world. Coming down into here as five... God did they ever miss Dylan. Not having known him for long they still missed him. He was a good man and his fate being sealed was so painful to experience. The spot in which he stood not filled with another man. D being the first letter of the name, still. That and the blue spandex is all they have in common... but Dmitri's fighting spirit is really inspiring!
He is the first to enter the battle against the Legion in place of an existing Sentinel. Dmitri being a new kind of legend. "Welcome to the team, Dmitri!" Clay said from behind after hearing his honor. Benji smiled and nodded.
Quinn posed a good point. He'll have to fight. These two love one another. To part them would be... immoral isn't the right word since it's a little strong, but immoral. "Okay seeing as how I am or was literally an orphan this is too real," he whispered to everybody very softly. He supported Quinn staying with them.
 
"Sprout... I like that name," Erin nodded with a smile. Sprouting Nature at it's best! Also, the Spriggan was just a little forest creature still sprouting, right? They had all figured as much that this spirit was basically still just a child of sorts. Now... but just where to little spirit babies come from? It's probably not that a mommy spirit and a daddy spirit love each other very much and then... Cue mental shudders. Now that was a thought Erin had never expected nor wanted to have.
Gawain nodded as well, agreeing on the name for the Spriggan. "It's a perfect name. And in another thousand years or so, Sprout will be the size of Sylvan." The knight chuckled at the prospect of a giant, revered forest spirit, speaking in rhyme, and still called something as adorable as "Sprout". That thought seemed to amuse Erin too. Even Novus and Fate couldn't help but cracking a smile at the very idea.

"Benji and Clay are right," Gawain agreed. "The journal likely contains lot of information we don't know about. Information we cannot even find in the tomes here. After all... all of these tomes are written from the perspective of the Sentinels, the Watchers, Novus, and Fate. None of it has any information from the perspective of the people the previous generations have saved over and over again."
"None of it?" Erin questioned, tilting her head slightly. "I mean I suppose I'd understand it has no information on how people in other Realms have viewed the Sentinels, but nobody thought of, I don't know, interviewing the people of this Realm how they've experienced everything that's happened?"
Fate shook her head. "You mustn't forget, after the War that started this long journey, the Coven has gone into hiding. We couldn't step out without endangering ourselves, and the Nexilians have been unable to find our hideout unless we wanted them to find it, as with the lot of you."

And from admiration at how tough Quinn was and the pondering on how to name Sprout, things turned to playful accusations.
"Hey! Fate said we needed false names to protect ourselves, and when Quinn introduced herself it was the first name I could think of. Don't judge me!" Erin defended, scratching the back of her head in mild embarrassment. She'd thought it before, and she'd think it again right now. That poor choice of a fake name... she blamed Quinn. The reference went completely over Gawain's head, as to be expected of someone who'd only spend a fortnight in this current world and era. He just looked really confused at all of them. "Is this something I should know of...?"

Silence fell in the Coven as Quinn asked her question. Would she and Dmitri have to part now that he had become a Sentinel? Erin patted Benji's shoulder. She could see how this was getting at him maybe more than at any of the rest of them. The silence was heavy and deafening in that particular way only silence can feel. Novus and Fate exchanged a look before turning back at Dmitri and Quinn. Siblings, not by blood but by something that ran much deeper than that.
"Don't be silly!" Novus exclaimed. "Of course the two of you can stay together."
"The both of you are more than welcome to stay in the Coven, if you wish," Fate added. "Quinn, dearie, you're a bright mind. You could study here at your heart's content. And Dmitri, you now have a duty to protect the Wheel against the Legion. You are, however, free to stay elsewhere if you wish so. The both of you will always be welcomed to the Coven."

"Short interruption here, sorry," Erin interjected. "But after everything that's happened today, I'm absolutely starving. Anyone want to get some sushi?" Yes. Sushi. Maybe it was because of the fried fish smell, or maybe it was a petty way of wanting revenge on Aquanon in a maybe mildly disturbing way. Whatever it may be, Erin wanted to get some food. Pronto.
 
Benji wanted Quinn to stay. April did, too. She seemed like such a well-mannered and nice girl. Making her leave so Dmitri can fight would not be right. On Benji's other shoulder, April gently rested her hand. "I like Sprout, too," she whispered, now making the name a unanimous choice for the Spriggan. She whispered it to not draw attention away from Quinn's question. Tensions rose from it, therefore deciding on their little friends official name seemed the perfect simmering opportunity. She scratched Sprout on the...leaves. Hair would not be a valid thing to say here. She'd found it hard not to smirk under Erin's fire on Harley Quinn. On-the-spot thinking leads to weird outcomes but sometimes comical ones. Nexilis isn't going to know who the fictional character Harley Quinn is anyway.

Dmitri and Quinn's eyes swelled up, turning red and watery. Joining each other in a quick embrace they collected themselves. "From the bottom of my heart... thank you," Dmitri bowed intensely towards the fairy and the owl that isn't in her owl form. "You will not regret this. I sweat it." This young man is brave and good. He will work his hardest to earn his place here even if it kills him. Nothing may bond him and this girl as family biologically but he would give up everything, including his own life, to keep her safe. He's still shaking. In battle he was so confident and whimsical. Now he's relieved, a little afraid and truly susceptible to anything. But he's appreciative of having a home here. So is Quinn, who had run up to hug Fate like a child does their mother after a long day of school. Even getting Novus in on it by cupping the fairy's face in her hand for an awkward nudge. Emotional children...what can you do?
"You guys say you don't even have a bond as family right? I don't know if you already have one but...why not change your last names to Foster? Foster siblings, together as one with a mutual bond to let the world know you're family?" April suggested.
"I supposed having that would help us in your world. Blending in and all. And I do like the sound of having something to officially tie us together... " Dmitri said. Quinn loved it too! So now they are Dmitri & Quinn Foster.

April's not crying. You're crying. Fuck you. Goodness that was a might bit aggressive. She chuckled as Erin interjected for food. "No sushi, please. How about we all head to Brubeck's and I use my discount there for whatever you guys want with endless french fries and refills on your drinks?"
Quinn lit up a little. As did her new/not so new brother. "Endless? You mean we can have as much as we want?" she asked.
"Definitely. I'll even buy some dessert for us all after if we have room in our stomachs!" April brightly promised.
Rumbling stomachs agreed. Fried food isn't something they're used to, but home cooked meals are welcome. And they'll try fries. Anything! Just wait until they both have soda for the first time. They'll bounce off of the walls. Has Quinn ever had ice cream? What kind of childhood doesn't have that????
"Before we go... I may need a change of clothes," Dmitri gestured to his body. He isn't entirely or properly dressed. Nor is Quinn. Slave attire may be questionable in this society.
Quinn excitedly snapped her fingers and ran up the stairs, turning to find one book she'd been into while waiting for their return. "I found this spell! I haven't done magic before but this one is all about societal integration for being undercover. Let's see... Uutom zaka, roya si ditrob!" Quinn recited the spell in poor fashion. But it worked! Now Dmitri wore dark pants and a blue satin shirt, Quinn in a day dress with a light cardigan. Both of the now had shoes that didn't suck! April flustered...Dmitri and Quinn just got new clothes in an instant...she had the bright idea to take Gawain shopping for hours. The others are gonna be so ticked...
---
A tired and hungry team of Sentinels and Quinn formed up back into Ebongrove. As promised, April took everyone to Brubeck's where they were waited on and served by her family. Her parents and brothers loved when she brought friends in! Plenty of things for Dmitri and Quinn, a big helping of burgers for Clay, sushi for Erin because she's evil like that, Gawain getting something that could remind him of home and something sweet for Benji and April to split. The new Blue Ranger liked it a lot, as did their new little friend! The Veil may be weakening, thinning out in certain areas, and the Wheel is in jeopardy. Worlds rely on the ability of these young people. Vorkalth and his Legion will never give up now that they have lost not one but two Charms. Angry they are, but the Sentinels stand ready to face anything coming their way. Once they were few, now they are whole again with even more help than before.

Fading into night, the Sentinels would return to their homes. But not before one thing.

At an altar deep within the Coven, Dylan's name and image had been engraved along the great Sentinels which came before him. The legend of Sir Dylan in Avalonian mythology is grand but this team will forever remember the man it came from. Each of them placing something in honor of Dylan, Dmitri placed a blue crystal in the middle of his memorial. Late in the night, Quinn finding somewhere comfortable and warm to sleep for a change, he knelt at the altar to Dylan and prayed. Predecessor. Please take comfort in me. I will be your successor and I will be one I hope you and all others will be proud of. Vorkalth will pay for everything he has done. To you. To me. To Quinn. To everybody. This you have my guarantee. Rest in peace, Dylan Drake. You are not forgotten. The power lives on. May your Essencia guide you well in your eternal slumber. So let it be.

End of Tale 9.
 
Tale 10: Lucky Charms

Horse racing tracks. Smells of dirt, droppings, beer, and hot dogs accompanied with the sounds of spitting and neighs from tired racers. Gamblers cursing over jockeys not working horses hard enough or horses not being fast enough so by a millisecond they get beaten by another and the gambler is out a few hundred dollars. Gambling isn't secure, so to some people, losing money is what you get. Throwing your hard-earned money into a pit where you're less likely to get it back with more as you are to not get anything back at all is a stupid thing. The temptations to gambling must be strong since every few weeks when there's a race in town people go ballistic for it. But these events do bring friends together on slow days. Slow days are fixed by fast horses.
Having been a couple of days since the newest addition to the team entered the fray, Clay's big idea to bring the team together and let loose after a big fight was to go to one of these races. Banding together and going into town for a race would be a fun way to spend the afternoon. Sure, he's the only one who fits in with the crowd of the track. The hat, the clothes, the big boots and too much aftershave. Perfect fit into the puzzle. Clay called ahead and bought tickets for the race for everybody going. Riley, his roommate, would have joined them as race-goers but he's a jockey! He'll be racing! Spending the afternoon with friends while watching another buddy do his thing just sounds like a fun time.

Admiring his new boots while they retained their shine, Clay kicked them around in line for concessions. Riley suited up for the big event elsewhere. "I'll be darned. If this ain't just the perfect day for a horse race my name ain't spelled c-l-a-y," he said as he read the signs for the food. Gonna get him a big gulp with a bag of popcorn. Races are fast but they can actually last for a long time with all of the divisions. Ebongrove actually did feel nice out today. Sunny, not too hot or cold, and the air was clean. "Y'all ready for your first race? I'm guessing' this is your first?" he asked everybody. "They had races in Camelot didn't they Gawain?" Again he looked at his boots. They're new and pretty. This must be how girls feel with then get their nails done...so pretty!

"Not a rodeo, but this is my first rodeo. Riley's entering the race as a veteran right? He's done it before?" Benji asked. He's met Riley briefly before when he by chance ran into Clay and Riley in town. Lasted long as a vine, rest in piece you weird app, but he felt like Riley was an okay dude. Benji had himself dressed in normal clothes, but plaid helped him feel less out of place among a lot of southern people. As if they're the only people attending, right, but there's a lot here!
Dressing must be funny for Gawain and Dmitri. Not from here, accommodating for the world around them and trying to look acceptable. But in today's fashion where leopard print can be worn with camouflage pants nothing is out of the question.

Passing by stereotypical cowboys gave the girls very fun looks. Ever see a bull try attracting a mate? Moo. Beerguts are in season. The guys didn't anything rude but those looks were just gross. Whistling included. Clay picked up. "Y'all don't pay 'em any mind. But yeah, Benji, Riley's done this a lot. Eats guys like 'em for breakfast."
 
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Quiet days seemed so rare to this bunch of friends. They had classes, jobs, and a Wide Web of Worlds (that's something other than the World Wide Web) to defend against a thousands of years old evil. They had to train their magic and combat skills, and always be ready in case a portal from hell would suddenly open up. But today... today was a genuinely nice and quiet day. Erin didn't even know Ebongrove had a location for horse races. But here they were. Surrounded by the smells of horses, junkfood, sweaty people, and a lot of shit. Definitely not her favorite combination of smells. Erin wore a light black and red checkered blouse over a black tank top. The weather was almost nice enough to just tie the blouse around her waist, but... Better not. She joined in line for food and drink. She could use a large iced-tea. And a hotdog. Her eyes wandered. Over the sign, over the crowd, over the horses behind the fence. She fixed the hat Clay had gotten for each of them when they were clothes shopping for Gawain a little while back.

Much like Clay, Gawain felt quite at home on the racing tracks. After all, he was a former Knight of the Round Table who'd seen and participated in plenty of tournaments.
"The tournaments of Camelot were undoubtedly nothing like the races here," Gawain mused. "Didn't see anyone in armor with a lance, ready to knock another off their horse. Nor fair maidens giving ribbons to their favored knights." Still, though the tournaments and the races were nothing alike, Gawain felt strangely at home being surrounded by the horses and spirited people looking for glory. He might consider picking up racing himself, at some point. He missed riding horses. His eyes, too, darted to the horses. Almost longingly. If he'd get the chance at some point before, during, or after the races, he'd at the very least go and say hi to those beautiful creatures. Maybe go for a quick ride if their owners would permit him.

"I swear the next guy who gives me a look like that gets fireball'ed in the..." Erin grumbled, clenching her fist as yet another of the many guys glanced her up and down like cattle on the market. And whistled. She suppressed a shudder. They didn't make her feel unsafe, but uncomfortable. The chick in red knows how to handle herself. If any of the peeking guys even as much as tried to touch her... woe be him.
 
Quinn likes horses but she likes reading about magic and the history of everything even better. Safe to say she did not join the rest of the group on their adventure into Ebongrove but she's somewhere happy where Dmitri will not worry. Rare is it that he can go somewhere without her and not think she's being hurt. The embodiment of fate, a powerful fairy, and a tree-child sound like the safest place to be in the world. Speaking of safe places to be, why not venture into a horse track with a lot of drunken gamblers? Self-preservation instincts, anyone? But no Dmitri is like actually a little bit bothered because the smell of alcohol in the middle of the day is just not right.

Dmitri did put on the most basic yet stylish thing he could think of. The spell that gives him clothing is great! Might take clothes from somewhere else and put them on him but let's not think about that too hard. At Brubeck's he enjoyed a thing called root beer. Not alcoholic but it had this nice fizziness he really liked. "I've seen a horse race before but never to this level! A lot people here. Is this a really popular thing? I know a few things about what's popular but I haven't seen much of this before on a scale so big," he said. How it must feel to be confused but baffled at the very same time. "I' somehow knew you were also used to big lances, Gawain. Jousting tournaments were as common as races weren't they? I haven't been to Camelot but..." Dmitri trailed off. Pokey sticks were an Avalon thing. They're a thing when slaves try fending off wild animals at night, too. But those are more scratchy and less blacksmith approved.

"Ignore them, Erin... " April said. Guys shooting girls looks is as common as ketchup is in a basket of french fries. But the intensity is less common. She had her eye on a big yummy pretzel with maple syrup in a cup next to it. Don't knock it til ya try it, it's good! Not even wandering creepos detoured her. She, too, had the hat they bought the other day when clothes shopping. Paired up with a long white cardigan over a shirt and shorts, she was a real belle! But she isn't southern and if she tried being one she'd end up looking out of place like green on rice. White suits her like so much better. Brown rice is good too. Oh God, should she and Clay become rice buddies?
April did look at the whole place eagerly. Horses are such beautiful creatures. Some of those jockeys go a little crazy but watching horses run like the wind is a little bit relaxing when you take away the hints of animal labor. "What's Riley's horses name, Clay? I'd like to meet her," April asked with a smile. "Or him."
 
"Hoofnanny. Like a hootenanny but with a hoof!" Clay replied.
Dry puns clear rooms faster than anything else in the world. But they're all outside... inside, but they're in that part of the track that's indoors but exposed to the elements. Clearing the vicinity is still very much an option at this point. Riley isn't even as much of the cowboy-like person Clay is. He appreciates puns! He's that kind of southern that just grew up in a place with moderate accents and over exaggerating for Friday night high school football. Nothing a knight of Camelot would be used to but it probably lives up to expectations of everyone else based o things they see on TV. "I'll see if I can get us in to see Riley and the ol gal," Clay confirmed the horses gender. "Hoofnanny is a race horse and she's a very sassy lady. She can eat more carrots than Bugs Bunny on speed," he added o right as he made it to the front of the concessions line. Not an odd glance from the person working there at all!

Benji blinked in a slow pause. "No fireball for that pun?" he joked with Erin. Men shooting glances at her and April were to be expected, sort of, and they were in no danger here. Like people may look but these folks all around wouldn't give real reason to be scared so they can take comfort in that. 'Look do not touch' is the policy of these types of events. Like at a museum or a zoo. "Wait you wouldn't actually throw fire at someone would you? Cause like I don't think that's what a Power Ranger would do," he whispered to her in a sort of kidding but also legit manner. Immolating civilians kicks you off of the good guy list!
Oh but you, boy, once made a sculpture that became Vorkalth's toy? Sylvan reminded him. Ben's shoulders rolled. He hates when that talking tree does that!
One time, let it go! Boy that tree is a pest who gives it no rest. Wait, oh shit!
---
Crackling pits of fire erupt in the middle of the underground cavern network. Dusty webs and spine-tingling mist trenches deep within. Silence rings clear. Days passed on while the brutal basilisk stayed away locked in the dimensional prison given by his master. Vorkalth and Nenet freely roam their home by the fire plotting their next move and searching for a new piece to the puzzle of prophecy. Light shines down onto the fire pit. Light? Natural light emitting from a stone ceiling in a cavern underground far beneath the surface of the human world. Almost colorful. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet... Roy G Biv! Curious this is to the darkness within the Legion's pit of darkness. It is a rainbow. Cupped like a child's slide on a playground, something stirs from above. It is... Avlazor!
The basilisk slid down the rainbow right into the fire; extinguishing it with his behind. "Hey! Where Avlazor's ax?" he asked moments before it landed on his head. "Oh! Pretty stars!" the dizzy basilisk heeled over, returning from his punishment in the land where he is weak and even bunnies could beat him.

"Avlazor is home!" he proclaimed, leaving the fire pit so a Spawner could passively re-light it. "Avlazor is strong again and Avlazor have good news! Avlazor beat big bunny monster. Little bunny monster. Just bunny. But then Avlazor find little man with gold! He give Avlazor wish! Avlazor wish to come home with power! Little man say he help! He send Avlazor home on rainbow!" he bowed to Vorkalth as swiftly as such a mass of warrior could. Little man? Rainbow? Gold?
---
Everyone getting their concessions and heading for the bleachers to sit and watch the races, Riley could be spotted afar. Hazel-colored hair and a build like Clay's, he groomed Hoofnanny with a brush over her brown straps and saddle matching his outfit, complementing her almost golden mane! "Hey Clay! Hey Clay's friends!" he waved widely. Clay waved back. But when Riley let go of the horse to wave... Hoofnanny decided to neigh and go wild. Like animals do when something bad is around. She sprinted away from Riley, randomly charging through the area. Confined area, at that. Riley felt stunned and just watched her run off. She never does that! Clearly unsure on how to act he froze. Runaway horse!
"Oh my! Come on back ya little scally wally!" Clay yelled, passing by another jockey and 'borrowing' their horse whip. Benji nearly got hit by a horse today! Time for the cowboy Sentinel to do his thing. Acting purely on instinct here, that sense of strength came in hand as he ran up to Hoofnanny on her rampage, somehow jumping on to her and riding her around while trying to tame her. She kept neighing!
"Yee...haw?" Benji asked, tilting his head and watching Clay be a little daredevil-like and just himself.
 
"Well it's not his fault his roommate gave the horse such a silly name," Erin shrugged. "And no, Benji. I wouldn't actually throw fire at the people here. Can't risk giving away our identities, right?" She winked. No, it'd be bad if they'd show their powers here out in the open. Six people in color coded outfits hanging out together all the time isn't suspicious at all, somehow... but if the fire-haired girl dressed in red would suddenly throw a fireball at a dude for looking at her the wrong way... well, that's bound to stir up some chaos. She waited her turn at the concessions stand, got her much desired hotdog and iced tea and followed Clay further inside. It would be nice to see the horse before the race. Bad idea to feed her some of the hotdog though. Almost subconsciously she checked her pockets for any remnants of food or candy. She still remembered the time a horse... well... pony, bit her side because she had strawberry bubblegum in her pocket. Didn't really hurt, but it sure startled the younger, less fiery girl.

"Who's Bugs Bunny?" Gawain asked nobody in particular. He had a ton of catching up to do when it came to pop-culture. That much could be told from the glanced he got from people overhearing him. Many of the strange things the others were saying drew no attention at all, but him wondering out loud who this "bugs bunny" figure is made people look at him as if he were a three headed dragon. Still... Gawain much appreciated the idea of getting to meet one of the horses. Even if it was from a small distance.
---
The peace and quiet of Hell, as strange as that ever is to write in a sentence, was disturbed when a golden but thankfully not holy kind of light suddenly shining down into the fires. The past couple of days, with the idiotic lizard gone, had been spend mostly planning their next assault on the mortal world. And exploring weaknesses in the Veil to find a new tear, a new access to a different world. Vorkalth and Nenet were on to something. An ancient world, full of great power and monstrous beasts. But they hadn't quite found the right spot to craft their tear. Vorkalth recognized the light falling into the caverns. Something he had seen centuries ago in his mortal days. Something back then associated with mystery, wonder, and the divine. Even if it had no such thing to do with any of that. It was a rainbow. Something definitely not belonging in the pits of hell. Too bright, too colorful, too happy. And from above slid down the familiar figure of a Basilisk. Somehow Avlazor had returned from his pocket dimension prison.

Vorkalth took a deep breath. Although Avlazor had returned stronger, he was still stupid as ever. No surprise, seeing as how this definitely wasn't the first time he'd been hit in the head with his own ax. The Basilisk then went on to explain how he had retuned. A nonsensical story on bunny monsters, and a little man with gold who send him home on a rainbow. Now all of this sounded familiar enough to a creature of folklore. Tricky little men granting wishes if you'd find their treasures. But what was a being like that doing in a pocket dimension full of weak creatures? Vorkalth did not remember ever sending such a being to the pocket dimension. "A little man send you home on a rainbow?" Vorkalth almost spat out the words. It sounded so awfully sweet. So unfitting and unworthy of a creature born from evil.
---
"Hi Riley," Erin greeted the not-as-cowboy-as-Clay-cowboy. Yes, that's a thing to her now. Clay's close to the biggest stereotype one can imagine out there. As if he walked straight out of a story or TV series trying to be inclusive. Gawain smiled and nodded in reply. But as Riley let go of the mare, she charged off around the area. Spooked, much as how the horses in the stables were spooked when little Sprout hid there. Only those horses had nowhere to run off to. Knightly instinct told him to act, but the cowboy was much faster, sprinting after the horse, leaping on her back, and riding her around until she'd calmed down again.
"Impressive," the former knight said with a nod and a glint of admiration in his eyes. He could appreciate great horsemanship, and these two men seemed to know exactly how to handle the beautiful mare. "That's a price winner, that one," he said to Riley. "Temper like fire, strong body, beautiful coat." This horse would've fit just fine in the royal stables of Camelot, only to be ridden by the worthiest of knights.
"It almost sounds like you're in love, swooning like that," Erin chuckled.
"Hey!" the knight retorted, but not really knowing what else to say.
 
"I think Hoofnanny is a pretty name. It's got personality," April complimented Riley's horses name. A lot of horse racers name their horses weird things like 'Go Getter' or 'Uncle Jack Attack.' Names like that should not be force on animals. Puns are different because charm. Puns might be worse, really, some people get so offended over puns. Since when did people not like having pun? Get it that one? Replacing 'fun' with 'pun'? Eh? Sensing to laughter, here, from the imaginary audience. Alright inserting the actual word as itself does not work at all. She giggled very softly as Erin joked about their identities. As if that's the only reason she would never set people on fire! She's so silly!
April got the joke. Munched on the pretzel, too. Dmitri did not get it. He took it literally. Jaw dropped and eyes wide, he followed behind everybody. Things here must work really differently. Humor isn't always universal. Everybody else gets it because it's Erin but Dmitri's hearing his hero talk about filleting people alive! The new guy is lost! Repeat, the new guy is lost! He's also lost on who Bugs Bunny is, as well. Pop culture might be a little more clearer to him than Gawain since he's basically studied this world from his own but the Looney Tunes made zero cameos in his studies. "Is it a bug? Is it a bunny?" he asked, confused, following everybody inside.
---
Nenet hovered her hands above the altar swimmingly. Days ago the Sentinels acquired a new Blue Ranger as part of their merry band of foolish mortals. That's cute, thinking they can just replace what was so easily taken away. A slave boy, nonetheless. Human so sickly in her eye she could vomit just looking at him. It matters not. The Sentinels adding to their ranks means nothing. Actually they're restoring their ranks back to six. While this is the seventh one of them, technically, they have improved nothing. Nenet can take him down just as easily as the other five. Crackling flames lit her work space until Avlazor slid down on a rainbow of all things back into their home. Dust flew everywhere. Soot, dust, and small pebbles filled the air as the heavy warrior landed on his dairy air. Such a creature with wasted potential in the head. He did battle with a rabbit? Stories of little men with gold and wishes? "Avlazor, has your ax fallen too hard on your head?" she asked him.
---
Riley seems really nice. And Hoofnanny is so beautiful. April and Dmitri politely waved back to him and greeted him as Erin did. This horse must be afraid of them. She ran off, Clay pursuing her. "Did we say something to offend the horse?" Dmitri asked completely genuinely. April had to withhold a laugh.
"I think we just spooked her, is all. Clay seems to be on top of things, though," she said. Seeing the cowboy be a cowboy is something to see with your own eyes. He's in his element. And not just because there's dirt and mud all around. There has to be dirt and mud. There's horses! Please tell her it's all just mud and nothing else. "Good luck today, Riley," April threw in at an almost random moment with her eyes fixated on Clay taming the wild horse.
 
"Believe Avlazor! Little man with beard and gold coins in a pot send Avlazor home on rainbow! Avlazor just have to give present to him! Let man go where the Sentinels call home!" In exchange for coming home, he had to do something for the little man. Pocket dimensions of weakness where there was strong and visa versa should have no creatures like this. So however this creature got there is a mystery. Possibly something that's able to travel through dimensions on its own? Another mystery. But this small man wanted to visit Ebongrove for some unidentified reason. Unless it's another soul looking for salvation within the pawns of fate and magic it made no sense. The man had to tap into Avlazor's head to know where the Sentinels were so he had to be intelligent. Gold, rainbows, wishes, stout in height. What manner of creature is this? Helping Avlazor out might just show the Legion he's on their side of intention with the Sentinels.
"Avlazor head just fine! After fighting bunny, Avlazor get to go home and send man on his way. Fun!"
---
Riley tipped his hat to Clay's friends while watching him steal this show before it begins. "Pleased to meet ya. I'd expect to do mighty fine today Expertly lassoing Hoofnanny and kicking her sides to get her to slow down and stop, the horse neighing and prancing around, trotting through the dirt (only dirt) while people jump out of the way. This kind of thing happens but horse never get so spooked they just don't listen to the rider. Poor girl has to be scared of something. She can't be disqualified, can she? Clay rode her until the cows came home, taming her all through the area and eventually riding outside.
"We should probably go check on that. it's cool seeing the cowboy be a cowboy but what if he needs help?" Benji asked. Riley chuckled.
"Clay? Need help. Nahh. We ain't always been close but our little on-again off-again friendship taught me one thing. Ain't nobody better at dealing with animals or an untamed mess like Clay," he said. He leaned in for a whisper to Benji. "But will you tell me why that feller there sounds like one of the Knights of the Round Table?" Riley asked him as a complete joke. If he fucking knew! Benji's expression turned to a held back laugh and nerve.

Trotting along, Clay rode Hoofnanny and whipped the ground, eventually getting her to stop. "Finally, lil nelly. What's got into you? See a squirrel or something?" Clay asked the horse, petting her softly and gently stroking her mane to calm her. He really did know his way with animals. Horses, cows, pigs, chickens, you name it. If it can be raised on a farm or anywhere around one, eh's got the skills for it. Seeing Clay's softer side come out instead of the fun and fighter side of him is a nice change of pace. He waved the others to come over, to which RIley and Benji started making their way, bystanders clapping at Clay for calming the horse. Just as he waved back and let go of the reign, Hoofnanny through him off right into a big pile of mud with a massive thud and yelp from Clay. She neighed and basically screamed, resting a second later as Riley got over in panic with the others. Clay just got thrown off a horse! He's lucky he didn't get trampled!
 
"How did a pest like that end up in my pocket dimension?" Vorkalth wondered. He wasn't too fond of leprechauns. It surely sounded like Avlazor was describing one of those. Tricky little bastards. Any wish granting creature was one to watch out for. He knew that all to well from both folklore he'd gathered from the Realms many centuries ago, as well as his own experience when he was still a mortal man. "So he's in the mortals world now, hmm?" Vorkalth tapped his hands together. Most curious. Now they would be left to wonder if this "little man" was on the Legion's side, or just prove to be yet another pain in the ass.
---
Erin and Gawain watched Clay ride Hoofnanny until she'd appeared to calm down. Both wondered what might've spooked her. Last time it was a certain little plant spirit playing hide and seek in the stables after fleeing from dark magic. Yet here there were no dark clouds, portals from hell, and general feelings of bad mojo. Just a nice afternoon and the lovely smells of sweat, junkfood, and horseshit. Gawain quickly glanced around, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary. Nothing. No signs of the Legion plotting an attack at this tournament... derpy... what's it called again?
Erin overheard Riley's whispering to Benji and snorted. Oh if only he knew indeed... What's the excuse they should make up for it over here? They can't go around telling everyone that he's Gawain, former Knight of the Round Table now erased from mythology because he's been transported back to the world he truly came from. That'd make people just give them all funny looks. Or tell them they have way, way too much fantasy.
"He's... British," Erin quickly said with a shrug.

The two made their way over as Clay waved at them, only to see him get thrown off the horse and right into the mud. "You alright, Clay?" Erin asked, concerned to see her friend getting thrown off unexpectedly. "Poor thing..." Gawain mumbled regarding the still spooked horse. Not that he wasn't concerned about his friend. Just... people get thrown off horses all the time. He'd seen it happen often enough, and he'd been thrown off his own charger, Gringolet, more than once. God, he missed that beauty. The way this horse neighed, almost sounding like a scream, was a definite sign something was off. Animals just have a way of knowing that before a human even notices anything, All the more reason to stay alert.
 
"I believe this mischievous little man who helped Avlazor home is going to be interesting. He wanted to go to the Sentinels' home, voluntarily helping one of our own," Nenet said in a curios tone of voice. She'd never before met a wish granter in person, making this her closest encounter with one. But anything granting wishes is a two-sided coin. Looks good on one side but may be nasty on the other. That does make her wonder what Avlazor has to worry about. He got bonked with his own weapon. Is that his repercussion of a wish? Rules of wishes escape her mind, truth be told. "Unplanned mortal trickery sounds entertaining if I say so myself."
---
Riley unintentionally catching on to Gawain's origin might be the most priceless thing in the history of priceless things. The Sentinels are partly to blame since they openly call him "Gawain" in front of people. Not a common name in modern society but it slides. Just saying he's British, and he is, is enough to detour some people right? Dmitri gets a pass, not only sounding like he's from here but having the more normal name between the two not-Ebongrove Sentinels. April laughed without wanting to but it was a funny scenario being played out. Seeing the horse be frightened isn't funny but the other stuff is! Nothing out of the ordinary here to make her freak out. Horses might just be like dogs so that the littlest thing sets them off. Sneeze in hearing range, they panic and attack. Walk into sight for no apparent reason? They'll go bananas and move around. Animals can be unpredictable even if they appear trained. Clay seemed to have a handle on things with how easily he calmed her. Jumping on a horse mid-run with a lasso isn't easy per say but the picture is there, still. Dmitri was really impressed at how naturally dealing with animals came to Clay. The world this is it's hard to imagine intuition with animals being alive.

Then Clay fell off the horse. Damn. As everyone ran over and watched Hoofnanny calm down just as fast as she flipped out again, Dmitri lent a hand to Clay to help him back on his feet. "Are you alright?" he asked very concerned. Not like he fell from a million kilometers in the air or anything but being thrown off of a horse is no joke. April looked at that beautiful creature with a tilt. What's making her act so weird? Besides here, everything is completely normal around here.
 
Almost by magic, Hoofnanny calmed down like nothing was wrong. She trotted in place calmly, neighing and doing that puff mouth thing while Riley tended to her. Her episode's over, at least.
"Yeah I'm alright," Clay answered, taking Dmitri's hand and pulling himself off of the ground. He's covered in dirt by now, but it's nothing a few good whacks with a rag won't fix. Surface stains are easy to get rid of if you can that much. He personally doesn't mind. Just feels at home. Reminds him of being little and playing out with his cousins in the mud while the grownups watched with snacks for after. Good times and good memories. He would like to be more presentable since he's in company, however. No injury was dealt to him so he's fond of that.

Seeing he was alright, Benji, Clay and the others were about to head off so Riley can prep for the race starting in a few minutes. Until somebody invaded their circle. Clay's boots, brand new and nice, were filthy and in need of a good shone. Benji felt somebody brush past his legs while he stood beside of April but other than her he saw nobody. The group proceeded to wave Riley and his horse off when Clay felt something at his feet. "What in the tarnation?" he asked, calling attention to his team and looking down to see a....little person. Dwarf, midget (but those terms can be offensive in some cases.) A little person, an older man to be exact, was knelt at Clay's feet in panic to clean and shine his shoes. "Well...howdy there partner?" Clay greeted the man.
Awkward. Benji didn't even see this man when he came into the group... he is tiny and all but damn. Kinda made him feel bad not seeing him.

"Can we help you, sir?" Benji asked. He was nice but justifiably weirded out that a man is just fawning to clean Clay's shoes. The man looked up. He wore a hat, carried many rags and presented himself well in green attire. To top it off...he's Irish. "Well how do you all do? Top of the mornin' to yins," said the man with great energy and tipping his hat. "Pardon me but I am a shoemaker by trade and just have to keep every footwear article I see in good condition lest it becomes unwearable." The man continued on Clay's shoes with fierce determination. The man is on a mission! Weird but he isn't giving off bad vibes. Just a man who likes shoes. No harm in that. "Here for the races aye? Luck has it, so am I. What brings a group of such...colorful people as yourselves here?" asked the man again. He's friendly, too. Little friendly man with a shoe passion. Not even the weirdest guy here.

Looking down at the 3'6 man shining his shoes therefor holding him in one place, Clay kindly replied. "We's just here to see the race and support a buddy of mine. He's racin' ya see, and we're gonna cheer him on. My name is Clay, and them here are my pals Benji, April, Erin, Dmitri and Gawain. How's about yourself little feller?" Clay asked. Little feller? He meant no disrespect at all but Benji cringed very very hard.
Just as the man opened his mouth to talk, outside of the track stadium spawned a dozen Spawners. A present from the Legion? Here and now, of all times?
Clay jumped just as the man finished his shoes. "Crap. Aye there, you might wanna get to safety. Them folk are bad news," he warned the shoemaker man. Benji tensed up at the sight of them. Spawners...slobbering? That's just gross...
 
"Glad to hear," Erin said. Really, it'd be a shame if Clay'd injured himself here. And the horse had suddenly calmed down as well. Also a good thing. But they might want to cast a quick spell somewhere when nobody was looking to get all that dirt cleaned off. Surely there's a spell for that! Or would that be abusing their powers? They're not trying to gain anything by doing it. Just make their lives a little bit easier. Unless Clay actually likes being covered in dirt and mud? Erin really wouldn't know. She herself was raised to be pretty fond of cleanliness. "Good luck, Riley!" Erin called as they were about to head off so Riley could prepare for the races.
"Best of luck indeed," Gawain nodded. It'd be fun, albeit a little bit strange to watch these races instead of participating in the tournament himself. Although this just seemed to be abut who had the fastest horse and was in control of their horse the best, rather than jousting. People didn't do that anymore these days, did they? Unless they were... what'd Erin call it again? Re-enactors. People pretending to live in the past to educate others. Hah, might be something he'd feel right at home at. After all, for him it wasn't actually a very long time ago. In his mind and memory that is... Still a bit confusing to think about.

But before they could walk off, or before Gawain would give himself a headache pondering over the entire concept of the life he's been living, something... or rather someone strange invaded their personal space. A dwarf, as they'd call him back home. Tiny man, not even 4 ft tall, kneeling at Clay's feet to... clean his boots? Erin and Gawain glanced down at the man in surprise.
"Doin' fine this afternoon, thank you very much," Erin responded with a small. This might be the most stereotypical Irish person she's ever met in her life. And she's met a lot of people! But though the man was very stereotypical and a tad strange, he seemed friendly enough. Gawain just still looked rather confused. Was it normal here for strangers to just run up to a person and clean their shoes out of nowhere? Bit of an odd situation here.

As Clay introduced them all to the shoemaker, the familiar terrible sound of a portal opening up drew their attention. Seemed like the Legion somehow had an interest in the races too? Maybe they were planning to steal the horses and turn them into even more undead horse minions? Or maybe being ancient evil souls didn't really make enough coin to fund their evil armies and plans and they were looking to earn some money? Whichever the case, there's Spawners near the tracks now, and people are running everywhere in blind panic.
"Maybe they're just here for the food?" Erin suggested, siding with the others. "On a more serious note, those folks are trouble indeed. It's best we all get to safety." They can't just transform here in the middle of the crowd and give their identities away! They'd need to "flee" and morph once there'd be nobody around to see them. Gawain, catching on to what Erin meant, nodded.
 
"Thank goodness... " Dmitri felt relief that Clay was alright. Breaking a bone or crushing something would be very bad. He pulled the cowboy up swiftly, dusting him off gently to not stir any bruise retained. Looking up to people but not making himself too familiar had its challenges. He and Quinn fit in thus far with everybody but being newer he isn't about to make himself too close to somebody on the chance they take it weird and decide to drop kick him right then and there on the spot. But it's so exciting to see the insanity of their lives! Clay actually likes being dirty and getting hurt. Masochism maybe isn't the term to be used but Dmitri got the vibe that he liked roughhousing and wasn't afraid to get a bruise or two doing something. Shaking his head, he waved Riley off and watched the horse calm itself for the race. Both he and April kept quiet, folding arms and huddling with the others to make a group walk to their seats in the stadium.

Until a dwarf swarmed Clay's shoes. A little Irish man passionately cleaning Clay's boots. Bad taste, but the stereotype before her made April really want a shamrock milkshake. "Good afternoon," she greeted the little man. She watched him carefully, as did Dmitri, the both of them inspecting him and just kind of wondering...why? The man spoke. A shoemaker just passing by, being a little eccentric. Harmless but he's really ringing the oddball bells for them.
Being introduced way more than anyone should with an odd stranger, April waved politely at the man and gave him a smile. Dmitri bowing his head when called out. Not a normal ting for strangers to approach one another just cleaning shoes and invading space. There are people who don't read social cues well or at all but this is a little out of hand. Mister shoemaker man may just be odd and on his way when he's finished. He didn't say his name yet, though?

Oh right, he can't. Spawners! Literally from nowhere! Always at the right place at the wrong time. The wrong place at the right time? Wrong place at the wrong... shit this is a hard-to-use expression. Bad timing, is what they have. There, that's better. "The food doesn't seem that great..." Dmitri said, not getting Erin's joke at first but realizing it right after speaking. He clenched his fists like he was ready to fight, but everybody was hellbent on getting to 'safety' first.
"Like it didn't already smell bad here..." April trailed off. These guys reek!
 
Shoeshining man jumped back in his stout manner of doing so, waddling back at the sudden appearance of these creatures from the underworld. "My my, what manner of things be these?" he asked. Clearly he isn't from around here.
"Bad news. Go on. Git outta here and we'll hold 'em back so we can run," Clay promised and ordered this man he'd just met. But his shoes have never looked better. Known for never making things easy and generally being the most annoying things ever, the Spawners ran full force toward the Sentinels. A gift from the Legion they were indeed, sent to dispatch a little chaos and put things into motion for the events to come. Screeching, spitting and swatting like savage beasts they forced everybody to disperse. The little man took a liking to Clay because of his shoes and Clay just automatically clinging to him to keep him safe in the face of danger. Everybody else who'd seen the Spawners ran off, so they're okay. No need to worry about them, but there's a chance the scare of monsters may cancel the race. Better not happen or Clay will personally slap Vorkalth in the face.... skull.

"Git down!" Clay told the man, Spawner swinging a weapon at him, the cowboy catching said weapon and shoving the creature back with a hearty straight kick in his torso. The man swatted his arms out as if saying 'I can not get much more down than I am.' Horrible joke but it's quite the truth, really. Clay clotheslined the next Spawner in his range so it got a nice crack on its exterior armor going down. From behind more tried getting to him but Clay ducked and skidded in the dirt, pushing them both forward into two trash cans. As afraid as this shoemaker was he was baffled by how mighty Clay and his friend were. Bravely fighting off these monsters no problem? Not perfect fighters by any stretch of the imagination, save for one of them, yet here they are. The man hid behind cover while Clay rounded up more Spawners, holding his hat down close to his head not to lose it. It's a pain how many times it falls off when he's doing stuff like this. Straps for hats are a thing but they just look awful. About as awful, but nowhere close to how awful, as the undead foot soldiers. Faces not even mothers could love.
Unseen by Clay or any of the others, the little man was approached by a Spawner in his hiding spot. Shaking his head at the beast, the man--behind closed doors--somehow got a Spawner away from him and out back into the open where Clay grabbed it thinking it was just attacking him and he pushed it away. Yeehaw!

Benji ran around and around in the openness of the parking area/general space of the track. It's the outside so other than the big stadium its a lot of dirt and gravel with a big driveway leading back onto the road and the city. Not too many things to use or hide behind but being a Ranger by universal law means resourcefulness. Scrawny Benji elbowed one of them in the side, sucker punching it in the face and hurting his own hand. He shook it wildly, hissing at himself. "That hurt, that always hurts..." he said to himself, feeling arms going around him and tossing him up in the air. He frantically waved his limbs around before landing just shy of more Spawners. The poked weapons at him as he roll around, eventually catching one with his legs and kicking back. He glanced over first, seeing that little shoe man still here. Just how many people get endangered around these guys? Seriously, thinking about all of the civilians they deal with... regarding a bus of orphans and an entire college campus, not to mention king with his head coming off. Having no powers bodes well for nobody not a Sentinel.
Sentinel stuff, Benji used that Spawner weapon to use its wider side as a big slapping gimmick across three of their faces. Not mowing 'em down like some of the others can but he's getting them on his own time.
 
Erin and Gawain double teamed on the Spawners closed to them, kicking them back and punching them in the face. Sure, it did hurt a bit more than when you're morphed, but Gawain was used to quite some combat. He'd just tough it out as long as nothing's broken. Erin flipped over one of the Spawners, grabbing its shoulders before landing and pulling the smelly undead creature down to the ground. She pulled the weapon out of its hands, and straight up used it to bash the Spawner in the head. One down, a lot more to go, it seemed. Why would they just show up so out of nowhere? Weren't they usually accompanied by either Avlazor, Nenet, or some fairtale creature turned evil and scary? Maybe it's for the better that it's just simple Spawners and nothing more serious than that. Might mean they can just quickly get this battle over with and enjoy the races. If they don't get cancelled after this, that is. Erin swung the Spawner's weapon around, knocking another one in the chest. One Spawner collided with another, and so like dominoes another few went down.

Gawain continued with the hand-to-hand combat. And fist to face. And foot to chest. He hoped the tournament would still continue after this battle was over. Riley had seemed excited to ride his mare, and Clay had seemed like he wanted to support his friend by cheering on him from the sidelines. And to be fair, Gawain too would have liked to see what a modern day tournament was like. Seeing the horses and their riders compete to see who was the fastest and had the most endurance.
 
Fantastic of the smelliest creatures in the web make their way to everywhere they're not wanted. Days of fun and games aren't going to be common for Sentinels. Dmitri's learning it the rough way while April knows that by now. No day has felt fun in a while due to grim circumstance though she's not keeping down.
Down instead goes the first of a lot of Spawners under Dmitri's heel. Just like the attack at the lakefront. Outnumbering the good guys but not outsmarting them in any way, Dmitri took advantage of the sheer number of them and hatched a plan while flipping through them and landing two kicks. Nearby he noticed a horse carrier that's attached to the back of a truck for transporting the animal from one place to another. Room to store a bunch of Spawners inside and it already smells bad in there. He made his way over, being trailed by a group of monsters. Grabbing one by the arm and twisting it to flip it over into the trailer, Dmitri looked at the others. "Hey, that one has my Charm! Better go catch him!" Dmitri lied to the Spawners. Dim-witted, the Spawners let out a group...yodel(?) as they dog piled the one thrown into it. Dmitri grinned and punched the ground, a small but quick burst of water from the ground tripping them all up.

April, just like Benji, ran around and around. Spawners like to drag her around so she isn't gonna get yanked today. She tossed her own hat onto a Spawner's face to stun it long enough for her to shove it back and get her hat. This is really odd. The grunts just come from nowhere unescorted like this conveniently nearby the Sentinels. This has 'distraction' written all over it. She can't just ignore it, for that would meaning risking public safety. She's seen what the Legion can do and she will never let it happen again even thought it definitely will. Mostly just dodging and shoving, April karate chopped into one of their shoulders and pushed one into a porta potty with her other arm unknowingly. Hearing its door slam she jumped, gently peaking inside to see one of the beasts on the...toilet. "Oh, my bad," she said as she closed it. Undead monsters need privacy, too. It jumped out, likely upset it had ran out of tissue paper, attacked April and met with her foot.
 
Everybody is handling Spawners deftly defying Legion forces with high ability and resourcefulness. Selecting places and people to attack has always been part of the bad guys' plan from the beginning of every battle of good and evil; seemingly random locations making the cut for terror. The chances of heroes being there are just odd. Speaking of Chance, whatever happened to him? He said he'd be around... but he isn't in the Coven? Will Fate's brother just pop up in other realms when they travel? Sparking a little wonder here.

Shoemaker man peered around the wall of his hiding spot at Clay and his friends dealing with Spawners. Clay clotheslined another one of them as Benji pushed a couple back. His eyes danced around, beholding sights not seen in person for him before. Valiance of the British one, the fire haired girl immensely overpowering monsters, the gentle girl taking care of business, the newer lad quickly disabling monsters and the artsy small one proving himself. None compared to the brute force of the cowboy with incredible shoes, however. Rubbing his hands together, the shoemaker quietly snickered while clutching on to clover-shaped pendant made from a gold ore. An old piece, crafted a long time ago from a smith long dead. This is no ordinary shoemaker man hiding behind the wall. His sights set on Clay's strength, the fight in him dozing over his enemies. The Earth itself seemed to tremble under his step. According to what he has heard, this must be the man he is looking for. Flashing back in memory to a prior period... The land of Avlazor's punishment. Creatures weak now strong and strong now weak. A lone traveling man encounters the basilisk seeking out strength. Wishing to go home, the basilisk in turn gained him access to the home of the Sentinels. Strength and power to move a mountain. Sentinel of Shaking Earth, great power, a tool to be used. This is where he needs to be searching.

"I wish these things would just go away!" Clay blurted out as mid battle banter. Spawners kept coming closer and closer, all while Avlazor back in the underworld explained more what is going on in reference to the flashback. The shoemaker perched up a bit.
"So you shall have it," he responded to Clay's general wish. "Iktha b'yla, tutula," he chanted silently. By magic, the Spawners went from on the aggressive attack to passive. Casually like old friends, the Spawners waved--yes waved-- to the Sentinels and retreated in no hasty manner.

Clay prepared for a big front of these things to come in. But before they could, they walked off. Walked off like nothing happened. Complete demeanor change. Weapons lowered, no growls and a lot of passive tones just wandering into the darkness to return home. Adding this to the list of weird. "I know I said I wish they would leave but bygawd this ain't what I expected..." Clay said, provoking thought from the others as he blinked in disbelief. The hell is going on?
"If it was always that easy then we should have just wished the Legion to never exist..." Benji replied, catching his breath after a pretty heavy fight. Hand over his stomach he found himself in shock. There's so much he's wondering right now. First a random horse meltdown, a small shoe man, an attack and now Spawners exiting stage left. No way he's the only one thinking this is by far the weirdest moment regarding a bad guy. Bad guys to make that correct.

"Are they gone?" asked the shoemaker, now revealing himself from the hiding spot sounding vulnerable and afraid.
 
Vorkalth, if he were being honest, was quite stumped. Although he doubted that the basilisk even knew what he had done, it was rather clever. Helping out the wish granting creature had gained them a powerful ally. And a dangerous one, for anything granting wishes is tricky as can be. Everything may appear to be fine at first, but sooner or later it will come around to bite you in the ass.
"I see," Vorkalth muttered, looking at the scrying window overlooking the battle between the Sentinels and Spawners, their newfound ally tricking them into believing he was a mere weak mortal. "He'd better not fail us."
---
"Don't we all?" Erin replied to Clay, readying herself for another round more of kick-ass. She raised her fists and waited for the next Spawner to come her way so she could punch it in the gut with all she'd got. But instead... instead the Spawners just lowered their weapons, waved at them and walked off. Casually "saying" goodbye an heading back to hell as if nothing ever happened. "What, their mom called them home for dinner or something?" Erin wondered out loud. She scratched her head in confusion. This was very, very odd. They'd seen quite a few things on their Sentinel adventures so far, but enemies just walking home at the end of the day as if they were friends who'd just had a day of fun? What if that's what the Spawners actually thought? That this was just some kind of fun game to play with them? Nah, probably not. She walked over to Benji and placed a hand on his back. "You alright?"

Gawain was equally confused. Just a second ago the Spawners were coming at them from all sides, terrorizing the people of Ebongrove, and now they just walked off like that? Into the hell portal and back home where they came from? "Most curious," Gawain nodded in agreement with the rest. First the horse being spooked, then the tiny man showing up, Spawners attacking out of nowhere and leaving as if they were called home by some unseen force... So far this is the strangest he had seen in Ebongrove. Or in his days as a Sentinel, even! He was glad the little man was unharmed when he came out of his hiding spot. "They are gone, sir," Gawain nodded at him.
 
Ready for battle! Ready for action! They just keep coming and they the team just keeps fighting. Everyone wishes they would just go. Prepared to take them all on and protect the city and the strange little man, April and Dmitri stood for anything when the Spawners apparently obeyed Clay's wish. It's a miracle... does this mean... "Clay can control the Spawners??? A secret power!" Dmitri blurted in surprise after Erin's 'running to mother for dinner' comment. He expressed shock and awe, clapping his hands in naive fashion. The Spawners completely ceased in their attack and just left. Back to Hell and back to just serving background fodder in the Legion's lair. Not Sentinel for long and already such strange things unfold before his eyes. Dmitri stared in disbelief as the others were, surely. The horse, the Spawners and now the Spawners doing something by Clay's command. "You need to tell us how you did that." Really, Clay has to have a new ability.
That shoe man reminded him that they are still not alone. Nearly blabbed to this guy some things he should not blab to people. The new guy is always gonna have slip ups if not careful. "It's alright, yes. Are you hurt?" he assured with Gawain and asked the man.

"I don't think he did that... " April sounded astonished. Something did that. The bad guys responded to a wish? Some omniscient force granting wishes? "If this is a lucky day... I wish for straight A's in all my classes this semester," April whispered only to herself. Practical but a little selfish. Wishing for world peace would be subjective. She's a super hero, but her idea of peace might be just a little off from the rest of the worlds definition of peace. Wishing for peace isn't gonna bring it. Unless peace did include everyone not thinking peace is the same around the world suddenly agreeing on everything and therefore peace is established that way. Holy shit did she just solve the mystery of not wishing for world peace? Somebody, write this down! "Whatever happened I'm glad it happened when it did. We were all getting a bit tired," she said, gently rubbing Benji's arm and glancing about. Mister shoemaker is unharmed, so that's nice at least. Two good things happened today!
 
His head moving up and down let everyone know Benji was alright. The post-fight second to get your bearings in play here. If Dmitri is right and Clay does have magical (well, another magical) power that lets him control Spawners or anything weak-minded then he needs to share that talent or put it to use by waiting Vorkalth and just wishing for him to give up and make nice with everybody. Invite everyone to dinner with that momma Spawner Erin joked about as the horde just nonchalantly walked away. The force at hand behind all of this can't be Clay, it just can't. He himself is just as surprised as everybody else. "I ain't sure. Do I have a power?" he asked everyone as the small shoemaker man trudged out from behind his hiding spot. Reconvening with everyone over by a horses cage attached to a truck, another miracle happened as in the distance inside, the race is going on. Hoofnanny gets to race with the other horses and Riley gets to have a day to shine. "Well I'll be... after all that? Let's git on in there everybody!" Clay motioned for his friends to join him, waving the man off after seeing he was unharmed.

Such a strong one this is. So malleable and muscly. I will have fun with this. The shoemaker thought to himself, rubbing his clover necklace made of gold.
"You gonna be alr..." Clay started to holler back at him. The shoemaker stepped out unharmed with his necklace in hand and his eyes glowing a bright green. Greener than Benji when he morphs. "Tarnation???" Clay blurted, catching Benji and the others' attention before a flash of light blinded them. Clay protected his eyes from the light, Benji doing the same, snapping around to see the mans eyes glow shortly before he smelled nothing but grass. The light died down and Clay stood alone. His friends now gone by magic. The shoemaker man did not stay short for long. Nor did he stay human. The shoemaker now stands at a whopping six feet. His body monstrous and twisted. Human enough but he is definitely a monster cover in warts under his tattered green suit, hat and boots. A red gem hangs from his neck, as does a white lucky rabbits foot from his collar. A green clover on his hat, a massive gold bar on his person in a small pouch and a blue rag stuffed in but hanging out of his pocket. The color-coded objects are direct keys to finding out where everybody went.

"The sam hill are you?? Where are my friends ya varmint? S'going on?" Clay demanded to know here and now.
"Well ya wee lad, there be an answer to that. Notice my colorful new things?" he asked, pointing them all out. He looks like a blinged out...leprechaun monster. "Lapdun is the name and trickery is my game. I grant you a wish and you pay me back!" Lapdun laughed. Clay's wish...unintentionally granting his creature power over him!

Benji, now a clover in Lapdun's hat, remained fully conscious but now in clover form unable to move or do anything. Oddly enough, he and the others can still speak and be heard in object form. "I'm like a baby version of Sprout now! Sort of...what is going on??? Clay get us out of here!"
 
Erin chuckled lightly at Dmitri's response. Sure, it was strange that the Spawners just so happened to listen to a wish, but it seemed very unlikely that Clay himself was actually behind this. Gawain seemed to consider the possibility for a moment before shaking his head. "Nowhere in history has a Sentinel ever had the power to control weak minded beings. That would be a very dangerous and wrong power to have." Ever the just knight. Nobody should have the ability to mind control another. Not even if this other thing was an evil demon.
"I don't think Clay's behind this either. But whatever it was, we're lucky it happened," Erin said. Fighting unmorphed was a bit tougher than fighting fully morphed and magical. Her head peaked up as she heard the sounds of the race starting in the distance.
"Well... I gotta give it to them, they're eager to keep this going," she remarked. Seriously, demons from actual hell showed up and attacked the people, and still they decide to race the moment the monsters keep at some distance and/or mysteriously head home again? Ah well... it's been a long time since she's seen a race, so she might as well enjoy it.
"Let's get going then," Gawain nodded. "I'm most curious to see how a tournament goes around here." He still didn't quite get the hang of this being a race and not an actual tournament. No lances and armor involved. Just horses running through the dirt as quickly as they could.

The shoemaker man's eyes glowed green. Now if anyone's ever seen or read any work of fiction, you'd know that's a clear sign of bad news. It never ends well when someone's eyes suddenly start glowing. Remember the mind control mentioned earlier? Glowing eyes is often a sign of that. Possession too. And cartoon superheroes just about to launch their big magical final attack. Either way... glowing eyes equals "get the heck out of there". Erin and Gawain raised their arms to shield their eyes from the sudden flash. A weird tingly sensation could be felt, and then...

"Really, Benji? A baby sprout is the first thing that comes to your mind? Instead of WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK HAPPENED TO US?!" Erin said, ending her question in a loud and frustrated call. She looked like her own charm. "This stinks... and I'm not just talking about the smell of this guy."
"I do not like this," Gawain said. "If there's anything you can do to reverse this horrible curse, it would be much welcomed."
 
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