//------------------------------// // Issue 12-The More You Learn...[Part 3] // Story: I Am Not a Charlatan! I Am Mysterio, Master of the Arcane Arts! // by The Quidam //------------------------------// *Ethan felt the surrounding stars like they were millions of eyes set upon him. It made him feel naked on a cosmic stage. Yet he was determined to ensure that he met the expectations of his interstellar spectators. He couldn’t tell who was watching him, but that didn’t matter as he soon found himself falling from this starry night and crashing into the regular streets in which he would walk to his campus. Without a falter in his steps, the young man rushed on the sidewalks and towards the shore side in the distance. He only knew then he had to hurry to catch up to a lone figure in the distance. He could barely make out his face, but he could see him on the cliffs near the beach throwing a bouquet of roses into the sea. Even though he seemed forlorn at doing it, just seeing him standing there was enough to make Ethan smile. He hurried to increase his pace to meet with him, but found his steps faltering with the interrupting thoughts of the others he had met lately. From the wise Zecora, the loyal Tsavorite, the majestic Trixie, the resolute Bo, the joyful Norah, as well as a few others he had yet to recognize, he caught fleeting glimpses of them seeming to smile at him. Yet all those notions were shattered by ITS arrival! Out from the sky soared the Marveler. Like a ferocious beast on the prowl, it charged by, only ignoring him because it had caught better prey to settle itself with. “Help! Someone! Anyone!” The figure of the young mare called Fluttershy cried out from a lone window as the great ship flew away into the sun. The figures of five other mares could be seen trying to fight their way out, only to fail as nothing they did could break them out! Ethan, now garbed up as Mysterio was there huffing and puffing as he tried to recall just how he got here and why the Marveler would go so far as to capture these six mares who gave his soul such a feeling of unease, but couldn’t develop a proper supposition because the mighty mechanical menace Leopardon was standing in his way! “Another Leopardon?! I don’t care if there are a hundred of you!!” The fictitious sorcerer shouted as he ran up the spider-themed megazord’s leg, dodging every shot being fired at his direction. “I’ll take everything you send my way you Spider-man-piece-of-!” -POW!!- But his leap into Leopardon’s face was haltered with a mighty smack from its mechanized backhand! In a few seconds he found himself painfully impeded into the side of a cliff. It was uncomfortable, to say the least, but Mysterio had no time to dwell on it. Leopardon was looking at him menacingly as it prepared a rocket punch to finish the job! “No! Not this time!” Mysterio yelled out as he reached within himself to draw forth all his remaining strength. He broke free from his rocky confinement and prepared a kick towards Leopardon with literal burning determination coming forth from his body. “OOORAAAAAAAAAHHH!!” Mysterio roared out with absolute resolve as he pushed himself off the cliff and like a missile, kicked off into Leopardon’s face. He pierced through with explosive power, destroying its faceplate and exiting the other side, leaving the megazord headless! As he landed back onto the ground, Leopardon feel on its knees before falling forward and exploding into nothingness. “-Huff!- -Huff!- Now that wasn’t such a chore!” Mysterio muttered as he shakily looked about for the Marveler, but it seemed to have flown far away by now. “Now where could that other Marveler have gone?” A series of claps stopped that train of thought as Mysterio turned to realize he wasn’t alone in this canyon by the shore, but actually had a spectator to the events the whole time. One that was shaded under a blue umbrella and lacked any facial features as well as a head. “You!” Mysterio yelled out as he saw The Quidam clapping at the fight he just undergone. It was then he realized that all he went through was a dream that was nothing more than entertainment to this mysterious being. The Quidam pointed to himself as he turned to look for any others Ethan might be pointing towards. “You sent that mechanical menace after me and Maze! Didn’t you?” Mysterio demanded to know. For who else would send that mechanical monstrosity his way but the one who throw him into this insane state of affairs to begin with? The Quidam seemed to take the accusation in stride however. “Really? You’re really asking that?” Ethan crossed his arms as he was no longer dressed as Mysterio, but as the everyday young man he was before he met this figure. The Quidam shrugged as he closed his umbrella and set it into the ground like a stake. “Congratulations!” Tsavorite clapped as she appeared behind him. “Congratulations!” Zecora also materialized as well. “Congratulations!” Followed by Trixie. “Congratulations!” Bo came next. “Congratulations!” After her came Norah. “Congratu-” Maze began, before Ethan punched it into a puff of blue smoke reveling it and the others to be nothing more than conjured facsimiles. “Enough!!!” Ethan blustered out as he found The Quidam stopped making copies. “This isn’t a something you can blow over with a joke involving some reference that is a decade old. This is my life being played with!” The Quidam gave a humble bow before reaching into a pocket and searching for something. “My own what?” The headless being finally found what he was looking for. He tossed the object to Ethan, who was quick to catch it. However, he couldn’t describe what it was he now held. It was smaller than a penny, but felt heavier than a boulder. Yet he held it like it was light as a feather and stiff as a board, despite the dryness his hands felt at its possibly sticky texture. The Quidam suggested as he picked up his umbrella. The object settled itself into a shining jewel of a marble as Ethan brought his attention back to The Quidam who seemed to be taking off. “Wait! I still have questions about this Displaced-!” The Quidam didn’t seem to give much notice to Ethan’s concerns. He then turned to face Ethan with his umbrella poised like a blade. Ethan took a few hesitant steps back as he felt a foreboding feeling coming from the figure. “What are you talking-?” [}0{] -SHING!- Ethan opened his eyes as he immediately rolled himself off the bed. A good thing he did, too! For a second latter and that blade piercing through the shack’s wall would have also buried itself into his ear canal. “Too close!” Ethan yelped as he threw the tangled covers of them any hurried to his costume. He had taken it off, after the long ordeal of the night and gone to bed. Now he was doing his best to get it on as he saw two blades begin to cut through the wall and trace out an opening to let somebody get in to finish what they started. ‘Good thing this isn’t my first time getting into costume under pressure!’ While costume changes were not a challenge for this theater major, his opponent was much quicker than any stage director. Thankfully he had a head start by sleeping in the main outfit like a pair of long johns. By the time he had set his helmet to lock into place as the final touch of his outfit, the blade wielding attacker had burst through the wall and in a cloud of dust the glimmer of three long and shiny objects was all the warning the human had this assailant was going for the kill right off the bat! ‘Wait! Three!?’ He immediately raised his arms in a crossed block. ‘That implies he is holding more than two! But how?’ -Clang!- -Clang!- -Screech!- He got his answer as he got a good up and personal look at his accoster. Dressed up in a desert cloak and a straw hat, he could make out wolf-like physical features and slightly enlarged paws proving he was a Diamond Dog. However, what drew the cosplayer’s attention was the two swords in each paw his arms were struggling to hold back with his wrist guards, while the third was clenched in the canine’s jaw and aimed for is neck. Ethan lucked out that he got the domed helmet on in time because he would have been beheaded if he had not! ‘If those swords were actual katanas, I’m sure Zoro would be suing!’ Mysterio thought as he pushed the dog back for a momentary let up. The dog proved to be too well prepared for it, as he not only was quick to resume his stance, but to break into a series of swings with no hesitation. He gave Mysterio no time to concoct any of his tricks. If anything, he barely gave him any time to block or parry, let alone strike back. “YOWCH!!” Mysterio cried out at a strike that cut through his suit on his left arm. Those blades were actually sharp enough to cut through their material! He almost lost his focus at seeing the blood begin to drip down the green layers in a shocking juxtaposition. Seeing the blood also gave the sword-wielding doggie more determination as he increased the speed of his strikes even faster. ‘FOCUS! If I pause, he’ll cut me! If I hesitate, he’ll kill me! Yet blocking like this is going to tire me out at this rate!’ Mysterio thought frantically as he struggled to keep up with the hastened series of bladed forays. He was in no condition to take on this Diamond Dog as he had done with those members of the coyote raiders. The lack of sleep and recovery from the previous night’s events was already hindering his survival efforts and the bloody wound was slowing him further. But he still had one idea that could be crazy enough to work. ‘Blocking like this is getting nowhere!’ His gauntlets started to glow brighter and brighter with every parried strike he made. ‘But it is distracting him from realizing how close he is getting to me! Too close to DODGE!’ When his gauntlets glowed their brightest, the doggie-swordsman (swordsdoggie?) only then realized that he was only five paces away from the sorcerer’s range. It was a lesson learned too late for Mysterio let out a massive burst of energy from his palms that caused him to fly out of the shack due to the great concussive force. “Next time, see me in the morning if you have something you want to say to me!” Mysterio quipped, too tired to consider if that line was cool or not. That and the wound on his arm was really starting to get to him. The doggie stood up from a crouch, definitely worse for wear, but not dead or with a hole punched into him like Mysterio hoped. It seemed he was able to focus the attack on his swords, which had battered them into cracked up pieces, showing that whatever metal they were forge from was pretty strong. However, the blades slowly started to reform themselves into more complete conditions as the cracks seemed to seal themselves up before his very eyes. ‘What in the world?’ Mysterio couldn’t believe it. Were they some sort of magical swords? Was that how they were able to cut into his arm? “How DARE YOU!!??” Roared out a deep voice before a great emerald blur charged at the swords-doggie like a launched boulder and knocking him into a pile of scrap metal. Mysterio found his questions interrupted, but didn’t mind the cause. Tsavorite had entered this battle, and she was angry! “You come to strike MY Master while he sleeps and dare to even have him BLEED! I shall ensure you spill twice, no, THRICE as much just to start with!! Then I shall have my flames feast on the rest!!” Already, Tsavorite seemed to be doing good on her promise, for the swords-doggie was already bleeding pretty badly due to the debris he landed in. Seeing that he now had the dragon he avoided awakening in his surprise attack to contend with, he was about to make a tactical retreat. Unfortunately, as the diamond dog tried to jump free he found himself unable to move. Glancing at his paws, he saw his entire body was being held in place by a glowing purple aura with other loser metals binding his limbs in place. “Oh no you don’t! The Great and Powerful Trixie says you get the full impact of her draconic associate’s furry!” Trixie was also pissed at this assassin that dared to attack Mysterio. She was dressed in only her nightwear, and yet with her magical aura lighting up her body and flowing through her mane looked every bit the infuriated enchantress. She held out a hand that she was all too eager to clench, but felt that would end things too quickly. “Whatever’s left gets to face Trixie’s wrath next!” “I doubt there will be anything left, Trixie! I don’t leave leftovers!” Tsavorite snarled with a smoking huff from her nostrils. “Why, I’m certain I can take off his head with one bite-!” “NO, DON’T!!” shouted another figure as she hurried to get in between the dragon and her target. “What is the meaning of this, Bo?” “This is all just a big misunderstandin’!” Bo held herself up with her arms spread out. Despite her large nightgown making her look like a ghost, she still gave a resolute presence of her own against the enraged dragoness. “Let me take him somewheres else!” “He attacked my Master! He should lose his head just for the thought of that!” Tsavorite fumed. She knew Bo as her friend, but this was going beyond the limit of her tolerance. “Indeed! Trixie may not get along with you, but even this is pushing away whatever respect she has for you!” Trixie retorted in agreement. “That’s enough.” Mysterio said as he stepped forward and gained everyone’s attention. He ignored their stares and focused his own attentiveness on the doggie assailant. The moment the owner of Clutter Coulee came into the picture, he was prepared for the sword user to stab into that back that was turned towards him. Before he was struggling to hold up his blades despite his unicorn apprentice’s magical hold. He was clearly going to fight his way out of here. Then as he sniffed the air around him, he unexpectedly looked as if something about Bo surprised him and let go of his weapons. Trixie’s disturbance by Bo’s defense of the dog stopping her magic gave him a perfect opportunity. Yet the lack of acting on this chance at freedom meant there was more going on here. “You’ve seemed to know when you’ve lost. I am in my right to end you where you stand.” He held up a hand glowing with energy as he reached towards the dog. The dog could have reached towards his blades, or even barked out some form of indignant comeback. Instead he bowed his head at acceptance. Before he could make another move, Mysterio felt Bo place a paw on his shoulder. “Please.” Bo begged with her ears drooping in sad humility, but that wasn’t the only thing the cosplaying sorcerer noticed. ‘She’s actually fighting back tears over this guy!’ He considered as he looked back and forth between the two dogs as he came to his decision. To others, he appeared to be still, until he lowered his hand that stopped glowing. “Fine. It’s your home, Bo. Not mine. Nor yours, Tsavorite and Trixie.” He began to walk back to the shack he resided in, heading toward the door instead of the gaping hole in the wall as a last chance to maintain some decorum for tonight. “I will trust your call, Bo. Just be prepared to face the consequences if my trust is wrongly placed.” Sadly, whatever dignity he hoped to maintain was beginning to fade alongside his feelings of consciousness. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to stop this blood from exiting my body posthaste! Before the fainting at the sight of it kicks in. Like now-!” He barely got to finish as he passed out, leaving a frantic group trying to catch him before he hit the floor. [}0{] The Quidam greeted with mock surprise at seeing Ethan again after their last meeting. Ethan however was not as amused. Here he was at the table of the Green Room, surrounded by bookshelves, and once again was with the headless being who ‘employed’ him. Even with no face, he felt as if he was giving off a smug expression at how soon it took for him to enter the realm of dreams. “Whatever. Just give me some of that tea. I need a drink!” Ethan moaned as he rubbed his temples. The Quidam chided as he presented a cup and saucer to Ethan. Ethan didn’t even bother to comment how it didn’t exist a second ago. He had enough to deal with. After a long sip, he decided to put his concerns with Bo and her ‘new guest’ aside to bring up another topic. “So about the Displaced-” The Quidam interrupted, but his charge waved him off expecting that retort. “Oh, at this point, I’m going to assume that you’ll let me in on things as they become relevant. I may as well get used to that.” He took another sip, as he further composed himself. “But I still have questions, such as what am I supposed to do?” The Quidam pointed into a passage of a book he was now holding. Ethan was silent as he contemplated what he did lately to warrant such a divided achievement. The last thing The Quidam said had him asking, “So if I wanted to destroy this world? Or if I wanted to go ballistic on it by destroying its cities and enslave its citizens to make them enact my desires simply because I wanted to?” The Quidam took a sip with an unconcerned slurp, yet perked up as he added, “…No.” Ethan answered. “I would feel the guilt wouldn’t be worth whatever minimal pleasure at doing such a thing.” The Quidam settled his cup onto the saucer in front of him, seeming a bit chipper at that admittance. The object that Ethan was given last time floated from his pocket, and onto the table in front of him. He couldn’t describe it just yet, because the moment it settled on one thing it shifted into another. All he could currently note about it was that it was there and waiting for what he settled on it to be. “I have, but I am curious as to what suggestions you would make?” The Quidam shrugged. As if rising from a lake’s surface, the walls surrounding them rippled as the bookshelves morphs into stands and other sills for displaying. What they featured was a collection of some of the most wonderful, yet oddest assortment of odds and ends that Ethan had ever seen. From small things charms, rings, and possible ranger morphers, to larger objects like swords, statues, and even a Beacon from Borderlands! All of it was there and yet Ethan couldn’t tell if he was absolutely amazed or frightened at the amount of possibilities laid before him. Still, his reaction was enough for The Quidam to stand up and point dramatically with his umbrella, knowing he had this Mysterio’s full attention. [}0{] While Ethan was busy in a dream discussing what to make of his token and creed, his two friendly subordinates were busy at work trying to make him better. Here in Trixie’s room (As Ethan’s still had that cut out hole in the wall that needed repair) they had him on the bed and outside of his armaments, which were surprisingly easier to remove than they thought. Another time they might have been distracted by the sight of their master’s state of undress, but now they were busy treating the wound on his arm with Trixie’s magic, some bandages, and other medicines supplied by Bo. The she-doggie herself was busy locking away the swords-wielding intruder which was fine considering both these ladies would rather keep their master away from the dogs as their feelings towards the incident had yet to cool. Yet even that fury was placed a bit to the side as Trixie noticed something about Mysterio’s current state. She was doing diagnostics with her magic after sealing his wound to stop the bleeding, but came to discover the sorcerer’s current mana level. Ordinarily to do such a procedure would be just a precaution like checking one's temperature for a fever. This time it led to a more serious discovery that the young magician needed to address and attend to posthaste for the result was immensely troubling! Magical exhaustion was surely hindering Mysterio for what else could her findings mean? “His stores are so low. Too low to assist in his recovery.” Trixie commented. “Can you assist him, or not?” Tsavorite asked with hastened worry. She felt so helpless at not being able to assist Mysterio. That and she didn’t want to consider the ramifications of seeing him bleed as he did because she was not there to defend him from the start. ‘Hmmph, you have no right to complain, you gluttonous reptile. You would think his chief subordinate would be more considerate to her master’s safety.’ Trixie grumbled as she recalled that Tsavorite was busy snacking instead of keeping her post near their master’s cabin. “Of course I can. Trixie has been trained to deal with magical exhaustion as well as first aid being on the road as often as she has traveled.” Her horn swirled with magic as a gathered orb concentrated on the tip. It was around the size of a tennis ball and seemed to spiral in a multitude of directions. “It certainly helps that Trixie is a capable spell caster as this technique does have its risks.” She then gave a smirk as she leaned closer over Ethan’s sleeping face. “Although, Trixie has heard that the transfer process would be best performed with a kiss!” A slight grip on her shoulder from Tsavorite pulling her back stopped that notion. “Don’t you even dare-!” “Trixie was only joking! Besides, I would rather to let our ‘sleeping prince’ continue to dream as he heals up.” When the mana was fully emitted into the sleeping patient, the glimmer seemed to cease, albeit, the rhythm of his breathing seemed to quicken a slight bit. “Now we wait.” The dragoness’ claws creased against each other as she looked only wearier. “There is nothing more we can do?” “Trixie has done all she can for him. His would is closed, and his other bruises are supplemented, but his bandages may need changing later. His blood loss should be counteracted by the new mana that is jumpstarting his reserves into replenishing again.” Trixie still couldn’t help to ponder aloud. “Although it was strange to see him at such a state.” “How so?” “Well when Trixie first saw his other bruises, she wondered why they hadn’t recovered as fast if he clearly has to possess a high mana count. After using an examining spell, she found a shocking discovery: his stores were extremely low! Almost to that of a newborn.” She sighed with a tilt of her head as she gazed at Mysterio’s sleeping state, as she considered how much rest he would need. “But that’s impossible! There’s no way he would have survived this long as that if it were the case. The spells he cast would have killed him for trying, let alone being used as freely as he has done.” “You’re mistaken then.” Tsavorite proclaimed, knocking away the notion of her master being weak. “Besides, as you have said, he has been casting a great deal of powerful magic lately. That must be the reason why his stores were so low.” “I suppose that’s the case then.” Trixie agreed. “There is no way he could have possibly pulled any of his spells if he did.” “In any case, Trixie thinks she shall go and practice more of her magic today. Mysterio will surely be impressed by how far she has come to meeting his criteria for his task. If it appears that he needs more mana, then perhaps we shall try adding yours to the mix later.” The mare then got up and started to head out the door. “I trust you’ll be here to keep a good eye on him?” “Hmmph. Says the apprentice who hinted at harassing him in his sleep.” The dragoness turned up her horned nose, before softly replying. “Still, I admit he chose well considering how you were able to tend to him in ways I couldn’t. Thank you, Trixie.” Trixie gave a slight grin as she nodded before leaving. They may be unspoken rivals, but at least they both knew enough to respect the other’s capabilities. However, the moment the unicorn left, Tsavorite felt herself going down on her rump as she sadly sat down next to her master’s bed. She felt terrible at her failure of being his servant. Admittedly, Trixie was not that far from the mark for her being away from her post at Mysterio’s resting place due to her hunger. But it was more than just something that could be satiated by the scraps she snacked on these days. She felt it with every inch her being gained. Her skin was starting to feel tighter and her scales were starting to dry up in places that were not as easy to reach. “Really starting to itch.” She noted at how her scales felt around her master’s mark. Those scales that were etched with his runes seemed to particularly irritate her. She recalled that the spell mentioned ‘releasing her stored energy’ which seemed from what she could tell be tied to her flames. Naturally she used her flames to burn away those stored calories she must have been storing up discreetly which is why her growth seemed to be less erratic than it used to be. However, feeling her instincts driving her to seek her hoard alongside these physical symptoms meant one thing: her body was going to undergo a ‘Serious Shedding’. “I’m sorry, Mysterio. I have failed you and ask for your forgiveness for allowing you to be harmed to such a degree. Even after the fact, I was not able to even treat your poor health as you once did for me. How can live up to repay your life debt if I cannot even do that?” She spoke to him softly as she gazed at his sleeping form. “But perhaps when we return to Castle Wonder I will become the proper retainer to your will.” She considered what changes her body may undergo for her latest ‘Serious Shedding’. After all, dragons were made to adapt and the deeper connection she felt to Mysterio as her Master’s magic recovered told her that when it happened, she would be much more suited to serve the sorcerer’s ambitions. The occasionally glowing mark on her back seemed to tell her so. [}0{] Ethan wasn’t sure how long he talked with The Quidam. Nor did he recall just how many tokens they discussed and spoke of. All he knew was that when he woke up, he felt much more different then he had before. It was like waking up from a nap in the shade as you breathed in the scent of the perfect glass of lemonade. That feeling of zest permeated his being. “Why do I feel so tingly?” Ethan asked as he looked at his arms. The only change besides being outside his costume, was the bandages on his arm for his wound. Perhaps it was some form of high from the blood loss he was recovering from; he did lose quite the amount from that slash. He didn’t see any bruises on him, or any scars which was good. Perhaps he was simply feeling better now that wasn’t being irritated by the lingering effects of battle and fatigue? “Master! You’re alright!” Tsavorite cheered as she saw him awake. Seeing her sitting near his bedside, Ethan couldn’t help but to imagine her there watching him the while time as he slept. Heaven help the one who probably tried to make her wait outside. “Of course I am.” Ethan couldn’t help but to wisecrack. “It would take more than a fancy hunting knife to do away with me after all!” Tsavorite frowned. “Please do not joke about that, Master. I will understand if you are still upset.” “Upset?” “I understand if you wish to punish me.” “Tsavorite, please! I’m alright!” He appreciated Tsavorites loyalty, but again she was pushing it too much. He wasn’t that kind of master! Still he had to ask, “How bad was it?” “You lost a good amount of blood, and your previous wounds were not recovering as they should. Trixie examined you and came to discover that your mana stores were critically low. So she transferred some of her own into you to jumpstart your healing processes.” It took a full minute of mental silence for Ethan to process that statement. When his brain rebooted he flinched forward from the bed and immediately questioned the results of that medical decision. “And how did that go!?” He hastily asked before regaining some composure. “I mean, I am an entirely different form of being than either of you. It could have gone terribly wrong!” “Admittedly, we were worried about that. Fortunately, we had a few more advantages with Trixie being familiar to the technique. Unicorn mana is universal for a quick transfer when depleted to such a critical level, and I was more than happy to procure my own if you needed it. Trixie’s seemed to do the job just fine, but we gave a bit of mine when it seemed you were still recovering slower than you should have been.” Ethan looked at his hands as he considered this revelation. That tingling he was feeling was quite possibly the sign of something his body was undergoing to having magical life energy from both of his loyal subordinates. As if having his mind messed with to understand the nearby languages wasn’t enough, now he was carrying some sort of new syndrome in his body. ‘Well since I never had ‘mana’ to begin with, I’m certain that is exactly the reason my stores would be incredibly low! I just hope that this doesn’t lead to anything like ‘magic cancer’ or suddenly growing new sets of arms!’ Not that he wanted them to know that he never originally had this ‘mana’. Still, he had no choice but to play off his worries as being concerning. “Well I suppose I need to be more aware of that. Being that it seems I need to utilize so many high-level magics lately, I tend to forget that it takes much longer to restore my reserves. Thank you for caring for me after the hassle of last night.” He then realized another matter to consider due to being out for so long. “Speaking of which, whatever became of that sword wielder who attacked me?” At the mention of that, Tsavorite turned her horned nose up and let out a fume of smoke in anger. “He’s been locked up.” Ethan waved away the smoke, knowing that Tsavorite wouldn’t due such a thing unless she was still mad. “You sound like you don’t approve.” “Master, he struck you and tried to end your life!” She snarled before calming her tone down so she wouldn’t yell at her master. “I know it is not my place to question you, but how could you show mercy to him?” “How could I not? Yeah, he attacked me, and considered the individuals that have been doing it lately, I should have just taken him down no questions asked.” He thought carefully about his words to ensure they were understood. “But I think there is more going on here than we know. For one thing, Bo was adamant about defending him.” Tsavorite grumbled at that reminder. It appeared she still held a bit of a grudge at the Diamond Dog at that. Ethan knew he had to say his suspicions to not just calm the dragoness, but to ensure she didn’t lose her newfound friendship with the scrap-giving doggie. “She wouldn’t do that just for any mutt. No, she would step in front of us, her newest friends because we wouldn’t know that he was someone important to her.” “What?” The dragoness tilted her head at that line of thinking. “How do you reach that conclusion, Master?” “It doesn’t take much magic if you are trained to read into people based on observation. Due to my choice profession am pretty good at doing cold readings to a degree.” Ethan waved off like it was no big deal. “This assassin tried to strike me down first because he knew I would end him quickly if I awoke. He did what he could to avoid encountering you as well as Trixie when he could have taken either of you out when you were both deeply asleep. After our fight, when all three of us had him cornered, it could have turned into his lead when Bo stepped in front of him, blocking us, but having her in front of him. He had ample opportunity to strike at Bo, or even take her hostage with her back turned to him. Her being a bigger dog than him would have no hindrance on his capabilities. Instead, he basically surrendered the moment she came into the picture.” He pointedly made eye contact with Tsavorite as he went on to say. “Bo also makes a point to keep herself appearing strong-minded and proud, yet she was holding back tears at the possibility I would kill him then and there. She knew I could do it, and nothing she could do would stop me…except my choice.” Tsavorite said nothing, but any signs of fury seemed to be slowly dying down as she took to her Master’s words. “I let him live, but everyone knows that I just as easily could have taken his life.” Now it was time for the final verbal blow. He launched it with the bandaged arm placing a hand to her shoulder. “Kind’ve like what I did with you, right?” “I suppose.” Tsavorite admitted as she turned her head away, finding the closeness of their gazes to be a bit much if her blushing was any indication. Ethan took it to be slight embarrassment to how forgone she was at being mad at Bo for taking the assailant’s side. “Give it time, Tsavorite. I’m sure you’ll find yourself more at ease with my choice.” Ethan nodded. “Now, let’s go see the others and tell them I’m alright!” [}0{] He found Trixie and Norah at the table they usually ate at. Each was doing their own thing with Trixie practicing the card exercise, and Norah tinkering with some sort of device strapped to a stuffed bunny, and eating some cookies from a tin. While Trixie was definitely glad to see that he was all right, Norah seemed very confused at his current state of being. “What happeneds to your arm, Boss Mysterio?” She asked innocently. Ethan found this to be a bit confusing, but looking at the other two present at the table told him enough. Trixie found her cards suddenly more interesting to look at, while Tsavorite seemed to suddenly find a need to head to some more piles to arrange for a snack. It seemed neither one, nor her sister apparently let the young pup in on the events of last night. “I was actually more injured from that fight with that golem than I originally thought.” Ethan lied well enough. That was partially true. Maze may have taken the brunt of that fight with Leopardon, but that didn’t mean he didn’t get his fair share of bruises in the scuffle. “But you seemed fine when we were all eating together.” Norah pointed out. He merely shrugged. “Well, I hid it pretty well. I’m sure you know what it’s like to hide an injury from when you play rough outside.” She couldn’t argue with that. “True. But Big Sis says you shoulds be more responsible and come forwards for help if that happens.” “And that is good advice I certainly will follow next time! Especially if it means I get more of these cookies!” Ethan was enjoying Norah’s ‘get-better’ snack of cookies from her stash. Although he couldn’t put his finger on what flavor they were, but it was tasty. Norah grinned her teeth in agreement. “Yep, Doggie biscuits make everything better!” “Pffft-!” Ethan spit out his bite and developed a coughing attack at that revelation. “You ok?” “-Cough- Yeah, just -cough- swallowed too big a bite.” Ethan pushed the dogs’ treats away from him. “I think I should hold off on the biscuits for a bit.” “Ok…Oh! Are we evers going to meet that Mazey-lady again.” She asked with an eager wag of her tail. Ethan was certainly not expecting to be asked that. Honestly, he himself wondered that question. Considering the recent revelations of his situation there was no telling when that would be or if it would be. Could be tomorrow, or possibly never considering she probably was busy dealing with her own issues and adventures. So, all he could answer with was another excuse with a bit of optimism mixed into it. “Not for a long while, I’m afraid! She’s very busy with her home dimension! Off battling golems and saving other magic users!” He shrugged again. “You know how it goes!” “I guess.” Norah sighed. She already missed the mysterious ‘Not-hyooman-but-looks-like-a-hyooman’-hyooman-female. “Well enough about that and my problems. What about you? Sleep well?” “Yeah but I had this weird dream!” Norah scrunched her eyes as she tried to remember all the details. “Oh?” “Yeah! There was this strange doggie, who carried swords like a Darknut uses!” He had to tilt his head at that term. “A what?” “You knows, a Darknut! One of those swordsdoggies who goes and saves princesses from evil villains like those old stories. I thinks he cames by and looked at me before disappearing in the darks like a ghost!” She looked up at wonder at the sorcerer as if he could interpret her dream. “Could my dream has some sort of secret meanin’ or somethin’?” ‘Besides the fact it sounds like that dog came into your room to check on you? Probably.’ He would rather not say it like that to the little girl and possibly scare her. “Maybe it’s a sign that you’ll meet an old friend of some sort?” “Maybe! Wonder who it could be?” “Yeah, me too.” He noticed Bo was walking towards another one of the shacks with a plate of food, and it was not one that any of them occupied. “So Bo seems pretty busy.” “Yeah, Big Sis was busy movings all that junk from that kitten-faced golem into a pile this morning.” Norah told Ethan who found that information odd. “All by herself?” Norah was the one who shrugged nonchalantly this time. “Yeah, I mean she’s used to it, and the others were busy fixings you up, but she dids it. She’s been busy in that shack with somethings, but I figures it’s probably another of those tinkerings of hers.” “Really, then I’d better go thank her then for moving all that.” He then reached behind the pup’s ear and pulled out a gold coin from the Quidam’s case. “Here, it’s not a biscuit, but I’m sure you’ll find a way to have fun with it.” He then walked away, trying to hide a smirk at how Norah was now shaking her head about to try to get more gold coins she didn’t know she had. It was an innocent trick, but he needed a pick me up considering how serious a conversation he was about to have. [}0{] Bo came out of the shack with a heavy sigh. At least the plate she held was now bereft of food. However, she perked up when a voice spoke up to her. “You know, I am not surprised you weren’t with the others at the table. Awkward conversation would ruin any appetite. Yet here you are about head into a shack that I know no one has taken up quarters in.” Ethan then crossed his arms, pointedly having his bandaged one displayed at the forefront. “At least no one until last night, right?” Bo tried to keep up her tough front, but found it hard to keep with Ethan looking at her with equal determination. “He’s locked up in there tighter than a bolt in a metal beam and not causing any more troubles. Ain’t that enough?” “Consider my suspicions less on the fact he tried to bleed me out, and more under the basis that this guy you were nearly groveling to ensure I didn’t obliterate him right then and there.” He raised an eyebrow with a hint of a slant to his shoulders. “I mean, we may not know each other that long, Bo, but even I know enough to notice you don’t just grovel for any stranger.” The she-doggie was tight lipped at that. Still her silence was enough for Ethan to know that he was tapping at a nerve, yet not fully striking. “Bo, I swear, if you can give me some insight on what exactly might have been going on, from what you can say, I will not harm, or seek revenge on him for what may be a misunderstanding.” He then decided to go the whole length of the oath, as he recalled that such a thing seemed to carry weight in this world when he did it for that yellow Pegasus mare. “Cross my heart and hope to die.” Unknown to him, but in sight of Bo, his fingers depicted a glimmering trace over his heart. Bo took it to be that the sorcerer swore on his magic, and thus felt a bit more ease that he would at least listen to what she had to say. “Like I said, I’m a guest here, and not a dictator, so whoever you wish to keep as company is up to you. But at least give us a solid explanation as to why this guy who straight up wanted to kill me is someone you don’t want me or the others to deal with.” It still took her a few breaths before she finally came forward with some information of how she knew this stranger less hesitation. “Remember earlier when I mentioned I was once a pet?” “I recall a bit of that, yes.” Ethan nodded. “Well, in that business, I garnered the attention of a few admirers.” “And he’s one of them? An old client who sought your ‘creature comforts’?” Ethan immediately guessed, to which Bo seemed to stutter a bit at his presumptuous interruption. “No…yes…Well, it ain’t in the way your thinkin’.” She sighed as she felt herself falling into a flashback of those days with the swords-doggie. “He was a Darknut, one under the Bone of Scone, and one who still acted a bit like those old ones in the stories. I was but a young bitch, who could only wish that he would purchase and take me and Norah out of that shop.” ‘But he never did.’ Was not spoken but conveyed with how Ethan didn’t recall any mentions of him when she showed him the mark of the pack she reached clan status with. Not wanting to trample her feelings any further, he decided to get more into the heart of the issue. Already he was getting a good idea of what had happened. “Based on what Norah told me about her ‘dream’ of seeing a ‘Darknut’, I’m guessing he was searching the place for his fair maiden, but came across the “Evil Wizard’ keeping her prisoner. Well, then why was he more focused on ‘Stabbing the wizard’ than ‘Saving the Princess’?” He asked in quotation marks. Bo seemed to give an embarrassed grimace as she answered with a nail to her maw. “I was a…more svelte bitch in those days. He didn’t seem to recognize me until after I stood in front of him.” Well that explains his reaction to her scent. “So why doesn’t he come forward and tell us his side of the story.” “Because he won’t!” Bo’s mood took a dive. “He ain’t sayin’ a word, not even to me! He won’t even look at my direction!” The she-doggie seemed to be breaking further as she instinctively reached out and dragged Ethan into a hug. “Ooomph!” “I knows I’ve changed a lot with all the times that went by, but does he hates me now?” Her depressed state was blinding her to how Ethan was struggling to get out of her embrace. Still she blubbered on. “I mean -sniff- it’s bads enough the others are mad because I didn’t let him bite the dust, but now he won’t even talk to me even thoughs I knows he knows me!” Any other time, Ethan would be feeling pity for the crying she-doggie. But right now, he was starting to lose feeling of everything as he was squished tighter to Bo’s bosom. ‘Must…escape…need…air!’ He wasn’t sure what happened, but one instant he was struggling to breathe in Bo’s hug. The next he was standing behind her, gasping for the wonderful treasure known as oxygen. “-Huff- -puff- I will be sure to bring it up -huff- when I speak to him.” Bo turned around to see the sorcerer placing his helmet on after regaining his breathing rhythm. He was once again dressed up in his full armaments. Where they came from when he was dressed in the simple clothes he wore underneath, was anyone’s guess. Before she could stop him though, he had already stepped through that shack door. Bo could only wipe her tears and hope that the sorcerer would keep the oath he swore by. [}0{] Ethan, now once again donning the mantle of Mysterio, wasn’t sure what he would find when he entered the shack. It was space of not much more than a bed and a pot in the corner for ‘bathroom needs’. What he wasn’t expecting was the sudden heaviness he was feeling the moment he stepped inside. It was as if someone turned up the gravity, for each step he took was an exercise in lifting his feet. At one point, he leaned on a wall to balance himself, but found that he was being pulled into it further like it was coated in some form of adhesive. As he righted himself, his HUD popped up with a message: {MAGNETIC DISTORTION DETECTED: ADJUSTING MAGNETIC POLARITY TO COMPENSATE} In about a second, he found himself having no trouble moving about the shack. He’d question it later, because right now his audience had drawn his eyes upon him and his ability to move freely throughout this apparently magnetically wonky prison cell. Looking at the Swords-doggie minus the desert cloak, he got a better idea at what he was. He wore a Japanese looking robe like a samurai, along scarf wrapped around his neck, and even had the wooden sandals at his bottom paws. His cloak and hat were set next to the bed. His physical features were a mixture of grey and white fur like a wolf. He wasn’t exactly like a husky, but more like one of those Japanese dogs…Shikoku Inu! That was the breed! Thank you, comic books, and anime for odd factoids like that! What made the scene stranger than being stared at by a samurai dog was the way he was imprisoned. He had thick metal bands around his wrist, ankles, and waist, yet they each were linked not by chains. No, instead there were lines of black ball bearings the size of grapefruits that seemed stuck to one another. Just by looking at them, they looked only long enough to give the wearer enough room to sit up in the bed, and use the pot in the corner. Again, the use of magnets was filed away for later as he decided his audience had waited impatiently. “Good day. I am Mysterio. I would offer my hand to shake, but I wouldn’t be certain you wouldn’t try to cut it off, now would I?” The swords-doggie pointedly looked up. MYsterio gazed up as well to find that the dog’s swords were in their hilts and imbedded into the ceiling like an action figure’s accessories in its plastic case. “Ok, fair enough. However, that still doesn’t excuse your attack on my person.” Mysterio crossed his arms as he laid his threat. “I could make it so that you wake up in the middle of the desert, thinking you are nothing but a beast, and will crawl on all fours like one for the rest of your life.” The Dog furrowed his brows in anger at that, but remained silent. He seemed determined to not speak a word. “But I won’t!” Mysterio uncrossed his arms. “I don’t know what you think I am, or how you heard of me, but I can tell by your actions that you were expecting a different scene before you came here. One in which I am taking advantage of Bo and her sister through some form of enslavement or other dark deed. Not one in which we are but business partners and allies.” He stepped forward some more. While he knew the dog was retrained he still kept a sense of caution as he did so. The Dog seemed to scurry back a bit as the sorcerer approached. It was slight, but Mysterio could see that he acknowledged he had the advantage here. “Then again, that tough as nails bitch is out there crying over how the one person she wished to see again won’t even talk to her, despite all the trouble he’s in. It so happens that one of the things I was taught was to never let those who make your friends cry get away with doing so.” He raised a hand that already had an orb of energy at the ready like a baseball. “So tell me, Swords…Doggie! What does it take to get you to bark?” The Dog still wouldn’t speak. He just looked more upset. Mysterio had to compliment his determination. So far he was withstanding he attempts from striking at his heart with a mention of a crying Bo, to threatening his life with an attack at the ready. Not that he would, for he felt compelled not to let it grow more than a bluff. But then the dog huffed out a sigh as his ears drooped, and reached for his scarf. Reverently he removed it to show that he wasn’t wearing it to keep warm, or even to look cool. No, he was wearing it to hide the state of his throat. It looked as if some wicked claws attempted to behead him but took his voice box instead. “My God-!” Mysterio blurted out, losing his composure for a moment. No wonder he was so silent. And he was rubbing salt in that wound without knowing it. The Dog made a wiggling motion with his hand, and Mysterio finally understood it to be a request for something to write with. He hastily searched himself for something to work with, ironically enough the same papers for that failure of a contract the other day. He held up a pen for the dog to take, which seemed to indicate a sense of trust developing between these two. The dog’s handwriting was messy due to his large paws trying to work with the smaller pen. Ethan noticed that his hand made motions that looked like he was drawing paw prints, but his mind had already interpreted them into a message: {What would you like to know?} “How about how you heard of me? I mean, I am a great sorcerer, but tell me how does a stranger like you come to hear about me being all the way out here?” And that was the start of there long conversation. By the time they were done, Mysterio had much to consider, but he knew one thing for certain: They had to hurry to Castle Wonder for Clutter Coulee was compromised as a headquarters. {Omake} The Quidam asked. Ethan nodded as he set the pen down and breathed over the freshly written ink. “That should be the final touch. Any more and I think I would be trying too hard.” The Quidam asked as he looked at his chosen’s creation. “Well at first I thought my holocubes, but that could be disasterous if the technology got into the wrong hands or one that wasn’t meant to have it. Maze I can trust with it, but who knows who else could understand how it could be abused.” He then looked at the other components of his suit as it was displayed nearby in a case like a suit of armor. “The same could be said for anything of Mine-I mean Mysterio’s. If I want to share it, they’ll have to earn it.” “Who says there’s not more to it?” Ethan asked as he held up the token. It looked like a card made to homage the Tarot deck, with a star in the middle that had his personal crest at its core. Underneath the picture was the words ‘THE MYSTERIO’. On the back however was his creed. “After all, Magicians have been doing wonderful things with naught but simple playing cards for centuries. Who’s to say I haven’t hidden a few secrets within this token?” The Quidam clapped at that revelation. Ethan nodded as he recited the creed he spent a long amount of dream time crafting. He was no poet, but he hoped it conveyed the right message. It was how he would be introduced throughout the multiverse after all. To those who find themselves disenchanted, Or seeking a helpful intrusionist, Receive this token and creed I’ve chanted, I am your supportive illusionist. Do not take my services for granted, For I can shift from an ally to foe; From sorcery, to figments implanted I am their grand master: Mysterio! So can you handle one of my esteem Or shall you fall victim to my great dream? With those words he decreed his token forged and completed and tossed it expertly into The Quidam’s waiting bowler hat, where it would somehow go from there to anywhere and nearly everywhere in existence. “There. Now that we have that done, where do we go from here?” Ethan looked at the clock. It showed that it was a Quarter-to-Smiley face, due to using emotions instead of numbers. Again, it would probably make less sense if he was awake. “I suppose you are right, so how do I-” And in an instant, he was gone, leaving The Quidam alone with his thoughts. The Quidam however seemed to be preoccupied with what was left in his place. It was a large decorative hourglass that seemed to have blue, lime-green, and emerald-green sand mixed together. The Quidam merely shrugged. At least he hoped so!