//------------------------------// // Chapter 129 - Masks // Story: Quest For Harmony // by destinedjagold //------------------------------// “Xilfer” I watched them go as they hurried back to the higher floors of the apartment. When they were out of sight, I listened to their footsteps, and waited for it to be gone. Despite the loud noises outside, I could still hear their footsteps. Finally, I turned back to my crew, and my attention quickly fell on Seth, who is pathetically shivering on the floor, arms on top of his head. “Ignoring the ladybug here,” Bug spoke, who cleared his throat a bit before continuing, “what's the plan?” I was about to answer, but Blade spoke too quickly. “Ya know,” he began as he scratched his head while he leaned on the door frame, “I never expected that we would be doing something crazy like this.” “It'll get crazier,” I replied, “I have a feeling that it will. Knowing Jay,” I turned back to the stairs, “he'll do things that even I couldn't imagine he would do, just to see me and Kronz safe.” ...and probably that Claire girl. “Heh, I don't know your brother that much but,” I turned and faced Bug, “he's quite popular back in Sun Ford, huh? Even more popular than you.” “I prefer that he is ‘quite well-known by our small town,’” I said as I glared at Bug. Blade then grabbed the window curtains and took a peak outside as Bug chuckled and shrugged. “Well-known or popular: those two are the same for me.” He shrugged again. “I'm just not really sure why he rejected all those girls back in town who asked him out over the years.” “He was...” I trailed off. Busy? Gay? Not interested? I'm not quite sure. Kronz might know. The two of them do hang out more often, even more after I left home. “He has his reasons...” Bug just shrugged. “Anyway, back to the things at hand... What's the plan?” “We wait for Jay to come up with one. He's the one who knows what's going on. Hopefully, he'll shed some light to the goings-on around here.” Bug nodded, then looked down at Seth. He kicked him lightly in the arse. “So, how about Miss Princess over here?” “Xilfer?” I heard Jay's voice from the stairs. In truth, I already knew someone was hurriedly going down, but I just kept my back on the stairs. There was still a much louder set of footsteps from above though. Anyway, I turned and faced him as he continued running down the stairs. “I need to go back to the island.” That took me a bit of a surprise. I was about to say something about that, but Blade was once again too quick for me. “If that's going to be the plan, then call me out.” I turned to him, and he shrugged. “Hey, no offense, but I value my life more than a crazy act of stupidity.” “M-m-me-e too!” Seth cried out, who was still on the floor, shielding himself. “I'm not going anywhere but here!” The heavy footsteps stopped behind me with a low growl. Oh, that blue colored dog is back... “I won't force the two of you then,” I replied calmly, even though I was irritated by Seth's cowardice. I don't mind Blade though. He had good reasons. After all, his kids still need him, even though how pathetic his life is. I turned to Bug. “...and you?” He shrugged. “Meh, I'm bored. Crazy sounds fun at the moment.” I nodded with a small smile before turning to Jay, but my gaze fell on the rainbow-colored hair of the weird dog instead, and the things I wanted to ask my brother went back in line for a stupid question. “Mind telling us what that thing is?” Jay blinked before looking to his left, and saw the blue dog standing beside him in all four. “Oh, right...” He slowly turned back to me with one of his signature stupid chuckles. “Um...yeah uh... This is...a pony...” “A pony?” I deadpanned, and he nodded. “A pony? From that stupid kiddy show you and Kronz kept on watching?” “It's not a stupid show!” he countered in slight anger. I then heard sets of footsteps from upstairs again. “Whatever...” I shook my head. I don't even know why I bothered asking. “Let's push that aside for now.” I paused for a moment as the earth shook violently after we heard a powerful explosion a few blocks away. “So you need to get back to the island...” I trailed off as Kronz, Claire and Rose appeared on the staircase. They began their descent, but I ignored them. “...how exactly are you planning on going there? The bridge was raised, remember?” “The blue dragon dropped it back down,” Kronz answered my question as he stood beside Jay. Claire and her sister took a turn and went towards another door, revealing a set of stairs heading downward. “I-it's dark down there...” Rose complained, clutching at her older sister's clothes. “It's okay, Rose, it's okay... See that light down there?” Claire waited for her sister to look down and nod. “There's an emergency lamp down there, so it's not dark.” I decided to ignore them, and returned my attention to Jay. “Okay, so we can cross the bridge,” I nodded before turning to Bug. “You brought the gas masks, right? He smiled and pointed a thumb outside. “In the bikes, yeah,” he then turned to the window and took a peak outside. “And are still in good shape, despite everything...” “You have gas masks?” Jay asked as I turned to him. “Why do you guys have gas masks?” “The mists gave me that idea.” “Oh, uh... T-that's clever thinking there, actually...” “Naturally,” I grinned, and Kronz rolled his eyes. “We don't even know if those can filter Sombra's magical slash evil mists...” Kronz said. Jay thought about it as I shrugged and turned to Blade. “Blade, keep an eye out for my little bro—” “I'm not little! I'm fifteen!” Kronz interrupted, but I ignored him. “...Jay's girlfriend and her sister—” “G-girlfriend?” “W-what?” Jay and Claire blurted out at the same time, but I ignored them as well. I pointed lamely at Seth. “...and Miss Princess Ladybug here...” “Yeah yeah, laugh all you want!” Seth complained as he threw me a glare. “Cowards live longer, and I'm gonna laugh while pissing at each of your graves!” Blade and Bug snickered. Blade then grinned and stared at someone. “Babysitting huh? Sounds fun—” “Do NOT touch my bro's girl, and her sister.” I glared at him. He already has a wife and kids, but he's such a womanizer... Annoying... He shut his mouth as I grabbed the door knob and twisted it while I kept my glare on him. After he mouthed the word ‘okay’, I pulled open the door slightly and looked outside. The street was empty of life, but it was full of broken concrete roads, flipped cars, fallen streetlamps, shards of broken windows, and some other useless garbage. One of our bikes fell to its side however, which pissed me a bit. “All right,” I hissed slightly as I turned, ignoring Claire's and Jay's blushing faces. “This plan of yours better work.” “I hope the gas masks work as well...” Jay whispered, but I ignored him, as he turned to Kronz. “Text Xilf if something comes up.”