Chapter 5 in which a dragon awakens and an evacuation is in order...
It couldn't be. It just couldn't be.
I couldn't take my eyes off the sky as the dragon's enormous body hovered in slow motion, his wing span eclipsing the light from the sun, as the people beneath him all screamed at the sight of him. And his head bowed at us all. Gazing with piercing cat-like eyes. With irises as bright as fire and slits as black as space.
I felt my jaw drop as I felt that same gaze meet me.
As if he were focusing on me.
And this made my heart race even faster.
My breathing quickened, for it seemed he would never finish passing us.
Master, Moriarty and the Joker all fumbled after Bane, as the brute came charging towards the door, and me. "MISS DEMENS!"
Smaug was just starting to finally pass the town and move his head back up, just as I felt a strong hand gather the back of my hoodie and yank me inside with one swift motion.
I was thrown back inside like a yoyo, as the outside zoomed away from me, and before I knew it, the door was slammed closed.
With a gasp, I spun my body around and knocked hard against the small bit of wall next to the door and my lungs sucked up into my throat.
"OHHHHH, my gawwwdd, there's a dragon in the sky.."
I found myself leaning over, trying to fight for air.
Joker abruptly jumped up in my face and grabbed the collar of my shirt, "What d'you think you're doing, you don't run off and pull nutsy stunts like that. If something kills you, we're sc***ed!"
My eyes googled up at him wildly and I started to sound like a gasping fish.
"THAT'S NOT WHAT'S REALLY ON MY MIND RIGHT NOW."
I exasperated.
Bane came up and jerked Joker away by the head, where the clown now stopped and stared at him like he wanted to kill him...which isn't saying much, cuz at this point, he was pretty much wanting to kill everyone.
After doing the thing to Joker, Bane immediately proceeded to turn his attention to me and he held my shoulder as I tried to breathe in and out to calm myself, but it only sounded forced and uneasy. Not to mention, painful.
"Breathe. You must breathe."
"Tryin'."
"Try harder. You are no use to us in this way."
"...this isn't supposed to happen." I gasped.
His gaze narrowed. "What are you saying??"
My own eyes lifted up to him. "..He's not supposed to be awake."
Crap crap crap crap times a thousand crap, I'd done it now.
This was by far the biggest booboo I was responsible for.
There was no denying it now.
My arrival had caused everything to mess up.
Smaug the Dragon was now awake. And it was all my fault.
How exactly?
I wasn't sure about that part. But one thing WAS for sure.
We were in trouble.
I jumped forward and started pacing back and forth in the small boat home, uttering incoherent nonsense as everyone around me stood aside in a state of shock.
I was shaking beyond my control and my skin was paling even whiter than normal, by the second.
It figures that I had just gotten done fixing one problem with my body, and now I was experiencing a whole new set of issues. I felt a strong sensation that I was gonna be sick.
All I could do was force my eyes closed.
Despite me fighting it as best as I could...I wanted to go home. I wanted to wake up. This wasn't what I wanted.
This wasn't at all what I wanted.
The villains were too busy with the thought of a dragon to worry about me. Bane looked out the window with Moriarty, while Master paced in front of the door, holding his jaw with his hand, stressfully, while Joker looked away from everyone and mushed his mouth in a whatever - like manner.
I, meanwhile, was trying to breathe and stop swallowing for five seconds...which was very, very hard when you're having your first panic attack.
Seeing that my companions weren't going to do anything for me, Bard ran up and rose to the challenge.
"Miss Sarah.."
I did not respond. I pretended to not hear him, despite his normally soft voice booming in my eardrum.
"Sarah!"
WOW, that was loud.
But again, I ignored him. He suddenly grabbed me by both of my shoulders and gave me a couple of quick shakes...and they weren't the milky kind.
This got my attention.
I briefly glanced up at him as he stared at me intensely to break me from my paralyzing state.
Before my eyes fell back to the floor. I suddenly felt so ashamed to even be there. Probably the biggest liar and low-life scum in the form of a tiny tomboy-like girl.
I wasn't even supposed to be here.
"Sarah, you need to get a hold of yourself! Come back to your senses!"
"I can't.." I wheezed.
"Yes, you can! You can do this!"
"I can't, I can't do this..." I shook my head around as oxygen was slowly being drained from me and I rocked my body up and down. "I'm not even supposed to be here...I'm not who everyone thinks I am.."
My mind forced itself to stop right there before I said too much, my eyes simultaneously gravitating to the others. Who thankfully didn't seem to notice.
My breathing got out of control and I began to tear up.
"..I'm just a stupid girl..."
His face seemed to get a little tense at this and his grip became tighter, forcing me to glance at him again.
"Look at me--" I shook my head, but he refused to allow my denial. "LOOK at me." So I did.
"I have not known you that long....but from what I have seen up to now, you are not a stupid girl. I look at you, and I see a strong, capable young woman. With a clear conscious and good morals. There's something about you, Sarah..that is special. I sense it. An ordinary girl would not have survived an orc attack. An ordinary girl would not have come this far. In Middle Earth or any land. You can do this, Sarah." He gave me a soft jiggle to jolt me further. "You can DO this. Any girl who could convince someone like me to trust her is capable. Your companions. Just you still traveling with them. You've survived enough already...you can do this. Just breathe..."
My body shook from the amount of blood that had drained from me..but Bard's words were bringing me back.
I think, honestly, my mind was finally coming into realization that this was really happening. I was really here and this wasn't a dream. That's why I had been so cocky and casual about everything, because my mind hadn't even accepted it.
This was real. I was real.
I was thrown into such a state of confusion and panic when seeing Smaug that at last I was experiencing the feelings I should have felt from the beginning.
I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath, trying to get a hold back on myself. Swallowing for the 5000th time, I made a faint whimper, which I tried to keep quiet so the others wouldn't hear. I opened my mouth again and started to take very forced, harsh breaths, letting them out like the heat of food you've put in your mouth prematurely.
I did this so many times, I got a little dizzy.
But it was paying off, for my head started to clear and my lungs were taking a break from freaking out.
My breathing eased by the minute and my eyes shut as I took long, concentrated breaths.
Grow a spine. Suck in that air.
Relax that shrimpy little body. And let's go.
I stood up straight at last and finally met Bard's eyes as I gave him a few nods of reassurance, whewing and huffing at least a billion times in a row.
"Okay.....okay.." I kept saying.
Deeeep breath. "Alright..."
whew.
I nodded again and he nodded back, slapping my shoulders as if I were a man in battle.
Finally, a dude who had the bloody sense to treat me roughly like I always request, and not like some priss.
well..ya know..at least when I'm not having a panic attack.
But it was just that one time, I promise you!
From the corner of my eye, Bane removed himself from his position at the window and stepped towards me, towering over me like Goliath. "Are you well now?"
No thanks to you. Gah.
"...I.." I shook my head to get out the lingering jitters and straightened up all the way. "I'm fine."
"Good." Master spoke up, with an edge in his voice, and all three of us turned our heads at him as he approached.
His eyes cut at Bard and the children and his expression became one of semi-hidden disgust.
"Because we need to have a little talk outside."
He was looking peeved off, but I couldn't imagine why it would be directed towards me.
I agreed quietly and slid in between him and Bane, giving Bard and the kids a brief glance of hopefulness, since they appeared to still be rather worried.
Moriarty and Joker blended in with the boys as we all started to pass the door, close together.
I stared ahead of me at all of the screaming people who were running like headless chickens in every direction possible.
The sky became dim and colorless as it sat between night and day, casting a foreboding shadow over the town, making the air feel dreary. It was a far cry from the scene inside Bard's boat home.
Smaug was still in the area, but what struck me as odd was that he wasn't destroying anything. Not one thing.
He was simply flying over the town, as if checking out things, getting a feel of what had been up while he was asleep.
My eyes moved up to him and my body jittered again at the sight of him, which I tried to control.
As the door behind me was closed, I suddenly felt a jolt and my spine received a chill which shot up to my brain.
I was grabbed from behind by a firm hand, by the neck mind you, and I was pushed forward further to the dock, quite violently. I had enough of that rather quickly and I pivoted my body, jerking myself away from the fiend just as violently as I was grabbed. I gave the Master a look of agitation.
"What is your problem?!"
"You don't have a tone with me; you explain things RIGHT now!" "You do not touch me like that AGAIN!"
We were both getting rather fiery, me in particular, as my hands were formed into fists and were clenched angrily at my sides. Not to mention my voice was getting rather high, but an edge of my inner psychotic nature was creeping through, strongly calling me to violence.
"I will do even WORSE if you don't tell me what the bloody *BEEP* is going on!!"
As he said that last part, approaching me fast, Bane's arm shot out and Master's chest bounced off of the extended limb. But he didn't even seem to care.
I jerked my head back violently as I stood the opposite side of the four, feeling completely and utterly defenseless, even though it appeared Bane was siding with me.
"How is any of this even my--wel---I...we....guh...omf...ugh...o..okay. So it's my fault. Big deal. But it's not like I was PLANNING to awaken a dragon or anything. So ease off. And hey, YOU guys are the ones who brought me here. Don't forget that." I pointed, narrowing my eyes straight at Master. "So you guys are just as much at fault."
His face looked conflicted with his emotions for a brief second as he considered what I had just said. But then the anger and strife in his eyes returned and his teeth sneered as he pointed. "Oh please, you have caused these people more trouble than you're even WORTH!"
"SHUT UP!!" I found myself yelling at the top of my lungs, lunging my body at him.
This set him off.
"I AM SICK---"
His own body now charged forward and he reached with grabby hands. "-OF YOU TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!!!"
Yet again, Bane kept him back, but it took more effort, where even Joker and Moriarty had to pitch in.
"I'm not taking the blame for this." I said aloud, standing back. I made up my mind. I wouldn't take the blame for it.
I bowed my head a little and put my hands at my sides, trying to cool down, as Master settled himself.
"..Look, none of this was what I wanted. The last thing I needed was Smaug waking up, so prematurely. I might have done a few things, but do NOT pin waking up a dragon on me, cuz that is crap."
"You wanted to be the hero. Your heroic actions have triggered enough already."
"It is not my fault and you know it." I said rather aggressively, lifting my eyes up at him, darkly.
He shook his head, chuckling sarcastically, and I just about wanted to kill him. It was getting even harder to keep myself restrained, as heavy inhales start to pump me up with extra layers of anger. Just looking at him now, I wanted to punch him.
His head turned back at me and a whole new look of anger wiped over his face, and a dark grin appeared out of nowhere. I couldn't tell if this expression was made either because of stress or because he was contemplating doing something particularly violent to little old me.
Either way, the two of us were giving the darkest glares.
I thought it would be the end of the conflict here.
Until Moriarty turned his head at me and opened his mouth, "You're not being completely honest with us, Demens. You never said anything about a dragon."
"Did any of you even READ the book??"
"To *beep* with your books!" Master yelled, still being restrained even now.
"Hey, hey, now let's calm down here, people." Joker caressed, laying a hand on Master's bleached head, which the Timelord jerked his head from. "We're not enemies here, let's all get along!" He said this with a grin directed at me, and he looked positively delighted with genuine happiness.
I slightly rose my eyebrows at this. You're one to talk, clown!
Just as I thought that would fully settle the situation, Master looked back at me directly. "You worthless little *BEEP*, I should have let Joker come at you and do his work. He would have done me a FAVOR!"
Ohhhh, that did it.
In that exact same second, I snapped.
Sending out a rather chilling screech of the worst anger possible (at least at the moment), I practically threw myself straight at the frickety furk furk. Simultaneously, Master took that opportunity to come at me and we both jolted at one another, predictively, almost immediately, held back by our comrades, who all scrambled to keep both of us at bay. I reached in as he tried to reach in and began grabbing for his throat, which he tried to fight against. At the same time, all he could grab was my hoodie, from the front, and the both of us gripped on tightly to what we could.
"ENOUGH!" Bane barked, trying to peel us apart.
Moriarty and Joker tried to push Master back by the shoulders. All three of them had a big struggle on their hands. And it didn't help that I started to do as much damage as I could by tightening the grip I had on his throat and before I could realize what I was actually doing, I squeezed and the Timelord started to choke.
He wheezed and tried to cough as he continued to fight to get to me. But having the air getting cut from you starts to take its tole and he soon began to lose focus.
There was less of an effort to go after me and he was now struggling to get away.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!!!"
Bane now used all his strength and he extended both arms out, that knocked me and Master both about a yard or two away from each other. Moriarty and Joker ran to my sides and kept me back by the arms, as Master bent down a little, throwing himself into a coughing fit. He held his throat, painfully, wheezing and gasping as if I actually did real damage, which surprised me, quite honestly.
I huffed and puffed, angrily, my fists so tight, they didn't even feel like hands any more, but rather wrecking balls.
When I saw that Master was still coughing and wheezing, I started to feel a little guilty. In fact, I was feeling a lot guilty.
I swallowed and eased my body as an indicator for the others to let me go, then shivered as the anger ran back down my spine. My eyes never left him, even when he recovered and breathed more smoothly. But he still was bent over his knees, staring at the ground.
"Oh c'mon, I couldn't have done THAT much damage..I've got noodle arms.." He didn't respond.
I sighed and shrugged my shoulders, uneasily.
My guilt got the best of me and I went and bent down with him, laying a hand on his back.
"Look, I'm sorry. I don't know why I--well, yeah, I know why I did it, but I didn't mean to ACTUALLY do it."
He didn't show it, but I could tell he was glancing at me.
I frowned and huffed, grabbing his arm. "C'mon, get up. I'm not apologizing again."
With that, he pulled himself up and straightened his back, breathing uneasily. With a glare to one another, I could tell there was still tension, but it appeared the conflict was over...at least for now.
Our first world, and we were already LITERALLY at eachother's throats.
"Well then..." He whispered, giving me uneasy glances.
I got almost an embarrassed vibe coming from him, but again. He wouldn't show it. He was much too proud for that.
"We're gonna have to keep an eye on you two." Moriarty scolded, waving a finger. Joker made a soft "tt-tt" as he shook his head at our behavior. I rose an eyebrow at the two, before turning my head back at Bane. He was staring right at Master, in the most hateful and judgmental way possible.
And I felt almost afraid for Master. Like at the next given chance, the mercenary was going to take out the Timelord and do it slowly, with his own bare hands.
It wasn't a good time to be Harold Saxon, what with everyone trying to kill him. But him? Bah..he can take it.
At least psychologically.
"Right, well...moving on."
Moriarty got up close, not wasting any time at all.
"So what's it doing out?" "If you're referring to Smaug, it's a who, not a what, dragons have rights too. And who do I look like, Madame Sarah?!"
"You said it was too early before.." Joker pointed out. "How early?" "First of all, it was night time.." My eyes lifted to the sky, along with the boys', as if on cue.
"Second..the dwarves went to the mountain and sent in Bilbo, that did the job by making a bunch of ruckus. Thirdly...weeks from now."
"Great." Well, nice to see Master was back to his sassy self.
"....One thing that boggles me, though..why isn't he destroying anything? He immediately started destroying the town when he showed up. But he's only scouting things out, it seems...I can now officially predict not a single dang thing. I feel utterly useless.."
"You are, aren't you?"
My eyes shot at Jim.. and before he could say another word, I snatched him by the tie and yanked him in, making him stumble. His face came inches from mine.
"What was that, River Dance?"
He rose his eyebrows, his brown eyes lighting up with intrigue. "Alright, I was wrong..."
"Perhaps the fault isn't our's.."
The both of us swung our heads to Bane and I let go...which made Moriarty rather disappointed.
"Think hard..how are we responsible for awakening the beast, when our arrival has disturbed little of the ones below? I suspect there is another to blame..."
BANE WAS QUICKLY BECOMING MY FAST FAVORITE, LEPETTY SPOG.
"YOU!" I shouted with glee, grabbing his hands and jumping around. Potentially the biggest chance I've ever taken in life.
"You're right you're right you're right! WHY would he wake up? It'd make no sense! Someone had to have intentionally gone up to him and done the thing. It took floods of gold pouring right off of him to get him to notice Bilbo's presence." "So the dwarves are here??"
"Did I say that?" "Then what the bloody *beep* ARE you saying??" "That...that..that's..that's IT!"
REALIZATION.
They all jolted.
"That guy!" "WHAT guy?" "The guy they were looking for!"
Master grabbed the sides of his head and gritted his teeth, "WHO."
"The fugitive." Bane perked.
"He must've snuck into the mountain before or after he messed with Master and Alfrid..and like..woken up Smaug!"
"Which would only mean, he's a fellow villain."
"Joker, don't even."
He grinned, wickedly, and got wild eyes. "Maybe we should team up." "Absolutely NOT!" "Why not?! Kid sounds like he's got a lot of potential." "Shut it, we are not recruiting that little delinquent!" "I thought you liked delinquents?" Moriarty butted in. My face fell. "..I..that..is..NOT the issue here! The issue is that he's endangering everyone in Lake Town and beyond. Obviously with the intention of mass casualty of all the folks here I just so happen to like, including, potentially, US. So I'm no longer a fan!"
"But you WERE a fan, and that's saying something."
INTERNALLY SCREAMING.
THESE BOYS.
Joker looked bored. "So are we gonna kill 'im or what?"
I sank. ".....We may have to."
Yet another wicked grin came upon his face.
"See, this is why I like you, kid. Unlike the players of the opposite team, you aren't afraid of making a few fatal choices here and there..."
I rose an eyebrow at him, with an unimpressed expression..just as he wrapped an arm around my neck.
"..But you fail to realize that I'm only making that decision on people from your side of the block.."
He sniffed a laugh. "..Even so...refreshing to see.."
"Ya know what else is refreshing to see? You not touching me.." I shivered his arm away.
A sigh followed and I stood contemplating everything for awhile...until I remembered, oh yeah, dragon.
My eyes lifted back to the sky. Smaug wasn't in the air any more. My brows lowered and I swung to the nearest citizen. "Hey! You! Where did Smaug go??"
The person turned as they were running, glancing up at the sky, then at me. "Back to the mountain! He'll come back, he will! To kill us all!"
My mouth fell, just as the guy took off like the wind.
I felt my body rotate rather intensely.
"The *beep* is wrong with these people? Staying in a town right next to a dragon. What a bunch of *beep* idi-"
"YA KNOW, YOU LOT HAVE BEEN GETTING AN AWFUL REAL AMOUNT OF COMFORTABLE SWEARING."
Master cut his eyes at me, with a lot of attitude packed in the effort. "..What, does swearing make wittle Sarah all upset?" How dare you say that in a mocking tone and pout that lip!
My eyes narrowed and I stepped a little closer.
"No, see I'm no princess. It doesn't make me uncomfortable, or squeamish, cuz I have heard and seen a lot worse. I don't wanna hear it cuz it's annoying, and irritating, and childish. And not in a good way. And if you want me to stay a happy individual for the rest of this voyage, I suggest you come up with a cleaner vocabulary, and fast."
His eyes looked away from mine, as I shook my head.
"Talk like adults, not a bunch of 8 year old boys at a playground. It's not that hard."
I know they probably hated me at this point.
I was coming off more as an annoying little Nazi, but hey.
They brought out the anger in me pretty easily.
"...I know it'll probably not work...but...I've gotta try."
I began to turn. Master caught me by the arm, "What are you talking about?"
The others turned their attention to me.
I made a lopsided frown. "..I can't let these people get killed without at least trying something...I've gotta talk to the Master." "And what good will that do?" he scoffed.
I shrugged. "Not much, honestly. I know what he'll say. But I'm hoping he'll be reasonable and listen to me...to evacuate the town. Get everyone to safety. If I'm unsuccessful, which I probably will be...I'll just have to take matters into my own hands."
Joker sniffed another laugh. "Look at you, playing the hero."
I turned my head.
Moriarty glanced at the others, obviously uncomfortable with the awkward silence that was following. And he proceeded to fold his arms. "Well, don't go asking us for help."
"Why would I..you'll only wind up stabbing me in the back, anyway."
"Your assumption is correct." He muttered.
Joker elbowed his side.
I sighed once again and wiggled out of Master's grasp.
"Why do you think I'm going alone..I'm not asking you to do anything for me. Except..just stay here. And don't get into any trouble. I'll come back when I can."
The Timelord went to reach for me again, but he stopped himself. I walked on, without looking back at any of them, and got about 10 feet away, before one voice stopped me in my tracks. "Aren't you forgetting something, miss Demens?"
I halted, and my head turned. Bane was advancing to the boat house. "Your medicine..one doesn't know when it will be needed again. Best to keep it with you!"
I looked away. Well...yeah...
"...As well as me."
My heart skipped a beat and I perked up in delight.
"..I shall accompany you on your way, as protection. I have lived through chaos. It is no place for a young girl."
"Oh, there you go on the Sarah bandwagon again!"
Master yelled after him, as I was turning.
His arms tossed in the air, in defeat. The three of them were being made to look more pathetic than the biggest and strongest of the gang. So what else could they do?
"Oh, what the *beep*.." Joker muttered, cutting his eyes at me, to see if I noticed. Which I obviously did.
He shrugged his shoulders, pressing his tongue against the inside of his partially scarred cheek. "..I'll go, too."
I smirked. "Good."
- - -
We stormed inside a little too eagerly not to seem suspicious, which made the kids jump and Bard to look quite alarmed. I nodded my head at the family as I made my way back to my medicine. Bane and Joker went behind me and collected their coat and jacket.
"Where are you going?" Bard questioned, concerned.
I cut my eyes up at him. "To see the Master of Lake Town. I need to speak with him and try to convince him to evacuate."
It didn't take him long to respond, "It will not work. The Master will never listen."
"I get that. That's why if I'm unsuccessful, things will still run smoothly. I need you to go to the people and get them to leave while I'm going to see him." I plopped the vile down the neck hole of my hoodie and it settled against my stomach.
"I don't know what Smaug is planning, but it's not safe."
"How do you know that name?"
I froze.
My eyes lifted to the wall as I felt Bard's gaze grind into my soul, revealing every little guilty secret.
I couldn't give that part away, I just couldn't.
"....Take your children. Get out've here. If people don't listen to you, that's their problem. But after what they just saw, it shouldn't be too much of a protest."
I heard Bard make a few scuffs behind me and inhale deeply, as if he were trying to decide whether to trust me or not.
"What about you? You will need a way to escape, as well. I can't just leave you here."
"Trust me. I've got my own way out. Now get."
What could the lake man do? He knew Smaug was coming.
And he needed to get everyone, especially his children, to safety. His body turned. "Alright, children...pack your things. Pack light. Hurry now."
"Are we going to come back here, da?" Bain questioned.
His question was not answered, as Bard stood before them, tense and terrified. "....Pack your things."
They were too good of kids not to listen to their pops.
They packed their things.
As Bard joined them, I heard the front door creak, and I turned to investigate. Master and Moriarty were apparently too curious for their own good.
The two attempted to look high and important, with the Master's hands on his hips and Moriarty lifting his chin up, hands in pockets.
"Well, we're here." Master announced.
"Fine." I muttered, an attitude still lingering inside me.
Bane came up behind me, laying a hand on my shoulder.
"How are you feeling?" "..Say what?"
"Have you been having any more pains?"
"Oh...no. Miraculous, really. Since I took it, I haven't had one attack, or even a hint of one. Hopefully, the only pains I'll have now are the ones from hunger."
"Or headaches, from dealing with us." Joker laughed.
"PREACH."
The clown went ahead and came up to us, now back in his dark purple suit jacket thing. "So what's the plan, kid?"
He said that in a strange way, like he didn't even care WHAT I responded with, or he didn't necessarily take my authority seriously, and thus was just practically mocking me.
Though in all honesty, being the Joker, it's hard to get away with saying he took anything seriously.
"Guys.." I abruptly whispered, looking to each of them.
They got the signal relatively quick and started to huddle in next to me. I gave Bard a few glances, then leaned in incredibly close to all of them.
"Okay..Master, Jim, while Bane, Joker and I are going to see the Master, you guys can do something useful.."
"Which is?"
"Be looking for the T.A.R.D.I.S.."
Their faces flexed with intrigue. "Go separately, in different directions, to cover more ground. It's gotta be around here somewhere. I'll already have Bard and the kids dealing with the people. So I need you cool kids to be helping out with that. Once you find it, make sure one of you stays with it, and then come find me. I shouldn't take too long with the Master. But...if I'm captured or if they kill me, I want all of you boys to go together back to the T.A.R.D.I.S. and leave. Don't wait for me or try to save me. Just leave."
They all gave one another uneasy glances.
"Is that clear?"
They nodded.
"Ok then..once we get outside, we go our designated directions. Stay safe, you two. And don't get into trouble."
There was exaggerated disappointment shown and I rolled my eyes with a smirk.
As we all started to separate, I snatched Master's arm. He swung his head at me, with a confused expression.
"What?" He quietly uttered. I stepped a little closer, which made him feel uncomfortable. He glared at his arm, then at me, probably not knowing what to expect.
Maybe more violence. Maybe apologetic affection.
Lol, either way, no.
I extended my other arm and opened my palm.
"The key."
He immediately put on a clueless face. "The what?"
"I won't have a repeat of last time. You can find the T.A.R.D.I.S., but I wanna make sure you don't high tail it out of here and leave me and the others behind. This insures, you have to come back for me."
His face flushed with obvious agitation and he bit the inside of his cheek, as he couldn't break into violence with me again. Least not here. So defeatedly, he reached into his pocket, pulled out the key and plopped it on my flattened hand with spitefulness in his eyes.
I glanced down at the small golden piece, and my fingers wrapped around it like spider legs.
I then glanced back at the Master and I smirked.
"Thank you."
He gave me a dirty look before jerking his arm away and walking off to join the others at the door.
Such attitude. And I didn't even do much to deserve it. Hm.
The others were quick to walk out without me, so I turned back to Bard. "Be safe.." He gave me a look that was half worried, half touched. "Same to you.."
I gave a final smile, for there was no telling IF I would see him and the kids again, then backed into the door. "Bye.."
And out, I went.
- - -
Upon entering outside, the only ones standing before me were Bane and Joker. Master and Moriarty were no where to be found. So..not knowing which direction they took..or, for that matter, which direction I had to take..I just simply called the boys to follow after me as I followed along the various people going in one particular direction.
I hurried to the least panicked person my eyes detected and politely asked them for directions to the Master's whereabouts. In simple terms..they told me to push off.
So I and the others pressed on until we found another semi-calm citizen. She just laughed.
My patience was growing thin with these people.
"IS THERE ANYONE IN THIS GOD-FORSAKEN TOWN THAT CAN POINT ME TO THE MASTER?"
One woman suddenly popped up out of no where and threw a critical finger at me. "What do you want with that old hog?!" I turned right around and pointed back at her, "Why are you not answering my question!"
"Why you need him?!" "Evacuation."
"Why would we need a evacuation!" "*An evacuation. And cuz of the dragon, duh." "Dragon? You mean Smaug's out?!"
"See, this is why we need an evacuation."
As I turned my head, I spotted a trail of people moving in the same direction, that were hurrying quite eagerly.
I supposed my best bet was to follow.
So I took off.
"Wait, 'ho ar' you?!" "The terror that flaps in the night!"
I yelled over my shoulder. "The alarm clock that wakes you up at 6 am! I am the Charrraaaacteerrrr-"
"DOWN, Demens!" Yelled Joker.
I laughed goofily. "Sorry..got carried away."
- - -
"Okay, so, still don't know where in the negative treachery the Master is, so hoping this gets us some results.."
The long line of people were moving quickly, so it wasn't taking us a lengthy amount of time to get to whereever the peeps were going.
"I don't think we'll be getting any verbal help from any of the local locals." "Should we kill em?" Joker uttered, directly.
"Get out've my brain, clown."
He rose his eyebrows in amusement before I gave him a look of disapproval. "No. We're here to evacuate, not eradicate."
Not long after I said this, the people started to meld with large portions of panicked crowds and screaming turned to yelling. The air was now filled with an angry uproar.
I was right. The people had led me straight to The Master's office/house/lair type thing.
And they were screaming bloody murder.
The large quantities of citizens had gathered in front of the building and were yelling upwards, waving their fists. We decided to look in the same direction.
Sure enough, there was a person standing on the balcony above, looking down at the people with a spiteful expression. He was spitting out inaudible words back at them, pointing at them every so often with a dirty hand, while trying to hold on to his little hat with the other. Alfrid. The Master's chief lackey.
So much bingo.
I needed to talk to him, but not with the ambience of an angry mob playing as the background score for this scene.It was pointless to even try to get in, since it was safe to bet that every entrance possible was blocked off to keep old Master barricaded against the townspeople.
Omph.
I was left with no other alternative. I pushed past the crowd, without giving any warning to either Bane or Joker, and kept going until I got to the middle of the crowd and I looked up.
"People! QUIET!"
The yelling continued.
"QUIET!!!"
Once more.
"QUIET!!!!!!"
At last, there was silence.
It was awkward, however, as all their heads slowly turned to me and I shivered at this new exposure.
My crowd control skills not only caught the attention of the people, but of Alfrid, as well. "'Ho ar' you?!"
I moved my eyes up at him, trying to make them as pouty and innocent as possible. No one can resist the charm of big bright eyes. "I'm here to discuss something with you and the Master!" "You and every other wretched sort in this dump. Go 'way!" "Well, that isn't very neighborly.."
"I don' kno' 'ou...you don' look familia."
"You're right. You don't know me. I am simply a figment of your imagination. And this figment would like to have a word with you and your boss." "So does everyone!"
"Yes, but this is more important." I quickly pivoted and put my hands up to the people, "No offense.", then immediately turned back. "About what?!"
"I'm afraid that's just something you'll have to let me in for."
"Why should I trust the lik's o' you?!"
I chuckled sarcastically as the wind started to blow, catching large strands of my hair. "Cuz if it's one thing I'm good at in life, it's enticing people into an angry, violent fit. If I really wanted to, I could get these people riled up enough to bust through those doors, storm the joint and tear you two numskulls apart....but I'm not gonna. Cuz I have a better option. But you'll just have to let me through to hear."
The lad looked conflicted. His face was grumpy and unwilling. I was starting to get the impression that he wouldn't go for the deal. But then, he jerked his head up.
"C'mon..."
My heart lifted.
"...Round the back..but leave yo'r 'ittle misfits here..."
He ducked back into the building and I quickly turned my head to the people with a stern "STAY" which they pouted to, then hurriedly made my way around the corner, the others tightly in tow. There was a narrow opening at the side of the house that I ran down until I got to the end of the house.
I stopped a moment to look around until I heard a soft "Pst! Hey! Over here!"
I scuffled to it and looked up at Alfrid, who was at yet another balcony. "Well hello again." "There's a door aroun' 'ere. A secret door..you should se' a latch.."
Bane and Joker did the work for me.
"Got it," Joker pulled on it.
Turned out to open a sliding secret trap conspiracy door creaky type thing. COOL.
He made a face, "..Se' yo' when yo' get inside..and no funn' business." With that, he crept back inside.
I urged J and Bane to follow.
As we shut the door back up, everything became pitch-black. I felt around for something to jam against the entrance, just in case we had any stowaways.
I felt something rough, but when I pulled, it was rather heavy. So I reached in and tapped an arm.
"Bane, help me."
"I don't have those kinds of muscles, honey, but thanks."
I crinkled my eyebrows and tapped another arm.
"You're quite persistent, aren't you?"
I sent out a flurry of babbles as I reached for another arm.
"BANE."
He silently complied by tapping back and then I heard a cracking sound scrape against the floor as I assumed he was moving the thing for me. It was a short distance, so it didn't take long to do the thing. I felt around the wall to feel the crack of the door and the latch, then ran my fingers down to feel the object. It was right on point.
So I turned back to the others...I think.
"K, let's go."
ploomp. My head bounced right into a chest.
Hmm.. "Sorry, whoever you are."
I trudged on as if I knew what I was doing, and before I knew it, pain, ow, slap in the face. I walked right into a wall and hit my poor, tormented nose. I immediately held on to my face, squeezing my eyes shut. "WHY DO I BOTHER TO LIVE?!"
I had a slightly muffled, higher pitched voice at this point.
I felt a hand gently take mine, as I continued to hold my face, and I was slowly led along, to avoid any further injuries.
Whoever said the good guys get things easy needs to be punched. Hard. A lot. Multiple times. A day. With a chair. Until they pass out.
What was interesting to witness was that Bane wasn't affected by the dark at all.
No doubt because of the mad skills that Al Ghul and the League of Bullies drilled into him for all those years.
I was reluctant to open my eyes again, as we made our way through the dark...it seemed like as long as my eyes were closed, I wasn't getting beat up by the environment.
But I could sense an opening, as the air grew a little more drafty and the space felt wider...and finally, a light appeared amongst the darkness. I dared to open my eyes and sure enough, we had escaped the secret passageway. We had now entered a wide, open area, that looked to be the entrance of the building, seeing as how there were barricaded doors ahead of us. The entirety of the room was filled with a dimmed, red hue..the room itself was decorated rather nicely and had many beautiful pieces of furniture and decor here and there. However, it smelt terrible. Like damp, musty clothes and dead rats.
I even said this aloud to the others.
"THERE you ar'!"
We looked and saw that Alfrid was scrambling straight towards us down the stairs.
"..and speaking of dead rats.."
He hurried to us, the end of his robe shuffling underneath him. "It's abo't bloody time! I've be'n waitin' upstairs fo' you lot!" "Alfrid, dear boy, calm down. You'll hyperventilate."
He was such a funny looking fellow with dirty dark hair, dark eyes, an odd looking little black hat, black clothing and shoes..and..well..poor thing's face was terrible uncleansed and his teeth were as yellow as Winnie the Pooh. And no, his personality did not make up for his appearance, cuz it was just as fowl.
Alfrid
I swung a presenting arm, putting on a huge smile as he advanced toward us.
"What a pleasant little lair you have! Now if you don't mind, show us the way to your commander and chief!"
"I'll decide when yo' see 'im.." He looked me up and down, critically.
"Well, go on, then, whatta ya want? Case 'ou 'aven't noticed, we 'ave a dragon soarin' about!"
"I noticed, trust me. Seems you guys have a reaallll problem in your hands..."
He rolled his head and eyes and body and groaned, pathetically.
"DID 'OU COME JUS' TO WASTE OUR TIME?!"
"Yes."
He squinted and hung his jaw.
"No, I told you why I came and I'm going to go do it, whether you like it or not, so..."
I abruptly shoved him aside and started trouncing up the steps, "Out've my way, lackey."
Before he could utter another sound, I started booking it.
"Wait! Com' back 'ere!" "You'll never catch us, copper!" I yelled, Joker and Bane in quick tow.
"No one's allowed up there!" Exclaimed the pursuing henchman.
"Really, then why were you?!"
It didn't take much time at all before he started spouting out insults, calling me names, and using phrases that weren't the most appropriate of sorts. So I blocked him from my mind as I reached the top and started scanning the rooms I passed, seeking any sign of the blubbery oaf daring to call himself the Master.
Eventually, Alfrid gave up on yelling at me and simply started to hurry after us, in silence.
The silence helped, cuz it was at that moment, I heard a dreadful noise bounce off the walls; a vicious cough mixed with gagging and mumbles and then a crisp and clear, "ALFRID!!! ALFRID, YOU USELESS CUR, WHERE ARE YOUUU!!!"
I paused and looked over at Alfrid, who got infront of me, looking shocked.
And I grinned. Then before he could catch me, bolted.
He fumbled after the three of us, as we charged across the hall.
"WAIT!!!" He cried, in desperation. When we got to the source, I kicked the bedroom door open.
Bam. I had entered the lair of the hideous beast, whom was lurking underneath ugly covers, staring right through me with enlarged, venomous eyes. The feeling of being unwanted was strong.
"WHO ARE YOUU?!"
"Oh, please. Stop mimicking the caterpillar, wrong story."
I waltzed right in, making myself as comfortable as possible in the creep's presence.
The boys stepped on through with me, looking high and intimidating to the oaf laying before us.
Alfrid skid inside and stared in horror, completely out of breath. His boss drilled such a judgmental, scolding gaze on him, that I felt almost sorry for the bean.
As I took a seat infront of the Master, crossing my legs and laying my arms flat against the chair's, Alfrid slunk near the bedside, looking utterly miserable and defeated.
I tried to look more held together and refined, like the queen I was pretending to be, holding my chin high with the smuggest little smirk I could muster. "If anything, you should be mimicking the Cheshire Cat."
The Master
He gazed at me with mass confusion of an inquisitive nature, then looked up at his lackey with narrowed eyes. "Alfrid, who is this girl??!" His lackey bowed his head, sheepishly. "I..don' know, sire...she said she wan'ed to speak with yo'..said she can help us." "...Well she isn't being very helpful at all. She's just sitting there, being useless!"
"--Because you haven't given me the chance to be useful."
He eyed me, suspiciously. "You don't sound right..you're foreign, aren't you?"
My eyes glanced at the ceiling. "Yeeeeeeeyes, I am. Very much so."
He puffed up with anger, "You dare come into my quarters, unannounced?!"
I slightly smirked and shrugged my shoulders a little.
"The question remains, girl, who are you?!"
I bowed my head, stylishly. "Sarah Demens, the Character Queen..at your service!"
I rose my head back up and pointed, sassily. "And I know who you are."
"And just who am I?" He huffed with frustration, wiggling in his bed like an unhappy lobster.
I smiled. "The downfall of this town."
His mouth fell with utter shock. Even Alfrid looked taken back.
"HOW DARE YOU."
"And an ugly little toad who deserves to be clobbered around and fed to the local dragon.."
"WHY YOU."
"And the man I am contemplating on beating the scrap out of, roll down the stairs, and turn on over to the angry mob outside if he does not listen to me."
"YOU INSOLENT RUFFIAN!"
Alfrid made a nasty, mean, critical face at the matter. "I bet she's in league wit' that dark-haired, stranga!"
"No, actually, I haven't had the pleasure of meeting his acquaintance quite yet. Alas, he's a different sort of stranger and doesn't really mean you all quite well..which reminds me, what did the dude want?"
"I don't know about any 'dude', but I am not revealing anything to you!"
I exhaled, deeply. "....boy, you're stupid...worth a shot...look, I'm offering you a chance to not repeat history and to handle the arrival of your newly awakened serpent a bit differently than you..normally would handle it. Cuz, my friend, I have to say it...things don't end well for you."
"What is it you want? I will not be threatened!"
I jerked my head back, making a confused expression. "How is that threatening? I'm trying to help you."
"I thin' she's a spy, if I ever saw one!" "You HAVEN'T seen one!"
"Sent in to cause tr'ble, no dou't 'bout it, sire!" "What is it with everyone here and jumping to conclusions, LOOK, I am JUST trying to help, I SWEAR!" "Why woul' the likes o' you try t' help?!"
"Heck if I know, you little larva! I'm simply trying to warn you guys, cuz SPOILER ALERT, when Smaug attacks, YOU don't MAKE it! Don't ask me how I know this, I just do. Honest, I am on your side. Even though I don't agree with you, and actually really don't care for you much at all, I at least wanna give everyone a chance. Believe me, you're lucky I'm even here. My companions, two of which you see here, would have no problem standing back and watching everything burn. I'm the odd one out here."
"What makes you think I need your advice?" "And that we car' what 'appens to those mangy mutts?"
I sighed. "..I don't want the people of this town to suffer, and that includes you..though the compassion is fast dwindling by the second...I originally figured that coming to you would be the best option to get the message out publicly and officially...but after seeing how much hatred the two of you were receiving earlier, I see now that that isn't necessarily gonna work."
The Master shuffled in his bed, wagging his red beard in a displeased manner. "But why should I trust you?"
I rolled my head and tossed my hands up, sending out an exasperated growl. "FOR CRIMINY'S SAKE. This is happening with or without you! Whatever, man, I'm done with you two imbeciles. No wonder you died.." I got up and started for the door, shaking my head like a bobble figure.
"This meeting was a complete and total waste of my time, and no, I am not a witch, quit lookin' at me like that." But it only took a few seconds for them to get me to stop again.
"The boy was an odd fellow."
hmmmm...
I slowly turned.
He still had suspicious eyes.
"He spoke in the manner that you do...and was just as vulgar and barbaric, if not more so.."
His face seemed to get a little tense at this and his grip became tighter, forcing me to glance at him again.
"Look at me--" I shook my head, but he refused to allow my denial. "LOOK at me." So I did.
"I have not known you that long....but from what I have seen up to now, you are not a stupid girl. I look at you, and I see a strong, capable young woman. With a clear conscious and good morals. There's something about you, Sarah..that is special. I sense it. An ordinary girl would not have survived an orc attack. An ordinary girl would not have come this far. In Middle Earth or any land. You can do this, Sarah." He gave me a soft jiggle to jolt me further. "You can DO this. Any girl who could convince someone like me to trust her is capable. Your companions. Just you still traveling with them. You've survived enough already...you can do this. Just breathe..."
My body shook from the amount of blood that had drained from me..but Bard's words were bringing me back.
I think, honestly, my mind was finally coming into realization that this was really happening. I was really here and this wasn't a dream. That's why I had been so cocky and casual about everything, because my mind hadn't even accepted it.
This was real. I was real.
I was thrown into such a state of confusion and panic when seeing Smaug that at last I was experiencing the feelings I should have felt from the beginning.
I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath, trying to get a hold back on myself. Swallowing for the 5000th time, I made a faint whimper, which I tried to keep quiet so the others wouldn't hear. I opened my mouth again and started to take very forced, harsh breaths, letting them out like the heat of food you've put in your mouth prematurely.
I did this so many times, I got a little dizzy.
But it was paying off, for my head started to clear and my lungs were taking a break from freaking out.
My breathing eased by the minute and my eyes shut as I took long, concentrated breaths.
Grow a spine. Suck in that air.
Relax that shrimpy little body. And let's go.
I stood up straight at last and finally met Bard's eyes as I gave him a few nods of reassurance, whewing and huffing at least a billion times in a row.
"Okay.....okay.." I kept saying.
Deeeep breath. "Alright..."
whew.
I nodded again and he nodded back, slapping my shoulders as if I were a man in battle.
Finally, a dude who had the bloody sense to treat me roughly like I always request, and not like some priss.
well..ya know..at least when I'm not having a panic attack.
But it was just that one time, I promise you!
From the corner of my eye, Bane removed himself from his position at the window and stepped towards me, towering over me like Goliath. "Are you well now?"
No thanks to you. Gah.
"...I.." I shook my head to get out the lingering jitters and straightened up all the way. "I'm fine."
"Good." Master spoke up, with an edge in his voice, and all three of us turned our heads at him as he approached.
His eyes cut at Bard and the children and his expression became one of semi-hidden disgust.
"Because we need to have a little talk outside."
He was looking peeved off, but I couldn't imagine why it would be directed towards me.
I agreed quietly and slid in between him and Bane, giving Bard and the kids a brief glance of hopefulness, since they appeared to still be rather worried.
Moriarty and Joker blended in with the boys as we all started to pass the door, close together.
I stared ahead of me at all of the screaming people who were running like headless chickens in every direction possible.
The sky became dim and colorless as it sat between night and day, casting a foreboding shadow over the town, making the air feel dreary. It was a far cry from the scene inside Bard's boat home.
Smaug was still in the area, but what struck me as odd was that he wasn't destroying anything. Not one thing.
He was simply flying over the town, as if checking out things, getting a feel of what had been up while he was asleep.
My eyes moved up to him and my body jittered again at the sight of him, which I tried to control.
As the door behind me was closed, I suddenly felt a jolt and my spine received a chill which shot up to my brain.
I was grabbed from behind by a firm hand, by the neck mind you, and I was pushed forward further to the dock, quite violently. I had enough of that rather quickly and I pivoted my body, jerking myself away from the fiend just as violently as I was grabbed. I gave the Master a look of agitation.
"What is your problem?!"
"You don't have a tone with me; you explain things RIGHT now!" "You do not touch me like that AGAIN!"
We were both getting rather fiery, me in particular, as my hands were formed into fists and were clenched angrily at my sides. Not to mention my voice was getting rather high, but an edge of my inner psychotic nature was creeping through, strongly calling me to violence.
"I will do even WORSE if you don't tell me what the bloody *BEEP* is going on!!"
As he said that last part, approaching me fast, Bane's arm shot out and Master's chest bounced off of the extended limb. But he didn't even seem to care.
I jerked my head back violently as I stood the opposite side of the four, feeling completely and utterly defenseless, even though it appeared Bane was siding with me.
"How is any of this even my--wel---I...we....guh...omf...ugh...o..okay. So it's my fault. Big deal. But it's not like I was PLANNING to awaken a dragon or anything. So ease off. And hey, YOU guys are the ones who brought me here. Don't forget that." I pointed, narrowing my eyes straight at Master. "So you guys are just as much at fault."
His face looked conflicted with his emotions for a brief second as he considered what I had just said. But then the anger and strife in his eyes returned and his teeth sneered as he pointed. "Oh please, you have caused these people more trouble than you're even WORTH!"
"SHUT UP!!" I found myself yelling at the top of my lungs, lunging my body at him.
This set him off.
"I AM SICK---"
His own body now charged forward and he reached with grabby hands. "-OF YOU TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!!!"
Yet again, Bane kept him back, but it took more effort, where even Joker and Moriarty had to pitch in.
"I'm not taking the blame for this." I said aloud, standing back. I made up my mind. I wouldn't take the blame for it.
I bowed my head a little and put my hands at my sides, trying to cool down, as Master settled himself.
"..Look, none of this was what I wanted. The last thing I needed was Smaug waking up, so prematurely. I might have done a few things, but do NOT pin waking up a dragon on me, cuz that is crap."
"You wanted to be the hero. Your heroic actions have triggered enough already."
"It is not my fault and you know it." I said rather aggressively, lifting my eyes up at him, darkly.
He shook his head, chuckling sarcastically, and I just about wanted to kill him. It was getting even harder to keep myself restrained, as heavy inhales start to pump me up with extra layers of anger. Just looking at him now, I wanted to punch him.
His head turned back at me and a whole new look of anger wiped over his face, and a dark grin appeared out of nowhere. I couldn't tell if this expression was made either because of stress or because he was contemplating doing something particularly violent to little old me.
Either way, the two of us were giving the darkest glares.
I thought it would be the end of the conflict here.
Until Moriarty turned his head at me and opened his mouth, "You're not being completely honest with us, Demens. You never said anything about a dragon."
"Did any of you even READ the book??"
"To *beep* with your books!" Master yelled, still being restrained even now.
"Hey, hey, now let's calm down here, people." Joker caressed, laying a hand on Master's bleached head, which the Timelord jerked his head from. "We're not enemies here, let's all get along!" He said this with a grin directed at me, and he looked positively delighted with genuine happiness.
I slightly rose my eyebrows at this. You're one to talk, clown!
Just as I thought that would fully settle the situation, Master looked back at me directly. "You worthless little *BEEP*, I should have let Joker come at you and do his work. He would have done me a FAVOR!"
Ohhhh, that did it.
In that exact same second, I snapped.
Sending out a rather chilling screech of the worst anger possible (at least at the moment), I practically threw myself straight at the frickety furk furk. Simultaneously, Master took that opportunity to come at me and we both jolted at one another, predictively, almost immediately, held back by our comrades, who all scrambled to keep both of us at bay. I reached in as he tried to reach in and began grabbing for his throat, which he tried to fight against. At the same time, all he could grab was my hoodie, from the front, and the both of us gripped on tightly to what we could.
"ENOUGH!" Bane barked, trying to peel us apart.
Moriarty and Joker tried to push Master back by the shoulders. All three of them had a big struggle on their hands. And it didn't help that I started to do as much damage as I could by tightening the grip I had on his throat and before I could realize what I was actually doing, I squeezed and the Timelord started to choke.
He wheezed and tried to cough as he continued to fight to get to me. But having the air getting cut from you starts to take its tole and he soon began to lose focus.
There was less of an effort to go after me and he was now struggling to get away.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!!!"
Bane now used all his strength and he extended both arms out, that knocked me and Master both about a yard or two away from each other. Moriarty and Joker ran to my sides and kept me back by the arms, as Master bent down a little, throwing himself into a coughing fit. He held his throat, painfully, wheezing and gasping as if I actually did real damage, which surprised me, quite honestly.
I huffed and puffed, angrily, my fists so tight, they didn't even feel like hands any more, but rather wrecking balls.
When I saw that Master was still coughing and wheezing, I started to feel a little guilty. In fact, I was feeling a lot guilty.
I swallowed and eased my body as an indicator for the others to let me go, then shivered as the anger ran back down my spine. My eyes never left him, even when he recovered and breathed more smoothly. But he still was bent over his knees, staring at the ground.
"Oh c'mon, I couldn't have done THAT much damage..I've got noodle arms.." He didn't respond.
I sighed and shrugged my shoulders, uneasily.
My guilt got the best of me and I went and bent down with him, laying a hand on his back.
"Look, I'm sorry. I don't know why I--well, yeah, I know why I did it, but I didn't mean to ACTUALLY do it."
He didn't show it, but I could tell he was glancing at me.
I frowned and huffed, grabbing his arm. "C'mon, get up. I'm not apologizing again."
With that, he pulled himself up and straightened his back, breathing uneasily. With a glare to one another, I could tell there was still tension, but it appeared the conflict was over...at least for now.
Our first world, and we were already LITERALLY at eachother's throats.
"Well then..." He whispered, giving me uneasy glances.
I got almost an embarrassed vibe coming from him, but again. He wouldn't show it. He was much too proud for that.
"We're gonna have to keep an eye on you two." Moriarty scolded, waving a finger. Joker made a soft "tt-tt" as he shook his head at our behavior. I rose an eyebrow at the two, before turning my head back at Bane. He was staring right at Master, in the most hateful and judgmental way possible.
And I felt almost afraid for Master. Like at the next given chance, the mercenary was going to take out the Timelord and do it slowly, with his own bare hands.
It wasn't a good time to be Harold Saxon, what with everyone trying to kill him. But him? Bah..he can take it.
At least psychologically.
"Right, well...moving on."
Moriarty got up close, not wasting any time at all.
"So what's it doing out?" "If you're referring to Smaug, it's a who, not a what, dragons have rights too. And who do I look like, Madame Sarah?!"
"You said it was too early before.." Joker pointed out. "How early?" "First of all, it was night time.." My eyes lifted to the sky, along with the boys', as if on cue.
"Second..the dwarves went to the mountain and sent in Bilbo, that did the job by making a bunch of ruckus. Thirdly...weeks from now."
"Great." Well, nice to see Master was back to his sassy self.
"....One thing that boggles me, though..why isn't he destroying anything? He immediately started destroying the town when he showed up. But he's only scouting things out, it seems...I can now officially predict not a single dang thing. I feel utterly useless.."
"You are, aren't you?"
My eyes shot at Jim.. and before he could say another word, I snatched him by the tie and yanked him in, making him stumble. His face came inches from mine.
"What was that, River Dance?"
He rose his eyebrows, his brown eyes lighting up with intrigue. "Alright, I was wrong..."
"Perhaps the fault isn't our's.."
The both of us swung our heads to Bane and I let go...which made Moriarty rather disappointed.
"Think hard..how are we responsible for awakening the beast, when our arrival has disturbed little of the ones below? I suspect there is another to blame..."
BANE WAS QUICKLY BECOMING MY FAST FAVORITE, LEPETTY SPOG.
"YOU!" I shouted with glee, grabbing his hands and jumping around. Potentially the biggest chance I've ever taken in life.
"You're right you're right you're right! WHY would he wake up? It'd make no sense! Someone had to have intentionally gone up to him and done the thing. It took floods of gold pouring right off of him to get him to notice Bilbo's presence." "So the dwarves are here??"
"Did I say that?" "Then what the bloody *beep* ARE you saying??" "That...that..that's..that's IT!"
REALIZATION.
They all jolted.
"That guy!" "WHAT guy?" "The guy they were looking for!"
Master grabbed the sides of his head and gritted his teeth, "WHO."
"The fugitive." Bane perked.
"He must've snuck into the mountain before or after he messed with Master and Alfrid..and like..woken up Smaug!"
"Which would only mean, he's a fellow villain."
"Joker, don't even."
He grinned, wickedly, and got wild eyes. "Maybe we should team up." "Absolutely NOT!" "Why not?! Kid sounds like he's got a lot of potential." "Shut it, we are not recruiting that little delinquent!" "I thought you liked delinquents?" Moriarty butted in. My face fell. "..I..that..is..NOT the issue here! The issue is that he's endangering everyone in Lake Town and beyond. Obviously with the intention of mass casualty of all the folks here I just so happen to like, including, potentially, US. So I'm no longer a fan!"
"But you WERE a fan, and that's saying something."
INTERNALLY SCREAMING.
THESE BOYS.
Joker looked bored. "So are we gonna kill 'im or what?"
I sank. ".....We may have to."
Yet another wicked grin came upon his face.
"See, this is why I like you, kid. Unlike the players of the opposite team, you aren't afraid of making a few fatal choices here and there..."
I rose an eyebrow at him, with an unimpressed expression..just as he wrapped an arm around my neck.
"..But you fail to realize that I'm only making that decision on people from your side of the block.."
He sniffed a laugh. "..Even so...refreshing to see.."
"Ya know what else is refreshing to see? You not touching me.." I shivered his arm away.
A sigh followed and I stood contemplating everything for awhile...until I remembered, oh yeah, dragon.
My eyes lifted back to the sky. Smaug wasn't in the air any more. My brows lowered and I swung to the nearest citizen. "Hey! You! Where did Smaug go??"
The person turned as they were running, glancing up at the sky, then at me. "Back to the mountain! He'll come back, he will! To kill us all!"
My mouth fell, just as the guy took off like the wind.
I felt my body rotate rather intensely.
"The *beep* is wrong with these people? Staying in a town right next to a dragon. What a bunch of *beep* idi-"
"YA KNOW, YOU LOT HAVE BEEN GETTING AN AWFUL REAL AMOUNT OF COMFORTABLE SWEARING."
Master cut his eyes at me, with a lot of attitude packed in the effort. "..What, does swearing make wittle Sarah all upset?" How dare you say that in a mocking tone and pout that lip!
My eyes narrowed and I stepped a little closer.
"No, see I'm no princess. It doesn't make me uncomfortable, or squeamish, cuz I have heard and seen a lot worse. I don't wanna hear it cuz it's annoying, and irritating, and childish. And not in a good way. And if you want me to stay a happy individual for the rest of this voyage, I suggest you come up with a cleaner vocabulary, and fast."
His eyes looked away from mine, as I shook my head.
"Talk like adults, not a bunch of 8 year old boys at a playground. It's not that hard."
I know they probably hated me at this point.
I was coming off more as an annoying little Nazi, but hey.
They brought out the anger in me pretty easily.
"...I know it'll probably not work...but...I've gotta try."
I began to turn. Master caught me by the arm, "What are you talking about?"
The others turned their attention to me.
I made a lopsided frown. "..I can't let these people get killed without at least trying something...I've gotta talk to the Master." "And what good will that do?" he scoffed.
I shrugged. "Not much, honestly. I know what he'll say. But I'm hoping he'll be reasonable and listen to me...to evacuate the town. Get everyone to safety. If I'm unsuccessful, which I probably will be...I'll just have to take matters into my own hands."
Joker sniffed another laugh. "Look at you, playing the hero."
I turned my head.
Moriarty glanced at the others, obviously uncomfortable with the awkward silence that was following. And he proceeded to fold his arms. "Well, don't go asking us for help."
"Why would I..you'll only wind up stabbing me in the back, anyway."
"Your assumption is correct." He muttered.
Joker elbowed his side.
I sighed once again and wiggled out of Master's grasp.
"Why do you think I'm going alone..I'm not asking you to do anything for me. Except..just stay here. And don't get into any trouble. I'll come back when I can."
The Timelord went to reach for me again, but he stopped himself. I walked on, without looking back at any of them, and got about 10 feet away, before one voice stopped me in my tracks. "Aren't you forgetting something, miss Demens?"
I halted, and my head turned. Bane was advancing to the boat house. "Your medicine..one doesn't know when it will be needed again. Best to keep it with you!"
I looked away. Well...yeah...
"...As well as me."
My heart skipped a beat and I perked up in delight.
"..I shall accompany you on your way, as protection. I have lived through chaos. It is no place for a young girl."
"Oh, there you go on the Sarah bandwagon again!"
Master yelled after him, as I was turning.
His arms tossed in the air, in defeat. The three of them were being made to look more pathetic than the biggest and strongest of the gang. So what else could they do?
"Oh, what the *beep*.." Joker muttered, cutting his eyes at me, to see if I noticed. Which I obviously did.
He shrugged his shoulders, pressing his tongue against the inside of his partially scarred cheek. "..I'll go, too."
I smirked. "Good."
- - -
We stormed inside a little too eagerly not to seem suspicious, which made the kids jump and Bard to look quite alarmed. I nodded my head at the family as I made my way back to my medicine. Bane and Joker went behind me and collected their coat and jacket.
"Where are you going?" Bard questioned, concerned.
I cut my eyes up at him. "To see the Master of Lake Town. I need to speak with him and try to convince him to evacuate."
It didn't take him long to respond, "It will not work. The Master will never listen."
"I get that. That's why if I'm unsuccessful, things will still run smoothly. I need you to go to the people and get them to leave while I'm going to see him." I plopped the vile down the neck hole of my hoodie and it settled against my stomach.
"I don't know what Smaug is planning, but it's not safe."
"How do you know that name?"
I froze.
My eyes lifted to the wall as I felt Bard's gaze grind into my soul, revealing every little guilty secret.
I couldn't give that part away, I just couldn't.
"....Take your children. Get out've here. If people don't listen to you, that's their problem. But after what they just saw, it shouldn't be too much of a protest."
I heard Bard make a few scuffs behind me and inhale deeply, as if he were trying to decide whether to trust me or not.
"What about you? You will need a way to escape, as well. I can't just leave you here."
"Trust me. I've got my own way out. Now get."
What could the lake man do? He knew Smaug was coming.
And he needed to get everyone, especially his children, to safety. His body turned. "Alright, children...pack your things. Pack light. Hurry now."
"Are we going to come back here, da?" Bain questioned.
His question was not answered, as Bard stood before them, tense and terrified. "....Pack your things."
They were too good of kids not to listen to their pops.
They packed their things.
As Bard joined them, I heard the front door creak, and I turned to investigate. Master and Moriarty were apparently too curious for their own good.
The two attempted to look high and important, with the Master's hands on his hips and Moriarty lifting his chin up, hands in pockets.
"Well, we're here." Master announced.
"Fine." I muttered, an attitude still lingering inside me.
Bane came up behind me, laying a hand on my shoulder.
"How are you feeling?" "..Say what?"
"Have you been having any more pains?"
"Oh...no. Miraculous, really. Since I took it, I haven't had one attack, or even a hint of one. Hopefully, the only pains I'll have now are the ones from hunger."
"Or headaches, from dealing with us." Joker laughed.
"PREACH."
The clown went ahead and came up to us, now back in his dark purple suit jacket thing. "So what's the plan, kid?"
He said that in a strange way, like he didn't even care WHAT I responded with, or he didn't necessarily take my authority seriously, and thus was just practically mocking me.
Though in all honesty, being the Joker, it's hard to get away with saying he took anything seriously.
"Guys.." I abruptly whispered, looking to each of them.
They got the signal relatively quick and started to huddle in next to me. I gave Bard a few glances, then leaned in incredibly close to all of them.
"Okay..Master, Jim, while Bane, Joker and I are going to see the Master, you guys can do something useful.."
"Which is?"
"Be looking for the T.A.R.D.I.S.."
Their faces flexed with intrigue. "Go separately, in different directions, to cover more ground. It's gotta be around here somewhere. I'll already have Bard and the kids dealing with the people. So I need you cool kids to be helping out with that. Once you find it, make sure one of you stays with it, and then come find me. I shouldn't take too long with the Master. But...if I'm captured or if they kill me, I want all of you boys to go together back to the T.A.R.D.I.S. and leave. Don't wait for me or try to save me. Just leave."
They all gave one another uneasy glances.
"Is that clear?"
They nodded.
"Ok then..once we get outside, we go our designated directions. Stay safe, you two. And don't get into trouble."
There was exaggerated disappointment shown and I rolled my eyes with a smirk.
As we all started to separate, I snatched Master's arm. He swung his head at me, with a confused expression.
"What?" He quietly uttered. I stepped a little closer, which made him feel uncomfortable. He glared at his arm, then at me, probably not knowing what to expect.
Maybe more violence. Maybe apologetic affection.
Lol, either way, no.
I extended my other arm and opened my palm.
"The key."
He immediately put on a clueless face. "The what?"
"I won't have a repeat of last time. You can find the T.A.R.D.I.S., but I wanna make sure you don't high tail it out of here and leave me and the others behind. This insures, you have to come back for me."
His face flushed with obvious agitation and he bit the inside of his cheek, as he couldn't break into violence with me again. Least not here. So defeatedly, he reached into his pocket, pulled out the key and plopped it on my flattened hand with spitefulness in his eyes.
I glanced down at the small golden piece, and my fingers wrapped around it like spider legs.
I then glanced back at the Master and I smirked.
"Thank you."
He gave me a dirty look before jerking his arm away and walking off to join the others at the door.
Such attitude. And I didn't even do much to deserve it. Hm.
The others were quick to walk out without me, so I turned back to Bard. "Be safe.." He gave me a look that was half worried, half touched. "Same to you.."
I gave a final smile, for there was no telling IF I would see him and the kids again, then backed into the door. "Bye.."
And out, I went.
- - -
Upon entering outside, the only ones standing before me were Bane and Joker. Master and Moriarty were no where to be found. So..not knowing which direction they took..or, for that matter, which direction I had to take..I just simply called the boys to follow after me as I followed along the various people going in one particular direction.
I hurried to the least panicked person my eyes detected and politely asked them for directions to the Master's whereabouts. In simple terms..they told me to push off.
So I and the others pressed on until we found another semi-calm citizen. She just laughed.
My patience was growing thin with these people.
"IS THERE ANYONE IN THIS GOD-FORSAKEN TOWN THAT CAN POINT ME TO THE MASTER?"
One woman suddenly popped up out of no where and threw a critical finger at me. "What do you want with that old hog?!" I turned right around and pointed back at her, "Why are you not answering my question!"
"Why you need him?!" "Evacuation."
"Why would we need a evacuation!" "*An evacuation. And cuz of the dragon, duh." "Dragon? You mean Smaug's out?!"
"See, this is why we need an evacuation."
As I turned my head, I spotted a trail of people moving in the same direction, that were hurrying quite eagerly.
I supposed my best bet was to follow.
So I took off.
"Wait, 'ho ar' you?!" "The terror that flaps in the night!"
I yelled over my shoulder. "The alarm clock that wakes you up at 6 am! I am the Charrraaaacteerrrr-"
"DOWN, Demens!" Yelled Joker.
I laughed goofily. "Sorry..got carried away."
- - -
"Okay, so, still don't know where in the negative treachery the Master is, so hoping this gets us some results.."
The long line of people were moving quickly, so it wasn't taking us a lengthy amount of time to get to whereever the peeps were going.
"I don't think we'll be getting any verbal help from any of the local locals." "Should we kill em?" Joker uttered, directly.
"Get out've my brain, clown."
He rose his eyebrows in amusement before I gave him a look of disapproval. "No. We're here to evacuate, not eradicate."
Not long after I said this, the people started to meld with large portions of panicked crowds and screaming turned to yelling. The air was now filled with an angry uproar.
I was right. The people had led me straight to The Master's office/house/lair type thing.
And they were screaming bloody murder.
The large quantities of citizens had gathered in front of the building and were yelling upwards, waving their fists. We decided to look in the same direction.
Sure enough, there was a person standing on the balcony above, looking down at the people with a spiteful expression. He was spitting out inaudible words back at them, pointing at them every so often with a dirty hand, while trying to hold on to his little hat with the other. Alfrid. The Master's chief lackey.
So much bingo.
I needed to talk to him, but not with the ambience of an angry mob playing as the background score for this scene.It was pointless to even try to get in, since it was safe to bet that every entrance possible was blocked off to keep old Master barricaded against the townspeople.
Omph.
I was left with no other alternative. I pushed past the crowd, without giving any warning to either Bane or Joker, and kept going until I got to the middle of the crowd and I looked up.
"People! QUIET!"
The yelling continued.
"QUIET!!!"
Once more.
"QUIET!!!!!!"
At last, there was silence.
It was awkward, however, as all their heads slowly turned to me and I shivered at this new exposure.
My crowd control skills not only caught the attention of the people, but of Alfrid, as well. "'Ho ar' you?!"
I moved my eyes up at him, trying to make them as pouty and innocent as possible. No one can resist the charm of big bright eyes. "I'm here to discuss something with you and the Master!" "You and every other wretched sort in this dump. Go 'way!" "Well, that isn't very neighborly.."
"I don' kno' 'ou...you don' look familia."
"You're right. You don't know me. I am simply a figment of your imagination. And this figment would like to have a word with you and your boss." "So does everyone!"
"Yes, but this is more important." I quickly pivoted and put my hands up to the people, "No offense.", then immediately turned back. "About what?!"
"I'm afraid that's just something you'll have to let me in for."
"Why should I trust the lik's o' you?!"
I chuckled sarcastically as the wind started to blow, catching large strands of my hair. "Cuz if it's one thing I'm good at in life, it's enticing people into an angry, violent fit. If I really wanted to, I could get these people riled up enough to bust through those doors, storm the joint and tear you two numskulls apart....but I'm not gonna. Cuz I have a better option. But you'll just have to let me through to hear."
The lad looked conflicted. His face was grumpy and unwilling. I was starting to get the impression that he wouldn't go for the deal. But then, he jerked his head up.
"C'mon..."
My heart lifted.
"...Round the back..but leave yo'r 'ittle misfits here..."
He ducked back into the building and I quickly turned my head to the people with a stern "STAY" which they pouted to, then hurriedly made my way around the corner, the others tightly in tow. There was a narrow opening at the side of the house that I ran down until I got to the end of the house.
I stopped a moment to look around until I heard a soft "Pst! Hey! Over here!"
I scuffled to it and looked up at Alfrid, who was at yet another balcony. "Well hello again." "There's a door aroun' 'ere. A secret door..you should se' a latch.."
Bane and Joker did the work for me.
"Got it," Joker pulled on it.
Turned out to open a sliding secret trap conspiracy door creaky type thing. COOL.
He made a face, "..Se' yo' when yo' get inside..and no funn' business." With that, he crept back inside.
I urged J and Bane to follow.
As we shut the door back up, everything became pitch-black. I felt around for something to jam against the entrance, just in case we had any stowaways.
I felt something rough, but when I pulled, it was rather heavy. So I reached in and tapped an arm.
"Bane, help me."
"I don't have those kinds of muscles, honey, but thanks."
I crinkled my eyebrows and tapped another arm.
"You're quite persistent, aren't you?"
I sent out a flurry of babbles as I reached for another arm.
"BANE."
He silently complied by tapping back and then I heard a cracking sound scrape against the floor as I assumed he was moving the thing for me. It was a short distance, so it didn't take long to do the thing. I felt around the wall to feel the crack of the door and the latch, then ran my fingers down to feel the object. It was right on point.
So I turned back to the others...I think.
"K, let's go."
ploomp. My head bounced right into a chest.
Hmm.. "Sorry, whoever you are."
I trudged on as if I knew what I was doing, and before I knew it, pain, ow, slap in the face. I walked right into a wall and hit my poor, tormented nose. I immediately held on to my face, squeezing my eyes shut. "WHY DO I BOTHER TO LIVE?!"
I had a slightly muffled, higher pitched voice at this point.
I felt a hand gently take mine, as I continued to hold my face, and I was slowly led along, to avoid any further injuries.
Whoever said the good guys get things easy needs to be punched. Hard. A lot. Multiple times. A day. With a chair. Until they pass out.
What was interesting to witness was that Bane wasn't affected by the dark at all.
No doubt because of the mad skills that Al Ghul and the League of Bullies drilled into him for all those years.
I was reluctant to open my eyes again, as we made our way through the dark...it seemed like as long as my eyes were closed, I wasn't getting beat up by the environment.
But I could sense an opening, as the air grew a little more drafty and the space felt wider...and finally, a light appeared amongst the darkness. I dared to open my eyes and sure enough, we had escaped the secret passageway. We had now entered a wide, open area, that looked to be the entrance of the building, seeing as how there were barricaded doors ahead of us. The entirety of the room was filled with a dimmed, red hue..the room itself was decorated rather nicely and had many beautiful pieces of furniture and decor here and there. However, it smelt terrible. Like damp, musty clothes and dead rats.
I even said this aloud to the others.
"THERE you ar'!"
We looked and saw that Alfrid was scrambling straight towards us down the stairs.
"..and speaking of dead rats.."
He hurried to us, the end of his robe shuffling underneath him. "It's abo't bloody time! I've be'n waitin' upstairs fo' you lot!" "Alfrid, dear boy, calm down. You'll hyperventilate."
Alfrid
I swung a presenting arm, putting on a huge smile as he advanced toward us.
"What a pleasant little lair you have! Now if you don't mind, show us the way to your commander and chief!"
"I'll decide when yo' see 'im.." He looked me up and down, critically.
"Well, go on, then, whatta ya want? Case 'ou 'aven't noticed, we 'ave a dragon soarin' about!"
"I noticed, trust me. Seems you guys have a reaallll problem in your hands..."
He rolled his head and eyes and body and groaned, pathetically.
"DID 'OU COME JUS' TO WASTE OUR TIME?!"
"Yes."
He squinted and hung his jaw.
"No, I told you why I came and I'm going to go do it, whether you like it or not, so..."
I abruptly shoved him aside and started trouncing up the steps, "Out've my way, lackey."
Before he could utter another sound, I started booking it.
"Wait! Com' back 'ere!" "You'll never catch us, copper!" I yelled, Joker and Bane in quick tow.
"No one's allowed up there!" Exclaimed the pursuing henchman.
"Really, then why were you?!"
It didn't take much time at all before he started spouting out insults, calling me names, and using phrases that weren't the most appropriate of sorts. So I blocked him from my mind as I reached the top and started scanning the rooms I passed, seeking any sign of the blubbery oaf daring to call himself the Master.
Eventually, Alfrid gave up on yelling at me and simply started to hurry after us, in silence.
The silence helped, cuz it was at that moment, I heard a dreadful noise bounce off the walls; a vicious cough mixed with gagging and mumbles and then a crisp and clear, "ALFRID!!! ALFRID, YOU USELESS CUR, WHERE ARE YOUUU!!!"
I paused and looked over at Alfrid, who got infront of me, looking shocked.
And I grinned. Then before he could catch me, bolted.
He fumbled after the three of us, as we charged across the hall.
"WAIT!!!" He cried, in desperation. When we got to the source, I kicked the bedroom door open.
Bam. I had entered the lair of the hideous beast, whom was lurking underneath ugly covers, staring right through me with enlarged, venomous eyes. The feeling of being unwanted was strong.
"WHO ARE YOUU?!"
"Oh, please. Stop mimicking the caterpillar, wrong story."
I waltzed right in, making myself as comfortable as possible in the creep's presence.
The boys stepped on through with me, looking high and intimidating to the oaf laying before us.
Alfrid skid inside and stared in horror, completely out of breath. His boss drilled such a judgmental, scolding gaze on him, that I felt almost sorry for the bean.
As I took a seat infront of the Master, crossing my legs and laying my arms flat against the chair's, Alfrid slunk near the bedside, looking utterly miserable and defeated.
I tried to look more held together and refined, like the queen I was pretending to be, holding my chin high with the smuggest little smirk I could muster. "If anything, you should be mimicking the Cheshire Cat."
The Master
He gazed at me with mass confusion of an inquisitive nature, then looked up at his lackey with narrowed eyes. "Alfrid, who is this girl??!" His lackey bowed his head, sheepishly. "I..don' know, sire...she said she wan'ed to speak with yo'..said she can help us." "...Well she isn't being very helpful at all. She's just sitting there, being useless!"
"--Because you haven't given me the chance to be useful."
He eyed me, suspiciously. "You don't sound right..you're foreign, aren't you?"
My eyes glanced at the ceiling. "Yeeeeeeeyes, I am. Very much so."
He puffed up with anger, "You dare come into my quarters, unannounced?!"
I slightly smirked and shrugged my shoulders a little.
"The question remains, girl, who are you?!"
I bowed my head, stylishly. "Sarah Demens, the Character Queen..at your service!"
I rose my head back up and pointed, sassily. "And I know who you are."
"And just who am I?" He huffed with frustration, wiggling in his bed like an unhappy lobster.
I smiled. "The downfall of this town."
His mouth fell with utter shock. Even Alfrid looked taken back.
"HOW DARE YOU."
"And an ugly little toad who deserves to be clobbered around and fed to the local dragon.."
"WHY YOU."
"And the man I am contemplating on beating the scrap out of, roll down the stairs, and turn on over to the angry mob outside if he does not listen to me."
"YOU INSOLENT RUFFIAN!"
Alfrid made a nasty, mean, critical face at the matter. "I bet she's in league wit' that dark-haired, stranga!"
"No, actually, I haven't had the pleasure of meeting his acquaintance quite yet. Alas, he's a different sort of stranger and doesn't really mean you all quite well..which reminds me, what did the dude want?"
"I don't know about any 'dude', but I am not revealing anything to you!"
I exhaled, deeply. "....boy, you're stupid...worth a shot...look, I'm offering you a chance to not repeat history and to handle the arrival of your newly awakened serpent a bit differently than you..normally would handle it. Cuz, my friend, I have to say it...things don't end well for you."
"What is it you want? I will not be threatened!"
I jerked my head back, making a confused expression. "How is that threatening? I'm trying to help you."
"I thin' she's a spy, if I ever saw one!" "You HAVEN'T seen one!"
"Sent in to cause tr'ble, no dou't 'bout it, sire!" "What is it with everyone here and jumping to conclusions, LOOK, I am JUST trying to help, I SWEAR!" "Why woul' the likes o' you try t' help?!"
"Heck if I know, you little larva! I'm simply trying to warn you guys, cuz SPOILER ALERT, when Smaug attacks, YOU don't MAKE it! Don't ask me how I know this, I just do. Honest, I am on your side. Even though I don't agree with you, and actually really don't care for you much at all, I at least wanna give everyone a chance. Believe me, you're lucky I'm even here. My companions, two of which you see here, would have no problem standing back and watching everything burn. I'm the odd one out here."
"What makes you think I need your advice?" "And that we car' what 'appens to those mangy mutts?"
I sighed. "..I don't want the people of this town to suffer, and that includes you..though the compassion is fast dwindling by the second...I originally figured that coming to you would be the best option to get the message out publicly and officially...but after seeing how much hatred the two of you were receiving earlier, I see now that that isn't necessarily gonna work."
The Master shuffled in his bed, wagging his red beard in a displeased manner. "But why should I trust you?"
I rolled my head and tossed my hands up, sending out an exasperated growl. "FOR CRIMINY'S SAKE. This is happening with or without you! Whatever, man, I'm done with you two imbeciles. No wonder you died.." I got up and started for the door, shaking my head like a bobble figure.
"This meeting was a complete and total waste of my time, and no, I am not a witch, quit lookin' at me like that." But it only took a few seconds for them to get me to stop again.
"The boy was an odd fellow."
hmmmm...
I slowly turned.
He still had suspicious eyes.
"He spoke in the manner that you do...and was just as vulgar and barbaric, if not more so.."
Yada yada yada, get on with it, hypocrite.
"..andddd what'd he want? I heard something about him trying to warn you guys, then, ya know, threaten to burn the town down?" "You
heard right. And then the heathen continued to threaten me and speak to
me with the uttermost disrespect my ears have ever heard! He boldly
escaped after we tried to arrest him for his treacherous behavior." He slapped his arms against his bed's surface and was suddenly in a coughing fit.
Alfrid got behind his boss and fluffed his pillows to make things more comfortable. I edged forward, "You ain't feeling well??"
He thrashed his bulbous head around, his cough presumably worsening.
My brows crinkled as I stood back.
My brows crinkled as I stood back.
Huh..so he was sick.
If I had a single smart cell in my body, I'd let the old crone perish of his filth and despair.
If I had a single smart cell in my body, I'd let the old crone perish of his filth and despair.
But... "I might have something for that."
I reached in and snatched my bottle, then held it infront of me with uncertainty, to show it off.
"Along the way, I ran into some elves and was given this vile of medicine. Supposedly, it can cure anything."
I gestured at him and his lackey to indicate this as an offer.
He eagerly nodded. Access granted.
I proceeded forward to grab his cup and wasted no time pouring a little into it. "..When did you get sick?"
"CUUUUUCCCCCPPPPPDDDDD"
A hideous sound escaped from his mouth and I shuddered.
Alfrid cringed and turned his head to me, as his face tensed in disgust.
"Right afta' that 'ittle savage escaped fro' us."
"Right afta' that 'ittle savage escaped fro' us."
Huh.
"Sounds to me like he went along with his plan, after all."
Joker finally spoke after forever.
"Whaaaa--what????!!" The Master yelled, sounding as if he were about to explode.
I
examined the amount I had poured out, not wanting to give away too
much...it was only the Master of Lake Town, after all...and rose it high
into the air, making sure all was well before I served it. "What
Joker is trying to say, you and him didn't have a good experience with
one another, so he's having some payback. He's doing just what he
threatened..burning down the town. Starting with you."
I handed him the glass cup, which he almost immediately gobbed down in a matter of seconds.
Alfrid and I both gave eachother the same type of glance before looking back at the bearded man.
"Seriously, you're in a pickle that's way over your heads. Let me help. I can't promise with 100% certainty that everything's gonna be alright, but at least let me try."
He
shook his head wildly at the bitter after taste the elixir gives you
after a good gulp. He looked more like a cartoon character than
anything. I awaited a response after he started to lay flat on the bed,
his coughing quieted, replaced now with a relatively loud and uneven
breathing pattern.
"How long before...I heal completely?"
I widened my eyes as I put the vile away and shrugged my shoulders, "That, I'm not so sure about. Just rest a bit..give it some time..you'll eventually start to get energy again."
Alfrid
seemed a bit boggled by it all as he watched closely, lowering his
unibrow in confusion. I was honestly surprised they didn't interrogate
me on whether or not it was poison.
"So yo're not an elf, afta all, ar' you?"
I casted him a snarky glare and pointed at my head.
"Do I look like I've got the ears?!"
He gave back a rather sheepish expression, that was mixed with a bit of an attitude for snapping at him.
"har--HAW!!!"
We
snapped our attention back at the bloated warthog to see that he was
wiggling out of bed with such abrupt fire and energy, it was almost
terrifying.
Such a quick recovery!
"IT WORKS, IT WORKS!!"
He bellowed, trying his hardest to get out of bed. When he did,
though..he took an unexpected turn. Suddenly, he started to advance in
one direction--TOWARDS ME.
I tightened my whole body and froze a
growing expression of terror as he came laughing and grunting, reaching
to shake my hand. I tried to hide my horrified disgust as he was
successful.
I NOW HATE THE INVENTOR OF THE HANDSHAKE, WHAT A DISTURBING CONCEPT.
"Thank you, thank you, my queen! I do not know how I could possibly repay you for such kindness!"
"Don't mention it......seriously, don't. Just don't.."
When he wasn't looking, I wiped my hand against my shirt. Such filth...my inner germaphobe was screeching.
"As far as the townspeople, I can not help you. They have all turned against me."
He made a rather grumpy face as he reached in for his over-sized robe.
Between the Master and Alfrid, I had to choose one of them that was the least disturbing to look at...so I stared at the floor.
"Or
maybe they just need some guidance. Leadership. They're terrified and
confused. They're followers. They need someone to tell them what to do." I handed him his grimy little hat with two fingers.
"--it's always up to us leaders to do what no one else can...lead."
The
Master faced the wall for a few long seconds, before suddenly swinging
around and giving the most scolding, cold-hearted stare imaginable. Not
at me, though..at Alfrid.
"Blast
it, Alfrid! This girl has given me more insight and been a better
advisor in five minutes than you have in your whole servitude!!" Alfrid's face fell and his mouth hung very low, as he blinked with the utter most shock. "SIRE, I---" "Oh, don't even try to make up for it, you lout!"
The bumbling beanstalk scratched himself and started shuffling out of the room like a crab.
I and the boys followed after him, as Alfrid trailed behind us slowly..it appeared his feelings were hurt.
"You two can't stay here. It's not safe." "Of course it's not safe!" Alfrid piped up. "There's a ravenous mob out there, afta th' Master's skin!" "Well, that, and most likely a few other parts of him..such as his head."
I winked, but my twisted humor was largely frowned upon, so I looked back to the floor in shame.
Al quickly slid past us to join old Redbeard, near the balcony type thing.
My attention turned to the others. "Once we're done here, we'll go and find the others. I just wanna see what happens..." "As do I.." Joker said, in partial amusement. This probably implied, he wanted to see the Master's skin or head taken.
As I looked back at the two ahead, however, I saw a rather pathetic sight.
The two were huddling against the wall, HIDING from the open window.
I rose an unimpressed eyebrow. "What're you doing?" "Shhh!!!" "Hiding from those savages!"
They both whispered a little loudly. I sighed and began to approach, "Really? C'mon now..we went over this. You just gotta put your leader cap on and take charge. That's what they want."
"I am not exposing myself!" "Believe me, no one wants that."
"D'OH, if you are not going to help, I would much rather be happier if you left!"
"Honker down there, Fry."
He and Alfrid gave one another an inquisitive glance as I approached the open doorway.
I
slowly peered down at all the people...whoa, hello, high heights...and
saw that they were up to their same old roaring, grizzling selves.
Looked more like a crowd of unhappy potatoes, they were so bland
looking.
"What're you talkin' about? It's perfectly fine, c'mon.." "Never! You can not make me!"
"Come
onnnn! What's the worst that can happen, they throw cabbages at chya?
You're all the way up here, you'll do good. Remember, they don't got the
best weapons in the world.."
He was hesitant. I sighed. And with that, I reached in and grabbed his arm, finally yanking him to exposure.
He stood straight after wobbling, now in an open area, and all eyes soon focused right on him.
He froze like a weeping angel.
I grinned and folded my arms, as the plan looked to be having a little bit of success now......
that
is, until, everyone started screeching like a bunch of banshees and all
at once began to throw---yep---vegetables, directly at him. My face
dropped.
The Master screamed rather loudly as the food came flooding at him with relatively good aim.
Alfrid
and I quickly came to the man's rescue, dragging him backwards into the
building. Bane and Joker immediately slammed the doors closed as the
veggies continued to pound the area. All that was left from the outside
was frequent thumping and endless angry yelling.
The Master and I looked to one another as we helped hold the doors shut with our backs.
"They really don't like you.." I said, flatly.
"That's quite obvious, isn't it?! What did I tell you, you foolish mule! I could've been killed!"
"Ohhh, quit being a drama queen, Captain Blubber. That's the biggest exaggeration you've come up with yet!" "If they get a hold of me, they will kill me!" "Well, that part might be true..."
His jaw dropped.
I
proceeded to lead him away as I grabbed the doors, preparing myself as
strongly as possible to head back out. He, as I expected, went back to
hugging the wall, with the most atrociously fearful face I've ever seen
on anyone. Once I got a few deep breaths out, I opened the doors and
stepped on through....
whoosh!
A head of lettuce zoomed right past my head.
I immediately dropped to the floor and scooted back inside.
"Hold your fire!!"
At
once, the assault fest ceased. Once there was silence, I did a little
snort laugh as I repeated what I said...hold your fire...lol
"'Ho ar' 'ou?!" One townie yelled. "Queen of England!...jk, guys, it's me!" Hurriedly, I crawled back to the balcony and peeked at the people from one of the open slits underneath the rail.
"Now tell me this; if you guys are so poor, how come you're wasting perfectly good vegetables?"
"Don' matter, we're gun ta die, anywa'!!"
"That's the fighting spirit."
"Why 'ou workin' for the Masta'!" "What makes you think I am??" "'Ou are, yo're with 'im!"
"Just
cuz I'm up here on his balcony, doesn't mean I work for him! For all
you know, I could be attacking him. In any case, it doesn't matter who I
side with; you guys are acting like complete nutjobs!" "'Ow is that?" "A
dragon flies over your town and the first thing you do is angrily throw
vegetables at the local authority's house? What, is that suppose to
frighten Smaug away?! How is that working for you!"
"We wan' answers!" "I'll give you answers; you're stupid!"
"Oy!" "You heard me right! But whether you like him or not, it doesn't matter right now! This, what you're doing, is pointless!" "'Ou 'ave no idea what he's don'!"
"Oh, I do know. Trust me. But the whole point of why I'm here is to help all of you."
"Why would you 'elp us?!"
"Why would you 'elp us?!"
"That's my business. All you need to know is, I'm on the town's side."
"Don' tell 'em that!" Alfrid frantically exclaimed.
"Don' tell 'em that!" Alfrid frantically exclaimed.
I gave him a look.
"Now
look. This is one of those times where when you have a bigger threat
than both of you, you need to put your hatred for one another on hold
and defeat your common enemy together. Cuz something that dangerous can
do way more damage than you can to eachother. You can bust in here and
smack around old Redbeard all day; it's not gonna get ya anywhere.
There'll still be a dragon and you'll still wind up dead. I'm not asking
you to be friends. But you at least need to put enough trust in the
idea that you all wanna stay alive." "Why ar' you sidin' with them?!" Alfrid again exclaimed.
I sighed and rolled my head at him. "Do you want them to rage in here and skin you alive?"
They glared at one another.
"Exactly."
"..Now,
if you guys were smart..you'd ditch this silly display and scoot to the
nearest boat, posthaste! If you have any kind of interest in living,
that is..Redbeard ain't worth it--"
I glanced at him. "This is for your benefit, I swear."
"As long as you get the animals out of here, say whatever you wish!"
I
chuckled and looked back. But before I could say anything else, I heard
a faint scuffle below. Winding up some bravery, I cautiously peeked
over the side, and saw that my plan had worked...they were leaving.
I grinned wide, "It worked...they're going."
With this, I stood and entered back inside.
Master and Alfrid both went out of hiding, but the only one necessarily pleased with me was the boss man.
"Oh, you angelic girl! You saved my life! Bravo, well done!!"
He
eagerly shook my hand and I quickly wiped it off as soon as he let go,
then sheepishly looked down, shrugging the praise off. "Welll..."
"Don't be so modest, child! You are simply radiant!"
I couldn't help but smile.
He waved his arms around, joyously. "Oh, thank you, THANK you! I could KISS you!!" "Well, don't."
Alfrid leaned in to his master, while cutting his eyes at me,
"I dunno, sire...I still don' trust her.."
"Oh, be silent, you mule. You're over complicating the situation. She saved us, be thankful."
"No need to go on. I did my thing, now I'm off."
I hurriedly slid past the two and grabbed the arms of Joker and Bane.
"Yeah, well, good riddance..." Alfrid had said under his breath. That's when Master grabbed him by the arm and shook him, violently. "Go after her, Alfrid!!"
He tried to whisper, but he failed. "Be my eyes and ears!!"
"But sire!" "Don't but me, you insolent vermin! Follow her for me and be quick about it!!"
Judging by the silence, Alfrid had accepted his new order.
And I couldn't run any faster...
~
"GO AWAY, ALFRID." "I don' know what you're talkin' about." "Your bestie told ya to follow me, but that doesn't mean you have to." "I still don' know what yo're talkin' about."
The boys and I made a quick turn, my companions meanwhile not being at
all fans of Alfrid following us, hoping to be rid of the dork if we got
too quick or tricky.
But he was resilient.
I was screaming internally.
"It's not like I ap'rove of it an' more than you do. Bu' the Masta's wishes are the Masta's wishes, and I hav' t' obey."
As he said this, it sounded as if he were reading off a script.
"Don't you ever get tired of being a lackey?" I called over my shoulder. His expression was priceless.
"'Cuse me, I am NOT a lacke'!!"
"Then whatta call someone who obeys every command they're given?" He was silent.
I sighed, frustratedly. "You gonna follow me everywhere I go?!" "What of it?!" "I don't need an audience!" "You keepin' secrets?!" "I will psychically hurt you, and not feel an ounce of pity."
"How old are you, anywa'?"
"How old are you, anywa'?"
"EXCUSE ME"
I made a halt next to a food stand and he made his way infront of me, leaning his arm against it.
"You
seem young...but mature. Too mature...easy on the eyes, too. No
question of being better lookin' than the lot that lives h're." I gave him an expression that was mixed with confusion, mixed with disgust.
"If
this is somehow a sick, rather twisted version of flirting, I think
I'll need another swig of my medicine, cuz I'm feeling sick." "How did you come across our town?"
Oh, I see. No comment.
"Do you have any more little friends?"
. . .
"And what's with your get up? I've neva seen garbs like that!"
For the love of the stars above, did this man's mouth ever shut?!
"Don' know what t'do with yo'r sort." He half said to himself, grimacing quite unpleasantly.
I smooshed my mouth in one direction and lowered my eyebrows at him.
He
was a fictional character in a fictional world, working for an awful
man, already an awful man himself, one of the sleaziest people I've ever
witnessed sleaze, and had absolute zero hygiene maintenance to the
point of me wanting to die...and I was the one getting criticism.
"Stop looking at me like that."
"Still wan' m' question answered."
"Yes, you're a worthless individual."
"Where are we going??"
"We're not going anywhere. I am going this way..and you're going that way!"
Annnddd everything else he tried to say to me was blocked out from my hearing as I began to push him from behind.
"Away with you! Off!"
"BUT I-" "MOVE MOVE MOVE. GO!!"
There
was quite a bit of pushing I had to do and there was quite a bit of
protest from him, and yes, I had Bane step in to shoo him away with his
tall, intimidating self.
And Alfrid squealed like a teenage girl right before booking it entirely out of sight.
I was left with quietness. And Bane. And Joker. And wood. And water. And it smelt of fish and oil.
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
"Now what??" Joker questioned as he leaned against a wooden beam, folding his arms. Bane walked back to the two of us. "We wait for the Master's return."
J rose an eyebrow, "Which Master? THE Master or the Master Master??" "THE Master..I think." I looked away at the water. "Our Master..sort've."
"And how long will that take?" "IDK. Could be forever."
"Thaaaat's not helpful."
"Not suppose to be."
I placed my hands in my pockets and kicked off a small piece of
something into the water with the tip of my boot. Our party fell in
silence as we stood around, in waiting.
A great
fraction of the people had left..I dare say, most of everyone was gone.
There was now an eery stillness looming through the air that was every
so often interrupted by the frantic running footsteps of those left
behind, no doubt going back to collect a few irreplaceable items.
I
watched as they passed us and ran towards the opposite side of the
town. I didn't know how Bard did it in so short a time, but I was
impressed. Evacuation was an actual success. And I sighed.
Just me and a couple of villains.
.....
"This is stupid." I said at last.
To which the boys shifted to. "I agree." J muttered.
"He better not have had an extra key.." I thought aloud.
"...So we get back to the ship..what's the first thing you're gonna do, Demens?" "Bathroom." "Then?" "Sleep."
"And then?" "Pizza.....and then more sleep."
"Sounds like a plan."
"I think I'll have my fill of adventures for two centuries by the time we get out've here."
"But how do we even know the ship IS here??"
"Sarah sensed it." Bane said loudly, in a tone that was almost scolding him for asking such a thing.
Joker glared at me, darkly. I tensed.
"Oh, yeah?" "Didn't you hear her?" Bane went on.
"I tend to not listen when she's talking."
Hmph!
"So, like, how do you even 'sense' it? Is it blue box sense? You got the blues?" Ew. "Well in that case-"
WHOA, SUDDEN VIOLATION.
I
was grabbed by the shoulders without warning and positioned infront of
the clown with a jolt, where now, against my own will, I was jerked
about like a sonar Sarah, unable to catch my stolen breath, let alone
question his reasons. "We'll use you like a remote control! A set of car keys! Let chya pick up the feed."
"WHY"
I yelped, just to say it. Not expecting to get an answer, which I
didn't. Without so much as a care, my clown companion jolted me in every
direction, oh my gosh, my poor brain, I was gonna get amnesia.
I really hoped this made us even!
"I - AM NOT - OKAY - WITH THIS!"
Was all I was able to get out.
Bane seemed amused by the scene. :/
"Shake her around any more, clown, and the girl's going to explode." We all spun in a 180 to see a surprisingly pleasant, familiar face. I didn't mean to, but I lit up.
"MASTER." I croaked.
He came the rest of the way.
Almost
immediately, I took back control and froze myself, then with two quick
individual smacks, I released J's dirty hands from my shoulders. It was
rather clear by the Master's reaction to what he just saw, he did not regret his time away from us. "I see you lot are still your...amusing selves."
"What's there to report, man!"
His face quickly changed from one of criticism, to that of delightment. "I found it."
"YOU FOUND IT" "Yes!" "No way!!" "Yes way!!"
"I don't believe it!!" "Believe it! It looks like it self repaired, because there are no signs of damage."
I squealed to the tops of my soul and jumped around like a jelly bean. "Where's Lucky Charms, though!"
"He stayed behind. We have to hurry, if we're gonna get out of this hole in time." "Well then, what are we waiting for? To OZ!" I was met with heavy sighs and face-palms at this...especially when I started skipping ahead of the three.
- - - to be continued - - -
Cheers to the villains of Gotham! The Master of Laketown was a funny, grimy fellow, and I still don't like Alfrid, haha. Bard is a great character and his role in this story is flawless, great work.
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