[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

Kid quickly pulls out her dagger and takes a defensive stance. "Great." she mutters. "JUST what I needed. Well, let's kick some arse..." she says, making a lunge at the middle creature.

KingMoaman:
[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

The middle creature would flap it's wings quickly, pulling itself up above the slice. It would then swoop down, letting loose a menacing kick towards Kid's head.

[Viper Manor Gates, Alternate World]

Serge looked quietly at Ketchop, then down at Pip hanging in his pocket. Taking the initiative that MAGUS WAS PISSED EVERYONE RUN FOR YOUR LIVES, Serge decided breathing tommorow, or not in this world as he was dead, would be a good idea. Serge turned, dashed behind a column, and waited for Magus to kick arse.

Solt & Peppor:
[Viper Manor Gates, Alternate World]

Ketchop would shout "KETCHOOOOP!" and wait.

[Viper Manor Gates, Alternate World]

Magus grits his teeth and calls forth a shadow flare that sends boiling dark energy in a dome over the three dragoons. He knows this will take a good bit out of him but he is mad and doesn't care at the moment.

[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

Kid immediatley crouches and performs a speedy back-flip to avoid the creature's strong kick. Regaining her balance, she uses a Turn Blue element on the creature and quickly begins to perform the Magma Bomb technique.

KingMoaman:
[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

One of the birds, apparently already a blue innate, seemed massively hurt by the Magma Bomb. However, the middle one, though the TurnBlue had worked, seemed to strong. The two on the sides quickly countered by attempting a cross-slash-like teqnique against Kid.

[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

Fortunatly, Korcha leaped towards one, using his Headbutt tech skill against the one that wasn't a blue element, leaving only one charging at Kid.

[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

Slash leaps up and unsheathes his sword, landing near Kid.

[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

Kid watches Korcha's successful attack against the first creature. "Why doesn't it surprise me that his head's his best weapon?" she remarks to herself, blinking in a bit of surprise.

She quickly turns her attention to the second incoming creature. "You wanna play? C'mon, let's play." she says, crouching into an attack position with her dagger out in front. "Fireball!" she yells, hurling it at the creature.

KingMoaman:
[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

The blue innate bird-creature fell to his knees at this, but was determined not to give up. Suddenly, the red innate, getting up from Korcha's headbutt, cast a MagmaBomb against Korcha, Kid, Slash, Guile, and Luccia.

[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

Korcha fell back quickly, weak to the red element, but not down.

[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

Kid takes the attack from this creature but, also being of a red innate, she sustains fairly little damage from it. She takes a look back at Guile, Slash, and Luccia as they recover from the latest hit. "We could use a little more help fightin' off these bloody creatures, ya know." she comments to them. "Yer okay ain't ya, mate?" she asks, glancing over at Korcha.

[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

Luccia stumbled and nearly fell over from the attack, combined with her tired and soar limbs. She gritted her teeth and extracted some sort of concoction from out of nowhere, throwing it at the offending beastie.

[Termina, Alternate World]

Miki thrummed her fingers against the railing of the boat, staring out at the sea. The waves smashed themselves endlessly, attempting to provide entertainment for her, but failing.

She turned, on a whim, exiting the boat. Deja vu, she thought humorlessly as she made her way through the crowds. Termina had lost her interest already...maybe there'd be something to capture it again outside?

Miki breathed a quick sigh of relief as she managed to leave the city without attracting any attention. Outside, she smiled, then adjusted her glove. Who knew where there might be danger?

For some reason, she found her steps directed at Viper Manor. There had been trouble there before and she was curious to see what had solicited the immediate attention of so many people.

[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

As she approached, she noticed fighting on the bluffs. Frowning, she approaches stealthily, her inborn grace making her movements flow like a stream. Managing to get close enough, she sees the creature.

The people seemed to be in trouble. No doubt crossed her mind as she cast an Aquaball, which hit the creature from behind, knocking it down. It was weakened, but not dead yet - being of a red innate, Miki wasn't as skillful at casting blue elements.

For a minute, she wondered how she was going to get over there to help them more....

[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

Korcha gets up weakly, hurt double from the attack, but quickly uses a cure element on himself. "Don't worry. I'm strong." With that, he would smile warmly at Kid, but sit down for a moment to recover his negative stamina levels.

[Viper Manor Gates, Alternate World]

Magus watches as the shadow flare encompasses the three dragoons, and he starts moving. "Ozzie, Serge, Pip, Flea. Move forward lets advance past these morons. We've done our job."

[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

Slash jumps up and executes an attack on one of the creatures.

[Viper Manor Bluffs, Alternate World]

Kid takes notice of the position of the sun for a brief moment. "The mates at the front gate er probably wrappin' things up 'bout now. We need to get our arses in gear 'n get inside the bloody Manor..." she comments to the group, motioning for them to push forward. She quickly lunges towards two of the creatures, excluding the blue innate, and shouts, "Magma Bomb!"

[Viper Manor Gates, Alternate World]

Ozzie nods and floats forwards.

[Termina, Home World]

Zappa set down his hammer and jerked a soot-stained cloth from his belt. Wiping black from his broad, heat-reddened face, he tried to get his emotions in check. The news had only arrived yesterday, and Zippa was still in something of a denial, poor woman.

He drew the cloth away from his face and glanced up at his wife, who sat at the counter at the front of the room, shoulders slumped, head tilted downward. It was a posture he had never seen on Zippa before. She was a strong woman. A strong woman who had just lost her only child.

Zappa tucked the cloth into his belt and approached his wife from behind. He knelt beside her and placed an enormous, muscular arm around her shoulders. "We'll make it through't, don' ye worra," he said softly, giving her a squeeze.

Zippa's deep brown eyes--so like Karsh's--remained focused on the floor. "I always knew he'd be in danger, but I never thought he'd leave us for good..."

The blacksmith gave his wife another squeeze. "Och, Zippa, ye were always a strong lass," he muttered gruffly. "Ye canna stop now, ye ken?"

Zippa's eyes raised to meet his. "Aye, I ken," she murmured.

They sat there a few moments, each taking comfort in the other's presence. With a sudden movement, Zippa opened a drawer and removed two long objects. Zappa recognized them innediately. "Och, Zippa, it's been far too long..."

"I'll hear none of it," Zippa said firmly. "It's abou' time we sent him off proper." She handed him one of the fifes she had taken from the drawer and rose to her feet. Zappa, knowing better than to argue with Zippa when she used that tone of voice, followed her as she briskly walked to the door, opened it, and stepped into the dusk. Zappa closed the door behind them.

Zippa sat on a step in front of the doorway and brought the fife to her lips. Sound emerged, a pure, crystal sound from the polished bamboo instrument. Zappa sat down as well and began to play harmony to her melody. Through one heartbreaking verse and into the next, and finally Zippa stopped playing to sing.

Bonnie Charlie's new awa, Safely o'er the friendly main, Money a heart will break in twa Should he ne'er come back again. Will ye no come back again? Will ye no come back again? Better lo'ed ye canna be. Will ye no come back again?

The music halted, then, after lingering for a bit, sped away into the fleeing daylight. Just like Karsh.

[Viper Manor Gates, Alternate World]

Serge danced almost happily. He dashed towards the manor before all of them, head first.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Magus follows Serge quickly. Looking around for the next obstacle which comes when they try the door. "It's locked."

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Flea followed after the group a bit more slowly, not wanting to run into any danger head first. He was a magic user afterall, not a physical fighter.