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“I’ll just kill her myself!”

Remia smiled, hearing the fear in his voice and his pulse quicken. It was such a lovely thing to see the 'fearsome' cowed with that very fear. Like a good cup of tea. Hmm... Maybe she was more of a monster then she thought. But that was a question to be asked at another time. Remia didn't wait for him to aim as she suddenly shot in at him like a bullet herself. Gun shots rang out, and in the blink of an eye, Remia knelt on the Dragon's back her 'Spear the Gungnir' at Drake's throat and the blood sun shield blocking most of her small frame from both the sun and from the Rider's gun. She looked at him around the shield with one crimson eye. "Now, now. There's no need for that. I just came to talk young Wishmaker. Or would you rather I pin your chest to your mount with my spear?" She chuckled, the sound oddly innocent. "I bid thee, call off your pet and let us talk."

Hijira finished hiding their belongings and paused to watch her sister land before looking back to Zelos. "I'm going to help the people the best I can. Please wait here for my sister's return," Hijira said to him before running off to help bandage and carry off the wounded for treatment.

Zelos looked around and sighed. "Well, it seems that I have a moment to relax," the green haired man stated as he sat down on some debris and watched as the vampire attacked. Hopefully this would be over soon. STill, something told ZElos that this fight wasn't QUITE over yet.

Dale looked back at the bar and laughed. "Well, it seems that things are quieting down. Still, I can tell that that woman's side isn't the side I want to be on. They aren't quite strong enough. I'll look for this... Pheles... person's side and see how useful THEY are. If it works out, I'll continue on my mad plan to slowly take over the world!" Dale said, followed by an exceedingly evil laugh. The bard coughed. "I mean... bring peace and stability to this world... yes," he said, coughing again as he started to travel.

"Congratulations, do you want some sort of prize." Erza followed his gaze to the vampiress. "That would be trouble, if we don't get out of here. Let the wishmakers sort it out. One if them already jumped into the dragon's maw. I don't want to be around here for when it finishes eating him and can start freezing things again."

For some reason unknown to Bravo the dragon started thrashing about more. He lost his grip and fell, tumbling down it's gullet.

Fear encroached Drake as he glared at the speedy vampire, “Talk to a monster? I freaking doubt it.” With that, he slammed his neck into the spear. Blood poured out of his jugular and he could no longer speak, breathing too became difficult, and tears streamed from his blue eyes. A sob or two may have been heard, but Drake’s time was running short.

Tristan nodded, fully agreeing with Erza, “I guess I wouldn’t want to be here either… but this base was a home to me these last few years…” Tristan looked toward the faltering museum and looked away, “Let’s go.” ‘Pheles ordered this, I can guarantee it.’

-

Meanwhile, the Puppeteer wandered out of a forest, seeing a campfire far away, she knew that meant a person would be there. “Hey you! Tell me where I am.” Quentin turned his attention to her, “You are near what would have been Sundance.” The Puppeteer narrowed her eyes, “What’s that you’ve got there?” She asked, referencing Hero’s unconscious body. “This is a kid who picked a fight with me.” She did not recognize Hero, whose back was turned to her. “Feed me slave.” Quentin wanted to resist but could not, ‘What am I doing? This girl... damn that man.’ Quentin wondered how to break free as he picked up his stick and picked up a slab of stone to substitute as a plate. He dropped the only piece of meat on the plate and gave it to her.

"Hecate, we need to leave this place." A few of the wish makers pointed out as she attempted to keep the lines straight. She knew that by the end of the battle, even her body would be a bit worn down. Still, there wasn't much choice of places to go anymore. She had to defend at least one place that had a working power source. Miss Phorkyas wanted this place for a reason.

"We need to wait for Miss Phorkyas." Hecate answered, her eyes narrowing as she adjusted her glasses. "Keep the lines and make sure we're all attacking that thing. If it doesn't die, we'll all be dead before she returns."

The spear didn't move, another testament to her strength. My... the coming of monsters must of addled his insignificant brains to do something like this. Or maybe he's insane with fear...? she mused to herself as sensed Bravo's heartbeat move deeper into the Dragon. "My, my. How very... foolish of you," she said as she yanked the spear from his throat and stood up, the Blood dome moving to float above her as she reached out to stop him from falling, letting him drop to her knees as she used the blood from the first spear to hold up Drake and stop Bravo in place. "Did your fear-addled brain not realize? I called you a wish-maker." She smiled lightly at his slowly dying form. "You fool... I'm no mindless creature bent on destruction, otherwise you'd already be dead. I'm just a young woman that made a foolish, careless wish," she finished as she opened her mouth and pulled in a small glob of Drake's blood. As she expected: no strength, almost no taste, no useful knowledge. "You really have made a wish then... Something to do with this Dragon, assuredly. Well then, since you're on the way, Shall I end your misery? Please nod yes or shake your head no. I have things to do, after all."

Bravo was surprised at and glad of the suddden spear catching his fall. That was way too close. "Bravo Leap!" Bravo jumped up the dragon's throat, kicking off of it's throat's walls until he was flying towards the dragon's teeth. "Bravo Lash!" Captain Bravo struck each of the teeth repeatedly in rapid succession, shattering them on his way out. He pushed off the roof of the museum with his hands and landed atop the icy roof on his feet, skating to a stop near the edge. "Bravo Thanks, yet again." He shouted down to Remia.

"We can come back later, once the fighting ends." Erza ran surprisingly fast given her ridiculous heels.

“Sure, let’s go, do you have any clue where we should be going?” Tristan asked his new travel mate.

Drake could no longer speak words, in his final testament, however, he performed a foul hand gesture, and passed with a smile on his face, suddenly, before everyone’s very eyes, the dragon completely vanished.

((Updates - Obvously, Drake is dead. Q&A on "What happens to a wish once the wish-maker is gone?"))

Remia didn't react other then to kick his falling corpse out of sight as the Dragon vanished beneath her. She spread her powerful wings and glided down toward everyone else, the people retreating from her landing place as Hijira ran up to hug her little big sister. "Ahh... Good, you're okay, Hijira," she said as she absorbed the blood from her current spear through her hand and let go of the real spear within, causing it to vanish. The Sisters looked around at everyone's confused, but wary faces as she laughed. "Oh Don't mind us! After all, aren't there dead and wounded to take care of?" Remia stated as she lifted off with her sister to land near Zorlo.

Hecate began to go around, making sure that everyone who was capable of moving around could begin to help the wounded. The dead would have to be dealt with once they knew who was alive. Despite the state of her body and the ice on her ankle, she was going around with bandages. She would have to ration out water and food when they were able to clean up the immediate situation. She had on her glasses, kneeling down even if it was painful enough for her to walk.

Hijira watched the two go before turning back to help out. It didn't take her long to find Hecate limping along. "Please, allow me to do that, Miss. You're hurt and should rest. Here, let me see your leg."

Remia laughed. Actually, I do have a question, now that we're alone," Remia said as she stepped closer. "I have a theory about your blood as well, but to prove it, I'll need to drink some of your own blood now that its 'potency' has increased. Do you mind?" Remia asked as she smiled almost innocently.

Zorlo nodded. "Sure, feel free to take some. I plan to make you and your sister my associates, as your powers as Wishmakers seem to have a unique effect. I'd ask that Bravo man, but he's too stupid to be useful. That or too much of a good guy, one of the two. If you promise to help me gather up dead wish makers or locate the gods of this world and help me kill them, I'll let you gain more power from my blood. Sound good?" he asked her, smirking maliciously.

Bravo watched Remia and Zelos run off, Looks like I don't need to intervene, but whatever he did to that body. It felt foul, should I destroy him? He jumped down and began helping out where he could.

Erza stopped running when she noticed the dragon had disappeared and tugged on Tristan's sleeve. "Hang on. Looks like the fighting might be over, so we might not even need to make that decision. Which is good, since I didn't actually have a plan beyond run like hell."

"I'm alright." Hecate spoke, making sure to press a cloth to a wound in one of the normal human's shoulder. "Please take care of the others. I have to take care of everyone for Miss Phorkyas." She knew that this looked bad, but she knew what would happen if she stopped. She had to do what she promised to do. Taking care of the others in the place of Phorkyas and the second in command. "I'll be alright."

Hijira started to protest at first before stopping. She could feel the determination and will. What could she really say to that? "Okay. Just take it easy, okay? I'll do my best to help you," she answered before moving off to help some others.

Remia giggled as her eyes literally lit up and she appeared next to Zelos and lifted his wrist to her lips. "Interesting proposition. Let me ask my sister, then I'll give you our answer," she replied as she placed her lips against his wrist. Then was no pain, just a tingling as she drained blood from him, almost literally glowing as a crimson aura started to come off her in bits and parts before she finally stopped, her lips painted red, though no wound existed on him. "Umm... As I thought. You have no Human memories within your flesh... So, might I ask what you really are, Zelos?"

"I'm a phantom, and that's all you need to know for now," he said as he looked at her. "I'll explain more about myself as time and necessity allow... I met an odd man that said something odd. I'm intent on finding out what truth the man's words had... I'm starting to remember someone... someone from my past... but I'm not sure where he is or if he's even still alive. I'd like to ask you to help me find him for now. After that... I'll help you however I can. Sound good?" Zelos asked with a smile.

“What kind of meat is this?” Quentin cringed his teeth as he answered “Manticore.” The Puppeteer nearly spat it out, “That’s disgusting! Uggh, why would you eat this?” Quentin’s mind battled against his mouth and body, “It’s the only meat around for miles, the only food as a matter of fact.” The Puppeteer pointed towards Quentin’s guitar case. “What about that thing on your back? Is it a gun?” Quentin shook his head, “No, master, it’s a guitar.” ‘Master? Did I just call this spoiled, obnoxious, arrogant little human master?’ Slowly, without either of them noticing, Quentin was taking bits of the Puppeteer and Hero’s energy with each breath. “Then how did you kill a Manticore- Is that a glove?” She pointed towards his metallic hand, “No, I don’t know where this came from, but it’s my arm.” ‘Ask me to demonstrate, do it so I can blow your face to-’ She paused, and then resumed by ordering him “I need to get back to my base, I want you to carry me back.” ‘No, say no dammit!’ Quentin picked up the girl and finally broke her spell for a moment, “And the boy?” He asked, curious about his drive. “Leave him to die, I want his shovel.” “Yes-” ‘Don’t say it!’ Quentin’s mind screamed, unable to resist her powers, “Master.”

Tristan quickly turned around as the dragon finished disappearing, “No way, where did it go?” He scanned the sky, but it was nowhere to be found, “Could it have possibly teleported? Either way, let’s go and help them out? No?”

((Next update will include a Q & A on Earthbound gods.))

Remia smiled. "A Phantom! Really!? You need better lies, Zelos. Or at least, more believable ones," she replied as the blood across her lips 'soaked' into her lips. "But for now, I have no qualms about helping you find this person. But in return for all this, You'll be my personal feeding station. That's only fair, right, Mr Phantom?" Remia finished with a small chuckle as the two started off, Remia once more creating her Blood Parasol to shield herself from the sun as they moved into more open forest.

"That's fine. I need some way to pay you, and I suppose my blood is the best thing I can offer for now," the man stated with a half laugh as he continued onwards. "For now, however, let us continue on our travels. Let us also grab your sister. I'm sure you wish to keep her safe," Zelos stated with a laugh.