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4th Day: Source of Sorcery

As Axel and Handy traveled the land on horseback, they left the simple plains of Bleakburn until they had transitioned to the forest-surrounded Lushwood. The forests of Lushwood teemed with all sorts of flora and fauna that were written about feverishly in poets, manuals, cookbooks, and historical records. The main town of Lushwood had been built at a time the surrounding forests had been authorized safe and secure so the townspeople, and so the forest remained mysterious but protected from those who'd seek an overabundance of wood and materials beyond what was needed. Although the town was known for more cultural, culinary, and rustic pursuits than anything Bleakburn or Treasureoak could offer, Axel was confident something important lied in the town. Be it a clue or an ally or some weapons or a lead into the situation at hand. Wolves were natural hunters and this was a hunt that he couldn't afford to fail.

Handy had fallen asleep behind him, snoring quietly and somewhat cutely with his tail patting occasionally. He was currently leaning his head on Axel's back, but the wolf didn't mind. The trek to Lushwood had been long and boring, he was currently itched to just take a walk and stretch his legs after such a long period of time. This was no different than the daily patrols that he did in Bleakburn, the only difference was he was going in a straight line and was on horseback. Most town patrols were done on foot as to not disrupt the flow of traffic with villagers walking around which Axel could understand but it seemed too slow for security or safely getting to a situation so that danger wouldn't happen. Like when the mouse had been easily cornered and threatened by the ruffian in the first place. Suddenly realizing his negative thought process, Axel decided to look forward at the destination. Axel noticed the town seemed fairly empty which meant they must've gotten the memo about King Fliqpy too. Not that he could blame them, they were being smart by hiding and toughing it out than panicking and letting the bandits get to them. Suddenly...

"O-ow! Someone! Help me!" Axel's ears perked up at the voice of distress, even Handy got startled awake by the urgency of the voice.

"You hear that?" Said Axel, turning to Handy and pulling him off the horse and to his feet.

"Yeah! Let's go!" Urged Handy.

The two companions galloped to wherever the distressed voice came from and was rewarded with the sight of a blue moose that was being stomped and ganged up by two raccoon thieves. The blue moose boasted a noticeable belly, perhaps from one too many nights spent at the bar but was noticeably taller than anyone either of them had met in their lives. He wore a strange jester's outfit of red and blue tartan all the way down to the pointy shoes with a bell on them. He looked ridiculous if anything. The raccoons on the other hand... they seemed far more physically fit and active. They wore somewhat mismatched clothes that looked like they had been looted and adjusted to fit their size. One wore a nobleman's khaki-colored hat with an ostrich feather on it, a simple white long-sleeved shirt, sturdy-looking leather pants, and black shoes. The other wore no hat but wore an impressive-looking gold tunic with black pants that had been cut at the knee to resemble shorts and metal shoes that looked like they had been pilfered off a knight. Both of them had stripes of green and dark green upon their fur and Axel thought he detected unnatural teamwork from them that indicated closeness and complete trust...

"Give it to us!" Said one raccoon with a screechy and rowdy voice, stomping on the moose's back.

"Give us the key!" The one with the hate demanded with a noticeably more mature-sounding tone.

The moose covered his head with his hands and shut his eyes in fear of the two bandits. Lumpy noticed Axel, who simply stared back.

"You! Traveler! Ow! Help Lumpy! That is... ow! To say... ow! Me! ...ow." Exclaimed Lumpy, glad to finally see someone in the seemingly empty town.

Axel might normally have helped but it didn't look like the raccoons were getting anywhere to getting what they wanted, also, the whole situation seemed amusing to him. If Axel was right on his suspicions, they were probably brothers trying to have a thrill of a lifetime before the shit hit the fan. Although he couldn't help but wonder why they had such strangely expensive-looking clothes upon their persons. Or why the moose had a really ditzy and strangely young-sounding voice. Then again Axel didn't expect much from anyone who was dressed like a jester.

"Axel! What are you doing!? Go help him!" Urged Handy, nudging Axel with his nubs to get off his horse and slay the bandits.

"I don't know. It seems fun to watch..." Rationalized Axel. Handy glared at him and Axel rolled his eyes and got off his horse. He didn't want to start any arguments with Handy over not intervening.

The two bandits seemed to acknowledge his presence and brandished knives from within their clothes in his direction. Their expressions indicated this was a 'do or die' situation for them and Axel suddenly felt a twinge of excitement at their intense positions and directed fury.

"Stay back punk! This guy's treasure is ours!" Said the hatted bandit, pointing to what a strongbox on the side of the road, a merchant caravan parked alongside it. The bandits probably planned to have a simple robbery of this traveling caravan, though they probably didn't expect the jester-like merchant to have the particularly amazing stuff that he actually possessed.

"How about this, you go away and I won't have to water the ground with your bl-" Axel stopped himself. The town may have been in turmoil, their quest may have been urgent, but he can't help but remember the warning and limitations Pop gave him before. Pop would probably get mad at him for prioritizing the murder of two bandits instead of securing the safety of the hostage.

"I mean, uh, we can talk about this. Just leave him alone and we can all be on our merry way and forget this ever happened. Where did you two even come from anyway? I would recall if I saw two racoon brothers."

"How the hell did you figure that one out dipshit?!" The non-hatted one reacted very angrily to this.

"Cut a wolf some credit, your matching fur and stripes is all that needs to be said. Answer my question now." Axel didn't back down.

The twin brothers seethed but looked to one another, mentally deciding whether or not to play this wolf's bluff. The hatted one settled on speaking first for them.

"We were slaves to King Flippy's prison for three years. All for swindling some money out of one of his pathetic royal court members. Pop and his Guard came for us and caught us, threatening my brother's life like a coward to get us to cooperate. Whoever inspired 'his majesty' to have a makeover deserves our praise! He freed us and now we're free at last to make a fortune once more!" Despite his blunt language, the hatted one sounded quite sophisticated in his tale.

"Yeah? Well I'm telling you that King Flippy's 'makeover' isn't going to last. I'll make sure of that. Now release this... Lump of Lumpy" Axel looked over at Lumpy who continued cowering on the ground.

"Hey wait, doesn't that guy seem... Familiar?" Asked the hatless raccoon.

"What are you talking about. We've been locked away for three years Lifty. How could you possibly recognize..." Said the other brother with some doubt. But then his tone started to change when he paid closer attention to the weapons Axel had on him. As well as the fact that Axel was a wolf, a wolf with his fangs bared.

"Wait now that you mention it Shifty... Hey wolf!" Said the one who went by the name of Lifty.

"What?" Replied Axel, seeming to fear what they were going to bring up.

"Were you that guard who whored himself out to a mouse he saved?" Questioned Lifty, a smirk becoming plastered on his face.

"You did WHAT Axel?" Handy, who had been silent out of nerves all this time, couldn't help but stare at Axel with a flustered and irate expression. His tail poofed straight up like a cat's, purely reflecting his surprise.

"I-it was consensual! I did NOT whore myself out. Honestly, how far did these rumors get to that even criminals managed to hear about it...?" Mumbled Axel, crossing his arms and looking to the side embarrassed.

"Hah! I knew it. You're such a slut! No matter, you got laid off by Captain Pop like a good whore should! Hahahaha!" Bellowed the hatted brother, bursting out laughing after the fact.

"Shut it! At least I'm morally in the right compared to you two. If you feel so robbed because you spent three years in jail, you maybe shouldn't have committed crimes. Or keep committing them obviously." Axel retorted as his hand gestured to Lumpy's current.

Lifty and his brother glared at him, not taking the passive aggressive motion lightly.

"You understand NOTHING about our situation. This has been the best day of our lives in a long time. And you want to go after the person who was responsible for this? Sounds like we are enemies then!" Lifty bellowed.

"Hold it you smart-alecks! You don't know half of what Fliqpy has done! We heard from Pop's own son that he sent assailants to kill him. He's not even an adolescent yet!" Reasoned Handy, feeling he had to stick up for what was right.

"You know what? Whatever!? We don't need to take your word for anything! You're probably trying to trick us so we'd get put back in jail! We don't kill but we certainly don't put up with murdering another person. Mark my words! Shifty's words!" Said Shifty, trying to make the other party view them as more honorable than they seemed.

"Is that so? Then if I approached you two to get close enough to help out Lumpy then you wouldn't kill either of us right? Especially considering what you already were doing to him... I certainly wouldn't mind killing you to make sure no one else has to suffer any abuse." Smirked Axel, Lifty and Shifty flinched, they had given away their intentions to him and bought Axel's bluff.

"Well, I, we... Geez fine! We'll leave him alone! He was too stupid to even see us coming to begin with. But remember this Axel of Bleakburn! We will be back! I don't know how we'll get our revenge but we'll be back when you least expect it! We would gladly abandon this town you want to protect so much for our own hides! Just try to stop our freedom again!" Warned Lifty, running away to the nearby forest with his brother Shifty, leaving Lumpy lying on the ground, still in a defensive and fetal position.

"So they were criminals who were released then...? They seemed strangely sane compared to all those who were attacking us." Handy commented.

"A rare breed." Axel gritted his teeth angrily.

He couldn't stand their pretentiousness and thinking that just because they didn't take lives that they hadn't ruined lives or been menaces on their own time. He wasn't even sure what else went on in their lives to go down such a path but it wasn't anything he was willing or prepared to pity. Still, they said they wanted revenge against him... what kind of revenge? And what did they mean by abandoning the town if they were clearly taking advantage of it just now? It was going to be a mystery that was for sure figuring out Lifty and Shifty's long-term game.

Axel gave approached the moose, giving a soft nudge with his foot and it quickly startled him as well as Axel when he saw the moose who called himself Lumpy in first person react.

"I told you I don't have anymore to give you two!" Shouted the moose, clearly not listening to the early exchange of the former guard and the thieves.

"Hey relax, those two guys are gone. It's just the three of us now. A wolf, a beaver, and a moose. We could walk into a bar together." Comforted Axel, the moose slowly removed his hands from his head and opened an eye, confirming that the two raccoons had indeed left and got up as quickly as possible.

"Oh thank you, traveler! For helping me in my time of need! Let me introduce myself, I am Lumpy, da greatest merchant in all the land... Well, on the way of being the greatest. I was a former jester of Baron Disco Bear, ever since I earned my freedom by being not sexy enough, I began my journey to ring my dream to fruition. I have all sorts of wares.... Well, HAD them. Stolen by those two brigands you drove off. But I assure you, I'll have some wares in due time. Thankfully I did not give them the key to my strongbox, or if they became desperate, took it from my cold, dead and a mostly dead body. I will repay you, one day friend, just not today. Maybe we'll see each other again" Lumpy gave a grandiose speech, getting on his caravan's horse and going back on his way to wherever he was going.

Neither of the other Tree Friends could find a proper place to respond or interject as Lumpy had gone off on his spheal with such dedication and flair for drama that they were spellbound. Mostly at his naive descriptions and disbelief he had even lasted this long on such a mindset. They were concerned for him but somewhat glad to see the strange moose in high spirits.

"Uh, shouldn't we have told him about King Fliqpy sending bandits to take over the land?" Asked Handy, worried a bit about Lumpy.

"Nah, I think he'll be alright. Most people don't go after people Duke Disco Bear fired." Said Axel dismissively, getting back on the horse with Handy.

"Ugh, let's just go and find someplace to rest. I'm starving!" Complained Handy, remembering the treats that Nutty cooked back at the inn.

The town seemed abandoned, they approached the nearest inn the could find and, it, as well as the other houses, looked empty and barren once more. Could they have been too late?

"Hello?" Axel knocked on the door, earning an angry response from the other.

"Go away bandit! We saw you from afar! We've nothing to give you!" Said the voice. Afterward they heard a sharp slap from the other side of the door.

"Pipe down! You want them to break down this door and mug us as well!?" Scolded another, warning the previous voice not to test their luck.

"Uh, we're not bandits. We actually come from Bleakburn, we're actually trying to get help from other towns to help defend and counter King Fliqpy's rule." After Axel said this, a small slot opened from behind the door, and eyes peered from within it looking at both Axel and Handy.

"Wait a minute... You're the wolf whore knight! Everyone! The knights are here! We're saved" The voice exclaimed. The door was dramatically opened, including each and every house around them, and flocks of villagers exited and surrounded Axel and Handy, which they felt uneasy about. All manners of species and nameless Tree Friends seemed very relieved and the discussion that followed was very animated.

"We're saved!" Exclaimed a citizen.

"Where are the other knights?" Wondered a citizen.

"These dark times will not befall us!" Cheered another.

"Are you available for hire?" Said a horny man.

Axel gave a nervous look at the one who gave the last remark, and recomposed himself.

"Afraid not. Me and my pal here got other matters to attend to." Axel responded.

The citizens must have been deprived of any authorities and protection, just about everyone quickly became disappointed as they had come out of their hiding places, children, the elderly, couples, and infants had frowns of sorrow etched onto their faces. Handy himself looked like he was about to facepalm out of embarrassment for them but he seemed to acknowledge his lack of hands and just resigned to give an awkward smile. Everyone started leaving and returned to hiding, leaving the two friends to hope that some people had offered some sort of security to their homes or a sanctuary to flee to. Axel could understand how they disappointed they felt, having bandits raid the village was a common thing to happen in most villages, but for it to happen without any guards to protect them? It'd spell imminent chaos for the few standing villages in the kingdom that had gone untouched by the bandit rebellion. One citizen had not fled back, but shared the same feelings that the village had,

"This is all that witch's fault!" Murmured the citizen, seething in anger at nobody in particular.

Axel's ears perked up, a witch? He only heard tales of witches which usually ended in children being cooked alive in a cauldron, the witch being slain, or just the children themselves living to tell the tale. Magic in the kingdom itself was unheard of after all, so most people's paranoia about magic was all Axel knew about. The murmurings of the villager had him skeptical, but if this witch had something to do with King Flippy, they could end this once and for all. Or at least get some kind of clue as to how this all went down and start making countermeasures.

"Excuse me, but I seem to have heard you mention a witch..." Said Axel, further wanting to know more about the spellcaster.

"Yeah, how would there even be a witch in town and the king himself wouldn't know about it?" Handy sounded skeptical, tapping his foot on the ground.

"She's never been found..." The citizen muttered darkly.

"And yet you know about her?"

"Ah! You see, there's a witch residing in the forest nearby, but all our attempts to slay her are for nought. For there is a damnable fog, probably hexed by that witch in the forest to prevent anybody for coming for her. They say that whoever goes there, either ends up running in circles and ending back in town, or worse, lost forever in the mists. That's why for a long time, we've never been able to come near the forest" Explained the villager.

"Handy, this might be our chance. If this witch is responsible for what happened to the Kingdom, we could save everyone sooner than we think!" Said Axel, his tail wagging so fast that it was barely visible.

"Since when were you the optimist?" Handy teased.

"Oh come on Handy, this is witchcraft we're talking about. Besides, even if she's not responsible, she'd only be a nuisance to the town of Lushwood left unchecked." Axel put a hand to his hip.

"But I find it hard to believe that some ooky spooky witch of the woods could've done this. Hell, why would she even want to free the criminals? Still... there could be something more important to this witch, like perhaps some kind of potential ally. I guess we can risk losing our lives or losing each other for this." Handy shrugged.

"Well my handless friend, witches are evil. If there are no guards around, she could kidnap and eat all the children, turn old people into toads, and have all the femboys in the world all to herself!" Said Axel, puffing his chest out and taking pride in his explanation.

Handy just looked at Axel as though he had just turned into a toad, ate a child, and was a femboy.

"... I think you listen to too many tall tales. I already said we'll do it. So civilian, where do you think she lies from here?"

Axel grew a bit frustrated with Handy, he always liked the idea of magic existing, he'd been fascinated by it from a power perspective. He wanted to discover magic one day, but deep inside he knew it might not exist. Besides, slaying a particularly shady individual? That could only help the people join their cause and feel more at ease, and maybe help in the protection of Bleakburn.

"She lies to the south, near the forest at the edge of the valley. But please don't go, we've lost travelers, villagers, and mercenaries alike to her vile magic..." Said the villager, fearing for their lives.

"Well, the idea of there being a witch in the forest all this time suddenly taking over the kingdom is already ridicul-" Handy reasoned, until Axel covered his mouth.

"Have no fear ma'am! We'll take care of that witch before you even know it, this village will be safe under our watch!" Said Axel, sounding as heroic as possible. His tail had finally stopped wagging at this point as Axel was approaching the situation with gusto.

"Oh thank you sir! But don't hesitate to run away if you think its necessary for your survival Take these, at least if you die from the hands of the witch, you'll have died with a full stomach." Thanked the somewhat sweet villager, and gave them some of her baked bread, a trademark food of lushwood that they made using the grains from their gardens and fields.

Axel happily accepted the loaves with one hand and kept Handy's mouth shut with the other. Axel finally let go once she was inside her own home, making Handy gasp for air after he had his mouth uncovered. As they continued their walk towards the north of town, Handy finally confronted Axel on the matter,

"Why are you so gung-ho about a witch existing in the kingdom? I mean don't you know that magic is considered evil or godlike by the common folk like me? I'd figure you knights would have a vendetta against such a thing, especially if you were one of them..."

"Pffft, Handy, do I look like I'm the kind of guy who likes rules? And so what if we have a vendetta against them? We're going to slay a witch, at least that's one of the things I'll fulfill off my last dying wishes. Besides, even if the witch wasn't real, I bet it's just some old coot waving sticks and throwing stones around to scare people away." Said Axel, confident in his perceived inevitable victory.

Handy was suspicious there was something else behind Axel's motives for being excited about and fully confident in the villager's tale being true.

"I mean, magic existing would be nice. I could possibly have hands again or something. But I just find it hard to believe this witch would be around for so long in this specific town and nobody has said or done anything about it in the other ones." Handy complained.

"Well... I mean even if they have told King Flippy, he probably had to listen to his advisors and they are the kind of people to NEVER believe in anything that sounds like superstitions. Now that we're free to roam, that's why we're here! We could even find something interesting in the forest, like ancient voodoo dolls that can control people! A magic staff that can make anybody dance for our amusement, and oh oh, skimpy attire clad foxes sporting thongs!" Said Axel, daydreaming about what they could possibly find, his ears now joining the wagging of his tail.

Handy was admittedly pleasantly surprised to see someone who had so far come off as rugged, in control, and perhaps immune to silly thoughts express a somewhat genuine excitement in an interest as unusual as magic. Axel had shown him a new side of himself which perhaps meant Axel was feeling comfortable or confident in his connection to Handy and the journey's outcome so far. Handy never had been able to express much love of building or architecture or blacksmithing to his customers as they were usually all business in talks with him. _He's definitely an interesting friend, _Handy thought. Cheekily smiling, Handy decided to play along with Axel's imaginations,

"I'm sure you'd go ham with whatever you might find. Just remember that we don't want anymore baby Axels running around while the kingdom's in jeopardy." Said Handy, munching on the pastry that has been given to them.

They had made it to the forest, and true to the villager's description, the fog had a thick mist to it, they could easily get separated from each other if they don't pay attention. It was a verdant but haunting scene altogether. The place seemed to feel like anything could suddenly jump out and attack them if they were caught unaware. The current question shared between both of them at the moment, where the hell do they start looking?

"Maybe this was a bad idea after a-" Said Handy, ready to turn back when Axel merrily marched forward with his head held high and tail wagging.

"And there he goes..." Sighed Handy, following Axel in his excited pursuit of magic. The mist made it hard to see what they were stepping on, so it was almost too easy for Handy to trip and had to rely on having Axel hold his nubs while walking. They kept walking for a long time, and Handy felt like they were actually walking in circles, he saw the familiar geography and crossed many rivers. But they looked exactly the same.

"Look, Axel. I get your enthusiasm to discover a witch for the first time in your life, but I feel like we're getting nowhere around here." Said Handy, getting tired of the seemingly endless trek to some mythical individual.

"No... We... Need to... *huff* reach her..." Said Axel, who was exhausted himself, and fell on the ground, his tongue lolled out of his mouth and eyes closed, panting from all the excessive amount of time spent walking.

Handy growled and gave a frustrated expression. But then he suddenly caught something unusual in the corner of his eyes. A figure was spying on them from what looked like a large hut behind her, looking at the two exhausted adventurers in a crystal ball and pinched her nose.

"Idiots, fine, if you want to see me so much, you can enter my plane of enchantment." Grumbled the resoundingly female person, and started murmuring an incantation, Handy noticed the fog had dissipated from the forest, and finally saw the fabled hut from a distance. It's appearance was very old yet somehow well-furnished with fresh materials like stone, wood, leaves, clay, brick, and the like and large arched windows on it with stained glass designs of constellations and magic sigils. The figure vanished into the lilac hut too quickly for Handy to get a good look at the witch but he knew he was onto something. Ignoring the gut feeling this was a trap, Handy decided to get Axel motivated again.

"Axel look! The fog disappeared" Nub-pointed Handy, Axel looked up quickly, growing excited with renewed energy and running ahead.

"And there he goes again" Said Handy, relieved now that the fog was gone and wouldn't leave him alone and lost, well, just alone for now.

Axel had quickly come inside of the old hut, and barged inside. Dagger raised and crossbow in the other hand.

"Come out witch! Show yourself!" Exclaimed Axel, only to realize that nobody appeared to be inside.

All that could be seen was several desks and bookcases, the bookcases filled with tomes, journals, and books and the desk containing writing utensils, random ingredients, and an open book that described a spell to cast and dispel fog. The floor was furnished with an elaborate carpet of white wool and the walls had marks of various paints and burns and strange substances that he wasn't keen on finding out why it was, and a set of dolls in the corner of the room that looked all too realistic for a child's taste. In the center of the room was a witch's cauldron,, black and metal just like he had always heard from fairy tales. There for some reason was a random pickle lying on the floor as well. Finally, a lone mattress lied... no... was levitating above the cauldron in somewhat ominous fashion.

Axel first approached the dolls, fascinated that such expertise in crafting the doll had been made despite the best efforts of toymakers. He looked around from side to side, and was curious what the eyes of the doll were actually made of that made it look so real. He pointed a clawed finger at it, and poked at the eye, making the eye fall to the ground harmlessly. But when his eyes trailed over the rolling eyeball, he suddenly noticed the pickle was now somehow standing and defying gravity. Then he noticed it growing at an alarming rate, arms emerging from it's rough skin, claws being harnessed with fury and anger, legs of what seemed like a green demon's sprouting from beneath and a facial expression of unrestrained malice and heinousness coming into fruition. Axel looked on in shock and anger as he saw what seemed to be some kind of demonic familiar be summoned from the pickle and saw that the pickle demon had it's eyes set on Handy who was innocently looking at some of the titles of books in the bookcase.

"Handy!" Axel started as the pickle demon made the first move....

*Somewhere in the village*

A villager was reading a book peacefully, until he somehow can't see on the right side of his eye anymore. He wiped his eyes, again and again until he panicked. He ran around his own house and bumped into his furniture and containers, until he looked like a zombified mess. Or like he had bumped into far too many things.

"My eye I can't see with my other eye...!" Exclaimed the villager, running off into the streets begging for help.

"Look! He has been touched by the witch!" Said a villager, about to hide.

"No, this time we fight and face our fears! That must be the witch in disguise! Trying to manipulate all of us before devouring our souls!" Said another villager.

Feeling this was perfectly sound logic, they gathered around and then pushed him onto the ground and tied him up.

"You're a witch aren't you!" Interrogated a villager.

"I, w-wha?" Said the confused villager.

"You're an enemy aren't you...? Cursed! Take that and that" The villagers started kicking him down almost comically, the poor villager wondered how it even came to this.

*Back with Axel and Handy*

Handy turned around in time to see a green, beastly claw nearly maim him only for it to suddenly be pinned to the wall by a well aimed bolt from Axel's crossbow. The pickle, despite being pinned to the wall, shrugged the pain off and tore the bolt off his body with a hellish howl, moved quickly and grabbed Handy.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Screamed Handy, fearing for his life. A puff of smoke erupted from the middle of the room, a white-haired female lamb appeared out of the smoke and gave a silent command to the pickle not to hurt Handy.

She was actually very beautiful with a long fleece dress that had a slit that exposed the right thigh of her leg, purple skin and slender figure, ribbons in her hair that trailed long and gracefully, heeled black shoes, a white cloak surrounding her figure, and her eyes had an otherworldly sheen to them. Her breasts were not as big as Giggles but she carried herself with as much class and gorgeousness as any fine noble lady judging by her elegant pose. But her expression had another story to it beyond neatly kept composure. Pissed off. Even if this witch had called off the attack, she did not seem amused by what Axel had done to her doll, or what he was doing here with Handy in general.

"I respect someone who actually admires the arts of magic, incantations, and the spectral plane. But NOT trespassers who mess up the eyes of my voodoo dolls. I had to make these out of very special Tree Friend parts like hair and pieces of cloth left behind at the laundry man's scraps. Explain yourselves before I decide to make a life-sized one out of you or leave Mr. Pickles to take care of you. Pick or choose." She vented.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Handy continued to scream, not paying attention to what was happening.

"Um... there's an easy explanation for this actually. I wanted to see if you were real, and boy were you ever! I mean, magic itself... you embody MAGIC! It exists! I-I-I don't even know how to repay you...!" Axel started getting very giddy, nearly panting like a dog.

"Of course it exists scatterbrain! The Royal Family of this kingdom has made it an unspoken law that it must be covered up and none are to know of it's truth and might. A fairly stupid ideology but magic is primarily bound to the outer lands beyond this kingdom. So I can see how the lie has continued to succeed for this long." The sorceress continued.

"Please forgive me for this question but... Are you by any chance helping King Fliqpy by any means?" Questioned Axel, he may have admired practitioners of the magical arts, but if they were using it for evil means, that'd make her an enemy nonetheless.

The sorceress looked at him and Handy with hesitation. At first Axel thought this was confirmation but then she gave an inquisitive glance and looked rather uneasy.

"... Helping him with what...?" She asked.

"Um, hello. The village is in panic, our King, King Flippy, who now goes by King Fliqpy is now reigning like a complete douchebag and sending bandits from the dungeons to take over the different towns. The village is suspecting you of turning him evil or something. Well, uh, did you?" Explained Axel, a bit nervous to ask this question.

"The village being in a panic is nothing new..." The sorceress responded to one of the statements as she still seemed to be thinking over what was told to her just now.

"Okay, scratch that. ALL the TOWNS are in panic, not just villages. And it's only a matter of time until each one has fallen under the bandits and kills everyone we know. That or the king himself or some other twisted baddie comes and starts offing people." Warned Axel.

"... There is a magic that I think could be responsible for a sudden change like that... but it's a magic that even I can't use... I specialize in dark magic and fey magic, as well as magic that is inherent in the air. Such a spell to suddenly make King Flippy... switch one of the letters in his name and behave differently is one that only a master of all magics could use. It breaks nature, breaks the spectral plane, combines all elements of sorcery... in order to not only shift a person's alignment, but make them on par with a fully-trained warrior... Only a god or a being who has spent much of their lives practicing magic and to have intense ambition could perform such a spell..." The sorceress herself seemed quite spooked as she explained her hypothesis.

"Well haven't you been practicing magic all your life? You could just be lying." Axel pointed out sharply.

"Only when I was old enough to make a familiar. 10. I'd need to be at least 10 more years of physical and mental growth AND practice and master more types of magic to maybe be capable of performing that spell on a person. Also I'm content with my solitary lifestyle... I don't want to take over a kingdom and make it all bloody and stuff." The sorceress pouted.

Axel felt crestfallen, all this effort to find this sorceress and not only realize she was innocent but even suspected she wouldn't be able to reverse the effects of what probably was a spell on King Flippy.

"Then come with us. We could use your magic! Yes! And we could find other people who use different magic and-"

"Hold on! I don't even know your names or your intentions! Were you going to kill me if I said yes?!" The sorceress held her hands up angrily, not appreciating Axel trying to take the reigns of the conversation.

"... maybe... B-but we came all this way! And what happens if King Fliqpy takes over the land? If whoever brainwashed him had managed to do so, he'll probably hunt down other wizards and sorcerers just so nobody can truly stop him. And even with your hocus pocus fog, that same person will probably make it disappear and come for you." Said Axel, cementing his reasons.

The sorceress tsked. She was outwardly impressed with his argument though still upset about the rude barging in and mistreatment of her place. Mr. Pickles at this point had just sat down bored as Handy finally stopped screaming and was coughing from a hoarse throat. She stared at the cauldron for a moment, judging if her magic would indeed be hunted down by this same ambitious individual of magic the wolf had clearly pinpointed. Her tail twitching in anticipation as she gathered her results.

"That's only a rebellious theory made by whom I can only presume are some overly ambitious rebels. Me and Mr. Pickles will NEVER leave the hut to go on some quest. This is our ancestral home... I was born to a sheep and a devil and both of them have vanished in my life so this domain is what defines my blood and heritage. You can find other mages besides me wolf and beaver. But, I can make a compromise since I don't want to take any chances of someone coming for me that would clearly kill me..." The sorceress expressed vulnerability.

"So you're coming with us? Also, sheep and devil. That's some kinky shit right there" Said Axel, his tail wagging wildly.

The sorceress shook her head in disgust and Axel started feeling like he made a crucial mistake.

"Simply... no. Just... no to all of that. I can give you perhaps a lead on where you might want to find people with the potential to match this enemy you mention. As well as serve as your eyes and ears if anything new and magical arises in this kingdom's territory. But first, I need to introduce myself and find out exactly what you two want to achieve, your identity, and your allegiances. This crystal ball will tell me if you two are lying." Lammy pulled out a very ornate crystal ball with a golden pedestal of a dragon-based design.

"*Cough* Really...?" Handy finally seemed to come to.

"For example. My name is Lammy. Witch of Lushwood Forest. Keeper of darkest secrets and fey's beguile." The sorceress formally introduced herself.

The crystal ball glowed a gentle purple hue, similar to her own skin tone before fading away, verifying the truth had been sensed and confirmed. Lammy then handed the crystal ball to Axel and watched him expectantly.

"Uh, so what's this supposed to d-gah!" Axel felt his head hurt, the crystal ball violently sucking the information out of him as the dark energy seemed to be getting information out of him. The crystal ball seemed to show everything he knew, each memory played in the crystal ball like a movie, Axel's hands felt heavy and Lammy caught the crystal ball in time before he slumped down on the ground, mentally exhausted. Handy raced to his side and held his shoulder with his nub to hopefully give him some relief.

"Agh! What the hell was that...?" Said Axel, clutching his head in pain.

"The crystal ball only displays such a reaction if a person who holds it has a destiny that the spectral plane deems... 'special'. Now, speak!" Lammy casted a spell upon Axel with a pointed finger and suddenly Axel felt compelled to answer the questions she had asked before. No other thought or action drew on his mind, all he could think of was how to answer her questions. His eyes flashed pink briefly to indicate the spell was ready to take effect and the sound of twinkling sorcery rang out in the hut.

"M-my name is Axel, I am a knight recently laid off duty by his superior for misconduct of being found having sex with a white-furred mouse boy I had saved and for ruthlessly murdering those who I was meant to simply apprehend. I want to become a hero, stop King Fliqpy and get revenge on the bandits that killed my father and make change in this society. I met Handy in my search for a job and we fled from Treasureoak the next day because it had been overrun by bandits. We promised Bleakburn residents that we'd stop King Fliqpy, gather as much help as we can and save the remaining tow-"

"Ok stop... I take it you mean the beaver... I need to verify his story through his own mouth and... gods really...?" Lammy was blushing heavily at the idea of Axel having had sex.

During this awkward scenario, the crystal ball once again glowed purple, indicating Axel was certainly telling the truth. The spell was also dispelled once Lammy knew Axel was telling the truth. Handy had to roll his eyes somewhat at the fact that this sex story of Axel's seemed to keep coming up over and over again in conversations. _I'm starting to feel really bad for him actually, _he thought. Axel finally noticed Lammy's blushed expression and looked between her and the crystal ball as it's purple glow faded. He folded his arms and spoke,

"Really, ugh, you could have warned me about that. At this rate I'll be known as a whore rather than a hero." Said Axel, upset about the sudden magic spell.

"S-sorry... it's just... I've never had sex before... Mr. Pickles would probably be very territorial and possessive of me if I ever... 'found' somebody. So... I was just taken aback a bit. I'm happy you... um... told the truth." Lammy tried to cushion the blow.

"Oh, you should try it sometime. I can't imagine a life without it. So... A lamb and a pickle? That's certainly a weird combination of a couple, but who am I to judge?" Implied Axel.

"Ugh, you oaf! He's my familiar summoned and contracted to serve me for all eternity! Not even remotely a lover! You know what? Forget you. Handy your turn!" Lammy handed the crystal ball off to Handy who was forced to simply place it on the floor and wrap his nubs around it since he could not actually grasp it.

Axel withheld a chuckle at Lammy's barbs and ability to stand up for herself before looking over curiously at Handy who looked very awkward. The Crystal Ball did not appear to have the same reaction to Handy's touch as Axel did so it meant Handy's destiny must not have been considered 'special'. Handy didn't seem to mind that part though and he started to speak under the spell Lammy freshly cast on him,

"My name is Handy, I was a local blacksmith in Treasureoak, my family and I served the king as blacksmiths for many generations. I inherited the job and skills from my deceased parents, up until I met Axel, I had a peaceful life. Until he brought a bunch of goblins to my shop, and the next day, my occupation was gone along with the town after King Fliqpy's reign. It's all under bandits now." Said Handy, finding it bizarre that his lips moved as though they weren't him controlling his own body.

"How did you lose your arms?" Lammy muttered.

"... I was born without arms." Said Handy bluntly.

"Hey! That's a low blow there." Axel was offended that Lammy had asked such a deeply personal question.

"Sorry, I have to make sure he's not someone who could've been a rogue at one point." Lammy explained and looked towards the crystal ball.

Once more, the purple sheen appeared on the glass and Lammy seemed very relieved. She dispelled Handy's spell next and then cleared her throat as the beaver seemed very startled,

"Very well, I can tell you two truly care for the kingdom and wish to safeguard it. As paranoid as this village is and it certainly is no perfect place, I would rather not see it fall either. I can't bear to see this kingdom fall to paranoia, nor the neighboring lands. I'd lose funny neighbors and things to collect for witchcraft and my personal life. You have my word as a magical guide for this kingdom." She smiled at them.

"Pffft, as if she's not paranoid." Whispered Axel to Handy, the other glaring at him for talking shit in front of the very person he's insulting.

"Um so you said we should look outside of the kingdom for magical whozits? And that there really is someone who put the king under a spell?" Handy asked.

"Although I have not met your king personally, I don't think he'd experience such a drastic change unprompted. Magic is the perfect culprit for that and knowing a spell that fits the description of his change, it's likely the answer. Unless something tragic, traumatizing, and hateful has happened in your king's life recently..." Lammy offered.

"He is a former soldier so that might be it. We just have to snap him out of it and all things can go back to normal. Anyway, any idea where we should start looking?" Asked Axel.

"Truthfully it's up to how much time you are willing to spend, or think you have. There's perhaps other recluse mages out in forests beyond Happy Tree. Or you should seek a town of much notoriety or acceptance of magic, likely near the ocean's breeze. Whether or not you find a mage, it's plausible that you can find a lead to someone who may be able to suit your end goal." Lammy said, as she finally fixed the voodoo doll that had lost its eye due to Axel.

*Back in the village*

"Ow! I'm not a witch I-" The villager stopped his begging and found that he can see with his eye again.

"Oh I can see again... Ouch! Stop it! I am not a witch!" The villager continued begging as the somewhat oblivious villagers continued to hit him.

Lifty and Shifty, who happened to be spying on this whole situation from around the corner laughed hysterically at this situation. They hadn't seen physical comedy in quite some time and it was nice to see someone else do it for a change.

*With Axel, Handy, and Lammy*

"Wait, how do we come in contact with you? Surely we'll need to ask you about anything concerning anything magical." Said Axel, he was actually hoping to get any magical artifacts as a remembrance of this encounter and remind himself that it wasn't a dream.

"I'd normally recommend you to bring the Crystal Ball but I imagine it's weight and priceless, glorious, magnificent beauty would be too much for you to hold. And one of you can't hold to begin with." Lammy mentioned.

"So then what should we do sheep?" Handy muttered in a ticked off way but cowered when he saw Mr. Pickles glare at him for the insult to his master.

"I may be able to devise a way of exchanging letters to you in a way only the fey know how." Lammy said as she approached her desk and pulled what looked like an enchanted quill of a shifting hue.

"This quill is made from the feathers of a griffon and enchanted by a fey spell. As soon as you finish writing a paper fully and sign with your name, the paper will magically teleport to that of the person you are addressing the letter to. It's the best option I have for long-distance communication. Naturally I do not need conventional methods to speak with you from afar but I'll leave that as a surprise. Also don't lose this... I had to give the griffon a birthday present and some of my finest ingredients for it." Lammy sighed as she handed it to Axel.

"What kind of a birthday present? Don't tell me you did any sexual favors for it." Said Axel, getting a mental image of Lammy doing it with an oversized bird.

Lammy slapped Axel for that. Handy gave a small yelp of surprise at seeing her deliver such a blow, his tail patting down on the ground.

"You are not helping with your whore reputation and shut up! It was actually a cake I bought from the bakery. I had to disguise myself with a glimmer to not be exposed." Seethed Lammy, Axel rubbed his cheek from the forceful blow.

"Ow! Geez fine. I was just trying to make a joke. Anyway, thanks for all the assistance you're giving us, we appreciate it. Although, you could do well to go outside more often and meet the folk. At this point, you need to get a boyfriend already or something." Lectured Axel.

Lammy gave a small laugh at that and then looked to Mr. Pickles. Mr. Pickles looked like he wanted to strangle Axel but restrained himself upon his mistress's gaze and started stirring the cauldron. Lammy gulped before looking to Axel.

"The chances of meeting the townsfolk in the near future is just as likely as the King accepting magic's existence." She replied.

"By the way... is there magic that can restore lost arms?" Handy asked.

"Lost arms... yes. But for a being who was born without arms, creating new arms would only be temporary at best and both are rather advanced spells. Sorry..." Lammy apologized.

Handy muttered some furious medieval curse words under his breath and lightly stomped the ground in frustration.

"Well, we'd best be off. We'll tell the people that you mean no harm, that way you can finally go outside for once." Said Axel, dragging Handy with him out of the hut.

"... Best of luck with that... special one." Lammy laughed to herself before magically closing the door on its own. Soon the infamous mist came back into the forest area.

When Axel and Handy came back to Lushwood's town, they were baffled by the number of people gathered in one area, apparently a person had been tied up and was slowly being lowered onto a cauldron that they filled up with boiling water. The tied up part was bad enough for the two of them to want to intervene but the rest of the description prompted immediate rescuing.

"How do you like to be cooked alive in boiling water for once witch!?" Shouted a villager, cackling madly while the supposed witch panicked and squirmed in his bindings.

With a good look at the villager, Handy and Axel could see the 'witch' was a he. A purple beaver with two big front teeth, a red cape and a hood, a short-sleeved blue shirt with brown leather gloves, brown pants with a red sash tucked into for somewhat dramatic flair, and short ankle-length boots. He seemed to be in good physical shape, perhaps used to physically demanding work, and expressive eyes that hinted at deep panic and fear for his life. The fact he didn't really appear all that magical to begin with made this whole encounter fundamentally ridiculous. It was just made all the more ridiculous given how Lammy actually appeared, behaved, and had thought of these villagers as easily panicked. She is absolutely right, Handy thought.

"A-A-All I said was I was blind in one eye! I didn't say I made someone go blind in one eye! I don't want to be boiled alive...! I-I-I've fetched timber and wood for all your houses for years!" Exclaimed the beaver, hoping they'd see to reason.

"That makes you more suspicious! You've been the only Tree Friend to go into those woods and consistently make it out without being lost or killed! This cursed touch is the final nail in your coffin hag!" One rude civilian interjected.

"But that's because I do my best to avoid the fog whenever I see it... please... uuu..." The beaver started crying.

Axel couldn't stand it anymore and rushed to the crying beaver and pushed past the crowd. The people backed away a bit from him once they noticed his furious stride.

"Traveler! Thank the gods you came back. Don't believe this witch. Quick, it's only right that you get the reserved rights of slaying this witch. This witch may have evaded you from the forests, but we have captured him and he is now ready to be executed" Said a villager, armed with a torch.

"You morons...! Pop would never permit this kind of bullshit even when the kingdom's in a state of turmoil! Do your witch-hunts with the King's permission, not because you can't think for yourselves!" Axel bellowed.

The villagers all gasped and seemed alarmed and shaken at his words. Axel then cleared his throat.

"Also I saw the witch and her tits are way bigger than his. So I'm pretty sure this 'witch' is a mistaken innocent. She's not out to do ye any harm. If anything its the carelessness and paranoia of you villagers that may have cost people their lives going into the forest. She might be right avoiding you people if you are going to behave so vapidly and insidiously like this! King Fliqpy being around doesn't mean you have to stoop to his level. Stay together and stop trying to find a foe to fight amongst yourselves! Or if you must, leave King Fliqpy and bringing back peace within Lushwood and the other towns to people who know what they are doing. Like me." Axel gave a calmer, sound speech.

"What!? B-but, the stories and the tales..." Said one of the villagers, in disbelief at the discovery of a harmless witch.

"What do we do now? If the witch is not responsible, then there's nothing we can do?" Said another villager.

"Oh gods, just listen to Axel already! He's been a Knight before. Knights defend the innocent and you all can provide help by either staying out of danger or by being loyal to your true king. We know for sure someone has corrupted the good King Flippy we knew into this form. We're going to free him from this malign spell and punish the one who casted it." Handy stepped in and was about to untie his fellow beaver when he realized that without arms, he'd risk plummeting the victim into the cauldron.

"But where do we go? This village isn't safe anymore and we can't put a decent fight" Said a forlorn villager, knowing the king would probably send a swarm of bandits at any time.

"You can either stay here and die, or go to Bleakburn, the people there are defiant and better capable of defending themselves in the meantime. Plus, you all have sheer numbers that rival even the bandits. You can either lend your support and protect yourselves in the process, or stay here like rats driven into the mud." Said Axel, though his words may be a bit cruel, it was the truth that would motivate them to actually stop hiding and start doing something useful.

Though in his heart, he was concerned if Cub and the goblins would really be able to protect all of them, or if they would have to go to places other than Nutty's shelter. Regardless, he didn't have any better options and he hoped that maybe his actions would pull attention away from the townsfolk and onto him. Plus, inspiring the innocents to take action and be proactive in their lives was a creed Pop had told him about before. He'd speak about how in times of need even the knights and king call upon the help of the people to topple a mighty enemy. Even while it was sad to bury the fallen in those instances, they would ultimately save many more lives in the process. He felt it'd work here in this scenario.

"... Maybe he's right. Bleakburn is so downtrodden the bandits may not want to strike there again after being free. Maybe some of them have already left the kingdom for instance!" One villager said.

"And I'm sure that some of the people in Bleakburn are tough enough to defend us. They don't have to deal with witches." Another one said.

"... Maybe... you have a point Sir Axel. I'm sorry about our behavior... we just feel cornered right now but maybe we just need to keep looking." The villager, holding the torch dropped it into the water and started to help Axel untie the purple beaver.

"Finally... wahhhhh...!" Said the beaver, lying down on the ground exhausted and crying from the beating he had received.

Without waiting for him to get back up, the villagers started packing their things and set off on their journey to seek sanctuary in Bleakburn. All except one, who remained silent and stationed at where she was. She was a blue skunk with an electric blue stripe along her tail and head, wearing a meager yet somehow more fine-looking servant dress complete with an apron and simple shoes. She also had a pink flower in her hair and what looked like a necklace adorned with a pine tree on it. She gazed with a cautious but resolute expression as Axel and Handy tended to the distraught beaver. Neither of them noticed her presence as they asked the beaver what his name was.

"What's your name? Is everything ok? Are you broken or bruised anywhere?" Asked Handy, helping the beaver sit up. The beaver had calmed down long enough to stop crying.

"My name is... Toothy. I am the town's carpenter and lumberjack. And no, I'm fine, my body is okay, except for my pride.." Said Toothy, disappointed that despite how long he had done things for the villagers, they still didn't trust him.

"So what the hell was going on with you that made them so paranoid?" Axel asked.

"Well, I was just resting in my house, not doing anything. Somehow, one of my eyes lost the ability to see anything, it was a terrifying experience, I panicked and begged everybody to help and next thing I knew, everyone branded me a witch. But that's fine, both of you saved me!" Explained Toothy, cheering up after getting it out.

Axel was nervous but wanted to get one thought out of his mind, "You didn't lose sight in your... right eye right?" Asked Axel, remembering one of the voodoo dolls in Lammy's hut.

"Yeah, I lost sight right in that place. Why do you ask?" said Toothy, not at all suspecting of the wolf.

"Nothing... just curious" Said Axel, the last thing he wanted was for somebody to know he was responsible for their own plight.

"Say Toothy, shouldn't you be going with your fellow villagers? It's certainly not safe here, and staying here will spell certain doom..." Warned Handy, though he didn't know if Toothy staying with a whole village ripe with paranoia.

"No, I never fit in their social circle no matter what I did. I mean, they are always so artsy, creative, easy to please... I consider myself more a practical kind of person. It's not always easy being the ugly duckling in the flock of swans. Do you think I could be useful coming with you...? Especially if the bandits come and try to ransack my tools." Toothy asked.

"Uh, I don't know man. It'll be dangerous and you'll be subjecting yourself to face more dangerous people besides bandits, are you sure about this Toothy? The journey will be laid with more than just bandits" Said Axel, for as much as he liked strength in numbers, he worried that the more people there are, the more difficult it is from protecting them from danger. Although, he could help in protecting Handy.

"Hey! I take offense at that. That's because I got caught off guard and my captors were other villagers. Trust me, I may not look like much, but I can give a mean swing of my axe." Said Toothy, wanting to repay them for saving his life, his tail swishing to and fro in cautious excitement.

"Okay, but you better keep true to your word. The last thing we need is a dead person we couldn't protect." Said Axel, the lumberjack had apparently preferred their company over his own neighbors.

"Um... are you... in league with the knights?" A new female voice found its way to the conversation.

In front of them the skunk that had gone unnoticed revealed herself, holding herself with small reservation but also impressive class and attentiveness. She looked as though she was happy to have found them as well. The rest of the men regarded her with surprise at her seamless ability to be undetected and how she seemed to indicate importance in her words and posture. Axel subtly recognized she had to have been disciplined at some point based on the formalness of her body language. Was she perhaps a servant girl to some high noble?

"Yes, we're looking for people, and saving them from the imminent bandit invasions employed by King Fliqpy. Are you lost? We're currently having everyone hole up in Bleakburn, the bandits would never think to raid that place, so we think." Said Axel, wondering why such a fair maiden had come to this village, judging from her appearance, she may have been from Treasureoak or the Happy Tree Kingdom itself.

"No, I heard that this place had not been taken over yet. I know something, Fliqpy is not himself, not in the sense that he lost his mind or had a change of heart. Someone is pulling the strings, this person is far more powerful than we could ever imagine." The skunk urged.

"What do you know about this?" Pressed Axel.

"And what's your name?" Asked Toothy.

"Petunia. One of the servants of the castle. I was peering through the keyhole with the guards permission as they have raised me like family. I saw Flippy speak with unnatural antagonism and strange moral quandaries, even attempting to seduce and speak sexually of how he thought of Pop. A duel was issued between them when Pop suspected Flippy of being an imposter, which he may very well be." Petunia pointed out.

"Seducing... Pop? That DEFINITELY isn't Flippy. The guy's been a virgin forever." Handy pointed out.

"How do you know that?" Petunia asked.

"Gossip amongst my parents and amongst the people. He has never taken a queen for instance during his long reign. It'd be strange for him to suddenly show dramatic feelings for someone, let alone a Tree Friend of the same sex." Handy explained.

"Yes... unfortunately Flippy won the duel and the guards from outside came in to try to intervene then... there was a strange red glow... I was nearly too transfixed to look away but I managed when I realized something was very wrong. I fled the castle in time just before any of the prisoners were released but... danger is afoot no doubt. Flippy is not a sorcerer so I suspect someone used magic to-" Petunia explained, only to be cut off by the sounds of bandits slowly marching to Lushwood.

"Get em boys!" Said a bloodthirsty bandit, and pointing his sword to the four remaining people of the village.

The others got riled up and charged towards them, licking their lips at the sight of Petunia, and for the others, Axel himself. As usual, it seemed, they were still out pillaging and conquering the towns of Happy Tree and Axel refused to give them the satisfaction of taking Lushwood easily.

"Get behind!" Shouted Axel towards them. Petunia and Handy gladly stayed out of it, and ran behind cover. Toothy on the other hand, had another idea in mind and ran to his fortunately nearby house, and took his woodcutters axe readying it for battle.

Axel was angry after hearing Petunia's story. The idea of a twisted version of the king beating and planning on sexually abusing or using his captain? That was not a fate he ever wanted Pop to have to suffer through. Let alone the fact that there really was some chance, based on the discussion with Lammy and Petunia's tale, that some true magical mastermind was behind this. What if THEY had shapeshifted into Fliqpy and were using Pop for themselves? Or was it really just someone turning Flippy into a perverse, cruel ruler so they could manage the rule of Happy Tree their own way? Either way, this was no time for question-seeking. It was time to answer things with violence.

"Toothy, stay out of this. These people will show no mercy unlike the townsfolk of Lushwood!" Screamed Axel, Toothy shook his head in turn.

"No! I can prove myself. Just let me show you what I can do so you won't treat me like a useless sack of dung. Trust me, fending for myself is part of my job." Reasoned Toothy, making Axel's ears bristle in annoyance.

"Fine, just don't die on me." Scolded Axel, the bandits began swinging their blades against both the wolf and Toothy, Axel began cutting throats and dismembering the fiends with savagery and Toothy began cracking skulls, the two tree friends fending off against them.

"Well well, never thought the whore of Bleakburn would grace us with his presence! Surrender now, and we'll be very gentle." Said a bandit clashing with Axel, licking his lips and wiping his saliva.

"Ugh, I am not a common whore! You degenerates!" Axel rallied the insult into a battle cry, disgusted and tired of hearing the word 'whore' referring to him.

Toothy was doing fine, for a person who used an axe, he had swung with more speed than the axe looked to swing. Toothy had always cut trees down by using his momentum more than power, and these bandits were no different, their arms easily being hacked off by his well-sharpened axe. Toothy did not show any fear or hesitation as he ruthlessly killed these bandits. He knew exactly what they were going to do if they had their way and if the villagers hadn't retreated in time after all. He felt it was only fair to pay them a just judgement of his own.

Meanwhile, Handy and Petunia had hid behind a stack of crates and barrels nearby, occasionally peaking at the corner of their hiding spot. Petunia was especially fearful, as soon as she had witnessed what became of the kingdom, she had escaped just in time before the castle gates were sealed off, preventing anybody from leaving. She never imagined the bandits would reach Lushwood this fast. She didn't have any sort of combat experience so she was hoping to find shelter in some rebel fighters or knights who had survived the initial onslaught.

"So Petunia, who was it? Who took control of our King's mind?" Asked Handy, his thoughts still lingering on the magical tyrant that took control of the kingdom.

"I-I didn't see a face... but based on the spell, someone who may be associated with the color red. Someone very powerful too... I'm hoping it's a Tree Friend rather than some creature." Petunia spoke nervously.

"Well, at least we're now certain that King Flippy really is being manipulated. Listen, if we die or succeed, I want you to go to Bleakburn, tell them what you know, and hide with the people there. So far, it's the safest place to be in, as far as I know." Suggested Handy.

"Really? I mean, it's better than nothing I gu-" Petunia stopped herself, behind them, there seemed to be a band of heavily armed men, bearing the insignia of what seemed to be a noble bloodline. It was a curvy head of what looked like a lion's mane of hair upon a face of a feral bear, House Lionell. A proud house, a powerful house, but a very overpowering and suspicious house in Happy Tree.

"Look! It's the guards of House Lionell! We're saved!" Exclaimed Petunia, running straight to the armored men.

"Petunia wait! That's the house of the most suspicious individual of Happy Tree! Clients have warned-" But Petunia kept running, desperate for any sort of safety. She had heard of House Lionell, though she mostly knew of them from a collection of books of the heroics of Happy Tree, though she never delved too deeply on this information. In truth, House Lionell may have had noble intentions and actions in the past, but the current heir certainly didn't share a fraction of their past, in fact, they have been one of the most shady noble houses in all of history.

"Oh thank the gods you are here. Quick! The town is being raided by bandits! Please help us! We'll repay you however we can if you do so!" Begged Petunia. The guards looked at each other, then Petunia, and grinned, grabbing her and carried her by the shoulders. Petunia was surprised at how rough the gesture and started beating her hands on her captor's back in an attempt to free herself.

"Let me go! I told you we needed help, not kidnapping!" Said the naive girl, Handy could only watch as she was carried off. What would he do? Get kidnapped or cut down by them? He definitely wasn't going to stand a chance against them. He thought he could stand up to anything while with Axel but a person on horseback was another thing. Especially someone from House Lionell's elite guard.

"Shut up! Baron Disco Bear will have a very nice time with you!" Said a guard, slapping her ass and earning an 'eep' from her.

Meanwhile, Axel and Toothy made a good team against the bandits, the leader of the bandits gritted his teeth and decided this town wasn't worth the trouble.

"You win this one Axel! But there's still Bleakburn and Riftvalley to strike!" Said the bandit leader, retreating with the other brigands.

"They'll be damned if they try to strike Bleakburn down..." Axel muttered darkly.

"Riftvalley... isn't that where the big shot baron lives? And all the thieves? My family used to live there but left because they couldn't stand being robbed." Toothy muttered.

Handy ran to them, feeling pale and worried after what had just happened. He was feeling a bit relieved by seeing the two of them unharmed, though feeling more ashamed of being unable to really help like he wanted. At this rate he'd have to find some other way to prove himself useful and help defend his hometown.

"Handy, breathe. We're safe now, well, as safe as we could be. Wait, where's Petunia?" Axel said with concern.

"S-she got kidnapped! I couldn't do anything against those pricks. I'm sorry Axel, I'm so sorry..." Apologized Handy, looking down and guilty for not doing anything to save Petunia.

"Who took her!? Was it one of the bandits!?" Said Axel, worried for the safety of Petunia. Surely, a bunch of bandits and a single woman, that can't spell well for Petunia's fate.

"No, she's been taken by members of Lionnel's guard. I don't know why their baron would be doing something this insidious at a time like this but maybe he's taking advantage of the chaos this kingdom has been plunged into to assert himself." Handy theorized.

"You mean like trying to appeal to whoever the new ruler is...?" Toothy offered,

"... That Baron Disco Bear is a shadier fella than that. Pop's told me and the knights of the stories. He'd never see eye to eye with King Flippy but kept his businesses stable and within the law long enough to avoid persecution. Ever since he ascended to the title of baron of the House, he started monopolizing the... prostitution industry and even technically owns Riftvalley. I'm assuming he's trying to gain more influence and power to ultimately win over or even take over the crown from this Fliqpy... Or maybe he's playing along with Fliqpy's deranged challenge. Or just taking advantage of the situation to do anything he wants." Axel calmly offered his take.

"What do we do Axel?" said Handy, the two beavers looking at him for guidance.

"Well obviously we rescue Petunia because I have a feeling that he might want information out of her to further his agenda and we can't let that happen. We'll sneak in there and free her, then leave. Simple, but harder than it seems. Besides, Disco Bear might turn her into one of his prostitutes, then if we take too long, we might have to search a whole brothel if that happens." Said Axel, shivering at being mistaken for a prostitute himself.

_Then again, _he considered, _Disco Bear notoriously only has had females in his brothel. So I'll probably be safe... Maybe. _Both beavers seemed to sympathize with Axel's motives and recognized it as the right thing to do. They both didn't trust the idea of Baron Disco Bear being a strong force in this lawless kingdom and would be willing to help stop it if not to protect their respective villages from his selfish hands. Lushville had done all that it can for their journey to find and procure information that'd help them against King Fliqpy. Now they had to go to Riftvalley to tackle a bigger and more crippling foe.

"Uh, quick question. How would Toothy travel with us? I think three people on the same horse would make the journey much slower or give in." Worried Handy,

"Well I'd offer a piggyback ride to you Handy but I doubt you could hold on so... Toothy, want to perch up on my shoulders for now? We can ride a bit slower as well." Axel offered.

"Actually, I have my own, uh, 'horse'. If you could call it that." Described Toothy, running back to his house, and hauling out a horse-like device. The device had seemed to have metal wheels in place of a horse's hooves and firm wood blocks attached to the sides connected by a chain loop, with what appeared to be handles to 'steer' the inanimate horse while also push it forward with momentum.

"What is that? Never in my years of smithing did I see anything like it." Handy's eyes sparkled in awe at this foreign device, wondering how that would take him to where he needed to go. Axel gave a satisfied nod of approval at the resourceful design of the invention.

"Oh, well, you see, I invented this device that could take me to the forest as far as I can faster and with more efficiency. This... metal basket lets me carry wood and as long as I pedal on these blocks, this device will maintain balance and speed... As long as I don't have to ride upwards, or get tired, I can keep up" Explained Toothy, both Handy and Axel seemed impressed.

"Well then, we'll be counting on you to navigate yourself. There's no time to waste. Let's go!" Said Axel, helping Handy up on their own horse and Toothy got on his... thing. While they rode off, Axel wondered about one more thing.

"Hey Toothy, what is that thing called anyway?" Asked Axel as he galloped.

"I never thought about it. Well, since this thing has two wheels and a chain loop... How about a bicycle?" suggested Toothy.

"That's actually a nice name for it. Has a ring to it." Said Axel, first, he discovered that magic was real, and now, a device that travels on par with a horse? This journey seemed to be more fun than he expected. Though he still didn't forget the reason for it. Magic and mysterious devices come second, the safety of everyone comes first.

Nightfall came, and they were nearing the town, though they'd grown tired and weary from all the events of the day. Thinking its best to rest for the day, Axel thought the next course of action was to rescue Petunia in the morning. After managing to find some places to eat from a nearby bakery and deli, Axel made the conclusive decision,

"Alright, we'll rest in this inn for today. I'll keep watch while you sleep. Next shift is Handy, and then Toothy" Commanded Axel. Handy had a different idea in mind.

"But we have to rescue her now. It's night time, and that way we won't be seen. What if something happens to her!?" said Handy with worry.

"Handy, I know how you feel. But we can't rescue her if we're tired. Besides, if she has managed to escape from Happy Tree's castle, she must be stronger than she seems. So right now, our best chances are to sneak in there with full strength." Axel carried himself with conviction. Handy was about to argue but Axel was right, his feet hurt from all the walking they made in the forest, the mental exhaustion of comprehending the existence of magic and Mr Pickles, and his emotional state wasn't going to help him in rescuing her.

"Okay Axel, sorry, I'm just worried that something might happen to her... and anyone else who might be getting caught." Apologized Handy.

"Its alright Handy, you just have to calm down. I'm sure you will after getting a good night's rest" Said Toothy, turning in on his own bed. Handy reluctantly followed, sleeping peacefully.

Axel looked at Handy, and Toothy and then grinned. He took out the magic quill that Lammy gave them and started writing to her. 'Hey Lammy.' he wrote.

Back in the forest, far away, Lammy woke up hearing the sounds of a quill being used on a parchment, seeing that it was still early in the night, Lammy thought it was important.

'_What?' _wrote Lammy, annoyed that she was being bothered so early.

'_Ligma' _came the reply from Axel, Lammy was curious what Ligma was.

'_What's Ligma?' _wrote Lammy.

'Ligma Balls!' came the reply from Axel. Lammy paused for a minute, and realized she had been pranked by the immature wolf. Pinching her nose, she wrote 'Go to sleep!' and angrily went back to sleep.

Axel snickered and suppressed his laugh to prevent the two beavers from waking up.

Meanwhile, within the folds of the night but in a different site of Happy Tree, the castle remained in a somewhat creepy silence. All except for the bedroom quarters of the current ruler, King Fliqpy. As screams of ecstasy and perhaps ruthless abandon finally died down, the castle seemed resigned to ending activity for the rest of the evening. Within the elaborate room of a double-sized bed with a marvelous canopy of rich green and purple silk and tassels and lavish covers embroidered with various creatures, was a very much naked and shameless King Fliqpy. He snored loudly whereas the partner who was the only one currently allowed to sleep beside him stayed very much awake and in brutal agony.

"Ugh..." Pop groaned and tried as hard as he could not to cry from having to go through another instance of rape from this tyrant.

Draped in an elegant green bathrobe that had belonged to King Fliqpy, he tried his best to hide his nudity and vulnerability from no one in particular, lamenting how awful the situation had progressed. The giant window that showed the moon's ethereal glow over the horizon was the only splendid sight he had seen thus far today, never having been allowed to be in the king's bedroom before. This was not the vision he had imagined coming here for though and he would much rather die if it meant things could be back to normal. Turning over and looking towards the window, his back in Fliqpy's snoring face, he stared at the moon and remembered telling tales to Cub of the Tree Friend in the moon and of the moon goddess who assigned him such a noble duty. But then something peculiar appeared behind the window and upon the balcony to block the magnificent image of the moon. A sort of magical red haze that soon materialized into something more solid and defined...

In the red haze, a silhouette of a figure appeared and unlocked the window, and opening it silently as he had just appeared. His form radiated in the moonlight that Pop got a better look at this individual. It was a red flying squirrel draped in radiant robes and carried himself in powerful fashion. This individual was the same one that had appeared just before he was imprisoned in the dungeons, but for Pop was under a trance, he did not necessarily recognize him... But even despite this lack of information, Pop had a distinctive hunch who this figure was. Or at least, he hoped he had one at this rate. He pulled slowly away from Fliqpy's proximity to get a closer look as the squirrel in return approached Pop.

"You're the one who corrupted m-" Pop was about to, weakly, stand up and get off the bed but the figure simply held a finger to his lips and shushed the bear.

"... Corruption? Or perhaps awakened? I'm not here to make malicious intent out of you like your king now does. I'm here for a different purpose." The figure's wise tone still sounded very much young, as though he was in the ripe of his adulthood. The figure approached Fliqpy, ignoring Pop entirely as they got onto the bed, and touched the king's head. Afterward, a green aura radiated from his hand, signalling some sort of spell being cast on Pop's abuser.

"There, now we won't be... Distrubed." Muttered the red squirrel prompting himself off of the bed to take his own opulent-looking and wizardly clothes off of his own body and carelessly leaving it on the floor. Pop didn't know what he was feeling, whoever this person was, it was like he was in some sort of spell, to follow, to worship, this person. No, this person was in league with Fliqpy, he can't trust him.

"Please... I don't want to do anymore of that tonight... I-I'm... I don't want to be hurt right now..." Pop felt his voice crack with fear.

He didn't even look at the figure in fear of being entranced further into something he knew he couldn't take. The flying squirrel seemed to acknowledge something about Pop's emotional state. He spoke,

"I suppose I should justify my approach. I'm fascinated by you... I'm also fascinated by other individuals of this kingdom. It's a kingdom of promise but also of restraint. I came here seeking to make it yield to one or the other. But I also want to know.... What feelings do you get from connection?"

"... C-connection?" Pop opened his eyes more out of confusion than bewilderment to eye the squirrel.

He had an incredible body, toned, fit, somehow more perfect and honed than even his king's. It was flawless of scars as well and he didn't even hold himself with clear insanity or menace like Fliqpy did. In fact, despite him clearly being the culprit of this kingdom's current turmoil, he almost appeared like he could've been a hero. Or something as powerful as that.

"You're a father yes? You are a person connected strongly to your son. Yet you are also connected to your men, as captain of the Royal Guard. Yet despite being a lone man, having lost his wife a few years ago, you've never wanted that 'intimate' connection as life describes it. I... was aware that your king's nature would react so strongly to the spell I cast that he would've become a perverse seeker of this connection. It is designed to embrace one's opposite or darkest potential. I apologize if you are scared of ever finding that 'intimate' connection because of what he did. I'm here to offer you something perhaps as an apology lest you don't want to be further abused or know that hope is out there." Without even telling him his name, the wizard showed acute analysis of Pop's inner heart.

Pop was unsure how to take of this unusually forward yet somehow eloquent 'villain's speech' as Axel would describe it. It as a confession of some cruel actions but this squirrel seemed that he had a deeper reason that he was not willing to disclose for doing what he did. Pop eyed Fliqpy with a twinge of fear, even though he was surely further incapcipated because of the spell that was cast. He would prefer there to be less abuse and maybe there was some opportunity to be had by playing along with this sorcerer. Redemption for himself even.

"I'm not here to hurt you. In fact, I want you to give me something that you mortals have always shared with one another." Said the person, approaching Pop with elegant yet strong steps, Pop in turn steeled his body and didn't move. The squirrel crawled onto the bed and towards Pop, soon reaching the bear's proximity.

"W-what is that?" asked Pop, knowing some clue as to what he wants.

"Love." Said the squirrel, taking Pop's face in his hands and kissing him, his hands shaky with a hint of need and longing. Their lips met, it wasn't like Fliqpy's sloppy kisses but more of a gentle one, the other's hands weren't forced. The squirrel caressed Pop's face and tried to push his tongue past Pop's lips, begging for his intimate permission to share fluids.

"I-I... don't... even know your name..." Pop whimpered, more out of a sudden rush flowing through his body than misery.

"Lovers share their names despite what may be needed to be kept secret? ... I see. Splendon't. Splendon't the Scarlet." After briefly pulling away, the squirrel introduced himself formally. Then he made for another, deeper kiss that Pop returned. After leaving Pop's lips and finding strange satisfaction in tasting another Tree Friend's saliva, Splendon'ts hands roamed Pop's upper body, caressing each thick muscle Pop had developed through the years of training, until his hand rested on Pop's manhood and conjured a glow from his hands with a pinkish magical energy and flowing right onto Pop's length. Pop felt as though his exhaustion, his pain, his shame from Fliqpy's ordeals upon him fade away. He felt... renewed in a sense and couldn't help but sigh in bliss and roll his eyes though in his mind he tried to wonder if he had heard Splendon'ts name somewhere before...

Pop felt the blood rush down to his rod and he looked down on it, it was fully erect, like the morning wood he would occasionally get after waking up, feeling renewed lust and panting with need. It was impossible to tell if it was the magic, the sensation of relief from Splendon't kindness, or wanting to truly give the sorcerer his request of 'love'. He needed to breed, to share any intimate action with anybody. He was putting aside his thought process of logic behind and focusing on sheer emotion as he moaned intently,

"Hahh.... Unhghh..." Pop stood up to his knees and took off the rest of his bathrobe subtly.

Pop felt overwhelmed by the rush of excitement in his groin, and almost fell back onto the bed roughly, before seeing Splendont crouch over him, his tail hovering overhead and bottom to his face. Splendont's male entrance was being presented to him in such a bold way that he blushed and didn't know what to do, his basic instinct was to dive in and get a taste of this man, but was too inexperienced to continue. Pop laid back and wondered how this sorcerer could be so selfless and sweet to not use him the way Fliqpy had...

"Please, give me your love... I want to know what it feels like..." Begged Splendont, lowering himself even further into Pop's face. Pop gave in and began kissing and lubing up the hole with his tongue, making Splendont gasp in surprise, having never felt such a wonderful sensation back there. He hadn't imagined how good it would feel, he had once seen a couple doing this same action from his past of mystery, he was genuinely curious as to why they had done it. Within seconds, Splendont lost his regal and calm personality, moaning and giving out screams of pleasure, his face made it evident that he lost himself to the lovely sensation he was feeling. Pop's length dribbled with precum and had not softened once. The spell made it so that he was more sensitive now, more than he had been in his entire life, it felt like he had missed out on so much, his thoughts turning to Axel and how much he had always done it with others. How it hurt him deeply in ways he had yet to truly express to Axel...

"I... I'll take you to high heaven... sit on it... huff..." Pop boldly stated and firmly directed Splendont to start.

As Splendont subtly moved, Pop took notice of the squirrel's 7-inch cock that was far more exquisite in texture and beauty than Fliqpy's. Or at least it gave a far more welcoming impression now than anything the day's activities had ever been. Splendont's ass hovered above the captain's hard and needy rod, smearing it with a bit of precum and making it slick and slippery.

"Do you want me... Captain?" Whispered Splendont, remembering the term that Fliqpy had used, and hotdogged Pop's cock in between his round cheeks, teasing the bear with hidden anticipation within himself. Pop in turn growled with lust and grabbed hold of his waist, fully burying himself inside Splendont in one thrust.

"Ahhhhhhhhh...!" Splendont reacted with bliss.

"Grrrruahhhhh...!" Pop roared with pleasure.

Splendont raised his head and moaned out, his first experience with a mortal and it felt exquisite, was this how they felt when they shared their love? He'd give up his immortality if he didn't have further business to attend to. Afterward... he'd gladly do so a thousand times over just to feel this forever.

Splendont laid on top of Pop, losing the strength to stay upright and let Pop unleash his desires upon him with reckless abandon. They kissed once more, and feeling each other's body up , out of need to feel the other, and let their instincts takeover. Pop grabbed Splendont's thighs powerfully, as both squirrel and pop made 'plapping' sounds of power and passion.

"Look at you, moaning like a woman in need of a man... ahh... sing for me...!" Said Pop, his mind clouded by lust to care about anything anymore. He wanted to feel dominance over this lovely looking squirrel. Recall the power and dignity he had as a Royal Guard Captain by fulfilling this sorcerer's earnest wish. Splendont didn't protest, he wasn't wrong on needing the man part. Pop pushed Splendont off of him quite suddenly, and making Splendont lie down on the bed instead. Pop hovered over the squirrel with the eyes of someone deep in lust but also determination. Compared to Fliqpy's crazed stare and Splendont conceded in his mind he vastly preferred this iteration.

"Where's that power? Where's that power you showed? You get dicked down by an older man twice your age and you lose any elegance left in you..." Taunted Pop, which left Splendont lusting for this man more. Accepting his new, and hopefully, temporary position. His cock twitched and released more precum with each demeaning word that left Pop's mouth.

Pop lifted one of Splendonts legs and made him lie down on one side, hugging the leg close to reach even deeper inside Splendont, thrusting deep into the sorcerer's tight ring. The other moaned louder, surprised that there was ever such a position, and thus, was completely new to the unexpected act. Pop's thrusts soon become more and more desperate, the bear panting heavily. Splendont had a vague idea of what such actions indicated and was ever ready and curious for the sensation described as 'spilling one's seed'.

"I'm going to fill you with my cubs...!" Exclaimed Pop, and laid sideways next to him, and cupping Splendonts face with one hand and kissing him once more, and lifting the leg with the other, thrusting as fast and hard as he could, both men closed their eyes lost in their lust as their sexual high was coming to a close.

Pop released inside Splendont with a feral howl, staining Splendont's walls with streaks of cum, filling up Splendont with his baby batter. Splendont felt the rush of Pop's semen shooting inside of him, making him cum on the bed from the heat, still kissing Pop and eyes rolled up from the fabled sensation of the orgasm. All this time, Fliqpy had not moved, had not shifted, had not been disturbed. To Pop, who felt this act was a triumphant act of defiance against Fliqpy's abuse, this was certainly the high heaven he reached.

Pulling away, Pop retrieved his length from Splendont's ass, making Splendont moan as he pulled back, leaking cum on the bed that they had just made love on, and basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking. After all, Pop had to realize now that he was free from feelings of heat and desire, that he had just made love with his enemy. Fulfilling a wish of an enemy was certainly strange but he hoped he could find reasons behind this enemy to understand them.

"... S-Splendont... who exactly are you...? I don't... know much about magic... it's hardly existed from what I've heard... but you clearly are a master of it..." Pop held up his bathrobe to Splendont in an offer to clean him up.

Splendon't politely waved his hand in dismissal of not needing it.

"... I'm what you might call a figure of folklore in this land. Every land has it's legendary sorcerers and I am one of them. I just... haven't been privy to revealing myself until now." Splendont's tone suggested careful consideration of what words he was using.

"But... why did you take over our kingdom then...? If you are seeking love then-"

"That's not all I've been seeking. I'm seeking fulfillment, freedom, power, and something to feel responsible for. I... Assume that you are seeking things too?" Splendont turned his back to Pop and got off the bed somewhat hurriedly. His composure was almost saintly despite the act he had just committed and it made Pop certain he was no ordinary being.

"You... You remind me of Axel...Those are the very reasons that he had joined until I... I had laid him off duty... And the last I had told him anything..." Muttered Pop, in truth, he felt somewhat guilty that those might be the last words they had ever exchanged with each other, if one of them died.

Splendont turned around quite suddenly to Pop however. His eyes seemed very frightening, tinged with a sudden spark of perhaps lightning. Pop then realized he may have made a grave error revealing Axel's name.

"Ax...el. Axel. Who is... Axel? Is he a personal 'intimate' connection you deceived me about?" Splendont's tone sounded hurt but in a different way than Pop expected.

"No, he... He's a subordinate of mine that I... Regretfully had ill interactions with at the last moment..." Said Pop, wanting to steer clear of any explicit information.

"But... Fliqpy said he had all your subordinates here... or at death's door..." Splendont then flinched as a realization seem to strike him but he let Pop reply.

"Not all of them... I laid him off duty for... 'Sleeping' with a newly rescued hostage, I admired his heroic acts and selfless duty but... To sleep with one was against our code of conduct and it publicly defaced our order. And before then... he committed brutal treatment of criminals he caught. He'd slew them rather then let the law imprison or judge them. Not to mention how many he had slept with in the past. Now I fear that not only did I cost him his job but also his reputation as 'the whore of Bleakburn'." Admitted Pop, expressing his regrets over Axel.

Axel had expressed his previous moments of pleasure discreetly with Pop but in a few instances, bragged alongside other knights who were feeling uppity and pleased with their romantic conquests, about his own affairs. It made Pop disgusted that Axel had no sense of commitment yet at the time despite feeling he was a good role model for Axel to learn the value of conmitment. He wondered if Splendont was somehow understanding all these feelings himself despite the fact he was a total stranger to Happy Tree prior. Splendont though was starting to show a different loss of composure as opposed to sexual high. He was showing paranoia and dangerous flashes of anger, his fingertips crackling with electricity. His robe even seemed to reappear upon his figure when it had previously been lying upon the floor.

"... So he does not know love? Why accept this kind of man... a loveless knight into your order...? More importantly, you seem to trust him to do something about me aren't you? He's lurking about planning to overthrow me yes? Leave me to the wolves?! Why trust him?!"

"Because... Because i found him one day. All alone by the muddy roadside, like a sad pup waiting to be taken in by a new owner. He wanted to be a knight just by the way he talked, he felt betrayed by the world, up until now, he wouldn't tell me how he ended up there, or where his family was, or if he even had one. But what I do know is that, whatever happened to him, he wanted to exert his self-imposed justice one day to those who had wronged him. But... I can't see that happening. I watched him grow up, biting knees, and I thought that maybe my ideals would rub off on him. He's the most free spirited knight I have, and yet he is not like them at all, he may slack off his duties, but when lives are at stake, you can bet he'll be the first to act amongst my other knights. That's why I have faith in him, I don't know if he'll ever become a knight again or for how long should he join, but I know he's destined for great things" Pop proclaimed. His speech had amazed the sorcerer who wore a less intense expression and even dispelled the electricity.

"Free-spirited... great things... I'll be the judge of that Pop. I cannot let someone I do not know interfere but I do intend to see him." Splendont still spoke harshly though.

"A-are you going to-"' Pop's eyes expressed deep panic.

"Only if he makes the first strike. But I want to know him. I have to if he is to be my opposition. Still, thank you for sharing your truth. You may have spared his life for now. But know this, I will NEVER accept betrayal. Should I find you lied, you'll be delivered a different punishment than from Fliqpy's hands. And should he not at all be the kind of man you described or disregard your sense of love, then his body will be lost forever..." Splendont the Scarlet, making a cold threat, then disappeared in a similar hazy mist of magic.

Pop slumped on the bed, now worried more than ever for Axel's well-being. What would happen if Splendont does find him? Being dead was better than what he was going through with Fliqpy, and if he broke one day, Fliqpy would definitlely come for Axel. What did Splendont even want from him? He shivered at the thought of Splendont easily capturing him. Then again, from how kind Splendont was, maybe he could ask if Cub was with Axel? No, forget it. Even if he was alive, he'd only be endangering him by mentioning Cub. It's best to pretend to believe that Cub was dead. Sad that his one reprieve from these awful events had ended like this, he tucked himself into the covers and slept, staring at the moon as he dreamed of hopeful days.