Last time on The Starburst Crystal: Rollo shrugged and ran towards her assigned cell. One though dominated her mind. "My brother and I have to get out of here." Wintergreen had always been demanding, ruthless, and capricious, even erratic at times. But since Krackel had returned with the crystal shard, she had been increasingly snappish and ill-tempered, compared to how she had been. Not that the Scourge of Mars had ever been known for patience and a pleasant disposition. What minor offense would earn Rollo the quick spear thrust to the stomach, or a visit to the torture chambers? Although Rollo was a hostage, therefore untouchable lest the fragile agreement between parties be violently revoked, she did not trust the Queen's temper, which overrode reason time and again. Rollo changed clothes quickly, making sure each button and ribbon was in its proper place. But how to escape. Any attempt would be certain death. No one defied Wintergreen and lived... ...except the Crystal Warriors. The Crystal Warriors had been the downfall of Twizzler, had helped the Twixes defect, had foiled Riesen's plans, had snatched shard after shard from underneath the noses of Wintergreen's minions, and had healed Rollo when no one else could, Certainly, they could break Wintergreen's hold on Krackel and Rollo, spiriting the siblings off to safety. But how? >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< Starburst Crystal: Legend 33 - Studies in Sweetness and Shadow Written by Grysar Created by Ardweden >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< A shimmering figure appeared in Wintergreen's throne room. Typically, Wintergreen demanded that her lieutenants report to her in person, but in this case she made an exception. Reisen had done good work for her, and the often-painful welcomes that a personal appearance allowed would not be necessary in this case. Though, should Reisen displease her, he'd quickly find himself longing for the cold temperatures that he seemed to suffer from. Reisen bowed before his Queen; proper decorum was important even when you weren't there in person. "Particularly," he thought, "When dealing with Mars' most powerful sorceress in a bad mood." He'd discretely checked in with a few sources at the palace before checking in with his Lady. He'd been startled to hear of the attack, startled and dismayed. Even presenting good news to Wintergreen was at times dangerous, particular as effectiveness in lieutenants prompts both praise and paranoia. He'd already played through his debriefing innumerable times in his mind, varying Wintergreen's mood and her reactions at random. He did not come this close to rising to become her second in command just to squander it. For once, though, he didn't have much to fear. His plan to split the Crystal Warriors was a success, though if there was an opportunity to attack them while they were divided, he'd missed it. After Kyouji's first escape attempt, he'd stuck to the group, denying a chance for easy slaughter. Reisen, of course, didn't rely on luck, and had prepared a secondary ambush, but he canceled that when he calculated their next destination. Wintergreen stirred. "If you are done plotting, I'm awaiting your explanation of why those pests have gathered another Crystal from under your nose." Reisen was prepared. "My deepest apologizes, my Lady, while I have fulfilled your command to divide them, I regret my failure to better-" "Fulfilled my command?" Wintergreen interrupted. "Tell me of this, perhaps you will yet distinguish yourself from the fools that suddenly surround me." Reisen began telling the story of "Kyouji's" professions of love. He contained his pride when describing the complete success of his disguise, as Wintergreen was quick to heal any hints of egoism in her followers. For now, though, she seemed pleased. "And neither Tsugiko nor Yumi," Wintergreen paused on that name, "accepted his declaration? I'm sure you must have been sorely disappointed. But then..." Wintergreen's eyes rested briefly on the spot Twizzler's statue had occupied before the attack. "I think we've had our fill of romance in these recent days." "I quite agree," Reisen quickly interjected, taking Wintergreen's bait. "Are you sure, Reisen? You seemed a bit emotionally involved, when describing your talk with Yumi." She leaned over the side of her throne, and smirked coldly. "Unlike Clorets, I'm not so foolish to think you capable of love, but I wouldn't rule out obsession." Wintergreen's smirk widened at Reisen's startled reaction; after all, she couldn't have him thinking he was in control. Nonetheless, it also pleased her that he was quickly back on his game. Arrogance was one thing, incompetence quite another. "As you are well aware, my Queen, I do not like being stymied, but I will not let my vengeance interfere with your will." "Good, now continue your story," Wintergreen replied. Reisen went on to discuss the events at the Shining Rock Inn. He dwelled on manipulating the portentous old man and on the growing discord between Tsugiko and the others. Reisen had neared the end of his account when Wintergreen's impatience reared. "Your manipulation is quite impressive, but did your original plan not make use of the elite troops you are presently squandering?" Reisen was prepared for this charge. "It is true that I had originally hoped that, despite the evidence, Kyouji was not so incompetent as to fail at so simple a task as running away. Also, I had thought that the innkeepers would not be so weak as to hand over the crystal." He paused for a moment to allow a rebuke to begin to form in Wintergreen's mind. "But when fate did not support me, I choose to make a better opening, rather then waste your troops in a pointless attack." Wintergreen nodded and Reisen continued. "Since they have left the inn, I have followed the dispirited and silent group as they pursue their irritating white hunting rat. After sending one of my--" He caught himself, and continued, "your minions ahead to scout out the pass, I discovered where the next crystal lies." This caught Wintergreen's attention. She had used her magic to find the location of most of the Crystals. They were typically guarded or just out of reach of her armies and, as a result, she still had only one in her possession. She knew that at least one was unaccounted for, and she had not discovered any others near the mountains. "Where?" she asked, tacitly acknowledging this time Reisen had surely done her a service. A smirk slowly crept across Reisen's face. "The Taffy Swamps." >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< Yumi sighed with relief as she put down her pack. They'd been moving almost non-stop since they'd left the Inn. Kit Kat was leading them to the next Crystal, which apparently was on the far side of this mountain pass. They'd set a hard pace, sharing an unspoken hope to put the Shining Rock, and the pain, far behind them. "We seem to have come pretty far," Yumi started. She'd been working at conversation for much of the trek, with grunts and unfriendly looks her only reward. "We're lucky Kit Kat found this cave." She sighed softly, and shivered. "Just when I thought it was finally getting warmer, the wind picked up." If Kyouji or Tsugiko were listening, they weren't showing it. Yumi gave up for the moment. Once they'd settled, it would be easier to sit around and get them to talk. She gathered a few rocks together and heated them with a light burst of energy from her wand. She succeeded, and she settled in near the heat. After Kyouji and Tsugiko set up the camp, with Tsugiko trying to stay as far away from Kyouji as the work allowed, they joined her in the warmth. Confronting her friends was not Yumi's way. She felt this as strongly as ever. Even more so now, she reflected, as they had just helped her face Winis' death, which still troubled her. She wanted to help; she wanted to find a way for Tsugiko to be all right. If that meant giving up Kyouji, so be it. However, Yumi did want him, and she had to tell him how she felt. Yumi was also afraid that Akie might be more prophetic that she had originally been able to accept. It suddenly seemed like everything they built was falling apart. Choices weren't as clear now, and Tsugiko was back to her old angry self. Yumi didn't know if it was already too late, but she was not a fatalist. This warrior would not make the same mistakes as her predecessor if she could avoid it. Yumi gave up on small talk. "Kyouji-san, we need to-" "No, Yumi," Tsugiko interrupted. "Please Tsugiko-chan, we've got to work this out." "Let Kyouji speak for himself. If he's capable of it." Kyouji seemed to be further torn by the bickering, he looked up, but did not respond. "We don't need to fight," Yumi tried again. "We can work out-" "No, Tsugiko is right, I need to speak for myself," Kyouji said, finally suppressing his inner conflict. "I have something I need to say, to be fair to both of you." Tsugiko stared at him, surprised that he answered her challenge. She was angry, but she knew she couldn't control him, and it appeared she missed her chance. Yumi offered her hand as Kyouji was again building up his courage. Tsugiko took it. "What happened at the Shining Rock, it was my fault. I've been letting both of you down consistently. I've been thinking about it while we were walking, and I think I may have made a bad choice." As Kyouji paused, Yumi gasped and Tsugiko squeezed her hand. She also felt guilty for hoping that Kyouji would change her mind while she was trying to comfort her friend. "I was talking to the old man, Toffee, at the Inn, and he told me that fate is cyclical on Mars, and spurning it is dangerous. And last night, I had trouble sleeping. I kept thinking of all the times I've let both of you down. I'm supposed to be the protector, but you've had to save me from poison and myself." Kyouji took a deep breath. "I almost think you'd be better off without me. You were right to be disgusted with me, Tsugiko." Tsugiko looked shocked for a moment. "No, Kyouji, you're not perfect, but you do help. Have you already forgotten that you took the lead when we took out those Bottle Pops?" Yumi was about to join in and encourage him too, but Kyouji spoke first. "Yes, butc I think Toffee was right. Maybe I did disturb fate. I should have come back as a girl, and now we all may have to pay-" Tsugiko laughed brightly. Yumi was similarly inclined but was able to suppress it to a morbid giggle. Kyouji looked hurt and started again. "No, seriously--" he said, but this time Yumi interrupted. "Kyouji, I don't know what he told you about fate and cycles, but I think you are forgetting that last time, all three girls died! And Akie had feelings for Teru, and felt that their not discussing it helped cause that." Yumi hadn't meant to get into her dreams, and quickly backtracked. "Male or female, you are a fine warrior priestess and you have more important things to face than whether you should have chosen to wear a skirt." Tsugiko giggled and Kyouji simply sat shocked, but much to Yumi's satisfaction, he didn't look not mopey. Yumi lightly touched Kyouji on the shoulder. "You are exasperating at times, and we all still need to chat, but forget this talk of failure, because it won't help us win. Ok, Kyouji-san?" He nodded. Yumi continued, "Go get some sleep tonight. Tsugiko-chan and I will handle early watches." Yumi glanced over to Tsugiko, who nodded agreement. Kyouji left the now cooling rocks and Yumi and Tsugiko began to talk. >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< Krackal reached the border of the Taffy Swamp. As mysterious and foreboding as the legends of the swamp were, it was actually oddly cheerful. It smelt not of decay, but of saltwater, and birds and other animal life abounded. Life that was largely absent in Wintergreen's surrounding realms, he mused. Her presence was not felt because magic had a hard time penetrating the swamp. He'd heard many legends as to why that was, and what happened to magic cast here: "The spirits of those lost in the swamp protect their graves," "The swamp itself serves a restorative function for Mars, one that predates our presence here and is stronger than those forces we can harness," "magic there doesn't fail, it just goes, wrong, spells can heal or hurt regardless of intent," or "the gases of the swamp fog the brain, and prevent the concentration necessary for using such powers." All the legends agreed on was that despite the pleasant look of the swamp, it was quite dangerous. No one with sense would enter without a guide, and ideally not even then. Those that lived long enough to escape tended to report strange creatures which could be seen through the corner of one's eye or in the shadows just below the water's surface. Krackel did have a guide; several, in fact. Wintergreen gave Krackel this mission immediately after she finished debriefing Reisen. Krackel was to leave immediately, travel to the swamp, and find the shard. While he was there, he was to take advantage of the magic dampening and kill or substantially set back the Warrior Priestesses. Reisen was so 'kind' as to suggest that Krackel could rendezvous with him and pick up his elite escort. Wintergreen also sent her best tracker with Krackel to help in the search. She would have sent a larger contingent, but it would only have slowed him down. These troops were along to 'help' Krackel fulfill his mission. They weren't necessary, if Krackel did not restrain himself he thought he was easily match for the Crystal Warriors without their powers. The real and unspoken reason for the escort was that Wintergreen did not trust Krackel in the slightest. The fact that her scrying magic could not penetrate the swamp did nothing to reassure her. Despite her confidence in Krackel's abilities, it was quite obvious that she would have preferred to send another for this job. However, Clorets, while a great general, was not a natural choice for individual combat. Besides which, she was occupied with rebuilding Wintergreen's army after the Bottle Pops debacle. Reisen was too dependent on magic to be effective in the swamp, and Krackel never considered him much of a fighter anyways. Reisen also had gained increased latitude from his success, and, not surprisingly, his next plan involved avoiding trudging through muck and mire. Krackel paused his review of his present situation to grimace. He had followed the tracker into the swamp and now for the first of what would be many times he had to walk through thigh deep mud. If asked, he'd have taken rivers and streams any day. At least then boats would be a choice. Here, Krackel only had boots, which the mud seemed eager to devour. But Krackel was above all a professional adventurer; he quickly adjusted to these conditions and resumed contemplation. Wintergreen had actually surprised him at the end of her orders. "I'd hope you'll use this chance to kill or maim at least one of those Priestesses, but it seems that is too much to expect. If even one of them dies, I will have no further need for your services and you be welcome to take Rollo with you." Menace then entered her voice. "Conversely, you know the consequence should you fail to substantially hurt them or return the shard. My seeker will--" She paused to select the correct word, then smiled coolly before continuing, "evaluate your performance." This was not a great surprise to Krackel, what startled him was the shard Wintergreen relished in tossing him. It felt different then the shard he'd recently retrieved, but in appearance and glow it was an exact match. "As a sign of the faith I'm putting in you, here is a gift for the Crystal Warriors. If you aren't up to disposing of them, make sure they find this shard rather than the one in the swamp." She gave no further explanation of its purpose and immediately sent him on his way. Krackel pondered the function of this new shard, and what he would do the next time he encountered the Warrior Priestesses. He had much to think about, but for the time being, he contented himself with remembering his favorite legend about the Taffy Swamp. "Wintergreen was not the first sorceress to try to conquer Mars. She had a predecessor who died here. So great was her power and evil that Mars itself salted the ground and drove the magic out." He didn't believe a word of it. >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< Author's note: Thanks go to Capfox for encouraging me and pre-reading (at 11:15 pm). As well as to Ardweden, for listening to my ideas. This is fairly new to me and was great fun once I managed to get started. I'd appreciate comments, including harsh ones.