Book Three Chapter Seventy Three: Temp Ban

Book Three Chapter Seventy Three: Temp Ban

Qube forced herself to stay calm as she stared at the Deep One. Its legs clicked as it slowly approached her. The lure hanging from its forehead wasnt as strong in the full light of the castles room as it had been in the Water Temple, but it still drew the party towards it, making them meet it halfway.

She suspected she knew the reason the Deep One hadnt joined the others.

And that reason was the very adorable baby Deep One she was about to take to face down the Evil Emperor.

Shed always known this day might come, when the Deep Ones would want their child returned to them. Well, that wasnt exactly correct. She hadnt particularly thought about it before, but looking up at the guardian looming over her, it felt so natural that it was almost as if shed been awaiting this very moment.

The correct thing to do would be to hand Squiggles over to the Deep One, and not take a baby into the final confrontation between the forces of Good and Evil. Especially since the Evil Emperor had shown no hesitation in killing before. Having made her stand on her strength as a Healer, and the wisdom that came with the role, she couldnt very well make an emotional decision based purely on her desire to fight a guardian just to stop it from taking her pet away.

Make no mistake, thought, she wanted to fight the guardian. Not physically, since that would end poorly (mostly for her) but with her words, and the dizzying power of being the mouthpiece for the Chosen One.

But she had to be responsible. Even though, as the mouthpiece for the erratic Hero, she would have had every right to not be responsible.

Squiggles! she called towards the other room, before glancing at the others. Can one of you get Squiggles, and watch the Chosen One for me? I think the Deep One wants to talk to her.

Please, allow me, Sencha Bard said with a flourish. I shall fetch Lady Squiggles.

But before hed even moved, the tell-tale clang-slorp-clang heralded Squiggles arrival. She dove at Qube, wrapping her tentacles around her, and hugging for all she was worth. It was as if theyd been separated for months, rather than minutes. With a smile, Sencha Bard left to go watch over the Chosen One.

Deep One, this is Squiggles, Qube said, attempting to pry the sharktopus off her. Squiggles blinked up at the Deep One, her little black eyes tracking its approaching lure.

She was still wrapped around Qube when the rainbow lure touched her.

Images flashed into Qubes mind. A sense of confusion, and a hazy image of an otter. Surrounding the otter was Squiggles. As she moved, the otter inside her followed, as if riding around inside her stomach. There was vague recognition, followed by more confusion. After a brief hesitation, a new image formed: one of a family of otters, swimming around the Deep One and its friends, twisting happily in the water, before breaching the surface and jumping onto the mermaids island.

Qube struggled to understand what the Deep One was trying to communicate. Was it asking Squiggles about Otto? The Deep One, as if sensing her lack of comprehension, replayed the image of Squiggles with the otter inside her. This time there was a swelling surge of concern, and fear.

And, at the very bottom of it, a feeling of loss.

Did it want Squiggles to go back to Otto? Did it think that Otto was supposed to be the mascot, and was upset that Squiggles had taken his place?

Squiggles released Qube, and dropped to the ground with a clang and a splat. She looked at the Deep One, tilting her head first one way, then the other. Eventually she reached a conclusion, and clang-slorped her way back to the room shed come from.

Squiggles! Qube said, but whether it was to scold the young sharkotpus for rudely leaving mid mental conversation, or it was just her fear of the sharktopus leaving, she couldnt say.New novel chapters are published on

The mascot seemed to glow for a second, before zipping out of the room full speed, leaving traces of glitter behind her. In seconds she was back by Qubes side, gently bonking her so shed step away from the Deep One. In one of her tentacles she had her hungry caterpillar book, in another a small brush, and in a third was a much-chewed wooden ring from the Circus Bard from the Trials.

Why have you got those, my little sweet? Sexy Screamy Spider Briar asked, moving to take Squiggles brush and groom her with it. But Squiggles twitched the brush away.

Was she trying to say goodbye? Shed already packed all her things!

Was there much damage from your prolonged time here? Definitely Bad Guy, whod been remarkably quiet, piped up.

Eh, nothing permanent, the Chosen One said with a shrug.

Thats not a proper answer, Qube said sharply.

Totally is, the Chosen One retorted. Its a great answer. The answer is: nothing permanent.

Qube frowned at him, but was too happy to see him back to his normal cheerful self to quibble. When hearts could be regrown with a spell, using permanent as a measurement of damage meant next to nothing.

So were gonna have to push a bit, but as long as we dont have anything like that weirdness of all the head honchos in one spot, we should be fine, the Chosen One said reassuringly. Now, what did I miss?

We figured out that the Evil Emperor is trying to make us kill the guardians! Qube blurted out. She beamed in pride at the Chosen Ones surprise. She rapidly explained her line of thinking re: crown, kidnapping etc., and how shed neatly avoided falling into the trap. The Chosen One, obviously still not up to his usual mental fortitude, merely blinked at her.

Allright, he said at last. He looked at the crowns Squiggles was wearing. Yeah, why else would he give us these, right?

Exactly! Qube was pleased that he agreed with her. Also Squiggles and the Deep One had a nice chat and the Deep One is fine with her joining us against the Evil Emperor.

Wait, is that the big angler fish thing? I thought it couldnt talk, the Chosen One said. He frowned at the sharktopus, who was still happily paging through her book. Squiggles, you've been chatting, have you? And yet you refuse to answer my amazing questions! So rude.

Squiggles cant actually talk, Chosen One, Qube said, although she was reasonably sure that the Hero was just teasing. After all, hed seemed to understand the answer to any questions hed asked Squiggles, which were usually things such as: who ate this? Was it you? Whos a good girl? And other such important queries. It was more of a metaphorical chatting.

The Hero grinned, confirming her suspicion that hed just been messing with her. She was getting better at spotting when he was joking! So she knew when his smile faded and he looked around the room, he was becoming serious again.

Okay, so, you dont want the guardians to sacrifice themselves. Good call, I wouldnt have been happy about it either. The question is, how do you plan to defeat the Evil Emperor?

***

Qube had been trying for quite some time to figure out what to do about the Evil Emperor. Shed vowed vengeance on him, yes, but shed also peeled open his mind and exposed him to reality. He deserved a chance to prove that hed grown, and to redeem himself. Quite how one redeemed themselves of the slaughter of an entire village she didnt know, but they at least had to try and talk to him.

She wanted to know how much of what hed done was by choice, and how much hed been forced into doing.

But if they confronted him with no protection at all, they might as well be throwing their lives away. While his attempt to trick them into sacrificing the guardians to put gems on what was probably a cursed crown had failed, he would still be tremendously powerful with the guardians remaining connected to corrupted gems.

She folded her arms as she thought.

No, the crowns were cursed. Or at least, if they were, they only activated when the gems were in them. Otherwise Squiggles wouldnt be happily running around.

Definitely Bad Guy, can you check if those crowns have any curses on them? Especially ones designed to go off when we put gems in them? Qube asked as she tried to tackle the tangled question the Hero had asked. While the Mages eyes flared red and blue, she looked to the rest of the group.

Do any of you have any ideas as to how we can defeat the Evil Emperor without sacrificing the guardians? she asked.

I think I might have a plan, Sexy Screamy Spider Briar said, her tone serious. Ill have to go in there alone.