Misty Peril: The Mirage Castle of The Lake

Twas just before dawn on a crisp warm morning at the lake's edge. "Hey, you've been warned of the dangers in that lake, so if you die, there won't be a search party." A man on a camel said. "And if you make it out alive you'll have to walk back." He added. "Lets go boys, we gotta get some water back at the other oasis before we head home." The man said before he and the group that transported everyone to the lake's edge rode off into the slowly lighting darkness.

_______________________________

In the group was a man and a child that, at first glance seemed to be father & son, but was actually butler and master! The child seemed to be dressed a rather basic outfit in a tank top, and shorts, but he also wore what seemed to be half a robe. His butler seemed to totally clash his master's outfit as he bore something that looked like garbs from tribes were thrown into a mixing pot and came out looking like... well what he wore!

"Nebo, there's no boat." The child said in an agitated tone.

"It would seem so." The man named Nebo said.

"Get in the water and let me ride on your back." The child said in a demanding tone.

"Very well my master." Nebo said before he dove into the water. when he resurface, his very long, and thick white hair floated on the surface like some kind of rug. "Whenever you're ready my lord." He added.

"Then we'll set off!" The child yelled since he was back a little further. He ran and then did a cannonball right ontop of his servant.

When the two resurfaced, the butler had started to swim with his master on his back. "Master, I really wish you wouldn't do things like that..." He said before sighing.

"Why? I'm the boss here. You just do what I say and do it. I'll do what I want how I want. Now shut up and swim faster." The child say.

A short boy fiddled with the baubles he wore in his ears when he stared into the water. It was because his aunt that he was even here in the first place.

"Remember Austin, bring back as much treasure as you can! If someone gets in your way, trample all over them with your power. you can do it; you aren't my nephew for nothing!" Her words echoed through his mind, and he shivered. He didn't want to go back with no treasure at all. It was time for him to be a good little pirate and bring home something.

Two people walked up to the water's edge. One was a man, kinda short in stature. He was wearing a grayish shirt, black pants, and a red robe. His brown hair was combed neatly and he wore a crown on his head. His orange eyes were dark. "Adon, there's no boat here. How come there isn't a boat here?" He asked. Adon walked next to the man, holding his elbows in a similar fashion to a woman's posture.

"I don't know. I'm just a servant filling his master's request." Adon said. He kicked a rock into the water. the man looked back at his servant, and promptly roundhouse kicked him in the face. Adon sounded very feminine when he cried out, and landed on his back.

"You're a man aren't you? Well quit acting like a woman." He said. Adon got up and bowed, not even bothering to wipe off his face.

"Yes, Lord Mason." Adon said and put his hands at his sides.

"...Well, whatever. We have to get across this lake somehow, but I don't have any ideas. Anyone else here have some ideas?" Mason asked. Austin kept his mouth shut and pretended not to notice Mason's question. He flung rocks at the water.

"I told you we should have taken the left turn at Albuquerque." A heavy armored teen sighed. She walked with her hands behind her head with long strides for her size. Very carefree and relaxed looking, but the gleam in her eyes screamed mischievous adventurer. "Your lucky we were nice enough to escort you out here." A man only a few inches taller said, frowning, following behind her. "Daddy said you had to ya know. I'll tell on you if you leave me alone." She grinned and stopped quickly, the man walking into her at the sudden lose of moving forward and turned back. "Menzy! Get the lead out of your panties and let's go. If there's a metal out here stronger then Goldy then I want it!"

The girl who appeared to be the middle child stood staring at the lake in the slight distance. "That group of travelers we passed a while back. They said to stay away from this lake." The leader ran over, grabbing the other girl's arm. "Look at the lonely island in the middle of the waters. You think that's what they are afraid of?" "I can sense..something in the waters. Menroe?" She looked up at the man with the same eyes. "Yeah. Something magical." "WELL THEN!" The youngest said, stepping into the edge of the lake bed and pointed out, "Let's go to the island! Onward!" There was silence, the crickets chirping as if to add to the awkwardness. The man leaned down slightly, putting his arm on her shoulder. "And how do you plan on getting over there Captain Lynn?" "That's miss Mary-Lynn to you Deejay!"

"I could fly Mary over, but your to heave for my Dee I'm sorry." Menroe mentioned. "Alright then! Let's go sis!" "I don't think so." Deejay pulled on her pinky dress, holding her back. "I'm not letting you two go in there by yourselves. Mary, you can't even swim. What if you were dropped." Menroe narrowed her eyes. "What are you implying?" "Either we all go, or no one goes." Mary looked up at him, here eyes big and her lower lip stuck out slightly. "Don't give me the face." "Pleeaasseee Big Brother." One could see the vein of annoyance on his forehead. "I'll love you long time~." "Damn it. Menroe!" "I'm thinking hang on."

“So THIS is the lake that those people were talking about!” A young blonde haired man said. He was wearing a red shirt, blue pants, black shoes, and six bombs with faces painted on them strapped to his belt. His sword was on his back. “There's probably lots of cool things in there!” His blue eyes got wide with excitement. He turned to a blue haired young man who was a little taller than him. “Hey Robert! Let's go in now!”

The one called Robert looked at the lake then back at the blonde. Some of Robert's hair was covering the left side of his face and there was a long flick in his hair on the ride side of his head. He wore a black jacket, a skin tight black t-shirt, baggy pants, and black shoes. His sword was strapped to his back.
“There's no boat to use to cross Jim.” He said in a calm tone.

Jim pointed to two people swimming in the water. “Hey, those people are swimming towards the island. Why don't we swim too?”

Robert gave him a look. “I don't think it's a good idea to swim in this water. Yeah we can swim but the gun powder for your bombs will get wet.” He said.

“Hm, maybe you're right.” Jim said. He turned and saw a rather large tree laying on the ground. “Hey! We can use this to get across!” He said as he ran over. “Hey, Robert, do you think you can--”

At that moment Robert took out his sword and the blade glowed red and he unleashed shock waves at the tree, carving the top and bottom to a point.

Jim smiled his usual smile. “You read my mind brother!” He said as Robert walked over to the back of the tree and dug the tip of the blade in a slanted position in the back and unleashed another shock wave, hollowing the inside of the dead tree. Thanks to Robert's enchanted sword, he created a makeshift canoe.

“Yes! Now we can use this to get across! And it looks like it can hold three more people!” Jim said as he scanned the area and saw the trio of Mary-Lynn, Deejay, and Menrow. He smiled a big smile as he waved to them. “Hey! You guys! Do you wanna come with us to that island! My brother just made a canoe!” Jim shouted as he continued to wave like a ninny.

Robert just crossed his arms and sighed.



Meanwhile a black shadow opened up on the island and out rosed a woman with cat ears and a tail and cat-like red eyes. She had purple hair and wore, black shoes, black pants, and a black tunic with sleeves that reached above her elbows with purple markings at the ends. Her sword was attached to her purple belt.
“I can't wait to get my hands on whatever priceless items are in there.” She said.

The woman looked up and saw a girl flying in the air with small black bat-like wings sticking out of her pink hair. She had pink cat-like eyes, pointed ears, a pink sleeveless shirt, a pink skirt. She wore no shoes but pink cloths over her feet. Something on her arms that appeared to be sleeves started at the middle of her arms and reached past her fingers. She held a staff with a pink crystal at the top.

“LILY! Get your ass back on the ground right now!” The woman with cat features yelled.

The girl called Lily looked at the woman. “But Eclipse, I like it up here. It's so much—EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! Look at that adorable little boy down there!!” Lily cried with joy as she pointed to Austin.

Eclipse sighed as Lily flew to Austin. “Out of all the people that had to come with me...it had to be little miss pink fluff...” She muttered. “I wish Yio had come with me instead of her...SHE doesn't flip out every time she sees something she thinks is cute.” She said as a shadow opened underneath her and she sank in it. The shadow closed when she was completely in it.

Lily landed in front of Austin and picked him up and gave him a tight hug, his face smashed into her breasts. “Awwwww! You are so adorable!” She squealed.

Austin freaked out when he was face-to-face with marshmallows of a different caliber. "Wah! Where did you come from?!" He asked, but his mouth was muffled. He started struggling to get free so he could breathe.

Mason threw a rock into the lake. "Adon, do something about this."

"A-all right." he said, and moved away from Mason, looking for something he could make into a raft. "Anything to get away from you for a while. He thought.

"No thanks, we'll find our own way." Deejay started as the youngest elbowed his gut, stepping back and jumping over, landing on the canoe. "Hell yeah. Thank you boys." She smiled, winking. "Come on. You stick in the mud. They are being nice enough beside. You think Menzy can carry you across?" He looked over at the dragonmaster for support and she just shrugged her shoulders and carefully climbed over. Deejay rubbed his temples and came over, sitting on the very end, being his anti-social self.

"Take us away captian!" Mary cried, pointed to the island in the distance and grinned, pulling Menroe's ear slightly and pointing at Robert, whispering between the two of them. "Now THAT is a man. Not your pretty boy in his dress." "It's not a dress." "But look at all that.'' She said, moving her hand up and down indicating Roberts skin tight shirt. "I'd like to stick him in my smithshop if you know what I mean." "Mary- Lynn." "What?" "Behave and out your eyes back in your head." Deejay ordered mummbly to her before she started to drool over the men around them.

The servant and child had made it to the island after awhile.

"Hurry up Nebo! I want as much stuff as I can get!" The child said before standing on his servant's back, then jumping off his head into the shallow surf dashing off for the shore.

"Master Lucian, you should wait a moment!" Nebo beckoned and he walked and strained his hair of some water.

The boy called Lucian had looked back while still running. "No, you need to hurry up!" He yelled before he ran right into the semi-feline woman who had beat them there. "Hey lady! Watch where you decide to plant your feet and stand!" He shouted at her.

"Master, stop being so rude!" Nebo said before he picked his bratty lord up off the ground and brushed him off. He then looked up at the woman. "Please forgive my young lord. He can be such a brat." He said while fixing how his glasses sat.

"A brat!? How dare you address me with a word like that!" Lucian shouted before he slammed his elbow into his servant's gut, but Nebo didn't seem to as much as flinch.

Eclipse was starting to go into the shadow she created when a boy ran into her and nearly knocked her over. Fortunately, she kept balance. She glared a cold glare at Lucian and her tail flicked with irritation.

“You're master is lucky he's a kid.” She said to Nebo. “Or else his face would be scratched up right now.” She said. “Now if you two will excuse me, I have to stop my friend from suffocating that poor boy over there.” She said before she glared again at Lucian. “The next time we meet, you better have changed your damn attitude.” And with that she slipped into the shadow.

A shadow opened up in front of Lily who was still hugging Austin and Eclipse rosed out of it. “Lily, let go of that poor kid right now. You're suffocating him.” She said.

Lily turned Austin around so he could breath but she was still hugging him. “Isn't he just adorable?” She asked. “Can we keep him?”

“No.”

“Aw...but why?”

“One: He's a person, not a animal. Two: He probably already has a family. And three: Because I said so.”

“Aw...alright...but can we let him hang out with us?”

Eclipse sighed and shook her head. “Only if it's ok with him.”

“Ok!” Lily looked at Austin. “Do you want to hang with us? Please?” She asked him.



As Deejay, Menroe, and Mary-Lynn got into the canoe, the makeshift boat was already in the water.

“Yes! We're going to be traveling with other people!” Jim said. He took out a rather large black gem with a small red gem in the middle out of his pocket. “This will be perfect as a motor!” He said as he went to the end of the canoe and attached it to the bottom.

Robert noticed that Mary-Lynn was looking at him but he paid to mind. “Jim, is that gem secured?” He asked getting into the canoe.

“Does Toby have a thing for you?” Jim asked, sitting on the edge of the canoe.

Robert didn't say anything but just glared at him.

Jim smiled his usual smile. “Then yes! Alright now...AWAY!” He said as he pressed down the red gem and it glowed as it pushed the canoe at a fast speed through the water. It was going so fast that Jim fell off the canoe but he hung on for dear life. “WAAAH! I'M OK! I'M—Hey this is actually really fun! Weee! No need to help me guys! I'm ok! WEEEEE!” Jim cried as his lower half was being dragged through the water.

An embarrassed Robert sighed and shook his head.

*sniff sniff* "This isn't fair! What kind of boat doesn't have spare oars!" a lone girl, on the verge of tears, sat in a small paddle boat afloat and unmoving somewhere between the lake shore and its island.

The boat's oars could be seen drifting away, already several feet from the boat.
"...maybe I should just start going back now... Nothing is turning out as I wanted it to..."

-FLASHBACKFLASHBACKFLASHBACKFLASHBACKFLASHBACKFLASHBACK

"Are you sure you'll be fine?" Kain was all in a sweat. He had been trying to convience her not to go all night.
"Yep, no problem at all." young Nina placed her bag on the carriage that was waiting on her.

"You know it's no issue at all for me to send some one with you. Any one you want, just name 'em and they'll go!"
Nina smirked, not really trying to reassure her worried boss, "This is my mission and my mission alone. It's time I prove I have more worth around here than simply being your guard."

"Oh come on! You know you do more than that. Your head of the maids that keep both the manner and the bank running smoothly! You don't need to get her hands dirty in...guild business."

Nina put a hand on her hip and threw a finger out, "I'm going and that's final!"

-UNFLASHBACKUNFLASHBACKUNFLASHBACKUNFLASHBACKUNFLASHBACK

*sniff sniff* "This just isn't fair..."






"It is never fun to watch a damsel cry, but she did ask for this." a rather relaxed man in green sat comfortably on a small raft concealed by a layer of mist. His voice, though oddly accented, was a mix of worry and laughter.
He put away his telescope, "Well Ms. Nina? Just how ever do you plan to get out of THIS one?"






There, on the island, somebody was already looking about.
A dark figure concealed in exotic clothing, only their skin allowed for the reflection of any light.
It was a woman, mature but young. She stepped onto the island, thought no boat could be seen behind her. She smirked as she spoke to herself, "What a well hidden little secret..."

"Waaa! Not our captain!" Mary grabbed onto the boy's wrist. "I don't care if you fine. I don't want you to fall off!" She said, perfectly capable of dragging the boy back into the canao but if he was content there, that was fine with her. Deejay glared at his younger sister and looked towards the older one. "What?" "Huh?" "What are you staring at?" "Theres someone left on the shore. This place might be a little dangerous for someone to be alone." "Not for you."

He narrowed his eyes and Menroe stood up. "Just watch Mary. Make sure she doesn't bring on Armageddon till I get back." After losing her balance a few times, she managed to take off, landing a bit from the woman. "It's dangerous to be out here alone. Well, I haven't seen anything yet but you must have heard the rumors. You can come along with us if you want. No one should be out here alone." Guessing but her smaller body, she would probley weigh less then her sister.

((Yes I did just fly back to get Nina. I want her with my sisters >_>))

(Sorry for posting so late, there was a miscommunication that led me to believe that this rp was deleted so I didn't post)

Austin blinked. "Uh...well, it's ok if you want me to go with you..." he said. It was clear that he was getting flustered. He noticed that people had found ways to get across the lake. "Well, you guys are really nice, so I'll let you come across on my boat." He said, walking to the water. He waded in until he was swimming, and then his body turned orange, and looked like someone had dumped orange slime all over his body. Soon he took the shape of a boat. It was standard and not very fancy, aside from the dragon head at the bow, but it was big enough to carry a lot of people. Mason ran to the boat, nearly plowing over everyone else.

"Why didn't you tell me you could turn into a boat? Stupid kid, I asked if there was a way across." Mason said, kicking the boat purposely as he climbed in. Before he sat down, a small spike appeared where he was. When he sat down...he immediately shot back up. "HEY! What's the big idea, stupid kid?! Watch! This is going to infected, and then I'll die!" He complained. The dragon head sighed.

"Listen man, I wasn't about to go too far into your arse. I don't need to catch the douche."

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?! I should-" Mason went to say, but Adon cut him off by pulling him down onto the seat. The spike disappeared.

"Please master, you're making a scene. Calm down before you have an aneurysm." He said. Mason shut up.

Nina practicly fell over when this random girl FLEW out of no where!
"Waaaaah!?" almost completely ignoring the girl's offer for help, she instantly began pulling at the wings, "That's....so cool! How do you do that!"
Surprisingly enough, she did hear what she said, and answered WHILE continuing to play with the wings, "That's very kind of you. And I wouldn't mind the help, but I need to get to that island and find what's inside it, without being protected. Ok?"



"What the hell?" Ace...couldn't see a thing! That same cloud bank that had been concealing him had grown far to thick for him to see through!
"Oh come on!" he began paddling out, closer to the island. Maybe he could get a better view from there. Cause it wasn't looking likely that she would be getting there any time soon.




"Other...people?"
Sure enough, there were others on the island. Small as it was, they hadn't seemed to have noticed her yet. It was probably for the best if she made herself known.

"Oh dear!" she approached the tall man and young boy in a rather flustered tone, "I had no idea there were other people here! I hope you're both ok? This island...brrrr....it chills me to the bone..."

Nebo pushed his glasses as far up against his face as they would allow as his didn't like being approached from the side. He gave the woman a sharp, and almost abnormal look as he messed with his glasses.

"Yeah, we're fine, but you better not try to take treasure I see first!" Lucian said in his usual bratty tone. "Otherwise Nebo here will have to throw you around for awhile." He added in a more cocky tone.

Nebo placed his right hand over Lucian's mouth. "You shouldn't be so rude to people that ask if you're alright." He said before turning his attention back to the woman. "Please forgive my master. His mother spoiled him, and his father is very busy, so I've been trying to discipline him a little, but it doesn't seem to going very well." He said in a casual tone. "Now may I ask your name m'lady?" He asked.

Jim stared at Mary after she pulled him in the canoe. “Thanks for that!” He said with a smile as he sat up straight. “I was getting a little cold in that water. By the way, my name is Jim and that's my brother, Robert.” He added.

When Menroe flew over to the Nina. “So your sister can fly? That's interesting.” He said.

Jim watched Menroe flew by. “That's so cool! I wanna fly! I bet it feels awesome to fly!” He said, going over to the bow and standing on the tip while the canoe is STILL in motion.

“Jim! What the heck are you doing? You're going to fall.” Robert said.

“Pfft! Don't worry! I have perfect balance! Like a cat! Wait...what other kind of animal has perfect--” The boat stopped all of a sudden when it touched the sand in the shallow waters of the island. The sudden stop of motion made Jim lose his balance and fall flat on his face. “...balance...” He said.

Robert sighed and helped Jim up. “I told you that you were going to fall.” He said before going over to the canoe. “Does anyone need help getting out?” He asked.




Lily stepped back a few inches when Mason had his little hissy fit. “Eclipse, I don't like that guy with the cheap looking crown. He's mean and he's creepy looking.” She said.

“I don't even know this guy and I already hate him.” Said Eclipse before she took a giant leap off the shore and landing on her feet in the boat in front of Mason and Adon. She gave Mason the coldest death glare that could haunt one's nightmares.
“Hey, McDouchbag, what the HELL is your damn problem?! This guy here changed into a boat so he can ferry us across this damned lake and you're complaining how he didn't mention that he could turn into a boat before?! You're lucky that he turned into one at all! Maybe he didn't mention that he could change shape before is because he didn't want to or MAYBE YOUR DAMN ATTIDUDE IRRITATED HIM SO HE DECIDED NOT TO HELP YOU!!!! YA EVER THOUGHT OF THAT?!?! YOU SHOULD BE APOLOGIZING TO HIM AND THANKING HIM FOR EVEN CARRY YOUR SORRY ASS ACROSS THIS LAKE!!! AND IF YOU SAY ONE DAMN COMMENT TO ME OR MAKE SOMETHING TO MAKE ME MORE PISSED...I'M GOING TO STRANGLE THE PUNY LIFE OUT OF YOU AND I'LL FEED YOUR LIFELESS CARCASS TO WHATEVER FISH THIS LAKE HAS!!!!! YOU HEAR ME HUMAN?!?!?!” Eclipse practically screamed.

Lily flew over to the dragon head of the boat and sat on top of it and giggled as Eclipse gave Mason the yelling of a life time. “Heehee, that creep deserves all her rage.” She said. “I'd fly over to the island but my wings are tired from the long flight to reach here. They deserve to rest.” She said. “And Eclipse is probably going to yell at that man until we reach the island and I wanna stick around to watch it. It's funny.” She said.

Her back straightened up and the wings flared out. "Stop it. That tickles." The wings dispersed into color as she turned, the magic swirls in the air forming back into her wing. "It's very hard to explain." "Without...but.." Menroe sighed, knowing its known of her business to pry. "Maybe without protection, but that doesn't mean you have to travel alone right." Menroe rubbed her hands together. "Alright. Hold on." She wrapped her arms around the bouncy girl, spreading her wings out, as if they got bigger and took off. Flaying over the waters and landed on the island and setting her down. "I mean. I can't stop you, but I really wish you wouldn't go off on your own."

Mary-Lynn nodded. "I guess we do look alike. I never saw it. I'm the prettier one." Mary laughed. "Yeah, but who cares. You can do more on your feet." Then watched him fall into the sands. She climbed on the edge. "Adventure!" And jumped on the sands beside Jim, kneeling down and poking his side slightly as he laid in the sands. "Your gonna get sand in your buns you keep laying there." She grinned and stood up. "I've never been to the beach before!" Kneeling down and combing the sand. "It feels sooooooo cool." Deejay climbed out. "Thank you for the ride."

Mason went to stand up, but instead laughed. "Adon, take care of this problem. Don't throw anyone over the side of the boat. Just get her to shut up, will ya?" He commanded. Adon nodded, and in the blink of an eye, he was behind Eclipse with his hand over her nose.

"I'm sorry, but I must always obey Mason's orders. Please just be silent for the remainder of the ride..." He said softly into her ear. On his hand was herbal muscle relaxant. It wasn't powerful enough to make Eclipse fall asleep, but it was powerful enough to make her too tired to speak. Adon got up and sat down next to Mason, washing his hands with the lake water. "As you requested, it's finished." He said.

"I don't much like Mason either, but that servant he's got isn't too bad. It's fitting that someone who's incompetent has a competent lap dog to do everything he wants." Austin said. "And hey, since when was my head a seat?"

Nina curtsyed daintily once on the island, "Thank you, my name is Nina! Ms. Nina Nori of the Gatrie manor! May I ask all of your names? And just what you're all out here for?"


"SACREBLEU!? There are people all over this island! Perhaps little Ms. Nori will be better off than I thought..."
Ace had infact made it to the on his little raft, albiet roughly due to the fog. But much to his surprise, by the time he had gotten there so had a number of people INCLUDING Nina!
"Perhaps...it is best I stay in the shadow's for now...." and so he did, slinking away into the mist...


"Basil, may name is Basil...Hawthorn." she bowed slightly, "It is a pleasure to meet you."
She smiled gently at the young boy, "You needn't worry, I'm here for a treasure of a different sort. I have no intention of taking what valueables you find."

“Anytime.” Said Robert, looking at Deejay.

Jim looked around and saw Menroe with Nina. “Hiiiiii other girl who rode on the canoe with us!” He said as he ran over just in time to hear Nina's questions. “My name is Jim, me and my brother Robert are here to explore!” He said in a triumphant manor.
He struck a pose and pointed to the center of the island. “And to get whatever is in there! Treasure hidden and lying in wait makes this adventure more exciting! So when my group comes over here we'll start the exploration!” He said with much gusto as big white sparkles appeared around him. He looked at Nina and smiled his usual smile. “You can come with us if you like.”

Robert saw Jim doing his pose and sighed. He looked at Mary and Deejay. “Well, I guess we'd better join my brother and your sister over there.” He said before he started walking over to his hyper active brother.




Eclipse was about to yell something at Mason again when Adon seemly appeared behind her with his hand over her nose. She was about to pull his hand down and bite it when she suddenly felt tired. Too tired to even speak. Her tail flicked with irritation as she had been defeated again. She knew that she couldn't do anything else so she glared at Mason and Adon while she sat down. “Damn that servant...I wasn't done with him...” She thought bitterly.

Lily giggled. “Sorry, but your head is comfy. ...And I don't really want to sit near that Mason...he looks kinda creepy...I don't like him at all...” She said.

"Hell yeah!" Mary said, hitting Jim's back hard. "Let's go!" "Shes gonna get your brother in trouble." Deejay pointed out as he followed them over to the other two. Menroe smiled, seeing Mary actually having someone to have fun with while being here. She grew up alone with their Dad, so didn't actually have many friends, no matter how social she was. "Mary-Lynn. Slow down. We don't know yet why this island is so..haunted and feared."

She looked at Nina. "For some reason. I feel like I've met you before, but I haven't. My name is Menroe. That's Mary." "Miss Mary-Lynn Skabn to you!" "Yeah. My younger sister. She's eccentric but her heart is as gold as her armor. And That's Deejay. Our brother. Robert and Jim helped us over here."

"And we don't know why they are here." Deejay pointed out, being his untrusting of people self. "Shut up lunkhead." Mary yelled back. "We were going to do something but heard about this from the locals and is totally curious of whats so scary here." The youngest grinned.

Austin made it to the shore and everyone got off. The muscle relaxant had worn off of Eclipse and she was free to move. The boat turned to the orange color, and Austin was back to his normal self. He stretched a little, and then smiled.

Mason went to run to the castle, but Adon grabbed him and stopped him. "Please wait a moment master. I have a bad feeling about this place, and I won't want you to get hurt. Let's wait and see what happens." He said.

"Are you trying to tell me what to do?!" Mason barked. Adon sighed.

"I am just trying to protect you, which is just a part of your job for me." he replied distantly. Mason muttered something, kicked the sand, and waited.

With everyone's morale to find treasure high for their various reasons, everyone set off in search of this hole they heard about along the way.

They came to it after some time finding it on the bade of the trunk on a big blue leaved tree. It showed a black drawbridge coming from an immense looking red palace.

A moment was spent looking at the odd hole in the tree before everyone fought their way into the hole bringing them onto the black draw bridge they saw mere seconds ago.

Three creatures that looked like inverted toucans landed a little ways down the bridge.

"Turn!" One beckoned.

"Back!" Another said.

"MOOOOOO" The third chirped.

The birds seemed to take off as if being startled.

"LEAVE!" One screamed.

"NOW!" The other chirped.

"HEEEE-HAAAAAWWWW" The third chirped.

What startled the birds seemed to be two ghosts that looked like kids playing something like tag. They ran back into the castle itself a moment after the birds flew away.

The castle itself was a brilliant medium red color, and it stood about fourteen stories high, fifteen including the watch towers around the perimeter. What rested under the bridge seemed like an abyss, yet had the feeling something was crawling around at the bottom.

________________________________________

Inside the castle, in what looked like a throne room, there stood quite a few people with a tall looking fellow standing in front.

"This will be our base of operations! Now everyone, gather any treasure you find and bring it back here immediately. These measly ghosts are more scared of us then we are of them, so I don't want to hear excuses!" The ringleader in front said before the men standing behind him except for one, who looked like the big brains of the group ran from the room in a hasty manner.

"Luminary, are you sure about the ghosts being more afraid of us? I mean all the ones we saw on the way here were mostly children and elderly, but there's bound to be some that fight back." The big brainy looking one said.

"Don't worry, I've heard there's something in this room that makes them all go haywire." The ring leader said before walking up by the throne to find a giant jewel-like object sitting in an indent in the wall. "This must be it." He mumbled to himself before his yellow eyes turned pink, and rattled the jewel.

Soon after the jewel started to rattle, the entire castle shook a little, and the scream of what sounded like a child echoed throughout the entire castle and could be heard well past the drawbridge.

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"Come on Nebo! We don't have much time!" Lucian said before running off.

"Master, you shouldn't run off like that!" Nebo said before the drawbridge started to shake with the castle.

"What is this!?" Lucian said before he fell of the bridge and gripped onto the side with his hand that was under his half-robe.

"This is what I tell you!" Nebo said before his long, and very furry tail wrapped itself around Lucian's chest, and lifted him back on the bridge.

"Holy shit on a cracker. Are you looking at this?!" Mary-Lynn said, standing up and running up to the large doors. "They're arn't many old castles like this left in the world. Everyone's updated or abandoned them." "Isn't your smithshop a castle?" "What's left of one my dear Watson." She corrected her brother. She threw open the doors, walking in and hearing her footsteps echo. "Honey. I'm home!" She looked about, taking a big breath. "So. What are we gonna do?!"

Deejay flicked the back of her head. "Calm down before you wake the dead." "What?!" He smiled. "No such thing as ghosts!" "But there is." Menroe said, walking on the other side of her. "I've talked to them." "They like to take bodies so that they can be part of the living agian." Deejay said, grinning evilly and she pushed him, knocking him back easily as he tripped over his own feet and fell on his bottom.

"Menroe!" Mary buried her face in his sister's chest. "Tell him to shut up." "There are such things as ghosts. But We won't let them get you." "Neither will I!" She said, pulling a golden rod from her belt and the charm on her head glowed, a large hammer head appearing on the end and she rested it on her shoulder. "Ready or not! Here we come whatever is in here!" Menroe looked back, "You going to come with us?" She asked the brothers and Nina.

“Heck yeah we are!” Jim said cheerfully. “I'm not afraid of any ghost!” He said loudly before running over to Mary. “That's a awesome hammer you got there. I wish I had one!” He said.

Robert put his hands in his pockets as he walked over. “I'm sure that this will turn out to be interesting.” He said.

“Don't you mean AWESOME?!”

“...Yeah...sure.”

“Ok, so what are we waiting for? Let's start dis exploration Mary-Lynn!” He said striking a pose and pointing up.

Robert shook his head and sighed.





“I smell other people in there. And not the ones who just went in.” Eclipse said.

“I wonder what made the castle shook like that...and what caused that child to scream...” Lily said.

“Well, no use standing here and questioning about it. Let's go in and find out for ourselves. And get that treasure.” Eclipse said.

“Right!” Lily said before she picked up Austin in a way so that he is facing away from her. The wings on her head started to flap and she was off the ground and flying towards the castle.

Eclipse ran to the castle and shoved Mason to the ground as she passed him. Before she touched him the palms of her hands suddenly had a black color on them and Mason felt a painful shock of electricity rush throughout his body. It didn't last very long. The shock only lasted for one second. “That's what you get for being a douche!” She yelled as she jumped up and a shadow opened up beneath her. She landed in the shadow and it closed up after she was all the way in.

"Whatever, just don't leave me behind!" by this point, after the birds, the scream, and everything else, Nina was all but using Menroe as a shield. She had scooted up real close behind her and followed her steps perfectly, refusing to let her get any bit away from her.
"I don't like spooky things..."



"Our group is quite big, " Basil rubbed Nina's head gently, "So long as we stick together I'm sure nothing will try and hurt us."
She gave a slight bow, "My name is Basil by the by. Basil Hawthorn. A pleasure to meet you all."



"What in the vast world?" Ace was already confused when he saw them walk into a tree, but the scream that came quickly after was just all to freaky! He still kept far enough away not to be seen. But he decided maybe it was for the best if he still followed behind closely....

Mason got up and went to get Adon to attack Eclipse, but Adon stopped him. "Now it's every man for himself. You must think about the treasure now or else you will go home with none." He said. Mason muttered.

"W-Wah! I know how to walk you know!" Austin said to Lily. He wasn't sure how he could handle being smothered by her all the time.