((Thats quite fine! *nods*))

"Enrique!" Kerik yelled, but his fellow knight was already dead. The others his sister had struck were also critically wounded. His teeth narrowed as he moved to jump out of the way, but received a nasty blow to his left side.

"Brother please!" Eleven yelled to Kerik. "Just back down! I don't want to-"

"Real bloodly likely! You're just like those muses, a traitor! I'll bring you down with my own blade, your partner as well! Noone crosses the king or kills my comrades!" he growled. Eleven inhaled sharply.

Before she even realized it, an arrow went straight into the air. Her hands moved before her heart could yell out not to. The arrow went straight through his chest, sending him to the ground, coughing up vital fluids. "Kerik!" she yelled, as her wings vanished. She made her way over towards him... only to find him raise his blade and pierce her side. It wasn't deep, he hadn't the strength as he passed out. The blade dropping to the ground.

"We... we... need to get out of here," Stanley said, leaning against a wall for support but on his feet. "Before more come. Portal!" Portal nodded, opening the doorway. Eleven meanwhile looked back towards her brother, and the bloodstained sword at his side. It hurt, in more than one way,to have the awful truth confirmed.

"ELEVEN!" Yumi raced to her side "Eleven come on" she supported Eleven and helped her stand "we need to go now I'm very sorry about your brother but it had to be done and this is not the time to hesitate!" she shot a nasty glance at Kerik as the spirits disappeared. "Stanley, can you move? I have some herbs that are able to heal you quickly"

"I know... there is really no going back..." Eleven agreed quietly. Her muse sought to comfort her as well, and she took that bit of comfort with a smile. The best she could give under the circumstances. It hurt, but she could make do.

At her question Stanley nodded. "I can move," he told her, as he slowly made his way towards the doorway. Making sure the others followed and every muse had gone through, Portal at last took them home. Stanley himself found a chair, and collapsed into it.

"See to Eleven first," he said, as all of a sudden it seemed every muse in the room came running up, staring at the group. They sat around in a circle by Stanley especially. "Sorry guys... I didn't mean for all of this to happen. They sorta ambushed me..." he said, before sighing a slight. "Things have become rather complicated... but I shall explain more when I am of a more sound mind." And with that the man fell asleep, Obi curled into his lap.

Yumi walked up to Stanley with some of the herbs she carried. "here eat this, it will help heal your wounds from the inside" she said as she gave him some green and brown leaves "Chew them carefully before swallowing, it will make the effect come sooner, and t will be disgusting" she warned as shew alked over to Eleven and gave her the same herbs, but less than she gave Stanley.

Luckily she herself wasn't wounded that badly, she had some cuts and bruises but nothing critical. Suddenly she remembered the panther. "Stanley, what will happen to the panther, it was hurt and it seemed as if it was bleeding" she as really worried, it fought so bravely for her and she didn't want it to die

When the herbs were brought over Obi licked Stanley awake again. Looking to them, he listened before nodding. "Thank you," he said, lightly bowing his head before he started to chew on the leaves.

"He gonna be okay?" Replicate asked, tilting its head. "We don't know what's under those bandages yet.... or what they did..." it added, sadly.

Eleven meanwhile, blushed a slight but nodded as well, working upon her herbs. The girl was quieter than usual, perhaps sorting out what she wished to say. Or perhaps, not really wishing to speak at all.

At Yumi's next question, Stanley swallowed the herbs. "You were not kidding," he said,grimacing a slight at the taste. He looked over, offering the gentlest smile he could. "Well... most spiritual beings like that heal themselves with magic and rest," he told her. "If you are unsure, perhaps you might be able to summon him again and check?" he asked. He started to gently pet behind Obi's ears, his visible eye a bit clearer now.

"Thank you, everyone," he said then. He sighed softly, but did not speak of what he had endured. He never spoke a word about the muses the entire time, despite the elaborate tortures devised. They had all been through so much there, just for his sake. It was a bit overwhelming really...

Yumi let the breath she had been holding escape, relieved about what Stanly had said. "I think I will just check to see if I cando anything for it" she said smiling back. 'is there any easyer ay to summon hte panther?' she asked Evelyn but she felt the power of the Muse coming and decided to take that as a no and embraced Evelyns power.

When she summoned the panther, the wound looked better but it was still bleeding and looked bad,luckely she had a friend who had teached her everything about herbs and about tending to wounds. She touched the liquid that was leaking from he panther. As soon as it parted with the body of the panter it seemed as if it evapourated. Thepanther itself feeled cold and she half expected togo through it,but it was as substancia as anything in this room.

She tried to find a cloth but gave up and tore a piece of her dress of as she got a bowl of water and began cleaning the panthers wound. It hads topped bleeding but still looked bad. "you sure he's going to be okay?" she asked unsurely, not knowing how to heal a spirit summon.

She aslo noticed that Eleven was quite quiet, but decided to leave her, the poor girl had just been forced to meet her brother in a clashing of sides, it would've silenced her too

Stanley, whose head was starting to clear now a slight, pondered this. "There is one other way..." he said quietly. "Obi. I'll have to borrow your brother for this. Obi nodded, as Stanley got up from his chair.

"Kibwe!" he called. Moments later, a cobalt blue muse stepped up. It had arched ears, and in the center of those ears was as orb as golden as its eyes.

"Spirit wound?" Kibwe asked, drawing a nod as he pointed towards the panther. "Right then. Nice to see you guys again... been awhile," the muse commented.

"I know..." Stanley replied. Obi trotted up beside Kibwe, nuzzling him.

"Good dreams?" he asked.

"...Yeah," Kibwe replied. Kibwe then released the orb between the ears, allowing it to seem to melt over the panthers wound, like a cast. But after, Kibwe himself vanished once more.

"Kibwe just went back to sleep," Stanley explained to Yumi. "The cast shall work, it always does on spiritual beings. Now then... everyone has done quite a bit. Why don't you all get some rest?" he suggested. "I know we could all use it..."

"Thank a lot stanley" she said softly as she petted the panther "and i could really use some sleep right now" Yumi said smiling, and then let a yawn escape.

She parted with the power of the muse, sending the panther back to where it came from. The moment she closed her eyes she fell asleep, only to wake up short after, from the nightmare of Evelyn's past. A feeling of shame came over her, like the Muse was ashamed of her past and the way it woke Yumi. 'It's okay, little one.nothing to wory about, I'l protect you from anyone' she promised as she went back to sleep, this time a dreamless one.

When she woke up it was morning, but still quite early. Yumi went outside to enjoy the sunlight and the morning air. That was when she noticed something strange. The flowers and lants looked like they were suffering, the didn't shine or stand out proud, but all he leaves faced downward. It was astrange and a bit alarming sight, and Yumi wondered what had caused it

Eleven was the first one awake in the morning, finding herself feeling quite a bit better. She really hadn't said more than a few words since the incident, but then things had gone by rather quickly as well. She found herself wandering outside, where she saw Yumi.

"Morning," she said quietly, her tone hushed as well. She looked towards the plants Yumi was staring at, and noticed the strange sight as well. She gasped softly, wondering what could have caused such an occurrence.

* * * * *

Stanley awoke form his bed with a start, Obi still curled in his lap. "Obi..." Stanley commented quietly, stroking the muse's ears once more.

"Stan... you should clean up a bit. It's a new day! And... and can you please let me back in?" Obi asked, his eyes filled with concern.

"I don't want you to worry..." Stanley replied with a slight grimace. Obi nudged him.

"We're in this together... no matter what!"

"Yes but... you would feel my pain to..."

"I already do..." Obi replied with a light whimper.

"Morning" she whispered as she knelt and touched a flower. It felt soft, but as her fingers touched it the flower broke apart, the pieces disappearing in the sky

She felt tears coming "who would do something like this?" she said letting a single tear break free. "Or what could do such a thing, it's.. it's" she didn't finish her sentence, she only stared at the flower, as if it would bring them back to life. "It's like all life was drained out of them, like.. i don't know what it's like, it's just horrible" more tears escaped making her face feel strangely warm, but she didn't care at the moment, she didn't care at all

Eleven blinked, watching with shock as the small flower completely dissipated. "I don't know," she replied quietly, her eyes glancing towards the skies as the fragments vanished. "Such a terrible power..."

"Indeed," said Stanley, as he came up behind them, shaking his head. He had the rabbit-like ears again, and Obi was once more transparent upon his shoulder. One would note he had kept the bandages on however. He grimaced a slight, pondering how to mention what he was about to say to the girls.

"When I was captured... I had a first-hand encounter with what the King has been doing without the world's knowledge. He has been.... experimenting on muses. Brainwashing them, changing them to fit his own means and purpose. Creating muses like Famine, Decay, and Pain..." He frowned, looking towards the flowers.

"I pray one of them has not visited here, and this is another matter altogether. But for now, to be safe, I would suggest staying in the Haven until we know for sure. Alright?"

"A.. a Muse did this?" It looked so brutally done, she simply couldn't believe a Muse could do such a thing. "What gives that king the right to mess with other creatures anyway?! They're living beings just like us all, no one should have the right to mes with nature. Especially not someone that cruel!" the king disgusted her

"We don;t know yet if a muse did this," he corrected her. "I am saying however... that it is a very distinct possibility," he added, grimacing a slight. He debated with himself how much he should tell the girls, since it was all very grave knowledge.

"I agree..." he added, shaking his head. "And unfortunately, the general public knows nothing about any of this. The only reason I even know was because I was... subjected to it. Why don't we come back inside for now, alright? We should eat and discuss things a bit better..." Eleven nodded, deciding she did not wish to be outside any longer with the terrible dying plants. No... dead. There was no sign of life in this plants at all.

Yumi felt that there was something Stanley was keeping hidden, but she wasn't sure if it was something she wanted to know. she followed him inside,not looking back toward the flowers, knowing it would be the same unpleasant sight.

Still she felt it might be a warning 'I should tell them this, nut I don't want to worry them' she struggled with her thoughts for a few seconds before deciding to tell them "Stanley, what.. what if this has more meaning to it, what if it's a.. a warning" she said, struggling with her words.

"Then... we had best be prepared if that is the case," Stanley replied with a deep sigh. "For whatever might come. We should prepare ourselves, in case we have to fight, for whatever might happen..." He took a seat once more, obviously still a slight drained from everything.

"A.... a warning? From the king?" Eleven asked. Knowing just what sort of forces that meant. And she knew clearly now which side of the conflict her brother would stand upon.

"That could be the case," Stanley replied. Obi looked towards the girls, then nudged Stan's cheek. The man frowned a slight. "I learned quite a bit about what we might expect, but none of it is a very light matter. But, if you two wish to listen, so as you might be better prepared, I can tell you," he finally said, figuring the more they knew, the better they could plan. He was so sorry to see it had become this complicated, but what could be done now? It all made him feel twice his age...

"I'm listening" Yumi said quietly knowing the urgency of all this, if this was a warning, than forces were soon to follow, the King wasn't someone to give false warnings like this. "But if the King would send knights, how would we be able to hold them off with the 3 of use, and on top of that, you're still injured" she said it with true concern, she knew she wouldn't run, defend the creatures with her life, but they'd better get a plan going

Eleven nodded as well, looking towards Stanley. She knew that matters were very grave now, and they needed to know exactly what they were up against here.

"The fact is, every muse stands for an inherent strength or trait. Good or bad. And while tehre are those muses that have been experimented with... tehre are many who follow the King willingly as well. There are many who see him as being on the winning side, and feel they will be granted amnesty if they do his bidding. There are many muses who stand for darker things as well. War, for example... he is the one who has rallied a group of muses nearly equal to the size of the ones here. He feeds the conflict, hoping to bring things to a full out war..."

Many of these muses may yet come here if they see how true freedom is, or that it is safe here. But there are some I know that shall not. War, Decay, Death, Disease, and Famine. Each of these... are to receive Bonds. This makes them vulnerable... but also raises their inherent power as well. Those five shall be the ones that come against us, I am sure, as an example t the others." He paused a moment.

"I... I know the powers of each. War is known for his cunning, his cruelty, and his way about weapons. He can pinpoint various pressure points and knows just how much pressure to use. Decay has the ability to kill living flesh at a slow rate while his power is over it. If not stopped, such damage can be permanent. Death... Death we do have a counter for. Kibwe himself has volunteered. Disease can inflict any sort of ailment upon his victims, but works best in crowded areas versus against one person. And the same goes for his twin Famine." He paused once more.

"You can guess what they would wish to do with Disease and Famine. So, that means that they will send three to fight. As for me being injured..." he smiled softly. "We all do what we must, you know? Besides, I suppose, at least now we know what to expect."

"Did... did you find out firsthand about this... about everything?" Eleven asked, her eyes wide a slight. Stanley bowed his head a slight, but didn't reply.

Yumi paused a moment, taking all this in. "Wait, Stanley, your not thinking of fighting.. are you?" that could really cause troubled "You can't! I won't let you, It could kill you, form the inside. The wounds it.." she paused not knowing how to tell them that the wound could actually kill him, without the help of any enemies "YOu simply can't! You have to stay here!"

Stanley blinked at Yumi's reaction, puzzled. "It what?" he asked, arching a brow. He sighed deeply then, looking towards her. "I cannot allow you two to fight without aid in this sort of battle. I still have breath Yumi, I can still press forward. But to sit back... I am uncertain I could do that," he admitted, giving a slight grimace.

"But... but you're really hurt still..." Eleven commented quietly. "You should rest..." Stanley nodded.

"I should... but I could never leave you two in such a position. It would not be right of me." He stood up from his chair a moment. "I can still fight!" he added. "I am trained as a knight... I can fight and know tehir tactics better than anyone. I canno-" he stopped then, feeling a dizzy spell pass over him. Shaking his head, he took a seat again.

"Yumi, I was honest with you, so be honest with me. Just how bad are the injuries?" he asked her. Although, he knew the answer. he just hoped she'd somehow say otherwise...

((Poor group here cant catch a break eh? :3))

Yumi sighed deeply, she had no choice. "If you would even attempt to use the power if your speed, the wounds would burst open, totally destroying your blood vessels. You would loose too much blood in only seconds, and.. well, it won't be pretty" She said trying to hold back the panic she was beginning to feel "You wouldn't be of any help either sitting here or.. well.." she couldn't finish the sentence, she just couldn't. "Our best chance is you teaching us how to fight the knights"

((absolutely true, but that's what makes i so fun doesn't it ^.^))

Certainly not the prettiest of options indeed. Stanley grimaced a slight, but knew Yumi was absolutely correct. Looking towards the girls, he could see both were very worried as well. Seeing the muses, he knew they felt the same. He had always said he did not mind dying for a cause. But this... could be prevented simply. And he knew, if he were to go, that it would do irreparable harm.

"You are right," he finally said, heaving a great sigh. "I... I will not enter this fight. But I will prepare the two of you to do so. This fight will certainly not be easy..." He still felt guilty about this though, and it showed quite clearly in his expression.

"We will do our best! You can train us after you get a bit more rest..." Eleven commented.

"No, we haven't that sort of time," Stanley replied. Give me a few minutes to prepare, I will return," he told them, as he got up and started for a hidden room across the way. Tapping the wall three times, it led the way to a storage area.

Eleven looked towards Yumi then. "We... we have to do our best. No turning back now..." she said. She was worried though, really worried. She had a feeling her brotehr would be chosen to be one of those three knights. No... not a feeling. She knew it.

"I feel no need to turn back, all my life I've felt it was empty, like I did nothing but breathe and do as I was told, now I have a purpose and I'm not afraid to fight for it!" she said, a bit more confident then she felt, but everything was true.

"Your worried about your brother right" she knew the answer "don't worry, if we come across him, I will fight him, I won't let you face your brother like that again!"

Eleven smiled at that, hearing Yumi so confident. It brought her somehow a sense of hope. It was a good cause to fight for, and she hoped somehow to find that degree of confidence as well.

"Yes..." she admitted, blushing brightly. "I... I know he will be here to fight after everything." She rubbed her eyes a bit. "Thanks... really. I don't think I could do that again. I mean..." she sighed.

"I know it must be done," she added then. "I know we must do whatever we can. I just wish he was on our side with this. But... he made it very clear he wasn't," she added, her eyes looking downwards a moment.

"you..you know your brother right? I mean, do you think we might get him over to our side?" she really didn't want to kill or even harm him, she was afraid of the impact it would have on eleven. "where did Stanley go anyway" she said in an attempt to get leeven's thoughts away frm her brother

Eleven grimaced. "He's... he is loyal to the king," she replied quietly. "Celeste tells me he already knew what was going on..."

When asked where Stanley was, she blinked a moment. "I saw him just a moment ago..." she replied, arching a brow. "He went up to that wall and then..." A moment later, that said wall opened up. Stanley walked out, garbed in a different attire from before. Before he was seen wearing the tattered remnants of a simple shirt and plants. Nothing very elaborate, or that would stand out.

But he came forward out of the wall dressed in the armor of King's knight. From head to toe, one could get a very good idea of what his past figure must have been. He was imposing to the eye, and had one not known him would have sent shivers. His armor was stained black, with red accents. He wore armored gloves, as well as boots.

One would notice mainly however, that he had a helmet on as well, which bore draconic like wings. "Stanley... you were an Elite Dark Knight?" Eleven asked, drawing a nod. Stanley lowered the mouthguard of his helmet, but kept his eyes covered.

"Indeed... I was much like any other youth until I met Obi. I am thankful for it, for he opened my eyes to what I really was doing, who I really was serving, andx just what sort of person I had let myself be. Now... this is the sort of armor you shall encounter. You need to know its weakpoints. I also have a blade as well, since you will need to know how to avoid it and counter. He unsheathed the blade from his side, an equally black broadsword with a pair of gleaming red eyes upon its hilt.