Kerik blinked a moment pondering this. "It is true that nothing of this sort was performed while Stanley was there," he replied. He looked towards Stanley then. "Sir Stanley... what exactly happened?" he asked. "I will admit when you originally left it threw everything out of balance..."

Stanley sighed deeply, shaking his head. "I... I found out exactly what was happening with the Muses. How they were being used. When I explained to the king about it, he said that Schler, his adviser, had everything under control. I persisted... but he refused to believe me," he added. And... the treatment continued with the muses," he added. I could not just sit back and watch... I had to do soemthing," he added.

"However... before all of this.. well the king and I grew u together. I was his right-hand knight, and best friend. And he was my best friend as well," Stanley added, his good eye looking downwards. "I could not follow a king I no longer believed in..."

"Sir, if I might be so bold? Is.. is the King just a pawn in this as well. What if... what if he is like I was." He closed his eyes a moment.

"Controlled? I wouldn't think so, he was far too strong-minded for that."

"Yes, but a suggestion, laid deep...he trusted Adviser Schler as much as yourself. Yet he did not listen to both sides of the story... and that is unlike the King I first served as well. Sir Stanley... when you left... if this is the case... there would have been nothing left to hold the King up. He is not married... and holds few close. Adviser Schler would have been free to... to...."

"To control him," Stanley finished, looking towards the group. "I... I need a moment," he added quietly, as he had Portal open a door. He walked outside, going towards his favorite dogwood tree, and slumped against it.

"Maybe I said too much..." Kerik said, shaking his head.

"I don't think you said to much" Yumi said reassuring Kerik "If you hadn't said it things could be worse right, it's best ot consider these things, even if the might prove to be painful" she added

It felt weir being in close friendship woth the guy she had fough not even 24 hours before, but eleven looked so happy, and he really looked innocent

"I guess we can d nothing but wait for stanley to return, But now we're here tell us what we might expect ot find ourselves against again"

"She's right brother," Eleven said, placing a hand on her brother's shoulder. Kerik nodded after a moment.

"Yeah... but I do so hope he doesn't take it too hard. He did what he thought best... noone could have seen what happened next." He paused, when asked what to expect.

"Well... there are ten more elite knights to get through. The king will not fight, of that I can assure you. He is needed as a figurehead. But... Schler might and there i where the real problem lies. His muse's talent lies with matter manipulation, so one must always be careful around him. I have a feeling if things go awry he might just do terrible, horrible things. He is a desperate man, and enjoys his current position a bit too much..."

"Matter manipulation?" Eleven asked.

"Yes. The man can beef up any of his men he wishes, turn trees into prisons, turn grass into quicksand, whatever he so imagines. He cannot, however, effect those who have a muse with this ability. But he can affect the area..."

"Manipulation huh? Better be careful of our steps around him. Do you have nay idea when the king would send the next knights? It would be useful to at least have a hint wouldn't it" Yumi asked Kerik 'No doubt the freak had given himself the best power 'Yumi thought, she hated those selfish people that would sacrifice others for their own sake, and no doubt this Schler figure was one of them

"After this situation it will not be long. However, he will start to get desperate at this point. My guess is that you will have been deemed a major threat by now. The adviser himself may appear this time in an effort to finish things once and for all. He wouldn't dare risk the King." Eleven meanwhile, pondered all of this. How could someone be so evil? To cause so many people such grief and heartache... without a care?

A few minutes later, Stanley came in. He had a determined look about him, as though he had measured things within himself and taken action. "The only way to fix this once and for all is to take action," he replied. "I cannot fight yet. However... I can go fix things at the castle," he added, smiling a slight.

"It won't be easy to get to him... what if you have to fight?" Kerik asked. "What if you have to use your muse?" Stanley blinked.

"I'll right this situation," he replied. "...Whatever it takes, I'll make it right."

"Stanley you can't, they ill kill you for sure!" Yumi knew he would go anyway, he could be so stubborn "At lest let me go with you! Let us all go with you, we can fight!" she couldn't let him go, at least not alone.

"This Schler wouldn't allow you to take away the power he has on the king, he will try to kill you, you cannot go without someone to protect you!"

Stanley folded his arms, shaking his head. "Someone must stay here and protect the muses," he insisted. "Currently, they are bent upon either capture or death to the muses who side with me. I am certain they would try to send either Famine or Disease here to do the trick..."

"Why are so intent on getting yourself killed?" Eleven stated then, a slight louder than she had meant to. Stanley blinked, turning to face her glaring blue eyes.

"Well I..."

"If we stand together, all of us, we stand a better chance right?" Stanley blinked again.

"But this is something I-"

"It is something we all wish to fight against, to fix. I know you think it's all your fault, but you getting yourself killed won't make it right!" The surrounding muses nodded in agreement.

"So... all of us together hmmm?" Stanley asked. Eleven nodded, as did Kerik as well.

"Then, let us make a plan to go to them, before they come to us," Stanley finally replied, smiling a slight. "It won't be easy... but perhaps together we really can pull it off."

"Perhaps? Thats not the way to think Stanley" Yumi grinned"We will pull this, off, we must" Negativity was useless

She turned to Kerik "You know the castle right? You can lead us in there, the route with the least amount of guards. do you think they know you sided with us?" Kerik could be their entrance pass

"But the real question is, what do we do with the muses, we could take a few who can help us, but the rest is going ot have to go to a safer place"

"She's right you know," Eleven added with a wink, grinning widely. "We WILL!" Stanley thought upon this a moment, before nodding.

"Right then, we will pull this off," he amended. "Better?" he asked.

"Much!" Eleven replied with a delighted giggle.

Kerik nodded then. "That will be no problem, I know of such a route," he replied. "And no... they would not. It is too soon yet for the truth to be known, and I have been known as a very loyal man," he added, blushing a slight.

Stanley pondered the last. "Indeed... I may know of such a place. He looked towards the muses gathered around. "The second refuge, Portal knows the one," he told them. Portal opened the way, allowing a great many of the muses to travel to their secret place. A handful, five, remianed behind to help. Those who knew what to do.

"We should also be well stocked just in case..." Stanley added, nodding towards Yumi. "What herbs shall we bring?"

"I have some herbs that can take away the pain of not too big wounds, and some other healing ones" she said as she fetched the ones she had been preparing for something like this

"So we might be able to get in through you" Yumi told Kerik, thinking about this "What if you'd be the only survivor, you could work form the inside" This might prove difficult, getting a hold of the king, but it sure was better than sitting around doing nothing

"Good," Stanley replied with a nod towards Yumi. He then went to speaking towards the muses left behind. He knew what each could do, and they knew how to work together. He was certain they would come in quite handy indeed.

Kerik pondered this. That is quite possible," he admitted, shaking his head. "I could indeed, perhaps, from inside work out a plan and a way for the king to be within our grasp." Stanley nodded.

"For this, Contact has agreed to come with you," the former knight commented, nodding towards a small horselike muse. "Contact can relay any messages from you straight to us." Kerik nodded.

"I suppose then I had best get started," he said, getting to his feet and giving them all a bow. Eleven was quick however, to hug her brother tightly.

"Be careful... okay? I don't want to loose you again..." Kerik smiled softly, gently patting Eleven's head.

"I will," he promised. "And everyone, we will meet again soon. And we will win," he added.

Yumi went to face Kerik "Kerik.. do me a favour, please don't get yourself brainwashed again, you were quite the pain last time" she said it smiling. She gave him some herbs. "In case you need them" she said softly, she found that she had grown to like this guy in the short time she had spend with the non-killing side.

Kerik laughed at this, flashing a smile. "No need to worry, I won't," he promised. "I was a pain to myself as well. We will meet again soon," he told them, before stepping through a door Portal created. Eleven waved, giving a soft sigh after he left.

"Thanks guys," he told them, then. "I... I don;t know what I would have done if he really had been gone forever..." she admitted, shaking her head.

"Well I'm happy too, he's not as bad as I thought he would be" Yumi said smiling "And it's you who brought him back, don't forget that, I should thank you too"

Then she remembered what had to be done "We should spend the time waiting for Kerik wisely, why don't we start some planning, in case there will be need to fight, which I highly doubt there won't" she said with a serious look

"He really isn't," Eleven replied. "He's a nice guy, always has been. I should have believed in him more," she admitted, blushing a slight.

"Indeed," Stanley replied to the second point, nodding. "We should also make certain everyone is well rested and fed as well, that we are all in our best shapes." A small muse looked up then, made entirely of metal.

"Armor here says he would like to create for us all armor as well, just in case," Stanley commented, smiling a slight. I have my own, but perhaps it might serve you two well?"

Yumi nodded at Stanley, they wpuld be better off well rested, though she doubted she could get any sleep, she wondered how Kartik was doing, if he was found out or not, would he still be alive? She shook her head, with it shaking the thought away, she was certain he'd be fine, wouldn't he?

She smiled at Armor "An armor would be nice, it could be very useful" she said kindly

((sorry I've been sorta neglecting Mene ;ately, buy we just moved so we were all disorganised and stuff))

"OKAY!" Armor said with a cheerful grin, as he started to work his magic. His metallic tail swished behind him, as the magic around Yumi condensed until forming a suit unique to her.

"I would not mind either..." Eleven admitted. Moments later, Eleven found herself in a white and gold suit, made to be very light but cover the vitals as well.

"Wow, don't you two look like soemthing," Stanley commented, smiling a slight. "Go get some rest for now, I'll hold down the fort," he promised. "I'll wake you up soon as we get word from Kerik too."

"Okay, i can use some sleep right now" she said as a yawn escaped her. She walked to the bed and snuggled in

For once a night without nigthmares of Evelyn's past. tjhoug it did take a while for her to get to sleep, since she kept worrying baout the next day, but she managed to get some rest in the end

"But what if I can't sleep?" Eleven asked, to which Stanley shook his head.

"Don't worry so much. Sleep will come easy I'm sure," he told her with a smile.

"But what about you?" she added, to which Stanley laughed a slight.

"It's alright, I napped earlier," he told her, but of course he didn't say when. Eleven couldn't find another reason to argue, and as such went to her bed. Eleven's sleep was nearly instant, she had pushed herself so hard as well as everyone else. Many of the muses left to help were also sleeping, and even Obi on his shoulder was as well.

"Sleep well everyone," he said, smiling a slight. They all looked so peaceful. He just wished that peace would last forever. But he knew, come morning...

Yumi woke up in the morning, early as always. The room seemed so quiet, almost as silence befor a storm, it was a bit scary, and she felt nerwous.

she walked over to Stanley "Stan, did you hear anything from Kerik yet?" she asked softly, not wanting to wake Eleven in case she was still asleep

"Not yet," Stanley said, shaking his head. "But not to worry, I am certain like most knights he is simply ensuring ample time for the greatest success rate," he added. The time during which everyone had been asleep, Stanley had been contemplating. The traces of those sad contemplations were left in traces in Stanley's expression.

About then, tehre was a very light sound. "Can you guys hear me?" asked a very familiar voice.

"Yes," Stanley replied, giving a nod.

"I have been given guard duty for the back entryway come tomorrow night. I have went through a few details to ensure that we will win. The Adviser is away upon a business trip, and shall not be back for a few days. Those who will be on duty with me are lacking to say the least" he added. "Is everything well over there?"

"As well as it can," Stanley replied.

"Good, tomorrow night then, I shall see you all. Good luck, I have to leave shortly."

yumi let out a breath she hadn't been aware she had held. "tommorow night" she repeated softly, it felt more like an execution date than a time of rebellion.

"Stanley, you'd better get some rest now, you look awfull" she said with much concern.

"Tomorrow night," Stanley affirmed, taking in a slight breath himself. There was much to be done then, much to ready. This was a huge mission, and he had a feeling the results would literally be life or death.

He blinked a moment, when Yumi said he looked terrible. "Certainly it's not that bad is it?" he asked, laughing lightly. "Oh don't worry about me, you two just get some rest. I was just thinking upon the past a bit too much is all," he replied shaking his head.

"Stanley, you should really take better care of yourself" she said sternly "Do you want me to make something to eat?" she asked, knowing Stanley would be to stubborn to do as she said

Stanley laughed at this. "Alright, now you're starting to sound like Obi," he commented, amused. When asked if he would like soemthing to eat, he shook his head.

"No, I'm fine," he replied. "But thanks." Really, the former knight wasn't sure he could keep anything down at all. In secret, he still felt a slight bit terrible.

Eleven awoke then, walking into the area. "Morning," she greeted. "Did we hear from Kerik yet?"