Somewhere between chapters 8 and 9 - Interlude
Archer drew his Bow of Flaming and aimed squarely for Stormcrow’s forehead as the elf sneered, ready for battle. However, the battle wasn’t to be, as Stormcrow suddenly turned and began walking away. Archer, quizzical, bellowed “What is this, Stormcrow? Not like you to leave take the coward’s way out.”
The elf turned back for a second, grinning. “Sorry Archer, but I’m enlisting. I’ll be back someday, I guess.”
And just like that, Stormcrow had left the realm of Anything.
Archer pondered his departure, recalling fond memories of skirmishes from long ago. This elf was such a significant portion of Anything, the Troglodyte King was afraid it’d no longer be the same without him. Then the Troglodyte realized that this whole Army thing was quite silly, and he should focus on his Mod duties instead of being so actively involved. And so he too left, though at the time not realizing that he and his Army would apparently be back real soon.
Acid_Flux shrugged, holstering his bow pistols. “I think I’ll leave, too. I’ll be back around, oh, February 2 or so.” With this, the Nothrog marched away, the Fellowship looking on in silence. Archer frowned, pondering this departure as well, wondering if his hold on Anything was beginning to slip.
YOYOY raised an eyebrow as he withdrew the parchment he’d been writing on in the castle, attempting to read but finding the words difficult to comprehend, as if in another ancient language.
Sorscha1 spoke next, “JWalker! I love you! I can’t live without you!” JWalker, in his mech cockpit, was absolutely elated. He shoved the throttle forward and let the wizard hitch a ride as they rode off unto the sunset to elope.
DarkGuardian’s brow furrowed as he tried to figure out what was going on. It seemed that everyone had something better to do, like adventuring was becoming a mere memory, an unappreciated long-forgotten second-priority deal. He felt confused, bewildered, and looked to Todd for answers. However, Todd’s form changed as he became a Brand Manager, and he too left Anything, taking Lady Tornhawk with him.
“Time is of the essence, and shall consume you all. You will never decipher its working, nor overcome its power of change.” The conspirator cackled, until silenced by a crossbow bolt drilling through his temple. An archer walked up, shaking his head at the sad corpse now at his feet. He then looked up, startled, as if surprised to see the crowd. “Oh, hey, I’m yewbow.” He then grinned in a thoroughly obnoxious manner and held up his yewbow as if to make a point.
DG sighed, YOYOY holding his parchment upside-down as if that’d help.
Drexlin began recalculating the present need for drinks, until realizing his efforts were futile and better appreciated back at his tavern. He smiled happily at the thought, packing his things and heading off to find his old bar.
DarkGuardian sat down, beginning to realize the truth. That the Fellowship was broken, its totality never meant to last forever. His forehead wrinkled as he considered that, well, they had held off Archer’s Army, and even rescued Tornhawk. A fair share of exploits had been had, something to be proud of. His day in the sun was over, it was time for another, or others, or something. He didn’t know, only that he’d probably go into retirement.
A funny little figure ran up to the remaining gathering, panting, hands on his knees. He was wearing a funny hat, and was thoroughly out of breath. He spoke between gasps, “You know, you guys didn’t have to ruin my real estate, you could’ve knocked or something…”
DarkGuardian squinted, recognizing the being as Haplo. “It was your castle?”
“Yeah. Why do you think you never see me around in Anything? I’m always stuck in there all the time, takes two hours just to find a bathroom sometimes…”
“Ah. Well, um, sorry for all the destruction and all. But we were being attacked by evil and such.”
“Oh, those? I thought I told them the party was over…” Haplo rolled his eyes.
DarkKnightZach walked up to them. “Okay DG, this is great and all, yay we’re done, but I’m getting kinda hungry. I say we head out.” The somber dwarf slowly nodded his approval and began packing up. He was about to tell CardinalFang to do the same, but the cruddy little creature was too busy going mad, muttering something about a hippo girl as he ran into the hills.
He turned to Advocate_of_Lycanthrope, only to discover that he’d finally been taken away by his beloved penguins.
DarkGuardian began walking to town, a part of him glad to get it all over with. I mean, why did he even begin adventuring in the first-
He turned and glared at YOYOY. “What exactly did you have in mind for our little Fellowship when you invited us all together in the first place?” YOYOY’s eyes darted back and forth as his mind searched for an answer. “Well, you know, originally, there was Archer, then, um, things got out of hand, and, I dunno, it’s not like I knew what’d happen, and I kept writing, couldn’t stop-”
At this, DG yanked the parchment from YOYOY’s hands, the tome he’d been forced to write while residing in the black castle tucked away in the corned of Anything. “I don’t understand a thing.” YOYOY shrugged, apologetically grinning. “Yeah, I guess there’s nothing to see here. Let’s go.”
And so they did.
*
© Eric Bailey