Me: (@Zoe) Haha, thanks. Shark Bait had, by far, the most unique answer to my survey question. I just had to quote him.

Terminus: Oh! COME ON!

Me: You throw one pathetic orb! What do you expect it to do?!?!

Terminus: I don't know! Kill her, perhaps?! Did that occur to you!?! Or was this whole thing just for the fun...are all CI battles to the death of me?!?! Seriously!

Me: Just fight her.

Terminus: You're biased.

Me: What?

Terminus: You'll never let me win because I'm a bad guy.

Me: That is not!....false.

Terminus: *glares at me* *throws five orbs at Alexis*

Alexis: *pulls something out of her pocket* *glances into it* *disappears before the orbs hit her*

Me: In case you're wondering, I didn't suddenly give her powers.

Me: *blinks* *makes mental note to buy Zoe's book when it's published*

Terminus: Oh...that's just great.... *orbs disintegrate*

Aelynn: It does? What about the ones who don't have feet?

Rowen: Gah, this is exhausting.

Me: You've barely started!

Rowen: [Huffs and ignores]

Zurik: I have no time to argue with words, little girl. [Stands firm, and twists his upper body and meets aida's blade with his] The Meriak doesn't technically have fear problems. She is fear.

Me: You're not even in her world, so you're not supposed to know that.

Zurik: Well I'm also in your head, with the Meriak. Thus, I know what she is.

Cassie: [Smiles at Hetsila] Cool. Thank you!

Zurik: You would defend her? She is a worthless child, not some hero upon whom rests the fate of her world. What is she to you?

Me: Zurik, don't get yourself in trouble. You're already in hot water.

Cassie: I'm not worthless! I can help my brother in his adventure! I'm helpful! My mom said so!

Zurik: Your mother is biased.

Cassie: [Gasps] Don't call my mommy names!

Mordir: [Snorts to hold in laughter. Gets hit with another dictionary] I wasn't laughing!

Me: You were going to.

Zurik: [Has given up arguing with Cassie]

Me: (@Rae) *chuckles* It's actually nothing spectacular. I can't tell you how she did it, though, or it will be a spoiler!

Alexis: *reappears, lunging at Terminus*

Skylar: I guess I have to do this myself. *sneaks up behind Chayn and tries to tie the rope to her leg*

Me: Oo! You can tell me! I love spoilers!

Gavin: Hence your bad habit of given them out like pi-Ow!

Me: What was that?

Gavin: *pouts*

Terminus: *is disoriented*

Amos: The river is pushing them. If they went upstream the more aerodynamic ones would have an advantage but it's like flying a kite: if you catch the wind more you go faster.

Kaida: Yeah, she's fear and because of that she has no friends which is a problem, you only don't want to play with words because you're losing you coward. Oh, and by your assessment of value I take it your home world isn't on the gold standard?

Chayn: [Doesn't realize the rope on her leg until its tied. Then whips her head around, glaring embers at Skylar] What are you doing?

Me She's been roped, and all she says is 'what are you doing?'

Seymour: She knows how to keep calm.

Me: Yeah, until take her rider, then she goes nuts.

Seymour: [Looks at Gavin] Care for a friendly duel, Master Gavin?

Aelynn: Oh. A kite is like a bird, isn't it?

Seymour: A kite is a bit of paper and straight rods and string, so it can fly, like a bird, but it has no wings.

Aelynn: Oh.

Me: She says oh a lot.

Zurik: I am no coward. I do not back down from a fight, ever. [Swings a gust of wind at Kaida to knock her off balance, then slashes at her middle] I have no world to call home. Not anymore...

Rune: This man has an emotional side?

Me: Sure. But he never shows it. Mordir has one, but his comes through more as passion than anything else.

Zurik: [Casts a brief glance at Hetsila] Worth is when you make yourself useful, when you are of some help or use to others. This girl is none of these. All she does in her brother's story is tag along, just opne more thing to protect and keep an eye on.

Cassie: So?

Zurik: So, little girl, you are no help to your brother. He's off getting in my way and sticking his nose into business that isn't is, that's bad enough for me as it is-

Me: OOOK, let's not bore the ears off of everyone.

Zurik: What!

Me: You heard me.

Gavin: (@Seymour) Sure.

Me: He's dead.

Gavin: Your confidence in me lifts my spirits.

Me: Oh, so you're sarcastic now?

Gavin: N-

Me: Going in the book!

Gavin: But it was a o-

Me: Ah! Book!

Gavin: Bu-

Me: Neh!

Gavin: *glares*

Me: Silence....much better.

Rodash: *flattens to the ground and rolls out of the way* *sees Emeth's post* Ooooh, Dis, Zurik!!

Me: Ok, how in the world do you know such terminology??

Rodash: *shrugs as best as one can on the ground*

Rinifer: *kicks quickly at Devon's chest*

Cuoash: *stands by, waiting for Fallen to move*

Alexis: *pulls back on the lunge* You're supposed to block or something, silly.

Skylar: *drops rope, puts hands behind back, whistles* Nothin'

Devon: *falls back more, banging his head on the wall* *regains his balance* *lets loose a barrage of kicks, hoping to chase Rinifer back along the beam*

Terminus: You're supposed to kill me or something...why didn't she kill me?

Me: Because Zoe's nice.

Terminus: If it had to do with Zoe's niceness than Devon wouldn't have killed me, miss messed up mind.

Me: *thwacks Termy* Only I do alliteration!

Terminus: *grumbles about the nickname "Termy"*

Me: Just block or something, Silly.

Brian: And you scold Dieki for parroting you...

Terminus: *thrusts at Alexis*

Me: Bingo!

Alianna: Uno!....why are we shouting out random card game stuff?

Me:

Alexis: I didn't kill you because I don't want to. I don't kill. *blocks, her sword shuddering under the impact*

Me: *chuckles at Alianna*

Terminus: *groans childishly* You sound just like Brian. You know, he's going to end up dead one day for his stupid rules of conduct.

Brian: I can defend myself when I have to!

Terminus: Don't tempt me to test your theory...

Brian: *crosses arms* Feel free to, once you're done getting beat up by a girl, of course. I wouldn't want to get in the way of that event.

Terminus: *scowls* *thrusts again with his right sword while using his left sword to swing at Alexis' side*

Alexis: Let me rephrase....I have never killed, and I hope never to, but there may come a time where it is unavoidable. But killing is not my way, nor the way of the Sword-keepers. *whip wraps around Terminus's right sword, pulling it out of his grasp before it reaches her* *blocks the other sword with her sword tip pointing down*

Me: (@Rae) Oh! I forgot! You wanted a spoiler. She did it through time travel.

Me: *jumps up and down excitedly* I knew it! Well, I didn't know it, but I guessed it! Which means I guessed it! Yay!

Emuna: Somebody gave her sugar, didn't they?

Alianna: What happens when she gets sugar?...

Emuna: Haven't you already asked that question?

Alianna: Why are we responding to questions with questions?

Emuna: Why do you care?

Terminus: Then why do you keep a sword if you aren't going to kill anybody with it? *pauses*

Me: One sec...she can't pull his sword out of his grasp. Because it's literary part of his hand...like...the handle wraps around his hand, yeah, I don't know how to describe that without describing that. I'm making no sense.

Emuna: Yup, she definitely had sugar.

Me: Oh, ok.

Alexis: *quietly* One can protect without killing.

Terminus: *loudly* BUT KILLING ENSURES ONE MUST NOT PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM SAID DEAD PERSON EVER AGAIN!

Me: Termy, your logic is off....

Terminus: Whatever. *swings at Alexis' neck with one sword while stabbing at her chest with the other*

Me: Hmm...you know what I need...I need someone to attack Emuna. Emuna, go get someone to attack you.

Emuna: Pardon?!?!

Me: Well, the best way to developed Termy is to have someone attack you.

Emuna: I'm not getting attacked to develop an antagonistic character...

Me: *pleading eyes* But I NEED to develop him...

Emuna: *turns away* Nope.

Me: Pah! You're hopeless!

Alexis: I'm not protecting myself. I'm protecting others. *blocks the thrust, and attempts to use the handle of her whip to deflect the swing, but doesn't entirely succeed* *sword cuts into her neck* *small trickle of blood*

Me - And . . . we're back!

Niarah - (Backs away from Zurik and Terminus, but watches silently, waiting for an opening)

Ashrai - (Barely ducks Mordir's kick) Excellent! (Lashes at Mordir's head with his claws)

Silver - (Gliding smoothly through the water, level with Victor)

Ryan - C'mon, Croc, is that the best you can do? Yeeeeehaaaaw!!!

Ember - (Swimming and flapping for all he's worth) Guilo *pant pant* I don't think we *pant* are gonna win, but *pant pant pant* this is pure AWESOME! *pant*

Thysal - (Casually watching) He needs to shed a few pounds.

Sylvia - Go Erronys! (Shuts her eyes as he swims underwater)

Me - Did I cover everyone?

Sumira - Erm . . . (looks around) I think so.

Terminus: Same logic still applies. *repeats previous actions*

Me: You understand that you're trying to convince her to kill you, right?

Terminus: Certainly.

Alexis: I cannot be pressured into going against my principles. *repeats the blocks, successful this time* *pushed by the momentum of the block, her whip wraps itself around Terminus's arm, and then unwraps*

Terminus: Very well, neither can I. Which means we have two hard headed people with sharp and fatal swords. *thrusts at Alexis with one sword then attempts to slash her down the middle with the other*

Me: Hmm...not sure how well that would work...worked well in Daddy's book...speaking of Daddy's book...*writes something down*

Terminus: Do you carry that notebook with you everywhere? You'd think you sleep with the thing under your pillow.

Me: I do.

Terminus:

Zurik: I am being useful to my people. I am cleansing and clearing out a world where they can live and be fruitful. I will rule over them, and protect from from those who threaten my people with exiction!

Me: See? He's got an emotional side, too.

Seymour: [Smiles and draws his staff] Very good. Your move, young master.

Aelynn: [Sees what Seymour is doing] Oh, Seymour, really? You against him?

Seymour: [Laughs] He will do fine. He has plenty of spirit.

Aelynn: [Frowns, but turns back to watch the race]

Suragore: [Glides beside Erronys]

Rowen: [Is much further back, wheezing and gasping] Wow, this is.... really cool, but..... exhausting. Zanya, you still on? [Looks over his shoulder worriedly, hoping he didn't lose her somewhere else]

Zurik: [Glares at Rodash] I will cut out your throat.

Chayn: [Cocks her head, then turns back around, swishing her tail]

Mordir: [Brings his sword up horizontally, as if to block, then slashes at Ashrai] You picked the wrong assassin to mess with.

Cassie: Go Erroy go! [Is hopping up and down excitedly]

Gavin: *draws his sword*

Me: *pauses* Gavin has spirit? Like cheerleading spirit? *pictures Gavin as a cheerleader* Nope, I don't think that's the kind of spirit Seymour was talking about.

Gavin: *ignores Me*

Me: What is it with my characters and ignoring me???

Gavin: Because you're annoying and I think I can beat Seymour.

Me: Pride comes before the fall....or in this case...the stab wound.

Gavin: *thrusts at Seymour*

Alexis: It seems so. *blocks the thrust with her sword* *blocks the slice with the handle of her whip similar to a martial arts upper block* *arm quivers under the weight of the sword*

Me: (@Rae) Your dad writes? Is he published?

Skylar: *jumps out of reach of Chayn's tail* *picks up the rope again* *winds it around her other back leg* *tiptoes to her front leg and winds it there too*

Terminus: *pushes sword down against Alexis' arm* Which means one of us is ending up dead...

Me: (@Zoe) No, he's actually never finished writing a book. He starts, but never finishes.

Alexis: *arm shakes* *sweat starts to form on her forehead*

Terminus: *applies more pressure* What magical power does your sword lend you now? I can't believe you thought you could win against m-

Me: Save it for the book, Termy.

Terminus: Annoying author.

Me: Annoying author can make you non-existent with two words...

Terminus: What would those be?

Me: "He died."

Seymour: [Smiles] Aye, the lad has spirit. And a brave one, even if it's hidden often. [Swings the butt end around, pushing Gavin's sword out of the way. slices at his shoulders]

Chayn: [Feels the rope on her front leg. She lowers her head toward Skylar] What is your plan here, little one?

Me: [Likes the two words that make characters non-existant]

Alexis: None. The same as it ever gave me. *her arm collapses* *springs to the side, trying to get out of the way, but doesn't quite make it, getting a deep cut in her shoulder* *leans over with one hand on her knee, one on her shoulder, breathing hard.

Me: (@Rae) *laughs* Good one!

Skylar: *nonchalantly* Nothing. *smiles innocently*

Emuna: *laughs* Most of the time? His brave spirit is hidden all of the-Ow! Will you stop that?!

Me: *smiles* Nope!

Gavin: You know...you have an epic weapon advantage. *uses sword to block Seymour's staff* All I get is a sharp sword and you have this multi-talented staff thing.

Me: Stop complaining about your weapon, you big baby. *also likes the magical words that make characters non-existent*

Terminus: *slices at Alexis' neck with one sword and thrusts at her chest with the other* Weak.

Me: Am I supposed to feel bad for the character my character is beating up? Because I'm really close to making Brian do something...oh, hey! Development!

Brian: I've been silent for most of the fight...

Me: Yeah...because I may...have forgotten...you?

Brian: *sighs* *watches intently* Give her one more chance.

Me: *thwacks Brian*

Brian: Ow!

Me: DON'T BE OUT OF CHARACTER NOW! Of all the time-

Brian: The dishes...

Me: Oh, right! *rushes to go do dishes*

Victor: *pushes forward harder than before*

Lyna: *gets tired of tail-paddling, grips victor with her legs and spreads out her webbed fingers to catch a little of the current*

Levi: *paddles slowly bu strongly, gradually overtaking Victor and Silver*

Brand: *gets caught in some odd rapids and begins floating in swift circles toward the finish*

Guilo: *goes up for a breath then turns facing the start line and flaps the powerful strokes of an eagle to give Ember a boost*

Malcolm: *begins to fall behind, changes his swimming style to up/down rather than back/forth causing him to come out of the water like a dolphin which slaps Tesmir against the water ever now and again*

Tanner: WOOOO-*holds breath as they submerge*--HAAA!

Erronys: *beats the water harder and goes deeper where the currents are stronger*

Amos: I think a kite can be a bird too but mostly they're just paper.

Kaida: Your babbling makes no sense. *arches her back and blocks with a downward thrust* You say she is a hindrance and of no value, you then justify a lack of worth based on her "lack of assistance" to her brother who is a hindrance to you. So in your brain someone who stands by and lets you do your think is worthless (rather than convenient [people pay for convenience by the way]) and a hindrance is someone who hinders your hinderers? *braces against the wind and spins in a circle in the hopes that her black and twist will cause Zurik to lose his grip*

Me: Hinder... Now there's a fun word... Sorry if I'm overwhelming you Lady Lillylight. She always plays mind games to identify the opponent and aggravate him into messing up.

Alexis: I am not weak! *pushes the thrusting sword down, her arm shaking from the wound in her shoulder* *blocks the slicing sword with her whip handle, the end of the whip hitting Terminus's neck in the process*

Me: I'm having troubles differentiating between Raven (the character) and Alexis. Raven would be really mad right now.

Terminus: *slices at Alexis' neck, putting as much force in the blow as possible* You lie to yourself. You are weak.

Me: Well... I know Emuna would be pretty angry right now...assuming Brian isn't around to keep things from going this far. And of course Brian wouldn't shut up. And Gavin would probably just glare at him silently....I can't tell you what Alexis would do, though.

Alexis: There is more than one kind of weak. Care to specify? *blocks the slice with her whip, her arm shuddering under the impact* *brings the tip of her sword to the base of Terminus's neck* *begins walking forward, her voice getting louder* There is weak in terms of will, spirit, emotions, physical strength. If I were weak-willed, I would not be fighting you. If I were weak-spirited, the same would apply. If I were weak emotion-wise, I would have cried when you hurt me. And while you may perhaps have the upper hand physically, due to your height and gender, weakness physically is relative. *stops for breath* Do I still have a small vocabulary? *eyes flash proudly*

Me: I think I figured it out. She stays calm and collected, but gets wordy and her pride increases.

Me: Niiiiice....

Brian: See? I know what I'm doing when I don't fight.

Me: *coughcowardcough*

Brian: *glares at me* *mumbles something under his breath*

Terminus: *takes a step back* *sword disappears* You make a good point. *hands are covered in dark blue armor* But my opinion is not easily swayed. *grabs the blade of the sword* I remain in my theory. *twists sword suddenly and strongly* That you are a weak, dumb girl that should not be permitted to live.

Me: Apparently Terminus is like Brian in the sense that HE DOENST KNOW WHEN ENOUGH FIGHTING IS ENOUGH!!!

Brian: I know when enough fighting is enough...

Me: Wish you could say the same for talking.

Alexis: *small cry of pain as her wrist is twisted at an awkward angle* *drops sword* *eyes flash* *raises her whip and brings it down whistling down on Terminus's shoulder* Then perhaps it is good that you are not the one to decide who lives.

Chayn: [Looks at the rope, then swings her tail toward Skylar and pokes him in the back] Behave, now.

Me: He's a villain. Normally they don't obey the command to behave.

Seymour: Perhaps. But the Imari weapons have their disadvantages. You are able to get closer with your sword, and still use it effectively. While my staff is more or less a longer ranged weapon, and often requires more arm room to be effectively used. [Taps Gavin's shoulder with the butt end]

Zurik: [Snarls and flings a boulder at Kaida, back-pedaling a little to give him more room] Your words games are giving me headaches, girl. I tire of you. [Makes the ground explode again near Kaida]

Me: I have the feeling Kaida is very good at mind games... wow.

Zurik: And you're not helping.

Suragore: [Follows Brand, swimming in small back and forth patterns]

Tesmir: Ow-w-wow-ow-wow. [Tightens his grip]

Tounon: [Shakes his head, smiling] I think there's room up here, Tesmir.

Tesmir: No-no tha-thanks.

Me: His speech corresponds with being slapping up and down.

Rune: He's a handful, that's for sure.

Aelynn: They sound pretty. So, they don't flap like a bird?

Me: Where are the twins?

Rune: Probably getting into trouble in the rafters.

Hakor: False. We're messing around with Jek's magical abilities.

Jek: [Is busy growing flowering vines from one rafter to another, forming hammocks, bridges, and whatnot]

Hakor: See? No trouble.

Rune: You know you'll have to clean all up?

Jek: We'll get Rowen to burn them.

Rowen: [Huffing near the back] If I have any breath left.

Tynx: [Cautiously crawls out and shift back into his fox form and fires a light ball at Fallen] Surprise!

Skylar: What for? You started it.

Brand: *finally stabilizes and shoots forward with a silver sheen*

Me: They may be the smallest but pyraustas can be the fastest of my dragons.

Amos: Hey, maybe we can find the stuff to make one.

Kaida: *ducks to avoid the rock then charges, dives into a hand-spring to avoid the shrapnel and ends it with a kick to Zurik's chin*

Terminus: *grabs the whip before it reaches him* Who's to say that I am not? *wraps whip around his hand and pulls*

Gavin: You can use a sword in close combat? *blocks Seymour's staff with his sword* *slices at Seymour's shoulder*

Alexis: You cannot decide who lives and who doesn't because you are not God. Or Elah, in your case. *gets yanked along with the whip* *doesn't let go* *kicks Terminus's wrist*

Alaric: *grinning* This is amazing!


Fallen: *snaps a shield up around her* *sends tendrils of darkness to tie Tynx up*

Terminus: *laughs* Don't tell me about Elah. *is unfazed by kick* *holds whip with one hand and makes a sword in the other* *yanks whip again and slices at Alexis' neck*

Alexis: Why? Are you afraid? *almost loses her balance* *grabs the sword by the flat part and tries to turn it, cutting her hand in the process*

Terminus: *sword doesn't budge* *nervous chuckle* Afraid? I fear no mere man. *pulls whip again* *presses sword into Alexis' hand then yanks it away* *slices at her injured shoulder*

Alexis: You are afraid. Elah is no mere man. *bites her lip in pain* *ducks to avoid the slice and is pulled off balance*