Man, I really don't want to give up, but I knew from the start the only way he could win was to try and keep the combat at arms length, but he got caught.

Me: "Do it, Bethie. I think this might have to do with Chayn, so it will be good in the longer run." *is very glad that her Jay can't hear this conversation up in the rafters*

Terminus: Ha! She said yes! Let me attack her, you fiend!

Me: *sighs* I'm going to regret this....and Termy is going to regret it more. He's all talk...but he would never kill a girl.

Terminus: *appears next to Shawn* Hullo! *kicks Shawn's knee* How are you today?

Me:

Silver - (Surfaces) Now what?

Ryan - Lets not get in a fight with anyone, shall we?

Me - I think Sylvia was next to Shawn. And speaking of whom . . .

Sylvia - You monster! Your kind stole her dragon, what more do you want? (glares at Terminus)

Me - Er . . . I'll try to keep the dragon at bay.

Thysal - Right. I've spared his life how many times? (Taps her claws on Pirzak's chest) Should I just say last chance and let him go? We protagonists don't do well with killing people in cold blood.

Ashrai - Poison? (Chuckles) Nice. You first, lets see how the knife works for you.

Zanya - (Swings up on Rowen again, to avoid being scorched)

Niarah - (staring at Terminus. Shakes her head and walks away) I don't think this one is worth it. Hello, Avneet!

Terminus: *feigns offense* I didn't steal her dragon.

Avneet: Greetings, Niarah. Pleasure to meet you. *circles around Emuna and settles down between her and Terminus* I think you should stay there.

Emuna: *peeks out from behind Avneet* Agreed...

Jay: "No, we don't." "You could let him go and then chase him."

Pirzak: "Yes!" *fights and squirms, trying to get a knife or something*

Me:

Shawn: *looks at Terminus dully* "What do you want?"

Raczr: *watches Rowen*

Hetsila leaps forward, interposing herself before Cassie, light flying from her garments and skin like a thousand rays of light waving and curling of tendrils. The electricity recoils from her form, commanded by a higher will. She touches the ground lightly, rolling to a standing position before Zurik.

"I warn you. Refrain your baser self from cowardly actions such as that before you and it alike are humiliated or worse."



* nods * Once he was on the ground, he had no clue what to do. Pretty textbook responses.

So how does Griffin want to surrender?

Terminus: Honestly? I'm not entirely sure...but...I've never been honest. *grabs Shawn by the arm and takes her a few feet away from everybody* *makes sword in right hand and holds it up to her neck* So...I think I'm just going to guess what I want for now...and...right now...I'm guessing you'll be my hostage.

Shawn: *cries out and squirms, but stops when she feels the knife* "Let me go!"

Jay: *whips head around*

Me: "No. And if you try, you'll slam into into a barrier and you won't be moving for a while again. And I can't think of any stories..."

Jay: *grimaces* "Please?"

Me: "No."

Jay: *mutters* "I'll get over there... somehow."

Terminus: What is it with girls and screaming "Let me go!"? As if we'll be suddenly terrified of you and let you go. *scoffs* I mean, I wouldn't be scared of you if you were Lumenian, let alone a weak, normal girl that you are. *presses sword tighter against Shawn's neck*

Yeah, he can't really do anything more. I don't know anything about stuff like that. So was there any way to get out of that lock thing? Other than breaking his arm, because Beduun would still have been on top, and Griffin would have had a useless arm, hardly a better position.

Once he got to that point? Not that I know of. I know lots of moves, but I don't know the counter to that one, at least not once it gets to that stage.

Sylvia - @Terminus: Let her go, you creep!

Me - And what are you going to do about it?

Sylvia - . . . Something!

Ember - (Tackles Sylvia and swoops off with her) Please, stay out of danger.

Sylvia - (Scrambles on his back) But did you just see that?

Ember - The authors don't want interference!

Me - . . . I think he's catching on.

Thysal - (Feels Jay tense) Hmm. Y'know, we could just drop Pirzak off the rafter, then go save your girlfriend as soon as your author gives the OK. Short, sweet, and simple strategy.

Niarah - (Watching Hetsila and Zurik) Oh snowflakes. I guess he's in for it.

Rahor - (Leaning casually against Avneet) Maybe he'll just quit while he's still alive.

Niarah - He's Zurik. What do you think? . . . And have you introduced yourself to the dragon you're currently leaning on?

Rahor - (Looks up) Hello, how's it going?

I really want to ask for a rematch, because I want to know if Griffin is a match for Beduun sword-fighting. Feel free to refuse if you would rather not duel him again.

Beduuin uses his blade as a tool to close the distance and take the fight to the ground, so if you challenged him to a blade-only match, he would most likely refuse. Haha.

Avneet: *moves slightly when Rahor leans on her* I do not think Terminus is the kind to give up easily.

Terminus: *laughs* Why should I let her go? *presses sword against Shawn more*

Oh, okay, never-mind then. Griffin's strong, but that doesn't always count for much... I'll take what I learned and apply it somewhere else.

Alright, sounds good. Thanks for the duel! It was fun.

Alexis: (@Terminus) *opens her mouth to say something and quickly closes it again*
Me: What? No protecting Shawn?
Alexis: *mumbles* I don't want to have to kill again.
Me: So you're going to be out of character s-
Alexis: *runs out of the room*

Terminus: *watches Alexis* *mumbles* Weak.

Seymour: This time? You would hold a grudge next time? [Ducks and rams the end of his staff into Gavin's lower leg]

Mordir: Aye, poison. I want to watch you die as painfully as I can make it. How did you know it was poison, anyway? [Jumps viciously at Ashrai, slashing his his arm, but turns at the last moment and stabs his foot]

Zurik: Humiliated? Your friend over there has already humiliated me, and I'll humiliated by the brat's brother in the book. Once more won't hurt.

Me: Oh, I'd disagree-

Zurik: I honestly don't care whether or not you agree.

Cassie: [Realizes she was clutching Erronys's leg tightly. Slowly looses her hold] Thank you Hetsila.

Zurik: If you step in my way, I will destroy you, too. Along with the girl. [The grounds explodes beneath Hetsila]

Me: Oh, honestly? You're fighting a girl? Do you have no honor or anything left in you?

Zurik: It's your fault.

Tesmir: Do all villains do that? Be so stubbornly annoying that they'll even have other authors' characters getting fed up with them?

Me: This one does, anyway. I don't think even Mordir is that bad. Zurik's just plain reckless. Mordir still has some common sense left to him.

Rowen: [Finishes charging up] Anything you wish to say before I blow your head off your shoulders?

Me: Rowen, please. There are little children present. [Motions to Cassie and Alianna].

Tynx: Shawn, no!

Me: Sit.

Tynx: I can't just sit here!

Me: You can, and you will. Just be patient.

Seymour: You're going to have a lot of people after you for this.

Me: Just a little more, OK?

Alianna: *holds head high* I am not a child! I am almost ten! My big brother says I am a young lady!

Me: *stifles laugh* The age of innocence...and potential kidnapping hazards.

Alianna: *pouts* Mean author.

Gavin: (@Seymour)Why, certainly. You do not expect me to forgive you twice, do you? *grunts and almost falls* *attempts to bring sword down on Seymour's arm*

Alexis: *sticks her head back through the door and sticks her tongue out at Terminus*
Me: Oh, real mature.

Me: OK....I think I'm going to do a character switch, since I'm thinking of dropping these guys' book for a while. So I'm going to bring back some of my original characters. Well, Raven at least. I'd like to bring in my villain, but interactions between the two would be strange, since he'd constantly be trying to stab Raven. Suggestions?

Raven: *looks around dazedly* Things have changed since I was here last...

Me: (@Zoe) Erm....you could...make a rule that the villain and the character can't kill each other... Speaking of villains! I want to drag Pavix in here, just for a few posts.

Emuna: No! No! No! No! NO!

Me: What? You don't think it would be fun to bring the entirely bad, bad guy in here?

Emuna: NO!

Me: Fine... *pouts* Then I won't...for now.

Avneet: I don't like the "for now" at the end of that sentence.

Me: (@Rae) I guess so....but I'm not sure if they'll know how to relate to each other if they're not trying to kill other.

Sir Guy of Gisbourne: *strides in taking everything in in one glance*
Raven: *widens the distance between them, her hands on her sword hilts*
Sir Guy: *eyes narrow as he notices her* What are you doing here, outlaw?

Note: Sir Guy doesn't realize Raven is a girl, because she's disguised as a boy. But he won't hear other people's references to her as a girl.

Me: Haha...*looks at Termy and Emuna* I've had similar problems.

Terminus: It's not like all I do is try to kill her.

Emuna: Actually...yeah...that is all you do!

Terminus: Do not sass me, child!

Emuna: Or what?!

Terminus: Or I'll take off your head and-

Me: And nothing! *thwacks Termy*

Terminus: *glares at me*

Alianna: *tiptoes over to Raven* Hello, Miss Raven!

Raven: *relaxes* *face softens* *curtseys* Greetings, young lady! It is a pleasure to meet you.

Alianna: *giggles* Likewise, Miss Raven! See, Lady Aris Lilylight! I am a young lady! *sticks tongue out at Lady Aris Lillylight*

Me: Hey! No immature acts of offense towards authors! *thwacks Alianna*

Alianna: *pulls tongue in* *lips quivers* F-fine.

Shawn: *tries to scream again, but stops*

Jay: "Yes! Great idea, Thysal! Please!" *ignores the 'girlfriend' reference*

Me: *waits for Aris*

Jay: *clenches fists*

Pirzak: "You could drop me anyway."

Raczr: *growls* "No."

Raven: *smiles* You are indeed a young lady. *indignant glance at Rae*

Alianna: *giggles* Thank you, Miss Raven! Where are you from?

Me: (@Zoe) Is Raven on Earth like Alexis and company or is she in a Fantasy world?

Me: I apologize, Alianna.

Cassie: What about me?

Me: You're my character. You can take some brutal honesty.

Cassie: I think I'd rather be insulted by Zurik.

Seymour: Perhaps not. [Winces as his arm is cut. Counters with a slice to Gavin's forehead.] Tell me about your father. Perhaps we can ease any tension I have regretfully caused between us.

Zurik: [Scowls] Of course that is not my goal. I was merely stating that it would not deal me any permanent damage. That doesn't mean I wish to be humiliated. No one would. [Waves away the rock and earth, letting smash into the rafters near the twins] You stay very calm. I don't see that in many people I kill. [Brings down a couple of beams at Hetsila]

Me: Zurik, you're gonna get yourself killed!

Seymour: You keep on saying that. But he never listens.

Me: I feel like I need to say something. [To Hetsila] I can hold him back if you'd like. If not, have at him.

Jek: [Trying to pull Hakor up after a beam was blown off] Will you watch where you're throwing?

Hakor: He's a villain, Jek. They don't usually watch anything.

Rowen: Very well. [Starts to release the fire, but a huge shadow passes overhead, startling him and making him choke on his own fire. He unknowingly grows a foot or two, also] What was that?!

Mordir: No! Raczr, I thought you killed her!

Me: Two words: Author revivation.

Mordir: That's not even a word.

Me: It is now.

???: [Lands in an explosion of dirt, grinding deep furrows as she skids to a halt.]

Rowen: [Mouth opens in shock]

Chayn: [Arches her neck high above Terminus and Shawn. Now a good one or two feet taller, like Rowen. Her dark blue eyes glitter with anger, while her light blue scales glitter in the sun] Get your dirty villainous paws off of her.

Me: Now they're full grown.

Mordir: Joy. As if not full grown dragons were hard enough to control.

Rowen: [Looks back at Raczr. Roughly Shoving him away] Go on and join your own kind, villain. But take care not to cross paths with me again. I won't let you live next time.

Me: Why are you letting him go?

Rowen: Because my sister is back. I'll blow him up later.

Me: Eep! CHAYN IS BACK!!! YAY!

Avneet: *Smiles and relaxes some* On second thought, small one. *looks at Emuna* I do not think Terminus will be much of a threat for very long.

Terminus: *looks up at Chayn* Or what?

Me: *head/desk* Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn antagonistic character!

Gavin: *barely blocks slice, arm shakes under the pressure* Tension? There is no tension! *attempts to kick Seymour's knee while slicing at his stomach*

Brian: That's believable, Gavin.

Gavin: *ignores Brian* You need not know more of my father other than that he is the chief of our village, the leader of all humans, and an honorable and just man.

Me: (@Rae) Earth. I'm not currently writing any fantasy....though I have one brewing my mind for when my world is better developed.

Raven: (@Alianna)I'm from twelfth-century England. Nottinghamshire, to be exact.

Me: Okay, cool!

Alianna: Neat! I'm from twenty-first century America... I'm-moving-so-much-all-the-time-I've-forgotten-where-I-live, to be exact. Do you know what a cell-phone is?

Me: *palmface*

Brand: *snorts smoke* Even a small fully grown dragon can be something of a match. If you consider what a problem an arm length snake can be then adding fire and flight can complete the picture nicely or painfully. *sits tall on Kaida's shoulder and wraps his tail around her neck for support*

Kaida: I dunno, I've seen people who seem to like humiliation. *strokes Brand's chin*

Me: She's not being sarcastic this time by the way.

Stellwento: *increases the wind*

Amos: *gets the kite off the ground*

Niarah - I . . . Would hate to be Zurik.

Rahor - Can't say I disagree with you.

Niarah - For once.

Rahor - Hey.

Zanya - (Jumps, and almost falls off Rowen) Whoa . . . Hey! You've grown! Look at you! (Stands up on his back and hugs his neck)

Ember - (Roars and circles the room) Chayn! Welcome back!

Thysal - (Grabs Pirzak and takes off as the beam falls, then glides down towards Shawn, Chayn, and Terminus with a piercing whistle) We can't kill Pirzak now, can we? (Lands near Chayn with Pirzak beneath her claws. Glares at Terminus) Jay? Want to get Shawn out of the scuffle? I've got one villain, Chayn has the other.

Ashrai - (Tries to sidestep, but his foot gets cut. He hisses slightly with pain) Because poison is something I'd use, especially on crossbow bolts.

Me - (headdesk) Why didn't you tell him earlier?

Ashrai - Does it matter? I'm pretty much dead. And I'm taking him with me. (Draws a dagger and stabs at Mordir's heart)

Sylvia - Looks like everyone is going to have a happy ending now. (Glances at Ashrai and Zurik) Except for those guys.

Pirzak: "You put me-" "I'm dead. Dead, dead, dead."

Shawn: *eyes light up* "Chayn?"

Jay: *rolls eyes* "Will do. Hold him carefully." *slips off Chayn and walks towards Terminus* "Let her go."

Shawn: "Listen to him."

Me:

Raczr: (@ Mordir) "Would you care for some assistance?"

Me: "Just to let everyone know, I might get behind on here..."

Terminus: *looks at Jay* What, me? No...I think I'll keep her. This is pretty fun, you know.

Me: Bad Termy...very bad villain. *thwacks Termy on the head*

Terminus: Ow!

Jay: *frown* "Keep her?"

Shawn: "Keep me? What, do I look like a pet or something?"

Me: *imagines pet Shawns, then shudders* "Oi..."

Shawn: *slams foot into Terminus' instep and tries to break away*

Terminus: *grimaces but doesn't let go* *grumbles* Brat...

Raven: (@Alianna) A-mer-ica? Self own? I do not know what that is. Is it related to self control?


Me: I think I'm going to bring in another character, but after Terminus lets Shawn go, because Carter would definitely go after Terminus.

Alianna: *giggles* No. Ceeeelll phoooone. *gives Raven cellphone* It is a device that makes it so you can talk to people far away from you. I don't know how, though...but it is fun to play with!

Me: *giggles* You can let him in, Zoe. The more people beating up Terminus the better, I suppose.

Terminus: *glares at me*

Raven: *takes cellphone* *puzzled* *turns it over in her hand* *opens and closes it and opens it again* *pokes a button* BEEP! *startled* *warily hands it back* You can talk to people far away? Does it amplify your voice? How far? The length of a whole castle courtyard?

Me: Okaaay.

Carter: *walks in* *smiles at Raven*
Raven: *smiles back*
Carter: *eyes light on Terminus* *hands stray to his sword hilts as his face darkens*

Alianna: *giggles* It doesn't amplify your voice...Erm...see, another person has another one of these *holds up cellphone* and you dial their number and your voice is on their cellphone.

Terminus: *glances at Carter* What? Another hero?! How come Merashath gets away with this?!

Me: Since when?

Terminus: Since the grass is always greener on the other villains lawn!

*Jaaaaaaaaaaw/Floooooooooor!!* *hyperventilates*

Ok, that is a lot of pages...

And since we will be traveling a lot this summer, I leave only one character, Rodash.

Rodash:

Me: You can say that again.

Chayn: [Lowers her head slowly, her lips curling into a snarl] Or else you will find your flesh being melted off slowly, with excruciating pain coursing through every vein and nerve. I would exact this pain on the man who killed me, but you are the unfortunate one who I see threatening my rider. Let. Her. Go.

Seymour: [Bring his leg back and swings his staff around, catching Gavin's blade with the end of the staff] There isn't? Your tone betrays you, young master. [Smiles slightly] You must be very proud of your father. He sounds like a very good man.

Aelynn: Oh, wow! It's so pretty! [Watches the kite with wide eyes]

Seymour: [Smiles, glancing her way]

Rowen: [Blinks, then looks down at himself] Well, I do seem to have grown a bit, haven't I? I suppose this is what you humans call a growth spurt?

Tesmir: I don't think Zanya's a human. [Ducks before Tounon can swat him]

Rowen: [Tilts his head] It's close enough.

Chayn: [A smile flickers at the greeting] It's good to be back. However short my death was.

Tynx: Because someone's-

Me: Careful, or you'll be the one dying next.

Tynx: [Lowers ears, but says nothing]

Mordir: Crossbow bolts? [Glances at his hurt arm] So, were those bolts you used earlier were poi- [Gasps in pain as Ashrai's dagger pierces him. Glares and manages to slash at Ashrai's side] Fine. But you die first.

Me: Goodness, I was getting tired of him keeping up the rebellion.

Tounon: I doubt it's over. Other villains are busy.

Me: Yeah, but he was probably the only one who really had a passion for it.

Mordir: Doesn't mean... I still do. [Shoves away from Ashrai, ripping the dagger out of his heart] I will get my revenge.

Me: Dude, you have death to go through. Let's see how you're feeling then.

Mordir: [Glances at Raczr and forces a small smile] Sure. Climb on up.

Me: You're so weird.

Tesmir: Isn't he always?

Chayn: [Looks at Shawn, eyes softening] It's me, dear heart.

Zurik: [Grunts as he's tossed around] Rebounding my magic won't do much. You can bind my arms to my sides, but that won't stop me from using magic.

Me: Unfortunately it doesn't stop your mouth, either.

Cassie: [Explodes into laughter]

Jay: "Listen to the dragon, or you'll deal with me after her, you cowardly mollusk!" *looks at me* "What in tarnation-?"

Me: *headdesk* "Blame Captain Nemo, okay!?" *glares on her side of the computer screen*

Shawn: *raises eyebrow*

Me: "Look, just be busy... doing something!"

Shawn: "Um... I'm busy raising an eyebrow while being held hostage..."

Me: *headdesk*

Jay: *humphs in the general direction of Carter*

Me: "Zip it."

Jay: "Touche, touche."