#inner evil

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A few Hours later...

Valorie looked over to Jay "So, do you have a girl waiting for you when you get back?"

"No, I'm a single man~"

"Really, I thought it was because the girls back home called you crazy?" Smith chuckled as Jay retorted "They just didn't understand me is all..."

Jay then noticed two fingers walking up to the boat "Who is that?"

Alexander had brought Valkyrie to the ship "And here we are..."

"I'm kinda nervous, are you sure it's ok for me too..." She started to ask when he cut her off "There is nothing to worry about, they need at least one more person before they set sail..."

Valkyrie then locked eyes with Jay for the first time...

"Hey, do you know the villager up there...💕" She asked Alex...

"Who?"

"The one with glasses...💕"

"Oh, that would be Jay." Alexander smiled telling her

"Jay..."

Meanwhile Valorie looked over to Smith "Should I be worried?"

"Na, he is just finally experiencing true love, right Jay?" Smith looked over to Jay

"What... Yeah.... Pretty cute..." Jay responded to them.

"Ya see, he's just fine."

Jay was the first to run down to meet their new shipmate.

"Everyone, this is Valkyrie." Alex smiled at them.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Jay smiled at her holding her hand in both of his

"Likewise, your Jay... Right?"

"Th-Thats right..." He could not stop staring into her eyes...

"I think we have it from here buddy, let's get back on the boat." Smith chuckled at the site...

Alexander's voice then echoes....

'... I hope through this adventure...

You all learn to be humble...

To find love...

To find acceptance with yourself...

The courage to follow your dreams...

And...'

Orchid turned to everyone "Ok..."

'... To find what you have lost.'

"If we are ready... Let's set sail~"

'... I've done all I can do... It's up to you all to grow and become stronger for the challenge ahead...'

Alexander watched the ship set sail...

'I wish you the best of luck...'

Some hours after they first set sail...

Smith walked up to Orchid, stretching and with a yawn saying "I can't wait to see my folks again... It feels like forever since we were home..."

"Yeah... I do miss home..." Orchid responded to him "But..." She turned to him "... Getting to explore and meet new friends, we've learned so much... And finding others like me, I feel that we can now tell everyone where I might have come from..." Her smile brightens "It's going to be nice to talk to your mom and dad after these past few years~"

Smith was smitten with her smile "I'm sure they would be really happy to see us too..." He couldn't stop staring at her 'Maybe I should finally tell her...'

They both suddenly felt a drop of water on their heads...

"Was that rain?"

"I think it was just a strong wave..."

There was a sudden downpour of rain...

"I don't think so!" Orchid moved her arms to cover her head...

"We should get you and the others in the ship!" Smith had to speak up over the rain...

There was a sudden crash against the ship knocking Smith and Orchid over. Smith grabbed her "Hang on, I got you!" He grabbed the railing to keep them from sliding...

There was a sudden shout they heard.

"Wait, wasn't that Valkyrie?" Orchid asked...

"I thought I heard that little Illager!" Smith stated as they both looked up...

Jay was reaching out for Valkyrie who had Archie in her arms...

"VALKYRIE!" Jay rushed with a rope but it was too short...

"SOMEBODY HELP!" Valkyrie screamed holding Archie close as he screamed "I CAN'T SWIM!"

"ORCHID WAIT!" Smith called out to her as she got up and ran. She grabbed a rope and wrapped it around her right arm as she hurried to save them...

Both Valkyrie and Archie screamed as they fell off the ship, Valkyrie losing her cape in the process...

Orchid jumped and grabbed them both...

"Don't let go!" She shouted holding the rope tight...

As they came to a sudden stop, the rope tightened and jerked Orchid's arm severely. Orchid suddenly felt the pain and screamed out...

"Orchid!" Mason cries out after hearing her scream.

"We have to help!" Yumi called to him as she hurried over...

"Just hang tight Orchid, we'll have you up!" Smith called to her as he tugged the rope...

(text below images 👇)

Somewhere else...

Alexander was off to meet up with a couple of heroes...

"Hello, I'm glad you all could make it." Alex smiled as he waved to them.

Valorie waved back "Glad to be here Alex!"

"You're too enthusiastic about this aren't you?" Karl question.

Some hours later...

"So that's the case. I have set arrangements so that you three go with them... It could be good for you too..." Alexander stated.

"It would be nice." Valorie sighed "But will things be ok here while we are gone?"

"You should have more faith in your friends Valorie." Karl smirked "I would be more worried about how we're going to communicate?"

Archie watched them talk... "I wish I could understand them."

"I am sorry, I'm Alexander... And your name is...?" Alex asked the small Illager.

"Archie... I'm surprised you can speak with me." Archie shook Alexander's hand.

"I'm really sorry for leaving you out of the conversation." Alex apologize.

"It's ok, I'm just glad someone can..."

"Oh, my goodness!" Valorie was shocked "How? What magic? So cool! How can we talk with them?"

"Wh-How?!" Karl was stunned to silence

"I studied really hard..." stated Alexander answered them "... It was well worth it."

"For others though, I have a prototype totem..." He said "... These will let you talk with them as well as listen in return..." He handled them over...

"Will this really work?" Valorie asked, Archie heard what they were saying

"Boy, this is an ugly trinket." Karl stated

"Not really, it's pretty cool." Valorie responded...

'I wonder...?' Archie thought, then spoke "So, you can understand me now?" He asked....

"It seems we can." Valorie smiled "You can call me Valorie."

"So that's your name, I've been calling you Red this whole time." Archie smiled back...

"You can call me Archie."

"Archie, wow rolls of the tongue..." Sha stated

"So Archie, what was your name for me?" Karl asked him...

"Smacker..." Archie answered him.

Karl took a deep breath and paused for a moment... "YOU CALLED ME WHAT?!" the orange haired hero shouted at him.

Valorie stepped in between them "That's enough Karl!"

"DID YOU HEAR WHAT THAT RUNT CALLED ME!" Karl exclaimed.

"I did... And what's wrong with that? Frankly, the name suits You!" She rebuttals.

"Oh you are asking for it!" Karl balled his fist up...

Archie then began to think that it was an offensive word in their language...

Alexander stepped in "Now now, there is no need to fight..." He put his hands up "Lets take five, all right..."

Days later they arrive at the docks on Squid Coast...

"I hope you two are not afraid of water." Karl joked.

"I'm not, you know I'm a great swimmer." Valorie joked back...

"I'm not..." Archie lied, he couldn't tell them that he was afraid of the sea because he couldn't swim... He thought to ask Valorie for swimming lessons later.

Archie then thought he heard a familiar voice shouting from aboard the vessel... "Wait... That voice... Could it be..."

"I'm coming with you!" Yumi screamed

"No your no. You're staying!" Mason shouted back"You can't tell me what to do!" She told him "I'm not, I'm just..."

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Said Orchid

"You two need to really talk things out..." Orchid told them

"What do..." Started Yumi

"What are you talking..." Mason asked

"You both know..." Orchid stated

"Hu?" Both Mason and Yumi say at the same time only to realize what she meant...

"Oh My! Idontevendhhh---" Yumi studders trailing off her statement...

"Wait that's not... It's not.... You don't understand..." Mason tried to convince Orchid but

"..."

"..."

"Are you done?" Orchid asked

"... Yes..." Mason reluctantly stated...

"Yumi!"

"Wait, that voice?!" Yumi looked to find Archie at the boat entrance...

"Yumi, it is you!"

Archie ran over to her "I'm so glad your o..."

She snatched him up in a chokehold "YOU SHOW YOUR UGLY LITTLE..."

"I'm sorry, I know you will never forgive me!" Archie knew, she had her reasons to be angry... But then, she loosened her grip and started to cry...

"What happened to you?" She asked

"I was under the control of the orb..." Archie said in a weak manner...

"How did you get free?" Yumi asked another

"The heroes saved me, they helped me in my recovery from the orb of dominance..." He stated

"I'm sorry..." They both said crying

(time to drop some lore... And a new character to the cast)

"I'm so sorry for..." Yumi started when Archie cut her off...

"No need to apologize... I should be sorry for doing what I did." They both started to cry...

Watching from beyond, a figure listened to their conversation as they watched Mason walk over to Yumi and Archie talking...

"' hmm... Well now with that chapter coming to a close, who to help next?'"

The figure called for a new window over to them to see in another world...

When the image of Jay and a new Illager in a happy relationship...

"'Haa!'" they brought their hand back to their own screen where they were chained to "'I need to find her... And put her on that boat...'" through the flash of light, Alexander opened his eyes...

Before him was the Illager that he was looking for, staring at the boat a great distance before them...

"Hello there, what's your name~❤️" Alexander smiled at the lone Illager, startled at his voice...

"Oh, it's Valkyrie... And... who are you?" She asked him.

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Mirrors of Inner Evil by me ▫ Happy to be reading poetry again. This was written by me and it's short but enjoy. (link above) 😊🙏 #Mirrors #InnerEvil #PoemByMe #PoetryByMe #MyPoem #MyPoetry #PoetryReading #PoemReading #ReadingPoetry #ReadingPoem #PoetryOfTheDay #PoemOfTheDay #POTD #PoetryOfTheWeek #PoemOfTheWeek #PoetryOfTheWorld #PoemOfTheWorld #POTW

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"So now that we know she is ok, will you walk with me?" Yumi asked him

"Sure thing Yumi." Mason smiled over to her. As they walked Yumi started a conversation with him...

"I would like to get to know more about you and your family, you all have been here for a couple of days now and we never really talked about how you all got here."

"We will have to sit down for a bit of storytime." Mason chuckled.

"I would really like to get to know you more." Yumi smiled "Something really bothered you that night and I would like to know... Sorry if I'm..." She went to apologize.

"No need to say sorry..." Mason interrupted "... If we are staying with you, you should have a right to know." Mason then was surprised to see a familiar face... There was an orange haired hero talking to Salah. It was Alexander. The hero saw him and waved. "Alex! Good to see you!" Mason waved back to him...

After some time Mason introduced Alexander to Yumi... "So, what brings you to Squid Coast?" Mason asked him.

"I came to check up on you and Orchid and see how your new life is going..." Alex stated

"How are you able to understand us?" Yumi asked him...

"I was wondering too."

"I studied... It was hard but worth it." Alex smiled. "But I wish to ask, has anything strange been happening?"

Mason had to think about his dream from the night before...

"Well... Yes, I was just about to talk with Yumi about it so now would probably be a good time..." Mason continued "... I dreamed that a a pillager was choking Orchid. I thought it was Drake at first but... When they turned around it wasn't him... It was someone else... I can hear this strange pillager at times, but it's like... I don't know how to say this..."

"I see... Well, you might not be the only one going through this 'inner voice' problem. Smith and Jay's life's had been extended and both you and Orchid have memories from what had happened before. This is harder on you because you are not in your original body... As I used a zombie child to place your soul and memories in." Alex stated "I was wondering when this would happen and so I prepared for when this started. It would be a long journey but it might be good for you all... A way to close the chapter on your past so to speak..."

"But if it a long journey how...?" Mason asked him but was quickly interrupted...

"Oh, I've thought about that too!" Alexander smiled as he pulled out a box. "This is a little something to help you on this journey."

Mason looked in the box to find four rings and a map. He handled the map to Yumi then grabbed a ring "What are these for?" He asked Alex.

"I've never seen this area before. Where is this?" Asked Yumi

"Well, the rings are something I've been working on... They can allow the wearer to change appearance, say 'turning a Villager to an Illager' and vice versa. The map is of an area I have explored that has the answer to Mason's problem... A cave that can make vessels for the voices." Alexander stated "But, you will need a few things: Totems of undying, some Enchanted Golden Apples, at least at minimum one item from your old life, and finally... The bones of an unborn."

"Hold on... Where are we going to get the 'bones of an unborn'? Can't we just use one ring for Orchid?" Yumi asked him...

Mason wondered that himself... But he had a feeling there was a catch to the rings...

"Well, there still in the experimental stage..." Stated Alexander "... They have a bit of a side effect when constantly used. They allow the user to take on the appearance at first... But the side effect is that after the tenth use, the rarest personality starts to change. Weather for the good or the bad, the longer the item is used the more permanent the effect becomes... Till the new personality takes full control and you can never change back." Alexander further explains "Those that volunteered to help me out helped me obtain all this information... After the tenth use it will get harder to resist the change. After the 15th use, there is no going back."

"... Just as I thought... There is a drawback to this item..." Mason mused

"Ok, so that's out the question... But how are we going to get all the ingredients for this journey?" Yumi asked

"That's simple..." Alex stated "Just follow the instructions I gave you and by the end you should have everything you need. I also plan on asking a couple of heros to join your journey."

"Well, thank you..."

"Don't thank me yet Mason, we still have a lot to do for the journey." Alex made his leave "I'll be back to check on you later..."

After Alexander left, Mason put the ring back in the box "Well, I'd better get to packing..."

"I'll go get my things..." Yumi started for her room...

"Wait what? You can't go!" Mason was shocked

"And why not?!"

"It's going to be dangerous!" He rebuttals

"So..."

"Your needed here!"

"The golems can work without me for a while..."

"What if they need repair?!"

"There are others who can repair as needed!" Yumi argued back "Besides those trivial facts, I WILL be coming along with you and your sister. And that's finale!"

"... Salah was right, you are a stubborn..."

"DON'T FINISH THAT!" Yumi growled

"Look, you may not like my choice to go... But I have my reasons." Yumi stated "Before you and your family arrived, I had taken in another Illager. He wasn't a child but he was very small. He worked hard to be a part of our village, but one day... An incident happened with some heroes. Salah wanted him to leave before revenge would befall our village... I tried to tell them nothing was going to happen... I tried to keep him safe, But..." Tears began to fall "... Archie left of his own accord, believing that if he left the village would be safe... After that, the arc-illager incident happened." She took a moment to breathe "I still wonder if I had tried harder to protect Archie... If I had gotten him home before Salah could stop me..."

Mason place to handle her shoulder...

"Mason..." She turned to him "... Please, will you let me go with you?"

"Where we are going is very hostile..." He started "We have experience traveling through such dangerous lands... And I still believe you are most needed here..." Mason stated "My answer is still NO."

Sometime later Orchid, Smith, and Jay walked in... "Miss Yumi, Brother, we're..."

There was a loud crash followed by yelling...

"THE NERVE OF...!" Orchid heard Yumi shout, followed by Mason's voice

"YOUR ONE TO TALK...!"

"I'M ONE TO TALK!"

Yumi had Mason on the floor with his arms tied. "I SHARED MY PAIN WITH YOU! I'M GOING!"

"AND I GAVE YOU MY OPINION! NO!"

"INSUFFERABLE MULE!"

"STUBBORN JACKASS!"

Yumi pulled the rope tighter screaming.

"Should... Should we intervene?" Asked Jay

"H-Hes a big boy, he can handle himself..." Stated Smith

"I've never seen Mason in so much trouble!" Cried Orchid

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[featured guest: Senpū Windd]

The voice continued 'You can't keep lying to yourself like this. You need to do something...'

'... But what?' Orchid asked herself, not paying attention while walking...

"STOP THERE!" a voice pulled her from her thoughts. Orchid looked up to see an Illager she had never seen before... They wore strange clothing, had strange hands, a butterfly over their right eye, and was on a cloud "You almost walked off the cliff." They stated pointing down.

"Cliff?" She asked looking down... She noticed her foot was mer centimeters from the edge... "Oh!" She took a step back for her safety, thankful for the flying stranger's act of kindness...

"I should be more careful..." Orchid said to herself...

The Illager jumped off the cloud "My name is Senpu, what's yours?"

"Orchid, and thank you..."

----hours later----

Both throw their palms forward, a gust of wind coming from the bigger hand and a small amount of wind coming from the smaller. The bigger hand patted the shoulder...

"Not bad for a beginner..." Senpu smiled "... Are you descended from Windcallers?" They asked.

"Not really sure, Father Syrus never mentioned my heritage."

"Father Syrus, who was he? Did he raise you? Did he ever tell you where you came from?"

"He was a cleric villager... And yes, and he did..." Orchid answer them.

"Well, what did he tell you?"

"He found me near a grave in the desert, he believes it was my mother. He never mentioned if he came across my father but he believes they both were villagers... As our village was the only one for miles"

"Well that's hard to believe but I'll take it. So this Father trained you..."

"Yes, I wanted to be a cleric like him. He even knew a special recipe passed down from his father..."

"Really, can you tell me what it was?"

"Of course, in fact... I can show you!" Orchid smiled. She held up an enchanted golden apple. "He called them 'God Apples'. They are the most powerful things around." She stated "Heroes don't even know how to craft them, except one. His name was Notch I think... I was told to never sell them... But to hide them in the world so others could find them." She handed Senpu the enchanted apple "You can have this one... As a thanks for saving my life."

They looked at it in wonder "... Are you sure?"

"Of course, I can always make more..."

"Thank you." Senpu said.

Orchid walked back to the village...

'That felt nice...' Orchid thought to herself.

'You should be more careful who you tell that secret too...' the voice from before stated.

'I trust Senpu. They are kind...' Orchid thought back with a smile.

'You are too trusting...... It will be your downfall one day...' the voice taunted

'... I will take my chances.... Rose...' Orchid taunted back...

'... Now you give me a name... Why? And why Rose?' the voice asked

'Well I have to call you something... And you seem like a Rose: you sound sweet... But you have thorns to protect you...' Orchid explained

'... You know you sound crazy right...' Rose stated

'As long as I keep this between us I'm not... ❤️' Orchid finished, feeling more at peace giving the voice a name...

"... And that's that. Simple build but it will take some time to get the material to get it done." Jay stated.

"This is incredible." Yumi stated in response."Yup, Jay was always good at planning a base of operations." Smiled Smith.

"It sure didn't take long!" Yumi took a closer look at the map.

"Nice of you to think about everyone Jay." Smith complemented.

"Was there any doubt." Said Jay

"I am the son of the world's greatest cartographer ✨" Jay boosted.

"Will you tell me the stories of how it was for both of you growing up?" Yumi asked Jay.

'Jay is boasting to much...' Smith thought '... Again...' a different voice chimed in.

"Do you have a spot planned out..."

Yumi asked Smith.

"No, not yet." Smith answered her.

She led them out the door "Come around back..." She led them to the back of her home "I want to show you something."

'this should be good' a voice chimed in Jay's head.

"Here, there is enough room behind my home." Yumi smiled

Smith and Jay look at each other...

"I like the idea." Smith smiled.

"I can't wait to start...." Jay stated.

Mason then walked up to them "Have you seen Orchid? I've been looking everywhere for her."

Smith and Jay looked back to Mason "We haven't seen her since morning..."

Mason starts to look worried "I can't find her..."

"She can't have gone far..." Smith tried to comfort him

"She might be getting to know the village." Jay followed up

"I'm sure she is ok." Started Yumi..

"Who are you talking about?" Orchid asked them

"Orchid you're..." Mason started but Orchid finished for him "I'm fine, no need to worry."

"See told you, she was just getting to know everyone!" Jay smiled

"Maybe next time you tell us when you go walking..." Stated Smith...

'She wasn't chased off thank goodness...' Yumi thought...

Smith and Jay walked up to Orchid, complementing her all the while...

Yumi walked up to Mason "Its sweet to see them treat her so well..." She smiled

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Inner Evil' Part 5 @CrescentTrinity (I'm sorry for torturing this poor character mentally, but he's been through a lot...)

That inner voice continued 'It's true that if you were not there it could have been worse... But, you changed the past... You made her weaker... She's now as helpless as a rabbit... Being hunted by a fox...' the voice sounded spiteful with each word.

Mason tried to counter, but the words were stuck in his throat as he tried to breathe calmly but failed... He didn't even hear when Yumi called his name as the voice continued... 'And when that fox gets his hands on her... She won't know what to do... She is helpless.... AnD iT's aLl yOuR FAULT!'

Mason's mind was rushing with the image of Orchid at the mercy of Drake's return... The voice repeats the last three words fading out as he then hears his name by an unfamiliar voice... followed by a touch on his arm, startling him back into reality. He jumps with a start when he realizes it was Yumi.

"Mason, is everything all right?" She started...

"You kinda... zoned out there for a minute... Want to tell me what's on your mind?"

Mason started to calm down. "... I..." He looked away "it's nothing. I'm fine..."Yumi then grabbed his hand. "Yumi?"

"You need to remember you're not alone in all this... We are here for you. You can tell me when you're ready..." She finished as Mason remembered the moment from his past life, when he told Orchid basically the same thing...

Mason gave it a defeated sigh "Ok, you win... So where will I sleep?" He asked her...

(What do you fear most? 😱)

As the moon lifted in the night, Mason tried to sleep... But he tossed and turned. In his dream, he ran through a village in ruins calling out for Orchid...

"*HELP! BROTHER! HELP ME!*"

"*Orchid! Hang on!*" He ran in the direction he heard her. It didn't take long to find her but the sight angered him. There was an Illager with a hand around her throat...

"*..Stop.. Can't... Breath...*" She struggled to say... "*Please... Stop...*"

"*OK, That's it! Your finished Drake!*" But when he turned the Illager around, it wasn't Drake... "*What... Who...?*"

"*Quite interesting isn't it...*" It was the voice from before "*... You used to be afraid of illagers, to the point of cowering in a hole to save your skin... But you find one injured Illager and you suddenly want to be their bodyguard?*"

Mason looked into the Illagers stone cold stare... "*What... No...*"

"*Or...*" The Illager grinned...

"*NO...*" *SNAP*

"ORCHID!" Mason nearly leaped out of bed, reaching out for his sister.

Mason slowly came to the recollection that he had a nightmare... "Thank-goodness..." He sighed rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah, a cup of tea might help."

"Couldn't sleep as well?"

Mason overheard a conversation... He just had to know. He got up and walked over to the doorway...

"You're not the first Illager I've taken in you know... But that story can wait..."

It sounded like Yumi...

"I'm sure it is interesting..." And Orchid...

Mason took a peek...

Yumi and Orchid were sitting at a table with cups of tea. "So, what's on your mind..." Yumi started

"Well, I've been hiding something..."

"What, that you're a villager with a bad skin condition?" Yumi joked

"No... It was when we were kids, when we first met..." Orchid stated.

"What did you hide? It can't be that bad..."

"... I told him 'remember what'... I remember."

Mason then knew what Orchid meant...

"So you remember something, it can't be that bad..." Yumi smiled

"Well, it was the past... Can't blame nobody on that." Orchid smiled back...

"True to that..." Yumi stated as Mason revealed himself to them.

"Oh, brother? Why are you awake at this hour?" Orchid asked him

"You remembered...." Mason started "... You remembered before I made the deal... And acted like you didn't remember."

Yumi figured they needed to be alone for a moment and left to check on the others...

Mason leaned in close "I just wanted you to be safe... I'm sorry sister..." He apologized to her...

"No need to apologize brother, you did fine... You should think about yourself more now..."

That morning Orchid walked out of Yumi's home."Ah, first day in a new village." She stretched and started walking.

'I should greet the other villagers.'

She thought... She looked over to a villager and their child... "Good morning~" Orchid chimed over to them.

They turned around "let's go this way." "Why, can't I say hi back?" The child asked their parent while they walked away...

Orchid was a little upset at this 'Well, I shouldn't have expected a warm welcome so soon...'

'To be fair you definitely don't look the part...' a voice started in her head '... After what they have been through, I doubt they would be so willing to trust you easily.'

'I knew that...' Orchid stated to herself.

As she walked, she could hear villagers talking...

'They would be at ease if you looked more like them... Maybe you should cover yourself in mud~' the voice taunted...

'Na... It's fine...' Orchid stated, still walking aimlessly...

'Why are you bothering to defend them, they probably would feel safer without you here. You should probably find a spell to change your look... I'm sure you would look a lot better if you did...' the voice taunted her...

(You all know the drill by now, text below images 👇)

[this is the comic in which Orchid starts to look like she is now on the blog...]

(the series still has Mason in it so CrescentTrinity will still be tagged,it is their Original Character.Also starting from this comic on all female characters will have slight alterations.)

Some months after the major fight, the heros dropped them off in a new area... Hoping that the small group could find a new happy life there. The hero in blue handed Mason a map of the surrounding area. So they cannot understand each other Mason happily thank them...

Mason looked at map 'Well there should be no trouble finding a place for us to live.' he thought.

Orchid, and regular villager clothes, looked over to Smith "I hope the villagers are friendly here like they were back home. Do you think they will be friendly?"

"I'm sure they are." Smith smiled. "Yeah with us backing you up, they'll have to let us in their village." Jay gave them both a hug."You really think so?" Orchid asked Jay. "Of course, you're practically a villager..." Jay stated. "We'll be back to our normal lives before you know it."

But as they visited each village, they found that more and more of the villagers didn't want them... The villagers continuously kicked them out and constantly called Orchid an 'Illager' in a hateful way... It was taking its toll on the group as they had to survive on their own...

Mason looked at the map once more... "Let's see now..." 'this is not good...' he thought, finding all but one village that they have yet to visit. "Squid Coast... One Last chance for a normal life..."

He looked at Smith, Orchid, and Jay... All he had left of a family...

Smith was silent, thinking more thoughts about Orchid who seemed extremely tired...

"Should we even try Squid Coast? Won't they treat us the same as before?" Jay asked...

"We're going to try!" Mason stated angrily... He took a minute to think...

He could hear a familiar voice in his head 'Calmly breathe, anger gets you nowhere...'

He took a breath "We have to..." He looked at the village before them.

"This is our last chance..."

In the town of Squid Coast, Yumi was working on one of her iron golem humming all the while...

She heard a friendly hello and looked over to see Mason greeting her "Hello there." He smiled.

"Oh hello..."

"My name is Mason, can..."

"Oh! Are you ok?" Yumi asked him

"I'm fine, just tired..." He explained as he pointed out the rest of his group "We have been traveling and we..."

Orchid looked at Smith and whispered "I don't think I should be here."

Yumi then noticed Orchid... "Is that an Illager in your group?" She asked, Orchid becoming startled at the question.

"Yeah, so what..." Mason started to say before Yumi pushed past him stating "The nerve of some villagers..." Seating mad...

She placed her arm around Orchid protectively. "You should be ashamed of yourself!"

"W-what did I do?!" Mason exclaimed.

"Enslaving an Illager! And so young too!"

"En-enslave! THAT'S MY SISTER!" Mason shouted back "AND SHE'S 22!"

"THAT'S EVEN WORSE! HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITH YOURSELF!"

"LISTEN LADY, ITS NOT LIKE THAT!" Mason tried to reason with Yumi, but failing....

All Orchid could do was stand there and think 'Please let somebody get me out of this situation...'

Smith and Jay have learned to stay out of such quarrels...

(I'm making up the rest of the argument as I go... So if it sounds bad, that's because it is 😅 I'm not good with arguments.)

As the argument escalated, the village leader Salah, came over to see the commotion.

"Don't 'lady' me mister! I know your game!" Yumi shouted at Mason.

"What game!? I'm trying to explain!" Mason asked angrily.

"Explain what?! Three men, one woman!"

"What are you getting at?!"

"Don't I have a say in this?" Orchid whispered, too quiet for the two arguing villagers... 'this is so embarrassing' she thought.

"Using this poor Illager as your plaything... Villagers like you make me sick."

Orchid was shocked at what the villager just claimed...

Mason was almost too shocked for words... Almost. "....... What. Is. WRONG WITH YOU!?"

'What is this lady's problem?!' Mason thought in shock...

"Ok, I've had enough..." Salah stated as he got between the two arguing villagers. "Alright, shows over... Let's talk." He stated...

After some time, Mason finally got to explain their situation to Salah and Yumi...

"... And that's it. Your village is our last hope... Can we stay?" Mason finished, a tired expression on his face.

'It doesn't look good...' Orchid thought as she waited for Salah's decision...

"Well, if your story is true... I guess we can give you lot a chance..."

Yumi was quite surprised at Salah's decision, she thought of all the villagers that Salah would reject any Illager...

"Really?" Mason asked, almost thinking this was a dream...

"But you all have to abide by the village rules..."

"Oh, of course we will! Thank you." Everyone was excited... Except for Orchid, she had a worried look...

Yumi caught Orchid's expression...

"You will be in charge of them Yumi..."

"Oh, sure Salah..." She stated...

Hours after all the commotion, Yumi led the group to her home "You all can stay here at my place until we build a new home for you." Yumi smiled apologetically to them.

"That's no problem miss Yumi..." Stated Jay tiredly...

Orchid gave a yawn.

"Are you sure we can stay?" Asked Mason.

"Of course you can, I have a spare room you can... Stay, wow you all must have been tired..." Yumi stated

"Well, will you show me the beds..." Mason asked

"Sure thing, how do we do this?" Yumi asked

"If you got Orchid, I've got the boys..." Mason stated

A short time later, Yumi was tucking Jay and Smith in bed... 'Its like I'm a mother...' Yumi chuckled to herself... She looked over to Mason. "Is everything ok Mason?"

"Yeah, it's fine." He responded as he finished tucking Orchid in... 'She looks so peaceful...' he thought.

Then, suddenly, he got a flashback of Orchid being choked...

A stern voice started to speak up... 'You forgot what happened last time...'

"Mason?" Yumi asked but was drowned out by the inner voice.

"What, I didn't..." He whispered to himself

'You have, you forgot that she was being hunted down... Because she killed him!'

"but I... She..."