User blog:Flamebiplane/Land Grab

It was a clear day with the sun shining as brightly as ever. The air held the right amount of warmth with the wind taking a break from blowing any gusts.

Among the outskirts of Wavedraw, just behind Nylund Castle, four boys of middle school age strolled along the stone pathway that streaked along the treeline.

"You guys are idiots for agreeing to this," commented Trag. "You can still back out anytime you know," said Wendell. "I don't back down from a challenge, but this is a stupid challenge!" Trag snapped. "Relax Trag, it's just a game of kickball," said Forjod. Trag scowled at Forjod and asked, "We're going up against some mamono here man, do you have any idea how badly we're going to get our asses beat?"

"Our team has some mamono too," said Gale. "Yeah, but they're not as good as the ones that are on the other team.  They have a Yeti and a freaking Minotaur on their team!  How are we supposed to compete against that!?" Trag exclaimed. "Trag, don't you think you're flipping out about this for no reason?" asked Wendell. "Yeah, it's not like our virginity is on the line or anything," said Forjod.

"Still, these odds are bullcrap!" Trag groaned as he kicked a rock away.

Wendell leaned into Forjod's ear as they continued walking and whispered in his ear, "Could have been worse, we could have found ourselves going up against a Hellhound."

Forjod gave Wendell a sideways glance and nodded in agreement.

Moments later, the four boys reached the field where they found the two teams waiting. A Ren Xiongmao who was on their team spotted them and waved to them calling, "You made it, come on, the game's about to start!"

The opposing team was already spread out across the field, which meant that Forjod's team was up first. He took a moment to study the teams. There was him and his friends, the Ren, a Living Doll, and another boy. On the other team were the aforementioned Minotaur and Yeti, a Lizardman, and four other boys.

His team lined up behind the white stripe with Wendell being the first to kick. The boy on the opposing team rolled the yellow ball towards Wendell, who rushed forward and kicked it.

He ran for first base with his team cheering him on, though the ball barely made it above the Minotaur's horns and fell right into the paws of the Yeti. "Out!" the field team collectively shouted, several taunting fingers jabbed in the direction of Wendell. The first kicker could only lower his head in embarrassment and drag himself back to the line.

"Alright alright, it's only the first kick," said the Ren, trying to raise the spirits of her teammates. Up next to the plate was Gale, who had an eager expression on his face. "Kick it good man!" Forjod heard the boy on his team whisper. Gale slid one foot behind the other, almost like he was signalling a challenge to the pitcher.

The pitcher detected Gale's attempts at trying to look cool, and responded with a nod and a fast ball launched in his direction. Gale didn't take a step forward, but instead raised his right foot behind him and swung downward at his spherical target. The shoe connected, and the ball shot off like a perfect line straight into the net that was the pitcher.

There was chuckling among the opposing team followed by the triumphant declarations of, "You're out!"

"Wow man, that blew," Trag muttered with an incredulous look. Gale turned to his team with a mortified grin and murmured, "Not how I expected that to go."

He walked off to the back of the line and the panda girl once again tried to lighten the mood by saying, "Good try good try!"

Third up to kick was Forjod. His hands trembled as he clenched them. He could feel a swarm of butterflies fluttering about in his stomach. The first two kicks already resulted in two outs, and the pressure was mounting.

He felt Trag's irritated hands on his shoulders and heard him whisper, "Don't screw this up Forjod!"

It was just a game, but the boy felt like he was being watched by a million people. He gulped hard and positioned himself for the ball. "Man, I hope we get at least one base," his human teammate muttered.

The pitcher smiled and rolled the ball toward Forjod. He powered up his muscles and charged forward. There was the sound of rubber striking rubber, and the ball sailed off a fair distance before landing in the grass. Calls for him to run sounded from his team, and he was off like a bullet towards first base.

Forjod bolted as fast as his legs could take him. The position of the ball mattered little. He didn't stop running until he jumped and planted his feet onto the first base plate. It was still only a game, but his heart was beating like he had just won first place in a close 100-meter race. A small amount of cheering could be heard from his team, something that gave him a small semblance of hope.

He watched Trag step up to the plate and prepared himself to run for second base. After a few seconds he heard the percussive sound and dashed for the next objective. However, his heart sank as the ball bounced into view and landed at the feet of the Yeti who was guarding second base. She snatched it up and Forjod attempted to skid to a stop, but he was moving too fast and ended up losing his footing. He slid across the dirt, right into the Yeti who tagged him out.

The pitcher raised his hand and announced, "Three outs, switch!"

Forjod lay on the ground and Trag screamed, "Are you kidding me!?"

"Trag man chill!" said Gale.

Forjod got to his feet and jogged into the outfield. He focused on the first kicker, one of the boys who was prepared for the pitcher, who was Trag. Trag rolled the ball toward the boy, who built up his momentum and kicked. The ball soared through the air, seemingly on target for Forjod who had his hands out for the catch.

The projectile landed in his hands, but their grip wasn't quite prepared, and the ball bounced out of his grasp and into the grass. Forjod could feel several disappointed eyes on him as he picked up the ball and tossed it back to Trag, who had a face of pure anger as he turned back to the next kicker. He looked to the ground and rubbed his hands together with a depressed sigh.

Trag made the pitch and the Yeti at the plate kicked the ball. It struck Trag square in the the face and caused him to jolt backwards in a violent fashion. The ball deflected off of him and shot off to the side where Wendell and Gale chased after it. This gave the two opponents on the other team ample time to clear the bases with the boy making it to home base and the Yeti stopping at third just as Forjod's two teammates returned with the ball.

"Are you okay?" the Ren Xiongmao asked Trag with her hands on her cheeks.

Gale tossed the ball to Trag, who proceeded to give every one of his team members a murderous glare and blurt out, "It's the second inning, and they already have one point.  What is wrong with you idiots!?"

"Already getting mad honey?" the Lizardman taunted as she gave Trag a dorky facial expression. He responded with an outraged, "Shut the hell up!"

"It's only a game man!" Gale called out to him. "Yeah man!" Wendell agreed. Trag ignored his teammates' advice and focused his attention on the next one to the plate, the Minotaur. Forjod could already see it happening, a homerun for the opposing team. That, or someone getting knocked clean out.

Trag stepped forward and let the ball wheel toward the bull. She made one step, followed by a kick, and the ball rocketed into the air as if it was shot out of a cannon. Everyone could only watch in stunned silence as the ball continued to ascend for a few more seconds until it finally started descending, straight into Nylund Castle. Once it disappeared behind the wall, all of the players gave their most recent kicker mixed facial expressions, with Trag's of course, being the angriest of them all.

"What the hell Angel!?" he screamed. Angel's face changed into a furious red and she shouted, "What are you yelling at me for!?  I didn't know my kicks were that strong!"

"Bullshit you dumb cow!" Trag yelled as he extended a finger towards Angel. One of Angel's eyebrows twitched and she stomped toward Trag snarling through clenched teeth, "Boy I will shove a tree branch up your ass!"

Angel grabbed Trag by his shirt and slammed him to the ground. Whatever rage had enveloped the boy before had been replaced by terror as the Minotaur raised her fists, ready to pummel some sense into her victim. Everyone jumped onto the couple and struggled to pull Angel off of Trag as she tried to land some punches on his face.

Forjod along with the others fought to restrain Angel and pleaded with her to cease this senseless violence. Trag had his frightened face hidden behind his twig-like arms, prepared for the mad bull's assault. In the short battle for control, Angel managed to break one of her arms free and launched her iron fist at Trag. Everyone screamed in horror for a couple of seconds as the punch connected, but it wasn't with Trag's petrified face.

Angel's fist was firmly planted in the grass next to his head, chunks of dirt shifted to an upward position from the impact. Trag uncovered his face at a snail's pace to see where Angel's punch had landed. His eyes were wide and he was trembling wildly. From Forjod's perspective, Trag was thinking one thing right now:  "Holy shit!"

Silence filled the air, the only thing disturbing the peace was Angel's stressed breathing. The rhythmic breaths eased up as a half-crazed smile crossed the Minotaur's face. Trag lay unmoved, his face frozen in terror as Angel lifted her fist from the pulverized ground and used it to stroke the sweat-drenched forehead of her victim. Angel's hand moved behind Trag's head and she leaned in, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Don't call me a dumb cow again...cutie," she whispered as she lifted herself off of him.

Trag continued to breathe at a rapid pace until Wendell and Forjod stepped over and pulled him to his feet. Trag stared at Angel, wide-eyed and speechless. Angel gave him her own view with a satisfied smile. Finally, after his moment of anxiety, he spoke, "Well, that's over with...but our ball's still in the castle!"

Everyone's attention shifted to the mighty structure. That behemoth was armed with  weaponry that could knock a swarm of Dragons out of the sky and mow down row after row of Order footsoldiers. Guards of different species and races patrolled it's walls and halls every passing minute. A Wurm hopped up on Raging Mushrooms wouldn't make it past the front entrance.

Gale turned to Forjod and asked, "Hey Forjod, weren't you in there once?"

The question caused Forjod's mind to strain itself to remember the trip, but it only accomplished itself in bringing back so little. The group now switched their attention to him, expecting their desired answer. Forjod nodded and replied, "I...I was, but I was a child then, and I don't remember much."

"So, what do you remember?" asked Trag. Forjod rubbed his head and answered, "Just some of the interior, and a little of the yards in the outdoor areas."

Forjod was beginning to catch on to where this was going and asked, "Are you suggesting that we sneak into the castle to get our ball back?"

"Forjod, none of us have ever been inside the castle besides you," Trag said with confidence as he placed his clammy hands on Forjod's shoulders. Forjod gave Trag a bemused expression as he continued, "You've got better knowledge of the layout of the place than any of us."

Forjod sighed and said to Trag, hoping to talk him out of this insane idea, "You realize that regular civilians aren't allowed on castle grounds unless they're either employed there, on a tour, or accompanied by military personnel right?  Yes, my mother leads the army in this country, but not even I'm allowed inside the castle unless she or someone who works there is by my side."

Trag shook his head and said, "Look man, you need to do this, and think of it this way.  If you get in trouble, then it will be a whole lot less painful than if any of us got caught."

Forjod pulled himself away from Trag and snapped, "I'm not going in there!"

Trag frowned and pointed at everyone else, "Look at us man, are you going to turn your back on us like that!?"

Forjod looked to everyone and asked, "Are you people seriously going to buy into this man's crap!?  It's just a ball!  We could probably find another!"

No one made a move or said anything. Forjod couldn't believe it. These morons actually wanted him to infiltrate a heavily fortified structure for what was essentially a rubber toy. Alas, he held his ground and gave a stern, "No."

Trag scowled at Forjod and said, "Come on man, we need that ball back, everyone's counting on you!"

Forjod shook his head and turned away with another, "No."

Trag's face softened and he said, "I'll buy you ice cream and that cool jacket you always wanted."

Forjod glanced behind him at Trag without turning his head and muttered, "You don't have that kind of money."

"I scraped together enough money to buy a dinner at that restaurant by the ice cream parlor, and I'm willing to blow all of that on you," Trag said in a calmer voice. "A bribe, really?" Forjod asked with an incredulous expression.

Trag shook his head and replied, "It's not a bribe man, it's more of...an offer.  You get our ball back, and I'll buy you that triple scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream you love so much along with that jacket."

"Bribery is the most pathetic method of persuasion ever," spoke a voice that was rather warm yet laden with snippets of vitriol. Everyone turned and saw a Cheshire Cat with red fur and wearing half of a plain white mask carrying their ball. The young crowd was rather taken aback by her sudden appearance, but Forjod recognized her in an instant. "Mrs. Vela!" he exclaimed unconsciously.

Vela gave a soft giggle at Forjod's reaction and replied, "Easy there Forjod, I'm just returning some lost property."

She strode up to the group and set the ball in Forjod's hands. Vela's gaze settled onto Angel and she said, "You have the kick of a god, you should be more careful."

Angel, who had a tough exterior before, melted into a shy young bull who muttered, "S...sorry ma'am, I got too focused on winning."

Vela blinked out of existence in a puff of red smoke and reappeared with her arms wrapped around Angel from behind. "That's okay, it's good to focus on victory," she murmured, stroking the Minotaur's chin, "You just need to watch your kicks, you could have taken some poor soul's head off."

"Can we get back to our game please?" Trag asked in a brusque manner. Vela disappeared once more, and reappeared at Trag's side. Despite her smile, her eyes were giving him a cold glare. "Oh, do I not get a thank you?  Just a blunt request to get out of here so you kids can return to your game?" she asked sharply.

"Thank you for getting our ball back ma'am," Forjod muttered, desperate to salvage the otherwise passing relationship. Many of the other teens followed suit, expressing their thanks to the Cheshire Cat for her hospitality. Trag however, remained steadfast, his annoyed gaze set upon Vela, who smiled at the gratitude she received despite it lacking much feeling.

"Shouldn't you be doing your duty?" Trag questioned the authority figure standing before him. Vela planted a finger on top of Trag's head and asked, "And shouldn't you be helping the Nettletons tidy up their art gallery?"

Trag took an abrupt step back from Vela, his iron hard expression showing signs of cracking. "I don't know what you're talking about ma'am?" he claimed. "I thought every week for five weeks was an appropriate punishment for you after you kidnapped Mr. Nettleton's daughter and demanded a free piece of artwork from his gallery," said Vela.

The group exchanged shocked glances with each other, including Forjod. Vela continued, "Real shame too, your kidnapping skills are better than your courting skills with human girls."

Trag's lips quivered, but he turned away from Vela, struggling to maintain his tough guy visage. "Well, I fail to see a way you could possibly convince me to go back to that craphole of a place!" he snapped.

An innocent visage crossed over Vela's face and she suggested, "Well, perhaps Mrs. Nettleton would love to know that Mr. Icardo isn't keeping up his end of the deal."

Trag did a double-take and asked,  "The Leanan Sidhe or the Dark Elf?"

"I wasn't talking about the Leanan Sidhe that's for sure," Vela replied, giving Trag a devilish glare.

Trag was silent for a moment, his face strained on deciding whether or not to go back. Finally, he broke and flung his hands into the air. "Fine, I'll go help Mr. Nettleton with his stupid art gallery!" he shouted as he stormed off the field. "Good choice!" Vela called after him.

When Trag was gone, Vela returned to the remaining members of the group and said with a cheerful tone, "Have fun with your game.  And Forjod..."

She looked directly at him, sending a brief chill down his spine. Was he in trouble too?

"Tell your mother that I've agreed to have dinner with her," she added. Relief washed over the boy as he said, "Y...yes Mrs. Vela, I'll definitely do that."

"Thanks!" Vela beamed as she disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Everyone took a moment to register what had just happened. "How'd he even manage to do that?" wondered Wendell. "All that trouble for a painting," said one of the boys. "That guy liked to take things far, but I never thought he'd take it THAT far," said Angel, who grinned and cooed, "Makes him kinda cute actually."

"So, wanna get back to the game?" asked one of the boys. Murmurs of agreement sounded among the players and they all returned to their positions. "Wait, we're down one player!" Forjod pointed out, noting Trag's absence.

"Doesn't mean we can't continue playing!" said the Ren Xiongmao as she prepared to roll the ball to the next kicker.

Forjod shrugged and jogged back to the outfield. He couldn't help but think of all the craziness that had occurred in those few minutes. He gave Angel one final concerned glance until the ball was kicked.