The farmstead lay in ruins, fires blazing out of control and dead bodies strewn like flowers. Blood was slick on Dazer's armor and sword. Inhaling, he absorbed the heavenly fragrance of blood, smoke and death. Everything he loved, everything he had been made to love.A usual day for a psychotic demon.
Walking through the ruins, his sharp red eyes searched for any hint of life to kill. To his disgust, he found nothing. Until...
Clink!
He frowned, stepping back, and looked down. He had stepped on a bracelet. It was small and made of white plaques, held together with black wire. It was also bloody. Dazer smirked slightly, reaching down to pick up the artifact of his slaughter. The instant his fingers touched it, he felt something...
An urge to put it on his wrist, tighten the clasps, and wear it. Staring at the jewelry, he held it up to the light. The plaques were white jade, set with silver runes...the black wire seemed to shimmer like an oil slick, with dozens of beautiful colors that changed as he twisted his wrist.
The first thing that ran through his mind was power. This item was beautiful, and the urge to wear it...it might boost his power to incredible heights! He grinned ferally.
The thought that it might be cursed never occurred to him. He put it on his wrist, and to his surprise, the clasps fastened themselves so fast...
Then a shock ran through him. It was like white lightning, pure power, but warping, bending...
Dazer had only enough time to scream once, from the shock and agony, before he passed out...
* * * * Wake up now.
Hunh?
Come on Dazer, you've been asleep long enough. Your mind has done its house cleaning.
...who are you?
No one.
What? Hey! Who are you? What are you?!?
No one and nothing. Now wake up. Move your patootie.
...???
* * * * Waking up hurt. He had been lying on his back, face towards the sun, which stung his eyes as he slowly pried them open. Congealed blood made an unpleasant tacky substance on his body, and his sword was a mess. It would take days to clean it all off. Vaguely, Dazer wondered how long he had been unconscious. Long enough for the blood to dry out, anyway.
It was disgusting. Then he suddenly shivered, realizing that that didn't seem...right. It wasn't just the cleanliness factor that was disgusting. He was covered in BLOOD. Blood he had shed. Why...?
...Why did I kill them...? The only reason seemed to be...because it was fun. There might have been something more logical, but that had never really concerned him...and now...
Dazer didn't think this would be fun anymore. Unaware of the immense changed his psyche had undergone in half a day, he stumbled away, sword in hand. His red eyes were dazed, and his expression reminiscent of someone playing a mental game of chess that would go on for a long, long time. Ignoring the bodies as best he could, he slowly walked away from the scene of his carnage...carrying a curse.
Or perhaps...a blessing.
What to do when the Heart calls to You? Scrubbing off the blood seemed like the thing to do. Even normally, this was pretty disgusting. Dried blood was uncomfortable at the best of times, and now, it was even more repulsive. The river was rather convenient for this task, and he started with his sword. The blood did not want to come off, and Dazer eventually tried chipping it off with his nails. Which got blood under his nails. I can't win.
And his head hurt. It was an aching, knawing pain in the back of his skull. As he reached up to hold his forehead, the plaques on his wrist chimed musically. Lowering his wrist, the green-haired demon looked at them blearily. The silver runes caught the light, shining brightly. Maybe it was his imagination, but he almost felt like he could read them...make some sense of the enigmatic designs.
As quickly as that feeling came, though, it slipped away, and they were nothing but silver signs. He scratched at the bracelet absently as he started working the blood off his face.
My kingdom for a bar of soap. Not that he had a kingdom, but the sentiment was still valid. Muttering slightly, he worked at his armor. He wasn't willing to peel it off. This WAS enemy territory.
Suddenly, he tilted his head. Voices! He debated staying and confronting whoever it was, or hiding in the brush. In his new mental state, caution won out, and he hid. But curiosity also won out, and he stayed to see who it was, and hear what was being said.
His eyes widened as he recognized the Dream Chasers, then narrowed in satisfaction.\par \par It promised to be...interesting.
Boomerang stretched as he walked along the riverbank, Noble Knight and Lucied trailing slowly behind him. They had about an hour left on their break and had decided to spend it in peace and quiet. Boomerang started to sit down by the river, but stopped when he noticed several scuff-marks and footprints in the mud. His eyes narrowed behind his visor. He thought that he and Noble Knight were the only ones who came to this river. The visored demon's first thought was that a merchant or another Dream Chaser had stopped to quench their thirst, but he noticed that the footprints had come from the south and had suddenly turned to the west, disappearing behind a bush.
"What's wrong?" Noble Knight asked him.
Boomerang responded, reaching for the Sabre Fang, "I think we've got rats..."
Dazer, seeing that he could not hide any longer, took the Soul Stealer and leapt out of the bushes at Boomerang. Boomerang blocked a blow with the Sabre Fang. Lucied growled and leapt at Dazer who quickly dove to one side, sending the blue wolf sprawled in the water with a dazed look. Noble Knight quickly unsheathed her gold-colored sword and ran to one side of Dazer while Boomerang threw the Sabre Fang at him. Dazer used his sword to deflect Boomerang's weapon, sending it flying harmlessly away. The ruby-eyed demon then whirled around and leapt at Noble Knight who was caught off guard.
Dazer's already blood-caked sword sliced through the silver-haired warrior's armor like a hot knife through butter, lodging its blade in her shoulder. Noble Knight screamed in pain and fell to the ground, her sword flying out of her hand. Normally, her scream would have been music to Dazer's ears, but he suddenly felt sick at his stomach. He stared at where his sword's blade was lodged in her shoulder, blood slowly trailing down her armor.
What...? was the only thought that rang in Dazer's mind. He should have been enjoying her pain and the sight of her blood...yet...he was disgusted at what he was doing.
Boomerang, meanwhile, had retrieved his weapon, but was now uncertain as to whether he should attack or not. Dazer's sword was way too close to Noble Knight's throat for comfort.
Suddenly, the exact same shock that he had experienced before surged through Dazer. His hands flew to his head and he screamed at the top of his lungs. When he did, his grip on the Soul Stealer was removed and it dislodged itself from Noble Knight's shoulder.
She scrambled back away from him, grasping her bleeding shoulder and staring at Dazer who was still screaming and clutching his head. Finally, Dazer's screams ceased and he fell limply to the ground.
* * * * That really was ill advised.
You again.
Me again.
Why don't you go get a life and get out of my head?
And miss all this fun? How silly. And speaking of silly...why did you do all that? Tch.
They were enemies. And what's it to you?!?
Why, everything, little one. It's everything to me. I see I have a long ways to go with you.
...?!? Don't I have a say in this???
Why, not in the slightest! Now, wakie wakie!
Not this again...
* * * * When Dazer woke up, he was in pain. A lot of pain. His head felt like it was fragmenting under internal pressure...a situation only exacerbated by a completely unnatural position that involved having his wrists and legs chained to a convenient wall. He struggled briefly and futiley against the bonds, but whoever had made them knew what they were doing. He couldn't budge them. Dazer let his head loll forward, fighting an oddly nauseous feeling and the urge to sleep. He didn't want to sleep.
It was enough to make a demon cry.
But, failing that, Dazer's agile mind started to work. It was funny, his thoughts had never felt this clear before. Maybe there was a method of escape...if he could think of it.
Or maybe not. The chains scraped against his wrists as he moved his fingers against the stone, searching for something, anything. Finding nothing.
Well, I sure as hell can't chew my way out. The frustration was almost palpable. Red eyes flaring, he wished they had at least had the decency to chain him in a more comfortable position. His eyes were suddenly caught by the bracelet, which shimmered complacently.
"I swear, this sort of thing didn't happen to me until I found you!" He muttered at it, almost as if it could understand. Dazer could almost swear that the shimmering blinked for a moment, a soundless laugh. Suddenly he heard a door creak open, and looked up sharply.
Zed. His practically identical, alter ego. Hostility surged through him, and he glared evilly, red eyes glowing. The bracelet on his wrist blinked, seeming almost amused, if Dazer had been watching. But he didn't notice, and Zed was slightly distracted by the presence of his "twin". Dazer just hung from the wall grimly, glaring. Zed crossed his arms, blue eyes meeting red ones. Right after him came Boomerang, and Dazer gritted his teeth. He had hurt Noble Knight, and Boomerang's love for the creature was pathetically obvious. This was not going to be pleasant.
"Well?" He finally broke the silence. "Going to torture me?" The bitter anger in Dazer's voice was strong enough to choke on.
"Maybe, if you don't answer our questions." Boomerang replied with a sinister grin. Dazer wasn't sure, but had a notion that Boomerang would enjoy it if it came down to that.
So I hurt his stupid girlfriend...so I've killed a lot of people...so...what... His thoughts ground to a slow halt. Was he actually feeling bad about that?!?
Yanking his thoughts away, he favored Boomerang with a vicious glare. It was especially vicious because he practiced with a mirror on slow days. "Depends on the questions, jerk-off." Boomerang's face flushed. Dazer could tell, despite his dark complexion.
"Why you little..." He growled, hand going to the Sabre Fang. Dazer smiled slyly. Suddenly, a phrase popped into his head. If you're going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance.
...Strange. He could swear he had never heard that before. But it sounded like a good motto to live by. "Little what?" He smiled slyly, as if his words held a big secret. Although, truthfully, they didn't mean much of anything. "Cat got your tongue?" Boomerang growled and pulled out the Sabre Fang with a steely rasp. Dazer's eyes widened slightly, as he seemed ready to throw it and get rid of the annoying pest, when Zed grabbed his arm.
"Cut it out. We won't get anywhere if you keep trying to kill him." Zed said calmly. Dazer shrugged as best he could, given the chains pinning him neatly to the wall.
"Dying's a bitch." A muffled complaint seemed to reach him, as if he had gotten something wrong, but he ignored it. Zed eyed him, voice still calm.
"Why were you in our territory?" He asked, getting down to business.
"Death, destruction and carnage. What else?" Dazer said almost flippantly, but couldn't keep on odd note out of his voice. His face took on a hesitant look, and he swallowed once.
I don't feel right about this... The death and killing just didn't seem...exciting anymore.
"I take it that's why you attacked NK and Boomerang." Zed replied. Boomerang seemed to be muttering something under his breath.
"Something like that." Dazer replied sullenly. It was only a matter of time until they got down to his screaming, and he wasn't looking forward too it, especially since he couldn't explain it to himself.
"Well, what was that screaming fest about?" Boomerang demanded. Dazer winced. Ask and you shall receive.
"How am I supposed to know?!? I feel like shit!" He snarled back. It was a vast understatement. Dazer's head was pounding nastily right now, first on one side, then the other. It made him wonder how long he'd be able to keep up his end of the conversation...not that it would matter too much to him if his replies degenerated to single syllables.
"I don't know if he's faking it or what, but something's...different about him." Zed whispered to his brother. Boomerang shook his head sharply, looking at the chained and miserable Dazer.
"I don't see anything different. I just see the same old bastard who's always trying to kill us." He replied bluntly. Dazer swallowed, feeling...guilty. He lifted his head, expression hesitant and almost...vulnerable.
"Look, I'm...sorry I hurt your girlfriend." The words came awkwardly, and privately, Dazer couldn't believe he was saying them. He had never felt anything like this before in his whole life! Boomerang blinked in surprise.
"Now there's something new." His eyes narrowed as he looked at his brother's formerly psychotic clone, who seemed to have gained a conscience. "Alright...what are you up to?" Zed, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought. Dazer glanced at him idly for a moment, wondering what was going through his mind, then looked back at Boomerang.
"I'm not up to anything." He looked down at the ground, then at the bracelet, frowning. "After I found this piece of junk jewelry, things have gotten weird." Zed seemed to pause for a moment, then walked over, touching the bracelet. The runes twinkled merrily, and the plaques chimed softly. Dazer watched Zed narrowly, wondering if he meant to remove it. Somehow...despite his condition...he didn't want that. Zed tilted his head, stirring the bracelet slowly with one finger.
"...Where'd you find it?" He asked curiously. Boomerang groaned.
"What does THAT matter? I'm more interested in why he was here and what the hell he's up to! It's not everyday he actually apologizes for hurting someone!" Dazer gritted his teeth, deciding to answer Zed first.
"I found it in a farmhouse I..." He suddenly paused, tone turning painful. "...destroyed. I had an incredible urge to put it on when I found it...I thought it would give me power. So far, all its done is...this." Then Dazer eyed Boomerang. "And why do I have to be up to something, chowder head?" His tone turned nasty. Conscience or no conscience, he didn't like Boomerang, and doubted he ever would. And the feeling was mutual.
"Because you LOVE to kill and injure." Boomerang retorted, and Dazer flinched. That had been true...but now... "Pretending that your actually sorry for doing so only convinces me you're planning something--"
"Boomer, shut up!" Zed snapped. With a reluctant growl, Boomerang did so. Dazer had to repress the urge to stick out his tongue. It would be very satisfying, if juvenile, but also probably terminal. Zed looked back at Dazer.
"What happened at the river? What made you black out like that?" He queried his clone. Dazer frowned for a moment, trying to think. It was hard going, given the headache that seemed determined to destroy him before Boomerang finally lost his temper for good.
"I don't know. It felt like a knife through my skull. It happened the first time when I put the damn thing on." Then he favored Boomerang with a glower. "I'm not planning anything. It's not like I wanted you to catch me!" Boomerang just growled, tensing, his hands balling into fists.
"Do you have any idea of what made you put it on?" Zed asked. Dazer just shook his head.
"I just wanted to. The bracelet itself, I guess." That seemed likely. "Got anyone who can read the shit written on it? I almost feel like I can, but then it goes away from me." It was a matter of more than idle curiosity for him. Although...curiosity seemed to be important lately. A force to be reckoned with in his newly fragmented psyche.
"Hmm?" Zed looked long and hard at the writing on the bracelet. Dazer's mind, on the other hand, shifted course to a new problem.
"Can I PLEASE have some aspirin?" He asked plaintively. The headache was going from bad to Terminal.
"Boomer." Zed said, still trying to make sense out of the writings on the bracelet.
"Yeah, sure..." The dark skinned demon stomped out of the room. Dazer watched him askance. If he had had to pick someone to go get him a drink, it certainly wouldn't have been Boomerang.
"I hope he doesn't poison me." Dazer muttered. He could imagine the temptation. Zed finally blinked and sighed.
"I can't read it. Alicia might be able to." Boomerang came back with a glass of water and two aspirin. Dazer eyed it carefully.
"If you put anything else in that water, I'm gonna get Cecilia after you..." Zed warned him. Boomerang grinned.
"Nah, I couldn't find the rat poison." Dazer sighed and rolled his eyes. There was still one problem.
"Great. Now, are you going to unchain me enough to drink that stuff, or are you going to feed it to me?" Dazer's face pruned up a little. He was looking forward to THAT like a case of the clap. But, as it turned out, he didn't need to worry. Zed loosened the chains on one wrist enough so he could take the aspirin. After drinking the water, he sighed slightly. "Thanks. Now, you can either get Alicia, or take off the bracelet and take it to her." He felt uneasy about that. It didn't seem like the right thing to do...but...
Zed looked carefully at the bracelet, and started to undo the clasp. He was abruptly cut off as the runes flared a bright silver, and a spark flared from the bracelet, earthing itself through the green haired demon. Dazer flinched slightly, the pounding in his head abruptly increasing. SOMEthing was unhappy...
"YEOWCH!" Zed recoiled, blinking and holding his scorched hand.
"What the hell?!" Boomerang exclaimed. The runes glowed with silver and white light, surging and pulsing. Colors rose from the bracelet like a spectral oil slick. Dazer groaned, lowering his head.
"It...didn't like that." He shook his head, letting his hair fall over his face. "Gawd..." His head really hurt. Really, REALLY hurt.
"What is that thing?" Boomerang eyed the item warily.
Zed muttered, rubbing his throbbing hand, "I don't know...go get Alicia. She may be able to read that writing." Boomerang nodded and exited the room. Dazer sighed and lowered his head. The pain was almost bad enough to make him scream, but he somehow managed to supress the urge to. He only hoped that the asprin would kick in soon.
A moment later, Boomerang re-entered the room, Alicia right behind him. Zed turned to the hybrid and asked, pointing to the writing on the bracelet, "Can you read what this says?" Alicia looked long and hard at the writing.
After a moment she spoke, reading the inscription out loud, "'The actions make the man. Let this power be known, that those actions turn to good. Curse or blessing, judge for yourself. Powers that wait shall be known.' There some more, but I can't make out what it says."
"Weird..." Zed muttered.
"But what does that mean?" Boomerang demanded.
Alicia replied, "I...think it means that it's making Dazer turn good."
Dazer growled, glancing at the bracelet, "Curse or blessing...great..."
Boomerang grinned and said, "Actually...I wouldn't mind him behaving for a change."
"I didn't think you would..." Zed groaned.
Dazer glared at Boomerang and growled, "Just because I'm...constrained doesn't mean I can't cause you grief if I want!"
Boomerang snapped back, taking out the Sabre Fang again, "You even think about it, and I'll slice open your throat before you can scream."
Dazer retorted with a smug grin, "Oh, I'm soooo shaking in my boots...BITE ME!!"
"THAT'S IT!!" Before Zed and Alicia could even think about stopping him, Boomerang brought the Sabre Fang over his head and slashed at Dazer with it. Just a few inches from the ruby-eyed demon's face, the Sabre Fang stopped dead on a misty white shield around Dazer. As the weapon struck the shield, tiny sparks of white energy began to snake up the Sabre Fang. Dazer's eyes nearly doubled in size.
The shield flashed, causing Boomerang to drop his weapon which was steaming. Boomerang's gaze switched back and forth from Dazer to his weapon several times. "...I didn't do that," Dazer stated nervously.
Boomerang carefully picked up his weapon and demanded, "Then who...or what, I guess I should say, did?!"
Dazer looked at the bracelet and retorted, "Guess...heh...I guess it gave me some power after all!"
Alicia nodded absently and muttered, "Apparently it's protecting him. Whenever he's in trouble, it does something to help him."
Dazer muttered, "I've been having the weirdest dreams lately, too." Alicia looked at him. "Well...there's some wierd voice talking to me. I think it needs a life..."
"What does it say to you?" Alicia asked.
"It just makes fun of me, mostly," Dazer answered, "And it said something about needing to do a lot of work on me. I hate the way it wakes me up..."
"Lots of work, eh...probably means trying to get you to change to good." No one saw the bracelet shimmer a little in a silent laugh.
Dazer looked at the three of them and asked, "Are you guys ever going to untie me? I've got a little problem here..."
Alicia looked at Boomerang and Zed who nodded, placing their hands on their weapons lest Dazer decide to attack. Alicia said as she undid the chains, "Alright. But don't try anything."
Dazer rubbed his wrists and then said, giving Alicia a sheepish, almost charming smile, "Now...where's the bathroom?" Alicia laughed and looked at Boomerang.
Boomerang growled, "...come on..." Dazer followed him out of the room and down a hallway. After a moment, Boomerang stopped by a room and jerked his thumb inside. "Hurry up..."
Dazer muttered, "It takes as long as it takes...jerk..."
Meanwhile, Zed asked Alicia, "What do you make of that thing?"
Alicia answered, "It's definitely protecting him...it's like a parasite. It needs a host. Dazer just so happened to be the unlucky canidate."
After a few moments, Boomerang and Dazer re-entered the room. Alicia told Dazer her theory, to which the demon replied, "Actually, I think it's more of a...symbiote. I mean...it's helping me survive."
Alicia shook her head. "I don't really know. I've never come across anything like it before."
Dazer shrugged. "Oh, well. I'm starting to feel a little better about this."
Zed thought out loud, "I wonder...would it work the other way around? Turn someone good to bad?"
Alicia responded, "It might."
Dazer muttered, "Better not put it on...if it ever comes off..." He brushed his deep green hair out of his eyes and asked, "Um...now what...with me?"
Boomerang snapped, "Depends on whether or not we feel like putting up with you anymore -- YEOWCH!! " Boomerang yelped and clutched his shin, hopping around on one foot.
Zed growled at him, "You just don't know when to shut up, do you? Now cut it out or I'll kick you again!"
Dazer snickered at Boomerang's discomfort before thinking out loud, a slightly annoying smile spreading across his face, "Hmm...I don't know...this is kinda strange. First time I've ever been here on semi-good terms before." He shrugged slightly. Boomerang muttered something profane under his breath.
Alicia whispered to Zed, "I want to examine that bracelet some more."
Zed nodded and turned to Dazer, arms crossed over his chest as he said, "Alright...you can stay here but only as long as someone's with you. I trust you about as far as I can throw you."
Dazer flipped back his hair and mused, "Feeling's mutual, twin."
Zed growled something before clearing his throat and continuing, "Boomerang or NK. Take your pick."
"That's a great choice..." Dazer murmered, looking at Boomerang, "NK, I guess."
Boomerang glared at Zed. Zed merely said, "She can take care of herself. Go get her." Boomerang growled something and reluctantly did so. After a moment, Noble Knight entered the room.
She groaned, "Don't tell me I have to babysit..."
Zed replied, "Only until we can figure out what to do with him." Noble Knight groaned and rubbed her bandaged shoulder.
Dazer looked down at the floor and appologized, "Um...sorry about that..."
Noble Knight gave him a surprised look before asking Zed, "Exactly how long am I supposed to baby sit him?"
"As long as it's necessary," Zed replied calmly.
"Oh, thanks..."
Dazer grinned sinisterly at her and said, "Oh, come on, NK. We can have fun!" Noble Knight growled something and started down a hallway, Dazer right behind her. After a moment of walking, Dazer asked her, "Is there any food in this place? And do you cook as badly as DK?"
Noble Knight growled her response, "I don't cook at all. And the kitchen's this way." She turned down a corner.
"She doesn't, either, unless she's about to starve," Dazer stated, glancing around curiously, "Hmm...interesting..."
"What's interesting?"
"Everything. Everyone. The entire world!" Dazer made an expansive guesture, almost hitting his escort who quickly ducked, "It's all so new!"
"New?" Noble Knight asked, "You're saying it as if you've never been outside a tiny, little room in your entire life."
"Well...that's kinda what it feels like. I just want to...know things now. Do things. Does that sound silly?"
"Coming from you, kinda. Here we are." Noble Knight motioned around as they entered the kitchen, "Help yourself, but try not to piss of the chefs."
"Okay," Dazer nodded, and started swiping cookies.
Noble Knight winced and rubbed her shoulder. She said, "I'm going to have my shoulder looked at again. Try not to get into trouble..." Dazer nodded. Well...he seemed like he would obey. Afterall, he had not shown one hostile action ever since he arrived, so Noble Knight felt it was okay to leave him.
Dazer watched her leave, snatched some more cookies and looked around. He had promised her that he would not get into trouble, but surely she would not object to him exploring town a little. With that thought in mind, Dazer slinked out of the kitchen and headed down to the town.
Dazer grinned and hummed a little tune to himself as he slid through the crowds of people lining the streets of Adlehyde, liberating a few items from every person that he 'accidently' bumped into and now wearing a leather jacket and a pair of mirror sunglasses that he got from somewhere. After about five minutes of collecting purses and tying them together with a string, he made his way to the park and hung them off the branches of a tree. He looked over at Noble Knight who was stomping up to him, ears flat against her head.
"There you are!" she growled, "Where did you get that stuff? And didn't I tell you not to wander off?!"
"Stuff? What stuff? And I was just...playing! Yeah, playing!" Dazer laughed innocently as he remembered his past activities.
Noble Knight growled, "The jacket and shades..."
"Oh, that stuff!" Dazer responded, "Boomerang checked his closet, lately?"
Noble Knight sighed, rubbing her head, "Why me..."
Dazer shrugged. "I don't know. Why ask why?" He looked over his shoulder at a pillar of black smoke that was rising from one part of town. "Heard about the fire, yet?"
Noble Knight's eyes nearly doubled in size. "You didn't...ARGH!! I knew I shouldn't have left you!!"
Dazer threw up his arms defensively. "Me? Perish the thought! That happened without any help from me. I was just wondering if you heard. I had fun watching. Especially when this big fight broke out...humans are funnier than I thought!"
"Alright...you did something to start all this...and I'd like to know what!!"
"I told you, I didn't! I came in at the tail end. I don't know what went down. Ask the local authorities." He snickered. "Sure was fun, though." He snickered again when he thought about his practical joke in the park. He knew that Noble Knight was bound to hear that from the authorities sooner or later.
The female warrior growled and snatched Dazer's wrist. "That does it. You're going back to the castle."
"Fine. I've had my fun for the day." Dazer glanced back over his shoulder at the park with a sinister grin.
------------------- The next morning... ------------------- A soldier strolled up to Zed and spoke, "Um...there's a slight problem, sir. You heard about the fire and riot yesterday?"
Zed blinked and answered, "Yeah..."
The soldier gave him a hard look before stating, "Well...someone answering to your description was noticed during the...festivities. And afterwards, after all was said and done, all the combatants and bystanders noticed that they had lost their purses and wallets. An odd coincidence."
Zed blinked again. "My description?" He growled. "Dazer...NK!!" Noble Knight poked her head around a corner. "Did you let Dazer out of your sight yesterday?"
Noble Knight took on a nervous look and replied, ears drooping, "...just for two minutes..." Zed groaned and rubbed his head.
The soldier shrugged and continued, "Not a big problem, really, since all of the items were found intact hanging from a large tree in the park. A practical joke, essentially. But we thought you should know." With that, he left.
Just then, Boomerang walked in the room and asked, "Has anybody seen my sunglasses?"
Noble Knight answered, "Last I saw them, Dazer had 'em."
"What?! Where is that little bastard?!" Boomerang growled.
"Roof," Noble Knight answered.
"That's it. I can't stand him anymore," Boomerang snapped.
Zed broke in, "He hasn't hurt anybody, yet."
Boomerang looked at him. "...your point?"
Zed replied, expression unfading, "He stays a little longer." Boomerang growled something under his breath and stomped up to the roof.
He found Dazer lying on a beach towel with his arms folded behind his head. He was also wearing Boomerang's sunglasses. Boomerang walked up to him and asked, crossing his arms and tapping his foot impatiently, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Sunbathing?" Dazer responded, "Could you move a little to your right? You're blocking some of the rays." He yawned and asked, "Was there something you wanted with me or are you just here to interrupt my pristine thoughts...or lack thereof?"
Boomerang demanded, "Why the hell are you poking around through my closet?!"
Dazer answered, "You have cool clothes, not like Zed. I already tried him. Consider it a compliment. I put the jacket back." He grinned up at Boomerang who just growled and made his way back to the throne room.
Boomerang muttered when he got to the throne room again, "If my fuse gets any lower I'm going to have his head stuffed and mounted on my bedroom wall."
"You think that's bad?" Noble Knight spoke, "Try babysitting him..." Just then, Dazer made his way into the room, sunglasses in one hand and beach towel draped over his arm.
"Hey, Boomer. Want these back?" he asked.
Boomerang snatched his sunglasses back and whispered to Noble Knight, "He may be a little more annoying...but you gotta admit it...it is kinda nice not having to worry about him trying to kill you everytime you turn around." Noble Knight nodded.
"Hmm...food..." Dazer muttered and bounded off to the kitchen.
Noble Knight laughed nervously, "His appetite is starting to remind me of my own."
-------------- Meanwhile... -------------- "Where is he?!" Dark Knight growled as she threw a rock into a small puddle.
Zeikfried responded, "I don't know...could the Dream Chasers have gotten him? He was killing things in their territory." He sighed, contemplating the loss of his finest warrior.
Dark Knight shook her head. "Nah...he's not dumb enough to get caught."
Chakram asked, "You sure about that?" Dark Knight glared at him.
Zeikfried asked, "Well, if he's not caught, where is he?"
Dark Knight shrugged. "We can go check the Dream Chasers if you think that's necessary. I'm bored, anyway..."
Chakram muttered, "Do we really need him?"
Dark Knight retorted, "Considering the fact that without him, I'm the only one that likes killing, YES!!"
"...sue me..."
Zeikfried responded, ignoring the childish behaviors of his fellow demons, "We better...He might be chained up in the dungeon for all we know." He growled. "If he is, I'm beating the shit out of him before we rescue him..."
Chakram's hand flew up as he asked, "Oh! Can I help?" Dark Knight smacked him upside the head.
"Shaddap," she snapped. She looked at Zeik and nodded. "Let's go."
To be continued...