I woke up in the hallway feeling.. Strange. Like, something was missing but I couldn’t place what. “Oh, you're finally awake!”

  Alia’s voice cut into my head and I looked over at her. “Why are you wearing a yellow dress? Wait, is.. Is that..” I saw Ruby against the wall with finger marks on her neck, but otherwise untouched. I looked back at Alia and she just giggled.

  “The maids ruined my dress, so I got a new one. Princess Ruby was kind enough to lend me hers. She won’t be needing it.”

  I looked for a long moment before saying. “You know, I don’t really care for yellow. But.. you make it look good.” I grinned and she blushed. Sapphire shivered for some reason.

  “So, if you enjoyed your nap, time for my quest!” Alia said excitedly.

  I sighed and stood up, rubbing my temples. “Alright, let's do your quest.”

  She nodded excitedly before adding “Yup, and the first part of that is dealing with the massive army of Beastkin and citizens standing outside the castle trying to get in!”

  I froze solid and turned to face her. Feeling the blood drain from my face, I asked a horrible question. “How many?”

  I looked out over the massive crowd of people. They were just.. Standing outside the gates. Mostly women, as in, it was a 99/1 split. And the 1% was clearly just there to give out food to the others. I never knew it would be this hard to keep a husband. But I wasn’t giving up even if it killed me repeatedly.

  Based on what I was seeing.. That may yet come to pass. Still, I had a plan. “Is it ready yet Sapphire?” I turned to see Sapphire holding her hands above her and looking up. She looked down as I talked and then looked back up towards the massive floating sphere of water in the sky.

  “Maybe a few more minutes. I am trying to keep it contained, but it's really hard. I feel so tired.” Was her apt response. I nodded knowingly. I had learned what stamina was the hard way fighting krabs.

  “Should.. We be doing this?” Sapphire asked worriedly. I didn’t respond, I knew who she was talking to. Instead, I turned to Hero as he looked out over the massive crowd. He looked pale and was hyper ventilating.

  “Huh?” He asked as he looked over at Sapphire. The sound of his voice was so cute, even when he was panicking.. Especially when he was panicking.

  Sapphire looked annoyed for a moment, then Hero looked at her and her face went neutral. “I was.. Just..” she clenched her teeth and the sphere shook and reverberated. “Wondering if this is necessary.”

  Hero looked at her like she had just smacked him. “You're joking right? Did you not see what the maids were trying to do to us? Do want to fight through that mob while they tear your clothes off and rape you? Do you even understand what that word means? It is pleasant. Fire the damn sphere!” His words were panicked and jittery. Every time he glanced down at the crowd he began to pace anew.

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  I giggled and smirked, Hero had been far more talkative since our fun time. It was like he had suddenly woken up from a long nap. I looked at him lovingly. He stopped pacing and looked at me for a long moment. I stepped forward to kiss him, but Sapphire called out before I could “Ready!”

  I considered going for it anyways, then cursed under my breath and pointed “There!” The massive shadow cast over the roof of the castle we were on top of began to move. The sphere made its way directly over the spot at the front of the castle gates I had selected.

  “Remember everyone, the moment it lands, we need to flee and fast.” I said as I stepped back and grabbed Hero’s right arm. Sapphire let go of the sphere and grabbed Hero’s left arm.

  “Now!” I called. Hero activated anti-gravity and the three of us began to float up quickly. I aimed my bubble riffle and fired. We blasted upwards through the sky and passed the gates.

  We couldn’t keep going or risk reaching the atmosphere. So right as we passed the gates, the Water sphere hit and swept everyone away in a mass wave. Many died, some didn’t.

  We landed right where the sphere hit less than a second ago and began dashing towards the exit. Hero summoned his spear as multiple stragglers who had managed to survive the wave rushed us. A couple of Beastkin and an Elf. I launched myself forward and fired dead in the center of the middle Beastkin’s head causing an instant death.

  The Beastkin on the right almost reached me when an ice spike penetrated her shoulder, then another through her art. I heard Sapphire panting. Hero’s spear flew past me and got the elf in the stomach.

  The last one reached me. I let her pull my dress off as I aimed and fired point blank at her forehead with my pistol. I pulled my dress back on and rushed toward the exit, Hero and sapphire behind me.

  The gate to the forest was in visual range now. I jumped back and narrowly dodged an arrow. Looking up, I saw dozens of archers firing down at us. I grabbed Hero’s arm right as he reached me and grabbed Sapphire, who was now panting and red faced in my other hand. “Anti now!” I screamed.

  He activated his anti-gravity and we floated up fast. We passed above the arrows just in time and I fired my bubble rifle away from them. We were launched over the houses and I let go.

  Right before I hit the rooftop, I fired a bubble and landed on it. It instantly popped as an arrow went through it and I landed on the roof. I dodged another arrow as I fired my pistol at the nearest archer. They did not go down and I clenched my teeth.

  Before I could fire again, a wave of water landed on the buildings and we were all swept off of the sides. Hero caught me midair and landed hard on his legs, causing them to snap. He winced in pain before letting me go and throwing his spear.

  I brought my pistol up, he nodded and I fired. Turning, I stepped out of the way of another arrow right as Hero respawned above me. Stepping back, I caught him and pushed, deflecting another arrow with my gun. An ice lance flew past me and hit one of the archers, killing them instantly.

  I heard a scream and rage. Turning, I saw Sapphire, her face was red and veins were popping out. “How fucking dare you! To turn on your Hero like this!” She screamed at full volume as she brought her hands above her head.

  I ignored her and burst down another archer as another spear flew past me and hit a third archer in the head. A dark shadow suddenly covered the ground. I looked up and I felt the blood drain from my face.

  A massive wave of water had risen from the Emerald sea and was hovering over us. “Sapphire no!” I screeched, but it was too late, she threw her hands down and the water came down. Immense pain and then.. Black.