Defend

"SNNNAPPP!"

Harnio smiled as he watched the vessel break into half. He looked as it started to sink in the shallow water.

"Protect the queen! Protect the queen!"

He frowned as the drones piled up on each other forming a small island. "They're drowning themselves for this person... What did she do to them?" Harnio stared at the small island as a woman jumped from the vessel and stood on it. He turned to the firewarrior. "That must be the queen... She has done something bad to them, or why would they act like that?"

"Why are you here? But what I should be asking first is who are you?" He looked at the island of now corpses, watching as she ignored those she stood on. "Are you going to answer, or do I have to pull it out of you?"

He looked at the firewarrior, relaxing as he stepped forward. "We were hired to protect this free city... We're just mercenaries. Who may you be?"

"I go by many names... But my servants here call me queen... For a group of mercenaries, I think queen is suffice." He frowned as she played with her long hair.

Harnio watched as transparent figures started to appear around the queen staring at her in anger. "They don't like what she's done."

"Little brother... it's pheromones. She uses that to control and take over their minds and bodies... The moment, they become a drone, there is nothing left of them inside."

Harnio lowered his head frowning. He looked at her legs. "I can see where you're looking boy... If you were a man, you'd look at me in my face." Harnio shook his head. "I can see what you've done to those you stand on... You're not even worth my time to look at..."

"That's a pitttyyyy..." He looked up as she stood in front of them with a smile on her face. "Hey monk... I'm sure you'd like to play with me? Since as a monk you wouldn't have played with anyone... I am quite flexible in the right places." He turned to Drummen who was looking at her, while drinking from his wine skin. "No thanks... I don't know where that's been... I prefer to keep myself clean..."

"I see... what about you little one? Don't you find me attractive and desirableeee?"

He saw Mouse stare at her calmly. "Hmph... A silent type... Usually I like them, but this one seems like he wants to kill me."

He looked at Cliffhopper who was smiling at her. "What's so funny muscles? Don't you think I can put you on the ground, or that I can't fit you?"

"Hahahaha... I know what you're trying to do... I can tell you, that its not going to work... bitch..."

"Wow... Brother, you actually called her a bitch? I was going to call her something else, but the words I know... Just don't fit... I need to think a something that suits her... Maybe when she's dead, I'll have something to say."

"Hahahaha... You think you can kill me with this storm, a little wind and rain? I've been around a lot longer than the lot of you..."

"Another grandma... great" He heard Drummen curse at her. He smiled. "That's a good one monk... I'm sure you'll think of something better."

"Thanks for the encouragement little brother."

"Quit it! The bunch of you. Your all idiots... Calling me a grandmother... What a joke... I should kill you all here for your words... The master will hear about this for sure."

"Thud."

Harnio turned around and saw the priestess staring at the queen, slowly walking forward with her bow raised. "What you did to those people... You're a monster."

"Ahh, now that's a face I do recognize... How did you get in with a bunch of eunuch mercenaries anyway Star?"

"Eunuch! You're calling me an eunuch? You have to die." Harnio shook his head at the monk, as he started to step forward. He relaxed as Cliffhopper grabbed his arm pulling him back.

"You heard her brother... She was calling us eunuchs... I should go and show her my family jewels just to prove I have them, and that they work very well."

"Doesn't matter... Look at the priestess... I think this bitch is her target."

"Star... It has been a long time... I also see you have a new bow... It looks nice. Did you have to pay for it with something other than coin, or was it a gift from your many fans?"

Harnio turned, and looked at the bow in the priestess's hands. "Why aren't you dead? I saw your body in pieces... What happened to Red?"

"Ahhh... About Red... That Red is dead... Pity about that... But I'm sure he feels a lot better, since he didn't like that body."

"Who killed him?"

"I did Star... Are you surprised that I did it? I knew you were up there, I could see you up there... So you should know."

"Agnia... I looked up to you... For many years." Harnio saw tears fall down her cheek, and looked at the woman in front of him with a glare. He stared at the large following of transparent figures staring at the queen. All silent, just staring at her.

"Why are you all silent?"

"Huh? Harnio... What are you talking about? The both of them are loud and clear... We can all hear them... Unless you've gone deaf."

"Uhh brothers... I think he's talking about other things."

"Ohhh... Little brother... Shouldn't you help them home?"

Harnio nodded and took a step forward. "I wouldn't take another step if I were you little one... I recognize those eyes, of yours, and what they can see... I'm going to need them you see... Well my master needs them for his project..."

He shook his head. "I can't allow you to take them... They don't belong to you or your master."

"He's right..." He saw the priestess take a step forward shooting an arrow at the queen's feet.

"Thud..."

"Hmmm... Still the same temper, you haven't changed at all Star. I thought I taught you better than that." He put his hands behind his back and started to write in the air.

"Not just her... We are all going to stop you... No one can harm our priestess..."

"That's right brother. No one can touch our priestess."

"Hahahaha... Star a priestess..." Harnio looked around concentrating on his writing and saw the brothers nod.

"You went there? Star hmmm... How? I was told that it was dealt with memories and all... Star, what did you see there?"

"I saw your true nature. Your real ugly self."

"Hahahaha... You're funny... No one except for a small few have seen my true self... But as you can see, this here is my true beautiful, amazing self."

"Hahahaha... Agnia... You're funny... I know what I saw when I went up there..."

"You saw it? Your eyes... That's a pity that you were able to see that... He'll be happy to know that he was right with your eyes."

Harnio smiled as he finished writing, and watched as the figures around the queen started to fade from view. "Go home... Be free."

"What did you do little man?" Harnio shrugged his shoulders. "I did nothing... I was just standing here with my hands behind my back."

"Yes... He's right... What could he possibly do?"

"You sent them... Didn't you? I can't feel their anger and hate staring at me anymore... Do you know how long it took me to get that many? How many drones I had to make and kill... You've all angered me, and for that you'll all have to die."

"BOOOMMMM!"

Harnio was thrown backwards.

"THUD!"

He hit the wall behind him and started coughing.

"That's what you get when I get angry." He ducked as the queen went to punch him.

"SCCRATCHHH!"

He turned and looked at the scratch mark in the wall. "What are you?"

"I'm a human... Just like you..."

"No your not... Stop lying to yourself... See the wall Agnia... If that's your real name..."

"I have had many names... That was just one of them..."

"Dieee!"

Harnio pushed with his hand causing a gust of wind to hold the queen in her place as the priestess and the firewarrior shot arrows and fireballs at her.

"Is this all you can do? Fine you all want to see me... Than you have your wish... Those who see me like this shall dieeeeeee."

"BOOOMMMM"

Harnio felt himself being pushed back as a strong gust of wind pushed him. He raised his hands and stopped himself from being pushed back. He looked at the ground and noticed the crater.

"Where did see go?"

He looked up and pointed up. "She's up there... Priestess, did you know her true self?"

"She's from the roc tribe... There's only one person who could skin change to that, and they died hundreds of years ago." He looked at Cliffhopper. "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes... We have records... The only one to be able to skin change that way."

"Now you've seen me... You'll all have to die now... Enjoy your last moments."

He looked at the group as they stared at the large flying beast. He turned to the monk. "Monk... We need to go under in one of the tunnels... There's no way we can beat her... We need to run."

He looked towards the firewarrior and Cliffhopper. "We need to buy time so that the monk can do his thing... Make it look like we died when she attacks."

He watched as the priestess, and firewarrior threw arrows and fireballs at the flying beast. He sliced with his hands and arms sending gusts of sharp wind in her direction. "Hahahaha... Is that all you've got... A bunch of weak mercenaries."

"At least we're human you ugly toad."

"You called me ugly?"

He nodded at Cliffhopper. "Keep it up... we want her to strike us."

"That's right... Hey ugly toad... I know why you need to make drones to do your every bidding, because if they saw you this way, they'd run away as fast as possible. No one would want to ever be intimate with you... Soo dirty, and you stink. I bet you don't even bathe."

"You come here and say that to my faces."

"Why should I, you ugly toad... Come here, you're so ugly, vision batterys break when they see you. Animals run from you because you smell like shit."

"You're dead first..."

Harnio looked at Cliffhopper and moved towards the monk who was looking at the ground. "Its ready..."

"Wait for her about to hit, and than we move into the tunnels..." He looked at the firewarrior and his unit. "Stay together... Drummen NOW!"

"SLIIICE!"

"AAARRRRRRHHHHHH! My wing... My beautiful wing... Who did that to me? I'll take you on, and make you wish you never harmed this queen, ever again. I'll make you into a drone, and than tell you to torture yourself as you cut off each of your limbs, I'll sit and laugh as you'll get pleasure and enjoyment out of it."

Harnio looked at the roof of the tunnel smiling. "Mouse is about..."

"He better take her down brother... She's dangerous."

"So that smell back in the capital that time was her?" Harnio turned and looked at the brothers as they were talking.

"Yes... That was her alright... She must have thousands of drones everywhere."

"DRONNESSS... Come protect your queen!"

Harnio frowned. "Is more coming?"

"We need to get back up there, and help Mouse."

"The only one who is possibly able to help Mouse is Harnio here. The rest of us are no where near strong enough... You saw her throw off our attacks with her wings and arms."

"Send me up... I'll help Mouse... We'll take the queen out."

"Fine... Be careful. I'll hear if you're in trouble, and bring you both down again."

Harnio nodded and looked up as he rose through the ground and stared at the scene. One of the queen's wings was laying on the ground twitching, next to one of the queen heads. He looked at Mouse holding his arm, which was bleeding heavily.

"Mouse... I'll help." He turned and looked at the beast in front of them.

"Help... Hahaha... What can you do to help him?" Harnio smiled and waved his hand. "I can do this... and this too."

"AAAAHHHHHHHH! My belly... Drones... I leave this to you."

Harnio looked at the storm and pushed the water funnels in her direction. He turned and saw Mouse on his knees. "MEDIC!" He stamped his feet. "Hurry up... Get up here. Mouse needs some help."

He turned and watched as the beast flew out of the storm, fading into the darkness of the night. He turned and watched the others raise from the tunnels and looked at Harnio. "What happened?"

He pointed to Mouse. "Mouse got hit, he needs help... He got one of her wings, and a deep cut on her belly." He cursed and pointed in the distance. "She got away... Barely." He took a step and stood in front of Mouse. "Its fine Mouse... She got away, but she won't be getting away from us next time."