Ep. 9 Twisted

September 25th, 2023 

   This was it. 

   Today was the day. 

   Nature stood in front of the bathroom mirror, questioning herself if she was really going to search for evidence against Jack, and then, lure him to the castle in Settle Sun. Her breath was shaking, for she had a gut feeling this was a bad idea. How did they even know what they were looking for? There was no grantee this would turn out successful. 

   But what other choice did they have? 

   They had four days. It had to be now. 

   She walked out of the bathroom and to Dr. Stitches, Princess Guardians, Skate, Foxy, and Freedom. Her hands were slightly twitching and she felt cold. She showed none of her hesitance to them though. She was going to do this. She did not have another option. 

   The plan was Freedom and Nature would go back to his home after the time his brothers and mother should have left. Foxy and Dr. Stitches had made trackers to put on Freedom and Nature, so, just in case, they could be located if something were to happen. They would search for anything useful or solid proof. Then, they would find Jack, make him follow them to the castle, and finish the report. 

   "Be careful," Skate reminded Freedom and Nature. 

   "This had better work," Freedom sighed. 

   "Yeah, try not to kill Jack, alright?" Princess Guardians said. 

   "I can't promise that." 

   "Well, you're going to have to." 

   "We'll be watching the monitor," Foxy stated. 

   "Let's just get this over with," Nature turned towards the door. 

   "Don't die!" Foxy grinned. 

   "Not funny," Freedom shook his head. 

   They left the safety of the house and into the forest. They moved quickly too and tried to keep silent. All their thoughts contained were, 'Don't die. Don't die. Don't die.' When they reached his house, they were happy to see it looked alone. Looks can be deceiving though. There was an eerie feeling about the place- the kind that makes the hair on your neck stand up. Something was not right; it made Nature hesitate. 

   "Maybe we can think of something else," she protested to go farther. 

   "You know we cannot do that. This is the only way," Freedom gently said. 

   She bit her lip but agreed with him none the less. 

   An hour later, they found nothing in Jack and Karlos' bedroom. Not even a note or date was left to view. It seemed Jack had thought of his plan carefully, making sure Karlos would not catch onto anything. They took a break in Freedom's bedroom. Then, searched the kitchen. 

   Nothing. 

   "There must be something! He couldn't have perfectly hidden any evidence like this!" Nature complained. 

   "Maybe we need to think like him. If only I knew where he goes and doesn't come home." 

   "Yeah, that would be helpful," Nature sighed. "Well, any other ideas?" 

   "I got nothing." 

   "Great! This was just a waste of time! Now what?" 

   "...We could look over his things again. Perhaps we missed something." 

   "Hm, yeah, maybe." 

   They went back to the room to search, but, just as they began, there was a voice from downstairs. Nature and Freedom froze, looking at each other. The voice was the female's they had heard before. As silent as mice, they left the room and peered down the staircase. 

   "They're here," the female said. Just as Nature had feared, it was indeed Nemon. Jack stood in front of her, cracking his knuckles and looking malicious.

   Nature and Freedom, panicking, fled to Freedom's room. Nature hid under the bed that thankfully had bedding draping over the ledges of the bed, and Freedom hid in the closet since it was the only place he could fit. They prayed Jack would not find them. 

   If someone came up the stairs, all that could be heard was light thumps from feet. It was obvious Jack thought they did not know he was there, so he was attempting to come around in surprise. 

   Jack checked each room and in any spots they could have hid themselves. He picked up on it being too quiet, so they must have figured it out they were not alone. He was shocked to see his and his brother's room was a bit of a mess. 

   'They were here,' he thought. 'Where are they now though?' 

   At last, he arrived at Freedom's door. In less they escaped from right under his nose, they had to be in there. He turned the nob and opened the door. He saw no one. Not even a Human shadow. He glanced at areas that were big enough for his brother, but he also considered how small Nature was. Before looking, he locked the door. 

   Then, he drew back the curtains, checked behind a stand, and made movement with the bed to see if anyone made a panicking sensation. He received no response, for Nature held her breath for dear life. Disappointed, he changed direction to the closet. 

   Before he opened the sliding doors, he looked at the crack underneath to see a shadow of Human blocking light. He grinned in delight to see one. As soon as Jack began opening the doors, Freedom had seconds to react. 

   Seemingly in slow motion, the two brothers stared at one another. Freedom's heart beat was racing in despair. He should have listened to Nature! He wasn't going down without a fight though. 

   Jack had other plans. 

   Using his experience as a football player, Freedom did his best to tackle Jack by the waist. However, Jack stopped him and knocked him onto the floor on his stomach, holding him there. Then, Jack pulled out a needle tranquilizer. Freedom put up a struggle, trying to get Jack off of him. Jack stabbed the tranquilizer into Freedom's neck, inserting all the liquid in. Slowly, Freedom began to feel numb and pass out. 

   Jack let go of his unconscious brother and got up. He dropped the empty needle onto the floor, causing Nature to jump. She hit her head mildly on the top frame of the bed, but it was enough for Jack to notice. 

   "Oh Nature!" Jack sang. 

   Nature trembled, feeling cold and fear take over any defense motivation she had. She covered her mouth, so Jack could not hear her uneasy breathing. 

   Jack had gone silent. If he was still there, she couldn't tell. 

   A few minutes had passed, but Jack made no movement whatsoever. She ceased herself to calm down. 

   'Maybe he is gone-,' Nature began to think. 

   Something gripped her foot firmly and forcefully pulled her out. She screamed and clawed at the wooden floor. She was flipped around to face Jack. He grinned, enjoying her terrified look. 

   "I caught a fish," he wickedly said. 

   Nature kicked him in the chin, making him drop for a moment. She hopped up and ran for the door. Of course, it was still locked. She resulted on pounding on the door, hoping maybe she could break it down. 

   "You have nowhere to go!" Jack snickered, wiping blood away from his chin like it was nothing. 

   Nature turned around as he proceeded toward her. She slumped down against the door, thinking it was the end. There was nothing she could do but except reality. They failed. 

   "It's no fun if you don't fight back," Jack growled, picking her up by her neck. 

   "W-What do y-you want?" Nature fought her tears. 

   "It's simple. Your soul." 

   He laughed and threw her onto the floor. She landed next to Freedom. She shifted her head to look at his face and let the tears escape. At least they could escape and not have to fall to the monster Jack had become. 

   She ignored Jack getting ready to use a tranquilizer on her too. All she wanted was to be beside Freedom and, for once, not have a care in the world. 

   'I'm sorry,' was her last thought before she slipped into unconsciousness. 

   Freedom slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the darkness he saw around him. There was dim light coming from a small lamp on the ceiling. When he fully came around, he realized his hands were tied around a pole connecting the ceiling and floor. They were tied behind him, so his wings had no room to move. Wherever he was, it smelled like rotting meat and it was cold too. 

   At first, he heard no sound but his own movements of breathing and shuffling about. But then, more breathing other than his own alarmed him. He noticed the light from above him, but he could not tell what it was coming from. His vision was blurred and he felt heavy, so if he could escape, his own weight would drag him down. 

   Freedom groaned, though it hurt and it came hoarse. 

   "Freedom, are you awake yet?" A weak but familiar voice asked him. 

   He wanted to answer, recognizing the voice to be Dasher, but he felt too drained. 

   "Give him a few moments. It's probably still affecting him," another familiar voice said. 

   Butterfly. 

   'Wait a second...,' Freedom began to think. 

   Then, it hit him like a gunshot to the head! He remembered Nature and that Jack had knocked him out. Fear returned back to his mind as he thought about what happened to Nature. Where even was he? Why wasn't he dead yet, or was he and he didn't realize it? He needed answers! 

   "W-Wait... I'm awake," Freedom struggled to say. "Where- Where's Nature?" 

   "We'd tell ya if we knew," Nicole said. 

   "Why... can't I see?" 

   "It's an affect. It'll go away," Jewel answered. 

   "Where... are we?" 

   "We don't know. We're tied up like you." 

   "What have we missed?" Dasher asked. 

   "Uh... Jack poisoned Nature, he's working with a... demon, we saved Princess Guardians, and we made a plan.... That's it." 

   "Geez, must have been wild." 

   "You... have no idea. Where is... Nature?" 

   "We don't know, Freedom," Butterfly shook her head slowly. 

   Thankfully, Freedom's eye sight returned to him, so he got a good look around. The light had come from the lamp and it only made a small patch of circular light, but it was enough. Dasher, Nicole, Jewel, and Butterfly were against the wall to his left, strapped with chains. 

   'Jack is smart,' Freedom thought. 

   There was nothing else to see around them. Nature was not there either. 

   The four female teenagers looked miserable and in terrible shape. They had been beaten, slit, and bruised. Despite the situation, Freedom was happy to see them alive. 

   "How long was I out?" He asked with his voice returning. 

   "Few hours maybe. We can't tell anymore," Jewel saddened. "What was the date when this happened to you guys?" 

   "The twenty fifth. Nature's still alive, right?" 

   "She would have to be. Oh, ya should hear ya brother talk! He's been complainin' 'bout how difficult it was to catch ya'll! He made it clear what he plans to do with us all," Nicole explained. 

   "Of course," Freedom started on a realization. "What fun would it be for him for you not to? Nature's going to lose her mind over this! We know what's going on. It might sound crazy, but he's telling the truth. We need to get out of here now!" 

   'Nature,' a voice whispered in the back of her mind. 'Wake up. You're dreaming. Nature, wake up. They need you- I need you. Wake up!' 

   With a deep gasp for air, Nature shot awake. She panickily glanced around her, finding her vision blurry. Darkness consumed the room and the cemented floor was as cold as ice. The room had an eerie feeling and an odd smell she could not pin point. She strained to move, realizing her wrists had been tied together with chain. 

   Nature was confused, deeply confused. She scooted into a corner and held her legs closely to her. The tears spilled like water out of her eyes. She thought she was supposed to be dead. What was this place? Where was Freedom? Where was Jack? Why was she alive? Was she alive? What was that voice? 

   "I see you're awake," a male voice in the dark said. She froze, realizing it was Jack. "My brother's not here to protect you now, is he? It's funny how it came to this. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment." 

   "What- did I do- to deserve this?" Nature lashed out at the direction his voice came from. 

   "You did nothing. You're just what I need is all. I don't make the rules, Nature." 

   "Leave me alone!" 

   "And leave you to rot? What a joke! It would be such a waste to do that!" He laughed at her. 

   Nature had no idea where he actually was. The room must have been small because his voice was echoing off the walls. So when he touched her on the shoulders from behind, she nearly jumped out of her skin. She felt like she froze due to Jack's cold touch. 

   "Do you know how hard it was to get you because of my brother? He's tougher than he looks. It's a shame I have to kill him," Jack bitterly said. He leaned down to her right ear and whispered, "There are so many things I want to do to you to make you scream. I want you to feel the worst of it. You were hard to catch and fun to toy with. You're so rare and a treasure, Nature. Now I have you, and no one can stop me." 

   "You... don't have... Princess Guardians yet," Nature shook. 

   "Oh, she'll come, Nature. She will come. She doesn't have a choice." 

   "What are you... talking about?" 

   "What should I do to you first, hm? Any requests?" 

   "Screw you!" She kicked him away. 

   He fell onto the floor but quickly picked himself up. "So, you want to do this the hard way, huh? Well, it's your death bed. Not mine." 

   Jack took the chains that tied Nature to the floor and pulled them, causing her to rise with them. He attached them to a sturdy hook on the ceiling and tied them tight. The ceiling of course was taller than Nature, so she was dangling there in utter confusion. Jack acknowledged she may try to swing and kick him. He grabbed thick rope from the floor, tied it around her ankles, and attached it to where the chains had been before. 

   Excitement pulsed through his veins finally having arrived at this moment. He had thought about it many times. What he would do first, what he'd say, what Nature's reactions to the horror he would pull be! But he knew no matter what he did, she had to live through it. He could have his fun as long as he did not go too far. Although he rehearsed it time and time again, now that he was here, he was too excited to think. 

   Jack loved how confused Nature was. He had left the room in darkness on purpose, a game he was playing to trick her mind. 

   Nemon had filled him in on every little thing Nature was scared of to use as an advantage. She hated the dark, especially being alone because of her childhood. She did not like to have no control, but, most importantly, she was horrified of death. Everything about it despised her. He had learned she was smart but gullible too. Not to mention she had a hard time excepting the harsh truth and couldn't ignore painful words. 

   Even though she had to live, one of Jack's goals was to break her. Nemon had told him Nature had been cutting herself because of pressure and self-esteem problems. If he could push that farther, maybe he could reach his goal. 

   Jack abandoned her for a moment to root around in his bag. He took out a blind fold and a knife. Then, he returned to Nature and covered her eyes with the blind fold. Nature let out shaky breaths, unsure of what he was going to do. Jack kept hold of the knife but put its right face side against her left arm. 

   "Feel familiar?" He grinned darkly. 

   Jack waited for her to answer, but she said nothing in return. So, he lifted the knife back up and sliced deeply into her waist line. Nature let out whimpers but that was all. 

   "I SAID: FEEL FAMILIAR?" He yelled at her. 

   "Y-YES!" She responded in the same tone. 

   He slapped her across the face saying, "DON'T TALK BACK TO ME!" 

   "I-I'm s-sorry," she squeaked. Now she knew how Freedom felt that day. A slap from Jack felt like being stung by lightening. 

   "You're pathetic! No wonder your real parents didn't want you!" 

   "SHUT UP!" 

   "Instead, you got adopted by animals that the Humans will probably just cook for dinner someday!" 

   "STOP!" 

   "Why do you run from the truth, Nature? Is it because no matter how much effort you put into something, people are going to die? I think it's because you got something to hide, Nature. You can't except that you're worthless and a waste of time. Queen Sun just wants you for your power. You make Equality look good, grand, and one could even say glorious. Someday, everyone is going to leave you behind!" 

   "STOP IT!" 

   "I'm just doing them a favor, Nature! After your gone, people will move on, and Queen Sun will easily replace you. That's what you are, Nature. A political puppet; an object for other empires and kingdoms to gaze upon. You're nothing." 

   "SHUT UP, PLEASE!" 

   "Awe, now you're begging? Beggers can't be choosers, Nature! Did I hit too close to home for you? That's fine. I can change the subject. Let's talk about Freedom." 

   "NO!" 

   "It's been a while since I've seen him so determined and happy. You must think you're so special "helping" him out. Well, you're wrong. He only wants you around because of our father. He told our mother you're like him in so many ways. He just wants you for comfort so he can feel alive again." 

   "THAT'S NOT TRUE!" 

   "You think so, eh? He doesn't love you. He never will. You're too weak!" 

   Before she could yell at him again, Jack stabbed into her sides multiple times. Nature cried out in agony just like Jack had hoped for. He cackled as Nature wept. Still laughing, he grabbed a lighter. He flicked it on and began to burn at her legs in small spots. 

   Nature had never felt fire before, but it felt like a moment when you're shocked by an object for a moment except this feeling wasn't fading. It was staying and, though Jack was only doing small spots here and there, she felt it all throughout her body. If a burn from a stove hurt, fire was much worse. Jack had finished his fun and tossed the unlit lighter to the floor.

   He rose back up to her and removed the blind fold. Her tears finally trailed down her cheeks the whole way. Jack put his hands on her cheeks and wiped the tears away. 

   "Equality doesn't need you," he whispered. 

   "You... know nothing... about me," she looked at him with such hatred she never knew she could feel before. 

   "Why are you fighting my words?" 

   "Because... you think... I'm going to give in... to you by a few... opinions. FYI, Jack, I'm... more resilient... than you think. You may speak... your mind and try to... use my own mind against me..., but my faith... in Equality... will never fade... no matter how damaged I become. You can't break something that's already broken. I've... seen hell, walked through it, ...lived through it, and I'll do it again... even if it kills me." 

   "You're a fool," Jack scoffed. 

   "That's right.... I am a fool. I don't care about myself, but... my family, friends, and land are worth fighting for. So, you can... throw whatever at me. I'll take it. In the end, I can at least say... I tried. I did my best... to save them. I don't need Freedom... to be strong. I'm strong in my own way." 

   "Would you like to eat those words?" 

   "Sure, whatever you want," she grinned at him. 

   It was her turn to laugh at him as he furiously took her down. This was not going how he wanted it to at all. She should be screaming, not mocking him! He thought he needed to shut her up, to drain this sudden burst of bravery she gained. He drug her by her hair across the floor. Then, across a few hallways, light breaking in cracks here and there. 

   They came to another door in which he opened. Dasher, Nicole, Jewel, Butterfly, and Freedom jumped and fell pale. Nature still kept up laughing like a maniac that belonged in a mental asylum. Jack said nothing to the others, dragging Nature in and tying her to the pole across from Freedom. When he finished by stepping back, Nature ceased but grinned at him again. 

   "You're not the only one who can play the manipulative game," Nature said in a deep and dark voice. "You're forgetting who you're messing with, Jack. I can be scary too!" She resulted back to laughing at him. 

   "YOU'RE FUCKING CRAZY!" He yelled at her. 

   "Am I?" She giggled. "I'm not the one kidnapping teenagers. You are!" Though her legs were shaking, she rose to her feet and took a step forward. "How stupid do you think I am? Did you really think you were going to be able to get away with this?" 

   "What are you talking about?" Jack shot at her, feeling a twinge of fear. 

   "Oh, nothing. It's too late now!" Nature snickered, taking yet another step. "Why would my words matter? You said I'm pathetic! Why are you listening to me, Jack? Were you telling little white lies?" 

   "You are!" 

   "I am? Alright, then prove it." 

   "I can't kill you yet." 

   "Why not? Afraid you'll lose a piece to a puzzle?"

   Jack backed up from her, confused about where this had spawned from. He scoffed and took his leave, slamming the door behind him. Nature collapsed onto the floor. 

   The others were baffled and unsure if they should say something. There were sides to Nature she did not like to show, but, sometimes, they were necessary. She could get angry, but it had been quite a while since she had done something that brash. 

   Slowly, she felt the adrenaline rush she had die down. Her tears returned, realizing how much pain she was in. Nature just laid there, thinking. 

   "Nature?" Freedom asked. "Are... you okay?" 

   "We need to get out of here," she emotionlessly said, staring at the ground. "I saw patches of light outside the door." 

   "You didn't answer me." 

   She sat up and looked at him with apologetic eyes. "I'll be fine." She turned to the other four. "I missed you." 

   Nature rose to her feet, pulled up her chained hands, and took a file used for breaking metal out of her hair. She only had one, but one should be enough. She went over to the pole she was attached to and filed the chain until it snapped. Then, she carefully filed the space between her hands, waiting for the chains to fall off. When they did, she repeated the process on Freedom. 

   He got up and looked down to her. "You had a file the whole time?" He asked. 

   "I carry emergency tools, and that includes anything to use as a weapon. I might not have known self-defense, but I was prepared if I had to be. Queen Sun missed that." 

   "Nobody really knows you enough to know that." 

   "I'm glad she forced me though." 

   "Why?" 

   "Because I meant you." 

   Freedom blushed and Dasher snickered. 

   "Shush," Nature rolled her eyes. "Let's catch that bastard." 

   "Now you're talking, Lady Nature," he smiled. "I don't know where this came from, but I like it. Let's do this." 

   Nature handed him a knife and herself one. They hid in the darkness, telling the others to be quiet. They waited for Jack to come back patiently. Were they scared? Of course, they were. How could they not be? 

   Ten slow minutes later, Jack returned with his bag and set it aside. When he looked up, he realized Nature and Freedom were gone. He spotted a file on the floor and the chains were broken. He turned towards the teenagers and slammed his fist against the wall. 

   "Where are they?" He stormed at them. 

   "Right here!" Freedom yelled, running at him and slashed him on the face. 

   Jack had a millisecond to realize he was bleeding before Nature stabbed him in the leg. He fell onto the floor, coming to the thought he was being ambushed. 

   Before Freedom could spring into action, Jack kicked him onto the floor and got on top of him. He put his hands around his brother's neck. Freedom started to choke and struggle to fight back, so Nature grabbed a long stick and smacked Jack across the head with it. He fell off of Freedom and had to hold his head for a moment. 

   "Seem familiar, Jack?" Nature yelled at him, making a motion for him to come at her. She was not finished with him yet. 

   "You're getting a little cocky, Nature!" Jack spat and got up. 

   Freedom groaned and got back on his feet as Jack pounded towards Nature. She blocked his approach with the stick and fought back his strength to knock her down. 

   "Oh, Jack!" Freedom distracted him and slashed him in the arm.  Jack grunted, turning towards his brother. 

   Nature swung the stick again, but Jack saw it just in time. He stopped it, forced it out of her hands, and flew it towards her, causing her to be smacked head first into the wall. The stick broke in two and he tossed it aside. 

   The two brothers then got into a fist fight. It was bloody, bruised, and hard hits. 

   Meanwhile, Nature shakingly leaned up, feeling her head. She was bleeding, her ears were ringing, had a scorching headache, and she felt dizzy. Nature stood up, finding it difficult to keep her balance. She felt cold too, despite her sweat trinkling down her face. 

   Jack had Freedom up against a wall and found a little metal ear piece by his ear. He threw his brother to the floor to observe the object. He recognized it to be a tracker. Enraged, he smashed it with his foot and stomped over to Nature. He took one off of her too and smashed it. 

   "Well, well, well," he laughed. "No one's going to find you now!" 

   Nature sagged down onto the floor. She was having another side effect from the poison. On top of how she already felt, her chest pounded terribly and her back, arms, and neck felt tight. Her heartbeat was going out of control too. 

   Freedom realized this and tried to break through Jack to her, but he caught him and pushed him back down. 

   "I see the poison is working perfectly," Jack grinned. 

   "You're a monster! Why are you doing this?" Freedom demanded. 

   "Why? Oh, brother, you're so naïve. You and I both know why I'm doing this." 

   "No, I don't! Why would I ever- wait. Jack... no... please, don't tell me-." 

   "For years, we've put up with everyone shaming our father for something he didn't do, Freedom! They need to be taught a lesson!" 

   "No! He wouldn't have wanted this! Don't you see what you're doing? You're only making it worse, Jack! This won't fix anything!" 

   "Why are you worried, brother? You won't be around to see it happen!" 

   "Jack, we've also tried for years to convince people we're not evil or going to turn out that way! You've ruined that! Don't you care at all?" 

   "Yeah, I do! We've tried everything but this. Don't worry, dear brother. You're part of the solution! Mom and our siblings are going to be fine too!" 

   "I don't want to be a part of this! This isn't who I am or who we are!" Freedom refused. 

   Freedom leapt onto his feet and dashed at Jack. Jack held his brother back and knocked back down again. A tiny bottle containing the water from Aqua Fell flew out of Freedom's pocket. Jack caught it in the air and looked at it. He remembered Nemon saying it healed things and that Freedom had it for Nature. 

   "So, this is what you've been using against the poison? That's cheating, don't you think?" 

   He raised it into the air-

   "Jack, no!" 

   And threw it onto the floor. 

   The bottle shattered, making the water spill across the floor. The water recognized nothing to heal, so it faded into the floor. 

   "NO!" Freedom reached out his right hand toward it.

   Jack laughed, "What are you going to do now?" 

   Freedom growled and clenched the knife he still had in his pocket. He stood up and flew into the darkness. Jack looked around, trying to locate his brother. Freedom jumped out and stabbed him in the back. Jack cried out in pain as he fell onto the floor. Freedom quickly picked Nature up and turned to the others. 

   "We'll be back," he said. "You're not going to die here, I promise." 

   Then, he kicked down the door and flew up out of a hole in the ceiling. He gasped at the change in light. The sun was going down. He looked around to see Jack had them in an abandoned mansion out in the Icelands. The mansion was practically shallowed by shadows and ice. 

   He shook his head and flew in the direction of Settle Sun, not too quickly though so Jack could catch up. 

   In a few minutes, Jack did catch up and followed Freedom through the bitter cold of the Icelands. Every mile was ice packed by ice and giant crystals formations. But not soon enough, there was a break of mountains going into Settle Sun. 

   'A little more, Freedom. You can do this!' He thought. 

   As they neared the castle, they flashed past tons of people. They were too fast for the people to see, so no one knew what was going on. Finally, they clashed into the castle to the throne room. 

   Queen Sun was shocked to see them and stunned to see how each of their conditions were. They landed on their feet and Freedom put Nature down. Then, the brothers fought and argued like dogs snarling and trying to tear each other apart. Karlos was on duty in there, and he rushed to them to break them away from one another. Nature stumbled but made it over to Queen Sun. 

   "I'm... so... sorry!" She cried. 

   "What? What is going on?" Queen Sun panicked. 

   More guards rushed in to separate the brothers and Karlos did his best to calm them down. Nature only kept apologizing and apologizing to Queen Sun. The servants stood there, unsure of what to do. Prince Night arrived at that moment, confused on the situation.

   "Nature, please calm down! I need more than what you're apologizing for!" Queen Sun shook her. 

   "I-we-he-he-!" Nature tried to say but no sentences were escaping. 

   The guards had successfully separated the brothers but they still argued. But, from the corner of his eyes, Freedom could see Nature struggling, so he did cease himself. It was only for her though. Someone had to be the bigger person here. He shook the guards off of him, whom only let him go because he calmed down. Karlos was about to go question him, but one of the guards stopped him. 

   Freedom was not worried about Jack at the moment. The guards had him and he trusted they would keep him under control. He approached Queen Sun and Nature. Then, he observed Nature and checked her forehead. 

   "Great, you're having problems again and you have a concussion," Freedom sighed. "Forgive us, your majesty. You see we've been trying to find Dasher, Nicole, Jewel, and Butterfly and prove Jack is guilty. He's been making plans against Equality. He kidnapped us and we got away after a battle. So, here we are-." 

   "He's lying!" Jack shouted. "They did it, and they're trying to frame me for it!" 

   "What?" Freedom twirled around, surprised the table was turned. "You liar! Why would we even do this?"

   "I don't know, Freedom. Why would you?" 

   He clenched his fists but Nature gently grabbed his wrist. 

   "He's... not... worth... it," she shook her head. "I... know... you're... angry... but... he's... just... using... you... to... get... away." 

   Freedom gulped, but he knew she was right. The more frustrated he got, the more Jack would push. 

   "You have to believe me, your highness. For Equality's sake! I swear on my life we're not lying to you! If you let him go, we're doomed. I swear." 

   Queen Sun looked from the guards, to Jack, to Nature and Freedom. She looked into his eyes, seeing if she could find any hint of a lie, but she saw none from the blond boy. She thought long and hard about what decision to make. She knew if she let Jack go, everything could go wrong. She knew if she let Nature and Freedom go, the Equalians would throw a cow because they would want the full story. 

   She believed Freedom, but she had to be careful. 

   At last, she turned to the guards and servants. 

   "Neither of them is going anywhere. A trial will be held tomorrow to determine who is lying. Whoever it is, their punish meant will be death for kidnapping Daycarer Dasher, Nicole of Fruit Acres, Detective Jewel, and Forestry manager Butterfly and for the death of Tyler. I want them kept securely in the dungeons until tomorrow afternoon. I also want a med for their conditions, and a letter to their families about the situation. You are dismissed." 

   The guards took the three down to the dungeons and put them into cells. Nature and Freedom were put together in one on the first floor, and Jack was put in a cell on the second floor. 

   When they finished, Prince Night returned to his mother. 

   "Should I have them patrolled throughout the night?" He asked. 

   "Jack, yes. Nature and Freedom, only a few hours at a time to check in," she sighed. 

   "Why?" 

   "Jack is lying. I know it; I feel it. I just hope Nature and Freedom can prove it." 

   "What do you think happened?" Foxy sat back at the dining table, chewing at his finger nails. 

   "Nothing good," Skate answered. 

   It was seven pm, and the clock slowly ticked. The Hunter family was trying to have dinner, but they couldn't shake the feeling that something had happened. Princess Guardians sat with them too, trying to think of what to do. Nature and Freedom were in trouble but they didn't have a plan B. 

   Were they dead? 

   Were they alive? 

   They had no way of knowing. 

   Not yet at least. 

   A sudden knock at the door instantly brought them out of their minds. Speedy settled them down and got up. They crossed their fingers it was them, but when he opened the door, it was just another Human guard. The guard gave him an envelope and left. Speedy closed the door and returned to the dining room. They were disappointed to only see an envelope as the change. Speedy sat back down and opened it. 

   He read aloud, "Dear Hunters, if you notice Nature had not returned tonight, it is because she, Sir Freedom, and Sir Jack are being held overnight in the dungeons. Fear not, this is only until tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow afternoon, a trial will be held for farther examination for who murdered Tyler and kidnapped Detective Jewel, Forestry manager Butterfly, Daycarer Dasher, and owner of Fruit Acres, Nicole. Penalty will be death. My dearest apologizes, Queen Sun." 

   "They were so close," Dr. Stitches shook his head. 

   "What now?" Emos asked. 

   "I have an idea, but it's going to take a bit of time. You have to trust me," Princess Guardians said. 

   "Whatever it is, it better work," Foxy looked up at her. 

   "They won't listen to you guys, but they don't have a choice when it comes to me."