The Assault

Annie sat in her bed and looked up at the white ceiling. "If my dad really is down there…then…Astral and them must know something, right? Mark said he saw darkness…sounds like he was in the dark kingdom. However, when I landed there, the sun was out and everything." Annie thought about the two ogres and the woman. "I have to find them…and question them. I refuse to tell anymore information and about Astral and everyone else. I'll find those two monsters and get them to talk…if it's the last thing I'll do." Annie said with a determined look in her eyes.

******

Annie opened her eyes and was in bed. "Uhh, hello?" She called out. She could hear commotion outside.

******

Crystal and Astral walked through the public. "Are you sure you don't need me to come with you? Guru is gone and I don't know when he will return." Crystal said.

"Yep, I know. That's why you'll be in charge. Guru is my deputy. He will be back from his distant mission. Keep them safe and keep an eye on Annie".

"Astral…I think this is a mistake. There's no way you don't expect some of them to try and-"

"She survived an attack from Amina Whitlock of the Whitlock magic family. I believe she can handle most of the creatures here if they were to attack her. Besides, it should be her time to wake up. Just have her go with Froggy, Grizz, and Ditch to go train. Keep her out of the city but not too far, please." Astral asked while holding Crystal's hands. "Okay Astral."

"Thank you." Astral levitated into the air. "I'll be back shortly, okay? I must keep her under the radar." Astral said as he flew away at high speed.

Crystal looked back to see Annie waving behind the window. "This is gonna be just…fine."

******

Crystal walked Annie around the castle. "Annie, do you trust us?" Crystal asked. Annie was surprised by her question. "What made you ask that?" Annie asked while bitting her nails. (Her heart rate is rising.)

"I'm just curious. It's normal to not trust strangers. I heard you went pretty hard for Ditch and Froggy. That's good. Means you actually care." Crystal said with a smile.

"Of course-"

"Why is it…that I get this feeling of uncertainty about you. Do you plan to betray us?"

"What— no, of course not!" Annie defended. Crystal gave Annie a cold look. (Sweating. Heart beating faster. Small eye pupils growing bigger.)

"You're lying. I can see it all over you."

Before Annie could say anything, Crystal laughed. "I'm just kidding."

******

Froggy,Ditch, and Spike all sat around the large tree outside and drank a liquid. "Pass it around!" Spike yelled.

"You've had too much to drink. Sit your little ass down." A large creature chuckled.

"Who you calling little, Chicka?"

"You literally are the smallest thing here. You and your brother."

The three where surrounding a giant tree in the middle of the city. It was like a bar in our world. It was a decent-sized building with the tree sticking out of the roof. Froggy was in the corner before the doors were swung open.

Annie had walked in and everyone fell into silence. She approached Ditch and Spike. Annie could hear whispers around her as she sat down next to the two. "Umm, what is this?"

Spike gave Ditch a cold glare before rolling his eyes. (Should've killed her when Astral gave us an option.)

******

Froggy,Annie,Ditch, and Spike all were heading out of the city. Before they could exit, a deep voice called out to them from behind. "Yo." A pale man with a long black trench-coat approached the crew. "Guru! It's been moons since I've seen you!" Spike yelled with joy in his voice.

Guru levitated into the air and hovered over them. "You must be…the legend herself. You from…Earth? I think that's what they call it." Guru chuckled. Guru was a pale man. He wore a long trench coat, a black hat, had long hair that stuck out and to his shoulders, black bants, black shoes, and blue eyes.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Guru. Second in command of this city."

"Second? What do you mean? I thought Astral didn't rule but was just a servant of these people." Annie said. Guru let out a little laugh and levitated towards the group. "Of course. Me and Astral are different. I've heard many stories of your arrival. Grizz was the one who brought you here, right?"

"Grizz? You've seen him!?"

"Well, of course! I've known Grizz since he was a cub. Guru turned around and pointed at the giant brown bear approaching them.

"Grizzly bear!!" Annie yelled as she ran towards him. Grizz rolled his eyes and stood on two feet. "I don't understand human language. Forgive me green-eyed freak." Grizz laughed. Annie stood in front of Grizz and smiled. "I haven't thanked you for saving me that day. So, I'll say it now. Thank you, Grizz. Thank you so much."

Grizz had a confused look on his face. He dropped on all fours and bumped Annie. "No worries. Don't thank me though. I…couldn't even protect the whims who were important to me." Grizz whispered.

"Why would you-"

"It's time we leave, Annie." Froggy said. "When did you get behind me?!?"

Froggy let out a litttle laugh. "Are you coming with us, Guru?" Spike asked.

"Yes, I would like to train Annie. Astral is too busy and I don't believe Froggy can push you to the next level like I can."

Froggy drew his sword. "Shall we have a little sparing match, Guru?"

Guru let out a small chuckle and held out his hand. Guru's shadow grew underneath him. "I'm always down for a fight, Froggy."

Crystal jumped in between the two and pushed them away with a unknown power. "We don't have time for this. Froggy, you are supposed to be out and teaching Annie how to control her magic! Guru, you're supposed to be helping me watch over the city! What are you two clowns doing?"

Froggy smacked his lips. "He started it." Froggy mummbled. "You'll be in charge. I'll be going with-"

"No, you won't. I'll go for you. Just-just take care of the city."

(I'm so…confused.) Annie thought.

******

Annie,Guru,Froggy,Ditch,Grizz, and Spike all walked further out than normal. "We've been walking for 40 minutes. Was this supposed to be a walking day or something?" Annie asked while playing with her little blade.

Spike rolled his eyes. He jumped onto Guru's shoulders. "How was it?" Spike asked with excitement in his voice.

"How was what?"

"You idiot. The dark kingdom! How was it? What did you see? Were you able to get Intel on Matrix or what??"

Guru paused for a moment and let out a little chuckle. "It was full of fire. Pits soon pits. A nasty and filthy palace of lava and death. Nothing I wanna walk about, really."

Annie turned around and looked at Guru with curiosity. "I get this feeling about you, Guru." Annie whispered to herself.

Grizz bumped into Annie. "I've always wanted to know…how is the world you're from? Is it better there than here?"

"To be honest…I don't even know." Annie said in a dry tone. "I sense self-hatred." Grizz snorted.

"Self-hate? Heh…I find it difficult to love myself. I can't do anything right at all, Grizz."

Grizz stared at Annie. "I've made horrible mistakes, Annie. I couldn't protect the people I loved. You…you still have people that love you. I…do not. Be proud."

"What do you mean? You don't have a family?"

Grizz moved away from Annie and walked in front of her.

Froggy and Ditch were behind the group and talked themselves.

"Couldn't you sense it, old frog?"

"Of course. Annie…isn't normal at all. She's…a monster when it comes to magic."

******

Turtles sharpened his battle axe with his claws. He looked down at the group and smiled. "Allow me to be the one to kill her, sister. After all…I'm the one who messed up in the beginning." Turtles said. His sister, Florkia was standing behind him. Florkia looked back and counted 12 warriors. "There's 14 of us. Father decided not to come so we will not fail. If you can't kill her…then I will." Florkia grunted as she picked up her sword.

Turtles put on a thick chain. He opened the lock to stare at a long claw. "This is for you, mother. Watch…your son is going to save the world."

******

"This is where we will train. First, I'd like to have a little session with our friend Annie." Guru announced.

"Absolutely not." Froggy protested. "Huh? Why the hell not?"

"Because you are a creep. Trust me, Annie. This man has more bodies than there are people on your world. Don't touch him unless you want a nasty feeling." Froggy sighed.

"He's just kidding." Dirch laughed.

"Is he?" Guru asked. "Wh-what?" Ditch asked in a confused voice. "Nothing." Guru took off coat. "I'm serious. Let's have a quick match. I'll go easy on you, kid."

"No thanks. I've had enough of fighting. I just wanna work on control of my magic and more about the past of this place. If that's fine?"

Guru looked disappointed and sighed. "Yeah, sure. I'm itching for a fight. I'll teach you if our past. But Spike and Froggy can teach you about magic."

******

Annie had finished her physical training. She was laying on the ground, out of breath from the activities. "I…I don't understand." Annie said with frustration.

"I can't put my magic anywhere. It won't go in my fist. I…I can't-"

"You just have to control it. This is the first step to using magic properly." Froggy explained.

Annie was out of breath and took deep breaths to get her energy back.

The sun was out and it was a very hot day in the dream world.

"So…what do you want to know?" Guru asked as everyone sat around to listen.

"Well…has there ever been another human down here?"

Guru practically coughed the water out of his mouth. "Of course! Hell, there was only one before you. He was Astral's teacher. Now…don't get me wrong. I do believe there are some humans from back then that are still among us." Guru said as he took another sip of water.

"We haven't seen one since Astral and his gang's teacher. Over here at least. However, there is rumors of experimentations going on in the dark kingdom. Don't take my word for it though, child."

"I see." (My father…my father might be there! I'll share this information with Mark.)

"Anything else? I just want to know lots about your history."

"Hmm. In the beginning of time…there was a Great War between two great powers. It was between the light and dark Kingdom-"

"I don't feel like hearing that." Spike interrupted.

The two began to argue amongst each other. Annie could hear faint whispers coming from around her in the forest. Annie turned around to see a tall man hiding behind a tree. "I've been following you for some time…Annie."

"What…are….you?"

"Hehe…I…am what's coming." The thing answered in a deep and demonic voice. A black mist surrounded the area.

Annie woke up to Spike pouring water on her. "You okay? You just passed out as soon as we started arguing."

"Yes, I'm fine."

Annie looked around. She stood up and squinted her eyes. "Something…something is coming. We need to leave, now!" Annie urged.

"Now hold on-"

"NO! We have to go!"

Froggy and Grizz got up and tensed. "What's the problem?" Froggy asked.

"There-there was something. Something warned me! We have to go!"

Just then, Ditch could hear people approaching from behind.

******

Florkia slowly moved across the trees and stood over the group. She used her ear piece to communicate with Turtles. "Little brother, are you in position? The group looks to be worn down by now. It's time to make our move."

"Wait!" A voice said over the ear piece. "We…have unwanted company." Florkia looked down to see a woman approaching the group.

Turtles looked down to see Amina Whitlock approaching the crew. "If it isn't Zero." She said with a smile.

Froggy and Ditch picked up their weapons. "What are you doing here?" Froggy asked.

"Don't threaten me. I'm getting a weird reading of energy. I was sent here by my father. King Whitlock."

"Strange readings? Of what? Magic?"

Amina gave Annie a weird look. "Of course…idiot." Amina walked closer to the group and stopped in her tracks. "Who…the hell are they?"

Amina asked while looking up at the trees. Eveyone looked up. "I don't see anything." Spike said.

Grizz squinted his eyes and notcied something chilling. "IT'S INVISIBLE!!! MOVE!!"

Florkia rised all of her arms in the air. "NOW!"

The trees around the group fell on top of them.

Guru's eyes glowed blue as he used his magic. "Shadow shield!"

A giant bubble of magic shielded the crew from the trees.

Guru lifted his ability and looked around. "Everyone needs to stay close."

Amina rolled her eyes and smiled. "Are you kidding me? These creatures are from the dark kingdom! Let's kill them!" Amina laughed as she charged up her magic.

Florkia and Turtles jumped into the opening area with their 12 soldiers behind them.

Florkia and Turtles stood side-by-side with their axes in their hands. Florkia locked eyes with Guru and Amina. "I won't be able to defeat them. But I can give you time to handle the girl. Kill the sky walker!"

Amina stood in front of Annie and everyone.

"Kill the ugly bitch with four arms!" Amina laughed as she flew towards Florkia.

Next chapter: The Assualt part 2