> They begin traveling up the tretcous mountain where the dark wizard is holed up in a skull-shaped tower, and they are harassed by a mysterious man who keeps setting up traps, trying to thwart them at every step. Can the Rainbow Knights persist through this to reach the Dark Wizard and defeat him?

Winding and uneven, narrow with rocks, clogged with roots and impassable for horses, the path up the mountain sloped upward before them. While the mountain didn't have a deadly vertical slope it was made of huge jutted rocks, sharped and layered, with thick trees knitted together, and all of that added up to the danger and slow going of their party. All now knew to look for the Dark Wizard's skull shaped fortress, Green Squadrona nd Prince Articulr listening to Siegfried's tale. Although they hadn't gone far, and hadn't seen much, their slow moving search taking one foot step at a time.

Gilsa, and the leader of Green Squadron, Odin, walked in the front. Behind them were two more members of Green Squadron, then Siegfried and Prince Articulr, four more members of Green Squadron Reicket pulled up the rear. He was overjoyed at the placement. Sure he wasn't in the front like Gilsa, but he was entrusted in making sure absolutely nothing came upon their rear and so far he'd done so perfectly twice.

The first time he'd noticed a monster resting behind them in the path stealthily. It had hidden behind a low buch and watched as they passed, its hind legs raised up and wiggling just as Reicket raised the alarm so they could scare it off with arrows and a net. Reicket wasn't sure who carried nets in a scouting unit, but they'd driven it off without incident.

The second time Reicket had glanced back and seen the twisting path above. Because it wound so much it passed directly over them in many places. While he glanced back he noticed a shimmering in the air above them, and it seemed like a massive spider web. He mentioned it loudly to the others and when they approached discovered that it was a part of a terrible trap. Not terrible in that it was dangerous, but in that it was designed so obviously and poorly. The metal wire had been tied around the top of a tree on the falling side of the path, then dragged down far and at a sharp angle so that when tripped it would fling the tree against the path like a whip. Too bad they could just avoid it.

Then Reicket disarmed it after they passed, and the tree snapped clean in two. Not too clean, but this was his first time breaking a tree trap so he considered it a success. So overall he felt like a success, and he was clearly doing a better job than Gilsa who had missed both, and therefore he needed to stay in the back. He was the rear safety, and Reicket knew he was doing damn good at it.

He kept his gaze forward and back. He made sure to check the sides, both of them, and paid attention to every little detail. He'd find any danger, and he'd find the Dark Wizard first. Reicket wouldn't let Gilsa or Siegfried go this alone, and he definitely wouldn't let them take the credit.

"Hold!" Gilsa cried from up ahead, all of Green Squadron echoing him with a flat palm raised.

"Holding!" Reicket repeated, and he rocked on his heels while he looked at the path they'd come up. They had to do this for a moment or two before, just to move some fallen debris or ask Prince Articulr for directions.

"Reicket come here for a moment!" Siegfried hollard next, and that got Reicket to turn around. That was new.

"Yeah, sure!" Reicket exclaimed and he started to press through the crowd to get to the front.

Siegfried and Gilsa were talking heads next to each other, and Prince Articulr was standing beside Odin of Green Squad. In front of all of them was a sign in the middle of the road. It was large, made of wood, and had fallen off its post.

"DANGER!" The sign exclaimed, "THERE IS NOT A TRAP. CARRY ON." It finished.

Gilsa heard Reicket approaching and turned to him with a distinctly non-amused face. One that conveyed clearly Reicket shouldn't be grinning. Though he still was. Siegfried seemed entirely unamused as well, though still imploring.

"You see our problem?"

"We can't just trust the sign and ignore it, your Highness."

"It would be defeating the purpose of a trap to label it - there actually or no."

"That doesn't mean we can't treat it as if there isn't one, your highness." Gilsa sighed in stubborn defense.

Reicket snickered. "So what did you need, your Highness?"

"Can you please tell Gilsa he is overreacting and to just let us go around? Besides, who knows how long that's been there?" Siegfried crossed his arms. "We can all see it's just a sign."

"A trap is meant to be impossible to see, that is probably why we do not notice anything suspicious." Gilsa responded with a desperate plea.

Both of them turned to Reicket with the obvious deadlock.

"Am I choosing a side?" Reicket wondered, looking at the sign still. "Because aren't we just supposed to be figuring out how to go forward?"

"Yes, and we should go forward by moving around the potential trap." Gilsa argued still.

"We can just go forward otherwise!" Siegfried sighed in exasperation.

"Why don't you both just go the way you want?" Reicket looked around the area. "I mean it looks safe enough. I'd go forward."

"Thank you!" Siegfried sighed. "See Gilsa, it is fine."

"It is not fine - but I will allow the stablehand to stupidly go forward first." Gilsa crossed his arms. Then uncrossed them for his hand to flinch toward his sword, then crossed them again.

Reicket rolled his eyes. "Come on, like this is any different from the first time."

Siegfried let out a tense laugh. "Nothing similar."

"I'll even be careful." Reicket promised. "I'll be slow and look out for things and I'll poke it before picking it up."

Gilsa sighed and shook his head. "That sounds like the least safe thing I could imagine. Be careful in your approach."

"Be quick. We need to find the Dark Wizard before nightfall."

Reicket nodded, taking both pieces of advice. He didn't find the sign such a terrible obvious trap like Gilsa, but he thought it was incredibly strange as well. He took careful steps, and looked where he was stepping, for kicked up dirt, another wire, anything suspicious. And he stopped just as he took his sword out to flip the sign.

"There's a footprint here." He called back, though he kept his eye on the sign.

"Nothing else?" Siegfried smugly questioned.

Reicket flipped the sign. "Aw, there's a poor dead bunny."

Gilsa made a face as if there was a bad smell.

"I told you." Siegfried bragged.

Gilsa shook his head, "No, no someone had to have put that there for a reason. I mean, how'd the sign end up on top of the rabbit?"

"It probably fell. Come on, let's continue forward." Siegfried raised his hand and as he spoke started walking forward himself.

Reicket poked the dead rabbit again, and then a last time for good measure. He was a bit familiar with many different things that the others weren't; plants, horses, a bit of carpentry, and he never did ask if Siegfried knew how to sew. He also knew how to kill and skin a bunny. This looked like that.

"Uh… I don't know. Let's be careful moving forward though, I think." He put his sword back. "I can go first." He turned to look at Gilsa to make sure they agreed, even though he'd do it anyway.

Gilsa nodded, "Your Highness, let's fall back to go with the dwarven prince while we move."

Siegfried nodded and happily followed. He greeted Prince Articulr and explained the quick delay as they fell into ranks. Around them the Green Squadron fell into step. Behind Reicket. He nervously spun forward to start walking up the path again. He felt nervous, but also a swell of pride. Reicket was leading the entire troupe now. He had done perfect at it so far, and now he was going to lead them up the mountain and into the evil wizard lair!

Reicket smiled and charged forward up the path. Carefully. There was a turning twist in the skinny mountain ledge ahead and so he moved a bit slower at the edges. He tested the ground and then began an upward move along the curling path, glancing back and down and everyone followed him with trust. He kept his eyes forward then, because he also had to trust Gilsa would watch the rear now, and as he looked forward he noticed that the path almost began to branch off into two. One branch went very steeply up the mountain, and the other seemed to be the one they were continuing on.

He approached it slower, and looked along the steeper path, which was enough to walk on, and noticed there was something carved into the rock sloppily. He followed it with his eye and noticed a line drawn in the rocky dirt across both of the paths, where they split off from each other.

"There's something up here!" Reicket called back, moving closer to the writing on the rocks. It looked like someone had chipped away the word with another rock, making it difficult to read. "It says: 'Choose the path that is right.'" Reicket made a face. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Go right?" Siegfried guessed, running forward with Gilsa. "There doesn't seem to be anything here." He glanced around just the same to make sure.

"No, there could be. Farther up. If who wrote it was the same person who left the sign."

"The sign wasn't trouble." Siegfried griped. "We should just go right, we're wasting daylight, and I don't want the Wizard letting out those wooden things."

"I'll go right." Gilsa volunteered, "Reicket scout forward on the left path. Your highness, wait until I or Reicket make it across before following."

Siegfried seemed like he was going to disagree, but after a moment he crossed his arms and nodded firmly. "Alright. Be safe, and be quick."

"I will." Gilsa assured smirking toward Reicket.

Reicket rolled his eyes, "There's probably nothing. Just like before."

"Be careful." Gilsa reminded.

Reicket started forward along the narrower path, the left hand path, that climbed steeply up the path. The rocks were flat and dusty, and he had to place one foot right in front of the other as he leaned forward to keep his balance, but Reicket managed it. He could watch his feet and watch as Gilsa started edging forward the right hand path. Gilsa took slower steps, and his eyes traced all the edges of the air and ground and roots.

Reicket moved forward, and his eyes were still on his feet but he couldn't notice anything alarming. The ground looked fine. There wasn't anything along the wall either. He went to take another step forward when a strong chill blew along his back, sending a shiver along his spine and it made Reicket freeze. Just as he stopped a flash came from the forest and Reicket had just enough time to gasp and fall backward as a massive steel bolt slammed into the mountain side. He screamed loudly and purposely fell back, scrambling back and just then a second fired from the trees to slam into the stone, breaking into shards, the crumbling metal and rocks rolling down toward Gilsa.

Gilsa immediately looked up and ran backward, though his wide eyes stayed on Reicket. Reicket never fell, but kept stumbling back and moved as quick as he could to the beginning of the path, his eyes locked onto the two massive spears piercing the stone completely. Gilsa bumped in Reicket as they both came back to where they started. Siegfried stood stock still just behind the two, silent and horrified.

Finally, after catching his breath, Reicket let out a nervous laugh. "Ha. See. I'm careful. Perfectly fine."

Gilsa sucked in a breath, a pained one that showed his frazzled nerves. "No. No, me and Green Squad are going to scout forward first. And we are going to be smarter, and look closer at our surroundings, and we still haven't even seen the skull-fortress so we might still be looking the wrong direction!" Gilsa sighed exasperatedly. "Let's just turn around, so you two-"

"Nay!" A voice screamed, sounding around them in a great echo, "You cannot turn back now, for now you will forfeit to me and die!"

"The wizard?" Reicket's eyes flew to the sky, frantically searching out their enemy.

Gilsa stepped back, raising his arm across Siegfried's chest in worry. His other hand went to his sword. All three of them looked around, the other members of Green Squad doing so as well. Between them the dwarven prince reached toward his hammer, but didn't yet draw it. Captain Odin stepped in front of the dwarven prince, and he raised his hand to signal the rest of Green Squadron to stay on guard.

"Ha!" The voice echoed around for a moment, hitting the mountain, the trees, suddenly catching the wind as a gail picked up, blowing strongly against them. As the wind whipped around the dark shadows grew longer, reaching out to crisscross at the far end of the branching path. The shadows there grew thicker, deeper in their darkness, and then impossibly began to bubble and rise, gaining mass, taking form in the shape of a man.

"You wish." A cackling evil voice said as the darkness bled away from the man, revealing his villainous smiling face. "How terrible to see you again, little coward."

The man had appeared before. He was the one who had grabbed the White Sword with his bare hand. He had appeared with the wizard the first time. He had the little neat triangular beard, a sharp hairline, and he looked wild in his clothing. What might have once been a fine coat had fallen open with missing buttons, his pants were tearing before the top of his shabby boots, and his puffed up shirt had fallen flat under his threadbare vest.

"Your Highness, step back." Gilsa ordered as he drew his sword, despite the long distance.

"I won't." Siegfried countered, pushing Gilsa's protective arm aside. "Who are you? Why are you here?"

The man's face turned into a sharp scowl, and he raised a talon-like finger with a black sharpened nail. "The first time, I thought, hey that's amusing, but now you are making me angry, little coward."

"That's not an answer weird-o!" Reicket shouted, taking a step back to get even with Gilsa and Siegfried. As he did Reicket looked over his shoulder and noticed all of Green Squad was moving toward them as well. He swallowed, hand going to the sword that was borrowed, but he couldn't draw it.

"Nothing is a good answer!" The man replied, lowering his finger with a fendishing smile, "Prepare to die anyway, and give me the White Sword. Or give me White Sword then die, I'm happy either way. Actually, I'm pretty sad - all things considered -"

"Oh my Goddess, shut up!" Reicket groaned, "You're not going to kill any of us."

"That's where you're wrong maggot." The man spit, "Now then, if you will very kindly just come closer so you're standing just about there, I'll surrender. Promise."

"Who are you?" Siegfried shouted again, "And where's the wizard?"

The man paused, then pointed at the ground. "I'll tell you if you step up to here."

For a stupid moment Siegfried thought of doing so, just to get an answer, but then he, and Gilsa, and Reicket, and all others there saw the hastily covered up snare. A very obvious trap. One that they could follow with their eyes straight to the bending tree it was tied to. While they made no attempt to pretend that they hadn't seen it, the man seemed oblivious to their skepticism. He continued to smile, urging them to comply with the tight lines at the edges of his narrowed eyes.

"No!" Reicket hollard, "It's obviously a trap!"

The man bared his teeth like an angry small dog. "It is not, you annoying-voiced maggot! I just want you to stand there because - because it is easier to whisper to you that way!" He smiled again, a fake sweet smile.

"Your Highness," Gilsa whispered to Siegfried, leaning toward him, "if this is the man from last time, then we're probably on the right track to find the wizard."

Siegfried agreed. "But how do we get rid of him? He's more annony than I remember, and furthermore…" Siegfried looked at the man, clear despite the distance, "he doesn't have a weapon."

While both of them were focusing on the problem, Reicket continued to get riled up. "That's a terrible excuse! You can talk to us fine right now! You're just stupid and trying to get us to step in a trap that we would have just avoided anyway! Tell us who you are!"

"It's a perfect excuse!" The man hissed, "Why don't you shut up with your annoying grating noises! Just come here, and that'll prove it's not a trap and then I'll-" He flapped his wrist dismissively, "do whatever I said I was going to do."

Reicket crossed his arms and smiled smugly. "Then it'd also prove it wasn't a trap if you stepped there wouldn't it?"

"No, I'm probably too heavy." The man replied, voice confused a bit as he looked down at the obvious snare.

"See!" Reicket turned up his chin in a mocking matter, "Then that proves it. If you won't step there then it must be a trap."

"It is not!" The man hollard, his voice hissing and spitting.

Siegfried reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Reicket." He cautioned, "What are you doing?"

Gilsa stepped up to his back. "We don't actually know who this man is, or what he can do. He said he wasn't a wizard, but look at how he appeared. Quit it."

Reicket twisted to whisper to them. "Trust me, I got this." He turned back to the man, and managed to taunt him with crossed arms. "It is. I bet even if it wasn't you're still too scared to do it."

"I am not, and it is not." The man cried, stomping his foot.

"Prove it!" Reicket sang, sneering.

"Fine!"

"Fine." Reicked repeated, standing up straight.

The man let out an aggravated groan, pulling at his long black hair for a moment. Then he huffed, puffing up his chest, and started walking forward as he glared angrily at Reicket. Siegfried and Gilsa could only stare in confused disbelief as the man continued forward. He walked straight into the snare that had been brushed with dirt, and started down at it, waiting.

Then he gave a wide mad smile, about to brag that he was correct, and at that very moment the snare tightened around his boot, snapping loudly to his ankle. A stringy thing sounded, and then a terrible creak sounded from the forest, and in an instant the man was ripped from the ground in a cloud of dust, a tree cracking and whipping up from beside the mountain and launching his spinning body into the distance.

"That worked?" Gilsa gasped, watching was the man went spiraling into the sky and the tree began to crack and break as it swung back and forth. The man, nowhere to be scene.

"I'm… shocked that's what happened." Reicket shivered, "I'm glad I noticed the first one."

Siegfried shook his head slowly, feeling sick and worried. He didn't know who this person was, or had been, and sure the person had declared that he would kill them, but Siegfried wasn't sure that was the correct response. He felt sick suddenly, his blood going cold as it drained from his face to his feet. For that moment Siegfried almost fell from the approaching wave of wrong, and suffocating guilt that began to fill his throat.

"Your Highness."

Siegfried turned to Gilsa, because only Gilsa talked to him like that, and then he realized that no - it was Captain Odin. Siegfried swallowed down his rising panic, putting forward his chest instead and trying to appear as the king he was. He stayed on his feet, wrenched his eyes from where the man had been so cruelly flung, and met Captain Odin's eyes.

"I mean no disrespect, but I think your fun should end here. It seems that man personally means you harm, and with the prevalence of traps it is likely the wizard will appear. Continuing forward is too dangerous for you."

Siegfried was struck silent.

"Gilsa, you shall escort His Highness and the Honorable Prince Ariculr back down the mountain."

Gilsa nodded deeply. "Yes, Captain Odin."

"What?" Reicketed cried, gesturing at the scene. "Did you see how well I handled that! There's no problem here."

Siegfried turned to Reicket first, then he looked at Gilsa. Both seemed equally serious. Here he was in the middle, feeling like a reprimanded child. He didn't understand how Captain Odin could say that he was here...having fun. He could understand though, that strange man was with the wizard before. That these traps, even if they avoided them were still dangerous. And, with what he had just seen, imagining that happening to Reicket if he had gotten to the end of that path, or Gilsa, or the horrible outcome if the dwarven Prince…

"Alright." Siegfried felt his heart clench as he said it, because he was admitting to still being immature with that admission. He was agreeing that this was just 'fun,' like Captain Odin accused.

"What?" Reicketed whined, "Come on, we handled this guy before, we can do it again."

Siegfried pressed his lips together unhappily, because he wanted to agree but… "Captain Odin is right. We know the wizard is here, and dangerous, and it'd be better if we let Green Squadron handle it."

"But we're the Rainbow Knights!" Reicket denied loudly.

"Be quiet!" Gilsa stepped forward, "Siegfried made his decision, and so did Captain Odin, so now you listen. If you were a Rainbow Knight, then you should at least listen to the White Knight!"

Reicket shut his mouth and shrunk back. "Okay, geez. You don't have yell."

Gilsa didn't appear to be regretful about shouting at Reicket. He did seem a bit ashamed, however, but turned to look at Siegfried, ready to comply and support him as always.

Siegfried took an empowering breath, knowing Gisla at least supported him, and turned to the dwarven Prince. "If it is alright with you, Prince Ariculr, then we will return immediately."

He nodded, his bright head of fire slowly creaking up and down. "Very well."

Siegfried felt horrible. He felt infantilized. He had come here, so eager and ready, and just as quickly they were truing back. This wasn't Kingly of him. This wasn't Knightly, either. This was cowardly, but it must have been smart. Gilsa, who he trusted as a friend and more, thought it was right. Captain Odin, who he had brought specifically for this, said it was correct, and yet Siegfried still felt so defeated. He didn't want to turn away, he thought Reicket was right as well, but he listened morosely, despite what he really wanted.

Except that was all dashed away in the next instant. A massive black shadow flew across the sky, and then down, crashing like a wave into the ground in the middle of their party. The blackness bubbled and bulged up again, quickly twisting together into the form of the man, peeling off like flakes of paint and revealing his terrifying grow flowering face. Around him the Green Squadron jumped back as quick as they could, weapons coming out quickly, and Gilsa reacting the same. Reicket grabbed his sword as well, taking it out and standing next to Siegfried as he started to wrap his brain around the reappearance of the man.

The person who hadn't reacted, couldn't react, was Prince Ariculr. All the darf was able to do was look up at the man appearing out of darkness next to him. The man's hand shot out and grabbed the darven price by his metal arm, lifting him up easily into the air, making him drop the war hammer.

"You displease me, little coward." The man hissed, "Never willing to sit down and play. I think this will motivate you enough." He shook the dwarven Prince's arm, making him cry out and shake to try and get free.

"Let him go!" Siegfried shouted, forcing his voice to be bold as his guilt at launching the man into the sky melted away to anger.

Captain Odin moved to attack then. He was the greatest warrior there, used to battle, and didn't hesitate to move when challenged. He raised his sword high, running at the man's open side, and slashing down at him.

Without taking his eyes off Siegfried, Reicket, and Gilsa, the man raised his hand and snapped his fingers shut around Odin's blade. His fingers cracked into the metal, not getting cut, and holding the weapon fast. "Come and play hide-and-seek, and make sure your sword is sharp enough."

"Charge!" Captain Odin shouted.

Two of the bravest members of Green Squadron jumped at the man. Both of them wielded gleaming steel and brought them to bear as they ran together at the man. He turned his head then, unimpressed, and then shoved Captain Oddin back violently toward them, knocking all three down in a pile.

Gilsa sprinted across the short distance, his sword flashing in the sun as he moved to slice at the man's arm, and try to free the dwarven prince. His attack was the first to make the man take a step back, his face twisting down into a visage of pure fury. The man lifted his foot as Gilsa's slice ended, both of their eyes meeting for a moment, and then the man slammed a kick straight into Gilsa's head, his neck snapping back loudly as he fell to the ground in a cloud of dust.

"Gilsa!" Siegfried cried, stepped forward and crouching beside his friend where he'd fallen.

Reicket screamed and ran forward at the man with his borrowed sword. The one he didn't really know how to use, but held tightly in his grip. None of which mattered to him, because Reicket only cared that he was incensed that this man had dared to knock Gilsa to the ground, as if he was nothing. Reicket had seen the people fail before, and when he slashed down his sword quickly across the man's chest watched carefully the man's hand. Reicket knew he'd missed, because everyone else had, and just like everyone before the man reached out to grab at the naked edge of his sword.

Reicket stepped forward then, and tipped down the point of his sword to try and stab the man. The flat of the man's palm was slid along the top of the blade, yet it drew no blood, and it hit him directly in the chest, tearing through the fabric of his vest and shirt, and Reicket felt it when his sword slammed into resistance, stopping suddenly and going no farther.

The man's face shifted, twisting, lifting up in a grand curling smile.

Reicket's face dropped as he started up at the man, seeing his eyes spin in between black swirls, massive circles, and watched as his teeth seemed to grow longer and sharper in his mouth.

A fist slammed into Reicket's face, cracking into his nose and teeth in a small splatter of blood and he started to fall back, but before he could the man lashed out and grabbed him by the shirt.

"Let me go!" Reicket screamed at him, squirming for a second before he tried kicking at the man, doing the same amount of damage as stabbing him. He reached at the hand pulling his shirt and squeezed at it.

"Stop!" Siegfried cried, standing up and Gilsa wobbled on the ground and shook his head, "I'll play hide-and-seek, or stand, or whatever! Put them down, please."

The man kept up his large grin. His swirling eyes moved to look at Siegfred before his head followed. He hefted Reicket up higher, and Reciket gasped as he hung in the air. Gilsa lifted up to his elbows eyes hazy for a moment before he took in the situation, and then he looked to behind the man where the members of Green Squadron were trying to take heart and form a plan of attack without hurting either.

The man looked between Reicket and the dwarven Prince for a moment, almost seeming to think about Siegfried's words. Then he rolled his eyes, "Well, I only need the one."

As if tossing aside an eaten apple core, the man hefted up Reicket and threw him aside of the mountain path. Siegfried and Gilsa both scream, scrambling to their feet as they watched Reicket go over the sheer edge. Reicket couldn't comprehend what was happening, but he saw the fear reflected in his friends eyes as his stomach tumbled and went weightless as he started to fall. Then he was over the edge, down the side of mountain which had no path, only rising sharp rocks, completely gone.

"Make sure you come and find me, little coward." The man cackled, his shadow darkening, becoming a black lake under his feet. "I'll be waiting!" He finished, laughing loudly as he slipped down into the dark blot under his feet, the dwarven Prince, unspeaking, disapping with him in an instant, and nothing was left behind.

Siegfried didn't see the mysterious murder leave. He had fallen to his knees at the sheer edge of the mountain side, his arm uselessly stretched out into the air. There was nothing below him. Trees. Rocks. Trees. There wasn't a path there, they couldn't go down, it was a dead drop.

Gilsa crouched down next to him. He cupped his hands around his mouth, and leaned dangerously over the edge. "REICKET! ARE YOU ALIVE!" He shouted down the mountain, loud enough to startle all the birds form the trees and bounce down the rocks in an echo.

"YES! I'M FINE. ISH!"

Siegfried and Gilsa let out a breath of relief, and if they weren't already on the ground they would have collapsed just then. Siegfried couldn't help shaking, in relief and in fear, so he stayed right where he was, mutely letting Gilsa take control.

"HOW FINE IS FINE-ISH!"

Reicket responded, but not loud enough, and not a single word was understandable.

"WHAT?" Gilsa hollard back.

"I CAN TRY AND GET BACK TO YOU! THERE'S AN OLD PATH HERE!"

"NO STAY PUT!" Gilsa shouted, "DON'T YOU DARE EVEN THINK IT, STABLEHAND!"

Gilsa stood up and looked around. "We'll have to go back and climb up another way, there's no chance we can get to him from here."

Siegfried shook his head quickly, a sharp passion beginning to burn in him. He stood up tall. "No. No, don't you see? Who ever that man is, he isn't going to let us - or at least me - just leave. If we turn back, we'll be abandoning Prince Ariculr. We have to continue forward, defeat him, and defeat this wizard. That's the only way we can make sure Prince Ariculr is safe - and Reicket. If we turn back, and that man continues with his traps and - and attacks, then no one will be able to make sure Reicket is safe, truly. We're following him. If he wants to fight me, he will, and I want all of you there to ensure that the dwarven Prince is safe, that fiendish wizard routed as well, and no one else will be seperated or hurt."

Siegfried was out of breath as he finished talking, having said his declaration quickly, and will his full commanding voice so everyone could hear him. It was hard to say everything, even though he felt it deeply, even though that was exactly what he thought and felt, and while he didn't move he felt exhausted and drained. Siegfried raised his chin regardless, looking at everyone directly, as if daring them now to challenge him, their King.

Captain Odin did not. The members of the Green Squadron seemed impressed, and held themselves with careful militaristic precision. They didn't look at him directly, sneaking glances from the corners of their eyes, because for anyone but Royal Knights you weren't allowed to stare at the King head on. Gilsa let out an impressed breath quietly, Siegfried only hearing it because they were shoulder to shoulder, and when he turned to look at him Gilsa seemed ready. Always prepared to support him.

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His leg didn't feel broken. It didn't look broken. Not like the last time he'd broken it... there had been a lot less blood then. Reicket ripped his pants a little, and there was a large gash along the outside of his calf. He poked at it.

"Ow." Reicket gasped, before pressing his hands around his knee. He sucked in a breath as the pain faded. "Okay, not so bad. I can probably do this."

Reicket wasn't about to let himself be left behind. Sure that's what he told Gilsa, but that didn't mean anything. He'd gotten them this far, he'd been the one to save them last time they faced the wizard, and he wasn't about to let a cut on his leg stop him. Even if his leg was bleeding. Especially when he tried to move it.

Reicket took a careful breath through his teeth. He tried bening his leg, just a little, to try and get to his feet, because here he was useless, he wasn't going on an adventure now, he wasn't being a Rainbow Knight, he was just stuck, and as stupid as Gilsa always accused him of, for getting hurt like this. Except when he tried he cried out, and immediately stopped as a flare of pain shot up his leg.

Reicket sighed, and rubbed his face. "Alright…" He looked around the woods, and up at the mountain. "What now?"

Rocks jutted out in little tumbling circles around him. The trees were close together, thin and full of branches. Short and weedy bushes clug to buffs of stone. Pebbles fell down in little streams as small varmints ran across them. Reicket sat there and wallowed. He couldn't get back up, surley. As much as he knew he had to be there, a part of his soul being pulled toward the top of the mountain on a string, his heart squeezing each second he did nothing - Reicket wasn't able to climb back up to meet with Siegfried and Gilsa.

He lifted his head, and looked down. The trees were close, and thin. The bushes few and far between. While it was rocky and steep going up - there was an actual path going down. As Reicket contemplated it, the path became more and more prominent. Like just him noticing it made it real. A very clear path of grass ran straight down in easy loops, bordered on both sides by low branches and sturdy trees that he could hold. There were boulders along the sides, but never right in it, and even the grass looked walked on. No spiny vines weeded the path, no little thistle, it was almost cared for. More than all that, it didn't seem to even go down - it impossibly seemed to go up. Somehow, even though Reicket was looking down the mountain it seemed to stretch back up toward the top.

"That way." Reicket decided. He was a strong believer in destiny, and he had a good sense of when it was staring him in the face. Besides that, if Reicket couldn't climb up the mountain to his friends, he better start exploring to find another way to reunite with them.

Emboldened at being able to continue forward, Reicket gritted his teeth and carefully rose to his feet. Foot. He leaned against the closest tree and lifted his wounded leg from the ground, watching as a line of red dripped down onto his foot then hit the ground. It made his stomach flutter, but he was standing despite the pain. Reicket was standing.

Slowly he began hopping and leaning his way along the path. Even though his wounded leg twinged everytime he moved, it faded quickly as he kept moving. Reicket wouldn't have turned back or stopped even if the pain got worse. He wouldn't be left out of this adventure. He wouldn't let Gilsa or Siegfried think he wasn't as good as them. He wouldn't be left out of a fight with a wizard, and he wouldn't be excluded from being considered a Rainbow Knight.

Even if that wasn't possible, even if he wasn't able to be a Rainbow Knight, he would still press forward to meet with King Siegfried. Even if he couldn't be friends with the King, maybe this would be enough for him to train with the Royal Guard. Anything. Pressing forward could help him achieve anything more than being a stable hand like his father. He wouldn't live the same life as his grandfather, and his great-grandfather. Reicket moved forward because he wanted to be greater than them. He wanted this adventure, he loved it, and he wouldn't be stopped just because his leg hurt.

Reicket stumbled, falling hard against the ground and scraping his wrists while he caught himself. He screamed through his teeth as his wound was jarred painfully. He got back up on his arms instantly, because he wouldn't just lie there, he had to keep moving forward, he wouldn't let this opportunity to finally be someone, be greater, pass him by.

Reicket got to one knee, teetering for a moment as he grabbed onto a branch to pull himself up, and as he did suddenly felt a wind blow past him, bringing with it a forceful presence. The sensation of someone being there blew down his back, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, and he nearly gave himself whiplash as he flung himself upward, standing as straight as he could. He felt tense immediately, even before he saw who had magically appeared, he felt their powerful presence keenly.

"Alright there, partner?"

A ghost: was Reicket's first thought. Correctly, because he could see through the transparent man. A huge, towering, bearded, and armored man. Green. Completely, head-to-toe, fully colored, a real bright forest green color.

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The ghostly man gave a booming laugh, tipping his head back at how amused he was and his fat armored belly shaking. "I guess you're surprised, eh? Little man."

His armor was old. A large chest plate with a rose in the center covered his chest, his cape looked like fur, or even moss the way it was colored, and he wore thick chaps along with pointed leather boots.

"No, no, take your time." His ghostly lips smiled as he chuckled, "I know, I am incredibly impressive aren't I?"

Reicket leaned against a tree in shock, and if one of his leg's weren't already in constant pain he would have fallen over right there. "You're green."

A wide wolfish grin spread across the ghost's bright shining colorful green bearded cheeks. "Sharp as a tack, aren't ya partner?"

"I - I mean-" Reicket gestured at the color widely, trying to convey how impossible it was against the endless grays that filled the world for a decade.

"I know, partner, I do indeed. Bit concerned you're more held up on my eminence, than my being a spirit." He pushed one of his hands through his arm.

"You're a spirit, yeah, but my ma told me you were real. It's more…" Reicket stopped, his mind thinking hard. A creeping feeling, a revelation coming to him, and his eyes widened as he took in the full picture of this man. "You're Green." He gasped.

The ghost grinned and nodded vigorously. "Aye, partner. I'm Tristian, the Green Knight. - and I've come to you because I heard your heart's call."

Reicket wasn't sure what to say. Or even think. The words repeated in his head, and then he gasped, his chest filling with joy and his mouth opening in a shocked smile. "Are you making me a Rainbow Knight? Did you find me for that? That's what this is, right?! Right!"

"I was hoping to explain it to you, but I guess it's hard not to be found out." He nodded, "That's right. I came to you because the Green Sword has chosen you as its master."

Reicket let out an unbelieving breath. "I thought that was all stupid… I just learned about that and now - wow."

"Kinda overwhelming isn't it, partner?" The green glowing ghost asked, smiling as if he was just as pleased.

"No, it's not, it's amazing! This is everything I wanted, I can't believe it -" Reicket almost jumped, but he put his leg down and gasped, nearly falling at the renewed wave of pain racing up his leg.

The ghostly man laughed, and came closer with silent footsteps. "Easy there, partner. Looks like you had quite the spill getting here."

"I'm fine!" Reicket quickly asserted, "I can still be a Rainbow Knight! I promise!"

"Getting hurt, and being careful, doesn't exclude you from being a Knight. There's no shame in knowing your limits, especially considering what the Sword has told me you'll need to go through." The ghost man came closer, and kneeled down. He waved his hand over the gash on Reicket's leg, and with a dim green glow his wound began to close, scab over and then heal. He rose with a proud look, "There, how's that?"

Reicket tenderly set his foot down on the grass. "It's… all better. How did you do that? Was it because you're a Rainbow Knight? Will I be able to do that?" He hasily asked questions, stomping his foot again as there was no pain at all.

"No, that is the power I've learned as a warden of this forest - it is something I learned when I became a forest spirit. You will be able to do much more with the Green Sword though. The Rainbow Knights each have their own unique powers, attached to their Swords. When you are ready, the Sword will reveal it to you, as it has to me. Now, come, I'll show you the way."

Reicket smiled and began to quickly follow. "What type of power? How can I be ready, am I ready now, because I get the Sword now? What's it like, being a Rainbow Knight? When I die, will I become a ghost like you?"

The man smiled under his massive beard. "The power will reveal itself to you in time, all of the secrets of the Swords. You definitely aren't ready for the Green Sword now, as I wasn't when it came to me either, but it has picked you to wield it because it sees potential in you. Perhaps the Green Sword has even met you in a past life, or seen the future, they are very mysterious in their ways. Only you will be sure of the time, and the Sword will be with you then." He looked at Reicket with glittering eyes. "Does that help?"

Reicket didn't frown, but his smile wobbled, "I think so. I don't know what all of it means, since everyone seems to speak in riddles."

"Ha ha! Yes, it does sound that way, doesn't it? Got on my nerves too, when I was your age." They continued walking, and while they did the green ghost raised his hand and the plants bowed out of their way, a little green glow coming from them before it faded back to grays.

"Now, what's it like being a Rainbow Knight? Well, partner, that's something you'll have to figure out for yourself. For me it was a chore, and a job, and frankly, I didn't enjoy it."

"You didn't enjoy it!" Reicket gasped, and he narrowed his eyes at the spector. "Are you really a Rainbow Knight?"

"I'm green, and glowing, and back from the dead, partner." The ghost snorted, "Though I see it is unbelievable. Now, there were other types in the Rainbow Knights who enjoyed it, a bit too much, and those who thought it was fun, and that's how I know you'll need to figure out for yourself. It's a big responsibility though. If I had to say what it was like, it was a big responsibility. It takes determination, and dedication, and sacrifice."

Reicket nodded, hearing the words and understanding them gravely. "Determination, dedication, and sacrifice."

"And I'm not a ghost, exactly. So you're out of luck ya want to be a forest spirit partner. I'm the only Rainbow Knight like this, because of a reason completely unrelated to the Knights. Lucky for you though isn't it? Almost like destiny, you could say, eh?"

Both of them smiled at each other. Finally they came to their destination. Ahead of them was a large clearing in the mountain. A little lake, fed by a beautiful small waterfall that tumbled down from the rocky steep cliff. All around it grew fine and young willow trees, weeping to the surface of the water and their leaves barely brushed the water. Vines of flowers crept along the ground, many blooming beautifully, but all still black and white in their color. Despite the spirit being the only colorful things here, possibly in the world, the glen was still breathtaking.

"There it is." The ghost pointed straight into the small lake.

Reicket didn't even pause to question it. With that little direction he immediately began walking into the little lake. He got wet in an instant, and kept walking forward, he didn't have to look back at the ghost ,because Reicket knew the sword wasn't behind him, his old life was, his endless family history of taking care of horses was, and he would not look back at it. No, Reicket kept going forward, the water coming to his chest then. He strode forward, more, letting it get to his neck, and then he had to swim.

The lake was small, and he wasn't more than a few feet from the bank and he couldn't touch the bottom. He pushed his arms through the cold water, striving for the center of the lake, and as he swam forward again his hand hit something in the black water. For a moment Reicket floated there, in the very center of the lake. He thought that maybe he hadn't bumped into anything for a moment, moving in a circle, but then again his fingers hit something. It was deeper in the lake, under him.

Reicket sucked in a breath and dove under. He couldn't see. The water was black. Everything was black. He couldn't feel anything either, just the water that he pushed and struggled against. Still, he swam. Because he wanted it so badly. He wanted to be a Rainbow Knight. He wanted to have more than he did, he wanted to be more, and be better. Reicket wanted fame, he wanted a legacy, he wanted to be powerful and brave, so he pressed onward into the black water blindly desperately swatting his hands out for a connection.

Then, out from the darkness, a single sparkle of green. Then another, two mixing together and growing, a bright shining metal appearing just within Reicket's reach. He saw the Sword appear before him in all its wonderful greatness. The short sword had a deadly sharpness on each side, and a thick middle, the crossguard was small, and the hilt had a fine tassel dangling from the bottom. All of it was bright blinding green, a thick color that reminded Reicket of grass, of mint, of the sharp burs on roses, and far off hills.

He reached out for the hilt as it shimmed before him, holding it tightly as bright beams of the green color shot out from between his fingers. The moment he touched it a forceful pulse came from the sword, one that washed over him like a shock wave, and then its color began to glow and expand. The green light became white, and blue, and red, and every color in between as it lit up the lake around Reicket with bright shiners. The entire black water was shot away for a calming soft blue, letting him see clearly through it and it was an outstanding sight. This lake, this mountain wasn't made up of plain rocks. Gems, glittering jewels, massive opals, bright shining quarts, hundreds of colors rimmed every corner of the little lake, not so wide but so deep, going down into a rainbow sparkling mine of bright gemstones that seemed endless, and as Reicket held onto the Sword he turned in a slow circle under the water to see the entire world glow in every possible color all around them in crystal.

Black.

Reicket lifted his head up, fingers tightening on the Green Sword, and with one great push broke the surface. He gasped in air quickly, floating there in the middle of the darkness again. He took a few calming breaths, trying to reorient himself.

Reicket the Rainbow Knight.

Reicket the Green Knight.

He lifted up the sword in his hand, holding it above the water.

"Gilsa is going to be so jealous!" He screamed, laughing and floating on his back, splashing his legs. "I'm going to be a Rainbow Knight! Woo!"

"Congrats, partner." The ghost said, cheering him on.

"Yes!" Reicket cried, "I gotta tell him! I gotta show Siegfried!" Reciket gasped, "The wizard - they're still going up the mountain, I have to go back and help them!" He started swimming to the shore, "Can you help me? What's the quickest way up?"

The ghost smiled. "I'll help you best way I can, partner. Just sit tight right there."

Reicket kept swimming toward the shore, and looked at him in confusion. "In the lake?"

He waved in parting. "Take care partner, and do us Green Knights proud."

Reicket was about to say more, but then he began to feel a current circle around him. He started to get pulled back, quickly, and tugged toward the center of the lake. Reicket looked around frantically as little waves appeared in the water around him. He started getting sucked down just then, the water pulling him down, and he frantically began to swim. He glanced up in panic at the green ghost who stood on the shore, but he only smiled, and Reicket felt very betrayed as he struggled to swim against the whirlpool that was dragging him deeper and deeper in the water.

When the ghost waved at him Reicket remembered his words. Reicket quickly stopped swimming with his one free arm and grabbed a tight hold of the green sword as the lake started to sink into the ground, spinning and spinning quicker.

"Thank you for everything!" Reicket screamed loudly, lifting his neck up as he took a huge breath, filling his lungs with air.

In the next instant he was dragged underwater. Reicket kept his eyes open and didn't fight the spiral current. He let the water suck him down into the darkness bravely. His hands pulled the sword tight to his chest as he was dragged and tossed about. Still, he kept straight, and didn't hit the sharp sides, so Reicket knew this was right.

As he held his breath, just as his chest started to burn he looked down. There, in the distance a dim light shone through. It looked to be the end of a tunnel, and as the water continued to chur and pour around him Reicket pushed toward it, with the current. He swam down it, the water pulling him quicker, the light ahead growing brighter and brighter, and then suddenly Reicket was shot out of the tunnel in a great rush of water. Roaring filled his ears as the wave crashed around him, spilling out tons of gallons of water out of the tunnel and straight into rocky ground, Reicket slamming into the ground with it.

He sat up after he fell into the mud, coughing and wiping at his face with his free hand as a slower trickle of water poured down his back. Reicket sucked in breath after holding it for so long, and blew water from his clogged nose. After a moment Reicket finally recovered, blinking water from his eyes, brushing his hair back, and turning his head to look.

His fingers were still gripping the Green Sword with white knuckles.

Reicket raised it slowly up, trying to see it better in the light, looking at it. The color had gone again. It didn't matter. Even without the glow, Reicket knew he had the Green Sword. He was going to be the Green Knight.

"Reicket!"

He turned quickly, staggering as he stood, and his face split in a wide smile, "Siegfried!"

Siegfried was looking at him in terror, eyes wide and face concerned, crouching behind a sharp and fat spire of rock. Beside him were other members of Green Squad. Reicket could barely see them through the smoke and mist however, because they were inside some cave with a small amount of light. There were dark shadows of other tiny ridges of rocks sprouting up from the ground, a few more people scatter here and there, but seeing where Siegfried was enough for Reicket to stand and start moving over.

"You'll never believe what just happened!" Reicket shouted, starting to run over toward him with the Green Sword held tightly in his hand.

"Reicket! Look out!" Siegfried shouted, rising up in warning from where he'd been crouched.

Reicket had no time to react, he wasn't even sure what Siegfried meant, since he hadn't look around the room and understood nothing of the situation. Just as he started to walk, still dripping wet, at the far end of the room a large ball of began to explode outward directly at him. As the fire started to race through the air in an explosion Reicket barley turned his head in time to notice it, seeing only the massive ball of flame.

Just then a body slammed into him, sending him straight into the ground in a tumble and knocking him off his feet and the air from his lungs. Reicket tried to look around, to figure out what happened and what was going on, but a hand clamped down on his arm and yanked him back to his feet, forcing him to run or be dragged across the ground. Once he took a few stumbling steps forward he broke into a sprint straight toward Siegfried.

Reicket saw the blooming light of the fire out of the corner of his vision again, and as he tried to hurry, pick up his pace more, the person shoved him forward, making him fall into a scraping slide as he finally got to Siegfried. Siegfried grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him closer as a wave of heat and flames crashed against the stone, just in time.

He rolled over so that he could see instead of having his face in the dirt, and saw Gilsa shucking his shirt to the ground in hurry, fire running up the sleeve. He was crouched over with them too, sweating and grave as his eyes stayed on the danger. Completely ignoring the fact that his arm had just been on fire.

"He's not in the dungeon." Gilsa quickly said, not bothering to greet Reicket at all.

"Are you okay?" Siegfried asked instead, glancing with worried and frantic eyes between the two of them. "What happened?"

"I'm the Green Knight!" Reicket shouted, lifting himself up into a more comfortable position, and checking that he was still behind the outcropping of rocks. "You found the wizard!"

"What?" Siegfried gasped, his eyes darting down to where Ricket held the Sword.

"Yes, we found the wizard." Gilsa snapped, "No sign of the Dwarven Prince, your Highness."

Siegfried seemed blank faced as he kept looking back between Reicket, and Gilsa. Like he was trying to think, but there was too much going on for his thoughts to keep up. Reicket turned himself around again, and looked out to see what in the world was going on. There were many different places across the area where rocks shot up in stalagmites, weird circular boulders, and spikes. Behind them all of Green Squadron was scattered around. Mist clung to the ground, smoke filled the air in plumes. At the very far end of the room, was the Dark Wizard.

"I think I can take him." Reicket giddily said, "I can now, with the Green Sword."

Gilsa grabbed his shoulder and held him back. "Are you nuts? He's shooting fire at us, don't even think of moving, stablehand."

"But remember last time? Siegfried's White Sword cut through the fire! We can go at him at the same time, and then he can only attack one of us!" Reicket excitedly said, "Because I have the Green Sword now!"

Gilsa hissed, then shook his head, "No, who cares? We checked everywhere in this fortress and the Dwarven Prince isn't here. We need to find him."

"If we can't find him then let's go and take down the Dark Wizard." Reicket argued back. "Maybe he like - made him invisible or something - and killing him will break the spell." Reicket poked his head up to watch as the Dark Wizard threw a fire bolt at a different group.

"I don't know." Siegfried groaned, "I don't know. How can we? How did you become the Green Knight? What happened to that man who actually took the Prince?" He lamented, he shook his head, also turning to look at the Dark Wizard. "I just…"

"You know what?" Reicket huffed, "We came here to find and defeat the Dark Wizard, so that's we we'll do." He looked at the sword in his hand. Dull gray with a sharp edge. Almost weightless in his hands, and it felt like he held power itself. "Determination, dedication, and sacrifice. We're here to beat this Wizard just like last time, and that's what we'll do."

Gilsa sat back at Reicket's sudden and uncharacteristic words.

Siegfried looked at him in shock too, but then let out a breath and smiled. "You're right."

"Of course I am, you should listen to me more often." Reicket smiled back, then turned to keep his eyes on the Dark Wizard. "Besides, we can't see anything with all this smoke, what if there's more doors we can't see?"

Gilsa shook his head, "We checked around all the walls. Every door there was we went in."

"What about behind him?" Reicket thought, "You couldn't, right?"

Siegfried and Gilsa shared a quiet realization.

Then all of them ducked down, hiding as a blast of fire exploded against their cover and threw heat and sparks over their heads. Siegfried looked out with uncertainty over the battle ground. His eyes moved to his sword, and then to Reicket's. For half a moment he reached toward it, but then tucked his hand back as if ashmed.

"You swear it's the Green Sword?"

"I do!" Reicket exclaimed, "A ghost gave it to me?" He looked at it, and while his words were confused his gaze wasn't.

"Then, your Sword should be able to cut the fire too." Siegfried took a brave hold on the White Sword. "I know mine can, because it's magical like his attacks. If you're sure-"

"A hundred percent!"

"Then let's try. If anything happens just turn and find cover, okay?"

"Not okay," Gilsa responded, and then he was cut off.

"Then, you follow me." Siegfried quickly decided. "And if we get close, cut him down. If we don't you'll protect me, right?"

"Without hesitation-"

"Then let's go."

"Yes!" Reicket echoed, "Let's go!"

"On three?" Siegfried asked, inching to the left side of the outcropping of rock.

"NO." Gilsa decided, grabbing his arm.

Siegfried and Reicket turned to him, both still determined and ready to disobey.

"Wait for the moment after an attack." Gilsa responded, cool-headed and without a real objective. "He'll need a second to cast the spell again, so you'll have more time to charge in head-first. Like idiots."

Siegfried smiled broadly. "You'll follow, right?"

Gilsa nodded.

Reicket pressed against the stone with eagerness, crouched and ready to move. "Then, when he cast the next attack."

"Right."

"Ready." Gilsa declared.

Behind the spire of stone on the floor the three Rainbow Knights held themselves ready. In silence they waited, each burning with an understanding, prepared to support each other in an explosive attack. The air grew thick with their impatience, the sound of drums filling their ears as all three stared down the Dark Wizard at the end of the room. With a rising sense of danger they watched the blurry form of the Dark Wizard raise his arms.

Siegfried lifted his heel, his knuckles crushing the hilt of his Sword. Gilsa lifted his head more to get a better view, and Reicket poked out his head in impatience. Then the Dark Wizard noticed their slight movements, turning to face them directly, and he threw his hands down in an explosion of fiery light that rocketed toward them in curls of flame. Reicket moved first, scrambling far to the side as he got away from the fire ball, and then turning fast enough to twist his ankle as he sprinted in a straight shot toward the Dark Wizard. Siegfried and Gilsa moved next, Gilsa following his every step with military precision, both moving away from the attack and out from behind cover even faster than Reicket.

Reicket raised his sword as the Dark Wizard turned to him, hatred obvious in his eyes. Siegfried did the same, dashing forward with Gilsa directly at his heels, who held his sword in check. The Dark Wizard raised his hands again, his eyes sweeping from Reicket to Siegfried and Gilsa. His palms began to glow bright red, burning up with light, and then he slammed them down, summoning a bolt of fire that flew directly toward them.

Siegfried met the charge, roaring with determination as he raised the deadly white edge of his blade to slice through the magic, diving through the burning heat of the flames as it parted for him. Gilsa didn't falter as he followed, stepping up after Siegfried and keeping close to stay safe.

Their charge made the Dark Wizard flinch back, and he turned his evil toward Reicket instead. His arms raised again, and his attack came quicker, but it was a hairbreath's smaller. The bolt of fire came at him, and Reicket smiled as it did, because this was a test of his metal, of his determination, of the Green Sword, and as it reached him he poured all of his being into his swing, catching the tip of his blade against the fire and tearing into it just as Siegfried did. Around Reicket the flames disappeared just as easily, and the heat fell away without touching him.

Reicket reached the Dark Wizard first, and with the Green Sword he struck out at him. The Dark Wizard reacted immediately, stepped back out of Reicket's rang and moving back farther so that Siegfried and Gilsa couldn't catch up. Reicket missed, but he didn't give up, and brought his Sword around again, barely seeing Siegfried and Gilsa reach his side. Siegfried moved perfectly next to Reicket, charging forward with his blade extended and driving it toward the Dark Wizard. With a instant between him and death the Dark Wizard raised his hands, bringing forth a glaring shield that pushed back against the White Sword, and shattered a moment after.

"Give up!" Siegfried demanded, "The Rainbow Knights won't let you spread evil any long!"

The Dark Wizard smirked and raised his hands to attack again. Gilsa slid around the back of Siegfried then, unsheathing his sword as he did and jumped to close the distance, surprising the Dark Wizard successfully and slicing into his outreached hand, a line of blood cutting through the air. At that same moment a small spot of air sparked in his hand, and it backfired in a small explosion, blasting all of them and the Dark Wizard back.

Finally with space, the Dark Wizard rose with authority, and as he looked across the room his face turned into an evil snarl. "I am the Grand Wizard Omnidorex, and I will not be defeated by children!" He declared, raising both hands up that crackled with power and made the air between them light up.

"I won't let you cast any more spells!" Reicket shouted, and he leapt forward widely swinging his sword just to interrupt the Wizard.

From behind them all an assertive voice rang out the command to charge. In an instant the rest of Green Squadron was on their feet, running forward with weapons drawn. Not a single person stayed under cover at the command, and with an opportunity presented they seized it, almost catching up to the others.

"Press him!" Gilsa echoed Reicket's idea, and he moved forward again to attack.

Siegfried raised his sword, ready to follow, determined to fight with his friends, more so because his Sword could cut through spells. Just as his Sword reached the top of it's arch, the very last moment before he could swing forward a bolt of lightning shocked him to his core, and Siegfried froze, all of his body clenching in sudden fear and alertness. Acting on instinct alone, some distant part of him reacting without a single thought, Siegfried ducked just as a slash of air cut through where his neck had been a second ago.

He turned around quickly, not caring that the Dark Wizard was at his back, because very suddenly there was a much larger danger in front of him. A madly grinning man with pale white skin, black long hair, a ragged waist coat, tattered pants and a pointed beard.

"You." Siegfried recalled. The mysterious man.

The man seemed shocked for a long moment, staring at his hand, at the deadly and unnaturally long nails which were still piercing the space where Siegfried's neck should have been. Only after Siegfried spoke did the man seem t notice him, and he gave an innocent smile, flexing his fingers in a wave. "Hello coward, I wasn't trying to rend your spine because I'm annoyed."

"Where's Prince Articulr!" Siegfried shouted over his fear.

The man dusted his hands as if they were dirty, his nails clacking against each other. "You don't get to find him just like that, coward. You have to work for it. But, I have a terrible memory so actually he's right here behind me." The man rolled his wrist, gesturing to the side of the room, all of the obstructions vanishing for a moment to reveal the Dwarven Prince, bound in heavy black chains.

"Let him go!" Siegfried demanded, incensed at seeing the captured Prince.

"I just said-" The man glared, his eyes narrowing, "You're not listening to me are you?"

From behind Siegfried came a scream, and a clash of noise. For a second he looked away to see all of Green Squadron following Reicket and Gilsa as they worked in tandem to put pressure on the Dark Wizard. His fingers kept sparking with bright fire, and spouts of flames leapt from his palms. For each attempt he made at an attack the circle of swords around him grew tighter and tighter, forcing him back toward the wall.

"Pay attention to me!" The man roared in anger, his voice hissing and changing tones, the only warning Siegfried had before he was attacked.

Siegfried gasped and pulled up his sword quickly, the blade shaking in his hands as the man's nails ripped across it. Siegfried twisted his wrist, trying to get control back over his sword, and as he did raised it higher against the man's second swipe. The nails sliced loudly through the air, and innately he knew better than to be struck by them. The man was taller, and so fast Siegfried could barely keep up.

He blocked an incoming barrage of attacks by twisting his blade, catching the man's nails at the edge and turning them aside. Siegfried barely countered the next attack. The man stepped forward, using his height against Siegfried and making him bring up his sword quickly above his head. Siegfried hurriedly rolled to the side, jumping to his feet as the man scrambled forward, swiping his deadly nails across Siegfried chest, Siegfried jumping back just enough to not get hit. Just to gain distance Siegfried lashed out with the White Sword.

That was a huge mistake, the man striking like a viper, his fingers wrapping around the diamond clear White Sword. Siegfried tried to draw his sword back, stomach sinking as he recalled the last time he encountered the same problem. This would be different, however, and Siegfried wouldn't lose, more so because this man still kept him from freeing the Dwarf Prince. In a desperate idea, instead of pulling away, Siegfried raised his arms and drove his sword forward against the man's palm. A current raced up his arms as he did empowering him, and Siegfried felt the stain of cutting through skin as he stepped forward. The man glowered at the pain, pulling his hand away with drops of bright red blood. He didn't move away though, shoving the White Sword aside to move forward again.

The man practically growled at him, and his swipes were like that of a cat. His hands shout out and swatted, and despite the evil scowl it was almost as if each strike was a taunt, or a spar. Except just as Siegfried noticed that, caught on to the pattern and raised his sword to sneak an attack in, the man raised his leg and slammed a powerful kick into Siegfried's chest. It made Siegfried fall back, gasping as the air was blasted from his lungs and his chest cracked in pain. He gagged at the sudden pain, the inability to breath, and for a moment his vision blurred together.

"How cruel!" The man hollard, "First you forget my name, then you don't even listen when I'm talking!" He shook his head and then covered his eyes with his hands.

"W-what?" Siegfried coughed, getting to his feet with shaky knees. He had no idea what this man was talking about. He decidedly hated him now, he took another gasp, his chest burning with the effort, and started at this mysterious man in rage. Finally on his feet, Siegfried took up the White Sword, determined to strike back in retaliation.

"You're not even listening now!" The man cried, dragging his fingers down his face. He swiped his hands aside and bared his teeth, sharp fangs and eyes glowing with darkness. "I'll destroy you coward!"

"Not before I defeat you, and rescue the Dwarven Prince!" Siegfried declared, charging forward in a rush with his sword high to slash the man down.

Siegfried moved faster than before now, putting his anger at having been kicked into his run, roaring with determination as he lifted his sword to strike. He cut through the air in a deadly swipe, his sword falling with the weight and power to rend flesh and bone. The man wasn't even facing Siegfried as he attacked, having stepped back and turned around with incredible ease. He practically skipped away, shoulders shaking as he kept moving back.

Then he suddenly turned around and had tears in his eyes. "I can't believe you care about a Dwarven Prince more than me!" Then he vanished in a puff of black smoke.

Leaving Siegfried standing there completely dumbfounded. His arms felt heavy with exertion, and his heart still pounded from the battle and anger, chest burning from the kick still, and the man had just… disappeared while crying. He still didn't understand what had happened. His shoulders started to ache, and he dropped his guard for a moment, just staring at the place where the back smoke was dissipating.

"Siegfried! Look out!"

"Huh?!" He gasped, spinning around toward the warning and immediately screaming as a massive frilled monster with massive eyes flew at him from the ceiling. Siegfried ducked and then ran, sliding on the ground as the thing dipped toward where he'd been standing and then rolled its whole body to dive toward the ceiling.

Whatever it was looked like a massive terrifying centipede that had been mutated to be a lizard. Its body had huge flaps of taught leathery skin that ran from the tip of its spiked tail to the top of its massive insect-like head which had antenna jutting out in every direction. All of it covered in spikes and with hundreds of disgusting millipede legs.

"What is that!" Siegfried shrieked, looking around widely at the rest of the battle, now that he wasn't fighting the strange man.

"Don't ask just fight!" Reicket shouted, running up to his side, bringing his short sword before him. "What happened to that guy?"

"What happened to the wizard?" Siegfried asked instead, lifting his broad sword again with effort.

"That is the wizard." Gilsa responded from behind them, and then they had no time to talk.

The monster flew down at them again, mouth opening wide with massive spitting teeth as it tried to bite them, the leathery and long wing cutting through the air and knocking them back. As it flew by Reicket managed to swipe at it with his sword, but the tough leather hide was barely scratched. Members of green squadron raised their weapons as well, batting it aside in the second before they had to twist and move aside or be bitten. Siegfried let it fly over him, his arms cramping just as he tried to defend himself so he couldn't lift his blade. Gilsa stepped aside, watching where it flew, how it flew, and conserving his energy.

"Wait!" Siegfried, suddenly realized, lifting his head, "Prince Articulr!"

He'd only seen him when the man had pointed him out, immediately sought him out again. He spotted the bound Dwarven Prince in the same spot, unmoved from where he'd been during the brief fight. Siegfried glanced behind him to where the monster shook and rattled on the ceiling. The bulging out eyes rolled for a moment, and it let out a screetch before diving down toward all of them again. Reicket yelped as it dived down straight for him, jumping toward it and slipping under the teeth that snapped shut with an echoing clack. Captain Odin stepped forward with his men, thrust their swords out together as close as they could poking a shallow wound into the monster as it went past. Then it twisted, flapping those strange wing and lashed out with its tail at them, slamming them backward. Gilsa stepped back farther, his eyes focusing on something as it caught itself on the ceiling again.

Siegfried looked at Gilsa then, and at the monster, then toward the trapped Dwarven Prince. He trusted Gilsa to protect him. And Reicket. Siegfried needed to protect the Dwarven Prince.

Climbing to his feet Siegfried picked up his sword and started running. The monster let out a loud and angry hiss from where it was, and scrunched up as it got ready to leap down at Siegfried. He didn't care though, and kept moving toward the Dwarven Prince, whose expression was impossible to read.

Gilsa raised his sword then, running too, and he was quickly followed by Reicket and the rushing members of Green Squadron. Gilsa moved quickly until he was under the monster just as it leapt down, darting through the air with its huge teeth bared and mouth wide open to devour.

"Reicket! The lines on its stomach!" Gilsa shouted, running astride of the monster. He brought his sword up as he spoke, and swung it with great force at the underside of the monster,cutting into the thing as it moved toward the ground.

Reicket hollard in understanding and jumped forward, stabbing straight into the darker scales on the underside, stumbling and getting dragged for a moment as his sword cut into the monster as it kept moving.

Following them both, the members of Green Squadron hurried to copy, finding places where they could strike upward at the stomach, the ones who were lagging behind finding the spots on the tail to lash out. As their weapons connected the monster twisted and scream, flipping up and down, flexing its body and writing in pain in the air, curling around on itself to try and hide the weak points. As it moved however, all those lines on the stomach flexed and expanded, squished together to move, and the muscles underneath were clearly visible. Splashes of blood fell down on Gilsa and Reicket, but neither stopped, instead pressing closer to stab at the things again.

Reicket's short sword made him get closer, but it also cut deeper, ripping out a flap of skin that poured forth blood and made the monster howl in a terrible screech. While it clicked and whined Gilsa stepped up to attack it again, and with all of Green Squadron following suit it became a bloody mess of cuts and wounds.

Throughout this all Siegfried had finally reached the Dwarven Prince, and he stood at the ready in front of him, his arms burning with exhaustion as he kept his sword up and ready to defend against the beast. He watched pridefully as everyone kept up the attack, and from this distance was the first one to notice when the monster began to swell. For a second Siegfried wasn't sure what was happening, the way the eyes bulged out more, how the mouth shut and the lips pushed out, the body fattening in bulges and starts.

"It's going to explode!" Siegfried yelled out, dropping his sword to turn around and cover Prince Articular.

When he spoke everyone reached immediately. They all dropped to the floor, throwing themselves to the side, covering their heads with their arms. Reicket however, having almost no training froze and looked to Siegfried in confusion. Gilsa jumped at him, dragging him to the ground again, and covering both of them just as the monster burst.

A loud pop resounded across the room, the air being pushed out by the force and flinging across everyone's back in a shower of gore. The area rocked with it, the stone shaking for a moment, and everyone being blown over. So much liquid rocketed outward that it got caught along the ceiling and started to rain down, puddles of the filth left behind on the floor.

After a moment of silence, and once the concussion had passed, everyone quietly lifted themselves up to survey the situation.

"Prince," Siegfried gapsed, speaking first, "are you alright?" He pulled back, feeling a gross squishing along his back, and then pulled down the cloth that had been tied around the dwarf's mouth.

"We are fine. Thank you." The Dwarven Prince responded, in a completely neutral tone.

Siegfried let out a loud and long sigh, falling onto his butt. As he did his hand stretched out to support himself, and landed precisely on the hilt of the White Sword. "Thank you my Goddess."

"Is anyone injured?" Captain Odian's commanding voice rang out as he rose.

A chorus of denials rang out quickly in response. Green Squadron got to their feet quickly, dusting themselves off and checking each other over. They picked up weapons and jostled shoulders ini quiet celebration.

Gilsa lifted his head up and looked around before he sat up off of Reicket. "It's over." He said out loud, just to be sure it was true.

Reicket jumped to his feet immediately with a massive grin. "That's right! You mess with the Rainbow Knights, you get blown up! Woo!"

Gilsa sat up, brushing his head free of ick as he rose. "Will you at least make sure you didn't get cut by that thing before celebrating?" He pressed a hand to his ribs, and they didn't feel hurt, but more cramped from exertion. His face still hurt from the kick earlier.

"Oh! I didn't even get to tell you! Gilsa, Gilsa, look!" Reicket held out his short sword. "This is the Green Sword! A ghost gave it to me!"

"Reicket!" Siegfried called out, getting his attention to try and calm him. "And - um - Captain Odin. Do you know if we have anything to cut through chains?" He grabbed at the padlock holding the loops around Prince Articular's arms and legs. "Or something else?"

"Yes, your Highness. We would be remiss in being the scouting squadron without such tools." Captain Odin raised his hand and called over two members to begin working on freeing the Prince.

Seigfried smiled, and hoped the Prince found it reassuring. "We'll have you out in just a moment."

The Dwarven Prince, as unemotional and stoic as ever only nodded.

"Sieg-fried!" Reicket whined, "Come here! Remember, my sword worked against the fireball, didn't it? It did!" He giddly exclaimed.

Siegfried glanced back at Reicket, not knowing if it was proper to leave the Prince, but when the two members of Green Squadron came over he had to step back. Siegfried decided to leave them to their work and finally dragged himself over to Reicket and Gilsa, putting his sword away in relief. Reicket turned to him with a massive smile that split his face in two.

"Look!" He held out the short sword on his palms for Siegfried and Gilsa to inspect

Earlier, when Reicket had made his surprise appearance and incredible declaration Siegfried couldn't believe either. He had been so worried that Reciket was injured, he wasn't prepared for him breaking through the ceiling in a geyser of water. Then, when Reicket had declared he'd been made the Green Knight, somehow, Siegfried didn't think it was true. Not right away. And then he couldn't confirm it. Siegfried couldn't have taken a second to try and touch the sword Reicket had then, because if it was the Green Sword, if it was the Green Sword, and he couldn't touch it, that meant Reicket was a better Rainbow Knight than him. It meant that Reicket was the first Rainbow Knight, and not him, and that Reicket was more deserving of a Rainbow Sword then him.

Siegfried couldn't reach out now to try and inspect Reicket's sword for that same reason.

Gilsa, however, moved closer to look. "It looks like a usual sword."

"It's not! I cut down that fire ball, and I found it in the woods, in a lake full of crystals, and a ghost took me there, and he was green and everything turned all colorful again!" Reicket rushed out to say in a single breath, lifting up his sword closer for Gilsa to see. "It was green too! I swear."

Gilsa skeptically looked at Reicket, and decided at his insistant shoving of the sword to actually check it. He'd held hundreds of the Royal Guard blades, and he could tell them by their balance alone. Without hesitation Gilsa moved to pick up the sword from Reicket's hands. The second his fingers brushed the smooth hilt a shocking pop sounded and a small shower of sparks leapt up at Gilsa's palm, making him yelp and jump back, drawing his hand to his chest as he backed up hastily.

Reicket was surprised as well, and jumped at feeling of static racing up his arm, dropping the sword to the floor where it clattered loudly, silencing the room.

Reicket started down at his sword. Gilsa did too. Both stunned.

Siegfried felt as if he could sink through the floor.

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His father wore bright white armor. It was the White Armor, in fact, lost ten years ago as well. It had beautiful flowing plate, seemingly light despite being thick metal all around. The boots had wings beside the ankles, the chest had the great sigil of the Crystal Goddess in the center; a large heart-shaped diamond. The helmet was more a decorative framing, a white mask sitting over the eyes and two more wings of metal beside the ears. Siegfried had only seen it in one other picture, and even though this was a less detailed glass mosaic, he recognized all of the parts.

And, of course, the same White Sword.

Siegfried didn't wonder if his father held the same worries and doubts as him. There was no chance his father wasn't destined for the White Sword. It was as plan as day. Siegfried knew that there were hundreds of accounts to attest to his father's strength. He'd defeated hundreds of monsters, countless enemies, and even brought continued peace to the land. It was one of the reasons Siegfried had come here so quickly. His father had worked hard to find peace with the dwarves, and if that peace hadn't even lasted on year under his rule… Siegfried felt terrible enough.

"I felt the same way."

Siegfried turned around, not surprised to see Gilsa approaching him. Both of them had tried to clean up as best they could, but with the Dwarves apparently being allergic to water, that was incredibly hard. Gilsa had at least packed a change of clothes, being reliable and ready as always, but his hair was plastered straight down in straight clumps, his face streaked and dirty. Despite all that, his eyes were bright and wistful as he came over to stand beside Siegfried.

"It's like standing in a graveyard." Gilsa quietly revealed, crossing his arms.

"A little, yeah." Siegfried agreed, though his eyes stayed locked onto the way the portrait of his father so confidently held the White Sword.

Gilsa turned to look at Siegfried with sympathy. "Does it make you feel insignificant?"

Siegfried tucked his head down. "A little, yeah."

For a moment Gilsa was silent as he carefully chose his next words. "I expected that if we found the next sword, I would've done it. I expected that it would have been that Blue Sword. I can't stop thinking if it's because, somehow, my father's will is keeping me from it.... Or, if it just because it's not my destiny to be a Rainbow Knight. Maybe it's because I'm not good enough. Maybe I just don't want it as badly as Reicket did. Something like that?" He turned to watch Siegfried.

Siegfried swallowed down his self-loathing, nodding helplessly.

"You're still the King, your Highness." Gilsa said, suddenly. "You don't have to think those things. At the end of the day, you found the White Sword, which started this all. You're able to talk with the Crystal Goddess. Moreover, you've been training every day while also governing all of Crystalandia. In my eyes, there's no doubt that you're the White Knight. Even if the White Sword didn't shock any of us when we touched it, that doesn't prove much to me. There's a lot of information we don't have about the Swords, as well. It could just be we are misunderstanding something."

Glisa placed a hand on Siegfried's shoulder and smiled, warming up as he shook off the atmosphere of the room. "Besides, I'm sure Reicket would say 'it's a dumb sword, it's an item, it can't pick anything!' or something like that. You have the White Sword, you fought with it, and you defeated the Dark Wizard twice. This time saving the Dwarven Prince as well. That's what a White Knight, and a King would do."

Siegfried let out a breath, allowing Gilsa's words to sink in. "You're right. It's just…" He looked back up at his father's mosaic, surrounded by the other members of the Rainbow Knights. "A lot to live up to. A lot to figure out."

"We will do it." Gilsa assured him, squeezing his shoulder for a moment before dropping his hand. "Now, your Highness." Gilsa bowed slightly, and gestured toward the door he'd left open. "I believe you have an Honor to receive?"

Hearing his friend's and his knight's belief in him let Siegfried relax, and finally find a smile. "Not sure if I want to. Did you see the - uh -"

"Sustance?" Gilsa snickered, trying to keep his decorum but failing with no one to see him.

Siegfried made a face. "I guess when you're made of metal and fire it makes sense to eat… tinder."

"There were some rocks offered too." Gilsa gave a private smile. "I thought Reicket was going to cry."

"I just might." Siegfried joked back, "If my boon is something like that."

"I'm sure you'll accept it beautifully, your Honor." Gilsa encouraged him, standing aside and gesturing him through the door.

The boon was wonderful. It was a set of two delicately made, refined crystal and glass hair ties. They were small, bright shining new, and hand crafted into four distinct runes. One was the sigil of the Crystal Goddess that was hanging just above a crescent. The other was a simple crystal shape on top of a small charm that was made up of three little teardrops. Prince Articulr had given a long droning speech about the symbolism behind them, most of it meant for fluff and diplomacy, and Siegfried had of course responded in just as drawn out flowery words. When he had been handed the small case containing them Siegfried undid the braids which hung down alongside his ears and quickly tied them on.

Even though the gift was small, Siegfried felt his chest swell at being given them in appreciation, and celebration, for today. Though the speech was long, and he had to stand with a back ram-rod straight the entire time, Siegfried listened for the meanings for each of the charms on his hair ties. His devotion to Crystalandia was the Crystal Goddess' heart. His enduring resilience was the crescent under it. The simple crystal shape was for his optimism under pressure. The three connected teardrops were for friendship. Prince Articulr said it was for diplomatic friendship, one between Crystalandia and Dravenhiem. Siegfried silently decided it was for a different kind of friendship.