Serna giggled, "You work fast, don't you?"

Sir Gonagle was thumbing throug a journal and closed it loudly when he noticed the girl's hair braiding itself. "Huh. Well, deary. I have to go down into the ship to prepare some items for the captain. I won't be long."

"Okay, Sir Gonagle, I'm not going anywhere. I promise!" Serna reassured the Gnome.

Caliaphy nodded and jumped suddenly burying herself underneath Serna's hair, "Is he gone? Is it safe to continue?"

Maxim raised an eye brow at the alchemist, "Ever blunt as always, Sir Gonagle."

"You better believe it and I so much as see that blasted kurori make an appearance in here," The gnome muttered under his breath just before walked out of the cabin.

"Yeah, he's gone." Serna replied in a quick whisper.

"Eh. Just get going, will ya'." Maxim sighed closing the door again, "Don't mind that old gnome, young miss. He's the old fashioned type. Stubborn and down right cranky he is."

"That's okay, Mr. Maxim, I kind of like him." Sern smiled at the other Gnome, "Sir Gonagle strikes me as the kind of person who always lets people know where they stand with him. And I find that to be reassuring."

Maxim walked over and poured himself a glass of water and chugged it down before pouring another and sat down. He watched Serna's hair start braiding itself again and chuckled, "So it is true about what Sir Gonagle said, young miss. Don't worry I won't say anything but I do know of what happened in the past with your little friend."

"Thank you!" Serna replied with a smile, "And she said that she was sorry she did it. Although no amount of sorry can make up for that, I suppose."

He flicked his wrist towards her slightly, "Fah! I said I believe you, young miss not the trouble maker sitting on your shoulder acting like she's an angel. Whatever you do don't let your friend out of your sight on the airship, or I won't stop Sir Gonagle taking out his revenge. That little sprite not only brought down the airship but got into the inner workings of the engine, sparked a fire and destroyed half of the alchemist's research all because her kind don't like science. Which I might add is environmentally safe."

"Don't worry, Mr. Maxin, she's not going anywhere. I promise!" Serna reassured the Gnome, "Now I see why he and everyone else on board is so angry at her. What she did was wrong. I'm just glad no one lost their life behind it."

*******

"And what about the other master vampires?" Irzen asked, "Do you have any clue as to their whereabouts? Or are they with the blood mage in the cavern?"

"Where the others are I do not know but the mage is definitely there. Make sure everything is blessed before we go and be mindful of what thoughts you have once we enter the cavern. Thinking positive helps greatly. Doubt leads to ruin and death." Captain Lion's cloak billowed out behind him as if it had a mind of its own suddenly.

"That will not be a problem for me!" Irzen smiled with an evil grin, "I am POSITIVELY going to kill that Blood Mage. I am POSITIVELY going to make those master vampires' unlife a living hell! And I am POSITIVELY going to slay anything or anyone that gets in my way."

Lazheros turned to everyone, "You will join the platinum knight to find and destroy this abomination. I will not be going with any of you until Alyson is well. You will find that a true paladin and his righteous fury can be far stronger than even myself. Now go while the day is still young and time is on your side."

Quake wiped the tears away finally and made a fist, "For the Lady!"

"For Alyson!" Irzen added before he turned to the Elemental, "Are you up for this, Quake?"

"I am, Irzen. He's gonna pay BIG time," The elemental growled in disgust, "BIG TIME!"

"Alright!" The Swordsman nodded his head in approval, "Let's do this!"

Lazheros raised his arms and blessed the entire group including the rulers of Eastport. *nomag bahamut fehlim wux dastudr vur righteous wiivai ekess sweekmon ekik vur svent nomeno malsvir vorastrix.*

**Translation:: "May Bahamut grant you strength and righteous fury to seek out and destroy this evil sorcerer."**

Irzen bowed his head, said a quick prayer, crossed himself and looked up ready for battle!

Quake smiled feeling giddy, "I feel GLORIOUS! Now lets kick some blood mage butt!"

"Damn straight!" Irzen snapped.

Captain Lion pulled the hood back up over his head, "Perhaps this is your hour, Prince Birch to accompany us down below. Everyone here would welcome your inspiration in such matters."

"Nay, Captain Lion, this is OUR hour!" Prince Birch addressed one and all as a mysterious spotlight shined upon him, "This is OUR hour to be heroes! This is OUR hour to make things right! This is OUR hour to avenge the fallen! And this is OUR hour to save those who remain!"

The mood of the room began to change from somber to grim.

"This must be understood by all! These vampires are crawling like a slime all over Eastport. Our enemy expects us to be weak, divided and fighting amongst ourselves. And though we may have our differences, we must always remember that we have these vampires to fight!" Prince Birch pointed out. "Make no mistake about this: These vampires do not surrender and they don't take prisoners. They have only one idea in mind: Kill!"

"Yeah!" Irzen snarled.

"That's right!" The prince added as the turned towards everyone, "To kill you! To kill our families! To kill our friends! To kill our loved ones! To kill anything and everything that stands in their way! And to keep on killing until they conquer Eastport!"

"Well, I say NAY to that!" Prince Birch boldly declared as the mood of the room shifted from grim to hopeful, "This time we free Eastport or we lose it! We win or die tryin'! We sure didn't start this war but, by the gods, we're gonna finish it!"

"YEAH!" The Swordsman was getting caught up in the moment as a rush of energy filled him and everyone else in the room with renewed purpose.

"This is it! Let's show those lousy vampires what we got!" Prince Birch strode towards the door, "MOUNT UP! WE HAVE MY KINGDOM TO SAVE! FOR EASTPORT!!!!"

"FOR EASTPORT!" Irzen cried out brandishing his sword as he charged from the room.

A thought came to mind when Madeous brought his armored hand to his chest and gave the bronze man a bow. He turned about face and left in pursuit of his quarry. "This reminds me of 'Big Trouble in Little China.' A story full of cautionary tales when dealing with ancient evil. Best part of that story is near the end when 'Jack Burton' and company drink an elixir to improve their odds at beating the bad guys."

"Sounds like my kind of hero," Quake gave him a thumbs up and ran behind the others. She met them outside, "I'll meet everyone down there. Sorry, your highness but I have my own way of getting there."

"As you wish, Lady Quake, as you wish!" Prince Birch emerged into the courtyard outside of the manor hall, "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"

Quickly one of the stable hands ran up to the Prince with a fresh Elven horse at the ready.

Quake's ability to earth meld came in very handy as the others watched her literally walk down into the cobblestone as if a set of steps appeared.

Captain Lion approached the horse cautiously and noticed it shying away from him, "Even elven horses don't like me, Prince Birch. I shall have to meet you down at the cavern entrance my own way."

"I understand, Captain Lion," Prince Birch mounted his steed and turned towards the others. Irzen had quickly mounted his steed and was ready to go vampire hunting.

Madeous had no problem mounting up on his horse. Elven horses weren't as big as a warhorse but bred for speed and grace. "After you Prince Birch!"

The Englishman's cloak billowed about him and in a wisp of smoke he vanished and reappeared just inside the entrance of the cavern.

"Onward to VICTORY!" Prince Birch cried out as he lead his fellow riders off of the Palace grounds and out into the city proper.