By morning, our heroes stand outside the seemingly small two-story stone house of Professor Teriss. "Well," says Professor, trying to sound nonchalant, "Be sure to stop by and visit sometime." "I will." nods Oar. "And look after Adie," nods Professor, "She needs all the help she can get, after all." Adie smiles, while her friends frown and exchange looks.

Oar: "Pitiful..." (-_-)
Professor: "What is?" (o_O)
Oar: "Nevermind." (-_-)
Adie: "Well, we better get moving. We don't want to waste time." (;^_^)
Faeda: "Yes." (^_^)
Professor: "Well... goodbye... Marty." (-_-)
Oar: (o_o)
Edeline: (o_o)
Vi: (o_O)
Galen: *snicker* (^x^)
Oar: "What did you just call me?" (o_o)

"Oh," blushes Professor, "I forgot. 'Marty' is the name your parents gave you. It's Oar now." Galen choke back laughs, Faeda and Vi giggle, Edeline and Adie just stare. Oar looks away, embarrassed. The Professor waves goodbye and then rushes away, a small part of her already missing her nephew.
"Anyhoo," says Edeline, changing the subject, "We're very close to Fox Arbor. I hope Captain Pete is still there and didn't sail off to somewhere dangerous." "That's a bad thought." frowns Vi, "If we weren't with him, that last time, he would have been a goner." "Don't remind me." growls Galen, "I had to carry that idiot to the caves." "Ugh," Oar frowns, "Remind me again, why are we going see this guy?!"

Faeda: "It's the only way to get to Yellow Butte." (^_^)
Galen: *snicker* (^x^)
Oar: *snicker* (^x^)
Edeline: "So immature..." (;u_u)
Adie: "Well, at least they're not whining anymore." (^_^)
Vi: "Hmm... the song has changed a tune..." (>_>)
Faeda: "Yeah, I've noticed..." (^_^)
Galen: "What does that mean?" (o_O)
Faeda: "I'm not sure... it's urgent, yet it's warning me about something..."
(-_-)
Adie: "Oh, no! I hope it's not angry that you've took a break from your journey!" (o_o)
Faeda: "Oh, nothing like that!" (;^_^)

"No..." says Vi, in a faraway voice, "It seems to be warning of something. But I can't quite understand it. It's warning of something called... Yaltorus?" "Yes," nods Faeda, "Very strange." "What the hell is Yaltorus?!" yells Galen. "I don't know," blushes Faeda, "That's why it's so confusing." "At any rate," waves Edeline, "We won't find out, just standing here." "Right," cheers Adie, "To the stables!" Soon after, our heroes make their way to Fox Arbor.
Once there, they spot Captain Pete, moving crates into his boat. "Hi!" cheers Adie, prancing up to the Captain, "What are you up to?" "Loading cargo, love." he nods, not really paying attention to Adie or the others. "Need any help?" offers Edeline. "Not really." he says, heading onto the boat. "Wait," smiles Faeda, "Captain Pete, we'd like a ride to Yellow Butte Island." Oar and Galen snicker. "Is that so?" says the Captain, still immersed in moving boxes, "Then hop aboard. I'll take you there."

Edeline: "I don't think he realizes we're here." (;^_^)
Adie: "Give it an moment." (>_>)
Captain Pete: "Bloody hell!" (o_o)
Adie: "You see?" (^_^)
Captain Pete: "A new shiny coin! What luck I have!" (^_^)
Adie: (@_@)
Faeda: "CAPTAIN PETE!!!" (>_<)
Captain Pete: "No need to shout, I- Huh? Oh, hello there Faeda and friends." (;^_^)
Vi: (^_^)
Captain Pete: "When did you all arrive?" (o_O)
Galen: "We've been here!!!!" W('O')W

"Not so, mate." waves Captain, "Before you, there were a group of old ladies, who wanted to travel to the Yellow Island." Everyone stares, for a few seconds. "That was us!" shrieks Galen. "No offense," frowns Pete, "But you're not old nor a lady." Galen moves towards Captain Pete, with murder on his mind, but Edeline pulls him back. "Eh, heh." she laughs nervously, "Let's start over. Hello, Captain Pete." "Hello, love." he nods. "We need to get to Yellow Butte Island," she explains, "Would you take us there?" "Sure." he nods, proudly, "Just join the old ladies onboard." Adie covers her face, while Faeda and Vi giggle. "I think that's best we'll get." nods Oar.
They climb onboard, as Captain Pete loads the last of the boxes. "Okay!" Pete smiles, taking the wheel, "We're on our way to Yellow Butte!" Oar and Galen snicker. "Oh, come on!" frowns Edeline, "It's not that funny!" "No," agrees Pete, as he sails from the dock, "Yellow Butte is no laughing matter. It can be dangerous... the natives there are infamous for sneaking up on you silently, very deadly." Oar and Galen choke back laughter.

Captain Pete: "We'll have to watch our backs on Yellow Butte." (-_-)
Galen: *snicker* (^x^)
Oar: *snicker* (^x^)
Captain Pete: "That island is infected with all types of shady characters." (-_-)
Adie: "Eww..." (o_o)
Galen: "AH-HA-HA-HA-HA!" (^o^)
Oar: *choke* (^x^)
Edeline: "You're saying this on purpose, aren't you, Captain Pete?" (;u_u)
Captain Pete: "I don't know what you mean..." (o_O)
Vi: "Hmm... maybe that's what the song meant." (^_^)
Faeda: "Maybe. Are the people of the Island called 'Yaltorus', Captain Pete?" (O_o)
Captain Pete: "I'm unfamiliar with that name... But, I can guarantee that's not the name of the natives." (^_-)
Galen: "What are their names?" (^o^)
Edeline: "Don't answer that!" (>_>)

The Captain is oblivious to why he shouldn't name the natives and, before he could ask Edeline, Faeda changes the subject. "I think we should be on our guard." she says, "If the song is warning of a danger, and it's not the natives..." "Yeah," agrees Galen, "Maybe Edeline and I should scout the island first, when we land, make sure it's safe." "That's not a bad idea." nods Edeline. "Well," shrugs Captain Pete, "I wouldn't worry. We've faced bigger dangers on The Bone Cliffs." Suddenly, Oar begins to feel homesick.
"Hey," smiles Adie, pointing to the boxes, "What are you carrying, Captain Pete?" "Cargo." he answers, proudly. "Yeah..." frowns Adie, "I've figured that much, but what's in it?" "Dynamite." he answers, nonchalant. Everyone looks towards the Captain in shock. "D-did he just say-?" shakes Galen. "Yep," nods Edeline, "Dynamite." "Oh great," growls Oar, "We're trapped on a boat with a madman, who's armed with lots of dynamite!" "What are you getting at?" frowns Pete, offended.

Oar: "'Getting at'? I believe I've said what I meant." (-_-)
Captain Pete: "Are you trying to insult me?" (u_u)
Edeline: "Okay, boys. Calm down." (;^_^)
Captain Pete: "No, I really want to know. I can't figure it. Did he just insult me?" (o_O)
Galen: (@_@)
Adie: "Oh, brother..." (;^_^)
Edeline: "I'm sure he didn't, Captain Pete. Right, Oar?" (;>_>)
Oar: (-_-)
Captain Pete: "Oh, okay! If you were, I might have done something rash." (^_^)
Oar: "Like blow us all up with dynamite?" (-_-)
Adie and Edeline: "OAR!" (o_o)
Captain Pete: "Dynamite? Have you gone daft?" (o_O)
Galen: "You see, he's not that crazy." (;^_^)
Captain Pete: "Who the hell has dynamite? We're in the middle of the sea!" (O_o)

Everyone were ready to remind him, of the cargo onboard, but quickly changed their minds. Maybe it's best, if the Captain forgot about it, for now... By mid-afternoon, Captain Pete's boat hit shore, Edeline and Galen step onto land first. "Wait," frowns Faeda, "I have a bad feeling about you two running off alone. I'll go with you." "Faeda..." frowns Edeline. "No," waves Vi, "I have that feeling too. Maybe it's best if we stick together?" "Okay." shrugs Galen, annoying Edeline. "What?" he frowns, "Faeda is the seer. It's her call."
Everyone, including Captain, wonder the peaceful and beautiful Island. There doesn't seem to be anyone hostile around. "Do you smell smoke?" asks Adie, sniffing the air. "There may be a village nearby." nods Pete, "Maybe they're friendly, after all." "Let's hope so." sighs Edeline. After they cross an hill, they find a huge village. But is has been burned and destroyed! Adie whimpers and hold onto Oar. "Bloody hell." gasps Captain. "What happened?" frowns Vi, in shock.
"We have to check out the place." says Galen, "In case there's survivors." Everyone agrees, walking into the burned town. There were burned debris, scattered around, some huts were still burning. "Hello?!" calls Edeline, "Anyone here?!" Galen opens a door and closes it quickly, before Faeda could see. "Horrible." he mutters. "Who would do this?" says Adie, near tears, "Who would kill innocent people?" "Sonya." growls Edeline, her fists clenched.

Sonya: "Kinda close, but not entirely..." (-_-)
Fruma: "I did most of the killing! Whee!" (^o^)
Faeda: (o_o)
Adie: "Oh, no!" (o_o)
Edeline: "Sonya!" (;u_u)
Oar: "And Fruma..." (>_>)
Galen: "You will pay for this!!!" W('O')W
Star: "Temper-temper, Galen." (^_-)
Faeda: "Wait, Star's here too?" (o_o)
Captain Pete: "Who are these ruddy people?!" (o_O)
Vi: "They're evil... pure evil..." (-_-)
Sonya: "That filthy bard speaks the truth." (-_-)
Captain Pete: "Hang on! Who are you calling filthy?! She smells clean to me!" W('O')W
Vi: (;-_-)
Star: (o_o)

"Um," frowns Adie, "I don't think that's what they meant..." "Was that suppose to be a comeback?" frowns Star, "That didn't make any sense." A rock flies towards Star, but bounces off his invisible shield. "Bloody hell!" gasps Captain Pete, "Did I miss?" Star looks around confused at first and then spots the tossed rock nearby. "Did he just throw a rock?!" he screams, "Who throws a rock in a fight?!" "Funny..." says Oar, "That the same thing I've said."
"Stop fooling around, Star." frowns Sonya, "Now is the time." "Oh right." nods Star, now focused. He casts a huge blue bubble, which floats towards our heroes and swallows up Vi! Adie shrieks. "No!" screams Faeda. Edeline and Galen try to break the bubble, but instead are thrown backwards and into Captain Pete! Everyone can see Vi inside, through it's seemingly thin layer, as it floats back towards Sonya and company.
"Let her go!" growls Edeline, stepping forward. "Nuh-uh." sings Fruma, "I would stay back, if I were you." "Yes," nods Star, "This Arcane orb can either stun-" A huge electrical wave hits Vi and she screams. "Vi!" her friends yell. "Or," continues Star, "It can snuff her out completely. It's your call!" "You bastard!" growls Oar and Galen. "What do you want?" pleads Faeda, "Please, let her go!"

Sonya: "Music to my ears." (^_^)
Fruma: "Mmm..." (^o^)
Star: "No kidding!" (^_-)
Faeda: (o_o)
Sonya: "Okay, seer... I will let your friend go, in exchange for the key." (^_^)
Adie: "WHAT?!" (o_o)
Edeline: "For the love of-!" W('O')W
Oar: "She can't do that? Can she?" (o_O)
Vi: "No! Don't do it, Faeda! RUN!" (o_o)
Star: "Shut up, you!" (-_-)

Star shocks Vi again, causing her to scream. "No!" shrieks Faeda, "Okay! Okay! You can have the Key!" "Faeda, no!" whimpers Adie. Edeline and Galen shake their heads, Oar looks worried. "What choice do I have?" says Faeda, "I can't let them harm Vi. She's our friend!" "But..." frowns Adie, "But... if you give them the Key, we'll all die anyway. I love Vi too, she's like a big sister to me, I don't want her to die!" "But," finishes Oar, "If we give up now, none of us will survive. I don't think Vi wants that." Vi looks sadly towards her friends.
"Enough talk!" shouts Star, shocking Vi once more. "No," sobs Faeda, "I can't take it anymore! They're going to kill her! I'm not strong enough, to leave my friends behind, to follow my path by sacrificing a friend!" "Faeda..." says Edeline, sadly. But everyone understood. "Do what's in your heart, love." nods Captain Pete, a sad grin on his face. Faeda takes the Key from her gown and tosses it towards Sonya...