Indeed, it was. But it was also about five feet below him.
"What the--?!" he cried, falling to the ground with a crash, along with the others--Clinker, Aybabtu, Pearl, and someone else. Fitcher also heard a resounding crash and the sound of stuff breaking from a nearby shed. But his attention, at the moment, was on the heap of bodies that he was currently tangled in.
"Whoops, guess I goofed, huh?" Clinker said sheepishly.
"This isn't Sarady?" Aybabtu inquired.
"No, it's Sarady all right. But with this many people, I couldn't be too specific, so we teleported a few feet off the ground." the teleporter explained.
"I'd noticed." Aybabtu said, brushing himself off. Clinker shrugged, adjusting his pointed hat.
"Sorry."
"It's quite all right, lad." the ninja assured him.
"Oh, dear...that teleport twisted my blouse all out of shape..." Pearl whined. Then she did a double take, noticing someone else in the tangle of people. "Oh, who's this??"
The 'someone else' was a teenage boy. He was fairly tall, and had short, messy, brown-green hair, framing a dirt-smudged, tan face. He had sewage-green eyes that sparkled in the sunlight, and an odd mark that you could faintly see on his forehead. He wore ratty old clothing, with old, patched leather armor over the top. Strapped to the back of the armor, where one would wear a sword, was a large pitchfork. Hiking boots completed the ensemble. The boy stood, and brushed himself off, looking around nervously.
"H-hello..." he said quietly, his eyes darting from person to person.
"Oh, goodness! Are you all right?" Pearl inquired.
"Yes...I'm just a little lost..." he replied. "Where is this?"
"Sarady, in the Scarlet Moon Empire." Clinker said.
"Where? Oh man, that's not where I was going..." the teen said.
"How did you get caught in the teleport?" Fitcher asked.
"I was just walking in the woods...I dunno." he said.
"You must've been within range." Clinker said. "Sorry about that. I'll take you back if you want."
"That's okay...it wasn't where I was going, either." the teen said.
"What's your name, boy?" Aybabtu asked.
"Byhaps, sir." he said. The ninja burst into roaring laughter.
"What? I know my name's unusual, but..." Byhaps said.
"No, not that. No one's ever called me 'sir'. I hardly deserve it." the ninja replied. "I much prefer 'Your Majesty' or 'God of Ninja Skills'." He winked. Byhaps looked around, not sure what to make of the middle-aged ninja.
"Just ignore him, okay?" Fitcher told the teen. "I'm Fitcher."
"I'm Aybabtu, by the way. Best ninja in all Rokkaku!"
"And I'm Clinker. Pleased to meet you, and sorry about the mistake." Byhaps nodded, bowing slightly.
"Great to meet you all. And really, it's okay. I was no better off on my own..." he said. He looked at Pearl, probably for longer than he realized. "And who's the...exceedingly lovely lady?" Pearl turned a shade of pink.
"I'm Pearl Lione." she said demurely. Byhaps knelt and kissed her hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady." he said, almost shakily.
"Oh, my!" Pearl said, giggling girlishly. "What a little gentleman!"
"Well, I am a knight-in-training..." Byhaps said, reddening.
"Really?" Fitcher said. "Who's training you?"
"Uhm..nobody right now. But when I get to where I'm going, I hope to be a great knight!" he said.
"Let's go sit somewhere and talk!" Pearl said. They all agreed that it sounded like a good idea. Then Fitcher noticed that they had attracted a crowd of onlookers.
"Who are you?" one town resident inquired.
"We're visitors..." Fitcher said.
"Oh, we haven't had visitors in ages!" a woman said.
"How are things down below?" a man asked eagerly.
"Yes, how is the Emperor??" an old woman inquired.
"He's fine, I believe..." Pearl replied.
"And how is his nephew, Barbarosa?" the man asked. Pearl blinked.
"...Barbarosa...is..the Emperor..." she said.
"You mean Geil Rugner has abdicated?" the woman asked, shocked.
"Haven't you heard of the War of Succession??" Pearl asked, incredulous.
"War?!?!" they gasped, horrified. They went into a gossipy frenzy. Fitcher and the others slipped out of the crowd. They sat down on some fallen logs on the outskirts of town--not that there was much of a town...a few buildings, that was it.
"My...I never knew Sarady was so...out of touch." Pearl said.
"Yeah, really. Even I know about the War of Succession." Fitcher said.
"Who doesn't?" Clinker said.
"So...Byhaps, what were you doing in Banner Forest?" Aybabtu asked. "I've never seen the likes of you there before."
"I was looking for my destination...I got really lost. I mean, I wasn't supposed to be in Harmonia at all." Byhaps said. Fitcher looked at him blankly.
"Harmonia? Banner Forest isn't in Harmonia, kid." he informed him.
"It's not? You mean, that wasn't Harmonia?" Byhaps asked.
"No. It was Jowston." Clinker said.
"Oh, crap. I'm even more lost than I thought." he said.
"Where are you from originally?" Pearl asked. "If all the boys there are as cute as you are, I'll go there in a heartbeat." She winked. Byhaps blushed.
"Uh, Highland..." he said. "I grew up on a farm in Highland. I've wanted to be a knight all my life...well, mostly after I was six." He grew increasingly nervous and seemed almost upset by something.
"Is something bothering you?" Fitcher asked.
"N-no. Never mind..." the aspiring knight said. He seemed to realize then that all the attention was on him, and grew embarrassed. "How...how about...all of you?"
"I'm from Jowston, on a mission to escort Pearl." Fitcher said, smiling.
"I'm just helping Fitch along." Clinker said casually.
"I have to save my people!!" Pearl said, looking determined. Byhaps looked interested.
"Your people need saving? Maybe I can help." he offered. It occured to Fitcher that potential brownie points had been lost because he had never offered Pearl his help on that matter. In fact, he was still in the dark as to what the matter was.
"Yes." Pearl said evasively. "I must save them."
"From what?" Byhaps inquired.
"Evil!" Pearl said emphatically. Well, that explained everything.
"Well, if I can help you in any way, then..." Byhaps said, but trailed off, as he seemed to be distracted by something on Pearl's chest. She inhaled. Then he noticed everyone staring and turned red.
"Uh, I...anyway...gosh...I..." he stammered.
"Don't be ashamed of looking, lad..." Aybabtu said. "She's well built. Quite boobalicious, if you ask me."
"Boo..ba...?!!" Byhaps gasped.
"Licious, lad. Boobalicious. And it's true." the old ninja said evenly. Pearl beamed, though she seemed a hint uncomfortable that they old man was paying her so much attention.
"Why don't you tell us more about your people, Pearl?" Clinker said.
"Well, I suppose I could." Pearl said, somewhat reluctant. "Okay, here goes..."
********
My people were a proud people. They lived in peace and harmony. Then the evil came. The evil plagued my people. And still they are plagued. By the evil.
********
Everyone stared blankly in silence for a moment while Pearl wiped a tear from her eye.
"Sorry, it's such an emotional subject for me..." she apologized. She patted the parrot on her shoulder which no one had noticed before since it almost never moved.
"Beezly-Poo's so hurt by that tale...maybe I shouldn't have told it..." she said.
"That parrot wasn't even yours until yesterday. How could it be hurt?" Fitcher said.
"Is it even alive??" Byhaps asked.
"Of course it is!!!" Pearl said indignantly.
"...It looks like it's nailed to your shoulder." Clinker said. Pearl gasped.
"It does NOT! Beezly-Poo is very offended by your accusations." she said. She suddenly went into a series of loud angry squawking noises.
"What's she doing? Is she okay??" Byhaps asked, eyes wide.
"She...she's talking to the bird. And she's never been okay." Fitcher said, sighing.
"...It's starting to get dark. What do you say we set up camp and build ourselves a fire? No need to stay in the inn if it's a clear night out." Clinker suggested.
"Okay, that sounds great to me. Haven't slept outside in a long time." Fitcher said. So, they went and gathered some wood to build a fire, and got a nice warm one going. They all sat around it, and watched the stars come out. Pearl was wrapped in a blanket that Aybabtu had lent her, and Byhaps had his own that he had unpacked. Pearl scooted closer to the teenager, a fact that all three other men noticed.
"She's sure robbin' the cradle, ain't she Fitcher?" Aybabtu whispered.
"Yeah..." Fitcher said. He turned to Byhaps.
"Hey kid...how old are ya, anyway?" he asked.
"Thirteen." Byhaps replied. Fitcher exchanged a glance with the old ninja.
"Pearl..." Aybabtu said suddenly. "How'd you like the company of a mature man?"
"No thank you." Pearl said, shuddering. "I'm quite all right." Aybabtu shrugged.
"So...Aybabtu, is it?" Byhaps said conversationally. "What about you?"
"What about me?" the ninja asked slyly.
"Tell us about yourself." Pearl said. The old ninja propped his feet up.
"Very well." he said.
********
I was born a ninja, and I will die a ninja. Because it not only sounds dramatic and gets me chicks, it's also my destiny. I, Aybabtu, was born in Rokkaku fifty-four years ago. Since childhood, I've been training to be the best ninja in Rokkaku, and now I am. Well, perhaps not now, but I was, so it still counts forever, right? Once the best, always the best, I always say. My skills to infinity, bwahaha. Anyway, the only fly in the ointment of my absolute power was a stupid brat by the name of Hanzo. Yes, he's now the leader of Rokkaku, but he always cramped my style. Especially these days, when he insists that I'm too old to continue to be a practicing ninja. Just because my bad back halts a few training manuevers here and there, and because my arthritis screws up all the secret missions, he gets the gall to tell me that I'm too old. Well, screw him, I say. My skills to infinity. He wasn't so bad Back in the Day, I suppose, but now he's gotten too big for his britches, I say. Well, despite all our arguments, Hanzo and I got on well enough to not cause any problems. Until...
********
Aybabtu trailed off. He had fallen asleep, and was snoring loudly.
"Yes? Wake up, you old fogey!" Clinker snapped. He awoke with a start.
"Yes what?" he asked irritably.
"You were telling us something. You got on well until what??" Fitcher asked.
"Oh, that. I threw a shuriken at his mother, and he exiled me. The fool." Aybabtu said dismissively. "Rokkaku will fall without me defending it. It'll serve Hanzo right." Pearl leaned a little closer to the fire.
"Hey Pearl, you'd better watch it, or your dead bird'll get cooked!" Clinker laughed. Pearl glared at him.
"How dare you! You're all so mean to Beezly-Poo, when in fact, he's the one insuring your safety all this time!!" Fitcher and Clinker burst out laughing.
"You'll see...right when you need his protection---OH, EEEK! A FURFUR!!!" Pearl shrieked, jumping up. Indeed, a tiny, harmless Furfur was creeping toward the campfire.
"Nobody panic!" Pearl cried, pulling a baseball cap out of her cleavage and putting it on her head. This alone made Byhaps' jaw drop in disbelief. Pearl turned the cap backwards, and grabbed the startled parrot from her shoulder.
"Beezly-Poo, GO!!!" she shouted, chucking the terrified avian creature at the equally freaked-out Furfur. It smacked into the woodland creature, and both were out cold. Pearl winked and made a little peace sign.
"...Pearl, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" Fitcher asked.
"Saving you all, of course." Pearl said calmly, sitting down next to Clinker. "Fitchums, would you be a dear and gather up Beezly-Poo for me??" Fitcher sighed and went to get the poor parrot. Aybabtu was asleep again, and Pearl and Clinker were talking quietly. Fitcher tossed the bird to Pearl, who didn't seem to notice. He sat down next to Byhaps.
"So, kiddo, you never said where it was you were going." Fitcher said.
"I'm trying to find Matilda. But I guess it can wait...I've never seen an Empire before." Byhaps replied.
"Well, I've never been here either. I guess we'll see what it's like together, eh?"
"Would you really let me come with you??" Byhaps asked.
"Of course. It's no fun exploring strange places alone. You can come with us." Fitcher said.
"Thanks..." Byhaps said. He yawned.
"I guess we should get some sleep if we want to cross Mount Tigerwolf tomorrow." Fitcher said. Byhaps nodded, and rolled up in his blanket. Fitcher laid down on the ground, and felt something nudge up against him. It was the Furfur. He figured it couldn't do any harm, so he left it there. Besides, Pearl had knocked it senseless.
The next morning, Fitcher woke up. Clinker, Pearl and Byhaps were already up. The old ninja still slept. Pearl had gotten one of the townspeople out of their war shelter long enough to remind them that the War of Succession was over, and to get some breakfast.
"It's a nice morning, huh?" Fitcher remarked in between bites of biscuit.
"Yeah, whatever." Clinker said sourly. "Forget this...I gotta get Nora and go home." He half-stomped away, gave part of a wave and teleported, without another word.
"What's eating him??" Fitcher wondered aloud.
"I dunno. Maybe he isn't a morning person." Byhaps said. Pearl shrugged. Aybabtu woke up and ate his breakfast.
"You know...I don't think Beezly-Poo wants to leave this village." Pearl said. "It's so wild and free...I think he deserves a home here!" She patted the dazed parrot.
"If you say so..." Fitcher said. Pearl walked up to a little boy.
"Hey there, little boy...how would you like a pet?" she inquired.
"Momma says there's a war and I gotta go home..." the boy said.
"Don't be silly. There's no war. And listen--this parrot can cure your blindness, and your sister's terminal illness--so you can be a family again." Pearl explained.
"But I can see just fine, and I don't got a sister..." the boy protested.
"Nonsense. Here, take him. His name is Beezly-Poo." Pearl said, handing the boy the parrot.
"Is it alive?" the boy asked uncertainly.
"Of course he is. He's just sleeping." Pearl said.
"He doesn't look alive." the boy said.
"You mean you can see him?!" Pearl cried.
"Yeah..." the boy said.
"YOU CAN SEE AGAIN! OHHH, IT'S A MIRACLE!!!" Pearl shouted, shedding tears of joy.
"Oh gods, she's done it again." Fitcher sighed.
"Cured blindness?" Byhaps asked.
"Made a fool of herself." Fitcher clarified. "Hey, Pearl! If you're done performing miracles, we should go." Pearl nodded tearfully, though it was uncertain whether she was happy she cured the nonexistant blindness or if she was sad she had to give up the bird. Fitcher really didn't care at that point. They turned and walked out of Sarady, towards the mountain pass over Mount Tigerwolf.
As they walked away, Fitcher took a last look at Sarady, and noticed that the window of the tool shed he had heard a crash from when they landed was broken--had there been someone inside? Well, now they were out...
