Memoirs of a RAFian

[redtailedsaffa]

Lol yes, gotta hand it to Malice, she has some great lines.

[Cloak]

New chapter.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:
Return of the Shadows

"You tempt our collective patiences, Shadow Stalkers," Cloak growled. "You are going to force our hand."

The Shadow Stalkers couldn't reply. They don't talk -- because they can't.

"Give us back the shadows you took, and you walk out of here alive."

This was no idle threat. Cloak meant every savage word. He was sick to death of this place already. He did not like having his emotions dragged out like, nor did he care for the sheer amount of grief these Veiled* creatures had caused not only him and the five others but the Peter Pans back at the forum as well.

This needed to end. And end in such a way that Shadow Stalkers would not simply go and do this all over again. They need to save the Peter Pans, sure, but they also needed to prevent it from ever happening again.

And, alas, that may come down to a single conclusion. Cloak knew it, was aware of it, and had already accepted the potential fallout. He didn't like it, but he saw no other way out. He would bear the responsibility.

"Hand them over," Phoenix said.

He knew the eventual outcome here too, apparently. And he didn't want Cloak to shoulder all the blame.

Suddenly, the Shadow Stalkers seemed to spasm. They released the shadows, which rubberbanded back to their rightful places, but it was clear from their reactions, that it was not intentional. This took the five RAFians, and Shadow, by surprise. They hadn't even attacked.

Their bodies spasmed. They writhed. It was a rather . . . unpleasant . . . thing to watch. And, yet, there wasn't anything they could do to stop it. The Shadow Stalkers were dying in the most violent and horrible way imaginable.

The RAFians had no way to knowing, but the Shadow Stalkers' lives were connected to that of their queen. With Melinoë dead, then so were they.

But the RAFians, and Shadow, were ones who bore witness to it.


*Realm Walker for "damned".

[Cloak]

New, shortish chapter.

CHAPTER NINETEEN:
Scheme Coming Together

Malice was back the Alcatraz-like prison that she had used to imprison the RAFians. She wasn't planning to use most of it, as she was only occupying a cordoned off area. She cordoned it off herself to make sure no nosy kids came poking around this prison.

She had all the pieces for his next scheme. Granted, she had to find another edifice for the major part of her scheme, but this would do for now. She had them all sedated, and, with the items taken from Melinoë's den, she had a way of controlling these creatures.

She had secretly marvelled at the myriad of species this one classification had. Some she found could be very useful to her, and some that she considered superfluous. She would use them as lambs to the slaughter.

She managed to gather about thirty or so "inmates", many who were no happy with being prisoners. Those were the ones who were more heavily sedated. Those were the ones she thought might be more useful to her.

She worked diligently, working on what appeared to be small belts or collars. She was attaching what appeared to be silver spikes. None very sharp, but possessing a small nanotechnology, which carried what appeared to be some sort chemical ****tail, and what appeared to be magic. Technology and magic had the propensity to be a volatile combo.

But that would work to her advantage. It would help making her inmates more . . . controllable. They were nothing more than mice to her, insects that could be killed without a moment's notice. They were plenty dangerous, of course, but that was to humans and similar species.

Malice was a Realm Walker. Nothing the Dwellers could have could hope to kill a Walker. She was very confident in this fact. Only a Realm Walker can kill a Realm Walker. So she had no fear of these creatures, and she allowed them enough food to keep them fit, but no more. She wanted them vicious.

She was planning on using them for a very important purpose, and it was important for her to keep them healthy. Granted, she wasn't feeding them their usual diets, but something akin to a sensu bean smoothie. Where she got the senzu beans, or a derivative of which, was a mystery in and of itself.

This was one of her more elaborate schemes, and she knew it. It had to be very careful and planned. Nothing could go wrong. She would succeed this time. This time . . .

She will succeed in killing a RAFian.

[redtailedsaffa]

Yeah, I had the synopses of most of the books saved, so I knew this would be coming. You put the spoiler in there.

[Cloak]

Not all the readers are as devoted as you, Saffa. They might not see it as a spoiler. In any case, it probably isn't gonna be what you think it is.

I'll post the last chapter soon. Ish. I have a quick errand to run and then I'll be back, toot suite, and begin working on it.

Yes, I Wikipedia'd for this this chapter.

New chapter.

CHAPTER TWENTY:
Carnival of the RAFians

The former Peter Pans were on the mend. Quickly recovering, and getting stronger with every passing day. But the overall morale of the forum was not the best. They did not know how or why the Shadow Stalkers died. It was this uncertainty that loomed over them, tinted every thought.

GH, however, thought this was not acceptable. That this was not an acceptable atmosphere for the forum. He sought to change this. He managed to organize an event for that very night. It was, naturally, inside the auditorium.

He spoke in rhyme after he played a considerable riff on his beloved guitar. He intended to lift the spirits of the others and, by gum, he was going to do it!

"This is a new composition which features
A random assortment of all RAFian creatures.
You'll find that it's not quite exactly the same
As the one by the guy with "Weird" in his name.
So to fill in this void in the RAFian Kingdom
I'll read some new verses. I'm not gonna sing them.
So kindly shut up and I'll narrate for you.
Carnival of the RAFians."

Then he played another riff on his guitar, this one rather like a ballad.

"The Andalite is a curious creature.
If you're grass, then he's likely to eat cha.
Although morphing make them look kinda hideous,
They're still listed first in the RAF 'encyclopeous'."

Then he played a tune rather like funk on his guitar.

"I love to watch the faeries just hovering for hours.
They look like birds pollinating flowers.
Yet, I feel sorry for the little faerie birds,
They always have to hum, because they never learned the words."

"Pffft," Faerie said, in an audible whisper, "of course we know the words."

A smattering of giggles followed this. GH didn't mind this interruption, as this was precisely his goal. Lifting the pall that had been cast over the forum.

GH continued with a tune in the style similar to the one known as "gangsta", before continuing.

"I've learned a few things in my life about Yeerks, not snails,
They don't care for oatmeal and they leave icky trails.
It's pretty darn hard to tell one from the utter
And Varnoxes like 'em with garlic and butter."

GH did a jazz-like riff before continuing.

"Deep in the murky swamp, lives the dragon.
His policy is first to chomp, and then login.
Although his lifestyle may seem crass,
I really wouldn't knock it,
He'd never wear a shirt that has a yuppie on the pocket."

GH did a riff in a style most similar to a polka.

"Geeks are such reprehensible things,
Some critics, I'm told, call them nerds with wings.
They terrorize folks with their constant dive-bombing,
Which some find distasteful, and some quite alarming.
But still, they fulfill a valuable need,
They give bullies something to bleed."

GH played another riff, this time rock 'n' roll style.

"The Shinigami are not a friendly creatures
That fact they're always proving.
It seems that the creature's favorite dish features
Anything that's moving.
They'll chew you face off in a flash
Or cheat you if you let them.
So, never loan 'em any cash,
and be careful when you pet 'em."

GH played a reggae-like riff.

"Some think that the vampires are a pest,
But that's the supernatural creature I like best.
I love the way the run in fright,
When they see dawn's early light.
And when I spike them to the ground,
They may pleasant whooshing sound."

GH played a ska-like riff.

"I could tell you a story about Aliciania,
But, just at the moment, I don't really wanna."

GH went into an acid rock-like riff.

"The life of the demon is one long, sick joke.
He hangs around, waiting for something to croak.
Then picks the carcass right down to the bone.
Sounds like one or two Knights I've known."

"Realm Walkers are just people in cloaks coarse,
Except for their powers, of course.
Realm Walkers are just a myth,
Which is to say that they don't existh."

"Cute," Cloak said, with an acerbic edge, as GH played a cajun-like riff.

"Seals are slimy carnivorous beasts,
In pastures, you might find them grazing.
Their fangs measure 23-inches, at least.
Their antlers are simply amazing.
Sometimes they would bury their head in the sand,
They are our main source of pork, ham, and bacon.
But, then again, on the other hand,
I could be completely mistaken."

Horse was speechless, until the last bit, as GH played a riff that was like downtempo music.

"Well, it's getting late, so I suppose
We should be drawing to a close.
Besides my voice is sounding hoarse
And even my rhymes are getting worse.
Poor Yarin is in the dumps,
He's worn his fingers to stumps!
So, farewell, this parody is through,
Now, go find something else to do."

And, like that, the impromptu concert ended.

[guitarhero01234]

*Begins slow clap*
What, nobody else!? Ungrateful bunch of pricks.

[redtailedsaffa]

Nope.

[Cloak]

New chapter.

BOOK XCIX:
GRIMM PERSPECTIVES
CHAPTER ONE:
Recuperation

"How d'ya feel?" GH asked Underseen.

It has been a few days since the whole Shadow Stalker thing, and just three days after GH scintillating concert. He didn't think much of the lackluster reception it seemed to get initially. But he quickly saw that it had its desired effect. The morbid atmosphere had evaporated, and the other RAFians were far more cheery before his impromptu concert.

Well, except Cloak. He was never what you call "cheery". Blunt and serious, sure. But cheery? Not a chance in the world.

"Never better," Underseen replied. Then he, quite needlessly, demonstrated by shapeshifting into Beast and Cyclops from X-Men. Then he hiccuped in his base form, and accidentally shapeshifted in a boy with an incredible likeness to both a young Hayden Christensen and a young Jake Lloyd at the same time. This was unintentional, and Underseen experienced skme embarrassment for it. "Uh, you didn't see that."

***

Meanwhile, Cloak found himself thinking, despite himself, back to when he was kicked out of his mother's house, out of the family -- that side, anyway. He remembered all too clear. Though he tried his best to forget, to suppress. He knew he needed to let all this go . . .

Yet his mind still went to these memories. These unpleasant memories. This one was right after she kicked him out, before he decided to go to RAF.

"The Nexus is cold, the Walkers are cloak-bare
The trees blow in the wind that's everywhere.
We all move on, so we can survive.
The Nexus snow is so deep
The ursine Walkers all sleep
To keep themselves alive.
They do what they must, for now,
And trust in their plan.
I trust in mine
Someday, I might find
Who I am!
But -- where do I go from here?
So many voices ringing in my ear.
Which is the voice that I was meant to hear?
How will I know?
Where do I go
From here?
My world has changed, and so have I.
I've learned to choose and even learned to say good-bye.
The path ahead, so hard to see.
It winds and bends
But where it ends
Depends on only me.
In my heart,
I don't feel part
Of so much I've known
Now it seems to start
A new life on my own!
But, where do I go from here?
So many voices ringing in my ear.
Which is the voice I was meant to hear?
How will I know?
Where do I go
From here?"

Cloak had decided to take up permanent residence in the Prime Universe, becoming a joke to the rest of his species. But, in the end, Cloak didn't mind, as he found himself unable to tolerate the pretentiousness of his species.

He was home here. He was recuperating from all the traumas and trials that his narcissistic mother put him through. Recuperating slowly. Too slowly, possibly.

Then he looked at a newspaper, and noticed an article on thirty or so missing persons. How had he not noticed this before? Thirty people don't just up and disappear in that relatively short time-frame. Something was going on here.

[Cloak]

Yeah, I'll be a bit more upfront in this chapter.

New chapter.

CHAPTER TWO:
Control Collared

"Don't fight me on this," Malice said, threateningly. She was putting one of her specialized collars around the neck of one of these creatures, these Wesen, as they called themselves. It would have been difficult in catching them, though Realm Walkers could easily see them when they "woged" as they put it., but couldn't sense them as easily as a Grimm could.

Fortunately, she found one, something called an Endezeichen Grimm (a sort of Wesen form of a Knight of Humanity), to use against these Wesen. It was child's play to find the other thirty or so wesen. A lot of them feared this ruthless, merciless Grimm, this Jeremiah Baker. He now boasted a control collar himself.

Malice walked through and took inventory of her controlled captives. With the control collars on, their eyes -- pupils, sclera, and irises in their entirety -- glowed red. They were forced into absolute obedience, abject subservience, and obligatory servility to Malice's whims. So long as they wore the collars. The collars also kept them in a woged state due to the items that Malice stole from Melinoë.

Anyway, Malice strolled sedately, taking inventory of the captured Wesen -- and Jeremiah:

The lupine Blutbad male, who she had to kill the grizzled father to take the adult son.

The vulpine Fuchsbau female. She was a tricky, clever one.

The hag-like Hexenbiest, which are all female as the males are called something else, which Malice didn't bother learning. She was rather hideous, in Malice's opinion.

The jaguar-like Balam male. He was rather stupidly daring.

The bee-like Mellifer male. It was actually easier than she expected.

The porcine Bauerschwein male. This was an easy catch.

The smilodon-like Mauvis Dentes male. This was a difficult catch that Malice relished.

The coyote-like Coyotl male. He was a known human-eater, though more of a scavenger than anything else.

The leonine Löwen male. This was also a difficult capture which Malice relished.

The dragon-like Dämonfeuer male. This one was a difficult catch.

The serpentine Lausenchlange male. He was a bit unusual for his kind for not being a constricting killer, but preferring to be a vicious biter.

The badger-like Drang-Zorn male. This was a difficult catch, but one that Malice did not relish.

The ursine Jägerbar male. Another difficult capture.

The beaver-like Eisbiber male. Another easy capture.

A chelonian Geno Innocuo male. Another easy capture.

The polar bear-like Gefrierengeber male. A difficult capture.

The vulture-like Geier female. A capture of moderate difficulty.

The bovine Mordstier male. A difficult, but ultimately successful, capture.

The goat-like Ziegevolk male. A moderately difficult capture, but one Malice didn't take any real pride in.

The chiropteran Murciélago male. A fairly easy capture.

The troll-like Hässlich male. A difficult capture.

The rat-like Reinigen male. An easy capture.

The sasquatch-like Wilderrmann male. A difficult capture, but one Malice took great pride in.

The murine, or mouse-like, Mauzhertz female. A ruthlessly easy capture.

The eaglelike Steinadler male. A capture of moderate difficulty.

The jackal-like Schakal female. A capture of some difficulty.

The porcupine-like Stangebär female. A capture of fair ease.

The avian Seltenvogel female. A capture of indeterminate difficulty.

The crocodilian Skalenzahne male. A capture of immense difficulty.

She continued to walk amongst the blank-faced wesen. They didn't have a thought that she didn't expressly give them. She had to use a special hormone she discovered to keep them in this woged state.

She considered again, and she came to the conclusion that not just one RAFian would die. A good many would.

[Cloak]

Since I'm posting this now, the next chapter will probably be late tomorrow.

New chapter.

CHAPTER THREE:
Bloodsport

Cloak was deeply concerned about the pandemic of disappearance that no one seemed too fussed with. The news media seemed far more concerned with meaningless fluff pieces or some "controversies" that were downright comical -- a "war" on Christmas, the skin color of Santa Claus, and other such trival nonsense. Hiw can they just write off thirty-plus people?

The answer was simple, Cloak thought bitterly, they weren't big names, they weren't celebrities or politician or the like. Was it just the fact of all governments were so corrupted? Even Realm Walker Council was never the same twice -- there were always different members on the Council whenever Cloak had dealings with them. And it hadn't even been a full year in the next yet -- not even a tenth if the way!

He should probably just learn to accept it. With government, no matter the species, corruption is inevitable and an utopia an unfortunate impossibility. Cloak allowed his jaded nature to take hold as he prowled around the forum, checking the perimeter, and such while the others sought out more languid pursuits.

It was then Cloak was distracted from his peevish mood by the mere fact that Malice was hailing them on their communications. Cloak, despite himself, was surprised. He didn't think she knew how to do that -- though, in retrospect, this was kind of stupid on his part as she built a roboticizer from scratch and by herself.

"Cloak, I know you can hear me," she was saying, examining her claws as if she had just fioed them, and speaking in a very Divatox manner. She also deliberately addressed Cloak himself instead of Richard. But then again, she subscribed to the "Walkers are better than Dwellers" mentality. "And I have an offer that you simply cannot refuse."

"Really?" Cloak said, with narrowed eyes. He was actually testing if this was an actual two-way conversation or simply a pre-recorded message. It was the former. "And if I should refuse?"

"Oh, millions shall die, extensive property damage will ensue, property rates will skyrocket," she said, conversationally, with an almost bored intonation. "And I know you well enough to know that you're just too noble of heart to allow something like that to happen under your watch when you can do something about it. Such a trite weakness for heroics."

Cloak said nothing, but had to fight down an urge to bare his fangs. He would be giving Malice precisely what she wanted.

"And what is it you want, Malice?" Cloak said, his voice unfiltered from the sheer revulsion he felt for speaking with this terrorist filth. He knew that she was doing this for no other reason than entertainment on her part.

"Oh, for you to watch your Dweller pets die in the most savage ways possible," she replied airily. "But, now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Here's how it will go. Come to this location, bring thirty or so RAFians with you -- as fighters, not spectators -- to the a pit arena of my choosing. We'll see if your puny RAFian pets are superior to my champions!"

Cloak said nothing for a while, before he spat, "Bloodsport. I honestly never thought you'd stoop as low as commiting bloodsport."

"Never underestimate me. And don't forget the consequences for standing me up on this," she said, tone finally serious. "You will be there. You will. Or I shall make good on my threat."

Silence hung around the forum.

"'Kay, bye!" Malice said, suddenly cheery as she terminated the communications.

[guitarhero01234]

My GOD, Malice is just so delightfully evil. I seriously can't get enough of her.

[redtailedsaffa]

Are those Wesen names derivative from something?

[Cloak]

My GOD, Malice is just so delightfully evil. I seriously can't get enough of her.

Are those Wesen names derivative from something?

They're mostly German in origin. But I didn't come up with them, obviously, as I included a link to a Grimm wiki.

Yeah, and this book will be longer than the requisite twenty chapters, although it might be a bit obvious by now.

New chapter.

CHAPTER FOUR:
The Wesen Hunter and the Elements Master

The thirty or so RAFians came to the subterranean pit arena. They were Marie, Hunter, Faerie, Broken, Dino (in her compact form, of course), Green Lantern Sam, Phoenix, Underseen, Rotiart (of his own volation), Ash, Demos, Shadow (okay, technically not a RAFian), Wild, Bear, Nina, Rad, Blocky, Horse, Goom, Shanker, Sakki, Gaz, Damien, Blue, Aquilai, FuBar, Bladeh, Gumby, Blaze, Parker, and Raeyvn. Malice was seemingly pleased.

"Excellent," she said happily, as Cloak glowered at the octogenarian. "Now we will do this in one-on-one battles to the death. Do not hold back if you don't want to be killed."

Cloak said nothing, but he yearned to attack Malice directly. But he was pretty sure there was a precaution she took about it. He just continued to glare at this old woman.

"Now," she said with a snap in her voice, "choose your first fighter."

Cloak stood and walked away from the others leaping into the pit.

"No, Cloak, RAFians only," Malice said.

"You forget. I am a RAFian." Cloak said, acidly.

"Very well, your funeral." she said, flippantly. "Speaking figuratively, of course."

Suddenly, the gate opened and the Grimm walked out, like a mindless drone. Cloak noticed his cloaked visage. He recognized the face as Jeremiah Baker -- one of those insane Ted Nuget-types. He was involved in some litigation some time ago for illegally hunting on government lands and other similar charges. He has even been suspefted of murder. In short, the guy was no angel.

His eyes were red. Glowing red in there entirely. Cloak was quick enough to know that Jeremiah was being controlled. He scanned the Grimm's personage, looking to see how he was being controlled.

"Begin," Malice called out, and Cloak rankled a bit at how she was calling the shots.

Cloak didn't move, as the Grimm, as Jeremiah, charged forward to attack him with a short silver dagger. A silver dagger. A metal dagger. Cloak sighed with weary exasperation.

Jeremiah was surprised when the dagger was wrested from his hand, which held with a strength superior to that of an ordinary human. It was a this moment Cloak realized that he probably should be taking this match far more seriously.

The Grimm charged again, only to find his feet mired in the earthen floor. Soon he was mired up to his waist. Then he was stuck fast. He tried to free himself, only to discover his hands trapped elbow-deep in the ground. He tried to muscle his way free, but the earth seemed to get tougher with each try.

Then Cloak saw it. A collar that controlled him. One of black leather and iron spikes, which may have been hollow. The Elements Master easily removed it, claiming victory.

"Now kill him," Malice said.

"No," Cloak said, figuring out Malice's threat. "I see your entire plan now."

"You betrayed me, you ****!" Jeremiah roared angrily.

Cloak couldn't blame him for being angry. He could, however, blame him for being gullible.

"I will make good with my threat." Malice said.

"No, you won't." Cloak said. "You may have like thirty people like him, but a defeat is a defeat. Death is unnecessary. The next match is up."

Cloak moved the Grimm, still encased in earth, to be picked up by the local law enforcement, and, presumably, by other Grimms who aren't so favorable with Mr. Baker's methods.

"Send out your next challenger," Cloak said, climbing back up, relishing in the fact that Malice realized that she wasn't as in control of this as she thought.

[redtailedsaffa]

Ah, gh, I see we're audience this time around.

[guitarhero01234]

Ah Still, better than getting our asses kicked.

Also, I just noticed that Demos is mentioned twice. Might wanna fix that, Cloaky