Warnings: None

~Mitch's P.O.V.~

"Be safe, my son. See that you fulfill your mission, and return home safely to me."
"Don't worry dad, it's me, remember? Best shot in the world and one of the top fighters to ever exist." I reply calmly, plastering a wolfish grin on my face.
My dad chuckles, reaching a large hand out to ruffle the bits of hair sticking out from my pronged helmet. "I know, and I'm very proud of you. But still, be careful out there." He cautions, stepping away.

I give one final wave, and then dash back to join my friends, all awaiting me at the gates leaving the kingdom. Hopping up onto my chestnut horse, Epona, Jerome, Vikk, Lachlan, Rob, Preston, and I speed away, en route for the Mutant kingdom.

As it turned out, my Father managed to find us just in time because he had heard we were on our way to challenge him. He knew that Dimensional warriors came from the Mesa biome when they attacked, so he led a hundred of his best fighters that way in hopes of finding us. Luckily he did, and not a second too soon either. After bringing Preston and Rib to the kingdoms healers, we waited for a day or two before they made a full recovery, and now we set out towards the Mutant kingdom, as soon as the mobs burn. Preston and Rob were no doubt disappointed they didn't witness the reunion, but they were more so happy that they and the other is alive. Once again, we've stocked up on items, like armour, food, weapons, etc. I changed my horse from the Hidden kingdom out for my own, and now we ride through the dawn, half the kingdoms under our belt and ready to take on the next.

As Epona gallops along, I pick up on a conversation between Jerome and Preston, riding a bit closer to listen in.

"...the challenge is going to be?" Preston asks, shifting in his saddle, holding a hand up to shade his eyes from the blinding morning sun.
Jerome squints again the sunlight, brows furrowing. "I think someone actually challenged our ruler once... Pretty sure his name was Quentin. It was after you were kidnapped though, so there's no way for you to remember. I wanna say the challenge is going to be spleef, but it's been years and I can't say for sure."
"What's spleef?" I question, riding up on the other side of Jerome, and joining in the conversation.
"Bro, you don't know what spleef is? It's so fun!" Preston claims giddily, eyes lighting up at the name. "Except it involves water so I just stick to watching in the grand stands."
"Never heard of it." I admit, cocking my head slightly.
"There's different variations on the game, and it can be played with different amounts of players, but it basically always follows the same rules." Jerome begins. "One way is that two teams are put into a huge dome, with three players on each team. The ground is all made up of snow, and is only one block thick. Underneath there's a short drop into water. The goal is to use shovels and try and make all members of the opposite teams fall first."
"But like Jerome mentioned, there's different ways to play." Preston continues. "It can be one on one, or you can have several players in the arena and it's every man for myself. Sometimes there's variations to the land too, like trees and stuff. There's also a thing called 'splegg' and it's the same rules, but instead of shovels, you use eggs to knock the snow out beneath your opponents."
"Hm. Sounds fun. I'll have to try it some day."
"You really should." Jerome agrees, nodding, "We even used it to practice sometimes for battle. For agility and stealth and stuff. It's pretty fun. I'll show you how to play sometimes when this whole stupid war is over." Jerome offers.
I nod. "Thanks. Now, let's get moving, the Mutant kingdom isn't too far from here and I want to see an actual round of 'Spleef'."
"If that's what the challenge is." Preston reminds me.
"Right."

~~~

     Fog swirls through the cobblestone streets, so thick that we can only see up to six blocks in front of us. Shadows of houses and shops loom from the mist, Jerome fearlessly leading the way, winding us through narrow streets to get to the castle. Hybrids and mutants of all kinds murmur amongst themselves and part to let us through, staring at each of us in tow. Many gasp when they see my crown-like helmet, and recognize me. A few gasp when they see Preston, probably surprised to see him alive. Off to the side I glance at a rather odd mutant, which looks like a living glitch, neon pink, green, and red standing out more amongst other colours. He has no face, or features for that matter. Upon seeing me look at him, he quickly turns away. Anyone recognize who that is...?

     Few try to approach us, but before they can even get near us, Jerome growls out for them to let us pass, and they wearily back away into the fog. We form kind of a diamond shape; Jerome in the lead, myself and Lachlan flanking him, Vikk and Rob directly behind us, and then Preston at the very back. Jerome mentions that fog isn't a rare occurrence here, and it often rolls in from the jungle nearby. Soon enough, the looming structure of the castle climbs into view, some but not all of the fog clearing around it. A large most surrounds the impressive castle, built entirely out of stone bricks and cobble stone. Vines climb up the towers and walls, and as our horses begin trotting across the sodden drawbridge, sentries posted on top the tower wall call  to shouts of alarm, two guards at the gate unsheathing their swords. Jerome holds up a hand in greeting, to show we mean no harm, and the front guards lower their swords. However the guards on top the wall all keep bows trained at us, notched and pulled back, ready to fire at a moments notice.

     "Let me do the talking," Jerome murmurs from the side of his mouth.

     We ride forward a few more paces before one of the guards calls us to halt. Both seem to by hybrids; one is an orange cat with emerald green eyes, for some reason only wearing a pair of boots compared to full armour. The second one is a navy blue squid, looking really unsettling with the teeth jutting out from the front of his mouth. His eyes are directly on the side of his head, so his head is slightly turned, one glossy eye suspiciously watching us.

     "Stampy, Squid." Jerome addresses them, nodding to them respectively.
"Wow, 'Squid', creative name." Lachlan snickers quietly. I punch him quickly in the shoulder.
"Jerome! You're a sight for sore eyes!" Stampy exclaims, hands on his hips. "But what are you doing with these... Outsiders...?"
"For the record, I was technically a part of this kingdom for a while..." I hear Preston grumble.
"We request an audience with Sky." Jerome states bluntly, ignoring Stampy's first question.
"With Sky? Jerome, you to realize, he will kill these trespassers in a heartbeat if he sees them." Squid cautions.
Jerome barks a laugh, "Really? Come on Squid, I'm not that dense. Even if that's partially true, if I come with these others in peace, he is required to hear me out before trying to hurt them."
"Yeah but..." Squid trails off.
"Look, have you heard how kingdoms are being taken over one after the other by a group of six rebels?" Jerome questions. Stampy and Squid nod slowly. "Yeah well that's us. So, if you'll excuse us, I'd like to see Sky, please."

Don't mess this up, Jerome. I think, all the muscles in my body tensed. To bring us into an enemy kingdom, and basically say straight up we're going to try and take it over... It's a real risk. Squid's and Stampy's mouths momentarily drop, and then quickly close, although their eyes remain wide in disbelief.

"Stand down! Let them through! Someone go tell Sky he has visitors!" Stampy yells to the sentries on top, who all hastily get to work.
"Good luck." Squid mumbles to Jerome.

Jerome nods, and we ride through the gates, with a mission we don't plan to give up on.

~~~
Question of the chapter:

What's you favourite number?

My answer: 7