A̮̦͔͍ͅh̞̠̦ ͓̣̯̮y͔e̤̬͈s,̪̥ t͓̯̖̖̲h̞̣͈̪̥̮e͎̯̣͓̥̺̲ ̰͎̤̲B͕͕A͓D̖̥̪͖̪̹ ͚̥ͅE͔͎N̲̠̬D͕̟̘̺S̺̭̝̞̯̜͉~̱̣̺̠̟

̩̜̣͚̳W̯̖̮͙̻̞̞i̯̹̙̹̲̹t͉̣̤̖̥̣h̗͔̗ ͙e̞̯͎̣̬͕v̮̖̻̯͕e̲r͙͎̥̠͔y̱͓̪̯̻̜̟ ̘̼ͅh̻̗a̖̮̬p̜p̮̣y̭̤͉͚ ̤͉̞̖̳̲͚e̫̻̘ṇ̙̜̩͓d̪̱̯̩̜̗̝iṉg ̱̖͉̬̟͙̣c̰̻̞̙̩̟̥o͍̗̻ͅm̗̟̹͇̺e͎̥̥̩s̟̰ ̹͖̰̞̤̲a ̻B͉̞̮̙̫̳AD ̗͓̜̗͙̥͍o̪̦̳͙̘n͕̘e̬̪̪̻.͖̘ O̥̰ṋ̼̼̝̘͓e̞̰ ̜̭̲̝w͈̯̜̪͈̥͔h̫̙͔͔̹̘e̼̦re̫ ͔̲̪̲ͅs͇̭̪̘͚̮o͔̳̬me͇̭͍thi̹͚̪̮͈ṋ͓g ̙̘͈w̟̳̦e̦n̩̝͎t̪͉̭̲̞̱͍ ̦̻̯WRO͍N̯͔̱̻͔G̙͈,̹͇̘̥̥ ̭̭͍ͅe̝̤̖̹̩̘v͙e̖̼̼̬n̹͔͉ ̭͈̜t̙͎͖͓̩̼̯h͍̮̙̗e̙͍̬̲̱̻͔ ̭
͙͇
̟̬̳̣͖̮S̬͔̙L̮̹̬̜̯̹I̱̱̥̺G̮̞H̱̮ͅT̺̣ͅES͈̟̤̜͙̤̣T̼͔͙ ̘̥̩̳̝̬̹t͔̼̹̥̥͔̹h̼̫̖in̖̬͔g̞̙̙̞̻̞͇, ̖̗a̞̺͉̼ͅn͚̻̲d ̯͉͕i͖̗̥͉t̳̮̮ ̻̥͎̲̲ͅc̪̘͔h̞̖̰̲̱a̲̰n̩̟̞͔̮͈͖g̬͍̠̪e̯̙̗̝d͍̲ ̗͉̝i̱̠̲̹͓t͖̩͔̭̞ ̦͖a̤͈̱ͅl͍̩̹͇͙̹l̯̪.̳͕̲ͅ ̻̭͍͇͈I̪̞͉͎̱̹t ̜̻t͚͓̱̱̣ur̰͓̖̤͉̫̺n̟̫̦͚̲͔̪e̬̮͓̫͖d͙̞͓̱̮ ̝͕̖͎̻̜it̘ ̱̲͎in̬̫̗͔͖̤t̜̣̦̟o̤͉̤̤̠̖̬ ̣͍̹͈̱a̳̥͚̥̠ B͎͍̭̥A̘̜̗̘D ̣̦͈ͅE̤̭͍̺͎Ṇ͖D̮̰̯͈͖.
̻͓̫
̙͓͈̞̤͔̯T̗h̥̠͉̤e̹̭s̻̹ͅe̬̹͕̦͓ ̯̺̫̼̜a̺͕̯͇̱re̙ ̭̹͇̩͖̺̻m̦̫͖̭̭o̩̟̼̺͖͈̬r̲̬͇ḙ͉̫͙͓̺ ͍̗͍̲͈̮̥C̝̳O̼̩̞͎̺̻͍M̖̙̬̙̗MO͔̼N̝ ̟t͓h̯͍͖͚͓͉a̩͎͈̬n͈̟ ̱̖̮̤͚͕yo̪̞̤u̗̣̞̰̯̰̗ ̠t̞̘͈͖̯̫ͅh̲̫͇̰͖in͍͍̯̙͍̜͙k͇̙͔̖͚.͚̤̫̬̻̠ ̟̦͔͎̰̙Ḭn̹̜̺͙̞̣ ̞̳̜f̩a͇̖c͓t̖,̣ ̣̘͍͔ṱ̼͎h̙̮̤e̼̻̘̲̭o̬r͇̬e̙ti̜̙̪̣̗c͓̟a͎̲͕̝̙͖l͍l̹̭y͚͕̦͇̠ͅͅ,̝͖͚̰̲͍̳ ̲E̥͍̮̼͙̝̤V̠̞̜̯̯E̙̣̱͔̗̬̺R̹̣̠̣̞͎͚Y̳̰̝͙̦͉ d̦̙̭ẹ͓̪͚̯̰̟c̳̥͕͍̗̣i̳͎̖si̘̯ọ͓̜͉͙̰̺n͓̳̬̣̦ ͖̻̘̣̻yͅo͉͕̭̖u̮̯̠ͅͅ m̹͎̺̱̯ak̲̹̝̫̦e͉ ̳̘͎ca͙n͖͍͍̭̳̮̱ ̞͎̳͖̣b̳̦̮̬̤̗̤e̖͓̟̩͔ ͕̫̥͙̥̥̬
͇͔̞̭
̗̟c̗h̲̥̘a̳̱̺̳̻̞n̼͎̜͙g̣̥͍̘̳̱̱e̩͖̣͓d̟̗̠̳͈ ͎ḭ͎̜̦̰n a̭̩̳͕̺͉n̝̣̬̱̣ͅo̞̺̱t̮̜͉̼̠̟h̺e̻̟͈r͓ ̲͉̘͖̠̳un̰i̱͈̱͈v̞̰̣ͅer̲̘̤̦s̭̰e͙̗̥̜.̩̺ S͖oͅm̖̼e̲̤ ̜̭o̰̖̮̬̱̻̠f̯͇͔ țho̭s̹̳̼̼̘e̮̝̯ ̭͖̼u͓̹̖̺̖n͇i̙͉̘v͉͇̜̟͇̮e͓̞r̩̱ͅse̳s̘̯̹̰̯ ̝h̯av͖̖͎e̹̣̝̗̱̗̩ ͙͖̫̫̝͔̲g͉͎o̘̤̭͕̘͚̻o̳̻͙d̗̹̭ͅ ̯̙ͅen̹̱͍͎̼̫ḓ͖͉̜͓i̺̼̟̰̖̭͕ng̝̩͇s͉̗̟̦͔̲,̪̖̩͉̪̭ ̱̺͎̼̳̩̙o̟̹͕͈͎r A̙̪͓̦͇̺͚T ̻̥̜̯̜L͎E̝͍̜̺A̹̪̺͕͚̻S͇Ṯ̠͚̟̘̙ͅ ͇t͙̱̦͔̮h̜ḙ̠͚̥̼͍̗ B̺͓̱̥͚E̹͕̤͖̱S̲͎̤̦̟T̝͙̳ ̞͖̫

͚e͕͔͔̺n͍̲̬͓͖d͈̥͎̙i͖͇͇͈̺̲̝n͉̦g̩ ̖̤͚̮͍̯͚th̜͚̞͉̳͍̟e̮̤y͈ ̥̖̩c͙̫̙̜̮a̲̙̼̙̹n ̗̞͕̥g͚̗e̘͖̳̱͔t.̻̣͇͉̘̬̰
̞͈̯̫
̲͙ ̳̩̹B̰̠u͓͖̺̣̱̝t̰ ͍ot̖h̼͍er̮̪̜s̖͚̱̭̝̥... ̱̰̩W̪̪͈e̪̺͖̻̪̭l̫͎̖̩̥͍̩l͎͔.̫̜̤̘̙ ̗͙Y͙̣̗̞o͙͈̜̬̦u ̤̞̱̫̥̭ͅc̪̩̖a͉̼̣̪͎̟̗n͍̦͕̳̮̙͍ ̭͖G̠̠͙͕̱̠U͚̰E͍̜͔͎S̭͓̺͓̹ͅS̹~̪̩͎̣̩͕̭
̤͍͚̣
̤̲T͓̙̝̼̼ͅh̪̮ͅe̥ ̖̟p̹̯o̺̘̘̪̘͓̼i͖̯͉̺̹̠̭n͍͓̻̰̭̟t̯ ̝̻͇̘͉i̤͚̺̘s̬̗͇̱̻͔,̲͉̩̼͉̻̬ ̪m̮̙a̪̖̺n̬̬͉̞y̬̝̜̱̦ ̳͇̬̳̟t͉̰͍̜h̖̺̰̻̼͓i̞̝̲͕̪̺̫n̳͕̣̟g̣̮͚͎̩ͅs̼̪̗͎̭ͅ ̜go ̠WṞ͙̥̺̪O͇̙̯͙̱N͖̰̟̻G̥ ̼i̖͔̞n̖͍̰̬ ̰̯͈̪d̹i͖̻f̝̰͕f̫̗̺̦̯̠̭e͕̮r͕̰͇e̗n̼̠t̗ ͓̦͉̟̥͎̣univ̻̟e̳̣͙r̳s̱͉̼̬͈͖̜ẹ͙̱͚ͅͅs̭̻͇͕͓͔.͖
̪͍̠
̻̺̩̳̟͓H͚̯̼̜̘̹e̙̞̬̺͖r̳̘͔̭̭̦̻e͎̰͕̩,̪̗̹ ͉̠̘ar̬̪̻e̗̝͎̩̗̬̙ ̯̤̪̖̺s͇om̖͇͔ͅe͍͇̳͎͖ ͚͉̞̟̩E͍͍̣͕̗̫̣X͈͎̳̙A̘͚M̞P͉̞͙̪͉̱ͅL̪̗̜̟̼ͅE̺͎̣S̙̳͖̜͎̮ͅ~͍̥̟͔
̝̰͚̗̣͉͙
̦̰O̝̗n̥̲̹̞̟͈e͍̗̬ͅ ̹̣̠I͇͈̞̳ ̫̣͙̤t̜͕̺̲̤h͔͙̥͈o̯̳͉ug̬͓͎͖̭̪̭h͙̞͉͙̩͇t̘͉̭̪̩̬̮ ̥o̳̻̜̪̳f ͈͍w̬̪h̫͙͙e̟̻n͉̻͉ ̘̱̝̣͕̳I͇ͅC̖E̗͙̹̙̼̫ ̮̙̰̙̰͙b̭͕̰̯͉ͅr̘͇ou͔̳̻̝̟gh̯̣͎̯̥t̘̮ ̬̻̜i̖̗̖͇̗̯t͈̥̘̼̪͖ͅ ̖͉̭̤up͙̱,̱ wa̘͖̣̲̹s ̬̣̥t͔͎̱̫ͅͅͅḫ̤̙̯̠̭̹e̙ ̦B̤̹͙e̺̞̟̼̙a͉͓͈̣c̦̲̝̰h̟̰̳͇͖̬ ̻̭̦̙͔͔S͈̠̝ͅh͕̪͓e̱͍n͔a̟̬̻̤̫̜̦n̲̣̬̥̞i̹̥̙g̳͚̫̭̭̺ͅa̮̩n̳̬͍̠̜̪̩s̲̣͖̮ ̳͚̬̼̞o̩̼f ̻̟̻͎̖̳Se̬͚͈̙ͅa̼̹̜͉͕ ͚̳͓S̖̝͈̘e̜r̪p̥̪̱͙̘̜̫e̱̭̭̙͉n͎̜̯̤̗̹̲t.̫͇͓̩̪̯
̜͙̯̬̥
̟̝̘̫F̖̲̰o̞̗r̫̭̭ t̹͓̦̠̙͕h͚̟͈̯ͅe̥̗͔̬̗̜ ͙͚̹͍̩̫̤s̟a̠k͇͈̜e͙̲͓̹̪ͅ of̟ ̟̞̻͓̖͇g͔͕͉i̬̟͖͇v̱̠̹̖̰̯i͙̤̹̭̱n̺̤̺̰g͈̤ ̖̼̱̝i͙̹̰̰̠t ̳̗̰a̩̪̮̥̠̗̱ ̘͈͍̞͎̝N͈̥̙̟̼͎͚E̠̳̠̜W͕̞̗ ̘̰̰͉ͅN̗̜̼̤̩ͅA̩͇̲̱̟M̙̙͚̙͈̬E̳,̪̹̣̟͍̩̭ ̲͔̝̘le̝͕̘̹̪͙t̝̟'s̖̫͚͙̖̪ ̹͎ca͇̻̮ll͕̻̻̣̖ ̳i̲̣̭̺̗̫͍țͅ:̤̣̩̬̼

THE BLOOD BATH

Third Person

Cody relaxed and laid down against the classic checkered blanket.

He had learned a lot of things he didn't previously know about his friends, and to him, that only strengthened their relationships. Trust, tranquility, what else was better for a perfect day? It just made him want to close his eyes and drift off, and with nothing stopping him, he began to.

Close by, Sam and Tanith were chatting to themselves, Tanith fully enjoying the ice cream provided while Sam took little nibbles at fruit. Selena watched the waves while munching on an apple and Professor was taking full advantage of the free food provided.

So... Peaceful.

But it ended quicker than anyone could blink as a wave of purple invaded the sand.

Selena was first to notice the sudden army pop up and screamed immediately, both to warn the others, and out of a mix of surprise and fear. Cody's eyes shot open and sat up as Professor scrambled up and drew his gun. Tanith froze for just a moment upon seeing who was there while Sam was ready, having a bow in her hand in seconds.

Though hard to process for some at first, it was soon as clear as day who was there. Illithids, seemingly endless amounts of them as well as some others. A stone golem, a large orange-red crab and a smaller but similar one, and at the lead of them with his yellow eyes narrowed, the kraken. The leader.

Cody's eyes instantly began to spark with power as he drew his spear, but to his surprise, CannibalCrab shot it out of his hand, then aimed it at Pikalus. KrakenKid had his gun aimed on the penguin while Gnash and CrankyCrab both seemed to focus on the girls, particularly the Sneaky Sisters.

Cody considered going for his spear, now on the ground but decided he first needed to distract them first. The illithids began to surround the five of them, trapping them in a large circle and causing them to bunch up. Tanith took out her staff and fiddled with it, glancing around.

"KrakenKid," His voice was almost a growl. "What are you doing here?"

A smirk played on his lips. "What do you think? I'm taking what's mine."

Cody knew exactly what he was talking about, and he hated that with every core of his being. "The crown- Atlantis in general- has always been me and my family's legacy. I'm taking care of it! You've only hurt it!"

"I've only ever hurt it in an attempt to get to you." He pointed out, cocking his gun. "And right now, I'm taking another chance to get to it. I got word about your little set up and figured I'd finally take what was mine." KrakenKid stifled a laugh. "I guess acting without much of a plan can pay off after all."

Cody found himself glancing at his spear and back again, but to his misfortune, KrakenKid noticed. "Kick it over here." He ordered. When Cody didn't move, he aimed it at Sam, who's current weapon was too busy being pointed at Gnash for her to move it and be safe. "Now, or someone gets it."

All it took was a moment of Cody to hesitate for KrakenKid to shoot. Lucky for Sam, it whizzed right past her head, burning up a little of her hair as it did. Though no one was looking at him, there was a flicker in KrakenKid's eyes, before he regained his confidence and faced Cody. "Next time, I won't miss." He told him. Hopefully... He added to himself.

Cody got the message and kicked his spear, which landed beneath the kraken's legs. With one of them, it was kicked even further away, and he relaxed.

"Good." He said, taking in a deep breath before raising his gun quickly.

Cody waited for him to shoot, raising his hands, though he knew it wouldn't do much good, but it never came. A blue bubble formed around Cody, keeping him safely inside.

Shock grew across KrakenKid's face, but his yellow eyes shifted to the one person he knew could do such a thing. Her staff glowed to prove he was right, and her blue eyes were full of challenge.

"Tanith." KrakenKid said in a warning voice. "Drop it."

"No." She answered firmly, though one of her fingers was itching with fear.

Cody's eyes widened, as did the other Atlanteans. "You two know each other?"

"It's a long story." Tanith answered quickly, glancing over before returning to the hardening yellow gaze. "I'm not going to let you hurt him, KK."

"KK?" Cody mumbled to himself, confused.

"Don't stand in my way." KrakenKid shot back, his trigger finger itching as he aimed it at her. "You don't understand how important this is to me."

"And you don't understand either. I can't let you get to him. Not while I'm still alive." Her eyes narrowed. "Drop it."

There was a moment of silence... And then a gunshot.

The first made Tanith stagger back and the force field flicker. She bared endured it as it was, her brain already permanently damaged, but the next would make both her, and the shield, drop.

Her body hit the ground, lifeless. Her empty eyes stared up, wide as they were when she saw the plasma bullet heading right towards her.

KrakenKid lowered his gun as Cody stared at her, now defenseless. "...I knew I couldn't trust an Atlantean. No matter how different they are, they're still an Atlantean." KrakenKid muttered. He didn't waste anytime to do the same to Cody, letting another body drop to the ground.

The Sneaky Sisters both were frozen, but Pikalus had seen enough. As his body began to transform, KrakenKid clicked his tongue, and CannibalCrab pulled a splash potion out, one Professor had never seen before.

It hit his back, and thought it took a moment, his whole body began to burn. He screamed and clutched his head, starting to feel a little better as he shrank a little, but his rage still stuck him in a limbo of sorts.

CannibalCrab watched him for a moment before sighing. "That potion was made specially to counter you. It kills you when you try to Hulk up, and is dormant when you're just human. Calm down and you'll be fine."

Professor gritted his teeth as it felt like acid to his skin and insides, but seeing Cody's body only made him more mad. His body grew, but his energy depleted, and before he knew it, his heart clenched in a way that wasn't natural, and there was a long pain before he too, dropped on the ground.

The Sneaky Sisters were the only ones alive.

"Listen," KrakenKid told them. "You two behave, you can live. I promise, I will be a far better King than that poopy penguin ever was." His eyes trailed down to the body, narrowing his eyes on it. "It's time to take my crown."

He began to leave, making his way towards the palace and leaving the sisters behind.

And as much as they hated it, what could they do? Against an army like that, and after watching three of their friends die?

The answer was: Nothing. So that's all they could do.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

I͚̺͔̬̰̟̝Ṇ̯̙̙͖T͙͕E͉̭R͚͓̠̠̮ͅES͍̠̩͉̖T̲̻̟̫̗I̞͈̙̖͓̩N̩̠͍̯̖̝G̙̪̼͈̫̖,̙͓ ̬h̩̩̯u̟͕̪̳̣̼h̭̲~̳͙̻̜̬̙̖
̺̩̰͍͕͇̱
̤̺͙̳̦̱Y̯͇͎̺̗̗o̰̯̤̦u̗̫͇̘͓͎ ̯̥ͅk̞͉̝̫̥̞nọ̤͙ẉ̪̟͎ͅ,̥̭͓̞̬͙ͅ Ḵ̜̳͉rak̘͕͓͇̪e̦̠ṉ͍͎ͅK̤͎̬i̟d o̜̞͈͉͎͍n͖̖l̯͙͕y͇ͅͅ ͓T̹͈R͕͓̳͓̯͈̬U͎͉̟͙̰͇̰L͍̙Y̹̱̜̜̙͖ ̜ṭ͉̳̫r̗̰u̩̗s͉͍͙͇t̘e̱̰͔̺̟d ̯̪̝T̳̻̪̘̪a̩n̖͔̝i̮̤͚͓t̺͖̱ͅh͉̤ ̬ͅa̠̗͎f̯̞̺̺̦̤tḛ̜̗̻̩r͈͈̖̥͓̜ͅ ͈͙͇̞̟̟s̺͇̳̥̲̺̦h̝̠̹̳̥̘̜e͍̻̟ ̰͓̬̫sa̗ͅv͎̰̤̩͕͎̭e̟̼̯d ̣͈̼͚͔̘̗h͇i̟m͍͙̳̣͖ ̩̤̣fr͖o̜̬͔̼̜m ̣͍̖A͕̰̠̹N̜͍̲̻̫̗̘N̤̙͓̩̙̳O͔N ͕so̥͙͎͓ͅ ͇iͅͅf̭̫͍̙ so̞̜me̟͉̯t̫̼͔̘̲̼͍h͉̩i̠̣̱̗ͅn͙̖̣̬̖͈g̦̳̝͍ l̫͔̺̮ͅi̠̺͓̟͎̩k͍̻̝e̲̪ ͇̺͈
͍͔̦
̮͎̭͈t̬̱̫̣͚͉ͅh͈̱̬̺i̭̼̱͉̱͔̪s͓̲ ̭̥h͍̞͔a͈̖͓̩p̹͈̖͖̯pen͇ed̺̘͍̤̠ ̦b͍̮ef̬̪o͍r̝͕̼͇̟e͓̺͚̣h̘a͎n̫̪̱͓͈̟d,̹̳̩̱͚̩ͅ ̗̩̯͓̲ḫ͓͍̲e'̫̬͕̞̘ͅd̥ ͈̺h̰͈̣̬a̠̮͈̮̮̠v̹͔̟̯̼͖̪e͕̯̜̰̙ ͚n̪̼o ͍m̻̰̘̟e͚̮̪r̙̤̰c̝͎̮̥̥͖͉y̟̭.̟̣͍̟̟͍

͕̖͉
̞̬A̠N͍̰̞͈̪̠̻O̻͕̰T̺̩̭̝̗ͅH̝̼E̬R̳͔̠͈͚ ͙̗̟m͇̲̗o̬̲m̼̣͔en̺͇̬t̝̘̭̮͈ ͖̗̼͉̥I̪̠̺͉ ̘̖ͅc̣̜̺̰a̗̙͔̱̠n ̜̝̮r̻͔̩̰e̼̞̞͚ca̠͉͉̻̜l̟̳͕̗̘̝͈l w͙͈̭̰̤̯a̗s̝͙ ̜̩̫͇̲͓̬i͈̝̗n͓̣͇͖ ̮͔T͇͇i̜͔̥͚c̩̣̩͔̣k͍̰͙̹i̩̩n̯̰g͎̖͈.̮̻̰͔̹̯ ̹̰̘̬̠̪̱M͈̣̘̺an̹̠͖y̠͖͇̣̠̮ ͉͈͖͇̝̱t̯̣h̬͖̺͇̳̰i͈n̙̩̗̺͓͎g͈̣ṣ͖̹̪̝ ͕̭̦̬̝C̱̮͍OU̻̗͈̰̠L̞D̪'V̮͍̥Ḛ̜̜̫̲̺ ̻g̺̹̱̖͙o̳̯n̗e̮̰̭̜̻ ͖̱͖͚̠̤̹w͖̦̜͔̹̰͈r̹͕͍̮͔̘͍on̪̘̜̹g̖͖ͅ, ̰͙̖͈̯b̺͚͉ut̩ ̞ther̥͉̲̗̖͚̪e̻̜͈̩̪̮ w̜̩͚͕̲͉͚a̜̺̯s̯͚ ̱̩̜̮̣ọ̜n̺ḛ̯ͅ ̹̦͈
͚͍̲̫͈͎̣
͈̗
̝in͚͔̥̫͈̤̣ ̙͓p̜͙̱̺̲̱a͉̩̰̝̟r̤̮̟t͇̲̻͇i̮c̯̳̻̙͎͖u͖̩̬̱̫l͉̜̳̞͍͕̖ar͔͈̞͖̦.
͔͕̮̣̤̗
̱L̼̬̭͉̜̣e͉̱͇͉̰̟̪t̞̫̼̗'̖̯̠s̲̦̤̩̖ s̤͈e͇̤̼͇e̬͚̣̳̟͖̪ ͚̰̙͍h̰̜e̝͎͙͚r̭̜̦̮ͅe...͙͍̭̹̦̘

PIN THE BLAME ON THE KRAKEN

Third Person

Little laughs escaped the kraken, making the penguin only grow more. "Please shut up..." Cody mumbled, rubbing his forehead.

"Mmmmhmmm." KrakenKid responded, trying to hold back his laughter. "I can do that, I can totally do that... YOU BROUGHT ME A BOOK!" He yelled and started to crack up again.

"Come on! It's been almost an hour! Drop it!" Cody pleaded, but the kraken showed no signs of stopping. He huffed and tried covering his ears, but even that seemed to do little against his loud mouth.

His mind spun with ideas to shut him up, until it hit him. "BRAILLE!" He shouted, getting up.

KrakenKid paused, perking up. "Braille?"

"Yeah!" Cody grinned from ear to ear. "It's the way you can read while still not being able to see! Why didn't I see this before, hold on!" He shouted, rushing out of the room and slamming the door behind him.

KrakenKid giggled a little longer before settling down. He waited for a while before getting bored and tried to focus on other things. The bed he was sitting on, the ticking of the clock, the guards gossiping- wait... He didn't have a clock.

KrakenKid tensed, trying to identify the sound. He didn't know a whole lot of things that ticked like that... Oh no.

"CODY!" He screamed, getting up and running to the bars. "CODY, WAIT! THERE'S A BOMB! THERE'S A-" He never got the finish as a huge explosion shook everything around him, and something sharp hitting his head made him slip into a sleep.

KrakenKid wasn't sure how long his sleep lasted, but he did remember the people screaming at him and shaking him when he was rudely awakened.

"GET UP! WHAT DID YOU DO?" An unfamiliar voice screamed. KrakenKid waived, find it difficult to understand.

"What? I don't... What happened?"

"A PIPE BOMB WENT OFF! THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED!" They screamed, pushing him over and into the dust. He stumbled, trying to balance on something, but unable to see really anything, he couldn't and just flopped around.

"And your cell was the only one who lasted in the fall with some minor issues, so what did you do? Did you make this? Was it revenge? Well guess what! We're kingless, happy?"

The voice was so angry with him, but KrakenKid focused more on what he was saying. Did he say... Kingles? "Cody is... Dead?" He coughed.

"Yes! As well as most of the people in this place! How could you? How could you do it?"

KrakenKid shook himself and reached out. "I-I swear it wasn't me! I can't even see!"

"DON'T LIE TO ME! You're just as dangerous! In fact," He heard a gun cock, making him freeze. "You're far too dangerous to be held without a proper cage."

"Wait!" KrakenKid cried out, more distressed than ever. "It wasn't me! It really wasn't! You gotta-!"

He never finished as his heart was pumped with lead, and soon, stopped beating.

--------------------------------------------------------

An̻͚̥̤̳d̟̟̭͖̼ ̻̯so̦͈̗,̪̣̣̠ ͚̩͖̻͖̤B͚̼̫̞O̖̤̳TH̙̙̫̭ ͚͈of͙͔ ̦̦̟͇̰t̘̰͈͖͍̖͓h͍͚e͈͕͚̘m̺̰͎ ̮͎̘͇̹̣̼d̰͉̝̦͖i̭̥͖̱̮e͇̗̗̹͖̙d͓͓̜̝̼.͕͉̯̲ ͇͚P͇̞͖͔e̞o͖̗̮̭p̥͍̠͔l͈͉͈̺̤̠̮e̩͉̦̗͍̻͕ ar̹̫͈̬̻ͅe͖̣̟̺̞̯̞ ͔͕̝͖s͙̳o̟͚̫̞ ̺̫̬̙̩͕̹Q̺͍U͈̭̣̯IC̣Ḳ̠̘͖̘ ͚̠͈̝t͔̖̜̪o̠͍̝̜͖͉̘ ̯̫̭̱̟ͅp̺̫̙oịnt̘͇̗̭̟ ̘̮̲̘̳f̙̺̤͈̥i̤̟͎ͅn̼͉g̘̣̥e̠r̞̣͖s̖,̜̝ ̭̣a̙̹̠͉͕̰re̻̩n͎̘͚͔̘ͅ'ͅt̳̗ ̰̼͍th̩̮e̻͕y̗̪̤͉̰̦̰?
̲̤
̩͓̙͈I̥̭̠̫͇ͅ ̮̯͖̘̖̜t̞̰̖h͚̲i͈̘̗̻̺n͙͍̩̹̹k͔͇̫̥̰ ̩̝͎͎͍̟͕w̜e͖̯͍̮̬̘͖ ̞̝h̲̻̤̲͔a̼͕v̰̝̥͍͓e̻ ̘t̝͇͖̳i̠̩̯m̭̦̼̰e͔̳̦̹̺̭ ͚̩̥f̜̗̳̖̱̖̲o͇r ̱͍̟ju̳͕̣̭̗̫s͈̙̭̪̭͇̯t̝͙̠̰̠̘̰ ͙̱̫͕O̳̗NE͖̗̹̘ ̪̜̰̙͕̻̟mọ̰̳̰͉r͍̜̝̗̥̙ͅe̬̙̬ ̱̳̣͈f̩̠͉͓̖o̭̦r̼̪͖̱̝ ̰̮̪̤͚TOD͍̪̜͈̱A̹͈͓̫Y̠̠̻̬̰͉
͍̗̼̹̖ͅ
̬͍͚̳̘̯D͉͙͙͕o̺̱͙̩͙ ̮̭̼̲̬̱͍yo̖̳͙̪̗̻u͔̭̠̜͇̭ͅ ̠re̙̹͚͕̗̳m̻̞̼e͇͈m̼̻͚b̗͇̩̩̠̮̠e̗r̬̱̮ C̰Ḻ̼̳̳͍U͉̹̯BS̗̰̬͓ ͉̗̤̞a̯͚͎ͅn͈̭̥̤͎d͎̤͈ ̲͍̩̗͇Ḍ͍̪̺͇I̮A̮̞̤ͅM̮̦̹ͅON̜D͓?̠̰̩̤̭̥
͚̗
͉̺Ẉ͓̝͈̖͍h͚͖a̝̖̹͇̻͕̜t̗ ̯̮̳͈a̦̹̬͔̠̗ ͖P̗A̳͖̘͚IR̬̘͔͕,̙̖̹̪ t̺̖̜h̥͍os̥e̖ ̯̫̮̘͍̞̣t̳͎ẉ͙̭͚̪̜̭o̮.̳͚̩ ͙̭͔͉̙Cl̙͙̥͚̖ub͉̻̩ͅs̱̙̗̫̗̱ ̞͓L̻̟͍O͖̰V͈̮̰E͈̖͔͎̬͙̭D̜̹̰ ̬̤D͉̻̯i̟a̳̙͕͕̺ͅm̞͎͙̰̟͉o͇̪̘͚̬͙n̻̣̥̪̦̙̫d͎ ̪̖̥͍̟m̠̺̦̱͉̬or̭̣ḙ ̜th̯͈͙̹̼̪a͎̳̭̳̼̻ͅn ̺̘̟͎̣̖ẖ̼̰͉̭̬e̱̱͖̪̲̫ ̜̝̘d̳͔͎̠̩̣͔i̥̙͉̘̹̞̣d ̹̻̤̟h͚̳̩͓̝̟̳i̩̻̭͙̻̥͇m̲s̩̹͙͍̣̺e̞̖̠̥̣̯͉ḻf͓̼͎,̣͚ ͔̙̮̠ͅa̞̹̤̗̝̻̺nd̘̘ ͎Ḍ̫͓̻i̲͉̯͍̖͖̯a̠͙͉̺m̮̳̯̩o̯̝̘n̹̤̖̱̜͈d͕̲̭͖̝̦͚...̟̟̗͈̦ͅͅ
̮
͙͕͎͔̠W͙͓͙̰͚̯̪Ẹ̭̬̩L̦L͉̫̯̯...͓͙̟̦͎͇̙ ͉͖̝W̟̞̺̟͈ͅh̤̪̙̘y̱̬͔̞̹̦̣ ̖̰͕̰͍d͉͖̣̦̭̗͓o̫͕̘̝̳̥n'̠̬̥t ͈̪̲̪ͅI̜̳̣̱̥̣̖ ͇͇̪S̮̳H͇O̞͎̖͈͍W̦̥̭̠͓ ̦̭͓͔y͉̺o̠̝̦̣̟͚u?̦̟̻̫̞̝̟

A HEART AS HARD AS A DIAMOND

Third Person

Diamond sighed, wincing at the pain he was feeling, but he endured it nonetheless.

His main focus was on KrakenKid, who though had more than enough antidote to kill him, couldn't let go of him. That was his problem, because if he held onto him, Diamond could stay and feed off of him, keeping him alive.

Plus, if he got enough, he could become immune all together. Maybe even alive with his own form. That was their main goal anyways. Kill off the people, feed on their life force, and become alive. Clubs and him could do just that.

Though Tanith, CannibalCrab and Blooper all pleaded at him to let it go, KrakenKid just couldn't. His little illusions that Diamond had set up were too much, and Diamond did that on purpose so he could stay. The longer he stayed, the more he could absorb that life force, until it was too late.

He wondered to himself if Clubs would be proud of him. Of using brute force rather than just ending it when he could. Clubs always was the blunt type, claiming it was just better that way. What would he say to this?

Diamond shook his head. Focus. He told himself. Mission first, then we can think about it.

So he waited, hoping that it would be over soon so the pain would stop.

But then, came a pain worse than anything else.

A pain that something was ripped away from him, like a part of him just died. It twisted in his heart and made him drop to the ground. His whole body shook, and to his very own surprise, tears came from his eyes.

"I... Don't..." Diamond whispered, but deep down inside, he knew exactly what this feeling was. They were connected, bound together like two halves of the same whole, and when you take one of those halves away, the other will never be the same again.

Clubs was gone. Diamond was alone.

So very alone...

And that only made him angry.

Using up power he had been saving, he forced himself into a more physical form, or at least, so the others could see him. He wanted them to see what he was going to do.

To reserve power, all the illusions disappeared until it was just him. KrakenKid blinked, but didn't have enough time to get a grasp. Diamond marched right up to him, and put all of his power into forcing his fist to go through his chest and grab his heart.

KrakenKid started to cough up blood but couldn't move with his heart literally in his hands. Diamond's eyes moved instead to the other three, all staring wide eyed, and without breaking eye contact with one of them- the crab- he squeezed the heart and twisted it, causing the valve to snap around it, and slowly but surely, the yellow eyes faded, and he dropped to the ground.

Diamond let him fall, making sure his arm was out of it before he began to let the light that was the life force rise out of him, and he consumed it. When he was finished, he went right back to looking at them.

CannibalCrab hadn't broken eye contact, in shock, while Tanith was horrified, shutting her eyes tightly like she was trying to wake up from a bad dream. Blooper was traumatized, just gaping at him.

"How does it feel?" Diamond asked, his voice quiet. When none of the answered, his jaw clenched. "I said, HOW DOES IT FEEL?" Diamond couldn't stop his voice from getting out of control and his body from shaking. "How does it feel to know he's DEAD? That's he's GONE and that he's not coming back?" He demanded.

He looked at both Tanith and Blooper, but both averted their eyes, so instead, he marched up to Cannibal. Cannibal gulped, but answered.

"L-like my heart was just ripped out." He answered.

Diamond was silent, before his eyes hardened. "Good." His voice was colder than any artic around the world. Harnessing his power again, he forced his arm into Cannibal's chest and grabbed his heart. "Then you know how it feels."

Diamond crushed the heart in his hands, and watched as his eyes faded right before him.

He didn't care about how the other two ran, or that he gained more life force.

All that he really cared about, was gone, and that his task was meaningless as he was.

What use is half of something, if you don't have the other? Diamond thought bitterly, letting the tears fall from his eyes.

*************************************************************

A̙̩r̜͉͍e̝̼͍n͙̫̩͇'̦͔͈t̰̻̫̜ ̜͍͕B͚̥̹͕̺̼͇A͚̠͖͓̯̫͔D͈̥͍̠̹̗̳ ̺E̩̥͓̦͓ND͙̙̯̬̻ͅS̺̞ ͖̼̻g̘̟̥͈͖r̘̟̰eat~̫
͇͉̮͖͉͙̬
A̫̳̝h̳̥̰,͇̟ ͎̱̭I͕̼'͙͙v̠͙͔̞ẹ̯̘̼ ̠͙̻̝̝h̝̱̻̘͖̼a͉͙̗̦͉̼̯d̩ ͓̙̜s̲̘̩͎̥o m͈̼̬̺̻͈̭u̹̩̰͉͇̭̮c̮̭̼h̬ ͕̗̱F̺͖̲̰Ṷ̠̲ͅN̤̰̯͉̦,̹ ͙͍̼̝̱̼͖and̟̳͎͈̖̖ͅ ͉̹͚̥s̞ụ̹̟̲̫r͉̗̗̗̙͎e̱͓͖̭̩̫l͙̹͕͈ͅỵ ̺̦͓͙̼̞̤y͙̠͓͚̤̝̳ou͔̮̳ ̟̬ͅh̙̭̜̣av̝̗̗̥̞͎̪e̳̲ͅ ̰͉̣̩a̭͈̣͔̭̜s̠͔̯͍̝̲ ̥̼̩͙̘w̰̫e̻̭l̬̣̥l͉̯̜̱̭.̞̯͍̳̣̦͖ ̘̜̹͇I͓̼̟͙̭ d̪o̪ṋ̥̼̰͙'͉̥̘̺ṭ̜̙̜̩̤͎ wa̼͖͚̝̗n̬̩͕̖͈̝̼t̺̣͖̦ ̪̦̞̙t̩̭͎̪̠̰o ̩͔̫̣̪͈L̪̭E̹̮̘͈A͎̱̫V̰E͙̦̳ ͓̭͉̟͕̯̬t͖̳̫̖̙͍h͙͙i̪̘s͈̰̹̯̦͎ ̰̰͈b̫̰̻̮o͚̺͔̣ͅd̻̣̮y̱̗͖͕̲ ̟a̫̞̤t̫͔̰̫ ̰͉͎̹͉͓a̪̺l̞͚̤̯͇̼̝l͔̥̦̹̫~̖̪̬
̯
̤̹D̼̮͕o̟͔ ͙T̰͍̤̜͎͚Ḛ̟̻͕̣̼L̝̭L̺͎̰̹̫̜ ͚M̤̗̹̟͈E̱̭̰̬̹ ̜̥̞̝̞͓ͅi̝̯̳̹͔f͖ ̳̜͕ț̦̯̰̭͇h͙͔̹e̥͉̪̜͖re̥̭͎̘̲̠ ̠̥̠̻̞a̯͓͔̗͎ͅr̰͖̖̰̳͚e̫̞̼̞̜ ̗̲a̖̝̗̙̝n̺̺͈͈̦̖y͖̗ ̳͉̞̝m͍͚̰͙͈or͍e͈̜̙͍ ͕̲̻̣͕̩f̙͈͉̫̟̯͍un͖ ̞̼͔̜l̟̣̫i̥̭t̠̦͕̜͈͎ͅt͉̣̝͓l̠̹̙͖͈̠̙ḙ̦̞̙͇̰ ̥B̬̯̞A̼̱̜͎D̹̳͙̞̺̱̣ ͎̫̩͙̼͕Ḛ̮̥͕̖N̹̲͚̞͈D͉̥̘͇̤͎̪ ͍͕͕͕͈̬p̮͎͙̝̞͍r̼͇o͍̗̼̟m̺p̘̖̤̟̼͇t̹̤̫͍̹͈s̙͇̠̙̞ͅ,̻̹̣̮̻̜ ̯̞̺̙b̲̭̘̳̟̗ec̝̙̳̜̖͔a̟̭̪̠̩̱u͉̜͖̼̦̫̪se̲͎̬ ̫I̮'̤̣͉͕̯̺m̘̞͔͔̹ ̰͚͔̺̗̱̪n̬̼̣o̖̟ț̘̗̲͔̖ ͍̭̹͈e̙̫̞̤̺̩v̘̱͈̭e̝n̹ ͚D̰̳͚̦͇̳̫O̤̜̪̣͉N̞̩̘̱͇E̖
̦͇̺̱͕͙̺
̪̻̳̹̜͕̜T͓a̺̻ ̘̫͕̮̥Ṯ̙̺̞̟̺A͓̺~̙
̻̳̯̭͎ͅ
̖͎̺̯-̼͉̹̱͇̟ͅ-͖͎͔͎P̻̮͚̱YRA̘̙̻̣̟͎̪M̮I̻̙D̝̞͙̲͇̥̖ ͓͈̫̟̭̳