My heart sinks through my toes, and I immediately start criticizing myself. Bryant asked you to do that. You can't be questioning him. That's what he wants, so that's what you're going to do. Bryant's desires come before your own, so you have to do it, even if you don't want to. Questioning the King of Ragdon, a title Bryant only has because he's the chosen King, is something punishable by death. You have to capture Ice and kill Wolf because that's what he wants.

"Consider it done," I say before ducking my head slightly and making my way back out through the double doors. Bryant's purple eyes follow me

I'm walking through the hallways of Bryant's palace when a thought crosses my mind: I've no idea how I'm going to capture Ice, much less make everyone forget about him. When the disease presses forward in my mind, I internally groan, knowing what is to come and questioning how I hadn't realized this when Bryant told me what was going to happen.

The light shining through the windows of the hallway reflects off a mirror, 1 of Bryant's favorite decorations, to my left. When I turn, I see my reflection. The horns and veins have appeared once more, due to the disease still holding onto my mind. It's me I'm seeing, but it's as if I don't recognize the person in the mirror at all. I shake my head before continuing on to track down Ice.

xxxx

The White Tent Sea isn't far from Bryant's castle, though it certainly isn't close. Dust swirls around my ankles despite the fact that the disease has retreated to the back of my mind and the snake is lazily sleeping. "Dust Devil!" People bow their heads in recognition, and I force myself to keep an even expression.

"Oh, there you are! We've been searching for you for forever! Please, Dust Devil, you really must be getting to work with the sectioned off portions of the White Tent Sea! People are waiting to see your performance!" A Guard races up to me, chest heaving in rapid breaths.

"Wh-what?"

"You know, the performance with your newly found powers? I-I'm sorry for asking too many questions, but were you not aware of your scheduled performances?"

"Sorry, it's been a bit of a long day so far. I'll be there in just a few moments."

"Of course, Dust Devil. I look forward to witnessing your performance. It's an honor to be able to experience it."

Dang it. I forgot to ask the Guard where I'm supposed to do this... performance. I can only imagine what it is I'll be doing.

"Who's ready to see the Dust Devil?" Cheers erupt from beneath the Earth Tree. Guess that's where it is. I jog over there before any other Guard come and tell me in the nicest way possible to hurry up.

"Dust Devil! Hi! Please, put this on. Quickly! People are waiting to witness your performance!" A cloak is thrust into my hands, and I shakily slip it on. The disease looms in the forefront of my mind, seeming an awful lot like a predator lying in wait. As soon as I've fastened the clasp on the cloak, I'm ushered toward the steps and told to join the Soldier up on the stage. I'm forced to the back of my mind, and I become the Dust Devil, horns, veins, and all.

"Come here, Luke. Test run." I frown internally at the Soldier's use of my name, not the one Bryant gave me. Bryant decided on Dust Devil. Luke's no longer my name. I don't know whose it is.

"Work your magic, Dust Devil," the Soldier says.

"Ok," I find myself saying. My hands reach out from beneath my cloak. Energy thrums from the ground, and I can almost feel it vibrating, just waiting for me, or rather the disease, to call upon it. When my fingers curl into my palms, the dust and sand covering the ground begins to rise into the air.

After a few failed attempts to keep the disease from wreaking whatever havoc it's got planned, I give up and turn my attention to a bit of movement in the back of the crowd. There's a group of 4; an eagle whose wing seems to be broken, a unicorn, a little cat, and a person who's glaring at the Soldier with a look that could easily kill any 1 of Bryant's groups of Guard and Soldier. And she's glaring at me, I think to myself. As soon as the dust starts swirling around in the crowd, though, the unicorn seems to panic and pushes the cat into a sprint. I hear a whistle as the cat takes off running, tail shifting to keep her balanced. The blue unicorn lags behind. A small group of Guard and Soldiers run after them.

Purple twinkles in the air. People who had been murmuring and beginning to panic now fall silent, realizing that Bryant is someone to be revered, that they should trust him with their life. What I should be thinking. If only the dust worked on me, maybe then I could get my traitorous thoughts in line.

"Now, what did everyone think of the Dust Devil's performance?" Horrible. No... No, I can't be thinking that. The performance was ordered by Bryant. It was spectacular. A wave of cheers and applause wash over the crowd. Someone shouts for an encore. The eagle remains in the back of the crowd, glancing up at me and the Soldier on stage as he murmurs to the person standing next to him. Every so often, she looks up, glaring with a passion. The unicorn and cat are nowhere to be found, but the group who went after them hasn't returned. That's a record, I think.

The eagle's head suddenly snaps up, and he and the person run off.

The disease doesn't release its hold until I'm hidden from the crowd and behind the stage. I take deep breaths as the veins and horns disappear. My heart races in my chest. What have I done? I've killed people and I've brainwashed who knows how many? I don't try to chastise myself; I don't have the energy. "Oh, no. Are you alright, Dust Devil? What can I get for you? It seems your performance drained you of energy. What can I do?" A Guard places a hand on my shoulder. I shrug it off.

"I'm ok. I just need to walk it off or something. Thanks, though." I hold myself together until I find a quiet place under a tree in the outskirts of the White Tent Sea.

My legs give out and I collapse at the foot of the tree. I take shaky breaths as I try to calm my racing heart. Why? What did I do? My whole life I've been trying to be the best Soldier I can be. Trying to serve Bryant as best I can. I've done more than I've needed to, dedicated my life to Bryant because I believe in him. And I end up like this. I suppose it's an honor. I'm now his equal and I have powers I never thought existed. But it doesn't feel like that. It feels like a curse. I've killed innocent people and I just brainwashed countless people. What did I do? I just want to know.

I soon am able to calm down, at least on some level, and I get back to my feet. "Ice isn't going to catch himself," I murmur. Patient isn't a trait of Bryant. 1 of his wishes is for Ice to be caught and for people to forget about him, and I was the 1 chosen to carry it out. I adjust my armor and begin hunting for Ice, knowing that I need to catch Ice and soon. Each of Bryant's wishes need to be completed as soon as possible. He's the King of Ragdon. He knows what's best. Whenever he asks for something, it needs to be done as quickly as possible because it's what's best for Ragdon.

After an hour or 2 of asking around if anyone has seen Ice, I realize the plan wasn't going to work. I'd gotten a variety of answers, ranging from 'who's Ice?' to 'I thought he was still with My Sovereign, His Excellency, His Honor, His Highest of all Highnesses, King Garonda XIV. Is he not?' to 'I'm pretty sure he's with Dove... but don't quote me on that.' It became very clear no one knew where he actually was. Smart. Maybe he knew people would be after him.

I wander around the White Tent Sea, trying to come up with a new plan. People part ways to let me through. 1 of the perks of being a Soldier in the White Tent Sea.

It's as if Ice isn't in the White Tent Sea. The sun is beginning to set, and I haven't seen any signs of Ice. Not even a little sign of him. Is he even here? I continue to stroll, ducking into every corner, hidden pathway, anywhere Ice could be lurking. Where is he? Everyone's either in the White Tent Sea or in Bryant's castle. I sure as hell know Ice isn't in the castle; it's Bryant, the few workers, Guard, and Soldiers. Ice is none of those.

So where the hell is he?

Time ticks by, slipping away like sand, and there's still no sign of Ice.

But then I catch quick movement out of the corner of my eye. It's the same cat I'd seen with the blue unicorn earlier. A few patches of dried blood stick to her light fur. She doesn't seem to notice me as she sprints into a tent, ponytail waving over her back. What is she doing? I stick close to the sides of the tents as I creep closer. Ice, maybe?

"S-she's g-gonna be ok! Why a-aren't y-you listening to me? She's gonna b-be o-o-ok!"

"Clap, sh, it's ok. Miles is listening. He's just very busy right now."

"No, h-he's not. He's not listening! B-Brook is gonna b-be ok!"

Clap. Brook. Where have I heard those names before?

I'm snapped from my thoughts by approaching footsteps. I duck behind the post supporting the nearest tent. A person and 3 cats weave through a small crowd. "There we go," I murmur softly. "Dove, Ky, Phoenix, and Ice. Found you, Ice"

"Finally. Took long enough to get back. Um, yeah, coming through. Move, people. Jeez, what part of 'coming through' wasn't clear to you? Dove, so you're telling Brook what we figured out with Wolf, right?"

"Sure."

"Who are you?" I don't recognize him, though.

"I'm Dove. And they are Ky, Phoenix, and Ice."

"You're back! Oh, thank goodness. The White Tent Sea needs you."

"I was told Brook is in here?"

"Dove! T-tell them! I-I-I s-said Brook is g-gonna be ok, b-but th-they d-don't believe me! Tell them!"

Here, Ice, Ice, Ice. The disease presses forward, and I allow it to take over. Bryant wants Ice, and so I'll capture him and make everyone forget about him, even if I hate how the disease makes me feel. Maybe then I can get my traitorous thoughts in line and stop questioning what Bryant said. Dust swirls and turns a sparkly purple color. Everyone around me stiffens as the dust works its magic, and their eyes glaze over before they return to what they had been doing before. It all happens in a few quick seconds.

No one notices me when I walk out from behind the post. My hands clench and dust begins to choke Ice. Frost rips from his paws as he struggles to take a breath. His lips curl as he glares at me, fighting the dust. He staggers back a few steps. He knows. My heart sinks. Ice's eyelids flutter once, twice, before he collapses, unconscious.

Thank you for reading! Please comment and vote if you enjoyed the chapter!

Well, that was quite the chapter, wasn't it? The disease brainwashed people living in the White Tent Sea and choked Ice until he lost consciousness.

What's going to happen to Ice?

Has Luke and the disease really made it so no one remembers Ice?

After bringing Ice to Bryant, Luke needs to track down Wolf and kill her. How's that going to go?

I hope you are all doing well!

-Werewolf14-