"He'll, they'll come after you. They know we went to look at landmarks."

"Oh, I'm so scared!" proclaimed the demented troll. He ran up to her and let her see his hideous face. His tongue snaked out and licked the tip of her nose. She spat back at him in repulsion. A quick backhand drew blood.

"Mind your manners girl. You don't play nice, you'll get hurt!"

Ragout grinned evily and picked up Tira's whip.

"Carrot, if you could have one wish, what would it be?" Starr asked sweetly.

He looked at the genie with a devilish grin. "You and me between satin sheets. A night of unforgettable passion..."

"That may be attainable," she laughed. "What else? Riches? Power? What?"

"I've always wanted to see the world. Not just the Spooner Continent."

"Do you want to go then?"

Carrot looked at her with curiosity in his eyes. She took it as a yes and they vanished in a burst of blue light.

The storm had arrived suddenly and without warning. What seemed odd about it was that not one cloud had been spotted the entire day across the clear blue sky. Many people ran through the downpour; despite it feeling good, the dangerous thunder and lightning dissuaded anyone who wanted to stay out. Rei Chi and Chocolate ran along the pier, experiencing the sight of the storm across the water. He gestured towards a small yacht close to the docks. They scrambled aboard and descended down a flight of stairs into a living area big enough for five people. The boat remained steady in the water despite the raging winds. She could hear the heavy rain pour down on the wooden deck. Drops of water fell from her soaked red hair. Rei Chi handed her a fluffy long towel.

"You brought this all the way from the Cuisine Islands?" she asked. "It's very nice."

She ran her fingers along the solid wooden interior.

"I built it myself," he mentioned. "Feel free to get out of your wet clothes, Chocolate."

"You'd like that, huh?" she said with a bemused grin.

"Oh, what I meant was I have a robe you can wear while your clothes dry." He handed her a red silk kimono, then turned his back waiting for her to change.

"You'll probably have to spent the night," he told her.

"I don't mind. Be kinda fun sleeping on a yacht out here on the waterfront." She said as she looked out a round window.

He went into the kitchen and heated up some water for tea.

Marron and Gateau sat on the porch of the inn where they were staying. The steady rain beat down on the pavement, giving off a distinct splattery sound.

"It's almost midnight. The girls and Carrot haven't returned," Gateau mentioned.

"Carrot's with Tira. Chocolate's with that guy. They'll probably be out late. No sense in waiting up for them."

"I suppose you're right. This rain makes great sleeping weather."

Chocolate sat sideways on a yellow bean bag chair, her long legs draped over the left side. She held a steaming mug of Oolong tea. Rei Chi sat in a wicker rocker a few feet away.

"Nasty storm out there," she remarked. He could see the dim light of the candlelight reflecting off her creamy white skin.

"That guy you were so upset about, does he know how you feel about him?" Rei Chi asked her.

"Carrot? I can't make it more obvious. I practically throw myself at him and get ignored," she replied softly.

"He's a blind fool. You are.. a prize any man would treasure."

Chocolate snickered and curled her lips. "Think so?"

"Yes."

It felt good to get complements once in the while. Carrot never did that with her..

"I'd like to know more about you, Chocolate Misu."

"Like what?"

"Your home, your childhood, tell me about yourself," he smiled.

And she did. They spoke well into the night, she finally opened up instead of giving him once sentence answers. He gave her his undivided attention and they shared several laughs. Eventually, all her talking made her sleepy and she nodded off in the chair. He stared longingly at her in the dim light. He felt that he had never met a more charming young lady, one whose beauty was on a par with her brains. Slipping his arms under her back and legs, he carried he to his bed and set her down on it. Carefully he slid the covers over her and touched her cheek tenderly. After sliding a privacy curtain across the space, he departed for another section of the boat, a walk in closet that contained a small cot. He laid down with his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts centered on the young lady sleeping just yards away in the next room. As he drifted into blissful unconsciousness, he hoped whatever dreams he had would somehow involve her.

Marron and checked Carrot's room at the inn the next morning. His bed showed no signs of being slept in. Returning to the hallway, he saw Gateau just coming out of Tira and Chocolate's room.

"Anything?"

Gateau nodded from side to side. "They didn't return."

"Well Tira was with my brother and I don't know where Chocolate went off to," Marron stated.

"Why don't we go into town and pickup some breakfast. I could go for some Belgian Waffles. Perhaps we'll see them there," Gateau suggested.

Chocolate woke up feeling very refreshed. It took her a second to remember where she was, the bed definitely was not the one she had gotten used to at the inn. The covers smelled of a faint musk and aftershave. Rei Chi. She saw sunlight coming through the small porthole, a welcome sign given the tremendous storm that past night. Chocolate stood up and adjusted the silk kimono that had loosened around her during her slumber. She had nothing else on underneath and saw her dried clothes hanging on a rack. She found the bathroom and took a nice hot shower then wrapped her hair in a pink fluffy towel. She put on a different robe, a shorter one, and searched for Rei Chi. He sat outside, steering the boat. They were no longer on the dock, but far out to sea. Still, the outline of Perdone was quite visible.

"Good morning. I wanted you to see the city from out here," he told her.

"It's really nice."

"Breakfast, if you're hungry," he pointed to a small cloth covered table. It held two platters, more fried dough, just how she liked it. Two bowls of blueberries and melon slices. Two carafes: one with OJ and one with milk. She figured he had gotten up early and ran all the way to the marketplace just to get the items.

"My figure," she smiled, taking the dough. "It'll be ruined if I continue indulging at this rate."

"I doubt it," he smiled back. "Hey, have you ever fished before?"

"I've tried it once or twice when I was little. Carrot does it quite regularly."

He showeed her a long rod that was hooked into place on the left side of the boat. A line had been cast into the depths.

"Catch anything yet?"

"Nothing," he admitted.

Chocolate conjured up her garrotte. "Watch."

She leaned on the railing and located one of several dark shapes in the water. With a flick of her wrist, she launched the wire line out into the water. The barbed end tore into a fish and she pulled it back into the boat with one motion. The fish flopped around on the deck and she pulled her line free.

"Holy mackarel," laughed Rei Chi. He clapped his hands.

Chocolate grinned. "I got it, I flaunt it!"

Carrot woke up to the sound of birds singing. He had spent the night with Starr on a deserted island, impossibly on the other side of the world. He lay underneath a palm tree on a soft blanket atop white sand. Nearby, Starr bathed in a lush lagoon, abundant with vibrant plantlife and mineral blue water. Carrot noticed her and sprang to his feet.

"Sleep well?" she asked.

"Yes. How about you?"

"I don't sleep, silly boy." Starr said, letting water from the rocks above drench her golden hair. She looked great with her hair wet, Carrot thought. Carrot removed his clothes with a devilish smile and joined her in the invigorating water.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked.

"Go ahead, my water nymph!"

"Aren't you at all curious as to how we got here or even about my powers?"

Carrot smiled. "All I know is that you're sweet and incredibly gorgeous. That's all that matters to me."

Starr laughed at the sound of his manly voice. "You're so trusting, so naive. To a fault, maybe, but cute..."

"Okay Starr, you have powerful magic. That much is apparent. But I've encountered many in my line of work. I don't sense any evil in you."

Starr smiled warmly at him. "Thank you...for that observation."

Tira panted in exhaustion, after trying to break her magical bonds for the umpteenth time. She tasted dried blood on her lips, the result of being struck hard by Rag Out. Initially, she had identified him as a troll, but it puzzled her that a troll could use such potent magic. Moreover, trolls had been exiled from the Spooner Continent a generation ago by the Haz Knights. Perhaps that is why she sensed such hatred in this one. Tira could only imagine what this one planned to inflict on her. She wanted badly to be free and teach this creep a lesson. He had molested her by masquerading as Carrot. She had willingly let him TOUCH her. Tears formed in her eyes, the thought of him playing with her heart, her feelings for Carrot. It had felt so wonderful thinking Carrot had started to like her. Now, she was at this sick troll's mercy until help arrived.

"So tell me again," Chocolate asked."What we're doing here?"

"Shopping for you," Rei Chi said with a smile. They had returned to the marketplace again, but this time to the merchant's section where several shops and boutiques sold clothing and various fashions ranging from affordable to extravagant.

"I usually don't travel with a big wardrobe, although I'd like to," she told him. "It would get burdensome carrying it all from town to town."

"Just pick a couple outfits, I'll even help you choose. Even if you don't want it, it doesn't hurt to have fun trying it on," he urged.

Chocolate's eyes narrowed, but she didn't hide her grin. "You just want to see my hot bod in the latest outfits, huh?"

He blushed. She punched him lightly in the arm. "Okay. Let's start with some sundresses."

Her taste ranged from wholesome and modest to nice and elegant to sexy and revealing. Every once in the while, Chocolate would emerge from the changing room to display what she had on, turning and posing mockingly like a model. Most of the time, he gave approving smiles or an okay sign with his fingers. At some stores, Chocolate made him try on men's clothes while she played fashion critic. Finally, she did settle on a couple things, then they made their way to a jewelry store. She admired a very expensive pastel pearl braclet. Each pearl was naturally colored differently, by the oysters native to Perdone, something quite rare in nature. She tried it on, remarked how exorbant the price was, then browsed the store a little longer. They then walked through the bustling crowd, looking for a coffee shop.

"Hey there's Marron and Gateau," she said to Rei Chi. "They're teammates of mine."

She led him by the hand over to where Gateau and Marron sat, eating breakfast at an outdoor cafe.

"Hey Chocolate," Gateau noticed her approach. "Where ya been?"

"I spent the night with Rei Chi, here."

Marron and Gateau raised their eyebrows and exchanged glances. This was something new. "Have you seen Tira or Carrot?" asked Marron.

"No. I thought your brother was with that blonde bimbo," Chocolate replied.

"No. Carrot and Tira were hanging out yesterday afternoon and evening. They never came home last night," revealed Gateau.

"Is that so?" Chocolate said with a frown. "Well wait till I see her.."

"We'll be at the beach," Marron told Chocolate.

"Have fun," Chocolate said cheerfully. Then she and Rei Chi disappeared back into the crowd.

They stopped at a coffee shop and he ordered two lattes. Chocolate folded her arms across her chest and pondered. She was very relieved that Carrot was not with the other chick. Tira, she trusted, although she did have her suspicions that her little sister liked Carrot more than she let on... Chocolate turned her head to see Rei Chi waiting patiently with the lattes.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "I was just thinking about something."

"S'okay. So, would you like to see a play. There's a fine acting troupe that just hit town..."

Later that afternoon, Marron stood by the water's edge, while Gateau body surfed. Even he was tossed around by the growing waves, his strength no match for nature. Marron's golden eyes narrowed as he saw his brother out on a sailboat with a tall female. Wasn't he supposed to be with Tira? Instantly he sensed something wrong, a disturbance in magical forces. He had seen too much in his life to not know a dangerous situtaion when he saw one.

"Carrot!" he hollered, gesturing wildly, hoping his brother would see.

"Somebody's waving at you from the beach," Starr informed Carrot.

"Just my brother," Carrot noted. He waved back. The surf and wind drowned out any sound Carrot could hear from the shore.

Starr had better perception. "I think he wants to talk to you."

"It'll be a while before we can get this thing in," Carrot said.

"Maybe not.." Starr gestured and Marron stood before them in the boat.

"What the...??" Marron asked stunned.

"Now you can talk to him," Starr smiled to Carrot.

Marron watched Starr uneasily as he asked Carrot about Tira.

"He's been with me since yesterday morning," Starr said to Marron. Carrot noddedd in confirmation.

"Then Tira is in terrible danger," Marron said urgently.

"Marron what are you talking about?" Carrot asked confused.

"I saw Tira with someone who looked like you. His behavior was a little odd. I know you Carrot, but I did nothing..." Marron seemed pained by his mistake.

Starr'e eyes widened. "I think I know where your friend is. She's at the castle."

"The abandoned Sorcerer's castle? With who?" asked Carrot.

"My master," Starr replied softly.