"Right this way, please."

	The Crystal Warriors (as Wintergreen had termed them) nodded as 
they followed Goody through the winding halls of Wonka's home. While 
the house looked big on the outside, the interior seemed absolutely 
*huge*... much bigger than should have been possible. The halls were 
dimly lit, small glowing orbs along the walls providing the only 
illumination.

	"Kyouji!" Twizzler cried, a few steps behind. "It's creepy in 
here! It's all dark and shadowy and quiet..."

	"Not at the moment it isn't," Tsugiko muttered, glaring at 
Twizzler. "Would you stop complaining for just one minute?"

	"I'm not complaining! I'm just trying to protect my Kyouji!" She 
said, catching up and attaching herself to Kyouji's arm.

	Kyouji chuckled nervously, looking between the Twizzler and 
Tsugiko, who were staring holes in one another. With a large amount of 
effort, he managed to disengage the red-clad girl from his arm.

      "Twizzler... we've made our decision," he said, voice low. "We're 
going to meet this Wonka guy. The little furball seems to think he can 
help us repair Tsugiko's crystal... and much as I hate to admit it, 
he's usually right about these things."

	"But he's evil! The experiments!"

	Goody turned to reply angrily, but stopped himself as Kyouji 
continued speaking. "I know, I know. But Yumi believes what Goody told 
us..."

	"So? He's tricking her! You heard what the villager said!"

	Kyouji shook his head. "The crack in Tsugiko's crystal is getting 
worse every time she uses her powers. If we don't do something, she 
could lose her powers, and without her powers... if there's even the 
slightest chance this Wonka guy can help her, I'm willing to take the 
risk. And lord help anyone who gets in my way."

	Tsugiko stopped dead in her tracks, looking up at Kyouji with a 
look of surprise and... something else. "You... you really mean that?"

	"Of course I do," he said, smiling. "Whatever it takes."

	Yumi, who had been unsure about getting involved in another fight 
between Twizzler and Tsugiko, smiled warmly. "That's so sweet of you, 
Kyouji."

	 "Yeah, Kyouji's such a nice guy," Twizzler said, smiling 
viciously. "I'm sure he'd do the same thing for *anyone*."

	Tsugiko scowled. "What the heck is your problem, anyway? You pop up out of nowhere, 
start tossing yourself at Kyouji..."

	Twizzler shrugged, then tossed herself at Kyouji again, becoming one with his arm. "I 
can't help myself!" she giggled, squeezing Kyouji tighter. "He's just so sweet and dashing and 
handsome and heroic..."

	Kyouji blushed. "Erm... I'm not really *that* great..."

	Tsugiko rolled her eyes. "And do you have to hang off him like that all day?"

	"Would you prefer I hung off him like this all night?" 

	Kyouji's eyes widened and his cheeks really started to flush. "Uh... err... ah... umm..."

	 Tsugiko reached for her hammer. "Why you little tra-"

	"We're here."

	Three sets of eyes turned to Yumi, who was standing in front of a large oak door. "Goody 
says that Wonka's right in here."

	Twizzler blinked, then let go of Kyouji's arm. Flashing him a dazzling smile (and giving 
him a quick pinch on the butt, which caused him to yelp and Tsugiko to growl), she stepped around
Yumi and she set herself between the assembled group and the door.

	"You two can blindly bumble your way into certain death, but Kyouji is going in there 
over my dead body," she said, standing tall.

	"Sounds like a good route to me," Tsugiko replied, smiling slightly.

	"You'd better be careful, Tsugiko... sometimes my magic has a mind of its own."

	"Well that makes one of you."

	Twizzler narrowed her eyes, and took a step towards Tsugiko. "If that's how you want it 
to be..."

	"Will you stop it!" Kyouji yelled, stepping in between them. "We don't have time for 
this! I appreciate your concern, Twizzler, but I already told you that I'm going in there. 
You're not going to change my mind."

	"But Kyouji!" she said pleadingly, taking one of his hands in hers. "You have no idea 
what's going on behind that door! He could be preparing to do hideous experiments on us! He 
could have some sort of secret weapon ready to blast us! He could be planning to capture us and 
deliver us to Wintergreen!"

	"Actually, he's baking cookies," Yumi chimed in.

	Everyone turned to look at the pink clad Warrior Priestess, who had apparently opened 
the door while everyone else was bickering. Beyond her, a old man wearing a lab coat and an 
apron which read "Kiss the Cook" stood in the background, holding up a tray full of baked goods. 
"Guests! How wonderful! We don't get many visitors out here in the woods! Would you like some 
cookies?"

	Yumi smiled. She'd been right to trust Goody after all. "Why thank you, sir. We'd love 
too."	

	Tsugiko and Goody turned back to Twizzler with harsh stares. Kyouji looked back with a 
quizzical expression on his face.

	The sorceress chuckled nervously. "Maybe they're evil cookies?"

**********

The Starburst Crystal
Created by Ardweden
Legend 20: Wonka Wonka Wonka!
by Jesse Ellman
Sole Member, Insane Cod Productions
"Because man cannot subsist on good writing alone."

**********

	"Or maybe this is an sinister plot to raise our cholesterol, hmm?"

	Twizzler scowled as Tsugiko smirked triumphantly. "Enough already, I get the point," 
she muttered, grabbing a muffin. 

	"Don't worry about it, Twizzler," Yumi said, wiping her mouth. "Everyone makes mistakes. 
You were just acting on some bad information."

	Bad information indeed, Twizzler thought darkly. The plan had been perfect; Kyouji's 
overly protective nature, combined by Reisin's performance back at the village, should have made 
keeping them away from Wonka simple. 

	Except that Yumi was too nice to believe such awful things about anyone, Tsugiko 
obviously didn't trust her as far as she could throw her... and, evidentially, Kyouji was a bit 
more brave and noble than she had anticipated.

	She smiled cutely at the young man, who blushed around the slice of cake he was eating. 
Such a sweet guy...

	"I know! He's trying to fatten us up so we won't fit into our costumes anymore! And 
without our costumes, nobody will believe we're really the Warrior Priestesses! How nefarious!"

	Twizzler grit her teeth. Now Yumi was giggling, and even Kyouji was smiling a bit. With 
no small amount of effort, she managed something resembling a smile. 

	 "Tsugiko, leave the poor girl alone," Yumi said, still smiling. "She already 
apologized."
	
	"Okay, okay," Tsugiko replied. Turning to Twizzler, she flashed a brilliant smile. "No 
hard feelings right?"

	Twizzler was just about ready to show Tsugiko just how hard her feeling were when Wonka 
walked back into the room. "I'm terribly sorry for leaving you here alone after you just 
arrived, but I had to go check on one of my experiments. Please excuse my poor manners. As I'm 
sure Goody told you, my name is Wonka, scientist and dessert chef extraordinaire."

	"Pleasure to meet you, sir," Kyouji replied. "Your cookies were excellent."

	"Ah, wonderful! I was using an ingredient for the first time today, and I was rather 
unsure how the batch would turn out," he said, smiling. "And Goody tells me that you're the 
Warrior Priestesses!"

	"And Knight Protector," Kyouji added.

	"Ah yes, of course. My mistake," Wonka replied apologetically. "I'd forgotten that one 
of the Priestesses were male this time around. Odd thing, that."

	Kyouji snickered. "You're telling me. I almost got stuck in a dress."

	Wonka raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I believe we can all be thankful that didn't happen," he 
said, earning chuckles from the four youths at the table. "And who might the young lady 
accompanying you be?"

	"My name's Twizzler!" the mage said cheerily. "I joined up with them a few days ago to 
be with my Kyouji!"

	"So you and him are..."

	"Yes!"

	"No!"

	"Well..."

	Kyouji sweatdropped mightily. "It's... complicated."

	"I can see that," Wonka said, chuckling lightly. "So to what do I owe the pleasure of 
your company? Goody was a bit vague about that part, I'm afraid."

	"This is why," Tsugiko said, pointing at her forehead.

	"... oh dear. How on Mars did that happen?"

	"It was damaged in a battle with Wintergreen. Or at least a copy of her."

	Wonka's eyes went wide. "You fought Wintergreen and survived? Truly amazing..."

	Tsugiko shook her head sadly. "It's more like she let us survive. She pretty much had us 
beaten, and then just left."

	"A mistake we don't intend to give her the chance to repeat," Kyouji said firmly.

	Tsugiko nodded. "The crack had gotten worse over time... every time I use my powers, it 
gets worse, and it gets harder and harder to use them."

	Wonka nodded. "I see... and you want me to try and fix it, I presume?"

	"We'd appreciate any help you could give, Wonka-san," Yumi said. 

	The scientist nodded. "Hrm... I have a couple of ideas, but... let's go to my library. I 
need to check a few of my texts regarding the Warrior Priestess legend. I seem to recall the 
crystals being mentioned in several places."

	The group got up and followed Wonka through the halls of his house. After a few moments, 
he opened a door and walked through. "Follow me please."

	The four followed... and stopped dead in their tracks as they stepped through the 
doorway. "Library" didn't do this room justice. It was absolutely *huge*, with bookshelves 
filling the floors of the three levels, each filled to the brim with books. At various tables, 
Oompa Loompas sat with books, pens, and paper, scribbling incessantly.

	"What're they doing?" Yumi asked, amazed. 

	"Cataloging my collection. As you can see, is a rather monumental task," he said, 
sweeping his arm from left to right. "After I freed them, the Oompa Loompas insisted on repaying 
me for my help. I was hesitant at first, but when they offered to help me with this... well, it 
would've been foolish of me to refuse."

	"And... you can find things in here?" 

	Wonka nodded. "I know this place like the back of my hand. Organized it myself. I'm 
cataloging it so that, when you all defeat Wintergreen, others will be able to come and visit my 
library, and share in the knowledge I've managed to accumulate over the years."

	Wonka smiled slightly. "But enough of an old mans boasting. Let's get down to business." 
Turning around, he called out to the leader of the Oompa Loompas. "Goody! Could you please get 
me books 13 through 21 on shelf 1173?"

	"Sure thing!" Goody replied, saluting crisply. Within a few minutes, he had the books in 
had, and brought them over to Wonka, who immediately sat down at a table and started thumbing 
through them.

	"Hrm... no, no, no... ah! Here's something!"

	"What?" Yumi said excitedly.

	"A passage from one of the prophesies regarding the Warrior Priestesses. Says here that 
the crystals on your head are a conduit through which Mars provides you with power to combat 
threats against the planet... Wintergreen, in this case. It also represents your link to the 
planet itself... without it, the planet is powerless to help you in any way."

	Tsugiko blinked. "So... if I don't get this fixed... am I going to be able to go home?"

	"An interesting question... I'm not sure, quite frankly," Wonka admitted. "The manner in 
which Mars brought you here is something of a mystery. I couldn't say for sure either way. 
Although..."

	"Although?"

	Wonka cleared his throat. "Well... if your crystal does indeed fully break, then you and 
your friends will not be able to stop Wintergreen. The planet will be doomed... and most likely, 
knowing Wintergreen, you wouldn't have the chance to go home."

	"Because she'd kill us all," Yumi said quietly.

	Wonka nodded. "Afraid so, my dear girl. Which is why we need to get that fixed as 
quickly as... how interesting."

	"What?" all three Crystal Warriors said simultaneously.

	"It says here... hrm... 'If the cord that links the planet and it's protectors should be 
cut, they will lose the ability to draw upon the might of the planet in its defense, and all 
will be lost. If, however, the cord be not completely cut, the link can be repaired by 
reaffirming the ties between the defender and the planet.' "

	" 'Reaffirming the ties'... what does that mean?" Tsugiko asked. "What do we have to 
do?"

	"Again, I'm not entirely sure," Wonka said, scanning through another of the books. "The 
prophesy is very vague in that regard, alas... actually, I may have something."

	Another cry of "What?" rang out from the three teens.

	"In a related prophesy, it mention the legendary ring, 'Pop'. I know of the ring, but I 
never noticed this passage before... It is said that the ring was used by ancient priests in 
their worship of the planet, and that the high priest wore the ring to better attune himself 
with the planet."

	"So this ring, Pop... It can fix my crystal?" Tsugiko said, eyes filled with hope for 
the first time in a while.

	"No."

	The group facefaulted, and a cry of "WHAT?!" rang out from all three.

	Wonka started. "I meant to say that the ring, in and of itself, cannot repair the damage 
to your crystal... but I'm almost positive that it is a key element of whatever method we need 
to use in order to heal you."

	Tsugiko took a deep breath and nodded. "So once we get this ring, what then?"

	"I'm not sure. I'll have to do more research, see if there are any other mentions. But 
while I'm doing that, you all can go get the ring."

	Tsugiko sighed. "Another long trek through an area infested with deadly monsters, I 
presume?"

	"Actually, it's in a cave about an hour and a half from here, if I remember correctly. 
Just north-east of here. I've been to the cave several times to study it."

	"And there's no vicious monster guarding it or anything?" Kyouji asked.

	"No. It's just sitting there on alter in the middle of the cave."

	"But then why hasn't anyone taken it?" said Yumi, confused. "I mean, if it's just 
sitting there..." 

	"The alter is protected by a magical field," Wonka said. "According to legend, only the 
pure of heart can remove the ring from its place on the alter. All others are struck down by the 
power of Mars. If I remember correctly, the high priest placed it there for safe keeping during 
Wintergreen's first reign of terror." 

	"The witch had all but destroyed the priesthood, and the high priest knew that, if 
Wintergreen gained possession of the ring, she would be unstoppable. So, already wounded, he 
fled to the cave and, with the last of his power, called on the planet to protect the ring from 
any who would use it for ill."

	"The effort cost him his life, but his sacrifice was not in vain. It is said that 
Wintergreen worked her terrible magics for a full year trying to break the field protecting the 
ring, but could not. She tried taking control of pure-hearted people, but the field broke her 
control before they could take the ring. Eventually, the mighty Wintergreen gave up, resigned 
to the fact that one as wicked as her could not pierce the barrier surrounding it."

	Wintergreen was *not* going to like this, Twizzler thought darkly. The last thing the 
Queen wanted to hear was that the Crystal Warriors were going to able to fix Tsugiko's crystal 
without even breaking a sweat.

	Then again... Twizzler mentally smirked. If she could somehow get her hands on the ring, 
and deliver it to Wintergreen, the Queen would undoubtedly be EVER so grateful... 

	"So where is this cave, then?" Twizzler asked, speaking up for the first time in a 
while.

	Tsugiko eyed the young girl warily. "Why're you so interested?"

	"Kyouji obviously going with you to get this thing," she said, hands on hips. "And if 
he's going, so am I."

	"Says who?"

	"Says me."
	
	Tsugiko looked over at Kyouji. "Well? What do you think?"

	Kyouji blinked. "Well..."

	Twizzler smiled seductively, and sauntered over to Kyouji, putting a little extra hip 
action into her step. "You want me to come along, right Kyouji-chan?" she purred, slipping 
behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist.

	Kyouji eyes darted around in panic, both from Twizzler's proximity (and continued hip 
action) and from Tsugiko's death glare. "Umm... err... well, that is..."

	"Let her come, Tsugiko," Yumi said. "She said she's a sorceress, right? And even if 
she's not a Warrior Priestess, her powers could come in handy down the road..."

	"But Yumi!" Tsugiko cried. "She..."

	"She hasn't done anything to earn our distrust," Yumi said. "And given the way people 
have been reacting to us lately, we can use any friends we can get."

	"Yeah! I can help you guys beat that nasty Wintergreen!" Twizzler said, jumping up and 
down excitedly (to which Kyouji, who she was still clinging to, responded by turning even 
redder.)

	Tsugiko scowled. Yumi seemed dead set on having her come, and Kyouji's brain had 
evidentially shut down, given the way he was babbling as Twizzler nuzzled his side...

	"Okay, she can come," Tsugiko grumbled, right before turning to go see if a coupla 
whacks upside the head would reboot Kyouji's higher brain functions.

	Yumi sighed, then turned to Wonka. "Do you have a map or something we can use?"

	Wonka nodded. "It's around here somewhere... I'll have the boys track it down. In the 
meantime, you all could probably use some sleep. Allow me to show you to your rooms?"

	Twizzler looked up from the tug-o-war she and Tsugiko were currently playing with 
Kyouji's arms. "Can I share a room with Kyouji?"

	"NO!"

**********

	Several hours later, when everyone was asleep, Twizzler slipped out of her room quietly 
and made her way out of Wonka's home and into the surrounding forest. She needed to update the 
Queen on what was going on, and couldn't risk doing it in her room, what with the other three 
nearby.

	When she felt she was a safe distance from the house, she began to chant words of power 
under her breath. After a moment, a glowing image of Wintergreen appeared in front of her. "You 
woke me up, Twizzler. This had better be good."

	"My apologies, my Queen, but I had to wait until everyone was asleep to slip away."

	Wintergreen scanned the surroundings, and narrowed her eyes when she saw Wonka's house 
in the distance. "I assume that you failed to prevent the Crystal Warriors from meeting with 
Wonka. I am most displeased."

	Twizzler gulped audibly. "Not to worry, my Queen. I never really thought I'd be able to 
dissuade them..."

	Wintergreen raised an eyebrow. "Oh you didn't, did you? Why is that?"

	"I need time to work my way into their confidence. I believe I have the trust of the 
pink-clad one, and I'm... working on Kyouji-chan..."

	" 'Kyouji-chan'?" Wintergreen said, facepalming. "Please tell me you haven't actually 
fallen for the Knight Protector..."

	"A lady never kisses and tells, my Queen," Twizzler giggled, before a glare from 
Wintergreen silenced her.

	"I tolerate your... unorthodox methods because, up to this point, they have gotten 
results, which is more than I can say for most who serve me. But just remember... if you allow 
your little crush on the Knight Protector to interfere with your mission..."

	Wintergreen didn't have to finish the thought. "It won't, my Queen," Twizzler said, a 
bit nervously. "There's more I must tell you, though."

	Twizzler quickly explained what she had heard from Wonka earlier in the day. For the 
first time, the red-clad girl saw a look of surprise pass over Wintergreen's face.

	"The ring 'Pop'? I have not heard that name in over a thousand years..." she said, deep 
in thought. "And this Wonka says that it can be used to fix the girl's crystal?"

	"He thinks that it is a critical part of the repair process, although he has yet to 
figure out the rest of it."

	Wintergreen's eyes narrowed. "You must not allow them to recover the ring. Its true 
power *should* be inaccessible to them... but even if it is, I do not want that whelp getting 
her crystal fixed."

	"That will be... difficult, my Queen," Twizzler said, averting her eyes from 
Wintergreen's glare. "The ring is nearby, and unguarded. I don't see any way I can prevent them 
from getting the ring without compromising my mission... unless..."

	"Unless..."

	"Unless you were to summon a monster to serve as a guard. In the midst of a battle, I 
might be able to distract them enough to allow your monster to kill them."

	Wintergreen paused for a moment to contemplate that, then nodded. "Not a bad plan. Is 
there any particular monster that you require to do this?"

	Twizzler bowed her head. "I leave that decision to your discretion, my Queen. I would 
not presume to know better than you."

	"A wise answer," the image said, chuckling evilly. "I shall prepare a suitable monster. 
And remember; the Crystal Warriors must not get the ring."

	"As you command, my Queen."

	"And remember... do *not* get distracted by the Knight Protector."

	"Yes, my Queen."

	The image faded away, and Twizzler got to her feet. "She's no fun," the girl pouted.

	"I heard that."

	Twizzler blanched. "My apologies, my queen."

	No response came, and Twizzler sighed. Brushing herself off, she turned to walk back to 
the hut...

	And saw one of the Oompa Loompas standing a few yards away, eyes wide.

	"That... that was the Dark Queen Wintergreen," the short man stuttered, clearly 
frightened. "You're working for Wintergreen..."

	Twizzler smiled. It was not a pleasant smile. "That I do. What're you going to do about 
it?"

	The Oompa Loompa backed away nervously. "I'm... I'm going to go tell the Warrior 
Priestesses and the Knight Protector!" he cried.

	"Oh, I don't think so," Twizzler said, a sphere of darkness building on her right hand.

	The Oompa Loompas eyes went wide, and it turned to flee, running as fast as its short 
legs could carry it.

	"Death By Chocolate!"

	It was not fast enough. The globe of darkness flew from Twizzler's hand and engulfed the 
Oompa Loompas head. It clawed at the globe desperately, trying to get it off, to no avail. 
Finally, it fell to the ground, clutching its through, twitching spastically.

	Twizzler pumped her fist, then skipped over to where the small man lay. She poked it 
with a stick a few times to make sure it was dead, then stood tall, concentrating. Her hands 
glowed again, and the black sphere over the Oompa Loompas head expanding, engulfing its whole 
body. After a moment, the sphere faded away, leaving no trace of the body behind.

	Twizzler cracked her knuckles. "Now, what was I going to do... oh yes..."

********** 
	
	Twizzler smirked as she stood in front of Kyouji's door. Try as he might to resist her, 
she could tell that she was breaking down his defenses. He wasn't quite ready; she was pretty 
sure he had feelings for Tsugiko, and that she had some for her, although neither admitted it. 
However, when the girl woke up tomorrow and found her in Kyouji's bed, locked in an embrace... 

	The sorceress' heart fluttered just thinking about it. Ever so carefully, she opened 
Kyouji's door, moving slowly to prevent even the smallest sound. When it was opened wide enough, 
she slipped in, carefully shutting the door behind her.

	The flutterings increased when she saw Kyouji asleep. He looked so... peaceful. 
Handsome. Innocent. Licking her lips, she crept up alongside his bed, lifted the covers 
ever-so-slowly...

	And suddenly found the point of Kyouji's blade at her throat.

	Twizzler froze as Kyouji sat up, eyes adjusting to the light. "Who's ther- Twizzler?"

	"Umm... hi?" she said nervously.

	Kyouji quickly lowered her sword. "Oh, geez, I'm sorry! It's just a reflex..." Kyouji 
paused in mid-thought, blinked, and looked at her. "What're you doing in here, anyway?"

	"I... err... I had a nightmare," Twizzler said quickly. "A bad nightmare. I dreamed that 
Wintergreen came during the night, and killed Tsugiko, and Yumi, and Wonka... and then made me 
watch while she killed you." The red-haired girl's eyes started to water. "It was horrible... so
horrible..."

	Kyouji nodded in understanding, then stood up and wrapped Twizzler up in a soft hug. 
"It's okay... it was just a nightmare. I'm okay, see?"

	"I'm sorry to wake you up," she said, face buried in his shoulder, "but... it just felt 
so *real*! I had to check, make sure you were okay... I know it sounds stupid..."

	"Don't worry about it," Kyouji said soothingly. "Everyone has bad nightmares once in a 
while. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

	Twizzler sniffled, then looked up to gaze directly into Kyouji's eyes. "You really mean 
that?" she asked softly.

	Kyouji nodded. "Really. It's no big deal."

	Twizzler locked eyes with Kyouji a moment longer, then threw her arms around him and 
hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Kyouji. You're so kind to me... I feel like I don't deserve such 
kindness."

	"Aww, don't say that..."

	"But you're the Knight Protector! You're brave and heroic and dashing... and I'm just an 
ugly little magician..."

	"Ugly? You? You're kidding me, right?" Kyouji said. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You're
beautiful."

	Twizzler froze, and lifted her head slowly. "I am? You think I'm beautiful?"

	Kyouji, surprised by her reaction, chuckled nervously. "Sure I do. Why wouldn't I?"

	Twizzler lowered her eyes. "That means a lot to me... I don't know how to thank you..."

	Kyouji shook his head. "No thanks needed. I'm just glad I can help you feel better."

	Twizzler paused for a moment. "Then I want to help you feel better..."

	"Hmm?"

	Twizzler slowly leaned into Kyouji, pressing her chest into his. "I want to thank you, 
Kyouji-chan... I want you help you feel better..."

	The young man's eyes widened at the sudden contact. "Twizzler, you don't..."

	Raising herself up on her toes, Twizzler began to plant small kisses up and down 
Kyouji's neck. "I want to, though..."

	"Twizzler... please..."

	"Don't talk.," she whispered huskily, nibbling on his ear. "I just want to kiss you for 
a little while... help you feel better for a while..."

	"But..."

	"Shhh... just trust me," she purred, lips inches from his.

	"Twizzler makes mouths happ-"

	"No."

	Kyouji pulled his head back, and forcefully removed Twizzler's hands from him. "I can't 
do this. It's not right."

	"But..."

	"I'm sorry, Twizzler, but I can't. I don't want to take advantage of you..."

	"But you're not!" she cried. "I want to do this!"

	"How do you know?" he asked, confused. "We only met a few days ago. We barely know each 
other!"

	"I'm sorry," she said, backing away. "It's just... my mother..."

	Kyouji blinked. "What about your mom?"

	Twizzler sniffled. "When I was young... my mother would tell me stories every night 
before I went to sleep. And she'd always tell me about how, one day, a brave and noble knight 
would arrive from a distant land to defeat the evil and restore peace to our land. And how that 
brave and noble knight would be my one true love..."

	"And I believed her. So I started studying magic, hoping to make myself powerful enough 
for the knight to notice me... after all, a hero like that could never love a normal peasant 
girl... but a powerful sorceress, strong enough to ride by his side and fight evil with him..."

	"Then one day... our village elder was a powerful mage, with many powerful artifacts. 
Wintergreen apparently coveted one of them, and sent her minions to get it. But our elder was 
too strong. None of her minions could defeat him."

	"Then one day, Wintergreen herself came. A terrible battle ensued. The elder fought 
fiercely, and managed to injure Wintergreen, but she eventually overpowered him. And after she 
killed him... she killed everyone else in my village and burned it to the ground."

	"Oh geez... I'm so sorry..."

	Twizzler nodded. "I was ten at the time, and I had snuck away to go practice my magic in 
the forest... when I came back, there was nothing left but the fires and the corpses."

	"On that day, I swore to make myself powerful enough so that, when the knight my mother 
had told me about finally came, I would be powerful enough to win his heart and help him kill
that bitch Wintergreen."

	Kyouji took a moment to process that. "And you think that I'm..."

	"I know you are," Twizzler said firmly. "When I heard that the Warrior Priestesses had 
returned to fight Wintergreen, and that one of them was male... I *knew* that I had finally 
found the knight my mother had spoke of."

	"And then I found you... and you were everything I'd always dreamed you'd be..."

	Kyouji blushed heavily. "Really, I'm not..."

	"Yes you are," she said. "Just now. Most men in your situation wouldn't have even 
thought twice about that. But you did. You didn't want to take advantage of me..."

	"That's why I love you."

	Kyouji sputtered for a moment. "You... you lo-"

	"I love you with all my heart, Kyouji-san," she said, walking up to him and taking his 
hands in hers. "I love you with every fiber of my mind, my body, and my soul."

	Twizzler bowed her head. "I know that this is sudden, and I can't expect you to feel the 
same way about me... but do I at least have a chance?"

	Kyouji closed his eyes, and stood silently for a minute. "I've never... I don't... I'm 
not quite sure how I'm supposed to react to this," he said softly. "And you're right. Right now, 
I don't feel the same way about you that you do about me."

	"As for the future though... I don't know. I suppose anything's possible."

	Twizzler smiled warmly. "That's all I can ask, Kyouji-chan. Just give me a chance."

	And then she kissed him.

	Kyouji felt a jolt go through his body as her lips made contact with his for just the 
briefest of moments. Before he could even register what was going on, she had stepped back, 
smiling.

	"Just to let you know what's waiting for you, Kyouji-chan," she purred. Opening the 
door, she slowly stepped through, poking her head back in to blow a kiss before closing it 
softly.

	For a moment, Kyouji stood stock still, fingers on his lips, trying to figure out what 
had happened. 

	*Oh, that's just perfect, dumbass,* Teru seethed inside his head. *I tell you to choose 
between Yumi and Tsugiko, and you go and pick up another love interest. What the hell's wrong 
with you?*

	"... why me?"

Authors Notes:

Dammit.

Dammit dammit dammit.

I had so much more planned for this part... I had a Twizzler/Yumi scene planned. I had the big 
fight at the cave all planned out. It was gonna be *funny*! I'd promised all the way back with 
my first SC part to bring some humor...

And I was finally gonna kill Kit Kat! ;_;

But I couldn't do any writing during the week because of work, I was too tired Friday night, I 
couldn't get on the comp Saturday afternoon, I had writers block last night... and today, there 
just wasn't enough time.

I wanna apologize for this... I wanted to do more. I just couldn't.

I know I kinda left the next author holding the bag... Mr. Lockwood, if you have *any* problems 
coming up with ideas, I'd be more than happy to help. Hell, if you want, I'll write the fight 
for ya.

Again, my apologies. Hope this doesn't suck too much.

(Quick food for thought: How much of what Twizzler think do *you* think is true? I know how much 
I intended to be true... =P)

Jesse