Next up is a Sir Fumblies solo.

That I helped write. Yup.

 
A crack of lightning lit up the storm dulled skies over the once Kingdom of KOL outpost. It did little to shake the frantic activities swarming the outpost, now a stronghold of the Blood Clan. Merchants rushed to sell their wares to weary and tired soldiers. Further off, a squad of Viking fighters and Knob Goblin brutes made their way back to the outpost after another decisive battle.

The sense of dread spread itself over the stronghold like the rain pouring down on it, as if the inhabitants knew they were facing a world ending risk. The reality, however, is they were facing not one, but several such threats.

The rain itself started as a drizzle and turned into a downpour with an uncanny speed, taking over the plains like a beast catching its prey unaware. It was into this storm that Sir Fumblies stepped, having slipped out of the Outpost to deal take care of something that he didn't want anyone else to know about. So while everyone was busy he had stepped out of the gate and was now heading south by himself. The rain just caused him to pull his hood tight to lessen the weather's impact. He wasn't even sure he would be able to pull off what he had in mind but he had to try considering the impending end of the world and all of that. He figured that it would be easier to handle alone then with a whole platoon.

"Going somewhere Boss?" The gruff voice of Wolf broke the silence. Fumblies sighed as he turns to look at the big Warwolf tracker who was looking at him with an amused smirk on his face. Wolf had been on a scouting mission and was coming back to the outpost when he had come up on Fumblies.

"You could say that Wolf and I don't need the entire Blood Clan tagging along either." Fumblies was now a bit exasperated as he hadn't planned on running into anyone until he had gotten a lot further south.

"Well where are we going Boss man?" Wolf asked in a smug rather of fact tone that belied the fact that he was coming along no matter Fumblies had to say about it.

"Need to talk to someone in Ninja Town."

Wolf snarled. "Waste of time if you ask me. It's not like you can trust a ninja."

"Wouldn't tell my sword that Wolf. I would rather trust a ninja than a demon from Dios." Fumblies commented carefully.

Wolf shrugged. "Either way, you'll need protection. Good thing you got me."

"Well just don't cause too much trouble. I have to do some training."

Another shrug. "If you say so, boss."

"I do. I need to know what all this ghost can do with what is happening with the supposed impending end of the world."

Wolf considered it. "Yeah, end of the world. I think I can offer a slight discount on my services for that."

"We will discuss fees with all of this done with Wolf. Do you have an experience with ghosts?" Fumblies asked with interest as he started to walk south again.

A curt reply. "You know I do."

"Well I inherited a ghost. A kid ninja had surrendered to me then was killed by the demon Dios. Long story short the kid's ghost is now in my gear and I need to know the full extent of its abilities. Which is why I am heading to Ninja Town."

"Ah, is that why we're going." Wolf kept up the pace easily and actually had to slow himself down to keep from getting ahead of the leader. "I assume your next goal after is Kadlin."

"Actually it is Philler."

"Kadlin's the big threat."

"Do you even know who Philler is?"

"Someone you don't like."

"You hear about the strangeness at Fernsworthy Tower and all the undead activity there?"

"A bit." Wolf said, not bothering to mention that bit was from the Fumblies Command. "If he's tied up in that, I can see why you'd want him dead... deader."

"Well long story short he manipulated me into almost starting a world wide war. Even caused us trouble down in Honorburg. Remember the kindnapped Princesses? He was behind that and if I am not mistaken he is working with Kadlin." Fumblies didn't mention that he had once been Philler's student.

"And of course, there's more you're not telling me, I'm sure." Wolf shrugged. "You're the commander, you don't need to explain your decisions to me, but it sounds like a smart move. He sounds like he'd be involved with this kind of thing."

"That and Fernsworthy Tower is where Bones will be."

Wolf just smiled. Like a predator.

"And I am sure you want to teach him a lesson after what happened in Hey Daze."

Wolf nodded. Without any brutes or Knob Goblins slowing them down, it didn't take long to reach ninja village. Things got complicated about a quarter of a mile away, however, as they encountered a shimmering red portal blocking their way.

"Wolf any idea what this is? Or rather where this goes?" Fumblies asked, wondering if he would end up back in Hey Daze.

Wolf quickly pulled out a mystical tuning fork to analyze it. "Whatever it is, looks consistent with interdimensional portals, but it doesn't look wholly natural. We should probably shut it down, since there's no way 'o knowin' what's on the other side."

"And how do we do that?"

"Well if you could be quiet while I analyse it," Wolf grumbled, "maybe I can find out."

Fumblies just blinked then shrugged not saying anything while his hand moved to rest on the blade of his sword.

"As long as it doesn't get active, we should be able to.." started Wolf, interrupted as a wave of energy burst from the portal, knocking both men flat on their backs.

"Well we can safely say that the portal is active." Fumblies commented sarcastically as he stood back up.

"I would say so." Wolf scrambled to his feet and had to double check his vision as he saw some almost familiar figures pouring out of the portal. The first two large creatures looked like Knob Goblin brutes, but not quite as big. The strange thing was they were glowing red, and the facial features were all wrong. Twisted somehow, like their faces had caved inwards slightly.

"Great as if things weren't bad enough." Fumblies said with a sigh. He shook his head as he saw a heavily armored paladin standing next to a goblin that could only be described as an alchemist. "I hope you don't mind battling flip world doubles."

"Whatever you just said," Wolf growled, "I got the word battling out of it."

"Whoever you's is," the first brute said. "You'ses better tell me where me and my commanders are at, right nowses!"

"Well I am Sir Fumblies and I am guessing that you are my flipworld double. You are in the Distant Woods in the Loathing Kingdom." Fumblies commented as he noticed a snarling chained wolf being held off to the side.

"Don't flatter yourself," answered the one that looked like a paladin. He rushed forward to attack, sword clutched tightly in one hand.

"Do you really want to do that. I have survived Philler's games a few times and dealt with Hey Daze. So do you really want to attack me?" Fumblies commented in a matter of fact tone.

The paladin continued his attack with a primal yell, swinging the blade at Fumblies who casually responded with a shake of his head while blasting the paladin with a fireball. Although the paladin stood his ground, the fireball clearly took him by surprise, interrupting the attack.

"Do you really want to press me?" Fumblies had by then started to let a bit of his cockiness and ego to show through while the staring at the paladin who silently continued his attack, swinging his crystal shard sword with lethal intent.

"I guess that would be a yes." Fumblies commented in a sarcastically dry tone while moving to avoid the sword. As he moved, Fumblies drew his own sword to prepare for his defense.

Meanwhile, Wolf had engaged the pseudo Goblin Smashers, armed only with brass knucks and a single Adrulian magic boomerang, which he held up dramatically. "Got this baby from a working trip to the panda's lands. I've been saving it for a special occasion, but I guess I can spare it for you two."

"You no special, we special!" the Fake Smasher called out. He grabbed at Wolf, still in his mostly human form. Wolf dodged the attempt, circling behind the Fake Smasher.

Fumblies heard the comment and couldn't help but laugh as he circled back a few steps while the paladin rushed him. "That you are buddy, that you are."

The first Fake Smasher rushed at Wolf who threw the magic boomerang at him, freezing him momentarily in his tracks. Wolf continued dodging the other attacker, coming up behind and nailing him with repeated shots to the kidney and back. The beastly goblin roared with pain and anger.

Fumblies kept his eyes on the paladin who had every intention of carving the Blood Clan leader up like a Crimbo ham. As Fumblies finally started to move forward, he was attacked from the side by the snarling chained wolf that had until then be held off by a pair of the twisted Goblins.

"Traitor!" Wolf yelled, taking his attention off the fake brutes. Mistake, as they quickly pounced him, burying him under a stenchy pile of otherworldy goblin flesh.

Fumblies struggled to keep from becoming a chew toy while the Paladin circled around to get a better look at the snarling wolf's attack. Meanwhile, Wolf shifted to his werewolf form to fight off the two brute wannabes. The fight was unfortunately starting to turn against him and Fumblies, causing him to wish Fumblies hadn't been so stubborn as to leave his normal crew behind.

Fumblies wasn't as defenseless as he seemed but he had to first find a way to get a bit of distance between him and the enemies to make use of a few proverbial tricks up sleeve. The paladin called the wolf off as he came forward to finish Fumblies off. This was all the opening Fumblies needed as he was able to call forth a pair of summoned skeleton warriors, the same ones that had been gifted to him back in that game show after the fall of the undead threat. As soon as they appeared a short ways from the wannabe Brutes, Fumblies smirked. However, the tactician quickly intercepted the skeletons, ready for a fight.

"I had anticipated you'd call for backup, but I thought you had more impressive forces at your disposal. I guess I was wrong."

"So this was a planned attack. I figured as much." Fumblies was feeling confident that he could win this battle. Fumblies had gotten back to his feet and was was rushing forward, still smirking.

"No," the tactician replied confidently. "I'm simply prepared for all possible opposition. You.."

He threw something at the ground in front of Fumblies, causing it to explode. Fumblies dodged back.

"The swordsman. The catgirl. The viking. Even your precious little panthress."

Fumblies eyes narrowed as he makes a gesture towards Wolf. A few seconds later the tracker started to grow quickly doubling in size. As Wolf grew Fumblies pointed his sword at the the paladin in preparation of his next move. Before he realized what happened, the paladin had him by the throat, preparing to sever Fumblies' head with his crystal shard sword.

"Did you fall out of the stupid tree?" Fumblies snidely asked as the paladin's arm sudden caught fire. Things were getting closer than he liked but Fumblies knew they would pull out a win. He ducked as the sword whizzed over his head. The paladin turned around, ignoring the whips of flames and smoke from his smoldering armor. Fumblies sent on another lightning attack in the direction of the paladin. He doesn't wait for a reaction but instead quickly moved forward to take a swing at the paladin. The blow barely staggered the Paladin.

"You're a pathetic fighter, half-orc!"

"If that is the case then why haven't you beaten me yet?" Fumblies sneered in retort.

"Soon enough," replied the Paladin. Fumblies avoided another swing of the sword. The blows were getting closer, however.

Fumblies was counting on the cockiness of the enemy and was even playing into it a bit by being slow to avoid being hit. Yet, the slowness wasn't such that would be noticed as purposeful by the paladin. Swinging carefully, in what looked like a wild manner, Fumblies tried to turn the tide of the battle. The skeletons were battling with the smashers and and having a rough time of it. Meanwhile, the tactician had trapped Wolf in some kind of energy net. For all Wolf struggled against it, it seemed in vain.

"Not even your enhanced strength can break out of the field," the tactician said. "After all, I am Zinc; I anticipate all possibilities."

Wolf stopped struggling and started thinking. Shifting to a wolf wouldn't help him much against the energy net, and the skeletons and Fumblies were too busy fighting the. ... oh.. Wolf suddenly saw his way out, shifting to a wolf.

"Do you really think that you can break.." Zinc started to ask. "hm, no, I see what you're doing. Clever."

Wolf, now actually a wolf, rolled himself directly under the imitation brutes, tripping them up. Zinc fired a blast, trying to stop Wolf but it was too late. As soon as Zinc was distracted Fumblies tosses a fireball at Zinc's feet.

"No!" Zinc cried out, backing off. "They're too unpredictable to analyze properly!"

"Now we could do this the easy way with you surrendering now." Fumblies grinned darkly as he rushed forward pressing the tip of his sword to to the paladin's throat. The paladin slowly laid his sword at Fumblies feet and then, oddly, seemed to laugh ominously.

"I see you have chosen the lea..." Fumblies started to speak as he carefully reached down to pick the crystal sword. It suddenly exploded in a blinding blast of colorful energy as smoke filled the area.

It took a few precious seconds for the eyesight of Wolf and Fumblies to recover, but when they had, the enemies had fled. Once Fumblies could see again he saw the shards of crystal sword laying on the ground. Yet, he had a feeling that this sword was important.

"You sense it, don't you?" The spirit of the ninja child stood by Fumblies and Wolf, eying the fragments of the crystal shard sword. "Yes, we can make use of this."

Fumblies gathered all the shards that he can and carefully added them on bag in his travel pack. How he would be able to use the fragments of the sword he didn't know but knew he would be able to soon enough.

Wolf looked over in the distance, thinking he'd spotted something in the skies, but it vanished behind the clouds. Wolf shrugged as the two resumed their pilgrimage towards the ninja village. Writing assisted by Dash

More action and fights, and a great little bit of storytelling with Fumblies! (I enjoyed writing Wolf's lines there.)

Plus it's building to something bigger between Philler and Fumblies. You can kind of tell it. You can almost read it.

I like the synergy between Wolf and Fumblies, too- but I'm clearly biased here.

We got Konall up next, and this time it's with Aleena. Now that's worth hitting the next button for!