The last Sassy piece only had a bit of Becky Joy and company at the end. Well, here's more!

Becky is all over this piece, mostly focusing on the camp the two groups had set up at the very end of the award-winning last piece. This one's much less dark, as you'll see, with voter Ichiro commenting that it reminded him of how fun Becky could be - "consistently silly and funny." There's a ton of stories being weaved together here, too.

 
The mountains are cold and the strange darkness seems to pour down on the campers trying to shut them out from the light. Some of the campers are in an injured state and Sassy does what she can for the wounded. Sassy is quite worried about Becky and tries to make her comfortable. She asks Goblina about provisions.

"How is your food holding out?" she asks the goblin.

"Practically gone." Goblina replies. "When we left the camp, we weren't planning on a prolonged stay so we didn't take much with us, including food."

"How are the chances for hunting some animals?"

"I don't think I would risk it with this darkness all around. I am not sure how many of us are familiar with this mountain; maybe one of the Ninjas."

"We'll combine what we have and that should do for a while, but we are probably going to need more food before long."

Becky looks up at us. "Food? Oh, you mean yummies. Yes, let's get yummies!"

"How far is it to the camp you were at? Or do you plan to return to it?"

Goblina looks a bit puzzled. "I think we would like to return to it, if Fumblies hasn't already packed it up to move out.. Only problem is, we have to go up the mountains first."

"If the ice walls block you off from your camp, I am not sure we can do anything about that."

"Yes," says Goblina looking a bit puzzled. "But you have a mage with you. Couldn't he get through the ice walls?"

"Not if they have been sealed by magic."

"Aye, lassies, t's true," Rodrigo chimes in. "Plus it be moo'r than meere magiks. I think it be related to this darkness. I can't say f' sure, but it feels like it's sept into the ice walls. It's more than magicks, though, that, I can feel in my bones. If I had to put a Ireacan five-punt on it, I'd guess that's why me spells won't work on it."

Goblina frowns but nevertheless says, "Thank you, Rodrigo the mage. That makes more sense."

"No problem, lass," he answers. With that, he goes about making his way around camp.

"Anyway, we'll be all the way off the mountains soon. We should get these wounded some help." Goblina looks over to Becky and then quickly switches her gaze to the wounded Ninjas.

"I am beginning to hate these mountains," Sassy says. "For myself, I can't wait to leave them behind. I couldn't find the oriole here anyway."

"Oh," says Becky. "You were looking for the Oriole? Where is he? What has happened to him? Will he be all right?"

"I don't know the answers to any of those questions, Becky. I will probably have to search in other places to find him. Problem is, I didn't even find a clue to where he might be now. I thought you were up here for that but Goblina said you were up here for a different reason. What was the reason? What happened to you guys anyway? Goblina gave me the really quick version."

Sassy settles back to give them time to tell their story. She listens carefully as she huddles around the fire.

Becky sits up, nibbling on a dry bread roll as they gathered around the fireplace. "Lemme think on that for a minute, pllllease?!" Becky pleads.

"Okay, Becky," Sassy responds.

"Take your time," says Goblina politely.

Becky watches the wisps of flames crackling in the fireplace. Of course, as a cold mage, Becky's comfortable with the harsh wintery climates of the mountains but this cold feels ... different. Becky blames the darkness, no doubt there.

"Remember when we split up at the party?" Becky asks, deep in thought. "Mmmm, they had lots of yummies, and that was so fun!"

"Yeah," Sassy admits. "But I had no idea what was going on. To be honest, it was quite chaotic, and the next thing I knew, everyone had walked off."

Becky nods. "I wanted to bring more help, but miss Jen said she was gonna fly there. She didn't even stop to call her ship! So I asked her to carry me! Yay!"

"Yay," Goblina responds. "Bet that was exciting."

"Sounds scary!" Green says, hopping up and running off scared.

"Then she dropped me!" Becky sounds thrilled at the memory. "I tried to use ice winds to break my fall, but I was still goin' too fast, but it was sooo much fun! I got lucky cause Cattaras jumped up to save me!"

"And where is this all happening at?" Sassy asks. "I don't remember anything like that in Seaside Town."

"Nooo!" Becky answers, clarifying. "This was at the mountains! Best I can tell, Queen Catrina's baby was missing. So her, Dashie and elfie princess, wait, elfie queen Aleenie were up on the mountains lookin' for that prince baby! He's sooo cute! Anyway, they got ambushed, so Cattaras superspeeded off to save 'em, cause he can do that, ya know?"

Goblina nods. "And you and Jen were backup. She flew you there, right?"

"Yup!" Becky says, full of pride. "Course, it didn't go so well for us, but that's okay cause we're gonna find 'em!"

"I remember hearing about Catrina's missing baby," Sassy says.

"How'd you get here again, Goblina?" Becky asks, eyes wide in anticipation.

Goblina answers, "We were just hanging out when the Blood Clan came by. Fumblies knew Becky had gone with Jen, so they invited us to join their march to the mountains. We couldn't say no. And then, when Becky was supposed to be recovering, she decided it was more important to help the ninjas who hadn't made it up the mountain."

Becky frowns. "Sorry. I got us into a lot of trouble."

"No," Goblina says. "You did the right thing. The only problem is the snow ninjas got involved. We've been on the mountains for a few days now between that and the ice walls. We've spent a few nights in caves. We were lucky enough to run into a few more ninjas trying to get up the mountains, so we've joined up with them, but that also meant more people to hunt for.

"As you could tell, we were on our last legs when you found us."

"Maybe it was fate," Sassy says, smiling. "So what are you going to do now?"

Becky sits up straighter. "We gotta find Aleenia and company! I dunno where to look, though."

One of the ninjas they'd saved looks up at this. Sassy had earlier made up a better sling for his arm and done what she could to relieve the pain, although his ninja pride refuses to allow him to admit what pain he's in. "Hmmm, and you say they were kidnapped by members of the Knob Goblins' Elite 8, did you not?"

"No, I did," Becky replies confusingly. (Which is why it's best not to ask questions in the negative.)

"Wait," Linger asks. "You did say or no say?"

"I yes say," Becky answers, giggling at Linger. "Not in those exact words. Why comes?"

"Why do I ask about the Elite 8, you say?" the ninja asks, eager to explain.

Becky giggles. "I actually meant 'How come I didn't use those exact words?' but that's a better question, I think!"

"Well," the ninja answers. "We saw one of their accomplishes, Blake Cutler, moving towards South Degrassi on her way to the mountains. We surely stayed clear of him, knowing how dangerous the Elite 8 are. Is he a member or a lackey?"

Some ninjas' eyes fall on Goblina but she just shrugs at them. "I don't really keep up with Elite 8, believe it or not. To be honest, I thought they'd disbanded and gone their separate ways after Kadlin vanished."

"Either way," Red chimes in. "I guess we're going to South Degrassi!"

"Oh yeah!" Becky's eyes light up. "Maybe he knows something about what's going on and he can be our new friend and we can go on adventures!"

"Well," Goblina says. "He might know something. Not sure about the rest of it."

"Awwww, no new buddy," Becky says, frowning.

"Awww, no new buddy for Becky," Linger repeats. "Poor Becky."

As Green quietly returns to sit next to them, Becky turns to Sassy Snake who is resting, listening to all of it. "What about you, Sassy? Where do you gotta wanna go?"

"Well," Sassy says thinking over things carefully, "South Degrassie will do for right now. Right now, I just want to get off of these mountains. Maybe find a nice place to curl up by a fire and sleep for a week or so." Becky giggles and Sassy laughs.

They are suddenly interrupted by a roar that seems to shake the foundations of the mountain.

"What was that?" Sassy asks.

"Oh," says Linger, "Me brudder must have found't dat we got away. He don't sound happy, do he?"

"Naw," says Rodrigo, "soonds lik' he wants ye back, Linger lad."

Goblina looks up in alarm. "Sassy, what is going on?"

"Well," Sassy offers, "It's kind of a long story . . ."

Her talk is interrupted by a single word hollered by a pair of lungs that a hippo would be proud of. It is louder than any sound that they have ever heard before. The word: "Belinda!!!"

Sassy turns to Linger. "Whatever you do," she begs, "don't answer him. He might be able to find us easier that way. If he is on our trail, we had best get out of these mountains as fast as we can."

"When him mad, no place is safe. Best I go and see if I can calm him down."

I look at him with alarm. "Are you crazy? How do you plan to calm him down? Wouldn't it be better to give him some time, say about a thousand years, and come back after he has cooled off?"

"Aye, lassie! I agree wit ye. Linger lad, yon brother would kill ye if ye were to gae lookin' fer him," says Rodrigo.

"Be better dan him crushin' ye all, wouldn't it? Maybe him not as mad as he sounds."

Another huge shout splits the air and tremendous crashing and booming are heard up the mountain.

Sassy turns to Linger. "What did you say again? I couldn't hear because of all of the noise your levelheaded brother was making."

"Okay, him jest as mad as we thinks. What we do?"

"If we could get you to town, he probably wouldn't follow you there, would he?" asks Sassy.

"Me not know. Me ne'ber hear him so angry."

Goblina asks, "Excuse me, but what is going on anyway?"

"Oh," Sassy explains. "One of the people we ran in to up in the mountains was Belinda's little brother."

"Belinda," says Becky and looks around her. "Don't see any Belinda. Who is Belinda? Ooooh, can I meet her! Please, can I, can I?"

"Ah," says Sassy. "You actually have already met Belinda. You just don't know that you have met."

"Well, . . . huh? Becky is confused. "Cool! Where's Belinda now?" She raises her head to look all around, "Hey! Hey Belinda! Where are you? Is she playing hide-and-seek? Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

Sassy reaches over, takes Becky's hand and tells her to calm down. "Perhaps I need to explain some things to you. First of all, do you know my friend Linger the troll?"

"Sure do!" she says and lavishes a smile in Linger's direction. "Good troll, that Linger. Bet he's a lotta fun, too. Good fighter when he has to be. Does he know Belinda? Oh, I see what you mean! Hey Linger, do you know Belinda?"

"Uh, Becky," Sassy says pulling her up short which is not so easy. "Linger is the name we gave him when we found him. Linger was born with the name Belinda. Do you understand?"

Goblina says, "Oh, I get it now."

Becky is a bit slower and has to think this puzzle over.

"So Linger is Belinda?" she looks at me with disappointment. "You mean that there is no Belinda? No, but wait there is, it's Linger. No, it can't be. He is a guy. Not a girl." She leans close to Sassy and whispers, "He is a guy, isn't he?"

"Yes, Becky. Not sure why they gave him that name. Perhaps because he was small and they thought for a while he might have been a girl. Don't really know."

Green looks at Linger. "Did you say the scary troll was small? Maybe he was. He sure isn't now. Yikes he's big!"

"Compared to the rest of his family, he actually is. You should see his brother. Or maybe you shouldn't. That's the one who is carrying on up in those mountains. I think he wants his big brother back home."

"Belinda?" Becky says and then she can't help herself from giggling and the more she tries not to giggles, the harder she laughs. "That's really funny, you know. ha ha ha! Belinda the troll. Um.. oopsies." She suddenly stops laughing and looks over at Linger.

He looks on the verge of tears. Sassy goes over to comfort him and she is soon joined by Becky.

"I'm really really sorry, Linger," says Becky. "I didn't meant to hurt you or tease you or mean-be to you! I just thought it was funny. Then I didn't and now I'm sorry now. Please forgive me and be my friend. We can all be buddies! Ohhh, Becky buddies, even!"

Linger holds out a massive hand and Becky's hand is swallowed up in it. As they shake hands and comfort one another, we can still hear booms and roars above us on the mountain.

Sassy looks worriedly about her, shivering in the darkness. "What a mess I have made of this whole expedition. All I wanted to do was have a quiet mountain retreat. Instead, I am shot at by one of my enemies, almost crushed by Linger's little brother, and this hideous darkness is more than I can bear." Sassy starts to cry, but Linger and Becky are there to comfort her. "I just want to get out of here."

Goblina nods. "Isn't that how it always is? Don't worry. We shall get on the move as soon as we can. We still have to get the wounded to town. I don't blame you, Sassy. It sounds like you have been through a lot."

A couple of the ninjas who had been chatting in the background walk up to the fire. One of the ninjas is dressed in dark blue. He walks with a certain confidence and swagger. This is one of the three blue-clad ninjas who had joined the party more recently. He had earlier introduced himself as Snakehead the Ebon blade master.

He clears his throat. "So you intend to head to Degrassi?"

Goblina nods. "With the ice walls, it's probably impossible to get back up the mountain anyway."

Sassy agrees. "Plus with Linger's family, who are quite dangerous. There's also at least one crazy person with a bow and arrows and elves poisoning people. Like I said, I'll be happy to leave it behind for a while."

"Crazy person with a bow and arrows?"

Sassy explains the incident with Rayvon on the mountains.

"Are you headed back up the mountains then, Snakehead?" Sassy asks the Ninja in blue.

"That's my home. It's where I belong and thus, I am the ideal person to lead the rescue attempts for the two missing ninjas, if they are alive."

Another ninja, his arm in the cast Sassy had made up for him, stands up. "I'll lead him and a couple others. As you are heading off the mountains, we might not see you but we wish you the speed of the wind."

Red bounces up, snacking on an apple. "I tolda Miss Becky I'll go with 'em in exchange for a couple dozen buffets! I'll have'ta meet Miss Becky at the outpost later!"

"Be careful Red!" Becky coos. "I don't want you to get hurt please! So take care of him and take care of each other!"

 
"I shall," replies the ninja in dark blue. He turns to look directly at Sassy Snake again. "I shall also keep an eye out for the lady you talked about."

"She was last seen in the company of several elves. Would you mind keeping an eye out for them as well?"

"Not at all. Are they with her voluntarily?"

"They were the last time I heard," Sassy answers.

"So this might have changed," the ninja infers. "I shall bear that in mind."

"Thank you. For myself, I will be glad to put this mountain behind me."

"What will we do in Degrassi?"

"Won't know till I get there." She laughs and smiles at him. "Please watch out for yourself up there."

After a few hours more rest, Sassy starts to gather supplies and what is needed to take the wounded to Degrassie. She notices Linger standing off to one side and looking up the montainside. She goes over to him and gives him a hug.

"Hey, big guy, are you okay?"

"Uh, Linger okay. I think."

"Are you still thinking of Boulder, your brother?"

"Some, maybe. Maybe me should stay and try to make peace wit mi fambly."

"Linger," Sassy says, "I am not sure you can do much more than you have already done. I do know that you have been a huge help to me and I would rather not think of leaving without you."

"But you say," he says shaking his head in puzzlement, "you want to leave the mountains and get back to town."

"Yes, that's true," she says. "But I don't want to go without you. I care a lot about you and I care a lot of what happens to you. Didn't you know that?"

He looks at Sassy with interest. "Is true?"

"Is very true." Sassy takes his hand in hers. "What do you say, let's go to town together. Perhaps we may come back someday, but right now I think we both need a rest."

Not far away, Becky looks up towards the mountains. "I just hope that big cat and his elfie girl are okay."

Goblina nods sympathetically. "I'm sure he'll be fine. He has Jen to keep him safe. When we get to Degrassi, Green and I will try look around town. And let you know if we hear anything about them or the Fumblies Command."

"Good idea," Becky says. She turns to Sassy. "Time to go, Sassy?"

"It sure is, Becky," Sassy answers. She turns to Linger. "Let's get going."

Linger nods. The two of them turn as one and with their backs to the mountains, they start the walk to town with Becky and Goblina leading the way. Sassy stops from time to time to make sure the wounded are getting good attention, but she continues her walk with Linger by her side to Degrassi, where they say their goodbyes to the ninjas, Knob Goblins and Becky, leaving Becky, Goblina and Green to make their way to South Degrassi for a fateful encounter.

It makes sense that this piece should be good, with Sassy winning the "Best use of an NPC" award for her cast on the Search quest side, and Becky taking the same award on the KOKOL side, both for their casts of NPC's. Plus you gotta love the bit with Linger and Becky, who met way back in the massive Finale of Mission 10.5, early on during the Ensemble 3/7 section. I can't wait til the next Sassy/ Becky meeting. Maybe we'll get lucky and Spaghettigirl will be a part of it, too! That'd be cool.

This piece finally gets them off the mountains. Before this mission, only four missions had reached 22 pieces in a single mission (not counting Finales or Rollovers); Holiday reached 24. And this mission does even better, reaching 26 pieces - but don't jump ahead yet! Next up, Shelldor joins the mission!

Plus the next two missions are the winners of some of the last awards left to give out on the last few awards for both quests. Yay!