There's a lot going on in this Finale, but it seems like there always is, doesn't it?

As we start off this part of the Finale, Dash, Catrina and Aleena are making their way into the Knob to seek the Black Paladin while Mary Kate & Wildfall are seeking clues on who might be controlling the Boss Bat or the bats.

 
Captain Horatio shook his head as he twiddled with a piece of tree twig that he picked up off the ground. "That lass is turning into a real adventurer, but I sure hope she remembers all her dad and I tried to teach her," he mumbled to himself.

"Excuse me, but are you Captain Horatio? Mary Kate's Captain Horatio?" Sherri Dunn asked as she cautiously approached the grizzled looking older seaman sitting on a bench outside the house.

"Aye, I'm Captain Horatio and who might you be, lass? What does Mary have to do with this? Is she alright?" the Captain asked Sherri with a worried frown on his face.

"My name's Sherri Dunn and I'm looking for her because we're working on the same mystery of the bats and rats and why they're behaving so strangely. I was told she'd be here with you," Sherri replied and reached out to shake the captain's hand.

The captain shook Sherri's hand, saying, "Sorry, Lass, she left about three or four hours ago to find a couple friends, Todd and Fahari (I think she called them), saying something about maybe they could help her with rats and mumbling about someone maybe controlling them and some bats. When she left here, she was headed toward town."

"Thank you, Captain, you've been very helpful. I better get going and try to catch up to her," said Sherri as she turned to leave. Seeing the worried look on the captain's face, she added, "Don't worry, Captain, she'll be fine, She's a smart girl and can take care of herself."

Sherri walked into town and looked for the most logical place to start her search. She passed several shops and finally stopped in front of the Daily Deli. As she entered the shop, she looked around for possible subjects that might fit what she thought Todd and Fahari might look like. The lighting inside the shop was dim and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust after coming in out of the bright sun. She saw a young couple sitting in a corner talking. Sherri walked over to the couple, keeping her eyes and ears alert for any danger. Two furries though; this might be them.

"Excuse me, but are you Todd and Fahari, friends of Mary Kate? My name is Sherri Dunn and I'm looking for her to see if she'd gotten any more information about the theory that the bats and rats are being controlled by someone. That is the only logical conclusion for the strange behavior they're exhibiting," said Sherri.

Todd and Fahari looked at each other, then at Sherri and finally replied, "Good to meet you Sherry, but sorry to say, she left a short time ago and didn't say where she was going. She told us the situation. We couldn't give give her any suggestions but we did tell her that we'd help her any way we could. She said she'd let us know and left."

Sherri gave a frustrated sigh, shook her head and said, "Thank you both, sorry to bother you, but if you see her again tell her that I was looking for her and to return to the Captain and stay there. I'll catch up to her there.. In the meantime, I'm going to wander around town and see what I can find out." With that, Sherri shook hands with Todd and Fahari and walked out the door and down the street.

Todd turned to Fahari. "Ya know, Fahari, I bet if we put our noses to it, we could help them dig up some information on what's going on. Why don't you go help Sherri and I'll keep an eye out for her partner?"

Fahari rolled her eyes but nodded in silent agreement. Silent, like a monk.

By Binajane

**---------------**

Although the power structure around the Knob, stronghold of the Knob Goblins.. .. Nevermind. We covered this in the prelude.

Some of the Knob Goblins lay dead, pierced by Aleena's arrows. Others lay knocked senseless by Dash and Catrina. Hey, broken bones and scratches would heal eventually.

"Now that they're dealt with… mostly, let's move on," Aleena said. She pulled a few unbroken arrows from the corpses to reuse.

"We're going to have to get back into stealth mode." Dash flexed his arm, trying to rub a bruise out of it. "Going into the Goblin stronghold isn't going to work unless we sneak in."

"Why not?" the elf asked.

"Too many twisting corridors," Dash answered. "Too many people there.. including innocents.. You've been there enough times to know how deceptively big it is."

"Exactly!" she responded. "We've made it in there and out; we know what to expect."

"Barely, and with an army behind us," Dash answered.

"Speaking of which," Catrina chimed in. "We've probably got one coming now. I took out a scout while you two were bickering. Don't worry; she's resting comfortably under a nearby oak tree."

Dash raised his eyebrow a bit. "Comfortably?"

"Heh.. well, no broken bones anyway." Catrina flicked her tail. "Probably."

"Too bad," complained Aleena.

"Don't worry, hon." Catrina turned towards the woods. "There's a rather large army coming around the bend. Considering the string of bodies left lying, I don't think they're going to react too kindly to our presence here.

"That is," Catrina said, turning to look back to Dash and Aleena, "unless we sneak into the Knob. And don't forget, Dash, I ruled the place during its last real renovation. I know my way around."

"In and out," Dash said confidently. "No fighting."

That got another laugh-roar from Catinra. "As much as I'd love a good in-and-out with you two, I never said anything about no fighting."

"Good," Aleena said. Tired of the talking, she took point, with Catrina quickly following.

"Figures." Dash rolled his eyes and followed. I mean, what else was there to do?

By Dash; intro assisted by Aleena

**---------------**

"Have you noticed all the rats around?" Spaghettigirl started to ask. She then ducked as she saw something flying towards her head. "Bats too!" she stated as she narrowly avoided a collision. "I wonder where they are all coming from . . . Bingo get back here! Don't race the bat!" Spaghettigirl shouted as she took off after him with Becky Joy, Goblina and the others racing to keep up.

"And now, where is he going?!" Becky asked, rushing ahead of the others, hoping to catch Bingo. "Maybe we're playing tag?!"

"Nope!" Goblina answered.

"And I believe we're heading for the mansion," Darson answered.

"I know!" SpaghettiGirl said. "Bingo, we still need to find the keys to get in!"

Becky giggled. "Guess he can't hear us. Better play tag and win!"

SpaghettiGirl just sighed and did her best to keep up.

Bingo wasn't listening; he continued to race the bat. Spaghettigirl tried to keep them in sight as she chased after them. The bat swerved to avoid hitting a sign in front of a shop and bumped into Bingo and flew on but Bingo was knocked down. Meanwhile, Spaghettigirl was focused on not losing sight of the bat and Bingo; she ran into a wall. The wall reached out and caught her before she fell.

"Oh you aren't a wall," Spaghettigirl stated matter of factly.

"Can't recall being called a wall before," the not-a-wall replied, also matter of factly.

"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going.." Spaghettigirl started. She then realized the not-a-wall looked familiar.

"Meaty! Fancy running into you here!" she exclaimed. She turned to Becky, who was just catching up along with her two Knob Goblins. "Becky, this is a friend of mine, Meaty."

"It certainly was unexpected," Meaty replied with a chuckle. Spaghettigirl smiled and gave her friend a hug.

"I was chasing Bingo.. hey, where did he go?" Spaghettigirl asked, looking around.

"Is that pet of yours giving you trouble again?" Meaty said with a laugh as he helped her look around. He spotted something shiny laying on the street nearby. "Is this yours?" Meaty asked as he handed her a key.

"That's what we're looking for!" Becky said, clapping.

"Thank you," Spaghettigirl answered. "Do you want to go with us to help stop Lord Spookyraven?"

Meaty laughed. "Sorry, I got a clan meeting to attend. I'll explain that you're busy working a case so you don't get in trouble."

"Okay, see you later. Thanks again!" With that, Spaghettigirl and Meaty parted ways as Becky lead them towards the Spooky mansion, key in SGirl's hand!

By Dash and SGirl; cameo by Meaty

**---------------**

The woods pressed in on our brave adventurers. Linger, Icy and SassySnake were heading toward the Typical Tavern. There they hoped to meet the others in their company; Bristle, Gem and Mole. The path that they were on wound its way through trees and brush. From time to time, they started seeing rats.

"Dere's some rats!" shouted Linger; he pointed off the path to where a group of rats were scurrying past them.

"Yes," Icy said, "doesn't look like they want to fight though, does it?"

"No," said Sassy, "Not really. They just keep running and scurrying around. Wonder why they're leaving the path and heading for the brush."

"Linger not know. We follow dem? Linger could squash 'em good."

"I don't think so, Linger. Not this time," said Sassy. "Let's keep on heading for the tavern and see what happens."

Walking farther on, Sassy came upon a nut lying on the forest floor and bending down, she picked it up and looked at it. Passing it to Icy, she said, "Keep this, Doser."

"Why, Sassy?"

"Perhaps you should now call me Master Sassy as a mark of respect."

"Very well," she agreed. "Master Sassy, why am I holding on to this nut?"

"For several reasons. First of all, it came from a tree. Many people don't realize that trees can be a source of power, but they can be. This nut you are holding is the fruit of that tree and also it's the heart of that tree. I'd like to examine it more carefully, but don't have the time now. Until that happens, I'll hold on to it until I have the time to check it out."

"Hmmm, never thought of that."

Continuing on their way, they passed more and more rats heading off the path in the opposite direction from which they're heading.

"I wonder if they could be circling us?"

"Why dey do dat?"

"Not sure, Linger, it's just a thought. I hope it isn't a trick to cut us off and attack us later. Well," Sassy told them. "We'll keep our eyes out for it, but we'll keep on going. We told the others to meet us at the Tavern."

Keeping on the path, walking toward the Tavern, Sassy stopped dead in her tracks. Her whole body seemed to tingle all over and she was filled with strange vibrations that she couldn't pinpoint.

"Master Sassy, are you okay?" Icy asked her. "Master?" she repeated shaking Sassy gently.

"Huh? Oh, yeh I guess so. Did either of you feel that?"

"Feel what?"

"I'm not really sure. It seems to be vibrations and they seem to be getting stronger the farther we go down this path toward the tavern."

"Maybe, we should leave the path or stop until it goes away?"

"No, no need. I think that it's going away now. It's certainly diminishing in intensity. I think we'd best keep moving."

They moved a bit faster toward the tavern. Just before they reached it, two figures come in to view. Two young sailors. They looked vaguely familiar. Who were they?

Sassy studied them a moment and then she remembered. She had met them before in the woods during the hunt for the Toot Oriole. Walking up to them, she offered her hand in friendship.

"Hello there. My name is Sassy Snake and these are two friends of mine; Linger the troll and Icy."

"Glad to meet you. My name is Omar and this is Naomi."

"I think we may have fought together in the woods, fighting off the demon Larry when we were looking for the Oriole."

"Why, yes of course." Naomi said, "I remember now. Hello Sassy, Linger and Icy. How are you all doing?"

"Not too badly, I suppose. We're heading for the tavern. Would you care to join us?"

"Delighted, my dear." Omar smiled as he held the door for the others.

Walking up to the bar, they asked Bart the tender if any of their friends had arrived or left any messages; Bart shook his head no. After ordering and consuming a few drinks, they looked around the bar. It didn't take them long to notice a stranger who seemed to be surrounded by a huge variety of familiars.

"Wonder who that is?" Sassy asked pointing to the stranger.

"Oh, him? We've seen him before," answered Naomi. "His name is Bob."

"Is he trying to corner the familiar market? Or does he just like all of those familiars? I don't even know what they are for the most part."

Walking to Bob, Sassy asked him about the familiars and he told her all about them. "This is my companion, Shelldor," Bob said as he pointed to the turtle beside him. "And these are all my familiar friends. They help me by scouting the surrounding area when we are traveling, and they all help me when I get into trouble. I get in trouble a lot when I'm out so I like to stay at my camp and nap usually.

"Anyway, we're just returning from a mission of finding some kidnapped pets. We have to return them to their home. I came here to meet up with Mary Kate and Wildfall but it seems they haven't arrived yet."

Bob turned to the rest of the group that was with Sassy and asked, "Would you all like to join me and my friends while we wait for them to get here?"

With a collective nod of agreement, the group followed Bob to a larger table and settled down to wait for the missing friends to arrive.

By Sassy Snake; ending by Binajane

**---------------**

Gem was so furious about the news on the rat king, that she kicked up a clod of dirt, not paying any attention to anyone around her.

"Gem, what are you so upset about?" asked Bristle as the dirt settled on him.

Gem looked up with a frown still on her face and said, "Oh Bristle, I am sorry for hitting you with that dirt. I am happy to see you tho and I need your help."

"I was just leaving town to go to the Tavern to meet Sassy and the rest. I really miss Icy and want to get back there. Can't you find someone else to help you with your problem?" said Bristle.

"My problem is that rat king got released due to lack of evidence that he was involved in Grelda's death and so I'm going to follow him and get the proof or at least find out what he's up to. I know he had something to do with it.

"Please say you'll stay and do this one last favor for me. I really need your help." Gem pleaded with Bristle. "I don't have anywhere else to turn. I know you miss Icy but I need you too."

Bristle had never seen Gem so upset. "Okay, but as soon as we get this done I'm leaving to go back to my Icy. What do you want to do and how are you going to find out what he's up to?" Bristle asked, scratching his head.

Gem hugged Bristle and said, "I am going to follow him. I saw him heading toward the Haunted Mansion and I want to head that way and see what he is doing over there. I just know in my gut he is up to no good."

Bristle and Gem turned and walked in the direction of the Haunted Mansion. On the way to the Mansion, they ran into a small band of four possessed soup cans and after a brief fight, Gem and Bristle continued to their destination.

By Binajane

**---------------**

Catrina Whiteclaw lead the trio deeper into the Knob, carefully avoiding detection. Thankfully, her two allies, like her, were quite well suited to stealth. As promised, her familiarity with the Knob made it even easier for her to maneuver herself, Sebastian Dash and Aleena deeper into the stronghold. Dash couldn't quite figure out what seemed different this time around. On the other hand, certain differences were fairly obvious. The Goblins seemed on guard and suspicious.

The trio snuck into another room, carefully sticking to the shadows. Catrina explained, "We should be pretty much clear down here. Since we're in a public sector, they might not even think anything of us being here. Assuming they'd even notice us."

"They don't seem especially observant tonight," Aleena noted. "I wonder if it's always like this."

"Not really," called a strange voice from behind the trio, causing all three to jump and look back. They flew into battle-ready positions, but in front of them only saw a young Adventurer and a Knob Goblin wearing a visor with a white note card that read "Press". Both female. Both young.

"Oh, hey, sorry to interrupt," the human said. "We were just down here digging for a story."

Aleena blinked. "Story?"

"Yeah!" answered the human. "I'm your fearless reporter, Drea Jo Set-Ahax. This quick-witted Goblin is Trish P. L. Cape, but most people just call her 'Paid' Trish."

"Bit of a nickname," the female Goblin (Trish) answered with a bit of a blush. "It's kind of silly, I know."

"Anyway," the human (Drea) continued, "we're just down here trying to gather information for our newsletter to the fine people of the Loathing Kingdom. Would you care to answer a few questions?"

Aleena looked annoyed. "Can I answer with lethal force?"

Drea backed away slowly. "Uummmm..."

Trish didn't seem to notice; she was looking at Catrina. "I just realized, aren't you like, queen here?"

Catrina flicked her tail. "Long story, but I think what my elven friend here is trying to say is, we'd appreciate if you kept our presence here on the downlow for the foreseeable future. Isn't that right, Aleena?"

Aleena just stared into the distance.

"Sounds like a great way to stay alive," Drea answered. "We'll do anything we can to help you."

"So long as," Trish chimed in, "we get an exclusive interview along the way."

"Sure," Aleena said, starting to draw her shortblade, a little something she'd picked up outside the Knob. "How about we start with 'famous last words?'"

Drea grabbed Trish's hand. "We'll just come back for that later then."

As they scurried off, Dash turned to the Morlencir Queen. "Aleena..."

"What?" she asked innocently. "Don't worry. I was just trying to chase them off so they don't get in harm's way. You don't think they'll alert the guards, do you?"

Catrina smirked. "We're close enough it won't matter. A couple seconds and we'll be in the throne room."

Dash started to step back. "Catrina, if you think we're going to ..."

Unsurprisingly, all three were standing in the throne room as Dash let his sentence trail off. "... let you superspee.. um.. thanks?"

"Don't mention it," Catrina said, glancing around. "Don't worry. I know the spot to go to avoid being seen. I spent enough time in here.."

A loud shrill noise interrupted Catrina, causing her to jump back. "Huh. I guess someone installed an alarm."

Dash frowned. "Alarm? From all the intel we'd gathered, it sounded like your throne room was kept empty and off limits since the situation with Kadlin."

"Something's changed, hon," Catrina responded before turning to Aleena. "Looks like you'll get that fight you wanted, after all."

"Ya got that right!" came a voice nearby. Catrina, Dash and Aleena looked up to see a half dozen Knob Goblin Elite Guards surrounding the Black Paladin himself.

By Dash

**---------------**

Mary had been walking around town trying to gather information about the thefts when Fahari and Todd literally ran into her as she rounded a corner.

"Hey, watch it…." Mary stopped in mid sentence when she saw who had collided with her.

"Hey, doll, imagine that; running into the very person we're looking for," said Todd with a big smile on his face. "Just the kind of collision I like, being squashed between two beautiful women."

Todd and Fahari hugged a startled Mary, then released her. "Mary, you are getting prettier every time I see you. Wildfall better grab you before someone else does."

Mary blushed as she stammered, "Th, th, thank you, Todd, but Fahari is far prettier than I am and you should tell her those things. Not about Wildfall grabbing her tho."

Todd winked at Mary and then to Fahari. "Oh don't worry. Mary, Fahari knows what I think of her and my remarks to you are purely innocent." With that he put his arm around both girls and pulled them close to him. Suddenly Todd tensed and his ears perked up.

Fahari said to Todd, "Perhaps we should stick to business," as she wriggled out of his hold.

Todd motioned for the girls to be quiet as he listened. He whispered, "Those guys are talking about a meeting that's going on at the bat hole between the Boss Bat and bugbears. Something about the thefts. Let's go check it out."

By Binajane

**---------------**

Sebastian Dash looked around the room, frustrated as he took in the number of scribed books and various items, any of which might have information that Dash or his allies, the Morlencir Queen Aleena or the catlike huntress Catrina Whiteclaw, could exploit in their search for Catrina's missing infant.

Instead, they found the Black Paladin surrounded by several of the Knob Goblins' Elite guards.

"Stand down and surrender, if you please," the head guard casually called out. Dash recognized the attack formation from earlier attacks organized by another former Knob Goblin member, Grillhamo. The last Dash had heard, Grillhamo had joined the ranks of KOKOL, leaving him to wonder if Grillhamo had gone back to his old position with the Knob Goblin.

Didn't matter now, though. Paladin would be tough enough alone, even for the three of them. Plus a roomful of Elite guards. Dash would have to think on his feet. "Gentlemen, we've.."

A loud roar interrupted Dash's hastily assembled plea for reason. Catrina dove forward, using her chi powered speed to skip by the Elite guard in a heartbeat, not even giving them time to be startled by her speed. Catrina grasped at the Paladin's helmet, trying to rip of off. Her scream sounded like a roar, but it was really a simple question.

"WHERE is my SON?! TELL ME, you SON of a BI--aargghh!!"

Catrina's speed allowed her to avoid even Paladin's exceptional speed as he tried to grab at her head or arms. So instead, Paladin simply threw himself backwards, crashing her between the Paladin and a poor unexpecting Elite Guard.

Meanwhile, Aleena tore into the nearest guard but found herself pressed to take on two instead of one. Dash rushed to help her. Earlier, Dash had protested her needless use of lethal force earlier but this time, the situation called for it.

Of course, this generously assumed they'd have a say in the matter.

Dash nailed the first guard in the back with Dash's broadsword though it only staggered the guard. Without thinking, Aleena reformed part of the magical smoke gown that surrounded her, switching it into an almost razorlike strand of thread which she used to choke out the guard.

Aleena blinked. "Well that's new."

She didn't get much chance to take advantage of it before another guard rushed at her. Dash intercepted the guard, taking her down with a strike of the broadsword to the midsection. However, another guard rushed at Aleena, forcing her to withdraw her attack on her would-be victim.

Meanwhile, Catrina had resumed her attack on the Black Paladin, pitting her chi-powered superspeed against Paladin's legendary Badassium armor, fortified by the dark magics of the late Kadlin Bearsmasher.

"You might as well start talking now," Catrina ordered, launching herself at her foe again. Paladin swung an axe at her, wielding it in one hand despite its size. Catrina ducked and lashed out with her claws, but the Paladin, in spite of her superior speed, blocked it with a large metal shield, which he used to force her back.

The Paladin turned and started towards the exit. A chi-powered burst of speed put Catrina directly in his way. "Don't make me repeat myself."

Sebastian Dash threw an unconscious Elite to the ground before jumping to Catrina's side. "You heard the lady."

Sensing something was wrong, the Paladin turned. Two stood in front of him, but Paladin realized the third was up to something.

Aleena often relied on information from her cysuit to augment her attacks. Even without the suit's functionality available, though, she still had several decades of experience to rely on, far exceeding the lifespan of any human. She'd spotted the chandeliers hanging in the throne room the second she'd entered. Without need for conscious thought, she'd figured out they would be vulnerable to a couple well place crossbows- and she'd figured out where it would most likely fall, depending on the angle she shot from.

Maybe you can guess who was standing in that exact spot right now?

Ultimately, though, the massive chandelier crashing on the Paladin's armor clad frame was just a distraction, enough to allow Catrina, Dash and Aleena to attack the Paladin, all at once. Of course, his armor still presented a considerable problem.

"Try to pin him down!" Catrina yelled, lashing out with her twin katana. The dark enforcer swiped both of the swords away with a swing of his axe. As he did, Dash rushed in from behind, slamming the hilt of Dash's mirror coated sword the Paladin's neck, where the helmet met the armor.

Dash had hoped it to be a weak spot but he might as well have slammed his fist into the wall for all the good it did.

Or maybe that wasn't quite the case. As Dash backed off, the Paladin turned to him, cranking his neck. Dash's eyes narrowed. "So you're not invincible after all."

The Paladin started stalking towards Dash. Catrina again nailed the Paladin with her katana - several times in fact. She generated so much force from her first volley of attacks that it pushed her backwards from the Paladin, who turned to attack her.

Now, his speed was no match for hers, with or without her chi. Never had been. But his speed was formidable - enough to take her by surprise and send her flying back. Paladin turned and rushed out the door.

Catrina cursed the dark ones; it would take him down the winding paths through the lowest parts of the Knob. "Hey, don't run out yet; I'm not done with you!"

Unfortunately, it seemed that the Paladin had no intention of listening.

By Dash

**---------------**

"Come on, Mary, let's follow those thugs," said Todd as they set out to the south.

"Todd, we can't go yet. Fahari is not back yet and she won't know where we are going," said Mary, panicked at the thought leaving Fahari behind.

"Sorry babe, no time for that. If we wait for Fahari, we risk losing sight of those guys. We've got to find out what's going on, so come on or I'm going alone," said Todd. "Besides Fahari would be able to find us with no problem."

Not far away, Fahari saw Sherri as she walked down the street and went after her. Since Sherri had a good head start, Fahari had to hurry to keep from losing her. Fahari yelled, "Sherri! Wait up!" as she ran to catch her.

Sherri stopped when she heard someone call her name and immediately went on the alert. It was not often that anyone called out to her like that. As she turned around, Fahari came running up to her and breathlessly said, "Todd send me to bring you back."

"What happened? Did he get tangled up with the wrong female and needs me to bail him out of the situation?" Sherri asked, annoyed that Fahari yelled her name and brought attention to her like that.

"All I know is that he sent me to get you and bring you back. When I last saw him, he was with Mary and we knew you were looking for her," replied a still somewhat breathless Fahari.

Sherri grabbed Fahari and they immediately headed back to the Deli. When they arrived, they were greeted by the counter girl with a message from Todd.

"Mary and Todd are on the trail of some guys that Todd overheard talking about the thefts and a meeting between the Bat Boss and some Bugbears at the bat hole," Fahari told Sherri as she turned to head back out the door.

Sherri followed Fahari as they headed south toward the bat hole and it was not long before they caught up to Mary and Todd fighting with the 'thugs' they had been following.

"Well it is a situation with a Todd and female but not the kind I was thinking and it looks like they could use a little help." Sherri chuckled.

Sherri eased up closer to the fight, pulled up her bow, took careful aim and picked the 'thugs' off one at a time. Sherri had noticed movement from the corner of her eye and looked briefly to see what appeared to be a 'bat' swooping in to help Mary in her fights. After a short fight, the way was clear enough that she and Fahari could approach Mary and Todd. The 'bat' that Sherri had seen was gone, leaving Sherri to wonder if she really saw the creature at all.

"Well, that was a fine kettle of fish you two got yourselves into. Lucky we came along when we did to bail you out," Sherri said, "What did you learn about this meeting, Todd? Or were you too busy singing them to death to learn anything?"

"Yeesh, everyone's a comedian." Todd smirked at Sherri and said, "Hi Sherri. I see Fahari found you and yea, we were a little too busy to carry on a conversation with them. But thanks for your help. I did hear enough to know the meeting will be at the bat hole between Boss Bat and a Bugbear. We were heading to check it out when those 'thugs' figured out they were being followed and tried to stop us."

Sherri, still puzzled by the sight of the 'bat' assisting in the battle, asked, " Mary, did I see a 'bat' helping you in that fight or were my eyes playing tricks on me?"

Mary shrugged and said, "Oh yeah, he is sort of my protector since I helped him when he was injured. He mostly stays hidden but always shows up if I need help."

Sherri looked around, unable to believe she couldn't see this mysterious bat creature, hiding or not. Todd and Fahari just stared at Mary and collectively shook their heads. Then Sherri said, "I think we need to continue on to this 'meeting' and find out what is going on. We may be able to answer a lot of questions about what has been going on around here."

With that said, they all turned and start walking to the bat hole, keeping alert for more danger.

By Binajane

So as we leave this one off, Dash, Catrina and Aleena are battling the Paladin, Blackeagle have hooked up with Mary Kate, Wildfall and Fahari, and there is chaos in Seaside Town!

I posted these last two bits of the Finale 10 PM my time the night before I left with family for the trip to Maine- and I had to get up at like, four AM! But I just had to make sure I got the Finale up, the new mission, and the updated rankings before I left. So I stayed up late even though it wasn't really ideal.

I was going to post the Finale as one piece - but it was like, seven or eight thousand characters too big for a single post! So I broke it up into two parts.

I often tell Mary Kate's handler, BinaJane, how happy I am that I got it all up before vacation - with a lot of help from her and help from others. I think it made my vacation more relaxed and enjoyable to get it up before I left.

I'll have to talk about my vacation somewhere soon while it's fresh in my mind, but for now, it's on to part II.

Since I posted them together, the posts were only a couple minutes apart. It would have been quicker, but I had to fix some formatting errors in the next part.