The Jester closed his eyes and waited for the elves to finish him off. Seconds passed, with nothing. He opened an eye to see the thousands of elves, bowing before him. Even Orion had her head to the ground in praise. The Jester smiled.

"Oh, its alright, you dont have to worship me! For I am just a..." Orion cut him off.

"Witness, my children, for in this moment when we were in our greatest peril, our savior arrived." The Jester blushed a little and began to step forward. "The one with the fire hair has finally come to save us from the Itch!" Confused, he looked at Togo, who had a huge grin on his face.

"They think youre a god?" The Jester whispered to him. Orion continued,

"It is written in the scriptures that one day, the one with the hair of fire will come to us and rid us of the corruption that has forsaken these lands. Today, we fulfill these scriptures!" Orion raised her arms and the elves erupted in cheers. He looked at Togo.

"Can you believe this crap?"

"Is that any way to speak to your god? Bow before me!" Togo said, and then made a karate chop movement.

"Ass..."

"Come now, sons of the Dark Clan. Rest and fulfill your destiny!" The crowd cheered again, then two elves escorted them to a tree structure. They climbed up to one of the higher rooms and sat down in chairs. Almost immediately a woman elf with a tray entered and brought them drinks. She looked at Togo, then blushed and ran out of the room.

"Elvish hospitality...boo yah." They finished their drinks and enjoyed more of the elvish luxuries. While eating their supper, another elvish girl entered their room. This one was darker than the other, her eyes black, and her hair was long and braided.

"Hello. I am Reya Darkstar. Orion sent me to ensure that you complete your mission to the Caves of Kolios." Togos eyes glazed over and he began to mutter the nickname for the dark elves,

"Inky..." They stared at each other for the longest time, passing glances of seduction. The Jester frowned,

"Ugh, guys?" They continued to pass glances and kissy faces. "Thats it!" He slapped him across the face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Reya snapped out of it. "Anyways, you were saying?"

"Oh yes, your mission to the caves. Your sacred mission has been planned for centuries. You, Togo will make the trip to the caves, set of the ancient artifact, and destroy all the technology on Thordelos, restoring the real world." Togo pondered for a second.

"Groovy."

They set off the next day towards the cave. Empress Orion had ordered that along with Reya, a mercenary named Delore would be sent with them. Delore was a scruffy man with long blonde hair who wore a long black trench coat. He carried with him only a weighted chain and a dagger and he spoke rarely. They left the forest refreshed and eager to get home. The Jester started to contemplate how they would get home. He hadnt the faintest clue, and if they destroyed all the technology, they would likely be stuck on the island forever. He was sure Togo wouldnt mind. He was busy disappearing off from the group with Reya and coming back all "unscruffled". He missed Hanna. He missed her smile and her touch and her voice. He missed the way her eyes shimmered with life. He wondered if he would ever see her again.

The hike through the mountains was demanding. Blizzard weather whipped their faces and the rocky terrain was torture. They made a fire and camped through the night. The mountain air was very thin, so starting a fire was difficult. The Jester struggled with the kindling and tried to use his laptop to start the blaze, forgetting that there was no Itch in the mountains. Delore silently crept over his shoulder and held his hand over the kindling. Immediately, the wood ignited in a blue flame. The Jester looked at him, but he disappeared into the shadows behind. Delore was one of the ancients, one that could use magic. They are a mysterious and secret society of people, and there was not many left in Thordelos.

The sun was coming up over the mountain when they woke. Delore was perched on the mountain peak, surveying the camp and the surrounding area. Togo and Reya emerged from a tent giggling and unkempt. The Jester lifted his head out of the puddle of drool and the rock he was using as a pillow and stretched. They all ate breakfast and packed up their things. Reya put her elven blade in its sheath.

"Today we will reach the caves, and fulfill the hope of millennia of people." The Jester smiled.

"Yeah, I could really go for a burrito right now..." The group stared at him in confusion, except for Togo who was nodding and grinning. They hiked down the mountains in the morning and by mid day they had reached the plains. It was a mix of grass, sand, and rock and the wind blew gently. They marched for hours on a seemingly endless strip of land. Reya and Delore were quick to assure them that they knew where they were going. The Jester marched silently; his only drive was the images of Hanna in his mind. Delore stopped and put his hand up. The group stopped and the elves readied their weapons.

"I feel it too..." Reya said to Delore. Togo looked at The Jester and shrugged. The ground started to rumble. The orcs armed themselves and looked around. The Jester looked up.

"Oh crap..." A stone blob grew out of the ground, ten feet high. It growled and grew arms, and then legs and finally a huge round head. The stone monsters empty eyes glared at them. In a massive swing, it threw its rock arm out at the group. The elves gracefully leapt over the swing, leaving the two orcs to be clumsily bashed to the side. Reya unsheathed two swords in midair and landed on the beasts shoulder. Delore flipped forward and landed behind it. It raised its huge rock arm and swatted at Reya as she stabbed at its head. She dodged the hand and jumped off its shoulder. It turned to Togo and The Jester, lifting its foot to smash them. They lay on the ground, unable to stop the monsters crushing leg. From behind it, a chain lashed out and wrapped around its head, pulling it backwards. Delore tugged at the beast, giving the orcs time to roll out of the way. The beast turned on Delore, smashing and tugging at the chain as he pulled out his dagger. The beast swung down, but it only struck ground. He leapt out of the way reeled in his chain. The beast was getting aggravated. As it began to advance on the elves, insane roaring drowned out everything else. The two orcs jumped on the beasts back like freaks, slashing and bashing the back of its rocky head. The two orcs roared,

"BLAH! BLEE BLAH!" The beast stomped and flailed wildly, trying to get the orcs off. With a half smile, Reya threw her swords at the creatures face. The blades spun, then imbedded themselves in the creatures black eyes. Its head whipped back, and the orcs fell to the ground. Delore scowled,

"Im tired of this!" He once again lashed out his chain, and it connected with the things skull. It thrashed about as the other three made vain attempts to scar it. Delore quickly scurried up the chain and put his palms on its head. He started whispering some words in elvish. The louder and faster the words got the darker his eyes grew, and his palm began to glow red. The rock man lashed its head around as the glowing seeped down its neck. Its entire torso was now glowing, but he just kept chanting faster and faster. It tried to swat him off its back, but he easily dodged the heavy boulder arms. The glowing was so intense that the others had to shield their eyes. It did not bother Delore, for his eyes were black and hollow now. The creatures stony features began to soften, its arms melting into its body. Its torso sunk into the ground, leaving only the round hard head on the ground. He quit chanting and stood up, dusting off his coat. Reya checked Togos wounds while The Jester started kicked the rock monsters lifeless head.

"Yeah, you like that...?" He said, laughing. Delore, frustrated, turned to him,

"We are close. Lets move on." The four walked on through the plains until, finally they could gaze at the caves entrance with relief.

******

"Kirtar!" She shouted. Soldiers all around them rushed to slay the archers. Curses and screams deafened them. The world blurred around her as she knelt beside her dying companion.

"You fool! Why sacrifice yourself for me?"

"All men die, Hanna. It's how we lived that truly makes us men." He coughed a chunk of blood out of his beak.

"Just like you Kirtar. Spewing that poetic bile in your dying moment." He tried to laugh, but it pained him.

"Dont waste this...dont waste your life..." Kirtars eyes teared up as she held him close.

"Its been an honor, sir." She whispered, but he was already gone. She stood up, slightly hunched, covered with blood. Her eyes were filled with rage and tears as she shouted, "Find Legolas!"

The army made their way to the top of the castle, killing everyone in their way. Through corridors, halls, and gates they stormed to find the hippy that started all of this. The highest and biggest room of the tower was Legolass chamber. The army halted in front of it, banging and smacking at the door. Hard steel struck wood, but their weapons could not even cause a scratch.

"Its enforced by the Itch" Hanna started, as she touched the door. Her hand disappeared into it, as if it were an illusion. From the other side, something grabbed her, and pulled her through the magical door. The army dived at her, but only crashed into the hard wood.

Inside the room, Legolas swatted her in the face. She fell to the hard floor and smashed her face. The room was filled with guards, but he waved them away.

"Handle the soldiers! I can deal with her." The elves quickly exited through a side door. He turned to her and grinned. "Welcome to my Tower, young Hanna. You have fought bravely, yet Im sorry to say, in vain. You will die now, and when your soldiers make their way through that door, all they will find will be the body of their beloved lieutenant." She spat a clod of blood. He kicked her to the ground in disgust. "Ill use the Cypher staff to instantly leave this place, and go where the Order will never find me. When the time is right, I will strike down an iron fist upon them!" He unsheathed a curved sword from his back and held it out in front of him. "Goodbye Order soldier!" He swung his sword down hard at her neck. She made no effort to move. The blade fell upon her, but instead of a spray of blood, a blue tinted ripple appeared where his blade should have met flesh. With a swift kick to the back of the knee, he was on his back. He struggled to reach his sword, but she kicked it out of his reach and planted a foot on his chest. She drew her sword and placed the tip against his neck. With her other hand, she touched the purple emblem on her armor, and it stopped glowing. Her face was stern as gripped her sword tightly.

"Dont you just love the Itch? Its amazing, the things it can do." Before he could respond, she drove the tip of her blade into his throat hard. Tears streamed from her eyes as she continued to push on the pommel of her sword. She heard a cracking noise, and then she dropped her sword and collapsed in a heap next to Legolass carcass. She wiped the blood and tears from her face and stood. She did not move gracefully anymore. Her movements were slow and heavy. She was tired. Very tired. She shuffled over to the Cypher staff on the far side of the room. Picking it off of its mantle, she looked at it closely. "I hope Im not too late..." She pushed a button on the gnarled staff and a white light surrounded her. Blind and unsure of where she was heading, she disappeared from the room.

******

The entrance to the many caverns of Kolios was like a grand staircase of rock and sand. Layer after layer of white rock made steps up to the black cave mouth. The four walked up it with relief, wondering what part they had played in all of this. The Jester knew that once they set off this machine, they would never get home. He would be trapped on Char forever. He longed for Hanna so. He hoped she was making the best of her time without him. He knew she would survive, and right now he had other things to ponder. He knew that activating this machine would be the most important thing he ever did. No more will his lands be plagued by the mechanical infestation that is the Itch. Sadly but determined, he walked up the stones towards the caves.

Togo wrapped an arm around Reya and thought to himself about the situation. These lands were so strange to him; nothing was familiar. He missed his home and his companions. He missed the way the air smelled and he missed the taste of his cigars. He looked down at Reya. He really did care for her. Now, he knew he could not let her go. He was glad that he was with her. He had no problem completing this mission. The Itch confused him anyway.

Silently, they entered the dark cave. Delore whispered and the entrance filled with light, reveling a huge metal structure. It lay in the middle of the cave, covered with dust. Its cylindrical metal body had devices all over it, things that looked like barbed wire, only shimmering silver. Reya led Togo to a small box on the far side of the machine. She dusted it off and opened it. Inside was a small red button.

"Push this and the Itch will be destroyed."

"Ok." He stared at her for a second, and then at the machine. "Oh, right now?" She covered her face with her hand as he shrugged and pushed the button. The machine started rumbling and lights shot out all over it. Dust shook of it as it quaked. Red numbers appeared on a screen, starting at five and counting down seconds. Reya pondered.

"I guess theres a delay." Togo looked confused.

"You needed ME to do that?" The Jester laughed and leaned up against the cave wall with his arms across his chest. This was it. After that machine went off, he would never see her again. Never feel her touch, never hear her voice. He would live on that island as a king, but his life would be left unfulfilled because he never told her how he felt. Never told her

He snapped out of his trance as the blinding flash of light appeared in front of him. The light flowed out of nothingness like liquid, searing the eyes of the group. The Jester drew his club, waiting for whatever might appear from the light. Slowly, it faded leaving only an armored figure with a staff. He opened his eyes and saw her, shaking his head in disbelief. Hanna emerged from the light and collapsed on the stone. He rushed to her and wrapped her in his arms.

"Hanna, what happened? Are you ok? How did you get here?" His head was filled with so many questions and thoughts they all just kind of came out at once. He finally shut up and looked into her sparkling eyes. He ran his fingers through her blood soaked hair and held her close. He helped her to her feet and waited for her to catch her breath.

"Im here to take you gents home. Any questions?" The Jester and Togo looked at each other.

"No mam." They said in unison. The clock ticked again and the machine sounded,

"One minute..."

"Come on you two." She held the staff in her hand. Togo smiled and took a step, then looked back at Reya. He took her hands.

"Come with us Reya. You can be my shooga-mama." They both smiled and then walked over to Hanna. The Jester walked to Delore and shook his hand.

"Thank you, friend. I could not have done this without you." The mercenary nodded and gave a slight grin. He turned back to Hanna and the staff.

"You guys ready?" she said to him.

"Ready as well ever be." She pushed the button and the four were covered with light. The light flooded over them as the group covered their eyes. The Jester leaned down and embraced Hanna in a feathery kiss, as Delore watched them fade from existence.

The machine clicked one last time and went silent. Delore looked at it for a moment as it continued to shake. The lights around it grew more intense until finally it exploded into a pulse of energy. Delores hair blew in the tundra winds, but his magical protections guarded him. The pulse rippled out over the lands, increasing in size as it went. It seeped in to the ground and the trees and everything on Thordelos. The blast shook trees and melted machines into the ground until finally, all went silent over the planet. Delore smiled adjusted the collar of his coat. He looked one last time at the machine then turned around and walked down the pale white rock back to the forest.