Leyland Adventures Chapter Eleven: Part Three

"Your f- feathers...only one of them remain, abandoning you in a disturbing coat of exposed pink skin."

Ampros stared at her with exhausted eyes as she walked over to embrace the poor creature. Its skin was shockingly jelly-like and smooth. Even in this hideous state, she still chose to arrive. With the last feather remaining, she shivered uncontrollably as the frigid winds abused her bare skin.

"Ampros, your wonderous feathers are your only guard against diseases. It's highly unlikely such a number of fairies needed your assistance. Please tell me the cruel, selfish, and disgraceful being that did this to you."

As a response, the single feather gave off a faint glow that would cause the others to mimic the same action. Just then, a great beam of pink light shot through the expansive clouds stemming from the Kula Outlet. As Aradressa began to follow the light, Ampros gradually flapped its wings, hardly gaining any height. The kind-hearted princess told the Unibird to rest while she would collect the feathers. Placing the jar down, she hurriedly travelled to the Kula Outlet as Ampros gently sealed its weary eyes shut.

⊱⋅ ────── ⋆★⋆────── ⋅⊰

With her breathing speed as frequent as blinking, Aradressa continued to hunt for the heartless person who knowingly stripped the Unibird of extraordinary beauty. Turning down multiple paths, the radiating light reached its peak as she gazed upon a familiar figure who was just as bewildered as she was. The light fizzled out, revealing the culprit.

"Hammer Hawk!" The furious roar of her voice had stunned him for a bit before his intelligence was scrapped with a godly ego.

The outer coat of his outfit was formed of Ampros's feathers, a disgusting sight.

"Well hello, princess! What brings a charming beauty like you to Hammer Hawk himself?" He gave a variety of poses during his question.

"You shamelessly capitalized off the enteral kindness of Ampros! She's a divine creature that avails anyone in need no matter the cost! You mistreated her and used her extraordinary generosity to benefit yourself! Do you know the debilitating pain you've caused her, do you have any idea how many injured fairies could've utilized those feathers?!"

"Don't blame Hammer Hawk for finding a way to trick that Unibird! Hammer Hawk needs these feathers so Hammer Hawk can be unstoppable! With this, Hammer Hawk can get attacked and the pain will be nonexistent! Hammer Hawk will finally beat Tysashi using these amazing feathers!"

With her patience failing itself, she shot her blade at him. "You will peacefully surrender the feathers."

"And if Hammer Hawk doesn't?" He grinned.

Before any acts of violence could occur, she thought about her decisions. This isn't what Ampros would want. There had to be another way, so she replaced dying aggression with superior intelligence to outsmart him. His ego clearly clouded his intellect so she could exploit this weakness.

"How about I propose an exchange?" She questioned, returning the sword back to her pocket.

"What kind of exchange?"

"I'll give you some information and tips on how to overwhelm Tysashi."

"Hammer Hawk is listening."

"I can tell you his weaknesses, durability, and what strategy you should use when battling him."

The aerial wrestler pondered the decision. His lust for a rematch clouded the little common sense he had. Laughing heartily, he accepted her offer.

"First, you give me the feathers," she demanded.

Taking one final glimpse at his coat of broken trust, he surrendered. Aradressa pinched the very top of the coat as there was no telling where he's been.

"Ok, now spill! Hammer Hawk wants to know everything!"

"One of his critical weaknesses includes peppermints. His disordered mind will be imprisoned in a daydream at the single sight of the pinwheel-shaped treats. I recommend you purchase them in heavy numbers."

"Ok ok, Hammer Hawk can do that! What else?"

"His second weakness is the inescapable aroma of flowers. The alluring scent will place him in a cursed wonderland. He usually cannot prevent himself from falling into the aroma trap. For his durability, your most optimal strategy would include constant attacks and never pausing to consider your next action. His durability is otherworldly so, you'll sacrifice defense for a flurry of barbaric attacks."

With a proud grin, Hammer Hawk thanked her for the advice. He took to the skies to rally up the items necessary for his vengeance. Still refusing to fully grasp the coat, Aradressa returned to Ampros. Her eyes exploded as the feathers were presented delicately. The health-restoring materials that were used to construct the coat began emitting a faint glow as the feathers swarmed Ampros. At last, the Healing Unibird was entirely recovered. Her song of cheerfulness and praise scattered through the rolling winds. As a response for her assistance, Aradressa received a feather and the sparkling Healing Gemstone. Even the Taspisnake was healed, sliding its slippery body back to Kiyoshi Woods.

Placing the feather inside, the contents of the jar adopted a new color, pink. The liquid bubbled and twinkled with restoration properties. As the princess's wings fluttered, Ampros politely swooped her up and took off at light-speed. She deployed her at the entrance of her home before departing to tend to other regions. The outside guards glanced at her while she entered the backyard, placing a golden Sweetheart into the mixture. The liquid turned golden as it became a bit more loose.

⊱⋅ ────── ⋆★⋆────── ⋅⊰

Finally entering the colorful and sophisticated atmosphere of the castle, the uncontained rush of energy that infected her nearly caused a terrible accident with the queen. Once their eyes passed by like speeding bullets, her breathing stabilized as the racing bloodstream settled. She stepped into room two hundred and eighty-one only to view Alfred sitting silently besides the dozing hero. The sweet lullaby of the music box nearly made a gorgeous waterfall of tears fall. Tysashi was sound asleep the entire time, numbing the pain.

"I have secured the required ingredients for the Overlord Cure. Now is the time to force the Otomo Poison from his body." She stated.

Alfred examined the jar, mentioning she was missing one item. Just now, her mind clicked with a sudden memory. She overlooked the Luminous Mushroom. Her wings rapidly flapped as she raced to her room. Upon arrival, a puny, seafoam-green flying creature treated her room like a playground. These creatures, known as Lumineers, are born within a fully grown Luminous Mushroom. Once their bodies and wings are developed, they emerge from the mushroom. The remedial secretions of the unusual fungus become the blood of Lumineers, and their responsibility is to exert and spread the liquid to others.

This meant she was left with a lone, despicable choice. Building a dam of tears within her eyes, she approached the Lumineer with the jar open. Attracted to the scent of the liquid, the newborn flew into the jar. It was now seized. Aradressa turned away as she forced her hands to tilt the jar downwards so that the golden wave drowned the Lumineer. Its build was cruelly split as the sensitive skin proved extremely weak to the lava-like liquid. She didn't stare at the organism not once; she simply just allowed the Dislow Liquid to efficiently perform.

Once the monstrous deed was completed, without hesitation, she held his mouth open while supplying him with the cure like a mother giving her baby a bottle. With hopeful eyes, she anticipated a response as Alfred turned off the music. His eyes were opening like an old, busted elevator but once a familiar fairy came into view, the elevator functioned properly. Aradressa leaped eagerly onto his chest, ensnaring him while squeezing with enough force to bend a penny.

"How are you feeling, Tysashi?" Alfred inquired.

"I feel vigorous, it's like I can run around this whole planet five times! Thank you both."

Aradressa presented the newly acquired gemstone, the light-pink crystalized heart-shaped item mirrored his smiling face.

"Tysashi, what shall we do about Flora?"

He paused before giving her an answer. "For now, it would be best to collect other gemstones and come back to her later. That way, I'll have more control over the Diamond Eye Necklace."

She nodded before rotating her head to Alfred, stating that his stubborn watch over Tysashi was no longer needed. With that, he left the two in silence. All that murder now felt a recurring nightmare, it wouldn't leave her thoughts but the guilt was lighter. Finally, they could gaze at each other with a fresh coat of affection.

⊱⋅ ────── ⋆★⋆────── ⋅⊰

In the dining hall, the air seemed pristine as the atmosphere was much more lively. Multiple discussions were brought to the table as well as a special dessert. Fluffy, exquisite, and pale Creampuff Cake was rewarded for Tysashi's efforts and Aradressa providing the cure. Despite the joyous occasion, he knew that Marissa wanted him to defeat Flora. Soon the two met up after having separated showers, dressed in their sleeping attire.

"I can't thank you enough, Aradressa. I really owe you one."

With an innocent smile, she placed hands on his journal resting on the pearly nightstand and returned it.

"If you don't mind, I wrote a few entries in there for you."

Curious, he opened the journal and found the pages separated by tags like items, creatures, weapons, etc. Flipping to the creatures section, the entries were revealed.

Creatures Entry #1: Slenderbarks 

"Slenderbarks are towering, skinny, and vicious creatures that reside in Kiyoshi Woods and only appear at night. Their tree-like bodies are made of fireproof bark that shields them against most attacks. Its fingers can easily cut through metal and possesses the ability to extend its limbs to a certain length. They enjoy hunting by camouflaging themselves on existing trees and waiting for an animal to appear. That's when Slenderbarks will typically impale the victim and then wraps roots around them. Once the venomous liquid is injected, Slenderbarks drink the insides of their prey, leaving a moistureless corpse. Its key weakness is ice and water attacks, height, and sacrificing the ability to see and hear when camouflaged."

Creatures Entry #2: Desounds

"Desounds are small, dark cats that emit a smoothing meow to lure in prey. Both sides of their skin possess a waning gibbous moon and half of the tail is yellow. Swift movement, sharp claws, and enhanced senses are its key strengths that compensate for its weaknesses, size and weight. These adorable, yet violent creatures evolve from Desiano after bathing in the moonlight of a third quarter moon eight times. Desounds subsequently evolve into Destissimo after sixteen waning gibbous moons have passed. Though playful and cheerful, these creatures will turn barbaric when a member of the clowder is injured."

He thanked her once more while placing the journal back. Wishing her a pleasurable sleep, he fell into a world of dreams rather early. This, of course, meant one thing.

Diary Entry #10

"The collection of unforgivable sins I have committed today may never leave me be. My eyes were leaking constantly from the innocent souls I had to reap. Even through the illimitable sea of salt, I continued with my quest even if I could never forgive myself. Aside from that, Lily requested permission to spend an entire day with Tysashi. As far as she's concerned, we're dating which denotes she thinks it's acceptable to ask such a question. I did answer, but my response wasn't definite. Her obsession with him may prove impossible to counter. My mixed encounter with Ampros led to retrieving her feathers and striking a deal with Hammer Hawk. It should be scientifically impossible for one man to have such a dense mind. Even after everything I've experienced while accumulating those items, all those mutations of regret and guilt... it is no longer consequential. Seeing Tysashi unimaginably upbeat and healthy was all I needed for this nightmare to seem like a fleeting illusion."

End of Entry Ten

Linking herself to him, her eyes sealed shut as her restrictive arms encircled his waist.

"Goodnight, Tysashi."