Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Seven: The Ones Who Still Fight

 The group watched silently as Daniel left. None of them went after him, none of them called his name. 

Finally when nothing but the darkness of the night remained, Tammy spoke. “That was horrible. Is everyone okay?”

“No.” Belle began to cry. “Oh today has just been too, too awful! Judy might not've been the best boss in the world, but we were becoming such good friends. Oh Judy! Now Dan is gone too, and Revolver, I didn't want him to die! I didn't want anyone to die!” 

“Daryl did this. My loathsome, disgusting, worthless brother.” Sunny was shaking. “And I could have turned out just like him. Oh why couldn't we have saved him like you saved me?! Then no one would be dead!” She burst into tears of guilt and rage.

“I'm the one who left Dan, I could've stopped him!” TJ was crying too. “If only I had kept my mouth shut and not gotten arrested!”

“We both left him. We were idiots.” Sammy wiped his eyes, the tears not stopping.

“It’s not fair. We loved Dan so much. Why wasn’t it enough?” Petunia looked defeated. 

Tammy looked in the direction Daniel had gone. She was crying too. Her voice, the voice she had fought so hard for, failed her. Daniel had driven her to her therapy to get that voice back. Daniel had supported her, when even Sammy didn’t. Daniel had been her hero too. Lord knew he paid more attention to them than their actual siblings did.

She had to get up. She had to find her voice again.

“We’ll go on.” Tammy croaked.

Everyone looked at her. Tammy grit her teeth. “WE WILL GO ON.” She yelled. “WE WILL GO ON, WE WILL GO ON, WE WILL GO ON!”

She got up on one of the broken cars. “We’ll go on. We’ll fix this city once and for all. We’ll finally win and when we do, we’ll get our Dan back.” 

All of the Knights looked at her. Belle and Charlie sat by themselves, away from the group. They felt too bruised by what had happened to pay attention to what was going on. 

“We’ll get him back. It might be on the other side of the prison bars, but we’ll get him back.” Tammy said, her voice getting stronger. “We can’t give up now. We have to go on.”

Sammy looked up at his sister. The one he'd once tried to speak for. He stood up and climbed up the car to stand with her. He wouldn't speak for her, not now, but he would use his voice to amplify hers.

Petunia smiled up at them, sadly. Daniel had been a brother to her too, something she'd craved as an only child. She offered a hand to her beloved TJ, who took it before burying his head in her chest, devastated. She hugged him tightly.

Sunny looked at the four of them. Somehow she was now one of them. The five friends had opened their arms to her and Sir Lionheart had knighted her. Sir Lionheart was gone now, but Lady Silent was still here, her soft, quiet voice now more powerful than the loudest boom could be.

“We are the Noble Knights of the Last Order.” Lady Silent looked at them all. The loud and proud Sir Hyper. The deep dark connection to the enemy Sir Dark. The loving healer Lady Luck. The brave and tenacious Lady Courage. 

And, in the background, Sir Motor, Patrick to help them make getaways. The Outer Knights of the Last Order - they could be called on again. Finally, Sir Hedgehog, who was the key to winning, working hard for them in Brisvegas, getting the pieces they needed in place to finally fix things.

So what if one had fallen. Many more would before the war was over. Not just in Pleasantville, not just in their world, not just in their Universe. This was a fight for the ages, and the Noble Knights of the Last Order were ready for it.

After a sob and ice cream session.

–

Because the City Hall was not only a complete and total mess, but also a crime scene, Belle and Peter were on paid leave until everything was sorted out. Charlie, being his own boss, also gave himself some time off.

Both of them were still shellshocked - not just because of the defection, but because of the Improbability Clause. 

“How long did you know?” Belle asked the next day as they sat under their favourite tree.

“Too long. I didn’t want to be right.” Charlie told her. “That’s why I didn’t tell you, because if I told you…”

“Then it became all the more true.” Belle finished. She sighed and looked across the street. “At least you got the Lions Claw back.”

It was Charlie’s turn to sigh. “Not that I’m the true owner of it apparently. I hate that. Why did Daniel have to drop THAT on us?!”

“Because he wanted to hurt us. You know that.” Belle rested her head on his shoulder. “And he did a pretty good job.”

“Tell me about it.” Charlie sighed as Peter pulled up in his car.

“Hey kiddos. Belle, I have a letter for you. It’s from Revolver. He left it to you in his will.” Peter handed Belle a letter.

“His will? Surely it’s way too early for that, the poor bloke only died yesterday!” Belle took the letter.

“His minions are getting ahead of the curve, and you know how lawless they are. They’re getting rid of everything connected to the DVG and the Mob so they can get out of here clean. Those two gangs will never operate again.”

“Small miracle.” Belle opened the letter. 

Dear Miss Masters,

Let’s get it out of the way - I know you’re that annoying pest Giggles. I always have. We’re family after all. Distant family, but family none-the-less. If you’re reading this, my lackeys have done their work. You probably know by now that I shot myself in the head. I’m just done with it all, done with life, done with the Death Valley Gang, done with fighting. 

That being said, let me introduce myself properly. My name is Timothy Masters. My father was David Masters, his father was Toby Masters, and his father was Lachlan Masters, who founded the Death Valley Gang after his brother James, who you would know as Damon, was murdered by the March Hill Crusaders. I don’t think you come from James, but probably one of the other brothers. I researched all of this when my father died trying to kill you. When I saw your name in the paper the day afterwards and saw you had the same surname as me I got curious. When I saw the Lucky Seven Gun in the hands of Giggles it put the pieces together for me.

I don’t know how much you know about the Lucky Seven and the Lions Claw, or about the other Weapons of the Seer, but I’m sure your friend Lightheart can tell you about Bequeathed Blood. I’m 99% certain we’re Bequeathed Blood, although I don’t know how we became that way. (“He’s wrong on that count. Shame.” Belle sighed.) Ever since I killed Mark I’ve been feeling…empty. Mark and I were firm friends growing up, but he ditched us for the Crusaders who are nothing more than bullies. I don’t care how demented Marion got, there was no need for him to abandon us. He was still my friend though. It made me think of the original purpose for the Death Valley Gang - the same purpose you fight for.

I’m going to tell you now - GIVE UP. Give up before you become another Death Valley Gang. Give up before you become what you hate, your descendants paying for it. There is no future in what you’re trying to do - it’s pointless because human nature will never change. Someone will always want more.

Take care of Lucky for me. Take care of the family for me. If I’m dead, that means the rot is gone. Farewell.

Your cousin, Master Revolver.

“Well, that was definitely a letter that told us absolutely nothing.” Belle started to scrunch it up, but then thought better of it and folded it back into the envelope instead. He’d been a distant cousin after all, she needed to have some respect. 

“I dunno Belle, maybe he’s right.” Charlie looked up at the leaves above them.

“Daniel pointed it out, there’s no way we’re Bequeathed Blood.” Belle said.

“I meant about quitting.” Charlie said. “He’s got a strong point there. Look what happened to him. His bloodline beheaded after months of depression.”

Belle pulled out the note again. “He says here about shooting himself in the head. Wow. Wonder why he didn’t follow through with it.” 

“See? He was stuffed either way.” Charlie sighed.

“But we’ve gotten so much further than Lachlan Masters ever did. He never had a Begly to keep his bloodlust in check.” Belle pointed out. “Besides, you’re the President of the Chamber of Commerce, you can’t quit now.”

“I guess not.” Charlie yawned. He pulled out his phone and checked the messages. “TJ says he doesn’t envy you one bit when you get back to work.”

“Hmm? I feel bad because he’s got to work while I get all this time off.” Belle replied.

“Yeah, but Daryl’s back in with his Dad.” Charlie told her, reading the messages.

“Oh come ON.” Belle groaned.

–

Demon Jones looked horrified at his office. His son had done a lovely job “redecorating” as part of his revenge against his father. With a sigh, he waded through the muck to his desk, grabbed his liquor key and opened his liquor cabinet.

“NO!” He cried. The little berk had taken all his booze too?!

With a groan, Demon sat at his desk and logged onto his computer. This was a PR disaster, and the Kings County state government was now on his tail. Two murders in city hall, one by someone who then went on to massacre a small town? Demon knew it was only a matter of fobbing them off until they lost interest, but even that was getting harder due in no small part to the efforts of Chuckles and Giggles, along with a certain Sir Hedgehog character that was putting huge pressure on not just the state government but the federal government for reform that would put Demon out of business and make life harder for crime.

They had to be dealt with.

Just as he was typing out another grovelling email to another senate member he had a knock on the door. 

“I’m busy trying to clean up here!” Demon yelled angrily, his concentration broken.

“Cleaning up Father? Oh, you mean covering your own worthless hide.”

“DARYL!” Demon shot up. Bold as brass, Daryl stood at the door of the office, looking smug as you like. “I should kill you where you stand, or at the very least have you arrested.” Demon grumbled. “You’ve caused no end of trouble now!”

“Awww, and I thought you wanted the Mob, the DVG and the Crusaders wiped off the map.” Daryl grinned. “And I did it all in one day!”

“You know damned well why I wanted the other syndicates around.” Demon replied. 

“Oh, but I’m so useless Dad, please tell me why.” Daryl’s perpetual smirk was irritating beyond belief. 

“So that the Troupe didn’t get any bright ideas you fool! Now with no threats to their power, I’m a sitting duck!” Demon barked angrily.

“Oh I wouldn’t call you a sitting duck Mr. Jones. I’d call you a roast duck.”

Demon felt the blood drain from his face. Andrew Haiter came and stood next to Daryl, looking grim.

“You forgot how you sent me to work with the Troupe?” Daryl looked ready to laugh. “They do. They also know I’m the one who has given them the keys to the city.”

Demon broke into a cold sweat. This wasn’t right! How had his son turned so conniving?

“So you’ll just go back to your grovelling email, and Mr. Daryl here will supervise you.” Haiter frowned at Demon, who dared not answer back. 

Daryl chuckled and sat down on the couch in his fathers office. “Isn’t this going to be fun Dad? Just you and me again, just like the good old days!”

Demon silently seethed as he returned to his email. This was bad. 

Very, VERY bad.

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Six: Watch me take a good thing and mess it all up in one night...

 “NEWS JUST IN: Marion Misneach of the Mob has laid waste to the citizens of Fallsville. The population of 200 has lost 74 lives tonight, 40 of them members of the notorious criminal organisation the March Hill Crusaders. For more on this devastating development, we go to our crew on the ground…” The radio blared as Belle and Charlie raced to the tip.

“Saw that coming a mile away.” Charlie grimaced.

“This is bad.” Belle grit her teeth, turning off the radio. They'd heard enough. 

It was dark, and the full moon loomed overhead as the beaten old Elantra made its way down the roads. 

“Two of the biggest threats to the Haunted Maze Troupe are gone, no way Marion and the Mob survive this. Argh, it's going to be brutal now the Troupe are the only game in town.” Charlie said as they pulled up to the tip.

“Until the next threat comes along, and who knows what form THAT will take.” Belle got out of the car and ran to the hideout, Charlie hot on her tail. 

They rounded a huge mound of garbage and met up with the Noble Knights of the Last Order, who were all glaring at Daniel by the light of some old neon tubing Sammy and Tammy had rigged up a long time ago.

“WHERE’S MY SWORD?!” Charlie immediately bolted towards Daniel, who smirked as the others looked confused. “WELL? Where is it?”

“Judith is dead and all you can think about is your sword? I thought better of you Charlie.” Daniel stared right into the eyes of the younger man, who stopped short angrily.

“What? You stole the Lions Claw Blade?!” Sammy cried. “Why would you do that?”

“I have my reasons.” Daniel replied maddingly. 

Suddenly a long stretch limo arrived. Out stepped Mobster Marion, looking defeated. Her makeup was smeared all over her face, her hair was a mess, her dress was torn and dirty and it was plain she’d been crying. She dragged the Lions Claw Blade behind her, to the horror of Charlie.

“It’s done. You can have the sword back, I won’t need it anymore where I’m going.” Marion said, throwing the sword at Daniels feet.

“Where are you going?” Petunia asked. “Please don’t do anything silly.”

“Sillier than what she's already done?” Belle quipped.

“I don’t know where I’m going.” Marion replied, her voice wavering. “I just know I can’t stay here anymore.”

“What about the Mob?” Belle asked.

“It’s over. So is the Gang. We’re through.” Marion replied.

“Well, makes sense given you beheaded Revolver.” Daniel pointed out.

Everyone rounded on him. “WHAT?!” Charlie cried.

“I killed him. I killed Timothy.” Marion said softly. “There is no place for me here any more.”

The light from the neon tubes left haunted shadows on Marions face. She was broken, completely and utterly destroyed. 

“There's no place for me anymore.”

She got back into the limo, and it drove off. To finish Marions story, she and the few Mobsters who went with her went overseas to the War Wastes between the Great Nations and Awesomica. She lived in a tiny hovel in a tiny village, and eventually had two children of her own before passing away relatively young, her heart forever broken at the loss of her baby sister.

The Knights and Belle and Charlie watched the limo drive away. All of them were shaken.

“I don't know what right she has to be all upset, not after all the lives she's stolen.” Sunny pointed out as both Charlie and Daniel both reached for the sword.

“Back off Dan.” Charlie growled. Daniel laughed.

“It isn't even your sword, and I don't even want it.” He reached for something attached to the hilt of the sword - it was Judith's necklace. Daniel put it around his own neck as Charlie nursed the Lions Claw Blade. 

“It IS his sword, he won it!” Belle snapped.

“Puh-lease. You don't even know the full history of those weapons.” Daniel snapped back.

“Oh, and you do?” Petunia stood up for Belle.

“Of course I do. My great-great-great-grandfather was the one who made them.” Daniel said.

The group froze.

“It was in the war, 150 years ago. He created seven weapons, weapons that could only be used by blood they had been bequeathed to, or those with extraordinary skill.” Daniel told them. “Those two were stolen by the Misneach family, thus they became the Bequeathed Blood.”

“Okay, that just sounds like a fantasy novel.” Belle rolled her eyes.

“Where do you think your father got the power for the Ruby Suit from? The power that's in those weapons, because of that talisman.” Daniel pointed to the Lion talisman on the Lions Claw Blade.

“So you're Bequeathed Blood by default.” Tammy said.

“Yup. The Dragon Scale Scythe and the Mystic Eight were buried with their creator, but my great-grandfather stole them to impress my great-grandmother, who was the heir to the Lightheart family who owned the lands of Silent Lake in the War Wastes. She had no time for that, she was a hardened criminal through and through.” Daniel said.

“As interesting as all that is, the fact is you gave Marion the sword back to kill Crusader Roger!” Sammy cried. “How could you?! How could you make yourself a killer?!”

“It’s not the first time.” Charlie said quietly.

The group didn't know where to look.

“Ah. You figured it out.” Daniel looked less than amused. “That confounded Improbability Clause.”

“Figured what out?” Sammy went pale.

“Dan killed Wallace Dingbat.” Charlie said in that same quiet voice.

It took everything he had to say it, but he’d said it. It was true. The weight of that knowledge wasn’t lifted by saying it however, if anything it became even heavier with the weight of the stares of his friends, all of them begging it not to be true.

“It’s not true. It can’t be true. Not our Dan.” Sammy almost whimpered.

Daniel grit his teeth. “I didn't mean to! I didn't want to! He just kept at me and it was hot and we'd just failed AGAIN to right any of the wrongs in this city and…”

“You murdered him in cold blood. While he was unable to defend himself.” TJ, who had been silent up to this point, stood up. “If you had killed him in a fair fight or in self-defence we would have understood, but you murdered him while he was defenceless BECAUSE HE WAS PICKING ON YOU?”

“HE TOLD ME HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RIGGING THE MAYORAL ELECTION!” Daniel yelled. “What would YOU have done?!”

“HE WAS WEARING HIS CAMERA YOU IDIOT HE BASICALLY INCRIMINATED HIMSELF!” TJ roared back.

“Great job on destroying all our evidence against him by the way.” Tammy snapped.

“You would have done the same thing!” Daniel roared, his voice straining. “You remember how horrible it was!”

Charlie felt his heart drop. He’d nearly killed Demon that night, the only reason he hadn’t was because Giggles had shot him. 

Belle must've been thinking the same thing. She put a hand on Charlies back and looked at Daniel sadly. “We all make mistakes.” She started.

“HE MURDERED A DEFENCELESS HUMAN BEING.” TJ cried.

“We ALL make mistakes, and we all need to atone for them.” Belle continued, pointedly ignoring TJ. “You, in less than ideal circumstances, ended the life of another human being. It might be unforgivable, but in your right mind you would never have done it. If one of us had been there, we could have stopped you. While you alone carry responsibility for what you did, we have to acknowledge our own shortcomings that allowed it to happen.”

“Like letting Demon and his ilk run free?” Daniel shot.

“Dan, I'm not even going to respond to that. You know why we've been doing things the way we have.” Belle said evenly, trying to keep the situation under control. 

“We're FAILING.” Daniel snapped. “Nothing has gotten better, and this city is still a hellhole!”

“That's not true!” Tammy stood beside Belle. “Stop making excuses for your impatience.”

“Your actions were not only immoral but set us back. If Dingbat was alive he would have had to answer to his crimes, Sir Hedgehog would have made sure of it.” Belle continued. “And you can bet your bottom dollar if Dingbat was going down he was taking everyone down with him. Not to mention you basically murdered 75 people by proxy if you include Revolver.”

“I didn't mean for Revolver to die.” Daniel muttered.

“But you meant for the March Hill Crusaders to die. You made a conscious decision to keep killing after you made your first mistake and that is truly beyond redemption.” Belle told him.

“I got rid of two threats, didn't I?” Daniel asked. 

“You put all of us at risk!” TJ thundered. “And for what, revenge?”

“The sod who killed Judith is now out of the world, and can't hurt anyone anymore.” Daniel said bitterly.

“No he's not.” Sunny said. “Did you see the security footage they blasted over the news?”

“Yes, I did.” Daniel snapped.

“So then you'd know it was my brother who killed Judith and he's still fine.” Sunny told them. “He just texted me bragging that Dad would be welcoming him back soon, did I want anything?”

Daniel froze. Daryl Jones. He was still alive and he had killed Judith.

“Marion wouldn't care, she's too far gone. You should have known better.” Sunny finished. 

Charlie still felt sick. He could have easily been Daniel. Or even Daryl. If Belle hadn't been there…

“We can fix this Dan.” Belle said, as if she'd read Charlies mind. “You've got to hand yourself in. You'll probably be gaoled for life, but we'll visit you and things will be okay.”

“WHAT?!” Daniel cried.

“If you go to Brisvegas and turn yourself in there you'll be treated fairly.” Belle continued. “No matter what we're trying to do here, we can't forget who we are.”

Daniel looked horrified. “No.” He said.

“Mate, you heard Belle, she's the only one talking sense at the moment.” Tammy put her hand on his arm, which he quickly shoved off. Daniel was seething. He'd known this would happen when he stole the Lions Claw Blade, and he hadn't cared then. Now faced with the stark reality of the consequences of his actions, he felt like it was all brutally unfair.

“Sense. Tell me, what sense is there left in this city?!” He looked at his friends. Friends he’d known forever. Friends who were like family to him. “I’ll tell you what, there’s no sense!”

“Think of Marcus! Think of your family!” Petunia pleaded.

Daniel scoffed. He had no family, just senile old grandparents and an infant son. He would have had a family, but they died in the battle of Silent Lake. 

The Silent Lake Gang. Destroyed by the Death Valley Gang and the Mobsters of Misneach. So without meaning to, he’d avenged them too.

“My family died protecting their patch. Maybe it’s time I honoured them.” Daniel said slowly.

“Dan, you’re not thinking straight, you’re still grieving. Hand yourself in mate, you can get help and we’ll look after Marcus.” Sunny begged.

“On the contrary, I think I’ve finally figured things out.” Daniel looked up at the full moon.

“Daniel, you’re not thinking of reviving the Silent Lake Gang are you?” Sammy asked. Everyone froze again.

“It’s my birthright. It’s what I was born for.” Daniel told them.

“NO, you’re no more a Silent Laker than I’m a Haunted Maze Trouper. Dan, think about what you’re saying!” Belle cried.

“Belle, you only found out a few months ago that you’re an heir to the Troupe. I’ve been a Laker since the day I was born. It’s the memories I have of my mother.” Daniel told her. “You couldn’t understand.”

“I understand more than you think.” Belle said quietly. “I never knew my mother, she dumped me when I was a newborn.”

“You think you do but you don’t. You never can. You think your books give you all the answers but you’re wrong. You didn’t even know Master Revolver was your cousin. He knew the whole time that you two were Chuckles and Giggles.” Daniel spat. 

“I had my suspicions.” Belle replied.

“And you don’t mourn him. Your own family.” Daniel looked at her, disgusted. “No wonder your mother dumped you, you unwanted-,”

“Dan, don’t!” Charlie warned.

“You unwanted bastard.” Daniel finished.

The only reason Charlie didn't slam Daniel to the ground was because a black-haired blur shot past him. Sunny slammed her fist into the side of Daniels face, hard enough that it was going to leave a very black bruise the next day.

“DON'T YOU DARE CALL MY SISTER UNWANTED!” Sunny screamed as she pummelled her former leader.

“Easy Sunny, you don't want to hurt your fists.” Belle pointed out, pulling Sunny away.

TJ looked at Daniel, sad and angry and confused and hurt. Behind him, Sammy was crying silent tears. Petunia was looking at Sunnys fists, making sure she hadn’t hurt them, and Tammy stared hard at Daniel.

He had been their leader. Their protector. Their brother. Their friend. Now he had betrayed everything that they had stood for. Memories danced in all of their minds of Daniel, being the brave and reliable Sir Lionheart, being the one they could rely on. Now it was all gone.

“As of now, Sir Lionheart is no more.” Tammy said coldly. “You are no longer welcome in the Noble Knights of the Last Order.”

Daniel exhaled. It was done. He had known this would be the ultimate price, but still he couldn’t bring himself to believe it. He had loved all of them so much - he still loved them! Now they were casting him out forever, and he had only himself to blame.

No. He told himself. It’s Demon and Daryls fault. Them and the Haunted Maze Troupe and the Death Valley Gang and the Mobsters of Misneach and all the cowards who let them get their way.

“I warn you Daniel, I WILL find the evidence I need, and I WILL make sure you pay for all the lives you have stolen.” TJ warned him as he turned to walk away. “I WILL bring you to justice for what you did to Dingbat and the people of Fallsville. Dingbat might have been an evil, racist and incompetent fool, but he deserved a fair trial and to pay for what he did. As do you.”

Daniel scoffed and began to walk away. All of them were united against him. For a moment, it stung. He would never again fight over cricket with them, or fight crime together, or eat at Bills restaurant together, or go fishing together...

But then his heart hardened as he knew that he would never fit in with them ever again. He snarled, and turned away, and thus Sir Lionheart, the leader of the Noble Knights of the Last Order, was no more.

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Five: The Second March Hill Massacre

 Crusader Roger had just returned from another successful day of torturing the populace of Fallsville. Not that they had much. He groaned and poured himself yet another whiskey. Running around Fallsville was one thing, but the true prize was Pleasantville. Unfortunately the Haunted Maze Troupe had beaten them to the punch.

That was okay, there was always time to fix that. Having Daryl Jones in the March Hill Crusaders was going to pay off eventually, especially when Demon realised that he'd never get to even meet his only current grandchild. He'd come back for Daryl purely because he was a misogynistic prat.

Speaking of…

“Anyone seen that little berk?” Roger poked his head out of his office.

“He stole your car.” Crusader Alice reminded her boss. “Which is why you ran the hat around town for a new one.”

“Surely he'd be back by now though.” Roger looked annoyed. “It's nearly dinnertime.”

Suddenly Crusader Alex bolted into the hall, terror on his face. “Have you seen the news?! It's all over the telly, they're saying one of us killed Sidewinder!”

“Wait, what?” Roger left his office and walked towards the breakout room where the television was blaring.

“Security footage taken from City Hall shows a man, estimated to be in his early to mid twenties, wearing March Hill Crusaders insignia, who was hiding in the Mayors office, where he sprung out and shot the leader of the Misneach Mobsters sister Sidewinder. Authorities are trying to piece together how the intruder got in. On the ground we have reporters ready…” The host of Pleasantville Nightly News droned on.

All the colour drained from Rogers face. 

“That's Daryl…” Crusader Aiden gulped. “He killed Judith.”

Roger could barely choke down a breath. “She's on her way, isn't she?” He said hoarsely.

No one said anything.

“Marion is on her way here. For revenge.” Roger swallowed hard. “She'll have us all slaughtered.”

“We can hold off the Mob if it comes to a battle, there's no doubt about that. Fallsville is OUR territory.” Alex grinned at Aiden, who smirked back.

“Daryl must've known Marion would come here for vengeance and set her up for a fail.” Aiden said. “Let's get everyone armed!”

“Yes…yes of course…I'll be getting ready in my office.” Roger bolted back to his office and locked the door. He sat at his desk and groaned. Daryl Jones had known Marion would march on Fallsville all right - he'd been counting on using her to kill Roger and get comeuppance for the hard love Roger had been dishing out.

“DAMN!” Roger slammed his desk. That little bastard had outsmarted him. The Crusaders had no chance of fighting off the Mob, not now. If they'd known beforehand then yes, but Marion would now only be minutes away and most of the March Hill Crusaders weren't ready for a battle. 

To prove his point, suddenly he heard the sounds of gunfire and screams of agony from the lower levels of the hideout. Suddenly he heard Alex banging on the door, begging to be let in so they could regroup.

No chance. Roger downed another glassful of whiskey and headed to the safe. No one knew it was a secret passage out of the building. Roger quickly made his exit as Alex finally got the door open.

“Sir, we've got the barricade up, we need you to-,” Alex stopped. He saw the passage. “You're running away?!” Alex cried.

“Yup.” Roger got inside the safe and slammed the door locked behind him.

“NOOOO!!!!” Alex screamed. “YOU CAN'T LEAVE US TO DIE YOU BASTARD! YOU DID THIS TO US! YOU CAN'T LEAVE US!”

He yanked at the safe door, but it wouldn't budge. Crusader Roger had truly abandoned them.

“ROGER! COME BACK! YOU BASTARD RAT, GET BACK HERE AND SAVE US! YOU DRAGGED US INTO THIS YOU BASTARD NOW COME BACK! ROGER!”

“Alex, you were supposed to bring Roger downstairs, now the Mob have overrun us!” Alice ran in screaming. “They killed Aiden!”

Alex wanted to vomit. Aiden, his beloved, was dead, and Alex wouldn't be too far behind. 

“Where IS Roger?!” Alice asked, skittish and scared. “WHERE IS ROGER? HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE!”

“He escaped. The rat ran off on us. He forced us into his web and then left us to die!” Alex threw himself against the safe. 

He watched Alices face fall as she realised that she was going to die. She was going to die because Roger had promised to save her father in exchange for her service. She was going to die because Roger lied.

To all of them.

An Emerald Mobster appeared at the door. He shot both Crusaders, sticking around to make sure they died.

“You want Roger?” Alex coughed, blood choking him. “The safe is…he's in…”

And Alex joined Aiden and Alice in death.

–

Crusader Roger could hear the sound of someone following him. Lots of someones. One of the little weasels must've sold him out. 

He kept running down the long sewer corridor, where the drop from the safe had left him. He did his best to stay quiet, mentally cursing every time he stepped in water. He silently cursed himself for drinking so much whiskey. He silently cursed himself for letting Daryl get through his fingers.

If he somehow survived this, he was going to tear that little berk limb from limb. Slowly.

Roger finally made it to the gate where the sewer met Pleasant Gorge. The rain had stopped, but everything was wet still. He scrambled up the side of the gorge, slipping and cutting his hands on the sharp rocks. Finally, he reached the top. 

He looked around. There was no going back to Fallsville, not now the Crusaders were toast. He couldn't go to Pleasantville either, he'd be killed on sight.

Unless…

Killing Judith only helped Demon Jones. It lessened the strength of the Mobs influence in City Hall. If he could get to the Haunted Maze Troupe in time, then he could beg for clemency. Life in gaol was better than death.

“Now how'd I know I'd find you up here?”

Crusader Roger froze. Daryl Jones was smirking at him from the hood of his car.

“You traitorous swine…after I took you in!” Roger spat.

“You only kept me around as leverage against my father, let's not get it twisted.” Daryl laughed. “And now Marion is going to slaughter you.”

“You're the one who killed her sister, you're the one she really wants!” Roger barked.

“Prove it.” Daryl grinned. “And make Marion listen to you.”

Roger felt himself sweat. He couldn't think. He shouldn't have drank all that alcohol! Daryl got up off the boot of the car.

“Hope you can think fast. Catch ya in hell.” Daryl shoved Roger, sending the older man tumbling back down the side of the gorge where the Emerald Mobsters were searching for him.

“Ma'am, we've got him!” One of the Mobsters called Marion while two others bound and gagged Roger, who desperately tried to plead his case.

It took ten long minutes for Mobster Marion to show up, riding her gleaming black limousine. She stepped out, holding the Lions Claw Blade in front of her.

Roger desperately tried to spit out the gag and tell her the truth, but he was bound too tightly. Marion smirked, but her eyes were hollow.

“I don't care which one of you did it. I just want all of you gone.” She said softly. “As their leader, you should have kept them under control. Their sins are your sins, and you must bear the weight of their cost.”

Roger squirmed, desperately trying in vain to get past the gag.

Above them, Daryl lit himself a cigarette. 

“She died instantly. I'm glad. I wouldn't want her to have suffered like you're going to do.” Marion steadied the sword in her hand. It still trembled though.

“Now you die.”

Daryl watched as Marion began to dismantle Roger slowly and methodically. It was disgusting and brutal. Rogers' screams echoed through the gorge. 

“Wow. I could learn a thing or two.” Daryl mused to himself. He flicked the butt of his cigarette away. He contemplated a second one, but decided to wait until the fun was over.

Finally, Roger was left on the brink of death. Marion smirked that dead smirk one more time, before turning away.

“Leave it, we have better things to do and it's almost dead anyway.” She called to her Mobsters, all of them scared of Marion.

She walked to the limo, and slid in. “Pleasantville Tip.” Was all she said.

“At once ma'am.” The driver replied. The limo shot off like a rocket back towards Pleasantville. The leftover Mobsters quickly made their way back to Misneach Manor.

Once they were gone, Daryl slid down the embankment to see what was left. Roger lay on the ground, still breathing, still glaring through his gag.

“Oh beauty!” Daryl laughed. “I get to finish you off!”

Roger coughed. He continued to glare at Daryl. The little berk had beaten him. The slimy little scum had actually defeated him.

He didn't get to think much about it, as a kick to the side of the head finished him off. 

–

“They knew where to look.” Belle said as Charlie fumed over the loss of his sword. “If they didn't the room would've been destroyed.”

They had returned back to the Begly house after being unable to find Daniel, and instead had found the Lions Claw Blade had been stolen.

“It was Dan wasn't it? DARN him!” Charlie slammed a fist on his desk, cracking the wood. “He's replacing that.”

“If you say so.” Belle looked worried.

“The Clause says so.” Charlie sighed. 

Belle touched his arm. “We need to go. We said we'd meet everyone back at the tip.” She squeezed his arm gently. “I'm sorry. I promise you we'll get the Lions Claw Blade back.”

Charlie exhaled loudly. “I know.” He took Belles hand in his and squeezed back. “We'll figure this out.”

Belle looked out the window. The rain had stopped and it was dark outside. The full moon was making its way through the clouds as a cool breeze blew.

Death hung on the air, and Belle knew the pain wasn't over yet.