THE NEXT DAY

As Richard waited with bated breath, Sunshine came up to him and asked " Boss, I don't mean any offense, but do you think this plan will work? I mean, it seems silly putting all our hope on this one person who we don't even know."

He turned to her and said " Just trust him. Right now, unless we want to wait another 3 years, he is our best chance of getting out of here. Have a little faith." A few moment later, they heard a series of loud shouts, stone crumbling, a collective groan of metal bending, and a large, almost ear piercing snap of chains. As Richard pushed on the door to the main entrance, he found it was empty. ' He did it, that glorious bastard actually did it.'

As he pushed opened the door, he barked a quick order to the magic users of the group to do a group teleportation to the everfree castle. As he felt the surge of magic about to whisk him and his group away, he could swear he heard music in the background. ' What the fu-'

As he took in a deep breathe of air, He watched as his friends, his family set up shop in the ruins of an very large cave. He sighed and said " Ok, let's get this all ready for our guest. " He pointed at one of the shadow walkers before he walked off. " You stay, I have a mission for you. It involves our friend."

The shadow turned towards him and said " What would you have me do?" As he was told of his mission, he felt his grin get bigger and bigger, till it threatened to split his face in two. " Very well commander."

As the shadow melted away, Richard could almost feel a phantom smile. ' Skeletons, and closets Celestia. Skeletons and closets.'

A Few minutes, he saw his partner in crime practically dumped on the ground, and heard a low moan eminent from him. ' Well, I am going to have words with carl later. He knows not to just dump people on the ground.'

" As you can see, I kept my side of the bargain," he said, trying to get Dempsons attention.

" What is this place?"

" It is a cave not far from the Everfree castle." He looked over the forest, or, at least what they could see from the mouth of the cave anyway.

" Ah, and where exactly is the cavern?"

' Cheeky little bastard, huh? Fine, two can play that game.' To Dempson, he replied in a voice that he hoped would make him feel a little stupid. "In the Everfree Forest. Hence, the castle being called the Everfree Castle. Kind of obvious, but right now I am too happy to be annoyed."

Dempson smiled and said " Ah, good. Well, it looks like it's about twelve o' clock at night. I'm gonna get some shut-eye," he said, mumbling the last part through a yawn.

" Very well. I will have Sunshine wake you up in the morning. Just, wake up when she tells you to, or you may have to deal with ice. Lots of ice."

Dempson seemed to pale at the thought of Sunshine dumping water in him. "Gotcha," he said, before shambling into the cavern for a place to sleep.

Richard looked at him,, and then looked back at the forest. ' What the fuck have I gotten myself into?'

Author's Note

Sorry this took so long. But, to make up for this, we have shenanigans, and Richard and Dempson finally meet face to face. What will happen? Hell if I know. Let's watch this train wreck.