Chapter 6: Dark Organizations in the Kingdom

Dorothy enters the convenience store as her stomach growls and echoes around the store.

[Seriously!?] She thought while covering her stomach.

She then proceeds to look for food that are easily cooked, or instant ones.

"Hmmm I guess I'll go for cup noodles.."

She then looks for the section for the noodles while a mysterious white and purple hooded person enters the store and heads for the same direction.

~ A few minutes has passed ~

Dorothy was already at the cashier, lining up to pay for her cup noodles.

"This will be 25.5 pesos." the cashier said.

After Dorothy places the payment for her cup noodles on the desk, she was in deep thought,

[I'm gonna do it... here it goes..]

"The doctor has sent me."

The cashier then froze for a few seconds and continued putting the cash in the cash register.

[DID I SAY IT WRONG!? OH GOD WHAT AM I GONNA DO!?]

She was freaking out inside her mind while showing a warm innocent smile from the outside, The Cashier then leans in closer on her and says,

"Follow me, John you take the cash register for a sec."

the two went inside the door and the person following Dorothy made a smirk as he was next in line.

"Umm excuse me sir. are you gonna pay that?." John asked.

As they went inside the door, Dorothy was getting nervous, the pathway was just a straight line, no turns, no furniture just a plain cemented pathway.

The Cashier lets out a sigh as she says,

"So I'm guessing there's another incident huh."

"Yeah I wanna know where this dart was made."

In the palm of her hands Dorothy showed the cashier the tranquilizer dart in a plastic bag.

She takes a look at the dart and was already on her guard after seeing it, she then turns around and looks at Dorothy.

"This isn't some side project girl if you wanna know because you're curious then I suggest you'd go hom--."

"I am not here to make side projects I want to cure my friend.. I have to do it.. it's my responsibility."

Dorothy clenches her fists tightly as she felt responsible for leading Patrisha into the state she's in now.

"Very well."

She takes a long pause and lets out a sigh then says,

"My apologies for my rude behavior It's been so long since the doctor has ever sent someone here for this type of things I just got very lonely."

She gives Dorothy back the dart by tossing it to her, as she caught it in her arms she then asks,

"You're not a cashier aren't you?."

They were in front of a metal door, it looked like doors from the banks, big metal doors.. The cashier takes out her card and swipes it, The door opens slowly and reveals a lab full of equipment.

"Well being a cashier was my second job my actual job is a scientist."

She could see all the machinery, the technology, the vials from big to small all around the area.

Chemicals being mixed together, a monitor with her vital signs, the room was big and crowded but for some reason it felt like it was empty.

"The name's Sara and you are?." Sara introduced herself as she sits down on her desk.

"I'm Dorothy, Dorothy Ritsu." She introduced back.

"Alright give me the dart Dorothy."

She then takes the dart Dorothy lent her she placed it under the machine to scan its key components and parts.

"It might take a while so let's just have a talk about anything." Sara suggested as she gives her a warm cup of chocolate.

"Chocolate? I heard Scientists drink coffee to help them stay awake from time to time."

She was curious to know, she was in front after all an actual scientist, but the questions on her mind weren't that much groundbreaking such as topics about theories and matter, all she wanted to ask were simple things.

"Well some do, I drink sometimes but I don't really like coffee that much." Sara replied.

She noticed Dorothy's nervous expression, she tries to hide it but isn't really good at it, her voice speaks happily but her tone sounds worried, Dr. Sara then asks,

"You seemed a little tense Dorothy? something on your mind?."

"Well I haven't told my roommate where I am now because I don't want him to get involve but.. I feel like he's worried about where I am now.." Dorothy said.

"Oh how do you know?." She asked.

"A feeling." She uttered.

As Arthur was walking home, he sneezes in the open and looks around to see if anyone saw him sneeze.

"Someone *Sniff* *Sniff* must be talking about me?." Arthur said as he proceeds to head towards their dorm room.

"Hmmm.. but more importantly.. this is a boy we're talking about huh."

A smirk was on the scientist's face,

"N-N-N-N-NO! I NEVER SAID THERE WAS A BOY IN THIS."

She tried to denied it but..

"But you said "you feel like "he's" worried about you right?." She replied with now a smug face.

Dorothy couldn't reply any longer and was embarrassed, she then started staring at the floor to hide her reddish face.

while Dr. Sara laughs out loud while at the same time slaps her thighs multiple times.

"You are right, he is worried about you and who knows he might be even looking for you, the truth is people like those really are the ones who would stick their lives to help and save anyone in need I may not have met the boy you're thinking of right now."

She raises her head and faces her with an understanding look.

"But I know he trusts you and knows you'll go back to him."

Dorothy then became flustered once again but this time her thoughts were fixated when Arthur made that promise to her that night.

"Oh? looks like I triggered another love memory, something on your mind Dorothy?." She asked.

"Umm what would you do.. if a boy likes you.. Dr. Sara."

[But I don't even know if he likes me.. why am I thinking about stuff like this? when I could bring pain and harm wherever I go..maybe I'm not destined to be in a relationship.. or have a family at somepoint..maybe I was destined to always be alone] Dorothy thought to herself.

"Hmmm now that's a good question.. love really is difficult but.. either way it's normal.. if he likes me then I'll try to understand him and if he tells me he loves me I'll think and ask myself.. Should I accept him? Should I respond to his feelings he confessed to me whole heartedly?.. Who knows.. It's really a question of how you see that person.. your decisions rely on how you see that person.. that's what I think at least." Dr. Sara replied.

After she heard her statement she then said,

"But I caused him so much trouble yesterday and got one of my friends hurt, I'm sure he wouldn't care about me anymore."

She then feels guilty about what happened and stares at the ground.

"Dorothy did he ever treat you differently after the thing that happened yesterday?." Sara asked.

Then Dorothy thought of Arthur on how he treated her after he found her.

~ Flashback ~

Dorothy focused on Arthur's wounds on the surface and yelled out,

"Arthur! your arm!!. concerned, Arthur gave her a smile and said,

"Don't worry as long as you're safe I'll be fine."

~ End of Flashback ~

"He never treated me differently even if I caused him so much pain, he even made a promise." Dorothy said while slowly rubbing her eyes

"No matter where you are I'll always protect you, It's a promise."

"That idiot." Dorothy was in tears but smiling at the same time thinking about Arthur.

"you love him don't you?." Sara asked.

"L-L-L-Love?? whaat are you saying!?." She replied flailing her arms around.

"Well, do you?."

"I-I-I Don't know, I'm not a normal girl." Dorothy replied.

"But does he think of that?." Sara asked.

After hearing what she said, Dorothy let out a smile and blurted out openly,

"Yeah I love that idiot so much." Dorothy said.

"Well then looks like we already have our results." Sara said "Just wait here." as she checks the computer.

Dorothy was drinking her cup of chocolate while thinking of how she met Arthur.

"It seems as the alloy is from the organization called "DARKNESS"."

Dr. Sara then takes a seat in front of Dorothy and she then asks,

"Each group has different alloy?."

"Well each group has their own specific components and from this to come from the Darkness organization, it seems you'll be facing the second Darkest organization here in Arondight."

"It doesn't matter, whether they're the first or not I'm getting that antidote." Dorothy said.

She was really going to get that antidote no matter what, she was entranced by herself that it was her responsibility, and that she has to do it alone.

"You might wanna ask some help from one of the squads that are here on the city doing their patrols Dorothy, with their help you can get the antidote much more simpler and can ensure your success." Sara suggested.

"I guess I could, Thanks Sara." Dorothy said

As she then waves goodbye and leaves the room the scientist then proceeds to one of her drawers and gets a picture frame of a guy

"Funny how history repeated itself." Sara said to herself.

As she places the newspapers on the table saying

"Scientist attacked Darkness group to save her friend."

As Dorothy got out of the convenience store she proceeded to go to a computer shop to find some information, while the person who has been stalking her followed her to the computer shop.

"Hey I know where to get what you're looking for." the man whispered.

Dorothy then waved her wand and teleported them outside of the computer shop and in an alleyway.

"You have been following me since the convenience store, what do you want!."

She aimed the tip of her staff at the stranger and it lit up a bright glow as it was about to charge a fireball.

"Lemm-Lemmee explainn don't hurtt mee!." The man begged for mercy.

"Why shouldn't I hurt you? you've been following me for hours now!." Dorothy exclaimed.

"I can help you, you want to attack the Darkness organization right to get the antidote?." the man said while pleading for his life.

The light even grew brighter as it was about to burst from the massive mass of mana she placed in the spell.

"How did you know that?." Dorothy asked.

"It's one of my powers I can see objects that are hidden in clothes, bags etcetra.. I know where to find the antidote to that poison that has been injected into your friend."

"I'm really going to kill you!." Dorothy said.

She wasn't buying it and was even more in rage as the mysterious man in a white and purple hood knows about Patrisha.

Her staff was ready to launch the fireball, as he then flails his arms around and says,

"I am one of the members of the squads in the kingdom, The Sleeping Knights, The Sleeping Knights!."

She doesn't lower her staff but then asks,

"Alright you explain yourself!."

"I was curious about the dart and thought you'd rob the convenience store of money so I went in there to check, but it seems as you had business with the owner of the dart so I checked the darts components again and found out that's from the Darkness organization." he said as he was catching his breath.

"If I went to you instead I wonder if things would be a lot faster, but either way I'm grateful I got to meet Sara, and where do we go now?." Dorothy asked.

She then lowers her staff and cancels the spell.

"Well simply follow me, we'll arrive there at nightfall." the man said.

But something was still on her mind, he never explained himself to her on what his name was.

"What's you're heroic name by the way?." Dorothy asked.

"The name's Merlin." He introduced himself.

"Merlin? the same one as the Mage of Flowers?." Dorothy asked out of curiosity.

"Hey now you don't sound that surprised." Merlin replied.

"Well it's just that not so many people know of your accomplishments." Dorothy answered with a cold stare.

"That's pretty sad if you say it calmly like that in front of me...I may not look like it but I don't do things basically, I just guide others into their true selves." Merlin said as he grabbed his staff.

"now let's get going like I said we'll arrive there by nightfall."

~ A few hours has passed ~

They were hiding on top of the cliff, below them was the factory that made the antidote.

"This is it."

Merlin then saw a glimpse of the future and two guards went outside the base to patrol.

"Dorothy keep your head down now!."

Merlin lowered his voice and ducked down Dorothy followed shortly after.

Below outside the factory there were two guards on patrol and almost looked their way.

"It seems this area is cleared."

"Let's go check at the back."

As the guards were gone Dorothy then whispers,

"Thanks Merlin, you saved us back there."

"No problem, with my help we can do this." He confidently replied.

"By the way how did you know about that?." Dorothy asked.

"Well thanks to my power I can see a glimpse in the future."

"What kind of power do you even have!?." Dorothy was shocked.

"I don't seem to know myself either, but there's a setback to my see the future part." Merlin said as he did hand signals to slowly climb down the cliff.

"What do you mean?."

Dorothy asks as she slowly goes down grabbing branch to branch.

"I only get to see glimpses of the future and in random too what's more annoying is that I don't know when it would happen so I always have to be sharp when it comes to these things." Merlin explained as he slipped and fell towards the ground.

"Hey did you hear that!?." "It came from the front!." "Let's hurry!."

"Merlin!!." Dorothy yelled but in a low voice

"You underestimate me, Mage of the future Abra Kadabra!."

Merlin chanted and the two became invisible as the guards arrived, There were no signs of them, the footprints were gone, Merlin's obvious fall disappeared, as if nothing happened.

"What was that sound just now?."

"It's not funny you know."

"You heard it too!."

"Anyways let's go back to the front we haven't fully checked it there."

"I'm going to kill you if you make me come back here for nothing."

As the guards left, Merlin disabled his spell and they were visible again, Merlin the noticed he had a little bruise but since he knows healing magic, it was nothing to him.

"The door's locked?." Dorothy asked.

Merlin who's at the back door said "Give me a second to open this."

"Let me Merlin." Dorothy said.

"Ishtorraba gugalona."

Dorothy enchated her magic and door became unlocked.

"Simple magic to opening locked doors." Merlin boasted about the spell.

"Shut up Merlin, I'll kill you!." Dorothy said in a cold stare and voice towards the Mage of Flowers.

"Scary, Scary, Let's go in shall we?." Merlin suggested.

As the two went inside the factory, there were only a few places where the lights were on so mostly it was dark but thanks to Merlin and Dorothy's mana they could generate a bit of light from their staffs.

There were a lot things inside the factory, mechs unfinished, weapons disapproved by the government, droids that have been shutdown many more, Merlin and Dorothy checked the computer's logs whether the antidote was here in the first place.

"What do you see Dorothy?." Merlin asked.

"A bunch of file names." Dorothy replied.

"Lucky enough we don't get caught red handed here, care to tell me the names?." Merlin asked and at the same time was looking out.

"We have Project C, Project A, Project B, they sure know how to name their side projects." Dorothy said.

"Try looking for the name Project White Blood." Merlin said.

"Alright." Dorothy replied.

She scrolled, scrolled and scrolled and passed many other files containing other projects.

[If I were these people where would I place the project type?] She thought.

She continued scrolling and scrolling hoping to find the project as fast as possible.

Dorothy then found the folder containing the whereabouts of the antidote.

"To actually believe they'd named it Project W." Dorothy chuckled knowing that fact.

"They should have found the file by now."

"Yes, they already have." the person smirked as Merlin had another glimpse he yelled "Dorothyy!!!!!."

pulling her away from the computer, right before the computer was shot down, from a far, all the lights in the factory were turned on revealing the assailants observing them.

At the top of the shipping containers there were four people standing, one is their leader in the middle a teenage girl with water abilities.

"Looks like some trash have found their way into the dark side of Arondight." She said confidently.

But as they all squinted their eyes from a far and got a better look at the man in a white and purple hood, they all yelled.

"M-M-M-M-Merlin!?."

The name echoes around the factory, bouncing off the walls, Merlin then smirks at them saying,

"Thank you for calling my name."

"Oy Leader you never told us we were facing Merlin!?." Bones said.

"Gwyn we need to withdraw no matter what he looks like he's still a Hero, if we're caught by him it's all over!." Kix said as they tried to abandoned the mission.

Merlin then tapped the ground with his staff and said,

"Shame, but I have to bring all of you in for custody!."

He then rushes towards them without hesitation, they all react and yelled,

"Leader!?."

"You won't be taking anyone!!." Gwyn yelled out as she unleashes a wave of water towards them.

"Seriously?." Merlin said as the huge wave in front of him turned into flowers.

"No way!." Kix reacted.

"Impossible!!." Gwyn reacted.

Fireballs then came out bursting from the flowers and hitting them, the four villains dodged it but thanks to that.

"Leader! catch!." Bones said as she threw the vial of the antidote.

"Dorothy they have the antidote!." Merlin yelled as Dorothy chased their Leader afterwards.

"You're not escaping me!!." Dorothy yelled.

As she then chased the enemy's leader into another section of the base.

"Leader!!." They all yelled as they were thwarted by Merlin.

"Your oppenent is me---well I've always wanted to say something as cool as that!." Merlin said as a wave of flowers were heading towards the three villains.

"You're not getting away!!." Dorothy yelled.

She was right behind her and tried to swung her down using her staff but Gwyn managed to parry it by making a sword made out of water.

Dorothy then backs away from her while rushing in towards her once again, the two begin exchange blows.

As Dorothy would miss a strike she would cast a Fireball with it making it harder for Gwyn to move around and come close.

Dorothy then fires a few fireballs at the ground creating mists to cover her to hide in.

"It's no use!! Mwuhahahaha." Gwyn confidently unleashed another wave upon Dorothy and this time it landed its mark.

Dorothy was laying on the floor unconscious and Merlin was having trouble dealing with the other three villains.

"This isn't really my style!." Merlin said as he was catching his breath and going back to the fight.

Gwyn was slowly walking towards the unconscious Dorothy and said,

"I'm going to enjoy this." Gwyn smirked as she summoned her water sword and stabbed Dorothy's body.

"Oh no! Dorothy!!." Merlin yelled.

While the other three were smirking to see their Leader triumphant as the sword made contact with Dorothy's skin, it exploded and mud was covering Gwyn's eyes

"Damn you! what did yo--."

As Merlin's flowers unveiled the real Dorothy she came right behind the Leader and launched a fireball and knocking their leader unconscious and dropping the vial containing the antidote.

without a second thought Dorothy went for the falling vial and caught it while the three villains fighting Merlin were more focused on retrieving their unconscious leader and retreating, Merlin then made a cushion of Flowers to soften Dorothy's fall.

"We'll get you next time." Kix yelled.

"We won't forgive you for this!." Bones said while carrying their unconscious leader.

While their fourth member was a girl who was silent for the whole match and simply bowed her head at them and went through the window.

"Until next time I'll catch you four for sure." Merlin said to himself.

As he looks upon Dorothy's safety Dorothy then says,

"Look Merlin we've got it! we've got the antidote!." Dorothy was so happy she was jumping around like how a child is given a toy.

"That's great now you can heal your friend." Merlin said.

She then reminisces of what happened at the field concerning Patrisha and Arthur and once again feels guilty about it, she holds the vial tightly as she faces on the ground.

"Don't forget what Sara told you?." Merlin said while giving her a smile.

"Seriously, I could kill you, you know." Dorothy replied as she realized that Merlin was eavesdropping on their conversation.

~ Somewhere in the woods, far from the factory ~

"You! You never told us we had to face off MERLIN from the sleeping knights!!." Kix said as he was the one in charged over seniority from the two.

"That's why I told you to go there earlier and put the vial for the antidote and leave.. but it doesn't matter, you lot survived didn't you?."

"Damn you! Next time when you want us to take a job at least explain to us who are targets will be!." Kix yelled as he was frustrated.

"This particular job never involved targets, this one simply is all about you putting the vial there... you know what forget it.. you already did it and that's fine.. Any how did you destroy the computer?." the person on the phone asked.

"Yeah we did." Kix replied with a frustrated voice.

"Good--."

"Oy we're still getting paid for destroying that computer right?." Kix asked in an angry tone.

"Ofcourse! I'll ask upon your services in the future soon." the guy on the phone ended the call.

"Geez this missions are getting too much, we were almost caught by an actual Hero." Bones said as she sighs for relief.

~ After that Dorothy and Merlin went back to the city ~

"Well this is where I go back." Merlin said.

"You're going back?." Dorothy asked.

"Yeah, to be honest I just wanted to help you, I can see it in your eyes that you want to help someone I just couldn't resist avoiding that spark." Merlin said as he was preparing to go back sweeping a specific part of the city.

"But either way if you need any help I'm right in the city." Merlin said with a smile on his face.

"Thank you very much Merlin." Dorothy said as she waves Merlin goodbye.

Dorothy was rushing towards the hospital to give the antidote to Patrisha.

[I guide others to their true selves, in this case, I lead others to become heroes, the future generation of heroes] Merlin thought to himself.

He then had a glimpse of Dorothy all grown up in the future and one of the key reasons the kingdom was saved at the time when he first saw Dorothy enter the convenience store.

End of Chapter 6: Dark Organizations in the Kingdom