"You guys know each other"? I asked, looking from one to the other.

I expected them to do some small talk or something. But they were silent.

Then, Robin suddenly ran towards Ivor, throwing a punch right into his stomach.

Ivor's face was shocked as he crumpled to the ground. Then his smile returned. "I don't need to waste my power on scum like you. I have better things to take care of. Chio"!

Chio walked in calmly, and showed no surprise of Robin being there. "Commander"?

"Get rid of him". Ivor nodded to Robin.

Robin raised an eyebrow, then laughed wickedly. "You seriously think I'll go down to a small kid like him"?

"I am not a small kid. I am a fairy". Chio said, producing three black cards out of his pocket.

"Oh shoot..." Robin suddenly grabbed me by my waste and leaped to the other side of the room, just as Chio threw one card in our direction. A bluish black smoke erupted from where the card landed, and formed a giant, flower like symbol in the air. 

"Cover your mouth and nose". Robin whispered and I followed his instruction.

So much was happening at once. I barely got time to comprehend things since the moment I had slapped Ivor.

The smoke spread throughout the room, and over our heads.

"Please surrender now, or it will kill you. Jess..." Chio's eyes locked onto mine. I knew he didn't want to hurt  me. 

I felt Robin's arms unwrap from my waist, and he disappeared into the darkness. I looked around for him frantically, and then back at Chio, who was now coming towards me. He held up a second card between his two fingers, and then raised it in the air.

Robin grabbed his arm from behind and flipped him over, sending him crashing to the ground. Chio stirred on the floor, and his arm was now twisted and bent.

Before I could run over to see if he was OK, Robin grabbed my arm, and we raced out of the room, slamming the door behind us.

"Wait! I don't think he's a bad guy. Robin, you have to help him".

Robin gave me a look that I had never seen before. The fire in his amber eyes seemed brighter, angrier. They bore flaming daggers into mine, and it seemed to contrast with his ice cold expression.

"You're starting this again? Really? What, because he's cute"?

"No...it's not that. It's just..."

"He. Almost. Killed. You. Do you know what that smoke was? It was urchin smoke. Once it gets into your system, you get the urchin disease. That's what he tried to do to you, Jessika".

I looked back at the door, and took a deep breath. "What about Ivor"?

"He fled from the scene. Little coward. Now where's your friend? We need to get outta here". Robin said, just as we heard several footsteps running up the staircase.

"Where's Al? How are we doing this"? I asked.

"Some plan he mentioned. Now stop asking stupid questions and just follow my lead". 

We saw some elves rushing up the stairs towards us. "Hold on to me". Robin said, and I wrapped my arms around him. He climbed up onto the banister and waited for the elves to come closer.

"What are you..." I started, but then I felt the air slap my face, as he leaped down the banister, sending us falling down all the way to the bottom.

I had experienced this before, and I knew this high jump thing wasn't a problem for Robin. BUt jumping down into darkness is a lot scarier than leaping through trees. Trust me.

I heard the elves yell out at us angrily, and they started back down the stairs.

We landed on the ground, Robin on his butt again and me on my back which was extremely painful. I was surprised he didn't land on his feet.

"Come on..." We both scrambled up, and ran towards the exit. Several goblins were waiting for us there. 

Ugh, just what we needed.

I noticed Robin start trembling beside me and couldn't believe my eyes. "Are you...scared"?

"No, stupid, just having side effects from Aladdin's spell...it's wearing off".

"You're using a spell"? I asked, but he didn't get the chance to reply, as the goblins made toward us.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Aladdin was right in front of us, and used his staff to swipe an invisible line across in the air. The goblins flew backward in all different directions, crashing into barrels and dwarfs.

"Al"?

Aladdin turned and smiled. "Good to see you, Jess. How's it going"?

"Where the heck did you come from"?

"Oh I was just standing around here using my invisibility spell, and just waiting for the right moment".

"I didn't even know you could do that...Aladdin, I think Robin's really feeling your spell's side effects..." I started but what cut off again.

"I can speak for myself, you know. i'm not the little kid here". Robin said.

"Wait. What exactly is that supposed to mean"?

"Not the time, guys. Jessika, do you know where they took the girl"? Aladdin asked.

"She went into the actual tower with lots of other prisoners. But there are a lot of fairies guarding that place". I replied.

"Yeah, those guys are dangerous..." Aladdin said, just as we noticed several elves and fairies flooding out of the tower carrying weapons, running towards us.

Suddenly two figures jumped down from a nearby tree and into the crowd. One was smaller than the other, but they were too fast for me to see who they were.

There were screams and grunts, as bit by bit, elves and fairies collapsed on the ground.

"Come on. Those guys will take care of them". Aladdin said, placing his hand on Robin's shoulder and muttering some incohorent words. "This is the only chance, unfortunately. The side effects are very severe, but right now we need to focus on saving that girl and getting out of here". He said.

"Right. Whatever". Robin muttered.

I followed them round the side of the tower, but then found that two fairies stood guard to the back of the entrance, holding up bows and arrows, and aiming them at us.

Before we had time to react, the arrows shot through the air, one piercing straight into Aladdin's shoulder, and the other just missing Robin's head.

"Al! Are you OK"? Robin and I asked at the same time, as Aladdin stumbled backwards, but still stayed on his feet. I went beside him and pulled out the arrow from his shoulder, making a stream of blood run down his arm. 

"I'm fi...look out"! He yelled, just as two more arrows came flooding towards us. 

Robin dodged, and I shoved Aladdin out of the way. Both arrows flew passed us,and then into the wall behind.

Then more came toward us from above, and I looked up and saw several fairies leaning out of the windows of the towers, shooting down arrows.

Aladdin walked forward and drew another invisible line across the air, making the arrows fly backwards into the sky.

I noticed his breathing was heavy, and his face was pale. "Are you sure you're alright"? I asked, worriedly.

"I'm using too much magic at once...but I'll be fine". He panted. 

I turned to Robin. "Where's your bow and arrow"? I asked him.

"I'm fine without it. Talk about it later". He replied, running towards the fairies with great speed, before they could take out another arrow, and leaping into the air, took them both down each with heavy kicks to the head.

I had never seen Robin this way. His physical strength seemed more powerful than his bow and arrows.

He ran into the tower. We had no idea exactly where we were going. We just knew Jessica was in there somewhere.

And we were going to find her.

Wow, there sure is a lot going on, right now. I actually need to take a breather from writing this chapter lol.

Fairy Question: There have clearly been several mysteries shown in the passed two chapter. What is the biggest mystery to you guys, so far, that you can't wait to discover? Any theories?