Marches On isn't exactly... Accurate THIS time...

This part isn't as long as I'd have liked, nor is it as good as I'd hoped but I think part of that comes from me allowing the AI to control more without me fixing everything while also apparently having to retrain it a little. Seems leaving it alone for the weekend allowed it to get a little lax with the theme and direction we had going but it corrects itself a bit toward the end. I self imposed most of the final scenes of this one in an attempt to 1. merit posting it **here** and 2. reteach it the ways of the bust. So, hopefully you guys still enjoy and I hope you all are looking forward to more installments. I'll stop posting them if you guys stop liking them. \^\^;

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As the group walks, Yvette seems to be watching her feet and Colm nudges her lightly. "What's wrong?" you ask, her face looking shocked as she looks back at you with blushed cheeks.

"N-Nothing...!" she stammers adorably, trying to hide her obvious embarrassment.

You prod her again, knowing that you can't just leave well enough alone. "Come on, Yvette. We're supposed to be friends now, right?" you say kindly.

She nods nervously, then looks down and kicks a rock ahead of her.

"O-Okay... well, it's just... I saw you get hurt a little back there and I got worried. I really want to be stronger. I want you to teach me how to fight like you and move like you do, so you can have someone in battle to watch your back, you know?" she rambles, clearly flustered.

You take a moment to think how to respond, and while you think that Yvette is a strong fighter in her own right, you don't think that training her to be anything like you would be helpful.

"Sorry, Yvette, I can't... Besides, you weren't supposed to be watching that fight and if I wanted to kill them, I could've but..." you begin to trail off as you remind yourself quietly not to be too morbid.

Yvette seems slightly disappointed in your answer but she respects you enough not to pry.

You eventually come across a worn, wooden sign hanging from a tree limb that reads 'Traveller's Inn'.

​

\> You say "An inn? In the middle of nowhere?"

"Maybe we should ask to stay the night?" Yvette suggests.

"Are you sure? From the looks of things, this place hasn't been bothered in years," you answer.

"Well worth the risk."

"Besides, I'm tired!" chimes in Neimi, to which you laugh and shake your head.

"Right, right.. all this sitting on my shoulder has you real tired," you chide and she crosses her arms with a huff.

The doors to the Traveller's Inn are locked and secured, with an obvious note of 'CLOSED' written on it. By the looks of it, they wrote it with a piece of charcoal.

​

\> You knock on the door and listen for any noises from within.

You rap your knuckles against the door. "Hello?" Silence.

"Is anyone in there?" you call out, your voice booming against the otherwise silent area.

​

\> Neimi says "It's a little too quiet, don't you think?"

"Yeah," you whisper, frowning as you try to listen for any signs of life. You hear nothing, however, and the trees overhead seem to be watching over the building still. "This seems a bit too..."

Yvette grabs your arm. "Well, let's go in anyway."

Surprised by Yvette's sudden bravery, you are pulled along as Yvette charges through the door unceremoniously.

The interior is tastefully decorated, illuminated by some weak candlelight and well-kept.

​

\> You say "Well... that was unexpected."

You spy a staircase leading upstairs and make your way to it, Yvette's previous brave grip was still latched onto you which made it seem much less brave at this point. "Let's take a look."

As you reach the foot of the stairs, you hear a creaking sound from above.

"Do you hear that?" you ask.

"Yeah, I don't-"

Before she can complete her sentence, you have already bolted backwards, pulling Yvette with you, narrowly escaping ceiling debris that fell in.

​

\> You say "Holy hell! What happened?!"

​

As if to answer your question, movement from the rubble catches your attention. You stand at the ready.

A skeletal monster rises from the wreckage. It's emaciated body is covered in long, deep cuts, and its skull is covered with skulls.

​

\> You say "Well you don't see that everyday."

Yvette's eyes widen. "What the fuck... is that?"

"Hm. Good question." You take a moment to study the creature.

​

\> You watch as Yvette charges the thing, jumping through the air and kicking its head.

You step aside, watching the fight. The monster takes the brunt of the attack and reels backwards, before falling through the floor.

"I killed it!" Yvette says, panting.

"Are you sure? I could've sworn it just fell through the floor." You study the hole the monster fell through.

"I saw it! I kicked its skull in!"

"Okay, then I guess you killed it."

The monster's skull is half-obscured by the rubble it fell through.

​

\> You light a firebomb and toss it down onto it, just in case.

Your firebomb explodes down into the hole, covering it with flames and obscuring your vision. You hear a horrible scream that seems to come from the monster itself.

"Well, I guess that answers that."

​

\> You turn around to head for the door. "So much for this place being undisturbed for years," you say jokingly.

Before you can reach the door, it's already being kicked open, as the inhabitants of this house, once terrified, cowering souls, are now bloodthirsty thugs armed with rusty weapons and weren't shy about using them.

One of them rushes forward to attack before you can think. He's a massive thug, easily taller than you and doubly as wide, with a horrible, twisted face, like a hairless dog.

​

\> You snark off a comment, "I guess these guys were friends with the skeleton?"

The hunchback charging you swings his rusty blade.

You dodge the first blow, and the hunchback's arm, lopping it off at the elbow, flies through the air. You sheath your blade before anyone even realizes you've drawn it. You step forward, ramming your shoulder into the hunchback's gut. He flies through the air and lands with a painful thud.

"You fucker!" he growls, grabbing a rusty dagger from his belt and stabbing it into the ground.

​

\> You kick the dagger up out of his hand and into the air to catch it a throw it back down through his hand to pin his hand to the wooden floor.

You catch the dagger and fling it straight into the air. It lands through the fingers of the hunchback and into his hand.

​

\> You say "You don't want to lose both arms in one day, do you?"

The hunchback screams up at you, his face twisting horribly, his eyes turning into black voids that see nothing, hear nothing, understand nothing. He pulls his hand along the blade of the dagger straight through the palm to the top of his hand. He forces the blade out of the wood.

​

\> You say "What the...?"

The hunchback howls wordlessly as his flesh is torn away to reveal the blade.

The blade is bloody and sharp enough to cut through bone.

​

\> You tell Yvette to handle the other two thugs as you finish off this frenzied beast.

You grab the hunchback's head with one hand, yanking his head back to expose his throat as you swing your dagger cleanly through. You turn and see that Yvette has finished off the other two thugs, her movements swift and methodical like your own. She flings blood off her daggers as two heaps of dead men lay at her feet.

The hunchback howls horribly as his face is twisted into a mask of pure agony, blood pouring from his throat.

Almost in slow motion you watch the man choke on his own blood and die. His jet black eyes and mindless howling reduced to a soft gurgle.

​

\> You say "What the hell kind of witchcraft bullshit was that?"

You pull the dagger out of the hunchback's throat and wipe it off on his dingy shirt before sheathing it away.

You look at the hunchback's corpse, shaking your head. "Things are starting to get real weird around me lately. Things used to be simple. Not a care in the world."

​

\> You leave the broken inn as the flames begin to creep up through the floor, leaving behind the bodies and black magic.

You head outside, the flames now licking at your feet. You look around, not a soul is in sight though you have noticed it's gotten dark.

Neimi pouts and groans, "Why does life hate us?"

You shrug, "Who knows in this shitty world. We should probably get out of here before the inn collapses."

You look at the two of your companions and nod.

You, Neimi, and Yvette continue down the road for a while longer, rest seeming to not be on the menu for the night.

Lights and shadows dance along the road, nature's chorus having quieted down.

You think you see something hopping around not too far ahead, but you can't tell for certain. It could be a rabbit.

You, Neimi, and Yvette come to a crossroads and take a look.

To the North, the road leads to Holgard.

To the South, you remember the now burning inn and the barren village.

East simply says 'To Fodlan's Retreat'

And West seems mostly scratched away but you can make out the word rest and assume it's some Forest.

​

\> You say "I guess we're heading North."

With a sigh, you decide to head North.

The night is cold and the road is long, but you know tonight is a good night to sleep in a proper bed.

Then again, what night isn't?

You travel onwards, the road soon becoming long and hard to follow.

Lucky for you, Yvette is a local and knows the way.

The moon hangs high in the sky, almost being as big as the tiny sun.

You are traveling with a tiny Fae woman, Neimi, and a young human woman named Yvette. The night before they both took liberty with your genitals and it ended with you creaming like a holiday pie. Tonight has mostly been walking, idle conversations, and a few scuffles with ne'er-do-wells.

You've beaten several to death with your bare hands, thrown a few into oncoming wagons, and carried Yvette off road when she insisted on trying to stab a man for her mother.

It's been a long, but mostly fun journey so far.

However, everything comes to an end when a large group of men on horses find you.

You, Yvette, and Neimi are surrounded.

"Hands in the air!" a large man with a spear says.

"What is the meaning of this?" Yvette says, "I'm from Holgard, who are you?"

Neimi, who is quite peeved and tired at this point, backs her friend up and calls out to the men, "Yeah! We're tired and busy! The hell do you bastards want with us?"

"Shut it!" the man says, stepping forward and twisting Yvette's arm, "I'm Sergeant Rhys for the Ebony Claw Syndicate. You're under arrest for treason."

​

\> You say "Treason? Ebony Claw is a mercenary cult, not a nation. There's no treason here."

"How dare you!" Yvette says, "I am the adopted daughter of the Jarl of Holgard."

Even you are surprised by this, but surprise doesn't stop Sergeant Rhys as he twists on Yvette's arm harder. You mean to make a move but Yvette looks at you and shakes her head. She wants to handle this one herself.

With a grunt and a curse Yvette pulls her arm away from Rhys. Instead of punching her, he grabs her by the throat and lifts her off the ground. You don't see how she isn't able to break free of his grip. You mean to help, but she gives you a look telling you to stay out of this.

"If you're working for the Syndicate." Yvette says, "Tell your employer... that they should've sent someone less pathetic!"

With that, she rears her leg back as far as she can, then rips it forward through the air and kicks Rhys in the crotch and pulls away from him. At this point Sergeant Rhys releases his grip and falls to the ground, clutching his nuts.

"You fucking bitch!" he says, barely able to get out the words. He then fires a bolt from his armbow at her.

Yvette turns around and summons a small magic barrier to block the bolt. The bolt deflects off the shimmering barrier and clanks against the ground. "Big mistake," she threatens as she walks toward him. Rhys' knights seem like they want to intervene but you have already blocked their path.

​

\> You say "Do with Rhys as you see fit, Yvette. I'll make sure you're not interrupted. "

"The Syndicate has done a lot worse to people than kill their messenger," you say. "Deal with him how you see fit."

You watch as Yvette raises her hand. Lightning leaps from her fingertips and set Rhys ablaze. He screams in pain and agony as the fire engulfs his body. You know it is only a matter of time before he dies, but you also realize this isn't a moment to get distracted.

You turn your attention to the three knights Rhys had brought along whose eyes also widen at the sight of Yvette incinerating her would be captor. By the time that they've composed themselves to act, you've already left. Yvette skipping happily next to you and Neimi happy to see Yvette in such high spirits.

The three of you make your way along the road as the night continues on, conversation about Ebony Claw and Rhys linger for a little while before the subject changes. Neimi is eager to ask Yvette why she didn't kick Rhys in the balls more.

"Hey, I would have loved to see her do an encore," she says. "I wish I could fight with you two sometimes. Just so I could kick those mean bad guys in the balls! Will you do an encore for me, Yvette?"

"I wouldn't mind seeing that," you say, though you wonder who the unlucky sap would be. Rhys did die in a horrible electrical fire accident, after all. "Yvette?" you say, sensing she wasn't quite with you and Neimi.

"Huh?" Yvette asks, taken a little off guard.

"Would you do another kick for us?" Neimi says, gesturing to you with a devilish grin.

Yvette's eyes widen. "Oh... I don't know..."

You also look surprised. "Wait, hey! I didn't mean me!"

You try to change the subject and are suddenly reminded that Yvette claimed she was the adopted daughter of the Jarl.

"Yvette," you say, trying to maintain reason in the conversation. "You never told us you were the adopted daughter of the Jarl of Holgard."

"Oh that... I lied! Hehe\~"

Your jaw drops, like actually just hangs there in genuine surprise at her. "Now weren't we talking about an encore? Should I knee you or kick you?" she teases with a giggle.

"Wait, what?!" you say, still shocked at what all has just transpired. You can hear Neimi snickering.

She moves towards you, before pausing.

"Actually... I do have another hidden talent. I can..." Yvette bites her lip and glances to the side, looking down for a moment.

She then does something that's completely out of nowhere.

She throws herself into your arms and hugs you tightly, and in the middle of this unexpected act, returns the kiss you gave her a night ago.

You stand there for a moment in genuine shock as your arms instinctively hug her back, and the pair of you continue to kiss.

You then feel a sudden pain in your groin, as if a kick has hit you there.

You take a step back and get your bearings. "Neimi!" you say, falling out of Yvette's arms ever so slightly as your moment was ruined.

The pretty young girl looks at you and snickers, before rearing back her leg and booting you in the balls as hard as she can. An assault from both ends as Neimi had kicked you from behind, while Yvette took a shot at you from the front.

You feel the impact all the way to your stomach, and collapse to the ground. As you groan and curl into the fetal position, the pair of them begin having a fit of giggles and laughter together.

"Encore! Encore! Encore!" Neimi chants, as she never seems to be satisfied of ballbusting.

"I'm... gonna... kill... you..." you utter through clenched teeth, struggling to get up. You would never truly hurt Neimi but right now you wish you could just toss her into a pond. Your body hurts all over, and that's before you even get kicked again.

"Kick him! Kick him!" Yvette laughs joyfully, as you try to stand.

"Oh me?" Neimi asks innocently, "I suppose I can do the honors!" Suddenly there's more pain erupting from your balls as Neimi has floated behind you as you kneel on all fours in an attempt to stand, her perfectly shaped barefoot swinging up into your balls. "Direct hit!" she giggles.

You groan, finding it hard to focus on anything other than the incredible waves of pain pulsing through you. Your mind blanks out; you can't even think straight.

You do your best, and manage to grab onto Yvette's outstretched arm as your legs give out. Yvette seems more than happy to keep you upright as your knees are left wide. However, in the process you've made yourself unable to defend against Neimi who goes for the double ballbusting from behind. Neimi has been doing this for years and her practice has made her scary good at hurting your precious orbs. She's also a tiny faerie who's entire foot is almost the size of one of your testicles so it's next to impossible for her to miss her target, of which you're constantly made painfully aware. You look up at Yvette who smiles down at you before looking back to Neimi with a nod, then a perfect swinging leg arcs through your legs and into your left ball, crashing it into it as well as stomping on it and grinding into it from behind. You hear your own scream of pain, as does Yvette who is still helping prop you up.

"Ohhhh... Yvette..." you oh-so ironically sigh, your body giving out from the pain, "Why'd you have to choose me?"

Your question is unanswered as a serene smile makes its way onto your face. It says a lot about how much pain you're in, but you actually find yourself smiling.

With that, Yvette leaves your question unanswered for a little while longer as she kisses your lips to distract you for a moment. Yvette's strong, shapely leg drags back against the dirt as it stretches some distance between it and its intended target. The pain wracking your body at this moment is accompanied by a powerful throbbing between your legs, which seems to increase in strength as Yvette's serene smile makes its way onto her face.

"I'm sorry, but Neimi asked for an encore and... well, I do sorta love this," Yvette admits. You chuckle slightly.

"Neimi made a new friend but created a monster." You reply.

The world is silent just before Yvette's kick, your world is serene in the tiny moment you share before her leg uncoils from its position and fires forward at such speed that it might've landed even if you'd tried to dodge it. The thundering resonance that erupts from your balls meeting her foot echoes into the empty night. You think you make a sound but you can't tell. All you know is pain as you start to slip forward, Yvette letting you finally curl to the ground as she and Neimi giggle and give each other high fives. Maybe you will get sleep tonight after all, you think as you close your eyes and feel the pain take hold. You're consumed by it which almost offers an escape.

Almost.