A Day To Relax

[Deleted]

Maleficent nodded in agreement. Having a room for combat training within the house did sound practical. The army needed the practice, and even in the woods, they ran the risk of someone seeing them. Besides, it would be more difficult for the opposing armies to spy on them this way as well.

“Hmm, yes,” the fairy mused. “You and I will have to discuss it with Critic when we return.”

Pausing only to check that Grimhilde was still behind her, Maleficent made her way out to the forest.

(OOC: Maleficent has left the thread)

[Ma-Ti]

Ma-Ti's Room:

Ma-Ti gasped as he heard Faciliers voice. He just knew it. He was done for. He saw Spoony arrive and just looked at him.

"I'm sorry. I guess I couldn't save myself after all." said Ma-Ti.

He was shocked as Spoony defeated the shadow with a flashlight who dropped Ma-Ti. Then he felt his back hurt like he'd been thrown into a wall. He then heard Facilier's voice saying he'd be meeting him soon. Spoony had only delayed him. Ma-Ti looked at Spoony gratefully and sadly.

"Thank you." said Ma-Ti.

He immediately collapsed catching himself by grabbing his bed dropping to his knees. His back still hurt him a little but he knew he couldn't stay here. Facilier was too powerful. He was glad he still had at least one friend here but he couldn't put Spoony and the others in danger. Facilier was going to come back for him and enslave him or finish wha he started today. He had to go. He headed to his closet and grabbed a suitcase and started to pack what little he had. He had been given some clothes thanks to Critic and the others so he didn't' have to wear the same clothes every day. He turned to Spoony pulling him into a hug.

"I don't deserve a friend like you. I don't deserve any friends after this. I should have fought harder, said something. Now he's going to come after me. I can't put you in danger." said Ma-Ti.

He headed back to the bed and resumed packing.

(ooc: Feel free to stop him. Ma-Ti's just feeling really guilty and doesn't want anyone else to get hurt.)

XXXX

Kitchen:

Mrs. Potts smiled as she had finished the tea and poured a couple cups. Taking one and handing the other to Critic.

"Lunch will be ready in a half hour if anyone wants to eat what I'm cooking. Or you can grab something from the fridge if you can't wait." said Mrs. Potts.

XXXX

Elisa smiled as she kept drinking her soda listening to the group.

"I'm glad things are starting to improve for us again. We have a few of our friends back and I know we'll get the rest of them. I just wish they were back now." said Elisa.

She paused turning to Critic.

"So how is Ma-Ti and Spoony doing lately? i haven't talked to them much because I really don't know what to say. I mean their girlfriends are prisoners. I wish there was something I could do help them right now." said Elisa.

XXX

Unknown:

Queen Grimhilde nodded listening to her.

"The woods it is then. Let's go." said Grimhilde.

She would have to remember to ask Critic and the others about a training room. Since it was the middle of winter it was harder for them to train in the cold anyway. But perhaps they could make an indoor training room somewhere. Even if it was just the basement. She followed Maleficent out into the backyard as they headed off to the woods.

(ooc: Grimhilde has left the thread.)

[Nostalgia Critic]

Spoony's Room

Spoony was not going anywhere and neither was Ma-Ti. He'd be damned to lose Ma-Ti. Ma-Ti was like the little brother Spoony never remembered he had. There was no way in hell he was leaving. So after Ma-Ti hugged him and began to pack, Spoony snatched the suitcase and held Ma-Ti tightly, deliberately trying to get Ma-Ti to stop. Spoony's eyes watered but he didn't care, he wanted Ma-Ti to stay "You aren't fucking leaving. We lost you before, this is just a block to a long road, I'll be fucked before you leave. Critic will help you with this problem, Linksano will help you, Linkara will help you, I will help you. You're too good to leave, none of this is your fault. You're obviously trapped. We're here for you. Don't leave. Think not just about Facilier right now and think of yourself. You will leave over my dead body"
XXXX

Kitchen

Critic meanwhile was talking with Elisa and Mrs. Potts, he took the tea gratefully and stirred it boredly before sipping it. He heard her annoucement of dinner and nodded "I'll let the others know that too, thanks Mrs. Potts it means a lot to me" He then turned to Elisa and smiled widely "They've been getting close. They're practically best pals, besides me and him. Ma-Ti's been a bit secretive but then again he's upset over a lot of things. Spoony is a huge factor to the team since.... well... Snob" He shivered wondering what his second in command was doing all alone in the prison with the others

[Ma-Ti]

Ma-Ti's Room:

Ma-Ti turned hearing spoony as he grabbed his suitcase and then grabbed him. He burst into tears though as Spoony said he wasn't going to let him go and that Critic, Linkara, and the others would help him too.

"I didn't think anyone would care. I've spied on you, betrayed you. And now they have Iheart, Nani, Chester, Snob, and Goggles. I... I can't stay here. What if he kills them in revenge? I couldn't forgive if myself if anything happened to any of them especially Iheart. Maybe if I give myself up he won't hurt them. He kept threatening to hurt Iheart if I didn't cooperate or tried to back out. I'd rather die than let him hurt them. Tell Critic and everyone I'm sorry." said Ma-Ti.

He broke free and bolted from the room. He got as far as the front porch before he was tackled to the ground. He couldn't see who it was but he guessed it was Spoony. He struggled to get free but their grip was too strong.

"I can't let him hurt her. Please let me go." said Ma-T.

XXXX

Kitchen:

Mrs. Potts nodded as she resumed fixing dinner. It would be ready shortly but she paused turning as she heard footsteps and a thud on the porch

"What is going on?" asked Mrs. Potts.

XXXX

"Don't worry. We'll take care of it." said Elisa.

She glanced at Critic nervously before heading out of the kitchen.

XXXX

Linkara's Room:

Marzgurl heard the footsteps wondering if something was wrong.

"Come on Linkara. Maybe we're under attack." said Marzgurl.

She turned heading downstairs.

Front Porch:

She pulled a Blade Blaster out of her pocket as she made her way to the door. The door was open and she saw two figures on the porch as she made her way there. She froze seeing Spoony and Ma-Ti struggling.

"Spoony! Ma-Ti! What the hell is going on?" asked Elisa.

XXXX

Marzgurl soon joined Elisa also confused at the display.

"What are you two doing? Wrestling?" asked Marzgurl, confused.

[Linkara]

Spoony wouldn't hear it. He knew that IHeart would be hysterical if Ma-Ti left again. So after Ma-Ti spoke, Spoony ran and wrestled Ma-Ti to stay and hearing other people coming. He looked up to Critic and the others who were brave enough to come and responded simply "Ma-Ti's trying to leave. He doesn't want to hurt anybody. It's a really long story but it..." He felt the boy struggle more and he wrestled harder, too determinded to let go. "Can somebody help me calm him down!?"
XXXX

Critic patted Mrs. Potts shoulder and responded "Something's up. I gotta check it out. Be damned if I don't" Critic ran with his shotgun only to discover both Ma-Ti and Spoony on the ground and after things were slightly explained, Critic ran and tried to break the two up but also try to settle things down. Critic shouted "Knock it off! Get up from the ground!" He struggled but held and eventually Spoony, him and hopefully ma-ti were up. He turned to Spoony angrily "The hell man? Really? You didn't need to tackle the kid" He then pointed to Ma-Ti, much more softer with him, knowing Ma-Ti wasn't thinking straight "Don't even think about leaving. You're going to tell me what's going on, and you will be calm before even thinking about leaving"
XXXX

Linkara was about to talk more to Marz, about how much he wanted this to stop but the noise outside blocked his inner thoughts and the voice of Marzgurl convinced him to go. He got his magic gun for safe keeping and ran beside Marzgurl. The fight between Spoony and Ma-Ti was shocking for the man but his gaze turned more confused than anything. After Critic calmly, or forcefully rather, got the two to stand up and stop wrestling. Linkara went over also and got near Ma-Ti, hearing from Spoony he was trying to leave. Linkara was deliberately blocking Ma-Ti's path, not threateningly but enough to be hard to budge. "Ma-Ti. Critic's right. You can't just run off. You're important to us and we know you know that but running away won't make the problem go away. Whatever's hurting you, you need to talk about it"

Says the brooding comic book nerd. You're worse than batman Linkara added to himself but he quickly got the thought out, looking to Ma-Ti softly, a bit more than Critic

[Tender Heart Bear]

Backyard:

Unaware of what was going on inside the kids kept playing. Littlefoot was now it chasing after the others.

"I'm going to get you." said Littlefoot.

XXXXX

Freckles giggled.

"You have to be faster than that." said Freckles.

She kept running alongside Darla trying to outrun Littlefoot.

XXXX

Tender Heart chuckled as he was now running by Lilo and chuckled.

"Watch out. He's coming this way." said Tender Heart, as he kept running.

Front Porch:

Marzgurl and Elisa walked over and helped Ma-Ti and Spoony up.

"Now what is going on here?" asked Marzgurl.

XXXX

Nostalgia Chick walked up hearing the noise.

"Anyone mind telling me what's going on here?" asked Nostalgia Chick.

XXXX

Ma-Ti looked at the floor feeling incredibly guilty. Maybe it would have better if Facilier had never revived him. They could have just moved on and wouldn't have to be put through this.

"I have to go. Facilier's got control of me. When I told Spoony he tried to kill me. I have to go. Maybe he'll let the others go or at least keep them alive. I can't let him hurt them. Especially since he has Goggles because of me." said Ma-Ti.

Without warning his shadow suddenly stood up and grabbed him shoving him against a wall and started to choke him.

"No. Please." said Ma-Ti.

"Did you really think you could get away from our master?" said Shadow Ma-Ti.

Marzgurl swung her sword at the shadow but it just went right through him.

"Damn. What are we supposed to do?" asked Marzgurl.

[Linkara]

Front Porch

Spoony responded "For the last time, Ma-Ti, we're not letting you...." Spoony gasped as Shadow Ma-Ti snatched Ma-Ti up to the wall. He turned to the others, all shocked and wanting to save Ma-Ti. He panicked and said "Shit! I don't have the flashlight!" He was scared for Ma-Ti's life. Worried he was not going to be saved this time
XXXX

Critic was also worried. He didn't want Ma-Ti to not feel safe but this shadow was going to kill him. Severely. He turned to Chick and the others before seeing Marzgurl's sword not penetrate him. "Ma-Ti! No! You let him go you bastard!" He was yelling at the shadow unsure what to do when suddenly he saw Linkara going over and aiming the magic gun at him
XXXX

Come on Margaret, let's teach this shadow what happens when you bargain Ma-ti Linkara thought as he walked over to the shadow. Throughout the entire process he grew angrier and angrier at Facilier. For many reasons, the main one being the keeper of Ma-Ti's soul. The comic book nerd had plenty of bones to pick with the shadowman now this was another reason. He aimed his gun and shouted "Eat light you dark creature!" He then shot the shadow with a powerful light, aware of what IHeart told him at a random conversation. That Facilier's shadows were very vulnerable to light and would nearly die. He hoped IHeart was right. And that he wasn't just being pointless.

Backyard

Darla ran laughing, she was not aware of any of the commotion going on at the front porch. She was enjoying herself for once. After so long of fighting and sadness in the heroes side. She laughed harder when Freckles responded to her. Kiara was also having fun, Lilo was only relieved at finally getting Littlefoot and ran as fast as she could, panting a bit.

[Ma-Ti]

Front Porch:

Shadow Ma-Ti flinched as the magic gun hit him and he flew away off to its master. Ma-Ti gasped as he sat up realizing Facilier how had control of his shadow as well as his soul. This wasn't turning out too good. He just sat there exhausted from Facilier's attacks and Spoony's attempts at stopping Ma-Ti from leaving.

"Now do you see? I'm practically his slave. I can't let him hurt anyone else. Especially Iheart. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to anyone because of me. Especially her." said Ma-Ti.

He tried to stand up but was pushed down to his surprise by Marzgurl.

XXXX

Marzgurl sighed in relief seeing Shadow Ma-Ti go as Ma-Ti was now safe. She walked over to him and pushed him back down seeing him try to go.

"You're not going anywhere Ma-Ti. It's time for you to stop being the martyr. Most of us ignored you and few of us treated you pretty badly over the years. And you still sacrificed yourself and stopped Malachite. You saved the world. You saved all of us. It's our turn to save you this time. We don't want him to get rid of Iheart and the others but he's not going to do that. If he wanted them dead he'd have killed them already. He just wants them to suffer and he wants us to suffer We WILL get them back and save you from Facilier. Don't you DARE give up on yourself. You mean too much to all of us. You're our friend." said Marzgurl.

xXXX

Chick spoke up next and nodded.

"Marzgurl is right. Do you think Spoony, Iheart, Critic, or the rest of us would let you die? He forced you into spying. Mechakara enslaved Todd and me when we were in space. You don't see anyone blaming us. Snob joined them and killed Last Angry Geek and we still forgave him. The Geek's alive again so don't worry about that. The point is you have friends here and we're not going to lose you again." said Chick.

XXXX

Elisa nodded smiling at Ma-Ti.

"Exactly. Facilier's not going to keep his word. He's a bad guy. Iheart and the others are in danger as long as they're stuck in his clutches. Just let us handle this. You stay where it's safe." said Elisa.

XXXX

Backyard:

Littlefoot kept chasing the group unaware what was going on on the other side of the house. Tender Heart and Freckles were still outrunning him. Littlefoot panted as he was having fun but running was exhausting. He tried to get Kiara but missed her as she was just out of his reach. He kept going though trying to get someone.

[Linkara]

"See Ma-Ti? We're not leaving you for anything, especially because of this. You're not doing this willingly. Your life is held againist your will. That's not your fault and you can't force yourself to think so" Spoony practically begged. Spoony was trying his hardest not to get upset but Ma-Ti's threatened departure hurt him. He lost Goggles, he didn't want to lose his brother in arms. Ma-Ti was important to him. And he was important to IHeart and if he was gone IHeart would be gone too.
XXXX

"The girls are right Ma-Ti. Spoony is too. We'll be dead before we let that bastard hurt IHeart, Chester, the prisoners and you. You're everything to us Ma-Ti. You can't keep saying you're not. You're one of us Ma-Ti. You may have not been in the past but you are now. You must know that. We're going to help you. We will get you out of this problem. We have magic and science and other means to help and it may take us the rest of the war but we will help you" Linkara said firmly, looking to Marzgurl supportively before smiling kindly to Ma-Ti. He said softly "You need to let us help you. You need to stay here. We want you to be safe. We want you to stay"
XXXXX

Critic's eyes welled up with tears but he dared not show them to Ma-Ti. He walked over to the boy, aware Marzgurl was probably the only holding him down but the leader stopped caring. He kneeled to the boy and responded quietly "Ma-Ti... Listen. OK, don't even think about leaving. If you leave I literally will not handle it. You think this is going to make me want you to leave? Nothing you do will not make me stop caring about you. You leaving is more heartbreaking to me than the fact of you being hurt near me. At least I can know where you are but when you're gone I panic and freak that you're dead"

Critic felt the emotion flow but he wiped away whatever evidence he had and responded "Ma-Ti. Facilier will fucking pay for his crimes againist you, me and the army. He will pay. Pay hard. Not only will he set you free but he'll be begging for your mercy when I'm fucking done with him. And you know what? You will have every right to look me in the eye and tell me to blow the doctor's brains out. I don't care how long it takes. I'm going to set you free from this bargin. With no loose ends" Critic was shaking and was aware Linkara looked to him in assurance but he didn't care. He wanted to let Ma-Ti know he was loved here and was important here. "Oh and if you leave it'll make IHeart wanna follow you. She'll never leave you. She'll understand. She loves you unconditionally. I know it and I think you do too" Critic commented

[Marzgurl]

Ma-Ti paused wiping away tears that began to form. They really did care about him. And he felt the same way. They were his friends, his new family. He paused looking at them and smiled.

"I'm grateful I have all of you. I really am. But Facilier wants me dead. And he can kill me if he wants to any time anyway. He has my soul and now my shadow. He's just playing games at this point. He has a voodoo doll of me. All he has to do is destroy it and I'm gone. If he has to he'll kill me that way. But he wants to make me suffer for telling you which means he might go after Iheart. I was going to turn him down but he said he'd kill me and then basically threatened Iheart. I didn't want to put you guys through my death again or lose Iheart but what if he goes back on hi word? What if hurts her or worse? It'll be my fault." said Ma-Ti.

XXXX

Marzgurl shook her head.

"Stop talking like that. It's no one's fault by Facilier and Ask That Guy and the rest of their pals. Well the ones that aren't brainwashed or tricked. We'll find a way to get to all of them too." said Marzgurl.

She paused as he mentioned Facilier had his soul and could kill him whenever he wanted to but was just playing games. She glanced to Linkara.

"You think you could have a meeting with Grimhilde and Maleficent? The three of you are our magic experts. There has to be some way to get his soul and shadow back from Facilier." said Marzgurl.

XXXX

Chick nodded listening to Marzgurl.

"She's right. You three may be our best chance at saving Ma-Ti. He's already died once to save the world. He is not dying again." said Chick.

XXXX

"Exactly. Now we have two goals. Rescuing Iheart and the others and finding a way to save Ma-Ti from Facilier. Although the question is how?" said Elisa.

[Linkara]

"Don't say things like that! We won't let anything happen. You need to stop pushing yourself like this!" Linkara responded sternly to Ma-Ti. He was about to say more when Marzgurl caught his attention again. He turned and nodded "I'm sure I can. Maleficent I'm not sure will wanna deal with things like this, since she does her own thing, but Grimhilde's changed a bit. I think she'll not only help but convince Maleficent to also help. She's more of a friend to Maleficent then me" He sighed a bit before responding "One of these days, Facilier's gonna really get it. When he does, I'll savor every minute"
XXXXX

"Don't know how Elisa. But we'll try. Better yet, we'll do everything we can do. Anything. We have good sources, we'll use them. That's what working together's for, finding a solution or something down those lines" Spoony commented to Elisa. He breathed and turned to Ma-Ti and replied "Ma-Ti. Don't you worry about it. We'll take care of it. One way or the other"
XXXX

"Nothing that's happening right now is your fault. Don't push yourself like this. Don't say such things. IHeart will understand. Once we get her and everyone else back, she'll be glad to see you. I know it. She cares. She wouldn't leave you for anything. If she gets hurt, she certainly won't blame you. It's noone's fault that you're in pain other than Facilier's. Facilier is doing this to you. Not yourself. He is the bastard who is hurting you and we're going to take him down" Critic responded, holding Ma-ti as tight as he could. Trying desperately to get Ma-ti to stop blaming himself and stop saying these hurtful things

[Elisa/Maven Of The Eventide]

Ma-Ti paused as he nodded realizing he wasn't going anywhere.

"Alright. You win. I couldn't fight through all of you anyway. I just hope you know what you're doing." said Ma-Ti.

He sighed as he stood up and walked back inside heading back upstairs. He just collapsed onto his bed feeling terrible.

XXXX

Chick watched him go turning to Critic and Spoony.

"Maybe you guys should go talk to him. He'll listen to you guys. And he shouldn't be alone. Just in case Facilier tries anything else." said Chick.

She headed into the living room and took a seat.

XXXX

Marzgurl sighed as she listened to Linkara.

"I think I saw Grimhilde and Maleficent leave to go train. So you'll have to talk to them later." said Marzgurl.

She then headed inside and headed for the living room.

"So much for a day off. I don't really feel like relaxing. Ma-Ti's enslaved to Facilier, our friends are prisoners. We have to do something." said Marzgurl.

XXXX

Elisa followed Marzgurl and Chick into the living room.

"But there's nothing we can do without a plan. We can't just rush in there. That's only gotten us hurt or we've gotten members captured like poor Snob." said Elisa.