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"Everyone, gather ’round," Mothball said once she’d swung the backpack onto her shoulders Theyinstructions "Just yonder there’s a s to fly up and over the roof of the forest to oin’ Just follow me, and we’ll make our way to the meetin’ point by the river Once Annika coht quick and head back for the old battleground in the forest Got it?"

"Yeah," whispered Paul "Sounds pretty easy to ?" Sato asked, seeroup "What is--how do you say?--our Plan B?"

"Yeah, what if this Annika lady doesn’t get the Wand to us?" Paul asked

Mothball paused "Then we fly like the dickens back to the battleground to regroup"

"Why do I not feel assured this has all been thought out?" Sofia asked

"Annika’s been preppin’ for months for this, she ’as," Mothball replied "But if we don’t get the ruddy Wand, won’t matter much in the end If we’re to have any ’ope of defeatin’ the Mistress, we need to trap her ’ere for a long ti his hand out, pal his hand on top of Paul’s Sofia followed suit, then Mothball Everyone looked at Sato, whose face was hidden in the darkness After a long pause, he finally gave in, placing his hand on top of the pile

"Pro around the circle "Promise me you people won’t betray me"

His words surprised Tick, and by the shocked silence froured they were just as taken back

"Proan

"No," Mothball said, cutting her off "Sato ’ere had a bit of trouble in his past Right deserving of his doubts, he is Sato, I pro You can bet yer best buttons on that one"

"Me, neither," Paul quickly added "Sato, we’re in this together,to betray you"

"And you?" Sato said to Sofia

"I think you need an attitude--"

"Sofia!" Tick snapped, surprising hiht Sato, I proh that sounds really lame We’re all a team, here Okay?" She said the last word sarcastically, as if to preserve her dignity "Can we quit holding hands now?"

"On three," Paul said, ignoring her "On three, yellGo Realitants"

"Oh, come on," Sofia complained

"Just do it," Paul replied "Pump us up for some prime-time action and adventure Ready?" He bobbed his hand up and down as he counted "OnetwothreeGO REALITANTS!" He threw everyone’s hands up in the air as he shouted the last part with enthusiasm