My Multicolored Cloak

We're Going to Frame You for *theft.* And You're Gonna Go to Jail for 30 years!

"Ow, Jaq, you keep stepping on my boots!" Clint hissed.

"Then maybe walk faster, idiot," Jaq snapped back.

As the large group of siblings continued traveling through the forest and past the Dark Lands in search of the Tribe of Darkness, they all bickered back and forth annoyed, exhausted, and hungry.

Benjamin walked behind the group, keeping a safe distance. This was partially because he didn't feel welcome with them, but mostly because his legs were short and he wasn't exactly the most athletic, so it was challenging to keep up. He was too afraid to speak up and ask the others to slow down or wait for him, and he didn't want to use Carrie because his siblings would all call him weak.

He almost wanted to be upset with them. He was feeling tired too, but they didn't hear him complaining. If he complained like everyone else, they'd all call him pathetic and tear him apart with their words.

He had a lot of dirt on almost everyone that he could easily share. He knew Andre's powers, he know Clint's biggest fears, he had information on everyone, but he never shared secrets out of spite because he didn't want to become a bitter person. Even with all the hatred surrounding him, he wanted to remain the same person he always was, even if it was becoming harder and harder to keep a smile on his face.

Then came the day when they finally arrived. They were weak, cold, and thin, but they made it. With the letter in hand, Shyama led the group through the village. There were few people out, but everyone present turned their heads to the group of newcomers with suspicion. It was evident that the siblings weren't exactly going to be welcomed with open arms. Still, no one attacked.

"Yo! You there," Jahmar shouted, pointing at a random woman crossing the street with her child. "Can you point us to your leader?"

"Jahmar, you're making us sound like aliens," Cedric hissed. "Here's how you talk to the locals."

He took a deep breath, then pulled his soprano saxophone out of his backpack and started playing "Careless Whisper." Meanwhile, all his siblings groaned and facepalmed.

"Did you seriously pack a saxophone for this?!" Rhe asked.

Cedric lowered the instrument and eagerly nodded. "Hey, it's the travel-size one. Besides, you never know when one may need it-"

Before he could completely finish his thought, Seymour snatched the instrument and threw it as hard as he could, making Cedric gasp and cry out.

"No!!" he cried, reaching out to the long-gone instrument. "You monster..."

"You have like, five more at home. You're fine," Seymour huffed.

The woman Jahmar called out to had left by then, clearly weirded out by the large group. So, Shyama simply looked around and tried to follow the clearest path, hoping it would lead to the tribe's leader. While most of her siblings were fairly uneasy, she felt confident for the most part that they'd all be fine. Sure, the Tribe of Darkness was known for being evil, chaotic, and unhinged, but she had a team of powerful apprentices with pixls by each of their sides.

Surely enough, they eventually found the elevated platform dedicated to the one in charge of the tribe. With Blumiere's father out in search of materials and Blumiere with his new secret girlfriend, the one standing atop the platform was none other than Dimentio himself.

Each of the siblings frowned upon seeing him, not because they recognized him, but because they found it odd that a jester of all people would be standing in such a place of importance.

"Guys, get down," Shyama harshly commanded as she bowed. Each of her siblings followed and bowed their heads as well.

On the other side, Dimentio had gone ridged at the sight of them. He was flooded with hundreds of emotions. Confusion, fear, betrayal, anger, excitement, joy, it was hard to pick just one.