A truck and a van pulled over at a rest stop. Tendrils of sand blew idly across the pavement as Derby and Brie got out of Derby's mom's minivan. It was way too hot for Derby's taste, and she immediately wanted to get back in the air conditioning. But Brie really wanted to go, and Brie...looked incredibly displeased.

The dark lord marched with her hands on her hips, looking down the long stretch of highway, at the small shack of a fueling station.

"This is it? After all the hype?" Brie asked.

"I'm not sure what you were expecting," Derby said.

"After all these tales of warriors doing countless battles upon these very sands, it's so...quiet!" Brie said. "Where is everyone?"

Dani and Colby headed to the shop. "We're gonna get snacks, don't let Brie wander too far."

"Not that she'd run into anything out here," Colby said.

The door of Aunt Emme's truck thunked loudly. She sauntered over with an outlaw's gait, standing between Derby and Brie, patting them both on their shoulders.

"Yep, pretty boring out here," Emme said. "But the ice cream cookie sandwiches they sell here are like no other. Literally other worldly. The only reason you'd want to go this way."

"But...the countless battles!" Brie said.

"It's crazier if you go farther west," Derby said. "I think. I've never gone that way. I've never really left town much."

"Aunt Emme of the of Hope Clan, what say you about this further west?" Brie asked, pointing at Aunt Emme.

"Uh, let's see," Emme said. "About twelve miles up there's that alien guy, there's always a Pyre Cani fight out by his place, he's got this fort built around a decommissioned helicopter. Dude's a little wacky, but honestly some void monsters do look like outer space aliens, so who am I to judge?"

Brie was disappointed, but she supposed that was the nature of this world. Compared to the realms she traveled before, it was much more peaceful here. Derby and Emme went to the shop with the rest of the Ofohps, and Brie stayed for a bit longer in the sands, trying to understand what exactly she felt.

Just as she readied herself to demand some of those cookie ice cream treats, she sensed someone nearby. Sure enough, a figure clad in dark armor stood on one of the dunes. Once they spotted Brie, they approached.

"What do you want?" Brie asked.

"Just wanted to pass the word along," the Masked Dark Lord said. "Magie is making her move soon."

"So? She's always making moves," Brie said.

"I'm saying to watch your back," the Masked Dark Lord said. "I just took on a swarm of monsters sent by her."

The Masked Dark Lord brandished their blade, sleek and cool like their armor. It dripped with Elka, a dark substance that the monsters were made of.

"What? Here?" Brie asked. "I was just having a moment about how dull it can be here, and you fought them in my stead?"

"I did," The Masked Dark Lord said. "I may not seem like it, but I have your best interests at heart. And the same can be said of those you care about."

"As in they have my best interests, or you have their best interests too?" Brie asked.

"Both, but don't lose yourself in semantics as you tend to do," The Masked Dark Lord said.

"Fine, but I do question if you're telling the truth," Brie said. "Would an ally get into that thrall-based spat we had at the convention?"

"That was some friendly competition," the Masked Dark Lord said. "Magie plays differently, as you know."

"I do, yes," Brie said.

"She's upset that you left," the Masked Dark Lord said.

"Obviously! But I'm upset the dark lord marriage council decreed that I have to marry her! And I'm upset about how many stupid councils I have to keep track of!" Brie said. She paused, waiting to see if the Masked Dark Lord caught that. "Damn. I was expecting you to ask something like, 'if you're concerned about councils, why would you form another with the Derby of Hope Fan Council?' But alas, you didn't take the bait."

The Masked Dark Lord remained stoic, not answering.

"You know, you could just admit to me who you are, we've all figured it out. Well, everyone except for Derby of Hope. And I could always tell her, you know," Brie said.

"I'll say it again, I have Derby's best interests at heart, and yours as well," the Masked Dark Lord said. "Things are moving in a way I don't fully understand. Machinations are occurring that go beyond Magie's latest spat. I don't know what's happening, but something is happening. I am just asking you to be cautious."

"Is that all, then?" Brie asked. "I'll be cautious, fine."

The Masked Dark Lord nodded, turning around and walking away into the sand, like a wild west outlaw returning to a lonely mission.

And then it was quiet once more. If Magie really was plotting a grand assault to capture Brie, she wasn't doing a good job of it if the Masked Dark Lord could fend off a group of her monster foot soldiers. Brie hated that she got to miss out on that battle, but she was also almost relieved that she didn't have to fight.

She did want excitement, and battle, but a part of her didn't mind the peace. The stillness, save for the howling wind and sand flowing with it, made her sigh. A mix of frustration and relief, a curious and annoying concoction. But if a bit less action meant more time with Derby, Brie supposed it'd be alright.

"OK, if you want excitement, this is the place to be," Aunt Emme said.

Derby hated going to the beach. It made her think too much about herself, she had never been able to find a comfortable enough swimsuit, the sand, it was all a pain. But Brie was a bit crabby about how dull she found the desert, so it was suggested that she visit the beach next. Their town wasn't really a seaside one, but it wasn't far from two peninsulas reaching out into the ocean. This beach was always crowded, so Derby wasn't really looking forward to this. She felt like hiding in the baggy t-shirt she had on, and she didn't particularly like the swimsuit top she had under it, or her swim trunks, that didn't look too different from trunks she'd usually have on.

She and Brie rode along with Aunt Emme, with their friends saying they'd meet at the beach. Sage and Lacy were already there when Derby's group arrived.

"I didn't tell CC about this, but don't be surprised if she shows up, too," Brie said. "I hope the rest of you didn't say anything, either. But it wouldn't matter much as again, she has an innate ability to show up where she's least wanted."

Everyone in the group said they didn't talk to CC.

"Excellent," Brie said. "Well, we can enjoy a few minutes before she reveals she had tailed us all for the purpose of bothering me, at least. What kind of beach do we have, then?"

It was perfect weather for a beach visit. A sparkling, sunny day had brought people from all around. The size of the crowd was immediately intimidating to Derby, but she tried to think about how Brie had helped her at the convention to calm down. She kept her cool, but she still didn't really want to be there. Aunt Emme snapped her fingers, and Derby wondered if her aunt noticed her displeasure and would offer to bring them home right away.

"Alright Derbs, you know the drill," Emme said.

"I...I do?" Derby asked.

"Mhm, I'm hitting up the drink stand and making camp there to start," Emme said. "If I don't get at least one babe's number, this operation is a failure, so I ask that you don't interfere."

"That's...really embarrassing," Derby said, feeling her face burning immediately. Emme didn't seem capable of being embarrassed though, and jogged off to the nearest drink stand on the beach. "Sorry. Aunt Emme is...a lot."

"You get used to it," Sage laughed.

"I think she's funny," Lacy said.

"Emme's confidence is something we could all aspire to," Brie said.

Derby didn't fully agree with those last two statements, but she wasn't sure how to convey that out loud. Instead she glanced between her friends, realizing a new problem had arrived, different from the crowd size or her swimwear discomfort.

All of Derby's friends were gorgeous, looking like fashion models showing off their swimwear. Brie had a two piece she must have already owned, as its dark fabric looked almost like it was from another world. It also didn't leave much to the imagination, making Derby wonder what Brie thought confidence to aspire to meant if she was fine wearing that out in public. Sage's swimwear looked cool and sporty, while Lacy's was more frilly and cute.

Derby didn't have a coping strategy for this, so she found herself staring at the sand at her feet as the group tried to find a good place to set up their towels and parasol.

"This is much different from the beaches in the Umpteenth Realm," Brie said, gesturing to the people around, from some folks suntanning to kids running around happily. "They don't even have a torment wheel here, do they?"

"I'm not sure I want to know what that is," Derby said.

"Oh, ignore the name, it's great fun!" Brie said. "You and a party select a friend to be tormented, and the friend is pinned to the wheel and spun around, and whatever space the wheel lands on adds a new layer of fun to the mix. One time I was the lucky wheel recipient and I kept landing on the doom beach ball juggling spot, I was so furious! It was a grand time."

"That sounds...interesting," Derby said.

When they found a decent enough spot to set up, Derby parked herself under the parasol and got her phone out. Lacy recognized the jingle of the game Derby loaded up.

"Oh, you're playing the shark game too?" Lacy asked. She sat beside her, getting her own phone out.

"Y-yeah," Derby said.

Derby was glad to have a friend who understood her need to do pulls in her shark girl gacha game no matter the scenario she found herself in. Brie didn't share that same sentiment.

"Are you playing a video game?" Brie asked, holding her head and arms low in disappointment. "Here of all places? Care you not for the fun and sun around us?"

"I do! I just...wanna do this first," Derby said. "Dang it, I keep getting the same hammerhead shark girl, ugh, I'm really hoping for the tiger shark..."

"Tch," Brie said. "What say you, Sage? Want to help me search for something equivalent to a beachside torment wheel?"

"Heh, I think I'd rather swim?" Sage said. "You know, the water can be dangerous, too. Go too far and you could get caught in the undertow and swept away. Maybe you want to be a thrill seeker with me?"

"That sounds like the kind of fun danger I could use!" Brie said.

"Undertow sounds...fun?" Derby said.

"Don't worry, I won't let her swim too far," Sage winked.

"Ehehe...OK..." Derby said. "Maybe I'll..." She wasn't sure if she should even somewhat commit to joining in on the swimming. Derby barely finished her swimming class growing up because the corny video they had to watch, So You Wanna Swim (In This Day and Age?): The Dangers and Enjoyments that Can Be Found in Swimming, had a section on undertow that had her running out of the room screaming and crying. Her mom was only just barely able to convince her to go back.

Brie and Sage left together to play in the water. As Derby tapped away at her phone, she wasn't sure what to say to Lacy.

Geez, either I'm awkward by the water or I'm awkward thinking of something to say to Lacy. This is a no win situation, isn't it?

Derby debated pretending to be sick and hiding back in Emme's truck, but as she watched Brie splash water at Sage, grinning widely, staying suddenly felt like an alright option.