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Narinia Himawari Armand Vice Captain
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 Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 5:16 pm
A large brown object slammed into the ground nearby. The resulting explosion was surprisingly small given its size and speed, and it caused little damage at all to the surrounding meadow.
Himawari was startled from her sunbathing/ nap and gave a wary look at the small crater in the soil across the meadow. Giving an upward glance at the moored Pater to see if anyone was going to come check it out, and unsurprisingly it seemed no one gave a rat's a** as usual, she rose and stretched, making her way over to inspect whatever had woken her.
What at first appeared to be a wavy green vine was wiggling in the air above the fallen object, which now appeared to be some sort of seed. After a moment, a second, long, wavy thing emerged and wiggled in the air.
"Curious," she mused and sat Indian style on the ground, watching, intrigued and amused.
The "vines" began to whip around and beat on the seed they stemmed from, causing cracks and dents in its shell. After the husk had given away enough, a yellow man sprouted up with a tripple backflip out of the seed.
"Bewsh!"
"Well, through the looking glass once again it seems," she mumbled to herself before speaking to the man, "Uh, Bewsh? That how ya say 'howdy' or sumthin'?"
Bewsh looked at her and wiggled what were now clearly his boneless arms at her.
"Bewsh. Bada badabewsh Bewshwash. Skedewsh?"
The yellow humanoid spoke, his antenna pointed in her direction. He showed no aggression in his voice or actions, albeit he gave an air of sillyness to the Earthling.
His clothes were soft, blue, almost silky pants and tunic with a lighter star pattern printed on them. His undershirt was black, which matched his buckled boots.
She circled him slowly, examining him, before poking his stretchy arms, "Strange... Bewsh was it? I'm Himawari."
His arms seemed to wiggle in response to her poke.
"Bada, Bewsh is my badewsh. Budew brada is also called Bewsh. I didn't think you would be able to speak Bewshwashi. I'm a little Bubewshed." he had a calm, relaxed composure as he spoke to her, as if he wasn't concerned at all by the fact that she could very well be aggresive to him.
She smiled, "Let's just say I'm gifted little one. What brings you to Earth, Bewsh?"
Bewsh extended one of his arms up and over his back, between his legs, around himself twice, and up to his head where his three-fingered hand scratched the top of his head.
"Well...my biodegradable spaceship brings me to Earth...assuming that this is Earth. As for why I'm here...I'm not sure. I think someone was trying to steal me from the Samis Empire...and in the mix-up, I ended up here." he returned his arm to a more mundane position.
"Ah. Right. Makes sense," she extended her hand to him, "Come with me, we might want to get you out of here before any government types show up. I don't know about this place, but where I'm from those guys are crazy about aliens."
He placed one of his hands in hers.
"Oh...are your kind not capable of interplanetary travel yet? The Samis would probably like to meet you. They love infe-...*ahem* undevelop-...erm...other races." Bewsh wasn't sure what the best phrase to use was to explain why the space aven would like their race, so he left it unsaid.
"Interplanetary travel does not a genius make," Red noted as she led her new aquaintance to her small sitting area. She stuffed some things in to a bag and held a small pipe out. A creature, snow white, legless, and a yard or so long wiggled its way out. It wrapped its furry body around Bewsh's neck like a scarf before bending to look him in the face. After observing the alien it purred and gave Bewsh a kiss on the nose before floating over to Himawari's hand.
"What is that? ...or who, rather? I don't think I've encountered one of those before. They're probably native to...Earth, in that case." he eyed the creature curiously. "Where are we going?"
"His name is Kuda. I don't know if they exist on this Earth, he's a pipe fox and my familiar."
Himawari pointed up to the ship, "We're going there." She took hold of the snowy creature and it wrapped part of its tail around Bewsh's hand before flying upwards.
At which point Bewsh remained on the ground, blinking up at the ship blankly.
"Uhh..." his hand stretched up and poked Himwari's shoulder. After getting her attention, it pointed back down at the rest of his body, which waved up at her with a smile.
The pipe fox floated its mistress back to the ground and unwound itself from Bewsh.
"Is your waist stretchy like that?"
"No...just my arms. I can retract my arms too, but I wanted to ask you a question first." his arms shortened again as he crossed them.
"How are you flying? I don't see any kind of anti-gravity device on you...is Earth a magic-using planet?"
"Well, I can't fly, at least not at this age. Kuda can though. I'm not sure how, but all pipe foxes in that form can indeed fly," she scratched her head and then shook it, "This is a magic using planet, by the way."
"Oh...then it's probably magic if it's an innate ability she possesses." He then shot both arms up into the sky and grabbed onto the Magnus Pater's railing.
"Heheh...I'll race ya'." he then slingshot himself into the air with great celerity, visibly landing on deck.
Himawari and Kuda floated up and landed on the deck, before vanishing in to its pipe.
"Kuda is male by the way."
Bewsh was nowhere to be seen, however, Vexx was coiled on the deck in dragon form looking awfully content with himself.
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 5:24 pm
"Vexx Ultimo! What did you do with Bewsh?!" she stomped over and punched him in the nose.
Vexx smiled a big grin as a wavy arm could be seen wiggling in his teeth.
"But he'sss so delicious and he landed right in my mouth as I was yawning!"
Vexx's teeth formed a cage as he kept the Bewsh from escaping his mouth.
"Let him go, now," she growled, "Don't make me go get my switchaxe you pompus little green b*****d."
"Little?" he reared up to a collossal height as he towered over her.
"Your axe doesn't scare me, fox. But if you want your new fruity boyfriend back that badly I'll spit him out." On cue he spat Bewsh onto the deck.
Bewsh lay flat on his back covered in saliva.
"Ewwwwww...."
"He's not my boyfrie- Where's the baby? I swear to God little boy if you ate my son I will end you right now!"
"Little boy!? Are you daft, woman? No, I didn't eat your son. He's down below with Mishaela and Chamberlyne...sheesh." Vexx slid off the deck and wrapped himself around the underside of the Pater.
"....ew...." Bewsh groaned.
Himawari crinckled her nose in disgust and sniffed Bewsh, "Ew is right. Let's get you down to Mishaela in case you're covered in some sort of venom. Never know with that a**."
"Is he poisonous?" Bewsh moaned, still very disgusted with the occasion.
"On occasion," Himawari said and made her way down below, motioning for Bewsh to follow. She knocked on the Sage's door, "Hey, anyone home?"
"We're in here." Mishaela's voice spoke. A dripping Bewsh followed Himawari, a frown plastered on his yellow face.
"Who was that...thing?"
"His name is Bewsh. Vexx tried to eat him and I don't know if he's gonna be okay," she stopped and looked at her son, who was chewing on the sleeve of the pink and white kimono he was wearing, "What is he wearing?"
"Maaaaaaaaaaaamaaaaaaaaaa," he yipped and crawled over to her, his silver and black tail wiggling.
"You don't recognize it? It's one of my favorite patterns." she stood up and it dawned on Himawari that it was Mishaela's robe paired with matching hakama.
"Mreow.." chamberlyne sounded with an annoyed expression as, he too revealed himself to be wearing the pink and white floral pattern the sage loved so much.
"Bring him over here. I'll take a look."
The redhead motioned for Bewsh to approach Misheala before picking up her son and snuggling him, "Did you have fun?"
"Miiisiwaa," he said and waved at the sage.
Bewsh approached the sage shakily.
Mishaela spied the alien for a moment.
"...what are you? ...no, that's not important." she turned him around and peeked in his shirt briefly before patting him on the shoulder.
"You'll be alright. I can't detect any poisons or toxins in your system. At least, nothing that would be poisonous to US, at any rate."
"Oh...that's a relief...I think." Bewsh mentioned wearily.
"Daaaaaaa?" the baby cried and Himawari glared at Chamberlyne.
"Fetch your master now or your barbed p***s will never exit your body again," she growled and then smiled kindly at Bewsh, "That's good news. I suppose finding you a bed is next on the list after I chew out my... Riketz..."
Chamberlyne looked down. "Mrrrow."
"Actually...Riketz isn't here." Mishaela chimed in. "He's with the others planning that ritual...or actually the decoy mission that will allow Sanraku to perform the ritual. Primord's a smart cookie. He'll kill Sanraku in an instant if he suspects we're up to something."
"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" the baby screamed.
"Well where the hell are they planning because someone needs to take this baby there before he explodes!"
Mishaela looked down.
"The Yu Rudek Mountains...they're not far from here. You can probably convince Orotha to take you, assuming he's not too busy being a pompous a**. If he won't, Vexx might be an option too, assuming you haven't pissed him off yet today."
"Why does everyone assume Vexx and I do nothing but piss each other off?!" she shouted over the baby's screaming.
Bewsh looked on curiously and then turned to the baby. He whipped something out of one of his belt pouches and attempted to feed it to the baby. It always made him calm down when he was young, so he figured the young Earthling would appreciate its taste also.
The baby scarffed down the sweet and started crying all over again.
Himawari sighed, "Thanks Bewsh. It was a nice try. But nothing is gonna fix his mood other than seeing that big squinty eyed jerk."
Kuda poked his fuzzy head out of Himawari's pocket, "Yarp?"
"You don't fly fast enough."
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Narinia Himawari Armand Vice Captain
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Narinia Himawari Armand Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 5:37 pm
Vexx kicked the door in with a concerned look on his face.
"What did I tell you about bursting in, Vexx!?" Mishaela yelled.
"Shut up, sage. It's an emergency!"
"MIIIIISIWAAAAAA!" the baby screeched and wiggled out of Himawari's arms. He crawled over to his babysitter and tugged on her kimono, his big brown eyes filled with tears, "Daaaaaaa?!"
Himawari raised her eyebrows, "What, someone stand up to you or something you slimy tailed bully?"
Vexx scowled.
"Not I. This "someone" stood up to Trance...and the Adventure Fleet...and Xio...and Riketz. They're in trouble, I just got the word from Sanraku!"
"Primord is attacking them!?" Mishaela spoke, holding onto the child at her feet.
"What all did Splinter say?" Himawari questioned.
Vexx leaned back.
"He requested our help. He said to bring the Magnus Pater immediately to help with their escape. I don't think we have much time and I can't drive this thing."
Bewsh looked about at the worried X-Fleet.
"What's going on?"
"Then I suppose it is lucky for all of you that I am here, no?" Anton grinned, appearing behind Vexx.
Himawari rolled her eyes, "I can fly it... I think..."
"Well whoever intends to pilot had better do so soon. I don't know how much longer they can last against that monster." Vexx pushed Anton out of the way and headed topside.
The ship took off, shaking more than when Xio was steering, but Anton kept her in the air. Himawari was done slipping in to her armor and joined Vexx on the deck as the vampire brought the flying vessel to a halt. Riketz was still screaming for his father.
Primord was visible from miles away. He'd assumed a collosal version of his humanoid self and was in the process of spewing flame onto the mountainside. Trance's injured body lay on the opposite side of the mountain range while the smaller combatants couldn't yet be seen amongst the commotion.
When the ship stopped Vexx took to the air in Dragon form and began to assail the Primordial Ooze.
Kuda had wrapped himself loosely around Mischaela's neck and nuzzled her. Himawari looked at Bewsh, "Any good at a** kicking?"
Bewsh was shaking.
"Is that a Primordial Ooze you're fighting? Are you guys insane!?"
Mishaela looked at Himawari.
"I'll look after these two."
"Mrow."
"...three. You should team up with Orotha and try to barrier as many of them away as you can."
"Very well...it's about time I came in handy." Orotha spoke smugly before giving a frown as he looked on at Primord.
"Igh...this is going to get ugly."
In the distance, Riketz could be seen running up Primord's left arm, slashing horizontally as he scaled. Below, Adamska and Sanraku were fighting off Primord's fire breath with only minimal, fleeting success.
"I think Kuda is watching you. If the worst should happen, if the ship falls, he'll do his best to fly you to safety," Himawari said to the sage and looked at Bewsh, "Naw, it's just a regular ooze. And Orotha, quit your whining and start makin' bubbles ya adolescent blowfish."
The baby had spotted his father and began fighting Mishaela tooth and nail to get to him.
"No, you get anywhere near Primord and he'll kill you. Calm down!" Mishaela argued with the baby.
Orotha bubbled Himawari and himself up before taking them to Primord's base.
"Thank the heavens you arrived." Sanraku spoke, his robes charred and his hair frazzled.
"No joke. When we saw Primord arrive we thought all was lost." this time the remark came from Adamska.
"The rest of us got away. If you can get Trance and Riketz...as well as us two, it would be greatly appreciated."
Vexx was battling the slime in a losing battle. Primord laughed a low, tremendous chuckle as he blasted the dragon titan with arcs of electricity.
Riketz leapt from Primord's head onto the deck of the Magnus Pater as an explosion went off that splattered Primord's head.
"HaHA!" Riketz called out. He looked to his struggling son and flaunted to show him that his dad was tough. "That's how you wreck a slimeball!"
Primord's head rapidly reformed as his mouth opened.
"Behind you!" Mishaela screamed.
Riketz turned and saw the blue fire forming in Primord's mouth. He then looked down at the ground below and noticed that the Barrier Sage was preoccupied. He looked back at Mishaela and his child, and then finally returned his glare to Primord, that same, proud, strong, fearless scowl on his face. He tossed the Sinister Saints to the deck and ran for Mishaela and his son. He placed his helmet on the head of his child and covered the two of them.
"Hey kid...I'm sorry I never got to teach you how to hunt. Hang on to that armor, though...it's tough stuff."
"Riketz...what are you..?" Before she could finish her question, the front portion of the Magnus Pater shattered violently as the blue fireball crashed into it. The thundering sound caught everyone's attention as the airship split into thousands of pieces in a big, blue explosion.
"MISHAELA!!!" Sanraku called out.
"I... Twice. I lost him twice," Himawari fell to her knees, her axe falling from her hands and hitting the ground with a thud. A wave of heat began radiating from the elf-kitsune as she let out a pained howl that filled the air.
Meanwhile, Kuda began floating towards the ground, a familiar alien figure seemingly attached to him.
"Dude! That slime just tore that airship apart! I know you can't understand me, but I KNEW it was a bad idea to face a Primordial Ooze! She's all like: Oh no...it's just a normal ooze...NORMAL OOZE MY FRUITY YELLOW a**!"
Kuda set Bewsh down near Sanraku and nuzzled the alien's cheek.
Anton, singed, fell on top of Adamska with a thud, "Helllllllllllo Admiral."
Red's howl continued to echo through the mountains even though she had already finished, "And my child as well... there is only one solution." She removed a large hunting knife from her belt and held it to her gut, bowing her head to say a prayer before she made her next move.
Primord looked down at the group.
"HAHAHAHAAAAAH! YOU ARE ALL INSECTS TO ME! INSECTS!"
Lightning began to gather in his hands.
"You might as well wait...Primord will kill all of us in a moment." Sanraku said as he looked up at the monster.
"Orotha! Get us out of here!" Adamska commanded.
"Not while she's got that knife pointed at herself! She might stab herself if I re-bubble her!"
Riketz's axe, the Sinister Saints, landed in sword form by Himawari's side.
"...that's discouraging." Orotha added at length.
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in," she opened her eyes for a moment and looked at the Sinister Saints. A tear rolled down her cheek and she continued, "as it is in heaven..."
"BAAAAADAAAAABEWSH!" could be heard as Bewsh slugged Primord in the face from where he stood. While it didn't harm Primord, it distracted him and turned his attention towards the alien.
"Who the hell?" Adamska and Sanraku spoke at once.
Kuda followed Bewsh, allowing him to have a way out if he need be.
"Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Vexx's head lowered infront of Himwari as he spoke in a calm voice.
"Suicidal already? What would your baby think?" he opened his mouth and revealed Mishaela huddled with Riketz Jr. in her arms, Riketz's Damascus Helm atop his small head. To the side was Riketz, motionless, face down on Vexx's tounge.
"...I'm sorry. I couldn't save him, Himawari." she cried as the baby bawled and screamed in her arms. There were obvious char marks on her fur and in her hair and her face looked a little swolen and bruised.
"Nice catch, Vexx." Sanraku remarked as he kept an eye on the stretchy alien and Primord.
Himawari stepped in to Vexx's mouth and picked up Riketz, carrying him out and laying his body on the ground.
"You had to be a show off didn't you? Had to act like you were invincible. Well you weren't goddammit!" she sat on her knees, beating at his dead body, bawling, "You weren't invincible and now you're gone! You're gone you stupid, ugly, b*****d."
Anton had to look away from the scene.
"You're gone and I loved you," she whispered as she fainted, overwhelmed with emotion.
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 5:41 pm
Himawari awoke in a room in the Seaside Palace. The sun peeked through her door from the ornate windows that lined the hall. She sat up in the bed and looked around, realizing that everything hadn't been a dream.
Riketz's Damascus Armor hung on the wall, minus the helmet. Sinister Saints lay next to the armor in its dormant, axe state.
She got up and rested her head on the cool metal, hot tears running down her face.
"Hey..." Bewsh spoke, as he stood in her doorway. He had a solemn look on his face.
"Hi there, Bewsh," she responded quietly. Red was looking at him, but still resting against the metal breastplate.
"I have good news, great news, and fantastic news." He spoke with a smile.
Looking away to hide the tears from him she replied simply with, "I doubt it."
"Well...the good news is...we have an alternative to defeating Primord other than Sanraku performing whatever ritual he was going to cast. Turns out this Vault you guys have had RadWeps. I've heard of other armies beating Primordial Oozes, and they discovered one amazing fact: Radiation in high enough doses...kills everything."
"Learned that one in WWII, kid," Red told him.
"The great news..." Bewsh continued. "Your child, Mishaela, and everyone else got away in one piece. It seems Riketz was the only casualty of that skirmish."
This caused her to look at him, "Two questions my sallow friend, where is my child? And where is Riketz's body? I want to bury him properly."
"Junior's with Mishaela...as for Riketz, I'm getting to that." he looked to his right, down the hall, before continuing.
"The fantastic news is that Xionis McCloud did some sort of great calling or something and called in back-up from other universes...to think there were other universes than ours! There are a lot of really strong people in the council chamber...and one of them claims to know you..." Bewsh seemed to disappear as a man in full Alatreon Armor stood in her doorway.
"I took care of his burial...as strange an encounter as that was." an eerily familiar voice spoke from the helmet.
Himawari's knees quaked and she fell down, the color fading from her skin, leaving her ghostly white, "You're dead."
"Not yet. I was removed from my fate by Xio and that Diviner gentleman. It seems that fate has something else in store for me." he slowly entered the room and closed the door behind him.
"Narinia...you look like you've seen better days." Riketz spoke as he removed his helmet.
"No. No. No. No. No. I was there," her entire body was shaking, "I was there."
"And so was I...except now I was not. A complicated procedure that had to be." he shook his head.
"What's this I hear about a baby? I'd really like to know."
"Jr.? He's yours, I mean his, but he's you, but he wasn't," she felt like her mind was unraveling.
A small fox pup scampered in to the room, its dark tail swishing as it gerked at Riketz before turning in to a human.
"Daaaaaaaaaaa."
"I suppose you're Junior." he knelt down and looked him in the eye.
"How peculiar...it's as though I'm observing what could have been...yet in this universe it IS. What happened...did we...er...you two get drunk?"
"Not exactly. At least not with drinks," she managed to stand and scooped up her son, offering him to Riketz, "Would you... would you like to hold him?"
"Absolutely." he said almost immediately as he held his parallel's son.
"He's adorable...moreso than a newborn Kelbi. You did a good job, Red." Riketz was amused. This was a very strange instance for him. On the one hand, the child felt foreign and alien, but at the same time, he felt as familiar to him as the inside of his helmet.
Red blushed, "Thank you. He's a lot like you more than me so far though. He'll be a good hunter."
The child's tiny hand grasped Riketz's beard and pulled himself close enough to plant a kiss on Riketz's cheek, "Daaaaa~"
"Me? You mean him, don't you?" Riketz looked at her with a peaceful glance. This whole experience felt like a dream to him, even though just earlier he was certain it was reality.
"Funny enough, I mean you. Strong, adorable, brilliant, fascinated with technology even at this age, and he loves his mommy." Himawari turned deep red, "Not to say you loved me. I mean, I know you didn't. I just mean Jr. is quite affectionate."
Riketz looked at her for a moment and stood up with a straight face.
"Do you mean him? ...I...I had very strong feelings for you, Narinia. I had for a long time..."
"No... I... would have known," she stammered.
"You didn't..." Riketz responded as he stepped closer.
"I...I did love you. I still do...or at least...I think so." he paused for a moment.
"What has been hundreds of years for you has been a mere hop and skip for me. If you are even a shadow of the hunter I knew back then, then I have no doubt in my mind that I still feel for you even now."
Himawari took Jr. from Riketz and sat the baby on the bed before turning back to look at the hunter, "I've been through several wars. Feasts and famines. I loved and lost. I got harder when the times did and eased up when I could, but I've always been the same old Red, Ketz. And I never once stopped loving you."
Riketz looked at her, a soft expression on his face.
"...I fear I have committed a grievous act against you for not telling you sooner."
"HUNTER RIKETZ. YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUESTED IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. WE REQUIRE YOUR INPUT." spoke a loud, bellowing, inorganic voice.
"...that golem gives me the creeps...and coming from a man that hunts monsters and works with machines...that's saying something." he put his helmet back on and looked at Himawari.
"I can't leave them waiting...care to join us?"
She smiled and removed his helmet, "We finally professed our love for each other, you better ruttin' kiss me Riketz Armand."
Jr. swayed on the bed, "Kiiiiiiiiiisssss."
He smiled as he grabbed her behind and pulled her into his kiss. There was far more affection in this kiss than any the Outerverse parallel had ever given her.
"Actually...before you do...you should visit his grave. I hear the last thing you said to him was less than savory." he spoke as he looked at her with that "you know you should" look before re-equipping his helmet and heading down the hall.
Himawari poked her head out in to the hall, "Where the hell is that?"
"This way." a scaley arm stretched from nowhere and pointed to a door that lead to a garden.
"His stone is the large one with the statue." Bewsh remarked.
"Statue?"
"Yeah, statue." Bewsh called back, his location still unknown.
Himawari placed Jr. in the palm of the hand, "I gotta do this alone."
"Sure. I'll give him back to Mishaela...he seems to like her a lot."
"Aye" was all she said before vanishing in to her room. She emerged later, something small in her hand and made her way to the grave site. She sat in front of it, toying with the object she held.
It was a statue of him, in full Damascus save the helmet, with the Sinister Saints at his side in one hand. The enscription read:
Count Riketz Armand of Torkan
(insert birth and death year here)
An unrivaled warrior, hero, and father, who helped protect the world in its darkest hour. May our world see many others of his moral caliber for those people are the ones whom he and many others died valiantly protecting. May his spirit hunt that which looms overhead and protect the weak from monstrosities tremendous.
"My father used to recite this little poem everytime someone died, 'Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there... I do not sleep...' But it doesn't work like that here. You're just... gone. And that don't sit right with me," she choked up at this point, spilling some tears, "God, I had this all figured out back in the room, but I get here and I ain't got a clue what to tell you, babe. I really don't. Other than that I'm sorry... and I love you."
Himawari got up and sat the thing she had been holding at the statues feet and as she walked away to find the living Riketz the alatreon scale glistened in the sunlight.
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Narinia Himawari Armand Vice Captain
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Narinia Himawari Armand Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:58 pm
Vexx sat in the throne, his cheek resting on his fist, as his tail lashed behind him. "Can't believe that b*****d took my kingdom."
"I don't believe that's your chair these days is it, little dragon?" Himawari's voice echoed as she entered the room.
"Why do you insist on calling me little? I'm quite collossal by most standards...even in my humanoid form I'm fairly large." he continued staying in his seat.
She crossed the large room, admiring the draconic architecture along the way and sat beside the throne, "Because it bothers you. And that's what friends do sometimes. They pick on each other."
"Friends? Funny, I don't remember us using that term to describe each other before. We tend towards less appealing terms...like b***h, on occasion." he spoke with an unamused expression.
"Or cold hearted dragon b*****d?" she smirked, "Let's face it kid, it's a lonely world out there, and when it comes to friends you don't got a lot of options... And neither do I."
Vexx shifted. "Eh...I'll outlive these worms long enough to be forgotten again...even IF Primord wins. I'm sure I could make friends elsewhere if I so chose to." he crossed his arms as his tail swished again.
"And since when does "big-breasted-fox-lady" have a hard time making friends?" Vexx spoke as he mimicked Igdor.
"Let me rephrase that, friends that'll be around in 50 years. Or a hundred. Or more," she said looking down at her own three tails sadly.
"Hah! You plan to am scray when Primord wins too, huh? With any luck, that alien friend of yours can grow us another spaceship and we can find somewhere else to cause trouble..." he looked down. "We're in for some serious s**t. He took down Trance pretty hard. Mishaela doesn't think he'll be able to join us for the battle. Trance was stronger that I was, as much as I hate to admit it, and his Trance ability would be pretty useful right now."
"I... No. I meant even if we win, all my friends, Igdor, Mishaela, Sanraku, Xio, well, maybe not XIO, but even if we win and they survive this, they survived Primord to simply die some other way. You and me, we're gonn be around a long ******** while," Red sighed.
"Charos says I'll die too." Vexx mumbled. "The Diviner agreed, but he says that Charos' prophecy of how may not be correct."
"Everyone dies Vexx, even us, but admitedly, we'll be around longer than anyone else, savvy? And we are friends... In a weird twisted way. 'Frenemy' is what they called 'em back home."
Vexx looked up at her. "Frenemy? I always called Trance my brother, though the relationship sounds the same." he paused and looked up at the ceiling.
"That Diviner also told me that there have been other Vexx in this universe...and other Trances...but you...this is the first time you've ever been here...because you're from out there. What do you intend to do once this Primord issue has been dealt with...assuming we win? Do you intend to go back? Do you intend to stay here with your old Riketz until he dies like everyone else does? What's your plan, Red?"
"I can't go home. The doorway is blocked from me and the one person that could allow me to safely return is dead," she also looked up, wondering if there was something interesting up there, "I want to stay here. For now anyway. Live my life with my friends and family. Maybe explore. Your Earth is so different from mine. I'd love to see it all."
"It's not that interesing, really. It's the same old continent Trance and I trashed ages ago. Besides...the Diviner was telling McCloud he'd take him back to the Multiverse...I figured you'd be interested in joining them on their little adventure." Vexx stood from the throne and stepped down from the stairs.
"There are too many adventures to be had here for the time being, Puff. I'll miss Xio. We've had some good times, but if Riketz is willing to stay with me I ain't going back anytime soon."
"Comparitively speaking anyway...until he croaks in fifty years or so." Vexx added as he drew nearer.
Red frowned, "Rude, much?"
"Well, maybe I WILL take him up on it...see this Multiverse of yours. Maybe I'll come back stronger and kick Trance's a** out of my throne...and off of my ex." his fists rested on his hips as he threw his shoulders back. "...or I could take over the Multiverse...it's a much bigger Kingdom from the sounds of things..." he joked, a scowl and a smile paired on his face.
"You will do no such thing, Vexx! No going to the multiverse for you unless you are supervised by three or four armies. No kicking Trance off the throne and if you ever, EVER touch Whisper again," she had stood up and walked over to him, poking him in the chest, "you will beg me to be merciful."
Vexx laughed. "Don't worry...I don't intend to hurt Whisper again for as long as I live...which unfortunately would spawn another lifetime in which I like WOULD hurt Whisper, given the chance." he frowned and walked past Himwari to leave.
"You don't want to consider me your friend...I'm just a shadow...nothing but a curse. This curse gets lifted...and the Vexx you think you know goes back to being a cruel, heartless, monster."
Red grabbed his arm, "I've been friends with far worse people, Vexx. Whether or not you believe me, well, that's up to you, but trust me, it's true."
"It doesn't change the fact that the Vexx you're speaking to is fake." he looked back at her, his tail curled and touched the floor.
"Well, then when you die I'll just have to get to know you all over again," she smiled optimistically.
"...funny...I don't think you'll get the chance to. Ask the Admiral or McCloud...I'm not a friendly guy when I'm not afflicted by my curse." he pulled away from her and left the throne room.
"Vexx, wait!" she lifted the skirt of her kimono and followed him, "I have something for you."
"What is it?" Vexx stopped in the hallway and turned to face her.
She pulled a small, round white stone out of her obi. It was glowing warmly. "A present. You saved my child's life, and mine."
"What is this...some kind of pearl? I don't really need wealth...or is this some sort of magic charm?" he held out his hand to receive it.
"Hoshi no tama. A star ball," she said sitting it in his palm. "They have various uses among my people, but this particular one is sort of a wishing ball."
"A wishing ball?" Vexx questioned as he eyed it. "Why would they use them for anything else if it grants wishes?"
"I said sort of. We aren't d'jinn. Wishes are reserved for kami and demons. But before I explain more you must promise never to use it to cause me or my children harm... except Anton."
He stared at it for a long time silently. "I can't. If I die at Primord's hands, the first thing I'd do with this thing...I don't even know what I'd do with this thing, but it can't feasibly be good."
"You're ruining a gift I worked very hard to make," she said, scowling at him.
Vexx looked at it again. "...you're taking a big risk here. How does it work?"
"Once I," Red searched for a good term, "activate it no matter where I am, as long as I am alive and in the same universe as you, you can use it to ask me to come to you. When I arrive you get one wish, Vexx. One request. Anything in my power to do will be done to fullfill that request. Taking a big risk doesn't even begin to cover it."
"And let me stress once again, it only works once."
Vexx remained silent. "I guess I better come up with a good one before I die, huh. I'd wish Primord gone, but I doubt that's within your power...with all due respect."
She looked away, "Regardless of your alignment as a kitsune I will be obligated to keep my vows so before you die isn't really an issue."
"...like I said...before I die." he looked at the orb as it shone in his hand. "So...hypothetically speaking, if my wish were for you to snog Igdor..." he eyed her with a wicked smirk.
Red looked back up at him and growled, "Once activated if you so chose to waste your wish on such a disgusting display, yes, I'd have to lock lips with that disturbing little Novinskian."
He thought for a moment. "Why me? Sure, I saved your kid...but this feels like something you should give to someone more...important. Like Riketz...or the other Riketz's son...I'd even suggest Xio as a recipient over me."
"My child is my entire world, Vexx. I thought I lost him and me, but you saved both of us. I've been thinking about this all day and I've decided this desicion is right. Because you're my friend."
"Is it easilly digested?" Vexx spoke as he looked at it.
"... Ew," she crinkled her nose in disgust, "Why would you eat that?"
"Storage purposes. I find I lose things less often when they're on or in my body in some way. So...if I eat it...will it dissolve?"
"No. It can't be destroyed until you've used it, but you might want me to turn it on before you go and eat it."
"And how do I do that?" Vexx asked, looking at Himawari.
Red placed her hand over the star ball and began speaking in a strange language that sounded ancient and beautiful coming from her lips. When she pulled her hand back the ball seemed larger and glowed even more warmly than before. It floated up and attatched itself to Vexx's neck with two shimmering strings that shot of the side.
"Funny... Didn't know that would happen..."
Vexx looked down at it for a moment.
"And I didn't even have to wish for a necklace. I guess I'll hold off on eating it then...for now." he looked up at her for a moment before turning back around to leave.
"Thanks...expect me to wake you up from your romantic night with Riketz because I have a headache or something." he joked before giving a wave behind him and leaving.
"I don't fix headaches," she pouted, "That's Mischaela's job."
Red shouted after him, "And don't waste it!"
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