#── striker cannon ❜ & answered .

[barkskins]

Favourite season and why? (for Striker, Jasper, and Kier; as well as anyone else)

── ANSWERED !

"ain't nothin' better than the summer. me and my brothers, we used t' sit out there in the grass makin' mud pies whenever the sun came up. there's the county fairs, too, and you'd be hard pressed to find me missin' an excuse to get to the rodeo. kickin' back with a cold beer out the front of our trailer ain't nothin' short of bliss."

"autumn, or i suppose you call it the fall. when the leaves are crispy and the air is fresh. it's also the perfect weather for hot chocolate. of course i drink it all year round, but it's even better when it's a little frosty outside and you need to warm yourself up. plus, i have loads of cute scarves to wear in autumn, and it's halloween."

"it's easier to travel undetected in the winter months, yet its harder to stay alive and catch game when the world is muffled under snow. the moment the birds start to sing and the mornings get lighter is the perfect time to strike. you can move when the flowers are still icy, yet there's still a little warmth left for you. i suppose that's why they call it spring."

[jadcnlapointe]

👊 🍩 🌙 🕷️🎁❤️

───  ANSWERED   !

👊 PUNCH - are they quick to violence?

"sure am. got it from my daddy, along with my hairline an' these damn wrinkles on my face. i try my darn best to keep things under control but it ain't easy. i got no way of calmin' myself down when i get angry other than goin' to the bar and getting some asshole to punch me right in the nose. i'm sure there are better ways of dealin' with it, but i ain't never been all too smart."

🍩 DONUT - favourite sweet treat?

"nothing beats a blue slushie. there's that artificial taste that makes you go nuts. i know juni would kill me if i ever let jacie taste some, but i feel like it would blow her little mind. all that sugar keeps me running. the best ones are the ones you get at the cinema, though—you know, the ice blasts? you know what, i might just go and grab myself one right now."

🌙 MOON - what is your oc’s greatest wish? how far are they willing to go for it?

"i want to be famous. a movie star, a socialite, a singer—i don't care how i get there, but i'm going to be running with the kardashians before you even know it. mark my words, you'll see me on billboards and the cover of vogue in the next five years. there's nothing i wont do to get me there. if it means backstabbing or finding other ways of getting to the top, you bet i'm going to do it."

🕷️ SPIDER - what is their biggest fear? do they have any irrational / mundane fears?

"strangers. people touching me. people making my hot chocolate wrong. loud noises. persistent noises. birds." the list could go on, and it likely would have, if i didn't stop him in his tracks. the majority of jasper's fears seem 'mundane' to those not experiencing them, but his emotions are anything but—his overarching fear is the unknown, is occurrences outside of his routine. so long as his life trundles along on a steady trajectory, he can hold it together.

🎁 PRESENT - what types of presents would they be most happy to receive? are they good at gift giving?

"i definitely prefer giving gifts to receiving them. i think i'm pretty good—i try and pay attention to my friends and get them something they would really like, something they'd never get themselves. i guess, if somebody really pushed me, i'd love some flowers. a really big bunch of them. roses, peonies... those sorts of things. i think flowers say a lot. it's so simple, too—no flowers are ugly, you can always get them right."

❤️ RED HEART - their love language(s)?

"oh, my—it's been a really long time since somebody asked me that. i think i'd have to say, above everything, words of affirmation. my mind can be real mean to me sometimes. i know. that jesus wouldn't want me talking down on myself the way i do, but i can't help it sometimes. it's so easy, criticising yourself when you're right there. i reckon if a handsome man swept me off my feet and told me everything i wanted to know, i wouldn't be able to keep myself away."

[kaiijo]

ALL WRAPPED UP — PORTGAS D. ACE

pairing: portgas d. ace x gn! reader content: canon-typical depictions of injury and blood notes: after months of obsession, finally a one piece post

Your eyes drift to the open ocean again, watching the horizon with a hawk-like awareness. You shouldn’t be this distracted, not when you need to be formulating a strategy to propose to Whitebeard and the rest of the Division Commanders. 

“You know he’s going to be fine,” Marco reminds you for what feels like the millionth time, giving you that same, knowing look. 

You nod back. “Yeah, I do,” you reply but you can hear the tightness in your tone and the voice in your head reminds you that he’s been gone three days longer than expected. 

You know that Ace is one of the strongest members of the crew; it’s the reason Whitebeard promoted him so quickly to Division Commander, the reason your captain sends him on solo missions often. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he has the power of the Flame-Flame fruit, but even the strongest of pirates have been beaten — Gol D. Roger being a perfect example.

You see a dot in the distance, which grows bigger as it draws closer. You hope it’s Ace but you put your crewmates on alert, just in case. To your utter relief, you recognize the yellow of Ace’s Striker but the relief is short-lived as he comes into focus. He’s gripping the boat’s mast, cuts and dark bruises marring his tanned skin. You don’t think twice as you jump off the side of the Moby Dick, landing steadily on the bow of the Striker. 

Ace shoots you a signature lopsided smile, though it’s a bit pinched. “Don’t think you asked permission to board.”

You sigh and roll your fondly, trying to quell your racing heart as you slip an arm around his shoulders. His own arm drapes across your shoulders as the crew hoists the two of you up. With a cursory glance over him, Marco says, “Let’s get you to the infirmary.”

Ace untangles himself from you as soon as his feet land on the deck. “I’m fine, Doc,” he says. The way he stumbles a little as he tries to right himself and the blood slowly dripping from the deepest laceration at his shoulder doesn’t help his case. 

Marco levels him with a stern look and a firm grasp on his uninjured shoulder, both of which make Ace sigh in acquiescence and follow Marco down into the ship. You chew on your lip, about to follow, but Thatch says, “Let Marco work. We’ve got a Division meeting. Check on Ace after.”

You glance one more time at the way the two men left before following Thatch to the captain’s quarters. 

You’re hurrying down the steps towards the infirmary as soon as the meeting ends. You’re not even really sure what you all discussed. You can only assume it’s something about swords and cannons and the Marines, and you’ll get Thatch or Izou to catch you up on it later but you have more pressing concerns right now. 

You nearly collide with Marco in your rush. “Sorry,” you say breathlessly. “How is he?”

Marco peers down at you through his glasses, half-amused, and answers, “Good. He’s been whining about not seeing you and it’s my duty to keep patients happy. So…” He slides over and you open the door. 

Ace is wrapped in gauze and bandages, reclined grumpily in one of the infirmary beds. His face lights up when he sees you and he tries to sit up, wincing when he does. “Don’t get up,” you say, pulling the chair that is next to his bed closer to it. You adjust the pillow and unconsciously reach up to brush a stray strand of hair from his eyes. They follow your motion and when you realize that he’s now staring at your face, you quickly drop your hand. 

There are so many questions racing through your head but the first, and most logical, one is: “What happened?”

Ace groans and huffs, “Got ambushed. Thought I was finished collecting intel and let my guard down a little too early.” When he sees you studying the dressing Marco wrapped around him, he nudges you with his elbow. “You should’ve seen the other guy.”

It makes you laugh a little and in turn, Ace’s smile grows wider. “You know,” he says, leaning close. You hold your breath as he puts his face only an inch or two away from yours. “I’ve always heard that a kiss makes everything hurt less.”

He wiggles his eyebrows teasingly, a mischievous glint shining in his dark eyes. You gulp down the knot that has formed in your stomach and your cheeks are on fire. He smells like sea salt and the open sky. You can count every freckle that dots his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. Ace’s smile falters when you don’t answer and he jerks back, stumbling over his words. “It’s no pressure or anything! It’s just something I’ve—”

Plucking up all your courage, you shift forward and move quickly so you don’t lose your nerve. Gently, you let your lips brush against the worst of his injuries: the cut in his right shoulder. You draw away swiftly and when you survey his face, you push down the pleasant warmth in your belly at the way his face goes red.

[nicoforlifetrue]

I was going through the rotten reflection tags and in one back in 2022 you mentioned that on a power scaling level, leo is at the bottom, and that he is a visual distraction while donnie is a glass Canon, dealing big hits from behind.

Could you elaborate? Like the power scaling of the rise boys, who's on the top of the power scaling who's 2nd and 3rd, is donnie 3rd? What are raph and mikeys purposes in a fight?

ok this things been rotting in the asks long enough for me to figure out how to answer this.

in terms of pure force output it goes

donnie raph mikey leo

in an actual fighting perspective there all equally tough opponents, they have the typical set up of two damage two support,

donnie is of course glass cannon striker, his job is to get as many hits in as possible at the most strength possible, all out offensive with a focus on speed as his only defence, the problem with this is it leaves him pretty vulnerable for when he does manage to get hit.

raph is a bulky tank, be big, be hard to ignore, draw all attention to him, hes the slowest of his brothers though that dosent mean much and his high focus on defense and agro draw means he doesn't always get max damage out

mikey is tangle all rounder, he fills in whatever gaps or roles are unfilled in the battle plan as well as making it harder for enemies to maneuver, well rounded and very balanced hes the best fighter on his own when the groups separated.

leo is movement assist leader, his main job is getting everyone in the right position for the fight to go smoothly, hes the one with the plan and his brothers follow that plan weather they know it or not, its imperative that he knows, understands, and can calculate reactions and thought trains of his group in order to position them properly without getting them hurt, it can almost seem from an outsiders pov that hes not doing much as a result of his required constant observation, hes well balanced with a focus on speed and his actual attacks are along the lines of death by a thousand cuts.

[lovelytayforce]

~Of Dreams and Mirrors~ Click! Hearing the sound of the stranger’s pistol being emptied and reloaded, Megatron took his chance. He moved quickly from his spot and walked as Soundwave did between spaces and shot point blank as he stepped into the middle of the opening. He didn’t stop moving in case the mech had another loaded pistol at his side. His coverings made it difficult to tell. CHOOM! He was now behind the building next to the previous one. “Argh!” It was low but an obvious admission in pain, that he had shot right where he wanted. The sound of shifting dirt was clear in his audials. “Now,” He spoke loudly, the air carrying his voice across the city. “You have two options.” ::I’m up top.:: Shadow Striker commed him as the smoke of his barrel filled his senses. The quiet of a standstill was strong. ::He grazed my side but, I nicked him in the leg, I can cover you.:: Good. By the time he walked up the alleyway he was closing in toward the other incapacitated mech, his cannon would be charged enough again. His helm turned ever so slightly before he made his move to see Soundwave making his way, kneeling low with his pistol out and ready near him. He was not alone. “Surrender,” His frame swerved from the building he stood against, fusion cannon held high as it blared brightly with energy. He took his steps slowly and calculatively giving this stranger time to rethink his options. Crack! The glass of a window near him shattered as the sharp stranger took a shot near him. A warning more than anything as he stubbornly stood back up. He smirked at the thought of taking this talented mech in his ranks. Megatron kept steadily moving forward, not quite taking his shot yet as he waited for the other mech to make his move. He noted the other was taking steps back near a door from the middle of the street, away from the downed insecticon. The gray mech was out of the alley, entering the same street as the new mech, he only took a very quick glance at the broken fountain and scurrying civilians. “Or get shot down by my hand.” More clicks and whirs of guns and cannons alike welcomed him to the street as his army was no longer caught off guard. “I don’t think so…” A rough voice finally spoke up to him, his pistol was pointed squarely at him and they both knew this was only going to end with one of them walking off this street. “Not until I find who I’m looking for.” Megatron raised his optic at that. It was then the stranger’s poncho was lifted by the harsh winds of Cybertron wafting up dust to show he had reached for the door he had been nearing. It didn’t budge under his servo, which rules out any temporary escape he wanted or banked on for this gunfight. But what surprised them both the most was Clobber was inside, you could see her through the window of the door. “It’s locked.” Was all the two heard before her blaster shot right through the glass and metal of the door knocking the mech to his side and making him roll away from the debris. “Damn it!” He heard a growl and curse from the now downed mech, the warlord relaxed his posture a bit as he approached the mech. BANG! BANG! Which was partly a mistake. He had to full body lean back as two clean shots grazed past his face. A deafening ping rang out in the streets as the stranger's pistol was shot out of his servo. The look of shock on his face was priceless. Shadow Striker had taken her shot. “Now, I’d like to hear your answer since,” Megatron was now above the mech, a fusion cannon touching the tip of his dusty hat. “I asked so nicely.” - The premise follows Cyberverse Megatron dealing with the consequences of his actions after stealing another universe's Matrix with the threat of being killed while communicating with the soul of that universe's Prime. Will he make it to his desired future or will he be nothing but a figure in a photo encompassing a long-lost dream?

[manipulatorkaleidoscope]

Beyblade Burst headcannon time!!

Anyways, since there is like a bagillion beyblade burst charathers, instead of trying to make one long mega post or format it like I do with my omega strikers headcannons, instead, I am going based off of popular demand. That means…

Send me an ask! If you want to see headcannos for your fave, you’ve got it!

I’ll keep on answering asks until either one of two things happen

a) I have (somehow) covered every charather in the bey burst cinematic universe

b) people stop sending me asks. Permanently

Not sure if your fave has already gotten a post? Just ask!

if they haven’t gotten a post, I’ll try to make one as soon as possible. If they have, I will link it to you as soon as I can.

Your fave is from a generation other than burst? I don’t know how to say this but… sorry, I just can’t answer that

yeah… I haven’t watched the first two generations and the spin-offs that come before burst. Maybe in the future I will also open it up to beyblade x (I am reading the manga but I’m still not that emotionally attached at the characters) but for right now it’s beyburst only 😓

Your fave…wasn’t really my fave? And I don’t have any head cannons for them??

yeah it happens. So that’s why, instead of answering with “sorry, no headcannons for this bby 🥺” I am also going to include a personal rating along with any head cannons that I have (which I mean it’s fair. Head cannon quantities vary GREATLY from character to character. Some of them only have one (1) head cannon.)

These personal ratings, of course, will be ranked on a scale of 1-10, along with a small (or big) explanation on why I like/ don’t like them.

Oh, but where can I see all of this? You know, in like, one place?

fear not my friends, as any head cannons I posses will not only be tagged with bey burst headcannons, but also with K is rambling about beyblade kids again 🤦. That way, you can see all my silly head cannons in one place!!

I will begin aswering asks tomorrow, but for now , ask away!

(p.s: If you want to ask for more than one characters, ask for each one individually. I want to keep track of this this way. I just find it easier)

(p.p.s: I am not legally allowed to compensate you if you are disappointed by your results.)

[bwingus]

Striker helps asher get home.

(This was an rp between me and @nightmares-and-preys . They also made the cover art. Check them out :3)

(Also, just a warning. Striker acts way different than he does in helluva boss. Hes nicer, and says things that contradict the cannon. Keep this in mind while reading this)

Just another day.. iiis what you'd think before the worst possible scenario happens to ya.

A teen was walking into their home as some of their siblings grabbed and dragged them off into their mini library.

"Guys, what the hell!?"

"Shush, You need to help us! We need you to read this spell for us" The sister said.

It made them confused but they nodded. "Alright..? What is it-"

"It's just a shrinking spell, We want to see if it actually works on this apple here."

"Uh- okay.." They stared at their siblings before starting the spell. It was going well until the brother knocked into them.

It made them mess up the words. "Eh!? D-damnit, Brot- w- WHATS GOING O-"

They had immediately vanished before their siblings eyes.

Next thing they knew, They felt a scorching hot pain.

The teen shakenly stood as they looked around. A horrific, desert like hellscape in front of them.

"What the hell..? Is- I-iiyy- Why is everything so big-" They winced before covering the bright red light from their eyes. "W-where am I!?- what's that loud noise-" They froze before looking back at the flaming horse that was approaching quickly. "O-oh hell!!" They jolted before fleeing from the horse's path. Catching a glimpse of it's horned rider.

"I-im in hell..!?"

Striker had been riding his horse, bombproof, when he smelt something extremely interesting. He smelt a human. "Now how in satan's name did a human get into hell?" He thought. He looked around, but didnt notice anything. That was until he saw something small, and human shaped run across the ground, and hide behind a can. So the human was small. Extremely small. He smelt the rank smell of magic aswell as the humans scent. They must have been teleported here, and accidentally shrunk themself in the process, or the other way around. He hoped off of bombproof, and then took a few careful steps towards the can. He didn't want to scare the human away. He was rather hungry, and this could be his next meal. Once he was about 2 feet away, the small human peeked out form behind the can. He could see the fear in their eyes. But somehting was different. This human looked young. Like, in their teens young. Now, if theres one rule striker had, it was that he didnt hurt kids, and he counted teens as kids. So right then and there he decided that he was gonna help this kid. He took one more step, and then decided to talk to her. "Hey, kid. Could you come out from behind that can? I want to help you, but I'll need you to come out form behind there." He said in the nicest way possible. "H-how do I know I can trust you?" She said, peeking out from behind the can. "Well, I'm the only person around for miles, and haven't tried to kill you yet. That's pretty trustworthy when it comes to hell." He told her, hoping that would convince her. "O-ok." She says as she walks out from behind the can. "Just stay there hun. I'll come over there and pick ya up." He said as he walked over, and gently picked her up. Once he had her at chest level he set her in his flat palm. "So, how did you even get here in the first place?" He asked her. "Well, my siblings wanted me to test a shrinking spell on an apple, and one of my brothers bumped me and made me mess up the spell. I guess it caused a shrinking and teleportation spell." She said sadly. "Oh I'm so sorry hun. I know a way to get ya home. Itll just take me a bit to get there. So, I need somewhere safe to transport you..." he said as he checked for anywhere he could hide her. If he hid her in a pocket, other demons would catch her scent. There is one other place he knew he could hide her, but he knew she would absolutely freak out if he put her into there. "Hey kid, do you trust me?" He asked hesitantly. "S-sure I guess. Why do you ask?" She asked, slightly frightened. "Becuase, I'm about to do something that will break your trust..." he says as he shoves her in his mouth. He wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible. He licked her around with his snake like tounge. He could feel her struggling, and could hear her begging to be let out, which made him feel like shit. Once she was slippery enough, he flicked his head back, and swallowed all of her in one gulp. She continued to squirm and shout even while going down his throat. The squirming actually hurt his throat. He felt her pass his collarbone, and then plop into his stomach. He felt her bang in the walls, and then heard her scream. "Please let me out of here! I dont wanna be in a demons stomach all day! It stinks in here!". That was unexpected. He thought she was gonna be scared of being digested. But it seems she just doesnt wanna be in his stomach becuase it stinks, and she just doesnt wanna be in there. Interesting. "I'm sorry kid, but that's the safest place you can be. If I had you in a pocket, another demon would have smelt your scent, and taken you. I'd rather not have that happen." He said as he rubbed the bulge she made in his belly. "Also, whats your name kid?" He asked her. "You can call me ash. What's your name?" She said. "The names striker." He answered. He then felt an extremely odd feeling. He could feel her rubbing his belly from the inside. He blushed and then started to purr. "A-alright kid. I best be getting ya home." He said as he hopped back on bombproof, and made his journey to I.M.P.

Time skip to when striker gets to IMP

Striker stopped bombproof in the parking lot, and then stepped up to the front door of the building. "Well, this isn't gonna end well..." striker said nervously. "What's wrong striker?" She asked. "Well, the guy who can help get you home, well, me and him have some bad blood." He said with a sigh. "W-well, what did you do?" She asked, slightly scared. "Well, I tried to kill his boyfriend, and tried to kill his employees." He said nervously, as he hoped that wouldnt scare her. "O-oh. Alright. Well, why did you do that?" She asked. "Well, I was hired to kill his boyfriend, and his employees got in the way. I'm tryin to make amends though." He said as he walked into the building, and made his way up to blitz's office. He peeked inside, and saw blitz sleeping at his desk. He opened the door, and walked up to the desk. He didnt know how to use the magic book, so he would have to wake blitz up. He shook blitz's shoulder, trying to wake him up. It seems it worked, as blitz slowly opened his eyes, and said. "Oh hey striker... wait STRIKER!?! WHAT in the FUCK are you doing here!?" He yelled as he pointed a pistol right at strikers stomach. "I wouldnt do that if I were you blitz." Striker said with a menacing snarl. "I got a human kid in there, and I'm tryin to get them back to earth. And i need your help to do it." Blitz lowered his gun. "Wow striker, I didnt think you would stoop low enough to eat kids. But I'm guessing your asking me to use the grimoire to teleport the kid back?" He said as he went and grabbed the grimoire, and started flipping through the pages, looking for the spell. "Mhm. That's exactly why I came here. I would have used the book myself, but I dont know how to." He said as he scratched the back of his head. "Well, I'll be in the meeting room, getting the spell ready. You should probably spit her out." Blitz said as he walked towards the door. "Before you go blitz, you should get a growth spell ready too. Shes currently tiny." Striker said as he started to cough, trying to spit her up. "Sure thing." Blitz said as he walked out the room. Striker eventually spits her into his hand, and miraculously she was sleeping. He carrys her into the meeting room, where blitz is standing on the table holding the book, which was currently glowing. "I got those spells ready. Can you give her to me?" Striker hands blitz ash, and then sits in one of the chairs. "Also, just so you know striker, I'm only doing this for the girl. Once shes back home, I won't hesitate to kill you." Blitz said as he activated the growth spell. "I know that blitz. I'll be leaving once shes home anyway. Now, let me wake her up" he walked over and shook ash awake. "Mornin sleepyhead. Your bout to go home. Blitz, get the portal ready for her." Blitz opens the portal, and it leads to ash's house. "Welp. It's your time to leave kid." Blitz says. "Hold on now. I need to say goodbye." I hop on the table, and give ash a big bear hug. "I'll see ya later kid." Ash gets up, and then walks towards the portal. Before she walks through it, she waves to striker and blitz. "Bye you two!" And then she walks through, and then portal closes behind her. Striker walks towards the door, as he remembers what blitz said to him. "Welp. I guess I best be leaving." He whistles, and bombproof bursts through the window. He hops on bombproof, and then smashes through the door, rinding off back to the wrath ring. "Oh come the fuck on!!!! I just had all this fixed!!!" Blitz yells out.

The end.

[elijahfm]

location: the wild pony or planet 7 ! availability: closed, @strikercannon​

the storm had dragged elijah into a bad mood and he hadn’t been able to crawl out of it even after he returned to work—don’t get him wrong, he loved his parents more than anyone in this world, but being stuck inside his home for days with two elderly people that wouldn’t stop nagging him and prying into his personal life wasn’t fun. and that’s the excuse he uses to slip into the bar while parting ways with his co-workers. he did need some cheering up, after all. he’s a known face around and it’s shown in the way he nods his head multiple times in different directions as he makes his way towards an empty spot, coming across yet another familiar figure there. his hand slaps the back of striker’s shoulder as he joins him. “stayin’ out of trouble, cannon?” eli questions, raising a brow. “nah, wait, wait. i think i already know the answer to that.” a chuckle follows his words. “you just let me know before you do anythin’ stupid so i can pretend i wasn’t even here, alright?”

[the-silver-peahen-residence]

Do you have any proposal headcannons for the gem couples? I mean if there going to have babies in the future they should propose right?

((That's true. Since their are so many babies now, that has to be cannon now. I might have something for the gem couples. <3))

Silver butterfly mun/Peahen mom

~Proposal headcannons for the gem couples~

~Quincy and Alucard proposal headcannons~

*From the few dates to the getting used to one another, Quincy was unsure on how to propose to the vampire. He wanted to make sure things were perfect for them which resulted in the many dates.

*He would leave gifts around his home when spending time with one another for company. He's even treated him to a small picnic in the forest near the estate mansion. Alucard was happy finding it sweet he did this but only fell for his kindness even more.

*The others were trying to convince the other to just ask for his hand. He's learned a lot of Alucard and only wishes to see him happy, even if he won't show it So, he has help with trying to propose to him.

*He takes him on a secret place from everything but a wide view was seen around of a pretty location. Trees were seen all around but Quincy shows him a small place for them to sit.

*Alucard would be finding it pretty, wondering what the whole reason was for this special night is. He then hears Quincy telling him of he many dates they been on, even remembering the first day they met. Though, he wished that the Yokai didn't tamper with the tea but it did bring them closer together.

*He started explaining the moments he enjoyed even if he seems always tried. Alucard didn't mind it but he was about to wonder what was wrong when seeing Topper show up with a little box in his little paws. This confuses the vampire to take it and showing the ring.

*Quincy takes it and proposes to him, hoping he would be his forever. For his answer, Alucard was crying but he did say yes.

~Davion and Edmond proposal headcannons~

*The dragon knight was nervous when wanting to propose to Edmond. Even for him he was scared that he might say no or is going too fast. He's known for over worrying. That's why Edmond would always help calm him.

*The dating got them closer together that they are now more as one even as knights. They would still train form time to time but he was thinking of a way to propose to him.

*Everyone gave tips and pointers for the dragon cursed knight since he wanted this to go right. That or not freak out when he could. He wished this would work but only wants Edmond happy.

*During the time of Edmond's training, he would happily think of ways for the proposal which has him feeling flustered around him. That leads to leaving notes for Edmond.

*One day, he takes him somewhere for a private training session together so they were battling together for a challenge. He said if Edmond won, he would be rewarded. Of course he accepted it as they were dueling one another.

*After a bit, the duel was done to show Edmond he winner leaving Davion on the ground. He didn't mind he lost but looks to see Edmond wondering of his prize. It was him blushing to get one one knee and takes out a blue gem colored box.

*Edmond was shocked covering his mouth but sees a ring as Davion asked for his hand in marriage. The knight of course said yes while smiling and crying.

~Striker and Yakumo proposal headcannons~

*Striker and Yakumo have gotten close and has become a happy couple over the hours of dating and being happy. Though, the other wishes for them to remain this way.

*It leads to Yakumo remaining by Striker's side no matter what. Seeing he was happy as Striker would do the same thing for him. Over time, now Yaku wants to have Striker forever. That resulted in marriage.

*Because he didn't wanna mess this up, he asked the others for help so he can know what to do and not to do. All they tell him was be himself and show how much you love Striker.

*That begins with Yakumo studying up on how proposing will be. he wishes for this to be perfect for the two that he was now getting more advice and help.

*Striker would seeing Yakumo busy but he respects that since he was busy himself but didn't know this was a surprise for him in the end. The idea of proposing to him took about a month to make sure everything was ready.

*He would have Striker sitting down in the living room while they were watching the night sky together wrapped up in a blanket. He was just cuddling/nuzzling his imp demon's cheek saying how much he loves him.

*Of course Striker loves him back but it makes him see that he was thinking about something when he just accidentally reveals he wanted to ask for his hand to marriage. This shocks the Imp to see the others sigh since Yakumo begins crying thinking he ruined the special moment. To his surprise; he didn't. Striker finds it adorable but said yes to him. Even trying to clean the tears off his cheeks happily since he was crying too.

~Blade and Chuya proposal headcannon~

*Knowing these two, they were already closer than they thought. With Chuya spoiling him and Blade doing the same, it seems they were already like a married couple.

*With this in mind, Blade did hear about proposing to another so why not do it for Chuya. Right away, he went to work on finding the best way to propose to him. He got help from the others yes but he did do most of the thinking.

*He was always excited with the thought of asking for Chuya's hand of wanting his darling to be with him. For now, they were always hanging out with him keeping this a surprise.

*During the weeks, the even of proposal was hidden but it leaves Chuya wondering what was up. He keeps it hidden just in case still finding him cute.

*When everything was done, he was making a home cooked meal for Chuya while having a special gift for him. The other smiles finding him adorable but it leaves the other thinking what this was. That's when he was given something of his favorite food to eat.

*While Chuya was eating, he enjoyed the plate smiling till he saw something on his fork. He looks down seeing a ring there. This made him blink but looks to Blade then back to the ring. He did this a couple times before his face goes deep red.

*He shouts out surprise but asked for chuya's hand in marriage. He didn't say anything but he screams out from his shock because of it. Though, after calming down, he did say yes.

~Trevor and Olivine proposal headcannon~

*Trevor wanted this moment to be special between them so he figures some ways of asking for Olivine's hand. That got him working non stop trying to make this work.

*He kept this hidden from him to be sure it was a good memory to remember. He got help from some others in the estate to be sure things go smoothly.

*He got all the needed things for this that leaves him smiling. He wanted Olivine to know he means the world to him and wishes to prove that even more when he gives his surprise.

*During that time, he got the ring but was thinking on how to ask for his hand. He got some ideas but he wanted to think of one himself. So, he tries other ways. One day, he got to speak with Olivine alone near the church since he was curious to what was wrong.

*He then takes him to a special place to be alone with him but shows a cute little basket in front of them. This confuses the priest but that's when Trevor sees him walk over to open it. He sees some flowers inside with a hand written love letter for him. He reads it with a smile finding it cute.

*While he was reading it, Trevor was taking out the ring while getting on his knee waiting for him to read the final part that told him to turn around.

*Once he did, he saw Trevor on one knee showing the box to him. It was the ring that leaves Olivine blushing in shock covering his mouth. He wasn't expecting him to ask for his hand that leaves him crying that worries Trevor. However, they were happy tears to say yes wanting to marry him.

~Garu and Ren proposal headcannon~

*After dating Garu/Karu for a good while, Ren wanted to ask for his hand. The dates were fun even with what happened so far. He already enjoys his company.

*For a while, he got to know more about Garu and hopes to show he loved him no matter what. Same with his other personality. He did enjoy Karu since he was pretty sweet when he's grumpy.

*That's when Ren begins planning to ask for him to marry him. He's gotten closer to him that they have bounded even more now. He already had plans on asking for his hand to marry him. Things were kept in secret.

*He's got the ring for him but made sure it was customized just like the others rings of the gem lovers. Ren even had a spot for them to be together like on a personal date. Garu was happy to accept and the same for Kuya even if he didn't want others around during this special moment together with him.

*During the date, he would dress fancy for this moment but keep it a surprise for his soon to be husband. He spoils him with treats and tasty things for them to share together that they were even dancing together hand in hand.

*True, Karu came out still showing his same expression but he was happy to be with Ren after getting used to him for some time. As the two dance, Ren dips him but held him close having him look to the sky with fireworks. The other got confused to see something spelled out that said, "Garu/Kuya: will you marry me?" Of course this shocks him that he was blushing a bright red but smiles nodding his head yes. He already had the ring in his hand happily kissing him for his answer.

~Kuya and Shinryu proposal headcannon~

*After the close encounter to them being together, Kuya decided it was time for the next level: Asking his puppy to marry him. He wanted this to be special so under the last few weeks he's been preparing.

*Shinryu had no idea about this during the time and it would make this even better. He would happily get presents for his puppy with out him knowing. Even getting some of the others to be sure he wouldn't notice.

*During that time, he was still panning but had the perfect ring for his puppy. He even got a cute choker for him that was a purple and black gemstone to hang in front. He wanted him to be known he'll always be there in his heart.

*After days of planning to weeks, it was time for the Yokai to propose. He got Shin to the back yard of the estate, seeing everyone watching from inside the house. He has him relaxed as he looks out happily. Even hugging his arm. It was like a private date between them. Using the illusions to have a small little show of the day they met to the happiness he brought him.

*Shinryu was happy to have met him too and wouldn't trade it for anything. He only nuzzles close to his Yokai that Kuya smiled kissing the top of his head when using his tail to have something resting on top. Shin blinks wondering what it was when seeing him take it and expressed how happy his puppy made him. Now he wanted him to be with him for life.

*He made the illusion of him and Kuya getting married while standing in front of a flower tree with petals raining down above while holding each other's hand. Shinryu blushes at the vision then looks to see him holding a ring. He asked for his hand leaving his puppy crying for joy. He right away says yes to leave them kissing after the ring was placed on his finger.

[jadcnlapointe]

🍩 (jasper) 💥 (sparrow) 🕷️ (ender)

───  ANSWERED   !

🍩 DONUT - favourite sweet treat?

"hot chocolates. i have one at least every day. jamil makes the best ones, but i think i have a pretty good recipe at home too. they're just my favorite things. mornings, evenings... with cream, marshmallows. they're just the best."

💥 COLLISON - what emotions do they have trouble dealing with?

"are you kidding me? every fucking emotion that exists. but you know the one i really have a vendetta against? love. that bullshit is crazy. it fucks with your head and makes you think you've lost your mind. maybe i did, maybe i have—if i never love again, it's too damn soon."

🕷️ SPIDER - what is their biggest fear? do they have any irrational / mundane fears?

"my biggest fear is becoming my dad. i already look like him, an' i don't need that anger in my blood that he gave me gettin' any damn stronger. i see him every damn day of my life. the second i start yellin' or laying my hands on a woman is the day i throw myself in the thames with concrete 'round my ankles. and raccoons. those things give me the willies."

[strikercannon-archive]

ᴀ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ᴅɪᴠᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ : ꜱᴛʀɪᴋᴇʀ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏɴ  .

i wanna be great like elvis without the tassels , hire eight bodyguards that love to beat up assholes , sign a couple autographs so i can eat my meals for free . i'm gonna dress my ass with the latest fashion , get a front door key to the playboy mansion , gonna date a centerfold that loves to blow my money for me .  i’m gonna trade this life for fortune and fame , i'd even cut my hair and change my name . i'm gonna sing those songs that offend the censors , gonna pop my pills from a pez dispenser . get washed-up singers writing all my songs , lip sync 'em every night so i don't get 'em wrong .

( @rocketfm )

ORIGINS & FAMILY:

Full Name: Stephen Cannon Jr.

Reason for name: Stephen is his father’s name and, unluckily for Striker, the family name was passed down to their first born son.

Nickname(s): Striker, Strikes, Cannon

Date of Birth: 22nd April, 1982

Age: 40

Gender + Pronouns: Male + He/Him

Place of Birth: Clarksville, Tennessee 

Parents: Georgia Marie Cannon (née O’Reilly) + Stephen Ray Cannon

Siblings: Two younger brothers, upcoming WC.

Relationship with family (Close? Estranged?): The most estranged you can get. His mother left the boys when Striker was ten years old in the incapable hands of their father, which only led to a barrage of bad treatment and abuse. As soon as he was old enough to fend for himself he left the family trailer, too, and has been riding solo ever since. Contrarily, though, he is extremely close to his siblings, and would do anything for them.

Pets: N/A, although he does seem to have a penchant for the bulls at the ranch.

PHYSICAL 

Height: 6’1”

Build: Slim, lean.

Nationality: American

Ethnicity: White

Distinguishing Facial Features: Dark, heavy-rimmed eyes, stubble, dimples.

Hair Color: Dark brown (grey underneath - don’t tell anybody!)

Usual Hair Style: Slicked at the sides, gelled into a messy quiff.

Complexion: Often blemished from cuts or scrapes, earned through the total disregard he has for his body.

Disabilities: N/A

What do they consider their best feature?: I don’t think you want to know the answer to this question.

Worst they’ve ever been injured (what, how did it happen)?: Striker has been injured so many times that he can’t quite recall which was the ‘worst’. They were all the worst in different ways — being hit by his father was traumatic emotionally, however he’d have to list one of the bull encounters as the worst physical hits of his wrangling career.

APPEARANCE

Favorite outfit: Red plaid shirt, blue jeans and either tattered converse or tan cowboy boots. Sometimes his shirt might be unbuttoned to reveal a worn graphic t-shirt.

Glasses? Contacts?: Striker needs glasses, although refuses to wear them. 

Personal Hygiene: It’s best not to ask. Let’s just say there’s a certain musk that Striker brings with him when he enters a room.

Jewelry? Tattoos? Piercings?: No piercings or jewelry, however he has multiple tattoos over his hands, arms and torso. Most of them are illegible as his skin has aged and stretched, or where ink has fallen from his skin. None of them have been done professionally. 

What does their voice sound like?: Husky & deep.

Style of speech: Often slurred, due to intoxication or concussions.

Accent?: A rather unique deep-South drawl.

Unique mannerisms/physical habits: Over-exaggerated expressions & gestures, nail-biting.

Left handed or right?: Left

Do they work out/exercise?: If you count trying to play buckaroo with a donkey, then yes. Striker doesn’t ‘conventionally’ work out, though, and doesn’t have a gym membership.

BELIEFS & INTELLECT 

Known languages: English

Zodiac: Taurus

Gifts/Talents: Striker can drink anybody under the table, and is like Dr Doolittle when it comes to speaking to animals, or at least trying to get them from one place to another. It helps when it comes to his profession, where the majority of his day is spent redirecting livestock beneath a blazing sun. 

Religious Stance: Atheist

Political Stance: Left-leaning - he doesn’t watch television nor engage with social media, so is wildly unaware of any affairs happening outside of Roswell. 

Pet peeves: Diligent safety precautions.

Optimist or Pessimist: Pessimist 

Extrovert or Introvert: Extrovert

INTIMACY & RELATIONSHPS:

Relationship status: Single

Sexual orientation: Bisexual

Ideal mate/qualities they look for in mate: When looking for a mate, Striker needs somebody that can balance him out. He’s impulsive, dangerous, like a whirlwind, and so he needs somebody who is the opposite to keep him tethered to reality. In return, he could be the one to show them how to live their lives a little closer to the edge.

Ever been in love?: Yes

What’s their love language?: Physical touch, and Striker shows love through acts of service/protection. 

Most important person in their life?: His brothers.

Level of education: High school level, barely.

Profession: Ranch Hand at Puhlman’s Ranch

Past occupations: Small-time drug dealer, petty criminal, gas station clerk, employee at Fornax Hardware.

Dream occupation: To get paid for doing absolutely nothing. 

Passions: Dangerous animals, whiskey.

Attitude towards current job: It does the job, in the way that he can afford essentials and a hot meal at the end of a long day. Of course, Striker would much rather be doing nothing, but if he has to spend his time working himself to the bone he would pick the ranch over anywhere else. 

Spender or Saver? Why?: He doesn’t have enough money to save it, so the cash is often spent the same day (or night)  he earns it.

Which is more important - money or doing something they love?: Doing something he loves, that’s why he’s very rarely present at work. There’s nobody else willing to throw themselves, quite literally, into the ring, and so the ranch owners can’t feasibly fire him.

SECRETS:

Phobias: His father, rats. 

Life goals: To make a life for himself that he enjoys, away from the pressures of society or the trauma his father left him with.

Most embarrassing thing ever to happen to them: Hooking up with some of the less-favorable Wild Pony patrons after having one too many to drink. 

Something they’ve never told anyone: Striker has never confided in anybody about his real name outside of his family. It’s his biggest embarrassment but, although he knows he has the power to change it, there’s always an excuse or a reason for why he hasn’t yet. Often it’s lack of money, or at least he claims that’s the reason, but perhaps he doesn’t want to get rid of it, not really.

Biggest regret: Not standing up for himself, or his brothers, sooner than he did. Striker moved away when he was seventeen, but he wishes every day that he grabbed their belongings and dragged his brothers out of that trailer the second he was old enough to walk on his own two feet. 

Police/Criminal/Legal Record: Messy, and as long as a grocery receipt. Striker has spent many an evening in the Sheriff’s department for drunk and disorderly behavior, trespassing and public indecency, to name a few crimes beneath his belt.

Vices: Drinking to excess, indirect bodily harm.

PREFERENCES:

Hobbies: Bull riding, drinking, illegal shenanigans. 

Favorite color: Red

Favorite smell: Freshly mown grass, motor oil, whiskey. 

Favorite food: Anything greasy.

Favorite book: Striker doesn’t read - I’m not sure he’s ever actually indulged in a book. 

Favorite movie: Big Trouble in Little China

Favorite song: I walk the line - Johnny Cash

Coffee or tea?: Coffee

Favorite type of weather: Warm humidity - it’s best for the animals.

Most prized possession: A horseshoe necklace, left behind by his mother. It’s all Striker has of her now.

Most used word or phrase?: “Yeehaw.”

[weapon13whitefang]

Honestly, I am a HUGE crackshipper and when I started looking more into this new character that just recently appeared in the new Helluva Boss episode I knew that he was going to become fandom's new beloved villain. I just didn't expect for a crackship to already appear. Am i surprised? Yes. Pleasantly? HELL YEAH! A cowboy snake and a demon princess. Who would've thought ~ ❤ (their ship name is Royal Assassin, this can't get any better) P.S. I LOVED your little fanfic, you're really talented and you were able to keep them in character (I don't think they were OOC at all!), but I'm curious. In the future, will you be able to bless us with some headcannons or even a backstory about how they met each other? I just got on board with this ship and I was really hoping I'll be able to see you write more about them.

I am SO sorry it took so long to answer this. Life has not been very slow ride for me so I haven’t had much time to answer stuff or even do much besides reblog and run... But I didn’t forget ya!

First off, I love your icon! Eclipsa is the best. SvTFoE was a good cartoon. I wish the ending episodes were a bit less rushed, but I still enjoyed it.

Second, awww I’m glad you liked my little royal assassin piece 🥰 I wasn’t expecting people to like it as much as they have been honestly 😁 but I’m sure glad others do.

Third, I would love giving some backstory and head cannons for these two! I’m working on trying to write something for how they met actually. A little mini piece for fun.

Fourth, I certainly don’t mind sharing a few head cannons with you here!

Striker often unconsciously wraps his tail around Charlie in his sleep and just when they’re together. It’s a protective thing.

Lucifer is NOT happy his daughter is dating an Imp. He’d rather she date a sinner or even one of the overlords than an Imp. Especially considering how Charlie and Striker met... (Will explain that later)

Lilith doesn’t mind as much and of course just wants to support Charlie and thinks Striker is adorable, even if she doesn’t like how they met and has threatened to take off Strikers head and other parts if he ends up making Charlie cry or worse.

Charlie is very much still a V-Card holder. Striker is not. She gets all blushes and flustered by Angel asking about their sex-life (or lack there of) and when they do finally do the deed, Angel demands details and is so damn proud of her lol

The first purge Striker experiences - since he’s from a ring where the purge doesn’t occur - he stays with Charlie to comfort her since she’s so upset by it.

He plays up the charming cowboy for the most part. Well mannered to the others and what not. But he can still be a manly asshole when he goes out with Alastor or Angel to get a little fun

Striker is bound to a punishment that has him stuck to Charlie or whomever she seems appropriate to take care of Striker. That’s mostly Alastor or even Vaggie. They can pawn him off to whomever they want as well

Vaggie and Striker don’t vibe. Vaggie does not trust or like Striker at all. He doesn’t much care for her so he mostly ignores her. Sometimes - when he’s feeling dickish - he’ll do something to make her mad for shits and giggles.

Him and Al have a deal when they’re together. He kills for Al and they keep it from Charlie. Or at least they try to lol

Striker doesn’t mind Angel’s flirting. He’ll flirt back or just chuckle at him.

Husk and Striker get along well. They have drinking contests.

Nifty wants to steal Striker from Charlie. She sniffs his clothes when he leaves them out for her to clean during laundry day. She’s stolen a few of his clothing items too.

Cherri Bomb and Striker like to shoot cans and practice together. She teaches him how to make bombs.

Striker doesn’t like Seviathan von Eldritch and is a little jealous when the guy comes around and unashamedly flirts with Charlie, knowing they dated in the past.

Striker still doesn’t like upper class demons. He thinks they’re just pompous assholes. Charlie and even Lilith are his only acceptance to the rule, but it took him awhile to even get to that feeling towards them. He still wants to take out the celestial demons and higher ups.

Charlie will sleep in Strikers shirts/likes to wear them. He loves when she does

Charlie plays with Strikers tail and giggles when it rattles, thinking it cute. If she’s drunk, she’s worse and acts like a kid with it.

Charlie being with an Imp causes a huge scandal around Hell. Even if Hell and it’s citizens don’t respect the Magne family, she’s still a high class and powerful demon going around with an Imp

Charlie calls striker “Rattle Dragon” out of affection and a little teasingly. He calls her “Princess” a lot, originally in mocking but then with affection. “Firecracker when she’s angry, and “My Hell Angel” when she’s doing her kind deeds or standing up for Imps and such.

Me and my friend @chocolatemicenwhiskey​ each have our own head cannons separately from one another, but we like to play around and have fun with them. One thing we both like is that his mother is a Wrath Imp - who we named Mary Beth. She’s your stereotypical southern mama. Charlie likes her a lot. Mary Beth thinks Charlie is too skinny and tries to over feed her.

I will be posting another piece in the future hopefully soon!

[speeding-fox]

Crushed! (Part 2 of 2)

~~~~

[Part 1]

~~~~

Author's note: "~~" means a scene change.

~~~~

Thinking this was it, Shian braces herself for impact, only for a red biida shot to hit the charged shot, destroying it. "Porukabon!" Shian and Polka turn to the direction the shot as well as the source of the voice came from, and there stood Tuscan-Dragon in mecha form.

"Taka! Thank bon!" Shian cries out out of relief.

"Porukabon! You need to knock this off right now!" Tosukana bellowed to Polka.

Polka growls lowly at him. Shortly after, he transforms into mecha form himself. Tosukana sighed. "You don't want to make this easy, do you?" Polka responds by firing at him. "I'll take that as a no!"

Shian uses their battle as a chance to get away so she doesn't get caught in the crossfire. She winces as she stands up, and began limping away. "D**mit! Had I been faster, I wouldn't have gotten hurt!" She muttered to herself. 

She turned around to make sure Polka wasn't going after her, only to see Polka and Tosukana fight. She'd stay and watch, because who doesn't want to watch a good fight, but she knew she had to get away to avoid getting injured further. Before she turned around to do so, she noticed something about Bolt-Striker's main Biida Cannon, it is usually yellowish-orange/orange when in mecha form, but this time it was almost all black, then it clicked for Shian. "Something's up with his biidama! That's why Polka's acting like this!" She had to tell this to Tosukana! "Tucker! TUCKER!"

Tosukana turned to her direction. "Huh?" Before he could address what it is she needed to tell him, Polka takes advantage of her distraction by grabbing Tuscan-Dragon's robotic arm and began swinging him around in circles twice, Tosukana screaming as he did so, before throwing him at Shian, now she is screaming as well. She doesn't have any time to get away, but luckily for her, she was scooped up in time by the robotic hands of the transformed Tenacious-Tealer, and unluckily for Tosukana, he slams face-first into a thick tree trunk, an audible *CLANG!* is heard upon impact, and he is left dazed.

Tiiru lifts up their sibling to meet their and assess her. "Shianbon, are you okay!?"

"Aside from my leg, I'm alright." She glanced over to the dazed Tuscan-Dragon. "Can't say the same for Tucker though." She looked back to her mechanized sibling. "What took you so long?"

Dot arrives in her Spotted-Flitterbug and answers her question. "We had to make sure to get anyone else nearby evacuated." Tiiru nods in confirmation.

"That makes sense." Shian affirmed.

Dot turns her attention to Tosukana, then hovers next to him to check on him. "Tosukana, are you going to be alright?"

"I'll be fiiiine little yellow ladybug..." He replied dazily, then he helps himself up and shakes his metal head. "I mean- I'm fine, Dottobon!"

"Let's hope so." Shian remarked as she glances up just in time to see an electrified shot coming everyone's way. "LOOK OUT!" Everyone swiftly hovers out of the way by taking to the air before it could hit and potentially stun them, and Tosukana retaliates by firing at Polka to distract him. 

Tiiru shields their sibling. "We need to get you out of here, Shianbon! Dottobon!"

Dot hovers over. "Yes, Tiirubon?" 

They place Shian on one of Spotted-Flitterbug's wings, where she proceeds to grab it. "Get Shian to safety! We'll take care of Polka and hopefully knock some sense into him!"

Dot nods. "Got it!"

"Guys WAIT!" Yelled Shian. "I know what's up with Porukabon! Look!" She points to his darkened biidama. "His biidama is almost black!"

The others gazed to his biidama, and sure enough, she's right! They can see dark energy swirling around in his main cannon's marble. "That's why he's acting like this!" Exclaimed Tiiru.

Tosukana gasps. "So he's not acting like this by his own will, whatever energy is in him is sending him on a vengeful rampage!" 

"Wh-Who would make my brother act this way..?" Dot questioned somberly.

"We'll find out later, right now we need to focus on get Porukabon to snap out of it!" Shian proclaimed.

"I think healing him with a healing shot should work!" Tosukana shouts as he fires at Polka's biida shots to destroy them.

"But how do we even get close enough to heal him if he won't stop firing at us?!" Inquires Tiiru.

"I might have a plan!" Shian claimed.

Tiiru grunts as they fire at Polka's biida shots to assist Tosukana while hovering in front of Spotted-Flitterbug defensively. "Let's hear it!"

Shian discloses her plan of action. "He's after me, right? Use me as bait to have him think Dotto is helping me get away, and when he's distracted, BAM! You and Tucker dog pile him onto the ground before he could go after me, then one of you can hold onto him while the other fires a healing shot!"

Both Tiiru and Tosukana turn to towards her to object to her plan, Shian was already hurt, she shouldn't be putting herself at risk anymore than she already is, but they stop themselves and thought about it for a moment. Even though she would be potentially be putting herself and Dot in more danger, her plan... could actually work. Dot thought the same about her plan, even though she knew herself and Shian would be at risk, if it was the only way to get her brother to wake up from the state he's in, then she was willing to try.

"I'm aware of the potential danger in your plan if it fails, but if it may bring my brother out of this state, then I'm willing to try." Dot says with a gleam of determination in her eyes.

"As risky as that sounds, it just might work." Tosukana told her.

"For once, I'm with you on your plan, Shian." Affirmed Tiiru.

"Alright then, let's do it!" Shian proclaimed.

The plan was set in motion. As Polka fired more electrified shots at them, they all get out the way, Spotted-Flitterbug swiftly flies forward as Shian laid low and held onto the wing tightly, and dodges any oncoming shots with ease and it zooms passed Bolt-Striker in the opposite direction, now having Polka's focus on them. Shian looks back to taunt him, she catches her eye on something interesting hiding behind a conveniently large rock, but she'll address that later. "Hey dude! Betcha' can't catch me!"

Polka growls. "I WON'T LET YOU GET AWAY!" He was just about to chase after them, but he gets tackled by Tenacious-Tealer and Tuscan-Dragon, and crashes into the ground, knocking him into a daze for a moment.

Tosukana got off of him and went into position to get ready to heal his friend as Tiiru lifts Polka up and pins his metal arms behind his back. When he got over his daze and realized what was happening, Polka began screaming and tried flailing around wildly to try to escape Tiiru's grip. They tried their best to hold him in place for Tosukana to fire his healing shot. "I'm not able to hold him for long! Tucker, NOW!"

Tosukana charged up his shot. "Biida..." Then he shoots it while shouting "HEALING SHOOT!" It makes direct impact. Tiiru lets go of Polka as he shrieked.

Everyone braces their eyes as a bright flash of light envelops him, the light soon dies down along with Polka's screaming, before long, it completely clears, and Polka, no longer in mecha form, is out cold on the grass, and his biidama appears to be back to normal as it no longer has that dark energy swirling around in it. The kids cheer at their success. "We did it!"

Spotted-Flitterbug floats down near the knocked out Polka, Dot wanting to make sure her brother is okay. Shian carefully stood up on the wing and rests a hand on the shield. "Don't worry about him, Dotto, Porukabon's tough, he'll be fine! His biidama is back to normal, so whatever we got out of him just knocked him out." She tells her as she gives her a reassuring wink.

"...Yeah, you're right." Dot smiles a little. "Polka's strong. I know he'll wake up soon."

"Now that just leaves one question..." Everyone turns to Tosukana as he asks this question. "Whom could've made Porukabon turn evil?"

Shian turns her attention to the conveniently large rock nearby. "I think I might have an idea."

The Neo Musketeers barely peek from behind said large rock. "You don't think she knows, right?" Dandylion asks hushedly.

"I think she knows." Hades answered quietly.

"While hanging on to Spotted-Flitterbug, I saw something interesting hiding behind that rock over there while in the air." Shian points to the rock the Devil siblings are hiding behind. 

"Oh she definitely knows." Lucifer murmurs.

"Tucker, Ti, I think you two should blow it up." Shian suggested.

"Oh f*ck! She totally knows! Grab everything and let's scram!" Lucifer whispered-yelled to his siblings as they hide back behind the rock, then scrabble gather their things, including the large popcorn bucket before they got exposed, but they weren't quick enough, the rock gets blown up, and they were exposed right before they could get to their aircraft nearby.

"THE NEO DEVIL TRIO?!" Tosukana, Tiiru, and Dot all call out simultaneously.

Dandylion sheepishly waves at them. "Uhh, he-hey, Jr. BiidaCops. Heh heh..."

"Of course! I should've you three would be behind this!" Tosukana yelled.

"Well, correct, we were just hiding behind a rock..." Hades quips while poking two fingers together, trying to play dumb.

"Don't play dumb with us!" Shian bellows as she points an accusatory finger at the trio. "You three are behind Porukabon turning evil and having him try to destroy me!"

"Hey! We had nothing to with Porukabon going nuts!" "Yeah, we were just minding our own business! It's not nice to point fingers at us just because we're the bad guys!" Lucifer and Hades retort respectively. Dandylion nods and decides to add to that. "That's right! How rude of you guys to accuse us of evillifying Porukabon! We don't even have some kind of dark energy ray to use to do such a thing!" There was a beat, then Dandylion covers where their mouth would be and mumbles. "Oopsie..."

Hades proceeds to bonk Dandylion on their head with a comically large mallet and scold them. "You doofus! Why did you have to get specific?! You shouldn't have said anything!"

"I didn't mean to! It just slipped out!" They cry out.

The group of four are now growling and glowering down at the trio. "Hey, guys, you know what I'm thinking..?" Lucifer asks his siblings.

"Yup." Both Dandylion and Hades reply.

All three scream out "RUN!", then book it to their aircraft. They barely make it there when Tuscan-Dragon and Tenacious-Tealer fire biida shots at them, then the following explosions send the trio and their aircraft blasting off. They three yell out "WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAAAAIN!" until they fly far enough to disappear in a *ting* star.

~~~~

Polka groaned as his eye fluttered open, he then winces and rests a hand on his head while he uses the other one to help him sit up. "Uggh, my aching head..." He starts to rub his head.

"Porukabon, you're okay!" Dot calls out, relieved her brother is finally awake.

"Huh?" He turned to her. "Dotto? Ugh, what the heck happened, and why does my head feel like someone hit me in the head with a large mallet?"

Shian was the one to answer. "Those Devil dorks turned you evil or something and it made you want to try and kill me. One of the explosions from your attacks managed to graze my left leg."

Polka gazed to her as she spoke, then down to her bandaged leg, then looked aside to avoid eye-contact, it was obvious how he felt now that everything was coming back to him. "Oh... yeah... now I remember..."

It was silent for a second, until Tosukana hushedly calls Shian's name while giving her an expectant look. "Shianbon."

She sighed. "Dude, look, I..." She rubs the back of her head sheepishly. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier, I could've worded what I said better, but I didn't want to sugarcoat it. I just thought it'd be better to be honest than to lie, y'know? I didn't really think to take your feelings into account, so... again, sorry about that."

Polka quietly listened to what she had to say. He remained silent for a bit, then lets out a sigh, and shifts his gaze to her. "It's fine. I'll admit, I acted out of line. I never really had my heart broken like that, so I... didn't know how to properly handle that kinda feeling, so uh, I'm sorry too, and I'm sorry for hurting your leg and trying to destroy you."

"Dude, it's the Devil Dorks fault they made you do those things, don't even sweat about that." Shian states. "Let's just put this whole thing behind us and keep it between us and remain pals, alright?" She holds her hand out to help him up, as well as shake on it.

Polka smiled. "I couldn't agree more." He takes her hand and helps himself up,, shakes her hand once, then lets go. "If having a crush eventually ends up with me getting turned evil, then I'm not gonna crush on anyone for awhile." He joked.

Shian laughed a bit at that. "Sounds like a good idea."

"Oh, and Tucker." He turns to him. "I owe you an apology as well for snapping at you. You were only trying to help. I wasn't really thinking."

"It's alright, Polka. If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you." Tosukana reassured before rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I started this whole fiasco in the first place. I got so caught up in trying to help you that I didn't really think about anything else, and if anything, I shouldn't have tried to resolve a situation that wasn't any of business."

"Right, you shouldn't have." Polka agreed.

Tosukana nods. "Yeah, but I have learned my lesson, to not stick my nose in other people's business without their consent, that, and I also learned today that I should definitely not take up a job as a matchmaker when I grow up."

Everyone laughs at Tosukana's joke, until Tiiru spots something in the sky approaching them, though it was too far to know what it is right away. "Hey guys, what's that?" They point out the oncoming object, prompting the others to look where they were pointing.

Polka squints and puts a hand above his eye to shield it the glare of the sun and to try to get a better look. "It looks like a bird."

"It looks more like a plane." Dot corrected.

"Wait, isn't that Sky-Soarer?" Tosukana questioned.

"Sorabon? He shows up now?? What the heck took him so long?" Shian remarked.

Sora (in mecha form) swoops in and makes a landing, then strikes a "heroic" pose. "Don't worry guys, your hero is here! Tucker said there is trouble! Where is it?!" Sora asks while surveying the area, ready for the potential battle.

"Uh, it's already been over with, dude." Shian answered.

"Yeah, you came too late." Tosukana added.

"Aw what? I missed out on the fun?! Aw man!" The mecha kicked up some dirt before slouching and looking towards the ground. "That's so lame!" 

"What's "lame" is you being late. What the heck took you so long anyway?" Shian inquires.

"Uhhh." Sora turns away, trying to come up with a good lie. "I was..." He droned on "was" until a lightbulb appears above his head briefly as he came up with the perfect lie. "I was busy helping out my Dad with heroic matters! Yeah!"

"Right..." Shian muttered. None of the others looked like they believed him, but they can't prove he was lying, so they decide to let it slide.

After a brief pause, Sora decides to ask the fateful question. "What the heck happened anyway?"

Shian and Polka glance to eachother, then smirk as they get an idea, and glance back to Sora. "You wouldn't have wanted any part of it." Shian began.

"Yeah, a lot of mushy lovey-dovey romantic stuff happened." Polka finished

Sora grimaced. "Ewwww. Why did you call me for if it was gross stuff like that!? I told you romance is not my thing!" He paused for a second. "Don't tell me you're both boyfriend and girlfriend now."

Right after Sora asks that, they both hold hands and reply "Yes, yes we are." Tiiru, Tosukana, and Dot stare them, wondering what they're doing, and not catching to their mischievious plan right away. "What are you two-" Tiiru tries to ask, but gets shushed by the both of them.

Shian continued. "And we love eachother veeery much." She turns to Polka. "Isn't that right, Polky-kun?"

Polka turns to her and nods. "Oh of course, my beautiful starry-eyed beauty."

"Eeugh, yuck! I'm out of here! Call me when there is real trouble and not when anybody's acting romantic!" With that, Sora takes off and flies back in the direction he came from.

Once Sora was out of earshot, Polka and Shian burst out laughing. "Did you two seriously put on a show just to gross him out?" Tosukana inquired. 

"Yeah." Polka chuckled. 

"He deserved it for being late." Shian added, chuckling as well.

"Do you think he'll figure out you two were just messing around?" Dot asked.

Polka shrugged. "Meh, he'll find out when he finds out."

"Soooo... now what?" Tiiru asks.

There was silence until Polka answers. "Anybody down for ice cream?"

Shian and Tiiru's eyes light up. "Yeah!"

"After everything that went down, we could all use one." Stated Tosukana.

Dot nods in agreement. "I agree."

"Yeah, it could also help out with my lingering headache." Polka joked, getting a few laughs, then with that, the group began making their way to the nearest Ice Cream shop. Polka then turns to Shian as they're walking. "What do ya' want? You're order is on me."

"Porukabon." Shian chuckled as she playfully elbows him. "You know don't have to keep the charade up."

Polka feigned disappointment. "Aww." He then let out a little chuckle. "Heh, can't say I didn't try."

As much as Polka was fooling around, he was somewhat serious. Even after everything that went down, he still had a crush on Shian, though he feels it's best to try to keep his feelings for her platonic to avoid repeating that whole fiasco, besides, she does like somebody else after all, though he can't help but wonder: who is the biidaman that Shian has feelings for? Well, that's a question for another time.

[neoyi]

Do you think some of the knights and minor characters have family? Or are they completely alone? (You can choose any character, I don't mind ^^)

 Hmmm...

Shovel Knight: Simple man, simple answer: he has a mom and dad. He loves them very much and they love him. He visits them regularly.

Shield Knight: Probably has parents, maybe a single parent. They’d be the type to raise Shield to be a fighter, both physically and mentally.

Black Knight: He’s the kind of guy who’d have no parents, but was instead raised by an uncle or grandparents. They’d likely get him a job at their local store or in blacksmith or something. Black Knight probably has thought of what his parents were like, so he develops a thick shell over time to hide any hurt and/or loneliness of not having a traditional family structure.

This doesn’t mean he doesn’t view his uncle and/or grandparents as family he cherishes; he would die for them.

And of course, it should go without saying that he views Shovel and Shield (and they in turn) as family to him. Not necessarily familial or platonic (Shovel and Shield are most definitely totes a couple while Black probably pines for Shield), but absolutely a group who loves and protects each other. Polar Knight was among the group until their falling out.

King Knight: Canonically has a mom, but no dad. King Pridemoor doesn’t mind being King’s stepfather, but King Knight screwed the pooch on that one.

Plague Knight: I don’t think he has any relatives. He probably grew up without one and forged ahead on his own. This may, sadly, have had an impact on his self-esteem issues, though it’s done wonders for his independence and general dismay to other people and property. 

On the outside, Plague Knight probably mocks the happy-dappy nature of familial bonds and togetherness, but secretly yearns a connection. This is why for as much of an idiot Percy (and Baz) is, Plague never gets rid of him. He’d never say it out loud, but Percy is the closest person to being his best friend and he values that. He’d never view the Plague Minions other than cannon fodder, but he’d be supremely offended if they left him. And eventually Mona becomes a wonderful part of his life; he is extremely grateful.

Specter Knight: Orphan.

Personal headcanon is that his parents are immigrants from Fantasy Japan who came to Fantasy Europe with a baby Donovan. None of them lasted long and died while Donny was still a baby. Donovan grew up in an orphanage (where he didn’t even get his name until the Headmistress lazily picked one out for him when he was like, seven. Prior, he was just “Hey You!” or “Get Over Here, You Brat!”) and eventually ran away when he had enough.

Had to scrimp, steal, and fight his way to survive. Became a thief at a young age because he had nothing to him and an angry disposition to match. Hated the world and became vastly cynical.

Until he met Luan and Reize and found the family he wanted. Too bad it doesn’t last.

Treasure Knight: Orphan. If he had parents, they’re long dead. If he had siblings, he doesn’t keep contact with them. Treasure seem to be a solitary man, the type to spend hours under the ocean with nothing but the calming scenario of sea life before him. His crew are not family, they are his coworkers and he treats them as such - as is expected of a business man. 

Mole Knight: I could picture him having a big family, one that fed him well as a child. Mole Knight loves bread because they’d be freshly backed from his loved ones. It is a food he cherishes because of good memories. He goes to family reunions and keeps regularly contact with them. They don’t live nearby, so he’s kind of thankful they don’t know he joined the Order.

People are shocked at the level of affection he is capable of displaying, but family is often the only time he usually shows it off. Otherwise, he maintains as much of a professional reputation that he can - he’s a worker, after all!

Tinker Knight: Absolutely has family and can, has, and will keep in constant contact with them. He has a loving relationship with his aging parents and siblings. He has cousins and grandparents and even distant relatives he contacts and/or sends cards to. He is an amicable soul, but a quiet one who prefers his alone time, so he’d not be the one to go to many family gatherings because it’d be overwhelming for him. He picks and chooses what events to go to and largely sticks with his immediate family for meetups. But he ensures plenty of well-wishes and is always there for any family members in need.

Propeller Knight: Has a well-to-do family from a noble background.

Personal headcanon, he’s royalty, only child to the second son of the current Queen. He is surrounded by parents, cousins, grandparents, and cousins living under their numerous palaces. Privacy is hard to maintain and lesser so from paparazzi.

When he becomes a sky pirate, he is relieved to be away from them. Some were good, others were awful for his mental health. He doesn’t belong there, not the way it was going. But he still aches for the cousins he missed for they were like his siblings and they loved him. And he misses his parents who, though unable to understand his current life, would have done anything for him.

Thankfully he has Found Family, his crew. Every single member of the Flying Machine Propeller remembers their names, personalities, interests, flaws, and other misc. knick-knacks. He cares for each and every one and they in turn would die for their captain.

Polar Knight: ...has suffered great loss, including his family. He mourns them everyday...

Reize: It is canon that he has family. He was raised by two dads and currently lives with the Hedge Family. Showdown’s story mode for Reize implies the Hedge Farmer might be the “Uncle” he specifically mentions in Specter of Torment.

Baz: Seems like the type of guy who’d have like a brother who also shares his absurdity and brashness. They’d totally compete as kids and Baz’s brother’s refusal to include his bro with his gang and/or adventures is what kickstarted Baz into find a group/family to call his own. 

Maybe Baz will someday confront his brother and fight it out...then settle things with words.

Phantom Striker: If he had parents, they are probably really old or dead, as Striker is an old man. He wanders alone, so he likely does not have family he keeps in contact or if he does, it’s small. Like maybe he has a sibling or something, but that’s about it. He’d visit them on rare days when he isn’t out dispensing his particular justice; sibling would give him a warm meal and express concern for his well-being and tell him to just retire already. There might be minor arguments - the same one every time - but Striker always leaves in good terms.

Mr. Hat: ...nobody knows who or what the fuck this man even IS.

Troupple King: He has 40 bazillion troupple fish baby and his wife is probably a tree.

Pridemoor King: No wife, but totally hitting on King Knight’s mom. Has a son and daughter from a previous marriage, but neither of them wanted the throne for their own reasons. He is currently strained with his own kids, regrets the things he said, and misses them. He doesn’t want to repeat this with King Knight.

Propeller Knight totally dated Pridemoor’s daughter when they were teens much to his annoyance given his reputation as a casanova. ....Propeller then told Pridemoor he also dated his son, too. ;D

Oolong: no parents. their species asexual reproduction.

[starl1ght-child]

Enthralled

Rezyl Azzir x F!Non-Guardian OC

Chapter 9 : Six Fronts [ WC 2.7K (bro wtf lol) ]

masterlist  (also to understand a bit of this chapter, please read the lil headcanon I have for the battle of six fronts.)

Rezyl woke early the next morning to a distant rumble that gently shook their apartment.  The Titan was instantly on alert and sliding out of bed.  He immediately started to dress and put on his armor when the second rumble came and shook the small collection of his partner’s books off their shelves, which sent her into a startled awakening.

“Rezyl,” his Ghost chirped urgently,  “there’s been a message issued out by the Vanguard, the Fallen are mounting an attack on the Wall.”

“How many fronts?” Rezyl asked as he secured the straps of his chest plate.  

“So far, four, but they say there’s more coming on the horizon.”

“Rilea, get up,”  Rezyl urged as he came around to her side of the bed and pulled her up by her arms.  Maker, she was trembling.  “C’mon, get up, we’ve gotta move.”

“Rezyl, what’s going on?”

“The Fallen are attacking the Walls.”  He slipped his hands into his gauntlets and fastened the armor plating on his forearms.  “Your sensor grid may have given us an upper hand and alerted us, but I need you to get to the safety bunkers, find any citizens along the way, and stay there.”

“Rezyl, I can help—”  She started to protest as she got herself moving and dressed.

“No, paramour,”  he said firmly as he grabbed his Inferno and strapped it to his back.  He grabbed his ever reliable Rose and slid the cannon into the holster on his hip.  “Get to the bunker and take as many as you can with you.  I’ll come find you.”  His hand gently held her jaw and lifted her face to him.  There was no fear in her eyes as the initial wave of shock had already come and gone.  Only that fierce bravery he saw when they first met.  “But you do not leave that bunker until I come and get you.  These fights are way too much for you to handle now.  Please, don’t try to be a hero today, you’ve already nearly died once.  Understood?”

She reached up and placed her hand on the back of his, and gently leaned her face into his palm.  Coming from him now, it was an order.  Not a request.  “Understood, Rezyl,” she murmured with a resigned sigh, just as a third temor, this time much closer, shook the Last City.  His hands caught her waist as she stumbled and grabbed onto his shoulders for support.  “Go.  Just promise me you’ll come get me.”

“I promise.”  

He leaned down and kissed her before he left, hard and fervid, because every time he left her he feared it was for the last time.  He had seen many Guardians die at the hands of pirates.  But he was a Titan.  He was always stronger than the scavengers that threatened their borders.  Always.

“This is Commander Rezyl Azzir reporting in, I’ve received your transmission,”  he said over comms, Ghost open in his palm, as he left their house.  “I’m going to join up with the rest of the Order, Commander Zavala.  Where are they positioned?”

He was out of her earshot before she could hear where he was going.  Rilea didn’t hesitate to arm herself.  She slid her sidearm into it’s holster on her thigh and slid the gauntlet that held her compact shield onto her forearm.  She left her rifle on the shelf as another tremor shook the apartment.  She grabbed onto a chair to keep from falling.

When she broke out into the streets, people were filling them, terrified cries and anxious murmurs leaving all of their lips.  For a moment, Rilea was frozen among them.  They lived close enough to the Wall to see faint silhouettes of Titans taking up their posts.  And for a brief moment, she looked at the Traveler above them.

She was never the religious type—her only belief was in fate—but for the first time, she prayed.  She prayed the Rezyl would be alright.  She prayed that they would hold their position and not falter.  She prayed that their Traveler would watch over them.

Rilea climbed up onto a crate and cupped her hands around her mouth.  “Everyone!” She shouted, grabbing the attention of the horrified people.  “We need to get to the bunkers!  Quickly!”

People started to snap out of their trances and started to move closer towards the center of the city.  But as usual, terrified people tend to lose sight of reason, and there was shouting and screaming as people tried to push through to get their first.  There were plenty of bunkers scattered through each sector, but Maker, fear is a terrifying beast.  Rilea stayed towards the back of the crowd to help and stragglers and anyone who had fallen down in the commotion.  There were some Guardians among them, mostly warlocks, that tried to keep people calm and reassured that everything would be alright.  They helped funnel people to different bunkers and control the spread of panic.  

Rilea was about to go down into the bunker when she heard crying.  Her head shot up and she looked around, coming back up a couple of stairs she had gone down.  The warlock by her side must have heard it too.

“Where’s that coming from?”  The Warlock asked.

“I-I don’t know,”  Rilea said as she started to look around.  “It sounds like a child.”

“I’ll go high and you go low?”

Rilea looked at the Warlock in surprise.  Usually in times of crisis, the Guardians told her to hide with the rest of the civilians.  This one was different.  The woman nodded and the two of them immediately did a sweep of the block.  

“I found him!”  Rilea shouted as she saw the kid hiding underneath the porch stairs of one of the buildings, tiny hands covering his ears.  “Hey, kiddo,”  she soothed as she outstretched her arms.  “My name’s Rilea.”  Slowly the child crawled out from under the porch and into her arms.  “Where’s your mum?”  

“Something’s wrong with mama,” he cried as he clung onto the woman.  “She won’t move.”

The warlock jumped down to her.  “What’s wrong?”

“His mother… Where is she, kiddo?  Where’s mama?” He pointed a shaking hand to a woman who was knocked unconscious a couple of houses down; hidden by a banner that had fallen from it’s strings.  Just as warning sirens started to blare.  

The Fallen were on the Wall.

Rilea placed a hand on the back of the boy’s head and hid his gaze.  The Warlock rushed over to the woman and pressed two fingers to her neck.  “She’s alive,” he said as he started to pick her up.  “She needs medical treatment and fast.”  

The two of them ran towards the sector’s hospital, the entire time Rilea kept the boy’s face hidden in her shoulder so he couldn’t see the Wall.  The Warlock took the boy from her when the mother was taken away for treatment.  “Get back to the bunkers,” they told her.  “I’ve got it here.”

“Thank you.”  Rilea nodded to them and left the hospital in a hurry.  Rezyl told her to stay at the bunkers because it was safer.  He said he would come find her.  And she promised him she wouldn’t try to be a hero today.  She saved a kid and his mother, that was enough heroism for her without risking getting hurt.

— — — — — 

The battle waged for hours.  Rezyl was fighting alongside an Iron Lord, a fellow commander, and the rest of the Firebreak Order.  Magazines were running dry faster than they could be replaced, the Titans alongside him were a wall of metal that never moved, not even when Fallen managed to get up to the top of the Wall.  They would die within seconds: ether masks crushed by fists, necks snapped and broken, or by bullets straight through their chests; then their corpses were thrown right back down to the rest.  But they never lost ground.  

It must have been close to six or seven hours before they heard a deafening battle cry and the Fallen started to pull back.  They had called a retreat, their ranks broken from the amount of bloodshed.  All six fronts pulled away from the wall and back into the wilderness where they came from.

There was an order to pull back.  The Fallen had retreated.  The day was theirs.  The City was safe.  But what about the ground the pirates had gained?  There was hesitance among the Firebreak Order.  They were waiting for orders from their commanders.

How “safe” was safe?

“Azzir!”  Rezyl looked up at the Iron Lord that approached him, his fellow commander, Lord Radegast.  “Gather your men.  We’re not pulling back now.”

Rezyl Azzir grinned beneath his helm and nodded.  He turned back to the Titans by his side, all reloading empty magazines, pauldrons splattered with blood, but fierce resolve on their shoulders.  He loaded more lead into his Rose and snapped the chamber shut with a flick of his wrist.  He and the Iron Lord met up again at the edge of the wall, staring down at the scorched land below.

“Firebreak!”  Radegast’s voice boomed over their command and everyone was at attention.  “Into formation!”

“How far do you think we can get before sundown?”  Rezyl asked.  “We’ve got about four hours.”

“A few miles, maybe.  We’ll reclaim as much as we can.”

The Striker chuckled.  “Let’s aim for five.”

“Well, then,”  The Iron Lord and Rezyl Azzir raised an arm.  “Let’s get moving.”  They simultaneously dropped their arms and pointed forward, shouting the orders to march forward and reclaim the land the Fallen had stolen from them.  As their fellow Titans started to descend down the Wall, the two Commanders exchanged a look, nodded, and followed them down.

— — — — — 

When citizens started to rejoice that the battle was over, Rilea was frozen.  The battle was over.  It was over.  So where was he?

Every hour, every minute that passed where he didn’t turn up, was a reason for fear.  She asked any Titan she saw returning if they knew where he was.  No one ever had any answers.

The sky burned red and violet as the sun began to set and the air was getting chilly with the autumn wind.  Winter was just around the corner.  She was still sitting on a crate outside the bunker, freezing and shivering, but refusing to move.  The warlock she had run into that morning had heard she was still there, so he brought her a blanket and draped it around her shoulders.

“Do you know what order he was with?”  the man asked her quietly.

“No… he never told me.”  She didn’t even look up at him.  She had chosen to focus on small detailed repairs on her shield.  It didn’t need to be fixed, but ever since the first attack on the City where it was broken, it wasn’t as responsive to her hand’s movements.  

“Well… the Firebreak Order never returned after everyone was told to pull back when the Fallen retreated.  There’s a chance—”

“Look, I don’t mean any offense, but…”  She finished screwing on the cover panel on her forearm.  “Please just… leave me be.”

The Warlock didn’t say another word, but he heeded her request and left her alone where she sat.  Daylight was slipping away every minute.  Hope was slipping through her fingers like sand in an hourglass.

She didn’t even look up when a pair of greaves appeared in front of her.  She had listened to enough people today telling her to have faith.  When she did look over at them, she recognized the etchings that embroidered them with gold.  Her hands were shaking at this point, a combination from the cold, the relief, and the slight bit of anger she felt that he didn’t tell her he was going to be gone for so long after the battle had ended.  

Rezyl sighed softly and knelt down on one knee in front of her.  He took the small screwdriver out of her hands and replaced it with his own.  He gently kissed the back of her hand and tilted his head a bit to the side, trying to catch her gaze.  “I’m sorry I’m late,” he apologized quietly, tilting his head again when he saw her lashes flick upwards a bit.  “We were ordered to fall back after they retreated, yes, but we decided to push them back as far as we could.”

“How far did you get?”  Rilea asked, her voice small and choked.

“Five miles.”

He watched her shoulders sink as a sigh left her lips.  He felt relief when she finally met his gaze.  A shaking hand reached up and touched his face as if to make sure he was real.   “I thought you were dead,” she whispered quietly.

“I would never leave you like that,” he assured.  “It takes a lot more than some scavengers to kill me.”

She let out a small laugh, a beautiful sound that filled his heart.  “Yes, I suppose that’s true.  You’re too stubborn to die.”

Now he was laughing.  “I thought you were the stubborn one.”  He reached up and brushed the hair off her face.  Her hair was getting longer, but it gave him more reason to touch her and brush her hair out of her eyes.  “Let’s go home, paramour.”

As she stood by his side and they walked home, Rezyl’s Ghost appeared on his shoulder.  “Lord Radegast is dealing with the Consensus for you two disobeying orders.  He said to let him worry about it.”  His Ghost swirled around Rilea’s head and she laughed.

“Why?  Does he know?  About us?”

“I think he suspects,”  Rezyl admitted.  “But he’s not the kind of man to ask too many questions.”  He noticed that his love’s eyes were on his Ghost, mystified and marveling at the small AI.  He gently reached down and grabbed the back of her hand, and flipped it palm up.  His Ghost settled in her palm and she froze, eyes wide as she looked up at him.  He tilted his head a bit with a smile.  “I trust you,” he murmured.  “I call him Amit.  I always just call him Ghost around other people, but you can be trusted with his name.”

Rilea held the Ghost in her hands carefully, like if she held too tight he would crumble.  “Amit…” she mumbled softly, her eyes softening as her lips curled in a gentle smile.  He floated up to her eye level with a twirl.  Her smile grew brighter and she gently kissed the top of his shell.  Rezyl laughed as Amit made a series of beeps and chirps in embarrassment, seeming to forget about his words.  

When they stood on their doorstep, night had fallen and covered the City in darkness, the only light coming from street lamps and from lit windows.  Rilea walked inside without hesitation, but Rezyl lingered for a beat, his eyes on Luna, his hand a tight grip around the railing.

“Rezyl?”  Rilea’s voice cut through his train of thought and he immediately relaxed his posture as he looked over at her.  Her face was written with concern as she stepped back out onto the steps.  She gently placed a hand on his arm.  “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah…”  He hummed with a small tilt of his head as he reached over and placed his hand on top of hers.  “Everything’s fine.  Now get you pretty little butt inside, it’s getting cold at night and you—” he reached over and gently pulled on the collar of her thin shirt “—are not dressed for it.”

Her cheeks flushed and she looked at him with raised brows, softly biting on her bottom lip through a grin.  Fuck, he cursed to himself as his thoughts started to turn darker, greedier.  She’s doing it again. 

“Fine,” she purred.  “I’ll go back inside...”  She reached over and brushed her hand over the fur in his collar “...but only if you come with me and get all this armor off.”

Now Rezyl was giving her an eager smile as he quickly picked her up by her waist and pulled her against his chest.  Her legs swung around his hips as a gleeful laugh left her lips.  He pushed the door open with his foot and chuckled as he pressed his face into her neck.

“Is that supposed to be a threat, paramour?”  He asked as he shut the door behind them.

Tag List : @mail-me-a-snail 

a/n:  Not gonna lie, I had a little too much fun writing this one 

[duhragonball]

[FIC] Luffa: The Legendary Super Saiyan (120/?)

Disclaimer: This story features characters and concepts based on Dragon Ball, which is a trademark of Bird Studio/Shueisha and Toei Animation.   This is an unauthorized work, and no profit is being made on this work by me. This story is copyright of me. Download if you like, but please don’t archive it without my permission. Don’t be shy.

Continuity Note: About 1000 years before the events of Dragon Ball Z.

Previous chapters conveniently available here.

[11 April, 233 Before Age.   Eetii.]

The Striker Corps. was a band of Saiyan mercenaries.    Their crew numbered over one hundred, not counting their young children, who had been known to join in on battles when needed.   Their leader, Mato had heard tales of the Saiyan Free Company, but he wasn't terribly interested until they became embroiled in the Jindan/Federation War.   Now, he sat across from the S.F.C.'s leaders in the conference room of some Eetian hotel, negotiating their entry into the alliance.

"We've learned that my father, King Rehval, is leading the Jindan Cult," said Princess Seltiss.   Mato had heard there was a teenage girl in charge of the S.F.C.,  and while it hadn't bothered him much at the time, seeing her in person made it very difficult to ignore how young she looked.    She did her best to carry herself like a seasoned leader, and maybe that was enough to convince others, but to Mato it looked like bad comedy.

Mato put his feet up on the table and grinned.  "I don't care one bit about you royals and your internal power struggle," he said.  "I want a good fight.  And this war of yours looks like it'll be one for the ages."

He'd already gotten a taste of that.   The Striker Corps had gotten permission to enter Federation space, but it had been a running firefight all the way to to Eetii, as the Jindan cult was very keen on intercepting any outsiders who might help the Federation.    Now that the Strikers had already drawn blood for the alliance, this negotiation was something of a formality, but there were still details to be sorted out.    A little insolence was a good way to test the waters in a partnership.  How badly did they need his help?  Were they willing to forgive a little rudeness to secure his cooperation?

"Have a care--" Xibuyas began to protest as he rose from his chair, but Seltiss held up her hand to call for him to stand down.  Xibuyas obeyed, and took his seat.    Well, that answered that.    Mato could sense the young man's power rising.    He was probably the girl's personal enforcer, and only present at this meeting to showcase the power at her command.   And he was very powerful at that.   Mato decided not to test Seltiss any further.

"I like your enthusiasm," Seltis said, "but you could find just as much action fighting for the other side.  Will you pledge your loyalty to me?"

"Hmmph!  They say the enemy demands more than loyalty, girl.  They would ask for my soul itself.  Methinks you drive the better bargain.  Aye, I'll pledge my allegiance to you, and my mens' as well!  Not the women, though.  They get a mite testy whenever I presume to speak for them."

This drew a smirk from Luffa, who sat beside Seltiss at the table.   Mato was pleased to see that at least someone in this alliance had an appreciation for humor.

"Fair enough," Seltiss said.  "If you need fresh supplies or repairs for your ship, you can speak with one of my generals."

"Fine, fine!" he said.  "For now, I only ask one boon, Princess.  The Super Saiyan?"

"What about the Super Saiyan?" Luffa asked.

Mato put his feet back down on the floor and leaned forward to stare into Luffa's eyes.  "D'you think you could arrange for me to meet him?"

*******

[17 April, 233 Before Age.   Planet Bakoom.]

The battle had raged across Bakoom for days.   There were multiple theaters of combat, as Federation and Saiyan ships sought to prevent Jindan soldiers on the ground from attacking major population areas.  On the rocky coastline of one of the northern continents, where the fighting was fiercest, Luffa and Mato battled seven Jindan Saiyans and hundreds of their mercenary allies.   No one knew the cultists had any allies until now, but things had apparently changed.  

Every time it seemed that the defenders would be overwhelmed, Luffa would summon more of her power and put her foes back on the defensive.  She would keep the Jindans occupied while Mato attacked the small fry.   She was the same woman Mato had met on Eetii, only now her hair and tail were glowing bright yellow, and her ki was so intense that he had trouble sensing anything else while she was nearby.    Gradually, Mato managed to adjust.   Instead of seeking out the energy of his foes, he began to search for "shadows" in the seemingly endless brightness that was Luffa's power.   It was like an astronomer spotting planets in transit across a sun.    

"Well, General?" Luffa growled as she broke the neck of one of her foes.  "You wanted to see me in action, right?"

"Said I wanted to meet the Super Saiyan," he shouted back.  "Never said anything about invading hell!"

He was exaggerating, but only slightly.   He had faced steeper odds in the past, but never with so much at stake.   There was no way off the planet, as the ships they had arrived in had been destroyed, and their comrades in orbit wouldn't dare come to pick them up until the enemy had been neutralized.   Luffa was the only thing keeping their forces alive, and while she was incredibly powerful, Mato doubted that she could handle all of these enemies alone.    As thrilling as the battle was, the taste was soured by the spectre of death.    If there was any possible way to retreat, he would have done so hours ago.    But leaving Luffa's side would be instantly fatal.    Even if she didn't kill him for cowardice, the enemy would surely pick him off before he could get very far.    

But Luffa was having the time of her life.   All Saiyans enjoyed combat, and it was said that the old Saiyan heroes loved it even more.    Men like Darbock and Chanisp were supposed to relish fighting in a way that Mato had never really understood.   But now, he was seeing this in person.    It was as if Luffa didn't care if she won or lost, or even if she lived or died.   She was surrounded by enemies on all sides, and she kept daring more of them to attack her.   There was a strategic purpose to this--by keeping the cultists focused on her, she could create openings for Mato and the others-- but there was nothing strategic about the eager smile on her face, nor the gleeful look in her cold green eyes.

Luffa laughed.  "What's the matter, too hot for you?" she asked.   "I can lighten your load a little."   Mato was horrified at the offer.   She was doing so much already, and offering to do even more?    He wasn't sure what scared him more: that she could actually pull it off, or that she would die with a smile on her face as she tried.

"This is no time to get cocky," Mato yelled.  He didn't like talking to her as she fought.    Sometimes she moved so fast that he couldn't even see her, and yet she could hear him all the same.  He didn't want to distract her, and yet, it never bothered her at all.  

An alien with a cybernetic jaw managed to get close enough to try to bite his arm.   He fired a wide energy blast to keep anyone else away, then swatted him aside, knocking the metal clean off his face.    

Necro-cyborgs, Mato had heard them called.   There were a handful of weapon designers and cyberneticists in the galaxy who had found a way to reanimate dead bodies and arm them for combat.    The main advantage was that a corpse could suffer operating conditions that would kill a live subject, and it was cheaper to manufacture replacement parts for a corpse than to simply build an entire android, or hire a real soldier.   The main disadvantage was that nearly every civilization in the universe deemed necro-cyborgs to be a war crime.    That didn't seem to bother the Jindans much.    Mato had heard that some of their people had dabbled in undead cannon fodder as well.    

He had brought six of his best soldiers to Bakoom, but four of them were dead or missing.    There were some Federation soldiers operating on the coastline as well, but they were fighting on the other end of the battlefield, trying to take advantage of the opening Luffa had created for them.    Mato and his remaining Strikers could only hold their ground and try to repel as many dead aliens as they could so that Luffa could handle her end of things.      And now she was offering to help them, like she  hadn’t been already.

"You might be the devil herself," he shouted, "but if you so much as take your eyes of those Jindan bastards, one of them will pick me off for sure!"

"Then I won't use my eyes," Luffa said.  "Ki senses should give me a target."

"These scum aren't even alive!" Mato shouted.  "They haven't got any ki to sense."

"Then I'll just use my own," Luffa said as she ducked an attack from a Jindan.  "Golden Duster."

She threw out her hands and launched a ki burst in the form of thousands of tiny energy globules.  One of the Jindans tried to block it, but the mist-like phenomenon simply spilled over his body harmlessly.  Seizing on his confusion, Luffa slipped behind him and landed a kick on one of his comrades before he could stop her.

Mato watched as the yellow fog spread out over the battlefield.    His own senses, though nowhere near as sharp as Luffa's, could suddenly make out the dead enemies just as easily as the live ones.    Before, their speed and numbers, along with the smoke and dust of the battle, had made them difficult to spot until they were almost on top of them.    Now, Mato could just pick his targets and shoot.  

She had adopted the same tactic he had used to adapt to  fighting in the presence of her blinding ki, and improved upon it.  Super Saiyan indeed.   

"'S a bloody miracle," cried one of his comrades, who siezed the opportunity even as Mato was still gaping in awe.  

"Miracle, my ass!"  said the other.   She also fired a barrage of ki blasts into the enemy line, but Mato could tell she wasn't relieved in the slightest.    

"Lighten up, Niptur," said the first.    

"She's a witch!" Niptur said.    "No better than whoever built these damned mecha-zombies, or those cultists with the weird powers!    We never should have come here, Azuki!"

"You were the one who was bored with being cooped up in the ship, Niptur!" Mato replied, trying to sound fearless in spite of the cold sweat running down his face.   Then he heard peals of thunder over his head, and he glanced up to find the cultists trying to fight Luffa hand-to-hand.  

"That's the way!" Luffa screamed.   "You all know what I'm up to now, don't you?    You're getting desperate to stop me, aren't you?   Well what are you waiting for?   Come on!"

Mato was to proud to admit it out loud, but he was beginning to wonder if Niptur was right about Luffa being a witch.     But there was nothing they could do, not while the enemy was still bearing down on them.   And then, just when it seemed like the fighting would never end, an explosion went off in the distance, and all of the necro-cyborgs collapsed like discarded toys.  A few of them sparked and sizzled as their circuits overloaded, but none of them were able to fight.    

"N-no!" cried one of the Jindan cultists.   Mato had never been able to get a good look at them until now.    He was a Saiyan man dressed in a red bodysuit with arcane symbols painted on his bare arms and legs.    He held a short spear that looked more suited to a whaling boat than an invasion.   The tatters of a burgundy cape hung from his shoulders as he looked out at the multitude of coprses strewn across the coast.  

Mato wasted no time aiming his hands to fire upon him.   The cultists had been moving too fast for him to hit, and there was a good chance that his attacks would be too weak to hurt them, but now that this one was standing still, and if he stayed off-guard for just a fraction of a second longer...

And then a miniature sun erupted in the cultist's chest.   Luffa had come up from behind and blasted him with a beam of her own power.  

"Yes!" she said, and Mato knew this was surely the last thing the cultist would hear.    

"You friends were pretty well-hidden," Luffa gloated,    "but now that I've picked them off, there's no one left to control all those corpses, huh?   That just leaves you four on your own!"  

Mato watched as Luffa came back into view, and the last of the cultists took up a defensive posture.    He wanted to try to attack them, but something told him there would be no point.    

"There's still enough of us to finish you, Luffa!" one of them cried, but it was obvious that none of them believed it.   Even so, Mato could see Luffa was hurt.   It had been easy to miss before, but now that he had gotten used to the glow that suffused her body, the bandages on her arms and chest were more apparent, and the way she moved indicated pain, even though she did her best to hide it.    He suddenly wondered if she had been holding back this whole time, and how much stronger she would be in full health.    

Luffa smiled.   "Hah!   Three Jindans is no challenge at all," she scoffed.    "You may as well take the shot."

"There are four of us, you damnable--!"    These were the last words of their leader, as a beam of light pierced his skull and cut him off before he could finish speaking.   His three comrades watched as his body dropped to the ground, then they looked off into the distance, searching in vain for the source of the attack.    

"Snipers," Luffa said.  She held up her finger and tapped a small communications device in her left ear.   "Not quite as talented as my wife, but Bakoom's got some good ones.    They've been keeping me posted during this whole scrap.    Now, I don't usually take prisoners, but if anyone wants to tell me where Rehval is hiding, I'd be delighted to make an exception."  

They didn't, and so Luffa destroyed them, one by one.     Mato had expected them to last longer than they did, but it was just as she had predicted.   Once their numbers were whittled down, they were no match for her.  

*******

[20 April, 233 Before Age.   Interstellar Space.]

After Bakoom, the Striker Corps was attached to the Federation's Sixth Fleet, operating mainly on the north-anticenter side of Federation space.  Battles were few and far between, and they mostly amounted to cat-and-mouse games through interstellar space.   The safest way to foil the Jindan Saiyans was to intercept their ships before they could land on a planet and bring their full power to bear.    Mato would have preferred to fight them hand-to-hand, but dogfighting starships was the next best thing.   Best of all, the Striker Corps was automatically granted salvage rights to any enemy ship they shot down.    The Federation only asked that they turn over any navigational logs first, so that they could use them to try to find the Jindans’ home base.    

Salvage was a big part of the Strikers' business.   Mato's flagship had an entire bay dedicated for the task of stripping down captured ships for valuable parts and materials.  At one point, his teams thought they might be able to track down the cult based on the ships they used, but this quickly proved to be a dead end.   The only pattern to the cult's materiel was that there seemed to be no pattern.     Some of their ships were civilian craft, possibly stolen, while others looked to be taken from armadas from every corner of the galaxy.  The “mecha zombies” proved to bear out this observation.  It had been hoped that there was an arms dealer who supplied them to the cult for their attack on Bakoom, but it turned out that they were stolen.   The cult simply lucked into the necro-cyborgs when they hijacked a ship that was carrying them to an actual buyer.

"I tell you, it's a nice little war we've got ourselves into," he said to Niptur as he watched the salvage crews stripping computer cores out of their latest catch.    "I almost hope we never find those cultists' home planet.    They can just send all their warriors here and we'll keep fighting them for years to come."

"I'd like it a lot better if that 'Super Saiyan' wasn't involved," Niptur muttered.   "For all we know, this whole thing is one of her tricks."

"Still on this 'witch' business, are ya?" Mato asked.  

"She's no Saiyan, Mato,"  she said with a sneer.  "She might look like one some of the time, and maybe even act like one, but that just makes the whole act even more disturbing.   That magic she used to destroy those cyborgs.  No Saiyan could ever do that."

"I'll admit that she's more than I expected," Mato said.   "But we've met strong Saiyans in the past.     Hell, I'm stronger'n you are.   Does that make me a witch?"

"Everyone said the Super Saiyan was a man," Niptur argued.   "Then we get here and it turns out she's not.   That doesn't make you suspicious at all?"

"Aye, suspicious of the rumors," Mato replied.   "Spread by a bunch of losers who didn't want anyone to know they got beat up by a girl, I reckon."

"Hmmph.    If I were that strong, I wouldn't leave any witnesses," Niptur muttered.   "Look, it's your Corps, and you're right, this is a decent gig, so I'll back your play.  But something's not right about this, Mato, and I'm not the only one who thinks so."  

He didn't respond right away, and then someone came over to ask Niptur for something, and she excused herself to attend to that.    For a while, Mato just stood there alone and watched the salvage crews at work.    

He already knew that others shared Niptur's distrust.   The Saiyans in the cult, empowered by something called 'Jindan', were phenomenally powerful, and it was all thanks to some alchemical treatment.   So it wasn't exactly a stretch to think that Luffa's power came from some similar magic.   Many believed she was an alien, or an advanced android, or some other creature who merely resembled a true Saiyan.     There were all sorts of rumors and innuendos about Luffa's true nature.   Mato had even believed many of them himself.  

Now that he had fought alongside the real thing, he soon realized that much of what he had heard about the Super Saiyan was built upon lies and exaggeration.    What troubled him was that others like Niptur could meet Luffa in person and fight alongside her and still come away skeptical of her.    Was it jealousy?   Fear?    Stubbornness?   Or was Niptur right, and Luffa had deceived him somehow?

No, he couldn't accept that.   Luffa's abilities were vast and mysterious, but she seemed very grounded otherwise.  Mato considered himself to be a good judge of character.    In his line of work, those who couldn't spot traitors didn't live very long.   But if he was right, and all the naysayers were wrong, or afraid, or jealous, then what did that mean for his crew?    What did that mean for the entire Saiyan species?

At last, he left the salvage bay and forced himself to carry on with his daily routine.    The fate of the Saiyan race was above his pay grade, after all, and he had more immediate concerns to deal with.  

*******

[19 May, 233 Before Age.   Grantrak X.]

Mato didn't cross paths with Luffa again until the Striker Corps were deployed to Grantrak X.    There was only supposed to be one Jindan Saiyan attacking the planet, but somehow Luffa got intel that there would more, and she arrived just in time to rescue the Grantrakkians and their defenders from no fewer than eleven cultists.    This time around, Mato couldn't fight alongside Luffa.    A stray ki blast had injured his arms and one of his knees, and he was forced to monitor the battle from a medical evac station.  

His ki senses told him most of what he needed to know.    To his amazement, Luffa was actually stronger than she had been on Bakoom, although it was difficult for him to compare power levels of that scale.    She was improving with each battle, which seemed to him as the ultimate proof that she was a true Saiyan, though he doubted Niptur would be convinced.    

"What's happening now?"  asked one of the other patients lying next to him.    They were being loaded onto a transport to be taken to a hospital in the nearest city.  

"Dammit, they got Letz!" Mato grumbled.

"Who?"  

"Friend of mine," Mato muttered.    "One of those Jindan bastards managed to corner him."    It infuriated him how powerful the cultists were.   Individually, they didn't hold a candle to Luffa, but they were still stronger than any normal Saiyan.   It was rare for Letz to meet his match in a one-on-one fight.   There was no question that the cultists got him.   There was a strange quality to their ki.    It was Saiyan in nature, but there was something... off about it.    It made it easy for him to tell who was who in a situation like this, but it also highlighted that the Jindan Saiyans had tampered with their own bodies somehow.    The thought of it revolted him.   At least Letz had died with his pride in tact.    He had fought and fallen as his own man.    That was all any Saiyan could hope for.    No, not any Saiyan.   The cultists apparently didn't care about their own pride.   They had thrown it away so that someone else could make them stronger.  

"But Luffa's still fighting them, isn't she?" the other patient asked.  

Mato would have ignored this man normally.    He was pretty sure the patient was a Grantrakian soldier.    He had purple skin, and four eyes in a row on his face.    Mato preferred to keep his dealings with aliens to a minimum.  He didn't exactly hate them, but they were weak, and even their warriors had a distaste for combat, and it was better all around if he could just haggle out a contract and move on.   But he was hurt, and the medic wasn't going to get him back on his feet any time soon, not if the pain in his knee was any indication.   Talking to aliens was the only thing he could do to pass the time, and they all wanted to know the same thing.  

"She's still in it," Mato said.   "Don't know why it's taking her so long, really.   With all the power she's putting out, she ought to be..."  

"Ought to be what?" the other patient asked.    

"She's hurt," Mato said.   "She's putting out a lot of ki, but her body's too banged up to make the best use of it."

"How could anything hurt her?" the patient asked.   "She's invincible, isn't she?"

Mato wondered the same thing for a moment, but as he thought back to Bakoom and the days leading up to that battle, he began to remember things he had seen but not truly considered until now.   Luffa wore bandages wrapped around parts of her arms and shoulders.   In the few times she stood still long enough for him to look, he could see the edges of bandages sticking out from under the black top she wore.   Her hands twitched from time to time, and Mato began to suspect that her gloves were intended to help conceal this, or perhaps hide some other injury.    

She favored one leg.   It wasn't obvious.   Most beings probably could never tell anything was wrong.    Mato himself hadn't picked up on it until now, and he suspected it was because he now had fresh wounds of his own to remind him of what it was like.   His injured limbs felt like they were being roasted over an open fire.  If he lay still, the pain was bearable, but if he tried to move too much or too quickly, the flames would come roaring up in protest.    He'd had knee problems in the past, and he'd adjusted his fighting style because of that.    His comrades who had known him in his younger days picked up on it immediately.    But now, those Saiyans had all died or moved on to other wars.    The Striker Corps were mostly younger warriors, with no inkling that Mato had ever fought differently in his youth.    

He didn't think Luffa's injuries were too serious,  but how could anyone know for certain?   With her incredible ki, she could break every bone in her body and probably still destroy whole armies.    It would take a little longer, but most onlookers would hardly notice the difference.  

Mato sensed Luffa's power as she battled the cultists a few dozen miles away.    She was winning, but not as quickly as she had on Bakoom.   Her power was even more intense, and she was fighting even more ferociously than she had on Bakoom, but it was taking a little longer.   Mato could barely notice the difference, but it was there.  

Was that the Jindan Cult's grand strategy?    Were they just sending wave after wave of troops against Luffa, hoping that they could wear her down?   How long would that take?   Even if they succeeded, would there be any cultists left to celebrate the victory?      

Luffa had surely taken this possibility into account.   The Jindan Saiyans were fanatics, not idiots.    They wouldn't have invaded the Federation without some kind of plan for defeating its greatest protector.    He'd seen her in action, and knew she was too gifted a fighter not to consider all of this.   That was why she had her allies spread out across the frontier, only concentrating her forces when absolutely necessary.   The idea was to force the invaders to spread themselves out, so that she could kill them off one by one with less risk.   But every so often, they would gang up on a planet, and Luffa would have to go there and deal with them personally.    That was fine, but not if she didn't give herself time to recover from each battle.  

So why was she running herself ragged?   The Striker Corps alone couldn't have defeated this many invaders, but they could have held the line for a few days.   Long enough for reinforcements to arrive, and then they could hold out for weeks, maybe months.    Luffa surely knew this as well.    If anything, it might be easier to withdraw from a planet like Grantrak, and recapture it later.   At least then they would have the initiative, and what was on Grantrak X that was so important, anyway?

"Hey."    The Grantrakkian lying in the cot next to him was trying to get his attention.    "You don't think she's really hurt, do you?"

Mato looked back at him and saw genuine concern in his expression.   At least, he was pretty sure it was concern.    The four eyes on his face made it hard to read his body language.

"She saved my butt out there, you know?" the soldier said.   "One of those creeps tried to shoot me with that funky spear of his, and she just swooped in out of nowhere.   Next thing I knew, he was lying there on the ground, and that spear was sticking out of his throat."

Mato tried to roll over to face him, but the pain discouraged him, so he just stared up at the ceiling instead.    "What's your name, kid?" he asked.    

"Booter," he said.   Then: "Uh, Booter, sir.    I'm guessing you outrank me."

"Forget it," Mato said.   "Save your salutes for someone on his feet.    I'm the leader of the Striker Corps, but that doesn't much matter now."

"Striker Corps," Booter said.    "That's a Saiyan company, right?   I mean... I heard somewhere that Saiyans killed their own wounded.  But you--"

"You heard wrong," Mato said.   "My folk are as brutal and ruthless as they come, but I never met a Saiyan that crazy.    Well, maybe these Jindan bastards fit the bill..."

"Sorry," Booter said.   "I've heard some nasty rumors about my own species before.    I shouldn't have assumed it was true."

"Nah, that one's pretty close to the mark," Mato said.   "It's rare for a Saiyan go out of his way to save somebody, that's for sure.   Luffa must have already been attacking that guy when he was about to kill you.    You just lucked out."

"Huh.  Well, just the same.   I hope she didn't get hurt on my account," Booter said.  

They laid there in silence for a minute.   The sounds of explosions could be heard in the distance, and the evac station trembled slightly with each one.  

"What's so blamed important about this planet?" Mato asked.   "I've been in a lot o’battles, and usually I can tell what makes a rock worth fighting over, but here?    I've got no clue."  

"I don't know what you mean, sir," Booter said.   "The enemy just showed up and started attacking.     Same reason they've hit every other planet they've been to, I guess."  

"Right, but why put up such a stiff defense?" Mato asked.   "Nothin’ personal, but is this place really worth it?    In the grand scheme of things, I mean."

"I don't know, sir," Booter replied.   "But a lot more of us would be dead if you all hadn't showed up when you did.    So thanks."  

"Don't mention it, kid," Mato said.    "To a Saiyan, a good fight is its own reward."    

But he wasn't so sure that was true for Luffa.   And the thought of that sent a chill down his spine that had nothing at all to do with his injuries.  

*******

[20 May, 233 Before Age.   Grantrak X.]

Mato had surgery the next day.   He awoke in a Grantrakkian hospital to the smell of stew, and grunted with pain when he tried to sit up to see where it was coming from.    

"Hungry?"  He recognized the voice as Luffa's, but he was still surprised when she moved close enough to the bed that he could see her face.  

"What in--?!" he blurted out.    He didn't know what else to say.   She was the last person in the universe he expected to see, and she was ladling stew out of a pot for him.  

"I dropped by to get checked out," Luffa said.   "My doctor wanted some early reports before I head back to my ship, and I got sick of waiting around, and then I sensed you here and figured you could use some decent food."

Mato's arms were a long way from recovering.   He had asked one of the nurses to leave the controller for the bed in his hand, so that he could still raise and lower the headrest.    But they had either forgotten about this, or it had slipped out of his hand.   Then the bed seemed to raise him up on his own.    When his head was high enough, he found Luffa operating the controller with one hand, and giving him a bowl with the other.    

She was wearing the same gown as the one he wore.  Two of them, in fact, with one on backwards, like a jacket.    He glanced down, and found she was floating slightly above the ground.   One of her feet was heavily bandaged, and the other had a series of staples across the top.    She hadn't come in for a simple examination.  

"Why?" he finally said.    

"Because I like to cook when I'm bored," Luffa said.   "Wait, your arms were pretty banged up.   You probably shouldn't hold this."   She took the spoon from the bowl and started to feed him.     "You'd better not get all stubborn about this, either," she warned him.   "I'd be pretty sore about someone feeding me like this too, but I made a lot, and I'm not letting it go to waste, so eat."

Mato gave no argument.    He knew better than to argue with the women in his own crew, and he was hungry.  

"Dammit, that's not what I meant," he said between spoonfuls.  

She glared at him for a moment.   "That's a funny way of telling me how much you like it, Mato," she said ominously.  

"It's delicious!" he said.   Suddenly it seemed like self-preservation was more important than getting an answer to his question.   "It's very thick, like sauce."  

"I put some starches in it," Luffa said.   "Lot of people don't know to do that.   They only think in terms of taste.   What vegetables to throw in.   What spices.   Texture's important too, though.   Makes you feel like you ate something substantial.   Now, what were you asking me?"

"That soldier you saved on the battlefield," Mato asked.   "This whole planet!   The Federation, for that matter!   You're going out of your way for them, wearing yourself down, just to spare them a few casualties!"  

"More than a few," Luffa said.    

"And here you are feeding an old grunt like me when you should be gathering your strength for the important battles ahead!" Mato cried.    “Why?”

"Because you remind me of my father," Luffa said.   "The parts I liked, anyway.  He deserved what I did to him, but sometimes I miss him, if that makes any sense."  

"The hell it does," Mato said.   "You're mad, girl.    I keep going over it in my head, and all I can figure out is you're so desperate for a challenge that you dared yourself to care about things no Saiyan would ever dream of."

"I guess that's one way of putting it."     The grin on her face was all he needed to confirm his suspicions.  

"Listen... I've been fighting all over the galaxy since before you were born.   I've lost count of all the aliens I've done merc jobs for, and I've gotten pretty good at reading the room-- gulmph!"

"And what do you read?" Luffa asked as she put another spoonful into his mouth.

"Look, I learned a long time ago that the best way to stay in business was to look at the political side of it.   Clients go to war, and there's reasons, objectives.   Governments have to answer to their people, one way or another.    When the civilians start to sour on a war, you know it's only a matter of time before the contracts dry up.   Then you need to think about moving on."

He paused to accept another spoon.   "I've been keeping up with the news outlets since we entered Federation Space.   Folks're starting to get sick of this whole thing.    They were grateful before, and some of them still are, but a lot of them see this whole dance as a Saiyan conflict, and they blame you for pulling it into their backyard."  

"We both know it's more complicated than that," Luffa said.   "If I left the Federation tomorrow, they'd keep on attacking, just to draw me back.   And more people would die."

"Let them!" Mato said.   "You're letting yourself get played here!   And for what?   These folk won't even miss you when you're gone!"

"You really believe all that, Mato?"  Luffa asked.   "That I should cut and run?    Look out for myself?"  

"Of course I do," Mato said.  

"How'd you get those injuries?" she asked.   "I'm no expert, but it sure looks like you were blocking a ki blast that was too big for you."    

"I got cornered," he muttered.   "I'm getting too old for this stuff."

"You could have dodged," Luffa said.   "Or used the force of the blast to bounce yourself away.   Don't tell me you've forgotten how in your old age."    

"All right!" he grumbled.   "I was trying to cover Niptur while she was preparing an attack."  

"A Saiyan saving another Saiyan on the battlefield?" Luffa asked with a smile.  

"It's not the same thing!" Mato said.   "If I get killed out there, so what?   One less monkey on the battlefield.    But you're special!     One in a trillion!   If you die--!"

"If I die," Luffa said as she refilled his bowl, "then I must not have been that special, huh?   Besides, it's not like anyone would miss me, right?"

He wanted to shout at her, to force her to understand what he couldn't find the words to say.   There was something about her that was important, beyond her power, something that the whole Saiyan race needed to learn.    But she couldn't show them if she got herself killed in a pointless battle.   She wasn't even using her glowing yellow form right now, but there was still something awful and terrifying about her presence.   Even so, she looked very fragile to Mato's eyes.   Like a golden opportunity that would vanish one day without warning.  

"I gotta go," Luffa said as she laid the bowl down on the tray next to Mato's bed.    She tapped an earpiece that was tucked inside her left ear.    "My transport's almost here, and my wife'll kill me if they take me back to my ship looking like this."    

She turned slightly, as if preparing to leave, but then looked back at Mato's arms and legs, as though sizing him up for a fight.     "I hope I see you again, Mato.    It'll be nice to see how much stronger you get from all of this."  

"What about my stew?" Mato asked, only half-kidding.  

She looked down at the second bowl and smiled.   "The first one was free," she said.   "This one's a challenge.    It might be cold by the time you're ready, but I think you can make it."

With that, Luffa floated out of the room, leaving Mato alone with his thoughts.  

NEXT: Diagnosis: Dilemma!