I don't own Mother 3. What I do, technically own however, is the AU. Please don't hesitate to tell me what you think and if you're interested.
It was their eleventh birthday when news came that Hinawa had died. It had been a normal day; wake up, have breakfast, play with Fuel until noon, and then go off to Alec's house. They were even allowed to stay up an hour past their bed time- something that the ever so energetic Claus was happy about. They played with the Dragos as well as had some omelettes for dinner! All in all, it was a great day.
The sweet day quickly turned sour as night fell.
Declining the invitation from Alec, Hinawa had grabbed both her children's hands and lead them deep into the forest; it was just south from where they were now- most things like the Yammonsters and the Mr Battys were easily taken care of. It wasn't like the gentle mother was a stranger to the dangers and could, in fact, kick ass when she needed to. It was even better with Claus and Lucas helped out with sticks they found lying on the floor and they would clear the forest floor before it got too late.
It happened so... suddenly. Before the family could even realise what was happening, the trees were set alight and Claus SWORE he saw a hint of a circle before it exploded.
As soon as the fires started and began to spread through the Sunshine Forest, a familiar sound pierced through the now-burning trees. The screech of a Drago but it sounded different. In a way that made Lucas squirm, Claus tense up, and Hinawa thrust her arms out in front of the boys in protection.
"Run." It was a simple word that Hinawa had hissed at her boys, stepping back as, slowly, the Earth beneath their feet began to shake and the growls were steadily getting louder. Neither Claus nor Lucas, despite their increasing panic, made a move to run.
"Boys. Run."
"But- mom-"
The drago was in full view, now, organic and chimeraised eye focusing on them. The optic flashed a lighter red and it's body turned towards them, teeth bared. Lucas clung to Claus' hand, watching Hinawa's unmoving and tense frame. Time seemed to slow down. Each second felt like an eternity.
"Lucas, Claus, listen to me! I don't care that you want to stay!" The twins never heard their mother speak in that tone of voice; firm, upset. She sounded like she had no idea what to do which confused them. She was the smartest woman they knew. She always knew what to do. "Just go!"
One roar from the Drago and they were off, Claus gripping his clumsier, more gentle brother's hand in an attempt to not lose him. It started pouring down, but Lucas wasn't sure when it started. The ground was increasingly getting more and more muddy and they could barely see where they were going. Behind them, some ways away, they could hear something that made them stop in their tracks.
A scream. A feminine scream. A drago's screech. And then silence. A whole lot of silence. Nothing was said between the two boys as they let what happened sink in. The rain continued to pour against the ground, the beast's steps echoing from where they had just came from until they heard it no more. It was unbelievable. The dragos were normally such kind creatures.
They didn't move. It was just... quiet.
"Claus...?"
"What is it, Lucas.." Claus answered gently, not realising that he had dropped his brothers hand through everything that had happened in the past minute. His voice was never this quiet. His eyes were never this sad. Hell, he always had a grin on his face but things... things were different.
"M-mom is okay, isn't she? She screamed to startle that-that drago, right..?" Claus didn't answer. The thought, while nice, didn't seem likely. It was obvious that Lucas knew that was the case as well but it was just something for the boys to cling on to. A sense of comfort for what they refused to believe was true.
It was later confirmed that Hinawa died once they were found washed up in a river.
The idea came naturally to the more hastier of tha pair. Lucas, who was lying on the bed and had been deep in grief, had given Claus a slightly uneasy look that he had returned with an almost desperate grin. "Lucas! That thing killed our mom! Don't you think she'd want us to avenge her death?!" The redhead felt like he had struck gold.
"No- no, I don't think-"
The grin on his twin's face faltered as he sat down beside Lucas. "I'm not doing this alone, Luc."
The blond squirmed in his seat, refusing to meet the others gaze. "Claus, we're not strong enough to kill it! If-if mom couldn't, what makes you think that two little kids will?"
That shut Claus up. Lying down next to Lucas, he began to think of a strategy to help them. Lucas didn't exactly say that he'd go but he'd get dragged along anyway; two heads are much better than one. Besides, Lucas wouldn't let him go alone! No matter what was going to happen, they'd stick together. What one did, the other did too.
Then it struck him. Claus sat up on the bed so suddenly that it made Lucas jump. The grin from before appeared on his face only it had lost the desperate edge and picked up a confident one instead. Lucas stared at him strangely, starting to feel a little fearful. He knew what that look meant; a new idea that was perfect to the redhead had been formed.
The plans that the other thought of were never perfect. It often landed the three of them (Fuel was somehow always involved) in trouble with their parents and Bronson if he was in Sherrif mode. But this was a little different and the apprehension he felt seemed to worsen. They weren't going to get in trouble with their parents or Bronson. If this plan failed... they could lose their lives.
"Luc! We'll be fine as long as we bring sticks and dad's hunting knife, right?"
Lucas opened his mouth to protest against the idea but Claus beat him too it.
"We'll get dad out of the jail first and then we gotta go fast we got to find that Drago and show that is messed with the wrong family!" Claus was starting to get more and more pumped up. Lucas, however, was feeling increasingly anxious. "Come on, we need to go."
Unwillingly, Lucas stood up and away from the bed, packing a few things that they'll probably need while Claus was busy - bits and bobs like food and bottled drinks and a few psuedo weapons.
Claus was a planner. A master schemer, if you will. He was the trouble-maker and everyone knew it. So he grabbed a knife and set it on the counter before finding an apple and something that would surely break the lock. Perfect.
"Lucas!"
"Coming!"
It didn't take too long for them to get into the square- five minutes at best. It took an extra three to get to where the sherriff's building. It took a few seconds to give Flint the apple and a few seconds more for their father to realise what they were trying to do.
Break him out.
Claus' genius idea, of course. "Make sure you eat the apple!" The redhead said for the umpteenth time, and Lucas shook his head in slight exasperation. It wasn't like Claus was being obvious at all!
The exasperated mood Lucas held left as quickly as it came as Claus began to tear up. "Don't worry, dad." His bottom lip quivered and he rubbed his eyes- because he was strong. He wasn't Lucas. No offense to his younger brother, that is. "We'll get that drago back, won't we, Lucas?"
"Yeah.."He didn't sound too convinced and it wasn't long for the blond to tear up himself.
Flint was as silent as ever, words he wanted to say were left unsaid. All he could do was walk up to the bars that made the cell and reach out towards his boys. All the words got caught up in his throat. Including the most important one of all.
"Don't."
But even if the word was said, it was far too late. They had left with the door wide open. Rubbing the apple against his sleeveless jacket, he bit into - determined to get to the object inside. It was a race against time and he already had a feeling he was going to lose.
It took hours for them to get to the area where the plateau was. They were bloody, beaten, annd exhausted but it seemed almost insane to turn back now. Their food and water: gone. The sun was starting to set, covering the sky in hues of oranges and reds and purple and they both wanted to go home. They both wanted Hinawa.
"C-Claus.. I can't go on.." The younger twin panted, trying not to tremble as winds began to pick up.
"Lucas- we're nearly th-there. There's a hot spring somewhere we can just.."
Claus trailed off as his eyes gazed at the pink shell that was surrounded by a pond of water and stepping stones. Lucas, confused, looked at where Claus was looking. That wasn't real. They were hallucinating. But he felt his hasty twin's hand grab his own and he was pulled off towards the door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Don't worry, darlings! Let me get that!" A voice, muffled from- was that jazz music?- and the door called out.
The door swung open, revealing a strange man.. woman...? If he wasn't so sad, Claus would probably laugh at the person who looked like a clown. He would have laughed even harder to see that there were six others wearing sort of the same get up. All he could do was snort and even that didn't sound convincing.
"Oh! Children! Twins no less!" The strange person cooed, hands cupping their own cheeks. "Please! Please, come in." And, just like that, Lucas and Claus found themselves inside of the sea-shell that looked roomy and...
Oh.
"Everyone!" One of the six clown people yelled, their hand waving in the air to catch everyone's attention. All five pairs of eyes turned towards the two twins and... the one who shouted. "Meet..." The bulkier person shoved them forward a little gently, smiling encouragingly at them.
Standing a little awkwardly in front of the room, both Lucas and Claus shuffled their feet along the floor. If asked, they would deny that they were blushing. "Well I'm Lucas and-and.. my twin is called Claus."
"Doria."
"Ionia."
"Mixolydia-" One of them giggled before flashing them a smile (which Claus was wondering if it was flirty. He didn't ask). "But you can call me Missy if you like."
"Phrygia."
"Lydia."
"Aeolia." The final magypsy said, twisting around a little on their throne. "It truly is a pleasure to meet you. Oh- how wonderful it is to have guests!"
Lucas scuffled behind Claus a little as the surrounding people broke out into delighted chatters. "Well, Clausy-poo, Lukey-poo, come here."
The pair of twins did as told, moving over to the chair before Aeolia looked at Phrygia. Aeolia's jaw clenched slightly and suddenly, both Lucas and Claus fell to the floor, completely knocked out. Almost instantly, the wooden plank Phrygia had used clattered against the ground next to them.
"T-too hard?" Phrygia giggled a little bashfully, scratching at their cheek. But they quickly got serious, looking at the twins. "Do you really...?"
"Only time will tell." Lydia spoke up before holding up a tea pot. "Chamomile tea, anyone?"
When they finally came to- Lucas waking just three minutes before his more energetic brother- they sat up on their knees and, while, holding their head, looked up at Aeolia. They were dazed, confused, and they felt... strange. Heavier.
"Tell me," Aeolia began, voice soft and kind. "What comes to mind when I say the word PSI?"
"Love." They said at the same time but broke off into different names. As it turned out, Claus had more offensive PSI whereas Lucas was more of an assist user. Two halves of a whole. Some of the magypsies found it cute but they all had one thing in mind.
The time was approaching.
Snapping out of it, Claus grabbed his brothers hand and dragged the still-dazed blond towards the exit of the pink shell. "Sorry but we have to get going." He said through bared teeth, trying to ignore the terrible ache in his head.
"Wait-"
They were gone. The door slammed shut behind the pair and off they went into the cave just across from the shell; the entrance of the plateau. Or, at least the other entrance that wasn't near Alec's house but it was an entrance all the same. Claus grabbed the knife from in their back, handing Lucas his own.
"Are you sure we're ready for this...?" A roar sounded from the cavern. Claus was quiet for a brief moment but the answer came easily to him.
Another roar.
"Yes."
It didn't take long for them to find the drago. It was easy to spot; it was mostly mechanical and... How long had it been since Hinawa had faced that beast? Two days? Because she barely laid a scratch on him. "Claus, this is a bad idea."
The redhead ignored him, taking a stance and glaring up at the excuse-for-a-drago. The thing edged closer. One stomp. Two stomps. Three- and its eye lost its red colour, opting for a more faded hue as a rock hit the optic. It didn't shatter nor did it crack. And, just like that, it turned and screeched.
Claus took that as a cue to lunge for the 'peaceful' creature, jabbing the knife into its foot but to no avail. It didn't even break through. "L-Lucas!" He tried again, heart jumping to his throat as he realised that it wasn't working. This was a terrible idea. Lucas told him. Getting frustrated, he picked at a branch and began whacking it at the drago's leg in frustration.
Another screech before it turned again, tail knocking off Lucas who could only grip to the edge of the cliff, desperately caling Claus' name. The knife he had held tightly fell to the ground a long drop below. He could only dangle. Claus had made a dash for it then, dropping the knife to the floor in an attempt to distract the mechanical beast before he ran over to Lucas. "Grab my hand!"
"C-Claus- I can't-"
"Grab on to my hand, Lucas!"
Stomp.
One of Lucas' fingers curled into the rockface, his other hand reaching up towards Claus- panic evident in his eyes. The redhead grabbed onto it, squeezing it in an attempt to reasure Lucas before trying to pull him up.
Stomp.
"Work with me here, we can do this.." He strained, grunting a little, using both his hands to grab onto Lucas now.
Stomp.
"C-Claus- the ground!" Lucas was slipping. The Drago was nearing. "Claus!"
Stomp.
"Status report on the red-haired one." A man dressed in white muttered, leaning over the operating table as he cleaned the excess blood off the blond's forehead, grabbing a new cotton bud and dabbing beneath the closed, right eye. It had to have been taken out. It had to be replaced. Both the blond and the ginger's.
"Breathing appears to be normal." The other answered, placing multiple wires on the ginger's head, attaching them to the machine. He helped the first man hook up the other boy to the machine next to it.
"It appears these two are twins. They must have a family to go back too. Are you sure that we should...?"
"We're saving their lives." The answer was a little harsh and they ended up working in silence after that.
"Are they ready to come online?" He didn't recieve any reply, but he assumed that their new subjects are ready. The new addition to the Pigmask army. Flicking the switch, their eyes opened instantly- red and orange optics flashing before they sat up.
"Welcome to the Pigmask army..."
The twins looked at the scientists with confusion in their organic eye. What was going on? Where were they? Who were...
"Commander Red. Commander Yellow."