Hey, everyone! I'm back after the longest break in FanFiction history! But you guys all know I'm sorry. I think I even apologized in advance. Did I? No? Well, whatever. That isn't the point.
I'm back with an all-new fandom to write about! That's right, I'm writing a fic about a fandom I heard of back in September! It's March while I'm typing this, so I guess it's been long enough. I'm not even gonna attempt a Steven Universe fic right now. THAT I got into about a week ago, and any attempt at a good story will absolutely result in disaster. –cough cough stevencanshootlasers cough-
I plan on making this a trilogy, for all of the Pinpin fans who, like me, wanted a story that wasn't all about Yugo's rise to nobility (but those are all very good). I'm writing this one out so I don't have an excuse to totally abandon it.
Also, I'm gonna say right now that I'm not totally familiar with the zoology or other terminology, as most of my knowledge comes from the show. But I do my research if needed, so hopefully that's enough.
This first chapter is mostly a season 2 briefing from the POV of your favorite Iop. There WILL be differences from canon, but what can I say? It's Tristevision! Totally not a cover-up for not watching the show in forever!
So, enough word-count filler. Let's get this story started!
…I forgot what typing felt like. :')

NOTE: THE ITALICS ISSUE HAS BEEN FIXED.

Disclaimer: I don't own Wakfu. Not its show, not its game, not its comic, not even its merchandise. One of these days I'm getting a Pinpin cosplay. –drools-

This story will be rated anywhere from K+ to T+, maybe some M as we go. But T+ to be safe.

Prologue
~(O)~
Tristepin didn't think he'd ever been so happy in his life.

It couldn't have been more than a few weeks since Rubilax had sealed him inside of his small dagger. Although he was thoroughly convinced that Rubilax had saved him, the Shushu was still clearly intent on taking over the World of Twelve. The Iop figured he'd spend an eternity trapped in the dagger, separated from the friends he'd made on his journey, watching the world crumble and waste away in the wake of Rubilax and his minions. But, as usual, he was wrong. And for once, he was elated.

About a week before, he had tried to do anything he could to escape his small prison. When no exit was found, he stopped, thinking about the friends he'd left behind and wondering what had become of them. He really missed them all. But the one he missed the most was Evangelyne.
Ever since he'd met Eva, he knew there was something special about her. Maybe it was her spitfire attitude. Maybe it was her never-ending kindness, or how she would always let him know if he screwed something up (well, he didn't always like that one…). It might have even been her wondrous sense of adventure. In many ways, he and Eva were a lot alike, more than she likely cared to admit.

And yet, back then, in the battle against Razortime, for whatever reason he'd thought it was a brilliant idea to get himself killed. Given, there wasn't much else he could do at the time, but he had left behind his beloved Cra. With a smile. A smile, as if he was happy with leaving her forever.

He missed her so much… He knew he had to get to her, somehow!

And, a few days later, it finally happened. With what felt like a breath of fresh air, Tristepin burst out of his small confinement, free to travel the world as he pleased. And the first thing he did was look for Evangelyne. He found her near instantly, writing in a small book in front of his statue, heroically posed and sword in hand.

Now that he had one, Tristepin didn't know if he was happy about it or not.

He called out to Eva, hoping that she would hear. But she couldn't, for Tristepin's body was only his conscience, nothing that could be sensed. He'd known it would likely be that way, but he looked around anyway, trying to find some way to communicate. Then it hit him: the book!

He reached for the book, hoping to write, or draw, or anything to let her know he was there. "Eva," he called insistently, hoping it would work but knowing it wouldn't. His voice was distant, even to his own ears.

He was surprised when Eva looked up from her book. Encouraged, he tried again, a little louder. "Eva!" She frantically looked around her, eyes already misting. Pinpin? Was she going mad? She didn't think so.

Tristepin looked back down at the book, and noticed ink trailing from his fingers down the page. Concentrating, he willed the ink to take a shape, or make a word. It formed into a sloppy version of himself. He guessed being a spirit didn't make him an artist. But the movement on the page urged Eva to look down.

He remembered why he was there in the first place. And he remembered where he really was, as he started to feel the pull of some invisible force. "Go to Rubilaxia," he rushed, "That's where you'll find me." He felt a gust of wind begin to carry him away, along with the words, "Follow the wind…"

With a sudden lurch in his stomach- or where his stomach should be- Tristepin found himself back in the dagger. Apparently he could only come out for a short time. He wondered, did Eva hear his message? Did she understand it? Would she even come? All he could do was wait.

For the next few days, Tristepin periodically came out, trying to reach for his other friends. But nobody seemed to hear him, only Eva. So he focused more on communicating with her, having realized she was able to notice him better if he was making contact with something tangible. Sometimes she would see him in the plant life, in the wind, or even in a reflection on the water. Tristepin enjoyed the company, even if Eva had a hard time hearing him sometimes. Sadly, he could never stay with her very long. But at least now he knew for sure that she was coming. And she was close, so close!

The last time he spoke with her, she was practically right outside. As he left her for the last time, he wondered how she would handle Rubilax. The Shushu was using his body, so would Eva be okay if it came to a battle?

Which brings him back to why he was so happy.

It turned out that Eva could definitely kick Rubilax's ass when it came down to it (even if he was unable to physically harm her, thank Iop for that), and she looked so pretty when she did it. His heart leapt to his throat when she gave him a good hard kick in the Gobballs. Yep. Definitely the most attractive woman he ever met.

As Eva grabbed Tristepin by the hilt and left the castle, she managed to take something else with her.

His heart.

~(O)~

Months later, there they were, witness to the battle between Rushu, the Shushu King, and Goultard, Tristepin's master and the new Iop God. Tristepin, possessed by the newly good guy-ified Rubilax, wanted nothing more than to jump in the first chance he got. And that was exactly what he was going to do! But as he took the first step forward, Eva's slender hand reached out to grab one of his thick fingers.

Tristepin turned to look at her, confused, and saw that her eyes were pleading, almost begging, for him to stay with her. "Pinpin, they're at a level far beyond ours."

Had it been anyone else telling him this, he would have gotten even more fired up, ready to prove them wrong. But when Eva said it, it made his insides melt and his set face soften. As Rubilax slowly vacated his body, the hand Eva firmly held on to slipped into hers. It felt perfect; it felt right. He turned to fully face her, and he could see a soft gleam in her forest-green eyes.

As Tristepin's hand reached out to lightly brush her cheek, he could feel his own cheeks getting warm. He leaned forwards, so their foreheads were barely touching. Eva didn't move away. Mustering his courage, Tristepin did something he'd wanted to do for months.

He kissed her.

At first, Tristepin couldn't believe what he was doing. But Eva didn't hesitate. She kissed him right back. Her lips were soft, with just the right amount of plumpness. The kiss was short, soft, and sweet.

When the two pulled away, flushed from something aside from embarrassment, Tristepin said, "Eva, I'm a Iop. This is what I'm supposed to do."

He turned and charged into the battle, as Goultard was on the ground and Rushu was distracted and gloating. What he didn't expect was for the Shushu King's attention to be drawn from Goultard to him, and he also didn't expect Goultard to quickly charge ahead and grab the Shushu King.

"You need to get away from here with your Cra," his master commanded, gritting his teeth. With a wink, he added, "You have a family to protect, 'Daddy.'" Goultard looked up, where the Shukrute Zaap was beginning to close. If he was going to stop Rushu, he knew he had to get up there. He bent his knees, preparing to jump.

"Wait, Master Goultard!" Tristepin yelled. What did he mean by 'Daddy?' And his family? He didn't get the chance to ask, as Goultard leapt into the sky, Rushu in tow, who was bellowing obscenities as the Zaap closed, swallowing the both of them.

Tristepin didn't realize he was staring until Eva put a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go, Pinpin," she said quietly. He nodded, and the two of them began walking, looking for a place to hide from the itchy-trigger Sufokian Army. Tristepin walked in front of Eva, mulling over what Goultard had told him. But, being a Iop, he knew he wasn't a very good thinker, so he figured he'd ask Eva; she's smart.

"What do you think he meant by Daddy?" He turned when she didn't answer right away, and saw that she was no longer right behind him.

She was in Remington's hold, at gunpoint.

"Don't move!" Remington exclaimed triumphantly. "Or this pretty girl gets it!"

And Tristepin didn't move. As soon as he'd realized Eva was in danger, he'd frozen stiff, eyes wide with a very familiar anger. He knew he could easily beat Remington and his weird Bow-Meow brother, but if he even so much as acted like he wanted to hurt them, they would kill Eva, and he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. The thought only pissed him off even more.

He heard a gasp as Eva's sister, Cleophee, ran into the cave, alarmed by Smisse's shouting. "Just let her go!" she cried out. She may be stubborn and a bit mean, but she still cared for her big sister.

To their surprise, Remington actually considered this. The Cra girl had done so much to hurt him in the past, so what would hurt worse; her quick and painless death, or the death of someone she loved? Well, the choice hardly seemed difficult to him.

"Hmm, fine," he grunted, letting Eva go. He smirked. "But that only means someone's goin' down in your place!" And he aimed one of his guns, right between Tristepin's eyes.

And fired.

Instinctively, Eva turned and jumped in the way. There was no way she was letting the Rogue hurt Pinpin! She registered a bang, a sharp, hot pain in her shoulder, and a dull thud when she hit the ground.

Tristepin saw red. He saw everything, but almost nothing registered. He only picked up random things: Gun. Eva. Pain. Hurt. Rogue. Dead.

Someone was going to die.

Remington was surprised, but brushed it off by blowing out the steam from his Shushu's barrel.

"Eva!" Cleophee ran forward, wanting to check on her sister. But she was stopped by Tristepin's arm in her way. Even though his face was deceptively calm, it was clear that Smisse was his.

Then, he began to walk forward, bottling his anger and saving it. It began building, growing, and it wanted some blood spilled. Remington soon understood his situation and fired, but the bullet harmlessly passed as Tristepin bared his teeth in a feral snarl. The Rogue shot again, but was simply deflected with a swing of Rubilax, who was then tossed to the ground.

"This is gonna get messy," he commented.

And now Tristepin was right in front of Remington. The Rogue was terrified. And Tristepin was thoroughly pissed off.

As Remington fumbled with his gun, Tristepin tightly balled his hand into a fist. The Roublard didn't even have the time to point his gun when the fist came into full contact with his face. A sickening crunch was heard, but at first, it seemed like nothing happened. Suddenly, Remington flew backwards, then skipped across the water before finally crashing through the surface.

Grany yelped. It was his turn now. But he wasn't going down without taking a little something with him!

He checked to make sure the Iop wasn't looking. He then snuck over to the other gun, which had fallen out of its holster when Remi was sent flying. Unfortunately for him, the Iop had looked over as soon as he'd gripped the gun in his jaw. He received a sharp kick to the stomach, and he followed his brother to the bottom of the ocean.

Needless to say, Eva was stunned. She had never seen Pinpin so angry before, even when they argued, or the other times when she got hurt. What was strange about the whole thing was how composed he was; usually, he just hit things with reckless abandon. Also, did she imagine it, or...?

Tristepin quickly turned and ran to Eva's side. Was she okay? Was she bleeding? Dying? Upon closer inspection, he was relieved to find that she had nothing more than a singed shoulder.

He still felt just in his punishment, though.

"Eva, are you okay?" he asked urgently.

"Y-Yeah," she replied. "I think so..."

Cleophee ran over and pulled Eva into a tight hug. "Oh, Eva! I'm so glad you're okay!"

"I-I'm fine, Cleo," Eva reassured her, trying to wriggle free of her iron grip. Finally she was released, and took in a gasp of fresh air.

Tristepin was glad Eva was okay. This time, he intended to keep it that way.

"Eva..." She looked over, wondering what he was going to fuss over now. Instead, he sighed and said, "How about we take a break from adventuring for a few months? Find somewhere to stay, see how it goes?"

Eva was pretty surprised. The Iop Brain who did and thought of nothing but fighting was suggesting taking a break? Not that she was complaining, of course.

She simply smiled and said, "I think we could both use a break."

Tristepin pulled her into a gentle hug. He meant good on his promise; he wanted to keep Eva safe (and then there was the whole 'Daddy' thing Goultard told him about, whatever that meant), but if he started to feel jittery after three hours, then three months was about all he could stand without beating someone up. Even though he had knocked around Remington pretty good, he still felt like he didn't do quite enough. His rushed promise to Eva was the only thing keeping him from going to the bottom of the ocean and making sure he finished the job. And that scared him.

Maybe he was still angry about the whole thing; he didn't know. But he fully intended to keep his promise. Maybe, after three months, the feeling would go away on its own...

~(O)~

Alright! We got ourselves a chapter! I promise you that the next chapter will NOT be based on canon events. It's about to get AU, guys! That's why I double-updated; not a lot of people will read a story that starts out canon, especially if there's only one chapter. But thank you guys for reading, and please let me know what you think!
Note: Updates may be anywhere from a few days to a few months. I'll try to avoid the latter.