Housepets! Always Save the Day
Chapter 1: Empty Space
A "Housepets! Comics" Fan Fiction
Based on the characters by Rick Griffin
By: Fenrir Black
A Message from The Great Kitsune
Welcome back. For those of you who don't know me, I am the Great Kitsune. Demigod and celestial being from the Housepets! Comics. I pride myself on my supreme benevolence and whimsical nature. However, recently things have changed. Several months ago, our world was visited by two humans named Lisa Smith and Rowan Gains. They come from a world similar to yours. A world where the antics and adventures of the pets Babylon Gardens are recorded as comics by one Mr. Rick Griffin. Of course, we get nothing from it except fan art and creepy fan fiction. Rowan and Lisa had a rough start when they first came here. Secrets were exposed, and lives were almost ruined. Luckily they fixed their mistakes and earned the friendship of the pets they had adored for so long. In an ideal world or story that would have been the end of it. If you read "Housepets! Fight Against the Forces of Evil," then you would know things did not go smoothly. I don't want to give too much away for those of you who decided to skip book 1 and go straight to Book 2 but there are things you do need to know or if you need a refresher. Lisa and Rowan were hired by Keene Milton to work on a documentary series about the pets in Babylon gardens as part of his ever-evolving scheme to obtains equal rights for animals. Lisa and I, as you mortals say, hooked up. Rowan loved Lisa for years and when he found out began to become unhinged. Due to his own troubled past, plotted to fill the void in his heart by attempting to heal his younger brother's mental health. Meanwhile, Lisa had been plagued by visions of her missing father and by a malevolent entity known as Drasil the Stag. Drasil plotted to escape the prison I trapped him in millennia ago by using King Milton (formally Joel Robinson) to break the seal. He almost succeeded except I led a small team of Pets along with Rowan to face him in Tartarus. Rowan personally unleashed a powerful assault against Drasil, but it was not enough. Lisa showed up at the last moment and turned herself into a goddess to face Drasil on her own. She sacrificed herself to destroy Drasil once and for all. When it was all over, Rowan disappeared after threatening all the pets. I can only assume that he was affected by the battle in ways that have yet to be revealed fully.
Somewhere in Southern California
Rowan stepped forward toward the glittering pool of creamy white water. Of course, it was not water but pure Mana or magic. The most powerful substance in the world or any world. The pool was so large that it filled the room of the temple. Rowan silently noted how this temple was far different from Pete the Gryphons temple. Of course, he had only seen the interior of it from the pages of comics online. By the time he arrived, the temple was in pieces after the mana was drained.
Step by step, Rowan defended the stairs never taking his eyes off the sight in front of him. He knew that if looked away he might decide against what he was about to do. Part of him knew what he was doing was wrong. Unfortunately, That part of him was being crushed by an overwhelming urge and desire for power to reclaim but was taken from him.
He reached up and pressed his had against the left side of his face. The pain faded away months ago, but the scar remained. A significant black scorch mark that surrounded his eye and spread to his ear. For weeks he wore a long cloak and hood to hide his appearance from those who would never understand what he was now. Even he was not entirely sure what he was. He was still human on the outside, but there was something inside him that was clearly not. His eye was proof of that. It was entirely black except for a golden ring like an iris that shined with an unearthly glow. A sign that he was no longer the same person who like reading comics, watching anime, and was secretly in love with his best friend.
Finally, Rowan stepped off the stone staircase and tilted his head up toward the giant stone face glaring at him. On the far wall across the mana pool was the last thing Rowan ever wanted to see again. The head of a deer with long jagged antlers each with a glowing stone embedded in them, so there was three total. The eyes were the most unsettling. Two red jewels glimmered in the fading light of the room. It had the appearance that they were looking right at him, edging Rowan forward. Of course, Drasil's image was all over the temple. When Rowan first arrived, he was greeted by two giant stone monuments of the god. Drasil's temple. Rowan did not know what was completing him forward. All he knew was that he needed to fill the empty void in his chest where his heart once was.
He tried to steady his breathing.
Rowan stood on the edge of the pool. One more step would be all it took. The mana could almost sense his presence. It glowed brighter filling the room with white light. The stone walls responded by humming as the energy surged around the room. The air was filled with a sound that reminded Rowan of Drasil's laughter as if it was mocking him. Rowan the mortal who faced the immortal Drasil along with a ragtag group of pets only to fail to defeat him.
The memory of Drasil's final attack, a giant meteor, coming straight towards them from a hole in space/time. Kitsune using his power to save them but had to lose their opportunity to reseal him. Kitsune planned to sacrifice himself to stop the deer god, but Lisa intervened. Rowan closed his eyes and could still her voice as she said how she loved both him and Kitsune. Then She did the unthinkable by changing into a goddess and destroying Drasil with all her heavenly power. Rowan tried to reach out to her. His hand so close to hers only to be pulled away. She was gone. She left him forever. What was left of him? Just a ghost of what he used to be.
"Lisa. Forgive me," Rowan whispered.
He stepped into the mana. Instantly his body was consumed by the power. It felt like thousands of nuclear explosions were going off in his veins. His blood boiled and yet felt like it was freezing at the same time. Each hair on his body stood up on end ready to shoot off his skin at a moments notice. All these sensations were barely recognizable to Rowan. It was like his brain could not comprehend what was happening to him.
Rowan moved to the center of the pool. The more he walked, the stronger the sensations were becoming. He up looked at Drasil's stone expression and swore it was smiling at him. It told him to give in and accept the power he left behind.
The walls glowed with thousands of tiny lights like stars in the night sky. Constellations appeared overhead. The universe was watching him. Waiting to see what he would become. None of that mattered to Rowan. Lisa was gone. Gone forever. All he wanted was for those responsible to pay for what they had done. Heaven would fall, and Rowan would make sure of it.
Closing his eyes, Rowan leaned backward and fell into the pool. His body sunk into the magical liquid until his entire body was submerged. The last part to disappear was his right arm. He held it out like he was still waiting for someone to take it. No one did. Within seconds, his fingers disappeared under the surface.
There was a loud knocking on the door, King looked up from what he was doing and walked over. The Wolves were gone for the day, so King had the house to himself. He learned long ago not to ask too many questions about what they did besides go to work at their various jobs. Bailey was with the puppies on a playdate. Once again King learned not to ask questions about what Bailey did when he was not around. It was something he learned from his parents. Couples sometimes need space. The problem was that space seemed to be all they had lately. King had become overly protective of his kids since the "incident" two months before. Bailey had to put her foot down and forcibly separate him from his kids so that they could be kids.
He gripped the knob but hesitated as a memory that he tried so hard to forget resurfaced. His heart beat faster in his chest as the thought that just maybe they were there raced through his mind. Their smiling faces and overactive personalities beaming at him as they pummeled him with ridiculous questions about his age. That time he hated the thought of being around them, but now he would give anything to see them again.
King opened the door and standing there on the doorstep was his best friend, Fox. The grey husky smiled at King who did not return it. Fox was wearing his police uniform. He spent most of his time working for the K9PD, so that meant
"Do you want to go for a walk with me?" Fox was wearing his police uniform. He spent most of his time working for the K9PD, so that meant he was usually too busy for things like leisurely walks. King gave him a skeptical look. He trusted Fox more than any other dog. Fox was there for King when no one else was despite their sorted history. Like the time King kidnapped Fox back when he was still human and working for PETA.
"I guess," King said.
Closing the door behind him, King and Fox walked down the street. Babylon Gardens was deserted which was not surprising considering it was the middle of the afternoon. Everyone was either at work or sleeping their lives away. Typically, King would either be reading or be playing with his kids. Neither one of those things seemed possible at the moment.
For five minutes, Fox and King walked around the neighborhood. Neither one spoke. King thought about asking where they were going but decided against it. It was just nice to be outside and feeling the crisp autumn breeze against his fur.
Fox stopped walking abruptly. Finally, he broke the silence, "How are you doing?"
King cringed. Of course, he would ask that, King thought. Who hadn't asked if he was all right over the last few months? They were always the same. Someone would come up to him with this look of absolute pity on their faces. They treated him like a puppy who stumped his toe. He was a grown man in a grown dog's body. He was fine. Sure he was lured into the pits of Tartarus by a malevolent entity and forced to free him from his eternal underworld prison. He discovered that his entire life was all a part of a scheme to conquer the world, but who doesn't have days like that. His only son was taken from him, but he got him back without too much trauma. Nothing a few years of professional therapy won't fix.
"I'm fine. I wish everyone would stop asking me," King said throwing his arms in the air. "It's been two months. I'm over it. Rook doesn't even remember anything about it. Everything is sunshine and rainbows."
Fox looked down at him. There it was. The same look of pity he always got. Thinking about it now, King had gotten that look for years. People always assumed he would fall apart at the slightest inconvenience. He never could fight his own battles because someone else would always step in for him without waiting to see if he even needed it.
"You are a terrible liar. Have I ever told you that?" Fox asked.
"Just all the time."
Fox started walking again. "Bailey told me that you've still been having nightmares."
King rolled his eyes. Of course, she did. They were nightmares as much as unpleasant dreams in which he would thrash around the bed and sometimes howl in his sleep. Nothing he hadn't dealt with since his childhood. However, that was the problem. Since finding out that his childhood kidnapping was an elaborate plot, the nightmares started coming back. It was like he was a little kid again sleeping on the streets as his pet dogs watched him to make sure he didn't run away.
"There just dreams," King said solemnly. "I've learned to deal with them."
"It's not just the nightmares that she's concerned about. It's about them." Fox's voice trailed off.
"Yeah, how are you doing since they left? I know you and Rowan got pretty close."
The memory of Rowan's final words hung in the air between them. The look of pure hatred on his face. The black scar around his eye. King could smell the fear coming from the other pets as Rowan told them that he was going to destroy them all before disappearing in a flash of light.
Fox said nothing in response to King's question. There was nothing to be said.
"Are you going to the Milton's tonight for the preparation?" Fox asked.
King thought back to the e-mail he got a few days before. The Milton ferrets were hosting a party for the neighborhood pets as a show of thanks for their "help" on the documentary series that was airing that evening. "Pets" as it was called. The last thing King wanted to do was go see another attempt at the Milton's grand plan for animal and human equality. To make matters worse, that night's episode was about King.
A few months before Lisa and Rowan showed up at the Lindberg house for an interview with Fox, King, and Bailey. Needless to say, it did not go to well. Lisa kept asking King to tell the world that he was Joel Robinson and that a supernatural superbeing turned him into a corgi. That led to King storming out only to be followed by Lisa who was more than apologetic. Afterward, things got weird. It was a miracle that they were even able to finish the interview at all considering everything that happened.
"I don't know. I want to, but I really don't want to at the same time. It's confusing," King said.
"I think you should go. It would be good for you to see everyone," Fox told him.
"I see everyone almost every day. You act like I haven't left my house in weeks," King said sounding offended.
"I don't mean anything by it. I think that you should be more active. You have to admit that you've been avoiding the pets."
King shook his head. "I haven't been avoiding anyone. I'm just tired of everyone asking if I'm all right or how I'm doing. They treat me like I'm about to break down at any moment."
"Would that be a bad thing?" Fox asked.
Naturally, King overreacted. "What is that supposed to mean!?"
Fox stopped and set down on the sidewalk. He crossed his arms over his knees and stared out into the woods across the road. "Have you ever grieved about Lisa's death?"
King opened his mouth to give Fox a piece of his mind but stopped himself. It was no secret that Lisa had to sacrifice her life to destroy Drasil. It was one of the reasons Rowan reacted the way he did. No one talked about it. Lisa was suddenly a taboo around the neighborhood. It was like everyone pretended that they never existed. Two months and not a word.
King swallowed visibly. "No, I haven't." He set down next to Fox. "I don't want to admit that they're gone." The words stung in his throat as he spoke them. It was like admitting he was giving up on ever seeing them again. Admitting that despite the trouble they caused he had grown to care about the two. That was something he could not do.
Fox took a deep breath. "Come to the party. The episode airs on Discovery at 9:00 and the party starts at 7:00 according to the invitation."
He stood up and glanced one last time at King. King looked away not wanting to make eye contact. His chest was burning, but he was not sure if it was because of anger or sadness. Fox turned and walked down the road leaving King alone again. Suddenly he felt very cold.
Later that night, King and Bailey took the puppies to Milton Manor. By the time they got there, it was after 7:00. All the lights were on as they walked up to the front door. Before they could knock the door flew open and standing in the threshold was the Milton's butler, Jeeves.
He stood there wearing his usual uniform and an expression that always made King think about the butler from Clue. He secretly wondered how long it would be before someone found the ferret's bodies floating in a river somewhere.
"Mr. King and Mrs. Bailey," Jeeves said. "We've been expecting you."
"Well, we would have been here sooner, but you know how it is with kids," Bailey said. As she spoke, Olive squirmed and wiggled in her arms, trying to get loose to unleash mayhem inside the mansion.
"Yes, I am… quite aware," Jeeves said. King could not help notice how the butler's body tensed up as he spoke.
"Jeeves!" someone yelled from inside the mansion. One the of the ferrets, King thought only he was not sure which one. "I need some help here. Duke ate some of the fake fruit again!"
"Right away, suh," Jeeves muttered under his breath. To King and Bailey, he said, "Everyone has gathered in the dining hall for dinner then will move to the theater for the showing."
Jeeves gestured them inside before disappearing to handle whatever mess Duke made. King had been inside the mansion enough times to know his way around. He led his family down the various halls until finally entering the dining room. The table was covered with plates of food. They had everything from movie-themed snacks like popcorn and caramel candies to things like smoked salmon and caviar.
King dropped Rook on the floor, and he took off like a rocket. His siblings followed right behind as not to lose to him. It was hard for King not to immediately run after them and scold them for running in the house. His parents would have read him the riot act for doing something like that at the parties they took him too.
Scanning the room, King counted off all the pets that showed up. Peanut and Grape were talking to Tarot and Sabrina. Peanut was struggling with a mouth full of actual peanut butter while Grape pretended not to notice Max was in the corner chatting with Kevin. Fido was with Bino and Joey. Bino was gesturing wilding while his brothers looked on with a mix of concern and embarrassment. Spo and Squeak were both watching with amusement on their faces. Several other pets mingled around, deep in conversations about whatever it was that talked about. Despite King's nine years as a dog he never quite grasped dog conversations. He did not know if it was a generational thing or a species barrier he never could cross.
"There you are," Fox called. He walked over and hugged Bailey before turning his attention to King. "I thought you weren't showing up. I figured I would have to come to drag you here myself."
"There's no need for that. We were running a little late," King told him.
"Do you both want some food?" Fox asked pointed at the table. "They have burgers, hot dogs, even some strange stuff called Plumpples."
"Plumpples?" King asked.
"I don't know if it's like a drink or smoothie." Fox shuddered. "No one has been brave enough to try it yet."
"I think I'll just have some water," Bailey said before walking to the table.
"Got any orange soda?" King asked. Despite the fact he could never get through an entire can without taking off his collar and making a fool of himself, he decided he was going to need a drink to get through the night.
"Sure, they're this way."
Drink and food in hand, King, and Fox started to mingle with the other pets. Their first stop was with Peanut's group.
"This is so exciting," Peanut said. "I can't wait until it's our turn. I've never been on TV before."
"I don't want to see it. If you ask me that interview was more trouble than it was worth," Grape said with her arms crossed.
"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad," Peanut said trying to reassure her.
"Yeah, it was. Don't you remember how they kept asking me about my relationship with Res? I mean that was my personal business." Grape began blushing.
"Isn't the last Pridelands due out soon?" Sabrina asked.
"Yeah, it is. I can't wait for it. However, have you guys read that other series?" Peanut asked getting excited. "I mean Pridelands is awesome and everything, but it's only about cats."
"What's wrong with that?" Grape said as her eyes narrowed threateningly.
"Nothing," Peanut said carefully. He took a slight step to the right. "I mean it could be a little more universal."
"What's this other series?" King asked trying to stave off any violence that was about to unfold.
"The White Fox series," Peanut told him getting excited.
"I heard about that," Fox said. "It's supposed to be the next big series. I've heard some of the other dogs talking about it, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet."
"It's so awesome. It's about this mysterious fox wander who ventures into this kingdom where all the animals are enslaved, and he uses imagination to inspire them to rise against the humans."
"I hope there's more to it than that," King said feeling uncomfortable.
"I mean it's not like all the humans are bad. He works with this one human named Eliana to stop a conspiracy lurking within the ranks of the royal army. Then there are all these other things in the story like dragons and magic and mystical creatures."
"How is that any different from our own lives?" Sabrina asked. "That sounds like exactly the kinds of things we deal with all time."
"I guess I never thought about it like that," Peanut said softly. "I mean there this other thing. I didn't want to spoil it for you guys. It turns out that the fox, Todd, was a human \ who changes into a fox whenever he travels there from another world..."
Everyone looked uncomfortable. King raised his soda to his lips and sucked greedily from the opening. Anything to wash away the awkwardness that was spiraling around him.
"Oh, I forgot," Peanut said.
"Let's go see what Maxie is up too," Grape said. She grabbed Peanut's arm and pulled him away from the group. Sabrina and Tarot excused themselves leaving Fox and King by themselves.
King examined the empty soda can in his paw. He could feel the buzz growing in his head, but it was not enough to wipe away the memories or the feelings of dread that was clawing at his stomach. "You want to get some food," he asked Fox.
"Yes, more than anything."
They both walked back to the table and mounds of different snacks on their plates. They both stopped at the section with the sign that read "Plumpples." There were dozens of tall glasses filled with a fizzy substance that reminded King of a strawberry smoothie only it was a mixture of purple and hot pink with crushed berries floating around as if they were trying to escape the drink.
A smile was spreading across Fox's face. He opened his mouth like he was about to dare King to drink one. "Nope," King said and moved away before Fox had the chance to speak.
They moved to the far wall of the room and slumped against the hard surface. King picked up a large piece of peanut brittle and chewed it slowly. It was good but he was never a fan of peanut brittle so why did he get it.
"Mungo?" Fox asked suddenly.
King looked up to see a large, very muscular dog heading towards them. He had a wide grin on his face like he just heard the best joke in the world. He waved at Fox as he moved to them.
"What are you doing here?" Fox asked. "Not that I'm not happy to see you. I didn't know you were interviewed for the show."
"Oh, I wasn't. I just came because it's your big night. I wouldn't miss it for anything." Mungo turned his attention to King. At once his face changed from excitement to pity. "How are you doing?"
King could see Fox gesturing for Mungo to stop from the corner of his eye but said nothing. Steeling himself, King said, "I'm doing fine. I'm excited about the premiere."
"That's good to here," Mungo said. King could hear the sympathy in his voice which made his skin crawl. "You know if you need anything, I am a certified therapy dog."
"Mungo!" Fox said abruptly. "Can you do me a big favor and go get me one of those Plummples from the table. I've been eyeing them all night."
"Sure," he said. His tail began wagging wildly. He glanced once last time at King before taking off.
King looked at the plate of food in his hands. Suddenly he did not have much of an appetite.
"I'm sorry about that," Fox whispered dryly. "He means well, but he has problems understanding personal space and self-control."
"I knew I was not going to get through the night without at least one pet asking me how I'm doing." He gripped the plate tighter in his hands like he was trying to break it. Giving up, King walked away from Fox before Mungo returned with the drink. He dumped his food in the garbage and decided to find Bailey. She was busy talking with the wolves. He thought about going over to see what they were talking about but decided against it. Bailey looked like she was deep in conversation and King's presence would only interrupt her.
The rest of the evening was spent trying to avoid any pet who seemed like a threat to King's delicate piece of mind. More than once a pet caught his eye and started moving towards him with that same look of pity. Moving fast, King dodged and hid out of sight, thankful for his small size. The puppies were busy playing with Duke who seemed to get along better with them than the full-grown pets.
Finally, it was time to move into the theater. Everyone took their seats, snacks, and drinks in hand. There were even specially reserved seats for the ferrets along with Breel, King, Bailey, and Fox. The guests of honor, King assumed. He set down followed by Bailey and Fox on both sides of him. The rest of the pets filed in taking up almost all the spaces in the theater. King did not realize just how many pets were invited to the party. "The Great Gatsby" which he had to read in high school sprung in his mind, and he wondered how many were actually invited and how many just showed up out of nowhere.
Rock stepped in front of the screen. He wore his usual director's hat and even had on a suit and tie for the occasion. He cleared his throat and spoke, "Ladies and Gentleman. On behalf of myself, my siblings, and everyone who has been a part of the Equal Chance Program I would like to thank you for joining us for this special event. This is only another step forward for animal rights. Now in just a few minutes the first episode of our miniseries, "Pets!" will air on the Discovery Channel. Before that happens, I want to be the first to tell you that the show has been picked up for a second season."
The room was filled with applause. It was not wild applause like the show was nominated for an Oscar or anything, but it was something. King clapped along halfheartedly with the others.
"Now before we begin, does anyone have any questions?"
"I have one," someone shouted from the back. "How is it a miniseries if it has a second season?"
"It's a mini-series in the sense that it is only six episodes per season. Technically it is a documentary series. I don't know who started calling it a mini-series. Now if there are no more questions…"
Rock was interrupted by another voice asking, "Who's goin' to be in the next season?
"We don't know yet. All I know is that we will start filming soon–"
Another voice, female this time asked, "Can there be an episode of the upcoming dog pageant. That is sure to get high ratings."
King recognized the voice as Duchess and slumped in his chair. Rock was starting to get irritated. "I do not know what the next season will entail. Now we are out of time so NO MORE QUESTIONS!"
The lights dimmed as the screen turned on. The room was filled with excited whispering. King was sure that several of the pets assumed that they would appear at least once during the episode. He remembered seeing Rock with his camera crew filming the neighborhood during random times months before.
A voice came over the speakers. "Next up on Discovery Channel. The premiere of "Pets!" brought to you by Plummples by the makers of Strawpearies. You didn't ask us, but we made it anyway. There was a collective "OHHH," from behind King.
The screen changed this time showing the "Pets!" logo. King recognized the style of that of the title of the comics that Rowan would show everyone every chance he got. It was no secret that Rock stole the design as some type of residual for the comics taking their stories without their consent or permission. The theme song began playing. On the screen, they appeared.
The room became dead silent except for the music. No one moved or spoke as Lisa and Rowan's images appeared over and over on the screen along with their names. They smiled at the camera like they were looking right at the pets. Images of other pets and scenes from the neighborhood flashed across the screen, but the damage was done.
"Episode 1," the narrator said.
"Hey there, welcome to the show. I'm Lisa Smith, and this is Rowan Gains. Today we are interview three extraordinary guests," Lisa said. It was just like King remembered. "I want to say before we begin how honored we are to be speaking to you. We have been big fans of yours for years. To be here right now with you…is just the best thing ever."
King felt movement next to him. He tore his eyes away from the screen to look at Bailey. She was wiping her nose with a napkin as tears rolled down her face. She was visibly shaking although she was trying to hide it. Fox was not doing much better. King noticed he was looking away from the screen entirely. His jaw was tight as he gripped with armrests. His claws were digging into the soft fabric.
Behind King other pets were trying to hold back their emotions as the show continued. He could see Grape crying into Peanuts shoulder as he comforted her. He looked like he was holding back tears too. Tarot and Sabrina were whispering to each other, both looking distressed. Max just looked angry, but at what King was not sure. Even Bino looked upset at what he was seeing. Turning his attention to the ferrets, King could see they were upset too. Lana was wiping her eyes. Duke was on the verge of falling to pieces while Keene was fighting being comforted by Breel. Rock looked uncomfortable like he suddenly regretted inviting all the pets to the premiere.
"I have a question for King," Lisa asked on the screen. King turned his attention back to the show. Lisa's eyes sparkled with amusement and warmth. "How is it being married to Bailey? You are the first pets in this state to be legally married. Tell us about that."
That was it. King slid off his chair and ran out of the room ignoring the puzzled look of the pets as he ran by. Energy raced through his body as he flew down the halls. He did not have a destination in mind, but he couldn't stay there any longer. A door came into view, and King ran into it without a second thought. He was suddenly standing in a bathroom. Marble sinks with golden faucets lined the wall. A sizeable shining mirror hung over them. Hanging on the other wall was an assortment of hand towels embroiled with M.
Tears poured from his eyes as King ran over to the sinks. He turned on the cold knob and begun splashing water in his face. Gripping the sink, he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He got over his aversion to mirrors years ago but seeing himself right then he felt more vulnerable than he had in a long time. It was like looking at a stranger. The tension drained out of his body as he sank to the floor. He drew his knees under his chin and began sobbing right there.
He could hear their voices echoing in his head, "Oh my, God. It's him! It's really him. We are such big fans of yours. We love you so much," Lisa squealed.
"Do you prefer that we call you King or can we call you Joel. I always liked Joel better than King. I don't know why he changed it. I mean I know but still," Rowan waved his hands in the air as if to emphasize what he was talking about.
"Can I get your picture," Lisa said. "Oh, man. I have so many questions," Lisa began but was interrupted by Rowan.
"We have so many questions. Like what it is like being married? Wait no that was not it. What was it like when you beat Pete at his own game?
Lisa interjected and asked, "Can we see your puppies?" She shouted. "Bailey, are you there? Ace, Olive, Rook?"
Rowan pulled her back and said, "Don't be rude." Then to King, we said, "You really are just as short as they say. Can I pet your head? When did your collar buckle change to a square from a circle? Hey, how does it feel when people treat you like a dog even though you were once human? Do any humans even know about that? Does Bill know that you're the same guy who kidnapped his dog nine years ago?"
"OH MY GOD; he slammed the door in our faces just like he did to Tarot!" Followed by another round of incoherent squealing.
King's memories were interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open. He looked up to see Fox standing there. With a sad smile on his face, he walked over and sat down next to King on the floor.
"I tried. I wanted to." King said softly. "I wanted to hate them. After everything they did but how could I. I don't want to miss them, but I do."
King leaned over and rested his head on Fox's shoulder. He cried for what seemed like hours. Fox slid his hands down King's back, trying to consul him. King could not stop shaking or crying. He hated himself for missing them. He hated them for leaving. He had lost so much in his life and losing Rowan and Lisa was just another thing to add to an ever-growing list.
After a few minutes, Bailey walked in and saw them both together. She moved over and sat on the other side of King. She slumped against his shoulder as she relaxed. Wrapping her arms around King, she said, "It's okay. I miss them too. We all miss them."
Her face was close to his. King could see the dim glow of her eyes and the plaster fur on her face from her tears. She was warm against his body which helped him feel better. She squeezed tighter as she reached out and took Fox's paws in hers.
"It's not right that no one talks about it," King told them. "Everyone acts like they never existed, but they did. They don't deserve to be forgotten."
"Dogs don't grieve the same way humans do," Fox said solemnly. "We bounce back. We move on. Humans come and go." Even as he said it, he did not believe what he was saying.
"It's not right. I don't want to be a dog if it means we forget about the people we care about," King said bitterly.
"We don't forget them. They will always have a place in our hearts and our memories," Bailey told him. She tilted her head and kissed King's scalp. King closed his eyes and prayed no one else came in and saw them like that. It was already humiliating enough as is without twenty pets putting this up online.
Once they broke apart, they each laid against the tacky wallpaper covered walls without speaking. King checked the time on his phone. 9:49 p.m. The show was almost over. They had missed the entire premiere of the episode that was about them. He didn't care about that. King did not want to be a part of it anyway. Keene threatened him to get his participation.
"Have you heard from the Kitsune?" Fox asked Bailey.
She shook her head, "The statue is still there, but he won't talk to us. I don't know where he is or what's he's been doing over the last few months. Lisa was his girlfriend, so I don't want to imagine what he's been through."
"Knowing him, nothing good," King muttered.
The stars shined brightly as Kitsune walked down the long velvet lined hallway towards the Bahamut. The hall changed depending on the atmosphere of Earth. Sometimes it was bright and sunny with a view of the gardens while other times it was dark and ominous. This time it was somewhere in between. The tall white columns were still the same.
"Do you think this is a good idea?" Cerberus asked.
Kitsune stopped. His nine tails flicked in frustration. "I don't know what else to do. I can't find her anywhere. She's not here or on Earth. I can't go on not knowing. If she's in Pandemonium, then…"
"I can talk with my contacts in Pandemonium again, but I doubt they would know anything different. Charon and Thanatos both say they did not see her after the battle with Drasil."
"He is the only one left who may know," Kitsune said. "If there is a small chance that she's out there. Then I owe it to her to find her and bring her home." He balled his fingers into a fist and shook his arm in frustration.
The last two months (mortal time) had been hard for him. Rowan disappeared to another dimension and Lisa was dead. At first, he thought that Lisa ended up in heaven since she was still mortal even after dawning the tiara and gaining celestial power. Or at least that is what he thought. When she was not there in heaven, he figured the worse had happened. He asked Cerberus to talk to her friends Charon and Thanatos to see if they picked up Lisa's soul. They both said that they did not see her. He even went back to Tartarus himself to find out if she was still there. Nothing. Not even the lingering remains of her essence. Drasil's remnants were still there, and they would remain there for eternity. No force of heaven or otherwise could resurrect a fallen god. Bahamut was his only option left. Even though Kitsune was omniscient, his power had limits. Bahamut did not have those same limits. His sight went beyond those of the other celestials. Kitsune had avoided speaking to Bahamut since he avoided telling him about Drasil in the first place. The fact that Drasil came so close to breaking free was his fault. Lisa's death was his fault.
Kitsune raised his paw to his cheek. He could still feel the place where she kissed him. She told him that she loved him. Then she proved it by giving her life to defeat Drasil so he wouldn't have to himself. She saved his life and the lives of countless others.
He could still see the look on her face when he smiled at her. The way her cheeks turned red as she tried to hide her feelings from him. He never told her how he felt about her, not really. She was different from other mortals he met. He knew that the instant he saw her.
"It's him," Lisa screeched. She grabbed Rowan's shoulder and began rocking him violently. Rowan was too engrossed to notice or care.
"I see I have some fans too," Kitsune said with a sly smile. His red eyes glowed with delight. He wore his purple jacket and black shirt. All nine tails were out and waved around.
Lisa jumped up and almost tackled him. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. Rowan followed suit. He rummaged through his bag like he was trying to find a pen.
"We are your biggest fans. I love you more than anything else," Lisa told him. Tears were pouring from her eyes. "Rowan even has a huge man crush on you."
Rowan gaped at her as if he had just been slapped. "Don't. Don't tell him that."
"Can you help us? There are so many more pets we want to meet. Not to mention we haven't gotten a single autograph. We still haven't met Maxwell, Fido, Res. Speaking of which, is he back in Canada yet?"
"Fine," Lisa said looking sullen. "But before go," she looked at him with a puppy dog face. "Can you do the smile. The one with the teeth. Show him, Rowan." She elbowed his side.
"My heart melts every time," Lisa said after he smiled at her.
"Kitsune, are you okay?" Cerberus asked. All three heads were full of concern as she waved her paw in front of his face.
"I have to do this. No matter what he says. I owe it to her," Kitsune said with resolve.
He walked toward the glowing white door that seemed to lead nowhere. On the other side, everything was different. The sky was filled with swirling galaxies and the essence of the cosmos itself. For a mortal, this would have been overwhelming, but for Kitsune it was just another day in heaven. He walked up the long purple staircase that led to the landing. Hovering at the far end was the Bahamut. An enormous blue whale that legends say hold up the world itself. As usual, Bahamut had a wide grin spread on his face as he watched Kitsune walk over.
"Beloved Kitsune," Bahamut bellowed. "What can I do for you this day?"
"You know exactly what I want. You're omniscient just like the rest of us so why ask?" Kitsune crossed his arms clearly not in the mood for these games.
Bahamut blinked slowly as his smiled faded. "You are not your usual whimsical and free-spirited self. That is your greatest quality. You must not forget who you are in times of crisis."
"Sorry, but my whimsy and free spirit died along with my girlfriend," Kitsune snapped.
"You care so deeply for the mortal. More than you have for anyone else. Was she truly that special that you would come here and face me knowing the mistakes you have made?"
"I don't care about what happens to me. I want her back. You know the rules. She deserves a second chance after what she did. She saved us all from Drasil. You must have the power to return her to the mortal world."
"And yet I cannot," Bahamut murmured. "She knew the costs of her actions, noble as they were. She ascended to divinity and gave herself to ensure Drasil's end. You must deal with the consequences as much as she."
"That's not right, and you know it. She was not a real goddess. The power she obtained was that of Tartarus. Even if it was enough to destroy Drasil that does not mean that she should lose her life as well. Her soul was still mortal. She would have ascended into heaven," Kitsune shouted angrily.
"I cannot help you, beloved." Bahamut moved closer to Kitsune. So close Kitsune could see his reflection staring back at him from the whale's eye. "Lisa simply does not exist."
"What?" Kitsune asked. He took a step backward. "What does that mean? She exists. She was real, and her actions were real and significant."
"She existed, correct," Bahamut said moving away again. He blinked at Kitsune. "She does not exist anymore. She is beyond even my sight. If you truly believe that she is out there somewhere then only you can find her."
Kitsune shook in rage. He did not have high hopes for Bahamut's assistance but to tell him that Lisa does not exist was beyond infuriating. "I know she is out there. Our feelings are connected. I will find her."
Kitsune turned around and headed toward the stairs. Before he reached the staircase thought, Bahamut called out to him. "If you truly believe in your feelings for her then heed this advice at least."
Kitsune paused and faced Bahamut. "There is more power in the lives and imagination of mortals than all of heaven. A mortal's heart is the most powerful of all."
Kitsune gave him a skeptical look like he was not sure what Bahamut was trying to tell him. "What are you saying?"
"Omniscience does have its limits. A great threat is awakening on Earth as we speak. I can sense it coming. You will be tested unlike ever before as both heaven and Earth are placed in his path of destruction."
"His?" Kitsune asked looking at him worriedly. His eyes widened as realization dawned on him. "You don't mean…"
"The only way to prevent the oncoming chaos is to find her. She is the only one who can save him and the world. She is the light of his darkness."
There was nothing. Emptiness and vastness as far as she could see. Lisa stood in the middle of nowhere. Only she was not sure if she was standing. There was no surface under her feet as she could tell. She stepped forward and found herself walking on something hard. If she looked down, she would see nothing but empty space below her. The same above her.
How long had she been there? Days, months, years, an eternity. That is what it felt like. There were times when she struggled to remember who she was. What was she doing there? What had happened to her?
Lisa spun around in a circle. There was so much nothing that it was hard to process. How could there be nothing but white space around her? Was this oblivion? What was oblivion?
Tears rolled from her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her chest. She collapsed to the ground and sat there on her knees. Her long blonde hair fell in her face. It was good to see something in her line of vision. Anything was better than nothing.
"Kitsune," Lisa whispered. "Rowan."
"Kitsune," Lisa said louder. "Rowan. Where are you?"
"Kitsune!" Lisa screamed at the top of her lungs.
She closed her eyes and cried out letting the tears flow freely down her face. "ROWAN!"
She looked around again. This time there was something. A small black speck in the distance. It was so far that it was impossible to tell who or what it was. She stared at it like it might just be a trick of her mind.
"HELP ME!" She took a deep breath and screamed again. "ROWAN!"
Nick woke up from the nightmare just like he always did. His entire body felt hot and burned like someone had just set his fur on fire. He blinked the sleep away as his eyes adjusted to the darkness of his bedroom. The clock beside his bed read 5:30 a.m. It was too early to get up, but part of him knew that he was not going back to sleep after that.
Running a claw through his long thick black fur, he thought about the dream. It was the same one he had for the last two months. Was this a new part of the curse? He was already a wolf what more could the universe do to him.
The other nights, Nick would just go the bathroom while trying to avoid waking Cody who was sound asleep on the couch in his living room. Then he would crawl back into bed and go back to sleep. Why was this night different? That was easy. This was the first time Nick saw the girl up close. He had never seen her before in his life so why was he dreaming about her? She was crying and calling for help.
"Who the howl is Rowan? And what's a Kitsune?" Nick asked out loud. He waited for a response from the universe, but as usual, none came.