Battles with Wolves

Chapter Two

A/N: This story might be a little longer than LW, and with shorter chapters, at least at first. Warning: the action comes VERY quickly in this one. I try to put in some pauses—but Zakuro and Pie have their own ideas about where this is going. Now, I've got Pudding to do the disclaimer for me:

Pudding (Disclaimer): Sofricus Aurora Zakuro is not owning me—because I own me—or Tar-Tar—because I own him too—or the rest of TMM—because Mia Ikumi owns that. She is owning Karra, Dante, the planet mentioned at the end—and Zalka, even though she isn't in this chapter, na no da!

Tart: You don't own me! And don't call me Tar-Tar!

Pudding: Tar-Tar, na no da.

Tart: AAUGH!!

Pie: Shut up midget, I want my story! Do you hear me? I WANT MY STORY!!! (Pie begins crying)

Pudding: The chapter will begin now, na no da.

CHAPTER TWO

The vacuum of space passed outside of Pie's window as he piloted his small single-person spaceship in lazy circles. It was what Pie did when he was bored, the way some people did crossword puzzles or drank tea. And he was bored—not to mention worried about Zakuro.

He'd tried to visit her twice already, but her strict maid had shooed him away, saying only that "Lady Zakuro's condition has worsened. She is in no state to receive visitors, though she sends her love." And as much as he'd pressed Karra (the maid,) she'd given no information as to what disease his wolf had exactly. Day after day it had been the same…and now he was worried. So worried that his calm, frigid exterior was cracking in some places…that's why he'd had to get out.

As Pie lost himself in his musings, the ship jerked hard to the left and went into a spin. The alien calmly began pressing buttons and turning the wheel, and soon had the ship righted again.

But he was somewhere he didn't recognize. He usually tried to keep their ship in sight whenever he went out on his solo "outings," not because he was afraid of getting lost, but because he didn't trust Kish or Tart to pilot the ship without him. Especially not Tart. The tall alien shuddered at the memory of last time he'd let the short one pilot by himself…

Flashback

"Tart, you idiot!! What exactly is this mess?" he stormed. "I go down to earth to collect some data and I return to find…this?"

Tart cowered, his brown pigtails drooping. "Pie…I didn't mean to…I thought it was a laser!"

"You WHAT? You mistook my SHAVING CREAM BOTTLE for a LASER??" Pie rarely lost control, but this was too much. He'd known Tart was stupid, but this…

"Er…yeah! It…had a little shooty-thingy on top!" Tart looked even more pathetic, faced with his compatriot's wrath.

Pie's frown deepened. "You were being stupid, Taruto. Now, do you know how long this will take to clean?" Tart shook his head. "Then GET WORKING!!" Tart scurried off, not eager for any more of Pie's tirade.

Pie rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. Just when he thought the situation couldn't get worse, he heard the mocking voice of their heretofore silent companion from behind him.

"Say, Pie-san…I didn't know you shaved."

"Pie. Earth to Pie." Dante, the solo-ship's scout robot, clicked. The alien was jolted from the horrific memory. He turned angrily toward the silver face-shaped blob. After the incident in which he'd been forced to use his robots at short notice to rescue Zakuro, he'd worked on making them more efficient…at a price. They were now incredibly rude. He rubbed his temples, definitely feeling a headache coming on.

"Did you hear me, big-ears? We are going to crash in five…four…three…"

Pie whipped his head around. "Dante! Why didn't you tell me this…"

"Two…one…impact!"

For a fraction of a second, Pie's rational mind told him, This is not happening. You did not just neglect your ship in an uncharted area. You are not about to crash into some unknown planet or asteroid. You did not just demonstrate Tart-like traits by being incredibly stupid.

Pie's emotional, often irrational, side took control then. "Yeah! And might as well say Zakuro's not sick while you're at it!" He banged on the control panel, on the sides of the ship, on Dante, on anything that came to reach.

In the course of the alien's ill-timed tantrum, the impact Dante had predicted came to be. The individual ship crashed onto the surface of a planet unknown to either of its occupants.

Pie's smashing turned to grabbing as he finally realized what was coming to pass. His grasps were as futile as his smashes, however, and he was thrown headfirst from the vehicle.

A strangled cry escaped his lips. It sounded nothing like "Zakuro," but it was probably what he was trying to say. His head crashed against a rock, and then nothing more.

On the faraway planet, Zalka's metallic limbs twitched again. Her raspy, ruined voice spoke for the second time since her long-ago fall. "The true love…has been dealt with. Plan X-Vengeance…still…successful," she croaked.

Though, as mentioned before, there were absolutely no onlookers, if there had been, they would have been convinced they were hearing things. For as soon as the robot finished speaking, anyone listening in would have thought they heard the faintest echo of maniacal laughter, far away, as though coming from a distant star.

A/N: Well, that was chappie 2. I realized that I had Zakuro and Pie rather out of character throughout the entirety of LW and the first chapter of this one. They aren't the kind for romantic moments, but I put them through so many such scenes. Therefore, I tried to do a little with a darker, moodier Pie, which seems more right for him…tell me what you guys think. Also, check out my new site chock full of TMM goodies (check my profile for info)

SAZ