A/N: Hello fellow readers! Sorry for the delay, school's been kind of a hassle lately. There is something I forgot to mention. This story was inspired by Supernatural, Teen Titans (I won't say which episodes for spoiler purposes), and my own story that I'm trying to create! So yeah, if anything in this seems familiar it's due to those episodes. Again, not going to say which episodes until the time comes so I won't spoil what happens. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Guardians of the Galaxy. I only own my original characters.
If there was one phrase to describe what Rocket saw, it would simply be "What the hell?"
The Guardians (after listening to Quill explain the plot of The Wizard of Oz for the past hour) had just walked out of the forest into what looked like a renaissance market. Up and down a cobbled street were different booths. Some for slimey-looking food that made Rocket want to give his lunch up, others for jewelry and clothing, and a few had dusty books. Aliens of all sorts of colors cluttered the street while merchants shouted at them to buy their products.
The group moved from out of the trees and looked out at the market from behind a booth that had parchment and feathered pens. "Wow," Gamora breathed. "It's different than I imagined."
Rocket had to agree. From what Quill had been saying about festivals on Terra, the raccoon was expecting something similar. A giant - what had Peter called it? Ferris Wheel? Yeah. That sounded right. Maybe a few of those "roll coasters".
But this was definitely different. Even though Rocket himself had been around the galaxy, he felt slightly unnerved by the new environment. Rocket looked over at Quill to see a giant grin cross the Terran's features.
Peter inhaled deeply. "I know, right? It's pretty cool." he moved in between the small space between their booth and another that had all sorts of gems. He gestured for them to follow. "Come on, guys!" Peter moved out of the space into the street, stopping to wait for his comrades. The others exchanged looks before following suit. Gamora first, then Drax, then Groot who was followed shortly by Rocket. "Guys," Peter began, "Welcome to Catcher!"
They were in the middle of a pathway that, when looking directly in front of where they had come, was behind a bunch of buildings. Old, cobble-stone buildings that were more than likely houses for the inhabitants. The one thing that didn't surprise Rocket at this point were what the people were wearing. Everywhere that he looked, he could see some form of formal wear. The women wore long dresses that were different colors. Reds, greens, blues; you name it, they wore it. Same for the men. Collared shirts with trousers but each a different (and each passing a more bizarre) color.
As Rocket looked them up and down he noticed that they all wore either flat shoes or black boots. "Weirdos," He looked at his friends who all, except Quill, looked perplexed at all the ancient wear. Rocket watched as a little girl of about five years of age pulled on her mother's purple dress, trying to get her attention to move to a booth with wooden carvings and dolls. It was then he noticed that the girl had pointed ears poking out of her long blonde - no. Blue and blonde hair. Looking up at the mother, Rocket raised a brow as he saw that the mother had blue and blonde hair as well. The under-side of her head and her bangs (creating a shadow look) were dark blue. The little girl's were the same style but light blue.
Peter clapped his hands together. "Well? Should we look around for a bit?"
Gamora nodded while Drax grunted, "Certainly. This place is getting more crowded the longer we stand here." With that, they began walking with the crowd of colorful Somniums. The Guardians passed booths with food (most smelled funny), clothes (all of them were too colorful), jewelry (Rocket was certain most were fake), and books (they made Groot sneeze because of the dust, which startled a few locals).
Rocket sighed. Truth be told he didn't want to be here. He was glad that Quill seemed to be having fun. Seriously, he had on the biggest grin from explaining the times he and the Ravagers where on this planet. But Rocket didn't see what the fuss was about. Just a bunch of people celebrating their holiday.
The raccoon watched as a whole bunch of aliens walked along and talked to merchants. He noticed that all of them seemed to have the same different two-hair-color thing like the mother and child. All in the same area too. The men had the bottom half of their hair and under-bangs an absurd color. The color led to the pointed ears that the people had. What was weirder were the fact that all the clothes matched what the color of their "individual" hair colors were. "Hmm.." Rocket mused. "Strange planet."
"I am Groot?" Rocket looked up at Groot.
"Huh? Oh," Rocket waved nonchalantly. "Nothin'. Jus' talkin' to m'self."
The Guardians made their way along the path before Peter turned down a corner at his right. When the others turned as well, they were greeted by a large road with giant buildings on each side. More and more booths lined the sides of the streets with tons of Somniums moving back and forth between booths and buildings.
They continued walking on for what seemed like forever. Stopping at a few booths along the path. Drax stopped the group to look at knives and other armory. They didn't spend a lot of time there however, as soon as the merchant started talking Quill knew the deals he would make would turn sour.
Gamora stopped a few times to look at cloaks. Rocket thought they were a bit on the showy side but hey, whatever floats her boat. But apparently Gamora was on the same train of thought because they continued on a short time after.
Groot poked Rocket on the shoulder. The raccoon looked up at the tall tree, who pointed over to a nearby booth. Rocket looked over at the booth and sighed. "Quill," He looked ahead at the Terran who was talking with a salesperson about an antique sword. "Quill!"
Peter looked over at Rocket in question, "Yeah?"
Rocket pointed over to the booth that Groot wanted to go to. "Me 'n Groot are gonna be over there for a bit." Peter nodded before going back to his conversation. Rocket sighed, leading Groot over to the booth. "Alright, buddy. What is it you want to look at?" He stopped in front of the table, pointedly ignoring the stares he was getting from the merchant and other bystanders.
Groot smiled down at his friend before continuing to look over the products displayed out on the table. He looked down at the merchant, "I am Groot?"
The merchant raised his white eyebrows and looked back and forth between the tree and the raccoon. "I…. um…." Rocket chuckled lightly before answering the man's obvious perplexity.
"He asked if he could pick up yer merchandise."
"Oh! Yes! Of course, go right ahead… sir." the man's awkward reply made a smile spread on Groot's face. The tree-man picked up a weird object. Rocket never actually saw what Groot wanted to look at, now he was intrigued when whatever Groot had in his large hands had something dangling from it. Rocket looked over at the table and reached out (the booth was hardly any taller than he was) and picked up the first thing he felt.
The object in his hand was strange. It had a ring about the size of his paw that was gray. The inside was intertwined with white and black string creating a star pattern in the middle of the network. "What is this?" He asked the merchant.
The merchant smiled, "That," He pointed to the thing Rocket was holding, "Is a Spirit Catcher. The symbol of our people. It contains the soul of the individual who possesses it."
Rocket quirked his brow and gave the man a look that said you're kidding me, right? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.
The merchant held up his hands, "It's true! By the time our people become of age, our souls are put into a Spirit Catcher. And you, my friend and-" He looked up at Groot, "Very largefriend, can have one for yourselves." He leaned onto the table to get a better look at Rocket. "For the right price, of course," His gray eyes twinkled with delight.
Before Rocket could reply to the obvious scam, a new voice cut in, "Nobody would want to buy your fake Spirit Catchers, Adrian." Rocket turned around to see a tall, muscular, dark-skinned man giving a slight smirk to the older guy, "You know it's illegal to give false information to people."
The older man snorted, "False information, Captain? I was only explaining the history of the Catchers."
"Uh-huh. I see," The "Captain" folded his arms in mock-understanding. He looked down at Rocket then up at Groot. "My guess is that you and your friend are here for the Dream Festival?"
Rocket folded his arms as well, being careful of the object he was still holding, "Yeah. What's it to you?" Rocket looked the taller man up and down.
His ears were as pointed as anyone else's, his dark green, collared-shirt was the same color as the part of his hair that was a different color than his black hair on top his head. His brown trousers were tucked into his black boots, and around his waist was a sword sheathed at his side. But what caught Rocket's attention was the Spirit Catcher around the man's neck with a silver chain. Unlike the one Rocket was holding, this one had a dark green ring.
The man chuckled, "I do not mean disrespect. We do not get a lot of visitors from other planets." He bowed in respect, "Welcome to Somnium."
Rocket unfolded his arms. That was definitely new. Usually people who didn't know who he was assumed he was bad news. "Oh... Uh. Thanks, I guess," Rocket scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. He looked over at Groot. Both of them placed the objects they were holding back onto the booth as the man straightened up.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am-"
"NIGHT!" The three beings looked over to the source of the shout. The three other Guardians; Drax, Gamora, and Peter, who walked away from the merchant he was previously engaged in conversation with his mouth agape at the rejection of the sword, made their way over. The Half-Terran grinned as he clapped Captain Night on the shoulder. "It's good to see you, man! How's it been?"
Night chuckled as he lifted Peter's hand off of his shoulder, "Peter Quill. A pleasure to see your face again."
"Yeah, well, it's great to be here again," He glanced over at his friends. "Guys, this is Captain Night. He arrested me for theft a few years back."
Captain Night nodded his head, "I'm guessing you are the famous Guardians of the Galaxy?"
"You have heard of us here?" Gamora quirked an eyebrow.
Night smiled, "We may not be as technologically ahead as other sister planets. But news does get around. Thank you, for saving the galaxy from Ronan." The Guardians nodded in response.
"Hey Night," Peter spoke up, "Is that pub still open? You know, the one with the crazy old guy?"
The Captain laughed, "Fl'mor's place? Yes, it is still open. Though I do not think he will be up for talking with anyone. Not after-" He stopped himself short. His piercing green eyes uncertain.
This got Rocket's attention as his ears perked up, "'Not after' what?" He pressed.
Night sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "It is nothing. Just some...difficulties in town lately."
"Anything we can help with?" Drax cut in.
The Somnium shook his head, "I'm afraid that our chief is not taking outside help."
Peter swung his arm over the Captain's shoulder, "C'mon man. What is it? Let us help."
Before he could reply, three officers (all dressed in the same apparel but with red, blue, and light green scheme) approached the Captain. The Captain removed Quill's arm from his shoulders and straightened his posture.
"Sir," The blue one spoke up, "The Chief needs to speak with you."
"Is it about-?"
"Yes, sir."
Rocket noticed Night tense at these words, "Damn." He looked over at the Guardians and sighed. He looked back at the three officers before him, "Hiker, Drez, Lucius... Tell Chief I'm on my way." The three nodded before turning back the way they came, making their way through the crowded streets of Catcher.
Gamora stepped in front of Night, "What is happening here, Captain?"
He looked at every single Guardian. A few moments of silence passed before he answered, "Look, I do not want to get you five into trouble-"
"We won't get into trouble!" Peter protested. "Look, Night, we just want to help out," He pleaded.
Night held up his hand to silence the Terran. Rocket chuckled at this. If only he knew it was that easy to get Quill to shut up. "As I was saying," He put both his hands behind his back, "I don't want to get you into trouble but, I might be able to convince the Chief to let you Guardians of the Galaxy help us with our...dilemma." He gave them a polite smile, "Will that suffice?"
Rocket looked up at his compatriots. Each of them sharing a look of agreement. 'Oh great,' Rocket thought, 'Now we're on stand by for something we have no idea what to expect.'
Rocket watched as Peter held out his hand and shook the Captain's, "You got yourself a deal!"
The Captain nodded, "Thank you. I will have one of my men inform you by night fall. Enjoy your stay." And with that, he walked away.
After a few seconds of standing and watching the figure walk away, Peter turned to his friends and clapped his hands, "So! Who's hungry?"
A/N: Ta-Da! There's the second chapter! I hope you enjoyed reading it and I hope it was easy to follow. The third chapter might come either next week or during my Spring Break. Which is starting the second week of April. So, in closing I would like to say please review! And have a nice day/night!