Ruka to Maou
Summary: In the prelude
Main Pairing: Stan x Ruka
Other Pairings: Undecided, life is fickle, let the characters be fickle.
Warning: Spoilers for the Game
Disclaimer: Okage © of Zenner Works, therefore I own nothing!
Thanks to the reviews!
Thanks xxOjou Kagexx for the reviews. Don't worry. If you have questions ask away. Nope, Stan can hear the narrations too, so Ruka isn't the only one.
Yup, those are all the choices in the game, well not all of them. Some of the choices I didn't mention, and those a pretty silly, like the stealthy aren't I?
Well, they didn't ignore him in the game, just ignore what he had to say, so he's still overshadowed… But he's really got something else up his sleeve, though he doesn't know it himself!
Hahaha, yeah, I took physics when I wrote this, um, the mind reading probably won't be a reoccurring theme cause I kinda write what I hear, and I haven't heard it in a while.
And lastly, well that's the story, I think Stan and the ghost are in cahoots in the game, since it kept hinting that Stan could be outside his bottle, and that the ghost started to appear just after they had access to the bottle…?
I hope I answered all of your questions, if you have more you can PM me, or write it in a review!
Chapter 1: Boy meets King Part 2
'A nightmare… at my age… ugh, my head… and why do I always fall on my head?' he questioned as he got up from the hard wooden floor while rubbing the side of his head. 'Wait… a nightmare about my shadow coming to life and attacking me…'He headed down to the basement.
The room was brightly lit, all the furniture down there was covered in a white dusty sheet a few boxes of strange bottles here and there, and a multitude of old photographs, but what caught his attention was the ideogram on the floor…
'Not a dream… damn…' he wearily watched his shadow as he walked back upstairs and into the kitchen.
"Hi honey!" he was greeted by the cheerful voice of his mother. "Want some breakfast?" Ruka shook his head. "Oh you look so pale Ruka… a nightmare?" she asked.
'Oh, I wish it were one, but sadly…it's a living nightmare' he nodded solemnly.
"Oh, don't let it bother you, it's a nice day out, why don't you go down to the village and have some fun?" she suggested.
'Fresh air will do me some good…' he nodded and headed out.
Stretching once he got outside he heard a voice… no not the voice he usually heard a different one,
"Hmm. Well, it was a dream. I am the same old ordinary boy. What a relief!" Ruka turned about trying to locate the voice.
"That's what you're thinking, isn't it! ?"
'No, not really…'
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! TOO BAD!" BAM Stan popped out his shadow knocking him to the ground.
"This is nothing but reality! You are the obedient servant of the Evil King Stan, forever! Hehehehehehe… We'll be together for a long while, boy! Get used to it! Hahahaha!" his deep voice sent a shiver down Ruka's back… Suddenly James popped out of the ground in a blinding light.
'Sigh, why are their entrances never subtle… if I get a heart attack, will it benefit them? I don't think so…' Ruka rolled his eyes as he got up, dusting himself off.
"Oh Master Stan. It's a fragrant morning isn't it! ?"
'I guess… being trapped in a bottle for 300 years… plus 3, would make him consider this dusty morning fragrant, wouldn't it… especially if he's been trapped with another person… no wonder the bottle smelled moldy… I wonder if shadows bathe… ah bad thoughts GO AWAY!' Ruka shook his head violently.
"W-What's wrong with you slave! ?" Stan stared at Ruka who now stopped shaking and looked up at Stan with those deep green eyes, and he then just turned away ignoring Stan.
"Grr…" Ruka heard Stan grumble…
"Uh, h-how about breakfast, Master? Madam's omelet is the best"
'True mom's cooking is great~' Ruka smiled at James, who flushed.
"…James… we don't have time for breakfast" it sounded as though Stan was pouting…
Ruka chuckled.
With another grumble Stan proceeded "From now on, I'll use this…boy… and initiate my plan for world conquest!"
'I don't think he'd get very far…' apparently Ruka had forgotten that Stan and his butler had hypnotize his family… will he remember…?
"To begin, I'll drive the nearby village of Tenel into… An abyss of nightmarish horror! Hahahaha!"
'Over my dead body…' Ruka narrowed his eyes.
"I'm so proud of you Master Stan! So proud to be in your fiendish service. Your James is always at your side with passionate devotion! At least, after I finish my omelet"
'… That's devotion?' Ruka blinked, while arching a brow.
"Well. Off to the village slave! Let us go!" Stan ordered and disappeared into Ruka's shadow.
"Good luck Master! Hurrah! For Master!" James cheered.
"Uh, James…" Ruka called out.
"Yes?" James turned to the small redhead with the blue headband.
"If you want, you can have my omelet too. I'll be out all morning by the looks of it" Ruka smiled, James flushed and nodded as he went off.
Ruka heard a grumble, and it wasn't his stomach… Chuckling to himself, Ruka went off to the village talking to people along the way.
The curious villager whom was always curious asked about Ruka's new trick, saying that his father had told everyone about it.
'Good going dad, you warned everyone! W-wait… trick?'
Stan popped out and asked with enthusiasm you see when looking at a child at the circus (excluding Ruka) Ruka just blinked at this and smiled.
"Cool, how did you do that?" the curious villager asked.
"Do what… humans perplex me sometimes" Stan stated and went back into Ruka's shadow. Ruka had to chuckle, but then he spotted an old lady who seemed troubled.
Apparently her favorite hat her late husband, meaning now dead husband, got blown into a tree… Ruka was contemplating on climbing the tree… 'I've never been good in P.E sigh…' he rubbed his hands together to get ready to climb when Stan popped up and goaded, or at least tried to…
"Heh heh heh, whimpering old lady. What powerless animals human beings are! Ruka, let me show you my power!"
'Is Stan trying to impress me' Ruka blinked, but just nodded, and with that Stan stretched up and grabbed hold of the hat.
"I am completely elastic, like this! It's a trivial task to retrieve your lost hat!" Stan tossed at Ruka, whom caught it and gently handed to the old lady. Ruka looked to Stan who was grinning again.
"Oh, thank you very much! You must have been sent from heaven!" the lady stated causing both Stan and Ruka to go wide-eyed.
"Hey old bag! You don't understand! I am pure evil, through and through! Evil King Stan! The name says it all! Da ha ha! Fear me! Kneel and grovel before me!"
"Oh thank-you god" she knelt down and bowed. Ruka at this point was shaking from containing his laughter, while trying to help the old lady up. In the end he was bowing too.
"No, not like that! Not you too slave!"
"Thank-you god…" she stated again all watery-eyed. After helping her up properly and breathing again, Ruka made his way over to the cross road, though he was still giggling slightly.
There he met a girl who told him that he had an awesome shadow and had wanted to see it
"Wow it can talk too, is it alive?" she asked.
"Hey girlie! What do you think I am! I am the Evil King Stan, a symbol of incomprehensible evil, everywhere!"
"Wow! It tells jokes too! Oh, I want one too!"
And with that Stan sulked back into Ruka's shadow.
'I'm starting to feel sorry for him…' Ruka thought when a boy pulled him over.
"Hey Ruka, show me your shadow, oh please!"
"Um… Well…" without letting Ruka decline the boy, Stan just popped out.
"Shut up small fry! Gaze upon my horrifying visage and feat it! Cry, pee your pants!"
'… Pee his pants…? …Ew…' Ruka's eye twitched.
"Yippee! The shadow! The funny shadow! I saw it! Cool Ruka!"
Again Stan is shocked.
'Hasn't he learned his lesson yet… no one's afraid of him… I guess… I'm not either… hm' Ruka blinked as he made his way to Tenel again… but was stopped by another random person.
"Well well, what a great trick! Ruka, you can get a job at a circus!"
'Gee thanks…'
"I didn't know you had such as skill! I've changed my opinion of you, Ruka!"
'Again thanks…' Ruka tried to quickly walk away before Stan could pop out… But then there was that boy who blocked the gates to Tenel…
By the looks of it he was waiting to jump Ruka…'Today isn't your day Stan… sigh…'
"Hi, you are the famous shadow! Nice to meet you!"
"Don't get fresh with me, you suckling! Do you know who you are talking to! ?"
"Hahahaha, you shy boy! Ruka's father told me, you're a kind gentle shadow!"
'Dad… sorry Stan, but once dad gets it in his head and spreads it… it's contagious… poor guy…'
"Arrrggghhh… UNFORGIVABLE!"
'Wow, calm down or you'll pop a vein… wait he's a shadow, he doesn't have veins…'
"Hahaha, it's funny that you're shy! Why don't you be my friend? Hahaha!"
Once they get to the gate, Stan pops out, still sulking.
"Strange, strange… according to my plan, as soon as I appear in this world… humans should be awed, terrified, and flee in every direction…"
'… then why didn't we run away… when you popped out of the bottle… am I not human?' Ruka blinked twice and went back to listen to Stan ramble.
"And while quaking with fright they are supposed to swear obedience! But, but-" Stand shook "Look at their reactions!"
"That is strange…" 'I'll keep his ego up for him… that's the least I can do, after all my dad's the one who ruined his image…meh~' Ruka thought smiling.
"Yes! Then the only thing we have to do is display my evilness through action and let humans know what terror I can bring!"
'Hopefully reversible or I'm a traitor to all mankind… then again, I might not be human…' Ruka just nodded.
Stan had actually waited for that response and then declared "Now, let us get going slave! We will drive the village of Tenel into horror and despair!" and with that Ruka opened the gates and entered.
"So this is Tenel village? This is it! ? This is no task for I, a vessel of pure malevolence! But hey, I might as well do it, haha!" Ruka chuckled along with him, and that seemed to make Stan float up taller.
"Now, how shall I go about this? Slave" Ruka looked up "first gather information. It's essential for proper subjugation. Remember that!" Ruka nodded and jogged off into the nearest shop, which was the meat shop.
When he question the man, the butcher told him he couldn't keep his store open because there was no water…but it was a tradition so… he bought back the meat he sold Ruka two days ago…
'Ugh, I forgot about it in my pack… why in the world would he want it back… oh well I got ten more sukels than when I have bought it…'
Next off he talked to the villagers out in the open since none of the other shops were open due to the lack of water…
'What's up with the signs on the doors… they aren't going to get business that way, that's for sure… with signs that say I'm sleeping cause there's no water, we don't get guest anyways, so I don't care, and the last one about that threat… but I have to wonder who turned off the water…?' then Ruka overhead a villager talk about a ghost.
'Or what…' so he went over to investigate like a good subordinate would. 'Can ghost even turn a handle? I know shadows apparently can…'
"Oh Ruka," it turns out the man who was talking about was the village's scaredy cat…
'Oh well, might have some news I could use'
"Did you hear? Something terrible is happening! Oh, good heavens, this is terrible!"
"Mwahahaha! I knew it! The dark raging fire that is my unyielding evil freezes his soul."
'… fire… freezing? Doesn't he mean melt… wait to melt someone would be, to make them love you… he means cold hearted malice. That's it…'
"A perfectly normal reaction, Hahahaha!"
'Now that I think about it… no one here is normal… of course, what is normal?'
"Wha…? What's this? Hey nice trick" the scared man grinned…
'Whoa, now that's scary… sorry Stan, but this guy is way scarier than you' Ruka looks back and forth between the scared man and Stan.
"Anyways, I don't care about that. I've got to tell you! There's a ghost in the church!"
"Hey!" Stan interjected.
"You are scared of some low rank evil being and not scared of me, Evil King Stan? ! Fool human!"
"Brrr, scary! The ghost must be eyeing the treasure that's stored deep within the Church!"
'Oh… that old glass tube er… bulb thing… didn't my great, great, grandfather put it there because there was too much junk at our house…?' Ruka thought, squinting trying to remember.
"Hey, don't ignore the Evil King here! Humans truly have no sense!- What? A treasure? What treasure?"
"They say it's an important treasure! If we ever lose it, our village is finished! Oh no that would be terrible!"
'He's exaggerating… but Stan looks happy… I don't want to burst his bubble'
"…Hehehe… Did you hear that slave? We're in business. We'll get the village's treasure and laugh as they wallow in misery. Hehe if it's indeed an important treasure, it must be something that can enhance my evil power… Hehehe, I can hardly wait to have it in my grasp!"
'Oh Stan… poor, poor Stan… hm, maybe I can find him something at our house… there's bound to be a power enhancing charm somewhere…maybe in the tower'
Stan was bent on getting to the treasure, having both forgotten about the ghost, Ruka went to ask others on how to gain entrance into the church.
Apparently the church was off-limits, but with special permission from the village office they could enter.
'Easy, dad's the assistant manager… and with him convinced Stan is friendly… sigh poor Stan' Ruka thought as he went off to ask his dad for the keys. But Ruka was feeling a little famished, so he stopped by the other shop and bought some nuts, meanwhile visiting the old man in the back, whom was a rival of his grandfather for his grandmother's love.
Ruka loved hearing stories of his family, they were all so interesting. The old man in the end gave him 10 sukels.
Upon entrance into the town hall, Ruka's father asked "Hey Ruka, come to see your cool dad at his job?"
Stan then popped up saying "Open the Church door. Hurry lowly being! Open the door immediately!"
"Hi Stan! What brings you to the Church?" Ruka's dad asked happily.
"It's not much of a business. Nothing much, at all. Hehehe…" Ruka's father looked to Ruka who was all smiles, so he thought nothing of it and handed them the keys. Stan popped back into Ruka's shadow,
'Must be tiring to be floating… hm… does floating require energy?'
Arriving at the church Stan popped out again "Now let's go slave. We'll get the hidden treasure and they will kneel before our dark might!"
Ruka nodded and twist the key, he was about to push open the door when they both heard someone call out "Oh, please wait, Master!"
Ruka recognizing the voice, braced himself when turning around, and in a flurry of light and dark appeared James.
"No master you don't need to clue me in, I know it's a delightfully evil plan Master! However there is one thing… Ruka, you're a rookie and-"
"I will try my best not to get in Master Stan's way for I am weak and helpless, I understand" Ruka stated with one hand resting assure and with a smile.
"R-right, well I'm off, good luck" James was dumbfounded.
"That's good that you know slave, now let's go" Stan ordered, and Ruka nodded.
Entering the Church, Ruka spotted no ghost… 'Must be in the basement…'
As they were walking down the stairs to the basement, all was quiet, until,
"Slave!"
"!" That scared Ruka, he slipped and landed on his bum. 'Well at least it wasn't my head this time…' Ruka look up to see Stan hovering over him.
"Be careful, your shadow is precious to me now…" Stan warned him.
'It was your fault…' Ruka glowered and then stood up looking away.
"Slave!"
'What now…?' Ruka turned to Stan.
"…Why don't you speak?"
"?" Ruka arched an eyebrow.
"…" Stan waited for the answer…
"Are you giving me permission to speak?"
"YES!"
"Oh, well… okay" Ruka shrugged.
"…Well, why don't you speak? !" Stan asked incredulously.
'Hm… Maybe I can use this to my advantage…' "Well… are slaves supposed to talk back to their masters?" Ruka asked, choosing his words wisely.
"No… but I give you permission…" then Stan muttered "I can't see why you'd speak to James so informally, but not to I, your master…"
'Ah… he's jealous… hahaha' Ruka smiled, and turned away, "Well, let's get going Master Stan, the lower being is awaiting your punishment"
"Right! Onward slave!" Stan shouted with new vigor.
Upon opening the door, Ruka looks into the room and spots crates and a water pipe with a valve.
'That's it, the water channels will open if I turn that… ah… there it is… a red ghost' Ruka looked up to Stan, perhaps to translate what the booing ghost was saying.
Stan… not having James with him, had no idea what the ghost was actually saying.
(Ghost will be bolded)
"Hm, where am I? I'm lost again"
"So, you're the third class demon who stands in the way of my ambition! Step back! Keep your head low!" Stan proclaimed.
"! Whoa, what a weird shadow!"
"Hahaha! Look at it slave! This low rank demon, he cowers before my divine dark power!"
'It looks like it's laughing…' Ruka thought to himself.
"Oh boy, this is too funny! What a weird shadow!"
"Ah, I see. You want to pledge allegiance to me?" Stan asked, grinning.
"Getting hungry… He's weak-looking. He'll do"
'…why is it looking at me like that…? I have a bad feeling…' Ruka thought, then turned to the grinning Stan.
"Yes, very good. Once you become my follower, your existence will be devoted to me!"
"Uh, S-Stan"
"What slave?" Stan asked pausing in his gloating to look down at a nervous Ruka.
"I-it looks hungry…"
"What-? What do you mean it looks-"
"Time to chow!" and with that… the ghost attacked.
'Ah!' Ruka jumped back and pulled out a… branch?
-Fight scene-
The ghost transformed into three demons, a tricky ghost and two perky frogs.
Ruka performed overdrive and knocked out the tricky ghost first, got attacked by the two perky frogs… but then used burst mode and annihilated them…
"Well… that was strange. Oh well, never mind. I did get rid of that floor-scrubbing demon who turned against me!" Stan laughed.
'You… ? Whatever… at least they were weak…' Ruka thought shaking his head; he then spotted the treasure chest.
"Mmm? Look slave! That must be the treasure, that the villager were talking about!" Stan pointed. Walking over to the chest, Ruka knelt down and acquired the 'Odd Glass Tube' and that music played.
"Do you hear that…?" Ruka asked looking around.
"Yes… don't question it slave, you'll be hearing it more soon…don't ask why I know…"
'!' Ruka looked to Stan with wide eyes.
"What is this? It's just a piece of a broken machine! Grrr! They've tricked me! They will all pay for this! My wrath will know no end boy!" and with that Stan popped back into Ruka's shadow before he could say anything…
'…strange… ah the water line!' Ruka walked over to the pipe, he got atop a box and turned the valve to open, the sounds of water flowing made him need to use the restroom…
'Oh man, I gotta go!' with that Ruka rushed out of the church, only to be stopped by the villagers…
"Good work Ruka! Way to go!" "Thanks, that was great!" "Ruka! Turn this way for me!" "How did you get rid of the ghosts? Let's hear it, Ruka!" "Yeah, tell us how, Ruka!" "Ruka, hey there, Ruka!"
'Oh man… I gotta pee…' Ruka couldn't think straight anymore, that's when,
"Grrr, they've got it all wrong! It was all my doing! Evil King Stan is the proper target of your affection! Oh well, this is good timing. They are all assembled to receive the wisdom I shall bestow upon them!" and with that rant Stan popped out.
"Listen here, villagers! I am the reincarnation of the Evil King Gohma, the Evil King of darkness, Stan!"
"What? What's going on?" a villager asked.
"Say, isn't that…" another villager voiced.
'Oh… can this take much longer…?' Ruka twitched.
"Now that I've returned to this world, all that walks, flies, or crawls shall be my subjects! As a reward for your willing subjugation, I shall grant you insects a long delightful purgatory! I hereby declare, I will saturate this land with black cloud of astounding malevolence!" thrusting his stick arm/fork looking hands, "My plague of evil will infect every corner of this world! Bow before your lord and master, Evil King Stan!" Silence soon followed.
"Aha! They're speechless!" Stan gloated.
'Good, done, right!' Ruka was just about to run off when,
"….Ha ha…"
'What… oh they're laughing… I'll inflate his ego later… I got to-' Ruka was trapped by the laughing villagers
"HAHAHAHA!" "Hahahaha this is too much!" "Ruka! I didn't know you were such a riot!" "Oh wow, this is good! I'm gonna die laughin'!" "This shadow trick of yours is pretty slick!" "Hey, make sure to do a repeat performance at the Festival, ya?" Everyone pushed and kept Ruka in place, in the middle of the horde of laughing villagers.
"…" 'I need to go…'
"Hahaha, Evil King Stan, did you say? That's priceless! Hahahaha!" "Ruka, enough of the jokes now. Don't you need to be at home studying?" someone asked.
"Y-yes, sure" Ruka was about to leave when Stan shouted,
"Hey, you peasants, what are you laughing at! ? My great decree is to be taken seriously!"
'I need to go, seriously!' Ruka hopped.
"You, that one there, stop laughing! Ah, slave, stop hopping! No one is going to take me seriously!" Stan shouted.
'No one was taking you seriously anyways…' Ruka thought as he did the potty dance, making everyone laugh even more…
"Hahaha! He just keeps on going!" "Hahaha! Please… Hahaha, stop, my ha stomach. Hahaha hurts!"
'Your stomach hurts! ?' Ruka thought, when Stan and he heard the voice again.
'This is your idea of joy… what kind of inner voice are you! ?'
Finally after everyone left, Ruka found a nearby bush…
'I can't believe I went in front of Stan… oh well he's too busy ranting to have noticed'
"Why? Aghh! I don't understand! Why! ? I am the Evil King! A harbinger of impending doom! Yet the humans mock me… They even laugh at me! I'm so humiliated! What am I… What am I supposed to do? Am I a failure as Evil King? Am I a hopeless Evil King? Aggghhhh!"
'I should tell him he isn't… but I don't think he'd want my pity… I'll just keep quiet…'
"I'm tired. I'll rest for a while…" Stan declared and disappeared.
'Hm… I haven't seen the elder in the crowd… I wonder what he's up to? He doesn't think anyone sees, but I see strange people coming and going to his home… I'll visit him' and with that Ruka left down the stairs and turned left into the elder's home, his room was on the left, if Ruka remembered correctly.
"Ruka, well done. I always thought that you were a promising youth" said the Chinese looking elder, "You can even make people laugh with your shadow… Alright! I've made up my mind! Here, I'm going to give you this. This is a cyphertext created by a secret society I belong to.
Ruka has acquired 'Cyphertext 1' and the music played, and listening to Stan's previous advice, Ruka didn't freak out.
'Cyphertext 1: Sdnuorg eht ot og s'tel ereh si sucric eht' Ruka pondered…
"Can you solve the mystery of the Cyphertext? If you successfully solve the mystery, you can join our team!" the elder exclaimed and then went back to writing in his journal.
'Knew he had a secret… wait, didn't he tell me about the evil shadow kings before… why would he be encourage to give me this when I'm possibly possessed by one…?' Ruka thought as he left the house, pondering about the text… when it hit him 'It's backwards…' with that he reflected the text in a window and it read 'the circus is here let's go to the grounds… I'll have to remember to visit there… later'
'Well, the shops are open now aren't they?' Ruka mused, and spotted the tinker shop, a blacksmith, the man was always nice to Ruka. 'I'll visit' and with that entered the shop.
The blacksmith's little cousin told Ruka that his grandpa use to forge swords until he hurt his back.
'No wonder it's hunched over like that… of course grandma is too isn't she…?' Ruka was puzzled, he went over to the blacksmith to listen to his stories.
"Hey Ruka, you've done it! You're really something! Here at the blacksmith, we make and sell weapons and protective gear. Well, this might not be the place to find items for every occasion. Hmm, let's see. Ah, this 'Fruit Knife' should do. Take this! Great for eating fruit!"
'I would have never guessed…' Ruka smiled as he took it, and there the music played again.
"Sorry it's not something cooler… Oops, I've got to get going now. Back to work!"
Ruka waved and left…
'Uh… I'm still hurting from the frogs… maybe resting is a good idea…' there Ruka spotted the inn. After hearing the landlord's speech about needing water to serve food because they only have guests every 2-3 years. Why, because Tenel is so remote.
Ruka, already knowing what to do he chose to rest upstairs and save in the registry at the desk, on his way out he noticed a door, the fortuneteller always stayed at the inn.
'Might as well since I'm here'
A short woman with a pink bag over her head, waving her hands like she wiping an invisible glass pane said,
"Greetings, I'm the gypsy fortune teller. There's a reason I can't reveal my real name, but 'Love Fortune Teller Master No. 1' is what most people call me. Just one look at the crystal and I'll identify exactly who loves you the most. So, would you like me to tell your fortune of love?"
"Yes please!" Ruka replied 'She asks this every time and if there's no enthusiasm in my voice… she never tells me anything…'
"Here we go! Hey! Hey! Hey! Show me, my crystal ball! Ah, it's come to me! You are matched best with… whoah! With the Evil King, Stan! ? Noooo! Keep away from me!" she shrieked.
"…" 'Wh-at…? There has to be a mistake… Stan loves me the most… gee thanks mom and dad!'
"Well… come again soon…" she hid behind a small table with a blue vase; that contained red flowers in them. Ruka waved goodbye and left the inn.
He was about to go home for dinner, because he didn't want to eat out 'Waste of money…' he thought when he noticed the entrance gate of the village being blocked off by the village scaredy-cat…
"SCARY!"
'Yes… yes you are' Ruka smiled.
"Nothing could be scarier than this…"
'You're right!' Ruka beamed, causing the man to lose his momentum,
"Uh…A-all of a sudden, in spots all over the world, a bunch of Evil Kings appeared! Really, seriously, this is scary!"
"…" 'What…? So Stan has siblings…?'
"Bah!" and right on cue Stan appeared "Enough of your whimpering! I'm tired and mentally wounded. And now this rubbish from you! Listen up. The Evil King is the King of Evil And a King is a King. That means only one! Not two or three, one! Moi!"
'Make sense…' Ruka nodded 'Wait… Did he just speak French…?' Ruka turned to the steaming shadow.
"No, I'm not making this up. The pudgy guy at the bar said son. The word is that in certain places… copies of the 'Map o' Evil Kings' are out. It tells the locations of the Evil Kings. Brrrrr, just so scary!" the man shivered.
'Pudgy man…? Wait, it can't be…but he's at a bar… It's probably him…' Ruka narrowed his eyes, he was kind of hoping it was that man, last time he met him he was drunk and spouting nonsense…
"Hogwash! 'Map o' Evil Kings'! ? Are you kidding? Slave! Find the lunatic who's spreading these lies! He will pay for this!" Ruka nodded,
'This is getting interesting…'
Ruka then headed for the Bar, and was stopped by many whom wanted to give their thanks.
Ruka upon entering the bar was greeted by the bar lady, she complained about the ring master.
'Knew it…' Ruka thought, 'Wait regular guest… doesn't he have to travel with the circus… didn't they leave already…' and soon Ruka got his answer…
Having walked up to the man and poking him, he heard the man mutter,
"…Weee. Ugh…. Stupid Troopers, leaving without me… Burp!"
"So this is the lowlife who's spreading that swill. Hey you! I hear you've been spreading tall tales that there's more than one Evil King!" Stan shouted in a booming voice, but Ruka was use to it.
"Wh-what?..." the ringmaster turned around, "Oh? You're the one I saw the other night, the kid with that shadow!"
"Yeah, at the circus…" Ruka replied stepping back, the man reeked of booze…
"Yep, that's right. I'm the Ringmaster"
'I wouldn't have guessed… especially after everyone telling me…' Ruka nodded; exasperated that everyone was so oblivious… 'Of course his excuse would be that he's drunk, what's Stan's…?'
"Now that I get to take a good look, you've got an interesting shadow with ya' there"
"Interesting? Carrying with him?" Stan asked narrowing his gold eyes
'He never did say carrying with him…' Ruka narrowed his eyes, in mock protest…
"Agghh, fine, whatever!"
'Oi, did Stan just read my mind…' Ruka panicked and stared up at Stan, who began ranting again.
"Just you remember, husky one! If a guy like you speaks of rubbish like a 'Map o' Evil Kings' I may shut your mouth permanently!"
"Oh? You want this 'Map o' Evil Kings'? Sure thing, here it is"
'How does he have this…?' Ruka took it, and the song played…
'Item acquired… therefore this is the item acquired song… cool' Ruka smiled up at the ceiling, forgetting his previous question. The ringmaster broke him out of his thoughts.
"Lately they say that in Madril, a fearful Evil King's showed up, too! I swear, this is true. Hahaha, this is so funny!" the man wavered, staggering around on his feet. "What are you gonna do, Shadow Evil King?"
"!" Ruka looked shocked 'Who is he…?'
"Curses! You just revealed who I… Who are you shaggy one! ?"
'… Stan is a mind reader…' Ruka thought 'Ruka don't think…'
"Ugh.I think I'm gonna… barf. …Agh, too much fun last night. Hic…" the man rubbed his belly.
'I think I'm gonna leave… while my shoes are still clean…' Ruka thought and rushed out, but was stopped by Stan.
"Hey boy, wait. Why don't we take a look at that 'Map o' Evil Kings; right now?" Ruka nodded and took it out.
"Eh, what is this? 1, 2 … There are more Evil Kings than myself? And on top of that… My name's not even on here! James, James! Where are you! ?" Stan shouted in fury.
WAAM! In a flash of light that emitted from the floor, James appeared.
"Like the setting sun, the glistening moon, Oh, Master. How might I serve?"
'I wonder who he was hitting on… better not be my mom…' Ruka pouted at the dead butler causing James to flush and Stan to growl even more than before.
"James! Straighten this out, will you? Am I not the one and the only Evil King? The successor of the great Evil King Gohma? !" Stan glared down poor James.
"Come on, answer me! Who else could I be?" Stan thrashed about. "And all these other Evil Kings, who are they! ?"
"Hmmm… Well, Master I will tell you. These others are imposters. Encroachers, Evil Kings only in name. While you were inside the bottle, Master, they must have stolen your magical power…" James explained trying to calm down the raging shadow.
"And went about claiming to be Evil Kings. Yes, that must be it!"
"….. Hmmm." Stan thought for a moment, "I see. I knew something was wrong. The villager called me, my dark majesty, a 'nice guy'! Naturally, if my power were at its peak, they would have wept and groveled before me. Yes, that must be it! So it was all their doing! These self-proclaimed Evil Kings were stealing my magical power!" Stan looked to Ruka.
"Yes, that must be it!" Ruka nodded smiling, while inwardly he was dying 'Sigh…that means more running around and fighting … here we go again… weee…'
"…Hmm. Then there's just one thing to do. Yes, good! You see it as clearly as I"
"Master, that means… Of course, of course!" James bellowed, even though he had nary a clue at what Stan was talking about…
"Indeed! We're going to take those phony Evil Kings and get back all of my dark power! Then the whole world will tremble and kneel before me as they rightfully should! Slave, let's do this! An expedition of conquest!" Stan shouted.
"Sure, let's rock!" 'Why did I shout that… strange…?'
"What kind of answer is that?"
"Take it easy now, Master. This girl Julia, she has a bit of a crush on your slave…"
"Hold your horses Sir James!" Ruka shouted scaring both demons.
"Julia is a friend… only a friend…" Ruka growled.
"R-Right… you're stuck with me, Ahahaha!" Stan laughed.
'Wait… what… that's not the same thing, James was accusing of Julia being my lov-… oh dear…' Ruka stepped back a few steps away from his shadow… which followed him…
"Onward to your house slave, we have to pack for our adventure. That 'Map o' Evil Kings' it so irritates me. But don't lose it! It should keep us on the trail of those upstart imposters! Alright, then. To your house!"
Ruka just nodded and headed that way, with that James left in a flash of light, though the bar owner seemed calm enough…she was shaking.
Again, upon reaching the gate, someone else blocks it…
'ARGH!' Ruka inwardly screams, but remained stoic on the outside as he walked up to said person.
"Julia…" he stated calmly.
"….. I have something to tell you"
"Yes…" Ruka replied. She walked passed him and stopped,
"I liked you"
"-" 'She liked… as in past tense…oh well…'
"But, you're serious, honest and quiet"
'Serious and quiet… yes… honest… not really' Ruka inwardly grinned.
"The kind that becomes a husband who'd eat cold mashed potatoes without complaining… or lets me go on rampant impulse shopping sprees without complaining. That's what I liked about you…"
Ruka turned to her, 'Husband… now hold on there…, wait, cold mash potatoes, yes, I like it cold… the shopping spree… not so much… and I never said I liked her… why won't anyone listen…?' Ruka was again astounded by the density within Tenel's residents… no normal brain function?
"But I can't be with a person who does tricks with his shadow. Good-bye!" she shouted dramatically and ran off…
'Okay… what just happened…? I was just going home, and I got hooked into this… this drama… why?' Ruka thought long and hard, and then decided 'I better go home before someone else keeps me here…' and then there was the voice.
'Yes… dumbstruck I am…' he shook it off and went home, after dinner and a hot bath, though he rushed out when he remembered Stan…, he finally went to bed and slept oh so well. That is until his mother came to wake him…
"Ruka. Come on, wake up. Its morning" she opened the door and came inside. "Well, it's a beautiful day today, too! Come on, Ruka. Everybody's waiting for you downstairs.
"Okay…" he groggily got out of bed.
"Both your dad and Gramps are preparing something for you. We're waiting for you. Come down as soon as possible."
After getting up, and getting dressed, again, totally forgetting Stan was there stripped out of his PJs and into his normal day clothes, which consisted of his trademark dark blue and light blue striped long shirt, and his grey vest. And also into his beige pants with the red and pink checkerboard mark on the bottom cuffs, and lastly his grey and blue stripped fingerless gloves, and red and blue, but mostly blue plaid head band (though it looks like the ones girls wear), it kept his auburn hair from sticking up like a roosters.
Walking lethargically to the door he closes it and walks down the hall, and then down the stairs in their living room, that's when he noticed his whole family and an extra person/ specter, waiting for him just in front of the stairs. So he rushed over to see what that was about.
"Ruka! Finally, the time has come for you to depart!" his father exclaimed throwing his arms up in excitement.
"What's going on?" Ruka asked, scratching his head.
"Yes, when I heard it from James I was surprised, but you are going on an important journey. A journey to subjugate fake Evil Kings and to conquer the world! Well it sounds great! I couldn't help but agree!" His father prattled on while Ruka blinked, trying to digest the information, though it was still barely 6 am during his summer vacation time… Ruka's brain was dead.
"Hey middle manager, the slave seems to be confused" Stan spoke up on Ruka's behalf; Ruka unintentionally leaned on Stan… literally and to everyone else's fascination, didn't fall through…
"Huh? Oh, that's right. I forgot to tell him. A little mistake! Hahaha!" His father laughed, though it just gave him a headache…
"Then let me update you. I told you yesterday that there're many fakes claiming they're Evil Kings around the world. I, the genuine Evil King and my slave…" Stan placed a claw like shadow hand on Ruka's head, "That is you, are leaving on a journey to subjugate these imposters! And I thought we might as well conquer the world while we're at it"
'Ah, so that's what this is about…' Ruka looked to the floor near the staircase and spotted his bag was packed filled with clothes and some food…
"Are you ready? Don't dally now! Let us be gone…now!"
'Well, mom has packed for me already… might as well…'
"Okay" Ruka shrugged.
"Fine. Let us go, slave!" Stan pointed to the door.
"Hey, wait a minute. Ruka, you have to say goodbye to everyone in the family first" his father pronounced, "Its normal before you go on a journey~!"
So he did so, his grandfather told him about the item he got from the church, which he had forgotten all about, seems it's a piece of a voice recorder… since it was kept in the village it was important, and to find the other pieces…
'Seems ominous… of something bad to come…' Ruka thought as he hugged his grandfather and went to go say goodbye to his granny and then his grandmother said,
"Uh huh, uh huh. That's right, honey. Oh, Ruka, are you going to run any errands? Oh if you are going to the village, give this to the baker" the acquire music played and Ruka got a 'Mere Pebble' "Now come back before dusk"
"Bye grandma, I'll miss you too…" he kissed her forehead and hugged her.
Next was Annie, "Sorry Ruka. This whole thing started to save me. Thank you so much big bro! I'm totally grateful!" she hugged him, "The pink shadow's cute too! Hurray for Ruka, good luck!" Ruka rustled her hair affectionately until the hug was broken.
James was looking over at Ruka like he wanted to say goodbye too…even though he was going with them…
'Oh well…' Ruka went over to the ghost butler.
"*sobs* Master Stan…At last, at last you're departing on your journey of world conquest! The world conquest that the former Great Evil King Gohma couldn't achieve…Because of the intervention of the hero Hopkins!"
'Is he gonna tell me the story…? Okay' Ruka settled down and listened.
"But the dark magical power of Master Gohma is surpassed by that of Master Stan and his beautifully evil design will reach its full realization! Oh, it's a thrilling time to be evil!"
'…Is James warning me… about Stan…' Ruka looked at James' sobbing face.
"I-I James! Will always watch over the Master from under the sod! Call me whenever my malicious services are required!"
'Wait… doesn't James have teleportation powers… why can't he just teleport us from one town to the next?' Ruka wondered… 'I'll have to ask Stan later…'
Finally it was his mother's turn, she jumped him, squeezing him in a Momma bear hug, finally when she let go, she started primping him… fixing his hair and clothes, dusting off imaginary dust "Ruka, don't drink dirty water, okay? And greet people properly, okay?" with her word she said her voice cracked. "Oh… that reminds me, Ruka, take this with you"
Ruka acquired 'Old Music Box'!
'Maybe the music came from in here…' he was about to open it, when his mother told him,
"This is my treasure. I got this from your dad when I was young, when he proposed to me. It is an ancient apparatus that makes a pretty sound. Find somebody special on this quest, like we did! When you find her, don't hesitate. Giver her this Music Box. Grab the chance and push, push, push!"
'Sounds like I'll be jamming this thing down her throat… ouch…' Ruka thought. He then turned to his father, who was waiting eagerly for him.
"Well, did you say goodbye to everybody? Then it is time to go. Don't worry. Adventuring is fun!" his father explained.
"Yes, a journey makes a person shine! Your dad in his younger days was really handsome. Right?" His mother stated as she handed Ruka his bag of clothes and food supply.
"Hahaha, stop it honey….." Dad turned from cheerful, to confused in a moment.
'Hahaha, was… as in not anymore…oh mom' Ruka smiled.
"Well, is there anything left?" His father asked, looking around.
"My allowance?" Ruka asked, 'Though, I know you spent it all on mom…' Ruka smirked.
"Huh? Allowance? Oh, allowance. Hahaha! To be honest, I used up all of my bonus the other day"
"That's right! See this wooden doll" his mother took out a wooden doll with orange yarn hair and a red dress.
'I see… it's creepy…'
"Isn't it cute? It was pretty pricey, though" his mother stated, happily hugging it.
'Well, if mom's happy… I got money saved up from my birthday and other allowances…' Ruka nodded.
"Well, if you are an adventurer, make some money while you're on the journey. Hahaha!"
'Oddly enough… I think I can… ghost leave money and things behind, probably stolen, but oh well….but first I need a sword… this branch isn't gonna cut it, literally…' Ruka thought as he fingered the branch in his bag. 'How does it fit in here anyways?' he wondered
"Why don't you take my name card with you?" his father gave him his business card.
'Probably wants me to advertise him, or spread his name… ah dad will always be dad…'
Ruka acquired 'Ordinary Card'!
"People will think you're famous if you show them this. You may get in some private clubs or something.
"Thank-you…?" 'Wait, did dad just say he wanted me to get into clubs… like as in those 'clubs'…okay dad, you are now officially label pervert! I'm only 16!' Ruka glared at his dad…
"Hahaha, take it with you anyway! Now go on!"
"Boy, you're chattering forever and making me wait!"
'I'm chattering? It's dad who's chattering away!' Ruka rolled his eyes, causing Stan to glare.
"Whatever. Now slave, we are leaving!" Stan commanded, so Ruka sighed a heavy sigh and turned to the door, when he opened his grandfather cleared his throat.
"Ahem, The time has come for our youth to depart! Now…"
"one, two, three…" his mother counted.
"Good luck!" his whole family shouted.
'So that's what they were rehearsing yesterday night…' Ruka smiled… 'Well, here goes nothing…' and with that left, his family saw him walk out all the way to the crossroads, where they lost sight of him. Ruka was left alone with Stan, and the narrator, who was voicing his exit.
TBC…
KH: I remember this part of the game, I always flinch whenever Ruka exit the gates, the damn thing looks like it would smack him in the face!
Stan is up to something and seems somewhat jealous of James... Well if you like what you see so far, review? Please~?